Marque Magazine Summer 2019

DOG DAYS Ken Eaton and Chloe the dog have rasised thousands during their epic 200,000km journey

ON A LOOP Musician Tash Sultana’s seven deadly sins

THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2019

08 9329 9560 info@urbane.net.au urbane.net.au

THE DAY-DATE 40 The international symbol of performance and success, reinterpreted with a modernised design and a new-generation mechanical movement.

It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.

oyster perpetual day-date 40

TAKE THE LEAP Méthode Traditionnelle Sparkling From Western Australia

WWW.HOWARDPARKWINES.COM.AU

CONTENTS 70

MARQUE | THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019 EDITION

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WELCOME TO MARQUE MAGAZINE

H

appy New Year!

2019 is here and it’s going to a big year for Auto Classic. MINI celebrates its 60th anniversary and launches its first Plug-in Hybrid – the Countryman S E All4. Meanwhile BMW is launching seven new models in the first quarter alone, including the flagship new 8 Series pictured on the front cover.

In addition to the regular product news, this issue of Marque is putting some inspiring women in the spotlight. BMW Australia recently partnered with Vogue Living to deliver the “Women Of Excellence” dinner series, a celebration to encourage future female creatives. Following this theme we decided to interview some of our own female role models from both the Auto Classic team and our incredible network of customers.

On a personal note and as a female in motorsport, I am also an advocate of gender equality and feel fortunate to live in a generation, culture and work place that has embraced this.

There is a delicate balance between celebrating this equality and avoiding patronizing clichés, the latter of which we have intentionally dodged in our delivery of these features.

If you have a story suggestion for Marque Magazine I would love to hear about it, please email me at info@autoclassic.com.au

Year of the

10

INSPIRING WOMEN IN BUSINESS MAKING WAVES

he hottest shows, events, travel T and ideas around

15 SPECIAL - Year of the Lady Boss

Meet the women smashing the glass ceiling in their careers

15 Read our inspiring stories of women smashing it in their chosen careers.

38

16

AROUND THE DEALERSHIP

Apprentice of the year Bridget Bell

leads the pack

18

TAKE FIVE With Moda Interiors Kate Barakovska

20

MQ DESIGN

Living Movement exhibition draws crowds

22 MQ ENTREPRENEUR

Women leaders reveal the secrets of their success.

28

MQ MUSIC

Newcomer Julia Jacklin

30

MQ WINE

Winemaker extraordinair Janice

McDonald

Zoe Zoe Nieuwhof, Marketing Manager, Auto Classic

MQ TIPS

32 MQ EVENT

The first Vogue Living Women of Excellence event was a success

34 MQ ENDURANCE

100 marathons in 100 days to raise

26

awareness of water issues

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38 WATCHWATCH

Beautiful timepieces

42 BMW FEATURES

40

46

34

32 40

MQ PREVIEW he latest BMW X3 T

64 MQ AUDIO Speakers for every budget

42 MQ THIRST

Japanese whisky makes waves

66 MQ PERFORMANCE Ray Winstone’s latest role

68 MQ REVIEW X5 VIP test drive

46

BMW PREVIEW

Go large with the new X7

48

BMW ART

68

70 COVER STORY BMW X8 takes Venice

51

70 MINI SPECIAL EDITION Order one of only 25 special

Indigenous art and Kylie’s costumes

MQ THE INTERVIEW

Missy Higgin’s reveals her

favourite tracks

52

MQ TRAVEL

Sublime Lake Como

56

MQ PROPERTY

A riverside gem by Urbane

Millbrook MINIs

74

MQ PHOTOGRAPHY

78 MQ MOTORRAD Ken and Chloe the dog’s

extraordinary charity ride

58 BOOKMARQUE

New titles for your bookshelf

80

MQ AIRBORNE

Plane spotters unite

62 LET’S GO TO ...

Rottnest Island

82

LAST WORD

THE AUTO CLASSIC MAGAZINE

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Australia from above

Tash Sultana

Published by

Editor

Gabi Mills | gabi@premiumpublishers.com.au

Premium Publishers,

Art Director

Cally Browning | cally@barecreative.com.au

26 John Street Northbridge WA 6003.

Sales

Natalie Du Preez | natalie@premiumpublishers.com.au

Ph (08) 9273 8933 premiumpublishers.com.au

Images

Crib Creative, Shot by Thom.

Printed by

Vanguard Press

Contributors Dianne Bortoletto, Norman Burns, Cassandra Charlick, Fergal Gleeson, Ara Jansen, Matthew Mills.

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PREMIUM PUBLISHERS

TIPS

The hottest events, the best innovations, travel inspiration and exhibitions

WA’S FAVOURITE SON RETURNS

A LOT TO LOVE ABOUT LARRIKIN GIN Gin has undergone something of an image revolution recently. No longer the preserve of crusty old chaps keen to mix it with tonic, gin is now as likely to be distilled by hand in a yurt for the purposes of an Instagram post than ever. Thankfully, the unpretentious folk at Ballarat’s Kilderkin Distillery have stepped in to change all that with their collection of Larrikin Gins. In four varieties of appreciation for their namesake, the distillers behind this playful spirit have bottled the harmless prankster, the larrikin we all love, with a bit

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TIM MINCHIN, internationally renowned award-winning musician, comedian, actor, writer and composer, is returning to the Australian stage with his first national tour since 2012.

The Australian premiere of Back kicks off in Adelaide on March 8 at the Thebarton Theatre before heading off around the country, including Perth, his home town, on March 22 and 23 at Crown Theatre.

It will be the first time fans can see Tim in action since returning to the country after more than a decade living overseas and the long-awaited follow-up to his consecutive sold-out national tours of Tim Minchin Vs the Orchestra in 2011 and 2012.

Back is billed as “Old Songs, New Songs, F*** You Songs”, hinting at a set list of material from all corners of Minchin’s eclectic – and often iconoclastic – repertoire.

With a long history of sold-out tours – his most recent Australian one-off performance as part of Dark Mofo in June sold every ticket in under 15 minutes.

The music virtuoso also announced that a portion of the tour profits will be donated to a local charity in each city, details of which can soon be found at timminchin.com. ❱ Tim Minchin, Back, Crown Theatre, March 22 and 23. For complete tour and ticket information, visit livenation.com.au.

of cheek and a load of irreverence. The resulting high quality spirits can be enjoyed by everyone, including those with a preference for drinking their spirits neat, as well as those who like to add their favourite mixers.

Try the Barrel Aged Larrikin Gin (limited release, $95) for something truly different – it’s been aged in small American oak barrels that once held bourbon and then Tassie whisky. Those juniper notes are softened out by that brief ageing experience and because it’s a small batch, you can still go for that Insta moment if you must. ❱ Visit kilderkindistillery.com.au

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

CROWD FAVOURITE RETURNS TO FRINGE WORLD Direct from London’s West End, the awardwinning smash hit from past Fringe Worlds, La Soirée, is back and wowing audiences all over again.

Fringe World Festival director Amber Hasler said that the opportunity to bring back the Fringe favourite was too good to pass up.

“What a wonderful new year’s present to get another serving of all the razzle dazzle in La Soirée. This show is pure Fringe fare; it’s joyous, celebratory, hilarious, cheeky, irreverent and at times quite saucy and slightly twisted,” Ms Hasler said.

The show replaces Club Swizzle at Fringe World, which due to unforeseen circumstances, is no longer in the festival, and it’s returning reimagined, bigger and bolder than ever. The trailblazing, multi-awardwinning show that broke all the rules, captured the world’s imagination and redefined contemporary cabaret takes up residence this summer at the iconic Ice Cream Factory until March.

Joyous, celebratory, jaw-dropping and downright unmissable, the newly imagined show features a roll call of international artists in an astonishing and wildly entertaining line-up.

CABARET DÉCADANSE from Montreal is a sassy, sexy and hilarious puppet feast for adults in which the puppeteers André-Anne Leblanc and Colin St-Cyr-Duhamel are as mesmerising as the puppets themselves.

Straight from the streets of Mumbai, be astounded by the unparalleled strength and spectacular skill of MALLAKHAMB INDIA on Indian Pole with duo Rajesh Amrale and Aakash Pilwalkar (pictured right). Performing seriously dangerous tricks in front of live audiences is par for the course for FRATELLI ROSSI, acrobatic brothers Alejandro and Ricardo Rossi.

LUCKY HELL is one of the most revered sword swallowing performers of our time, a combination of high glamour and unbelievable skill. The wickedly sultry CARLA LIPPIS brings her fierce brand of rock ’n’ roll swagger to the stage. There will be acrobatic mayhem in store with an incredible powerhouse trio: BEN LEWIS exhibits his dazzling display of strength in a sexy strap routine; the dynamic and daring

MARQUE SUMMER 2019

WILL MEAGER on the astonishing Cyr Wheel; and the powerful and fearless WILL UNDERWOOD on Chinese pole. And there’s more to come! ❱ La Soirée is at The Ice Cream Factory, Elizabeth Quay, Perth from February 1 to 3, 5 to 10, 12 to 17, 19 to 24, 26 to 28 and March 1 to 3 at various times.

Tickets from $35.

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STRIKING A POSE Last year’s Sculpture by the Sea drew huge crowds keen to see works like Looking for Sharks (by Danger Dave, Christian Rager and Damien Hirst), below left, The Place Where A Heart Could Stay (by Sang Sug Kim) and bottom right, Swirling Surround (by B.Jane Cowie) .

ART IN THE SANDS Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, the annual outdoor sculpture exhibition, returns to transform the famous sands of Cottesloe Beach from March 1 to 18.

Now celebrating its 15th year, the exhibition is one of Perth’s largest free public events, attracting an estimated 250,000 visitors to explore the art and create Perth’s own version of the Italian passeggiata.

More than 70 Australian and international artists are set to showcase their work across the 18-day exhibition.

Some of WA’s leading sculptors exhibiting in Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2019 include: Anne Neil, Stephen Tepper, Alessandra Rossi, Miik Green, Ron Gomboc, Jennifer Cochrane, Tim Macfarlane Reid and Tony Davis as well as emerging artists Britt Mikkelsen and Jina Lee. ❱ Visit sculpturebythesea.com/cottesloe

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THE BEST PRICE FOR YOUR HOME International real estate agency Fine & Country has now opened a new office in Perth. Fine & Country specialise in the marketing of prime residential properties and the company now has over 300 successful offices worldwide.

Fine & Country have won Best International Estate Agency Marketing for 5 consecutive years at the International Property Awards.

Recognising that luxury properties require a more tailored marketing approach and higher quality materials; the new office will take advantage of Fine & Country’s award-winning marketing service. These are proven marketing techniques to get you the best price for your home. The office is particularly keen to take advantage of the company’s global referral network to boost their business.

Fine & Country are already recognised as being amongst the most respected estate agency brands internationally.

A recent survey indicated that 98.96% of clients would recommend their services.

Call Fine & Country now for a free appraisal of your property.

The Fine & Country Perth Office can be contacted on 0451 248101, or via email on amy.gohil@fineandcountry.com

THE GRAND OLD GAME We’ve all played a game of Scrabble over the years, but did you know that this vintage board game is now 70 years old?

LEXIKO was invented in 1938 by American architect Alfred Mosher Butts, trademarking the name Scrabble in 1948.

According to legend, Scrabble had its big break in the early 1950s when Jack Straus, president of Macy’s, played the game on vacation. He ordered some for his store and within a year Scrabble became a must-have hit. The rest is history.

The very snazzy 70th Anniversary limited-edition Scrabble is available now at Big W and Myer until stocks last and is retailing for $49.99.

Fast facts - Scrabble

• Scrabble is the best-selling and most popular board game in history, with more than eight Scrabble games starting every hour.

There are over 4,000 Scrabble clubs around the world.

The highest score in one game is 1,049 by Phillip Appleby from Lymington in 1989.

Scrabble is used all over the world as a method of teaching English.

Scrabble not only improves intellectual capacity and social skills but is also found to decrease the risk of mental illness, strengthen the immune system and lower blood pressure.

In the last 10 years, words included to the list which are acceptable when playing include crowdsourcing, bitcoin, selfie, fitspiration, surreal and contactless.

• • • • •

Get more knowledge on words starting with ‘Q’ and ‘Z’ as these are the highest scoring tiles.

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MQ TIPS

YOUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE

Explore, dream and discover the south west with Private Properties.

Private Properties are the escape specialists.

Passionate about architectural gems, country estates and unique cottages so you stay in distinctive luxury and indulge in unforgettable holiday experiences.

Their hand-picked prestige portfolio includes inspirational homes in the Swan Valley, Mandurah, Peppermint Grove Beach, the Margaret River region, Denmark and Albany.

Experienced booking consultants ensure you book the right holiday home for your needs. The guests services team tailor every detail, so when you turn the key you can relax knowing all your creature comforts are at your fingertips. With exciting new properties coming online soon, visit their website, become a member and be the first to know about these exclusive new listings, like: Beachside at Bunker Bay, Sea Spell in Eagle Bay and Mahree in Yallingup. ❱ Visit privateproperties.com.au

BREAKOUT STAR HEADS TO OZ As the main support on Ed Sheeran’s 2018 stadium tour throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, Anne-Marie is no stranger to performing live, having spent two years touring with Rudimental as their lead live vocalist and selling out entire UK venues. As the biggest debut artist in the UK of 2018, this talented singer is bringing Sydneybased group Glades (above, inset) along for the ride. ❱ Anne Marie, Metro City, Perth, April 6. Visit megatix.com.au or call 1300 338 808.

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Year of the

INSPIRING WOMEN IN BUSINESS MAKING WAVES Welcome to a special MQ collection of stories celebrating the achievements of women in all sectors of industry, culture and society

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Year of the

LADY BOSS

AROUND THE DEALERSHIP

AWESOME FOURSOME

The Auto Classic workshop’s apprentice of the year, Bridget Bell, is leading a pack of four female mechanics - and proving gender is no barrier to success in this tough industry.

By GABI MILLS. Images by CRIB CREATIVE.

LEADING LADIES Left to right: Riana Allen, Bridget Bell, Saphron Colja, Claire Belanger.

I

t’s a tough gig, but one that Bridget Bell absolutely loves. On a typical day, you’ll find her along side Riana Allen, Saphron Colja and Claire Belanger. getting busy spinning spanners and carefully finetuning Auto Classic customers’ cars from 8am til close of play.

“I come up for air at 10am for morning tea, and take a quick break to compare notes with the other mechanics,” says Bridget.

“Fifteen minutes later, it’s heads down and bums up working away until my leading hand comes over and tells me to put down my tools and grab some lunch. Lunch breaks aren’t long, so half an hour later, you guessed it; tail up, head down again until 4pm. Then it’s off home and typical adulting ready to do it again the next day.”

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apprentice technician at Auto Classic since November 2016 and luckily found her niche from day one.

“I first came to Auto Classic during my work placement for my pre-apprenticeship in mid-2016, sharing time between the service department and Motorrad service,” she says. “I knew straight away that this is where I wanted to be, I just didn’t know whether it would be with cars or bikes. In the end, I was offered the choice and I decided to go with cars.”

If you think that it’s a bit unusual for a woman - let alone four - to be engaged in this type of work, then think again. Bridget, along with her fellow female apprentices, shrugs off any such prejudice.

“I find the biggest challenge presented by being involved in the industry is the reactions of people outside of the trade,” she says. “I don’t see myself as a trailblazer at all, as women have been involved in the motor trade for many decades, yet still there remains this stigma of women being incapable of performing the job.

“The role is particularly physical, but no more so than a physical trainer or warehouse operator.”

Despite there being some physical challenges, Bridget is swift to suggest that this shouldn’t be seen as something to hold young women back from making the move into a similar role.

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

“I certainly wouldn’t see it as a barrier for women, as there are many tools and skills that can assist with tasks. And I’d challenge anyone to say that a woman wasn’t smart enough. Fixing a car is like baking a cake, but there’s more chemistry involved with baking a cake.”

When she’s downed tools for a break, you’ll more than likely find Bridget with a coffee in hand, made

by Auto Classic’s very own in-house barista. Outside of work, she enjoys playing netball and racing yachts to escape the ‘daily grind’.

The intricate nature of some of the work she tackles is of particular interest to Bridget.

“I really enjoy diagnostic challenges and finding solutions,” she says. “Prior to my role here, I was training as a veterinary nurse, and you may find it surprising how transferable the skills are; observing, listening, smelling and feeling out a problem, but I haven’t yet been kicked by a car,” she laughs.

Bridget was a relatively late-comer to the industry, but that doesn’t mean to say her heart hadn’t always been with cars and mechanics.

“When I graduated back in 2001, I knew that this is what I wanted to do, but back then, there were more barriers to women working in trades positions,” she says.

“I remember fondly my father and I having a heated discussion which ended with him saying he didn’t want any daughter of his being a greasemonkey. So I went into hospitality and retail.”

Fast forward a few years, and Bridget was working in the commentary box at the Perth Motorplex at a top fuel event.

“We were trying to get some colour footage pre-event when I bumbled into the Rapisarda Autosport International camp where the teams were busy preparing for the day of racing. Santo Jr. and Santino graciously invited me in for an interview to talk shop.”

Bridget’s curiosity was piqued

and she questioned the crew about their top fuel preparations, ending up cleaning valves, testing valve spring resistances and re-sealing superchargers with their crew.

“I ended up having so much fun working with their teams, that time flew by and before I knew it I had to run back to the commentary booth to go on air. I thought that maybe this is something I could actually do so I enrolled in the automotive light vehicle pre-app course. I never intended for it to go far, I just wanted to test the water, but four days into the course I knew that I’d found my niche.”

That, as they say, was the just the beginning of Bridget’s story and these days, as a bona fide grease monkey (sorry Dad), achieving the accolade of Apprentice of the Year, she’s happier than ever. More so, perhaps, as a result of Auto Classic’s behind-the-scenes work culture.

“It’s the people,” she says.

“Words can not express how driven and supportive this team is. With these talented people surrounding me, it has allowed me to excel and achieve apprentice of the year.

“I’ve also been given the freedom to take time off to host events like Motor-Ex in 2017 in Sydney, knowing that I had my own support crew watching their TVs back in Perth cheering me on.”

Of course, another undeniable perk of the job is driving some of the best cars in production.

“Driving a BMW really is the most pleasurable experience you can have,” she says.

The future is bright for Bridget and the other apprentices at Auto Classic.

“I’m looking forward to finishing my trade certificate, and then my BMW registered technician certificate. I also want to pursue a dual trade in BMW Motorrad before continuing onto my Master Technician certification with BMW,” she says.

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achieved is eight years from apprenticeship to Master Tech, so it’s no small feat.

“There’s a few steps along the way; registered tech, diagnostic tech and then master. The master’s exam is only held once a year, and you need to blitz the exam every year in order to retain your masters certification,” says Bridget.

“That’s why it is so inspiring to work alongside master technicians here. I have so much admiration to those that manage to hold this qualification for many years. And who knows what the future holds, Munich is really pretty this time of year,” she smiles.

For those keen to follow in Bridget’s footsteps, her advice is simple but focused.

“Syuutsyuu is Japanese and means ‘to focus entirely on a single task’,” she says. “I read this early in my time and it reinforced that I’d need to put aside other things which may distract me from focusing all of my energy on my apprenticeship.

“If you want to follow in my footsteps, I’d suggest to do a pre-apprenticeship. You’ll know if it’s right for you, and then keep nagging until someone gives you a go.

“It isn’t going to be easy, but it will be fun. Don’t expect overnight recognition, it’s a long process, but at the end of your course, you aren’t going to be that girl stuck on the side of the road, not knowing what to do about that flat tyre.” MQ

“Fixing a car is like baking a cake, but there’s more chemistry involved with baking a cake.” ~ BRIDGET BELL, Apprentice of the Year.

AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

Year of the

LADY BOSS

TAKE 5 with

... KATE BARAKOVSKA

Moda Interiors creative director

As 2019 kicks off, Kate Barakovska and the team at Moda Interiors are looking forward to more creative inspiration with each and every project they tackle.

MQ What are you particularly looking

forward to in 2019, based on your successes to date?

Kate Barakovska I’m looking forward to ensuring that Moda Interiors continues to be the ‘people’s choice’ when it comes to tackling a renovation, building or restyling project. I want to make sure we maintain a strong presence in the forefront of our industry. In addition to residential projects we also offer our services to commercial and hospitality projects and are focusing on broadening our horizons on the international market. We’re keen too to explore more national and international collaborations and have some exciting exclusive products in the pipeline this year too.

as exterior features that look very interesting. We’ll also be looking closely at some new lighting trends and gorgeous new furniture brands from Italy. I love creating timeless interiors that reflect the individuality of my clients, while adding to the mix a flavour of current trends. In terms of textures and materials, brass, engineered stone, timber, deep velvets and luscious hues are here to stay.

Look out for more dark grey and browns, creating deeper, moodier interiors complemented by greenery and with a strong focus on mixed materials and statement textures. I am also certain that we’ll be creating very liveable spaces with sorbet-hued palates and a splash of the Pantone colour of the year.

MQ What are the design and interior

MQ How has the design landscape

trends you’re particularly looking forward to working with this year?

KB We have some fantastic projects that we are working on this year and I’m looking forward to using some new innovative materials that haven’t been utilised in our industry as much yet. For me, this is something I really enjoy: I love offering my clients a point of difference. There are new tiles and benchtop surfaces as well

The magic of the BMW is in the details, and as an interior designer, my philosophy for a successful home is also detail driven.

changed in the years you’ve been working – is it easier/harder for women in the industry to make a mark in your opinion?

KB I think it’s easier than ever before for women to make a mark in the industry. Social media in particular has opened a lot doors for women to be at the forefront of our industry.

It gives us the chance to keep on top of what’s happening worldwide and equally, inform others what we’re getting up to. Collaborations are more acceptable too - people are more willing to share instead of just guarding their own ‘patch’. This in turn means we all have better access to products and suppliers.

MQ What top tips would you like to

share with young female designers keen to follow in your footsteps?

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KB I would tell them to work hard - it definitely pays off. Also be yourself - there’s room for all of us.

It’s important too to not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. You’ll learn heaps by engaging with people in the industry; don’t underestimate the power of networking.

MQ What makes a Moda Interiors project unique/special?

KB It comes down to the client’s

experience. As we’re a small team, we’re highly focused on customer service and an attention to detail.

There’s a versatility to our design approach thanks to our varying experience and backgrounds. We approach every project as a unique task, and are intent on delivering a complete, award-winning service.

MQ Tell us more about the recent Living Movement project at Auto Classic.

KB The magic of the BMW is in the

details. As an interior designer, my philosophy for a successful home is also detail driven. I have been driving a BMW for eight years and I was attracted to the brand not only for their well engineered vehicles but for the ultimate comfort and safety they provide. BMW has a timeless design that combines convenience, luxury and elegance, which is how I go about my job as a designer.

The Living Movement project was a unique opportunity to collaborate with Auto Classic, creating a design installation which showcased the artistic fusion of BMW models and luxury home interiors. MQ Visit modainteriors.com.au

REST, RELAX, RECONNECT Romantic luxurious secluded couples’ retreat in self-contained chalets with candlelit sky-view spas, kingsize beds and tranquil forest outlooks, on 240 acres of natural beauty

231 Yelverton Road, Yelverton Margaret River Wine Region Phone (08) 9755 7110 or email reception@forestrise.com.au

RE ST, RELAX, RECONN ECT Romantic, secluded, self contained chalets

MARQUE SUMMER 2019

with candlelit sky-view spas, Kingsize

double beds and tranquil forest outlooks, on 240 acres of natural beauty.

231 Yelverton Road, Yelverton

●

● AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU 019 Margaret River Wine Region

Phone (08) 9755 7110 or email reception@forestrise.com.au

WWW.FORESTRISE.COM.AU

Year of the

LADY BOSS

DESIGN

SHOWCASE BRINGS THE CROWDS Auto Classic BMW created a whole new vibe in November when the dealership collaborated with Moda Interiors to create Living Movement, a unique design installation showcasing an artistic fusion of BMW models and luxury home interiors.

V

isitors to the showroom could have been forgiven thinking they’d wandered into a luxury home open, when they saw the Living Movement installation. Over 2,000 visitors passed through the BMW showroom during November, providing great exposure for the suppliers involved.

Such was its success that there is talk of Living Movement becoming an annual event for the dealership, with a host of other creatives expressing interest in future collaborations.

Created to showcase Perth’s hub of talented designers, builders and suppliers of luxurious homewares to

BMW customers, Living Movement brought together a community of luxury brands and business owners who pride themselves on the quality of their product.

“Living Movement was more than just a collaborative design installation,” says Auto Classic Marketing Manager Zoe Nieuwhof.

“We fashioned a creative sanctuary, a place where luxury brands and local suppliers came together to showcase the uppermost echelon of quality and design talent available in Perth.”

More than 20 brands and West Australian businesses contributed product and support to bring this

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CREATIVE COLLABORATION The inaugural Living Movement exhibition in Auto Classic’s showroom proved to be a big hit for visitors and exhibitors in late 2018.

project to life, including a great range of furniture and homewares from Merlino and Editeur, as well as some fine pieces from Jenny Jones Rugs and The Montauk Lighting Co, many of which are available for bidding in the Living Movement silent auction with proceeds donated to Parkerville Children and Youth Care.

A ‘secret room’ designed to host private viewings of the new BMW X5 for Auto Classic customers was constructed by Peter Stewart Homes, while Cosentino showcased Dekton flooring underneath the BMW line-up, complemented with marble features by D’Amelio Stone. MQ

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ENTREPRENEUR

Year

of the

LADY BOSS

Meet the women in business who aren’t just smashing the glass ceiling - they’re cruising way above it. By GABI MILLS.

GIA LE

Managing Director, Elite Property Campaigns Industry: Digital Marketing If there’s something all of the women featured in this article share in common, it’s a certain self-belief and the ability to recognise an opportunity where others don’t.

Gia Le is no exception. With a background in finance, Gia established Elite Property Campaigns and promptly created a new service we didn’t know we needed.

“We are a digital marketing agency and we collaborate with some of Australia’s most recognisable real estate brands, delivering innovative digital solutions with international reach,” says Gia. “We are the only marketing agency in Western Australia that

specialises in property with a data-driven approach to create our campaigns by researching information from the ABS Census to make informed and educated strategies which deliver results.”

As the founder and business owner, Gia sets the vision for the company, empowers her team to innovate and, most importantly, makes sure they all don’t go broke.

Gia’s career in the finance and insurance industries gave her an excellent grounding in putting in the hard yards. However, after working up to 70 hours a week, that level of industry led her to question what she really wanted out of life.

“It was starting to fatigue me so I went to see a life coach about changing my circumstances, but didn’t know where to start,” she says.

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significant journey together exploring options for about eight months before I gathered the courage to resign and pursue a career in real estate instead. I thought my skills would be perfect for selling property.”

As it turns out, making the move from a structured workplace in the corporate sector into an environment where she was solely responsible for her own productivity and time management was the career filip she needed.

“This led me to spot a niche in the market when I sold 20 homes in my first year by adopting a digital first strategy,” says Gia. Drawing on long-dormant skills she’d learned at university where she studied marketing, Gia worked out a way of monetising her knowledge in her new industry.

“I ‘told my colleague about my business idea and by that afternoon, she had secured two paying clients for me,” says Gia. It may have taken her nearly a year to let go of her high income finance career, but it took less than an hour to decide to start her own business after she was paid $200 to run two campaigns.

“I felt I had nothing to lose and would regret not taking this leap of faith.”

Fast forward two years, and Gia now heads up a team of over 10 professionals.

With a catchphrase that neatly encompasses the way Gia and co approach their work - ‘boutique in strategy, corporate in delivery and fun in identity’ - those two years of working in such a new arena haven’t been without their challenges. However, it’s all been worth it for the new life she has gifted herself, says Gia. “When I was in my previous career in the automotive finance sector, working those long house,I knew I couldn’t sustain this lifestyle, particularly if I wanted to start a family or travel the world.

“I remember speaking with so many men who had been in the industry for over 10 years, who hated their jobs but were scared to make a change. When I finally handed in my resignation, I realised that I had more courage than most of those I worked with while walking away from a $300k a year salary.”

She understood swiftly that creating and maintaining relationships - a core part of her success in previous roles

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- was a key factor in future success too. She wasn’t wrong. Thanks to that focus on relationships, she now owns a digital agency that allows her to travel the world and dictate her own hours.

Building a business from scratch requires more than just an individual’s drive. In Gia’s case, the importance of her team and those who inspire her to be ‘a better person’ have been key factors in her success.

“I think it’s so important to reach out to female (and male) role models who you respect, whether it’s because they have achieved success, demonstrated kindness, compassion or simply because they are great with engaging conversation,” says Gia. “I love having breakfasts and I am never afraid of calling on my support network via a phone call or Facetime.”

In such a fast-moving industry, Gia and her team are constantly updating their skillsets and keeping an eye on developments.

“Every three months in the digital world is the equivalent of 12 calendar months so our biggest challenge is to keep innovating and delivering exceptional campaigns for our clients,” she says.

“Social media and online marketing have democratised advertising, giving small business owners access to an audience which was once reserved for big brands so, if done properly, I believe it’s easier to achieve success. Done badly, it will destroy you quicker.”

In turn, Gia has become a role model for other young females intent on following in her footsteps.

“I don’t actively seek to mentor people but prefer to call myself a role model,” she says. “I live every day by example, by being the best version of myself. If someone has a question for me about their career, I will buy them a coffee and tell them about my personal experiences which will hopefully give them a compass to navigate their own path.”

Having come to a career in digital marketing relatively late in her own

progression, she presides over a staff of young people.

“All of my staff are actually younger than myself,” she says.

“As a 36 -year-old woman with no prior digital experience, I am the oldest in my team of 10. I love how young minds challenge status quo and I think with the right guidance, they are exploding with potential. I hire for attitude over skills any day because I can’t teach strong work ethic and kindness.”

A keen traveller, Gia’s inquisitive nature continually thirsts for new experiences both at work and when she’s on holiday. Her long-term vision is to expand the business to the east coast and diversify into sectors other than property. She’s taken up meditating and loves nothing more than ‘zoning out’ on a little patch of parkland for three or four hours. New horizons to explore are also an important aspect of her future plans.

“I love hiking and getting back to nature. I will be hiking down the Grand Canyon in March which is super exciting.”

Her goal is to design her business to run smoothly and profitably without her being physically present so she can travel for three to six months of the year.

“Last year I spent 10 weeks traveling so my goal isn’t too far off.

I’ve resigned to the fact that I’m on a continuous journey of self-discovery so if anything in this world makes my heart race, I’m likely to do it.”

GIA’S TOP TIPS: • Everything which seems so significant and insurmountable right now will appear to be so minor in two years time.

Have faith in yourself and stop worrying so much.

• Be kinder to yourself, go to sleep a bit earlier and keep doing yoga.

• You will never regret showing respect and kindness to people.

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TANIA TAYLOR

Director, Bodhi J Industry: Luxury spas As half of one of Perth’s bona fide power couples with husband Danny, Tania Taylor has firmly placed the pair’s Bodhi J luxury, organic spa group at the centre of a growing empire.

For the past 12 years since they took over the brand, Bodhi J has established itself as Western Australia’s premiere award-winning natural and organic spa group.

“Each of our four Bodhi J spas are a restorative sanctuary where you can leave the real world behind and go on a journey of complete and utter relaxation and renewal,” says Tania. With the recent addition of a Bodhi J Wellbeing Studio at the Qantas Perth International Transit Lounge it’s fair to say that Tania’s ambitions for the group are sky-high.

Her vision to create sanctuaries for WA’s wellheeled spa devotees went well beyond just another beautiful place to grab a massage at lunchtime.

“Long before others considered a holistic approach to beauty in WA, we nurtured our first allnatural wellness destination in Wembley; Bodhi J Health and Beauty Spa,” says Tania.

Having developed a passion for holistic wellness in her own personal life journey, the philosophy of Bodhi J mirrors her own.

“That means Bodhi J uses only 100 per cent natural and organic products and holistic therapies to enhance the guest’s overall wellbeing.”

Thanks to Tania and Danny’s background in hospitality and retail and their passion for wellness, the Bodhi J USP is a winning formula.

After the success of the Wembley spa, the Bodhi J Wellness Retreat Pier Street followed in 2015. Branching out to a luxury venue down south – the Bodhi J @Injidup Spa Retreat in Margaret River opened in 2017 – perhaps the real turning point came with the opening of their most luxurious venue yet at the Westin Perth.

The five-star hotel, which opened in 2018, has once again elevated the Bodhi J offering to a new, international audience who may have already encountered the brand at Perth Airport.

Tania is a smart operator in more ways than one, aligning the Bodhi J brand to others run by women with a similar ethos although.

“Bodhi J works with some incredible female-led brands - Megan Larsen of Sodashi, Emily Bathgate of The Purist Collection, Sonya Driver of Eco Tan and Carla Oates of The Beauty Chef Australia,” says Tania.

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While in our care, our guests are our world.

“This was not always by design however. They have all carved such an incredible niche and have created exceptional products. Bodhi J uses only 100 per cent natural and organic products and holistic therapies that enhance our guests’ overall wellbeing and they are simply the perfect fit. All are incredibly passionate about what they do and we love sharing the Bodhi J journey with these inspiring women.”

Over the 12 years since Tania and Danny embarked on the Bodhi J journey, the landscape for their

industry has shifted and changed.

“There has been a total 360 change in the approach to wellness,” she says.

“People are getting back to basics. Social media has increased the awareness of organic and natural products and it has allowed us to connect with guests and the world so easily now. We love using social media as an important tool in our business to share what we do.”

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and service.

“Our care and attention for each and every single guest continues to be second to none,” says Tania.

“Feedback from each and every guest’s experience is always carefully recorded so that subsequent spa visits can be tailored to their personal preferences. While in our care, our guests are our world. Our goal is to strive and surpass any previous spa experience – every single time. After all, social media is a two-way street and gives our guest a voice to share that with their friends and connections.”

Tania takes her role as a mentor and guiding light to the girls who work in Bodhi J’s spas very seriously.

“We have 70 girls working for Bodhi J and I seem to play a different role everyday - a confidante, a proud mum, and at times a mum giving tough love or an empathetic friend or career advisor. I really wouldn’t change a thing.

“Danny and I love seeing their growth over their time with us, both professionally and personally. It’s incredible to see their confidence grow and to know that Bodhi J has been a launch platform for many young women in our industry to start their own businesses.”

Like several other of the women featured in this article, Tania loves to travel to far-flung destinations to destress, and of course, is partial to some of the Bodhi J treatments too.

“My favourite treatments are the Sodashi Chakra Balancing Treatment; it’s a beautiful combination of massage and energy work to reset the body and mind, and the Sodashi Samadara Ultimate Age Defying Facial, which is the most luxurious and indulgent facial experience ever. I have to really force myself to have a treatment and once I do, I’m so grateful for the time to indulge.”

After such a year or so with three new openings, Tania is keen to keep the momentum going.

“It’s certainly been quite the ride and we have not had a chance to stand still,” she says. “We want to continue to be at the forefront of the industry and explore new opportunities. You never know what’s on the horizon so watch this space.”

Visit bodhij.com.au

TANIA’S TOP TIPS • Make time for your family and relationship - try to find those small windows of time to do the things you love and make them count.

• Make sure you get away and detach (at least a little).

Once we are in the air, we switch off knowing that things are in good hands with our incredible team.

• Back yourself. Go with your intuition and don’t worry what others are saying.

• If you are going do something, do it with passion and it will naturally steer you in the right direction.

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Auto Classic and Moda Interiors wishes to thank all the suppliers and local businesses who collaborated on the Living Movement project.

Peter Stewart Homes Merlino Furniture

Founded in 1993, Peter Stewart Homes is an award winning, small family run company which offers a personal approach with exemplary attention to detail, to every individual home and home addition created.

Merlino Furniture is a family run business that imports high end Italian furniture for distribution to the Australian wholesale market. Brands such as Saporini and Bonaldo, both undisputed leaders in the design and manufacturing of luxurious Italian furniture, are included in their range.

Jenny Jones Rugs

Rug designer Jenny Jones has been designing and producing unique, hand knotted and innovatively designed rugs throughout the not only Australia but the world for more than 20 years.

Cosentino

Cosentino Group is a global, Spanish, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for the world of design and architecture.

D’Amelio Stone

The Montauk Lighting Co. Academy Custom Interiors

D’Amelio Stone supplies the finest builders and cabinet makers in Perth exclusive service and quality craftsmanship in a wide variety of stone from Natural to Engineered and porcelain.

Established in 2016, The Montauk Lighting Co is a supplier of distinctive, high quality feature lighting, importing pieces that inspire the types of spaces we aspire to live in, work in and dream in.

Offering a high standard of personal service, Academy Custom Interiors has been operating in Perth for 30 years creating functional storage solutions for the home office and bedroom.

Editeur

Editeur, based in Cottesloe Perth offer a curated selection of beautiful and desirable objects, old and new, sourced from Australia and around the world..

Matthew Landers

Operating in Perth since 2004, Matthew Landers is recognised as one of Australia’s leading Floral Designers serving corporate clients, businesses and weddings, along with his Academy – Western Australia’s Largest Floristry training provider.

Adrian Tan Photography • Halo Diamonds • Spex Design Ray White Claremont Dalkeith • Peter Farmer Artist MARQUE SUMMER 2019

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MUSIC

Crushing on

Julia

Aussie singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin is confident opening her heart and rummaging around. She talked to Ara Jansen about her emotionally triumphant second album.

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t doesn’t feel like there’s a filter between Julia Jacklin and her listener. Raw, pained, defiant and strong, she bravely reveals a personal landscape in the stark snapshots which make up her second album.

Titled Crushing, it embodies many of the dimensions its title suggests – crushing on, feeling crushed by, crushing it or crushing an idea.

To match, the Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist’s vocal performance is not only highly intimate – like she’s sitting on your couch and telling you stories – but it also carries all the pain, frustrations and joys of growing up and learning about yourself.

From the determined “no” of not wanting to be touched all the time

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in Head Alone to the lies we want to hear to feel needed in Good Guy, Jacklin bravely lays her thoughts and feelings bare, all the while wondering what a certain someone might do with the naked photo he has of her.

“It’s about me documenting my life,” says the Melbourne-based Jacklin. “I started songwriting because it was a great way to express

yourself and it was interesting as a craft. With touring the first record, because it was foreign, I didn’t write for a long time and it was scary. I kept thinking ‘here I am touring the world and I haven’t written a song for a year. What if it never happens again?’ Eventually the songs did come, and I felt much more relaxed.”

Produced by Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, The Drones) and recorded at The Grove Studios (a bushland hideaway built by INXS’s Garry Gary Beers), the album is a clever and delicate marriage between Jacklin’s understated defiance against a raw, yet luminous sonic backdrop.

When you get really close to Crushing’s lyrics, it comes as no surprise that the singer found it hard to record the collection. Many of the emotions brought up or revealed by the songs were still very close to the surface so recording them packed an extra punch.

“I was feeling it quite intensely.

With the first record, Don’t Let the Kids Win, I had a lot more time to process them. Some of the songs I couldn’t even listen back to. Equally it’s amazing to be able to sing and process them in such an incredibly dramatic way.

“Some of the songs were painful and vulnerable to sing. This is a

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unique human experience and I really sunk into it and didn’t shy away from it.

It was very heavy but cool.”

The new album was very much born out of the two years Jacklin spent on the road supporting her 2016 debut Don’t Let the Kids Win. Without a doubt, being on the road accelerates growth, says Jacklin.

“For me touring brought a lot of things to the surface, like who you are and how you want to deal with things. On the road I just learnt so much about myself, how I interact with people and how to stand up for myself much better. I don’t think I would have learnt those things as fast otherwise. You’re pretty much forced to confront these things when you’re touring.”

With her first album, Jacklin used gigs to road-test the material, but this time she didn’t really show them to many people and only snuck a few songs into sets. This time she felt more confident backing herself and taking them directly into the studio.

“Touring makes me feel alive, it’s also difficult and emotional, but I also understand how special it is to be able to do it. I get to meet incredible people and it makes me feel connected to the world in a way I’ve never felt before.” MQ Julia Jacklin plays Chevron Gardens on February 21. Crushing is released on February 22.

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WINE

LOCAL HERO Janice McDonald, Howard Park’s chief winemaker, has broken the mould in so many ways, and continues to do so as she leads the way in winemaking in Australia. By FERGAL GLEESON Images PARIS HAWKEN.

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he Howard Park team are extremely proud that their chief winemaker, Janice McDonald, has taken out Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine’s Winemaker of the Year award for 2018.

“It’s a great recognition of a lifetime’s work,” says Janice, “and a great acknowledgement of a team effort and what we are doing at Burch Family Wines.”

Originally from sheep rearing country in rural New South Wales, Janice’s winemaking career has spanned 33 years in Western Australia. She told me more about her wine journey.

“Before wine I was always

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fascinated by food, smell, texture and flavour,” she says. “Wine was an extension of that. Every bottle of wine had a story to it. Where it came from, the people who made it. Each was unique. Then I learnt you can study and have a degree in this thing!

Other things I tried academically didn’t have that applied character. It suits me. I’m interested in science but it is also hands-on. I like the creative side of winemaking. I like the marketing and business side too where you are talking about wine. It’s a really complete role.”

After a stint at Vasse Felix earlier in her career, Janice joined Australia’s first craft brewer, Matilda

Bay. “I was young. It was too good an idea to pass by,” Janice says.

Matilda Bay founder Phil Sexton had just returned from the UK where the craft beer scene was taking off.

They were exciting times for the young winemaker immersing herself in brewing and working out of Fremantle during the America’s Cup. She returned to wine with Devil’s Lair and went on to co-found Stella Bella Wines before joining Howard Park in 2011.

Janice has been chief winemaker at Howard Park since then, overseeing multiple wine brands across four vineyards in two winegrowing regions – Margaret River and the Great Southern.

The sheer quality and breadth of the offering is one of the most noteworthy aspects of Janice’s work at Howard Park.

There is the MadFish label which operates at the value end of the market.

The Howard Park Miamup and Flint Rock labels really over-deliver for around $25. Stand-outs from the current range include the Miamup cabernet 2016 and Flint Rock chardonnay 2017 and shiraz 2016.

The Leston (Margaret River) and Scotsdale (Great Southern) cabernet and shiraz 2016 wines step up in quality from there. They are outstanding and age-worthy with a long cellaring life. Howard Park chardonnay 2017 and sauvignon blanc 2017 showcase Janice’s approach to making wine. They are highly drinkable but also complex and interesting.

Howard Park’s flagship wines are the Abercrombie cabernet sauvignon and Allingham chardonnay, which are luxury, world class wines.

Janice also directs the Australian Collection of the Marchand & Burch range, in collaboration with Burgundian winemaker Pascal Marchand. The two Australian Marchand and Burch 2017 chardonnays are linear, sophisticated and really impressive.

During her tenure, Janice has overseen Howard Park’s intricate

methode traditionelle sparkling wine program. This was recognised last year when Howard Park Jeté took out Best Australian Sparkling Wine at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London.

Juggling vintages in two different wine regions four hours apart, handling an extensive range of wines and brands and crafting varieties that were completely new to her, such as riesling and pinot noir, would perhaps destroy a less capable person.

Marketing director Amy Burch acknowledges this. “It is a huge

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LEADER OF THE PACK Howard Park’s chief winemaker Janice McDonald has helped propel winemaking in the Margaret River region to the top of the class.

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validation of the work she has done at Howard Park. From taking on two quite different wine regions, running a team of staff around the clock during prolonged vintages – she is tireless.”

“Making wine over many quality levels keeps you grounded,” Janice says “I’m mindful that making the top level wines is in some ways the easiest part of it. I think about people at a dinner party and the need to be able to make good quality wine at each price point. So whatever level of Howard Park wine you have you’ll get a good drink!” MQ

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EVENT

In the pink The Vogue Living Women of Excellence series of events have sold out in Sydney and Melbourne, proving that leading businesswomen have much to share to their contemporaries.

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he atmosphere was electric at the recent Vogue Living Women of Excellence event at Sydney’s Chin Chin. Guests mingled with panelists drawn from the world of design and interiors. Industry insiders lapped up every word shared by experts in their field, making this all-female event a must-attend date for those in the know.

Partnering with BMW, Vogue Living celebrated the achievements of women who are making a mark in this competitive field. The inaugural speaker series - Women of Excellence - lived up to its name with panelists joined for dinner at Chin Chin in Sydney’s swanky Surry Hills by two tables of 40 guests.

Over the course of a delicious three-course meal, the guest speakers discussed the highlights and challenges of working as a female creative in the design industry.

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Words of wisdom from business leaders included how to incorporate new developments in materials and technology as well as how to work collaboratively with peers.

The highly competitive industries of design and interiors naturally demand those who excel to display tenacity, vision and expertise, and for many women at the dinner these traits were highly prized.

“It’s important that we support each other,” said Vogue Living’s Rebecca Caratti. “Seeing women supporting women in the design community, it’s really very powerful.”

From the Vogue Living Women of Excellence-designed BMW X4 cars parked out the front of Chin Chin (beautifully decorated by artist Kitty Callaghan, opposite) to the pink-andwhite floral arrangements and gift bags; the evening’s celebratory theme was certainly a night to remember.

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SHARING INSIGHTS Creatives from various industries shared their experience and knowledge at the first Vogue Living Women of Excellence forum in Sydney, cosponsored by BMW.

The hugely popular event moves on to Melbourne in February, when the Vogue Living Women of Excellence dinner inspires a new set of guests at The Flower Merchant. Expect to be inspired by engaging conversation led by women at the pinnacle of Australia’s design industry, while enjoying a tantalising menu at this renowned venue.

The panel includes Annette Baumeister, Studio Director Designworks Shanghai, BMW Group, Iva Foschia, founder of IF Architecture, Sharyn Cairns, photographer and author, Clare Cousins, founder of Clare Cousins Architects, and Mardi Doherty, director of Doherty Design Studio. MQ February 20, from 6.30pm, Melbourne Flower Merchant, 2/555 Bourke Sreet, Melbourne (event is sold out).

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ENDURANCE

THE WATER RUNNER Anyone tackling 100 marathons in 100 days might be considered slightly mad. But Australian Mina Guli has a good reason for taking on this brutal mental and physical challenge – she’s on a mission to help save the world’s water supplies before it is too late.

By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy KELVIN TRAUTMAN/#RUNNINGDRY

Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink...

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amuel Coleridge’s oft misquoted line from his poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner refers to a sailor, stuck on a becalmed ship and surrounded by salt water he cannot drink.

And in the not-too-distant future much of the world’s population may be in a similar predicament to Coleridge’s cursed mariner – living under acute “water stress” thanks to dwindling groundwater supplies and soaring demand.

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biggest threat to supplies.

For example, the fashion industry used a colossal quantity of water – an estimated 79 billion cubic metres (enough to fill 32 million Olympic-size swimming pools) in 2015 alone, a figure expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2030.

Cotton is a particularly thirsty crop; one cotton shirt is estimated to consume 2,700 litres of water, the equivalent to what the average adult drinks in two and half years.

Food waste is another invisible water waste culprit; every time food is thrown away you are also wasting all that water that went in to growing and processing it.

A United Nations report estimated that by 2030 global demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40 per cent.

By 2025 about 1.8 billion people are expected to be living in cities or regions with water scarcity.

It’s this grim scenario that has sparked Hong Kongbased former Melburnian entrepreneur, environmentalist and motivational speaker Mina Guli’s world-wide crusade to focus attention on the global water crisis – and what

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everyone, from governments to big business and the ordinary person in the street, can do to help.

After training as a lawyer, Mina admits she fell in to the world of climate change “by accident”, becoming involved in a project on the subject while working at the Sydney Futures Exchange.

This led to a role at the World Bank in Washington DC and then onto Beijing where she co-founded

Peony Capital, an investment company focused on developing climate-friendly projects.

Invited to join the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders, Mina says she became aware of the growing problem of “invisible water” – and that’s when she had something of an epiphany to make it her life’s work to tackle the water crisis head-on.

In 2012 in China she founded a

not-for-profit organisation, Thirst, to focus on educating people and developing smart solutions to reduce water wastage.

Mina realised she need a hook to help put Thirst and its work in the media spotlight and a campaign of “ultra-running” proved the perfect answer.

In March 2016, she ran 40 marathons across seven deserts on seven continents in seven weeks – a world-first.

A year later she repeated the feat, this time 40 marathons in 40 days, all run along six river courses, to support a United Nations campaign for Clean Water For All. Her running feats certainly got noticed; widespread media coverage, including reports on CNN, the BBC, ITC, ABC and CCTV, delivered her messages on water conservation to an estimated audience of four billion.

Her latest effort, supported by main sponsors Reebok and Colgate, is the toughest of the lot – 100 marathons in 100 days, kicking off last November at the famous New York Marathon. By the time she returns to New York City in February for her 100th marathon Mina will have run

HARD YARDS Mina Guli has gone to extraordinary lengths to highlight the ever-pressing problem of water supply, by attempting to run 100 marathons in 100 days.

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MQ ENDURANCE

In March 2016 she ran 40 marathons across seven deserts on seven continents in seven weeks – a world-first.

in India, Hong Kong, China, Dubai, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Australia, Kenya, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, France, Italy, England and Ethiopia.

“The hardest thing for me has definitely been realising the scale and depth of the water crisis,” says the 48-year-old. “Hearing about its impact from local communities, running past mounds of plastic besides rivers and roads, seeing people walk down the street with takeaway containers wrapped

in multiple layers of plastic and understanding I’m just one person trying to make a difference and seeing the enormity of the challenge in front of me,” she says.

But since founding Thirst, Mina has proved she is indeed making a difference.

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volunteers with the support of the Chinese government,” says Mina.

Around each marathon Mina and the #RunningDry team meet with people affected by water stress as well as companies, local organisations and other individuals looking at solutions and innovations to help ensure our water supplies are clean and sustainable.

In South Africa for the Cape Aghulas and Port Elizabeth marathons in January, Mina took time out to visit Beaufort West, a town in the Western Cape province faced with a dire water shortage due to drought.

The main source of drinking water for Beaufort West’s 50,000 residents has been empty since October 2017; other reservoirs are down to just 17 per cent capacity, with 10 of the town’s 39 boreholes also bone dry.

“Visiting the town of Beaufort West has been very confronting,” says Mina. “To see the effects in the flesh of what living with no water is like makes me even more determined to finish my #RunningDry campaign and help change the way we think about water.”

Just before this magazine went to print, Mina was struck a serious blow when doctors diagnosed multiple fractures in her right femur.

Unable to put any weight on her leg, the injury halted

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MINA GULI’S WATER SAVING TIPS Limit showers to 2 minutes in total Put a large bucket in the shower to collect the water; use that water for your plants or to flush the toilet with Turn off all taps while washing your hands and brushing your teeth Fix ALL water leaks, no matter how small, on your property Convert your garden to more water efficient plants Install a rainwater collection system For more water saving tips, visit watercorporation.com.au

(temporarily at least) Mina’s quest to complete 100 marathons in 100 days.

But it hasn’t meant the end of her campaign.

Instead, members of her support team and other runners stepped in to ‘donate’ their marathon kilometres to Mina in order for #RunningDry to

continue while she recuperates.

And even if she can’t run, she plans to complete the remaining marathons either in a wheelchair or on crutches.

“I’ve been so humbled by the support of people all over the world,” says Mina.

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INJURED BUT STILL DETERMINED Despite being diagnosed with multiple fractures to her right femur, Mina is determined to complete her task even if it means she’ll cross the line in a wheelchair or on crutches.

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Mina remains upbeat that humanity will, in the end, overcome its wasteful behaviour and come up with fresh ideas, innovations and technology to avert a global water catastrophe in the coming decades.

“We, as a people, are incredible and if we put our efforts together towards this we can definitely make a change.

“We hold the power and with this power we can make governments make all of the necessary changes,” she says. MQ For the latest updates on Mina’s marathon effort and the #RunningDry campaign, visit minaguli.com or @MinaGuliWater on Facebook, @MinaGuli on Twitter and @minaguli on Instagram.

WATCHWATCH with NORMAN BURNS

Watchwatch presents five new models that sum up that golden summer vibe – bold, fresh, sophisticated watches that reflect the sheer exuberance of creative watchmaking.

BOLD

AND THE

BEAUTIFUL CARTIER BALLON BLANC DE CARTIER

A LANGE & SOHNE SAXONIA OUTSIZE DATE

This striking piece from Cartier proves you can still have a bold, eyecatching design (check out the ‘twist’ on the dial) on a dainty (just 30mm in diameter) woman’s wristwatch.

The Roman numeral hour markers practically leap off the silvered sunray brushed dial while a brilliant-cut diamond nestled into the 18K pink gold case at four o’clock adds just the right shimmer of glamour. The Ballon Blanc De Cartier, which has a quartz movement and is waterresistant to around 30m, is finished off to perfection by a glossy black alligator-skin strap adorned with a pink gold buckle. $14,000.

Visit watchswiss.com or call 1300 808 135

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Germany’s A Lange & Sohne delivers yet another beautifully elegant, classic timepiece with the Saxonia Outsize Date – the perfect watch for those who prefer the no-fuss approach to timekeeping.

I love the black-and-gold (the case, hands, crown, lugs and hour markers are rose gold) look of this watch, with its easy-to-read large date window at 12 o’clock and subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock.

An automatic in-house movement ticks away to perfection under the dial and, fully wound, that Outsize Date has a 72-hour power reserve.

A Lange & Sohne makes just a few thousand watches per year and their attention to detail and engineering nous is legendary. $34,800.

Visit watchswiss.com or call 1300 808 135 AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU

BREITLING PREMIER B01 CHRONOGRAPH 42

TAG HEUER AUTAVIA WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND LIMITED EDITION

OFFICINE PANERAI LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 CARBOTECH

Breitling forged its reputation on highly technical, big, bold pilot’s watches. But with new CEO Georges Kern at the helm, the Swiss brand has been undergoing something of an overhaul, from its iconic logo down. Watch collections have been rationalised and a more elegant look has come into play – without, of course, sacrificing any of the technical brilliance that made Breitling’s name. The new Premier Collection (there are five different models) is a case in point as this example shows. While the dial still packs a host of information, the Chronograph 42 has a much ‘cleaner’ dial display than many of Breitling’s past offerings. Powered by an automatic Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 movement, the 42mm watch offers two chronograph functions (1/4th second and 30-minutes) and a 70-hour power reserve. $11,490.

Visit watchswiss.com or call 1300 808 135

TAG Heuer’s legacy as a pioneer of sports watches is unmatched and this model is special indeed, celebrating not only the 55th anniversary of the legendary TAG Heuer Autavia driver’s chronograph but the brand’s close association with leading retailer Watches of Switzerland.

Watches of Switzerland has a long-standing connection to TAG Heuer, introducing the brand to Australia in 1987.

The original Autavia, launched in 1962, became the go-to timepiece for a generation of Formula 1 champions such as Gilles Villeneuve, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Graham Hill.

Just 150 pieces of the new Autavia are available (the first 100 sold come with a beautiful reference book on Autavia watches), each one sporting the Watches of Switzerland logo on the engraved case back.

The dial is a spectacular blend of modern and retro touches (ridged crown and ‘mushroom’ push-pieces for the chronograph functions) while an all-new Heuer-02 automatic chronograph movement with 80-hour power reserve pulses away under the ‘hood’. Sporty, slick and a collector’s dream. $7,650 on leather strap, $7,800 on rice grain steel bracelet.

Visit watchswiss.com or call 1300 808 135

With its almost brutal, industrial military-esque design, the Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech is somewhat of an acquired taste.

But if you like your timepieces to be ruggedly functional and incorporate cutting edge materials and technology, you can’t look past Officine Panerai’s amazing collection. This new model is forged from what Panerai says is a worldfirst in watchmaking – a material they have dubbed carbotech, a composite of carbon fibre and a high-end polymer. It’s light, rugged and the manufacturing process means no two pieces are identical.

Despite the futuristic look, Panerai also references its historical past – the 47mm case harks back to models developed in the 1940s for Italian Navy commandos. A P.9000 automatic movement provides a full three days of power reserve and, befitting a timepiece with such a rich marine heritage, the watch is waterresistant to 300m. Very cool indeed. $23,250.

Visit watchswiss.com or call 1300 808 135

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MQ PREVIEW

MAKE A DATE WITH DESTINY

The latest edition of the 3 Series made its debut in Paris last year and will arrive at Auto Classic in just a few weeks. By MATTHEW MILLS.

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cross its portfolio, BMW has a host of iconic, classic cars, but for many a devotee the 3 Series will always be the model that holds a special place in their hearts. And I know – because I’m one of them.

The first car I ever owned and loved was a 12-year-old, dark maroon 320i sedan that I bought in the summer of 1996 to celebrate finally qualifying as a senior journalist. It was, after having to put up with a series of workaday bangers up to that point, a motoring revelation. From my first drive I became a fully-fledged 3 Series fan.

It was a great car, but of course BMW is not one to stand still and has evolved this iconic vehicle superbly since I was first smitten, constantly tweaking, improving, re-imagining this fantastic sedan, the heartbeat of the BMW brand, for the past 40 years.

The arrival of the latest evolution of this classic piece of motoring history is, then, an exciting moment.

This latest edition of the car – its

seventh – sees BMW building in particular on the sporting tradition of the 3 Series, whose exploits in race competition have earned it so much extra dynamic credibility. It was introduced to the world at the Mondial de l’Automobile show in Paris in October 2018, and will be at Auto Classic from early March.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peak of what you can look forward to.

Outwardly, the new BMW 3 Series Sedan is a clear, precise expression of sporting prowess, with precisely drawn lines and strikingly contoured surfaces. It is 76 millimetres longer than its predecessor (at 4,709 mm), 16 millimetres wider (1,827 mm) and just 1 mm taller (1,442 millimetres).

The large BMW kidney grille and the headlights leading off it are dominant themes of the front end, their familiar two-way split emphasised by an eye-catching notch in the front apron that rises up into the headlight contour. Full-LED headlights come as standard.

LEGEND REBORN The latest evolution of BMW’s popular 3 series is a clear, precise expression of sporting prowess.

The dynamic side view is shaped by a pair of character lines and a dynamic side skirt contour. The trailing edge of the side window graphic with its Hofmeister kink design cue is now integrated into the C-pillar.

Inside, BMW’s new design language accentuates the spaciousness of the cabin and, together with the cockpit’s focus on the driver, enhances their concentration on the road. The new screen grouping of Control Display and instrument cluster, the tall centre console and the coordinated design of the light, modern instrument panel and door panel trim create an allround feeing of space and a sporting aura.

Five powerful and efficient engines will be available from the start of sales – two four-cylinder petrol engines, the 320i and 330i, two four-cylinder diesels, the 318d and 320d, and the six-cylinder in-line diesel 330d.

All of them are certain to continue the 3 Series story, adding new legends to the legacy. We can’t wait to put them through their paces. MQ Visit autoclassic.com.au to arrange a test drive.

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YA L L I N G U P

THIRST

WHISKY A GO-GO The hottest spirit in the world right now is whisky – Japanese whisky, that is. Distillers can’t keep up with demand and if you are lucky enough to have a few bottles of vintage Japanese whisky in the drinks cabinet, you could be sitting on a small fortune.

By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy SHOTBYTHOM, TUTTLE PUBLISHING, SUNTORY

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hen I was living in Melbourne a few years ago, a colleague told me his Richmond home had been burgled.

A gang had dropped in through the roof sometime during the weekend while he was out and, after lifting everything they could lay their hands on – light fittings included – drove off with the goods, the

neighbours none the wiser.

Asked why he seemed relatively upbeat about this brazen crime he replied: “They didn’t get my whisky collection.”

Untouched under the bed, in a special custom-built cabinet, were dozens of rare (unopened) bottles, worth thousands of dollars.

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TOP TIPPLES Japanese whisky is growing in popularity here in Australia.

Opposite, Eamon Sullivan is co-owner of Goody Two’s, a bar specialising in Japanese whisky.

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devotees of this historic tipple will go to look after their precious collections and why whisky has a unique standing among all alcoholic spirits.

Whisky is made by distilling fermented grains (barley, wheat, rye or corn), but whether the Scots or Irish (monks are believed to have introduced distilling to pre-medieval Europe) were the first to perfect the

Eamon Sullivan recommends Matsui - The Tottori Bourbon Barrel Blended Region: Honshu | Style: Blended Why: Just a cool spin on a blended whisky, using a bourbon barrel to add a deep brassy gold. Bourbon heavy, with aromas of sweet oak, a touch of caramel and grainy, muesli sweetness. Later inhalations find a lightly grassy / minerally aspect. Medium bodied, with good concentration and significant barrel input.

Finishes mildly oily, hinting at gobstopper, toasted marshmallow and a touch of orange to close. Youthful and spicy. Good choice for Bourbon lovers.

Yoichi - Peaty & Salty

art is a matter of fierce debate.

One thing is certain; whisky has evolved to myriad styles, each with their own personality and flavour profile, thanks to a complex creative dance between chemical reactions (fermentation), the different stills used in distillation, the purity and ‘softness’ of the available water, and the sheer artistry and imagination of the distillers themselves.

Then there’s the “X-factor” of maturing the spirit in wooden casks (usually charred oak that have held

wine or brandy) which, depending on the style, can take years or even decades. The casks add their own unique character to whisky and this is a process that cannot, no matter where it is being distilled, be rushed.

Today the production of whisky (or whiskey as the Irish call it) has spread far beyond its traditional birthplace and at least 25 countries produce whiskies, including India, Switzerland and Taiwan and, of course, Australia.

But the hottest whisky producer

Region: Hokkaido | Style: Single malt Why: Really interesting drink! It is exactly what is says it is. – very salty, possibly the saltiest whisky I’ve tasted and no problem for me as a saltoholic. One thing is for sure, I wish this was Yoichi’s standard NAS single malt instead of what they are currently bottling.

Matsui - Pure Malt Sherry Cask Region: Honshu | Style: Pure Malt Why: A sherried expression from the Kurayoshi range, created by little-known Japanese whisky producer Matsui Shuzou (also known for sake and shochu). These whiskies are blended malts, made with whiskies distilled in Scotland and shipped over to Japan, where they're blended with Japanese whisky.

Yamazaki 18yo Region: Osaka | Style: Single Malt Why: Yamazaki Whisky is the No.1 single malt whisky in Japan. Yamazaki is Suntory's flagship single malt, multilayered with fruit and Mizunara aromas.

Yamazaki 18 Year Old is rich with mature autumn fruit resulting in a blackberry, strawberry and dark chocolate palate and long, spicy, smooth finish.

Chivas Regal - Mizunara Region: Scotland | Style: Blended Scotch Whisky Why: Originally released for the Japanese market, this special edition of Chivas Regal blended Scotch whisky was inspired by a trip that Master Distiller Colin Scott took to Japan. Part of the blend was matured in Mizunara oak casks, which is rather rare in the whisky world but always intriguing.

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MQ THIRST

Tips for storing your whisky collection With an alcohol content of 40-plus per cent, whisky can react with the cork and taint the product, so always keep bottles upright, away from light and in temperatures of around 14-18C. Whisky will remain drinkable as long as you keep it sealed but it does not ‘age’ in a bottle.

And if you’ve opened the bottle?

Stored properly, a bottle of more than half full whisky should last about a year.

of all is now Japan.

Demand for Japanese whisky has soared in recent years, which in turn has pushed prices – especially for collectable and limited-edition bottles of aged whisky – to stratospheric levels.

(At an auction in Hong Kong last year a single bottle of 50-year Suntory Yamazaki, one of just 50 bottles released in 2005, sold for a staggering $489,000).

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FORGING A NEW TRADITION: (top) The world can’t get enough of Yamazaki, the flagship single malt produced

by Suntory, one of the pioneers of the Japanese whisky scene.

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bug? After all, whisky has been distilled in the country for nearly a century.

Says whisky expert Brian Ashcraft, author of the excellent reference book Japanese Whisky: The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Most Desirable Spirit: “For much of Japanese whisky’s history it was ignored. The sudden interest is a combination of things, including the fact that Japan makes seriously good whisky. Another reason might be perhaps the rest of the world is making up for lost time.”

Although the Americans first brought whisky to Japan in the 1850s, the country’s quest to make its own whisky didn’t really begin in earnest until the 1920s when an Osaka drinks company despatched young employee Masataka Taketsuru to Scotland to study whisky making.

Taketsuru went on to found the Yamazaki Distillery, under the wing of a company known today as Suntory. He later set up his own company, which became known as Nikka – and Suntory and Nikka have ruled the Japanese whisky industry ever since. (Their dominance is being challenged though by a new generation of independent whisky distilleries throughout Japan).

“With each passing decade they made better and better whisky,” says Ashcraft.

“However Japanese whisky is not merely Japanese Scotch. It’s quite different. The biggest Japanese distilleries have a variety of stills and use an array of yeasts that results in a different spirit.

“What’s more, the climate for much of Japan is nothing like Scotland. The influence of maturation on the spirit is huge, so the Japanese climate also leaves a big mark on the whisky,” says Ashcraft.

Another factor is the relative freedom from red tape Japanese distillers have to “play around” with their creations.

“Japan does not have strict regulations about whisky production like Scotland does,’’ says Ashcraft.

“The most famous Japanese whisky makers adhere to the basic Scottish regulations regarding whisky for the stuff they export but because of the freedom they have Japanese whisky makers have long been quite inventive and are willing to try new techniques and use different woods for maturation. Japanese whisky has a unique flexibility – it pays respect to tradition but is not bound by it.”

Japanese whisky fever has also taken hold in Perth with leading hospitality trio Andy Freeman, Scott Bridger and Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivans opening Goody Two’s late last year.

Goody Two’s, the trio’s funky take on a traditional Japanese after-work bar, is nestled in the basement of the groovy food and entertainment complex adjacent to the Westin Hotel in the CBD. “We were kicking around a few ideas (for the bar) and Japanese whisky came up. It seemed a natural fit to match that with our take on Japanese-inspired finger food, which is a substantial notch up on the usual bar fare,” says Eamon, who has long had an affinity with Japan.

“From about Year 10 I had a fascination with Japan.

I later competed there in swimming, I got engaged there under a cherry blossom tree and I’ve always been intrigued by the traditions, way of life and history of Japan,’’ he says.

Eamon went to Japan to research the whisky scene, seeing first-hand the amazing variety of styles, many produced by boutique distilleries and unknown outside of the country.

The trio then set about sourcing Japanese whisky for Goody Two’s – not such an easy task as demand, especially from China, has put massive pressure on supply.

“Even the Japanese are finding it hard to source some whiskies,” says Eamon.

However, persistence to track down stock and lock in regular supplies has paid off handsomely and now Goody Two’s patrons can choose from a spectacular range of Japanese whiskies – the cheapest around $20 per single shot, ranging to $250 per 30ml shot for the increasingly rare 18-year-old Yamazaki single malt.

(For a few extra bucks you can have the whisky poured over a special triple distilled chunk of crystal clear ice, embossed with the Goody Twos logo.)

“We also have flights of three 15ml servings – with tasting notes – for people to sample. It’s a great way to discover just how special and unique Japanese every whisky is,” says Eamon. MQ Brian Ashcraft’s book, Japanese Whisky: The Ultimate Guide (Tuttle) is $29.99 and available from all good booksellers or visit tuttlepublishing,com Goody Two’s is located in the basement, 40 Irwin St, Perth and open Wednesdays and Thursdays 5pm until midnight and Friday/Saturday 5pm till 2am.

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Brian Ashcraft’s Top Five Yochi Single Malt Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery is the only place in the world where the pot stills are still fired by coal. The fire fluctuates in temperature, resulting in a smoky, robust spirit which is then slowly aged in American white oak. Nikka’s whiskies have become so popular that the age statement variations sold out. This nonage statement single malt showcases the wonderful spirit Yoichi makes and the talent of Nikka’s skilled blending team.

Kirin Sanroku The Kirin Distillery is one of Japan’s most interesting distilleries. They have massive pot stills for malt whisky, but what sets the distillery apart is its focus on grain spirit. They have three different types of set-ups to make heavy, medium and light grain spirit, which is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

This whisky is a blend of malt and grain spirit, with wonderful savoury and sweet notes. Bottled at 50 per cent, it’s one of Japanese whisky’s best buys, but not the best deal. That honour goes to Nikka From The Barrel, which is also highly recommended.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony The Hibiki line of Japanese whiskies does a wonderful job of representing Japanese whisky’s elegance and layered nuances. Japanese Harmony, the entry release in the Hibiki line, is exceedingly good and, in my opinion, superior to the more expensive 12-year-old release. Remember just because a whisky has an age statement, that doesn’t mean it’s better.

This blend has honeyed wood notes and a silky mouthfeel. Excellent stuff.

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky “Coffey”, as in Aeneas Coffey, the inventor of traditional two-column Coffey still. Traditionally, this still is used to make grain whisky, but Nikka decided to take the unusual step of making a malt spirit with it. The result is spectacular; smooth sweetness, peppered with spice complexity.

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Whisky Ichiro Akuto, the founder of the Chichibu Distillery, is one of Japanese whisky’s biggest stars. His whiskies fetch top dollar, if you can find them. The Malt & Grain release is one of the distillery’s entry level products, and a good one for those looking to expand beyond the likes of Suntory and Nikka.

Those big Japanese whisky makers have the means to afford massive grain column stills, which are typically several storeys high, but small producers like Chichibu have no choice but to import the grain spirit from elsewhere. The malt, however, was distilled at Chichibu. This is an excellent blend and a good introduction to Ichiro’s incredible whiskies.

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BMW PREVIEW

FamilyFAVOURITE

The BMW X7, the largest model in the X collection, is making a splash in more ways than one. By MATTHEW MILLS.

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BIG HITTER BMW X7 brings a fresh sensation of space to the luxury market.

n the busy, crowded world of the SUV, one brand stands out head and shoulders above the pack – BMW. Its canon of X Series legends simply can’t be topped. Each has its own style, its own personality, its own unique individuality and yet each one also shares the automotive excellence, rugged durability and sheer luxury that is BMW’s pulse.

And that superb series has just got bigger with the arrival of the muchanticipated big daddy of the family, the remarkable BMW X7. Say hello to the big guy.

The latest and largest model in the BMW X line-up brings a fresh sensation of space to the luxury segment, thanks to the impressive open expanses and top-class design of its interior and its state-of-the-art equipment features.

At the same time, the advanced powertrain and chassis technology of the X7 ensures it offers all the offroad prowess, excellent ride comfort and agile on-road handling for which BMW’s sports activity vehicles are renowned.

At 5,151 millimetres in length, 2,000 millimetres wide and 1,805 millimetres tall, and with a wheelbase of 3,105 millimetres, the BMW X7 displays harmonious proportions and establishes itself very clearly as the new head of the BMW X model family.

The new design language, dominated by precise lines and expansive surfaces, intensifies the car’s authoritative aura. The prominent front end, with its large BMW kidney grille, gives the car an undeniable sense of presence.

LED headlights come as standard and a generous sprinkling of chrome

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elements adds to the car’s luxurious elegance of the X7, which is fitted as standard with 20-inch lightalloy wheels, while 21- and 22-inch variants can be selected from the options list.

The roominess and versatility of the interior are underlined by the standard inclusion of three rows of seats (offering space for seven people in total). The two passengers in the third row settle into full-size seats complete with armrests, cupholders and USB ports. The middle row can be composed of two individual comfort seats as an option. All seats are adjusted electrically at the push of a button. The boot capacity can be increased from 326 to a maximum of 2,120 litres, as required.

Carefully selected and meticulously crafted materials, including Vernasca leather trim, add to the feeling of luxury, as does the extensive standard specification.

The line-up of engines available at launch comprises a 340 kW/462 hp petrol V8 in the BMW X7 xDrive50i, a six-cylinder in-line petrol unit with an output of 250 kW/340 hp for the BMW X7 xDrive40i and a pair of sixcylinder in-line diesels with outputs of 195 kW/265 hp in the BMW X7 xDrive30d and 294 kW/400 hp in the BMW X7 M50d.

The X Series family is growing bigger, with the arrival of this, its largest ever incarnation – a perfect addition to a portfolio that can not be bettered. MQ To book a test drive of the BMW X7, visit autoclassic.com.au

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Linneys is renowned for transforming Australia’s precious raw materials into distinctive fine jewellery.

Founder Alan Linney is synonymous for his artistic jewellery and signature freeform style, hand carving designs to suit the individual curves of each precious gemstone.

We invite you to capture a moment in time with our latest collection, Butterfly Lovers.

MQ ART

Two vastly different exhibitions are set to ignite Perth’s position as a hub for artistic expression of all kinds this autumn. By GABI MILLS.

STRIKING A CHORD DESERT RIVER SEA: PORTRAITS OF THE KIMBERLEY Art Gallery of WA A landmark Kimberley exhibition launches AGWA’s 2019 program in February. Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley opens as part of the Perth Festival.

A striking new work from renowned artist Daniel Walbidi has been revealed as the first of eight commissions created as part of the Art Gallery of WA’s expansive Aboriginal art exhibition. Walbidi, from the north-western Australian coast, is among a group of prominent artists who have emerged from this Kimberley region in the last 10 years.

His work for Desert River Sea is a departure in medium for the artist primarily known for his paintings of desert country. Wirnpa is an

evocative installation and video work depicting a large-scale representation of Wirnpa – a salt lake in his ancestral country in the Great Sandy Desert.

The work represents the merging of Walbidi’s desert ancestry and coastal community life. It explores the idea of permanence and flux of country and culture with a focus on the ephemeral nature of creation.

This exploration of new mediums and contemporary ways of sharing the oldest of stories is a vital element of the Desert River Sea exhibition and the broader six-year project from which it was born.

“Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley is the exciting culmination of the innovative Desert River Sea project. The six-year project saw a new model of collaboration between the Art Gallery of WA and the arts centres and artists of the MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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Kimberley region. Founded on continual exchange and collaboration between AGWA and the artists, the project and exhibition were ultimately shaped by the people and the places of the Kimberley,” says Carly Lane, AGWA curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

“The exhibition reflects this recognition of cultural ownership and self-determination. As in Daniel Walbidi’s work, each of the artists and art centres has embraced the opportunity to share their stories of country and lived experience, often through the expansion of their art-making practices. The result is an exciting, experimental and current look at contemporary Aboriginal art in the Kimberley.”

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Opening cultural celebration weekend February 9 and 10 with artist talks, workshops, performances and more.

Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au

COUNTRY COLOURS Left, Mervyn Street wearing Droving Cattle In The Summertime 2018 (Courtesy Mangkaia Arts Resource Agency) This page, main image, Daniel Walbidi installing Wirnpa (Courtesy the artist and Short Street Gallery). Inset, Ngarralja Tommy May, Untitled 2018 (Courtesy Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency).

Opposite page, top, Garry Sibosado Aalingoon (Rainbow Serpent) 2018 (detail, photography Michael Jalaru Torres at Kooljaman Beach, 2018). Opposite, bottom, Sonia Kurrara at Danggu Geikie Gorge with artwork entitled Noonkanbah Highway (Courtesy Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency).

Janet Holmes a Court, the art gallery’s board chair, is thrilled at the prospect of showcasing Daniel’s extraordinary work.

“This is an exceptional event for Australia: new works from six Kimberley art centres and three independent artists will be presented alongside a selection of legacy works from art centre collections,” says Janet.

“Together with works from AGWA’s collection, the exhibition will offer a rare experience of the land, artists and art of the Kimberley.

We are delighted to link up with the Perth Festival which is the perfect context for this significant project.”

The exhibition is co-curated

by Carly Lane, and Emilia Galatis, community liaison and project coordinator. MQ Desert River Sea: Portraits of the Kimberley, Art Gallery of WA, February 9 to May 27, free entry.

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MQ ART

KYLIE ON STAGE WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle Meanwhile in Fremantle, one of the modern age’s most recognisable pop icons - Kylie Minogue - is the subject of a visually stunning travelling exhibition.

The Western Australian Maritime Museum will present Kylie on Stage, a touring exhibition by Arts Centre Melbourne and the Australian Music Vault.

The exhibition is a mustsee for any fashion-focused fan of Kylie’s iconic style, and will feature eye-catching and extravagant costumes and accessories from one of the world’s most popular performing artists. Her outfits will be on show at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle until June 9 so there’s plenty of time to get up close and personal with some of Kylie’s most familiar show-stopping fashion statements.

The exhibition features glamourous costumes from Kylie’s 25 years of global tours and showcases the work of international designers such as Dolce and Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld and Australian designers Mark Burnett and Peter Morrissey.

Kylie on Stage will give fans and anyone interested in the fashion, music and creative industries, a backstage look at Kylie’s enormous talent and work that contributes to her vibrant, continuing success.

Kylie on Stage, WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, Fremantle, February 16 to June 9, free exhibition (museum entry fees apply). Visit museum.wa.gov. au/kylie MARQUE SUMMER 2019

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MQ THE INTERVIEW

My music is what makes me feel like I have a purpose. It’s what I need to do and what feeds my soul.”

With a new album out, Missy Higgins is going on the road with John Butler.

She tells Ara Jansen that playing live is an essential experience.

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any songwriters will tell you that choosing favourite songs or albums is like playing favourites among your children. It can only end in tears or with something being left out in the cold.

Luckily for Missy Higgins, picking the tracks for The Special Ones – Best Of was definitely a joyful experience. The collection is the second album this year for the muchloved Australian singer-songwriter, following on from April’s Solastalgia.

“The album was a way to collect together fan-favourites and a nice way to release a couple of new songs,”

says Higgins from her Melbourne home. “They include songs that over the years fans have told me they have a special relationship with and which they have adopted for certain experiences in their lives.”

The album includes No 1 singles Scar and Steer, radio favourites Futon Couch, Ten Days, and Unashamed Desire, plus ballads Everyone’s Waiting, The Special Two and gold US single Where I Stood.

It also includes Arrows, written originally for Higgins’ wedding and recorded less than three days before the singer gave birth to her daughter.

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ALL THE FAVOURITES Missy Higgins has put together an album of her favourite tracks.

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Then there is the previously unreleased recording of All For Believing, submitted to the Triple J Unearthed demo competition back in 2001.

With the release of the album, Higgins hit the road in January to tour with John Butler Trio, including four WA shows.

“Playing live is my favourite part of the job,” the performer says. “It all makes sense, and everything comes together. It’s where I have always felt my music in the most important and genuine way. On stage, music is so fresh and alive. It changes and moves.

It’s something completely original, even if it’s the same song but the opportunity to play it like it has never happened before.

“The measure of a really good show is when both the audience and I feel completely inside that moment and experiencing songs in real time.

That’s my goal with every show, to be completely in the song as much as possible. It’s also the place where I am the most vulnerable.

“My music is what makes me feel like I have a purpose. It’s what I need to do and what feeds my soul.

It’s what I was meant to do and has always been my way to process the world. If I stop doing it, I stop being who I am at my core. Ultimately, it makes me a better person.” MQ The Special Ones – Best Of is out now. John Butler Trio and Missy Higgins play Kings Park on February 1 (sold out) and February 2. Tickets from Ticketmaster.

TRAVEL

THE LAP OF

luxury

Italy’s Lake Como does not disappoint, says Cassandra Charlick. So follow in the footsteps of the rich and famous and succumb to this sublime part of the world.

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hat do gelato, Gorgonzola and George Clooney have in common? They are all unavoidable from the moment you enter the gateway to Lego Di Como; that’s Lake Como to us anglophiles.

Dotted with some of the most idyllic resort towns in the world, Como is filled with the most Instaworthy scenery and opulent hotels in Italy. Its popularity as a retreat for the rich and famous can be traced back as far as ancient Roman times, with poets and artistic figures more recently like Keats, Shelley, Lindz and Verdi flocking to the region in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The micro-climate that makes for perfect holiday-making conditions also lent itself ideally to silk production, the major industry prior to the region’s major tourism boom. Also, thanks to its very good looks, the area took starring roles in films such as Casino Royale, Ocean’s Twelve, and even Star Wars.

Whether you have the budget of a baron or are looking to splurge just a little, there are plenty of options to fit your hip pocket.

So, where to start? Lake Como is a glacier-formed lake in the shape of an upside-down Y. The Swiss and French Alps frame the scene, with MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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wooded hillsides tucked around the quaint lakeside town and iconic villas. Take the narrow road from Milan that snakes up the eastern side to reach Bellagio, otherwise known as “The Pearl Of The Lake”.

Smack bang in the middle of the two branches of the waterway, from here you have some of the most spectacular views and a central launch pad for exploring.

It’s the people that make a place, so start by experiencing some of the true hospitality of the region by sipping a Negroni on the balcony at Hotel Belvedere. Since 1880 this family business has been passed

down from mother to daughter and is now onto the fifth female-led generation. You’ll receive a warm welcome from the three current women in residence, grandmother Signora Lucia alongside Signora Tiziana and her daughter Giulia.

Overlooking the calm bay of Pescallo, it’s just a short 10-minute stroll into the hub of the town.

Lace up your walking shoes and climb the stairs of the winding alleyways to hunt down the real heart of the Bellagio. Sample some local delicacies for lunch – it’s impossible not to try some of the abundant, freshly-hauled fish. Fried perch and risotto is a famous Como dish, ideal on a hot summer day followed by a delicate gelato. Skip the obvious store fronts and head up to the Piazza Della Chiesa.

You might get lucky and be serenaded by the local choir rehearsing nearby while you savour one of the home-made gelati from Caffé Bar Sport. Run by two elderly brothers, the pair’s father started the bar back in 1919 and it remains one of the oldest (and quaintest) gelatarias in town. Take a peek inside at a flashback to the ‘50s where Italian signores play cards as the world rushes by.

We chose to relax back at the hotel for dinner, watching the sun set from the restaurant’s terrace and feasting on carpione, a typical Lake Como freshwater fish served cold with a unique vinegar accompaniment, pairing beautifully with a crisp vino. Alternatively you could duck down to La Punta ristorante, popular with locals, right

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on the shores of the lake for a simple and traditional menu.

The region of Lombardia abounds with its own mouthwatering delicacies: try the lightest of bresola (air-dried beef) followed by rich buckwheat pasta known as pizzoccheri, served with plenty of melted cheese. The nearby locality of Valtellina is responsible for many of

MQ TRAVEL

“This Lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty.” ~ P.B SHELLEY

the region’s favourite dishes, as well as the local wine lists.

About a three-hour drive, it’s well worth a detour if you have a few days up your sleeve. Some of the best cellar doors to visit include Nera, Bettini, Niino Negri and Fay. Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, and you simply cannot leave without spending some time on the water. Day ferries and taxis hop between villas and picturesque medieval towns including Varenna, Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Como and Cernobbio.

Now, back to Mr Clooney. You

might not catch him in person, but the question of where his private villa is located is bound to crop up in conversation.

Being the largest and most luxurious spa in the region, it is only natural that he regularly pops over by boat for a treatment to The Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como. Spread over 1,300 sqm, nine treatment rooms and a floating pool, it’s the ultimate pamper day out.

The hotel has a fascinating history as the home of soprano Giuditta Pasta. It is said that Bellini used to row his boat across the lake to meet MARQUE SUMMER 2019

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ETHEREAL LIGHT The eternal beauty of Lake Como and the grand villas that dot its hillsides have been drawing visitors for hundreds of years.

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with her by moonlight and wrote his two most famous operas here: Norma and La Sonnambula.

A stay in any of the 58 glamorous suites or two private villas is bound to capture the heart of those lucky enough to be whisked away on a romantic escape.

Holidays in Italy have a way of coming to an end faster than planned; with a long list of villas, gardens, churches, trattorias and dining adventures still to be fulfilled.

Take these tips for your first journey to the land of the lakes. I promise it won’t be your last.

Villa D’Este

Villa Melzi gardens

Villa-tastic

VILLA D’ESTE

VILLA CARLOTTA

VILLA SERBELLONI

Originally the summer residence for the Cardinal of Como, this opulent 16th-century villa and its 25-acre park is now one of the most famous luxury hotels in the area. If the price tag of the five-star hotel is a bit beyond budget, mere mortals can still visit the exquisite restaurant and gardens to get a touch of the luxury lifestyle.

Located in Tremezzina, just a tenminute drive from Villa del Balbianello, the villa was built at the end of the 17th-century by Milanese Marquise Giorgio Clerici. Nowadays, the villa serves as a museum with one of the most outstanding botanical gardens in Northern Italy. Exotic flower lovers will have their fill with azeleas, camellias, bamboo gardens and spectacular rhododendron woods.

A must-stop when visiting Bellagio.

Located at the point where the lake branches into two;: Lago di Como and Lago di Lecco. One of the most outstanding lake views, the 18thcentury garden and the surrounding park are a masterpiece. Make note that access is closed on Mondays and the park can only be visited on guided tours, available daily.

VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO You may feel like you have been here before. Well, that’s probably thanks to Villa Balbianello’s popularity as a filming location. Both Casino Royale and Star Wars were filmed on location here in the elaborate terraced gardens. The villa itself is located on the tip of a small wooded peninsula near Lenno. Perch yourself among the bulbous topiary and you can see why it’s a popular spot with Hollywood. It is also ranked as the most visited property owned by The National Trust of Italy, so it’s not just the film buffs who are fans.

VILLA ERBA VILLA MELZI D’ERIL Put aside a few hours for a leisurely stroll through the gardens of Villa Melzi. Originally built in 1808 for Duke Francesco Melzi d’Eril, the gardens, the museum and the tranquil neoclassic chapel are all open to the public. Be sure to meander all the way to the end of the garden and enjoy the elegant chapel. Plenty of gorgeous plants and trees provide shade and spectacular colours throughout the season along the lake.

One of the many villas in the popular resort town of Cernobbio, Villa Erba was built at the end of the 19th-century and now plays host to events and conferences. Previously home to famed Italian director Luchino Visconti, the villa saw plenty of hedonistic parties and artistic gatherings during his time. The cinematic legacy lives on, with films like Ocean’s Twelve and artists such as Gwen Stefani using the property and its stunning location on camera. MQ

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME

BY MODA INTERIORS

MARQUESuite SUMMER 2019 ●Street, 055 ●Stirling AUTOCLASSIC.COM.AU 11, 37 Cedric WA 6021. Ph 08 9440 9000

info@modainteriors.com.au | www.modainteriors.com.au

MQ PROPERTY

MEETING THE BRIEF P

erth builds can sometimes conjure up challenges for those hoping to extract the most from those million-dollar views of the water – a challenge accepted by Urbane for a couple who dreamt of a designer home that put their riverside setting in a starring role.

“The couple also love to entertain family and friends, so we wanted to create a home which would allow them to spend plenty of time in that role,” says Steve Gliosca, managing director of Urbane.

With this brief in mind, the challenge lay not in meeting this desire for a perfect home but in overcoming the topographical challenges of the site, including restrictive height constraints imposed upon it.

“The site overlooks Waylen Bay in Applecross, a beautiful part of the Swan River that is north-facing,” says Steve.

The team at Urbane more than achieved their client’s dream house goals with an extraordinary project on a steep plot in a prestigious part of town There are gorgeous views over the bay across to the ever-changing Perth city skyline. Making that a focal point for outdoor entertaining was an obvious part of any new design, achieving both the client’s desire to embrace the maritime views and allow their guests to be entertained in style.

“The site had a very steep incline to the rear boundary and extensive civil works were undertaken to accommodate the home,” says Steve. “The home was designed over two levels with the upper level created with ease of living in mind, establishing a space that the owners MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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STREET STUNNER By maximising those beautiful river views, this Applecross build was a dream come true for Urbane’s clients.

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will be able to enjoy for many years, and well into their retirement.”

Essentially a luxurious apartment with garaging, master bedroom, living spaces, cinema and, most importantly, a large alfresco which overlooks that show-stopping view, the Waylen Bay property makes a statement from every angle.

“The lower level accommodates a gym, powder room and sauna, three guest suites and a family living area with kitchenette,” says Steve.

An added bonus of this level is that it is also self-contained, perfectly designed to accommodate extended family and friends who may opt to stay over.

“By positioning the main rooms to the front of the home and locating the garage to the rear of this steep site, we were able to maximise outlook to the river and achieve ease of access to the main living zones on the upper level,” says Steve.

There are gorgeous views over the bay across to the ever-changing Perth city skyline The result is a stunning home with elevated views and relaxed colour palette that will remain timeless and ready for entertaining all year round.

Viewed from the street, the captivating window into the upper floor spa and beautiful stone cladding offers a striking but crisp elevation along one of Applecross’s most sought-after addresses. MQ For more information, visit urbane.net. au or call Steve Gliosca on 08 9329 9560.

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BOOK MARQUE

NORMAN BURNS REVEALS THE LATEST GREAT READS.

24 HOURS IN THE LIFE OF MELBOURNE, | Chris Cincotta, MILY, $55 You can practically smell the early morning coffee and hear the clanging of the tram bells in photographer Chris Cincotta’s wonderful 24 Hours in the Life of Melbourne, but the book is light years away from the usual collection of clichéd touristy images about arguably Australia’s greatest city.

Instead there’s a real heart and soul to this brilliant photo essay that snapshots a moment in time in the life of 70 Melburnians.

Cincotta set out with his camera on a city-wide odyssey, snapping away for 24 hours.

Along the way he captured some superb images of Melbourne’s iconic sights (all with their fascinating own story) but what really

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lifts this book above the pack are the vignettes of the people Cincotta came across during his marathon photo shoot. From street vendors to footy fans, baristas, booksellers, couriers and the not-so-average Joe in the street, Cincotta nails the Melbourne vibe perfectly.

So much so that as an ex-Melburnian I felt an overwhelming wave of nostalgia.

A must-have for anyone who has been to Australia’s artiest, sportiest, food-iest city and wants a souvenir with a point of difference.

Available from melbourneiloveyou.com

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HISTORIES OF THE UNEXPECTED, Sam Willis/James Daybell, Atlantic, $39.99 This addictive and quirky new offering from Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell puts a whole new spin on the phrase ‘blast from the past’.

Did you know, for example, how Nazi Heinrich Himmler, Egypt’s Tutankhamun and the history of needlework are linked to napalm and Victorian orphans? Well that certainly wasn’t taught in my school history classes.

Neither was the connection between beards and the Crimean War nor the sinister link between East Germany’s paranoid Stasi secret police and the humble paper clip.

A fun and stimulating read – and if you want more check out the website historiesoftheunexpected.com which features scores of podcasts by the authors on an eclectic range of off-the-wall topics including the history of shrinking (!), chairs, love, chickens and much, much more.

STEAM AUSTRALIA, LOCOMOTIVES THAT GALVANISED THE NATION, Tim Fischer, NLA Publishing, $39.99

Former politician and avowed train ‘nut’ Tim Fischer delivers the fascinating tale, accompanied by more than 300 images, of how rail – and steam engines in particular – shaped the modern Australia.

Fischer writes with verve and, while there’s an incredible amount of detail to please even the most ardent steam train spotter, it’s the story of the people involved (including Western Australia’s visionary engineer C.Y. O’Connor) that adds a rich sense of pathos to the tale.

The golden age of steam may be over but even today enthusiasts throughout Australia keep steam locomotives, such as Victoria’s Puffing Billy, running – and delighting a whole new generation.

WELLNESS ESCAPES, Lonely Planet, $29.99 If this little gem of a book doesn’t spark you into I-need-to-plan-an-ultra-relaxing-holiday mode, nothing will.

This collection of the world’s most enticing chill-out spots (broken into five categories – Active, Calm, Healthy, Indulged and Inspired) includes Western Australia’s own Injidup Spa at beautiful Yallingup and a host of other exotic getaways in equally spectacular locations from the tropics to the Alps and everywhere in between.

A week at the Cavas Wine Lodge in Argentina? Yes please. Ditto for the Colombian volcano mud spa Volcan De Lodo El Totumo, the Aman Tokyo and Indonesia’s Oneworld Ayurveda in Ubud, Bali – the list goes on. Even if you can’t actually get to any of them, just reading this is like taking a holiday without leaving the lounge chair.

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MQ BOOK MARQUE

KITCHEN LIVING, KITCHEN INTERIORS FOR CONTEMPORARY HOMES, Tessa Pearson, Gestalten, $95

Nothing reflects the personality of a home (and its owner/s) more than a kitchen.

Whether open plan, rustic, minimalist, ultra-modern, improvised or just plain wacky, your kitchen probably reveals more about YOU than you would admit.

German publisher Gestalten’s Kitchen Living delves into the cult of kitchen through 296 fascinating pages that capture kitchens grand and small.

Editor Tessa Pearson also takes a look at the latest trends and technologies that are now shaping the 21stcentury kitchen.

THE STAN LEE STORY,

Roy Thomas, Taschen, $3000

Stan Lee, who died last November aged 95, was synonymous with the creation of some of the most popular – and enduring – superheroes in comic book history.

From Spiderman to the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, and scores more, Lee was seen as the key originator for the characters who fuelled Marvel Comics’ incredible success from the mid-1960s.

The truth though was that while Lee took most of the credit, many of these characters were at the very least co-created by Marvel’s artists – Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby to name but two.

Kirby’s family fought out a bitter lawsuit with Marvel (now owned by Disney), resulting in a confidential

(but rumoured to be in the tens of millions of dollars) payout. Too late for Kirby though, who died in 1994.

(Ditko had walked out on Marvel in the late 1960s frustrated with being unable to have creative control of his characters).

So where does that leave the Stan Lee legacy, whose 70-year career is celebrated in this ‘sumosize’, limited edition book written by long-time Marvel editor Roy Thomas?

While Kirby, Ditko and scores of other artists had talent to burn, they didn’t have the brash entrepreneurial chutzpah of Lee – it’s highly unlikely Marvel would have reached the same heights without Lee at the helm.

Nor was Lee just all about making a buck; via his ‘Stan’s Soapbox’ column featured in every

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Marvel comic Lee pushed messages of equality and racial harmony, fairly radical concepts in the 1960s, especially in comic books.

Today, of course, Marvel has branched out into the big screen (finally the on-screen technology has been able to bring alive the exploits drawn in the comics) and has earned billions for its parent company Disney.

Lee made cameos in all of the Marvel movies but check out the end credits and you’ll see the makers now also acknowledge those artists such as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and others – a fair if belated, recognition that Lee was more ringmaster than star act. MQ Taschen has produced just 1,000 copies of this gargantuan book, all signed by Lee and presented in a special acrylic box, and with a price tag of just over $3,000 a copy.

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MQ LET’S GO

LET’S GO TO ...

Rottnest Island New figures show that Rottnest Island continues to attract a record numbers of visitors to its shores, with 769,000 people arriving via ferry, boat or aircraft in 2018. And it’s not hard to see why - Rotto has more things to do than ever before.

hat 15 per cent record increase in visitor numbers can be attributed to extra ferry services, successful marketing campaigns, celebrity visitors and quokka selfies (we’re looking at you, Roger Federer). And even more holidaymakers in search of that special Rottnest magic are expected to arrive on its shores s with the completion of Discovery Rottnest Island at Pinky Beach in February.

Discounted admission fees for day return travellers catching a ferry after midday through January and February will also provide a further boost to visitor numbers.

This summer there has never been more activities for visitors with eight new recreational offerings available, ranging from water activities, boat cruising or grabbing a bite to eat at Wadjemup Lighthouse.

“The McGowan Government’s drive to diversify the recreational

offerings and approve developments on Rottnest has led to the island’s biggest boom period in both visitors and in new investments,” says tourism minister Paul Papalia.

“This year will see the opening of Discovery Rottnest Island, which will provide an eco-friendly and unique accommodation option, while construction on the Hotel Rottnest will significantly increase accommodation options.

“The new resorts coupled with existing accommodation options and the expansion of attractions on the island ensure Rottnest’s appeal will continue into the future.”

For years, Rottnest Island was WA’s very own special little secret getaway, with its casual atmosphere, picturesque scenery and some of the world’s finest beaches and bays.

Located just 19 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle, it was the place many of us went to for a no-fuss island break. That all changed when MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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the world of Instagram discovered that those smiling little quokkas made for awfully cute selfies and boom, Rottnest Island went global.

Of course it’s still a special place for Western Australians, but it’s now even definitely on the mustdo list for interstate and international visitors. it helps enormously that the Mediterranean-style climate and indigenous flora and fauna of this island provide the backdrop to a special holiday experience - as well as those little furry friends.

So take a day trip to Rottnest (or Rotto as the locals call it), or book a stay for a few days or more. It’ll be a memorable part of any visit to Perth.

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Don’t miss . . .

REALIGN YOUR KARMA

JUST 4 FUN AQUA PARK

Set in a gorgeous heritage house, Karma Spa is a chic space with a full spectrum of restorative treatments to keep you relaxed and rejuvenated during your island vacation. A high-point is the Apothecary Massage Bar where the team of bodyworkers co-curate a personalised experience for you with oil blends tailored around Relax, De-stress, Activate, Meditate and Mood Booster.

Karma also offers a range of sea-inspired magnesiumrich sea salt scrubs, Himalayan Salt Stone and signature Karma massages including Karma Surrender, Karma Rhythm and Sacred Balinese. The Karma Bespoke Facial Bar includes holistic and results LED Light Therapy Facials to give you that enviable summer glow as well, an Ayurvedic-inspired Mokosh Herbal Facials.

The team can also create magical experiences, indulgent packages enhanced with champagne and wellness tonics. . > To book, visit karmagroup.com

Climb, Jump, Slide‘n’Splash at Just 4 Fun Aqua Park for all ages! Inflatable floating water park based in Thomson Bay. Just 4 Fun is also great fun for families, birthday parties, school groups, corporate team-building sessions and bucks or hens days. > Open from 10.30am to 5pm every day (November to March/ April weather permitting).

Visit just4funaquapark.com.au

SEE THE SEALIFE Experience Rottnest’s pristine, crystal waters from above and below on a glass bottom sea kayaking tour.

Paddle into secluded bays, inaccessible to those on the land and too shallow for those on a boat. The clear-floored kayaks also offer guests a window into the world below. See colourful marine life, coral, and fascinating reef formations while staying (relatively) high and dry.

Tours are three hours long with roughly two hours on the water. It is rare for guests to fall in, but you should expect to get a bit wet. Life jackets and sunscreen provided. > Book your tour at rottnestkayak.com.au or at the Rottnest Island Visitors Centre.

FAMILY FUN PARK Challenge your friends or family to a round of mini golf, jump on the trampolines or play the aracade games.

Open every day with classic pinball machines available to entertain children of all ages. In keeping with our ‘nostalgic’ theme there’s Pac-man, Space Invaders and even Air Hockey. The latest addition to the games roster is Giant Chess so come down and book a game for the whole family. Also enjoy homemade crepes, coffee, waffle cones with connoisseur ice-cream, cold drinks and more. > Visit rottnestmoviesandminigolf.com.au

SKYDIVE GERONIMO ROTTNEST Tandem skydive over stunning Rottnest island and land on the beach. Video and photography packages are available.

Bookings subject to weather conditions. > Visit skydivegeronimo.com.au

Fast Facts

TUCK IN, CHILL OUT Lexi’s on Rotto, a vintage Baravan located on Rottnest, will soon be serving delicious coffees and tasty treats during the day. Find it near Wadjemup lighthouse.

Almost 770,000 people visited Rottnest in 2018 Increase of 15 per cent on 2017’s record visitation

HOP ON A BUS

Increased visitation a boon for the WA economy and job creation on the island

Discover Rottnest and enjoy the spectacular views from the comfort of the Island Explorer bus. You can hop on and off at any stop to explore the bays, see the wildlife and have a swim, or just sit back, relax and enjoy a ride around the island. > Tickets are available at rottnestisland.com. Adults $20, concession/child $15, family tickets available.

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PARADISE ISLE Left, book into Karma Spa for a the complete pamper package. Opposite, snap a cute quokka pic or take a dip in the crystal clear waters.

AUDIO

THE ART OF NOISE

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Big is beautiful - and in the case of speakers, sometimes it pays to go large. By NORMAN BURNS. Images courtesy BOWERS & WILKINS, DYNAUDIO, FOCAL, KEF

E

ver since the compact disc craze took hold in the mid-1980s our musical formats – and the sound systems that play them – have been getting smaller and smaller and smaller.

After CDs came the mini-disc (not a great success one would have to admit) before that was consigned to oblivion with the rise of the Apple iPod and MP3 players.

Streaming services (Spotify, please stand up) have taken things even further and most smartphones can now double as a music player with access to an almost limitless digital jukebox.

As musical formats shrank, so did most home “hi-fi” systems, those big free-standing speaker set-ups so favoured in the 1970s making way for

boxy little all-in-one bookshelf units.

Now that’s all well and good, but to me there’s still nothing better than a big, shiny (and loud) set of speakers cranking it out thanks to a grunty amp.

Whether you’ve hooked up a record player (yep, they are definitely back) or are streaming from a digital source for your sound fix matters not. The main thing is having a groovy, physical presence in your living room that can’t be ignored.

Luckily, in all this miniaturisation madness the world’s manufacturers of quality speakers have stuck to their guns and beautiful BIG floor standing units are still readily available.

Of course, technology, materials and engineering have all improved exponentially since the heady days of MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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the Stereo System Seventies.

Even so, Addicted to Audio sound system specialist Dan Cross says you still have to use your noggin when it comes to choosing the right floorstanding speaker.

“If you have a large room and want to have a full-range dynamic sounding system as if you were in the recording studio with your favourite artist, a pair of large floor standing speakers is a must,” says Dan. But he cautions it is not all about “volume”.

“Having a very large speaker in a small room will give you all sorts of issues,” he says. “You should be prepared to invest as much money in amplifying speakers as the speakers cost. You wouldn’t, for example, put a 1.6 litre engine in a three-tonne truck.”

Dan says it is important people listen to a system before they buy – and



 DYNAUDIO CONTOUR 60 from $13,999

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Danish loudspeaker maker Dynaudio has an impressive pedigree; more than 10,000 recording studios throughout the world use their equipment. And the same care and precision they put into professional studio monitor speakers filters down to their domestic products, such as the striking Contour 60, which features Dynaudio’s unique Esostar2 fabric soft-dome tweeter, renowned for its exceptional clarity and regarded by audiophiles as one of the world’s best-ever drivers.

 FOCAL STELLA UTOPIA EM EVO | $92,000

 MUSICAL INVESTMENT Speakers come in all shapes and sizes and price points - so which one is your next acquisition?

consult a professional who can advise them on the most appropriate set-up for the size and shape of the room where the speakers will be placed.

As for choice – well, the sky is the limit (although in truth the limit is more likely to be your budget).

Thanks to Dan, here are five speaker choices that deliver outstanding results.

Addicted to Audio, 197 Oxford St Leederville (08) 6478 4816, addictedtoaudio.com.au

 BOWERS & WILKINS 702S2 $6,500 The flagship 702s2’s from Britain’s Bowers & Wilkins are packed with enough cool-sounding terminology to be worthy of a Star Trek episode.

Continuum cone? Decoupled Carbon Done tweeter? Aerofoil bass cones?

Well jargon aside they all add up to one thing, says Bowers & Wilkins – speakers that deliver incredible ‘life-like’ sound with all the nuances, textural details and ‘colour’ of original recordings, whatever the genre. The no-fuss speaker cabinet design makes them a good fit with whatever the room décor too.

 KEF R11 | $8,995 The R11 speakers, boasting four hybrid aluminium bass drivers, are the flagship of KEF’s R Series. KEF has completely re-engineered the range, claiming more than 1,000 improvements over earlier iterations with the result being “a speaker that can pick out the softest details with grace and refinement as well as deliver raw power and strength”. KEF is a high-end British audio brand that has been in business since 1961.

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French brand Focal creates some of the world’s most stunning speaker systems, virtual works of art in themselves. The three-way floorstanding Stella Utopia EM Evo is one of them, a technological tourde-force that resembles some kind of streamlined Dalek that is packed with cutting edge engineering smarts such as a Neutral Inductance Circuit to reduce harmonic distortion.

 DYNAUDIO EVIDENCE MASTER | $200,000 OK, you can put down a hefty home deposit for the cost of the Evidence Master but those crazy Danes have delivered what audio experts have dubbed a ‘milestone’ in loudspeaker technology. While the EM looks to be one unit it is actually three individual sections – the upper and lower sections house the base drive units, the middle section the midrange and treble drive units and the crossover, isolated within its own compartment.

There’s enough wizardry powering these units to baffle a Nasa boffin but the upshot is the EM pumps out as close to ‘perfect’, accurate and natural sound as you can imagine.

Now where did I put that spare $200K? MQ

PERFORMANCE

THE

ARTFUL DODGER Ray Winstone has been stealing the limelight from his co-stars for years and in new flick King of Thieves, he’s at it again.

R

eturning to the silver screen in James Marsh’s new movie King of Thieves, Ray Winstone is in his element. It’s a true-life tale based on the infamous British robbery in 2015 when a gang of elderly criminals pulled off one of the largest heists in history, stealing from the Hatton Garden Safety Deposit Company in London.

A veteran of classic crime films, including Scum, The Departed and Sexy Beast, Winstone plays Danny Jones, one of the gang’s number.

Joining an all-star cast – alongside Michael Caine and Tom Courtenay, with whom he made Last Orders – Winstone discusses the prospects of getting older and meeting Prince Philip on the set.

he’s walked across the Antarctic and he’s walked across – I think – the Serengeti. He climbs mountains. I know people who know other people. . . he’s a nice guy. He just happens to be a robber. I met Bruce Reynolds a few years ago, the Great Train Robber, who was one of the nicest men in the world. Bruce just had this thing - he just wanted to get into places that he wasn’t allowed to get into. They’re intelligent people. They’re not bullies.

We’re not making a film about a

load of bullies. They don’t go round bashing people up.

ALRIGHT GEEZER Ray Winstone tackles a new role as a jewellery robber in his latest movie, King of Thieves.

MQ What were your thoughts when you heard about the real Hatton Garden diamond robbery?

Ray Winstone It’s a great old fashioned blag! Physically, no-one got hurt. There might be some [honest] people who actually got mentally hurt because they’ve lost fortunes. But you think people who are hiding their money there . . . it’s hidden for a reason! You work hard, you play hard. These guys are masters at what they done.

Really beautifully thought out, really beautifully executed.

MQ You previously worked with Michael Caine and Tom Courtenay on Last Orders. Do you have strong memories of it?

RW: Oh, yeah. Helen Mirren – she was my mum!

MQ How was it working with James Marsh, the director, on King of Thieves?

RW He’s a diamond. His record speaks for itself. I love that film he done, The Theory of Everything.

That was a proper bit of work. He just comes in and it’s chilled. The set, it’s lovely. It’s like going and having a coffee at your mate’s house.

It’s proper. He knows his stuff.

Does his homework. As all directors should do. He’s alright.

MQ The characters are all quite nasty to each other, don’t you think?

RW Yeah, they’re thieves and they know they’re working with thieves.

So the thieves are going to thieve off the thieves!

MQ So – to borrow a famous phrase – there’s no honour among thieves?

RW I think the thieves made that up!

MQ Are you anything like the real Danny Jones?

RW The real Danny, he’s as fit as a butcher’s dog. Danny Jones,

MQ The film deals with getting older too. What’s the best and the worst thing about ageing?

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RW Grandkids! That’s the best. And the worst? Well, I’ve got the urge when I think I’m 17 sometimes, but the reality of trying to do something, you realise you’re not 17. I’m still stupid enough to think I am! But the worst thing about getting older is time goes quick. I’m 61 and I’m losing friends at 61.

MQ You’re still working, though. Do you still enjoy it?

RW Oh yeah. We’re lucky enough to do something we like doing. In a way, [9-5 workers] are the bravest people in the world. The man who gets up and gets on a train at 6.30 in the morning to a job he hates doing, but he does it to feed his family . . . he’s got to be the bravest man in the world. We’re lucky, we love doing what we do. It don’t take no bravery to do that.

MQ Is it true that Prince Philip, the

on at 1 o’clock in the morning, ‘I can’t understand the scene!’? I don’t know if I’d have the patience. It’s hard work being a director. But acting, you turn up and do your bit.

Duke of Edinburgh, passed you while you were filming and didn’t want to meet you?

RW Well, we were filming in Windsor Park. The Range Rover pulls in, the window goes down and it’s the SAS guys and Prince Phillip.

We’re in his garden, aren’t we? So he says, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Hello sir, we’re making a film.

With Sir Michael Caine and Sir Tom Courtenay. Would you like to meet them?’ He said ‘No!’ His security man was crying with laughter, the SAS guy. He’s a very funny guy. I liked his style!

MQ Do you ever feel like directing?

RW I’ve been asked to, but you know what? If you’re lucky it takes three years of your life to do that. By the time you put it all together and we have to pay tax! You’re running out of time. . . . and do I really want to listen to a bunch of actors moaning

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MQ They’re making a TV prequel to Sexy Beast. What are your thoughts?

RW It’s a great idea. What I like about it is the two original writers are involved, Louis [Mellis] and David [Scinto]. When they sit together and they write, the dialogue is beautiful.

They’re superb. I think it’ll work.

STAR-STUDDED CAST Ray Winstone (second from left) is joined by Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay and Paul Whitehouse.

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MQ What’s next for you?

RW Nothing at the moment. I’ve been having a little bit of time with the family, which I’ve loved every moment of. I’ve got three daughters and grandchildren, which I love. But after three months of that, you’re hanging off the wall a little bit! MQ The King of Thieves is in cinemas February 29.

X5 VIP TEST DRIVE

You always remember your first, so they say, and for Dianne Bortoletto, her first time behind the wheel of a BMW (an X5 no less) was unforgettable.

VIP DRIVE

FOR A DAY

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hen the email pinged to ask if I wanted to test drive a BMW, I squealed like a 1980s schoolgirl at a Bon Jovi concert. The test drive was for a BMW X5 and would be my first time driving this iconic SUV and, indeed, my first time driving a BMW. Yes, I know, I’ve been living under a rock.

The in-line six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo diesel X5 is a bold, good looking car – and big too at just over two metres wide and just shy of five metres in length. My test model was the xDrive30d in Phyphynotic Blue, a striking electric blue.

Far from the soccer-mum SUV styling, the X5 is touted as a SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) and oozes spacious luxury as soon as I open the door. The leather seats are soft

yet supportive and fully adjustable to mould for comfort. I could easily sit in this seat for the three-hour drive south to the Margaret River wine region, which is tempting. But the day’s itinerary is only to Perth’s closest wine region, in fact one of the world’s closest to a major capital city, the Swan Valley.

What looks like a solid roof above me, slides back in a flick of a switch to reveal a panoramic sunroof. This big handsome beast is starting to feel more like a sexy sports car.

Jay, the helpful BMW Auto Classic staffer who was running through the X5 features, was talking faster than a rapper when all I could think about was reaching the pedals.

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GO WILD Take a few hours out of your day and enjoy exploring all that the X5 can offer - and a cup of coffee and cake at Mandoon Estate into the bargain.

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forward to get a clear view to the front of the bonnet. The steering column automatically adjusts with the seat - I adjust it some more to give myself an unobstructed view of the big and busy dashboard. So much information and so many driver assist options; active cruise control with stop and go function, steering and lane control assistant (my favourite), lane change warning and lane departure warning, side collision protection, evasion aid, crossing traffic warning, priority warning and wrong-way warning.

I test the lane assist several times by veering off into the next lane and true to its word, the steering corrects, quite obviously and with a bit of a jolt. When the indicator it on, the lane assist is overridden.

Compared to a standard iPhone (which you can charge wirelessly in the console), the centre console screen is like a cinema screen. At 12.3 inches, it’s so big in fact that the policeman who stopped me for a random breathalyser test on the way to the Swan Valley commented, “Geez, you’re not going to get lost with that massive map.”

Jay demonstrates the use of the Sat Nav using a wheel that has the functionality of a mouse pad that you can actually hand draw letters on to spell out the address. It’s a bit tricky for a right-handed driver to use but a fun option to scrolling to each letter.

There is also a voice assist option.

With the GPS set to Mandoon Estate, I put my foot on the brake, press the start button and Jay bids me farewell. I click into Drive and ever so gingerly, lift my foot off the brake, expecting the car to nudge forward. Nothing happens. I’m completely stationary. I double check that the handbrake isn’t engaged (it’s not) and spend a few moments checking the dash to make sure nothing is wrong (nothing is).

Gently, I touch the accelerator, conscious that I’m in a $113,000 car and the stunning Auto Classic showroom is merely metres in front

of me. Smooth movement ensues thanks to the all-wheel drive and after an easy three-point-turn, I’m on the road.

As I accelerate, the seatbelt tightens and sucks me into my seat like an unexpected tight hug. I react by leaning forward and the seatbelt softens.

The GPS takes me along Great Eastern Highway. Not the driving experience I was hoping for, all this traffic and red lights, but it did provide a good test of the driver assist features including the helpful blind spot warning depicted by a light in the big electric wing mirrors.

The Heads Up Display (HUD), much like a hologram on the windshield, shows plainly the speed limit, my speed and the next GPS direction. Much better than trying to navigate the complex dashboard, although I expect one would get used to that quickly.

Sticking to the 60km/h speed limit is easy, which as a selfconfessed lead-foot, is a revelation.

In my little pocket-rocket turbocharged daily drive, I’m forever forcing myself to slow down to avoid the dreaded demerit penalty. Not so in the X5. Perhaps the subliminal message of the HUD was playing a role? It simply feels comfortable to sit on 60kp/h.

For a big car, it’s surprisingly easy to drive. And with 195kW/265hp of power and 620Nm of torque, it’s got the grunt of an AC/DC rock song yet the softness of lullaby. It’s quiet. At the lights, I’m able to easily get ahead of the pack and on the highway with just slight pressure on the accelerator, the eight-speed gear box makes overtaking a breeze. The instant power and quick reaction of the turbo is exciting.

At Mandoon Estate, I reverse park (without the use of parking assist), in one smooth motion, first time. I reverse parallel park in the same vain. I could put this down to years of scouring for parking at the University of Western Australia, honing my ability to park in the

tightest of spots, but I think it’s more likely due to the excellent reverse camera and easy vision in the wing mirrors – I didn’t even have to turn my head and the X5 is a big beast of car.

There are eight cameras on the X5, three behind the rear-view mirror that work out what’s happening on the road ahead, one in the grille, one at the rear, one in each of the wing mirrors and a night vision camera.

There are also 12 ultrasonic sensors and five radar units. It really does have all the bells and whistles.

After a quick coffee at the picturesque Mandoon Estate, I set off on my return journey, taking a different route. I want to open this baby up and feel what it’s like at 100km/h. Getting to 100km/h is fun - it can reach 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and sitting on the top speed limit is again easy. It’s fuel efficient too, averaging 6.5 litres per 100kms.

In other features, the two-piece split tailgate has handsfree opening and closing of both sections. The boot is huge at 650 litres and can be increased with 40:20:40 fold down seats to 1,860 litres. There are USB chargers, also in the rear, and the 10-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System can belt out your favourite tunes

FOR A BIG CAR, IT’S SURPRISINGLY EASY TO DRIVE.

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with wireless interconnectivity that includes Apple Play.

It has multifunction seats with massage function, four-zone automatic climate control, heated armrests, cooled/heated cup holders in the centre console, options for an ambient air package for interior fragrancing and professional rear-seat entertainment system with 10.2-inch touchscreen display.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a BMW app which allows BMW Digital Key users to access the vehicle and start the engine via smartphone.

My first BMW experience was worth the wait. You always remember your first and after my virgin experience, I’m looking forward to doing it again. MQ To arrange your VIP test drive of the X5, visit autoclassic.com.au

COVER STORY

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE The new BMW 8 Series Coupe is more than just a sports car - it’s a work of art, just like the city that starred in a recent film shoot showcasing this masterpiece, Venice.

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ith the new BMW 8 Series Coupe, BMW gives the luxury segment a new identity, making automobile dreams come true and creating unique moments of pleasure.

The spectacular TV commercial at the centre of the market launch campaign for the new BMW 8 Series Coupe takes as its motif the emotional impact of a completely new driving experience that is realised for the first time ever.

It shows the luxury sports car driving through the historical centre of Venice. Driving past magnificent palazzi and underneath the Rialto bridge, the new BMW 8 Series makes its way along the Canal Grande – a route never before covered by a car.

For the driver, whose story is told in the short film, the childhood dream comes true of driving a car through Venice; meanwhile viewers are given a whole new perspective on the lagoon city, featuring moments of driving pleasure in a form that has never been seen before.

The film, directed by Daniel Wolfe, and will be shown in versions lasting 15, 30 and 45 seconds. It’s

about a young Venetian man who as a child discovers his love of automobiles in general and BMW in particular. A model BMW M1 becomes his favourite toy, and a boat-builder friend introduces him to the fascination of engine technology.

But in a city in which boats are the sole means of transport, his yearning for sheer driving pleasure remains unfulfilled, which is why he leaves Venice as a teenager, not to return until many years later. And now at last his childhood dream comes true – in the new BMW 8 Series Coupe, driving on pontoons that pave the way to a unique car trip through the canal network of his home city.

The scenario is symbolic of efforts to make the apparently impossible come true and turn long-nurtured dreams into reality.

In order to enable the shoot to take place, the Venice authorities – for the first time in the city’s history – issued the BMW Group with a permit to set up a pontoon structure that would allow an automobile to drive past the world-famous backdrop of the city’s historical centre. Where gondolas, vaporetti MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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and small motorboats have been the sole means of transportation for centuries, the new BMW 8 Series Coupe became a true pioneer of driving pleasure – quite literally striking out on a new path.

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WORLD FIRST Extraordinary access to Venice’s iconic waterways was given to BMW for the commercial shoot for the X8.

The sensational scenes were partially shot using camera drones.

The commercials will be broadcast worldwide on selected TV channels and also online.

The campaign for the launch of

the new BMW 8 Series Coupe will be backed up by wide-ranging social media activities on outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. A feature with background information and impressions of the otherwise MARQUE SUMMER 2019

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car-free city of Venice as well as a documentary of the film shoot with the new BMW 8 Series Coupe is also in preparation. MQ Visit autoclassic.com.au for more information.

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MINI MILLBOOK

THE RAREST LEGEND OF THEM ALL.

WELCOME TO THE MINI COUNTRYMAN MILLBROOK EDITION. In the ultimate homage to the John Cooper Works racing heritage, the limited MINI Millbrook Edition is the culmination of 60 years of MINI. Born on the track, bred for the road with LED driving headlights inspired by MINI’s rich rally history and finished in an exclusive ice blue colour, this beauty is a tribute to the iconic 1960s British Motor Company release.

With numbers strictly limited to only 20 vehicles, each branded with a sequenced badge number, it doesn’t get any more exclusive than this.

Heritage Ice Blue There’s no mistaking this rare MINI with its limited edition Ice Blue paint.

Exclusive Badging Every MINI Millbrook Edition is an original, with its own unique sequenced badge number proudly displayed.

LED driving lights Rally-inspired front mounted driving lights shine a light on MINI’s racing heritage.

• Book your test drive at Auto Classic MINI garage today - visit autoclassic.minigarage.com.au • MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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XXX

BEST OF THE

BEST BMW supported the WA regional restaurant award in conjunction with its new model launch, the extraordinary X5. Images SHOT BY THOM

T

he 2018 West Australian Good Food Guide saw Margaret River region restaurants make an almost clean sweep at the top end of the coveted Top 50 list.

Auto Classic BMW were proud sponsors of the West Australian Good Food Guide Regional Restaurant of the Year Award, which was awarded to the extraordinary Voyager Estate kitchen in the Margaret River region. Under the

inspirational leadership of head chef Santiago Fernandez (who was also awarded regional chef of the year), Voyager Estate has astonished critics with its incredible menu this year.

“My philosophy in the Voyager Estate kitchen is to be led by what the wines tells me,” says Santiago.

“The produce from our kitchen garden, the region and seasonal flavours, are designed to complement our wine’s expression of place.

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WINNING STREAK Above, Santiago Fernandez of Voyager Estate was awarded the regional chef of the year at the recent WA GoodFood Guide awards, cosponsored by Auto Classic.

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“Here in Margaret River we are blessed with the raw materials that make great wine and great food and it’s our responsibility to bring this unique place to life. We change the menu every two months to fit with the seasons and it also allows the team to continuously experiment and evolve our offering. I am very proud of what we’ve achieved in the 18 months since I’ve been on board and so excited for what lays ahead.”

Alex Burt, owner of Voyager Estate, is equally ecstatic about the prestigious award.

“Our philosophy at Voyager Estate – in the vineyard, the winery and restaurant – is a commitment to craft, place and sustainability. We are hugely proud of Santi and his team and that they have been recognised by the industry. It’s also a huge win for Margaret River.”

At the time of going to press, the new BMW X5 was about to be driven down to Margaret River for use in the filming of the WA Good Food Guide promotional video for Voyager. It will be the first new X5 to hit WA roads. MQ For more information about BMW X5, visit autoclassic.com.au

MQ PHOTOGRAPHY

2018:

A PLACE ODYSSEY Perth photographers Denis Glennon and Tony Hewitt took to the skies in an epic 31-day journey to reveal Australia as it has never been seen before.

By NORMAN BURNS Images FROM GIRT BY SEA BY DENIS GLENNON AND TONY HEWITT

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s I write this, NASA has just beamed back fuzzy pictures of an object more than 6.5 billion kilometres from the sun, a snowman-shaped chunk of rock dubbed Ultima Thule.

It’s a mind-boggling achievement indeed but one look at the amazing Girt

By Sea collection proves you don’t have to venture into deep space to come up with truly other-worldly images.

The brainchild of Perth photographers Tony Hewitt and Denis Glennon, Girt By Sea’s jaw dropping images are light years removed from the run-of-the-mill ‘pretty’ pictures of MARQUE SUMMER 2019 ●

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Australia’s coastline.

They are not so much records of a physical place as ethereal, possibly spiritually-infused, portraits of a continent that’s alive with a riot of colour.

From swirls of impossibly vivid aqua-green waters caressing orange-hued sandbanks to blood-red salt lakes, crazy formations of red mud and striking, intricate ‘waves’ of sand, there’s an almost hallucinogenic feel to

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OPPOSITE Salt Lakes abound around the coast of Australia often with a diverse and vibrant range of colours RIGHT North Turtle Island appears to be floating in the waters off the Pilbara coast, WA BELOW The colours of a reef are exposed by the run-off as the tide falls in the Timor Sea

the Girt By Sea images, which are collected in a book by the same name and also available as art quality, large format prints.

Virtually none of the images capture any evidence of human impact or involvement; look carefully in one or two and you may see a

boat or shack dwarfed by the natural environment, but it is the continent itself – and that brilliant coastline that is the star attraction.

Getting the project off the ground – literally – was a logistical achievement worthy of NASA’s mission to Ultima Thule.

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First Tony, who had always been fascinated by the term ‘girt by sea’ in Australia’s national anthem and had dreamt one day of being able to complete what would be the aerial photographic journey of a lifetime, had to convince his good mate Denis to take part.

Of course, as an internationally renowned photographer himself, Denis didn’t take much convincing.

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MQ PHOTOGRAPHY

LEFT The waters south of Roebuck Bay in the north west of WA reveal a diversity of colour and texture as if left behind by the strokes of a water colour artist’s brush OPPOSITE Rippled mud revealed as the tide falls in the early morning light in King Sound WA

Having the idea was one thing; getting the backing to do it another.

Next was a trip to Canon Australia’s Sydney HQ to pitch their plan – and they loved it.

Says Canon Australia’s director of consumer imaging Jason McLean: “It’s great that Tony and Denis approached Canon with Tony’s vision because the scope and purpose of this audacious project was immediately appealing. We’re proud of our products but ultimately we’re known for what people like Tony and Denis do with them – and I think we all agree that they’ve done something very special indeed.”

With Canon an enthusiastic partner, the next step was to enlist the invaluable help of pilots and fellow West Aussies Roger Avery and Steve Kruger who would fly the Cessna 210 aircraft, specially fitted out for aerial photography, around the coast.

Starting and finishing at Perth’s Jandakot Airport, the flight path would take Tony and Denis on a 31-day, 34,000km anti-clockwise trip around the continent.

Both men shot simultaneously through open, front and rear port-side windows but the constant interplay of textures, light and terrain meant even focused on the same subject no two shots would ever be identical.

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BY THE NUMBERS

way you could hold the knowledge of something in your hand was to do it.”

Completing the epic journey, the pair faced a task almost as daunting as being jammed in a tiny aircraft next to each other for a whole month – selecting just 100 images, from the tens of thousands they had taken, for a special Canon exhibition.

Says Tony: “The other thing I think of that collation or narrowing down was that there were a variety of images with the ‘wow’ factor if you like . . . some of that came from colour, some of them about the texture, some of them symbolic.

Being able to print images that gave some level of scope as to

the grandeur of what we’d done did, the size of what we’d done, being able to look at print that’s a metre by whatever on the wall, framed under glass in front of you, gives you some level of scope.”

Denis is still amazed, and proud, that ‘four ordinary guys’ managed to pull off such a feat.

“It takes my breath away still that we actually did this. Nobody had ever done it before. That was the big attraction for me,” says Denis.

“There are images that when people see them in the book, or the exhibition, will stir their heart and cause them to say ‘wow’.”

The Girt By Sea book and prints are available from store.canon.com.au. For details of Denis Glennon’s photography and international wildlife tours and classes, visit iconicimagesinternational.com. For details of Tony Hewitt’s work, masterclasses, workshops and more, visit tonyhewitt.com MARQUE SUMMER 2019

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34,213

total distance flown in kilometres

2,273

highest altitude (metres) of photography

1,133

longest leg (km), Kununurra to Faraway Bay

252

shortest leg (km), Faraway Bay to Mitchell Plateau

167.88

total number of hours in the air

153

lowest altitude (metres) of photography

50

number of airports/ airstrips

9

number of civil airspace clearances required

5

number of military airspace clearances required

2

pilots (to comply with civil aviation regulations)

1

scheduled aircraft service (100-hour inspection)

MQ MOTORRAD

When Ken Eaton’s wife Susan succumumbed to early onset dementia in 2007, he channelled his grief in a creative, far-reaching way, literally.

ONE MAN AND HIS DOG No one is more knowledgeable about the experience of living with dementia than a person who has dedicated their life to caring for someone with it.” So writes Rhonda Parker, CEO of Alzheimer’s WA in the foreword of Ken Eaton’s book of verse, Who Are You. The book, which Ken began to write as a way of dealing with the grief he felt after his wife Susan died, was just the first step on his unique pathway through

such a terrible time.

“Ken took his experience of heartbreak, together with his faithful dog Chloe, and embarked on motorbike journeys around Australia, just like he and his wife dreamed of when they were young,” says Rhonda.

“Over the years, he evaluated, reflected and transcribed his reflections into a small, heartfelt book.”

And as a keen motorcycle rider, Ken and Chloe have subsequently

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KICKER si ratatia qui im re veligenitae estrum que lis volor sendi blabo. Ut dolorerum etur alia velles et faccabor alibustio lipsum dolor.

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seen more of Australia than the majority of the population.

“I have done several trips with my little dog Chloe in various places throughout Australia, from Darwin to Southport in Tasmania,” says Ken. “In fact Chloe has visited every capital city in Australia from the back of a motorbike, along with the true outback towns of Birdsville and Oodnadatta.”

Astonishingly, over the years Chloe has ridden around 200,000km on a bike.

It was, in retrospect, a natural decision for Ken to take in the grief-stricken months following his wife’s death.

“After my wife died of younger onset

dementia in 2007, I began riding motorbikes again, something we had both enjoyed in our younger years and had always held the dream of riding around Australia,” says Ken. “Chloe was my wife’s companion dog for three years and became my constant shadow during that time, so it was only natural for her to join me on the bike.”

Ken is a member of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, and he has used the opportunity to travel to their rallies held in different locations every year.

“A test ride on a BMW 1200GS at the Maryborough rally began my passion for riding the outback roads of Australia,” he says.

It was on one of these rides that

much to spread the word of this devastating disease.

“It tells my story of life caring for a loved one, the words gradually coming over many years while I travelled the roads,” says Ken. All proceeds from its sale go to the charity.

The pair have experienced some epic times in the saddle, making memories together in the name of the wife (and Chloe’s mummy) he loved so much.

“One exciting adventure was our eight-week 20,000km ride to Port Macquarie and back, that took in the Western Australian Goldfields, South Australia and Central NSW through Bourke into Queensland for 20 days,” says Ken. “We travelled through many

the idea to create a charity to help promote awareness of dementia, especially younger onset, came to Ken and the I Ride With Chloe To Fight Dementia charity was formed in association with Alzheimer’s WA. Patches and badges are sold to the motorcycling fraternity and following the publication of his book of verse (Who Are You – reflections of a dementia survivor), which is charmingly narrated from the viewpoint of Chloe, Ken has done

towns including Birdsville, Mount Isa, Karumba, up to Cooktown from where we travelled down the east coast back down to Port Macquarie via coastal and inland towns.”

After Port Macquarie the welltravelled pair returned to Western Australia via Sydney and then back through central Queensland, visiting towns they had missed on the first time through.

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before heading west,” says Ken. Their journey came to a premature end unfortunately thanks to a ‘silly accident’.

“Our adventure unfortunately ended just as we reached 2,0000km travelled as I broke my wrist near Halls Creek,” says Ken. “That is when you realise the importance of your BMW Insurance which very efficiently helped me out of my predicament,” he says.

“We were disappointed not to finish the whole trip but that’s all part of adventure riding.

“Our trusty 1200GS,that had travelled 150,000km over three and half years, had also completed its last adventure.”

FAR AND WIDE Chloe (above) and Ken Eaton have traversed Australia on their trusty BMW 1200GS, covering over 200,000kms so far.

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It’s by no means the end of the road for Ken and Chloe however.

“With a new BMW 1200GS, our adventures have started again with lots of this wonderful country to explore.” MQ Follow Chloe and Ken as this clever pooch writes about her adventures on her blog site, iridewithchloe.com Auto Classic generously helped sponsor the publication of the book Who Are You which you can order from whoareyou.store

AIRBORNE

THUNDER DOWN UNDER

The skies over Victoria will reverberate with the roar of jet aircraft next month as the Australia International Airshow returns to Avalon.

By NORMAN BURNS Images courtesy AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

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nyone who’s been to an air show and witnessed a low-level flying display by military “heavy metal’ will tell you it’s an experience not to be missed.

The very sky itself seems like it’s being ripped apart when a modern jet fighter, afterburners ablaze, thunders past at hundreds of kilometres an hour and barely a couple of hundred metres off the ground.

Air shows bring out the ‘big kid’ in all of us (well, OK probably guys especially) and the Australian International Airshow, held every

second year since 1992 at Avalon, Victoria, is no exception.

This year’s event promises to be bigger, better and bolder than previous editions, with the Royal Australian Air Force’s brand-new F-35A Joint Strike Fighter set to take star billing.

The RAAF took delivery in December last year of the first two of 72 aircraft Australia has ordered – for a cool $17 billion.

The RAAF will also be showing off its new airborne electronic warfare platform, the EA 18G Growler.

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hi-tech wizardry, the Growler can jam enemy radar and communications systems.

The show will also feature international air power from the United States (F-22 Raptor and B-52 Stratofortress), Japan (Kawasaki C-2 heavy lifter) and Singapore (Ch-47 Chinook helicopter).

While the fast military jets are undoubtedly the show’s rock stars the flying (and static) displays also showcase aerobatic teams, civilian helicopters, vintage aircraft (such as the famous WWII Spitfire) and the latest and greatest civilian planes – including sleek business jets.

The show will also, for the first time, host a dedicated drone zone, reflecting the enormous international growth in military and civilian drone use.

While tens of thousands are expected to attend the public

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open days, the first three-and-a-half days (Tuesday to midday Friday) are dedicated to the Australian International Aerospace and Defence Exposition, reserved for trade and visiting government and military delegations.

The trade days have proved a lucrative forum for Australia’s aviation industry to conduct business.

The 2017 show attracted more than 660 exhibitors spanning the aviation, aerospace and defence industries and generated an estimated $3.8 billion worth of

IMPRESSIVE HARDWARE Airplane fans will be well-served by this year’s Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition.

business, much stemming from military contracts.

Perth-based Airflite, one of Australia’s leading aviation companies and involved in almost every facet of the industry, (including pilot training and providing and maintaining the Diamond aircraft for the Australian Air Force Cadet) says being present at Avalon offers invaluable exposure for its suite of products, services and expertise.

“Being on site allows us to connect with our interstate team

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members, our customers and our suppliers and brand partners in person. This allows us to connect on a more direct level, to better understand the needs and wants of our customers and the troubles they face. As we are a multi-disciplined provider of aviation services, being on site and in person allows us to transmit the message of our full capability set in adherence to our mission and values and, importantly, being present allows for us to engage in meaningful two-way communication,” said an Airflite spokesman.

The show kicks off for the public on Friday, March 1, from 2pm, culminating in a spectacular nighttime mock air attack. MQ The Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition will be held from February 26 – March 3 2019. For more information, visit airshow.com.au. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.au/airshow2019

LAST WORD

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

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ince Tash’s grandfather gifted them a guitar at the age of three, the self-taught artist quickly developed a unique style that audiences lapped up.

Tash has mastered over 15 instruments, which, when matched with vocals that shine with a magical quality, make for a live show that needs to be seen to be believed.

This one-person powerhouse started out playing open mic nights on a fake ID and busking on the streets of Melbourne, Australia.

Recent accolades include over 500m streams, topping the iTunes chart in multiple countries, breakthrough track Jungle coming in at number three in Triple J’s Hottest 100, achieving gold sales for the Notion EP, platinum sales for singles Jungle and Notion, winning the prestigious Unearthed J Award, 10 ARIA award nominations and most recently, playing stand-out sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza.

Tash’s highly anticipated debut album Flow State is out now worldwide and you can catch Tash live as they tour Australia.

TASH SULTANA • MUSICIAN

TASH SULTANA is a unique live artist who has commanded world attention since their homemade videos went viral. Tash was soon selling out major theatres and arenas globally and playing at the world’s biggest festivals - no mean feat for an artist who just a year before was recording songs on a Go Pro in a bedroom.

Gluttony – What is the food you could eat over and over again?

Vietnamese food is probably my favourite but I tend to switch it up from time to time.

Greed – You’re given $1m that you have to spend selfishly – what would you spend it on?

More studio gear. Always.

Sloth – Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Happy at home or the beach.

Wrath – Which news story makes you white with rage?

I’m a musician, I’m here to play and write music, I’ll leave the news to someone else.

Envy – Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Two left shoes just to go around in a circle.

Pride – What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?

Achieving general happiness.

Lust – What makes your heart beat faster?

Playing shows for sure. See you all there. MQ Tash will be playing a two-hour headline set with full production and world-class visuals on March 30 at the Fremantle Oval. Ocean Alley and Big Words will be supporting the show which is an 18+ event. Visit ticketmaster.com.au/tashsultana for tickets.

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