Feb/March 2020
TAKEME ME HO AD TO RE
A real Australian business magazine
DOWN THE RIVER
Canoe and camp along the Katherine River
THE DELIGHTS OF DAYLESFORD
Healing hot springs and charming art
Tiwi Islands A land of art, rich culture, adventure and beauty
THe BiggeST FeSTival oF muSic, arT & culTure in THe kimBerley. 10 dayS. 30 evenTS.
20th Anniversary
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muSic | enTerTainmenT | arT | culTure | Food | comedy | rodeo at Celebrity Tree Park, Kununurra & surrounds with 30+ events for the whole family
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Jon STevenS & JeSSica mauBoy BuSBy marou, emily Wurramara, mc mark gaBle (cHoirBoyS)
Full Program & TickeT SaleS online - ordvalleymuSTer.com.au
Welcome aboard Across Australia we are all enjoying the excitement of summer as we welcome a full calendar of events within the Airnorth network. We are thrilled to announce the release of our 2020 dry season flying program, which has increased capacity and more accessibility to some of our most sought after destinations. Darwin loves its festivals, and this dry season kicks off with the 41st Freds Pass Rural Show, May 16–17. Airnorth is proud to be a major partner of this event which includes the annual 50km Feast – a sell-out dining experience that showcases the Top End’s produce with an exclusive selection of ingredients sourced from within 50 kilometres of the local region. The prestigious event is limited to 200 seats and features a five-course menu of Territory ingredients, cooked by iconic Territory chefs and served under the stars. We also look forward to annual music festival Kimberley Moon Experience, taking place in Kununurra, Western Australia, on May 16. The event is a highlight of the ever-popular Ord Valley Muster, taking place May 15–24
in this iconic region of the Kimberley. This year the Kimberley Moon Experience boasts an all-star line-up of national and local acts, including headliners Jessica Mauboy and Jon Stevens. Airnorth is pleased to be launching our seasonal service from Perth to Kununurra on May 15, in time for this year’s event. Meanwhile in Queensland, Townsville is inviting visitors to dive below and discover a new world with the launch of the Museum of Underwater Art. The innovative centre has been designed to preserve the stories of the local people and the region’s history through underwater art installations, crafted by world-leading underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Additional seasonal services have been added to the Darwin–Townsville flying program, which will run April 5–October 28, 2020. For now, please sit back, relax and enjoy your journey. Daniel Bowden Chief Executive Officer, Airnorth FEB/MAR 2020
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KIMBERLEY GRANDE HOTEL EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE KIMBERLEY
Nestled amongst the wilderness of the Kimberley’s you will find Kimberley Grande, the perfect place with spacious room to come home to after adventurous days. Spend your day relaxing by our picturesque pool and indulging at our restaurant and bar facilities. Numerous conference and function packages are available all year round
www.kimberleygrande.com.au 20 Victoria Highway, Kununurra WA 6743 Phone: 1300 9555 49 | 08 7918 7885 | Email: reservations@kimberleygrande.com.au
AusBiz. Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine. REGIONAL COWORKING More and more people in regional Australia are taking a different approach to working. AUSTRALIAN APPLES Our apple producers are doing it tough, but there are ways that we can support them. TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS The Australian transport industry is transforming.
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contents 11 Airnorth News
18 Katherine River
14 Entertainment
22 Daylesford
16 Events Calendar
26 Tiwi Islands
Airnorth shines a spotlight on some fantastic sponsorship initiatives. The latest theatre, books, art shows and tours in Oz. Don’t miss what’s on around Airnorth locations this February and March.
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A camping and canoeing journey down the NT’s wild and untamed river system. The best places to relax on a weekend getaway.
An exploration into Tiwi Island history, which reveals how the Tiwi came to be. FEB/MAR 2020
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“MANAGE IT YOURSELF” they said...
“YOU’LL SAVE MONEY” they said...
nowleasingnt.com.au Darwin Corporate Park 631 Stuart Highway, Berrimah Licenced Agent
publisher’s letter For this issue of Together We Fly, my 12-year-old son and I had the honour of visiting the Northern Territory’s beautiful Bathurst Island, which is part of the largely pristine Tiwi Islands. It’s only a 2.5-hour ferry ride across the Clarence Strait from Darwin, which is a fun trip in itself, and we’d booked an art and cultural tour called Tiwi By Design. When boarding the ferry in Darwin, we were told by an excited Tiwi Islander lugging a picnic-packed esky that there was a big footy game on the island – football is like a religion for the Tiwis – and so we enjoyed the ride over with many locals and their pumped kids, ready for a big day of fun field-side action. Upon arrival we met some local artists from Tiwi By Design, who performed a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, followed by some totem dances. They were fun and cheeky, and dragged many of us into their circles for a dance. Afterwards we gathered for some good old damper and a cup of tea, followed by a wander about the art studio and showroom brimming with an incredible array of the art that Tiwi Islanders are globally renowned for: ochre paintings on canvas and bark, ironwood carvings, screen printed fabrics, ceramics, bronze and glass sculptures. One of the many highlights of the day (besides squeezing in a cuddle with one of the little kids who gleefully leapt into my lap) was learning how to screen print a T-shirt with a few of the local artists. I hope you enjoy the story on page 26. As we move towards the cooler months, everyone is praying for more rain to lessen the burden on so many people’s lives, and indeed, the pressure on our precious country and its wildlife. Our team can’t thank Australia’s amazing firies enough. Once again, as we tend to see during times of hardship and heartbreak, Australians have come together to help those in need, and you really can’t give any more than putting your life on the line to save other people’s lives, homes and businesses. I grew up in one of the areas badly affected – the Sapphire Coast – and my heart goes out to everyone who has been struggling through the days, driven by courage, and hopefully spurred on by hope and the helping hands of others. We all need to remember this year, that it’s important to keep helping those communities that were and are affected, and one of the many ways you can do this is to visit them. Listen to people’s stories, forge new bonds and if you can, spend some of your well-earned money in these towns, as it will help to get the locals back on their feet. Every little bit helps. Enjoy the read, and drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from you.
MICHELLE HESPE, AND THE TEAM AT TOGETHER WE FLY
@AIRNORTH _ MAG
/AIRNORTHAIRLINESMAG
EDITORIAL
Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Art Director: Jon Wolfgang Miller AusBiz. Brand & Communications Manager: Effe Sandas advertising@publishingbychelle.com Lifestyle/Travel Brand & Communications Manager: Shakira Wood shakira@publishingbychelle.com Assistant Editor: Sarah Hinder editorial@publishingbychelle.com Editorial Assistant: Samuel Steinberg Sub-editors: Shane Cubis, Sarah Friggieri & Claire Hey
CONTRIBUTORS
Jacqui Lang Darren Baguley Ian Lloyd Neubauer Lisa Smyth Kirsten Craze Beau Robinson
PRINTING
Blue Star PRINT 81 Derby St, Silverwater, NSW 2128
Cover image: Tiwi Islands Retreat
Together We Fly is published by Publishing ByChelle, (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) Level 1, 3 Westleigh Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089 publishingbychelle.com The reproduction of any content, in whole or part without prior written permission by the publisher 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.
FEB/MAR 2020
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Be inspired by
Darwin to Townsville Melbourne to Townsville Toowoomba to Townsville
The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is the newest attraction in Townsville North Queensland – and one that is unique and significant on a global scale! As the only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere, MOUA is a beautiful and innovative blend of art, science, Indigenous storytelling and conservation with installations already in place on The Strand and John Brewer Reef in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. MOUA redefines art by providing visitors with a unique and thought-provoking encounter with the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, offering a platform to share the stories of the reef, and the culture of its First Nations people. The first stage of MOUA has already been installed, with further installations also planned for Palm and Magnetic Islands.
$279* $309* $199*
‘Ocean Siren’ The Strand Townsville AVAILABLE TO VIEW NOW
The ‘Ocean Siren’, modeled on a local Traditional Owner Takoda Johnson, is an exciting sculpture installed on The Strand, offering locals and visitors alike the unique MOUA experience. The ‘Ocean Siren’ receives live data from Davies Reef and changes colour in response to changes in the water temperature, with the data supplied by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (also located in Townsville).
‘Coral Greenhouse’ John Brewer Reef, Great Barrier Reef OPENING APRIL 2020 The ‘Coral Greenhouse’ sculpture at John Brewer Reef offers a world class dive and snorkel experience. Featuring a large open frame structure, divers will be able to immerse themselves in a unique experience which strongly connects to reef conservation and rehabilitation.
Photo credit: Jason deCaires Taylor * Terms and conditions apply
Stay up to date with the latest information on the Museum of Underwater Art by visiting moua.com.au
Dili, Timor-Leste (DIL)
Milingimbi (MGT)
Maningrida
Elcho Island
(MNG)
(ELC)
DARWIN
Gove
(DRW)
Truscott Kununurra
(GOV)
Groote Eylandt (GTE)
Katherine (KTR)
(KNX)
Broome
Cairns
McArthur River
(CNS)
(MCV)
(BME)
Tennant Creek
Bootu Creek
Townsville
(TSV)
(TCA)
Alice Springs (ASP)
Toowoomba (WTB)
Perth (PER)
OUR DESTINATIONS CHARTER ROUTES SCHEDULED ROUTES SEASONAL SERVICES
Melbourne (MEL)
THE ULTIMATE TERRITORY EXPERIENCE ass Rural S
Embark on a journey to the Northern Territory this May, as four captivating experiences combine to create the ultimate outback experience.
ho
w
ds P Fre
2020
Noonamah Tavern Rodeo - Saturday 9th May
Freds Pass Rural Show - Saturday 16th May
Kick off the dust on Saturday 9th May at the Noonamah Rodeo and Tavern, situated just on the outskirts of Darwin, a short 40 minutes’ drive from the City. Experience adrenaline action with bull riding, barrel racing and heart-stopping freestyle riders.
One of the Top Ends most love events showcasing all the charm of the Territory, you can enjoy a jam-packed schedule of equestrian events, livestock judging, animal displays, wood chopping exhibitions, live food demonstrations and entertainment.
50km Feast - Friday 15th May
Sunday in the Paddock - Sunday 17th May
You’re invited to dine under the stars with inspiring stories and outback flavours cooked by five iconic Territory chefs. All featured produce is locally sourced from within 50km of Freds Pass Reserve; this dining experience under the stars is one not to be missed!
This ultimate Sunday session incorporates soothing sounds of Jazz on the lawns, entertainment by Tom Curtain and Katherine Outback Experience with mouth watering cooking demos, masterclasses and tasting sessions to indulge your tastebuds.
For more information visit fredspassruralshow.com.au
Our Partners
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R Bootu Creek
CHARTER ROUTES SCHEDULED ROUTES SEASONAL SERVICES
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KUNUNURRA BROOME to KUNUNURRA DARWIN to KUNUNURRA PERTH to KUNUNURRA
$259 * $199 * $349 *
TO BOOK FLIGHTS, VISIT AIRNORTH.COM.AU OR CALLRESERVATIONS ON 1800 627 474 FOLLOW US ON
AIRNORTHAU
Wild and wonderful, the Kimberley is one of the world's last great wilderness frontiers. Discover the unfettered space and wild beauty of spectacular gorges, waterfalls, and cave systems of this majestic region when you fly Airnorth to Kununurra. Flights operating daily from Broome and Darwin, with our seasonal service from Perth commencing May 15, 2020 until September 27, 2020.
(*) Terms and Conditions apply. Photography by Tourism WA
airnorth news
Sponsorship highlights Airnorth is delighted to provide support to our local communities and connect businesses and events throughout our ports. AIRNORTH SANTA RUN Following two decades of tradition, the 2019 Airnorth Santa Run kicked off in December with one mission: to spread Christmas cheer. Airnorth is proud to have partnered with Coles once again to deliver candy canes and fresh fruit to the children of Elcho Island, Maningrida and Milingimbi communities along our Arnhem Land routes. Each destination was filled with the faces of children lighting up
at the sight of Santa Claus coming to town. In Elcho Island, Santa was welcomed with a song and a few clever questions from the students of Shepherdson College before delivering candy canes to the children in attendance. Maningrida and Milingimbi had a large turnout of kids and adults alike to the local airport to welcome Santa. Fun was had by all and it was certainly a sight to see the awe and wonder of Christmas so alive in these remote communities.
The annual Airnorth Santa Run continues to serve as a reminder of the importance of community, and Airnorth remains committed to supporting the local communities that support us. A special thank you to all of our supporters: Coles North Lakes, Shepherdson College, Maningrida Airport, Milingimbi Airport and the East Arnhem Regional Council. If you have a cause or event we should know about, please contact marketing@airnorth.com.au
FEB/MAR 2020
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airnorth news
TOOWOOMBA’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
Airnorth was delighted, once again, to be a major sponsor over the holiday season of Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland. The annual event is an initiative of the Lions Club of Toowoomba West, which works on preparing for the light display all year round to deliver a spectacular show each Christmas season. All funds raised from the event go back into supporting major beneficiaries the Toowoomba Hospice, Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland and the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation. Project Chair Lion Marshall Cox said that a lot of work goes into bringing Christmas joy to Toowoomba each year. “My fellow team members do an incredible job… and that is testament to all the people who come through the gates,” said Cox. This year the event saw 72,000 people through the gates despite running a total of five days shorter than expected due to rainfall. We congratulate the Lions Club of Toowoomba West on another successful year.
HENBURY CORPORATE LUNCHEON The Henbury Corporate Luncheon is a Christmas Party with a difference. Bringing together businesses from across the wider Darwin community, this event raises funds to support special needs students, while guests have a fun afternoon out with friends and colleagues.
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All proceeds from the day go directly to funding programs at Darwin’s largest special needs school – Henbury School. Since its inception in 2010, the event has raised more than $400,000 towards supporting new and innovative programs that aim to further the Henbury students’ learning and
wellbeing. Contributions have aided in funding a new custom-modified bus, Tranisition2Work programs, a Sensory program, an Augmentative Communication program, and a Music Therapy program. Airnorth has been a proud supporter of the event for the past two years, providing airfares for the event auction.
airnorth news
VARIETY NT Airnorth is a proud sponsor of the annual Variety NT Santa Fun Run. This year, the event saw 501 Santas puff through a Zumba warm-up, sweat around a two-kilometre course along Darwin Waterfront, and cool down in the nearby wave pool. Santa Claus himself even made a special appearance, giving out lollies to all the kids. All funds raised from the annual event went to support the Starfish Swim School program – a free learn-to-swim program for kids with a disability. Airnorth has supported the event for many years, this year offering airfares as a lucky door prize for those who registered to run on the day. We would like to congratulate Shelley Waltho who won this year’s Airnorth voucher. Shelley participates every year with her family in memory of her grandson Nathan. We look forward to welcoming you onboard. FEB/MAR 2020
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entertainment
Entertainment
by: Sarah hinder
art Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
March 27–April 26 at Mrs Macquarie’s Point in Sydney NSW Sydney’s annual Handa Opera event is set in a magnificent open-air opera house on the harbour with fabulous fireworks at every show. This year’s performance is La Traviata. opera.org.au/harbour
Queen + Adam Lambert
February 13–29 in Brisbane Qld, Sydney NSW, Melbourne Vic, Perth WA, Adelaide SA & Gold Coast Qld Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Adam Lambert joins Brian May and Roger Taylor around Aus this summer. queenonline.com
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Image: David Hindley
Image: Rankin
tour
Scorpions & Whitesnake
February 19–24 in Melbourne Vic, Sydney NSW & Brisbane Qld These two hard rock legends are ready to rock you like a hurricane. Here we go again. the-scorpions.com whitesnake.com
Lenny Kravitz
April 3–8 in Sydney NSW, Newcastle NSW & Melbourne Vic Lenny Kravitz returns to Australia for the first time in eight years on his epic world tour. Are you gonna go his way? lennykravitz.com
entertainment
books
theatre
How Good’s Australia, The Betoota Advocate November 2019, Pan Macmillan, humour Australia’s oldest and favourite newspaper takes a satirical look at the country’s public and political ups and downs over the past few years. Just how have recent times shaped the nation?
Bob Hawke: The Complete Biography, Blanche d’Alpuget
December 2019, Simon & Schuster, biography This new commemorative biography, beautifully written by the late Bob Hawke’s wife, brings together a complete account of his life and legacy.
ART
A Country Nurse, Thea Hayes
January 2020, Allen & Unwin, memoir From life as a 19-year-old trainee nurse from Sydney, to 20 years living and working on Wave Hill Station in the NT, to life throughout rural Queensland, Thea Hayes’s colourful life shines through in every page.
The Gospel According To Paul
March 24–April 4 at Dunstan Playhouse in Adelaide SA The hilarious Jonathan Biggins becomes Paul Keating in a virtuosic performance that brims with the former Prime Minister’s signature wit and charisma. statetheatrecompany. com.au
ART
22nd Biennale of Sydney
Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art
Sammy Baloji, A Blue print for Toads and Snakes, 2018, Installation view at Framer Framed, Amsterdam, Photograph: Eva Broekema, Courtesy the artist and Imane Farès Gallery, © Eva Broekema.
Leigh Robb, Curator, Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed.
March 14–June 8 in locations around Sydney NSW This year, 98 artists will participate in art installations and performances in six locations around Sydney. In 2020 the theme is NIRIN, a phrase of the Wiradjuri people of western NSW meaning ‘edge’. The 22nd Biennale of Sydney focuses on “our city as an expansive, global city comprised of vibrant, complex villages”. biennaleofsydney.art
February 29–June 8 at Art Gallery of SA in Adelaide SA Marking its 30th anniversary, the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres will “probe our understanding of fear, horror, strength and survival in the post-internet Anthropocene. Through the works of 23 artists, the pathology of the monster will be challenged, and the expectations of spectacle and storytelling will be ruptured.” agsa.sa.gov.au
Events calendar
Bongsoo Kim, Thoughts of Pinocchio
March 6–23 Sculpture by the Sea
Image: Clyde Yee
Perth WA A beautiful pop-up sculpture park graces the sands of iconic Cottesloe Beach for three weeks. sculpturebythesea.com
What’s on & what’s hot
by: Sarah hinder
February 1–6
February 7–March 1
February 22
February 27–29
Imparja Cup
Perth Festival
South32 Rottnest Channel Swim
BROOME PRIDE
Alice Springs NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from right across the nation come together to play cricket while celebrating country and culture. ntcricket.com.au
Perth WA A city-wide celebration for all ages, Perth’s major cultural festival presents a diversity of perspectives on the world through theatre, dance, film, and visual arts. perthfestival.com.au
February 1–9
February 21–March 8
St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival
ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2020
Brisbane Qld, Sydney NSW, Adelaide SA, Melbourne Vic & Fremantle WA Providing a platform for local talent and a stage for international heavyweights, Laneway is a fine choice to see contemporary laidback rock. lanewayfestival.com
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Melbourne Vic After a series of great matches, the finals of the Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup will fall on International Women’s Day at the MCG. Be part of the action in this opportunity to set a new world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event. cricket.com.au
Rottnest Island & Perth WA In one of Western Australia’s most iconic events, swimmers brave the 19.7km open water swim from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island. rottnestchannelswim.com.au 2020 Superbike Classic
Broome WA Broome celebrates LGBT+ pride with cabaret, drag bingo, a dance party and the Kimberley Queen drag competition. broomepride.com
February 28–March 1 2020 Superbike World Championship
Phillip Island Vic A stone’s throw from Melbourne, the Phillip Island Circuit jumps into action for the Superbike World Championship. Since 1990, the track has hosted the adrenaline-pumping event with riders racing around the iconic circuit right next to the ocean. phillipislandcircuit.com.au
Image: Nathan Doran
Events calendar
St Kilda Festival
Melbourne Vic Australia’s largest free summer celebration marks 40 years in 2020, with entertainment across multiple stages plus workshops, sports, carnival rides and buskers. stkildafestival.com.au
Brunswick Music Festival Kicking off with the iconic Sydney Road Street Party Parade, Brunswick’s artistic spaces, streets and footpaths set the stage for emerging musicians and artists. brunswickmusicfestival.com.au
CMC Rocks
March 4–14 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival
Image: Naomi Lee Beveridge
Melbourne Vic
March 18–22
NT Travelling Film Festival NTTFF’s pop-up cinema will visit iconic NT locations, screening the latest short films, TV and movies shot in the Northern Territory, and teaching local film production workshops. nttravellingfilmfestival.com
February 9
March 9–20
March 2–June 14
Melbourne Vic The largest consumer fashion event in the country features high fashion runway shows, industry seminars, forums and beauty workshops. vamff.com.au
March 6–8 FABalice Festival
Alice Springs NT Who says you can’t be fabulous in the middle of the desert? Head out to Alice Springs for one of Australia’s largest LGBT+ festivals, right in the heart of the country. fabalice.com
Ipswich Qld Presenting the world’s best superstars, this outstanding country rock do welcomes a fantastic international line-up to the heritage city of Ipswich. cmcrocks.com
March 19–29 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Melbourne Vic Across Melbourne and regional Victoria, foodies and wine aficionados can attend wonderfully curated brunches, long lunches, degustations and events. melbournefoodandwine. com.au
March 25 Tiwi Islands Grand Final & Annual Art Sale
March 12–15
Bathurst Island NT Showcasing an astounding collection of Tiwi Islander art from Jilamara, Munupi Art, Bima Wear and Tiwi Design, these annual markets are a chance to meet the artists, purchase art and enjoy a day of footy. jilamara.com
Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix
March 25–April 19
Melbourne Vic Get ready for the adrenaline-pumping action of one of the biggest and most historic events on the Aussie sporting calendar. The race marks the first round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. grandprix.com.au
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne Vic MICF is filled with an outstanding program of stand-up comedy, theatre, cabaret, film, radio and visual arts. comedyfestival.com.au/2020 FEB/MAR 2020
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Explore
River DREA M ING grab a paddle and explore the Northern Territory’s Nitmiluk National Park by canoe, camping along the katherine river.
Image: Tourism NT/Peter Eve
WORDS: Jacqui Lang
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Kayaking Katherine Gorge; Katherine River Mick Canoe; Hiking in Nitmiluk National Park.
Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
It’s taken a three-day trip down the glorious Katherine River for me to catch on (after more than four decades) that canoeing and swagging is a blast. Now, paddling towards a small waterfall with a quickening heartbeat – reptilian eyes could be watching – I’m finally making up for lost time. “Helmets on. The fall is just ahead. Turn sharp left at that branch, or you may lose balance!” yells Mick Jerram, our Northern Territorian guide. I feel a little nervous, but excited, as my partner Pete and I steer our double canoe onwards. We’re on a journey organised by Katherine-based company Gecko Canoeing and Trekking, and this is day one. No going back now. Soon: whoosh! We’ve whizzed round the bend and down the waterfall without catastrophe. And we’re back gliding along another peaceful stretch of river, surrounded by a cathedral of trees, peppered with water birds. There’s no noise other than the splash of our paddles and the occasional instruction from Mick. Bordering the Katherine’s banks are pandanus plants, paperbarks and mangroves. From time to time we see a wallaby hop past or a monitor lizard basking on the riverbank. Yes, there’s even the occasional croc lurking – this is the Northern Territory, after all. But the canoe trip we’ve signed up for is not only for daredevils. Rather, it’s an opportunity to be surrounded by nature in tranquil surrounds, paddling gently downstream. Mick, a former army guy with finely honed bush skills – he can tie every knot there is within seconds and get a billy boiling without matches – has been hosting canoe trips like this for more than two decades. He’s nailed it. With a great love and knowledge of native flora and fauna, he’s the perfect outdoor guide. And, importantly, he knows how to cook
Image: Peter Rigby
Explore
FEB/MAR 2020
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Image: Tourism NT/Mark Fitzpatrick
Image: Peter Rigby
Explore
very tasty meals on campfires. Also on our three-day journey is a young German family of four, and a 40-something Dutch woman from New Zealand. Just before our adventure, we all meet at Gecko headquarters in outer Katherine and nod shyly at one another. But a group that sleeps under the stars together bonds pretty quickly. “We’re starting here, about 20 kilometres south of Katherine,” says Mick. “And this is where we’ll end up.” Mick shows us our route on a map before we get in the mini-bus, and 30 minutes later, we’re bouncing down a steep, dusty track and alighting beside a quiet riverbend. “This is my favourite river in Australia – and I’ve canoed most of them, ” Mick enthuses, handing us each a water bottle: “Fill it often, straight from the river. The water is pure and
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Visitors relaxing in the morning sun above Nitmiluk; Katherine River Dinner; Camping at Nitmiluk; A saltwater crocodile cruising.
unspoiled. Drink as much as you can.” After a quick demonstration on how best to manage our canoes, we’re off on the water. “We do have tents, don’t we?” Aletta, the Dutch traveller, nervously asks Mick a few hours later, as he points to a sandy area by a riverbank, proclaiming that will be our campsite for the night. “No, we’re just in our swags, that’s it!” he replies, proceeding to tell us how to inflate our mattresses. “I’m not sure I like that idea,” Aletta responds. “No Australian animals are going to get us?” “You’ll be fine,” Mick responds, stoking the campfire. Soon he’s serving up a delicious barramundi feast, washed down with the wine we’ve all brought along, which has been cooling in the river. Though we’d brought jumpers
in case the nights were cool, we are lucky: the weather is the perfect temperature. When I wake once or twice that night, it’s a joy to look up at the giant constellations above, unmarred by city lights. By the time I roll out of my swag the next morning, Mick’s fire is ablaze, breakfast nearly ready and the billy boiled. “Melaleuca tea?” he asks, handing us mugs. I’m happy to see Aletta is looking much more relaxed; not even a mosquito has paid her a visit. An hour or two later, we’re back in our canoes, gliding downstream. “I keep waiting to spot other tourists on this trip. How can we possibly be the only people on this fantastic river?” Sven, the German, marvels. “This would simply never happen in Europe!” His hitherto-quiet sons have now opened up and are merrily chatting to us in a combination of German and English as we spot bright water birds, and glide past a multitude of fish. And every so often the adrenaline flows, as Mick mentions that we may spot a croc or two in the river up ahead – or that we’re about to whiz around a hairpin bend.
Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
“There’s a young saltwater croc that’s been living near here for the past eight years,” Mick calmly announces on day two. “You may spot it on the left as we go past – yep, there he is!” We turn our heads and spot its reptilian head on the far left beside the bank. Pete manages to whip out his camera and take a pic before we swiftly glide on. “Even though most places we’re going through are safe to swim in, we’re not taking any silly risks. I’ll show you the really shallow places where it’s fine to take a dip,” Mick tells us. We’re all too happy to heed his recommendations. Mick’s made it clear from the outset that we’re to treat our environment with great respect, and take all of our rubbish with us, even apple cores. We’ve been told how to dig a hole when answering nature’s call, with the lavatory paper later placed in a paper bag and discreetly burned in the evening campfire. To my surprise, I find I soon take to this routine. I hadn’t camped for decades – let alone slept on
Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
Explore
a swag without a tent. I find myself quite at home wandering into the trees to do nature’s bid, alone with the roos. The three days fly past, and by the end of our 40-kilometre journey none of us are ready to end our beautiful Katherine River trip. AN
HOW TO GET THERE Katherine is 317 kilometres south-east of Darwin. The easiest way to get there is to hire a car in Darwin and drive to Katherine along the Stuart Highway. FEB/MAR 2020
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Getaway
Spring into
Daylesford Healing mineral springs, art to soothe the soul, food to swoon over and a pervading sense of country charm are what make Daylesford and Hepburn Springs so enticing. WORDS: Michelle Hespe
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Getaway
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A delectable dish from the awardwinning Lake House Restaurant; Lavender fields are plentiful in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs; The Convent Gallery’s turret; A visitor relaxes in the healing waters at Hepburn Bathhouse; Afternoon drinks are served at the Lake House.
The Wonder of Water Plentiful water and land upon which to plant food and build shelter is what drew early European explorers seeking ideal locations for establishing townships to fertile parts of Australia, outside of the main cities. And so it comes as no surprise that Daylesford and Hepburn Springs – a beautiul region that is home to 80 per cent of Victoria‘s mineral springs – seemed like a perfect place for Captain John Hepburn to settle and begin the establishment of a community. It was 1838 when he arrived, and to add to the area’s immediate appeal, in 1851 gold was discovered where Lake Daylesford is today, which led to an influx of more early settlers, including many Swiss and Italian people. In 1859 Daylesford became a municipality, and although the search for gold ended in the 1860s, by then people from far and wide had heard about the abundance of mineral springs. Then when a train line was built in 1880, the region became more accessible and even more popular. A majestic convent, plus a grand courthouse, post office, and town hall, soon followed, and in the 1890s the historic Hepburn Bathhouse was created, cementing the region’s reputation as a European-style
playground for those seeking a healthy lifestyle. In 1914 a cinema added to the town’s cultural charm, and by the 1920s the well-heeled were flocking to Daylesford and Hepburn Springs and the homes built continued to amplify its pictureseque European charm. Way before all of this – tens of thousands of years ago – Indigenous Australians had discovered the region, understanding that the mineral water had special healing powers. Today, it’s these waters that people still seek out. But alongside this natural blessing, a proud community of people who appreciate food, wine, art and the finer things in life has blossomed. FEB/MAR 2020
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Getaway
Let There be Art Art is an intergral part of life in Daylesford and Hepburn Spring communities. Hundreds of artists live in these two hubs and in the many charming little towns and villages in the surrounding area. Exploring the main strip of Daylesford – Vincent Street – is a great way to see thousands of art pieces created by the locals. From paintings and sculptures to arts and crafts, clothing, candles and everything in between, you can spend an entire day on Vincent Street and not see it all. And there are also a few antique and collectible stores brimming with gems. Kick your art-filled day off with breakfast at Bad Habits Café in the iconic Convent Gallery Daylesford, which is perched on the crest of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, overlooking all of Daylesford. Built in the 1860s as a private residence, it laer became the Holy Cross Convent. In 1991 it became one of Victoria’s most stunning galleries. In fact it has been called ’Australia’s most beautiful gallery,’ and is home to more than eight exhibition spaces presenting local, national and international artists working in a variety of media and styles. Stony Creek Gallery and Clayfire Gallery are two other galleries that
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should not be missed. Stony Creek has a wide range of rare and eclectic art – ceramics, blown glass, timber works, jewellery, and sculptures by local Australian artists – and is home to the spectacular, usually enormous resin works of Michael Parker, who takes inspiration from the Australian landscape. There is also a sculpture garden out the back with a stunning collection of contemporary sculptures and arresting works of art. Clayfire is a gallery by husband and wife team Mark and Robin Read, and it showcases pottery and the work of local artisans, with a focus on supporting emerging artists. Ten minutes’ drive out of town, at 39 East Street you will find the gobsmackingly awesome warehouse studio spaces of furniture maker Hans Boon and artist David Bromley. The two talented creatives have teamed up to showcase art-covered furniture, and you can also check out the beautiful textiles and delightful
clothing created Bromley’s wife Yuge, who has used her husband’s famous designs on silk scarves, T-shirts and other sophisticated designer pieces.
Food Glorious Food You can’t have an arty town surrounded by farms, vineyards and some of the best water in the world without having an enviable food scene. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs attract some of the country’s finest chefs because they have everything they could dream of at their fingertips, and the region is rightfully proud of its sustainable approach to living – which is reflected in everything from recycling, reusing, organics, permaculture, solar and wind power inititaives and the general approach to life here: live well, don’t waste, and take care of the planet. A restaurant that embodies this philosophy is the Lake House Restaurant, at the Lake House Daylesford. Established by Alla Wolf-Tasker and her husband Allen
Getaway
35 years ago, this restaurant, which was named one of ’The Top 50 Restaurants in Australia for 2019’ in Gourmet Traveller’s Restaurant Guide, was a pioneer for fine dining in regional Australia. Nestled into Australian bushland and edible gardens by a lake, the restaurant’s glorious views are as fantastic as the dishes that Alla’s team serve with sophisicated and friendly flair. The recent addition of a 15-acre working farm down the road has further elevated the menu, ensuring that diners (who flock here for the artistic, decadent degustations) are taken on a journey guided by provenence. “Where your food comes from, and what’s been done to it before it came to you, is a very critical consideration. Our guests understand the close relationships we have built with growers and suppliers over many years, and now they are also able to visit our extensive farm just a few minutes down the road and see where the plants, vegetables and fruit for their meals have been harvested,“ says Alla.
Room at the Inn
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Arresting works of art at Stony Creek Gallery; Bad Habits Café at Convent Gallery; The welcoming loungeroom of the Lake House Daylesford’s premier suite.
There are so many hotels, B&Bs, lodges and retreats to lay your head in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. However, if you want to retain the relaxed feeling that will no doubt be washing over you after a day or two in this pocket of heaven, then further indulge your senses and book yourself a room at the Lake House to make the most of the warm and welcoming hospitality that is the hallmark of this beloved institution. Or down the winding road in Hepburn Springs you’ll find Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel – an elegant historical building built in 1935. It beautifully captures the old-world grandeur of the region, and the Italian-inspired gardens add to the picture-perfect setting. Here you can take a step back in time while soaking in expansive baths (with garden views), filled with the healing waters that made this special place what is is today. AN FEB/MAR 2020
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Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
Culture
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Culture
WE, THE The isolation of the Tiwi Islands – 90 kilometres off the coast of Darwin – has helped its people to largely retain their unique Indigenous identity. However, with the arrival of Catholicism in 1911, a brave new world with traditional values and customs took root and has continued to evolve and flourish. WORDS: Michelle Hespe
On a journey through any new land, there’s usually something that leaps out to the traveller, offering insight into how the locals live today, with hints on where they came from. On a recent trip to the Tiwi Islands (a short ferry ride from Darwin), that thing for me was an old black-andwhite photograph at the meticulously curated Patakijiyali Culture Museum on Bathurst Island. The photo was of 150 Indigenous girls posing eight lines deep – the smallest ones sitting at the front, with older girls standing at the back on benches. Almost all of them are grinning from ear to ear and most are bare-chested with a white cloth wrapped around their waist. It could be a school photo, but the label beneath tells a different story: ’Girls 1930 – some of the 150 wives.’ I’m not sure what to make of this, as I didn’t
know that little girls as young as three could be a wife in Indigenous culture. But rather than be judgemental, I ask our guide who these young ladies are. The fascinating answer pivots around the life and work of Francis Xavier Gsell, a French Catholic priest born in 1872 whose dream was to spread Christ’s word across the planet. In 1911 Gsell was granted 4000 hectares on Bathurst Island, where he intended to set up a mission. However, it quickly became apparent to him that the Tiwi (literally translated as ‘we people’ or ‘one people’) were fiercely devoted to guarding their isolated existence, which protected them from outside influences and gave them more chance of maintaining their unique culture and traditions. This stance intensified after clashes with Dutch explorers in 1705. FEB/MAR 2020
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Culture
Before Gsell arrived, the Tiwis had come into contact with buffalo hunters and Japanese pearl traders, and so understood the valuable nature of trading with outsiders. Things such as tobacco, knives, tinned food and other local commodities – including young women – had passed amicably between the various groups before. Gsell was a patient man who wanted to understand the Tiwi people, and so he devoted his first 10 years on the islands observing them and learning their ways. Due to his long beard he became known as ‘Whiskers’, and the islanders often watched him reading his Bible. Despite not wanting to interfere with Tiwi rituals and ways of life, when a teenage girl called Martina came to Father Gsell, begging to be spared from marrying an elder as she was raised to do, he was forced to confront an ethical dilemma: should he protect her? Gsell turned Martina away, but when she returned, chased by an angry group of men (including the husband-to-be) with a spear through her leg, he decided to act. He called a meeting with the men, and after much negotiation they left Martina with Father Gsell, their arms filled with blankets, flour, a knife, axe, tobacco and tins of meat. Gsell gave her a safe harbour, and Martina became known as his first wife. In the spirit of trading, soon many families were bringing their young women to him (one as young as a four-dayold baby), and they would stay with him under the care of nuns who now lived on the mission. They were free to choose their own (baptised) husbands at age 18, as long as traditional family lines were not tampered with, as this could threaten something else the Tiwi people fiercely guarded: ancient systems to avoid inbreeding. Tiwi Islanders can play with their brothers and sisters until they hit puberty, for instance, and after that, they will not speak again or interact with one another until they have grey hair. When Gsell departed his beloved Tiwi Islands in 1938 to be a bishop in Darwin, he had 150 ‘wives’. The Tiwi people noticed that the girls were safe with him, and that they were allowed to maintain their traditional ways, and so Catholicism and Tiwi culture gradually merged to create a brave new world. Today, on the two inhabited Tiwi islands
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Image: Tourism NT/Felix Baker
Culture
of Bathurst and Melville (the other nine are uninhabited), this mixing of two cultures is ever apparent. It’s a place where two unbelievably different worlds spectacularly collided, and a new way of living was born. Pukumani poles (unique grave posts central in Tiwi mortuary rituals) can be found near a crucifix. In the traditional church on Bathurst Island, Mary cradles Jesus next to traditional drawings of common Tiwi ‘totems’ (or ‘dreamings’), such as pelicans, crocodiles and turtles. The totem of a Tiwi is inherited from their father and they may not kill or eat this creature – it has a significant relationship with them, and basically it’s a clever, ancient way of ensuring the survival of species. Each totem also has its associated dance, which is used to identify Tiwi at ceremonies. Tiwi Islander art, which generally expands upon traditional motifs drawn from Tiwi people’s understanding of cultural cosmologies, has most definitely evolved. For instance, where once only ochre tones were applied to artworks (be they carvings, paintings or screen-prints), today bright and even fluorescent colours are used by local artists at Tiwi Design – an art centre that warmly welcomes visitors from all over the world. I am on Bathurst Island with my 12-year-old
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Photograph of some of Father Gsell’s 150 ’wives’; a friend and I at Tiwi Design; Local artist painting a traditional Tiwi carved sculpture; Miranda Tapsell in Top End Wedding.
son Reilly, who wanted to come along to this place he had never heard of. We explore the museum – an incredible collection of ancient, old and more recent history – from the Tiwi story of creation to the Japanese bombing of Darwin (a Japanese pilot crashed on Melville Island after Darwin was hit), to the photos and disturbing details of the Stolen Generation and more modern photos and a prized collection relating to the Tiwi obsession with football. We also visit the church, where the wedding ceremony in the recent Aussie film starring Miranda Tapsell – Top End Wedding – was filmed. I marvel at the eclectic, visual paradigms of Catholicism and traditional Tiwi life, so thoroughly entwined. We finish our visit with a screen-printing class hosted by two local artists. The men are measured, gentle, quiet and often cheeky with their explanations and guidance. They show us how to blend colours for the best results and how to apply paint to the designs we’ve chosen. Then firm, long, rhythmic sweeping movements are made across the screens. By coincidence, on the day of our visit to the art centre, I am wearing a print of an owl on a navy blue T-shirt that I bought at a market in Hobart years ago. One of the elders, a lady with sparkling brown eyes and a mischievous FEB/MAR 2020
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Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
Culture
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He seems to be on island time. LEFT TO RIGHT: Local artist at Tiwi Design; Reilly screenprinting a T-shirt; Contemporary Tiwi art.
GETTING THERE Airnorth flies to Darwin weekly, which is a 2.5-hour ferry ride to Bathurst Island.
Image: Tourism NT/Felix Baker
grin, points to my chest. “What is this design?” she asks. I look down. “Oh – an owl,” I say. “It’s from Tasmania.” She grins. “That’s my grandmother’s totem!” She gives me a big hug and I hug her back. Standing next to my son, I work on screen-printing a T-shirt with some colours I love: a fiery orange, hot pink and striking purple, and then we add some white to tone the hues down. One of the few artists now working away on designs with others helps me bring the pelican I’ve chosen to life on the crisp white background. My son works on his design – a turtle within a frame of patterns that I think I have seen on some of the Pukumani poles. Usually he does everything so quickly, but today he seems to be on island time, and he follows his teacher’s movements – slow and steady as he slides a wooden bar up and down the screen so that the paint is pushed through to create his red, blue and green turtle. Probably not the colours they would have chosen, but hey, no one is judging here. Reilly is given a reassuring nod and a big grin by one of the elders when the colour has done its work, and he’s shown how to carefully lift the screen off without smudging his art. Then he stretches out the T-shirt, flattens the creases and admires his handiwork. The sea turtle dries in the 35-degree heat before us – a bright, modern incarnation of an ancient symbol that means so much to so many here. AN
Image: Mark Fitz
SPECIAL FEATURE
A REASON TO SMILE Looking for a life-changing experience? We’ve found it at Tiwi Island Retreat. Imagine flying towards your remote island accommodation, immersing yourself in the stunning turquoise coastlines, white sandy beaches and pristine natural beauty as the plane draws closer and closer. Welcome to the Top End’s newest retreat. The Tiwi Islands are located 80 kilometres north of Darwin and comprise two main islands – Bathurst and Melville. Tiwi Island Retreat is the region’s newest offering, idyllically positioned on a remote and pristine beachfront location on the south-west coast of Bathurst Island. Guests are being welcomed from April 2020, with bookings now open. National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler, Matt Wright, owner and operator of Matt Wright: Explore The Wild tours, has carefully curated a collection of all-inclusive two-night stays that encompass the best of what the Tiwi Islands have to offer – nature, wildlife, culture and relaxation.
WHY STAY?
If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and get to know a part of Australia incredibly rich in all that it offers, the Tiwi Islands Retreat is for you. “We have one-off experiences on land where you can get up close with wildlife, catch incredible fish, and switch off and unwind in one of the most untouched ecosystems there is,” says Matt. Adventure seekers can jump right into the authentic once-in-a-lifetime outback and fishing adventures, including world-class fishing charters, helicopter and four-wheel-drive buggy tours, Indigenous art and cultural tours, and more. There are plenty of other ways to recharge your batteries too, from relaxing by the 12-metre beachfront pool and exploring the natural surrounds to dining on freshly-caught local seafood.
WHO’S INVITED?
Everyone is welcome at Tiwi Island Retreat, with the all-inclusive package options offering something for all ages and interests. From couples to small and large groups, including corporate travellers, the retreat is for anyone who wants to get away from it all and reconnect with nature and each other. “I have travelled the world and worked with wildlife everywhere, and you can’t go
past what we have on offer at the retreat. Nature and wildlife lovers will be blown away,” Matt says.
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
The all-inclusive package options are designed to showcase the best of the Tiwi Islands. Inclusions span from on-the-ground transfers and return private charter flights ex-Darwin, to air-conditioned twin-share accommodation and all meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Guests can experience world-class Top End fishing by joining a deep-sea fishing charter, or Heli-fish to reach remote, exclusive locations targeting the elusive barramundi. If fishing doesn’t pique your interest, try the spectacular scenic flight across Bathurst Island combined with a truly special Indigenous art and cultural experience, or guided helicopter tour to explore one of Australia’s most idyllic remote waterholes. Both experiences are unmissable. You won’t ever want to leave the unforgettable beachfront oasis that is Tiwi Island Retreat. Tiwi Island Retreat packages will be available starting April 1, 2020, from $2350 per person. For more information on tours and activities available please visit tiwiislandretreat.com.au FEB/MAR 2020
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the onlY airboat tour in darwin
mattwright.com.au
(08) 8983 4017
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NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE
UPSETTING THE APPLE CART Disrupting a primary industry isn’t easy, but these three operators are keeping the doctor at bay with innovative thinking. p24
p.10 mining: tailings management P.18 regional coworking spaces p.28 transport: new inland rail P.34 charity spotlight: careflight
Waverley Mills Recycled Grid Charcoal Throw $199.00 (140cm x 200cm) Made from recycled merino wool and designed by BernabeiFreeman.
WRAP YOURSELF IN LUXURY Waverley Mills is Australia’s last remaining weaving mill located in Launceston, Tasmania.
waverleymills.com
ONLY 95 CALORIES PER CUP
made with r e a l probi o t i c y o g h u r t TW-Tiger Ad-1/2Page 123x188_FA.indd 2
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17/12/19 13:08
AUSBIZ NEWS
BUSINESS NEWS & VIEWS
DEFINITION OF ‘AUSSIE BEACH’ CHANGED IN TOP 20 OF 2020 LIST
Image: Rik Soderland
In the official ‘Top 20 Australian Beaches 2020’ list, an inland ‘beach’ has been named for the first time. Wagga Wagga’s historic Wagga Beach made the cut at number nine this year in Tourism Australia ambassador Brad Farmer’s list. Farmer, who co-wrote 101 Best Australian Beaches in 2012, has spent his life visiting and studying thousands of Australia’s sandy hotspots. The annual top 20 list takes into account academic-based criteria such as environment, water quality, cleanliness, social history and facilities, as well as factors such as international suitability, beach safety and engagement with authentic Aussie locals. 101bestbeaches.org
OzHelp wins ACT Social Change Maker Award Nominee for the 2019 Telstra Social Change Maker Award and winner of the ACT category, OzHelp is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preventing suicide and promoting mental health by providing evidence-based preventive mental-health programs in high-risk workplaces across the country. “Our hope is that by winning the ACT category for Social Change Maker and being placed on this renowned national platform, we can shine a light on suicide risk factors in high-risk industries, as well as show how employers can take a proactive approach in supporting their employees and their communities to be healthy and to thrive.”
OzHelp seeks to break down barriers in order to better promote positive self-care and help-seeking behaviours. The organisation was established after apprentice David O’Bryan took his own life, followed by another three young Canberran men in a three-month period. David’s mother realised the dire lack of support services for young apprentices and vowed to make a change. Eighteen years on, OzHelp’s programs are delivered nationally, and in 2018 more than 38,000 people benefited from a range of programs, tools and awareness campaigns. ozhelp.org.au FEB/MAR 2020
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AUSBIZ NEWS
TINY HOMES CARNIVAL REACHES SYDNEY For the first time, the Tiny Homes Carnival will come to Sydney this March 7–8. Leading the way in the tiny house movement – described as “a social trend to simplify our lives by reducing size without sacrificing quality of life” – Big Tiny are collaborating with Australian Tiny House Association to bring this exciting international carnival to St Ives Showground in Sydney’s north. The tiny house trend has grown enormously in Australian in recent years, as has integrating the concept of tiny houses with ecotourism. Special guest speakers John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin from Netflix’s Tiny House Nation will be taking the stage, as will Bryce Langston, creator of the popular web series Living Big in a Tiny House. tinyhomescarnival.com
FAST FACTS WA’s newest national park
Image: Tourism WA
The Houtman Abrolhos Islands, a series of 122 ecologically significant islands surrounded by coral communities, have recently been granted national park status. Located 60 kilometres off the coast of Geraldton, the islands extend across 100 kilometres of the Indian Ocean. They’re accessible by several boat day tours, as well as scenic flights from Geraldton and Kalbarri, which offer land-based activities such as guided nature walks and snorkelling. westernaustralia.com
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AusBiz.
50m²
According to the Australian Tiny House Association, “tiny houses are moveable dwellings up to 50m² that are suitable for residential use.”
11,761
Australia is officially home to a total of 11,761 beaches. This number has the potential to soon grow with the introduction of ‘inland beaches’ to the list.
16%
Just 16 per cent of Australia’s beaches are accessible by conventional roads. A further 12 per cent are accessible by unsealed roads, 29 per cent by four-wheel-drive, and 43 per cent are inaccessible.
KARIJINI
eco RETREAT
World class Karijini National Park is a must-see for any visitor to the Pilbara and located in the depths of the park is the magnificent Karijini Eco Retreat. Designed with the environment in mind • Deluxe and dorm style eco tents and cabins • Outback restaurant & bar • 15 min. walk trail to Joffre Gorge • Campground with BBQ facilities, showers/WC • Easy access - only 3km unsealed
Bookings T: (08) 9425 5591 E: reservations@karijiniecoretreat.com.au W: www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au Off Weano Road, Karijini National Park, Western Australia Owned by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation
ecoretreat karijini
27 June to 3rd July 2020 7 days of riding Road - Elite Rider & Social Rider Packs Mountain Bike - Fast Pack & Fun Pack Fully Catered & Supported
Raising funds to support the education of kids in the bush.
Early Bird Offer
Register Now until the end of February to receive a free pair of C2K Knicks (Value $185)
C2KBIKERIDE.COM.AU
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride Taking place this June 27–July 3, the 2020 Cairns 2 Karumba Bike Ride will see riders of all abilities and experience levels race or ride 780 kilometres through astounding Far North Queensland scenery, from Cairns on the east coast to Karumba in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria. For elite riders, the event offers the chance for a solid training week before a major event. To the social rider, the journey can mean an unforgettable week away with mates and the chance to meet new people and make life-long friends. If the full week isn’t possible, there’s also the option to join for a one- or threeday ride, which still allows you to be part of the amazing experience. The ride offers two main tracks: Like to keep it clean? The road ride will be your thing! Don’t mind getting a little dirty? Then the ‘Dirty Boys’ ride is for you! Both rides start and end together daily, before splitting off during the day to offer two very different riding experiences. The ride has never been just about the cycling. C2K raises money each year for the Cairns School of Distance Education to assist in the education of kids across Far North Queensland, which allows them to be part of experiences that may not be otherwise available. In recent years this has included a program called Pedals, where students have been part of workshops provided by some of Australia’s best presenters across a range of areas. Small schools along
the ride’s route also benefit from the ride with funds going to projects such as interstate trips, robotics programs and upgrading school sporting grounds and equipment. Along the ride, riders meet with many families for whom they are raising funds, and see the benefits they have received. Each year, the almost
70 volunteers and event sponsors involved make the ride possible. The early bird registration special ends February 29. After that, you can register any time until May 31. If you are interested in riding, being a supporter to a mate or family member, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor, please visit c2kbikeride.com.au FEB/MAR 2020
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Workforce
solutions
Are you looking for a reliable workforce to help you plan ahead? The Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) is an employer sponsored program connecting eligible businesses in rural and regional Australia with workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste. The PLS offers employers access to a reliable workforce when there is not enough local labour available to fill low and semi-skilled positions.
The PLS is open to all sectors, including: • • • • •
Aged care and social assistance Accommodation and food services Non-seasonal horticulture & agriculture Fisheries and aquaculture Meat processing
For more information: Contact the Pacific Labour Facility Enquiries@pacificlabourfacility.com.au Phone: (07) 3557 7750 www.pacificlabourmobility.com.au
SPECIAL FEATURE Jason Mani from Malaita province in Solomon Islands harvests vegetables at Gracekate Farms. Photo: Pacific Labour Facility.
David Sondopiea from Papua New Guinea works at Skybury Farm in Mareeba, Queensland, through the PLS. Photo: Pacific Labour Facility.
Helping regional and rural businesses address labour shortages The Pacific Labour Scheme connects workers with rural and regional Australian businesses that can’t find enough local labour. Kerry and Simon McCarthy own and manage Gracekate Farms on the Darling Downs in Queensland, supplying leafy greens to farmers’ markets as well as major national supermarkets. Gracekate Farms has employed workers from Solomon Islands through the Australian Government’s Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) since 2012, and many of these have returned to the farm for several seasons in a row. Having these seasonal workers on the farm has enabled the business to expand, and the McCarthys have now also signed up to the Government’s newer Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) to meet their longer-term labour needs. While the SWP allows farmers to employ workers from nine Pacific
countries and Timor-Leste for unskilled roles for up to nine months, the PLS enables employers to recruit workers for low-skilled and semiskilled roles for a longer period of one to three years, subject to local market testing requirements. Kerry McCarthy says the Solomon Island workers have been highly productive and have hit the ground running from the start. “Our team from Solomon Islands is fabulous – because of them we’re now able to plan ahead,” she explains. “It will be great to get a more permanent workforce on the ground soon to help us prepare for the harvesting season.” Along with the SWP and the Working Holiday Maker Programme, the PLS is another way in which rural and regional
Australian businesses and Pacific island workers can benefit from labour mobility arrangements in our region. People from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu can apply for employment in Australia through the PLS. Anyone who signs up to the scheme from these countries has the same workplace and health and safety rights as Australian workers, and built-in systems protect them against exploitation. Rural and regional Australian employers from any industry or sector can apply to join the PLS. For more information, and to find out your eligibility and if Pacific labour mobility meets your employment needs, visit the website: pacificlabourmobility.com.au FEB/MAR 2020
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MINING: TAILINGS
TELLING TAILS We delve into the management of tailings storage facilities, highlighting the risks and looking at how new technology is being utilised. Words: Darren Baguley
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AusBiz.
MINING: TAILINGS
When Vale’s tailings dam near the Brazilian city of Brumadinho burst, it killed hundreds of people, threatened global iron supplies, and reset the conversation on tailings dam safety. Just after noon on 25 January 2019, Tailings Dam I of the Brazilian mining giant’s Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine collapsed, flooding the valley below with a 12 million-cubic-metre cascade of thick brown tailings sludge that swallowed the mine’s offices and its packed caféteria, farms, the hamlet of Vila Ferteco, and buildings on the outskirts of the city of Brumadinho. Official figures state that 272 people died in the disaster, including 14 whose bodies have never been recovered. In the aftermath of the disaster Vale’s stock price plummeted 24 per cent, and was followed by a farreaching, criminal investigation that’s still ongoing. The company’s viability is being questioned after numerous individuals, companies and businesses launched the largest lawsuit in UK history in the wake of a previous disaster: the 2015 Samarco Mariana dam collapse. That failure killed 19 people and virtually destroyed the nearby villages of Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu de Baixo. It does not take much imagination to expect that similar suits will follow the Brumadinho disaster. There are more than 3500 tailings
dams worldwide, and according to mineral process engineering company McLanahan’s International Business Manager Richard Williams: “there are one or two tailings dam failures a year.” But the 2019 failure threatened the global iron ore supply, with frenzied trading pushing prices up 18 per cent in a fortnight, rocketing the commodity price towards 2014 levels as other miners struggled to lift production. Another impact was the effect the disasters had in the boardrooms of the world’s major mining companies. In December 2016, the International Council on Mining & Metals, which encompasses the 27 leading mining companies in the world, put out a position statement bluntly titled ‘Preventing catastrophic failure of tailings storage facilities’. In September 2019, the Minerals Council of Australia followed up with the Australian Mining Tailings Communique, a document developed in concert with its members. The communique acknowledged that “tailings management in Australia is advanced and highly regulated but focuses on demonstrating global leadership and best practice in governance, information sharing and technical expertise in tailings storage management. The communique also seeks to solidify
FEB/MAR 2020
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One Passion. Many Opportunities.
Find your opportunity Liebherr-Australia are seeking suitably qualified people to join us.
Further information at: www.liebherr.com.au/jobs
MINING: TAILINGS
AS SOCIETY COMES TO ACCEPT THE NEED TO ELIMINATE TAILINGS DAMS, THE INDUSTRY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE IN PARALLEL.
the industry focus on preventing a repeat of past tailings storage errors.” The mining equipment, technology and services sector has responded favourably to what it sees as a new willingness on the part of mining companies to invest in tailings storage management and safety. Williams says, “without a socially acceptable plan to responsibly deposit and rehabilitate these areas, you have no project and the community expectation appears moving to some form of dry tailings. Multiple technology options exist currently to produce and stack dry tailings. There are no technical limits to achieving this, only a cost implication. As society comes to accept the need to eliminate tailings dams and loss of life, all of the industry should be able to move in parallel to improve the safety and reliability in these areas.” He adds: “A number of McLanahan customers are currently assessing how ‘filtered tailings’ could fit into their resource expansion projects or upgrade projects. When we configure a filtered tailings solution, we typically aim for a closed loop or zero pond tailings management strategy. For a closed loop tailings system, quarry operators are encouraged to consider an ultra-fines recovery system, where potentially usable ultra-fine product can be reused as a blend medium or for other products, rather than sending it straight to waste. Quite simply, product fines that would go to a pond can now be redirected to a thickener, where they are densified, and process water is captured for plant reuse. The thickener underflow is pumped to a mixing tank and run through a filter press, where the solids are further dewatered and a dry cake is produced. The filtrate (water) is also captured from this process for reuse or disposal to alternative markets.” While there is a definite move
towards dry processing of tailings, there are thousands of tailings storage facilities in existence, and a key challenge for mining companies is monitoring the status of both open and closed tailings facilities. According to Inmarsat’s Mining Innovation Director Joe Carr: “there is a wide range of methods used across the industry for collecting data at tailings dams by mining companies, regulators and auditors, but the vast majority typically rely on manual processes … This manual approach to data collection commonly leads to human error in the reporting of FEB/MAR 2020
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MINING: TAILINGS
There are innovative technological solutions which give mining companies a centralised, real-time and reliable view of the status of their tailings facilities.
FAST FACTS • Tailings are the finegrained solid residues left after minerals and metals have been extracted from an ore. They are commonly transported as slurry and thickened before being stored in tailings dams. • There more than 3500 tailings dams worldwide.
metrics, which leads to a lack of consistency in reporting, making it difficult for mining companies to obtain a complete view of the conditions at their tailings facilities. ”The net effect of this is that mining companies often have a disjointed and siloed approach to managing tailings dams, which they struggle to access, comprehend and use any data they collect. It is a particular problem for mining companies with global operational footprints, as they often struggle to bring the data together from their tailings dams across the world to a central place,” says Carr. ”Furthermore, even the larger companies that have more sophisticated multi-sensor systems may have a completely different arrangement at another dam, making data standardisation a difficult and inconsistent process. “Fortunately, there are innovative technological solutions that have been developed and implemented, which give mining companies a centralised, real-time and reliable view of the status of their tailings facilities. For example, our solution allows mining companies
OPAL MINE TAILINGS NEAR COOBER PEDY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
to gather and process data from various sensors via edge computing technologies, like LoRaWAN, and send it via our ultra-reliable L-band network to a central cloud dashboard that displays the data.” According to Carr, the most obvious benefit of this approach is that “it allows off-site teams to manage their tailings sites more proactively by giving them a centralised and real-time oversight of key metrics, such as pond elevation, piezometric pressures, inclinometer readings and weather conditions. This means mining companies can make faster, better-informed decisions and stop any issues from developing into more serious problems, dramatically improving the safety of their dams and local communities.” Given that two tailings dam collapses in less than 10 years have killed close to 300 people, caused massive environmental destruction and are threatening the viability of one of the world’s largest mining companies, both the change in emphasis and the advent of new technology are very welcome developments. FEB/MAR 2020
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Tiny Surveyor Pre-Marking Robot Mark lines from the comfort of your car! Tiny Surveyor is a robotic pre-marker tool that will save you time, increase safety and enable you to mark out road lines automatically. With the ability to interface to any GNSS or total station for precise height measurements, the Tiny Surveyor is a versatile and reliable tool that works for eight hours on a single charge. Key benefits: • Up to 10 times faster than marking out on foot • Increase safety by following the robot from a car • Reliable, repeatable 2-3cm accuracy • Works as hard as you do with 8 hour battery • Versatile to accommodate different spray can sizes • Compact, portable design makes for easy transportation • Use with your existing GNSS and optical survey equipment • Works with a variety of standard file formats Visit our website to register for a demo roadshow near you in 2020! Get in touch today:
1300 867 266 info@positionpartners.com.au www.positionpartners.com.au Australia • New Zealand • SE Asia
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Final trim the Topcon way
Topcon machine control technology will provide you with the flexibility to mix and match your grader solution to suit different applications at different stages of the project you’re working on. With many of the new construction graders in Australia arriving from the factory or dealer with the option for an integrated system and basic machine control technology already installed, it is more important than ever to ensure you have the best solution on your grader that both suits your current needs and has the ability to grow with your business. If you rely on a factory-fitted system, you may be limited by the fact that these systems are often not upgradeable or transferable between machines, so if you need a more sophisticated solution, it can be difficult to proceed without starting again with a different option. This can be needlessly expensive and time-consuming. Ensuring you have the best machine control solution is arguably even more important on your grader, because if fine tolerances are not achieved consistently across the site, it will result in rework and extra materials, increasing costs and decreasing efficiencies. Ideally, you need to get the grade right the first time, and Topcon machine control can ensure you do. “The machine control technology available from Topcon is compatible across all machine types, makes and models. This makes it a highly
flexible and customisable solution. A GNSS machine control system can be adapted with a high precision laser transmitter that combined will deliver millimetre vertical precision for fine grading tasks, a technology unique to Topcon,” says Josh Allan, Construction Business Manager at Position Partners Australia. Topcon machine control technology is the most flexible on the market, so you can mix and match your solutions to suit whatever job you’re working on. All contractors can attest that every job is different, and you often need more than one machine control system configuration to complete the range of tasks you work on to the tolerance you require.
Topcon grader machine control gives you the option to: • Easily swap machine control technology between machines – so you can stretch your machine control system across a range of machines. • Scale up or scale down to suit the job – for example, you might box out a subdivision with GPS/ GNSS, but then you can switch to a sonic tracker to follow the kerb. Topcon lets you work with 2D or 3D technology without having to install a whole new system. • Combine GPS/GNSS with other technology, including laser or prisms with a total station, to increase accuracy even further for final trim work. FEB/MAR 2020
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REGIONAL: COWORKING
COWORKING IN THE COUNTRY Coworking spaces are popping up all over regional and rural Australia, but are they here to stay or just another ‘remote working’ fad? Words: lisa smyth
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REGIONAL: COWORKING
I wanted to see if you could create a software engineering industry in a small rural town.
When Liam O’Duibhir opened the tech-focused coworking space CoWS Near The Coast in the rural NSW town of Bega in 2014, it was a big deal. “There was a massive opening ceremony – the local MP came and gave a speech and everything,” laughs O’Duibhir. “It was a grand experiment – I wanted to see if you could create a software engineering industry in a small rural town. Now we have freelancers, people who work remotely for big companies in Sydney and Brisbane, and people just passing through, visiting family. But it’s still mostly people in the tech sector.” Australia is the sixth fastest-growing
market for coworking in the world, just behind the UK at number five, and Luxembourg in the top spot. While the vast majority of coworking spaces are located in capital cities, and concentrated in the central business districts of those cities, a 2017 study reports that 15 per cent are located in Australia’s regional towns. “It’s become unstoppable,” explains O’Duibhir. “There are now multiple coworking spaces in the Bega Valley, and Bega is only a town of 5000 people! We were the first ones to introduce the idea to local government – they had no idea what coworking was – and now our valley is brimming with coworking spaces.”
WORKING ON A ‘SEA CHANGE’ Initially, coworking spaces were seen to only cater for IT start-ups and entrepreneurs, and were snapped up due to their reduced costs, flexible leasing terms and speed of delivery – the average move-in time for a small business in Australia to a coworking space is just 37 days. In the beginning, the ability to get a business up and running in a short space of time with minimal spend was the key attraction. But lifestyle choices are now increasingly becoming a factor, with places like Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and NSW South Coast having the highest concentration of FEB/MAR 2020
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REGIONAL: COWORKING
A COMMUNITY OF CO-WORKERS
coworking spaces. Ben Howe, CEO of Co Spaces in Southport, Queensland, says, “It’s unbelievable the people who live on the Gold Coast and fly in and fly out to Sydney a few days a week. With technology getting better and internet speeds getting faster, there’s no reason you can’t work outside the major cities.” When it comes to regional coworking spaces, there are no hard and fast rules, says Dr Yvette Blount, Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University Business School. “Regional coworking spaces are unique to their locations because communities and their needs are so different,” she explains. “Jobs are different, and lots of people are looking for a ‘sea change’ or ‘tree change’. Working remotely all the time is not productive or good for your mental health, and coworking spaces
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can help with social isolation.” While many people would never consider giving up a stable job in a big city, ‘sea changers’ are increasingly blending the best of both worlds. Major corporations, such as Woolworths, Accenture and LG Electronics, now make up 20 per cent of coworking space clients in Australia; five years ago they constituted only 2 per cent. “Out of the eight businesses we have working from the space at the moment, four are satellite offices for larger companies, two of which are international businesses,” notes Julia Telford, Director of Queensland’s Goondiwindi Business Hub. “People want to raise their kids in a country town, but also have a professional environment to work from, and we offer that.”
Along with price and leasing terms, coworking members in large cities usually consider if a space is close to major transport links or has parking, as well as whether it’s within walking distance of good lunch options. In regional and rural towns these factors are obviously less of a consideration, and instead the focus is on how the space contributes to the local community. “We partner with the Chamber of Commerce on events for new arrivals,” says Telford. “We have afternoon meet-ups for people who are new to town to help them build their network quickly – both professionally and personally. Rural Queensland can be quite isolating, and we want to support and provide connections, so no one feels like they are on their own. “Of course, one of the big challenges in regional areas is good internet access. A lot of farmers come into the hub specifically to use the internet – if we don’t have a desk available we sometimes set them up in the kitchen! No one gets turned away.”
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REGIONAL: COWORKING
Tim Ford founded CoHoots Coworking in Castlemaine, Victoria, in 2014, and he declares community, not coworking, was always the focus of the business. “Our passion is enterprising communities, and we run events for the Castlemaine community all the time. We wanted to build a sense of community cohesion within the coworking concept.”
COMMERCIAL COWORKING
FAST FACTS • 7.3 months is the national average length lease of a coworking space. • 64 per cent of coworking members are aged 25-44.
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While many regional coworking spaces are a positive addition to their communities, overall they don’t have the highest success rate. “A lot of coworking spaces in regional and rural areas are set up using government grants and they are not sustainable in the long term,” explains Blount. “The volume is just not there in country locations, and that’s why a lot of them fail.” Telford knew the risks of setting up a coworking space in a town of just 6000 people in 2014, but kept the bottom line in mind. “We knew we needed to run it as a commercial business, which is why we focused on getting longer-term tenants. You need to consider the rural context, especially when deciding the price point, but you have to run your space with a long-term business model in mind.” Howe agrees that the future of regional coworking spaces is about finding ways to make them more profitable, and thinking outside the box. “We built the first rooftop bar in Southport and it has started to change how people view the area. People want mixed-use spaces – coworking spaces that also function as art galleries, cafés and bars. We need to get smarter and create spaces that are just as much about liveability and community as work.”
AGRIBUSINESS: APPLES
Disrupting a primary industry isn’t easy, but these three operations are keeping the doctor at bay with innovative thinking. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer
UPSETTING THE APPLE CART
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AGRIBUSINESS: APPLES
If you think Australian dairy farmers are doing it tough, spare a thought for our apple growers. Since the turn of the century, one out of every two has gone out business. Of the relative few who remain, some are choosing to let crops rot on their trees rather than accept farmgate prices set by the big supermarkets at as little as 90 cents per kilogram for a fruit that costs at least $2 a kilogram to produce. At the same time, Australians are eating 12 per cent fewer apples than they did in 2015, while apple exports have fallen 19 per cent since 2016, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Then there’s the drought and its impact on the size and number of apples produced. Australian farmers grew 14 per cent fewer tonnes last year compared to 2017. ď ˝
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AGRIBUSINESS: APPLES
PREVIOUS PAGES: BRAVO™ APPLES; DARKES ‘HOWLER‘ CIDER FROM GLENBERNIE ORCHARD. FROM LEFT: BRAVO™ APPLES ORCHARD; BRAVO™ APPLES; CHRIS MCCOLL OF KALANGADOO ORGANICS; GLENBERNIE ORCHARD; KALANGADOO ORGANICS APPLE JUICE.
Consumers are happy to pay more for new ‘designer apples’. Many in the industry believe the outlook is grim and that soon only large-scale producers will survive. But with every new threat to business comes an opportunity. We talk with three apple farmers using novel strategies to earn a living in the face of a perfect storm.
DESIGNER STRAINS While sales of mainstream apple varietals like Red Delicious are in decline, consumers are happy to pay more for new strains of ‘designer apples’ that comprise about 10 per cent of the market. Examples include Redlove, a red-fleshed apple developed in a Swiss breeding program, Yello, a new hybrid varietal from Japan, and Bravo™ apples, a sweet burgundy-coloured apple from Western Australia that comes loaded with juice. At the time of writing, Bravo™ apples were selling for $8.50 at Coles. Granny Smiths? Only $3.50. “Consumers are willing to pay a premium for Bravo™ apples because they taste better, have a distinct look and because people know it’s a better quality product developed here in Australia,” says Rebecca Blackman, CEO of Fruit West, a cooperative of growers that owns the global Bravo™ apples Plant Breeder’s Right (PBR). “We can’t keep up with demand.” Currently, 8 per cent of Fruit West’s Bravo™ apples are exported to markets in Asia, UAE
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and North America. The figure towers above the national average (only 1 to 2 per cent of Australian apples are exported), and already eclipses the 5 per cent target set by Agrifutures Australia, a government body focused on the long-term prosperity of rural industries. Exporting more apples, the industry recognises, can give farmers some leverage over the prices paid by Australia’s big supermarket chains. Fruit West has set a much higher export target for Bravo™ apples. Within a decade, the cooperative aims to export 70 per cent of stock to lucrative new markets in China, North America and Europe. “We definitely see exports as the future,” Rebecca says. “It’s always been the plan.”
CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLEMAN In the 1990s, Chris and Michelle McColl of Kalangadoo Organics, a small apple farm on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, grew table apples and sold them to a wholesaler who on-sold them to supermarkets where they went for $4 per kilogram. But the McColls were getting only 40 cents. “We couldn’t survive. It wasn’t sustainable,” says Chris. “So, in 2002, we changed our business model and converted to organic. The difficult thing about the conversion was
AGRIBUSINESS: APPLES
that many of the problems organic farmers face are unique to their properties. It took a lot of trial and error to get things right. “Once we had our product right, we decided we only wanted one person between us and the consumer, because in our experience the longer the supply chain, the less we earn. So we had to start doing all our own packing and distribution. We also decided to sell to independently owned businesses only because you can build personal relationships with them. It’s a much more resilient business model than having just one big corporation that’s typically foreign-owned buying all your apples. “There’s a mantra in farming today that you have to get big or get out. But that’s not necessarily the case. You can go in another direction like we have: stay small, focus on quality and do things big producers can’t do. We grow 50 tonnes of apples a year – nothing in the grand scheme of things – but we’re doing okay.”
THE THEME PARK The Fahey family have been growing apples in Darkes Forest in the Illawarra region since 1939. But around 30 years ago, the family began noticing a downward trend in apple consumption and narrowing of profit margins, so they diversified into stone fruit, a crop with very different agro-ecological requirements
to apples. If one crop has a bad year, the other tends to flourish, and vice versa. “Our family has always been innovative and looked at creative ways of doing things,” says Jo-Anne Fahey of the Darkes Group, a small business empire that incorporates Darkes Brewing, producers of an apple cider than won gold at the World Cider Awards last year; the Appleshack, a boutique cellardoor-like retail outlet that sells branded apple juice, jams, honey, ciders and vinegar; and Glenbernie Orchard, a working farm that offers pick-your-own apple tours and hosts weddings on the weekends. “Our tours are not just point-andpick experiences. They are value-adding experiences,” explains Jo-Anne. “We take people on a journey of learning so they can understand the journey our trees go through in the different seasons of the year and the constantly evolving challenges we face. We demystify farming. We answer questions. We share stories that they take with them and share with their family and friends.” She adds: “It’s not all doom and gloom in our industry. It is if you take the approach that our business is just about growing table fruit and accepting low prices. But if you get creative and more in tune to what is possible beyond the farmgate, things look very different.”
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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: INLAND RAIL
THE MISSING LINK While the debate over a high-speed rail link between Australia’s far-flung cities rages on, a new freight railway line between Brisbane and Melbourne is right on track. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer For all the talk of a high-speed rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane, it’s not going to happen any time soon. It’s just too expensive: $120 billion, the equivalent of a generation’s worth of Australia’s infrastructure spend on one project. As the debate trundles on, another rail link between the two cities is quietly taking shape: the $10 billion Melbourne-to-Brisbane Inland Railway. With a top speed of 115 kilometres per hour, it was not designed as an alternative to air travel but to provide fast and cost-effective freight transport between Australia’s four richest farming regions and booming export markets in Asia. When it comes online in 2024 or 2025, Inland Rail will reduce freight time along the 1700-kilometre route from four to five days to less than 24 hours. According to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), the
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government body managing the project, Inland Rail will add $16 billion to Australia’s GDP and do much to relieve congestion in Sydney – the current midway point for freight on the eastern seaboard. It will also reduce carbon emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year. Inland Rail is not one big new project. It is 13 individual projects that will link existing rail infrastructure and complete the backbone of a national freight network. The longest project is Narromine to Narrabri in Central New South Wales, at 307 kilometres long. The most complex section is a 6.38-kilometre tunnel that will be built through the steep terrain of the Toowoomba Range in Queensland.
PADDOCK TO PORT
Inland Rail is no ordinary train line; it’s a high-tech freight line of the
future. Instead of regular trains, it will use mega-trains up to 1.8 kilometres long with double-stack carriages and increased axle loads that significantly increase the payload of each train. And instead of carting produce to stations, farmers will able to load produce onto trains in their fields thanks to new mobile rail loading kits. “Traditionally we would have carted the chickpeas to port in trucks,” says Stuart Tighe of Boolah Partnership, a grain grower in north-central New South Wales participating in trials of the mobile loading system. “We are loading today the equivalent of 70 double-stacked train carriages. Before it would have taken us about a week and we’re now doing it in six hours.” The ARTC says Inland Rail will deliver savings for farmers of $5 to $10 per to tonne. “It’s sort of history-making when farmers can
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: INLAND RAIL
Inland Rail is no ordinary train line; it’s a high-tech freight line of the future.
FAST FACTS • The steel required to complete Inland Rail is five times the quantity used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge. • Inland Rail will remove 200,000 truck movements from our roads every year and prevent road deaths, according to the Truck Accident Research Centre. FEB/MAR 2020
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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: INLAND RAIL
FROM TOP: MODERN HIGHSPEED TRAINS AT MILAN CENTRAL STATION, ITALY; INLAND RAILWAY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
actually load directly into a train from their paddock. It just makes sense,” says Moree Plains Mayor Katrina Humphries. The National Farmers’ Federation believes the new system will prove a game-changer for agriculture in the eastern states. “In my opinion, Inland Rail represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” says CEO Simon Talbot. “The mining boom is over but Australian agriculture can double in value and provide high-quality produce to Asian markets.”
NOT IN MY BACKYARD Yet in parts of the country where individual Inland Rail projects are taking shape, the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) phenomenon has divided opinion. In some places it is being alleged routes have been selected in the interest of big business instead of farmers and regional communities. Documents obtained by The Guardian show the Wagners – a prominent Queensland family who came in at 14th place of BRW’s rich
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families list in 2015 – lobbied the government to divert the line past their Wellcamp airport outside of Toowoomba. The Guardian’s report did not allege the Wagners had acted unlawfully, but it highlighted concerns the ARTC is not being as consultative as it claimed in a $190,000 taxpayerfunded advertising campaign. “I support Inland Rail and all it has to offer,” says Robert Mackay, a farmer on the NSW-Qld border whose land will be cut into four portions by the project. “But the ARTC has disregarded advice regarding flooding from the local community and proceeded with an alignment right below the junction of the two biggest rivers in the area. It’s a recipe for a flooding disaster.” The ARTC has also come under fire about its routing decisions along the Narromine and Narrabri project in Central NSW. There, in a section near the town of Coonamble, it decided to build a new railway line that will cut through 300 properties instead of using an existing rail corridor that wouldn’t impact a single landowner.
DISASTER
APPEAL Please donate now
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TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: INLAND RAIL
FROM TOP: CENTRAL STATION, SYDNEY; SOUTHERN CROSS STATION, MELBOURNE.
FULL STEAM AHEAD ARTC says it took the aforementioned decision in order to make the inland route quicker. But the NSW Farmers Association says that’s bull, claiming the new route will lead to savings of only four minutes – not enough to justify the impact on 300 landowners. After failing to convince ARTC to rethink its decision, NSW Farmers took its case to Canberra in early 2018, and demanded an independent inquiry into Inland Rail. No one much listened until the federal election was called in April, and the Labor Party saw an opportunity to steal votes from the Nationals. “This is appalling. The government has botched this from day one,” thenInfrastructure Spokesman Anthony Albanese said on talkback radio at the time. “It’s very clear that there are real issues with the route going through prime agricultural land, that the locals aren’t being listened to.” Labor’s announcement gave those 300 landowners a clear way to make their voices heard at the election. But a large majority of people in the bush voted against Labor and its calls for an independent enquiry into Inland Rail. Outgoing ARTC chief John Fullerton did, however, take the challenge to heart, and promised to take a more consultative approach with landowners. But he also maintains an independent enquiry cannot be allowed to delay Inland Rail. “Every day our freight task grows – freight volumes are forecast to more than double by the year 2050,” he says. “Our existing transport network won’t cope with this increase in freight without further investment.”
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SPECIAL PROMOTION
Fast Fact
CareFlight’s 24/7 HelpPoint centres make or receive more than 80,000 phone calls each year when coordinating medevac missions around Australia.
Taking the hospital to the patient: CareFlight’s medevac mission
As a patient-focused organisation, CareFlight finds innovative ways to get medevac patients to the vital treatment they need as quickly and safely as possible. It’s the type of scenario that most FIFO workers would rather not think about: you’re working in a very remote location, a long flight away from essential services, when you become seriously unwell; or there’s an accident and you, or a workmate, require urgent hospital treatment. What happens next? While the statistics tell us that the probability of these scenarios happening is very low, in the notso-distant past patients requiring emergency treatment in remote locations had a reduced chance of making a full recovery. But today, thanks to advances in aeromedical care, patient outcomes have improved significantly. CareFlight, a not-for-profit organisation, funds many of its community programs by providing
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aeromedical and medical staffing solutions to the oil, gas and mining industry across Australia helping it realise its mission to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community. Commencing in 1986 with a single rescue helicopter, CareFlight’s founders had a vision to create a new kind of medical retrieval service in Australia that focused on starting emergency department care at an accident scene, rather than many hours later when the patient arrived at a city hospital. For severely injured and very sick patients, starting treatment at the scene dramatically increases their recovery prospects. “We know that patients have the best chance of recovery if we reach them quickly and immediately commence emergency department standard
treatment on-scene,” says Dr Toby Fogg, CareFlight’s National Medical Director and Retrieval Specialist. “Our mission on a medevac is to remove any time, distance and logistical barriers to getting hospital treatment delivered to a patient at the place of injury – well before the patient actually gets to a hospital emergency department.” From its urban beginnings, CareFlight now operates a fleet of more than 15 aeromedical aircraft, including search and rescue medevac helicopters, air ambulance jets and turbo-prop aeroplanes, as well as patient transport vehicles. The CareFlight team is made up of more than 520 people across Australia, including emergencycare doctors, nurses, intensive-care paramedics, pilots, engineers, logistics,
SPECIAL PROMOTION
dispatch and support staff. “We spend much of our time either performing medevacs or training to be the best we can be for a patient going through the worst day of their life,” says CareFlight CEO Mick Frewen.
LIFE BLOOD
CareFlight’s established relationships with hospitals across Australia, and its sophisticated logistics network, means that it can gain rapid access to blood if needed during a complex medevac. Dr Fogg relates a case where a patient who needed four units of blood over an extended medevac received two life-saving transfusions enroute to hospital, because CareFlight’s team was able to arrange for blood delivery from its hospital partners during transport transfers. “Not only did the patient need blood, they needed to get to hospital quickly. We were able to deliver both aspects of care in a compressed timeframe. We have put in place processes that allow us to get rapid access to blood if we need it,” says Dr Fogg.
THE I-CARE STRETCHER SYSTEM – AN INNOVATIVE RESCUE REMEDY
In 2013, INPEX approached CareFlight to assist in the development of an innovative solution to speed up the medevac process from remote locations to city hospitals. INPEX is operator of the Ichthys LNG offshore facilities located approximately 220 kilometres off the coast of Western Australia.
Conducting a medevac from an off-shore oil and gas facility is inherently complex, involving rotary, fixed-wing and road ambulance platforms for the journey to the nearest hospital, which could be more than 1000 kilometres away. Multiple transfers mean a patient could be moved from one stretcher and life-support equipment to another, three or four times. Each transfer can take up to 45 minutes for a patient in a critical condition. “This creates a lot of challenges,” says Dr Fogg. “These transfers can take 30 minutes or more to move the patient. If they’re on life support, we have to slowly and methodically swap all the monitoring equipment and the drips, the life support and the breathing machine. Each change carries a risk of something going wrong, usually in the middle of nowhere.” INPEX had conducted a detailed study to assess the capabilities of hospitals and airfields in north-west Australia. Based on this, INPEX’s objective was to devise a solution that adopted world’s best practice for the seamless delivery of remote and offshore diagnostics, medical care and aeromedical evacuation to INPEX staff and their contractors. Fundamental to this objective was the need to develop a new stretcher system that could be used seamlessly between road, rotary and fixed wing assets needed for a medevac from the Browse Basin.
With funding from INPEX of $3 million and a team of more than 80 technical specialists working together for seven months, INPEX and CareFlight developed and launched the ‘I-CARE‘ Stretcher System. I-CARE allows a patient to be transported from an offshore clinic to hospital on the same stretcher and life support system, irrespective of how many different modes of transport are used. It comprises a light-weight stretcher, a secure oxygen system and a swivelling ‘bridge’ that holds vital medical equipment. The unit locks securely into the transport platform – whether, helicopter, jet, turbo-prop aircraft or road ambulance – and is easily wheeled between them. I-CARE also includes a telediagnostic unit, so remote medical specialists who are part of CareFlight’s extensive Australia-wide network can help offshore paramedics determine whether a patient needs evacuation, and also provide lifesaving medical diagnosis and direction to CareFlight paramedics working in remote locations. “Thanks to INPEX’s investment and research, we’ve been able to bring something new to the industry and dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to get a patient in a remote location to hospital care,” says Dr Fogg. “For example, in one client’s medevac logistics chain, we have reduced the medevac time from their remote location to a city hospital FEB/MAR 2020
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from eight to six and a half hours, while also reducing the risk to the patient.” CareFlight was named Australia’s most reputable charity at the end of 2019. Fraser Allen, CareFlight’s General Manager Partnerships and Development, says that having partners such as INPEX for joint collaboration and innovation is crucial to the organisation’s focus on bringing quality care to regional and remote Australia. Sponsorships, donations and contributions from the proceeds of oil, gas and mining service agreements have also helped CareFlight fund and deliver more than 400 ’MediSim’ Trauma Care Workshops to 5800 first responders working in remote locations across Australia. “Collaboration and innovation are a critical part of our DNA because saving lives only improves when you challenge the traditional barriers that slow medevacs down,” says Mr Allen. “We share a common denominator at CareFlight: we collaborate and innovate to improve speed to patient; the medical skillset we take to the patient and the aircraft type that is best for the patient – we just keep re-examining how we can make this faster and better to reduce the impact on the patient.”
TELE-DIAGNOSTICS – EXACTLY WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED In May 2014, CareFlight’s telediagnostic system was put into practice for the first time during a life-saving medevac off the coast of Western Australia. A worker on an offshore drilling rig was feeling unwell and visited CareFlight’s intensive care paramedic in the rig’s medical facility. Tests were done immediately and the real-time results sent via the I-CARE tele-diagnostic device to a CareFlight emergency department specialist in Perth. The specialist confirmed that the patient was suffering a heart attack.
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CareFlight and INPEX developed the I-CARE Stretcher System
reduces time and clinical risk when transferring patients between multiple modes of transport = better patient outcomes
To save the cardiac muscle, time was of the essence. The paramedic activated a medevac via CareFlight’s 24/7 HelpPoint centre and arranged online assessment of the patient’s ECG results in real-time via a tele-diagnostic link to a cardiologist at Royal Darwin Hospital. The on-site medevac team, the CareFlight critical care specialist, and the Darwin cardiologist decided that instead of waiting for the patient’s arrival at hospital, that thrombolysis would be immediately administered on the rig to break up and dissolve the blood clot that was blocking the patient’s artery. The patient was evacuated to an airbase in WA’s North Kimberley, transferred on the same I-CARE stretcher and critical care equipment to a waiting jet air ambulance, and
flown to Royal Darwin Hospital. As a result of the integrated response, the worker made a full recovery and was back at work three months later. “Everything combined to save his life: the speed of transfer made possible by the I-CARE system; our paramedics; specialist consultant doctors; CareFlight’s logistics; and our relationships with our hospital partners,” says Dr Fogg. “We’re here to make a difference because we can significantly increase the level of care that the patients get at the place where they are most vulnerable: the side of a road; down a canyon; lost in the bush; out at sea – to be able to put in place all the procedures and equipment and people to not only help the patient survive, but to see them back at work, it’s fantastic.”
Save lives, speed recovery and serve the community
DE L I V E R I NG COM M U N I T Y BE N E F I T S F ROM BUSI N E S S SOLU T IONS
• Priority medevac services by fixed wing • Corporate social responsibility programs
• On-site helicopter, clinic and paramedic solutions • Corporate sponsorship opportunities
• Trauma training (on and off-site) • 24/7 clinical governance and logistic solutions
Call Fraser for your business solution on 0488 999 582 or email fraser.allen@careflight.org
OPINION FEATURE
SOMETIMES YOU SIMPLY NEED TO HAVE THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS Words: Beau Robinson
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30–6 was the final score. We had been beaten, and convincingly. It was round two of the 2011 Super Rugby season and we, the Queensland Reds, had suffered a thoroughly disappointing loss to our arch-rivals the NSW Waratahs. This season had been looking good, after the boys had finished the previous season in fifth position. But the start of the season definitely wasn’t going to plan. We’d had a skin-of-your-teeth win against the Western Force in round one at home, with the final scoreboard reading 21–20. As a playing group, we had high expectations for the season – higher than anyone else could have placed on us. I wasn’t there the previous season, but coming at the start of the 2011 preseason, there was a real buzz around the place. So what happened that night in Sydney with the Waratahs defeat? We were up for the game, but they were up for it more. They had sensed that this year would be tougher than they had faced in a long time… and they would be right, but not on this night. Ewen McKenzie, our coach, got us into the meeting room to face him. There were no heated words, no yelling and screaming – something Ewen was more than capable of, but not tonight. He wanted answers from the playing group. Why were we not up for it? Pre-season, the pre-season games and training had all been good. Why weren’t the performances? This went on for about 40 minutes. Were we still living on last year’s achievements? There seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm and that showed in a lack of communication. Communication is one of the best indications of whether a team – business or sport – is committed. Communication leads to clarity and confidence. We walked out knowing what had to change. And it did. The next time both teams met we were on a roll and went on to beat the Waratahs. We would actually go on to become champions. As a business leader, you will at times find yourself in Ewen’s position. You don’t always know, or have to have the answers. So, ask your team what’s going on. Especially if you’ve set the standards and expectations as a group, and they aren’t being met. Sometimes the team needs to take ownership for their performances. Don’t just allow it to go on, unaddressed. Have the tough conversations.
BUY OUR AWARD-WINNING BEERS ONLINE Or visit Tumut River Brewing Co’s 1,500 litre brewhouse with adjoining bar and restaurant. We proudly showcase 24 taps of TRBC’s beers along with a small range of other locally sourced beer, wine, cider and food. And it’s all here all because…Two mates wanted to make great beer
Website: www.trbc.com.au Address: Capper Street, Tumut. NSW, 2720 Search for 'Tumut River Brewing' on Facebook, Insta and Twitter
PUZZLES
CROSSWORD
14. Masted vessels
16. Wheel covers
18. Nakedness
17. Wound with claw
21. Pencil end
19. Illinois is there (1,1,1)
22. Canoe oar
20. Surrendered
24. Wear by rubbing
22. Short pasta tubes
25. Global hostel chain (1,1,1,1)
23. Highest ranking peers
26. Charitable 27. Dessert, ... pie 28. Cash machines (1,1,2) 29. Occurred afterwards
ALEXANDER BASSANIO BEATRICE BENEDICK BURGUNDY CALIBAN
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CASSANDRA CLARENCE CLEOPATRA DESDEMONA FREDERICK HIPPOLYTA
HOLOFERNES LYSANDER MARCELLUS PROSPERO QUINTUS VALENTINE
H O L O F E R N E S Y E C
L L O I E L I A A U R N O
C Y O L L N E U P C S E N
L T N U A B I P Q L T B A
F A S A V Y D N U G R U B
E O R X N N E S T E D E M
O P E Z T A S C D R C D E
P P P U I A S N R N I I D
A I S A N F A S E A S C S
T H O D E X E R A D M K E
R A R H E C A L I B A N D
A A P L D L Y S A N D E R
P W A K C I R E D E R F A
SOLUTIONS:
15. Try
P W A K C I R E D E R F A
13. Eve’s mate
A A P L D L Y S A N D E R
12. Devour
R A R H E C A L I B A N D
6. Unrelenting
11. Recesses
T H O D E X E R A D M K E
10. Erected
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: SHAKESPEARE CHARACTERS.
A I S A N F A S E A S C S
5. Dancer’s costume
P P P U I A S N R N I I D
9. Australian gem
WORD SEARCH
O P E Z T A S C D R C D E
4. Actress, ... Monroe
E O R X N N E S T E D E M
8. Large
L L O I E L I A A U R N O
3. Anaesthetises
C Y O L L N E U P C S E N
2. Attain
7. Consumption
L T N U A B I P Q L T B A
1. Feminine
5. Look before you ...
F A S A V Y D N U G R U B
DOWN
1. Series of rabbit tunnels
H O L O F E R N E S Y E C
ACROSS
directory
Experiences
Great places to stay, and awesome things to do across Australia.
DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs
King Leopold Air
Outback at Isa
82 BARRETT DRIVE, ALICE SPRINGS, NT 0871 T 08 8950 8000 E aspda_res@hilton.com alicesprings.doubletree.com
GUS WINCKEL ROAD, BROOME INT. AIRPORT T 08 9193 7155 E info@kingleopoldair.com.au kingleopoldair.com.au
19 MARIAN STREET, MOUNT ISA QLD 4825 T 07 4749 1555 E info@outbackatisa.com.au experiencemountisa.com
Experience eco-friendly luxury and enjoy views of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges when you stay with us. Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs Airport and a short walk to downtown, the hotel features modern Australian Saltbush Restaurant, a fitness centre and pool, tennis courts, a golf course, a business centre and event spaces.
From the World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungles to the gorges of Karijini National Park, from the Horizontal Falls to the majestic Mitchell Falls, King Leopold Air has been flying to Australia’s northwest for more than 25 years. Our scenic adventure flights are the best way to experience the incredible Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
Outback at Isa – your starting point for true Outback adventures! Learn about Mount Isa’s mining history on the Hard Times Mine Underground Tour and in the Isa Experience Heritage Display. Discover the region’s ancient past in the Riversleigh Fossil Centre and relax in our café, plan your trip and book tours.
VISIT THE REAL AUSTRALIA
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