BREAK THE MOULD
A NEW MINI GARAGE IS ON ITS WAY, BUT WE’RE STILL HERE. It’s time for a bit of a refresh, so we’re undergoing a few tweaks. To apologise for the mess we’re making, we’d like to offer you free MINI TLC Servicing for 5 years or 80,000kms* across the entire MINI range. With outstanding opportunities during our Construction Sale, you could drive away with a brand new MINI at an unbeatable price. Visit our temporary showroom to find out more.
ROLFE CLASSIC MINI GARAGE 2 Botany Street, Phillip ACT 2606. Ph (02) 6208 4222. rolfeclassic.mini.com.au *Only applicable to vehicles under 12 months from the date of first registration and prior to first service. Pricing based on Basic package. Scheduled servicing based on the vehicle’s Condition Based Service monitoring system for five years from the date of first registration or up to 80,000kms, whichever occurs first. Normal wear and tear and other exclusions apply. Scheduled Servicing must be conducted by an authorised MINI Garage. Offer applies at Rolfe Classic MINI Garage while stocks last to new and demonstrator vehicles ordered and delivered between before 31/05/2016. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. Consult Rolfe Classic MINI Garage for further details.
The perfect catch up... Prosecco, Bellini, Negroni or Vino? See you at Joe’s! East Hotel | 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston, ACT 02 6178 0050 | joesateast.com
ISSUE EVERY ISSUE
F E AT U R E S 60
2
Editor's Letter 4
RAISING WOMEN
37
Break Away Trails 71
Creative Clout
Contributors 6
FA S H I O N F E AT U R E
HC Online
48
LIFE
C I T Y F E AT U R E
COME UNDONE
E D I TO R I A L F E AT U R E 20
Career Changers 31
Big Love
8
Save the Date FOOD & DRINK
10
85
Entertainment
Childhood Recipes Reimagined
STYLE
92 14
Break the Rules 101
What's Old is New Again
INTERIOR
FITNESS
98
105
Banish the Beige
Healthy Alternatives
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HC TEAM
EDITOR'S LETTER
Laura Peppas SENIOR JOURNALIST
As little as three years ago, Canberra's reputation was as a stickler for the rules. A little grey, a little uptight, a city that didn't like to challenge the status quo. Well baby, the times they are a' changin'. Issue 5 of Magazine is all about 'breaking the mould'; steering away from convention and putting the spotlight on the unique. From strong women forging their own path, to dramatic career changes, trailblazing artists and local foodies who are doing things their way, it's an edition that will make you see your home town in a different way.
Belinda Neame E V E N T S C O O R D I N ATO R
When it came to sourcing models for our fashion and beauty features, we looked beyond the usual roster and found three successful career women and mothers in their 30s and 40s who just happen to be absolutely gorgeous. Their images show the confidence that comes with age and being comfortable in your own skin. As we go to press, HerCanberra's own rule breaker — our Creative Director, Javier Steel — is winging her way to Las Vegas to marry her childhood sweetheart in front of family and friends (and Elvis). Jav's rebellious spirit and artist's soul has spilled out on to the pages of what is my favourite edition
Beatrice Smith E D I TO R I A L C O O R D I N ATO R
yet, and we wish her a lifetime of wedded bliss. I hope you love Breaking the Mould as much as we do.
Amanda Whitley Magazine Editor-in-chief
Javier Steel
HerCanberra Founder + Director
C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS Please drop us a line at hello@hercanberra.com.au with your feedback. @HERCANBERRA HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
AUTUMN WINTER FASHION IS HERE #OWNYOURSTORY Book your Style Session with our Westfield Stylists Today VISIT WESTFIELD.COM.AU/ACT
BELCONNEN/WODEN
HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
Contributors
WRITERS Tess Godkin Roslyn Hull Fiona Keary Rachel Marsh Molly McLaughlin Belinda Neame Laura Peppas Beatrice Smith Josephine Walsh Stephanie Wang Amanda Whitley
KELLY TUNNEY
LUX & US
Born and raised in Canberra, Kelly Tunney has been a professional photographer for 10 years. Her images are candid, honest, and fearless. Kelly is the current 2016 ACT AIPP Professional Photographer of the Year and the 2015 AIPP Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year (the first female to ever win)!
Lux & Us is a Canberra-based photography duo formed by husband and wife, Carlo and Laura, focussing on lifestyle and portrait photography. Both Carlo and Laura have careers in government; however, photography is where they pour their passion and creativity.
PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim Bean Rebecca Doyle Tess Godkin Lux & Us Martin Ollman Kelly Tunney assisted by Heather Brazel
HAIR STYLISTS Leslie Henshaw assisted by Clair Hattersley and Beth Tucker – Next Hair Peter Magro – Pony & Pins
MAKEUP ARTISTS
HAYLEY O'NEILL
MARTIN OLLMAN
Hayley O'Neill is a Sydney-based fashion stylist (but a Canberra girl at heart) who currently works as a fashion office coordinator for Marie Claire Australia. She has worked alongside the likes of Alex Perry, Samantha Harris and Margaret Zhang.
Martin left traditional photography 20 years ago, moving into the digital photography revolution. Projected across our monuments for Enlighten, on the pages of nearly every regular local publication and making waves across the country, Martin's impression of Canberra is helping to define it.
Jacqui Scott – Jacqui Scott Makeup + Studio assisted by Shay Flanigan
STYLISTS Hayley O'Neill assisted by Bianca Armstrong
ART DIRECTOR + DESIGN Javier Steel
PRINTER CanPrint Communications PAGE 4
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HC ONLINE Visit hercanberra.com.au for your daily dose of all things Canberra.
@leanandmeadow
#hercanberra @leerachel
@thefloralsociety_canberra
@laurencampbell
@theforage
@j_elfie
@bisonhome
@space.kitchen
@jess_harmc
STYLE FOOD & DRINK CITY BUSINESS EVENTS + MORE
CONNECT @HERCANBERRA #HERCANBERRA
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MAY
JULY
OLD BUS DEPOT MARKETS – A CELEBRATION OF WOOL 15 May Old Bus Depot, Kingston obdm.com.au
SAVE THE DATE
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY – COUNTERMOVE 19 – 21 May Canberra Theatre Centre canberratheatrecentre.com.au
SPARROWFOLK – SUBIRDIA 19 – 21 May The Street Theatre thestreet.org.au
JUNE HANDMADE MARKET 11 - 12 June Exhibition Park handmadecanberra.com.au
THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL 21 June – 16 August Various venues trufflefestival.com.au
17 July Old Bus Depot, Kingston obdm.com.au
OUR LAND PEOPLE STORIES 28 – 30 July Canberra Theatre Centre canberratheatrecentre.com.au
GIANTS VS RICHMOND 30 July StarTrack Oval manukaoval.com.au/events
AUGUST GHOST STORIES 18 – 20 August Canberra Theatre Centre canberratheatrecentre.com.au
CANBERRA WRITERS FESTIVAL
FAITH, FASHION, FUSION: MUSLIM WOMEN'S STYLE IN AUSTRALIA 26 May - 4 September National Archives of Australia naa.gov.au
OLD BUS DEPOT MARKETS – CREATIVE FIBRE
26 - 28 August Various venues canberrawritersfestival.com.au
THE GRIGORYAN BROTHERS
MORE EVENTS AT HERCANBERRA.COM.AU/EVENTS
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HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
ENTERTAINMENT
Rebel Rebel By Roslyn Hull >> More at hercanberra.com.au
A rebel is the only stereotype worth repeating in stories and film because they can be anyone – Mary MacKillop and Mahatma Gandhi started out as ordinary people. But the rebel most often depicted in film is the romantic loser, the person who sticks to their personal code, no matter what. Here are five rebels who've broken my heart.
James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause – searching for a way Judd Nelson in The Breakfast
to stay out of the adult world of broken
Club – wrong side of the
hearts and broken
tracks, right side of Molly
spirits and find his
Ringwald's heart. Sticking it
own code to live by.
CONTROVERSIAL TITLES PERSEPOLIS Marjane Satrapi
to the man even in detention.
By Stephanie Wang, writer and bookseller at Muse. All titles available for purchase instore, musecanberra.com.au
THE HANDMAID'S TALE
THE SATANIC VERSES
Margaret Atwood
Salman Rushdie
Persepolis is an autobiographical
Atwood's stark dystopia, lauded
You don't get more controversial
graphic novel that traces
for its feminist themes, has
than a fatwa. In 1989, the Ayatollah
Satrapi's life in pre- and post-
been banned from schools and
Khomeini called for Rushdie's
revolution Iran. It covers a ream
libraries worldwide. Censors
death, citing perceived blasphemy
of controversial topics – dissent,
decry its supposed anti-Christian
in The Satanic Verses. The title
trauma, alienation, sexuality, and
message and explicit content. But
derives from a legend about the
everything in between. Banned
the joke's on them: despite its
Prophet Mohammed and the
outright in Iran, Persepolis was
challengers, The Handmaid's Tale
devil. Despite Iranian government
also restricted by the Chicago
has never been out of print since
support for the fatwa ending in
Public Schools system in 2013 for
its publication in 1985.
1998, it exists to this day.
reasons they've yet to clarify.
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And the man whose story just turned 30 – Matthew Broderick in
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RADIO, REVOLUTIONISED
HOW TO BE A GIRL How To Be A Girl is an anonymous podcast that
the epic school-wagging
MollyMcLaughlin
philosopher. 'Life moves
Podcast downloads passed the one
as they try to navigate what
pretty fast …'
billion mark last year and around 75
it means to be a girl in the
million people download a podcast
modern world.
every month. These are groundbreaking figures for an audio medium that has
REPLY ALL
traditionally been outshone by television
Reply All is about the
and film. Here are six podcasts that
Internet and explores the
exemplify a new wave of boundary-
way 24/7 connectivity
pushing storytelling:
changes all our lives.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off –
by
discusses a mother's life with her transgender daughter
Everything you never wanted to know about the furthest reaches of technology.
CONFESSION BOOTH Each episode of Confession
Robin Williams in
Booth is a recording of
Dead Poets Society
the moment an interesting
– a teacher who
person confessed their
encourages students to form their own opinions and think independently.
deepest, darkest secret Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke – willing to die rather than give in to a corrupt authority.
to a live audience in Sydney. The catharsis is audible.
MODERN LOVE From the pages of The New York Times comes the podcast version of
THE HAND THAT SIGNED THE PAPER
AND TANGO MAKES THREE
Helen Demidenko/
Peter Parnell, Justin
Darville
Richardson & Henry
#GIRLBOSS RADIO
Cole (illustr.)
Nasty Gal founder and
reader-submitted essays on love, loss and the irrational things they make us do.
author of #Girlboss, Sophia Helen Demidenko's award-winning
This adorable children's book
novel of two Ukrainian brothers was
about a real-life penguin family
supposedly based on her father and
frequently tops the American Library
uncle. Controversy surrounding the
Association's most challenged
allegedly anti-Semitic book went
books list. The issue? Roy and Silo,
nuclear when Demidenko was revealed
the doting penguin parents, are
to be Helen Darville, daughter of
both males. Librarians tried to skirt
British migrants – making her multiple
controversy by re-shelving the book
public appearances in Ukrainian
as non-fiction, but that hasn't stopped
national dress somewhat awkward.
conservative groups railing against its "gay themes".
Amoruso, interviews successful women from creative, cultural and business fields about the lessons they've learned the hard way.
THE MOMENT In HerCanberra's own podcast, award-winning social justice journalist, Ginger Gorman, reveals the extraordinary moments that changed the lives of everyday Canberra women.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Unconventional Activities Stuck in a social rut? Forget drinks and dinner, here are three activities for those craving something outside the box. WRITER L AURA PEPPAS PHOTOGRAPHER TIM BEAN
RIDDL E ROOM
16 MARJORIE BERNARD LN, FRANKLIN RIDDLEROOM.COM.AU
Imagine being trapped in a room where your only hope of escape is to 'solve' your way out through a series of puzzles. Sounds very 'Saw,' right? But if this sets your heart racing, then Riddle Room is for you. When entering an escape room you are guided into a specially designed room with your 'team' (whichever friends you choose to bring along) to solve a series of puzzles using only the items in the room. You'll progress through a narrative and must find your way 'out' within 60 minutes. A 'clue system' guides your team through the experience by giving a little push when you seem stuck or take too long on a puzzle. Alternatively, Riddle Room offers sessions with no clues for those who like a challenge.
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BAILEY'S ARCADE 150 LONDON CCT, CANBERRA CITY FACEBOOK.COM/GUILDHOUSE.CANBERRA
Unleash your inner geek at this new board games restaurant. Its shelves are lined with every type of board game, from old classics such as Risk and Carcassonne to the new Game of Thrones board game. The food menu has been carefully crafted so it doesn't get in the way of gaming; with wood-fired pizzas, arancini and mezze platters to share, not to mention a fully-stocked bar with beers and ciders to help wash it all down.
REL OA D
38 NORTHBOURNE AVE, CANBERRA RELOADBAR.COM.AU
Take a trip back to the gaming rooms of your childhood in Canberra's first e-sport and gaming bar. This venue, on the Northbourne strip of the Sydney Building, has both video games and e-sports (video game competitions between a number of players) all in a bar setting. Grab a group of friends, settle in for a cocktail and choose from games like Super Smash Brothers 8, Mario Kart, FIFA, Halo, Call of Duty, League of Legends and StarCraft. ◊ PAGE 13
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BREAK THE WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION, RULES WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN. JOURNALIST EMMA MACDONALD SHOWS HOW TO DO IT IN STYLE. WRITER AND ST YLIST FIONA KEARY PHOTOGRAPHER MARTIN OLLMAN
RULES 101 DON'T MIX PRINTS Emma wears Marcs Bubbles Long Sleeve Knit in Ink Multi, $159; Marcs Striped Jacquard Pencil Skirt in Navy/Red, $159; and Studio W Tassel Zip Sling Bag in Orange, $79.95. All products available at David Jones at Canberra Centre.
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BLUE & GREEN SHOULD NEVER BE SEEN Emma wears Marcs Green Multi Colour Block Dress, $149; and Carvella Kurt Geiger Krisp Nanette Suedette Heels, $130. All products available at David Jones at Canberra Centre. Artwork by David Mankey.
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NO SPARKLES BEFORE FIVE O'CLOCK Emma wears Seed Washed Grey Sequinned Tee, $59.95; Nobody Geo Skinny Fame Jeans, $199; Seed Heritage Gunmetal Trainer, $59.95; and Fossil Kinley Crossbody Bag in Sea Glass, $199. All products available at David Jones at Canberra Centre. Artwork by Hannah Quinlivan.
How to break the rules BLUE & GREEN SHOULD NEVER BE SEEN
NO SPARKLES BEFORE FIVE O'CLOCK
(Or pink and red, navy and black, or black and brown). Dare to be different with these once frowned upon colour combinations. The trick is to make sure that the colours are the same tone: keep it cool (blue-based) or warm (yellow-based). When it comes to colour it's about having fun!
You don't have to wait that long to add some shimmer to your day. Start with accessories such as metallic shoes (huge this season), blingtastic jewellery or a sequinned clutch. A sparkly tee looks right at home with a pair of jeans, or teamed with a leather skirt and heels for night.
DON'T MIX PRINTS If you look at interiors and homewares you'll see how different prints and patterns can be mixed —it's about using a common theme (colour or style of pattern) to tie them together. We've used the navy base and red hues and added the orange tote to tie it together. Mixing prints is definitely for the creative and adventurous.
MODEL
MAKEUP
Emma Macdonald
Jacqui Scott at Jacqui Scott Makeup + Studio
PHOTOGRAPHER
Martin Ollman STYLIST
Fiona Keary at Style Liberation HAIR
LOCATION
Nishi Gallery at NewActon THANK YOU
Canberra Centre for clothing
Peter Magro at Pony and Pins
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CAREER CHANGERS W HAT D O YO U WAN T TO B E W H E N YO U G ROW U P? AS A C H I L D T H E C H O I C E S E E M S S I M P L E, B U T T H I N G S D O N ' T A LWAYS G O AS P L A N N E D. A C A R E E R I S O F T E N L E S S O F A PAT H A N D M O R E O F A C O M P L I C AT E D TA N G L E O F C H A L L E N G E S A N D O P P O RT U N I T I E S . H E R E, F O U R WO M E N S H A R E T H E U N C O N VE N T I O N AL PAT H S T H E I R C A R E E R S H AVE TA KE N .
W R I T E R M O L LY M C L A U G H L I N P H OTO G R A P H E R M A R T I N O L L M A N
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HERCANBERRA.COM.AU
"THREE YEARS AGO, I COULD NOT EVER HAVE IMAGINED THAT THIS COULD BE MY LIFE" PAGE 22
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CAROLYN KIDD SOMETIMES CAREER CHANGES COME OUT OF THE BLUE. THIS WAS THE C A S E F O R C A R O LY N K I D D, W H O S E T R A N S I T I O N F R O M P U B L I C S E R VA N T TO D O G WA L K E R WA S L A R G E LY D R I V E N BY A B AT T L E W I T H M E N TA L I L L N E S S .
The co-founder of Dogs on the Run – the Canberrabased dog walking service that she operates with Barb Grundy – left her job as a musician to spend 10 years working in marketing and communications until she was unable to continue due to being diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
"I was still pretty raw, I had lost a lot of weight and I was struggling to go out in public, but I contacted the Domestic Animals Service and became a volunteer dog walker. I have to say it changed my life." Along with Barb, who had also recently left the public service, Carolyn eventually created Dogs on the Run and the business thrived almost immediately.
"My career change was completely out of the blue," she explains.
"Now people tell us we've got the best job in the world," she says. "There are hard moments, like when dogs are injured or badly behaved, but for the most part it is just incredibly satisfying and fulfilling. Three years ago, I could not ever have imagined that this could be my life. We have been working on making positive changes through the platform that we have on social media and now have created the dog supplies donation bin at Ainslie IGA, which is a joint initiative between Dogs on the Run and ACT Rescue and Foster."
"I guess I would describe what happened as a breakdown. I spent a month in a mental health facility in Canberra and I was a pretty broken person when I was in there. The pieces needed to be put back together and my anxiety was totally debilitating." For the first 40 years of her life, Carolyn had been focussed on her career as a classical guitarist. She had success in Australia and the UK, along with a teaching position at the ANU School of Music. She left the guitar world for marketing and the public service in 2001 and after that, Carolyn didn't touch the guitar for an entire decade.
Carolyn attributes the success of her current career to the progress she made while interacting with dogs and people as a volunteer dog walker. She has also begun playing the guitar occasionally.
"I had an important role in the public service. It was fast paced and adrenaline driven, which I liked, but it became really difficult because we were under such pressure," she says.
"Working with the team at the pound, we became really close and I explained what had happened to me. Dogs give you unconditional love, which helped, but I also started to realise that my mental health issues are not unusual. Everyone's got a story."
After her breakdown, Carolyn was working through the recovery process when her psychiatrist encouraged her to find a volunteer position that would help her engage with the community.
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ANITA KRIKOWA W I T H A BAC KG RO U N D I N H U M A N R E S O U RC E S, A N I TA KR I KOWA H A D N O B U S I N E S S OR CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE WHEN SHE FOUNDED FURNITURE DESIGN AND M A N U FAC T U R I N G B U S I N E S S B OYA N D G I R LC O I N C A N B E R R A W I T H H E R H U S BA N D CARLO ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO.
the volumes of pallets that are sent to landfill annually, she knew she had to do something.
What she did have was a passion for sustainability and a willingness to do whatever it took to make her vision of making recycled furniture a reality.
"We want to encourage education about how best we can design something so it isn't rendered useless in a couple of years," she says. "We think about how to upcycle items, for example, how to design something that's in trend now and how it can be changed for future trends. I love being able to sit down and have a chat with someone at the markets about creating something that's come from items that people usually think of as waste."
"For the first three months we were still working in our corporate roles," she says. "We'd get up at six and go to the gym, then get ready to go to work, work until about four or five, then we'd come home and eat dinner and either go into the workshop (which was our garage at the time) or we would do admin in our study until about three in the morning. I can't actually believe that we did it." Anita started attending university but dropped out because she found she couldn't learn in the strict, academic environment. She then worked in a corporate role for the Australian Federal Police until the idea for boyandgirlco struck over lunch with Carlo. The couple started out by making and selling wood pallet furniture at markets and seeking out books and videos they could learn from. They also brought on a carpenter to help them get the basics sorted.
While having such a close partnership with her husband has allowed boyandgirlco to flourish, Anita says there are some ground rules. "The line between being a married couple and being a business partnership needs to be refined all the time," she says. "We don't talk about business after a certain time." Being a furniture designer and maker was never a career Anita saw for herself, but it has become a driving force in her life and she can't imagine doing anything else.
"It was a steep learning curve," Anita laughs. "I had never done anything in business before and neither had my friends. I didn't have anyone I could really talk to about it so I started to reach out to other women so I could learn from them. I mean, when we first started we didn't even have any power tools!"
"I never really considered myself handy but after we built a few pieces for ourselves it just felt really right. Even in the beginning I knew I could learn along the way and I would get there one day if I just kept going. I actually wasn't scared at all."
Anita's business is founded on the need to create longlasting pieces from recycled pallets. After researching
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SARAH KELLY G O I N G F RO M S P Y TO FAS H I O N C O N S U LTA N T D O E S N ' T S O U N D L I KE T H E M O S T N AT U R A L T R A N S I T I O N, B U T S A R A H K E L LY I S N ' T YO U R AV E R AG E W O M A N .
"When I went to work it was a chance for me to wear clothes that I loved, and everyone would always comment on my style. I thought I wanted to work as a fashion designer for a moment in my late teens but then I did some work experience and I realised I just wanted to wear clothes rather than design and make them."
Growing up, the Red Hill resident dreamt of being an actor, but after attending business school at her parents' request she was recruited to join the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and began a life of secrecy. "ASIO was moving their headquarters from Melbourne to Canberra and they had to find staff," Sarah explains. "They were looking for women like myself who could work in administration and I just thought, why not! I started in 1987 and I worked within many different areas of intelligence."
Sarah's first official foray into fashion happened when she won Fashions on the Field at the Melbourne Cup in 2009. This led to a career as a fashion consultant through her business, Fashion Empire.
Throughout her career, Sarah obtained high-level security clearances that allowed her to work in many intriguing situations, for example, within the British Ministry of Defence during the Iraq War.
"I know when I feel beautifully dressed it's just so refreshing and so exciting," she says. "I think women celebrate themselves that way and it can be a reflection of the pride you hold in yourself. ASIO and that whole part of my career seems so long ago! In my current career I have been to New York Fashion Week, which is how I got involved in street style and now I'm writing about fashion for Canberra Centre."
"We were dealing with a lot of top-secret intelligence and it was a very exciting place to be," Sarah says. "I was also being exposed to international designers and fashion around the world. People think that because ASIO is an intelligence agency you need to be discreet, but I was still able to be me because I wasn't telling people what I did. I usually gave a cover story."
Although Sarah began officially working in fashion later in her life, for her, it is a career of infinite possibilities and endless inspiration.
Fashion has always been one of Sarah's great loves and she was able to express this while travelling around the world in various positions, including working at Australia House in London and in the Australian Prime Minister's office.
"I'm inspired by so many women who have a real passion for style and don't apologise for it, like Iris Apfel and Diana Vreeland. They just go out there and say: this is who I am."
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"BEING A FIREFIGHTER IS ALSO ABOUT BEING THERE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY DISASTER ..."
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KAYE BRADTKE WHILE SHE WAS GROWING UP ON A FARM NEAR GRENFELL, IN CENTRAL W E S T N E W S O U T H WA L E S, K AY E B R A DT KE KN E W S H E WA N T E D A C A R E E R T H AT WA S O U T S I D E T H E T Y P I C A L N I N E -TO - F I V E W O R K DAY.
After a variety of jobs, including working as a builder's assistant and running her own harvesting business, Kaye landed her dream role - a senior firefighter at the Gungahlin Fire Station.
One of the most memorable events of Kaye's career was her trip to New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 to help with the search and rescue effort.
"I did a Bachelor of Social Science in Human Movement in Bathurst," she explains. "While I was there I needed to work so I was a grain assessor through November and December and I also took on a job as a retained firefighter, which means you respond to calls in the local area when you're needed. Working with the retained firies I was exposed to a lot of jobs, so I could pick up odd days of work from the other guys."
"It was an intense experience, but it was great getting to use the skills that I've trained for and put it all into practice," she says. "It showed that being a firefighter is also about being there to support the people that are being affected by the disaster, which sometimes means giving them a shoulder to cry on. As well as dealing with the actual destruction, we helped with getting the city up and running again by retrieving the things people needed for their businesses."
Kaye decided to apply to join the fire services after she completed her degree and has been a firefighter in the ACT for the last 14 years. Today, she is obviously very experienced in fast-paced situations but it wasn't always that way. Her full-time firefighting career began with attending a four-month training college as part of the recruitment process.
Kaye likes the flexibility of shift work and the unpredictable nature of her career keeps her interested. She handles the emotional aspect of fire fighting just like any other job. "Sometimes it can be hard, but I've got a lot of things I do to keep that balance," Kaye says. "I still work on the farm and I have my harvest contract business. I find just getting out and catching up with friends is helpful and takes my mind off things so I don't hang onto them. The fire brigade is a really good social environment because we all look out for each other. It is like a big family, really." ◊
"It was really full on," Kaye says. "You go home every night physically and mentally exhausted but then you have to study for the exams. It is all worth it because you come out of the college with the basic skills you need when you jump on the truck. You have to know what you're doing from day one and everybody depends on each other, so you really hit the ground running."
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I S T H R E E (O R F O U R O R F I V E ) R E A L LY A C R O W D? B E AT R I C E S M I T H G O E S I N S I D E T H E P O LYA M O R O U S L I F E ST Y L E TO F I N D O U T.
WR I T E R B EATR I C E S M ITH
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It is a testament to the 'otherness' of polyamory that when I begin to write this article my computer refuses to acknowledge it as a word. Of all the diverse identities within the queer community, polyamory (or 'poly') has perhaps benefited least from popular culture, leaving the general understanding of polyamory threadbare and largely negative. "You get three great loves," proclaims Charlotte in an episode of Sex and the City. But I don't think Charlotte meant at the same time. "Polyamory is described as ethical nonmonogamy — that is, non-monogamy with the consent and knowledge of all involved," writes Irish author Emer O'Toole*. At the heart of poly is the concept that people have an infinite amount of love to give and that people can fall in love with any other person. It's terribly romantic, when you think about it. "I think we're definitely conditioned towards monogamy," says Ayesha Kaak, an ANU PhD candidate, whose research centres around the intersection of consent, language and the BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism) community.
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"You're supposed to find 'a' soulmate, not multiple loves or multiple soulmates, and you're definitely not supposed to have them at the same time." For Ayesha, the concept of poly isn't hard to wrap your mind around, "[It's] a bit ridiculous to say that people can't have more than one intimate relationship at a time — if you have multiple children or multiple siblings you don't love them less because there's more than one of them," Ayesha explains. For most people, a rejection of the idea of polyamory would likely stem from the concept of sharing their partner(s) with someone else, but Ayesha argues that poly accentuates and strengthens bonds, rather than eroding them. "Love is not finite. I think we're [ just] taught that it is," says Ayesha. "So if you're in a relationship with someone and then the relationships opens up into more than just a couple there's that thinking of 'now there's less love for me' which there's not — there's more love for you, I find, because when there's that diversity of relationships and individuals involved you get to really appreciate what that particular person does for you and why you started that relationship with that person in the first place."
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"One of the things I've realised is that I even do friendship differently, I think a lot of poly people probably do," says Megan Munro, an artist and social justice advocate. Like Ayesha, Megan refuses to see poly as a competition between partners. "I don't have a 'best friend' and I don't really have 'a' group of friends — I just have friends, so I think I have the same approach to friends as I do to my intimate relationships — they just 'are'." "I think that's the same concept that people have in poly as in, 'I'm with this person because they have whatever qualities and they're not competing with [my other partner] because they have different qualities'. I just like them both." "It's about seeing people as whole individuals, defined by their individual qualities, not as competitors in some sort of race."
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The idea of loving someone — multiple someones — as individuals is a wonderfully comforting idea, but for most people it's easier in theory than in practice. The more I talk to people about polyamory, the more I realise it's just as much about the work as it is about the love. Perhaps as a reaction against the media's negative view of polyamory as being either a carefree, hippy lifestyle or an arrangement that young women are 'tricked' into by their lothario boyfriends, modern polyamory is quick to assert itself as value driven, based on pillars of trust, respect and communication. "Ideally, you'd have those in a monogamous relationship as well," says Siren Vandoll, a student and sex and sexuality educator. "But our culture has so ingrained these roles and guidelines like 'don't [talk about feelings] to your wife, she'll see you as less masculine' and 'don't say that to your boyfriend he'll think you're nagging him' that those lines of communication become less easy to establish. Having to break down that social programming is a huge challenge for men [coming into the poly community]." Entering into polyamorous relationships requires something many couples struggle to establish — constant and deep channels of clear communication. Verbal contracts are usually necessary for setting guidelines and boundaries in poly relationships to make sure everyone is comfortable, and sometimes even physical contracts are drawn up. Siren believes that polyamory can be anything you make it — as long as you communicate.
"We're almost lucky as modern polyamorous people [because] the constructs haven't been developed yet," explains Siren, "we don't have a poly nuclear family so it gives you that freedom to make your own rules, which I find really liberating." Writing a community's own rules can be liberating, but it can also mean you find yourself inadvertently breaking other's rules in the process. Siren, Megan and Ayesha have each felt the sting of judgement for their polyamory in Canberra at some point, as society refuses to allow it a spot at the table when it comes to discussing sexuality. Unlike the LGBTQQI* (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex) community, which has a much larger community voice and representation in Canberra, polyamory is still too much for many members of the community to process. "I would love to be able to go out with both my male partners and my female partner and not have it be 'odd' and not get looks and be judged for it," says Ayesha. "Or if I'm out with one and see someone that knows me primarily through one of my other partners [not] have them think that I'm being unfaithful." "There's something about the dedication to honesty and emotional work involved in poly that fosters selfknowledge, trust and compersion," says Emer O'Toole. If you haven't heard of compersion before (neither had I), feeling compersion means to feel happy in your partner's romantic happiness.
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It reminds me of one of those words like Boketto ( Japanese for staring vacantly into the distance) or Torschlusspanik (German for a feeling of panic that your chances in life are diminishing as you age) that are described in other languages but we don't have an English word for. Turns out we do. Or perhaps it's simply that it hasn't been co-opted for use in monogamous couples. I tell Ayesha this and she's thoughtful. "I think that's a shame because it's such a brilliant idea," says Ayesha. Compersion in the most logical sense means that you're comfortable with how your partner relates to their other partners and are able to find a balance between communication and jealousy. "Compersion is held up as the golden standard of 'how you will feel if you are good at polyamory'," explains Ayesha, "In and of itself jealousy isn't such a bad thing, it's what you do with it that makes it a good or a bad thing." What comes up again and again is the way all three talk about other people's poly relationships. "It's not the way I do [poly] but some people might," they all say at different points in the conversation, eager to distance themselves from judgement.
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It's clear that polyamory probably benefits somewhat from its relatively fluid cultural definition — the rules aren't written in stone so people make their own. I'm reminded of various definitions of what constitutes cheating; is kissing cheating or just sex? Is flirting with someone okay? What about just thinking about another person in a romantic sense? It's hard to think that everyone would draw the same line in the sand, and it's no different for poly people and their partners. "I don't necessarily think that if you don't have overwhelming compersion you're 'bad at polyamory'. You don't have to be overwhelmingly happy that your partner is happy with their new partner, you just have to be comfortable with it." Regardless of one's personal feelings towards the concept of 'sharing' a partner with someone else, many would happily agree that the concept of love as 'finite' is untrue. And if love is infinite, so too might be Canberra's capacity to accept the poly community as part of the diverse fabric of our city. ◊ * www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/25/ polyamory-more-than-one-lover-emer-otoole
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TRAILS TIRED OF HE ADING TO THE COAST OR SYDNE Y WHENE VER YOU HAVE A LONG WE E KE ND? S HAKE U P YOU R ROUTI NE WITH ONE OF THESE FOODIE ESCAPES!
WRITER AMANDA WHITLEY
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YASS VALLEY
A H O P, S T E P A N D A J U M P F R O M C A N B E R R A B U T T H E R E ' S M O R E T H A N E N O U G H I N YAS S VA L L E Y TO O CC U PY A N E N T I R E W E E KE N D.
Day 1 POACHERS PANTRY
431 Nanima Rd, Murrumbateman poacherspantry.com.au
ROBYN ROWE C H O C O L AT E S
1153 Nanima Rd, Murrumbateman robynrowechocolates.com.au
CLONAKILL A WINERY
3 Crisps Lane, Murrumbateman clonakilla.com.au
If you've never taken the short trip out of town to Poachers Pantry, you're missing out on something special. Surrounded by vineyards of grapes used to produce the elegant cool-climate wines at Wily Trout Vineyard, Poachers is a piece of rural life mere minutes from Canberra. Sample some of the specialty house-smoked produce and wash it down with a delicate yet complex white wine or soft, spicy shiraz. Settle in for brunch or lunch in the original weatherboard farmhouse or sit outside and soak in the country air.
Hope you left room for dessert! Take a short but picturesque drive along Nanima Rd to discover the delights of lovingly hand-crafted chocolates at Robyn Rowe's Chocolate d'Or. Made with the highest quality imported Belgian Callebaut Fair Trade couverture, Robyn's chocolates are deliciously smooth, glossy and creamy. Watch the skilled technicians create these moreish delicacies and try to eat just one.
This place hardly needs an introduction — Clonakilla has become synonymous with award-winning wine. This family winery's recently made-over cellar door is nestled on the fringe of Murrumbateman and gives you a chance to see what all the fuss is about. Be sure to try the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier.
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From left: Helm Winery, Grazing Gundaroo and Clementine Restaurant. Images: Yass Valley Tourism.
HELM WINERY
9 Butts Road, Murrumbateman helmwines.com.au
G R A ZI N G R E S TAU R A N T
Cork Street, Gundaroo grazing.com.au
Ken Helm is somewhat of an institution in the Canberra District wine scene and a long-time advocate for rieslings. The Helm Wines tasting room is the 1888 Toual Public School House, listed by the National Trust and the inspiration for the school bell featured on their label. It was once used for meetings of the Temperance League, where locals signed the pledge against alcohol! The Half Dry Riesling is a cracker.
Round out your day with dinner at Grazing at the historic Royal Hotel at Gundaroo. An award-winning restaurant with a focus on the best of the district's food and wine, Grazing serves elegant food made with the freshest possible ingredients. A rare treat.
Day 2 CORK STREET CAFE
Cork Street, Gundaroo corkstcafe.com.au
WINS CREEK MEADERY
Barton Highway, Murrumbateman bindaree.com.au/ wins-creek-apiary
CLEMENTINE R E S TAU R A N T
104 Meehan St, Yass clementinerestaurant.com.au
Breathe in the country air and enjoy breakfast among the historic 1870s police stables and lock up, which is now The Cork Street CafĂŠ. Expect some good hearty country fare to start your day.
A little sideways step from traditional wine tasting, drop into Wins Creek Meadery. As well as producing honey, this new kid on the block also produces a number of different types of mead (honey wine). If mead doesn't get your 'honey flowing', why not try the hand-crushed apple cider, ginger beer or root beer from the boutique microbrewery?
Clementine is a warm and vibrant regional restaurant in the heart of Yass. Set in a 1950s weatherboard cottage with views across the lawn to the striking Lovett Chapel, the menu is strongly influenced by regional French-Italian style cooking and changes weekly to utilise the highest quality seasonal produce. The well-considered wine list is dedicated exclusively to local wines.
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A designated driver is a must for this itinerary. If no one is keen to lay off the vino, we recommend Vines and Wines (vineswines.com.au) who run regular wine-tasting tours around the region and can organise private tours for groups of eight or more.
G E T T I N G A R O U N D S A F E LY
Yass Court House. Photographed by Martin Ollman.
YAS S TOW N WA L K
FOUR WINDS WINERY
9 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman fourwindsvineyard.com.au
You're probably needing to walk off all that food by now. Stroll the streets of Yass with the Town Walk map as your guide, taking in the beautiful architecture of buildings that are over 150 years old.
How could you resist one last cheeky wine tasting on your journey home? Take the scenic route via Murrumbateman Road and stop in to Four Winds Vineyard. These guys love the simple things: great wine and wood-fired pizzas. Pull up a chair overlooking the vineyard, a glass of handcrafted wine in one hand and a melty slice in the other. What better way to finish an indulgent weekend away in Yass Valley!
THE NEST
Stay
GUNDAROO COLONIAL INN
56 Cork Street, Gundaroo thenestgundaroo.com.au Rest easy at the newly opened The Nest at Gundaroo. With five generous self-contained luxury villas, there are options for couples and families.
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23 Cork Street, Gundaroo gundaroocolonialinn.com.au If you're after true country style accommodation, The Gundaroo Colonial Inn is the go.
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RUTHERGLEN A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE FROM CANBERRA WILL SEE YOU DEEP IN RUTHERGLEN' S W I N E A N D F O O D C O U N T RY. YO U ' R E G O N N A N E E D B I G G E R PA N T S .
Day 1 RUTHERGLEN VISITOR CENTRE
57 Main Street, Rutherglen rutherglenvic.com
ANDERSON WINES
13 Chiltern-Rutherglen Road Rutherglen andersonwinery.com.au
JONES WINERY & V I N E YA R D
61 Jones Road, Rutherglen joneswinery.com.au
WICKED VIRGIN OLIVES + AC C O M M O DAT I O N
Hopetoun Road, Rutherglen wickedvirginrutherglen.com.au
So you've arrived in Rutherglen, and you want to know where to begin your wine and food adventure. Drop into the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre where you can get some fantastic local knowledge — you can even hire bikes from the centre, and jump straight onto the rail trail from here.
Howard and Christobelle Anderson are a father-daughter team running this boutique winery, and they specialise in sparkling wines. Using the traditional Champagne method, their sparkling red wines have a cult following, and are a fantastic way to start your day of wine tasting.
Jones Winery & Vineyard has some of the oldest vines in the region, with this winery operating since the 1860s, and owned by the Jones family since 1925. With a passion for elegant French wine styles, Mandy Jones' rustic cellar door transports you back in time, and the Jones Café is open for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from Thursday to Sunday.
You probably need a bit of a break from wine tasting, so head up the road to Wicked Virgin Olives. Inside the beautiful mudbrick building you can sample some of their award-winning olives, olive oils and preserves. There's also a lovely little café where you can grab some 'to die for' hazelnut torte.
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Want someone else to do all the driving for you while you're in Rutherglen? Do It With Style Tours or Alister's Limousines can sort you out!
CHAMBERS ROSEWOOD WINERY
Barkly Street, Rutherglen chambersrosewood.com.au
THOUSAND POUND
82 Main Street, Rutherglen thousandpound.com.au
A L L SA I N T S E S TAT E A N D T E R R AC E R E S TAU R A N T
All Saints Road, Wahgunyah allsaintswine.com.au
If you really want to immerse yourself in Rutherglen 150-year-old wine-making history, Chambers Rosewood Winery is a must visit. This winery remains practically unchanged since the late 1800s, and here you'll find some of the richest, most delicious examples of Rutherglen's famous wine, Muscat — a fortified sweet style of wine that has been made in Rutherglen for more than 150 years.
Wander down the main street to Thousand Pound, a trendy wine bar serving a huge range of local and international wines. Enjoy a local sparkling white wine or a 'Rutherglen on the rocks' and enjoy some candlelit banter while enjoying an Indigo Cheese Co platter of creamy dairy goodness.
Rutherglen's one-hat restaurant, Terrace, is an experience you can't miss when visiting the region. Head chef, Simon Arkless, serves an incredible degustation on Saturday evenings showcasing local produce which matches wonderfully with their estate-made wines. You'll know you've arrived when your driver takes you down the 100-year-old tree-lined driveway and the impressive All Saints Estate castle appears at the end.
Day 2 PARKER PIES
88 Main Street, Rutherglen parkerpies.com.au
S C I O N V I N E YA R D & WINERY
74 Slaughterhouse Rd, Rutherglen scionvineyard.com
LAKE MOODEMERE E S TAT E
12 Moodemere Road, Rutherglen moodemerewines.com.au
No trip to Rutherglen is complete without a visit to the famous Parker Pies in town. Fred has been making incredible gourmet pies here for years, and people travel far and wide to stock up on his delicious pastry creations.
Rowland and Sally, the dynamic young couple behind Scion Vineyard & Winery, concentrate their efforts on making Muscat, Durif and Viognier by hand. Ask about their After Dark, an intense yet refined fortified wine and say hi to Sasha, their Springer Spaniel wine dog!
It's getting on to lunch time, so it's off to Lake Moodemere Estate. Michael and Belinda Chambers have breathed new life into this century old homestead, which was Michael's childhood home. The menu always features their estate-grown lamb, which matches perfectly with their Durif.
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Images: Visit Rutherglen
WARRABILL A WINES
6152 Murray Valley Hwy, Rutherglen warrabillawines.com.au
After your lunch, head 10 minutes west to Warrabilla Wines, where you'll find arguably some of Australia's most intense and bold red wines. Andrew and Amy are a father-daughter team creating iconic, full-bodied Durifs which are collected by wine lovers all over Australia.
RENAISSANCE CHOCOLATES
507 Boorhaman East Road, Norong renaissancechocolates.com.au
RUTHERGLEN ESTATES AND TUILERIES RESTAURANT
13-35 Drummond Street, Rutherglen tuileriesrutherglen.com.au
Stay
After your visit to Warrabilla, you can't miss out on dropping past Renaissance Chocolates! Delicious hand-made couverture chocolates are displayed in a beautiful glass case, with a huge variety of flavours, even incorporating local wines.
Making some of the most awarded wines in the region is Rutherglen Estates, where you can try some of their fantastic white wine varieties, like Viognier, Roussane and Marsanne. Next door is the Tuileries restaurant, which serves incredible gourmet meals featuring local produce. Take a seat in the courtyard under the fairy lights and enjoy a long dinner featuring seafood, local lamb and indulgent desserts.
THE WICKED VILLA
TUILERIES
wickedrutherglenaccommodation. com.au
tuileriesrutherglen.com.au
The Wicked Villa is a converted brick stillhouse which has been transformed into luxurious self-contained accommodation with expansive views over the olive groves.
If you can't bear to leave Tuileries Restaurant after dinner, stay the night at their boutique accommodation.
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GRIFFITH G O W E S T, YO U N G W O M A N ! YO U ' L L F I N D A V E R I TA B L E C O R N U C O P I A O F F O O D AND WINE IN THIS RIVERINA OASIS FOUR HOURS FROM CANBERRA. MORE THAN 6 0 P E R C E N T O F T H E P E O P L E O F G R I F F I T H C L A I M I TA L I A N H E R I TAG E , A N D T H E E A R LY M I G R A N T S B R O U G H T W I T H T H E M T H E I R T R A D I T I O N S O F V I T I C U LT U R E A N D MARKE T GARDE N I NG AND TH E I R PAS S I ON FOR FOOD AND WI N E .
Day 1 ZECCA
239 Banna Avenue, Griffith zeccagriffith.com.au
RIVERINA GROVE
4 Whybrow Street, Griffith riverinagrove.com.au
S U G A R M I L L PAT I S S E R I E
10 Whybrow Street, Griffith Facebook @sugarmillpatisserie
To get the most out of a food and wine weekend in Griffith, we recommend leaving Canberra on Friday morning. As in many country towns, Sunday is a day of rest, so your options are limited. It's been a long drive, but lunch at Zecca is worth the trip. One of the newest kids on the Griffith block, it occupies the historic 'Clock' building, and is serving up some pretty impressive Modern Italian. The seasonal blackboard menu boasts fresh housemade pasta and is big on regional produce.
Italian immigrants, The Marangons, started out bottling olives from the trees in their backyard — son Louis has turned it into a booming business, with a range of pickled vegetables, pasta sauces and more. You must try the Bum Hummers (chilli pickled onions, labelled as "1000 farts in a jar"). Stop by the factory for a tasting and to browse the great selection of Riverina produce, including olive-oil soap, honey, wines, nuts, coffee, biscuits, breads, relishes, cheeses, antipasti and processed meats.
Head a few doors up to the newly opened Sugarmill Patisserie to grab some of their incredible pastries and sweet treats (there's a great range of gluten free!). Eat them now or save them for later!
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CODEMO SMALLGOODS
Mitchells Lane, Griffith
CALABRIA FA M I LY W I N E S
1283 Brayne Road, Griffith calabriawines.com.au
LA SCALA
455 Banna Avenue, Griffith Find it on Facebook
Treat yourself to a salami tasting with the makers at their rustic shopfront — this family business specialises in Northern Italian air-dried fermented salami, prosciutto and capocollo (more commonly known as coppa). You'll walk out armed with locally-made smallgoods and lots of salami expertise.
There's time for one cellar door before relaxing and getting ready for dinner. Head to Calabria Family Wines to try some of Griffith's best wines. Owner and winemaker, Bill Calabria, is allergic to wine but makes some of the finest drops you'll taste in the Riverina — from buttery chardonnay to spicy shiraz and a botrytis semillon you'll want to take home.
The most enduring restaurant in town is La Scala, a subterranean pizzeria and ristorante that hasn't seen new decor since it opened over 30 years ago. It's unapologetically kitsch — from the murals of the old country on the wall to the practical-not-pretty furniture — and the food is out of this world. The traditional Italian menu epitomises the generosity of the culture — you'll leave here full and happy.
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McWilliam's Wine's Hanwood Estate. Credit: Visit Griffith.
Day 2
Day 2 THE ROASTERY
232 Banna Avenue, Griffith the-roastery.com.au
BANNA AVEN U E
Banna Avenue, Griffith visitgriffith.com.au
LA PICCOLA GROSSERIA & I TA L I A N D E L I
444a Banna Avenue, Griffith Find them on Facebook
C ATA N I A F R U I T SAL AD FARM
Farm 43 Cox Road, Hanwood cataniafruitsaladfarm.com.au
A hip café with house-roasted Peddling Beans coffee, The Roastery does a brisk early morning trade. Fill up on fluffy pancakes, avocado toast or an Eggs Benny burger while you take in the eclectic décor and retro paraphernalia.
This activity isn't purely foodcentric, although you will cruise past an amazing array of cafés and restaurants. Griffith's main street is one long, tree-lined strip of boutique shopping — this is no ordinary country town. Pop into Hip Digs for covetable homewares, Buzzi 'n Moo for beautiful kids wear (mini Camilla kaftan, anyone?) or any of the stylish clothing boutiques.
If you're looking for an authentic Italian food experience this is it. A small family-owned traditional grosseria and deli, you'll find a range of fully imported Italian products as well as delicious housemade savoury and sweet dishes. Grab some bread, marinated peppers, olives and antipasti for lunch to enjoy in the shade of the trees of the town's Memorial Park.
A fantastic way to learn about Griffith's horticultural industry, Catania Fruit Salad Farm's tours are held Monday to Saturday at 1.30pm and are just $10pp. Tour the groves of blood oranges, prunes and grapes and learn about the 100 years of farming history at Farm 43. You'll love the homemade produce, including preserves, sugarplums (prunes), wines and nuts.
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Bertoldo's Pasticceria. Credit: Visit Griffith.
MCWILLIAM'S H A N WO O D E S TAT E
Jack McWilliam Road, Hanwood mcwilliams.com.au
LIMONE DINING
482 Banna Avenue, Griffith limone.com.au
McWilliam's Wines Hanwood Estate cellar door is an instantly recognisable symbol of the Riverina wine region. Shaped like a wine barrel and built to exact scale, complete with staves and hoops, it's a must visit. Buy a bottle of your favourite drop, pull up a picnic blanket on the sprawling lawns and soak up the landscape.
Limone Dining has been receiving rave reviews since it opened in January, and for good reason. A standalone building constructed from recycled materials collected over a 30-year period is a stunning setting for Luke Piccolo's elegant, flavourful dishes. Expect a locally-sourced and seasonal menu delivered with heart.
Day 3 BERTOLDO'S PASTICCERIA
324 Banna Ave, Griffith bertoldos.com
DE BORTOLI WINES
De Bortoli Road, Bilbul debortoli.com.au.
You cannot visit Griffith without eating at Bertoldo's Pasticceria. They do amazing breads, pastries (the cannoli!), homemade gelato and French nougat … but for breakfast you must have their Egg and Bacon Roll. Now, this is no fancy-schmancy roll — it comes wrapped in foil — but it is absolutely delicious.
It's time to head home, but not before you stop at the De Bortoli Wines cellar door in Bilbul to sample the acclaimed 'sticky' Noble One. First created by Darren De Bortoli in 1982, the wine has gone on to be one of the most awarded wines in history and maintains its position as Australia's benchmark dessert wine ever since. Be sure to take some home. ◊
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Come Undone "Strong love of grey-blue distance Brown streams and soft dim skies I know but cannot share it, My love is otherwise" – My Country by Dorothea Mackellar P H OTO G R A P H E R K E L LY T U N N E Y S T Y L I S T H AY L E Y O ' N E I L L C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R JAV I E R S T E E L
Andrea wears dress, $119.95, by Ksubi at General Pants Co; and top (worn underneath), $259, by Veronika Maine at Canberra Centre.
Louisa (left) wears jacket, $199.95, by Decjuba; top, $119.95, by Witchery; and skirt, $168, by Bassike at David Jones. Andrea wears knit dress, $89.95, by Portmans; and knit (worn around waist), $149, and pants, $219, both by Saba. Opposite page Andrea wears white shirt, $169, by Cue. All products available at Canberra Centre.
Louisa wears maroon dress, $499, by Manning Cartell at David Jones; grey coat $229.95, and grey scarf, $49.95, both by Decjuba; and beige boots, by RM Williams worn throughout. All products available at Canberra Centre.
Andrea wears jacket, $99, by Target; dress, $329.40, by Camilla and Marc at David Jones; and knit, $99, by Marcs. Opposite page Louisa wears grey knit, $150, by Oskar at Glue Store; and cream skirt, $499, by Camilla and Marc at David Jones. All products available at Canberra Centre.
Louisa wears jacket, $449, by Saba; top (worn underneath), $259, by Veronika Maine; tube top, $169.95, and pants, $99.95, both by Witchery. All products available at Canberra Centre.
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Jacqui Scott assisted by Shay Flanigan SPECIAL THANKS
Poachers Pantry Canberra Centre LOCATION
Poachers Pantry with special thanks to Katie Crook
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We're often told today's women have more opportunities than ever. Unlike the generations before us, we can work, vote and even govern the country. Yet Australian girls and women still face many levels of discrimination: gender-related violence is still dominating headlines, we are underrepresented in the political arena and there is a continuing gender wage gap. As well, the rise of social media, celebrity culture and cyber bullying present a fresh set of challenges. So how do we raise our daughters to rise against those barriers and become strong and independent? How does our upbringing influence the woman we become? And do we really have it any easier today? We speak to four Canberrans raising little women. WRITER L AURA PEPPAS PHOTOGRAPHER LUX & US C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R JAV I E R S T E E L
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Y ve tte and Sienna
On Yvette Berry's first day in office as a Labor Minister, a fleeting question passed her mind: "How am I going to do this?" The 'this' she was referring to wasn't to do with her work in the assembly rather, it was juggling the high-profile role with being a single mum to her two young children, Archer and Sienna. Those feelings didn't last of course; like many women before her, she was able to master the art of balancing children with the assembly. "I think it really got better for women in the assembly after [former Chief Minister] Katy Gallagher," Yvette says. "She really paved the way for other women, being a parent and raising her own kids when she started working here. She made a lot of changes with the way this place operates and it just became the way things were, people's attitudes adjusted and the culture changed. So sometimes I have to take my children with me to things, and people are okay with that."
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Yvette's nine-year-old daughter Sienna may not be too far behind her in the political sphere: assertive, independent and never afraid to stand up for herself, Yvette admits she "wouldn't be surprised" if she eventually followed in her footsteps. "My mother tells me that she sees a lot of me in Sienna," she says. "Having a conversation with Sienna is like having a conversation with an adult. She's very sure on the way she sits with different things. She doesn't like the idea that there are people who are treated differently and she'll always, always stand up for what she think is right. "And that's what I want - I want her to be really brave, to be able to hold her own in a respectful way, whether it's in the playground, playing sport or having a conversation with adults at the dinner table." Growing up in Holt, not far from where she now lives in West Belconnen, Yvette says her own mother
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was like her in that she was often raising the children independently, due to her father's busy schedule as a politician and before that, a firefighter. "Mum was always there because dad was often working," she says. "She kept the house together, she was always helping with our homework, she cooked from scratch and made our own clothes. She was amazing really. She was so helpful with the kids and continues to be." It was a "massive shock" for the family when Yvette's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 10 years ago. "The way she dealt with it was pretty amazing, she very much had the attitude of 'what do I need to do now to move forward,' and now years later the cancer is gone," she says.
"I've got that outlook from her too, if there's a problem you kind of go into that moment of shock but then figure out what to do. I think when you're a mum, you've got to get on with things." Yvette describes her parenting style as laid-back. "I'd prefer to sit down and have a conversation about something and work through it, rather than get into the punishment," she says. "Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'd like to think by the time Sienna grows up, it's not just about a person having power over another person. We think children know less than they do, but in fact, they know more than we think they do." One of Yvette's biggest hopes for Sienna is that she remains her own person. "I have a lot of fears for her as she grows up of course, like any parent... whether it's social media, bullying or not being able to do what she wants to because she's a woman," she says. "There's still so much work to do in gender equality in particular - the fact that in sport, in particular, women still don't get paid as much as men is shocking, and there are still certain attitudes towards working mothers. So I really do hope by the time Sienna enters the workforce, that has changed." With any luck, Sienna could play a part in changing that one day. "Recently I attended a Canberra Capitals end of season dinner where [we learned] when coach Carrie Graf was seven years old she wanted to represent her school in the local cricket team and they said she couldn't because she was a girl," Yvette says. "I dare someone to say that to Sienna she wouldn't take any of it."
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Amanda, Olivia and Sophia
Dancing in the living room with her daughters Olivia and Sophia — free, giggling, unguarded — is when HerCanberra's founder and director Amanda Whitley is happiest. "It's one of those rare times where you can let loose and just be," Amanda says. "After a long day at work and school, the girls and I will often put on some music and just dance around the house together." With so much of the family's life revolving around dance classes (from Afro to Dancehall, contemporary to Samba, nothing is off limits) it's surprising to learn that when Amanda was growing up in the small town of Tarcutta, dance classes weren't an option. "I had always wanted to dance, but because we lived in a town with a population of 300, the nearest studio was a good 40-minute drive away," Amanda says. PAGE 64
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"When we moved somewhere bigger, I asked my father if I could take dance lessons and he said 'I paid for piano lessons for a year and you didn't keep that up, so you're not doing dance.' And that was the end of that." It wasn't until she was in her late 30s and living in Canberra that Amanda revisited the idea. "After Sophia was born prematurely it changed my perspective on so many things and I remember setting myself a goal to learn to dance before I was 40 — I didn't want to get to the end of my life and wonder 'what if?'" she says. "I started to learn Zumba and after one class I was hooked. About a year after that I started instructing and it provided a springboard to other classes — I've since done Salsa, Samba, Reggaeton, Dancehall and Afro. It's my joy … I can't imagine life without it." Amanda believes Latin dancing, in particular, teaches her girls a valuable lesson: that you are more than your big bum or cellulite.
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Having battled bulimia for three years in her early twenties, she says it's important that her girls grow up loving their bodies for what they can do, rather than what they look like.
"Now I speak to younger girls and they don't care about their cellulite, they say 'this is me, take it or leave it' — they own it and they're proud of their bodies at any size," she says.
"The thing I love about Latin dance is it embraces all shapes and sizes — you see samba dancers that are super toned and fit but there are also women sizes 16-18 with a bit of a tummy that can still rock a bikini," she says.
"I look at them and think 'I could learn some lessons from you.'"
"I think the girls learn from what they see and appreciate different shapes because of that. Olivia often says, 'Mummy, you have a lovely big bum.'" Growing up in the era of 'the supermodel' — with tall, 'glamazon' role models such as Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell — meant there was an emphasis on unrealistic body ideals, Amanda says. "I was a five foot five girl looking at these women and to me, it was just so unachievable, but there was this attitude that you had to strive to look like that," she says. Eventually, bulimia became her way of "clawing back control." "When I arrived at university, everyone seemed prettier, skinnier and smarter than me … I felt the pressure to be 'perfect' to be seen," Amanda says. "I tried every diet known to man, and when they didn't work, I started taking handfuls of laxatives and making myself sick after meals, several times each day. I've always been good at most things I've turned my hand too, but my weight has always been the one thing that I haven't been able to master." Although there's a fear her daughters could face the same pressures when they enter their teenage years, Amanda believes the ideal of "the perfect body" has shifted. PAGE 65
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Amanda says her own mother was always incredibly supportive in her upbringing. "One thing I learnt from her was to have a thirst for doing your own thing: she was always working, as much for enjoyment as for money — whether it was driving the school bus or working in the corner store," she says. "Even now, aged 68, she's just started writing book reviews for the local library. I hope my girls learn from that and realise that if you find something you love, it doesn't necessarily have to feel like work. I never want to push them into anything but I also want to give them every opportunity they are interested in. "It's very easy to do as my dad did and say 'it's my way or the highway', but I don't think it's the right way to raise children who can think for themselves — you need to give them firm boundaries and then trust them to make their own decisions. That's a big challenge, to learn to let go." For now, Amanda and her husband Drew are just happy to enjoy those "little, constant surprises" that come with raising their young girls. "The thing I find fascinating is seeing the people they're growing into, and it's so interesting to see yourself reflected in their personalities — the good and the bad," Amanda says. "That's one of the things I love most about being a mother — children make you see things in a completely different way."
Geetha and Gayana
There's an old saying passed on from her mother that Geetha Wijewickrema has held on to: "Never give up." It's hard to find a phrase better suited to the mother of three, step-mother of one and business owner. After raising a daughter with a disability, battling illness and starting a business from scratch, she has come out the other side smiling. Though Geetha is happiest out of the spotlight, her flower delivery business, GG's Flowers, has been on the covers of local magazines since opening two years ago. Geetha's 16-year-old daughter Gayana, who has Down syndrome, was the inspiration to start the business – a way to ensure she would have fulfilling work after graduating from high school. "As Gayana grew older, I started to worry about what she would do after school … I wanted her to be a strong, independent woman, despite her disability," Geetha says. PAGE 66
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"I've previously worked as a special needs assistant for young people with disabilities, and I'd see these kids and some of them would just stay in their rooms or sleep all day. I thought, 'that's not what I want for Gayana'." Geetha says setting up a business for Gayana to help run would mean she was well looked after, had a purpose and most importantly, was happy. "I also wanted it also to be a place other people with special needs could eventually work in," says Geetha. "So I started a floristry course and that's where the business was born." Gayana's smiling face as customers open the door to a delivery of flowers has become a staple of the business, which Geetha and her family run out of their Chifley home. Geetha says the process of taking an order, making an arrangement and delivering flowers has given Gayana an incredible feeling of self-satisfaction and pride.
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"Since the business started, Gayana has been much more outgoing and has come a long way with socialising with people," says Geetha. "She'll walk into a room and is confident enough to approach people first. It's amazing to see that change in her." Born in Sri Lanka, Geetha's father died when she was young, leaving her mother with five young children to look after. "My mother was a very strong, very hard-working woman," Geetha says. "She ran her own business as she was raising us, and I suppose that's where I got my own drive from. We were a very business-orientated family." Geetha worked as a pre-school teacher until moving to Australia at 30 years old, where she experienced a "culture shock."
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After Gayana was born, she decided to study disability support at CIT to enable her to work as a special needs assistant for young people with disabilities. "I wanted to help others in the same situation as me," she says. "It did help a great deal in raising Gayana." Geetha says she is "incredibly proud" of daughters Rangana, Gayana, Veena and step-daughter Nip, who handles the media side of the business, and was this year nominated for the 2016 Young Australian of the Year. "Growing up with Gayana has made the girls more compassionate," she says. "I am so glad to see where they are today. The main thing I tell them is never lie, be honest and never give up, of course."
"It was quite hard, to come into a country that was so different from where I was," she says. "I was coming from a culture I knew, into a culture that I was very unfamiliar with. It took a while to adjust." Geetha married husband Ranjith in 1995, staying at home to raise their young children. PAGE 67
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Playing on a suburban basketball court as the sun makes its way down for another day, Abby and Zala Bishop could be any other mother and daughter. Delve a little deeper, and their story is far from typical.
Abby and Zala
Three years ago, when she was a budding basketballer for the Canberra Capitals, Abby made the life-changing decision to gain custody of Zala her then two-day old niece - after it became clear her sister was not well enough to take care of her daughter. Though Abby was just 24 years old and at the height of her calling, she took the role of motherhood in her stride and temporarily put her career on hold, including a stint with the Australian Opals ahead of their world championship campaign. "It was never something I had to question," Abby says.
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"I was always mature for my age and had experience looking after kids, but it did force me to grow up fast. I didn't have the preparation a usual mother would, carrying her baby for nine months ‌ Google definitely helped." Now playing for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA, Abby has custody of Zala until she is 18 years old and juggles motherhood with her successful basketball career. "There are times where I've gone 'far out this is so hard' and I've cried and wondered what I'm doing, like any normal mum, but it's just at those moments where you're so tired and overwhelmed when you're doing it alone," she says. "So while there have been those times where I've just wanted to lock myself away and cry, there was never a time where I said 'I don't want to do this'." Growing up on a farm in country South Australia, Abby says she looked up to local basketball legends such as Rachel Spawn.
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"I was very much a tomboy and much more comfortable outside, we were in the middle of nowhere so every weekend we were playing sports," she says. "From a young age I knew I wanted to succeed in basketball." Abby was just 12 when she moved to Adelaide with her mother, after her parents separated. She describes her mother, now a business woman, as influential in her success.
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"I hope it's going to be easier for Zala growing up because people are more accepting than they were before," she says. "With my schedule, it's still going to be hard and there are days where I feel really guilty for leaving Zala [with her nanny] when I'm touring but I guess that's just part of what I do and what I choose to do. She gets the best of both worlds. I think of Zala as my daughter, and eventually I would love to have more kids once I find the right partner."
"When I was growing up she always taught me about good sportsmanship and working hard to get to where you want to be," she says.
Abby says her relationship with her sister is on good terms.
"Being nice to everybody is another thing mum instilled in me, to be kind and to strike up a conversation. A lot of people say I'm too nice sometimes … I'm very much like my mum."
"For now she is just working on getting herself better."
Abby says she hopes to pass on those values to Zala.
"That there's more to life than sport," she says.
"I want her to be generous, all those things that make a decent person," says Abby.
"Sometimes when you're playing you get stuck in this little bubble, but everything that's happened with [Zala] puts things in perspective. Our little life together is so much more than anything else." ◊
"I'd describe my parenting style as quite relaxed … Zala is a bit like me in that she never stops." In an age where single parent households are more common than ever, Abby believes it is easier to be in her situation now than it would have been say 10, 20 years ago.
"She saw Zala at Christmas and I always send photos," she says.
I ask Abby what raising Zala has taught her.
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C R E A T I V E C L OU T
F O R G E T T H E A L L E Y WAYS O F M E L B O U R N E O R T H E I N N E R N O O KS O F SY D N E Y - C A N B E R R A I S A C I T Y E XP LO D I N G W I T H A RT I N E V E RY CO R N E R . G O N E A R E T H E DAYS W H E N YO U CO U L D M A KE T H E H O N E S T M I S TA K E O F B E L I E V I N G T H AT O U R A R T S C E N E C O U L D O N LY B E F O U N D I N A W H I T E -WA L L E D G A L L E RY W I T H A C OV E R C H A R G E . O U R S T R E E T S A R E T H R U M M I N G W I T H I M M E R S I V E , E XP E R I M E N TA L PE RFORMANCES, CIT Y WALLS AND B U I LD I NG S AWAS H WITH G R AFFITI, M U R ALS AND PASTE-U PS, AND M UCH TO THE E NV Y OF OTHE R MA JOR CITI ES, OU R FESTIVAL SCE NE I S STRONG E R THAN E VE R B E FORE .
Meet six creative women who are sending an electric current through the cultural landscape, and challenging the perception of what it means to be a Canberra artist. WRITER JOSEPHINE WALSH PHOTOGRAPHER MARTIN OLLMAN
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T R A E H T H C U O T O D E S PL E A
If you asked Chenoeh Miller 10 years ago to tell you about her job, her answer might have left you more than a little intrigued.
of performers and they have the choice to relieve them from it or watch them through it," Chenoeh says.
"I was saying that I created live art that aims to embody the physical manifestations of different kinds of love," Chenoeh says.
Don't be surprised to see signs like 'Please Do Touch' at her productions. Audiences are invited to physically connect with the performers, and in doing so, engage with the emotions and situations they are exploring.
"No one had a clue what I was on about." Chenoeh's passion and work are not easy to explain in just one or two sentences. "I am a director of physical theatre and festivals," she explains. "It took me a long time to own that and to articulate it in what I thought was an accessible way. If art is a reflection of the society we exist within, then it is our duty as artists to articulate what's important for our community. And to do that we must really listen, with all our heart, not [just] our ears." Chenoeh's productions seamlessly weave philosophy, emotional intelligence and biology together, resulting in highly evocative performances. "My live artworks generally put the audience in a space where they see the emotional suffering
"There is never manipulation involved - the space is always dark and comfortable if you wish to just sit back," Chenoeh reflects. "Miraculously, the audience always obliges, and then they tell me afterwards about what the work brought up for them." Having watched her company perform over 200 of these live works, Chenoeh never ceases to be moved and motivated by the instinctive kindness of people.
Awards and the annual Sound and Fury performance for the 'Art Not Apart' festival. "I was awed by the possibility that large-scale events could potentially have a similar effect of bringing people together, and inspiring them," Chenoeh reflects, who couldn't be more proud of how Sound and Fury has grown into "a kick-ass little festival unto itself." Combining unlikely performers such as butoh artists, classical musicians, punk singers and ballerinas results in a brilliant, breathtaking performance. "It encourages important risktaking from the artists and audiences," says Chenoeh. "Listening and experimenting is how theatre - or whatever you want to call it - can become relevant again."
"The performances turn rapidly into reflections of an honest and intense joy, inspired by every person in the room," she says.
Her instinctive understanding of how to inspire connection, as well as enable important creative risk-taking, has led to her being entrusted with directing the Canberra Multicultural Fringe Festival for the past two years.
Working with Dave Caffery of the Molonglo Group has had a profound impact on Chenoeh's creative vision. The pair worked together on the ACT Music
"[It's] another platform to support a confluence of artists, but it's a bigger challenge and a longer process to reach those goals," says Chenoeh.
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CHENOEH MILLER A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R O F L I T T L E D OV E T H E AT R E A R T A N D A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R O F T H E C A N B E R R A M U LT I C U LT U R A L F R I N G E F E S T I VA L
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHENOEH MILLER
Influences "Pina Bausch, Anne Bogart, Lloyd Dobbler, Antonin Artaud, Kazuo Ohno, the Little Dove Theatre Art performers." Surreal or unexpected moment which shaped her artistic career "Reading The Continuum Concept 14 years ago when I was struggling with my studies. I [realised that] I wanted to seek a way to soothe that deep need in all of us to be loved, and to love. It's cheesy but true, and I base my life on it." Can't live without "Spinach."
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E S U M L A R U M N R E D O M
Screaming Hand by George Rose. Photographs by Shane Parsons.
George Rose cannot sit still. You can almost see the sparks coming off of her as she speaks about life as a practising artist.
a ladder creating magnificent
"I really identify with people who can't stop or control their artistic output," George explains.
approached these commissions as
murals for clients who commission her large-scale works. "Up until now," she says, "I've 'Oh, I'll use my skills and creativity to envision what you have in
"They just keep on going and making things because that's the only thing they can do. I totally get that – it's really inspiring and productive."
mind'. But more recently, I've
A designer-cum-illustrator slash mural artist who also dabbles in typography, installation and ceramics, George's passion for art was born from studying graphic design at the University of Canberra.
her first pitch to clients who
"I spent my final six months at the School of Art, which was really interesting as it taught me about how we educate designers and artists," she explains.
come to a certain point where I'm pushing my own style and what I want to the forefront." She explains her rule of making tell her she can do 'whatever she wants' is the weirdest, most insane idea she can think of. "It's a way of trying to prise out what's inside their head," she explains. It can be challenging working with non-visual people who hire her for her artistic pep and pluck, and George believes it's a fallacy to
"My education has had a real influence on my creative practice - it set up and shaped the way I think about creativity and how I practice making art."
expect that you'll get an artist's
These days, more often than not, you'll find George halfway up
disagreements around colour,"
best work if you don't set any boundaries. "I did a mural recently in Sydney's Centennial Park, and there were she says.
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"In the end, I chose a colour that I would never ever use, but it ended up being quite a strong work. So, having those restrictions can actually push you to create something new, different and interesting to what you would normally create." It's this drive to keep moving and thirst to create clever art that leads George to break her own perceptions and expectations of her art. "Sometimes when a client gives you critical feedback, you're pushed a bit further in a direction that you don't want to go in," she says. "But, if you move beyond it you can come back with something really amazing. I aspire to create something that looks cool, accessible and poppy, but makes you think a little bit more deeply. I love work that grabs your attention, but on second glance it pieces together deeper concepts and ideas you normally wouldn't fuse together."
GEORGE ROSE A R T I S T, I L L U S T R ATO R A N D D E S I G N E R
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT GEORGE ROSE
Artistic practice in a nutshell "Looking from the inside out, not the outside in." Creative influences "People who push themselves, and push their own boundaries. I look up to Sancho [Murphy, creator of Sancho's Dirty Laundry], so much. I think it's amazing what she has created, and she is super cool." My idea of a nightmare? "Apart from having my arms chopped off, not being able to produce work. That and monotony - being in the same spot and made to repeat the same task again and again is my idea of hell."
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B O S S O F T HE L A UND R Y It's hard to read anything about
"I don't think I'm necessarily
Sancho Kokomo Murphy without
re-inventing the wheel here or
thinking she is possibly the
anything," insists Murphy.
coolest person in Canberra.
"There's always been shops like
Although, she probably wouldn't
mine all over Australia and the
see it as such.
globe - less so in Canberra.
"I just try to stay real and honest,"
Her brainchild 'Sancho's Dirty
she says modestly.
Laundry' includes the Lowbrow
"[There are always] lots of mistakes and tears, and relentless hard work to get through
Gallery, part exhibition and performance space, which is complemented by a bar managed
the grind."
by Beach Burrito Civic.
Getting through the grind is an
There's also a shop that stocks
understatement. Sancho has
graphic artist supplies and a
created a permanent public space
diverse range of merch designed
for the lowbrow art community
and made by Canberrans.
to exhibit and sell their work, and connect with each.
"I want to build awareness about supporting local independent
In doing so, she's helped to
artists and designers, and why it's
bring the thriving Canberra
important to shop at small, local
underground art scene out into
businesses and give the little guy
the open.
a go," expresses Murphy.
"Dirty Laundry will always remain an independent venture and a way for me to invite others to collaborate, experiment and play around with my ideas and experiences without having to ask for permission, [as well as about] taking ownership of my mistakes and successes." What Sancho has created and sustained hasn't come about overnight, or without challenges. Facing the hurdle of not being taken seriously due to of sexism and ageism has been one of the toughest aspects of the Dirty Laundry journey. "Although … I kinda like being disarming and giving an air of naivety," Sancho says mischievously. "Don't let the friendly smirk on my face fool you - there's a lot more going on in here," she says as she points to her head, then to her stomach.
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SANCHO MURPHY
My idea of a nightmare is "Being trapped in a network of being paid with 'exposure' and 'cases of beer', instead of money (I would totally accept the first two if I could dump a bucketload of 'exposure' at the bank and go pay my bills with such)." I can't live without "My smartphone." A powerful experience that resonated with me … "I've been out and had people recognise a t-shirt I've designed, my logo, or complimented the shop [without knowing who I am]. These occurrences are few and far between, but they seem to be so well-timed in instances I'm doubting myself and I've risked too much, or all I've got. It's positive reinforcement that people are picking up what I'm putting down and it motivates me to keep pushing. It's a slow grind of the good kind."
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SANCHO KOKOMO MURPHY D E S I G N E R, I L LU S T R ATO R A N D F O U N D E R O F ' S A N C H O' S D I R T Y L AU N D RY '
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CHASE THAT FEELING "I can't believe this is actually happening." This is how Yolande Norris describes her favourite response to the performances at You Are Here, Canberra's annual experimental arts festival. "That's what I love about art – particularly installation, performance, 'live art', and any works that are presented in public – unimaginable moments made real, hidden truths revealed, huge, ridiculous ideas coming together," Yolande says. How does she feel that her work breaks the mould? "Currently, my work in the arts is on both a macro and micro scale," Yolande describes. "On any given day I work on projects across the country for Big hART, I sit on advisory committees, I collaborate with individual artists on projects and then try to create my own output on top of this. No one aspect is my core focus, and all are creatively rewarding.
"So you could say a lot of what I do is knitted closely to the work of other people. It can be hard to tell where their practice ends and mine begins! This is, of course, always true for curating events or producing projects and festivals, but also true for a lot of my writing." Yolande reflects further on how her own writing and poetry is inextricably influenced by and linked to other artists. "If I am deeply engaged with someone's work, a project, or a point in history, and writing about it – where does the work of others stop and my contribution begin? I started writing poetry as a way of exploring writing of and for itself, or myself," she says. Drawing inspiration from visionary women in the arts, Yolande admires those who constantly challenge and redefine their own artistic practice whilst also giving back to the community. "I saw a photograph recently of [renowned artist and Head
of Printmedia and Drawing Workshop at the ANU] Alison Adler, [acclaimed Australian artist and tattooist] eX de Medici and Robyn Archer speaking together on a panel," Yolande recalls. "Three of my heroes captured in a single shot! Each woman is making her own fiercely original mark on the world, using art to fight the good fight, each with a diverse practice across the years, and all with tremendous determination and clarity of vision when it comes to politics, community and social engagement." It's this vivacious energy and breathtaking eloquence that makes Yolande's passion such a tour de force. "As Betty Churcher said in her ABC interview: 'It was almost too difficult to do, but not too difficult to do. And we did it'," she says. "That is the feeling I chase, in making and living."
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT YOL ANDE NORRIS
The one object I can't live without "My smartphone, because it's how I connect all the dots. But in a non-tech scenario? A good pair of boots." Biggest challenge I've faced in my career "Starting a family and still finding a way – and it'll remain a challenge for the rest of my life. Although it actually has made me more adept in absolutely every facet of life, and given me a determination I'd never had before." My idea of a nightmare is "A day without reading, writing, conversation or coffee."
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YOLANDE NORRIS WRITE R, PROD UCE R OF THE ' YOU ARE HE RE ' FESTIVAL, AND MEDIA AND ONLINE PRODUCER FOR BIG HART
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MR M A N O K R UN S A M O K
If you love cartoons, junk food and have a keen eye for lowbrow art, you'd probably find a lot to talk about with Chelsea Agno.
because it isn't considered to be conventional art. It's super cartoon influenced and can be a little crude sometimes."
"I realised all the opportunities
"I like to draw and create, I watch too many cartoons and my junk food intake isn't as high as it should be," Chelsea says cheekily.
Chelsea discovered her artistic spark as a child, watching her mother drawing. She has strong memories of sitting with her sister and being allowed to colour in her mum's intricate portraits.
cheeky works however you like.
Going by the moniker of Mr Manok, Chelsea is a self described donut-taker, sticker maker and pro daydreamer. "Most people view the term 'art' as something that only applies to certain styles, the term usually doesn't venture beyond art galleries," says Chelsea. "I guess my work breaks the mould of what art is and challenges perceptions
"I remember one time I attempted to colour one of her sketches with ballpoint pen - I absolutely ruined it and felt guilty for about a week," she says. Seeing the work of American lowbrow artist Jeremyville, and the hectic style of graffiti crew, 123KLAN, made her want to pursue illustration and graphic design.
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and benefits that arise from a creative career," says Chelsea. You can read Chelsea's bold and
"I want [people] to experience what they want. I don't take myself too seriously and there are rarely any deep meanings behind the things that I create," she says. "If they hate it or love it or it makes them feel numb inside - feelings of any kind are fun and exciting."
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CHELSEA AGNO I L LU S T R ATO R A N D G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHELSE A AGNO
The weirdest, strangest, most unexpected experience that inspired me was "Watching Yo Gabba Gabba for the first time. I'm still a fan, but I wish they had more merch." Something I've done that I never thought I'd do "I got to design a poster for (American hip-hop artist) J.Cole's Forest Hills Drive Tour! Adobe Students and Dreamville ran a design competition in 2015 and chose the top 10 designers to create a tour poster. I was chosen to create a poster for Rochester, NY. It was such an honour to design something for J.Cole as I've been a fan for a long time. This happened around the time that Forest Hills Drive dropped so I was listening to his album whilst designing his tour poster. Good times." If I could go back in time five years and tell my younger self one thing about my future, I'd say "Everything gets better after high school."
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WILD HE AR T Stella-Rae Zelnik is not afraid of being the only girl in the room. Quite the contrary - she lives for the chance to capture maledominated subcultures with her camera. Her latest body of work, Smiles for Miles, showcases her year of travelling with custommotorcycle riders from Canberra and Sydney. "People [around the world] have been documenting motorcycles and the riders since the 1920s," Stella-Rae says, although she modestly admits that her work is fairly unique here in Australia. "Being female in a very maledominated scene has allowed me to do something different [compared] to this generation of motorcycle photographers.
"I've always been surrounded by guys and their adventures, acting as both a participant and a fly on the wall, always trying to blend in to get the right shot. I've been given the privilege to experience situations that I know most women would dread!"
I fell in love with the images I had
Stella-Rae recalls one of her most powerful reactions to a photograph came after spending a weekend away with friends during college.
a moment."
"It was full of metal, drinking and late night swims, " Zelnik recalls. "I took my film camera and started documenting as soon as we left. It was one of those unforgettable weekends that you remember as a huge blur. "When I got the rolls developed,
taken. It was amazing to feel the days and nights again in such a beautiful format. All slightly blurry and off colour, but it made me realise how much I wanted to document my experiences and try to capture the feeling of
It's this desire to tell a story, and evoke a sense of impulsive freedom and uncontrived joy, which drives Stella-Rae. "I would love for people to feel involved with my work and feel the passion behind the image, but also to appreciate the spontaneity," she says. "I want them to understand that I was just there in that moment." ◊
THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT STELL A-RAE
Something I've done that I never thought I would do "Sitting on the back of a bike for three days straight. It was the hardest trip I've ever done – long days of riding and late nights partying. I'd never thought I would do something like that for a bunch of photos. But I did and it was totally worth it." I'm inspired by … "Jewellery designer, Nick Potash. Everything he makes is original, and for a good photograph you need to make sure it's a one off - it has to be able to stand alone to make it a timeless piece." My idea of a nightmare "To lose a roll of film, or forget my camera for a shoot. I've actually had this nightmare on countless occasions!"
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STELLA-RAE ZELNIK PHOTOGRAPHER
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WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER TESS GODKIN
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MOROCCAN LAMB SAUSAGE ROLLS WITH YOGHURT DIPPING SAUCE Makes 36 INGREDIENTS
50 ml olive oil 2 purple onions, chopped finely 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 carrot 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp ground turmeric 600 g lamb mince 50 g bread crumbs 1 cup parsley, chopped 2 eggs, lightly beaten 3 sheets of puff pastry salt and pepper, to season YOGHURT DIPPING SAUCE INGREDIENTS
1 cup Greek yoghurt 1 tbs grated lemon rind 1/2 cup mint leaves, finely chopped
Method Preheat oven to 180oC. Heat oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Fry for five minutes, stirring continuously. Add carrot and spices. Fry a further five minutes. Add lamb mince with bread crumbs, fry and stir continuously for a further five minutes until mince is lightly browned then remove pan from heat and add parsley and one egg. Mix thoroughly. Divide mixture into six equal portions. Cut puff pastry sheets in half. Roll mince mixture into logs the same length as the pastry. Place in the middle of the puff pastry rectangle and roll up to enclose filling. Cut each log into six pieces each and place on a baking tray seam-side down. Brush with remaining egg and bake until golden and cooked through, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot from the oven. Mix together dipping sauce ingredients and serve on the side.
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ROSEMARY PARMESAN SWEET POTATO FRIES wi th TRUFFLE AIOLI
INGREDIENTS
AIOLI INGREDIENTS
2 large sweet potatoes, washed olive oil Parmesan cheese, grated finely 3 tbs fresh rosemary, chopped salt & pepper, to season
1/4 cup Greek yogurt 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 tbsp white truffle oil 1 clove of garlic, diced finely zest of 1 lemon
SERVES 2-4
Method Preheat oven to 180oC. Cut sweet potatoes with skin on into fries making sure that the lengths and widths are even. Place sweet potato fries onto a greased tray and toss with olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and toss fries with the rosemary, salt and parmesan cheese. To make the aioli, mix all aioli ingredients together into a small bowl until combined. Serve fries hot with the aioli dipping sauce.
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CAKE BATTER TRUFFLES INGREDIENTS
1 packet mix of Green's Greens Vanilla Vanilla Cake Cake 150 150gg butter butter 200 200gg white white chocolate chocolate melts melts 1/4 cup coloured sprinkles
Method Place packet cake mix and butter in a food processor and mix until combined thoroughly. Remove from from food food processor processor and and roll roll Remove dough into into small small balls balls and and place place on on dough large baking baking tray tray lined lined with with baking baking aa large paper. Place tray in freezer for 15 paper. Place tray in freezer for 15 minutes or until firm. minutes or until firm. While the balls are firming, place While the balls are firming place the the white chocolate melts into a white chocolate melts into a microwave microwave-proof bowl and microwave proof bowl and microwave for 1 for one minute or until melted, then minute or until melted, then stir until stir until completely melted through. completely melted through. Dip the firmed up truffles in the Dip the chocolate firmed upand truffles in each the melted melted place ball chocolate andbaking place each ball back back on the tray. Sprinkle on thethe baking tray.sprinkles Sprinkle with with coloured over the coloured sprinkles over each each ball. Place tray in fridgeball. for Place tray in fridgeand for then 10 minutes and then 10 minutes serve truffles. Store in refrigerator. serve truffles. Store in refrigerator.
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COOKIES & CREAM POPS INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup single cream 1 1/4 cups milk 1/4 cup icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 150 g packet of Oreo biscuits or similar, crushed
Method Place the cream, milk, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Add the biscuit and stir to combine. Divide the mixture between eight small plastic picnic cups and insert wooden pop sticks in the centre of each one. Place pops in freezer for approximately six hours or until frozen solid. Remove the pops from their moulds carefully and serve immediately.
MAKES 8
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IS NEW AGAIN Food, like fashion, has its trends. From the molecular gastronomy wave that swept the world last decade, to the current fads (paleo and wholefoods at one end of the spectrum, to burgers and freakshakes at the other). But some Canberra eateries are returning to old-fashioned principles, growing their own produce, championing local, and building their own communities. WRITER BELINDA NEAME
It's a small neighborhood coffee bar tucked away in Braddon's Ori building, and as the name suggests, Barrio Collective's concept and service takes inspiration from European neighborhood coffee bars where customers stand at the bar and chat with baristas.
house made nut milk are your only two milk options and there are no refined sugar sweeteners in store.
"We wanted interaction between staff and customers, we didn't want there to be any barriers — we hope we've created a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable to chat with staff and enjoy the space," says owner, Sam Burns.
"We believe coffee has an incredible journey from grower to customer, so we've tried to celebrate that journey."
While some may find this lack of choice inflexible, it's important to the Barrio team that the coffee has a chance to truly shine.
Provenance is key at Barrio — they not only roast their own coffee, they invest time in knowing the stories behind the produce. From coffee origin trips to visiting dairy, fruit and vegetable growers, they believe developing relationships with their producers helps to ensure sustainability and quality into the future.
It's not only the typical barista/ customer dynamic that's been turned on its head at Barrio. There are no skim lattes here — full cream unhomogenised milk or dairy-free
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Barrio. Photographed by Rebecca Doyle.
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Left and middle: A.Baker. Photographed by Tim Bean . Right: Two Before Ten. Photographed by Rebecca Doyle.
It's a philosophy that's shared by New Acton's A. Baker. An industrial-chic eatery filled with an inner city buzz, at its heart is a regional and seasonal food philosophy with a long list of local growers and producers.
the artisan approach entwined in the design and operation. "The establishment narrates a story of origin and the journey a product takes as it moves through each generative process."
"If you were to spend a day at A.Baker you would see at least a couple of farmers bringing in their own vegetables or fruits they picked earlier that day," says restaurant manager, Matthieu Vaysse.
Two Before Ten, a boutique coffee roasting company based at the Aranda Shops, takes the concept one step further. As well as focussing on sourcing ethically, using local seasonal produce and being sustainable, Two Before Ten is providing a refuge for people - a happy place, regardless of where they sit on the 'hipster continuum'.
Head downstairs to the 'speakeasy' bar at a certain time of day and you'll be able to watch the bakers at work as they make loaves of bread from grain milled on site — a feature that takes its inspiration from the middle ages. "Back then, bakers or communal ovens were built in the centre of a community and the townsfolk would wander down with their dough to be baked off."
"In our mind, there is a lot of good coffee around nowadays, and a lot of good food, so we try to focus on looking after our customers, giving them what they want, rather than what we think they need," says owner Chris Dennis.
The use of an open kitchen in the main dining space further encourages a connection between raw product, chef and consumer; emphasising ideas of traceability, product origin and
An ongoing 'coffee for produce' campaign encourages locals to bring in produce from their garden, and Two Before Ten exchanges it for coffee, coffee beans or food.
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Their next big move is to incorporate more native foods on the menu. "In a sustainability sense, we question sourcing locally when those foods are not native to our environment. Ideally, we should be sourcing local, native foods that are adapted to our environment, and place less stress on it. The same goes for meat, so keep an eye out for our kangaroo toastie!" Urban farming has experienced a renaissance in recently years and has expanded beyond the home vegie patch. Born through a successful crowd-funding program (an Australian agriculture first), Canberra Urban Honey comes from an extensive beekeeping heritage, four generations of beekeepers over a century. "We manage around 50 hives in backyards and rooftops throughout Canberra, and our main goal is to keep the bees as healthy as possible in order to increase pollination across Canberra. When honey is available, we share and sell what excess our bees have produced," says director, Mitchell Pearce. The bees' health is what often sets Canberra Urban Honey apart, leading to the production of exceptional honey to the hives becoming pollinator powerhouses for Canberra. "Did you know it takes 12 bees their entire lifetime to produce just one teaspoon of honey? All of our honey is treated with a great deal of respect and that means we extract it by hand, with low temperatures and there are no additives of any kind." The honey comes in three varieties — Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Ainslie Honey — together creating a true 'taste of Canberra'.
Both images: Canberra Urban Honey. Photographed by Rebecca Doyle.
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All images: Wins Creek Meadery. Photographed by Tim Bean.
producing honey, they are also the growers of all the fruit used in the mead, including plums, apples, boysenberries, mulberries, pears and quince. Everything is handcrafted in small batches, based on traditional, ancient recipes. Handmade soft drinks, made from all natural, raw ingredients, are also on tap at the Meadery including root beer, ginger beer, and a moreish apple cider.
Honey is also at the centre of Wins Creek Meadery, a small family-owned and operated beekeeping business in Murrumbateman. After spending years running the meadery from home, the business recently moved to the Old Traveller's Rest Inn (circa 1879) on the Barton Highway. "Mead is quite popular in most European countries and becoming increasing popular in the United States, but it's only just catching on here in Australia," says owner, Mike Devey.
"As well as being producers ourselves, we try to source the products from our menu from other local producers. We still attend the Capital Region Farmers Market every Saturday morning, and this provides us with lots of contacts with other producers. In this way, we can tread lightly on the earth, and support other small businesses like ourselves." ◊
"This is cool-climate wine country and we're surrounded by wineries. They produce grapes and wine from the grapes, we produce honey and mead from the honey." Working from the ground up, not only is Wins Creek Meadery
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Louise and Gavin Smith are the owners of a home that shows off who they are, and where they have come from. An eclectic mix of furniture and accessories sourced from all over the world creates a warm and inviting space. WRITER + ST YLIST RACHEL MARSH PHOTOGRAPHER MARTIN OLLMAN
One of Louise's most cherished possessions is the old Ansett catering trolley, given to her by a friend that used to work for the airline. It sits in a small alcove near the front door and offers great storage, which is always a plus when you have a family of four.
They met 21 years ago in the snowy town of Whistler in Canada, but Louise and Gavin Smith settled in Chifley eight years ago; their home filled with visual reminders of past shared experiences. Louise still speaks affectionately of the time they spent together in Canada, and points out many items they brought back with them – items which now add much to their home. One such piece is a colourful original vintage print by Canadian artist Ted Harrison, which six year-old Pippa is lucky enough to have hanging in her very stylish bedroom.
As you enter the living room, it's hard to miss the stunning original Dousott painting, which was a gift from Gavin's parents. The painting sits proudly above the fireplace. The bold yellow is bright and cheerful, and contrasts nicely with the muted accessories that sit alongside it on the mantle.
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Flowers kindly donated by The Floral Society.
The colours from the dining room continue into the kitchen, through clever use of the bar stools, making an effortless transition between the two spaces. It is easy to see that Louise has used her love of colour throughout the home, creating a cohesive feel. Down the hall you come across Pippa and Finn's playroom, marked with a fun, bright green door. The colour continues inside with a fenton&fenton stag head, taking prime position on the main wall. This is definitely a room that any child (or adult) would love to be in.
The dining room is where Louise's fearless decorating style really shines. Although tucked away behind a small wall as you walk through the living room, once you see it, your eyes are immediately captured by the striking green geometric wallpaper by Anna Spiro. This wallpaper, paired with the custom ceiling pendant covered in a quirky Manuel Canovas fabric, brings the whole dining room to life.
What is consistent throughout each space in Louise and Gavin's home is that Louise has embraced her own eclectic style, with the use of bold colour. Their home is a great representation of how your home can be styled if you are brave enough to step outside the interior design box!
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Rachel 'sTips
Rachel Marsh is the owner of Inspired Interiors + Design. She is also a regular contributor at hercanberra.com.au
Specifically, what are the 2016 trending colours, and what colours are here to stay?
As can be seen in Louise and Gavin's home, the Dulux forecast entitled 'retro remix' encapsulates their style perfectly. It's a combination of beautiful bold hues, pared back with subtle neutral tones. For me personally, grey is a colour that is always in fashion. It's that lovely neutral tone with warmth and depth that complements your bolder colours, allowing them to stand out. How easy is it for people to blend their own style into an interior?
It is really easy for people to be swayed by current trends, and what's on the front cover of their favourite design magazine. While inspiration is great, don't let these changing styles make you question your own. If you're stuck on finding your own style, start thinking about things that jump out to you. For instance, are you more drawn to pattern, or really cleans lines? One simple way to start this process is by looking at your wardrobe. Ask yourself – what do I like to wear?
Do you gravitate toward graphic prints, and bold pops of colour, or do you tend to mostly wear neutral tones, with touches of texture? If you wear colour and pattern, more often that not, your interior will start to reflect this. One thing that holds' people back from styling their home to their own taste is others' opinions. You don't have to listen to all of them! Experiment! Paint the walls a crazy colour. If you hate it, you can just paint over it. Your home should be a true reflection of the people living in it, so don't be afraid to give it a go.
The style you select should reflect your style, and, the architecture of the home. For example, if you have a modern space and are drawn to clean lines, then a low line sleek sofa, with chrome feet would be a good choice for you.
What home items are worth investing in, and what should we save on?
What are some of your favourite items in Louise and Gavin's home? Why?
Always allocate the majority of the budget on the pieces that will be with you for the long haul. Items like your sofa, dining table and occasional chairs. Again, it's important not to get swayed by current trends, as you can end up making expensive mistakes.
My favourite part of Louise and Gavin's house is their dining room. I love the combination of the graphic Anna Spiro wallpaper in that gorgeous vibrant green, paired with the custom pendant, suspended above the dining table. That bold use of pattern and colour makes me smile. ◊
When picking your sofa, for instance, it's important to think about what works for you, your family and your space. Some things to consider include the size, style and colour. Firstly, the wrong size sofa can make or break a room. A sofa that is too big can make a room feel cramped, and one that is too small can make a room feel empty and uninviting. Therefore, measure your space and ensure the proportions and sofa position are correct.
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Finally, the colour is extremely important. I tend to go for neutrals when it comes to larger pieces, as it allows for more versatility. I then bring in colour using soft furnishings and accessories. These are the items you can afford to spend less on, as you will change them more frequently.
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k o o l e h t p o sh
Some of my favourite places in Canberra to find unique and colourful bespoke objects are The Hive, Handsomepretty and Timber + Tailor, all situated in the Ori building in Braddon. Anytime I need to find something outside the norm, this is my first port of call. When I was selecting items to re-create Louise and Gavin's style, I chose vibrant colours, and paired that back with the use of textured, and handmade objects. It is the difference in textures that helps tie the look together. Top to bottom / Left to right: Graphic Pop Green Vase, $80 at Hive. Stone Studio Ceramics / Medium Bowl, $60 at Timber and Tailor. Little Lamb Garland, $40 at Hive. Navy Wall Hook / assorted sizes, from $10 - $50 at Handsomepretty. Zavier Frame / Natural $58 - With Marc Martin Pint / Price available in store at Handsomepretty. Concrete Geometric Pot White, $10 at Handsompretty. Stefan Gever / Large Wall Hook, $45 at Timber and Tailor. Karen Morton / Blue + White Ceramic Plate, $64 exclusive to Handsomepretty. Carla Dinnage / Blue Flower Bowl, $39.95 at Timber and Tailor. Wingnut / Yunomi cup, $28 at Timber and Tailor. Asanoha Orange Dish, $9 at Hive. Carla Dinnage / Cross, $100 at Timber and Tailor. Angus and Celeste / Gold Spot Bowl, $39 at Timber and Tailor. HK Living / Cross Wall Hook, $30 at Handsomepretty.
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A WORLD OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS IN ONE PLACE WHETHER YOU’RE BAT TLING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH SYMPTOMS OR SIMPLY WANT TO OPTIMISE YOUR OVERALL WELLBEING, OUR EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS WILL WORK TOGETHER TO TAILOR A MULTI–DISCIPLINARY APPROACH.
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Healthy
ALTERNATIVES There's a growing acceptance of therapies that are either alternative or complementary to conventional Western medicine in improving health and wellbeing. We take a look at five of them, and tell you where you can try them for yourself. WRITER AMANDA WHITLEY
Reiki Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a hands-on healing method which utilises Universal energy to provide healing and comfort. The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words, Rei and Ki, meaning – 'Life Force Energy'. "The best way to think of a Reiki healing is to imagine the Reiki practitioner as an antenna," says Reiki Master (Usui and Seichim), Lisa Allmey-LaMaitre of Therapy Masters. "The practitioner tunes in to the energy, or 'radio station', that the client needs, and they broadcast this energy directly in to the client.
The client simply absorbs the energy that they need. The client's energy systems are rebalanced and energised." Lisa says that during the treatment, clients may feel tingling, warm or cold in different areas of their body. They also describe feeling deeply relaxed, at ease and calm. The concept of the body being able to absorb energy and rebalance itself is aligned with the principles of qi flow and meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but Lisa was initially sceptical of the practice.
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"I was first introduced to Reiki in my gap year between school and uni. I wasn't overly sold on the idea of 'hands on' healing. I was about to study a science degree and my focus at the time was on facts and quantifiable data. Little did I know that 15 years later, I would experience Reiki from the practitioner's side of the treatment table."
THERAPY MASTERS Level 1, 131 City Walk, Canberra City 02 6247 0662 therapymasters.com.au
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Acupuncture Acupuncture is a medical science which originated in China over 2000 years ago. At the heart of acupuncture theory is that everything is interconnected or interdependent and balance results in health.
and depression respond very well to acupuncture, as do digestive complaints and sleep disturbances."
"Acupuncture works by sending signals to your brain, which in turn then effects a change within your body," says Kal Ientile, director of Ki Acupuncture.
Hay fever can also be managed effectively (which is fortunate for the 21 per cent of Canberrans who suffer with it), and there is also a lot acupuncture can help with in the areas of fertility, pregnancy support and women's health.
"Acupuncture can treat pain, injury and speeding the rehabilitation process. Anxiety
"All types of medicine have their strengths and weaknesses," says Kal.
"If I were diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, I'd have my chemo and surgery … I'd also have acupuncture for the nausea, pain, loss of energy and appetite. There's no need for 'conventional' versus 'alternative' medicine, we're all aiming for the same goal: the best possible health outcomes for our patients."
KI ACUPUNCTURE 6/16 Moore Street, Canberra City 02 6181 0710 kiacupuncture.com.au
I ntermi t tent Hypoxic Therapy Intermittent Hypoxic Therapy (IHT) delivers modified air containing lower oxygen levels for a few minutes at a time (stress), interspersed with periods of higher oxygen levels (rest). "Research has shown that adaptation to one type of stress or load will, to some extent, increase the body's ability to cope with stresses of another type," says Tubi Oyston, Wellness Consultant with World of Wellbeing.
"IHT originated in Russia where researchers wanted to find a solution to acclimatising pilots and cosmonauts to low-oxygen environments — through their research it was found that adaptation to altitude has tremendous potential for enhancing the health and wellbeing of the average person." "In 1991 researchers reported a 100 per cent increase in serotonin in patients subjected to three weeks of intermittent hypoxic therapy; this corresponded with an increase in dopamine levels by 25-30 per cent. PAGE 106
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These changes directly produce calmness, less impulsivity with greater focus and attention to task." Tubi says that research has shown IHT helps with concentration, learning, performance, anxiety and depression, energy levels, exercise recovery and stamina, stress management and sleep. WORLD OF WELLBEING Canberra Health Point Level 2, 16 Wilbow Street, Phillip 02 6260 4774 worldofwellbeing.com.au
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Kinesiology Kinesiology combines ancient and modern wisdom and techniques of both Eastern and Western healing practices and is one of the fastest growing complementary medicine modalities in Australia. "A kinesiologist talks to your body by monitoring your muscles in their contracted state where stress will show as either excess or deficient," says Kate Pamphilon, kinesiologist at the Live Well Spa & Wellness Centre.
"The body guides the practitioner to where your stressors lie, usually a combination of: physical, physiological, emotional, mental, or spiritual and helps to release them through a range of non-invasive techniques such as acupressure, flower essences, sound therapy, light therapy, essential oils, physical corrections, and esoteric energy healing." Kinesiology can be used to treat stress, anxiety, depression and grief, immune system deficiency,
reproductive health, skin and digestive disorders, pain, genetic patterns and sleep. "Being holistic, natural and gentle, it means that those who see a kinesiologist are excited about the changes they see and feel through the powerful technique of 'muscle testing'." LIVE WELL SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE 35 Murray Crescent, Manuka 02 6295 0400 livewellnaturally.com.au
Naturopathy Naturopathy is a system of healthcare that works by restoring your body's innate ability to return to a state of balance. The origins of naturopathy can be traced back to the time of Hippocrates over 2000 years ago, where he developed a system of healthcare that was not religious or mystical in nature, but rather formed upon 'rational conclusions' and 'logical deductions' of the human body and nature. "Instead of trying to just suppress unwanted symptoms, naturopathic treatment works on identifying and addressing the root cause of your health concerns and treating them with holistic
therapies, including nutritional and herbal medicine as well as lifestyle practices," says Shanna Choudhary, naturopath with Live Well Spa and Wellness Centre. Naturopathy views and treats the person as the sum of all parts, taking the symptomatic picture and clinical observations of an individual's physical, mental and emotional status, as well as behavioural, nutritional and environmental aspects into account. It can be commonly used to treat conditions such as stress, anxiety, mood, and mental health disorders; fatigue; gut and digestive health; hormonal
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and reproductive health, and fertility; and immune and autoimmune conditions. "Symptoms don't manifest out of thin air, they arise due to underlying issues with the body's organ systems. Treating each symptom in isolation may help a little, but treating the underlying organ systems that are affected using a combination of holistic approaches will not only resolve symptoms but restore overall wellbeing, Shanna says." ◊ LIVE WELL SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE 35 Murray Crescent, Manuka 02 6295 0400 livewellnaturally.com.au
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