Airnorth airlines magazine - Aug/Sept 2019

Aug/Sept 2019

TAKEME ME HO AD TO RE

A real Australian business magazine

Get Lured Fishing hotspots of WA & NT

ENTICING EXMOUTH Having a whale of a time up north in Exmouth

GIFTS FOR DAD

A collection of exciting Father's Day products

TINY HOUSES

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Welcome aboard Welcome aboard your Airnorth flight.

The shift in seasons always makes for an exciting time.

Throughout the Airnorth network we look forward to a strong line-up of activities filling out the spring calendar, and the dynamic changes to the landscapes of our destinations.

The Top End has much to boast about this wet season as Darwin welcomes Bruce Munro, a world-renowned artist best known for his immersive large-scale light installations. Munro will be lighting up the city of Darwin this October–April with a collection of eight large-scale installations, spanning a 2.5-kilometre walking trail through the CBD and waterfront precinct. The display will include a collection of new and existing works which reflect Munro’s experiences in Australia and the Territory, including Darwin’s natural beauty, distinct wildlife, welcoming locals and spectacular sunsets. The largest Australian exhibition undertaken by Munro to date, it will be titled ‘Bruce Munro: Tropical Light’.

While Darwin lights things up, Melbourne hosts the

provoking and inspiring Melbourne International Arts Festival on October 2–20, which showcases art and innovation in dance, theatre, music, and visual arts. Meanwhile the ever-popular Oktoberfest celebrations run across various destinations around Melbourne throughout the month of October. Another unmissable event in the city is the famed ‘race that stops the nation’, the Melbourne Cup Carnival week, on November 2–9. Be there to witness history for yourself.

For Airnorth, October also brings the conclusion of our seasonal services to Perth and the Gold Coast. We were once again pleased to support services to these destinations during the height of the busy season and look forward to servicing these routes again in 2020.

For now, enjoy your Airnorth flight. We look forward to seeing you again, when you next choose to fly Airnorth.

Daniel Bowden Chief Executive Officer, Airnorth AUG/SEPT 2019

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Meet Robbie and Kylie Paediatrician, Health Professional and happy to call the Territory home.

The naysayers and idea killers never came this far...

Welcome to the Territory!

It’s home to people like us, those who saw the boundless potential of this place.

Here, you can create a new business, propel your career, and make a real impact.

For this is a land where ambition and drive lives in harmony with lifestyle and the moments that truly matter.

Because The Territory gives you the time and the space to connect in ways you can’t anywhere else.

Come find your Boundless Possible.

Discover it. Share it. Be part of it. boundlesspossible.com.au

contents

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33. father’s day gifts

Our wrap-up of great gift ideas for Dad.

AusBiz. Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine.

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COMING INTO LAND We investigate the value of farmland in agricultural regions.

AGRIBUSINESS Saltwater crocodiles mean lucrative business for Australian farmers.

PROPERTY BIZ We take a close look at the booming tiny house trend.

CAREFLIGHT An Australian success story in aeromedical training and service.

Features

Upfront 11 Airnorth News

16 Events Calendar

14 Regional News

18 Entertainment

Airnorth shines a spotlight on some fantastic sponsorship initiatives.

We bring you the latest news around the country.

15 Directory

Some of the best places to eat, stay and play across the Airnorth network.

Don’t miss what’s happening around Airnorth’s locations this August and September.

The latest theatre, art, movies, books and tours.

20 Out & About

The latest offerings from hotels, restaurants and bars around the country.

22 Fishing Hotspots

Rugby league legend Andrew Ettingshausen shares his favourite fishing spots around Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

30 Explore Exmouth We share with you our top picks for where to drink, dine and stay in this gem of a town on Western Australia’s Coral Coast.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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publisher’s letter

EDITORIAL

This issue is all about NT and WA. We explore beautiful Exmouth, which, as our writer says, is friendly, laidback and surrounded by good-looking fish. How amazing is it that you can depart from one of our big bustling cities to on the same day be swimming with whale sharks off the coast of Western Australia?

In this issue we also catch up with NRL legend and fishing fanatic Andrew Ettingshausen to talk sport, life, work and avoiding that nasty thing called stress. Being a bit of a mad fisherwoman myself, I was all ears when he agreed to share his favourite fishing hotspots in WA and NT. There’s some amazing places on his list, where you can not only fish, but enjoy some real downtime and get back to nature.

As you’ll know if you’re into fishing, it can be one of the most relaxing activities out there, and also one of the most challenging and adrenaline pumping. I love to sit on a pontoon or by the river fishing for flatheads, and as evening falls, trying my hand at hauling in a jewfish. There is also something so rewarding about hauling up a crab pot to find a big old mud crab – it makes me feel good to know that I can provide some food for the family. But as ET said, it’s the feeling of getting away from everything and just being on the water that draws so many people in. And the fact that when you are fishing with others, you are all just concentrating on one thing – bringing in a fish. “Fishing is a great way to get away from everything,” he said. “It gives you time to regroup. You can sit back and think about things as you fish. It’s also a leveller. Doesn’t matter if you’re a prime minister or the farmer down the road – you’re just someone out there enjoying fishing.”

I also admire the fact that most people in the fishing world understand how important it is to take care of the environment and fish stocks.

ET is a big greenie at heart and knows not to bite the hand that feeds him. “I’m not a person who likes to kill lots of fish – I let 95 per cent of our fish go,” he told us. ”With big barramundi, for instance, you don’t keep them, as they’re the females and they can lay thousands of eggs, which means great fish stocks in the future. On the other hand, a nice 60-centimetre barramundi is great for the dinner table and won’t put a dent in the fish stock. It’s all about sustainability.”

Wherever you are heading today, we hope we’ve given you some inspiration for your next getaway, and that you make use of some of the hot tips from ET. Drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from you.

MICHELLE HESPE, AND THE TEAM AT TOGETHER WE FLY

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@AIRNORTH _ MAG

/AIRNORTHAIRLINESMAG

Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Art Director: Jon Wolfgang Miller Lifestyle & Travel Sales Manager: Sonja Halstead sonja.halstead@publishingbychelle.com WA & NT Sales Manager: Greg Parkes greg.parkes@publishingbychelle.com AusBiz. Sales Manager: Effe Sandas advertising@publishingbychelle.com Assistant Editor: Sarah Hinder editorial@publishingbychelle.com Sub-editors: Claire Hey & Shane Cubis Editorial Assistants: Haley Halvorson & Nadia Trégouët

CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Hinder Andrew Ettingshausen Leah McLennan Darren Baguley Ian Lloyd Neubauer Lisa Smyth Kirsten Craze

PRINTING

Blue Star PRINT 81 Derby St, Silverwater, NSW 2128

Cover image: Tourism NT/Steve Strike.

Together We Fly is published by Publishing ByChelle, (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) 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 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 Together We Fly are from istock and Getty images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY

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

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

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1800 627 474 AIRNORTH.COM.AU

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TROPICAL LIGHT 1 November 2019 - 30 April 2020

DARWIN’S INSPIRING OUTDOOR EXHIBITION

‘Bruce Munro: Tropical Light’ is an outdoor exhibition featuring 8 illuminated sculptures installed across Darwin’s CBD outdoor spaces. www.tropicallight.com.au 1 November 2019 - 30 April 2020 TO BOOK FLIGHTS, VISIT AIRNORTH.COM.AU OR CALL RESERVATIONS ON 1800 627 474 FOLLOW US ON

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Tropical Light is an initiative of the Northern Territory Government Tropical Light. Photographer Louise Denton. © NTMEC

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airnorth news

Sponsorship spotlight PASPALEY DARWIN STAR BALL

2019 PASPALEY DARWIN STAR BALL.

The Top End was vibrant and full of life when theme ‘Havana Nights’ hit the city of Darwin for the annual Paspaley Darwin Star Ball this May. The evening was a huge success, raising an incredible $215,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which seeks to brighten the lives of seriously ill children, teenagers and their families in the Northern Territory.

The Paspaley Darwin Star Ball committee dedicated months of hard work to ensure that guests were able to dance the night away carefree, with outstanding performances from Justice Crew and The Salsa Kingz, as well as local Darwin salsa and samba dancers.

Airnorth was honoured to participate in the evening’s festivities, and to provide support return airfares from Darwin to Perth as one of the night’s auction prizes.

MCARTHUR RIVER MINE CHARITY GOLF DAY

GOLFERS PARTICIPATING IN THE MCARTHUR RIVER MINE CHARITY GOLF DAY.

This May, Airnorth enjoyed a day out at the annual golf tournament hosted by McArthur River Mine, to raise funds for various charities across the Northern Territory.

Each year the event grows, and record funds are raised to support worthy causes.

“It’s a great tradition that stretches back more than a decade,” says McArthur River Mine General Manager Sam Strohmayr.

“In that time, we have raised more than half a million dollars for local charities.

Organisations which have benefited over the years include The Smith Family, The Heart Foundation, The Salvation Army Australia, Cancer Council Australia, CareFlight, CatholicCare and many, many more.”

While healthy competition was alive and well for the event, all participants were joined together by one common goal: to raise as much money for charities as possible. Airnorth was delighted to sponsor the competition and aid the fundraising effort with return airfares as prizes for the two-day event.  AUG/SEPT 2019

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airnorth news

Airnorth was delighted to support the event with return airfares from Groote Eylandt to Darwin for the night’s charity fundraising auction.

“The event would not be possible without the financial and in-kind support from our many sponsors, so a huge thank you to Airnorth for your sponsorship once again this year,” said committee member for CWA Groote Eylandt Amie Kussrow.

2019 PASPALEY DARWIN STAR BALL.

MALANDARRI FESTIVAL

NAERC TEAM SAFETY AWARD-WINNER: GLENCORE MCARTHUR RIVER MINE.

NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMPETITION Airnorth was proud to provide its continued support to the Northern Australian Emergency Response Competition (NAERC), held in Darwin this May to June. For the third consecutive year, Airnorth supported the competition as the Team Safety Award sponsor.

Hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia, the competition plays an integral part in emergency response training, providing teams the opportunity to test their skills in the field through simulated emergency situations. Throughout the course of the event, teams receive a ‘call to response’ and face challenges under the disciplines of Fire Fighting, First Aid, Rescue from Heights, Breathing Apparatus Skills, Underground Search and Rescue, Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and Road Accident Rescue.

The NAERC motto is: ‘The minute saved through practice is the minute needed to save a life,’ and the

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event gives teams an excellent opportunity to test their training and response capabilities under pressure in essential preparation for real-life emergency events.

COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, GROOTE EYLANDT The Country Women’s Association (CWA) Groote Eylandt hosted its annual Ladies Night Gala this June at the Groote Eylandt Lodge in Alyangula, NT. The annual event aims to raise funds to support the efforts of the CWA on Groote Eylandt, where the group has supported and encouraged the transformation of the region from a locality to a flourishing community.

“The Ladies Night Gala has become a highly anticipated event, attracting more than 100 ladies to the island in a celebration of women coming together and supporting each other,” says CWA member Clare Schoeller.

This year’s Malandarri Festival in McArthur River brought together a strong multicultural representation of traditional and contemporary arts and cultural practices in a celebration of language and dance on Yanyuwa country. Committed to its mission of connecting regional communities, Airnorth was delighted to assist with bringing performers to the unique festival located near one of its most remote destinations: McArthur River.

“The support Artback NT has received from Airnorth is invaluable,” says the festival’s Indigenous Traditional Dance Coordinator Eve Pawlik. “The remoteness of Borroloola makes travel for performers difficult. This partnership has ensured that we could bring new and diverse acts to extend the cultural diversity the festival is known for.”

This year’s line-up included performances from Borroloola clan groups, Ngardiji dancers, Wandangula and Blind Mermaid dancers and Mara dancers. The White Cockatoo Performing Group, Polynesian dance group, Nuholani, Sandridge Band, Malandarri Band and the Barkly Drifters also made special appearances.

Festivalgoers were able to experience a pop-up exhibition with works by local artists produced in a workshop under the guidance of photographer Benjamin Warlngundu Bayliss. There were plenty of family activities on offer, and a marketplace for attendees to learn about and enjoy the traditional bush food and medicine of the region. AN

airnorth news

2019 MALANDARRI FESTIVAL IN MCARTHUR RIVER.

2019 MALANDARRI FESTIVAL IN MCARTHUR RIVER. AUG/SEPT 2019

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regional news

New species of dinosaur discovered at Lightning Ridge A new species of dinosaur has been discovered by scientists in outback New South Wales town Lightning Ridge. A collection of opalised fossils found by opal miners in the 1980s have recently been named as a new species, Fostoria dhimbangunmal, in honour of the miner who found the fossils, Robert Foster.

The most complete opalised dinosaur skeleton in the world, Fostoria is now believed to be part of the first herd discovered in Australia.

New Aboriginal cultural tour opens on Rottnest Island Visitors to Rottnest Island, known as Wadjemup to the local Noongar people, can now learn about traditional Aboriginal culture as part of new tours on the island.

Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences offers visitors a walking tour to learn about Rottnest’s

history and its spiritual significance to the Noongar people. The 90-minute tour includes a Welcome to Country, a traditional sand ceremony, and song and storytelling with a local Aboriginal guide.

For more information, visit gocultural.com.au

Explore like a local with Kangaroo Jack Tours Providing an authentic Australian experience, David Zaffina of Kangaroo Jack Tours offers what larger companies cannot: small intimate group tours around coastal Victorian towns.

Having grown up on the Surf Coast, David is passionate about the local environment.

His recent partnership with Airbnb Experiences has allowed David to become a part of the Airbnb community in the Torquay/Great Ocean Road region, and to play an even greater role in supporting the conservation of native wildlife and educating visitors about local Indigenous history.

Highlights of the tour include

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the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary, which allow visitors to get up close with wildlife in its natural habitat. David explains that both centres offer the perfect balance of education and intrigue.

“In a safe environment, which protects the wildlife’s health and wellbeing, the centres provide visitors an educational understanding of the importance of animal conservation and protecting their natural habitat.

You just can’t get this close and hands-on with Australian native wildlife anywhere else.”

To book a tour, visit kangaroojacktours.com AN

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What’s on & what’s hot Our pick of the very best gigs, festivals, and cultural and sporting events from around the country.

Compiled by: Sarah hinder

August 2–5 Image: Peter Eve/Yothu Yindi Foundation.

Garma Festival

East Arnhem Land NT This festival of unity aims to bring locals and visitors together in the largest celebration of the Yolngu people of North East Arnhem Land, whose culture is one of the oldest on earth, dating back more than 40,000 years. garma.com.au

august 9–11 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

Darwin NT More than 60 Indigenousowned art centres participate in this rich program of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. darwinaboriginal artfair.com.au

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August 3–4

August 10

Desert Harmony Festival

National Indigenous Music Awards

Tennant Creek NT Expect storytelling, youth workshops, music, dance and a red dirt setting at this outback celebration of the Indigenous and multicultural demographic of the remote Barkly region. desertharmonyfestival.com

August 8–25 Darwin Festival

Darwin NT This tropical capital city is transformed when free outdoor events, concerts, theatre productions and multicultural food stalls pop up across town. darwinfestival.org.au

Darwin NT Presented under the stars at Darwin’s historic amphitheatre, these awards bring together new and established artists from all corners of the country for a celebration of Indigenous music. nima.musicnt.com.au

August 16–19 Run Larapinta

MacDonnell Ranges NT Along the spectacularly scenic Larapinta Trail, this four-day race is a great way to experience one of Australia’s most epic treks. rapidascent.com.au/runlarapinta

Events calendar August 22–25

TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS.

The Redback

Alice Springs NT Over four days, The Redback allows mountainbike riders of all skill levels to tackle the single tracks around the jaw-dropping Red Centre. rapidascent.com.au/theredback

August 17

august 30–September 8

Henley-on-Todd Regatta

Melbourne Writers Festival

Alice Springs NT Held on the dry, sandy bed of Todd River, this mock regatta sees participants build and race their ‘boats’ made from metal frames and banners. henleyontodd.com.au

August 23–25 Freedom Day Festival

Kalkaringi & Daguragu NT Commemorating the Gurindji elders who took part in the 1966 Wave Hill walk-off, this festival proudly celebrates their success in procuring Aboriginal Land Rights. freedomday.com.au

Shinju Matsuri

Darwin International Film Festival Darwin NT Under a blanket of stars, DIFF presents local and international films, plus filmmaking exhibitions. diff.net.au

September 20–29

Mahbilil Festival

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

August 30–September 1 Red CentreNATS Image: Julia Rau Photography.

Broome WA Japanese for ‘festival of the pearl’, Shinju Matsuri celebrates Broome’s diversity of cultures and early days as a producer of rare South Sea pearls. Events include the symbolic Floating Lantern Matsuri and a long-table feast on Cable Beach. shinjumatsuri.com.au

September 12–22

August 30–September 1 Jabiru NT Experience everything from bush tucker and traditional dance to great art at this event celebrating Kakadu culture. mahbililfestival.com

September 7–15

Melbourne Vic Melbourne’s literary festival hosts readings, film screenings, book launches and banquets with some of the best writing talent from around the globe. mwf.com.au

Alice Springs NT Over Father’s Day weekend, this festival of wheels puts on a show of burnouts and off-road jumps. You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to enjoy the Aussie rock concert. redcentrenats.com.au

Toowoomba Qld During peak spring season, Toowoomba hosts a food and wine festival, live concerts, a polo tournament and, of course, stunning floral displays. tcof.com.au

September 21–October 1 Royal Melbourne Show

Melbourne Vic There’s something for everyone at this royal show.

Learn about agriculture, see stunts and marvel at fireworks. royalshow.com.au AUG/SEPT 2019

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entertainment

Compiled by: Sarah hinder

ART Desert Mob 2019

September 5–October 20 at Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs NT This annual gathering of Territory artists brings together Desart members and seeks to connect Aboriginal art from remote communities to the wider world, and to celebrate its continuing dynamic shifts.

The 2019 exhibition will display hundreds of new works by emerging and established artists, as well as host an affordable art market and enlightening symposium events. desertmob.nt.gov.au

MOLVIG, Jon / Grey Street arrangement 1956 / Oil on hardboard / Gift of Ian Still 2000 / Collection of the Brisbane Museum. Australia b.1923.

Kaldor Public Art Project 10: Jeff Koons Puppy, MCA forecourt, Sydney, 12 December 1995 – 17 March 1996 © Jeff Koons. Photo: Eric Sierin.

Jon Molvig: Maverick

Making art public: 50 years of Kaldor Public Art Projects

September 14–February 2, 2020 at QAGOMA, Brisbane Qld This first substantial exhibition for three decades on Aussie artist Jon Molvig will feature his vibrant early works drawing on European influences, and acknowledge his contribution to the Brisbane arts community, where he spent the greater part of his career dominating its art scene into the late ‘60s. qagoma.qld.gov.au

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September 7–February 16, 2020 at AGNSW, Sydney NSW Celebrating an ambitious public art initiative on the world stage, this exhibition will survey the rich history of the Kaldor Public Art Projects. It will revisit some of the most iconic large-scale public art to be presented in Australia. artgallery.nsw.gov.au / kaldorartprojects.org.au

books

Image: Jen Rosenstein

tour

KISS: END OF THE ROAD

Room for a Stranger, Melanie Cheng

May 2019, Text Publishing, fiction Since her elderly sister died, Meg has lived on her own.

She doesn’t really mind.

But after her house is broken into, she decides to take in a roommate. Student Andy, struggling to cover his tuition, moves in. This story unfurls around these two Aussies‘ unusual relationship.

Songspirals, Gay’wu Group of Women

August 2019, Allen & Unwin, cultural studies At the heart of Aboriginal cultures is song. Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, and are different ways of understanding the relationship between people and place. This book offers an opportunity for outsiders to understand their role.

Malcom Young, Jeff Apter

August 2019, Allen & Unwin, biography This is the first in-depth biography of Malcolm Young, the founder and driving force of AC/DC, who provided the muscle behind their signature songs.

Focusing on Malcolm, it tells of his remarkable rise from working class life to the biggest stages in the world.

November 16–30 in Perth WA, Adelaide SA, Brisbane Qld, Melbourne Vic, Newcastle NSW & Sydney NSW KISS will return to Australia for one final time in their last ever END OF THE ROAD world tour.

The much-anticipated tour wraps up the band’s 45-year career, which contributed to the launch of the world's greatest era of rock ‘n’ roll.

theatre Jasper Jones

August 16– September 7 in Adelaide SA Hilarious, bright and bubbling with intrigue, Kate Mulvany’s adaptation of Craig Silvey’s popular coming-ofage novel is a heartwarming ride into the subconscious of Australia’s small towns. statetheatrecompany. com.au AUG/SEPT 2019

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OUT & ABOUT

The grand dame of Melbourne raises the bar on pampering When staying in Melbourne, you won’t find a better location than the Yarra River. And at the grand dame of hotels, The Langham, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of Southbank Promenade, in the buzzing arts district. It’s also a gentle stroll from Melbourne’s many lovely laneway restaurants and designer clothing stores.

The Langham is synonymous with luxury and style, and now it has raised the luxe bar with an indulgent pampering package that will have any woman (or indeed, man) swooning.

Guests receive a 90-minute BABOR Rose Grand Cru facial with active rose ingredients; a relaxing arm, hand and foot massage; a glass of premium sparkling wine or collagen

beverage; access to tri-bathing facilities for the day of treatment; and complimentary valet parking.

Signature Langham white robes and slippers are provided for the duration of your visit, and you can enjoy the spacious salt water Jacuzzi with stunning views of the city skyline. Then indulge in a traditional-style sauna before enjoying a shower in the river stone snail shower, which forces 12 jets of water on to all of your muscle groups.

The Langham is all about relaxation, and so there is a ‘no rush’ policy – linger longer and enjoy your time in downtime Melbourne for as long as you like. The package starts from $269 per person and is subject to availability. langhamhotels.com

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Adventure

NT & WA: ET’s top

fishing hotspots Rugby league legend and fishing enthusiast Andrew Ettingshausen, aka et, takes us through his absolute favourite places around Western Australia and the Northern Territory for a day of fishing. words: Andrew Ettingshausen

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Adventure The Kimberley.

+1m barra!

MV Cannon‘s gourmet meals.

NT WEST COAST – “THE RUN OFF” (MARCH TO JUNE)

THE FITZMAURICE (JULY)

FISHING HAS NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD

THE KIMBERLEY

(AUGUST TO OCTOBER)

NT NORTH COAST

REMOTE COASTLINE SPORTFISHING IN UNRIVALLED LUXURY FIRST CLASS GUIDES, FOOD AND ADVENTURE!

(OCTOBER)

THE MINI MINI / WEST ARNHEM LAND – “THE BUILD UP” (NOVEMBER)

5 stars on Tripadvisor

CHOICE OF CHARTERS OR JOIN YOUR OWN

Cannon Charters

WA & NT

It was to be the once-in-a-lifetime experience. But after a week on MV Cannon, it became my ‘whenever I can’ experience. Imagine a new, pristine, tropical location every day, promising the thrill and excitement of your next personal best of any number of hard fighting fish. The anticipation of every cast is palpable. You never know what is going to slam your lure next. The guides are excellent and know everything to teach beginners or educate old hands with new tricks.

MV Cannon takes you to new spots overnight, so there’s no fishing time wasted. While you’re on board, you relax in 5-star comfort with an onboard chef skilfully serving meals any restaurant would be proud of. The ice-cold beer tastes so good after a day chasing trophy fish, and the stories and banter keep getting better as the evening draws on. You sleep in private air-conditioned quarters, two with ensuites.

There’s plenty of hot water and the crew even do laundry for you. Wake up in the morning with a difficult decision (after breakfast and coffee) of blue water or river? Queenfish, Spanish mackerel, tuna or barramundi, jacks and trevally?

The scenery is mindblowing. Red cliffs with even redder sunsets. Thick rainforest or the grassy flood plains with crystal clear water flowing down into the salt. There are birds, crocs, dolphins, buffalo and dingoes – a menagerie of animals in their natural environment. Eventually all dreams end, but there was one thrill left for me: being picked up on a remote river by a Paspaley Pearl flying boat to be whisked back to civilisation.

MV Cannon is truly your ‘whenever you can’ experience! cannoncharters.com.au | bec@cannoncharters.com.au | 0417 457 135 – Testimonial by Greg Parkes.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Rowley Shoals

WA Departing from Broome, it’s a 24-hour charter boat trip to the three coral atolls that make up the Rowley Shoals.

The long trip out is entirely worth the effort – this remote location provides amazing fishing, beautiful reef structure and a lagoon with a sand cay which creates a sheltered anchorage. Sailfish abound outside the reef, but inside is where the magic happens, and diverse coral reef species thrive.

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Best Adventure beaches Coral Bay.

Coral Bay

WA Coral Bay is a beautiful location within Ningaloo Reef Lagoon. Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters are the guys to fish with here. They can put you onto sailfish and marlin and drop the baits down deep to catch the prized red emperor. It’s a breathtaking holiday destination right on the beach with terrific snorkelling and swimming. mahimahifishingcharters.com.au

Kimberley Coastal Camp, near Kununurra WA Flying into Kununurra, you’re halfway to the remote Kimberley Coastal Camp.

A unique destination, this top-rated lodge sits right on the water’s edge.

The fishing is on par with the incredible scenery – big barra, black jewfish, golden snapper, coral trout, queenfish and trevally are in abundance. kimberleycoastalcamp.com.au

Coral Bay

Kimberley Coastal Camp.

Adventure

Evolution Fishing Charters in Exmouth WA

A small family business built from true fishing passion, Evolution is owned and operated by Captain Craig ‘Whitey’ White and his wife Kim. Whitey is Australia’s first ‘World Champion Offshore Angler’, with his more than 30 years’ professional fishing experience. He takes out a maximum of eight passengers on tours around the pristine Ningaloo Coast and Exmouth Gulf, surrounded by fringing coral reefs with the continental shelf less than 10 kilometres offshore.

Evolution offers three different tours. When Deep Sea/Reef Fishing, you’ll head out from Exmouth Marina into the vast Indian Ocean, targeting species such as red emperor, coral trout,

gold band snapper and spangled emperor (to name a few). Aboard a Blue Water Sport Fishing Tour, you’ll head to the rich marlin grounds on the Exmouth Peninsula, or the reefs surrounding the North West Cape.

For the ultimate fishing adventure, you’ll want to opt for a Live Aboard Tour, where you’ll stay aboard vessel Evolution, equipped with comfortable sleeping quarters, bathroom, kitchen, dining and lounge areas. By day, you’ll experience an entirely tailored trip fishing in worldrenowned waters. At night, you’ll anchor in the protected Ningaloo Reef or the magnificent Murion and South Mackerel Islands. evolutionfishingcharters.com.au

Exmouth.

Exmouth

WA Exmouth is, simply put, a fishing paradise. Located at the top end of Ningaloo Reef, the crystal-clear lagoon is home to a wide variety of reef fish.

A short trip out through the lagoon entrance sees you fishing in the deep blue Indian Ocean, chasing sailfish, marlin and tuna. Charter boats work out of this WA hotspot, and if you’re wanting to battle a game fish, your chances are excellent. visitningaloo.com.au

Broome

Broome.

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WA Another breathtaking location set upon beach sand dunes, the Ramada Eco Beach Resort is where I stayed on my last trip to Broome – and the accommodation and fishing was simply unbelievable. We caught sizeable barramundi in the local creek and sailfish along the coast while fishing from a game boat with a talented skipper and deckhand. ecobeach.com.au

Adventure

Dhipirri Lodge, near Milingimbi Island

NT A short trip from Milingimbi Island will see you fishing at one of the Top End’s best barramundi camps: Dhipirri Lodge. While barra are the major target species here, you’ll also do battle with a wide variety of sportfish when angling in these untouched waters. East Arnhem Land has been inhabited and fished by Indigenous owners for more than 40,000 years, and you can truly feel this ancient history all around you. dhipirribarra.com.au

Mary River, near Darwin

Dhipirri Lodge.

Maningrida.

NT A couple of hours’ drive from Darwin is the magnificent Shady Camp boat ramp on the Mary River. I like to fish with the team at Territory Guided Fishing, who recently took me out from their live-aboard vessel, parked at the mouth of the river, to fish the coastal creeks. My biggest barra caught was 117 centimetres, and my favourite time of the year is April and May, when the wet season finishes, and the runoff is in full swing. ntfishing.com.au

Maningrida

Mary River.

NT From the air, you’re compelled to look out the window as you fly over some of Australia’s most majestic rivers and wilderness on your way to Maningrida.

Staying at the Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge will see you hooked to jumping barra from day one. The rivers each side of Maningrida hold huge numbers of these iconic Aussie sportfish.

You won’t be disappointed. barralodge.com.au AUG/SEPT 2019

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Adventure

Cobourg Coastal Camp.

Cobourg Coastal Camp

Wessel Islands.

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NT Perched right on the northern Cobourg Peninsula, the camp overlooks the flat clean waters of Port Essington.

With special permission from the traditional owners to operate in this spiritual Indigenous homeland, one of the best sportfishing destinations in the Top End has emerged. A true abundance of sportfish – golden snapper, black jewfish, queenfish, trevally and mangrove jack – await your lures and baits. cobourgcoastalcamp.com.au

Wessel Islands

NT The Wessel Islands are one of my favourite Top End destinations. The crew onboard Wildcard Luxury Cruises offer wet season fishing and exploratory charters around these ancient islands.

This is a definite bucketlist trip to a magical part of Australia that not many get to experience. If you love catching big Spanish mackerel and sportfishing for sailfish and big trevally, this place is for you. wildcardluxurycruises. com.au

Adventure

Dhipirri Barra & Sportfishing Lodge NT

Perfectly positioned on the Arnhem Land coastline, Dhipirri Barra & Sportfishing Lodge is the ideal destination for a truly remote fishing experience.

Owners Darren and Sharon Nickolls have approval from the local traditional owners to access the many fishing locations which are within minutes of Dhipirri Lodge.

Dhipirri caters for anglers of all abilities and offers a variety of fishing options. The Glyde River fires in the run-off being home to many big barramundi, whilst the Woolen River and Milingimbi Island are ideal for sight casting to threadfin salmon and barramundi.

The nearby reefs have an abundance of pelagics, including GTs, queenies, Spanish mackerel

and golden snapper. Another option is to go crabbing up one of the many mangrove-lined creeks.

Access to the water is easy with the boat ramp located right in front of Dhipirri Lodge – you’re on the water in a matter of minutes, and off the water and into the bar in even less time!

The lodge accommodation and dining are first class, with all rooms air-conditioned and daily complimentary laundry service offered. Dhipirri also has a private air strip which enables clients to fly in directly from Darwin or Gove.

Dhipirri Barra Lodge is truly ‘Adventure Fishing Guaranteed’.

For more information, visit dhipirribarra.com.au or email info@dhipirribarra.com.au AN

Explore

Explore Exmouth

Friendly, laidback and surrounded by good-looking fish, Exmouth is the perfect place to position yourself to explore the Ningaloo Marine Park. words: leah McLennan Halfway up the idyllic Western Australia coastline, Exmouth is a beachy holiday town with an aquatic wonderland on its doorstep. Home to around 2,500 people, this tiny town is surrounded by the huge World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park. You can walk just a few metres offshore, pull on a mask and snorkel. Here, in aquarium-like waters, you can drift over the largest fringing reef on earth, home to turtles, tropical fish and manta rays.

If you take a short boat trip into deeper waters, you can snorkel with gentle whale sharks (from April to July)

Fast Facts • The Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, 17km north of downtown Exmouth, has some of the best coastline views in the area.

This is one of the few places in Australia where you can watch the sun rise and set.

• The Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival, celebrating the annual visit of the whale sharks to the area, takes place during May.

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or alongside humpback whales (from July to October).

Ningaloo Reef is one of the only places on the planet where large numbers of whale sharks – massive but harmless filter feeders – are known to visit so close to land every year.

Exmouth, Ningaloo’s hub town, sits at the northern end of Ningaloo Marine Park. It’s easy to reach. You can jump on a plane and fly into Learmonth Airport, 36 kilometres from Exmouth. Or if you’re up for a road trip, this sun-kissed town can be found 1,250 kilometres north of Perth, with plenty of stop-worthy spots along the way.

Explore

Drink

1. cafés and cocktails Exmouth is home to several cafés that serve excellent coffee, smoothies and juices, including SeeSalt, the Ningaloo Bakehouse and Adrift Café. For those with a thirst for something stronger, Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort serves up some delicious cocktails by the pool.

Dine 1. seafood on sunrise beach Smack-bang on Sunrise Beach, the restaurant at Mantarays Ningaloo Resort is just made for seafood lovers. Aptly called Mantarays, it’s a perfect mix of fine dining and relaxed style. Popular dishes include the seafood platter and the sirloin beef, with grass-fed beef sourced from nearby Bullara Station.

2. food truck feed Parked at Exmouth Town Beach, The Short Order Local food truck whips up some unforgettable bacon and egg burgers, freshly baked muffins and coffee. Perch yourself on one of the rug-lined couches, read the paper and enjoy your morning feast.

The food truck also does a curry-focused menu on Wednesday nights.

3. sensational seafood Whalers Restaurant, located in the Exmouth Escape Resort, is considered one of the area’s best restaurants and has a huge local following. The focus here is seafood: you’ll have a hard time choosing between dishes such as New Orleans seafood gumbo, seafood spaghetti, reef & beef, and the always delicious local fish of the day.

2. fun with the family Beer lovers, rejoice! There are two recently opened breweries in Exmouth. Froth Craft Brewery is a funky, family establishment pouring crafty brews and artisanal cider. The kitchen serves tasty dishes, including local fish and handcut fries, huge veggie and beef burgers, and plates of Exmouth prawns. For more beer action, head over to Whalebone Brewing Company.

Housed in a no-frills shed, at Whalebone you can kick off your boots (or thongs) and completely relax. When you get peckish, there’s delicious pizza on the menu and live tunes to boot. The kids will love it all, especially the play area.  AUG/SEPT 2019

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Explore

Stay 1. ultimate luxe escape

Fact File

Laidback Exmouth has a range of comfortable hotels and resorts.

Looking for something superspecial? Luxe glamping resort Sal Salis will satisfy. Hugging the beach, each of the safari tents is fitted with timber floors, comfy beds, verandahs, ensuites and

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SeeSalt seesalt.com.au Ningaloo Bakehouse ningaloobakehouse.com.au Adrift Café adriftcafe.com.au

sun-heated showers. Perhaps the best part of the experience is the canapés at sunset, followed by dinner (with matching wines) beneath the stars. The exclusive retreat, with numerous guided tours included in the tariff, can arrange airport transfers. It’s open from March to October.

Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort mantaraysningalooresort.com.au Froth Craft Brewery frothcraft.com Whalebone Brewing Company whalebonebrewing.com.au

2. relaxing resort If you’re after a self-contained villa or apartment, check out the 4-star Exmouth Escape Resort, home to the aforementioned Whalers Restaurant.

For those who travel with a vessel, there are boat parking and washing facilities. Relaxation lovers will enjoy the two large outdoor pools.

3. cabins & campers Also well-positioned in Exmouth, the RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park offers self-contained cabins, motel-style rooms, backpacking dorms, and powered and unpowered sites. It’s located just a short walk from Sunrise Beach, part of the new marina development in town. AN

Whalers Restaurant whalersrestaurant.com.au

Exmouth Escape Resort exmouthescaperesort.com.au

The Short Order Local facebook.com/theshortorderlocal

RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park parksandresorts.rac.com.au

Sal Salis salsalis.com.au

Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival ningaloowhalesharkfestival.org.au

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day gift ideas After a great gift for a great dad?

Try out these creative ideas.

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1. kickin’ it The zip-sided chemical-resistant #982 by Blundstone is ideal for industries where there is a potential risk for caustic or acid exposure. Packed with the latest innovations in safety and comfort, they are perfect for keeping you protected if you’re on your feet all day. For further details visit: blundstone.com.au

Compiled by: haley halvorson

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2. Tackle It Shimano’s backpack with tackle box makes a stylish addition to every fisherman’s collection.

With four included tackle trays, sunglasses case, tool holder and drink pocket, it doesn’t matter whether he’s a diehard fisher or weekend warrior – this bag will have his back. $99.95, ottostackleworld.com.au

3. master series 15-year-old whisky This premium single malt whisky represents the very best from Tasmania’s Hellyer’s Road Distillery. Selected by the master distiller, it has been drawn from some of the popular distillery’s oldest casks. $282.90, hellyersroaddistillery.com.au

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4. Handmade Shoes These classic Oxford toecap brogue shoes are handmade by master shoemaker Andrew McDonald. Business classics, they’re made with black and brown box calf upper, and brogue detail on the toecap for a refined look. Available sizes include men’s 40-46.

From $795,andrewmcdonald.com.au

Receive a bonus antler shoe horn to the value of $50 if you mention InflightMags Stocks limited!

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Father’s Day Gift Ideas

5. Sock it to Him Who said socks had to be boring? Who said socks even had to be identical? These ‘odd socks’ are made from sustainable bamboo, which is moisture wicking and anti-bacterial. Meaning, no more stinky feet! $16.95, lambchopssocks. com.au

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6. Get Smart

7. Gentlemen Only

8. hair hero

Carry all you need without the struggle of fitting a bulky wallet into your favourite suit or pair of jeans. Stay efficient and say goodbye to getting stuck when your phone’s run out of battery. KobZ Smart Wallet’s clever design combines storage for cash and cards with a portable power bank. $99, top3.com.au

The Handy Man Tool Kit is a mini workbench in a box. Bringing together all the standard fixer-upper necessities, the solid wooden case holds a hammer, tape measure, wooden ruler, pliers, multi-ratchet screwdriver and a pencil.

Each premium-quality piece is strong, ergonomic and made to last. $99.90, top3.com.au

The perfect solution for a dad in need of thicker, stronger hair.

This Hunter Lab Hair Care Kit, which includes an Invigorating Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner, is packaged within a luxury black gift case. Both practical and indulgent, this gift is wrapped and ready. $84, hunterlab.com.au

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

9. go fish in coral bay, WA Operating out of Coral Bay on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, Mahi Mahi Fishing Charters offers fantastic full- and half-day fishing tours in addition to private charters for small groups.

Light game and bottom fishing, as well as heavy game fishing, can all be catered for.

From $225, 08 9942 5874 mahimahifishingcharters.com.au bookings@mahimahifishingcharters. com.au

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10. Sortable & Portable

11. Love the Beard

12. Well-Groomed

This foldable carry-on bag can be compacted into a zip-up pouch when not in use. It’s handy to pop in checked luggage to use as a small day bag when out and about. The bag features a front zip pocket that slips over luggage handles, so it’s easy to transport with the rest of your gear. $14.95, buymythings.com.au

Think of this beard oil as ‘man oil’.

It’s good for all those itchy skin, dry jawline and frizzy facial hair symptoms that most men don’t like talking about.

Whether your dad has got a beard or not, this stuff gets to the bottom of all skin problems, moisturising and healing both his skin and beard. $44, blackchicken.com.au

Turn Dad’s bathroom into a sanctuary of organisation by giving all his grooming tools a home of their own.

The Harvey & Oliver Set by Tooletries will help to ‘shave’ time off his morning or night shower routine. Plus, the steamy, warm water means shaving in the shower is better for his skin. $54.95, tooletries.com AUG/SEPT 2019

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Multi-tool with USB port Expands 4 cm for more capacity

MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE

|

ESTABLISHED 1884

WERKS TRAVELER 6.0 SOFTSIDE

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

13. All Teched Up The Gaucho Techroll, in racing green no less, is the ideal gift for the man who ‘has everything’. Keep his tech gear and accessories organised with this soft genuine leather mobile tech organiser, which can be personalised with his name. $269.22, giftslessordinary.com

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14. keep Him Cool Keep his drinks cold in Packit’s 9-Can freezable insulated cooler, with a built-in eco-gel liner that lets you take meals and drinks everywhere without the need for ice packs. It keeps contents cool for up to 10 hours, is PVC and lead-free, non-toxic, reusable, and folds compactly in the freezer for storage. $44.95, biome.com.au

15. Get Comfy, Dad This lightweight and ergonomically designed Kikkerland iBED lap desk

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is Dad’s answer to comfy use of his tablet or e-reader when on-the-go. Thanks to the roomy, non-slip surface and a sturdy microbead cushion, he can just pop his book or tablet into the slot and be ready to go. $19.99, yellowoctopus. com.au

16. Made with Love These bespoke sterling silver children’s drawing cufflinks from Gifts Less Ordinary are the perfect personalised gift for a new dad this Father’s Day. $221.22, giftslessordinary.com

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The Secret is Out Interior Secrets is your online destination for great designer furniture. Based in Melbourne and delivering Australia wide, Interior Secrets is passionate about excellent craftsmanship and iconic modern styles, offering homeowners a wide range of designer furniture at honest, straight from the manufacturer prices.

By partnering with the best suppliers and manufacturers directly, Interior Secrets cuts out unnecessary costs to help you stay within your budget. Give your home the modern makeover it deserves for less. Save more with Interior Secrets' online store and live the styles you want today.

interiorsecrets.com.au | 1300 668 605 | sales@interiorsecrets.com.au

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

17. Get Rolling

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The Studio Roller is an innovative way to display information in the cafĂŠ, office or home. A simple and functional wall-mounted bracket seamlessly dispenses kraft paper to write ideas, menus, specials and daily tasks. $243.92, georgeandwilly.com

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18. The Finer things in Life The stunning Van Daemon decanter sets (in three designs) include a whisky decanter and four heavybased tumblers large enough to accommodate 2-inch whisky stones, cubes or an ice ball. Each set comes in a gift box, which can also store its contents for years and generations to come. $149, freshaustralianstore.com

19. Some Like it Hot Inspired by Alaskan whalers from the 18th century, the Fire Starter provides a revolutionary way to light your fire without kindling or newspaper. The porous

ceramic stone absorbs lamp oil in the steel vessel. Once lit, it produces a generous flame for 15-20 minutes, allowing for large logs to catch fire. $337, georgeandwilly.com

20. A Carry-on for the frequent flyer dad Boasting voluminous packing space of 32 litres, this super sleek carry-on is the perfect travel companion for any jetsetter dad. It can also expand up to 4 centimetres to increase packing capacity and comes equipped with a handy USB port which can connect to a battery pack.

Now he can keep his device powered when on the go. $759, victorinox.com AUG/SEPT 2019

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JOIN OUR TRIBE! Follow us and stay in touch: @carolinalifestylelabel

Here's 20% off your next purchase!

Enter the code AirnorthCarolina online at checkout OR present it in store to claim your 20% off.

carolinalifestyle www.carolina.net.au

*Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer limited to one use per customer.

AusBiz.

NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

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12 P.2 buisness news+views p.3 QLD invest special p.6 mine fires on the rise P.12 agricultural land prices P.18 agribusiness: saltwater crocs P.22 property biz: tiny houses P.26 charity spotlight: careflight

Business News+Views

WORDS: sarah hinder

Australian grains making waves in Vietnam Every year Australia exports more than $460 million worth of wheat into Vietnam, mostly used in bread and noodles. According to a new research report published by the Australian Export Grains Innovations Centre (AEGIC), this number is expected to increase by 44 per cent by the year 2030.

Australia’s wheat has historically been used across Vietnam’s higherpriced food sectors, explains lead report author Dr Peter White.

“Australian wheat has an excellent reputation for noodles in Vietnam,

[and] is Vietnam’s first choice for bread (bánh mì),“ he says. “Vietnam is one of the top 10 beer markets in the world, and Australia is already their largest supplier of malt and malt barley.”

With the country’s middle class expected to make up one quarter of its 96 million-strong population by 2030, the demand for high-quality Australian grain and wheat is expected to be at an all-time high.

Meanwhile, Australian barley imports into Vietnam have the potential to double by the same year.

To find out more visit aegic.org.au

$5000 CASH KICK-START

WEALTH CREATION PROJECTS ONE BUILDING TWO INCOMES POSITIVE GEARING BIG TAX DEDUCTIONS GROWTH LOCATIONS TURN KEY FINISH RETURNS OF $32K-$120,000K P.A 0439 425 855 | WWW.QLDINVEST.COM.AU T&C's apply, refer to company website

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AusBiz.

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES FROM $505,000

Investment Special

QLD Invest deliver valuable property investments to Australian families Let’s face it, working for the man is good for paying the bills, but to really get ahead, we all know that property investing is a must. As a wise old investor said to me years ago: “This property will never be as cheap as it was when you bought it.” Well, I guess that’s why they call it REAL estate.

Where do you start? Seriously!

How much research do you need to conduct before you buy a property?

When navigating all the contradicting property reports out there, it’s easy to follow the herd, simply because that’s what the herd does. Plus, who has the time to drive across the country investigating every nook and cranny, trying to locate that ‘great deal’?

Well, enter Korry from QLD Invest.

The really unique thing about what Korry does is he ‘manufactures’ the wealth into the property design. It’s a concept that takes time to wrap your head around. But once you get it, you’ll probably never buy a stock standard property again. QLD Invest was set up by Korry in order to deliver real wealth, to everyday families, through smart property investments.

Korry explains that his team spends most of their time looking at council zoning, and what would be allowable under council rules. Then designing a building that will deliver a specific commercial outcome to the investor.

“We deliver a complete package.

All the investor needs to do is be prepared to work with the mortgage broker to get the lending in place and sign a few contracts.

“We’ve got dozens of clients currently involved in projects which will provide $80,000-$120,000 in immediate uplift, within six to eight months. Not only that, it provides big tax deductions. It’s hard to beat. And an investor on a normal salary can get into high return property, with around $100,000 equity or deposit.”

Korry explains: “We named the business QLD Invest because southeast Queensland is in fact one of the best locations for investment at the current time and foreseeable future.

“Many of our projects are returning high weekly rents and incredible returns of 6 to 15 per cent each year.

On top of that is the capital growth.

One of our clients who wanted to move up from Sydney, is in fact getting a 25 per cent annual return on the project that we delivered. It’s basically allowed the family’s dad to stay at home. That’s life changing, and that’s when I get real satisfaction from my business. We are a family business, and we pride ourselves in helping families secure a great future.”

QLD Invest makes the investment process seamless. With every step, from initial discussion through to securing lending, managing the project and getting it rented, the team at QLD Invest support the process at no charge to clients.

“We deliver far more than most people would be able to achieve with their own knowledge, and we do it quickly, including high return SMSF property.“ Talking with Korry, you will learn more in three minutes than you may in a lifetime. qldinvest.com.au | 0439 425 855 korry@qldinvest.com.au

Korry and Roma from QLD Invest with their daughters.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Cairns & Townsville

Launceston

Perth

Blue Mountains

Melbourne

Brisbane

Sydney

Hunter Valley

At the heart of Subiaco in Perth: Park Regis Subiaco – Opening November 2019.

Contact: mranoa@staywellgroup.com | Website: staywellgroup.com

Business News+Views

South Queensland Energy and Resources Expo

Northern Australia wild for rice In the first project of its kind undertaken in Australia, the new Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) plans to launch a $505,000 research collaboration to kick off a rice sector in northern Australia.

Partnering with organisations including the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the 18-month project will trial three different scenarios for the proposed industry, including production of unique wild rice and northern Australian rice varieties, and the potential global commercial use of these varieties’ genes.

QAAFI’s Professor Robert Henry explains: “a ‘North Australian rice’ grade would be worth $50 million within seven years.“ For more information visit crcna.com.au

South-west Queensland is leading the way in Australia with enormous growth and diversity across a range of industries. With major infrastructure projects already underway and a raft of others about to start, the entire region is in ‘fast forward’. The South Queensland Energy and Resources Expo is on this October 16–17 at Toowoomba Showgrounds.

For your chance to be involved free call 1800 671 588, or register online to book an exhibition space. Delegate registrations are now open at energyandresources.com.au

StayWell and Prince Hotels & Resorts offer luxury One of the largest hotel management groups in Asia-Pacific, StayWell Holdings and its parent company Prince Hotels Inc offer a diverse portfolio of properties across a combined total network of 75 operating hotels worldwide.

The company’s combined brand offerings include The Prince, Grand Prince Hotel, Policy, Park Regis, Prince Hotel, Leisure Inn Plus, Prince Smart Inn and Leisure Inn. Each brand offers guests quality experiences from luxury to lifestyle.

Prince Hotels & Resorts and StayWell have set a strategic goal to deliver a total of 250 hotels. The expansion of both company brands will take place across the world.

The opening of Perth hotel Park Regis Subiaco in November 2019 will mark the launch of a flagship Park Regis property in Australia.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Mining

Darren Baguley Darren specialises in the fields of technology, mining, agriculture, energy and business.

Mine fires on the rise THE INCREASING USE OF PLASTIC IN MOBILE PLANT ON MINE SITES HAS LED TO A MARKED INCREASE IN MINE FIRES. According to the NSW Resources Regulator, the number of fires on mine sites has doubled in nearly a decade. A recent report from the regulator found that more than 200 fires were reported between September 2014 and May 2017.

On average that’s about six per month – double the number reported between 2001 and 2008.

Further, the regulator noted that between May 2016 and May 2017 a total of 97 incidents were reported, at an average of eight fires each month. It also noted that high temperature diesel engine exhaust and turbo surfaces were the ignition source in 69 per cent of fires in the data period.

This trend is not restricted to New South Wales, or even Australia: according to international insurer FM Global, mine plant fires are on the rise everywhere. The US-based insurance firm has offices worldwide, and specialises in insuring large corporations. It has 300 mining sites on its books, spread across the globe.

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AusBiz.

Mining

Unlike most insurance companies, which employ actuarial calculations to determine risk, FM Global determines risk, and premiums, by applying engineering analysis.

This approach takes the view that property losses can be prevented or mitigated, and the company’s engineering personnel regularly visit clients to evaluate hazards and recommend improvements aimed at reducing physical and financial losses if an incident occurs.

According to Group Manager, Account Engineering, Mike Beaumont, the increase in mine fires highlighted by the NSW Resources Regulator is definitely a trend and not a statistical outlier. “FM Global’s data, including over 50 mining sites in Australia, shows that fire incidents at mines are on the increase,” he says.

“While the number of fires that affect mobile plants remains relatively stable, there has been a significant rise in fire incidents (both in frequency and severity) involving other types of fixed plant, such as

rubber belt conveyors, vibratory screens, hydro-cyclones, piping and rubber-lined equipment.”

During the reporting period, fire accounted for 27 per cent of all losses on mine sites. If the use of autonomous vehicles continues to rise, as widely expected, the risk of fire could increase further unless it is managed appropriately. The NSW Regulator, however, argues that “engineering technology is available to virtually eliminate fires on mobile plant, as demonstrated by underground coal mobile plant statistics…

There continues to be clear indication that hot surface and inadvertent release of combustible fluid is a dominant condition causing fires on mobile plant at mines. Surface temperature control by water jacketed turbos and exhaust manifolds as typically available on marine application engines, or other methods, should be considered as a means to eliminate hot surface ignition sources.”

One factor that FM Global’s data suggests is contributing to the rise  AUG/SEPT 2019

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Mining

in mine fires is the increased use of plastic equipment and plastic parts.

The issue isn’t so much with the plastic equipment, but with the fire awareness that goes with it. Put simply, plastic is more combustible than metal, and as plastic parts replace steel, there needs to be a change in fire prevention strategies. For example, a recent fire was caused by workers doing hot work above plastic filtering screens, which caught alight.

Beaumont says: “In FM Global’s view, there has been a lag in updating fire safety practices in line with the increasing use of new materials, such as plastics, in mine sites.

There needs to be more education and awareness around combustibility issues when using plastic equipment in a mine site. Also, consideration should be given to improved use of fire protection equipment in key areas of plastic equipment concentration.”

According to Beaumont, FM Global has done a lot of the work for mining companies already when it comes to improving fire prevention standards. “This can be found in our Data Sheet 7-12 ‘Mining and Ore Processing Facilities,’ which is available on our website,” he says.

“This standard is in the process of being updated to provide even more detailed guidance for plastic equipment where we are seeing more losses, and should be available to the public later in 2020. Remaining on top of evolving standards in this area and implementing new recommendations is key to mitigating risk.

“In the meantime, FM Global recommends that miners conduct on-site hazard analysis before starting any hot work. One recommendation to mitigate the risk of fire would be flanging off pipes so that fires in one vessel won’t jump to another if the worst does occur.”

Beaumont says that mine operators

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also need to think about how they are configuring flammable materials. Miners should try to keep the concentration of combustible equipment below a reasonable level, as this can minimise the spread of fire if it occurs.

FM Global believes it is key to ensure miners are aware of any safety related issues, such as combustibility, when new equipment is introduced.

According to Beaumont, failing to adequately educate staff on the ground leads to a far greater risk that appropriate precautions may not be taken. “Staying on top of your equipment maintenance is

another important factor,” he adds.

“Many fires are related to equipment failure, where machinery is running for long periods without maintenance.”

While, thankfully, the rise in mine fires has not resulted in fatalities, with any fire there’s a risk of injuries or death if it isn’t contained effectively, says Beaumont. “As a property insurer, FM Global’s focus and expertise is on the property damage/business interruption side of the equation. We’re not safety experts. But the risks associated with mine fires highlight why it’s imperative for miners to understand fire risk and take appropriate precautions.”

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AusBiz. Promotion

Achieve maximum effectiveness onsite with Topcon technology and MAGNET software integration One of the largest surveying firms in regional New South Wales, PHL Surveyors has been operating for more than 100 years in Griffith, and for the last 12 years in Bungendore. PHL Surveyors is involved in many facets of surveying including rural boundary definition, rural and urban sub-division, large-scale irrigation design work, planning and engineering works.

The company has been using MAGNET software since the late ‘80s, and first purchased Topcon robotic total stations from Position Partners about seven years ago. Two years ago, PHL Surveyors made the decision to fully integrate its system by purchasing Topcon GNSS equipment.

Operating the Bungendore branch, Alan Longhurst is one of three directors at PHL Surveyors. “One of the projects we’re working on at present is a 20-kilometre rural marking job, where the boundaries have been very difficult to access, and the terrain is pretty steep,” Longhurst explains.

“We’ve utilised several technologies onsite, including total stations, GNSS equipment, AllDayRTK, as well as kinematic methodology – and have

been very impressed with the way the Topcon equipment has performed. It’s made the task so much easier for us.”

PHL Surveyors found that working with Position Partners to integrate the two technologies has resulted in an entirely seamless process.

Longhurst explains: “Since Topcon has taken on the role of developing MAGNET software, we’ve found that it’s worked seamlessly with the use of GNSS equipment and robotic total stations, where in the past we’ve had to use other third-party software and swap it through different applications.”

PHL Surveyors chose a combination of Topcon total stations, GNSS and MAGNET to enable an integrated process both in the field and the office.

“We found the cost effectiveness and the accuracy that we can achieve using Topcon equipment is really impressive,” Longhurst explains. “Now we can operate much more effectively in the office, transferring data to and from equipment and to and from field parties. We feel quite content with where we are now.”

PHL Surveyors has used MAGNET software, in one form or another,

for more than 30 years, and one thing that has kept the company using the software is the support received from Position Partners.

“Whenever you use software or surveying equipment like this, there are always issues. The key to having a good software base is the support you get when things go awry or when there are questions to be asked and answered.

We’re very happy with the way Position Partners is supporting us in the use of this software and we see no reason to change,” affirms Longhurst.

“The use of MAGNET software is critical to the way we operate our survey practice. Without it we couldn’t achieve the outcomes we need to satisfy our clients’ needs.”

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Agricultural Land Prices

Darren Baguley Darren specialises in the fields of technology, mining, agriculture, energy and business.

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AusBiz.

Agricultural Land Prices

Coming in to land

THE VALUE OF FARMLAND IN SOME AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL REGIONS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, AND LARGER FARMS ARE BECOMING BIGGER.

Recent reports by Rural Bank and Rabobank indicate that, despite dry conditions in much of the country, rural land prices continue to climb, with Victoria, South Australia and Queensland all showing double digit growth year on year.

According to Rural Bank’s 2018 Australian Farmland Values report, “the national median $/ha price increased by 10.7 per cent in 2018; the fifth consecutive year of growth.

“Farmland value rose again in 2018. Most states recorded an increase in the median price, ranging in growth from -5 per cent to +17 per cent. [The data was compiled from] over 255,000 transactions, accounting for 297.5 million hectares

of land with a combined value of $150.4 billion over 24 years.”

While there is considerable variation from region to region and state to state, all states saw increases except Tasmania, which fell by 5.0 per cent. According to Rural Bank CFO Will Rayner, the fall came after a “sustained period of really strong growth, and the fall mainly represents prices reverting to the mean.”

According to the Rural Bank report, in 2018 the median price of Victorian farmland increased by 14.1 per cent compared to 2017. This marks the third consecutive year of growth in median value per hectare, bringing the three-year average annual growth rate to 12.2 per cent.

The estimated number of farmland transactions in 2018 was 1,681, down 8 per cent compared to 2017.

Although much of Queensland has been suffering drought or drier than normal conditions, the median price of farmland in Queensland increased by 15.7 per cent in 2018 following a 2.8 per cent decrease in 2017.

The estimated number of farmland transactions in 2018 was 1,721, just one more than in 2017.

In New South Wales the median price of farmland increased by 9.6 per cent in 2018, while the volume of transactions decreased by 18 per cent; this trend was mirrored in South Australia, with an increased median (+17 per cent) and lower  AUG/SEPT 2019

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Agricultural Land Prices

transactions (-12.6 per cent).

Western Australia recorded the lowest rise in the median (+3.8 per cent), but unlike South Australia and the eastern states, WA saw an increase in the number of transactions (+9.1 per cent). Tasmania’s 5 per cent decline in median needs to be put in context against growth of 19.3 per cent in 2017. In Tasmania transactions also decreased 11.7 per cent, a turnover remaining close to the 10-year average.

According to Rural Bank and Rabobank, the 2018 growth in median farm price can be attributed to a different mix of farm sales to 2017.

There were fewer sales in 2018, and of farms that did sell, a greater proportion were high value per hectare properties, which contributed to pushing the median higher.

According to RaboResearch Australia & New Zealand Agricultural Analyst Wesley Lefroy, “consolidation and drought are major driving factors behind this. Consolidation is the factor over the long term, but the major factor right now is the drought.”

Despite the drought, the number

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of distressed sales has fallen as a result of improved operating profits, and in circumstances where farmers may have previously sold (such as retirement), the property is now often being continued to be farmed or leased in order to benefit from capital appreciation.

Lefroy says: “opportunistic purchasing drove prices of smaller properties, and heightened demand for ‘add-on’ blocks for existing farms has driven price growth of smaller properties (2.6 per cent CAGR [compound annual growth rate]).

The reason for this is that consolidation has been going on for some years now and larger properties have more purchasing power. There also can be considerable neighbourly competition where a block comes up for sale 

Fast Facts Rural Bank 2018 Australian Farmland Values report Y-oY% State breakdown NSW farmland

9.6

VIC farmland

14.1

SA farmland

17.0

TAS farmland

-5.0

WA farmland

3.8

QLD farmland

15.7

National

10.7

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Agricultural Land Prices

and it complements a number of operations in the area.”

Rayner adds that demand is also being driven by farmers seeking regional diversification. “Regional diversification brings opportunity because prices, productivity and conditions vary so significantly from region to region. It’s becoming increasingly common for pastoral companies and large family operations to buy properties in high rainfall areas to essentially buy their own haystack.”

Lefroy says it is important to keep in mind that agricultural land prices have mainly been driven by a rise in operating profits. “Agricultural land prices don’t correlate with residential property, population growth or unemployment, it’s all about commodity cycles and profitability.

Nationally, the five-year average (2013-2017) farm operating profit was close to seven times larger than a decade earlier (2003-2007) [according to data from the Australian

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Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)].

Growth was strongest for broad-acre cropping and mixed livestock farms.”

It is important to keep in mind that the reported increase in operating profit has been driven more by macroeconomic conditions than increases in agricultural productivity.

For a large part of the past five years, the overnight cash rate has been at record lows, and the value of the AUD/ USD has been weakening since 2013. A string of favourable seasons elevated production, and most agricultural commodities traded in a profitable range. None more so than beef, wool, and sheep meat prices, which reached decade highs in 2016 and 2017, while the sheep meat price continues to climb. Increased operating profits enable farmers to purchase more land. For corporate investors, high operating returns increase the attractiveness of farm investments.

Nevertheless, good investment

opportunities in agricultural land remain. In the Rabobank report, ’No Summit in Sight: Ag Land Prices to Climb Higher, Australian Agricultural Land Price Outlook 2018’, Lefroy notes that a proportion of land was sold under market relative to productive capacity. “One of the challenges for buyers is that in a perfect market you would be paying for what you could produce – 3 tonne/hectare should be $3,000/hectare – but there is a big variation from region to region. Doing a lot of due diligence in terms of understanding long-term production capacity and reliability of production, there is the opportunity for prospective buyers to buy land well under market value with a similar productive capacity.”

With interest rates at record lows and demand likely to continue, both Rayner and Lefroy believe demand for agricultural land and continuing strong prices will be a feature of the future.

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Agribusiness

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Agribusiness

Ian Lloyd Neubauer With nearly 20 years’ journalism experience, Ian is abreast of global news as it happens.

HUNTED TO THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, THE SALTWATER CROCODILE HAS MADE A STELLAR COMEBACK, CREATING A BUNCH OF LUCRATIVE SIDE BUSINESSES IN THE PROCESS. “Shoot the lot of them.”

That was the general consensus towards the estuarine or saltwater crocodile in Australia until a few generations ago. And that we did, using Aboriginal labour and guidance to hunt crocs for their skin – to the brink of extinction. By the early 1970s crocodile numbers had dwindled to fewer than 3,000. The species was added to the endangered list and hunting was banned.

There are an estimated 150,000 saltwater crocodiles in the Top End now, making them the beneficiary of the most effective predator conservation program ever conceived.

Its great success is credited to the concurrent launch of incentive-based income streams: crocodile farming for leather and meat and a tourism industry sector underpinned by our love-hate relationship with the world’s most efficient predator.

To gain a better insight, we spoke with three business owners in three different industries that have helped save the saltwater crocodile from humanity’s reptilian nature.

Turning trash into cash

When Aaron Rodwell was a kid he emptied the family swimming pool and turned it into a reptile enclosure. When he grew up, he got a special permit to remove problem crocodiles from the wild that pose a threat to tourists and cattle stations. A decade ago, the Darwinite’s special relationship with the predators led him to create Croc Stock and Barra, a crocodile fashion and apparel company in a class of its own.

“Never kill an animal unless you’re going to use or eat all its parts.

That’s how I roll,” Rodwell says.

“I turn parts that normally get burned at the crocodile farms into products.

I make backscratchers from the claws, necklaces and earrings from the teeth, and I make taxidermy skulls for collectors and universities. The crocs I kill in the wild, their skin is too tough and old to make products, so I sell them as trophy skins.”

Farmed crocodile skin is mostly used for handbags, and Australian saltwater crocodile skins are considered the best in the world. The big European fashion houses can’t get enough of them, so  AUG/SEPT 2019

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Agribusiness

five years ago two of the biggest – Louis Vuitton and Hermès – bought 12 out of 14 crocodile farms in Australia. Their least-expensive crocodile handbags sell for around $50,000. Others go for more than twice that much.

But Rodwell’s handbags, made from crocodile backstraps and crowns, sell for much less: $500 to $1500.

“Those big companies, they’ve monopolised the market and made it hard for Australian producers to find skins,” he says. “But I have a special relationship with the farmers because I turn their trash into cash. What farmer in the world wouldn’t like that?”

Taste like chicken… and fish Low in fat and cholesterol but rich in protein, crocodile meat is not only good for you but makes you look good thanks to its high colloid content, which delays the onset of wrinkles.

But how does it taste?

“It’s not fishy, not meaty, it has a neutral taste, like a cross between seafood and chicken,” says Marnie Flanagan of Naturally Wild, a supplier of Australian-farmed buffalo, boar, venison and crocodile meat.

“I always compare it to calamari – light white meat that goes very well with lemon, butter and salt.

“When I started my company in 2010, I did shelf tests with the supermarkets to see what cuts of meat sold,” she recalls. “One of the barriers we found is that people didn’t know how to cook croc because, like all game meat, it’s easy to overcook, turning it tough and leathery, and those consumers never come back.

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Fast Facts

6 metres

The largest saltwater crocodile reliably measured was was 6.17 metres from nose to tail.

31 people

In Australia, 31 people have been killed by crocodiles since hunting was outlawed in the 1970s.

Agribusiness

“So to make sure they wouldn’t be disappointed, we tried ready-toheat meals – crocodile green and red curries. But they weren’t big sellers, so we went back to square one and figured out crocodile tail steak was a winner because it’s the most tender part of the animal. We also do sausages that are 90 per cent crocodile meat with rice flour added.”

The crocodile meat market in Australia remains small because of limited supply and high prices. A 250-gram crocodile steak sells for about $13 at Coles – more than $50 a kilo.

“The people who buy it tend to be health-conscious, looking for low-fat meat that’s unsullied by antibiotics,” Flanagan says. “It’s also popular among food adventurers and people who’ve travelled overseas and tried game meat on safaris in Africa, and aren’t geared on the repetitive Australian diet of beef, lamb and chicken.”

Crocodile bungee

Between 1984 and 1988, visitor numbers at Kakadu jumped from 75,000 to 200,000. Credit for the spike, according to Peter Hook of Kakadu Tourism, goes to “the crocodile in the shape of Paul Hogan’s Crocodile Dundee – and by the opening of the Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru.”

Visitor numbers in Kakadu have taken a hammering over the years, but have now surpassed 1988’s level, with 200,577 visitors in 2018. Nearly every single one of those who visit the park for the first time will buy a ticket for a jumping crocodile show on the Adelaide River.

“It’s like when you go to Paris, you see the Eiffel Tower. When you come to the Northern Territory, you go to see the crocs. It’s on everyone’s must-do list,” says Maxine Bowman of Adelaide River Cruises, one of three tour boat operators on the waterway.

“The other two companies are much bigger than us and have bigger boats – ours is just a little family business,” she says. “We only have two boats that can take a maximum of 45 people twice a day – but that’s part of the appeal. Our boat drivers are two brothers who’ve been doing the same job for 20 years. We offer tourists a more personalised experience.”

Animal welfare groups have voiced concerns about operators that coax crocodiles to jump out of the water, saying it changes the predator’s behaviour and encourages them to attack human beings.

But Bowman says that’s bull: “Crocs jump naturally in the wild. I have personally seen egrets perched on low-lying branches or walking along the bank of a river when all of a sudden you hear this massive whoosh as a crocodile explodes from the water for lunch. It’s the greatest show on earth.”

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Property Biz.

A mini revolution

IMAGES: TINY HOUSE COMPANY.

THE TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT IS GAINING MOMENTUM IN AUSTRALIA. SO WHAT’S THE DEAL?

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AusBiz.

Property Biz.

Kirsten Craze Kirsten Craze is a freelance journalist who has been writing about property in Australia and overseas for more than 15 years.

Blame the Marie Kondo minimalism trend, or the fight against McMansions, but an increasing number of Australians are rethinking what makes a house a home, and downsizing their footprint to upgrade their lives. For a small but growing proportion of the population, that means choosing a tiny house.

As our metropolitan and regional centres grow up rather that out, and housing affordability becomes a challenge, some Aussies are of the belief that good things come in small packages.

While the concept has taken off globally, and spawned a number of popular reality TV shows plus a 1.9 million-subscriber-strong YouTube channel called Living Big in a Tiny House, Down Under the phenomenon is still relatively small. Dr Heather Shearer, research fellow with the Cities Research Institute at Griffith University and author of ’Towards a Typology of Tiny Houses’, says while Australia’s climate and lifestyle perfectly lend themselves to tiny house living, it is estimated only 200 to 300 people have taken the leap.

“One of the interesting things I found in my research was the wide disparity between people who find them so fascinating and say they would love to live in a tiny house, and the very few people who actually do,” she says.

Heather explains that while the idea of a tiny house fits with many Australians’ philosophy of living a simple life, the reality of a mini-footprint goes a lot deeper.  AUG/SEPT 2019

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Property Biz.

What is a tiny house?

Useful resources Australian Tiny House Association australiantinyhouse association.org.au Tiny Houses Australia facebook.com/ tinyhousesaustralia The Tiny House Company tinyhousecompany. com.au The Tiny House Resource Guide tinyhousecompany. com.au/tinyhouse-planningresource

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Although media might suggest the movement is a minimalist millennial invention, tiny houses have been around since emergency housing was needed after WWII. While there is no formal definition of ’tiny house’ in Australia, the concept usually refers to dwellings with a footprint of less than 40 square metres, which can usually be purchased for $50-100,000.

Some are converted shipping containers or refitted buses; others are purpose-built fixed tiny houses or tiny houses on wheels (THOW), which can be transported like a caravan.

But more than just glorified caravans and cabins, today’s tiny houses benefit from modern architectural techniques and technological advances in systems such as solar power, rainwater tanks and composting toilets.

Where can they go?

Buying a tiny house to put on any old suburban block might sound like a cost-effective way to climb onto the property ladder. But it’s not that simple according to Lara Nobel, architect and carpenter with the Tiny House Company, a firm that offers design advice and building services.

“People want a short, snappy answer about where they can put a tiny house, but unfortunately you need to consider a number of things,” she says. “Where’s your backyard?

What’s your council area? Is your tiny house going to be on wheels? Is it not on wheels?

How is it connected to the ground, the utilities?”

In conjunction with ESC Consulting, the Tiny House Company produced a planning guide to consolidate a number of frequently asked questions. And while there is no one-size-fits-all answer to where a tiny house can be built or “parked” in Australia, many local councils often break them down into two categories: those with wheels and those without.

On wheels, a tiny house is often treated as a caravan, and therefore can only really be a ’home’ for a short period, while those without wheels are often considered a ’granny flat’, and not to be treated as a primary dwelling.

“What we discovered, and a lot of other people are finding out, is that some councils just don’t know what to do about tiny houses – it really is such a grey area,” Lara says.

Heather agrees there is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to how councils treat tiny houses: “It’s not that local councils don’t permit them; they just don’t recognise them in their local laws and planning schemes.”

Who can build them?

Potential tiny house dwellers can purchase plans from a number of specialist companies and head down the DIY route, or engage a builder, but either way the red tape isn’t the same as with a standard house.

“One of my hats, as well as being a researcher, is as a planner,” Heather explains. “Ideally, from a planning perspective, I’d like to see tiny houses more regulated. Currently, if you build a tiny house on wheels, as long as it adheres to the transport regulations that apply to caravans, like electrical and building tickets, it’s okay. But there’s nothing to say they have to be built to any sort of building code, because they’re considered vehicles.”

But Andrew Carter, Lara’s partner and another Tiny House Company architect, says for the longevity of the movement and the wellbeing of all those involved, building regulations do need to come into play.

“They’ve been around for such a short period of time that there hasn’t been the necessity for precautions and the building techniques that the industry has tried and tested,” he says. “And as they aren’t specifically tested in the tiny house world, people assume you don’t need to do it.”

According to Lara, the safest solution for those looking at a tiny house life is to consult an experienced firm. “We come across a lot

Property Biz.

of people in the DIY category who imagine it’s like building a regular home on a small scale. But, if anything, making it tiny is actually far more complicated,” she says.

Why go tiny?

Going tiny gives people all the perks of living in a standard detached home – without the mammoth mortgage. And by going down the THOW path, owners claim more freedom.

Lara and Andrew lived in a tiny house for two years before and after the birth of their first child. “It sort of confirmed our suspicions,” Andrew says. “We already knew that we didn’t need a lot of space. If your storage is customised to suit your needs, you really can scale down.

“It’s not just about reducing the size of a standard house and having it function the same way. It has to be designed differently so that you have overlapping functions for spaces.

Everything has multiple uses through the day.”

Andrew says if we look to other cultures we would see most people live in far smaller spaces.

“The default is set so high for Australians that we think we need so many things – but if you adjust your lifestyle, it’s manageable.”

Lara adds that just because your home is tiny, your lifestyle doesn’t need to be. “Your house is your retreat,” she says, “but you also use the local parks, cinema, pool, library or coffee shop. You’re out and about more than if you have a big house with a media room and its own pool and double lock up-garage. We felt like we were more surrounded by community.”

Who fits the tiny house mould?

The first rule of tiny house living is that it’s not for everyone – but it can serve a purpose for a number of people at various life stages.

According to Heather, the two most common demographics of tiny house dwellers are people in their 20s looking for a first home solution, and women over the age of 55 who live alone and either choose, or are financially required, to downsize their lives.

“It’s a niche solution for a small part of the housing market. Tiny houses serve a specific purpose, and they serve it quite well,” says Andrew. “It’s funny, because we do also spend time convincing people not to buy a tiny house after getting to know them and what they’re really chasing. I think some people get swept up in this idea of them without fully considering what it involves.”

Tiny House Company designers, builders and company directors Greg Thornton, Andrew Carter and Lara Nobel.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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AusBiz. Promotion

WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CAREFLIGHT In 1986 CareFlight established Australia’s first dedicated medical emergency helicopter service.

Not only does the original rapid response helicopter service continue to serve the community in Sydney, the critical care team model it pioneered has been emulated around the world, making CareFlight an Australian success story in aeromedical training.

Doctors teaching doctors

CareFlight was the first organisation in Australia to be accredited by the Specialist Medical Colleges for training doctors in critical care skills outside of a hospital.

The doctor training program sets a benchmark both in Australia and internationally. It attracts and trains upwards of 50 specialist doctors each year, who will go on to fly all over the country and beyond, saving lives with CareFlight and many other organisations.

For more than 25 years, doctors at the top of their game have been vying for the opportunity to attend what is a unique and independent ‘school’ developed by some of the nation’s most experienced and respected specialist emergency doctors.

Today CareFlight trains doctors aboard its helicopters, propeller and jet aeroplanes, as well as in road vehicles.

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Nursing jobs like no other

The extraordinary conditions of Australia’s Top End call for a unique solution. CareFlight doctors, nurses, pilots, engineers, logistics, dispatch and support staff work together as one team, and across all operations.

The team is Australia’s only fully integrated aeromedical service, operated on behalf of the Northern Territory Government.

CareFlight nurses are on the front line of this busy service; they’re frequently a lifeline for families living in some of the most remote communities on the planet.

Training as midwives and in other advanced skills is vital for nurses so they can learn to manage all types of emergencies and save seriously injured and ill adults, children and babies who might be hours away from a hospital. 

AusBiz. Promotion

Fast Fact CareFlight trains some of the only nurses in the world who undertake downthe-wire rescues from the helicopter, day and night, over land and water.

AUG/SEPT 2019

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Darwin

AusBiz. Promotion

CareFlight’s social purpose and teaching on the ground CareFlight has grown to be one of the best known and most trusted charities in Australia. Its mission is unrelenting: to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community. All of the resources the not-for-profit can muster are strategically directed into growing the charity’s social impact.

The helicopter services in Sydney and Darwin are the best-known examples of CareFlight’s social impact funded with community support. In recent times, helped by businesses and individuals, CareFlight’s education programs have branched out to touch the lives of Australians right around the country, and will be expanding into Queensland soon. Highly trained and experienced pre-hospital medical specialists now deliver advanced training to volunteers and clinics in remote communities. Together, it’s about building resilience in remote, rural and regional Australia.

Territory Generation CEO Tim Duignan

“The MediSim Trauma Care Workshops have provided invaluable and potentially life-saving training to those in rural and remote areas, including some of our own employees, who may be the first responders in the event of a serious incident.”

TIO CEO Daryl Madden

“The MediSim program provides potentially life-saving education in some of the most challenging locations in the Northern Territory, and empowering local workers and volunteers with the skills and confidence as first responders is a great outcome for these regions.”

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Cairns

Alice Springs

Brisbane

Perth Sydney Adelaide

Reach of mobile training since 2011 Total MediSim Training Sessions: 352 Total Responders attending: 5,011 We are looking for sponsors to expand our MediSim program into all states including Queensland.

Trauma Care Workshops

CareFlight’s award-winning MediSim program provides medical simulation training to rural and remote emergency service volunteers and workers. Given locals in remote locations are often the first to arrive at the scene of a major trauma incident, CareFlight trains them to deliver pre-hospital emergency care while awaiting the arrival of professional help. Educators use mobile simulation equipment and realistic scenario training to give participants the confidence to take action at an emergency scene that could ultimately save a life.

CareFlight instils cutting edge prehospital knowledge and skills in the workshops. Participants are also shown ingenious improvisation techniques that will work on scene, for example to stem serious bleeding or make a splint.

Dr Ken Harrison developed Trauma Care Workshops after years flying on the CareFlight helicopter. He was also able to draw on his personal experience of being deployed with CareFlight’s disaster cache to Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami, experiencing first-hand the need for improvisation due to lack of surgical equipment. More than 5,000 Australians have now been upskilled with MediSim. It continues to be delivered at no cost to participants.

Canberra

Melbourne

Hobart

Sick and injured kids in remote communities

Building lasting resilience is vital in remote and regional communities.

CareFlight’s Top End team last year developed an additional clinical training program designed specifically to help sick and injured children in remote and regional settings, particularly Indigenous communities.

Over the past year, eight workshops have been delivered at no cost to participants and health clinics. This is largely made possible with financial support from CareFlight’s partners TIO and Territory Generation.

Paediatric cases are challenging for all clinicians, particularly when access to specialists is limited. The course was designed to help clinicians diagnose and treat children to ensure they receive the vital treatment they need.

Experienced CareFlight nurse and midwife Dean Blackney led development of the course. He said it was designed to share the latest evidence-based knowledge in managing and stabilising unwell and injured children and babies.

“Remote area clinicians are well trained, but they don’t see trauma after trauma like those working in a big hospital. Practising their skills can mean the difference between life or death in a lot of situations,” Blackney says.

Learn about the history of the Huon Valley apple industry

Enjoy a Willie Smith’s cider paddle

Take a tour of the Charles Oates Distillery

Visit the Saturday Artisan & Produce market

Visit the home of Willie Smith’s cider where you can enjoy a great meal and a cider paddle, visit the Huon Valley apple museum, get up close and personal with a working distillery, peruse the Saturday Artisan & Produce Market.

Hobart Hobart Huonville

Contact

25mins

Huonville

www.williesmiths.com.au appleshed@williesmiths.com.au (03) 6266 4345 2064 Huon Hwy, Grove, TAS, 7109 25 minutes from Hobart

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Puzzles

CROSSWORD

R Z W C C O W A R D I C E

E T E E I E B R Z F Y A C

J C C C L P C P I G S D I

U C I F I H I R U L G V T

D Q Y V O V C C U K O I S

I J Q I O A E I E I U C U

C D C R S N C R C C R E J

E E O L C E N E C I V E D

SOLUTIONS:

E T E E I E B R Z F Y A C

J C C C L P C P I G S D I

U C I F I H I R U L G V T

D Q Y V O V C C U K O I S

I J Q I O A E I E I U C U

C D C R S N C R C C R E J

E E O L C E N E C I V E D

AusBiz.

R Z W C C O W A R D I C E

SERVICE SLUICE THRICE TWICE VOICE

P H E I Q B D C G A S C U

G R R T C U O T O I S N E

P H H T U E C I O J E R L

T A U A W N Q C L C L O M

P H E I Q B D C G A S C U

SACRIFICE

NOVICE PRACTICE PRECIPICE PREJUDICE REJOICE

I L Q L U W S E R V I C E

G R R T C U O T O I S N E

LATTICE

CHOICE COWARDICE CREVICE DEVICE JUSTICE

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: ‘ICE’ WORDS

P H H T U E C I O J E R L

ADVICE

WORD SEARCH

T A U A W N Q C L C L O M

32

DOWN 1. Wept 2. Pronto (1,1,1,1) 3. Jumping parasite 4. Tennis-shots exchange 5. Tropical swamp trees 6. Supplies 9. Paints roughly 11. Balancing feat 13. Fully 15. Sultan’s wives 16. Sufficient 18. Musical composition 19. Appeal earnestly 21. Egyptian river 22. Profound

I L Q L U W S E R V I C E

ACROSS 1. Submerged sandbank 7. Nice 8. Baked dough 10. Semi-paralysed person 12. Pathetic loser 14. Highs & ...

16. Whirlpool 17. Meataxes 20. Outmanoeuvred 23. Holy city 24. Agreeably 25. TV serial melodrama, soap ...

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COOLALINGA KARRATHA KUNUNURRA PALMERSTON

135 135

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