Horizons 2016 June/July

What’s on in WA + Member Benefits + 10 of the best

Your RAC magazine /

June / July 2016

Riding the wave

WA’s pioneering surf nomads

RAC Rescue helicopter survivors Embracing e-bikes

Why electric is the way to go

Nature’s wonderland

WA’s Great Western Woodlands

WIN! A cruise onboard Ovation of the Seas see page 34

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Horizons

Inside

Your RAC magazine June / July 2016

Editor-in-Chief Will Golsby Editor Lucy Siebert Deputy Editor Vanessa Pogorelic

WIN! A cruise onboard Ovation of the Seas see page 34

Publisher Christine Dixon Design Dallas Budde Advertising Ben Treasure (WA only) tel: 08 9388 7844 ben@mediatonic.com.au Kerri Spillane tel: 03 8520 6444 kerrispillane@hardiegrant.com.au

Horizons is published for The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc)

by Hardie Grant Media Ground Level, Building 1 658 Church Street, Richmond Victoria 3121 Australia hardiegrant.com.au Managing Director Jeff Trounce jefftrounce@hardiegrant.com.au

28 WA’s surf nomads Behind the wheel of their Holdens, Fords and Kombis, these young surf mavericks discovered some of our best surf spots.

CAB audited as at March 2015 is 518,527 Cover image: Courtesy Jim King Australia Post ISSN No 0810 8285.

The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.

Advertisements in Horizons are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RAC accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.

4 Horizons June / July 2016

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46

No-fault crash cover

American dream

Changes to motor vehicle injury insurance.

Top experiences across the USA.

34 Win a luxury cruise!

Experience the stunning Ovation of the Seas from Singapore to Fremantle.

Inside

In next issue Coming up in the August/September issue, which cars are the cheapest to own and run?

your Horizons 60 Member Lounge

m

23 52 65

17

Spotlight on e-bikes.

RAC Rescue helicopter survivors.

Car reviews.

38

s.

se!

Home maintenance essentials, plan your dream wildflower trip, personal security devices for older people, win a Western Australian Road & 4WD Track Atlas, RAC and Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF) partnership, a new home for RAC Mandurah.

The Great Western Woodlands.

Regulars

Travel

Move

7 President’s message Canberra must commit to WA infrastructure projects.

8 Mailbox

15 What’s on

20 CTP insurance scheme

Events around the state.

We still have questions.

28 WA’s surf nomads

23 The e-bike boom

They found our top surf spots.

The rise of the electric bicyle.

38 Great Western Woodlands

52 Test drive

Members’ letters.

9 Exchange Sharing your views.

10 Snapshot

A stunning wildflower region.

46 A land of many wonders

New cars on the market.

57 What’s new

News from the RAC.

Highlights of the USA.

82 The 10 best

45 Travel brief

59 Car doctor

Bush tucker experiences.

News from RAC Travel.

Your questions answered.

The latest news in motoring.

Member Benefits Show your card and save on everything from vehicle maintenance to groceries, entertainment and travel.

Download our free Member Benefits app to discover where you can save with exclusive member offers.

Log on today and make the most of your RAC membership rac.com.au/memberbenefits

June / July 2016 Horizons 5

RAC’s top 10

federal election transport priorities Top five infrastructure projects Perth light rail RAC calls on the federal government to commit funding towards Perth light rail ($2 billion in total project costs) in order to enhance economic productivity, transport safety and sustainability outcomes in WA.

Network management technologies RAC is calling on the government to commit $300 million towards the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems, including an integrated transport system required for self-driving vehicles.

Thornlie rail line extension RAC is calling for a funding commitment towards the extension of the Thornlie rail line ($340 million in total project costs).

Top five key policies

RAC is calling on the government to commit to and develop an investment program that prioritises public transport infrastructure.

Vehicle safety standards RAC calls on the government to reduce the time taken to examine new regulatory proposals and ensure consumers have access to vehicle safety information by making the display of ANCAP star ratings at the point of sale mandatory.

Motorist taxation revenue RAC calls for a fairer distribution of funding from revenue raised from WA motorists and consideration of the merits of a reformed charging system as part of a genuine reform of taxation on motorists.

Cycle network infrastructure

Highway upgrades In order to keep Perth moving safely and efficiently along its highways, RAC is calling for funding towards a rolling program of grade separations and upgrades to Perth’s orbital route ($285 million in total project costs), comprising the Reid, Tonkin and Roe Highways, to freeway standard.

Bunbury Outer Ring Road Bunbury Outer Ring Road is an important regional initiative and requires further investment to complete the project. RAC calls on the government to commit funding towards its completion ($675 million in total project costs).

Fund public transport infrastructure

RAC calls on the government to allow allocations for cycling infrastructure to be made from the existing Black Spots Program, to safely separate cyclists from freight and commercial traffic along major arterial corridors.

Vehicle emission standards RAC calls on the government to introduce an appropriate mandatory light vehicle emissions standard based on carbon dioxide emissions which sets an emissions intensity target for the Australian light vehicle fleet.

To find out more visit rac.com.au/federalpriorities or email advocacy@rac.com.au

President’s message

The Royal Automobile Club of WA (INC) 832 Wellington Street, West Perth.

GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839. tel: 13 17 03 rac.com.au RAC Member Service Centres Metropolitan Carousel: Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. Morley: Shop 1, Morley Markets, Bishop St. West Perth (Head Office): 832 Wellington St. Regional Albany: 110 Albany Hwy. Bunbury: Shop 32, Stirling Centre, Stephen St. Geraldton: Shop 29, Centro Northgate Shopping Centre, Chapman Rd. Kalgoorlie: 51-53 Hannan St. Mandurah: Shop SP037, Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Wy. RAC Travel Centres Applecross: Shop 2, 14-16 Riseley St, tel: 1300 657 681 Carousel: Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Hwy. tel: 9365 4700 Joondalup: Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre (external), Shop E24, Boas Ave. tel: 9308 1600 Midland: Shop 100, Midland Gate Shopping Centre, 274 Great Eastern Hwy. tel: 6150 6468 Mandurah: Shop SP037 Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Wy. tel: 6150 6456 Morley: Shop 1, Morley Markets, Bishop St. tel: 6466 2300 West Perth: 832 Wellington St. tel: 9436 4830 Hearing-impaired members Emergency Roadside Assistance SMS number only 0434 182 877 Roadside Assistance 24 hours, 7 days TTY: 9303 8470 RAC contact numbers Roadside Assistance 13 11 11 Battery Services 13 11 11 Membership 13 17 03 13 17 03 Motoring Advice Vehicle Condition Appraisals 1300 797 078 13 17 03 Insurance Finance 13 17 03 Travel 13 17 03 Touring 13 17 03 Security Services 13 17 03 RAC Auto Services 1300 135 667 RAC DTEC 6189 4646 Corporate Enquiries 9436 4111

WA roads and rail under the spotlight in federal election year This federal election is critical for RAC members because Western Australia is forecast to buckle under the pressure of congestion and our regional infrastructure requires increased investment to improve safety and to ensure our communities are connected.

According to Infrastructure Australia, WA’s infrastructure gap will cost the state an estimated $16 billion in lost productivity by 2031 if left unaddressed. In the same year seven of the nation’s 10 most congested roads, including the top four, will be in Perth. There is also the impact that congestion will have on the community.

It has been previously estimated that Perth’s public transport system will be required to carry more than twice as many people as it did in 2012.

Our road maintenance bill is also under increasing pressure. The WA Auditor General highlighted in 2009 that WA had a backlog of almost $800 million.

In addition, 27 per cent of WA’s National Highway Network has recorded an AusRAP star rating of just one or two stars and this means our regional infrastructure needs more investment.

Meeting the infrastructure deficit will require WA to receive a fairer share of funding from Canberra.

Last year, for every dollar the Australian Government collected from WA motorists, just 34 cents was spent on improving the state’s infrastructure.

This has remained a significant issue under successive governments and is a step backward from the previous year in which only 41 cents in the dollar was returned and under the previous government only 37 cents.

If WA received just 50 per cent of the money paid in federal taxes by WA motorists, we would see an extra $360 million returned to the state.

This would fully fund construction of the much-needed 11.5km Thornlie rail line extension in a single year and could be used to build another 12km of passenger rail every year after that.

While the current model for charging road users has been criticised for being unsustainable and there is mounting pressure to change the system, the increase to fuel excise has shown just how chaotic this debate can be.

Our members are already paying their fair share and any change must include a broader reform of the taxation of motorists and the community must be engaged in this debate.

RAC has released details of the federal infrastructure projects and policies we believe are key to WA’s future growth with a clear message that all federal candidates must commit to stepping up their commitments to infrastructure in WA. RAC will also seek members’ support to ensure our voice is heard, so together we can work towards finding safer, easier and sustainable ways to move around our state.

For more information about RAC’s Federal Priorities, please visit rac.com.au/ federalpriorities.

Esme Bowen RAC President

Your RAC Council

Club Patron Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO, Governor of Western Australia President Esme Bowen Senior Vice President Tony Evans Vice President Jacqueline Ronchi Members of Council Dennis Banks, Allan Blagaich, Freda Crucitti, Jill Darby, Ross Dowling, Dalton Gooding, Alden Halse, Stephanie Proud, Elizabeth Re, Emmerson Richardson, Tim Shanahan, Julie Wadley.

June / July 2016 Horizons 7

Contact the editor

Join the discussion about the RAC and the magazine Wearing hi-vis vests or clothing could help motorcyclists be seen more easily.

Our winning letter

Dangerous debris manoeuvre Returning from Bunbury on the freeway, a driver slowed and indicated wanting to filter into the right lane, however overtaking traffic in the right lane prevented this.

Without warning the driver switched on his hazard lights, opened the door and walked onto the freeway to clear a piece of tyre debris. By this time about five cars were backed up behind my vehicle. Glancing into my rear-view mirror I saw a fast approaching heavy vehicle in the same lane heading towards our stationary vehicles. The driver took evasive action, driving into the emergency stopping shoulder on the freeway at speed – his only option given the vehicle’s momentum. The motorist, who had by now picked up the tyre debris and was about to cross the shoulder to discard it, thankfully did not do so but instead 8 Horizons June / July 2016

stopped. Clearing freeway debris is foolhardy and downright dangerous. The heavy vehicle driver’s skill and split-second decision to use the shoulder as an emergency pathway prevented a catastrophe on the road.

Alvin Desker

RAC response: If you observe debris blocking the flow of traffic or causing a safety concern call Main Road’s 24-hour enquiry line on 138 138. If the hazard is within the CBD area or the Mitchell or Kwinana Freeways, call the incident response hotline on 13 76 23. Motorists should, of course, not call while driving.

Overseas assistance On a recent trip to Canada to see family, I was pleasantly surprised that I could benefit from my RAC membership.

On the last day I was there I borrowed my dad’s car.

While I was out doing lastminute errands before going to the airport to fly back to Australia, the battery went dead in his car. I immediately contacted the motor association that my dad belongs to but was informed that because my dad wasn’t

with his car they couldn’t help me. Fortunately, they asked me if I was a member of a motor association where I lived. I couldn’t believe my luck that I had my RAC card with me. After looking into my membership details the Alberta Motor Association was able to dispatch one of its Roadside Assistance vehicles to help me. Without having my RAC membership card that day, getting to the airport on time would have been a lot more stressful.

I don’t usually take my card with me when I travel overseas but from now on I will make sure I do.

Paula Denis

Railways kept alive I congratulate RAC for offering support to the Wheatbelt Heritage Rail project, (Horizons, April/May) which involves travel by steam train from Goomalling via Dowerin to Wyalkatchem. What a fantastic idea to have the experience of riding on a steam train.

Having such a project will ensure at least some of our country railway lines will still be used and enjoyed.

Max D A Ball

Switch on and be seen I visited the Swan Valley and York over the Easter break and also recently did a trip to Albany and was appalled at the number of drivers who didn’t put on their headlights.

Easter Saturday was wet and the roads were slippery.

Most cars blended in with the road and surrounding bush but cars that had their headlights on were so visible.

How many times do RAC and Police have to tell us before we finally listen and learn that being seen can save lives?

Also, drivers please put away your phones while driving.

Jan Buck

Motorcyclist visibility I’ve often thought motorcyclists are hard to see on the open road. I had a friend from Denmark visit recently. He was wearing a black helmet, black jacket, black gloves, trousers and boots all on his black motorcycle, which was on black bitumen. Could motorcycle riders wear a brighter colour like road workers or cyclists who can be seen easily? Shame on inconsiderate motor car drivers as well.

S. Woods

You can be a winner

Each issue, the author of the best letter will win a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance that gives motorists additional peace of mind by offering a range of extended benefits.

For assistance or more information

call 13 17 03 or visit rac.com.au.

Terms and conditions on page 81.

Published letters may be edited for style and length. While we try to respond to all letters we receive, a response cannot be guaranteed.

Images Getty; iStockphoto

Mailbox

Email editor@rac.com.au or write to The Editor, RAC Horizons Magazine, GPO Box C140 Perth WA 6839.

Exchange Feedback, opinion and fast facts DANGEROUS DISTRACTIONS

55% of 17–21 years old admitted sending a text message or email while driving.

MOTORCYCLE THEFT

30%

of motorcycles stolen nationally were in WA in 2014/15

National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council

2015 RAC free2go Young Driver Survey

RAC ONLINE POLL RESULT

In the past 12 months, when catching a taxi in WA, did you choose a traditional taxi service or a fee-based ride-sharing service, or have you used both?

TRADITIONAL TAXI 41% FEE-BASED RIDE SHARING SERVICE 25%

Images Getty; iStockphoto

BOTH 19%

RAC ONLINE POLL

Tell us …

At this year’s federal election, out of transport infrastructure and road safety, which policies would MOST influence your vote?

Take our poll at rac.com.au/exchange Poll closes 21 June 2016

facebook.com/racwa

twitter.com/racwa

Exchange your views by email: editor@rac.com.au June / July 2016 Horizons 9

ď Ą

Snapshot News in brief from the RAC & beyond

Letting your car keep a safe distance Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an advanced safety assist technology that is increasingly available in popular passenger cars.

When activated, the vehicle takes over the task of accelerating and decelerating in order to keep a specified distance from the vehicle in front. This can include coming to a complete stop when required during a journey.

The driver sets a speed range and a following distance, which the system

10 Horizons June / July 2016

maintains until the driver takes over again.

The vehicle’s ACC system monitors the speed and movement of vehicles in front of it using a variety of sensors to scan and measure the traffic ahead, including radar-based technologies.

ACC can come as either a standard fitting in a new vehicle or as part of a safety upgrade package.

The technology is marketed under a variety of names including Active Cruise

Control, radar cruise control, intelligent cruise control, Autocruise and autonomous cruise control.

As a single system, adaptive cruise control is unlikely to have a big impact on how we drive or on road safety. However, when it integrates with other on-board systems such as autonomous braking, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems it has the potential to significantly change the driving and road safety landscape.

Snapshot

LP P

Young people delay getting their licence Becoming a licensed driver was once considered an essential part of a young person’s freedom and independence, but this attitude is beginning to shift.

Research by the RACV in Victoria has identified that a proportion of eligible young drivers are choosing to delay gaining their driver’s licence.

A similar trend has been noted in a number of countries including the USA, Canada, the UK, Sweden, Norway and Japan.

The RACV research found that the proportion of licensed 18 years olds in Victoria declined from 53 per cent in 2001 to 40 per cent in 2014. This trend was also noted in older ages, for instance 90 per cent of 24 year olds were licensed in 2001 compared with 77 per cent in 2014.

Australian surveys of unlicensed but eligible young people found that some of the most common reasons for not being a licenced driver included a fear of driving, being too busy to learn to drive and that the process was too difficult. Some respondents, however, were still in the process of learning to drive.

The majority of young people surveyed indicated they intended to gain a driver’s licence at some stage, with only 12 per cent indicating they had no future plans to obtain a licence.

Toys deliver serious road safety messages RAC’s Community Education team recently added a ‘fleet’ of wooden toy cars and ramps to its range of teaching aids, thanks to the Stirling Men’s Shed workshop.

The 16 handcrafted cars and ramps were made by members of the Stirling Men’s Shed in Balcatta to be used in road safety demonstrations for primary school students in Year 4.

RAC’s Community Education team is using the cars and ramps to promote the life-saving benefits of seatbelts by demonstrating what happens to eggs placed in the cars with and without seatbelts.

Using engaging, interactive props and teaching aids is essential for RAC’s Community

Education team when delivering road safety messages to school children and the wooden toys and ramps have been used to great effect.

Members of the Stirling Men’s Shed donated their time and all materials to construct the toys in the interests of helping to promote road safety to young people.

The City of Stirling’s Men’s Shed is a not-for-profit workshop that allows members to engage in woodworking projects, interact socially and raises awareness of men’s health issues.

Students watch on as road crash drama unfolds Nearly 8000 students watched on as a tragic crash scene unfolded before them as part of the annual RAC bstreetsmart road safety event at Perth Arena.

The free road safety education event for students in years 10 to 12 exposes young people to the devastating consequences of unsafe driving by presenting a re-enactment of a crash scene. The simulated road crash graphically demonstrates the scale of the operations and personnel involved in the aftermath of a major crash.

Students also hear stories from those who have been personally affected by road trauma, including members of emergency services teams.

Since its inception almost 30,000 Western Australian students have attended the event.

RAC bstreetsmart is an integral part of RAC’s ongoing commitment to positively influence the behaviour of one of our most vulnerable road user groups.

In 2015, drivers aged 17 to 24 accounted for only 11 per cent of the population and yet represented 20 per cent of road fatalities.

RAC bstreetsmart is presented by RAC, WA Police, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, St John Ambulance, Royal Perth Hospital and the Theatrical Response Group.

June / July 2016 Horizons 11

Snapshot

Nominations for RAC Council Nominations for election to the Council of The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Incorporated) close at 12 noon on Friday 29 July 2016.

T

he legislation governing incorporated associations in Western Australia has been amended by the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA) (“New Act”). Whilst associations have a period of three years in which to change their rules or constitutions to comply with the New Act, the provisions of the New Act are likely to come into effect on 1 July 2016.

Prospective nominees are referred to Rules 11.3(a) and (b) of the Club, which read: “11.3(a) Except in the case of retiring Councillors who are eligible and offer themselves for election or re-election under rule 11.3(c) and subject to rule 13.1(b)(ii), a person must be nominated by at least 25 Members who are Voting Members as at the date of lodgement of the nomination form.

11.3(b) The procedures to be followed in conducting the nomination process must be set out in the By-Laws, including the requirements for the nomination form and the date by which the nomination form is required to be lodged.”

Eligibility requirements for nominees are set out in Rule 7.2(d) and in the New Act. Nomination Forms may be obtained on application to the Chief Executive, RAC, 832 Wellington Street, West Perth, after 1 July 2016. Nominations to fill five vacancies on the Council of the RAC will close at 12 noon on 29 July 2016. Retiring members of Council are eligible for re-election.

Safer motoring in remote communities Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, an organisation dedicated to the cultural preservation and prosperity of the Western Desert’s Martu Aboriginal people, recently incorporated a motoring initiative into its Martu leadership program.

The Martu Motoring Initiative was established to educate Martu people about safe driving behaviour and safe motoring in remote areas and to teach vehicle maintenance skills including how to carry out basic vehicle safety checks. It was supported by RAC’s Community Sponsorships program.

For the Martu people living in remote desert communities such skills can often be life-saving.

The communities of Punmu, Jigalong and Parnngurr were visited, with sessions conducted

by Martu leaders who had been trained to deliver the program. The sessions were well attended with many members of each community coming along with their vehicles.

The high community attendance underlined a real need for more of this kind of work in remote communities.

The skills gained by leaders who participated in the program will remain invaluable when they return to their communities, where there they can continue to educate and influence others to be safe on the roads.

12 Horizons June / July 2016

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What’s on

 Events around the state in June and July

July Perth Upmarket 26 June University of Western Australia’s Winthrop Hall Perth’s premier quarterly market for original and handcrafted wares is back. Featuring more than 150 of Perth’s most talented artists, designers, crafters and gourmets under one roof, including a dedicated junior upmarket and gourmet section.

Angels in America 28 May–19 June Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA

This Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play is set in New York City in 1985 and sees lead character Walter Prior, who is HIVpositive, being charged with saving humanity.

For more information and tickets, visit bsstc.com.au.

June Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival 2–6 June Perth Arena Get ready to enter a world of enchantment as Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival. You’ll be whisked away to the wintry world of the Academy Award® winning feature film, Disney’s Frozen.

For more information, visit pertharena.com.au.

Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival 3–6 June The eighth annual Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival’s theme this year is ‘Home’ and will feature 30 authors and as many presenters for a weekend of readings, signings, discussions, debates, performances and much more. The popular and free family days will also offer literary events for children of all ages.

For more information and tickets, visit artsmargaretriver.com/literature.

For more information, visit perthupmarket.com.au.

Truffle Kerfuffle 24–26 June Manjimup Truffle Kerfuffle returns to the Shire of Manjimup to celebrate the start of the black truffle season in WA’s Southern Forests.

Featuring a variety of foodie events, stalls and entertainment, this is a must for culinary aficionados.

For more information and tickets, visit trufflekerfuffle.com.au.

Peter and the Wolf

Kids Wonderland 2–10 July Hertha Road Reserve, Stirling Join RAC Little Legends Club at this year’s Kids Wonderland, a fun-filled children’s event held during the July school holidays under the big top. With three daily sessions to choose from, children can enjoy rides, activities and entertainment without long queues. After two sell-out years, make sure you book early – RAC members receive 10 per cent off.

For more information and tickets, visit kidswonderland.com.au.

Derby Boab Festival 1–17 July The colour of the West Kimberley lifestyle will be on display across the two weeks of the festival, which is in its 55th year. Events include Mardi Gras and the Float Parade along with concerts and a bush poets breakfast.

For more information, visit derbyboabfestival.org.au.

24 June Perth Concert Hall Spirited choreography, largerthan-life masks and a modern setting illuminate this symphonic classic like never before. WASO, two dancers, colourful sets and incredible masks make for a modern and humorous re-telling of this enduring story. All the live action is projected onto a big screen above the stage.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival

For more information, visit waso.com.au.

For more information, visit revelationfilmfest.org.

7–17 July This festival puts the spotlight on the best from the international independent film scene. This year there will be 100 films, special guests, an academic conference, Revel-8 – an animation showcase, a mini Iranian film festival and the WA Screen Awards.

The Blue Room Theatre

June and July Perth’s home of independent theatre has an eclectic line-up for the winter months. This includes HART, which uses testimonials from the Stolen Generations; What’s Love Got To Do With It, a satirical exploration of love and loss; The Astronaut, a solo physical theatre piece and Hobo, a look at what it means to be a man in the age of identity crises.

2

u

For more information, visit blueroom.org.au.

Derby Boab Festival June / July 2016 Horizons 15

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Flights and 2 nights at Monkey Mia from $519* per person, twin share 2 night package includes: » Return flights from Perth to Shark Bay with Skippers Aviation » Free return airport transfers

RAC member exclusive

» 2 nights accommodation in Garden View or Beach View room » Daily buffet breakfast » Dinner at the Boughshed Restaurant » Bottle of wine on arrival

Image Ross Wallace Photography

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Phone bookings only call 1300 651 364

Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort

* Subject to availability. Valid for travel until 31 March 2017 and may change without notice. Minimum 2 night stay applies and blackout dates apply between 17/06/16 – 20/06/16, 01/07/16 – 16/07/16, 23/09/16 – 08/10/16, 23/12/16 – 01/01/17. Additional nights at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort will be charged at standard member rates. Advertised package price applies to travel during low season only (24/04/16 – 30/06/16, 29/01/17 – 31/03/17) with member discount applied for accommodation and food and beverage. Other seasons available and package rates subject to change. Bookings must be pre-paid/non-refundable and is only for arrivals & departures on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday due to flight times. Members must show proof of membership upon check-in. Accommodation is based on twin share only. Family rates available. Available for new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other offer, rates or coupons. Late check-out is based on availability.

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Road safety pictured: Accident survivor Nick Lonie.

By Jane Hammond

Survivor stories

Image Ross Wallace Photography

Hundreds of Western Australians owe their lives to the RAC Rescue helicopters and the crews that operate the 24-hour, seven-daya-week service managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

F

rom sea and cliff rescues to car crashes, mining and farming accidents and essential hospital transfers, the Perth-based RAC Rescue helicopter has flown more than 4450 missions since beginning operations in 2003.

Last year alone the helicopter flew 383 missions.

So critical is the service that the State Government recently launched a second emergency rescue helicopter and RAC was proud to be confirmed as the sponsor.

RAC would like to acknowledge the State Government for delivering on its commitment to establish the service in regional WA.

The second helicopter is based primarily in Bunbury, extending the range of the service and providing an even more timely way to get regional patients to medical help.

As the extended service begins a new era of air rescues, we talk to two survivors who owe their lives to the RAC Rescue helicopters and their crew.

June / July 2016 Horizons 17

I did a half iron-man competition about 18 months after the accident and it helped me to stay positive.

Nick’s story Fit and healthy with a passion for triathlon and adventure sports, Nick Lonie had everything to live for. He had an exciting job that took him all over the world and best of all; he had just become engaged to the love of his life.

But a split second decision on 21 August 2011 nearly cost him his life.

Mr Lonie’s fiancée, Eve, was in Bali looking at venues for their wedding when his mates asked him to join them on a boys’ weekend at Ledge Point, 120km north of Perth.

Mr Lonie, 33, jumped at the chance for a weekend away but after spending the day fishing and then drinking at the local pub with his mates he climbed on the rear 18 Horizons June / July 2016

bumper bar of a ute for a ride to the group’s accommodation less than 500m away.

“I didn’t realise at the time that the driver had been drinking and was two times over the limit,” Mr Lonie says.

Others were standing on the running boards of the 4x4 hanging onto a roll bar but Mr Lonie had little to hold onto at the back of the ute and when it sped up to take a corner he and another man were flung off the vehicle.

“I basically hit the tarmac head first at speed,” he says.

Mr Lonie remembers little of the event after that but he was soon in the care of a highly trained St John Ambulance critical care paramedic from the RAC Rescue helicopter.

above: Nick Lonie. right: Farmer Graeme Robertson and the wreckage of his Toyota Hilux.

Together with the other critically injured man, who he had only met that evening, Mr Lonie was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and received care that would help save his life.

“The crew on board were very qualified and they spent about an hour and a half on the ground stabilising us before they put us both in the helicopter and took us to hospital.”

Tragically, the other man died that night and for days as Mr Lonie lay in an induced coma in RPH his family and friends prepared for the worst.

His elderly parents got straight on a plane from Scotland to be by their son’s bedside, his father packing a funeral suit for the trip.

His younger brother raced back from a holiday in South America and a distraught Eve caught the first plane back from Bali.

A CT scan had revealed a massive bleed on Mr Lonie’s brain.

A week later a large portion of his skull had to be removed.

“My character was very different when I woke up; I was very inappropriate, very impulsive and aggressive. It took about two or three years to make that progression back to normal.”

Mr Lonie had a titanium plate inserted into his skull to replace the section of his head that had been removed.

He says it has been a hard road to recovery but he has come through. He and Eve married nine months after the accident and now have a baby girl.

He has lost his sense of smell but says he is 99 per cent back to normal.

“I did a half iron-man competition about 18 months after the accident and it helped me to stay positive.”

Mr Lonie credits his survival to the timely arrival of the RAC Rescue helicopter at the remote scene of his crash.

Images Ross Wallace Photography; courtesy Graeme Robertson

Road safety

Road safety

Images Ross Wallace Photography; courtesy Graeme Robertson

RAC Rescue helicopters

Graeme’s story Graeme Robertson was driving into town from his Kulin farm late in the afternoon of May 30, 2005 when he hit a truck that had stopped abruptly right in the middle of a gravel road.

Mr Robertson was 53 at the time and a shire councillor.

“Because it was May there wasn’t a lot of dust on the road, and I could see alright, then all of a sudden I drove into really heavy dust. There was a tree on the road so the truck had stopped. Before I could get my foot to the brake I was right on it and hit it.

“He was stationary and I hit the truck doing about 90km/h. It hurt a bit, it was the worst shirtfront I’ve ever had,” Mr Robertson laughs.

“The dog was on the back and the tool box went flying. I don’t know where the dog went but he survived.

“That’s the last thing I can really remember clearly.

“The vehicle folded up, it was a Toyota Hilux. I was about 35km out of town but they had the ambulance there in about 30 minutes.”

Mr Robertson had to be cut out of the vehicle and was taken to Kondinin Hospital, 280km east of Perth, by ambulance. His injuries were so serious that he needed to

get to a major hospital fast so the RAC Rescue helicopter was called.

“It landed and took off on the Kondinin Oval. We landed on the top of Royal Perth Hospital. It seemed to take no time at all.”

Mr Robertson suffered crushed ribs, broken bones, a badly bruised heart and four embolic strokes.

“I was a week in intensive care, then two weeks in high dependency and then I went out to Shenton Park.”

The crash has left him weak on one side and with a weakness in his left arm but he has returned to work on the farm.

“I can walk and work all day and there are a lot of people worse off than me,” he says.

“My son now runs the farm and I work for him.”

Mr Robertson says the helicopter played a big part in saving his life. “Having the paramedic and the doctor in the chopper really helped. Kondinin is about the limit of the helicopter’s fuel range.”

Mr Robertson said the crash changed him and he no longer worries so much about the need to do things perfectly.

“It makes you think that if you weren’t here you wouldn’t be doing it anyway so take a bit longer. If it can’t be done today it can be done tomorrow.” l

The two RAC Rescue helicopters work together as the state’s only 24-hour emergency helicopter service, bringing emergency care to where it is needed most. More than two million people are covered by the extended service.

The helicopters work by flying a critical care paramedic to an emergency incident and then transporting the injured patient to a hospital where they will get the best possible care. The helicopters have a range of around 250km.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Gary Gifford said together the two helicopters cover 95 per cent of the state’s population.

“As well as responding to road crashes and other incidents resulting in serious injury, the service also conducts searches for, and recovers people in distress on land and in coastal waters,” Assistant Commissioner Gifford says.

Sponsoring the emergency rescue helicopters is part of RAC’s commitment to giving back to its members and WA. The RAC Rescue helicopters are managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

St John Ambulance provides the critical care paramedics and funding comes from the State Government and the RAC. If you have been part of an emergency rescue carried out by the RAC Rescue helicopters and would like to share your story, contact sponsorship@rac.com.au or call 9436 4517.

June / July 2016 Horizons 19

Road safety

Words by Lucy Siebert

No-fault crash cover begins in WA previously left without financial support WA’s no-fault for their ongoing costs under the old scheme because there was no other compulsory third party involved who was at fault. party insurance This is an important change and one that RAC welcomes. scheme is a huge step However, what motorists are sure to forward for motorists notice is that they will have to pay an $99 per year, per car to cover in our state but some additional the CTP premiums. Caravans and trailers be exempt from the increase. important questions willRAC welcomes the scheme’s remain about its cost introduction but three key questions need to be clarified: and how it will be Why a $99 increase? administered.

the scheme will be managed.

RAC believes that CTP premiums must be used only in relation to the payment of catastrophic injury claims.

That means a sensible funding policy should be adopted to allow for surpluses to be returned in the form of lower premiums once the cost of the no-fault CTP insurance scheme has been covered.

Also, a long-term and gradual approach should be taken to address any shortfalls and importantly, surpluses must not be paid as cash dividends to government.

Y

RAC has sought assurance from the Western Australian government that the CTP scheme will remain publicly owned and managed through the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA).

Any future possibility of privatising the scheme could have potentially negative outcomes for Western Australians, as their insurance premiums could be affected. l

ou won’t be able to notice any obvious changes on our roads or highways but from the start of July a major change will take place for all motorists in Western Australia.

That is because from 1 July, Western Australians with a WA-registered motor vehicle will be covered by a new no-fault compulsory third party (CTP) insurance scheme.

This means that people who are catastrophically injured in a motor vehicle crash where no party is at fault or negligent – for instance if a driver suffers a catastrophic injury as a result of an unlucky encounter with a kangaroo, they will receive financial assistance for ongoing medical costs or rehabilitation.

Catastrophic injuries are defined as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, multiple amputations, severe burns or permanent, traumatic blindness.

An average of 92 people are catastrophically injured on WA roads each year – and around 44 of those were 20 Horizons June / July 2016

RAC is particularly concerned with how the increase of $99 per vehicle has been determined by the State Government.

Independent expert advice sought

by RAC indicates that, in its current form, the scheme is comparatively higher than the premium paid in other states and territories and, importantly, it does not take into account other existing funding sources, such as the public health system through the federal and state governments.

RAC believes the costs associated with a no-fault scheme must accurately reflect the cost of covering people who are catastrophically injured.

In order to do that, the calculations must take a whole of government approach, be justified and transparent, and not unnecessarily cause financial burden to the wider Western Australian community.

What happens to surplus funds?

In addition to seeking clarification around the cost of the scheme, RAC has sought clarification about how any surpluses in

m a t p a h h it c c h h f n a in s in t ju a h t w

Who will govern the scheme?

Fast facts: CTP insurance

1

July 2016

Additional

99

$

effective start date

per year per car

92 people 44

catastrophically injured in WA per year

Of those accidents

did not involve another party

Scheme currently owned and managed through the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA).

p

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So I went and got fitted with some cheap hearing aids at a not-sowell-known hearing aid provider and received dubious benefit as I just wasn’t sure whether I was better off with or without the aids in my ears, particularly in company where there was other noise going on. This put me off hearing aids for a while.

But then there were stories in the paper of people who’d been to Brad Hutchinson Hearing and were doing so much better with their hearing than me. I decided to give Brad a try myself. It is great that Brad’s a cricketer who recognised my name, because we got on well from the outset. I am now wearing fantastic new hearing aids that let me be myself again, enjoying playful banter and putting me back in the thick of life. I really appreciate being able to join in on jokes and have an informed laugh.

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7

E-bikes

By Wendy Caccetta

The e-bike boom There are multiple reasons why more people are choosing more push with less puff on an electric bike.

B

arry Counsel hasn’t driven his car in months. These days the 64-year-old has a new mode of transport that has changed his life. While his car sits at home, Mr Counsel zips around on an electric bike (e-bike). He rides it to and from work — the trip takes him less time than it did in his car — and he uses it to pick up his groceries.

Mr Counsel is one of a growing number of Australians choosing more push with less puff on powerassisted electric bikes, or e-bikes.

Internationally e-bikes have become a transport force to be reckoned with — heralded as a

missing link between the car and the push bike — and sales are booming.

In China alone there are an estimated 200 million e-bikes on the road and e-bikes outsell pushbikes in the Netherlands four to one. US market research company Navigant Research forecasts that global e-bike sales will exceed 360 million by 2023.

But in Western Australia the e-bike phenomenon is comparatively new.

For Mr Counsel, a parking officer, who lives about seven kilometres from the centre of Perth where he works at different locations for the City of Perth, the e-bike makes sense.

He tried commuting on a normal pushbike but didn’t stick at it.

“You’d get there all hot and sweaty and bothered and not all the destinations I work at have showers,” he says. “This electric bike means I can get dressed at home, get on the bike and arrive having had a bit of moderate exercise and I’m dressed ready for work and not sweaty.”

Mr Counsel says riding his electric bike home after work shakes off the day. “When I arrived home in a car I’d still be tired from the shift,” he says. “On a bike it seems to give you a little bit of a spritz if you like…I’m ready to be relaxed rather than arriving home tired.”

June / July 2016 Horizons 23

Your e-bike options E-bikes fall into two categories.

The pedelec bikes, like Mr Counsel’s, require the rider to be pedalling in order for the electric motor to kick in. The rider can choose from different settings, making their task easier with more motor assistance or harder with less help.

In April last year the WA government gave the go-ahead for pedelec bikes in WA to have 250 watt motors (up from the previous limit of 200 watts), in line with the European standards.

An inbuilt safety feature sees the 24 Horizons June / July 2016

electric motor cut out once the rider reaches 25km/h or stops pedalling. The changes to the law were a game changer for e-bikes in WA. E-bike importer Nathan Reizer, says buyers are a diverse group, but that the bikes are particularly good for people who want to return to cycling.

Plus, “electric bikes get you back to your youth,” he says.

E-bikes come in a range of models – from city bikes to mountain bikes, tricycles and even cargo bikes, which can carry up to 120kg or be outfitted to transport

above: E-bikes are already popular in countries such as the Netherlands and China.

the kids. They range in price from about $1500 up to more than $10,000.

Proponents say they are a costeffective alternative to the petrol pump — one battery charge costs between 12–14 cents. Some of the best bikes charge from flat to fully charged in two and a half hours.

It’s little wonder that many organisations such as Australia Post, which has a fleet, and even some pizza delivery companies are investing in them.

The world’s biggest supplier of automotive components, Bosch, has an e-bike division providing

Images courtesy Perth Electric Bike Centre

E-bikes

E-bikes

This electric bike means I can get dressed at home, get on the bike and arrive having had a bit of moderate exercise and not sweaty.

RAC’S TRIAL

On your e-bike!

Clinical nurse Julie Reynolds had seen an e-bike in use on the grounds at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and had been thinking about buying one for herself when the chance came up to take part in the RAC e-Bike Trial.

“I’d been riding to work, but you get hot and sweaty on a normal bike.”

During the trial Ms Reynolds used her e-bike to cycle to work two or three times a week, taking the cycle paths along the river from her home to the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre. It was an hour trip each way.

After the study, Ms Reynolds bought the bike and still keeps up her e-cycling routine. She says one battery charge lasts her several weeks. She saves money by not having to pay for parking or petrol.

Callum Cowell, Director at the University of WA Centre for English

Language Teaching, had never ridden an e-bike until the RAC trial. He used it to ride to work several times a week instead of driving his car.

“Being able to use it to commute without quite the effort meant that I could ride to work and not have to spend time showering.

“The exercise benefits are not quite that of a regular bike but certainly better than that of always just sitting in a car.”

The drawbacks?

“On at least half the days I was not able to use the bike because I had commitments to pick up family members,” he says. “Or occasionally to transport clients somewhere during the day.

“Getting on the bike on the few rainy days we had was also not something I wanted to do.”

motors and other components to pedelec e-bike manufacturers.

It opened an e-bike division in Melbourne last year.

Images courtesy Perth Electric Bike Centre

Australia’s youthful demographic Cameron Burke, who is the regional technical manager of Bosch e-bike systems, says: “What we observed in Australia is that current early adaptors in the market are a much younger demographic than in Europe.

“We expect a broader cross section (of e-bike users) here in Australia in the near future.”

RAC’s e-Bike Trial last year showed that this form of transport was a good option for many Perth commuters.

June / July 2016 Horizons 25

E-bikes

RAC e-bike trial by the numbers Before the trial

…we think e-bikes are the key to unlocking even more demand.

Dr Marilyn Johnson from Monash University’s Institute of Transport Studies in Melbourne says e-bikes are growing in popularity in Australia.

Dr Johnson, who has done two studies on e-bike riding, says users are passionate about their bikes. “What we get consistently, regardless of people’s cycling frequency before they bought the bike, is that people who ride their e-bikes, ride them a lot,” she says.

Electric bikes in Perth Last year, RAC teamed up with four Western Australian employers – the City of Perth, the City of

Wanneroo, the North Metropolitan Health Service and the University of WA – in an e-bike trial to showcase the growing importance of electric bikes, as well as the broader benefits of cycling in WA. Forty participants were given exclusive use of a SmartMotion e-City e-bike to ride to and from work and any other trips they wanted to make for 10 weeks.

Results from the trial showed that car use by the participants halved during the trial period.

“Cycling is booming, with thousands of cyclists taking to WA’s streets and paths every week and we think e-bikes are the key to unlocking even more demand,” says Anne Still, General Manager Public Policy at RAC. “Cycling is a low-cost, healthy and sustainable means of transport that’s available to almost anyone.

However there may be times when it may not seem practical due to perceived barriers such as distance and time constraints.

We think e-bikes can help solve these problems”.

As for Mr Counsel, he’s enjoying making it to work in a snappy 13 minutes, leaving the traffic jams in his wake. l

Fast facts What to look for: Who can ride an e-bike?

Under WA’s Road Traffic Code you must be aged 16 and over to engage the motor on an e-bike.

No licence is required.

Helmets must be worn.

Where can you ride them?

Anywhere bicycles are ridden but not on footpaths.

A warranty that covers the batteries and electrics, not just the frame.

Build quality

Not all bikes are created equal. Like buying a car, check the reputation of the manufacturer of the e-bike and its motor as well as the ease of after-purchase care.

Test-drive the bikes and make comparisons.

83% vs 45% Bike ownership

(ride once a week)

•

Participant travelling to work by car: Before the trial

61 %

During the trial

vs

32%

1778 Total e-bike trips made

More than half of all commuting trips were solely made by e-bike. In total, over the 10 weeks participants made 1778 e-bike trips, most for work (81 per cent), but also nearly a fifth (19 per cent) for other reasons such as fitness, leisure and shopping.

E-bikes range from 25kg for a city bike to 16–20kg for a folding bike or 20–22kg for a mountain bike.

Cost

From about $1500 upwards.

Recharging the battery will cost between 12–14 cents. Some batteries can be recharged in two and a half hours. Bikes should be serviced regularly.

•

Bike usage

Weight

Cost to run

T

Of the 40 bikes used in the trial, 18 were purchased at the end of the trial.

It wa attitu Toda Auss great auth

Like for t emb even adve class Gen

Each of Au with toda whic insta hand guar else miss now. at w

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Source: RAC e-Bike Trial.

26 Horizons June / July 2016

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503-FAN21.01

History

Words by Thea McDonald-Lee

Three generations of

surfing nomads

Without cars, many of the our best surf spots would never have been discovered, and without surfing, those intrepid young surfers wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have had a reason to push further afield for the perfect rip, writes Thea McDonald-Lee.

28 Horizons June / July 2016

History Clockwise from left: West Coast Board Club members driving up Yallingup Hill in 1960 and Ray Geary and his Renault 4CV in 1956.

Images John Budge and Ray Geary

T

he surf scene in Western Australia, like in many other states, developed through the Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSC).

Their regiment and structure saw young adults patrolling Perth’s coastline on the weekends with 16ft hollow plywood boards and handmade surf-skis. As the city beaches started to crowd, they looked out to the horizon for untouched shores and dreamt of perfect peeling waves.

In the early 1960s, members of the City of Perth SLSC, Jim Keenan, Tony Harbison and Brian Cole, found solace in the crystal clear bays of Rottnest Island.

The only problem was the 18km stretch of Indian Ocean that stood between them and paradise.

“Rottnest was our choice of escape, but paddling over was not

without its moments,” Jim Keenan recounted to WA surf historian Jim King in the book, Surfing Down South. “Sometimes we ran into early sea breezes and confronting ocean liners in the fog was not much fun either, with Tony almost a victim.”

The more they explored the limestone reefs the more their minds wandered from the routine of surf patrol. The clubs had started confiscating surfboards and friends were returning from East Coast surf trips with newly crafted 10ft Malibu boards they’d seen visiting Americans riding in local surfing competitions.

Just as the City of Perth SLSC boys were reaching their last warning from the surf club for using out-of-bounds equipment on their island adventures, they quit. Their weekends were suddenly their own. Travelling June / July 2016 Horizons 29

Images Rick Chan

History

south in search of waves became a more viable option as Holden introduced panel vans to its range of Aussie-built vehicles.

“It’s still the same today,” says Mark Lane, CEO of Surfing WA. “Your car is the ticket to get there and the reason you don’t have to go home at night.”

With room for a mattress in the back and surfboards strapped to the roof, the first ‘surfari’ down south began.

Yearning for Yallingup Yallingup was the birthplace of surfing in the South West with Bill Pratley, Ronnie Drage and Bruce Hill the first to paddle out in 1954. Every west-coast surfer worth their salt followed as soon as they had wheels or a few coins to chip in petrol money.

Mark Paterson was in the first cohort. “When we got the hang of 30 Horizons June / July 2016

above: WA surfers Moses Ghost, J McKnight, K Merifield, C Roper, K Campbell, Dave Williams, T Jacks and T Williams photographed in the 1960s.

it down here, it was virtually on every weekend,” he recounted to surfing ethnographer Robert Holt in his PhD thesis aptly named Cape Crusaders. “We’d hatch a plan mid-week, jump in somebody’s car on Friday night and head down the old South West Highway. We camped out in the melaleuca trees.”

Not everyone could afford their own set of wheels and guys who could quickly found themselves very popular among their peers.

“My next car was a Kombi, absolutely!” surfboard shaper Gary Greirson states adamantly.

“Friday night there was a ring around to see who was coming in the Kombi down south. We used to bring [legendary surf champion] Ian Cairns down.”

The then publican of Caves House in Yallingup, Bill Copley,

took fondly to the surfers, enjoying their antics and free-spirited nature.

One day Mr Copley pulled Terry Williams and company aside.

He marched them down the back of the property and pointed to the laundry shed. “We’ve had a lot of complaints about you guys camping down on the beach and if you get yourselves organised, you can use this place as a base,” he said.

That was the initiation of the West Coast Board Club (WCBC) and the first flicker of professionalism in surfing for WA.

Competitive surfing in WA In 1964, petroleum company Ampol wrote to the founders of the WCBC and asked if they could sponsor a surfing competition. It was already involved with surfing on Australia’s East Coast and wanted a piece of

History below right, from top:

Images Rick Chan

Riding Injidup Point in the 1970s; the Injidup car park photographed in 1976.

the West Australian action. That year Yallingup hosted the inaugural WA State Titles.

Back in Perth, the newly formed Western Australian Surfriders Association was gaining public legitimacy with the election of Doctor Ron Naylor as president.

“What was really heroic about Ron “Doc” Naylor was having the absolute courage to stand by surfing, even when the rest of society believed surfers to be lazy,” Mr Lane explains.

The association was set up to consolidate the various board riding clubs that already existed and give WA surfers a national platform. “To compete in the Australian Titles you had to be part of an association,” Mr Lane continues. “Clubs and their members needed a state voice.

A lot of those rules and regulations established back in the early ‘60s are still adhered to today.”

Going to the next level The media also played a major role in the popularisation of surfing throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. Western Australian surfers appeared in fashion magazines, on product advertisements, featured in television commercials and even strutted on catwalks. Surfing was being taken to the masses both in and out of the water.

In 1962 Barry King and Brian Cole were the first surfboard shapers in WA to work with foam.

Balsa boards were squeezed out as the foam and fibreglass combination came into vogue.

Surfboards were lighter and more manageable, and the surfing got radical.

The drop in surfboard size and weight was proportional to the increase in the size of manoeuvres a surfer could do on a wave. This opened up a whole new coast to the ‘wild west’ trailblazers who were already seeing crowds at their beloved Yallingup.

Local fishermen first took Tony Harbison and crew to a wave they knew about at Injidup.

“We paddled out on our 16ft ‘toothpick’ boards, absolutely hopeless! No way in the world could you handle that type of steep surf on them,” Mr Harbison confessed to Rob Holt.

Unsealed roads and mechanical challenges As exploration continued, panel vans and Kombis were driven down sandy tracks to Gallows and beaten over sand dunes to Lefthanders in Gracetown.

Surfers took their chances on unsealed roads that lead to Moses Rock and a big wave mecca was found in Margaret River.

Weekend surfaris weren’t always a success. Holden FBs often became bogged in the soft sand while Kombis regularly over-heated – a van without a radiator wasn’t built for the hot Western Australian climate.

Surfers had to be mechanically minded as breakdowns often occurred. Tyres had to be repaired and cars had to be jumped on in order to get the wheels out of a hole.

There was one surf break, now synonymous with ‘down south’, that was impossible to discover on four wheels.

One Wednesday afternoon in 1972, George Simpson, Mick Pearce and Mark Rudenberg set out on foot from Sugarloaf Rock, boards under their arms. Their search was greeted with the ultimate reward, what is now called Three Bears.

“We kept it really quiet. Only six of us knew it even existed,” Mr Simpson recounted to Rob Holt. While mere kilometres south, Yallingup was already experiencing the negative effects of media and tourism, Mr Simpson, Mr Pearce, and Mr Rudenberg were experiencing surfing nirvana.

It’s still the same today. Your car is the ticket to get there and the reason you don’t have to go home at night.

June / July 2016 Horizons 31

History Clockwise from below: Mark Whittome, Brian Bradley, Rod Phillips and Jim Cavender with a Holden FJ ute and hollow wood boards in 1956–57; a Vauxhall J Model and wooden boards at Yallingup’s Caves House in the 1950s; West Coast surfers photographed in 1956–57.

This weekend alone I drove 700km just to surf… It’s just what you do.

No Txt No Wrecks The ‘No Txt No Wrecks’ campaign, supported through RAC’s Community Sponsorships program, is helping raise awareness among young drivers in the surfing community, who often travel long distances, about the dangers of inattention while driving. To find out more, visit surfingwa.com.au.

32 Horizons June / July 2016

S

i Time to go north It wasn’t until 1978 that local surfboard shaper Al Bean followed a hand drawn map that would steer the rest of his life. By the late 1970s, weekend jaunts to Yallingup had become so popular Mr Bean claims it was common to have 60 people barge past him to get into Surfside cafe before he even had the chance to put the open sign on the door. It was time to go north.

Approximately 150km north of Carnarvon, Mr Bean followed the vague directions. “Five cattle grids past the Salt Hall road and turn left, just follow the track.” If ever a chance encounter has paid off, it was then. “When the Bluff came into view all we could see was

waves peeling down the point.

We couldn’t get out there quick enough! For 10 days we had 8ft perfection. I don’t even know that I’ve seen it that good since.”

The search for the perfect wave is an unshakable sentiment for every West Australian surfer.

“This weekend alone I drove 700km just to surf,” Mr Lane chuckles. “It’s just what you do.”

Polytechnic West What started out as a weekend Proposed adventure spans three generations Mirrabooka light rail of surfers.

Families such as the Proposed Merifields, the light Patersons and theCottonwood Crescent rail station Redmans pioneered waves they Proposed light still ride this day. And the best railto terminus Morley Drive North Morley Drive part? They’re still surfing with the Dianella same stoke as they had the day l Avenue they took their first wave.Woodrow

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Travel

Words Kerry Faulkner

Our Great

Western Woodlands

The Great Western Woodlands is a vast region but one with which many Western Australians are unfamiliar. AÂ fantastic place for salt lakes, granite outcrops and floral biodiversity, Kerry Faulkner sets out to explore part of the region by campervan.

38 Horizons June / July 2016

Travel below: See hundreds of different types of eucalypts; a purple-gaped honeyeater; a feather flower, which can be spotted along the Holland track.

Images The Wilderness Society (Wayne O’Sullivan and Keren Raiter); Ross Jones

T

he Great Western Woodlands is the largest remaining Mediterranean woodland in the world, remarkably able to survive on as little as 250ml of rain annually. But when the winter rains are good the red dust explodes in a show of spring wildflowers that is both beautiful and unexpected.

The woodlands sprawl across 16 million hectares of Western Australia’s south, an area roughly the size of England interspersed with farmland, granite outcrops and charismatic country towns eager to showcase their attractions to visitors.

The route I explore makes a comfortable eight- or nine-day getaway from Perth. It follows the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail to Kalgoorlie, taking in historically significant diversions along the way, before turning south to Norseman and then in full adventure mode turning west to tackle the 300km gravel road to Hyden, known as the Granite Woodlands Discovery Trail, renowned for the stunning wildflowers that can be found along the way.

Department of Parks and Wildlife regional manager Ian Kealley doesn’t want disappointed June / July 2016 Horizons 39

Travel right: Demarz tinsel lilly; winter-flowering heath and sand mallee.

For more information about wildflower season in WA, turn to page 61.

Exploring by campervan The Great Eastern Highway is the link between Perth and Kalgoorlie and my Apollo Mercedes-Benz Sprinter campervan hums along the stretches of country bitumen nicely at 100km/h. The camper is perfect for this type of trip where accommodation choices are pretty limited. And being totally self-contained; shower, toilet, oven – the works, it allows very comfortable camping at some of

40 Horizons June / July 2016

native broom, a shrub growing at its base in spring; the early morning light falls softly across the wheat crops as pretty parrots swoop cheekily across the road in front. Turning off the bitumen onto the rock access road, the salt plain of Baladjie Lake Nature Reserve breaks easily to reveal a gooey red bog. I am relieved beyond words that I can gently reverse out. Thanks to recent rain, possibly storms judging by the fallen trees, this track is accessible only by four-wheel drive today. It is a reminder a little rain goes a long way to making the dusty roads impassable. Shire offices are the best contact for current local road conditions.

Kaye Crafter is a Southern Cross local who previously ran fourwheel drive tours Polytechnic Westthrough some of the most challenging parts of the Proposed woodlands,Mirrabooka such as the red-iron Baladjie Lake Nature Reserve light rail hills of the Helena and Aurora Proposed light I head for Baladjie Rock about Range to the north.

Cottonwood Crescent rail station 50km north-west, renowned for This range and Mount Manning Proposed light rail terminus are where four-wheel-drive-club Morley Drive North Morley Drive adventurers test their survival skills, Dianella challenged by the rough tracks Woodrow Avenue across plains fringed by woodlands and the odd abandoned Wordsworth Avenue homestead like Aurora to add interest. They travel in groups in case breakdowns and authorities ECUof Mount Lawley urge them to carry satellite phones and plenty Woodville of water.

Karalee North Perth Dam is another of Mr Crafter’s favourite places and muchPark easier to get to, just 50km Robertson eastStreet of Southern Cross and a short Aberdeen Perth Arena drive down an access road off the City Square main highway. Like Boondi Rock a little further east, it’s a granite outcrop creating a natural dam and in the 1890s provided water Victoria Park QEII and for steam trains bound the gold Transferfor Station Hollywood Hospital boom bonanza out by Kalgoorlie.

Both have camping areas – toilets, no showers and are between three and five kilometres off the main highway on a gravel access road suitable for two-wheel drive cars most of the time.

the prettiest bushland settings anywhere in the state.

The highway leg is easy steering but drivers shouldn’t be complacent. They’ll need to slow down for oversize loads that are often huge pieces of mining machinery bound for Kalgoorlie and avoid potholes in the patchy sections past Southern Cross.

My first stop is the shire office at Southern Cross (population about 700) where helpful staffer Robyn urges me to snap up a copy of the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Guide to the Great Western Woodlands, a fantastic companionread for the trip. A smaller leaflet also lures me, revealing the exact locations of the Shire’s best wildflowers, promising white verticordia, helmsii, native hops, blue native hibiscus and black toothbrush grevillea to name a few.

Images The Wilderness Society (Keren Raiter)

wildflower buffs knocking at his door with complaints; he warns just as in other parts of the state, flowers here are dependent on winter rain and if that’s low, blooms will be fewer.

To avoid disappointment he says visitors should come to the region to appreciate more than just the wildflowers; such as the 351 groups of eucalypts that make up the woodlands, some of which grow here and nowhere else in the world.

Travel below: A region rich in flora and fauna: a thorny devil and salmon gums.

Images The Wilderness Society (Keren Raiter)

Visitors should come to the region to appreciate more than just the wildflowers; such as the 351 groups of eucalypts that make up the woodlands, some of which grow here and nowhere else in the world.

Boorabbin National Park Approximately half-way between Southern Cross and Coolgardie you’ll pass Boorabbin National Park with its extensive eucalypt woodlands. During wildflower season it’s possible to see an abundance of blooms from the highway as you pass through.

There’s been some curious tall trees creeping increasingly into the landscape as the kilometres and pastures fall away toward Coolgardie. Many have trunks that glow bronze and sunburnt-red beneath dark glossy leaves; these are the salmon gums and gimlets.

A large part of what makes this region so remarkable is that the woodlands have survived intact; undivided by farms as they are elsewhere in the world. They are a scientist’s wonderland, supplying a never-ending flow of data about energy and carbon, water and nutrients and biodiversity more generally.

A permanent research ‘supersite’ was established at Credo Station north-west of Coolgardie in 2013, one of five former pastoral stations in the Goldfields acquired by the then Department of Environment and Conservation. Credo offers showers (whereas many others don’t), toilets, a rainwater tank, a camp ground and some shearersquarters as accommodation.

The turn-off to Credo is at Coolgardie, a historical little town where gold-boom buildings face each other across an improbably wide street once used by camel trains. The shire visitor centre is in the grand old courthouse building and consultant Gaynor Jefferies tells me the 70km gravel road to Credo is usually in pretty good condition – “good” does not, exclude corrugations, by the way.

She suggests I ring the caretaker at Credo just to be sure.

From Credo head east and take the long way to Kalgoorlie via the

hamlet of Ora Banda, where you can stop in for a hearty pub meal.

Karlkurla Bushland Park Karlkurla Bushland Park is on the edge of Kalgoorlie town and is well worth a visit. The woodlands were felled for fuel for the steam engines that served the mines but thanks to the regenerative capabilities of the native trees they have grown back. There’s 4km of walking trails including a raised pergola lookout that offers sweeping views across the tree canopies in all directions.

The scrappy sandalwood is signposted here; it was harvested frantically in Western Australia’s early pioneering days (in a rush, perhaps second only to gold) to supply the oriental incense market until oversupply killed the trade. There are quandongs too, the bush tucker bearing bright red fruit making a splash in contemporary degustation but a staple in the diet of the Aboriginal owners of the land long before.

They have lived in and harvested bush tucker throughout the Great Western Woodlands for 22,000 years.

Western Australian botanist Andrew Brown is an expert in the native plant species Eremophila (emu bush and poverty bush are common varieties). With nearly 60 species in the Great Western Woodlands, they are a colourful part of the wildflower shows.

Writing for conservation journal Landscope, Mr Brown says even loping along the Goldfields Highway from Kalgoorlie to Norseman at 110km/h, travellers can’t miss the pretty blue blossom of the violet flowered eremophila.

Mr Brown says while much is known about the Great Western Woodlands’ eucalypts, much less is known about the lilies growing in the shallow soils on bare rocks or the 56 orchid species, a remarkable number given how little rain falls.

June / July 2016 Horizons 41

Travel right: Some of the Woodlands’ 351 groups of eucalypts grow only here; Wave Rock near Hyden.

KALGOORLIE

PERTH

The Great Western Woodlands ESPERANCE

A large part of what makes this region so remarkable is that the woodlands have survived intact; undivided by farms as they are elsewhere in the world. They are a scientist’s wonderland…

Exploring the Discovery Trail The Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail stretches 300km across gravel road from Norseman to Hyden of Wave Rock fame, a huge granite wave formed by millions of years of unusual weathering. The Discovery Trail can be completed in four hours but most people take their time and camp overnight at one of three camp sites; The Breakaways, McDermid Rock and Lake Johnston.

It’s suitable for two- and fourwheel drives most of the time, beckoning adventurers with promises of spectacular night time skies and open heathland that is a ‘wildflower wonderland’, featuring masses of wattle and flame grevillea in abundance. There’s a 36-page guide available from the area’s visitor centres, which one hopes reveals the tale behind such names as Disappointment Rock. l Hit the road with Apollo Apollo Motorhomes has the largest camper rental fleet in Australia with vehicles suitable for up to six people. Campervans are a great option for regions such as the Western Woodlands, where accommodation choices are limited. Apollo’s latest addition is the Apollo Overlander, which is a 4WD, able to sleep up to five people. Plus, members save 10 per cent. To find out more and book, visit rac.com.au/apollo.

42 Horizons June / July 2016

Fast facts When to go

The wildflowers are best from late August to early November.

What to pack

Temperatures range from low- to mid-20s in September with nights sometimes dipping below 10°C, so while shorts and t-shirts will do for days particularly if bush walking, you’ll need a jumper and long pants for the nights.

Campervan tips

Most of the towns are ‘RV Friendly’ (see the yellow white and blue sign) welcoming self-contained travellers in caravans and campers with rest areas (most allow overnight stays) containing toilets, toilet dumps for campervans and some even dispense potable water through a coin-operated machine.

Don’t miss

Taking time to stop and breathe in the eucalypt scent of the woodlands in early morning and appreciate how precious this vast ancient land is.

Images The Wilderness Society (Keren Raiter) and Kerry Faulkner; iStockphoto

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Peak Charles National Park For those with four-wheel drives, Peak Charles National Park to the south-west of Norseman is a beautifully rugged landscape and worth a diversion on this return part of the loop. It’s home to 30 species of orchids, most growing in the lower rock slopes. It has three walk trail options varying from 600m to 3.4km and Trails WA advises all routes to the summit require scrambling over exposed rock and should be avoided in wet or windy conditions.

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Travel brief

News and information for travellers

When to tip in the USA

See colonial architecture at Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm Lake.



In the States, saying “thank you” with money is the norm. The minimum wage for adults is legally $7.25 per hour but in industries where tipping is customary, workers can be paid as little as $2.13 an hour. While it’s not mandatory, it is customary, despite being something we’re not really accustomed to in Australia. Here are some guidelines:

Uncover Vietnam From north to south, Vietnam features stunning historical sights and interesting flavours. Here’s a sample: Hanoi Vietnam’s capital and political centre is home to historic buildings, museums displaying the country’s war history and picturesque lakes. French influence is found in the cuisine and architecture.

Halong Bay Spend at least one night on a traditional Vietnamese ‘junk’ boat cruising through Halong Bay with its 1000-plus limestone ‘islands’ and many caves.

Hoi An The Old Town here is one of Vietnam’s historical gems. Visit a tailor for custom-made fashions and explore the narrow streets and well preserved buildings.

Ho Chi Minh City Also known as Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city is a bustling metropolis with colonial architecture, markets, delightful cuisine, commerce and culture. Scratch the surface and you’ll uncover remnants of its war history.

Mekong Delta The Mekong River crosses from Vietnam though Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and China. In Vietnam the Mekong Delta is known as the country’s ‘rice bowl’ with its vast rice fields and floating markets.

Take a day cruise or opt for an extended river cruise through the fascinating region.

ITEM

HOW MUCH

Bellman/porter

$1–3 per bag

Taxi driver

10–20 per cent

Waiter

15–20 per cent (before tax).

Leaving only 10 per cent says you really didn’t like the service.

In high-quality eateries such as Michelin-starred restaurants, 25 per cent is acceptable.

Hotel housekeeper

$2–5 per day left on your pillow

Tour guide

15 per cent

Bartender

$1–2 per drink or more for stronger drinks.

Barber, beautician, massage therapist

15–20 per cent

More tips: Before tipping, check your bill for a service charge. If one has been added, don’t tip again on top of it.

Only a small contribution (spare change) is suggested for tip jars at coffee shops and fast food restaurants.

Tip discreetly and respectfully.

When in doubt, ask (preferably the concierge or receptionist, not the person you’d actually be tipping) if it is customary and how much is appropriate. As a general rule 15 per cent is a default for anyone who provides you a service.

Mobile apps such as GlobeTipping offer more tipping advice while you are overseas.

Unique driver rest stops in the Pilbara To encourage drivers to rest, revive and connect while visiting the Pilbara, the Pilbara Regional Council recently installed a network of 18 unique Welcome Rest Stops between Onslow, Karijini National Park and Port Hedland.

Most of the overnight and day-use rest stops offer picnic shade shelters and seating, free WiFi, toilet facilities and solar-powered lighting.

The steel canopies are based on artwork designed by local Indigenous artists and

recognise the Indigenous heritage of the Pilbara.

The network follows much of the Warlu Way – a drive itinerary showcasing both inland and coastal scenery and following the path of the Warlu, the Dreamtime sea serpent.

To learn more about the Pilbara’s Welcome Rest Stops’ facilities, visit welcomereststops.com. To download a free driving itinerary of the Warlu Way visit rac.com.au/greatdrives or call 9436 4840.

June / July 2016 Horizons 45

Travel

Words by Veda Gilbert

A world of experiences in one country, the United States offers something for every kind of traveller. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our pick for a variety of visitors in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east, south and west.

Land of many wonders

Images iStockphoto

Highlights of the USA

46 Horizons June / July 2016

Travel

The choice is yours: spot orcas in Seattle, or chill on the beaches of Hawaii.

F

or Western Australians

wanting a slice of American Pie, there are more travel options than ever before, with a variety of flights to the USA. Whether the West Coast, East Coast, or south takes your fancy, we’ve selected some fantastic highlights to get you on your way. One option is to start your trip in tropical Hawaii, which is perfectly placed between the US and Australia.

HAWAII A string of islands in the Central Pacific, Hawaii makes for a perfect stopover for Aussie travellers.

Snorkel Hanauma Bay, surf Waikiki Beach, explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, visit Pearl Harbor’s memorials and museums and unwind in luxury beach resorts.

Hawaii is also a great cruise destination, so go island-hopping aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, relaxing onboard as you take in the sights.

June / July 2016 Horizons 47

Travel Below Bright and bold Las Vegas; Califonia’s Yosemite National Park; San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

West Coast Wonders

Spanning the Pacific coastline, this stunning region with its equally pleasing climate is a must for visitors. The only problem is narrowing down where to start.

SAN FRANCISCO Occupying less than 130sq km and packed with vibrant culture, the ‘City by the Bay’ ranks as one of the most desirable places to live and visit in the US.

Once the spiritual home of the hippy movement, its proximity to Silicon Valley ensures that San Fran is today the place to be for serious tech startups and venture capitalists. Needless to say, hip dining, trendy bars and cool coffee shops abound.

It’s definintely not all business though – the city has an enviable climate that allows residents and visitors alike to come out and play.

When the fog clears, the striking Golden Gate Bridge is a sight to behold, as is sobering Alcatraz.

Take a ferry to ‘The Rock’, home to Alcatraz, the former prison whose past inmates include Al “Scarface” Capone.

Ride a cable car through the rolling city hills taking in the elegant Victorian homes, alighting at Fisherman’s Wharf where weathered boats unload their fresh seafood haul daily while sea lions work on their tans – be sure to try steamed crab from a sidewalk cauldron.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK More than just glitz and glamour or inhibition free boundary-pushing big cities, California is also home to some of the world’s most loved national parks and there are plenty of opportunities to get out-andabout in the great outdoors.

Yosemite is a favourite. Known for its granite faces and plunging waterfalls, set off on a hike along one of the trails or take a drive

through the Tioga Pass for scenic views of Yosemite’s peaks.

LAS VEGAS Take a driving detour via historic Route 66 from its official ending point at Santa Monica Pier to socalled ‘Sin City’, a hedonistic resort town in Nevada’s Mojave Desert.

Elaborate themed hotels and 24hour casinos, this entertainment hub has something for everyone.

Peruse Bellagio’s Gallery of Fine Art or experience some fantastic outlet shopping, before descending to the Grand Canyon floor at sunset by helicopter and rounding out the evening with a headline music act or Cirque du Soleil show.

SEATTLE Nestled south of the US-Canada border, Seattle in Washington state offers a very different experience from southern California’s sundrenched cities or hip San Fran.

Home to sitcoms Frasier and Grey’s Anatomy and the birthplace of grunge, today Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the US. Top West Coast Experiences Couples: Hike or bike the 2.7km Golden Gate Bridge Families: See sea otters and seals at the Seattle Aquarium

Images iStockphoto; Alamy

All travellers: Bus tour of Yosemite National Park

48 Horizons June / July 2016

Travel

Top East Coast Experiences Couples: A Broadway show in New York’s Theatre District Families: Animal spotting at Central Park Zoo All travellers: Boat cruise on the Boston Harbour

Some of the best ways to see the city’s skyline is either aboard a Washington State Ferry or via a seaplane trip or “flightseeing” excursion. Sea kayaking is also popular with locals and visitors alike.

There’s a fantastic arts scene, including the Seattle Opera and the Seattle Art Museum, which boasts an outstanding Native and MesoAmerican collection, plus plenty of music venues.

Anyone with even a passing interest in aviation should head to The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, 40km north of Seattle. View the production lines of the 747, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft and marvel at the world’s largest single building by volume.

Seattle is easy to reach – either by flying into the bustling airport, driving up from San Francisco or Portland, or via neighbouring Canada. For Australians, flying into Vancouver and making the 240km trip across the border by car is also a good alternative.

Exceptional East Coast

Images iStockphoto; Alamy

The coastal stretch along which the Eastern United States meets the North Atlantic Ocean is a perennial favourite with visitors from all over the world.

NEW YORK CITY Home to iconic sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty, the ‘city that never sleeps’ is a

fast-paced hub of art, culture, food and fashion.

Explore the city’s five distinct boroughs on foot, unearthing numerous delights, especially in Manhattan, the Big Apple’s core. Highlights include The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) and MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), the Theatre District, and for sports fans, Madison Square Gardens and Yankee Stadium.

After dark take a stroll over Brooklyn Bridge to fully appreciate the city skyline, or head skywards to the Top of the Rock observation deck above the historic Rockefeller Centre for breathtaking 360-degree city views.

BOSTON Board a train from New York’s Grand Central Station to take in New England’s gateway city.

Walk the Freedom Trail, a red-lined American Revolution-centric route of historically significant sites.

America’s first public park, Boston Common, offers acres of green space, while Boston Harbour is home to legendary warship USS Constitution, Charlestown Navy Yard and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Take a day-trip to Cape Cod and the islands for white sandy beaches, lobster shacks and whale watching, while Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are favourites with the high-flying summer set and celebrities alike.

above from left: Niagara Falls on Canada’s border; bustling New York City; uncover monumental Washington D.C.

NIAGARA FALLS While on the East Coast, escape the big cities with a detour to Niagara Falls, a collection of three waterfalls overlapping the international border between Ontario (Canada) and the state of New York (USA).

The best way to experience the falls is to soak up the scenery with a Maid of the Mist boat ride.

WASHINGTON DC It’s an election year, making it the perfect time to visit the buzzing capital of the USA. An easy flight or train trip from New York City, DC is defined by its political history, with attractions, landmarks and museums (of which there are many) easily accessible by foot.

Wander the National Mall, some three kilometres of iconic historical monuments, anchored at each end by the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Hill respectively; the Washington Monument in its centre.

Take a self-guided tour of the White House before committing to at least one of the 19 museums and galleries that make up the Smithsonian Institution (plus, there’s a zoo there too!).

June / July 2016 Horizons 49

Travel More information

Discover the USA with RAC Travel’s extensive range of travel deals and packages.

Call 1300 655 179, or visit rac.com.au/travel.

clockwise from right: Explore history at Oak Alley plantation in Louisiana or feel the beat in musical New Orleans.

Southern Style

From well-mannered South Carolina to vibrant New Orleans, the southern states are rich in history and hospitable to the core.

The heart of country and western, don your cowboy boots and bar hop the famed Lower Broadway Street honky tonks, Robert’s Western World, Tootsie’s Orchard Lounge and Legends Corner for quality live music.

Other musts for music-lovers include the Johnny Cash Museum, Musicians Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry, where on a Tuesday or Friday you can be part of the live-broadcast radio show.

Take a daytrip to Memphis’s Graceland, the “humble” former residence of Elvis Presley, and Sun Studios, the birthplace of rock’n’roll where Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and the King himself recorded hits.

THE CAROLINAS From the sprawling mountains of Asheville to the coastal port of Wilmington, the Carolinas are abundant with sights and experiences. Meander Durham’s Duke University gardens, unwind in the Outer Banks and indulge on the Barbecue Trail.

Neighbouring South Carolina is home to Charleston, the quintessential Southern city with cobblestone streets, the painted townhouses of Rainbow Row and high-end shopping on King Street.

Stroll Gateway Walk with its ancient churchyards or dolphin-spot from the pier at Waterfront Park.

FLORIDA Though the state is not technically in the south, as the home to the world’s most popular theme park, Walt Disney World, it is a must-do, 50 Horizons June / July 2016

particularly for families.

Space-enthusiasts flock to Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Centre, while Miami’s South Beach boasts Cuban-inspired glamour and colourful Art Deco buildings.

THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA Explore this storied region known for its cotton production, hallowed authors, blues legends and the Civil Rights Movement via the Great River Road.

Swing by Tunica, home of the Gateway to the Blues Museum, before stopping in Clarksdale where highlights include the Delta Blues Museum, Morgan Freeman’s juke joint and Ground Zero Blues Club.

Head inland for the state’s bustling capital, Jackson or continue on to period-perfect Natchez. The oldest settlement on ‘Big Muddy’, highlights include Frogmore Plantation and antebellum mansion house tours.

NEW ORLEANS Jazz’s birthplace, from famed Bourbon Street with its 24-hour party vibe, to the elegant French Quarter and its 18th century architecture, the ‘Big Easy’ has it all.

Feast on sugary beignets at Café du Monde, have your fortune read in the ‘city’s heart’, Jackson Square, listen to street-performers in Louis Armstrong Park and sip hurricanes after dark.

Plan your trip around Mardi Gras, the most colourful festival on the calendar, and feast year-round on Cajun and creole fare that features delicious Caribbean, French and African influences. l

Top Southern Experiences Couples: New Orleans swamp tour Families: Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom All travellers: Asheville’s Biltmore Estate

Fast facts Getting there

Fly from Perth to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston or Honolulu with connections via Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and into other mainland US cities.

You can also fly via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and include a cosmopolitan Asian city stop-over.

Visas

For a tourist visit of 90-days or less, Australians are eligible for the visa waiver program, ESTA. It costs US$14 – apply online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

For visa, passport and overseas travel advice visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website: smarttraveller.gov.au or ask your RAC Travel consultant.

Getting around

The USA is a terrific country to explore by car, with wide-open highways and an extensive road network. Hire a car and self-drive (remember vehicles are left-hand drives) or jump on a coach tour.

Alternatively board an Amtrak train and enjoy picturepostcard views from the comfort of your cabin.

With Florida being the cruise capital of the world, there are thousands of cruises to choose from.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential for every traveller, particularly in the US where the medical system means should you need to access treatment while on holiday, you could be faced with a big bill.

Images iStockphoto; Alamy

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Test drive Alex Forrest reviews the latest cars on our roads.

Suzuki Vitara

I

t hasn’t been a major player in the baby SUV scene for some time, but a quarter of a century ago, the Suzuki Vitara was one of the segment’s pioneers.

It arrived on the scene way back in 1988, which means the Vitara badge is even older than Toyota’s RAV4, which arrived in Australia six years later.

This latest, completely new Vitara was launched into the ultra-competitive small SUV segment in September 2015.

This segment was one of the few that grew in Western Australia during 2015. With competition such as the Ford Ecosport, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Renault Captur, the Vitara has its work cut out.

There are only two models in 52 Horizons June / July 2016

the range – the front wheel drive RT-S and the all-wheel drive RT-X. Pricing starts at a very sharp $22,990 drive away for the manual RT-S. That’s less than some small cars. From there it’s a big jump to the allwheel drive RT-X, at $33,990.

A reversing camera is standard, as is sat nav, which is excellent on a small SUV at that starting price.

The new Vitara is based on the same platform as the S-Cross, meaning the Vitara gets its 1.6-litre, 86kW engine and suspension design.

This means the Vitara isn’t as capable off road as its 25-year old namesake, which had a fully manual four-wheel drive system and live rear axle. In contrast, the new Vitara has an on-demand,

Suzuki Vitara specifications Price Engine Power Torque Claimed fuel economy CO 2 emissions ANCAP safety rating

electronically controlled system and torsion beam rear end.

However, Suzuki’s new baby SUV is far better equipped to compete with the current crop of city-focused crossovers.

Further evidence of the Vitara’s city-slicker leanings is its space saver spare tyre.

Among the Vitara’s detracting features is the level of engine noise, which comes into the cabin. It’s okay at low speeds,

From $22,990 drive away 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol 86kW @ 6000rpm 156Nm @ 4400rpm 5.8L/100km (2WD man) 6.0 (2WD auto) 6.3 (AWD auto) 147g/km (AWD auto) Not rated

but given its relatively low power and torque outputs, the engine needs to work hard to keep the Vitara up with traffic.

The interior complements the outside of the vehicle well and there’s the option of adding body-coloured interior trim, but hard plastics abound.

The Vitara has some excellent safety kit for its price but at the time of writing hadn’t been rated

by ANCAP. l

Test drive You just stand there, with the keys in your pocket or bag and after three seconds the car will sense you’re waiting for it and open the tailgate.

For more car reviews, visit rac.com.au/carreviews

Hyundai Santa Fe

T

he Hyundai Santa Fe Series II is so full of safety and convenience technology, you wonder how there’s still room for seven people. The real leap forward though, is the fact all this equipment, its fuel economy, refinement and build quality doesn’t require you to pay $120,000 to a European vehicle manufacturer for the privilege.

It’ll require just under $62,000, paid to a Korean manufacturer. That’s for the top of the range Santa Fe. They start at $42,550.

Launched in November 2015, the Santa Fe Series II brought with it some key safety features, which took its value proposition from good to great.

The extra gear includes autonomous braking and forward collision warning, smart cruise control, blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.

That last one is far more useful than you’d think, and all of them could save you some serious strife on the road.

The 2.2-litre turbo diesel is the same engine as was in the previous Santa Fe launched in 2012, although it has received some minor tweaking and now makes 147kW and 440Nm (up 2kW and 4Nm) respectively.

More importantly, this engine feels more muscular for two reasons – firstly, its peak torque is available from lower revs than previously,

Hyundai Santa Fe specifications Price Engine Power Torque Claimed fuel economy CO 2 emissions ANCAP safety rating

and secondly, that torque is also available over a broader spread in the rev range (1,750–2,750rpm).

On the road, it means the Santa Fe is very sprightly and also has the grunt to flatten hills. It’s very smooth, too.

There’s also a 2.4-litre petrol engine available, which has 138kW and 231Nm but the diesel is the pick here if you can stretch to it.

The user-friendliness of the

From $ 42,550 drive away 2.2-litre four cylinder turbo diesel 145kW @ 3800rpm 436Nm @ 1800–2500rpm (auto) 7.3L/100km 192g/km (AWD auto) ★★★★★

Santa Fe also gets a big tick. On the Highlander, which we tested, and the Elite, the most convenient feature was the auto-sensing tailgate.

You just stand there, with the keys in your pocket or bag and after three seconds the car will sense you’re waiting for it and open the tailgate.

It’s a modern wonder and just one of several reasons why this is one of the best value SUVs you can buy right now. l June / July 2016 Horizons 53

Test drive

BMW X1 xDrive25i

B

MW’s baby SUV, the X1, arrived in Australia in April 2010 to fill a niche nobody knew

existed.

In fact, with the X1, BMW invented the small premium SUV segment so it’s no wonder nobody knew there was one.

Back then, we were yet to see the Audi Q3 for another two years and the MercedesBenz GLC didn’t arrive until last year. Also arriving in this segment over the past six years has been the Range Rover Evoque and Lexus NX. Nowadays, consumers considering these vehicles are looking for a little more space than the original X1 offered.

The new X1 is taller and

54 Horizons June / July 2016

wider than its predecessor but it’s also shorter. Much of that is a result of the completely different platform it’s based on.

The X1, like the 2 Series Active Tourer, is based on the platform of the BMW-owned Mini, meaning the X1 has a transverse front engine layout.

It can be had with all-wheel drive, such as the xDrive25i we road tested, and you can get an sDrive18D, which is front-wheel drive only.

Front-wheel drive is a relatively new concept for BMW, which until November 2014 didn’t even exist in the BMW model line-up. Now there is the 2 Series Active Tourer and this new X1, which arrived in October 2015.

BMW X1 xDrive25i specifications Price Engine Power Torque Claimed fuel economy CO 2 emissions ANCAP safety rating

Clearly BMW has realised that while it may be noble to stoically stick with rear drive for the ultimate in driving pleasure, the truth is these vehicles aren’t being bought by people with that as their top priority.

Also, nowadays a frontwheel-drive vehicle such as this can be made to drive very well – especially one that’s based on the Mini.

On the road, the X1 does

$66,960 drive away 2.0-litre, twin-scroll turbo petrol 170kW @ 5000rpm 350Nm @ 1250–4500rpm (auto) 6.6L/100km 149g/km (AWD auto) ★★★★★

handle sharply considering it purports to be an SUV but it has quite a stiff ride.

Compared with its predecessor, the new X1 has a raft of extra equipment, including the addition of a rear camera as standard, auto parking and an electric tailgate.

Pricing for the X1 xDrive25i we tested is $66,960 drive away, but it starts at $55,830 l

Test drive Of course, some Range Rover Sports are sold to people who never take them off road.

For more car reviews, visit rac.com.au/carreviews

Range Rover Sport SDV8 HSE

I

n WA, the Range Rover Sport is one of the most popular luxury SUVs, sitting third behind its stablemate the Land Rover Discovery and the second-placed BMW X5.

Of course, some Range Rover Sports are sold to people who never take them off road.

That in-command feeling from the driver’s seat, its brutish looks, the exquisite luxury of the interior and the status it projects is all those buyers need.

What they tend to ignore is the Range Rover Sport’s extraordinary ability in the rough stuff. Land Rover has continued to hone the company’s proven Terrain Response traction management system and the

SDV8 features the updated Terrain Response 2.

This includes what the company calls All Terrain Progress Control – essentially a low-speed cruise control, designed to reduce the driver’s workload in off road conditions where grip is low.

Also standard is the Auto Access Height, which uses the Range Rover’s air suspension to lower the vehicle for easier passenger entry and egress. It works automatically when the vehicle comes to a halt and a door is opened.

On the HSE Range Rover Sports and above, a “gesture controlled” electric tailgate is standard so you can open it by waving your foot around under the back bumper.

Range Rover Sport SDV8 HSE specifications Price Engine Power Torque Claimed fuel economy CO 2 emissions ANCAP safety rating

However, we prefer the system on the $62,000 Hyundai Santa Fe (see page 53) that doesn’t require you to do the hokey pokey.

The way this tall, 2300kg behemoth handles and rides is amazing but so is the economy of the SDV8 HSE’s 4.4-litre diesel engine.

The big oiler makes 250kW and 740Nm, which feels like enough torque to pull the moon out of its orbit. Yet despite

$161,100 drive away 4.4-litre V8 turbo diesel 250kW @ 3500rpm 740Nm @ 1750-2300rpm 8.7L/100km 229g/km ★★★★★

those outputs, it only uses 8.7L/100km in the ADR test.

In the week we tested it, we averaged 9.9L/100km in mainly city driving and briefly off road.

The safety features list is impressive and includes autonomous braking as standard.

The most obscure feature we found was the “customerconfigurable mood lighting”, which means you can change its colour. l June / July 2016 Horizons 55

R14977

Save $20 off your next car service* Our services include: » Free wash and vacuum^ » Courtesy bus# » A 6 month/10,000km warranty^^ » RAC members also get 10% off the cost of labour~

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Call 1300 134 642 or book online at rac.com.au/as *With the exception of RAC’s 10% member discount, this offer is not to be used with any other offer. This promotional discount applies to Essentials Plus, Essentials and Logbook servicing only. Limit of one voucher per transaction and voucher is valid for one use only. Customer must surrender voucher at point of purchase. This voucher is not redeemable for cash. Offer valid for car services conducted before 31 July 2016. ^Floor/carpets of the vehicle only. #Courtesy bus not available on Saturdays. Limited seats available. ^^For full warranty details visit rac.com.au/aswarranty. ~RAC 10% member discount applies to all labour costs performed by the RAC. Simply call to request additional vouchers for other members in your household. Service provided by RAC Automotive Services P/L MRB 935.

Book at any of our nine Auto Services centres Balcatta » Bentley » Canning Vale » Joondalup » Mandurah » Morley » Myaree » Osborne Park » Perth City

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What’s new

The latest news from the motoring world

Coming right up

R-Eighted

T

he latest iteration of Audi’s headline act, the R8 supercar, has arrived on Australian shores. The car is shorter, wider and flatter and the 5.2-litre V10 engine makes 449kW in the V10 Plus model (up from 404kW). Of course, the only way you can use all of that is on a racetrack where it will exert almost 1G of acceleration on you. Amazingly, the R8 is also completely unfussed if you’re stuck in traffic in 38°C heat with the air-con on.

For all that, you’ll need an eye-watering $354,900, plus on roads.

Holy 50th, Batman!

It’s been 50 years since Batman, Robin and Batgirl burst onto the big screen to fight the despicable forces of evil.

For many, the best parts of the 1966 Batman movie were not the costumes or hilarious quotes but the machines.

These included the legendary Batmobile, the Batboat, Batcycle with Sidecar (for Robin), the Bat-Copter and the Batgirl Cycle, pictured here with Yvonne Craig as Batgirl. The original 1966 Batmobile was kept by its creator George Barris for 47 years, until he finally sold it in January 2013 for more than $6 million.

Jaguar is set to break its decadesold tradition of making only sports and saloon cars, with the introduction of the F-Pace SUV into the Australian market in July. Also set for launch in mid-2016 is the much anticipated Subaru Levorg. Essentially, this is a WRX in wagon form. Nissan’s luxury arm, Infiniti, is set to launch a premium small hatchback called the Q30 in the third calendar quarter. The baby Infiniti will compete with the BMW 1 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3, among others.

True keyless ignition Volvo is trialling a digital car key enabled by a phone app. It does everything a physical key does but also allows for drivers to carry more than one digital car key on their app. Volvo reckons this would make sharing a car simple and convenient, with users able to send their digital key to other people via their mobile phones. Further, rental cars could be booked and paid for, and the digital key delivered to the customer’s phone, potentially avoiding queues at car rental desks. The technology is currently being piloted at Sweden’s Gothenburg airport.

June / July 2016 Horizons 57

Join RAC Little Legends Club for a chance to win 1 of 4 family passes to Kids Wonderland* Visit rac.com.au/kids Kids Wonderland is proudly supported by RACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Sponsorship program. *Terms and conditions apply.

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20/04/2016 11:12:32 AM

Ask the car doctor

Our experts answer your questions

You can be a winner If your question is published you will receive a copy of the UBD Gregory’s 2016 Perth and Surrounds Street Directory from RAC Travel, which includes new streets and suburbs, petrol station locations and more.

Car-light globes should only ever be handled by holding the metal base, otherwise you risk the glass exploding.

Q

I have been told many times that if handling car-light globes, in particular head light globes, you must not actually touch the glass with your bare fingers as it will make the globes ‘blow’. Is this true? And if it is true why does it happen? Is it all globes or only the headlight ones?

Rodger Bryant, Narrogin

A:

Yes, this is correct. The manufacturers advise not to touch the globes with bare hands and that they should only be handled by holding the metal base. Regardless of how clean our hands are, the oils on our fingers can cause hot spots on the glass, which may cause the globe to break or shorten its lifespan. This is especially true for halogen globes and lamps, which are commonly used in headlights.

See page 81 for terms and conditions of entry.

Send your questions to:

Q

I have a secondary sealed lead/acid battery installed in the back of my four-wheel drive. The sealed battery is three years old and I presume must be short of fluid (due to plenty of hot conditions) although the indicator glass says all good (green). Can the sealed battery be serviced to promote its life?

Graham Hayes, Hamersley

A:

The best way to assist in prolonging the life of the battery would be to keep it fully charged. Doing so will decrease the risk of sulfation. Sulfation is what deteriorates the plates within the battery. Once the plates have deteriorated, it will decrease the amount of charge the battery can hold, thus shortening its life. Periodically charging it using a good quality, electronic battery charger will cycle it through a charging process that will keep the battery cleaner, fully charged and healthy.

Q

I drive a 2005 model Nissan Pulsar 1.8 litre which has suddenly developed a problem with its central locking. It intermittently decides to unlock itself even though I have carefully locked it (with the key or with the remote control). What causes this? Apart from the expensive option of taking it to the Nissan dealer, is there a “home remedy” that I can apply?

The Car Doctor RAC Horizons GPO Box C140 Perth WA 6839 or email: editor@rac.com.au Please include your full name, address and day‑time telephone number with your query. If your question is chosen for publication, please allow up to eight weeks for delivery.

R. Ginger

A: This sounds like a fault

due to the age of the vehicle and/or general wear and tear.

Unfortunately, unless you have the appropriate technical training there is no home remedy, however as an RAC member, you are entitled to a 30-minute free fault diagnosis at one of our RAC Auto Services Centres.

Contact

US If you have a motoring question, don’t forget that RAC members can take advantage of our Motoring Advice Line.

Call 13 17 03 Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm to speak to one of our experts.

June / July 2016 Horizons 59

Member Lounge People, places, prizes and RAC news

Essential home maintenance Wall cracks, ceiling faults and poor drainage are three common home maintenance issues that could lead to serious damage to your home and costly repairs. Here are some key signs to look out for and important precautions you should take.

Wall cracks While most homes experience some degree of cracking, significant structural cracking can be an expensive home defect to repair.

In brick homes, for example, diagonal cracks that start at the corner of a door frame may be caused by movement in the home’s footings. Keep an eye on the expansion of any wall cracks and note any changes through the seasons.

Plaster-glass ceilings If your home is more than 20 years old, especially if it was built in the 1970s, there is a chance your ceiling is made of plaster-glass that requires structural inspection. Over time, thermal movement in the roof space may lead to the timbers expanding and contracting, which causes 60 Horizons June / July 2016

the strands within the plaster to break and the ceiling to sag or even collapse.

With damage occurring within the roof space it can be difficult to look out for structural faults in your ceiling, so it’s a good idea to have it inspected by a qualified professional once a year.

Poor drainage Poor drainage, where rainwater is not effectively directed away from your house, can cause cracking in brickwork and even result in structural problems.

Check that garden beds or paved areas around your home’s perimeter are not angled towards the building as this could cause rainwater to ‘pond’ for long periods and then soak into the ground around the home’s footings.

!

It’s important to understand that when damage gradually occurs over time it is generally not covered under most home insurance policies, making it even more essential for any signs of structural failure to be addressed quickly.

Member Lounge

Home safe and sound Remaining in the family home and retaining an independent lifestyle for as long as possible is of great importance for many ageing Australians.

The familiarity of a family home and of neighbours who are well known can provide great comfort, especially for someone living alone.

Assisting an older or increasingly frail person to live safely in their home can require appropriate assistance, including home services, mobility aids and a constant connection to the outside world should something happen while they are alone.

A personal security device can ensure that anyone living alone who

may be at risk can send an immediate alert for emergency assistance.

RAC Security has added a personal alert system to its home security range.

The in-home system provides help at the push of a button and consists of a counter-top base unit with built in speaker and a waterproof pendant.

It is connected wirelessly via the 3G network, so the unit will be NBN ready and won’t have to rely on a home telephone line. One push will activate an emergency phone call and connect to the Monitoring Emergency Response Centre staff any time of the day or night.

The system can be purchased over the phone by calling RAC Security on 1300 132 735 or enquire online at rac.com.au/security.

Hit the road for wildflower season WA is lucky to have one of the world’s most extraordinary wildflower displays, so a wellplanned trip is a must if you want to experience some of the best wildflower locations this spring.

RAC can help plan your blooming adventure with maps of self-drive trails and tips throughout the season.

Visit rac.com.au/wildflowers for our suggested self-drive wildflower trails.

RAC’s blog will have regular tips and wildflower spotting updates, as well

as news about escorted wildflower tours and many other resources.

For more, visit blog.rac.com.au.

WIN a HEMA WA Road and 4WD Track Atlas Explore our vast state with the Western Australian Road & 4WD Track Atlas. It’s the ultimate guide to take on your driving adventures, featuring comprehensive HEMA atlas mapping, the state’s top 50 four-wheel drive tracks and top 25 national parks to visit.

There’s information about camping areas in each park, things to do, contact details and inset maps. You’ll also find information about private camping areas plus a list of all accredited Visitor Centres within WA. RAC Travel has 10 copies of the Western Australia Road & 4WD Track Atlas to give away.

To enter:

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for RAC Travel’s #bloomalerts for up-to-date sightings.

Send your name, address, phone number and membership number to

In July, you can download the 2016 Wildflower Guide or pick one up at your local RAC Travel centre.

For more information or assistance with your wildflower touring plans, call RAC Travel on 9436 4840.

Horizons/WA Road & 4WD Track Atlas GPO Box 2948 Perth WA 6800 See page 81 for terms and conditions.

June / July 2016 Horizons 61

Member Lounge

Helping young drivers make better choices RAC and the Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF) share a strong commitment to road safety and work closely to communicate road safety messages to the Western Australian community.

R

AC supports PBF to deliver an innovative and powerful road safety program to secondary schools that encourages young people to make safer choices about road use.

Facilitated by people who have sustained a spinal cord injury through a road trauma event, the ‘PBF Prevention – Road’ program provides a first-hand account of the emotional, lifechanging and enduring impact that a serious road crash has and assists students in identifying risk-reducing strategies.

RAC Community Education and PBF work together to enhance the delivery of road safety education to pre-drivers and novice drivers by encouraging schools to take a coordinated approach to their road safety education.

PBF’s presentations to metropolitan and regional schools participating in the RAC Community Education program include a personal testimony from the presenter, scenario-based activities and question time.

PBF offers RAC members 20 per cent off a number of spinal injury protection memberships. For more details visit rac.com.au/pbf.

Norseman District High School students with PBF presenter Karen Harvey (front left) and Natalie Wong (third right) from RAC’s Community Education team.

RAC Mandurah branch relocates RAC Mandurah has relocated from Mandurah Forum Shopping Centre to the revitalised Halls Head Central at 14 Guava Way, Halls Head.

The Travel and Member Services Centre has a fresh, modern look and plenty of parking for members.

62 Horizons June / July 2016

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RAC members save 4c per litre on fuel at Shell Coles Express RAC members can now save on fuel every day at Shell Coles Express across Western Australia. Another way weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving back to our members.

Show your RAC membership card in-store and save, or visit rac.com.au/fuel Terms and conditions apply. Not valid in conjunction with a Coles Supermarket 4c fuel discount docket. See rac.com.au/fuel for details.

14582 - Membership_Horizons AD FPx1 Coles.indd 1

31/08/2015 10:15:04 AM

$1000 TRADE-IN OFFER

RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF $1000 TRADE-IN VALUE IF YOU UPGRADE TO A NEW SCOOTER, POWERCHAIR, WA-MADE LIFT & RECLINE CHAIR OR WA-MADE ADJUSTABLE BED

Call us now for a free demonstration and quote or go online to find out more about our products!

P: 9242 7333 E: info@blueskyhealthcare.com.au W: blueskyhealthcare.com.au

50% Off Mattresses

>Profile Select – 10 year guarantee >Firm or Plush >Contour response – 3 Zone Pocket Spring System that helps to reduce pressure points Centre Third Support A higher gauge wire is used through the centre third of the mattress • 3 Zones, for Body Alignment • Visco Care Gel Infused Memory Foam • High Density Pillow top Comfort Foam • Available in three different feels • Hyper Soft Layer • Polymeric Foam Wall • Quality Knitted Fabric

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MemberBenefits

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Members can now

SAVE at Specsavers see page 68

15%

off storage rates with Mobistorage See page 66

Explore WAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

National Parks

for less

See page 66

Member benefits

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

Show your RAC membership card and start saving now As an RAC member you get access to discounts at over a 100 retail and travel partners.

Check out these latest offers.

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1. Check out the latest offers in this issue

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69 Shopping & Lifestyle

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73 Home & Garden

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2. Get the most from your membership everyday with the Membership Calendar, visit rac.com.au/calendar

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78 Automotive

Make the most of your membership by following these simple steps:

er silv ber Mem e Sinc

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3. Download our free app and find the latest offers near you

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4. Visit rac.com.au/mb to stay up to date with all the latest news, offers and benefits

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78 Travel

R14999

R14714

Warren National Park Warren River Lookout

Save

50%

We give you more of WAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national parks for less RAC members save 50% off selected park passes. rac.com.au/nationalparks

15% off regular storage rates with Mobistorage Mobistorage is the new age portable storage solution that comes to you. Mobistorage is more convenient, flexible, secure and cost effective than traditional self-storage.

rac.com.au/Mobistorage * Terms and conditions apply. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Discount only applies to monthly storage rate. Discount does not apply to delivery, packing materials or insurance purchased.

*Terms and conditions apply. Visit rac.com.au/nationalparks for details.

66 Horizons June / July 2016 14714 - EnviroSustain_Horizons QPFC MB DPaW Ad.indd 1

30/10/2015 12:12:06 PM

Member benefits

R15031

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

Savings on the bare necessities RAC members save up to 50% off cinema tickets

Get yours at rac.com.au/movies T&Cs apply. Visit rac.com.au/movies for full details.

June / July 2016 Horizons 67

Member benefits

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

RAC members can now save at Specsavers

With a range of great offers* it’s another way we are giving back to our members. » 25% off one pair of complete glasses from the $149 range or above » 50% off a third pair of glasses from $199 range or above, including lenses and extra options and » 50% off Driving Tint or DriveWear lenses

R14902

Show your membership card in store to save All offers and partners in the RAC member benefits program are subject to terms and conditions and may change from time to time. Latest details available at rac.com.au/Specsavers.

*

68 Horizons June / July 2016

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

Big Savings On Latest Technology Hearing Aids now start at only

1,495ea

$

after discount

30 day

exchange guarantee** if you’re not completely satisfied with your hearing aid

A brAnd new breAkthrough in hearing aid technology is now available in Australia from us at the hearing Loss Specialists Clinics, and it’s virtually invisible.

this new miniature hearing aid is not suitable for all types of hearing loss.

A hearing assessment is required.

these new hearing aids needs no physical adjustments – these automatically adjust to different sounds by using an advanced digital computer. It’s so easy to use because it’s fully automatic, so you can relax and enjoy the sounds you want to hear. don’t settle for second best when you can now have the next generation of digital hearing aids without side effects such as overwhelming background noise and with superb clear hearing.

Exclusive Offer for RAC Members: You will be eligible for $500* off the regular price on each hearing aid. $1,000 discount for both ears.

30 day exchange guarantee

LateSt technOLOgy WIth naturaL SOund

SPecIaL dIScOuntS FOr SenIOrS & PenSIOnerS & Free hearIng teStS

SPecIaL MOdeLS FOr SeVere hearIng LOSS

MOdeLS FOr BOth Men & WOMen

Payment plans now available from a low $25 per week (subject to conditions). trust the hearing aid Specialists with 30+ years experience in Perth.

All Clinics 9350 6311 Main Clinic: 12 Pattie Street, Cannington Balcatta Cannington Rockingham Subiaco

www.hearingloss.net.au

*Not valid with any other promotion **Conditions apply

June / July 2016 Horizons 69

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

WARM UP THIS WINTER WITH HOT RAC PRICES KENT WOOD HEATERS RRP $1295 RAC price

RRP $1495 RAC price

$1195

$1290

Sunco SH3000

Kent Sommerset

Fan forced. Heats 250 sq. metres.

3-speed fan. 4 metre flue kits from $400.

Heats 180 sq. metres. 3-speed fan.

4 metre flue kits from $400.

RRP $2690 RAC price

Kent Evolution 6

Heats 250 sq. metres. 3-speed fan. 4 metre flue kits from $400.

RRP $2785 RAC price

$799

Kent classic 1000

Heats 300 sq. metres. 3-speed fan. with 4 metre flue kits from $400.

$1990

Only

$2390

Kent Evolution 8

RRP $2295 RAC price

Heats 150sq metres. 4 metre flue kits from $400.

$2549

Kent Evolution 8 Inbuilt

Heats 280 sq. metres. Including flue.

3-speed fan.

RINNAI GAS FLAME FIRES RRP $3760 RAC price

RRP $2950 RAC price

$3590

$2799

Rinnai Slim Fire

Heats up to 70sq meters.

4 metre flue $595.

$6299

Plus $150 rebate

Rinnai Sapphire

Heats 108sq. metres. 4 metre flue $425.

BARBECUEBAZAAR OPEN MON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FRI 9-5PM SAT 9-4PM SUN 11-2PM www.barbecuebazaar.com.au

70 Horizons June / July 2016

RRP $6642 RAC price

Balcatta

30 Erindale Rd Telephone: 9240 7188

Rinnai 950

Heats up to 125sq metres. Flue from $199.

Cannington

1399 Albany hwy Telephone: 9458 5724

Midland Relocated to Cannington

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

INTRODUCING

AudioHUB

RAC members receive

10% off

*

RRP

FORMALLY

Au dio HU B

AudioHUB

Over the next few weeks we are entering a new era for The Bose® Store. As well as being Perth’s exclusive Bose® Premium Dealer, we will also become the first independent Bang and Olufsen specialist retailer in Australia.

As an RAC member you’ll get 10% OFF RRP* on our huge range of Bose® products.*Conditions apply

Subiaco

9388 0099

AudioHUB

139 Hay St, Subiaco subiaco@thebosestore.com.au

FORMALLY

RAC Members receive

15% off

regular prices Or 5% off discounted prices

It’s amazing what a little snooze can do. snooze.com.au

For more information visit rac.com.au/snooze *15% saving applicable to the regular retail prices of all products for RAC members or a 5% discount may be applied to already discounted items when you show your current RAC member card at the point of purchase.

June / July 2016 Horizons 71

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

Premium Quality Electric Bikes Outsanding German Built Tricycles No petrol – parking – pollution

The Secret’s Out

@ebikesrus

Electric Bike Specialists • Servicing made easy • Fully integrated wiring harness Electric Bikes - 5 Models Electric Tricycles - 3 Models • Exclusive Australian distributorship • Guaranteed backup • Agents enquires welcome

Free

installation for RAC members Call: (08) 9430 5500 Or John 0448 406 407 www.e-bikesrus.com.au www.facebook.com/ ebikesrusfremantle

Come and enjoy off * at Save 10% MiSS 10% Maud our irresistible smörgåsbord SwediSh ReStauRant

NEW NEW DOORS DOORS REPLACEMENTS REPLACEMENTS SERVICES SERVICES SPARE SPARE PARTS PARTS

97 MuRRaY StReet PeRth 97 murray street Perth

Call 9325 9325 3900 3900 Call or email restaurant@missmaud.com.au or email restaurant@missmaud.com.au *excluding 24, 25 & 31 december not valid with any other offer Not valid for2013 special events or with valid 1 dec – 24 January 2014any other offer. discount ontosmörgåsbord Valid 1 June 31 July 2016. only Discount on Smörgåsbord only.

The Getabout Scooter folds and is easily transported, an ideal option for people wanting to travel. G&P Medical also has a range of mobility and independence aids available to buy or hire, these include kitchen and bathroom aids, wheelchairs, beds and lift and recline chairs.

Call 08 9249 2568

G&P Medical Enterprises 2/2 Enterprise Crescent Malaga 72 Horizons June / July 2016

10% off

Garage Door Needing Attention?

Breakfast or lunch – monday to saturday December: Breakfast & dinner festive smörgåsbord Mon – thur only Smörgåsbord Dinner – sunday to thursday January: Breakfast, Lunch or dinner smörgåsbord Mon – Fri. Your Please present your valid raC Card on arrival to receive the entire group receives 10% discount on presentation of your valid RaC discount for your entire group. Only one payment per table. card. Only one payment per table. Reservations are essential. reservations are essential.

10% DISCOUNT ON ALL PRODUCTS TO RAC MEMBERS

RAC members receive

RAC Members receive

10% O parts*

We install, repair and service all makes and models of doors & motors

9303 9334 Unit1/5 Quantum link Wangara WA 6065

www.edenrocgaragedoors.com.au *Must show or quote your member number atDiscount time of booking.

Discount applies to door garageparts door parts *Show RAC card atRAC time of booking. applies to garage onlyonly.

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

Enjoy your alfresco living in comfort all year round

40% OFF ELECTRIC ROLLER SCREENS*

RAC members receive a free remote control upgrade with every electric roller screen purchase External Roller Screens are an effective way to give your home the lifestyle and comfort you deserve.

Conveniently operated from anywhere in the home at the touch of a button, Nu Style Roller Screens allow you to control the amount of sunlight and ventilation with complete privacy without sacrificing your view.

Your NuStyle Roller Screens can be functional all year around. Keeping your alfresco warm in winter and even cooler in summer. By fully closing the screen you will benefit from up to 85% light control and shade cover, with an outstanding up to 95% heat control and UV block. It not only drastically reduces the harsh summer heat but also reduces your cooling and energy costs.

CALL 1300 798 776

or email info@nustyleshutters.com.au For a free measure and quote in metro areas 179 Beringarra Avenue, Malaga

www.nustyleshutters.com.au *Offer ends 31st of July 2016. T&Cs apply. Visit our webpage for more info.

June / July 2016 Horizons 73

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

Start cutting your energy bill TODAY! INSTALL A SOLAR GENERATION PV SYSTEM TODAY AND RECEIVE UP TO

26

% RETURN ON YOUR* PA INVESTMENT

*

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a better return on your money than bank interest!

*26% PA return on your investment is calculated on the following: i). Energy values from the Clean Energy Council for a 1.6 kW system installed on a northerly facing roof. ii). The Synergy A1 Tariff kWh rate as at February 2013. iii). All kWh generated by the system utilized within the household with no excess energy generated being fed back into the grid.

PV Solar Systems

RAC Members special

Reduce your energy bills significantly ONE CALL TO US AND

5KW system only

$3999 *Conditions apply

Quality service guaranteed Systems installed by fully qualified installers Experienced and friendly consultants - no high pressure tactics **To approved customers only.

Offer applicable to metro and selected country areas.

WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING

SOLAR GENERATION WESTERN AUSTRALIA

member

MEMBER

NO DEPOSIT PAYMENT TERMS AVAILABLE**

OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE

9443 9590 solargeneration.net.au

Part of the Termico Group | A trusted West Australian company since 1996 74 Horizons June / July 2016

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

40

%

CALL NOW and take advantage of our end of season savings. We are offering a massive 40% off on every electric roller shutter purchased. Aluminium roller shutters are the perfect product for your home if you are looking to retain warmth, enhance security, save energy, block out light and minimise noise. Keep your family and home warm and cosy through this West Australian winter with Nu Style Shutters, backed up with a 10 year warrantee and free installation. Now is the time to buy.

0ff

RAC Members receive

a further

10%

with every electric shutter purchase^

FOR A FREE MEASURE AND QUOTE IN METRO AREAS 179 Beringarra Avenue, Malaga, 6090 *Offer ends 31st of July 2016. T&Cs apply. ^A further 10% off the already discounted price. Visit our webpage for more info.

June / July 2016 Horizons 75

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

The CSIRO recommends annual termite inspections

Save

$165

Plus, 15% off all other services*

RAC Members Exclusive Offer only $190* (Normally $355) Offer only available once per household

*RAC member discounts and offers are not applicable to warranty renewal contracts or other Termico offers. Offer only applicable in metro and selected country areas (Bunbury and Busselton).

Spider treatment not available with pre-purchase inspection. Offer available once per household.** To approved customers only.

For more member savings visit rac.com.au/memberbenefit s

76 Horizons June / July 2016

70

08.13

www.rac.com.au

Show your RAC membership card and start saving

See your home in a new light

Escape the winter gloom

natural Daylight & roof Ventilation Solutions.

Showrooms at Balcatta, Bunbury & albany Perth DayLighting servicing all regions in Wa Units 5 & 6/1 halley road (cnr geddes road), Balcatta

Receive a 10%* discount elite pool coveRs

RAC members receive a

8%

discount off selected products with

Perth Daylighting

Call 9240 4045 Bunbury ext 7013

www.perthdaylighting.com.au • www.skylightswa.com.au

SAVE UP TO 45%* ON ALL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR BLINDS AND CURTAINS wITh VISION DECOR

Visit our showroom

elite... Wa’s best-selling pool covers • Stops evaporation • Keeps your pool cleaner • Heats your pool by up to 10°C Call now and do your bit to help save our precious water.

Contact Elite with your pool size and take advantage of the 10% discount (phone/counter quotes only).

Call 9240 2262

(Country call: 1300 136 696) or visit our factory showroom, at 10 Cressall Road, Balcatta

we specialise in all types of interior and exterior blinds & curtains all custom made to measure in our factory in malaga.

Contact our friendly staff for a quote today!

FOR A FREE mEASURE AND qUOTE PLEASE

Call 9248 6160

2/19 Exhibition Drive malaga wA 6090 www.visiondecor.com.au

*Offer available until 31 July 2016. Factory direct sales only. Not valid with any other offer or if Elite has to measure pool.

*Terms and conditions apply

Save 10%* on your Tax DepreciaTion ScheDule

Save on Settlement feeS with floreat SettlementS

if you don’t have a depreciation schedule on your investment property, then you could be missing out on thousands of dollars each year.

Opteon Property Group prepare depreciation schedules for all types of commercial and residential properties. The primary benefit is tax claim maximisation.

SELLING PROPERTY: $550* BUYING PROPERTY: $880*

Call 08 9488 4870

or email jeremy.mcgrade@opg.net

*including GSt for a standard settlement. additional government charges and disbursements apply.

limited time only. reGiSter now.

Call 9245 4822 or email admin@floreatsettlements.com.au www.floreatsettlements.com.au

*offer available to rac members only. not valid with any other offer.

June / July 2016 Horizons 77

For more ways to save visit rac.com.au/memberbenefits

10% OFF * AT REPCO

Receive 10%* off full house gutteR Replacement • Gutters and Downpipes • Roof Restoration • Ridgecap Re-pointing • Skylights • All General Roof Repairs • All work guaranteed

Call 0439 707 578 or 9398 9861

www.roofrenewals.com.au

We willy beat an! quote 300mm

360mm

Fully installed

Fully installed *Conditions apply

$185 ZINC $195 COLORBOND

$210 ZINC $220 COLORBOND

SAVE Save$390 $390with with Garden GardenWater WaterBores Bores

Metro-wide retic and bore installation and repairs

receive $150 off installation and a Free 3/4˝ tap and receive $150 off installation and a Free 3/4” tap and pressure release valve worth $240 with all new bores. pressure release valve worth $240 with all new bores.

Call 734300 300oror 0411 Call 1300 1300 734 0411 511511 611611

www.repco.com.au

also alsobore boreand andreticulation reticulationservice serviceand andmaintenance maintenance

Don’t forget to show your card & save.

SAVE 10% off CArAVAn ACCESSoriES Ken Peachey caravan rePairs

* Excludes discounted and catalogue lines, automotive, marine & deep cycle batteries, transmissions, engines & cylinder heads, satellite navigation equipment, gift cards, combo deals and trade purchases. Store stock only.

R498933

insurance, servicing, modification, accessories and canvas work.

Call (08) 9277 1381 or Email info@kenpeachey.com www.kenpeachey.com 194 campbell street Belmont Wa 6104

As an RAC member you’ll get 10% off* a wide range of parts, accessories and lubricants.

And if some Repco Know How is what you need, our friendly, expert staff are always ready to share their knowledge to help you get the job done. Repco has over 90 years of motoring Know How supplying parts, accessories and advice to millions of Australian drivers and motoring professionals. So if it’s time to change your oil or give your car a little extra care get into Repco.

Licensed repairer MRB1167

RAC members save

20%

wooleen.com.au use promo code: Horizons

WOOLEEN STATION Murchison, Western Australia

An Outback eco-tourism experience that challenges a hundred years of European orthodoxy.

Wooleen Station is one of the finest working cattle stations in the heart of outback Western Australia, situated on the Murchison River and covering half a million acres of picturesque rangelands. Your Wooleen hosts, David and Frances, make the outback come alive, ensuring your station experience is comfortable, enlightening and enjoyable.

David and Frances invite you to come and stay today. For more information or to make your reservation contact us at: www.wooleen.com.au info@wooleen.com.au Ph: (08) 9963 7973

NINGALOO BLUE DIVE WHALESHARKING RECEIVE A 15% DISCOUNT Join Exmouth WHALESHARK specialist for the trip of a lifetime snorkelling with the Whaleshark on the magical Ningaloo Reef.

Tours depart daily April to end July and are all inclusive; call us today Free Call to secure your bookings on this extremely popular tour!

Call 1800 811 338 or 08 9949 1119 *Direct bookings only

Open for tourism 1st Apr to the 31st Oct

78 Horizons June / July 2016

e: tours@ningalooblue.com.au w: ningalooblue.com.au f: facebook.com/whalesharks

June / July 2016 Horizons 79 * Perth metro rides only.

SHOFER – we’ll treat your right. shofer.com.au SHOFER has teamed up with RAC to offer Perth passengers a better way to ride.

You’ll get the full SHOFER treatment, like low-cost agreed upfront fares and routes, live tracking and monitoring for your safety, even the choice of a female driver. And since you’re an RAC member, we’ll also treat you to 10% off.

It’s time you were treated right, with SHOFER – Perth’s newest on-demand transport.

We’ll then deploy a SHOFER to arrive on time, every time and safely.

1. Download the SHOFER app 2. Book your SHOFER ride 3. Press the RAC members tab on home page and follow the prompts to receive your 10% discount.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP FOR YOUR SHOFER EXPERIENCE.

A LINE OF RAC MEMBERS WOULD STRETCH FROM PERTH TO PEMBERTON. WE’RE READY TO TREAT YOU RIGHT. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 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80 Horizons June / July 2016

Terms & conditions

Ovation of the Seas page 34

Car Doctor page 59

The competition begins on 18 May 2016 at 9am (Australian Western Standard Time) and ends on 31 July 2016 at 12pm.

Up to one entrant (winner) may each be awarded only one prize as follows: One-way economy flight from Perth to Singapore, one night pre-cruise 4-star accommodation in Singapore, transfers in Singapore including airport pickup and transfer to cruise terminal, six-night cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas from Singapore to Fremantle in an Oceanview cabin including all meals (excluding speciality restaurants), onboard entertainment, gratuities, port charges and government fee. Flights are subject to availability and schedules. Cruise departs Singapore on 30 November 2016. Blackout periods apply. The following costs are to be borne by the passenger: travel costs to and from the points of departure, travel insurance, visas, additional accommodation and meals outside specified in prize inclusions, excess baggage and any other travel related expenses. The winner shall be chosen by the judges from the entries at random. The winner will be drawn on 4 August 2016 and notified by writing. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided with details as to the collection of their prize. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter reserves the right not to select winners of all or any prizes in its absolute discretion.

Each winner must claim their prize on or before 12 August 2016. Prizes must be claimed in person unless a winner is otherwise advised. Identification, which includes a photograph, will be required.

Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy policy.

Entrants may submit more than one entry.

Up to three entrants (winners) will be awarded only one prize as follows: a 2016 Perth and Surrounds UBD Street Directory, valued at $39.95. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, telephone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in June/July Horizons must claim their prize by 13 July 2016. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn, at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy policy.

WA Road & 4WD Track Atlas competition Promotion page 61 The competition begins on 18 May 2016 at 9:00am (Australian Western Standard Time) and ends on 18 July 2016 at 5pm. Up to 10 entrants (winner/s) may each be awarded only one prize as follows: one WA Road & 4WD Track Atlas. The winner/s shall be chosen by the judges from the entries at random. The winner/s will be drawn on 18 July 2016 and notified by writing. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided with details as to the collection of their prize. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter reserves the right not to select winners of all or any prizes in its absolute discretion. Each winner must claim its prize on or before 31 August 2016. Prizes must be claimed in person unless a winner is otherwise advised.

Identification, which includes a photograph, will be required. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy policy.

Winning Letter page 8

Entrants may submit more than one entry.

One entrant (winner) will be awarded only one prize as follows: a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance valued at $164. If the winner already has Roadside Assistance, the Classic Roadside Assistance will be applied as credit to their account until their cover runs out. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, phone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in June/ July Horizons must claim their prize by 13 July 2016. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn, at the absolute discretion of the Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy policy.

More info For full terms and conditions, go to rac.com.au/t&c.

For details of winners from our past promotions, visit rac.com.au/horizonswinners.

June / July 2016 Horizons 81

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sheltered bays, landing on deserted beaches and swim amid magnificent coral reefs teeming with marine life.

Aboriginal bush-tucker experiences Bundy’s Cultural Tours Cape Leveque, Kimberley Join Bundy to see how the local Bardi people use a native plant to stun fish in order to catch them. Or take a walk with Bundy on a bush tucker tour and discover local uses for many of the native plants in the area. You can also learn about traditional methods used in making spears and boomerangs and how they are used in hunting.

Girloorloo Tours Mimbi Caves, Kimberley Local Gooniyandi guides share their traditional knowledge of local bush tucker, bush medicine and native flora found around the Mimbi Cave system. Enjoy billie tea and damper, made the traditional way using native seeds, around the campfire. The tour includes a fascinating walk between towering Karst cliffs.

Ngalang Wongi Aboriginal Cultural Tours Bunbury On Troy Bennell’s Estuary Walkabout Tour you’ll learn how to make weaving twine from river bulrushes, 82 Horizons June / July 2016

bush mercurochrome from tree sap and how to locate traditional bush foods.

The tour includes ancient stories about the spirit serpent that inhabits local waterways. It culminates at the Bunbury Dolphin Centre.

Koomal Dreaming Aboriginal Tours, Art and Culture Yallingup Join Josh Whiteland’s Aboriginal Food, Culture, Cave and Didge Tour to forage for native bush foods, plants and medicines while hearing about their traditional uses. Learn about the six Noongar seasons and how these influence what is eaten. Taste traditional foods and flavours around the campfire. Depending on the season, this can include kangaroo, emu, quandong, emu plum and salt bush.

Bindi Bindi Dreaming Perth Explore Noongar Boodja on a bush tucker walk with Marissa along the Bidi Kadidjinny trail at Piney Lakes and learn about the six Noongar seasons. The bush

was a Noongar supermarket, providing edible bush tucker plants and important herbal medicines, some of which are still used today.

Lombadina Indigenous Tours Lombadina Community, Kimberley Go mud crabbing and learn how the local people hunt in the creeks. You’ll even try your hand at catching and tying a mud crab. While searching for crabs your local guide will explain the different types of mangroves and show you the variety of animal and plant life they sustain. Back at Lombadina your guide will cook up a feast of fresh crabs, salad and Lombadina bread.

Wula Guda Nyinda Eco Adventures Shark Bay The overnight camping safari with Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell explores the beautiful Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

Catch and cook seafood on an open campfire and listen to the ancient sounds of the didgeridoo under a starlit sky. You’ll kayak across

Kimberley Dreamtime Adventure Tours West Kimberley Travel through Kimberley cattle country to the Jarlmadangah Community to try traditional bush foods, learn about bush medicines and hear stories told by the traditional land owners.

Tours can also include visits to billabongs and creeks to fish. All tours allow visitors to gain a unique insight into the exquisite nature and culture of the Kimberley landscape.

Brian Lee Hunter’s Creek Tagalong Tour Cape Leveque, Kimberley Follow Brian Lee on a selfdrive Tagalong Tour where he shows you traditional hunting and gathering methods and how to collect, prepare and eat a range of bush tucker native foods found in the area around Cape Leveque. Taste seasonal bush fruit, fish for local seafood and then cook up your catch Bardi-style on an open fire.

Ngurrangga Tours Pilbara Explore Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi traditional country with Clinton Walker and learn how to find bush tucker and bush medicines, as well as traditional tracking techniques. You’ll also hear local stories about the land and sea. Mr Walker’s tours explore some of the region’s most stunning locations including Murujuga National Park, Millstream-Chichester National Park, Harding Dam and Mairee Pool.

For more information on these and other WA Aboriginal tourism experiences, visit waitoc.com.

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OFFER EXTENDED TO END OF

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$

• Award winning homes • Pets Warmly Welcomed • Dedicated Caravan/ Boat parking area • Warm, friendly neighbours

• Clubhouse • On-site stabling for your horse • Pools, Spas and Saunas • Fully equipped Gym • Hobby Centre • Men’s Shed

Situated on 96 acres of natural bush and parkland and surrounded on 3 sides by a 200 acre international standard Golf Course.

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CONTACT US FOR BROCHURE & DVD PHONE: 9573 3777 *Terms and Conditions Apply. Two bedroom homes start from $289,000

www.eclv.com.au

042116-304

Village open for inspection daily from 11.00 to 3.00 or by appointment

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