The Hobart Magazine Issue 17 November 2020

THE HOBART MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2020: ISSUE 17

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SAROO AND SUE BRIERLEY NEW WORKS FROM THE FAMILY WHO INSPIRED LION

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HOBART NEWS CARAVANNING ON THE WEST COAST WHAT’S ON IN HOBART MARTA DUSSELDORP ON COVID AND COMEBACKS 1

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WELCOME TO Editorial Stephanie Williams (Publisher) editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au Bonnie Mary Liston bonnie@thehobartmagazine.com.au Advertising James Marten advertise@thehobartmagazine.com.au 0405 424 449 Contributors Beau Leighton, Benedict Freudenmann, Sarah Ugazio, Annia Baron.

Cover Main image: Supplied, Inset: Ross Coffey, courtesy SBS. Contents image: Green Point Beach, Marrawah by Stu Gibson.

Circulation 30,000 copies are distributed, with 27,000 to inner city homes and the rest via Hill Street Grocer, and over 250 cafes and public places in and around Hobart.

Publisher Information While all care has been taken, some information may have changed since publication. The Hobart Magazine regrets it can’t accept liabilities from errors or omissions contained in this magazine. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or amend all advertisements without explanation.

Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in articles and advertisements are not endorsed by the editor or publishers. We welcome any questions or feedback, email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au.

THE HOBART MAGAZINE By the time you’re reading this, some state borders will be open. What effect that will have, time will tell, but it’s never been more important to keep washing hands and keeping our distance. For those who have missed seeing family and friends, enjoy the reunions!

This month Saroo and Sue Brierley grace our cover. You might have heard their incredible story via the Hollywood film, Lion. We also spoke with actor Marta Dusseldorp about her upcoming play The Bleeding Tree. I took a trip to the West Coast in a caravan over the school holidays and lived to write the tale, and we talk Tassie’s Top Predators...not related!

Cheers, Steph, James and The Hobart Magazine team

WHAT’S INSIDE 04 08 18 20 22 24 28 30

Local People Bits and Pieces Saroo and Sue Brierley Wine Electric Bikes What’s On Marta Dusseldorp Madame Saisons

32 34 36 38 42 44 46 47

Hobart Homes Psychology Dining Out Travel on the Island Nutrition Predators History Reader’s Pics

Green Point Beach, Marrawah by Stu Gibson 3

LOCAL LAD

JOEL BEVILACQUA Interview: Stephanie Williams Joel Bevilacqua is as comfortable with words as he is with the waves. Having grown up on the beaches in Tassie, he now saves lives at busy Bondi Beach.

Where do you live? I grew up in Howrah and Lauderdale and split my time between the two when I’m home. I currently live in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

What’s the best thing about Hobart? The people.

And the worst? The cold. I’m an absolute sook.

Tell us a little about your work? I’m pretty busy. I’m a full-time secondary school English teacher and casual lifeguard at Bondi Beach. I also do some kayak coaching and write food reviews for a magazine much like this one.

How did you get involved with Bondi Rescue? When does filming start again? I’ve always worked as a lifeguard, starting off at the Hobart Aquatic Centre when I was still a St Virgil’s boy. Then when I moved to the Sunny Coast for a few years after school I started working at the beach. When I moved to Sydney about four years ago, I was looking for work while I studied and was lucky enough to get a job down at Bondi. It’s been a crazy experience. Bondi Rescue is filmed every summer and it definitely makes the days more interesting. Everything that you see on the show is real and I’ve been involved in some really heavy situations. On the flipside, it’s also a lot of fun – especially when we’re filming. I dressed up as Cleopatra for the end of season party and got a few comments from the boys at school the day after that episode aired. The Head of Academics also had a quiet word.

What’s your dream project to work on? I’m currently filming a new YouTube series called Fish Outta Water with one of my best mates, Jethro, who is one of the main stars of Bondi Rescue.

We travel to some of the most beautiful camping destinations in Australia and have a lot of fun along the way. It’s pretty hard to beat.

Tell us a little about your new series? Fish Outta Water is my baby. It’s sort of Russell Coight meets Hamish and Andy with a little bit of Hook, Line and Sinker. I originally wrote the show for my mate Jethro. He said he would only do it if I joined him, so that was that. We made a couple of really rough episodes by ourselves before we got picked up by Bondi Nation, who are now producing the show. A new episode is released every Friday and it’s received a really good response so far. You can watch the show at www.youtube.com/c/BondiNation.

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I’m inspired by.. People who chase their dreams and don’t worry about what other people might think.

Where’s your favourite Hobart eatery when you’re here?

Grinners Dive Bar on Elizabeth Street. When I’m down next, I’m heading there on my first night back to eat about a thousand tacos and lose some games of table tennis.

Drink of choice and where do you head for it?

I almost exclusively drink blue cans (Cascade Lager) when I’m in Tassie. Grinners is my go to, but The Clubhouse Bambra (my dad’s house) isn’t a bad spot either.

Favourite team? The mighty Richmond Tigers. By the time this is published we’ll have just won our third premiership in 4 years.

What do you never leave home without? My phone. I did see the Social Dilemma on Netflix but I know I can quit anytime.

I’d like to travel to... Hobart. It’s been a long year. If you gave me the choice between a week in Hobart right now or a month on the Amalfi Coast I’d ask you when the next Jetstar flight south was leaving.

Favourite Hobart secret? The chicken medallions at the Seven Mile Beach store.

Where to next? I’m not sure. I am enjoying teaching for now but I have never wanted to do just one thing for my entire life – that thought scares me a lot. I would like to eventually make a living from writing.

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LOCAL LADY

ZOE FITZHERBERT Interview: Stephanie Williams Photo: Rosie Hastie Artist Zoe Fitzherbert made the transition from architecture to art in her late 20’s and hasn’t looked back.

Where in Hobart do you live? I live in Mount Stuart, a brisk five minute walk from Knocklofty. The view to the receding hills up-river is absolutely stunning. It doesn’t get any better than this!

What’s the best thing about Hobart? For me, the fact that proximity to nature doesn’t cost you proximity to culture.

And the worst? Having no family around is tough!

Tell us a little about your work. As an artist, my process and inspiration are in constant flux. I’m currently focusing on my paintings, which are large abstract pieces, with oceanic themes. I also create custom portraits in charcoal, which are very different from my paintings - they’re highly detailed and really capture the essence of their subject.

You recently held an exhibition, TIDAL, at Salamanca Arts Centre. Yes, what an incredible experience! The body of work was the physical manifestation of 3.5 months of frustration at being unable to express myself creatively due to being in lockdown in rural NSW. My mother had been ill when COVID-19 started to take off and I made a snap decision to fly there with my little son while we still could. It was definitely the right thing to do in the circumstances, but the build-up of loneliness and creative energy while I cared for my son 24/7 started to weigh heavily about two months in. I began to envisage a body of work, almost obsessively, and was finally able to put my ideas to the test after returning to Hobart in July. The next two months were a frenzy of experimentation and creative production - it was full on! The result was TIDAL - the embodiment of the highs and lows of our lockdown period. So incredibly satisfying!

What’s your dream project to work on? Honestly, each project I take on is a dream project! Particularly with my portraiture, watching the subjects come alive, somehow reflecting more of their essence than a photograph ever could - it’s incredibly satisfying (and addictive).

What triggered your transition from architect to artist?

I was a passionate architect, but I was many other things besides, and architecture doesn’t leave room for much else. My passion for the profession started to dwindle at the end of my 20s as I realised how much I had been unable to do because of the hours I’d been working. I quit my job, then promptly fell pregnant.

Architecture was simply incompatible with my situation; I was alone from day one of motherhood and certain circumstances meant that I had a pretty rough trot for the first year. The extreme 6

highs and lows of solo-parenthood have really changed my outlook on life and it’s much richer these days. Even with a toddler in tow, it’s incredible how much more you can do with your life when you’re not chained to an office job.

What do you love doing outside work? Singing! I’ve been fortunate enough to stumble into some incredible projects since I’ve lived in Hobart, including Jazzamanca - we’re so lucky here to have live music to brighten our lives at the moment.

Favourite Hobart eatery? I’m not a foodie so I’m happy anywhere really - as long as it’s busy, to maximise people-watching opportunities (an interest my toddler has inherited!).

Drink of choice and where do you head for it? I’m working my way through Hobart’s cafés searching for the ultimate iced chocolate. Day or night, it’s my go-to. I’m yet to find one that ticks all my boxes - syrup rather than chocolate powder; icecream rather than ice-cubes; a veritable tower of cream. The search continues!

Guilty pleasure? You mean other than iced chocolate…?

Favourite team? I’m a tennis fan actually. The only time I became remotely interested in team sport was during my years in Munich. It was so infectious. So FC Bayern of course!

I’d like to travel to… The very top of Europe. I’d love to go hiking in Iceland and Norway.

When there’s nothing to do, I… Go for a long walk in the bush.

Bliss - particularly if it’s pouring with rain. I’m one of those odd creatures that are happiest when the weather is wild.

Favourite Hobart secret? There’s a particular moment in Mount Stuart where you cop a sudden and unexpected glimpse of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, framed by mid-century weatherboard on either side - it tickles me pink every time.

Quote to live by? “Head; heart; stomach.” This has come from two very dear friends at different times, in different places, and I come back to it often. I’ve always felt things very intensely and have learnt to embrace it, rather than fight it.

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BITS AND PIECES

HOBART NEW OPENINGS Lady Hester (52 Sandy Bay Road) has finally opened in a permanent location, so now you can fulfill your cravings for their iconic sourdough donuts anytime - within business hours at least. A new coffee shop, Macquarie Soul (71 Macquarie Street) is open opposite TMAG and may just be the perfect place to pick up a pick me up after an educational visit to the museum. New Hobartians, Scott and Lauren, have relocated from Melbourne, bringing their passion for coffee to our city. Ozus (56 Hampden Road, Battery Point), which was previously a coffee caravan chugging around Taroona, has settled down in the space that previously housed Pollen Tea Room in Battery Point. But Taroona locals can rest easy, the van will still be serving coffee! Picnic Cafe (109 Liverpool St) has reopened in Mathers Lane

and is back with all day breakfast and brunches as well as a sweet and savoury waffle menu. Masters of the French Patisserie, Daci and Daci, are expanding their franchise into a third store, opening in the ex-Flight Centre space on Sandy Bay Rd. Hobart’s first rooftop restaurant AURA (110 Liverpool Street) opens this month, with a lounge bar and event space too. Liberty Emma, a small Tasmanian business that’s been supplying Hobartians with fine leather bags, wallets, sterling silver jewellery, homewares and fragrances for seven years has finally taken the leap into a bricks and mortar address at 101 Murray St. Juan Nuiz Casas has launched his high end life style leather brand Etica at 139 Macquarie Street.

INDIGENOUS WALKING TOUR TO LAUNCH IN 2021 Six years ago, while working at TMAG, Nunami Sculthorpe-Green had the idea of a walking tour of Hobart that focused on the Aborignal palawa viewpoint. She has carried the idea close to her heart over the years while she continued her history studies. Finally next year, March 2021, it will emerge into the spotlight. Takara nipaluna (which translates to ‘walking Hobart’ in palawa kani) is the product of years of research and collaboration on the part of Nunami, which has seen her collaborate with radio personality Ryk

Nunami with her super cute daughter Tanganutura.

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NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY Goddard, playwright Sarah Hamilton, and Annette Downs, Senior Producer at Tasmania Performs. In her work Nunami shatters the idea of Indigenous history as something to be ghettoised in the ‘before period’ of Hobart and instead shows how the history of the palawa people intertwines with the city, as she takes you along the Rivulet, which like the Aboriginal population, predates European arrival and, though sometimes diverted, sometimes obscured, remains proud to this day. Nunami was originally discouraged by the threat COVID poses to the tourism industry, “Initially I thought, what’s the point of even doing this now, but having had the time to actually work on it and because of the stuff I’m telling, I think it’s more important for local audiences. I definitely want Tasmanian Aboriginal people to know these sites in the city, as well locals who may have no idea.” Locals may appreciate more than most the way Nunami makes tangible fragments of Hobart’s past. Sites such as Truganini’s home, where the Travel Lodge now sits on Macquarie St. “I used to walk to work along the same street, “ said Nunami. “I like to imagine her, with a beanie on, walking three dogs down Macquarie Street.” Ultimately, Nunami is heartened by her experiences this year, “It seems like everyone’s really pulling together to support each other. It’s really an opportunity to showcase the art we do have in the state.”

FIND YOUR FEET RELEASES NEW TRAIL PROJECT Wilder Trails is a new community project from Find Your Feet to encourage people to get out and about in the wilderness of Tassie. Wilder Trails spotlights “toe-tingling trails” around Tasmania for you to choose from, learn about, prepare for, and then hike, run, or walk as you choose.

The trails are considered suitable for all athletic abilities. Once you’ve completed your trek, you can visit the Find you Feet website to collect that trail’s special commemorative badge or lapel pin. Proceeds support the continuation of the project and community-driven environmental and cultural projects around Tasmania.

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BITS AND PIECES

CENSORSHIP OR SENSIBLE? The removal of a painting from the main law lecture theatre at UTAS recently created a small fracas. The law school is swimming in portraits of old men dressed in their lawyerly best, but the painting in question, featuring late Tasmanian lawyer John Kable QC, is different to the rest. At his feet cowers a curled, naked, female figure. A group, including several Law students, PHD students, and a staff member, registered their discontent with the painting, saying in a joint statement that the painting was “symbolic of archaic attitudes in the legal profession” though they clarified they had “no desire to disrespect John Kable or his loved ones and wish for alternative ways to honour his memory.” The artist, Margaret Dockray has expressed disappointment with the decision and others have said that the University giving in to requests to move the painting was tantamount to censorship. However the students of UTAS, the people who actually have to see this painting every day, are either pleased or unbothered by its disappearance. Recorded student perceptions of the artwork were overwhelmingly negative. Do you think it should be taken down? Email editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au with the subject: Censor Bull?

PAP THAT PLATYPUS Local photographer Pete Walsh, who shot our beautiful cover photo of the Bridgewater Jerry last month, has launched a new venture. @hobartrivuletplatypus is an Instagram and Facebook feed dedicated to the life and times of the platypeese of the Hobart Rivulet. The account aims to bring attention to litter and debris that washes up in the Rivulet as well other threats to the platypus’ home.

Check it out for some very cute wildlife pictures with a side order of environmental education.

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HOW CANCER TRIGGERED A FRESH TAKE ON QUILTING Ursula Jones was 30 years old when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer - a relatively rare and aggressive form of cancer - in January 2019. The young mother of one and beloved early childhood teacher of many suffered six months of chemotherapy, surgery, and six weeks of daily radiation before she was declared cancer free and released back into the wild - a happy ending with a few loose ends. “After having cancer I felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore,” said Ursula. During her recovery Ursula started a sewing group with her friends, where she was introduced to the art of quilting. “I felt like it was one of those old lady things, like crochet except it hadn’t become popular yet, and so I thought I’d give it a try because I love a craft. I started off doing just basic triangle blocks and then I discovered Improv Quilting on Instagram.” Improv quilting is where a quilter cuts out random shapes in fabric they enjoy with no larger design in mind and then figures out how to fit them back together in the shape of a quilt, like a puzzle, that’s also a maths problem, that’s also a sewing project! In America there’s a thriving community for the craft, but here in Tasmania, Ursula is a pioneer, creating one of a kind, modern, funky fresh quilts for family, loved ones and, as of recently, paying customers. After posting some of her beautiful works on Instagram, Ursula was headhunted by the Collective Longford and contracted to sell some of her works in their pop-up shop. “I felt validated,” Ursula said, “being a mum and at home with Elenore - there’s only so many times you wanna play Barbies!” Ursula’s quilts can be found on her instagram @ursula_in_wonderland or purchased at The Collective Longford.

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BITS AND PIECES DERWENT REGENCY FESTIVAL Feeling a longing for times gone by?

The Folk Federation of Tasmania are returning with the Derwent Regency Festival to give you that Jane Austen fix you might be cravin’. Across the weekend of the 27th-29th November you may partake in a range of delightfully archaic activities including a Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna on Friday. On Saturday, the North Hobart Uniting Church Hall will hold dance workshops to brush up on your quadrille in time for the evening’s Grand Regency Ball, to be held at St James Hall, New Town.

Dance Master David Wanless will lead an evening of lively dances to the tunes of the Van Diemen’s Angels. Then on Sunday the festival cools down with a Regency House and Garden Party at the historical Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat. You can eat like Jane Austen with period food and drinks. There’s also more dancing, live music, history tours, croquet and other period games,

roses, heritage sheep, and peacocks, oh my! Each event is ticketed individually and no event is priced more than $20. More information can be found at www.folktas.org/derwent-regency-festival-2020.

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR ELDERS Relationships Australia Tasmania has launched a new Elder Relationship Service that aims to improve relationships and resolve differences between older Tasmanians and their families. It includes both mediation and counseling services to older people and their families to help them navigate difficult conversations and complex issues relating to an older person’s lifestyle or care, while prioritising the interests, rights and safety of older Tasmanians.

With support from the Tasmanian Community Fund, it’s available across Tasmania and is free and confidential.

To find out more about Relationships Australia services call 1300 364 277 or look up www.tas.relationships.org.au

JUNCTION CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ARTISTRY IN LAUNCESTON Junction Arts Festival celebrates its 10th year of bringing arts and cultural experiences to Launceston this November. JUNCTION HOMETOWN will feature some of Tasmania’s finest musicians, performers and artists to Prince’s Square for a weekend of celebration 27-29th November. The line up has something for everyone with music, dancing, theatre, performances, and interactive activities for families, not to mention food and drinks. Tickets can be purchased at www.junctionartsfestival.com.au. Children under 12 attend for free but still need to book a ticket, for COVID safety reasons.

THUMBS UP Widening the Tasman Bridge to allow 3.5 metres on each side is a big win for walkers and cyclists.

Lollipop People - rain, hail and shine, the school crossing guards are always there to help with a smile on their face.

Moto Vecchia Cafe in Bellerive and Czegs Cafe in Richmond have joined the Clarence City Council dementia program, creating dementia-friendly spaces for all patrons.

Need a laugh? Check out @theinspiredunemployedfeed on Instagram.

Inspiring the unemployed everywhere.

THUMBS DOWN Just when you think your cousins are alright. NZ Opposition Leader Judith Collins took aim at Tassie during her recent (unsuccessful) campaign, calling us Australia’s “poor cousin.” She also seems worried about us nabbing tech businesses, “It’s a lovely part of the world but do you necessarily want to go there with your hightech business? Possibly not,” she said.

We beg to differ!

Tacks on the track. Mountain bikers beware of tacks being left on certain tracks on the mountain.

Fletcher Bissett and Taylor Yates of SUNDAZE. 12

NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY BUSKERS ON TRIAL IN THE CITY Prepare to be entertained this summer!

The Hobart City Council has launched a new trial program to expand location options and opportunities for buskers in the city. Over the next six months, buskers can get a permit that will allow them to perform in 27 specially chosen performance spots across the City of Hobart area. Buskers can perform between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and from 10am to 8pm on weekends. If you think you have what it takes, apply for a busking permit at hobartcity.com.au/busking and try your luck on the streets. The council is also looking for feedback from the public so put in your two cents worth at yoursay. hobartcity.com.au/busking.

Andrew at work.

LOOKING FOR SOME PAID SALVATION? Hobart band, A. Swayze & the Ghosts recently released their debut full length album. Lead vocalist Andrew Swayze steps us through releasing a new album amid a pandemic.

What’s the name of the record and what has been the creative trigger?

The record is titled Paid Salvation – a term I use in one of the tracks to suggest the commodification of spirituality/religion. The inspiration behind my lyrics differs largely in each track, but I generally comment with a focus on some of the negative aspects of human life. Instrumentally the songs are energetic and forthcoming, which often lends to the urgency of what I/we have to say as artists.

Where was the album written and produced?

The album is made up of a collection of songs spanning a large portion of the lifespan of this band, all written in Hobart. We curated it from a group of around 25 songs in 2018, and pre-production on the individual tracks started shortly after. Everything on the record was recorded in Melbourne

with our producer Dean Tuza. We tracked mostly all of the instrumentals in the same room at St. Charles Studio in Northcote over the course of three days. I spent another six months or so flying back and forth between Hobart and Melbourne finishing my vocals.

How has Covid affected your work?

Covid has more or less toppled the live music scene for the time being including some of our plans. This year we had a huge tour of the USA, EU, UK and Australia cancelled at the last minute, which was a bit of a kick in the guts but honestly we got off lightly compared to others in the wider community so there’s no bitter disappointment from us.

SO DOGGONE CUTE The Poochibald Prize, an annual art competition putting everyone’s best friend on a pedestal is over for another year, resulting in some fantastic art and a great deal of joy for dog lovers. Congratulations to the Adult Winner Eve Cowley, and Runner Up Icky Brothers. Samantha Hernan won the coveted Ranger Prize, awarded to the favourite entry of the Clarence City Council Park Rangers. All kids entrants are to be commended but special congratulations to Georgia Thurling (12, Child Senior Winner), Liam Ludlow (13, Child Senior Runner Up), Rose McLean (11, Child Junior Winner), Lauren Daley (11, Child Junior Runner Up) and Rosie Hentschel (14, Child’s Ranger Prize).

How will releasing a new album differ this time around?

Conventionally we tour everything we release, which provides some degree of closure and celebration of an accolade. We will still host a belated tour in all of the places we intended on visiting as soon as we can, so that closure will come. It’s a weird time to release but we’re still super excited and couldn’t wait any longer to share this record with the world.

Eve Cowley’s winning pooch.

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BITS AND PIECES LUCKY LITTLE DEVILS TRAVEL NORTH Nearly 3000 years after they went extinct on the mainland, Tasmanian Devils have been returned to the wild in New South Wales. Aussie Ark, alongside a coalition of other environmental groups released 26 devils into a 400 hectare wild sanctuary at Barrington Tops. If they prosper there, Aussie Ark will do two additional releases of 20 devils each over the next two years. “The re-introduction of devils to mainland Australia is a game-changer for conservation” said Mark Hutchinson, Co-Founder of WildArk. These lucky devils were released into their new homes by WildArk ambassador and superhero Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky.

NEW HOBART BUS MALL OPENS BUT IS IT SAFE? Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds opened the Elizabeth Street Bus Mall back to two way traffic in mid-October. Through the project, ageing shelters were replaced with larger, modern facilities, with improved footpaths and lighting, and the addition of more seating. The most recent works included the widening of the footpath adjacent to the Rivers building, new paving and the foundations for a new bus shelter outside the Metro Tasmania office.

Some paving and utility connection works are continuing in the short term, and the final shelter is currently being fabricated

by City of Hobart staff for installation over summer. In February this year a commuter was struck by a falling panel

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that came loose from one of the freshly constructed shelters in the mall. When asked about the shelters that were built after that incident, a council spokesperson said, “The panel fixings were reinforced, which means that the panels cannot slide out. No issues were identified in the other shelters, but they were all reinforced as a matter of precaution.” For our safety, let’s hope the designers and engineers have it right this time and no panels fall and potentially injure innocent bystanders.

CANCER COUNCIL SAYS SCREENING SAVES LIVES The Cancer Council of Tasmania has released an urgent call for all Tasmanians to get up to date with their bowel, breast and cervical screenings. Cancer Council Tasmania CEO, Penny Egan, said data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows fewer Australians are screening in 2020 than previous years, calling the Tasmanian statistics in particular “very disturbing.” “We know that COVID-19 has disrupted our lives and some of us may have neglected our regular health checks,” said Penny. Many screening services were placed on hold during the early stages of lockdown which explains some discrepancy, but all services have since resumed and participation numbers are still lagging. “We are urging Tasmanians to stop putting off any health checks. If you are due or have been invited to participate in the breast, bowel or cervical screening programs, get it done and tick cancer screening off your to do list.” The Cancer Council is currently running a Screening Saves Lives

How cute are these two? And the devils.

Campaign, emphasising how consistent screening leads to early detection of cancer, which leads to drastically improved survival rates.

NEW SCIENCE STUDY SLAMS PLASTIC BABY BOTTLES A new study conducted by Trinity College Dublin reveals that bottle fed babies are being exposed to far higher microplastic contamination than previously thought, swallowing over 1 million microplastic particles everyday. The plastic comes from polypropylene bottles which make up 82% of the baby bottle market and, according to the study, can release up to 16 million microplastics and trillions of smaller nanoplastics per litre. The transfer of plastic is apparently drastically increased by heat, and shaking - the exact process used to sterilise and prepare formula for babies’ consumption. We don’t currently know the full impact that microplastic consumption has on human health but the scientists involved in this study stress that we really ought to urgently find out. In the meantime they suggest never reheating formula in plastic containers, avoid vigorously shaking bottles, and altering your sterilisation methods to follow WHO recommended guidelines including rinsing the sterilised bottle using room temperature sterilised water at least three times.

Or switching to glass bottles and non-plastic teats instead.

© Slow Beam

SO DESIRABLE SO COMFORTABLE SO HOBARTABLE

From gourmet restaurants to quirky bars, arts and culture to bustling markets, Hobart is jam-packed with great experiences. So why not treat yourself to a staycation and become NORTH NORTH EAST

NORTH WEST

a tourist in your own city. An indulgent night or two spent somewhere unexpected will always be memorable. Book yours today.

SOUTH WEST

SOUTH

SOUTH EAST

Hobart

WEST

EAST

MARIA ISLAND

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BITS AND PIECES

Premier Peter Gutwein and Jack Jumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse at the naming announcement.

JACK JUMPERS READY TO BITE Tasmania’s new National Basketball League team have unveiled themselves as the Tasmania Jack Jumpers and are preparing to enter the league in time for the 2021-2022 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season.

This will be the first time Tasmania has had a team in the league since the 1996 Hobart Devils. Their notorious new name was chosen from amongst thousands of options submitted by Tasmanian basketball fans. Just like their namesake, the Jack Jumpers promise to show “you don’t need to be the biggest to be the best and to drive fear into your opponents.” Foundation memberships are available now!

DEVELOPMENT IN URGENT CARE MEDICAL CENTRES Health Minister Sarah Courtney has announced forward momentum on the establishment of Urgent Care Centres in the greater Hobart and Launceston areas, following the release of a positive feasibility study conducted by the Department of Health. Urgent Care Centres are designed to reduce pressure and overcrowding in emergency departments by redirecting people with acute but non-life threatening complaints to alternative walk-in clinics, leaving ED’s with the more critically ill or injured patients. The UCC model proposed by the Health Department is similar to the NHS model in the United Kingdom, and walk-in centres in the ACT. The minister said the next step in the process is beginning formal consultation with stakeholders such as local health services and consumers. Stay tuned.

BRIDGING THE BRIDGEWATER The New Bridgewater Bridge comes another step closer to construction with the release of a Reference Design. A reference design is a kind of semi-final draft that depicts a bridge that would meet all the project design requirements while staying within the current allotted budget for construction. This reference design is being used to solicit feedback from the greater Hobart community. Public consultation on the design is open until 13 November. To give your feedback, or ask any questions about the process you can 16

head to www.stategrowthtas.mysocialpinpoint.com/newbridgewaterbridge.

The design of the bridge is expected to evolve many times, taking into consideration community feedback and budgetary concerns. At present, construction is scheduled to start in 2022 with the bridge opening for business sometime in 2024.

REIT REVEALS REAL ESTATE REVIVAL According to the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania’s September Quarter Report, the Hobart housing market has defied all expectations and bounced back to pre-COVID heights. With 2959 sales recorded, we’re apparently seeing the highest quarterly transaction numbers since June 2018. The report also describes an increase in the value of sold property up 32.3 percent from the previous quarter and 15 percent compared to the same time last year. The most expensive suburb remains Sandy Bay, while the most affordable suburbs in Tassie are West Coast, Rosebery, Queenstown and Zeehan.

REIT president Mandy Welling said “We were very very impressed with the September quarter figures,” calling them “quite exceptional.” She specifically pointed out sales for First Home Buyers increased by almost 50% suggesting that low interstate buyer profiles, representing just 10% of sales compared to their average 22%, allowed the typically struggling First Home Buyers “some leverage to be able to break into the marketplace.”

RIP CASCADE GARDENS DUCK South Hobart lost one of it’s own recently, with the passing of the large Muscovy duck that paddled at Cascade Gardens. Residents have marked Duck’s passing with a plaque.

MAJOR MAJOR PROJECTS LEGISLATION TO BE DEBATED Off the back of the successful passing of the recent Major Projects legislation in the Tasmanian Parliament, a new bill will soon be introduced. The MAJOR Major Projects Bill is set to take all ministerial and all planning decisions out of state politician hands and be decided upon by a panel of expert mainlanders.

Just like the state legislated to take it away from local councils, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison thinks it’s best if big decisions are made by mainlanders, freeing our state pollies up to focus on theremaining ten portfolios they each currently manage.

Sat+Sun 14+15 November

Program live now!

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Email: info@paulharvieorthopaedics.com 17

COVER FEATURE

Interview: Bonnie Mary Liston When Saroo Brierley was only five years old, he got lost on a train in India and separated from his family. From the streets of Calcutta he was adopted by a Tasmanian family. He grew up happy and loved but never forgot the family he had left behind.

Eventually through the power of Google Earth and his own remarkable visual memory he was able to find his hometown, reunite with his birth mother and sisters, unify his two families.

Saroo Brierley’s incredible story has been recounted in his bestselling autobiography, A Long Way Home, and its film adaptation Lion. It’s now being retold from two new perspectives.

Saroo has released a picture book, Little Lion: A Long Way Home, in collaboration with iconic Australian illustrator Bruce Whatley, of Diary of a Wombat fame. Not to be outdone by her son. Sue Brierley has written a companion memoir, LIONESS, sharing her own traumatic childhood as the daughter of a violent alcoholic whose business gambles left her family destitute.

SAROO What was your process for adapting your memoir to a picture book? For children, it can be quite wholesome, reading about something they’ve never encountered before. The difficult part was resolving what can we put in, because there was so much data. I was extremely involved in it. I thought if I was a child reading this, what would pop up to me? We thought, oh, let’s use the main landmarks through the narrative. Initially you talk about the house that I’m born in, my sisters and then the train, then coming to Calcutta train station. Having a big landmark like that can really show, once illustrated, the disparity of a child to this massive gargantuan structure behind me. It wasn’t hard because it’s been in my brain for such a long time and I’ve got a photographic memory.

When you read your Mum’s memoir, did you learn anything new about her? Yes and no. It filled in things I was curious about. Things about my mother’s father, my grandfather, and their trials and tribulations, their journey from Europe to Australia and the relationship between her sister and herself.

Through reading the book, I’ve understood that my mother was the way she was because of her past. She wanted to bring my brother and I up better than her parents did and have a different angle to parenting. She certainly took on a tough challenge to raise us, but I don’t think that was challenging for her. The thing was for her, that this child needed a home and love and that’s what it was at the end of the day.

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Did you have any advice for her as a successful memoirist yourself? Not really. I had no doubts, my mother doesn’t need help writing this book, she can do it herself. She’s such a poetically spoken woman, full of effervescence and vitality. She helped me with my memoir, but I didn’t really help her much. I always have so much confidence in my mum and I know when she needs to be uplifted. One of the things was, hey mum, the world is asking for the other part of Lion, because it’s a story of not just me, but you as well. I’ve had some fame, I wouldn’t say I’m famous, but hey, I’m going to give her the stage now!

You travel a lot but always come back to Tasmania. Why? At the end of the day, home is where the heart is, so that’s where I needed to come back to re-energise myself. It’s the habitat I’ve known for over 32 years. My parents are there, my friends. I’ve got my boat there and my boat is where I find peace when I go out. I’m quite close to my mum, I need her guidance sometimes and support as well.

What are you doing right now? I live between Hobart and Madrid. The whole world is my playground and that’s how it’s been for the last seven years really. Obviously this year’s been just totally a disaster for people that are doing keynote speaking.

I mean, COVID is what it is. I think life is a rollercoaster, has some downs and ups, and this is just the down that we have to go through before we go back to normality.

Little Lion by Saroo Brierley and Bruce Whatley is available in bookstores from 3 November.

Left: Saroo embracing his biological mother Fatima Munshi and adoptive mother Sue in India.

Above: Saroo with his mother Sue. Top right: John, Sue and Saroo Brierley at the premiere of Lion in New York.

Bottom right: A younger Brierley family at home in Hobart.

Had you written like this before? No. I’d had a little dabble with poetry and in my diaries but that’s not writing a book. That was a totally different experience, and a very different process.

I took some advice from a good friend who said, “What are you worried about? You already know the story.” That put me back into the right headspace, I thought, “I know this, I can write it.”

And it just poured out of me, from my heart and memories.

In this book, you reveal very personal stories, was that scary?

I was in charge of what I wrote down. I could’ve decided to write down half the story. I thought, ‘I’ve made the commitment to do this. I’ve got to do it properly.’ I didn’t particularly enjoy the idea. Through the process, I kept on thinking, ‘Why am I doing this? What will this gain? What will be the outcome?’ In my life, this is the only time I’ve done something that created this vulnerability for me. And I guess only time will tell whether I come to terms with that.

Why did you decide to write this book? The book was Saroo’s idea. Right from the beginning, he asked me if I were to consider doing this. And because the request came from him, I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give it a go.’ There’s no way I would have done it otherwise. He’s got so used to notoriety, whereas my taste of notoriety was around the edges of his. For me, one of the things I hope will come across in the book is freeing up of ideas about becoming a parent. If you choose adoption, that is an acceptable means of becoming a parent. As far as a cross-racial adoption, I think it particularly targets children in need, which is a very important thing for me. But obviously, that is going to be difficult. Most people, they couldn’t even consider it. As a species, we are so conditioned into reproduction by normal terms. I don’t use “normal” in a derogatory sense, but it isn’t perfect for everyone. I think we need to talk about all of those issues a whole lot more, I really do, just for the future of humanity, and

our species on the planet. John and I discussed it a lot, between ourselves, that it needed to be a much more open situation, viewed with good things and bad.

You’ve lived in Tasmania your whole life. What do you love about it? And dislike? I like our isolation, in geographic terms.

I like that, until this year, we could explore the world easily if we wished. I like the purity of the place. I’m very mindful of our benefits, living in a place like this. I dislike that we often seem to think we’ve got to become like somewhere else. I don’t like that we’re obsessed with money making. That sort of small thinking.

The other thing that I don’t like is that we’re not treating our island with respect in a lot of areas.

If this book was adapted into a film, like Lion, who would you like to play the younger you? I’d really prefer it to be a Tasmanian woman. I’d like someone with the spirit of Greta Thunberg. I don’t think that I fit very easily into any current young actresses at present. They’d have to be a little bit alternate, not mainstream Hollywood-styled actresses. I don’t think that really suits me. Nicole Kidman (who played Sue in Lion) was perfect, because she’s a very raw and natural person in real life. And that’s what I love most about her. So I think it’s going to be a newbie for me, if it happens. And personally, I’m really not keen on the idea!

Lioness by Sue Brierley is also released on 3 November and available in bookstores.

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WINE

ENGINEERING NEW WINE MAKING IN THE COAL RIVER VALLEY Interview: Stephanie Williams Anh Nguyen followed her life purpose to switch from being an engineering academic to a biodynamic winemaker in the Coal River Valley. But, after winning a major agriculture award for innovation, Anh is bringing her past experience into her new direction.

Why did you start Torch Bearer Wines? We started Torch Bearer Wines in 2017 after taking ownership of ‘ese vineyards.

It’s the next chapter in pursuing our purpose in life - caring for the land, the environment and its natural world. We learnt it can take over 500 years to form an inch of topsoil, and hundreds of millions of years to form a fertile layer of soil full of micro life forms such as earthworms, microbes and fungi – or in other word the “wood wide web” that brings us foods and nurture life on Earth. It’s also where the CO2 is being naturally captured and stored everyday. However, less than 100 years of modern farming and deforestation have been destroying and degrading the natural world by using toxic chemicals, i.e., pesticides, weed killers, and synthetic fertilizers of all kinds. We believe it’s everyone’s responsibility these days to act in whatever small way you can and that caring for the soil is the easiest, and most important steps toward a sustainable future.

Before becoming a winemaker you were an academic, and even had a PhD degree. Why the change? Yes, I worked as an engineer and researcher, mostly on new product development used in drinking and wastewater treatment. The change from engineering into winemaking is a natural evolution - I want to show my inner self, my two little girls, and others that there is an “uncommon” way of life we should all be living, by pursuing what you are passionate about.

You’re originally from Vietnam. How has that influenced your winemaking? Vietnam, and Asia-at-large, is a resourceful and resilient culture. There’s a very rich culture, or an obsession, for natural foods and drinks, always striving for making the best out of what nature has to offer. Craftmanship is considered an art form and often involves a deep understanding of nature. The mindset is that you either do it well or don’t do it - once you set your mind to it, you want to be dedicated and to turn your craft into the divine.

Until recently, when Covid hit, you exported the majority of your wine. How are you navigating through that? My main focus of export has been Asia, to me that’s the centre of growth.

My first wine container for export arrived in Vietnam mid-2019.

I’d like to share our high-quality wines in the new centre of growth. Selling a new product is always the hardest and crucial part of any business. So what I’m doing now will hopefully build up the demand not only for my products, but also Tasmanian 20

and Australian wines in general. My focus hasn’t changed since Covid. It just got a bit harder as I’m not being able to travel overseas to set up the operation and promote our products but I’ve had time to do more experimental batches of wine.

You developed a technology based solution to monitor conditions in the vineyard. Can you tell us about that?

I’m still practicing engineering everyday. The result is a farm monitoring and controlling system named NeVerLand.ai.

One of the first products is Vine-AI, a network of sensors to monitor essential conditions of the farm (e.g., soil moisture and micro climate data), data integration and collection to enable farm managers to record and monitor conditions from afar.

Agriculture is about 20 to 30 years behind other fields in terms of advanced technology adaptation. As a farmer with an “unusual” background, I hope to bridge that gap. I received the 2019 AgriFutures Award in Tasmania for this new solution.

What makes your Coal river Valley vineyard special? ‘ese vineyard is in Tea Tree. It’s a very tough site with extreme hot and cold microclimate. It’s a low point in a narrow section of the Valley that attracts a lot of winds and frost – being the two worst climate conditions to grow vines! However it’s where a very thick ancient layer of rich rocky clay settled, which gives the vines deep roots and a lot of nutrients and minerals. Great wine comes from great quality fruit, so we follow regenerative and natural farming principles to extract the best natural characteristics of the terroir into the grapes. Until recently, we have had tremendous setbacks due to frost which impacted yields. Thanks to a new frost controlling system run by Vine-AI, we are expecting a better yield for vintage 2021.

The vineyard is biodynamic - was it already biodynamic or did you have to convert it? ‘ese vineyard was neglected for four years before we became its guardian. It wasn’t in good shape when we took over, but the good thing is no herbicide or pesticides or synthetic fertilisers were used for those four years. Our first two years were the hardest when the natural ecosystem of the farm was still being built up and our holistic approach hadn’t kicked in. Vines were not strong enough to combat diseases.

However, since last year, we’ve built up our top soil, and the vines are super happy and healthy.

Where can readers try and buy your wines? Wine tasting can be arranged via 0469 440 995. You can order online at www. torchbearerwine.com/shop. We offer free shipping within Tassie.

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TRANSPORT

BOOM TIME FOR E-BIKES IN HOBART Words: Bonnie Mary Liston Australia has seen a bicycle boom during COVID-19 with many stores struggling to keep up with the increased demand.

People have turned, in huge numbers, to the humble bicycle as a source of socially distanced exercise and as a primary mode of transport now that public transport is a bit too public for many people’s taste. Some commuters are hoping that biking will also save them from the greater traffic congestion predicted as people return to work.

In Tasmania where we’re less affected by the pandemic than some other places, this trend still holds true. Bike shops, such as Hobart’s Cyclingo, report sales have increased steadily over the pandemic period.

Another strongly growing trend is buying e-bikes. E-bikes are pedalled like a regular bike but with a small electric motor that adds power to your pedaling, meaning you can go faster for longer with less effort. Tasmania was ahead of this trend, having the second highest percentage of e-bike ownership of all Australian states pre-COVID, according to the 2019 National Cycling Participation Survey.

It makes sense Tasmania would be an early e-bike adopter. While the mountainous terrain of the state provides the adept biker with some exciting bike parks, it can put off the more casual cyclist.

Particularly if they want to cycle in the city - just as hilly as the wilderness but with even less bike tracks. E-bikes level the playing field, making the steep hills of Hobart feel like flats and the flats feel like downhill. They can also reopen the experience of bike parks to those who may have considered themselves too old for such experiences.

“Everyone’s enthusiastic about electric bikes because it’s given people the ability to ride the trails,” said Jim Kinstler, a 59 year old cycling enthusiast. “They extend your ability to ride. For so many people it’s the thought of riding up a hill that stops them riding a bike full stop. The e-bike gives you that helping hand up the hill but still gives you the feeling you’re actually cycling the bike, so you’re still getting the endorphins from the exercise side of cycling but without the strain on the body. Instead of being able to cycle up and down the various biking routes for an hour you could actually do it for three hours and enjoy the three hours, whereas if you only did it for an hour [without an e-bike] 22

you’d probably only enjoy half an hour of it because the other half would be slogging uphill.”

E-bikes are also an environmentally conscious option, an issue near and dear to many Tasmanians’ hearts. According to Ahmet Bektas from Teros Electric Bicycles in Hobart, “A human on a bicycle is more energy-efficient than any other animal and any other form of transportation.”

For the public commuter, e-bikes can solve far more practical problems than one’s carbon footprint,” Alison Hetherington from the Tasmania Bicycle Network said. “We have office e-bikes we use and they’re perfect for urban riding - they’re quick, parking isn’t a problem and you can wear work clothes and not worry about getting sweaty.”

The largest stigma e-bikes have to overcome is the idea that using them is somehow “cheating” when compared to a regular bicycle. “The cheating accusation often comes from people who ride for fitness or competition, but many people use e-bikes for transport rather than recreation. E-bikes still require you to pedal so you’re getting exercise, it’s just not as intense as it is with no motor,” Alison said. “And many people find that because e-bikes are so easy to ride, they ride more often.” While it may be reduced exercise compared to riding an acoustic bike, it’s far greater than the workout you get sitting in your car. Ahmet stresses that e-bikes aren’t just practical, they’re a great source of fun and Jim agrees, “There’s not too many people who would get off an e-bike without a smile on their face.”

The government seems hopeful that the COVID cycling boom will continue, recently investing $65 million in a project to widen the Tasman Bridge making more room for cyclists and walkers. At the moment, if two cyclists go to pass each other they generally don’t fit and one has to disrupt their ride to hop off and get out of the way. The widening will take the walk/bike lane up to 3.5m, providing even more incentive to commute on the bike.

PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY Testing is one of the most important ways we can keep on top of COVID. Testing all Tasmanians with COVID-19 symptoms dramatically increases the chances of finding new cases quickly so we can keep our state safe.

Please get tested if you have any of these symptoms, even mild ones: • Cold or flu symptoms, including: – fever – runny nose – sore throat – cough – shortness of breath • Loss of smell or taste

Arrange a test by calling the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or your GP for more information.

COVID-19 can also sometimes present with the following symptoms on their own or combined with the symptoms above: headache, muscle and/or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fatigue. If you experience these symptoms you should talk to your GP and discuss the need for a COVID-19 test.

www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au 23

WHAT’S ON IN HOBART MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Celebrating 30 years of ‘Essential Alternative Metal Music,’ HELMET continues their interrupted global tour with a show at Republic Bar/Cafe.

A special concert event filmed during lockdown, Idiot Prayer, Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace, opens at the State Cinema today.

Dine out at The Duke to see The Duchesses, their all-girl house band, in action.

Sheffield Mural Festival.

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Join the friendly Knitting and Craft Group at the Hobart Library from 1-3pm. All abilities welcome.

CityTalks kicks off tonight. It’s a new series of events with webinars and public talks about inspirational ideas and innovation for the Hobart community, all via Zoom.

Expand your culinary horizons with Kickstart Arts’ Discover Bush Food And Urban Foraging Workshop in New Town.

Discover the delights of Mono printing at Print, Press & Draw workshops with artist and fabric designer Deborah Wace.

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Find Love without leaving your house at Hobart Virtual Speed Dating. Different age brackets are grouped together every Tuesday night.

Desperately seeking...

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The Salamanca Arts Centre presents Fluidity, images from moments in nature, by Tasmanian wilderness photographers, Arwen Dyer and Wolfgang Glowacki.

Enrolment tours are on today at Dominic College.

Or take the kids out to StoryTime @ Hobart Library, every Wednesday, 10-10:30 am, for children 2-5.

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Join Kate Sice from Botanical Florist to make your very own fragrant Christmas wreath. All materials supplied including the essential sparkling wine and light refreshments.

Take a peep behind the scenes of Henry Jones Art Hotel with the Sticky Stones and Secrets Tour, running every Thursday from 3-4:30pm.

The Bleeding Tree starring Marta Dusseldorp, Jane Johnson and Kartanya Maynard opens at the Theatre Royal this week.

The season has been extended to the 28th.

The Clubhouse Comedy Club presents mischievous Tasmanian comic Stewart Bell’s Wobbegong at Hobart Brewing Co.

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Beer Aquatic encourages you to combine Marine Biology and alcohol with Mind Your Step: an informal lecture about tourism in Antarctica, at Hobart Brewing Co.

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Enjoy those longer evenings coming in at the Hobart Twilight Market at Brooke Street Pier. From 4:30pm to 9pm.

FURTHER AFIELD SATURDAY

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Get organic produce, vegan treats, garden supplies and more at the Fern Tree Organic Market, Fern Tree Tavern.

SUNDAY

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Soak in the Springtime.

Yoga with Bianca is hosting Yoga in the Botanical Gardens on Sunday mornings.

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Open House Hobart is back and bigger than ever with over 70 buildings for you to explore over the weekend.

2 NOVEMBER In Sheffield the International Mural Festival is being celebrated in purpose-built Mural Park. 2020’s theme?

Visions of the Future.

7 NOVEMBER The Bass Strait Maritime Centre at Devonport has reopened to Saturday and Sunday visitors. Explore the history and maritime heritage of the Devonport region and its connection with the Bass Strait, then enjoy lunch in the cafe with parkland views.

15 NOVEMBER The historic village of Ross hosts a good old fashioned country market in the Ross Town Hall. Starts at 9am.

Open House Hobart.

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This weekend the Hobart City Council hosts the Garage Sale Trail - a city wide celebration of putting second hand first.

15 NOVEMBER Woolmers Estate hosts an open garden today celebrating the blooming of the roses. 500 people at one time will enjoy a self guided tour of the Woolmers Estate grounds and take in the blooms of the nationally recognised gardens. You can also add to your own collection with plants available from selected growers.

The Bleeding Tree.

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Learn how to make a basket out of what you find in your garden at Harvest Baskets with Gwen Egg running at Kickstart Arts, Newtown.

Woolmers blooms.

21 NOVEMBER Make your way to the Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna today for Gigs in Space, a one day festival of live music with Ben Salter, Dewayne Everettesmith, Just Flare, DJ Spaceman and more.

Junction Hometown Festival.

21 NOVEMBER Farmgate Festival opens the gates for visitors to a selection of small farms in the Tamar Valley for one weekend only.

27 - 29 NOVEMBER The Junction Hometown Festival is set to bring some of Tasmania’s finest musicians, performers and artists to Prince’s Square for a weekend of celebration. Check out acts like SUNDAZE, Bad Dad Orchestra and Ange Boxhall, alongside headliners, A.Swayze & The Ghosts.

29 NOVEMBER In 2002, Sally Fletcher rode 1400km solo around Tasmania raising funds for mental health in Tasmania. Sally’s Ride honours this achievement each year, which has now expanded to become The Tamar Valley Cycle Challenge.

Got an event coming up in Tassie?

Hobart Twilight Market.

Email us at editor@thehobartmagazine.com.au 25

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FEATURE

Interview: Stephanie Williams Left image: Ross Coffey Having graced Australian stages and screens for thirty years, Marta Dusseldorp is set to star in The Bleeding Tree by Angus Cerini at Hobart’s historic Theatre Royal.

The Bleeding Tree, was put on hold because of COVID. How have you navigated the return? Thomas Rimes, director of music at St. David’s Cathedral reached out to us and said he was planning a ‘first signs’ series of concerts. Would we be interested? Ben came up with Venus and Adonis. Being a husband and wife team where our kitchen table is our creative table, we just read it aloud to each other. I was completely taken by the text and the story. It made me think about all the people who can’t be with the people that they love. Ben did a bit more research into it and realised Shakespeare wrote it during the Plague in London.

Fortuitously, The Bleeding Tree is more poignant now than it ever has been. It’s a story of three women who have been living trapped. They’ve found a way out of that but at great cost. A lot of people are going through that right now and are scared and frustrated. We believe the audience are ready and they’re starving. There’s a bust out drink at Institut Polaire every night to talk about the play too. I’ll be there with the cast, because we think this is a play that may need talking about afterwards.

What can audiences expect, in this COVID climate?

The social distanced seating will be really interesting. We’ve been quite rigorous to allow people space but also allow people to sit together if they’ve come together. Don’t be afraid of single seats.

You’re working with a number of interesting people, such as Katanya Maynard who is making her acting debut. Katanya went to the Conservatorium of Music and she’s an amazing singer. And she’s writing now. I think she can do anything! This is a chance for us to work with her. We’ve got Glen Richards from Augie March doing the music. And of course, Jane Johnson who I think is one of the greatest actresses this state is lucky enough to have. It’s a real pleasure to work with her.

The Bleeding Tree was written by a man (Angus Cerini) so it has an interesting perspective. Totally. And he’s not afraid to point at man. This play has won all the awards, the Griffin, the Helpmann, the AWGIE. Angus’ next major work just opened at the Sydney Theatre Company and he’s being talked about as a great new voice. I’ve never seen The Bleeding Tree, which is really helpful because I don’t think it helps to have seen something and then do it. Especially when it’s Cate Blanchett playing the lead!

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Are you scared of that comparison? I’m not scared, she’s a very good friend of mine. I learn a lot from her but I’m also like ‘nobody touch that for the next 20 years!’ She’s a master.

You’re working with Liminal Spaces, what role are they playing? They’re doing the set, which has beautiful synergy in that they designed the Hedburg. It was so easy to genuinely connect to Peta and Elvio from Liminal. We’d become friends with them, as you do here. We just knew they were the right people. Of course, everything shut down and now we’ve asked them to go really quickly with five weeks notice. We’re building a really beautiful set. Something that really matches the epicness of the Theatre Royal.

You moved to Tasmania a couple of years ago. Was it something you mulled over for years or was a quick decision?

It was a huge mull. Ben said it to me the day I met him. We came down here a lot for his work and then, we’d take off and go exploring and be like, “Wow, this is beautiful. Let’s go home. It’s cold.” We’d all had enough of Sydney. The kids were stressed.

I had worked for seven years back to back. And he wanted to show the girls what it’s like to live closer to nature. And I get it.

So we came and had a look. It was really hard to get a place. It’s been such an amazing place to come to through the pandemic. I know we all feel that.

What would it take to have an adequately funded arts sector and how? Firstly we have to stop thinking about it as the ‘arts’.

We have to think about it as ‘culture’. It’s a redefining of what is culture to community. If you don’t have a strong cultural policy, you have a weaker civilisation. For your citizens to live to the best of their abilities, there must be culture in their life. Being told I’m not an essential worker as a professional of 30 years experience is disappointing and personally quite hurtful but that’s not important. What’s important is that governments understand the dilution of their citizens that comes from that. It should be funded adequately. The beauty of it down here is, for me, it’s totally linked to tourism. I feel like I’m a cheese or a wine or a gin distiller, I’m all of those things as well.

You and Ben have two girls, aged 13 and 10. As a family, what does your juggle look like? It’s much easier now they’re older.

I think we’re seeing a whole other side of the mountain we’ve climbed, like all parents do. There was a lot of compromise, a lot of conversations. When I met Ben, there still was inequality and men were the ones who were the providers and all that stuff. It never was a thing in my house. It just never came into my mind there was another way than to be equal. I feel very grateful that Ben is the father of our children because he puts them above everything else. I think a lot of men have it but maybe they weren’t taught it or they’re not sure that they’re allowed to.

You and Ben were recently described by politician Andrew Wilkie as disruptors in Tasmania. Is that a fit? Wouldn’t that be nice. One day! He’s been very supportive of us and we’ve built a really nice conversation. He’s so accessible and I think that gives you hope that there is possibility for improvement. Everything you do you have to disrupt. So even when I’m on my own and in a play, I want to disrupt the play and show something that isn’t expected. I was asked to cry a lot in the early days and I pushed back on that because I said, “For a woman to show emotion, they don’t have to cry.” A man can sit and just think about things and everyone goes, “Wow, that’s really brave.” But for a woman to look like anything’s happened to her, you are expected to cry.

I’m always looking to the Bechdel test as well - it asks whether a work features two women (who have names) talking to each other in a scene not about a man. It’s such a simple thing to

throw over a script. How many women in the script have names?

How many women talk to each other in a scene alone not about a man?

How will recent changes to television content quotas affect you? I’ve been fighting really hard for quotas. I’m so determined to keep our stories alive. We can lose our voice, we can lose our culture and we can lose it in a generation. The streamers didn’t get any quotas, so we won’t see an increase in that. I fought hard for that and that didn’t happen, which is a real shame if you think of the amount of eyeballs that they have. People need to really consider that they’re sending their money offshore. There’s no tax and there’s no return jobs.

Find out why so many parents choose Dominic College

MORNING TEA ENROLMENT TOURS WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 9.30am - 11.30am

Please contact the College Registrar to register on 6274 6010 or email: enrolments@dominic.tas.edu.au

Kindergarten to Year 10 on one campus 204 TOLOSA STREET GLENORCHY | 6274 6000 www.dominic.tas.edu.au Find us 29

MADAME SAISONS

POST-PANDEMIC PARTY PREPPERS Words: Sarah Ugazio

As we emerge from the cold we’re certainly ready for more get togethers. However, while we can all be grateful for Mother Nature hitting the ‘Defrost’ button, we may not have the same spring in our step coming out of our caves this year. Lockdown in late summer through autumn, followed by winter’s frosty hiatus, may have left our social skills rather scant.

Quick catch-ups are indeed a good warm up. Inviting friends and family to drop in for a coffee or late afternoon drinks seems like a stellar plan. Until the day, or guests, arrive and it suddenly strikes us that the progression of hibernation to hosting feels a tad more challenging - we’re out of practice and unprepared.

Fear not. Getting your casual catering confidence back is far easier when you consider the two distinct types of guests you may welcome to your humble abode: The Expected Guest When an invitation has actually been extended, and accepted, at least a day in advance, we have the obvious benefit of time to think, shop and make ahead. As you ponder the potential culinary creations you can serve up, follow the golden rule: once guests arrive, stay out of the kitchen! It’s essential to ensure food is either placed out prior, or simply pulled out from the fridge or oven. Bought pastries are perfect for afternoon tea, whether they be savoury, sweet or both. Antipasto and cheese platters are the quintessential and eternal classics for afternoon drinks. For the latter, platter ahead – decant dips, cut crudités, and portion cheese (three types is ideal). Add some nuts and colourful fruit to gussy up your grazing board. Start with simple before you up your game to fancier fare.

The Unexpected Guest This type is typically made up of three sub categories: the Random Surprise - “we were just passing by”; the On The Spot - “fancy running into you, come over” invite usually extended without warning by your partner; and the Stayer Oner – the sudden acceptance to stay after arriving for a specific purpose such as delivering or collecting something, such as their child. Albeit welcome, these guests can potentially send us into a spin as we ponder our pantry snack offerings.

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The secret to being the Host with the Most for the Unexpected Guest is to have a few go-to snacks you can whip up from ingredients that have a long shelf life (frozen, canned or dry), or keeping those on hand we can easily put to other use so they don’t go to waste. Think along the lines of: •

Mini pastries, such as quiche or stuffed filo triangles, can be baked straight from your freezer. Sausage rolls and party pies are always a winner for kids.

•

Make your own roasted spiced or candied nuts particularly around Christmas. Have fun playing with different flavours until you find your signature blend. Cook up a big batch as they store well for a couple of months in an airtight container.

•

Instant dip can be served by quickly whipping together pesto paste, or dry French onion soup mix, with some cream cheese or sour cream. With a little more effort, canned beans can be instantly blended with a couple of ingredients in a food processor for a gourmet option such as homemade hummus from chickpeas. Have a go making these first without hungry guests in front of you!

•

Serve a Plougman’s Platter by simply having some good quality cheddar, ham, and bread and butter pickles on hand with some gourmet crackers.

Sarah’s Top Tips For Keeping Calm.

Being a fabulous host is not about reinventing the wheel. Have a simple repertoire of snacks on hand and have made before. A full cellar always helps.The objective is to spend time with your guests, not staring in your pantry. Friendly faces on our doorstep should always be a welcome sight, even when unexpected.

Follow Sarah on Instagram @madamesaisons

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HOBART HOMES

LOWER JORDAN HILL ROAD, WEST HOBART Words: Stephanie Williams Images: Adam Gibson A traditional Federation villa on Lower Jordan Road in West Hobart has had a beautiful facelift, conceived by Hobart-based architecture firm Taylor and Hinds. The project recently won the prestigious Edith Emery Award for Residential Architecture Houses (Alterations and Additions) as part of the 2020 Australian Institute of Architects (Tasmania) awards, an award they’ve taken out in previous years.

The showstopping high-ceilinged timber-lined living room creates a sense of cocooned calm, and the large window and sandstone terrace capture the once-lacking sunlight. The clean, white kitchen extends the sense of calm, and in the bathroom, a brass screen separates the various work zones while also throwing beautiful copper-toned light. Outside, new cladding plays with the scale of the original weatherboard and operable awning shutters allow easy management of privacy and light.

It’s easy to imagine yourself relaxing in the galley library, with curved timber ceiling, peering out through the shutters on a fine day.

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LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX...

Words: Annia Baron

Finding yourself fantasising about your colleague even though you can’t stand them most of the time? Faked your orgasm and feel terrible about lying when your partner asked about it? What about your new lover informing you they’ve contracted genital herpes?

If you’re feeling uncomfortable. Good. Think of it as your invitation to be part of the much-needed dialogue … honest and open sex-talk.

Although we’d like to think of ourselves as being progressive, many of us avoid these types of conversations the same way we avoid the dentist, public speaking or sorting our taxes. And sadly, research indicates that as a result, we’re not enjoying as much sex as we were a decade ago (Australian Study of Health and Relationships, 2014). Before you go blaming the pandemic or our increasingly busy, always ‘on’ lifestyle, the truth is, maybe when it comes to sex, we’ve still got our head stuck in the sand. And for whatever reason – past experiences, family upbringing, education, society, culture, religion etc – old, unhelpful fears about being judged, embarrassed or rejected prevent us from having meaningful conversations about our sexual desires and dilemmas.

We deserve to live happy and healthy lives and the way we feel about our sexual experience has a direct impact on our life satisfaction, general (and physical) wellbeing, and sense of belonging and connectedness.

No matter what your sexual issue – porn addiction, navigating misaligned libidos, managing sexually transmitted diseases or disclosing a fetish – do yourself and your partner a favour, have the conversation. Just like a succession of sneaky queefs, you’ll find the awkwardness is short lived, and your courage to be honest will be rewarded with greater intimacy, freedom, and fulfilment.

If you’re not sure how to go about it, consider working with a psychologist, sexologist or sexual therapist. They can provide you with useful tools to enhance your communication and enrich your relationship.

So, my friends, get turned on about undoing unhelpful avoidance habits. Be tantilised by the idea of embracing the sort of sex life you deserve. And remind yourself that above all, sex, and all the variation that comes with it is normal, beautiful and deserves to be talked about. Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Speaking of variations...

Did you know that terrestrial slugs are hermaphroditic? While most species of slug mate on the ground, the Leopard Slug enjoys hours of foreplay with its mate before secreting a prominent line of slime on which the two lovers dangle while they do their deed. In the event of their sexual organs getting stuck, the process of apophallation can occur - which essentially means the female will chomp off the male’s penis leaving it to live out the remainder of his days as a female.

Time to G.L.O.W. Do you shy away from expressing yourself? Do you find it difficult to set boundaries because you worry about letting others down? It’s time to get your glow back. You can join our online community of like-minded members in the next Mindset Challenge – G.L.O.W. This is a four-week program to elevate your courage and communication, reset unwanted habits, and leave you feeling more connected with yourself and others.

It starts on 23 November and you’ll receive a welcome pack with personalised resources, access to our private online group where we support one another’s journey for personal growth, regular videos, check-ins, mindset coaching tools, and ongoing motivation to finish off the year strong. Your decision to G.L.O.W also contributes to the Tarkine Wild School which aims to offer bush adventure therapy for youth-at risk. Visit www. remindyourself.com to be part of the movement. Because alone we go fast, but together we go far.

Annia Baron is a Clinical Psychologist and Mindset Coach at ReMind Yourself in Hobart.

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DINING OUT

If you’re up for something more à la mode, the ‘minimal intervention wine of the week’ offers a wine from a vineyard embracing sustainable winemaking.

Setting up shop during a pandemic was a risky move, but if the crowd at Dāna Eating House (Dāna) on a Friday night is anything to go by, it’s one that’s paid off. With tables of diners chatting and laughing over drinks, the music and conversation buzzes off the monstera-leaf-green walls. Low-hanging rattan lights and worn wooden floorboards give the newly opened South-East Asian fusion venue in Hobart’s CBD a relaxed vibe.

Owner Ollie Lancaster created Dāna alongside his brother Dan. “We didn’t know at the outset whether the project would even get off the ground given the current circumstances. But we’re extremely happy with how Dana has been received so far and it has been amazing to have such a wonderful community supporting us,” Ollie said. “One of the coolest aspects has been the fact that by supporting us, local charities also receive support and we are extremely grateful that we can help make an impact in this way.” True to their ethos of generosity, Dāna partners with Goodwill Wine to donate 50 per cent of the profits from their house wine sales to rotating charities. Diners can also match Dāna’s donation listed at the bottom of each bill, or make a custom donation.

Buoyed by the fact our dinner is going to help others in need, we’re lead through a low brick archway, which is a beautiful reminder that you’re in another of Hobart’s historic buildings.

We sit and order a glass of Bellebonne Vintage Cuvee ($17) and, from their cocktail list, a Generous Lover, a white rum and strawberry cocktail with a zesty kick ($18).

Our drinks arrive and our server explains how the made-to-share menu works – either order à la carte or the banquet-style ‘Chefs Feed Us’ menu. Having already eyed a few options, we choose five dishes. We turn our attention to the wine list. Dāna offers a carefully curated list of wines with some spectacular choices for true wine buffs. We opt for the Sinapius Clem Blanc ($70) from the Tamar Valley.

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First up are Cloudy Bay oysters ($4.50 each). Cool and fresh, they’re served with a slice of lime and Chinese pea shoots. Next is Dāna’s silken tofu ($11). Made in-house, the tofu is served with coconut nectar, sesame, coriander and fried shallots, giving the dish a crunch.

The Vietnamese doughnuts – think the Vietnamese version of a bao bun – ($16 for three pieces) are next. Our server suggests we order an extra so we have two each – it’s a good suggestion – they’re delicious and a standout.

We share a generous main of drunken lemongrass chicken ($25) accompanied by a Japanese-style kimchi, and it pairs well with the crunchy Vietnamese slaw ($14).

Although sufficiently full, dessert is too good to pass up - two quenelles of chocolate and mandarin mousse ($15), dusted with macadamia crumb and accompanied by a tart rhubarb puree.

Sprinkled with crunchy bittersweet carob nibs, the mousse is a great finish to tonight’s meal.

Dāna’s ethos is simple: eat good, drink good and do good. With melt-in-your-mouth dishes, a cracker wine selection and friendly, attentive service, it’s sure to become a go-to spot.

131 Murray Street, Hobart 0416 161 756 www.danaeatinghouse.com.au

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TRAVEL ON THE ISLAND

I’M DREAMING OF THE WEST COAST Words and images: Stephanie Williams

“So we’re going for a drive in our house?” my six year old asks when I announce we’re taking a motorhome trip in the school holidays. “Kind of,” I reply.

“You get to sit in the kitchen while Mum and Dad drive the whole house along.”

Lots of laughter and questions flow and it’s obvious that the kids are going to love it. I’m a little apprehensive, I’ll be honest.

The practical side of eating, driving, sleeping presents more questions than answers, but in this weird year I’ve learnt that you just have to go with it.

After a bit of research we decided on a Maui six-berth motorhome (a Mercedes under a year old) and to head north to Devonport and explore the north west and Tarkine region over a week. It’s suggested we go no longer than 2-3 days freedom camping (staying away from power and water) in order to keep the vehicle charged up, so we book in a couple of key stops at caravan parks and then decide to wing it for the rest.

The van pick up was easy - we had a briefing on how to use the loo, the water, the switches, the beds and then we were on our way. Rather than take all our gear to the van, we decided to head home and pack. When we finally set off, we got about 500 metres from home and stopped at the lights. A lady in the car next door motioned to wind down the window.

“Enjoying your holiday?” she yells out nervously. Realising we have Victorian number plates, while they’re in the thick of lockdown and she’s asking with a level of fear that we’re COVID infected outsiders, I yell back “We’re from here, and we’ve only just begun. Ask us in a week!”. Relieved, she waves us on our way as the lights change.

Our first stop is at Oatlands for coffee and a play at a brand new (and epic!) park, opened only days earlier. We back the van into the carpark where I enjoy a cosy cup of tea from the comfy couch, while watching the kids play in the cold outside.

This is gold.

I’d been warned by friends that motorhomes can be slow going and difficult to handle, but the Mercedes felt safe from the outset and easy to drive. We made it to Devonport by a respectable time and set up camp with direct views over The Bluff Beach. You literally couldn’t get a better spot to wake up to the sunrise. After enjoying our cereal watching the waves and walking up to the lighthouse, we get on our way to Arthur River, the next stop.

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Near Penguin we pass a slow moving train that’s snaking along the coast road.

We pull over on Main Road and watch as it thunders past, a metre from us.

Incredible! Then enjoy bakery fare at the big Penguin statue. The late afternoon is spent exploring the beaches and rockpools of Marrawah, heading back to the comfort of the van for toilet breaks and snacks. After checking in at the deserted, but super clean Arthur River Cabin Park, we cook up spaghetti and retire early. Our bedtime becomes earlier each night as we get into the rhythm of things.

Your gift can help save some of Tasmania’s most-threatened birds Donate now to protect Tinderbox Hills, a conservation gem south of Hobart.

Tinderbox Hills is home to the critically endangered swift parrot, and to one of Australia’s rarest birds, the endangered forty spotted pardalote. The Tasmanian Land Conservancy is raising money to protect these species’ habitat.

As climate change, land clearing and extinctions chip away at Australia’s remarkable natural heritage, there is something you can do to help. Donate to the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to support our work purchasing, protecting and managing private land for conservation, forever.

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Forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). Photo: Chris Tzaros

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TRAVEL ON THE ISLAND

In the morning, a trip to the local National Parks and Wildlife Office nets a treasure trove of information and the kids pick up a ‘poo flip chart’ which allows us to identify the different stools in the area (fun!). After a surf check at West Point Reserve, where we enjoyed watching skilled surfers navigate the local break, we drive south of Arthur River to Nelson Bay to find the Aboriginal carvings (or petroglyphs as they’re sometimes called) that the ranger told us about. This is one of Australia’s richest Aboriginal cultural heritage areas. There’s a handful of simple shacks and the largest midden I’ve ever seen at the start of the track. From there we walk around beautiful beach coves to find the petroglyphs. Dating back between three and eight thousand years, the individual carvings are hard to find but very well worth it. There’s a special energy in this place and we all feel it. So much so, we spend the next two nights here, freedom camping at the National Parks campsite across from the beach.

Our first night is blissful and quiet, but then on the second we experience a wild and windy West Coast night, copping the full brunt of the weather in the rocking van. I Google search “can a wind gust upend a campervan?” and the answer is yes, but it takes a hell of a lot, which is a relief.

We say goodbye to our Nelson Bay digs and join the Tarkine Loop. The Tarkine (or takayna) is Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, and second largest in the world. It’s significance is clear it’s a living example of one of the most primitive vegetation formations on earth, dating back a mind-blowing 65 million years to when we were part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. You’ll also find some of the best-preserved plant

At Dip Falls.

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fossil sites in the world, and magnesite karst systems of caves and pinnacles considered internationally very rare. It’s so important that there’s a fight on to save this region from deforestation and mining - even the adventure gear brand Patagonia has gotten on board, supporting the campaign to protect it, as has Australian rugby union player David Pocock, who’s hoping to help the Tarkine become a National Park.

We stop at Sumac Falls for the views (and lunch in the van overlooking them!) and at Julius River we hop out and skim stones and watch the fast flowing water.

The Sinkhole is practically on the road - an inky black pool with almost sculptural deceased trees rising up from it.

Milkshakes Hill was affected by fire in 2016, so there’s not as much to see, but the towering manferns were memorable.

Finally we get to Trowutta Arch and it feels like this is what the whole Tarkine must have been like before deforestation began - manferns galore, mossy understory and lots of fungi to spot. The 30 minute walk culminates in the arch, a geological wonder formed from caves created millions of years ago, that collapsed into two sinkholes - one now filled with earth and one with neon green water. Tonight, we stay at the Stanley Caravan park and enjoy burgers and Tassie bubbles in the van watching the sun set, and breakfast

in the morning at the base of the Nut while the kids play. Today we wind back through the North West to Devonport, via the Table Cape tulips, which are in full bloom and the Thistle Cafe for one of their famous slow cooked lamb rolls.

After a detour to the raging Dip Falls, our final night is at the Bluff again, watching our kids play as the sun sets. The value of being able to “park and play” is worth this style of travel alone, as is having all the things you need easily accessible.

The writer was a guest of Maui Australia.

Can you see the engravings?

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOBART AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA | WEBINAR SERIES

CityTalks is a new series of events to inspire ideas and innovation for Hobart’s future.

Through a series of webinars and public talks, these conversations will focus on how we, as a community, can build back better during and post COVID-19.

GUEST SPEAKER DONOVAN RYPKEMA President, Heritage Strategies International

PANELLISTS LUCY BURKE-SMITH Associate, Purcell architecture and heritage

PETER LOVELL Director and Founding Principal, Lovell Chen architecture and heritage

Power of Preservation

the economic value heritage creates for Hobart REGISTER ATTENDANCE

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6PM – 7PM AEST MON 16 NOVEMBER VIA ZOOM

COUNCILLOR ANNA REYNOLDS Lord Mayor of Hobart

This CityTalks event is in collaboration with Open House Hobart

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NUTRITION

HOW TO SAFELY EXERCISE YOUR GUT Words: Benedict Freudenmann

Although stretching your gut to make room for that last slice of pizza could technically be construed as an exercise, it’s unfortunately not what I’m here to talk about today. I’m talking about the impact of physical exercise on your gut health.

Your gut isn’t just there to absorb nutrients from our food. It’s a major part of our immune system - did you know you have a whole miniature world living within your large intestine? It’s an ecosystem made up of bacteria, yeast, protozoa, viruses and other microbes. This ecosystem (called the microbiome) is completely reliant on our diet, body and lifestyle for survival. In turn, these helpful critters perform a range of essential functions for our digestion, mental health, immune system and overall health.

So how can we have this amazing data showing us we should be exercising for our gut health and other data showing us it’s harmful? Our body has a tolerance. When we conduct exercise that’s too strenuous (over 70% maximum exertion) we negatively affect the gut, however any exercise conducted under 60% of maximum exertion has a profoundly positive effect on the gut and our entire bodies.

Now before you wind back your exercise to a mere gentle walk there’s plenty we can do to minimise these negative effects.

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Recently the gut microbiome has been dubbed one the biggest modifiable factors or our overall health. These little bacteria are big news and we’re still learning more about them every day.

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So why am I writing an article on safe exercise and gut health?

We have so much incredible scientific data showing that exercise helps the gut, the bacteria within and your overall health.

However did you know that approximately 30% of all endurance athletes have issues with their gut health?

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So why is this?

The gut and brain are connected with the Vagus nerve - a two directional street which allows the gut to communicate with the brain and vice versa. Yet when the body detects enough stress, it shuts down this road. Stress can come in many forms, both physical and mental. When the stress is sufficient enough the brain shuts down the gut as it’s deemed as a non-essential organ for your survival. Instead it focuses on the heart, lungs, muscles and brain.

During this stressed state (sympathetic nervous system dominance) the gut rapidly starts losing blood flow. After 10 minutes of running it has lost up to 20% of its blood supply and after 60 minutes up to 80% is gone. This lack of blood flow to the gut has disastrous effects on the cells within the gut, the microbiome, our nutrient absorption and our bowel motions. This results in IBS like symptoms, diarrhoea, constipation, food intolerances, nutrient deficiencies and much more.

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Hydration was critical in delaying any damage to the gut.

Even a 10% reduction in hydration made a noticeable difference. Therefore make sure to stay fully hydrated.

Eating (carbohydrates or sugars) during intense endurance exercise distracts the gut and can increase blood flow, thereby reducing damage brought on by lack of blood flow.

Fruit is an excellent option for this.

Finally there are a range of supplemental products which can help protect your gut from exercise induced damage.

Discuss these with your nutritionist, dietician or doctor.

Exercise is essential for every facet of our wellbeing. However even something as great as exercise can have negative effects if overdone. If you’re an athlete who has digestive complaints, chat to a nutritionist to see if you can implement a program that works for your body and your sport.

Do you know your vitamin D status?

Vitamin D has so many functions within the body, it’s commonly referred to as a hormone. It’s essential for bone strength, your immune system, blood sugar control, inflammation, replication of DNA and supporting your mood and nervous system. After winter, 66% of Tasmanians are vitamin D deficient.

Check with your GP whether testing vitamin D may be relevant to you.

Benedict is a clinical nutritionist who practices at www.learntonourish.com in Ranelagh.

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WILDLIFE

TASMANIA’S NEXT TOP PREDATORS Words: Bonnie Mary Liston The smiling assassin... a Lowland Copperhead.

With Summer on the way, it’s time to plan your next adventure in the great outdoors.

It pays to remember that while nature may be healing to the soul, it is capable of being dangerous to the body. To totally freak you out, let’s have a good look at five of the most dangerous predators you may encounter in Tasmania this summer.

There are three species of snake native to Tasmania, all of them venomous, though until this year Tasmania had gone over 40 years without a snake bite fatality.

However, 2020 has reset our counter back to 0 after a 78-year old farmer was unfortunately bitten by a tiger snake and tragically died from his injuries in January.

White Lipped Snake The White Lipped Snake, also called a Whip Snake, is very shy and very tiny, only growing to between 25-40 cm on average. They have proportional tiny fangs and venom glands so their bite is unlikely to do any serious injury to a healthy adult. However, some people may find themselves sensitive or even allergic to the White Lipped Snake’s venom so it’s best to leave these little fellas alone, and always treat any snake bite received seriously and promptly.

Lowland Copperhead Snake The Lowland Copper Snake is a much bigger boy, up to 1.5 metres in length.

When they’re threatened they like to flatten themselves to appear even larger.

Many Copperheads have an orangey red streak running along the lower sides of their body which can lead people to mistake them for the infamous RedBellied Black snake, who don’t live in Tasmania at all. As well as identity theft, Lowland Copperhead snakes are also reported to engage in cannibalism, apparently quite rare behaviour in snakes 44

and marks them out as a pretty bad bunch.

Copperheads are classified as “dangerously venomous” and a single bite from one is capable of killing an adult human if proper first aid is not enacted. Their fangs are relatively short however and unlikely to pierce protective footwear like sturdy shoes, thick socks, or gumboots. Phew.

Tiger Snake The Tiger snake is the most dangerous of all Tasmanian snakes. Their venom is highly toxic and they produce lots of it.

Annoyingly, despite their name, Tiger snakes can be stripy or plain. They also fluctuate wildly in colour from black and orange, to grey and cream, dark olive and yellow and any colour in between.

Essentially, if you see any snake in Tasmania at all you might as well assume it’s a tiger snake and treat it with extreme caution.

Wood Scorpion There’s only one species of scorpion that lives in Tasmania - cercophonius squama, or the Wood Scorpion. He may be scary looking but really he’s not even lethal. A sting from these guys is said to be comparable to a bee sting, painful but not deadly. In fact, no one has ever been killed by a scorpion in all of Australia, making it one of the few instances where our wildlife are less dangerous than international equivalents. However they can be quite aggressive creatures, particularly during the warmth of summer when they are most active, so be wary.

Jack Jumpers Ants are awful, always crawling into your kitchen and ruining your picnics, but jack jumpers manage to be even worse - they’re one of the most dangerous ants in the world. These guys are HUGE, for ants, and as their name suggests they love

to jump. When threatened they’re capable of jumping over 10cm repeatedly, 10x the length of their horrid bodies.

Jack jumper venom is one of the most powerful in the insect world. In Tasmania about 3% of the population (over 14,000 people) are at risk of anaphylactic shock if stung -- that’s twice the national rate of bee sting allergies. Between 1980 and 2000, four people died from jack jumper stings in Tasmania. In 2003, the Royal Hobart Hospital launched a desensitisation program for the jack jumper allergy which has proven to be nearly 100% effective and since then no jack jumper deaths have been recorded. Worryingly, however, the program is said to be chronically underfunded and at risk of closure.

The recently announced Tasmanian NBL team will hopefully become the epitome of their namesake and everything you’d want a basketball team to be - jacked, great at jumping, and potentially deadly.

As fearsome as these predators may be however, dangerous is not the same as evil, especially in the animal kingdom.

After all, they don’t actively mean you harm, they’re only trying to fend off what they perceive as danger. If you treat the environment around you with respect and take sensible precautions, you should be safe as houses this summer, no matter how far from home you roam.

Tasmanian snake venom doesn’t travel in your blood but through the Lymphatic System (just under your skin). Instead of tourniquetting the affected limb and raising it above your heart as you may have been taught in school, the most effective first aid steps before seeking treatment are to immobilise the bite site and move as little as possible.

HEAPS HAPPENING AT THE MILL GIN & JAZZ 7 NOV Gin masterclass followed by live music from Dan Sandwich Trio

GIGS IN SPACE 21 NOV 1 day festival of live music with Ben Salter, Dewayne Everettesmith, Just Flare, DJ Spaceman and more

WINE & WORDS 5 DEC Top Tassie wines with Joseph Burton followed by First Dog on the Moon

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HOBART HISTORY

JOHN FRANKLIN - HERO OR HARD-DOER? Words: Bonnie Mary Liston

John Franklin was the Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania from 1837 to 1843.

Many things around Tasmania are named after him, or his impressive wife, Lady Jane Franklin. In Franklin Square he is depicted in statue, towering over the park on a plinth inscribed with his epitaph, composed by Lord Alfred Tennyson; Not here! The white north hath thy bones and thou Heroic sailor soul Art passing on thine happier voyage now Toward no earthly pole It’s always worth looking into the big men in our parks and squares, just to check if they actually deserve a statue. In the case of Franklin one cannot say he was “a great man” or “good at his job in any capacity” but he was at least, very interestingly bad at things. Franklin is best known outside Tasmania for his final expedition to the Arctic, often called “Franklin’s Lost Expedition” if that gives any indication of his success. In 1845 Franklin, his two ships - the Erebus and the Terror - and his crew of 128 men set off into the ice and disappeared forever.

from John Richardson, the man who shot Terohaute. There was no proof that he had not murdered (and eaten) all five men and chosen Terohaute as a scapegoat. There were demands Richardson be tried for murder to which one crewman ominously replied “to tell the truth … things have taken place which must not be known.”

The Navy took him at his word. No official investigation was launched and the incident was swept under the rug.

Franklin’s own account of the Coppermine expedition made no mention of cannibalism but spoke of eating lichen moss and the leather of their shoes. It became an instant bestseller and made Franklin quite famous. He was known affectionately as “the man who ate his boots,” preferable, one supposes to “the man who ate his men.”

That wasn’t Franklin’s first time in the Arctic. In 1819, Franklin led the Coppermine Expedition into the unexplored wastelands of northernmost Canada. Franklin’s achievements on this expedition include falling into a river and being rescued by his men; nearly starving to death and being rescued by the local indigenous peoples, and losing 11 out the 20 men in his party. The majority of men died from starvation but there was also murder and cannibalism.

The missing Franklin expedition was a high profile case. Many rescue expeditions were sent to find them. Even after official institutions had long given up, Lady Jane Franklin kept campaigning, fundraising and financing expeditions searching for her lost husband for the rest of her life. But no evidence of the missing men was ever found. Or rather, no evidence was ever accepted. In 1854, less than 10 years after the Franklin Expedition set off, Scottish explorer John Rae discovered the final fate of the missing men by being the first person to ask the local Inuit people if they knew anything. They told him that the two ships had become stuck in the ice and the men had abandoned them, attempting to seek safety on foot before eventually succumbing to cold, starvation, and cannibalism.

The official story was Michel Terohaute, went “snow-mad”, killed three of his companions and fed them to the rest of the party, claiming the meat was from hunting. He then shot another crew member and had to be put down in self defence. However this account comes

Rae’s account was quickly dismissed because racism, and because cannibalism did not fit with the heroic narrative already forming around Franklin and his expedition. However, as time and science marched on, Dr Rae and the Inuit were to be vindicated. In 1997 the remains

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of some crewmen were found on King William Island which showed very strong evidence of cannibalism - blade marks etched into skeletons and bones boiled and snapped open so the tasty marrow inside could be sucked out.

Franklin is credited many places, as the “Discoverer of the Northwest Passage.”

This is either pity or a willful over-romanticisation of the facts. The only thing Franklin ever discovered was new and exciting ways for men to die in the Arctic and a couple of novel variations on ‘Sailor Soup.’ But who cares about the Northern Hemisphere? How did Franklin fare as our Governor? Not great. After six years he was “recalled to England” which is a diplomatic way of saying fired. This was not entirely Franklin’s fault. He had the misfortune to preside over the end of transportation and the end of free labour provided by convicts that many rich and powerful men relied on for their fortunes.

No wonder he made enemies.

But perhaps Franklin’s lasting Tasmanian legacy was this: In 1838 he was the man who instituted the law forbidding the distillation of spirits in Tasmania which remained in effect for over 150 years until Bill Lark and his distillery in 1992.

In some ways Franklin is responsible for the artisanal spirit boom we find ourselves in now. How does the statue of Franklin feel, looking over the gin cocktail tents at Franko Street Eats, knowing he was bent on their eradication yet responsible, in part for their very existence? They should put that on a plaque.

Tasman Bridge by @deni_cupit

Port Davey by Susan Mace

Gordon River Dam by @snapshottours

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Spring has sprung by @kelvin196517 @darranwpetty podcast with Stellar Perry.

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