This year’s Outback Car Trek has been described as “the most fun you can have with your clothes on” by trek participant Bill Patrick. As the organiser of the event he may be a little biased, but Bill is convincing in his enthusiasm for the annual Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) fundraiser, which is now in its 22nd year.
More than 330 people – from as far as Hong Kong, China, Japan and South Africa – are driving more than 100 rally cars from Dubbo to Uluru this week, and have already raised $1.2 million for the RFDS.
The Aboriginal art industry is in the middle of a unique “time pocket” which will never again be captured on canvas, according to an Alice Springs gallery owner.
Tim Jennings from Mbantua Gallery says the market for Indigenous Australian art has become the latest victim of Australia’s strong economy and an increasingly insecure global economic climate. But perhaps even more challenging for the industry is the loss of many of Australia’s older Aboriginal talents.
The Pilbara’s a place where many have heard of, but few have ventured. Around 1,500 kilometres north of Perth, the area stretches for more than 500,000 square kilometres and covers some Australia’s most remote landscape. Its sprawling, pristine beaches rival their more famous east coast cousins, while vast desert becomes rugged canyons and hidden waterholes to the west.
Around 50,000 people call the Pilbara their permanent home, but rich iron ore, crude oil, salt and natural gas deposits mean thousands of workers are flown in and out every day to service the area’s massive mining industry. It’s commonly boom or bust when it comes to big business, but the Pilbara has been riding high on the mining industry for decades, and the general consensus now is that the good times are here to stay.
Passion and dedication to the agriculture industry shone through in the enthusiasm of the students and instructors Bessie Blore met at the Longreach Pastoral Campus last month, here we continue the introduction to today's students, and tomorrow's graziers.
More than 6,000 punters are expected to descend on the Broken Hill race track tomorrow for the “event of the year” – St Pat’s Races.
But for some, the event is a more than just a good day on the field. The eight race program will see 79 horses line up, and seven those belong to South Australian trainer Trevor Day.
Trevor’s been bringing horses to St Pat’s for 13 years, but last year’s meet was stuck by tragedy when he had a road accident on the way to Broken Hill. The Mount Compass based trainer was near Hallett, South Australia, when two tyres blew and his truck and horse float overturned.
Trevor and his son received minor injuries, but all eight horses were injured, with four put down on site and another put down six weeks later. Tiparaja, who Trevor says was one of his favourites, and former St Pat’s winner Eight Stitches were among them.
Few people pass through Longreach without visiting the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. In fact, many people travel to Longreach just to visit it. It’s an icon in outback Australia, but there are mixed reports on whether the high profile tourist attraction has maintained its popularity from when it first opened more than 20 years ago.
Bessie Blore continues her adventure through western Queensland with a visit to the Longreach Pastoral Campus. Passion and dedication to the agriculture industry shone through in the enthusiasm of the students and instructors she met.
Here are their stories...
Our tropical north has been in the news for an unpredictable 'monster storm' called Yasi...but when the weather's just plain hot and sweaty, what makes big hubs like Townsville tick? Bessie Blore takes us on a virtual trip to find out!
Our tropical north has been in the news for an unpredictable 'monster storm' called Yasi...but when the weather's just plain hot and sweaty, what makes big hubs like Townsville tick? Bessie Blore takes us on a virtual trip to find out!
A record 225 teams of cricket fanatics made the pilgrimage to Charters Towers on the weekend, for the largest cricket competition in the southern hemisphere: The Goldfield Ashes.
This year’s 63rd annual Ashes series saw players trek from across the country – and the globe - to partake in three days of fun, frivolity... and some serious cricket.
