Alliance Airlines Magazine – January/February 2021

january/FEBRUARY 2021

A real Australian business magazine

TIME FOR TIMOR

Why Timor-Leste is perfect for a cultural, off-the-grid getaway

WAY DOWN SOUTH

Buckle up for a trip through Southwest Australia’s wild and rugged landscapes

Northern Adventures It’s heating up in Cairns where five-star digs and outdoor adventures abound

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

Welcome.

WELCOME ABOARD Welcome aboard. 2020 was a momentous year for Alliance Airlines. I am proud that our staff and the many contractors and suppliers who support us in everything we do were able to come together as a team to deliver an uninterrupted, safe and secure operation. This is despite the many and ever-changing requirements imposed on us due to the pandemic.

Despite being a challenging year in many respects, I believe it is worth reflecting on some of the many achievements of 2020.

In early 2020, Alliance operated a wide range of charters for the NSW RFS and other state bushfire agencies. Not only did Alliance operate to a number of airports for the first time, but many of the taskings were completed with only hours’ notice.

With the onset of COVID-19, Alliance was able to move extremely quickly to implement a range of schedule and service changes to meet the needs of its existing customers, including social distancing on board the aircraft, changed catering, and a range of temperature checks and health screens.

Notwithstanding COVID-19, Alliance also successfully retained the Olympic Dam travel contract with BHP, which will also see Alliance operating jets into Olympic Dam next year for the very first time.

COVID-19 also saw Alliance implement a number of new charter customers, with some new services implemented in a matter of days. Alliance looks forward to the longterm relationships with these clients as we emerge from COVID-19.

Alliance commenced several new scheduled routes, including Cairns-Sunshine Coast-Canberra, and Brisbane-Moranbah.

Alliance was proud to support the NRL to transport players, staff and officials around Australia in support of the 2020 Premiership season and State of Origin series.

Alliance purchased Toll Aviation Engineering and the rebadged “Unity Aviation Maintenance” will assist with Alliance’s continuing growth and the introduction of the brand new Embraer fleet of aircraft.

Through a range of initiatives throughout the year, but especially via our “Hangar 2 Hangar” charity bike ride through South Australia early in 2020, Alliance was proud to raise over $150,000 for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) in 2020.

To cap off a significant year for the business, in August 2020 Alliance agreed to purchase a fleet of 14 Embraer E190 jet aircraft, a full flight simulator and a significant spare parts inventory. This was

followed up in December by the purchase of a further 16 E190s, for a total commitment of 30 aircraft.

These purchases will allow Alliance to grow its fleet and set up the business for the future. The first two E190 aircraft have been delivered to Brisbane painted in full Alliance Airlines livery, with more to follow as we move into 2021.

Subject to regulatory approvals, we expect that these aircraft will commence commercial operations by mid-2021.

Have a great 2021 – we look forward to flying with you.

Lee Schofield Chief Executive Officer

JAN/FEB 2021

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✓ Visit the iconic Qantas Founders Museum.

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✓ Swim in the sparkling waters of Ningaloo Reef.

✓ Stand at Cape York, the ‘tip of Australia’.

✓ See the incredible Field of Light show at Uluru.

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37

26 AusBiz.

In this issue. upfront 10 Events & Entertainment

Dive into the latest releases in TV, film, books and podcasts, and mark your calendar with the top events and festivals happening in early 2021.

AGRICULTURE Meet the Pinaroo Farmer who’s making a life out of lentils

26 Way Down South Escape to southwest WA’s wild and rugged landscapes, windswept coasts and national parks, where adventures await.

INDUSTRY We go inside Australia’s blooming lavender industry

30 Top Adventures in the NT & WA

Features

We round up the top adrenaline- pumping experiences to try.

14 Timor-Leste

37 Tropic Wonder

Incredible diving spots, pristine jungle landscapes and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine.

Five-star stays and outdoor adventures are putting this tropical city at the top of everyone’s bucket list.

COMMUNITY How #FinishWaterWaste is connecting metro and rural Australians

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IN THE WORKPLACE Why we’re failing at workplace wellbeing (and how we can do better)

JAN/FEB 2021

3

KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

Nestled amongst the wilderness of the Kimberley’s you will find Kimberley Grande, the perfect place with spacious room to come home to after adventurous days.

Spend your day relaxing by our picturesque pool and indulging at our restaurant and bar facilities.

Numerous conference and function packages are available all year round

www.kimberleygrande.com.au 20 Victoria Highway, Kununurra WA 6743 4 ALLIANCE MAGAZINE Phone: 1300 9555 49 | 08 7918 7885 | Email: reservations@kimberleygrande.com.au

PUBLISHER’S

Over the past year there have been some extraordinary tales of resilience and cases of opportunities being harnessed, and we’re so glad that one story of success has been that of our very own Alliance airlines.

Adding another 16 Embraer E190 jets to its fleet at a time when other airlines are struggling, is testimony to how well the business has been run during the good and the more challenging times.

Although we can’t gallivant all over the world right now, soon we’ll be able to once again explore lovely New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and some Asian countries.

In this issue we’ve mainly focussed on some of the adventures that you can have here in Australia, including a road trip down the great Gibb River Road through northwest Australia, where the ancient landscape is spectacularly rugged.

It takes about four days to drive the 700-odd kilometres of unsealed road between Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing and there are plenty of amazing places to swim en route.

We’ve also included a feature on Western Australia’s southwest. If

EDITORIAL

Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Assistant Editor: Bethany Plint Designer: Ryan Vizcarra

ADVERTISING

Sales Manager: Richard Bunting sales@publishingbychelle.com

CONTRIBUTORS

you’re lucky enough to be ‘stuck’ behind the borders over that way, get exploring this region that’s like a giant adventure park.

And as Timor Leste has been one of the few countries to successfully combat COVID-19, I’ve included a story about my trip to this beautiful country that is just over an hour’s flight from Darwin. Hopefully we can continue to support our friends over there when tourism opens up again.

Stay safe, and happy travels.

AgriFutures Australia Bethany Plint Bia Affonso Brian Johnson Carolyne Breeze Emily Herbert Natasha Dragun Saurabh Jain

PRINTING

Blue Star PRINT 81 Derby St, Silverwater NSW 2128

Alliance is published by Publishing ByChelle (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) Level 1, 3 Westleigh Street, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 publishingbychelle.com The reproduction of any content, in whole or part without prior written permission by the publisher, Michelle Hespe, is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in the content are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the publisher. All information in this magazine was believed to be correct at the time of publication, and all reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. Publishing ByChelle cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine, they will not be returned. We apologise if we don’t get back to your email, as we do receive a large volume of communication via various online channels. Some images used in Alliance are from iStock and Getty images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

MICHELLE HESPE

If you would like to read the digital version of Alliance, please be our guest!

Simply go to trulyaus.com – which is dedicated to exploring and celebrating all things Aussie, giving travellers the lowdown on the best places in regional, rural and outback Australia.

TRULYAUS.COM JAN/FEB 2021

5

APT takes off with all new Australian Private Jet Air Tours APT, the pioneers of Australian tourism, is taking-off in an exciting new direction with the announcement of its brand new Private Jet Air Tours. This series of luxury holidays includes all flights aboard a privately chartered aircraft, designed for guests to travel with ease to some of the most remote and beautiful locations in Australia, while enjoying bird’s-eye views and visiting iconic landmarks.

APT’s Private Jet Air Tour guests will benefit from quick and easy embarkation/disembarkation. Once landing in the heart of destinations, some not accessible by larger commercial jets, guests will stay at hand-picked properties which are situated in ideal locations from which to explore the destination, with many gourmet dining experiences included.

QUEENSLAND OUTBACK & TROPICS BY PRIVATE JET Explore the varied landscapes of Queensland on the 9-day Queensland Outback & Tropics by Private Jet journey.

Guests will visit the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, walk to ‘The Tip’, the northernmost point of mainland Australia at Cape York, and relax at Hamilton Island.

SOUTHERN OCEAN TO TOP END BY PRIVATE JET Journey through the centre of Australia from Melbourne to Darwin on the 7-day Southern Ocean to Top End by Private Jet trip. Guests will taste their way through Kangaroo Island, explore Wilpena Pound on foot and by air, and see the Field of Light at Uluru. Guests can also see more of Australia by combining this journey with the West Coast and Kimberley Horizons by Private Jet itinerary.

WEST COAST & KIMBERLEY HORIZONS BY PRIVATE JET From Perth to Darwin, travel up Australia’s west coast by

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

private jet to discover some of Australia’s most iconic sites.

Highlights include swimming with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef, flying over the Bungle Bungle Ranges and cruising through the famous Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge). The journey is also available in reverse, starting in Darwin and ending in Perth. Guests can also see more of Australia by combining this holiday with the Southern Ocean to Top End

by Private Jet journey.

WONDERS OF TASMANIA BY PRIVATE JET King Island Dairy cheese tasting, Cradle Mountain explorations and Hobart’s MONA. On this 5-day Wonders of Tasmania By Private Jet, guests will discover everything there is to love about Tasmania. There’s also an option for guests to start and end their trip in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne on select departures.

To discover more about these exciting Private Jet Air Tours with APT or to request a brochure please call 1300 214 938, visit www.aptouring.com.au or contact your local travel agent.

Route Map.

Where we fly.

Alliance Airlines is Australasia’s leading provider of air services.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND G R O OT E EYLANDT W E I PA

KUNUNURRA

CAIRNS

CENTURY

TOWNSVILLE

PORT HEDLAND K A R R AT H A

CANNINGTON

CAPE PRESTON

M A C K AY MORANBAH ROCKHAMPTON GLADSTONE

MOOMBA

SUNSHINE COAST

ROMA

BRISBANE

KALGOORLIE

PERTH

SYDNEY CANBERRA ADELAIDE

NOTE: MAPS ARE NOT TO SCALE

key Private charter flights Alliance Airlines & Virgin Australia commercial flights

JAN/FEB 2021

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Roma Saleyards

Broadening Student Horizons in the Outback In January this year, Student Horizons (a trans-Tasman educational travel specialist) was in growth mode and in the planning stage for expansion to Singapore. At the end of February, the impact of COVID-19 hit hard, international borders shut, and revenue came to an abrupt halt. A story of growth morphed into a story of survival overnight.

Jamie and Brooke Wansey founded Student Horizons in 2012 with an aim to broaden the minds and horizons of young people through travel. Nearly nine years on, over 400 meaningful school music, sport and study-based tours around the globe and more than 12,000 students have gained experiences for life. The Wansey’s belief in their societal purpose, undoubtedly important in their success.

Jamie clarifies, “through travel we can gain a deeper understanding of others and otherness. Inter-cultural empathy is so important for a more peaceful world.”

Although the pandemic has dealt a harsh blow to the Student Horizons business and their team, they have remained optimistic and upbeat and worked smart to remain relevant in these times. “We have pivoted to a mainly domestic educational travel business over the last few months” Jamie explains, “whereas before COVID-19 we were predominantly an overseas travel specialist for schools, we have now applied our experience and expertise to our own backyard. There is so much in our vast country for students across Australia to see, do and learn from outside the classroom. We have now developed a unique range of primary and secondary school outback experiences, as well as Northern Tropical Queensland itineraries and of course Canberra school excursions”.

Canberra

In the September school holidays the Wanseys took a muchneeded short break, exploring the Queensland Outback for themselves as a family. “Our trip incorporated Roma, Charleville, Longreach, Winton and Emerald and we all learnt so much and had an experience we will never forget. The kids loved the dinosaurs and the story of Waltzing Matilda in Winton. They raved about the campfires and meeting the Walkers of Camden Station in Longreach and fossicking for gems in Rubyvale. We connected with so many great folks and gained a far better appreciation of the primary industries.”

Jamie and Brooke are adamant that every young Australian student should have the opportunity to experience the outback whilst at school. It has left an indelible stamp in the minds of their young kids who will remember their outback adventure for the rest of their lives.

A recent increase in domestic trip bookings and enquiries for Student Horizons is encouraging and suggests a growing confidence in travel. 2021 is all set to be a far better year – a year for school students to learn and understand about the wonders right here on our doorstep.

Please contact Jamie for more information on Student Horizons Australian School Tours – jamie@studenthorizons.com.au

Far North Queensland

Student Horizons is guided by a single-minded vision to enrich the lives of young people by making overseas and domestic school tours accessible to all students. Through travel, Student Horizons strives to be the leading school trip travel agency that provides experiences to students in a range of disciplines that are equally as life-changing as they are life-shaping. student-horizons.com

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

Outback Queensland

Getting crafty on the coast Back in 2014, the Sunshine Coast was home to one single brewery. Fast forward to 2020 and it is surely vying for the title of ‘Craft Beer Capital’ of Queensland, now accommodating 17 breweries spread across the region.

From Caloundra in the south to Maleny in the Hinterland and Noosa in the north, the craft beer scene is alive and well.

With each brewery serving up a range of different beer styles, locals and tourists have flocked to these new venues to not only discover their new favourite drop, but also to sample some of the best food being served up on the Sunshine Coast. The diverse range of local food trucks offer anything from pizza to paella, with some having restaurants serving high end dining featuring local produce. Add the fact that children and families are welcomed, and most are dog friendly, and you’ve got a vibrant location that in many cases has become the local community hub. Did I mention one brewery even has a petting zoo?

With these local gems spread across such a vast area, the best way to experience them is with Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours. Their experienced local guides take you behind the scenes to sample local drinks, local produce and local stories. Plus they take care of the driving! Jump on one of their scheduled tours or contact them to arrange a private tour for your group. www.sunshinecoastcraftbeertours.com.au 0438 823 377 Josh Donohoe is the founder of Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours and an avid supporter of all things local.

With great seasonal produce readily available on their doorstep, brewers are regularly collaborating with local farmers and producers to deliver a never-ending list of seasonal beers to keep the thirsty crowds happy. Think mango sours, coffee stouts, kaffir lime IPA, apricot saison or a Mary Valley farmhouse ale featuring rosella, chili and ginger! For those more traditional drinkers, you will find award winning lagers and pale ales also on tap.

Let’s also not forget the Sunshine Coast is home to a local cider company and 5 distilleries making exceptional gin, with rum and whiskey patiently maturing in barrels.

JAN/FEB 2021

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Watch, read & listen.

podcasts

By: Bethany Plint

Dare to Lead with Brenè Brown

books

The renowned researcher, author and speaker shares her poignant conversations with some of the world’s leading culture-shifters, change-catalysts and troublemakers to help us show up, step up and dare to lead.

The Heart of a Horse, Candida Baker January 2021, Murdoch Books, autobiography

Told through a series of short stories, Candida uses her lifelong love of horses as the main conduit for bridging the gap between our thought process and intuition, highlighting the magic that happens when we keep an open mind about the idea of communication.

Every Little Thing Who invented pants? How did ‘pink for girls’ and ‘blue for boys’ happen? What do dogs say when they bark?

These are the kinds of burning questions that are answered on a delightfully informative show, packed with useless information.

The Rock, Aaron Smith

December 2020, Transit Lounge Publishing, memoir Holding a unique mirror to Australia, the award-winning journalist and last editor of the Torres News reflects on our nation’s shortcomings, unresolved past and uncertain future from our most northerly outpost, Thursday Island.

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

Burnout Survival Kit, Imogen Dall

January 2021, Bloomsbury Publishing, self improvement When your brain feels like a mouldy wrungout dishcloth, this book – filled with hacks for stress, anxiety, networking, sleep and more – will be your secret weapon for moving (and laughing) through the pain and finding joy, balance and calm again.

NAB Business Fit

This series features conversations with experts in wellbeing, psychology, business and science who explore the valuable lessons that can be applied to help SMEs work through challenging times.

Entertainment.

EXHIBITION

Wanderlust Melbourne

5 December - 31 January in Fitzroy, VIC Traverse imaginary borders and be transported to five beloved cities and dream destinations around the world through Melbourne’s first ever interactive travel experience. wanderlustmelbourne.com.au

FILM Indiana Jones Trilogy

January 2021 Everyone’s favourite troublesome explorer is back on the big screen for a three-part series over January and February, taking us along on his wild journey in Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade all over again. Let the binge begin!

theatre Playing Beatie Bow

22 February - 1 May at Sydney Theatre Company’s The Wharf Steeped in the history of The Rocks and overflowing with adventure, humour and a little magic, this new adaptation of Ruth Park’s beloved Australian story is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

JAN/FEB 2021

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What’s On. Our pick of the top festivals, shows and sporting events around the country this January and February.

Compiled by: Bethany Plint

2-26 Jan Sydney Festival

Sydney, NSW Embracing the outdoors like never before, this summer’s Sydney festival comprises 130 events across an action-packed 21-day program. More than 1,000 performers will come together to highlight the abundance of talent across the nation through a range of mediums including live theatre, music and circus spectaculars. sydneyfestival.org.au

18-21 Feb Australian PGA Championship

Brisbane, QLD Australia’s most energetic golf tournament is returning to Royal Queensland Golf Club from 18 to 21 February 2021. A stellar list of Australasia and European Tour players will battle it out in a 72 hole stroke play event for the prestigeous Joe Kirkwood Cup and a not-too-shabby prize pool of AU $1.5 million. championship.pga.org.au

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

Ends 29 Feb Here I Am: Art By Great Women

Canberra, ACT Featuring more than 100 contemporary Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from around Australia, the latest exhibition by Kambri at ANU showcases some of the best female creative talent through a number of outdoor public art and gallery exhibitions, live art, music events, film screenings and public talks. kambri.com.au

Events

Ends 28 Feb Melbourne Music Week Extended

Melbourne, VIC Spread over three glorious months of summer, Melbourne Music Week Extended brings a longer, larger and more dispersed program of free and ticketed events, breathing life back into the city after a tough 2020. Featuring a stellar lineup of local acts, the revival of Melbourne’s eclectic music scene starts here. mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Live at The Malthouse.

PHOTO 2021.

21-31 Jan

18 Feb – 7 Mar

Live at The Malthouse

PHOTO 2021

1-12 Feb

28 Feb

Melbourne, VIC An epic 10-day music series is set to Christen the stage of a brand new COVID-safe venue in Melbourne’s trendy Southbank precinct. The Malthouse Outdoor Stage will host a range of local artists including ARIA-winning jazz prodigy Kaiit and euphoric funk craftsman Midlife. malthousetheatre.com.au

National Sustainable Living Festival

Nationwide For more than two decades, NSLF has presented a leading events and education platform with the mission of encouraging widespread cooperation in the pursuit of social and ecological sustainability. The unique festival returns in 2021 to continue to encourage Australians in joining arguably the most important social movement of our time. slfl2021.org

Melbourne, VIC In celebration of Melbourne’s “new normal,” the inaugural PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography will reanimate the streets and galleries of Victoria, bringing the arts, culture, academic and business sectors together through free outdoor workshops, installations and exhibitions. photo.org.au

World Naked Bike Ride

Melbourne, VIC A beloved global event, Melbourne’s World Naked Bike Ride returns for its 16th consecutive year. Riders will bare all on a brisk ride through some of Melbourne’s iconic locations including St Kilda, Fitzroy, Carlton and Collingwood.

The event aims to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists to motorists and promote cycling as an alternative to driving, as well as encourage body positivity for all. wnbrmelbourne.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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Getaway

TIMOR T

I

M

E

F O

R

Blessed with incredible diving and whale watching, pristine jungle landscapes and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet, Timor-Leste is an ideal place for an off-the-grid, cultural getaway.

WORDS: Michelle Hespe Photography: David Kirkland

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

Getaway

ISL AND IN THE SUN I’M FLYING through the water with the sun on my back, my snorkel allowing me to breathe and my flippers angled in a straight line so as not to slow me down. My diving buddy Neyl and I are holding onto a rope that is tied to a fishing speed boat, and our goal is to catch up with a fast-moving giant pod of melon-headed whales.

The boat stops, I let go of the rope and after a million sparkling bubbles rise in an explosion of light around us, we hear the joyous song of the creatures swimming around, below and before us. There are hundreds of them cavorting about, leaping in and out of the water, tail-slapping and singing to one another. I can’t believe it’s real.

They’re called whales, but the melon-heads – who gained their name due to their bulbous heads with flattish faces – are actually dolphins. They travel in enormous groups (sometimes up to 1,000) and are renowned for being quite shy, but today they seem to be enjoying the human company. We swim amongst the shimmering spectacle, marvelling at their other-worldly beauty.

An hour later the dolphins swim out to deeper seas and we board the boat, ready for some fishing and snorkelling along the coast of Atauro Island. The snorkelling around TimorLeste is famous, for good reason. The crystal-clear waters, abundance of marine life (including lots of Nemos) and intact coral gardens resplendent in a dazzling array of colours, also make it an underwater photographer’s dream. On a fine-weather day, the sea is as flat as glass and it’s an easy hourlong boat ride across to Dili.

Back on land, later that day, I explore Atauro Island by tuk-tuk, checking out the busy markets where 10,000 or so locals buy products from the mainland and food such as dried fish, vegetables and chickens from

farmers and fishermen. I stop by for a cold beer at Barry’s Eco-Lodge – owned by the man himself who has been on the island for 15 years. I take some time to kick back and enjoy the stunning view of the property’s palm-fringed beach. It’s always abuzz with fishermen, and the thatched accommodation huts surrounded by flower gardens make it picturebook perfect.

I notice there are students everywhere, playing board games, reading books in the shade before whirring fans and enjoying cool beverages and local snacks.

Barry explains his retreat is often chosen by teenagers who have finished Year 12 and are after an alternative to Schoolies. Here, they put down the gadgets and go alcohol-free, getting back to nature, meeting the locals and enjoying one another’s company in a good oldfashioned way.

I don’t want to spend too much time out and about as where I’m staying, Neyl’s Beloi Beach Hotel, is a piece of paradise that has the best views, food and drinks on the island.

Neyl, otherwise known as “Captain Imagine,” had a dream of building his own Rasta-themed resort complete with a pool and bar, on jungle-clad land, overlooking the ocean with majestic mountains soaring behind it.

The crowning centrepiece of the resort is the pool. Inlaid with Moroccan-style blue tiles, it’s perched on the edge of a cliff, so while you’re enjoying the cool water you can gaze over the island villages. Here, people live as they did thousands of years ago, in thatched huts with abundant vegetable gardens, chickens and kids running about in the forest. If you didn’t see mobile phones in most people’s hands, or a glimpse of a TV here and there through an open door, you might assume you’ve stepped back in time. 

JAN/FEB 2021

15

Getaway

FROM TOP: DIVING OFF THE COAST OF TIMOR-LESTE & MEETING LOCALS AT THE MARKETS ON ATAURO ISLAND

Beside the pool is Neyl’s latest addition to Beloi, which has more zen than a monastery. The delightfully dubbed Ponky’s Bar was named after his three little girls, who he calls his “Inky Pinky Ponkys.” You enter the bar-cum-restaurant via a winding path through tropical gardens, and step into a space that is such a surprise for an island that, until recently, didn’t even have tarmac or more than a handful of tourists at any one time.

With dark walls and thatched booths, stools and seats made from recycled boat materials, funky lighting and reggae tunes, the bar could easily be a big city venue. Neyl is proud to say that he and his team of 12 staff created it all from scratch, teaching themselves as they went along. You can perch on a stool on the balcony – which has the same jaw-dropping views of jungle meeting ocean.

The accommodation is clean and simple, with air conditioning and showers. Some rooms are in the main bungalow, and others in converted shipping containers positioned on the side of the cliffs next to the pool. I make time for a massage in

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ALLIANCE MAGAZINE

the furthest container, which has been turned into a sweet little spa – I am lucky enough to have a heavy thunderstorm roll in while enjoying mine, adding to the feeling of being removed from the world as I know it.

After a few days I reluctantly say goodbye to the gorgeous staff and grab a ride down the hill in the back of the ute, then wade through the water to our awaiting boat. Fishermen and kids wave and shout out farewells.

The trip back to Dili is a smooth one, and we are lucky enough to spot more dolphins and humpback whales having a ball. Whale season in Timor-Leste is something else – the magnificent creatures migrate past before hitting the top of Australia and continuing their journey down Western Australia’s coast.

THE BIG SMOK E After Atauro Island, being back in Dili is a bit of a shock. It’s a thriving Asian city alive and humming with the smells, noises and organised chaos of a somewhat clumsily developing country. But that’s also what gives this special place its charm. Think Thailand in the 70s – complete with beaten-up yellow mini-buses blasting reggae or tinny Timorese tunes, their dashboards crammed with all manner of soft toys, fluffy dice dangling beside prayer beads and random collections of glittering, bobbing ornaments that the drivers can somehow see through.

The city streets are lined with groups of young and old men selling bundles of fish on the footpath, next to others pedalling fresh coconuts. It’s pure mayhem if you’re driving – the bigger your vehicle, the more right of way you have, and cyclists, buses, motorbikes and pedestrians all dodge chickens and stray dogs looking for a feed.

If you need a time-out, there are plenty of ways to escape the heat and chaos of Dili. Timor Plaza is

Getaway

FROM LEFT: ESTATUA DA JUVENTUDE & INGREDIENTS AT AGORA FOOD STUDIO

where you can cool off and shop to your heart’s content in the frenetic layers of a thriving shopping mall selling everything you can possibly imagine. Eat local food downstairs, or head upstairs for a sophisticated experience in luxurious surrounds.

Enjoy a cocktail, beer or wine in the Sky Bar or Sky Garden Terrace, or sit back, relax and indulge in a wonderful dining experience at Timor Plaza Hotel’s luxurious Panorama restaurant, which focuses on modern European cuisine, complemented by a great wine and beer list.

The accommodation at Timor Plaza Hotel is some of the best in the country. There are Premier, Superior and Deluxe suites with views of the surrounding mountains, Junior and Executive suites, and apartments suitable for longer stays.

LESTE W E FORGET On my second day, intent on ridding myself of any lingering preconceptions that many people have about Timor, I take a tour with Timor Adventures to get the lowdown

on where the country came from, and where it’s headed.

To get a grip on my location, I walk up 500 steps on the Fatucama Peninsula to visit the 27-metre high Cristo Rei of Dili monument. The statue was proposed by former governor José Abilio Osorio Soares to President Suharto, as a present for the 20th anniversary of East Timor’s integration into Indonesia. Things didn’t go too smoothly from there, and after spending some time sitting under the statue, looking out over the ocean, I take the plunge into some dark history.

Be warned, it’s not easy to stomach what happened to the Timorese people during many relentless periods of conflict – the country was pretty much at war for four decades from 1960 until 1999, and the atrocities that occurred during and after the Indonesian invasion are horrifying. The Indonesians burnt Dili to the ground when they were forced to leave in 1999, with the aim of destroying everything in their path on their way home.

I visit the Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum and learn about the 250 (at least) pro-independence students who the Indonesians opened fire on while they were peacefully protesting on the day of their murdered friend Sebastião Gomes’ funeral at Santa Cruz Cemetery in 1991. I remember hearing about the Santa Cruz massacre as a young teenager. Sebastião had been murdered after vocalising his opinion on Indonesian occupation during a meeting with other resistance members in Dili’s Motael Church.

When the Indonesians discovered the group, he was dragged outside and shot in broad daylight in front of his friends, allies and enemies. Seeing the blood-soaked clothes and shoes beneath photos of the many young, optimistic faces is enough to make anyone cry.

There’s a statue in the city called Estatua da Juventude depicting a young man holding another who was shot during the massacre. Their names are Amali and Levi Corte Real. Both survived, left the country for around a decade, and weren’t aware that the statue had been erected. It was based upon footage of the carnage taken by British filmmaker Max Stahl, who hid his reel of film in the graveyard and then retrieved it after the Indonesians left. That footage changed the history of Timor-Leste as it let people  JAN/FEB 2021

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Getaway FROM LEFT: POOL AT BELOI BEACH RESORT & LOCAL KIDS MUCKING ABOUT

know what was really happening in a country that was cut off from the rest of the world.

Wanting to know more, but with my stomach churning and tears in my eyes, I visit the Chega! exhibition in a jail where Timorese people were tortured and killed by Indonesians for being brave enough to stand up for their country’s freedom. Today, locals (including Amali) work tirelessly at the institution to preserve the country’s dark history.

Feeling quite burdened by Timor’s sad history, I go for brunch at Agora Food Studio, which is a “social enterprise and plant-forward restaurant,” that proudly proclaims its dedication to “growing food and coffee innovators.” It is “guided by the ever-changing equatorial seasons and indigenous knowledge.”

Agora is a Greek word for a gathering place to share ideas, and that’s what I find when I step inside.

It’s a buzzing place for people to enjoy beautifully creative, slow food meals which are artfully crafted from locallysourced produce. The chef proudly explains each dish to diners, and you

can take a look at the rooftop herb garden and the outdoor pizza oven.

I enjoy a homemade kombucha with a plate of delicious goodies that includes falafel-style purple sweet potatoes, grilled locally caught fish, a boiled egg and a light and tangy vegetable salad, alongside fresh avocado on sourdough.

The café and hospitality school is up there with Timor Plaza, raising the bar on Dili’s dining and drinks scene.

Things really are changing here, and the staff are as passionate about food as they are about service.

Afterwards, for a late lunch, I visit the Timor Lodge Hotel for a poolside nasi goreng and a G&T to get some relief from the heat. I sit in the big open-air courtyard, then take a swim in the hotel’s large pool with a waterfall at one end. Skinny cats and kittens prowl the premises, no doubt praying for a dropped prawn or a rogue sliver of chicken – a gentle reminder that Timor-Leste is still a Third World country. The food is great and there are never many people in the pool, so it’s a little oasis in a busy strip of Dili.

That night, I visit the beautiful Diya restaurant in the Discovery Inn. It’s a fine dining affair in beautiful, relaxing surrounds and the staff have all been trained to take service to the next level. The portions are generous, and every detail is taken into consideration. There is also an alfresco dining option where guests can be surrounded by tropical gardens and palms, and an upstairs bar on a patio complete with fans and wicker seating. The rooms here are lovely, spacious and decorated with local art and crafts, so they have an authentic Timorese charm.

Before leaving for the airport on my last day, I head back to the statue of the two men that dwarfs the smattering of locals gathered around its base, smoking cigarettes, drinking beers, chatting and listening to music blaring from 80s ghettoblasters – another reminder that this city is yet to hit the well-trodden Asian tourist circuit.

Some young Timorese girls, giggling and shy, approach me and ask for photos with them. I happily oblige, then spend the next half an hour having my photo taken with every teenager in town, faces beaming as they cuddle into me, making jokes about my skin and clothes. I’m astounded that I am still an unusual sight.

Before jumping in a cab (the blue taxis are modern and metred and it’s pot luck with the yellow ones), I look up at the two determined young men immortalised as a symbol of TimorLeste’s struggle for freedom, and I can’t help but feel sad and happy at the same time. They’ve had a rough trot, the Timorese. But they’re strong, happy, friendly people, and I really do think it’s time for this young country to step into the spotlight and shine.

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Road trip

Image: Tourism Western Australia

e th g n i v i r D

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b b i G t a e r G

Road trip

d a o R r ve Ri Driving the Gibb River Road through remote northwest Australia is a classic outback adventure.

WORDS: Brian Johnson

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Road trip

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Swimming at Emma Gorge, four-wheel driving near Imintji Wilderness Camp, Galvan’s Gorge, boab tree in the Cockburn Ranges & a cattle muster in the Kimberely.

THE KIMBERLEY is an old and battered landscape. Its mountains have been worn down to humps, its flatlands split open by gorges and its Methuselah surface baked orange in the sun. Even the trees seem ancient, twisted into bonsai arrangements by heat and wind. Remoteness is its great attraction, as well as its spectacular scenery of rugged hills, plunging gorges and rust-coloured rock. In the evening, red earth sets fire to the sky in lurid sunsets.

This region of northwest Australia is one of our continent’s last great frontiers, but stick to Gibb River Road and you’ll get the full outback experience without an impossible challenge, at least during the dry season (May to October). You need to be self-sufficient in food, water,

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spare parts, tools and communications equipment but, as long as you plan well, this classic adventure can be tackled by most travellers. At an unhurried pace, it takes about four days to drive the 700-odd kilometres of unsealed road between Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing.

Many people fly into Kununurra at the eastern end of the Gibb River Road to start their journey. The small town of 4,000 is quickly swallowed up in a vast landscape as you start the drive. As you turn onto the Gibb River Road, yellowed grass rustles and giant boab trees are outlined against a blue sky. Tarmac vanishes and dusty corrugated dirt road begins. In less than an hour, you can turn off at Emma Gorge to admire its sheer sandstone cliffs and turquoise pool, reached on a

short hike. Floating on your back in the pool and watching droplets from the waterfall spiral down like rain is one of those moments that make travelling the Gibb River Road so wonderful.

You can overnight at Emma Gorge Resort in a deluxe safari tent, or nearby at El Questro Station, whether in a tent or at its deluxe homestead.

The immense property hides glorious canyons, as well as easily-accessed Zebedee Springs, a pocket of lush rainforest in a rocky red landscape, fed by water that bubbles up at 30°C. Heading west, travellers arrive at the Pentecost River, which separates true Gibb River Road travellers from Kununurra excursionists. As crocodilehaunted waters gurgle past your hubcaps, a sense of adventure grows.

On the horizon, flat-topped outcrops

Images: Tourism Western Australia

Road trip

look like the sandcastles of giant children, and worn-down hills are streaked with layers of improbable colour. The enormous emptiness of the landscape is exhilarating, and you’ll feel your mind unwind.

Just across the Pentecost River is Home Valley, a cattle station where visitors can camp, stay in guesthouse rooms or wallow in Grass Castles – stand-alone suites that provide the most outback luxury you’ll find between El Questro just to the east and Broome some 700 kilometres to the west. Apart from horse riding, guests can participate in musters, go fishing for Barramundi in the Pentecost River, and explore the locations used for filming Baz Luhrmann’s epic movie Australia. The landscape’s raw beauty is uplifting. It gives you space to think,

far away from the rush of the city and the ring of the mobile phone.

Home Valley is more than just a tourism provider. It’s a working cattle station owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation, and provides pastoral and tourism training programs for the young indigenous people of the East Kimberley. Trainees get the chance to learn everything from welding and animal husbandry to operating a commercial kitchen. As for visitors, they get the rare pleasure of meeting some of the Kimberley’s indigenous people. One of the delights of Home Valley is riding out with the station workers with the Cockburn Range spread blue against the horizon and kites circling overhead.

There’s beauty hidden behind the discomforts of the road as you

bounce and jolt further into this burnt landscape. Bindoola Falls some 16 kilometres onwards from Home Valley is a stunning sight early in the dry season, and a refreshing antidote to the dust of the road. Its frigid pools are a shock at first but, as your heart settles, you can float on your back and watch sunlight sparkle on the water as it tumbles over the lip of the blushing cliffs above your head.

Strung out over the following hundreds of kilometres are Adcock, Galvan’s, Manning and Barnett River gorges, which are wonderful places, kept fresh with trickles of moisture that expand into roaring waterfalls during the wet season. Although saltwater crocodiles inhabit the Kimberley coast, these inland water holes are safe for a swim among purple water  JAN/FEB 2021

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Road trip

Images: Tourism Western Australia & HV8

FROM TOP: Crossing the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road, riding at Home Valley Station & waterfalls at Manning Gorge.

lilies, surrounded by high cliffs and shrieking cockatoos.

Towards the western end of the Gibb River Road, it’s a slow haul through the purple King Leopold Ranges. At Windjana Gorge, where ancient fossils are embedded in the honey-coloured limestone, you finally return to a sealed road that takes you onto Fitzroy Crossing, the first town since leaving Kununurra. It’s almost a shock to be back among the trappings of civilisation but, as soon as you drive out of town again, the Kimberley landscape envelops you once more. You can stand on a hilltop and see no sign of humans. The silence is spectacular. You feel like you own the entire universe. Or maybe, a little unnervingly, that you’re alone in the entire universe. It’s exhilaratingly grand, and the experience of a lifetime.

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Northern Peninsula Area

WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WE STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE SELF–GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE. Cape York is at the very northern tip of Australia. It’s a narrow peninsula only 80 miles south of Papua New Guinea, with the Coral Sea to the east, the Arafura Sea/Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Torres Strait Islands to the north.

The Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is a land of two seasons: the wet season, December to April, CPF VJG FT[ UGCUQP /C[ VQ 0QXGODGT 02# KU OCFG WR QH Æ‚XG +PFKIGPQWU EQOOWPKVKGU +PLKPQQ 7OCIKEQ 0GY /CRQQP 5GKUKC CPF $COCIC Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) 02#4% KU VJG IQXGTPKPI NQECN EQWPEKN KPXQNXGF KP FGXGNQRKPI VJG NQECN GEQPQO[ VJTQWIJ GXGT[FC[ OWPKEKRCN UGTXKEGU QRGTCVKPI NQECN GPVGTRTKUGU CPF CFOKPKUVGTKPI UQEKCN EQOOWPKV[ EWNVWTCN CPF TGETGCVKQPCN CEVKXKVKGU 8KUKV VJG 02# D[ CKT UGC QT D[ TQCF 'ZRNQTG VJG CFXGPVWTQWU EJCNNGPIKPI CPF JKUVQTKECN 6GNGITCRJ Track or drive by the Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only.

This sacred area is full of wonderful nature at every turn, scenic views, waterfalls, and sunsets equal to the best in the world and make your way to the very tip of the Australian continent, a must do when you visit this remote area.

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JAN/FEB 2021 25 For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au

It’s an easy escape by car from Perth into southwest WA’s wild and rugged landscapes, windswept coasts and national parks, where adventures await.

Words: Brian Johnston

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Images: Tourism Western Australia

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FOR A long while out of Perth, you drive in two dimensions: flat scrub, a strip of tarmac and heavy skies. Halfway towards Albany though, as you head southeast, the landscape rumples. Farmland undulates, giant trees erupt, and the purple crags of the Stirling Ranges loom. As you near the coast, the landscape is satisfyingly threedimensional, like a giant pop-up book of coastal geography come to life. The sky is cloud-tossed and you can smell salt on the breeze. 

OPPOSITE: THE GAP IN TORNDIRRUP NATIONAL PARK THIS PAGE: SHELLEY BEACH IN WEST CAPE HOWE NATIONAL PARK

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This region is a giant adventure park made by Mother Nature. If you really want a challenge, forget driving and simply walk. The Bibbulmun Track from Perth to Albany is one of the world’s top long-distance walking trails. It takes eight weeks to complete the nearly 1,000 kilometres of wiggling, indirect pathways.

There’s a lot to like about WA’s southwest: its bracing air, heaped sand dunes and peculiar rock formations. In a state where much of the coastline is hot and flat, it provides drama. Blowholes thunder in Torndirrup National Park. Rock climbers come for West Cape Howe National Park, where granite outcrops, sheer ocean cliffs and rugged peaks provide challenges.

If you don’t have those skills, head inland to Porongurup National Park and inch your way around the Granite Skywalk, pinned to an outcrop of rock in defiance of common sense. Views sweep across the forest all the way to the sea.

Pick a fine day for the Skywalk: who’d want to be slip-sliding on this mad metal spider’s web when it rains?

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Truth be told, the southwest gets more rainfall than most of the state.

Even on a damp day, however, it can be dramatic. Head to Torndirrup National Park on a rainy afternoon, and admire waves bloated with Antarctic energy. It’s a bit frightening as wind threatens to buffet you into the Great Southern Ocean, but exhilarating too.

When the sun shines and a light breeze blows, this corner of Australia is hard to beat. At Little Bay near Albany, the water can be turquoise and shimmery as a peacock’s feathers.

Rust-coloured boulders sit on white sand as if in a giant Zen garden. In Waychinicup National Park banksias blossom, and drooping Quaalup bells reveal pretty red-rimmed cream flowers. Just about everywhere, the beaches are perfection. You could spend a week walking the sands, invigorated by southern winds and cliff-top vistas.

The ‘humpback highway’ passes just offshore. If you’re in the southwest between June and December, you’re in for a particular treat: the sight of humpback and southern right whales migrating past. You can spot whales from the cliffs, or take a whalewatching boat from Albany out into the sound and see these magnificent creatures up close, fabulous as sea

ImageS: Tourism Western Australia

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: NATURAL BRIDGE IN TORNDIRRUP NATIONAL PARK, HAMELIN BAY NEAR AUGUSTA, TREE TOP WALK IN THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS, THE STIRLING RANGES, KARRI TREES IN BORANUP FOREST & SEAGULLS AT EMU POINT.

monsters from a children’s story, all knobbly skin and vast pink grins.

Albany’s most visited building is Whale World. The town was Western Australia’s first European settlement and thrived on the whaling trade.

The old processing plant out on the peninsula outlines its history, which continued until 1978. Compare the size of whaling boats with a whale’s skeleton and doff a respectful cap to the old-time whalers, even if whaling now seems barbaric.

Right over in the west, in the Margaret River region, there are wild landscapes too. Cape Leeuwin is as far southwest as you can go without falling off Australia’s edge. Puff up the stairs of the country’s tallest lighthouse for fine views of the rugged coastline, where sweeping beaches and blue waters meet. The nearest town is Augusta, a laid back country

escape where you can fish and kayak the Blackwood River or hit the golf course.

To the north of Margaret River and closer to Perth, the limestone of Cape Naturaliste is riddled with caves and underground rivers, nowhere more spectacularly than at Ngilgi Cave, where stalactites and stalagmites provide amazing displays. Take an informative tour, which also relates the Aboriginal legends associated with the cave. The brave can try torchlight tours or even a spot of adventure caving.

Nearby, off Dunsborough, you can scuba-dive at the wreck of HMAS Swan, one of Australia’s best and most accessible wrecks. The naval destroyer was scuttled in 1997 in 35 metres of water, and is now home to dozens of varieties of fish, sponges and other marine animals. Families who want to see under the ocean without getting wet should drive into Busselton and walk along the heritage jetty, which extends its wooden finger 1.8 kilometres into Geographe Bay. At its Underwater Observatory, you can descend eight metres beneath the waves and spot the marine wildlife that lurks around the artificial reef.

It isn’t only the coast that provides marvels in the southwest. Turn inland to find stunning eucalyptus trees that grow up to 90 metres high. Much original forest has been logged or cleared for farming, but you’ll find magnificent jarrah trees around Nannup and karri trees – among the world’s tallest hardwoods – between Manjimup and Denmark. As for Walpole-Nornalup National Park, it’s the only place in the world you’ll find red tingle trees, many 400 years old. Don’t miss the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, which takes you 40 metres into the tree canopy for a different perspective on tingletree forest. What better escape from the urban jungle than into a primeval forest?

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Image: Skydive Geronimo

Experiences

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Experiences

Top adventures around the NT and WA From a thrilling skydive over Rottnest Island to an exhilarating speedboat ride past the Kimberley’s Horizontal Falls, we round up the top adrenaline-pumping experiences across the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

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Experiences

A combination of two outback adventures, helifishing involves a scenic flight over the outback, with doors removed for unparalleled visibility and access to some of the best fishing spots in the Territory, unreachable by other modes of transport. For a chance to catch the region’s famous Barramundi, Helifish flights tour the Top End for daytime or afternoon sessions, or even for a twoto five-day fishing adventure. helifish.com.au

HORIZONTAL FALLS, KIMBERLEY WA Talbot Bay is home to an entirely unique natural phenomenon that sees intense tidal currents hurtle through the Kimberley’s narrow coastal gorges to create an astounding sideways

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waterfall effect. Experience the world’s only horizontal waterfalls on a speedboat thrill ride or take a swim with friendly sharks (cage included). If you fancy a bird’s-eye view, Horizontal Falls Adventures offers scenic seaplane flights. horizontalfallsadventures.com.au

FROM TOP: Helifishing in the Top End & cruising through Horizontal Falls in ther Kimberely, WA.

Images: Helifish & Tourism Western Australia

HELIFISHING, NT

Experiences

WILDERNESS SAFARI THROUGH ARNHEM LAND, NT

HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE MACDONNELL RANGES, NT

Unspoiled wilderness and sprawling wetlands teeming with wildlife define this special corner of the globe, and a safari here with Outback Spirit will introduce you to the Gove Peninsula of the Yolngu people and the ancient cave systems of Mount Borradaile.

The company’s partnership with the traditional owners of the land means you might be lucky enough to be schooled by a local Indigenous guide, in the same way the Aborigines have been passing down knowledge for 50,000 years. outbackspirittours.com.au

Floating high above the MacDonnell Ranges in a hot air balloon, witness a spellbinding sunrise as bright rays illuminate the desert plains and its lively array of wildlife. Outback Ballooning, one of the oldest companies of its kind in Australia, operates out of Alice Springs almost every day of the year (depending on the weather, of course), and after your sky-high wake-up call they’ll start your day right with an Aussie-style champagne breakfast. outbackballooning.com.au

Images: Tourism NT

FROM TOP: Exploring Arnhem Land with Outback Spirit & firing up for a hot air balloon flight over the MacDonnell Ranges.

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Experiences

SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS AND HUMPBACK WHALES, NINGALOO REEF WA

Images: Tourism NT & Tourism Western Australia

FROM TOP: Swimming with whale sharks on WA’s coast & exploring the Northern Territory’s back roads.

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One of Australia’s best-preserved coral reefs, Ningaloo also ranks as one of the best spots in the world to swim alongside whale sharks.

Between March and August, around 300 to 500 of them gather along the World Heritage-listed reef to feed on plankton. These gentle giants share the waters with manta rays, dugongs,

sea turtles, dolphins and tropical fish, providing an unparalleled opportunity for diving and snorkelling with Ningaloo Discovery tours. And from August to September you can mingle with pods of graceful migrating humpback whales and their calves. ningaloodiscovery.com.au

DESERT DRIVING, THE BINNS TRACK, NT An epic four-wheel drive adventure, the Binns Track winds all the way from the South Australian border to the remote Northern Territory township of Timber Creek. Traversing north for 2,230 kilometres, the track begins at Mount Dare and heads to the western fringe of the Simpson Desert, before journeying through the ancient East MacDonnell Ranges, abandoned gold rush towns, the towering granite boulders of Devils Marbles and the famed ‘barra country’ of Judbarra/ Gregory National Park. northernterritory.com/drive/binnstrack

Experiences

Images: Tourism NT & Skydive Geronimo

FROM TOP: A bumpy ride around Uluru & free falling over Rottnest Island.

SKYDIVING OVER ROTTNEST ISLAND, WA Accelerating from 0 to 200 kilometres per hour in just 60 seconds, imagine rocketing in freefall toward the turquoise reefs of Rottnest Island. Western Australia’s only island skydiving experience begins with a 20-minute scenic flight, followed by an 8000–15,000-foot plunge from the plane, with instructor in tow. Back on safe ground, be sure to say hello to the island’s ever-smiling resident quokkas. Further afield, Sky Dive Geronimo also offers tandem skydiving in Busselton and Broome. skydivegeronimo.com.au

CAMEL RIDE AROUND ULURU, NT Make like the early pioneers and explore the Red Centre on camelback. With 60 friendly desert animals in their care, Uluru Camel Tours offers insightful journeys around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. For an extra special experience, choose between their sunrise and sunset tours to soak up the first or last light of the day against a rich, earthy landscape, before finishing up with refreshments. The accompanying camel farm is open year-round and visitors are welcome to a short ride and a wander through the camel museum and saddlery. ulurucameltours.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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c i p o r T s r e d won

Cairns may be the gateway to some of Australia’s most memorable wilderness experiences, but there are plenty of reasons to linger in this blissful Tropical North Queensland city.

WORDS: Natasha Dragun

JAN/FEB 2021

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FROM TOP: Riley’s luxurious outdoor pool & a talk at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

There are not many places in the world where I’d feel comfortable walking along the street at night sans shoes. But on a steamy summer evening in Cairns, ditching my heels and strolling barefoot along the Esplanade after dinner seems like the natural thing to do. This city in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) may be Australia’s fourth most popular destination for international tourists, but it’s a world away from the bustle of Sydney, Melbourne and even Brisbane, around 1700 kilometres to the south. The vibe here is sleepy at its quietest, and laid back at its busiest – and it does get pretty busy, if recent travel trends and statistics are anything to go by.

Figures in previous years show a 15 per cent increase in domestic visitors to TNQ, with many in the industry predicting numbers will reach alltime highs in the years to come. This is largely thanks to a boom in new infrastructure, not least the swanky Riley hotel, which opened in the later half of 2019.

LU X E LODGINGS

IMAGE: The Crystalbrook Collection & Tourism and Events Queensland

The first new five-star lodgings to welcome guests to Cairns in two decades, Riley joins the fast-growing portfolio of homegrown hospitality group Crystalbrook Collection.

The property is a snappy redux of the tired Tradewinds motel, which had enjoyed a prime Esplanade position overlooking the Coral Sea for decades. The once-drab building has been transformed into a lightfilled, nature-loving cocoon of white and wood, with the 311 rooms and suites split across the original space as well as a new, Olympic torch-shaped tower, its 12 storeys top-and-tailed by dining establishments and a spa. The entire complex envelops the central pool, which has direct access to the lobby, waterfront and an all-daydining restaurant. Today, Riley shares a prestigious five-star status with two equally fabulous Crystalbrook

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IMAGE: The Crystalbrook Collection & Tourism and Events Queensland

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siblings: Bailey and Flynn, both within (barefoot) walking distance along the Esplanade, and all three with their own distinct design “personalities.”

Since the trio of Cairns lodgings were announced, the city’s other accommodation offerings have been forced to take note, with a number – including the Shangri-La, Pullman and Novotel – undergoing renovations to keep up with Crystalbrook’s brisk pace of expansion.

But above and beyond the shiny new hotel rooms, the real reason to come to this part of Queensland is to get outside. While Cairns itself doesn’t have a beach, it does have a 4800-square-metre saltwater lagoon pool with sandy edges, all perfectly positioned for Coral Sea views. It’s part of the enormous Esplanade waterside precinct, which also comes with a skate park, volleyball courts, weekend markets and numerous cafes and restaurants.

I have dinner booked slightly further along the marina at Hemingway’s Brewery, a breezy restaurant and bar in the shadow of hulking cruise ships

that port just metres away.

House brews here range from a tropical lager to an XPA – and whatever you order, it’s best enjoyed outside in the garden, with sticky chicken wings or saltand-pepper squid on the side.

WOR L D H E R I TAGE ASSETS Experiencing close to 250 days of sunshine a year, Cairns is the gateway to two World Heritage sites: the Wet Tropics of the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. My first day here is spent exploring the latter – from the sky, from the sea, and from the ocean’s depths. My GBR Helicopters chopper departs Cairns heliport and flies low over water so crystal clear it’s as though someone has taken the glasses off my nose and cleaned them for the first time. We zip across opalesque lagoons toward Green Island – home to Cassius, the world’s largest croc in captivity at 5.5 metres long – and then touch down on a long stretch of Fitzroy Island 

FROM TOP: Riley making its mark on the city skyline, going for a paddle & exploring the Daintree.

FACT FILE crystalbrookcollection.com experienceco.com skyrail.com.au seawalker.com.au gbrsubs.com.au tjapukai.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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FROM TOP: Cruising around the Great Barrier Reef, getting friendly with the locals and taking in a TNQ sunset.

IMAGE: Tourism and Events Queensland

sand, where a picnic lunch awaits.

In this part of the archipelago you can stroll along the sea floor off Green Island with Seawalker, or take a mini yellow submarine ride around Fitzroy, experiencing TNQ’s marine bounty without getting your hair wet. But I have an underwater date a little further east on Moore Reef, where my chopper lands atop a pontoon that offers horizon views for days.

It’s here that I join freshly minted cruise expedition Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel for a tour of the world’s largest coral reef system through Indigenous eyes. The company’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rangers tell us 60,000-year-old Dreamtime stories about the reef’s creation, before we slip into the warm water to snorkel and scuba among some of the 1500 species of fish that call the Coral Sea home.

Drifting between bommies and coral fans I spot cardinalfish, moray eels, clownfish and turtles – the boat’s marine biologist tells me the reef is home to six out of seven of the world’s turtle species.

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Back on dry land, the indigenous songlines surrounding Cairns are just as strong. West of the city, rainforestdraped mountains are home to the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – I go over the Great Dividing Range on the former, and come back to the coast on the latter. Constructed in the late 1800s, the railway is still considered one of Australia’s greatest engineering feats, and on my journey I glimpse orchids, palms and strangler figs, not to mention the incredible fauna – I’m told to keep watch for the country’s second-largest bird, the southern cassowary, which is thought to number only around 2,000 in the wild.

On the return journey, waterfalls cut beneath me through a dense matting of the world’s oldest rainforest, casting a prehistoric shadow over the countryside.

When I jump off the Skyrail I make a beeline for Tjapukai, a cultural centre celebrating the region’s traditional landowners. Visitors can learn to play the didgeridoo, taste bush tucker, watch indigenous dancers and storytellers, and join a corroboree in the evening. By day or by night, this is a magical introduction to Tropical North Queensland – a bit like Cairns in a vivid snapshot.

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NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

p.08 Lentils, & four generations of farming P.12 australia’s thriving lavender industry P.16 recession-proofing australia P.21 putting an end to water wastage p.28 quinoa hits the mainstream

WORKPLACE WELLBEING & HOW WE CAN DO BETTER Bia Affonso, Head of Impact at Neu21, outlines where we’re falling short on fostering wellness in the workplace and how we can improve. p24

SUPPLIERS OF NEW, USED AND RECONDITIONED PARTS & COMPONENTS P 1300 4 SPARES E sales@expressway.com.au W www.expressway.com.au SUPPLYING THE EARTHMOVING INDUSTRY WITH PARTS & EQUIPMENT SUITABLE FOR CATERPILLAR & HITACHI SINCE 1964

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GUNNEDAH 02 6741 4777

AUSBIZ NEWS

Going Straight To The Source The notion to “support local” has never been more prevalent than it is now. As the ability to import quality, COVID-safe goods from overseas becomes increasingly challenging, Australians are being encouraged to shop closer to home. “Buy local” is a message that the team at Straight To The Source have been championing since 2012 when the two founding partners identified an alarming chasm between producers and consumers in Australia.

“We’ve been hearing for years what a challenge it is for producers to get their product, brand or destinations in front of the right people,” says co-founder Tawnya Bahr. As a leading food expert, executive chef and advocate for Australian producers, Tawnya’s mission has always been to leverage the vast network she has amassed in her 23-year career to connect primary and artisan producers with people who truly value their food.

The second brain behind the brand is Lucy Allon, whose 20 years in the food industry has seen her work alongside leading chefs and restaurateurs such as Maggie Beer, Matt Moran and Neil Perry. Straight To The Source initially began offering food tours and workshops in regional areas to educate their growing community of chefs, food industry professionals and discerning foodies about sustainability produced goods in Australia. Destinations such as the Grampians, Eyre Peninsula and Macleay Valley have previously played host to these highly educational experiences. However, when COVID-19 hit, all tours and face-to-face operations had to cease, sending Tawnya and Lucy back to the drawing board.

From mighty challenges new opportunities grow and soon Straight To The Source was manifested in a new form – an online directory connecting producers, chefs and foodies alike. The platform highlights the exceptional offerings of both Australian and New Zealand producers as well as covering up-to-date industry news to keep their audience informed about new ingredients, emerging food industries and sustainability and innovation.

With tours and workshops set to resume in 2021, the robust offerings from Straight To The Source will no doubt solidify its position and prominence in the Australian food scene.

To find out more, visit straighttothesource.com.au

ATTACK OF THE ARMYWORM Between drought, rising input costs, reduced water allocation and hit-andmiss harvests, you’d think farmers would have enough to worry about. Throw in a crop-destroying foreign pest and you’re dealing with some seriously tough working conditions.

The latest agricultural threat to Australia’s farming industry, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), first reached the mainland in February 2020 after being detected on the Torres Strait Islands the month prior. A moth native to the American tropics, it has been known to decimate crops overseas, specifically maize, sweetcorn and sorghum.

Since its detection across northern parts of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, fall armyworm has been quick to establish. In response to the growing threat, Plant Health Australia (PHA)

has announced new resources to assist in defending crops against the pest.

Stuart Kearns, National Manager for Preparedness and RD&E at PHA, said that the threat posed by fall armyworm prompted concerted efforts to find out about its likely effects in Australia and how best to manage it.

“We have sourced knowledge from around the world to develop a new reference guide on the pest, together with a series of podcasts, that will help the industry manage the invasive moth species,” says Stuart.

“The information assembled includes how to scout for and recognise the pest, its life cycle and biology, estimated areas at risk, and management practices that will help to limit the damage it causes.”

A Fall Armyworm Continuity Plan has been created by the Grains Research Development Corporation, led by cesar Australia with project partners PHA, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

The 75-page document is intended for use as a reference guide that provides a basis for designing area wide management plans, crop specific management manuals and strategies to avoid resistance to chemical controls.

The other resource, a series of podcasts, aimed primarily at agronomists and growers, will prepare farm businesses for potential impacts.

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The future is looking bright for Australian industry Nestled in the Tweed Valley outside of Murwillumbah, you’ll find the headquarters of Australian Radio Towers – an engineering, fabrication and construction company with a focus on servicing industry and infrastructure development projects in Australia.

But Australian Radio Towers is far from your average manufacturing and construction company.

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With Andrew Price, the company’s dynamic and forward-thinking CEO at the helm, Australian Radio Towers is destined for a bright and progressive future within the Australian industrial landscape.

As 2021 unfolds, and we re-evaluate the year that was undeniably the most catalytic we’ve seen in the 21st century, many Australian businesses are taking stock on what the future of Australian industry will look like and how they can tackle what’s next.

Australian Radio Towers is one such company. With a legacy dating back to 1974, the company started as a small family business with the ambition, passion and commitment to be pioneers of their industry. Forty six years

AUSTRALIAN RADIO TOWERS

later it's an ethos that seeds through the company culture and drives the company’s ambition.

Now with 65 employees and a long, proud history of successfully servicing government, military, public and private utilities, the Australian Radio Towers team has positioned themselves to be at the forefront of development across the industries they service.

As the name suggests, Australian Radio Towers has predominantly serviced the communication and renewable energy industries. However, as the company has continued to expand its research and development team, consistently and successfully implementing innovative practices across a number of their projects, a need for its solutions across a variety of industries outside of the communication and renewable energy space has emerged.

The ccompany now services not just the communications and renewable energy sectors, but has expanded into other arenas as well, such as the natural resources and emergency services industries.

“We’re continuing to see that the solutions we’re building for the communications and renewable energy sectors have the ability to serve a purpose across a multitude of industries, and our research and development team are continuing to explore the diversification of our work and the contribution we can make within the Australian innovation ecosystem,” says Andrew.

With much of its success stemming from a client-centric model – where the approach will always be centered around taking the time to understand the requirements of each of their clients needs – the team are able to bring unique solutions, designed with the

rugged Australian climate in mind.

This way, robust, sturdy and long-lasting infrastructure is created that ticks all of the sustainability boxes.

Australian Radio Towers’ research and development team is doing more than just addressing challenges that relate to products and services – they’re working on developing intuitive and diverse solutions for all aspects of the business.

This has led to the team focussing on the future of the business, governance structure and the enhancement of relationship building within the industry.

All of this is driven by Andrew’s vision for a company that holds innovation and sustainability at the core of every aspect of its work, not just the product offering.

“Delivering sustainable solutions

for the future is no longer just about the sustainability of the product you’re producing, but the sustainability of your business. It’s also about creating a healthy, supportive and long-lasting environment for your clients and staff to thrive in,” Andrew says.

"Sustainability, especially when seeded throughout an entire company, can seem like an insurmountable feat," he says. "But as a sustainable future becomes a more important endeavour for all of us, looking to companies such as Australian Radio Towers as a beacon of what's possible, is giving us all hope for the development and implementation of dynamic solutions that can solve the most crucial challenges of our generation." australianradiotowers.com JAN/FEB 2021

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POSITION PARTNERS

Evolution mining Improving reliability, longevity and accuracy of deformation monitoring at Mt Carlton gold mine.

Mid-tier gold producer Evolution Mining has rolled out a Senceive wireless monitoring platform at its Mt Carlton site to deliver live reporting to supervisors and control teams.

Mt Carlton is located 150 kilometres south of Townsville, Queensland. Operating a 500-metre by 400-metre pit and a 600-metre by 600-metre tailings dam, the company opted to introduce advanced deformation monitoring technology to deliver real-time status updates and alerts to its team.

Evolution opted for Senceive’s GeoWAN solution, a long-range transmission system capable of covering areas up to 15 kilometres.

It incorporates several sensors placed along the tailings dam and/or pit walls to measure for minute movements in the surface. The sensors are wirelessly connected to a solar powered gateway, positioned near the pit, where data is transferred live to the web-based monitoring software.

Depending on the application, different sensors can be used in combination to deliver highly accurate geotechnical measurements, including tilt, pressure, vibration, temperature or optical displacement.

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POSITION PARTNERS

The setup at Mt Carlton At Mt Carlton, Evolution has more than 20 triaxial tilt sensors positioned around the tailings dam to measure for any movement. The team is also rolling out live monitoring of piezometers that measure changes to moisture levels within the tailings dam walls.

In the open pit, there are numerous sensors monitoring pit walls, waste backfill and surveying pillar movement.

Senior Mine Surveyor for the company, Callum McNaughton, said the solution has enabled his small team to provide accurate, viable monitoring data to the departments that need it.

“The wireless monitoring platform has been perfect for us,” he said. “It dramatically reduces the need for us to manually survey these areas, saving us time and increasing safety by removing surveyors walking these areas on foot.”

One of the key advantages, Mr McNaughton explains, is the ability to set different tolerances and time triggers for each sensor and/or area.

“In the tailings dam we have a slightly higher tolerance before any alerts are triggered, because you do get some movement in the dam and swelling from rain,” he said.

“Inside the pit and in one area where there is a crack in the wall, the tolerance is much tighter and the sensors are triggered more frequently,” he added. “The sensors are also firing measurements every ten minutes in the pit, whereas they monitor every half an hour on the tailings dam.”

Complementing a surveyor’s work Mr McNaughton said that the wireless monitoring system did not replace traditional survey methods, but instead complemented them with ongoing monitoring data that enables early intervention and proactive management of the pit and tailings dam.

“The platform doesn’t take away from a mine surveyor’s work – it acts as a pre-warning system and enables us to track trends over time,” Mr McNaughton said.

“In my opinion, the reliability, longevity and accuracy of the system we have in place at Mt Carlton would be hard to beat,” he added.

For more information, visit: positionpartners.com.au, or call 1300 867 266

JAN/FEB 2021

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AGRICULTURE

MEET THE PINNAROO FARMER Phillipa Lawson, a fourth-generation farmer, shares the story of her family’s 1500-hectare property straddling the South Australian and Victorian border.

Words: emily herbert photos: Melissa Brown

As a mother of two with an environmental science degree, working as a middle school teacher, Phillipa never expected to find herself at the helm of her family’s farm. Her husband, Skeet, an aircraft mechanic in the airforce, travelled extensively for work and had, too, never considered a life on the land. But when Phillipa’s father approached the pair about taking over the property, they were both surprised and delighted.

“Skeet had a massive tree change.

I thought I was marrying an air force mechanic!” Phillipa laughs. “He was a real city boy. He was in the RAAF for 12 years. But after coming home, dad asked Skeet if he’d like to give it a go for a year – and here we are.”

The pair moved back to the farm and have been working the land ever since, their two daughters growing up free-range in the paddocks Phillipa herself grew up in. In an effort to look

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after the land as much as possible, Skeet uses a multi-pronged approach to weed management, helping to reduce chemical use while boosting production and soil health. The family sow wheat, then barley, followed by a pulse crop for nitrogen fixation benefits in the soil.

That’s not to say they haven’t had their challenges. After a huge career change, the pair have had to learn everything from scratch. “In the first six years, we had two droughts, a number of devastating frosts and a plague,” says Phillipa.

But the benefits of spending more time at home with their kids far outweighs the difficulties of running the operation. In fact, it was the couple’s youngest daughter, Annabelle, that helped steer Phillipa towards her latest venture. The five year-old was a fussy eater with difficulty sleeping, and a nutritionist suggested more protein could be helpful. So Phillipa began

AGRICULTURE

PHILLIPA WANDERING THE FIELDS OF HER 1,500-HECTARE FARM IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

JAN/FEB 2021

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AGRICULTURE

LEFT: PHILLIPA'S RED LENTIL BROWNIES RIGHT: PHILLIPA & SKEET ON THEIR PORCH, RED LENTIL FLOUR, MOULDING DOUGH, PINNAROO FARM GOODIES & THE FAMILY IN THEIR FIELDS.

MOIST RED LENTIL CHOC CHIP SLICE INGREDIENTS incorporating red lentils straight from the paddock into their meals, but it wasn’t an easy introduction.

“If I added lentils straight into the dishes, she would pick them out,” Phillipa says. “I was talking to Skeet about it, and suddenly thought maybe I could grind the lentils to make a flour. Finally, I was able to get some protein into her diet! I found our lentil flour was the perfect way to thicken sauces and add nutrients to her biscuits and pancakes.”

Phillipa realised that the vast majority of lentils sold in the local supermarkets were imported, while the top quality Australian grown crops were exported overseas.

With the crops vulnerable to foreign tariffs and considered unsalable if damaged in any way, Phillipa saw the opportunity to diversify channels onshore.

“If the lentils are chipped or dented from coming through the header and aren’t deemed pretty enough for the packet, they don’t make export grade – even though they have exactly the same nutritional value,” Phillipa says. “It seems like such a waste, especially if producing a milled product. I started to look into milling lentil flour for more than just our family.

Ultimately, my vision is that The Pinnaroo Farmer will one day use not just our lentils, but crops from around the district, giving farmers greater autonomy about how their lentils are sold.”

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With demand for plant-based proteins on the rise, Phillipa feels optimistic about her product’s future. Devising a system to separate the lentil and grain side of their operation, the flour is completely glutenfree – another value add that the Lawson’s customers love. The lentils are harvested, then sent to be cleaned before returning to the farm to be processed by Phillipa’s small domestic mill. Samples of the flour are then sent to Adelaide to be tested for gluten traces, which helps put Phillipa’s mind at ease about the purity of the product.

In all, the red lentil flour has taken six months to go from concept to delivery – now stocked in the Pinnaroo bakery, a supermarket in Adelaide and online.

Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Phillipa’s panache and eye for a gap in the market, combined with her love for the land and the produce they create, has marked the venture a success with incredible future potential.

“It’s good for my family, it’s great for the product to be enjoyed locally and hopefully it will one day service other customers who’d like to be able to trace their lentils from gate to plate,” Phillipa says. “Most of all, it’s the support and feedback from our customers that love what we’re offering. This really makes me proud and suggests we’re on the right track.”

• 125g melted butter • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup of The Pinnaroo Farmer red lentil flour • 1/2 cup tapioca flour (for non GF use plain flour) • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp bicarb soda (baking soda) • 3/4 cup choc chips…you can also use sultanas NOW WHAT? Line a 20cm square tin… I use whatever slice tin I have available!

Mix butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl. It will form a smooth caramel batter.

Add flour, choc chips, baking powder and bi carb to the mixture and stir well.

Pour into the tin.

Cook on 170 degrees for 15-20min until slightly springy when you touch it.

Cool in the tin and then cut the slice into squares.

If I hide these from the hubby and kids… I can get nearly a week of lunchbox snacks! Sometimes I sprinkle coconut on top or use cranberries instead of choc chips.

"My vision is that The Pinnaroo Farmer will one day use crops from around the district, giving farmers greater autonomy about how their lentils are sold."

JAN/FEB 2021

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INDUSTRY

THE SMELL OF SUCCESS: AUSTRALIA'S LAVENDER INDUSTRY Australia’s lavender industry is about to bloom in a big way thanks to a new partnership which could bump Aussie farmers into the international spotlight.

Words: bethany plint

SUNSET OVER A THRIVING LAVENDER FIELD

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INDUSTRY

Image: Thomas Despeyroux

Placing a small bunch of lavender in your sock draw has always been standard practice, but this fragrant purple plant is bound for much bigger things than resting amongst your unmentionables.

Australia’s emerging lavender industry is set to grow thanks to a partnership between AgriFutures Australia and La Trobe University’s Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) that will identify the best conditions and farming methods for the fragrant purple flower.

The research project aims to educate the farming industry on best practices for cultivating high quality lavender products, from growing to extraction. Lead investigator and LIAF Research Director Professor Jim Whelan says the work could position Australia as a world-leader in lavender oil exports and support diversification in the farming industry. 

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INDUSTRY

be conducted to ensure the quality of each harvest meets the regulatory standards set out for both lavender and lavandin (hybrid lavender) products.

FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG PROFITS GROW AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Emerging Industries Tom McCue says, “Lavender is a high growth potential industry and partnering with LIAF to improve agronomic principles, increase grower numbers and crop production will help the industry progress towards the $10 million gross value production goal.”

“Boosting grower confidence in the future of the industry is at the core of this work, and we look forward to achieving this through a combination of scientific expertise and dedicated industry research, development

Image: Baraa Jalahej

“Lavender is highly sought after for marketing opportunities from ornamental flowers, to oil production for use in cosmetics; aromatherapy and culinary applications, as well as agritourism,” says Professor Whelan.

“This project will equip farmers with the tools and knowledge to grow consistent, sustainable and high-quality lavender.”

La Trobe agronomist Dr Marisa Collins says, “Lavender is super tough and highly tolerant of poor soils, drought, frosts and wind, but to tap lavender’s full potential, we will provide growers with tailored crop nutrition strategies that are backed by peer reviewed science.”

The project is funded as part of the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program which has its sights set on supporting the emergence of rural industries that can reach or exceed $10 million revenue by 2022.

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Image: Olga Tutunaru

QUALITY VS QUANTITY A member of the mint family, lavender has a long history of cultivation, dating back to the Romans. It is a perennial shrub, native to the Mediterranean region which thrives in welldrained soils drenched in sunlight.

Often dried out for potpourri, it has recently experienced a spike in demand, swept up with the essential oils movement.

The lavender flowers are steam distilled to extract the intensely fragrant oil which is now commonly used in aromatherapy.

Two main species of lavender appear to dominate the industry – common English or true lavender (Lavendula angustifolio) and spike lavender (L. latifolia). The former yields the best quality oil, while the latter delivers three times the quantity but at an inferior grade.

Distinction between the two varieties has proven a challenge for the Australian lavender industry in the past. Previous inconsistency in identification led to the market being flooded with lavender oil products which, while all marketed as the same strain, had varying degrees of quality and potency. An agreement reached by the two industry bodies – The Essential Oils Producers Association of Australia and The Australian Lavender Growers Association – in conjunction with Standards Australia posits that frequent testing must

INDUSTRY

and extension (RD&E) plan,” says Mr McCue. LIAF experts in soil science, plant mineral nutrition, chemical analysis, field trials and data collection, curation and analyses will map the performance of different lavender varieties and farming practices to optimise their growth and production. They will also thoroughly assess soil characteristics and fertiliser regimes, and develop future breeding strategies to optimise lavender quality and yield.

The project is in partnership with lavender producer Larkman Nurseries; essential oil distiller and exporter Golden Grove Naturals; The Australian Lavender Industry Association (TALGA) and phenotyping technology company Scientific Instruments Australia – the Australian arm of global phenotyping company Photon Systems Instruments.

MORE ABOUT LIAF & AGRIFUTURES

FAST FACTS

The La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF) is a research institute for soil science and agronomy, seed biology, nutritional bioengineering and medicinal agriculture – based at the University’s Bundoora campus. LIAF research aims to meet critical societal needs relating to seed production, food and nutrition challenges posed by a growing population in a resource constrained world.

AgriFutures Australia is the trading name for Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC).

AgriFutures Australia invests in research, leadership, innovation and learning to support industries that do not have their own research and development function, as well as new and emerging industries.

LAVENDER FLOURISHES BEST IN DRY, SANDY OR GRAVELLY SOILS IN FULL SUN AND NEEDS LITTLE TO NO FERTILISER. AUSTRALIA'S LAVENDER INDUSTRY CONSISTS OF MANY SMALL PRODUCERS AND ONLY A FEW COMMERCIAL FARMS. SOME OF THE PROPOSED BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL INCLUDE REDUCING ANXIETY, INSOMNIA AND DEPRESSION; EASING DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS; AND ACCELERATING THE HEALING TIME FOR MINOR BURNS AND BUG BITES.

JAN/FEB 2021

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FINANCE

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FINANCE

FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION: THE SAVING GRACE OF AUSTRALIA’S BUSINESSECONOMY Staring down the barrel of another recession, Carolyn Breeze, ANZ General Manager of GoCardless shares her insight on how financial transformation could recessionproof Australia’s business economy. words: Carolyn Breeze COVID-19 has incited the world’s largest and fastest digital transformation period in recent history. Disrupted supply chains, decentralised operations and remote teams have imposed a new way of doing business, all enabled by technology.

The pandemic has also impacted consumer spending behaviours, forcing companies to ramp up their online presence.

Australia Post’s 2020 eCommerce Report reveals that local eCommerce grew more than 80 per cent in the eight weeks after the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. With eCommerce becoming the new normal, the way consumers spend money is naturally evolving.

ONLINE SHOPPING AND THE SUBSCRIPTION ECONOMY Subscriptions and micropayments are big business in Australia, with research indicating that 70 per cent of the population, or 18 million people, count themselves as subscribers. The average household spends $660 per month on recurring goods and services, and throughout the pandemic, this JAN/FEB 2021

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FINANCE

Financial transformation refers to the process of making financial operations, processes and outputs more efficient.

has been exacerbated. Relationshipcommerce platform Order Groove recorded a 40 per cent increase in new enrolments across most subscription verticals, with household goods and supplies ranking among the top growth categories.

For businesses to remain relevant in a post-COVID, recession-laden economy, they must support their online offerings with equally advanced and relevant digital payment options.

More than just digital transformation, COVID-19 has revealed the need for financial transformation.

Financial transformation refers to the process of making financial operations, processes and outputs more efficient.

Despite its potential for broad interpretation, financial transformation can produce use-cases that drive value for customers and companies alike.

For businesses to survive Australia’s

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first recession in the digital era, they need to start considering the value of financial transformation investments in parallel with digital strategies.

TO THE ONLINE CHECKOUT, AND BEYOND While eCommerce is the way forward, it also brings with it a new set of challenges. In particular, market saturation and knowing how to stand out from the crowd.

In a recession, consumers become more discerning with where and how they spend their money. Although, it’s not just about offering the lowest price, consumers want a positive experience at every touchpoint with a brand, including the checkout.

In a survey of 1,200 consumers in Asia-Pacific, 51 per cent admitted to abandoning their cart because their preferred payment method was not

on offer. That equates to $7 billion in annual abandoned sales.

The rise of digital payments has brought more choice than ever to the eCommerce industry, with subscription models and buy now, pay later platforms becoming a trend that Australian consumers have latched on to for good. This boils down to two emerging payment behaviours: an aversion to debt, and a disinterest in ‘ownership.’ Research by Zuora indicates that 70 per cent of people believe subscriptions free them from the burden of ownership, with 57 per cent wanting to own less ‘stuff.’

These trends connect payments to more than just the checkout; it shows flexible payment options are a holistic part of the eCommerce experience.

The modern consumer is brand agnostic: if you’re not offering their preferred payment model, be it direct

FINANCE

debit or subscriptions, they will find a competitor who does.

Flexible payment options are part and parcel of the digital transformation process. But setting yourself up with checkout options doesn’t have to be complicated when you lean on best-inclass fintech providers.

GET FINTECHS TO DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU Financial infrastructure and payments are a complex part of any business.

Given the relative newness of diverse digital payment methods, it’s unlikely that the average company will have a qualified ‘payments expert’ to lead a financial transformation strategy. That’s why financial technology providers (fintechs) exist; to take the complexity out of the transformation journey.

Australasia is home to more than

5,000 active fintechs, and unlike the big banks, fintechs are considered specialists in niche elements of financial services.

The aim of financial transformation is to automate certain processes that minimise human-touch; reduce spend; and maintain a competitive edge when it comes to customer acquisition. The best way to achieve this? By leaning on providers who transform both the back-end financial infrastructure of your business, and the customer experience.

As an example, 70 per cent of ANZ businesses are looking to shift to a subscription model within the next two to three years. However, having the right financial transformation strategy will be critical to their success as a subscription provider.

Recurring billing platforms like Chargebee make it easy to accept regular payments. To get the highest

return on investment however, companies must make sure their backend systems can accept micropayments seamlessly for the customer and business. Finding a low-touch platform that offers the infrastructure to support both of these functions is essential.

There is no point investing solely in customer-focused technology if it causes more work for you behind the scenes.

The real value of fintech-led transformation is using best in class payment providers enabling businesses to replace outdated practices like paper-based bank debit in the case of GoCardless.

Moreover, the specialist and agile nature of fintech platforms puts the companies who use them on the cutting-edge of innovation, helping them navigate and recession-proof their business for the future.

JAN/FEB 2021

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beyond anxiety

COMMUNITY

#FinishWaterWaste: HELPING FARMERS MANAGE THE ONGOING IMPACTS OFÂ DROUGHT

Image: Tyler Alberti

Since its launch in 2019, the #FinishWaterWaste campaign has raised more than 14.8 million litres of water for struggling farmers. Staring down the barrel of another unpredictable Australian summer, consumers must understand the power they have to preserve one of our most precious resources.

Words: Saurabh JaiN

JAN/FEB 2021

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Image: Archie Sartracom

COMMUNITY

Too many of the rural communities across Australia are still recovering from the terrible trifecta that was Summer 2019/20 – heatwaves, drought and bushfires. This was compounded further by the challenging impacts of COVID-19, which brought even more uncertainty to the nation’s farmers in 2020.

The huge physical distance between us means that many Australians living in metropolitan areas are unaware of the continuing impact of the long-term drought in rural communities, with many still facing water restrictions and, in the worst cases, reliant on deliveries of water that are trucked in. Such is true for towns like Clifton and Stanthorpe in Southern Queensland.

To provide support, Finish and Rural Aid created the #FinishWaterWaste initiative in 2019. The national program aims to educate metro-dwelling Australians on the struggles of drought as experienced by rural communities and farmers, and encourages positive

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behaviour changes that help save water, such as committing to stop pre-rinsing dishes. With the 2020 #FinishWaterWaste campaign, in return for each promise to skip the rinse made via #FinishWaterWaste on social media, 40 litres of water will be delivered to a farmer to help them on the long road to drought recovery.

“Farmers around the country are still struggling for water security as the long-term impacts of one of the worst droughts on record drags on,” says Saurabh Jain, Marketing Director ANZ at RB Hygiene. “Working closely with Rural Aid, we have continued to ramp up our #FinishWaterWaste deliveries over the past year, delivering our biggest ever set of water drops in 2020 to help bolster farmers’ supplies,” adds Jain.

Since launching in 2019, the initiative has raised in excess of 14.8 million litres of water for struggling Australian farmers, with deliveries of water continuing into 2021. This is part of

Finish’s commitment to ensure the nation’s farmers are not forgotten and continue receiving support.

A RESPONSIBILITY TO AFFECT CHANGE #FinishWaterWaste came from the insight that rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher wastes up to 40 litres of water per load. By simply stopping this unnecessary habit, Australians could collectively save 20 billion litres of water in just one year.

“As a leader in household cleaning and hygiene products, we have a responsibility to affect change that delivers wider benefits to society and the environment. Water is almost like liquid gold to our farmers – it really is one of the best gifts we can give them,” Jain explains.

KEEPING OUR FARMERS GOING Farmers Cate and Karl Hinshelwood from Clifton, Queensland,

COMMUNITY

received a delivery of water via the #FinishWaterWaste initiative in late 2020. The drought has taken its toll on their 25-year old farm, whittling the couple’s cattle down from 300 to just 50, and forcing them to economise to keep the farm going.

“At the height of the dry, our dams dried up… and we got no water from the bore,” explains Karl. “We had to purchase quite a lot of water to keep the stock, the house and everything going.”

The farmers had less than 10 inches of water in their tank when a #FinishWaterWaste water carter arrived at their property in September to deliver 12,500 litres of water. Without it, Cate and Karl said their livelihood would have come to a standstill.

“The thing that’s really opened our eyes up is the support that people are giving and that companies are giving towards people out in the bush that are suffering – there is a lot of people really suffering,” says Karl.

Image: Tyler Alberti

HOW CAN WE HELP RURAL AUSTRALIANS? The good news is, there is plenty we can be doing to support farmers like Cate and Karl who are still impacted by drought. As rainfall remains unpredictable, it’s more important than ever that the issue of drought isn’t simply a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Those of us who live in metropolitan areas, where resources are more plentiful, should continue to be water-conscious in our everyday life.

Simple changes can have an amazing cumulative impact on changing the tide of water-scarcity.

Finish has launched the “40 Litre Challenge” to encourage Australians to live off 40 litres of water for one day and ultimately become more water conscious. Each experience shared on social media, using the hashtag #FinishWaterWaste, will trigger a 40 litre water donation to a farmer in need.

Quit pre-rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher to save up to 40 litres of water per load.

FIVE WAYS TO SAVE WATER AROUND THE HOME

ABOVE: CATE & KARL WELCOMING THEIR WATER DELIVERY OPPOSITE: #FINISHWATERWASTE ACTIVATION AT BONDI ICEBERGS

Rinse fruit and veg in a bowl rather than under running water and use the leftover water for your plants or garden.

Choose the half-flush on a dual flush toilet.

Upgrade to a water-efficient showerhead, which uses 9 litres of water per minute and saves 20,000 litres of water per person per year.

Switching from a top loader to a front load washing machine saves up to 70% of water, saving around 36,000 litres of water per household per year.

For more information on how you can help, visit finishwaterwaste.com.au JAN/FEB 2021

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IN THE WORKPLACE

BIA AFFONSO LEADING A WORKSHOP WITH HER TEAM AT NEU21

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IN THE WORKPLACE

WHY WE’RE FAILING AT WORKPLACE WELLBEING AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER Bia Affonso, Head of Impact at Neu21, outlines where we’re falling short on fostering wellness in the workplace and how we can improve.

Words: Bia Alfonso Photos: chris mcconville

In most traditional workplaces, wellbeing is a box ticked after fruit bowls and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are provided, offering employees confidential counselling services and healthy food options.

It is time to acknowledge that the wellbeing of our people goes far beyond EAP services. How do we foster positive emotions at work when we’re stripped of our autonomy? How are we meant to find meaning in life if we don’t understand how our work contributes to the organisation’s purpose and strategic goals? And how can we sleep peacefully when we’re assigned more work, and everything seems urgent?

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IN THE WORKPLACE

LEFT: TEAM MEETING AT THE NEU21 OFFICE RIGHT: NEU21 TEAM WORKING COLLABORATIVELY & BIA AFFONSO IN HER OFFICE

Now imagine having to cope with the above when working remotely, juggling home schooling, a shared working space with your partner and the added pressure of managing impressions when showing up in zoom calls. How do we keep it together when lockdown is pushing some to mental breakdown, surfacing the loneliness epidemic that has been afflicting the modern world?

The pandemic has awakened many leaders from their apathy and sleepmode, but for many they were abruptly asked to take action without knowing how to. Some are still groggy catching up to maintain performance and provide support while their people are working from home or in the frontline. I’m not even mentioning the employees who were let go or stood down – with those, the risk of real struggle is even more heightened.

How do leaders, used to striving for infinite growth and rewarded by shareholders for doing so, navigate such a complex and challenging time?

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They are the byproduct of a broken system that never taught them how to focus on their people’s and their own wellbeing, especially during disruption.

As W. Edwards Deming wisely said: “94% of problems in business are systems-driven and only 6% are people driven.”

We’re still feeling the hangover of Scientific Management, with outdated early 20th century practices and narratives of what people need at work. According to the Change Lab 2020 Workplace report, employees who had no workplace support were more likely to feel that their organisation and teams were just getting by or really struggling with COVID-19.

The reality is that leaders have now been pushed to rethink how they design their policies, practices and reward systems. The old paradigm of growth at all cost is not equating to more gains as a rule of thumb, and how we manage change in a simplistic, linear and binary good-or-bad way, doesn’t cut it anymore.

On the flip side, conversations about ways of working, people happiness and wellbeing have gained momentum, but if we don’t turn these into action we run the risk of falling asleep again and reverting to our old ways.

Traditionally, employees’ wellbeing has been delegated to HR practitioners who are not usually trained or incentivised to create

IN THE WORKPLACE

"Sometimes a real conversation is more powerful than any fruit bowl or free yoga class that we don’t have time to attend."

human-centred policies, practices, processes or KPIs. Employees are often stigmatised as being problematic if they end up in the HR’s office.

We thought that we were giving our people everything they needed to feel good, but we are still stuck in a mindset of fixing complex challenges with technical solutions. Sometimes a real conversation is more powerful than any fruit bowl or free yoga class that we don’t have time to attend.

Wellbeing should be a core strategic focus, not a perk or an afterthought.

It’s about trust, adaptability and kindness. By intentionally designing our organisations using these principles people are more likely to do well despite the rampant challenges we face today. It’s a journey of discovery, experimentation and development.

We need this now more than ever before, so that individuals function well, feel good and are better equipped to not only perform, but also create a wellbeing economy – an economy where both people and the planet flourish.

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AGRICULTURE

A NEW KIND OF QUINOA This ancient grain is about to burst out of its boutique bubble and hit the mainstream as a new open access variety becomes available.

Words: AGRIFUTURES AUSTRALIA

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AGRICULTURE

AgriFutures Australia's investment into the industry has provided growers with access to high quality quinoa seed suitable for Australian conditions.

Quinoa has been touted by healthy eating fanatics as the “better version of brown rice,” packed full of nutrients that put other grains to shame. But it has always sat on the proverbial top shelf in terms of its status (and price).

That could all change, however, with the development of a new variety that will be widely accessible to farmers around the country, allowing the smaller players of Australia’s agricultural industry to jump on the quinoa bandwagon and enjoy some of its success.

OPEN SOURCE GRAINS A new open access quinoa variety developed in Australia is set to boost

opportunities for farmers to grow the popular superfood, with increased production potential for both local and international markets. As the first public, non-contract variety in Australia, “Kruso White” may be the key to transitioning quinoa from a niche, cottage crop to wider adoption across Australian broadacre farming environments.

A national quinoa research project was undertaken between 2015 and 2019, funded by AgriFutures Australia, with coinvestment from the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

The project focused on investigating where and how quinoa can be grown

across Australia. The endeavour was also successful in developing the new variety, which is now ready for bulk up and commercialisation.

The new variety, known as “Kruso White”, was launched in Kununurra in northern WA on Tuesday 8 September by the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC, WA Minister for Regional Development, Agriculture and Food.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE Access to the locally bred Kruso White will soon be available for farmers. They’ll be required to submit an Expression of Interest through DPIRD, which seeks to JAN/FEB 2021

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licence multiple organisations to bulk up and market the quinoa variety upon its commercial release. Both group and individual applications are encouraged.

AgriFutures Australia General Manager, Business Development, Michael Beer, welcomed the launch, emphasising the increased opportunity that a public variety of quinoa offers Australian producers.

“The production of quinoa globally climbed from 23,000 tonnes in 1990 to almost 200,000 tonnes in 2019,” says Beer.“ Considering this significant increase in demand, the national quinoa project recognised the potential for quinoa as a high value cash and break crop in Australian cropping systems.”

With promising results under both rainfed and irrigated conditions, Kruso White has proven suitable for winter and springautumn sowing, has wide adaptability, good yield and high seed quality.

GROWING GREAT GRAINS An agronomic package including weed control options, best management practice, improved techniques of seed processing and the economics of quinoa production has also been developed as part of the project outcomes.

Dr Harmohinder Dhammu, research scientist at DPIRD and principal investigator of the quinoa project, said the average yield of Kruso White across 15 good trials at a national level was

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Credit: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

IMAGE: DR HARMOHINDER DHAMMU, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE PROJECT, IN QUINOA VARIETY TRIAL AT GERALDTON, WA.

1.5t/ha, with a yield range of 0.5-3.1t/ha.

Gross margins of Kruso White production were found to be double that of wheat and canola under rainfed conditions at Geraldton WA, assuming quinoa yield of just 1t/ha.

Rich in proteins and essential amino acids, quinoa is well deserving of its reputation as a “superfood”, and even offers a gluten free substitute for other cereals. Its wide availability and the varied uses of the seeds for consumption has led to an increase in demand for quinoa worldwide.

The launch of the Kruso White quinoa is an example of successful collaboration directing investment and research into a niche agricultural market with potential for expansion.

KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

Nestled amongst the wilderness of the Kimberley’s you will find Kimberley Grande, the perfect place with spacious room to come home to after adventurous days.

Spend your day relaxing by our picturesque pool and indulging at our restaurant and bar facilities.

Numerous conference and function packages are available all year round

www.kimberleygrande.com.au 20 Victoria Highway, Kununurra WA 6743 Phone: 1300 9555 49 | 08 7918 7885 | Email: reservations@kimberleygrande.com.au

PUZZLES

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SMOOTHIE SOFT DRINK SOYA MILK TUMBLER

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ICED TEA LATTE LEMON SQUASH LEMONADE MILKSHAKE ORANGE JUICE RICE MILK

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APPLE JUICE CARAMEL CHOCOLATE COFFEE CORDIAL FIZZY DRINK GLASS

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25. Young chap started like a dream (3)

27. Cook taco mix for parrot (8)

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26. Hope deer is let loose (6)

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23. Mistake made by Yogi’s partner 20. Foil what’s often on the rocks (6) (3-3) 21. Come before tea to see a heavenly 24. Cancelled producing child body! (5) before spring (3) 23. Raised cattle, branded, and went (4)

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16. Sole position in the way (9)

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15. Horse-drawn transport for a theatre instructor (10)

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22. Dashes off other half of code (4)

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19. Depress some prudish ear?

Tenacious! (10)

7. Insert a leader in Russia (5) 13. Anna kissed Dick, said to be antigovernment (11)

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18. Complaining bitterly about fence (7)

6. Do they break in to steal mice? (3,8)

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17. Longed for Ned after 12 months (7)

5. Lord’s wife seen with Chatterley’s lover! (4)

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14. I leave train games for ships (10)

4. One who carries grizzly animal and queen (6)

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters.

They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. Theme: DRINK UP

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12. Temptation changed a bit (4)

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11. Be salver or be disloyal (6)

3. Weird spade adapted for use by many people (10)

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2. Beat a retreat, initially, to pub (3)

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9. You can count on it (6) 10. Raft no longer right behind (3)

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1. For each grade, journalist put on an act (9)

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DOWN

8. Give lawful permission to call on league allies (8)

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ACROSS

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VISIT THE REAL AUSTRALIA

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VISIT THE REAL AUSTRALIA

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