About

ABOUT
ilovebrokenhill.com , was first published on 8 December 2011 by Jane Deany. My blog is all about the famous outback Australian National Heritage Listed City named Broken Hill, located in the state of New South Wales. I first visited #BrokenHill in 2002 and have returned many times since then. ilovebrokenhill.com will help you discover what's great about this historic mining city, where in the mid 1880's the line of lode, a rich ore body of silver, lead and zinc was found. You will find stories about anything related to Broken Hill.

Monday 28 October 2013

Defonet wins the 2013 Broken Hill Clubs Silver City Cup

Community Event
The Silver City Races were last weekend. Over 3000 spectators took the opportunity to see this Broken Hill country race meeting which is famous for its family feel.

The event is one of only two race meetings that grace the famous Broken Hill St Patrick's Race Club.


The connections of Silver City Cup 2013 winner Defonet
with club president Dave Gallagher. Image courtesy Darrin Manuel - Barrier Daily Truth

There were six races in all, ranging from the 900m (R2) Flat Out Tyre Maiden Plate which was won by no 5 Quinzel, to the feature race, the 1600m (R5) Broken Hill Clubs Silver City Cup, which was won by no 3 Defonet (Morphetville), a gelding trained by South Australian based trainer Paula Trenwith.

Defonet started the race as a short-priced favourite after a late plunge which saw the odds tumble from $5 to $2. He led the field of eight all the way from barrier 3, and was ridden by apprentice jockey Ms Desi (Desiree) Stra (54kg). 'Drafted' carrying 55.5kg and trained by Philip Cole placed 2nd and New Zealand 'Cable Bay' trained by Brian Searle came 3rd carrying 59kg.

Proud trainer Paula Trenwith tweeted the news - 



I hope you enjoyed the day if you were lucky enough to make it along. I heard the weather was perfect.

Congratulations Defonet and connections, Paula Trenwith and Desi (Desiree) Stra. Cheers, Jane D

Friday 18 October 2013

Broken Hill Fringe Festival Fever ... October 17 - 27, 2013

Community Event

It's all happening in Broken Hill - don't miss the Broken Hill Fringe, a festival which runs from - 

17 - 27 October 2013 all around Broken Hill.

It's the first regional hub of the recently held Sydney Fringe.

The Broken Hill Fringe is a community based inclusive arts and cultural festival for the Far West region of outback NSW Australia.

More details about the jam packed events schedule are on the festival's webpage www.brokenhillfringe.com

South Broken Hill Hotel - one of the Broken Hill Fringe venues
Image from www.gdaypubs.com.au Jon Graham

211 Patton Street, South Broken Hill
check out the best of ABC Open photography exhibition there

The Fringe also has it's own Facebook page - Broken Hill Fringe

Wish I could be there - enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Friday 11 October 2013

Robin Sellick 'Roids' exhibition at Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

Robin Sellick - Broken Hill
Art Scene
Don't miss well known local Broken Hill photographer Robin Sellick's new 'Roids' exhibition which opens tonight at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

The exhibition is a collection of polaroids that Robin has taken over the years during his quite long photographic career which has seen him photograph some very famous and high profile people as well as the everyday person.

The selection of images was made to highlight the process of the shoots and the compositional choices. Some images depict celebrities whilst others have been included as they were just plain interesting.

Details
Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW

From 6pm tonight - Friday 11 October 2013

Exhibition continues 12 October 2013 - 24 November 2013

Gallery hours     10am - 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm Saturday & Sunday

I was pleased to meet Robin for a coffee a few weeks ago in Broken Hill, he's a really interesting and friendly guy.

All the best for the exhibition Robin, cheers, Jane D

Thursday 10 October 2013

It's World Mental Health Day! Good mental health is so important!

Community Event
Logo of
Australian and New ZealandMental Health Association
It's World Mental Health Day and the message is very simple - please look after your mental health no matter who or where you are.

Isolation in regional areas makes many people even more at risk of depression and other related mental health issues. Help is out there, always remember it's better to ask for help as it can be too easy to spiral downhill especially with all the stressors we have in today's busy world.

Of course depression isn't the only mental health issue, there are so many, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia just to name a couple.

Here's a tweet from Lifeline - check it out.

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or your local GP if you feel you need some help. Also there are many other organisations designed to help people with mental health issues. Some of the organisations are 'Mind Australia' 'sane' 'headspace' and 'beyondblue'.

Even just share how you're feeling with a friend to start with. A good friend will be happy to listen.

Here's to your good mental health. Cheers, Jane D

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Coworking could increase employment opportunities in Broken Hill

Coworking is on the increase all around the globe. Could it be beneficial in Broken Hill I wondered? If you're not sure what coworking is, check out this Youtube clip below to find out more and why it could 'work' for you! Then see my article below the clip for more information.



Okay, so now you've got some idea about coworking. I can tell you I'm already doing it and I think it's really cool, but don't just take my word for it.

I did some research for another publication about coworking in regional areas such as Broken Hill and in the process I spoke to a few people in the know.

Note
As the coworking topic is bigger than just being about Broken Hill, this "coworking could increase employment opportunities in Broken Hill" article may appear on other sites related to coworking. Depending on where you come across this article, the original article appeared on the www.ilovebrokenhill.com blog on 8 October 2013 and you can link back to the original article here"coworking could increase employment opportunities in Broken Hill".

Coworking
Here's what I found out about the worldwide coworking trend, which according to wikipedia kicked off around 2005 in San Francisco.


Historic Broken Hill Trades Hall building.
Business was done differently in the past and trade unions
played a very big role in the world of work especially in Broken Hill.

"A growing trend has seen collaboration focused coworking spaces popping up around the globe to meet an ever-increasing demand worldwide. Sustainability, and sharing resources and knowledge are key factors driving this new way of doing business. Here in my hometown Melbourne I co-work part-time at Hub Melbourne, a highly regarded, privately owned, coworking space in the heart of the city, now in its third year of operation. In Newcastle and Wollongong in NSW, coworking spaces are also being created to meet demand.

It should be high-lighted that coworking spaces are not serviced offices, executive suites or business incubators. Co-workers typically work in a shared office space, whilst they work on their own businesses or projects, often as solo operators or in partnerships, and sometimes as part of a small business. A growing number of big corporates have found that sending teams to a coworking space created opportunities to connect and collaborate with budding entrepreneurs and start-ups, often facilitating seed-funding and partnership opportunities.

Could the concept work in Broken Hill? That was something I spoke to Jan Stewart about whilst I co-worked at the Hub last week.


Jan Stewart Hub Australia Culture Host
sitting in front of Hub artist in residence
Robert Lee Davis's desk.

www.flickr.com/photos/robertleedavisart )
Yammer updates (yammerfall) intranet in background
Jan is the Hub Australia 'Culture Host' which means she assists with Hub's three Australian offices including the new Sydney and Adelaide spaces. I asked Jan to explain the reasons for the growing popularity of coworking spaces? She said that there is a “shift towards the sharing economy and the way we do business”.  People and organisations “have become more aware of the benefits of sharing resources and the importance of sustainability”. A greater emphasis on collaboration is also a growing trend. Jan highlighted the popularity of sharing services, citing other sharing examples such as accommodation service “airbnb” and car share schemes such as “Flexicar”.

Another key factor is “the internet which makes it easier to share what we have”. With the exponential use of portable devices, gone are the days of being tied to a single PC and a dedicated desk.

A membership of a coworking space usually means you can use the space on a part or full-time basis depending upon the membership level. Part time members usually sit wherever there's a free desk. Members can have permanent desks if they require, and often use the space to enjoy the opportunity to network and meet new people, which in traditional office spaces wouldn't often occur. The open-plan environment and, in the case of the Hub, the numerous professional development and social events for members and guests help to increase the possibility of making useful and often serendipitous connections.

Jan Stewart of Hub Australia sitting at the Space Host desk.
In the background is some of the coworking space at Hub Melbourne
Coworking is popular among freelancers and telecommuters who may find working from home to be very isolating. From a regional point of view where remote locations certainly create isolation, the opportunity to co-work could not only offer a remedy for loneliness, but could also bring the benefits of sharing new ideas.

When I discussed the coworking concept with regional Enterprise Development Centre representatives in the past, one issue that came up was “a fear of sharing ideas in case someone pinches them”. It's a natural fear, and some caution is needed when sharing ideas, however idea theft is preventable if precautions are taken. Often, when two or more people become involved in developing something, even better solutions can arise – the “two heads are better than one” principle can weigh in in a positive way.

I also spoke last week with a coworking business manager from the Victorian regional city of Warragul, Teresa Mitchell (who I met through the Hub). We spoke about her Coworx organisation which is in its first year of operation.  She noted that one issue is to get people to feel comfortable working “without walls”.

An idea being discussed is to create a mobile coworking space for a region, which, like a mobile library, could travel to different locations on a regular basis, giving locals the chance to co-work and share ideas.

Hub Melbourne in Donkey Wheel House - Bourke Street
coworking space, image from www.bradkrauskopf.com
One of the differences between a city versus regional coworking space is the limited supply of co-workers.  For a business offering a coworking space, part of the revenue comes from memberships.  Another important source of income comes from the hire of meeting rooms, so the availability of permanent meeting spaces would also be recommended for an organisation looking to set up a coworking space.  This could be a negative aspect of a mobile space, but availability of rooms for hire through affiliates could provide the solution.

I also spoke to Brad Krauskopf, Hub Australia CEO and founder, earlier in the year about regional  coworking spaces and he felt they were certainly on the horizon, but the idea would take a little longer to take off than in cities.  He also indicated that a public-private partnership model would more likely succeed in a regional location as the lower numbers of potential members mean that it could be difficult to be sustainable as a purely private venture.

Hub Melbourne in Donkey Wheel House - Bourke Street
coworking space, image from www.bradkrauskopf.com
I asked Jan what members loved about coworking at the Hub and she explained “Hub's mixed bag lunches where members bring food to share each Thursday and the 'wine down' drinks each Friday at 5pm."

Members also valued “the presence of a 'Space Host' who provided the opportunity for potential fruitful connections.  The sense of community and of being supported” were also appreciated.

(I suspect the funky range of seating options at the Hub is another factor in what appeals to members. There's also a very popular hammock option!)

Coworking could be of great value to people in regional locations such as Broken Hill.  Perhaps it's just a matter of time before the idea really takes off."

If you have a positive coworking story share it via Twitter @CoworkingisCool

Happy working, or should I say happy coworking! Cheers, Jane Deany

Sunday 6 October 2013

NSW Parliament Indigenous Art Prize exhibition ends 6 October 2013

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
image from gallery website
Art Scene
If you haven't seen the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament Indigenous Art Prize exhibition yet, today is the last day to get the chance to see this wonderful exhibition.

The event is an annual acquisitive art prize sponsored by the NSW Parliament.  The prize is awarded to an Aboriginal visual artist over the age of 18, who is born or living in NSW.

The exhibition is on at the beautiful and historic Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

Address  404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill

Sunday 10am - 4pm

Entry by donation

I visited the exhibition last week and there's some impressive work.  It's well worth a look if you haven't managed to see it yet.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Saturday 5 October 2013

Willyama Art Society Exhibition 7-27 October at Town Hall Facade

Town Hall Facade Broken Hill
Art Scene
Don't miss the new October 2013 art exhibition of the long established Willyama Art Society.

This talented group of local artists, led by long standing president Bob Groves, will open yet another exhibition this Monday morning at the attractive Town Hall Facade space in Argent Street.

From the work I've seen I am sure there will be something to appeal to all tastes.
Some of the artworks at the Town Hall Facade




There are around 70 artworks by 27 artists and all works are for sale. Prices range from $60 to $520.

The official opening is Monday 7 October at 10am.

Dates:     7 - 27 October 2013

Time:     10am - 4pm daily

Address: 256 Argent Street, Broken Hill

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D