TrueBlue Mar/Apr 2022
OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY
A real Australian business magazine
LOVING MELBOURNE
Wining, dining & picnicking in our cultural capital
THE GEMS OF JULIA CREEK Outback baths, dinosaurs & character-filled pubs
AUSSIE
Isles PIECES OF PARADISE ON OUR DOORSTEP
Your Gold Coast stay begins as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac
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
Rydges Gold Coast Airport Bilinga QLD 4225
The Salty Fox Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Madame Za Restaurant
EDITORIAL March 1 marked the first anniversary of the launch of our domestic flights when we started flying between capital cities. Since then, we’ve spread our wings and now operate a fleet of Boeing 737-800NG aircraft on the ‘Golden Triangle’ (Melbourne-SydneyBrisbane) as well scheduled services to Adelaide, Canberra and the Gold Coast. The competition we’ve provided has driven down airfares and the ‘Rex effect’ as it’s known, is continuing to deliver significant benefits to consumers. Indeed, wherever we’ve entered the market airfares have plummeted by up to 50 per cent and we remain determined to provide safe, reliable and affordable flights. We’re not a low-cost carrier but a full service airline offering low fares. When you fly domestic with us your ticket price includes your 23kg checked baggage and refreshments on board. There are no hidden extras or nasty surprises. And every airfare comes with our unique, industry-leading COVID Refund Guarantee which means you’re never out of pocket or have to endure a protracted fight to get your money back if your travel is impacted by border closures or travel restrictions. While our first year of domestic flying has had its challenges, at last, blue skies are ahead. The industry is taking off again and Rex remains at the forefront of this renewed growth spurt.
We plan to take delivery of another eight 737-800NGs before the end of the year, more than doubling the size of our domestic jet fleet which will enable us to launch more new routes. Our expansion couldn’t happen without your continued support. We have been humbled by the way you, our passengers, have embraced our entry into the domestic market and enjoyed the country-style hospitality we offer, an ethos that permeates everything we do. You may have noticed we have “Our Heart is in the Country” emblazed on our 737 fleet and we are progressively rolling out on our SAAB fleet. We’re also proud to have been able to keep remote and regional Australia connected to our capital cities during the pandemic and our staff worked tirelessly to ensure these vital links were maintained. Providing such an essential service is a privilege as we understand the importance communities in regional centres place on being able to access safe, reliable and affordable airfares, whether they be travelling to see family and friends, for business or to attend medical appointments. Finally, I’d like to thank you for continuing to support Rex and promise you will always be given the warmest of welcomes when you fly with us. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Neville Howell Chief Operating Officer
Publisher & Editor: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Assistant Editor: Darcy Watt editorial@publishingbychelle.com Engagement Manager: Emily Riches emily@publishingbychelle.com Designer: Ryan Vizcarra Sub-editor: Claire Hey
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sales@publishingbychelle.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Darcy Watt Emily Riches Gretel Sneath Ian Lloyd Neubauer Kate Webster Matilda Meikle Tatyana Leonov
PRINTING
IVE Print Sydney 81 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128
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.
MAR/APR 2022
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Welcome back This issue we are celebrating some of the many wonderful islands of Australia. There are so many incredible places to experience in Australia, but there’s something really special about flying into a town or city and then jumping on a boat or a ferry and journeying out across wild or calm waters, to a little piece of paradise. Australia is so blessed with the diversity of islands we have – from truly remote archipelagos off the coast of Western Australia and Queensland, to working agricultural islands such as King Island in Tasmania, and islands such as K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) where it can either be all about the pool, cocktails and great food, or 4WD adventures, bushwalking and getting back to nature. Then there’s all of the family friendly islands such as Rottnest Island (known affectionately as Rotto to the locals), and Victoria’s Phillip Island, where the penguins will always be a major drawcard. There’s Montague Island, where you can swim with seals and dine on fresh-as-they-come oysters, and one of my favourites – Kangaroo Island. Here you can experience some of the most amazing natural
sculptures in Australia – Admiral’s Arch and Remarkable Rocks, and also hang out with sea lions. We’ve also explored charming Julia Creek in Outback Queensland, which the locals call ‘The Creek’. Bathe in a claw-footed bath in the outback, and have a refreshing beverage at the Walkabout Creek Hotel, to absorb some true country hospitality. There’s plenty more to dive into in this issue, including Indigenous experiences in Sydney and exploring the lesser known gems of the lovely Limestone Coast. Enjoy the read and your flight, and we look forward to bringing you more inspiring travel stories soon.
NORFOLK ISLAND: Enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Cover photo of Grassy Harbour, King Island Photography by Kramer Photography
MICHELLE HESPE & THE TEAM AT TRUE BLUE READ IT ONLINE
If you would like to read the digital version of True Blue, please be our guest!
TrueBlue Mar/Apr 2022
OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY
A real Australian business magazine
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 2 TrueBlue
LOVING MELBOURNE
Wining, dining & picnicking in our cultural capital.
THE GEMS OF JULIA
CREEK Outback baths, dinosaurs & character-filled pubs.
AUSSIE
Isles PIECES OF PARAD ON OUR DOOR ISE STEP
LAKE HUME RESORT: The Boat Shed’s balcony overlooks the pool where you can enjoy ice cold beverages.
Inside TrueBlue
upfront
12 REX News
Rex sponsored the Splash & Arts camp in Bedourie and received a multi-million dollar assistance package and five brand new aircraft have commenced work for NSW Ambulance.
Features 30 Islands of Aus.
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Australia is spoilt for choice when it comes to an island holiday. Our coast is surrounded by 8,222 uniqely captivating island getaways. Explore the tiny Lady Elliot Island to the much larger Kangaroo Island.
38 Julia Creek
On the Overlanders Way, Julia Creek in Outback Qld offers travellers a slice of the good life. Think boutique outdoor bath houses and a pub made famous by Crocodile Dundee.
42 Indigenous Sydney
Through Sydney’s many Indigenous sights and attractions, you can learn more about our remarkable First Nations community that have a history dating back 65,000 years.
46 Romantic Melbourne
Linger over long lunches, steal a kiss in a famous cinema or see the sights from the city’s highest rooftop bar. Unwind through a quintessential Melbourne getaway like no other. THE LIMESTONE COAST: Glamping tents at Pine Country Caravan Park.
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AusBiz. Check out AusBiz. at the back of our magazine. BUSINESS Progressing past the 9-5 grind into a new era of remote working. INDUSTRY Truck driving is a multibillion dollar industry that’s progressing rapidly.
MINING Demand grows for white gold to sustain electric vehicle manufaturing.
PROPERTY Our best predictions on property trends for the year ahead.
INNOVATION NFTs are a new investment opportunity, but what are they really?
MAR/APR 2022
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In-flight Entertainment & Wi-Fi is taking off! Immerse yourself with free in-flight entertainment! Enjoy a great selection of entertainment options - stream a world of blockbuster movies and addictive TV shows on selected domestic flights operated by our Boeing 737-800NG jet fleet. You will also be able to purchase Wi-Fi Internet Passes to browse the web or stay connected with all your favourite networking apps. Wi-Fi browse access is complimentary for Business Class passengers.
Step by step: How to connect on board
Wi-Fi Passes available for purchase
Choose network.
Regular speed for browsing
Turn on device’s Wi-Fi and connect to the Rex Wi-Fi network “REX”.
Suitable for simple web browsing, email, instant messaging and social media (excludes video and app stores).
Welcome. Browser should open automatically. If needed, open your internet browser and navigate to wifionboard.com.
Connect. Once connected, passengers can access complimentary in-flight entertainment or purchase a Wi-Fi pass to start streaming.
Have a question? For any questions or troubleshooting, live chat is available 24/7 to assist you.
Terms and conditions apply.
30 minutes from $6.50* High-speed for streaming Suitable for a faster connection speed supporting video streaming services such as YouTube (excludes app stores). 30 minutes from $9.75*
UP, UP AND AWAY! Rex: Our heart is in the country
Bamaga NPA
Mornington Island (Gununa)
Cairns
Normanton
Burketown
Doomadgee
Townsville
Richmond
Mount Isa
Hughenden
Julia Creek Winton
Boulia
Longreach Bedourie Birdsville
Carnarvon
Windorah Charleville
Roma 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
Adelaide
Griffith
Dubbo
Orange
Bathurst
Narrandera-Leeton Wagga Wagga Albury
Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)
Mount Gambier
Coffs Harbour
Armidale
Parkes
Mildura
Domestic Routes Regional Routes
Grafton (Yamba)
Broken Hill
Melbourne
Port Macquarie
Sydney Canberra
Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma) Merimbula
King Island
Operated in partnership with Burnie
Our heart is in the coun
MAR/APR 2022
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Connect with Stay up to date with Rex news, deals and latest updates
Rex.Airlines Rex
RexAirlines
Regional Express (Rex)
Our Heart is in the Country Connecting Regional Western Australia CARNAVON MONKEY MIA
PERTH ESPERANCE
rex.com.au | 13 17 13
ALBANY
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 hand luggage 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 hand luggage 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 hand luggage 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.
MAR/APR 2022
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Take a bit of
home with you!
Did you know that Rex has a range of merchandise available on our website? If you can’t get enough of Rex, are an avid aviation collector, or simply love travel, you can take a piece of Rex home with you. Rex has been connecting regional Australia flying our Saab 340 aircraft for over 19 years. We offer a range of merchandise, such as a Saab model aircraft, a Rex KeepCup, cap, umbrella and more. We’ve also introduced the sale of our new Boeing 737-800NG model aircraft to celebrate the launch of domestic operations which took off in March 2021.
$3000
To start your Rex Collection, visit rex.com.au .
$500
$2000
$1200
$15
00
$300
BAGGAGE
Carry on baggage
CHECK- IN
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
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. Please refer to rex.com.au for more baggage allowance information.
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. • 60 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.
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
Y
Y
60
7,600
3
BOEING 737-800 NG
79,015
830
176
Y
Y
6
10,000 TO 12,000
6
MAR/APR 2022
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10 TrueBlue
SYDNEY SUPER SHUTTLE Sydney’s ground transport specialists Sydney Super Shuttle take the hassle out of transfers! Reliable, frequent low cost shuttles take the hassle out of getting you to and from your hotels, or beyond. TRANSFER OPTIONS: •
AIRPORT TRANSFERS - Sydney Super Shuttle provides door-to door shuttle services from Sydney Airport to your hotel
•
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•
CORPORATE AND EVENTS - Sydney Super Shuttle offer luxury executive travel services for trade shows, business meetings, conferences or incentive meetings
REX PASSENGERS RECIEVE 5% OFF!* Scan the QR Code and use the promo code “REXSSS”
*T&C’s apply
Now flying Brisbane to Roma Regular daily flights between Brisbane and Roma Community Fares available
Book now at rex.com.au
Our heart is in the country
Operated in partnership with Photo Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
News
Jundah State School attends Bedourie Splash ‘n’ Arts Camp Contributed by Jundah State School
BARCOO SHIRE, spanning about 62,000 square kilometers, sits in the heart of Far West Queensland. The township of Jundah, a mere 14 hours’ drive from Brisbane, is the administration centre of the Barcoo Shire; its population of around 350 people making it the largest of the towns in the Shire. As the community of Jundah will tell, despite the remoteness, it is a jewel in the outback. The nearby Thomson River is the perfect spot for scenic fishing, as well as other recreational activities such as yabbying, birdwatching and kayaking. Welford National Park is also a beautiful setting for water activities, as well as cycling and camping. The park features breathtaking aboriginal stone arrangements and water wells, and is home to mulga parrots and the endangered yellowfooted rock-wallaby. The region also has a fascinating history. Jundah was gazetted as a town in 1880, and became an opal mining hotspot known as Opalville. In 1989 one of the largest ever fine boulder opals was unearthed at a whopping 2765ct. Ninety kilometres east of Jundah is the site of Magee’s Shanty – tours are available of the shanty immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s poem, A Bush Christening, first printed in 1893. Of the small population of the region, are 10 students who love going to school each day at Jundah State School. Each year, the school travels 476km to Bedourie to attend a Splash & Arts camp with Bedourie, Birdsville, Windorah and Stonehenge State School.
12 TrueBlue
Jundah State School students flying with Rex, sponsor of the Splash & Arts camp at Bedourie.
Rex has sponsored the event and this year the eight students and two staff flew from Windorah to Bedourie for the camp. At the P&C meeting, we were discussing the camp and the possibility of flying. Our local policeman and P&C treasurer offered to contact Rex and see what was possible. The amazing staff at Rex organised for the students to fly and sponsored the staff. This meant only a short bus trip to Windorah and then a plane trip to Bedourie, saving over five hours of travel, with over half of that on dirt roads, to get to the camp. The students were so excited and some of them had never flown before. What an amazing experience! To have the privilege of taking a student on their very first flight was
so exciting. One of the younger students was so excited he gave a running commentary of the trip in a loud voice that provided the whole plane with the flight entertainment. The students loved the journey and have not stopped telling their tales of their Rex flight. We have an amazing country and to be able view this from the air was a very special experience. While we were at camp, Bedourie had beautiful rain, which meant that some of the students who had travelled by bus were stranded and again Rex were very supportive and were able to fly over half of the students back so they were able to get home. What an adventure! This was an amazing experience for our students and staff.
News
Jobs Plus Announcement IN FEBRUARY, Rex announced that it had been awarded a multimillion-dollar assistance package by the New South Wales (NSW) State Government to support the creation of over 2,500 direct and indirect new jobs in NSW under the State’s Jobs Plus program. Premier Dominic Perrottet said securing Sydney as the airline’s national hub was part of the Government’s economic recovery strategy. “A strong domestic aviation sector is critical to our recovery from the pandemic and it’s important there is healthy competition in the industry,” Mr Perrottet said. “By supporting Rex Airlines to expand its Sydney headquarters we are not only creating thousands of new jobs, but signalling to the world that NSW is open and ready to welcome travellers.” The support package will firmly anchor Rex’s domestic jet operations to Sydney by assisting the airline to develop a Boeing 737NG Flight Simulator Centre at Rex’s Mascot headquarters as well as a new Code C aircraft size hangar
Premier Dominic Perrottet; Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres; and Rex Deputy Chairman the Hon John Sharp AM, pictured at the new Rex Lounge site at Sydney Airport, which will undergo a fit out and be opened later this year.
and office block at Sydney Airport. Rex’s call centre at Orange will also be expanded. “Rex Airlines has demonstrated its commitment to growing its domestic network and providing consumers with safe, reliable and affordable air travel,” said Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Stuart Ayres. “This support will mean jobs right across the board, from construction and maintenance, catering and office staff through to new flight
attendants, pilots and engineers who will also benefit from the new training facilities,” Mr Ayres said. Rex Airlines Deputy Chairman John Sharp AM welcomed the support of the NSW Government in the company’s planned expansion. “Without the Jobs Plus Program assistance, Rex’s expansion plans in the state would never have materialised in this pandemic climate and many new jobs would not be created,” Mr Sharp said.
New Saab Livery Rex recently revealed a new livery for its Saab 340 aircraft. The new livery now features the airline’s slogan, ‘Our heart is in the country’ above the forward window belt and the Rex logo prominently displayed on the underside of the fuselage.
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News
Fantastic five take to the skies Five brand new fixed wing aircraft, operated by Rex Group subsidiary Pel-Air Aviation, commenced operational duties for NSW Ambulance on 1 January.
The media launch of NSW Ambulance’s five new Beechcraft King Air 350C planes. Front row, from left to right: NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan, Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole. Photo credit: NSW Ambulance
PEL-AIR AVIATION, which is an air freight, aeromedical and charter operator, is a proud wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rex Group of Companies. On January 1, 2022, Pel-Air commenced operations for the NSW Ambulance Air Ambulance fixed wing service with a fleet of new aircraft operating out of the Mascot Air Ambulance Base. Before the commencement of official operational duties on 1 January 2022, not one, not two, but all five brand new Beechcraft King Air 350C planes were on display, in a spectacular scene at Mascot air base, for a launch attended by Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and NSW Ambulance Commissioner, Dr Dominic Morgan.
14 TrueBlue
“Our clinicians transfer more than 6,000 patients every year, often from some of the most remote parts of regional and rural NSW,” Dr Morgan said. “These Beechcraft King Air B 350C planes, in partnership with Pel-Air, will boost NSW Ambulance’s Fixed Wing Operations, providing even better care for rural and regional areas.” It was no small feat to ensure the five new aircraft were available for the launch at the same time – but certainly one that was worthwhile given what the new planes represent for NSW Ambulance. The five new aircraft are set to be of huge benefit to NSW Ambulance flight nurses, pilots and, of course, the patients. “To get five new aircraft lined up all together is something I don’t think we’ve had the opportunity
to do before,” Paula Sinclair, NSW Ambulance Director Fixed Wing & Aeromedical Control Centre, said. “Everyone worked really well to achieve this.” Compared to the older versions, Paula said these new aircraft are faster, quieter, come with state-of-theart avionics (the aircraft’s electronic systems), and have an improved medical fit-out to treat patients in the back of the aircraft. Likened to a ‘hospital in the sky’, these new fixed wing planes – capable of carrying two stretcher patients and three sitting patients at any given time – are also fitted with an updated loading arm, which ensures no manual lifting is required to get the patient in and out of the aircraft. The event also marked the beginning of a new 10-year contract with Pel-Air, who will operate and maintain the aircraft. “We look forward to working with Pel-Air and building that relationship, and continuing to provide highlevel clinical care for all our patients throughout NSW,” Ms Sinclair said. Pel-Air Chairman, the Hon. John Sharp AM, said, “We are honoured by the confidence that NSW Ambulance has placed in Pel-Air to be able to successfully carry out the procurement and modifications of these new aircraft and to run its Mascot Base Air Ambulance operations for the next ten years.” Ms Sinclair thanked all stakeholders who were involved in helping to ensure a smooth transition from the older-model planes to the new ones. “It was a massive team effort from everyone involved,” she said.
News
Tick Outback Queensland off your bucket list Whether you’re after a spontaneous weekend getaway or a unique family holiday, Outback Queensland has so much to offer! If you’ve ever fancied visiting Australia’s most northerly point, Cape York, you should add Bamaga to the top of your list. Bamaga is a small town offering a great base to begin touring the Cape region, and the Cape York Tip is less than an hours’ drive from the Northern Peninsula Airport in Bamaga. Incorporating the towns of Winton, Richmond and Hughenden, the ‘Dinosaur Trail’ offers a unique and informative experience for visitors of all ages! From fossilised dinosaur footprints dating back 95 million years, towering replicas of the dinosaurs which once roamed
the Earth, to fossicking sites where visitors can try and find fossils of their own, the Dinosaur Trail is an insightful and fascinating visit to the prehistoric. Suitable for all budding palaeontologists! There are also many festivals in Outback Queensland to satisfy a range of interests, such as the Bilby Festival in Charleville, the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival which brings competitors together for Australia’s toughest sprinttriathlon course, and the world’s most remote music festival, the Big Red Bash, which is held on the edge of the
Simpson Desert, 35 kilometres west of Birdsville. The Big Red Bash is famous for attracting world-famous artists who perform for 10,000 rock’n’roll lovers over three days under the clear desert skies. Despite the endless list of attractions, nothing beats Outback Queensland for fresh air, the perfect climate and friendly country hospitality. Rex flies to 24 Outback destinations, with domestic connections flying from Melbourne and Sydney into Brisbane. Now’s the time to tick Outback Queensland off the bucket list.
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Special Feature
Get your grin on at
Luna Park If you’re looking for an exciting day out with the family, or seeking new entertainment and an adrenaline rush with friends, Luna Park is ready to deliver a sensational experience for all fun-lovers and thrill-seekers. words: darcy watt There’s a lot more than one big toothy grin at Luna Park Sydney, with the nine amazing new rides putting more smiles on dials than you can count. The Big Dipper – Australia’s tallest and fastest multi-launch coaster – is a big drawcard for the big kids, and for those who are still kids at heart. If that’s not impressive enough, it is also the world’s first single-track multi-launch coaster. This means the Big Dipper is seriously bigger, dippier, faster, higher and loopier than anything you would have seen or experienced before in Australia and beyond. It opened recently alongside the Sledgehammer, reaching new levels of heart-stopping heights so you really get all the bang for your buck. Once the ominous hammer launches you into the sky you’ll feel G-forces like never before as you twist and turn – those iconic views of Sydney Harbour flashing before you like a movie on fast forward.
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If you’re out for the day with the little ones in tow, there’s the new Cloud Nine – a huddle of bright replica hot air balloons that gently rise and fall in and out of the sky as it rotates like a Merry Go Round. Both kids and adults can fit into the cartoon-like baskets. Then there’s Little Nipper – a jaw-some mini roller coaster where you can jump aboard a great white for a ride that will have everyone squealing in joy. Luna Park Sydney’s all-time favourite ride – the mighty Wild Mouse – has been operating since the earlier days, and it continues to bring nostalgia and a constant stream of adrenaline to the table, as you’re hurled around each fearsome corner in the little cabooses that have heard a million screams in their time. No one can go just once, and the photos that you can pick up on your way out are usually just as amusing as the ride. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets, hold on to that Fairy
Floss and strap in for the ride of your life. And a fair warning – that famous toothy grin is more excited to welcome you than ever before. BUY ONLINE AND SAVE If you can, book your visit early online and save. Luna Park is also accepting NSW Parent Vouchers through on-site purchase at the ticket box only. To redeem a NSW Parent Voucher visit the ticket box located inside the park. Please note, the Parent Vouchers must be from the NSW government voucher distribution pool to be accepted. Visit lunaparksydney.com
Events
What’s on & What’s hot Our pick of the very best festivals, cultural and sporting events from around the country. Compiled by: Darcy Watt
March-April Big Top Luna Park Events
Sydney, NSW Experience the magic beyond the iconic (and new) rides at Luna Park. The Big Top, Luna Park’s enetertainment venue will come to life through the musical talents of Made in the 90’s on April 3 as well as Benee on April 7. Get your tickets now! lunaparksydney.com
March 4-20
march 10
Adelaide, SA An outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed theatre productions and world-class musicians, dancers, writers and visual artists. adelaidefestival.com.au
NSW & Qld This year marks the 115th professional rugby league season in Australia. Matches will be played every week from March to October. nrl.com
Adelaide Festival
NRL Season
March 4-23 April
March 12
Sydney, NSW Petty politics, inflated egos and fierce rivalries almost jeopardise one of the greatest discoveries in human advancement; Sir Issac Newton’s law of motion. ensemble.com.au
Albany, WA A collection of short films from across the globe documenting the beauty and power of the ocean and celebrating all the wonderful people who live for the sea’s salt spray. ptt.wa.gov.au
Nearer The Gods
Ocean Film Festival
april 1-3 Australian Tattoo Exposition
Sydney, NSW One of the biggest and best events celebrating the art and culture of tattoo. There are competitions as well as world-class performances and over 250 of our very best tattoo artists all under one roof. Experience the tattoo industry up close and personal with an expected crowd of over 57,000 visitors. tattooexpo.com.au MAR/APR 2022
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Events
April 2-10
april 10-20
Gold Coast, Qld The Aussies is an annual event in which members from Australia’s 314 Surf Clubs compete across 480 events. It’s the largest event of its kind in the world. sls.com.au/aussies
Torquay, Vic After a two-year hiatus, the world’s top surfers will return to Bells Beach to battle it out for the chance to ring the famous bell. The event has been going since 1973. ripcurl.com.au
Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
April 8-19 Sydney Royal Easter Show
Sydney, NSW First held in 1823, Sydney’s hugely popular Easter Show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event. It’s a great day out for families and helps raise funds for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. eastershow.com.au
april 1-10 Orange F.O.O.D Week Festival
Orange, NSW The annual celebration of local produce and ‘fine food’ showcases the producers and their products, chefs, restaurants and other enterprises that give the Orange region its great reputation for food and wine. The local produce on offer during the week will be from the townships of Orange, Canobolas and Blayney. orange360.com.au
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The Bell’s Beach Rip Curl Pro
April 04-09
april 15-17
Adelaide, SA Championship glory and national team selection are up for grabs, as Australia’s top swimmers meet in Adelaide following Olympic success. swimming.org.au
Bathurst, NSW The largest ever grid for a Bathurst enduro has been confirmed with 70 cars starting the Easter race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. bathurst6hour.com.au
Australian Swimming Championships
April 14-18
Bluesfest Byron Bay
Byron Bay, NSW This year’s Bluesfest will feature 200 performances over the Easter long weekend. bluesfest.com.au
Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour
april 1-3
Newcastle Writers Fest.
Newcastle, NSW NWF is one of the largest regional literary not-for-profit festivals in Australia. newcastlewritersfestival.org.au
april 14-18
April 25
Roma, Qld Enjoy true blue hospitality at Roma’s five-day celebration of all things country. The festival schedule is packed with good old country action. outbackqueensland.com.au
Brisbane, Qld Parades across the country will recognise all those who have served and continue to serve our country. Brisbane’s parade will be led by the Aus Navy. eventbrite.com.au
Easter in the Country
ANZAC Day Parade
Hotels on every tier The Brisbane Airport Hotels Group comprises of the 5-star Pullman Brisbane Airport, the 4.5-star Novotel Brisbane Airport, the 3.5-star ibis Brisbane Airport, and the Brisbane Airport Conference Centre. The Pullman & ibis Brisbane Airport are conveniently located within a 7-minute walk from the Brisbane Domestic Terminal and adjacent to the Brisbane Airport Conference Centre. Awarded the best airport hotel in Australia/ Pacific in 2019 at the Skytrax Awards, The Pullman Brisbane Airport offers a five star luxury escape and features an outdoor pool, Executive Club Lounge and the intimate Apron Restaurant & Bar. The ibis Brisbane Airport has all the modern comforts of home and you can ‘hang ten’ at the vibrant Cribb Island Beach Club. Located on the ground floor, it’s a modern bistro with a funky beach-club style. The 4.5 star Novotel Brisbane Airport is within the Brisbane Airport & Skygate precinct, and it offers meeting rooms, a large rooftop terrace, a swimming pool and Catalina Bar & Restaurant. For more information, visit bneahg.com.au
Sip Eat Sleep
Sip Eat Sleep
Green ants & other indulgences We’re seated by the gardens in Bangalay Dining at Shoalhaven Heads, palm trees before us and an ocean breeze making the air taste delightfully salty. It’s the picture of barefoot luxury. And then come the ants. ”Look at them!” I say, probably a bit too loudly. “So many little green ants!” A couple at the table next to us glance across with concerned expressions. She scans the floor and wall while his eyes settle on the beautifully presented meal being placed before me. It’s kingfisher ceviche peppered with green ants – one of my favourite bush tucker treats. “They taste like lemon and lime popping candy,” I say. Our neighbours both smile and she insists that he braves up and orders some for them both. Our meals are perfectly matched with a bottle of delicately textured 2021 Mada pinot gris from a vineyard Murrumbateman, and we tuck into some chargrilled baby octopus, emu tartar with egg jam, and plump oysters from the Far South Coast. To wrap up our ‘light’ lunch, we share a cherry sorbet and then take a wander along the beach to walk off our string of delectable indulgences. All of them dishes that we’ll be talking about for weeks to come. bangalayvillas.com.au/bangalay-dining
Visit the exhibition showcasing Australia’s performing arts
ONLY IN CANBERRA AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
04 MAR 2022–07 AUG 2022 FREE • EXHIBITION GALLERY • NLA.GOV.AU Sir Robert Helpmann as Oberon in the 1937 Old Vic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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 enjoy Asian fusion dining at Madame Za Restaurant for a unique 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 MAR/APR 2022
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Events
Image: By photographer, Daniel James Boud, Ange Sullivan, Head of Lighting, Preparing a Ghost Light at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 2020.
On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts Exhibition at the National Library of Australia, Canberra words: darcy watt
When a theatre is empty, a single light is turned on to appease the spirits. The light is said to allow ghosts to perform their own theatrics on stage at night. The opening image for the exhibition On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts shows Ange Sullivan – Head of Lighting at the Sydney Opera House – turning on the ghost light in 2020 at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns. Although COVID-19 was a turning point for live entertainment, performance permeated Australian life prior to lockdowns. Whether it’s enjoying a local band at the corner pub or dressing to the nines for a musical theatre performance at the Royal Theatre, Australians love live entertainment. There are thousands of items detailing Australian performing arts history in the National Library’s collections, including photographs, programs, tickets, posters, manuscripts, costume designs and instruments. And so, only some of the very best could be displayed in the exhibition. Dr Susannah Helman, exhibition curator and Library Curator of
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Rare Books and Music says, “It’s an embarrassment of riches but ultimately I wanted to take people on a journey through Australia’s performing arts history.” “Live performance is an everchanging medium. It is entertainment yet also art that responds to the times and challenges us. You can really see how people lived and how that has changed over time as we have changed as well.” PERFORMANCE HISTORY TAKES CENTRE STAGE The exhibition explores many influential home-grown talents including Dame Nellie Melba, Sir Robert Helpmann and Dame Joan Sutherland. A salary book shows that one star, Gladys Moncrieff, was paid £3 per week in 1936 by J.C. Williamson Ltd. – more than $300 in today's money. Dubbed Australia’s Queen of Song and referred to in the saying, “our harbour, our bridge and our Glad," she was born in Bundaberg and became a huge musical theatre star in the 1930s. J.C. Williamson and the company he founded also features in the exhibition. His company dominated the Australian
theatre landscape for over a century. The exhibition features some of the productions and artists J.C. Williamson brought to Australia, from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas in the late nineteenth century to Anna Pavlova in the 1920s, the Ballets Russes in the 1930s and musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun (from 1948). A fragile theatre playbill from 1796 is on display and is Australia’s earliest surviving printed document. It advertises an evening’s entertainment at Sydney’s first purpose-built theatre. Alongside concert posters for rock band AC/DC and photography from the Falls Festival, the exhibition showcases a long and impressive history of Australian performance. The National Library’s exhibition highlights unique and eclectic pieces that have managed to survive over the years. Many have never been seen before such as contracts, scripts and musical scores used by performers. Visit the National Library from 4 March and enjoy a backstage pass to the inner workings of showbiz. Admission to the exhibition is free. For more information, visit nla.gov.au
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BEYOND THE POD: LUXURY, DESIGN AND IMMERSION
Australia has a plethora of exceptionally breathtaking regional locations from where luxurious, unique accommodation options can shine, but ESCA is redefining regional tourism and taking things to a beautifully private new level. words: darcy watt
Picture this: an architecturally designed private retreat with all the luxurious features of a five-star hotel suite, seemingly dropped out of the sky into a dramatic Australian landscape. Enter ESCA – an innovative new tourism venture taking modular accommodation to the next level. These are not shipping containers. They’re not cabins, or pods. They’re exquisite sanctuaries on blocks of quintessentially Australian land, which simultaneously provide select landowners the chance to generate incremental tourism income from their properties. The suites offer a tranquil escape for guests, immersed in the beauty of the Australian environment. ESCA's pilot location, 'Nest & Nature' in South Australia's Inman Valley, is a mere one-hour drive from Adelaide yet it feels like a remote refuge where nature reigns supreme. The newly built suites are completely off the grid, while embodying the style and comforts of a luxury penthouse suite. The hustle and bustle of multi-roomed accommodation is brushed aside in the pursuit of privacy and a sense of exclusivity. ESCA suites are designed with restraint and sophistication and are configured so that guests can observe the remarkable natural surroundings while the suites subtly reflect them. According to ESCA’s CEO Steve Kernaghan, what sets ESCA apart from its competitors is meticulous site selection and a dedication to high-end architectural design that embodies Australian luxury.
“These aren’t pods placed in paddocks, and you can’t just press these off an assembly line. This is high-quality design and architecture in a place you’d never expect to find it. "We’ve gone beyond the pod.” MEET NEST & NATURE Site selection and design for the two Inman Valley suites was paramount. Nest & Nature is a private location of 200 acres located in the Fleurieu Peninsula, a region that has swathes of forest, spectacular beaches and the thriving food and wine-focused McLaren Vale all within an easy driving distance. The alfresco area – complete with a built-in barbecue, fire pit and inset bath to soak in while stargazing – is perfectly designed to encourage guests to enjoy and blend in with the natural surrounds, making it easy for couples to self-cater and tune off from the outside world. The contactless check-in and self-contained design of the suites guarantees privacy. Inside, a king-sized bed, well-stocked kitchen and 60 square metres of living space is all guests need to kick back and enjoy fine local delicacies whilst appreciating nature and one another. An indoor bath with views of the majestic Fleurieu Peninsula escarpment offers an almost otherworldly setting. With an almost prehistoric beauty, this former glacier-covered region is a painter’s or photographer’s dream. The ESCA suites at Nest & Nature in the Inman Valley are the first of many which will soon be found across the most captivating landscapes in Australia. Bookings are now being accepted for late April onwards. Visit esca.com.au MAR/APR 2022
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WIN a 3-night getaway Head to
/ trulyaus.coms/ n o competiti survey is e, or fill in th to enter onlin mail it to us! d an ey surv
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Truly Aus and ESCA are giving one lucky couple the chance to win a picture perfect 3-night escape*. Simply fill out this survey and send it to us, OR go to TrulyAus.com and fill out the online competition there. More about the awesome prize: • 3 nights at ESCA Nest & Nature at Inman Valley • Prize value: $1800 • Maximum of 2 persons only – prize winner and a guest • Valid between 01 June 2022 to 30 May 2023 • Not available on Friday and Saturday night • Not redeemable or refundable for cash or credit *Available for stays Sunday to Thursday nights only By entering into the competition you are agreeing to subscribe to a fortnightly newsletter from trulyaus.com, you may unsubscribe at any time.
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TRULYAUS.COM This online travel hub is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the real Australia, giving travellers the lowdown and insider tips on how to discover the best of regional, rural and outback Australia.
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How long have you been flying with REX airlines? Less than 1 year 2-5 years 5-10 years More than 10 years Are you a member of the REX Flyer program? Yes No Do you own your own home (including having an existing mortgage on the property)? Yes No Which city or town (plus state) do you live in? NSW VIC QLD TAS ACT NT WA SA Do you live in a regional or metropolitan area? Regional Metropolitan Do you own or have a business interest in rural/regional Outback Australia? Yes No Would you be open to receive emailed newsletters from AusBiz about business stories, special offers etc? Yes No How did you come across this survey? On REX airlines On AusBiz On Truly Aus In an email newsletter (AusBiz or Truly Aus) Facebook Instagram Somewhere else (please specify) If you would like to post this survey, please send to: Publishing ByChelle Level 1, 3 Westleigh St, Neutral Bay, NSW, 2089 Cammeraygal Country MAR/APR 2022
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An elegant eco retreat on Sydney Harbour Experience an eco retreat nestled within Taronga Zoo overlooking Sydney Harbour. Enjoy immersive animal encounters, unwind in one of our thoughtfully designed rooms and dine in our award-wining restaurant from a menu rich with native ingredients. Taronga is not-for-profit, so stay with us and make a meaningful difference to wildlife.
taronga.org.au/retreat
Interview
AMOROSI Iconic Aussie pop star Vanessa Amorosi is back with a new album City of Angels (out 18 March), and an Australian tour. Here, Vanessa talks about her stellar career in music. Words: emily riches Congratulations on your new album City of Angels and your Australian tour. You’ve been living in Los Angeles for over 10 years working on gospel arrangements and soul music. When did you first start creating this album? When the pandemic hit, I released an album called The Blacklisted Collection and then straight out of that, I just knew what I wanted to do with music. Everybody knows the stuff that I did when I was 15 and 16, but gospel has always been something I’ve been really passionate about. It wasn’t until the pandemic and having that isolation that I did some soul searching. I thought, this is really what I want to show people. It’s what I’m passionate about. It’s my calling, I suppose. I really do feel like this record is my best work.
What are some of the big differences in the music scene in the US versus Australia? In LA, there are so many travellers from all around the world, so you can go in and out of studios and create different kinds of art within one day. There’s no real boundary to it. As somebody that is writing songs all the time, it’s nice to be out of your element and do something that’s in a different genre. Then you can incorporate that in with the work that you’re doing. With a lot of my melodies, there’s influences from so many different genres.
What do you love about soul and gospel music? When were you first introduced to it? Oh, as a youngster. It’s always been something I’ve gravitated to. I just love the fact that you can build something through vocal arrangements and support a lead through that.
Are you excited to be going on tour again in Australia (and headlining Mardi Gras)? Oh yeah, I can’t wait! It’s going to be incredible. It’s like being on the road with my family. I’ve been with my crew for 20-something years, and it’s been a really rough time for them and a lot of musicians I know. It’s just nice to be able to do what we do and feel normal again. And have a place to go to celebrate and connect with everybody.
Do you have a favourite song on the album? Or one that’s particularly close to your heart? It really depends. I wanted each song to make you feel something. I would say As The World Falls Down is one of those tracks that constantly puts me in that headspace. I’m really proud of this record because each song takes you on that emotional journey. It’s also the first record that I’ve produced on my own, so I’ve been able to really go with it.
For your upcoming tour, you’ve got some live and intimate shows and some festival shows as well. Which do you enjoy more? Oh, I can’t choose. They’re so different. The show that I’m rehearsing for outdoors with the full band is an entirely different show to the one where it’s intimate and people feel like they’re just sitting with a bunch of friends in the lounge room. That’s also another wonderful thing about coming home because I’ve grown up with my
audience – so it really is like sitting with friends and just celebrating music and where it’s taken us. You’ve been writing and performing since you were a teenager. How do you think you’ve changed and grown as a singer-songwriter? I’ve been on the road my whole life with incredible artists and you never stop learning. It’s hard to stay writing the same songs when you experience life. You go through ups and downs and you evolve. You just get inspired. I’ve always been the type of person who wants to learn. I love listening to old classics like Coco Taylor and BB King; I listen to country, I listen to rock. I like to experiment with all of it, and then come up with my own thing. What’s next for you in your career? I’m just going to be doing a tonne of music. There’s nothing else that gets me excited like making music does. So, I just want to do more of it, especially the touring side of things. I want to connect with everybody. I want to be out on the road. I spent two years in a studio making records, now I want to celebrate it. TB
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Getaway
Down by The
BOAT SHEDat Lake Hume
The lovingly restored The Boat Shed in Lake Hume Resort near Albury is the jewel in the crown – changing the look and feel of this laidback patch of Aussie paradise. Words: Michelle Hespe
As we pull into Lake Hume Resort, the sun is sinking towards the horizon. Lake Hume is turned into a shimmering golden expanse surrounded by undulating hills on one side, and the majestic concrete work of art that is the dam’s weir, rising up on the other. From where we are on the top of the hill, the kayaks flitting across the lake’s surface look like shiny beetles, oars like thin legs creating symmetrical ripples on either side as they skim along. There are groups of families and friends lounging on towels and camp chairs on the grassy knolls above the beach, where kids and dogs splash around in the shallow water. It’s a picture-perfect postcard of an Australian summer. The Boat Shed stands straight and tall on the main grassy slope – its 1920s-style white exterior with smart navy trims giving it a nautical feel – and it wouldn’t look out of place on a palm-tree-lined Miami street. People mingle on the pub’s balcony above the resort’s pool, the clinking of glasses and merry chatter drifting over to us along with the unmistakable scents of wood-fired pizzas, burgers and chicken wings. We cruise carefully along the resort’s main road, dodging kids on bikes and skateboards as we go, and in the neat row of cabins we find the one we’re calling home for the weekend. It’s a newly renovated three-bedroom, floorboarded cottage with a large open kitchen, dining room and lounge room – perfect for families or a group of friends. The simple, stylish décor is chic and fresh, and there’s a welcome bunch of Australian native flowers on the dining table with a lovely welcome note, and some local gourmet snacks – olives, crackers, cheese and chocolate chip cookies – tucked into a welcome hamper.
DINING AT THE BOAT SHED
It’s a Friday night and we are just in time for Happy Hour. We order a cold beer and a glass of bubbles, and join the crowds of happy patrons chilling out on the deck. The sun has slipped below the hills now and it’s hard not to unwind and relax in the Hamptons’ styled space, as some classic Café Del Mar tunes drift out across the darkening lake. We take our table next to a window overlooking the beautifully manicured gardens, order some meals to share, and settle in for a dinner of grilled haloumi, Japanese chicken wings and wasabi tuna tartare for entrees, followed by the classics – fish and chips with homemade fries and scotch fillet steak cooked to perfection. The evening drifts along at a slow pace, with the attentive staff letting us enjoy the delicious food and one another’s company.
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Getaway
DOWN BY THE LAKE
The Boat Shed is rapidly becoming famous for its awesome breakfasts. We sit in the sun on the deck and indulge in a big fry-up and some smashed avocado on sourdough with toasted sesame seeds and a rocket and feta salad. The Boat Shed is also a renowned wedding venue, and being so close to Albury airport it is also popular for corporate functions. To walk off an evening and morning focussed on food (including a late night cheese platter in our cosy cottage to round things off) we head down to the lake’s dam wall, which is only a ten-minute walk. The views from both sides of the dam wall are nothing short of spectacular – from one side you can see where the water has flowed out and down the Murray River in two distinct streams around a heart-shaped island in the centre. The banks are a verdant mass of trees, thriving bushland and swathes of flowers peppered across the river grasses. On the other side, you can look out across the lake, which for the first time in five years is at capacity. We’re disappointed to hear that the day before we arrived, 31,000 megalitres had been released per day for multiple days in a row. Considering the dam holds a maximum of 3,005,156 megalitres (about six times the volume of Sydney Harbour) that would have been quite a sight to see. After a walk across the dam wall, we head
back to the resort and meet one of the staff down by the lake where we pick up a twoperson kayak. Dogs and kids splash around in excitement as we push off from shore and glide out on to the lake to join the many fishermen in tinnies. The sun is high in the sky now, and the mass of water is alive with millions of sparkles that each oar stroke dissolves, only for them to reappear beyond our wake where the water once again settles into a relaxing stillness. We switch off and listen to magpies warbling and kookaburras laughing their heads off. We watch ducks swoop in and settle comfortably into their orderly rafts, and it couldn’t feel more like an Australian summer when a big crackle of cockatoos noisily bustles its way across the bright blue sky, blending in and out of the popcorn-like clouds. TB
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Enjoying drinks at The Boat Shed; The outdoor alfreso dining area;Pork belly with mash and salad, served at The Boat Shed.
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operates flights to Albury. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details. MAR/APR 2022
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PARADISE IN NSW: Lord Howe Island, image by Tom Archer.
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AAU SUT RSATL R I AA L I A
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SEAL THE DEAL: You can snorkel with seals at Montague Island (Eurobodalla Coast Tourism, 2020).
breaks, while Old Settlement Beach provides the best opportunities for spotting turtles swimming close to shore. Under water is just as incredible. Visitors can swim, snorkel and scuba dive alongside three species of turtles, over 450 species of fish, and intricate and stunningly beautiful coral formations.
MONTAGUE ISLAND
LORD HOWE ISLAND
World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island made the National Geographic’s top 25 destinations in the world list in 2021, but you need to plan ahead if you want a piece of this pie – only 400 visitors are allowed on the crescent-shaped island at any one time. If all 18 accommodation lodges are booked out – Pinetrees Lodge and Capella Lodge come highly recommended – visitors outnumber residents. The restrictions were put into place to protect the island’s delicate ecosystem, and in a way, they help emphasise just how amazing this paradise is. Located 700 kilometres northeast of Sydney, the 11-kilometre-long island is covered in dense kentia palm and banyan forests, with the lush greenery tumbling right down to the turquoise water’s edge. Walks are a great way to explore, and there are short easy trails and multi-day escapades. The challenging 875-metre Mount Gower climb is rated as one of the best day treks in the world, with early starts recommended to beat the heat and reap the rewards of the impressive vistas before lunch. All walks include complementary tickets to the island’s 170 species-strong bird orchestra. The 11 island beaches each offer something unique. Blinky Beach is popular for its surf
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FAST FACT Montague Island is home to the largest colony of little penguins in New South Wales. Over 8,000 pairs call the island home.
FAST FACT Lord Howe Island is protected by the world’s southernmost coral reef.
This nature reserve located off New South Wales’ South Coast may be compact in size (it’s only 1.4 kilometres long and 525 metres wide), but it delivers big on experiences. Fill your adventure cup by skirting the water alongside fur seals, who are at their peak numbers in spring; count how many different species of birds are flying and wading about; and watch little penguins scatter to their burrows in the evenings after a hard day fishing. The only way to access the island is via a guided tour or by staying overnight, and there is a minimum age requirement of five. If you can make it work, it’s well worth it. Montague Island was called Barunguba by the local Yuin people, and some of the Aboriginal sites on the island – such as middens and artefact scatters – are thought to be over 4,000 years old. No stay is complete without visiting the historical lighthouse, which has remained untouched (except for necessary restoration work) since its completion in 1881. The lighthouse is also home to two accommodation options – the five-bedroom Montague Island Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage and the three-bedroom Montague Island Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage – for those who wish to linger on the island longer.
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K’GARI/FRASER ISLAND
The world’s largest sand island will take your breath away, with its unique ecosystems, awe-inspiring sights and adrenalin-infused adventures. Listed as a World Heritage Area in 1992, the 123-kilometre-long landform is 22 kilometres at its widest point, with long stretches of sandy beaches, colourful soaring sand cliffs, perched lakes, dunes that rise hundreds of kilometres above sea level, and rainforests that sprout from sandbanks. The perched dune lakes are one of the island’s most fascinating features, with 40 of them (half of the world’s perched lakes) dotted around the island. These unique lakes contain only rainwater and have been formed through organic plant matter build-up, which has hardened with wind pressure and over time. Lake McKenzie – or Boorangoora in the local Butchulla language – is the most visited. Because Fraser Island is so big, exploring in a 4WD is an enjoyable way to cover ground, with the sand track along 75 Mile Beach offering stunning vistas in every direction. Aussie Trax 4x4 Rentals is Hervey Bay’s largest 4WD adventure tour operator, so you can pick and choose what’s best for your clan. For a slower pace, the Fraser Island Great Walk weaves its way through the varied ecosystems. The trek is 90 kilometres one way, so pick a section or allow eight days walking time.
LADY ELLIOT ISLAND
FAST FACT Lady Elliot Island has won a number of ecotourism awards, and the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is the place to stay to support sustainable tourism.
There are about 700 manta rays living in the waters surrounding Lady Elliot Island, so it’s no surprise that the island is often referred to as the ‘Home of the Manta Ray’. There are plenty of turtles, too, as well as brightly coloured fish, starfish and crabs. The southernmost island on the Great Barrier Reef is home to over 1,200 species of marine life, and the coral reef is easily accessible just off the beach. Snorkelling and diving are the highlights here, but on-ground adventuring can be just as exhilarating. There are two trails on the island that knit their way through rainforest terrain, wetlands and along the coastline, and it’s very likely you’ll see tropical seabirds and wading birds going about their day. Summer is prime time for bird-watching, when over 100,000 birds nest on the island. Any time of the year to visit is magical. Lady Elliot Island is located just north of Hervey Bay, and humpback whales are often seen in the surrounding waters from June to October. If you’re exploring under the sea, hearing their eerily beautiful singing will leave you breathless.
FAST FACT There’s no other place in Australia with such a high concentration of lakes except for Tasmania.
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE: Above: Aerial views of Lady Elliot Island by Narelle Bouveng. Left: Fraser Island's expanisve beach by Reuben Nutt. . MAR/APR 2022
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KING ISLAND
To combat the decline in visitors to the island in recent times, the Tasmanian Liberal Government recently offered a discount to bookings in an aim to drive visitation. We predict it won’t take long for tourism to bounce back to pre-COVID levels, and the adventure starts before you’ve even arrived – the flight into King Island offers a wonderful view of a sparsely populated and predominantly flat expanse waiting to be discovered. The experiences are as varied as they are plentiful. Keen golfers can play a round or two in one of the three picturesque golf courses, then cool off with a surf at Martha Lavinia Beach (touted as one of the best surf beaches in the country). Hunger will no doubt make an appearance, and whether you choose to dine in or take out, the produce is the star of the show here. Be sure to try King Island Dairy cheese, King Island pure honey, lobster, oysters, beef… or perhaps pack an Esky and stock up to take home. Natural attractions include Seal Rocks and Disappointment Bay, which is inaptly named because it has quite the opposite effect.
KANGAROO ISLAND
One of Australia’s top nature-based destinations, South Australia’s Kangaroo Island really has it all. There’s wildlife aplenty, 509 kilometres of rugged coastline, stunning nature walks, beautiful food and wine, and a band of locals keen to share their stories.
FAST FACT King Island produce is sought out by chefs in top restaurants in both Australia and overseas.
FAST FACT Kangaroo Island is seven times the size of Singapore.
AROUND THE TWIST: Above: King Island by Emilie Ristevski. Below: Kangaroo Island, South Australian Tourism Commission by Isaac Forman.
The island is most famous for its diversity of wildlife, with native animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, sea lions, seals, penguins, dolphins and around 250 species of birds that all call the island home. The devastating bushfires of 2019/2020 scorched half the island – and with that came loss of lives, homes and a great deal of wildlife habitat – but today the island is very much flourishing in its renewal phase. A plethora of green shoots are rapidly rising over previously burnt terrain and the wildlife is returning in great numbers, thanks in part to the effort and hard work of passionate locals. Education and conservation both play a key role in tourism offerings, and Exceptional Kangaroo Island – part of the Australian Wildlife Journeys portfolio – has some of the best sustainable tourism offerings on the island. Flinders Chase National Park, home to the iconic Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch and a fur seal colony, can’t be missed, and swimming in the iridescent blue playground that is Vivonne Bay refreshes the mind, body and soul. Under the sea is just as thrilling, with more variation in marine species found in the surrounding waters than along the length of the Great Barrier Reef. At the end of the day, take a long breather to enjoy the quality food and small-batch wine, where seasonal, local and fresh produce lead the way. The Oyster Farm Shop is a working oyster farm and farm gate, while The Islander Estate Vineyards is the only winery making Australian temperate climate wines with a French twist.
operates flights to King Island. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details.
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PASTEL PICTURES: Above: Rottnest Island is famed for the pink salt lake. Tourism WA, by @apertunity. Below: Fluorescent blue hues at Rowley Shoals, Tourism WA.
ROTTNEST ISLAND
Yes, this is where you come to see the quokkas, the happiest animals on earth. Just a short ferry ride from the coast of Perth, you will find yourself sharing an 11 by 4.5-kilometre paradise with 10,000 to 12,000 fluffy-furred creatures munching on scrubland. The name Rottnest stuck thanks to the quokkas, after Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh incorrectly presumed the macropods were big rats (and consequently named the island Rotte Nest). After you’ve managed to snag a selfie with a quokka (be sure not to touch the animals), you can spend the day exploring the coastline. There are 63 beaches and 20 bays for swimming, snorkelling, rest and recuperation. You can meander from one pretty spot to the next on foot, cycle (try Paul’s Eco E-Bike Tours), Segway around (Segway Tours WA will look after you), or even ride a bike across water (Aquaplay Tours run excursions on water bikes)! For an Aboriginal perspective, Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours & Experiences run fascinating walking tours run by a local Noongar guide. If you want to spend more time playing in the sand and sea, accommodation spans everything from camping and glamping to rooms with commanding ocean views on offer.
FAST FACT Although the quokkas might be the most photographed animal species on the island, fur seals are also found here and hang out on the western end of the island.
ROWLEY SHOALS
Divers, this one is for you – an underwater paradise located 260 kilometres offshore from Broome, only accessible by boat. The operator BlueSun Travel has been taking visitors here for nearly two decades. The three coral atolls – named Clerke Reef, Imperieuse Reef and Mermaid Reef – are part of the Rowley Shoals Marine Park, which sits on the edge of one of the widest continental shelves in the world. Each islet covers approximately 80 to 90 square kilometres and boasts a shallow lagoon. The walls, cracks, crevices, and swim-throughs make for an incredibly remarkable marine environment, and the diving here is renowned as some of the best in Australia. Sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins and whales are some of
FAST FACT Big tidal movements here can create adrenaline-charged drift diving and snorkelling opportunities.
the larger species sighted, while giant clams, wrasse, giant potato cod and countless species of tropical fish follow divers around. Each of the three atolls has near-vertical sides that jut out of the water, and these make for a spectacular backdrop when coming up for air. Clerke and Imperieuse Reef each have a small sandy cay, offering a lovely spot to sit and watch the birdlife. Seabirds are abundant here, and a small colony of red-tailed tropicbirds – one of only two colonies in Western Australia, are often spotted. Because of the limited number of visitors here throughout the year, Rowley Shoals is also considered to be one of the best fishing destinations in Western Australia. MAR/APR 2022
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PHILLIP ISLAND
Every year thousands of motorsport fans head to Victoria’s Phillip Island – just 1.5 hours’ drive time from Melbourne – for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, World Superbike Championships and the V8 Supercars. But even when no events are on, thrill-seekers can satisfy their need for speed on the Phillip Island Go Cart track or on a jet boat adventure. If something more calming is your cup of tea, there’s plenty to choose from. For those who like to be wined and dined, it’s all about fresh seafood teamed with local cool-climate wines, with beautiful vistas to elevate the experience. The backdrop is impressive any time of day, especially when it’s dotted with wildlife. Phillip Island’s penguins make a regular appearance nightly, in an event managed by Phillip Island Nature Parks called the Penguin Parade. The cute
FAST FACT Phillip Island is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world and the largest fur seal colony in the country.
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critters waddle home to their burrows from the ocean, while viewers watch from the platforms and boardwalks. Thousands of seals lounge around off the coast of the island at Seal Rocks, and they are best seen on a coastal cruise with Wildlife Coast Cruises. There’s also the Koala Conservation, and plenty of bird life to spot. If you have the kids in tow and they still need more, the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory will help ramp up their energy levels for the next activity. The mazes and puzzles at A Maze’N Things will tire them out with any luck. Everyone in the family will enjoy the many beaches along the island’s coastline, and the cultural offerings include museums, galleries and Aboriginal sites, including a midden that experts believe is approximately 2,000 years old.
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DAWN TIL' DUSK: Far left: Phillip Island, 2020. On this page: Bruny Island, Robert King Visuals.
BRUNY ISLAND
FAST FACT There are over 200 white wallabies on Bruny Island. They are albino Bennett’s Wallabies and have thrived due to a lack of predators.
Towering dolerite sea cliffs – some reaching up to 200 metres in height – loom over sand beaches, pine forests surge into the sky, and wild waves crash and cradle the jagged coastline. Welcome to Tasmania’s ruggedly handsome Bruny Island. The 100-kilometre-long island is comprised of two land masses connected by a narrow isthmus called The Neck, which is the best place to spot little penguins returning home after a day out at sea. Truganini Lookout is also found on the isthmus – a perfect spot to enjoy panoramic views of both sides of the island. North Bruny is drier than the south, with open pastures and bushland covering most of the land. The topography of South Bruny
is more mountainous, with large rainforest expanses and timbered areas carpeting the terrain. Bushwalking is high up on the list of things to do on the island, with plenty of trails covering everything from short walks to multi-day jaunts. The coastline is best explored in a kayak, sail boat or on an eco cruise – the smaller the vessel, the greater access to the many mesmerising sea caves and rock arches that skirt the coastline. When hunger strikes, the famous Bruny Island Cheese Co. is where you’ll find the island’s famous cheese, along with boutique ales, stouts and IPAs. Smoked salmon from Bruny Island Smokehouse goes down a treat after a beer or two, as do oysters from the amusingly named Get Shucked Oysters. TB MAR/APR 2022
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y a W s r e d n a l Ove r
A M U S T-V I S I T S T OP ON T H E
In McKinlay Shire, deep in the Outback of Northern Queensland, you will find the quaint town of Julia Creek – known simply to locals as ‘The Creek’. Words: Kate Webster
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If you’re driving the Overlanders Way – the main route from Townsville in Far North Queensland to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory – you will pass through the tiny town of Julia Creek. Most travellers use it as a rest stop on their journey. They say ‘The Creek’ lies in the heart of the Outback, and it’s the business centre of McKinlay Shire – which is also home to the townships of Kynuna and McKinlay on the Matilda Way, the route between Cunnamulla in the south and Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. It has a population of just over 500 people, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in atmosphere. The Julia Creek watercourse flows north-westerly via the town into the Cloncurry River, and there are two nearby waterholes that make ideal swimming, fishing, bird watching and picnicking spots. One is on the Flinders River, called Punchbowl Waterhole, which is 45 kilometres north-east of town; and the other is Sedan Dip, 100 kilometres to the north.
WILDLIFE SPOTTING
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Head out for a walk at sunrise or in the late afternoon and you will be surprised at what wildlife you will find. There is a 7 kilometre nature trail that runs behind the Julia Creek
LEFT THEN CLOCKWISE: The giant windmill in Julia Creek is a popular spot for a photo at sundown; In the town of Mckinlay you will find the pub made famous by the Crocodile Dundee movie; Road signs to Julia Creek are hard to miss; Soak up the outback in the Artesian Baths at Julia Creek Caravan Park; All images courtesy of Kate Webster. MAR/APR 2022
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FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Meet other travellers around the campfire at Julia Creek Caravan Park; Beware of roaming livestock when driving around town; Look the part and pick up a pair of boots from the only clothing store in town; The self-container cabins at Julia Creek Caravan Park; All images courtesy of Kate Webster.
Caravan Park that will provide an opportunity to spot kangaroos, brolgas, emus and lizards. If you are lucky, you may even spot a rare dunnart. These endangered nocturnal marsupials, which are no bigger than a mouse, are near impossible to spot in their natural habitat. However, if you head to the local Visitor Information Centre you can get an up-close dunnart encounter during their daily feeding time at 10am and 2pm.
BATHE IN THE OUTBACK
For a rather unique place to cool off and take a dip, check out the Artesian Baths at Julia Creek Caravan Park. Jump in and relax as you watch the sun set over the glorious outback landscape, all while enjoying a cheese platter and a glass of wine (or beverage of your choice). The bath areas are private and built with wood and corrugated iron to give you a true bush bathing experience.
GLORIOUS SUNSETS
With the wide-open spaces come views across the land as far as the eye can see, making this Outback destination the perfect sunset backdrop. Anywhere in town serves up a sensational sunset, but the best place to catch the sinking sun and last rays of light is at the iconic windmill. Watch as the sky turns pastel shades of pink and purple before morphing into a deep orange, all as the windmill creaks and groans and it turns.
WHERE TO STAY
Julia Creek Caravan Park is where you want to be in Julia Creek. It caters for caravans, motorhomes, camping and
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even has self-contained units. Visitors rave about the award-winning Bush Dinner nights each Monday, where local produce is cooked by a nonprofit community group, and you can catch a live gig or listen to a yarn told by a true blue Outback Aussie while sitting around the campfire. All for just $15 per person.
WHERE TO EAT
The Top Pub at Julia Creek Hotel is just that: a top pub in town to get your grub and a cold brewski. A piece of history, the first Julia Creek Hotel burnt down so the Metropole Hotel in Charters Towers was purchased and relocated to this site, where it was renamed the Julia Creek Hotel. Meals are large, tasty and a great price too. The toughest part is choosing what to order.
NEARBY MCKINLAY
Before leaving the area, head out to the neighbouring town of McKinlay. With the main street littered with rolling tumbleweeds, you will feel as far removed from any big city as possible. The town is home to the Walkabout Creek Hotel, made famous in Crocodile Dundee. This pub was the backdrop for the famous bar brawl scene from the Paul Hogan blockbuster, and much of the town was also featured in the movie. TB
operates flights to Julia Creek. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details.
Culture
INDIGENOUS
Sydney
Australia’s Aboriginal community has a history stretching back more than 65,000 years, making theirs the oldest known civilisation on Earth. And Sydney is home to a variety of sites and attractions that showcase this incredible culture. WORDs: Matilda Meikle
BENNELONG POINT
Now the site of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point was once a small tidal island with a beach on the western side. The island was a place of ceremony and feasting for the Gadigal people – they would also fish and harvest food from the area, leaving the island to build up with discarded shells from many years of gatherings. The place takes its name from Woollarawarre Bennelong – a senior Eora man at the time of the First Fleet’s arrival. He was captured by early settlers in November 1789 and taken to Sydney Cove under the orders of Governor Arthur Phillip, who wanted to learn more about the natives’ customs and language. Bennelong quickly adapted to life among white men, dressed like them, and learned to speak English. In 1790, Governor Phillip built a brick hut for Bennelong at his request, on what then became known as Bennelong Point. Later, between 1818 and 1821, the tidal area between Bennelong Island and the mainland was filled in with rocks excavated from the peninsula to create a low platform, on which Fort Macquarie would be built. Today, the fine-dining restaurant at the Opera House, headed up by world-famous Executive Chef Peter Gilmore, is called Bennelong.
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THIS PAGE: Dreamtime Southern X Tour around Sydney Harbour with Illi Langi. Image from Destiantion NSW. MAR/APR 2022
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TOP TO BOTTOM: Bangarra Dance Theatre; Muru Mittigar Cultural Centre; Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Images from Destiantion NSW.
KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK
There are thousands of examples of Aboriginal rock art in Sydney and its surrounds. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, to the city’s north, is home to around 800 such sites. A 5km Aboriginal Heritage walk at West Head, within the park, takes visitors on a tour of the art and engravings made by the traditional custodians of this land. At the popular Red Hands Cave you can see ochre handprints estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.
BERRY ISLAND RESERVE: GADYAN TRACK
A short hop from Circular Quay, the Gadyan Track on Berry Island is a bush walk that offers insight into the story of the local Cammeraygal people. Artefacts found in the area suggest it was an important campsite for local tribes, providing hunting and fishing opportunities. Visitors will notice markings on the rocks where tools were sharpened, and rock carvings that reveal Aboriginal history and dreamtime stories.
GOAT ISLAND
Known as Me-mel by the local Gadigal people, Goat Island in Sydney Harbour was once a regular haunt of Eora elder Bennelong and his wife Barangaroo. This heritage-listed island – used to house convict work gangs and as a gunpowder depot since European settlement – is now an interpretation centre and education facility, with the state government working towards restoring it and returning it to its traditional owners. Visitors can explore the rich history of the island on a guided tour.
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS: CADI JAM ORA – FIRST ENCOUNTERS GARDEN
An award-winning display, this 52-metre sculptural storyline interprets the Aboriginal history of Sydney, from the Gadigal Dreaming to the present day. It includes significant events
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such as the Mabo case and Sorry Day, gathered from a range of sources including more than 40 interviews with local Indigenous people. Surrounded by native vegetation, the walk itself is beautiful, and leaves visitors educated about Indigenous cultural heritage.
use contemporary dance, music and poetry to tell the story of their ancestors, sharing their culture and history with audiences in Australia and internationally.
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM: FIRST NATIONS EXHIBITIONS
Located on Darug land, in north-west Sydney, the Muru Mittigar Cultural Centre at Rouse Hill is run by the local Indigenous community. Visiting schoolchidlren and tourists will be educated on Aboriginal culture through engaging programs including talks, art lessons and bush tucker walks in the centre’s bush tucker garden.
The Australian Museum houses two permanent exhibitions dedicated to First Nations peoples as well as offering a calendar of temporary exhibitions and events showcasing its huge Indigenous collection, which comprises more than 40,000 weapons, tools, paintings and body ornaments. Bayala Nura: Yarning Country celebrates both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and includes the mahn installation, dedicated to Sydney’s first fisherwomen. Meanwhile Garrigarrang: Sea Country focuses on Australia’s salt water peoples, from Sydney Harbour to the Torres Strait. The exhibitions aim to share the traditional culture and living history of Australia’s First Nations peoples.
BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE
It’s only been on the performing arts landscape since 1989, but the Bangarra Dance Theatre draws from more than 65,000 years of culture. Based in the wharves of Walsh Bay, Bangarra’s company of professional Indigenous performers
MURU MITTIGAR CULTURAL CENTRE
LEFT TO RIGHT: Berry Island Reserve, Gadayan Reserve; Royal Botanic Gardens from Destination NSW.
DREAMTIME SOUTHERNX: THE ROCKS ABORIGINAL DREAMING TOUR (ILLI LANGI)
Created by Aunty Margret Campbell, Dreamtime SouthernX tours offer an introduction to the dreamtime cultural heritage of Sydney. Led by an Aboriginal guide, the tour begins at Circular Quay with the custom of ochre on hand, which acknowledges Mother Earth before her landscape is discussed and explored. The walkabout then heads into The Rocks to uncover the Indigenous people’s saltwater heritage within Sydney Harbour, and their spiritual connection to the land. TB
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operates flights to Sydney. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details. MAR/APR 2022
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Lo ve in y t i c e th
Home to wonderful wine bars, cosy cafes, unique spas and perfect picnic spots in picturesque parks, Melbourne is the ideal place to plan a romantic weekend away. Words: Emily Riches
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Melbourne cityscape; Marion Wine Bar, Image from Visit Victoria.
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Romantic getaway
Linger over long lunches, steal a kiss in a famous cinema or see the city from Melbourne’s highest rooftop bar. From some quintessentially Melbourne experiences to more exhilarating date night options, we’ve wrapped up 10 ideas to inspire a weekend of romance.
WHILE AWAY THE AFTERNOON IN THE PARK
Picnicking is a quintessential Melbourne activity, and is there anything more romantic than a picnic basket carefully packed with artisanal small goods (and perhaps a cheeky bottle of bubbles) and some downtime in a 170-year-old park? Carlton’s Lygon Street is famous for Italian food, and King and Godfree is the perfect place to pick up picnic supplies. A stylish Italian cafe, wine shop and deli, it is well-stocked with top-shelf European cheeses, slicedto-order meats (including mouthwatering Italian prosciutto) and a delicious range of antipasti. Head off to nearby Carlton Gardens in the heart of the city for your feast for two. Originally occupied by the Aboriginal people of the Kulin nation, Carlton Gardens was set aside for
public use in 1852, and in 2004 it became the first place in Victoria to be added to the World Heritage List.
UNWIND TOGETHER AT A DAY SPA
For some well-deserved pampering, head to the Sense Of Self spa in Collingwood. Housed in a beautifully converted warehouse, the light-filled space is soothing, uplifting and sure to rejuvenate you both while stoking the romance. Spend a few hours in the bathhouse together enjoying the Finnish sauna, hot mineral bath and cool plunge pool, or book yourselves in for a relaxation or remedial massage – a truly romantic way to unwind and reset together.
EXPERIENCE OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR
Nothing says romance like old-style cinema. The grand Astor Theatre in St Kilda, with its glimmering chandeliers and stunning gold curtains, will make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time to rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty. It is the last single screen cinema of its kind operating in Melbourne, offering both new and classic movies. What a perfect place for holding hands and sneaking a smooch in the back row.
CRUISE FOR TWO ON THE YARRA
Take a cruise down Melbourne’s famous river and enjoy the city sights. Yarra River Cruises offers private trips for just the two of you, with a personal skipper. Choose a daytime cruise to see the beautiful scenery and skyline, or sail under the stars and watch the city light up at night. The company offers food and wine packages so you can sip some bubbly and nibble a selection of cheeses, or share a fine three-course meal out on the water, all while listening to your favourite playlist. MAR/APR 2022
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A Melbourne laneway; Maniax Axe Throwing; A picnic in the park and Adelphi Hotel, by Visit Victoria.
WINE AND DINE IN TRENDY FITZROY
STAY IN A LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
DAY TRIP TO THE DANDENONGS
There are plenty of wonderful wine bars to choose from in Melbourne, but a perennial favourite is Marion in Fitzroy. Owned by superstar chef Andrew McConnell, it has one of the most extensive wine lists in the city and will be sure to get wine lovers’ hearts racing. If you feel like a snack there are plenty of cheeses to choose from, and a range of small bites.
Treat yourself to a night (or two!) in a gorgeous, boutique hotel. The Adelphi Hotel is our top pick, boasting fresh, funky décor and a rooftop pool, and an easy stroll to some of the city’s best restaurants in Flinders Lane. And there’s also the Om Nom dessert bar for you to share a little something sweet at the end of the evening.
For nature-lovers wanting to escape the hustle and bustle, just one hour east of the city is the lush bushland of the Dandenong Ranges. For a challenge, try the 1000 Steps Walk or stroll by a waterfall at Sherbrooke Falls. You could very well be serenaded by lyrebirds and might even have some echidnas or swamp wallabies for company.
LEARN AN AXE-CITING NEW SKILL
BARE IT ALL AT A BURLESQUE SHOW
TAKE IT TO NEW HEIGHTS
Break the ice on a first date or spice things up with your long-term partner with an axe throwing date at Maniax. Learn an exhilarating new skill together and have loads of fun doing it! Could there be any better way to spend a date night than hurling hatchets with the one you love? And as the saying goes... couples who slay together, stay together.
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Bar Pigalle is the only dedicated burlesque club in Melbourne – its name an homage to the Parisian district of debauchery – featuring world-class burlesque acts, premium cocktails and lush décor that draws inspiration from olde worlde Paris and New Orleans. You’ll definitely be in for a racy night out!
operates flights to Melbourne. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details.
The perfect way to take in all the sights of the city is from Melbourne’s highest rooftop bar, Fable. On the 13th level of the Greek Community building in the CBD, Fable has views of the Eureka Skydeck, the Arts Centre and even the Bolte Bridge. It serves up exquisite cocktails, a Mediterranean menu and spectacular views – although you might only have eyes for each other. TB
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WIN A CERTIFIED LIGHT CHAMPAGNE DIAMOND FROM NINA’S JEWELLERY WORTH $7,500
This stunning 1.00 carat natural champagne diamond features earthy latte and oaken hues among its classic brilliant cut facets. With full GIA certification for complete authenticity, this incredible champagne diamond boasts an impressive VVS2 clarity for exceptional sparkle.
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Retreat
NURTURE AMONGST NATURE
Embrace a slower pace on South Australia’s Limestone Coast. WORDs: Gretel Sneath
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THIS PAGE: The Bell Tent at Pine Country Caravan Park on the Limestone Coast.
From sparkling lakes and sinkholes to mysterious underground caves and spectacular mountains, SA’s Limestone Coast is world-famous for its incredible geological attractions that have been millions of years in the making. Little wonder this popular regional destination embraces a slower pace of living, encouraging locals and visitors alike to nurture amongst nature. ‘Reconnect, Reflect, Renew’ is walking guide Natasha Dawson’s mantra for 2022 as she calmly leads a new generation of pilgrims along the path she dubs a taste of the ‘Aussie Camino’. Tracing the steps of a young Mary Mackillop’s journey to sainthood, the story begins at windswept Port MacDonnell and follows the backroads and mountain paths of an ancient volcanic landscape all the way to Penola. The gentle meander grants precious time to breathe, inviting walkers to connect with themselves, others and the glorious outdoors. “How often do you permit yourself time to pause, think and reflect?” Natasha asks. “To slow down, unplug, work through that mind chatter and just really see the landscape as you are moving through it is really healing and rejuvenating.” Natasha has worked as an environmental educator in the south-eastern corner of SA for two decades, developing an intimate knowledge of the region from Keith all the way to the Victorian border. The Taste of the Aussie Camino is one of several tailored journeys offered by her company Walk The Limestone Coast, with a four-day Walking, Food, Wine, Nature journey from Naracoorte to Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park also exceptionally popular. “The best way to gain a deeper understanding of a place is to walk it, tread lightly, explore culture and history, support communities and share with others,” Natasha says. “People tell me it leaves them feeling relaxed but also energised – it’s restorative for mind, body and soul.” At Bool Lagoon near the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, safari guide Abigail Goodman also invites small groups to ‘connect to the joy of nature’, exploring precious areas of remnant vegetation that provide critical wildlife habitat. A trained ecologist, Abigail peppers her South East Safari walking tours with fascinating facts and stories about the frogs, bats, plants and birds spotted along the way, from the elusive Australasian bittern to the marvellous migratory waders who have flown in all the way from Siberia to catch their breath and breed. “This area is very close to my heart – it’s been my training and it’s also where I spend my spare time, so it really makes sense to share it with others,” she says.
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Retreat
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Blue Lake by As We Wander; Port MacDonnell, Limestone Coast, SA Tourism Commision by Adam Bruzzone; Julia Reader creates water colour for beginners; Bool Lagoon, Limestone Coast by KaZKaptureZ.
Abigail also runs guided tours through Storm Boy country at Butcher Gap Conservation Park, with the coastal scrub between the Coorong and Robe featuring samphire flats, salt lakes and glades of tea tree. “Visiting these places is always a treat, and it gives people a solid appreciation of the environmental factors that drive the ecology of wetlands and coastal habitats,” Abigail explains. “It’s difficult to care about things that you haven’t experienced, and hopefully it creates a flow-on effect when it comes to day-to-day decision making that impacts the planet.” The Limestone Coast’s rich, fertile landscape also gives rise to some incredible food and wine, with Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and the breezy Mount Benson among the local jewels. The Coonawarra Wineries Trail is a great way to self-discover a place often referred to as Australia’s ‘other’ red centre, with a comfortable walk, cycle or Segway ride through the vineyards giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse of six different wineries. The variety of tailored experiences being offered to cellar door visitors is growing by the season, and many now involve collaborations with local creatives. At Robe florist Rebecca Starling’s popular flower school, participants can enjoy tasting flights from the award-winning Woodsoak Wines while learning to make flower crowns, wreaths and hand-tied bouquets using blooms freshly-picked from Rebecca’s farm. “It’s loads of fun, therapeutic and a time for us all to just breathe and get lost in amongst stunning flowers and wine,” says Woodsoak’s Sonia Legoe. In the regional centre of Mount Gambier, artist Julia Reader’s sell-out classes cover all the fundamentals of
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watercolour for beginners, paired with local wines for the ultimate paint and sip experience. “All materials are supplied – all you have to do is organise a group of friends or family to share the evening with, and it can be as serious or as casual as you like,” Julia says. And for those visitors to the Limestone Coast who would like to linger even longer enjoying the region’s relaxed vibe, there are accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. Pine Country Caravan Park has introduced glamping within walking distance to the iconic Blue Lake, while the up-market Padthaway Estate in the Tatiara heartland offers self-contained accommodation a short stroll away from its Landaire cellar door located in 170-year-old stables. Boutique hotel Delgattie Estate is another recommended stay, offering energising packages to bring balance to both body and mind. At the beginning of this year, the grand
country manor located in the heart of Mount Gambier introduced SlowFlow Yoga + Brunch sessions in its spacious grounds as an opportunity for travellers and locals to connect. “While we have all been navigating a new style of living this past two years, it’s become evident that the need to slow down and take a moment was well and truly overdue,” says Delgattie’s Kate Sutton. Breathe in….and let it go. TB
Retreat
Located mid-way between Melbourne and Adelaide, the Limestone Coast’s enticing mix of natural wonders offer a broad variety of bucket-list experiences enhanced by fabulous food and wine en route. From out-of-the-way swimming holes like the Little Blue Lake and Ewens Ponds to the spectacular World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, mysterious glowing forest mushrooms and the sunken gardens of Umpherston Sinkhole, visitors will easily become immersed in a vastly different landscape. Pristine beaches link quaint seaside towns like Kingston, Robe, Southend and the lobster fishing capital of Port MacDonnell, while further inland, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to winery cellar doors and more tantalising produce. The Barn Steakhouse and Mayura Station both offer unique paddock-to-plate experiences serving home-grown beef, while the Mount Gambier Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday from 9am-12 in the Cave Garden, showcases everything you need for the perfect home-cooked feast packed with regional flavours. operates flights to Mount Gambier. Visit rex.com.au for prices and details.
A world where magic is a part of everyday life
visitlimestonecoast.com.au Image credit: Walk the Limestone Coast
TrulyAusProducts Compiled by: Darcy Watt
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Image: Geoff Murray in the Walls of Jerusalem national park, Tasmania.
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NEWS | business | industry | Property | mining | innovation
76. THE FUTURE OF AUSSIE TRUCKIN’
Global AdBlue and diesel shortages combined with net-zero emission targets might just be the push we need for an all electric industry.
P.58 ausbiz. news p.64 dolphins of monkey mia P.68 hr and recruitment P.80 mother trucker p.82 history of truck driving P.84 property trends of 2022 p.86 the future of mining P.92 what in the world are nfts?
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Nature’s medicine Urbanisation is encroaching on the natural world. In fact it is estimated that almost 70 per cent of the global population will live in an urban area by the year 2050. At the same time, it is well known that being in nature fosters intrinsic health benefits. Now researchers at the University of South Australia are urging governments to consider nature-based citizen science for the health and wellbeing of people living in urban environments. “Nature-based citizen science projects can motivate people to engage with natural environments,” says the university’s Professor Craig Williams. “If they can be orchestrated, organised, and promoted in cities – particularly as part of a public health policy – then we have the potential to improve people’s health through that mechanism.” Urban living can be bad for your health, especially due to air pollution from congestion. Craig insists that just 15 minutes of outdoor engagement can lower stress and boost both physical and emotional wellbeing. “Whether you’re watering the garden, taking a stroll around the block, or simply watching the world go by, getting out into nature is good for your health,” he says.
HOW DATA ANALYTICS IS HELPING UNLOCK NEW BUSINESS REVENUE STREAMS COVID-19 has turned businesses upside down and highlighted weaknesses in legacy systems. Organisations are now in a position to consider either resuming business-as-usual practices or seeing the pandemic as a fresh opportunity to reinvent in order to thrive in the new economy. Those that have gone ‘back to basics’ and rethought a more innovative, datadriven approach are strategically driving revenue, enhancing customer experience and managing costs, according to Rohan Persaud, Director of Channels and Alliances APAC at Sisense. “More than ever before, data and analytics – combined with faster delivery, reliability and scalability – are critical to uncovering new revenue streams and enhancing commercial offerings,” he says. There are now more than 44 zettabytes of data being generated every year. “At an organisational level, a business can have millions or billions of data points, but it is the insights you can glean from the data that hold value,” says Rohan.
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“There are two pillars of generating revenue. First, organisations can infuse analytics seamlessly at key decision points and go beyond traditional dashboards. Second, generating revenue by embedding data into the solutions, applications and interactions leveraged by key stakeholders such as customers, partners and suppliers.” According to Rohan, leveraging the power of data makes it easier to understand business problems and meet goals, such as generating revenue or addressing a customer issue. This therefore optimises stakeholder interactions, enhances customer experience, and manages costs.
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THINGS ARE HEATING UP
A recent push for climate action in Australia comes as the past seven years are confirmed as the hottest on record. Words: Emily riches Industry leaders and activists around Australia are calling for the government to address climate change, as the European Union’s satellite system confirmed the past seven years as the hottest ever recorded. Experts warn that global temperatures could increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next five years, bringing increasingly frequent and intense heat waves, bushfires, droughts and other extreme weather-related disasters. This will have devastating impacts on human health, ecosystems, biodiversity and the economy. HOT WORLD SUMMER In 2021, Europe sweated through its hottest summer on record, with Sicily soaring up to 48.8 degrees Celsius while wildfires consumed Italy, Greece and Turkey. Meanwhile, Germany and Belgium were smashed by severe flooding – also the result of rising temperatures. In Australia, communities are still recovering from the devastating 20192020 Black Summer bushfires, which burnt more than 17 million hectares of land, destroyed 3,094 homes and killed 33 people. Western Queensland is also now in its 10th year of drought. This puts extreme pressure on our farmers, and the ecosystems on which we all depend. NO MORE FISH IN THE SEA Experts warn that we are also likely to experience another coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef this year. In 2020, The reef experienced its most widespread bleaching event on
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record, with around 2,300 kilometres of coastal reef severely bleached. Dr Dean Miller, the Managing Director of Great Barrier Reef Legacy, says: “Higher marine temperatures… have potentially devastating impacts on aquaculture, fisheries, tourism and marine ecosystems, including repeated coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.” Bleaching occurs when rising temperatures cause corals to expel the microscopic algae that live in their tissues, leaving nothing but a ghostly skeleton behind. It is estimated that up to two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef has already experienced bleaching. ON THE BRINK OF A BREAKDOWN Surprisingly, rising temperatures also put more pressure on our healthcare system which is an industry that has already undergone deep and unsettling disruptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Doctors are seeing the effects of heat on their patients in their surgeries and emergency departments,” says Dr John Van Der Kallen, Chair of Doctors for the Environment. “Higher temperatures result in deaths and a variety of illnesses – including worsening heart conditions, mental health conditions, and pregnancy complications.” Soaring COVID-19 cases, a lack of healthcare and emergency services staff, and supply issues with resources
such as rapid antigen tests are already stretching our healthcare system to breaking point. Yet we cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to take action on climate change. Dr Van Der Kallen states: “Despite the necessary focus on addressing COVID-19… the Federal Government must turn its attention to rapidly reducing emissions to address climate change as a matter of urgency.” RENEWABLES TO THE RESCUE Like Dr Van Der Kallen, many in climate action groups are making an urgent plea to the government to address rising temperatures. Setting climate targets and policies in line with climate science by meeting a target of net zero emissions by 2035 and replacing fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas with clean, renewable energy are the first, but necessary, steps. As Dr Van Der Kallen warns, our health – and the planet’s – is depending on it. MAR/APR 2022
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Because getting home is the most important thing Safety solutions for heavy industry For all makes and models of heavy machinery Flexible | Scalable | Affordable Get in touch today:
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Using machine safety solutions to keep workers safe
Safety is a massive priority across all heavy industries, and justifiably so. Ensuring that all on-site workers get home at the end of the day is critical, and there are a variety of safety systems and methods used by sites throughout Australia. Many of the options still rely on person-to-person communication or expensive, complex hardware setups, which can be subject to human error or blow the budget for many businesses. Proximity and collision awareness technology has advanced considerably in recent years, with the latest systems incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify and alert operators to people. Blindsight is a new solution from Presien, distributed and supported throughout Australia by Position Partners, that can differentiate between humans and other objects even in challenging, dynamic environments. “The great thing about Blindsight is that workers do not need to wear a tag in order for the machine system to detect them, which means they keep every worker safe on site,” says Josh Allan, Construction Business Manager at Position Partners. The solution can be fitted to all makes and models of machinery, with a combination of one or more sensors, and a small in-cab alert that gives the operator audible and visual alerts when a person or traffic cone is detected. “Blindsight is very configurable to every machine and every site’s unique
requirements, to alert the operator without adding unnecessary clutter or another screen to the cab,” Mr Allan adds. The artificial intelligence system differentiates between different assets (person, wall, safety cones around an object, etc.) by determining their size and/ or velocity. This essentially means any time a worker enters the vicinity of a machine, or it gets too close to an exclusion zone, the system will alert the operator immediately. For managers and safety officers, comprehensive reporting on near misses – including video recorded from the system’s cameras – can be used for training and process improvements to increase safety culture on site. This data can then be digitally accessed by the site supervisor at any time. Systems that rely on manual reporting can be subject to fault as they essentially rely on all workers accurately reporting incidents and near-misses 100% of the time. While, in theory, manual systems shouldn’t pose a problem, any foreman or site manager knows that keeping track of every incident and near-miss on a busy site is near-impossible. Proximity systems provide a practical and accurate solution to the inconsistencies that can arise from manual incident reporting. “In addition to the day-to-day safety enhancements provided by systems like these for operators and workers, the data trends and reporting over time can give managers the big picture overview they
need to identify ongoing hazards, training needs or process improvements,” Mr Allan said. In addition to the Blindsight AI solution, Position Partners offers other proximity detection and collision awareness systems to suit the needs of all projects. In controlled environments for example, where workers can wear a tag, a solution like Blue Electronics can provide reliable machine-to-machine, machine-to-person and machine-to-avoidance zone safety. “Position Partners offers a variety of safety solutions depending on your site’s requirements,” Mr Allan said. “We also back every system with the training and support you need to keep everyone productive and the technology working properly.” Position Partners has a 300+ strong team, with service and support across Australia, New Zealand, and SouthEast Asia. Within Australia, we have 10 branches, to ensure customers get the assistance and support required. “We’re always sourcing and working with new technology partners to meet the evolving needs of our customers. The Blindsight solution by Presien is an exciting addition to our portfolio and is already proving to be very popular with customers looking to increase safety. After all, there’s nothing more important than sending everyone home safely to their families at the end of the day,” Mr Allan said. MAR/APR 2022
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THIS PAGE: FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, DOLPHINS HAVE BEEN VISITING THE SHALLOWS OF MONKEY MIA, RESULTING IN THE 'DOLPHIN EXPERIENCE', IMAGE BY TOURISM WA.
WILDLIFE
WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS Professor of Biology and Psychology Dr Janet Mann has been researching Shark Bay and Monkey Mia dolphins in Western Australia for 33 years. The Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project is the longest-running study of wild cetaceans in the Southern Hemisphere, and the secondlongest study of dolphins worldwide. Here Janet shares her insights into what the world has learned from the hand-fed (provisioned) wild dolphins of Shark Bay. Interview: Darcy Watt
TELL US ABOUT THE SHARK BAY DOLPHIN PROJECT AND YOUR ROLE WITH THE ORGANISATION. I am currently Director of the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project and have served in that capacity for many years. I started researching the Shark Bay dolphins when I was at The University of Michigan in 1988. I started my position at Georgetown University as an Assistant Professor in 1991. Our research has been primarily supported by The National Science Foundation in the US, and also The National Geographic Society and The Australian Research Council (with collaborators at University of New South Wales and The University of Queensland). I lead the behavioural, ecological and demographic aspects of the research. My close collaborator, Dr Céline Frère, at The University of Queensland, leads the genetic studies of the dolphins. Shark Bay is an outstanding place to conduct wild dolphin research because the waters are clear and sometimes calm. There have been few direct human impacts on the dolphins in Shark Bay, as it is a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SEVERAL DOLPHIN DEATHS AT MONKEY MIA OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS – SOME DUE TO OLD AGE OR SHARK ATTACKS. IS THIS TRUE, AND ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW DOLPHINS TO THE PROGRAM – WHICH BRINGS AN ESTIMATED 100,000 VISITORS TO THE AREA EVERY YEAR? Four of the six provisioned adult females have died since 2015: Nicky, Puck, Surprise and Shock. Three were elderly when they died. Nicky was 39, Puck was 40 and Surprise was about 40. Shock, Surprise’s daughter, was only 24. Shark attacks are not uncommon as nearly 75 per cent of the dolphins in Shark Bay have shark bite scars, some from multiple attacks. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has been trying to recruit more dolphins to the provisioning program, but these young dolphins may have other priorities right now and do not seem that interested in accepting dead fish. Historically, adult MAR/APR 2022
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WILDLIFE TOP TO BOTTOM: MOTHER AND CALF SWIMMING OVER SEAGRASS BY EWA KRZYSZCZYK; MONKEY MIA DOLPHIN BY GREG SNELL.
DOLPHINS FORM STRONG FAMILY BONDS AND ARE EXTREMELY SOCIAL CREATURES. THIS IS HOW THEY LEARN VITAL HUNTING AND SURVIVAL SKILLS. COULD THE HAND-FEEDING HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DEATHS? SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH WILD ANIMALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOURISM?
females with nursing calves are the ones who are hungry enough to take dead fish from humans. Even Nicky, Puck and Surprise did not regularly take fish until they had their own calves. Possibly this is because freshly caught fish simply taste better. Dolphins that are introduced to provisioning too early can become dependent on the handouts. There were two cases where young male dolphins (under age 10) started accepting fish and both died prematurely. Males are no longer fed – largely because they are more aggressive than females, both with people and with other dolphins. Adult females from two families have been successfully recruited in the past. The exciting element is that these are wild dolphins and people can stand on the beautiful beach or the jetty and watch dolphins engage in natural behaviours. When they are hunting, it is better to stay out of the water, so we are not in the way.
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ONSLOW AIRPORT IN WA REPORTED THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE AT 50.7 DEGREES CELSIUS ON JANUARY 13. WHAT SORT OF IMPACT DOES GLOBAL WARMING HAVE ON DOLPHIN ENVIRONMENTS? Although Shark Bay is relatively pristine, it cannot escape climate change and extreme climate events. In 2011, Shark Bay and much of Western Australia experienced an extreme marine heatwave sustained over weeks. This caused devastation of the seagrasses (about 80 per cent die-off in some areas) and had consequences for the Shark Bay dolphins. The Monkey Mia dolphins are all seagrass ‘specialists’; they use seagrass habitat substantially more than other dolphins. Calf mortality spiked, but the effect was delayed, possibly because it was initially easier for the dolphins to hunt in sparser seagrass; the fish had nowhere to hide. There are some signs of recovery now a decade later, but we’re still monitoring the impacts. We just hope there isn’t another heatwave like the last one.
The hand-fed dolphins pass down a number of socially learned behaviours to their offspring, including hunting behaviour, home ranges and social networks. Although we have shown that the calves born to carefully managed hand-fed dolphins can have high survival to three to four years of age (and sometimes as late as eight to nine years of age), juvenile survival at about age 10 is not so high. One reason for this is that calves may benefit from their mum’s extra food source when nursing, but juveniles have to hunt for themselves and may not be as well-equipped as those born to mothers who are not hand-fed. In addition, juveniles from hand-fed families have smaller home ranges than other juveniles, likely because they still like to stay near the area where their families are – the Monkey Mia beach. This is one reason to try to minimise the impact of provisioning and make sure recruitment does not occur until the dolphin is fully capable of hunting and looking after her offspring. Whether the provisioning can or should continue is ultimately a question for the local Shark Bay community and government agencies. Monkey Mia is a fabulous place to visit – but I must recommend that we should put less emphasis on feeding and marvel more at their natural behaviours.
DOLPHINS ARE CONSIDERED ‘NEARTHREATENED’ BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN). IS THE SHARK BAY DOLPHIN PROJECT WORKING ON ANYTHING TO HELP FOSTER SAFER ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE ANIMALS? The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our ability to do regular fieldwork, but we are very interested in how seagrass specialists, including the Monkey Mia dolphins, are changing (or not changing) their behaviours since the seagrass die-off. In a recently published paper, we did not see any shift in terms of changing their home range size or where they hunted years after the die-off, but we would like to see if the younger dolphins might adapt to the environmental changes. We have always worked closely with DBCA to help reduce human impacts.
WHAT SORT OF FEEDING TECHNIQUES DO THE DOLPHINS AT MONKEY MIA USE (SUCH AS MUD-RING FEEDING OR KERPLUNKING)? COULD CONTINUING TO HAND-FEED THE DOLPHINS NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR NATURAL HUNTING TECHNIQUES? Kerplunking is when a dolphin slaps its tail hard on the water in seagrass habitats and is a way that the dolphins disturb fish so they are easier to see and catch. It doesn’t occur very often in Shark Bay, but one can sometimes see this behaviour east of Monkey Mia. Mud-ring feeding doesn’t occur in Shark Bay, but we have over 20 other foraging tactics that we routinely see that are much more exciting. In fact, Shark Bay is known worldwide to have tool-using dolphins! A small – and mostly female – proportion of the population use small basket shaped
sponges to ferret prey from the seafloor. They get the sponges in the deep channels, wear them over their beak/jaw and primarily target bottomdwelling fish that are hard to see. The sponge disturbs these fish from their hiding places and then they are an easy catch. Shark Bay is also famous for the ‘beaching’ behaviour at Peron Point. Once again, female dolphins are the primary beachers; only one family does it. They go after mullet primarily and basically hydroplane (swim very fast at the surface) to chase the fish onto the beach where they can catch it and U-turn back into the water.
HOW DOES THE GENETIC MAKEUP OF ‘PUCK’S LINE’ INFLUENCE SURVIVAL RATES WHEN IT COMES TO BEING PROVISIONED, AND CONSEQUENTLY HAVING A SMALLER HUNTING AREA? Puck’s line is doing well. In addition to her daughters, Piccolo and Kiya, who do accept fish, there are six living female offspring and grand-offspring. There are also a few living male offspring and grand-offspring. Puck’s younger brother, Cookie, who never took fish even in the days when males were offered a hand-out, is 34 and doing well.
WHAT DID THE RESEARCH FROM ‘BLOW-SAMPLING’ SHOW IN REGARD TO PROVISIONED AND NON-PROVISIONED DOLPHINS? We collected blow from the provisioned Monkey Mia dolphins only and compared it to dolphins in captivity. The blow or respiratory vapor contains dolphin DNA; we were the first to show that you could collect dolphin DNA from blow. We also were the first to look at the lung microbiome this way. The lung microbiome, just like your gut microbiome, has lots of bacteria – some good, some not so good. We found that the wild provisioned dolphins have much more diverse microbiomes than captive dolphins – which is what you would expect and hope for. But we also found that the provisioned dolphins had human bacteria in their lungs, just like captive dolphins do. This shows that by closely interacting with humans, they pick up our bacteria and potentially our diseases. So we have to be very careful – especially since we don’t know if they can get COVID or other dangerous respiratory diseases from us. We usually think about zoonotic diseases – what we get from other animals. But the reverse can happen too!
THIS PAGE: MONKEY MIA DOLPHINS VISIT THE BAY ALMOST DAILY, IMAGE BY TOURISM WA.
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TOP FIVE HR TRENDS FOR 2022 COVID-19 has heralded the biggest changes in how we work since the advent of the Internet. In this report, we look at five trends shaping human resource management in 2022 and beyond. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer
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BUSINESS
THE HYBRID WORKPLACE The most recent Taking the Pulse of the Nation survey by the University of Melbourne found almost 70 per cent of Australians who have been working from home during the pandemic would like to keep on doing so. But the Federal Government’s Families in Australia Survey found just under half of parents surveyed who were working from home had a hard time combining work and care responsibilities. “Working from home is not a one-sizefits-all approach,” says lead researcher Dr Jennifer Baxter. “Some are enjoying the added flexibility while others miss the vibrancy of the office and those face-to-face conversations. Often, it can be about striking a balance between the two,” she says. The takeaway is clear: the 9 to 5 office routine will not return to the way it was before the pandemic, but the workforce will not continue to work remotely all the time. Enter the
hybrid workplace model – a trend already manifesting in a wide range of knowledge-based industries, and which presents endless new challenges for HR, from recruitment to remuneration, retention and retrenchment.
THE FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK First proposed in the 1970s, the four-day workweek has gained fresh momentum during the pandemic. A trial that saw 2,500 public sector workers in Iceland reduce their working hours to 36 per week found participants suffered less stress and reported “dramatically increased” wellbeing, with no decline in productivity or service. Productivity at Perpetual Guardian, a firm in New Zealand, increased 20 per cent after it adopted a four-day workweek, while a four-day workweek trial at Microsoft in Japan led to 40 per cent productivity gains as well as savings of 23 per cent
for electricity and 59 per cent on paper. In Australia, the number of businesses offering four-day workweeks has increased by 9 per cent over the past four years, according to Mercer’s most recent Australian Benefits Review. “The pandemic has accelerated the way in which employers respond to the mental health needs of their people,” says Chi Tran, head of market insights at Mercer. “It’s not surprising that organisations are investing in benefits that prioritise flexible work arrangements.”
BENEFITS TO PREEMPT THE GREAT RESIGNATION Fears that the great resignation in the US – which saw the monthly quit rate hit 2.9 per cent, the highest on record – will be replicated in Australia have proven unfounded, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. But some of the key elements underwriting that economic trend, such as burnout MAR/APR 2022
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BUSINESS
as one of Australia’s top employees, accounting firm KPMG produced a documentary showing the company’s historical good deeds, including managing the Lend-Lease Act to help defeat the nazis and certifying Nelson Mandela’s election victory. It also created an advertising campaign that challenged employees to tell stories about how their jobs connect with a higher purpose. More than 10,000 staff entered submissions, which were used to produce ads like ‘I combat terrorism’ and ‘We champion democracy’.
THE RISE AND RISE OF HR
"I believe CEOs will have to respond with action to retain and attract the best talent." and a rethinking of the work/life balance, are also present in Australia, while job vacancies are already at their highest level in 50 years. Proactive HR managers seeking to pre-empt resignations can offer higher wages – but so can their competitors. Employee benefits offer a potentially better alternative. Traditionally these came in the form of health and retirement packages, although with COVID-19 forcing many of us to reevaluate our mortality, workers are demanding perks that deliver benefits today. Investment advisor BrightPlan’s Financial Wellness Barometer survey found more than 80 per cent of employees want guidance from their employer for financial planning, while a survey by Paychex and Future Workplace found nearly 30 per cent want better mental health support. Subsidising tuition fees for up-skilling is another way to retain staff. Giving away free iPhones? Not so much.
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SEEKING EMPLOYERS WHO DO GOOD Research by Forbes magazine found more than half of knowledge workers would quit their jobs if they discovered their employer’s values did not match their own. A recent survey by Gartner, a global consultancy company, found nearly three-quarters of employees expect their employers to become more involved in the social issues of the day, and that the percentage of employees who are ‘highly engaged’ in their workplace increased from 40 per cent to 60 per cent when their employer acted on social issues. “I believe CEOs will have to respond with action to retain and attract the best talent,” says Brian Kropp, who oversees support for human resource managers at Gartner. But just doing good isn’t enough: companies need to encourage staff to get involved. Consistently ranked
The role of HR has undergone massive transformation and expansion over time and the pandemic has lit a firecracker under the trend, throwing the entire business world into a state of flux with no end in sight as employers try to figure out how to lock in the innovations and gains of the great shutdown. As the dust continues to settle and companies adjust to a new normal, HR professionals have emerged as key members of executive-level management, working alongside CEOs and heads of technology, real estate, finance and business development to ensure a safe return to the office. The recent promotion of former Unilever Chief HR Officer Leena Nair to CEO of French luxury fashion house Chanel offers a textbook example of just how important management of the well-being of every employee has become. Before being named CEO of General Motors in the US, Mary Barra was vice-president of global HR for the carmaker. A recent study by the University of Michigan found HR executives are one of the three highest-paid professionals and exhibit leadership qualities that overlap with CEOs. If any more evidence was needed, HR is now also in charge of vaccine strategy in many Fortune 500 companies, in essence helping to keep their staff alive.
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HOPE FOR RENEWABLES IN A POST-FOSSIL FUEL AUSTRALIA University of Sydney student and climate activist Alana Ramshaw reports on Australia’s approach to a “gas-led recovery” from the impacts of COVID-19 as part of our Young Voices for AusBiz initiative. Words: Alana Ramshaw
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YOUNG VOICES
In the 17 approximate months since the novel COVID-19 virus reached Australian shores, the economic detriments of the pandemic have been felt in almost every sector of Australian society. The impacts are far reaching and we are faced with the long and winding road towards recovery. The past two years, marked by several mass strikes and discourse around the climate crisis, have seen an increasing demand for the establishment of public Australian renewable energy infrastructure. The pandemic presented an opportunity for the federal government to pursue alternatives to coal. The solution they reached was, instead, an expansion of coal seam gas projects, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing plans for a ‘gas-led’ economic recovery from COVID. This plan involves the authorisation of the Narrabri Gas Project, a $3.6bn project “headed by Australian energy giant Santos, which will see up to 850 unconventional gas wells being drilled into 1,000 hectares of Gamilaraay land.” The plan also involves the development of a $600m gas plant in Kurri Kurri in the Hunter region, which
has been rebuked by scientists as “the wrong thing at the wrong time… it will just do damage to the local environment and cost the taxpayer”.
increase its profits, and government investment in CSG fails to meet this objective.
THE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UP
The use of coal and gas for the purpose of export and domestic consumption is becoming increasingly inviable. An alternative solution presents itself in the form of investment into public renewable energy infrastructures, including adequate transmission networks. In August 2020, government investment into large-scale renewable energy had fallen to its lowest since 2017. In June, the International Energy Agency broke ground in their recommendation against the development of any new coal, oil, or gas projects. The emergent academic consensus is that there is no strong economic argument against the complete transition to public renewables, nor for the continued use of fossil fuels in energy production. A levelised analysis of energy costs released by Lazard Pty Ltd in 2019 revealed that the costs of coal as an energy source remained functionally unchanging in the decade prior to
The issue identified by economists is that CSG, as it is currently mined in Australia, is a stranded asset, unable to meet a viable economic return. National Energy Security Board Chair Kerry Schott noted that the Kurri Kurri plant “makes little commercial sense given the abundance of cheaper alternatives flooding the market”. Neoclassical economic frameworks and philosophies have formed the foundation of Australia’s National energy policy, with tenets of free market competition and profit cited as justifications for the continued support of mining corporations. Moreover, the Morrison Government’s identification of CSG as a viable avenue for economic recovery is an inherently neoclassical one by virtue of its reliance on private industry to facilitate the recovery process. Friedman famously posited that the social responsibility of business is to
A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
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YOUNG VOICES
the analysis’ publication, falling by only 2 per cent. On the other hand, due to improvements in photovoltaic technologies, the production costs of solar electricity fell 89 per cent within the same ten-year timeframe. On a large scale, there is a financial benefit to the implementation of solar infrastructure in comparison to the continued expansion of fossil fuel industries. A full transition to publiclyowned renewable energy, as a fiscal policy prescription for economic recovery from COVID-19, would utilise state funding and revenue to deliver a comparative net benefit for the national economy.
A POST FOSSIL-FUEL AUSTRALIA If our country was to leaving fossil fuel behind, it would need to facilitate an employment transition for the workers who would consequently be left without jobs. The conceivable path through this challenge is a comprehensive program to re-skill workers with the aim of providing each and every person with a job in the
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expanding renewables sector, should they wish to take it. The connection between the labour force and the struggle for public renewables is one I would be remiss to acknowledge, with trade unions at the forefront of industrial action on climate change. One could argue that a complete employment transition away from fossil fuels is a dream utopian beyond viability, but escaping the ecological consequences of not pursuing such a transition is an end that, in my view, justifies the means. Eighteen months on from the beginning of the pandemic, we are starting to emerge from its economic grips. The economic courses of action pursued by the federal government have reflected a continued capitulation to the will of corporations such as Santos. While the Morrison government boasts improvements in employment statistics and other metrics of economic health, their championing of CSG is an abdication of responsibility for the welfare of the Australian population, and for the survival of future generations.
In its simultaneous announcements of economic recovery and its support of fossil fuels, the government is making a Faustian deal to gain short-term economic profit, at the expense of our planet and economy. The government’s shirking of responsibility for these consequences is fundamentally illegitimate on the grounds that the construction of a sustainable world is difficult. The world I wish to see is one powered by large-scale publiclyowned renewables, facilitated through a just transition for the labour force of the fossil fuel industry. This world may not manifest in a year, nor a generation. To proclaim that this world is forever out of reach, as many have, is to reject every academic, worker, and activist who believes, as I do, that in the war to save our planet, the last battle is never fought. This article was written by University of Sydney student Alana Ramshaw as part of our Young Voices for AusBiz initiative. Alana is also a member of the USYD Enviro Collective.
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SHE’S ELECTRIC It’s no secret that Australia’s trucking industry is a multibillion-dollar sector: our economy is dependent on transport. To keep up with emission targets and supply shortages, Australian trucks could soon be shifting gears to electricity. Words: Darcy Watt
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INDUSTRY
The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) have collaborated in a national first to develop policies necessary for the electrification of trucking throughout Australia. With an aim to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050, last year Australia’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan was released by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor. According to the EVC and ATA, to achieve this goal, electromobility for trucks needs to be at the forefront in the transport sector. Only 14 of the 58 electric truck models on the global market are available in Australia, making the need for reform urgent. According to the EVC/ATA media release, electromobility would assist trucking businesses by ending dependency on diesel and its fluctuating price and availability. It would also positively impact air quality and noise pollution, therefore improving the urban environment.
“Being able to power our supply chains with local electricity is surely a national sovereignty imperative.” Behyad Jafari, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council.
THIS PAGE: THE HYZON HYMAX-450 HAS ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS AND CAN DRIVE 650KM ON HYDROGEN ALONE.
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RIGHT: REFUELLING UREA AND DISESEL OIL TO A TRUCK
“Every government in Australia has committed to a net-zero, but this can’t be achieved without decarbonising the transport sector,” says Behyad Jafari, CEO of the EVC. “If we implement [the policy recommendations] swiftly, the benefits to Australian trucking, our economy and our environment will be truly massive.” One of the electric trucks available on the Australian market is the Volvo FL Electric, which is a two-axle truck and has a gross weight up to 16.7 tonnes. The FL Electric battery can be charged in as little as two hours with a 250 kW DC (stationary charging station) system. Volvo believes that by 2030, 50 per cent of all its trucks sold in Europe will be electric. According to David Smith, Chair of the Australian Trucking Association, the benefits to our environment, trucking industry and economy will be exponential. He says: “It costs about $117 to fuel a diesel truck for 300 kilometres, but just $18 for an electric truck.” Although moving to electric trucks would not entirely remove all emissions such as those from tyres, brakes and general road wear, it would give the industry access to areas currently off-limits for diesel-powered trucks. The ability to drive inside buildings, drive at night through residential areas and drive at off-peak periods would be beneficial to the economy. China is one of the largest producers and exporters of urea. Urea is a liquid added to de-ionised water to create AdBlue, a liquid used to reduce emissions from diesel exhaust systems. Supply and demand issues for AdBlue emerged late last year after China cut back on exports.
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RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EVC/ATA POLICY AGREEMENT:
• Set target for zero-emission trucks of 100 per cent by 2040.
• Mandate Euro VI emissions standards for HR models from 2024. • Electric trucks to be exempt from urban curfews. • One tonne concession for electric and zero emission trucks. • Exempt electric/zero emissions trucks from stamp duty. • Truck width increased to align with standards used by major electric truck supplier economies. • Incentive payment to reduce price of charging infrastructure installation and purchasing price of electric/zero emission trucks as well as investment in public charging infrastructure. • Set sales targets for zero-emission trucks.
“The AdBlue shortage crisis was a potent warning about our extreme fuel insecurity. Why should Australia be dependent on China and the Middle East to keep itself moving when we could be using homegrown power?” says Behyad. At the moment, truck operators are facing access issues from both the electric and diesel market. According to the EVC/ATA policy, the recommendations outlined here are the first step towards the electrification of the Australian trucking industry, and overall a more secure Australian transport sector.
GLOSSARY • Electromobility: cars, buses, trains and trucks that are part or fully powered by electricity. • BEV: battery electric vehicle charged from the grid. • FCEVs: fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen, which is converted to electricity while the vehicle is in motion.
T R U LYAU S .CO M
YERRANDERIE – A 'GHOST TOWN' IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW.
THE PLACE TO FIND REAL AUSTRALIAN STORIES
INDUSTRY
MOTHER TRUCKERS Theresa Scott has been driving trucks of all colours, shapes and sizes for a decade. Coasting through 18 gears on a road ranger without using the clutch was not where she started, but it’s where she is now. Interview: darcy watt with Theresa Scott
After years of working FIFO and living in tents, Theresa Scott started applying for jobs driving trucks. But it wasn’t an easy road. “With all my experience from working in the bush, no one would hire me,” Theresa Scott says. In the end she accepted an offer from her boyfriend at the time, who was working in transport. They’re now engaged and work a two-up schedule together hauling fresh produce in triple road trains in Western Australia.
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“I’ll never forget my first day,” Theresa says. “They chucked the keys at me and told me to have the such-andsuch trailer on the Woolworths dock at 9am, and that was it. I’d never backed into a dock, let alone knew how to undo a tautliner. By day three, I was in tears.” Theresa describes herself as stubborn and independent. She stuck with it, and as the days went by she gradually found her feet. “I used to joke that Perth lived off HarleyDavidsons, TVs, Pottery Barn
INDUSTRY
“It’s becoming easier with technology; even social media plays a part in supporting drivers. It’s a truly fantastic industry to be in – you can see the country and be paid for it.” and Pfizer, as that was all I’d bring over from Sydney,” she clearly recalls. Women make up just 2 per cent of the Australian truck driving workforce. But Theresa says the men who make up the other 98 per cent are encouraging and respectful. “I find that the people who give me grief or make jokes at my expense aren’t actually drivers themselves, but the people on the fringes of transport.” Among her career highpoints, Theresa recalls when she first drove a line haul solo. “And driving my first quad road train,” she adds. The biggest truck she has ever driven was a Kenworth T909 tri-drive with Toll belly dumpers carting ammonium nitrate – a solid substance used as agricultural fertiliser.
ROLL WITH IT There’s no doubt being behind the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 130 tonnes is daunting at the best of time. And when you pull into Meekatharra and discover that the whole town has no power, it is downright terrifying. No power means no fuel. Theresa had just travelled from Cue, a 1.5-hour drive away. “I decided to double back. I did some calculations and figured I’d have enough fuel to make it,” she says. “What I didn’t factor in was the four 8m oversized loads that I would have to pull over and
stop for. That really chewed through the fuel. Eventually, I got to the top of the hill in Cue and I could see the fuel station at the bottom. That’s when the truck completely shut down.” Theresa asked herself if she should risk it, at 130 tonnes loaded with nitrate. She couldn’t un-hook the trailer as you can’t leave ammonium nitrate unattended: it’s a Class 5.1 oxidising agent under the Australian Dangerous Goods code. She also had no power steering or air compressor to keep the brakes open. “I’ll give it a crack,” she said to herself. Theresa coasted down and pulled up perfectly right at the pumps. A quick re-fuel, and she was back on track. She remembers the incident with a chuckle, but admits there were too many things that could have gone wrong, and says that next time she’ll be patient and wait.
HIT THE ROAD Theresa has now been all over the country. She’s witnessed electrifying lightning storms in the wet seasons up north, and cruised along miles of endless outback. Her largest trip – which she refers to as the ‘triangle of death’ – is a very tiring six-day trip from Perth to Sydney to Brisbane, and then back again to Perth. “The industry is changing. This year alone I’ve seen more ladies getting behind the
wheel than ever before and I am so proud,” Theresa says. “It’s becoming easier with technology; even social media plays a part in supporting drivers. It’s a truly fantastic industry to be in – you can see the country and be paid for it.” From driving alone, to driving oversized loads and ugly freight – awkwardly shaped goods that can’t be freighted through regular channels – and everything in between, Theresa has certainly left her P plates behind. She and her partner have just had a baby, and when she returns from maternity leave she hopes to train newly accredited multiplecombination drivers to drive triple road trains. “There’s a gap in training for these types of rigs and very few drivers are taking up the work. I’d love to be involved in gearing up the next generation,” Theresa says.
ABOVE: THERESA SCOTT AND HER PARTNER COURT IN FRONT OF THEIR ROAD TRAIN.
READ IT ONLINE
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WITHOUT TRUCKS, AUSTRALIA STOPS The history of Australian truck driving is a wild ride with more hairpins than a hairdressers. One thing is for certain, though: trucks aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Words: Darcy Watt
ABOVE: A SHELL TANK BEING TRANSPORTED BY LORRY IN HOBART, 1939. PHOTO BY NEWSPIX. BELOW: DIAMOND T M20 BALLAST TRACTOR, 1953. PHOTO BY J.H. MEFFERT.
INDUSTRY
In 1863, steam-hauled road trains were introduced in a copper mine in South Australia, and were the first example of trucks being used anywhere in the country. Prior to steam, the common mode of transport was a horse-drawn cart. Although a lot has changed since the 1800s, we still refer to a unit of measurement for the power of an engine as horsepower. Brambles is one of the oldest examples of an Australian freight company still in operation today. It began with Walter Bramble working as a ‘cut up and deliver’ butcher, transporting meat to his customers in a horse-drawn cart in 1875. He progressed through varying levels of horsepower and, in 1877, expanded into transport and logistics operations, while based in Newcastle, New South Wales. Internal-combustion engines were introduced in 1912, and two years later petrol-powered vehicles started being manufactured. World War II was another catalyst for the trucking industry: vehicles such as the Diamond T tank-transporter series operated during the war years and well into the 1950s, hauling tanks and other supplies across Australia’s rugged terrain.
LIVING IN THE FAST LANE A key milestone for the industry was the ‘Razorback Blockade’ of 1979, which saw truckies block major roads across the country for nine days in protest at working conditions and road taxes. The blockade started on the Hume Highway at Razorback, New South Wales, and virtually crippled the supply route between Sydney and Melbourne. As a result, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland agreed to drop the road maintenance tax that had been introduced in 1956. Similarly, the Hume Highway was blocked at Yass in July 1988, this time in protest at a proposed price increase on truck registration fees, and demanding the removal of the 100km/ hr speed limit introduced that year for
“Aussie truck drivers were being hailed for their efforts in helping supply a nation in lockdown.”
all heavy vehicles. Around 1,000 trucks and semi-trailers were held up, parking across the highway and on side streets. Traffic was escorted through, vehicle by vehicle, by police until the blockade was lifted.
AN INDUSTRY IN TURMOIL From the 1960s onwards, alcohol and stay-awake substances became an industry-wide issue. In July this year the notorious Douglas Crabbe will be up for parole, having been jailed for murder after driving his road train into a hotel near Uluru in 1983, killing five people. He had been kicked out of the venue for being intoxicated. In the small hours of 20 October 1989, a semi-trailer truck struck a bus full of passengers in a horrific accident that killed 21 people and injured a further 22. The accident occurred on the Pacific Highway near Grafton, NSW. An inquest found the truck driver – who was among the dead – had a
high concentration of ephedrine in his blood at the time of the collision. Accidents linked to driver fatigue have continued to plague the industry. In 2012, Paul Kershaw pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death after his prime mover drifted to the side of the road in Myalup, south of Perth. He had been driving for around 13 hours at the time of the incident. However, regulations to ban stayawake drugs, limit uninterrupted driving time and mandate rest stops are paying dividends. Overall, between 2010 and 2019, fatalities in heavy vehicle-related crashes dropped by an average of 2.7 per cent per year.
A CHANGE IN TREAD Despite this progress, in 2019 the truck driving fatality rate more than doubled over any other year during the previous decade. An electronic work diary was approved in 2020, and a zeroalcohol policy for all truck drivers was introduced in April 2021. By September that same year, Aussie truck drivers were being hailed for their efforts in helping supply a nation in lockdown. Then in December came the nationwide AdBlue shortage, which in turn sparked debate for a new era of electric-powered trucks. The pandemic years have certainly seen dramatic gear shifts for the transport industry. Soon, five zeroemission Hyzon Motor prime movers will be on the roads in North Queensland. The trucks will transport zinc to the Port of Townsville and run off renewable hydrogen, not diesel. It’s a world-first initiative, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency – a sign of things to come. MAR/APR 2022
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HOT PROPERTY: TRENDS IN 2022 Last year saw house prices soar and the regional property market boom. What will 2022 bring? We give you our best property predictions for the year ahead. Words: Emily Riches The ongoing impacts and restrictions of COVID-19 are shaping all aspects of our lives: not least property design and development, and the way we inhabit and furnish our homes. With a slowing housing market, people are now turning to renovations and home improvements, often with an environmental conscience at the forefront.
SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN Australia’s soaring housing market saw massive increases over 2021. House prices rose 22.2 per cent nationally – the largest annual increase since 1989 according to data from CoreLogic, a property analytics organisation. Property values are tipped to keep climbing this year, but at a much slower rate. Factors such as affordability constraints, rising mortgage rates and tighter lending standards will impact price growth, as well as buyer demand. “If you’re expecting housing values to rise by a similar amount, I think you’re going to be disappointed,” says
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Tim Lawless, CoreLogic’s research director. “Values are still broadly rising, but nowhere near as fast as they were in early 2021.” Westpac has predicted capital city prices to rise another 8 per cent this year. However, Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan notes that there is a more meaningful slowdown in price growth already happening in Melbourne, while smaller cities like Brisbane and Adelaide are still accelerating. Coastal centres close to capital cities are still some of the most popular for buyers looking for a sea change but still wanting to be able to commute. This includes the Gold Coast in south-east Queensland and Shoalhaven in NSW.
RENOVATION NATION This year will see a boom in renovations across the country. With two years of pandemic lockdowns, limited overseas travel and state border closures, people have had plenty of time (and cash) spare to reassess their housing needs and preferences.
Eleanor Creagh, senior economist at realestate. com.au’s data arm PropTrack, says, “home renovations have boomed nationwide as more time spent at home combined with ultra-low loan rates, government grants and improved household savings became the perfect combination of factors to drive heightened demand for renovations.” Big changes include creating home office spaces
to allow for flexibility in working from home, and creating spaces that can be used for multiple purposes. Getting creative with vertical or hidden storage, cupboard desks and office nooks shows that multifunctional spaces are firmly set to become an everyday feature in our lives, with people choosing to optimise space rather than invest in a larger property. Eleanor says, “for some,
PROPERTY
the constrained supply of properties for sale in 2021 would have added to the impetus to renovate and upgrade their current home, over selling and looking for a subsequent property to purchase.” The proof is in the pudding. The end of lockdowns and easing restrictions across Sydney and Melbourne at the end 2021 led to record numbers of jobs posted to online tradie marketplace hipages. Chief customer officer of hipages Stuart Tucker notes that larger suburbs in capital cities had the most jobs posted, but there were also “suburban mums and dads” driving the increased tradie demand. Some of the top suburbs for tradie job postings include Point Cook (Vic), Berwick (Vic), Craigieburn (Vic), Frankston (Vic),
Kellyville (NSW), Werribee (Vic), Tarneit (Vic), Blacktown (NSW), Baulkham Hills (NSW) and Castle Hill (NSW).
GREENER FEATURES As we become more conscious of our ecological footprint, we are also making greener and more eco-friendly choices in our homes to reduce our environmental impact. Homes that include more environmentally sustainable features are now in high demand. The development industry is also taking action to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. More sustainable inclusions in new builds are now common, from double-glazed windows – which keep rooms cooler and reduce the need for airconditioning – to the use of recycled steel, as well as the
installation of solar panels and battery storage. Tanya Steinbeck, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia in WA, says, “water and energy efficient packages that include sustainable fixtures and fittings in new homes, along with native or water efficient landscaping packages, are becoming commonplace.” While these greener, energy-saving features add to the cost of a build, interestingly it is people in the 25 to 34 age bracket who are most willing to shell out extra cash for energysaving features, with 35 per cent willing to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 extra.
BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN Creating a space that feels simple and warm is at the heart of making the home a haven for 2022. In interior design, there is a move towards bringing more natural colours and sustainable materials into the home – perhaps another side effect of the COVID-19 lockdowns, as people craved connection with nature but were often unable to leave the house. We are likely to see natural materials such as timber, stone and concrete
incorporated into interiors, with warmer materials such as travertine taking over from marble for kitchen benchtops, side tables and flooring. Light, bright spaces with earthy browns and green tones will also be popular. People are shopping local, preferring local and sustainable furnishings over mass-produced goods. This extends to homewares, particularly with handmade, vintage or artisan pieces, which bring a sense of warmth and uniqueness to the home. Moving into the garden, there is a renewed interest in vegetable patches and herb gardens, making kidand pet-friendly upgrades, exploring Indigenous and native planting, and a focus on outdoor entertaining areas to make up for lost time with friends and family. “The past couple of years have given so many of us the opportunity to reflect on who we are and how we want to live,” says interior designer Joshua Smith on these recent style trends. “Our homes should inspire our minds and nourish our spirits.” READ IT ONLINE
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MINING
THE FUTURE OF MINING 30
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MINING
Tune into the debate on renewable energy, and you could be forgiven for believing there’s no future for mining in Australia. But the industry has grown 4 per cent annually over the past five years, and will continue to grow in new, interesting and unforeseen ways. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer
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MINING
WHITE GOLD Electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries account for just 7 per cent of new car sales today, but uptake is building strongly in China, the US and Europe and will continue to do so, as governments set deadlines to phase out combustion engines – which account for about 20 per cent of carbon emissions. Futurists estimate sales will rise 10-fold by 2030. Combined with demand for lithium batteries for mobile phones, demand for electric cars is making spodumene concentrate – the raw material used to make lithium hydroxide – one of the most sought-after commodities in the world: the new gold, or white gold as it’s known, due to its silvery-white colour. The global trading price of spodumene concentrate has skyrocketed from $585 per dry tonne in 2020 to $1,595 in the last quarter of 2021, with indicative prices of around $2,500 per tonne for the first half of this year. Australia has one-third of all demonstrated deposits of spodumene concentrate and is already the world’s biggest supplier. All seven existing mines are concentrated in the southern half of Western Australia, including Greenbushes, the world’s largest producer of spodumene concentrate. There are two new lithium mines in the pipeline in Australia. Wesfarmers is spending billions on a new lithium mine at Mount Holland in WA, 450 kilometres west of Perth, while exploratory drilling indicates up to 7.4 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate lies beneath the ground at the new Finniss Lithium Project on the Cox Peninsula near Darwin, which is scheduled to go online next year. A host of junior miners are also trying to jumpstart lithium projects in the Pilbara.
THE ALL-ELECTRIC MINE Nearly two-thirds of mining industry executives expect the next generation of mines to be electric, according to the State of Play: Electrification report released in 2020. But with diesel-powered mining vehicles accounting for up to 41 per cent of total mine site energy usage, the transition from diesel to electric operation will be a huge hurdle in mining’s road to decarbonisation.
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The good news is the journey has already begun, with a growing number of Australian businesses now retrofitting diesel light vehicles into custom electric vehicles for use in underground mines. Murray Engineering in Western Australia has started manufacturing electric LandCruisers as well as underground-ready DC vehicle chargers. GB Auto has signed a deal to retrofit 2000 LandCruisers into electric vehicles at its facility in Orange, NSW. JCB in Smithfield, NSW, is making electric mini excavators that are five times quieter than diesel-powered excavators. And in Switzerland a consortium has developed the largest electric vehicle in the world. Based on a retrofitted Komatsu HB 605-7, the Elektro Dumper has a giant electric engine that acts like a generator, recharging its battery during descent into mining pits. The Dumper then uses this stored energy to travel out of the pit and can in some situations actually feed surplus electricity back into the grid. On top of that it saves 50,000 litres of diesel per year. “The technology is very quickly getting better and better; if not every day, at least every year,” says University of Adelaide School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering lecturer Ali Pourmousavi.
MINING
BELOW: RIO TINTO HEADQUATERS IN PERTH; TOYOTA HAS PARTNERED WITH BHP TO TRIAL A BATTERY ELECTRIC (BEV) LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES AT A WA MINE SITE.
COAL IS HERE TO STAY Australia has pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in favour of renewable energy. Ten coal-fired power plants have already shut down in the past decade and another eight to 10 will be retired by 2030 amid pressure from the G20 group of nations, which wants to phase out coal as early as 2025. But if coal is near its end in Australia, it’s very hard to see. Bravus, formerly Adani, will soon begin exporting coal from its huge Carmichael Mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, while Wollongong Coal’s Russell Vale Colliery expansion plan has now been approved. There are currently still 38 coal mines operating in Australia, concentrated in the eastern states. Together they produce about 70 per cent of Australia’s electricity, employ some 50,000
people – mostly in remote and rural areas – and generate a whopping $50 billion in export earnings every year. That makes coal our second most valuable commodity after iron ore. Many regional communities depend on coal to survive, while a recent poll by the Sydney Morning Herald shows close to half of all Australians want to keep mining and exporting coal for as long as overseas buyers want to pay for it. “Coal consumption throughout Asia is forecast by the International Energy Agency to grow over the next decade to meet the energy demands of countries like China, India and South Korea,” says Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt. “Australia has an important role to play in meeting that demand.” MAR/APR 2022
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MORE LEGISLATIVE REFORM Concerns over climate change have introduced a greater focus on sustainable mining and introduced a raft of new laws and regulations to mitigate its impacts. In South Australia, recent changes to the Mining Act aimed at enhancing landowner rights gives more time and support to landowners when dealing with mining companies. In Tasmania, community members are calling for stricter exploration licences over concern for a mine in the Tarkine wilderness area in the state’s north-west. In NSW, legal reforms are impacting lease conditions and environmental reporting requirements. And in WA, where Rio Tinto triggered a global outcry after it accidentally destroyed two 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock
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shelters in 2020, a new law was introduced in December that strongly encourages miners to work more closely with traditional landowners. It also includes more detailed definitions of Aboriginal heritage sites to prevent a similar tragedy happening again. “In recent years, we have seen continual changes to each state’s mining legislation, which can be difficult for mining corporations to keep up with,” advises Hetherington, a Brisbane-based mining consultancy specialising in environmental approvals and compliance in its respected industry blog on the Future of Mining in Australia. Mining corporations are essentially now an open book as the public examines their ability to conduct environmentally conscious and moral practices.
ABOVE: A PROCESSING PLANT AT A WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MINE THAT USES MECHANICAL PROCESSING TO REFINE LITHIUM SPODUMENE CONCENTRATE.
READ IT ONLINE
ARTSPACE
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE NFTS? Owning a rare and unique piece of art is often associated with wealth and superiority. In a rapid change to the status quo, a new world of digital art has changed the game for investors. Words: Darcy Watt
To answer the question, NFT stands for non-fungible token. NFTs are digital works stored on the blockchain and can be anything from an artwork, a piece of music or even a game. If you’re now wondering what a blockchain is – put simply, it’s an online system of recording a trail of data associated with an NFT. Every transaction that occurs with an NFT is verified by peerto-peer computer networks, which makes NFTs almost impossible to replicate or hack. It’s the same technology used by Bitcoin. It’s a seemingly daunting space to invest in for those only new to the NFT world. Michelle Grey who was the Global Creative Director for The New York Times has recently returned to Australia and launched Culture Vault alongside two business partners – Sam Linas and Sean Tolkin. Culture Vault is a new and exciting NFT curated platform and creative agency based in Sydney. “The idea of fakes and fraudulent behaviour is not specific to the NFT world. It’s ubiquitous amongst many different facets of fashion, art and music. Blockchain has been around for a number of years, especially with the fame and rise of Bitcoin and Ethereum. We thought managing and curating NFT collections was a really exciting and interesting space to get more involved with,” says Michelle.
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ARTSPACE
TO-TEM COLLECTION BY MY NAME IS WENDY TO-TEM-GOLD IS A 1/1 3D ANIMATED SCULPTURE BASED ON 2D ILLUSTRATIONS.
“The idea of fakes and fraudulent behaviour is not specific to the NFT world. It’s ubiquitous amongst many different facets of fashion, art and music.” Michelle Grey, CEO Co-Founder, Culture Vault
READ IT ONLINE
MAY/JUN 2021
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THIS PAGE: LEFT: SNAPSHOT FROM TIGER QUEEN BY FEARLESS PROPHET. RIGHT: TOTEMIC BY REKO RENNIE.
Culture Vault offers a one-stop shop for both first-time NFT buyers and seasoned digital art collectors. The first collection that Sean and Sam worked on was Never Forever with Australian musicians Flight Facilities and it saw great success according to Michelle. “When it comes to art, it is very difficult to figure out what piece to buy, what artists to believe in, and what work to invest in. We hope that through our curatorial lens at Culture Vault, we can help people connect with artists and creators that provide value to them, whether that be through an NFT or physical asset.”
A $69.3 MILLION NFT. YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT In March 2021, an NFT by Digital Artist Beeple titled Everydays: The First 5000 Days sold for $69.3 million at Christie’s auction house. Christie’s was the first major auction house to offer a purely digital work of art in a historic moment for the art
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world. According to Christie’s, it propelled Beeple into the top three most valuable living artists. In the same way that video art surged in the 80s and 90s, Michelle explains that virtual art and virtual galleries are becoming an increasingly comfortable concept, especially after COVID-19. Michelle envisions virtual galleries being shown over dinner with friends at home or infinitely across the Internet. “We use Instagram as a way to express ourselves; what we wear, what we eat and where we travel,” Michelle says. “In the future, I think a virtual gallery or even a custodial wallet will become much like a social passport in the same way that Instagram is.”
BEHIND THE TOKENS Culture Vault works with a wide network of local and international artists, musicians, fashion designers and more. Reko Rennie is a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay/Gamilaroi artist based in Melbourne. His work can
be found in all state galleries and the National Gallery of Australia. His NFT collection titled Totemic features a mix of animated sculptures that explore concepts of Indigenous identity and ancestry. Bright neon colours are striped across sophisticated angles in this triptych NFT sculpture series. “As an artist, I am always looking for new mediums to create work in and I feel this digital realm is not something to ignore,” Rennie says. “Working with Culture Vault is a great opportunity to explore the endless possibilities within the digital world of the arts.” Culture Vault artist Fearless Prophet is based in the USA and their work reflects the spirit of now through popular culture. The art (or NFTs) moves to propel viewers from the 2D portal of online dimensions into a 3D image that captures viewers’ intrigue. Tiger Queen is a collection of 77 digitally unique works that are centralised around never-before-seen images of Anna Nicole Smith, captured in the 1990s by Daniela Federici. “Culture Vault is running the cultural gamut. It’s not just fine art. It’s music, fashion, sculpture and photography,” says Michelle. Culture Vault’s inaugural physical-meetsdigital exhibition The Future Is Phygital will be open to the public from 18 March to 20 March at Verona Studios Sydney. Entry is free. Alternatively, you can visit culturevault.com
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN We continue to welcome visitors while we work to expand our galleries. Plan your visit and book free tickets online. AWM.GOV.AU
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E AST H OT E L .CO M . AU
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