QCWA Ruth magazine #35 - Winter 2021

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Look What We Found FEATURE: 8 Turning to technology FOOD: 15 Winter warmers INSPIRING PEOPLE: 24 Long-range presence HEALTH: 28 Let’s talk varicose veins 29 Learn about childhood diabetes FASHION: 32 Spinning the dream 35 Local through and through 36 Sustainable activewear ART: 38 Channelling the artist within HOUSE & GARDEN: 40 Colour your world (or home) 43 The grand tour of ‘Notnel’ 48 Feathered nomads TRAVEL & EVENTS: 51 Jumpers and Jazz 52 Events for winter 54 Bombing the bush with tea cosies 56 Stay and play in the Hunter Valley BUSINESS: 60 Realising the dream to create an award-winning drop BOOKS: 63 Sami Bayly and her quirky animals 66 Great winter reads HISTORY: 68 Keeping cosy 71 Marrying the past with the present 74 Back in the day: sights and sounds of Queensland COUNTRY WOMEN: 76 QCWA President’s Blog 78 Quiz with Roy O’Reilly 6

CONTENTS

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15

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MAGAZINE MANAGER: Emily Bosman COORDINATING EDITOR: Jessica Kramer DESIGN: Jeff Brown COVER IMAGE: Photography by Mark Cranitch EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: 07 4690 9425 ADVERTISING ENQUIRES: 07 4690 9412 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 07 4690 9300 Visit iSubscribe.com.au or email ruthsubscribe@news.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: rutheditorial@news.com.au PUBLISHED BY:

8 4 | Winter 2021

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Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd; 109 Neil Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), 11 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner, QLD 4120.

Ruth magazine is published by News Regional Media. 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.

editor’s welcome

Y

ou either love it or hate it, but regardless - winter is officially here. At the very least, you now have a new edition of Ruth to curl up with under a blanket! We’ve filled the pages with warm colours, cosy food, fabulous people and a delightful heritage home to keep that winter chill from seeping into your bones.

Our ever-vivacious writer Avril visited past Queensland with the National Film and Sound Archive on page 74, and also discovers the delights of tea cosies past and present - read all about it from page 68, or why not enter your own handmade cosy into Miles’ Back to the Bush Festival (more information on page 54)?

Ruth also sat down to chat with illustrator/author Sami Bayly, who you probably know as the creator of The Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals. Her career is truly impressive for someone so young - meet her on page 63.

Our cover star is probably very familiar to you if you reside in Queensland - ABC weather presenter Jenny Woodward has an extensive career in media, going back 35 years. Regular columnist for Ruth, Jane Milburn, catches up with Jenny from page 24.

JESSICA KRAMER This edition we also have a great look into how technology is changing our lives, from farmers and those in the agriculture industry (p8), to historians and general citizens interested in the past (p71) and even the manufacture of activewear that is better for the environment (p36). Whichever facet of tech you’re intrigued by, we trust you’ll find these stories interesting and informative.

And now, go use some of said ‘technology’ to get yourself warm while you enjoy this edition of Ruth magazine!

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LOOK WHAT WE FOUND

special finds for winter — and the latest QCWA news

QCWA NEWS The QCWA State Office has now officially moved!

You can find them at 11 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner, Brisbane. www.qcwa.org.au

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.

PERFECT PERSIMMONS The Australian persimmon season is now underway, but it’s a short season so get in quick! The fruit, which has a sweet honey-like taste, is around until late June.

Persimmons are delicious eaten fresh, or as a flavoursome addition to autumn salads, cheese platters, desserts or even as a marinade for meats. Find excellent recipes from Persimmon Australia. www.persimmonsaustralia.com.au

6 | Winter 2021

FLOWERS IN THE DUST Kylie Rutledge from Quilpie sews gorgeous scarves in Liberty of London 100% cotton. The scarves are soft and cool to wear, and come in a wonderful array of colours and patterns.

Kylie also sews Liberty of London fabric trim onto hand towels, tea towels, pillowslips and more.

Etsy: MobleLiberty or Instragram: @mobleliberty

AUSSIE DESIGNS Let these gorgeous cockatoos brighten up your kitchen with this organic cotton tea towel. Make someone smile with a quirky greeting card from the Paperbark Writer range.

Paula Peeters of Beechmont Qld is the talented artist behind these delightful designs, all printed in Australia. www.paperbarkwriter.com

LUXURIOUS COW MILK SOAP Little Cow and Co is a fledgling family partnership business in the Biggenden area of Queensland, specialising in soap and meat — and even the occasional dog treat — from their own small breed cows.

Soaps are made from cows’ milk and tallow, making a creamy lathering soap perfect for even sensitive skin. www.littlecowandco.com.au

“STOP INTERRUPTING ME” Have you ever heard of ‘manterruption’? It’s a behaviour where men interrupt women unnecessarily — stopping them from expressing themselves, and having a deep impact in their studies, careers and personal lives.

To challenge this behaviour, the Woman Interrupted app was created. The app, available for both iOS and Android systems, uses the microphone on your phone to analyse conversations. It doesn’t record or store them, so you know your privacy is safe, but it automatically processes data to reveal how many times a woman was interrupted during the conversation. www.womaninterruptedapp.com/en/ 2021 Winter | 7

Feature

TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY

8 | Winter 2021

The agriculture industry is deeply rooted in Australia, and it’s not because it’s an easy industry to be a part of: far from it. Between our country’s harsh conditions and the round-theclock nature of being on the land, agriculture looks like a daily battle to the uneducated observer. More and more, however, there are farmers who are flipping traditional farming on its head by utilising technology.

Words by Sue Neales with Jessica Kramer Images contributed

C

“The way we farm is totally changing” — Sean O’Reilly Viridis Ag chief executive

Andrew Bate with his SwarmFarm robots.

TOP RIGHT: Jocie and Andrew Bate operate SwarmFarm from their Central Highlands property.

atching up with central Queensland grain grower Andrew Bate can be a difficult task.

“Sorry, he’s off in the paddock chasing robots,” says his wife and business partner, Jocie Bate, with a laugh.

It’s not a standard response — or one that would have ever been heard in Australia five years ago — but is quite normal when it comes to Andrew and Jocie Bate.

The young farming couple are the founders and majority owners of SwarmFarm Robotics, a trailblazing Australian agtech company near Emerald, Queensland, which has become one of the first in the world to develop and build agricultural robots that are now in full-scale commercial use.

In October 2020 SwarmFarm raised $4.5 million from eager investors to boost its production from one farm robot a month to one a week, with more than 20 of the small, light autonomous robots now being used to spray weeds in wheat crops, mow turf and tidy up vineyards across Australia.

The Bates’ business already employs 17 young smart engineers, robotics, mechatronics and agronomic professionals — all aged under 30 — in its big tin shed and hi-tech business hub on the family farm at Gindie, 30km from Emerald. By next year, their “robot factory” is likely to have more than 50 staff.

Andrew, 42, hopes it will give both the nascent Australian agtech industry and the increasing digitalisation and technological sophistication of Australian agriculture a real boost.

Both are issues he is passionate about.

“Sometimes it seems like we’ve been talking about big data, analytics, remote sensing, drones, satellites, yield maps and automation for years, but it hasn’t really followed through down on the ground into changing the physical way we farm and produce our crops,” he says.

“At the farm level, most producers are still walking out in the field, looking at their crops or livestock and doing the same thing they have always done — perhaps backed by a bit more knowledge and data, but there has been no fundamental shift in changed farming practices.

“But now I think we are on the edge of something big; a real leap forward. And it will be robotics that will be the game changer; farm robots like ours that will suck up all the Big Data being generated and actually turn it into something useful, flipping our traditional ways of industrialised farming on their head.”

2021 Winter | 9

Feature

Agersens, whose chief scientist is Sally Haynes, has developed electronic neck bands linked to virtual “fence” lines for cattle.

INSET: Peabody Australia was the first miner to use Agersens’ innovative eShepherd collar.

Matilda Paesler is part of a Viridis Ag team operating automated harvesters at Moree.

10 | Autumn 2021

Farmbot offers real time water monitoring data relayed to the farmer.

The rapid rise of ag tech Since Andrew and Jocie Bate first dreamed eight years ago of building little robots to change the shape of agriculture — think “swarms” of small unmanned robots toiling in paddocks with a light footprint throughout the day and night without a break instead of heavy and expensive tractors requiring drivers, fuel, capital and causing soil damage — the world of agricultural technology globally has changed dramatically.

Investment globally in upstream “agtech” as it is known in Australia, has exploded into an industry attracting $7.6 billion of new investment and capital a year, growing at more than 25 per cent a year. In 2013, the sector — which investment research company AgFunder divides into categories such as innovative food, ag biotechnology, sensors and the internet of Things, and farm robotics — was worth just $1.6 billion.

Overall, agtech accounted for 39 per cent of all capital flowing into the broader $20 billion global agrifood technology marketplace last year, which included “downstream”: online grocers, food delivery services, restaurants and retail.

Some of the investment deals have been huge. Early plantbased “meat” company Beyond Meats raised $300 million in one deal, before launching on the US Stock Exchange with a value that soared within days to more than $US9 billion.

John Harvey, managing director of national rural R&D corporation AgriFutures, says while Australia has been something of a slow starter in developing, selling and adopting agrifood-technology, a spurt of real growth is now occurring.

Harvey estimates that in 2017 there was less than $30 million of capital flowing annually into new agtech ventures and technology. Last year it exceeded $90 million.

Whereas in the past there was a focus on hi-tech gadgets and widgets — robots, drones, moisture sensors and tractors that could steer themselves — now the field has expanded to include virtual e-fencing, biogenetics, innovative food, soil carbon initiatives, gut microflora adjustments, alternate systems of farming, mobile phone-like livestock ear tags, the Internet of Things and supply-chain provenance and biosecurity data sharing and transfer.

“It is an exciting time because so many new technologies are being developed to meet the challenges we’ll face in the future, not just on the farm but along the entire food supply chain,” says Harvey.

“What we are finding is that these Australian inventions and start-ups are innovative, not confined to geographical boundaries or regions, or even just to agriculture; this is a global market now and a lot of these technologies are highly scale-able and transferable to other industries, which makes them highly attractive to investment.”

Some of the recent local capital raisings by agtech start-ups have certainly been impressive.

In April, South Australian-based Myriota, a company that links data flow from the Internet of Things back to users via nanosatellites, raised an impressive $28 million.

Flourosat, a highly automated software and analytics company targeted at orchardists raised a further $5 million, while virtual fencing company Agersens, with its solarpowered neck bands for cattle linked to imaginary “fence” lines drawn on a computerised farm map, has been partly bought by traditional fencing giant Gallagher.

Successful but little-known information management and cloud collaboration software developer targeting agronomists and farmers, West Australian-based AgWorld, has raised more than $15 million from investors including Syngenta.

In August major investors, including mining and beef entrepreneur Andrew Forrest, Woolworths and GrainCorp, poured more than $13 million into new business Future Feed, to help commercialise the CSIRO discovery that red asparagopsis seaweed fed as an additive to cattle can reduce damaging methane emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change by 80 per cent.

And leading horticultural irrigation sensing and microclimate predictive business, The Yield, recently sold a major shareholding stake worth $11 million to fund its expansion into America, with the bulk coming from new investor Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, along with existing investor and its sensor manufacturer Bosch.

Changing the field Far North Queensland sugar cane grower Steven Calcagno has experienced first-hand just how rapidly new ag technology can change the way he manages his family sugar cane farm at Babinda.

With cane growers along Queensland’s coast under pressure to reduce the amount of fertiliser run-off flowing into creeks and rivers and harming coral health on the neighbouring

2021 Winter | 11

North Queensland sugar cane grower Steven Calcagno is now monitoring fertiliser run off with water quality sensors.

advancements in the past five years have been rapid and far-reaching.

From measuring soil carbon content on all Viridis Ag farms to looking at ways to apply data farming systems, machine learning and artificial intelligence that enable agriculture to use less energy, chemicals, fertilisers and a lower carbon footprint, O’Reilly says every facet of smart technology is being investigated.

Already during the year, three SwarmFarm robots have trawled through Viridis Ag crops to kill weeds with highly targeted micro-volume rates of herbicide, saving on fuel, chemical use and labour.

Other experiments are investigating if future robots could target weeds with fatal microwave blasts or even remove them mechanically.

At Oodnadatta, young workers Misty Acton, Matilda Paesler and Harrison Cobbin sit in massive automated headers harvesting the thick barley crop, without the need to steer, adjust header speed, threshing rates or fuel use, as grain yield, size, moisture and quality data is all automatically fed into the intelligent machine.

“I’m not a crazy snake oil guy but with all the agtech developments we are seeing, the way we farm is totally changing,” Sean says.

“I’m looking to embed technology, data and artificial intelligence in every facet of our operations so we can consider more variables, be more predictive and reduce our risk — not just from a yield and profit perspective but our risk to the environment and our carbon footprint.”

“Another positive to all the technology that has arrived in the last three to five years is that we are really seeing a definite change in the number of younger people coming back to agriculture because they are excited about the technology; they like the opportunity to apply this sort of digital thinking to farming.”

Great Barrier Reef, Calcagno and 100 other local farmers have recently taken part in a pilot partnership project also involving CSIRO scientists and water quality specialists from James Cook University.

Water quality sensors were installed on Calcagno’s farm to record levels of fertiliser nitrates in the waterway during canegrowing season and after heavy rain.

The information was immediately relayed back to Calcagno and other growers by data telemetry and a special CSIRO app on their mobile phones, enabling the growers to immediately see what levels of nitrates were running off their farms into waterways, to consider ways to reduce the concentrations and adapt their management practices.

“You can’t control what you can’t measure, and you can’t expect farmers to change their practices and behaviour unless they trust the data, are fully informed and involved, and understand what the issues are and their impact on the reef,” says Sheriden Morris, chair of one of the project’s funder, the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre.

For the little guys Steven Calcagno agrees. He is now excited about the future But the agtech revolution is not just confined to the big when before he was pessimistic about government regulations corporate farmers. In western Victoria, sheep and wool grower and restrictions being placed on cane growers; a consequence Luke Balkin says the Farmbot remote monitoring device has of a new belief based on the reliable water quality sensor data saved him at least a morning-a-week’s work, now he no longer he is now receiving that farmers can be part of the solution has to manually inspect the four main dams and water tanks to helping the Great Barrier Reef and its on the several properties he owns and precious corals survive. leases around Glenthompson.

“By working together and having Since installing Farmbot units on each immediate water quality and nitrate runtank and synchronising the real-time off data through the year we can rely on water analytics dashboard to reach his and trust (thanks to the sensors and our mobile phone and computers, Balkin says phone app) we can now look at solutions he has become ‘addicted’ to the analysis — already some growers are adjusting of his water levels and pump activity and the timing and amount of their urea the business decisions he can make as a applications to avoid coinciding with the result. first rains of the wet season, or delaying He has no doubts the $1200 cost of putting on fertilisers if rain is forecast; each unit and the attached software is others are experimenting with lower rates The Yield founder and managing director already paying off. later in the year.”

“It’s taken the worry out of water; the Ros Harvey.

Doing more with less water levels checks and graphs that are Major corporate cropping company Viridis Ag, a subsidiary accessible 24/7 to me sitting at the kitchen table tell me just of Macquarie Bank’s huge $3 billion Australian agricultural about everything I need to know about where my water is, division, is committed to using the latest technology to “do how much I have, and how quickly it is moving through to the more with less” on its 90,000 hectares of cropping country animals,” he says. spread across 11 properties.

“We expect that we are saving in the ballpark of $10,000 a Viridis Ag chief executive Sean O’Reilly, watching the late year just in labour that can be redeployed into other activities October harvest begin on the company’s new 3000-hectare across our farms.” cropping farm Oodnadatta in northern NSW, says the agtech Near Pyramid Hill, sheep and wheat grower Adam Twigg has

12 | Autumn 2021

been taking part in a trial to see if drones can be a useful tool to fly over his lambing ewes to check for any birth problems, without the disturbance that goes with driving a ute around the flock (he’s not yet convinced).

But on sea-based fish farms in Tasmania and pearl farms in the Kimberley, drones are successfully being used to check for algal outbreaks and fish-pen damage, while they have also proved invaluable in assessing crop damage after hailstorms for the insurance industry.

Viridis Ag worker operating an automated harvester.

Excitements and frustrations North of Narrabri, NSW, B&W Rural agronomist Brad Donald is visiting the cropping property Boolcarrol, being run by young farmer Alex Harris since he returned home after working in city market trading.

Donald and Harris pour over their iPads while standing in a vast wheat paddock, using the latest Satamap information — based on recent satellite spatial images and biomass analytics of the crop taken every few days — to determine the driest part of the paddocks, where to start harvesting first, and what yields are likely.

Brad Donald then launches his small drone above the grain storage bunker at Boolcarrol, using its laser imagery and data conversion capability to measure the dimensions and capacity of the empty bunker, in order to keep track of grain storage volumes during the coming harvest.

B&W Rural chief executive Peter Birch, who employs 13 agronomists to work with local grain and cotton growers, says while many farmers are excited about the new technologies, there is also a lot of confusion about how to align the different tools, gadgets, machinery and software to make them talk to each other.

“Growers have all this information and technology coming at them — precision farming, AI, variable rate mapping, satellites and drones — but many are finding it really hard to pick a clear line through it all to see how it is really useful and costeffective for them,” Peter says.

“But the whole cotton industry up here is using moisture sensors and software analytic programs that give you an irrigation water usage curve and tell you when to irrigate and how much, and predict when you need to irrigate again.

“Combine that with weather stations, more accurate forecasting and satellite imagery and you end up with very powerful information all pooled together, and that results in real (irrigation) water savings for growers, much better water management, and more bales per megalitre at the end of the day.”

Birch says, apart from water and cotton, it is also still difficult to get some farmers to appreciate the value of what the technology and data is providing and telling them.

“Farmers will buy a $600,000 header and not blink an eyelid, but if you talk about software and technology (subscriptions), that might cost them $3 a hectare a year, they um and ahh and ask if it is of real value; but the switched-on growers have no problem seeing the monetary value, that all this amazing information coming to them from their paddocks is providing better and more timely decision making.”

Andrew Coppin, president of the fledgling Australian Agritech Association and founder of Farmbot water monitoring systems, is equally as excited and frustrated as Birch.

He sees “awesome” inventions and developments in agtech happening across Australia — and some stars taking to the world stage such as The Yield — and a boom in uptake by local

farmers on the horizon.

“But worldwide, while Australia is regarded as a gold medal winner in agriculture, food and farming globally, we don’t even seem to have a ticket to be in the race when it comes to agritech,” Andrews says.

“Israel, New Zealand and the UK are the global leaders — investors are literally flying over the top of Australia without landing to see what NZ is doing — yet many of our technologies could be world-beaters; we need a vision, a strategy and a plan to help the agritech sector grow and prosper and become a major export industry in its own right.”

Ros Harvey, founder and managing director of worldleading The Yield sensoring company, says the key to agtech success lies in helping a farmer solve their problems, rather than offering up a fixed package of technology and telling the grower it will be really useful.

This approach helped The Yield refine its original broad offerings of Internet of Things sensors with a centralised, cloud-based analysis system to a wide range of rural industries, to instead specialise on high-value, irrigated horticultural crops such as wine grapes, berries and nuts, many in enclosed glasshouse or with their own covered microclimates.

Ros says she has also learned to “only walk” with large corporations, especially now The Yield holds the global patent rights to “predicting weather” in enclosed microclimates such as greenhouse tunnels.

“Large companies know technology is their future and can make them money; unsurprisingly their investors are demanding it,” she says.

“Our field is analytics, artificial intelligence and crop insights of which data is the fuel; the corporates often have these data sets collected but don’t know how to put it to work; we offer them immediate savings, reduced costs and risk, and the value proposition is so high for them in these intensive, irrigated horticultural crops.”

Ros is equally confident other Australian agtech companies can follow in The Yield’s successful footsteps, raise significant capital from overseas investors and expand into global markets. Being remote from markets is no hurdle when it comes to technology.

“There’s no better place for agtech innovation than the diverse microclimates of Australia. With one of the most challenging agricultural industries in the world, growers must innovate to remain competitive, and embrace technology to help drive sustainability, increase traceability and productivity, and consumer confidence in the way our food is produced.”

2021 Winter | 13

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Winter Warmers

COSY UP IN FRONT OF THE FIRE OR WITH YOUR FAVOURITE BLANKET, AND ENJOY ONE OF THESE DELICIOUS WARM MEALS.

Recipes contributed Pictures by Cathy Taylor Photographer 2021 Winter | 15

Zucchini Omelette Serves: 2 Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Fruit and veggies: 1½ serves per portion Ingredients

½ cup zucchini, grated ¼ cup red onion, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 eggs ¼ teaspoon thyme or mixed herbs Cracked black pepper 1/3 cup tomato, seeded and skinned 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated 1 cup baby spinach leaves, wilted in boiling water

16 | Winter 2021

Method HEAT medium sized frypan, add oil and zucchini and onion, cook until onion soft.

WHISK eggs in small bowl, add herbs and pepper, pour mixture over vegetables.

COOK over medium heat until eggs set, lift edges, letting uncooked portion flow underneath.

TOP with tomato and cheese, cover with lid for 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.

SERVE with wilted greens.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens Team

Winter Vegetable Soup Serves: 8 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Fruit and veggies: 3 serves per portion Ingredients

2 cups sweet potato, peeled, diced 2 carrots, diced ½ swede, diced 1 parsnip, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1 large brown onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cans (440g) tomatoes, crushed 1/2 cup yellow lentils 1/2 cup green/blue lentils 1/2 cup barley or farro or rice 1 litre vegetable stock 1 litre water

2 stalks parsley, chopped 1 sprig thyme, chopped

Method SAUTÉ over medium heat in heavy-based soup pot, potato, carrots, swede, parsnip, celery, onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is just transparent.

COMBINE tomatoes, lentils and barley into vegetable mixture, adding stock and water.

BRING to boil and then reduce heat, simmering for about 20 minutes, or until lentils and barley are cooked.

SERVE soup in bowl with sprinkle of parsley and thyme, with a slice of wholemeal bread.

What’s great about it?

This hearty winter soup is packed full of veggies and fibre. One portion of the soup gets you three out of your five serves of veg for the day!

Recipe courtesy of Fiona McKenzie, QCWA Country Kitchens Team

2021 Winter | 17

Cauliflower and Curried Lentil Soup Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Fruit and veggies: 2½ serves per portion Ingredient

1 cauliflower, trimmed of leaves, chopped roughly 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons fennel seeds 1 cup red lentils 3 tablespoons curry paste 1 litre vegetable stock, salt reduced ½ lemon, juiced and zested

Method PREHEAT oven to 180 degrees. Line baking tray with baking paper.

HEAT large pot with remaining oil, add lentils and stir

18 | Winter 2021

through curry paste, adding vegetable stock and bring to slow boil. Simmer for 25 minutes until lentils are cooked through.

TOSS the cauliflower in a bowl with half the oil and fennel seeds until evenly coated.

ARRANGE cauliflower over baking tray in single layer and roast in oven for 15 minutes.

COOL cauliflower slightly, add to deep jug to blitz with stick blender until smooth.

ADD cauliflower to cooked curried lentils and stir through with lemon juice and zest.

What’s great about it?

Roasting vegetables is the best way to develop their flavour. Pumpkin or tomatoes with basil could be substituted for cauliflower for two interesting options.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens Team

Stuffed Capsicum Serves: 8 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 25 minutes Fruit and veggies: 2½ serves per portion Ingredients

1-2 tablespoons Canola oil 1 brown onion, diced 1 carrot, grated 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced 400g lean beef mince 1 vegetable stock cube, reduced salt Pepper 1 tablespoon paprika ½ cup rice 8 capsicums (red or yellow), top cut off, deseeded 1 potato (optional) 1 can of whole tomatoes Water Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Method FRY onion in oil until soft and translucent (approx. 5 mins).

Add grated carrot and garlic and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

ADD mince and vegetable stock cube and season with pepper and paprika, then fry until cooked through. Add the rice, stir and set aside.

ARRANGE the deseeded capsicum snuggly in a pot.

Optional: Use wedges of chopped potato to help prop up the capsicums. Distribute mince mixture evenly between the capsicums.

POUR water into the pot, enough to reach halfway up the capsicums.

SLICE the canned whole tomatoes in half and place on top of each capsicum as a lid. Roughly chop the remaining canned tomatoes and add to the water in the pot.

COOK on med-high heat until the water starts to boil.

Reduce heat and simmer with lid on for 45 minutes on stove top.

PREHEAT oven to 180 degrees.

TRANSFER pot to the oven and bake with lid off until the tops of the capsicum get crispy (approx. 30 mins).

TOP with fresh parsley and serve with toasted wholegrain bread.

Recipe courtesy of Aleks Lukovic, Country Kitchens Team

2021 Winter | 19

Slow-cooked Beef Ragu Serves: 8 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 4.5 – 9 hours Fruit and veggies: 1½ serves per portion Ingredients

1 onion, diced 2 carrots, diced 2 celery sticks, diced 6 tablespoons of tomato paste 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 3 tablespoons of fresh oregano leaves (or 3 teaspoons dried) 900g beef chuck roast Pepper to taste 1 cup of beef stock 1 tin of chopped tomato 2 bay leaves Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Method BROWN off the meat over medium-high heat in a pan.

COMBINE onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste, garlic and oregano in slow cooker. Season the roast beef with pepper and sit on top of the vegetables.

ADD beef stock, tinned tomato and bay leaves to slow cooker and cook meat until tender and easily pulled apart with a fork (about 4½ hours on high or 9 hours on low).

COOL for 10 minutes before shredding meat using two forks. Stir in vinegar to taste.

SERVE with your choice of pasta, polenta or mashed potato (rigatoni pasta used in image).

What’s great about it?

This slow cooker recipe is perfect to put on in the morning and have a delicious meal ready for dinner time. The delicious rich flavours will be sure to warm you up on a cool winter’s night.

Recipe courtesy of Rebecca Dawson, Brisbane City Nights Branch

20 | Winter 2021

The Best Moussaka Ever Serves: 8 Prep time: 50 minutes Cook time: 1½ hours Fruit and veggies: 3½ serves per portion Ingredients: Meat Layer:

500g lean lamb mince 500g lean beef mince 1 brown onion, finely chopped 5 cloves garlic, very finely chopped Pinch of ground black pepper Pinch of Masterfoods Lamb herbs 1 can diced tomatoes, reduced salt 4 tablespoons tomato paste, reduced salt 2 tablespoons tomato sauce, reduced salt

Method: Meat Layer: PLACE the minced lamb and beef in a large saucepan and dry fry it till starting to brown, then add onion, garlic, lamb herbs and pepper.

STIR constantly so that large lumps don’t form, as the mince needs to be reasonably smooth.

COOK until all the meat is browned and the onions softened.

ADD the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, spices and finally tomato sauce.

ADJUST the herbs and pepper to taste, then set aside to cool.

Vegetable Layer: WASH the eggplant slices and lay on kitchen paper to drain. Turn after 30 minutes and do the other side. Fry in olive oil till golden on both sides, drain.

FRY zucchini slices in a little olive oil in the same pan after the eggplant until slightly browned on both sides.

FRY the sliced potatoes in oil until lightly browned, drain.

½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon allspice

Vegetable Layer:

2 large eggplants, sliced lengthways (1cm slices) 4 large zucchinis, sliced lengthways, (0.5cm slices) 5 large potatoes, washed and sliced lengthways 2 tablespoons olive oil

Bechamel Sauce:

140g butter or olive oil spread 140g flour 1½ – 2 litres milk, reduced fat 4 eggs Garlic powder to taste Pepper to taste

Bechamel Sauce: MELT the butter in a saucepan then add the flour, whisking to make a nice thick buttery paste.

ADD the milk slowly, stirring after each addition so that there are no lumps. Don’t rush this stage. When you have added the 1 ½ litres of milk you should have a nice thick, smooth sauce; however, if it is too thick and heavy still, add a little more milk.

REMOVE the pan from the heat and if bubbling let cool. If not bubbling, add the beaten eggs, garlic powder and pepper, mix well.

Construction: PREHEAT oven to 160ºC. Line the base of a long fairly deep baking dish with baking paper.

LAYER in the potatoes, covering the base well.

STIR your meat then lay in a third of your meat mix, add the layer of eggplant then another third of the mince, then the zucchini and the final layer of mince.

TOP with the bechamel sauce, sprinkle a little allspice over the top and bake for 1 to 1¼ hours until cooked through and golden brown.

Recipe courtesy of Marina Taylor, Imbil Branch 2021 Winter | 21

Inspiring people

LONGRANGE PRESENCE

JennyWoodward

22 | Winter 2021

2021 Winter | 23

Inspiring people

Weather is everywhere and everyone wants to know about it. That’s one reason the long-serving and ever-charming ABC TV weather presenter Jenny Woodward is a household name across Queensland.

Words by Jane Milburn

W

eather is elemental to life. We have little control over it and simply work around the weather as best we can. It is just there, affecting our mood and experiences.

We are impacted from the casual thought ‘what am I going to wear today?’ to walking out the door and dealing with conditions that may change across the day. We talk about being hot and sweaty, dry winds causing itchy skin, or cool changes bringing sudden chill.

People on the land are even more focused on the weather because it determines if they can feed their families. They discuss it, look out for it and research it all the time. Many have a keen interest in record-keeping as a basis for comparison in considering and predicting possibilities.

Jenny Woodward has been presenting weather on the tele for such a long time she’s become synonymous with it. In turn, Jenny has always taken the weather seriously, educating herself to give the best interpretation of the forecast as possible.

“I know people’s livelihoods are depending on it. These days they all have great tools for their own areas but I can give them the latest maps and interpretation to put their own

24 | Winter 2021

Images contributed spin on how it might impact their place. Some people have extraordinary records going back 100 years and a wealth of data to draw on,” Jenny says.

Weather conditions are certainly hotter and temperatures are going up, that is undeniable and confirmed by Bureau of Meteorology records. Weather events caused by cyclones and east coast lows are also having more impact on people, because there are more people in the impact zones.

“It is hard for me to look at the weather events I’ve seen in the past 35 years and categorically say there are more events but they certainly seem more catastrophic, more extreme and damaging. Seeing the extent of bushfires in southern states and in the rainforest is unheard of and very concerning for the future.”

After growing up and studying acting in Toowoomba, Jenny worked part-time in commercial TV and began her weatherpresenting career there in the 1970s. She joined the ABC in 1986 and is now Australia’s longest-serving weather presenter.

“When I first started at Channel 10 the technology the weather came in on was a telex machine and there was one satellite pass each day. Forecasting was not as precise then

Images, clockwise from left: Jenny holding the Queensland Parliament Mace with Michael Watkin at the 150 year anniversary, with Craig Berkman on camera behind; Flanked by a pair of Llamas at the Ekka; Jenny with Alex, her new show’s producer; Final preparations by the ABC’s Wendy Strong, outside Toowoomba’s Cobb+Co Museum. because forecasters didn’t have access to computer modelling and constant satellite coverage as they do today.

“Cyclone tracking and predicting has also improved so much.

In 2011, Cyclone Yasi was identified as a gathering of clouds about 10 days before it was recognised on maps and computer models that estimated it would track west and cross the coast between Innisfail and Tully.

“Accuracy is improving all the time because available technology includes constant satellite readings and computers running scenarios, complimented by local knowledge and skills of the forecasters to nuance it.

Jenny talks with the forecasters every day before going to air and using presentation technology and techniques that have also advanced across the years. Weather presenters are now standing centre stage in an animated and colourful weather set with moving winds and predicted rain illustrating the facts.

The weather itself appears as forecasts and also in story

eco Incontinence

2021 Winter | 25

Inspiring people people

form throughout news bulletins. It requires dedicated coverage as a critical part of news reporting because weather influences much heartache and heartbreak. Weather-influenced stories include the devastating impact of floods in Queensland’s gulf country when cattle that survived the drought became stranded and died in chilling conditions. Also the extreme flood events at Grantham and Brisbane when the weather was a matter of life or death.

Jenny is always looking for creative ways to present the weather in unique places such as onstage at QPAC in Brisbane, in a Toowoomba park with the local marching pipe band as background and for many years at the Ekka. And when the Ekka was cancelled last year, she brought a little of the Ekka to viewers by presenting the weather with a Llama outside the ABC studios at South Bank.

The weather show must always go on, even if bugs are banging into both you and the camera when the lights attract them like magnets as Jenny experienced when presenting on location at the Brisbane Airport viewing spot.

“It is exciting to go on the road and meet our audience, working through the local ABC or just a motel room, just me and the cameraman doing pictures, sound and the linking. A recent example was meeting with Isabelle Kirk outside Rockhampton who had won an award as a rainfall contributor.’’

After 35 years at the ABC, Jenny has also forged many community connections. As patron of Queensland Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists, Jenny contributed to and produced a story about the Quarantine Quilt now hanging at the State Library. In her role as Australia Day ambassador at

26 | Winter 2021

community awards in Charters Towers, she was delighted when local QCWA ladies piped isobars on the celebration cake.

Jenny is now bringing together her skills and experiences in an innovative new show Weathering Well, a nostalgic look back on her television career presented through theatre, music, song and utilising personal archives of photos, letters, cards and video. It is produced by her son Alex, based on a foundation script developed by colleague Karen Berkman.

“We are doing something new, a theatrical biography. I have done many talks but I wanted to create something that was more than just me standing there talking about my life. I wanted an inherent theatrical value, an entertainment aspect, to show another side of me and elevate my story into a considered show.

“I had a small part in Alex’s musical show, Bare, as mother of one of the boys in a coming out story. I enjoyed the stage experience and thought I wouldn’t mind doing more theatre, perhaps create my own show, to which Alex said why don’t we?

“So Weathering Well is a family collaboration and we are taking this show on the road to country Queenslanders because they have been my biggest supporters for such a long time.

“I am always interested in innovating and creating. We have secured a grant for the show partly because we are creating something new, something with a twist that hasn’t been done before, a marriage of TV and stage.

The multi-layered title Jenny came up with, Weathering Well, has a couple of different meanings. It is about lasting well, aging, doing the weather well, hope for wellness in the weather and alliteration for what more could you want.

“I feel satisfaction that my career is coming full circle. I would never have had the confidence to do this 10 years ago and now I am doubly proud of what I have achieved and that people appreciate it.

“It is exciting and all stemmed from starting my working life as an actress for eight months, doing TV work part-time

before coming back to TV full-time because of the financial and emotional uncertainty of theatrical life.’’

Jenny learned from her mother, who was active into her 90s, that it is never too late to try something new. It keeps you engaged with the world and is important for your brain and wellbeing.

The message from lockdown is that we can’t rely on things being as they always were. We need backup plans, in thinking about how we live and how we communicate with people, and to change the way we holiday and travel.

It is really a matter of being willing to adapt. If everything is changing around you and you are not adapting then you are creating trouble for yourself Jenny said. We all have to be prepared to adapt and change.

In terms of dealing with uncertain times ahead, Jenny’s advice is to make plans but have a plan to change them if you need to because so often it is things you didn’t expect that bring you delight and rich rewards.

It’s raining Jen! T

he long-range forecast is for fun, flashbacks and fashion when ABC’s revered weather presenter Jenny Woodward takes her one-woman stage show across the state.

Weathering Well is a potted history of the life and times of the popular presenter who chalked up 35 years with the national broadcaster in 2021.

Combining comedy, live music, video projections and a killer script with Jenny’s natural wit and charm, Weathering Well is an 80-minute autobiographical theatre experience with a high probability of intriguing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes revelations.

The show debuted at Brisbane Powerhouse on April 23 to a packed audience and will now travel across Queensland, with a return final performance at Brisbane Powerhouse on August 14. Check local venues for booking details.

The regional schedule is (as of April 15): QUILPIE THARGOMINDAH CUNNAMULLA CHARLEVILLE KINGAROY GOONDIWINDI TOOWOOMBA LOGAN CENTRAL INNISFAIL ROCKHAMPTON BUNDABERG BRISBANE NOOSA Images, clockwise from left: Celebrating 25 Years On The Road with the ABC; dwarfed by the Big Barra at Normanton; Familytogether-time at Disneyland; reporting for Landline at Darling Downs Zoo.

Quilpie Shire Hall, May 26 Thargomindah Hall, May 27 Paroo Shire Hall, May 28 Charleville Town Hall, May 29 Kingaroy Town Hall, June 8 Waggamba Community Cultural Centre, June 9 Empire Theatre, June 11 Logan Entertainment Centre, June 13 Innisfail Shire Hall, June 15 Pilbeam Theatre, June 17 Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, June 19 Brisbane Powerhouse, August 14 (two shows) The J Noosa, August 26

Keep up to date on new locations at: jennywoodwardweather.com

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Visit us at www.sybils.com.au Phone Orders Welcome or Private Styling Sessions (Brisbane Location) By appointment Only

Ph: 07 3366 8885 2021 Winter | 27

Health

Let’s talk…

varicose veins It’s not just cosmetic — these bulging veins can have serious side effects

I

t’s winter and we’re snuggled up in jeans or leggings, thinking about when we can bring out the shorts and swimmers again.

But for some women, the thought of exposing their legs is the stuff of nightmares as they try to hide their varicose veins. But what are varicose veins? Are they dangerous? And how can women avoid developing them?

The veins explained Varicose veins are veins that have developed weak walls.

After blood flows from the heart through the arteries to the rest of the body, it is returned through veins back to the heart.

If valves in the veins don’t work properly, blood can flow backwards and pool, stretching the veins. Varicose veins can be highly visible as they may bulge above the skin’s surface.

While varicose veins are often found in the legs, they can also occur in the groin. Women can get vaginal and men can get scrotal varicose veins. They can appear in the lower abdomen and around the breasts as well.

If the veins go untreated, they can cause symptoms such as pain, itchiness and fatigue. In the long term, problems can be a lot more serious. As the veins gradually damage the skin, it can lead to eczema and dermatitis or even leg ulcers.

In about three per cent of cases, people can also develop a blood clot, which could cause a pulmonary embolism.

Many causes The actual cause of varicose veins is not known. However, in most cases there is a hereditary component. The genes are usually dormant and environmental factors make the genes do what they’re going to do.

These environmental factors vary. In women, the condition may worsen when there is a fluctuation of hormones, such as during pregnancy and menopause, puberty or when taking

28 | Winter 2021

the contraceptive pill, which is why the condition is more often found in women than men.

Even if you have a strong familial tendency, if you stay healthy and exercise, the muscles in your legs are pumping and that means you’re draining the leg. The blood then has less chance to escape the veins, come into the tissue and damage the skin.

It’s a misconception that crossing your legs exacerbates varicose veins but standing for long periods and wearing high heels do make the condition worse. You don’t get a full range of movement in your calf muscle when you wear heels, so high-heel shoes are very bad for the muscle pump.

New treatments For many years it was believed that completely removing the vein via surgery was the only treatment, but there are now other options. In endovenous laser ablation, a catheter is inserted into the vein. A laser is then inserted into the catheter to seal off the vein.

Another option is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, which uses an injected solution to block off the vein. This treatment is more suited to smaller veins.

The Leg Vein Doctor, with locations in both Brisbane and Toowoomba, offers all treatments in accordance with the current international guidelines, from endovenous laser ablation and radio frequency ablation, to vein glue, ultrasound guided sclerotherapy and sclerotherapy.

Phlebologist Dr Nicholas Kemp has a wealth of experience and will help you with your varicose vein needs.

Book an appointment by calling 07 3720 9912, or visit thelegveindoctor.com for more information.

Diabetes:

Know the signs, Ask

Paediatrician and chair of Type 1 Diabetes Working Group, Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network, Dr Jason Yates shares the risks of T1D in children and the warning signs you can look out for.

2021 Winter | 29

Health

T

ype 1 diabetes (T1D) is the most common form of diabetes in children and is a lifelong condition requiring insulin administration to stay healthy.

In Queensland, almost 50% of children are diagnosed with T1D when they present with the severe and life-threatening complication Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). This is an unacceptably high rate, as DKA is proven to cause short-, medium- and long-term impacts on children with T1D. The mortality rate for DKA is approx. 0.9% which makes it the most likely cause of death for T1D in childhood. It can cause brain swelling known as cerebral oedema in the acute phase. Up to 50% of children with cerebral oedema will suffer long term brain damage and approximately a quarter will die from this severe complication of DKA. The evidence for other short, medium- and long-term impacts of DKA at first presentation of T1D is growing rapidly.

The trauma associated with a severe diagnosis has lasting impacts on children and their families. The length of time spent in hospital increases and the ability to retain important information on management of the condition is impaired.

There is emerging evidence of medium-term impacts on children’s cognitive function after a single episode of DKA at first diagnosis. Perhaps the most important, there is a link between DKA at diagnosis and long-term complication rates for children 10-20 years later. This growing

body of evidence is cause enough to act to reduce the rate of DKA diagnoses at first presentation.

Almost all DKA presentations are preventable through early and timely recognition of the signs and symptoms of high blood glucose. These are commonly referred to as the 4Ts: • Thirsty • Toilet • Tiredness • Thinner Successful prevention campaigns across the world have targeted two key principles: one, primary care awareness of the 4Ts and how to diagnose hyperglycaemia; and two, public awareness of the 4Ts leading to early presentation to primary care.

As part of the ‘Diabetes, Know the Signs, Ask’ campaign, a survey of 100 parents through Playgroups Queensland demonstrated a general lack of public awareness of the 4Ts and the need to seek urgent medical attention. There are several international studies that show delays in diagnosis at primary care level lead to DKA diagnoses. The Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs) have been instrumental in improving information-sharing about the campaign to GP practices across the state. This included the development of a clinical pathway to help GPs diagnose hyperglycaemia in partnership with the Royal Australian College of

What Do We Treat?

● Varicose Veins and Venous Ulcers ● Vein Recurrence Post Surgery ● Spider Veins

Why Choose The Leg Vein Doctor?

● Modern non-surgical techniques. ● Minimal discomfort during procedures. ● No post-operative downtime. ● Personalised treatment plans with no hidden costs. ● Treatments available in Toowoomba and Brisbane. ● Experienced in offering full aftercare to rural and remote patients. ● Ultrasound examination included at initial consultation. ● Dr Kemp is a Phlebologist - we only treats leg veins.

Lady aged 46 years with varicose veins in the left leg.

Cause is great saphenous vein reux.

Treatment: Endovenous laser ablation and Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy.

Appearance at six months.

Phone: 3720 9912 Email: info@thelegveindoctor.com I Website: www.thelegveindoctor.com 30 | Winter 2021

General Practioners (RACGP).

The aim of the campaign was to partner with primary care, hospital and health services, education, pharmacy and community organisations such as QCWA, Lions and Rotary to increase public awareness of the 4Ts. This partnership began at the design phase which allowed for a more targeted approach to community education.

The QCWA partnered with the campaign early and were instrumental in spreading the message of the 4Ts to their extensive membership base across Queensland. The large focus on women and family made this a sensible partnership.

Empowering families and extended families to seek urgent medical assistance if recognising any of the 4Ts will have a significant impact on DKA rates across the state. More importantly, the reach into regional and rural communities is important due to their overrepresentation in DKA demographics.

Importantly, this campaign has shown the effectiveness of health and community partnering together for a common goal.

This model of engagement at a project design level will allow for effective preventative health strategies into the future.

Without the support of organisations like the QCWA, this campaign would not have had the reach needed to effectively reduce the DKA rate in Queensland. The next step for 2021 will be the development of a national strategy utilising a similar co-design approach.

Please remember the 4Ts – Thirsty, Toilet, Tired, Thinner – and if you recognise any of these in a child or family member, please seek urgent medical attention for a finger-prick blood glucose level and together we can reduce the rate of DKA in Queensland.

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2021 Winter | 31

Textile Beat ~ Opinion

Spinning the dream Words by Jane Milburn

Images by Bec Lindert

Grow, harvest, clean, spin, weave, dye, design, sew and market. All these stages in the creation of clothes are largely outsourced to industrial processes that have cotton garments appear almost by magic for 21st century wearers buying on demand.

A

bout 90 percent of clothes bought in Australia are made overseas yet spinning is the only one of these processes that Australia can’t do right here, right now, today.

If we were to reintroduce onshore spinning capacity, this would enable local processing as well as recycling capacity to create a closed-loop fibre economy saving textiles from landfill.

Until recently, most wearers were not thinking about the missing stages of repair and recycle that can help make the journey of clothes more circular and reduce their ecological impact. Now we are asking more questions, taking actions and seeking solutions.

With increasing concerns about climate change and pollution, the circular economy is poised to grow and Australia needs to be part of it. Manufacturing has been migrating offshore for decades, but pandemic disruption of supply chains may herald a turning of the tide.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said advanced textile technology with automatic mills, new spinning techniques and renewable energy could reignite local fibre manufacturing within the next decade.

There is already a move away from China due to concerns about human rights abuses because Australian companies’ have formal obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 in addition to moral and ethical considerations.

32 | Winter 2021

Governments want to bring manufacturing back onshore because the pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains, leading to the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy with the stated aim to manufacture a new future for our nation.

Australia is known for its raw materials, its wool and cotton, its iron-ore and coal, when it could be known for its textiles and steel if we now grasped the nettle and reinvested in manufacturing with green energy and technological innovation.

There is certainly impetus from the Australian fashion industry with a 2020 Reimagining local manufacturing report,

by Alida Milani and colleagues Clare Miles and Sanna Conquest, noting shifts in consumer support towards more local and sustainable manufacturing.

Their interviews with fashion industry players revealed that COVID-19 has further highlighted the unsustainable nature of this industry on a global scale and exposed its weakest links. It affirmed that provenance and ethics are important for designers, manufacturers and consumers, and the potential to revive local manufacturing based on known origin and traceability.

The Reimagining local manufacturing report indicated the need for a 10-year plan from government, business and investors aligned with agricultural innovation, advanced

manufacturing and a circular economy approach, as well as commitments to local procurement from government institutions, big brands and consumers.

Summarised quotes from the report include: • Change has to come from the ground up, through a new lens of sustainability and resource efficiency towards a circular, regenerative model • Onshore processing talks to our responsible sourcing of raw materials, we know where it is in the supply chain • It’s incredible to think about the cost of baling all of the wool and cotton which gets shipped over and then it gets shipped back.

• We don’t have much legacy industry here so we can leapfrog to a circular system.

• There is a lack of infrastructure, no recycling stations, no end of life solutions. We need to fix the end, not just the beginning. We need to become self-sufficient.

• We need quick investment in high-end spinning machinery for our cotton and wool. From an origin of production perspective, you need yarn spun in Australia to export.

• We need farmers, producers, educators, industry leaders et al to come together to build a framework for the growth and longevity of the industry.

• The industry needs to be about personal connection, supporting local, and a high level of personalisation. It’s about building loyalty with customers, the opposite of fast fashion.

• We need to learn best practice globally and pull together a dream team of decision makers.

The report concludes Australia’s clothing and textiles industry needs urgent attention and COVID-19 presents a reset opportunity for better outcomes across multiple sectors.

After 40 years farming at St George, the Rogan family’s Australian Super Cotton enterprise is producing long-staple cotton for premium products and at the leading edge of change.

During the past 15 years, Glenn Rogan has noticed more consumer interest in provenance and ethical production and in the past 12 months a strong desire to support Australian industry.

Glenn is the grower behind Full Circle Fibres, the only Australian cotton supply chain albeit with the cotton shipped for spinning in Manchester, England, before returning home to be dyed, knitted or woven and turned into garments.

Based on all that has gone before, Glenn believes within three years there will be locally processed specialty Australian cotton available here because

there are multi-layered benefits.

“Australian cotton growers are amongst the best growers in the world in terms of quality and yield, so why aren’t we processing it more in Australia? Commercial spinning is the missing link,” he said.

“From a family farming perspective, I know that every cotton or grain grower has a sense of pride in what they are producing and a genuine desire to see the end product. You put your soul into producing it, and it is natural to want to be part of the finished product. This is very difficult unless the manufacturing or processing is done locally.

“And whenever we export raw materials, someone else takes the profit. Cotton is a global commodity and we should be doing more locally so we realise more of the profit in Australia.”

Glenn believes small-scale high-end spinning in Australia can be achieved through collaboration between growers, knowledge about spinning processes and some procurement certainty.

“We are further ahead than others because we have piloted with Meriel Chamberlin of Full Circle Fibres and brand owners, and we know what is possible. The next step is to bring spinning onshore. We need a line of finished products to underpin that and be able to offer manufacturers easier access to yarn without it having to go halfway across the world for spinning at short notice.

“We know technologically advanced spinning mills in Asia are fully automated and do ‘lights-out’ spinning that is managed hands-free.

Yarn-testing experts and security are the only labour inputs once the buildings and infrastructure are in place.”

Glenn is not talking about spinning yarn for $5 t-shirts, rather high-end fashion and homewares, bedding and towels. This quality goes to the heart of sustainability because buying one or two quality items that last for years is more sustainable than many cheap throwaways.

Product miles matter too. As a consuming society, a lot of miles are put into the raw product to send it overseas and then back again to Australia. The energy and money that goes into moving things offshore and bringing them back could instead be invested in local manufacturing.

Glenn said genuine commitment by state and federal governments in the form of procurement of uniforms, and bedding and towels in hospitals, would ensure financial underpinning for a new industry that could deliver on many levels. Technology is available to ensure all the offcuts, as well as old sheets and towels, can be reprocessed as part of a circular manufacturing industry.

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Fashion

Local through and through Words and image by Jane Milburn

A

n alignment of values was integral to Timber Queensland’s search for a local natural-fibre shirt to include in marketing materials for its Buy Queensland Timber campaign.

“We are promoting the benefits of natural, renewable locallysourced building products and our message is buy local, from local supply chains,” said the group’s strategic relations and communications manager Clarissa Brandt. “We wanted to echo that and work with other local supply chains to tell our story and walk our talk.”

The Buy Queensland Timber campaign had been simmering on the backburner before COVID-19 refocused consumer attention on sourcing and buying local.

Ms Brandt said earlier t-shirts purchased through a traditional promotional supplier were made overseas from polyester but the group realised this was not a good look when spruiking the health, wellbeing and sustainability benefits of local natural materials.

“These are decisions we need to be making as a society.

The promotional products’ industry will always exist because businesses want to promote themselves, but we now look for sustainable ways to deliver messages phasing out the use of polyester shirts, plastic pens or stubby coolers with logos.”

It was surprisingly difficult to find a local cotton shirt but through an industry contact Clarissa found Meriel Chamberlin and Full Circle Fibres products that are ‘’Grown Milled and Made in Australia” using cotton grown at St George.

“It seems unbelievable that she is the only one. There is definitely an opportunity for growth in local sourcing of

promotional products that tell a better story and align with our values.”

While price was not necessarily a determining factor, the local cotton shirts were only slightly more expensive at $26 each compared with $21 for the synthetic/plastic ones produced offshore.

“Our message is “We build Queensland”. We were happy to support a local business when promoting buy-local in our own industry to support that sentiment in other industries too. The cotton is grown in Queensland and was custom-dyed to our colour specification.’’

Part of Timber Queensland’s remit is to grow the market for timber as an environmentally friendly building product that helps combat climate change. Currently Queensland produces enough timber to meet only 70 percent of local needs (see more at BuyQldTimber.com.au) and Timber Queensland is encouraging farmers to diversify income by growing trees which also benefits grazing ecosystems.

Softwood timbers are grown in far north and south-east Queensland, hardwoods at Gympie and central Queensland, and cypress pine in western Queensland. Ms Brandt said timber is the ultimate renewable product and there is growing awareness that healthier, happier environments are achieved through biophilic designs which connect us to the natural world.

Clarissa Brandt with Jason Ross modelling the new cotton t-shirt in front of contemporary charred timber cladding.

2021 Winter | 35

Finally working out As ethical and inclusive fashion took the world by storm, the departments that often seemed left out were activewear and swimwear. Ruth magazine has touched on the latter over the years, but ethical clothing for a good workout can be hard to find.

A

nd so the team made it our mission to introduce you to options that you can wear without any qualms – for the Winter edition, enter Brisbane-based dk active.

This label was founded in 2017 by Danielle Kay when she realised she wanted to bring an ethical and inclusive energy to activewear, and is now PETA-approved vegan and rated by ethical and sustainable fashion rating body, Good On You. Each piece of clothing is made using minimal environmental impact and processed without chemicals wherever possible, and created with versatility in mind to reduce ‘throw-away fashion’.

36 | Winter 2021

Fashion

Pictured: The Every Body Collection, dk active, sizes 6-24 available.

2021 Winter | 37

Art

Channelling the artist within Ochre-enriched paints swirl and sashay across the canvas forming patterns resembling a falcon’s eye view of Queensland’s remarkable Channel Country.

Words by Avril Priem Images by Annabel Tully

44 | Winter 2021

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nnabel Tully, a renowned landscape artist from Quilpie, is turning her hand to printmaking and creating stunning textiles.

As well as the rich, earthy tones with pops of vibrant colour, it’s the lines in her art that are truly mesmerising.

“The aerial perspectives of my textile designs come from my original paintings, old maps of the area, and satellite imagery;

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but mostly I am able to visualise the lines — channels, rocky outcrops, wooded areas and open claypans — because of the time I’ve spent exploring on foot (I love hiking) and on motorbike whilst mustering,” explains Annabel.

Annabel and husband Stephen own Bunginderry, a fifth-generation 185,000-acre sheep and cattle station 65 kilometres north-west of Quilpie.

When their children were younger, Annabel painted and managed her art business from her home studio. However, she found that selling art is as unpredictable as the income of graziers where flood and drought are part of the arid rural landscape.

“As our children’s educational needs became more of a priority, my husband and I wanted to offer them a boarding school education in the city (1200 kilometres away).

To help provide for this, I retrained as a nurse. A great endeavour to extend my ‘grey matter’ and to prove to myself, and to our children, that you are never too old to learn,” says Annabel.

“But being creative is in my blood — how I paint a landscape, set a table for dinner, trim a hedge, make a meal for my family, or compose a paragraph.

“Now, I have embraced textile design as a new medium where I can express my creativity.”

And so Annabel launched Tully Textiles.

Ah, once an artist, always an artist.

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2021 Winter | 45

House

Colour your world (or home) Most people have a basic understanding that colour can shape emotions, but do you know how much of a dramatic impact it can have on the mood of your house?

Words by Kelly Baker

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Images Contributed

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auren Egan always knew the colours she chose to paint her newly renovated home would have a major impact on the vibe of each room and, indeed, the whole house.

But even she was taken aback by just how dramatic a change her carefully-curated colour palette created.

The colours, while not particularly bold or even striking (at first glance anyway), turned her sunny but plain house into a true home.

“Somehow these colours work together to build a real feeling of sanctuary,” says Lauren.

“The hues I went with make the entire house feel like a genuine cocoon.

“The paint brought a warmth and a texture to the space and so the home feels very welcoming. I feel peaceful here.”

While Lauren, who has her own interior design company, was pleasantly surprised by the emotions the colours she eventually chose evoked, scientists who study the world of colour are anything but.

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Recent research carried out by a team at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany found that people from all corners of the world associate colours with emotions.

In fact, people from different parts of the world often associate the same colours with the same emotions. Lead researcher Dr Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel says the study was the first of its kind and established that colour-emotion associations are extremely consistent.

Colour stylist for Haymes Wendy Rennie has long been fascinated by just how much colours impact mood, and believes that the vast majority of us underestimate the effect a particular colour can have.

“People tend to opt for colours that really pop, or whites or neutrals based on the fact that they think it will provide impact, but they generally don’t understand the complexities of colour, nor how it can elevate a mood or create a shift or transform a space completely.”

In order to select the palette that works for you, you must first think about the mood you hope to create, says Wendy.

Then, visit a paint store and select some samples to swatch on walls at home.

Choosing a base colour and then adding at least three related hues is a great way to create a harmonious palette to work with. This is how Lauren came up with the soothing colours she had applied at her newly-renovated home.

“Initially, I sat down with a fan deck and picked out colours I really loved,” she says.

“From that shortlist I got a sense of what kind of colours I was drawn to. I could see there was something of a theme and then I narrowed it down even further.”

Next, as per Wendy’s advice, Lauren thought about how she wanted her home to feel.

She paid close attention to the colours of the materials already there, such as the warm oak floorboards and the fact

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the house was bright with sunshine. She also decided she wanted a seamless indoor/outdoor feel and so added a green to her shortlist.

In the end, some of the colours were quite muted, some even gloomy and dark. But they worked beautifully in this particular space with its high ceilings and abundant light. And Lauren is thrilled.

“It’s been the greatest places to spend time during the COVID lockdowns. We’ve been away camping a few times but we’re always happy to return here.”

Her advice for those of us who might like to follow in her footsteps is to be bold in your choices.

“Start with a single room, or a wall, or even just a door,” suggests Lauren. “Then, once you build your confidence you can expand. And when it comes to colour choices, always follow your heart.”

HOW TO PAINT LIKE A PRO • Check the condition of your walls. Do you have cracks? Minor damage? Fill and finesse these with filler and /or a primer. Leave to dry.

• Apply painter’s tape where you need clean, fresh lines or edges.

• Cover everything that needs protecting with a drop sheet (or three).

• Cut in edges using a brush. For large surfaces, however, use a roller and always work from top to bottom. This way any drips or small flaws will be covered as you go.

• Remember it’s just paint. You can always re-do it.

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42 | Winter 2021

House

The grand tour of ‘Notnel’ Images courtesy of Jason McNamara

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his ‘grand lady’ is one of Ipswich’s oldest historical homes, and still stands on an impressive 2203sq m of land in the city centre. Notnel was built in 1856 and owned by the same man who built Ipswich Boys Grammar in 1863, David McLaughlin.

Ipswich City Council records show that Alfred Dann was the occupant of the home in 1870 and, when it was sold, Notnel was described as “just the thing for a gentleman on the lookout for a town house” and, oddly enough, said to enjoy “sea breezes”.

While being sold again this year, the Queensland Heritage Register-listed home has kept its original kitchen hearth and scullery room, and also has four bedrooms, a parlour, two fireplaces, an attic and loft bedroom, two sheds, and even its own well.

Notnel remains one of Ipswich’s finest and most significant examples of early Queensland domestic architecture.

2021 Winter | 43

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2021 Winter | 45

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46 | Winter 2021

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2021 Winter | 47

Birds

STRAW NECKED IBIS

ROYAL SPOONBILL

T

he old saying “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” reflects the comings and goings of birds linked to seasons.

Australia’s coastline is home to many thousands of shorebirds during the summer, but during our autumn most depart for the Arctic to breed. (See Ruth, Spring, 2018.) Many other birds herald the changing seasons. The raucous honks and squawks of Channel-billed Cuckoos mark the beginning of summer.

The persistent calls of Eastern Koels, often called stormbirds, indicates the beginning of their breeding season and for us the start of the summer storm season.

Australia’s extreme weather, from droughts to flooding rains, has led to another form of bird movement. Many species are nomads, following rains or floods across the continent, and miraculously appearing in inland channels, wetlands and lakes as they fill. When the Channel Country and Kati Thanda/Lake Eyre fill, we are treated to wonderful images of huge flocks

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of Pelicans and other waterbirds frantically nesting to take advantage of the abundant food delivered by the water. There is still speculation about how a Pelican happily fishing at Bribie Island just north of Brisbane suddenly knows to join its friends and rise on the thermals to start the long flight west, arriving as the waters from rain which may have fallen in northern Queensland finally reach the Channel Country and inland lakes.

Millions of birds from many species travel inland to take advantage of seasons of inland plenty. They feast on the masses of brine-shrimp that hatch in the now-filled salt lakes, the fresh green herbs and the swarms of insects which accompany major inland flood events. Most are waterbirds, or species which depend on water for their livelihoods.

Other nomadic species make less spectacular but equally essential journeys in pursuit of food, water and breeding opportunities. Cycles of boom and bust characterise Australia,

Words and pictures by Jill and Ian Brown of Birds Queensland

AUSTRALIAN SPOTTED CRAKE

and our wildlife and flora are admirably adapted to them.

Although we have not yet fully understood how birds know where to go and when, we are now beginning to understand their complex routes and movements. Leg banding has long been used to identify individual birds. When the banded bird dies or is recaptured, details of the band are returned to the Banding Project.

This provides invaluable data on longevity, and very broad information on movements.

Now we have tiny satellite tracking devices that can be harmlessly attached to individual birds so that we can see exactly where they go and how long it takes, and some amazing information is becoming available.

Many species rely on inland flooding to replenish their numbers. This is particularly important in ensuring the survival of bird species which are dwindling in numbers and in some cases at risk of extinction. Management of our scarce water resources needs to take this into account to ensure that many of these species are still here for future generations.

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

BLACK-TAILED NATIVE-HEN

2021 Winter | 49

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50 | Winter 2021

Events

Warwick Jumpers and Jazz in July – the vibe is alive!

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es - the festival is back, so put July 15-25 in your calendars.

After a year like no other, Queensland’s quirkiest winter festival is back on the horizon, with that unique and colourful country winter experience.

Love being surrounded by creative endeavours? Make plans now to immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of creative yarn bombing and marvellous jazz.

Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine is excited about the up and coming tree competition.

“The 2021 yarn bombed tree exhibition will be a sight to behold. Artists will be wrapping 100 trees in a lot of ‘woolly love’,” she said.

“Creativity and colour abounds during this joyful festival where artists from near and as far away as Lincolnshire in England design snug decorations for Warwick’s bare winter trees.”

Brimming with colour and sound over 10 days and bookended by two big weekends, expect vibrantly dressed trees, a tantalising array of crafty workshops, and live jazz vibe everywhere you look. Make a date with this year’s annual yarn bombed extravaganza at the Gallery, depicting an iconic home-scene from historic Australian lifestyle. This feature has become renowned far and wide.

Situated near the Southern Border ranges, expect delightful crispy mornings and warm sunny days. Don your most

colourful coats, scarves and beanies and enjoy both new and all-time favourite events such as the Jumpin’ Jazz Laneway Party at the historic Town Hall, Stroll and Swing featuring Suitcase Rummage (lots of quirky offerings) and Celebration of Local Flavours, Grand Automobile Display and grand finale Picnic in the Park with scores of stalls and jazz all day.

There are plenty of other events throughout, including Potters’ Soup Night where you purchase your own take-home handmade bowl, and look for that unique gift in the Potters’ gallery. Or you may prefer the cosy indoor restaurant “dinner with jazz” nights showcasing our local fine foods and wine, with opportunity to get up and dance to some of the finest musicians on our eastern seaboard.

From action-packed weekends to leisurely mid-week meanders through a region boasting pristine landscapes, world-class wineries and beautiful historic architecture, there is definitely something for everyone, including families.

Come to stay or come for a day – there are many accommodation choices further afield too, where you can enjoy a leisurely drive to the festival through the peaceful countryside.

Visit www.jumpersandjazz.com.au for lots of information about what’s on, accommodation and sightseeing delights, and follow on Facebook for updates.

See you there!

2021 Winter | 51

WINTER EVENTS 2021 JUNE 2021 COOLY ROCKS ON June 9-13 Coolangatta, Gold Coast Australia’s largest rock n roll and nostalgia festival, with vintage cars, music, markets, dance classes and more.

TASTE BUNDABERG FESTIVAL June 11-20 Bundaberg East Bundaberg supplies a quarter of Australia’s fresh produce, and you can experience it first-hand across 10 days of events celebrating the best food, flavours and producers.

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN BOWLS June 12-25 Broadbeach, Gold Coast A true festival of bowls, with 14 days of action played across 15 host clubs on the Gold Coast with more than 2000 bowlers.

SCENIC RIM EAT LOCAL WEEK June 25 - July 3 Around the Scenic Rim The backstage pass to farms, wineries and food stories, feast your way through the region in a week of festivals, farm-gate events, long lunches and dining experiences.

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VISION SPLENDID OUTBACK FILM FESTIVAL June 25 – July 3 Winton Celebrate Australian film and culture under the stars with a short film competition, nine days of movie screenings, and plenty of entertainment for the family.

JULY 2021

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TEA COSY COMPETITION AND DISPLAY July 2-3 Rambler Room at Mulgrave Settlers Museum, 60 Gordan St, Gordonvale Entrants will knit, crochet, or use another medium on their way to victory in this tea cosy competition.

GOOD FOOD MONTH July Across Brisbane Australia’s leading food festival, Brisbane’s turn comes in July with a month-long lineup of delicious food and drink served in alleyways, markets and restaurants.

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LAURA QUINKAN INDIGENOUS DANCE FESTIVAL July 2-4 Laura, Cape York area Celebrate Cape York’s rich aboriginal culture in a festival that showcases songs, dance and ceremonies of the First Nations people – surrounded by some of the oldest rock art in the world on sacred traditional Bora ground.

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WINTER EVENTS 2021 JULY 2021 NORTH AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF ARTS July 2 – August 1 North Ward, Townsville A month-long celebration of artistic, cultural and lifestyle events, the festival returns bigger and better than ever after a modified version in 2020. Expect a vibrant program of music, theatre, comedy, dance, exhibitions, masterclasses and more.

BIRDSVILLE BIG RED BASH July 6-8

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Big Red, Birdsville Located on the edge of the Simpson Desert in Outback Queensland, travellers can experience the thrill of a rock concert under one of the biggest star-studded skies in the world.

AUGUST 2021 THE ROYAL QUEENSLAND SHOW/EKKA August 6-15

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Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills The Royal Queensland Show (or Ekka to the locals) brings music, agriculture, arts, fashion, bars, wood chopping, sideshow alley and of course, the show’s famous strawberry ice-creams.

GEMFEST August 12-15 Anakie, Central Highlands Hosted at the home of the largest sapphire fields in the Southern Hemisphere, there will be workshops, entertainment and exhibitions.

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AIRLIE BEACH RACE WEEK FESTIVAL OF SAILING August 12-19 Airlie Beach A yacht race taking place around the breathtaking islands of the Whitsunday Passage, with plenty of activities and entertainment to keep both spectators and sailors entertained.

NOOSA CLASSIC August 15 Noosa Heads Whether you’re here for the hard and fast hill climb challenge or the 160km endurance race, Noosa Classic is a bike ride to remember.

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CAIRNS INDIGENOUS ART FAIR August 17-22 Cairns One of Australia’s finest art fairs, celebrate Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures through fashion, performance art, painting and more.

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Events

Bombing the bush … with tea cosies

Look out Miles, you’re going to be bombed … with tea cosies!

Words by Avril Priem

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Pictures courtesy of Kevin Alcock

ush-themed tea cosies are already popping up around the town. During the Back to the Bush Festival, September 9-12, the cosies will be on display at the Miles Historical Village Museum followed by a fundraiser auction.

Marianne Alcock of Brisbane, explains her big-hearted, wonderful idea: “Last winter, when the Premier said ‘Queensland is open for Queenslanders’, my husband Kevin and I visited outback Queensland. We noticed country towns doing it tough — attractions and shops shut, no tourists in town. It was awful.

“Our last stop on the route home was Miles where we visited the fabulous Historical Village and Museum. I read somewhere that Miles was the tea cosy capital … and I’m a tea cosy tragic!

“I knit without a pattern and my cosies are original — iconic Australian objects, people, animals, storybook characters, such as May Gibbs’ gumnut babies.

“I really wanted to do something to benefit country folk so I came up with the idea of bombing the bush with outback or bush-themed tea cosies.

“A group of crafty women and I get together each week and we are having so much fun making them. This whole project really is a team effort.

“My contribution is the felted bottle tree inspired by Roma’s Heroes Avenue, an avenue of bottle trees honouring soldiers who died in the World Wars.”

What a pearler of an idea, Marianne! And Miles Back to the Bush Festival thinks so, too.

“The tea cosy competition is a first for us,” says Tonita Taylor, festival secretary.

“We’ve already received over 100 cosies from 27 creators. When the first

54 | Winter 2021

box was opened, we were amazed at the colourful, creative and lovingly made works of art. To make it an adventure, for each new box we receive, we go on location in the district and have an ‘unboxing’ accompanied by tea and treats.”

The deadline for entries is July 15 — still time to get your needles clicking!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:‘Unboxed’ cosies on location in Miles. Fisherman (St George), Swaggie (Winton) and Mary Poppins (Allora) by Janet Gilbert. Marianne Alcock with her Bottle Tree (Roma); Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba) by Jann Olsson; Outback Wildflowers by Adele Spain. Jann Olsson with her Carnival of Flowers (Toowoomba).

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BOARDING 2021 Winter | 55

Travel

OLIO MIO ESTATE OLIVE GROVE AND VINEYARD

Stay and play in the Hunter Valley This hidden gem in northern NSW is well-worth the trip, whether you choose to drive the eight hours from Brisbane, or fly down to Sydney and hire a car or go with a tour.

Words by Brian Johnston, Simon Tsang, Jessica Kramer, and Scarlett Keddie Images Contributed

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hen your region’s website domain happens to be winecountry.com.au, it’s a pretty good indicator of where your strengths lie. The Hunter Valley, about three hours’ drive north from Sydney, is Australia’s oldest wine growing area with more than 150 wineries.

They might want to think about changing the web address to wineandfoodcountry.com.au, however, as it’s fast becoming known as the ultimate foodie destination (web domain is still up for grabs at last check).

Few would argue it’s more accurate, with local growers and hatted restaurants leading the culinary charge. What’s more, the Hunter Valley hosts the Wine & Food Festival in around May or June each year.

The festival has become so popular, it’s on for the full month of June in 2021 with a plethora of events and activities, including hands-on cooking classes and sampling the region’s gourmet food.

You can spend a week in the region and still not try everything, so here’s a few ideas of how to fit as much in as you can.

An overnight stay will hardly do the Hunter Valley justice, especially when there are so many special events about. If you’re pushed for time, however, the Crowne Plaza has the

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solution — a stay, play and eat one-stop shop.

Unless you’re arriving by helicopter, the first thing you’ll notice heading into the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is the 18hole golf course. Not all 18 holes of course (unless you really did arrive in a helicopter), but as soon as you pass through the front gates, you’re greeted by sweeping views of the fairways, greens and water hazards (known as lakes in normal speak).

If your golf tragic spouse hasn’t already broken down into uncontrollable sobs, squeeze in a round after check-in so you can work up an appetite for the five-course degustation dining experience hosted by the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Redsalt.

Trust me, you’ll want to go in hungry.

The menu is designed to highlight the region’s wide variety of produce. Award-winning wines from the area are matched to each dish for an extra $50 per person.

Crowne Plaza is also home to Ubika Day Spa, where you can get a couple’s therapy that doesn’t involve sharing your feelings. Large couple’s suites allow two people to relax with a massage treatment together, including a classic Swedish massage, or even a candlelit spa bath before the massage.

Another local food and wine option is Hungerford Hill Winery. The winery with the distinctive barrel-shaped building is just a couple of minutes’ drive from Crowne Plaza. On-site

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GRAPE HARVEST AT A DELULIIS WINES VINEYARD

2021 Winter | 57

Travel

HUNTER BELLE CHEESES Muse restaurant offers contemporary Australian cuisine with a focus on the region and seasonal produce. The menu is a four-course format at $140 per person, with a limited choice of dishes to select from for each course.

If you’d rather spend your time winetasting, you’ll be spoiled for choice in the Hunter Valley.

Family-run Tintilla Estate is both a winery, with a boutique single vineyard, and an olive grove. There’s buttery yellow Semillon, spicy shiraz, and other wines citrusy, fruity, tangy and oaky, in addition to olive oils, verjus and red wine vinegars.

There’s also Bimbadgen, where you can enjoy gorgeous views over the valley as you sip on quality wines, followed by a great meal at onsite Esca restaurant; or Leogate Estate where you can relish a good sparkling frizzante or Verdelho, just to name a view.

As many wineries as there are in the region, there’s almost as many restaurants and foodie havens — some onsite at the wineries and olive groves, and others stand alone.

One such place is Hunter Belle Cheese, which lurks at the edge of a nondescript town (sorry, Muswellbrook) on the New England Highway.

If you’re after a good coffee, stop here. Looking for lunch?

Do the same. And if you’re curious about how to make a fine feta, or what beer cheese tastes like, this is your chance to find out.

Step inside Hunter Belle Cheese and the first thing you’ll spot are piles of fudge and a cabinet of homemade gelato, pink and yellow with temptation. Kids will be entranced by the gelato and fudge-making sometimes under way in the glassedin kitchens, and can try samples.

Hungry? You can order many delicious options from the seasonal menus.

The best place to perch is in the courtyard at the side, which

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is cheerful in yellow and gets plenty of winter sun.

Even if you aren’t refuelling, this small-scale cheese factory merits a look and you can always stock up on some cheese for later.

Local dairy farmers Geoff and Tanya Chesworth gave up their farm in 2008 following bad droughts and took over Hunter Belle Cheese.

They now produce kilograms of cheese a week using locally sourced Brown Swiss cows’ milk, including special “club cheddar” with added flavours such as cranberry and pistachio or smokey bacon, or the popular beer cheddar made with Angry Man Pale Ale from local Murray’s Brewery.

“People either get that hop flavour or they seem to miss it all together, it’s strange like that,” says Geoff of the deliciously crumbly, moist cheddar.

Purists should stick with the more boutique cheese ranges.

Herb and garlic feta a big seller, followed by Blue Moon, a strong blue of which Geoff is particularly proud.

The factory also produces an award-winning washed-rind cheese and a unique triple cream brie with a centre of black fermented garlic.

Also in the range are a handmade natural yoghurt and a labna yoghurt cheese infused with lemon-pepper oil.

Peer through the factory windows on weekdays and you’ll see the cheese being made and maturing on racks.

“It’s great for the kids. They sometimes think cheese grows on trees, so it’s always good to let them know how things actually work,” laughs Geoff.

There’s even a fibreglass cow called Bessie that allows visitors to try milking, something that causes fits of giggles among kids and adults alike.

And if wrestling with artificial udders or wining and dining isn’t a pleasing surprise when on a long drive along the highway, you might as well just give up travelling.

Take the stress out of travelling…

And book a four-day Hunter Valley tour with Cowan’s Bus Service. Running from November 25-28, there’s plenty of time to book and also sort out flights to Sydney.

The tour company is locally-owned, so you know you have the best experts taking you around to all the hidden treasures, as well as an ultra-comfortable luxury coach.

Enjoy delicious flavours and scenic traveling while you visit places like Pokolbin Village, Denman, local wineries and olive farms, the township of Scone, open-cut coal mines, Brindley Park, the art on Merriwa Silo, Hunter Belle Cheese, and the Singleton Sundial.

You’ll also enjoy three-course dinners and full cooked breakfasts, and quality overnight accommodation.

And for a bargain price of $1250 per person, twin share, it makes no sense to miss out. For more information or to book, call (02) 6547 4900.

Escape to Cairns

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

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2021 Winter | 59

Business

Realising the dream to create an award-winning drop Jason Hannay is passionate about wine and spirits. He has 20 years’ experience in the Queensland wine industry and roughly 600 distillation runs behind him, so you know the process is in good hands. However, Jason always had a dream of creating bespoke, artisan spirits using local Queensland produce — and so Imbibis Craft Distillery was born.

Words by Jessica Kramer

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et in Haigslea, about 45 minutes from inner Brisbane and bordering Ipswich in the Somerset region, Imbibis prides itself on its award-winning gin and brandy.

This can be credited to the philosophy “to make award-winning spirits with integrity” and the use of high-quality local products while respecting nature and resources. In addition, Jason is passionate about the science behind distillation while still maintaining artistic freedom to create the best gin and brandy. Each batch is hand-crafted in a specifically-designed copper still.

The distillery’s philosophy and way of working is further fleshed out in their

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Images Contributed logo and the meaning behind the name — Jason certainly thought everything out!

Imbibis is a Latin derivative of ‘imbibe’ (to drink, absorb, assimilate, conceive an idea), which the team love to do but found the business name already taken; and the logo symbolises the transformative process that takes spirit liquid to vapour and back to liquid again – in other words, the heart of distillation.

Imbibis is a member of The Australian Distillers Association, which is the peak body for craft distilleries, and have won several awards: last November, the Clarity gin and brandy (the only two products available from Imbibis at the time) gained

silver medals in The Australian Distilled Spirits awards, while this year the distillery won two silver medals at the fourth London Spirits Competition for the Three Myrtles Gin and Shiraz Brandy — the ultimate endorsement in the global spirits industry.

Three Myrtles Gin scored highly in the three judging aspects of quality, value and packaging. The Shiraz Brandy also scored highly in all judging aspects and was the only Australian Brandy to win a medal.

The London Spirits Competition stands apart from other spirits competitions by awarding spirits for their drinkability.

Where other competitions focus solely on technical competence and distilling prowess, the London Spirits Competition goes further to evaluate a spirit for its all around excellence — in the way it tastes, looks and the value it provides. They believe this golden triangle makes spirit drinkers more likely to buy and drink the spirit, either from a retail store or at a bar or restaurant, and want to laud this.

“The extremely qualified judges, the chance to compete with thousands of excellent spirits from around the world and the stringent judging criteria of quality, value and packaging makes an award from the London Spirits Competition a coveted one,” Jason says.

“We are pleased that our Three Myrtles Gin and Shiraz

Brandy performed so well at the competition. The two silver medals demonstrates that the spirits we are making are the kind that bar managers and mixologists want to stock and spirits drinkers enjoy drinking.”

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2021 Winter | 61

Books

Sami Bayly and her quirky animals Images from The Illustrated Encyclopaedias of Dangerous Animals and Ugly Animals by Sami Bayly, published by Lothian/Hachette Australia.

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You’ve probably heard of or seen The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, but did you know that the author and illustrator is only 25 years old?

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ami Bayly’s books have won the Children’s Indie Book of the Year Award and the Australia Book Design Awards, as well as an Honour Award for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award and being shortlisted for the ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children and the ABA Booksellers’ Choice 2020 Book of the Year Awards. Ruth magazine had a chat with the talented woman to get some insight into her creative process and success, as well as what’s next.

When did you start doing art, and what medium did you start with?

Like many, I have been drawing since I was a little kid. My parents were always inspiring my sister and I to be in touch with our creative sides. My mum would spend hours painting larger than life acrylic artworks that would decorate our house and my dad encouraged us to create music and supported my drum-playing hobby as an early teen. The pair made sure we always had copious amounts of materials to keep us creative.

Whether it was drawing my pet dog, horse, donkey or fish, or even just sketching the loungeroom around me, I fell in love with replicating my surroundings and had an endless need to make them look as realistic as possible.

My favourite medium to work with when I was younger was graphite. I loved the delicate touch and control you needed to have when using it and that with just

a simple pencil you could create a lifelike artwork that held so much emotion.

What medium is your preferred one now?

Now, however, I rarely use graphite. My preferred medium to work with is watercolours, something that I absolutely hated only just a few years ago. In the first year of my degree, my lecturer had us undertake a few tasks that we were only allowed to use watercolours with. I forced myself to not give up on the medium and to actually learn it, not relying on adding details with sharpened pencils or pens. I studied how to control a paint brush, blend and work with layers. It took around three to four years to feel like I had finally gained control of the wild beast that is watercolour and I felt confident enough to tackle almost any subject matter.

What is it about illustrating animals that draws you to them?

I believe that my habit of drawing animals since I was a young age continued into adulthood and flourished into what now is a love of illustrating the natural world. I love learning about unusual and bizarre creatures and putting together the pieces in my mind as to why something has evolved particular habits or features. It allowed me to realise that there is almost always a reason as to why something

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looks the way it does. Humans have a habit of basing an animals worth on whether or not it can be defined as “beautiful” or “ugly”, but something that we need to learn is that each creature fulfils its role by purely existing within its ecosystem. It doesn’t need to fit our social structures of beauty to be appreciated or respected, so my aim when illustrating these wonderful animals is to teach the upcoming generations these lessons before it is too late.

What made you decide to create a book, and how old were you when you started working on your first one?

thought of being a writer never seeming possible. In school I always struggled with writing and spelling, which made me believe that if I ever wanted to create books I could only ever do the artworks, and that I could never achieve it on my own. My degree taught me how to research animals efficiently and what is important when notetaking or field studying (something that later became very valuable to me when creating my own books).

Having my publishing company believe in my ability to not only illustrate but also write a book was wonderful. I hope to inspire children like me, who might not feel good enough to be writers, that they can do whatever they put their minds to.

The journey of my book-making career was very unexpected!

I was at the end of my third year of university You have a and had entered some Bachelor of Natural artworks into a scientific History Illustration illustration competition - what were those held by the Australian studies like? What Museum. One of the kind of classes did artworks included was a you take? portrait of an Australian My Natural History White Ibis and it was Illustration degree felt accompanied by an artist like it was made for Sami in her studio. Image courtesy of @Shanrosephotography and @ statement discussing me. When I was in high hunterhunterau. the reasons as to why school I always felt we should appreciate that Fine Arts wasn’t the wonderful birds. As the path I wanted to a result of their habitats being destroyed, they have adapted to follow, yet a science degree wasn’t right either. So after finding city environments rather than going extinct. However, the surface out about a degree at the University of Newcastle that was a level opinion by many is that they are “dirty bin chickens” and do mix of art and science and was only a few hours away from nothing other than steal your food. home in Port Macquarie, I knew that it was what I needed to I was ultimately awarded as a co-winner and my artworks and do. I was able to learn how to scientifically illustrate plants and words were printed in the Sydney Morning Herald. It just so animals, experience different mediums, uncover facts about happened that the head of Children’s Publishing at Hachette Australia’s own history and Indigenous culture and more. Some Australia was reading the paper and saw my article. She quickly of the more notable courses that shaped me as an artist were got in touch with me via my university lecturer and asked medical illustration, animation, graphic design, typography and whether I was interested in creating a book based on my love of photography. ugly animals. I was just a month shy of my 22nd birthday.

What are your future plans? Will you continue to

How long does each book take you to complete, roughly?

The length of time to complete each book has varied quite a bit. The process of the first book, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals, took approximately one year to physically illustrate and write. With 60 animals featured, it began in early 2018 and took from two to three days to paint each one; I also had to do a lot of research for each creature before writing and drew size comparisons and approximately two to three line drawings for each page. It then took an additional few months to print before finally being published at the end of 2019. My following book however, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, took only half that time, roughly six months.

This was not entirely because I was faster the second time around, but also because it took me a long time to decide on a follow up book that felt right. For my third book, it has taken around nine months to complete, but this time there will be pairs featured on each page, so with double the illustrations and text I am very pleased to be able to finish it in such a short period of time. This experience has taught me that I am capable of achieving many things if I manage my time well. In my university years it would take me weeks to complete just one painting.

After a background in illustration - and your study focusing on it as well – how did you find the writing aspect of your books?

Illustration has always been my area of expertise, with the

release books after the third one comes out in September?

I am very excited to see where my future takes me! If someone had told me five years ago that I would be an award-winning author and illustrator of three books I probably would have thought they were talking to the person next to me. So I have learnt to not plan too much for the future and take it a day at a time. However, I do know that more books are to be in my future. What they will be about is still undetermined, but I will be spending the next few months/years working on them and I couldn’t be happier. What I can say is that for now we are keeping The Illustrated Encyclopaedias as a trilogy and that I will be moving onto something different for the future.

What advice would you give to budding illustrators and artists?

I would say for any up-and-coming illustrators or creative people in general, that your hobbies or career goals are valid. For many years I had my career expectations shot down or dismissed by others because of the stereotype that “being an artist is not a real job” or “that it would never pay the bills”. Fortunately my family and close friends were always supportive, but if you do not have that immediate support system it can be challenging to stay motivated and not fall into choosing a path that pleases others instead of yourself. If you are determined and patient then you can turn your creative profession into your full-time job and it will be all the more exciting and rewarding when you do.

Imagine your child understanding the relevancy of what they are learning?

Imagine your child being excited about learning? child applying their knowledge to problem-solving and Imagine your confidently communicating with peers and adults alike?

Imagine Downlands - a school that actively seeks to support your child’s dreams and ambitions?

This is part of everyday education experiences available to every student at Downlands. Professional educators know each student and seek to discover her or his strengths and what encouragement each child needs in their field of endeavour. Students are supported to build on strengths and learn strategies to overcome challenges.

We want our students to excel, to become flexible, resilient, and imaginative as they work towards fulfilling their aspirations.

Downlands is “founded on love and built on love, MSC schools offer a vision of hope for humankind, one to which all their members can contribute as they grow strong in faith.” This is the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) Vision of Education and it is particularly pertinent in 2021.

Learning intentions and success criteria are critical at Downlands. Our students learn to learn; they understand

the relevancy of their learning and can see where each step will take them. Knowing what one is learning and how one is learning, helps students strive to keep a clear focus and in doing so, helps reduce the anxiety so many are facing in these uncertain times.

Downlands supports families through the expectation that all members of the community uphold the rules of respect, discipline, courtesy and seek to exemplify the values of kindness, self-discipline, selflessness and seeking to help others. Students enjoy opportunities of leadership and with the support of staff, learn more about character and resilience in the face of difficult situations.

The Downlands Mission is to draw our students into the pursuit of truth and excellence by fully embracing and engaging with the world in which we live. Downlands is committed to fostering a kind and compassionate community; guiding people to reach their potential through connection of mind and heart; and nurturing a culture founded on trust, humility, and excellence.

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YEARS 4-12 | COEDUCATIONAL | INDEPENDENT | CATHOLIC | DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL 2021 Winter | 65

WINTER READING great read Cosy up beside the fire with a

Words by Avril Priem and Jessica Kramer

Images Contributed

Far from Home By Rosie Ayliffe In 2016, Mia Ayliffe-Chung did what hundreds of young women do every year — she travelled to Australia for an adventure. But Mia never returned home to England.

Tragically, she was murdered by a mentally-disturbed French backpacker at a Home Hill hostel.

Far From Home is Mia’s mother’s story — of life with, and without, her only child.

Significantly, it’s about how Rosie lobbies the Australian government to reform the working holiday visa 417 program, where international backpackers work for 88 days, mostly as pickers in agriculture, so they can spend a second year here. At the time of her death, Mia had just started working on a cane farm.

A grief-stricken and angry Rosie pulls no punches: this broken system is akin to “modern slavery”.

The revelations of some backpackers’ experiences in the food bowl regions of Australia horrified her: insalubrious living conditions, mixed-gender dormitories, sexual harassment and assault, bullying, rip-offs and scams by rogue operators in the agriculture labour hire industry.

In solidarity with civil society groups, Rosie’s campaign raises awareness in the community and government of exploitative treatment of young workers in the 88-day program.

The unresolved question is: what is being done to clean up the pernicious operators in the system?

Rosie’s story illustrates her strength and determination and this mother’s heartache is sure to bring a lump to your throat.

Mia and Rosie also feature in Long Way From Home produced by Australian Story, available for viewing on the ABC website.

The Bird in the Herd By Katheryn Apel and Renee Treml This adorable picture book is sure to be a big hit with both the kids and their parents or grandparents.

Adults will reminisce about their own childhood with the similarity of structure this book holds against ‘The House that Jack Built’, while children will enjoy finding out who will be involved with the herd next.

Brightly colour illustrations means it will be engaging for even the littlest tyke, and the wording is simple enough for learning readers to have a go. Each rhyming word is highlighted with a vivid colour, making reading a delight for both child and parent.

Published by University of Queensland Press, The Bird in the Herd RRPs for $24.99.

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Waking Romeo By Kathryn Baker This is one of those rare books that get better with rereading – in this case, because you probably missed some classic literature references the first time around.

Waking Romeo is a time-travel, post-apocalyptic retelling of Romeo & Juliet, only without all the moping and with extra fun.

Jules Capulet is living in 2083 with the end of the world on the horizon and her boyfriend Romeo in a coma. Time travel is possible, but only forward – or so she believes until she meets a handsome boy, Ellis, who claims to be from the future with a mission to simply ‘wake Romeo’, and questions all she knows about love and life.

As with any good time travel novel, there are some interesting twists and turns in Waking Romeo. The main character is no damsel in distress either, with the author “serving a side of feminism with her Shakespeare”.

For more fun, don’t read the back of the book’s cover before diving in, and see if you can work out what classic story Ellis is pulled from on your own.

The Other Side of Perfect By Mariko Turk Who doesn’t love a good romantic comedy novel?

Mariko Turk hits the spot with The Other Side of Perfect, a young adult book about ballet dancer Alina Keeler who finds herself with two metal plates holding her bones together, only one friend, and her dreams of a career in dance destroyed. When she reluctantly joins the school musical, she discovers laidback and optimistic Jude, who also happens to be annoyingly attractive. Described as ideal to fill the void left by the conclusion of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series, the novel includes a diverse cast of characters.

The beauty of this book is how the author draws on her own experience, having also broken her leg while dancing ballet in her 20s and ending up being grateful she hadn’t been on a professional track when it happened, as well as experiencing racial stereotypes and lack of diversity in the industry.

The XX Brain By Dr Lisa Mosconi Research into women’s brain health has been traditionally under-represented, so thank goodness for Dr Lisa Mosconi’s research and her latest book, The XX Brain.

According to Dementia Australia, in 2016 dementia overtook heart disease as the leading cause of death for Australian women and nearly 65% of all dementia-related deaths are female.

Why do more women than men experience cognitive decline? Is it because we live longer making us more vulnerable to dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s?

Neuroscientist Dr Mosconi asked these questions and her ground-breaking research led to a link between Alzheimer’s and menopause.

“When it comes to a woman’s cognitive health, menopause remains the only factor known to increase Alzheimer’s risk in women,” she says.

Losing our spark Oestrogen, produced in our ovaries, is needed by our brains because it nudges our neurons to burn glucose that fires up brain functionality.

“It is also involved in growth, plasticity, and immunity. Basically, oestrogen keeps your brain younger and healthier,” says Dr Mosconi.

During peri-menopause, our oestrogen levels begin to yo-yo and our neurons sputter like old spark plugs in a motor.

This has a whopping neurological impact — hot flushes, migraines, brain fog, insomnia, depression, anxiety …

Add in risk factors such as genetics, health conditions, inactivity, poor sleep, stress, smoking, alcohol, unhealthy eating — and here’s the equation: Age + haywire hormones + risk factors = vulnerability to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.

Dr Mosconi identifies the ‘big five’ that play a significant role in brain health: food, fitness, sleep, stress and support from health practitioners. She then details proven practical ways to keep our neurons firing on all cylinders.

Dementia Australia and the Queensland Brain Institute (UQ) echo her message.

Dr Mosconi’s pioneering research, encapsulated in this extensive yet easy-to-understand book, empowers us to preserve our brainpower. And, it’s never too late to start.

National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 2021 Winter | 67

History

Mrs Whitaker’s tea cosy, courtesy of Mulgrave Settlers Museum

Keeping Cosy Words by Avril Priem

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Images Contributed

sip Darjeeling (with pinkie raised), nibble daintily and exchange f you have a tea cosy sulking in a kitchen drawer or a linen news of the day. Tea cosies would’ve kept the tea nice and hot, cupboard, bring it out, snuggle it over a piping hot pot of tea thus extending this increasingly fashionable afternoon ritual. and celebrate it again.

Tea cosies, from the old and traditional Tea with Mrs Whitaker to the wild and woolly, are experiencing On our side of the world, Mrs Marie a renaissance as people experiment with Mulgrave Settlers Museum at Doris Whitaker hosted tea parties from different teas or retro styling, or are just 1940 to 1971 in her local community of Gordonvale has one of Mrs crazy for cosies.

Gordonvale. Her husband, Horatio Nelson Whitaker’s cosies and, inspired Whitaker, was the manager of Mulgrave Tea with the Duchess by her celebrated tea parties, Central Sugar Mill.

According to the British Museum, the hosts an annual tea cosy Each tea party was quite the social 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell, competition and display. This event. Local ladies and wives of mill once Queen Victoria’s Lady of the year’s display is on July 2 and 3. executives, all dressed to the nines, Bedchamber, popularised afternoon tea in would indulge in dainty sandwiches, the late 1840s. scones, pikelets and delectable cakes While visiting the 5th Duke and Duchess accompanied by large pots of tea. of Rutland at Belvoir Castle, she nearly swooned from hunger The gracious Mrs Whitaker, a Gordonvale CWA member, in the long afternoons. So, she ordered a pot of tea and a little was renowned for her homemade decorative tea cosies. Oh, something to tide her over until dinner. imagine the stories they could tell!

Back home at Woburn Abbey, the Duchess invited friends to

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ABOVE: Dutch Doll tea cosy from a Mme Weigel pattern Templin Museum.

BELOW: Madame Weigel’s Knitting Patterns c 1935.

Wynne Gregory (née Morris) was secretary to Mr Whitaker. It was her job to carry the morning tea tray, which Mrs Whitaker had prepared, to the directors’ fortnightly meeting.

Wynne recalls a funny story: “One day, one of the girls tripped, tipping the tray and spilling Mrs Whitaker’s freshly-made orange juice. Rather than admit our guilt, we substituted our own drink.

“We told the cane inspector’s lad to shimmy up a Seville orange tree and then we made a concoction of the bitter fruit, white mill sugar and water. It was nothing like the original but neither Mr Whitaker nor Mrs Whitaker said a word!”

Madame’s collection The Templin Historical Village and Museum, near Boonah, has a selection of cosies knitted from Weigel’s patterns. Madame Weigel (1847-1940) was Australia’s first manufacturer of clothing patterns; her collection also included knitted and crocheted homewares. Two cosy patterns circa 1935 are the Dutch doll and the frilly daffodil stitch — both perfect for dressing up a Brown Betty.

Iris Skinner from the museum said a gentleman who visited “had us near tears when he recalled going to his grandmother’s home and the Dutch doll tea cosy was pride of place.”

And that’s the thing with cosies — colourful, daft new ones make you laugh; much-loved old ones, infused with memories, are heart warmers as well as tea warmers.

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History

Marrying the past with the present

Airman embraces his girlfriend, Brisbane, 1946, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 28118-0001-1255.

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Happy young brides on board a ship (the Lurline) bound for their new homes in America, September 1945, State Library of Queensland. Digitised copy print from 28118 Sunday Truth and Sunday Sun newspaper photographic negatives.

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‘The youthful brides who entered

according to Explorer contributor ike thousands of Australian the church on the arms of their father Alice. women, sisters Elaine and Denise were gowned alike in bridal satin. They “My aunt fell in love with a US Thomas fell in love with American wore wreaths and veils and carried marine who came out on the USS servicemen during World War Two. beautiful bouquets.

Pensacola during [World War Elaine married 1st Class Motor Two]. When the war ended and Machinist Edward Horvath of The reception was held at the Red Café, she wanted to marry him and Maryland and Denise exchanged where a three-tiered cake adorned the return to the USA, my grandfather vows with Chief Yoeman J.D. Harris bridal table, and was cut by the two said she was just too young (she of Georgia, both with the US Navy. brides and grooms.’ was only 17),” wrote Elise.

American troops brought a “Almost a decade later she did glamour and energy to Queensland Beaudesert Times, 30 June 1944 eventually find happiness marrying streets and dance halls at a time of another man in uniform — a Dutch global uncertainty and austerity. These merchant mariner (my uncle).” trans-Pacific love matches sometimes And Alaine contributed a newspaper caused tensions with local men and didn’t clipping that described her aunts’ combined always have fairytale endings, but they remain an wedding at the Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church in intriguing feature of our wartime history.

Brisbane on 17 June 1944.

State Library of Queensland is helping to capture these “During [World War Two] my mothers’ two older sisters stories, along with other Victory in the Pacific remembrances met and married American servicemen. The attached article using our Explorer platform. [see extract above] describes their double wedding, where This digital platform allows the public to share personal my mother was one of the bridesmaids. Both of my aunts stories and photos related to curated sets of images from travelled to the USA at the end of the war to be with their new State Library’s incredible collections. husbands,” said Alaine.

The Victory in the Pacific set is a heart-warming selection of joyful images that explores Queensland’s response to the end of World War Two. The couple, the Cadillac and the camera A snap of Australian happy brides leaving for the United tate Library’s Explorer technology was first used to States on the steam ship Lurline, in September 1945 helped promote our popular 2018 exhibition, Home: a suburban spark memories. obsession.

“My Nana lived in Townsville during [World War Two] and The Corley Explorer created a fundamental shift in how her father would host parties for the American soldiers. She people engaged with State Library’s collections. loved how they were always so well dressed and polite,” The exhibition examined the life of husband and wife team,

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2021 Winter | 71

Frank and Eunice Corley, who cruised the streets in a pink Cadillac in the 1960s and ‘70s taking hundreds of thousands of photos of Queensland homes.

Frank and Eunice are thought to have taken over a quarter of a million photographs of houses throughout South East Queensland and as far north as Bundaberg. Most of the photos were sold to homeowners as individual prints or calendars at the time.

In 1995, 67 boxes of their photographs including 61,490 prints were donated to State Library. It is one of the largest single photographic collections of Australian housing in existence.

These images can be found on the Corley Explorer making it easy for people to search for their home and upload a story or image to help expand our understanding of everyday life during that time.

So far, over 30,000 records have been updated with addresses, geotags and geographic subject headings.

A house in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington caught the attention of one Corley contributor.

“This house was owned by the Evans family who named it “Rhondda” after the Rhondda Valley in Wales. We bought it in 1981. We lived in Rhondda for 36 years. We did some renovations in 1986.

“Our children called it the “teddy bear” house as they saw the shapes of teddy bears in the detail!”

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Wish you were here

set of late 19th and early 20th century postcards also illuminates our history in fascinating ways. At a time when photography was not widely practiced, postcards were the Langlands Estate East, Brisbane, 1886. Nicholas W Bell, Arthur Martin & Co. Estate covers area now in Coorparoo and Greenslopes.

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72 | Winter 2021

History

Comino Bros. Cafe and Fruiterers in Childers, Queensland, ca. 1920, State Library of Queensland.

Negative number: 41457.

Moora Park and beach at Sandgate, Queensland, ca. 1908. Postcard from 4831 Postcard Collection, State Library of Queensland.

Crowds attending a parade in Upper Mary Street, Gympie, Queensland. Postcard from 4831 Postcard Collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

House at Kennedy Terrace, Paddington, ca. 1970, 6169 Frank and Eunice Corley House Photographs, State Library of Queensland. best ways travellers could share their adventures with family and friends.

Postcards include a bullock team hauling logs besides the Barron River in Far North Queensland in 1906, fishing and boating parties at Enoggera Creek, Brisbane circa 1900 and camping at Tweed Heads circa 1911.

Other Explorer sets include Greek cafes of Queensland, Estate maps, Anzac Day, Queensland postcards and Queensland Floods. All encourage the public to help build and expand the complex story of Queensland for future generations. Thousands of people from all over world have already jumped on to our various Explorer platforms to share their memories.

Share your stories and images with State Library: explorer.corley.slq.qld.gov.au and explorer.slq.qld.gov.au

2021 Winter | 73

History

Back in the day: sights and sounds of Queensland Words by Avril Priem Pictures courtesy of National Film and Sound Archive

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he National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra houses a fabulous collection of Australian film, television, radio and music recorded over the past century. Technology enables NFSA to share online a selection of the over 3 million archived items so we can discover this treasure trove of audio-visual Australiana.

Icons of Australian entertainment are a highlight on the NFSA website. Sing along to video clips of Kylie, Farnsey or Barnsey as they belt out a few of their Top 40 hits. Watch excerpts from the telly such as Skippy or The Mike Walsh Show, or from favourite movie classics like Picnic at Hanging Rock, Man from Snowy River or Muriel’s Wedding.

But if you’re feeling nostalgic for the sights and sounds of old-timey Queensland, there are delightful short films to browse and enjoy.

Town and country Take a glimpse of Cairns in the early 60s with the short film Life in Australia: Cairns. Downtown scenes are quaint, especially the classic Holdens and the summery fashions.

Another holiday promo from 1947 features Heron Island as a “coral wonderland” — except it’s in black and white! Seeing a young woman riding a loggerhead turtle on the beach makes for startling viewing today.

The Gold Coast of a long-gone era is captured in Queensland Playground. Summer holiday frivolity is evident at Greenmount Beach in 1957 when Doug Roughton calls the hokey-pokey and

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large circles of young fellas and beach belles in stylish cozzies sing, dance and ‘hand jive’ to the music.

One news story from March 1965 shows Merle Thornton (mum of actress Sigrid) and Rosalie Bogner chained to the foot rail of the public bar at Brisbane’s Regatta Hotel. They’re protesting against women being excluded from public bars.

The bar-hugging blokes, one who seems to be wearing wobbly gumboots, look amused. But what a defining moment! And today, you can have a drink in Merle’s Bar … unfettered.

Then and now Mel Bondfield is a digital content producer for NFSA. She curated a fascinating online exhibition called Food, Glorious Food that showcases Australia’s primary industries from a bygone era, and acknowledges the UN International Year of Fruits and Vegetables.

There are silent clips from the 1890s — horse-drawn wheat harvesting at Allora and barefoot peanut harvesters at Kingaroy.

A promotional trade film called Sunny Harvest shows pineapple picking near the Glasshouse Mountains with bare hands!

And the laconic narrator of The Cane Cutters (1948) takes you through the “stoop, chop, straighten, top” hard yakka of itinerant cane cutters in the Ingham district.

“It’s captivating to look back at archival footage to see how things have changed,” says Mel.

“I love seeing the food production process, from fruit pickers, cane cutters and beekeepers, to the cutting-edge machines in canning and biscuit factories.

“For many Australians whose families developed our nation’s agricultural sector, these films will invoke a sense of pride and nostalgia.

“I hope our audiences get as much joy from the exhibition as I did creating it.”

Back in 1935, the National Library had the foresight to begin collecting and preserving audio-visual history but it’s only through digital technology and creative people like Mel that we can now enjoy these lively heritage items.

IMAGES: Sunny Harvest, 1959 – Film Australian Collection © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

www.nfsa.gov.au

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QCWA STATE PRESIDENT’S BLOG Words by Christine King

To our readers, O

ne of my favorite pastimes since I was a teenager has been sewing; I have great memories of my mother’s pedal sewing machine in our home.

She could make beautiful outfits, linen frocks, nightwear and anything we would need, as there was no spare money to purchase clothes from a shop. Maybe many of our readers can remember those times clothes were usually a present you received for your birthday and Christmas, not toys.

I loved checking in the pull-out drawers of the sewing machine, looking at buttons and sewing threads — what a wonderful slow pace of life.

When I married, I purchased an electric sewing machine with a set of discs that had a variety of stitches classed as decorative. I continued the passion for sewing clothes and home furnishings on this wonderful electric machine. Producing items that were very special as they were homemade, there was great pride in the satisfaction of the quality of the sewing and also saving money.

Of course, sewing progressed and bigger and better sewing machines then became available; electric, of course, but with a computer screen to select over a hundred different stitches. Then patchwork and embroidery became crafts, so a different machine was added to the sewing room. The embroidery machine could be loaded with many threads and the design uploaded into the computer; press the button and a total embroidery design appeared in twenty minutes, which is amazing. However, the personal satisfaction of sewing every stitch yourself without a computer

76 | Winter 2021

program has passed.

Nowadays, to keep the interest in sewing and dressmaking, the modern computer sewing machines are the go! There is less time to complete tasks and tick all the boxes in family life, so we are now blessed to be able to sew on these supercomputerised sewing machines, to sew as a hobby or for a dressmaking business. How our lives have changed; younger people expect more and more technology to be developed as time passes, and there is no going back – just go forward and wonder what is coming next.

Many of our CWA members enjoy sewing and dressmaking and have the skills to pass on and share with members, so we invite women of all ages to look up the CWA and come along and bring your technology knowledge to share with our members in our communities. It is never too late to learn new technology even if we require assistance from our grandchildren!

Enjoy the change in the weather as it becomes cooler, and maybe you might try some computerized sewing.

Christine King State President

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R E Q T U N IZ I W

by Quiz Master — Roy O’Reilly —

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Queen Elizabeth II once told Microsoft chief Bill Gates that she (a) has never used a computer (b) is a social media junkie (c) sends 100 emails a day?

The names of how many Australian states begin with a letter in the second half of the alphabet?

In 2011, Miley Cyrus sparked an internet craze by appearing in a YouTube clip with what on her shoulder (a) gecko (b) rat (c) sparrow?

Which type of reference book is named after a Greek mythological figure who is often depicted bearing the world on his shoulders?

Jesse Eisenberg played which internet entrepreneur in the 2010 movie The Social Network?

How many Australian Open tennis singles titles has Novak Djokovic won (a) seven (b) nine (c) eleven?

The name of the IBM computer, capable of evaluating 100 million different positions per second, and which defeated world chess champion Gary Kasparov 4-2 in 1996 was (a) Big Blue (b) Deep Blue (c) Scary Blue?

What are the given names of JC Dithers, comic-strip character Dagwood Bumstead’s boss?

A black swan is featured on which Australian banknote?

In its early years, the Twitter blue bird logo was known by which name (a) Barry (b) Harry (c) Larry?

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

A story which reveals private details of a relationship is said to be a “kiss and…”?

Which French author’s novel, Paris in the 20th Century, written in 1863 and not published until 1994, included descriptions of fax machines, computers and high-speed trains?

In 1996, two wooden slivers, 2.5mm and 5mm long, reputedly from the cross of which Biblical figure, were auctioned in Paris for $25,000?

Which 2006 book by Elizabeth Gilbert told of her experiences in Italy, India and Indonesia after her divorce?

In an internet message in 2008 which exBeatle told fans not to send him any mail because it would only be “tossed”?

In the 2019 women’s soccer World Cup semi-final against England, a controversial gesture by US star Alex Morgan was widely interpreted as mocking the English (a) bowling a cricket ball (b) curtseying to the Queen (c) drinking tea?

Jiangsu province in which country recently introduced a self-service terminal where couples can be married?

The summit point of Mount Everest is on the border between which two countries?

Gifts offered in Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2020 Goop Christmas Guide included a handbag for your (a) orange peels (b) pawpaw seeds (c) watermelon?

Which “first” was reputedly achieved by the 2008 Russian 320-page novel True Love, billed as a variation of the Leo Tolstoy classic Anna Karenina?

ANSWERS 1: (a) has never used a computer. 2: Six. 3: (b) rat. 4: Atlas. 5: Mark Zuckerberg. 6: (b) nine. 7: (a) Big Blue. 8: Julius Caesar. 9: $50. 10: (c) Larry. 11: Tell. 12: Jules Verne. 13: Jesus Christ. 14: Eat, Pray, Love. 15: Ringo Starr. 16: (c) drinking tea. 17: China. 18: China, Nepal. 19: (c) watermelon. 20: First book written by a computer.

78 | Winter 2021