Naval fleet

Who invented the flat white? Italian sugar farmers from regional Queensland likely played a big role

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Espresso, Culture, First Fleet, WWII, Coffee, Tongue, Sunlight, Research, History, Milk, World war, Naval fleet, Drinking, Starbucks, Herbert River

But it was very likely in regional Queensland that one of Australia’s favourite brews first took root.

Key Points: 
  • But it was very likely in regional Queensland that one of Australia’s favourite brews first took root.
  • Tracing this history shows a different side to how European tastes were imported to Australia beyond the capital cities.

The Little Italy of Northern Queensland

  • In 1891, immigration agent and businessman Chiaffredo Venerano Fraire organised a scheme to recruit cane cutters on behalf of the Queensland government.
  • North Queensland became an even more popular destination in the 1920s, after the United States introduced quotas for Italian migrants.


These Italian communities expanded further after WWII, as did their cultural influence. The Australian Italian festival, established in 1995 by the Italian community in Ingham and Hinchinbrook shire, celebrates and preserves the legacy of Italian culture in the district.

Read more:
What does Australian-grown coffee taste like, and how does it compare? Our research describes its unique 'terroir'

What’s in a name?

  • But the best case for coining the term comes from Sydney cafe owner Alan Preston, who details his reasoning extensively online.
  • While the origin debate rages on, Preston’s argument has the most solid historical evidence to back it.
  • Preston claims he was the first to use the term on a menu, and has documented this use through photographs.
  • Google is a fan too, and made the flat white its doodle of the day on March 11 2024.

Why is the flat white so popular?


The flat white’s widespread appeal comes down to its balance of textured (steamed) milk and espresso. The sign of a quality espresso is in its “crema”, the caramel-coloured emulsion of hot water and coffee bean oils.
A flat white blends the natural crema of an espresso shot with a thin layer of microfoam at the cup’s surface. Without the thicker foam of a latte or cappuccino, or the distraction of chocolate sprinkled on top, the flat white delivers a stronger coffee flavour with a unified creamy texture. Preston says a properly prepared flat white should leave “tide marks” on the sides of the cup, showing the level go down with each sip.

Regional varieties

  • Perth’s unique “long mac topped up” and the enigmatic Melbourne “magic” are two more examples of how regional influences have given rise to different coffee preferences across Australia.
  • The West Coast’s long mac topped up has a milk to coffee ratio of 1:4 in a 180ml serving.
  • It’s like a strong flat white where the coffee is no longer just “stained” by the milk (but somehow “double-shot flat white in a smaller cup” doesn’t roll off the tongue).

Déjà brew

  • Reflecting on its long and nuanced history reminds us of the contributions multiculturalism has made to the nation, and why new iterations of old things ought to be welcomed.
  • The story of the flat white, along with its regional variations, reflects a dynamic coffee culture that will continues to evolve to cater to new tastes.


Garritt C. Van Dyk does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Before the Barunga Declaration, there was the Barunga Statement, and Hawke's promise of Treaty

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 23, 2023
Central Land Council, Optimism, Gove, Naval fleet, National Aboriginal Conference, Senate, Awareness, First Fleet, Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Culture, Wesley Enoch, Heart, Australia Day, Parliament House, Tiwi Land Council, Hope, Indigenous peoples, Central, Burial, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, COE, Goal, History, Celebrate, Language, Land loss, Reconciliation, Government, Human voice, Parliament, Treaty, Traction, Uluru, Time, Uluru Statement from the Heart, Police, UN, Human rights, Council, First Nations, Statement, Conference, Northern Land Council, Whaling, Property management, Arms industry, Jewellery, The Makarrata Project, Aborigine, Indigenous, Barunga

This week at Parliament House during Barunga Festival, four NT Land Council representatives presented Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the Barunga Declaration.

Key Points: 
  • This week at Parliament House during Barunga Festival, four NT Land Council representatives presented Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the Barunga Declaration.
  • Signed by the four NT Land Council representatives, the declaration calls on Australians to vote “yes” in the upcoming referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
  • NT Land Council representatives Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi (Northern Land Council), Matthew Palmer (Central Land Council), Gibson Farmer Illortaminni (Tiwi Land Council) and Thomas Amagula (Anindilyakwa Land Council) brought the Barunga Declaration to Parliament House.

Treaty ’88 and the Barunga Statement

    • The Barunga Statement was the outcome of years of careful deliberation and discussion.
    • It was delivered from “the Indigenous owners and occupiers of Australia”, requesting the Australian government legislate for national land rights and begin treaty negotiations.
    • It also called for laws for a national elected Aboriginal body, and recognition of customary law by police and justice systems.
    • The Barunga Statement was presented during a time where there were increasing calls for a treaty.
    • The Treaty ’88 campaign declared that Australia was invaded by a foreign power with no treaty.

‘Treaty by 1990’

    • However, others have highlighted the reconciliation movement’s departure from treaty.
    • Playwright Wesley Enoch and actress Deborah Mailman’s play 7 Stages of Grieving includes a poem emphasising instead the “wreck”, “con” and “silly” in reconciliation.
    • This would symbolise the burial of hopes for a treaty, saying
      Sovereignty became treaty, treaty became reconciliation and reconciliation turned into nothing.

To properly consider the Voice, we need to look to how we got here

    • However, the Voice aims to address a key problem that recreates disadvantage: First Nations’ political power.
    • First Nations peoples have long sought representation to seek particular rights to land, culture and heritage, language, self-determination and self-governance.
    • The referendum for a Voice is the first of a three-part sequence of reforms, outlined in the 2017 Uluru Statement, followed by treaty and truth-telling.

Mike Albert Fleet Solutions Elevates Its Dedication to Electrification With a New Director Position for an Eminent Fleet Electrification Specialist.

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Automotive Manufacturing, Alternative energy, Energy, Manufacturing, Alternative Vehicles, Fuels, Other Automotive, Other Transport, Environment, Fleet management, General Automotive, Transport, Other Manufacturing, Automotive, Logistics, Supply chain management, Other Energy, Naval fleet

Mike Albert Fleet Solutions, a national leader in the automotive electrification movement for the past ten years, has promoted Nate Shadoin to Director, Sales & Fleet Electrification.

Key Points: 
  • Mike Albert Fleet Solutions, a national leader in the automotive electrification movement for the past ten years, has promoted Nate Shadoin to Director, Sales & Fleet Electrification.
  • Mike Albert has created this new prominent position to further its mission to empower fleet clients to achieve their sustainability goals and improve their ROI with electric vehicles.
  • Mike Albert Fleet Solutions has been a leader in the fleet industry since 1956 by staying ahead of the curve and embracing change in the automotive industry, says Shadoin.
  • Mike Albert Fleet Solutions serves fleets of any size, in any industry, including service contracting, pest control, construction, food and beverage, delivery, grounds management and municipalities.

FTS International Announces First Quarter 2020 Financial and Operational Results

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Energy, Natural Resources, Mining, Minerals, Oil, Gas, New York Stock Exchange, Naval fleet

FTS International, Inc. (NYSE: FTSI) today reported its financial and operational results for the first quarter 2020.

Key Points: 
  • FTS International, Inc. (NYSE: FTSI) today reported its financial and operational results for the first quarter 2020.
  • Michael Doss, Chief Executive Officer, commented We were pleased with our first quarter results despite a significant drop-off in activity that began in late March.
  • During the month of March, we stacked 9 fleets that were released by customers, exiting the quarter with 7 active fleets.
  • We completed 6,888 stages during the first quarter of 2020, or 431 stages per active fleet.

ARI to Discuss Vocational Fleet Best Practices at the Global Fleet Conference

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Naval fleet, Fleet, Companies, Orix, Economy of Japan

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --ARI, a leading global fleet services provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets , today announced several of the company's international fleet experts will host a Deep Dive discussion track at next month's Global Fleet Conference in Miami, Florida.

Key Points: 
  • MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --ARI, a leading global fleet services provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets , today announced several of the company's international fleet experts will host a Deep Dive discussion track at next month's Global Fleet Conference in Miami, Florida.
  • The Deep Dive track, Best Practices for Managing a Vocational Fleet , is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4 from 1:00 5:30 p.m. in Concerto Ballroom C of the Hilton Miami Downtown.
  • Additionally, representatives from ARI's Global Fleet Services partners Eqstra Fleet Management and ORIX will also be on hand to share their regional expertise.
  • Now in its seventh year, the Global Fleet Conference is tailored to the needs of executives and managers from the world's largest multinational commercial fleets.