Tweed River Crab Catching Cruises
Potting for mud crabs, pumping for yabbies, feeding wild pelicans, throwing out a fishing line – they’re all typical Tweed River experiences which you can try your hand at on a leisurely cruise along the Tweed River and through the Terranora wetlands. We have two operators who offer regular crab catching cruises:
Tweed Endeavour Cruises – www.goldcoastcruising.com
Catch-a-Crab Cruises – www.catchacrab.com.au

River Cruises
Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Tweed River, via the rainforests of Stotts Island and through the Tweed’s sprawling canefields to the historic riverport of Tumbulgum. Stop along the way to feed the wild birds of prey and keep a close eye out for friendly river dolphins as you learn more about the region from Captain Bill’s commentary. After browsing through the art galleries, craft shops and historical country pub at Tumbulgum, you’ll enjoy a seafood feast onboard as you travel back to the Tweed.
Tweed Endeavour Cruises – www.goldcoastcruising.com

Snorkel with the Turtles
Located approximate 600m offshore from Fingal Head, the Cook Island Aquatic Reserve is one of the best-kept secrets along the east coast – home to a large permanent colony of green and loggerhead turtles, and the docile leopard sharks who visit during the summer months. The abundance of marine life also includes bull rays, spotted eagle rays, giant gropers, wobbiegongs and the occasional grey nurse shark, with rock caves and coral gardens adding to the area’s underwater charms. Operators include:
Tweed Snorkelling & Whale Watching – www.tweedoceanadventures.com.au
Kirra Dive – www.kirradive.com (charters by arrangement)

Deep Sea Fishing Charters
The cross-over of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters off the Tweed Coast adds up to a huge variety of big game fish. A number of operators offer deep sea fishing charters that head out from the Tweed Marina to the offshore reefs in search of billfish, cobia, mackerel, mahi mahi, tuna, pearl perch, snapper, mullaway and parrot fish. They cater for groups of up to 12 or more, as well as individuals. Operators supply all the necessary bait and tackle, and the required fishing permits.
Cushy Fishing Charters – www.cushyfishingcharters.com.au
Down Under Charters – www.goldcoastfishing.com
Reel Fishn – www.reelfishn.com.au
Seamaster Fishing Charters – www.seamasterfishingcharters.com

Kayaking along Cudgen Creek
Winding through the Tweed Coast wetlands, Cudgen Creek is an important habitat for a wide variety of bird and marine species. The best way to access this wilderness area is on a kayak tour where you might also catch a glimpse of the local river dolphins.
Casuarina Rec Club – www.casuarinarecclub.com.au

Learn to Surf
The Northern NSW coastline is the traditional birthplace of the Aussie surfing legend and Australia’s current world champions, Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore. … so where better to learn to surf like a pro? Local surf schools offer group lessons for beginners, private lessons for experienced surfers, school programs and coaching. The village of Casuarina is also home to Surfing Australia and features their full training facility, which hosts Australia’s first university degree in surfing, Southern Cross University’s Diploma of Sports Management (Surfing Studies) recently voted the ‘sexiest university course in the world’ by FHM Magazine.
Cabarita Beach Surf School / Salty Girls Surf School – www.cabaritabeachsurfschool.com
Casuarina Surf School – www.surfingaustralia.com

Marine Environment Museum
This state-of-the-art facility comprises a visual, inter-active laboratory showcasing 200 preserved marine species. The centre also offers guided field trips to a range of nearby habitats, including coastal relic forests, mangroves, tidal rockpools, wallum healthland, sand dunes, beaches and estuaries.  Located in the North Star Holiday Resort at Hastings Point, the Marine Environment and Field Study Resource Centre represents more than 30 years work by its founders, marine biologist Ted Brambleby and Kerrie Trees.
Marine Environment & Field Study Resource Centre – www.adventureeducation.info

Tropical & Exotic Fruits
Tropical Fruit World and Research Park would have to be the world’s healthiest theme park – comprising the largest range of rare and tropical fruit in the world. More than 500 varieties are grown on the 65-hectare plantation, with some of the more quirky varieties including chocolate pudding fruit, lemon meringue pie fruit, chewing gum fruit, champagne fruit and ice-cream bean. It’s also a great place to introduce kids to tasty exotics such as jak fruit, babacos, papayas, longans and the giant avocadoes. You can also see and feed native Australian and farm animals here.
Tropical Fruit World – www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au

Native Australian Animals and Bird Feeding
Get up close and personal with one of the world’s largest collections of Australian fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, emus and crocodiles. Here you can also learn more about the Mt Warning Wollumbin Caldera at the Australia’s Green Cauldron exhibit and see some of the world’s deadliest snakes in the daily Snakes Alive show. In the morning and late afternoon, feed thousands of colourful lorikeets that fly in.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au

All Creatures Great and Small
Crystal Creek Miniatures is home to an amazing collection of pint-sized animals, including horses, cows, donkeys and more. Even the family dogs are pocket-sized Chihuahuas. In addition to being a working animal stud, they have an entertaining hour-long tour on the valley tractor train and you can finish up by sampling local Down on the Farm beef at the Verandah Café.
Crystal Creek Miniatures & Palmdale Stud – www.minianimals.net

Cycle the Coast
One of the best ways to explore the Tweed Coast is on a bicycle – and the extended cycleway running almost right along the beaches from Kingscliff to Pottsville makes it easy and safe to do just that. Start with breakfast at one of the award-winning cafes lining Kingscliff’s Esplanade ‘eat street’; explore the multi-million dollar Salt and Casuarina developments, stopping for lunch or a snack at a beachfront watering hole; then enjoy the contrast of sleepy seaside villages like Hastings Point, Cabarita and Pottsville which still retain their old-fashioned family holiday charm.
Casuarina Beach Rec Club – www.casuarinabeachrecclub.com.au

Horses & Trail Riding
Saddle up for the adventure horse ride of a lifetime on a three-hour adventure trail ride the spectacular mountain, rainforest and river scenery on a 2500-acre working cattle property. Trail rides include billy tea and damper in a spectacular windblown cave.
Numinbah Valley Adventure Trails – www.numinbahtrails.com.au

Night Vision Wildlife Adventures
Imagine explore the rainforest at night, observing Australia’s native animals in their natural nocturnal habitat. Arguably one of the best uses for military technology found to date, Vision Walks uses night vision goggles to explore Nightcap National Park and the David Fleay Wildlife Park.
Vision Walks – www.visionwalks.com.au

Indigenous Culture
Learn more about the art, culture and lifestyle of our local indigenous community at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. In addition to a fine museum collection and small shop, the complex incorporates a mangrove boardwalk and walking track, taking you via an ancient ceremonial bora ring to the river bank. Open by appointment only.
Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre – www.bigvolcano.com.au

Tours & Day Trips

Rainforest Way (self drive)
The Tweed Valley boasts six National Parks which form part of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. These include Mt Warning, Border Ranges, Lamington, Springbrook, Nightcap and Mooball. The Rainforest Way is a series of loops and trails connecting the Tweed National Parks with other rainforest areas in Northern NSW and south-east Queensland, all of which feature excellent bushwalking trails, waterfalls, bush swimming holes, spectacular lookouts and barbeque/picnic facilities.
Rainforest Way – www.rainforestway.com.au

Seafood Discovery Trail (self drive)
The Seafood Discovery Trail extends along 35kms of coastline from Currumbin to Cabarita, offering a self-guide itinerary to exploring the rich abundance delivered by the oceans and rivers of the Southern Gold Coast and Tweed regions. Along the way, you’ll discover an unforgettable culinary and activity-based experience, incorporating everything from fine dining restaurants and specialty cafes through to our favourite fish and chip takeaways and fresh seafood co-ops. You can even catch your own ocean harvest on a deep-sea fishing charter or haul in the crab-pots for a feast of local muddies.
Seafood Discovery Trail – www.seafooddiscoverytrail.com.au

Historic Pub Crawl (self drive)
The Tweed Valley is home to some of Australia’s oldest – and quirkiest – country pubs. Here you can drink in stunning views of Mt Warning from the old verandah of the Mt Warning Hotel, soak up the sun at the Bruns, prop up the bar once presided over by Australia’s oldest publican and toast the sun set over the river at the legendary Tumby Pub. Download our self-guided day tour, with maps and full driving directions from the Tweed Tourism website.
Historic Pubs of the Tweed – www.tweedtourism.com.au

Village Day Drive (self drive)
Take a break from the beaches and explore the rural villages and communities of the Tweed Valley. Taking the Murwillumbah turn-off from the Pacific Motorway, stop at Murwillumbah to pick up your maps at the World Heritage Rainforest Centre and to browse the shops and art galleries. You can then head out on a loop circuit to: Crystal Creek (Crystal Creek Miniatures and the Parrot Garden Café), Chillingham (Buck Buchanan’s bush tucker garden tour), Tyalgum (lunch or a coffee stop at Flutterbies), Mt Warning National Park (Lyrebird Track through the rainforest), Mavis’ Kitchen (if you missed lunch at Tyalgum), and back through Murwillumbah to Tumbulgum to finish with a cool drink and great river views at the Tumby Pub.

Tweed Art Trail (self drive)
Introduce your family to the Tweed’s artworks and artists on the Tweed Art Trail, which incorporates a rich tapestry of galleries, artist studios, artist co-ops, workshops and public art displays starting at Point Danger on the NSW/Queensland border and travelling to every corner of the valley.
Brochures available at Tweed Tourism’s Visitor Information Centres in Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads, as well as at the Tweed River Regional Gallery

Tweed Valley (escorted)
Award-winning eco tour operator, Australian Wild Escapes, offers full day tours of Australia’s Green Cauldron – named by Tourism Australia as a ‘National Landscape’ and a must-see destinations. These tours take visitors around in and around the remnants of the world’s second largest shield volcano, stopping at quaint river towns, valley villages, national parks and spectacular lookouts.
Australian Wild Escapes – www.australianwildescapes.com

Border Ranges National Park (escorted)
Environmental educator and activist, Lee Scarlett, shares one of the Tweed Valley’s most spectacular hidden secrets taking you off the beaten track to explore the Border Ranges National Park via 4WD, mountain bike and bushwalking tracks through ancient Antarctic beech forests to breathtaking lookouts and stunning land formations on the rim of the Mt Warning Wollumbin Caldera.
The Border Ranges Experience – www.borderrangescentre.com.au

Historic Tweed & Coolangatta Walking Tour (escorted)
Join local resident, Geoff Davis on a scenic & historical fully guided walking tour around the headlands, beaches and streets of the twin towns. Highlights include Greenmount Hill, Point Danger, Duranbah and the Tweed River, Rainbow Bay, Marine Rescue Headquarters at Point Danger with a full description of all the historical events right up to the present day. Geoff also shares the indigenous history of our local Aboriginal tribes and their lifestyles, as well as the beach and surfing culture which makes Tweed Heads the surfing capital of the world and the rock and roll capital of Australia.
Coolangatta Tweed Heads Walking Tour – www.tweedtourism.com.au

Accommodation

Visit our Tweed Heads Accommodation here

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A new co-operative marketing website www.riversoflife.com.au launches the Rivers of Life campaign and is being supported by extensive television, print and online  advertising and destination publicity.

It is the biggest marketing initiative in 2009 for Northern Rivers Tourism.

The campaign budget is over $170,000 made up of industry, local government and other stakeholder contributions matched by Northern Rivers Tourism.

It is being supported by Tourism NSW and the NSW Department of Industry and Investment through its Regional Tourism Partnership Funding Program.

The CEO of Northern Rivers Tourism, Russell Mills, said the campaign is targeting experience-seeking travellers.

“We have great experiences to offer in the Northern Rivers. The natural amenity of our World Heritage rainforests, and beaches are enriched by our organic fresh food, regular markets and events, innovative arts scene, and health and wellness experiences. These are the themes we are highlighting in the Rivers of Life campaign,” Mr Mills said.

Over 60 operators from across the region have already come on board to benefit from the joint promotional opportunity.

“riversoflife.com.au features great editorial on regional destinations and experiences, a postcards section encouraging user-generated content and is being supported by the advertising campaign, as well as targeted media releases and media visits,”Mr Mills said.

“The site is designed to take consumers to tactical deals provided by industry partners with one click from the home page and we will track results right from the start.

“It is all about building business for our tourism operators and related business like restaurants, cafes, food producers, day spas and events which all benefit from tourism to our region.

“I am particularly pleased that the website and the campaign has been conceived and executed in this region and what has been achieved is outstanding.” 

The other major activity for Northern Rivers Tourism is the Tourism Symposium coming up on 19 and 20 October, at which over 100 delegates will be attending to network, develop new skills and hear from experts on a range of topics relevant to tourism.

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The new arrangements follow Australia’s recent ratification of the Montreal Convention. This multilateral agreement includes new, tougher liability regimes for:

• The death or injury of a passenger;
• The loss or damage to a passenger’s baggage;
• The loss or damage to a freight shipment; and
• Delays to the scheduled arrival of a passenger, baggage or freight.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Every year almost six million Australians travel overseas.

“Now each of them can do so confident that in the unlikely event that the unthinkable happens, they or their families will be financially compensated.

“Under the Convention, airlines can be required to compensate passengers for all proven damages. This compares to the old system where compensation was commonly capped at an amount set in the 1920s in a currency that no longer exists.

“The compensation cap has been removed entirely in the case of death or injury.

“Some 86 countries have already ratified the Convention, including most major destinations for Australian travellers. The US, Japan, China and New Zealand did so in 2003, while the UK and most European Union countries signed on in 2004.

“The fact Australia has only now signed up to the stronger protections afforded under the Montreal Convention – a decade after it was negotiated – is yet another example of the previous government turning its back on the international community to the detriment of Australians.

“The Convention was negotiated in 1999, is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and applies to flights between signatory countries.”

For more information: www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/liability.aspx

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The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa

Other winners in the prestigious awards included the Bay of Fires Walk in Tasmania for ‘Best Eco Wilderness Experience’ and Vibe Savoy Hotel in Melbourne for ‘Best Value Accommodation’.

This is the fourth major award The Byron at Byron has received in 2009.

The resort featured in the ‘Top 10’ in both the Best Australian Resort and Best Australian Spa categories in Luxury Travel and Style Magazine’s Gold List for 2009.

Now in its fifth year, the Gold List is one of the most comprehensive luxury travel surveys ever undertaken by an Australian magazine and is widely accepted as Australia’s premier travel awards.

If that was not enough, the resort has also just won Leading Hotel/Resort (International) in the Travel Digest Industry awards.

Nominated by readers of the celebrated monthly industry magazine, they were voted for by over 6000 readers. 

Whilst 40 per cent of the resort’s business is repeat business, the majority of the remaining 60 per cent are first-time visitors to Byron Bay.

“These people are only just now discovering what makes the region so special,” said The Byron at Byron’s General Manager Lyn Parche.

“They usually spend a good deal of their visit discovering villages like Bangalow, Mullumbimby and Lennox Head.”

The Byron at Byron’s investment in international marketing has had spin-off effects for the region, according to Northern Rivers Tourism CEO Russell Mills.

“Lyn Parche and her team have put Byron Bay on the map as a holiday destination for discerning travellers around the world,” he said.

“Their commitment to client satisfaction goes well beyond their own property, as they actively promote the town, the surrounding attractions and the wider region. These accolades are well-deserved.”

PICTURE: Lyn Parche and resort marketing manager Holly Galbraith.

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The four extra A320 weekly return services by Jetstar will result in more than 1400 additional seats offered weekly into and out of Ballina Byron Airport by the value-based carrier.

Jetstar’s growing A320 fleet will support the extra services as part of its newly published Northern Winter flight schedule.

With the continuation of its existing daily Sydney-Ballina Byron return service, Jetstar will now offer almost 5000 weekly seats to directly connect the Northern Rivers with the nation’s two largest cities.

Jetstar Group General Manager Commercial Bruce Buchanan said the airline was proud to be bringing more low fares to the Far North Coast, with Jetstar’s everyday low one-way web fares to Ballina Byron starting from $99 from Melbourne* and $69 from Sydney*, available at Jetstar.com. (* JetSaver Light fares).

“There continues to be growing demand for travel between Melbourne and Ballina Byron –- a service Jetstar innovatively introduced in March 2006,” Mr Buchanan said.

“In addition, our newly revised schedule provides even easier access between Melbourne and Ballina, with the region’s airport acting as a growing gateway for both business and leisure travellers wanting ease of access to Northern Rivers townships of Ballina, Lismore and nearby Byron Bay.”

Ballina Shire Mayor Councillor Phillip Silver welcomed the new services.

“Ballina Shire Council is pleased to continue to enhance its partnership with Jetstar that is delivering additional flights and improved air access between the Northern Rivers region and Melbourne,” Cr Silver said.

“Jetstar’s commitment to a daily offering on its Melbourne-Ballina Byron route is a significant step, one that is strongly supported by the council, with the airline having previously offered the service three times weekly.

“With revised morning arrival and departure timings into Ballina Byron Airport, we anticipate the growing Melbourne service to prove attractive to interstate holiday makers, business travellers and local residents.

“The announcement is a further positive step in the expansion of Ballina Byron Airport.”

Mr Buchanan said the performance of Jetstar’s Carbon Offset Program continued to identify the Ballina Byron market as the strongest support base for efficient and sustainable air travel in the network.

“Our Carbon Offset Program has been very well received in Ballina Byron, with more than one in five of our web booking customers choosing to offset their travel to and from this destination from Melbourne and Sydney. We hope to gather even more support for our environmental program with these new services,” Mr Buchanan said.

Jetstar’s Northern Winter schedule is now available at http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.html

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By Gayathri Samarakoon, reporting from Qatar

It’s another sizzling hot Saturday in Qatar; a chilled beer sits on the table giving away golden hues as Akram roles out a cigarette to share his amazing story of warfare in Sudan, fleeing the army, new pastures in Qatar, a concert in Ethiopia, meeting with the Marleys and … loving an English lass!

“Let me tell it to you as it happened and then you will believe it,” Akram begins with customary Shakespearean gusto.  

Akram and Emma’s story is a romance that has to be told at least once. Their story begins in two different parts of the world.

One amidst the green meadows of England in a place called Forrester Dean, a place otherwise referred to as the land between two rivers.

And the other, also called the land between two rivers but situated in Sudan along the great River Nile.
 
Akram’s story:
 
Akram came to Doha from Sudan 12 years ago in search of greener pastures.

Akram was the youngest of eight in the Abdalla family and grew up with the notion of following his father in to the civil service.

Therefore, after leaving school at the age of 20, he joined the military service to train as an Air Force technician and to fight in the religious conflict between the North and South Sudan.

However, it didn’t take long for Akram to realise that it was a futile conflict.

“You have to believe in a war to fight it and I didn’t think it was worthwhile fighting our own people in the South, just because they had Christian beliefs and weren’t Muslims. I mean, we were the same people

and it seems pointless to be fighting for religions,” Akram says earnestly.

“After one year in the army I watched the senior graduates who were sent to the South getting killed. They would send 10 pilots and only two would return. I couldn’t watch this any longer.”

So Akram left the army three times, but always to be brought back to the prison camp for retraining and then back to the Air Force base.

The final time Akram fled, he went home to the remote village in Wadmadani, which is in the outskirts and far from the capital, and stayed with his family for two months — putting his family at risk.

Then at this time his uncle, who had connections in the Defence Ministry, came forward to help him by appealing to the General to provide Akram with release papers so that he could be released from the forces prematurely.

Happy to be a free man, Akram had a new appreciation for things and wanted to get ahead in life.

Determined to do well, he joined the Aljazeera University in his home town to embark on a three-year diploma course in computer science.

And having worked in Sudan for one year and upon completion of the degree, Akram decided to join his sister in Qatar, where she lived with her husband and child.

“I came to Qatar to earn more money and help my family,” he said.

“My father had passed away when I was 12 years old and since then I had wanted to help my family in Sudan.

“I sent money to educate my sisters, living expenditure for my mother and to build our house. Our house is fully built now,” Akram says with pride.

Akram arrives in Qatar

“My sister picked me up from the airport and took me to her apartment and I looked for work while staying with her,” he said.

“Nothing happened at first but then after a couple of months, just when I was about to give up and return to Sudan, I got this job at the Ministry of Interior to work in the Human Resources Department as a computer technician. I have been there ever since.

“I lived with my sister for only a month before I moved in to my uncle’s flat, which is right behind his villa.

“The flat had an attached bathroom and its own little garden, so we would gather at my little verandah to enjoy the cool air in the evenings.

“My spot was the busiest on the weekends, because we would put up loudspeakers with bright lights and have huge parties where people could have drinks and dance til the morning.

“My cousin Dedee and I had some of our best times at this place in Doha.

“Things had been pretty good for me in Qatar but still it wasn’t home, where my nephews and nieces were growing up fast and my mother was getting older.

“By 2007 I had completed building my own house in the Gazeera, which means an island in my own language. Let me explain, now there is the White Nile and the Blue Nile forking out in two separate directions and my land is right in the middle. It is my oasis, my patch of green.”

Having had his fill of Qatar, on October 5 of 2007, Akram was packing to leave the place he’d called home for more than a decade when cupid struck.

Cupid strikes

“By the end of 2007 I had made up my mind to go to Sudan for good, to live in Gazeera. And on the 5th of October one of my friends needed a lift so I dropped him off and went to visit my good friend Ben,

who lived in the nearby compound, who in turn persuaded me to have a couple of drinks,” Akram recalls.

“First I refused, saying that I had been drinking the last few days and was way too tired.

“Anyhow, after a couple of drinks he wanted to go to another party, so I dropped him off there and turned to go, but my friend Ben was insistent that I come in for couple more beers.

“I was still very tired and not dressed for a party so I refused.

“But my friend was persisting so I thought I will hang around till he is all right and then leave.

“I grabbed a beer and sat on the steps next to the dance floor after chatting with a few people when I saw this girl go into the kitchen for a drink.

“As soon as I saw her my eyes were glued to her, next minute she seemed to be coming in my direction. She stopped beside me to say ‘hi’. And that was it! Voila, I was in love!

“I asked where she was from, which led to us talking about our respective backgrounds and just then they played my favorite song — one of Phil Collins’, so it seemed natural to dance to it.

“We danced for four songs straight, then sat by the poolside to talk into the early hours of the morning.

“When it was time to leave I knew that she was the one for me, so naturally I asked her to marry me and she took only a couple of minutes before saying ‘yes!’

“Then came the time to decide where we wanted to go for the night. We didn’t want to leave each other so we chose her place in Monmoora, where we have been ever since.

“We are flying to England next month to ask for her parents’ permission to get married.

“It’s the best thing that has happened to me. It was definitely a special moment that day — after the other special moment in my life when I met Bob Marley’s son Ziggy and wife Rita Marley at the 60th Anniversary in Ethiopia.”

Akram meets Ziggy and Rita Marley

Akram, a devout fan of Bob Marley, flew to Ethiopia for the 60th Anniversary where an enormous concert was to be held.

“Everything happened like in a dream,” he said.

“I and my cousin saw the concert being advertised on the web, then next minute we were buying tickets to go to the 60th Bob Marley Concert.

“You know, Bob Marley’s dream was to have his 50th anniversary in Ethiopia. Do you know why?

“Because then people would be attracted to the country and bring with them money and resources, also to create awareness of Ethiopia as a dynamic country … that man had such a great vision.

“And that’s what happened on the 60th anniversary in Ethiopia. We were there to see it. People came from all over, from US, UK, Uganda, Sudan, and India … they came from everywhere to sing, to dance and to forget about troubles.

“Everyone was a brother or a sister, it didn’t matter what colour or race, we came together as one. 

“The atmosphere was just amazing. There were thousands of people who were Americans, Sudanese, Eritreans, from Dubai and we all just came together, singing and drinking and smoking hashish.

“It was near the main entrance that we saw Ziggy Marley and Rita Marley about to get into a car to go to the stage where the concert was being held.

“When I realised who they were, I went in to zombie-mode, then like it was the most natural thing to do, I walked up to Ziggy Marley and Rita Marley and said ‘can I take a photo with you’, and my cousin Deedee was dumbfounded at what I had done.

“Then Rita Marley, who looked a bit frazzled at that moment, looked at me and said ‘OK, a quick one’ just before she was going to greet the crowds.

“Ziggy Marley is just like his father in looks and smiled. He is a very friendly and unassuming person.

“It was so dreamlike that my cousin was holding the camera with his mouth wide open, and not clicking the button. So I had to shout twice: “Take it Deedee! Take it now!’,” Akram laughs at the second, dream-like moment in his life.
 
Emma’s story

Emma grew up in Surrey, not too far from London, and belonged to what she described as an average English family of two, with her dad working in different jobs, the longest as a lorry driver.

Having led a very busy city life, Emma’s parents decided to trade Surry for a quieter country life in the West.

“My parents had grown tired of the rat-race in the city and thought they would prefer the quieter pace in the country,” she said.

So at the age of 13 Emma’s family moved to the country town called Royal Forrester Dean, where her parents took a lease on a little pub called Rose in Hand’.
 
“My parents first took out a pub on lease and ran it for a while and they enjoyed it so much that they decided to buy a nearby pub and began to run it on a full-time basis,” she said.

Pub life for Emma meant long hours behind the bar, serving clients from morning until night.

“The thing was, since my parents owned the place I pitched in whenever I could in the morning and at night — they were long hours,” she said.

“We would start at 10 til three, and back at seven until one in the morning.

“Working at a pub means serving to clients with a smile all the time and it goes on through out the day, so it becomes full-time thing.”

Life in Forrester Dean

Life in Forester Dean was quite enchanting for Emma and the family.

“I took to it easily, the lovely green countryside and the local people who spoke their own dialect,” she said.

“The story of the place goes like this: in the olden times the town was cut off from the rest of England due to its location. It’s located in the middle of two rivers and has tall trees surrounding it, creating a wall so the outside people couldn’t reach it, making it unique and isolated.

“This led to people developing their own heritage and dialect. So although they speak English it’s in a different dialect.

“When I met them for the first time they said something like this: ‘Ow biest old butt?’ and that meant ‘how are you?’ and also I heard people saying ‘there is a ship going on the streets’ and when I looked out there were sheep on the streets. So it was funny at first but then I got used to that dialect and now I speak it well.”

Life at the Forrester Dean was quiet for Emma and family, but Emma had her own dream of becoming a teacher and travelling.

“I had always wanted to become a teacher, so after about five years working in the pub, I applied to Cheltenham University to do a teacher course, and got through,” she said.

“It was hard work at first because I still had to work at the pub at night and study at university in the daytime, but I did it somehow,” says Emma, relaxing at the apartment in Monmoora.

Emma says that working at the pub was ‘crowd control’, because one had to be nice to people and mingle with them. She says it’s much the same in the classroom, where one has to control the crowd — but the kids are more willing to listen!

“I had ended my contract with the Cowen school and I thought I will do something completely different and checked out international options,” she said.

“First they offered Italy, Belgrade and then they offered Qatar. The school in Qatar seemed nice, the students were from all over the world and lodging was all right, so I thought of taking up the job in Qatar.

“After on month here I met Akram.

“The other teacher living in the apartment was Lauren, who took me to the party, saying that it’s a good way to meet new people.

“Akram turned up at this party and that’s where I met him. I am not romantic like Akram but we were attracted from the first minute we met and after one month I knew that I wanted to marry him.

“Culturally, although we come from two different parts of the world, there’s isn’t much of a difference. They are Arabic and come from a Muslim background and they are very modern in thinking and my parents don’t mind of things like that.

“Soon after we met he rushed me to the gold souk and asked me to choose a ring — I was still in my pajamas.” Emma laughs at the spontaneous moment.

“And at home he went on his knees and asked to marry me. I knew this is what I wanted after living with him for one month.”

Both of them say that they are not sure where they will eventually end up, with options in Africa, England and Qatar.

But for now they are living in Qatar — and are happy to make plans as they go along.

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By the Migrant Education Centre, Victoria

Available from www.vijithayapa.com

Cost $US4.50
 
Rajaman’s Guide to Australia is a practical information book released by Migrant Education Centre, Victoria.

What it is, is an ‘Idiot’s Guide to Australia’ written by GK Samarakoon an Australian writer, teacher and traveller.

The book is written by the perspective of a migrant, hence it explains things in simple language with a bit of humour.

The book covers everything from maps, how to find lodging, food, transport, part-time jobs, immigration and visas etc.

There were a few things which I learned from the book as well.

And things like the weekly tickets are taken for granted by Australians in the country but these things could be a novelty to new migrants.

So in that sense this book is a must-have for anyone coming in to the country to study or live.

– Susan Bingley, Migrant Counsellor.  

Getting ‘a grasp’ of Australian society:

A recent survey conducted by the Migration Resource Centre in Melbourne, found that 80% of migrants from South Asian countries take at least four years to get a full grasp of the Australian society and ‘get a feel for the new country’.

This was in contrast to immigrants coming from Eastern Europe, who although lacking proficiency in English were quick to integrate into the society, rather than the English-speaking migrants from Commonwealth countries such as Sri Lanka and India.

The main reasons cited for this prolongment in adjustment into the new society were non-verbal and directly related to the differences in day-to-day life patterns.

“We find it amazing that South Asians coming to Australia for the first time have a clear  understanding of the ‘bigger issues’ like what’s happening in politics, visa matters, registrations on the net, but it’s the little day-to-day things that they take a while to grasp,” said Susan Bingley, Migrant Counsellor and conductor of the in-house survey.

“Obviously we come across different groups from different countries needing all sorts of assistance and it has become apparent that migrants from certain countries have the same kind of needs that have to be met.

“Similarly, migrants from South Asian countries need assistance with similar type of challenges, leading to a common set of questions.
 
“Some of the common questions we get asked by newly arrived Sri Lankans and Indians are about reading street directories, where to do budget shopping, understanding bus timetables, about rentals, bus tickets, student jobs etc.

“These are daily matters that we take for granted but are important to them.”

And referring to the ‘Rajaman’s Guide to Australia’, Ms Bingley said: “A booklet like this will go far in the way of giving insight into the society.

“It explains in simple terms what we take for granted and is from a migrant’s perspective in local inferences.”

Ms Bingley added that there are also Migrant Resource Centres all over Australia — for assistance contact Northern Migrant Resource Centre.

Challenges faced by Sri Lankan job-seekers in Australia

Recruitment consultant Anthony Fernando, a Sri Lankan expatriate who is the manager of Recruitment Link job agency) in Dandenong, has assisted many Sri Lankan migrants and students over the last 20 years to get jobs, and he says the biggest challenge for them is not being able to understand the work-culture.

“The most common thing I see is that they have not left room for the cultural differences between Sri Lanka and Australia,” he said.

“After 20 years in this business I frequently see people struggling with job situations because they don’t grasp the job system.

“For example, the job system here is such that everyone, at some point, has done casual jobs to earn their living, and there’s no shame in it.

“People from all professions end up doing casual work in factories to earn money when in transition but Sri Lankans (South Asians as a whole) think it’s an embarrassment and only seek professional jobs without considering casual jobs.

“And the same people come back to me after a couple of months, desperate for any kind of job because they are running out of funds.

“Now a booklet like ‘Rajaman’s Guide to Australia’ comes at an ideal time, in that it’s a light reader, based on personal experiences, and tries to convey the social differences between the two societies with a bit of humour.

“It covers things that cannot be found in generic travelogues.”

Dandenong is the suburb with the most number of Sri Lankans living in Australia.

Sri Lankan students in Australia:

The Higher Education Strategic Analysis and Evaluation Group (ESAEG) in South Australia came to the same conclusion after a survey carried out on international students who enter Australia for tertiary education, citing their studying  paradigm was affected by the lack of understanding and preparation for the new environment. 

Australia is the third most popular study destination, with 237, 236 international students studying at Australian Institutions at April 2004.

And Sri Lanka is a major source country from which annually thousands of students migrate to Australia for studies.

With such huge numbers entering the country, the survey concluded that not enough was done to educate students on day-to-day life matters to assist students who have enough pressure grappling with a new learning-system (courtesy of Global Education Policy Site).

Links with Australia:
 
The majority of the 53,610 Lanka-born persons in Australia live in Victoria (26,670) and 16,910 in New South Wales.

In 2002 Sri Lanka imported Australian goods worth of $A300 million, whiles its exports to Australia only totalled $A87 million.

Over 2000 Sri Lankan students travelled to Australia for studies in 2002 (it is expected to have tripled by now).

Investments in Sri Lanka was $A600 million in July 2002, according to Global Education.

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Many Australians are venturing to Dubai to travel and work, reports Gayathri Samarakoon . . .

Dubai is becoming a commonly discussed destination among Australians who thought of it once as far-flung place nestled in the Middle East.

Then came the trade agreements between Australia and Middle East, making way for flocks of sheep to sail from Australian shores to the Arabian Gulf for barbecue purposes while also giving Dubai a commercial-orientated value.

Today, though, Dubai takes on a more fun and frolicking slant, with some Australians making it a holiday destination and many others calling it home.

The unofficial count of Australians living in Dubai totals up to 15,000.

The embassy, in talking about the Australians living in Dubai, stated that they are not aware of how many are living in Dubai.

However, if the travellers were to register on the web site www.smartraveller.com then they would be able to disclose the exact figures.

In the meantime the figure quoted by business clubs is 15,000 Aussies living and working in Dubai.

Well, with so many living here, it makes sense to find out ‘what life in Dubai is really like’.

Thus in this series we will speak to a few Aussies living life here, local Emiratis,  and with a bit of luck the elusive Bedouin clans. 

About Dubai
 
Dubai at a glance would be tall buildings, the latest car models on the smooth highway and diverse people milling about in shopping areas and eateries.

At a glance at its layout Dubai is no different to that of any other Western city with a glitzy façade.

However, upon closer inspection, the fascinating differences come to the fore, with multitudes of people that throng to the gulf for tax-free salaries, its diverse cultures, the royalty in robes, oil-money, the latest Lamborghini and perhaps a bit of the overt racial nose-twitching that is going on by the colonial-minded towards the lesser mortals… and much, much more.  

Geographically Dubai lies in the United Arab of Emirates and is the second most popular city in the emirates after Abudhabi.

And it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it is the more modern and well-known city state out of all seven emirates.

It has 1,469,330 people living in a space of 1000 square miles (1600 square kilometres).

The most fascinating aspect of Dubai, however, could lie in the fact that 80 per cent of the population is made up of foreign nationals coming into the country to work. Only 20 per cent is made up of local  Emiratis; a situation causing such alarm that last month the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community development hosted a ‘national identity crisis’ conference at the Emirates Palace to discuss the invisibility of Emiratis in the growing tidal wave of foreign workers.

It was stated that expats from 150 countries live in a country that was once dominated by 80 per cent locals.

It was voiced that the Arabic language was going out of fashion among young people, who were more adamant to become English speakers to blend in with the modern society.

And was revealed that 90 per cent of the workforce was from outside.

When the delegates, dressed in black and white traditional dress, called for tighter immigration polices, the Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah said: “We have to stick to our national identity and background while at the same time maintaining an  open and tolerant society (Dubai Xpress).”    

Airport and visa

Stepping in to the country for the first time could be a revelation, depending on the gender and at which airport you arrive.

The international airport is a more savvy affair, with males and females milling about freely, sorting things out.

However, the domestic airport is slightly different, with men folk tending to gaze at the female form for longer than necessary if that person is even slightly exposed; as in attired in short-sleeved shirt.

It’s all harmless though, and nothing untoward will happen as women are protected by strict laws.

Anyhow, once we get passed that, the rest is plane sailing.

The deal with visas is that citizens of Arab Gulf Council Cooperation (AGCC) do not need visas; citizens of Western Europe and the Pacific rim will get one-visit entry visa on arrival for free; travelers from other countries will have to be generally sponsored by a UAE resident, company or hotel which has a valid licence to operate in the country. Check the official website for more information.

Housing and Residency
 
Real estate in Dubai is interesting, to say the least.

Dubai is an apartment world. Everywhere you look there are apartment buildings where working people live busy-bee lives.

It could be called a ‘job-city’ where people come with the sole aim of getting a job to earn and save.

This is changing though and the government is doing its utmost to promote it as a ‘lifestyle city’ as opposed to ‘Do-Bye’, as in Do your business and say good Bye (a phrase coined by yours truly, no less).

In a new move the government issues Permanent Residency status to people who purchase an apartment or villa, beckoning in turn an affluent class, particularly from the West, and dissuading the throngs of labourers who enter the country for menial work to stay long-term.

Lodging is the most expensive commodity in Dubai and most of the employment packages offer accommodation as part of the deal.

Depending on the job this could be a big room with six people in it; it could be a single apartment in a luxury building; or at a hotel if it’s in the hospitality industry.

Rental rates in Dubai are quite temperamental — like Melbourne’s weather, fluctuating, with only the demand and hype driving it.

An example is that a professional could be paying AED 60,000  for a one-bedroom apartment in a centrally-located building with facilities such as  the pool and the gym.

Now, another tenant could be paying 50 per cent more for the same deal at the same place.

A bed-space for a single sharing with five others could be 600 Dirham a month.

And a villa with five bedrooms in the outskirts could be up to AED 300,000 a year.

One night’s hotel accommodation at the Ramada, which is 3-star, is about USD217 a night.

• Guide to Australia
  By Gayathri Samarakoon
  Available at www.vijithayapa.com
  This is a practical information guide for people coming in to Australia for migration and studies. This guide explains essential aspects such as food, lodging, transport, part-time jobs etc from a migrant‘s perspective. Recommended by Migration Education Centre, Clayton 2008.

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“It’s significant  in two ways –  it raises awareness of the region as a must-do experience for travellers and also as a resource to be managed, sustained and protected for the regional community,” Mr Mills said.

Commenting on Tourism Australia’s marketing brand for the region, ‘Australia’s Green Cauldron’, Mr Mills said: “It’s evocative. People here and overseas know the ‘Red Centre’ as a general term for Central Australia, but they also know and understand the names of Uluru and Kata-Tjuta as specific landscapes within that region.

“Coupled with explanation of the specific experiences on offer like the Rainforest Way touring route and reference to the ancient volcanic geology and Gondwanan Rainforests, Australia’s Green Cauldron can really help develop and promote sustainable tourism to our region.” 

Mt Warning has long been an important landscape to the traditional owners, who were engaged in the National Landscapes Steering Committee consultation process.

Mr Mills says NSW National Parks is an important stakeholder in tourism and acknowledges the need to better promote its assets by working with the regional and local tourism industry.

“While National Parks comes under criticism in the O’Neill Review for an alleged insular approach to tourism, NRT sees the criticism as constructive and having potential to strengthen the relationship between regional tourism and conservationists,” he said. 

“Many of those in the Northern Rivers tourism industry are also part of the regional community and as such, are also custodians of our natural environment for present and future generations.

“Tourism has the potential to bring new visitor income which can greatly assist in the maintenance of natural assets like our Gondwanan Rainforests and the infrastructure required to accommodate visitors sustainably.

“The kind of visitors is also important. The O’Neill Review points to growth in educational tourism from overseas.

“Increasingly, international visitors are motivated to travel for a purpose; whether that is to learn, develop new skills and experience, or to ‘put something back’.

“There is plenty of evidence that there are experience-seeking travellers who value the environment they are visiting and are aware of the impact they have on it.

“We an also promote our region to education and other special interest travellers that are lucrative niche markets.

“The National Landscape designation for the Mt Warning-Wollumbin Caldera will assist us in communicating the right messages to  international visitors in particular.

“We are blessed to have Wollumbin-Mt Warning as the dominant landscape amongst the Gondwanan Rainforests at the heart of our region.

“With the right approach, this can be a unique offering which is so critical to a sustainable future for the regional community.”

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A draft of the plan, developed by the Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre (ARTRC) at Southern Cross University (SCU) on behalf of Byron Shire Council, has been sent to stakeholders for final consideration.

Project co-ordinator Dr Meredith Lawrence said the plan had been prepared on the back of extensive consultation with community groups, industry and government representatives during the past six months.

“We recognised from the outset that to be effective, this plan would need to consider the needs and wants of a very wide and diverse group of people and organisations,” Dr Lawrence said.

“As well as developing a dedicated website to promote the plan and receive feedback, we’ve met with more than 70 groups from across the Shire representing tourism, business, government, community, arts, events, environment and Indigenous groups.

“We also formed a citizen’s jury, made up of 16 community representatives to provide ongoing input into the process.

“The members of this jury are amongst the stakeholders currently considering the draft plan.

“The draft plan addresses all of those issues identified by our stakeholders at the outset, and maps out a future direction for tourism management in Byron Shire which aims for sustainability at all levels — environmental, economic and social.”

Key elements of the draft include:

• Establishing a Tourism Advisory Committee within Council to manage implementation of the plan;
• Engaging a Tourism Planner/ Officer to provide info and support for the committee;
• Launching a research program to identify tourist attitudes and trends and the associated economic, social and environmental impacts;
• Effective management and maintenance of infrastructure;
• Integrating the plan with other council and State government strategies;
• Sourcing funding for tourism management, development and marketing;
• Developing a consistent image for Byron Shire and its destinations;
• Establishing an education and communication program to ensure visitors, local businesses, local government and the community understand tourism and community values;
• Positioning Byron Shire as a world leading, best-practice, environmentally responsible destination;
• Developing an Investment and Infrastructure Strategy to identify and attract public and private sector investment.

Byron Shire Mayor Cr Jan Barham said the Tourism Management Plan reinforced Council’s commitment to ensuring the sustainable development, management and marketing of tourism for the region over the next 10 years.

A Final Plan is expected to be presented to Byron Shire Council on June 12.

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