True Blue Magazine – May/June 2021 by publishingbychelle

TrueBlue May/June 2021

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

IF YOU READ ME, TAKE ME HOME!

MEET OUR MAGGIE A piece of paradise where nature reigns

MCLAREN VALE WANDERINGS Where passion grows on vines

POOCH-MINDED Where to next with your furry best friend?

Charleville BILBIES, STARS & OUTBACK ADVENTURES

A real Australian business magazine

Your Gold Coast stay begins as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac

o o o o o o o o o

1-minute walk from airport terminal 5-minute walk to Kirra Beach 25m outdoor resort-style pool Rooftop gym with tarmac views Conference and meeting space 24-hour reception Daily housekeeping service Free unlimited WiFi 21 Foxtel channels

Rydges Gold Coast Airport Bilinga QLD 4225

The Salty Fox Rooftop Bar & Restaurant The Runway Restaurant & Bar

EDITORIAL

Publisher & Editor: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Deputy Editor: Bethany Plint editorial@publishingbychelle.com Designer: Ryan Vizcarra Sub-editor: Claire Hey

INTERNS

Propelled by the momentum of our inaugural Melbourne-Sydney flight, which took to the skies on March 1, Rex has really hit its stride in recent months, launching domestic flights on Australia’s busiest air corridor as well as another six routes in March and April alone. Rex has now launched Boeing 737 jet services between Melbourne and the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Adelaide, and Sydney and the Gold Coast. The Saab 340 turboprop network has also grown, with new services from Sydney to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Canberra. Rex also unveiled a new Lounge at Canberra Airport to coincide with the commencement of Canberra services on April 19. The enthusiastic uptake of our two new Gold Coast routes is proof that travellers are eager to get away and enjoy leisure destinations. At the beginning of April, we welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the Tourism Aviation Network Support Program. Passengers who take advantage of the program can fly from Sydney to the Gold Coast for as little as $55; Melburnians can fly to the Gold Coast from $55 or Adelaide from $59; or why not discover some

regional gems on our network – Melbourne to Burnie or Merimbula for under $100, or Adelaide to Kangaroo Island for only $74. We’re also proud to partner with Destination NSW on its ‘Love Sydney’ campaign, with some unbelievable fares into Sydney. Visit rex.com.au for all our latest promotional fares. Our airport staff and cabin crew are delighted to see familiar faces – and welcome new ones, eager to visit loved ones, embark on their first business trip in months, or take a much-needed holiday. For those flying with Rex for the very first time and for those who return again and again, we thank you for your patronage and we look forward to connecting you with the rest of Australia throughout our network. Don’t forget that you can book with confidence with our COVID-19 refund guarantee. We’re the only airline committed to full refunds for any passengers affected by cancellations, rescheduling or even COVID-related border closures and travel restrictions. For more information, head to rex.com.au Neville Howell Chief Operating Officer

Sylvia Hodges Rachel Gignac Alexandra O’Rourke

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sales@publishingbychelle.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Marie Barbieri Kirsten Craze Susan Gough Henly Tatyana Leonov Ian Lloyd Neubauer Bethany Plint Virginia Tressider

PRINTING

IVE Print Sydney 81 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128

Cover image: Kramer Photography True Blue 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 True Blue are from iStock and Getty Images, and we make every effort to credit all contributors.

MAY/JUNE 2021

Welcome back OVER THE past few months I’ve had the privilege of being on the inaugural Rex Boeing 737 flight from Sydney to Melbourne, and I also enjoyed the first flight from Sydney to Canberra, where I was able to check out the new Rex lounge. What a great, light-filled place to relax and catch up with colleagues and fellow travellers. It’s been a joy watching Rex expand into other parts of Australia such as Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, and rest assured you will be seeing plenty more stories on new Rex destinations in the coming issues. You might have noticed something different about this issue of True Blue. Since we launched the magazine almost four years ago, we’ve always featured an Australian personality on the cover. We’ll continue to bring you great stories on Australians doing awesome things, but we also thought the many stunning destinations in Australia should have a turn at being our cover stars. In this issue I travelled north for a laidback adventure on Magnetic Island – affectionately known by the locals as Maggie (page 24), and we stepped into the wonderful world of King Island (page 28) to entice you with some ideas on how to experience this magical part

of Tasmania during the cooler months. We met the winemakers of McLaren Vale (page 36), and to ensure that we gave our cities some love, we tuned into Sydney’s green offerings (page 46), as there’s so much to love about its parks, harbour and beaches. On pages 44 and 45, check out our latest collection of Australian made products, and now that every second Australian seems to have acquired a dog, we’ve pulled together some pooch-friendly holidays (page 40) that will have your best mate thanking you for taking them along for the fun and games. In AusBiz we go behind the scenes with Interflora, look into a new alternative to Facebook, and explore regenerative farming, mine site regeneration and the incredible regional property boom. Enjoy your travels and drop us a line any time – we love hearing from you.

MICHELLE HESPE & THE TEAM AT TRUE BLUE

If you would like to read the digital version of True Blue, please be our guest! Simply go to trulyaus.com – which is dedicated to exploring and celebrating all things Aussie, giving travellers the lowdown on the best places in regional, rural and outback Australia.

TRULYAUS.COM

TrueBlue May/June 2021

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

IF YOU READ ME, TAKE ME HOME!

MEET OUR MAGGIE

A piece of paradise where nature reigns

MCLAREN VALE WANDERINGS

Where passion grows on vines

POOCH-MINDED

Where to next with your furry best friend?

Charleville BILBIES, STARS

& OUTBACK ADVEN

TURES

A real Australian business magazine

2 TrueBlue

Inside TrueBlue AusBiz.

Check out AusBiz at the back of the magazine. 10 TECHNOLOGY Facebook vs the Federal Government – who was the real winner? 14 AGRICULTURE How Aussie farmers are moving to a more sustainable model 19 MINING Mine site rehab: bringing barren land back to life 24 PROPERTY The regional boom – how long will it last?

upfront

Features

06 Rex News

24 Best of both worlds up north

36 Winemakers of McLaren Vale

Explore lovely laidback Maggie and thriving Townsville on a trip full of adventure & downtime.

Channel your inner sommelier and sample some of SA’s best drops.

28 Charmed by Charleville

Planning a trip? Take your pooch along for the ride.

We share more exciting news of Rex’s expansion into the domestic market, helping to connect Australians across the country for business and leisure. Plus, Rex launches its world-first, fully compostable meal tray in a big step towards more sustainable flying.

13 Events & Entertainment

Explore the home of bilbies, and check out the stars on one of the outback’s most spectacular stargazing experiences.

40 Dogs on the road

46 Green Sydney Sydneysiders need not go far to escape the bustle and find themselves in nature.

Live music, theatre and sport are back! We share the top events and new releases to look out for.

22 Sip, Eat, Sleep We scope out the best new and established venues to wine, dine, play and rest your weary head.

40 MAY/JUNE 2021

UP, UP AND AWAY! Rex: Our heart is in the country

Bamaga NPA

Mornington Island (Gununa) Karumba

Cairns

Normanton

Burketown

Doomadgee

Townsville

Richmond

Mount Isa

Hughenden

Julia Creek Winton

Boulia

Longreach Bedourie Birdsville

Carnarvon

Windorah

Charleville Brisbane West Wellcamp (Toowoomba)

Quilpie Cunnamulla

Monkey Mia

Brisbane

St George

Thargomindah

Coober Pedy

Gold Coast Ballina (Byron Bay)

Lismore Ceduna Whyalla

Perth Esperance Albany

Port Lincoln

Mildura

Adelaide

Griffith

Dubbo

Mount Gambier

Port Macquarie

Orange

Bathurst

Narrandera-Leeton Wagga Wagga Albury

Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)

Coffs Harbour

Armidale

Parkes

Domestic Routes Regional Routes

Grafton (Yamba)

Broken Hill

Melbourne

Sydney Canberra

Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma) Merimbula

King Island

Operated in partnership with Upcoming Routes

Burnie

Our heart is in the count

*As of 19 April 21. Please visit rex.com.au for our latest route map

MAY/JUNE 2021

New routes for Rex It’s been a big two months for Rex launching new domestic routes from Melbourne to Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, and from Sydney to the Gold Coast and Canberra. There are also new regional routes for Sydney from Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie. MARCH 1, 2021, is a date that will be remembered as a significant milestone in Australian aviation history. It marks the day Rex commenced domestic operations between Melbourne and Sydney – the first independent airline to start flying the route in nearly 15 years. While it may be Rex’s initial foray into domestic routes, the airline has been carrying Australians for a very long time. Rex was established upon foundations laid more than 60 years ago, through its predecessor airlines – Hazelton Airlines, which started in 1953 as a charter service, and Kendell Airlines, which began as a small charter and flying school business in Wagga Wagga in 1965. Since then, Rex has been connecting regional Australia for 18 years, bringing its mission of reliability, affordability and trademark hospitality to domestic routes. The inaugural domestic service was a 7 a.m. departure from Melbourne to Sydney, flight number ZL18, operated by a Boeing 737-800 NG. For Jenny, a Mildura local making the journey with her husband Shane, Rex has been her airline of choice for a long time (even with two other airlines servicing Mildura). “I travel between Mildura and Melbourne to visit family, they’re all

6 TrueBlue

In partnership with Melbourne Airport, the inaugural cake won Rex’s first Anna.Aero ‘Cake of the Week’ prize, a coveted accolade in the aviation industry. (L-R) The Hon John Sharp AM – Deputy Chairman, Rex; Lyell Strambi – Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Airport

located there. It’s a quick, comfortable flight and really is a no-brainer compared to the six-hour drive to Melbourne,” she explains. When she found out that Rex was commencing domestic flights, she jumped at the chance to be part of the inaugural celebrations – also using the momentous occasion to celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary. “Being married for 30 years is an epic occasion; to fly on the inaugural flight, not only to a new destination but also in a brand new aircraft type for Rex, has made the occasion just perfect,” she says. “It’s been a oncein-a-lifetime experience that will be fondly remembered – as was the day we got married, of course!” Although the inaugural flight was a

highlight for Jenny, the Rex hospitality onboard is very familiar. “To be honest, I’ve had too many memorable flights to name just one. Once was when the Captain wished me a happy birthday over the PA, or the time when the flight attendant embraced me at the top of the stairs and the lady behind me said, ‘do I get one too?’ It’s the little things that make flying with Rex so special.” To add to the jubilation, on March 1 Rex also announced the expansion of its domestic network, with flights between Melbourne and Adelaide, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, and Sydney and the Gold Coast, all commencing within only weeks of the Melbourne/Sydney launch, as well as Sydney to Coffs Harbour, Port

“Our staff take pride in providing our customers with a safe, reliable and quality product and we are delighted by the positive feedback we have received in recognition of this. We are so grateful to our customers for their support in choosing to fly REX and look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon.” Neville Howell – Chief Operating Officer

Macquarie and Canberra on the Saab 340 network. The expansion in the domestic network is exciting news for Jenny, who says it gives her options to fly from home to more centres around Australia without changing airlines when transiting through Melbourne. “This will make my journeys cheaper and quicker when compared to other airlines,” she says. Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Lorie Argus agrees that Rex’s capital city expansion gives Victorians more choice and flexibility. “We’re delighted to see Rex move into the major city market… Rex has served the nation’s regional air needs for almost 20 years and its latest expansion provides even greater connectivity at a time when more people are seeking interstate adventures,” says Ms Argus. The start of domestic services also sees the introduction of Rex’s new business class product. Barry was one of the lucky eight passengers to sit up the front. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be one of the first passengers to enjoy Rexstyle Business Class hospitality on the new sector,” he says. “Shortly after takeoff the cabin manager Ebony and her dedicated team commenced the in-flight service. We were offered a choice of two meals: saltbush lamb ragu or a Harissa roasted vegetables and a mozzarella

salad with an avocado dressing. There was also an extensive selection of excellent Australian wines.” The complimentary sparkling in the main cabin was also a hit. When asked to describe the onboard service in the main cabin, Jenny adds: “Champagne at 7am – there simply aren’t any other words! But in all honesty the service was amazing. Cupcakes, goodie bags and most importantly smiles made the whole adventure fun.” Damien, who flew on the return Sydney-Melbourne route on March 1, is now a veteran of Rex launch flights, also flying onboard the inaugural Melbourne-Gold Coast, MelbourneAdelaide, Sydney- Gold Coast, Sydney-Canberra flights, though the first flight still shines as the favourite. “There was just so much excitement around Rex starting jet flights for the first time,” he says. Damien is a self-proclaimed travel addict, who’s been to 50 countries and flown on 65 different airlines. Like Jenny, he already knows Rex as he has flown on the regional network. “Rex grants access to parts of the country where not many people have travelled unless they live or work there, so it’s great for seeing different places inside Australia,” he says.

Damien on the inaugural Sydney to Gold Coast service – one of the five launch flights he has been on with Rex.

“I’ve always found Rex’s onboard service to be great on the Saab – more than I’d ever expect for short regional routes – and they have brought this through to the new jet services. The service level so far has rivalled or eclipsed other airlines’ offerings, and I’m hoping it continues like that into the future.” Neville Howell, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer with more than 38 years of aviation experience, captures what the day means to the company: “It’s the culmination of many months’ dedication, tenacity and passion to see a dream realised. It’s also the dawn of a new era of affordability and connectivity for Australians.”

The ceremonial ADL-MEL cake – which also won Cake of the Week – with (L-R) the Hon Stephen Patterson – Minister for Trade and Investment; Mark Young – Manag- ing Director Adelaide Airport; Hon John Sharp AM – Deputy Chairman Rex; Rodney Harrex – Chief Executive, South Australian Tourism Commission. ADL-MEL services commenced March 31, 2021. MAY/JUNE 2021

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I N F L I G H T I N F O R M AT I O N

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS As you sit back in comfort en route to your destination, the Rex crew hope you enjoy this entertaining and informative light reading. Q. Why do the flight attendants insist that all window blinds be up for take-off? A. The most critical phases of a flight are the take-off and landing. In the most unlikely event of a situation that requires an emergency evacuation, it is important that crew and passengers are able to have a clear view of the outside conditions in case of obstructions. For example, before exits are opened, staff must check for fire or other obstacles that may present potential hazards during the evacuation. Q. Why do I have to stow my carry-on baggage in the overhead lockers, under the seats or in the seat pockets for take-off and landing? A. Flight crews are required by Civil Aviation Regulations to secure the cabin as well as possible for take-off and landing. As mentioned, these are the most critical phases of the flight, and securing as much carryon baggage as possible ensures that, in the unlikely event of an emergency, the exits and aisles stay as clear as possible, in case evacuation is necessary. It is also important to keep carry-on baggage secure whenever possible to ensure heavier items do not become airborne within the cabin. This is especially important when the aircraft is experiencing turbulence. Q. Why do I feel so tired from flying? A. As the aircraft altitude increases, air pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases, the body absorbs less oxygen than it would at sea level – so, it must work harder to supply oxygen to the body’s cells. As the body is working harder, it becomes more tired. Q. Why do I sometimes feel pain in my ears or sinuses during ascent or descent? A. The sinuses and middle ear are air-containing cavities that connect with the nose via narrow channels. As aircrafts ascend and cabin pressure drops, air passes out of these cavities (without any effort from the passenger) to balance the cabin pressure. It is a different matter during descent, as the cabin pressure increases. The channels close down and must be actively opened by holding the nose and blowing to inflate the cavities. Facial and ear pain can occur during descent if re-inflation does not occur, and this is much

more likely if the passenger has nasal congestion. If you must fly with hayfever, use a decongestant nasal spray before descent and buy some ‘ear planes’ to plug your ears. (Information contributed by Dr Daniel Hains, ENT surgeon.) Q. When can electronic equipment such as laptops, iPods and mobile phones be used? A. All Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) must be placed in flight mode if access to the tarmac (including by bus) is required during boarding or disembarkation, and when instructed to do so by the cabin crew. Small handheld PEDs weighing less than 1kg, such as mobile phones, can be used in flight mode during all stages of flight. PEDs over 1kg, such as laptop computers, must be stowed appropriately for taxi, take-off and landing, and are permitted to be used only during cruise when the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign is switched off. PEDs cannot be used while crossing the tarmac. Q. What is the average speed of the aircraft when cruising in flight? A. Our Saab 340 has an average cruising speed of approximately 500 kilometres per hour. The Boeing 737-800 NG has an average speed of 830 kilometres per hour. Q. Why do I have to get permission from the Captain to move to a vacant seat? A. The aircraft’s take-off speed is calculated by the weight and balance of the aircraft, and many factors need to be considered for a successful take-off. Factors include the weight of passengers and where they are seated, the weight of cargo, freight and fuel, the distance available on the runway, etc. For example, if there are 100 or more kilograms of freight in the cargo, the balance of the aircraft will be better maintained if passengers are seated in the forward rows.

AIR TURBULENCE

Q. Aircraft often experience air turbulence, but what causes it? A. Imagine the air around the aircraft is water in a stream. We can see how water is disturbed around rocks or when two streams converge. Turbulence in

the air is similar: as the aircraft passes through cold air or in the vicinity of terrain that has disturbed the airflow – often incorrectly referred to as ‘air pockets’ – the aircraft climbs and descends in the same way that a boat moves on water. Though turbulence can be uncomfortable, it poses no threat to the aircraft and is akin to driving on a rough or unsealed road. More severe turbulence can be associated with developing thunderstorms. Aircraft have a sophisticated weather radar that pilots use to avoid these areas. Occasionally, a flight attendant will discontinue serving passengers in turbulent conditions; this is a precaution to ensure everyone’s safety. Q. Why should I keep my seatbelt fastened even when the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign is switched off? A. On occasion, the flight crew cannot foresee turbulence or it is not picked up on the flight-deck radar. Because of this, we could unexpectedly experience turbulence at any time. The company recommends that you always keep your seatbelt fastened while you are seated – for your safety, just in case unexpected turbulence is encountered.

ENGINE NOISES

Q. Why do the aircraft’s engine noises change during the flight? A. Aircraft need more power to climb than to descend, in the same way that a car needs more power to go up a hill than down one. Rex aircraft have more than enough power to climb, so shortly after take-off you will notice a change in noises as the power is reduced. The pilots also control the pitch angle of the propellers for various stages of the flight, and as they ‘change gears’ this can also be heard in the cabin. Q. What should I do if I see or hear something that does not look or sound right? A. Please advise your flight attendant. The flight attendant may be able to answer your query and allay any fears. If not, the flight attendant will contact the flight deck and advise the pilots of anything unusual. Rex encourages open communication and will always treat a passengers’ concerns with the utmost seriousness. MAY/JUNE 2021

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BAGGAGE Carry-on baggage ROUTES

FARE TYPE

WEIGHT ALLOWANCE

ALL REGIONAL SERVICES

ALL FARES

7KG

PROMO AND SAVER FARES

7KG

FLEX

10KG

BIZ SAVER

10KG

BIZ & BIZ PLUS

15KG*

ALL DOMESTIC SERVICES

CHECK- IN Online check-in You can check-in online through the Rex website, rex.com.au, on your desktop or mobile devices between 48 hours and 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of your flight.

* no one piece may weigh more than 10kg

Checked baggage Airport check-in If you have checked baggage, we recommend that you arrive at the airport for check-in at least 60 minutes before the scheduled departure of your flight at all airports except Burketown, Queensland (90 minutes before).

ROUTES

ALL REGIONAL SERVICES

Rex check-in closes: •6 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at Burketown airport. •3 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Queensland airports (with the exception of Burketown above). •2 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure time at regional airports in NSW, SA, Tas, Vic and WA.

ALL DOMESTIC SERVICES

FARE TYPE

WEIGHT ALLOWANCE

COMMUNITY, PROMO, SAVER

15KG

FLEX

23KG

PROMO, SAVER & FLEX

23KG

BIZ SAVER, BIZ & BIZ PLUS

32KG

Passengers with international connections (within 24 hours) are permitted a 23 kilogram baggage allowance upon presenting a valid itinerary or ticket.

Special requirements: Passengers with special requirements must check-in at the airport (online check-in is not available) no later than: • 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure for domestic flights and flights departing from Burketown. •6 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure for regional flights departing from major cities and all Queensland regional airports except Burketown (please see below). •4 5 minutes prior to scheduled departure in NSW, SA, Tas, Vic and WA regional airports.

Please refer to rex.com.au for more baggage allowance information. Excess baggage Additional checked baggage allowance may be purchased during booking. For baggage presented at check-in which is over the baggage allowance, excess baggage is subject to capacity and a surcharge of $5.50 (incl GST) per kilogram is applicable.

REX AIRCRAFT FACTS AIRCRAFT

MAX. TAKE-OFF WEIGHT (KG)

SPEED (KM/H)

AVAILABLE SEATS

GALLEY

REST ROOM

FLEET SIZE

CRUISE ALTITUDE (METRES)

CREW

SAAB 340

13,155

520

30-36

7,600

BOEING 737-800 NG

79,015

830

176

10,000 TO 12,000

MAY/JUNE 2021

Exercise and stretch regularly while seated

Inflight Comfort

SEATED EXERCISES

ANKLE CIRCLES Lift feet off floor, draw a circle with the toes, simultaneously moving one foot clockwise and the other foot counterclockwise. Reverse circles. Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired.

FOOT PUMPS Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upward as high as you can. Then put both feet flat on the floor. Then lift heels high, keeping the balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second intervals.

Flying can be demanding and altitude may make your body more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and caffeine. Sitting in one place for a long time can be uncomfortable and slow down your blood circulation. To help your body adjust to flying and to maintain your personal comfort and wellbeing, we recommend you take the following steps: Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids – water, juice, non-caffeinated soft drinks – to prevent dehydration, fatigue and headaches. Minimise intake of alcohol and coffee. Moisten the face to help reduce the drying effects of cabin air. Eat lightly. Eat lightly on longer flights toavoid indigestion – our inflight menu is designed to provide lighter meal options.

KNEE LIFTS Lift leg with knee bent while contracting your thigh muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30 times for each leg.

SHOULDER ROLLS Hunch shoulders forward, then upward, then backward, then downward, using a gentle, circular motion.

ARM CURLS Arms held at 90° angles,elbows down, hands in front. Raise hands up to chest and back down. Alternate hands. Repeat in 30-second intervals.

SEATED STRETCHES

Exercise. We encourage you to do the gentle onboard exercises on this page to enhance your wellbeing during the flight. We recommend you do these exercises for about five minutes every one to two hours. You should also occasionally walk down the aisles, as space permits. In addition, we recommend that you avoid crossing your legs. Please note: you should not do any of these exercises if they cause you pain or cannot be done with ease.

KNEE TO CHEST Bend forward slightly. Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs. Repeat 10 times.

FORWARD FLEX With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs toward your ankles. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

OVERHEAD STRETCH Raise both hands straight up over your head. With one hand, grasp the wrist of the opposite hand and gently pull to one side. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Please note: you should not do any of these exercises if they cause you pain or cannot be done with ease. SHOULDER STRETCH Reach your right hand over your left shoulder. Place your left hand behind your right elbow and gently press your elbow toward your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

12 TrueBlue

NECK ROLLS With your shoulders relaxed, drop your ear to shoulder and gently roll your neck forward and to the other side, holding each position for five seconds. Repeat five times.

Moving about the aircraft. You may move about the aircraft as space permits and when the seatbelt sign is off. However, when the seatbelt sign is on you are required to remain seated with the seatbelt fastened. If you feel unwell, tell the cabin crew. They can assist with the more common inflight complaints and, if necessary, can seek further advice and assistance for you. On descent. Ears and sinuses can cause discomfort, due to the change in air pressure on descent. To minimise discomfort: • Yawn or swallow frequently. • Pinch your nostrils together and blow firmly into your cheeks with your mouth closed. If you have ongoing discomfort, seek the advice of the cabin crew.

Watch, read & listen

Entertainment Compiled by: Bethany Plint

books

podcasts

Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories

The Botanical Art of William T. Cooper, Wendy Cooper May 2021, NLA Publishing, History & Botanics This stunning hardcover book showcases the spectacular flora of Australia in all its messy, imperfect glory, painted by the late William T. Cooper, with words from his wife, botanist Wendy Cooper.

Music Sideways to New Italy, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

5 June The second studio album from the five-piece band, ‘Sideways to New Italy’ presents a varied selection of buoyant melodies and vintage indie rock sound, capturing the ensemble’s life on the road while touring their debut album.

Turns Out, I’m Fine, Judith Lucy April 2021, Simon and Schuster Australia, Biography The renowned author and star of numerous onewoman shows reflects on the events that led her to a downright existential crisis. Despite a slight drowning experience, Lucy finds there is hope for her yet.

Television Copping it Black, SBS On Demand

Late 2021 In a gripping four-part series, detective Toni Alma returns to the Aboriginal community she fled as a child to investigate a suspicious car accident. Clues lead her to grapple with her past, family and the enduring complexity of Aboriginal art and culture.

How Stella Learned to Talk, Christina Hunger May 2021, Harper Collins, Pets & Companionship Always wanted to know what your dog is thinking? Speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger has developed a method of communicating with her dog, using simple techniques that you can adopt in your own home.

This series shares inspiring conversations with Indigenous role models. Hosted by Marlee Silva, founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas – a social media initiative dedicated to celebrating Indigenous women.

The Zest is History

Hosts Melissa Mason and Josie Rozenberg-Clarke deliver a weekly dose of obscure Australian history in hilarious yet thoroughly researched episodes. From Steve Irwin to badass female bushrangers – no historical figure is off-limits.

Film Hollywood heavy hitters George Clooney and Julia Roberts will head down under to begin filming their upcoming movie, Ticket to Paradise. The Whitsundays and parts of Southern Queensland will provide the backdrop for the romantic comedy that is set to bring $32.7 million into Queensland’s economy, as well as more than 1,000 jobs.

Flash Forward

Each episode, journalist Jane Eveleth leads listeners on a new journey through a possible future. Covering a broad range of topics including technology, philosophy, ethics and science, she asks bold questions to get listeners thinking differently. MAY/JUNE 2021

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Rex unveils a new lounge in Canberra

REX RECENTLY unveiled its new lounge at Canberra Airport, coinciding with the launch of services between Sydney and the nation’s capital. The International Lounge features an expansive dining area and a variety of seating options. WiFi and power connectivity keep the business traveller connected, while relaxed social and private spaces meet the needs of leisure passengers.

To celebrate Canberra’s addition to the lounge network, all Rex passengers flying from Canberra will have access to the lounge until mid-July 2021. All passengers will be welcomed with a complimentary nonalcoholic beverage. Alcohol and snacks are available for purchase. “We are delighted all passengers will be able to enjoy the lounge as part of our launch celebrations to thank them for supporting the new route,” says Rex Deputy Chairman Hon John Sharp AM. “We also wish to thank Canberra Airport for the use of the International Lounge while we finalise the arrangement of Rex’s permanent lounge.” Valued Rex Lounge members enjoy exclusive benefits. Yearly membership can be purchased at rex.com.au

Gourmet dining which is kind to the planet in Rex Bussiness Class TACKLING THE single-use waste problem has been an ongoing battle for airlines around the world. Rex is proud to be taking great leaps towards more environmentally conscious flying. A new partnership with Global-C has allowed Rex to develop a world-first, full-size airline meal tray made from recycled cardboard and paper, which is also fully compostable. Every product in the sustainable collection has been formulated to not only give a second life to existing materials, but to offer the best end-of-life disposal option possible. This development coincides with the launch of Rex’s new business class meal service, which is tailored to showcase flavours and gourmet ingredients from exceptional Australian producers. The inflight dining experience allows passengers to sample artisan cheeses from Gippsland, smoked salmon from Tasmania and boutique wines from around the country, all of which have been carefully selected to minimise waste and environmental impact. Rex is proud to be pioneering this initiative, because small steps like this make a huge difference to the health of the planet in the long term. MAY/JUNE 2021

Northern Peninsula Area

WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WE STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE SELF–GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE. Cape York is at the very northern tip of Australia. It’s a narrow peninsula only 80 miles south of Papua New Guinea, with the Coral Sea to the east, the Arafura Sea/Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Torres Strait Islands to the north. The Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is a land of two seasons: the wet season, December to April, and the dry season, May to November. NPA is made up of five Indigenous communities; Injinoo, Umagico, New Mapoon, Seisia and Bamaga. Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) NPARC is the governing local council involved in developing the local economy through everyday municipal services, operating local enterprises and administering social, community, cultural and recreational activities. Visit the NPA, by air, sea or by road. Explore the adventurous, challenging and historical Telegraph Track or drive by the Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only. This sacred area is full of wonderful nature at every turn, scenic views, waterfalls, and sunsets equal to the best in the world and make your way to the very tip of the Australian continent, a must do when you visit this remote area. Enjoy the cultural performances, indigenous arts and crafts, fishing tours, boat trips, scenic helicopter flights from Punsand Bay, croc spotting, or other seasonal tours. Accommodation options range from motel units and self-contained cabins, to lodge rooms, eco tents and camping. Embark upon adventure in the Cape York region. Come and experience the unexpected.

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For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au

New kid on

THE BLOCK

travelling for business. The vibrant meeting and conference spaces, 24-hour reception and proximity to the terminal tick all the necessary boxes for a productive work trip. Even for corporate day trippers, the private Pearl Room or the rooftop bar provide excellent backdrops for business meetings. The deluxe, premium and executive rooms offer comfortable digs for short and long stays, and are decked out with lively murals and furnishings that reflect the spirit of the Gold Coast. Expect coastal blue hues and stylish furniture with plenty of natural light.

VERY FEW airport hotels mirror the excitement and anticipation that often comes with air travel. They can be uninspiring abodes occupied by exhausted passengers who have been plonked in a new city, usually for work-related reasons. They provide the essentials but often miss the opportunity to treat guests to a taste of their destination as soon as they leave the airport terminal. The Gold Coast’s new kid on the block breaks away from this mould. A 1-minute walk from the airport terminal, Rydges Gold Coast Airport immediately envelopes guests in an atmosphere that is both relaxed and sophisticated. The new 192-room hotel is the first of its kind in the region, blending business and leisure in true Gold Coast fashion. Premium dining options with views of the coastline, a resort-style pool and world-class beaches a short walk away extend that ‘holiday feel’ even to guests who are

The Salty Fox Rooftop Bar is where most guests park themselves from 3pm onwards (midday on weekends) to enjoy a masterfully mixed cocktail or a local craft beer while soaking up the views: hinterland to the west, Kirra Beach to the east and the tarmac below. Guests can also pull up a pew at the poolside Runway Restaurant & Bar for a unique à la carte dining experience. A stay at this distinctive airport hotel places you within reach of the Gold Coast’s top attractions: 5 minutes to Coolangatta, 25 minutes to Surfers Paradise and 45 minutes to the region’s world renowned theme parks. Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, Rydges Gold Coast Airport is a place to dip your toe into the wider offerings of this spectacular beachside destination.

rydges.com (07) 5619 8198 Lot 5 Terminal Drive, Bilinga QLD 4225 MAY/JUNE 2021

Events

Barunga Festival Katherine, NT

11-13 June Traditional and contemporary Indigenous culture will collide at this year’s Barunga Festival, held in the Northern Territory’s spectacular Katherine region. Celebrating community life through music, sport, food and culture, the three-day event will welcome festival goers from far and wide to one of the most culturally significant events on the calendar.

What’s On Agfest

Carrick, Tasmania

5-8 May The Apple Isle’s premier agricultural event is back in 2021, promising a 500-strong spread of vendors and exhibitors. Top attractions include vintage farming machinery, clothing and homewares stalls, food and horticulture displays, as well as the finest livestock in the land.

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compiled by: Bethany plint

Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival Pokolbin, NSW

June Throughout the month of June, food and wine lovers should give in to their tummy grumblings and follow their senses to Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley for some of the best viticulture and culinary experiences in the state. Vineyard tours, cooking classes and wine making workshops are on offer for diehard fans, but for those simply wanting to sample the goods, wine tasting and dining experiences abound at various cellar doors and restaurants throughout the Hunter region.

Bathurst Winter Festival Bathurst, NSW

26 June – 11 July Bathurst Winter Festival is back this June after a hugely successful 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19. Innovative new pop-ups and event formats allowed the beloved regional festival to welcome visitors from

across NSW. Expect crowd favourites such as the Drive-In Cinema, Brighten Up Bathurst and live music to return in style.

Ord Valley Muster Kununurra, NT

21-29 May Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Ord Valley Muster returns to the

Events Kimberley in May for an epic nine-day event. The region’s biggest annual festival promises over 30 stellar events, welcoming more than 10,000 locals and visitors. The festival will take place in the town of Kununurra, the gateway to the East Kimberley, where endless hiking, camping and 4WD adventures await.

Drummer Queens Nationwide

28 April – 19 September Prepare to be wowed by this world-class ensemble of percussionists, delivering a powerful musical performance that will have your ears ringing in the best possible way. The all-female cast will have you rocking along to their irresistible rhythms while impressive staging and stunning light work provide a breathtaking and immersive experience. Shows will take place in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, with more yet to be announced.

Archie 100, A Century of the Archibald Prize

The Domain, Sydney, NSW

From 5 June The Art Gallery of New South Wales celebrates the 100th birthday of Australia’s oldest portrait award. The landmark exhibition reveals the fascinating stories behind the entire collection of winning artworks, uncovering the ever-changing styles, mediums and approaches to portraiture captured over the past century.

Below the Belt

The Woman in Black

May Throughout the month of May, the Below the Belt #YourWay challenge is encouraging Australians to get up and get moving in order to raise awareness and funds for those impacted by below the belt cancers such as kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular. Cycle, run, swim, even scooter – just commit to a total distance, record your efforts and raise a bit of coin for cancer research.

11 June – 24 July One of the longest-running plays in West End history makes its way to Ensemble, an intimate performance space in North Sydney’s Kirribilli. Susan Hill’s classic ghost story, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, will have you watching through your fingers, laughing out loud and gasping at the spooky twists in an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Nationwide

Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, NSW

MAY/JUNE 2021

Recipe This recipe makes two 20cm cakes.

Never-Fail Sponge Cake From Our Kitchen to Yours by The Country Women’s Association of Victoria

Ingredients • 4 eggs, separated • small pinch of salt • ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence • ¾ cup (90g) cornflour • 1 large tablespoon custard powder • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar • ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda Method Preheat oven to 175°C. Beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form, then gradually beat in caster sugar. Beat well

until very thick, stiff peaks form. Gently fold in egg yolks and vanilla. Add twice-sifted dry ingredients, then gently fold them through the egg mixture until combined. Turn evenly into two wellgreased sandwich tins, 21cm x 6cm deep. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes have shrunk a little from the side of the tins. Turn out to cool, then slice through and fill with cream and jam, to make two individual layered cakes, or one big cake with four layers. Ice or decorate the top as required; in the photo the cake is topped with strawberry halves and dusted with icing sugar. Variation For a chocolate sponge, add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to dry ingredients.

About the book From Our Kitchen to Yours is a modern home cook’s handbook featuring 185 tried and tested recipes that are sure to impress anyone who sits at your table. Hearty baked dinners, soul-soothing soups and delicious desserts await, so grab your copy and get cooking. Images and text from From Our Kitchen to Yours by The Country Women’s Association of Victoria, photography by Cath Muscat. Murdoch Books RRP $36.99

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MELBOURNE - GOLD COAST MELBOURNE - ADELAIDE MELBOURNE - BURNIE MELBOURNE - MERIMBULA SYDNEY - GOLD COAST ADELAIDE - KANGAROO ISLAND MILDURA - ADELAIDE BROKEN HILL - ADELAIDE

$65 $59 $99 $99 $55 $74 $99 $111

*subject to Promo Fare availability, excludes booking/handling fee and payment method surcharge. Visit rex.com.au for more details

Sip, eat, sleep

Take a bite out of Sydney Vini Divini, Sydney NSW This new inner city wine bar bursts at the seams with excellent wine offerings from all over the world. Boasting a floor to ceiling wine wall comprising well over a thousand bottles, Vini Divini invites patrons to take a sip of la dolce vita. The extensive wine menu is one of the biggest “by the glass” selections in the city, curated by renowned sommelier Raphael Mulligan (ex-Rockpool). Thanks to a Mediteranean-inspired menu, starring mezze-style dishes including slow-cooked lamb shoulder with fregola salad and beetroot-marinated artichokes with toasted almonds, diners can indulge in some of the finest food and wine in town in an alfresco setting overlooking Wynyard Park. vinidivini.com.au

Bodhi Restaurant, Sydney NSW Vegan eateries and products have been popping up like mushrooms over the past year, but Sydney’s Bodhi Restaurant has been the go-to restaurant for lovers of plant-based dining for 33 years. Tucked into a park under masses of Moreton Bay fig trees, Bodhi’s atmosphere is as calming as its delighfully presented dishes. The cocktail menu uses the finest organic herbs, fruits, fresh-pressed juices and bespoke syrups, and the craft beers and Australian wines have been thoughtfully selected from local growers using organic, bio-dynamic or friendly farming practices. Opt for a yum cha lunch, an à la carte dinner, or indulge in an extensive selection of share plates. bodhirestaurant.com.au

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Sip, eat, sleep

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Market, Adelaide SA Hotel Indigo is a place where Adelaidians and travellers come to meet, indulge and expand their culinary horizons. Exposed brick archways, striking murals and statement copper fixtures breathe new life into the former textile factory, reflecting the raw yet refined character of its neighbourhood. A hop, skip and jump from Adelaide Central Market, the 145-room hotel is perfectly located for adventurous foodies, but don’t be so quick to drop your bags and dash. Market & Meander is an all-day dining venue where locally sourced produce is expertly prepared and plated up with a nod to the local multicultural influences. Sixteen floors up, the hotel’s rooftop bar Merrymaker dishes up stunning city views along with a cocktail list that will entice you to skip your usual order and opt for something a little more adventurous. adelaide.hotelindigo.com

Elysia Retreat, Hunter Valley NSW If the idea of making it through 24 hours without your phone makes you shudder, a digital detox at Elysia Retreat is what you need. Located in the sensational Hunter Valley region, this all-inclusive wellness retreat offers an immersive escape from the day-to-day. Though surrounded by some of the country’s oldest vineyards, wine is one thing you won’t find on the menu. Instead, you’ll encounter nutritious wholefoodbased meals in keeping with Elysia’s core principles of nutrition, exercise and relaxation. Tailored experiences may include a rejuvenating spa treatment, a restorative yoga class, a day lounging by the pool, an evening curled up with a book in the library, or all of the above. elysiaretreat.com.au MAY/JUNE 2021

Getaway

f o t s e B

BOTH WORLDS While Townsville sprawls far and wide, asserting its place as one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, Magnetic Island is still a quiet slice of paradise with a touch more tourism slipping into the mix.

Images: Tourism and Events Queensland

Words: Michelle Hespe

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Getaway

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Wandering along the jetty at Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island coastline and street art around Townsville

THERE’S A little girl standing on tiptoe at the bow of the ferry in front of me, gazing excitedly across the blue expanse of the Great Barrier Reef. The olivegreen, undulating form of Magnetic Island is in clear view and she has a question that thousands of others ask every year: “Dad, why’s it called Magnetic Island? Where are all the magnets?” Her dad is perched on a ferry seat sussing out the approaching landmass through his binoculars. “There are no magnets, honey – Captain Cook had a bit of a dodgy compass, and he thought it went nuts because there was a magnetic force on the island. People have tested it since and nobody can find anything magnetic. His compass was just having a bad day, I guess.” The little girl looks satisfied as we glide through the still waters closer to port. “Oh, I see,” she says. We pull into the ferry terminal on Maggie (that’s what Queenslanders affectionately call her) and, disembarking, I head to the little shack of an office that has something piercingly bright pink on offer. The little girl arrived there before me and now she’s jumping about in manic delight as she clocks the hot-pink Barbie-style ‘Tropical Topless’ cars that are the island’s choice of transport for tourists sans vehicles. They fit five, in a very cosy cluster, and they are the most incongruous things on the island, their hot pink bodies standing out starkly against the abundance of nature – all shades of green in the rainforest, bushland and super-green lawns; and all hues of blue in the surrounding ocean and inlets. From high above I’m sure my car looks like a fairy in her most daring get-up, zipping through the pictureperfect painting of a tropical island. Still, I’m off at a leisurely pink pace – and with no roof to hamper the view, these cars are the ideal way to see what Maggie has to offer.

NATURE LOVING Magnetic Island is 52 square kilometres and has around 2,500 residents. As it’s only a half-hour, eight-kilometre ride across on the ferry from the mainland, it’s become like a suburb of Townsville, with many of Maggie’s residents commuting across the sea to work. As soon as I become immersed in the island, it’s as if a weight drops off me. Cruising along the winding roads with a thousand palm trees in sight, I feel as though I’m a million miles from city life, and yet I can see Townsville on the horizon from some of the many lookouts. There are plenty of bushwalks on Maggie. A few years ago, $4.85 million dollars was invested in Gabul Way, an elevated steel pathway that hugs the side of the island for 710 metres from Nelly Bay to Arcadia.  MAY/JUNE 2021

Getaway

It’s Maggie’s little answer to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, and pedestrians and cyclists are loving it. Wildlife on the island is also plentiful, with 54 per cent of the terrain designated as national parkland. It’s a twitchers’ paradise, too, with around 186 species of bird. And at Arcadia’s barge landing on Geoffrey Bay, there is a large colony of quite tame rock wallabies. There’s an ongoing debate about whether the wallabies should or shouldn’t be fed; some foods can damage their digestive system and many people think it’s better that they forage for themselves. If you’re still keen to get up close, the correct wallaby feeding pellet packs can be purchased from the Nelly Bay Fish & Fuel shop on Mandalay Avenue in Nelly Bay. After a leisurely airborne walk I head to Horseshoe Bay, where a cluster of buzzing cafés, restaurants and galleries, and a pub called the Marlin Bar, are idyllically positioned beside the beach, palm trees and glistening water beckoning to those who stop for lunch. With hearty portions of beachsideinspired pub grub (chicken Caesar salad, calamari and chips), a great wine cellar, a bottle shop and live music sessions on Sundays, it’s a popular hangout all year round. Handing over Barbie’s car keys, I stroll to the jetty and join other commuters for the afternoon ferry back to Townsville. I promise myself I will return one day soon to the lovely, laidback community of Maggie – but for now, the big smoke beckons. When I disembark, I plan to take a walk to the top of Townsville’s natural icon: Castle Hill.

VIEW OF THE ’VILLE Just shy of being classified a mountain (it’s 286 metres high and 300 is required to make the grade), the pink granite monolith smack-bang in the centre of the city can be seen from

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Sunset at West Point, sealife at Reef HQ, lookout along the Forts Walk, snorkelling at Radical Bay, hiking Castle Hill & sunset on The Strand

pretty much everywhere, and has awesome views of Maggie and the many sprawling suburbs of Townsville. And despite the steep winding road being about three kilometres long, it’s a hugely popular walk or run for locals keen on losing a few kilos or just keeping fit. I struggle, but then see a bunch of young kids keeping up with supermums pushing prams, and forge on, pretending I’m not the most unfit person on the almost-mountain. After descending the Hill to the ’Ville (as the locals call it), it’s high time for some refreshment. I head to C Bar on the Strand, which is a walkway surrounded by beautifully kept gardens and parklands flanking Townsville’s beachfront. At this iconic seaside café, perched on the cliffs with an uninterrupted view of Maggie, I indulge in some people-watching and pore over a fantastic menu packed with northern Queensland produce. Famous for its apple-andcinnamon pancakes and the spot for locals to hang out after a few ‘straps’ (laps of the Strand), it’s also a great place to watch the sun rise over a hearty fry-up, or view the sunset with a vino or cold beer in hand.

WILDLIFE WARRIORS Townsville is home to the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium and the main education centre for the Great Barrier Reef. It’s a fun, interactive aquarium where visitors can watch playful leopard sharks

Images: Tourism and Events Queensland

Getaway

being fed by the staff, and get up close and personal with the myriad species that coexist on Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef. The aquarium was the vision of Dr Graeme Kelleher, who was once chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Kelleher’s aim was to create an accessible, affordable Great Barrier Reef on land, while spreading a conservation message and thus gaining public support for the protection of the real reef. Reef HQ Aquarium also has a turtle hospital: a haven for sick and injured sea turtles, where they are nursed back to health and then set free in the wild. All species of marine turtle found on and around the Great Barrier Reef are considered threatened, so the work is crucial for the survival of these beautiful, gentle reptiles. The hospital operates under and promotes the CARE (Conserve Act Rehabilitate Educate) philosophy, and it plays a key role in educating people about threatened species and nature conservation.

NIGHT ON THE TOWN A visit to Townsville would not be complete without a night out on the town – and the nightlife in this rapidly growing city is really impressive. In fact, as the mining boom has brought a lot of young

things with money to burn to town, it’s absolutely pumping. Dressed up to the nines, women in sparkling dresses and skyscraper heels totter through the streets, and everywhere, especially on weekend nights, there are groups of people literally spilling from the bars and restaurants. Kick off the night with some tasty Mexican-inspired fare at Cactus Jacks on Palmer Street, Townsville’s popular dining precinct. From there, choose from a ridiculous number of bars and pubs. And at some stage, on some trip to Townsville, you might end up at the Mad Cow Tavern. With an affronting frontage of vivid black-and-white cow-print patterns, the Mad Cow is the place everyone heads when everything else closes. And it’s hard to miss – day or night. This time I don’t choose the Mad Cow to wrap up my trip. Instead, I find a cool stool at the Heritage Exchange, and from there I watch the streams of people passing – laughing and enjoying life in a thriving regional city. You can live half an hour away from the big smoke on Maggie Island, then come into Townsville if you want some action. Far North Queensland’s hub has the best of both worlds. Rex operates regular flights from Cairns to Townsville, as well as a number of additional routes throughout Northern and Outback Queensland. TB MAY/JUNE 2021

Discover

Images: Tourism and Events Queensland

THIS PAGE: There were originally two species of bilby but the greater bilby is now commonly referred to simply as ‘the bilby’ as the lesser bilby (Macrotis leucura) is thought to have become extinct in the early 1950s OPPOSITE: Admiring the universe from Charleville Cosmos Centre

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Discover

S TAR S

of the show It’s been said that if Outback Queensland was a game of Bingo, Charleville would be the winning combination, as it ticks every box on the ‘things to do in Outback Queensland’ board.

Images: Tourism and Events Queensland

WORDs: Michelle Hespe

MAY/JUNE 2021

Discover

Images: Danielle Lancaster

CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: The new Secret Base, sunsets stretch forever, meet the locals at the races and pick up a bottle of famous Cooladdi hot sauce from the smallest town in Australia

GIVEN ITS population is just over 3,000, you might think of Charleville as a small outback town. But it’s actually the largest town in largest town in Murweh Shire, covering 687 square kilometres – and it punches way above its weight when it comes to great things to do in Outback Queensland. Spend a few days or a week here and you can pack in great country hospitality, an observatory experience like no other, meet one of Australia’s cutest animals (the Bilby) go fishing, camp and BBQ under the stars and basically get off the grid in a place that ignites travellers' love of the true Australian outback.

HISTORY AND RAINMAKING Established on the banks of the Warrego River in the early 1860s, Charleville was named by William Alcock Tully,

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Queensland’s chief commissioner of Crown Lands at the time, after his hometown in County Cork in Ireland. Its location by a permanent waterhole means that Charleville has always been a part of the major stock routes through the area, and today the town thrives on sheep and cattle grazing. The extremely wide roads are reminders of the old days, when bullock teams of up to 14 pairs needed space for turning when they made their way through town. An amusing piece of history that visitors can take in is the Steiger Vortex Rainmaker Guns in the Graham Andrews Parkland, which were one of 10 guns used by meteorologist Professor Clement Wragge in Charleville in 1902 in an attempt to end the six-year drought gripping the town. After placing the guns around Charleville, Steiger filled 

Discover

Images: Danielle Lancaster

LEFT TO RIGHT, THEN BELOW: In spring, see Calytrix longiflora (desert fringe myrtle) bloom at the botanical reserve, calling into the pub on a day trip to Augathella and taking a tour of Charleville’s Outback Date Farm

them with gunpowder and ignited them. The anticipated downpour never came and it is rumoured that after addressing a group of locals at the town hall that night and being met with scepticism and mockery, he left town the next day. Today, the pretty park features a native timber walk where interpretive signage describe the outback trees resilient to drought and floods.

THE REAL STARS OF THE OUTBACK Charleville is home to the fascinating Cosmos Centre where tour guides take visitors through cosmic activities and regale them with tales of ancient stargazers and the formation of the universe. At night, powerful telescopes offer an incredible peek into the galaxy. With such little light pollution, the views are awe-inspiring. And during the day, large telescopes trained on the sun allow close-up views of its flares and hotspots. The newer tourist attractions are also worthy of your attention. Meet the farmer for an inspiring tour of

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Charleville’s date farm, which uses only recycled water, then sample a tasty date slice and wash it down with a cuppa by the boiling billy. Learn about the secret US base in Charleville during World War II - when 3,5000 personnel were stationed in the town - on a tagalong driving tour or at the new WWII Secret Base exhibition. For history buffs, head to the Royal Flying Doctors base and visitor centre. This modern facility celebrates the historical links between the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Charleville, home to the longest-serving RFDS base in Queensland. The crew covers around 622,000 square kilometres – an area almost the size of the United Kingdom! A short drive from town is the Charleville Botanical Reserve, a real feather in Charleville’s natural cap. In the semi-arid Mulga Lands, this 2,000 hectare reserve contains most of the region’s major vegetation types and is spectacular in spring when a sea of desert fringe myrtle surrounds the winding path. 

Discover

FROM TOP: Play a round of golf in Charleville – part of the Outback Queensland Masters circuit, the Cooladdi railway siding and Charleville’s Water Tower

BILBIES ARE BOUNCING BACK You can’t visit Charleville without fitting in a Charleville Bilby Experience. The town is home to the largest bilby breeding program in Queensland. Here, you can see these endangered little marsupials digging their way back from the brink of extinction. Bilbies are believed to have inhabited Australia for up to 15 million years, and once were found across 70 per cent of Australia’s landmass. Wandering around beneath the seemingly endless blue skies that this remarkable part of Queensland is renowned for, you’ll meet the welcoming community and understand why some people fall in love with the outback, and could not imagine living anywhere else. TB

SIX FUN BILBY FACTS 1. Bilbies can sleep on their heads 2. ‘Macrotis’ means big-eared in Greek and bilby ears are big! They can be as much as 66 per cent of the body length of the bilby, providing an easy point of differentiation between bilbies and other marsupials. These ears are super sensitive 3. The lesser bilby became extinct in the 1950s; the greater bilby survives but remains endangered in Queensland

Images: Danielle Lancaster & Tourism and Events Queensland

4. Bilbies are omnivores, meaning they eat almost everything, including insects and plants. They rarely need water, making them superbly adapted to Australia’s harsh, dry Outback 5. Bilbies have one of the shortest pregnancies of any mammals on earth at 12 to 14 days and can have up to four litters of young per year 6. Bilby pouches face backwards so they don’t fill up with sand as they diligently dig burrows. It is estimated the animals can move 1.5 tonnes of earth per kilogram of body weight per year, according to the WWF

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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN

Home of Australia's beloved bilby, and a stargazing experience like no other.

E X P E R I E N C E

Charleville OUTBACK QUEENSLAND V I S I T O R S

G U I D E

C H A R L EV I L L E / M O R V EN / A U G AT H EL L A / C O O L A D D I experiencecharleville.com.au

Visit Charleville Visitor Information Centre at Railway Station, King St, Charleville You can also order your brochure online at: experiencecharleville.com.au

PICK UP OUR BROCHURE FROM THE CHARLEVILLE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE IT'S PACKED WITH IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO WHILE VISITING OUR BEAUTIFUL REGION

Gourmet getaway

Meet the winemakers of

M C L A R E N VA L E With its gorges, coastline and world-class food and wine, McLaren Vale is a fine purveyor of flavours to savour and landscapes to behold. Words: Marie Barbieri

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Gourmet getaway

BRINGING OUR appetites and intrigue along for the ride, a friend and I begin our day of chauffeured touring from exclusive Sequoia in the Adelaide Hills: the brand new luxury lodge on Mount Lofty Estate. Leaning invitingly on his shiny Land Rover Discovery is Simon Burley, owner and tour director of Coast & Co. Between hills and coast, this recently launched bespoke tour will lead us to some of McLaren Vale’s lesser-known sights and delights, and its small producers of the fine wine kind. Firstly, a taste of the region’s tantalising topography is on the visual menu. A leisurely walk in the woods immerses us into the tranquillity of 700 million-year-old Onkaparinga Gorge: a one-time glacier. Today, its ancient bones of sturt tillite splinter the cliffs, among a studded skin of flaky grey box and smooth-barked pink gums. Slowing our gait on a panoramic ridge where falcons, hawks and eagles ply high with the Onkaparinga River pooling below, we reach Punchbowl Lookout. Here, on Kuarna land, we pay our respects to the traditional owners who called the area Ngangkiparringa. “The waters below were a place of refuge for women, who would bathe and swim away from the men,” says Simon, directing our gaze into the belly of the valley. “We are also standing on

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission, Samson Tall Wines and Meaghan Coles

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Wirra Wirra cafe, view over Samson Tall Wines and bottles lined up at the cellar door

the dress circle of some of the best vineyards in McLaren Vale,” he says, turning around to a feast of rolling greens, pointing out specks of wineries in the heat-hazed distance. Established during the 1850s, today’s much-celebrated wine region of McLaren Vale is home to 90 cellar doors, with the bastion of the region being Shiraz. Heading back to the vehicle we set off to meet some of the vignerons and viticulturists in the terroir of the mighty grape.

SAMSON TALL Our first stop, sitting peacefully among McLaren Vale’s ordered vines, is old Bethany Chapel. British farmer and dairyman Samson Tall arrived from Plymouth in 1839. By 1854, he had  MAY/JUNE 2021

Gourmet getaway

FROM TOP: Cellar door at Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Hardy's Verandah Restaurant and historic cellars at Wirra Wirra

Images: Jonathan VDK, South Australian Tourism Commission and Marie Barbieri

WIRRA WIRRA VINEYARDS

bought the land, and had the community build the church in cob construction (clay, straw and rubble). Paul Wilson and Heather Budich bought the tiny pug church in 2015. It had also run as a B&B, but is now their beloved cellar door, where they create wine from the fruit of local growers. Gracing the walls are the paintings of Mark Wilson, Paul’s brother. In the quaint tasting room, complete with pews and a table fashioned from old staves, we taste Samson Tall’s single vineyard wines before taking a tour of the cellars. But what captivates us most is the onsite cemetery. “This is the headstone of Samson Tall,” says Paul. “Notice the shared headstone of his first and second wives!” It’s unknown how the two wives, Elizabeth and Ann, ended up in the same plot (but you can imagine the conjecture over tastings!).

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Entering via the river red gumthreaded fence known as ‘woodhenge’, and preserving ironstone cellars, an old barrel hall, a giant bell, and a medieval catapult, Wirra Wirra is quirk central. The grounds hark back to an aristocratic era, when former state cricketer Robert Strangways Wigley built the winery in 1894. Later came along fellow cricket-lover, Greg Trott. He purchased the winery in 1969, giving rise to the famous Church Block label in 1972, named after the original Church Block vines (opposite old Bethany Chapel). We lunch at onsite Harry’s Deli, on gourmet produce from local providores. Think Clappis’ sourdough bread and Dawn Patrol coffee. Later chinking with a Ginscato (the winery’s own gin and Moscato cocktail) we learn that eccentric Greg Trott took off for lunch in McLaren Vale one day, but ended up in London – to watch the cricket at Lords! While there, he eyed a trebuchet and desired to bring one home. He passed away in 2005, but a catapult was later erected on Wirra Wirra’s lawn to honour him, used before the start of vintage for flinging watermelons into a nearby paddock (as you do!). Awarded global winner at the 2021 Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards, the sustainable winery overlooks Scrubby Rise. Via a timber boardwalk straddling the (dry) creek, we view Wirra Wirra’s impressive biodynamic vines.

PRIMO ESTATE La dolce vita resides at Primo Estate, accessed via rose-bordered vines and a piazza of classic Italian design. Here, we settle in to taste-test the Italianstyle Joseph flight comprising: Nebbiolo (100 per cent Nebbiolo), Moda (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), Fronti (NV Frontenac, Muscat and Tokay) and d’Elena (100 per cent Pinot Grigio), the last of which was

Gourmet getaway

BEKKERS WINE Greeting us at this swish yet unassuming establishment (with its sign boldly printing the first ‘k’ in Bekkers flipped backwards) are viticulturist Toby Bekkers and his French wife Emmanuelle, an accomplished winemaker. “We spent many years travelling between Australia and Europe, gaining specialised knowledge to produce our Grenache and Syrah varieties,” says Toby, proudly. It paid off. The Syrah (their first wine released under their own label), with its fruity, spicy, chocolaty notes, scored 99 points from James Halliday in 2018, and fetches $120 per bottle. With prices rather on the high side and a glass-encased tasting room offering priceless views over the vineyard, Bekkers is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.

FROM TOP: Intimate dining at Wirra Wirra, stoking the fire at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant and dish at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant

VICTORY HOTEL It’s not what you might expect, walking into a Sellicks Hill pub. Yet visionary Doug Govan, publican of the 1854-established Victory Hotel, planted his Rudderless vines 18 years ago, in six varieties across five acres surrounding the venue. Doug leads us down to view his magnums. James Bond comes to mind – they reside behind a concealed wall of wines. “Welcome to my 30-year-old temperature-controlled cellar,” he says. It’s an impressive collection of Wendouree wines, as well Moss Wood, Cullen, and Chateau Leoville Barton. The Old Faithful Shiraz fetches a fine $300 per bottle. The Felton Road Pinot Noir asks for $350. And bottles of Ceretto snatch a mint at $650. It’s quite something, to stand among 8,000 bottles in Doug’s discerning cellar.

HARDY’S VERANDAH RESTAURANT We enjoy dinner at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant within Mount Lofty House. Their degustation menu includes succulent crab, marinated Mayura wagyu rump and the freshest King George whiting. We order the Disaster: a theatrical dessert that actually explodes on your plate. Yes, really!

HOW TO GET THERE

Images: Jonathan VDK, South Australian Tourism Commission and Tyrone Ormsby

recently rated by The Real Review as South Australia’s No.1 Pinot Gris. “Fermentation takes place in open concrete,” third-generation winemaker Matteo tells us. “And we pump over, but do not press down on our grapes.” Primo Grilli, Matteo’s grandfather, arrived from Italy in 1953, aged 18. Twenty years later he built his dream winery, with son Joseph taking over the business after graduating Dux of the prestigious Roseworthy winemaking course. His radical, experimental techniques blended original Italian winemaking skills with modern Australian, giving this cutting-edge winery its multicultural characteristics and reputation. Daniel, Joseph’s eldest son – who also graduated Dux of his year at Roseworthy – continues the family dynasty. After sipping Primo’s finest drops and sampling a delightful cheesetasting platter in the sophisticated contemporary space, I take home a bottle of Joseph extra virgin coldpressed olive oil, impatient to indulge further in its nutty, fruity notes.

Rex operates regular flights to Adelaide from six regional ports in South Australia, including Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Kingscote (Kangaroo Island), Mount Gambier and Coober Pedy, as well as direct flights from Broken Hill and Mildura. The recently launched MelbourneAdelaide route now connects the two major cities as well. TB MAY/JUNE 2021

Pet-friendly travel

THE DOWN UNDER

Dog-Friendly

H O L I DAY G U I D E

Image: Kristen Russell

Judging by the number of playful pups and gorgeous rescue dogs popping up on social media over the past year, it’s clear that Australia has a serious case of Fido fever. With travel restrictions easing by the day, why not take your best pal along for the ride? WORDs: Bethany Plint

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Pet-friendly travel

OPPOSITE: Exploring the Macleay River on the NSW Mid North Coast

PAWFECT STAYS Vibe Hotel Rushcutters Bay, Sydney NSW This stunning harbourside hotel will treat your dog to a dining experience like no other. At Vibe’s gorgeous Storehouse terrace cafe across from Rushcutters Bay Park, owners can peruse the ‘Dogustation’ menu and treat their pooch to a trio of ‘pawtein’ balls, sesame seed pup wafers and watermelon chews, all created by a dog nutritionist. The Storehouse is expected to reopen mid-year.

Spicers Balfour Hotel, Brisbane QLD

Images: Spicers Retreats, Must Love Dogs B&B and Yondah Beach Retreat

Taking your pup on an urban escape? In Brisbane’s trendy suburb of New Farm, Spicers Balfour Hotel offers a ‘Pooch Package’ where dogs can sleep soundly on the plushest of dog beds, go for a wander with a stylish lead equipped with doggy bags, and dive into dinner in a special Spicers food bowl (just in case you leave yours at home).

Must Love Dogs B&B, Rutherglen VIC Consistently voted in the top 25 Bed & Breakfasts in the country since opening in 2010, this rural retreat is located in the heart of Victoria’s North East wine region, Rutherglen. Built in 1840, the quaint cottage has been lovingly restored to offer a luxury escape for pets and owners alike. Cosy up by the open fire, enjoy high tea with your fur babies, and take a dip in the solar heated pool while your four-legged friends explore the tranquil gardens, all fenced for their safety.

THIS PAGE: All checked in at Spicers, afternoon tea at Must Love Dogs B&B and wide open spaces at Yondah Beach Retreat

Yondah Beach Retreat, Yorke Peninsula SA Set on 150 acres and with two kilometres of coastline to explore, Yondah is the perfect escape for dogs with energy to burn. This secluded beach retreat sleeps up to eight guests in a stunning architecturally designed abode overlooking the Yorke Peninsula. The property is fenced on three sides but is open to the coastline, so pups with a tendency to wander should perhaps be kept on a long lead while outside. Pets are welcome inside, just not on the furniture.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES Port Melbourne Dog Beach, Port Melbourne VIC Located between Station Pier and Lagoon Pier, Port Melbourne Dog Beach is a must-visit for Melbourne locals. There’s sand bars, shallow lagoons and plenty of open space to play fetch, so you’ll be dragging them back to the car by their tails (figuratively, of course). The south end of the beach is an off-leash zone all day every day, while the northern section is open to free-roaming dogs during the cooler months.  MAY/JUNE 2021

Pet-friendly travel CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Doggy day at the beach, jetty at Port Melbourne foreshore, gone kayaking, family trip to the beach, surfers in Byron Bay, First Aid Kit, dog on the open road and courtyard at Must Love Dogs B&B.

Bribie Island, QLD Around two hours’ drive from Brisbane, Bribie Island is well worth a day trip. The island’s entire south coast is dog friendly, so pack a picnic and plenty of treats because you won’t want to leave this pet-friendly paradise.

Belongil Beach, Bryon Bay NSW Byron Bay is one of NSW’s most popular getaway destinations, and with more and more Aussies opting for road trips over flying, now you can take your beloved pooch to hang 10 at some of Byron’s best beaches. Laidback Belongil Beach is perfect for an afternoon stroll on the sand and doubles as one of the best spots in the area to watch the sunset.

Hillarys Dog Beach, Perth WA A short drive from the CBD, Hillarys Dog Beach is part of a larger recreational area with plenty of space to run, swim, dig and explore. There’s specialised dog exercise equipment, plus doggy bins and bags and dog washing facilities. On weekends there’s even a coffee van for pet-parents to get their caffeine fix with, puppuccinos on the menu too.

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Rowland Reserve, Bayview NSW Known to locals as the Bayview Dog Park, this off-leash reserve is one of the most popular in Sydney. While many other dog friendly beaches around the city allocate certain hours to dog visitation, Bayview Dog Park is an all-day fun park for pets. The beach is located on Pittwater, and when the tide is low sand bars emerge and provide even more terrain for adventurous dogs to explore.

TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR DOG ON THE ROAD Is this your first time taking your dog on the road? You might be a little hesitant to head off on a long drive, but dogs are usually pretty good travel companions. They’re not precious about bathroom facilities, they won’t complain about your questionable taste in music and you’ll never hear them ask “are we there yet?” If you still need a few pointers, start with these:

Don’t forget tick protection If you’re heading into a rural area with lots of bushland or even to a farm with grassy paddocks, there’s a chance you’ll come across a tick or two.

Pet-friendly travel

Make sure you give your dog some form of tick prevention (preferably one recommended by a vet) before you go. Check to see how long it takes to become fully effective; it might take a few days to make its way through your dog’s system. You can often find tick prevention treatments that help fight off fleas and worms simultaneously. It’s best to cover all bases!

Images: Angelo Pantaszis, Must Love Dogs B&B, Destination NSW and Maggie Riordan

Check that you’re on the national microchip register You might think you have this one covered but there are actually six different microchip registers in Australia. Some only cover the state in which you live. It’s a good idea to make sure you’re registered on a national database, especially if you’re travelling interstate. While you’re at it, double check that your contact details are correct. Moved house or changed your phone number recently? Be sure to pass the information on.

Double check the essentials So you’ve packed the lead, harness, water and food bowls and a few of your pup’s favourite toys, but don’t forget the pooper scooper and doggy bags, a towel in case you take your pooch for

a swim, bedding or a travel crate for your dog to catch some Zs, and a can opener if your dog dines on tinned foods. It’s a good idea to take a few litres of water with you in case a tap is hard to come by on your drive.

Strap your pup in Don’t leave your dog to roam around the vehicle, for their own safety and yours. A 30 kilogram dog travelling at 60km/h can turn into a 1,200 kilogram projectile in the unfortunate case of an accident. Invest in a solid pet harness that attaches to the back of the seat or bring along a spacious crate for your dog to travel in.

Pack a pet first aid kit A first aid kit is a must for any long road trip, but have you got one specifically for your dog? You can buy a premade kit from St John Ambulance or First Aid Kits Australia, or have a go at putting together your own. Don’t forget the essentials: gauze, tweezers, vet wraps for bandaging (ones that don't stick or pull on fur), antiseptic for cleaning wounds, non-adhesive sterile pads and a flash card with emergency numbers including the National Animal Poison Control Centre. TB MAY/JUNE 2021

1. Queen B

Cool weather comforts

The first company in the country to make beeswax food wraps, Queen B remains a pioneer of natural, environmentally conscious Australian beeswax products. Now specialising in handmade candles, the mindfully sourced beeswax provides a superior burn time compared to soy and palm alternatives. Queen B’s gorgeous sample packs and hampers are a lovely gift idea for loved ones. queenb.com.au

2. Indigiearth

The highly innovative team behind Indigiearth channel 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture into their range, offering everything from spice blends, tea and chocolate treats to skincare, candles and superfoods. Championing native ingredients, Indigiearth allows people to taste and touch the gifts of mother nature – and even more so now, with the new Warakirri Dining Experience: a five-course degustation of Australian native foods, beverages and botanicals at their Mudgee cafe. indigiearth.com.au

3. Australian Botanicals

The family behind Australian Botanicals are taking things back to basics, while keeping their focus on using the purest, highest quality local ingredients. These plant oil soap bars are suitable for all skin types and are triple milled to ensure longer lasting suds and a thick lather. Despite the hoards of skincare companies racing to reinvent the wheel, the Apperley family know there is always a place for a chunky bar of soap in every Aussie bathroom. australianbotanicalsoap.com.au

4. Gourmet Dog Barkery We all love perusing the cabinet at the local bakery, inhaling that intoxicating smell of freshly baked goods. Imagine a pet-friendly equivalent, and how happy a special treat would make your four-legged friend! Gourmet Dog Barkery has been creating fun, flavoursome and (mostly) healthy treats for dogs and other pets since 2009. The two storefronts, Belmont and Terrigal in NSW, and an online shop, mean pet-lovers can spoil their best buds with birthday and special occasion-themed treats, or just because. gourmetdogbarkery.com.au

5. EMU AUSTRALIA

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EMU Australia’s new Winter 2021 collection has just been released and it’s bound to include your perfect fit. Keep your toes warm during the cooler months with a pair from the Australian-made Platinum Collection. These boots are crafted from 100 per cent real Aussie sheepskin and are made right here on our shores in various styles, colours and sizes. Add a splash of colour in vibrant Mayberry slippers or go for last year’s bestsellers, the Wobbegong. emuaustralia.com.au

Aussie Made

6. Do-Good-Labs

7. Arithmos

8. Paint Like Frida

Do-Good-Labs is more than an amazing Aussie snack business. They’re using their sleek and enticing packaging as a medium to spread an important message: mental health matters. Founders Dave and Dan are dedicated to creating tasty treats that get people talking. Fifty per cent of the profits go towards funding local projects and helping to improve mental health services, food security standards and childhood cancer R&R around the country. Keep an eye out for Do-Good-Labs on your Rex flight! dogoodlabs.com.au

Don’t let the looming winter months dry out your skin. Melbourne-based accountant turned cosmetic chemist Michelle Wang has created a collection of decadent oil blends to keep skin firm and hydrated. These plant-based botanical body oils are designed to replenish ceramides, which naturally decrease with age and under extended periods of stress. Handblended and made in micro-batches for freshness, Arithmos oils are a must-have winter skin routine. arithmosskin.com.au

Flexing your creative muscle has never been so important, and with these stunning paint-by-numbers kits, you’ll be producing gallery-worthy pieces in no time. Partnering with Australian artist Kahlohe, Paint Like Frida’s kits include a unique design of your choice, a selection of high-quality paints, sturdy nylon brushes and helpful instructions. The wood-frame mounted linen canvas gives your creation a professional finish, perfect to brighten up your home or office. paintlikefrida.com.au

9. Oakridge Wines Special occasion coming up? Whether you have an excuse to celebrate or not, a bottle of Oakridge Wines Blanc de Blancs will always go down a treat. The Yarra Valley-based winery is a regular pitstop for wine-loving Melbournians, and if you’re a little further afield, it’s well worth travelling for. The cellar door is open for tasting seven days a week, with three premium wine experiences to choose from. Ask one of the friendly Rex cabin crew for a taste next time you take an afternoon flight. oakridgewines.com.au

10. Acacia Floral Designs Let your worries wilt away, not your flowers. This Central Coastbased business brings elegance and innovation to the flower game, creating everlasting floral arrangements housed in beautiful ceramic pots. Prefer fresh flowers? Founder Nicole hand picks, wraps and even delivers the gorgeous bouquets to their lucky recipients, with plenty of extra goodies on offer, including soy candles, plush toys and even freshly baked tarts. Hands-on flower workshops and wedding arrangements are also available on request. acaciafd.shop

MAY/JUNE 2021

Images: Destination NSW

Explore

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Explore

Sydney G

Even as we ease into winter, on a sunny day this city’s green spaces will transport you to a permanent state of summer. Words: Tatyana Leonov

IT’S BEEN a few years since I visited The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, and luckily I’ve happened upon it on a near-perfect day. There’s a gentle breeze blowing and it’s just refreshing enough to combat the late-morning sun. Flowers bloom left, right and centre, adding pops of colour to the patchwork of greens, and Sydney Harbour glistens in the distance. I’ve already strolled through the Australian Rainforest Garden and marvelled at the variety of plants growing, then stopped by the Herb Garden for culinary inspiration. There’s a sensory fountain here (visitors are encouraged to touch the spherical feature, which has water flowing over it), and my daughter spent close to half an hour playing with the water. After our leisurely start, lunch is already calling. We go in search of the perfect spot. We perch ourselves on a patch of grass with views out to the Opera House and munch on avocado and cheese baguettes. Bliss! For more active types, there are tours and workshops: free guided tours at 10.30am Friday through Sunday, and many paid options, such as the

Aboriginal Bush Food Experience and Behind the Scenes Sensory Tour of the display glasshouses. I’ve already got a plan for our next visit: the awardwinning horticultural display centre The Calyx. It features the largest changeable interior green wall in the southern hemisphere.

GREEN SPACES As a Sydneysider I know I’m one of the lucky ones, because if I’m hankering to be among nature it’s never too far away; the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is just a hop and a skip from the city centre. Public parks are great places to explore, and there are hundreds peppered throughout the city. I’ve visited quite the assemblage over the past couple of years, thanks to my toddler daughter, whose first word when she wakes up is ‘park’. Sydney Park in Alexandria is one of my favourites. It has something to please everyone: landscaped gardens, open fields, a bike track for the little ones, and birdlife-watching thanks to the wetlands. The playground is huge and keeps my daughter entertained for hours. And when it’s time to go, the

cafés of St Peters and Newtown are within walking distance. Blaxland Riverside Park at Sydney Olympic Park is another green space we visit often. It has the largest array of play equipment I’ve ever come across and is located near the Parramatta River. Sometimes my husband and I take our bikes and spend the day cycling alongside it. Spending time by the water is synonymous with Sydney life, and we are fortunate there are so many green spaces that are nearby rivers or the ocean. Barangaroo Reserve has been one of my favourite spots since it opened to the public in 2015. I think we’re all still getting used to the never-before-seen views of the city’s harbour and the native shrubs planted all around the headland.

SMART ARCHITECTURE Now that I’m in the midst of building an extension to my home, I have a newfound appreciation of great design: beautiful, energy-efficient, modern, with plenty of green incorporated in. One Central Park in Chippendale is one such building,

MAY/JUNE 2021

Explore

Images: Destination NSW, Spicers Retreats and Accor

FROM LEFT: the world’s tallest vertical garden at One Central Park, stylish entry to Spicers Potts Point and Pullman Quay Grand’s impressive solar set-up.

where the concept of green is so big it holds claim to having the world’s tallest vertical garden. The two-tower complex is one of Sydney’s most talked about architectural feats. French architect firm Ateliers Jean Nouvel worked closely with botanist Patrick Blanc to create something extraordinary. At 150 metres tall, the hanging garden is made up of tens of thousands of plants and shrubs that hang on the building via 21 vertical panels. The sustainable build also includes a heliostat, an internal water recycling plant and a tri-generation plant. It’s no surprise that it has won a plethora of awards and been awarded a five-star Green Star by the Green Building Council of Australia. Another precinct awarded a Green Star is Green Square town centre. The rating certifies it as meeting the world’s highest standards in governance, liveability, economic prosperity, environment and innovation.

THE SUSTAINABLE HOTEL REVOLUTION More and more travellers these days are enquiring about hotels and their sustainability practices, and many hotel brands are introducing initiatives to help out the planet. At Shangri-La Hotel guests use

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wooden key cards to access their rooms, and checking in and out is a paperless affair. Water comes in 100 per cent recyclable Just Water cartons, and the ORCA clean food waste recycling technology diverts the hotel’s food waste from landfill. Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour is also following through on its promise to avoid single-use plastic items, as well as providng recycling and waste bins in all guest rooms and in-room motion sensors that avoid unnecessary energy waste. On-site composting of food scraps is the norm at Spicers Potts Point, with the compost collected going to the nearby Wayside Chapel for its thriving community veggie patch. Here, the days of mini shampoo and conditioner containers and plastic water bottles are but a distant memory. Instead, large refillable bottles are used for in-room toiletries, and guests are encouraged to bring along and fill up their own water bottles using the AQUAchiara microfiltered water system.

InterContinental Sydney follows a similar direction, with great results in recent years in reducing energy and lowering water consumption. Accor has the Planet 21 sustainable development program, which is essentially a roll-out of sustainable initiatives across its various hotels and brands. Projects, aims and outcomes differ, but the motivation is always the environment. Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is one of Accor’s Sydney superstars. The hotel installed 350 solar panels (100 kilowatt-per-hour photovoltaic system) on its roof in 2017, which supply about 10 per cent of the electricity of the common area. It’s one of the largest solar panel systems to be installed in the Sydney CBD. And it’s not just the mid-range and high-end hotels that are directing their efforts to the greater good. Sustainability is a big focus for budgetfriendly brand YHA, with many of the Australian properties doing their bit. Sydney Harbour YHA has installed a 30 kilowatt-per-hour photovoltaic system, while Railway Square YHA has a 62 kilowatt-per-hour photovoltaic system and a solar-boosted hot-water system to keep travellers comfortable. Rex flies to Sydney from all regional ports in NSW, as well as Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast. TB

AusBiz.

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p.10 should you ditch facebook? P.14 regenerative agriculture: digging deep P.19 nursing old mine sites back to life P.24 the regional boom: how long will it last? p.28 new bio-tech breakthrough puts pests on trial

MINE SITE REHABILITATION Three experts reveal the innovative systems and technologies they’re using to bring mining land back to life

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AUSBIZ NEWS

Gene editing to combat climate change Research is underway to safeguard food security and future proof farming systems in a world of increasingly unpredictable weather and variable climate conditions. Biotechnologist Dr Karen Massel from the University of Queensland (UQ) Centre for Crop Science says gene editing technology will play a vital role in climate-proofing crops to protect global food supplies. Her focus has been on integrating CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing into modern breeding programs to create energy-rich cereal crops such as wheat, rice, maize and sorghum, which provide two thirds of the world’s food energy intake. “Farmers have been manipulating the DNA of plants using conventional breeding technologies for millennia, and now with new gene-editing technologies; we can do this with unprecedented safety, precision and speed,” says Dr Massel. UQ’s research proves there is potential for creating more resilient crops that can perform in adverse growing climates, as well as improve water efficiency and deliver higher levels of nutritional value. Gene edited crops are not available in Australia but could be in the near future, as biosecurity and safety risk assessments are currently underway.

FAST-TRACKING WILDLIFE CARE DURING BUSHFIRE SEASON While a relatively wet summer offered a reprieve from the dreaded annual bushfire season in Australia, researchers at Macquarie University are still working hard to improve the treatment of fire-affected wildlife. In early 2020, a project was launched to identify ways to improve the current strategy for wildlife care. After the catastrophic 2019/2020 bushfire season, concerns were raised regarding the overuse of antibiotics to tend to the overwhelming influx of injured and displaced wildlife. The project aims to develop guidelines and training materials to promote best practice in antibiotic use among wildlife, to avoid antibiotic resistance and genetic mutations. Project leader Michelle Power, Associate Professor at Macquarie University’s Department of Biological Sciences, acknowledges the great stress wildlife responders were under, as well as the amazing job they did – however, providing guidelines around “antibiotic stewardship will help to preserve the longterm viability of wild populations of native fauna.” MAY/JUNE 2021

Education

How Boarding Broadened Max’s Horizons Every holiday, Year 8 student Max heads home “along the road to Gundagai”, but during term time, home is the boarding house at Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview. Like many country kids, Max is a boarding student in the city. Here is his story, firsthand. I was born in Wagga, but home is Gundagai. It was a big change moving to boarding at Riverview, but it was easy to make new friends. Even though we come from all different backgrounds, everyone bonded pretty quickly. Coming to Riverview, everything felt bigger. You go from being part of your own family to being part of a boarding house, and all the people you live with and eat with – they become family. We play touch footy together after school, chat and play games in the rec room, and there are set study periods which have helped improve my studies. I feel like my dreams have not only become bigger, but more realistic.

I want to become a farmer like my dad and being at Riverview is helping me. I spend time at the ag farm, I’m part of the show team and I plan to study Primary Industries. If you’re thinking about boarding at Riverview, do it. It’s a great school. We get to do heaps of things and have fun, but you also go on immersions and learn to help others. I’m grateful to my parents for sending me here – it’s a great opportunity to learn new things and make friends for life. For more information about boarding at Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, head to riverview.nsw.edu.au/boarding

AUSBIZ NEWS

Solar energy trends of 2021 Did you know that Australia sees an average of 58 million petajoules of solar radiation each year? That’s around 10,000 times more energy than we consume! So, it’s no surprise that the solar energy sector is booming despite the economic downturn delivered in 2020. New investment into renewable energy is on a formidable path, largely driven by small-scale rooftop solar installations. The future of solar energy in Australia is looking bright with several key trends emerging as 2021 progresses. New advancements in technology have provided more accessible renewable solutions for ecoconscious Australians. Energy monitors and mobile phone apps provide consumers with real-time data on their energy consumption and solar production, allowing them to alter their habits and maximise the return on their investment. Improvements in reliable battery storage across the board have also proven one of the key drivers for solar uptake, giving users independence from the traditional electricity grid which, as we’ve seen in recent years, can go dark in the case of severe weather. Improved safety standards and regulation will continue to be a significant focus for the industry as more Australians invest in rooftop solar systems at home.

CONSUMER RIGHTS GROUPS CALL FOR BUY NOW PAY LATER REGULATION Some see it as an excellent way to manage cash flow and stretch out payments on a particular item. Others see it as a fatal trap for impatient consumers. Truth is, the buy now pay later model isn’t going anywhere. Commonwealth Bank now has a foot in the market, announcing it’s new BNPL product, sending competitors’ stock prices down even further after a challenging few months. The BNPL sector is currently unregulated. Why? Firstly, unlike other consumer lending models, BNPL charges merchants rather than customers for credit. Secondly, it is still considered a small segment. But with big players like CommBank stepping in to claim a piece of the pie, calls for regulation are being directed toward the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). “This happened when credit cards entered the market, but were regulated once they became popular,” says Angel Zhong, a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT University. “With the potential growth in BNPL services, regulations should be put in place to ensure consumer protection and financial wellbeing.” With many shoppers caught in hot water after a few too many in-the-moment purchases, responsible lending advocates are pushing for a national code of practice to be implemented across the board to protect consumers. MAY/JUNE 2021

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POSITION PARTNERS

The tech paving the way for Indonesia’s MotoGP

On the island of Lombok in Indonesia, the building of a brand new MotoGP racetrack is in full swing, with completion expected in mid-2021. While an official date for the race has not yet been set, the event promoter Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) anticipates the action will unfold later this year, subject to construction, homologation and testing. Intelligent positioning solutions specialist Position Partners is working with PP Presisi, the primary contractor, and ITDC, the project owner, to deliver advanced positioning and paving technology that will ensure the works conform to international standards. “We have five highly experienced geodetic engineers and surveyors working full time on site to support the operations,” says Mathew Connelly, Position Partners Regional Manager for South East Asia. “Our consulting services assist the

contractors with managing the design process and taking it to the paving and milling machines via a 3D design, then checking the work using total stations, GNSS and auto levels,” he adds. To achieve the tight tolerances required on this project, an array of technology solutions have been deployed, including Topcon Millimetre GPS paving and milling systems. Millimetre GPS is a unique product that uses a high precision laser transmitter along with GNSS technology to deliver paving and milling operation to within a few millimetres of the design. Unlike total station set-ups that require one to two instruments per machine on site, Topcon mmGPS can be used by all machines and survey rovers simultaneously with a single laser transmitter. In addition to the cost savings, this results in a more efficient workflow without the need to set-up and check multiple devices.

The Topcon GT robotic total station and the Topcon DL-503 auto level are used to check vertical accuracy of the work. MAGNET software is used to seamlessly transfer and update work between the office and field, with Civil3D used to complete the exchange of data. With many of the auxiliary roads now complete, there are now two paving machines working full time to complete laying the street circuit. “With our systems deployed from start to finish on site, Position Partners is able to provide comprehensive workflow management and operational support for the project,” adds Matthew. “Our team is also offering hands-on, practical training to the local workforce and project contractors, upskilling them to the latest construction methods as we work.” Find out more at positionpartners.com.au MAY/JUNE 2021

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS: MEET THE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS TOUCHING HEARTS AROUND THE WORLD

In life’s most significant moments – the heartwarming and the heartbreaking – nothing says “I’m thinking of you” better than a bunch of flowers. With the world in disconnect, and Australians only beginning to warm up to interstate travel, Interflora Australia continues to convey the messages that we can’t yet deliver in person. Words: Bethany Plint

AusBiz.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

While a lot of industries experienced a significant downturn during 2020 – many of which are still struggling to get the cogs turning again – one that blossomed, despite the chaos, was the floral industry. To celebrate the highs and commiserate the lows, Australians needed a brand they could rely on to connect with loved ones. And so, as they have for 67 years, Interflora stepped up to the plate. “As people were separated due to lockdowns and border closures, flowers became more important than ever,” says Gerry Gerrard, CEO of Interflora Australia. “Sending flowers was the absolute diadem of being able to say I am thinking of you and I am missing you.” Interflora Australia is a leader in the floral industry and is part of an international network of qualified florists operating in 150 countries around the world. What sets the business apart from the rest is the highly selective network of 700 member florists. “Based in the suburbs, high streets and shopping centres of Australia, each arrangement is made to Interflora’s ‘recipe’ by a local, qualified florist and delivered to your recipient,” says Gerry. Supporting local florists and suppliers became paramount throughout the tough 12 months since March 2020. “We were so pleased that we were able to support the industry – growers, wholesalers, florists, couriers – whilst simultaneously supporting our local florists in their retail shops," says Gerry. “It was a tough time, a hard time, but we made it through.” Beyond flowers, Interflora offers a wide selection of delectable chocolates and

Australian and imported wines, as well as Wine in a Glass and Miffy rabbit plush toys exclusive to Interflora. To truly spoil someone special, customers can opt for a gourmet hamper, handcrafted by Interflora’s florists. Adding a further level of indulgence, the Interflora Luxury Hamper Collection offers something for every occasion.

THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK Interflora may be Australia’s leading florist, but it’s far more than just business for them. The company’s social arm supports various charitable organisations by providing essential funding towards their goals. “We have been partnering with Ovarian Cancer Australia, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, by creating specific arrangements and bouquets, carrying the respective charity logo. This helps our customers know exactly what we are doing and who we are supporting,” explains Gerry These partnerships alone have resulted in more than $100,000 in donations. Other fundraising campaigns, such as those with the Children First Foundation, Motherless Daughters and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria with an exclusive selection of native arrangements, have also resulted in significant donations and raised awareness for these organisations' important causes. “It is a really important part of our business and we are

deeply committed, in a genuine way, to helping where we can,” says Gerry.

CELEBRATING AUSTRALIAN FLORA While no one would turn down a bouquet of roses and tulips, those with an affinity for native plants are spoilt for choice. Interflora’s network of expert florists source stunning, inseason natives and wildflowers from local growers, tied up with a beautiful burgundy bow. “To understand how lucky we are to be able to have beautiful natives, we have joined forces with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria with a special native collection,” says Gerry. “The partnership assists the Gardens in providing gorgeous green spaces for the people of Melbourne and Victoria, as well as their visitors.”

AHEAD OF THE FLOWER GAME In addition to their industry leading delivery and customer experience methods, Interflora is also innovating in the e-commerce space. “We are constantly introducing new, contemporary products, arrangements and bouquets, so as to keep our collections fresh – pardon the pun!” says Gerrard. Interflora has introduced buy now pay later (BNPL) options with AfterPay and Zip to allow customers even more flexibility and convenience when purchasing a gift for a loved one. The business is also harnessing the power of social media and content marketing to attract new customers and maintain its status as a best-in-market florist. “Interflora has reinvented itself many times over its nearly 70-year journey and the coming years will be no different. But what we will never change is our service, our fresh flowers, our florists and our Interflora Guarantee," says Gerry. “We love flowers. We love what they mean to our customers.”

MAY/JUNE 2021

AUSTRALIA VS FACEBOOK Australia took on the world’s largest social network this year and won… or did it? Words: Ian lloyd Neubauer

AusBiz.

Images: Facebook

TECHNOLOGY

Fake news. Creepy advertising. Tax avoidance. Selling private data to the highest bidder. Facebook has been able to break every rule in the book without suffering much of a loss in its profitability. But in February, when Australia introduced new laws forcing it to pay news organisations for the journalism that appears on the platform, and Facebook responded by pulling all news content for its Australian users, it looked to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. A poll by News Corp found that more than a third of respondents said they would quit Facebook if the news ban wasn’t reversed, while #DeleteFacebook and #BoycottZuckerberg hashtags trended like wildfire on Twitter. “Facebook’s actions to unfriend Australia today, cutting off essential

information services on health and emergency services, were as arrogant as they were disappointing,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote at the time, highlighting the fact that the social media juggernaut had also blocked the Bureau of Meteorology, health and fire departments, community groups, unions and charities. “We will not be intimidated by BigTech seeking to pressure our Parliament as it votes on our important News Media Bargaining Code.”

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT In its defence, Facebook correctly pointed out that nearly all Australian news sites gain a significant part of their traffic from Facebook referrals. It also released a list of 19 training initiatives and grants it had funded

over the past three years to help Australian media organisations make their businesses financially sustainable. But some background is needed to put Facebook’s largesse into context. Between 2001 and 2016 – the era that saw the rise of the Internet – revenue from classified advertising in Australia dropped from $2.35 billion to $143m, according to the ACCC, Australia’s consumer and competition watchdog. Why? Because the advertising spend migrated to the digital landscape, where much of it was gobbled up by Facebook and Google. Five days after it announced the ban, Facebook reversed course, claiming Canberra had introduced amendments to the new laws so it would not have to pay news organisations ridiculous amounts of money for news content its members were independently sharing

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on the platform. Canberra also claimed victory, saying the code had not been watered down. But as the amendments are yet to be shared publicly, it’s not possible to know which party is telling the (most) truth. Facebook refuses to say how many of its Australian users – said to number between 11.4 and 17.3 million – quit the platform in those five long days. But in Perth, the founders of LITT, a new app that brings together social media, digital payments, e-commerce and advertising, reported its membership leapfrogged 83 per cent in just a few short days. Granted, the rise came off the back of a tiny base of 9,000 users. But it’s the kind of exponential growth that made Mark Zuckerberg realise he was onto something big when he started Facebook while studying at Harvard University. LITT’s leapfrog also raises a million-dollar question: can an Australian start-up unseat the social media behemoth?

AusBiz.

Images: LITT

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY FROM LEFT: LITT FOUNDERS BRENT THOMPSON AND PETER SALOM, LITT APP IN ACTION

FACEBOOK ALTERNATIVES

ABOUT FACE LITT co-founder Brent Thompson reckons it can. “We believe their brand has been damaged irreparably in Australia. This is reflected in how much interest there has been in people downloading our app and investors keen to buy shares in our company. It is abundantly clear that they are very eager on migrating to an alternative like LITT.” He adds: “I wouldn’t be surprised if Facebook backflipped because they didn’t anticipate the camaraderie Australians have for each other. We look out for our mates, we support local businesses, and we don’t take kindly to foreigners dictating how we run our country.” Dr Lauren Rosewarne, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne and expert on social media, says Canberra and Facebook probably made concessions because the ban was hurting everyone. But she doesn’t subscribe to the idea that LITT or any other Australian start-up can take on a social media platform the size of Facebook. “Facebook got so many people onboard by offering all these different services

that it didn’t originally feature,” she says. “We all went along with it because it was a one-stop-shop and we got hooked. Any new website coming to market is competing against that, so I don’t see LITT as any kind of threat or alternative for the simple reason that it can’t do everything Facebook does. “Many Australians panicked when we heard Facebook would no longer continue to provide our news. But that problem is now gone,” she says. “I don’t see any kind of big change because it’s still so easy to stay with Facebook, because we’re complacent, because we’re familiar with it, and because all of our friends are on it.” Lauren also believes Canberra’s time in the ring with the tech giant is over. “Governments around the world simply don’t want to get involved in regulating Facebook. That’s why they have given them so much leeway to self-regulate,” she says. “So I don’t imagine Australia wants to fight with it anymore. At the same time, Facebook doesn’t want more oversight, either. So it suits each party to let bygones be bygones.”

The fact that Facebook brings so many services together under one roof makes replacing it with a single alternative difficult to impossible. But there are apps out there that are superior to Facebook when it comes to providing individual services. Google Photos – Store an unlimited number of photos and videos. Sharing is easy and users control who has access to specific photos and albums. Twitter – News is something Twitter does much better than Facebook. You have more control over what you see and can keep your newsgathering separate from your socialising. Snapchat – The app that pioneered a style of social networking that makes more sense in today’s world. Messages and photos are recorded for 24 hours and then deleted. Google Calendar – Chances are most of the people you know have a Google account, making it easy to create and promote events. WhatsApp – Send text, voice, photo or video messages to any mobile phone in the world free. The catch? Facebook owns it and will monetise your data. MAY/JUNE 2021

AGRICULTURE

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE: A NEW HOLISTIC APPROACH TO FARMING Words: Susan Gough Henly

AusBiz.

AGRICULTURE

Image: Destination NSW

"REGENERATIVE FARMING ENRICHES SOILS, IMPROVES THE WATER CYCLE, INCREASES BIODIVERSITY AND ALLOWS PLANTS TO DRAW DOWN CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE."

Charles Massy is a fifth-generation sheep farmer on a property near Cooma in the Snowy Mountains foothills, who’s been through it all during his forty-plus years on the land. A few years ago, when he was driving into town with his grandson, they passed a farmer on his tractor, boom-spraying a paddock with glyphosate (Roundup). “Hamish, all of nine years old, turned to me with a puzzled look on his face. ‘Grandpa,’ he asked, ‘why do people have to kill things to grow things?’” The question stopped Charles in his tracks. Wisdom out of the mouths of babes aside, the Millennium drought was Charles’s make or break moment. “I finally realised I was the weakest link in the whole system. There was a disconnect in my head because I was trying to make money while ignoring the ecology of my land.” What followed has been a deep dive into doing things differently. In

the process, Charles undertook a PhD in Human Ecology at ANU and wrote The Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture, A New Earth, which explores the practices of regenerative agriculture and the vital connection between our soil and our health.

REGENERATIVE AG IN PRACTICE As a concept, regenerative agriculture may be a little difficult to harness, but essentially it is a system of farming principles and practices that enriches soils, improves the water cycle, increases biodiversity and dynamic ecosystems, and restores the solar energy function of plants to draw down carbon from the atmosphere. It embodies a holistic approach to working with the complex ecology of the land and, as such, is different to organic or biodynamic agriculture as there is no rigid code of dos and don’ts.

In the process of researching his book, Charles crossed the country to hear the stories of a wide range of broad-acre and livestock regenerative farmers. “I’m not a great innovator but I’m a good storyteller,” he explains. And stories are a powerful way to reach people and open their hearts and minds to consider new approaches. Almost without exception, Charles learned that it was a major environmental crisis or life shock that changed these farmers’ world view and overcame generations of family habits that have become increasingly entwined with industrial agriculture. While old dogs seem to be learning new tricks, Charles has become increasingly concerned about young, smart agricultural science graduates who can’t wait to hop into giant machines loaded with computers, which are totally divorced from natural systems. MAY/JUNE 2021

AGRICULTURE THIS PAGE: FARM IN BOOROWA, NSW, SHOOT GROWING THROUGH HEALTHY SOIL OPPOSITE: WAGYU FARM IN ALBURY, NSW

AusBiz.

third-generation beef trader, Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance at Southern Cross University, and 2018 Australian Rural Community Leader of the Year, Lorraine Gordon. Today, SCU’s Bachelor of Science in Regenerative Agriculture is already the largest agricultural science program in Australia (there are also postgraduate courses on offer) and the only one of its kind in the world. With 440 students after just one year in operation, it’s rated first in the country for overall experience in Agriculture in the Good Universities Guide 2020/21. The course is designed for students who want to be a part of a new way of farming that better supports, and is supported by, natural processes. The focus is on learning how to read landscapes and solve complex problems from a holistic perspective with the goal of building more resilient farms and farmers in a future of increased seasonal and weather variabilities. For 37-year-old Northern Rivers farmer Louis Bell, who works in landscape management, enrolling

in the Graduate Certificate of Regenerative Agriculture was a natural study path after a career that straddled horticulture and conservation. “There are real opportunities to mitigate the poor practices which are resulting in deleterious impacts to our natural capital – we need to bridge the divide between conservation and production,” he says.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Southern Cross University is not only focusing on agricultural science education but also government advocacy and farmer-driven research. “Farmers are the best researchers we have,” says Lorraine Gordon. “We’re doing applied collaborative research in bio regions around the country with groups of farmers, consultants, natural resource managers and researchers to address a wide range of challenges.” A major focus is about adapting farming practices to specific soils and climate patterns. The ancient continent of Australia has some of

Images: Holly Bradford, Capital Country Tourism & Destination NSW

BACKED BY SCIENCE Luckily, a cutting-edge agricultural science program that’s pivoted away from this type of approach is going gangbusters at Southern Cross University (SCU). The program is run in collaboration with the Regenerative Agricultural Alliance, comprising Australia’s leading researchers and practitioners in regenerative agriculture. These key trailblazers include Kerry Cochrane, President of the Australian Institute of Ecological Agriculture; holistic grazing pioneer Dr Terry McCosker, founder and director of Resource Consulting Services; farmer and grazer Bruce Maynard, a leader in no-kill cropping, stressfree stockmanship and self-herding; pasture-cropping advocate Colin Seiss; and Bruce Pascoe, awardwinning author renowned for his ground-breaking book Dark Emu, which presents compelling evidence that Australian Aboriginal people have had 65,000 years of experience in regenerative agriculture. The project is spearheaded by

AGRICULTURE

the world’s most poorly structured, badly drained, saline-heavy soils that endure high temperatures, droughts and bushfires. Ensuring soil is spongy and full of microbe-rich humus enables it to store more carbon. This directly impacts the soil’s ability to retain water and grow quality crops and pastures. And that’s just the beginning. Healthy soils rich with micro-nutrients contribute to improving human gut health, which helps us become more resilient to diseases such as cancer and auto-immune complications. They also offer the most effective way to pull carbon out of the atmosphere, thereby adding potential income benefits from carbon sequestration while mitigating climate change.

THE SECRET IN THE SOIL Soil biology is, however, a relatively recent science. “In the past, agronomists were trained in chemistry and physics,” explains agricultural scientist Terry McCosker. “We now know that soil biology has a profound impact on all aspects of farming, so it’s vital that we home in on it with a laser-like focus in agricultural science programs.” Soil research is central to SCU’s mission, specifically on the use of regenerative practices to increase soil carbon. They have research groups across the country studying such things as the impact of multispecies cover crops on soil health, the effects of pesticides on soil microbial diversity, and integrating biochar into regenerative agriculture practices. Lorraine is sanguine when discussing the different approaches of traditional and regenerative agriculture. “We don’t have a themand-us scenario. Rather, it’s about us all going on a journey together. It’s about farmers expanding the tools in their toolboxes to work effectively with the environment. We all need to collaborate to educate ourselves regarding the best ways to save our soils, our farms and our planet.” MAY/JUNE 2021

The Aboriginal Artists Project combines the fashion accessory designs of Catherine Manuell with the artworks of many wonderful women artists from remote Australian communities. Shown here is the Bush Yams artwork by Evelyn Pultara from the Utopia region of Central Australia. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of these products goes directly to the artists.

Call us on 03 9486 4066 for help or a little personal service, or email: info@catherinemanuelldesign.com

www.catherinemanuelldesign.com

MINING

HIGH-TECH REHAB Mine site rehabilitation has never been more important. Here three experts share the new technologies they’re using to bring mining land back to life.

Image: Erizon

Words: Ian lloyd Neubauer

MAY/JUNE 2021

MINING

"It's like building a house. You don't start with the roof, you start with the foundation. Some people miss this step and then big winds come through and undo all the hard work."

Before the introduction of legislation in the 1970s and 1980s, mines in Australia were often abandoned without being properly rehabilitated. Mine-reclamation and closure plans are now required before a mining permit is granted, and miners are required to leave multimillion-dollar security bonds as a component of the environmental impact assessment. In this edition of AusBiz, we speak with three experts about the new technologies they're using to bring mining land back to life.

AusBiz.

THE SYMBIOTE “My current research is focused on not just rehabilitating but repurposing abandoned mine sites and helping local communities that were once dependent on mining with new employment opportunities and avenues,” says Mohan Yellishetty, an associate professor in resources engineering at Monash University. “We are currently working with AGL at Loy Yang, the largest power station in Victoria and the site of a massive brown coal mine. The dimensions of this pit are massive – it's kilometres

long and wide. When you have such a massive pit you also have massive amounts of associated waste and tailings, so the clean-up problem is multi-fold,” he says. “Traditionally, the only way to rehabilitate land to a pre-mining ecological level was to bring in large volumes of fertile topsoil that is in acute shortage at mine sites all around the world. But through our research at Monash, we have invented a process called Symbiosis, in which we try to strike a symbiotic relationship with existing industries to find more cost-

MINING

LEFT: ERIZON IN THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATING A MINE LEFT: LORD OF THE TREES FOUNDER AYMERIC MAUDOUS IN REHABILITATED FOREST

effective solutions. Take Loy Yang as an example. We have established a symbiotic relationship between mine, power plant, wastewater and paper and pulp industries – waste streams were combined to create 'artificial topsoil'.” “One of my former PhD students from India has now started a venture over there using the same method, and we are talking with several large mining companies in Australia that are quite hopeful about its potential. It's a reasonably novel solution, figuring out how one industry's waste can be repurposed to be a resource for another.” See monash.edu

THE SEED WHISPERER

Images: Erizon and Lord of the Trees

“We specialise in ecosystem restoration – a process that normally takes five or six years,” says Aymeric Maudous, CEO and founder of Lord of the Trees. “In the first year, we rebuild the 'mother forest' – the foundation of the landscape. It's like building a house. You don't start with the roof, you start with the foundation. Some people miss this step and then big winds come through and undo all the

hard work because nothing is holding the topsoil together. “The first step is to use mapping drones to study the landscape, and then consulting with global databases as well as Indigenous Australians who pass on information from generation to generation about the most ideal plant species to grow there. It's a bit like looking into a crystal ball, though we often end up sowing fast-growing wildflowers and native grasses like kangaroo grass which requires very little topsoil. It's a very resilient species perfectly adapted to Australia,” Aymeric says. “In the next step, we plant seed pods using precision-planting drones that do the job in a fraction of the time it takes doing it manually. The best planter in Australia working from sunrise to sunset can plant 800 seedlings a day, while our drones can work day and night shooting two seed pods per second. If you do maths, it comes to 158,400 seed pods over 22 hours, allowing two hours for swapping batteries. A drone pilot and their co-pilot can supervise five drones at the same time.

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MINING

“The survival rate of seeds planted by our drones is also much higher,” Aymeric says. "About 70 per cent will grow into trees compared to 40 per cent of those planted by hand. That brings the cost of planting a tree to around $1 compared to $2.93 if done by hand.” See lordofthetrees.org

THE ILLUSIONIST “Our services fulfil a key component of a mine site’s lifecycle: we aim to make our solutions as cost-effective as possible while still upholding the quality necessary to see the most successful outcome for any mine,” says Glenn Sullivan, senior environmental consultant at Erizon, an Adelaide-based firm with more than 20 years of experience rehabilitating mine sites in Australia. "I make a point to present any client with an ROI that illustrates the benefits of taking these solutions in the short-term, to make the most impact for their site long-term, and minimise more costs in the future. “To that end, we've developed new technologies to help keep our clients’ costs down: our topsoil alternatives and amended

AusBiz.

products help with the initial establishment of vegetation and speed up the process of developing natural topsoil. We use drones to capture multi-spec imagery during the lifecycle of the rehabilitation process to monitor plant health, soil salinity, stress, and moisture, which allows us to tweak solutions in real time to ensure the best possible results. “It’s really quite remarkable what we can do at Erizon when we put all these things together,” Glen says. “At one mine site in South Australia, over time, we were able to work closely with the miner to demonstrate the value in adopting more comprehensive solutions. This resulted in a better outcome and cost-saving by eliminating rework. "Late last year, our site contact received a phone call from a community member who asked if the mine’s waste dump had been removed, because he couldn’t find it. But it was still there. We’d just created such a natural-looking landform with native vegetation that it was no longer identifiable against the surrounding natural landscape.” See erizon.com.au

ABOVE: LORD OF THE TREES PILOTS LAUNCH A SEED PLANTING DRONE

DID YOU KNOW? • There are 60,000 abandoned mining sites in Australia that need rehabilitation – most dating back to the gold rush, according to new research by Monash University • In most cases, complete restoration of mining sites is impossible. But successful rehabilitation can result in the establishment of a functional ecosystem

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Hydroseeding

Dust Suppression

Guaranteed Results Erosion Control

PROPERTY

Australia’s cities might have copped the majority of COVID cases, casualties and lockdowns throughout 2020, but a look at post-pandemic Australia suggests regional centres will see the greatest long-term transformation. Words: Kirsten Craze

AusBiz.

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

HERE COMES THE BOOM

PROPERTY

Image: Kollosche Real Estate

THIS PAGE: $5.6 MILLION APARTMENT IN MAIN BEACH, GOLD COAST OPPOSITE: REAL ESTATE IS HEATING UP ON THE GOLD COAST

As city slickers spill into the regions en masse, populations and property prices are climbing. For the September 2020 quarter alone, the nation’s capitals experienced a net loss of 11,200 people – the largest quarterly net loss since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began tracking such records in 2001. Inevitably, as cashed-up city folk with high salaries trade multimillion-dollar homes for more affordable regional dwellings, small town real estate prices are being impacted. In the 12 months to January 2021, regional home values rose at four times the pace of capital city markets. “CoreLogic’s combined regionals index was up 7.9 per cent over the 12-month period compared with a 1.7 per cent lift in combined capital city home values,” says CoreLogic’s Executive Director of Research, Tim Lawless. “As more Australians look for properties outside of the capitals, an imbalance between demand and supply is placing upward pressure on housing prices.” “Demand for regional housing can be attributed to a range of factors. Generally, prices are cheaper than their capital city counterparts,

housing densities are typically lower – which is likely to be appealing amidst a global pandemic, and many workers have a new-found appreciation for and ability to work remotely, which is supporting additional demand,” he adds.

IS THE REGIONAL BOOM LIKELY TO LAST? Even data experts are unsure of how long the regional outperformance can continue, but most agree that a permanent shift has already happened. “As the pricing gap narrows between the regions and capital cities, the challenge of affordability will naturally drag on demand. Similarly, as the virus is brought under control, we will likely see more employers looking for their staff to return to the office, at least on a rostered or flexible basis,” Tim says. “However, to some extent we expect the rise in popularity of regional markets will persist into the future. Many workers and employers have found the working from home experiment to be successful, with productivity remaining high while workers enjoy additional flexibility in their work life balance,” he adds. 

FAST FACTS Richmond-Tweed in NSW (home to Byron Bay) had the highest yearly growth for houses in a non-capital city region in 2020, increasing 12.6 per cent over 12 months, according to CoreLogic data. Ballarat in Victoria was home to the shortest time on market for regional Australia in 2020 with houses taking just 27 days to sell. *CoreLogic Regional Market Update, January 2021 MAY/JUNE 2021

Images: Destination NSW

PROPERTY

Simon Kuestenmacher, co-founder of The Demographics Group, said even without COVID a significant societal switch was inevitable. “The movement of people leaving the capitals and settling in regional towns is not simply people escaping virus-prone cities. It’s also a story of sheer demographic forces that would have occurred anyway,” he says. “What we’ve got is by far the largest generation – 7 million Australians belong to the millennial generation – who have been living in the suburbs in one or two-bedroom apartments. This decade was always going to be when millennials needed to move to family-sized housing,” he says.

AusBiz.

Regional centres have always been attractive to those seeking affordability, but is this appetite for small town Australia sustainable? “The answer is a resounding ‘perhaps’ – but it really depends on infrastructure,” Simon says, explaining that governments have so far failed at spreading population growth. “Before COVID we had around 80 per cent of population growth occurring in just five cities. There’s no other country on Earth where the population is so highly concentrated, and that makes for a few peculiar housing markets,” he says. “All the big job growth has happened in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, so people have had to move close to those centres. Now we have a chance to better spread jobs around,” he explains.

WHERE POPULATION AND PRICES ARE CLIMBING A stand-out example of the regional house price boom is Byron Bay. In just one

year, the median house price skyrocketed 40 per cent to $1.885 million – higher than many inner city suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne. Nerida Conisbee, realestate.com.au’s former chief economist, noted that although such price growth is extraordinary, the demand is there. “The value of a property is whatever someone is prepared to pay for it, so whether a home is overpriced is a matter of opinion,” she writes. “It is highly unusual for towns to experience very strong price increases year on year, however it doesn’t look like Byron Bay’s appeal is abating,” she says, adding that the town is on track to see median prices reach the $2 million mark in 2021. Several non-capital city markets are even tipped to achieve $3 million median house prices this year. “The Gold Coast, which has always been remarkably more affordable than Sydney, is getting up to that level with Main Beach potentially hitting that $3 million median,” Nerida says.

PROPERTY

LEFT TO RIGHT: BYRON BAY IS NOW A BUZZING MECCA OF TOURISTS AND NEW LOCALS; THE LAIDBACK, LOVELY CITY OF ORANGE IS ATTRACTING HORDES OF TREE-CHANGERS.

Newcastle in NSW and Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula have also been flagged as high-growth areas. “Ultimately, there has been a really strong drive to beachside, which isn’t just because of COVID. It’s been going on for about 20 years, but it’s really starting to show up in some locations where we didn’t previously see such expensive pricing,” she says.

HOW TO PLAY THE REGIONAL REAL ESTATE LONG GAME Simon Pressley, director of Propertyology, says the pandemic and a halt on international holidays has led to some regional markets feeling over-cooked. “That’s just people making decisions based on emotion and being able to afford something in the moment. Will it always be like that? No. Those stories are the exception, not the norm, for regional Australia. The norm is what I’d describe as the mini capital city, and there are probably 40 to 50 of them,” he says. He cites the regional town of Orange, NSW, approximately 250km from Sydney, as a slow burner. “It’s arguably Australia’s most consistent property market, with only one calendar year out of 20 where the median house price declined, and that was by 1 per cent.” Sustainability in a housing market, according to Simon, is less to do with the size of a town or city, and everything to do with performance. He adds, “A location doesn’t need to be a big city to have the potential of being a really strong performer with low risk. Remember, the more you pay for an asset the greater the risk, because the further they fall – and Australia’s capital cities are just more expensive.” MAY/JUNE 2021

SCIENCE

DESIGNER FRUIT FLIES: THE LATEST BIOTECH BREAKTHROUGH A new designer fruit fly paves the way for scientists to replace diseasecarrying mosquitoes with harmless, genetically modified versions.

Normally the news of a new species of fruit fly would be interesting only for entomologists. But a new species recently described in Nature Communications is far out of the ordinary. Dr Maciej Maselko, a CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow in Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University, is part of a team that has engineered a new species of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster in about a year, far outpacing the slow course of natural evolution. In doing so, they have developed the foundational technology that will prevent genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from ‘getting away’ and reproducing with wild species. The technology also opens the door to new approaches to precisely targeted biological control measures for invasive species and diseasecarrying insects. As Australians are all too well aware, in the past biological control strategies for pest insects have not been unqualified successes. But those strategies involved introducing a whole new – and extremely fertile – class of creatures (such as cane toads) into an ecosystem. “This new method instead uses engineered pests to reduce the wild population or replace it with a less harmful version,” Maciej says.

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Image: Erik Karits

Words: Virginia Tressider

SCIENCE

THE AIM IS TO REDUCE POPULATIONS OF INSECTS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WITHOUT THE USE OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

MAY/JUNE 2021

SCIENCE

Images: Markus Spiske & Syed Ali

DENGUE-SPREADING MOZZIE IN TEAM’S SIGHTS

FROM PEST ORGANISM TO PESTICIDE The team’s technique, called Engineered Genetic Incompatibility (EGI), involves using the gene-editing tool CRISPR-cas9 to make a harmless genetic mutation, and introducing a gene-activator that looks for the original DNA sequence. “When an EGI organism mates with a wild organism, the offspring have one copy of the original DNA sequence. The gene activator recognises that, then triggers lethal overexpression (basically, too many copies) of the target gene,” Maciej explains. This creates a ‘speciation event’. Vitally, the split from the parent species creates an organism – fruit flies in the current study – that will not be capable of reproducing with members of the original species. Another of the study’s authors, Mike Smanski from the University of Minnesota, explains, “This is one of several new approaches to pest control using modern

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genome-editing tools to essentially convert the pest organism into the pesticide without the use of harmful checmicals.” Because this engineered species is identical to the original species in all but one respect, there is a greatly reduced danger of the unintended consequences of other attempts at biological controls – consequences such as environmental disruption, or knock-on effects to other parts of the ecosystem, let alone the carnage that introducing cane toads brought about. By ensuring that the engineered species and the wild species cannot produce offspring, the technique also solves one of the risk factors in introducing engineered species into the environment: the potential spread of transgenic material into wild insect populations. “The engineered material is effectively trapped within the species, with no way out,” Maciej says.

The eventual purpose of introducing EGI species is to eradicate or dramatically reduce populations of invasive species and insects that are harmful to human health or to the environment, without the use of chemical pesticides like DDT – which created its own new set of environmental disasters – and without risking unintended consequences from removing an element from a functioning ecosystem. “Engineering speciation events has been a long-standing biotech goal, and we are very excited to begin applying this method to major challenges in human and environmental health,” says Maciej. The goal is to use this technology to reduce disease-carrying and invasive mosquitoes or replace them with mosquitoes that cannot transmit disease. Maciej team is specifically focused on Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that can spread Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and other viruses.

ABOUT THE PROJECT Dr Maciej Maselko is a CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow in Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University. This story was originally published in The Lighthouse, Macquarie University’s showcase of world-changing research, news, expert comment and data-backed opinions.

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