QCWA Ruth magazine #38 - Autumn 2022

L I V E

AN

INSPIR ED

LIFE

Supporting the work of the Queensland Country Women’s Association

A CELEBRATION OF MOTHERHOOD

s ’ m u M the d r o W BOSS LADIES KICKING GOALS

RUTH AUTUMN 2022 ISSUE 38 • AU$9.95 INC GST

DIY SPA DAY AT HOME

Healthy and delicious lunchbox ideas from Country Kitchens

BRAND NEW HOMES SELLING NOW! Designed for Over 50s

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ‘FUN-FILLED’ CHAPTER

Great news! If your original New Year’s resolution hasn’t gone to plan – we have an easy to keep alternative that promises the most wonderful lifestyle!

Are you ready for it? It’s making the move to Living Gems. Truly the best way to start your new year (and new life), Living Gems Over 50s Lifestyle Resorts offer everything you need to stay fit, healthy, connected and happy.

SAY HELLO TO A SPORTING GOOD TIME

As a retiree, you know how important it is to continue being fit and active – not only for your physical wellbeing but also for your mental health.

FREEDOM TO PURSUE YOUR PASSION… OR SIMPLY RELAX Now that you have more time for you, how would you choose to spend it? Here are a few ideas we prepared earlier. For the movie buffs, how about watching a film in the Resort cinema with surround sound?

If you love to craft, the dedicated arts and craft studio offers the perfect space for your next creation. There’s also a workshop (complete with all the tools) for the tinkerers, a library for that quiet time we all need and a community garden where you can grow your favourite flowers, plants or produce. Giving you the opportunity to do what you love most, it’s all about keeping your cup full to the brim at Living Gems.

Helping you live life to the fullest, Living Gems offers an endless array of recreation that’s right on your doorstep. Whether you’re fiercely competitive or simply like to have a bit of fun while you exercise, you’ll find the perfect activity at Living Gems.

From scoring the ultimate strike in ten-pin bowling to enjoying a daily workout in the gym, a hit of tennis or a splash in the sparkling pool, you’ll have it all. Perhaps you’re up for a friendly game of bocce, bowls, pickleball or snooker? Whether you’re a beginner or expert, everyone is welcome to join in.

MEETING YOUR NEW BEST FRIENDS

Good friends are good for the soul. And at Living Gems, it’s all about friendship. Making it easy for you to socialise with your neighbours, you can catch up for a coffee and chat in the café, or head to the bar for a drink, yarn and laugh with mates.

ENCORE-WORTHY ENTERTAINMENT

Whether you’re an active participant in the arts or simply enjoy watching a wonderful performance, there is always entertainment to be had at Living Gems.

From theatre performances to singing groups and dance classes, new talents are discovered every day at Living Gems. There’s also a music room catering for a jam session with friends or a tinker on your favourite instrument. Providing a happy boost of endorphins and a smile that lasts for days, the artistic programs and creative opportunities at Living Gems continue to give back joy and happiness to Residents.

Also catering for large gatherings with friends or family, why not cook up a storm in the commercial kitchen? And, of course, you can enjoy a casual dinner in the BBQ pavilion or soak up the evening tranquillity around the fire pit.With these beautiful community spaces at your fingertips, socialising with your loved ones has never been easier!

If you’re ready to begin your next chapter - filled with fun, socialising and relaxation get in touch with the Living Gems Team today on 1800 348 977.

We’d love to give you a personalised tour of your new life!

Contents

29

44

8 15

FOOD: Lunchbox faves with a healthy twist

24

INSPIRING PEOPLE: The legacy of Jan Ross

30 32

FASHION: Mother and me Building a business around values

35

HEALTH: The bloody truth of endo

38 40 44

CRAFT: Cute bookmarks to make with kids DIY pamper products Memories in a quilt

48

HOUSE & GARDEN: Feathered families

55 58 60

TRAVEL: Enjoy a family getaway in Tasmania Wonders of tropical North Queensland A secret paradise

65 68 77

52

FEATURE: The mighty force of the QCWA

BUSINESS: The couple who avo can-do spirit HISTORY: Letters that reveal country courtship QCWA: President’s message News from the branches Quiz

Subscribe to QCWA Ruth magazine! $31.80 for 12 months (4 editions) $63.60 for 24 months (8 editions) Subscribe online — visit: iSubscribe.com.au/ruth-magazine-subscription

58

MAGAZINE MANAGER: Erika Brayshaw EDITOR: Jessica Kramer DESIGN: Jeff Brown and Mark Stansall EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: 07 4690 9425 ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: 07 4690 9370 SUBSCRIPTIONS: isubscribe.com.au/ruth-magazine-subscription PUBLISHED BY:

72 4 | Autumn 2022

News Corp Australia, Level 1/5 Keefe St, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350 in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), 11 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner, QLD 4120.

Ruth magazine is published by News Corp Australia. Those who make advertising placement and/or supply copy material or editorial submissions to Ruth magazine undertake to ensure that all such material does not infringe any copyright, trademark, defamation, libel, slander or title, breach of confidence, does not contain anything obscene or indecent, or does not infringe the trade practices act or other laws, regulation or statutes. Further to the abovementioned, these persons agree to indemnify the publisher and/or its agents against any investigations, claims or judgements. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher.

Welcome to the Ruth Autumn edition!

W

Welcome to the first edition of 2022, and Ruth’s 10th year!

This year also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the Queensland Country Women’s Association, and what a line up of amazing events there are to celebrate! Keep your eye on the QCWA Facebook page for updates.

In this edition, we’ve chosen to focus on family — specifically on motherhood. You’ll find Belinda Thorburn’s touching ode to motherhood on page 29, as well as inspirational women raising awareness of endometriosis (p35), and those making a difference in their community through the QCWA in our special feature from page 8.

Get crafty with the kids on page 38, or make your own pamper products for the bathtub from page 40. Discover Country Kitchens’ fresh ideas for the lunchbox too — the Ruth team are happy to report they taste de-lish!

Finally, plan your next trip in the Sunshine State with Ruth’s travel stories on the Scenic Rim (p60) and Tropical North Queensland (p58), or go a little further afield with a familyfriendly trip to Tasmania on page 55.

Happy reading!

JESSICA KRAMER

Jan Ross We’d like to dedicate this edition of Ruth magazine to the late QCWA Ruth Coordinator, Jan Ross. Jan passed away suddenly in the morning of Friday, December 3, at her home Brygenna. She had been a member of the QCWA for many years and her passion for the Association, the magazine, and her local community was evident every time we crossed paths. Jan will be sorely missed, and the Ruth team extends our condolences to her beloved family.

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LOOK WHAT WE FOUND A quirky collection of special finds to brighten your home this autumn

QCWA news & events It’s the year of Queensland Country Women’s Association’s centenary!

Here’s just a taste of what’s to come before the 100th birthday in August.

• QCWA Centenary Year official launch — March 30 • QCWA State International Study Conference — April 8-10 • Women Walk the World Day — April 29

qcwa.org.au

What is the QCWA? A conglomerate of incredible ladies, the Queensland Country Women’s Association was founded by Ruth Fairfax OBE (after whom this magazine is named) in 1922. So much more than a ladies’ chat and scones, the Association advocates and raises funds for vulnerable people, towns and important causes as well as providing a social outlet for members across the branches in regional areas, towns, and cities across the state.

Quirky glassware Aussie homewares brand Fazeek specialises in contemporary items that are ethical and sustainable while maintaining class and style. We love their glass tableware especially, like this funky carafe which uses a glass sphere as the cap (which can then be stored in the bulb at the bottom of the carafe when you’re using it) or the quirky wave glasses that will bring a little ‘zing’ to your luncheon table. Using a similar model to the carafe, Fazeek’s Balance Vase also creates a curious centerpiece with its curved lines.

fazeek.com.au

Boho galore Based in Victoria, Sage x Clare is a funky, eclectic store that’s a boho lover’s dream. The husband-and-wife duo who run the business were inspired by their love for travel and their shopping habits, as well as their mutual passion for colour, texture and items with ‘real heart’. They release collections called ‘Seasons’ regularly with different signature colours, patterns and theme — creating colourful, laidback blankets, towels, dresses, beanbags, rugs, you name it!

sageandclare.com

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Bush jewellery This gorgeous jewellery is like being able to wear a piece of Australia everywhere you go! Diamantina Daughters’ founder Amanda started handcrafting pieces to showcase her two loves in life: regional Australia, with its lifestyle and nature, and her family. There are currently two collections available: the Coolibah collection, inspired by the Aussie bush, and the Cottage collection with blooms taken from cottage gardens.

diamantinadaughters.com.au

Roll into these new shoes Are these not the cutest shoes you’ve ever seen?

Affectionately called ‘Rollies’ by those already familiar with the brand, Rollie Nation specialises in bespoke, at times unusual, shoes that are just as perfect for a night on the town or traveling the countryside as they are for professional meetings and a day in the office. Best of all? They’re Australian founded and designed, so you can be happy you’re supporting local while keeping your feet happy.

rollienation.com

Painting on pods Hello Chelsart is a unique collection using an artwork canvas that you’ve probably not seen or thought of before: found items from Aussie nature. Seed pods, gumnuts, banksia nuts, woody pears — all become stunning pieces of art under Chelsea’s brush.

Using nature in this way means discarded projects naturally break down, and the canvases are sourced where the item’s purpose has already been served. Sustainable art? Yes please!

hellochels.art

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Feature

GIRL POWER the mighty force of QCWA

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Tanya Boots, member of Mermaid Beach branch, brings joy to those missing their family and friends due to isolation or illness.

Celebrating 100 years this year, the Queensland Country Women’s Association is an impressive conglomerate of women kicking goals together around the state

Words by Jessica Kramer with Jan Ross, Pam Jackson, Tanya Boots, and Belinda Thorburn Images Contributed

I

t was 1922 and Mrs Ruth Fairfax had an idea.

Having recently founded the Country Women’s Association in New South Wales, on August 11 a meeting was called by the Brisbane Women’s Club and supported by the then-governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan. The meeting officially formed the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), with Ruth as the foundation president and Miss Marjorie Scholefield as secretary.

Fast-forward 100 years, and the QCWA has more than 220 branches throughout Queensland. It’s more than just tea and

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scones and a ladies get-together though — so much more.

Service in the community In the past century, the association has raised much-needed funds for causes such as Parkinson’s Disease, Angel Flight, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, cancer research, endometriosis and more. The members also raise awareness in the community for a different health issue, product, and country each year, and support families around the state in various ways.

Some branches and/or members focus their efforts on drought relief; others compile care packs for neonatal wards and new mothers; still others make fiddle blankets and security bears for aged care and people with disabilities.

One such branch is in Charleville, where the ladies create sensory mats for special needs children in schools.

The members of this branch meet regularly to socialise and support one another, dubbing their monthly gettogethers “Monthly Munchies”. At one such event, the chatter between members highlighted the special needs of preschool-aged children. A preschool teacher’s mother lamented the need to help students by providing items that may assist them.

Immediately seizing on an opportunity to help out another member, Olive Smith — a long-term QCWA member — made a sample ‘sensory mat’ that could be useful for in-class distraction. Successful in its trial, Olive championed a project with members who set about coordinating, then making, 16 sensory mats. This equalled two mats for each school in the district.

Stitched, glued, backed and bound, each mat was then trimmed with different tactile items aiming to develop fine motor skills but also distract children during a stressful incident. Using whatever the members had stacked away (such as ribbon, lace, zips, buttons, braid and rickrack), each mat took on a unique personality.

The Charleville members then hosted a Devonshire morning tea for local school principals, providing the opportunity to network and enjoy homemade snacks, before being presented with the sensory mats. Schools receiving the sensory mats varied from one teacher to district schools, but they all had established special needs programs.

“Throughout every phase in a woman’s life there is a meaningful role within QCWA,” says OIive’s daughter Pam. “The members of the Charleville branch have actively embraced new members while honouring the contributions of long-term members.”

In providing support within their local community, they have embarked on many active projects such as tree planting and handing bottled water to the participants in the local ANZAC

The members of Charleville branch with the completed fiddle blankets.

Olive Smith championed the effort to get fiddle blankets made for each school in the Charleville district with a special needs program.

Charleville branch’s longest serving member, Olive Smith, made a poppy wreath to save both money and waste in buying fresh floral tributes each year for the local RSL.

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march. The members provide catering for local events and in 2021 they catered for a week-long vintage car rally. Mobility impaired members are involved with projects they can manage and positively supported along the way.

Olive is the longest serving member at the branch, with 73 years under her belt. Once a keen craft person and state handicraft teacher, Olive is now content to champion projects such as the sensory mats making.

Over past years she has also helped to make domestic violence kits and a poppy wreath, now displayed at the local RSL and re-used each year to save both money and waste in buying a fresh floral tribute. The domestic violence kits have become an annual contribution within the local community and the sensory mats will remain in local schools assisting young children for years to come.

Supporting the unwell and lonely

Being there for each other

In other ways, QCWA helps women of all ages and circumstances — from direct support to simply being an outlet for mothers to have some grown-up social time with other ladies.

The Capricornia Division of Queensland’s Central Region has members from all walks of life, from retirees with kids all out of home to busy working mothers with young children.

Belinda Thorburn is one of the latter, and also brings a talent for writing to the association — you can find her article on motherhood on page 29.

There are several other branches experiencing a boom in young mums joining, particularly in regional and farming towns where it’s a perfect opportunity for socialising with other women while feeling like you’re helping your friends, family and wider community — and getting the kids out of the house.

Tanya Boots In recent years, men have also been welcomed into the fold with the establishment of ‘Friends of QCWA’ as supporting partners who assist financially but don’t necessarily “I was so impressed with attend meetings. the work (the QCWA) does The past year also saw the creation of the first for the local community, I virtual branch, being held entirely online, to grand success for time-poor ladies. had no idea of the extent.”

Up north, branches knit and crochet blankets for their local hospitals to give to patients, while in Mermaid Beach (on the Gold Coast) a member is creating a tea gift box business for those impacted by COVID. “I am a member of the Mermaid Beach branch and have been getting to know my local ladies — Tanya Boots Onwards and upwards recently. I was so impressed with It’s certainly been a big few years for the work the CWA does for the local QCWA, but even through drought, community, I had no idea of the extent,” COVID and floods, these women says Tanya Boots, owner-operator of have banded together and fought Inspirational Tea Co. to make a difference in their local Growing up on a farm in Western Australia, Tanya “Throughout every phase communities. feels a real affinity for the warm and hardworking in a woman’s life there is This persistence and generosity women of QCWA and her regional customers. a meaningful role within is what keeps the Association still “I’ve had the tea business since 2017, and my QCWA.” relevant after 100 years of operation, main product was tea bags with hand-folded — Pam Jackson morphing from quilting circles tags. I used to go into the shelters run by Women’s and volunteering at town fairs to an Community Shelters in Sydney and host tea yarning organisation that gives its time and care circles. The ladies would be paid to fold tea tags and generously to fellow women and those in we’d have a good chat and cuppa,” Tanya explains. need.

“Sadly that ended when my family moved to Queensland On August 11, Queensland Country Women’s Association and COVID came. I stumbled upon a new idea, a Hug in a Mug will mark its 100th birthday with branches around the state all Gift Box, for people to send to their loved ones when they getting in on the celebration. Keep your eyes open for further could no longer share a cuppa and a hug. ” information on the QCWA Facebook page.

“As I hand wrote the gift cards I witnessed first-hand both To discover more about your local branch and how to join, the love and the hardship that so many faced. It was a privilege and a joy to be the giver of a smile (and often some tears!).” contact secretary@qcwa.org.au.

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Join us!

Members of the Queensland Country Women’s Association have been coming together since 1922 to provide friendship, inspiration and a voice on issues that affect communities, women and families.

You can make a difference too.

There’s sure to be a QCWA branch near you.

For fun, friendship, inspiration and joy

What we do: • Advocacy — QCWA provides a voice for women on serious issues relevant to families, communities, rural life and education.

• Distributing Public Rural Crisis Fund — hands-on help to Queenslanders affected by floods, droughts and fires.

• Fundraising for good causes — local, national and international.

Become a

• Workshops and classes to upskill and inspire — arts and crafts, music, cookery, public speaking, meetings.

• Improving the health of Queenslanders through Country Kitchens — a joint project with Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

• Holiday accommodation — we own and manage holiday accommodation throughout the state.

member now!

You can become a full member or a supporter member (Supporter membership is for those women who want to support the QCWA but can’t commit to regular meetings) There’s sure to be a QCWA branch near you.

QCWA MEMBERSHIPS Branch Membership One year Supporter and Friend Membership One year

Fee

Membership period

$72.59

1 July 2021 — 30 June 2022

Fee

Membership period

$95.00

One calendar year from date of joining

Contact us today for more information on becoming a Branch Member or Supporter and Friend Member.

QCWA State Office: secretary@qcwa.org.au | www.qcwa.org.au | (07) 3236 6419

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THE QUEENSLAND

COUNTRY WOME N’S ASSOCIATIO N

Love Baking?

What better treasured gift for yourself or someone special than this fabulous reprint of the original 1959 QCWA Cookery Book?

180 pages of the same cherished Australian recipes, with many of the original homely hints, methods and comments.

JUST

19

$

95

Recipes from the

original 195 9 QCWA Coo kery Book

1

Postage Extra

These ‘collector edition’ copies are available from QCWA — call 07 3236 6419 to arrange postal delivery.

Healthy Lunchbox Recipes

What’s in a Healthy Lunchbox?

Healthy food: include a wide variety of foods from each of the 5 core food groups:

» Fruit » Vegetables and legumes/beans » Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat. » Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans » Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties.

Water: Avoid sugary drinks and be sure to pack a water bottle. Water is always the best choice!

Remember food safety: Use ice bricks to keep food cool or a thermos to keep food hot as needed.

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Pumpkin Polenta and Herb Muffin Serves: 12 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30-35 minutes Fruit and veg: ½ serve per portion Ingredients

300g pumpkin, peeled and cut into 4cm pieces 1 cup wholemeal flour, self-raising ½ cup flour, self-raising 1 cup instant polenta ½ small red capsicum, very finely chopped 1 tablespoon thyme leaves 2 tablespoons pepitas (pumpkin seeds) 1 cup natural yoghurt 2 eggs 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated

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Method PREHEAT oven to 200ºC. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with baking paper.

STEAM the pumpkin for 5-10 minutes, or until soft, then mash with a fork and let cool.

COMBINE the flours, polenta, capsicum, thyme and half the pepitas in a large bowl, making a well in the centre.

WHISK the yoghurt, eggs and oil in a separate bowl until combined.

STIR the mashed pumpkin and cheeses through the egg mixture. Pour into the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined.

DIVIDE the batter evenly among the muffin holes and scatter the remaining pepitas over the top.

BAKE for 30-35 minutes, or until the muffins are golden and a skewer comes out clean.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Rainbow Frittata Muffins Serves: 12 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15-20 minutes Fruit and veg: ½ serves per portion Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil ½ medium onion, diced ½ red capsicum, diced ½ medium zucchini, grated ½ medium carrot, grated ½ cup sweet corn, drained if canned 6 eggs ½ cup milk, reduced fat 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, chopped ¼ teaspoon black pepper 12 slices wholemeal bread 6 cherry tomatoes, halved 50g feta, crumbled

Method PREHEAT oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with muffin cases.

HEAT oil in frypan over medium heat. Lightly sauté onion and capsicum for 1-2 minutes, then add carrot, zucchini and corn and cook for 2 more minutes.

WHISK together the eggs, milk, parsley and pepper in a large jug until combined.

FLATTEN bread slices using a rolling pin or glass. Remove the crusts if required and press one slice into each lined muffin hole.

SCOOP ¼ cup of the cooked vegetable mixture into each muffin hole, then pour egg mixture evenly over top.

TOP each muffin with a cherry tomato half and some crumbled feta.

COOK in oven until set, approx. 15 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Suzie van Laarhoven, the Country Kitchens team

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Mexican Chicken Wraps Serves: 8 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Fruit and veg: 1½ serve per portion Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil 300g chicken breast, sliced 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika 2 teaspoons of ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander ½ red capsicum, diced 1 medium zucchini, grated 2 cups cooked brown rice and quinoa 1 can mixed beans, rinsed and drained 8 wholemeal tortillas or wraps 2 cups lettuce, chopped

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2 tomatoes, diced 1 cup cheese, reduced fat, grated 1 bunch fresh coriander, leaves only

Method HEAT olive oil over medium heat in a large frypan.

ADD chicken breast, garlic, paprika, cumin and ground coriander. Cook until outside of chicken is sealed.

REMOVE chicken from pan and add capsicum and zucchini. Cook until just tender.

ADD chicken back to pan with cooked rice, quinoa and mixed beans. Stir to heat, ensuring chicken is cooked through.

PLACE lettuce on centre of wrap and top with chicken mix, tomato, cheese and coriander leaves.

WRAP tightly and enjoy.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Corn, Zucchini and Chickpea Fritters Serves: 4 (makes 12) Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes 2 serves per portion Ingredients

400g chickpeas can, drained and rinsed ½ cup milk, reduced fat 2 eggs ¾ cup wholemeal flour, self-raising 1 large zucchini, grated with skin on 310g can corn kernels, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons mint, chopped 3 spring onions, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons olive oil

Method BLEND chickpeas in a food processor until roughly chopped.

WHISK milk and eggs in a small bowl. Place flour in another bowl and slowly add milk mixture, whisking until smooth.

STIR in chickpeas, zucchini, corn, mint and onion.

HEAT tablespoon of oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

Add ¼ cup of mixture to the pan and spread slightly with spatula. Repeat with rest of the mixture.

COOK patties for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden and cooked through.

OPTIONAL: serve with our tomato chutney recipe.

Recipe courtesy of Patsy Carrol, Chinchilla Branch

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Honey Soy Noodle Salad Serves: 4 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 1 minute Fruit and veg: 1 ½ serves per portion Ingredients Salad:

220g shelf fresh noodles, Hokkien or Singapore 1 carrot, grated ½ spring onion, sliced ½ cucumber, sliced ¼ red cabbage, shredded 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Dressing: 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce, salt reduced ½ teaspoon sesame oil

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Method PLACE noodles in large bowl. Cover with boiling water for 1 minute, then drain and refresh in running cold water. Set aside.

ADD carrot, spring onion, cucumber and cabbage to noodles. Gently toss to combine.

COMBINE all dressing ingredients in screw top jar, shake well.

POUR dressing over noodle mix and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Sandwich Filling Ideas Use multigrain bread, rye bread, wholemeal bread or tortillas to create sandwich fingers, pinwheels, rolls or wraps. If you have a fussy eater, try using cookie cutters to create fun shapes with sandwiches.

Rest wet ingredients such as tomato, beetroot, pineapple and cucumber on a paper towel before assembling your sandwich, and place between other toppings such as meat, cheese and lettuce to avoid soggy bread.

Some of our favourite sandwich fillings are: Ricotta, vegemite and cucumber Grated cheese and grated carrot Cream cheese, pineapple and lettuce Peanut butter and banana Cream cheese spread, corn and diced celery and red capsicum Ham, cheese, lettuce and corn relish Shredded chicken mixed with mayonnaise and diced celery Swiss cheese, lean leg ham, avocado, rocket leaves, tomato chutney Chicken, avocado and celery Lean leg ham, cheddar cheese, cucumber and tomato Cold sliced hamburger, shredded lettuce, grated

carrot, tomato and tomato chutney Tuna or Salmon, mushrooms, avocado, lettuce leaves, grated carrot Chicken, crushed walnuts, chives, ricotta cheese Cold sliced hamburger, sun dried tomatoes, grilled vegetables (zucchini or eggplant), baby mozzarella Beef roast, caramelised onions, shredded lettuce, grated carrot and tomato chutney Boiled egg, cottage cheese and curry powder (mix together), and rocket or spinach leaves Chicken, sweet chilli sauce, shredded lettuce and sultanas Ricotta cheese, peanut butter and celery Ricotta cheese, grated carrot, celery, red capsicum and sweet chilli sauce Turkey, cranberry, cucumber, grated beetroot and avocado Cream cheese, grated carrot, sultanas and celery Hummus, roasted vegetables or grilled vegetables (zucchini or eggplant) Hummus, shredded lettuce, tomato, beetroot and grated carrot Lean leg ham, grilled pineapple, tomato, swiss cheese.

Courtesy of the Country Kitchens team 2022 Autumn

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Connecting women who have the power to heal their communities Empowering women through education and health is a priority for QCWA. The popular QCWA Country Kitchens program, funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, supports Queenslanders to develop their understanding of food and nutrition.

Words and images by Country Kitchens

F

ocused particularly on those living in rural, regional and remote locations, QCWA’s Country Kitchens program is now able to continue this critical work thanks to another three-year funding commitment from Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld).

Activities include static and interactive displays, healthy cooking demonstrations and hands-on nutrition workshops.

Every Country Kitchens activity promotes one or more of the program’s five key messages: get more fruit and veg into your meals; cook at home; be aware of sugar in your drinks; check your portion size; and sit less, move more.

Michelle Donohue from Quilpie Branch in the Warrego Division of the QCWA said she has been part of this ‘wonderful Country Kitchens program’ as a trained facilitator for four years now.

“Originally, I joined after visiting the Country Kitchens stand at the QCWA Conference in Brisbane in 2018 and chatting with the team,” she said.

“I love that this program offers the opportunity for me to help improve the health of my community, through a number of different ways, all while being supported by the Country Kitchens team of professional dietitians and nutritionists,” Ms Donohue said.

A central part of the program is the creation of healthy recipes which include more fruit and vegetables. QCWA members and the Country Kitchens team have created a raft of delicious healthy alternatives, or modifications to everyday recipes to show Queenslanders just how easy it is to make healthier choices, and to utilise Queensland’s amazing variety of fresh produce.

“In order to reinforce the five key messages of the program, I usually have them on display in our QCWA hall for members

and other groups who use the space to see,” Ms Donohue said.

“Occasionally, I have also seized the opportunity to set up a showcase for our local agricultural show — the sugary drinks display makes a real statement — and with the help of the team, run some hands-on nutrition workshops.

“Usually, I am a quiet person who prefers to be in the background doing handcrafts, but I find it very exciting and encouraging to see how quickly these community workshops book out! I am even planning some more workshops for early next year,” she said.

“These types of activities, coupled with the level of enthusiasm from Country Kitchens facilitators like Michelle, are the benefits of our grass roots approach to training QCWA members and delivering activities directly into communities.”.

If you or someone you know is keen to get involved with the QCWA Country Kitchens program, we are always looking to increase our volunteer workforce. To learn more, visit www.qcwacountrykitchens.com.au or sign up to our free Monthly Munch newsletter.

ABOVE: QCWA member and Country Kitchens facilitator Michelle Donohue (centre), Country Kitchens health professional team leader Katy Li (far left), and QCWA member Delma Quinn (right) with a group of school children.

LEFT: QCWA member and Country Kitchens facilitator Michelle Donohue.

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Inspiring People

The legacy of

Jan Ross

Jan models one of her creations from the slow clothing workshop.

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Jan Ross receives the baton in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Jan Ross shared a generous, creative and resourceful spirit across generations, communities and organisations.

Words by Jane Milburn

J

an Ross’s enduring legacy was in evidence on December 17 last year as her grandchildren spoke lovingly of their memories of time spent with Jan, and the gathered crowd spilled out the doors of the service at Centenary Memorial Gardens, Sumner, to celebrate Jan’s life.

Grandson Tom Pratt called it ‘’a final dance with a friend, inspiration and grandmother. A true woman of beauty.

Here’s to you grandma — starting a beautiful family, owning and managing a cattle station, mayor of her region, trusted member of the QCWA …”

Janice ‘Jan’ Cecily Ross was born on 2nd of October 1942 at Sherwood in Brisbane and wore many hats during her long and adventurous life, including leadership contributions as VicePresident of the Queensland Country Women’s Association 1996-1999 and inaugural Mayor of the amalgamated BlackallTambo Regional Council.

Jan passed away suddenly at her home, Byrgenna, near Tambo in south-west Queensland, on December 3, 2021, and will be missed by all who knew her in the bush, in Brisbane and beyond.

QCWA past president Christine King said Jan was well respected for her generous supportive manner, her interest in members and her loyalty to the Association for 41 years.

“While Jan lived at Byrgenna, her commitment to the State Executive involved six week-long meetings in Brisbane and she travelled overnight each way from Tambo to Brisbane by bus. She chaired regional conferences and travelled extensively around her Southern Region north to Blackall, east to the Darling Downs and south to the New South Wales border. At

Images Contributed annual state conferences, Jan was a positive voice in debating resolutions and listening to members concerns in a kindly manner,” Christine said.

Jan was instrumental in starting the QCWA State Piecemakers Committee and patchwork workshops around Queensland, and was involved in the Emergency Housekeeping Scheme run by the QCWA to assist households experiencing difficulties in coping with their family and/or new babies.

More recently, Jan was co-ordinator for this magazine, Ruth, published in Toowoomba initially by The Toowoomba Chronicle and now News Corp. Jan handled member enquiries on articles, encouraged members to support Ruth which can be ordered online or purchased at selected newsagents. Jan provided a country member perspective to guide the editorial team and ensure the publication aligned with the Association’s requirements.

Tambo neighbour and friend Caroll Abel said Jan was a valuable member of Tambo QCWA who will be fondly remembered and sadly missed.

“We admired Jan for how any project she took on, she completed from start to finish. Jan urged us all to do better and was at the forefront of so many of our activities, always leading the way. She was so much fun!”

“Jan never had a problem saying it like it is. I’m sad that her knowledge and championing of rural women and their families is gone,” Caroll said.

Writing in Queensland Country Life, journalist Sally Gall said Jan Ross was remembered for her pioneering role in local government, and for breaking down barriers for women. Not

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Ann Sanderson presents Jan with her QCWA long service medal.

Jan presenting Kate Doyle with her treasurer badge.

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Alison Nugent, Rachel Cain, Jan with Natalie Cain, Fay Nugent and Ann Sanderson at QCWA Mother’s Day high tea.

only was she the first mayor of the amalgamated council but she was the first woman from either the Tambo or Blackall shires to take on the role of chair or mayor.

Sally quoted Tammy Johnson and Daurae Fulton speaking on behalf of the Tambo CWA: “Jan was a very insightful lady with a down-to-earth, hardworking and positive attitude. She was an inspirational, caring, kind and strong woman. When she spoke, people listened and her wisdom and experience always made what she had to say worth listening to.”

The QCL article also quoted another Tambo district resident, Nina Mayne saying Jan was well known, admired and loved in the community. “She was a reassuring presence to have around, mastering many wonderful qualities — integrity, humility, generosity, authenticity, and respect of self and others, to name a few. Those of us left behind have beautiful memories.”

Jan is succeeded by her sister Bron Davis, her children James, Drew and Sannah, and her grandchildren Emma, Harry, Tom, Lachlan, Alice, Maggie and Nicolas.

At the celebration service, her grandchildren said Jan’s early life was a great insight into what she turned out to be: a tough, happy, energetic individual, who was an inspiration to us all: “Jan loved us all, and we all loved Jan. We will miss you Grandma.”

Grandson Lachlan said: “I just want to appreciate your way of going through life. One day you could be throwing a rock at a brown snake at Byrgenna and then the next day you could be enjoying coffee in the middle of Brisbane. From branding calves in the morning to mayor in the afternoon, not many people could be so comfortable anywhere, or with any company. You could always count on Grandma for a good time.”

Granddaughter Maggie said: ”Byrgenna remained a loud

Jan handing out membership forms at QCWA Belles of the Barcoo.

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Jan enjoying cooking school.

Melissa Iland and Jan with Braedon Russell, winner of the Barcoo River Dash, a 200m foot race on Melbourne Cup Day that was one of Jan’s innovations.

Jan with her friend and neighbour Melissa Iland at Oktoberfest

Jane Milburn and Jan Ross in her kitchen

Vaughan Johnson MP, Jan Ross, Penelope Wensley AC, Barry Muir and Howard Hobbs MP at the unveiling of the Tambo T150 plaque. Jan was chair of the Sesquicentenary celebration.

28 | Autumn 2022

and loving home, even after Don passed. Despite the sadness it brought her, she didn’t let it stop her from enjoying life. She continued to travel between home and Brisbane, and wherever her family and friends were. She took running Byrgenna in her stride; whether it was pumping water, dealing with snakes, or branding calves. She adored her cattle, especially calves, continuing the line of Santa Gertrudis cattle Don had spent his life breeding. There are few people who can manage to run an entire cattle property and a thriving household, but Grandma could do it all.”

Personally, I thank Jan for proactively organising my 2018 trip to Tambo for slow clothing sessions at the QCWA meeting room, and her warm and generous hospitality in having me to stay at Byrgenna. This selfie photo of us, taken in her kitchen, reflects Jan as I knew her.

Inspiring People

On Motherhood Words and images from Belinda Thorburn, Capricornia Division member

Belinda holding baby Kiana while proud big brother Riley looks over her.

M

otherhood is the gift that keeps on giving. The eternal love a mum has for her children makes your heart so full it can feel like it will burst.

Motherhood comes in so many forms: young mums, old mums, stay at home mums, working mums and single mums.

It doesn’t matter what kind of mum you are, the end result is the same: the all encompassing unconditional love for your children. I have experienced being both a young stay-at-home mum and an older working mum.

I have always known I would be a mother. I remember playing as a kid with my best friend, and I would always say I was going to have four kids: two when I was younger, a 10 year gap and another two when I was older. That is exactly how it happened, except there is a 12 year gap. I had just turned 20 when I had my first son, Adam, and was categorised as a ‘geriatric pregnancy’ when I gave birth to my fourth child just past my 39th birthday.

My eldest son, Adam James, was born in July 2001, followed by my daughter Brooke in September 2004.

In 2011 I met my current husband, and when we started dating he asked if I would have more children, to which I replied “of course; I always wanted four children”.

Falling pregnant with my eldest two had never been a problem, however, it was a little harder the other side of 30 and we had given up hope after four years of trying. Then as soon as we stopped trying, we fell pregnant with Riley and he was born in March 2016.

Another two years passed and it seemed our family would be complete at three. So in December 2018 we sold all our baby things when we relocated and bought a house in Rockhampton.

October 2019 saw us become husband and wife and we enjoyed a magical honeymoon in Egypt, which was where our

Belinda’s four children (clockwise from left) Adam, Brooke, Riley, and Kiana. miracle honeymoon baby was conceived. Kiana Grace blessed us with her presence in June 2020, completing our family perfectly.

My experiences between raising my older two and my younger two have been vastly different.

I remember being so unsure and afraid as a young mum and I relied on advice from my mum a great deal, but with the last two I had such confidence and peace within myself knowing I could do this and I was good at it.

Motherhood is never smooth sailing and you will experience every emotion possible — from happiness, joy, fear, sleeplessness and overwhelming love.

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Fashion

Mother and me

For the sustainability-conscious mother, it can be virtually impossible to find the time to make clothes for yourself or your child. Fortunately, there are women creating labels for us!

Words by Jessica Kramer Images by Pip and Lenny and Irving & Powell

Mother…

Like many women, Victoria McEvoy wanted a shirt that fit the bill: easy to wear, stylish yet comfortable, low maintenance.

She’d worked in New York for top-level labels like Ralph Lauren and Tory Burch, but still found that ‘just right’ shirt was always missing. And so Victoria set out to do it herself (sound familiar, ladies?) and Irving & Powell was born.

The label specialises in the perfect shirt, but also features sandals, jewellery and more, all with a theme of being stylish yet easy to wear — perfect for the busy mum.

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…and me Aren’t kids wearing home-made clothes just the cutest? But when bub is refusing to sleep and the toddler still wants all your attention (and put that new sibling back where they came from, thanks Mummy), sewing your own is out of the question.

So we’ve done some searching for you, and discovered friend duo Bec and Justine.

These ladies are mums and midwives and also had a love for handmade kids’ items, so they opened Pip and Lenny with the purpose of stocking Aussie brands from small businesses that fit the bill — as well as their own, super cute label.

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2022 Autumn

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Fashion

Kylie Brûlé

Building a business around values Words by Jane Milburn Images by Kylie and the Machine

T

hrough ingenuity and resourcefulness, Kylie Brûlé is growing a purposeful family business that imagines beautiful and useful products then brings them into the world.

Kylie dreams of things she wishes existed, that she would buy if they existed, then makes producing them her business all the while cultivating a community of people who sew.

KATM, aka Kylie and The Machine, products include Kylie’s bespoke labels for those wanting to identify and celebrate their handmade creations, and partner Coady’s kiln-fired pin bowls with magnetised base.

‘We make fun, quality, small things to add to the sew journey that creates the cherry on top. People know that if they buy from us, it is going to be good,’ Kylie said.

In permaculture terms, Kylie looks to the edges and there she nurtures and grows unique niche products with no plastic within sight.

Applying skills learned in administrative, retail and sales

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roles, it did not take Kylie long to garner 250 stockists for their products in 19 countries — the US, UK, NZ, Canada, Europe and Asia.

The business evolved through Kylie sewing her own dresses, with intention and to suit her personal style, using beautiful linen purchased from The Fabric Store. ‘I like to have a few things I love, and make more of them if I need too. The only things I buy are things I can’t make.’

Her customers are mostly youngish females who want something better than what fast fashion offers. They want ethical products but find ethicallymade organic fashion comes with an out-of-reach price tag. So they learn to make their own.

‘As well as the ethical motivation, the body positive movement is big in the sewing community with a lot of indie pattern companies offering templates with good instructions and sew-alongs.’

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Fashion Kylie fosters the art of sewing by sharing information, tips and sewing skills through social media and for those who living locally, she hosts a social sewing group in her studio on a Friday night, or a Saturday or Sunday, where people come to work together and be productive or to seek advice.

“I love that I can facilitate a local community around sewing, to meet people in real life rather than living in a virtual world.

As an entrepreneurial online business, KATM didn’t miss a beat during COVID disruption, instead picking up steam as grounded people dusted off their sewing machines and got busy.

“We also became involved with groups sewing masks for charity, creating and giving away special Handmade with By a Volunteer labels them to use on masks being provided to those in need,” Kylie said.

As the business grows and staff members keep the parcels flowing, Kylie is left to focus on product development. ‘I have so many ideas to pursue. I am not afraid to try things and hope people think they are as cool as I do, and for the most part they do.’

Kylie and Coady have three boys who are resilient, selfreliant and adaptable. They have an inter-generational living situation, being together with Kylie’s parents in two homes on one property in the Brisbane suburb of Morningside.

The boys have the run of their grandfather’s majestic garden and the family space includes a special mulberry tree.

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Health

the bloody truth

What they don’t teach you in high school health Rochelle Courtenay

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Katherine Maslen

More than 11 per cent of Australian women live with endometriosis.

For something so common, why do we know so little?

Words by Kirrily Schwarz

“I

t was debilitating, the pain. Probably two days out of every period, it would be so bad I’d have to miss work,” says Rochelle Courtenay. “When I was struggling to fall pregnant, I had exploratory surgery, and they found that I had endometriosis. I was 24 at the time; I’d been suffering for 10 years.”

The Brisbane woman, now 51, says she had no idea something was wrong.

“If I look back to being at high school, I had periods so severe I couldn’t get through one subject, one class, which was an hour and a half long, without bleeding through my pants,” she says. “I always had to wear a pad and a tampon together, but we never talked about it. I didn’t know that wasn’t normal.

I never had that conversation with my mother, never had education around periods at school.”

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. It’s a disorder in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other places, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even intestines.

It can cause severe pain and heavy periods, low levels of iron, intense discomfort during sex, as well as difficulty falling pregnant and infertility. It’s typically treated with surgery to

36 | Autumn 2022

Pictures Contributed remove the problematic tissue, and hormonal treatments such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) to help control bleeding.

“I sat there thinking enough is enough” Courtenay’s story is a happy one, in that she was eventually able to conceive. She’s a mother of two who also has one beautiful grandson with a granddaughter on the way. As Founder and Managing Director of charity Share the Dignity, which provides homeless women with sanitary items, she’s also now a champion of women’s issues. However, her journey through endometriosis has been long and complicated. The IUD changed her life by controlling the bleeding, but it didn’t stop the pain.

“I had a partial hysterectomy, where they took one ovary and my fallopian tubes,” she says. “But last year, I was having a meeting with Endometriosis Australia’s brand new CEO and a cyst burst, and it bled all over my dress and my undies, and I sat there thinking enough is enough. I went to the doctor and said I’m telling you, please take it out. So I had a full hysterectomy — they took it all out.”

Being thrown straight into menopause has been very intense.

There are hot flushes, mood swings, hormone-replacement therapy, and a whole lot of other issues Courtenay says no-one talks about.

“I thought it would be the end of my chapter of having to deal with being a woman,” she laughs. “But it propels you into another one. I’m relieved that I no longer have pain every month, I can wear white undies whenever I want, and for the first time my iron levels are great so my energy is back.”

“Some of them are rolling on the floor in pain” Endometriosis is very common, but it flies under the radar. Figures from Endometriosis Australia indicate that more than 11 per cent of Australian women — some 830,000 people — suffer from endometriosis at some point in their lives. Symptoms most commonly present in teenagers. However, it takes an average of seven years to get an official diagnosis after symptoms present.

Associate Professor Gino Pecoraro is a Brisbane-based obstetrician and gynaecologist who treats endometriosis. He says medicine has a long way to go but that he’s optimistic that new research and better education — both for the medical community and the public — will improve patient outcomes.

Dr Pecoraro says it can affect a wide range of age groups, from girls getting their periods for the first time to women struggling to start families, or coming off contraceptive pills after years or even decades and finding the hormones have masked symptoms. However, he says many of his patients have had their symptoms brushed off, even though “some of them are rolling on the floor in pain”.

“As a nation, we can and must do better,” he says. “If you’re having heavy or painful periods, or pain with sex, your doctor might recommend you try the pill. But if that’s making no difference, we need to let people know what you need to ask for a referral to a gynaecologist with an interest in treating endometriosis. There’s an epidemic of women suffering.

Periods are a normal part of life, but they shouldn’t knock you out from school or sport or work. We need to raise awareness about that.”

“Endometriosis is quite pervasive” There is still no cure for endometriosis, which means it needs to be managed over time. Treatments can require a whole team, to ensure the issue is managed holistically. It can include gynaecologists who remove endometrial growths and prescribe hormonal medications; physiotherapists who help with recovery and manage muscular pain; psychologists who help manage depression or anxiety that can occur as a result of chronic pain; and many more. More research is needed to find answers.

Katherine Maslen is a clinical naturopath who has been specialising in endometriosis patients for about 14 years.

She says there’s a lot that can be done to complement medical intervention, such as regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, managing stress, and improving diet and lifestyle. For example, research shows that cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale) can help the body metabolise oestrogen. Gluten-free diets can also reduce inflammation and pain. When you’re looking at someone’s overall health, changes like these can make positive differences.

“Endometriosis is quite pervasive and you do need to look at areas outside the obvious when it comes to managing symptoms,” she says. “Patients occasionally ask if they can pursue natural treatment options instead of having surgery — I put it this way. If I have a tumour in my arm, I’ll get it cut out and then start treatment to try and stop it from recurring. Endometriosis is the same.”

“We still don’t know how it starts” Jessica Taylor, President of Queensland’s endometriosis peak body QENDO, says it’s a three-phase issue. First, there’s a historical lack of education or understanding about this condition. Second, there’s a generational gap between families, where older Jessica Taylor women may have lived with undiagnosed endometriosis for decades and thought their symptoms were normal. Third, there has been a lack of political support when it comes to research and awareness — although there was good news on this front in 2018 when federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt introduced the National Action Plan for Endometriosis, a credit to the lobbying efforts of hundreds of thousands of women.

“We still don’t know how it starts, or why endometriosis does what it does,” she says. “There’s serious research going on, but it needs money to continue. There’s still no clinical pathway for a person with endometriosis who presents to emergency with pain or bleeding. You have to remember it was only a few decades ago that women’s pain was diagnosed as ‘hysteria’ — this is something our mothers and grandmothers had to deal with. We still have a long way to go to find answers.”

It’s important to understand that you know your body best.

Taylor says if something isn’t right, the most important thing is to start tracking symptoms. QENDO has a free app which can be used for this purpose and export a report if you need to see a doctor or present to an emergency department. She also recommends connecting with local endometriosis support groups and finding a community to help you through the process, which you can find on the website (www.qendo.org. au). The last thing is to get educated, she says, because you’ll be the one who needs to advocate for yourself.

“Too often we are forced to second-guess things about our health,” she says. “We need to stop that. No-one can tell you what you’re experiencing is correct or incorrect; it’s time to speak up.”

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Craft

The perfect craft for a rainy day Rainy days seem to be a double-edged sword — on one hand, perfect excuse to stay rugged up inside; on the other, the kids are going spare from being cooped up. Well, here is the perfect activity to keep both you and them occupied!

Words and Images by Jessica Kramer

T

hese cute bookmarks make the perfect little gift for friends and family and can be created from scraps of fabric and ribbon, making them wonderfully economical.

Depending on the age of your children, they can do most steps on their own — just make sure you’re around to do the final step with the iron.

Many thanks to Leesa from Toowoomba City Business Women’s Branch for the lovely pattern and idea.

The what…

Iron and ironing board Sharp scissors Pencil and black marker Paper Various fabrics Iron-on interfacing Ribbon

The how…

Use paper and a pencil to draft the dress pattern. Play around with different shapes and styles — the sky’s the limit!

38 | Autumn 2022

The finished pattern should be roughly 12cm tall.

Once you’re happy with the shape you have, trace over the lines with a black marker.

If you want to skip this step, we’ve included a pattern for you to photocopy and use over the page.

Cut out the paper pattern and choose the fabrics you want to use — you can use one fabric for both sides of the bookmark or complementing pieces for each side.

If using only one fabric, fold it in half with right sides together before pinning your pattern.

In total, you’ll need to cut out two fabric dress pieces and one out of iron-on interfacing.

Now pick the ribbon you want to use and cut to size. You’ll want it long enough that the ribbon will hang out of either end of a book when slotted into the pages, so about 25cm should be enough.

Sandwich your pieces together: first fabric dress, right side down; ribbon; iron-on interfacing; second fabric dress, right side up.

Gently iron your sandwiched pieces until they are fused together.

Voila! You can now use your pretty bookmark.

1

Collect your materials

Cut a matching iron-on interfacing and ribben to length.

5

Bring all the pieces together and seal with your iron.

2

6

Draw your pattern

3 Cut out your pattern and choose your fabric.

4

Make it easy... snip out or trace this pattern.

Pin your pattern.

2022 Autumn

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Craft

DIY pamper time Words by Jessica Kramer We could all do with some me-time — a good hour of childless pampering in the bathtub sounds like bliss! Maybe you could even start dropping hints to the kids for some DIY-ed supplies for Mother’s Day…

40 | Autumn 2022

W

Images Contributed

hether you make them yourself or get the little ones involved, creating your own bath time treats can be a mindfulness activity in itself. Getting your hands in natural ingredients that soften your skin, breathing in essential oil scents and dried flowers, taking the time to stir and pour — all of it can relax you.

Here are some fantastic recipes to get you started in do-ityourself beauty and pamper: bath milk and tea, bath bombs, and a few different beauty masks.

Bath bombs • 225g bicarb soda • 100g epsom salts • 100g citric acid • 100g cornflour • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil • Essential oils • Liquid food colouring (optional) • Dried flower petals or biodegradable glitter (optional) Mix your dry ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk until combined and with no clumps.

In a separate bowl, combine the oil with roughly 20-30 drops of essential oils and a few drops of food colouring, if using.

Make sure the colour is evenly distributed throughout the liquid before moving on to the next step.

For this step, it’s important to go really slow: gradually add the liquid to the dry ingredients, mixing between additions. If you add too much liquid at once, the ingredients will react to one another and start fizzing, which you don’t want happening until your finished bath bombs touch the bath water.

When you’ve combined the total of both bowls, the resulting mixture should just barely clump together, resembling damp sand. If the scent is too weak now, you can add a few more drops of essential oil, one at a time.

Time to form the bombs! If you have silicon molds around, great — pack the mixture firmly into each mold. If you don’t have any, simply use your hands to press the mixture into ball shapes of your desired bath bomb size — just ensure your hands are dry when doing so.

Let the bath bombs dry out for about a day, then pop them out of the molds and store in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them.

BATH BOMBS

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At-home masks Ah, the wonderful world of DIY facials!

Most of the ingredients for a variety of masks you’ll find in your pantry or fridge, and some end up smelling so yummy you’ll want to eat them.

For each recipe, combine the ingredients in a small bowl and use within half an hour.

Use your fingers or a spatula to apply the mixture on your face, avoiding the eyes and lips, then sit back and relax for 15-30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

AT-HOME MASKS

Oats and honey — to cleanse and moisturise • 3 tablespoons rolled oats • 2 tablespoons honey • 2 tablespoons plain organic yoghurt

Banana — for radiant and youthful skin • One mashed ripe banana • 3 tablespoons rice flour • 1 teaspoon honey

42 | Autumn 2022

Chocolate — to reduce oily skin and acne • 1 tablespoon cocoa • 1 tablespoon honey • A pinch of cinnamon

Coffee — to exfoliate and energise • 1 tablespoon coffee grounds • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or milk

BATH TEA

BATH MILK

Bath tea Yes, you read that right — bath tea. Thus far, this fabulous pamper option seems relatively obscure even though it is delightfully simple and surprisingly effective.

You can package your tea in organza bags, use muslin to bundle it up and tie off with string, recycle real tea bags, or go all-out and make your own bath-sized tea bags with cheesecloth.

Much like making a herbal tea infusion at home, bath tea can include a wide variety of dried herbs and florals. You can even add epsom salts or essential oils if you want to give it some extra ‘zing’, but it’s perfect all on its own.

For best results, steep the tea in the bath for 10-15 minutes before getting in the water.

Ingredient options • Lavender — relaxation; encouraging sleep • Rose petals and buds — smooth and soft skin; mood booster • Chamomile — anxiety relief; anti-inflammatory • Rolled oats — smooth and soft skin • Calendula — anti-inflammatory, soothing for skin • Peppermint leaves — cooling and invigorating; stress relief • Rolled oats — smooth and soft skin • Rosemary — anxiety relief; cleansing skin; fatigue and pain relief • Thyme — calming for irritated skin • Geranium — mood booster; soothing; detoxification for skin • Dehydrated orange slices — fresh and pure skin

Bath milk • Powdered full-cream milk • Essential oils (optional) • Epsom salts (optional) • Flower petals (optional) The tale is that Cleopatra bathed in milk every day to keep her skin soft and supple. Whether it’s true or not remains debated, but there is truth in the benefits of milk for your skin as it contains lactic acid, retinol, vitamins, fats and protein.

That being said, not everyone can afford to buy 300 litres of fresh cow’s milk to bathe in, or even a 3-litre bottle of the stuff to add to bath water. That’s where this easy DIY bath milk comes in, with a base of cheap-and-cheerful powdered milk.

You can simply add the powder plain to your bath water — roughly 4-6 cups do the trick — but it does have a tendency to smell a little funky. Pep it up with 3-5 drops of essential oil, and add to the luxury with flower petals (fresh if using immediately, dried if storing for later) and epsom salts. Combine your ingredients well and store in a jar or use right away.

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44 | Autumn 2022

Memories in a quilt There is something undeniably special about a quilt — that warm fuzzy feeling most of us get when we snuggle under one. What is it about stitched together scraps of fabric that hold so much sentiment?

Words by Bethany Roberts

I

once read a book that shed some light on the subject. The book was about a woman who recorded her life through quilts. She was married during the end of the American Civil War, shortly after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Her husband was serving in the army and they were often apart. While she was awaiting his return, she took the fabric of her wedding dress, the colours of the American flag and one of her husband’s old uniforms and carefully stitched together a quilt that captured that painful time in her life through every stitch. While I don’t know how accurate the story was — it was historical fiction after all — the sentiment of that recorded history stayed with me.

Your life doesn’t have to be as dramatic as hers was to stitch your past into a quilt. It can be anything, really: childhood memories; dreams that never came to pass; lessons you’ve learnt over the years. Or, if you’re like me, they can be hopes for the future. I think I only have one quilt that holds memories through the fabrics. Most of my quilts in their various states of completion have daydreams of the future attached to their stitches.

Quilts can also have memories from the times they were made. I have a brightly

Images Contributed

coloured appliqué quilt my mother made for me years ago. It’s quite faded now, some of the buttons are missing, the stitching is starting to fray; it’s got the wear and tear of time. And yet, despite how many years have passed, I still remember when my mother was making it: my father would steal it from her and make my sisters and I laugh as he pretended to be a superhero with the quilt as his cape, before Mum stole it back to sew on the next row of squares.

Quilting is an art for memorykeepers and memory-makers alike, and it’s something I think we should strive to make sure we never lose.

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If you’re up for becoming a quilter, the following steps will help you get started.

How to Make a Paper Pieced Quilt You will need: Scissors A cereal box Thread and Needle Scrap fabric Pins Step 1: To begin any quilt, first you need to decide on your pattern. Paper piecing is very versatile; as long as you have a shape you can comfortably cover with fabric, you’re set.

For this article I’ll show you how to make a Grandmother’s Garden. I was taught how to quilt with this design and the skills you’ll pick up here can be applied to almost any other geometric shape.

First you need a hexagon of a medium size (the specific size doesn’t really matter so long as all your pieces are the same size). Once you’ve found or drawn your shape, trace at least seven of the hexagons onto your flattened cardboard box — on the non-patterned side — then cut them out.

Note: Haberdashery and crafting stores such as Spotlight sell paper piecing in packets if you’d rather not make them yourself.

Step 2: Now that you have your pieces, it’s time to start covering them. To do this, select a piece of fabric and lay one paper piece on it. Pin the piece to the fabric, then cut the piece out, making sure to leave a generous border — about an inch.

Trust me when I say if you make the border too small you’ll want to throw the fabric across the room pretty quick when stitching.

Note: For this pattern you’ll need six hexagons of one colour and one hexagon of another colour.

Step 3: Now you need your needle and thread. Cut your thread fairly long, but don’t sweat it if you run out before your piece is covered as it’s easily fixed. Once you have knotted

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your thread and threaded your needle, it’s time to sew. Take your piece and fold the fabric over the edge of the cardboard.

Then, take your needle and thread and poke it through the fabric at the corner where the fabric is folded. Fold over the next side of the shape and repeat the process with your needle and thread. If you run out of thread before you finish covering your piece, simply knot the thread and continue with a new piece of thread, picking up where you left off. Repeat these steps with the other six pieces.

Step 4: Now that all seven pieces are covered in fabric, it’s time to assemble your first “flower”. Take the single coloured hexagon (your flower centre) and one “petal” and put them right sides together. Pick one side and sew the seam by pushing your needle and thread through both layers of fabric and pulling through. Then loop over the seam so your needle is back on the side you started at and repeat the process.

Once you have finished the seam, open out your pieces. Select another petal and repeat the process all the way around your flower centre till all six petals are attached.

Step 5: Now remove your centre. This will allow you to work the vertical seams. Right sides together, work your way around the flower, sewing the seams between the petals in the same way you worked the other seams. Take out the cardboard. Now you have your first flower!

Step 6: Repeat steps 1-5 for all the flowers you wish to make.

Once you have either gotten tired of making flowers or have the desired amount, you can start putting them together to create your quilt top. This can be a little tricky. I recommend searching on YouTube before you begin for some visual hints. What I do though, is lay out my flowers, fitting them together until I can see what seams need to be sewn in order for the quilt to sit flat. Once I’ve determined those seams, I carefully put right sides together and sew the seams, checking frequently that I’ve got the right seams.

Once you’ve completed steps 1-6 and the quilt is your desired size, you’re ready for a very wintery task: quilting.

Quilting Your Quilt You will need:

Quilting pins Quilting thread Needle Wadding Backing A quilting hoop

Quilting is very cathartic, and is great for the middle of winter as you really have to have it in your lap and that can get really toasty. If you want to save money on electric heating, it’s a great way to do it!

To begin quilting, first you need backing and wadding. In my home, that means a trip to Spotlight to pick out the fabric. We live with the belief that if you like the fabric it doesn’t matter if it matches the quilt, but that’s a personal decision. If you can’t get your hands on fabric, though, a sheet does the same job for significantly less money. Whatever you decide, once you’ve got your backing make sure it’s big enough for your quilt top (you may be forced to join a few pieces together — I almost always have to — but if you don’t, it’s a bonus).

Note: Wadding you can also get at a local haberdashery store like Spotlight or Lincraft. If you wait for a sale you can get a really big roll for a lot less than what you would normally pay and it lasts ages.

To prepare for quilting, find a flat surface: a dining table will usually serve just as well. Lay out your backing and make sure it’s as flat as possible. This avoids puckers in the backing later on, although you’ll probably still need to fiddle with the backing as you go. Once your backing is laid out, you need to add wadding to what is essentially a fabric sandwich. Smooth out the wadding and then add your quilt top. Now you need quilting pins. Quilting pins are quite specific. They’re like safety pins but bigger and they have a bend to them that makes them easier to use. With your quilting pins, pin down your quilt top at fairly evenly spaced intervals.

Note: You can remove pins later to help with getting rid of puckers if needed.

Now all that’s left to do is put your quilt on the hoop. Doing this really depends on the hoop you have. I use a small circular one that comes with two rings that I sandwich the quilt layers between, then tighten a nut at the top of the hoop till the quilt

is pulled just taught. Then I flip it over to see if there are any puckers. If there are, I pull and tug at the fabric till the backing is smooth. Now we’re ready to quilt.

The actual process of quilting is incredibly simple. You only need scissors, needle and sturdy thread, then it’s just a matter of doing a running stitch. Take your needle and thread that’s been knotted and take them under your hoop — oh, before we go any further, make sure your hoop is sitting comfortably, otherwise you’ll get an arm ache — now take your needle and poke it up through the quilt and pull it out the other side. Then go down and pull from underneath. Essentially your needle is “running” with your thread. Just repeat this around the first shape and so on till the whole quilt is complete.

Well that’s it; now you can make a paper pieced quilt!

However, this is by no means the end of the quilting journey — not at all! There are stacks of designs and techniques out there just waiting to be discovered. I certainly couldn’t write them all here or you’d have a book, but I encourage you to do some research and try out some other techniques. Debbie Mumm is a wonderful quilter who’s written a few books that would be very helpful if you’re interested.

I wish you happy quilting, Beth

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Garden

d e F r a e m h i t l i a es e F

Australasian Grebes

Words and pictures by Jill and Ian Brown of Birds Queensland

B

irds, like humans, have a wide variety of family structures.

Male Emus and Cassowaries take full responsibility for incubation and for raising chicks, leaving only the egg laying to females. Male Bowerbirds, on the other hand, spend their time tending their bowers but leave the females to build the nest, incubate the eggs and raise the chicks. The family behaviour of most bird species falls somewhere in between these extremes, with both parents sharing the tasks associated with family life: nest building, incubation, feeding nestlings then tending the young birds from when they fledge until they are self-sufficient, which for some species can be many months or even a year.

Many Australian birds do not breed on an annual cycle.

Some waterbirds breed only after major rain events, mysteriously heading west to the Channel Country and Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre) to arrive at the same time as the floods and begin the breeding cycle. Inland birds like Budgerigars breed after rain when grasses thrive and seeds are abundant.

Some species may not breed for years, waiting until conditions

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are right and their effort has the best chance of being rewarded.

Other species breed on an annual cycle, with late winter and early spring seeing a rush of breeding activity each year in those areas, often coastal, where seasons are a little more predictable.

Breeding takes an enormous amount of energy for birds.

Building nests, laying and incubating eggs and rearing chicks can deplete the reserves of the parents, so need to be undertaken as efficiently as possible. Many Australian birds are relatively long-lived, so do not need to breed annually to ensure their numbers are maintained. Global warming is placing a strain on many species, and they will need to adapt to ensure their survival.

Some nest photos have been included in this article. These were all taken in situations where the birds nested in a fairly public place and were used to human activity. Extreme care needs to be taken in observing and photographing nests since any disturbance may see the nest and even chicks abandoned

Australian Brushturkey

or may attract predators. We rarely photograph nests for these reasons.

Find out more about Birds Queensland by visiting www.birdsqueensland.org.au or visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BirdsQueensland.

Australasian Grebes This obliging Australasian Grebe family built their nest in the main lake at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane.

They were used to people walking along the waterside paths so our photography went largely unnoticed, as they addressed themselves to their family duties.

Australasian Grebes are among the most dedicated of all bird parents. They build their floating nests in still water, usually attached to vegetation. The nest is a damp platform of leaves and grasses where the four or five eggs are incubated by both parents for some three weeks. Once the chicks hatch, it is only a day or two before they slide down the sides of the nest and set off, already competent swimmers. The presence of Grebe chicks on a pond is usually evidenced by their shrill begging as they pursue their parents mercilessly for food.

Both parents are kept busy diving for small fish and insect

larvae, and even capture the occasional adult dragonfly to satisfy the apparently insatiable appetites of their chicks. The search for food is punctuated by short rests, initially on the nest and later on lily pads or floating vegetation. Both parents will attack anything they see as a threat to their chicks. We have seen them attack a Whistling Kite, launching themselves in the air on their short wings until they drove it off. We have also seen them attack passing ducks and moorhens, as well as eels, water dragons and even on one occasion a goanna!

This pair hatched four chicks and raised two, the others possibly falling victim to the large eels and water dragons which inhabit the lakes.

Australian Brushturkey This little Turkey chick was skulking in our inner-city yard, having recently dug its way out of a large mound of mulch and soil built by a male at the bottom of our garden, unfortunately incorporating a selection of our plants. A chick’s legs and flight feathers are well-developed when it hatches, allowing it to dig its way out of the mound and scuttle away, and even fly if necessary to escape danger. It forages for its own food and has no guidance from either parent. Males build and tend the mounds and stay near them, hoping to attract passing females.

Females choose a male, mate, then dig into the mound to lay

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Great Bowerbird an egg before wandering off to look for other opportunities.

Males maintain the mound, ensuring the internal temperature remains at about the 33 degrees needed to incubate the eggs.

They also defend the mound against threats, including goannas and even suburban gardeners. A mound may contain 50 eggs left by several females. Not all of these will have been fathered by the owner of the mound, since each egg is fertilised several days before it is laid. Neither parent plays any role in the lives of the chicks once they hatch.

Australian Brushturkeys can be found east of the Dividing Range in Queensland, usually in scrubby or forested country.

They are adapting to urban living and are now quite common in parts of Brisbane.

White-winged Chough People who spend time in rural Queensland will be familiar with these predominantly black crow-sized birds with their cranberry eyes and white wing panels which show only when the bird is in flight. They forage in groups on lawns and paddocks, occasionally clustering together for a characteristic group shuffle. They are related to Apostlebirds, which share their mud-nesting and gregarious habits.

Family flocks of five to ten birds cooperate to build a sturdy cup-shaped nest of mud and fibre. More than one female may lay in the nest, and the brood is raised by the group. There are three adults tending the chicks in the photo.

Choughs are so attracted to chicks that they will kidnap fledglings from other groups to increase the size of their group and provide more helpers. They lure fledglings with a specific display and reward them by preening and feeding them.

Choughs spend some seven months caring for their fledglings,

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so the new additions represent a sizeable investment.

White-winged Choughs occur in the south-eastern half of Queensland and are perhaps more common west of the Divide.

Great Bowerbird Great Bowerbirds have elegant understated grey plumage, though the male sports a stunning deep mauve-pink crest on the nape of his neck which he uses in his display. The small town of Mount Molloy in north Queensland is perhaps Great Bowerbird central, with bowers scattered throughout the town, attracting a steady stream of eager birdwatchers.

Male Great Bowerbirds tend to select grey and white decorations for their bowers, toning with their plumage. This one had an impressive collection of bleached snail shells, as well as a small spanner and a toy plane. Out of view, he had occasional mauve-pink items, perhaps to match his crest!

Males devote an enormous amount of time to building and maintaining their bowers, collecting decorative items and to the studied adjustment of their presentation. They are not above stealing items from other bowers. The sole purpose of the bower is to attract females. If a female is sufficiently impressed, she may mate with him in his bower. However, full responsibility for nest building, incubation of eggs and raising of chicks will fall to her, while he spends his time finessing his interior decorations.

Grey Goshawk It is rare to have an opportunity to observe raptors breeding, since their nests are usually high in trees and some species can be quite aggressive in defending the surrounding area.

On a short break in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, we stayed

White-winged Chough in a cottage perched on a ridge with a lovely view of creek and forest, and also of a Grey Goshawk nest.

Grey Goshawks are medium-sized raptors, either an elegant pale grey or pure white with yellow legs and bills and red eyes. The female is larger, at up to 55cm from bill to tail. They occur throughout coastal Queensland and just west of the Divide.

The birds were used to people in the cottage and ignored us. When we first saw the nest, the parents were still incubating. We made several subsequent trips to the cottage so we could watch the progress of the nesting pair. They hatched one white downy chick, which was delicately, almost tenderly, fed by both parents. The chick grew quickly and was soon snatching the food from its devoted parents and mantling over it as adult raptors do to protect their prey. Most of the time its parents were away hunting it was quiet, with perhaps an occasional peep. As soon as either parent came into view, the chick screeched and flapped its tiny wings until it was fed.

As the chick grew, it practiced flapping on the side of the nest and eventually began to make expeditions on its own around its nest tree, scrabbling and flapping along branches since it could not yet fly. If we were on the cottage veranda, it often came to our side of the tree and watched us closely. We clearly provided entertainment in the long hours it spent alone waiting for its next meal.

Whenever a parent returned with food, the chick was made to return to the nest to be fed which it did with unco-ordinated and heart-stopping haste.

The last day of our final visit, the chick fledged — a wild flapping flight to an adjacent tree, followed later by an equally terrifying flap back to the nest for food.

Hopefully its parents were successful in their final duty of teaching it the necessary Goshawk skills.

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AUTUMN EVENTS 2022 MARCH

2021

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY March 8 ST PATRICK’S DAY March 17 LINDSAY STIRLING IN CONCERT March 1 The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane She’s back! After three years, electric violinist, dancer and composer Lindsey Stirling will make her big return to Australia for four special shows in support of her latest studio album, Artemis. In the years following the release of her 2012 self-titled debut, the electronic music impresario has quietly and humbly become one of the 21st century’s most innovative stars by clinging to her groundbreaking vision of cinematic violin-driven electronic music.

JOHN PAUL YOUNG - 50 YEARS YOUNG TOUR March 3 Mackay Entertainment Convention Centre John Paul Young is one of the most iconic artists in Australian music’s history, with over 4 million worldwide album sales and numerous awards, which garnered him an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, John received an Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to charity and the music industry.

JPY 50 Years Young – The Anniversary Tour, will take you on that journey in songs and stories from Glasgow, Scotland to the shores of Australia and back around the world again, as John performs the songs that brought him national and international stardom.

MOOLOOLABA TRIATHLON March 11-13 Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast Mooloolaba Triathlon (Moo Tri) returns with a jampacked weekend of festival fun for the whole family.

Set in the home of triathlon and the ultimate holiday destination, Moo Tri offers four great races in one stunning beach town.​ The second largest triathlon in Australia, the iconic event will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022. The event provides a safe and welcoming environment for beginners while also drawing in competitive athletes to tackle the National Age Group Championships. Athletes not ready to compete in the Standard Distance Triathlon can halve the distance with the Sprint Triathlon.

Whether you’re new to triathlons or a pro, celebrate the sun, the sand and the surf on Mooloolaba’s stunning coastline.

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AUTUMN EVENTS 2022 THE MYSTERY OF THE VALKYRIE March 29 - April 7 QPAC, South Brisbane Witness one of the most legendary characters of literature and screen come to life on stage with this new highly-anticipated Australian work.

Journey back to 221B Baker Street with Holmes, Watson, Adler and Moriarty, as this fast-paced dramatic thriller explodes onto the Playhouse stage with extraordinary staging and projections. Written and directed by the extraordinary Michael Futcher, this epic play will have you on the edge of your seat until The Mystery of the Valkyrie is solved.

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FEAST OF THE SENSES March 24-27 Innisfail The Feast of the Senses is North Queensland’s premier tropical food event, showcasing the amazing variety of exotic tropical fruits, produce, seafood, and meats like no other festival in Australia.

Tropical produce is the hero of the festival, and over the four-day program, visitors will be able to see, touch, taste, and smell the excellent fruit and food that comes from this vibrant region. The program annually incorporates food events, farm trails, cooking competitions and culminates in a huge market day showcasing all the local produce.

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EASTER April 15-17 ANZAC DAY April 26 WOMEN WALK THE WORLD DAY April 29 ANH DO - THE HAPPIEST REFUGEE LIVE April 1 The Events Centre, Caloundra Anh Do’s bestselling book The Happiest Refugee has made readers laugh and cry, and was described by Russell Crowe as “the most surprising and inspiring read I have had in years.” Anh’s stage show takes it a step further, combining stand-up comedy with real-life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell his amazing story.

When one of Australia’s most talented comedians delves deep into his own life’s joys and sorrows, the result is an unforgettable night at the theatre that leaves an audience uplifted and quite simply experiencing… happiness.

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AUTUMN EVENTS 2022 GLADSTONE HARBOUR FESTIVAL April 14-17 Gladstone The 60th annual Gladstone Harbour Festival will be held at the picturesque GPC Marina Parklands. 2022’s program will be jam-packed with free main stage entertainment, novelty events, free kids activities, fireworks, marina markets, rides for the kids and much more.

SUNSHINE COAST KOKODA CHALLENGE April 23-24 Kenilworth, Sunshine Coast hinterland The Kokoda Challenge is coming to the Sunshine Coast for the very first time.

Held on ANZAC Day weekend, this hiking/trail running endurance event will commence with a commemorative service to honour Kokoda veterans and all of the other men and women in service. Through this event, you will also be raising funds for teens who participate in youth programs run by the Kokoda Youth Foundation.

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QCWA SUNDAY May 1 LABOUR DAY May 2

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BURDEKIN AUTO FESTIVAL April 23 - May 1 Ayr A three day event with up to 200 classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles on display including three onsite driving events, dancing, live entertainment and competitions. To keep up-to-date with event details as they are released, visit the Burdekin Cruisers Car Club Inc page on Facebook.

BARCALDINE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE FESTIVAL April 29 - May 2 Barcaldine The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Festival is Barcaldine’s largest event, both in terms of visitation and community participation. The festival showcases the community spirit and history of Barcaldine and Outback Queensland.

The Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge is a historical attraction that is known as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and influences the longest-running May Day Parade. Staged over the labour day long weekend, the four-day celebration showcases live entertainment, markets, horse and goat racing, Barcy RevFest, May Day parade and other special themed events.

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MOTHER’S DAY May 8 WOW CAIRNS FESTIVAL May 14-15 Cairns City Curated in partnership with local women in the community, WOW (Women of the World) Cairns will celebrate the achievements of women and girls living in the city and surrounding areas, while searching for solutions to on-going gender injustice. Beyond the inspiring stories from women and girls and their own personal journey in the popular WOW Bites sessions, the 2022 festival will feature a marketplace of local, women-led businesses and services, workshops and performances, and WOW-favourite speed mentoring.

CRAFTALIVE TOOWOOMBA May 19-22 Toowoomba City CraftAlive is in Toowoomba for four big days!

Featuring both local and interstate craft experts, the show is packed full of the latest craft supplies, kits and equipment. CraftAlive is a hands-on event, with a chance to learn from world-class specialists with interactive classes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Travel

A fabulous family-friendly getaway

BEACH VIEW OF LOW HEAD

While a typical tourist destination, there is more than meets the eye for families when visiting Tasmania.

Words and images by Jessica Kramer

“I

t’s tourist season,” the locals say each spring/summer, explaining away the influx of people in a normally quiet village.

In fact, if you find yourself in the state over the colder months — particularly July and August — you’ll notice a marked reduction in bodies around. Some relatives made the move south almost a decade ago, and will often tell tourists that during the ‘mud season’, Tasmanians prefer to stay in their own toasty, dry houses.

Spring and summer, however, are an entirely different story: the flowers and grasses bloom, the sun is out, there’s a lovely breeze tickling your skin, and it’s just warm enough for shorts without dying of heat. Autumn brings similar conditions, only the flowers are replaced by russet leaves and the evenings are brisk.

Between the great conditions, casual and friendly atmosphere, and all there is to see and explore, Tasmania is the ideal

getaway for a family. Here are some fantastic spots to visit during your next holiday.

Goat Island and Penguin Roughly ten minutes out of the town of Penguin, traveling east, is a craggy island reachable by foot at low tide.

Called Goat Island because the island’s formation apparently resembles that of a goat’s head (I can’t see it), you’ll want to allocate extra time for the crossing to look at all the incredible rock pools and wildlife within.

Once you’re on the island, it’s a child’s paradise with scrubby trails, a cave, two peaks, and an inlet ‘beach’ of rocks. The island itself isn’t very large — you could walk around the perimeter in about 10-15 minutes — so if your children are that bit older you can designate a time and place to meet, and let them go exploring while you relax with a picnic near the cave.

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RHODODENDRON GARDEN

Make sure everyone wears sturdy closed-in shoes as the rocks on and around the island can be sharp.

Afterwards, check out the picture-perfect township of Penguin (named after the Fairy Penguins who live there) with its picturesque beaches, giant penguin, and Doctor Who-themed public library.

Guide Falls and Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden Twenty minutes inland from Burnie, you’ll find yourself at the village of Ridgley which is home to the beautiful Guide Falls. With intriguing rock formations, two waterfall drops, lush greenery and the occasional wallaby to be spotted, Guide Falls is the perfect place for a family picnic or simply a walk.

Ten minutes back towards Burnie and you’ll find the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden.

Stereotypically, you wouldn’t expect a garden to be interesting for the kids but this one holds plenty to keep them occupied. There are about four different walks to choose from, each going through a variety of gardens planted to a specific area on the globe. Watch for platypus in the American-themed lake, step inside a traditional Japanese hut alongside a pond, and take a photo in the Chinese pavilion with its intricate painted designs.

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When you’ve finished exploring, enjoy a break and a snack at the on-site tea rooms.

Sheffield Known as the ‘town of murals’, the area of Sheffield has something for the kids and for the parents. Spend the morning down the road at Tasmazia — an amusement park featuring eight mazes and miniaturized quirky town — for the kids, and once they are nicely tuckered out the parents can spend some time admiring Sheffield’s murals and quirky stores — or swap the agenda around if you have patient children!

Low Head and George Town If it’s beaches you’re after, look no further than Low Head.

The mouth of the Tamar Estuary, deep golden sand and warm waters (for Tasmania, that is) make this a great location for a relaxed day. While not patrolled, the waters are relatively calm making the beach quite safe for supervised children.

Head back into George Town for some fish and chips to finish off the perfect day.

GUIDE FALLS

Beauty Point On the other bank of the Tamar sits Beauty Point, home to some fabulous views and exciting experiences for kids and parents alike: Seahorse World & Southern Ocean Aquarium and the Platypus House.

A working seahorse farm, Seahorse World holds regular tours throughout the day, going through the ‘Cave of the Seahorse’, the ‘Wonders of the Southern Ocean Aquarium’ and the farm itself as well as giving you the opportunity to hold a seahorse at the end.

Virtually next door, the Platypus House is home to Tasmanian platypuses and echidnas. They also hold regular tours throughout the day, where you can watch these creatures feeding and playing in their ponds and gardens.

Once you’re finished, grab a snack at the takeaway cafe or in the township of Beauty Point.

GOAT ISLAND

MAKE YOUR ESCAPE Situated in the heart of Rainbow Beach, the luxurious Plantation Resort at Rainbow is the ideal escape for large & active families.

Soak up the quiet beach town vibes, 4WD on deserted beaches, explore the sand blows and nature, or surf QLDs longest wave.

Finish each day in the comfort of our luxury 2 or 3 bed self contained units complete with private spa bath, bbq, roof terraces and communal heated pool.

For more information about the resort, including all the best rates & availability please call our friendly team on 07 5486 9600 or visit www.plantationresortatrainbow.com.au

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Travel

The wonders of

Tropical North Queensland

Head north to the country or the coast for excellent coffee, delicious dishes and fine wines, and let your taste buds do the travelling.

Words and images

by Tourism and Events Queensland

T

he bushfires from 2020 have left their mark, and COVID-19 has kept tourists away, but regional centres are unfurling and excited to be welcoming visitors again.

Tropical North Queensland has long been loved by foodies

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from all over, and with good reason. Plan your own trail to discover excellent cuisine, plus abundance of natural beauty and wildlife. And, while you’re feasting your senses, you’ll be giving a boost to the many locals who have been doing it tough.

Head up to Tropical North Queensland and learn about the tales and traditions of the Kuku Yalanji people, the Traditional Owners of the land. This immersive experience will take you from coast to rainforest. You’ll learn time-honoured hunting and gathering skills for bush tucker as well as walk along the riverbanks of Mossman Gorge.

For an unforgettable dining experience right on the beach, it’s hard to go past Tropical North Queensland standard bearer Nu Nu. A signature part of the Palm Cove experience, Nu Nu’s modern Australian menu includes dishes such as coal roasted green masala tiger prawns with curry leaf and yoghurt, and fried pork and green mango curry with mint, lemongrass and jasmine rice. Best of all, Nu Nu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a bar offering refreshing cocktails.

The stunning Cairns waterfront location is unmissable, and Ochre’s clever use of native Australian foods in modern dishes

Once your taste buds are sated, try out some of these newer experiences.

MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER ART The first underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere is now open in Townsville. Snorkel and dive tours to the submerged Coral Green House installation are now available with various local operators.

FLYNN Flynn, a stylish new hotel by Crystalbrook, is set on the Cairns Esplanade and has 311 rooms and suites, some with views of the Coral Sea. Flynn also features two swimming pools, a restaurant-cum-night market and a bar. The day spa will open in 2021.

DREAMTIME DIVE AND SNORKEL This Cairns company combines ancient stories with ecocertified underwater safaris. Access the expertise of a marine biologist and Aboriginal sea rangers to understand the reef’s ecosystem and its connection to indigenous culture.

will have you sharing rave reviews with your foodie friends.

An independent craft brewery in Tropical North Queensland, Hemingway’s has been making waves across the nation with its artisanal range of lagers and ales. The business has now also opened two expansive gastro brewpubs, in Cairns and Port Douglas, to cater to a thirsty and keen crowd of locals and visitors alike.

Escape to Cairns

Tropical North Queensland for a truly memorable holiday that won’t break your budget QCWA Holiday Units offers 1 and 2 Bedroom fully self-contained units catering for singles, couples and families — plus we have everything you need to make your Cairns holiday enjoyable and stress free.

Our Cairns Units are located just two blocks from the Cairns Esplanade and easy walking distance to the Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Business District.

Restaurants, entertainment and shops are just a stroll away.

Fully Air-Conditioned QCWA HOLIDAY UNITS, CAIRNS 258 Grafton Street, Cairns Phone: 0740 312 557 enquiries@qcwaholidayunits.com

www.qcwaholidayunits.com

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Travel

A Secret Paradise

Forget the Gold Coast or a long weekend in Noosa — this slice of paradise is often missed when venturing around the Sunshine State

Words by Vanessa Brown

W

Images by Tourism and Events Queensland

hen it comes to a holiday in Queensland, it’s easy to get swept up in all that the vast coastline has to offer.

From kicking back in Noosa, to island hopping around the Whitsundays, it’s no surprise holiday-makers around the world turn to our amazing state to find just that.

But as locals know, there are many a hidden gem in Queensland — such as the Scenic Rim. Set among the stunning scenery of lush rainforests and mountain ranges in an ancient volcanic caldera, this area is a hidden haven of nature, food and adventure.

Sitting just over an hour from Brisbane and two hours from the Gold Coast, the region is filled with quaint villages, luxury rural retreats, wineries, breweries and an abundance of local paddock-to-plate producers.

The Scenic Rim, with its streets of unique shops and markets, nature walks and dense rainforests, doesn’t normally struggle to attract visitors given it’s the home of the World Heritage Mount Barney National Park.

However, between the pandemic and 2020 bushfires, it’s a great place to support local with a weekend away full of nature, nurture and

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everything in-between.

As with most regional Australian communities, the Scenic Rim region is no stranger to a growing number of unique shopfronts and outdoor markets across the region.

Don’t miss My Country Escape in Canungra for bespoke gifts and homewares, or Duck Junction in Boonah followed by a stop into Lux and Gather at Tamborine Mountain for an array of books, skincare and furnishings.

Slip into Dandelions 3 which stocks a range of eco-friendly and sustainable products, or for a new addition to your wardrobe you will want to spend an hour or two at Outland Denim for racks of ethical fashion and premium denim products.

You’re on holidays right?

So loosen the belt and satisfy your sweet tooth by stocking up your Esky with some lollies at Granny Macs Confectionary Store. For the chocolate lover, you can’t go past Chocolates on Gallery Walk in Mount Tamborine for your sugar fix.

Surrounded by the World Heritage listed Mount Barney National Park, it’s no surprise that your time spent in the region will be primarily outdoors.

Start your roadtrip by

exploring the ancient Gondwana Rainforests at Lamington National Park. Walk among the treetops on O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk, strolling across nine suspension bridges which will give you an unrivalled view of the forest below.

Cool down in the Scenic Rim’s spectacular waterfalls, swimming holes, crystal clear creeks and stunning lakes — especially in the humid summer months.

For a nature experience like no other, pack your walking shoes and explore the Lost World Valley, a hidden canyon of forests, pastures, wild rivers and rock pools that offers bushwalking trails, scenic vistas and historical sites.

For a unique animal encounter, you can’t go past a visit to Australia’s largest camel farm, Summer Land, where you can get up close and selfie-personal with some of the 550 beauties, which are mostly wild rescues from Central Australia.

But let’s be honest, for most of us it’s where and what we eat that makes up some of the best memories of any holiday at home.

Queensland’s Scenic Rim is quickly becoming a foodie’s destination, offering visitors a variety of dining experiences from casual, relaxed eateries to five-star gourmet restaurants.

Nestled on 12,000 acres of bushland and residing within a historic barn, Homage Restaurant is leading the charge when it comes to paddock-to-plate fine dining. Part of the Spicers Retreats Collection, you’ll find Homage in Grandchester at the Spicers Hidden Vale retreat — the pinnacle of luxury within the region.

If all the walking has got you feeling parched, sit back and try seasonal beers at Scenic Rim Brewery or stop in at Tamborine Mountain Distillery to sample one of the 80 varieties of liqueurs, vodkas, and schnapps.

For a view like no other in the region, drop in to the Clifftop Dining Room at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge for epic views across the subtropical rainforest or enjoy Devonshire tea at its Lamington Teahouse.

But given you’re in one of the best rainforest regions in the country, and there’s even wineries nearby, finish your stay with a picnic and a bottle of semillon from O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards. You won’t be disappointed.

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AUTUMN READING

Books

Curl up with a cuppa under the crisp autumn leaves and enjoy a

good book

Words by Jessica Kramer, Kirrily Schwarz and Alyssa Welke — Images Contributed

Only a Monster VANESSA LEN

This debut novel is sure to set up author Vanessa Len for international success. Hard to review without spoilers, in a nutshell this book is time-travelling, high-stakes fun.

Joan Chang-Hunt is half-English and half-Chinese, as well as halfhuman and half-monster. She grows up relatively human, aware that her family on her mother’s side are monsters but not truly engaging with that part of her life. Until one day, as she’s waiting for her crush to arrive for their first date, everything changes.

Vanessa’s narrative style is descriptive without being over-thetop, so the reader can get swept away in the atmosphere without getting bogged down by flowery language.

The magic system and building of the monsters’ world is similar in this regard, though there are a few elements that remain underexplained. It depends on what kind of reader you are as to whether this will bother you or not — as for me, I found it just added to the mysterious plot and left space for the reader’s imagination.

Overall, Vanessa Len is a breakout author worth keeping your eye on.

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The Thursday Murder Club

RICHARD OSMAN

A classic whodunnit with a delightful twist. There’s nothing quite like sticking your nose into a murder mystery. But where most focus around a haunted detective or a sexy sleuth, Richard Osman wrote The Thursday Murder Club about four bored retirement village residents who meet once a week to trade theories about grisly crimes. They may be pushing 80, but they’re wily, with surprising skills.

This book is hilarious in the way only British writers seem to achieve. The story is told from the perspective of Joyce, a slightly scatty woman who bakes in an effort to flirt with her male co-residents.

It’s got all the twists and turns you’d expect from a rollicking crime novel, with very smart character development and the warmth of a crochet rug and a cup of tea.

Beasts of a Little Land JUHEA KIM

This historical fiction is an utter triumph of a debut novel. Set in the time surrounding the Korean independence movement, Beasts of a Little Land captures both the brutality and the beauty of humankind with aplomb.

The novel opens with a poor local hunter and widowed father of three on the brink of starvation on a hunting trip deep in the Korean mountains. Nursed back from death by a young Japanese officer — part of a party on their own hunting trip — the hunter later saves them from an attacking tiger, entwining the fates of himself and the officer.

It’s a gorgeous prologue, with descriptions transporting the reader to 1917 Korea and encouraging understanding of the peoples there in that time. Showcasing both beauty and brutality, it sets up the mood of the novel in an unforgettable way — which is essential, as this story will come back again and again, ever so subtly, throughout the book.

In the aftermath of this event, the remainder of the novel follows Jade, sold to a courtesan school in her youth, and JungHo, an orphan making a living on the streets of Seoul. The reader journeys with them from their youth to adulthood, the Korean independence movement to the unrest afterwards.

To say you will laugh and cry with the characters is no pithy insincere statement; Beasts of a Little Land is truly immersive and elegant.

The Last Station NICOLE ALEXANDER

Nicole Alexander is a name synonymous with roiling Australian dramas covering generations of pioneering families. The Last Station is her latest contribution to this genre – and it is a fascinating and captivating tale set in Western New South Wales.

In nineteenth-century New South Wales, the name Dalhunty stood for prosperity and prestige. The family’s vast station was home to more than 80 people, and each year their premium wool was shipped down the bustling Darling River to be sold in South Australia.

Yet, just decades later, Dalhunty Station is on the brink of ruin. Twentyyear-old Julian wants more from life than the crumbling station, but as the eldest son his future has been set since birth. Until the day his mother invites a streetwise young man from Sydney into their home.

The Last Station is a captivating

story of heritage, heartbreak and hope, set during the dying days of the riverboat trade along the Darling River.

Nicole Alexander has a near unparalleled ability to bring Australian heritage to life. She treats the characters, the landscape and the time period as equally important; all of them work in perfect harmony to create a rich story that pulls you in and keeps you in from beginning to end.

Beyond the End of the World

AMIE KAUFMAN AND MEAGAN SPOONER

Finishing off the duology that began with The Other Side of the Sky, Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner once again prove they are a ‘dream team’ of authors.

When we left main characters Nimh and North, Nimh and her enemy Inshara had been teleported to the world above, leaving North — whose home is actually said world above — down below. The sequel picks up roughly two weeks later, teasing the reader with sparse details of what happened in that time to begin with and filling in more comprehensively later.

We discover that Nimh has lost her memory while Inshara forges her identity to get in with the cloudland royal family. Meanwhile North tries to keep Nimh’s world intact while finding a way to bring her home. There are enemies in all corners and seemingly impossible odds, and the plot only gets more tense from there.

Like its predecessor, Beyond the End of the World includes lavish world-building and excellent pacing. Kaufman and Spooner somehow maintain that delicate balance between creating breakneck speed in the plot and exhausting the reader; instead there are tense, stressful moments and there are beautiful, more leisurely moments. A triumph of a conclusion to an excellent tale.

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League of Liars ASTRID SCHOLTE

After the resounding success of Four Dead Queens and The Vanishing Deep, Astrid Scholte is back with another hit. League of Liars promises to fill the gap of legal drama meets crime thriller in the Young Adult fiction market.

Set in a world where the use of magic — via power from shadows, called edem — is illegal, Cayder is determined to become a prosecutor to bring edem users to justice. Then he meets the three criminals he is set to defend under his apprenticeship with the leading public defender in the city, and everything gets turned upside down.

League of Liars is a rare book that doesn’t dumb down the legal/crime aspect for its younger readership, meaning adults can also get a lot of enjoyment out of this novel. It’s a twisty, dark and intriguing mystery with a unique magic system and morally-gray characters.

Rodham

CURTIS SITTENFELD What if Hillary hadn’t married Bill? American author Curtis Sittenfeld has carved a name for herself reimagining the lives of her nation’s political elite and Rodham is no exception. This explosive book focuses on the life of Hillary Rodham Clinton, faithfully retelling her story until the day she turned down a proposal from her boyfriend, a handsome and charismatic man on the cusp of his first political office.

That’s where fiction separates from fact, using true events as milestones to explore what Hillary’s story could have — and perhaps should have — been. It will have you flipping pages with one hand and scrolling through Wikipedia with the

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other, trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not. It’s sharp but compassionate, exploring the space women hold in society as they get older. Could Hillary Rodham have become America’s first female president?

The Last of the Apple Blossom MARY-LOU STEPHENS

Set in the aftermath of the 1967 Tasmanian bushfires, The Last of the Apple Blossom is some of Australian fiction at its best.

Following two incredible Aussie women who are filled with grit and determination, the debut novel takes place in Tasmania’s Huon Valley where schoolteacher Catherine arrives after the fires to find the family orchard destroyed and her brother gone.

Determined to rebuild, Catherine stays and soon makes friends with her neighbour, Annie Pearson, who has given birth to a longed-for daughter.

Annie and her husband Dave’s farm also had damage during the fires, and friend Mark pitches in to help after moving from Melbourne. Mark’s wife recently disappeared, leaving son Charlie with him, and Catherine finds herself becoming friends with both of them.

However, the growing relationship between Catherine and Mark scandalises their small town and threatens to reveal Annie’s closely guarded secret, and that’s before everything else starts going downhill — including the collapse of the apple industry.

With lush and heartfelt prose, indepth characters and relatable plot points, The Last of the Apple Blossom will keep you engaged until the last page.

Business

THE COUPLE WHO AVO CAN-DO SPIRIT

Avocados are a staple in many Australians’ diets and a heart health booster — however, have you ever considered what it’s like to have an avocado farm?

Words by Country Kitchens

Images Contributed

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A

vocados contain mostly healthy mono-unsaturated fats, which can help promote healthy cholesterol levels in the body.

While biologically a fruit, avocados fall under the vegetable food group, one of the five food groups in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. As you know, this is a food selection guide which visually represents the proportion of the five food groups recommended for consumption each day.

There are 10 varieties of avocado grown across Australia, with the majority (80%) being Hass or (17%) Shepard varieties.

Queensland is the lead grower of avocados, producing nearly 50% of Australia’s avocados!

Country Kitchens met avocado farmers Kanako, Mark and Peter Boothman, as part of QCWA Country Kitchen’s Meet a Farmer initiative.

Originally a dairy farm, the property has been in the family since 1982. Mark’s father Peter started a small avocado production years ago, with hopes to expand the operation.

This year the Boothman’s have planted over 700 new trees!

Kanako is a proud member of the QCWA Coomera branch.

“I joined the QCWA as my aunt, Mrs. Helen Boothman’s mother, Mrs. Mabel Ellen Siganto, was one of the founders of the Coomera branch, which started around 1954,” she said.

“I wanted to be a part of the legacy and became a member of Coomera branch myself.”

Having grown up in urban Japan, Kanako has become very passionate about farming, a passion her husband Mark shares. ”I love the freedom and seeing the wildlife every day, from wallabies to hares chasing each other, eagles and king parrots — just to name a few,” said Kanako.

Mark agrees.

“I spent a lot of my youth out here and always liked getting my hands dirty. Kanako, being married to me, has developed a passion for it,” he said.

“When we purchased the property, there were some mature trees in the bottom paddock and we planted the top paddock.

“You get to see your hard work come to fruition, from a sapling to a mature tree.”

While the joy the Boothmans have from farming shines through, it does experience its struggles. Avocados are notoriously difficult to grow and are extremely susceptible

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[LEFT TO RIGHT] KONAKO BOOTHMAN, MARK BOOTHMAN, PETER BOOTHMAN AND LINDSEY THYNNE to fungal diseases and changes in weather conditions.

Phytophthora cinnamomic is a soil-borne fungus that causes root rot in avocado trees. The trees require constant attention in their first two to three years of life and thorough planning before planting begins.

“There is a lot of planning before trees even go into the ground; mapping out where to plant the trees and checking water pressure. We also have to get the soil ready for planting, to help prevent fungal diseases,” Mark said.

“Once the tree mapping is sorted, we get the excavator in to do the initial digging, then finish digging the last bit of the hole by hand. From there, the trees get planted and the irrigation line is set up.

“We work really well together as a team throughout the process.”

It takes about two to three years for trees to start bearing fruit and four to five years for a strong production. The first two years are also when the trees require the most attention, needing consistent watering and monitoring for diseases.

Having just planted about 700 trees, the Boothmans are in for a busy year ahead.

While shoppers may be used to seeing Hass and Shepard

avocado varieties, the Boothmans primarily grow Fuerte avocados at their property.

“Fuerte is a premium avocado; it is extremely creamy and primarily goes to restaurants. You cannot usually find Fuerte in the markets, as they are too easily damaged to work well in supermarkets,” Mark explained.

Like most farmers, the Boothmans work long days, balancing building their farm with family and other work. As a Member of Parliament for Theodore, Mark has the unique position of being involved in both politics and agriculture. He believes both individuals and communities play a part in supporting farmers.

“One of the main things is when you are at the supermarket, buy Australian; there is a lot of diverse product from around the world and if you can choose Australian first, that helps.”

“It is also important to protect agricultural land. As suburbia spreads out, it is putting pressure on good soil country.

“For example, Redlands was a food bowl for southeast Queensland and is now all houses. We should focus on developing poor soil areas. Government and community can have a say in protecting farmland,” Mark said.

Finally, when asked about the best way to eat an avocado, the Boothmans keep it simple.

KANAKO BOOTHMAN IN FRONT OF NEWLY PLANTED AVOCADO TREES “Mashed on toast, there is no better way!”

If you are now craving avocados after reading about the Boothmans, head to the Country Kitchens website and try the avocado salsa and pita chips recipe: qcwacountrykitchens.com.au/recipe/avocado-salsa-andpita-chips/

NEW AVOCADO TREE PADDOCK

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History

23 November 1948 letter to Marie in Brisbane.

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Letters to Des 8 June 1949.

Letters uncover a country courtship

Marie & Des Booth.

Insights into the young life of Marie Booth (née Brosnan) have emerged through the discovery of letters she exchanged with her future fiancé in the late 1940s.

Jane Milburn shares the story of Marie, an active Country Women’s Association member and wife of Warwick Electorate MLA Des Booth who represented the area from 1977-1992.

Words by Jane Milburn

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treasure trove of letters carefully stored in an old velvetcovered box at the back of the highest cupboard in the family farmhouse at Swan Creek were discovered by Marie’s children when they were clearing it out after she died in 2010.

The letters reveal a social history of post-World War II country life and courtship. They sparked a family project that tells the story of Marie’s life and times in a piece of intimate theatre called My Dearest Marie that includes readings of the letters with music and slides depicting the people, places and social backdrop of 1948 and 1949.

Marie’s daughter Pauline always knew her mother was a great believer in family and local history because she kept photos, cards and objects dating back to the late 1800s as well as newspaper clippings and other documents.

“From time to time during our childhood Mum would take us on a family history tour of Warwick but she had never shared this exchange of letters with our father during their courtship.

The letters begin when Mum was a young woman of 18 and Dad was a 28-year-old returned soldier and farmer,” Pauline said.

Images Contributed “They cover a period when Mum was on extended holidays with aunts and uncles in Rosewood, Brisbane and Daymar in western Queensland and took us on a journey of discovery of our parent’s courtship, their farming life and the social life of the era.”

This was a time when letters were critical to connection and telephone calls were precious. People would sometimes queue for hours at the local Post Office to make ‘trunk’ calls connected by telephonists who everyone knew may well be listening in.

Pauline said the letters give a wonderful depiction of community life including gift evenings (which were prewedding gifting dances), church fundraisers, annual queen competitions and harvest time.

“We got a strong picture of Mum as a young communityminded woman active in the local tennis club, sewing and closely connected to family. We can almost hear and see our parents dancing at the local halls — the Gypsy Tap, the Pride of Erin and the Progressive Barn Dance.

“We can imagine our mother, a wide-eyed young woman

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Silver Jubilee of the formation of the Swan Creek CWA Branch with Marie centre back. experiencing life in the ‘big city’ of Brisbane for the first time: her first ‘night’ tennis with her Brisbane cousins; a trip down the river to Lone Pine; a visit to the Guild Theatre in Brisbane and ‘all modern dancing’ at Cloudland whilst assuring her ‘best boy’ (Dad) that her head was not being turned by any other men! We hear about significant events of the time such as the birth of Prince Charles in November 1948 (‘they’re writing it up like the birth of a racehorse foal’) and the coal strike of June 1949.

“The letters gave us a vivid picture of familiar farming themes: harvesting wheat and corn; waiting for rain; too much rain. We see the difference between the small mixed farms around Warwick and the large sheep properties out west around Daymar where Mum sees her first sheep being shorn, her first artesian bore and is shown ‘rock wells (little water holes) that Aboriginal people dug years ago to supply them with water on their journeys’.”

Importantly the letters provided an early glimpse of a young woman who loved her community, enjoyed her crafts, cared about her family and who would later embrace being a member of the Country Women’s Association.

Marie was the eldest of nine children and grew up in the small farming community of Junabee, near Warwick. She completed her scholarship (equivalent to Year 8) and attended Warwick’s Catholic Convent for a brief period. She married Des Booth in 1951 and they lived on the Booth family farm at Swan Creek, about three miles from Junabee. Des became the Queensland Government Member of Parliament for Warwick in 1977.

Like many women of her era, Marie embraced the traditional crafts. She applied dressmaking skills to making clothes and costumes for her children, was the sewing teacher at Jingarry State School and sewed for the annual Swan Creek St Patrick’s Day float. As a young girl she learned cake decorating at the Warwick Technical College.

She applied her cooking and organisational skills as an active member of CWA’s Swan Creek Branch and loved supporting

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and planning events with other members, taking her turn as Branch President and regularly attending state conferences.

“Mum was entrepreneurial and turned her cake decorating talent into a business. As a child, I can recall excited brides-tobe and their mothers (rarely the father) arriving at our farm to discuss the design of an engagement cake, a wedding cake, then christening cakes, 21st birthday cakes and perhaps a 25th wedding anniversary cake,” Pauline said.

“Every cake was precious to Mum and protected at all costs.

My sister tells the story of a bride-to-be who came to the farm to collect her wedding cake on a particularly wet day. She got bogged and because the cake was at risk of being damaged, Mum enlisted our neighbours to free the car while she guarded the cake.

“On many nights after dinner and the Rosary (a Catholic ritual), Mum would take up her position at the end of the table sculpting mazipan flowers — frangipanis, roses, green leaves or whatever had been requested by the customer. She would delicately complete the decorative bridging work on the cakes and then carefully place the sculpted flowers in position. Mum’s nightly ritual of flower making, was more like a meditation than work. Even the arrival of television could not distract her from this routine.”

Pauline said their mother was determined her children would have a good education and it was money earned from cake decorating that paid for her daughters’ senior high school boarding at Lourdes Hill in Brisbane. “We are all grateful for her sacrifice and the opportunities this education afforded us,” Pauline said.

As an independent woman, Marie moved her home business into Warwick and Marie’s Cake Decorating opened in January 1981 in Grafton Street where she continued producing beautiful cakes for many, taught others the art of cake icing and provided employment. For friends and family, it was a dropin centre and a place for planning and discussion including preparation for many CWA events!

As wife of the local MP, Marie was introduced to

Marie iced her cousin’s wedding cake in 1960 and the family still treasure the marzipan flowers from the top tier which have retained their shape and beautiful apricot colour 60 years on! Photo by David Owens.

parliamentary life. In a link back to the 1948 letters, Marie was to meet Prince Charles when he visited Brisbane with then wife Princess Diana and she found them to be ‘very relaxed, downto-earth people’.

Pauline said the family wanted to share Marie’s letters and developed My Dearest Marie as a reading and performance of the 15 letters between their parents in 1948 and 1949 as a way of thanking their Mum for lovingly preserving them.

“We realized that reading the letters aloud brought them to life and it was possible to hear the voices and turn of phrases of the time. They reveal Mum as a young woman and are an insight into the social history of post-World War II Queensland.

“We have shared the performance with family and friends, and intend sharing them with a wider audience so more people can experience the stories.”

Marie lived her final years at Akooramak, an aged care home in Warwick, where she continued to contribute to community by icing milestone cakes for residents and knitting garments and beanies for premature babies. She and her circle of friends called themselves ‘the CWA Ladies’. They played cards, shared stories and visited dementia patients.

Marie at Lone Pine c 1948.

Marie Booth (née Brosnan) born 4 May 1930 passed away on 31 August 2010. Hundreds attended her funeral at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Warwick to celebrate and remember Marie and the beautiful cakes she had decorated.

Marie and Des in their ‘going away’ outfits on their wedding day.

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History

Behold! The Great and Grand Rumpus A warning to all who enter these doors The brave who pass through Wobbly Tooth’s jaws Respect The Grumpus, yes that’s the name For when you enter this world, you’re never the same Through what is old, find a new state of mind So open your eyes, who knows what you’ll find?

— Exhibition poetry

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The Great and Grand Rumpus T

he Year 4 student had something to say.

She had spent the afternoon in a State Library of Queensland workshop, sketching and writing; letting her imagination run wild.

Her ideas, and those of her fellow students, were to form the basis of the library’s latest exhibition The Great and Grand Rumpus.

She told exhibition curator Daniel Flood about her battle with anxiety and how she found it difficult to speak up in class even when she knew she had things worth contributing.

The workshop had provided her with a safe space to explore her ideas and imagination through art and the written word. It was a transformative and confidence-building experience.

For Daniel, such stories illuminate the power and value of libraries and their creative approach to programming and community engagement.

“We know through art children can give voice to the way they experience the world. And to have your voice heard is a human right – which is very important to us at State Library,” he said.

“So often we ask children to respond to the creative practice of adults, so we wanted to flip that around and get adults to respond to the imagination of the child.”

The Great and Grand Rumpus is a fifteen-month community engagement project that culminated in an exhibition of imaginative sculptural, digital and immersive installations that

capture a sense of play and whimsy. Cows taller than giraffes, and one-eyed creatures that shoot laser beams are just some of the wacky cardboard creations on display for online and onsite visitors to enjoy.

After the classroom workshops were delivered, State Library took the illustrations, sculptures and poetry to the community and high school and tertiary-education students to reconceptualise them as large-scale cardboard sculptures.

“And that’s both an exercise in creative thinking and imaginative thinking as well as structural engineering. How do you make four metres of cardboard stand upright? How do you secure it and how do you make it look wonderful?”

“That is a long process involving many minds and clever hands.” Daniel said.

And the result is proving very popular with visitors.

“It is very mystical, colourful and imaginative and brings the virtual world to the real world.” Luca “It’s almost nostalgic … you start to remember the drawings and creative thoughts that you had as a kid.” Julianna “It was very cool seeing this big giant creature looking right at you.” Sophia “It’s a very unique and interesting exhibition and provides an insight into the way kids think.” Ellie For State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald AM, the exhibition demonstrates what is possible when creative minds get together to create something magical.

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“State Library is full of surprises and a haven for makers, creators and artists of any age, and I hope this exhibition inspires a sense of creative possibility in all Queenslanders.”

Curator Daniel Flood has found The Great and Grand Rumpus an immensely satisfying project.

“What I’m most proud of is that we’ve provided children, high school students, university students, the members of the community the chance to see their ideas and work reflected in a major cultural institution.”

“And I really can’t overstate how important that is for people to feel like they belong and that these places and spaces are theirs.”

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Fun exhibition facts • 53kg of hot glue used in the making of the exhibition • 2,000 sheets of cardboard • 300+ designers • 8,000+ workshop hours • 4 schools, 10 teachers and 219 students involved in the project which ran over 15 months • Participating schools: Woodridge State School, West End State School, Brisbane State High School and Brisbane South Secondary College

The Great and Grand Rumpus exhibition Until 18 April 2022 Open daily 10am–5pm Free entry slq Gallery, level 2 State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, South Bank slq.qld.gov.au #slqGreatGrandRumpus

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QCWA STATE PRESIDENT’S BLOG Sheila Campbell

W

hen I was asked to write this piece for my president’s blog in RUTH about our younger members, I realised that nowhere do we have the information stored with the details of our members’ ages, which got me thinking about how we encourage younger women to join our association.

I know in recent years we’ve had an influx of members joining that are recently retired or who are on the verge of retiring. Are there branches that have young mums and bubs attending their meetings; do we have members in the 18–35-year age group?

As we approach our Centenary, how do we encourage younger women to join QCWA? This is where Google came in handy: there are lots of articles telling you how to encourage a younger demographic to join volunteer organisations. One of the sites from the Queensland Government, Young People Volunteering: Removing the Barriers, made interesting reading. You can read the paper via www.qfcc.qld.gov.au

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Some facts I found, almost two thirds of all Twitter users are aged 18-34 and on average 1835 year-olds spend 1000 minutes on Facebook a month — so how do we encourage younger women to check out our QCWA Facebook page and get them involved in what we offer? We all know how QCWA has helped in our day-to-day life, the opportunities it has given us — whether it be our handcraft skills or our public speaking — Country Kitchens has certainly brought us to realise that a healthy lifestyle is within everyone’s reach with its five steps, but do any of us encourage members of the public to come along to our social activities? Do we offer them the opportunity to participate in our cooking, sewing, photography without being a member or do we insist they must join a branch to be able to participate in our activities.

Sheila Campbell State President

News from the branches The many QCWA branches around the state have been busy this quarter!

What has your branch been up to? Send your news to rutheditorial@news.com.au Words and Images Contributed

There’ll be a way around it By Oliver Shooter

Moggill ABC’s Landline celebrated their 30th anniversary this year with a special project — a quilt patched together from squares sent in from viewers all around the country! The QCWA Moggill branch was just one contributor of the ‘Life on the Land’ themed textile squares — pictured here with the finished project.

The pet sheep unsuspectingly grazed gently round the yard, ‘Twas shearing time on that long ago day, but Dad’s bad back would make it hard.

Mum was thinking of the wool and the eider-downs she’d fill, She’d tease it right on many a night, we’re using some of them still.

The day was fine and it was cool, Mum and Dad were at the ready, “We’ve got to work out what we need to keep the blighter steady.”

Two petrol drums were near at hand and Dad soon got a brainwave, “We’ll lift him up onto the drums for I can’t bend and my back we’ll save.”

They quickly rounded up the sheep, he came on stiff old pegs, Dad took the back and Mum the front, they grabbed him by the legs.

Then they both began to heave but found they couldn’t lift him “We’ll get the crowbar and lever him up, I reckon that’ll shift him.”

Mum went to get the crowbar, she was never one to shirk, Dad took the bar with eagerness and said, “This one will work.”

Dad soon changed his mind on that and started to get madder, “I know what we’ll do,” said he, “We’ll roll him up the ladder.”

Like earlier plans it was doomed to fail, the sheep just could not make it, Dad’s back was very painful and he thought he couldn’t take it.

But Dad was never beaten, his imagination forceful, He was nothing if not a genius when it came to being resourceful.

Dad began to scratch his head, his makin’ do came into play, He said, “Can anyone tell me why we need him up here anyway?”

The sheep was waiting patiently, Dad couldn’t bend to shear him.

So taking the shears in his hand, he just lay down near him.

Soon the fleece began to fly, you’d think Dad was a gun, A snip, snip here and a snip, snip there and soon the job was done.

So if you’ve got some task to do and impossible you’ve found it, “Don’t give up,” said my old Dad, “There’ll be a way around it.”

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2022 Autumn

| 77

N M Q U U T IZ U A

by Alice Williams

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Legally speaking, on which side of the road does one drive in Japan?

Alphabetically speaking, what are the first and last US states?

Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain all died at what age? (An extra point if you can name another) Where on the human body would you find the pate?

What large sea bird is also sometimes called a “gooney”?

Which element was named after scientist Albert Einstein?

What is the name of the fictional town from the television show Neighbours?

What is the square root of 169?

In Cold Chisel’s classic rock song “Khe Sanh” what is almost gone: the last plane or the last train?

On how many continents could you find rhinoceroses living in the wild?

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

ANSWERS

What is the indigenous name for our country’s largest salt lake?

Hurling is a much loved national sport in which country?

The world’s tallest building is found in which country? (An extra point if you can name the building) What was the name of the world’s first internet browser?

In geometry, which triangles have two sides of equal length?

In which Australian town or city would you find the big prawn?

And how many legs do prawns typically have?

What are the only two countries that begin - but do not also end - in the letter A?

Which Aussie boxer was nicknamed “the Marrickville Mauler”?

Which day of the week is the only one to have an anagram of its name?

1: The left. 2: Alabama and Wyoming. 3: Age 27. (Extra points for: Janis Joplin, Brian Jones or Robert Johnson). 4: Top of the head, or crown. 5: An albatross. 6: Einsteinium (Es). 7: Erinsborough. 8: Thirteen. 9: The last plane. 10: Two - Africa and Asia.

11: Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre). 12: Ireland. 13: Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 14: WorldWideWeb. 15: Isosceles.

16: Ballina, NSW. 17: Ten legs. 18: Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. 19: Jeff Fenech. 20: Monday (dynamo).

78 | Autumn 2022

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