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Natural State News
Issue 6 2007
Tasmanian Living Artists’ Week
The fourth Tasmanian Living Artists’ Week, 24 August – 2 September, is a wonderful opportunity for all makers and lovers of art to celebrate the depth and diversity of artistic talent. Exhibitions and special arts events will be held across the state.
David Keeling, one of Tasmania’s foremost contemporary painters, is to be recognised as the 2007 Treasured Tasmanian. Chris O’Doherty, aka Reg Mombassa, founding member of Mental As Anything and the man behind the irreverent designs of Mambo Graphics will also be featured. So will fine food and wine in various locations.
This year’s event offer artists a broader variety of ways to get involved; artists can participate in the Hobart Shop Front Art Trail, list their exhibition in the program, or take part in a Local Connection Exhibition.
Tasmania Wins at Travel Awards
Tasmania has won two awards in the inaugural Australian Gourmet Traveller 2007 Travel Awards which recognise Australia’s foremost travel experiences.
The Islington Hotel was named Australia’s best boutique hotel and the Maria Island Walk was awarded the nation’s best eco-tourism experience by a panel of knowledgeable writers, editors, authors and television presenters. Tasmania’s the Henry Jones Art Hotel and The Freycinet Experience were runners-up to the two winners in their respective categories.
Gourmet Traveller’s judges wrote of Hobart’s Islington, ‘There is no other small hotel in Australia in the same league’. Since opening in early 2006, the exclusive 11-room Islington Hotel has received a string of accolades and awards, including being named in the 2006 ‘Hot List’ of respected international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
The four-day Maria Island Walk is a fully-guided walk on Tasmania’s island national park. The judges praised this family-owned venture for raising awareness of Maria Island’s beautiful, rich and fragile environment.
The Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine is one of the country’s premier travel and food magazine, with a readership of over 300,000.
Lyn McGaurr: (03) 6230 8174
Looney Tunes Joins Devil Fight
Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Road Runner, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, Elmer Fudd, Tweety Bird and Porky Pig have joined the fight to save the Tasmanian devil.
In an exclusive deal, cartoon giant Warner Bros. has launched a new campaign ‘Looney Tunes to the Rescue’ with part proceeds from the sales of a series of DVDs to be donated to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.
Looney Tunes characters are rallying to the rescue of their mate ‘Taz’. Warner Home Video will release a national campaign of 20 Looney Tunes DVDs, including 11 new DVD titles. One dollar from every DVD sold will be donated to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal managed by the University of Tasmania.
As part of the promotion, an insert with detailed information on the Tasmanian devil, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease and ways in which people can help support the cause will be included in the jacket of each DVD.
The partnership will significantly increase the profile of the devils’ plight and go a long way to assist in raising funds, awareness and future opportunities in the enormous challenge to save one of the state’s most precious icons.
The 20 Looney Tunes titles are being sold through Target, Big W and Kmart stores nationwide, for a limited time only. The DVDs are available for $11.95 (RRP) from 4 July 2007.
Lyn McGaurr: (03) 6230 8174
Tasmania’s Great Walks might soon have a new addition. The development of a bushwalk on the Tasman Peninsula has moved a step closer, with a feasibility study strongly endorsing the project. The study concluded that the Three Capes Track would quickly establish a status as one of Tasmania’s Great Bushwalks.
The overall recommendation endorses the concept of a Three Capes Track – being Cape Hauy, Cape Pillar and Cape Raoul in a combined walking and water experience.
www.parks.tas.gov.au/features/three_capes
Tassie Leads Aussie Tourism Growth
Australia’s domestic tourism numbers are on the rise and Tassie is leading the percentages. According to Tourism Research Australia Tasmania led all other states with a 20 per cent rise in visitor numbers to year ending March 31. Domestic air travel figures had risen 15 per cent.
Lyn McGaurr: (03) 6230 8174
Bare Bone Secrets Archaeologist Jillian Garvey recently completed analysis of the more than 250,000 animal fragments taken from the Kuti Kina Cave by the Franklin River.
The Kuti Kina Cave (formerly Fraser Cave) was discovered 30 years ago by Dr Kevin Kiernan. Until 1977 it had been assumed by most that the interior of southwest Tasmania was so rugged that Aborigines had not occupied it either at the time of European settlement or during the last Ice Age. But the Aborigines lived in the Kuti Kina 15-20,000 years ago and the limestone cave is a bank-vault of treasure.
Although the material was excavated in 1981 a formal analysis of the material was not done on either the animal remains or the stone tools. “I spent eight months in 2005 at TMAG (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) working on the collection,” says Garvey. Garvey found the fragments were mostly of Bennett’s wallabies and wombats and her findings suggest the majority of long-bones had been split to expose the longitudinal shaft so that nutritious bone marrow could be extracted.
The 75,000 fragments of stone tools from Kuti Kina are only now being analysed at TMAG. The collected animal and stone fragments are thought to represent only about 1 per cent of the entire artefact-bearing deposit in Kuti Kina. This is one of Australia’s richest archaeological sites.
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery will open its new Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery in late 2007. The exhibition will provide insights into the traditional and contemporary cultural practices and issues of Tasmanian Aboriginals. A significant element of the new exhibition currently underway is the building of a full size bark canoe by Aboriginal community members. According to TMAG a project like this has not been attempted in over 170 years.
Remarkable Lodge for Tasman Peninsula
A $12 million nature lodge has been proposed for Safety Cove on the Tasman Peninsula. The Remarkable Lodge, an eco-tourism experience, will feature 20 premium six-star suites, a wellness spa, staff accommodation and various nature-based activities at idyllic Safety Cove, about 5km south of the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Baillie Lodges was created through a partnership of James and Hayley Baillie − Hayley's father is well-known Australian Dick Smith. The lodge will combine the natural beauty of the cove with the finest local produce and hospitality. Subject to approvals the development should be completed in the latter half of 2009.
www.baillielodges.com.au/remarkable-lodge.asp
The coastal town of Swansea has won the title of Australia’s Tidiest Town. Swansea is a growing holiday destination for visitors from across Australia and the world, with particular interest for the history buff. It boasts a substantial number of historic homes and buildings and heritage restoration is a major priority.
The 1927 Grand Prix Bugatti Type 35C is in Tasmania. This car, built in 1927 for the Bugatti works team, participated in Grand Prix’s in France, Spain, Britain, Germany and Italy from 1927 to 1931. Since then this famous car has been in private collections around the world and is currently owned by an Australian collector.
The Bugatti will be displayed at the Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition Centre until July 27. The Wonders of Wynyard continues its policy of bringing special examples of rare and unique vehicles to the state.
The exhibition will run from June 8 to July 27 at the Wonders of Wynyard Exhibition Centre.
Check the Events Tasmania website for upcoming events
For further information:
travelmedia.tourismtasmania.com.au
www.discovertasmania.com
www.eventstasmania.com