Packing your suitcase for Mount Isa

With the summer school holidays just around the corner, you might have relatives coming up to Mount Isa, excited to chase the sun and experience Outback Queensland.

If your relatives are anything like mine, (and if it is a first time visit) you might get asked the question "What should I pack?"

As we are blessed with perfect sunny days and endless blue skies, you can leave your jackets at home!

Here is a very short (light-hearted) list of what to pack.

1. A water bottle

In the summer months especially, it is important to keep your fluids up (preferably clear ones!). Always carry a water bottle with you. Keep in mind that Outback at Isa and the Library have water dispensers for public use.

2. Hat

Baseball caps won't provide you with much sun protection, so make sure you have a wide brimmed hat. If you really want to fit in, invest in a Akubra! You can even rock a Stetson like our Member for Parliament, Robbie Katter.

3. Thongs

Most of the restaurants accept sandals and thongs as appropriate footwear. If you did want to go for a walk at Lake Moondarra or try out an exercise class at the PCYC community center, bring along your sneakers.

4. Sunnies

You don't have to impress the fashion police, just make sure you have something to protect your eyes.

5. Sunscreen

Don't go for anything less than SPF 50+.

I find that the Cancer Council Peppa Pig roll on is easy to use and non-oily, even if the packaging isn't age appropriate...

It would be best to stay indoors between 2pm and 4pm as this is often the hottest part of the day. There is still a lot to do in town. Outback at Isa have a fossil centre, art gallery, historical displays and cafe. The Library have a wide range of newspapers and magazines available. There are so many coffee shops in town, I will stay out of trouble and not promote just one.

6. Fly net

In the wet season, this becomes a necessity if you are out and about exploring. There are so many beautiful and interesting places around town. If you do have a fly net with you, you will be able to explore for longer.

#seeyouintheisa !

The 11 best things about summer in Mount Isa

You might have clicked on the link, thinking "Well, this will be the shortest blog ever written!" You may be right, but hear us out.

As we cruise towards the end of October, we've had our first day with a high of 40 degrees. Here at Outback at Isa, we've put our heads together and come up with not 10 but 11 (!) things that are great about the warm summer days!

# 1 You can still go fishing

The Dragon Boat races and the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic are on this weekend!

2# It is better than feeling cold

If you have been living in Queensland for a while, you might have found that the cold weather of the southern states just don't agree with you anymore. An added bonus is that ours is a dry heat and we don't have the coastal humidity that makes you feel like you need to take a shower 2 minutes after you've just had one.

# 3 You get to be a kid again

You can pretend that you are 6 years old and run through the sprinklers without any judgement from your neighbours.

# 4 You get to live in your thongs

Almost all the restaurants in town accept them as appropriate footwear and other than socks for work wear - you are washing a lot less!

# 5 Your washing dries in about 20 minutes flat.

No we didn't time it, but it sure feels that way!

# 6 Your ice cold beverage tastes even better

#7 You can still exercise, you might just have to move it indoors.

The PCYC offers great classes (GRIT, Body Balance, Body Pump etc.) and they also have a cardio, weights and boxing room - all beautifully air conditioned.

# 8 You can swim every day

If you don't have your own pool, the Splashez Aquatic centre boasts 2 beautiful pools which you can enjoy for a small fee. Mount Isa also has a great, free water play area in the Family Fun Park.

# 9 It is known as our "wet season" so hopefully the Isa will get some rain

#10 If you sell or repair air conditioning units - business is probably great!

#11 You can plan your day trips and holidays for April-October next year.

If it is too hot for you to be outside, you can sit down in Outback at Isa's Cafe with all the brochures from our information centre and plan for the cooler months!

Well, that is our somewhat light-hearted list. If you have any other ideas, please let us know!

Birdwatching in Mount Isa

Can you identify a Painted Firetail or the Red Capped Plover? If so, you are probably a bird watcher. If not, it is never too late to get into it. In fact, the hobby has recently started to attract a new generation of enthusiasts.

To get started, you will first need to know the difference between birding, and twitching.

A twitcher is someone who will drop everything to go and see a rarity. A birder is someone who is quite happy to just watch that common Brown Honeyeater or Black Kite, and look for new behaviour.

As hobbies go, this one does not require much more than time, patience and a good bird guide. The best times of day are early in the morning or early in the evening and the more variety you have in the habitats you visit, the more you will see.

In our region, we are lucky enough to have several lovely spots, perfect for birding, birdwatching or twitching! The Outback Park at Outback at Isa is a good place to start. Grab a coffee from the Café, a copy of the bird watching guide from the visitor desk and make yourself comfortable in one of the many shaded areas available in the park.

Otherwise, you can head to Lake Moondarra, camp out next to the Georgina river in Camooweal, head to Mary Kathleen, Chinaman Creek or Rigby Falls.

If you are a seasoned bird watcher, you might even be able to spot the rarest two grasswrens in our region. To find the Kalkadoon Grasswren, try Mica Creek and the surrounding area. Drive 6km South from the CBD on the Dajarra Road and head up the hills. The Carpentaria Grasswren might be found 61km West from Mount Isa towards Camooweal. Travel 18km North along McNamara’s Road, stop at the cairn and make sure you record your findings in the visitor book.

Good luck and enjoy!

What on earth is "The Shack"?

Between the Rugby Union Club and Arts on Alma, you will find a rather unassuming building.

Every second Saturday evening, between 8pm and midnight, it is home to the Mount Isa Folk Club, or as it is better known, The Music... Shack.

Volunteers run this community group for anyone who loves live music, and for a gold coin donation, entry is yours.

The Mount Isa Folk Group was founded 47 years ago by a small group of musicians that played in local pubs. They moved into a property in Simpson Street, which they outgrew, and then was offered an opportunity to buy the old footy clubhouse. The musicians at the time rallied together and played local gigs to raise the money to buy the present day premises.

The licenced bar has inexpensive drinks, and the outdoor stage has a very casual atmosphere - and honestly, who needs a roof when you have a jam session going?!

The whole idea behind The Shack is to provide a platform for individuals and bands to 'have a go'. Equally important, it gives us locals something to do on a Saturday night!

Regardless if you are new to town, or if you have lived in Mount Isa your whole life, The Shack is a fantastic place to meet new people, make new friends, or even start a band.

Those of you who have been there will agree - it is pretty unique. They are always on the lookout for new musicians as well as volunteers to help setting up, so put up your hand and make a difference in our local community 👍 Find them online  at www.facebook.com/groups/isafolk

Do you know what it is like working underground?

Living in Mount Isa - the town with the largest network of underground mine development in the world - most of us are in some way connected to the Copper or Zinc operations here. That being said, not all of us really know what it is like working underground.

How deep underground do they work?
The Copper mine's internal shaft reaches a depth of almost 2km.

How do they get underground?
Mine workers descend into the mine in a large cage which holds 94 people, and it travels at about 16 metres per second (60km/hour).

Hours
Miners usually work 10 or 12 hour shifts and rosters vary. Some miners work up to 7 days on / 7 days off, and some work night shifts as well.

Conditions
As you can imagine, they do have adequate ventilation systems, but it can still get hot down there. Temperatures in most of the working areas of the mine are air conditioned to around 28 degrees Celsius, but there are high levels of humidity.

Visibility can be challenging, and in the ore body area your headlamp is often the only source of light.

Some of us might perceive mines as dark, challenging and secluded places, but from my conversations with miners, that isn't entirely accurate. The tunnels are about 5mx5m and it is possible to drive through these tunnels that lead to the underground workshops and working stope areas.

Although miners can be tough, they like to laugh and tell stories and it is that community which makes the atmosphere more open and inviting.

Is it for you?
If 2.5 hours underground sounds more up your alley than 10 or 12, Mount Isa has a mining experience which is open to visitors.

Make sure to stop by Outback at Isa on Marian street and book a tour in the Hard Times Mine. You can experience going underground in the cage, wind your way through the tunnels and enjoy refreshments in the crib room. I've heard they have the best corned beef sandwiches! 

5 Tips for adjusting to life in Mount Isa

Here you are, in a brand-new place.

1800km from Brisbane. 2600km from Melbourne. 4700km from Perth. A part of you might feel that Mount Isa is an exciting new chapter in your life, but mostly you might just be feeling HOT and overwhelmed.

So many people dream of making a change, but not as many people do it. If you are reading this, then you probably have already been brave enough to give it a try, and I have a few tips to speed up the process of adjusting!

1. Volunteer

I don't recall ever disliking any of my fellow volunteers, because anyone that is willing to give up their time to do something for free is bound to be pretty nice. Think about putting in some time at Paws, Hoof and Claws (our local animal shelter), the PCYC, Jangawala (The Catholic Church soup kitchen) or Meals on Wheels. You'll make friends and help out your town in the process. What's better than that?

2. Join a club

Clubs connect people with similar interests, so you're pretty much guaranteed to have something in common with whoever shows up. Enjoy live music? The Shack is on every second Saturday. Love to stargaze? The Astronomy club meets out at Lake Moondarra every month. Young children? In addition to the library’s children’s program, there are two Mainly Music groups as well as several playgroups.

3. Be A Tourist For The Day

Head to Outback at Isa on Marion street. There is a tour bus, two museums, an art gallery, a coffee shop that bakes everything fresh on site and an Outback park with a Fish Hatchery. You'll get to know Mount Isa and find out what the locals do in their free time (and you'll also learn the history of your new home).

4. Find Your Local Hangouts

Being recognised does make you feel like part of the community, but this won't happen if you don't get out of your house. Get a favourite coffee shop and get that first punch in your loyalty card. Try out the local restaurants. (The deck at the Isa Hotel is lovely. The cocktails at the Buffs are great. The Burke and Wills have great sticky ribs). Get to know Jenny, Sue and Tracey at the library. Soon you will become a known face in the community.

5. Find out "What is on" and GO!

A good starting point would be to follow 'Mount Isa What's On', Outback at Isa, the Civic Centre and the North West Star on Facebook. If the local school has a fete - just go! Even if you don't have children, see it as an opportunity to support your community and at the very least, grabbing dinner from the international food section gives you a night off from cooking.

Moving to a new place can be scary and overwhelming, but if you get out into the community, you're sure to feel like it's your new home in no time.

Our Mount Isa Community : South Africans

Living in Mount Isa, odds are that you might know a South African. According to the 2016 Census data, South Africa is one of the top 5 other countries that contribute to the local population of our wonderfully multicultural city.

Here are a few handy bits of information about this interesting nation.

Languages:
South Africa has 11 official languages. To my own ears I have no accent, but every other visitor at Outback at Isa asks me "Where are you from?", so I might have to make my peace with the guttural 'g' and 'r' sounds that some Afrikaans speaking South Africans are known for!

Basic phrases:
Thank you : Dankie (Don-key)
Thank you very much : Baie dankie (Buy a don-key)

Sport:
The only rugby or 'footy' played in South Africa, is Union. The national team are known as the 'Springbokke' and on Saturday afternoons, the devotion to the sport reaches fever pitch.

Food:
Regardless of whether you speak English or Afrikaans, a BBQ is called a 'braai' and 'Bobotie' is a firm favourite in many households - you can find the recipe at the bottom of this post (try it!)

Fun facts :
#1 The first ever human heart transplant was performed in a Cape Town hospital in 1967
#2 The oldest remains of modern humans were found in South Africa and are well over 160,000 years old.

Traditional South African bobotie recipe
Serves up to eight people, but in our house it only serves 5!

Ingredients
2 slices of crustless bread (white or brown)
375 ml milk
25 ml oil
10ml butter
2 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons of curry powder
10ml salt
3 tablespoons of smooth apricot jam
1 kg raw mince
a handful of sultanas
2 eggs
bay leaves

Method
1. Soak bread in milk. Heat oil and butter in large pan and fry onions and garlic.
2. When onions are soft, add curry powder, salt, jam, sultanas and mix well.
3. Add the mince and fry until brown.
4. Drain the now soft bread (reserve the milk for later) and add to the mince. Mix well.
5. Add one beaten egg to the mince mixture.
6. Spoon into a greased baking dish and level the top.
7. Beat the remaining egg with reserved milk (you should have 300ml, or a little more) and the salt.
8. Pour over meat mixture and put a few bay leaves on top. Bake, uncovered, at 180 degrees celsius for 45 minutes or until set.
9. Serve with rice.