A famous caboose…

Australia’s lagging rail network has long baffled those in the tourism industry. Compared to Europe and China, Australia’s rail system is simply not fit for purpose. As a large nation encompassing a truly awe-inspiring landscape, one would assume that rail travel would be a priority for the nation’s lawmakers and peak tourism bodies. However, a slated cut to the Indian Pacific’s route has set chins wagging.

Over the weekend, train operator Great Southern Rail announced that they would be cutting their twice-weekly peak season services in half. Another cost-cutting measure is a slated increase to the cost of fares for pensioners and veterans.

The announcement, which has been met with public condemnation and consternation, was in part due to the severe budgetary constraints faced by the operator. Over the course of the last year, Great Southern Rail has had to deal with the sudden removal of more than $9 million worth of subsidies usually handed out to regional travel operators.

The decision, established in last year’s federal budget, has now been met with calls for relevant state governments to pitch in and save the fledgling industry. In the long run, operators are concerned that the lack of transport options will disincentivise travel to regional areas dependent on tourism. Small towns, such as Broken Hill, are expected to bear the brunt of the cataclysmic change.

Inland Tourism New South Wales head, Graham Perry, explained that the changes would likely affect the proposed doubling of visitor numbers to the region. “We’ve just heard that these subsidies have been cut and again that reduces services and the ability for Australia to travel out to Broken Hill.”

Mr. Perry explained that government-run operator, TrainLink, should help cover the shortfall in the short-term. “We need to grow the services at a time when other people are pulling back,” Mr. Perry advised. “I would really encourage TrainLink, who I think has for the last couple of years now been really pulling back in terms of their involvement in tourism, so what I would urge them to say, urge them to do is to pick up the slack.”

The Liberal-National Government has been keen to distance itself from any responsibility for the cutbacks. WA MP Sussan Ley reiterated the LNP’s position that transport subsidies should be funded by the states and territories. “While the Australian Government indicated in the 2014-15 budget it will cease concessions, it’s my understanding the changes announce [have] not been the only factor in new GSR owner Allegro’s business decision to reduce passenger services. I also see GSR boss Chris Tallent also accepts it is not really the Federal Government’s job to subsidise pensioners’ trips.”

The decision will likely affect regional and national tourism, with operators already decrying disastrous and potentially damaging side-effects. Here’s hoping the issue is solved some time soon.

Perth Patio Perfection are outdoor specialists with over two decades of experience in the patio construction industry. For the best quality patios and outdoor construction, get in touch with Perth Patio Perfection today!

In my opinion, Groovin the Moo is the best one-day festival in the country – it’s affordable, offers a phenomenal lineup of artists and takes place at a variety of country towns around the country, meaning you get to see some unique areas of Australia during your partying. Groovin the Moo combines the international lineups featured at bigger festivals such as Big Day Out and Stereosonic, yet it leaves out the shirtless, drugged-up festival heads. It has a down-to-Earth atmosphere more akin to the smaller festivals but includes a more impressive array of artists and food and drink stalls.

Groovin the Moo 2015’s lineup is no exception to its usual grandeur, boasting the likes of Ball Park Music, Sticky FIngers, A$AP Ferg, Charlie XCX, Hilltop Hoods, RL Grime, Flight Facilities, Broods, The Preatures, Peace and Peaches. As well as these well-known artists, GTM is also an oasis of emerging and upcoming artists, showcasing the fresh sounds of DMA’s, The Delta Riggs, Meg Mac, Tkay Maidza, Saskwatch and San Cisco just to name a few. Already in my preparation for the festival I have found some incredible new artists that I can’t wait to jig out to live: One Day, You Me At Six and Triple J Unearthed Artist Yours Alone are just some of these artists I have already discovered.

Groovin the Moo kicks off in Oakbank on 25th April, followed up by Bunbury, WA the next day, then travels over to Bendigo in Victoria on 2nd May and Canberra on 3rd May. The final weekend will see the artists travelling to Maitland, NSW on 9th May and its final performance will be in Townsville, QLD on 10th May.

Tickets are just $99.90 (+ booking fee), making it the most affordable festival ticket of the calendar year. Its rural location also makes the festival the perfect excuse for a road trip through the authentic Australian countryside. GTM provides bus links to and from the festival  and also gives you many sources to find accommodation. Unfortunately, tickets to Maitland, Bunbury and Bendigo have already sold out, but if you can make it to the other venues be sure to book your tickets today.

If you’ve already secured tickets to Groovin the Moo, be sure to get listening to a Spotify playlist and book in your transport and accommodation today!

Real Changes is a training and development company that will encourage, challenge and inspire your managers and their teams to outstanding levels of performance. 

A truly amazing parade…

The Perth International Arts Festival has once again wrapped up, leaving thousands of revellers and visitors satisfied and wanting even more. With a solid reputation as Australia’s oldest international multi-arts event, the PIAF has been held every year since 1953 – so you know it’s always going to be a fantastic treat.

This year, the festival offered the usual array of fantastic international artists. The best in drama, music, visual art, street art, literature and comedy united for an always memorable social feast, and this year was truly exceptional. The sixty third annual event cost more than twenty million dollars, but was well worth the expense according to organisers, locals and guests.

Director Jonathan Holloway discussed the characteristics of a good festival in a press release: “No two Festival journeys will be the same and our hope is that your travels through this Festival will include experiences both intimate and epic. Experiences that whet the appetite and stimulate all five senses. Moments that allow us to remember something we all knew as children– that the map is not the territory, that the best discoveries are made by straying from the path or committing to a fantastic voyage.”

Festival highlights included the English National Opera’s production of the late Anthony Minghella’s ‘Madama Butterfly’, a new staging of theatre classic ‘Ubu Roi’ and live musical performances from Sinead O’Connor, Rufus Wainwright, Spoon, Mogwai and ex-Dinosaur Jr. front man J. Mascis. All in all, a great time was had by the festival’s thousands of attendees.

The 2015 PIAF was a truly staggering event and one which is sure to steadily increase the tourism-friendly reputation of the great western state. For international guests, the festival is an incentive for the worthwhile trip out. So make the most of your next trip to Western Australia, and start planning your 2016 Perth International Arts Festival trip!

Tidy Hut is your one-stop household maintenance directory. For all your home related help, get in touch with Tidy Hut today!

This presented something of a problem, because stamps are sensitive objects. Mark had always cared for his collection the best he could. But some of the more rare pieces demanded an environment he just didn’t have.

Building a lock-up shed was not the problem. A friend within the philatelic community was happy to do this for him. The problem came when Mark had to decide upon the type of air-conditioning required to keep his precious collection safe.

And this is crucial. Too much humidity can destroy stamps, too little can make them brittle and wash the dyes used to color them.

Mark phone all over Perth. McKnights Air offered to install split system air-conditioning with very sensitive humidity control. As anyone in Perth can attest, the heat and humidity vary greatly, often with brutal consequences to the poor citizens.

‘Air-conditioners pretty much all do the same thing?’ That’s what Mark thought too. But a brief tour of the McKnights showroom disabused him of that notion. Mitsubishi, Daikin, Advantage Air, Toshiba, Samsung … all different models – the sheer variety was almost overwhelming; and each of them with different capabilities. The salesperson was able to explain this in a way Mark could understand and relate it to what he needed for his prized collection.

McKnights Air needed to see the proposed schematics of the shed. They worked very closely with the builder and liaised often and purposefully with Mark, to be sure they delivered exactly what he needed.

It is this care, Mark said, that really impressed him. It wasn’t that any of the workmen were stamp enthusiasts; they just wanted to do a good job.

Mark is a stamp enthusiast living in the city of Perth. He belongs to local, state and national philatelic societies. He is well-known for his collection and vast knowledge of Australian and British stamps. Mark had kept his collection in the basement of his house, but the time had come for a purpose built storage shed.

This presented something of a problem, because stamps are sensitive objects. Mark had always cared for his collection the best he could. But some of the more rare pieces demanded an environment he just didn’t have.

Building a lock-up shed was not the problem. A friend within the philatelic community was happy to do this for him. The problem came when Mark had to decide upon the type of air-conditioning required to keep his precious collection safe.

And this is crucial. Too much humidity can destroy stamps, too little can make them brittle and wash the dyes used to color them.

Mark phone all over Perth. McKnights Air offered to install split system air-conditioning with very sensitive humidity control. As anyone in Perth can attest, the heat and humidity vary greatly, often with brutal consequences to the poor citizens.

‘Air-conditioners pretty much all do the same thing?’ That’s what Mark thought too. But a brief tour of the McKnights showroom disabused him of that notion. Mitsubishi, Daikin, Advantage Air, Toshiba, Samsung … all different models – the sheer variety was almost overwhelming; and each of them with different capabilities. The salesperson was able to explain this in a way Mark could understand and relate it to what he needed for his prized collection.

McKnights Air needed to see the proposed schematics of the shed. They worked very closely with the builder and liaised often and purposefully with Mark, to be sure they delivered exactly what he needed.

It is this care, Mark said, that really impressed him. It wasn’t that any of the workmen were stamp enthusiasts; they just wanted to do a good job.

If the thought of departing the Lucky Country for colder climes unnerves you greatly, then there’s only one thing for it: try and find a job. If you can convince a prospective employer of your value, they will vouch for an alteration to your visa conditions – ultimately meaning that you could gain residential status. Settling in Australia could allow you to adopt the loca lifestyle on a permanent basis!

Of course, the job market is heavily competitive. To up your chances of success in the job hunt, there are a few growth industries you should aim to target – and some that you’d be better to avoid.

Mining

Australia’s mining boom has been well-documented. Already, thousands of workers are employed in the sector on a fly-in fly-out, or FIFO basis. This way of working, while potentially incredibly draining, can be very lucrative from a financial point of view.

The mining boom, which has largely been fed by China, has begun to decline. However, the ongoing demand for services such as excavator loader hire in Perth indicates that the sector is still in serious demand. Engineering, construction (more on that later) and geophysics workers remain in hot demand in Western Australia, especially as diamond and gemostone mining industry expands. It is expected to grow 24% this year alone, according to IBISWorld. Even if you can grab 0.1% of that revenue, you’d be sitting pretty.

Organic farming and agribusiness

Australian soil facilitates the growth of a large variety – a garden variety, you could say – of plants. As Australians continue to become more health-aware and environmentally conscious, organic eating options look set to become more widely adopted than ever before. No longer will quinoa and organic coconut be the preserve of Surry Hills cafes – a high proportion of suburban spinsters and rural families could soon be eating organic, too.

The ability of Australians to access organic fruit and veg will also improve as incomes continue to jump. This means that all facets of the industry – from root to cashier (independent retailer, of course) – should improve.

Construction

As more and more Australians seek a university education following high school, the demand for trade services is going somewhat unfulfilled. Construction is a very steady industry to work in – as the Australian population continues to grow, more lodging facilities will be required. By extension, equipment-based businesses like Equiprent are also sure to retain their importance in the industry. From on-site workers to construction equipment hire services, all elements of the industry are a fairly safe bet in terms of employment.

Tourism

Who better to show visitors the best of Australia than an enthusiastic ex-tourist? The global tourism industry is expected to expand about 4 per cent between now and 2033, according to a recent Deloitte report. China and Asia will represent key stakeholders in this industry, meaning that bilingual candidates should move straight to the front of the queue.

It could be very, very beneficial to keep these growth industries in mind when searching for a job in Australia. Equally worthy of consideration, though, are the industries which are on the decline, and so should be avoided: manufacturing, print journalism, and horse racing are three examples. Giddy up!

There is a great deal demanded from contractors to a hospital. The work they offer inevitably must be altered at the site, they must work around often unpredictable busy periods, and their work must be absolutely meticulous – lives depend on it.

And so it was the case here. Poulter DesignsPatio were offered the contract to install a polycarbonate dome patio over the entire length of the driveway. The covering had to be modified to accommodate the width and length of entrance. This is not a simple thing to do. Nor is it a simple thing to install once it is done. The covering had to be virtually impregnable. It had to survive the scorching Perth sun, fist sized hail stones, cyclonic winds; it had to withstand panicked drivers screeching into it and drunks stumbling into it; it had to endure surgical trolleys and wheelchairs smashing into it on a daily basis. And it had to look good. It had to give the impression of sturdy calm and professional welcome.

As you might expect not all patio design companies even respond to tenders put out by hospitals. Their work is on display to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are judged not only by the materials but also their workmanship.

But this wasn’t the first hospital entrance designed and installed by Poulter PatioDesign. Granted most of their work comes from domestic roofing needs – carports, patios and the like. But they have the capacity and experience to do anything, large or small.

When a Perth hospital needed an annex put over the driveway in front of their Emergency Room entrance they put out tenders. As is usual in these cases those who responded to the tenders weren’t compared so much on price as on flexibility.

There is a great deal demanded from contractors to a hospital. The work they offer inevitably must be altered at the site, they must work around often unpredictable busy periods, and their work must be absolutely meticulous – lives depend on it.

And so it was the case here. Poulter DesignsPatio were offered the contract to install a polycarbonate dome patio over the entire length of the driveway. The covering had to be modified to accommodate the width and length of entrance. This is not a simple thing to do. Nor is it a simple thing to install once it is done. The covering had to be virtually impregnable. It had to survive the scorching Perth sun, fist sized hail stones, cyclonic winds; it had to withstand panicked drivers screeching into it and drunks stumbling into it; it had to endure surgical trolleys and wheelchairs smashing into it on a daily basis. And it had to look good. It had to give the impression of sturdy calm and professional welcome.

As you might expect not all patio design companies even respond to tenders put out by hospitals. Their work is on display to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are judged not only by the materials but also their workmanship.

But this wasn’t the first hospital entrance designed and installed by Poulter PatioDesign. Granted most of their work comes from domestic roofing needs – carports, patios and the like. But they have the capacity and experience to do anything, large or small.

Cars are part of the home. At least that’s what I think. I’m a shuttle bus driver for Skypark Valet Parking in Perth. Depending on where you live, of course, many people find it cheaper to drive their own car to the airport and leave it in our care than to hump all their luggage with them on public transport. When your car is with us it’s in safe hands. We’ll even clean and detail it before you get back.

What has any of this to do with cars being part of the home? Well, as a shuttle driver I get to see a lot of people traveling. The holiday travelers are always excited when they’re leaving and pretty much always grateful to be back when they return.

And here is where the car comes in: Anyone with a car is going to spend a reasonable proportion of their life in it. A lot of time is spent commuting to and from work, a lot of time is spent ferrying kids and family members, for the chosen few some time may be spent simply driving for the pleasure of it. What this means is that the car becomes a safe zone.

And I see this when I return travellers to their cars parked and cared for by Skypark. They visibly relax once they’re behind the wheel. The car has become an extension of the home.

For the poor sods who have to take the public transport from the airport to home – well, their agony has been prolonged just that little bit more and their trip home just that little bit more dangerous.

The Marine and Watercraft International Expo has just finished on the Gold Coast. But it nearly didn’t start. Without the efforts of Boating Accessories Australia, a small online boating and fishing accessories business in Perth, the multi-million dollar event wouldn’t have opened its doors.

All because of bureaucracy.

For someone in the Boating and Fisheries Department found that all watercraft available for sale in the great state of Queensland must comply with the Marine and Harbour Safety Code; even if they are not sailing in Queensland waters; Even if they are being towed along a highway or transported in truck.

And, of course, this irrelevant subclause was seized upon by the Department bureaucrats.

Now there is an international safety standard to which all marine vessels must adhere. But local states and territories are quite within their rights to supplement these rules according to their local conditions and expectations. Queensland has done just this.

So, a week before the Expo was to begin a letter was sent from the Department to the show’s organisers.

The reaction was immediate.

A threat to fine some of the most prestigious boat builders in the world, who build some of the most beautiful and safe boats in the world, for trivial non-compliance issues was beyond ridiculous – it was an insult. It was also very damaging to the reputation of the organisers, the state of Queensland, and the event itself.

It was too late to warn vendors, they’re merchandise was either already being set up or on the way. Plus the organiser’s pleas for sense fell on deaf ears at the Department. It was crunch time and the organisers needed a creative solution.

So they enlisted the aid of a barrister who specialised in marine law. She quickly made a list of the accessories all the craft would need to comply with the Queensland amendments.

With this list in hand, the organisers then set about sourcing suppliers.

It’s not as easy as you might think to source multiple numbers of the same boat parts and have them delivered in less than a week. In fact, it’s near impossible.

It took a full day to track down the one boating and fishing online accessories business that could deliver what was needed in time. And they were on the other side of the country! Unbelievably, Boating Accessories Australia promised to source the parts, pack them and deliver them in the few days remaining to the organisers.

The boat displayers weren’t happy when the heard their craft, so lovingly created, now had to have some ridiculous safety gear attached. But the organisers explained the scenario and the displayers shook their heads.

And that is how it happened that Boating Accessories Australia, a small online boating accessories business in Perth, saved a multi-million dollar boating and fishing expo on the other side of the country.