QCWA Ruth magazine #34 - Autumn 2021

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CONTENTS Look What We Found FEATURE: 8 Going forward: one woman’s inspirational journey FOOD: 15 Fabulous autumn fare INSPIRING PEOPLE: 23 In love with the Lockyer FASHION: 26 Rising to resilience 28 Linen reborn for fresh adventures 32 We love…autumn goodies to warm up the house ART: 33 Art that fosters community 36 A creative life in surface design HOUSE & GARDEN: 40 Warm up your interior 42 Birds Queensland: Urban survivors TRAVEL & EVENTS: 48 Events for autumn 50 Deep in the heart of Queensland 54 The beautiful buildings of Ravenswood and Charters Towers BUSINESS: 56 Designer fashion with an emphasis on local BOOKS: 57 A life-long gift for little Queenslanders 60 Great autumn reads HISTORY: 61 Dangerous women of Queensland 65 The liberating riding habit COUNTRY WOMEN: 68 QCWA President’s Blog 69 From the Branches 70 Quiz with Roy O’Reilly 6

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PUBLISHED BY: Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd; 109 Neil Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s

Association (QCWA), 1st Floor, Ruth Fairfax House, 89-95 Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000.

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.

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ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brooke Gardner DESIGN: Jeff Brown COVER IMAGE: Florence Drummond EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: rutheditorial@news.com.au ADVERTISING ENQUIRES: 07 4690 9309 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 07 4690 9300 Visit iSubscribe.com.au or email direct to: ruthsubscribe@news.com.au

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2021 Autumn | 5

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND

special finds for autumn — and all year round

WHO WAS RUTH? Ruth Fairfax OBE was the founding president of the QCWA. She was also a founding member of the CWAA. Her work to address issues affecting country women was tireless — we are proud to name this magazine in her honour.

Capturing bush memories Bushwalk Candles capture the scents of the Australian bush — lemon myrtle, wattle, blue gum, finger lime, native mint, and more. These Queensland beeswax candles are handmade by Arabella and Bruce Lubbers from Montville. The essential oils and fragrances are sure to rekindle memories of bush walks and camping trips. www.bushwalkcandles.com.au

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GORGEOUS STATEMENT VASES

How beautiful are these cute vases? Pili Pala Pieces is based in Hobart, Tasmania, and hand-craft jewellery, homewares and leather accessories with local designs and materials. The vases in particular are made using sustainably-farmed Tasmanian oak and paintings inspired by Australian scenery. www.pilipalapieces.com.au

Traditional Turkish towels

Loom Towels came about after a chance encounter between the founder and the head weaver during a 2011 holiday in Turkey. Each towel is handcrafted on shuttle looms that have been handed down generations – some being over 100 years old — and can last for decades if cared for properly.

As well as towels, they make mats, bath robes, and blankets/throws. www.loomtowels.com

YOUNG TALENT Tiny Possum Designs is a creative outlet for 12-year-old Tara. Born in Longreach and now growing up on the Gold Coast, she experiments with different materials to create cow hide, geometric and tassel earrings, and hide keyrings.

Facebook@tinypossumdesigns

JEWELLERY WITH A TWIST

Funky lampshades This funky jewellery is designed and crafted by Luke Abbot in a style he describes as “an aesthetic form of biomimicry”. Made from metal, there are dragonflies, beetles of all shapes and sizes, moths, bees and more.

Based in Perth, Western Australia, these incredible lampshades are all made-to-order in owner Babi’s workshop. You can also find her fun designs on table lamps and floor lamps!

www.lukeabbot.com.au

Etsy: Hellobohoaus 2021 Autumn | 7

Feature

Florence Drummond

REACHING FORWARD

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March 2020 — IWIMRA in Lima, Peru with the DFAT and UNESCO team visiting traditional crafts.

Florence Drummond should be an inspiration to women and girls everywhere.

This is a woman who knows her own mind; she is in tune with her purpose and follows it with determination.

Words by Jessica Kramer

Images contributed

F

lorence’s career is in an industry traditionally dominated by men and with a significant lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people holding decision-making level positions.

Noticing this, Florence co-founded Indigenous Women in Mining and Resources Australia (IWIMRA) in 2017.

“As an operator in the mining industry in Weipa, I recognised there was a lack in the number of Indigenous people in decision-making levels in the industry,” Florence explains.

“I asked myself, why are we still at an operational level, and not in education or decision-making levels? For myself, there was an obvious lack of Indigenous representation support systems out there.”

Florence then created IWIMRA, alongside her sister who works in employment, to raise the profile of Indigenous women in the industry.

The organisation is membership-based, and aims to engage in conversation and overcome geographical barriers, with a key focus on identifying gaps in career progression and highlighting opportunities to improve outcomes for Indigenous women in the mining and resources industry.

“Having a seat at the table wasn’t available in the early days, but it’s slowly changing,” Florence says.

In attendance at UN CSW New York 2019

2021 Autumn | 11

Rio Tinto — winner of the ‘Best Company Indigenous Procurement Initiative Award’.

“It’s about getting Indigenous people involved higher up — “I had no idea what I wanted to do once I finished school, we’ve alleviated poverty by increasing employment and in an but everyone else was going to university so I went. I tried industry that pays good salaries, but now we’re pushing for several degrees but none felt right, so I worked in the progress into decision-making roles.” hospitality industry and events.

Mining companies being a form of the “I enjoyed working with people, but one engineering industry doesn’t make this day I realised how hard my parents had process any easier, seeing as it’s a maleworked to send me to a good school. They dominated field. put all of us eight kids through school and “Being a woman in mining can be isolating were often separated because my dad had on-site,” Florence recalls. to go away to other islands to work. And “I enjoyed it, but there’s definitely different waitressing was no longer enough.” clusters.

Florence saw the financial stability of “There’s also the danger of bringing your mining and moved to Weipa to work for Rio whole self to work because you’re different, Tinto. so there’s that tendency to go and just do the It was then that she came to realise there work and then come home, which amplifies was a gap to be filled to open dialogue the loneliness. between the industry and Aboriginal and Florence was nominee for QRC “Tier 1’s are pushing for there to be more Torres Strait Islander communities and to award — receiving runner up women higher up, and it’s changing; there’s make mining equal for all stakeholders. award in 2019. been a huge shift in engineering too but it’s “It’s a difficult industry to be part of still coming.” because it challenges our traditional way of life, and I thought Mining wasn’t a career Florence had her heart set on in her ‘surely this has been done’, but in talking to people I realised it early years — one could say it was more something that she hadn’t been. stumbled across.

“Mining is engrained and working in the industry has the “I was born and raised on Thursday Island as the eldest of benefit of us being able to stay in place on our country, and it eight children, then went to a regional community boarding often remains through the generations, but it’s important to school for my high school years. find the balance between it and our culture and relationship

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March 2020 — IWIMRA in Santiago, Chile with Australian Ambassador to Chile, Todd Mercer.

Women in Leadership Symposium Brisbane 2019.

with the land.”

Florence aims to close this gap with IWIMRA. “Now we’re learning to do it right; to be able to have discussions and influence decisions. It’s very dynamic and rewarding with many slow-moving parts.”

Another thing Florence has observed throughout her inspirational career, is how the majority of Indigenous Corporate Affairs, Indigenous Support Officer, and similar roles are not actually held by Indigenous people.

“Part of IWIMRA’s ten-year plan is to close this gap and ensure all industry Indigenous specific leadership roles are filled by Indigenous people.”

To do this and other aspects of her work with IWIMRA, Florence has found she needs to remove emotion from

decision-making and have a view which she shared with Ruth: “This is what’s happened, but what can we do differently going forward? What can we learn from it?”

Her views extend beyond her professional life and into her role within her large family.

“With seven siblings, I already have 16 nieces and nephews,” she explains.

“As the oldest in the family, I want to lead by example and break the mold of being in blue-collar jobs.

“My purpose right now is to be a role model to my nieces and nephews.”

Discover more about Indigenous Women in Mining and Resources Australia and Florence’s work by visiting www.iwimra.com

2021 Autumn | 13

We all want to learn Grandma’s famous cookies... ... or her famous carrot cake, or apple pie, or that slice you used to eat after school whenever you’d visit. We all know a recipe that is a part of our family. The right food - the right recipe — carries irreplacable memories. Why not learn how to cook those memories yourself?

THE QUEENSLAND COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

The QCWA has reprinted the original 1959 Cookery Book. With 180 pages of delicious recipes for you to try, you can learn the recipes that your family once made together.

The book? $19.95. The memories? Priceless.

Call 07 3236 6419 today to arrange your copy

Recipes from the original 1959 QCWA Cookery Book

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Fabulous autumn fare

From comforting casseroles to light and crunchy salads, Country Kitchens has you sorted for autumn with these delicious recipes.

Recipes contributed Pictures by Cathy Taylor Photographer

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Chicken and Vegetable Casserole Serves: 6 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Fruit and veggies: 2 serves per portion Ingredients:

60ml extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 2 chicken drumsticks 4 chicken thighs, diced 1 brown onion, diced 1 bay leaf 1 tablespoon rosemary sprigs Black pepper, to taste 100g bacon, diced 100ml white wine 300g baby mushrooms, sliced 6 small white potatoes, cubed 1 cup sweet potato, cubed 1 cup green peas, frozen

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Method HEAT half the oil and butter in pan over medium heat.

Add chicken thigh pieces and drumsticks and brown for 2 minutes.

ADD onion, bay leaf, rosemary and black pepper, stir well.

ADD bacon and cook for 2 minutes.

ADD white wine bringing to the boil, stir in mushrooms and cook for 30 minutes over low heat.

HEAT remaining oil in frypan and cook potato (white and sweet) for about 15 minutes until almost cooked.

TRANSFER potatoes to chicken dish adding peas and gently heat through for 5 minutes.

What’s great about it?

The combination of flavours makes for a perfect autumn dinner! The sweet potato adds a bit of extra fibre over using just regular white potatoes. This recipe would work well with green beans if you don’t have peas.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens Team

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

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

What’s great about it?

Legumes such as chickpeas count toward your vegetable intake but are also full of protein, making them a good meat substitute. Try adding chickpeas into your meals with recipes such as these classic corn fritters with a twist, the kids won’t even know they’re there!

Recipe Courtesy of Patsy Carrol, Chinchilla Branch

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Eggplant with Mexican Eggs Serves: 6 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes Fruit and veggies: 3½ serves per portion Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped ½ teaspoon chilli flakes 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 2 teaspoons ground cumin Black pepper, to season 1 large red capsicum, deseeded, finely chopped 1 large eggplant, chopped 1 large zucchini, chopped 400g kidney beans, drained, rinsed 400g diced tomatoes/fresh or canned 2 cups spinach ½ cup (125ml) water 6 eggs ½ cup coriander leaves 1 avocado, thinly sliced

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METHOD PREHEAT oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced).

HEAT oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, chilli, smoked paprika, cumin, and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened.

ADD capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, kidney beans, tomatoes and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until thickened.

ADD spinach. Spoon the mixture into six 1 cup-capacity ovenproof dishes (or one large dish). Make an indentation into each bean mixture and crack an egg into each.

BAKE for 15-18 minutes or until the egg is cooked to your liking. Serve with coriander, avocado, natural yoghurt, lime and wholemeal tortillas.

What’s great about it?

This recipe has more than half your daily serves of veg in just one meal. A wholesome start to your day if eating for breakfast. Any vegetable can be substituted in and use black or pinto beans for an authentic Mexican style.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens Team

Salmon and Tomato for Two Serves: 2 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Fruit and veggies: 3 serves per portion Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 20 cherry tomatoes, quartered 2 tablespoons raisins 1 teaspoon oregano ½ teaspoon pepper ½ teaspoon cumin 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 salmon fillets 1 cup brown rice, cooked according to packet directions 1 cup broccoli, steamed

Method PREHEAT oven to 180°C. HEAT oil in a pan over medium heat.

ADD onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.

ADD garlic and cook until fragrant.

ADD the chopped tomatoes, raisins, oregano, pepper, cumin and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

PLACE the fish into a greased medium sized casserole dish.

POUR the tomato mixture over the fish and bake uncovered in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

SERVE with brown rice and broccoli.

Recipe courtesy of Judy Fysh, Nelia Branch

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Spiced Pumpkin Muffins Serves: 12 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20-25 minutes Fruit and veggies: ½ serve per portion Ingredients

¾ cup self-raising flour ¾ cup wholemeal self-raising flour ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon mixed spice ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed ½ cup sultanas 1 egg ½ cup milk, reduced fat ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup pumpkin, mashed and cooled

Method PREHEAT oven to 180˚C and line a 12-muffin tin with paper liners.

SIFT flour and spices into a bowl stir in sugar and sultanas.

BEAT egg, milk and oil together.

ADD pumpkin to egg mixture and combine well with a whisk.

ADD the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well.

SPOON mixture into muffin tray and bake 20-25 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

What’s great about it?

These muffins are a great way to use up leftover mashed pumpkin. Spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, they make the perfect autumn treat!

Recipe courtesy of Beverly Milligan, Millaa Millaa Branch

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Satay Chicken Salad Serves: 4 Prep: 20 minutes + 1 hour marinating time Cook: 15 minutes

1 cup bean sprouts 4 spring onions, finely sliced 1 bunch coriander, leaves only Optional: 1 lime, cut into wedges, to serve Optional: 1/3 cup unsalted peanuts, to serve

Fruit and veggies: 1 serve per portion

Ingredients: Chicken

Method

500g chicken thigh, fat trimmed, cut into strips 1 tablespoon red curry paste 2 tablespoons soy sauce, reduced salt ½ teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon curry powder ¼ cup coconut milk, reduced fat 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Ingredients: Satay Sauce

½ lime, juiced 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce, reduced salt 1 tablespoon curry powder 3 tablespoons peanut butter 2/3 cup coconut milk, reduced fat

Ingredients: Salad

¼ red cabbage, shredded ¼ green cabbage, shredded 1 carrot, julienned 200g cherry tomatoes, halved

ADD the chicken, red curry paste, soy sauce, turmeric, curry powder, coconut milk and sesame oil into a medium bowl and mix until combined. Set aside to marinate for around an hour.

HEAT the vegetable oil in a fry pan over medium heat.

Add the marinated chicken and cook until cooked through, turning occasionally.

MIX the lime juice, honey, soy sauce, curry powder and peanut butter in a small bowl. Transfer to a small saucepan with the coconut milk and heat gently for 5 mins, stirring continually, until combined.

ADD the cabbage, carrot, tomatoes, bean sprouts, spring onions and half the coriander into a large bowl.

Toss to combine. Mix in half of the satay sauce until well combined.

ASSEMBLE by portioning the salad into bowls and placing the chicken on top. Pour over the remaining satay sauce and sprinkle with coriander and peanuts.

Serve with a wedge of lime.

Recipe courtesy Jemma McCutcheon, Country Kitchens Team

2021 Autumn | 21

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Inspiring people

In love with the Lockyer

What’s going on in the Lockyer Valley?

Yes, it’s always been a luscious “salad bowl”; one of Australia’s most productive farming regions. But something has changed and the Valley is buzzing with a whole new energy that is seriously catching on.

Ruth magazine caught up with Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Tanya Milligan, to find out more.

2021 Autumn | 23

Inspiring people

T

he Lockyer Valley is about an hour west of Brisbane. It’s made up of villages and small communities connected by country roads that either meander through the bush or open out into expansive fields of flowers and vegetables. It’s scenic, that’s for sure.

The region grows around 95 per cent of Australia’s winter vegetable crops and represents 10 per cent of Australian farmers and 40 per cent of Queensland farmers. Surrounded by fresh produce, it’s no wonder the region’s residents are bursting with energy!

Mayor of Lockyer Valley Region, Tanya Milligan, is no exception: she’s a local dynamo. Her stories of the characters, events and the wonders of her hometown are told with genuine enthusiasm and overwhelming pride. It’s what you want in a civic leader.

“People are in tune with how blessed we are to live in this region,” said Tanya. “We’re unique in that we’re in the country, close to Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba — but in just two hours you can be peeling prawns on a Gold Coast beach.

“There’s a lot of girl power here”

— Tanya Milligan

“When I was first elected to the former Laidley Shire Council in 2000 there were no women in leadership roles and now, here at Lockyer Valley Regional Council, we have fantastic women across the entire organisation — and they are making a difference. I don’t believe in gender quotas and these women got their jobs on merit.

We are attracting staff from interstate, people who want a ‘green change’ and we also have a lot of bright young people who have grown up in the district too. All our staff are passionate about this region, working here is not just a job — you are part of the community.”

Maybe it’s the “authenticity”?

We are living in the age of authenticity and consumers want to know the provenance of their food and according to Tanya Milligan the Lockyer Valley is open for business.

“We have some of Australia’s best and biggest food producers including Rugby Farms, Suttons Tomatoes, Mulgowie and Bauer’s and then we have the boutique producers like Awassi Cheesery, Col’s Figs, Wild Acres Flower Farms and so many more.

“When we go to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, city folk love to talk to a real farmer. They want to know where their food is grown and how it’s grown.”

When Tanya talks farming, she speaks from experience.

Her family was one of the first settlers in the region. Her great-great grandfather (on her mother’s side) came to the region from Germany in 1870 and settled at Hattonvale. She remembers her grandfather’s mechanics shop in Gatton and

24 | Autumn 2021

she remembers the family farm in Helidon.

“We grew pumpkins, tomatoes and cucumber,” she said.

“Us kids had to shift the irrigation pipes around the farm and I remember the squishy mud and how good it felt on bare feet.

I also remember that pumpkin vines are prickly and how my scratched legs would sting in the bath after a day on the farm.

“I moved around a bit after I left school, but I came back to raise my family here. Now my children have moved away but I’m hoping they’ll come back one day too – they like visiting and they always marvel at how things are changing.”

Good Leadership Starts at the Top Tanya worked for 18 years in disability support prior to becoming Mayor.

“For me, I enjoy the fact that I have an ability to make a difference to the region. I’m proud of my region and my

community,” she said. “But I want everyone, including our staff here, to be proud of where they live and work.”

Whatever the Reason — it’s Growing Word has certainly got out and the population predictions for the Lockyer Valley Region show an increase from 43 000 currently to around 64 000 in less than ten years. Aldi and Bunnings have already invested here, and property developers are busy creating more affordable homes in Plainland and Withcott.

The Real Reason — A Strong Resilient Community Tanya remembers where she was on 10 January 2011 when she watched the news and saw the flooding in Toowoomba.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on television! And then we were evacuated with around 100 others to the Laidley Depot and then choppered out in Black Hawks.

“We had to wait until it was safe to go back into town and sadly attended the funerals that followed that devasting event.

“I don’t think you ever get closure from something like that — but there’s a sense of peace with it now. We are all joined together by this forever.

“Everyone was affected in 2011 and then again in 2013 but we have a strong, connected community and a strong connected community can cope with anything.”

Images courtesy of Lockyer Valley Regional Council 2021 Autumn | 25

Textile Beat Opinion

Rising to resilience Disruption arising from the pandemic reminds us of the need to live thoughtfully in tune with nature.

Words by Jane Milburn

S

ewing arose as a survival skill during the COVID-19 pandemic when global supply chains fractured and locallymade cloth face masks became valuable personal protection equipment. Even New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made her own face covering to help stop the spread of the coronavirus when masks became mandatory on public transport during the Auckland breakout.

Around the globe, the accompanying stay-at-home orders meant the landscape of our lives changed overnight with days, weeks, sometimes months, of resurrecting DIY skills and making the best of what was at hand. For those not required at the front line, lockdown became a time of baking and gardening, sewing and mending, zooming and homeschooling. Online shopping boomed, but that’s another story.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson used a sewing

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Image by Robin McConchie analogy to describe his actions to prevent the virus spreading as ‘a stitch in time saves nine’, sparking University of British Columbia lecturer Mary Gale Smith to reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic brought the practical uses of sewing and craft into the news.

Writing on The Conversation, Ms Smith said the pandemic sewing rush saw many sewists and crafters dusting off their sewing machines or purchasing new ones to sew masks for themselves and others, for frontline workers or for sale. She said that sometimes, buried in stories of pandemic sewing, was a comment that at one time such skills were typically taught in schools.

The practical home-based DIY skills and activities we rediscovered during lockdown proved to be not only useful, there are ecological and wellbeing benefits too.

The old stitch in time proverb sits alongside ‘mend and make do’, and ‘waste not want not’ as contemporary calls to action at this time of relative excess in a similar way that they did in response to scarcity during wartime and the Great Depression.

This is relevant because planetary health experts have labelled the pandemic as a wake-up call. People such as my brother Professor Anthony Capon, director of Monash Sustainable Development Institute, warn that the pandemic is a crisis of our own making and intrinsically linked to the climate and biodiversity crises.

Prof Capon says each crises arises from our seeming unwillingness to respect the interdependence between ourselves, other animal species and the natural world more generally.

In March last year on The Conversation, he and colleagues wrote that climate change is undermining human health in profound ways. It is a risk multiplier, exacerbating our vulnerability to a range of health threats.

They wrote: ‘The current COVID-19 pandemic is yet another warning shot of the consequences of ignoring these connections. If we are to constrain the emergence of new infections and future pandemics, we simply must cease our exploitation and degradation of the natural world, and urgently cut our carbon emissions.’

‘Controlling the pandemic appropriately focuses on mobilising human and financial resources to provide health care for patients and prevent human to human transmission.

But it’s important we also invest in tackling the underlying causes of the problem through biodiversity conservation and stabilising the climate. This will help avoid the transmission of diseases from animals to humans in the first place.’

We know our health depends on healthy ecosystems and we need governments to step up to ensure public policies and development projects do not further compromise the natural world.

Concurrently, as individual stewards of the Earth with free will and capacity to make a difference, we can all create change for good.

These ecological crises are interconnected with our everyday choices and actions in what we eat, what we wear and how we live.

One troubling aspect of what we wear continues to be the sheer volume of clothing we purchase. Its impact on the environment is likely worsening despite brands touting sustainability credentials and offering gimmicky takeback solutions.

In December 2020, a House of Representatives report From Rubbish to Resources: Building a Circular Economy by the Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources reflected

figures that I originally sourced and published on my Textile Beat website back in 2016.

They reported what I have been saying for some time: Each year, the average Australian purchases 27kg of clothing and disposes of 23kg to landfill, and that textile waste has the lowest recovery rate of all waste types with 87.5 per cent going to landfill.

Our current clothing consumption is unsustainable and we can all taken sensible actions (think, natural, quality, local, few, care, make, revive, adapt and salvage) as outlined in 2015 in my Slow Clothing Manifesto. We can buy fewer clothes and wear them for longer. We can buy preloved, avoid synthetic fibres, wash clothes only when necessary, and act creatively in what happens to clothes when we no longer need them.

I believe in the power of adaptation in the natural world as well as our own ability to adapt clothes, behaviours and outcomes. This is what rising to resilience is about. It is our ability to recover from difficult circumstances, to find creative and resourceful ways to navigate change so it does not overwhelm us.

When the global pandemic deferred my Churchill Fellowship study tour, I adapted by initiating a Virtual Churchill and doing a Permaculture Design Course both of which affirmed my focus on natural fibres, self-reliance and regeneration.

Permaculture was developed in the 1970s by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren and the principles of using slow and sustainable solutions, valuing renewable resources and services, applying self-regulation, creatively responding to change and producing no waste are particularly relevant at this time. We need to be always adapting and evolving, choosing ethical and mindful ways of living in a climate-changing world.

This builds on the 1960s pioneering environmental work by Rachel Carson in Silent Spring when she called on humans to act responsibly, carefully and as stewards of the living earth.

Ms Carson identified human hubris and financial self-interest as the crux of the problem and called upon us to master ourselves and our appetites to live in harmony with nature.

2021 Autumn | 27

Fashion

Linen reborn for fresh adventures Classic vintage table linen carrying the history of domestic life has been elevated to goddess status by Sunshine Coast textile artist Cee VanderAa.

Words by Jane Milburn Images contributed

28 | Autumn 2021

O

nce upon a time, beautiful hand-embroidered linen was collected in glory boxes by young women hopeful of marrying well and using cloth to adorn family tables on special occasions. Women keen to express creativity or use handiwork skills might sit and stitch for days, nights, perhaps seasons. The cloths were graciously unfurled over tables across Australia as families sat and shared moments in time, enjoying food and conversation when the pace of life was slower.

Tablecloths fell out of vogue with the feminist movement, as women left the home to pursue careers, not wanting to be confined, or defined, by symbols of domesticity. These beautiful pieces of cloth, some passed down through generations, were stashed in cupboards and often only liberated when delivered to the op shop during spring cleans or summer clear outs.

Textile artist Cee VanderAa heard about an opshop with a magnificent stash of tablecloths over conversation at her weekly Sewlicious get together. Like-minded women had been gathering at her Coolum Beach warehouse-studio-home for weekly stitch gatherings for some time. At these gatherings Cee brewed rooibos leaf tea in her mother’s gold and cream vintage teapot and served tea to her friends in small gold teacups and saucers with a variety of milk in gold and cream matching jugs. There was no tablecloth in sight, just a modern granite table top.

Cee’s ears pricked up at the talk of exquisite vintage linen because she is known as the ‘linen lady’ in some circles and

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Fashion

began planning an excursion to said op shop the very next day with thoughts of transforming the table linen into a slow clothing collection.

“The new day couldn’t come quick enough. I was out of bed at 5am and waiting in anticipation of new discoveries at the op shop at 8.55am before it opened at 9am, hoping and wishing the tablecloths had not all been sold because I knew they would influence my next creative adventure,” Cee said.

“And there they were, dozens of beautiful, embroidered linen tablecloths, doilies and tea towels.

One after the other I pulled them from shelves, displays and hangers. Smiling like a Cheshire cat from one of Lewis Carrols’ Alice in Wonderland adventures because that’s where I was, in linen wonderland!”

“Shop assistants buzzed around me with expectation of a huge sale. Not for one minute did I stop and look at the prices, I was so caught up in the moment of discovery of linen heaven, and even when I was told the total price I tried my best not to look shocked and did not hesitate to pay.

“I sat in my car, which was parked out the front, with the mother-load of linen all around me, smiling, excited and thinking ‘what have I just impulsively done?’ I spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars, that’s what! I justified my spending by saying to myself ‘it’s all good, it’s for my next ART project,’ and happy with that justification, back to my studio I went. The adventure from inception to execution was just 17 hours.”

Cee is an inveterate textile artist who designs and makes art everywhere she goes. Some of her most outlandish creative destinations include at sea on prawn trawlers and in a caravan while travelling Australia. Cee was the band manager for her sons Levi and Aaron, the brothers who make up the band VanderAa, for whom she makes awesome stage costumes from barramundi, croc, snake, cow, roo, toad skins and denim.

Although naturally creative, Cee formally studied visual art and graduated with a BVA Hons aged in her early 40s, which added depth and understanding to her designing, interpreting and creating.

30 | Autumn 2021

The body of work she created from $659 worth of vintage tablecloths bought from Lifeline Cooroy became an exhibition of Goddess Aprons and Pinnys in the Noosa Open Studio days in October 2020.

Her artist statement said: This body of work represents the empowerment of the feminine, looking back at our history where women’s role was limited to serving a paternal system.

Our progression through feminine into a strong feminist standing and to now where we are bringing it back to more of a balance between feminine and masculine energy, and being fluid between domestic roles.

To each apron, Cee added surface design inspired by articles including “How to be a good housewife” and retro vintage house-wifely images to demonstrate how we have broken free from traditional programming into a place of self-expression.

The Goddess Aprons become symbols of the transfer of

Fashion

beautiful creative textiles and energy from one phase of history forward into wearable art in 2020, enhanced and empowered by a contemporary new story.

Reflective of her impulsive yet rewarding purchase of vintage textiles which she transformed into art, Cee’s own backstory is one of risk-taking and change, being adaptive and creative and prepared to be different.

“My childhood upbringing was in Kimba, South Australia, where my family owned the local furniture store. They recognised the value of individual spirit and remembering people’s names was a really valuable lesson I learnt at a young age.

“But adventure is in my DNA and I arrived in Darwin as a teenager where I would meet the love of my life, my husband Leonard. Together we embarked on a whole new level of exciting adventures; adding two sons has been a highlight. The boys grew up in a very arty house and we recognised their creative spirit at a young age. 2010/11 was spent planning an Australian family tour with our talented musician sons with no deadline planned. I applied my creativity and became their band manager, costume designer, PR and booking agent.

“We are really proud of our resourceful boys, the part they have with the conscious leaders group and leading change on the Sunshine Coast. Eight years we toured Australia and it has been fabulous to see them working hard through leadership and running Secret Garden Music Experiences with a carbon neutral footprint.”

At Noosa Open Studios, Cee’s Goddess Aprons sold like hot cakes with many of the clients falling in love with the groovy contemporary pieces evolved from beautiful yet somewhat unconventional humble beginnings.

“I thoroughly enjoyed this upcycling adventure, redesigning these tablecloths and embellishing them with stitched text and appliqué, weaving them into a new life form, a new purpose to be worn and treasured by a new generation of domestic goddesses.”

What happens next? Stay tuned for Cee’s next creative adventure using her mother’s vintage 1970s clothes juxtaposed with original photographic textiles. www.facebook.com/ceeartdesign www.instagram.com/ceeartdesign_

2021 Autumn | 31

We Love...

…autumn goodies to warm up the house

A

utumn décor in your home can have double usage if you use produce. Shop at your local Farmer’s Market for a beautiful selection of fresh pumpkins and squash, apples, pears, and more. Then, when you’ve finished admiring them in a wicker basket on your coffee table, cook them up in a tasty dish — except the Indian corn, which isn’t edible but will last a long time if dried out properly.

Warm colours will give that autumn feel to any room, but include chunky throws and cord cushions and you’ll get added cosiness. Morgan & Finch also have these urns and wood candlesticks to add some natural textures, or if you prefer modern décor try these cute crackle apples and pears.

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Art

Art that...

...fosters community This incredible artwork was a team effort between Caragabal Public School, the Caragabal Progress Group, Weddin Landcare, and the local community in Caragabal. Its aim is to celebrate the unique bird life of the area and raise awareness of threatened species, but it also ended up being a fantastic way to create a sense of community and teamwork in the NSW town.

Words and images courtesy of Weddin Landcare and Eggpicnic

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his beautiful artwork is located along the Mid-Western Highway in the small, rural village of Caragabal in Central West NSW. Completed in 2020, it aims to celebrate the unique local bird life at Caragabal and raise awareness of local threatened species. There is a distinct change in the landscape, soil and vegetation from the east to the west of Caragabal, which creates a terrific diversity in the bird species seen there.

The Caragabal Bird Art Project was first envisioned by Cr Phillip Diprose, who was inspired by Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso — designers and birders who visit his nearby property to conduct bird surveys. When invited to speak to the children at Caragabal Public School, Cr Diprose decided to pitch his idea to local students. They loved it!

A partnership then formed between Caragabal Public School, the Caragabal Progress Group and Weddin Landcare to bring the project idea to life, with generous input from local community members and businesses.

The project was also proudly supported by Central West Local Land Services’ Resilient Communities Small Grants program. This funding is made available through the NSW Government. The landowner, Trevor McDonald, kindly allowed

the artwork to be displayed on his shed.

Primary students from Caragabal Public School researched the local bird species and then voted on which birds should be included on the artwork, based on pitch presentations given by the students to their classmates. The students were very engaged in this project, with some students even begging to work on “their birds” during lunchtime.

The artwork was designed by Eggpicnic, a Sydney-based design studio operated by Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso, which is devoted to wildlife conservation. Camila and Chris were incredibly supportive of this project, being one of the first of their major artworks outside of Sydney and the first artwork where the whole community had been involved.

They were also excited by the number and diversity of bird species the artwork would raise awareness of.

This wonderful, collaborative effort has resulted in an inspiring and meaningful flock in a location like no other, and 18 iconic and vulnerable birds now stand tall as the town’s local landmark, including the endangered Superb Parrot, starting much needed conversations.

2021 Autumn | 33

Art

CARAGABAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS RESEARCHED AND CHOSE THE BIRDS, BASED ON PITCH PRESENTATIONS.

The Birds The birds featured on the artwork are a great representation of the birds found at Caragabal. They include (from left to right on the previous page):

Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus The Cockatiel is a small member of the cockatoo family, mainly occurring in inland regions of Australia. It prefers open country, where it can forage on the ground for grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain. Cockatiels generally travel in large flocks and nest in hollows, in tall trees near water.

Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena Australia’s most widespread swallow, the Welcome Swallow, can be seen swooping and gliding with its forked tail in search of flying insects in almost any habitat. Swallows build mud nests, lined with feathers and fur, under shelter such as on the walls of buildings, often raising two broods in a season.

Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata The Australian Wood Duck has adapted to a range of modified habitats, such as farm dams. They form monogamous pairs and nest in tree hollows (sometimes even chimneys), often reusing the same site. These ducks prefer to forage for vegetation on land, only taking to open water when disturbed.

Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus

defended by all group members. Known for its pleasant carolling song and for its tendency to swoop, magpies are found wherever there is a combination of trees and adjacent open areas.

Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouths are nocturnal birds that feed at night on insects, worms, slugs and small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds. During the day, they perch on low tree branches, perfectly camouflaged as part of the tree. They occur in a range of habitats and nest in forked tree branches.

Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius These medium-sized, colourful parrots are found throughout south-eastern Australia in open woodlands, grasslands, farmlands and remnant bushland. Eastern Rosellas mate for life. The female prepares the nest, usually in a hollow in a eucalypt tree and incubates the eggs while the male regularly feeds her.

Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae In eastern Australia, the raucous cackle of the Kookaburra is an essential feature of the dawn chorus. They inhabit most areas where there are suitable trees and feed on insects, worms, crustaceans and small reptiles, mammals and frogs.

Pairing for life, the nest is a bare chamber, usually in a tree hollow.

Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala

Male Superb Fairy-wrens are often accompanied by a band of brown wrens - a mix of females and juvenile males. They are seen in most habitat types where suitable dense cover and low shrubs occur, feeding in groups on insects and other small arthropods. They build a dome-shaped, messy nest.

Noisy Miners are particularly pugnacious honeyeaters. They noisily defend their ‘patch’ of trees from other birds. This bold and curious bird lives in woodlands, open forests and has adapted to suburban environments. They feed mainly on nectar, fruits and insects and breed in small to large colonies.

Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen

Bush Stone-Curlew* Burhinus grallarius

Australian Magpies are common and conspicuous birds living in groups of up to 24 birds in territories that are actively

The Bush Stone-curlew is a mainly nocturnal, grounddwelling bird with a wide-ranging diet and a remarkable

34 | Autumn 2021

Art

CARAGABAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE THRILLED TO SEE THE BIRD ARTWORK COME TO LIFE

THE PROJECT PARTNERS AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING — Photo Central West Local Land Services courtship dance. At night, you may hear their eerie, highpitched wailing. Due to their ground-dwelling habit they are prone to predation and nest disturbance and are now endangered in NSW.

Red-Rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus Found across south-eastern Australia, the Red-Rumped Parrot inhabits open, grassy woodlands, cleared farmland and urban gardens. Flocks forage quietly on the ground for seeds and green tips, often with other parrots. With breeding habits similar to the Eastern Rosella, these parrots mate for life.

Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles Masked Lapwings are large, ground-dwelling birds that are also known as Spur-winged Plovers as they are armed with a yellow spur, used when diving at intruders during breeding season. They are found in a wide variety of open spaces, including urban settings, and feed on insects and earthworms.

Galah Eolophus roseicapilla The Galah is one of the most abundant and familiar of the Australian parrots, forming huge, noisy flocks which roost together at night and feed on ground seeds during the day.

Galahs flourish in farmlands, eating the seeds of cultivated crops. Galahs nest in tree hollows and form permanent pair bonds.

Diamond Firetail* Stagonopleura guttata The Diamond Firetail is a small bird found in open grassy habitats with scattered trees. Diamond Firetails often build their nests in prickly or dense shrubs or even at the base of a hawk’s nest. They hop along the ground eating ripe seeds and

insects. Loss of habitat has placed this species at threat.

Grey-crowned Babbler* Pomatostomus temporalis The Grey-crowned Babbler is a noisy and sociable bird, found in co-operative, territorial groups, which are often seen on the ground or in low trees foraging for invertebrates and seeds. The group builds two nests, one for roosting and one for brooding females. Loss of woodland habitat is a threat to this bird.

Superb Parrot* Polytelis swainsonii Each day, brightly coloured Superb Parrots fly, swiftly and gracefully, between their breeding habitat (deep hollows in large woodland or forest trees) and feeding habitats. They forage for seeds, fruits, nectar and flowers. Habitat loss is the main threat to this species; however, many are also struck by vehicles.

Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax With a wingspan up to 2.3m, the Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. Eagles can soar to altitudes up to 2,000m and can lift about 50% of their body weight, eating both live prey and carrion. They are monogamous and build a large stick nest in the tallest live or dead tree in their territory.

Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus Sacred Kingfishers seldom eat fish, mainly hunting small terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. The birds perch on a low branches then swoop down to grasp their prey and return to the perch to eat it. Sacred Kingfishers are only seen here in warmer months and are mainly solitary, pairing to breed. *Denotes a threatened species.

2021 Autumn | 35

A creative life in surface design Art

I have always had a love affair with pattern. Since my early years of watching my mother sew my clothes, I was fascinated by the repeat patterns that undulated across the fabric.

Words and images by Rachael King

36 | Autumn 2021

RACHAEL KING

2021 Autumn | 37

Art

1. Painting by hand the original Damask design elements.

3. Progress of initial diamond tile shape — placing elements.

2. Original art elements scanned, and being cleaned up in Photoshop.

4. Diamond tile shape with design elements copied and flipped to create the complete tile.

M

um owned a fabric shop which I worked in during my early 20s and it was during this time that I became quite determined to get my own designs onto fabric one day. That day would wait for another 20 years.

After years of researching how to get into the industry, it became apparent that I needed some graphic design skills. So at the tender age of 42, I enrolled in a diploma of Graphic Design at Brisbane TAFE and graduated with those skills and much more. I went on to complete an online course which specifically targeted getting you industry ready through the international ‘Make it in Design’ school. This was a game changer as it allowed me to not only develop my pattern creating skills to a commercial level, but I also found a community of like-minded individuals who supported me through my learning process and some are still friends today.

Once I created a portfolio of work, I got the attention of Australian textile agent Nerida Hansen, who represented me at the Surtex Trade show in New York in 2017. It was here that I secured my first licensing agreement with Spotlight, and officially started my career as a Surface Pattern Designer!

I have always loved to paint so my natural inclination is to start my work in watercolour. I paint many different ‘elements’ onto watercolour paper then scan them at 720ppi into my PC using my Epson Scanner. Once I have a good image, I tidy the artwork up in Adobe Photoshop by removing the surrounding

38 | Autumn 2021

white area and then the images are ready to be added to my library of elements to use in my design.

Next, I start to build my repeat. I use Photoshop because it allows me to maintain the beautiful tonality of watercolour throughout the design process. I create my design using a Diamond repeat method which means that the repeat will multiply out in a half drop formation and helps me to avoid obvious lines of colour when it is finalised. After much manipulation and adjusting of sizes, checking for gaps and flow, I arrive at the design I like. I am then able to select a ‘tile’ which must be a square or rectangle in area to work when it comes to printing. I save the tile and correct background and apply adjustments ready to be printed onto fabric or a surface.

I am now ready to upload the design to be printed onto meterage with Melbourne digital fabric printer Next State (nextstateprint.com). You can also find my patterns in their designer library and that way I earn a commission each time someone choses my designs to be printed up on a fabric base of their choosing. It is a great service to try! I also sell my designs through Spoonflower (spoonflower.com) who have been instrumental in building the ‘home designer’ market internationally through their digital fabric printing company.

I handmake teatowels, cushion covers, lampshades and have a range of greetings cards that I sell at markets. I can also get my prints applied to other surfaces through print-on-demand

5. Diamond tile shape graphics being fine-tuned to repeat.

7. Final design now printed on material, with an added coloured background.

6. Complete graphic design is now cropped to printable rectangle shape. portals such as Redbubble (redbubble.com). It is quite a thrill to see your artwork on an item that you see in your everyday life!

There are many places your surface design career can take you, including licensing your artwork out to companies and running your own label selling online and through markets. I recently released my book Pattern Pulse which showcases the artwork of 100 Australian Surface designs who work in fashion, homewares, stationery, illustration and interiors. It is the book I would have loved to read when I started out on my journey and it has been a great joy for me to work with and promote the talented artists that are featured within. I am now keen to share my knowledge and inspire young people to express themselves through their art, especially now that digital technology has made getting your artwork out into the world so much easier.

8. An eye-catching end product: a colourful tote bag.

For more of Rachael’s designs, search @rachaeldoesdesign on Instagram or visit www.rachaelkingdesigns.com.au.

To discover more about the book Pattern Pulse, search @ australiansurfacedesigners on Instagram or visit www.patternpulse.com.au

2021 Autumn | 39

House

Warm up your interior design with these winter trends

furnishings such as rugs or curtains to keep the cold at bay.

Standout feature units

W

ith winter upon us, it’s no surprise we tend to retreat indoors and create a safe and cosy haven. The kitchen is the hub of the home, so it’s important that it doesn’t get left out during your hibernation transformation.

We’ve rounded up the latest trends to warm up your kitchen space this winter. Not only will they offer comfort to take the chill away, but they will also enhance your style, so you’re on point this season!

Read on to discover how to incorporate as much or as little as you want…

Grey as a texture Grey is an iconic and timeless kitchen colour; however, we’re talking about a new dynamic, textured shade.

This hue comes in the form of grey woods, stones, steels, concretes and aged metals. It offers a more energetic, vigorous finish to your kitchen space, rather than a flat, monotone look.

Embracing the wonders of the natural world, this colour collection offers a moody range of greys to suit industrial or glam style kitchen designs. Grains and textures such as washed concrete, metallic slate and smoked oak offer this on trend look, especially when paired with stainless steel units.

A mix of colours can bring this design to life such as rose reds, greens, blues, oaks and rich woods. Don’t forget you can accessorise with concrete coloured crockery or grey textured

40 | Autumn 2021

During get-togethers, we always need that extra space to serve up warming tipples or platters of food… we have the answer, a bespoke feature dresser that can act as an extra station when you need more space!

Designed with plate racks, deep cupboards or feature glass shelving it’s not only practical to house everything you need, but it also creates a real focal area in your kitchen.

On trend are metal framed units with textured glass coloured in a contrasting shade so it stands out from your other units.

Lights in the cabinetry create a cosy atmosphere, so it’s perfect for when you wake up in the mornings and can’t bear the bright lights or are winding down of an evening.

Keeping it clean Now more than ever, it’s important to keep those bugs at bay and the kitchen is an essential space to keep sleek and clean.

As worktops make up a large proportion of your kitchen space, it’s important to get it right. Non-porous designs create a hygienic surface and quartz is not only bang on trend, but it’s extremely dense and compact so it inhibits the growth of bacteria or its transfer on to foods and objects.

Sleek, handle-less kitchen designs which offer a sense of minimalism are easier to clean. Without compromising on style, these clean-faced beauties make housework effortless… there’s no need to clean around grooves and handles, as with one clean swoop you’re done!

Integrated appliances such as induction hobs and hidden extractors not only create a sleek look but are also much easier to clean as the flush design means you can wipe them down as easy as your worktop.

Don’t forget to create a dedicated area in your kitchen or utility to store your cleaning essentials.

Hot water on demand As the chilly mornings and dark evenings bring a sense of urgency for warming brews, upgrading to a boiling hot water tap will be a life changer!

Not only are they more efficient in terms of energy, but they free up worktop space removing the need for a kettle and are perfect for saving precious time for those with busy lifestyles.

Leading brands offer stylish yet practical ranges which are child-safe too.

The new moody blue Classic blue was the colour of the year for 2020 and is still a very popular kitchen option, however we’re loving the new blue: it’s deeper and darker and more of a focus on deep teal colours.

Strong blues create a sense of grandeur and calm in any space, and this colour palette is especially suitable for kitchen

spaces as it offers a crisp and clean look.

Similar to green, blue works beautifully with a strong contrast of marbled quartz worktops and brass hardware such as taps and handles.

The bolder hues are perfect for classic kitchens, but we’re starting to see interesting mixes of blues with greys and concretes in industrial settings. Grey units are the perfect backdrop for deep blue walls or splashbacks, and for the ultimate look, add a rustic brick feature wall.

Finishing touches such as luxe velour or velvet furnishings will add that extra warmth in your space.

2021 Autumn | 41

Birds

URBAN SURVIVORS Words and Images by Jill and Ian Brown of Birds Queensland

RAINBOW LORIKEET

42 | Autumn 2021

Pic by Ken Griffiths (Thinkstock)

T

welve months ago, most of us thought of lockdown as happening mainly in prisons, or occasionally in schools or other institutions under imminent threat. Now it is a familiar part of life for many of us as we deal with a threat few could have foreseen. For birdwatchers, it has meant that for at least part of the past year we have been restricted to watching the birds in our own backyards. Longer trips brought with them the possibility of border closures and travel restrictions.

The past year has brought much fear, loss and sadness.

Enormous damage has been done to our environment, our economy and to people themselves. It has also been a very bad year for birds. Many millions of birds perished in the fires, and vast tracts of their habitat were lost. Drought forced many out of their preferred habitat in search of food and water.

Recent rain will have been as welcome to birds as to farmers, and many waterbirds will be breeding in the recently-filled lakes and swamps.

Many species of birds have suffered massive losses of habitat in Australia due not only to disasters such as the fires but due to our impact on the landscape. Clearing, cropping, altering river flows and draining swamps all change the environment.

While some changes may favour a small number of species, most species are disadvantaged and numbers may be reduced, some either to or approaching extinction.

Some birds, once present only in rural areas, have found ways to thrive in the cities. Parks are now home to the ubiquitous Australian White Ibis. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Little Corellas and Galahs are now common in cities. Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets are very at-home and have learned to feed on many introduced species of flowering trees. Noisy Miners and Blue-faced Honeyeaters have similarly adapted and live and breed successfully in the suburbs.

Several species of ducks, along with other waterbirds, can be found in urban streams and lakes and many breed successfully there.

Two large migratory cuckoo species, Pacific Koels (often

called storm birds) and Channel-billed Cuckoos, feed in towns and manage to find hosts to nurture their eggs and young.

Australian Brush Turkeys are common in many urban areas, as are Australian Magpies, Pied and Grey Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, to name a few.

Small numbers of raptors find a good living in town. We are occasionally visited by the local Brown Goshawk, and Southern Boobooks (owls) often breed nearby.

Many other bird species can be found in cities and towns throughout Queensland, having successfully adapted to environments which would once have been foreign to them.

If you would like further information about Birds Queensland, please visit our website www.birdsqueensland.org.au/ or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BirdsQueensland.

Rainbow Lorikeet Perhaps the most colourful bird in Queensland, the Rainbow Lorikeet is a nectar feeder. The proliferation of grevilleas, banksias, callistemons and other flowering shrubs and trees in the suburbs provides an ideal environment for them to live and breed. Like many other birds, Rainbow Lorikeets require tree hollows to nest, though may be persuaded to use nest boxes if these are appropriately designed and built. Small groups spend the heat of the day resting and murmuring among themselves before speeding off in squadrons in search of afternoon snacks. In the late afternoon, they sometimes congregate in large, noisy, boisterous flocks in our trees, often wrestling with each other and hanging precariously upside down. They too occupy most of our state except for the far west. Recently we saw huge flocks massing in the evening to roost along the Noosa River opposite the busy Noosaville restaurant and shopping strip, completely ignoring the people below walking their dogs or heading off for dinner.

2021 Autumn | 43

Birds

AUSTRALIAN WHITE IBIS

Australian White Ibis

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos

Australian White Ibises are distributed throughout Queensland. They have taken to urban living with a vengeance, earning them the rather disparaging title of ‘bin chickens’.

This one is feeding on soldier crabs on a bayside beach. They use their long bills to probe soil and mud for invertebrates and crustaceans. They are equally at home wandering the footpaths of Brisbane’s CBD, scavenging in the many cafes and checking bins for food scraps. Their long necks and bills allow them to forage deep in the bins and to pull out wrappers and packets in search of uneaten food, making them unpopular.

Birds do what they must to make a living! They are quite elegant if somewhat pre-historic looking birds. They breed in colonies in trees in or near swamps, even in urban areas. They can often be seen flying in v-formations as they move from one feeding ground to another.

We are visited by perhaps half a dozen Sulphur-crested Cockatoos about once a week. They arrive singly or in pairs, and one has learned to tap on our windows to attract our attention. Obviously, they have other food sources, though these may include neighbours as well as wild food! They are always quiet and polite and stay just long enough to eat the small amount of seed we give them. They are very tame though we have never attempted to touch them. In the past two or three decades, these spectacular birds have become very common in our inner suburb, and I have seen as many as sixty fly into the hills to their night-time roost. They need large tree hollows to breed and these only occur in mature trees, of which few are left in the suburbs. They may well nest in nearby bushland reserves. They are resident throughout Queensland except for the far south-west corner.

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SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS 2021 Autumn | 45

Birds

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LAUGHING KOOKABURRAS

Noisy Miner

Laughing Kookaburras

Noisy Miners are native honeyeaters and are common throughout most of Queensland except for the far west and Cape York. The similar Yellow-throated Miners extend to the far west and the two species co-exist throughout most of the State except for the south-east corner. They breed in our yard, and compete with the equally pugnacious and slightly larger Blue-faced Honeyeaters for the choicest treats, such as the inflorescences on some of our palms. They are entertaining to watch. They are very active, and forage vigorously, then suddenly group together and chatter, shaking their wings.

They are gregarious and inclined to drive away other smaller species, and for this reason are not universally popular.

They should not be confused with the Common Myna, a darker bird about the same size which was introduced to Australia and which is often seen strutting on the ground searching for insects.

We photographed these two very young Laughing Kookaburras in our back yard. Adult birds have much longer bills, and their lower mandible is cream, rather than dark.

Clearly, they breed somewhere nearby, probably in local bushland. They nest in tree hollows or drill holes into large termite nests in trees, weatherproof and secure from most predators. We seem to be on the boundary of two Kookaburra territories. A family group visits several times a day to call loudly from one of our gum trees, probably to warn that this is their territory and trespassers are not welcome. They make useful neighbours. We have seen them eat mice and even small rats, as well as their more usual diet of lizards and insects.

Laughing Kookaburras occur throughout Queensland except for the extreme west.

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AUTUMN EVENTS 2021 MARCH 2021 NOOSA EAT AND DRINK AUTUMN FARE March 12-14 Throughout the Noosa region

BEYOND THE SAND ARTS FESTIVAL March 13-21 Surfers Paradise

CURIOCITY BRISBANE March 12-28 Various areas in and around Brisbane centre

WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL BRISBANE March 24-28 South Brisbane

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48 | Autumn 2021

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AUTUMN EVENTS 2021 APRIL 2021 ROMA’S EASTER IN THE COUNTRY FESTIVAL April 1-5 Roma

GOOD FRIDAY April 2 EASTER SUNDAY April 4

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WINTON’S WAY OUT WEST FEST April 6-11 Throughout the Winton area

FEAST OF THE SENSES April 18 Innisfail and around the Cassowary Coast district

WEATHERING WELL – AN EVENING WITH ABC’S JENNY WOODWARD April 23

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Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

ANZAC DAY April 25

MAY 2021 LABOUR DAY May 3 HAMPTON FESTIVAL May 15-16 Hampton

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LOST TRADES FAIR May 15-16 East Toowoomba

1770 FESTIVAL May 21-23 Seventeen Seventy

GOOMERI PUMPKIN FESTIVAL May 30 Goomeri

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Travel

Deep in the Heart of Queensland

50 | Autumn 2021

Words by Avril Priem Photos by Gail Vacy-Lyle

J

ohnny Reb’s horns measured 2.77 metres from tip to tip and made the 2013 Guinness World Records for the widest horn span. They sure were a wide ol’ set of horns!

JR, a Texas Longhorn steer, recently passed on to that great paddock in the sky. He was from Leahton Park — two hoots and a holler away from Charters Towers.

This 1100-acre (445 hectares) property is the biggest breeder of full-blood Texas Longhorns in Australia.

Lynda and Mick Bethel are Longhorn enthusiasts because of the history, temperament, hardiness and fertility of the breed.

“The unique coloured hide can be tanned and the great sets of horns, which are in high demand, used for wall mounts or decorative items,” adds Lynda.

The couple love sharing their knowledge with visitors who join their Texas Longhorn Tours.

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Travel

Vintage gold Last spring, Gail Vacy-Lyle and husband Alan decided to ‘holiday here this year’ and explored the Charters Towers district.

“We were captivated by heritage-listed Ravenswood, with its mosaic of relics and old buildings, and Charters Towers’ architecture, which is steeped in vintage charm,” says Gail.

JOHNNY REB, RECORDSETTING LONGHORN

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“I collect old Madame Weigel sewing patterns and wanted to see the historic Stan Pollard building which, as a former drapery department store, was an agency for Mme Weigel patterns.

“And of course, we were keen to do a Texas Longhorn Tour.”

“After our enjoyable ride, the last part is rolling along in a horse-drawn wagon which gives an authentic feel for what it might have been like in Texas cattle trail days. The final stop is the Bethel Saddlery that displays Mick’s expertly crafted saddles, tack and other gear.

“Meeting and learning about these big, gentle creatures from Lynda and Mick, who are devoted to Texas Longhorns, is a unique, fun-filled and memorable experience,” says Gail.

Yeehah!

At Leahton Park, Lynda and Mick warmly welcome visitors.

First up, morning smoko laid out on the back of a chuck wagon with homemade fixins such as Texas chocolate brownies, butterscotch slice and Anzac biscuits. Penny, the pet kangaroo, always sidles up for her treats. After smoko, it’s saddlin’ up in an all-terrain vehicle for a 2-hour guided tour.

First stop, the Longhorn ‘Love Shack’.

“Originally, we started breeding crossbred Longhorns for roping stock in rodeos we were involved in as competitors and organisers. But we wanted the real deal — to own full-blood Texas Longhorns.

“So we imported frozen embryos from the US and New Zealand and now continue by artificial insemination,” explains Lynda.

Next, it’s off to see the calves in the yards before headin’ out across the property.

Gail describes the cross-country adventure: “Using an all-terrain vehicle means the cattle can be tracked wherever they are. At stops along the way, Mick entertains with humorous bush tales and interesting snippets of Longhorn history.

“We also saw Highland cattle, water buffalo, bison and African watusi. We spotted JR, but at 15-years-old, he was resting easy in the paddock.

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The beautiful buildings of Ravenswood and Charters Towers

Travel

Images by Gail Vacy-Lyle

RAILWAY HOTEL RAVENSWOOD

IMPERIAL HOTEL - RAVENSWOOD

POST OFFICE RAVENSWOOD

THORP’S BUILDINGS - RAVENSWOOD OLD BUILDINGS - RAVENSWOOD

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CITY HALL - CHARTERS TOWERS

POST OFFICE

ZARA CLARK MUSEUM

CHARTERS TOWERS

CHARTERS TOWERS

STOCK EXCHANGE CHARTERS TOWERS

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Business

Designer fashion with an emphasis on local F

or Sybil’s Plus Size Fashion owner Leone Friman, sourcing all aspects of the business locally is of utmost importance.

All the items are made in Brisbane by a local family who do Leone’s work exclusively — which has the added benefit of having a quick turnaround for pieces in general and reproduction if a particular item sells out.

Leone is a talented designer and photographer, and as such she does all the fashion design, fabric selection (sourced locally), product shots, and fashion shoots herself.

While the bricks-and-mortar store stood in Toowoomba for 25 years, Sybil’s had been gradually closing the physical iterations due to rising costs and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our in-person customer stream slowly dried up, so we closed the final store (in Toowoomba) last year, and now operate exclusively online,” Leone says.

“The pandemic encouraged people to look online; to buy online and learn how to do it, and we’re busy as can be now.”

The fashion store offers clothing for sizes 16 to 32, with anything from casual weekend wear to elegant mother-of-the-bride and -groom outfits.

“If you’re worried about trying things on, we can send items to you and if it doesn’t fit, we offer refunds on returns,” Leone explains.

“We also can take orders over the phone if you have trouble ordering online or don’t know how.”

Specials and new releases are announced via email newsletters, with Leone currently busy working on the new winter range.

Discover Sybil’s Plus Size Fashion for yourself by visiting www.sybils.com.au, and if you have any enquiries call Leone on (07) 3366 8885.

Sybil’s Plus Size Fashions are online visit us at www.sybils.com.au Phone Orders Welcome or Private Styling Sessions (Brisbane Location) By appointment Only

Ph: 07 3366 8885

56 | Autumn 2021

Books

A life-long gift for little Queenslanders Words by Avril Priem

R

Images Courtesy of State Library of Queensland

eading aloud to children from birth onwards instils an enjoyment of stories and reading, and importantly, ignites newborn neurons for incredible brain growth.

Amazingly, ninety per cent of brain development occurs between birth and five years. Simultaneously looking at and listening to picture books kicks-starts brain functionality — for recognising objects, learning words, understanding, expressing, concentrating, imagining…

Children who experience the enjoyment of being read aloud to are streets ahead when they begin school.

Mem Fox, Australia’s much-loved picture book author, is a passionate advocate for reading aloud. In her book ‘Reading Magic’, she says, “the fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks that fly when a child, a book and the person reading make contact.”

For a child, snuggling up with a reader and picture books

develops positive social-emotional connections that passive screen time simply cannot provide.

First 5 Forever The State Library of Queensland has published twelve gorgeous picture books for *First 5 Forever, a program that supports early literacy.

Throughout 331 regional libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres across Queensland, First 5 Forever picture books feature in story sessions and there are multiple copies for borrowing. Online, each book can be downloaded, and has an animated audio reading and a story time video.

All the writers and illustrators have a connection to Queensland and the settings are local. State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald acknowledges that “far away places are great to learn about but we also need home-grown stories filled with

2021 Autumn | 57

Books

familiar characters to build our own cultural identity.”

Release your inner drama diva Reading aloud to your grandie or little one is a fabulous opportunity to release your inner drama diva.

When my daughter, Delaney, was young she adored ‘Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa’ by Margaret Wild. I bought a pink feather boa and would dramatically fling it around as Miss Lily does (Miss Lily is a crocodile that wears a pinny, runs a guesthouse and loves to dance).

To make each book come alive, I would use different voices — soft, loud, fast, s-l-o-w or silly ones. When reading ‘Daisy All-Sorts’ by Pamela Allen, we r-r-rolled the alliteration and giggled when Daisy “danced doggy dances, sang silly songs, and barked, bounced and bowed.”

At bedtime, we read in soft light with hushed tones — our favourites included the delightful ‘Sleepy Bears’ and soothing ‘Time for Bed’, both by Mem Fox. Mem is a great role model for reading with gusto. On her website she reads all her books including long-time favourites ‘Koala Lou’ and ‘Possum Magic’.

So, switch off, snuggle up with your little Queenslander, choose one of the wonderful First 5 Forever books, and begin.

www.slq.qld.gov.au/first5forever/books *First 5 Forever is an initiative of the Queensland Government, coordinated by State Library of Queensland and delivered in partnership with local government.

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Stories for Little Queenslanders — 5 Favourites Shoosh!

Simon Howe

A galloping, rhyming story about a household of children trying to get a yard full of ‘party animals’ to shoosh their hullabaloo because the baby needs to sleep. Hilarious!

The Cow That Swam Out To Sea Pamela Rushby and Nicola Hooper

The Little Queenslanders’ Alphabet Book

When Matilda’s curiosity gets her into trouble, she finds herself in a nerve-racking swirl down the Brisbane River.

Thankfully, there is a reassuring rescue. Exquisitely illustrated.

This story is based on Danette, a Murray Grey that, during the floods of 2011, floated from Lowood in the Brisbane Valley to the mouth of the Brisbane River. Council workers discovered her, checked her ear tag, and then contacted her owner.

Sally Scudamore and Sophie Beer

A brightly illustrated ABC of Queensland animals and places with comical alliteration like “Koalas kayaking in Kingaroy” and “Yabbies yakking in Yeppoon.”

The Coloured Echidna Eunice Day

Coloured Echidna goes in search of Wise Old Owl to solve a question that’s worrying him: Why am I different? Colourfully illustrated by Eunice who is an Elder and great-grandmother from Blackwater.

Koalas Like To …

Shae Millward and Brent Wilson

Lots of rhyme, repetition and laughter with these mixed-up koala antics. Too funny!

2021 Autumn | 59

Books

AUTUMN READING Grab a chair and bring it into the garden to enjoy nature and a…

Good Book

Words by Avril Priem

Madame Weigel: The Woman Who Clothed The Australasian Colonies Veronica R. Lampkin

Madame Johanna Weigel — globetrotter, fashionista and entrepreneur — was a woman ahead of her time. Her successful sewing pattern business endured for 91 years (from 1878 to 1969) and introduced styles to women that were pretty and practical — shorter walking skirts to avoid mud and bindis, split skirts for horse riding, knickerbockers for bicycling …

Her extraordinary life and contributions to Australia are not forgotten, thanks to Veronica’s fascinating chronicle.

Through The Wall: Reflections On Leadership, Love And Survival Anna Bligh

This year is the 10th anniversary of our Summer of Disaster — the 2011 Queensland floods. Anna Bligh’s account of this calamity is an emotional and remarkable portrayal of the resilience of Queensland folk, and her mettle as a leader.

Anna comes across as down-toearth, accomplished and strong.

She’d have to be — after spending 17 years in State Parliament, five as Queensland’s first female Premier.

An eloquent and uplifting memoir.

A Question of Colour Pattie Lees with Adam C Lees

A heartbreaking autobiography.

Pattie fondly recalls her childhood in Cairns in the 50s with siblings and beloved Torres Strait Islander mum.

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Images Contributed

But things were tough and state authorities took the children away.

Pattie’s life unravelled — she endured lost years without her mum and family, abuse as a ward of the state, bigotry and ostracisation.

Telling her story brought up painful recollections for Pattie who lives in Mt Isa. Her memoir is a testament to her resilient spirit in the long journey to acceptance and belonging.

The Tap-Dancing Knife Thrower: My Life (Without The Boring Bits) Paul Hogan with Dean Murphy

Those of a certain vintage would be familiar with Hoges’s rise from Harbour Bridge rigger to comedian and actor in the 70s and 80s. He always was a bit of a wag and I laughed aloud at his many anecdotes.

Strewth, how he loved to take the mickey out of people. But, as Hoges says, “we were all laughing at ourselves together and there was no malice.”

Brisbane Matthew Condon (2nd ed.)

A rather nostalgic and different insight into the River City. At one point, Matt ponders whether Brisbane’s rapid growth is leading to “a place without a memory”.

Thankfully, he contributes to its history with his boyhood recollections, journalistic interviews and historical vignettes.

History

Ivy May Hassard, ca. 1935, unidentified photographer, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, neg no: 34578.

Dangerous Women of Queensland State Library’s archives are filled with stories of women unafraid to cut their own path.

Words by Jacinta Sutton, Program Officer, State Library of Queensland

F

ive of these extraordinary trailblazers feature in a new State Library podcast, Dangerous Women. Each has generated change in their chosen field and are, gloriously, unapologetically themselves.

The series, hosted by award-winning writer and documentary-maker Holly Zwalf, takes an exhilarating look at Queensland’s historic and contemporary pioneers who have refused to flinch in the face of limiting stereotypes.

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2016. Keelen won guardianship of her four nieces and nephew in 2001, raising them alongside her three biological children.

Keeping family together is in her nature. After her mother had a stroke, 12-year-old Keelen became the primary carer. Her strength echoes her mother, who she credits with her unwavering sense of self.

“The biggest thing that my mother could have ever given me is life, the greatest gift of all, second greatest gift was my mother gave me the handing down of cultural language and survival,” she said.

“She was always very strong and very passionate that we knew our country, we knew our culture, we knew how to speak our language.”

History

Keelen Mailman OAM outside the Ellangowan Hotel and Augathella Palms Motel, February 2020, taken by Snaggletooth Productions, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Keelen Mailman OAM On Bidjara country, Central Western Queensland, Keelen Mailman OAM is living an extraordinary life. She has managed the 190,000 ha Goorathuntha/Mt Tabor cattle station since 1998, taking it on as a 30-year-old single mother.

She’s the only First Nations woman in Australia to manage a cattle station but Keelen’s connection to the land is more than a job. A proud Bidjara woman, she is part of a living history that has existed for thousands of years.

The podcast team travelled 700km to Keelen’s station to see if they could keep up with her, which was no small task. Her daily routine involves the hard yakka of rural life; felling trees, repairing bores, mending fences, making her own bullets and skinning kangaroos.

In 2016 she was integral to the complicated process of handing Mt Tabor back to the Bidjara people, and the repatriation of ancestral Bidjara remains by the Queensland Museum.

The more you learn about Keelen, you realise when Bidjara Elders offered her the job 23 years ago, they knew she was capable of a lot more than minding cattle.

These achievements were acknowledged when Keelen was last year presented a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Indigenous community.

She was a finalist for Queensland Australian of the Year in 2007 and Barnardos Mother of the Year in

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Laurene Hassard and John Dolby (Ivy Hassard’s design partner) at the 1971 Concours d’Elegance, Chevron Hotel, Surfers Paradise, Roslyn Studios, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Ivy May Hassard (1914 -1998) Ipswich-born, Ivy was among the first cohort of women pilots in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the first aerobatic pilots in Australia.

At 22 she made headlines as the youngest entrant in the 1936 Brisbane to Adelaide Centenary air race, coming in two seconds behind the eventual winner and beating the founder of Ansett Airlines, Reg Ansett.

‘Girl pilots’ were looked upon as a novelty, but to dismiss Ivy

Josephine Bedford and Lilian Cooper seated in a horsedrawn buggy, Brisbane, ca. 1900, unidentified photographer, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

as a glamour girl would be underestimating her tenacity and skill.

She told The Telegraph newspaper: “For four years I have held down a man’s work at a man’s wage.

“During that time I have not missed a single day through sickness. It is hard and heavy work, but it is worthwhile.”

In 1950 a judge granted Ivy a divorce after her husband deserted the family years earlier. By then she and her three children had moved to the Gold Coast.

Ivy saw potential in the sleepy seaside town, and with typical verve she pursued her talent for design and opened the first fashion boutique on the Gold Coast in 1946, in a small room behind the main shops in Surfers Paradise.

She successfully managed her fashion label into the 1980s, helping to put the Gold Coast on the map as a glamourous destination.

Ivy’s equally captivating daughter Laurene shares memories of modelling her mother’s designs at the Concours d’Elegance showcase at the Chevron Hotel.

Podcast listeners will be transported to Surfers Paradise of the 1970s; the air heavy with Charlie perfume and the smell of the ocean, and tales of lurex and prawn cocktails.

Guts and glamour were not mutually exclusive in Ivy’s world. Hard working with the ambition to match, she defied conventional expectations of women in midcentury Queensland, living fearlessly and with style.

Dr Lilian Cooper (1861-1947) Further into the archives we found another thoroughly modern woman, Dr Lilian Violet Cooper.

Migrating to Brisbane from the UK in 1891, she was the first woman registered to practice medicine in Queensland. Lilian

Doctor Lilian Violet Cooper, undated, unidentified photographer. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, neg no: 144022.

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arrived with her partner Josephine Bedford, whose passion for social justice mirrored her own.

Lilian expert and playwright, Katy Forde, helped us discover the legacy of their lives.

Initially spurned by the male-dominated medical establishment, it took two years before Lilian’s membership was accepted to the Queensland Medical Society.

Dr Cooper opened her own practice in 1893 at The Mansions in George Street and all attempts to dissuade her were futile, instead stirring her determined spirit.

Josephine’s grit was equally impressive. Throughout her life she worked tirelessly for the welfare of women and children, campaigning to open the first kindergarten and public park in Brisbane.

A woman of contrasts, Lilian also smoked like a chimney, used colourful language and, as a founding RACQ member and first woman in Queensland registered to drive, was known to Brisbane police for hooning down Queen Street in her 1910 Oldsmobile.

Lilian and Josephine, two Dangerous Women and queer pioneers, not only shared their lives from when they met as teenagers, they are now buried alongside each other in Toowong cemetery.

ideas about our bodies, you know, and how they think we should be.”

“I would never tell people you must come out, but I’d say tend to your soul, you know and listen to your soul. And I found some different ways of trying to keep from hearing this in my soul, in my heart, in my body.

“Listen to yourself and be open and do not be afraid. Do not ever be afraid of who you are, and of what you can become,” Jo said.

Debbie Kilroy, 2016, courtesy of Sisters Inside.

Debbie Kilroy OAM Rev. Penny and Dr Rev. Josephine Inkpin (right), image supplied.

Reverend Dr Josephine Inkpin Sex, politics, and religion are traditionally frowned upon as dinner party topics.

But Reverend Dr Josephine Inkpin did not shy from them during a cuppa with our podcast host.

Jo is an academic, prolific blogger, activist and Australia’s first transgender priest.

She and Penny, her wife of 35 years, welcomed Holly into their home on the campus of St Francis College in Brisbane for a wide-ranging interview that covered gender, faith, religion and identity.

Penny is no stranger to crossing thresholds herself, in 1994 she was among the first female priests to be ordained in the Anglican Church.

Jo has been ordained for over 30 years, and the couple ministered in rural and urban parishes in England before immigrating in 2001.

For a much of her life Jo felt a deep sense of unease in her own skin. This evolved privately over the years until in 2017 she announced her transition with her trademark eloquence and grace.

“I think it’s not about being born in the wrong body. For me, it’s about being born into a society which has very strange

64 | Autumn 2021

Rounding out the series is Debbie Kilroy OAM, wife, mother, grandmother, CEO, criminal lawyer, and one of Australia’s leading advocates for protecting the human rights of women and children through decarceration.

Her abolitionist views are grounded in her lived experience.

Debbie was a young mother and the wife of a Brisbane Broncos player when she was sentenced to six years in jail on drug charges in 1989.

She is also the first convicted drug trafficker to be admitted as a lawyer in Australia. In 1992 she established Sisters Inside Inc., providing services to incarcerated women and their families and advocating for law reform.

In 2003, Debbie was presented the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community, the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2004, and in 2017 was appointed to the Queensland Government Sentencing Advisory Council.

Debbie talks, thinks and acts fast, and lives her life with the urgency of someone on a crucial mission who knows the value of every minute. She believes in the potential of people to change, which is perhaps the most radical belief of all.

Listen to Dangerous Women on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and SoundCloud.

Dangerous Women is a podcast by State Library of Queensland, hosted by Holly Zwalf, produced by Snaggletooth Productions and supported by Queensland Library Foundation’s Crowd Giving fundraising campaign.

History

The Liberating Riding Habit Words by Avril Priem Images by Veronica Lampkin

2021 Autumn | 65

I

magine 19th century rural Queensland women out riding sidesaddle while trussed up in petticoats, skirts and high-necked, puffy-sleeved blouses.

Hot. Tight. Uncomfortable.

A recent exhibition at Beaudesert featured an eminently more sensible yet stylish riding skirt and jacket. The outfit was part of an impressive display of vintage and contemporary garments from the House of Fashion, Templin Historical Village and Museum.

All the costumes were made using patterns by Madame Weigel, the notable designer and entrepreneur whose Melbourne business produced over 9000 patterns from 1878 to 1969.

Members of the Common Threads Chapter of the Australian Sewing Guild devotedly sewed the contemporary garments in heritage fabrics.

Exhibition co-ordinator, Iris Skinner, reveals more about the riding skirt: “I spoke with Alison Bell (née Betts) who proudly told me about her grandmother, Alice Maud Betts, a renowned horsewoman.

She made the riding skirt and jacket for herself.

“She was born Alice Jones in Roma and, before her marriage to Richard Betts, worked at a local department store where she had access to fabrics and Madame Weigel patterns. Richard was concerned about her riding side-saddle in hilly country.

This was the reason she made the skirt. Its design allowed her to ride astride, but with the front panel closed it appeared as a skirt when walking. All very proper.”

Dr Veronica Lampkin is a Madame Weigel devotee, collector and author of three Madame Weigel books.

“Issued in 1905, Madame Weigel’s divided riding skirt pattern was received with acclaim by her followers as it allowed women to ‘ride astride’ when side-saddle was the norm, and practical clothing often frowned upon,” Veronica says.

The popularity of the divided skirt and its spin-off designs was Australia-wide.

In 1908, Weigel’s Journal of Fashion reported “the liking for the Divided Riding Skirt amounts almost to a craze in the Gippsland district.”

A 1911 Perth newspaper encouraged “girls in the backblocks” to sew a divided riding habit in denim which, with its “cunning arrangement of buttons and buttonholes forms a perfect walking skirt”.

Unquestionably, Madame Weigel’s divided riding skirt was a liberating game-changer in practical clothing for Australian women.

The Beaudesert exhibition was a successful collaboration between the House of Fashion, Templin Museum and Dr Lampkin, who is now writing her fourth book, focusing on Madame Weigel’s millinery patterns.

66 | Autumn 2021

History

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QCWA STATE PRESIDENT’S BLOG Words by Christine King

To our readers,

W

elcome back to RUTH for 2021. We are looking forward to great happenings this year as we prepare to launch our Centenary celebrations at our Gladstone State Conference in October 2021.

The challenges presented to us during 2020 have seen our association become very IT savvy. Branches and divisions across the state held online meetings and even the State Council five-day meeting was held online with councillors embracing technology that was not available for any of us before computers. Remember when we used to write letters and post them, and then wait patiently for a return written letter? How wonderful it was to receive mail in our letterbox! In February, we launched our first virtual branch in the southern area of Queensland. We view this as an opportunity for women to be able to join a branch that will meet online, possibly after dinner or a weekend time, and develop friendships that do not have barriers such as distance or mobility issues. To express interest in joining the virtual branch please email secretary@qcwa.org.au who will connect you to our mentors for this new branch.

The association has reinvented the use of our wonderful heritage property in Ipswich. Once a women’s hostel, now this beautiful lady has become the home of our QCWA State Archive collection. It is a work in progress to display our historic pictorial photographs from 1922 onwards. The building was built in the 1800s as a single-story residence and a second story was added in the early 1900s with wonderful deep verandas on both stories. Our goal is to have the archival documents sorted, pictures hung, and memorabilia on display for our Centenary celebrations during 2022 and 2023.

Over the past few years, we have offered twilight branch meetings. Since our beginning, we had branch meetings on weekdays when women were available to come together and share friendship, enjoy fundraising and cooking events. Today we have women working in their chosen careers; however, they still want to be involved in their community so the twilight meetings after work have become a great choice for their district. QCWA moves with the times. The world is changing so fast we

68 | Autumn 2021

are aware that not to change means we will be left behind, so new initiatives are introduced to our members. We are extremely proud to be in our sixth year of the Country Kitchens program with qualified nutritionists presenting face-to-face workshops and training members across the state. Members are learning new skills in the importance of incorporating more vegetables and fruit into their recipes and welcoming partnerships within their communities to share this knowledge. Members can then revisit their favourite recipes and optimise their health through the use of this knowledge.

QCWA is well known for their ‘tea and scones’ and we now celebrate our yearly birthday with ‘Scone Day’ on 11th August each year. Many branches have scone competitions, share recipes, and have many a ‘sconversation’, which supports women’s mental health. Our advocacy work will be enhanced this year with the establishment of a Social Issues Research Team. Ensuring equality of living and social standards are uniform across the state for all families will be central to the work of the team.

There is always a new initiative being promoted in QCWA to cater for the diverse interests and skills of women and provide opportunities for all to be involved and supportive members of the association. My personal invitation to you is to consider membership of our amazing association as we approach our Centenary.

Just visit our website www.qcwa.org.au for more information.

Christine King State President

NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES What has your QCWA branch been up to this quarter?

Let us know by emailing rutheditorial@news.com.au

From Condamine Valley/ Warwick QCWA…

For the past 16 years, Thursday has been fondly known as ‘home baking day’ at the Condamine Valley/Warwick QCWA tea rooms.

Along with our usual daily provision of fresh sandwiches and rolls, Thursdays have the added attraction of delicious home baking on offer. This day is eagerly anticipated by those lucky locals ‘in the know’ and home baking quickly sells out, leaving many customers disappointed each week.

The lovely and talented lady who creates these treats each week is Judy Bilbrough, a valued QCWA member of approximately 56 years. Judy has a large collection of recipes that she has gleaned from various sources over many years — favourite recipe books, friends, family, newspaper cuttings.

She has refined, tweaked and perfected them to share each Thursday.

So many times, our customers say ‘Judy, you need to write a recipe book!’ so we took this onboard and, in March last year, we released the first printing of Thursday Treats and Other Favourites.

Sadly, COVID-19 caused the closure of the tea rooms that week, but we were able to continue selling the books to fundraise until we reopened on October 6 — and have sold nearly 200 copies to date. The books have been sent far and wide as demand has grown, proving that the art of delicious country homestyle cooking is still very much sought-after.

A beautiful story came from Central Queensland, where the mother of a nine-year-old boy obtained a copy and took it home to show her son who is on the Autism spectrum and has learning and behavioural difficulties. The pair decided to start cooking recipes from the book and it slowly became a highlight of this little boy’s life. When his mum asks ‘what temperature shall we cook this at, and for how long?’, the boy’s answer is always ‘well, Mum, Judy says…’

Our branch is thrilled that this book has made such a difference in the life of a nine-year-old, and we are very proud to be able to share Judy’s wonderful recipes.

Submitted by Sue White.

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Phone: 3720 9912 Email: info@thelegveindoctor.com I Website: www.thelegveindoctor.com 2021 Autumn | 69

N M Q U U T IZ U A

by Quiz Master — Roy O’Reilly —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

In the 1950s, over 1 000 restaurants rejected which fast food pioneer’s proposal of franchising his secret recipe for cooking chickens?

Kate Middleton’s second given name is (a) Diana (b) Elizabeth (c) Victoria?

In the Christian tradition, what is the term for the lead-up week to Easter Sunday?

The 1913 act of the British parliament to deal with the activities of the suffragettes was commonly known as the (a) Cat and Mouse Act (b) Chicken and Egg Act (c) Dog and Bone Act? Last year, former Rural Fire Service chief Shane Fitzsimmons was appointed which state’s first Resilience Commissioner?

The name of which South Australian opal mining town comes from an Aboriginal term for “whitefellas’ hole”?

In 1994, four years after being released from 27 years of imprisonment, who was elected President of South Africa?

“Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” said which princess in a 1995 TV interview?

The Canberra precinct containing some of Australia’s most significant buildings is the (a) Parliamentary Octagon (b) Parliamentary Parallelogram (c) Parliamentary Triangle?

Hero fire-fighter Geoff Purton, while recently recalling the 2011 devastating flash flood in which Lockyer Valley town, said he thinks of just one word – “resilience”?

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

ANSWERS

Which 1840 Charles Dickens novel told the story of Nell Trent, “a beautiful and virtuous orphan girl of not quite fourteen” who lives with her maternal grandfather?

The winner of the 1937 Melbourne-Caulfield Cups double was (a) The Bush (b) The Clinton (c) The Trump?

What is the term for a V-shaped point in the hairline in the middle of the upper forehead?

In the early 1800s, which iconic painting hung in Napoleon Bonaparte’s bedroom?

Which poverty-stricken English novelist, whose first book was rejected 12 times by publishers, later became the author of the best-selling book series in history?

In psychology, what is the female equivalent of the Oedipus complex?

In England last year, Margaret Keenan became the first person to receive the world’s first clinically approved coronavirus vaccination at the age of (a) 80 (b) 90 (c) 100?

Which London bridge was nicknamed “the wobbly bridge” after pedestrians experienced a swaying motion on its opening day in 2000?

Found last year by National Library of Australia staff, in a box containing newspaper clippings, poetry and diaries, was a 120-yearold chocolate belonging to which iconic bush poet?

Played by Russell Crowe in the 2001 movie, A Beautiful Mind, which Nobel Prize winner, as a young man, spent several years in psychiatric hospitals being treated for paranoid schizophrenia?

1: Harland Sanders. (KFC). 2: (b) Elizabeth. 3: Holy Week. 4: (a) Cat and Mouse Act. 5: New South Wales. 6: Coober Pedy. 7: Nelson Mandela. 8: Princess Diana. 9: (c) Parliamentary Triangle: 10. Grantham. 11: The Old Curiosity Shop. 12: (c) The Trump. 13: Widow’s peak.

14: Mona Lisa. 15: JK Rowling. 16: Electra complex. 17: (b) 90. 18: Millennium Bridge. 19: Banjo Paterson. 20: John Nash.

70 | Autumn 2021

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 Queensland Health.

• 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

$75.68

1 July 2020 — 30 June 2021

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 2021 Autumn | 71

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