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Save The Date Runway Reinvention After Dark
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Maker’s Mark Stirring The Pot
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boys how it’s done, to a mum and daughter building a life together as they travel the world; fashion features celebrating freedom and ageless elegance, and raw reflections on new motherhood.
E D I TO R ' S LETTER
Flip Magazine over to dip into the latest edition of UNVEILED—a must-read even if you’re not betrothed. We continue the disruption in this section, exploring exotic honeymoon destinations and historic reception venues, and speak to experts to discover the secrets of a lasting marriage.
Disruption. It’s one of those buzzwords thrown around with reckless abandon…and it can be tempting to associate it solely with tech startups. But this “interruption to the normal course” of things is everywhere we look, and it’s what underpins the stories in this edition of Magazine. We’re talking nearly 120 pages of articles which will inspire you to think differently. From kick-arse local sportswomen showing the
One common thread runs throughout this issue— the refusal to accept the status quo. As business philosopher Jim Rohn once said, “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
Amanda Whitley Magazine Editor-in-chief HerCanberra Founder + Director
TEAM HC
Emma Macdonald Associate Editor
Belinda Neame Events Coordinator
Ashleigh Went Feature Writer
Beatrice Smith Online Editor
W E ' D L OV E TO H E A R YO U R T H O U G H T S Please drop us a line at hello@hercanberra.com.au with your feedback.
Katie Radojkovic Graphic Designer
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Calum Stenning Editorial Coordinator
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Magazi ne
WORDS Roslyn Hull Emma Macdonald Belinda Neame Laura Peppas Odette Shenfield Beatrice Smith Ashleigh Went Amanda Whitley Myf Williams Rebecca Worth
L AU R A P EP PAS
TIM BEAN
Laura Peppas is currently on maternity leave from HerCanberra, and is enjoying spending time with her baby daughter, soaking up the sunshine and getting back into writing in between nappy changes.
A fire fighter by day (and night), Tim also loves being behind the lens to capture all things food, people and places. You can often find Tim drinking coffee at his local or capturing a time lapse on Anzac Parade!
GRAPHIC DESIGN Katie Radojkovic PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Belinda Neame PHOTOGR APHY Tim Bean Lauren Campbell Paul Chamberlin Evie Farrell Emma Macdonald Martin Ollman Jenny Wu HAIR Leslie Henshaw Kate Leggatt
H AY L E Y O ’ N E I L L
L AUREN CAMPBELL
Hayley O’Neill is a Sydney-based fashion stylist (but a Canberra girl at heart). She has worked alongside the likes of Alex Perry, Samantha Harris and Margaret Zhang.
Lauren Campbell is a nuclear medicine scientist and a wedding and portrait photographer. You couldn’t dream up two more polar opposite professions but somehow, she manages to combine the two with unflappable flair.
MAKEUP Amy Capeda Katie Saarikko STYLING Belinda Neame Hayley O'Neill MODELS Molly Folkard Jenni McMullan Nastja Zarić PRINTING CanPrint Communications
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#BOSSFLIX
HC ONLINE
BY ASHLEIGH WENT
Visit hercanberra.com.au for your daily dose of all things Canberra.
Sometimes we turn to Podcasts and Netflix to escape from the real world, other times it’s to tune in for a little inspiration. With a focus on women who are challenging the status quo and kicking goals, these picks are sure to leave you feeling motivated to start a disruption of your own…
GLOW A TV series based on women’s wrestling isn’t a place you’d expect to find female camaraderie or empowerment, but that’s exactly what you get— with a huge side of high-cut lycra to boot. Inspired by the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, it’s funny, relatable and most definitely bingeworthy.
@carolmeoww
@splendourandstyle
@chareeo
@lanternerooms
@ds_doubleshotdeakin
@designisyay
@the.life.of.laura
@emily.crabb
GIRLBOSS This Netflix series, loosely based on the life of Nastygal founder Sophia Amoruso, has our office divided. Some of us loved the fashion and business inspo, others were put off by the narcissistic, generally unlikable portrayal of Sophia. Either way, it’s refreshing to see a strong (if flawed) female lead behind the helm of a business empire.
GIRLBOSS RADIO Tune into the Girlboss Radio podcast to hear the real Sophia Amoruso interview inspiring and successful female entrepreneurs, CEOs, fashion designers, writers and creatives.
THE WOMEN’S LIST This doco features interviews with 15 amazing women about the obstacles they overcame to reach their achievements. With a lineup that includes former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, lawyer and activist Gloria Allred, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Alicia Keys, Betsy Johnson and more, it’s a seriously inspirational watch.
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ENTERTAINMENT
is what creates films BY ROSLYN HULL
Our world cannot be changed or improved without disruption. But is anyone else tired of being told that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger? I am. However, this struggle is essential to storytelling of every kind. It is a truism to say that great art is not created by the happy or content, but it is fact that no movie exists without disruption and discontent. Without disruption there is no story. There are only travelogues and art or nature documentaries. To quote Orson Welles character (Harry Lime) in The Third Man: “You know what the fellow said—in Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace—and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”
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Disruption is the essence of every story, because what would be the point of showing life as it is and as it continues to be? Even Meercat Manor needs the injected drama of family conflict to make it compulsive viewing.
disruption to Hollywood of the coming of sound in films. Other musicals are even more obviously disruptive: gang warfare in West Side Story, murder in Chicago, racial tension in Hairspray. Do I need to convince you more?
Where would horror movies be if the hero / heroine / disposable cast member took the advice of the rest of the group and did not go into the deserted house, pick up the creepy artifact or use the Ouija board? The Scream series, in a meta moment for Jamie Kennedy, even explained the rules for behaviour AFTER the disruption (after the murders start).
I think Rocky Horror's Brad and Janet were not just disrupted but also disturbed, Eddie was dissected and the servants displaced from their planet.
Bruce Willis would have been without an action film career if Alan Rickman had not disrupted a Christmas party. However, in case readers are thinking that, of course, disruption is necessary in action, or drama, or horror—what about musicals? What about the granddaddy of them all—Singing in the Rain? The whole story hinges on the
Is there disruption in that most innocuous genre, the family film? If you cannot see it in Frozen you need to (ahem) let it go. Where would Finding Nemo be without him getting lost in the first place? Even Mary Poppins has the disruption of a new nanny— and votes for women—and big bad banks. Ultimately disruption makes the story, it drives the action forward and it changes the characters. And we go along for the ride.
MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
THE DESCENT OF MAN Grayson Perry
BY REBECCA WORTH, MYF WILLIAMS AND ODETTE SHENFIELD, PAPERCHAIN BOOKSTORE
All titles available for purchase instore, paperchainbookstore.com.au
THE END WE START FROM Megan Hunter
Amongst the rising seawaters in London, a woman gives birth to a child and names it ‘Z’. Britain is irrevocably thrown into a whirl of disorder after flood waters force residents of cities to flee their homes, causing widespread panic as food and shelter become a scarce resource. After the disappearance of her husband and the death of her in-laws, the unnamed narrator must walk the path of motherhood alone, keeping a chronicle of ‘Z’s’ first year growing up in an increasingly chaotic world. Though it could be considered a cautionary tale told through the lens of motherhood, this is not a story of how to address the social and environmental stresses of our time, but rather an intimate account of motherhood held captive by disorder and the resilience that can rise from the love of one’s child.
What does it mean to be a man? Grayson Perry investigates this curious question, uncovering the complex nature of masculinity, often disguised as an incredibly simple concept. Unpacking his personal explorations of manhood through an anecdotal style, Perry investigates the pitfalls of toxic masculinity and seeks to reframe the traditional notion of 'manliness'. Ultimately, it explores the narrow set of behavioral expectations that surround masculinity and disrupting long-held social expectations for the sake of men and women everywhere.
THE POWER Naomi Alderman
A revolution is coming, and this time it’s women who will rise to power. Akin to Atwood’s unnerving The Handmaids Tale, women all over the world slowly discover ‘the power’ of electricity that pumps through their bodies, giving them the ability to kill anyone instantly. Women are truly free, acting without fear of retribution, indulging base whims, while men are told not to walk the streets at night. Alderman has constructed a satirical masterpiece, where gender roles are turned on their head. The well-deserved winner of the 2017 Bailey's Prize for Women's Fiction.
BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE Katherine Arden Set in provincial pre-revolution Russia, this is the story of Lila, born in the depths of winter to a wealthy farmer and his wife, who dies shortly after childbirth. Lila has the gift of 'the sight' and it isn't long until it begins to cause unrest with the newly-arrived and overly-zealous clergyman. Incorporating traditional Russian and Baltic folktales along with the iconography of the Russian Orthodox Church, Arden works the two elements of disruption into a battle between cultural tradition and religious ideology, both vying for the faith and commitment of the community.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING Naomi Klein
Originally published in 2014, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate is more pressing than ever. Naomi Klein examines the relationship between the climate crisis and capitalism, arguing that to truly confront and halt the climate crisis we must address global capitalism. While confronting, the book is hopeful, positing that the climate crisis might provide a vital wakeup call for society to create a more environmentally and socially-just world. PAGE 9
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17-18 SEPTEMBER Exhibition Park in Canberra handmadecanberra.com.au
21 OCTOBER Little National Hotel, Barton theforage.com.au
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22 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER Commonwealth Park floriadeaustralia.com/nightfest
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3 NOVEMBER Canberra Stadium RLWC2017.com
TAB MELBOURNE CUP RACE DAY 7 NOVEMBER Thoroughbred Park thoroughbredpark.com.au
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Pizza & RosĂŠ ...in leopard print
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MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
ACCESSORIES
WORDS STYLING
Amanda Whitley Hayley O'Neill
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jenny Wu
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G
MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
GET RED -DY FOR THIS
The LBD of lipstick, a bold red lip never goes out of style. Take any outfit from ordinary to ‘ooh la la’ with a swipe of your favourite. At left: Jenni wears MAYBELLINE Color Sensational Lipcolor in Fatal Red ($17.95) from Priceline; top ($49.99) by Sportscraft, Westfield Woden; Lasso Opera Pear Necklace by Kailis ($2,270); earrings from David Jones, Westfield Woden; and Furla eyeglasses from Eyecentric, Manuka.
T H E N E W C AT ’ S M E O W
Add a pair of cat-eye sunglasses to your look for instant feline sophistication. Purr. Face à Face sunglasses from Eyecentric, Manuka.
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BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG
Do as Mr.T does and add a little sass to a classic ensemble with chains. Make them chunky and make them funky to elevate your off-duty staples. Top ($99.95) by Country Road, Westfield Woden; jacket ($299.99), and pants ($129.99), both by Sportscraft, Westfield Woden; Balinero Sneaker ($189.95) from Wittner, Westfield Woden; necklace, bracelets, and ring, all by John Hardy at Briolette, Manuka.
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PRINTS CHARMING
Comfortable doesn't need to equal boring. Give the humble sneaker its time in the spotlight by choosing attention-grabbing prints. Balinero Sneaker ($189.95) from Wittner, Westfield Woden
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MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
M E TA L U R G E S
Silver has long surpassed its ‘poor-man’s gold’ reputation— this cool and classy white metal is the perfect foil for clean, classic pieces. More is more. At left: Sportscraft Knit ($149) from Westfield Woden; necklace, cuff and ring, all by Georg Jensen at David Jones, Canberra Centre. Bracelet, and ring, both by Georg Jensen at David Jones, Canberra Centre.
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A REAL PEARLER
In the words of Dorothy Parker, “When I’m cold I just put another rope of pearls on.” No longer reserved for tea parties and deb balls, these lustrous orbs can make the most casual outfit waltz-worthy. Anna Quan Shirt ($300) annaquan.com; Sportscraft jeans ($219) from Westfield Woden; Wimmera’ boots ($595) from R.M. Williams, Canberra Outlet Centre; earrings and pearl necklace, both model’s own.
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MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
BOOTED OUT
Even if you're a city slicker these country staples deserve a place in your wardrobe. Dressed down with jeans, or up with exaggerated cuffs and pearls, they're a versatile must-have. 'Wimmera’ boots ($595) from R.M. Williams, Canberra Outlet Centre
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C O N C E P T A M A N DA WH I T L E Y A N D H AY L E Y O' N E I L L S T Y L I S T H AY L E Y O’ N E I L L H A I R L E S L I E H E N S H A W, N E X T H A I R M A K E U P K AT I E S A A R I K KO PHOTOG R APHER JENNY WU, STRAI GHT NO CHASER PHOTOG RAPHY CO O R D I NATO R B E L I N DA N E AM E MODEL JENNI MCMULLAN L O C AT I O N N AT I O N A L P O R T R A I T G A L L E R Y
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C A N B E R R A’ S C A N B E R R A’ S NEW HOME OF NEW HOME OF BEAUT Y BEAUT Y NOW OPEN AT MONARO MALL GROUND LEVEL NEXT TO DAVID JONES NOW OPEN AT MONARO MALL G R O U N D L#EBVEEALU T NYERXETDTEO F ID NA EV DI D J O N E S #BEAUTYREDEFINED
MAKER’S MARK
W O R D S Belinda Neame and Amanda Whitley P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Bean IN A CONVENIENCE-OBSESSED WORLD WHERE CONSUMERS WANT THINGS ‘ NOW ’ AND WANT THEM C H E A P, W H E R E M A S S - P R O D U C T I O N I S R I F E , I S T H E R E ROOM FOR ARTISTS WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE THINGS WITH THEIR OWN HANDS? WE MEE T FOUR LOCALS WHO A R E M A I N TA I N I N G A C O N N E C T I O N W I T H T R A D I T I O N AND BUCKING THE TREND.
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RICHILDE FL AVE LL Girl Nomad Ceramics
She grew up in a New South Wales commune, spending her twenties moving around Australia, Europe and India. But it was discovering her love for Ceramics at the ANU School of Art and Design that prompted Richilde Flavell to put down roots in Canberra. “I’ve always admired people who can fix and make things with their hands, so I decided to train to be one of those people.” After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2015, Richilde worked at Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre while honing her skills and building up her business, Girl Nomad Ceramics, in her studio at the Watson Art Centre.
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It’s an accessible, inviting space. People can pop into her studio, meet her as the maker and see the process first-hand. Richilde feels that connection translates into respect for the objects in a way that sparks a connection with the handmade ethos. “There has been a huge surge in popularity for the handmade over the past few years and it is only increasing,” she says. “I’ve seen it in the classes I teach at the Canberra Potters Society, with students telling me their experience of making pottery increases their understanding and appreciation of the handmade and I’m sure this experience translates across mediums.”
They’re the perfect fit for the eatery’s sustainable, local focus and provide a tactile, earthy background for Mocan’s edible art.
Richilde’s debut at Art Not Apart in 2012 saw her exposed to new audiences, including the owners of hipper-thanhip NewActon café Mocan and Green Grout, who placed an order for plates.
“Throwing on the pottery wheel makes me feel whole and grounded. I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile and that working with clay is an honest and genuine use of my time.”
For Richilde, though, the beauty is in the process.
“I’ve always admired people who can fix and make things with their hands.”
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PETER BOLLINGTON Curious Tales
There’s something special about passing down knowledge and skills through generations. For Peter Bollington, his love of timber and furniture-making was inherited from his father and grandfathers. As a child, Peter would watch them—rapt—as they worked with different materials. Design remained a passion as he grew, and he enrolled to study Interior Design at Canberra Institute of Technology. It was a guest lecturer (a graduate of the fine furniture workshop at the ANU School of Art) who set Peter’s journey on a very different path, when he guided Peter towards this course of study.
“I was always drawn to the medium of timber, there is a beautiful warmth found in timber that is not found in any other medium.”
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Peter and his wife Thea travelled widely, moving back to Canberra in 2015 where they established Meet Gather Collect, a retail space which celebrates Australian designer wares, combined with Curious Tales Furniture. The timing was perfect, Peter observing a strong shift in people appreciating and wanting locally-crafted, individually-made pieces. “Many customers will be searching for a piece that fits within their house and lifestyle, they come into the shop and see a design they like, we then talk about how we can tailor it to their needs. “I will often then meet them at their house to discuss various aspects and considerations in the design and measure the space, meaning they will have a product unique to their environment.” Recognising that this is a career that involves really hard, hands-on work, Peter has never been more fulfilled.
As well as the history of art and design, Peter studied the properties of timber and traditional joinery techniques used in the craft of fine furniture. He says he feels like the craft “chose him”. “I was always drawn to the medium of timber, there is a beautiful warmth found in timber that is not found in any other medium,” says Peter. “As it’s a natural resource, no two pieces of timber are exactly alike, therefore each piece of furniture contains a uniqueness and individuality. Furniture also has a very intimate relationship with the viewer/ user, often directly shaping how we use and inhabit the spaces in our lives.”
“It is a beautiful thing to see a design come to life from an early concept sketch into a realised piece of furniture, to know that single crafted piece of furniture encompasses a specific moment in time and seeing the joy and appreciation for the piece shown by the client is like nothing else.” Peter is optimistic about the future of the fine furniture industry, but urges a focus on both sustainable practices and the combination of modern technologies with the logic behind traditional techniques. “It will also be dependent on customers remaining passionate about supporting local businesses, knowing that they will not only have a piece of furniture that will last for generations but also strengthen the local economy.”
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HANNAH GASON
The art of glass stretches back to ancient Egypt, where the first glass vessels were formed around 1500BC. In 2017, the artform is still going strong. Hannah Gason’s passion for glass was late-blooming. Her initial focus was cartography, but after studying and working for a number of years in the field, Hannah’s heart began to pull her in another direction. “I found I was being led down a more hands-on and creative path. After a few years of consideration, I decided to pursue an artistic career.” Going on to study and graduate with a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours in 2015, Hannah is currently an exhibiting artist and studio tenant at the Canberra Glassworks.
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“I am drawn to glass for its qualities that enable me to create the results I’m seeking in my work. I’m interested in layers, colour, line and light. I enjoy the materiality of glass and being able to work with form, depth and surface.” “I love exploring ideas through making, seeing the physical result of something in my mind. I love the sense of community and support from other artists and organisations in Canberra. I love the constant challenges and moments of insight that creating art work provides.” Being so new to the industry, Hannah is still feeling her way and says that balancing her art practice and work can be tricky. “Ideally I would work less to give myself more time to develop my work. But I appreciate the security my employment provides that allows me to support my practice in numerous ways.”
unfortunately, it’s rare for art practice to provide the financial security that comes with these expenses. Although Hannah is very early into her arts career, the number of online and physical outlets for handmade art and crafts excites her and urges her on. “I feel encouraged to think that quality, individually-made pieces are appreciated and I think there is starting to be a rise in upcycling and environmentally considered products as social issues develop.”
The life of an artist is not cheap. There is studio and facility hire, materials, courses and travel to consider, and
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HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
ALISON JACKSON Alison Jackson
Alison Jackson has been a tinkerer and a maker for as long as she can remember. Encouraged by her father, she learnt to use a metal lathe and, together, they made little projects in the workshop under the house. At the age of 12, Alison was introduced to jewellery-making—the rest, as they say, is history. Jewellery-making consumed every Tuesday afternoon throughout Alison’s high school years, and she focussed on it as a career, studying Gold and Silversmithing at the ANU School of Art. She now works as a silversmith and PAGE 32
jeweller, also teaching classes from her workshop space, Pocket Studio. “Traditional Silversmithing is diminishing,” says Alison. “And even if students only ever made one piece the traditional, labour intensive way, in my eyes that means they gain a better understanding of it, they talk about it and that spreads interest in the dying art." While mass-produced pieces are popular in contemporary society, Alison says she has seen a swing back to handmade pieces. Indeed, because Alison’s pieces are—well, so perfect—
MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
one of her biggest challenges has been ensuring her customers realise that everything is actually handmade by her. “I think people are really looking to find out more about the back story to a piece—they genuinely want to know who made it and how they made it. The story of the piece really is a point of connection between maker, object and customer.” Choosing a career in the creative industries is not an easy path, and Alison says support for these creative industries is imperative to keeping them alive—starting with quality technical training. Sadly, however, many institutions are reducing hours and staff, which greatly impacts the quality of education provided. “There is something very special about making things by hand. A sense of
“There is something very special about making things by hand. A sense of achievement and wonder...”
achievement and wonder, and I think that is amplified when you’re able to make pieces that go out into the wide world for others to enjoy for many years to come.” PAGE 33
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ESCAPING the modern
LOOP W O R D S Beatrice Smith P H O T O G R A P H Y Evie Farrell HAVE YOU E VE R WANTE D TO THROW IN THE TOWEL AND JUST GO? TO QUIT YOUR JOB, BUY A O N E-WAY T I C KE T A N D PAC K YOURÂ SWIMMERS?
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TO MOST of us, this is a 2pm workday fantasy that mostly involves a winning lottery ticket and white sandy beaches free of colleagues and responsibilities. Then reality comes crashing back down. The mortgage. The kids’ school year. That new bathroom you want. Your cousin’s wedding in two months time. ‘We can’t all be Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love,’ you mutter to yourself as you refocus on your inbox. But as Evie Farrell explains, you don’t need to be rich, childless or even Elizabeth Gilbert to, just, well, go. In 2015, Evie and her then six-year-old daughter Emily (Emmie) bought a one-way
ticket to the Philippines and didn’t look back—but, as Evie explains, it wasn’t a snap decision. The founder of the mumpack travel website was a solo-parent working full-time in communications and struggling to balance work and life. Leaving at 7am for work and returning at 8pm left Evie with almost no quality time with her daughter. “As Emmie got older I felt like I was spending less and less time with her. With two parents it’s hard enough, but as a solo parent...it wasn’t working and it was really heartbreaking for me because I couldn’t see how I could fix it.” Regular trips together provided the chance to reconnect, and inspired her to create mumpacktravel as an online destination where parents could share information about travelling with children. But it wasn’t until Evie’s close friend passed away from cancer, leaving two small children and her husband behind, that she considered a different way of life. Floored with grief, Evie couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to Emmie if it had been her.
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"I felt like Emmie wouldn’t have even known who I was, we just didn’t spend enough time together,” says Evie. “It was a big wake up call for me.” Long-term travel had crossed Evie’s mind, but before she took the leap she booked a trip to Borneo to test her daughter’s resilience to the daily ups and downs of travel, budget stays and public transport. Emmie loved it, and as soon as they touched down back in Australia, Evie put her plan into motion. “We decided ‘that was it’ and that we would go for a year,” says Evie. “I had some savings and I funded it with money that I was saving to do a kitchen renovation.” Evie also enrolled Emmie in the New South Wales Distance Education Primary School so she wouldn’t miss any schooling. Evie and Emmie left Australia in February 2016 and travelled for an initial 12 months, starting in Cebu in the Philippines, where a poorly-timed burst eardrum for Evie redirected them to Taiwan.
From there it was Malaysia, Borneo, Thailand, China (“we went back three times – we LOVED China”), Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Maldives, Cambodia and even a quick trip over to Europe to explore Paris, London and Cologne. As they explored, mumpack travel flourished as Evie poured her real life experience into her writing, inspiring families around the world to embrace travel with younger children. They’ve recently returned home to refill the coffers to fund their next adventure. “We didn’t want to come back after a year so we kept going for 17 months,” says Evie. “We both would have loved to stay in Asia but we had to come back and earn some money.” When I ask her if she has a deadline for returning to full-time travel, she laughs. “It’s the only time I have a deadline!” she exclaims. “I have a contract working until early December and as soon as Emmie is on school holidays we’ll go.” But not necessarily straight back overseas. “We’re figuring out whether we can afford to drive around Australia, and if not we will go back to Asia,” says Evie, who admits that Asia has captured their hearts.
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solution”—a stint at an International School in Hoi An, Vietnam. Despite the challenges of being a solo parent, teacher, breadwinner and travel agent, Evie’s ultimate goal is to expose her daughter to the world outside of the loop of many modern lifestyles. “It’s so funny, we often look at people in developing countries and we feel sorry for them,” muses Evie. “But in many ways I think these people have richer lives because they have time to spend with their families and to take life slowly. Life isn't always easy, but it's simple. I think many of us are trapped by the the material things we think we need. There is another way, and I reckon we've found it” From hiking remote pockets of China to eating street food in Bangkok and swimming with sharks in the Maldives, Emmie has thrown herself into travel as much as her mum and Evie marvels at her resilience. “Kids are amazing because they transcend every barrier. She’s made friends with kids from different cultures all over the world and I love that travel helps kids keep that open-mindedness with them as they grow.” However, Evie notes that it wasn’t all sunshine and Frequent Flyer points. A few months into the trip, distance schooling became a struggle as Emmie refused to cooperate with lessons. But, Evie explains, “as we usually do, we stumbled upon a
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You can follow Evie and Emmie’s travels at mumpacktravel.com and instagram. com/mumpacktravel as they plan their next adventure. ¡
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Ru n w a y
REINVENTION W O R D S Emma Macdonald
P H O T O G R A P H Y Martin Ollman
W H E T H E R O R N OT YO U PA RTA KE O F A “F ROW ” S E AT AT F A S H F E S T, T H E R E ’ S N O D O U B T C A N B E R R A’ S A N N U A L FA S H I O N F E S T I VA L H A S IMPACTED ON THE CIT Y AND ITS PEOPLE.
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" FA S H F E S T 2 017 W I L L SHOWCASE MORE THAN 50 DESIGNERS."
IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS since FASHFEST founders and husband and wife team Clint and Andrea Hutchinson took the massive leap of faith—pledging to uncover and elevate the city’s nascent fashion scene. Canberra’s only fashion festival has certainly done that— unearthing international talents, kick-starting careers, igniting local industries and bringing an aesthetic edge to the city’s emergence as a cool capital.
Airport’s Brindabella Business Park. A move to the larger and lessedgy confines of the Convention Centre has presented a new set of challenges, and fickle Canberra audiences are sometimes notoriously difficult to please.
Not that it has been easy. Indeed, FASHFEST has passed through its honeymoon period of sell-out shows and standing-roomonly in its opening year, when audiences crammed into the industrial concrete bunker of a half-finished building in Canberra
But with unstinting dedication to the cause, Clint and Andrea are planning a fifth FASHFEST that disrupts the very model of a conventional fashion week— instead seeking to bring audiences an immersive experience of fashion, culture, art and music over
six separate shows on three nights between 28 and 30 September. FASHFEST 2017 will showcase more than 50 designers, dressing 130 models who will be tended to by a team of more than 75 hairstylists and 80 makeup artists. Meanwhile, it will all be set to live music—from the likes of Kirklandd, NeonHoney and Magnifik, to DJs Soul Sisters, DJ Royce and Mitcharelli. What’s different this year is that the designer talent is not only locallygrown but will feature a “takeover” from six up-and-coming New Zealand designers—and importing New Zealand talent to Canberra is not just a one-way street. Fresh from a visit to Wellington while this year’s event preparations hit their peak, Clinton and Andrea are taking the FASHFEST model international—hoping to replicate the Canberra experience in its New Zealand sister city. “We have always seen FASHFEST as a model we could import to other cities, and Wellington does not have its own fashion week. Given Singapore Airlines is a major
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"CLINTON AND ANDREA ARE TAKING THE FASHFEST MODE L I N T E R N A T I O N A L— H O P I N G T O R E P L I C A T E THE CANBERRA EXPERIENCE IN ITS NEW ZE AL AND S I STE R CIT Y."
“And we hope to take a number of our Canberra designers to New Zealand as part of that expansion,” says Clint.
sponsor, and we have direct flights from Canberra, there is a strong business case there already, and we have been really busy building some strong partnerships over there,” says Clint. He and Andrea say the goal is to get a Wellington FASHFEST up and running within the next couple of years.
Audiences here, meanwhile, will be able to appreciate the “New Zealand High Commission Presents” in which designs by New Zealand labels Sabatini, Trelise Cooper and Coop and Cooper (presented by Momento Dezigns), Kowtow (presented by Assemblage Project) and Curate will all be shown on the one night. Another New Zealand label Nyne, will feature on closing night when it is presented by Department of the Exterior. Paying homage to distinctly home-grown creations, FASHFEST will also showcase for the first time 12 Indigenous designers from remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and represented by the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation. It’s the largest presentation of Indigenous fashion design in the country and the show promises to deliver powerful stories to the runway while embedding Indigenous textiles into high‑end clothing. Andrea and Clint have always aspired for their collections to fill a more diverse clothing footprint than just commercial fashion. And while that may raise the eyebrows of some purists who
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want the catwalk reserved for conventional and aspirational designer garments, this year the diversification and democratisation of fashion continues. According to Andrea “one of the best things about FASHFEST is having the creative freedom to allow for non-traditional fashion. We are about pushing the boundaries in terms of the creativity of our designers, and it’s not always about presenting commercial collections. I like to think we are a broad church.” To that end we will see not one, but two, Canberra Institute of Technology shows, carving out generous space for emerging local designers to show among the established labels.
The first show will present first-year students interpreting the idea of the body or movement, while the second show will explore more political themes developed through CIT’s Ideas Brewery. The Brewery is open to students once they graduate from the Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising—it gives them access to the studios and facilities
to develop their talents, and offers support by national and international trainers who are practising in the fashion industry while teaching. “The CIT shows have, and always will, get me excited,” says Clint. “For me such a big part of this has been about nurturing new and emerging talent and what we have seen come out of CIT has been just exceptional.” Meanwhile, Clint says his creative team has worked hard on designing a new seating structure that will elevate audiences—bringing them closer to the catwalk, creating greater intimacy in the amphitheatre and increasing the visibility of models. A focus on food and alcohol pop-ups in the main foyer as people enter the Convention Centre will also, he hopes, make it more of a destination. PAGE 43
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"IN JUST FIVE YEARS MORE THAN 10, 0 0 0 PEOPLE HAVE AT TENDED ONE OR NUMEROUS SHOWS."
“We have worked to set the scene the minute you walk through the door—a lot of food and drink, media, makeup and hair activations. That initial buzz when you arrive is so important.’’ The team’s refusal to deviate from two shows a night over three nights, or the September timing of the event—which falls over a long weekend—is testament to their long-term vision for FASHFEST. “We have always tried to focus on the bigger picture and we simply have to get Canberra on the calendar along with the other shows taking place
around the country. We will get there,” says Clint. He describes FASHFEST as a labour of love rather than a money-spinning event. Just yet. Clint notes that in just five years more than 10,000 people have attended one or numerous shows—including a contingent of interstate visitors. “This year year we have been able to raise the bar for quality of design again." Meanwhile Clint’s Salvation Army roots—his parents were both ministers and his now sits on the Salvos board— have inspired a left-of-field show featuring fashion reinvention and serious eco chic, presented by Salvos Stores. Called “Revived” and curated by eco stylist Faye De Lanty, the show promises to upturn conventional perceptions of what constitutes trash and second-hand clothing. It’s a first for FASHFEST. But it doesn’t mean that all the beautiful dresses won’t be out in force. CHARLY THORN’S CREATIONS are so mind-blowing, she is squeezing in FASHFEST around stints at both Los Angeles and Vancouver Fashion Weeks. The invitation to head to Canada came in the mail just weeks after the 18-year-old Cooma resident received a
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"IT I S GRE AT TO SEE HOW FAS H FE ST HAS E VO LVE D AN D BLOOMED INTO SOMETHING SO DISTINCTIVE."
standing ovation at the end of her first solo runway show at FASHFEST 2016, when that other famous Cooma style icon—model Annaliese Seubert—modelled her striking and almost geometric gown. It was Italy that came calling for bridal designer Naomi Hogie, who made her FASHFEST debut in 2016. She will unveil her new Naomi Peris bridal collection—'Fairy Tale Princesses in the Amazon Jungle'—at the invitation-only Milan Fashion Week in late September, before returning home to Canberra to show at FASHFEST’s closing night. “To be featured in Europe is something I had only dreamed of,” says the 37-yearold designer. “My hope is to open up opportunities in Australian fashion and to have my creations—many of which get their inspiration from right here in Canberra—to be carried by Australian companies."
their FASHFEST exposure with full-time retail presence in the city. Braddon’s Assemblage Project represents Karen Lee, Edition, Pure Pod and Stuart the Cat Jewellery. Karen, who is showing again at this year’s FASHFEST, said the annual event had highlighted the burgeoning fashion industry in a town that had previously struggled to shed its conservative, almost anti‑fashion image. “It has definitely helped us get recognition for our distinctive, and what I like to describe as ‘non-trending fashion’, but the industry is still incredibly hard work for any of us in it,” says Karen. Meanwhile, retailers such as Rebel Muse's Alicia Xyrakis notice a definite bump in sales as the FASHFEST season rolls around each year and ticket-holders experience acute wardrobe anxiety. “It has been embedded as a significant annual event and we do notice an increase in traffic as people search for something really stand-out,” says Alicia. She showed a collection of her boutique’s designers in last year’s FASHFEST but will just be an observer this year.
Similarly, FASHFEST alumna, Charne Esterhuizen showed her ground-breaking 3-D printed fashion at Vancouver Fashion Week earlier this year—earning her incredible designs column inches in Chinese Vogue along the way. Demands on her design work preclude her from taking part this year but Charne is grateful for the exposure and experience she received in Canberra before she took her work overseas. Success doesn’t always have to mean international runway exposure, however, with several local designers combining
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and seen their careers took off. While international bookings preclude either model from walking this FASHFEST, Andrea is philosophical. “It’s great—both these girls are serious global talents now. We wish them well and turn our eyes to welcoming other new models to hopefully follow in their footsteps.”
“ I was in Sydney when it started and when I finally got to go I was amazed at how big it was. Fashion is a relatively new idea in this city so it is great to see how FASHFEST has evolved and bloomed into something so distinctive. We really needed it!” Also benefitting from the flow-on effect of an enlivened fashion scene is the modelling industry. Canberra has received a new modelling agency in the form of Haus Models, run by Andrea—a former model herself. Haus has 70 models on its books, and one of the biggest buzzes on the FASHFEST calendar is the massive open model audition, which this year drew around 400 aspirants— including those represented by other major Canberra agencies. Andrea said she was surprised this year about the strong contingent of male models trying out and is always thrilled to see new talent emerge. “I get to see these young models sign up and I think, ‘wow’ where did you just come from?” She has also cast the likes of Zoe Barnard and Ilana Davies for the FASHFEST catwalk in previous years PAGE 46
The creative couple will also welcome “pear-shaped” models to the runway this year. In keeping with their diversity ethos, Clint and Andrea are also including Thunder Thighs among their list of fashion houses— going somewhere most fashion weeks don’t dare—into so-called ‘plus‑sized’ territory. Bronwynne Jones, a self-taught designer, created her label last year specifically to celebrate the pearshaped body and describes her pieces as “sitting in the right places and floating over the wrong ones”.
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“FOR ME IT ENDEAVOURS TO SHOWCASE ALL MEDIUMS OF THE ARTS AND ENCOMPASS ALL FACE TS OF FASHION DESIGN."
While Sarah has sat front-row at several New York Fashion Weeks, and regularly partakes of the Sydney and Melbourne events, she says she appreciates FASHFEST differently. “For me it endeavours to showcase all mediums of the arts and encompass all facets of fashion design. A fashion designer will be featured on the runway but the opportunity is there for that designer to be teamed with a jewellery designer and milliner at the same time. All the while being entertained with local DJ talent and performers that add more of a wow factor—different to just watching a fashion show.” “Yes, it is a little bit of a risk sending someone other than a tall skinny girl down the runway, if that is what your audience expects,” says Andrea. “But we have always embraced difference—in our clothes and in our models. We want the general public to see there is something there for everyone and to portray real clothes for real people as well as the beautiful dresses that you would expect at any fashion show. All we can ask is that people come with an open mind. You can’t please everyone all of the time.” Seasoned fashion observer and longterm FASHFEST devotee Sarah Kelly says Canberra has changed for the better since FASHFEST ignited the city’s sartorial imagination back in 2013.
“The themes and content and quality are comparable with other cities in Australia, but FASHFEST is unique to our capital city, which is just bursting with talent.” Similarly, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is thrilled that Clint and Andrea have stayed the distance. “Five years in, FASHFEST has matured into a great addition to our events calendar. It’s the kind of event that doesn’t just bring in visitors, it shows we’re a cool capital where interesting things happen.” ¡
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D O G ! W O R D S + S T Y L I N G Belinda Neame P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Bean FRANKS GE T FANCY AS WE REINVENT THE C L AS S I C H OT D O G, F O U R WAYS
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tahini D O G
INGREDIENTS 4 C H I C K E N S A U S AG E S ½ C U P C O L E S L AW – M I X O F R E D A N D W H I T E C A B B AG E A N D C A R R OT 3 TA B L E S P O O N S R E D W I N E V I N E G A R 2 TA B L E S P O O N S P L A I N YO G H U R T 2 TA B L E S P O O N S TA H I N I 2 S P R I N G O N I O N S, S L I C E D S A LT & P E P P E R TO TA S T E 4 H OT D O G R O L L S *
METHOD
Cook the sausages according to the package directions. Mix together the coleslaw, vinegar, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl mix together the yoghurt, tahini and two tablespoons of water. Place the cooked sausages in each bun and top with coleslaw and yoghurt mix. Finish off with a sprinkle of spring onion and serve.
* We use Saigon rolls for the crunchy outside and soft middle.
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Ba hn m i D O G
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
4 P O R K S AU S AG E S
Cook the sausages according to the package directions. Place the mayonnaise and Tabasco in a small bowl and mix. Taste, and add more Tabasco if needed.
¼ C U P M AYO N N A I S E 1 TA B L E S P O O N TA B A S C O S AU C E ¼ C U C U M B E R, T H I N LY S L I C E D 1 L A R G E C A R R OT, G R AT E D ¼ C U P M I N T L E AV E S 2 S M A L L R E D C H I L L I E S, T H I N LY SLICED 4 H OT D O G R O L L S *
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Place the cooked sausages in each bun and top with mayonnaise mix, carrot, cucumber and mint. Finish with chilli for extra bite!
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Salsa D O G
INGREDIENTS 4 X B E E F S A U S AG E S ½ C U P O F S A L S A M I X – TO M ATO, CORN, RED ONION AND CORIANDER 1/ 3 C U P G R AT E D TA S T Y C H E E S E ¼ C U P C H I P OT L E M AYO N N A I S E S A LT A N D P E P P E R TO TA S T E 4 H OT D O G R O L L S *
METHOD
Cook the sausages according to the package directions. Place the cooked chorizo in each bun and top with salsa, cheese and mayonnaise. Finish with an extra topping of coriander and salt and pepper.
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Por k d og W I T H
C H O R I Z O
+
A P P L E
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
4 P O R K S AU S AG E S
Cook the sausages according to the package directions.
2 TSP OLIVE OIL 1 C H O R I ZO, F I N E LY C H O P P E D 1 L A R G E R E D O N I O N , H A LV E D, T H I N LY S L I C E D 1 LO N G F R E S H R E D C H I L L I , T H I N LY S L I C E D 1 GRANNY SMITH APPLE, P E E L E D, C U T I N TO 1C M P I E C E S 2 1/2 T S P B R O W N S U G A R 2 5 0 M L (1 C U P) A P P L E C I D E R B A BY R O C K E T, TO S E R V E A M E R I C A N M U S TA R D, TO S E R V E 4 H OT D O G R O L L S *
To make the relish, heat oil over medium-low heat in a fry pan. Add the chorizo, stirring, for four minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate with paper towel to drain. Cook the onion and chilli over low heat, stirring, for five minutes or until soft. Add the apple and cook for five minutes or until soft. Stir in the sugar and cook until caramelised. Add the cider. Return the chorizo to the pan. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until liquid is evaporated. Season with pepper. Place the cooked sausages in each bun and top with relish and finish with rocket and a drizzle of mustard.
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The mask of MOTHERHOOD W O R D S Laura Peppas HAVI NG A BABY I S ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOU S MOMENTS IN LIFE, BUT IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST D I F F I C U LT A D J U S T M E N T S . S O W H Y, I N T H E A G E O F OV E R S H A R I N G , D O E S I T S T I L L F E E L TA B O O TO S AY S O?
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"I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING FORCED TO ABANDON EVERYTHING I WAS—A WRITER, FRIEND, WIFE, T R AV E L L E R— F O R T H I S T I N Y, S C R E A M I N G H U M A N ."
THERE WAS JUST ONE MOMENT, throughout my surprisingly enjoyable pregnancy, that would really give me an indication of what was to come. It wasn’t that episode of Friends where Rachel gives birth to a beautiful baby girl and a few episodes later is back at work, as fabulous as ever. It wasn’t the many Instagram mummies with their glossy hair and Seed-clad little ones tucked neatly on their hip, waxing poetic about the journey that is motherhood. It wasn’t my prenatal classes, which focussed so much on the impending labour rather than the aftermath. It wasn’t even a visit to friends who had babies, because that only ever offered a mere glimpse of what was in store. It was a moment at the end of my final prenatal check-up, when my midwife made the parting comment: “You know the women who find motherhood the hardest? The ones who need to have everything ‘just so'; who always need to be in control. They’re the ones who struggle most in those first few months.”
As a self-confessed control freak, a tiny alarm bell triggered. Before then, I was under the misguided illusion that somehow, my baby would magically fit into my life, not vice versa. This is going to be tougher than you think, I realised. Now when I look back at those first few weeks post-baby, I remember running to the mirror to put on makeup before people visited, hurriedly trying to clean the house while my baby screamed, and trying to squeeze my sore, engorged breasts and postpartum belly into my old clothes. It sounds terribly self-indulgent and foolish, but a part of me felt I needed to be like those smiling, shiny-haired mothers. Look how in control I am. I’m still me. I can do this. I just couldn’t embrace motherhood for what it really was, and the imperfections that undeniably came with it. What’s worse, I couldn’t help but think what I knew I should never say out loud—I want my old life back. I felt like I was being forced to abandon everything I was—a writer, friend, wife, traveller—for this tiny, screaming human. My days had swiftly gone from a job interviewing successful business people and politicians to feeling lucky if I had the time to drag my aching limbs into the shower for ten minutes.
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"I WASN’T BRAVE ENOUGH TO TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH WHEN IT CAME TO MOTHERHOOD: THAT I WAS CO M PLE TE LY OVE RWH E LM E D AN D HAD AB SO LU TE LY N O I D E A WHAT I WAS DOING."
Not even my body was mine anymore: my breasts were simply an alarm clock telling me when it was time for a feed, my hair was shedding from raging hormones and I had headaches from grinding my teeth in my sleep (a subconscious way to release stress, according to my dentist.) Though I was grateful that I could grow life and in awe of my baby, I struggled to accept my ‘new’ self. Yet I felt compelled to smile, to tell everyone what a blessing motherhood was. It felt taboo to say anything else, for fear of appearing ungrateful— because I knew there were thousands of women sitting in IVF clinics who would kill to be in my position, or single mothers battling it out alone. In the past, I’d never had a problem telling people when I was snowed
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under at work or stressed with study, but for some reason I wasn’t brave enough to tell people the truth when it came to motherhood: that I was completely overwhelmed and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Swaddling, settling, breastfeeding? I was in over my head, and I’d never felt more isolated in my life. My husband tried to be supportive but when it was time for him to go back to work, resentment set in. There he was neatly slotting back into his old life, while I was stuck at home in this new, unfamiliar, scary territory. Before giving birth to her baby boy two years ago, Sarah Freeman* thought motherhood was going to be “walks around Lake Burley Griffin with the pram, wearing expensive activewear and drinking a cappuccino whilst laughing with my new mummy friends.”
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“I had a constant feeling of impending doom and started having panic attacks. As soon as my little boy arrived, I started having very scary thoughts and the panic attacks increased to the point that they were debilitating. I found an amazing psychologist straight away but it took more than a year until I felt like I was on the road to recovery. “I did try to put a brave face on with some friends, because I felt embarrassed that I was struggling when it seemed so easy for other people.”
“The reality was I was exhausted, felt very fat and unattractive, had no idea what I was doing and was in shock about how much things had changed,” Sarah says. “I thought after having a baby I would 'snap' back straight away until I realised the 20kg I gained wasn't just baby and placenta (it may have also been cake), and I felt that my career had gone to shit.” For the first year of her baby’s life, Sarah suffered from postnatal anxiety, which, along with postnatal depression, is becoming increasingly common among both Australian women and men. “On reflection, my struggle with antenatal anxiety started during my pregnancy,” Sarah says.
More than ever before, we have access to a wildly overwhelming amount of information on parenting: from books, forums and apps, to social pages telling you what not to do. With one snap of a stranger’s camera, our parenting flaws are so easily exposed to the world. That easy exposure can in turn increase your level of paranoia: Am I holding my baby right? Should I be feeding them this? Are they judging me for using formula instead of breastfeeding? It could also be the reason why many mothers are compelled to put on a brave face, even when struggling—a recent survey by Pregnancy, Birth and Baby showed one in three parents are reluctant to seek advice due to fear of being judged or seen as a failure. Another major shift in motherhood today is that we are often told we can ‘have it all’: the booming career, baby, relationship and social life. It’s a positive thing, of course, but it could also be why some new mums feel extra pressure on their shoulders. “I feel the generations before us have had a very different experience with motherhood,” says mother of one Claire Sainsbury.
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“After marrying, many women stopped working to focus on raising a family. Now women are having babies later in life, when we’ve established good careers, friendships, routines—so it could be one of the reasons why it feels like it takes longer to adjust.” New mum Javier Steel admits she set “ridiculously high standards” for herself before the birth of her baby girl, Odessa. “I thought that I could still ‘do it all’, despite having a baby,” Javier says. “I would work, create, socialise, travel—I wouldn’t use motherhood as an excuse for not doing things. I guess I thought that I’d be really good at motherhood and that I’d magically have these maternal instincts that would kick in and make me some kind of Nigella-esque domestic goddess who was an amazing, effortless, chic mum. But once Odessa was born I [felt I] had lost my identity. "I was no longer Javier, Creative Director, who had something to show for all of my hard work. I was suddenly a mum and at the end of each day, my husband would come home and ask me what I did. I would tell him, ‘the same as yesterday—my life is like Groundhog Day.’ Our relationship dynamics changed: I was almost resentful of him because he got to leave the house, go to work, talk to people, make money—achieve things. I didn’t feel fulfilled or challenged, I had no creative outlet, I missed my friends and I missed the freedom of being able to leave the house without having to plan hours in advance.” Javier says she realised that you can still “have it all,” just perhaps not all at once. PAGE 58
“I think you just need to learn that you can have/do all the things, but that you might have to wait. If nothing else, motherhood teaches you patience,” she says. “I guess that I wish that people would be more ‘real’ about what it’s like to become a mother. I [also] wish I knew that it would pass and that it would get better every day. Being a mother would no longer be a burden, it would be an honour.” Though the online world may have created extra anxiety for new parents, it is also responsible for some positive change—we now have access to more support than ever before, with
"I THOUGHT THAT I ’D B E R E ALLY G O O D AT MOTHERHOOD AND THAT I ’D MAG I C ALLY HAVE THESE MATERNAL INSTINC TS THAT WOULD KICK IN."
MAGA ZINE I S S U E NO.10
a wide range of mother’s groups, playgroups, and online support networks which encourage people to “reach out” if they’re struggling. Local networks such as Canberra Mums and Mums Exercise Group Australia (MEGA) are growing increasingly popular while new online group ‘No Mum Left Behind,’ is designed to combat the isolation and loneliness that can accompany mums by encouraging other mothers to connect, whether it be a "walking buddy, coffee date, playgroup pal or someone to cry into a bottle of wine with.” “I really believe that you never know the impact of reaching out to someone who could be having a tough time, even if they look like they have it together—you never know what someone can be going through,” co-founder Nikki says. My own “reach out” moment came from one of the most unlikely situations. I was walking home from doing the groceries, trying to navigate the trolley in one hand while holding the baby in the carrier in the other, when a young man passing by in a suit walking past called out: "You're doing an awesome job.” With those five words, a stranger had lifted my day, and I walked home feeling a little lighter. After that, when I started focusing on the simplicity of “doing an awesome job” of keeping my baby alive and well, something shifted. I knew I’d eventually be back at work, go out to dinner and feel like myself again. My breasts would stop hurting, the stretch marks would fade. But that could all wait. For now, my life was focused on raising a healthy and happy little girl—and like anything else, there would be good and bad days. And when I finally accepted it for what it was, the real beauty of the journey my daughter and I were on revealed itself. As the weeks turned into months, my screaming newborn became a giggling little girl who smiled whenever we tickled her knees, nuzzled her head into my neck when I picked her up and held my hand while I fed her. I realised I’d relive those difficult first few months again, just to see who she is today. But next time, I won’t be so afraid to tell it like it is. ¡ * Name has been changed
MACH NURSING SERVICE
The ACT Government’s Maternal and Child Health (MACH) Nursing Service assists parents with support, information and health advice. health.act.gov.au | 02 6207 9977
H E A LT H D I R E C T
Healthdirect Australia is a telephone health advice and information service. healthdirect.gov.au | 1800 022 222 (free call, 24 hours) AUSTR ALIAN BREASTFEEDING A S S O C I AT I O N
Breastfeeding support and information are available from Australian Breastfeeding Association volunteers via the Breastfeeding Helpline. breastfeeding.asn.au | 1800 686 268 (free call) PA N D S I
PANDSI plays a vital role in providing support to Canberra parents affected by post or ante natal depression. Services include a weekly daytime support group, one on one support and a telephone support program. pandsi.org | 02 6288 1936 CANBERRA AND REGION M U LT I P L E B I R T H A S S O C I AT I O N
CARMBA is a support network for parents and carers of twins, triplets, and more. carmba.org.au | 0430 202 894 PREGNANCY B IR TH & BABY
A confidential phone and online service providing information, advice and counselling about pregnancy, childbirth and baby's first year. pregnancybirthbaby.org.au | 1800 882 436 (free call)
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T WO for the
ROAD SOMEBODY SAID ‘GE T A LIFE ’ SO THEY DID
Nastja wears custom jacket (worn throughout) $49.95 from Zara; Milana scarf and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi sunglasses (worn throughout), both available at David Jones, Canberra Centre. Molly wears custom jacket (worn throughout) $49.95 from Zara; Nude Lucy top $39.95 available at David Jones Canberra Centre; Sportsgirl bandana (worn throughout) $12.95; earrings by ZARIĆ Jewellery, zaricjewellery.com.
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Denim jacket $174.30 by Nobody Denim and RE shirt $69.95, both available at David Jones, Canberra Centre; jeans $49.95 by Zara. At right: Silk dress with slip, $989, by Lee Mathews and jacket, $369, by Viktoria + Woods, both available at David Jones, Canberra Centre; vintage cowboy boots, available at Zoo Emporium, 02 9380 5990.
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Lee Mathews silk blouse $399 and silk camisole (worn underneath) $189, both by available at David Jones, Canberra Centre; skirt $39.95 by Zara; vintage hat and cowboy boots, both available at Zoo Emporium, 02 9380 5990; belt, model's own.
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Jacket $199 by Zara; Levi jeans $69.99, available at David Jones, Canberra Centre; Brigalow hat $69.95, available at Route 66, 02 9331 6686.
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Nastja wears Nude Lucy top $29.95 and Levi jeans $69.99, available at David Jones Canberra Centre; vintage bolo tie necklace and cowboy hat, both available at Zoo Emporium, 02 9380 5990; earrings by ZARIĆ Jewellery, zaricjewellery.com; Zara choker necklace. Molly wears C&M Camilla & Marc top $89 and Levi jeans $69.99, both available at David Jones Canberra Centre; earrings by ZARIĆ Jewellery, zaricjewellery.com.
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Dress $1289 by Ellery at Pink Ink Boutique; vintage bolo tie necklace and cowboy hat, both available at Zoo Emporium, 02 9380 5990; Brigalow hat $69.95, available at Route 66, 02 9331 6686. At right: Jacket $980 by Maje, us.maje.com; Sandro Paris tee $119, 02 9412 4886.
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B E H I N D
the
S C E N E S
C R E AT I V E D I R EC TO R + S T Y L I S T H AY L E Y O’ N E I L L PHOTOGRAPHER LAUREN CAMPBELL CO O R D I NATO R B E L I N DA N E AM E MAKE UP ARTIST AMY CAPEDA H A I R S T Y L I S T K AT E L E G G AT T, S A S S H A I R D E Z I G N M O D E L S M O L LY F O L K A R D A N D N A S TJ A Z A R I Ć S P E C I A L T H A N K S M A R T Y A N D L E A N N E O ' S U L L I V A N F O R H O S P I TA L I T Y, H O U S E A N D C A R
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Stirring the
POT W O R D S Emma Macdonald P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Bean
W O M E N H AV E H I S TO R I C A L LY B E E N C O N S I G N E D TO T H E K I T C H E N — O R R E L E G A T E D T O S E R V I N G F O O D A N D D R I N K— Y E T F E W H AV E T R A D I T I O N A L LY R E AC H E D P O S I T I O N S O F P O W E R, S E L F ‑ D E T E R M I N AT I O N A N D C R E AT I VI T Y I N T H E M AL E‑ D O M I N AT E D R E S TAU R A N T A N D B E V E R AG E I N D U S T RY. H E R E A R E F O U R CANBERRA-BASED WOMEN WHO ARE CAUSING A STIR.
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Maggie Beer “to challenge these ideas of domination”. And she has, in turn, helped forge a path supporting other women to rise within the industry. But she is also philosophical about it, noting hospitality is no different to, say, the corporate world, academia—or life, really. “Women in hospitality would map the same struggle that women have had forever and a day for any sort of equality.” Meanwhile, Janet offers a sage observation on the true nature of the work and an indication of her deep commitment to the industry.
K A T E
H I B B E R S O N
“WOMEN IN HOSPITALIT Y WOU LD
JANET JEFFS has strong opinions on women in professional kitchens. The industry stalwart, director and executive chef of Ginger Catering at the National Arboretum, has amassed six chef hats in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide over her 40-year career.
MAP THE SAME STRUGGLE THAT WOMEN HAVE HAD FORE VER AND A DAY FOR ANY SORT OF EQUALIT Y.”
She could “write a treatise” on the gender imbalance she has witnessed over four decades in hospitality and one can only imagine how difficult it must have been forging a career when she got her first break in 1976 as an apprentice to Cheong Liew at Adelaide’s famed Neddy’s Restaurant. Instead of dwelling on the male dominance she had to navigate, Janet has looked to great women chefs, cooks and food writers like Elizabeth David, Julia Child, Margaret Fulton and
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“There’s no romance in what we do as chefs, no celebrity, despite what TV will tell you. It’s hard professional work. I’m committed to my craft, and teaching my apprentices, and there have been very many. I’m committed to my suppliers, farmers and customers who have a sovereign right to good, clean, fair food, and I’m up for a good long fight to protect that.” “The key to manifesting a working environment that attracts and retains chefs is treating them as individuals. The industry needs to work on its representation, conditions and image to achieve a truly diverse workforce. Hopefully before too long, this point will no longer need to be made.” KATE HIBBERSON has had to confront not only a gender bias in being a wine expert, but also an age bias. The 32-year old is a sommelier and helps run Mount Majura Vineyard. But on any given week you may find her talking—or pouring—wine at the vineyard, The Boat House, or Pod Food, which she and her husband John Leverink have run for seven years.
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J A N E T
J E F F S
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“I HAVE WORKED WITH AND FOR SOME GRE AT MEN AND I DON’T THINK MY GENDER HAS EVER H E LD M E BACK”.
While Kate is ably experienced and qualified—she is currently completing her Wine Spirit Education Trust Level 4 Diploma with the Sydney Wine Academy and holds a Bachelor of Tourism Management from the University of Canberra—she has been challenged on her abilities. “I would say that when I began as an assistant manager at The Boat House (when I was younger), it was more about the customers not respecting me as a woman in my position. Often people would go to the male casual staff who would then kindly point to me.” Kate learned early to “over-prepare and brief for every event so that men in charge that might look past me learnt they could trust in my abilities. But I don’t think I would have had to work as hard to earn that trust as a male.” As for her colleagues, she is happy to report “I have worked with and for some great men and I don’t think my gender has ever held me back.” And if any customers need convincing, Kate has recently passed all her tasting and theory exams, including blind-tasting 12 wines, determining their vintage and provenance, then writing a dissertation on their aromas, flavours, structure, and quality. She wouldn’t put such work and hours into her profession were it not for an all-consuming passion. “My world these days revolves around wine—I love that wine combines history, culture, geography and pleasure.”
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Kate has also witnessed a greater gender balance in the industry the longer she works in it. “Certainly as a sommelier it was a very male-dominated role in the past. But with my current studies, there seems to be an even distribution of males and females studying and taking on the roles.” YOU MIGHT ASSUME the world of beer would be a tough one to crack into for women. But Tracy Margrain has found her career in owning and running a brewery has been one relatively free from gender constraints. In fact, Tracy has taken great pleasure from watching other talented Canberra women get a foothold in the local beer scene as it grows in national stature. Tracey dipped her toe in the cider—which she helped crush—when she began working at the Wig and Pen after she finished college. She then spent a decade of running a landscaping company before returning to beer in 2013 when she and her partner Richard started up the Braddon beer phenomenon that is BentSpoke Brewing Co. Tracy has also completed a commercial cookery course and a diploma of hospitality management. “I have worked in every aspect of the business at BentSpoke since it opened. I have been a door person, cook, bar person, stock controller, cider crusher. Since Mitchell has opened I have become a canning line operator and am a trainee brewer at Braddon.”
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Poncellamont in France. Her father’s passion and tutelage convinced her to follow in his footsteps and we can all be thankful for that each time we visit Monster Kitchen and Bar at Hotel Hotel to partake of her macarons, crème brûlée, financiers, clafoutis, and chocolate truffles. Angélique’s mastery of sugar was broadcast to the nation when she scored a perfect 30 points for her Green Tea, Coconut and Raspberry dessert as a guest chef on the ratings juggernaut that is MasterChef Australia. Things have been pretty crazy since then.
A N G É L I Q U E
“I THINK THAT WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO CARRY ON WHAT YO U WA N T, YO U JUST JUMP AND DO I T—WHATE VE R TH E PRICE."
P E R E T T O
In her eight years on-and-off in the industry, Tracy believes “there has definitely been a swing in women taking on male-dominated job positions. It's great to see so many women owning and running successful businesses in Canberra and I think it's great for younger females to see strong women succeeding in a diverse range of jobs in the industry,” she says. Beer, according to Tracy, is surprisingly democratic. “There is a really great community of people, it doesn't matter the size of your brewery, age, or gender, everybody is supportive of each other.” ANGÉLIQUE PERETTO first began her love affair with cooking working alongside her father at their family‑run hotel restaurant, L’ Auberge du
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But the star pastry chef has something of a tunnel vision when it comes to her art and has never let anyone—male or female—distract her from the course. “I never felt different in any kitchen where I worked because it is simply what I really wanted to do, male environment or not. Then, I never let there be any room for being criticised professionally by men—or women.” “I think that when you are willing to carry on what you want, you just jump and do it—whatever the price to pay.” She has found men in the industry have been supportive of her abilities and she has never had to question being a female chef. “I never try to get something by confrontation and really think that today one of the problems of our society is that everyone absolutely wants to stand up for something and to raise differences—which is great— but my perspective our strength is in the union.” ¡
Wine + food festival, 18 + 19 November
Life is sweet in the King Valley
Canberra Albury
King Valley
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Bookings and information winesofthekingvalley.com.au #ladolcevita #visitkingvalley
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W O R D S Emma Macdonald P H O T O G R A P H Y Tim Bean I T ’ S A FA M I L I A R S C E N A R I O I N C I T I E S A R O U N D T H E C O U N T RY. YOUNG COUPLE FALLS IN LOVE AND BUYS A HOME TOGE THER. THEY CHOOSE SOMETHING SMALL IN AN OUTER SUBURB AND AS T H E I R FA M I LY G R O W S , T H E Y A D D R O O M S O R M O V E TO A L A R G E R P L AC E C LO S E R TO T H E C I T Y. E XC E P T W H E N YO U A R E B E L I N DA N E A M E A N D T I M B E A N A N D YO U WA N T TO S TAY E X AC T LY W H E R E YO U A R E .
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THE CREATIVE couple behind Canberra’s thriving street food event, The Forage, have deliberately chosen a different path when it comes to home ownership. For Belinda and Tim, the tiny rundown home they first spotted almost 20 years ago in Belinda’s childhood suburb of Fraser has become an oasis. While they have extensively renovated, they have resisted the time-honoured practice of adding more bedrooms and bathrooms. And even though their finances would now allow, they feel no need to leave the quiet cul-de-sac
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close to bushland that has allowed their children to grow up enjoying fresh air, peace and community. But that is not to say this home is not as magazine-worthy as any grand abode on Canberra’s dress circle. This is due to two factors. Belinda has a stylist’s eye—her day job involves overseeing the look and feel of HerCanberra’s Magazine—and Tim has a flair for photography which is increasingly seeing him shoot top restaurants and local creatives in and around his career as a firefighter.
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“ I AM NOT A RI S K-TAKE R BY NATURE BUT I HAVE BACKED MYSELF NOT TO GO WITH THE MAINSTREAM WHEN IT COMES TO MY HOUSE."
Together the pair, who met in college, have combined their finely-honed aesthetic senses to create a home that oozes style yet warmth—a home that first and foremost is a haven for their two teenaged children, Fletcher and Tilly, and a home that fosters closeness and communication between a tightknit family. “We want this home to be a place where the four of us can relax and relate to each other, where we don’t have the kids wandering off down one end of the house and never talking to us. We have been really strategic about keeping it small and keeping those communal spaces really conducive to conversation.” This includes removing a television from their front room, where a large fireplace and charcoal grey sofas laden with cushions provide for a restful homecoming.
“I just can’t put into words how much I love it and how successful it is in bringing us all together. Sometimes we just sit and talk, and I never need to start a conversation with the kids, they just start talking about their days of their own accord. Other times we play board games, or sometimes we just sit and watch the flames flicker.” Last year, after much soul-searching, the couple undertook a major renovation, having updated the kitchen and added a family room off the kitchen earlier on.
Belinda, unashamedly a Canberra Winter-lover, said she had waited almost the entire time she had lived in the house to install the fireplace. Now it is here it has surpassed her every expectation.
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“The floors I adore, the shutters were a risk because we went with something so dramatic but they turned out to be perfect.” While they made their existing bathroom much larger, the couple consciously decided not to add a second bathroom, nor add another bedroom with ensuite. “We just thought about where we are in life—Fletcher is 15 now, so we won’t have him at home for much longer. Do we want a house with all these extra rooms and bathrooms when it is just me and Tim? And apart from that, who wants to spend their spare time cleaning?” Belinda laughs. The decision to stay small and bespoke has also had follow-on advantages. Belinda and Tim’s dollars went much further, allowing them to invest in finishes that will stand the test of time. Among them a spotted-gum hardwood floor throughout, new double-glazed windows and statement black plantation shutters.
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Belinda says she has always followed her heart when it comes to the look and feel of her home. “I am not a risk-taker by nature but I have backed myself not to go with the mainstream when it comes to my house. For instance, my head was telling me to go with white shutters because they go with everything but in the end I just had to do the opposite.”
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“I trust my own taste and I layer the belongings I love. I say go with your gut. If you love it you’ll make it work.” Having said that, Belinda has also pared things back after the renovations. “I used to like a bit of clutter, but when we emptied the house out to start the work, I realised I could live without a lot of it. That is not to say I am a slave to contemporary minimalism, but I like the cleaner lines and the focus on really bespoke pieces.” One of the upshots of waiting this long to renovate is that Belinda and Tim have both developed a similar style. Or perhaps an ability to trust in the other’s choices. “We didn’t really argue about any of it, and Tim project-managed the whole thing. I don’t think that would have been the case 10 years ago—we must have both matured since then!” And as you tour the home, you see a beautiful partnership unfold. Belinda lists among her most treasured possessions a beautiful antique hardwood tallboy that Tim bought her for her 21st birthday. They also have a few vintage pieces, like an armchair in the front lounge room, vintage fire extinguisher and fire bucket (for obvious reasons!) and a few crystal pieces from their grandmothers. A Wild Horses photographic print by Kara Rosenlund was a surprise Christmas present from Tim for Belinda
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last year. “I lusted over it for a couple of years, and it is now a major talking point with everyone that walks in the front door.” Meanwhile a Dulton Ivory Drawer Cabinet also sits in the entry hall and sets the tone and mood to the home. “It was our first expensive piece of furniture after having the kids and I call it our 'investment piece'! I hope it is a piece that becomes an heirloom in our family one day.” A World Map by Telegram Paper Goods was ordered as the focal point for Fletcher’s room when he moved out of his ‘little boy stage’ and every single bed or sofa has an ample supply of Pony Rider cushions—a love of Belinda’s that borders on obsessive.
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"I SAY GO WITH YOUR GUT. IF YOU LOVE IT YOU ’LL MAKE IT WORK."
Black Highbay Lampshades by Industria X in Melbourne sit over the kitchen sink to add an industrial feel while a genuine German beer hall table and benches has been the setting for many a family dinner or informal dinner party. Meanwhile, Belinda’s passion to support local Canberra designers and makers is evident wherever you look: one of her favourite artworks, a NORTH I print by Lean Timms; ceramic pieces by Bison and artists such as Sophie Moran and Girl Nomad placed perfectly around the kitchen. A special love is the custom wreath by Moxom & Whitney which sits above their bed. “I absolutely love that it is a one-off, original piece just for us.” You can imagine in 10 years from now, Belinda and Tim will still be enjoying their fireplace and small-but-perfectlyformed home, while the kids come and go with their own lives. “If I am completely honest, I am happy with that. We love Fraser, we love this city and we have absolutely no plans for anything different”. ¡
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HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
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Shanghai There is so much logic to breaking up that gruelling flight to Europe with a few days in China. Especially when you have young kids in tow. Certainly, adjusting to new time zones is made more gentle for the stay. Shanghai is a surprisingly well‑ordered city considering it’s the most populous in the world. It has a monumental skyline and a touch of European charm within its French Concession.
S TAY
P L AY
Checking in at Le Royal Méridien we are in a hectically busy commercial intersection, but only a few minutes’ stroll from The Bund—a beautiful waterfront promenade where you and possibly 50,000 Chinese tourists can indulge in some selfies.
A word of warning, China’s most sophisticated city is now expensive. If you are keen for a cheap Asian stopover this is not it.
LE ROYAL MÉRIDIEN SHA NGHAI
789 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai leroyalmeridienshanghai.com E AT
"YOU MUST NOT LEAVE BEFORE YOU HAVE DUMPLINGS, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME, ANY PL ACE."
There is no shortage of incredible food in this city (we sneak in a child‑free dinner at Barbarossa People's Park, 231 Nanjing Xi Lu) and you must not leave before you have dumplings, anywhere, anytime, any place. BARBAROSSA
Nanjing Road is an impressive shopping strip with glossy designer malls punctuating every second block. But you will be competing with the new uber-rich Chinese. The French Concession is a beautiful (and cheaper) stroll, and if you want something cheesy, take the train through a neon-light encrusted tunnel under The Bund to get to Pudong. Frankly we find it hard to convince our kids to leave the magnificent hotel pool under a glass roof on the 66th floor. Luckily the credit cards survive the three days before we head to Finland.
231 Nanjing Xi Lu Facebook @barbarossashanghai
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Helsinki Oh how I love this city. Even the Finnair flight has me smitten (thanks to Marimekko blankets and champagne served in Iittala’s Ultima Thule glasswear). While we arrive in “summer” there is a stiff ocean breeze that sends us rummaging through our luggage for our Canberra winter jackets. After all, you are flying just about as far north on the globe as you can—next stop Arctic Circle. The cobbled streets of Helsinki are pristine, and reflect the incredible midnight sun (yes, that’s right, in summer it doesn’t get dark until about 2am and the sun rises again at 4am).
S TAY
We choose to stay in a prison. That may sound less than hospitable but the Hotel Katajanokka has been beautifully reconditioned since it started taking inmates in 1837. HOTEL K ATAJA NOKK A
Merikasarminkatu 1, 00160 Helsinki hotelkatajanokka.fi/en/ E AT
The season of white nights signals a time for Helsinki-ites to either get out of the city or eat out, so it can be difficult getting a table in some places. For health and environmentally conscious travellers Helsinki is a dream—organic, locally-grown and sustainable food is sold with passion and food and packaging waste is suitably frowned upon (you won’t see Finns wandering around toting takeaway coffees).
For something really ridiculous, we try a Viking restaurant Ravintola Harald. The two meat-eaters among us (that would be father and son, not to name names) shock the other half of the family by ordering both beaver and reindeer in one meal. And they eat it. R AVINTOL A HAR ALD
Citykäytävä, Aleksanterinkatu 21, 00100 Helsinki | ravintolaharald.fi P L AY
The prison—sorry, hotel—is a short stroll from the waterfront of the South Harbour. There is much to do at this end of the city, from catching the views in the massive London Eye-style Ferris wheel to sipping a coffee or cocktail by the freezing open-air pools (dear God, these Finns are made of stern stuff), and a large handicraft market heavy in reindeer products is open each day, drawing constant crowds. Of course, now would be a brilliant time to visit some of the numerous excellent galleries displaying some of that unspeakably cool Finnish design aesthetic. But our stay falls over a Monday and alas, every gallery and the Design District is shut. We determine to come back for further adventures. Just not in winter. Next stop Spain.
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San Sebastian What a joy to thaw out after a Nordic “summer”. Spain is worth a visit any time of year, but San Sebastian is a jewel in the Spanish crown for fans of sparkling blue harbours and a pervasive culture of hanging out in bars stuffing one’s face with food and washing it down with sangria. S TAY
We settle into a furnished apartment, Welcome Gros Hotel, and I rejoice in the joys of finding a washing machine in the kitchen. WELCOME GROS HOTEL APARTMENTOS
Iparragirre Kalea, 3, 20001 San Sebastián | welcomegros.com E AT
San Sebastian is famous for its Pinxtos—platters of what we would consider to be hors d'oeuvres with Spanish influences—think Iberico ham, olives, anchovies, eggs and octopus. The process can be a little confusing for the uninitiated and it is very informal. You walk into the bar of your choice (the best ones are located in the old town) and ask for a plate. You place your delicacies on the plate, they count how many. Somehow it seems they manage to keep tabs on what everyone eats and it all works out in the end.
You could eat pinxtos three times a day and never consume the same thing twice. Special mention goes to La Vina for hands-down the most insane Basque burnt cheesecake the world has ever seen. A certain Australian family may or may not have visited twice in one day. But we probably aren’t the first to do so. We also made a few repeat visits to Gerald’s Bar, originally starting in Melbourne and now being run by a very competent team in one of the most competitive markets in the world. It is everything a bar should be—intimate, understated and delivering the most perfectly curated cheese platter and generous Aperol spritz of all time. The important things. L A VINA
31 de Agosto Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa | lavinarestaurante.com
P L AY
It’s more than 100 years old and it seems to defy the laws of physics but a trip to Mont Iqueldo on the wooden furnicular is not only fun, but will give you some spinetingling views of the possibly the prettiest harbour in the world. There is a fun park at the top (Dreamworld fresh in our mind, we decline) and instead allow a sunshine-filled play on the large open park to the right of the sweeping beachfront, before you hit the old town. SA N SEBASTIA N FUNICUL AR
Plaza del Funicular, 4 20008 monteigueldo.es Sadly, our short stay is over too soon, but we are thrilled to be leaving for France.
GER ALD’S BAR
Iprragirre Kalea, 13, 20001 Donostia, Gipuzkoa | geraldsbar.e PAGE 93
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Dordogne While travelling with children can have its challenges, the advantage is that if you are organised, you can pool your resources with your other parent-friends plagued by wanderlust and book a castle in the Dordogne without squandering your offspring’s inheritance. We have a group of nine great friends, all with young kids around the same age, and we have travelled overseas on a number of occasions. You can’t make this sort of commitment without knowing each other well. S TAY
This trip takes the cake in terms of our accommodation, Maison des Sarrasins, which is right out of a movie (it is, actually—the French film Chocolat was partly filmed in the village of Beynac).
Kids take bedrooms down one end of the villa, and apart from making sure an adult is always rostered on pool duty (the pool is carved into the rock cliff face and looks out over the Dordogne), it is a time where both parties can do their own thing, and what childhood memories are made of.
We also fit in a quick trip to a local Michelin-starred bistro Le Grand Bleu which, while very 1990s in décor, serves three beautiful seafood-based courses and a peach soufflé.
MAISON DES SARR ASINS
LE DONJON
Le Bourg, 24220 Beynac-et-Cazenac sarrasins.fr
24220, Beynac-et-Cazenac
SARL AT-L A-CA NEDA
sarlat-tourisme.com/en/sarlat-market
LE GR A ND BLEU E AT
Frankly, we never stop. From buying the most incredible local produce at the local Sarlat Market and cooking in our massive kitchen to climbing the cobbled path up the hill and partaking of steak frites at Le Donjon.
43 Avenue de la Gare, 24200, Sarlat-laCanéda | legrandbleu.eu P L AY
There is no shortage of it with 10 kids on site. But the highlights include kayaking down the Dordogne, learning how to make a perfect goats cheese tart and chocolate soufflé at a cooking school Le Chevrefeuille, and exploring the exceptional gardens and castles of the region. Adult play was ending most days with champagne by the pool and cheese. So much cheese. LE CHEVREFEUILLE
Pechboutier, St Cyprien, 24220 lechevrefeuille.com It is truly a wrench to leave after eight days, but Mother Russia is calling. PAGE 94
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St Pet er sbu rg After a tedious travel day involving a drive to Paris, plane to Helsinki and train to St Petersburg, we arrive safe and sound. S TAY
We are booked into 3MostA Boutique Hotel not so much for the quaint beauty of the hotel but for the beauty of what lies outside of it. Our street runs off a small canal making St Petersburg look and feel eerily similar to Venice. We turn a corner and there is the
most magnificent gelato-coloured Cathedral—the Church on the Saviour of Spilled Blood—rising before us. A lone busker strums a haunting melody on his guitar and I might just burst into tears at the beauty of it all. I could write an entire feature on St Petersburg—how historic, majestic, enormous and overwhelming it is. But it is also surprisingly cosmopolitan, fashion-conscious, luxurious and food-centric. 3MOSTA BOUTIQUE HOTEL
3 Moyka Embankment (Naberezhnaya r. Moyki), St Petersburg 3mosta.com E AT
Our first restaurant is the nearby fine-diner Italian, Goose Goose. The next day we journey to Korushka in the Peter and Paul Fortress where we experience a Georgian staple, khachapuri.
More bready than pizza, more cheesy than bread, it is instantaneously addictive. GOOSE GOOSE
27, Sankt-Peterburg, Leningrad Oblast italy-group.ru KORUSHK A
Zayachiy Island, 3 Petropavlovskaya Krepost | en.ginza.ru P L AY
You cannot visit St Petersburg without experiencing the Hermitage Museum or Peterhof (via a quick boat-ride) and the wealth of incredible art on display requires a day or two to digest. One of the best days is spent with friends, former Sydney journalists who loved Russia so much they moved here. You only scratch the surface of a culture so foreign when you visit as a tourist, but picking the brains of locals allows you real and lasting insights. HERMITAGE MUSEUM
Palace Square, 2, Sankt-Peterburg hermitagemuseum.org PETERHOF
Razvodnaya ulitsa, 2, St Petersburg saint-petersburg.com/peterhof It’s time for the final leg of our journey, and in my mind we save the best til last. PAGE 95
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New York City I will never get sick of New York. It is its own universe. S TAY
We check into the achingly hip The Beekman which is the kind of place that commissions its own scent to be infused through its air-conditioned confines (Velvet by 12.29—you’re welcome). THE BEEKMA N
123 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038 thebeekman.com E AT
It is my birthday and the final week of our mammoth trip, so we throw caution and credit ratings to the wind, indulging in our bucket-list items.
We let the kids eat doughnuts for breakfast very day, and have pizza for lunch. We walk across Brooklyn Bridge and somehow get to be first in line for a table at Grimaldi’s world-famous (aren’t they all?) pizza restaurant. The queue snakes down the street and around the corner. It is, indeed, most excellent pizza. We order champagne at brunch at Boucherie in the West Village and eat superb Big Gay Ice Cream across the street. And we sample, in the interests of research, a number of whiskey cocktails at The Dead Rabbit—reportedly the best bar in the world.
One is to eat at a three-Michelinstar restaurant. We have a booking at Thomas Keller’s Per Se and indulge in a 10-course degustation that sets our culinary expectations at new heights.
THOMAS KELLER’S PER SE
The Shops at Columbus Circle thomaskeller.com/perseny GRIMALDI’S
Front Street, Brooklyn grimaldis-pizza.com/home BOUCHERIE
99 7th Avenue South, New York boucherie.nyc PAGE 96
BIG GAY ICE CREA M
61 Grove Street, New York biggayicecream.com THE DEA D R ABBIT
30 Water Street New York deadrabbitnyc.com P L AY
We walk through the rain without a care in the world. We spend hours in the brilliantly interactive Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. We hire a tandem bike and cycle through Central Park. We hit the Bloomingdales, Century 21 and then walk through the September 11 Memorial. We find public art to climb on and brave the crowds at Times Square. We are as energised as the city and cram in a succession of adventures (and 25k steps) a day. COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIA N DESIGN
Museum | 2 East 91st Street cooperhewitt.org Suddenly, we find ourselves back on a plane—this time headed for home. Is it over so soon? Our heads are spinning, our hearts and stomachs are full. ¡
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the game W O R D S Ashleigh Went P H O T O G R A P H Y Martin Ollman T H E S I N G L E B I G G E S T R E AS O N WE’R E PAS S I O N AT E AB O U T WO M E N PART I C I PAT I N G I N S P O RT I S B EC AU S E I T I S E M P O W E R I N G — E S P E C I A L LY W H E N YO U ’R E TA L K I N G A B O U T T R A D I T I O N A L LY M A L E - D O M I N AT E D S P O R T S .
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IT DOESN’T matter whether you’re seven, 17 or 77, and picking up a ball or a barbell, building a strong and capable body gives you a sense of power. In a world where women are too often made to feel weak and small, it allows you to assert yourself and take up the space that you deserve. UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri said, “Women in sport defy the misconception that they are weak or incapable. Every time they clear a hurdle or kick a ball, demonstrating not only physical strength, but also leadership and strategic thinking, they take a step towards gender equality.” Female participation in sport is, thankfully, on the rise in many sports. Liz Craven is currently ranked as Australia’s Number One Powerlifter, and has noticed significant changes in her sport during her career. “When I first started and I went to Nationals, there were 13-girls and about 60 guys. It was very male‑dominated. Now we’re taking over, and our females are performing a lot better than our males.” Having recently opened powerlifting gym The Strength Syndicate, Liz says
“ONCE WOMEN STARTED GE T TING BARBELLS IN THE IR HANDS, THAT’S WHEN THE CHANGE STARTED HAPPENING. GIRLS WANTED TO BE S T R O N G I N S T E A D O F S K I N N Y,"
L I Z
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her clientele are about 60 per cent female. She credits the surge of female participation to the rise in popularity of Crossfit among women. “Once women started getting barbells in their hands, that’s when the change started happening. Girls wanted to be strong instead of skinny, and realised that this is a sport where you can do that, and hold your own against the boys.” The rise in popularity has obviously been beneficial to the sport, with women now being treated as equal to men in many ways—but not all. Liz says that it can be hard to attract coaching clients, particularly men. She speaks of the feeling of needing to prove yourself, a sentiment that’s echoed by coaches across many sports. “You have to be number one, and continually be the best forever—and then people will start to realise that maybe you do know what you’re talking about, even though you’re female. That is the hardest bit about being a female in the sport.”
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Kyla has endured a long-standing battle against discrimination in her sport. “Wrestling Australia has been very unsupportive of women’s wrestling over the last 20 years. Two years ago, I took them to the Human Rights Commission over discrimination because they still refuse to have a woman’s programme. In mediation they agreed they would have a women’s coach…then they just didn’t do it.”
L O U I S E
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WALLAROOS PLAYER LOUISE BURROWS says this kind of sentiment is prevalent in women’s rugby as well.
This episode is the latest in nearly two decades of conflict between Kyla and the Wrestling Federation, including an allegation of sexual harassment by male team members during her first international trip for wrestling, which she says the Federation failed to address. Kyla says that while she suspects the harassment of women
“I feel that sometimes people think, ‘oh she’s just a women’s rugby player’, or ‘she just plays for the women’. They don’t really appreciate that what we do, we do pretty well.” It begs the question, where does this negative attitude come from? “I think its because they’re jealous and threatened by what we’ve done and achieved,” says Louise. Ex-Olympic wrestler and President of Wrestling ACT, Kyla Bremner, agrees. “We’re disrupting the structure of sports that men see as part of their masculine identity. When women start coming onto the mat and succeeding, and being able to beat men, it’s very frightening for them. It’s like we’re taking up their space and crushing their masculinity.”
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“ WE ’R E PRO BAB LY O N E O F TH E O N LY SPORTS WHERE WE’RE ON A LEVEL PL AYING FIELD WITH THE MEN."
K A Y L A
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may be slightly less prevalent today, she expresses concern for young athletes entering the sport. “I feel bad for girls coming through, because I think those attitudes are still there.” And they’re apparent in every aspect of the sport. “Why do we always have to go on the bottom oval?” asks Louise Burrows. “I’ve been there since 1995 and we’ve always had to play there, but why does it have to be that way? So much in the world is changing, why can’t things like that change?” In some sports—including Rugby— women don’t even have access to facilities as basic as separate changerooms, meaning that they’re forced to use the men’s changeroom or be denied entirely. And then there’s the issue that’s perhaps most hotly contested—that of equal pay.
It’s an incredibly complicated subject, and one that varies between sports. Kayla Nisbet is a female jockey who is grateful for the gender equality in her sport. As a young athlete, she hasn’t experienced the sexism in the sport that’s been cited by other female jockeys including Michelle Payne. “It’s quite equal” she explains. “We’re probably one of the only sports where we’re on a level playing field with the men. We get paid exactly the same as them, and now that there’s a lot more opportunities and a lot more girls riding, I would say a lot of girls are making almost the same as men.” It’s starkly different to a sport like Rugby. “I don’t know if [equal pay] is a realistic expectation” says Louise. “I think definitely there needs to be some type of payment and recognition of female athletes. If we’re not getting paid as much as professional male athletes, we’re not able to put as much time into our training.”
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2017 marked an important step forward, with the inaugural AFL Women’s series proving that female athletes are capable of not only excelling in sport, but also captivating audiences and, importantly, filling stadiums. It’s a catch-22: to secure sponsorship, athletes need to showcase their talent. However, with little-to-no financial support to play their sport, athletes are short on resources to dedicate to their athletic development. There are costs including physiotherapy, remedial massage or individual coaching, as well as time constraints, given that many female athletes are required to work full-time to earn a living. Liz Craven has shaped her income to include revenue from The Strength Syndicate as well as her sponsorships. “Previously, the girls that were getting sponsored were the girls that showed a lot of flesh. I’m proud to be sponsored purely for what I’ve achieved in my sport. I’ve got a meals sponsor, I have a supplement sponsor, I have all my equipment sponsors but I still have to go out and be a coach and earn a living. My lifting helps feed that industry, because people come to me to learn how to lift, so it all works together.”
"IF WE’RE NOT GETTING PAID AS MUCH AS PROFESSIONAL MALE ATHLE TES, WE ’RE NOT ABLE TO PUT AS MUCH TIME INTO OUR TRAINING.”
It’s encouraging that sponsors are starting to see the potential of women’s sport, and showing that through funding—or in the case of Buildcorp, removing their funding. The company made waves in the Rugby community when they threatened to pull their funding if the Australian Rugby Union didn’t launch a women’s 15-a-side rugby tournament, following the national Sevens competition. “She [Josephine Sukkar, Buildcorp’s cofounder] stayed true to her word, and she pulled her funding” says Louise. “She recognised that Sevens is a very different game —it’s good for one type of woman, but 15s is for every woman— every shape and size.” The issue of funding is almost redundant when it comes to women’s wrestling. Kyla says that wrestling is one of the most poorly funded sports in Australia, estimating that the annual budget for the entire sport is around $100,000 a year. Development is so stifled that hardly any women make it to the elite level.
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“You could show up to Nationals, and not every weight class there has competitors. Then you get the issue of women walking into the team uncontested, and it just makes a mockery of it. You’ll get someone sent to the World Championships, and it’s their first match ever because they walked onto the team unopposed.” Kyla says the solution, as it is for many sports, is increasing female participation and focussing on the development of the sport. Interestingly, nearly every female athlete I spoke to apologised immediately after discussing the challenges of being a female athlete. “People just think you’re a whingeing woman” says Louise. “We’re made to feel like all we do is complain, when all we want is to be treated as equals in terms of respect.”
The result is that too many women don’t speak up, creating a culture where woman feel as though they need to keep quiet and ‘put up with it’ to be included in sport. The issue is multifaceted, complicated and highly variable between sports and even codes. What is clear is that we all have a role to play—as spectators, participants and sponsors, we have the power to harness our collective voice and show up—to play, to support and stand up for our female athletes. ¡
“PEOPLE JUST THINK YOU’RE A WHINGEING WOMAN. WE’RE MADE TO FEEL LIKE ALL WE DO IS COMPLAIN, WHEN ALL WE WANT IS TO BE TRE ATED AS EQUALS.”
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W O R D S Emma Macdonald P H O T O G R A P H Y Martin Ollman H AV I N G A B A BY I S A L I F E - C H A N G I N G E V E N T F O R A N Y PA R E N T— AS WELL AS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE WORLD. BUT FOR THOSE DADS WHO CHOOSE TO BECOME PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WHILE TH E I R PARTN E RS RE TU RN TO WORK, TH E E XPE RI E NCE ALSO OF TE N FLI ES I N T H E FAC E O F S O C I E TA L E XP E C TAT I O N S .
WHEN NIKOLAI JERMOLAJEW and his wife Kirra welcomed their daughter RoXi into the world almost three years ago, Nikolai was establishing his building business after more than a decade as a cement renderer.
themselves gently slipping into a new pattern. Kirra returned to her shifts in and around breastfeeding RoXi, and Nikolai held the household together.
Kirra, an exercise physiologist, had built up her own business, Capital Hydrotherapy, and the pair thought they could both—somehow—work in and around their new baby.
“It actually turned out to be quite lucky that my building job fell through as we probably would have been in a bit of strife if we had both had to work…I suppose we settled in to a nice little groove of helping each other out, and we have more-or-less stayed that way.”
But because the birth of a baby throws predictability to the wind, just a few weeks into Kirra’s maternity leave, her fill-in left and she found herself having to return to work far sooner than anticipated.
Ace arrived on the scene six months ago, and while it is a bit of a whirlwind having two, Nikolai is happy being the homebody. While the family has adjusted to the situation with little fuss, Nikolai is far from the average dad.
Nikolai was grateful that a big project due to commence around RoXi’s birth fell through and the couple found
Stay-at-home-dads make up only a tiny proportion of Australian family life.
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According to data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies published in May this year, Australia has around 75,000 families with stay-at-home fathers. While this figure seems significant, it represents just four per cent of two-parent families. In comparison, stay-at-home mothers comprise 31 per cent of twoparent families. In the remaining two-parent families, 57 per cent have both parents working and seven per cent have neither. Australian National University Professor Lyndall Strazdins is an expert on families, households and gender. She says that it is not just stay-at-home-fathers who are a rare breed, but stay-at-home-mothers are becoming increasingly scarce as the number of women returning to work—or part-time work—after having a baby follows decades of steady increase. “The whole notion of having a stay-at-home parent has become enormously complicated in Australia. It now requires at least one good income to support the parent not working, or otherwise it involves financial sacrifice on behalf of the parents,” says Professor Strazdins. While it would be an important step on gender equity grounds, Professor Strazdins does not see any impending economic or cultural circuit-breaker which will make it easier for men to shed the shackles of primary wage-earning status. And while this continues to be the norm, men will be forced to sacrifice family time—and often their wellbeing— for long hours on the job. Meanwhile, the pressure remains largely on women to take on part-time roles in order to find the hours to fill the primary parenting role. “We are really stuck in the old way for working. It is difficult for both men or women to crack out of it.” Using Census data, the Institute of Family Studies tracked stay-at-home fathers over the two decades to 2011, finding they increased off a very low base in 1981 before plateauing in about 2001.
Fathers who do take the leap from their day jobs, to one which involves 24-hour care, are not only bucking an entrenched Australian male breadwinner model, but then subjecting themselves to the same economic penalties that face women when they take time out of the workforce to have babies. “Just like women, men will sacrifice career progression and superannuation savings if they take time out to care for kids. So it is not something to be ever taken lightly,” says Professor Strazdins. But that’s not to say there aren’t considerable personal benefits attached with being a full-time dad. Patrick Pentony was always open to the concept of looking after children while supporting his wife to become a doctor. When Peta became pregnant with their first son William, the couple relied on an au pair to allow Peta to complete her specialist studies and Patrick to continue working at his family-owned organic farmer’s market, Choku Bai Jo. Patrick got his first real taste of being the primary care-giver when Peta did a four-month secondment in Sydney, leaving him and William in Canberra to lessen the disruption. By the time Angus was born, Patrick and his brothers had sold out of the business and the family moved to Coffs Harbour where Patrick became a full-time dad. Now the family is in Leeds in the United Kingdom, where Peta has just completed her specialist training and Patrick looks after William, now five, and Angus, two. “I always said that I would be a stay-at-home dad while my wife made the big bucks. Little did I know just how hard it can be. And I'm still waiting on the big bucks!” he noted wryly. But he also reflects in the joys of watching his two boys grow and his ability to “spend real quality time with them”. Both Patrick and Nikolai spend their days immersed in the minutiae of raising little people. It is a schedule of feeding, sleeping, walks, school and day care pick‑ups, after-school activities, housework, cooking and cleaning.
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“J U S T L I KE WO M E N, M E N WILL SACRIFICE CAREER PROGRESSION AND SUPERANNUATION SAVINGS IF THE Y TAKE TIME OUT TO CARE FOR KIDS."
It has its joys and its hardships. According to Patrick “my mates without kids are jealous, my mates with kids praise me”. Nikolai says he has never felt stigmatised by his status. “I have never felt any negative emotion toward Kirra being the ‘bread winner’… I have always wanted to be an involved dad,” he said. “My mates have a stab every now and then but it is all in good fun. Some have even said they hope they can do a similar thing when they have kids.” “I don’t know if I’d go so far as feeling ‘valued by the community’ but I definitely get favourable looks from strangers when I am out with the kids.” Not all men do, however. Professor Strazdins say many face social isolation as they struggle to fit into mother’s groups and an overwhelmingly feminised care-giving community. “The normative world of women and children can be hard for men to fit into. There is a layer of anxiety around men and children which can make dads feel awkward in some situations—as unwarranted as that may be.” This has certainly been the case for Americo Alvarenga, a Californian-born writer who has settled
in Canberra with his public-servant wife Ruth, and is the full-time carer for eight-month old Clarke. Americo said fatherhood had turned out to be “the most amazing, scary, exhausting, exhilarating” thing he had ever experienced. But settling into a new city had left him a little isolated and he often picked up on the “exclusive” vibe he felt in the presence of other mums. “I have noticed the judgmental looks that I get from certain people when I’m out by myself with my daughter. Or the uncomfortable looks I get from some women when I enter a parents’ room or take my daughter for a check-up at the MACH nurses,” Americo admitted. “I understand these looks, for the most part. A lot of women are either breastfeeding, or consider these locations to be a safe-zone. So the double-take of a man walking in is understandable, but once they see I have a child, they could at the very least acknowledge that I’m not there for some nefarious reason.” Such judgement has kept Americo from going out to certain places “just so I don’t have to deal with people who hold onto antiquated concepts. That’s probably been the hardest part of being a stay-home-dad”.
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“I HAVE A HUGE APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. I THINK IT IS WAY HARDER THAN THEY SEEM TO MAKE IT LOOK.”
He also feels a lack of support from his own parents. “They like that I’m with my daughter, but still hold onto an antiquated belief that the ‘man’ should be the one to work while the ‘woman’ stays home with the child.” Professor Strazdin notes that in Scandinavian countries—where fathers have access to substantive paternity leave—it is far more accepted to see men in nurturing roles. Patrick said he often felt isolated at home, but some of this was associated with relocating cities and having to start over in new social groups. “In Canberra I had a network of family and friends, and my mates from school had kids so we would catch up.” Patrick also relied on the Facebook group Canberra Dads for information and support and similarly uses a medical partner's Facebook page “for all us blokes with doctor wives.” Nikolai says the bulk of his friends are not quite at the stage of having kids. So he saves his socialising for weekends or after the kids are in bed. He sees a lot to love about his current situation. “We never have to contend with the rat race. We get to spend lots of time with our kids which is a massive luxury not every parent gets—especially dads.” But there is a nagging ambition he holds.
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While Kirra stresses how integral Nikolai has been to getting Capital Hydrotherapy to where it is now, Nikolai wants to succeed on his own terms. “I don't feel I've really had a personal success yet, and I don't want to die wondering what could have been. Either way, whatever I decide will be a while away, most likely once the kids are in school.” Similarly, Patrick is aware that it will be more difficult for him to rejoin the workforce after a substantial break. “I have a huge appreciation for all the mothers out there who have been doing this for years. I think it is way harder than they seem to make it look.” Whatever the hardships, the three dads say their experience has been overwhelmingly positive. So much so that none of the families have ruled out more babies. ¡
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AFTER DARK: THE CHANGING FACE OF CANBERR A
nightlife
W O R D S Beatrice Smith BROKEN GL ASS ON THE FLOOR, BOUNCERS WITH PERSONAL GRUDGES, UNCHECKED GROPING AND VODKA T H AT B A R E LY S U R PA S S E S E T H A N O L .
This is the Canberra after dark that many remember and many of us loved…at the time. But now, a handful of new and established venues are giving Canberra’s nightlife a sense of positive purpose—and are thriving as a result.
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" WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE 'D RATHER HAVE AN EMPTY CLUB THAN A SHIT CROWD.”
WHILE STUMBLING INTO CUBE, Canberra’s longest serving GLBTIQ nightclub, served as a much-needed eye opener for some young people and a treasured haven for others, it’s hard to pinpoint an in-between—a space that proudly proclaims to protect the marginalised. A study by Bianca Fileborn, researcher from the University of Melbourne, notes that that there is evidence to suggest that GLBTIQ individuals “frequently conceal their sexual or gender identity in order to avoid harassing or violence encounters… in public spaces”1. This is somewhat of a given in club culture, where excess alcohol and dark rooms can become a powder keg of aggression. This isn’t the case, however, at one of Canberra’s newest venues— and one of the Sydney building’s remaining clubs—Mr Wolf. “At Mr Wolf, we mostly keep things lighthearted, however, there’s a strong message of tolerance and celebrating each others differences,” says Megan Bones, Entertainment and Marketing Manager at Mr Wolf, whose career as a DJ took her from Bar 32 to Trinity Bar in Dickson and now back to the Sydney Building. Above the bar at Mr Wolf, a sign sternly proclaims “NO RACISM, NO SEXISM, NO HOMOPHOBIA, NO TRANSPHOBIA, NO VIOLENCE.”
1
It’s somewhat hard to think of other Canberra venues—past and present—so clearly stating their values to that extent. “There's been a massive shift in Canberra's nightlife, people have turned more towards the bar culture. There are some great bars around now, some that rival anything in the bigger cities; on the other side of things, the underground music scene is on the rise.” “I'm so lucky to work in a great management team with two supportive and forward-thinking men,” explains Megan. “We all strive to foster a culture of acceptance—the goal is to create a fun and safe place where anyone can be comfortable being themselves—we always say that we'd rather have an empty club than a shit crowd.” While the club culture of the noughties saw Civic rapidly expand with bigger, louder venues, looking back now it’s easy to see the kind of behaviour this culture empowered. “There's a real sense of community at Mr Wolf. It's an easy crowd to brush off as young kids that just want to get wasted, but I've gotten to know all of our regulars and watching them interact gives me hope for the Canberra nightclub scene. They all keep an eye on each other.” Around the corner from Mr Wolf there are practically tumbleweeds along the Northbourne Avenue side of the Sydney building, where long lines once
GLBTIQ young adults’ experiences & perceptions of unwanted sexual attention in licensed venues: emerging themes and issues, Bianca Fileborn, PAGE 113
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stood impatiently for clubs like Meche, Northbar and ICBM. But there are two lone survivors—Treehouse, which has diversified the usual bar offerings with casual daytime food downstairs and high concept cocktails upstairs, and their more colourful neighbour, Reload. A bar that would have seemed perennially ‘uncool’ 10 years ago, Reload now stands proudly with its gaming nights and drinks named after comic book characters. Where there are only ghosts of jägerbombs past, Reload’s continued popularity is testament to the fact that it’s now cool to stray off the beaten path of Top 40 hits and dress codes. OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, new large-scale venue kyte has brought a taste of European nightlife to Canberra, served with a side of history and technical expertise. With a history of working in internationally renowned venues such as Ministry of Sound in London, co-owner Jerry Francis
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knows a thing or two about what gives a venue longevity. “When we set the space up, we weren’t going for a club vibe,” explains Jerry. “The priority is the music…because the whole idea was that [kyte] wouldn’t be a stereotypical club. When we set kyte up we wanted a community.” That community will endure, thanks to the work kyte are doing to ready Canberra’s next generation of music producers and deejays by offering master classes. “We have music production, event management, introduction to production, introduction to deejaying and introduction to copyright,” explains Jerry, who previously spent six years lecturing on music business at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT). For Jerry, it’s about creating a culture— and that starts with an awareness of industry roots. This is reflected in his choice to hero artwork by scene legends such as Keith Herring, who “in the late
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60s and 70s was a core revolutionary for the culture of Studio 54 and the Paradise Garage—where dance music started.” “It’s an education process,” says Jerry. “When people come up and ask me about the artwork I’m able to give them a bit of history about how it relates back to music and the culture.” kyte aren’t alone in their commitment to bringing a more educated, thoughtout approach to Canberra’s bar scene. But being progressive isn’t just about getting serious about the music—it’s about making sure everyone feels included, too. Michael Liu, DJ, event manager and violinist, whose ethos of “classically trained but never contained” has been a mainstay of local nightlife for over seven years, attributes this new focus to Canberra’s approach to difference.
of their theme or style. It’s almost a bare minimum [to have] a commitment to inclusivity if you want to succeed. There’s a real adaptability these days.” Michael cites his current residency, Knightsbridge Penthouse, as well as AKIBA and Bar Rochford, as examples of venues that are both adaptable and inclusive. Co owner of Bar Rochford, Nick Smith, agrees. In its very essence, ‘Rochford’ was always supposed to be everything to everyone—just not a thumping club. “I’m 30 now and my friends and I don’t want to get pissed, we just want to get some good food and wine,” he told HerCanberra when Rochford opened in early 2016. “But I do want to welcome everyone.”
“I think the biggest change has been a paradigm shift in club culture, where what used to be cool was exclusivity, and now what’s cool is inclusivity,” he explains.
Owner of Braddon’s Knightsbridge Penthouse, Troy Sixsmith, says that it was always their aim to be as different to the “club scene” as possible, which was clearly a smart choice. At the ripe age of 13, ‘Knighty’ has outlived many of its peers.
“It used to be about excluding people because they weren’t hot enough to get into the bar and having separate sections, whereas now it’s about having a bar which caters to everyone. You can have an 80-year-old dude sitting next to a jock, sitting next to an 18-year-old girl drinking a vodka lime and soda.”
Established in 2004 by Canberra hospitality queen Bria Sydney, Knightsbridge was, from the start, a different bar for a different crowd. With exposed brick walls and murals, rather than strobe lights and smoke machines, it was the young professionals’ house party to Civic’s freshers’ week.
As Michael sees it, the venues that thrive will be the ones that embrace diversity.
“I think Bria’s main aim was to open one of Canberra’s very first cocktail bars and from there it evolved into this late night venue where you could dance and
“I think [inclusive] is what bars and clubs should aspire to be—regardless
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there was good music but you could still sit down and have a cocktail,” explains Troy, who took over the bar in 2014. While Knightsbridge might not sport a declaration of freedom quite like Mr Wolf’s, it’s easy to see from the clientele on any given night that Knightsbridge welcomes all, which Troy sees as a progression of Canberra’s evolving nightlife. “So many other places are similar in what they do and what they offer—club beats, house music—we always wanted to keep it classy.” But one of Canberra’s industry heavyweights, Ashley Feraude aka Magnifik, doesn’t think that Canberra’s nightlife has changed so much after all. “I haven’t really seen a gigantic change [in music], the only thing that really changes is the technology people use,” he says. “Clubs come and go and they may change their style—Mr Wolf is a very good example of that—but I don’t know if I would call it disruption as much as evolution.”
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He would know, too. Across a career of more than 10 years, Ashley has deejayed almost everywhere in Canberra. Starting out in now-defunct venues like Heaven Nightclub and Lot 33, he enjoyed a five-year residency at Academy—now organising the music for many of Canberra’s biggest nightspots. He does admit, however, that there has been a recent change in which venues are popular and puts down the current shift towards bars down to people having to “revaluate” what they wanted from a night out after the closure of many of Canberra’s clubs. “They had to ask themselves; did they really want to be into mad dancing, or whatever else, or did they want a more upscale experience?” he explains. In Ashley’s opinion, they chose the latter. I realise there’s something comforting in Ashley’s concept of circularity—the idea that Civic’s empty shopfronts and spaces might one day be filled again with thriving nightspots. Perhaps ones with positive, purposeful atmospheres. ¡
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SPRING 2017
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UNVEILED Spring 2017 WORDS 01
Real Wedding: Candice and Michal
06
Exotic Honeymoons For Any Budget
10
How To Stay Married
16
Venue Spotlight: Timeless Charm
20
An Old-Fashioned Romance
37
So, you’re engaged…now what?
41
Wedding Style, UNVEILED
Emily Allen Courtney Carr Jess Dixon Emma Macdonald Amanda Whitley DESIGN Katie Radojkovic PRODUCTION M ANAGEMENT Belinda Neame
M O R E I N S P I R AT I O N + I N F O R M AT I O N AT H E R C A N B E R R A .C O M . A U/ W E D D I N G S
PHOTOGR APHY Tim Bean Lux & Us Martin Ollman Kelly Tunney Shae Waite Shae Estella Photography STYLING Hayley O'Neill HAIR Billie Fusimalohi Billie & Co
MAKEUP Jacqui Scott assisted by Allaire Work MODELS Sam McGlone Emily Tokic, HAUS Models
l a u r e n c a m p b e l l . c o m . a u l a u r e n @ l a u r e n c a m p b e l l . c o m . a u
Candice and Michal’s autumn morning wedding W E D D I N G DAT E 13 April 2017 C E R E M O N Y Pialligo Estate R E C E P T I O N Pialligo Estate
What started with an impromptu movie date for Candice and Michal evolved into a heartfelt Californian proposal and a breakfast wedding bright and early at Pialligo Estate. Candice relives the day in this gorgeous 'real wedding'.
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
G E T T I N G R E A DY
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I got my makeup and hair done at the The Lab in Braddon (makeup by the amazing Telisa and hair by the talented Lexi). I am fortunate that my sister is one of the partners and really went above and beyond to make my day relaxed and special.
THE DRESS
I really dislike shopping so the thought of going from wedding dress shop to wedding dress shop was very stressful for me. One lovely Sunday I was having lunch with my Mum and sisters in Manuka and wandered into Momento. I thought that I wanted a relaxed vintage lace type dress, but after trying on two it didn’t really have the impact/feel I wanted. Then the owner picked out a dress for me that I had eyed off, but didn’t think I would be able to pull off,
and I tried it on. As soon as I stepped out of the change room I knew it was ‘the one’. It was an off-white Camilla & Marc off the shoulder crepe dress with a slit up with back. It was boho meets 1950s understated elegance, which is exactly me.
WHY A MORNING
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WEDDING?
I have always been a morning person, and somehow I managed to make Michal into one too. Going out for breakfast is our favourite thing to do, so being able to share that on such a special day was a dream for us. I also felt that a morning wedding would reduce the stress of anticipation and make it more casual.
CEREMONY
Walking down the aisle to the phenomenal voice of Kim Yang singing Michal’s and my song (Lana Del Ray’s Video Games) and having guests hand me flowers that built my bouquet was something really special (a superb idea given to us by the celebrant, Carol Moon).
Pialligo Estate is renowned for its beauty and amazing food. Michal is in the Architecture industry so the fact that the Pavilions are beautifully designed suited the elegant-but-casual aesthetic that we were going for. Also, the wedding coordinator was extremely excited to cater for a breakfast wedding and very encouraging of the idea (she totally got our idea of breakfast with cocktails). The cocktails, particularly the espresso martini, were phenomenal and the flowers were beyond my wildest dreams—I have no idea how Larissa styled it so exceptionally. The cake was fantastic, and we had a hilarious ‘finally’ as the topper. The atmosphere was typical wedding – everyone with huge smiles and love flowing.
THE LITTLE DETAILS P H OTO G R A P H E R Lux & Us CELEBR ANT Carol Moon B R I D E' S D R ES S Camilla and Marc from Momento FLOW ER C R OW N Lady Larissa B R I D E’ S S H O ES Escala in Manuka J E W E L L E R Y Solitaire Jewellers G R O O M ’ S S U I T S Aquila H A I R Lexi Bannister M A K E U P Telisa Orzelek at The Lab F LO W E R S Lady Larissa V E N U E Pialligo Estate C A K E Sweetzee creations S I N G E R Kim Yang S TAT I O N E R Y Shenton & Thrello
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RECEPTION
Exotic honeymoons for any budget UNVEILED SPRING 2017
WO R D S Courtney Carr
YO U ’ V E H A D T H E B I G W H I T E D R ES S, T H E B I G C EL EB R ATO R Y A F FA I R, A N D T H E C L A S S I C W ED D I N G T R A D I T I O N S . Why not incorporate something a little more exotic into your honeymoon? Here are four honeymoon destinations that will give you a taste of exotic foreign lifestyles.
C A P PA D O C I A , TURKEY
one place in the world to do so, and will create remarkable and romantic adventures that you will treasure for the whole of your married life. While this area is known for its hot-air ballooning, there are so many other things to see and do around Turkey—
including dropping in on the capital Istanbul and doing some shopping for some excellent exotic wares in the bazaars. To check out some awesome packages to get you there visit Turkey Honeymoon Packages and find out what adventures will await you!
T H I M P H U, B H U TA N
The Kingdom of Bhutan is fairly new to the wide world of Western tourism, but it’s already sparked a desire in the hearts of those seeking exotic adventures. Set entirely within the Himalayan mountain range and bordered
by Nepal, China and India, Bhutan has a wealth of history, spirituality and lifestyle that has yet to be touched by modern world—and if that doesn’t make it a must-see exotic destination then I don’t know what does!
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and offers an exciting look into this mysterious kingdom. With hundreds of beautiful mountainset monastery’s like Paro Taktsand and Dechen Phodrang, there are so many other fortresses and locations to visit. The marketplaces are colourful and vibrant and the quiet reserve of the nation will make for the perfect private getaway if you have the cash to splash! For more information on honeymoon packages and hotels you can stay in, have a look at Mr and Mrs Smith.com, or on Black Tomato.
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Chances are you have seen this amazing location and its gorgeous balloon festival all over your Instagram, so it’s hard to beat Cappadocia in Turkey for the ultimate in exotic luxury. One of the area’s most famous landscapes is made up of rock formations known as “Fairy Chimneys”, which jut impressively into the skyline and create a breath-taking arena to take in the sight of hundreds of hot-air balloons rising over the canyons. If you’re keen to try hot‑air ballooning, this is the number
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Y O G YA K A R T A , INDONESIA
When you suggest the idea of a honeymoon in Indonesia, many people conjure up images of lying on the beach amongst other Aussie tourists in Bali, but the country can offer so many more exotic adventures. For those looking to get out of Kuta, Yogyakarta is on the culturally diverse island of Java and has such a transcendent vibe that it’s hard to ignore.
U L U RU, N O R T H E R N TERRITORY
Visit the infamous giant bell statues at the Borobudur Temple—the largest Buddhist temple in the world walk a sunrise trek up Mt Merapi for generous views that will have you believing you are somewhere in an uncharted world, and visit some
of the most vibrant and genuine countryside on offer to get a taste of the real Indonesia.
All Australians at some time in their life need to see Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock. It’s such a significant part of the Indigenous culture of Australia and makes up the beating heart of our great Southern land. The massive sandstone
monolith is a sacred area and one of the most exotic and culturally‑admired locations in Australia, so if it's not on your bucket list already, put it on there!
If you’re keen to give another side of Indonesia a go, check out HerCanberra’s own KimLing‘s travel blog Travel-Ling for more information.
There are many beautiful activities that can be undertaken at Uluru and in Alice Springs, including dining and walking under the cloudless stars in the Red Centre, taking a camel ride along the red sand, and even just hanging out at some of the luxurious hotel pools like a mirage in the desert. Visit the glorious Rock itself, and enjoy something that is quintessentially Australian. For more information on how to book your honeymoon getaway to Uluru, check out Uluru Travel.
BY HOTEL R E ALM & BUR BURY HOTEL
The Realm Precinct is the perfect location for an unforgettably intimate and romantic wedding day. Located within Canberra’s beautifully planned and superbly maintained Parliamentary zone, the Precinct has everything from award-winning venues and 5-Star accommodation to Chef Hatted restaurants, hair salon, day spa and health club. Hotel Realm has been awarded the Best Meetings and Event Venue in Australia by the Australian Hotels Association for 2012, 2013 and 2014, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
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UNVEILED SPRING 2017
How to stay married WO R D S Emma Macdonald
T H E S TAT I S T I C S A R E S O B ER I N G. O N E I N T H R EE M A R R I AG ES A R E L I K ELY TO EN D I N D I V O R C E, A N D T H E AV ER AG E M A R R I AG E L A S T S J U S T O V ER 12 Y E A R S .* But optimism trumps realism when couples choose an engagement ring, post out those expensive invitations, and hurtle towards the aisle. We talk to three marriage experts about beating the odds and staying married for—possibly—forever, and discover the formula behind one couple’s 69-year steadfast love.
“ I B E L I E V E M A R R I A G E O N LY W O R K S I F Y O U A R E T O T A L LY C O M M I T T E D T O I T—Y O U C A N ’ T C O M E TO I T H O PI N G TO ‘ T RY’ TO M A K E A G O O F I T B E C A U S E I T W O N ’ T L A S T .”
the international stage, rising to become the first Australian appointed to head a United Nations’ body—The World Food Program.
HE WAS THE dashing diplomat— the youngest recruit to Australia’s foreign service who arrived in Canberra in 1946 at the age of 18. She was the beautiful Parisian secretary at the French Embassy, then on Mugga Way. They met at a British High Commission party in the days before Canberra’s population barely scraped 20,000. Odette Koven was attracted by James Ingram’s shyness. “He was even shyer than I was and I liked that,” she says.
year—having nurtured a love that is as evident today as it was when their wedding photos were taken in 1950 at the Hyatt. Their simple secret? Commitment. Jim says “I believe marriage only works if you are totally committed to it—you can’t come to it hoping to ‘try’ to make a go of it because it won’t last.”
“Yes, I was shy, but I felt an instant attraction—and I still feel it to this day,” says Jim.
High-level diplomacy skills may also have something to do with it.
Now aged 89 and 90, Jim and Odette will celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary later this
Jim and Odette married on a Monday and on the Wednesday they flew to their first posting in Israel. The career diplomat, Jim devoted more than four decades to representing Australia on
Jim credits his wife with having the highest level of emotional intelligence of anyone he has ever met and of being “masterfully tactful”. “I could not be more grateful to Odette for the support she gave me over those years,” says Jim. In turn, Odette says that Jim was the sort of man who carved out time for her and their children— no matter the professional demands on him. “Jim is affectionate and caring. He always says that it is my inner spirit, the real me, that he loves.” According to Jim, “I think to be totally absorbed in your job is wrong and I have never focused entirely on my work to the exclusion of my family.”
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Odette was by his side while they relocated to capitals including Jakarta, Washington, Brussels, New York and Rome—raising two daughters and a son along the way.
It wasn’t always easy: from the less-than-hospitable house waiting for them in Indonesia with no lightbulbs, sheets or furniture; to the time they were robbed, and feared for their safety, in the dying days of the Sukarno regime.
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But they have maintained a love and mutual respect that has defied the years, the pressures of constant relocation and the isolation from friends and family. “If anything, I think it made us turn inwards and rely on each other even more,” says Jim. “Very rarely have we disagreed,” says Odette. “We have been fortunate to have had few arguments.”
Enjoying a quiet retirement in a beautiful home in the inner south, Jim and Odette still clearly cherish one another. “When you are as old as we are and there is no escaping that the end is near, you look back on your life and I feel so fortunate— so blessed to have had Odette,” says Jim. “Perhaps that is the problem with marriages these days, that people are focused on the wedding and the ceremony and all the excitement that goes with that. “They should be considering the marriage into the future and how they can make it successful and how they can make it last. That’s probably the best place to focus their energies.”
“ P E R H A P S T H AT I S T H E P R O B L E M W I T H M A R R I A G E S T H E S E D AY S , T H A T P E O P L E ARE FOCUSED ON THE WEDDING AND THE CEREMONY AND ALL THE E X C I T E M E N T T H A T G O E S W I T H T H A T."
“L I FE- LO N G COM M ITM ENT BU I L DS T R U S T, I M P R O V E S G E N E R A L W E L L B E I N G , P ROV I D ES A S TA B L E H O M E F O R C H I L D R E N — A N D I S FA N T A S T I C F U N ."
to be part of offering a similar opportunity for others,” says Lee.
IT IS THE JOB of Lee and Ruth Walton to ensure that couples rushing headlong to the altar are as best prepared to make it to their 67th wedding anniversary as possible. Lee, a public servant, and Ruth, a retired teacher now working as a Deacon in an Anglican Parish, have been running pre-marriage courses for couples marrying at St John’s Church in Reid for more than three years. “We were grateful for the mentoring we were given before we were married and during our first few years of marriage by an older couple, and having been married for 30 years, we wanted
The course includes the presentation of a specific relationships model, a few discussions and activities as a group and a range of conversations by the couple themselves. Lee and Ruth generally focus on the notion of “gridlock” arising within a marriage and, while acknowledging this is a really normal part of any relationship, try and present strategies to help couples navigate through. “We know that when two people live together, conflict is inevitable,” says Ruth. “The determination to communicate when things are difficult is the skill they need.”
But they both vehemently support the concept of marriage. “Life-long commitment builds trust, improves general wellbeing, provides a stable home for children—and is fantastic fun even if it is sometimes hard to navigate the various events that life inevitably throws at you. It is good to know someone will back you whatever,” says Ruth.
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Four times a year, on a Saturday, Lee and Ruth take a roomful of engaged couples and guide them into preparing for a life‑long partnership.
Both Lee and Ruth acknowledge that some betrothed couples can get so caught up in planning the details of the wedding day, they may not focus on “preparing for the life-long commitment in the relationship. There are also lots of pressures on a couple in the months leading up to a wedding—incompatible family expectations, costs of a wedding. It’s a tough, albeit exciting, time for all involved and it can be easy to forget what it is actually all about,” says Lee.
“ T H E S E D AY S T H E R E I S M O R E P R E S S U R E T O AT T E N D TO E V E RY E M OT I O N A L N E E D O F E A C H O T H E R—W H I C H , O F C O U R S E , C A N B E R E A L LY D I F F I C U L T T O G E T R I G H T .”
BUT SOMETIMES, it does fall apart.
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Janine Moran is a relationship counsellor and mediator who has, for more than a decade, specialised in helping couples with all aspects of relationship wellbeing. She deals with the gamut of issues—financial woes, job losses, children, infertility, illness, infidelity and simple personal differences. She helps people navigate the big isolated fights to unpicking decades of entrenched behaviours which push marriages to the brink. When relationships reach that point, Janine is also a resource for mediated separations. She believes that in those heady and romantic months before tying the knot, few couples want to wreck the moment by engaging in serious introspection about how they will cope if something goes wrong in the relationship. “We have seen in recent years that partners expect more emotional support from each other than in the past—when marriages were practical and economic partnerships and perhaps there was more emotional support from extended family and the community,” says Janine.
“These days there is more pressure to attend to every emotional need of each other— which, of course, can be really difficult to get right.” Underlying emotional needs revolve around feeling loved and safe with each other. “Do I count? Do you have my back? Am I safe with you? Do I matter to you? Can I trust you?” If couples can answer yes to these fundamental questions, the other issues can usually be sorted out. Of course, sometimes two people are just, well, different. For instance, couples often present to Janine where one is a night owl and one is an early bird. Or one of the couple might be an introvert, the other more extroverted. “These issues never seem to worry couples in the beginning, but start to get in the way as life pressures come along,” she says. Modern-day marriage stressors are increasingly focused on social media with many couples simply tuning each other out in favour of their phones. “A common complaint in counselling these days might also see one partner complain about receiving more validation from friends on Facebook than from their partner. However,
you have to bear in mind that the sort of validation you get in Facebook can be very superficial and partners may be providing a more authentic connection than social media.” In the end, a marriage requires communication and the people that tend to keep happy marriages are those who can “tune in and respond to the needs of each other.” “It is unrealistic to think you won’t have issues in your marriage but rather than panic that it is not the partnership you thought it was, it is time to look at the strategies to best reach the other person.” *Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ most recent publication Marriages and Divorces Australia 2015, published November 2016. www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@. nsf/mf/3310.0
P H OTO : C O R I N N A & DY L A N P H OTO G R A P H Y
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Searching for a stunning backdrop to your special day? Then look no further than Old Parliament House, a unique, heritage building that creates the wow-factor to elevate your wedding ceremony and reception.
Come along to the Old Parliament House Wedding Open Day to discover a venue like no other and the versatility this building can offer couples planning their nuptials. Plan your dream wedding at the iconic Old Parliament House. Come and see what this amazing venue can offer, sample our canapes, wine packages and more. Appointments available with our professional wedding coordinators via Eventbrite.
– S AT U R DAY – 7 OCTOBER 2017 10AM – 4PM FREE ENTRY
(0 2) 6 2 61 7 2 0 0 | M O A D O P H .G O V. A U | O P H W E D D I N G . E V E N T B R I T E .C O M . A U M O A D O P H E V E N T S @ R E S TA U R A N TA S S O C I AT E S .C O M . A U
Venue Spotlight: Timeless Charm WO R D S Emily Allen
K EEN F O R A W ED D I N G W H ER E YO U C A N S EE, TO U C H A N D F EEL T H E H I S TO R Y O F T H E V EN U E? W E' V E F O U N D F I V E V EN U ES W H ER E YO U C A N S EE T H E PA S S AG E O F T I M E A N D S T Y L E YO U R
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ROSEBUD AND BELL'S HERITAGE COTTAGES
Rosebud and Bell’s Cottages are two quaint 1860s pioneer wooden slab cottages—authentic on the outside whilst having brand new inclusions on the inside. From the outside, the property appears to be like any other on the quiet residential street in Cook, but pulling into the gravel driveway you soon see it is far from this.
The cottages are surrounded by beautiful, manicured gardens and the property also backs onto neighbouring paddocks with horses, easily mistaken for being in a quiet, rural location. Rosebud and Bell's is best suited for smaller, self-catered ceremonies of around 50 guests and for $1,500 you will have private use of the cottages, gardens and two nights accommodation.
10 SKINNER STREET, COOK 0410 513 156 rosebud.cottage@me.com rosebudcottages.com
" L A N YO N H O M ES T E A D O FFERS STUNNING GARDENS AND VIEWS I N A U N I Q U E LO C AT I O N . J U S T 3 0 M I N U T E S S O U T H O F T H E C I T Y. . ."
LANYON HOMESTEAD
There are number of settings available for wedding ceremonies in the grounds, featuring backdrops of the mountain ranges and open paddocks surrounding the property, as well as the historic homestead or beautiful gardens. Lanyon Homestead can accommodate intimate weddings up to 150 guests, and the Lanyon Café can provide varied styles of catering including
canapés or formal meals, buffet, or even a picnic style celebration. They have even had some beautiful morning ceremonies followed by a high tea, and are very happy to work in with the style of event the bride and groom imagine. Pricing is tailored to your specific needs and starts from $750 for wedding ceremonies.
THARWA DRIVE, THARWA 02 6237 6500 lanyon.homestead@act.gov.au historicplaces.com.au/lanyonhomestead/weddings-at-lanyon
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Lanyon Homestead offers stunning gardens and views in a unique location. Just 30 minutes south of the city, this heritage site extends along the Murrumbidgee River and provides a tranquil rural setting to celebrate your event with those who are special to you. The historic precinct features structures that date from the 1830s, and you won't be disappointed with photographic opportunities!
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
THE OLD STONE HOUSE The Old Stone House sits on one acre of established gardens in Bungendore. The main structure of the garden is reminiscent of a traditional English cottage with rows of roses, an avenue of rose arbours and sprawling, emerald lawns. The boundaries are lined with Cyprus pines and 135-yearold elm trees making the property a private retreat. The Old Stone House offers a unique opportunity for those wanting to host a relaxed and elegant garden wedding. Ceremony and reception
options are flexible and can be customised to suit the needs of each couple. Whether your dream wedding is a brunch for 20, a sit down meal for 80 or drinks and canapÊs for 200 they’ve got you covered.
41 MOLONGLO STREET, BUNGENDORE 02 6238 1888 bookingstheoldstonehouse.com.au theoldstonehouse.com.au
Prices start from $1,600 for ceremony only and from $3,700 for ceremony and reception.
"T H E O L D S TO N E H O US E O FFERS A U N I Q U E O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R T H O S E WA N T I N G TO H O S T A R E L A X E D A N D E L E G A N T G A R D E N W E D D I N G ."
GARANVALE WOOLSHED package with the option of ceremonies being able to be held on the grounds, too. Up to 60 car spaces are available in various locations including accessible options.
A 15-minute walk or five-minute drive from Braidwood's town centre, the three to four-acre “farmlet” offers a complete
Prices start at $60 per head with alcohol packages tailored to your needs.
248 LITTLE RIVER RD, BRAIDWOOD 02 4842 2804 info@garanvalewoolshed.com.au theoldstonehouse.com.au
MONA FARM AND HISTORIC HOME Mona is a premier rural wedding and luxury accommodation venue near Braidwood. With immaculate, award-winning gardens surrounding gracious historic buildings, Mona offers the perfect backdrop for your special day. Accommodation packages for up to 18 guests plus the bride and groom start at just $3,700 and include exclusive use of the grounds for photographs, and Mona offer a variety of
cocktail and reception packages, starting from $65 per person for a garden cocktail party through to individually designed gourmet options in the garden or renovated woolshed.
140 LITTLE RIVER ROAD, (MONGARLOWE RD), BRAIDWOOD 0498 688 433 info@monaevents.com.au monafarm.com.au
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GaranVale is a fully-licensed function centre that caters for up to 150 guests. If you love Italian cuisine, warm and friendly atmospheres and relaxed vibes, then this is the venue for you!
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
An Old-Fashioned Romance TRU E LOVE WI LL N EVER GO OUT OF STYLE
P H OTO G R A P H Y Shae Waite
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S T Y L I N G Hayley O’Neill
UNVEILED SPRING 2017 Dress, $3,190, by Grace Loves Lace, graceloveslace.com.au; diamond ring, by Diamond Boutique, diamondboutique. com.au; pearl earrings, by Kailis, kailisjewellery.com.au.
Sam wears custom tweed suits (worn throughout), POA, by Molloy & Sons by designer Sarah Kennewell for Braddon Tailors, 02 6181 6442
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UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Dress, $699.99, by Thurley, thurley.com.au
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Dress, $3,190, by Grace Loves Lace, graceloveslace.com.au; diamond ring, by Diamond Boutique, diamondboutique.com.au; pearl earrings, by Kailis, kailisjewellery.com.au.
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Dress, $2,600, by Grace Loves Lace, graceloveslace.com.au
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Dress, POA, by Anisa at Annabel's Bridal Studio, annabelsbridal.com.au
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Dress, $995, by Spell Bride by Spell & the Gypsy Collective, spelldesigns.com.au
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UNVEILED SPRING 2017
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Dress, $2,500, by Graces Loves Lace, graceloveslace.com.au
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
CREDITS
S T Y L I N G Hayley O’Neill D I R E C T I O N + CO O R D I N AT I O N Belinda Neame P H OTO G R A P H Y Shae Waite—Shae Estella Photography M A K E U P Jacqui Scott M A K E U P A S S I S TA N T Allaire Work H A I R Billie Fusimalohi—Billie&Co M O D E L S Emily Tokic—HAUS Models and Sam McGlone LO C AT I O N Lanyon Homestead F LO W E R S Moxom&Whitney
MAKING
BEAUTIFUL BRIDES
jacquiscott.com.au MOBILE
0423 408 343 E M A I L jacqui@jacquiscott.com.au jacquiscottmakeup Jacqui Scott Makeup
SO, YOU’RE ENGAGED Now what? P L A N N I N G A W ED D I N G C A N B E A N E X C I T I N G—A N D S O M E T I M ES O V ER W H EL M I N G—T I M E. J ES S D I X O N F R O M W I L LO W H O U S E W ED D I N G S A N D E V EN T S P R O V I D ES YO U R ES S EN T I A L T I M EL I N E F O R P L A N N I N G T H E P ER F E C T C EL EB R AT I O N .
12 M O N T H S +
N I N E —10 M O N T H S
Set wedding date
Set wedding budget
Draft guest list and bridal party
to final) guest list at this stage is crucial
Research and book: wedding planner/stylist, ceremony and reception venues, photographer/ videographer, music, florist, celebrant/church
for future planning—especially for the
Start looking at dresses
“Your priority at this stage of planning is picking a date, setting a budget and booking the venue. You can then look to lock in your wedding planner/stylist, photographer/videographer, florist, music
budget-conscious bride. In the coming weeks you’ll need to send out your Save The Dates and order other stationery, so having your number of guests locked will in be handy”
Order wedding dress and organise accessories
Finalise guest list
Book hair and make up
Research and order bridesmaids’ dresses
Research and order groom’s and groomsmen’s suits
Order the ‘Save The Dates’ and invitations
Book hire items
Research and book cake—a great time to sample!
and celebrant.”
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“Organisation is key. A final (or close
S I X— E I G H T M O N T H S
“Top tip: to save money, look at using paperless post options for
F O U R— F I V E M O N T H S
Save The Dates or developing a wedding website.” “It’s important to have a clear style,
Send out Save The Dates
Book transport for the day
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Appoint MC and advise those you want to give speeches
Organise wedding rings
Order wedding favours
Book wedding night accommodation
Look at honeymoon ideas
T WO MONTHS
Write vows
Book wedding rehearsal
Have hair and makeup trial with veil and headpiece
Organise hen’s night or bridal shower
Develop draft run sheet
“Top tip: Don’t leave writing your vows to the night before. There is nothing worse than trying to find the words to describe your significant other when you’re flustered.”
theme or colour palette for the wedding. Stylists or wedding planners can help you develop this and can assist with sourcing and buying items you love—it’s never too early to start.”
Menu tasting
Discuss ceremony with celebrant or church
Choose readings and vows
Send invitations
Buy gifts for bridal party
Confirm styling and start buying!
ONE MONTH
Confirm honeymoon details
Collate RSVPs
Draft seating plan
Organise final fittings for bridesmaids
Confirm suits for Grooms and Groomsmen
Write your speech
Finalise rehearsal details
Finalise menu
Finalise run sheets
“This is crunch time. You need to confirm suppliers. This is when checklists and run sheets will become your best friend— utilise them!”
ONE WEEK
Pick up dress/suits
Pack for honeymoon
Clean engagement ring
Hold wedding rehearsal
Final meeting with planner/stylist
“The perks of having a wedding planner—you can hand everything over and enjoy every minute of the lead-up to your wedding and have confidence that everything will be perfect. They can also be the point of contact so that you don’t receive calls from suppliers on the day”
Confirm wedding date, delivery time + location with: Florist, Cake Creator, Photographer/ Videographer, Celebrant/ Church, Car hire, Hair & Makeup,
Venue Music, Hire Equipment, Planner/Stylist
Final wedding dress fitting
Confirm guests numbers with reception venue
Finalise Seating Plan
Complete Place Cards
D AY B E F O R E
“Don’t underestimate the power of relaxation. Try and book yourself into a massage or get your nails done with your bridesmaids. You don’t want to be
“In the last week, your priorities should
stressed the day before because you’re going to need your beauty sleep.”
be meeting with your celebrant/church, having your wedding rehearsal and meeting with your planner or stylist.”
Talk to bridal party about tasks they will be assigned on the day
Relax!
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all arrangements with vendors and
T WO WEEKS
SPECIAL
STATIONERY FOR SPECIAL
PEOPLE ON SPECIAL
OCCASIONS
0430 153 375
artforme.com.au
Wedding style, UNVEILED P H OTO G R A P H Y Kelly Tunney, Tim Bean Photography and Martin Ollman
D I S COV ER YO U R D R E A M RECEP T I O N, AS B RO U G HT TO L I FE BY TA L E N T E D LO C A L T E A M S AT O U R U N V E I L E D E V E N T.
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WO R D S Amanda Whitley
Classic Romance A space where romance is celebrated in the most feminine of styles, featuring a soft palette with gold accents and vintage elements.
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
S T Y L I S T Peta Rudd F LO R I S T Jamison Flowers S TAT I O N E R Y Artforme Letterpress Studio C A K E Ali King – Cakes, Desserts & Events
Stylist Peta Rudd created an elegant and luxurious space that was big on texture, with florals and greenery, walnut bentwood chairs, linen tablecloth, and gold metal bar cart all working together to support the theme. Pink accents enhanced the impact of Jamison Flowers’ pastel ombre floral display, which moved gently from mauve to white using roses, David Austin roses, sweet peas, carnations and stunning phalaenopsis orchids to take the arrangement cascading down the table. A mouth-watering array of sweet treats from Ali King took the swoonworthy space to the next level: a floral‑enhanced croquembouche, bowls filled with macarons, white chocolate tarts and more. Elegant letterpress stationery from Artforme Letterpress Studio was the perfect finishing touch.
TÄRENDÖ table ($34), FLIMRA glass ($1.99), DINERA dinner set ($29.99), INTAGANDE carafe ($7.99), INTAGANDE glasses ($1.99 each), SVALKA wine glasses ($5.99 for six), MOGNAD LED tealights ($4.99 for six), all from IKEA. Walnut Bentwood Chairs ($14.30 each), hired from Barlens. White Wash Console Table ($999) from ISHKA, Westfield Woden. Gold cup ($34.95) and 'Ritz' Drinks Trolley ($199.99) from Freedom, Canberra Outlet Centre. Gold chargers ($1.50) from BIG W. Gold straws ($5.95 for pack of 25) from larkstore.com.au. Stylist's own vintage champagne glasses from Etsy.com, gold votives, and handmade table cloth and napkins. Drink dispenser (hired from Lovely Events), gold cake stand ($19.99) from BIG W. Cake stands and assorted vintage glassware, Ali King. Mr + Mrs Balloons from Balloon Brilliance. Rifle Paper Co. Herb Garden Coasters ($29.95) from Notemaker.com.au. Moet & Chandon Rosé ($77.95) and Hendrick's Gin, $67.90 from Dan Murphy's, Phillip. Chambord ($35) from First Choice Liquor, Braddon.
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CREDITS
Dramatic
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
A dramatic concoction of emerald green, midnight blue and shimmering silver metal. Created for the couple who dare to be different.
S T Y L I S T Barlens F LO R I S T Wren & Rabbit S TAT I O N E R Y Poyo Studio C A K E Cuppalini Cakes
The inspiration for the Dramatic atmosphere came from diverse quarters: a starry sky, a bleached cow skull, a shadowed forest floor, coming together into a style Wren & Rabbit call ‘Dramatic Galactic’. Abundant greenery was suspended above the table on a black steel arbour, mirrored by a carpet of moss, fern and flowers growing along the table. Handmade tablecloths were dyed to represent a starry galaxy and touches of silver added to the celestial feel. Poyo Studio’s hand-painted, silver-edged menus and place cards brought an earthiness to each setting, while Cuppalini Cakes added the final dramatic flourish with their Chocolate, Coffee and Maple cake infused with coffee syrup and sandwiched in soft and fluffy coffee meringue buttercream with a galaxy-inspired, painterly finish.
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CREDITS VARDAGEN plate ($2.99), SKUREN 24-piece cutlery set ($29.99), GULLMAJ napkin in lace white ($5.99 for two), all from IKEA. Breeze red and white wine glasses ($0.99 ea), Hi-ball Tumbler ($0.88 ea), Denim Bowl ($3.30 ea), Stainless Steel Cake Stand ($9.90 ea), Chiavari Chair – Black ($11.00 ea), 2.4m Rectangular Trestle Table ($19.80 ea) and 2.4m Table Top Extension ($22.00 ea), all hired from Barlens. Handmade and dyed tablecloth by Wren & Rabbit.
Garden Step into the garden and delight in fresh pinks and greens. This whimsical atmosphere brings the outside in, in the most beautiful and feminine way.
S T Y L I S T Sweet Little Sunday F LO R I S T Moxom and Whitney S TAT I O N E R Y Across the Forest
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
C A K E LuLu & Sis
Like an English tea party on a spring day, the Garden atmosphere was a whimsical and feminine feast for the eyes. Stylists Sweet Little Sunday brought the fresh charm of the outside in, using timber texture and astroturf to create a five-star picnic feel. The table’s focus was Moxom and Whitney’s stunning floral table runner of David Austin and Colombian roses, phalepnopsis orchids and peonies. It trailed the length of the table and spilled onto the floor, scattering rose petals throughout the space. A colour scheme of soft green, pinks and oranges was inspired by handpainted and personalised menus created by Across The Forest and was taken through every element. Lulu and Sis’ tiered wedding cake was lushly decorated in more flowers and fruits, with delicate rose cookies a sweet wedding favour for guests to take away.
CREDITS Large Kai Dining table ($2,000) from Domayne Fyshwick. TÄRNÖ chair ($15), DINERA dinner set ($29.99), INTAGANDE tumber ($1.99), wine glass ($2.99) and carafe ($7.99), all from IKEA. Chairs also available to hire from Sweet Little Sunday. Cutlery and small bowl with gold trim from Target Australia. Jumbo clear Balloon ($16 for a pack of two) from The Party Cupboard. Large Terracotta pot ($14) from Bunnings. Topiary in pot ($29) from Kmart. Napkins, hand sewn by Sweet Little Sunday from tablecloth. AstroTurf ($250) from Bruceworks.
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UNVEILED SPRING 2017
Modern Luxe Think marble and metals with touches of green. This sophisticated and minimalist space is designed for the modern couple craving understated elegance. S T Y L I S T Show Pony Events F LO R I S T Peony N' Pearl S TAT I O N E R Y + S I G N A G E Allira’s Inklings C A K E Forty Two Cakes
Set within Show Pony Events’ ‘Sky Room’, stunning Rose Gold Tolix chairs and cutlery teamed with a custom-made geometric pendant installation. Marble accents in the crockery, stationery and cake created a luxe, gender-neutral space, with roses, freesias and jonquils in a colour palette of elegant white and green the perfect canvas. Allira’s Inklings brought a modern twist to classic calligraphy, writing in her signature style in luxurious rose gold tones on a hand-marbled cardstock. Forty Two Cakes’ striking featured handcrafted custom white sugar roses and green passionfruit vine to complement the greenery and florals chosen by Peony N’ Pearl for the atmosphere.
Sky Room, Geometric Installation, table, table cloth, charger plates/place mats, serviettes, silver and frosted tea lights, Rose Gold cutlery and marble crockery, Rose Gold Tolix chairs, cake stand and easel all by Show Pony Events.
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CREDITS
Rustic Eclectic and effortless, this space combines organic and earthy textures to create a warm and inviting celebration. A refined twist on the traditional DIY trend. S T Y L I S T Willow House Weddings F LO R I S T Lilygrace Flowers S TAT I O N E R Y + S I G N A G E Butters Creative
UNVEILED SPRING 2017
C A K E La Ombre Creations
With the feel of a cottage garden, Willowhouse Events styled a perfectly charming space that that invited exploration and showcased the beauty of raw timber. A confection of gum, roses and ivy from Lilygrace flowers trailed vintage double doors, providing the perfect easel for Butters Creative’s hand-lettered welcome sign featuring the same floral motif that was taken through the menus. Timber flower boxes filled with protea, sea holly, dahlia, Queen Anne’s Lace, roses, gum and cluster roses took pride of place on the table, which was swathed in flowing fabric in soft pink and dove grey. Tapered candles, twine and linen napkins created textural interest. La Ombre creations’ naked cake was beautifully unstructured—lacework, mini macarons and florals making it look almost too good to eat. Almost.
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CREDITS LERHAMN Table ($89), TÄRNÖ chair ($15), DINERA plates ($1.75), IVRIG water glasses ($1.99), IVRIG wine glasses ($2.99), SVALKA champagne glasses ($5.99 for pack of six), 365+ water carafe ($4.99), DRAGON cutlery ($19.99 for 24-piece set), MARKNAD place mat ($2.99). All from IKEA. Chairs and champagne glasses also available to hire from Willowhouse Weddings. Gold candle holders ($4) and taper candles ($2 for pack of four), Kmart. Wooden flower boxes, rustic door backdrop, LED pillar candles and tablecloths from Lilygrace Flowers. Old suitcase and books, Butters Creative. Rustic ladders, Willowhouse Weddings.
Truth is...I’m in love
0407 232 272 www.kellytunney.com.au ACT AIPP 2017 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR