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!

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I’m a believer in also being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, a small thing can happen, some miraculous little twist that might set you moving in a completely different and otherwise unthought-of direction. When I was in Perth recently, such a thing happened to me.

I’d been travelling through Western Australia for about two months now, trying to soak up all the incredible scenic beauty and natural wonders. But after seeing all the tourist hot-spots and Lonely Planet recommendations, I found myself at a loss to figure out what to do. Time was not a factor in my plans, but I figured it would be best to head back to Perth and plot my next move from there.

Tomas, a friend from my school days in Switzerland, happened to be living in Perth, or just south of the main city. He had a good job and was pretty set-up there. So, when I arrived at three thirty in the afternoon, it was obvious he wasn’t home. After contacting me, he told me to hang tight, and that he’d be back home by five. There was a café around the corner and a few shops to keep me occupied, he said, so hopefully it wouldn’t feel too long. I dropped my pack in his backyard and headed back out to the street.

Forty minutes later, coffee in hand, I found myself wandering down a street and looking through shop windows in an altogether disinterested way. That was until I came upon the Coastal Chart and Map Shop, a fun looking store that reminded me of a similar place I’d loved as a child in Zurich.

Flipping through the maps and charts, it was easy to become engrossed. It was during this hazy walk-through that I somehow came upon a map for The Cape to Cape Track, a 135km coastal walking trail from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin all set within the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. Looking at the picture on the cover, I was instantly swept away to the white sands of the summer beach. It looked idyllic. I decided, without really committing myself, to buy it and look through it. Without doubt, that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Just two weeks later, I found myself out on the magnificent coast, soaking in a series of remote and pristine beaches. It was a challenge and a real feat to finish it all on my own. Every day was seasonable and memorable, and camping in the wilderness at night was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I relished in the opportunity to get in touch with the real, unseen Australia. And to think, it all began with a lazy stroll through a map shop and a fortunate purchase!

Great performance requires great recovery. It’s a sporting analogy that is true for all of life. And on occasions who isn’t asked for an exceptional effort in their day-to-day lives? Be it in work, in relationships, or striving in any sphere we all get tested.

This is what I learned from speaking to a well-known Australian author whom I met at Golden River Holiday Park Mildura.

She looked wan and drained (a feeling I understand from hiving written my own novella once – it is one fo the most trying experiences of my life). She told me at the conclusion of each of her books she has retreated to One of the Aspen Parks Properties. Sometimes she caravans, sometimes she camps, sometimes (like now) she indulges in the comfort afforded by top end holiday parks such as Golden River Holiday Park.

“The thing they all have in common,” she told me wearily, ‘is peacefulness.’

Peace. We each need it. There is only so much effort that can be given to any project before any more effort becomes counterproductive. But it seems a part of life too often neglected. Often it is only too late we realize how exhausted we have become; only when we have already succumbed to injury or sickness or lost our temper …

Sitting with this writer in the tranquil surroundings of Golden River Holiday Park Mildura I could almost see her drawing strength and serenity from our surroundings.

“There are the amenities when you need them,” she said, “and lots of National Parks to walk when you need to be alone.”

And she is right. From Golden River Holiday Park it is only a short drive to the stunning Mungo National park and the Murray Sunset National Park: Both remarkable places in which to immerse yourself in nature. Places to unwind, relax, and re-balance.

“Many people read my books to escape the daily grind of their lives,” The writer continued, “I come here.”

We sat quietly and watched the sunset over the bushland. I could feel the tension ebb from me.

The first was a family around lunch time who needed a place to stay. The only place in the whole town was an entire house for a rather expensive $400 a night.

The second were a group of young guys driving around at night, looking for a bar and literally anywhere they could rest their heads. All the motels and hotels and apartments were booked out. Even the tent campsite had no more free space on that cold night.

What I learned from these two encounters was to plan ahead. If not, you’ll either end up paying too much or not finding a place at all.

Backpacking in Australia is one of those things you have to try at least once in your life. The cities are great but the real Australia is found in the outback and coastal regions; for example, Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The experience of the open roads, the scenic walks and most of all, the people you meet is something you’ll never forget.

However, the liberating experience of travelling with little more than a backpack of clothes can soon pale if you find yourself freaking out over where you’ll be sleeping. If meeting people is what you’re looking for (and let’s face it; what’s a holiday if you don’t meet anyone new?), then pre-booking hostels are a great way to go.

Staying in dorms with tourists equally as eager as yourself is an easy way to make friends. Not to mention, hostels often have many communal areas like swimming pools, bars and pool table and table tennis areas where you can meet people.

Another tip when staying at hostels is to check for extra costs. For example, many hostels charge extra for linen and lockers (for one in Broome that doesn’t charge extra, check out Kimberley Klub .

Also, always check the reviews. You can’t expect the royal treatment when staying at hostels, but that doesn’t mean you should be sleeping with bed bugs all night.

Backpacking in Australia is definitely an experience. Plan ahead on the simple things and it’s sure to be a good experience.

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.

When you hear people speak about the Kimberly Klub in Broome you think of a comfortable backpackers close to the beautiful Cable Beach. But the real Kimberly Club has a much darker history.

In the 1850’s Kim Buchanan was a thief, a drunkard, and a thug. He was a big man, used to getting his own way. He’d been in and out of the prisons up and down the West Australian coast. He was always moving on after his release. Moving on to another town where, inevitably, he got into trouble again.

In one of his prison stretches his record finally caught up with him. Communication back in the 1850’s wasn’t what it is today. Often a man could be serving time in one town without the prosecutors or judges knowing his full criminal history. Anyway, his full record found its way to the town where he was serving his current term. When they realized Kim was an inveterate scaly-wag the prison officials decided to ‘straighten him out’.

This was to have far reaching and bloody consequences.

Kim was flogged and beaten, often to unconsciousness, by the prison officials. It got so bad he organized a breakout; taking with him a dozen of the most seasoned, ruthless convicts.

When the guards entered his cell to take Kim out for another beating the other prisoners attacked them. Three guards were killed and stripped of their uniforms.

Three of the convicts dressed as the guards and pretended to escort the other three inmates to the next cell, where they released another six convicts. These twelve men killed another six prison guards that day and escaped into the West Australian bushlands.

‘The Kim Club’ as they became known, survived as bush rangers. They held up coaches and robbed their occupants of everything. When they couldn’t find enough travelers to prey upon they attacked isolated properties, stealing whatever they could.

And here’s the reason why you’ve never heard of The Kim Club, the reason why they’ve been all but written out of history. These outlaws were the scourge of North Western Australia for the better part of a decade. Their descriptions were sketchy because they killed everyone they encountered. Everyone. And, when there was not enough food to steal, they would eat their victims.

The only way to find out about this hushed-up piece of Australian history is to go to the Kimberly Klub in Broome and seek it out. The information is not on display, but it is there if you go looking for it.

A real ghost cannot be marketed like a Ghost Tour.

 I have a friend in Perth who works for Chelsea Flooring. In one of his quiet moments he began mumbling about Old Cotter’s Lane on the outskirts of Perth. His tale was a disjointed, rambling, often terrifying rant; but I managed to piece this together.

Old Cotter’s Lane is no longer on the Perth city maps. Whether by design or accident it has been forgotten by the West Australian public. But some time ago the City Council engaged Chelsea Flooring to replace the timber floorboards of a heritage listed cottage.

McKenzie’s Cottage, as the workmen called it, was (is?) a dilapidated convict-built shed. It had seen too many summers, it’s wood warped and twisted from the rains and heat. Far from being a heritage listed beauty it was a haven for venomous brown snakes and funnel web spiders. It stank. All the walls and floors were covered with some noxious brown slime that refused to be scrubbed away. It squatted beneath a cluster of Ironbark trees and was shielded by dense, prickly scrub.

But it was Heritage Listed. And that meant the Council had an obligation to its maintenance. And that was why Chelsea Flooring was here.

The client (a Council rep’) was a thin, sweaty man; some historian or other. He didn’t give his name. and he told us not to speak ours – at least not while we were in the bounds of McKenzie’s Cottage. He demanded we use the wood he designated – even for small fix-up jobs, even for areas no one was ever going to see it. He even provided us with nails to hammer into the floor. And he absolutely demanded everyone clean up at the end of everyday and be gone by sundown.

Everyone was happy enough to be gone before sunset, but the whole idea of cleaning up each day was too much. On any building site there’s no point to tidying everyday. There will only be more mess tomorrow. It is much better to leave it all for one big clean up when the job is done.

 But the client would have none of it. Initially we all thought he was a bit crazy. Well anyone would wouldn’t they? But that all changed when one of the subcontractors used his own nails on another part of the building. We returned the next day to find some poor animal hammered to the wall with those very nails.

Everyday after that the shadows in the cottage seemed to be reaching out to us, like the claws. Several workmen disappeared after the first week. One who stayed nearly got strangled when he slipped off the front stairs and got caught around the throat by some vines. And my friend … Well my friend still works for Chelsea Flooring; but he swears he will never, ever return to Mckenzie’s Cottage.

The real ghost stories are the ones you never hear about. They’re not for public consumption. They’re not ‘tantalizing’, just horrifying.

A real ghost cannot be marketed like a Ghost Tour.

 I have a friend in Perth who works for Chelsea Flooring. In one of his quiet moments he began mumbling about Old Cotter’s Lane on the outskirts of Perth. His tale was a disjointed, rambling, often terrifying rant; but I managed to piece this together.

Old Cotter’s Lane is no longer on the Perth city maps. Whether by design or accident it has been forgotten by the West Australian public. But some time ago the City Council engaged Chelsea Flooring to replace the timber floorboards of a heritage listed cottage.

McKenzie’s Cottage, as the workmen called it, was (is?) a dilapidated convict-built shed. It had seen too many summers, it’s wood warped and twisted from the rains and heat. Far from being a heritage listed beauty it was a haven for venomous brown snakes and funnel web spiders. It stank. All the walls and floors were covered with some noxious brown slime that refused to be scrubbed away. It squatted beneath a cluster of Ironbark trees and was shielded by dense, prickly scrub.

But it was Heritage Listed. And that meant the Council had an obligation to its maintenance. And that was why Chelsea Flooring was here.

The client (a Council rep’) was a thin, sweaty man; some historian or other. He didn’t give his name. and he told us not to speak ours – at least not while we were in the bounds of McKenzie’s Cottage. He demanded we use the wood he designated – even for small fix-up jobs, even for areas no one was ever going to see it. He even provided us with nails to hammer into the floor. And he absolutely demanded everyone clean up at the end of everyday and be gone by sundown.

Everyone was happy enough to be gone before sunset, but the whole idea of cleaning up each day was too much. On any building site there’s no point to tidying everyday. There will only be more mess tomorrow. It is much better to leave it all for one big clean up when the job is done.

 But the client would have none of it. Initially we all thought he was a bit crazy. Well anyone would wouldn’t they? But that all changed when one of the subcontractors used his own nails on another part of the building. We returned the next day to find some poor animal hammered to the wall with those very nails.

Everyday after that the shadows in the cottage seemed to be reaching out to us, like the claws. Several workmen disappeared after the first week. One who stayed nearly got strangled when he slipped off the front stairs and got caught around the throat by some vines. And my friend … Well my friend still works for Chelsea Flooring; but he swears he will never, ever return to Mckenzie’s Cottage.