max*d Issue 05

max*d ISUZU UTE AUSTRALIA

ISSUE 5 ISSUE

Unsung Heroes:

Aussies bringing music to the ears of India’s street kids

Out of the Box:

City-slickers call it quits for a better life in the country

International Report: Thrills and spills at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

BLUE

LAGOONS Riding roughshod on the beach at Great Sandy National Park

GO YA HALVES

MATE!

Refer Isuzu D-MAX to a mate and get $200 cash, $100 for you and $100 for your mate!* Isuzu UTE are doing unbelievable Buddy Bonuses with a generous cash back offer to current owners of new and demo Isuzu D-MAX utes who refer their mates. $100 cash for you and $100 cash for your mate with the successful referral and mate’s purchase of an Isuzu D-MAX. Claim form and T&Cs available at www.isuzuute.com.au/buddybonus

*Terms and conditions apply. Full details available at www.isuzuute.com.au/buddybonus

01_IsuzuUTE#5_Flashback.indd 2

28/06/11 5:27 PM

1

FLASHBACK â–

1956:

D

espite the prominence of large American cars in Japan in the 1950s, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry decides smaller English cars are better suited to the Japanese market. In 1953, Isuzu signs a Technical Assistance Agreement with British carmaker

ISUZU MOTORS VENTURES INTO THE PASSENGER CAR MARKET WITH THE HILLMAN

Rootes Group, granting it exclusive licence to assemble Hillman sedans in Japan from crafted component kits.

When the first Isuzu Hillman Minx PH10 rolls off the assembly line at Isuzu Motor’s new Omori factory later that year, only six per cent of the car (tyres, tubes, paint

and battery) is made in Japan.

In 1956, Isuzu substitutes its own engine and gearbox in to the Hillman, raising the percentage of locally-made parts to 50. A year later, that figure reaches 100, when all the components for the Isuzu Hillman are sourced domestically.

Stately English style meets Japanese engineering excellence: the 1953 Isuzu Hillman Minx PH10

max*d

1

■ contents

CON TENTS

16 05 News rld

ISSUE 5

wo What’s happening in the alia of Isuzu UTE Austr

06 me 'n' MY max

who take their Follow ordinary drivers ntiers fro ’s D-MAXs to Australia

08 max tank

Bruce Garland How low can you go?

D-MAX mission and Harry Suzuki on a

10 tech head

is crucial Looking after your tyres for owners of 4WDs

11 wish list

sive household Four ridiculously expen shelf items from the ver y top

12 out of the box

greener when The grass isn’t always bush city-slickers move to the

16 passport ezing and

fre It’s far away, it’s totally ucing Iceland rod int : fun od it’s damn go

20 eat my dust

les go Three generations of ma ng at Cooloola shi -ba ach be camping and

28 unsung heroes ge difference a hu An Aussie trio making guitars and ms in India with dru

32

32 INTERNATIONAL REPORT kar-spec

Da Bruce Garland lends his the Abu Dhabi at ro he al loc a D-MAX to Desert Challenge

20 2

02-03_IsuzuUTE#5_Contents.indd 2

36 Get stuffed

g “mamma mia!”

Make your friends sin eroni pizza pp with an authentic pe

39 dealer list

dealers Where to find D-MAX across Australia

er 40 hook, line 'n' sink south r at Eric Olsen drops ancho ital cap ’ Queensland’s ‘barra

28/06/11 5:00 PM

WELCOME ■

S We put a D-MAX to the test on soft sand in our cover story on page 20

Who doesn’t remember Queensland Tourism’s recruitment drive for a manager at Hamilton Island back in 2009? This cleverly disguised advertising campaign achieved worldwide recognition and saw tens of thousands of candidates apply for what was rightly touted as the best job in the world.

On the flipside, rescue and reconstruction tasks carried out by armies of volunteers in disaster-stricken areas of Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand and Japan this year showed us an altogether different perspective of the dream job – thankless, selfless but infinitely more rewarding.

Among the many terrible consequences of these natural disasters, the damaged nuclear reactors in northern Japan would have to rate as the most worrisome. To this day, men and women are risking their lives to contain the fallout and help get life there back to normal. Their supreme sacrifice is proof of the inherently compassionate nature of humankind, despite what the evening news may make you believe.

On another positive note, I’m pleased to announce Isuzu UTE Australia has now sold more than 10,000 D-MAXs. I can finally draw our Daruma doll’s left eye to complete our second milestone since launch.

Thank you for supporting us in this achievement.

other eye black, too.

Hitoshi Kono Managing Director Isuzu UTE Australia

max*d

3

■ news

10,000 D-MAXs Sold Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA) reached a milestone this year when it racked up 10,000 unit sales for its range of premium D-MAX one-tonne utes.

D-MAX sales have grown rapidly over the past year with Q1 sales figures for 2011 up 40 percent compared to the same period last year and 4x4 sales up 50 percent.

“D-MAX has had a very positive reception from buyers in an extremely crowded ute market segment,” said IUA managing director Hitoshi Kono.

“I attribute the result to the brand strength of Isuzu, renowned for its truck and diesel engineering.”

D-MAX launched in Australia in October 2008 with 38 dealers nationally.

Since then, the number of dealers has more than doubled to 80.

Austrian Triple Treat No surprises here: D-MAX was named Europe’s Best 4x4 Pickup (as the Europeans call it!) at the Allrad Champions 2010 awards show in Austria. It’s the third year in a row that the D-MAX has taken out the category and a sure-fire way to show the rest which ute is best.

What makes it even more impressive is that the awards are a reflection of the public’s choice – it’s magazine readers and television viewers who vote.

Markus Strutz, head of Isuzu Sales in Austria, was ecstatic about the win, which he said is strengthening the Isuzu brand in the tough European market.

IUA’s Richard Power presents Daruma Doll to Darren Jacobson, owner of the 10,000th D-MAX sold.

max*d survey winners In the previous issue of max*d, we asked our readers to fill in a short survey about what they like – or dislike – about the magazine. And to get the ball rolling, we offered survey participants the chance to win one of five $100 StarCash cards from Caltex, makers of Vortex Premium Diesel.

Designed for vehicles with advanced turbo-diesel engines like the D-MAX, Vortex Premium Diesel cleans the fuel system as you drive, while an anti-foaming agent reduces splashback and lessens odours commonly associated with regular diesel.

The winners are David Field and Michael Scott of Victoria, Peter Bradley and Barry Giles of Queensland, and Kim Turnock of WA. On behalf of Isuzu UTE Australia and max*d magazine, we thank all readers who participated in the survey.

D-Max Hits the Mines A major Australian mining company has ordered a fleet of 50 custom-fitted D-MAX SX Crew Cab utes for its operations in Western Australia.

Isuzu UTE Australia won the contract to supply the utes following a yearlong evaluation process that saw D-MAX put through the ringer at a number of mine sites where testing focused on the vehicle’s durability.

The fleet has been kitted with heavy-duty steel trays, steel bull bars, top light bars, fire extinguishers and a number of other ‘minespec’ add-ons.

PMS 432C Charcoal Grey

*

Did you know?

More than half the passenger vehicles sold in Europe are powered by diesel engines, compared to 15 percent in 1990.

PMS Orange 173C

4 04-05_IsuzuUTE#5_News.indd 4

28/06/11 4:55 PM

NEWS ■

DATES FOR THE DIARY JULY 1–10 Australian International Motor Show Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, VIC 5–7 AG-Grow Field Days Emerald, QLD 15–17 Farm Fantastic Pumicestone Road, Caboolture, QLD

AUGUST

WA DEALERSHIP GIVES BIG The team at JEM Isuzu UTE in Picton, Western Australia, donated $2500 to the Salvo’s Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal last year.

Now in its 23rd year, the appeal collects close to half a million gifts annually at Kmart stores around the country for distribution by The Salvation Army to families in need at Christmas time.

JEM Isuzu UTE manager David Phillip, who

represented the team at the handover, filled six trolleys with gifts purchased with the funds.

“You wouldn’t have thought it would be so hard to spend $2500, but I was filling trolley after trolley and thinking of the kids’ faces opening up the presents,” he said. “I know within the dealership everyone was very proud to be associated with it, and look forward to contributing again this year.”

11–20 EKKA Brisbane Royal Show, QLD 16–18 AgQuip Oxley Highway, Gunnedah, NSW

D-MAX DONATED TO APPRENTICES Isuzu UTE Australia has donated a D-MAX ute to the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTAQ) – the major provider of automotive technical traineeships and apprenticeships in the state. MTAQ managing director Brett Dale (second from left) said the donation would greatly improve simulation training by providing students and trainers access to the latest technology that replicates real-world fleet exposure for our students.

“Given the recent upsurge of diesel engine acceptance in passenger cars and its now dominant position in light commercial vehicles, daily training access to diesel engine technology is particularly timely,” Brett said. “With MTAQ relocating to our facility in Eight Mile Plains later this year, the D-MAX will certainly provide access to world-class facilities and training hardware.”

PUBLISHER PUBLISHING PARTNER Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd Edge Custom Media

ART DIRECTOR Karen Jacobi

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Alex Moller

MANAGING EDITORS Richard Power, Cornelius Ionescu

JUNIOR DESIGNER Whitney Moothoo

ADVERTISING SALES Dennis Lee dennis.lee@edgecustom.com.au

EDITOR Ian Neubauer ian.neubauer@edgecustom.com.au CHIEF SUBEDITOR Sanchia Pegley MANAGING EDITOR Michael Butler

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Shane O’Brien ACCOUNT MANAGER Amy Story

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Fergus Stoddart

Disclaimer: The information included in this magazine is intended for interest only. The opinions and views expressed in this magazine are provided in the writers’ personal capacities and are their sole responsibility. Their publication does not imply that they represent the views or opinions of Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge Custom Media and must neither be regarded as constituting advice on any matter nor be interpreted as such. The reproduction of advertisements in this publication does not in any way imply endorsement by Isuzu UTE Australia or Edge Custom Media of products or services referred to therein. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A selection of the images featured in this publication have been sourced from Getty Images and Thinkstock Images. Business Essentials trading as Edge Custom Media ABN 22 062 493 869.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR max*d is published on behalf of Georgina Armour

Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd by

CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR Sarah Willmott CEO Eddie Thomas

max*d magazine is proudly printed in Australia using renewable resources. Pacesetter Coated is an FSC Mixed Sources Certified paper, which ensures that all virgin pulp is derived from well-managed forests and controlled sources. It contains elemental chlorine-free bleached pulp and is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

51 Whistler St, Manly NSW 2095 T +61 (0) 2 8962 2600

SGS-COC-003898

max*d

5

■ ME ’N’ MY MAX

Escape

Artists

T

FIVE ORDIN ARY DRIVE RS PERFO INCREDIBL RM E FEATS O F ESCAPE IN THEIR D -MAX UTE S

he D-MAX is more than just a car; it’s an escape machine.

It takes you to places that sedans, family wagons and lipstick 4WDs can’t go. It opens up a world of adventure: one of wide-open spaces, long empty beaches, rivers, rainforests, mountains – everything that’s on offer in the great outdoors.

Me ’n’ my Max is a new segment that asks you to show us where you’ve been with your D-MAX. These guys got suckered into doing it for free, but we’ll be sending a small gift to any D-MAX owner whose happy snaps appear in the next issue. And ladies, we’d love to hear from you, too.

E-mail one high-resolution image along with your name and a short story to maxd@iua.net.au, or mail to Isuzu UTE Australia, max*d magazine, PO BOX 1128 Eagle Farm QLD 4009.

6

Name: Graham Bubb Lives: Elliott Heads, QLD Drives: 2009 D-MAX LS-M 4x4 Lowdown: We took these pics at Burdekin Falls Dam near Mackay, on the way to Cape York. Apart from a little bit of sand getting into the diff after a really deep river crossing near Chile Beach, we didn’t have one problem over two months of solid driving.

I was really impressed with the torque – the lower-end power – it had a lot more grunt than what you’d expect from a threelitre. I’ve driven a lot of 4WDs and the D-MAX is probably the best of the lot.

ME ’N’ MY MAX ■

Name: Sam Maclachlan Lives: Sydney, NSW Drives: 2010 D-MAX LS-U 4x4 Lowdown: We have had a D-MAX as a long-term test car at Australasian Dirt Bike magazine for six months now, and the new world it has opened up for us, as far as where we can ferry our bikes, is amazing.

It’s a great workhorse and has taken bikes and bodies up beaches, down freeways and over all kinds of snot to the good riding areas. This pic of my nephew Jordon posing on the D-MAX was taken near Hawkes Nest on NSW’s Central Coast.

Name: Simon Murphy Lives: Adelaide, SA Drives: 2010 D-MAX LS-U 4x4 Lowdown: My brother took this pic at Coffin Bay National Park on the Eyre Peninsula, at a little place called Sensation Beach. It was my first time on sand with the D-MAX and I was very happy with the way it ate up the dunes.

I take a lot of pride in my ute and have decked it out with a canopy, drawer system, front and rear bars, dual batteries, CB and HF radio and even a fridge!

Name: Bob & Hiroe Ca

mpbell Lives: Bomaderry, NS W Drives: 2009 D-MAX

SX 4x4

Lowdown: These pics were taken near the Pardoo Roadhouse, sou th of Broome, during a 109-day trip that went through the Red Centr e, north to Darwin and all the way down the we st coast to Perth, then ho me to NSW. Over the past 15 years, we've use d all kinds of vehicles to tow our comfy 1.8-to nne caravan, and I've got to say the D-MAX is the best by far. The fuel consumption was outst anding: 10.2litre/100km averaged over 18,000 kilometres.

Name: Da ve McKin no n Lives: Mo ss Vale, N SW Drives: 20 09 LS-M 4 x4 Lowdown : I’ve rack ed up 50,0 kilometre 00 s since bu y ing my D-MAX an d I feel co nfident ta it just abo king ut anywh ere. It’s ta me south k en to the Vic torian bord a little bit er, inland, an d up and down the east coas t as far no as Bunda rth berg, with plenty of side trips along the way. This was taken pic somewhe re along th Fitzroy De e velopmen t Road wh driving up il e to Airlie B each. The Bruce Hig hway wou ld’ve been faster but I prefer th e road les travelled – s literally!

max*d

max*d

7

7

■ MAX TANK Words and photos: Victor Petelo

Three TWO RALLY DRIVERS AND A D-MAX TRAVEL FROM MELBOURNE TO CAIRNS ON THE 2011 MAX RUN CHALLENGE

8

O

ff-road rally aces Bruce Garland and Hiroaki ‘Harry’ Suzuki don’t normally worry about how much fuel they use while competing on the international circuit. The aces were flipped in June, however, when they entered Isuzu UTE Australia’s 2011 Max Run Challenge fuel-economy competition.

Loaded with 300 kilograms of BCF camping gear, accessories and cartons of Mother™ energy drink, the pair used less than 2.5 tanks of diesel to drive the 3,452-kilometre stretch from Melbourne to Cairns.

Beginning at Sterling Isuzu UTE in Bundoora, the first leg of the drive took them to the Ned Kelly Museum. Big Ned covered the boys’ backs as they escaped Glenrowan and the next day they made an appearance at a BCF store in Wagga Wagga before driving on to Temora Aviation Museum.

MAX TANK ■

Did you know?

“Harry, Bruce and the D-MAX were country celebrities, chatting on local radio and posing for pics with babies and kids.”

At this point, the D-MAX – an LSbased, special edition, 4x2, manual X-Runner decked out with a chrome mesh grille, sports bar, slimline side steps and leather seats – was averaging just 6L/100km.

After burning through Forbes and Dubbo, the drivers visited an old mate of Harry’s who owns a cotton farm in Moree. Check out the D-MAX getting dwarfed by a cotton-pickin’ monster.

And there was no chance of a shifty top-up along the way: at each of the refuel pitstops, the odo readings and load were verified and security-sealed on site by RACV, NRMA and RACQ reps to make sure everything was above board.

After nine Isuzu Ute dealers, five BCF stores, an observatory and a couple of Sat Nav dead ends, Harry, Bruce (still recovering from a fractured vertebra from the Dakar Rally in January) and the D-MAX were country

celebrities, chatting on local radio and posing for pics with babies and kids.

The three amigos had made it up through Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Ayr, Burdekin and onwards to Townsville.

The D-MAX got a good mix of highway traffic and town speed limits, but it wasn’t all solid driving for the team. In Cardwell, the fish were biting and this time it was the fellas who got dwarfed – by dinner. Down by the jetty, Harry and Bruce befriended Damon, a local who had two catches: a four-pound golden trevally and a 70-centimetre barra.

The final fuel stop came about 60 kilometres after the ‘Welcome to Cairns’ sign. The team had managed to use only 189.67 litres of diesel – an average of 5.49 litres/100km. A top finish to the fifth Max Run since the challenge began in 2008 and a testament to the D-MAX’s fuel frugality.

The best Max Run res ult ever was in 2009 when Hans Tholstrup drove an SX crew UTE across 1,716.3 km of bitumen and outback-gravel roa ds clocking in at an avera ge of 4.43 litres/100km.

Last year, Tholstrup dro ve a D-MAX LS towing a onetonne-plus powerboat from Cunnamulla in outba ck Queensland to Coola ngatta and Brisbane: 1,000km in total. He averaged 7.86 litres/10 0km.

Clockwise from above: Kings of the kids – Bruce (left) and Harry; flying through Wagga Wagga; the D-MAX; Bruce and Damon; no match for the cotton picker!

max*d

9

■ tech head

TALES

TYRE

T

No matter how flash your 4x4, its economy and driving feel are ultimately tied to its tyres

oo often they are the forgotten factor and are begrudging buys for most drivers. Yet tyres influence a vehicle’s performance and occupant safety, so it’s best to regularly maintain them.

Correct inflation pressure depends on your tyres’ size, profile and rating as well as vehicle weight and usage. All new vehicles have a tyre plaque affixed somewhere in the cabin. They table the correct loaded and unloaded pressures for the various standard tyre sizes for sealed road conditions. Further information is detailed in the owner’s handbook. In a D-MAX, you’ll find the tyre plaque on the shut area of the driver’s door interior trim.

Air pressure Over-inflation reduces your tyres’ ability to absorb road shocks, reduces grip on wet sealed surfaces and causes excessive wear in the centre of the tyre tread. Under-inflation causes excessive flexing in the tyre, builds up internal heat and causes rapid and irregular tread wear while increasing blowout risk. It also creates more rolling resistance, which worsens a vehicle’s fuel economy and increases the elbow grease needed to turn the steering wheel – especially when parking on a sealed surface.

Tyre tips for 4x4 driving Many places in Australia are simply not negotiable without a 4x4. Driving a 4x4 vehicle requires some understanding of tyre performance, how to use 4x4 transmissions and the effects of water and dust on your car.

Driving on beaches, you’ll inevitably come across windblown drifts of soft, dry and traction-sapping sand that require continual momentum, full throttle and partially deflated tyres.

Deflating your tyres allows them to ride on top of the soft sand rather than sinking in. The absolute minimum pressure over soft sand is 102 – 110 kPa (14.8 – 16 psi). Re-inflate as soon as possible after leaving the sand and don’t exceed around 60km/h until they’re reinflated. In areas where you’ll encounter soft sand and hard surfaces, you’ll need to carry an air compressor for re-inflation.

In soft sand, remain in high range 4WD to maintain speed. If you start bogging, select a lower gear quickly and power hard to salvage momentum. If you grind to a halt, select low range and change up very early and very quickly to build speed.

The most notorious driving challenge in outback Australia is bulldust. Most drivers’ initial instinct is to treat bulldust like sand

but that could be a fatal mistake because its talcum powder fineness does not cushion wheel impact as sand does. So never deflate your tyres for bulldust, for beneath those deep stretches of powder can lurk a rock-hard base or loose rocks that can pound the chassis on impact, or savage the sidewall and tread of partially deflated tyres. When driving in bulldust, select high range and maintain a constant speed between 60km/h and 80km/h.

Checklist To ensure your tyres are well maintained, use this checklist as a guide: • Pressures should be checked at least once a week • Pressures should be checked when the tyre is cold • Never bleed air from a hot tyre • Valves should be checked regularly for damage or leaks • Seal-type valve caps should always be used • For high-speed driving and heavyload conditions, increase the inflation pressures as shown on the vehicle’s tyre plaque and/or in the owner’s handbook.

Sponsored by

10 10-11_IsuzuUTE#5_Wishlistv3.indd 10

28/06/11 4:56 PM

WISH LIST ■ HOLY TOAST! When the average person needs a toaster, they go to the nearest whitegoods store and pick one up for less than $20. But if money is no object, get your hands on a Dualit NewGen Toaster for only $550. Handassembled in the UK, it features an insulated stainless-steel body, a bagel setting, extrawide (28-millimetre) slots for muffins and an optional sandwich cage.

It also makes bread hot: www.everten.com.au

WAX ON At $1,499 for a 200-millilitre tub, Crystal Rock car wax from Swissvax is ridiculously expensive. Why? Because it contains 76 per cent Brazilian ivory carnauba wax, which comes from the leaves of a rare species of palm found only in north-eastern Brazil. Carnauba is known as the ‘queen of all waxes’ for its high melting point (84°C), high relative density (0.97) and hard natural finish (it’s harder than concrete). Best of all, it comes in a pretty satin pouch: www.carcareproducts.com.au

F L E H S TOP ERYDAY FOUR EV

T AN ARM S O C N A AT C ITEMS TH

G… AND A LE

BOX O’ CHOCOLATES

A KINGLY SLEEP What value do you put on a good night’s sleep? If it’s $60,000, a custom-made Vividus

by Swedish bedmaker Hästens that takes ‘comfy’ to a heavenly level is for you. The pine and oiled-oak frame is held together with dovetail jointing, eliminating the need for nails and screws. The mattress is made from a blend of cotton, wool and handteased horsehair, with 18-inch springs, each wrapped in durable yarn. It’s everything but nightmare-proof: www.hastens.com

At $15,000, the Chocolate Picnic Steamer Trunk from MarieBelle clocks in as the most expensive box of chocolates in the world. Sold at New York outlets and online, this wardrobe-size ‘gift pack’ contains 500 pieces of chocolate ganache, 2 kilograms of chocolate bark and croquettes, 2 kilograms of Aztec hot chocolate in four tins, a half-kilogram tin of Aztec iced chocolate, eight Aztec hot chocolate bars, a leather journal, a teapot, two china teacups, an infuser and a small library of books about chocolate: www.mariebelle.com

max*d

11

tree â– OUT OF THE BOX

12

OUT OF THE BOX ■

FOR MANY, LEAVING THE BIG SMOKE TO LIVE A QUIETER, HASSLE-FREE LIFE IN THE COUNTRY IS A TIME-TRODDEN DREAM. BUT IS IT ONE WORTH FOLLOWING?

Words: Luke Wright Photos: Courtesy of Tourism NSW

B

ack in the early 1980s, my family quit Sydney – or the “bloody rat race” as my old man used to call it – and moved to the country.

For us kids, it was a great old adventure. Unbeknown to me at the time, it was a journey of upheaval and change for my parents.

Decades later, though very grateful for my having been raised in the country, I’m living in Melbourne. My dad, never one for crowds and traffic, is still in the bush. My mum and my sister went back to live in Sydney. Dreams can’t last forever.

Today, a similar scenario exists across the nation on a grand scale. For some, making tree changes will be the best things they’ll ever do. For others, life in the country will not turn out to be what they hoped.

BONDI TO THE BUSH

Greg Hamersley, a 35-year-old writer, was living in an apartment on Sydney’s Bondi Beach with his partner Suzan when he got a job offer in country Victoria. “I loved living near the beach,” Greg says, “but sharing it with thousands of others on Saturday morning wasn’t always great. Living in the country was something that’d always appealed.”

It was a big move from Bondi to the bush, but Greg and Suzan got right into it. “There’s something endearing about arriving in a place to see a note inviting the whole town to an old lady’s retirement party,” Suzan says.

While it was a pleasant change to feel part of a community, a lack of conveniences – restaurants, bars, shops, entertainment – forced them to create their own fun. “We had barbecues, we went visiting other little towns, we travelled much more than we did in the city,” recalls Greg.

After two years, however, with Greg losing his job and both of them missing the beaches and buzz of Sydney, they moved back to Bondi. “In hindsight, was just a fun experiment, nothing more,” Greg says.

NOT ALWAYS GREENER

Above: Images of country bliss: the Silverton Hotel near Broken Hill, where parts of Mad Max II was filmed; the Dubbo GPO

According to Charles Sturt University’s Dr Angela Ragusa, who led a study on the phenomenon of tree changers, a large slice of those surveyed indicated they wanted to move again – often to the coast rather than back to the city – within a period of five years.

“When stressed-out urbanites think about leaving the city, it’s often the romantic notions of country living that prompt them to seriously considering making a tree change,” she says.

Dr Ragusa’s research also found that often, tree changers need contend with unforeseen consequences resulting from the change: the most common of these relating to isolation, a decrease in leisure activities due to a lack of variety and availability, and a change in the type and range of schools, colleges and jobs.

“Some tree changers find it hard to fit into their new communities and feel like ‘outsiders’ for a very long time,” Dr Ragusa says.

Country folk, on average, report more incidents of poor health and injuries and have a lower life expectancy than city slickers. The benefits of a

max*d

13

■ out of the box

“I loved Bondi and living near the beach, but sharing it with 10,000 others on Saturday morning wasn’t always great.”

Above: A tree change doesn’t necessarily mean living in the bush, with regional centres providing most of the comforts and conveniences of the city for far less dosh

14 12-15_IsuzuUTE#5_OutOfBoxV5.indd 14

top education and the opportunities it can seed are also limited, with rural students often having lowerthan-average post-school aspirations.

New lease on life

While some regret their tree changes, others wish they’d made the move earlier. Melbournite Lynne Price-Purnell made the move to Tamworth and later, Armidale – both in rural NSW – back in the 1990s, and never looked back.

“I highly recommend the move to anyone,” she enthuses. “The benefits certainly outweigh any negatives.”

While Lynne admits the difference in salaries between Melbourne and Armidale can be considerable, the lower cost of living more than makes up for it.

“House prices are half of what you would pay in

Melbourne or Sydney and you only have a 10-minute commute,” she says.

When it comes to work, education and medical care, Lynne has had good experiences overall.

She’s found the public hospital system satisfactory for general healthcare; her daughters have received a private education for much less than what it would have cost in the big smoke. And she has a longterm job with a local business.

“What are the negatives? Well, making friends is a slow process,” she admits. “Like any change, you need to work on it … participate and it will happen.”

Happy days

Are country folk happier than city slickers?

According to The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index (compiled by Deakin University’s Dr Bob Cummins from wellbeing surveys of more than 35,000 people across Australia between 2001 and 2008), they are.

People living in regional Australia scored highest on the Index.

Rod Parish couldn’t agree more. He grew up in Melbourne and met his wife Alex there. They decided they would like to try a more relaxed lifestyle in a more remote place, and settled on

28/06/11 5:01 PM

OUT OF THE BOX ■

Evocities

In an Australian first, sev en regional cities in NSW have join ed forces to kick off the Evocities movement, encouraging people to live, work and invest in key rural hu bs – what they’ve dubbed ‘Ev ocities’.

The cities involved (so far) are Albury, Armidale, Bathu rst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. Together, they’v e locked in enough government funding and corporate sponsors to make the campaign a success – or so they say. For more informatio n, visit www.evocities.com.au .

a property in rural Tasmania.

Today Rod, his wife and their two children say their tree change was an easy choice and they are happier than they’ve ever been.

“I wear thongs to the office,” Rod laughs.

“And I work 30 hours a week. I fish and we eat abalone, flathead, squid and crayfish often.

We grow vegies. We climb mountains, ride motorbikes and play music together. I coach local soccer and make breakfast for some of the lessfortunate kids at school. We live simply but well.”

While Rod admits access to healthcare, schooling and jobs can be challenging, he says it’s a price he’s willing to pay.

may become ‘that’ much more enticing.

But there are plenty of challenges, too. The move can take a lot of effort and some serious adjustments, so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly.

Perhaps my dear old dad summed it up best when he said, “I love living in the country – but if you think it’s going to be a walk in the park with nothing but fresh air and jam scones out here, well, you can keep on bloody dreaming”.

Above: Everything seems bigger and brighter in the country: your home, your town’s parks and gardens, even footprints and guitars

TO MOVE OR NOT TO MOVE

Making the tree change has obvious appeal: in the country, there’s less traffic, less crime and cheaper real estate, to name a few major incentives. For young families and retirees, this can be incentive enough.

And if more premiers follow Barry O’Farrell’s lead – a proposal for a $7,000 lumpsum payment for any city-slicker household that goes bush in NSW – the proposition

max*d

15

lights

Words: Heidi Ruge

I

Pub crawls and pickled testicles in Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital

n the past few years, Iceland has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons: its banks collapsed causing financial chaos, and its volcanic eruptions created travel mayhem as the now-infamous ash cloud descended over Europe, grounding air travel across the region. Yet for the visitors who do make it there, Iceland is pretty much like nowhere else on earth.

Accustomed to endless winter nights and light summer days, many Icelanders maintain an ancient belief in elves and trolls, putting out dolls’ houses alongside their own homes for these creatures to visit.

Icelandic cuisine also keeps ancient traditions alive. The art of preserving food has always been central to the nation’s native cuisine and, in times gone by, everything edible was smoked, salted, dried or pickled to make it last the winter.

This custom is very much alive today, and Icelanders still snack on lax (smoked salmon with herbs), hardfiskur (sticks of

wind-dried fish) and even hákarl (pickled ram’s testicles).

No igloos A vibrant mix of old and new, the capital Reykjavik (pronounced Rek-ya-vik) combines a vibrant blend of old and new architecture that encapsulates the very spirit of the nation. Rustic timber houses sit alongside space-age-looking buildings inspired by nature’s own designs, like Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral, a house of prayer that resembles a bubbling volcano. The ultramodern Radhaus, Reykjavik’s city hall, is another snapworthy sight: lit up at night, its frontage appears to merge with adjoining Lake Tjörnin.

Peering down from its prime location at the top of a hill south of the capital is another modern classic: the Perlan.

It looks like the headquarters of a villain from a James Bond flick, with a stunning glass dome perched on six oversize aluminum hot-water tanks. The Perlan’s fourth floor has a café and observation

deck, while the fifth floor is home to a revolving restaurant.

Reykjavik’s hotel scene likewise includes both historic and ultramodern addresses. Take the Hotel Borg, which caused quite a stir among Reykjavik’s dress circle when it opened in 1930.

Its magnificent Art Deco interior, complete with dazzling lobby, has long been a favourite among foreign dignitaries and stars like Marlene Dietrich and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Then there’s

16 16-19_IsuzuUTE#5_Passportv6.indd 16

28/06/11 5:31 PM

PASSPORT ■

101, next door to the Icelandic Opera House: its exterior is as cold as the Arctic winter, but the interior oozes warmth and European style.

SNOW CONES AND PUB CRAWLS

Main image: Iceland’s Blue Lagoon looks tropical but trust us – it’s not Clockwise from right: The Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church; the English word ‘geyser’ derives from Iceland’s Great Geysir; three of Iceland’s 8 million puffins

Eating pickled animal parts is not for everyone, yet those with less adventurous palates will still find Reykjavik one of the world’s great gastronomical destinations.

For a taste of this nation’s history, book a table at Einar Ben. Named after the Icelandic independence hero Einar Benediktsson, it sits inside one of Reykjavik’s oldest trading buildings.

The menu takes inspiration from French staples but recreates them using fresh Icelandic root vegetables, seafood and game.

Reykjavik has also earned itself a reputation for a pumping music scene – and for its excessive Friday-night rúntur, a pub crawl around the city’s top clubs and bars. The average rúntur tends to be a late one because, due to the high price of grog, most drinkers start the evening at home and arrive on the scene well into the night.

And while locals may avoid it like the plague, the Ice Bar at Restaurant Reykjavik is well worth a visit. Everything here – the chairs, the walls, even the bar itself – is made from blocks of crystalclear ice.

ICECAPADES Before checking out the city, many visitors head straight for the worldfamous Blue Lagoon, a 20-minute drive from Keflavik International Airport. Here, you’ll find a unique bathing experience without which no visit to Iceland would be complete.

Stepping out of the frosty air and into the steamy waters is unforgettable. The surrounding desolate volcanic landscape adds to the drama of these rock-encased waters, which pour into the lagoon from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal facility. For the complete experience, order a cocktail from the bar and paint your face with silica mud.

The rugged landscape and singular geology that make Iceland so unique are

max*d

17

Cooper’s new A/T3 gives you 31% more tread than original equipment tyres!

With deeper tread and stronger construction Cooper’s new Discoverer A/T3 is made to last.

Introducing the new Discoverer A/T3

Utilising a balance of technology, design and compounding to produce a tyre that performs equally well on just about all types of terrain, the Discoverer A/T3 could take you and your Isuzu Ute anywhere.

Cooper’s new A/T3 includes in its internal construction super tensile steel belts that provide the A/T3 with 15% higher than normal tensile strength which results in higher impact strength and puncture resistance.

Available in a direct replacement size for D-max

(245/70R16) the A/T3 is not only the perfect original equipment replacement tyre but is also 10ply rated light truck construction!

Its this internal construction strength combined with coupled silica tread compound that allows the A/T3 to perform brilliantly in all weather conditions on and offroad.

With 13mm of tread depth across the entire tread face the A/T3 light truck has 31.1% more tread when directly com par ed to the original equipment passenger construction Bridgestone 245/70R16 111S Dueler A/T tyres.

Visit www.coopertires.com.au or call our toll free number for more information on the entire range of Cooper Tires and to find your nearest authorised Cooper dealer.

Ph:

1300 COOPER

Guaranteed to last

The new Discoverer A/T3 is guaranteed to last covered by Cooper’s famous mileage warranty up to 90,000kms!* *Warranty conditions apply, visit www.coopertires.com.au for full terms and conditions.

Isuzu Dmax ad(v2).indd 1

6/06/2011 2:06:31 PM

2:06:31 PM

PASSPORT ■

Left: Life goes on as it has for hundreds of years in the Icelandic countryside, where great rolling ranges, endless open pastures and pretty little hamlets reign supreme Below: The temperature at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon ranges between 37 and 39 degrees, making it a great place to warm up after spending a day in a country that’s colder than the average freezer

ICELAND

Geysir

Gullfloss

Reykjavic

The Blue Lagoon

Stokkseyri

FACT FILE

GETTING THERE

evident in three sites of natural beauty near Reykjavik, collectively called the Golden Circle.

The first is Thingvellir National Park.

Only 30 minutes’ drive out of town, it offers plenty of flora and fauna in the summer and breathtaking snowy landscapes in winter. The second Geysir, around 100 kilometres from the capital, is where thermal springs shoot forth water and steam. The third is Gullfloss, a mammoth waterfall on the River Hvítía, 20 kilometres past Geysir.

In the winter months, snowmobiles offer an exciting alternative to skiing.

Popular excursions on these easyhandling but heart-stoppingly powerful vehicles include the snowy wastes of Lyngdalsheidi, close to Thingvellir National Park, and the plateau at Hellisheidi. But if that all sounds a little too energetic, why not try whale- and dolphin-watching off the coast of Reykjavik. In addition to white-beaked dolphins and minke whales, you may catch a glimpse of puffins, gannets and kittiwakes – Icelandic seagulls.

Though half the nation’s population now lives in Reykjavik, the rural fishing

villages that were once the mainstay of Iceland’s economy haven’t faded into oblivion.

The pretty hamlet of Stokkseyri, just 45 minutes’ drive from the capital, is a good place to start your exploration.

The waves of the cold North Atlantic rush up its beautiful but desolate black volcanic beaches, overlooked by a small harbour and Stokkseyri’s fairytale houses. After a stroll on the sands, you’ll find a warm welcome – along with huge platters of freshcaught lobster – at the cosy Fjörubordid restaurant.

And if you happen to be in Iceland between September and April, head into the countryside, away from the glow of the city, to catch an eyeful of the astral phenomena known as the Northern Lights. Caused by the collision of charged particles directed by the Earth’s magnetic field, these swirling green and red patterns of light were thought to be a sign of God by ancient Icelanders. Perhaps, they were right.

Scandinavian Airlines (www.flysas.com) flies from Sydney to Reykjavik fro m $2,731.

Alternatively, fly from London to Reykjavik with Icelan dair (www.icelandair.com) for $300.

WHERE TO STAY

Rooms at the Hotel Bo rg start at $196 a night. For res ervations, phone +354 5511 440 or visit www.hotelborg.is. Ro oms at 101 start from $229 a night (phone +354 5800 101 or go to www.101hotel.is).

WHAT TO DO

Northern Lights Myste ry tours depart from Reykjavik daily at 10:00pm from the onset of autumn darkness until the light nights of spring. Searc h for the magnificent auras in the comfort of a heated 4x4 bus for a nighttime adventure like no thing else on earth. Tickets are $5 0 per person. Phone +354 517 8290 or visit www.tour.is.

IN THE WINTER MONTHS, SNOWMOBILES OFFER AN EXCITING ALTERNATIVE TO SKIING. max*d

19

■ EAT MY DUST

Mister

Sandman THE LESSER-KNOWN HALF OF FRASER ISLAND, SOUTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND’S COOLOOLA, IS A BEACHCOMBER’S DREAM

20

n

EAT MY DUST â–

Words: Ian Neubauer Photos: Neil Reeves & Ian Neubauer

max*d

21

■ EAT MY DUST

F Top left: Watch out for those rogue breakers!

Top centre: Warnings come in threes on Cooloola Coast Road, which cuts to Gympie Top right: The lighthouse on Double Island Point; fishing for flatties; six years seems like an unreasonably long time to wait to drive when you’re 11 years old

22

ew conservation areas in Australia enjoy a higher profile than Great Sandy National Park. Home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island – one of the most beautiful and bizarre geological formations on the planet – it attracts some half a million visitors per year, many of them off-road enthusiasts who spend weekends cruising down the beach on dirt bikes and in 4WDs. But the vast majority of them head straight to Fraser, bypassing the more accessible mainland section of Great Sandy: a 50-kilometre stretch of shifting sand dunes, ancient rainforests, inlets and freshwater streams called Cooloola.

FATHER KNOWS BEST You’d be hard pressed to find more dissimilar terrain than the immaculate four-lane highway that leads from Brisvegas to the Sunshine Coast and the unforgiving soft sand that greets visitors at the southern tip of Great Sandy National Park.

It’s the first time I’ve driven on sand, and I wonder how many times I would’ve become unstuck if it had not been for my old man – who, along with my young

nephew Azul, is accompanying me on this trip. Back when I was a kid, my dad took us on trips up here in a mate’s troop carrier, accumulating a wealth of sanddriving knowledge along the way.

He shows me how to turn the steering wheel quickly from side to side in short strokes to give the front tyres extra grip when we lose traction, how to change gears quickly and maintain constant speed to avoid stalls, and how to find the optimum vector of approach between the soft sand and the constantly shifting shoreline. My confidence grows and in no time at all, I’m barrelling down the multicoloured sand at 80 kilometres an hour, absolutely loving it. And though I deny my nephew’s request to get behind the wheel, I give in to Dad’s, if only to let him see how far 4WD technology has progressed in the past 20 years. His report is devastating – for Toyota, that is.

“The troop carrier didn’t even have power steering. It was really hard work driving on sand,” he says. “But this is child’s play. The suspension is also much better compared to the old bone-rattler.”

Half an hour later, we hit Teewah

OUT OF THE BOX ■

Beach, a beachfront camping area nestled under vegetation-carpeted dunes. We find a secluded spot, where we set up camp with a six-person tent I borrowed from Azul’s mum. I forgot to check the camping gear before we left home, so it’s only now I find that one of the tent’s fibreglass support rods is snapped in two. But Dad quickly solves the problem, using a bit of old rope he finds near a disused campfire and a flexible bit of branch. In no time at all, the splint he’s fashioned around the broken rod lends our tent the structural integrity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

With that out of the way, we light a small fire, pull a couple of steaks and bevies out of the cooler and get on with the serious business of camping under the stars.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY A wild storm hits Cooloola in the middle of the night, whipping the ocean into a frenzy and lashing our tent with wind and rain. It has faded into a drizzle by the time we arise, though intermittent showers persist into the day. With no chance of relighting the fire to cook the

hot breakfast I’d planned, we settle for Coco Pops with milk and cheese-andsand sandwiches instead.

After packing up camp, we continue north along the beach to Double Island Point. The headland was thus named

by Captain James Cook on May 18, 1770, during his voyage of discovery on Endeavour to chart Australia’s east coast. “I have named it Double Island Point from its figure,” Cook wrote in Endeavour’s log. “The land within this point is of moderate and pretty equal height, but the point itself is of such unequal height that it looks like two small islands laying [sic] under the land.”

We hop out of the ute and hike to the top, where a gleaming white lighthouse stands like a sentinel over the coast.

A series of ominous rock formations juts out of the sea a few hundred metres offshore, reminding us just how perilous Cook’s voyage really was. Countless vessels met their ends in the waters here, including ill-fated Singaporean cargo vessel Cherry Venture. It ran aground on Teewah Beach on July 8, 1973, where it lay rusting away for 33 years. The wreck proved to be a

max*d

23

■ EAT MY DUST

The water is turquoise and as calm as a lake, surrounded by a maze of sandbanks and towering dunes.

Top: Even on a windblown day Wide Bay is soft and calm Top right: The non-stop rain turned Tin Can Bay Road into a treacherous slip ‘n’ slide Overleaf: Just like Fraser Island: prehistoric rainforests at Cooloola

24

magnet for tourism but a serious hazard for 4WDs until it was removed by the authorities. Its mammoth propeller can still be seen today, mounted in a park overlooking nearby Rainbow Beach.

4WD WORLD Using a map downloaded from the Queensland national parks website (epa. qld.gov.au), we find Leisha Track, a short sandy thoroughfare that cuts across the headland to Wide Bay. And while the

clouds are almost at sea level back on Teewah Beach, Wide Bay is protected from the ocean, bathed in sunshine. The water is turquoise and as calm as a lake, surrounded by a maze of sandbanks and towering dunes. It’s as beautiful as anything I’ve ever seen on Fraser Island, but as it’s the school holidays, the area is awash with weekenders.

There are families, grey nomads and groups of youngsters mucking about, with canoes, the odd wave runner

EAT MY DUST ■

How dunes are formed

and small yachts sailing by. But what really make their presence felt are a large number (and variety) of 4WDs: everything from little Suzuki Jimnies to off-road buses loaded with backpackers.

We even spot a Mister Whippy 4WD van that sells bait, firewood, ice and LPG gas.

Yet it’s our D-MAX that seems to turn the most heads, perhaps because it’s the only one of its kind on the beach.

“How’s it handle?” calls out a lady from inside an early-model Range Rover.

“Like magic,” I reply, adding for disclosure that I work for the company.

“Can you give us a discount on one?”

“Sell that one and you can buy a new one of these,” I tell her, “and pick up a boat with the change!”

After a quick swim, we jump back into the ute. We were hoping to continue driving north along the beach from Wide Bay to the far tip of the park but the guy in the Mister Whippy van advises us to give it a miss, as the tide is already on

the way in. He does, however, suggest an alternative route: an inland track called Freshwater Road.

We backtrack to Teewah Beach, drive south five kilometres to the mouth of Freshwater Creek, then head inland. The track is mostly graded but is flooded in parts, with seriously steep inclines and a few deep, muddy ruts. It cuts through stunning old-growth vine forest spotted by brush box, prehistoric-size ferns and satinay trees. Prized for its stringy bark’s capacity to resist rot, satinay was logged in Cooloola and Fraser for more than 130 years. It was in especially high demand during the Gympie Gold Rush of the late 1860s, and was used in building the London Docks and the Suez Canal. But conservation groups put a stop to logging here in 1992, and nowadays, you’d get pinged for even kicking a tree.

And fair enough, too, because this place is too beautiful to lose. The only thing I dislike about it is that there’s not

The high, hairpin-shaped dunes of Cooloola and Fraser Island are among the oldest in the world. They were formed by a sequence of events that began some two million years ago, when changing sea currents dumped megatonnes of sand onto Queensland’s southern coast. By 500,000 BC, sand masses stretched 30 kilometres out to sea, leaving only headlands such as Double Island Point exposed. Onshore winds then blew the sand inland to form a series of overlapping dunes, a phenomenon that continues to sculpt and change the park’s topography today.

Tips for driving on sandy beaches • Deflate the tyres on your D-MAX to • • • • •

15psi for soft, dry sand and to 20psi for the firmly packed stuff Give way to pedestrians and the light planes that sometimes land on the beach Plan to drive at around low tide and avoid the two hours on either side of high tide Stick to the speed limit: 80 km/h (50 km/h when driving adjacent to camping sites Park at an angle that allows approaching vehicles to see your vehicle is stationary Drive around flocks of birds – not through them. They’re resting after long, exhausting migration flights and would prefer not to be disturbed

max*d

25

Brisbane 250km approx.

■ EAT MY DUST

Tin Can Bay Rd

Double Island Point Leisha track

Feshwater Rd

GREAT SANDY NATIONAL PARK

Te camewah pin bea g ar ch ea

Poverty Point

R Beaainbow ch R oad

Wide Bay

Cooloola Coast Rd

FACT FILE

GETTING THERE

enough of it, with Freshwater Road coming to a rude end at a bitumen T-junction some 20 kilometres in.

From there, we hang a right onto Rainbow Reach Road and head to Rainbow Beach village, a cute little tourist trap with a popular pub. We pull out the fishing rods and leg it to the surf, but the moment the rods are set up, it starts raining cats and dogs.

I contemplate checking in to the hotel and ordering room service but decide that would go against the spirit of things.

You can’t expect sunny weather all through the year. This, after all, is what camping is all about.

ATTACK OF THE FLIES It’s late in the afternoon when we make camp at Poverty Point. Sitting on the undeveloped side of Tin Can Inlet – a serenely quiet saltwater lake that empties into the Great Sandy Strait – Poverty Point is a haven for birds and marine life of all kinds, including schools of dolphins and turtles that often visit the water’s edge.

But unlike the camping spot at Teewah Beach, which had plenty of

visitors, there’s nobody here but us.

The place is absolutely stunning and we can’t figure out why, though by the time the sun sets, the answer manifests.

Poverty Point backs onto mangrove swamps and is a breeding ground for midges – tiny, two-winged, bloodsucking sandflies. Though we cover ourselves with repellent strong enough to peel the paint off the D-MAX, the midges seem to bite us through our clothes. We light a fire, which keeps the insects at bay temporarily, but then the heavens open and it starts raining again.

A minute later, we’re huddled in the tent munching whatever scraps of food aren’t soaking wet. Nonetheless, we’re in a relatively good mood, just happy to be in each other’s company: three generations of blokes bonding in the middle of nowhere. With my nephew living on the Gold Coast and myself now working across the border in New South Wales, it’s not often we get to spend quality time together like this. And though we decide to call it quits in the morning, I’m left with nothing but top memories of our boys’ weekend away.

The Cooloola section of Queensland’s Great Sa ndy National Park lies between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach, an easy threehour drive from Brisba ne. Follow the Bruce Highway to Noosaville, then veer north to Tew antin, where a vehicle ferry on Moori ndal Street crosses to the Noosa Riv er’s north shore. If approachi ng from the north, start at Gymp ie or Maryborough before vee ring east onto Tin Can Bay Road and then south onto Rainbow Be ach Road.

WHERE TO CAMP

Freshwater campground lies eight kilometres south of Double Island Point with toilets , hotwater showers and coi n-operated barbecues. Teewah Beach campground has 14 kilo metres of unmarked sites, with cam pfires allowed. Poverty Point camping area sits at the shore of Tin Can Inlet.

Bring your own water, firewood and insect repellent. Camp ing permits cost about $5 per perso n, per night.

PERMITS

For camping permits and up-todate reports on beach and road conditions, phone 13 74 68 or visit www.derm.qld.go v.au/parks/ cooloola-northern.

26

11835B C

Casey Stoner

11835B Casey Stoner_Isuzu Max*d _OL.indd 1

1/6/11 5:14:13 PM

■ UNSUNG HEROS h Brook Words: Mitc urtesy of Photos: Co ol SoundScho

I

THREE YOUNG AUSSIES BRING HOPE TO NEEDY CHILDREN IN INDIA THROUGH THE SOUND OF MUSIC

28

magine, if you can, a world without music. A world where the harsh clatter of life and the grating sounds of the city are the only sounds one can hear, where it’s simply impossible to sit and enjoy the crescendos of a symphony or the pounding rhythms of the rock gods.

Outside of Australia, in less lucky places where millions exist in poverty, life without music is not an uncommon thing. In India, despite stellar economic growth, at least 25 per cent of people live in poverty and many children have never heard the

strum of a guitar, let alone played one.

Recently, three young Sydneysiders were able to make a difference to this score by acquiring musical instruments for more than 150 Indian street children through their new charity, SoundSchool. Their objective is not to eradicate poverty; rather, they aim to bring a bit of music and some modicum of happiness into the lives of homeless children.

“We just want them to have a smile on their faces and to have one of the most important things that anyone can have in their life – just because of the emotional relevance music has for

■ UNSUNG HEROS come up with a way to make a difference.’ So we got on the blower to another mate, Jarrod Paul, and told him to come over for beers and pizza.”

Then they started brainstorming, and SoundSchool was born.

Over the next few days, the trio hammered out a plan that would see them promote concerts in Sydney to raise money to buy musical instruments, teaching aids and tuition for street children in India.

SoundSchool staged its first fundraising gig in August 2010. Held at the Beach Road Hotel in the suburb of Bondi, it was hosted by Jane Gazzo, a presenter for pay TV station Channel [V], and featured live performances

by The Delta Riggs, Midnight Youth and Bigphallica.

“We started off with an ambitious goal of raising about $5,000 or $6,000 and ended up raising almost $19,000 that night,” Oli recalls. It was a sellout success.”

The next move was to figure out what to do with all the money. Which led them back to Oli’s photos and the experiences he had in India.

THE INDIAN EXPRESS

all of us,” says Jay Hemsworth, one of SoundSchool’s founders.

BEER AND PIZZA

SoundSchool began making waves in 2009 when one of Jay’s friends, Oli Mistry, returned to Australia after a trip to India and started telling his mates what he had seen.

“I saw firsthand some of the poverty there,” Oli recalls. “I was playing my guitar out in the street and all of these children came up to me just to listen to the music. Their enjoyment of something that I take for granted was a real eye-opener.

“There was this one kid in particular who made a lasting impression. He was called Hari and he had a busted-up old guitar with missing strings, but somehow he’d managed to learn to play Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’! He was enthusiastic and the kids all loved him playing – he was clearly passionate about music.”

After hearing the same story and seeing the photographs a dozen times, Oli recalls, “Jay said to me, ‘Look, there’s got to be something we can do. I’ve wanted to do something for ages; you’re talking about doing something. So let’s sit down and

The Salaam Baalak Trust is an independent charity with branches in Delhi and Mumbai that runs a dozenodd children’s shelters across the subcontinent. Oli had come across them during his visit there and, after looking into their operations, the guys felt it was an organisation they could trust to help them make the most out of the money they’d raised from their sell-out gigs.

A few weeks later, Oli and Jay headed off to India at their own expense to set up the first SoundSchool in one of the Salaam Baalak-run shelters.

“The shelter we set it up in was a boys’ home with about 150 kids,” Jay says. “We bought instruments, we met with teachers and hired them to teach the kids. We also set up a room to store the instruments and held an impromptu concert with a couple of local bands to get the ball rolling.

“It didn’t take long for the idea to catch on. Within a few minutes, the room was jam-packed with kids

max*d

29

Until August, it also generates cash!

You might already know that the whisper-quiet, reliable, light EU series Honda generators generate a lot of power. But now that they come with cash back†, they’re generating a lot of talk too. Purchase the EU10i and you’ll get $150 cash back. Choose the EU20i and you’ll pick up a massive $300 cash back. These savings will generate a lot of interest so please hurry! Offer lasts until 31st August 2011 or until stocks run out. For more information or dealer locations call 1300 1 HONDA or visit honda.com.au

TERMS & CONDITIONS 1 Factory Cashback Promotion is valid from 1st June to 31st August 2011. 2 Offer only available on sale of new EU10i and EU20i Honda Generators. 3 All Factory Cashback Rebates will be paid directly to the customer from participating Australia Post Offices, upon presentation of the appropriate redemption letter sent to customer and proof of identity. 4 Cashback must be redeemed by 30th November 2011. 5 Claims from organisations such as government departments or companies must also include a name of an individual who is authorised to receive payment on behalf of the organisation. 6 This offer is not available to wholesalers. 7 Claims may take up to 6 weeks to process. 8 Honda MPE reserves the right to refuse payment of claims that do not meet the terms and conditions or are deemed to be invalid. All prices quoted are recommended retail including GST. Not all generators are available from every Honda dealer. Honda MPE reserves the right to change models, specifications and price without notice. *4-year warranty. Domestic use only. Not applicable to engines sold as separate units. Full terms & conditions available at authorised Honda dealerships.

†

HO0208_CashBack_275x210 FA.indd 1

6/16/11 2:58 PM

11 2:58 PM

“WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE ROOM WAS JAM-PACKED WITH KIDS STRUMMING GUITARS AND BASHING DRUMS AND REALLY GETTING INTO IT.” strumming guitars and bashing drums and really getting into it.”

Oli was especially stoked when he caught up with Hari – the boy with the busted guitar who’d made such an impression upon him during his earlier visit to India.

“Hari’s face lit up like a Christmas tree when he got his hands on one of the new guitars,” Jay recalls. “He even joined in with the bands at the launch concert, strumming the chords he’d learned for ‘Wonderwall’.”

“It was awesome to see him up in front of the other kids, playing and having a go,” says Oli. “He’s clearly going to be a rock star!”

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

Now back in Sydney, Oli and Jay are in regular contact with the folks at Salaam Baalak. Their simple gift of music has made a huge difference in the lives of the boys living in the shelter, and has inspired the guys to take their plan to the next level: setting up a second SoundSchool in a Salaam Baalak girls’ shelter.

Having spent only about a third of the funds they’ve raised so far at the first shelter, they have plenty left over for SoundSchool 2.0.

“We’re also going to start up a SoundSchool in Australia, possibly in the Northern Territory,” explains Jay.

“Maybe in a remote town or Indigenous community – any place where kids don’t have access to instruments and tuition,” adds Oli. “We’ve now started to look for local organisations we can work with in those regions.”

Whatever they do next, the innovative guys are thinking big; there’s talk of expanding into SouthEast Asia and even Africa.

“We definitely want the fundraising gig to be an annual event because we were amazed about how successful it was last time, and how far the money can go,” says Oli. “Seeing the kids actually play music, strumming guitars and having fun on the day … that was everything,” Jay recalls.

Keep an eye on www.soundschool. com.au for the SoundSchool India photo exhibition by Julian May, as well as new events and updates.

Sponsored by Channel [V], FOXTEL, the Gibson Foundation, Fairfax Digital and www.fasterlouder.com.au.

Previous page: SoundSchool founders Oli and Jay Left: With Hari Above: Taking it to the streets in India

max*d

31

â– INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT REPORT

HELL

YEAH! 32

AN INJURED BRUCE GARLAND LOANS HIS DAKAR-SPEC D-MAX TO EMIRATI RALLY STAR YAHYA AL HELEI FOR THE ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE

INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT REPORT â–

CE HIS AX Y ELEI BI GE

max*d

33

RexOutT

■ INTERNATIONAL REPORT

“WE MET AN EMIRATI DRIVER CALLED YAHYA AL HELEI. WE COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW QUICK HE WAS IN A REALLY ORDINARY CAR...”

T

hey say driving 300 kilometres in the Empty Quarter – a barren desert region that extends across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Oman – is the equivalent of 900 kilometres at the Dakar Rally; that the terrain, covered in sand dunes up to 250 metres high, is a graveyard for vehicles; and that anyone attempting to navigate their way through it has to be very, very smart, and more than a little mad.

In 1997, Australian rally driver Bruce Garland and co-driver Harry Suzuki took the Empty Quarter head-on when they signed up for what was then called the UAE Desert Challenge, a five-day, 1,570-kilometre off-road rally.

Fast-forward 13 years. Bruce and Harry were about to cap off a particularly tough year. At the 2010 Australasian Safari, ill-fitting tyres and repetitive punctures relegated them to third place on the podium. And at Dakar 2011, they vaulted off a monster sand dune and crash-landed in a ravine; Bruce fractured a vertebra and they were forced to pull

34

out of the race. To top it all off, it meant they would have to renege on their promise to return to the UAE this April for what has since been renamed the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. But then a solution presented itself.

“When Harry and I first competed in the event, we met an Emirati driver called Yahya Al Helei,” Bruce recalls.

“We couldn’t believe how quick he was in a really ordinary car, and we’ve kept in touch ever since” Yahya has raced in every Desert Challenge since the event kicked-off in 1991, relying on his knowledge of the area and canny desert-driving skills to rattle the line-up of European and Asian rally superstars.

However lacking any blue-chip sponsorship, Yahya’s results were somewhat hit and miss, with the Emirati saying repeatedly that he could win if he had the right vehicle and support.

Naturally, Yahya was over the moon when Bruce offered him the chance to drive his self-built Dakar-spec 192kW, 630Nm machine – the fastest D-MAX ever built.

Even though it was the first time Yahya had ever driven a diesel, or for that matter a right-hand-drive vehicle with a sequential gearbox, he rose to the challenge and finished first in class and fourth overall.

“I’m extremely happy to finish fourth,” says Yahya. “Considering all the drivers ahead of me are extremely famous international drivers, it is an even bigger honour.”

“It’s a sensational result and they did an excellent job,” adds Bruce. “They had a bit of a setback early in the race but managed to claw their way back from 18th to fourth. Without the early problem, or if the event had been a day longer, I’m sure they could have finished on the podium.”.

RexOutThere(SP>R) _Layout 1 29/03/11 1:49 PM Page 1

Mongrel SP Range Because what you do makes a difference to the boots you wear Our Mongrels SP Series was designed to incorporate the most significant technological, comfort and safety features into one premium range. Now Mongrels have expanded the SP designation to meet the requirements of different work conditions.

For example the mining industry and light manufacturing industries have very different needs. Now, along with SP>P Originals we offer SP>R, SP>S, SP>Z, SP>T and SP>N ranges. Take a look on our website or call for a Mongrel salesman for more information.

Features many of the original and popular styles of our SP Premium Range launched in 2006.

The high tech rubber-soled work boot that’s built to take the heat no matter how rugged the conditions – heat resistant soles up to 300˚C

The lightweight, work boot with aluminium toe-cap and advance Sport technology soling.

The revolutionary ZipSider style allows for great ankle support with easy on and off features required by many trades.

Our Trade range featuring high spec features matched with a comfort innersole and value for money rugged leather uppers.

Many workers don’t require a steel toe cap. So Mongrels has provided a number of non-safety styles from riding boots to classic elastic sided boots and a security range.

SP RANGE The Aussie born and bred work boot designed to work best for you

Victor Footwear 15 George Young St. Auburn NSW 2144 p: 02 8667 2555 f: 02 8667 2500 e: sales@mongrelboots.com.au w: www.mongrelboots.com.au SPR 001

■ GET STUFFED

D.I.Y. PEPPERONI

PIZZA

MELBOURNE’S RICH ITALIAN HERITAGE MEANS PIZZAS ARE APLENTY. WE VISIT+39, AN AUTHENTIC NAPOLI PIZZERIA ON LITTLE BOURKE STREET

1

e n o i l g a M o n i L

MIX IT Pour the water into your bowl, crush the yeast with your fingers, then run it through the water until it dissolves. Make sure the yeast is fresh, not from a packet. You can’t make a real Italian pizza with freeze-dried yeast.

2 KNEAD IT Knead the mix vigorously.

When it no longer sticks to your hands, it’s good.

Add the salt and honey, then knead a little more.

The honey helps the yeast rise and gives the crust its golden colour.

36

Jack Nicol ini

TRY THE REAL THING +39 Pizzeria & Degustation trades from 362 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. Open daily from 11am to 10.30pm.

Phone 03 9642 0440 or visit www.plus39.com.au.

IZZA P I N O R E P P PE PIZZAS) AKES FOUR

PIZZA MEN

In 19 69 , Ja ck Nic oli ni ma de his tor y wh en he op en ed Nic oli ni’s on the Go ld Co as t, now the old es t Ita lia n res tau ran t in Qu ee ns lan d. To day, his so n Re mo run s +3 9 Piz ze ria & De gu sta tio n, an au the nti c piz ze ria in the he art of Me lbo urn e’s CB D. Yo u wo n’t fin d any pin ea pp le or ba rbe cu e sa uc e he re,” says Re mo , “a nd the piz zas co me in on e size on ly: 13 inche s ac ros s.”

“We co nc en tra te on thr ee thi ng s,” he co nti nu es . “The firs t is the qu ali ty of the ba se . It’s all ma de fro m sc rat ch an d we let the do ug h sit for 24 ho urs be for e it’s co oked , so yo u do n’t ge t tha t he av y fee lin g of a ch ea p piz za.

“The se co nd is the qu ali ty of the ing red ien ts. Ins tea d of sh red de d mo zza rel la, we us e bu ffa lo- mi lk mo zza rel la.

Ou r ha m is top sh elf ; so is every thi ng els e we us e. An d the thi rd is the ch ef, Lin o Ma gli on e. He’s fro m Na ple s, the ho me of piz za. His fat he r wa s a piz za- ma ke r. His gra nd fat he r wa s a piz za- ma ke r. Wh o’s go ing to ma ke a piz za be tte r tha n thi s guy? ”

e

3 ROLL IT Remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into a thick sausage over and over to remove any air.

Cover with a damp tea towel and let it rest for 20 minutes. This makes the gluten (the fibre in the dough) a lot more workable.

4 BALL IT Using a spatula, cut the dough into four pieces, then shape into balls by squeezing the balls through a clenched fist. Allow the dough to rest at room temperature for five hours or overnight if possible. If you refrigerate it, your pizza will never rise.

S (M SPARE PAflRoTur

• 500g soft ng flour • 200g stro latte di • 400g fior a cheese ll re a zz o M • nned, ca L • 400m es ma tomato peeled Ro i m la sa iatore • 300g cacc salt ed • 30g iodis yeast sh e fr g 0 2 • in olive oil g ir v • 2 tbsp ney • 1 tbsp ho l si a • Fresh b

TOOLS OF E THE TRADor regular

• Pizza tray y baking tra ife kn rp a h S • • Spatula • Scales ing bowl • Large mix er • Pizza cutt

5

STRETCH IT Dust your hands with flour, place one of your dough balls on the tray and, using the thumbs and palms of both hands, stretch the ball to dinnerplate size. Repeat with the three remaining dough balls, or bag and freeze them for later.

6 TOP IT Remove the water from the canned tomatoes, squash them in your hands and spread over the base. Next, add the mozzarella, cut into small cubes. Finish with a dozen slices of salami.

7 FINISH IT Put the pizza and the tray you made it on into the oven for 15 minutes at 250ºC or until the crust turns a lovely golden brown. Garnish with fresh basil, slice into eight pieces and attack!

IT’S A LIFESTYLE THING...

Personalise your D-MAX to suit your adventure. Whether it’s the Monday to Friday slog with the tools of the trade on board, or the weekend warrior missions into the great outdoors. With Isuzu UTE Genuine Accessories forged by quality engineering and decades of automotive experience, your D-MAX can be fitted out with all the nifty bits and style you need… for greater “pulling power*”.

To get your D-MAX geared up, whatever the occasion… see your local Isuzu UTE dealer or call 1300 147 898.

VISIT ISUZUUTE.COM.AU TO VIEW THE ENTIRE D-MAX RANGE *Pulling power can’t be guaranteed, no matter what you think of yourself, it all depends on your looks, charm and financial status. This also doesn’t give your D-MAX the extra capability to tow more than its maximum capacity of 3 tonnes for 4x4 and 2.5 tonnes for 4x2.

38-39_IsuzuUTE#5_DealerList.indd 38

28/06/11 5:28 PM

DEALER LIST ■

ISUZU UTE DEALERS ASO = Approved Satellite Outlet

QUEENSLAND Ayr Burdekin Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4783 7077 Bundaberg Bundaberg Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4131 8211 Cairns Trinity Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4081 5000 Cleveland ASO Keema Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3479 9880 Currimundi ASO Pacific Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 5438 4818 Dalby ASO Black Trucks Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4669 8988 Gladstone Reef City Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4971 4000 Goondiwindi ASO Black Trucks Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4671 3512 Gympie Isuzu UTE Gympie Phone: 07 5480 5200 Ipswich Blue Ribbon Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3288 6600 Mackay River City Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4968 0111 Maroochydoore Pacific Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 5458 9740 Moorooka Moorooka Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3373 0777 Mount Gravatt Keema Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3426 1500 Nundah Norris Motor Group Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3635 5100

Townsville Pickerings Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4726 5555

Ballina ASO Trevan Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6681 4499

Newcastle Newcastle Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4980 0660

Warwick ASO Black Trucks Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4661 3228

Bankstown Dale Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 9742 1766

North Wollongong ASO Wollongong City Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4222 7999

VICTORIA Ballarat Ballarat Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5335 3600

Bathurst ASO Orange Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6332 4007

Orange Orange Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6362 8100

Batemans Bay Alan May Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4454 1716

Parramatta Denlo Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 8892 8150

Caroline Springs ASO Werribee Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 8361 8255

Bomaderry Country Motor Company Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4421 0122

Port Macquarie John Patrick Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6584 1800

Dandenong Patterson Cheney Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 9215 2300

Bowral Highlands Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4861 1100

Epsom Central Victorian Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5449 4500

Broken Hill Far West Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8087 2311

Tamworth Peel Valley Motors Tamworth Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6768 3111

Merredin ASO Northam Isuzu UTE Merredin Phone: 9041 4444

Geelong Winter & Taylor Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5225 4850

Coffs Harbour Coffs Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6648 3566

Taree Mid Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6592 6300

Midland Midland Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9464 1000

Horsham Dick Wilson Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5382 4677

Dubbo Sainsbury Automotive Dubbo Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6884 6444

Wagga Wagga Wagga Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6933 0100

Moora ASO Waltons Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9651 1363

Young McAlister Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6382 3033

Northam Northam Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9622 0888

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Goulburn ASO John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4823 1000

O’Connor Major Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9331 9331

Bundoora Sterling Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 9467 5533

Malvern Isuzu UTE Malvern Phone: 03 9864 3585 Mildura Autosynergy Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5022 0927 Ringwood Genesis Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 9879 7776 Shepparton Ken Muston Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5821 6688 Swan Hill ASO Autosynergy Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5033 1555 Traralgon Isuzu UTE Gippsland Phone: 03 5175 8060

Eden Ron Doyle Motors Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6496 1420 Forster ASO Mid Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6591 7933 Gosford Central Coast Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4320 0900 Griffith Griffith Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6969 5080 Hornsby Isuzu UTE Central Phone: 02 9472 2111 Kingswood Western Sydney Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4736 2143

Warrnambool Clinton Baulch’s Warrnambool Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 5561 6000

Lansvale Lansvale Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 9726 1111

Werribee Werribee Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 9974 3799

Lismore Trevan Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6627 7999

Southport Cartwright Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 5557 7333

NEW SOUTH WALES Albion Park Rail Shellharbour Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4230 3100

Maitland Hunter Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4999 6710

Springwood Keema Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3884 8300

Albury Wodonga Blacklocks Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6049 5500

Toowoomba Black Trucks Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 4631 4200

Armidale Grant McCarroll Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6772 1566

Redcliffe Northstar Isuzu UTE Phone: 07 3480 8600 Rockhampton Rockhampton Prestige Phone: 07 4922 1000

Moree Hill Fitzsimmons Phone: 02 6752 1777 Narellan Narellan Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 4622 2552

St Leonards Northshore Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 8198 1818

Mitchell ASO John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6201 1800 Queanbeyan John McGrath Isuzu UTE Phone: 02 6166 1111

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Angaston Eblen Isuzu UTE Phone: 1300 ISUZU UTE Fullarton Fullarton Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8338 2303 Mount Gambier O.G.R Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8724 1111 North Adelaide Isuzu UTE Walkerville Phone: 08 8269 2922 Port Lincoln Mike Raleigh Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8683 1211 Port Augusta Emanuele Bros Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 8643 6233

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Albany Albany Autos Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9842 5522 Broome Broome Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9192 7357 Esperance ASO Albany Autos Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9071 1060 Geraldton Waltons Isuzu UTE Geraldton Phone: 08 9921 5044 Kalgoorlie Golden City Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9021 1699 Maddington DVG Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9492 0000

Osborne Park Regents Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9273 1000 Picton South West Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9725 4911 Port Hedland ASO South West Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9140 1811 Wangara Wanneroo Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9403 9403 Wagin ASO South West Isuzu UTE Phone: 08 9861 2188

NORTHERN TERRITORY Alice Springs Isuzu UTE Territory Phone: 08 8952 5155 Darwin Isuzu UTE Darwin Phone: 08 8946 4460

TASMANIA Derwent Park Jackson Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 6277 6600 Launceston Jackson Isuzu UTE Phone: 03 6323 7000

max*d

39

■ HOOK, LINE ‘N’ SINKER

Water THE STORY OF A QUEENSLANDER WHO WOULDN’T ALLOW A BIT OF RAIN TO INTERFERE WITH HIS FISHING TRIP

M

y name’s Eric Olsen. I live in Brisbane and I like to spend most – if not all – of my holidays out on the water holding a line.

But when heavy rain fell across the state last December there weren’t that many great places left to go fishing nearby. So after looking at all the options, I decided to go slightly further afield to Lake Monduran, 80 kilometres west of Bundaberg.

Held back by the Fred Haigh Dam, Lake Monduran is well stocked with barramundi and Australian bass. It hosts one of the state’s biggest freshwaterfishing competitions – the Family Fishing Classic – in the second weekend of October every year, and is rated by some as the barra capital of southern Queensland.

But I wanted to find out for myself.

The lake is about a four-anda-half-hour drive from my home in Brisbane. Average fuel consumption in the D-MAX with a full load and boat in tow during the

40

two legs of the trip was 10 litres/100km. Not bad for a ute with so much grunt.

The lake produced some hot sunny days, but alas no fish in the waking hours. I had more luck at night, landing a few large barra – all of them over the magic metre mark. Not knowing where or when these fish will break the surface in the dark added to the fun, with screaming reels and sudden splashes followed by colourful cursing.

Time flew by, the night slipped away and before I knew it, it was four in the morning and the sky was starting to lighten.

I still had a couple of leave days to kill when I got back from Lake Monduran, and was hoping to target a number of fish species in Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River. But those plans were drowned by the persistent rain.

Then, on Boxing Day, needing some respite from the madding crowds, I braved the rain and headed out for an early morning fish. The rain actually had a calming effect on the water and perhaps it had a calming effect on me, too.

Flicking lures for snapper, I managed to reel in a variety of fish, including a couple of nice sweetlips, some grinners, a shark and even a couple of legal snapper, with two good-sized specimens weighing in at six and eight kilograms respectively. , email MAX to go fishing If you use your D- e best story submitted will u. Th maxd@iua.net.a max*d and win coming issue of rth fo e th appear in .

AX fishing pack the author a D-M

CAL0291_275x210_IM.indd 1

16/06/11 6:21 PM