Month / Sep 2017

by brandsa2018

From footbridge to foodie delight for Adelaide’s Longest Lunch

By Melissa Keogh

Toss that soggy ham and cheese ‘sanga’ and forget the leftovers, some of South Australia’s top restaurants have a better idea.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Adelaide’s Longest Lunch will see hundreds of foodies and work colleagues escape the office and dine on the CBD’s Riverbank Footbridge on November 10.

The bridge will be lined with 750 seats, 150 more seats than last year, and tickets to the lavish affair are selling fast.

Chefs from some of the state’s most reputable restaurants, including Hill of Grace and Level 1 Electra House, Andre’s Cucina, Fino Seppeltsfield, Georges on Waymouth, Osteria Oggi, Press*, Sean’s Kitchen and Ruby Red Flamingo will cook up the culinary delights.

Adelaide's Longest Lunch will see 750 people be seated along the footbridge on November 10. PHOTO: Helen Page Photography.

Adelaide’s Longest Lunch will see 750 people be seated along the footbridge on November 10.
PHOTO: Helen Page Photography.

McLaren Vale’s Mollydooker Wines will provide bubbles for pre-lunch drinks, while InterContinental Adelaide will free up its banquet room kitchen so all the chefs can cook in one spot.

The event raises money for South Australian not-for-profits and this year the State Theatre Company Foundation and Tennis SA’s Ken McGregor Foundation are the beneficiaries.

Adelaide’s Longest Lunch founder Kristen Greber says the leading chefs, winemakers and brewers will create a lunch to remember.

“Friday lunch is a great time for people to come together, whether you are friends, work colleagues or business clients, to share a laugh over a glass of wine and meal,” she says.

“And there isn’t a more unique location to enjoy a day out than on the Riverbank Footbridge on a wonderful spring afternoon.

“Before making their way onto the bridge, guests will enjoy canapés and drinks. During lunch the Prince Alfred College Big Band and Cheryl Bradley Dance will provide entertainment and a raffle featuring exquisite prizes will be drawn.”

A long lunch on a Friday afternoon? We're there.

A long lunch on a Friday afternoon? We’re there. PHOTO: Helen Page Photography.

Guests are asked to dress in traditional tennis glamour (all white), so think pleated skirts, cardigans, crisp shirts and knitted vests.

Following the lunch, guests will be invited to a private after-party.

Tickets are $2500 (plus GST) for a table of 10 and $250 (plus GST) for individuals. Click here for more information.

This year will be the last time Adelaide’s Longest Lunch takes over the footbridge, with a change of location “locked in” by event organisers for 2018.

Advertisement
by brandsa2018

Driverless buses to be manufactured in Adelaide

By Melissa Keogh

There’s no need for Back to the Future’s Marty McFly and Doc Brown, as it appears the future is here.

The South Australian Government has announced that driverless buses will be made in Adelaide when French driverless auto company Navya establishes its Asia-Pacific manufacturing facility here.

Navya’s ARMA shuttle buses are electric, driverless, travel up to 45km/h and carry up to 15 people.

The technical design of the ARMA revolves around three factors including perception (detecting obstacles and understanding the environment in which the vehicle is located), decision (which “computes and determines” the itinerary) and navigation (applying the route of travel).

Premier Jay Weatherill met with Navya executive officer Christophe Sapet in Paris this week.

“Establishing a driverless car vehicle operation here in South Australia is the perfect bridge connecting our past in traditional vehicle manufacturing and our future in advanced manufacturing in a clean, carbon neutral environment,” Mr Weatherill says.

“South Australia is already leading the nation in driverless vehicle technology and this is the next logical step.”

The government says Navya, which also has manufacturing presences in France and Michigan, was attracted to SA’s carbon neutral and renewable energy focuses, which align with its own interests.

Navya is a world-leading driverless auto company that, for the past 10 years, has been working towards technological solutions for sustainable transport and mobility.

Navya executive officer Christophe Sapet says the project is a “natural progression in our growth strategy and we are delighted to have been able to lay the groundwork of a partnership agreement with the Government of South Australia”.

South Australia has paved the way for a place for driverless (also known as autonomous) electric vehicles on our roads in recent years.

In 2015 we hosted the first demonstration of a driverless vehicle in Australia on the South Eastern Freeway.

In early 2016 South Australia became the first Australian state to permit the testing of driverless vehicles on the road.

Earlier this year, the State Government announced three recipients of the $10m Future Mobility Lab Fund which supports the development of driverless vehicle technology.

The projects include driverless shuttles transporting visitors at the Adelaide Airport, driverless pods supplied by RDM Group to transport Goods at Tonsley, and driverless shuttles carrying students at Flinders University.

Details of the exact location of Navya’s manufacturing base, a project timeline and jobs created are yet to be released.

Header image source: https://navya.tech/

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

Blog770pxUNISALogo_full

by brandsa2018

Tech entrepreneurs choose SA to launch app for Chinese visitors

By Melissa Keogh

A pair of highly successful Aussie entrepreneurs has chosen South Australia to pilot a smartphone app set to improve visitor experiences for Chinese travellers.

Shanghai-based Simon Henry and Andrew Taylor, who founded China’s largest international property website Juwai.com, last week launched their latest tech project in Adelaide.

Pronounced ‘you-why’, UWAI is aimed at high net worth, frequent and independent Chinese travellers in SA and allows them to search for restaurants, cafes, shops and landmarks in their own language.

The pair claim the app is the world’s first digital tourism platform allowing users to communicate, engage and transact with local businesses, governments and corporations.

Tech-savvy entrepreneur Simon Henry, along with partner Andrew Taylor, chose SA over all other Australian states to launch new app UWAI.

Tech-savvy entrepreneur Simon Henry, along with partner Andrew Taylor, chose SA over all other Australian states to launch new app UWAI.

More than 800 businesses and landmarks across metropolitan Adelaide and the regions have been selected to have their details appear on the app and translated into Chinese.

Simon says UWAI – which means travel abroad in Chinese – helps knock down cultural and language barriers between international visitors and local business owners.

He says the Chinese tourist market offers huge potential for SA’s economy, with Chinese travellers already injecting $352m a year into the visitor economy.

“Everyone sees Chinese tourists in Australia, but few local businesses know how to engage and transact with this market,” Simon says.

“We have made it easy for local businesses to be found and to be welcoming to Chinese tourists without having to change their identity or hire Chinese speaking staff.

“If we can increase the number of Chinese visitors and spend per customer by just 5%, it can mean over $200m additional income and 5000 new jobs over three years.”

While most Aussie tourists solve their food, retail or landmark curiosities with a quick Google or Facebook search, Simon says the Chinese do not use these platforms.

“These are blocked in China, so they have no idea what we are talking about,” Simon says.

“(However) they are the most advanced mobile users on the planet, spending $5.1 trillion on mobile transactions in 2016, 50 times that of the US.

“Everything is going digital, everything is going mobile.”

The app connects Chinese tourists with information about SA's landmarks, eateries, shops and services.

The app connects Chinese tourists with information about SA’s landmarks, eateries, shops and services.

Originally from Queensland, Simon has lived in Asia for 25 years.

Before launching UWAI, he had only visited Adelaide once but says he was impressed with its potential.

“I was blown away by how diverse the community was and the high number of Chinese students really surprised and shocked me,” he says.

“The quality of the air and the clean green produce is just incredible.

“SA is really in prime position to capitalise on international tourism.”

In 2010, Simon and Andrew founded Chinese translation property app JUWAI which has reached millions of high net worth Chinese globetrotters.

The duo recently sold out of the company, and began shortlisting Australian locations to pilot their new venture.

The top three UWAI headquarter candidates were Cairns, Gold Coast and South Australia.

Simon says he already knew Adelaide had strong ties to China through China Southern Airlines’ direct flights between Adelaide and Guangzhou and the Port Adelaide Football Club’s debut match in China earlier this year.

The State Government has helped fund UWAI through the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC).

SATC executive officer Rodney Harrex says UWAI will redefine the Chinese visitor experience in SA and benefit local businesses.

“The application is great news for our retailers, tourism operators, and other local businesses –
providing them with an innovative platform to embrace the incredible China opportunity,” he says.

Rodney says Chinese visitors remain the most lucrative market for SA, with visitor numbers up 56% to 56,000 visits in the 12 months to June, 2017.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

Blog770pxUNISALogo_full

by brandsa2018

Adelaide Hills art alive at the new RAH

By Melissa Keogh

The state-of-the-art new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) opened this month and already Adelaide Hills artist Miranda Lloyd has made her mark on the $2.3 billion building.

Miranda of Houghton has been selected to display her large paintings on the walls of the world class new RAH, which completed a huge patient move from the old hospital on September 6.

A collection of 28 calming canvases featuring wildlife, landscapes and nature will hang in the Centre of Creative Health for three months.

Miranda, a 2014 Brand South Australia Regional Showcase finalist, says she was “over the moon” upon learning she would showcase her work alongside “amazing architecture, interiors and facilities”.

“It is one of my most exciting opportunities to date, appealing to such a large audience with the traffic passing through including patients, visitors and staff,” she says.

Miranda says she hopes her artwork has a calming effect on hospital patients and visitors.

“Art can be used as a therapy for mental health and stress, which will be very useful in the hospital setting,” she says.

“When I paint I find it very calming and get lost in my own little world.

“I hope people seeing my exhibition in the RAH will feel the same too.”

Miranda was a Brand South Australia Regional Showcase finalist in 2014 and says this generated interest

Miranda’s artwork will be on display at the state-of-the-art new Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Centre of Creative Health until late November.

The theme for the artworks is earth and water and Miranda says many of her pieces are inspired by her Hills surroundings.

“I spend a lot of time painting outside so I get to take in the amazing views and I’m surrounded by birdlife,” she says.

“I’m also known for my signature trees, farm animals, fruits, and my vine/wine series as I am a big wine lover and spend many Sundays at different wineries in all of our regions.”

Miranda has travelled the country painting large scale murals in many tourist destinations and has also illustrated children’s books.

Three years ago she was selected as a finalist in Brand South Australia’s Regional Showcase, which aims to celebrate the success stories in the state’s regions.

Miranda says becoming a finalist put her graphic design and visual art business on the map and generated many enquiries.

“As an artist it certainly helped me raise my profile too and probably contributed to my exhibition at the new RAH.

“It certainly adds credibility to my design and art services.

“I am also very proud to be South Australian and excited where our state is going.”

Like this story? Nominate a story from your region.
Click here to nominate >>

These inspiring regional stories made possible by:

Major Partner[logooos_saved id=”5491″]Program Partners[logooos_saved id=”17589″]Major Media Partner[logooos_saved id=”5506″]
by brandsa2018

Defence and mining electronics from Adelaide to the world

By Melissa Keogh

Adelaide-based technology company Codan is helping to detect more than gold.

The long-standing radio communications, metal detection and mining technology firm is helping to drive South Australia’s economy into the future.

Managing director Donald McGurk has been with Codan for 17 years and says the company now has a global footprint of 400 staff and raked in $240m last financial year alone.

Not bad for a company founded in Adelaide by three university mates in 1959.

“We are a company that really focuses on developing technology and innovation that applies to metal detecting, radio communication, and mining technology,” Donald says.

“We are trying to solve customer problems in safety, security and productivity.”

Codan managing director Donald McGurk says

Codan managing director Donald McGurk says the company is expected to expand its revenue and create more local jobs in the next five years.

Codan’s location in Adelaide Technology Park at Mawson Lakes positions it at the centre of technology and defence – two of SA’s most promising future industries.

While the company is headquartered in Adelaide, the majority of its high volume products are manufactured overseas with exports representing 85% of its revenue.

With offices in the US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, China and the United Arab Emirates, Codan’s two core areas of focus centre around creating metal detectors and radio communication systems.

These high-tech, solution-driven businesses create the equipment used by the Australian, British, and US militaries, huge aid and humanitarian organisations and security and mining companies.

Ten years ago, Codan purchased mining business Minelab, which produces the world’s best hand-held gold and metal detectors.

Its other key business, Minetec, creates productivity, safety, tracking and communication systems for underground mining operations.

Codan engineers create equipment used by militaries, aid organisations and security and mining companies.

Codan engineers create equipment used by militaries, aid organisations and security and mining companies.

The recently established Codan Defence Electronics leverages Codan’s key capabilities in RF (Radio Frequency) subsystem design and manufacture, coupled with a track record of supplying land mine and IED (improvised explosive device) detectors.

Donald says Codan is a solution-driven business, as its customers need technology that can be relied upon in harsh, remote and war-torn areas.

“We are trying to keep our customers safe,” Donald says.

“Our customers are relying on our communication systems in some of the most remote and harshest environments in the world.

“We also solve mining problems by making it easier for our customers to improve extraction rates from the mines. Our hand-held metal detectors are used for gold, coin and treasure detecting.”

A big turning point for Codan – originally known as EILCO, the Electronics, Instrument and Lighting Company – came in 1980 when the United Nations chose to use its Codan HF radios for its relief efforts in Uganda.

Codan's headquarters is in Adelaide, while offices exist across the world and products exported to 150 countries.

Codan is headquartered in Adelaide, while offices exist across the world and products are exported to 150 countries.

Donald says this deal provided a gateway into Africa and “really turbocharged” the company’s global footprint.

“We now export to 150 countries,” he says.

“There’s no other company in the world that does everything we do.

“We are the biggest metal detection company in the world … everyone is trying to chase us.”

Codan hopes to expand revenue and create more local jobs in the next five years, a growth that is fitting for SA’s burgeoning defence industry.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

Blog770pxUNISALogo_full

by brandsa2018

Paranormal research office cracks open Adelaide’s ghost tales

By Melissa Keogh

Take a wander along Pirie Street in Adelaide’s CBD and you might come across an ouija board, two pairs of Ghostbusters-style overalls and a slight air of eeriness.

But it’s all in the name of research … and art.

A paranormal research office has been installed next to the Adelaide City Council and it’s inviting people to share their spooky stories.

The concept is both a participatory art project – made humorous by the spooky props – and a genuine paranormal research office offering consultation on hauntings and unexplained happenings.

The Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs forms part of the 2017 SA Living Artists (SALA) Festival and is hosted in the Art Pod, an arts engagement initiative of the Adelaide City Council.

The pair behind the ghostly project is the council’s emerging curator Andrew Purvis and artist Sasha Grbich.

Image courtesy of Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs.

Sasha Grbich and Andrew Purvis are researching paranormal activities in Adelaide. Image courtesy of Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs.

Andrew says more than 50 people have dropped by the office since it opened in August.

However, the team is so far only researching one ghostly case, involving a candle that lights by itself in a house in Dulwich.

On a desk at The Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs is the culprit candle, along with a photo of the candle mysteriously burning in the house.

With access to the council’s archive department, including land titles, the research office will try to uncover the history of the building and its past occupants.

The mysterious candle is on display in the art pod.

The mysterious candle is on display at the art pod.

“The idea was that ghosts and the supernatural connect us with history,” Andrew says.

“We aren’t interested in doing this to scare people, we want to know what ghosts and lingering spirits say about the state and our history.”

Andrew says society is suffering from a case of “cultural amnesia”.

“We have access to history and there are archives available but to what extent do we engage with that in our day-to-day living?” he says.

While the department is only so far investigating one case, it has engaged in at least six interviews with people wanting to share their spooky stories.

“We have had people come in and just want to share their stories with us,” Andrew says.

“People want to talk about it, but they feel others will judge them.”

The Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs will exist at 25 Pirie Street until October 6.

The Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs can be found at 25 Pirie Street until October 6.

Andrew says professional ghostbusters should be contacted to deal with “aggressive or hostile” ghost experiences.

“We’re not big on ghost busting or driving out spirits, we are interested in the idea of co-habitation with ghosts and living alongside history,” he says.

Aside from the dormant ouija board and the overalls, other slivers of humour have also made their way into the concept.

The department’s website features a ghost registry, where both the living and the dead can record their details.

“If you are a ghost we want to know where you are lingering, why you are here and your preferred form of communication,” it reads.

The Department of Non-Corporeal Affairs is on until October 6, however, its presence will linger on through the website.

Visit the Art Pod at 25 Pirie Street Adelaide on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, 9am – 5pm.

by brandsa2018

Riverland Field Days hit the big 60

By Melissa Keogh

Polish off those Rossi Boots and jump in the tractor cab – the Riverland’s largest farming expo is set to celebrate its 60th year.

Up to 13,000 people are expected to descend on the town of Barmera this week (September 15 and 16) for the annual Riverland Field Days.

The field day committee is tipping its hat to 60 years of the popular event, which allows horticultural and agricultural businesses to showcase their latest innovations, products and services.

The Riverland Field Days allows local businesses a chance to showcase their products and services.

The Riverland Field Days allows locals to showcase their businesses’ products and services.

Executive manager Tim Grieger says that while the field days are horticulturally-focused, exhibitors represent various other industries.

“It’s also embracing all other businesses including schools, banking and finance, home and gardening, caravanning, leisure, clothing and accessories, and health specialists,” he says.

“There’s no other event like it in the region.”

Demonstrations including vintage machinery, sheep herding, wood-splitting, wine tastings and blacksmithing will encourage a flurry of activity.

A home and garden section will showcase more than 50 businesses with indoor and outdoor exhibits ranging from hardware, roofing, plants, pest management and bird keeping.

The caravan and camping section is likely to excite outdoor travellers with canoe, caravans, campers, and outdoor lighting businesses on display.

rtyrety

Field Day Drive in Barmera will swarm with horticultural displays, 13,000 people and a splash of colour on September 15 and 16.

The Grain Line exhibit will also spark interest among broad acre farmers, who can indulge in a long line of farm machinery, products and service business stalls.

Local radio stations will broadcast live from the event, while schools and community groups will also be represented.

In a nod to the 60-year milestone, South Australian Governor Hieu Van Le will make an appearance on Friday, September 15, to officially open the event.

The Riverland Field Days will go ahead at a site off Field Day Drive, Barmera.

It features a permanent pavilion, stage and stall areas that make it ideal to host a “whole range of events”.

Earlier this year the field days committee was granted $405,000 in funding through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

The money will go towards a new $850,000 pavillion to be built at the site by early 2018.

The Riverland Field Days was born in 1958, when it was known as the Riverland Field and Gadget Days with just 15 exhibitors.

The first field day on August 6, 1958. Times have definitely changed!

The first field day on August 6, 1958. Times have definitely changed!

Now the event attracts hundreds of exhibitors and 13,000 visitors.

“The Riverland is the major food bowl of the state with the citrus, almonds, stone fruit and nut industries which are increasingly expanding,” Tim says.

“There was the time we went through the drought but we have great resilience and we support each other when things are tough.

“We are seeing that revival of the region now.”

Riverland Field Day gates open from 9am–5pm both days.

Tickets are $15 for adults, while children under 18 enter for free.

Like this story? Nominate a story from your region.
Click here to nominate >>

These inspiring regional stories made possible by:

Major Partner[logooos_saved id=”5491″]Program Partners[logooos_saved id=”17589″]Major Media Partner[logooos_saved id=”5506″]
by brandsa2018

Space app to help protect against bushfires

By Andrew Spence

A mobile app to help warn and protect communities from bushfires is being developed with a little help from NASA.

Two-man South Australian team TrentoScott – Trent Bowden and Scott Belcher – are developing their web-based application Wildfire and hope to make it available to the Mylor community when the fire danger season begins in November.

As more people sign up for the app it is planned to be rolled out to neighbouring Adelaide Hills districts later in the summer with a possible state-wide launch in 2018.

The duo began working on the project as part of NASA’s Space Apps Challenge, which was held in Adelaide and 186 other locations across 69 countries in April.

Trent Bowden and Scott Belcher are developing the Wildfire app to help protect communities from bushfires.

Trent Bowden and Scott Belcher are developing the Wildfire app to help protect communities from bushfires.

TrentoScott and the four-member FloodLight team, which developed a tool to provide emergency workers with up-to-date flood-risk maps, were chosen as Global Nominees from the 10-team Adelaide competition.

Bowden said the web application would be available on all devices and aimed to give communities, families and individuals the ability to see and respond to hazards around them.

He said Wildfire would also allow users to receive warnings and alerts during events such as bushfires or floods.

“Essentially it’s an interactive layer for a community to be able to respond and create a whole new level of awareness,” he said.

The app draws on freely available data from Sentinel satellites, which includes thermal signatures that reveal the locations and intensity of bushfires.

“People use technology every single day that has evolved from space technology,” Bowden said.

“We’re utilising space to create something really relevant for the community.

“As a two-person team we are getting through it quite fast and the next stage will be implementing it in a community scenario in the Adelaide Hills.”

The Wildfire app is expected to be available to the Adelaide Hills community by November.

The Wildfire app is expected to be available to the Adelaide Hills community by November.

This month Adelaide will host the 68th International Astronautical Congress – the biggest global meeting of the space industry and the largest conference ever staged in South Australia.

Belcher said the NASA challenge opened his eyes to the huge opportunities space technology presented across a range of industries.

He said hosting the congress this month was a great chance for more local companies to generate ideas for space-inspired innovations.

“The fact that NASA isn’t just concerned with space is something we learnt,” Belcher said.

“It’s something that we’re really excited about and Adelaide is poised to capitalise on it – if the right investment and the right people are put into it then it could be a big opportunity for South Australia.”

The South Australian Government will have an exhibition stand at the conference, where they will be joined by 11 local space start-ups, including Myriota, Fleet Space Technologies, Neumann Space and Inovor Technologies, hoping to increase their footprint in the multi-billion-dollar global space industry.

Check out the video below to learn about Wildfire and how it could help you.

This month’s I Choose SA for Industries stories are made possible by sponsor, the University of South Australia.

by brandsa2018

Taiwanese baseball star swings for South Australia

By Melissa Keogh

A “rockstar” baseball player from Taiwan will help shine a spotlight on South Australia when he hits big for Adelaide’s baseball team later this year.

Chang Tai-Shan is one of the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s (CPBL) top sluggers and has been recruited by Adelaide Bite for the upcoming 2017/18 Australian Baseball League season.

The deal with the 40-year-old big hitter – nicknamed the ‘Tarzan’ by his fans – is expected to help boost SA’s exposure in Asia and generate a number of commercial deals.

Baseball is a multi-billion dollar industry in China, and Adelaide Bite executive officer Nathan Davison says SA stands to benefit from the deal.

Nathan heads to Taiwan this week to officially announce the signing of the veteran slugger, who holds the CPBL’s record for the most home runs at 289.

“He’s at that time in his career where he’s looking to get to that 300 home run and play in another country,” says Nathan, who is also executive officer of Baseball SA.

“We get a lot of interest (from overseas players to play in Adelaide) but not people of this calibre.”

Veteran slugger Chang Tai-Shan from Taiwan will head for Adelaide to play for the city's team, Adelaide Bite.

Veteran slugger Chang Tai-Shan from Taiwan will head for Adelaide to play for Adelaide Bite.

In February a Taiwanese team came to Brisbane and played one exhibition game which was viewed by half-a-million people on FacebookLive and about 150,000 YouTube viewers.

Nathan says the partnership could lead to commercial sponsorship, while a TV deal for the games to be aired or streamed in Taiwan is also on the cards.

“We have the opportunity to convince people to come and see beautiful Adelaide,” he says.

“We have a facility here, but it’s getting to the right people and saying, ‘did you know that we can do this in Adelaide?’”

The Adelaide Bite team is based in West Beach and is one of the Australian Baseball League’s founding teams.

Its first game for the upcoming 2017/18 season kicks off on November 17 in a four-match series against Sydney Blue Sox.

Bite will return to the diamond at West Beach, Adelaide, to face off against Melbourne Aces on November 23.

Nathan says the exposure Chang Tai-Shan’s recruitment is expected to bring could help boost the profile of baseball in SA.

“We hover around the second or third (top sport in SA) and we get up there with netball and basketball from time to time in playoffs,” he says.

“Baseball has a global footprint and we have the opportunity to expand ours.”

Nathan says the language barriers between the big hitter and fellow teammates could prove a challenge, however the 40-year-old’s experience on the diamond is likely to inspire Bite youngsters.

“He’s a very experienced guy,” he says.

“Hopefully he gets plenty of hits.”

by brandsa2018

Shirley’s love for the show’s ‘gentle giants’

By Melissa Keogh

From cupcakes to guinea pigs and chirping budgerigars, the Royal Adelaide Show is once again alive with 34,000 entries vying for winning ribbons.

Aside from the cute and fluffy entries in the 2017 event is 680kg of prime muscle by way of a Charolais bull named Masterpiece.

The “gentle giant’s” owner is Adelaide Hills handler Shirley Barker who has exhibited cattle at every Royal Adelaide Show for nearly 40 years.

“To be honest I think all of the royal shows in the country, I think we have the best and the most agricultural outlook,” she says.

“And that’s the name of the game because, after all, the show is run by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia.”

Long-time Royal Adelaide Show exhibitor Shirley Barker with her 680kg Charolais bull, Masterpiece.

Long-time Royal Adelaide Show exhibitor Shirley Barker with her 680kg Charolais bull, Masterpiece.

This year, Shirley has also entered in the show a number of other cattle from her Mt Barker stud Caithness, including two more bulls, three heifers and a steer.

So far 2017 has been all about the third place ribbons, with the three bulls taking third in their categories.

“We got run over by the Victorians,” Shirley says.

“In 2015 we won just about everything and did extremely well.

“It all depends on the judges and what they’re looking for.”

Caithness bulls are renowned for their reasonable temperaments, good growth, muscle and structure.

Shirley says she has “no fear” of the muscular animals.

“I started riding horses when I was four and I’ve grown up with animals all my life,” she says.

“They (bulls) are gentle things surprisingly, you can walk into their yard and they don’t move.

“You learn to work them out over the years, they hate being stared at.”

Growing up on her family’s property in Mt Barker, as a young adult Shirley strayed from her agricultural interests and studied medicine, travelling overseas to work in US and UK hospitals.

Returning to Australia, she reconnected to her agricultural roots and began showing cattle in the Royal Adelaide Show in the 1970s alongside her late husband, Victor.

Shirley’s livestock are paraded through the showground’s cattle pavilion alongside other competitors from across regional South Australia.

“The best part of the show is seeing all your friends because that’s the only time you see them,” she says.

Like this story? Nominate a story from your region.
Click here to nominate >>

These inspiring regional stories made possible by:

Major Partner[logooos_saved id=”5491″]Program Partners[logooos_saved id=”17589″]Major Media Partner[logooos_saved id=”5506″]