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Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Courier-Mail
I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. With another's hand on the wheel and your itinerary mapped out, a fully guided coach tour can be the epitome of worry-free travelling. It's already decided, to a large degree, where you will step off, what you'll see, where you will rest your head and who you will meet. In 2023, almost 50,000 people visited Tasmania on an organised coach tour, an increase of 34 per cent on 2019, so it clearly has its attractions. It may sound regimented, but the reality is the best coach tours take the focus away from the tedium of planning and the hassle of driving, freeing you to focus on the destination itself. On a five-day AAT Kings tour of Tasmania's east coast, I discover more about Tasmania and its people than on any other of my numerous visits to the island. On the coach They are the glamour vehicles on our roads – those large sleek coaches with panoramic tinted windows, reclining seats, wi-fi, on-board washrooms and USB charging stations. Inside, these luxury coaches are as comfortable as they look. Best of all, their height gives you an elevated view of the scenery. Coach touring also makes economic sense. Car hire can be expensive and the island state deceptive for the first-time visitor. The distance between destinations may be short but the roads, in part, can be narrow and winding and there are several occasions on this trip from Launceston to St Helens to Bicheno, Port Arthur and finally, Hobart, that I am glad not to be driving. Coach tours are also kinder to the planet. A typical coach tour produces 87 per cent less emissions than if passengers travel the same distance by car. AAT Kings driver Tom knows Tasmania's roads like the back of his hand. Picture: Sue Preston Choosing the right tour It's important to put some thought into selecting the tour that's right for you. AAT Kings' tours of Tasmania offer First Choice tours with accommodation in premium hotels, lodges and eco-resorts, more two-night stays with later starts, most meals with wine included and exclusive Be My Guest Experiences. Alternatively, Best Buys tours provide centrally located, comfortable accommodation, and don't have as many inclusions. These tours, which always include breakfast and some other meals, will suit those who enjoy more flexibility and free time. On this tour we are in modern well-equipped hotels such as the Best Western in Launceston and the Mövenpick Hotel in Hobart, as well as an attractive seaside hotel, Beachfront, in Bicheno, and Iron Creek Bay, a working farm with alpacas and other animals in Sorell. Feeding the alpacas at Iron Creek Bay Farm. Picture: Sue Preston What we see My fellow travellers, aged from their 20s to their 70s, are charmed by a stroll to Cape Tourville Lighthouse overlooking the majestic Freycinet National Park, the chance to explore the historic town of Richmond and a tour of the Port Arthur convict settlement. We visit Bridestowe Lavender Estate, the world's largest privately owned lavender farm, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors during the annual blooming season in December and January. While the fields produce perfume-grade lavender oil it's a lavender-stuffed heat pack purple bear called Bobbie we find in the gift shop that has brought Bridestowe international fame. Chinese model and actor Zhang Xinyu triggered a craze when she posted a photo of herself with the bear on social media. Bears flew off the shelf as Chinese tourists demanded their own Bobbie. Bridestowe Lavender Estate, at Nabowla. Picture: Jamie Douros & Camille Helm/Tourism Tasmania In the heart of the picture-book historic town of Richmond, with its beautiful 1820s Georgian buildings, we find a museum dedicated entirely to poo. Before you poo-poo the idea, Pooseum is an altogether fascinating science museum focused on everything you can learn about animals from their droppings. Our last day on the road is at the Port Arthur Historic Site, home to most of the 75,000 convicts sent to Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land as it was then known. Upon entry you can pick up a playing card, part of the so-called Lottery of Life. By matching your card to a drawer in the Port Arthur Gallery, you find a name for your convict, his criminal history, an account of his prison life and his eventual fate. Paupers' Depot at Port Arthur historic site. Your travel director On any organised coach tour it is the travel director who is the star of the show and who really enriches your experience. He/she is the pin that holds everything together, from everyday logistics to keeping everyone happy, well-fed and well-informed. Our seasoned travel director, Carolyn Tipper, is a born storyteller. She regales us with interesting anecdotes about even the most unassuming of towns – along with the best place to buy a curried scallop pie in Tasmania (hint – it's in Richmond) and the best things to see and do when the coach sets you down in the next town for an hour or so of free time. Richmond is known for its picturesque bridge - and scallop pies. Picture: Tourism Tasmania The places you go All the places we visit and the experiences we enjoy on this tour are hand-picked after considerable research and personal visits. And itineraries constantly evolve, so cultivating local friendships is important to AAT Kings, along with supporting local suppliers and operators. 'These are people who are very precious to us and we want to support their businesses,' Tipper says. Chief executive Ben Hall admits to going 'undercover' recently, taking his two young daughters with him on an AAT Kings coach tour to get a deeper understanding from the guests' perspective. 'For me, it really showed the importance of refining our approach and finding new ways to enhance the guest experience.' The writer was a guest of AAT Kings , which has a number of Tasmanian guided holidays. The five-day East Coast Highlights tour starts at $2385 per person twin share. Other tours range from seven to 13 days. Originally published as I took a coach tour of Tasmania, now I see why it's a growing trend
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Michigan WWII soldier buried 83 years after death
ALTO, Mich. (WOOD) — This Memorial Day weekend takes on a whole new meaning for one West Michigan veteran, as he is remembering a fallen hero much closer to home. After more than 80 years of unanswered questions, Bob Buys' family finally got the closure they've been waiting for. Buys grew up hearing stories about his great uncle, U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. James W. Swartz of Webberville. Swartz served during World War II. He was captured in the Philippines and survived the brutal Bataan Death March, only to later die at the Cabanatuan POW camp in 1942 at just 21 years old. 'His mother searched frantically through the government to try to get his remains returned, but of course they didn't know where he was buried, they just knew that he had died,' said Buys. Years ago, Buys said the U.S. Army reached out, asking for a DNA sample to identify Swartz's remains. 'I gave my DNA and then it became personal to me,' Buys said. 'Maybe my DNA can help identify him and bring him home, something the family has wanted for over 80 years.' Buys, a Navy veteran himself, submitted the sample, but never heard back. It wasn't until last week, while searching online, that he learned his uncle had been officially identified in late 2024. His remains were laid to rest earlier this month at Summit Cemetery in Williamstown Township. 'Personally, I wish I could've been notified,' Buys said. 'I would've loved to have been at the funeral. But that wasn't to be the case. I'm just glad he's home.' Swartz's return marks the end of a long chapter for a family that spent generations searching for answers. In the 1950s, Swartz's mother had written letters to the Army, pleading to know where her son might be buried. 'Dear sirs,' she wrote. 'Would you please let me know if there's any kind of cemetery or burial grounds for the boys who died in World War II in the Japanese prison camp?' That question went unanswered for more than 80 years. Through a combination of DNA, dental records, and historical evidence, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was able to confirm Swartz's identity. 'Knowing that I supplied my DNA…that small act on my part helped identify his remains,' Buys said. 'And now that he's back, his remains are back on American soil. I feel like this story comes to a happy ending in a way.' Now, Buys is looking forward to visiting the grave, finally connecting with his family's history in person. As we mark Memorial Day, he hopes we don't forget the meaning behind it. 'He's one of thousands of men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,' Buys said. 'And Memorial Day, as much as we want to celebrate with cookouts and family get-togethers, in the back of our minds as Americans, we should remember that somebody paid a price for our freedom.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Free State Agriculture dismisses genocide claims against Afrikaner farmers
Picture taken when seven people were shot at a farm in the Free State. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The Free State Agriculture (FSA), which represents farmers in the province, says there is no evidence of genocide aimed at wiping out Afrikaner farmers. On Friday, the organisation's crime analyst, Dr Jane Buys, said indiscriminate crime was a problem that affects farmers and their employees, irrespective of race. When asked if she had found genocide to be the motive behind farm attacks in her province, Buys said: 'No, I cannot respond to that one.' 'I don't think so, but there is a targeted approach against the farming community,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The United Nations defines genocide as an act intended to 'destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group'. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is 'the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group'. When asked again if there is evidence of genocide, she said: 'No, I don't think so.' In his invitation of Afrikaner farmers to immigrate to his country, United States President Donald Trump had repeatedly alleged that there was genocide taking place in South Africa. In a media conference held at the White House before a private engagement with his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump produced loads of newspaper articles with pictures, which he said were evidence that there was genocide in South Africa. However, it has since been revealed that at least one of the pictures had nothing to do with the Afrikaner farm killing, but was taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Buys said black farmers were also the target of criminals. 'People are targeting farms because they are very remote and not near towns, and criminals have time to commit crimes on the farms.' Buys said it also appeared that the farm attacks were merely robbery, which ended up with murders. 'If your motive is to rob, you just go and rob the farmer and you don't kill his wife and his children,' she said. She agreed that even in black communities, it happened that robbery victims end up being killed. She said in some cases, the murders were perpetrated by labour disputes, and farm attacks were an act of retaliation against eviction from the farms. She said there were also labour dispute-based attacks, although 'a study found that the labour dispute is not the primary motive'. 'Sometimes it is a revenge because farmers are being targeted by Basotho who are taking revenge on them because the farmers are sending them back to their country and impounding their cattle,' said Buys. She said workers were often killed during the farm attacks. 'The workers also kill the farmer, and therefore, in that area, you have some of the revenge attacks,' she said. When asked if black farmers were also the target, Buys said: 'Everyone is being targeted. 'I have done some analyses last year on the manifestation of farm attacks and murders in the Free State, and I say to you, 55% of the farm attacks are commercial farmers, and others are workers and people living on farms.' Those who used the word genocide in the South African context did so because of an alarming number of farm attacks. 'If you have 400 or 500 farm attacks, which is what happened in the Free State over 10 years. 'People are selling their farms because of the stress of farm attacks and because it is not safe to farm,' she said. She said between 2014 and 2024, there were 93 murders in 486 farm attacks at 77 farming communities. This included 46 farmers, 40 farm workers, such as foremen, security guards, murdered, and six people living on farms and/or smallholdings were murdered. She called on the government and the police to commit to their mandate to fight crime. Although Buys did not support the idea of Afrikaners immigrating to America, she understands those who are leaving. 'I can fully understand that certain people are feeling threatened in the country by criminality. 'Threatened by the fact that they have not been helped by the government law enforcement agents and criminal justice system because we are struggling with the criminal justice system,' she said. She said a survey conducted in June 2024 indicated that 96.6% of farmers in the Free State were using technology such as cameras and two-way radios to effectively combat crimes on their farms. '77.3% of farmers are using private security companies to address criminality. '30% of farmers mentioned that they each spent between R50,000 and R250,000 annually on technology to address criminality. '20.1% of farmers are each losing annually between R100,000 to R250,000 due to crime,' she said.
National Business Review
19-05-2025
- Business
- National Business Review
Citi bolsters its research and markets teams
Citi Australia and New Zealand has today announced several key appointments across its Research and Markets businesses, including Paul Buys to head of research for Australia and New Zealand. Buys will join from Canaccord Genuity, where he is currently head of research. Previously, he was deputy head of APAC Securities Research for Credit Suisse. Buys will be appointed as managing director and sit on the Australian and New Zealand executive committee. Citi Japan, Australia, North & South Asia head of research Brent Robinson said, 'Paul is a respected analyst who brings over 25 years' experience in financial markets. His appointment further strengthens our world-class research team.' Buys will succeed the existing head of research for Australia and New Zealand, Paul McTaggart, who will retire at the end of the year after a 30-year career in sellside research. This appointment follows the recent announcement that Laura Sutcliffe will join Citi as head of healthcare research. Citi grows its Markets business At the same time, Citi has grown its Markets business with four new hires, and one key promotion. Christian Ford has been appointed as director of equities high touch execution. Ford has over two decades of high touch sales trading experience, most recently as a foundation member of Jefferies Australia where he was a managing director and head of sales trading. Andrew Bruce has been appointed as director and head of low touch execution. Bruce brings over two decades of experience in financial services, most recently as an executive director the Global Equities team at JP Morgan. Nicolas Lebon has been appointed as director of Corporate Solutions Group. He joins Citi from Credit Agricole CIB, where he worked as a director in global markets sales. Dan Smith has been appointed to an expanded role, moving to cover head of Australia, prime finance in the Equities business. Smith has eight years' experience in prime services sales at Citi, with an additional 20 years' experience across prime brokerage and exchange traded derivative sales in New York, Chicago and London. Citi Australia CEO Mark Woodruff said, 'These new appointments reflect Citi's continued investment in our Australian franchise, as we strive to deliver the best outcomes for our clients in a dynamic market environment.' Cristina Chang, head of markets for Australia and New Zealand said, 'These Markets appointments follow a record April result for our Markets business, driven by volatile market conditions. I am confident the new additions to our team will add valuable expertise to our business.' This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.
West Australian
17-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Chaotic scenes erupt as Aussie shoppers flock to grab ‘must-have' Aldi Special Buys ski range
Chaotic scenes have erupted as shoppers race to get their hands on Aldi's highly-anticipated Special Buys range hitting the shelves for a limited time. Footage from a store in Chatswood captures shoppers queuing up before opening hours, ahead of the grocery giant's Snow Gear sale on Saturday. Shoppers are seen streaming through the entrance, some holding back an urge to sprint. In other scenes, they rifle through piles of ski jackets searching for their sizes. Although it looks like the aisles are well stocked now, they may not last long with the amount of people seen to be flooding to the stores. Aldi's annual snow sale event is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and purchases promise to be worth the massive crowds and long lines. The popular retailer has launched a premium range describing it as their 'coolest collection' to date, with more than 65 products under $100. 'We know our Aussie customers look forward to our annual Snow Gear Special Buys sale, and we're blown away by the overwhelming response by shoppers every year who line up before the store opens to get their hands on the range,' an Aldi spokesperson said. 'The momentum we have seen over the last 20 years is reflective of the high quality and low price point Aldi's Snow Gear presents. 'Our customers continue to be excited about the release of the range each year, and we look forward to being part of their snow holiday plans with top quality gear at low prices in 2025.' Outerwear is waterproof up to 12,000mm, breathable, and base layers are made from Merino. Adults can be kitted out for around $264, and kids for around $182.90. Outerwear starts from $59,99 for adults, snow suits for kids start at $39.99, while snow jackets and pants for older kids can be purchased for under $70. Last year's most popular items that are back again this year include the Adult's Merino Tank or Women's Camisole, returning at the same price of $19.99. 'We're excited to share the coolest collection we've had since it first hit our shelves over 20 years ago,' the spokesperson said. 'While comfort and durability is always a top priority, we've made this year's range fashion-forward too. Looking at trends and keeping a close eye on the slopes, we've introduced styles that not only perform but also turn heads.' The retailer works with partners across the globe 'who are experts in snow gear innovation to create premium apparel at affordable prices across every layer'. 'This year's range showcases high performing fabrics, smart design features that are built to weather every moment, and were rigorously tested on the snowfields of Japan,' the spokesperson said.
