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Jundah State School attends Bedourie Splash ‘n’ Arts Camp
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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.
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
Jundah State School students flying with Rex, sponsor of the Splash & Arts camp at Bedourie.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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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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.
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
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 Adelaide Festival
Adelaide, SA
An outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed theatre productions and world-class musicians, dancers, writers and visual artists. adelaidefestival.com.au
March 4-23 April Nearer The Gods
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 march 10 NRL Season
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
March 12 Ocean Film Festival
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
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
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 April 2-10 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships
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
April 04-09 Australian Swimming Championships
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
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
april 14-18 Easter in the Country
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 april 10-20 The Bell’s Beach Rip Curl Pro
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
april 15-17 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour
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
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 25 ANZAC Day Parade
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
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 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
New kid on THE BLOCK
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 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.
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
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 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
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
WIN a 3-night getaway
Head to trulyaus.com/ competitions/ survey to enter online, or fill in this survey and mail it to us!
READ IT ONLINE
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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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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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Getaway BOAT SHED Down by The at 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.
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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