Well it’s not really the weather for this at the moment here in Oz, but when summer comes this is the perfect get around. Those guys at Deus Ex Machina, Sydney have departed from their usual style of bike to produce this odd one ‘The Goof Bike’. The GB is a collaboration between alternative Byron Bay artist Paul McNeil and their main honcho mechanic Jeremy Tagand aka Frenchie, and what they’ve produced is something old school, and just down right cool. Just imagine after a big day at the office you come home and cruise to beach for a surf on your Goof Bike. With a free flowing exhaust, big ass seat, ape-hanger handlebars this stripped back Suzuki RV90 has no mirrors or indicators, now that’s worth a karate kick! For enquiries in Sydney, email bikes@au.deuscustoms.com.

Photos: Deus Ex Machina, Paul McNeil

Tony Hadley, the former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, is set to perform at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on Thursday, 30 January 2025.

The concert will feature classic hits like “True,” “Gold,” “Only When You Leave,” and “Round & Round,” as well as selections from his solo career, accompanied by The Fabulous TH Band. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Photo: Scott Gelston

The inclemency of Hobart’s weather was in fine form this summer in Hobart, Tasmania when ‘TheNews.com.au -The Finer Things in Life’ ran the gauntlet of rain and bluster to make their way to the sanctum of Tim Freedman’s green room at the Altar to interview him on his current solo tour and new song ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’.

Irreverent curiosity led him to ask us why the ‘Finer Things in Life’, known for covering all things luxurious wanted to interview him. Well here is the answer – to us luxury encompasses an awareness of a combination of senses all working together, whether it be a gastronomic immersion into the unctuous aged indulgence of Le Dauphin cheese (an unusual hexagonal cheese that takes its name from the term once used to describe the heir apparent to the throne of France), or the searing pick me up of a penetrating piccolo, both of which we have heard Freedman is partial to, but in this case it was to absorb the sound, energy and vibe of one of Aussies truly creative musicians – the experience of Tim Freedman live in action.

Relaxed and hospitable, Freedman told us that he was in a good mood because he had just finished a great show, including some funny banter with the audience – a member playfully referenced Tinder dating, and with razor sharp wit Freedman responded “…I can’t go on Tinder I’m too well known, probably lucky for me, I’ve heard it’s a minefield, my profile would just say 56, shaved, sexy, wants to do it all day and a silhouette and guess who?…” This performer, we are quickly learning, turns moments into creative nuggets with his witty and creative improvisational skills – if you can keep up – the actual lyrics from ‘No Aphrodisiac’ (Verse 4) are: “Forty, shaved, sexy, wants to do it all day” and then there’s the silhouette.

Speaking about quick improvisation, the song ‘No Aphrodisiac’, from the album ‘Eternal Nightcap’ in the late 1990’s took Freedman just 15 minutes to write. Freedman said at that time, he would have liked the film clip to be simply a black screen. This gives us thought to ponder the creative mystery that surrounds the black square/screen -think the ending of the Sopranos, and Malevich’s ‘Black Square’. At this time The Whitlams had not made it big, however after their album ‘Eternal Nightcap’ won the 1997 Triple j top 100, Triple j joined the party, and gave a lot air time to the band and from there they took off.

Eternal Nightcap, 1997

Ever the irreverent, Tim Freedman takes to the stage to launch the first new song written with The Whitlams in 14 years: ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’. A hapless tale of a criminal caper rendered ludicrously impotent. Australians seem to love a balls up, they love to laugh with the hapless, and so through the once smoky haze and hop scented watering holes of Australia’s pubs grew the spinning yarn of Bert’s one monumentally thwarted heist, the potential crime, an orphan child of an otherwise outstanding career has been taken into the hearts of many Aussies and grown a life of its own. Four blokes en route to an art gallery in a stolen Sigma with intent to possess a collection of Pro Hart and Ken Done masterpieces don their balaclavas too early. The props of anticipation and anonymity now shriek as unintended beacons of skulduggery . They are spotted as suspicious by passing coppers. When pulled over and questioned as to their appearance, they relay to the cops that it is cold, and that they are going fishing, it didn’t wash, it’s now the art heist that never was. You can see why Aussies roar over their cans of Resches Pilsner with the retelling of this audacious grandiose stunt gone awry.

Whilst ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’ is slapstick in nature, with emphasis on hilarity, the backstory of Bertie Kidd, aka ‘Bert the blue eyed killer’ himself is no joke. We must add here that Kidd is regarded as criminal Royalty. Known as an audacious safe cracker, with shadows and echoes of murder in his wake, more material is expected to surface as three volumes of his biography are being released.

Emigrating from the UK to Australia at 14 Bert Kidd is not on the average persons radar, being so underground that none of the criminals even echoed his story in daylight, due to fear of reprisal. Housed in Pentridge Prison next to Ivan Milat, Ivan is reputed to avoid walking the yard with Kidd for the belief that Bert would kill him. Bert has been out of jail for two years now, and upon release, at the age of 85 Peter Dutton attempted to have him deported, believing him to be so dangerous. By accounts, he is legendary. Legendary. We assure our readers that Freedman is safe and clear of reprisal, he took a shot through the dark, going through the channel of Bert’s biographer to get the go ahead to pen the ‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’.

While in Tasmania, Freedman caught up with Bert, who has retired quietly in Launceston to ponder a life lived large. Freedman was gratified to hear from Bert over a quiet dinner together dinner that he had achieved about 80 to 90% accuracy in the ‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’. Bert also revealed to Tim the true details of the words spoken between the four comrades and the police that day. Freedman says he took some artistic licence with the yarn to fit with the structure of the song.

Freedman’s solo tour is a prelude to The Whitlams ‘Gaffage and Clink’ National tour originally planned for 2020, has been rescheduled for August and September 2021. Gaffage and clink is backstage lingo referenced in a new yet-to-be released song that celebrates the relationship between the band and their long-time tour manager Greg Weaver, who passed away suddenly last year. The time off has allowed the band to write a new album, due for release in mid-2021.

‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’

Melissa Lockley, Arts Correspondant TheNews.com.au

melissa.lockley@thenews.com.au

60 years on, the Porsche 911 continues to be one of the best sports cars on the market. Porsche is keeping the 60th-anniversary celebration rolling with the 911 S/T, a stripped-down 911 aimed squarely at the purist 911 fan. The naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter, 517-horsepower flat-six is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a lightweight flywheel and clutch. The purist camp will enjoy a total of 70 pounds less weight than the manual 911 GT3 Touring, making it the lightest 911 you can buy new. 0-60 comes in 3.5 seconds with a terminal velocity of 186 MPH. A revised aero package is optimized for a sleek look and the road, with a Gurney flap on the retractable rear spoiler.

The interior is trimmed in Classic Cognac cloth seat centers and black pinstriping, and two-tone semi-aniline leather trim in black and Classic Cognac. 1,963 911 S/Ts will be made, with deliveries beginning in Spring 2024.

The exclusive Heritage Design Package adds Shoreblue Metallic paint and Cermica wheels, with the original Porsche crest from the first 911 throughout the exterior and cabin.

Buy from Porsche.

(Images provided – Porsche)

Photo: Off the Table

Award winning mushrooms grown in 1891 Railway Tunnel in Tasmania Grown in a 1891 Railway Tunnel in Tasmania.

Tunnel Hill Mushrooms Hidden under the surface at Mt Rumney on Hobart’s Eastern Shore in Tasmania is an old 1891 railway tunnel. It was opened in 1892, and closed in 1926. Since the closure of the railway in 1926 the tunnel has be used by the Defence Department during WWII to store records from Anglesea Barracks, as well as the University of Tasmania to house recording devices for cosmic ray testing, In the late seventies a Hungarian gentleman by the name of Pasztor purchased the southern end of the tunnel with the desire to run a restaurant there, yet it never reached fruition.

Photo: abc.net.au

Repurposed in 2000, the railway tunnel is now a unique growing operation .“Tunnel Hill Mushrooms” produces premium food, as Producers Dean and Anita Smith cultivate three types of oyster mushrooms, grey, white and tan oyster mushrooms picked fresh to order. The railway tunnel has optimal growing conditions for cold loving winter strains of oyster mushrooms.

Owner Dean Smith

Visit the unique Tunnel tours to learn how oyster mushrooms are grown and stored as you walk through the mysterious re-purposed train tunnel on a railway line that ran from Bellerive to Sorell between 1892-1926. The tunnel is the perfect environment because of its stable year-round temperature and low light. Tunnel Hill Mushrooms supplies to some of Hobart’s top restaurants, including The Glasshouse and Franklin.

Tunnel Hill Mushrooms

Why not go on a Tasmanian gourmet cheese crawl ?

There’s an immense number of cheese producers in Tasmania, and the fabulous news is that a number of them are open to visitors for tastings, meaning you can base your entire holiday around a spectacular gourmet cheese crawl. With so many small scale producers making artisan cheese with particular attention paid to the tradition of the cheesemaker’s art, this potential unctuous cheese odessy is a must to for foodies, and would be a journey to remember.

The elements of pure air, the cleanest water on Earth, mild temperatures, high rainfall and verdant pastures create an ideal setting for a world-class cheese industry in Tasmania that a foodie’s dream come true. It is no surprise that in 2013 Lonely Planet named Hobart in their list of top 10 foodie cities in the world. Dedicated cheesemakers are present all over the island and continue to thrive and innovate with a variety of cheeses and styles that take this industry to another realm. Looking for some unique flavors such as Wild Wasabi, Lavender, or Bush Pepper? Look to the northern region of Tasmania. Some of the best cheddar in all of Australia can be found in Tasmania. In other areas can be found triple creme Brie, buttery goat cheese, grass-fed cow milk cheese, organic sheep milk cheese….the list goes on and on. If you are really adventurous, try tracking down the whisky cheddar…

We have selected our top three picks to get you started:

BRUNY ISLAND CHEESE COMPANY
One of the most famous artisan cheese-makers on the Apple Isle, the Bruny Island Cheese Company matures its cheese meticulously in a small Island dairy. The company is run by Nick Haddow, who spent 10 years working with specialist cheese makers in many different countries around the world, with this said, the variety of cheeses produced have a distinctly Tasmanian character. a wide range of cow’s milk cheeses on offer, like their mature French-style 1792 (named after the year the French first arrived in Tasmania)Having trouble choosing your cheese?, then order a full cheese platter and have a picnic under the Eucalyptus trees, alternatively they offer quick tastings. They also make their own beers, which they will happily pair with cheese for you advocates for sustainable, ethical dairy farming, which is a big tick, in our eyes.

Bruny Island Cheese Company

Address: 1807 Bruny Island Main Road, Great Bay, TAS

THE WICKED CHEESE COMPANY
Renowned for its soft white cheeses, the Wicked Cheese Company uses of only the purest hormone-free and chemical-free milk from grass-fed cows. The company has many awards under its belt, including the Supreme Cheese Champion Trophy from the 2008 Royal Melbourne Show for its Triple Cream Brie.

Take a trip to the factory in Richmond to see how the cheese is made, partake in a tasting, and indulge in the product ranges at wholesale prices.

Wicked Cheese Company

Address: 1238 Richmond Road, Richmond

BAY OF FIRES CHEESE
Perfected over centuries, the Bay of Fires Cheese maestro is a thirteenth-generation cheese-maker, originally from England, where his family still make fromage today, who has made his home in Tasmania. For cheddar advotees Bay of Fires is the cheese monger for you. Their traditional cloth bound cheddar won or placed in the Best Cheddar Cheese category at the Australian Grand Dairy Competition for three years running. The cheese is aged for at minimum, a year on a pine board during which time it is given a massage by hand every three weeks. Understandably an award winner.

Bay of Fires Cheese

Address: 25824 Tasman Hwy, St Helens TAS 7216

Now we all know how cold it can be down  in Tassie, so when you’re next down in the Apple Isle why not treat yourself to some luxury and stay in one of these beautiful pavilions at Freycinet.  The Freycinet Lodge’s Coastal Pavilion is nestled among the bushland on the shores of Great Oyster Bay Tasmania.

You’ll be able to check out the amazing wilderness that Tassie has to offer with your own private deck while relaxing in an outdoor tub. Or lay inside a solid oak lined king bed and view through incredible curved glazing so as to not lose sight of the beautiful cascading mountains and bay.

Photos: Dianna Snape.

The PORCINI LAMPS collection is a collaboration between two Adelaide interior designers Jacquie Hagan and Madeleine Potter, called memaké.

“The Porcini range grew from a subtle exploration into the elegantly simple form of the mushroom. A series of organic shapes and forms were reinterpreted to form these beautifully crafted and sustainable pieces. Bringing the role of artisan back into design, the Porcini design represents a spirit of craft and the handmade.

The range consists of two designs, the Porcini Stem, comprised of a standard lamp and table lamp, and the Porcini Canopy, comprised of various sized pendant lamps. The lamp shades across the entire Porcini range are interchangeable, to achieve multiple size combinations. Using naturally sustainable materials; Tasmanian Oak, a non-endangered timber species sourced from Australian sustainable forests finished with natural Australian beeswax, and 100% pure new wool upholstery, which is both biodegradable and renewable.”

Photo: Joel Johnston

Now who doesn’t love a good Coffee Liqueur? Well Australian Mr. Black Coffee is one of the best. From designer Tom Baker and distiller Philip Moore of Distillery Botanica of which it is brewed (Erina, New South Wales). The liqueur has 25% ABV, and 1100 mg of caffeine per litre it has more caffeine than most (Liqueurs) but won’t probably give you a hit as much as your morning coffee. “By emphasizing the purity of coffee flavour Using a rare blend of three beans from different sources that are each roasted and brewed separately and then blended for a maximum range of flavor and balance.” It took a long process (approx. 9 months) to finally get the right blend and it is more like a coffee than a desert (and no added sugar). The coolest thing about it is that the more you drink the more of the bottles artwork is revealed, an illustration by Australian artist Dale Bigeni. $45.

Images: Mr. Black

Forget ‘Gold’ class, you want ‘Boutique’ class. The brainchild of Events Cinema, Boutique Event was opened in George Street, Sydney yesterday. This takes luxury cinema experience to the next level. Claimed to be the Australia’s first Instagrammable cinema, let yourself be immersed in the movies with designer recliners, footrests, waiters, incredible sound quality, massive screens, world-class laser projection and a bespoke menu to die for with designer platters from some of the best local producers. It is beautifully styled with amazing design aesthetics. The two first boutique cinemas are ‘The Library’ (below) giving a nod to story telling and the other ‘Paparazzi’ (above) a nod to the red carpet and glamour.

The Library

They are also designed to be configurable and available for private bookings/screenings and product launches. So leave the Jaffas at home and enjoy this Boutique premium experience.

Images: EVENT. Aussieleasure.