QCWA Ruth magazine #33 - Summer 2020

L I V E

AN

INSPIR ED

LIFE

Supporting the work of the Queensland Country Women’s Association

Embrace Unusual the

from fashion to careers and all in between

RUTH SUMMER 2020 ISSUE 33 • AU$8.95 INC GST

The journey from prison nurse to fashion design with Hitchley & Harrow Laughter yoga bringing positivity to 2020

Cook at Home with winning recipes from QCWA Country Kitchens

CONTENTS Look What We Found FEATURE: 9 From prison nursing to fashion design FOOD: 15 Cooking at Home 22 Pop the champagne!

INSPIRING PEOPLE: 25 Growing a lotfeeding legacy FASHION: 28 Relishing differences in what you wear 30 It’s wicker, darling!

CRAFT: 34 The lost art…

38 Make your own writing paper 41 Re-discovering the art of writing COLLECTORS & ART: 44 Collecting classic radios 46 Fantastical, mysterious wallpaper HEALTH: 48 Apps to boost your mental wellbeing 50 Laugh yourself happy HOUSE & GARDEN: 52 Embracing the unusual in your home 58 Bamboo wonderland 59 Bush fire survivors 60 Small birds, unusual achievement TRAVEL & EVENTS: 64 Events for Summer 66 Quilpie Quest 2020 – In appreciation of sheep BUSINESS: 71 Embracing the bagpipes 72 From little things, big things grow 74 Blessed are the cheesemakers BOOKS: 76 A gift for storytelling 79 Koala champions 80 Great summer reads HISTORY: 82 Underground art — music and Brisbane’s youth culture 86 Older than the pyramids COUNTRY WOMEN: 89 QCWA President’s Blog 90 Quiz with Roy O’Reilly 6

4 | Summer 2020

9

50

22

60 ADVERTISING MANAGER: Brooke Gardner COORDINATING EDITOR: Jessica Kramer DESIGN: Jeff Brown & Caitlin McManus COVER IMAGE: Amy Walker, The Wife Creative EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: 07 4690 9425 EDITORIAL EMAIL: rutheditorial@news.com.au ADVERTISING ENQUIRES: 07 4690 9309 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 07 4690 9302 or visit iSubscribe.com.au or email direct to us: ruthsubscribe@news.com.au PUBLISHED BY: Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd; 109 Neil Street,

Toowoomba, QLD 4350 in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), 1st Floor, Ruth Fairfax House, 89-95 Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000.

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

coordinator’welcome s

W

ho else is cheering for the end of this interesting year that’s been 2020? We certainly are!

This year has been turbulent for sure, but we’ve learned a lot – to take each day at a time, to slow down and enjoy each moment, to love our family with all our being, and to embrace our own uniqueness and the quirkiness of the world.

With this in mind (and to see out this strange year), we decided to dedicate the summer edition of Ruth magazine to embracing the unusual – and boy, oh boy, are there some cracker stories! You’ll find handbags made from wicker and shaped like animals, high teas in picnic form, laughter yoga (yes, laughter yoga), and even how to bring back the lost art of making and writing letters.

We also had a chat with a lady who is truly inspiring: Melanie Wellsteed of Hitchley & Harrow. Mel is the owner and designer for all the garments this women’s clothing shop produces, but oddly enough she doesn’t have a background in fashion design: she was a prison nurse for 10 years. Read all about her incredible journey inside.

Speaking of amazing people, you may have noticed that Ally Martell, the previous editor of QCWA Ruth magazine,

JESSICA KRAMER

has disappeared from our pages. Ally has moved on to a new adventure, but we wish her all the best with the future.

We’d also like to thank all our wonderful contributors for the incredible job they’ve done this past year for Ruth magazine, and you — our readers — for supporting this unique magazine and sharing your love for it with your friends and family.

And now, put the kettle on, sit back, and enjoy this edition of Ruth.

Jess

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LOOK WHAT WE FOUND special finds for summer and the festive season

QCWA DIARY November 28-29 The Imbil Branch is holding a Christmas Tree Festival at the Imbil Public Hall. Everyone is welcome to enter the Christmas tree competition for $10 per tree, or simply come along and enjoy the festivities and vote for your favourite tree with admission of a gold coin donation. Refreshments will be available for purchase, as well as a Christmas market stall.

Enjoy a Christmas Eve Dinner on the Saturday night ($40pp), with bookings required on 0427 821 180.

December 5 Celebrate QCWA South Eastern Division’s 60th birthday on Saturday at the Coomera QCWA Hall.

Promising to be a great day for all, there will be a showcase of competitions and the work members do as part of the QCWA. Find the event at 161 Maudsland Road, Coomera.

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.

CALENDARS WITH A DIFFERENCE We just love advent calendars here at Ruth, so when we saw these unique year-long calendars we just had to include them! Perfect as a Christmas gift or just for yourself, these wall calendars include a special crystal or seed string each month as well as information to help you connect and grow.

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Unique, stunning jewellery Based in Melbourne, BoldB came out of a desire to push the boundaries of jewellery design and explore quirky ideas – and the result is gorgeous! There are currently three different ranges, but we’re in love with the Aqua pieces, which imitate a birds-eye view of coastal landscapes using resin and real beach sand.

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6 | Summer 2020

Not just tea towels The perfect beautiful-yet-practical gift for your loved ones this Christmas, Julie McEnerny is an expert at changing the average plain tea towel into a work of art. Aptly named Not Just Tea Towels, the Cairns-based shop specialises in bright, lush illustrations of botanicals for your kitchen and home.

Etsy: NotJustTeaTowels

YARN BOWLS These delightful ceramic yarn bowls are just the thing to keep your wool from escaping while you knit or crochet.

Trudy Ebsworth-Espie, a professional potter for 37 years, works from her home studio and hand-throws unique and gorgeous kitchenware, garden pots and bird feeders as Ebsworth Pots.

www.ebsworthpots.com

Adorable handmade stationery How gorgeous are these cards?! Ali of Laidley, Queensland, designs and handmakes each Scattered Seed Co product, emphasising ‘grace and elegance’ with each piece. You’ll find designs ranging from birdlife to natives to wisteria and other blooms on a fantastic collection of letter-writing paper, notecards, gift tags, and more.

scatteredseedco.com.au

Quirky and colourful clothes Obus specialises in clothing that is modern and practical, but also quirky with a ‘constantly changing palette of unexpected colours’. Most of the collection is created locally in Melbourne and made from natural fibres.

obus.com.au 2020 Summer | 7

From prison nursing to fashion design:

the incredible journey that created Hitchley and Harrow Words by Jessica Kramer Pictures courtesy of Amy Walker, The Wife Creative

8 | Summer 2020

Mel Wellsteed — Founder

2020 Summer | 9

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M

elanie Wellsteed fondly refers to her women’s clothing store as “a runaway train”; one that came about after she couldn’t find a ladies’ shirt that was long enough in the body and arms while still fitting properly everywhere else.

“From the start in 2009, and 2011 (which was our first show) we literally just have grown and grown — I didn’t for a minute think that it would ever end up at this point, like no way,” Mel says.

“It was just a little idea that was born of the need for a long sleeve shirt that was long enough in the sleeve and long enough in the body, so that when you lifted your arms up it didn’t come up or end up halfway up your arms.

“I’ve got long arms, but I don’t have crazy praying-mantislong arms, so I just thought that if I’ve had this problem, surely other people would be experiencing this as well.”

It got to the point where Mel had to leave her previous career to look after the business — and what possibly makes this even more incredible is that she doesn’t have a background in fashion or clothing design. This is a woman who can attest to the wisdom of following your ideas.

“I guess what’s probably got us through is tenacity and a lot of hard work. Certainly, nothing’s landed in my lap,” Mel comments.

A prison nurse for 10 years, Mel started at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre in Ipswich, where she spent eight years working at the maximum security women’s facility before moving to the Westbrook Correctional Centre until it closed down.

“It’s something that I miss very much, and I’d very happily go back to nursing if I had to,” she says.

“It’s an amazing career and it just presents so

many opportunities for people.”

When her last workplace closed down, Mel saw it as an opportunity to make Hitchley and Harrow a full-time gig.

“It got to the stage where I was not able to do Hitchley and Harrow; it demanded more of my time and I was trying to do 12-hour nursing shifts, and run a business online and return phone calls and do product development and be away at shows,” she says.

“There was just simply not enough hours in the day, so when the prison was closing and there was the opportunity to transfer to another facility within Queensland Health, it just sort of was the right timing with the prison wrapped up and how I was getting busier.

“So I just stepped sideways, took the leap of faith off the edge of the cliff and started working for myself.”

She still has fond recollections of her time nursing, however.

“It was a great job. It honestly was an absolutely great job. It was very busy, very action-packed. No day was ever the same.

It was crazy. It was fast-paced. It was mad. But it was a great, great job,” she says.

“You got to see a lot of different things medically, which I think for anyone who’s in medicine, in that healthcare industry, that some people find that strange, but we healthcare people think it’s awesome to see lots of different things.”

Mel also never felt unsafe in her workplace.

“Working in a prison is not for everyone, for sure – it can be a very confronting environment, and it’s certainly an environment that, if you have never had anything to do with that demographic, it can be very confronting especially for younger nurses straight out of uni.

2020 Summer | 11

“I was a little bit older when I started nursing, I had already done a degree so nursing was my second degree.

“I had done some high secure mental health nursing at Centre for Mental Health at Wacol prior to moving into the prison, so I had had a little bit of experience in that secure environment, I guess.

“But I always felt very safe within the prison; the custodial staff provided good professional support for the nursing staff.”

She attributes some of this excellent working environment to respect.

“I always personally had a lot of respect for the offenders within the facility,” Mel explains.

“It was not our place to cast judgement or treat them poorly. We were there to provide medical services and support for them while they were incarcerated. So there was there was always a very healthy level of respect from myself to the offenders and, for the most part that was reciprocated.”

Since bringing Hitchley and Harrow up to full-time, the business has continued to grow.

“We started here in this building, with a tiny little rack in the corner, and at the time, the business was solely Charlton Produce, which belongs to my husband David,” Mel reminisces.

“And then it just grew from the corner, to another rack, to a little bit more to half the shop, to then I was getting in trouble for exceeding my line down the middle of the shop — and we just grew and grew.

“And eventually, the taking over of the retail store coincided with David’s decision to wind up his retail business and go solely into wholesale produce and trucks and transport. So he moved out of here, I guess it would be coming up five years ago... four or five years ago.”

Now able to use the entire space, the retail operation, online and packing, mobile truck and small truck, and even warehousing, are all done from the one base at 10805 Warrego Hwy, Charlton (just under 2 hours south-west of Brisbane).

There are now more different styles and cuts than Mel can name a figure for off the top of her head, as well as jeans, bags, and accessories.

“We introduced a winter range which we started quite a few years ago and that range has just expanded and grown every year,” Mel says.

“We draw upon a large number of local producers for our bags and our belts; our clutches are done everywhere from Warwick to Brisbane. So a number of the products are made in

12 | Summer 2020

Australia.”

While we’re chatting, one of the local producers comes in with a new delivery of the label’s renowned bit leather handbags and a new product Mel has designed for him to test.

“He takes an incredible amount of pride in his work,” Mel enthuses.

“He lives in town and is selftaught; he’s just amazing and is always coming up with little ideas for us on what else we can do.”

The ideas never seem to stop in this shop, with product development all going on in the office out the back as well.

“We start designing Winter in July the year before, or for a March release; so while that isn’t commercially a long time before, like seasonally with your big chains (they work like a good 12 to 18 months ahead), it’s still a lot to take on board when you’re just one little person,” Mel says.

“One of the hard things I find about what we do here is the constant requirement and pressure that you feel for product design.

Always thinking ‘what else can we do? How can we make this better? How could we improve the current garments that we have? What next range do you want to do?’

“Everything has to be functional and have a purpose. We aim to produce very good quality clothes that last; I’m not a fan of fast fashion — it’s just very wasteful.

“So we do spend a lot of time on product development and making garments. The time from an idea to a tangible commercial line can be up to a year and that’s all in the background working behind the scenes, while you’re still trying to run the business, which does get a bit tricky sometimes,” she says.

“But, look, one step at a time — I think it’s important to try and keep it all on the page and not have things spill over; you just end up getting under too much pressure and stress and the wheels fall off.

“Rome certainly wasn’t built in a day, I must keep telling myself, and you just do what you can do — you just chip away at it and get there in the end.”

You can find Hitchley and Harrow’s range online at hitchleyandharrow.com.au

I always personally had a lot of respect for the offenders within the facility. It was not our place to cast judgement or treat them poorly. We were there to provide medical services and support for them while they were incarcerated.”

2020 Summer | 13

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Cooking at Home

While we were all in lockdown, QCWA Country Kitchens ran a ‘Cook at Home Challenge’ with Health & Wellbeing Queensland, where participants made delicious recipes and shared their photos of the finished product on social media for the chance to win a weekly prize and major prize.

Now you can try the winning recipes in your own kitchen!

Recipes contributed Pictures by Cathy Taylor Photographer 2020 Summer | 15

Week 1: Healthy Autumn Vegetable Tart Serves: 8 Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 1 hour Fruit and veggies: 1 serve per portion Ingredients: Chickpea pastry base

1 ¾ cups chickpea flour ½ teaspoon salt 80g butter, softened 3 ½ tablespoons cold water 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Method PREHEAT oven to 180°C. WHISK together flour and salt in a medium bowl.

RUB in butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

ADD the cold water and maple syrup and work the mixture until it forms a dough.

PRESS evenly into 20cm pie plate or quiche pan and refrigerate for approximately 60 minutes.

REMOVE from fridge and par-bake for 12 minutes at 180°C.

Ingredients: Quiche Filling

¼ cup onion, finely diced ¼ cup shallot, finely diced 1 small garlic clove, crushed 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 4 eggs plus 1 egg yolk ½ cup cream ½ cup milk

16 | Summer 2020

from Donna Bennett

Pinch salt and pepper ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated 1 cup fresh or frozen spinach (if frozen, thaw and squeeze out excess liquid) 1 can asparagus spears ½ cup cherry tomatoes on vine

Method GENTLY cook onion, shallot and garlic in pan with extravirgin olive oil until soft. Make sure this process is done slowly as you only want to soften the onions, not brown.

WHISK eggs, egg yolk, milk, cream, salt and pepper together in a large jug. Set aside.

GRATE parmesan and sprinkle over the bottom of parbaked crust.

LAYER spinach evenly over the parmesan cheese followed by the cooked onion and garlic mixture.

PLACE quiche dish on oven tray and gently pour egg mixture over vegetables. Place asparagus spears in nice pattern on top for decoration before placing in the oven.

BAKE in oven at 180°C until egg is cooked and firm to touch, approximately 50 minutes.

GARNISH with cherry tomatoes on top.

Health-a-sizing Tips • Substitute cream for reduced fat milk • Omit salt in quiche filling and add Italian herbs for flavour • Add in grated carrot, zucchini, spring onions, chives, finely diced capsicum or sundried tomatoes for extra vegetables!

Week 3: Turkey Mince Chilli Con Carne Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Fruit and veggies: 3 serves per portion Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic, crushed 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium green capsicum, chopped 500g turkey mince 5 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 x 400g can tomatoes) 1 teaspoon chilli powder 1 bay leaf Pinch of salt and pepper 1 can red kidney beans or five bean mix, drained

from Amanda King

Method HEAT oil in medium pan. Cook onion and garlic until softened.

ADD remaining ingredients, except the beans, and cook over medium-high heat until meat is cooked through and tomatoes softened.

ADD beans and heat through for additional 2 minutes.

REMOVE bay leaf before serving.

Health-a-sizing Tips • Serve in whole grain wrap with smashed avocado • Serve on a bed of brown rice for extra fibre • Omit salt and add paprika and cumin for extra flavour

2020 Summer | 17

Week 4: Chicken, Mushroom and White Wine Cassoulet Method from Tina Anthony Serves: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes Fruit and veggies: 3 serves per portion Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to lightly coat the chicken 600g free range chicken thigh fillets, fat trimmed, halved Pinch of salt 300g button mushrooms 3 large celery sticks, finely chopped 4 French shallots, peeled, finely chopped 3 large garlic cloves, crushed 2 tablespoons tomato paste 165ml (2/3 cup) white wine 400g can diced tomatoes 185ml (3/4 cup) chicken stock 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried, plus extra to serve ¼ cup fresh continental parsley, roughly chopped Steamed green beans, to serve Steamed couscous, to serve

18 | Summer 2020

COAT the chicken with olive oil and pinch of salt.

HEAT half of the oil in a large heavy base frypan or French skillet over medium-high heat.

COOK the chicken in 2 batches until golden brown and sealed. Transfer to a plate.

REDUCE heat to medium and add remaining oil to the pan.

Add the mushrooms and cook until golden.

ADD celery, shallot and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5-6 minutes or until soft.

STIR through the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes.

ADD the wine and cook, scraping base of pan with a wooden spoon, until liquid has reduced by half. ADD the canned tomato, stock and thyme. Bring to the boil. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.

STIR in parsley.

SERVE with couscous and green beans, sprinkled with extra thyme.

Health-a-sizing Tips • Omit salt • Use salt-reduced chicken stock • Substitute couscous for brown rice to add extra fibre

Week 5: Asparagus Cups from Linda Edwards Serves: 8 (makes 16-20 cups) Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Fruit and veggies: 1 serve per portion Ingredients

10 sheets frozen spring roll pastry, thawed 450g (about 3 bunches) asparagus 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons plain flour 270mL coconut milk ½ cup (50g) parmesan cheese, grated 100g slivered almonds, toasted

Method PREHEAT oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced). Lightly grease a regular muffin pan.

PREPARE pastry cups by cutting each pastry sheet into four equal squares.

PLACE a pastry square onto a cutting board, brush with a little water, then place a second square on top at an angle to form a star shape.

PRESS firmly into the base and sides of muffin pan section.

Repeat with remaining pastry until muffin pan is full.

BAKE in oven for 10 minutes. Repeat with remaining pastry until 20 cups have been baked.

PREPARE the filling by cutting the tips from the asparagus spears and setting them aside. Thinly slice the rest of the asparagus spears into small pieces.

HEAT the oil in a medium-large saucepan.

SAUTE the onion until tender and translucent. Add the chopped asparagus and sauté until tender.

REDUCE heat, sprinkle in flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring continually.

ADD the coconut milk and cheese, increase heat and continue to stir until sauce boils and thickens. STIR through toasted almonds.

REMOVE the filling mixture from the heat and allow to cool.

BLANCH asparagus tips until tender. Set aside.

FILL pastry cups with asparagus mixture and top each with an asparagus tip before serving.

NOTE: Pastry cups can be made 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container.

Health-a-sizing Tips • Substitute coconut oil for extra virgin olive oil • Substitute coconut milk for low fat cow’s milk • Try adding mushrooms for extra vegetables

2020 Summer | 19

Week 8: Merry Colourful Salad – or Merry Pasta Salad from Maricris Bracamonte Serves: 2 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Fruit and veggies: 1.5 serves per portion Ingredients

¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced 60g feta cheese, cut into small cubes 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely diced 1 teaspoon fresh basil, finely sliced 2 tablespoons (40mL) extra virgin olive oil 1 cup (100g) spiral or penne pasta 1 tomato, finely diced ¼ red capsicum, finely diced ¼ green capsicum, finely diced ¼ red onion, finely diced Pinch of salt and pepper

20 | Summer 2020

Method PLACE olives, feta and garlic in a large bowl.

ADD thyme and basil and drizzle with oil.

TOSS to coat. Cover and refrigerate.

COOK pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water until tender, then drain.

ADD pasta to the large bowl of feta, garlic, olives and oil.

ADD tomato, capsicums and onion.

SEASON with salt and pepper.

MIX well and serve.

Health-a-sizing Tips • Swap to wholemeal pasta for extra fibre • Omit the salt

WINNER: Spinach and Ricotta Pasta from Kathryn Howard Serves: 6 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Fruit and veggies: 1 serve per portion Ingredients

1 packet Jumbo pasta shells – make 2-3 trays.

2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin 2 cups fresh or frozen spinach, packed 1/2 cup parmesan 350 gram Ricotta tub 1 egg Salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon Italian herbs ½ cup fresh basil, chopped 2 cups Tomato passata (fill to ¼-1/2 way up the dish)

Method PREHEAT oven to 180 degrees and bring water to boil in large pot.

COOK pasta shells till al dente or according to package instructions.

HEAT olive oil on low heat in medium fry pan. Add spinach and sauté for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

ADD Ricotta and parmesan into cooked spinach and mix through.

ADD egg and any Italian herbs and basil to spinach and cheese mixture.

POUR passata sauce on the bottom of a medium casserole dish, fill to ¼-1/2 way up the dish.

SPOON the spinach mixture in each pasta shell, filling them. Place the shells in the dish openside up.

COVER dish with aluminium foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 180°C. Remove aluminium foil and finish in the oven on broil setting for 5 minutes or until golden on top.

SERVE with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese

Health-a-sizing Tips • Omit salt • Add extra veg to the passata by sautéing garlic, onion and mushrooms.

• Substitute for whole meal pasta shells to increase your fibre.

2020 Summer | 21

e h t p Po agne! p m a h C Words and images by Aimee Provence

22 | Summer 2020

S

pring has sprung, and what better time of year to get outdoors and visit one of the many scenic spots we are lucky to have right here on our doorstep.

From the lush, rolling Hinterland to the pristine white sandy beaches, there is no shortage of stunning locations to stop and enjoy the balmy sun-kissed days with family and friends, or even a romantic rendezvous with your loved one.

And what better way to while away the hours than grazing over a delicious picnic hamper full of gourmet goodies, especially when it has been lovingly prepared by the Aimee Provence team at their Sunshine Coast High Tea parlour!

Think dainty finger sandwiches, pillowy soft scones with lashings of jam and cream, savoury morsels and delicate sweet treats; a delicious picnic hamper

by Aimee Provence is a box of deliciousness delivered and the ultimate way to relax and enjoy an outdoor get together or to surprise someone you love. All you need to do is pack a picnic rug and pick a spot on the map!

2020 Summer | 23

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Photographer – Clancy Job

Inspiring Person

GROWING A LOTFEEDING LEGACY AACo’s Amanda Moohen is at the forefront of driving change in the beef cattle industry.

Words by Alyssa Welke Pictures courtesy of Rebecca Parnell

2020 Summer | 25

Inspiring Person

A

manda Moohen is passionate about beef cattle and seeing women succeed in the industry.

And it is this passion, and her expertise, that has seen her build an amazing career in what is traditionally a maledominated field.

She grew up on a small beef cattle property north of Toowoomba and has always wanted to work with cattle.

She said both of her grandmothers were driving forces in her believing in her capabilities and chasing her dreams.

“Granny Short was a massive influence; My whole life I saw her do everything and run everything.

“She just got in and got it done and I watched her do it.

“I never felt like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do and I wasn’t raised like that — if I wanted something, I was taught to go out and get it.

“And my other Nana was heavily involved in the trucking industry.

“They were both independent women and taught me to be as well.”

It was this drive that saw her undertake an Agricultural Science degree at the University of New England, at Armidale, majoring in animal production and nutrition and feedlotting.

She saw feedlotting as a place she could build a career in.

She began her career in feedlotting working for Camm Agricultural Group at Wonga Plains feedlot, at Bowenville

on the Darling Downs.

During her time with Camm, under the tutelage of Bryce Camm, she worked her way up from an administration assistant to feedlot manager, gaining valuable knowledge and experience in the Australian feedlot industry.

Amanda joined the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) in November 2018 when she was appointed in the newly created role of regional manager Intensive and currently manages Aronui Feedlot (where she is based), Goonoo Feedlot and their associated backgrounding programs.

Amanda is passionate and dedicated to the feedlot industry.

She believes by creating prosperity through a collaboration of our people, livestock and land the feedlot industry will continue to thrive.

“To achieve what I have you have got to be at the top of your game and really love the beef industry,” she said.

“Our industry is always innovating and embracing change.

“There are so many influential women paving the way in ag and it’s awesome.

“Feedlotting is such an innovative industry and in lots of ways ahead of its time.

“We’re wanting to move ahead, wanting to get on the best of technologies, the best of our animal welfare standards, and of course the best for our people.

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Amanda Moohen

“The fact that we can produce the most premium beef in Australia and export that is something to be so proud of as a country.

“We all want to produce as much as we can to feed a nation and the grass-fed guys can’t produce it all, but they are an important link in the supply of beef.”

She said she had to overcome a lot of pre-conceived opinions about her ability and knowledge.

“I’ve certainly had questions about my knowledge and ability, but I’ve always stood my ground because I know my stuff,” she said.

I’ve had to show them my worth; had to work hard to prove my worth but it pays off.

“Women don’t have to do it as much now, I’ve been in the industry for 12 years, so there have been many changes.”

Amanda is an active leader in the feedlot industry including being the founder and current President of Women of Lot Feeding which was founded as part of her participation in the Graeme Acton Mentoring Program.

She is passionate about upskilling people and creating a positive culture within the industry.

She said while the WOLF committee was a small group, it was a passionate group offering networking opportunities

for women in all aspects of the beef cattle industry.

“We raise money for charity and provide networking opportunities for women in ag, whether it is in feedlotting, or women indirectly involved, such as cattle breeders.

“We weren’t able to have our event this year because of COVID, but we had 200 people at our last ball, and it was such a good night.

“We’re starting to get into a bit of a program of selfdevelopment, learning to manage people, to provide women with personal and professional development and growing the network to keep people in the industry.

“I’m still fine tuning my skills, but I need to give back to people under me, to make the industry better; I want to inspire others,” she said.

“I’ve only been with AACo and I never want to stop bettering myself.”

Her advice for other women wanting to get into agriculture: “We all need a splash of Granny Short in us — you have to stand your ground and not be walked over.

Anyone can do this job, you just have to have the mentality that we are all the same, male or female.

“It is about having passion; I love my industry, I love my career.”

2020 Summer | 27

Memory.

Textile Beat

Elizabeth Kingston loves a pattern clash. Photo by Evelina.

Jane Milburn in upcycled silk and beads with cowboy boots.

Photo by Patria Jannides.

Relishing differences When we follow a predictable path, we walk in another’s shadow. Only when we explore our own creativity and embrace the unusual can something original emerge.

Words by Jane Milburn

W

hat is unusual? The dictionary says it is something remarkable or interesting because it is different from or better than others. Synonyms include extraordinary, singular, particular, marked, outstanding, notable, distinctive, striking, unique, unparalleled, mind-blowing and superior.

Being unusual sets us apart from the usual. Some people avoid being unusual and go to great lengths to fit in, to conform, to dress according to conventions and fashions of the day, to not stand out from the crowd. They feel safety in conforming and fitting in.

Embracing the unusual can be about risk-taking; daring to show up as your authentic self. While it may be risky to expose your true self, anything else is contrived. Finding your unusual, authentic self is a pathway to self-realization, rather than being a cardboard cutout of someone else’s expectations.

Embracing the unusual can be about embracing imperfection. While that can be a challenge for some, it makes life easy because being perfect is impossible to maintain.

Embracing the unusual honours uniqueness. In contemporary culture speak, that means NOT following the crowd or the

28 | Summer 2020

Pictures contributed current ‘must have’ items to keep up with the Joneses or the Kardashians.

Must-have bags and colours of fashion marketing were always lost on me. I value uniqueness and don’t feel pressure to follow trends to fit in or be accepted. I always had the feeling I was singing from a different song sheet to the mainstream.

I grew up at a time before fast fashion on a sheep farm in the South Island of New Zealand, and that’s where I track back my love of natural fibres and making things with my own hands.

Our great-grandma lived on the farm with us – she was of Ngai Tahu and Scottish heritage – and she taught us handmade skills and values that are still with me today.

Fast forward through a rural communications career to a preloved Fashion for Flood fundraiser in 2011 in Brisbane, where I observed the excess of clothes and predominance of synthetic fibres. I aligned my work to my values of authenticity, creativity, autonomy and purpose in 2013 and created Textile Beat to enable conversations about the way we dress.

It seems the desire to fit in and follow trends – rather than embrace the unusual – unleashed a fast fashion industry that

Photo by Patria Jannides.

Charmaine Lyons.

Jane Milburn in upcycled crochet and cowboy boots. Photo

by Charmaine Lyons.

Elizabeth Kingston enjoys wearing gingham.

Photo by Terry Memory.

in what you wear is a toxic combination of cheap labour and cheap synthetic fibres leading consumers to buy two to four times what they need, creating waste and pollution, and a loss of skills and knowledge about where and how clothing is made. I found voice around these issues and sang louder from my own script.

Years of hands-on upcycling, independent research and advocacy work became a book, Slow Clothing: finding meaning in what we wear, which celebrates self-empowerment through resourceful thinking and individual actions to embrace the unusual.

While some social mores and judgements may constrain us, it is heartening to see individualism arising as we embrace our unique, unusual, original selves and show personality through what we wear rather than choosing something straight off a fashion rack.

Some people go through their entire life conforming. The confidence to back yourself is hard, it takes courage and selfconfidence. The irony is when you back yourself and explore what matters to you, you grow in confidence. That is hard if being a people pleaser is important to you, because you will want to conform, be usual, to fit in.

So here’s the challenge: be a goat, not a sheep. Ride the boundaries, take risks and be prepared to forage rather than plodding the well-worn, predictable path. Why be a follower when you can embrace your uniqueness?

Encourage our teenagers and timid types to show their personality instead of being one of the herd. Because when we seek to conform and not be unusual, we lose the opportunity

to be mindful and resourceful through the act of making and creating something different.

Design consultant and sewist Elizabeth Kingston says that sewing has afforded opportunities to be as creative as her heart desires, unhindered by current trends in garment style or colour.

“I choose to embrace the unusual by combining a variety of patterned fabrics which aren’t always expected to be found together: stripes and spots; checks and florals; clashing geometrics,” Elizabeth says.

“The final outcome creates a story which is often dramatic, enhancing the silhouette of my garment and expressing the playful side of my personality.

“The process can begin with a single piece of fabric I have purchased, to which I will add to over time, from either my extensive stash or additional pieces I came across over the following months (or sometimes years!), as was the case with the fuchsia and lime green dress. Trimmings, such as ribbons and self-made bias binding often feature as another element of pattern,” she explains.

“Sometimes I begin with an existing garment in my wardrobe (such as the preloved gingham shirt), which I cut into (altering the length and sleeves) and refashioned into a dress with the addition of remnant lengths and leftovers from previous projects.

“I love exploring new combinations of colour, texture and pattern (be it as print or woven). Experimentation is the key to keeping my creativity alive.”

2020 Summer | 29

Fashion

IT’S WICKER, DARLING!

30 | Summer 2020

Both unusual and eye-catching, these wicker handbags are taking Australia by storm Words by Jessica Kramer Images contributed by Wicker Darling

F

or just over two years, Jasmine Norrie has been creating adorable handbags that go with anything (and are great conversation starters), as Wicker Darling.

“I’ve always loved novelty handbags — I can remember stapling and braiding bits of that old fashioned perforated printing paper to create handbags when I was a child in the 80s!” Jas says.

“So when I fell in love with vintage styling, I naturally gravitated towards vintage handbags, and that’s when I discovered the figural wicker styles.

“Most vintage figural wicker bags are bordering on hideous in a way (there’s some truly terrifying monkeys and felines with very questionable faces!), but I just loved the playfulness and how whimsical they were. I love that women in the 50s and 60s were bucking the trend for more classical styling and choosing these ridiculous, hilarious bags crafted from wicker!”

As for the medium of wicker itself, Jas is a huge fan.

“It’s such a summery, warm material – you see wicker and you immediately think of summer and the tropics!

My family lived in Penang in the early 80s, and all our furniture was rattan, so perhaps it’s a throwback to that,” Jas muses.

“When it comes to handbags, I feel like you see them and immediately see yourself having cocktails poolside or in a tiki bar, or taking them to garden parties and afternoon teas!”

The finished bags have certainly been taken to an eclectic range of events.

“Weddings, cocktails, afternoon teas, the theatre, black tie events, grocery shopping, international holidays… I think Wicker Darling customers are a fairly bold group of people and don’t hesitate to bring a bit of ridiculous out with them, regardless of the circumstances!” Jas says.

The brand came about from Jas’s own bag wishes and developed from there.

“I had no idea what I was getting into when I first sat down and designed a flamingo bag,” Jas says.

“I had been collecting wicker bags for over ten years — vintage and modern — but had never seen a flamingo bag. I’d dyed my hair pink the year before and had been keeping an eye out for pink wicker options, specifically that flamingo, but wasn’t turning up any results, and I just thought ‘it can’t be that hard to come up with a design and find a factory who’ll create a sample’.

“Flamingos are such an icon of mid-century styling, and even without those vintage connotations, they’re strikingly beautiful, so I had a hunch I wouldn’t be the only one interested in a flamingo handbag!”

Jas didn’t find the design process too challenging, since she had a clear vision of the bag’s appearance and used her son’s stuffed toys and cardboard cylinders to get the measurements and dimensions right, but the real struggle was finding a manufacturer.

“I didn’t want the work being done by a random factory where people weren’t being paid well or mass production was involved,” Jas explains.

“It probably took around six months to find the right

atelier, and they nailed the design in the first sample — we were incredibly fortunate on that occasion (getting it right on the first go has not been the standard!).

“I think the biggest drama on that first bag was the realisation I wanted to import products made from natural materials into Australia — I had to do a lot of reading into imports, customs and quarantine, fumigation, etc, and was having nightmares of my bags being incinerated upon arrival in Australia!”

Fortunately, this didn’t end up being quite as much of a concern.

“I ended up making phone calls to BICON, who discussed

What’s in a name?

There’s two ways to read/hear the name, and both are right!

Wicker darling, as in, someone who loves wicker: ‘I’m a darling for wicker’.

And also, ‘it’s wicker, darling!’.

“I’ve had a love of wicker bags (especially novelty ones) for years, born from my love of vintage styling, and have often been on the receiving end of friends sharing vintage handbags with me and exclaiming ‘it’s wicker, darling!’,” Jas says.

2020 Summer | 31

Fashion

what’s involved in importing natural materials into Australia (fumigation standards, etc), and someone there ultimately suggested I use a shipping agent who can take care of all the paperwork.

“The ateliers I work with are also seasoned exporters — they know different countries have different import standards.

BICON also assured me nothing is ever promptly incinerated upon arrival in Australia — they’ll work with importers to offer solutions!” Jas says.

Each design is created by Jas, with the technical specs and renderings sent to a professional who translates her “scribbles and approximate measurements into something far more usable by the ateliers”.

The design is then sent off to be manufactured in the Philippines.

“I wanted the bags being made somewhere where this style of artisanship is traditional (to my knowledge, no one in Australia offers anything similar!); there’s a few countries around South East Asia that I looked into (Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali),” Jas explains.

“I settled on the Philippines because the atelier I worked with (and still work with) were a small family owned business with under 50 employees, employed locals for the weaving, and had a few existing examples of figural bags they’d designed in the past.

“We had a few initial communication problems — I wasn’t

32 | Summer 2020

in a financial position to travel to the Philippines to meet in person — but I now have an independent production manager who lives in the Philippines and for the most part I communicate with her, and she communicates with the atelier to make sure everyone is on the same page.”

Each design is available by pre-order, so quantities can be difficult to estimate, since as many are made as customers request.

“As the business grows, numbers are increasingly going up, and new customers find us and ask us to put older styles into production again,” Jas says.

“When I first debuted that flamingo, I received 22 orders. In August, we released a black and white cat and received 100 orders.”

Jas and her customers all still have a soft spot for that initial flamingo, but new design requests come through all the time as well.

“For the first few designs I just created bags I wanted for myself, but these days I take suggestions from my customers and assess design viability and the potential popularity of the suggestions,” Jas says.

“Not everything will work as a wicker handbag, or some requests are just far, far too niche (people suggest very specific dog breeds, and those unique features won’t always translate into wicker, or there’s just not enough customers who’d want a purple spotted north-eastern crested heffalump!).

“But these days I’m enjoying exploring how we can really push the envelope and improve on what we’re offering; last year we created a shark with a coin purse built into the mouth, and we have a (thus far secret!) design coming out in November which involves a few more mixed materials in addition to the rattan!”

But what are the essentials for each design?

“It needs to be large enough to carry a phone, keys, and a chunky wallet!” Jas says.

“Pockets in clothes are wonderful and useful, but ultimately I like to know all the essentials are stashed securely in one place.

“Instead of doing a mad pocket pat-down, I like to flip the lid on my bag and see everything is in place in a glance.”

Check out these adorable bags for yourself at wickerdarling.com.au

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Craft

THE LOST ART...

of letter writing When was the last time you received a handwritten letter in the post? Do you remember the thrill of receiving something that had been thoughtfully and personally prepared?

If you’re like most, this experience was quite a while ago, and receiving or writing letters feels like a thing of the past. Well, why not bring it back this summer? In these pages, you’ll find everything you need to rediscover the ‘Lost Art of Letter Writing’.

34 | Summer 2020

2020 Summer | 35

36 | Summer 2020

2020 Summer | 37

Craft

Make your own writing paper Sure, you can buy letter writing paper or use lined pages, but where’s the fun in that? Creating your own is a relaxing and fun way to while away the hot summer hours, and is also a fantastic project to do with the kids or grandkids.

You will need:

• Scissors • A4 plain paper • Pencil • Ruler • Glue stick or double-sided tape • Patterned paper or wrapping paper (or photo-copy pages 35-37) • Photocopier

Step 1

You can use pre-lined paper to speed up the process, but you may find the background designs show through as it’s generally thinner than plain white paper.

Mark lines on a piece of paper, about 7mm apart. Use a pencil rather than a pen for a subtle look.

Step 2

Gather the patterned paper and elements you want to use to create the finished product. We’ve included some to get you started, but you can also use remnants of wrapping paper and decorative elements from cards and brochures.

Consider what bits and pieces will look best together and cut out the decorative elements that you’re planning on using.

38 | Summer 2020

Step 4

Step 3

The cardinal rule in craft is ‘check twice, glue once’, so make sure everything is in its right place before sticking down. You can use glue or double-sided tape; just make sure everything is smooth and affixed firmly with no lifting edges — otherwise the final step won’t work properly.

Cut your patterned paper to A4 size and trim the lined paper you created in Step 1 to fit, so the pattern shows as a border. For ours, we trimmed roughly 1.5cm from each edge.

Next, lay out your decorative elements and play around with the best layout until you are completely happy with how it looks.

Step 5

Repeat the above steps for as many designs as you would like — these will be your ‘templates’.

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Step 6

Check all the elements on each template are affixed firmly, then place gently on the platen glass of your photocopier. Scan in each template, so you can reprint as many as you need at a later time, then photocopy as many as you need to write on now.

Enjoy writing on your own paper!

40 | Summer 2020

Re-discovering

the Afrtwriting o

Generally speaking, there are very few ‘rules’ that need to be kept when writing letters in the modern age — but if you want to really discover this lost art, there are some rules to follow.

Here’s Ruth magazine’s guide.

Use good paper and a pen There’s little worse than trying to read a letter where blots of

write a card or letter. It was cute while we were children, but as an adult different colours can make a letter extremely difficult

ink have rendered the text indecipherable. Test your pen on a

to read. If you must use something other than blue or black ink,

scrap piece of paper before beginning your letter to ensure it

stick to one colour only and don’t use a pale shade.

doesn’t produce globs of ink. The same goes for your paper —

Follow formatting

however tempting, don’t use cheap stuff where the ink bleeds

This is what has been lost most in regard to writing letters

through.

in the modern era. Where in years past, children were taught

Keep to one colour

various formats and letter structure in school, these days they

We’ve all been there — using coloured pens or crayons to

will be lucky to be taught how to structure a business email.

2020 Summer | 41

Here’s a quick guide on what to include and where: • Day and date – traditionally placed in the top right corner of a letter.

• Salutation – one or two lines below the date, top left.

Generally written as ‘To [name],’ or ‘Dear [name],’ with the letter starting on the next line.

• Opening – begin the body of your letter with asking after the reader’s health and responding with your own; i.e.

‘How are you? I am well.’

• Body – the main part of your letter is possibly where the most freedom occurs in regards to formatting. Many

consider it most polite to ask a question and then answer it yourself, or at the very least write something that shows care for your reader before sharing your own news.

• Closing/sign off – this is mostly unchanged to a professional email closing today. A line after your final sentence, write your closing greeting (i.e. ‘Kind regards’, ‘Best wishes’, ‘Love’) to the center of the page, followed by a comma. Underneath and to the right, sign your name.

Depending on what kind of letter you’re writing, you may wish to include your business or contact details directly below your name.

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Collectors

Collecting

Classic Radios

Radio changed the world. This electronic marvel bought drama, news and music into millions of lounge rooms and made stars superstars.

Words and images by Kevin Poulter, Radio Heritage Foundation and Historical Radio Society of Australia

P

eople no longer needed to dress up and travel to major theatres. They could gather as a family and listen as the magic of entertainment was reproduced by the best piece of furniture in the house.

The earliest Australian radios were produced around 1924. These were like a bread box with a round speaker placed on top or beside the radio.

Due to their shape, they are now often referred to as ‘coffin radios’. They were popular until about 1928. Australia had imported radios too, especially from England and the United States.

By the early 1930s, two new cabinet styles dominated.

Mantel or table radios had tall Bakelite cases, now often nicknamed ‘tombstone’. The other type was the console, a tall, floor-standing large radio. Most boasted fine decorative wood style, produced by leading furniture companies. Both types were often a showpiece — the best furniture in the house.

Often the same chassis was employed in consoles as in the much smaller mantel units, but the sound was superior, due to the larger 10or 12-inch speaker and the cabinet size.

The tone from these old valve radios, especially the consoles, was mellow and woody.

Technically the sound was easy on the ears as it

44 | Summer 2020

was low fidelity, without harsh highs. Recordings were made to best reproduce on this equipment, with popular crooners and melodious music.

Just a few consoles were released with a wind-up or electric record turntable, but this was unusual. Console radios continued to be produced until the late 1940s, when the radiogram became widely available.

Australia developed brands like Astor, AWA, Aristone and local production of international giants like Philips and HMV. There were also hundreds of backyard constructors, working in garages or small factories, plus top-quality kits, so collectors are never surprised at finding an unknown brand. Designs were influenced by the best overseas trends and some Australian models matched the finest available anywhere.

Radio developed at a rapid pace during World War II, bringing improvements like higher sensitivity. New ideas emerged, including Germany’s invention of tape for recording. A few collectors specialise in military radio.

After the War, a new era of exciting development occurred. The few radio designers who had survived the disruption of war looked to improved techniques and highly competitive production. More domestic radios had short

wave, as people wanted to hear news in a troubled world and immigrants could listen to their homeland. Plastic was used for cases and valve portables produced for music at picnics or anywhere.

Nothing can compare to the impact of the transistor radio, introduced in December 1954. Early transistor radios relied on the same construction techniques as valve portables, like a steel chassis and openvane tuning gangs. In fact it can be hard to pick the differences between the last valve radio and the equivalent model first transistor radio. Soon the circuits and parts changed to fully take advantage of the tiny transistor, with many novelty and compact radio designs.

Teen culture especially changed with transistors. Radio programs were aimed squarely at them and children no longer had to ask their parent’s permission to turn on the radiogram, nor were they constantly asked to turn the volume down. They could listen to rock and hang out with their fiends anywhere.

With radios, it pays to become an expert.

Educating yourself with value and scarcity information ensures fair purchase prices are paid. It is also an advantage to have electrical knowledge or the names of radio restorers, so the radio can be played successfully. Some Historical Radio Society of Australia (HRSA) members rebuild radios and there are specialty vintage radio stores in most capitals. Nearly all radios can be dated by the ‘Arts and P’ transfer on the chassis.

A few collectors believe radios should not be repaired as newer parts detract from the originality. Many more consider that careful restoration with some new internal substitute parts is acceptable.

Nearly all radios can be made to work again. There’s a good supply of parts in Australia and around the world. Parts are either salvaged from wrecks, reproduced, new old stock or brand new parts made to meet the old specs.

An Internet search under key words like ‘valve’ will show some sources. There are stores dedicated to old radios, while the HRSA exchanges information and parts between members, including circuits for nearly all radios.

Valves can be tested in valve testers. Finding a replacement valve in an original box does not guarantee a perfect replacement, as technicians often put the dud in the box the replacement valve came in.

Why would they put a fairly faulty valve in a new box? If the old valve was not totally dead, it could be used quickly to plug into another radio with no sound. If the sound returned (albeit at a low volume), the technician knew he could go to the trouble of ordering a new one.

Seller’s representations can be misleading too, with uninformed descriptions like ‘it lights up, but only hums — probably only needs a valve’ or ‘should be an easy repair’.

In reality this can mean they do not have a clue, they tried it and smoke poured out, or they have been trying to make it go for years. It can even mean parts are missing.

Keep in mind if you cannot pick up a radio

yourself, they do not travel well in the post or by couriers.

Valuation is less exacting than for other collectibles. This is due to the thousands of varieties, vast number of components and the condition. It is estimated there were at least 300 Australian radio manufacturers in the 1930s, each with a range of models. Then there were AC, DC and battery types.

Battery radios were sold extensively, as mains power was not supplied to many farms in Australia. If a novice collector intends to have a radio that can be played occasionally, then look for a 24O-volt mains radio with the current three pin mains plug. Also check inside for a very clean chassis.

Factors influencing value include the colour, intentional contrasting flecks in the colour, cracks, scratches on the dial glass, the availability of spares for this model or how rare it is. Is it intact, is it working, is the radio a classic attractive shape or even is it the model you had at home as a child?

Very few experienced collectors can give a valuation over the telephone, due to the huge variety and variation in condition. In fact few give accurate valuations even on inspection, as the actual prices paid vary so much. Cracks in the case, missing parts and other flaws can lessen value considerably.

Most flaws including cracks can be repaired, but repairs can cost more than the value.

Prices noted for radios in very good condition broadly are: coffin style $150 to $1,000, early ‘tombstone’ mantel $60 to $1,000 or more, consoles $100 to $900, late 30s up to late 50s mantels $10 to $600, small transistor radios $10 to $100, large multi-band transistor radios $40 to $450 and finally radiograms fetch from $0 to $300. Many radiograms are given away, as few people have space for them. This is unfortunate, as they are often excellent radios.

Safety is important for the radio and the owner. If you have a radio that is over 30 to 40 years old, do not turn it on ‘to see if it works’. This can instantly destroy the radio, due to shorted parts, especially the capacitors (also called condensers).

The radio should be checked by an expert and out of spec parts replaced. This is sometimes called recapping. Most HRSA members have seen examples of major damage. In fact, electrical authorities require that any second-hand electrical appliances, such as radios, are checked by a ‘competent person’ before use.

There are other hazards too, like asbestos heat insulation in a limited number of radios, chassis wired to one side of the electrical mains (hot chassis), plus high voltages and frayed or perished electrical leads.

The excitement is in the hunt for good examples and restoring radios from poor condition to as new. There is also social enjoyment, reliving memories of radio from another era and meeting many other collectors.

Once you start collecting radios it can become a glorious obsession.

2020 Summer | 45

Art

Fantastical, mysterious wallpaper A childhood love of books with detailed scenes and hidden messages inspired Kate to create these incredible designs Words by Kate Succar

H

Images contributed

ow Will o’ the Wisp came to be

I was a born artist and instantly took to fantasy and surrealist art (favourites of mine being Salvador Dali and Maurits Cornelis Escher).

Growing up I loved ISpy and Graeme Base books which embodied highly detailed scenes full of wonder! Fantastical books such as Harry Potter and The Hobbit were also childhood favourites and played a major role in my love of

46 | Summer 2020

fantasy. These childhood favourites started the foundation for Will o’ The Wisp wallpapers and the direction I would take my designs.

I completed a Bachelor of Design at University of New South Wales where I was able to refine my artistic talents and adapt them to the digital world. After graduation, I became a fashion Textile Graphic Designer where I used these skills to design digitally printed patterns for various brands. After a few years, life steered me in a new direction and I left the fashion world to raise three young boys.

As a versatile designer, I also adore interior design.

Motherhood inspired me to use my artistic talents and love of surrealism to create highly detailed fantastical worlds printed onto wallpaper. It started as a quirky idea intended for my personal home, but soon I realised the magic these wallpapers created to transform a space and the wonder it could bring others.

Will o’ The Wisp is a name chosen based on its English folklore definition: “A phosphorescent light seen at night that is attributed to elemental spirits and fairies which are impossible to catch…”

This definition resonates with me for its fantastical wonder.

The idea that these elemental spirits are impossible to catch encourages me to keep pushing the boundaries of wallpaper design.

The designs

I like to think I am a bit quirky and very creative. All my wallpaper designs take the viewers on visual journeys. There is more than meets the eye in my works of art and I always add funny sayings, jokes and quirky elements to encourage deeper exploration.

One of my designs, titled ‘Wonderland’, was inspired by the classic tale of Alice In Wonderland. My adaptation inspired a wallpaper design with a mature and sophisticated vibe whilst containing surreal and fantasy worlds. The design hints at a game (similar to the trials that Alice In Wonderland went through herself) such as instructive messages of how to move about the design.

My wallpaper creations for children are very dear to my heart. These wallpapers have fantastical characters that encourage children to make up stories about what they see in the design. I also add a fun list of things buyers can find with their families — such as, in my ‘Whimsical Woodland’ wallpaper someone has taken the dragon’s treasure, can you find who?

I also design more conventional designs and have a growing business in custom made designs for specific purposes. For example I recently completed a custom wallpaper design for a new age cafe in Belmore, Sydney.

The creative process

Most of my inspiration comes from fairytales I grew up listening to and my quirky sense of imagination. Usually it takes an initial character or theme to set the ball rolling and ideas flow after that.

For custom wallpaper designs I research the client, the space, the overall message to be achieved and then adapt my artistic talents to create a balance of these things in an innovative and unconventional way. www.willothewisp.com.au

2020 Summer | 47

Health

Apps to boost your mental wellbeing With the QCWA studying mental health this year, Ruth magazine decided to have a look at some useful tools

Words by Jessica Kramer

H

ave you ever thought that your phone could be an accessible toolkit for your mental wellbeing?

As the public become more aware of the importance of mindfulness and good emotional health, developers have risen to the occasion with a range of apps — catering to a wide

Pictures contributed group of budgets and needs.

There are programs available that teach you how to meditate, help you access therapists, sleep better, and even play games that teach emotional intelligence. Here are some of our favourites.

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48 | Summer 2020

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Headspace This is a fantastic app to learn meditation and mindfulness.

There are hundreds of guided meditations, on everything from managing stress and anxiety, focus, mind/body health, and even sleep. Headspace begins with introductory sessions so you can start at any skill level.

The app is free, with several subscription options to unlock more meditation sessions.

Rain Rain While not officially a mental health app, Rain Rain is fantastic for calming yourself or falling asleep.

The app comes with a variety of soothing sounds, from rain on a tin roof to a thunderstorm, white noise, or an operating washing machine. There’s even a Shi-tzu snoring!

For extra, specialised sounds, you can purchase a Premium account but there are enough sounds to keep you going for free.

HeadGear Created by the Black Dog Institute, HeadGear takes you on a 30day mental fitness challenge to develop resilience and wellbeing.

The daily activities are about 5-10 minutes long, and cover topics like mindfulness and breathing exercises, improving sleep, building meaningful connections, coping strategies, and more.

The app is free and easy to use.

Talkspace This app provides therapy without you even needing to leave the comfort of your home.

Matched with a licensed therapist, you can message with text, audio, and video – and it’s even covered by health insurance.

While it’s the most expensive app in this list, you still save a lot of money from in-person therapy sessions, with plans starting from $65/week for unlimited messaging.

Happify This is probably the most fun app for mental wellbeing that exists. Using activities and games that are based in science, Happify will help you to overcome negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges.

Users choose one ‘track’ or more, which is similar to setting a goal (for example, conquering negative thoughts or building self-confidence), and the app provides activities based on this.

The basic app is free and full of great content, and there’s the option to upgrade for even more features for $14.99/ month.

Podcasts These are a fantastic way to get yourself out of your own head and engaged in a topic of interest. There are also some great aids to falling asleep, like ‘Sleep With Me’ which narrates a nonsense yet intriguing story in a soothing monotone.

This story does not constitute medical advice. If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

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Health

Laugh Yourself Happy There has been little to laugh about in 2020 with the coronavirus pandemic bringing uncertainty and worry to the fore. Yet laughter is known to be healthful so it is time to bring on a happydemic through laughter yoga.

Words by Jane Milburn

L

aughter is often relegated to good times in fun company, yet the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource that can provide a coping strategy to reduce stress and accept things we can’t control.

Think back to a time when you had a good laugh and chances are you felt relaxed, uplifted and peaceful. This concurs with mounting science-based evidence that laughter is linked to positive psychological wellbeing, resilience, optimism and satisfaction with life.

And there are very real physical benefits too according to HeatherJoy Campbell who has been creating a happydemic of sorts throughout Queensland in recent years by coaxing out our inner child for physical and mental wellbeing at regular laughter yoga sessions.

HeatherJoy studied the science of happiness through University of California Berkeley and trained in India with physician Dr Madan Kataria who 25 years ago took the old adage that ‘laughter is good medicine’ a step further to create a wellbeing regimen that does not rely on jokes or humour. Dr Kataria brought together playful clapping, stretching, moving and chanting with laughter sustained for at least 20 minutes, interspersed with slow, deep diaphragmatic breaths.

Until COVID, HeatherJoy was delivering laughter yoga

50 | Summer 2020

Images contributed almost exclusively as face-to-face group practice in parks, at workplaces and conferences. Now these sessions have morphed online and Heather is one of Australia’s regular video conference facilitators of laughter yoga.

“Science indicates the brain doesn’t differentiate between intentional laughter and the real thing, when done willingly.

We make the most of that in laughter yoga. Laughing simply as a physical function means you don’t need to be in the mood or have a sense of humour to benefit. Just laugh and within minutes, your body will release a cocktail of happy hormones that wind back worries and cares and reduce stress, with flowon physical benefits,” HeatherJoy said.

Research shows older people who laugh regularly are at less risk of a major cardiovascular event which is believed to be linked to laughter releasing nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels, reduces blood pressure and decreases clotting.

“The evidence is compelling enough for American cardiologist Dr Michael Miller to prescribe ‘one good belly laugh a day’ for his heart patients,” she said.

Similarly, Japanese researchers have found laughter could lower blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes; lead researcher Dr Keiko Hayashi recommends people with diabetes have a daily dose.

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HeatherJoy said laughter yoga helps release a natural painkiller and a number of scientific studies have concluded that pain thresholds significantly increase when you laugh.

Laughter can even improve short-term memory by winding back the stress hormones that impair our ability to learn and remember.

“Laughing is as natural as breathing yet we often don’t view it that way,” HeatherJoy said.

“Whether it’s a chortle, a chuckle, a coo, a gurgle or a fullbelly laugh, laughter is part of a baby’s experimentation in making sounds and communicating. And once she discovers how to laugh, she laughs ‘just because’… because it feels good, it sounds good; it is good.”

Laughter yoga may be an important response to the pandemic because, just like coronavirus, laughter is highly contagious! So there is no better time to imitate a toddler and laugh at life simply because it makes you feel good to be alive.

Learn more about HeatherJoy’s work at thehappydemic. com.au or find your local laughter club in Queensland at laughterclubsqld.com.au and elsewhere in Australia at laughteryoga-australia.org

Social distancing laugh Stand with feet slightly apart, both hands stretched out to the left. Slide the fingers of the right hand over the left arm to the elbow while saying ‘Aeeeeeeeee’.

Continue sliding the fingers across the chest to the right shoulder, saying ‘Aeeeeee’. Uncurl the right arm so that both arms are full outstretched (which is at least 1.5 metres), tilt your head back and laugh heartily, from the belly. Repeat for the right side.

Silent laughter Keep your mouth wide open and laugh without the sound. Imagine you are in a library or church, where it would be really inappropriate to burst out laughing. Try with your mouth closed too.

Tidal breath Hold your arms out in front, at shoulder height, palms up. As you breathe in slow and deep, feeling your belly extend, draw your arms in towards your chest. Imagine you are dragging that breath in with your hands and lungs. Hold the breath for as long as is comfortable. As you exhale, extend your arms in front as though you are physically releasing the breath.

Repeat 3 times. Now inhale as before but hold a little longer and let the breath out as an explosive laugh.

Winking meditation Two people sit opposite one another. Gaze into the others’ eyes, lovingly. Then start to wink. One eye closed, then opened; the other eye, closed and opened. At speed. Winking almost always results in laughter.

2020 Summer | 51

House

Embracing the unusual in your home

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FREELANCE CURATOR AND WRITER, ALISON KUBLER, WITH HER HUSBAND, ARTIST MICHAEL ZAVROS

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House

Few will disagree that this year has been anything but “normal.” It has, on many levels, forced us to contemplate our definition of “normal” and whether what we had come to accept as “normal” is worth getting back to in such a hurry. This is the hidden gift of any challenging time; it is the catalyst for growth and even though we have felt confused, frustrated, sad, and downright bewildered at times, we’ve also felt intrigued by the unusual circumstances we continue to find ourselves in.

Words by Kimberley Joseph and Georgina Josephson Pictures courtesy of Renae Droop

W

e can sit in the moment and marvel at the ability of human beings to adapt and make the most of the scenarios we are presented with, no matter how bizarre or trying they may seem.

With so many of us working from home and generally spending a lot more time in these environments, people are reassessing their relationships to their abodes; how they move and function within them, and taking time to create spaces they can truly enjoy.

Whether a subtle feeling or an obvious one, we are all affected energetically by the spaces we spend time in. Have you ever taken note of how you feel when entering someone’s home or a place of work? Was it an energy that left you feeling happy, light, relaxed, reflective, even expansive? Perhaps on the other end of the spectrum, you feel uneasy, heavy, or claustrophobic. There is an ambiance that is created in every space and you can tell when someone has deliberately considered what that space might offer.

A home that epitomizes the idea of “embracing the unusual” is that of freelance curator, editor, and art writer Alison Kubler and artist Michael Zavros. Together with their three children, they have created spaces that are bursting with history and personal treasures. As you enter their family home you feel drawn to the walls which are alive with paintings, photographs, family heirlooms, taxidermy, and objects d’art from travels throughout the world.

“Our home is a collection of things we have accumulated through our travels and over the years,” explains Alison.

“We very seldom go out with the intention of buying something new; they are mostly serendipitous finds.”

We find ourselves wanting to hear the stories that go with these pieces, an opportunity to better understand this creative couple and what inspires their interior choices after 26 years together; antique Chesterfields that they came across quite by accident, or the African hats that they purchased on a family trip to South Africa.

2020 Summer | 55

House

The couple also loves swapping interesting pieces with friends and other artists; much of their gorgeous taxidermy has been acquired in this way.

Alison admits that a lot of the treasures in the KublerZavros house are surprise finds from auctions or markets that somehow work together.

“Sometimes they don’t necessarily all go together,” she muses, “but that’s the power of an interesting home, when you have that juxtaposition of the old and the new and you’re not afraid to present very old things with very modern pieces.”

Alison describes an organized chaos with five people living under one roof, but the couple has never been precious about their pieces and didn’t ever hide anything away when their children were little, allowing them instead to grow up around all the beauty and develop their own distinct style and love of the find. During the coronavirus lock-down they all enjoyed curating walls and nooks in their ranch-style house, repositioning and rediscovering art and curiosities.

So how do we go from an idea to reality? It’s simple. Ask yourself “How do I want to feel when I step into my space?”

As you begin to contemplate and craft elements for your home or office, really ask yourself what you are attracted to and what makes you happy. Is it warm earthy textures such as wood, leather, or pottery? Or smooth cool elements like glass or polished concrete? Do you like vibrant colours around you or more neutral tones, like whites and beiges? Are you drawn to mid-century furniture or do you prefer a Chinoiserie blend? Is your style more eclectic?

Whatever it is you are attracted to, own it…embrace it! The more comfortable you feel in your space, the more creatively inspired and happy you will be.

Of course, curating a space is not without its pitfalls. It’s easy to get caught up in whatever trends your favourite stores are pushing this month, but consider that there are thousands of amazing pieces already in existence that are just waiting to be rediscovered in your local auction houses, estate sales, markets,

56 | Summer 2020

or thrift stores and often at a fraction of the cost of a new, mass-produced item.

You never know what you might stumble across in a little country antique shop that may add oodles of character to your space and keep you within budget. Those special finds that have a fun or unique back story go a long way to making a house feel more like home.

One of our favourite pastimes is hunting for these awesome pieces and it sure beats getting lost in a labyrinth of massproduced items that will fall out of style in a matter of months.

There have been times when we have embraced the unusual and based a whole room design around a cool piece of art or armchair with amazing vintage fabric. You may find a fabulous piece of material from Uzbekistan knowing that you can have that $60 armchair reupholstered in it.

Don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new, like a new sofa with two well-worn vintage leather armchairs and a well-loved Turkish rug. Maybe a wall of old hats instead of that $3000 artwork that you love but can’t quite afford. Finding this mix of old and new can help create a soulful space, not to mention some great conversation starters.

Generally, there will be a common thread that underpins what you love and therefore what you choose will likely blend and work well with existing pieces. If you have a vintage surfboard or your husband’s old skateboard collection in the garage, maybe think about hanging them in a guest room, living room, or hallway. If it brings back great memories or encourages family and friends to connect, you can’t go wrong.

So, as we prepare to bid farewell to a highly unusual year, why not encourage your inner decorator to be sassy and bold.

Confidently display sentimental favourites and unusual pieces in unique and beautiful ways to help create the space of your dreams.

Happy styling!

Kimberley & Georgina xx Common Thread Style

Gather more inspirational interior ideas with Common Thread Style!

Visit their Instagram @commonthreadstyle or the website at commonthreadstyle.com.au – where you can also shop for incredible pieces to freshen up your space.

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2020 Summer | 57

Garden

BAMBOO WONDERLAND Hidden away just off the Bruce Highway near Torbanlea is a lush tropical paradise overlooking the beautiful Burrum River, known as Bamboo Land Words and Images by Debbie Phillips

I

n 1987, Klas Nilsson purchased a run-down orange orchard and transformed it into a beautiful bamboo forest, where bamboo towers above you, the air is noticeably cooler, and a sense of tranquillity overcomes you. Cultivating this much-maligned grass dispelled many of the myths surrounding bamboo and allowed others to enjoy Klas’s passion for this versatile plant.

Starting with the clumping style, it soon became apparent that bamboo had more to offer and with this in mind, an obsession saw the property transform through the inclusion of many different species of bamboo, which ultimately helped to ensure the growth of the business into a parkland and nursery.

Today Bamboo Land displays over fifty species of bamboo from all over the world and it incorporates a huge display of gingers, heliconias, orchids and palms.

Klas retired from the property, preferring to spend his days fossicking for gold, but still has a watchful eye over the business now managed by his son Janne and wife Tarissa who share an equal passion for these amazing plants.

Janne certainly never expected to become involved in bamboo.

His career was centred around engineering and construction - however, after feeling the rush of the large corporate world closing in, he upped the stakes and headed back to a calmer lifestyle where he met Tarissa. Fast forward to today and they have a fantastic team of workers who look after all aspects of bamboo and plant care.

Bamboo Land’s pathways take you on a journey where garden rooms open up and carvings, statues and nature give way to stunning views over the Burrum River. Don’t be surprised to meet the odd elephant wood creation or even a stunning

58 | Summer 2020

horse made from teak.

The gift shop offers coffee and a large range of bamboo products, from clothing to ornaments. You can also book a consult in relation to your interest in bamboo to ensure you have the correct knowledge on which plant is right for your garden.

The enterprise is set to undergo changes over the next couple of years through the acquisition of more land. Through this acquisition, Janne and Tarissa hope to give back by growing fruit and vegetables to support their next project: a dine-in café using the produce to support their exciting food vision.

Bamboo Land has also seen an increase in wedding photo interest, with couples opting to have their precious day among the beautiful surrounds.

If you need a break from the mundane or would like to spend the day surrounded by beauty, feeling your stress level drop, then Bamboo Land should be your first stop.

Bring a picnic lunch or simply sit by the river and dream plans of your own bamboo paradise; it is all here.

Bamboo Land is open 7 days a week (except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Anzac Day) from 8 am to 5 pm with free admission.

77 – 87 Old Coach Road, Torbanlea.

Phone 07 4129 4470 For more information visit www.bambooland.com.au

“

Bamboo is some things to all people, and all things to some people” - Chinese proverb

Garden

“The only thing left standing on the property were the fence posts.”

Australian Concrete Posts

W

hen Kathy and her daughter Bridgette made the decision to replace the rotted and termite ridden timber fence posts that had stood for half a century, with prestressed concrete fence posts from Australian Concrete Posts (ACP), they didn’t realise the impact it would have.

Shortly after the installation of the concrete posts was completed, the bushfires came to NSW and from October through the 2019 summer, fire storms ravaged the dry pastures of Myrtle Creek, burning everything in its pathway…including the hardwood fences that had stood for over 60 years.

Nothing was left, except for the concrete fence posts that Kathy and Bridgette had invested in only months beforehand.

As many have experienced, extreme weather events and fire storms appear to be increasing across Australia. As you secure your property for the upcoming storm season, consider upgrading burnt out, rotted and termite ridden timber fences with environmentally friendly, lifetime guaranteed concrete posts, like those from ACP. ACP is one of Australia’s biggest manufacturer of prestressed concrete fence posts and manufacture thousands of driveable and lifetime guaranteed fence posts each year.

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2020 Summer | 59

Birds Birds

60 | Summer 2020

Small birds are easily overlooked. Many may be brightly coloured, but usually they manage to blend well with their surroundings to avoid attracting the attention of predators.

Words and pictures by Jill and Ian Brown

D

espite diminutive size, many small birds perform amazing feats. Some travel great distances annually to breed in distant places, some build amazing nests, and some have achieved world-wide acclaim. Here are a few of these little wonders.

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

Spotted Pardalote (Right)

Pardalotes usually live and feed high in the tree canopy feeding on insects, especially psyllids. When it comes to breeding, they abandon their treetops for underground nests. They tunnel into earth banks, either naturally occurring or resulting from human activities. Road cuttings and embankments are popular, as are the banks of streams. These tiny birds, perhaps 8 or 10 cm long and weighing only 6 grams, tunnel into the earth for anything from half a meter to over a meter before excavating an oval nest chamber and lining it with shredded bark. Here they may raise two broods in a good season. In Queensland, they can be found in the south-eastern half of the State, north to about Cooktown.

Fairy Martins (Left)

Fairy Martins, only 12 or 13 cm long, can be found throughout Australia. They feed on insects, caught in flight as the birds dart and swoop over open grassland, usually near water. They are distinguished from Welcome Swallows, which are also aerial feeders, by their rusty heads and straight tails. Swallows have a very deep v-shaped tail. Fairy Martins move north in winter, sometimes as far as New Guinea, and south in spring.

It is their nests which are perhaps their greatest achievement.

They nest colonially, collecting mud from nearby streams and constructing multi-unit dwellings consisting of individual bottle-shaped nests carefully interlocked, often under an overhanging cliff, or under a bridge or culvert.

2020 Summer | 61

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HYDROSMART™ BOOSTS YIELDS ONCE installed, farmers can expect to pay about $10 a year for electricity to power their Hydrosmart. It’s a small price to run a nifty bit of gear that reduces salinity, protects plumbing equipment, increases crop yields and helps fatten cattle faster.

Hydrosmarts have become a mainstay sustainable water technology on many farms and outback homesteads which, of course, rely on well water. From go to flow, the installation process doesn’t take longer than a few hours.

Hydrosmart’s physical water conditioning system is a simple, sustainable and effective approach to conditioning water. By applying it, farmers get the advantages of using a technology to solve water problems which requires no chemicals, no filters and no maintenance.

“We ask that the Hydrosmart is protected, so it may take time to put a small shed or enclosed area around it so it’s safe from the elements and any animals”, he said.

“It will keep working for decades of use and there are no running costs other than $10 in power to operate it yearly.”

Reflecting back, CEO of Hydrosmart Paul Pearce said they started the company 23 years ago servicing vineyards in South Australia, as the business was surrounded by the many great Australian wine districts.

When asked how and why it works much better than simple static magnets, Paul replied: “By using a computer program that puts out powerful electromagnetic fields in combination with resonance frequencies that are put into water via coils wrapped around the plastic pipe loop giving over 3 meters of contact time and oscillating (activating) water molecules as they pass through. This in turn helps to weaken their bonds and produce a wide range of beneficial outcomes, particularly with highly mineralised, salty, iron or calcium rich sources.”

The technology took off and, since then, Hydrosmarts have helped growers from a range of farming sectors including strawberries, broccoli, olives, apples, citrus trees right up to broadacre farms and livestock. They have a field trial currently running on young seedless lemon trees in California using EC 1.1 dS/m (630 TDS) water over the last 12 months. They are measuring tree diameters and heights and applying regularly measured amounts of fertiliser to the trees planted on coarse sandy soil in the desert. The Hydrosmart treated water increased growth a significant 30% the first year.

In short, the device softens hard water to improve overall yields. Just like a good overnight rainfall, which can only be gifted by the weather gods, farmers can notice a difference to their crop within a few days.

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62 | Summer 2020

“We have had vineyards report seeing vines perk up within a week of installing one, as the flushing away of sodium and chloride in the root zone acts like a rainwater event, and plants pick up rapidly” Paul said. “They can absorb more water and nutrients allowing for the growth of longer, stronger canes, a better canopy and an increase in grape quality and yield.”

Hydrosmart activated water also provides many benefits for livestock of all types.

A beef farmer contacted Hydrosmart when they realised their Poll Hereford stock were unable to gain weight on their regular well water.

The well ran water with moderately high TDS (7000 ppm) which the cattle were not enjoying. After learning about this technology, the farm ordered a 50 mm Hydrosmart unit to treat the water which was considered low quality for beef cattle. Once installed, the cattle began putting on weight as they drank from the Hydrosmart treated brackish water. “After moving over to Hydrosmart in January, one lamb feedlot in New South Wales observed a 15% weight gain over six weeks”, Paul said. For more information, visit https://www.hydrosmart.com.au

Red-necked Stints (Above)

No article on the unusual achievements of birds would be complete without a mention of migratory shorebirds. Every summer, the mudflats and tidal zones around Australia provide rich feeding grounds for a wide range of shorebirds of varying sizes and shapes. Many breed north of the Arctic Circle in Siberia in the northern summer, then come here to avoid the Arctic winter. It would be tempting to say they live in an endless summer, but that would be to overlook the enormous journeys they make and the many hazards they face, including weather and human interference with their intertidal feeding areas. Among these are Red-necked Stints, the smallest of the common Australian migrants at only 13 to

Weebill

(Above) Weebills are accepted as Australia’s smallest bird, at 8.5 to 9.5 cm and weighing about 6 grams, or less than a box of matches. They are found throughout Queensland in suitable wooded habitat, feeding on small insects, often scale insects, usually in small parties which may include other small birds like thornbills and pardalotes. Weebills build beautiful domed hanging nests with side entrances.

Many years ago, when small birds like Weebills were still to be found in Brisbane’s leafy inner suburbs, a pair nested in one of our gum trees. The nest was made of fine grass and other fibres bound with spiders’ web. Finally, one of the pair brought a small green thread which it wove carefully around the shallow awning over the little doorway. Home decoration is not only for humans!

16cm long and weighing 21 to 51g depending on whether they are thin when arriving back from their epic journey, or plump and full of energy for their return to the high Arctic to breed.

Their wingspan is a mere 30cm or a little more. Each year, before their departure north around March, Stints moult from the speckled browns that offer protection on the mudflats of Australia to rich speckled rust which helps them blend with the red plants of the northern tundra. It is this breeding colour which is reflected in their name.

Budgerigar

(Above) These little Aussie parrots are said to be the third most popular pet in the world, after dogs and cats. They can be kept in a relatively small space, have been bred in a rainbow of colours and can be taught to mimic human speech. One of the most magic moments for anyone interested in birds is seeing flocks of wild green budgies wheeling in the sun and dipping to drink, accompanied by the whirr of their wings.

Despite their world-wide fame, their greatest achievement is surviving in the harsh outback environment that is their home. Budgerigars are nomadic, moving from place to place following the availability of food and water. They take advantage of good seasons to breed, nesting in large colonies and producing several clutches as quickly as possible to make the most of the available resources. Once dry conditions return, they disperse in smaller groups.

2020 Summer | 63

SUMMER EVENTS 2020 DECEMBER 2020 COUNTRY AT THE BEACH 2020 December 5 Rainbow Beach Sports Club www.trybooking.com/BLZJH

BRISBANE ECO LIVING FESTIVAL – CHRISTMAS EDITION December 5 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane savetheworldexpo.com.au

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FOREST HILL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL December 11 Victoria St, Forest Hill, Lockyer Valley fhillfestivities@gmail.com

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS December 18-19 Concert Hall, QPAC qpac.com.au/event/spirit_christmas_20/

CHRISTMAS FLOWER ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP December 19

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50 Northlink Place, Virginia, Brisbane classbento.com.au

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH December 25 Terraces Restaurant, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Main Beach goldcoasttickets.com.au

CAKE DECORATING CLASS: LATER 2020!

December 27

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75a Groom St, Gordon Park, Brisbane classbento.com.au

WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL December 27 to January 1 Woodfordia, Woodford www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

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SUMMER EVENTS 2021 JANUARY 2021 MINIATURE JAPANESE GARDEN WORKSHOP January 10 Mappin’s Nursery and Aquarium, 240 Montague Rd, West End eventbrite.com.au/e/miniature-japanese-garden-workshop-tickets

GOLD COAST FOOD AND WINE EXPO January 10-12 Gold Coast Convention Centre www.foodandwineexpo.com.au

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MCGREGOR SUMMER RETREAT January 10-16 University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba campus usq.edu.au/events

BALLET THEATRE QUEENSLAND ‘CINDERELLA’ January 20-23 Playhouse, QPAC qpac.com.au/event/btq_cinderella_21/

FEBRUARY 2021

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CQ BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL February 6 Tranberg St, Gladstone Central gladstonefestival.com

BIRDS OF TOKYO IN CONCERT WITH QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA February 12-13 Concert Hall, QPAC qpac.com.au/event/qso_birds_tokyo_21/

AGNES BLUES, ROOTS AND ROCK FESTIVAL February 19-21

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1770 SES Grounds between Agnes Waters and 1770 agnesbluesandroots.com.au

NOOSA SUMMER SWIM FESTIVAL February 21 On and around Noosa Main Beach www.worldseriesswims.com.au

BRISBANE HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLOURS February 27 Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Brisbane www.eventbrite.com.au

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Travel

QUILPIE QUEST 2020 IN APPRECIATION OF SHEEP Women join the CWA for a variety of reasons but the one that seems to be most common is to make connections and build lasting friendships with like-minded women.

This certainly was the core value behind the formation of the relatively new Beechmountain branch.

Words by Linda Munster, QCWA Beechmountan foundational member Images contributed

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ho would have guessed that in such a short time the values, ethos, creed, vision and objects of this remarkable association would be encapsulated so clearly by a group of remarkable, diverse and caring women?

Our recent adventure into the Queensland outback in search of a better understanding of sheep, affectionately termed the Quilpie Quest 2020, demonstrated the power of membership of the CWA. Eleven QCWA members from the Beechmountain Branch, one prospective member and two friends, most with their partners, came together for an opportunity of a lifetime — to experience life on a working sheep and cattle property to learn about sheep, QCWA’s product of study for 2020.

We were generously given this opportunity by my daughter Steph and her husband Andy who manage a large sheep and cattle property in the Quilpie district. The 140,000-acre property currently supports 1800 head of cattle and 5000 head of sheep thanks to the best rains in over ten years.

Driving into Quilpie this time, I was struck by the vibrancy of the vegetation and the contrasting shades of greens and browns peppered by bright white, yellow and purple wildflowers. It looked and felt ‘alive’. Such a contrast to previous visits when dusty sprawling plains spread before us struggling to support the hardy native shrubs and stubborn grasses or herbage. Everything looked lush and healthy, the air smelt fresh and clean with wafts of native flower perfumes and freshly cut grasses.

It seemed we really had timed our visit perfectly.

Delma, Michelle, Val and Bernie from the Quilpie branch welcomed us that first day, in Quilpie, with open arms and generously spent a couple of hours sharing stories of life in this remote part of Queensland.

Some of our group had been friends for a long time, some we were meeting for the first time. The enthusiasm of the group was palpable as strangers came together with a common interest and quickly bonded as friends.

The generous Quilpie ‘Chicks with Attitude’ gifted each of us a copy of Quilpie — A Pictorial History of an Iconic Queensland Outpost. This spirit of generosity and service is a core value of CWA and certainly featured strongly amongst this group of diverse and remarkable women and the men who love and support them.

Robyn later organized a working bee in the garden, Alison offered Indian head and shoulder massages all around, and everyone helped with meal preparation and clean up.

Desolie, recently retired and a prospective member, commented that it renewed her awe at just how vast our country is, and while distances are great, people are just the same.

“The day we met the CWA Quilpie (and Eromanga) ladies was also an insight,” she said.

“Although they live in a small isolated community, they share the same ideals — looking for friendship and community.

“I was particularly overwhelmed with the generosity of the Quilpie book.”

Departing Quilpie mid-afternoon, eleven vehicles in convoy then made their way to the station some 90 kilometres from Quilpie towards Windorah.

Approaching the property from the east, the long, dusty, gravel driveway to the house ran through expansive open plains covered in green grasses and herbage before crossing the small red sand dunes around the shearing shed and yards with not a sheep in sight! It would become a running joke as we searched on each outing for furtive sheep in the vast paddocks of the station.

We gathered for four days and nights to learn about sheep and experience a snippet of life on a large property in the Queensland outback.

While the accommodation was mostly rustic, the hospitality was warm, generous and welcoming.

Over the next few days we explored different aspects of the property as we travelled south-west to Eromanga through the oil fields, meeting up with past president Dorothy, and new president Michelle.

We also travelled north to Cornwall Creek and the old abandoned homestead and shearing sheds, and north-east to the big red sand dune where we experienced a delicious campfire cook-up under the stars.

Some also explored the operational shed and holding yards near the homestead.

On our first night our host, Andy, shared some of his vast knowledge about sheep.

He spoke passionately about raising sheep in this country, the different grades of wool and what they aim for in each wool clip.

He shared his views on the benefits of farming sheep in this country. Here they breed mostly Merino sheep which is known as the finest and softest sheep wool available.

Andy is still in the process of culling the remnants of Dorper, or meat sheep, which, unfortunately, have a tendency to throw black lambs. Black wool is the bane of a commercial wool grower’s life as just one strand can taint an entire bale of wool, significantly reducing its value. He prefers not to think about them too much!

Samples of three grades of wool, super fine, fine and dry, were passed around for Questers to experience. At the property they aim for fine wool (18 – 22 microns, averaging 19 microns) which has the broadest range of application and steady demand.

COVID-19 produced a negative impact on the wool industry crashing global wool prices and severely impacting the bottom line. Recently, wool prices have begun an upward trend which

2020 Summer | 67

they hope will continue for some time, particularly as conditions are good and stock numbers steadily increase on thriving pastures.

Andy spoke too about the problem of wild dogs in the area. With their murderous instincts and pack behaviour, these dogs can cause a great deal of damage to livestock often leaving young lambs to die horrific deaths.

This was an eye opener for us all.

None of us had previously understood the way wild dogs operate in this country and how brutal and devastating their behaviour can be.

Most were astounded at the realities of raising sheep in such formidable country and the costs associated with installing many kilometres of dogproof fences around the property’s perimeter.

The next night Steph spoke of the challenges of being a young woman raising two small boys on such a remote station.

One participant, Kim, who has known Steph all her life, commented that the highlight of the trips was seeing Steph in her element.

“I don’t think I have ever seen Steph more at home, or more herself.

“I feel that in those few days I got to see Steph not as the shy young girl she was, but the confident, capable, beautiful young woman she has grown into.

“It was so special to experience just a very small part of her life.”

This capable young woman, our daughter, has embraced life in the outback with a passion and found her bliss. When quizzed about what she loves about life out there she simply said ‘everything.’ My heart swelled with pride as I listened to our youngest child talk about the life she loves.

Quilpie Quest 2020 opened the door for members to challenge fears and engage in profound personal reflection.

For Kuweni, an artist of Sri Lankan descent, it was an opportunity to connect with Deep country, answer a call from the spirit of the land to be initiated, to own who she is and what she was born to do. Kuweni reached deep within during

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this experience.

“To me, to know a place I need to feel through my senses and allow my senses to inform my mind.

“It was the time we spent at the sand dunes. It was the feeling of soft sand beneath my feet, it was the feeling of the harsh thorns before we climbed up knowing the contrast within the same landscape.

“Tasting the (warm) melon, witnessing the different flora and fauna of various colours and texture, the birds, mostly the red kite I felt connected with.

“The 360 degree view from the top of the sand dune (across endless plains) and the variation of colours, and finally, watching the sunset, was definitely a highlight.”

Barbara encapsulated the feelings of most when she commented how lovely it was also to make that connection with the QCWA members in Quilpie on that first day and the Eromanga girls on the Friday.

“We love the book those Chicks with Attitude presented to us,” Barbara said.

“What a generous gesture that was and made all the better that Steph and (son) Mark are featured.”

Overwhelmingly, the highlight for everyone was the people and the wonderful conversations had over meals at the long tables or a quiet cuppa.

Robyn probably said it best: “For me everything was magical! To see day to day life on a large property, certainly made me appreciate the reality (stunning beauty & challenges) of life on a remote property.”

“The simple act of sharing food and the conversations that flowed will always stay with me,” Lou added.

Anne, a new member of our branch and relatively new resident of Beechmont appreciated the opportunity to experience an area she and her husband Richard had not been to.

“The icing on the cake was to share this with such a great group of local Beechmont people, who we would not have known, until this trip. A little ironic we had to travel 1000 kilometres to meet them!” she said.

“It was definitely worth the trip.

“The night at the sand dunes was a reminder of how important it is to be connected to people in our community, and to the land, especially during these times.

“On that evening all these attributes were combined together culminating in an absolutely magical evening at the picturesque sand dunes where the group witnessed the sun set, cooked and dined together under the stars, shared stories and just enjoyed the wonder of companionship, friendship and this country.

“This was sealed with love by John proposing to Desolie on the dunes that night. This could not have been more perfect.

You couldn’t have planned it better!”

Participants came away from the experience having a deeper

understanding of life on the land and the harsh realities of living in such a remote part of Queensland.

As Sally so beautifully put it, our days on the farm were immersed in “the reds, yellows, ochres, greys, greens, black, browns and whites (of the land) all sitting comfortably with each other under that endless blue sky, and the sense of space and peace that contains it. It was like walking around in one big beautiful painting!” And it was.

Women who embody the CWA ethos and values (and their partners) came together, some as strangers, to sit comfortably with each other, developing deep friendships over warm, open conversations and common interests.

This was an experience none of us will ever forget.

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Be part of something unforgettable 2022 is a very important year: it will be the Centenary of the Queensland Country Women’s Association!

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or this momentous occasion, the Association is planning fabulous events and fun celebrations — and you could be part of the behind-the-scenes action as a member of the Centenary Planning Committee.

Specifically, the QCWA is looking for members or non-members to volunteer their time as part of a team driven to enhance the Centenary, answering to the State Executive Board, with skills in marketing, publicity, communications, and/or event management.

Duties will include: • Creating and distributing media releases, posters and flyers, invitations, pocket guideline for Division events, etc • Managing and organising exhibitions, such as booking display places, creating

70 | Summer 2020

catalogues, packing items for exhibits, etc • Writing speeches with the State President • Creating content for the QCWA website, social media, and Express newsletter • Collaborating with the QCWA graphic designer and committee members, including attendance of meetings as required; and • Encouraging QCWA member participation • The committee will need to meet online monthly and appoint a Chairman and Secretary, with all ideas welcome and encouraged.

Does this sound like you? Email your resume to the QCWA State Secretary at secretary@qcwa.org.au

Embracing the bagpipes A

true Scot at heart, Abby was born in Scotland and “There’s the opportunity to play at competitions in Brisbane relocated to Australia with her parents when she was five and further afield, but more recently we’ve been putting on years old. concerts which are really popular.”

“My dad is a tutor and has been playing for many years, so I If you ask any member of the Pipe Band what their favourite guess it was only a matter of time before I picked them up and event is, the answer is unanimous: started playing too,” Abby says.

“ANZAC Day is without a doubt our favourite performance.

“I first joined the band in 2012 when I was in Year 4.

“The atmosphere is like nothing else and it’s a day that we all “I started out by learning how to play look forward to playing because it’s special the chanter, which is a beginner’s practice to so many people within our school and For some, the bagpipes instrument,” she recalls. wider community.” may seem like an unusual The bagpipes are not the easiest SCOTS PGC provides unique instrument choice for instrument to learn. After learning the opportunities for the band to tour overseas students, but not for Abby basic notes on the chanter the next and compete on the international stage. In Dalziel who has been playing progression to the bagpipes themselves 2013, SCOTS PGC travelled to France to for some eight years now can take anywhere from 12-18 months for perform at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service with the SCOTS PGC College most beginners. at the Australian War Memorial in Villiers Pipe Band.

“It’s a different journey for everyone.

Brettonneux and Belgium. They visited “I picked up my bagpipes at the end Scotland to play in the European Pipe of Year 4 after mastering the chanter in Words and images by SCOTS College Band Championships in 2018. about 10 months.

“Placing sixth at the European “Playing has come naturally to me; I guess it was something I Championships was a huge achievement for our band and our was always destined to do.” school,” Abby reflects.

A typical year for the SCOTS PGC Pipe Band involves lots of “That’s pretty special for a regional Australian school to be practice, which is then followed up with a number of events, right up there with bands that have been playing for decades.” competitions and performances. Building confidence to play to But if you ask her what her all-time favourite memory is, large crowds is an important part of developing the band and she says “That’s easy — I played Mull of Kintyre alongside Paul each individual member.

McCartney at Suncorp Stadium back in 2017.

“We start out playing at the opening of the Warwick Show “It trumps everything I’ve done to date.” and we also pipe in the main procession at the Apple and Grape Festival and Warwick Rodeo parade,” Abby explains.

“Throughout the year we play at school assemblies and lots of different school and community events.

2020 Summer | 71

Business

From Little Things, Big Things Grow Words by Avril Priem Images by Coral Algie, My Sunshine Photography

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yearning for self-sufficiency and a warmer climate led Rhonda Galloway and Rachael Crawford from south Gippsland in Victoria to New Italy in northern NSW. Their dream was tempered by the reality that self-sufficiency needs multiple avenues.

“We quickly realised that to make a living we had to branch out,” says Rachael.

A sound business plan, hard yakka, four green thumbs and flexibility have contributed to their blossoming business, RnR Graze ’n’ Grow.

BRANCHING OUT Rhonda comes from a farming and horticulture background, and Rachael worked in manufacturing. In Gippsland, both worked in a dairy factory.

“After we moved to our small acreage, Rhonda started working in a plant nursery, which is where we got our inspiration,” explains Rachael.

“The nursery was looking for a supplier of Sansevieria (also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant), so we put forward a business proposal that they accepted.

“Sansevieria (among other indoor plants) are air purifiers; they are also low water users and multiply by forming pups, which are easily separated. And by growing them in pots, it negated the need for quality land.”

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FLOURISHING This entrepreneurial pair has expanded their product range to include veggies, eggs, and homemade sauces, chutneys and jams that they sell at the farm.

“We’re excited to have planted lots of fruit trees — feijoa, macadamia, citrus, tamarillo, lemon myrtle, fig, bay leaf, loquat and apricot,” says Rachael.

Their self-sufficiency journey has not been without a few setbacks as Rachael explains: “During the November bushfires last year, about 80% of our farm was razed. Thankfully, the firies from the NSW Rural Fire Service saved our house and the sheds where we kept our Sansevieria stock.

“Since then we’ve built a greenhouse and gratefully received a business grant from our local credit union to buy a water tank and a pump.”

What are their future plans?

“Our Facebook page has increased our exposure, so we have both wholesale and retail sales with customers as far as Melbourne. Next step, a business website.”

On the farm, these keen, resourceful women aim to build another greenhouse, a propagation house, install an automated watering system and continue the fencing.

RnR Graze ’n’ Grow is flourishing.

RNR’S MICROBUSINESS TIPS Don’t dive in too big or too quickly financially. We paid cash for plants, pots, soil and avoided credit. We still have our day jobs, run the farm and nursery, and do most things ourselves to keep costs down.

Secure a market for your product and respond to it. We expanded our mix of plants because of customer requests.

Use all the small business tools available. We talked to people, researched financial advice, and found a mentor.

Keep a positive attitude. We support each other, and all of our friends and family remind us of the amazing results we’ve achieved.

Rhonda and Rachael from RnR Graze n Grow

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Business

BLESSED ARE THE CHEESEMAKERS Words by Jordana Brown Images by Cheese Therapy

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ith dual nationality between England and Australia, I have always been proud to belong to both great nations.

Although I have predominately lived in the UK and only really experienced the tourist side of Australia, eight months ago I decided to finally put my blue passport to use and experience what it really means to be an Australian.

And to my surprise, it’s not what I thought.

It’s not about the blue passport. It’s not about whether you know what to do if you see a snake (I sadly still don’t). It’s not about the beach, the sun, or even a glass of Milo.

Being Australian is a state of mind.

For example, on my morning walks strangers smile and say ‘good morning’ to me — this did not happen in London and, if it did, it was a cause for concern. Like most Aussies, I now spend most of my time outdoors. I now smile and say hello to strangers and I’ve learnt that a five-hour drive is referred to as ‘just down the road’. But at the heart of it all, Australians are resilient, hard-working and, more importantly, they support each other.

I have been humbled enough to see this first-hand when I started working as a videographer of cheese. Yes, that’s right — I take videos of cheese. And I get to eat cheese everyday. I love my job.

I work for a company called Cheese Therapy. In my cover letter I said it would be ‘gouda’ to work with you and yet I still, somehow, got the job. Cheese Therapy sends out boxes of cheeses across Australia, supporting Aussie and International cheesemakers and local artisan producers. I am so proud to be part of the team.

In the last eight months, they have been instrumental in supporting local businesses through what has been an incredibly tough year. Only in Australia could you witness a devastating bush fire, a world-wide pandemic and overwhelming support for new businesses.

Sam and Helen have run Cheese Therapy for the past four years as a part-time venture, hosting cheese tastings and working with artisan cheesemakers to create a monthly cheese club. Then in February 2020, after the horrific bush fires, a

74 | Summer 2020

small artisan cheesemaker, Milawa Cheese Company, reached out in desperation to Cheese Therapy for help. The bush fires had wiped out most of their summer tourism trade and Milawa were facing the possibility of throwing out all the ripe cheese stock, risking their business. Sam and Helen sent out an SOS on Facebook, asking Australians for their support to keep this small business alive by simply buying a box of Milawa cheese.

Thinking they would only sell around 50 boxes, they were blown away when they ended up selling over 2,000 — clearing out all their stock.

Sam and Helen couldn’t believe the generosity and compassion the people of Australia had shown this small cheesemaker. They thought this would be a one-off and prepared for life to go back to normal, but sadly they were mistaken.

The COVID-19 crisis spread rapidly throughout the world and crippled businesses, with Aussies cheesemakers taking yet another hit. Losing virtually all tourism trade, they were forced to close their doors. Unable to sell to restaurants and shops, these small artisan producers lost most of their revenue overnight.

So once again, these Aussie cheesemakers cried out for help from Cheese Therapy.

Sam and Helen sent another message out on social media, asking Australia for support. In just three months, they sold and posted more than 12 tonnes of cheese from these familyowned businesses in need, who would have otherwise lost everything.

At the beginning, it was just Sam and Helen doing everything and anything to help these cheesemakers, from ordering, cutting, packing, labelling and posting. Then, because of this ongoing success and support, they were able to hire people who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic — from students to security officers, fitness instructors to childcare and hospitality workers. Cheese Therapy became more more than just cheese — it became a community.

On my first day at Cheese Therapy, not only did I get to eat delicious cheese (have you ever tried a triple cream brie?

because you must), I got to listen to Sam and Helen tell fantastic stories about Australian cheesemakers; how one man left his job as a banker and travelled to France to learn how to make Alpine-style cheese, and now runs his own cheese company in SA; how a 73-year-old woman in Victoria loves to make cheese but hates answering the phone so, with no way to call and place orders, the public travel hours to her house just to see if they can buy her indulgent cheese.

For Sam and Helen, Cheese Therapy is not about selling cheese. It’s about telling stories and supporting these small businesses. When we create a video, we don’t talk about how a cheese tastes, we talk about why the cheesemaker made it, the passion behind it — the story.

It has been a humbling experience to work for a company that makes a difference. I’ve been privileged to speak to these hardworking cheesemakers and hear the emotion in their voice when they’ve described how much it means to them to know they have support from people across Australia. It’s enabled them to, not only sell their cheese, but keep their staff employed and support dairy farmers, even though their doors are closed.

It’s not just the cheesemakers who are humbled and emotional from all this — Sam and Helen have found a community of people across Australia who are willing to support each other in the darkest times, keeping businesses alive, keeping people in their jobs, and bringing hope in the midst of chaos.

We also recently started working with other local artisan producers. A few weeks ago I met the beautiful Kristina to hear her story. In January, she was offered her dream job as a health and safety consultant but it was swiftly taken away due to COVID. With time on her hands, she started doing what she loved — baking. Kristina makes unbelievably delicious sourdough crackers using a family recipe she learnt as a child during long summers spent in Croatia, combining her love of traditional baking and uniqueness by using fresh edible flowers

and local ingredients. I interviewed her whilst she was baking her biggest batch to date, roping in her partner Andy and her neighbour to help (under the bribery of eating some of the crackers, I’m sure).

She told me how Andy took her crackers to work and, after a while, his co-workers demanded she make more — and that they pay her for them. Fast forward to April, Kristina started her own baking business but wondered how to get it off the ground. She contacted Sam and asked if her crackers could be included in the cheese boxes and, as of today, she is featured in Cheese Therapy’s Grazing Box! I asked Andy what it meant to them to be starting their own business. He stopped measuring out the dough, looked me in the eye and told me that, without Cheese Therapy, they would never have had the confidence or opportunity to deliver their crackers across Australia and that it’s because of Sam and Helen that they are now about to open their first store. We looked at each other and I could feel the weight of emotion behind his words. A few months ago everything seemed to be going wrong, but now they had hope.

Cheese Therapy is now Sam and Helen’s main venture, working more hours than the day holds. It’s just a few of us in a little office, thinking of new ideas and fighting over what temperature to set the thermostat on the aircon.

But when I take a moment to see what Cheese Therapy has achieved, I forget about the long hours and the forgotten lunch breaks and I remember the look in someone’s eye when they’ve realised anything is possible — when they know they aren’t alone.

Because Australians look out for each other. Because being Australian is a state of mind.

Our motto at Cheese Therapy is ‘blessed are the cheesemakers’, but sometimes I think it’s also ‘blessed are the supporters’. Thank you, Australia. Together, we can do anything.

2020 Summer | 75

Books

A gift for storytelling Words by Avril Priem

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Images contributed

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ownsville author Barbara Hannay sets her latest novel in one of her favourite places: Magnetic Island.

“Maggie is beautiful; granite headlands with sweeping views of the Coral Sea, a string of bays, like blue jewels on a necklace, and off-shore reefs for swimming and snorkelling,” she says.

Barbara and her family have been holidaying on Magnetic Island on and off since the early 70s and once lived there for four months while their new home was being built.

This familiarity firmly anchors her story in a Queensland landscape.

“And an island is the perfect insular setting for secrets, gossip, romance and my characters’ pressure cooker of emotions,” she adds.

THE SISTER’S GIFT In The Sister’s Gift, a prologue sets the scene: Magnetic Island, two sisters, and the birth of a baby … fast-forward 24 years.

The two sisters, Pearl and Freya, have had a cool, flinty relationship ever since the birth of Pearl and Troy’s daughter, Billie.

Freya is smarting from a mid-life divorce, a lost job, and being homeless.

Emotionally adrift, she returns to the island.

Billie has also returned from overseas and is working in the family bistro (charmingly named Island Thyme) while her parents embark on a “lap of honour” around Australia as grey nomads. Against this backdrop, emotional tensions play out; there is also a new baby, the revelation of a long-held secret, and a second-chance romance with a handsome local hunk.

For Barbara, the idea of writing a novel was sparked about twenty-five years ago when she was teaching popular fiction to a senior high school English class.

“I really loved the romance genre and decided to give novel writing a go. My first story in 1994 was rejected but that didn’t stop me. Four-and-half years later, when I was 48, my first book was accepted by Mills and Boon in London. To aspiring writers I say, don’t give up!”

Barbara certainly has a gift for storytelling. She has written forty-six rural romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon and nine novels for Penguin. Best of all, many of her stories are set in Queensland rural regions.

“I’m 70 now and feel blessed that I have an enjoyable job that keeps my mind active and interested. I love being at home — reading, gardening, singing in an a cappella choir and, of course, writing.

“Writing my books gives me as much pleasure as it does my readers. They all have a strong emotional punch but with a guaranteed happy ending. At the moment, I believe optimistic endings are more important than ever before.”

STOP PRESS: The Colt With No Regrets Back in the early 60s, Barbara’s husband, Elliot Hannay (the Colt), was a wet-behind-the-ears cadet reporter for Bundaberg’s News Mail.

In the first part of this memoir, he dispatches hilarious and eyebrow-raising anecdotes about working with the larger-than-life characters from the news and print rooms.

Elliot learned on the job and at The Imperial Hotel where journos, print room boys, cane cutters and assorted larrikins drank, told tall tales and turned the air blue with cigarette smoke and colourful language.

Elliot learned his craft well — he went on to work in journalism for 60 years.

In the second part, Elliot recounts unnerving experiences when he was editor of the Townsville Daily Bulletin — being threatened by crooked cops, upsetting some dangerous Sydney gangsters, and a visit by two members of the local Ku Klux Klan. All in a day’s work to “report the news fairly and without fear or favour.”

In one rather romantic chapter, Elliot recalls the night he met Barbara at his 27th birthday do. After a moonlight swim at Kelly’s Beach, she emerged from the ocean in a bikini like “a sea nymph who had been dusted with fairy gold flakes … phosphorescence from the Coral Sea.” The Colt was smitten.

Elliot’s book is a great yarn and a remarkable insight into a disappearing Queensland way of life — local reporters writing local stories for local newspapers.

2020 Summer | 77

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Koala Champions As koalas are a vulnerable species, how can children be inspired to become koala champions?

Words by Avril Priem Pictures contributed

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new children’s book is helping to encourage the next generation of koala conservationists.

Sarah Eccleston, a koala expert at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for 22 years, has written a delightful story about an adventurous young koala called Enzo.

Enzo bravely sets out on a quest to find a tree for himself. Along the way, he has some scary close calls with domestic animals and vehicles.

Throughout the story, the message is clear about the challenges koalas face and the need for koala habitat protection.

One cheeky koala

Enzo is a real three-year-old koala born at the sanctuary, and Sarah helped to raise him from a joey.

“Enzo is such a character. He’s a bit of an attention seeker. I cannot walk into his enclosure without him literally throwing himself at me. And, just as I started the press conference for my book, he started bellowing. So funny! He’s the kind of koala that, in the wild, would get into strife. But he’s one of the lucky ones, he’s safe here.”

It was Sarah’s 10-year-old son who motivated Sarah to put fingertips to keyboard.

“Jett inspired me to write the story because I want his children’s children to see a koala! At the rate they are being depleted — through habitat loss, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease — it scares me that this may not happen.”

“Through my work I’ve contributed towards koala conservation, but I wanted to leave a legacy to ensure the younger generation is looking after koalas into the future.”

Illustrations

Jenni Goodman, who lives just south of Newcastle, did the exquisite illustrations.

“I absolutely loved illustrating this delight of a book. I completed the project during the first half of the year when the plight of koalas, after the devastating bushfires, was felt strongly

by Australians.

“To me, this book wasn’t just about making pretty pictures of scenery and koalas but creating something that will motivate children and their families to

get involved in koala conservation.”

Have You Seen a Tree for Me? is a perfect Christmas gift for 3 to 10-year-olds. Available at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or online book shops.

Koala Care • Pay attention to road signs and drive carefully through koala habitat • Keep your dog and cat confined at night • Create a dog enclosure with koala-exclusion fencing (e.g. steel panels) to minimise dog and koala encounters • Use koala-friendly (climbable) fencing around your property or install timber posts that lean against the top of the fence or add timber ladder rungs • Ensure your pool is koala-friendly by fixing a rope with a floatation device so a koala can climb out • Plant region-specific koala food trees on your property

2020 Summer | 79

SUMMER READING Great Read Cool down with an icy drink and a

Words by Avril Priem and Jessica Kramer

The Only Way Home By Liz Byron Imagine hiking solo with two donkeys from Cooktown to Mt Perry, west of Bundaberg.

When Liz Byron hiked the Bicentennial National Trail back in 2004, she was 60 years old. Even though she was an experienced bush walker, it was physically demanding and stretched her navigation skills. But she rediscovered the beauty of the bush, the kindness of humans and the extraordinary nature of donkeys.

Liz’s absorbing account of her nine-month trek with Grace and Charley is interspersed with her life story with its traumatic experiences. The whole physical, emotional and book-writing journey helped Liz to reclaim herself.

“The healing process is about letting go of secrets and shame,” she says.

If you only read one book this summer, make it this one.

People of Abandoned Character

By Clare Whitfield

This novel is a powerful discussion on women’s historical place in society and the horrific conditions the poor lived and worked in, while also being a tantalising, dangerous mystery about Jack the Ripper.

In the late 1880s, Susannah hastily marries wealthy surgeon Thomas in London. While at first, everything is perfect, Thomas’s behaviour quickly becomes violent and volatile – even staying out all night with no explanation, at the same time as women are violently murdered in Whitechapel.

Is it just coincidence, or has Susannah married Jack the Ripper?

It’s a dark novel, but not so dark that the reader gets dragged down into it. It’s the kind of historical fiction that confronts you with what humanity is capable of and asks, please, not to repeat history, but doesn’t linger in the guilt. It knows it’s done its job; it has pushed you to realisation and change while not being too in-your-face.

Piranesi By Susanna Clarke “Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has” the description curiously begins.

This story is full of lush descriptions and Piranesi’s ponderings on life and the House, slowly making way for confusion and puzzlement as the titular character discovers not everything in his World lines up.

This is a book you don’t read for the storyline necessarily; though intriguing, the plot is secondary to the poignant discussion on life and being contained therein. Parallels can be drawn between Piranesi’s experience of the House and an individual’s quest for the meaning of life and his/her purpose in that.

As author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas, Utopia Avenue) said in his review, “Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box far, far bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.”

80 | Summer 2020

Images Contributed

The Shearer’s Wife

By Fleur McDonald

In 1980, a pregnant-with-twins Rose and Ian Kelly move into a small South Australian Town; in 2020, Detective Dave Burrows is determined there is more to the story as the Federal Police come into town to make an arrest for possession of narcotics. While spanning decades, these two stories are inextricably linked.

This story certainly holds the reader’s attention, and even while it is reasonably predictable, this doesn’t detract from the tale. Perfect for reading by the pool or on the beach over a weekend.

Splitting: The Inside Story on Headaches

By Amanda Ellison

This nonfiction book by a leading neuroscientist is a comprehensive guide into the world of headaches — from migraines to sinus.

While all-encompassing and informative, the book isn’t too wordy and doesn’t appear like a textbook, with lots of clunky references – making it readily accessible for everyone.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London By Garth Nix This Australian author has done it again with his latest young adult fantasy.

Susan Arkshaw is looking for the father she’s never met, in an alternate 1983 London.

Her quest leads to her bumping into Merlin, a magical fighting bookseller who, along with his extended family, polices the Old World interacting with the modern one.

What follows is a dangerous and exciting adventure with creatures straight from the old faery stories, many laughs, lovable characters, and a book that’s virtually impossible to put down.

Pierre’s Not There

By Ursula Dubosarsky

Told in both screenplay format and novel format, this engaging middle fiction story is about a girl who transforms into a dog during a magic puppet show.

At once poignant and charming, Pierre’s Not There is ideal for children and adults alike.

Catch Me If I Fall

By Barry Jonsberg

Ashleigh and Aidan are identical twins in a futuristic Sydney where climate change was never caught in time. As privileged kids, they look after each other and want for nothing – until an accident changes the brother Ash once knew and brings along a shocking discovery.

The My Life as an Alphabet author wrote this science-fiction novel for middle grade readers, but its plot and message can be enjoyed by adults as well. A seasoned sci-fi reader will probably see the twist coming, but for anyone else it is a fantastic shock.

An addictive novel, Catch Me if I Fall is worth getting for the kids for Christmas before sneaking it back for a quick read yourself once they’re done.

The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst

By Jacklyn Moriarty

Somewhat reminiscent of classic fantasy stories like The Chronicles of Narnia, this book is the latest entry in the Kingdoms and Empires series.

Esther gets back to her boarding school to find some odd and unsettling changes, leading her to trying to puzzle out the answers. Meanwhile, the king and queen are planning a huge party to celebrate the return of their son, the Prince of Cloudburst, who was stolen away by a water sprite 10 years ago.

While technically part of the series, The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst can be read as a middle grade stand-alone novel – yet it also rewards readers who have enjoyed the other books.

2020 Summer | 81

History

UNDERGROUND ART — MUSIC AND BRISBANE’S YOUTH CULTURE For teenagers living in Brisbane in the 1970s and ‘80s, organising or attending live music events could be a difficult and sometimes dangerous proposition.

Words by Robyn Hamilton, State Library of Queensland

Y

outh culture was viewed with suspicion and authorities placed restrictions on live music venues and band activities.

Queensland’s conservative political climate and constant police scrutiny generated some of the most antagonistic bands in Australia, as alienated young people gave voice to their frustrations.

In bedrooms and cheap rehearsal spaces, disaffected teenagers plugged in cheap or hand-me-down amps, tuned their guitars and cranked up the volume. Along with this DIY attitude toward music-making came a similar approach to music promotion.

State Library of Queensland’s new exhibition Cut Copy: Brisbane music posters 1977-87 is a lively look back at Brisbane’s subversive youth culture at a pivotal moment in the city’s history. Drawn from State Library’s vast heritage collections, the posters and handbills featured in the exhibition tell a story of expression and experimentation, which helped to bring together a creative community.

With punk rock sweeping the nation, Brisbane found itself home to a small but purposeful independent music scene.

Money was often scarce, so poster production involved whatever was most readily available. In the absence of affordable photo emulsion, hand-cut stencils enabled many a late-night kitchen table screen-printing session. Line drawing and hand-lettering formed the basis of many other designs, and Gysin-style collage cut-ups, Letraset and the use of vibrant or hand-mixed inks added to a sense of spontaneity.

Imaginative and informative in equal measure, the posters and handbills featured in Cut Copy are a riot of colours and designs, all made with everyday materials, using either rough and ready production techniques or more sophisticated graphic art and printing processes. Sometimes satirical,

82 | Summer 2020

Images contributed

whimsical and often irreverent, in the moment they were utilitarian, mostly intended as single-use items adhered with sticky tape or Blu Tack. Printed or photocopied on whatever was cheap or free, such as fluoro highlighters, felt-tip markers and water-soluble inks. Permanency was not a priority, and archival quality materials were generally not an affordable option.

The posters and handbills also reflect the resourceful and determined efforts of many, including the radical University of Queensland (UQ) student radio station 4ZZZ, to support local line-ups through years of promoter instability, venue shortage and fractured audiences. By offering recreational facilities and equipment, universities played a huge part in supporting live music—with standout events being UQ’s 4ZZZ Joint Efforts, which showcased local and interstate bands, and Orientation Weeks held at campuses across the country.

Early on, the combination of the DIY ethos and limited opportunities to play commercial venues meant that gigs were often staged in backyards, practice rooms and community halls such as Baroona Hall in Paddington, AHEPA Hall in West End and the Blind Hall at Woolloongabba. Eventually, opportunities arrived to play at licensed clubs such as Romeos, The Silver Dollar and Amyl’s Night Space, and hotels such as the Exchange, the Queens and the Aussie Nash. The selection in Cut Copy follows this transition from hall to pub through a myriad of precarious, short-term venues.

The posters on display list bands such as The Leftovers, The Upsets, Razar and The Black Assassins, whose defiant music was reflective of this volatile time and place. Among the laundry list of bands featured on these posters and handbills are some that made it beyond the confines of Brisbane – The Saints, The Riptides, The Go-Betweens — while many others displayed have disappeared with little trace.

Printed or photocopied on whatever was cheap or free, such as fluoro highlighters, felt-tip markers and water-soluble inks.

Permanency was not a priority, and archival quality materials were generally not an affordable option.

The posters and handbills also reflect the resourceful and determined efforts of many, including the radical University of Queensland (UQ) student radio station 4ZZZ, to support local line-ups through years of promoter instability, venue shortage and fractured audiences. By offering recreational facilities and equipment, universities played a huge part in supporting live music—with standout events being UQ’s 4ZZZ Joint Efforts, which showcased local and interstate bands, and Orientation Weeks held at campuses across the country.

Early on, the combination of the DIY ethos and limited opportunities to play commercial venues meant that gigs were often staged in backyards, practice rooms and community halls such as Baroona Hall in Paddington, AHEPA Hall in West End and the Blind Hall at Woolloongabba. Eventually, opportunities arrived to play at licensed clubs such as Romeos, The Silver Dollar and Amyl’s Night Space, and hotels such as the Exchange, the Queens and the Aussie Nash. The selection in Cut Copy follows this transition from hall to pub through a myriad of precarious, short-term venues.

The posters on display list bands such as The Leftovers, The Upsets, Razar and The Black Assassins, whose defiant music was reflective of this volatile time and place. Among the laundry list of bands featured on these posters and handbills are some that made it beyond the confines of Brisbane – The Saints, The Riptides, The Go-Betweens – while many others displayed have disappeared with little trace.

By the end of the 1980s, the music scene had diversified, and horizons for Brisbane’s creative young people began to extend beyond subversive underground fanzines and the energetic but limited gig rosters of local pubs and clubs. With the arrival of the digital era and then the internet, DIY culture gave way to desktop publishing, music sequencers and home recording.

Brisbane in the 1990s opened itself up to the world, launching nationally recognised music festivals and bands that forged international careers without having to leave home.

2020 Summer | 83

By the end of the 1980s, the music scene had diversified, and horizons for Brisbane’s creative young people began to extend beyond subversive underground fanzines and the energetic but limited gig rosters of local pubs and clubs. With the arrival of the digital era and then the internet, DIY culture gave way to desktop publishing, music sequencers and home recording. Brisbane in the 1990s opened itself up to the world, launching nationally recognised music festivals and bands that forged international careers without having to leave home. The Cut Copy exhibition demonstrates the extraordinary diversity of State Library’s collections and the different ways Queensland music history is documented and preserved. The posters and handbills highlights the idea that self-expression and being part of a like-minded community are vital for the youth of any era.

Cut Copy: Brisbane music posters 1977–87 is free and open daily in the slq Gallery, Level 2, State Library, Cultural Centre, South Bank until 9 May 2021. Bookings required. slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on | #slqCutCopy Go to https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/cutcopy to see selections from the exhibition online.

Check out State Library’s Explorer platform https:// explorer.slq.qld.gov.au/#!/set/brisbane-music-posters and https://explorer.slq.qld.gov.au/#!/set/Brisbane-Gigs to add your own memories and photographs.

84 | Summer 2020

Image Captions P. 83: Peter Loveday. Cyphers, Antic Frantic, Pork, Tea For Two, 1982. Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 31116/196 Above: Ed Wreckage. Temporary Ornaments plus other things at Romeos, 1980. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 32501 Bottom Left: Ed Wreckage. Rock and Roll: The Leftovers and Razar at the Beehive, 1978. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 32501 Bottom Right: Damien Ledwich. Triple Zed joint effort, 1981, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Call no. HPT MUS 929 P. 85 Left: John Willsteed. The 279 Club : Opening week-end, 1981.

John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Call no. HPT MUS 930 P. 85 Right: John Willsteed. A Pool Party - no bombing!, 1981. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 31116/343

2020 Summer | 85

History

HARRY 'BUNDA' DARLOW

OLDER THAN THE PYRAMIDS An ancient bora ground near Toowoomba, Queensland, is an important Indigenous sacred area Words by Mark Copland Images courtesy of Gummingurru Trust and The Chronicle

86 | Summer 2020

THE INITIATION RING

THE CARPET SNAKE

T

here was something of a renaissance or a quiet revolution happening out Cawdor/Meringandan way (2 hours southwest of Brisbane) in June.

The centre of this change was Gummingurru, an ancient ceremonial site older than the pyramids.

Aboriginal people have been coming to this place for thousands of years on their way to the Bunya Festival every two to three years.

The back story to the site is a powerful story and act of reconciliation.

The stone arrangement was protected for many years by the late Ben Gilbert. Ben Gilbert was the farmer who owned the property on which the Gummingurru site is located.

He was told about the site by Harry ‘Bunda’ Darlow, a local Aboriginal man who remained on the Darling Downs when other people were removed to Cherbourg and Palm Island.

Bunda was a young boy of about seven years of age in the 1890s. His family camped near Gummingurru and his father and uncles went across to Gummingurru to perform ceremonies and other important men’s business.

In 2008, as part of Mr Gilbert’s wishes, the site was handed back to the Gummingurra Aboriginal Corporation.

STARBURTS

2020 Summer | 87

History

This site is much more than a site of archaeological significance; it is a place of healing, a place of learning, a place of building a better future together.

The Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation now has a base at Gummingurru and the brilliant Bunya Rangers also operate from there.

The rangers conduct cultural burning at the back of the Gummingurru site along with cultural burns on the Bunya Mountains.

Pride and passion emanate from everybody you visit at Gummingurru.

THE TURTLE'S FOOTPRINTS

Image Contributed

Image Contributed

88 | Summer 2020

THE CATFISH

QCWA STATE PRESIDENT’S BLOG Words by Christine King

To our readers, S

ummer is my favourite time of the year, the warmer mornings makes it easy to rise early and appreciate the birds in the garden and time to check out what is flowering, at the same time listening to the hum of the city waking up. To make it more perfect we are praying for rain here in Queensland as the drought is hanging in there over 67% of our State.

Our Association has a wonderful membership of amazing women from all walks of life and experiences.

The variety of experience that our ladies bring to our meetings is thrilling and exciting. Members of our Management Board are unique with an SES volunteer with the satellite phone, 4WDrive, equipment shed, and hours of training equips the Board for any possibility.

Retired Naval Commander, still serving in the Reserves brings immense knowledge in systems and connections that are valuable to the Board. Event Management and Décor, catering for vast numbers is another Board members skill set. Rural property management and working with cattle gives this member a vast knowledge to the Board of what is happening in our rural and remote areas of Queensland.

We have many female members running properties single handed throughout the drought, these ladies work on skills learned over time, budgeting, mustering, fencing and isolation. How great are these ladies? We have ex-Army Officers who have great skills across a wide range of leadership roles bringing to the Association the enthusiasm that together as a team we can do anything! We welcome teachers and School Principals who have retired and been active in large and small schools, city and remote country towns. Retired

or part time nurses and doctors who now contribute to work for our Association engaging in the Community bringing women together to support and learn new skills.

Some of our leaders go onto election to Local Councils and we have had a Mayor serve her community very well, including organizing the local Centenary celebration of her Council. A ship’s pilot, horticulturalists, solicitors, Entomologist and an owner of a TAB are just some of the background experiences our members have enjoyed in their paid working life, now they are valued and resourceful members of our Association.

We invite you to consider joining our ranks and bringing your point of difference to our Association. You are most welcome to join a branch close by or become a Supporter Member, please check out our website www.qcwa.org.au. Come and meet some amazing ladies who have ‘Embraced the Unusual’ in their lives and we hope they will continue to challenge our members to try something new, it is always exciting to try.

Christine King State President 2020 Summer | 89

SUMMER QUIZ

by Quiz Master Roy O’Reilly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

In medieval England, an engagement could be broken by sending a partner a sprig of (a) broccoli (b) lilac (c) parsley?

What is the name of the 2020 Australian dollar coin which encourages people to give to charity?

Topping the New Zealand charts in 2008 was A Very Silent Night, a song audible only to (a) budgerigars (b) cats (c) dogs?

How many great-great-great-greatgrandparents does a person have?

For over 2000 years a cow’s moo was used as a unit of distance in (a) Iceland (b) India (c) Israel?

In 1992, US vice-president Dan Quayle mocked which TV character for having a baby out of wedlock?

How old was Jane Austen when she wrote Pride and Prejudice (a) 21 (b) 25 (c) 31?

King Louis XIV of France is reputed to have taken how many baths in his lifetime, none of them voluntary (a) 3 (b) 13 (c) 33?

Which English pop star recently married an Elvis impersonator in a Las Vegas chapel and then had a fast food reception with her children?

At an English museum in 2006, Barney, an on-duty guard dog destroyed over 100 (a) Cabbage Patch kids (b) Ken dolls (c) teddy bears?

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Which is the correct spelling (a) questionaire (b) questionairre (c) questionnaire?

The Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame is in (a) Esperance (b) Hay (c) Toowoomba?

In a New Zealand High Court case in 2008, a man claimed that which pet did not have to be registered because it was a loved member of the family (a) cat (b) dog (c) mouse?

Written in the same style as 02.01.21, how many dates next year will have only ones and twos?

In 2010, which date was reported as the most boring of the 20th century because nothing of note happened (a) 11 April 1934 (b) 11 April 1954 (c) 11 April 1994?

The second given name of Ed Sheeran’s recently-born daughter is (a) Africa (b) Antarctica (c) Australia?

Professional competition eater Eddie “Bozo” Miller once ate how many one-kilogram chickens in an hour (a) 17 (b) 27 (c) 37?

From 1960 to 1967, who won 208 episodes of the TV quiz show Pick-a-Box?

The Queensland Parliament recently gave legal recognition to the ancient adoption practices of the indigenous people of which region?

An Englishman is legally entitled to shoot a Welshman provided he does it with a longbow at Hereford Cathedral at a range of 12 metres on a (a) Sunday (b) Monday (c) Tuesday?

ANSWERS

1: (b) lilac. 2: Donation Dollar. 3: (c) dogs. 4: 64. 5: (b) India. 6: Murphy Brown. 7: (a) 21. 8: (a) 3. 9: Lily Allen. 10: (c) teddy bears. 11: (c) questionnaire. 12: (b) Hay. 13: (b) dog. 14: Eight. (11.11.21, 12.11.21, 21.11.21, 22.11.21, 11.12.21, 12.12.21, 21.12.21, 22.12.21).

15: (b) 11 April 1954. 16: (b) Antarctica. 17: (b) 27. 18: Barry Jones. 19: Torres Strait Islands. 20: (a) Sunday.

90 | Summer 2020

! s u n Joi

Photo courtesy of Antola Trading

What we do:

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

• Advocacy – QCWA provides a voice for women on serious issues relevant to families, communities, rural life and education.

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

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

You can make a difference too.

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

For fun, friendship, inspiration and joy

Become a

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

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

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

member now!

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

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

Fee

Membership period

$74.25

1 July 2019 — 30 June 2020

Fee

Membership period

$95.00

One calendar year from date of joining

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

QCWA State Office: secretary@qcwa.org.au | www.qcwa.org.au | (07) 3026 1220

N O R T H

S T R A D B R O K E

I S L A N D

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With onsite bistro, bar, gaming and bottle shop along with direct access to Home and Cylinder Beaches, the Hotel is perfectly placed to do a little or a lot whilst on the island.

INCLUSIONS 3 nights in a standard studio hotel room at Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel Return passenger and vehicle ferry transfers Package cost is $538* for two people.

07 3488 5300 | sealinkstradbroke.com.au *Based on twin share (queen bed) in a standard studio hotel room at the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel with garden or hotel surrounds. Ocean view upgrades available on request. Package is available for stays between Sunday and Thursday only. Pay in full by 30 November 2020, for travel through to 30 June 2021. Subject to availability and blackout periods. Conditions apply.