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Following the great success of the latest series of The Farmer Wants a Wife, Channel Nine are once again on the hunt for Australia's most eligible farming bachelors. If you are working on the land and looking for love, fill out the application form and follow the instructions below:
Online applications: 1) Simply download and complete the application form as before 2. Complete all the questions 3) Upload two current photos of yourself. Maximum size for each photo is 1MB. 4) Email to eliza@mcgregorcasting.com
Postal applications: If you are sending your application by post, print out and complete the application form as before and attach two current photos of yourself (one head shot and one full length). Please write your name and contact details on the back of the photos and send your completed application to:
Attn: Eliza Gorka
McGregor Casting
The Farmer Wants a Wife
18/43-53 Bridge Rd
Stanmore NSW 2048
Please note pictures and submissions will not be returned
If you have any questions please call McGregor Casting on (02) 9557 2844 or email eliza@mcgregorcasting.com
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July 2008 Return of the Humpback: We have been watching them in their splendour, beckoning and frolicking in our warm coral seas. Could these giants of the ocean be making a splashing comeback?
Humpbacks and southern right whales are indeed making a comeback, mainly because of conservation efforts that saw them protected from commercial hunting in the late sixties. A report called Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance, and Status of Humpbacks (SPLASH) released in early May by NOAA (with over 50 international partners) acknowledged conservation efforts to restore the humpback whales population, particularly in North Pacific regions. While whales in other parts are still struggling, this latest evidence clearly demonstrates what can be done to ensure the ongoing survival of our ocean’s giants.
Humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the sub-tropical coastal waters of Australia to give birth and mate during winter and spring. Consequently, whale watchers are most likely to see these giants in the coastal waters of eastern and western Australia. Humpback whales frequently perform spectacular aerial leaps and long complex 'songs' during the breeding season. Individuals can be identified from the colour pattern under the tail. The name humpback whale describes the motion it makes as it arches its back out of the water in preparation for a dive.
Large numbers of humpback whales were taken by whaling operations on Norfolk Island and on the east and west coasts of Australia. Whaling for humpbacks ceased in 1963, allowing numbers to recover. In 1966 humpback whales in the North Pacific hit a low of about 1,400 animals, but the international whaling community instituted a ban that same year, which put an end to hunting humpbacks and by the early 1990s population estimates had shot up to nearly 10,000 humpbacks. Most recent estimates indicate numbers have nearly doubled since then. Strandings of humpback whales have been reported from all States, including the Northern Territory, however this does not occur very often as such whales are often dead already or very sick. Accidental killing in fishing gear is the "main threat" to the whale species
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FROM THE ARCHIVES this date August 2003. Remember this story??? Prince Harry gets himself in trouble with Aboriginal artists:
In terms of cultural distances, they don't come much greater than Buckingham Palace and the deserts of Western Australia. But Prince Harry has unwittingly put the two worlds on a collision course with his Aboriginal-inspired A-level artworks, unveiled earlier this year as part of his 18th birthday portraits.
The images flew around the world. They may have sparked admiration at home, but by the time they reached the Aboriginal communities that had inspired them, that admiration had turned to anger. With a sense of cultural understanding worthy of his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry - due to spend his gap year in Australia later this year - has offended Aboriginal people before he has set foot in the country.
Some of Australia's best-known Aboriginal artists have recently become aware of the prince's paintings of lizard motifs and claim he has stolen their culture. That the artworks have been valued at £15,000 each has compounded the insult to poor desert communities.
"He needs to get down here and see where it [the lizard symbol] came from," said Julie Dowling, who is among the top five contemporary urban Aboriginal artists. "He needs to figure out where that image came from, he needs to follow it back," she added, saying the lizard symbol had totemic significance in at least seven Aboriginal regions and many clans.
"What he has to realise is that when he does that, he's ripping off another family. His grandmother is the head of his church, he should show respect for other people's religions."
Prince Harry has wandered into one of the most contentious new issues in Aboriginal communities - the problem of intellectual property rights over cultural works sold in an unregulated market.
Buckingham Palace said the paintings do not "purport to be an aboriginal piece of work. We haven't received any formal complaints and it's never been the intention of the prince to cause any offense."
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Cattle industry researches chemical castration techniques
Posted Landline ABC News Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:34am AEST
AUG 08 The Australian cattle industry is searching for new techniques to de-sex animals without shedding blood. Meat and Livestock Australia hopes to soon begin testing vaccines and implants capable of chemically castrating cattle.
The organisation's Danielle Marotti says the technology will help improve animal welfare."The main technique that's used is actually surgical castration," she said. "In relation to the alternatives that we are considering, they would actually potentially be vaccine-based".
"If we were actually able to remove the need for that procedure at all, that would be the ultimate in terms of managing the potential welfare issues, and again the potential for production issues in terms of the recovery and the healing of the animals in that period."
The organisation has also commissioned research to search for genetic markers to identify naturally horn-less cattle."De-horning does create stress for the animal; there's also some production impacts in terms of reducing weight gain and things like that during the recovery period for the animal," Ms Marotti said.
"So it's actually I guess the potential to remove those impacts on production, but also to address a potential welfare area that may become an issue in the future."
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NAIDOC Week: 6-12 July 2008 This year’s theme: Advance Australia Fair. NAIDOC week is a celebration of the survival, history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and their present day contribution to modern Australia. Last year it celebrated a major milestone – 50 years of NAIDOC, whereas this year, a grant political occasion of a different kind was the backdrop for celebrations – the Prime Minister’s apology in Parliament to the Stolen Generations. The apology was greeted with great joy and relief in Indigenous communities, and many non-Indigenous Australians were caught up in the emotion and history of the day, so it was in that spirit of Reconciliation that NAIDOC wanted all Australians to join in this week’s activities organised around the country in 2008.
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders day Observance Committee’, which was responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC week, when its acronym became the name of the week itself. The week is celebrated, not only by indigenous communities, but also by increasing numbers of government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces. This year, the NAIDOC poster (pictured left) competition was won by Darwin brothers Duwun and Laniyuk Lee. You can order your posters by calling 1800 050 009.
NAIDOC Week celebrations for 2009 will be held from 5 to 12 July. All Australians are encouraged to participate. To find out more, including ideas and ways to celebrate NAIDOC Week in your local area, please visit the NAIDOC website www.naidoc.org.au
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JUN 08 Tourism Australia's website has launched a massive section dedicated to promoting Australia, both the movie and the country, and has revealed that the movie will be distributed to 70 countries, with the DVD release to follow around March/April 2009.
“The release of Baz Luhrmann’s epic film Australia, presents the Australian tourism industry with the greatest promotional opportunity in many years. As a global film event, and with the extraordinary power of films in stimulating tourism, Tourism Australia sees Australia the movie as acting as a catalyst to motivate people to travel to Australia now and for Australians to rediscover their own country… To capitalise on this marketing campaign, Tourism Australia is working directly with the film’s creators, Bazmark Inq and Twentieth Century Fox to turn this opportunity into real economic benefits for the tourism industry and the broader community.”
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JUNE 08 When Reuters optimistically reported in February ‘It is finally raining in eastern Australia, turning outback dustbowls into inland seas and beginning to end the country's worst drought in 100 years’, most of us sighed with relief, thinking we could finally move on from one of Australia’s longest natural disasters in recorded history.
But four months on, the reports are not quite so optimistic, despite excellent rainfall in most parts of the country since the beginning of this year. The Federal Government have just announced continuing Exceptional Circumstances Aid for another 12 months, mainly in NSW, where 60 percent of the state is still in severe drought after an exceptionally dry autumn. In Queensland too, drought assistance will continue for larger areas of western, central and southeast Queensland. Reports say Queensland has the bleakest future and most to lose from climate change than any other Australian state, with the dual threat of severe drought as well as more intense cyclones to come.
The Big Dry is hurting wheat and rice farming, in what is known as our food bowl region, just when the world needs it most. Perhaps the campaign AgForce started 2 years ago in Queensland (recently launching it’s third phase) drives it home best:’ Every Family (still) Needs a Farmer'.
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MARCH 08 The fire season started as usual around Dec/Jan and this year could be one of the busiest ever encountered. New figures show more than three-quarters of bushfires in Western Australia are deliberately lit. The same study compiled by the Australian Institute of Criminology shows that nationally 69 per cent of fires are deliberately lit.
In bushfires, radiant heat, dehydration and asphyxiation are the main killers. Well-prepared houses resist brief exposure to fire, protecting occupants who can then save their homes.
BUSHFIRE ACTION GUIDE
BEFORE THE BUSHFIRE SEASON - Prevent/Prepare: Remove rubbish or shrubs/trees, form a firebreak around the home, clear roof and gutters, store flammables away from the house, keep ladders handy and fit hoses to reach all parts of the garden. Make sure you have adequate insurance cover and an evacuation plan.
IF A BUSHFIRE APPROACHES - Leave or Protect: When staying, phone 000, if possible wear long protective clothing, turn off gas, put door mats inside, close all vents and gaps with wet towels, fill all available containers or sinks, baths with reserve water, plug downpipes with rags and fill gutters with water, remove curtains, cross-tape windows and move furniture clear, hose down walls etc., take hoses inside if necessary, quickly extinguish any fires closeby, move to burnt ground if possible, listen to battery radio for updates.
IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE, DRIVING - Shelter in Car: Don't drive into or near bushfires. Stop in an area of low vegetation, leaving your motor running, hazard lights and headlights on, stay inside unless safe shelter is nearby, keep all vents and gaps closed. Lie below window level under a woollen blanket for protection, move to burnt ground..
IF CAUGHT IN FIRE, ON FOOT - Seek Shelter, covering all exposed skin and hair, move across-slope, away from the fire front, then down-slope, towards the rear of the main fire front. Find open or burnt grounds, or if possible get into a dam or stream.
EMERGENCY SURVIVAL REQUIREMENTS When faced with the dangers of body dehydration, smoke inhalation and radiant heat from flames, emergency protection is possible, even in high-intensity fires. Wrap yourself in a heavy, pure wool blanket and carry water to drink; use moistened blanket corner as a smoke mask.
Please check Emergency Management Australia's website www.ema.gov.au or www.fesa.wa.gov.au for more information.
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JAN 08 An army of white-suited and big-haired Elvis impersonators has gathered in a small town in Australia for a festival dedicated to the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Parkes in New South Wales has been hosting the festival, the largest event of its kind in the country, since 1993. The town's population is expected to almost double over the weekend.
This year's carnival features a host of look-alike and sound-alike competitions, an Elvis art show and a special Gospel church service. The events are being themed after Elvis's popular 1961 film, Blue Hawaii, and his hit 1956 song, Blue Suede Shoes.
Last year's festival in Parkes set a new world record for the number of Elvis impersonators in one place. Big hair and even bigger flared trousers are standard issue for enthusiastic followers of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, who died in 1977 at the age of 42. A special "Elvis Express" has brought hundreds of fans to Parkes by rail.
For many, the highlight of the festival is a giant street parade, where this dusty corner of the Australian outback will once again be illuminated by an array of rhinestones and sequins.
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DEC 07 This year's cyclone season started off with a bang, as cyclone Guba threatened the coast off far north Queensland in the middle of November. After the area was put on alert for weeks, the erratic cyclone eventually moved towards PNG where it caused significant flood damage in the isolated Oro Region. The latest estimates suggest that 60,000 to 100,000 people have been in some way affected by the flooding, which has left at least 153 people dead. Last week, Australia pledged to double its support in the area to $2 million for food and other humanitarian aid.
Despite there not being any sure signs yet, the Australian Bureau of Metereology warns of the potential of a severe cyclone season this Christmas. The recommendation comes as the Bureau of Meteorology and the Northern Territory Emergency Service begin their pre-season cyclone awareness education programmes in the Northern Territory, Queensland and WA's North-West.
The emphasis this year on preventative measures and individual responsibility for safety, shelter and provisions.
Details of the 2007/2008 Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook for North West Australia:
- Significant risk of at least one severe tropical cyclone coastal impact during the season.
- Likelihood of around two coastal impacts.
- Possibility of a pre-Christmas cyclone. Should one form before Christmas; there is a risk of a coastal crossing, most likely in the Kimberley or Eighty-mile Beach area. However all North West communities need to prepare early to mitigate against the risk.
- Total number of cyclones in the northwest region is expected to be greater than last season, with a likely return to near average numbers (the average number of cyclones is 5).
For more information and weekly updates on the El Niño/Southern Oscillation go to: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/.
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New WA meatworks close to opening
Australia SOURCE: Farm Weekly, WA, November 15
Thursday, 15 November 2007
NOV 07 South Australian meat processor T and R Pastoral is confident it will be killing cattle in WA by the middle of next year. The processor is waiting for one more permit to be approved before starting work on its North Dandalup abattoir in WA. Company director Darren Thomas said he was hoping to get the nod this month and work could start at the facility. “The approval can’t come soon enough,” he said. “There is a bit of work to be done to get the site in working order and we will miss the spring flush this year, but we do hope to be up and running by the middle of next year.” Mr Thomas told Farm Weekly that the new abattoir would have the capacity to process 400 to 500 cattle each day and up to 5000 sheep daily. “We won’t start off at those numbers but will build up in a stepped approach,” he said. “The company is looking forward to getting the abattoir working and offering another alternative market to WA cattle and sheep producers.” “There is a big opportunity in WA, particularly in the feedlot sector,” he said. “We will be looking at working with, and have already met with, some feedlotters to set up supply chains. “Early on, we will be looking to back those feedlotters to ensure we get the numbers required.” Mr Thomas said 200 workers would be needed to run the abattoir. The company has been actively buying cattle out of Esperance, WA, and areas further west and trucking them back to its Murray Bridge plant in South Australia.
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OCT 07 VOBA has linked up with Roamfree's online GAS (Global Accommodation Search), which means you can access and book accommodation worldwide from our website.
Please click here to start your Global Search or see our Home page link.
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SEP 07 Featuring outback scenery in the Gascoyne area of WA, with a strong focus on our local kids growing up in the bush, the ICPA fundraising calendar for 2008 is now for sale at various locations in and around Carnarvon. All monies raised will directly benefit the ICPA (Isolated Children's and Parents Association). This news item has also been displayed on our noticeboard or please contact info@visitoutbackaustralia.com for more information or to place your order.
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JULY 07 After more than a decade of gloom in the pastoral industry (record low wool prices, a volatile live export trade, land resumptions, tenure issues, severe drought, etc…) it is not surprising that a lot of graziers are scratching their heads as they face the question ‘Where to from here’?
With terms such as ‘Climate Change’, ‘Sustainable Land Use’, ‘Carbon Trading’, ‘Globalisation’ and ‘Water Restrictions’ now well and truly part of our daily language, we are at the brink of undergoing a major transition, it seems. But fear not as there is always that silver lining.
Following the recent mining boom, property prices in WA are at a record high and this has also transcended into pastoral properties, easily fetching millions on the promise of an exclusive, romantic lifestyle.
Merino wool prices are also on the rise, following fashion trends around the globe, for more eco-friendly and organic products. Thanks to innovations in its production processes (wools are finer, lighter and also produced as wool blends, including a new easy-care, shrink-proof, machine washable wool), Australia’s wool industry is far from ‘doomed’, instead almost experiencing a ‘revival’ as it prepares to celebrate its upcoming 200th anniversary. Even a recent legal dispute with ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) on the practice of mulesing, has not deterred its growing global demand.
And then there is the whole new issue of a ‘Carbon Trading Scheme’, where growers can earn credits by planting trees (‘carbon sinks’) to trade off against greenhouse emissions. Ironically, governments are now promoting replanting of the same trees they had helped clear generations ago. Although the effectiveness and economic value of such a scheme is still largely unknown, some growers have already started this new process of ‘carbon farming’, mostly as a ‘complimentary’, almost accidental, by-product, whilst aiming for more biodiversity on their properties in the first instance. Since carbon offsets are not the easiest thing to measure and governments are yet to adopt a formal policy, one would have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
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JULY 07 Although desperate drought conditions affect farmers throughout the whole of Australia, arguably the latest, most innovative drought relief aid came from a NSW South Coast council in the form of a holiday package. The Kiama Municipal Council recently started offering cheap holidays to drought-stricken farmers in the western region so they can take a much-needed break.
Farmers in New Zealand offered a similar program earlier in the year, when they organised free flights and accommodation for Australian farmers to provide a getaway from the stress of the drought. While the Federal Government has consented to more drought relief for farmers and small businesses relying on agriculture, other avenues are closing up as they run out of funds.
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MAY 07 A 39 year old woman was bitten by a shark, whilst holding her 3 year old son in shallow waters, off WA's North West Coast. The attack occurred at Pelican Point, Warroora Station, yesterday afternoon, causing immediate alarm and a subsequent media frenzy. Shortly after the attack, the station owners were asked to close down the beach, while CALM officials plan to visit and assess the site for future public safety.
Inconveniently, the attack comes at the start of the NW tourist season, but there is no evidence that recreators visiting the Ningaloo Reef in droves during these busy months are exposing themselves to increased risk. Pelican Point is a well marked sanctuary zone, known for not only its amazing abundance of fish, coral, rays, turtles etc. but also as a breeding area for small reef sharks (mainly black and white tip). The sharks are clearly visible from the shore, by their distinctly marked dorsal fins, as they cruise the shallow pools and shore line.
Reef sharks are generally not known to be aggressive, but the attack is a sharp reminder and warning to us all, that if we wish to interact with Mother Nature in this way, we always need to be extra cautious and observant of the territory we are entering into.
The woman was driven to the nursing post in Coral Bay by her husband, where she was stabilised, before meeting with an ambulance, transporting her to the nearest Regional Hospital in Carnarvon. She reportedly suffered injuries to her left calf and heel, but is believed to be in a stable condition at Royal Perth Hospital, awaiting surgery.
Shark attacks are very rare in this area, but if you have any concerns, do not hesitate to contact your local department of Fisheries, CALM offices or the relevant adjacent land managers of the coastal areas you plan on visiting. The contact number for Warroora Station is (08) 99425920, Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park Ranger (08) 99492528, CALM Coral Bay (08)99485131.
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MARCH 07 Category 4 cyclone George hit the Pilbara last night, crossing the coast approx. 100 km south of Port Hedland, directly hitting an FMG mining camp, causing severe damage and the loss of two lives so far. Approximately 20 people are believed to have been injured during the storm.
Injured workers have been airlifted to Port Hedland Hospital today and Search & Rescue teams as well as a Medical Team are expected to leave Perth soon.
Severe Tropical Cyclone George is continuing to move southwards over inland parts of the Pilbara. Very destructive winds with gusts up to 170 kilometres per hour are likely to extend further inland near the path towards Tom Price and possibly as far south as Newman during the day, although the cyclone is slowly weakening as it moves further inland.
GALES with wind gusts to 110 kilometres per hour are expected through the remaining parts of the warning area today as well as widespread heavy rain and flooding.
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MARCH 07 VOBA has just produced 1500 Freecards, which are being distributed around Perth City Hotspots starting this long weekend (3-5 March 2007). The freecard comes in an internationally recognised standard size for postage anywhere in the world and can be obtained from local backpackers, hostels, Hotels and Cafes.
If you'd like to obtain your own personal copy, you can email your small order to sales@visitoutbackaustralia.com under the subject header: freecards. You will only pay for postage/delivery to you, the cards are FREE! Only a limited supply has been withheld, so please be quick.
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FEB 07 This year's City Muster in Perth WA promises another great event this 24th February at the Claremont Showgrounds, with well known country artists and a colourful display of Utes at the Bundaberg Rum Beaut Ute Show (Entries close 20th Feb) and a traditional whip cracking competition.
The program on the day is expected to be as follows:
Gates Open
Magnificent Seven
The McClymonts
Beccy Cole
Troy Cassar-Daley
Adam Brand
Lee Kernaghan
Gates Close
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3.00pm
3.10-3.50pm
4.00-4.45pm
5.00-6.15pm
6.30-7.45pm
8.00-9.15pm
9.45-11.00pm
11.30pm
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The Showgrounds Train Station, in the ground, will operate for the duration of the event and entry can be found via Train Station entrance or Gate 1, directly opposite Claremont Football Club Oval. Parking will be available across the road from Gate 1 (Main Entry) at the Claremont Football Club (cnr Graylands and Shenton Roads) and Westrail Land for a $10 fee for all day parking, this is charged by the Town of Claremont Council.
Tickets are on sale at the Gate or at BOCS Outlets Ph (08) 9484 1133 (Freecall 1800 193 300) and start from $31.90 per child (GST included - 5-16 years old) plus booking fees if applicable - Under 4 free to $61.90 per adult (GST included) plus booking fees if applicable
Please visit www.citymuster.com.au for more information or see our What's On/Events Page for further details.
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FEB 07 Despite the recent event of a significant earthquake in the Shark Bay area last weekend, it's business as usual for local residents and visitors.
In the early hours of Friday 16th February, an enexpected Earth Tremor rattled residents out of bed in the towns of Denham and Monkey Mia. Unsure of the cause of the noise and shaking (locals even thought some gascylinders might have exploded nearby), it quickly became clear that a quake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, had hit the area. And although it was the biggest recorded in that location in the last 50 years, it caused no structural damage in any of the nearby towns, apart from some ceiling damage to part of the Dirk Hartog Island Homestead.
Earthquakes of this magnitude happen approximately every two years in Australia, the last comparable one was in 1971, off the coast of Carnarvon, more than 200 km North of Shark Bay.
The operators at Dirk Hartog Homestead are relieved they escaped any real damage and wish to advise visitors that they are open for business as usual this upcoming tourist season (commencing this March). The minor damage that was done to the Homestead ceiling has been repaired. Please contact Kieran and Tory for all bookings and enquiries by email info@dirkhartogisland.com or Phone (08) 9948 1211 Fax (08) 9948 1660.
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JAN 07 Following a destructive ‘once in a generation’ storm in the first week of January this year, WA’s coastal areas in and around Esperance have been declared a natural disaster zone. The storm formed when ex-cyclone Isobel met with an existing surface low, creating an intense, low pressure system with wind gusts of over 110km/h and a recorded 155mm of rain in 24 hours, causing significant flooding and severe damage to homes, boats, trees, infrastructure (particularly the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour).
Farmers were either stranded on or isolated from their properties and so far an estimated 37,000 head of sheep is said to have died from exposure to the storm. Please note: as a result of the storm, Fraser Range Station will be closed from 2 January until 28 February 2007.
Some roads and properties are also currently closed and access to National Parks in the Esperance area remains restricted. Travellers are advised to contact their accommodation providers, local shire or national park offices for further information (Cape Arid 9075 0055, Cape Le Grand 9075 9072, and Stokes 9076 8541). Enquiries can also be made at the DEC Esperance office on 9083 2100 (source: AAP and www.trackcare.com.au).
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JAN 07 The 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival kicks off again this year at Australia's Country Music Capital. Don't miss out on the Official GUIDE to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Order your copy today - call 1800 649 866. Just $8 (Inc. P&H within Australia). Alternatively, you can purchase the Guide when you arrive in Tamworth for $6 from various retail outlets including the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre and Festival HQ. Or you can click here to view an online copy of the 2007 Tamworth Country Music Festival Official Guide.
For more up to date information, accommodation and tickets for sale, please contact Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or view the Festival accommodation or Coach packages available on the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre website pages.
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JAN 07 It’s that time of year again: Country Week Cricket. And like every year in Mid-January, one of WA's most prominent country cricket championships are played again at various grounds in Perth this year. Associations from the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Mid West, Great Southern, South West, Wheatbelt and Central Districts will compete in a range of divisions in a round-robin competition format. Only this year, the WA Country Cricket Board in partnership with the WACA and with support from Cricket Australia, will be holding a Festival of Cricket to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Country Week Carnival in 1907.
The Festival will kick off with a Historical Display (1-31 Jan) and CSBP Junior Country Week (8-12 Jan) followed by a Centenary of Country Week Celebration Dinner (20 Jan) and CSBP Senior Country Week (21-27 Jan). Final events will be the SunSmart Under 16’s Wayne Clark State Shield (22-25 Jan) and the under 16’s Country vs City feature match.
For further details, please click here.
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JAN 07 On her most recent trip from Warroora to Gnaraloo Homestead, Suzy Tunnicliffe took the 50 km journey home on the back of her newly adopted horse Blaze. A true Outback Adventure for this English born jillaroo, who arrived at Gnaraloo Station in October 2005, where she has since been involved with various tourism, administration and pastoral duties alongside station owner Paul Richardson.
Gnaraloo is situated in the south of the Ningaloo Marine Park, at the end of a 75km dirt road (150 kms north of Carnarvon). Most famous for its surf and windsurf breaks and excellent fishing, this working sheep station has been involved with tourism for more than 15 years, offering beachside camping at 3 mile camp and various self-contained accommodation and swag camps at the Homestead.
Accompanied only by her kelpie, Star (age 1), and boyfriend Roger, dropping water at various rest points, the 50km trip took Suzy less than 2 days, leaving Warroora in the early hours of Saturday 23rd December 2006, stopping overnight and arriving at the Homestead the following day - just in time for Christmas. Blaze is now settling in at Gnaraloo with her new best friend, an ex racehorse called Strobe.
If you would like more information about the locations featured in this story, please contact Warroora (08 99425920) or Gnaraloo (08 99425927) direct or search for their station name in our accommodation section. Vehicular access to a section of the coast in the northern part of Gnaraloo is currently prohibited so please contact the station for information before you travel.
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JAN 07 Click Here for Your Chance to WIN the trip of a lifetime on The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive 2007. By day, drove 500 head of cattle through the South Australian Outback. At night, there's great food, hot showers and a warm campfire beneath a canopy of stars. You have the rare opportunity to ride with some of Australia's finest horsemen and relive a very real part of Australian history, the droving of cattle by horseback through the Outback. Saddle up for 2007 and be part of this ultimate Outback experience. For your chance to be part of this adventure in 25 words or less state why you want to experience. The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive is owned and managed by Events South Australia, the major events division of the South Australian Tourism Commission. Click Here.
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JAN 07 Outback Kids are the Flavour of the Month. For the members of the Lyndon District, the limited edition Lyndon Kids Calendar 2007 has just come hot of the press and is now available. This year, Rachael Steadman from Wooramel Station, will also be producing a 2008 calendar to raise funds for the ICPA (Isolated Children's and Parent's Association), depicting young life amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the Gascoyne area, using her excellent photography. If you would like to be involved or want to pre-order your copy now, please contact us by Phone (08) 99485 112 or Email astrid@outbackaustralia.com today.
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DEC 06 Dear Members and Visitors: With the year 2006 now quickly coming to a close, VOBA would like to take this opportunity to extend our warm Christmas greetings to you. We hope you are celebrating this time in good spirit and health with family and friends and wish you an excellent year ahead in 2007!
Whilst this may mark the end of the 'Year of the Outback', we insist on working hard towards making every day a celebration of Outback Life and hope you will continue to be part of this vision and embrace our cross-regional approach in promoting Outback Tourism Services.
Since our first 'live date' on the 10 November, we welcomed Leonie Horak (Warroora Station), Jim & Bek Caldwell from Red Bluff (Quobba Station) and Laura Cole (Perth) to our site. Since then we have also extended a special welcome to our new members: Sofia Alexiou (Birdwood Downs Station) and Kevin Leahy (Ningaloo Bush Campers, Carnarvon). As our network expands, we hope you will utilise this website as an excellent networking opportunity and information resource.
You can also expect to see plenty more VOBA flyers in and around your local area, as we will be starting off a brandnew advertising campaign throughout January and February in preparation for the next tourist season, starting in March/April. Please keep checking our website for Hot Deals and more NEW Product coming up on a regular basis. If you have any special requests, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
To all visitors, please note that VOBA is not closed over the Christmas period, but able to accept your bookings at anytime during this special time of year. For urgent matters, you may wish to contact Astrid Horak direct on (08) 99485112 (Int: +61 8 99485112) or by email to astrid@visitoutbackaustralia.com anytime during this period.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We look forward to being of assistance to you in 2007!
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NOV 06 Finally, the moment has come... www.visitoutbackaustralia.com (our brandnew outback website) is LIVE and ready to take you on its online journey to the Outback, where you can access all types of information and you get a real taste of what this genuine australian experience is all about.
Find all you need to know about stations, station stays, weather conditions, outback events, localities/regions and more....
We are a brandnew site and there are many products available out there, that may not currently be listed here. So if there is anything specific you want to know relating to Outback products, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will help direct you as best as we possibly can, to the right information.
Looking for some work or life experience in the unique setting of a genuine Australian working pastoral company? Why not post your interest on our Noticeboard?
Stations are always looking for a handy pair of hands, a positive attitude and a general trustworthy all-rounder for odd-jobs around the property? And you can be guaranteed an unequalled life experience in return.
We want to welcome and thank you for selecting us as your very own fast-track to the Outback!
The Remote Australian Outback just got a bit closer....
For more information about the company and the philosophy behind the creation of this website, please refer to our Home pages (About Us/Contact Us).
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