True Blue Magazine - Dec/Jan 2018/19 by publishingbychelle

TrueBlue Dec 2018/Jan 2019

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

ISLAND OF PLENTY

GLORIOUS GRIFFTH & ITS FRUITY SURROUNDS

King Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endless bounty

Get into a natural swing

TUCKING INTO THE LIMESTONE COAST:

FAMILY ADVENTURES

Coonawarra, Mt Gambier, Penola and beyond

Fit some in this summer

Jimmy Meet

OUR WORKING CLASS MAN

AusBiz.

A real Australian business magazine

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Letter from the COO

Welcome aboard It’s already December. Where has the year gone? With the festive season and new year fast approaching, it’s fitting to reflect on the year gone by. 2018 saw the number of regional communities benefitting from the successful Rex Community Fare increase to 14 with Mount Isa (to Cairns), Orange, Carnarvon, Shark Bay (Monkey Mia), Mount Gambier, Griffith and Narrandera all added to the scheme. This initiative is a unique partnership between Rex and the participating councils or airport owners, and it provides improved connectivity to the larger cities by offering affordable airfares to regional communities. In August Rex established the Drought Relief Fund pledging $1 million to communities working to alleviate the devastating effects of the worst drought in decades. The fund offers $4 towards Rex travel for every dollar raised by community groups aiding the affected regions. Rex continues to welcome small businesses and community organisations to apply. Rex has also partnered with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) to raise funds inflight and on the ground, with all proceeds going towards drought affected communities, so they can stay connected and support one another during these difficult times. Every dollar counts, and the generosity of our passengers so far has been overwhelming and a demonstration of true Aussie spirit. With over 150 international pilots graduating from the Australian Airline Pilots Academy (AAPA) to date, in September AAPA was announced as a finalist in the New South Wales Premiers Export Awards, in the category of Education and Training. The gala dinner awards ceremony held at the Star Casino in Sydney on Wednesday 24 October showcased outstanding NSW businesses from a broad range of industries. While AAPA didn't take out the accolade, the finalist nomination in this award solidifies the Academy as a firstclass global pilot training facility. Despite our successes, Rex acknowledges the global pilot shortage and the impact it has had on flight services in 2018. Rex is acutely aware of the effect disruptions have on travel plans and apologises for all past and future disruptions resulting from this shortage. Rest assured that we are doubling our efforts to restore our pilot numbers. On behalf of the Rex team, I’d like to thank you for your continued patronage and wish you all a safe, prosperous and happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you, and happy reading. Neville Howell, Chief Operating Officer

EDITORIAL

Publisher: Michelle Hespe publisher@publishingbychelle.com Art Director: Jon Wolfgang Miller Lifestyle & Travel Sales Manager: Sonja Halstead sonja.halstead@publishingbychelle.com AusBiz. Sales Manager: Effe Sandas advertising@publishingbychelle.com Sub-editor: Claire Hey Editorial Assistants: Sarah Hinder, Robin Kopf editorial@publishingbychelle.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Darren Baguley Kirsten Craze Katrina Holden Ian Llyod Neubauer Yasmin Noone Jac Taylor Ryan Watson

PRINTING

SOS Print + Media 65 Burrows Road, Alexandria, NSW, 2015

TrueBlue Dec 2018/Jan 2019

OUR HEART IS IN THE COUNTRY

ISLAND OF PLENTY

GLORIOUS GRIFFTH & ITS FRUITY SURROUNDS

TUCKING INTO THE LIMESTONE COAST:

FAMILY ADVENTURES

King Island’s endless bounty

Get into a natural swing Fit some in this summer

Coonawarra, Mt Gambier, Penola and beyond

Jimmy Meet

OUR OL’ WORKING CLASS MAN

AusBiz.

A real Australian business magazine

True Blue is published by Publishing ByChelle, (ABN: 78 621 375 853 ACN: 621 375 853) Suite 2, Level 8, 100 Walker Street North Sydney NSW, 2060 (02) 9954 0349 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.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

E ADIFIEDCS R T AL NI A QUECH M

JOIN THE CUTTING EDGE

WHEN YOU JOIN WILLIAM ADAMS, YOU’LL BE WORKING WITH THE BEST CATERPILLAR MACHINERY THAT’S PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF TECHNOLOGY AND EXCELLENCE Technology in our industry has come a long way and if you want to keep up and ensure your training and skills are current, you should consider a career with William Adams. We can offer you the best training and on-the-job mentors in the business. The 336 Excavator (seen here) is part of a new breed of machines that are as smart as they are strong and it is just one example of the kind of machinery you’ll work on when you join William Adams. If you are a trade qualified mechanic from any industry, we want to talk to you! We have opportunities to work in our workshops and in the field across Victoria and Tasmania right now. We will reward you with a great range of benefits, including an employee assistance program incorporating personal legal advice, discounts on CAT parts and merchandise, a CAT passport allowing you to work all over the world, and much more. We’re proud, passionate, and more like one big family. Take a look at our vacancies and apply to join our team today!

WOR

H K WIT

EST B E H T

COME

Scan the QR code with your mobile phone, visit williamadams.com.au or call us on +61 3 9566 0959.

© 2018 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow”, the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

Publisher's Letter

We hope you’ve had some sunshine and some rain in 2018, and that this new year holds exciting possibilities for you all.

Here we are at the beginning of another bright new year. From all of us at Publishing ByChelle, we hope you’ve had some sunshine and some rain in 2018, and that this new year holds new possibilities for you all.

While catching up with Jimmy Barnes, he offered some wise advice: Whatever you do in life, do it with love.

Over the past year we’ve had such a great time documenting this wonderful country of ours in a vast array of feature articles that we hope you’ve found entertaining and informative. And along the way we’ve also had the pleasure of learning so much about the lives of many talented and passionate Australians who call this place home. From mining and agribusiness, to tourism, charity and philanthropy, we’ve met hundreds of people making a real difference to the lives of others. In this issue, we meet tourism operators, wine makers and food producers from Coonawarra and Mount Gambier in beautiful South Australia, where the vast lands of the Limestone Coast produce some of the finest mineral-rich wines in the world, and where a cobalt blue lake has continued to enchant visitors and adventurers for centuries.

@TRUEBLUe _ MAG

/TRUEBLUEMAG

We also pop over to NSW and explore Griffith, Narrandera and Leeton, where cheese masters mingle with award-wining wine makers and the lands support some of Australia’s most established fruit producers. There’s even a safari wildlife park where the owners passionately support endangered African species.

And then back down to Tassie we go, where I had the honour of catching up with some of King Island’s most renowned artists, a top beef producing family and a woman devoted to restoring the land back to its natural state in order to attract some of the country’s rarest frogs. I also learnt about the kelp industry and how it has supported generations of families, and visited King Island Dairy, where those delicious cheeses most of us have a soft spot for are lovingly handmade. If you want to get off the beaten track and enjoy real downtime on an island paradise where nature reigns supreme, KI is your next getaway destination. And finally, but definitely not less importantly, I met a great man this month who shared some very wise advice: whatever you do in life, do it with love. Those words are from Jimmy Barnes, a man who has lived it large and who knows that it’s the journey that counts as well, not just the destination. So I do hope that you enjoy your flight today, and that its a memorable journey.

MICHELLE HESPE AND THE TEAM AT TRUE BLUE DEC 2018/JAN 2019

HOME TO OVER 75 STORES

87 BAYLIS STREET, WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650 | T: 026931 7277

wagga-marketplace

@wagga.marketplace

WAGGA M ARKE TP L AC E .C OM

SUmmer Loving

A wrap-up of our favourite summer products to enjoy while the good times keep rolling in.

34 Cover story

In the wake of his recent book and documentary, we catch up Jimmy Barnes, and chat about life, love, and chasing demons.

Inside TrueBlue AusBiz. Check out AusBiz. at the back of the magazine. In this edition youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find: WORK IN MINING Water usage and conflicts with locals. AGRIBUSINESS Tough times in the dairy industry means change. BUSINESS Highland beef cattle farming in Tasmania.

upfront

Features

07 Rex news

22 Entertainment

Can Assist supports cancer patients and their families; Rex becomes a major sponsor for the Police Citizens Youth Club Fundraising Gala Dinner in Wagga Wagga; Rex pledges to donate $1 million for community groups working to alleviate drought impact.

13 Rex directory

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

INFRASTRUCTURE Hotels and resorts take a walk on the wild side. PROPERTY Sydneysiders buy homes outside the city.

The latest films, art, books and tours to inspire you.

22 Events calendar Some of the best events around the country.

25 Destination highlight

50 Food & Wine

29 Cool family summer fun

58 Philanthropy

We explore the natural beauty of the majestic Blue Mountains.

Enjoy school holidays with events and attractions around the country for kids and families.

38 Off the grid in King Island

46 Glorious Griffith

Diverse Griffith offers a food and wine blend of regional Australian produce fused with a local history of European immigration and culinary traditions.

King Island's vistas and the warmth of welcoming locals will steal your heart.

We check out sink holes and the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, and Coonawarra's food and wine scene. Who Gives a Crap knows that toilets shouldn't be a luxury, and we find out what they are doing about it.

60 Gallery wrap-up

We pull together some of Australia's most inspiring regional, rural and outback galleries to delight art lovers with all tastes. DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Rex News Rex Airlines initiatives supporting regional causes

L-R: David Bardos, President of PCYC Wagga, Dominic Teakle, CEO PCYC, Joanne Patrick, Regional Express Corporate Communications Manager, Mark Donaldson VC, Sonja Halstead, National Sales Manager at Publishing ByChelle, Brett Somerville, Regional Manager PCYC and Cr. Greg Conkey, Mayor Wagga Wagga

Police Citizens Youth Club fundraising gala dinner, Wagga Wagga On 26 September 2018, Regional Express became a proud major sponsor of the Police Citizens Youth Club Wagga (PCYC Wagga) Fundraising Gala Dinner, with the proceeds directly contributing to PCYC’s FIT FOR LIFE and FIT FOR WORK programs in 2019. The Fundraising Gala Dinner featured celebrated speaker and Australian soldier Mark Donaldson, recipient of the Australian Victoria Cross of Gallantry as well as Young Australian of the Year Award 2010. Mr Donaldson had a very powerful message of empowerment for the youth, fortified by his incredible experience of serving in Afghanistan in 2008. The lessons he imparted were not only about courage and heroism, but also about being at a crossroads in his life and choosing to do the right thing, which was always not the easiest option. PCYC NSW originated 81 years ago in 1937, as a partnership between the then NSW Police Commissioner

William Mackay and Rotary to provide a safe and activityrich distraction for the youth, mainly young men in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo. Since 1953, PCYC Wagga continues that proud tradition of empowering youth, serving the Wagga Wagga community for over 65 years. It is an exciting time for PCYC Wagga as it looks forward to building a significant youth and community asset which will bring much needed indoor sport and recreation space to the Wagga community. With outstanding support from Local and State Government it is currently working with the Federal Government to complete the $23 million state-of-the-art facility. PCYC Wagga was able to raise $20,000 from the fundraising gala dinner and PCYC Wagga is grateful for the Regional Express sponsorship, which demonstrates REX Airline’s commitment to the development and empowerment of the youth of regional Australia. DEC 2018/JAN 2019

DREAMING OF A WEEKEND GETAWAY FROM SYDNEY THIS SUMMER? Ballina Newcastle Snowy Mountains

$89 $89 $129*

Rex one way promo fares. Booking/handling fee and method payment surcharges apply. Web sales only. Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply. * Community fare. Fare available outside of 30 days prior to departure (subject to availability) and inside one day prior to departure for all unsold seats. Photo Credit: Destination NSW

Fly to Mount Gambier from Adelaide or Melbourne with Community Fare

$129* Book now at rex.com.au *Rex Promo Community Fare between Mount Gambier and Melbourne or Adelaide, is available outside 30 days prior to departure (subject to availability) and inside 24 hours prior to departure for all unsold seats. Booking/ handling fee and payment method surcharge apply. Web sales only. Terms and Conditions apply. Photo Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission

Rex News

Can Assist: equity, integrity, community and hope The formation of Can Assist in 1955 was the dream of Mrs Mona Ham MBE, to ease the burden on rural cancer patients and their families. With treatment centres so far away, many rural patients faced the prospect of being away from home and family support for long periods; some struggled to find rail fares while others stayed at home for fear of losing their income. Mrs Ham served tea and biscuits to radiotherapy patients so they could at least feel that somebody cared about them. Born from this hope and necessity, the Can Assist network has grown to 54 branches with more than 2,500 volunteers, spanning the length and breadth of New South Wales. Can Assist offers support to cancer patients and their families by providing accommodation, financial assistance and practical support. Can Assist guarantees country communities are afforded the same opportunities and treatment choices as those in the city. John Nixon of the Wagga Wagga Branch tells his family’s heart-wrenching story… ‘I moved to Wagga Wagga six years ago. In August 2017, Bradley, the youngest of my three sons, was diagnosed with bowel cancer, aged just 20. The cancer was removed, but after further scans it was discovered that it had spread to his bowels and liver. He has now finished six months of chemotherapy. We are unsure where to from here, more scans will decide. ‘In trying to find help for Bradley, I discovered there was no Can Assist branch in Wagga Wagga. I couldn’t believe it, so I decided to open one. Now after receiving assistance for my own family, I’m able to pay it forward and help others in my community at their time of need.’ Maintaining their grass roots, each branch relies on the generosity and dedication of its volunteers and the

ongoing care and support they provide to families in need. The selfless work undertaken by the volunteers reflects Can Assist values of equity, integrity, community and hope. Every dollar raised in the bush stays in the bush. The members of the regional branches undertake the heavy lifting of collection drives, with all funds proudly staying local. Can Assist branch members continue to work for their communities by hosting fundraising events, including music and trivia nights, fundraising luncheons, football games and car shows, just to name a few. The wonderful efforts of these Can Assist branches in the year 2018 raised over $2 million to provide direct assistance to the needs of those suffering the effects of cancer and the impact on their families. For more information on how to donate, volunteer at your local branch, or, as John and his family did, establish a new Can Assist branch in your community, please visit canassist.org.au

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Rex News

REX pledges $1 million for drought relief In view of the devastating and disastrous effects of the worst drought to hit regional Australia in the last 50 years, Regional Express (Rex) has decided to set aside $1 million for drought relief to regional Australia. The Rex Drought Relief fund will be available to all community groups working to alleviate the impact of the drought, in the form of $4 of travel on the Rex network for every $1 raised by the community groups. Small businesses that are providing assistance to victims of the drought will also be eligible. Rex’s Deputy Chairman, John Sharp AM, said, “Rex’s heart is in the Country, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all residents of communities in regional Australia who are facing unimaginable hardship as they struggle to make ends meet and keep their crops and stock alive. “Rex has the largest network in regional and rural Australia with 60 destinations, and it behoves us to stand by our loyal regional customers in their time of greatest need. Just as in 2005-2007 when we similarly set up a generous drought relief fund of $2.5 million over three years, Rex intends to extend its assistance beyond the current financial year should the drought continue, as long as Rex continues to trade profitably.” Interested parties for drought assistance may apply via the Rex website under About Rex – Sponsorship.

High flyers at the Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA)

Rex Cadet Patrick Nasr with AAPA Chairman Chris Hine

Rex22 Cadets receive their Private Pilot Licences.

AAPA Graduate Minh Khoa Kieu with Rex Executive Chairman Lim Kim Hai

Vietnamese cadet Minh Khoa Kieu graduated from AAPA in May 2017, and in August 2018 he successfully completed his A321 type rating at the Vietnam Airlines Simulator Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thus, Khoa became the first AAPA-trained Vietnamese cadet to progress to line training, and is now set to become a fully-fledged First officer for Vietnam Airlines on the Airbus 321. On home soil, having achieved the next cornerstone on the road to becoming pilots, our AAPA cadets are flying through training. On Monday 15 October, twelve Rex and four Vietnamese cadets were respectively presented with their Private Pilot licences, and Commercial Pilot Licences during a presentation hosted by AAPA Chairman Chris Hine at Australian Airline Pilots Academy in Wagga Wagga. The event, attended by Captain Adrian Amaladoss, General Manager and Principal of Singapore Flying College, celebrated the hard work and progress of the cadets on their journey so far.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Directory

TrueBlue Experiences

Bamaga NPA

where we fly

Gununa

Doomadgee

Cairns

Normanton

Burketown

Townsville Mount Isa

Richmond

Julia Creek

Hughenden

Winton Longreach

Boulia Bedourie

Birdsville

Windorah

Quilpie

Charleville

Brisbane Thargomindah

Coober Pedy

Wellcamp/ Toowoomba

St George

Cunnamulla

Lismore Grafton Armidale Broken Hill

Perth

Taree Ceduna Whyalla

Dubbo Parkes

Mildura

Esperance Albany

Wagga Narrandera/ Wagga Leeton Albury

Kingscote

(Kangaroo Island)

Melbourne

Mount Gambier

King Island Burnie

Metro Hotel Perth

Absalom's Art Gallery

61 CANNING HIGHWAY, SOUTH PERTH, WA 6151 T 08 9367 6122 E perth@metrohg.com metrohotels.com.au

638 CHAPPLE STREET, BROKEN HILL, NSW T 08 8087 5881 E jackab5@bigpond.com.au jackabsalom.com.au

On the banks of the Swan River, Metro Hotel Perth offers a variety of room types, the vast majority of which offer stunning views of the Perth skyline. Great value rates, friendly service, free parking and free unlimited WiFi. Restaurant and bar, room service, 24-hour reception.

On your next visit to Broken Hill, Absalom's Art Gallery is a must. It has the finest collection of outback paintings by Jack Absalom, and features the largest opal display in the Southern Hemisphere. Hope to see you on your next visit. Come in and say hello.

Commonwealth RoofClimb

Sundowner Cabins

Port Lincoln Visitor Centre

ADELAIDE OVAL, WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE, NORTH ADELAIDE, SA. T 08 8331 5222 E enquiries@roofclimb.com.au roofclimb.com.au

226 BROADBENT TERRACE, WHYALLA NORRIE, SA T 08 8645 1535 E sales@sundownercabinpark.com.au sundownercabinpark.com.au

3 ADELAIDE PLACE, PORT LINCOLN, SA T 1300 788 378 E info@visitportlincoln.net.au visitportlincoln.net.au

RoofClimb will literally take you to new heights at the world-class Adelaide Oval – in the heart of the city! This exhilarating adventure will have you travelling along the impressive curved roofline of the Oval as you soak up 360-degree views of the city and beyond. It's an ideal team building experience.

Offering accommodation for all budgets, at daily or weekly rates. Choose from 72 Modern Cabins: three with disability access, 52 two-bedroom, seven one-bedroom with full kitchens and 10 Studio Cabins. We also offer a great range of fully furnished units or houses in Whyalla.

The Visitor Centre is the perfect place to start planning your Eyre Peninsula adventure. Visit us to obtain permits, book land-based tours, ferry tickets and charters for shark, tuna and seal dives, and fishing. Drop in for travel brochures, souvenirs and postcards and internet access. Open seven days a week.

National Anzac Centre

King Island Escapes

67 FORTS ROAD, ALBANY, WA, 6331 T 08 6820 3500 E info@nationalanzaccentre.com.au nationalanzaccentre.com.au

135 BARNES RD, LOORANA, KING ISLAND, TAS T 0417 580 550 E stay@kingislandescapes.com.au kingislandescapes.com.au

Charleville Cosmos Centre & Observatory

National Anzac Centre uses multimedia, interactive technology and historical artefacts to create a personal connection with the past, as well as pay tribute to those who served. The stunning building overlooks the location from where the convoys gathered and left.

This ultimate beach retreat will take your King Island experience to another level. Our four-bedroom architecturally designed accommodation, with bespoke cedar hot tub and sauna, is tucked into a hidden coastal setting with direct access to your private beach.

14 TrueBlue

Mounts Bay Waters Apartment Hotel 112 MOUNTS BAY ROAD, PERTH 6000 T 08 9213 5333 E perth@mountsbay.com.au mounts-bay.com.au

Enjoy the comforts of home and the convenience of a hotel in self-contained 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, within walking distance to Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park and Perth CBD. Book directly with us to receive free parking and WiFi.

1 MILKY WAY, CHARLEVILLE, QLD T 07 4654 7771 E enquiries@cosmoscentre.com experiencecharleville.com

At our amazing observatory, see the wonders of our outback night skies and view the beauty of the Milky Way galaxy through powerful Meade telescopes. Enjoy ‘Astronomy by Day’ and book in for our incredible ‘Sun-viewing’.

Newcastle

Orange

Griffith

Adelaide

Port Lincoln

Bathurst

Sydney

Moruya Cooma Merimbula

Ballina

(Byron Bay)

Rex FAQs

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 the 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 you have to stow your 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 that heavier items do not become airborne within the cabin. This is especially important when the aircraft is experiencing turbulence. Q. Why do you feel so tired from flying? A. As the aircraft altitude increases, air pressure decreases. As the pressure of the air decreases, the body absorbs less oxygen than it would at sea level — therefore, 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 you sometimes feel pain in your ears or sinuses during ascent or descent? A. The sinuses and middle ear are aircontaining 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 a cold or hay fever, 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 inside the departure terminal and must remain in flight mode until inside the arrival terminal. Small hand held PEDs weighing less than 1kg, such as mobile phones, can be used in flight mode during all stages of flight on Rex’s Saab 340 aircraft. 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. Approximately 500 kilometres per hour. Q. Why do you 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. The Saab 340 has 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 you keep your seatbelt fastened even when the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign is switched off? A. On occasions, 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 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. The Saab 340 turboprop has 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 you do if you 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 passenger’s concerns with the utmost seriousness.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

FIELD OF LIGHT:

Avenue of Honour BY BRUCE MUNRO

Discover an Australia story told through light Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anzac history glows anew in Western Australia, as 16,000 glass spheres shine in tribute.

Sunset Panorama Tour

National Anzac Panorama pass

Light and Dine experience

Discover the incredible stories of the Anzacs from the summit of Mt Clarence overlooking King George Sound, the last glimpse of Australia for the Anzac fleet that departed in 1914.

Combine two incredible Albany experiences in one. Visit the award-winning National Anzac Centre, enjoy panoramic views of King George Sound before immersing in 16,000 lights along the Avenue of Honour.

Visit the award winning National Anzac Centre, witness sunset views over King George Sound and delight in a dining experience of fresh Great Southern produce at Garrison Restaurant & Bar before seeing 16,000 splendid lights along the Avenue of Honour.

FROM $15PP Transfers, Anzac commemorative book and commentry included.

#fieldoflightalbany Fieldoflightalbany.com.au/seethelights Call (08) 6820 3700 or email info@fieldoflightalbany.com.au

FROM $35 Transfers, commentry & museum pass inlcuded.

FROM $110 Transfers, commentry, musuem pass & share platters included.

Christine & Kerry Stokes AC.

Field of Light Avenue of Honour, Bruce Munro, Albany, 2018. Photograph by Mark Pickthall, courtesy of the Bruce Munro Studio.

News & Views

Regional News The recently launched art installation ‘Field of Light: Avenue of Honour’ by internationally acclaimed UK artist Bruce Munro has attracted more than 32,000 visitors since it opening to the public on October 4. Commissioned by cultural organisation FORM, the installation consists of 16,000 glass spheres on fine stems powered by fibre optics. This is Munro’s second installation in Australia. His first light installation, Field of Light Uluru, has been luring visitors since 2016, and was so successful that it will be on

show until December 2020. Field of Light formed part of significant Remembrance Day commemorations in Albany, the site where 41,000 troops left for Northern Africa and Gallipoli or the Western Front. The project will continue to be a lasting legacy for Albany beyond April. People have been so moved by the experience that FORM has been capturing the project via reflection postcards. FORM’s front of house service manager Sue McMahon said, “Numbers have overwhelmingly exceeded our expectations and we’ve averaged between 800 to 900 visitors a night.”

PHOTOGRAPH: LEE GRIFFITH PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CITY OF ALBANY

Let there be light

VISITORS TO THE PUBLIC OPENING OF FIELD OF LIGHT AVENUE OF HONOUR

Rescued 80-year-old breeding sea turtle has been released off Fitzroy Island An 80-year-old green sea turtle named Margaret has been released into the ocean following a remarkable three-year long recovery at Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Severely malnourished and suffering pneumonia and impact from marine debris, Margaret was found floating, presumably for several months, off the coast of Fitzroy Island by a Cairns Dive Centre crew. At more than 80 years old and 1.1 metres in length, she is one of the oldest female breeding turtles ever to be rescued and released. The rehabilitation was particularly exciting because only one in 1,000

turtles reach the age of 30, when they begin to reproduce. Margaret was named after one of Australia’s oldest and most determined conservationists, Margaret Deas, who on her 102nd birthday raised $5,000 for the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre by performing as many squats as her age. Sponsored by Fitzroy Island Resort, the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is a notfor-profit organisation run by volunteers dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured marine turtles. For more information visit fitzroyisland.com DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Rex Exercises and Stretches

Exercise and stretch regularly while seated Exercise and stretch regularly while seated

IN-FLIGHT COMFORT

SEATED EXERCISES

Exercise and ExerciseSTRETCHES andstretch stretchregularly regularlywhile whileseated seated SEATED

Inflight comfort

Flying can be demanding and altitude may make your body more sensitive to the Flying can be demanding and altitude effects of alcohol and caffeine. Sitting in one may make your body more sensitive place for a long time can be uncomfortable to the effects of alcohol and caffeine. and slow down your blood circulation. Flying be and Sitting in one place for a long time can Flyingcan can bedemanding demanding andaltitude altitude To helpmay your body adjust to flying make your body more be uncomfortable and slow downand your may make your body moresensitive sensitive to maintain your personal comfort and to and caffeine. blood circulation. To help your body tothe theeffects effectsofofalcohol alcohol and caffeine. wellbeing, wein recommend you take the Sitting one place for a long time adjust to flying and to maintain your Sitting in one place for a long timecan can following steps: be your personal comfort and and wellbeing, beuncomfortable uncomfortable andslow slowdown downwe your blood ToTohelp recommend you take theyour following bloodcirculation. circulation. help yourbody bodysteps: ANKLE CIRCLES —floor, Lift feet FOOT PUMPS —with Start withonboth ANKLE CIRCLES Lift feet off draw a circle with FOOT PUMPS Start both heels the floorheels and pointon feet the upwardfloor as high Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids — adjust to flying and to maintain off draw a circle with and point feet high as Then youliftcan. Then put adjust to flying and to maintainyour your thefloor, toes, simultaneously moving one foot the clockwise as you can. Thenupward put both feetas flat on the floor. heels high, keeping the water, juice, non-caffeinated soft drinks — to personal comfort and wellbeing, we toes, moving both balls feet flatfeet ononthe floor. Then lift heelsintervals. high, keeping and thesimultaneously other foot counterclockwise. Reverse circles. of your the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second Keep hydrated. Drink of fluids personal comfort andplenty wellbeing, we – Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat one foot clockwise and theif desired.the balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in preventrecommend dehydration, fatigue and headaches. you take the following steps: water, juice, non-caffeinated soft drinks recommend you take the following steps: ANKLE CIRCLES Lift feet off floor, draw a circle with30-second FOOT PUMPS Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upward as high other counterclockwise. intervals. Minimise– intake of dehydration, alcohol andfatigue coffee. ANKLEfoot CIRCLES Lift feet off floor, draw a circle with FOOT PUMPS Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upward as high to prevent and the toes, simultaneously one foot clockwise as you can. Then put both feet flat on the floor. Then lift heels high, keeping the Reverse circles. moving Do each Exercise Exercise and and stretch stretch regularly regularly while while seated seated the toes, simultaneously moving one foot clockwise as you can. Then put both feet flat on the floor. Then lift heels high, keeping the Moisten the face to help reduce drying and the other foot counterclockwise. Reverse circles. balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second intervals. Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids –– direction seconds.Reverse circles. balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second intervals. headaches. Minimise intake ofthe alcohol and the otherfor foot 15 counterclockwise. Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired. effects of cabin air. Repeat if desired. water, juice, drinks Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired. SEATED SEATED EXERCISES EXERCISES and coffee. Moisten the facesoft to help water, juice,non-caffeinated non-caffeinated soft drinks –reduce dehydration, fatigue and the drying effects of cabin air. to Eat lightly. Eat lightly on longer flights –totoprevent prevent dehydration, fatigue and headaches. intake alcohol avoid indigestion — our in-flight is headaches.Minimise Minimise intakeofofmenu alcohol and Moisten the totooptions. help Eat lightly. Eat lightly onface longer flights designed tocoffee. provide lighter meal and coffee. Moisten the face help to reduce the ofofcabin air. avoid indigestion –effects our inflight menu reduce thedrying dryingeffects cabin air.is Exercise. We encourage you to do the designed to provide lighter meal options. gentle on-board exercises on this flights page to Eat Eatlightly. lightly.Eat Eatlightly lightlyon onlonger longer flightstoto enhanceavoid yourindigestion wellbeing during the flight. – our inflight menu isis Exercise. We encourage you to the avoid indigestion – our inflight do menu We recommend you do these exercises for KNEE LIFTS Lift leg with knee SHOULDER ROLLS Hunch ARM CURLS Arms held at 90° angles, designed totoprovide lighter meal gentle onboard exercises on thisoptions. page to designed provide lighter meal options. bent while contracting your thigh shoulders forward, then upward, elbows down, hands in front. Raise hands about five minutes every one to two hours. enhance your wellbeing during theStartheels flight. muscle. Alternate legs. Repeat 20 then backward, then downward, up to chest and back down. Alternate ANKLE CIRCLES ANKLE LiftCIRCLES feet off floor, Lift feet drawoffa floor, circledraw with a circleFOOT with PUMPS FOOT StartPUMPS with both withonboth the heels floor and on the point floor feetand upward point feet as high upward as h should also occasionally walk down We encourage you to do the theYou toes, simultaneously the toes,Exercise. simultaneously moving one foot moving clockwise one footyou clockwise as do you can. Then as you putcan. both Then feet put flatboth on the the feetfloor. flat on Then theliftfloor. heels Then high,liftkeeping heels high, the keeping to 30 times for each leg. using a gentle, circular motion. hands. Repeat in 30-second intervals. We recommend these exercises Exercise. We encourage you to do the and the other and foot the counterclockwise. other foot counterclockwise. Reverse circles. Reverse balls circles. of your balls feet on of your the floor. feet on Continue the floor. cycle Continue in 30-second cycle in intervals. 30-second intervals. KNEE LIFTS Lift leg with knee SHOULDER ROLLS Hunch ARM CURLS Arms held at 90° angles, aisles, as space permits. In addition, weto exercises on this page Do each direction Do each forgentle direction 15 seconds. foronboard Repeat 15onboard seconds. if desired. Repeat if desired. every KNEE LIFTS Lift leg with knee SHOULDER ROLLS Hunch ARM CURLS Arms held at 90° angles, for about five minutes one to two gentle exercises on this page to bent whileLIFTS contracting thighleg shoulders forward, then upward, elbows down, hands in front. Raise hands KNEE —your Lift SHOULDER ROLLS ARM CURLS Arms recommend that you avoid crossing your bent while contracting your thigh shoulders forward, then upward, elbows down,— hands in front. Raise hands enhance your wellbeing during hours. You should also occasionally walklegs. muscle.knee Alternatebent legs. Repeat 20 then backward, then downward, to chest and back down. Alternate enhance your wellbeing duringthe theflight. flight. with — Hunch shoulders heldupup at muscle. Alternate legs.while Repeat 20 then backward, then downward, to90° chestangles, and back down. Alternate to 30 times for each leg. using a gentle, circular motion. hands. Repeat in 30-second intervals. you do exercises SEATED down the aisles, as permits. In MovingWe about the aircraft. You may move contracting your forward, upward, elbows down, to 30 times forSTRETCHES each leg. thigh using athen gentle, circular motion. hands. Repeat inhands 30-secondinintervals. Werecommend recommend youspace dothese these exercises muscle. Alternate legs. then backward, then front. Raise hands up to for minutes one toand two addition, we recommend that you avoid about the aircraft as spaceevery permits when forabout aboutfive five minutes every one to two Repeat 20 to 30 times for downward, using a chest and back down. hours. You should walk crossing your legs.also the seatbelt sign is off. However, when the hours. You should alsooccasionally occasionally walk each leg. gentle, circular motion. Alternate hands. Repeat SEATED aisles, asas space permits. InInremain SEATEDSTRETCHES STRETCHES seatbeltdown signthe is you are required in 30-second intervals. down theon aisles, space permits.to addition, we recommend that you avoid Please note: you should not do any of seated with the seatbelt fastened. addition, we recommend that you avoid crossing your legs. these exercises if they cause you pain or If you feel unwell, tell the cabin crew. They crossing your legs. cannot done withcommon ease. can assist withbe the more in-flight KNEE LIFTS KNEE Lift legLIFTS with knee Lift leg with knee you should SHOULDERnot SHOULDER ROLLSdo Hunch ROLLS Hunch ARM CURLSARM ArmsCURLS held atArms 90° angles, held at 9 Please note: any offurther complaints and, if necessary, can seek note: you shoulders should not do any bent while contracting bent whilePlease your contracting thigh your thigh forward, shoulders then forward, upward, thenof upward, elbows down,elbows handsdown, in front. hands Raiseinhand fron muscle. Alternate muscle. legs. Alternate Repeat legs. 20 Repeat 20 then backward, then then backward, downward, then downward, up to chest and up to back chest down. and Alternate back down. these exercises if they cause you pain or Moving about the aircraft. You may and assistance these exercises iffor they cause you pain to advice 30 times for to 30 each times leg. for each leg. using ayou. gentle, using circular a gentle, motion. circular motion.or hands. Repeat hands. in 30-second Repeat inintervals. 30-second cannot be move about thewith aircraft ascan space permits On descent. Ears and sinuses cause cannot bedone done withease. ease.

SEATED SEATEDEXERCISES EXERCISES

Inflight Inflightcomfort comfort

and when thethe seatbelt sign is discomfort, due to change inoff. air pressure on descent. To minimise discomfort: Moving about the aircraft. You may about the asasspace you are required to remain seated with • Yawn move or swallow frequently. move about theaircraft aircraft spacepermits permits the seatbelt sign isisoff. the seatbelt fastened. • Pinch and your nostrils together blow firmly andwhen when the seatbelt signand off. However, when the seatbelt sign into your cheeks with mouth However, when theyour seatbelt signisclosed. ison on you are required to remain seated with Ifyou you feel unwell, tell the cabin crew. are required to remain seated with the fastened. They can assist with the more common theseatbelt seatbelt fastened. inflight complaints and, if necessary, If you have ongoing discomfort, seekcan the Ifseek feel tell cabin further advice and assistance for you. advice of the cabin crew Ifyou you feelunwell, unwell, tellthe the cabincrew. crew. They Theycan canassist assistwith withthe themore morecommon common inflight complaints and, if necessary, can descent. Ears and sinuses can KNEE TO CHEST KNEEBend TOOn CHEST forward Bend slightly. forward slightly. FORWARD FLEX With both FLEX feet With oncan both the floor feet on theOVERHEAD floor OVERHEAD STRETCH Raise STRETCH both hand Rais inflight complaints and, ifFORWARD necessary, Clasp hands Clasp aroundhands left knee around andleft hugknee it toand hug it toand stomach and heldstomach in, slowly held bend in, slowly forward bend forward straight up over straight yourup head. overWith yourone head. han seek further advice and assistance for you. cause discomfort, due toassistance the change seek further and for you. your chest. Hold yourthe chest. stretch Holdforthe15 stretch seconds. for 15advice seconds.and walk your and hands walkdown your hands the front down ofin your the front ofgrasp your the wrist grasp of the theopposite wrist of the hand oppos and

SEATED SEATED STRETCHES STRETCHES Moving about the aircraft. You may However, when the seatbelt sign is on KNEE TO CHEST Bend forward slightly. Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it KNEE TO —10slightly. Bend down.TOAlternate legs. times. KNEE CHESTCHEST BendRepeat forward KNEE TO CHEST Bend Clasp forward slightly. forward Clasp hands slightly. around left knee and hug it to Clasp hands around left knee and hug it to your chest.around Hold the stretch knee for 15 seconds. hands and your chest. Hold theleft stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping aroundchest. knee, slowly let it hug it hands tohands your Hold Keeping around knee, slowly let it down.stretch Alternate legs. Repeat 10 times. the seconds. down. Alternatefor legs.15 Repeat 10 times.

Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs. Repeat 10 times each leg.

FORWARD FLEX With both feet on the floor OVERHEAD STRETCH Raise both hands and stomach held in, slowly bend forward straight up over your head. With one hand, and walk your hands down the front of your grasp the wrist of the opposite hand and legs toward your ankles. Hold the stretch for gently pull to one side. Hold the stretch FORWARD FLEX —back With STRETCH — for 15 seconds. RepeatRaise on theboth other side. 15 secondsFLEX and slowly sit up. FORWARD With both feet on the floor OVERHEAD OVERHEAD STRETCH hands FORWARD FLEX With both feet on the floor OVERHEAD STRETCHstraight Raise both hands both on floor both hands andfeet stomach heldthe in, slowly bend forward Raise straight up over your head. With one hand, and stomach held in, slowly bend forward straight up over your head. With one hand, walk your hands down front of your grasp theyour wrist of the opposite hand and andand stomach in,the slowly With and walk yourheld hands down the front of yourup over grasp the wristhead. of the opposite hand and legsforward toward your and ankles.walk Hold the stretch for onegently pull to one side.the Hold the stretch bend hand, legs toward your ankles. Hold the stretch for gently pullgrasp to one side. Holdwrist the stretch for 15opposite seconds. Repeathand on the other side. seconds and slowly the sit back up. your1515 hands front of the for 15 seconds. Repeat on theand other side. secondsdown and slowly sit back up.

of your legs toward your ankles. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

gently pull to one side. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the Please note: you other side.

should not do any of these exercises Please note: you note: you SHOULDER STRETCH — Reach your right handcause over you ifPlease they should not do your left shoulder. Place your left hand behind your right should not doany any PLEASE NOTE: You pain or cannot be elbow and gently press your elbow toward yourexercises shoulder. ofofthese shouldSTRETCH not do any SHOULDER Reach your right hand HoldNECK With your these exercises the ROLLS stretch forshoulders 15 seconds. Repeat on thewith other side. done ease. over left shoulder. Place yourifleft hand relaxed, drop your ear to shoulder and ofyour these exercises ififthey theycause causeyou you behind right elbow andpain gently press your gently roll your neck forward and to the theyyour cause you NECK ROLLS —each With your drop your elbow toward your be shoulder. Hold the stretch other side, holding position for shoulders relaxed, pain or cannot be or cannot done pain or cannot be ear to shoulder and gently roll your neck forward and to forwith 15 seconds. RepeatReach on theyour otherright side.hand five seconds. Repeat times. SHOULDER STRETCH NECK ROLLS With yourfive shoulders ease. SHOULDER STRETCH Reach your right hand the other NECK ROLLS With your shoulders done with ease. side, holding each position for five seconds. over your left shoulder. Place your left hand relaxed, drop your ear to shoulder and done with ease. over your left shoulder. Place your left hand relaxed, drop your ear to shoulder and

Keeping hands Keeping around hands knee, around slowlyknee, let it slowly it legs toward your legs toward ankles. your Holdankles. the stretch Holdforthe stretch gently for pull togently one side. pull Hold to onetheside. stretch Hold air pressure onletdescent. Toslowly minimise for Repeat 15 seconds. on theRepeat other on sideth down. Alternate down. legs. Alternate Repeatlegs. 10 times. Repeat 10 times. 15 seconds and 15 seconds sitand back slowly up. sit back up. for 15 seconds.

On discomfort: Ondescent. descent.Ears Earsand andsinuses sinusescan can cause discomfort, due to •cause Yawn or swallow frequently. discomfort, due tothe thechange changeinin air pressure descent. ToTominimise •air Pinch youron nostrils together and blow pressure on descent. minimise discomfort: firmly into your cheeks with your discomfort: • •Yawn swallow mouth closed. Yawnoror swallowfrequently. frequently. • •Pinch Pinchyour yournostrils nostrilstogether togetherand andblow blow into your cheeks with your Iffirmly you have ongoing discomfort, firmly into your cheeks with your mouth seek theclosed. advice mouth closed.of the cabin crew.

times. behind your right elbow and gently press your Repeat gentlyfive roll your neck forward and to the gently roll your neck forward and to the other side, holding each position for other side, holding each position for five seconds. Repeat five times. for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side. five seconds. Repeat five times.

behind your right elbow and gently press your toward your shoulder. Hold the stretch 12 elbow elbow toward your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

SHOULDER SHOULDER STRETCH Reach STRETCH your right Reach hand your right hand NECK ROLLSNECK With ROLLS your shoulders With your shoulders over your leftover shoulder. your left Place shoulder. your left Place hand your left handrelaxed, droprelaxed, your eardrop to shoulder your earand to shoulder and Ifyour have ongoing discomfort, Ifyou you have ongoing behind your behind right elbow and right gently elbow press and gently your press your gentlydiscomfort, roll your gently neckrollforward your neck and forward to the and to the elbow towardelbow your toward shoulder. your Hold shoulder. theadvice stretch Hold the stretch other side, holding other side, each holding positioneach for position for seek the of the cabin crew. seek the advice cabin crew. for 15 seconds. for Repeat 15 seconds. on theRepeat other on side. the other side.of fivethe seconds. five Repeat seconds. five times. Repeat five times.

12 12 12

Please note: Please you note should not should do any not d of theseofexercises these exer if they cause if theyyou cause pain or cannot pain orbe cann done with done ease. with e

Up, up and away! Regional Express: Our heart is in the country Bamaga NPA

Mornington Island (Gununa) Karumba Normanton

Cairns

Burketown Doomadgee

Townsville Mount Isa

Julia Creek

Hughenden

Richmond

Winton

Boulia

Longreach Bedourie

Windorah Charleville

Birdsville Carnarvon

Brisbane West Wellcamp (Toowoomba)

Quilpie Cunnamulla

Monkey Mia Coober Pedy

Brisbane

St George

Thargomindah

Lismore Ceduna

Grafton (Yamba) Armidale

Broken Hill

Perth

Port Augusta Whyalla

Ballina (Byron Bay)

Dubbo

Parkes

Orange Esperance Albany

Mildura

Port Lincoln

Adelaide

Kangaroo Island (Kingscote)

Griffith

Newcastle Bathurst

Narrandera-Leeton Wagga Wagga Albury

Mount Gambier

Melbourne

Sydney

Moruya Snowy Mountains (Cooma) Merimbula

King Island

Burnie

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Check-in Info

CHECK- IN

BAGGAGE

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.

Checked baggage Passengers on all fares (except Rex Flex) are permitted a 15 kilogram free baggage allowance. Passengers in possession of a Rex Flex Fare are permitted a 23 kilogram free baggage allowance.

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).

Passengers with international connections (within 24 hours) are permitted a 23 kilogram free baggage allowance upon presenting a valid itinerary or ticket. Cabin baggage A maximum of two pieces per passenger up to a total of 7 kilograms of cabin baggage is permitted on board.

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.

Excess baggage Excess baggage is permitted subject to restrictions of the day and a surcharge of $7.70 per kilogram. Virgin Australia Baggage Agreement Rex accepts the checking of baggage to/from Virgin Australia flights. Ask at check-in for more information.

Passengers with special requirements Passengers with special requirements must check-in at the airport (online check-in is not available) no later than: •6 0 minutes prior to scheduled departure in major cities and all Queensland regional airports except Burketown (please see below). • 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure in NSW, SA, Tas, Vic and WA regional airports. • 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure in Burketown.

REX AIRCR AFT FACTS

AIRCRAFT

MAX. TAKE-OFF WEIGHT (KG)

SPEED (KM/H)

AVAILABLE SEATS

GALLEY

REST ROOM

AVAILABLE AIRCRAFT

CRUISE ALTITUDE (METRES)

CREW

SAAB 340

13,155

520

8,000

20 TrueBlue

Entertainment

Compiled by: Sarah hinder

books TOUR

Hotter Than Hell The Right Place, Carla Caruso

Out now, HQ, Fiction Nella inherits her Nonna’s house after she passes. Driven by a longing to fit in, she dreams of moving away. But when Nella comes across her Nonna’s cookbook and begins to learn about her old life in Italy and the new life she forged in Australia, Nella’s perspective is changed on where the right place for her really is.

Germaine, Elizabeth Kleinhenz

Out now, Knopf Australia, Biography One of the first researchers permitted access to the Germaine Greer Archive, Kleinhenz presents a nuanced account underpinning both the influence of Germaine Greer and the social and intellectual progress of the societies that her legacy continues to shape.

ART

Out of Range, John Rooth

Out now, Michael Joseph, Travel Along seven of the most iconic and rugged fourwheel drive trips around the country, John “Roothy” Rooth takes readers on a trip around rural and remote Australia, featuring 30 years of incredible photography of “out of range” adventures, from desert to mountains to croc swamps.

December 1 – February 23 in Qld, Vic, SA & WA Bringing together the biggest Aussie rock acts of the ’90s and ’00s, this summer tour will see the likes of Spiderbait, Jebediah, Shihad, Magic Dirt, Killing Heidi, Bodyjar, 28 Days and Area-7 perform at some unique and unexpected venues around the country. hotterthanhell tour.com.au

CINEMA Patricia Piccinini & Joy Hester: Through love…

November 24 – March 11, TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville Vic This exhibtion focused on love and intimacy explores the diverse spectrum of human and non-human relationships, including a new major sculpture by Piccinini and rarely seen ink and paper works by Hester. twma.com.au

Sunset Cinema

November 28 – April 13 in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney & WollongongSunset Cinema’s summer season kicks off with screenings of new blockbusters, including Bohemian Rhapsody, and classics such as Die Hard and The Big Lebowski. sunsetcinema.com.au DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Events Calendar

What's on & What's hot Our pick of the very best gigs, festivals, and cultural and sporting events from around the country. Compiled by: Sarah hinder

December 26 – January 1 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Sydney NSW & Hobart Tas Boxing Day and New Year’s Day see the race villages at Sydney and Hobart come to life with champagne and wine bars, live race coverage and a pulsing atmosphere to celebrate one of the most anticipated yacht races in the world. rolexsydneyhobart.com

December 22

Woolworths Carols in the Domain

December 27 – January 1 Woodford Folk Festival

Woodford Qld One of the oldest festivals in Australia, Woodford sees more than 2,000 artists take part in comedy, street theatre, writers’ panels, social debate and workshops. woodfordfolkfestival.com

22 TrueBlue

Sydney NSW Sydney’s largest outdoor Christmas concert comes to life with family-friendly entertainment and carols lasting well into the night. carolsinthedomain.com

December 28–January 1 Lost Paradise

Glenworth Valley NSW From fancy feasts to morning yoga and artsy workshops, this four-day festival is as much about the experiences as its awesome line-up. lostparadise.com.au

December 28–January 1 Beyond the Valley

Lardner Vic Headliners at this New Year’s camping festival include The Kooks, Tash Sultana, Duke Dumont and PNAU. beyondthevalley.com.au

December 28–January 3

The Taste of Tasmania

Hobart Tas Celebrating 30 years, Hobart’s waterfront comes alive with stalls, live workshops and shows, all revolving around food and wine, in a showcase of the absolute best Tassie has to offer. thetasteoftasmania.com.au

Events Calendar Events

Sydney Festival

January 9 –13 Parkes Elvis Festival

Parkes NSW Dedicated to everything Elvis, Parkes hosts the southern hemisphere’s biggest Elvis-themed festival. Take part in tribute concerts and vintage street parties alongside throngs of Elvis impersonators and fanatics. parkeselvisfestival.com.au

January 9–27

Sydney Festival

Sydney NSW More than 500 Australian and international artists perform and speak out across Sydney’s best theatres, art spaces and dynamic outdoor locations over three artistic summer weeks. sydneyfestival.org.au

January 11–13

Cygnet Folk Festival

December 28 – January 6 Falls Festival

Lorne Vic, Marion Bay SA, Byron Bay NSW & Fremantle WA One of the biggest events on the Aussie music festival calendar, this year’s Falls line-up features Toto, Vance Joy, Flight Facilities, Golden Features, Touch Sensitive and Tkay Maidza. fallsfestival.com

January 18–27

Tamworth Country Music Festival

Tamworth NSW Australia’s largest music festival – and one of the top 10 in the world – the iconic Tamworth plays host to the best country artists from across Australia, alongside remarkable country music entertainment. tcmf.com.au

January 19–February 10 Midsumma Festival

Cygnet Tas Dedicated to real music, people and experiences, the small town of Cygnet in South Tassie has hosted one of Australia’s most iconic folk festivals since 1982. cygnetfolkfestival.org

Melbourne Vic Over three weeks, Melbourne is transformed into a program of queer performance, film, parties and social events, plus the Midsumma Pride March. midsumma.org.au

January 13–20

January 25–28

Launceston Tas Attracting artists from all over the world, Mona Foma (Dark Mofo’s summer equivalent) is a unique and eclectic arts festival celebrated in true Tassie style. mofo.net.au

Lexton Vic Artistic and welcoming to all, Rainbow Serpent showcases music, the arts and Indigenous culture in a fun and openminded atmosphere. rainbowserpent.net

Mona Foma

Rainbow Serpent Festival

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Stay connected with us for the best in regional people, places, travel and experiences FOLLOW US

@TRUEBLUe _ MAG /TRUEBLUEMAG

The Scenic Skyway offers stunning views of the Three Sisters.

INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER The Blue Mountains and Penrith are eternally upping their adventurous outdoor offerings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but some of the golden oldie attractions also keep families and couples coming back to relax, unwind and explore. WORDS: Michelle Hespe There are so many places in the Blue Mountains where you can literally feel on top of the world. After only a two-hour drive from Sydney you can be gazing across 250,000 hectares of blue-tinged dense bushland indented by gorges and valleys, dramatic sandstone escarpments rising towards the heavens. ď ˝ DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Destination Highlight

This page (clockwise): the Scenic Railway; BAR NSW; the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah.

A WORLD ABOVE Getting high on life and nature is what it’s all about in the Blue Mountains, and with $3 million having recently been spent upgrading Scenic World’s offerings, there’s no better place to experience it. Offering the best views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters and Jamison Valley, the Scenic Skyway is suspended 270 metres above ancient gorges. The Scenic Cableway offers views that are just as outstanding, but you stand in a large open-plan room that slowly ascends from the depths of the valley, where the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest passenger railway) drops passengers off after a 52-degree incline ride down the cliff face. Go for a wander around the forest floor on the 2.4 kilometre Scenic Walkway and delve into the fascinating mining history of the area, while also spotting some Jurassic-era trees.

INDULGENT LOOKOUT Post-mountaintop and valley adventure, relax and indulge your culinary cravings at The Lookout at Echo Point, where you’ll find the delightfully rustic BAR NSW, which serves delicious food and drink only from NSW. Craft beers and ciders and top wines can be paired with casual meals such as burgers, fried chicken drumettes and arancini balls, and the chefs dish up awesome, over-sized platters of meats such as soy braised beef brisket, buttermilk chicken Maryland, sticky

26 TrueBlue

lamb spare ribs and smoked Louisiana pork sausage. The lip-smackingly delicious offerings come served with pickles, slaw and bread. You’ll want to hang out here all day, but you really should get outside once you’ve had your fill and marvel at the Three Sisters. It’s something that people travel across the world to see, and the viewing platform is only a stone’s throw away. So roll yourself on over.

BOTANIC BOUNTY The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah celebrated its 30th birthday in 2017. Sprawling majestically over 252 hectares of land and with 28 hectares open to the public, the garden's focus is on the conservation of cool climate plants. Don’t be mistaken: this is not an attraction just for adults. The garden’s staff offer kiddies quests to fulfill while exploring the gardens, and recently introduced a fun app called Jurassic Garden. Families are given a map of the gardens, and at marked points they can aim their camera and take photos of their kids or loved ones alongside a roving dinosaur. It’s a lot of fun and it means the kids are thoroughly entertained while the adults can take in the more mature attractions such as some of the oldest trees in the Southern Hemisphere, a bower bird nest brimming with blue treasures, a garden devoted to African species and a herbarium with over 10,000 types of specimens.

CIDER TASTING AND FUN ON THE FARM Who says cider tasting is just for adults? At Bilpin Cider the kids can also test the alcohol-free cider, and then do a tour of the farm to meet the resident alpacas and friendly black-and-white sheep. Grown-up ciders include the original Bilpin Cider made from Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples, Bilpin Blush made from only Pink Ladies, a pear cider made from Packham pears, and Bilpin Archibald, which is a dry, traditionally cloudy apple cider. No sugar, artificial flavours or concentrates are added, and owner and founder of Bilpin Cider, Sean Prendergast, swears his ciders are some of the best on the market because the apples and pears are mountain-grown at high elevation in such fertile soil with a mild climate. A rustic bar-cum-shed means that visitors can linger longer in charming surrounds, and Sean’s latest addition to his picture-perfect property is a caravan serving delicious picnics (cheese and barbecued chicken with salad and rolls) and some of the region’s best hot apple pies – also made without any extra sugar. Put aside a day for this wonderful experience, and the staff will even provide you with a picnic blanket so you can sit in a paddock and admire the farm and orchards.

Top: Flying high at iFly; Below: Cider tasting at charming Bilpin Cider.

TIME TO GET HIGHER Trees Adventure has six locations in Australia and has been dubbed the no. 1 tree ropes and ziplining adventure in the country. The set-up in Grose River Park is built on more than 70 Sydney Blue Gums and includes over 110 challenges and 20-plus flying foxes, and each session goes for two hours. Fun for adults and of course the kids, it’s another way to simultaneously enjoy nature and adventure while getting high on life in the mountains.

AND HIGHER STILL… Most of us have dreamt of being able to fly – and some of us pursue that dream by flying planes or microlites, hooking up to a hang glider or jumping out of a plane and skydiving. But to be able to simply pull on a suit, take a brief lesson with an instructor, then step into a wind tunnel that blows you up in the air so you really are flying, is something else. And you can do it at iFLY Downunder in Penrith. It’s not easy at first to do anything in that tunnel gracefully, but before you know it you’re experiencing what it’s like to freefall like an outdoor skydiver from 14,000 feet, without having to jump out of a plane or worry about the weather. It’s something that everyone should do in their lives, as it’s one of those experiences that makes every other thought disappear. When you’re flying you’re simply thinking: I’m flying! What a way to start or end a day – or, indeed, to wrap up an awesome mountain adventure. TB

Fact File Scenic World scenicworld.com.au The Lookout at Echo Point thelookoutechopoint.com.au The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah bluemountains botanicgarden.com.au Bilpin Cider bilpincider.com/home Trees Adventures, Grose River Park treesadventure.com.au/park/ grose-river-park/ iFly Downunder downunder.iflyworld.com/ Quest Penrith These hotel rooms and serviced apartments next to the new train station in

Penrith are as cool as they are convenient. Every detail has been considered, and the palette of pale grey, black and white, with touches of blue and green, gives the space a modern yet comfortable feel, making it ideal for leisure or business stays, or blending the two. questapartments.com.au Leisure Inn Spires Right in the middle of Leura (one of the best places to shop in the Blue Mountains) these cosy yet spacious apartments are surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens. Plus, some of the mountain’s best restaurants and cafes are right on your doorstep. leisureinnspires.com.au

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Altina Wildlife Park

Darlington Point

• Personalised Horse/Motorised Cart Tours • Guaranteed Close up Encounters • For something a little more exciting try our Behind The Scenes/Wild Encounters Altina Wildlife Park is located on the Sturt Highway outside Darlington Point, approximately 40mins drive from Griffith or 1.5 hour drive from Wagga Wagga. The 2.5 hour guided tour around the park is the only way to see Altina’s animals, spots fill up fast so be sure to book for your experience of a lifetime.

Avoid disappointment and book your spot on: Ph: 0412 060 342 www.altinawildlife.com

Family Fun

Zip through the trees at Hollybank Treetop Adventure Launceston, Tas

Experience Tasmanian forests from above and below with zipline canopy tours and Segway tours on the forest floor. Children as young as three can have a go on the zipline with parental supervision, and older kids can also try the KidZip ropes course. Go at twilight for ziplining in the dark.

FAMILY SUMMER FUN

With summer well under way and school around the corner, soak up everything the Aussie summer has to offer, with events and attractions around the country for kids and families. WORDS: robin kopf DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Family Fun

Visit an art gallery designed for kids at the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery Melbourne Museum, Vic

The Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery makes a day at a museum more accessible to young children. The gallery is designed for babies to five-year-olds, helping them learn through sensory experiences like touching, climbing and playing. Children can also try their hand at palaeontology with a dinosaur dig, and explore the gallery’s discovery garden.

MAMA, Albury

See a Christmas lights display at the Southern Aurora Spiral Lights

Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Qld

Marriot Way, Morley, Perth, WA

14-22 Dec The Nutcracker has been a widely loved ballet for more than 120 years, and it is coming to Brisbane to help ring in the holiday season. Be part of the tradition and share in the magic of nutcracker soldiers, elaborate sets and costumes and Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music.

24 Nov-27 Dec Christmas lights are bright and fun with no need for sun! For the first time in Perth, see the Southern Aurora Spiral Lights, a spellbinding display that’s bound to excite the whole family. Walk around the neighbourhood and marvel at the variety of beautiful, twinkling Christmas lights.

Walk on the wild side at Altina Wildlife Park

Sing and dance at Grease: The Arena Experience

Darlington Point, NSW

Perth Arena, WA

19 Jan, 2pm & 7.30pm Enjoy some summer nights with the rock ’n’ roll fun of Grease performed live. Sing and dance to all your favourite songs from the musical with Danny, Sandy, and their friends at Rydell High. The production features an amateur ensemble cast of more than 500 kids and teens, making this a huge performance fuelled by an extremely proud community.

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See The Nutcracker

Altina Wildlife Park

The zoo-fari at Altina Wildlife Park is nothing like your average zoo. Ride in a horse-drawn or motorised cart on a guided tour through the park while you watch all kinds of animals graze and prowl during their daily feeding times. You can even embark on a private Behind the Scenes tour for the chance to feed and pat your favourite animals. Tours are by appointment only, so be sure to book early for an exciting and wild day out.

Family Fun

Ring in the season at the Sydney Santa Spectacular

Rosehill Gardens, NSW

7-27 Dec Experience the classic spirit of the season in this three-week-long Christmas festival. There’s no shortage of activities for children of all ages, including an ice rink, interactive enchanted forest, craft workshop, double-decker carousel, cookie decoration, winter toboggan run and Australia’s largest teacup ride.

Experience Mechelle Bounpraseuth: Westside Story MAMA, Albury, NSW

Take a peek at some artwork that might look as familiar as your own home! Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s ceramic still-life pieces are inspired by her everyday childhood as a first-generation Australian. The exhibition is a sweet and approachable introduction to art for children that the whole family can enjoy together.

Splash around and explore the wild at Gumbuya World Melbourne, Vic

Imagine a water park, zoo and theme parked rolled into one – and you have Gumbuya World. One ticket is all you need to slip down a water slide at Oasis Springs, walk with wallabies at Wildlife Trail and rumble through a rollercoaster at Oz Adventure, while Outback Explorers is the perfect place for little ones to have some gentler fun with games and rides.

Play with your food at Scoffed: School of Food and Fun Adelaide, SA

Let the budding chefs in your family learn more about food from around the world at a cooking class. There are classes for kids, teens, adults and kids accompanies by adults. This December little ones can also participate in Christmas cookie decorating classes, making edible gifts to take home for family and friends. TB

Go behind the scenes at the Macadamia Castle and Animal Park Knockrow (between Ballina and Byron Bay), NSW

During the school holidays children and teens can engage with keepers to learn about conservation efforts and providing enrichment for the animals. While the kids are playing, parents can enjoy the fine foods store at the Macadamia Castle or take the little ones to play mini golf. DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Sip, Eat, Sleep

QT in the Capital Once upon a time, hotels in Canberra’s business districts tended to be made for corporates and were usually understated. Today it’s a different story — Canberra has completely transformed over the past few years into a cool metropolis with dining and hotel options that suit lovers of a more original, boutique hotel experience. QT Canberra is certainly still a haven for business people and politicians, but it’s also well-loved by people (including families) seeking something out of the ordinary. “We know that you need a strong handshake, a great slogan, and an eye on the prize at all times to be successful in politics – whether that’s the politics so prevalent in the ACT or the politics you negotiate when you see your mother-inlaw,” their website states, in the company’s usual cheeky fashion. For two years running, QT Canberra has scooped the accolade of Best Steak at the 2017 & 2018 AHA Awards, and was recently nominated as a finalist for Best Deluxe Accommodation and Best Meetings and Events venue at the Canberra Region Tourism Awards. The hotel prides itself on supporting up-and-coming local talent, playing host to a number of art exhibitions for the Your Art. Our Halls initiative. During all of December, you can check out the work of Fiona Hill, who is a visual artist working and living in Jerrabomberra, New South Wales. “Painting intuitively using acrylics and inks, her underlying passion for combining creativity and connection shines through her art,” the hotel’s curator said. “Characterised by layers of colour and texture, her work tells the story of a personal narrative. They depict a painterly and ethereal quality that is translated through the interior spiritual landscape.” QT Canberra also has a range of exciting event spaces, including Lucky’s Speakeasy, the uber-cool QT Lounge, and private spaces that all have QT’s signature flair. qthotelsandresorts.com/canberra/

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South Perth’s Finest

The 4.5 star Pagoda Resort & Spa is situated in the heart of the vibrant City of South Perth, just 5 minutes from Perth City Centre.

Book Direct & Save on www.pagoda.com.au for the lowest rate!

Surrounded with greenery and Swan River views, Pagoda is an ideal spot for both corporate and leisure travellers. Amongst the warmly appointed accommodation, Pagoda also hosts a wide range of Meetings, Weddings and Special events.

112 Melville Parade, Como, WA 6152 | 08 9367 0300 | ra@pagoda.com.au | ABN 51 161 221 941

Iconic Australian photographer Ken Duncan has done it again!

Stay a Night or Stay a While While in Griffith, come and stay at the recently refurbished Centrepoint Apartments right in the heart of Griffith’s CBD. Room Facilities: • 24 Serviced Studio Suites, One & Two Bedroom Apartments • King & Queen Beds • Flat Screen TV & Foxtel

• Personal CD/DVD Players • Climate Controlled Ducted Air-Conditioning • Complimentary WIFI • Electronic Swipe Keys • Hairdryers • Lift • Disabled Facilities •Secure Off-Street Parking

T: 02 6960 2000 E: sales@centrepointapartmentsgriffith.com.au W: www.centrepointapartmentsgriffith.com.au 129-139 Yambil Street GRIFFITH NSW 2680

Announcing his brand-new book, Reflections – Australia Wide Back by popular demand, Reflections – Australia Wide is now available online and in Ken’s Gallery on the NSW Central Coast. Long awaited by fans of his previous Reflections titles, this new book is sure to please. Ken Duncan’s new book is a compilation of brand new Australian panoramic images, along with some of his timeless classics. This new book is available in 2 versions. Each image is complimented by either an inspiring quote or thought-provoking Bible verse. These books are designed to inspire people on their journey through life. You can impress your family and friends with this stunning new book.

Exclusive discounts available for Ken Duncan VIP Club Members.Visit www.kenduncan.com or call 02 4367 6701 to learn how you can qualify – free of charge.

True Blue Star

the

decent bloke Jimmy Barnes talks about love, family, celebrity, and how he’s hauled up his past in order to face the demons that were taking him down. WORDS BY: Michelle Hespe | PHOTOS: Stephanie Barnes

“I’m very Scottish,” says Jimmy Barnes after we settle into his Sydney recording studio for a chat. “Stoic, stubborn, strong. Scots show no weakness. They’re ferocious, funny, and very tough.” He laughs and smiles, a twinkle in his eyes. “But they’re also bloody emotional and fiercely loyal. They can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I am all of those things. These characteristics are what make Scots great people, and they are also their greatest flaws.” For 40 years, Barnesy’s voice has been the soundtrack for many an Aussie’s life. He rocketed to stardom in 1980 as Cold Chisel became the biggest band in the country, but his past was always showing signs of catching up with him — rearing its ugly head in the wild ways that he’d known as a child while growing up with poverty-stricken, alcoholic parents who struggled to get from

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one day to the next. Jimmy’s father was a champion boxer. “My dad always said to not be afraid of anything or anyone, but he was actually afraid of everything,” he says. “And my mum was the best sparring partner in Scotland, ducking and weaving her way through life. She never gave up. She just dug her heels in and did the best with what she had in life.” In 2017 Jimmy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing arts as a musician. He’s won five ARIAs, has had strings of number one hits, and countless awards have piled up over the decades. But deep down, he’s never felt that it was good enough. That he wasn’t good enough. It’s well documented that Jimmy was literally drinking himself to death in front of his family and fans (a lot of it on stage), but when you’re in that

position and in that industry, no one says no. You can do what you like. You’re an untouchable rock star and temptations are there for the taking, so why not take them? But for the past few years, there’s been a lot of other hard stuff going on beyond the lights, behind the stage, and in his head. Jimmy was chasing demons, as he’d realised that he had to stop running away from his past if he wanted to live to be what he’s always wanted to be: “a decent bloke.”

PUTTING THE WORK IN

Behind the scenes, by himself, Jimmy embarked on an ongoing battle with the man he was and is, writing down everything he could recall and everything that jumped out at him. That process tore him apart while simultaneously putting him back together, and after three years, the result for the first-time author was two books: Working Class Boy and then

True Blue Star

Working Class Man. The memoirs cover his childhood growing up in a rough part of Glasgow with a dysfunctional family, and his rollercoaster ride to stardom. Releasing the books was brave, as Jimmy knew it would affect those around him. Yet he knew he had to do it in order to stay alive. “I’ve softened the stories up,” he says with a grin, despite them being harrowingly, brutally honest. “I didn’t want the books to come across as: ‘Oh, woe is me.’ But I knew I had to get the things I had been blocking out for so long out of my head, as they were gradually festering away, poisoning me. There’s things in the books that no one in the world knew – not even my wife, kids, friends or bandmates. “It was hard. I would be at a concert, playing music, looking out, and I would see a face, or an expression, or something else that would remind me of something else I’d blocked, and every night and day I was writing these things down. One thing would lead to another memory, and it wasn’t good. I was hating myself. I was telling myself I was a f@ck-up. I would get off stage, finish a big tour, and I’d be hating who I was.”

HEALING FROM WITHIN

“At the end of the day, you have to live with yourself,” Jimmy says. “You have to sleep with yourself every night, and there’s no getting away from that. I knew, if I didn’t deal with myself, I wouldn’t be any good to anyone. My past would literally kill me. I knew I was facing the fact that I might not ever have the chance to be happy.”  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

KARIJINI

eco RETREAT

World class Karijini National Park is a must-see for any visitor to the Pilbara and located in the depths of the park is the magnificent Karijini Eco Retreat. Designed with the environment in mind • Deluxe and dorm style eco tents and cabins • Outback restaurant & bar • 15 min. walk trail to Joffre Gorge • Campground with BBQ facilities, showers/WC • Easy access - only 3km unsealed

Bookings T: (08) 9425 5591 E: reservations@karijiniecoretreat.com.au W: www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au Off Weano Road, Karijini National Park, Western Australia Owned by the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation

ecoretreat karijini

True Blue Star

Since the books have been released, Jimmy gets fan mail every day. Emails, letters, cards — endless thank you notes. “One guy wrote to me and he said thank you – I’m the same as you. My past was killing me. I lost everyone – my wife, my family. I’m on my own now, but your book made me realise I’m not alone.’” Jimmy smiles and shakes his head. “He wasn’t asking me for anything. He just wanted to reach out to say thanks.” Writing about his life also helped Jimmy make sense of his career. It was like watching the out-of-control roller coaster of his existence from afar, but it helped him to move forward. “Celebrity is nothing,” he says. “When it comes to celebrity, the rest of the world just wants to see you fall. Fame? Money? Yes it can make life easier, but happiness is really all we have. You have to remember to enjoy the journey. Success is doing what you love. I love to sing, and I am lucky to be able to do that, and to travel the country. I have been travelling this country since 1973 and there’s nothing I enjoy more.

Driving across the Kimberley, heading into the Blue Mountains, seeing the vast skies and watching the sun set or rise over the countryside. I travel the world often, and yet nothing beats flying back into Sydney. Australia is the best place by far on the planet.” Jimmy’s life revolves around his music and his family. “My wife, kids, grandchildren – we are all so close. I spent so much of my life trying to escape myself, and it was time wasted. Now I can spend hours just talking to my two-year-old grandson and be entertained and happy. My most important position in life, by far, is being a father, and part of being a father is being a musician, as I show my love through my music too. Basically, what I have always wanted to be is a really decent bloke.”

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE On the couch where I’m sitting, there’s a cushion with a photograph of a sweet-looking Schnauzer on it. It’s one of the two dogs that Jimmy has had for 15 years. Photographers never tire

of snapping him with his dogs. Jimmy looks at that cushion and I see the emotional Scotsman emerge before me. His eyes are moist as he says: “Snoop Dog passed away this week. I’ve cried every night. I thought it was daft when a fan took a photo of him off the internet and had that cushion made. They sent it to me, and I threw it on the couch. Now I love looking at that little cushion.” Jimmy gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek before l leave, and I walk out into the Sydney sunshine feeling really alive. Energised. We all have our demons, but he’s exorcised his, and he’s become the decent bloke he’s always wanted to be. Even though, let’s face it, I think most of the country has always felt that he’s a decent bloke. Not to mention an awesome musician. As I walk along, I think about Jimmy’s answer to my last question: “What advice would you give to anyone out there, fighting to get to where they want to be in life?” He didn’t miss a beat before answering. “Whatever you do in life, do it with love.” TB DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Explore

K I N G ISL A N D

PHOTOS: KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY

with the locals

King Island is renowned for its award-winning beef and cheese, however its stunning vistas and the warmth of welcoming residents will also steal your heart. WORDS BY: Michelle Hespe

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“

S Explore

Master Chef Tetsuya Wakuda recently cooked up a storm on KI, with local beef, cheese, abalone and lobster on the menu.

ome might think a restaurant without a menu, or indeed any food, might not cut it as a top business plan. But the fact that The Restaurant with No Food – one of King Island’s many endearing community projects – is among its most charming and talked about assets, says a lot about how different this beautiful island hamlet is. Local artist Caroline Kininmonth conceived the concept a decade ago. An old boatshed by the working harbour in the island’s main town of Currie burnt down, and Caroline decided to resurrect it as a restaurant that locals or tourists could frequent, armed with their own food and drink. She rallied residents for support, and as anyone who knows how vibrant Caroline and her art is would guess, set about creating a space like no other. Painted in eye-popping fluorescent yellow and decorated inside and out with Caroline’s signature artworks (whimsical depictions of King Island and its landmarks, such as the nearby lighthouse) and pieces lovingly sourced from op-shops, the boatshed is a wildly creative blend of restaurant, gallery and loungeroom. Renowned Master Chef Tetsuya Wakuda recently cooked up a storm here – local beef, cheese, abalone and 

Visiting King Island? STOP BY OUR CHEESE STORE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE CHEESE TASTING EXPERIENCE. 869 North Road, Loorana, King Island, TAS 7256 Phone (03) 6462 0947 Open 7 days a week, 10:00am - 5:00pm* *Reduced hours may apply for winter. Visit kingislanddairy.com.au for details.

www.kingislanddairy.com.au

NO ORDINARY ISLAND. NO ORDINARY CHEESE.

FEEL AT HOME WITH QUEST GRIFFITH The modern and stylish rooms at the new Quest Griffith have you travelling with all the comforts of home. Enjoy the spacious and well-appointed One and Two Bedroom Apartments with full kitchens, laundries and balconies. Great for business, but also your next leisure trip to the Riverina. Looking for a meeting or event space? Quest Griffith has modern conference and boardroom facilities matched with quality catering options to ensure your next event is a success. PROPERTY FEATURES Onsite secured parking Onsite Gymnasium High Speed Wi-Fi Netflix ready Smart TVs

Great for all travellers (leisure, family or business) Outdoor terrace with Barbeque Modern and spacious meeting spaces Wireless and touch AV solutions

Visit questgriffith.com.au or call 02 6969 2000

QAH Griffith Rex Mag half page hz.indd 1

7/11/18 9:31 am

Explore Opening spread: Cape wickham lighthouse; artist Caroline Kininmonth at the restaurant with no food; carmen, King island’s garlic queen, happy cows from meat your beef tour.

lobster on the menu – and he’s not the first person to fall in love with what is now an iconic venue symbolising the resilience, resourcefulness and creative nature of the island’s residents.

PHOTO: KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY

WORKING WITH THE LAND King Island has the glossiest, happiest looking cows on the planet. They reflect the natural abundance and fertility of an island that produces some of the best beef in the country. Portuguese-born Ana Pimenta and her Tasmanian husband Tom Perry studied agriculture at university, and share a passion for the environment, animals and sustainable living. So the wonderfully engaging and educational farm tour that they offer — Meat Your Beef — merges their interests and gives guests a reallife, hands-on experience on their very successful working cattle farm. Ana is also an exceptional cook (she cooked for Tetsuya on his recent visit), so tours can include a three-course meal and Tasmanian wine. It’s all made even more special by the couple’s two outgoing children, their friendly pet dogs, a rescue magpie called Weagle (“Who thinks it’s a dog!” says Ana) and poddy calves that need feeding from a big bottle. Just down the road (everywhere is “just down the road” as King Island is only about 1,100 square kilometres) is horticulturist Carmen Holloway, who

has been dubbed the Garlic Queen of King Island due to her annual crop of around 15,000 organic bulbs, and the fact she’s spent more than a decade collecting, researching and trialling garlic cultivars. Her garlic has no herbicides, pesticides, fumigants, bleach or GMO, and food-lovers from all over Australia order it direct. With husband and farmer James and their two kids, Carmen has created a permaculture paradise with the intention of re-establishing wildlife habitats that once existed on their patch of the island. The family has 600 acres for their cattle and 15 acres they’ve set aside for a permaculture farm and an ongoing organic environmental experiment. There are chooks free-ranging in the abundant veggie patches, guinea pigs foraging through the undergrowth (“they’re great lawn mowers,” says Carmen) and bees producing honey by the gallon. And there’s a dazzling array of edible plants and trees – nectarine, lemon, lime, plum, cherry, apple, apricot, walnut and quince, and an impressive avocado plantation. There’s also a special wetland habitat attracting rare frogs to the property, thus their business’s name: Frogshack Farm Tours. “I want to re-introduce the green and gold frog into this environment, and we already have the striped marsh, smooth froglet and the brown tree frog,” says Carmen with pride. “We are actually one of 50 survey sites in Tasmania to monitor the wildlife and natural habitat, and we have six of Tasmania’s 11 frogs and over 50 bird species, including the black cockatoo.”

HAULING IN THE KELP Kelp is big business on King Island, and it’s one of few places in the world where giant “stormcast” bull kelp washes up by the truckload. It only grows in extremely cold water in places  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Explore

PHOTOS: KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY

Clockwise from top left: winching kelp off the shore; some delicious offerings from king island dairy; relaxing in style at porky beach retreat

such as Tasmania, Chile, Norway and Iceland, and although it doesn’t have a root system it suctions on to the reef, so it takes big muscles and a tough winching system to remove it. “We can only take what Mother Nature donates to us, washed up on the shores,” explains GM John Roediger. “It’s illegal to take it from the ocean as it would destroy the fragile eco-system in which it thrives.” He explains that kelping is a great way for King Island families to make money, and they know due to weather reports when there’ll be a haul ready and waiting. It’s often a father-and-son business, and it’s good money, with a truckload worth about $1,500. Kelp is in more products than people realise, and is in high demand. It’s a foaming agent in beer and a binding agent in things such as cat food, toothpaste, shampoo, salad dressing,

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cakes, dairy products, frozen foods and even pharmaceuticals. The cows on King Island also love to eat it, as it offers a dose of vitamins and minerals that keeps them healthy. Another reason why the beef here is so good.

CHATTING OVER CHEESE King Island’s mineral-rich soils, cool climate, abundant rainfall and consistent salt spray create incredibly lush pasture that is perfect fodder for cows, meaning the local herds produce unusually rich milk. King Island Dairy collects milk from just eight nearby farms, meaning it’s as fresh as it comes – straight from cow to dairy on a daily basis. The dairy has been producing cheese and cream for over 100 years, and when you add cheesemakers with a passion for culinary perfection to the story, the result is some of the most-

loved cheese on the shelves. Chief cheesemaker extraordinaire, Swiss-born Ueli Berger, and the business produces around 2,000 tonnes of cheese a year, as well as employing around 100 people. On offer is a lip-smackingly delicious array of brie, camembert, washed rind, cheddar and blue cheese — and visitors to the Cheese Store can indulge in a tasting of all varieties straight out of the factory across the paddock. Shey Cooper grew up on King Island, left in her early 20s, then returned to set up an idyllic life with her children near the dairy. Now she works at the cheese store running the tastings and selling produce to fellow cheese lovers. “We are so lucky to live here – you have to remember not to take it for granted,” she says. “We’ll be enjoying a platter of local food: awesome beef and this beautiful cheese, sipping on Tasmanian wine, and remember how fortunate we are to have all this amazing produce right here to enjoy.” After choosing some cheese for a platter, matching it with Tasmanian wines and beers and sitting on the Cheese Store’s farm-style veranda with the sun shining on the surrounding verdant paddocks, it’s easy to fall in love with Shey’s world, and understand why she’d never want to leave.

Explore

PRESERVING HISTORY To put the many colourful historical pieces of King Island together, I wander around the meticulously curated King Island Museum, where most exhibits have been donated by local families. The building was formerly the lighthouse keeper’s home, and you can also marvel at the Currie Lighthouse right next door. King Island has a fascinating (and somewhat grisly) history of shipwrecks that have claimed more than a thousand lives, including Australia’s worst ever maritime civil disaster – the Cataraqui wreck of 1845. It claimed the lives of 400 people, including many women and children who were headed from England’s Liverpool to Melbourne. Luke Agati, president of the Historical Society and an historical author, loves to take people around the museum, working as a volunteer to keep King Island’s history alive. He’s particularly fond of the ANZAC relics, as King Island had the highest

population of ANZACs anywhere in the Commonwealth.

PERFECTING PARADISE King Island is at the bottom of Australia, with Bass Strait to one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. Thus the weather can be wild and wonderful, the sunrises and sunsets nothing short of majestic, and the coastline has a beautiful ruggedness that enchants photographers, filmmakers, and those out for adventure in untamed territory. Just outside Currie, settled into the wind-whipped landscape above Porky Beach, is Porky Beach Retreat. This secluded four-bedroom home sums up barefoot luxury, and its owner Alex has truly redefined accommodation on the island. Her attention to detail surpasses some of the finest hotels in the world, and the views can be taken in from every room or the awesome wine barrel-shaped sauna that perches on its own wee hill, its sibling decked-in

Fact File The Restaurant with No Food Email: devilsgap@kingisland.net.au Phone (Caroline): 0429 621 180 devilsgapretreat.com.au/boathouse Meat Your Beef King Island Farm Tours meatyourbeef-kingisland.com Frogshack Tours kingislandgarlic.com Information about the kelp industry kingisland.net.au King Island Dairy kingislanddairy.com.au King Island Escapes (Porky Beach Retreat) kingislandescapes.com.au

spa on the lawn below. Sitting in that spa with a glass of Tassie sparkling in hand, a little platter of KI delicacies including an ash brie from the dairy “just down the road” by my side, I can confidently say there is nothing else like it in the world. In fact, the same can be said of King Island. TB DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Griffith Region Discover Griffith - one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most liveable country towns, according to the Weekend Australian Magazine. Located in the heart of the NSW Riverina, Griffith is a progressive, vibrant regional centre servicing a population of 52,000. Griffith is bursting with life and energy. The main street is dominated by Italian cafĂŠs serving great coffee, pizza, local wine and house-made gelato. The people are friendly and the boutique shopping is impressive. The industries are diverse, and include wine, poultry, nuts, rice, citrus, vegetables and dryland cropping. There are many exciting career opportunities and the housing is affordable. Make time to discover Griffith Region - a great place to visit, a great place to live.

visitGriffith.com.au

Road Trip

GLORIOUS GRIFFITH Diverse Griffith offers a symphonic food and wine blend of regional Australian produce fused with a local history of European immigration and culinary traditions. WORDS BY: Yasmin Noone

Fast Facts The Griffith region supplies 70 per cent of NSW citrus production and 95 per cent of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prunes. All of Griffithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wineries are family-owned businesses, with more than half identifying with Italian heritage.

n a dimly lit underground cellar, adorned with an antique chandelier and hundreds of wine bottles stacked up against the wall, I sit at a wooden table across from a row of glasses branded with the historic Calabria Family Wines logo. A welcoming Italian spirit fills the air at this Tuscan-style cellar door situated five minutes’ drive from Griffith’s town centre. A host pours the vineyard’s favourites – Vermentino, Nero d’Avola and Pinot Bianco – and nudges me to eat more of the cheese, olives and salami generously provided. The filling of cups prompts conversation, and the endearing European way of gathering – with good food, quality wine and new friends – on Riverina soil. I discover that Bill, the managing director of Calabria Family Wines, is somewhat of a rarity in the industry: he’s allergic to alcohol. But armed with a sharp sense of smell, he has managed to create one of the region’s star wineries. The staff also share the Calabria family’s immigration story. It’s one of ingenuity and hard work that’s familiar to many culturally

Driving around Griffith in spring, it’s clear to see that agriculture in this dry-yet-irrigated food bowl is flourishing

Clockwise from top left: McWilliam’s hanwood Estate Cellar Door; dish at limone dining; calabria family wines tasting; chef luke piccolo prepares a feast; catania fruit salad farm; Inside mcwilliam’s cellar door; setting at Limone Dining; dish at Pages on Pine; Bill calabria

diverse food and wine producers in this region. Bill’s parents were Italian immigrants who established the brand in 1945. Over the years the winery battled droughts and recession. Bill took over in 1995 and grew the company of four employees to the winery it is today, crushing more than 30,000 tonnes of grapes, and exporting to the USA and UK. Yearning to experience more of the region’s wine, I head to a Griffith icon: McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Cellar Door. Established in 1917 by John James McWilliam, the son of a Northern Irish immigrant, McWilliam’s has survived six generations of winemakers. The arched architecture of the 45-year-old cellar door is striking, shaped to the exact scale of a half-wine barrel, flat side grounded. Inside, the arched ceiling with exposed beams is accentuated by streams of light billowing

Road Trip

in through a glass panel wall, topped with a painted glass mural of an ox and cart carrying grapes down an old vineyard road. I take my place on a long table and meet a spread of five wines including a touriga with berry notes, a full-bodied Durif and an intense 10-year-old tawny. Cellar door manager Paul Richardson explains that the secret to great wine is the region’s warm climate, which often lessens the risk of disease. Water security, guaranteed by rainfall or Murrumbidgee irrigation, also helps control production. “We have the climate and Italian heritage,” he says. “We’ve got history and we know our soils.” Driving around Griffith in spring, it’s clear to see that agriculture in this dry-yet-irrigated food bowl is flourishing. On the way back to tonight’s accommodation in town, Quest Griffith, I pass multiple fruit orchards, and spontaneously pull over by the side of the road to pick fresh valencia oranges at a farm owned by a friend of the driver. I arrive back in town just before nightfall and walk to Limone Dining. It is owned by Luke Piccolo, a Griffith local whose Italian nonna taught him how to cook as a child. This fine dining restaurant was made from recycled materials collected over 30 years, and took more than five years to construct. The sustainability theme continues on the plate with a three-course menu showcasing local produce. I sample the risotto with mushrooms and stinging nettle, and for main I have smoked rainbow trout fillet. Too stuffed to eat dessert alone, I share a mascarpone and berry tart with my dinner companions. Luke, who leads a team of chefs all aged under 30, is but one of a new generation of young entrepreneurs in Griffith putting their own spin on the food traditions taught by their migrant grandparents. Zecca Handmade Italian is another popular restaurant, run by three young AustralianItalians: Daniel D’Aquino, Ben Di Rosa and Michaela Di Rosa. Chef Ben also attributes his cooking skills to his nonna. Situated in a revamped building that used to serve as the Rural Bank, the restaurant is big on making everything from scratch. That includes pasta,  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Road Trip

Fast Facts Wine producers in the Griffith region grow 62 different varieties and supply around 75 per cent of the state’s wine grapes. Annual grape production is more than 300,000 tons. Griffith is home to six of Australia’s top 20 largest wine companies and seven of Australia’s top 15 wine exporters. More than 12.5 million cases of wine are exported from the Griffith region to 50+ countries around the world every year – that’s approximately 34,000 dozen per day.

sauces, breads, gelati, antipasti, cheese, preserves and olive oils. The following day I head back to Hanwood and visit the 100-year-old Catania Fruit Salad Farm, owned by Joe and Sharon Maugeri. I head off on a bumpy farm safari ride in a magnificent rusty van to see more than 60 types of fruits growing – there’s an abundance of apples, pears, olives, chestnuts, cherries, peaches, pistachios and prunes. I then head into the main house, a mud brick farmhouse circa 1912, and taste a freshly picked blood orange, Sharon’s homemade preserves, wine – created ‘the Sicilian way’, as taught to Joe by his Italian family – and ‘pissed prunes’ (d’Agen prunes in port). The next stop is a 40-minute drive away, so this gives my stomach time to make room for lunch. Pages on Pine Restaurant & Grill is a French restaurant with modern Australian influences located in the small but charming town of Leeton. The establishment is owned by a husband-and-wife duo, French immigrant Eric and Vanessa Pages. The golden restaurant interior complements the wooden vintage floor, sourced from the town’s iconic art deco 1930s Roxy Theatre. Although the menu is local, seasonal and changing regularly, Eric recommends visitors

Left to right: Artisan cheeses from coolamon cheese; glasses of delicious Italian white and red at calabria family wines

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try the beef cheek, which is his favourite dish to cook. I also indulge in a cheese platter for dessert: a necessary precursor to visiting Coolamon Cheese, located one hour and many canola fields away, on the following day. Created by microbiologist turned cheesemaker Barry Lillywhite, Coolamon Cheese is the destination for cheese-lovers who aren’t shy when it comes to tasting traditional and inventive varieties. You can even go on an educational tour, learning the art and science of creating the perfect cheese. Set in a former 1920s co-op on the town’s main street, the farmhouse-style building houses a cheese kitchen, deli, factory and a light-filled courtyard. Excited by the huge array of dairy produce, I try 12 flavours of artisan European and Australian-style cheeses. My favourites are hard cheeses infused with indigenous ingredients such as lemon myrtle and river mint. Luckily for me, my trip to the Riverina doesn’t need to end any time soon, so I relax with a regional drop and dream away, lost in moments of handmade dairy heaven. Savouring the international flavours I’ve experienced throughout this diverse destination, I block out the world beyond the Riverina and remain in a delicious fusion of local tastes. TB

griffith pioneer park museum & cultural centre In a picturesque bush land, Pioneer Park Museum hosts original buildings, machinery, vehicles, and antiques depicting the history of settlement of Griffith and surrounds. With a kiosk, picnic areas and playgrounds, the whole family can take a step back in time!

Griffith Italian Museum A fascinating collection of photos, machinery, homewares and recordings tracing the contribution of Italian migrants to the area.

OPENING HOURS Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm Weekends 10am - 3pm 02 6962 4196 Remembrance Drive, Griffith NSW www.griffithpioneerpark.com.au

griffith regional art gallery

Home to a vibrant program of touring and local exhibitions, National Contemporary Jewellery and Couture Collections. Regular artist talks and workshops. Wednesday - Friday 10am - 5pm Weekends 11am - 2pm 167 Banna Avenue Griffith | 02 6962 8338

W W W. G R I F F I T H R E G I O N A L A R T G A L L E RY. C O M . AU

• • • •

Bagtown Pioneer Village Irrigation and Wine Museum Historical Vehicles Old Time Action Day - Easter Weekend

griffith regional theatre

A state of the art performing arts centre presenting a program of national and international drama, dance, circus, music, comedy and children’s theatre. Contact theatre for details of our current shows and for bookings. BOX OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm (& 1 hour prior to a show)

1 Neville Place Griffith | 02 6962 8444

W W W. G R I F F I T H R E G I O N A LT H E AT R E . C O M . AU

Food and Wine

With its remarkable sinkholes and sunken gardens, Mount Gambier is a stunner. And with its world-class wine and food offerings, the Coonawarra is an insatiable seducer. Whatever you fancy, after a visit to the Limestone Coast, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll become one of her many lovers. WORDS BY: Michelle Hespe

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JOURNEY INTO THE EARTH

Food and Wine around for thousands of years is a newcomer for tourists on the Mount Gambier cave scene. A sheep farming family have had this remarkable sinkhole on their property for four generations, and it has been used by professional divers for many years for training. Recently it has been developed so that tourists will now be able to enjoy snorkelling and, if qualified, scuba-diving in the stunning blue cave. The water is so clear that looking into it, the bottom seems as though it’s about five metres away, when in fact it’s around 30 metres below. A gin, aptly called Sinkhole Gin, will soon be released so that guests can enjoy a tipple on the new wooden deck above this natural phenomenon. For anyone who enjoys caving, Naracoorte Caves should be on the must-do list. It is the only World Heritage Listed site in South Australia, and in the Victoria Fossil Cave you can see astounding piles of megafauna bones from creatures that fell through the forest floor around half a million years ago, possibly up to 800,000 years. Due to it being pitchblack and hard to navigate, they could not find their way out. Visitors can take an enthralling tour and see the bones of marsupial lions, giant kangaroos and five-metre snakes. Leave enough time to explore the many other caves in the region, as they also have extremely impressive exhibits and you’ll no doubt want to spend hours exploring. 

I M A G E : S O U T H A U S T R A L I A N T O U R I S M C O M M I S S I O N /A D A M B R U Z Z O N E

I’m feeling rather like Alice in Wonderland as I descend into the startling verdant gardens of Umpherston Sinkhole, which is otherwise known as the Sunken Garden. Lucky for me and unlike poor Alice, my pace is a leisurely stroll, and not a frantic tumble. However the feeling of reaching the bottom is just as surprising, as soon I am standing in another world: heavy drapes of vines cascading down the limestone walls, hedges of bright greenery and pretty garden beds filled with ferns and flowers adding to the fairy-tale vista. The original limestone cave that, millions of years ago, arched over the place where I now stand was formed by the dissolution of limestone. The sinkhole was created when the top of the chamber collapsed downwards. In 1868 James Umpherston purchased the land including the sinkhole, and in 1884, after retiring from farming, he decided to turn it into “a pleasant resort in the heat of the summer.” Back in the good old days there was a small lake in the sinkhole, and when people gathered to socialise, they’d also drift about on boats and enjoy picnics on the lake’s side. Mount Gambier, being built on limestone, has plenty of sinkholes to explore, including the famous Engelbrecht Caves in the middle of town. However my next journey into the Earth is at Kilsby Sinkhole, which despite having been

IMAGE: OCKERT LE ROUX

K I L S B Y S I N K H O L E I M A G E : M AT T T E S T O N I

Looking below the surface

left to right: kilsby sinkhole; umpherston sinkhole; the victoria fossil cave at naracoorte caves

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Since 1983, Hollick Estates has been producing some of the Coonawarraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest handcrafted wine. Come and enjoy an exceptional cellar door experience and indulge in our regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantastic culinary offerings at our award-winning restaurant, Upstairs at Hollick, with sweeping views over the vineyards.

+61 8 8737 2318 | www.hollick.com | 11 Racecourse Road, Penola, SA 5277

Food and Wine

Top to Bottom: Mount Gambier’s stunning blue lake; petticoat lane in the township of penola

Driving through Mount Gambier and into the quaint 19th-century township of Penola, it’s a tough job keeping my mouth from hanging open. Due to the regular rain, sunshine, and lovely ocean breezes (which makes the grape vines extremely happy) the countryside is perennially lush. In spring, tens of thousands of roses of every imaginable hue are in full bloom. We cruise past the stunning Blue Lake that Mount Gambier is famous for, and visit Centenary Tower, which, due to it being 190 metres above sea level, offers incredible views of the city and the undulating volcanic landscape spread majestically below. Always seeking a portal into a place’s past, I visit the Old Mount Gambier Gaol, where husband-and-wife duo Melissa and James Stephenson have moved into the old warden’s house in order to tackle impressive renovations. The gaol was built in 1866 and many of its original features have been retained, but they’ve turned it into a charming boutique retreat and a very cool function venue. The past continues to permeate the present at the Royal Oak hotel and pub, where new owners have taken over and are dishing up superb meals created from freshas-it-comes local produce. It also has an awesome wine list. Hang out here with the locals and enjoy the lively atmosphere well into the night. Back in Mount Gambier, another great place to wine and dine is The Barn Steakhouse, on the grounds of The Barn Accommodation. It has an award-winning wine cellar and stellar service to match. Set among five acres of manicured English-style gardens, the hotel is also famous for Generations In Jazz — an annual weekend jazz festival in early May. Penola is world-famous for the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre and Memorial School, and it’s worth spending at least a few hours exploring these and the beautiful street where many of the area’s first locals lived: Petticoat Lane. Circa 1885, the hamlet is famed for its original cottages and picket-fenced gardens, and visitors can step into rooms where families once lived. The lane’s name derives from the fact that, back in the day, a multitude of white petticoats blowing in the wind on garden clotheslines was a lovely common sight.  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

I M A G E : M A R K F I T Z PAT R I C K

From then until now

Food and Wine

Winners of the red centre

For the next chapter of my Limestone Coast journey, Simon and Kerry Meares of Coonawarra Experiences take the lead. Their new business is a premier touring service that takes in all of the Limestone Coast, bringing together winemakers, producers and locals. Their combined knowledge, passion for the region and fun sense of hospitality add another colourful layer to the entire experience. The Coonawarra has a 120-year history of wine growing, with the cigar-shaped strip of terra rossa laid atop limestone producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon in the country. It all started when Scottish gardener William Wilson left the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s with £300 in his pocket. He set up a home and a small vineyard in Penola, and when his fruit and vines flourished, he encouraged fellow Scot John Riddoch to join him. Riddoch arrived in 1861 and, luckily for us wine lovers, he took his friend’s advice and bought 1,147 acres of terra rossa to the north of Penola for his fruit colony – naming it after the Aboriginal word for ‘honeysuckle’: Coonawarra. Riddoch passed away in 1901, however his legacy lives on in the iconic winery – Wynns Coonawarra Estate – where 350 acres of vineyard (predominately Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon) have produced the 60 vintages that wine lovers collect as a prized set. Winemaker Sue Hodder carries on the legacy today, having made 25 of the 60 vintages, and the winery has recently opened an interpretive centre that takes visitors on an interactive journey through the region’s history, viticulture and winemaking. One of the many wonderful things about the Coonawarra

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is that most cellar doors are peppered along 24 kilometres of the Riddoch Highway, so over four days I fitted in four to five a day, meeting some of the most passionate, humble winemakers you’ll ever meet, most with awards tucked into their belts. Winemaker Sue Bell from Bellwether Wines, for instance, is a former Len Evans tutorial dux, and she produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the region, also experimenting with many European varietals such as Barbera, Tempranillo and Montepulciano. Her wines are quite high-end, but she has an Ant Series of wines (with very cool illustrations of ants adorning them) that are more accessible to the typical wine drinker. Since 1983, Hollick Estate has been creating handcrafted wines from their three local vineyards, and its restaurant, Upstairs at Hollick, was the first winery restaurant in the Coonawarra. Enjoy the “Feed Me” menu, where the chef creates a daily selection of plates to suit yourself or your entire table. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a deck offer dreamy uninterrupted views over the Hollick “Neilson’s Block” vineyard. Balnaves of Coonawarra is attracting a lot of attention, as head winemaker Pete Bissell just won 2018 Winemaker of the Year, as awarded by The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology, and the company has released a $300 bottle of 2016 Shiraz Cabernet as a tribute to the 200th anniversary of the birth of William Wilson. Unusually, this was executed in collaboration with the renowned Redman family, with 55 per cent from Redman’s 80-year-old North End Shiraz, and 45 per cent from Balnaves 43-year-old Paulownia Cabernet

Food and Wine

left to right: gardens of bellwether wines: grounds and vineyards at hollick estate; bowen estate’s chardonnay; the barn’s grounds (top); fodder restaurant (right) Sauvignon vines. Having had the honour of tasting some, I understand why many locals are in a tailspin over it. Zema Estate has been producing excellent Cabernets and Shirazes for four decades. Cellar door manager Lyn Doyle says that its shiraz is flying out the door of late, and they’ve launched a special tasting where wines are paired with locally handcrafted white, milk and dark chocolate. What a sweet treat, especially if you choose to indulge before midday! Zema Estate is a part of the Coonawarra Wineries Walking Trail, which has locals and visitors embarking on a wine trail that also takes in Brands Laira, DiGiorgio, Drink Ottelia/Eat Fodder, Redman Wines and Wynns Coonawarra Estate. The first year was a resounding success and now an app has been launched to guide those wanting to wine, dine, walk and talk. Bowen Estate creates a fabulous mineral-rich hand-picked, hand-pruned Chardonnay, and with only 120 cases released a year, I can’t resist adding some to my growing collection. With a history dating back to 1867, beautiful Katnook is another gem, and its Katnook Odyssey and Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon are amongst the 136 wines listed in the prestigious Langton’s Classification V11, announced in September 2018. Despite dedicating myself to wine tasting for three days, I do remember to stop and eat. Don’t miss Fodder, which is renowned for its fresh, light vegetable-laden dishes that are as inventive as they are delicious. The light-filled cafe-style restaurant is made for kicking back and relaxing in style, and here you can also taste the whole range of Ottelia wines. The Tasting Room at Mayura Station wagyu beef farm serves up wagyu dishes that are nothing short of spectacular.

You can cut the steak with a butter knife. It’s no surprise that it was just awarded top steak restaurant in the country at the 2018 National Restaurants and Caterer’s Awards. Everyone seems to be a winner in these parts. Heading to the airport, weighed down by a suitcase of awesome wine and with many more bottles in the post, I must say that I’m feeling like one myself! TB

Fact File Umpherston Sinkhole and Mount Gambier attractions discovermountgambier. com.au Kilsby Sinkhole kilsbysinkhole.com Naracoorte Caves naracoortecaves.sa.gov.au Old Mount Gambier Gaol theoldmountgambiergaol. com.au Mary McKillop Place marymackillopplace.org.au Wynns Coonawarra Estate wynns.com.au Bellwether Wines bellwetherwines.com.au Hollick Estate hollick.com

Balnaves of Coonawarra balnaves.com.au Zema Estate zema.com.au Katnook Estate katnookestate.com.au Fodder fodder.net.au The Tasting Room at Mayura Station mayurastation.com Coonawarra Walking Trail coonawarrawalkingtrail.com. au Coonawarra Experiences coonawarraexperiences.com.au For more information on the Coonawarra Coonawarra.org

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

WELCOME TO OUR ANCIENT LAND Join the journey that began millions of years ago...nature's miracles are plain to see, and ready to explore. Dormant volcanoes with mountain trails dominate the Limestone Coast skyline, while deep underground, secret caves harbour prehistoric creatures and a labyrinth of hidden waterways. Giant sinkholes shine light on the past, their craters transformed with

spectacular lakes, sunken gardens, and crystalline ponds offering world-class diving experiences. Incredible food and wine are another legacy of this wondrous landscape; fertile soils stretch all the way to the chilly Southern Ocean, leaving guests spoilt for choice when it comes to seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables and worldclass wines.

southaustralia.com/places-to-go/limestone-coast/

Philanthropy

these guys give a Crap Who Gives a Crap knows that toilet paper can be funny – and powerful. They’re using it to help both the planet and people in need. WORDS BY: Robin Kopf Launched in 2012, Who Gives a Crap makes toilet paper, paper towels and tissues from recycled materials. But the company’s impact isn’t just saving the planet’s resources – it also donates 50 per cent of profits to organisations that build toilets in communities with limited access to toilets and sanitation. Simon Griffiths, co-founder and CEO of Who Gives a Crap, got the idea to start a toilet paper company with real social impact while looking at development organisations in eastern and southern Africa and Asia. He realised that many organisations were spending much of their time competing for limited funding instead of creating

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funding for philanthropy projects. “I had that classic business idea epiphany. I walked into the bathroom, saw a six-pack of toilet rolls, and thought: ‘why don’t we sell toilet paper, use the profits to build toilets and call it Who Gives A Crap?’” Griffiths says. Along with co-founders Danny Alexander and Jehan Ratnatunga, Griffiths was also motivated to help make a difference in people’s lives because roughly 40 per cent of the world’s population does not have access to a toilet. As a direct result, 289,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by poor water and sanitation.

Philanthropy

Who Gives a Crap got off the ground thanks to a crowdfunding campaign with IndieGoGo. Griffiths committed to the commode in his approach to crowdfunding, as he “sat on a toilet in our draughty warehouse, and didn’t get up until we had raised enough preorders to start production. Fifty hours and one cold bum later, we had raised over $50,000.” The toilet paper is produced in China from recycled office paper, notebooks and bamboo. Using recycled materials and recyclable packaging is good for the planet, but Who Gives a Crap products are designed to be good for users too. The products are made without inks, dyes or fragrances, and contain no BPAs. So far, Who Gives a Crap has donated $1.8 million to build toilets for communities that need them by partnering with non-profit charity organisations WaterAid Australia,

WaterAid America, Sanergy, Lwala Community Alliance, SHOFCO and WaterSHED. The company is interested in the “Community-Led Total Sanitation” approach to aid, which considers local conditions, resources and materials when making plans for improving sanitation, as well as educating community members on hygiene. They also make sure to keep locals involved with their plans so that sanitation solutions work for the community and make a lasting impact. It’s not surprising that a company that donates half its profits has a limited budget dedicated to marketing, but Who Gives a Crap’s sense of humour and fun packaging design helps with advertising their products “Our customers are our biggest advocates. They love our brand and the fact that we donate 50 per cent of profits to help build toilets in developing countries. Because our

rolls are so beautifully designed, people are proud to display them in their homes, so they work as a talking point and mini billboard. It’s a great way to spread the word!” Griffiths says. To celebrate the season, Who Gives a Crap is releasing special festive packaging called the Happy Edition, designed by artist Ruby Taylor, to bring a little holiday cheer into the bathroom. Each wrapper has a Christmas theme, and the box turns into a mini Christmas tree – making it an ideal craft project for the holidays. Who Gives a Crap plans on continuing to grow and raise awareness about what they are doing, selling to customers all over Australia as well as the UK, USA, Canada and Europe. As this “profit for purpose” business expands, they have the potential to not only save the planet’s resources but also help move towards a future where everyone has access to a toilet. TB

Co-Founder Simon Griffiths in front of a toilet in Timor-Leste.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

ArtSpace

FOLLOW YOUR ART

In our round-up of some of Australia’s top city and regional galleries, we show you where to go to view some of the best art collections in the country. WORDS: KATRINA HOLDEN

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Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery Tasmania

On the edge of the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is the 12-room Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery, opened in 2003. The space incorporates large installations, exhibitions, displays and film. There’s a focus on Tasmanian photographers, with more than 3,000 photos in the collection, and the gallery is dedicated to showcasing local artists as well as the wilderness

around Cradle Mountain. Children’s rooms provide spaces for your visitors to explore, draw and play; the Peter Dombrovskis Gallery is dedicated to an internationally celebrated photographer; the Movie Room features all-day screenings of Tasmanian films; and Five Galleries displays contemporary works that are changed throughout the year, all made by Tasmanian artists. The Gallery is part of Cradle Mountain Hotel, where visitors can dine at Altitude Restaurant + Lounge Bar. wildernessgallery.com.au

ArtSpace

Art Gallery of NSW

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Sydney

National Gallery of Australia (NGA) Canberra

NGA is one of the largest art museums in Australia, holding more than 166,000 works of art. Its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection comprises more than 7,500 works, and is the largest in the world. Where possible, paintings and sculptures in the Indigenous galleries are illuminated overhead by natural daylight to replicate the same light in which the works were created. NGA’s collection of international art is Australia’s greatest collection of modern art, spanning the mid-19th century to the present day, and including pieces of European, American and British art. In addition to the indoor spaces, visitors can also view the outdoor Sculpture Garden, Fern Garden and also Skyspace – a sky viewing chamber by American artist James Turrell. The gallery has two cafes on site, one of which overlooks the Sculpture Garden. nga.gov.au

TYTO Regional Art Gallery

Ingham, Queensland

This multi-dimension space, an hour’s drive north of Townsville, is an easily accessible built environment of 10 hectares that consists of a regional art gallery, conference venue, library with mini military museum, wetlands, parklands and a café. Open 365 days a year, the venue attracts about 150,000 visitors annually from nearby and afar. Located

in the heart of Hinchinbrook, the gallery makes for a handy day trip or overnight stopover. From TYTO you can explore the natural beauty of world heritage listed Hinchinbrook Island, and Wallaman Falls – the largest single-drop waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. The contemporary art gallery space showcases local artists through its annual program and retail outlet, as well as national travelling exhibits within the gallery. Open daily with free entry. tyto.com.au/art/art-gallery/

More than one million people a year visit the beautiful Art Gallery of NSW, located in Sydney’s picturesque The Domain. The first collections were acquired in the 1870s, with the exhibitions moved to their current location in 1885 and the building that serves as the home of the gallery erected between 1896 and 1909. Entry to the permanent galleries is free, as are most events and exhibitions. Visitors can browse contemporary works as well as those by 19th century Australian artists and European Old Masters in rooms that also offer views over Sydney and its harbour. Dedicated galleries showcase works by Australian Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artists, as well as a separate gallery that celebrates the arts of Asia. More than 30 temporary exhibitions are displayed each year, along with the annual flagship event, the Archibald Prize. Visitors can also take in regular lectures and seminars, films, music and performances, as well as dine in the onsite café and restaurant. artgallery.nsw.gov.au

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

craftivism. dissident objects and subversive forms. 24 November 2018 to 17 February 2019

70 Welsford Street, Shepparton VIC 3630 p + 61 5832 9861 e art.museum@shepparton.vic.gov.au w sheppartonartmuseum.com.au @SAM_Shepparton #SAM_Craftivism @netsvictoria

A Shepparton Art Museum curated exhibition, touring nationally by NETS Victoria

GEORGE LAMBERT ON THE BLACK SOIL PLAINS c.1899. COLLECTION WESTERN PLAINS CULTURAL CENTRE.

GALLERY . MUSEUM . CAFE . COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE 76 Wingewarra Street Dubbo NSW westermplainsculturtalcentre.org

WESTERN PLAINS CULTURAL CENTRE

Image: Jemima Wyman, Propaganda textiles – Washington, Pink Bloc protester at Gay Pride in Copacabana, 13th October 2013 (detail) 2016-17. © the artist, courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney / Singapore and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.

Bunbury Regional Art Galleries

Visitors to Dubbo can stop at the Western Plains Cultural Centre where artworks are featured in four galleries spread over 706 square metres, including a space devoted to the moving image. The gallery features large touring and in-house curated exhibitions, smaller touring exhibitions and solo shows, regional artists and a permanent Children’s Gallery. There’s a focus on the “animals in art” theme, inspired by the rural location and proximity to Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Works span a broad range of media and styles by artists from many locations. Also at the Western Plains Cultural Centre is the Dubbo Regional Museum Heritage Collection, established in 1954. westernplainsculturalcentre.org

Bendigo Art Gallery Victoria

Founded in 1887, the Bendigo Art Gallery is one of Australia’s oldest and largest regional galleries. The ornate interiors reflect the design of the day in the style of grand European tradition – with polished wood floors and ornate plaster arches and cornices. The gallery is home to the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize worth $50,000 – Australia’s richest open painting arts prize, launched in 2003. Permanent collections include Australian art from the 1850s to the present day, art from the Bendigo goldfields, and 19th century European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. Temporary exhibitions include prominent international exhibitions as well as national touring exhibitions, curated exhibitions and solo exhibitions by contemporary Australian artists. Regular programs and events include guided tours, workshops, talks by arts professionals, films and much more. bendigoartgallery.com.au

western plains cultural centre

New South Wales

ArtSpace

Western Australia

Spread across two floors of exhibition space, the design of the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries (BRAG) on WA’s south-west coast allows for up to five exhibitions to run at any time, with an exhibition changeover every six weeks. The gallery is housed in a historic, heritage pink-coloured building, which was a former convent built in 1897 in the Victorian Gothic style. The gallery also holds BRAG Wall showcases for community exhibitions. The City of Bunbury’s permanent art collection is displayed in the Music Room, with works rotating approximately every two months. The galleries are committed to showcasing works by local artists, as well as running regular touring exhibitions of other WA, national and international artists. brag.org.au

Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery South Australia

This South Australian regional gallery is housed within the Port Pirie Visitor Information Centre, adjacent to the silos and wharf area in the city of Port Pirie. Each year a diverse program of exhibitions runs in its space with a focus on regional South Australian artists, and it also hosts national touring exhibitions from major Australian cultural institutions to develop exhibitions of community interest. The not-for-profit organisation was established in 1992, firstly in the old baggage room of the closed passenger railway station. In 1994 the redevelopment of the station into the Regional Tourism and Arts Centre meant the addition of a dedicated A-class art gallery. pprag.org.au DEC 2018/JAN 2019

ArtSpace

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Melbourne

Melbourne’s NGV was established in 1861 and holds more than 70,000 works in its collection. The oldest gallery in the country, it is also the most frequently visited – and spans two significant buildings. At NGV International on St Kilda Road, visitors will find an extensive collection from Europe, Asia, America and Oceania. Meanwhile

NGV Australia, located at the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square, is considered the home of Australian art, where visitors can view works by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian artists from the Colonial period until the present day. NGV International has three different dining venues within its facility, including a restaurant, café and tea rooms, while NGV Australia has a café for patrons. ngv.vic.gov.au

Art Gallery of South Australia Adelaide

10 64 TrueBlue

Located in a beautiful heritage building in Adelaide, the Art Gallery of South Australia welcomes about 780,000 visitors each year. Founded in 1881, the gallery’s collection includes 42,000 works of art and design pieces from Australia, Europe, North America and Asia. In addition to painting, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork

and jewellery, the gallery is also known for its display of Australian furniture, dating from Colonial times to the modern day. There’s an extensive collection of Australian art from European settlement in the early 19th century to the present day, including one of the world’s most important collections of Australian Indigenous art. The gallery also has the only dedicated Islamic gallery space in Australia. artgallery.sa.gov.au

Summer Products

Fabulous & Fresh

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together some cool new products to jazz up your life over summer. compiled by: robin kopf

1. JOCO 8oz Cup 100% plastic-free with artisan blown glass and a thermal silicone exterior strip for easy gripping, the JOCO Reusable Cup is an ideal way to enjoy your coffee sustainably. $27.95, jococups.com

2. Southern Wild Co. Scented Candles These thoughtfully made scented candles are inspired by the Australian bush. They are produced with paraben- and phthalate-free fragrances and single-origin essential oils and are encased in recycled glass. They burn for more than 70 hours. $65, southernwildco. com.au

3. Walter Wallet Walter Bamboo Wireless Charging Dock This funky wireless charging dock wirelessly charges Qi enabled devices and is the perfect space to store keys, coins and wallets. $79.95, isgift.com

4. Finlayson Alma Vase An exotic, modern vase that will seamlessly blend into any type of decor. RRP: $49.95, albi.com.au/

5. Eva Solo My Flavour Carafe This water carafe includes a skewer for attaching your favourite fruits, vegetables or herbs to flavour your water in a healthy way. The skewer is detachable and both the skewer and the carafe are dishwasher safe. $89.90, top3.com.au

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Summer Products

9. Pool Float Drink Holder Keep your drink close at hand when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lounging in or out of the water with this inflatable and Instagram-able addition to your pool. $24.95, sunnylife. com.au

6. AmphibiGlass Floating Glass

7. Avanti hydration bottles

8. Ice pop moulds

Perfect for the pool, beach or picnic, these glasses float in the pool or stick into sand or grass to avoid spilling your drink no matter where you are. Available in blue and clear. 12.95, isgift.com

Fabricated from high quality stainless steel, Avanti Hydration bottles feature double wall Aircore technology that keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. $26.95ea, avantihomewares.com

Help the kids cool off this summer with homemade icy pops created in these fun mermaid shaped moulds. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re BPA free and dishwasher safe for super easy cleaning. $19.95, sunnylife.com.au

Summer Products

10. Luckies Scratch Map Scratch off the gold foil layer to reveal beautifully vibrant colours and detail. Scratch Map make a truly thoughtful and personal gift for the globe trotter in your life. $39.95, isgift.com

11. BioLite CampStove 2 This light, efficient camp stove can boil a litre of water in less than five minutes, it’s rechargeable, can store a full phone charge, and it uses twigs, sticks or pellets as fuel to create a smoke-free cooking experience. $269.95 seatosummitdistribution. com.au

12. Norm Salt & Pepper Bottle Grinders For the movers and shakers out there, the powerful ceramic mechanism in these grinders makes them easy to operate and perfect for salt, pepper or even your favourite spices and grains, nuts, seeds or dried fruits. $139.95, huntingforgeorge.com

13. Honeycomb wine rack With one piece of designer ‘honeycomb’ holding up to three bottles of wine, the Honeycomb wine rack makes storing your favourite wines easy and stylish. And the more wine you collect, the more pieces you can add to the ensemble. $29.95, saltandpepper.com.au DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Voted the

BEST WHISKY

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Summer Products 15

14. ALBI CUSHIONS The Amalfi Native Botanica Cushions are 100% cotton covered. Celebrating Australian wild flowers in subtle tones, they will complement an array of living spaces. $59.95, albi.com.au

15. JOCO 20oz Flask With artisan blown glass, antibacterial olive wood lid and no-slip grip, say no to plastic this summer with the sleek JOCO eco-friendly bottle. $59.95, jococups.com

18. Oliver Bed

16. Roamer Roll Up Picnic Rug This compact and easy to carry picnic rug is perfect for picnics, outdoor cinemas, concerts or just relaxing in the sun. The back is waterproof, and the front is made of comfortable fleece. $29.99, kathmandu. com.au

17. black devil cider Black Devil cider is made from 100% fresh apples sourced from hand-tended Tasmanian orchards. The fruit is hand-picked, handsorted and milled before undergoing a long, cool fermentation. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benchblended with fresh apple juice. $109.99 per case of 24, blackdevilcider.com.au

This Scandi-style bed frame is the perfect base upon which to relax. Made in Melbourne from Tasmanian Oak veneer and powder-coated tube steel frame. FromÂ $1,899.00, huntingforgeorge.com

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Summer Products

19. Bond Collection This uber-cool bar collection includes glasses and decanters ideal for that evening scotch. $9.95-$99.95, saltandpepper. com.au

20. Basil Bangs Love Rug Wildflower

This padded and waterproof picnic mat ensures a comfortable and spill-proof seat anywhere outdoors for everyone. The vibrant mat includes a pocket for your phone and keys and folds into its own carry bag. $155, top3.com.au

21. Cloud Weather Station 22 21

The formation of the crystals within the Cloud Weather Station predicts the weather forecast. $34.95, isgift.com

22. The Australian collection eCup Keep the environment clean and healthy one coffee at a time with IS GIFT’s collection of reusable eCups in gorgeous Australian botanical prints. These porcelain and silicone cups hold 415ml and are dishwasher safe. They are available in three designs. RRP: $15.95 isgift.com DEC 2018/JAN 2019

What’s on for the weekend? T h i s i s w h a t e v e r y w e e ke n d l o o k s l i ke i n a P a t r i o t C a m p e r

TO F I N D O U T M O R E YO U T U B E “ PAT R I OT C A M P E R S F R A S E R I S L A N D ” O R V I S I T PAT R I OTC A M P E R S . C O M . AU

AusBiz.

NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE

28 P.4 Agribusiness: Dairy Industry Innovations P.10 Mining and water management P.16 New Hotels P.22 Business: Highland beef P.26 Season's Savings P.28 Property: Escape the City

K9 Sport Sack Australia The original dog carrier backpack that is safe, comfortable, easy and fun. Allows you to take your dog anywhere, to do anything. Never leave your dog behind again.

Friends. Together.

Always! www.k9sportsackaustralia.com k9sportsackaustralia

Business News+Views

Business News+Views Bringing you the latest insights and analysis. WORDS: Sarah Hinder Season’s first tray of South Australian strawberries sold for $17,500 in charity auction For the first time, South Australia has held a charity auction to launch the start of its spring and summer strawberry season. In similar fashion to the annual mango auction in Queensland, the South Australian strawberry industry decided to hold the auction in response to the struggle strawberry farmers have faced following more than 100 incidents of needles found in Australian strawberries earlier this year. The strawberry auction was held on I Choose SA Day, October 27, which promotes South Australian produce and suppliers and encourages locals to support South Australian producers and businesses. All proceeds from the auction were donated to Variety SA, which support children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with special needs. For more information visit variety.org.au/sa.

New technology will improve Australian producers’ defence against top biosecurity risk Technology start-up RapidAIM, founded by researchers from the CSIRO, is at the forefront of curbing one of the world’s biggest biosecurity barriers to trade: the fruit fly. The company recently received a $1.25 million boost from the Federal government toward their effort in providing Australian producers with an improved early detection system against fruit flies — which cost Australia’s fruit and vegetable industry more than $300 million each year. The first reliable form of pest ‘radar’ to support growers against pests such as the fruit fly, RapidAIM delivers real-

time detection and monitoring in an effort to assist against the devastating affects the pests can cause. The technology uses low-powered sensors, which can be distributed in thousands, to detect the insects by their characteristic movements and provide real-time data back to growers through an app. RapidAIM’s technology can provide early warnings of future pest hotspots and reduce the time spent checking for the pests by 35 per cent, allowing for a more rapid response to contaminated areas.

Fast facts

304,200

As of 2016-17, there are 304,200 people employed in Australian agriculture. The agricultural supply chain, including the affiliated food and fibre industries, provide over 1.6 million jobs.

Every month Variety Australia delivers more than $1 million to children and families in need Who can’t afford specialist care and equipment.

$200 million Variety Australia has raised more than $200 million for children in need over the last 30 years. DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Agribusiness, Dairy

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

When the going gets tough, the tough get innovative TIMES ARE TOUGH IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY BUT PRODUCERS ARE RESPONDING WITH INNOVATION. 4

AusBiz.

Agribusiness, Dairy

LITTLE BIG DAIRY IS A FA M I LY F R I E N D LY FA R M

Even the most infrequent follower of current affairs knows that dairy farmers are doing it tough. It started off with Coles and Woolworths offering $1-a-litre milk at the same time as processors predicted burgeoning demand from Asia and urged suppliers to increase. Many dairy farmers responded to the urging to “make sure they didn’t miss out on the China rush” by scaling up their business – buying more land in some cases, buying in feed in others – to increase herd sizes. Mostly, the expansions were paid for with borrowed money. The world economy, however, didn’t follow the dairy industry’s vision. Demand from China plateaued and then came a true ‘black swan’ event, the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 by Russian-backed Ukrainian separatist rebels. Russia responded to the ensuing sanctions by imposing import bans, which resulted in Europe being awash with milk, cheese and other dairy products that were dumped on traditionally Australian markets at cost or below. In April 2016, Australia’s largest milk processor, Murray

Goulburn, slashed the farmgate price for milk to below the cost of production for most farmers, and announced it would seek to claw back past payments made at the previous higher rate. The Australian dairy industry was a house of cards built with debt and it all came crashing down when Murray Goulburn’s largest rival, Fonterra, followed suit. The cuts drove the price below the cost of production for most producers and the clawbacks left many dairy farmers in debt to the processor – as much as $100,000 in some cases – plunging the industry into crisis. Already debt-laden due to expansion, many farmers didn’t have cash reserves to pay the processors’ bills. Then came the drought. Some parts of Queensland had been in drought for more than six years, of course, and for the rest of the country, one dry winter and spring was just part of life. But by the second dry winter in NSW, an already weakened dairy industry was in trouble. With little or no rain there was no grass for their cows and the price of feed skyrocketed – hay up by 59  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Agribusiness, Dairy

per cent and grain up by 40 per cent – as did transport costs. NSW had run out of fodder, which then had to come from Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Some producers responded by selling up completely or moving to different enterprises such as beef cattle, but Aussie farmers are an innovative bunch and many were determined to survive no matter what the market conditions. In Jamberoo, NSW, dairy farmer Jason Maloney launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign which raised $269,283 for his farm and others in the area. The historic sixth-generation Country Valley at Picton took to social media asking people to ‘adopt a cow’. While both these campaigns were highly successful, Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation vice-president Matthew Trace pointed out that there were more than 100 pleas for crowdfunding on GoFundMe alone. “While crowdfunding can provide a quick injection of cash to a farm, it is not a long-term solution,” he told the North Queensland Register. “The only way we can have a sustainable dairy industry is by getting a fair farmgate price.”

Although prices from the major processors are edging back up due to record-low production levels, some producers say the way to achieve a fair farmgate price is to cut out the middleman completely. Companies such as The Little Big Dairy Co (Dubbo), Peel Valley Milk (Tamworth) and Gippsland Dairy (Eastern Victoria) are going to market in local areas with premium quality milk that carries their own brand. The Little Big Dairy Co was set up because Steve and Erika Chesworth’s daughter Emma (and her husband Jim) wanted to come back to the family farm and they all felt it would be best for them to have their own enterprise to run. Most of the family-run-andowned business’s milk from its 800 Holstein cows goes to major processor Parmalat, but a proportion is sold as the Little Big Dairy Co’s prize-winning single source premium milk. Steve manages the cows and knows every single one of the 800 by name. Erika raises the calves and, unlike on some dairy farms, male calves are raised to maturity. The Chesworths’ Holstein stud is one of the most highly regarded in the country, so many bull calves end up in other dairy herds while those that don’t make the cut

AusBiz.

Agribusiness, Dairy

go to feedlots. The emphasis is on animal welfare, not only because it is the right thing to do but also because, as Erika says, “Happy cows produce the best milk.” For the Chesworths, the Little Big Dairy Co brand has been a resounding success. “It’s been absolutely wonderful,” says Erika. “Not only has it brought our daughter and her husband back to the family farm, but we have met so many passionate people through the creation of the brand. It’s been well worth doing.” Despite the positive experience the Chesworths have had, Erika is cautious about the future. “When we started I did a lot of research and found that about 20 per cent of Australians care enough to buy a premium-branded milk. So there is no doubt that it can work and work well but I think that in NSW the boutique market may be getting close to saturation. The last thing any small processor wants is to be competing with other small processors in the same market.” Erika is even more concerned for the industry as a whole: “Between deregulation and $1-a-litre milk, there is no fat left in the dairy supply chain to give producers a buffer when there’s a market downturn or a drought. We need profitable farms and processors so there can be investment in R&D and infrastructure. The way consumers can help with that is by buying branded milk.”

P H O T O G R A P H S : H I S Y LV I A

F E AT U R E D D A I R Y P R O D U C T S AT D A I R Y A W A R D S N I G H T 2 017

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Goodbye Dust Hello Revegetation A huge undertaking by Adelaide-based company Spray Grass Australia sees the implementation of a new dust suppressant on the Port Augusta Ash Dam with a focus on long term vegetation.

150 ha of high risk dust area was applied with dust suppressant HydroBond

100%

safe for vegetation

Advertorial

Port Augusta Ash Dam

“We knew that research and development was going to be a vital part in making this project a success.” Glenn Sullivan - Environmental Consultant

linders Power awarded Adelaide-based Spray Grass Australia to provide the decommissioned Port Augusta Ash Dam with a new dust suppressant that is specifically designed for revegetation.

The former power station site has undertaken multiple initiatives to control the risk of dust pollution and to revegetate the area since the announcement of its closure back in 2015. Tonnes of top soil has been applied to the 270-hectare site and seeded with the aim for rehabilitating the bare land. A lack of average rainfall and harsh environmental conditions has made this extremely difficult, resulting in high-level dust risk. Spray Grass Australia is confident that HydroBond will address the short-term dust control requirements while simultaneously achieving a positive impact on existing plant life and improving the environment for germination of seedlings. HydroBond is particularly suited to projects that require revegetation due to its permeable crust forming features that allow water and air to infiltrate the surface.

Specialised HydroTruck spraying over 870 litres per minute

HydroBond was rated against the following criteria: • Health, safety & environment •

Dust control including crust thickness, durability, soil strength and functional longevity

•

Revegetation outcomes including germination, soil moisture, water-holding capacity and water penetration

The germination trials and live plant studies concluded that the application of HydroBond did not impede on existing vegetation. In fact, the suppressant proved to be beneficial for plant growth. Spray Grass Australia will continue to partner with Flinders Power throughout 2019 to achieve success in the environment.

Independent ecology firm Succession Ecology performed a detailed analysis including ecotoxicity studies to confirm suitability for application on the ash dam. A series of tests were conducted to cover a range of criteria including impact on seed germination, plant survival, water movement and soil-surface binding. All tests were conducted on site specific soil and on landscape soil (sandy loam) and ranks were generated based on performance relative to control samples with no product added.

spraygrassaustralia.com.au

HydroBond produces a protective crust to lock in dust while allowing air and water to permeate the surface, vital for revegetation.

Mining

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

Whisky’s for drinkin’ – water’s for fightin’ MINES USE A LOT OF WATER, AND ON A DRY CONTINENT THAT CAN LEAD TO CONFLICT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

AusBiz.

Mining

As miners chase lower-grade ores, they have a greater impact upon the water table and use more water for processing. This is increasing the possibility and intensity of conflict with local communities, agricultural producers and other stakeholders. Indeed, this potential for conflict has become so severe that Deloitte’s Tracking the Trends 2018 report includes water management as a critical issue for the mining industry. According to the report, “water demand is rising globally, driven by population growth, industrial development, expansion of irrigated agriculture, and increases in per capita water consumption. “Critically, this growing demand is not offset by available supply. According to the United Nations (UN), water scarcity now affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is expected to worsen. Currently, over 1.7 billion people live in river basins where water use exceeds recharge, and by 2050 at least one in four people are likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring freshwater shortages.” As BHP recently noted, “[E]thical water stewardship is expected increasingly to emerge as a competitive advantage for those operators that get it right. For those that do not, their ability to maintain their social licence to operate may come into question.” At different stages of the production process, mines produce and use a lot of water. As excavations delve into the water table, dewatering is often required for open-cut and underground operations. Even if dewatering is not required, groundwater remains a critical water supply source for processing operations. In addition, managing seepage from waste rock landforms and tailing facilities on aquifers is a key component in meeting mining regulations. According to the CSIRO, processing “water use is quite high – for example, around 1600 litres of water are used to obtain the 19 kilograms of copper found in a medium-sized family car.” Put another way, Monash University research found that, on average, it takes around 1690 litres of water to process a tonne of gold ore, and about 773,000 litres to produce a kilogram of gold. Nevertheless, leading mining companies that retain a strong social licence are often those that follow the best practices when it comes to water management. Writing in the AusIMM Bulletin, Golder Associates managing director Ralph Heath says, “Often the water balance for a mining operation results in an initial excess of water (during pit dewatering), but a long-term deficit where a sustainable water resource is required for processing. [Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)] provides a tool to help balance the water budget over the life of mine operations. “The regulatory environment concerning water management in mining operations is also becoming an impetus for the inclusion of MAR as a possible method of  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Mining

Mining companies can make a significant contribution to the provision of safe water supplies to communities. excess water management. In Western Australia, there is now a requirement to have least investigated the potential for MAR as a method of excess water management where the water balance, hydrogeology and environmental constraints allow it. “Generally, the adoption (or at least the trialling) of aquifer replenishment as a method of excess water management will gain the support and approval of regulators and provide a licence to practice in challenging groundwater environments. “Similarly, the adoption of MAR techniques in mining will gain the support of the community and traditional owners who are focused on the long-term sustainability of the catchment and groundwater environment.” One of the largest MAR projects in the world is Fortescue Metals’ award-winning Cloudbreak scheme. Situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the deployment of MAR both “conserves valuable groundwater for future redraw and mitigates the environmental impact of mine dewatering.” Other measures mining companies are taking to improve water management include building dams for water storage and operating dedicated water treatment plants to process water into usable quality. Leaching from waste rock can contaminate surface and groundwater so miners have been using techniques such as building upstream dams to reduce risk of water contamination from waste rock and exposed ore, and covering and lining waste rock and ore piles. Similarly, ore processing also contaminates water, so mining companies are looking at various ways to recycle the water used to process ore and reduce the amount used overall. These measures include building evaporation ponds, capturing drainage water through liners and pipes and directing it into tailings dams, and treating the water. Desalination plants have become extremely popular, with more than 50 small plants operating in South Australia alone. Research institutions and companies are also working on ways to purify contaminated water. The CSIRO, for example, has developed a technology called Virtual Curtain, which uses hydrotalcites to trap metal contaminants in waste water. Adelaide-based company Micromet is taking a different approach, using electrolysis to remove pollutant materials. In some instances, mining companies can take water management a step further and use it to build social capital in the mines’ operations. According to International Council

AusBiz.

Mining

on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Report, Water management in mining: a selection of case studies, “…mining companies can actually make a significant positive contribution to the provision of safe, clean and adequate supplies of water to neighbouring communities. For example, eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant in South Africa (operated by Anglo American in partnership with BHP Billiton) treats the contaminated water from its own and other mining operations and delivers treated water directly into the local municipality’s water system.” Water use conflicts have the most impact on miners’ social licence to operate, but there are also economic impacts from poor water management. According to SRK Australia’s Perthbased principal consultant (hydrogeology), Brian Luinstra, “The impacts of failing to adequately understand the groundwater system can result in reduced mill throughputs, increasing drilling and blasting costs and regulatory issues related to water disposal from excess dewatering. “All these factors can have profound impacts on project economics, and in rare cases have resulted in some operations coming perilously close to failure.” DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Precision Solar Farm Technology

Drive more piles, more accurately

Semi-autonomous pile driving technology combines the Vermeer PD10 pile driver with Carlson PDGrade machine guidance to: • • • •

Increase productivity Improve safety Eliminate stringlines Reduce survey costs

Get in touch today:

1300 867 266 info@positionpartners.com.au www.positionpartners.com.au Australia • New Zealand • SE Asia

AusBiz. Promotion

Does your mine need a technology health check? There is a misconception about data that the more you have, the more productive your mine operations will be. More information theoretically leads to more informed decisions, however if there is such an abundance of information that you don’t know how to pick out the meaningful parts, it can lead to frustration and inefficiency as you try to wade through data that is invisibly piling up around you. A report is only useful if it contains information that is wanted, delivered in a timely manner to the individuals and teams that can make informed decisions after reading it. So many software programs and Fleet Management Systems (FMS) promise all manner of reports, but how many do your mine site supervisors, mine surveyors, mine operations managers and operations team actually need, let alone read? Essential to a meaningful report, of course, is also a factually accurate one. How do you know that the data your mining software is churning out faster than you can file it away is giving you correct information? Position Partners has recently introduced a Technology Health Check service for Fleet Management Systems and machine guidance on mine sites. “We’ve seen an increase in the demand for our health checks to assist mines with change management and customising technology to suit customer needs,” explained Andrew Granger, Business Development Manager for Mining. “The service includes an in-depth look into the current systems used by different stakeholders in the mine site, what’s working for them, what’s causing frustration or lacking in the technology, where there are gaps in the workflow and so on,” he added. Position Partners technicians can validate data to ensure that the reports being generated are accurate, as well as consolidate the number of reports into something more meaningful. “Thousands of reports are useless if none of them are getting read,” Andrew adds. “We worked with a mine site recently where different supervisors were reading different reports, so we

consolidated them into a single, central report with a traffic-light colour code that gave them an immediate visual representation of where they needed to focus attention. “It’s a simple way of making a cumbersome and difficult to understand report something that all mine supervisors could easily read, and more importantly act on,” he said. In another example, a customer had already invested in an FMS solution, however the machine guidance technology was proving ineffective and difficult for operators to use. “Operator confidence in the system was extremely important, so we initially set up one dozer and one excavator with a new machine guidance option,” Andrew said. “Within a month, the customer had ordered another seven machine guidance systems because the operators were really embracing the technology. It solved that particular pain point for the mine without them having to reinvest in an entirely new FMS.” Mr Granger explains that change management is key when onboarding any new technology, or even to make use of technology that has been on site for some time but that isn’t quite working to your site’s needs. “Every site operates in a slightly different way, requiring different information delivered at certain points in the team’s workflow,” he says, adding “our Technology Health Checks are a way for mine site supervisors and operations managers to step back and ask for everything that would add true value to their day-to-day tasks. “Ultimately, data is supposed to make your life easier, not harder, so it’s important to get it working just the way it needs to, so that it enables productivity not hinders it,” he said. To book a Technology Health Check for your mine, speak to your local Position Partners mining technology expert today by calling 1300 867 266 or visit positionpartners.com.au DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Infrastructure

HOTEL 2.0 STYLISH, OFFBEAT AND SUSTAINABLE HOTELS REPLACE THE COOKIE-CUTTER ACCOMODATIONS OF THE PAST.

IAN LLOYD NEUBAUER

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

C L O U D R U N N E R R O O M AT THE COLLECTIONIST

Right now, the Australian accommodation sector is undergoing its largest growth phase in history, with 200 new or upgraded hotels and resorts scheduled to launch across the country over the next seven years. New-generation properties are pushing the envelope in every conceivable direction – with innovative new features and services such as keyless room entry, properties where no two rooms look alike, and hotel restaurants so bloody good they’ve become dining destinations in their own right. “The new wave of hotel development is covering all price

AusBiz.

points – from economy to luxury,” says Carol Giuseppi, CEO of Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), which last month released the country’s first Hotel Innovation Report. “The changes are being driven by changes in travellers’ demands, particularly the Millennial generation, and influencing new hotel design with an emphasis on localism, individualism, art and sustainability.” Here, Ausbiz visits properties leading the charge to see how innovation is driving growth in Australia’s multibilliondollar tourism industry.

Infrastructure

SHOCK OF THE NEW During previous phases of growth in the Australian accommodation sector in the late 1980s and just prior to the Sydney Olympics, the focus was on “brand fidelity” – ensuring internationally branded hotels looked and felt like their counterparts in Europe and the US. The first kink in the armour appeared a decade ago with the launch of Art Series Hotels in Melbourne, with properties inspired by and festooned with the works of notable Australian artists such as Adam Cullen and John Olson. But the hotel group credited with breaking the mould is QT, which designed and manages a magazine of luxury hotels across Australia that are not only individually styled but reflect the heart and soul of their particular destination. The group’s first property, QT Gold Coast, which opened in 2011, is a five-star take on a 1950s beach-style art deco hotel that embraces

the city’s highly sexualised past. A year later they launched QT Sydney, a 200-room property set in two neo-Gothic sandstone buildings in the CBD, and which offers a thespian service model that replaces traditional concierges with 'directors of chaos', who dress like characters from A Clockwork Orange and satisfy, analyse and predict guests’ needs. As for QT's food, the West Australian recently rated Santini, an Italianstyle restaurant in the new QT Perth, as a “rock star ... larger-than-life … [and] one of the finest, most welcoming temples to dining” in the city. “We have a pillar in our strategy called ‘Loved by Locals’ that’s about creating awesome F&B experiences,” says director of brand strategy Victoria Doidge. “If you look at QT Melbourne, it has one of the city’s most popular rooftop bars, while Yamagen in QT Gold Coast is regarded as the strip’s best Japanese restaurant.” 

C L O C K W I S E F R O M L E F T: QT PERTH'S SANTINI BAR & GRILL; T H E P E N T H O U S E AT T H E C U L L E N ; QT MELBOURNE'S ROOFTOP; THE OLSEN'S EXTERIOR

Fast Facts

1975

Australia’s first major internationally branded hotel, the Hilton Sydney, opened in 1975.

10%

Tourism in Australia is projected to grow 10 per cent per annum over the next decade.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

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TOP TO BOTTOM: JETSET ROCKET ROOM AT T H E C O L L E C T I O N I S T; A L I A S R O O M AT T H E C O L L E C T I O N I S T; Y O U R P H O N E A S A K E Y AT T H E CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

NEW DISRUPTORS While it’s still considered one of the city’s most innovative hotels, QT Sydney is now facing a tough new competitor: The Collectionist, a “custom-design” hotel set in a repurposed warehouse in inner-city Camperdown. Highlighting the move away from uniformity, The Collectionist features 39 individually themed rooms designed by seven architects, four design firms and nine artists. Guests select their rooms based on their preferred style, much the same way they choose their cars. “I realised people are very particular about the car they drive, the colour they choose, the style they want,” says CEO Daniel Symonds. “It’s a very personal choice with cars, so why didn’t we make hotel rooms that catered to these different tastes rather than offering standardised rooms and no choice in the room type a guest prefers? By providing guests with a more tactile way of choosing their room, they are directly involved in their stay experience.” Innovative technology is another cornerstone of The Collectionist, with a digital booking process that sees check-in access codes sent directly to guests via email and SMS. But hotel baron Dr Jerry Schwartz has taken the idea one step further at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley with “mobile key technology”. The system allows guests to bypass the reception desk by downloading the hotel’s branded app. On the day of check-in, the hotel team digitally generate a keyless function and send it to guests’ smartphones along with the allocated room number, which allows them to access their room simply by waving the phone in front of the corresponding door. “I’ve always been passionate about the use of technology that enhances guest experiences,” says Schwartz. “We’ve received excellent feedback from the innovation and are now working to extend keyless entry to our other hotels.”  DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Infrastructure

GREEN REVOLUTION A keen environmentalist, Schwartz is also adding solar panels and electric car battery charging stations in his hotels in Sydney, the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains. And that’s just the beginning. In the future, the use of smart materials will see the introduction of window blinds that open and close automatically according to the position of the sun, walls that ensure optimal room temperature, and furniture that acts as a power source, according to TAA’s Hotel Innovation Report. To see a property that’s taken environmental sustainability as far as it can go, one must travel to Picnic Island in Tasmania’s pristine Coles Bay. Last year the island’s owner Clem NewtonBrown opened Picnic Island Resort, a luxury five-cabin property that’s 100 per cent off-thegrid. On check-in, guests are allocated a certain

quantity of water and solar-generated electricity for the duration of their stay, and taught how to use the compost toilet in accordance with sustainable lifestyle principles. “Many people will go to a place of great natural beauty, go on a hike, but then stay at a big hotel and disconnect from nature again,” Newton-Brown says. “But here Mother Nature never gets switched off because we’re right on the high-water line and you become hypersensitive to the wind and tides. “We don’t ask guests to empty the compost toilet tanks but we prove that you can stay at a very flash place while being off-the-grid. There are not many places in Australia or the world that can charge nearly $1000 a night for rooms with funny-looking toilets, but we do here and it’s really taken off.”

C L O C K W I S E F R O M L E F T: P I C N I C I S L A N D R E S O R T; T H E B E A C H AT C O L E S B AY; PICNIC ISLAND RESORT R O O M O N T H E WAT E R

Fast Facts

96%

per cent of Australian hotels now offer some level of free WiFi to their guests.

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Business

Land of Plenty

DOWN IN TASMANIA’S DERWENT VALLEY, JUST 40KM OUT OF HOBART, IS A LITTLE HAMLET CALLED PLENTY. ON THE FACE OF IT, THE NAME ALONE INVITES WOULD-BE “TREECHANGERS” TO COME AND FIND THEIR FORTUNE – AND THAT’S EXACTLY HOW THE STORY OF BIG RIVER HIGHLAND BEEF BEGINS. PHOTOS: ANT ONG Bec Lynd, born and bred in Tasmania, was living in Darwin in 2010, but dreamed of returning to her home state, finding both enough room to keep her horse and a way to live off-the-grid. “Initially I wanted at least 100 acres,” she says, “but I saw this place and just fell in love.” The property she fell for and ultimately purchased had more than enough room at 220 acres, with a north-facing slope and a pleasing ratio of 60 per cent bush, 40 per cent cleared land. “I was trying to design the lifestyle I wanted,” Lynd says. “The actual progression was pretty pragmatic.” The property had no infrastructure when she bought it, missing both fencing and driveway, so there was a significant time investment needed. The area and its slope, while stunningly beautiful,

Jac Taylor Jac Taylor is a Sydneybased lifestyle and travel storyteller who loves covering the best of Australian leisure and food businesses.

Business

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sustainability means environmental, but it also means emotional, economic and financial sustainability." DEC 2018/JAN 2019

experiences some of the highest highs and lowest lows of Tasmanian weather patterns. It’s a bushfire-prone zone, with rocky slopes, so this made the choice of livestock quite specific. “She investigated different options,” says her partner, Bec Tudor, “and ended up with Highland cattle. They keep the grass down, and they’re very hardy. They’re not daunted by slopes, hills or dales, and they can handle weather extremes because their coats act as insulation, so they’re very robust.” An added and very important bonus is how little extra farming interference is required by Highland cattle; they tend to breed and feed quite independently, which was essential given that Lynd started her farming concern entirely solo. However in 2013 she met Tudor, who was living in a small apartment in Hobart at the time. Cue treechange no.2. “When I moved out to the farm in 2014 it was a huge lifestyle change,” says Tudor. “I’d lived on hobby properties in rural areas and I loved visiting farms when I was a kid, but going 100 per cent off-grid was all a bit different.”

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By this time Lynd was running a significant fold of Highland cattle – as their herds are named – including calves born in 2011. Her pragmatism governed what happened next. “I only want animals with purpose, not just as fluffy pets,” she says. “When I did more research and found out how good the meat is, I grew it.” So Big River Highland Beef was launched in 2015, just as those 2011 calves came of slaughter age. The fact that Lynd and Tudor let the animals mature for four years before slaughter is markedly different from bigger, supermarketgrade beef concerns that may send to the abattoir at one or two years of age – and that’s the first of many differences that identify them as an ethical, sustainable and very much boutique business. “That was part of our ethic from the beginning: market demand wouldn’t change our philosophy about how we manage the cattle,” says Tudor. “We have a strong sense of sustainability, and we care about the best welfare for the cattle and what works for us. “We only supply to southern Tasmania – that’s how boutique we are. The gourmet food market around this region is so strong that that’s enough for us, and the chefs seem to appreciate it. We deliver our own beef to our customers, who are not paying for marketing or branding, just for the quality of meat itself. As for the animals, they’ve had the benefit of free ranging for those years, eating a variety of foods. It’s not practical with our landscape to be sowing different grasses – the cows eat weeds and native

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and introduced grasses of their own accord, and are 100 per cent grass fed, all of which flows through into the flavour of the meat.” Highland cows are famously visually striking, and come in a huge variety of colours, from red through to brindle, fawn, black and mahogany. Lynd and Tudor are passionate about minimal waste, and get the hide of each slaughtered animal tanned by a northern Tasmanian grandfather-granddaughter team. Even the horns and skull sets are sun bleached and marketed as art. “The horns can be really quite spectacular objects in their own right,” says Tudor. Their “hands off” way of raising the cattle is born of the surprising fact that both women still work full-time jobs – Lynd in the state ambulance service and Tudor at a museum. But they purposely keep the fold limited in number to suit the amount of feed available on the land. Although they can go up to 100 head of cattle, they are currently running just 60 head, which suits the current state of the property with the prospect of a long, dry summer ahead. Having a higher slaughter age additionally means it’s essential to look years ahead. However, the intentionally limited scope of the business also brings something vitally important to the mix. “Sustainability means environmental,” says Tudor, “but it also means emotional, economic and financial sustainability. We don’t want the strain of debt on our relationship, and we want to be on this land for many decades to come, so we won’t design systems that aren’t sustainable on a personal level. We want to have work-life balance, to enjoy our farm as well. People talk about farmers burning out so often, and we think holistically as it’s much more productive for yourself.” With the business running at capacity and a new baby now, Lynd and Tudor are very comfortable, though juggling as much as any new family. So has Lynd found the fairytale of Plenty she was looking for? She barely pauses. “Yeah, absolutely yes,” she says. And pauses, and says a happy “yes” one more time. DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Season’s Savings As we all know, Christmas is a time of excess (both in terms of food and financial spending). But it doesn’t have to be this way – at least not when it comes to your spending! Here are my top 8 tips for surviving the Christmas holiday season 'unscathed'.

1. Decide on your budget... and stick to it! It’s extremely important that you take the time to understand what you can afford to spend. What you can afford is basically the money you have saved throughout the year to buy Christmas presents, plus what you might be able to spend out of your pay packet. Just as importantly, you must stick within the budget you’ve set.

2. Set up automatic savings transfers

If you don’t trust that you’ll be able to stick to a budget, automatic savings transfers might become your new best friend. Set up an automatic transfer to move funds into a separate “holiday spending” account each time you’re paid. The best time to do this is in January – this way, a year’s worth of holiday savings will be waiting for you in time for next Christmas!

3. Avoid spending on your credit card

Spending on your credit card during the Christmas season is a common trap, but this will come to hurt your household finances in January when the money needs to be paid. And as we all know, if you can’t pay the money back you will incur anything up to 20% interest on top of the money you already owe the bank.

Ryan Watson Tribeca Financial's CEO knows all about money management.

AusBiz.

4. Quality over quantity

Instead of overspending, employ the philosophy "it’s the thought that counts". Often a well-thought-out and inexpensive present (such as an experience) is even better received than a traditional present.

5. Kris Kringle

For big families, try to organise a Kris Kringle. This means you will have to buy only one Christmas present for that part of your family.

6. Buy vouchers to spend strategically

Vouchers can be a great way to “stretch” the value of a present – that is, if they are spent during a sales period, the recipient will generally get a lot more for their money. Giving your friends or family a voucher and then taking them out to spend it over the Boxing Day sales is a great way for them to get the most value out of your gift.

7. Plan in advance for additional spending on food and alcohol

We all know the festive season means people and parties. Hence, planning to buy the additional food and alcohol you’ll need when it’s on sale in the preceding months can be a great way to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket.

8. Start forming good habits this January

On the off-chance that you do financially “overindulge” during the holiday season, it’s important you begin the next year with good habits. This all starts with getting back into conscious spending habits and ensuring that you have a savings plan in place. Set a goal for yourself and have a reward in mind as your goal – this will help maintain your motivation during times of temptation. These steps will help you to avoid a long-lasting Christmas hangover without having to be a Grinch or cutting the fun out of the festive season!

Learn about the history of the Huon Valley apple industry

Enjoy a Willie Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cider paddle

Take a tour of the Charles Oates Distillery

Visit the Saturday Artisan & Produce market

Visit the home of Willie Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cider where you can enjoy a great meal and a cider paddle, visit the Huon Valley apple museum, get up close and personal with a working distillery, peruse the Saturday Artisan & Produce Market.

Hobart Hobart Huonville

Contact

25mins

Huonville

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

Property Biz

Escape the City THE REGIONAL CENTRES OF NEW SOUTH WALES OFFER ALL THE BENEFITS OF A RELAXED, AFFORDABLE LIFESTYLE WITHOUT THE TRAFFIC, EXPENSE AND CHAOS OF SYDNEY’S BIG SMOKE. Tell Sydneysiders that they can cut their daily commute by a quarter and slash their mortgage by a third while still having access to great coffee, and they’ll probably ask: “What’s the catch?” But an increasing number of former city slickers are discovering the only obstacle to a cheaper lifestyle is actually deciding to take the plunge. According to Evocities, a NSW regional resident attraction campaign, more than 3600 new households have migrated to their seven partner cities and surrounds since 2010. One of the main drivers attracting people to those destinations – Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga – is affordable real estate. In a report being prepared for Evocities by .ID Consulting, figures show the median house price to income ratio in the last Census was 4.7 per cent, compared with a huge 8.4 per cent in Sydney.

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Making the move

Jason and Karen Triggs moved to the Bathurst region with their two young children in January 2018, after spending years tackling traffic and dealing with skyrocketing property prices. “Everything was just becoming harder than it needed to be,” Jason explains. “We lived in Sydney’s Northern suburbs and I was working on the other side in Alexandria. The kids spent their time in car seats, and sometimes we were too busy to even have breakfast at home, so they’d be eating toast in the back of the car. “Plus, for our new place we ended up paying about a third of the total cost of our home in Sydney, so it’s been completely transformational,” he adds.

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

PHOTOGRAPH: EVOCITIES

Property Biz

Today the Triggses are not only closer to work and the dream of living mortgage-free, they are connecting with the community. “You actually get to know your neighbours,” Jason says. “In Sydney we’d been living in the last place for about five years and I couldn’t tell you the first names of the people on one side, and we’d only see the ones on the other side at Christmas. It’s completely different here.” He admits that before heading west he, like many other Sydneysiders, had preconceived ideas about regional life. “I thought I’d have to re-train and I was uncertain about what work I could do, but there’s actually no shortage of jobs here.” Now working with a local start-up, Jason has seen firsthand that a regional area can provide better work opportunities than the overcrowded Sydney market. “Being a smaller community, it’s actually easier to get stuff done. You can get involved

with key regional stakeholders in your field, or even get a meeting with the mayor,” he says. Albury Mayor and Evocities chairman Kevin Mack is living proof of that regional reality. “Anyone who wants to move to Albury will get a personal tour with the mayor,” he says enthusiastically. The scheme is successfully educating people about life in regional NSW: “People in Sydney can be guilty of living in their own bubble. They’re too busy doing what they’re doing and don’t see the forest for the trees. “These are vibrant regional cities that have evolved to offer a lifestyle as good as, or better than, Sydney’s. I think regional living now far outstrips city living,” Mr Mack says, adding that other misconceptions about regional life are low earning potential and volatile property prices. “If you do the numbers – add up the time and money you save in terms of transport, and the money you save on a mortgage – I’m sure that 

UR, QUISTIAE QUI AUT V I D U C I A Q U AT Q U I S S E D M O L U P TA S V O L U T U T U T A S D O L U P TA TEMPERCIANI IPSUNT ENT ET MAGNIS MAXIMI, SINULLA TENESTURIBUSDANDUNT

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

PHOTOGRAPH: EVOCITIES

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A BEAUTIFUL AND AFFORDABLE HOME IN DUBBO

in 10 years in a regional city you’ll have saved a lot more money, and get more return on your investment, than you would in Sydney,” he says.

Crunching the numbers

Cameron Kusher, senior analyst at CoreLogic, says that despite significant residential house price growth in regional NSW over the past five years (some Evocities locations have seen values rise by as much as 20 to 30 per cent), a cooling Sydney property market will spread elsewhere. “A lot of what happens in regional NSW is dictated by what happens in Sydney,” he explains. “However, you haven’t had the deterioration in housing affordability in regional cities like you’ve had in Sydney – but now with tighter credit and fewer investors out there in the marketplace it will affect other parts of the state as well. “I don’t think these markets will experience the same conditions Sydney is going through, the sort of falls that we’re seeing in Sydney. But certainly I think there will be an impact on demand, and that’s going to, at the very least, slow down the rate of growth in those areas.”

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When new Tamworth resident Neil McLennan thinks about how long it would have taken him to buy his first property in Sydney he laughs awkwardly. “I would have been well into my late 40s before I could have even entertained the idea,” he says. Last year the single 28-year-old bought a onebedroom apartment in Tamworth outright for $132,000. As a community aged care worker, Neil’s salary did not permit him to buy anywhere near family or friends in Sydney. “Where I used to live in Roseville, a unit would have cost me about $800,000. Here a really good two-bedroom unit would be about $180,000,” he says. “I was sick of fighting with traffic in Sydney, but for me the big motivator was being able to afford a place of my own. The job and the social life I knew would just come naturally after that.” He adds that while it is often young families or retiring couples who tend to make a treechange, singles can have just as much success starting over. “I think it’s easier to fit in here because everyone is so laidback and approachable, and there’s so much going on,” he says.

Property Biz

Looking to the future

Growing regional cities are a natural way forward as Sydney’s population hits breaking point according to Geoff Brailey, a social demographer with McCrindle. “Wages just aren’t keeping up with property prices, particularly in Sydney, so that challenge is impacting those trying to enter the housing market. People who are younger, with young families, or maybe in those pretty secure jobs around teaching and nursing, are looking towards rural, regional options,” he says. In its 2015 Future of Sydney Report, McCrindle asked people what their five greatest challenges living in Sydney were. First it was the high cost of living, then the cost of housing, followed by traffic and commute times, then employment prospects and, finally, the overall stress of life.

“I think the misconception of life in regional areas being limiting is now worth challenging. These towns offer a real quality of life. The time savings, the cost savings, the enhanced social capital: they’re the advantages regional areas have over urban areas, and yet they’re not disadvantaged in terms of a lot of the lifestyle and cultural aspects,” Geoff says. “And they’ve also got some of the most beautiful terrain in their backyards, so we really need to celebrate their stories.” He adds that as the population of NSW continues to grow, urban areas and regional areas need to come closer together. “For NSW there’s an opportunity to really think through that connection, which would involve accessible flights, train and road connections, as well as that digital infrastructure to make sure we’re able to live and work and play well together,” he says. “We need to ask ourselves: How do we help that synergy across a state where we have five million people living in Sydney, which is just a tiny geographical footprint of this beautiful and large state?”

Change in median house prices SYDNEY • Median house price $980,000 • Three years - 18.8% • Five years - 56.8% ALBURY • Median house price $330,000 • Three years - 8.2% • Five years - 17.9% ARMIDALE • Median house price (council - Armidale Dumaresq) $350,000 • Three years - 1.6% • Five years - 7.7% BATHURST • Median house price (council - Bathurst regional) $434,500 • Three years - 20.4% • Five years - 27.4% DUBBO • Median house price $362,000 • Three years - 9.7% • Five years - 30% ORANGE • Median house price $400,000 • Three years - 17.6% • Five years - 21.2% TAMWORTH • Median house price (council - regional) $350,000 • Three years - 12.1% • Five years - 25%

PHOTOGRAPH: EVOCITIES

“If you’re thinking about moving, get out there and visit the Evocities over a weekend and see what’s on offer – then hop online and see how much properties cost compared with what you’d have to settle for in Sydney.”

WAGGA WAGGA • Median house price $359,000 • Three years - 12.2% • Five years - 18.8%

DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Puzzles

CROSSWORD

D O M D K N E I R O Q U N

H F R O T C I R T S N O C

E N O A F H I A O N P M T

A I R J T T D S D U A A I

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S R N R R E P T I L E S E

S E Y P W O O D L A N D S

L X G R A S S L A N D S I

SOLUTIONS:

A R J O R G V T M E R F I

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H F R O T C I R T S N O C

R S D A N E O A K A O A S E N O A F H I A O N P M T

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REPTILES TERRITORY TREES VENOM WOODLAND

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or even diagonally. Theme: SNAKES

R S D A N E O A K A O A S

DISTINCTIVE GRASSLANDS LENGTH MARKINGS PREDATOR RAINFORESTS

WORD SEARCH

B T D O E C V L S K Q G I

ANTIVENOM BROAD HEAD CAMOUFLAGE COMMON CONSTRICTOR DANGEROUS

DOWN 1. Unload (suitcase) 2. Italian sparkling wine 3. Rock-pool crustacean 4. Military student 5. Communicative 6. Heaven’s ... Gates 9. Movie performer 11. Segregates 13. Large antlered animal 15. Comedian, ... Murphy 16. Shouted 18. Actor, ... Pattinson 19. Rot 21. Nauseous 22. Settles (debt)

N S M S G N I K R A M E D

ACROSS 1. Normal 7. Fracture 8. Trattoria staple 10. Polar vessel 12. Collapse (4,4) 14. Command to dog 16. Period of time 17. Sport parachutist 20. Ability to govern 23. Golfer’s two under par 24. Grace 25. Resource

NORTHERN PENINSULA AREA REGIONAL COUNCIL

With respect and pride, we strive to build a future for our children based on unity, equitable, self-governance, education and culture. SOME OF NPARC SERVICES ANIMAL CONTROL CEMETERY & FUNERAL SERVICES

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Mayor Edward Newman

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Visit or contact us: 180 Adidi Street, Bamaga | (07) 4090 4119 | info@nparc.qld.gov.au | www.nparc.qld.gov.au

Enhance your experience with Hertz. Unlock a free upgrade when you next rent with Hertz, a preferred partner to Rex Airlines.* To upgrade simply go to the Hertz counter on arrival and quote Promotional Code 304194 or visit hertz.com.au/rex

Hertz. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to get you there. *Offer available for rentals up to 31 December 2018. This offer is applicable for rentals in participating locations in Australia only. Offer excludes taxes, fees, optional products and services, fuel, additional charges such as airport taxes and sundry fees and the GST that applies to these charges. This offer may not be combined with any other offer, discount promotion, special offer or coupon. Offer applies to economy to full size vehicles. Visit hertz.com.au/rex for a full list of participating locations and terms and conditions. Blackout periods apply.