#21 Central West Lifestyle | Winter 2018

Now 228 pages

WINTER

Narrabri

town feature Plus: INSPIRATIONAL DUBBO LOCALS • WELLINGTON’S VOCAL HERO PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL REGIONAL AREAS

Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales

• Selling in every auction sale week • Leading wooltrade broker • Forward contract with Riemann • Offering Auctions Plus wool • Accredited & modern rehandle • Cash settlement on small lots • Merchandise • Shearing finance • Web access to client account • One competitive flat rate for all bales • Comprehensive market reporting • Detailed clip analysis

Since taking over our family farm I have been using Jemalong wool exclusively to market our annual woolclip. Using a combination of the traditional auction system and the internet based Wool Trade™ we have been able to take advantage of any upward movements of wool prices. This is due to personalised attention to detail and flexibility due mainly to Jemalong understanding our needs as a business.

- Simon Squire-Wilson, Tiverton, Harden, NSW

CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD

CONTENT COVERAGE AREA

trading as Central West Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.centralwestmagazine.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@centralwestmagazine.com.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@centralwestmagazine.com.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay shotbyjake@outlook.com.au ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@centralwestmagazine.com.au

DISTRIBUTION Central West Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly (available at the beginning of each season) and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Central West and in the surrounding regions of the Far West, New England & North West, Riverina & Southern Slopes, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales.

Subscriptions and back issues are also available to read online, on desktop and mobile devices.

Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.

Central West Lifestyle showcases authentic content from across rural and regional New South Wales. The heart of the magazine is in the Central West of the state, but a great story knows no boundaries.

We are continually amazed by the innovation, inspiration and spirit that we find time and time again in communities both within the Central West and further afield. It is our passion and privilege to bring these stories to you.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue (mailed or online), visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. © Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2018 All Rights Reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.

Pegasus Print Group, is an environmentally responsible printing company that is committed to helping achieve a sustainable environment.

To underscore our commitment to environmental sustainability, Pegasus Print Group has achieved FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accreditation as well as being ISO 14001 accredited. Paper and paper-based materials carrying the FSC symbol can be tracked back to their source, guaranteeing they come from forests which are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

Pegasus Print Group is also an accredited ISO 9001:2008 supplier, which ensures each step of our production process is aligned with world’s best practice to deliver the finest quality possible.

Together, these accreditations offered by Pegasus Print Group, offer our clients a guarantee that their printed products are produced by world’s best practice environmental and finest quality standards.

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Winter 2018 150

TOWN FEATURE: NARRABRI 12

arrabri is known for its progressive nature and community N cohesion, not to mention its reputation as Australia’s sportiest shire.

GARDEN

150 ROSE GOLD Kathie and Arthur Mills’s Orange garden is a story of evolution, and a picture-perfect one at that.

158 STANDING TALL Nola and Colin Honeysett’s “Sherel Park” is a garden to look up to.

STYLE

120

164 ROOM TO IMPROVE Clever combinations of colour, pattern and texture can make a room sing.

171 MEET THE MAKER Mandy O’Sullivan has turned her crochet addiction into a thriving business attracting an international following.

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FOOD

180 SIMPLE PLEASURES Delicious, satisfying meals need not be complicated. The Outlook Café Dubbo shares some wonderful winter dishes to try at home.

186 COUNTRY COOKING Lorraine Hills shares some hearty recipes guaranteed to tantalise your tastebuds.

188 AS NATURE INTENDED The Paige family of Stoneridge71 are proud to supply their home grown lamb direct to the public

TRAVEL

194 RELAX AND ENJOY Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of superb sights, tastes and experiences.

EXPERIENCE

114 CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY Mackellar Care Services expands and delivers.

118 BUSHRANGER BOOM Back in the day, Bathurst was a haven for lawless activity.

120 THE LONGEST RIDE Jamie “Dodge” Manning’s story is a tale of true grit.

128 SUCCESS IS IN THE AIR Juliet Duffy in the spotlight as the 2018 Regional Woman of the Year.

132 YES MINISTER John Marsden Mason helped elevate Dubbo to its position as a major regional city.

140 VOCAL HERO Wellington-born tenor Hubert Francis has a story worth singing about.

144 A HEAD START Bathurst Catholic schools are helping their Kinders set off on the right foot.

146 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Hunter Valley Grammar School’s exciting new rural scholarship.

166 HANDY HOUSEHOLD HINTS Hayley Maudsley offers lots of tips and tricks.

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171 ON THE COVER

EVENTS

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Narrabri

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Plus: INSPIRATIONAL DUBBO LOCALS • WELLINGTON’S VOCAL HERO

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198 CWL AUTUMN ISSUE LAUNCH The Yass community celebrates its moment in the spotlight.

200 AUTUMNFEST Mayfield Garden puts on a party to remember.

202 CWL CHRISTMAS PARTY Athol Gardens plays host to the Central West Lifestyle team.

204 YEOVAL PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISER Raising money and spirits.

212 WEDDINGS Gallant grooms and beautiful brides tie the knot.

Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales

QUINTESSENTIAL QUAMBI Jocellin Jansson and her fiancé Stan Waldren enjoy the relaxed lifestyle at “Quambi”, Narrabri.

They are pictured with their dachshunds Rocket and Franklin. (page 46 Town Feature) Photographer: Shot by Jake

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Beautiful Rugs for Inside and Outside your Home Cotton | Indoor Outdoor | Jute | Wool To shop our range or find your local stockist visit

www.dashandalbert.com.au @wintonhouseaustralia

W I N T E R publishers’ letter

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

welcome to winter “It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it’s really a time of renewal and reflection.”

– Elizabeth Camden, Until the Dawn

Welcome to another chilly winter in the Central West and regions beyond across the beautiful state of NSW.

Yass Valley Feature We have been thrilled with the sales of the Autumn 2018 magazine in Yass with almost 400 copies sold at the Yass Newsagency in the first three weeks!

Thank you to all the locals and travellers alike who are supporting our project by purchasing the magazine. We hope you enjoy the read and that this magnificent area benefits many times over through your sharing of the good news with your family and friends. A big thrill for us all at Central West Lifestyle is receiving feedback. A special thank you to Yass Valley Mayor Cr Rowena Abbey and entrepreneur and Yass local Dick Smith. Look for their heartfelt comments (among others) in the ‘Your Letters’ section.

Narrabri Shire Feature We really enjoyed meeting the many interesting locals who make up the diverse and varied Narrabri Council area. The Kahl family, pioneers of the Wee Waa cotton industry, are introduced to you in this 100-page feature, together with trail-blazing inspirational speaker, writer and photographer Shanna Whan from Narrabri, who is making a difference in social reform.

You will meet up yet again with the Carrigan family from Boggabri where patriarch Snow Carrigan’s wonderful life story is told in its true colours. Mix this in with business stories, agricultural stories and stunning coverage of the unique local tourist attractions, namely Sawn Rocks, Kaputar National Park and all the drawcards at The Pilliga, and you have some compelling reading.

The natural beauty of Narrabri. Image: Eliza Dampney.

Some exciting changes

Thank you to advertisers

We have made a decision to increase the size of our magazine from 212 pages to a massive 228 pages. We plan to bring you even more interesting, regular features such as Meet the Maker, and columns on Health and Wellbeing as well as Business.

Our wedding, garden and travel sections will all be more expansive. So, all in all, it’s a case for celebration!

As we have said previously, our magazine could not exist without the support of our many loyal, valued advertisers. Not only do the majority of our pre-existing advertisers continue with us, year after year, but it is very humbling to receive support from new businesses who have been watching our evolution, growth and progress and who elect to be part of our publication. Thank you to one and all! Your support of these advertising businesses, where possible, will serve to promote the long-term future of country towns and communities.

We trust you can stay warm this winter, maybe spend time relaxing by a roaring fire with family and friends, and let Central West Lifestyle take you on a memorable journey of discovery!

Spring Feature – Cootamundra and Gundagai We look forward to bringing you a 100-page feature on the stunning Cootamundra and Gundagai area. Exploring the countryside, meeting the locals, discovering the innovative businesses and what makes these regional communities tick, are just some of the many joys involved in this job! Watch out for the Spring 2018 edition released late August across the state.

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W I N T E R Jake’s message

THE PEOPLE YOU MEET! G’day trendsetters.

Another magazine and another town bites the dust!

Narrabri is known for its wheat and cotton, Mt Kaputar and its sporting heroes, but scratch the surface and you’ll find so much more.

During my few weeks in town, I managed to document the best on offer and meet my usual share of characters – none more so than the irrepressible “Spider” Cunningham, whom I’ve run into before.

I was holed up in a Narrabri pub after shooting a wedding when Mother Nature called in the wee hours. Just as I stepped out of my room a howling wind slammed the door shut and locked me out.

Caught in nothing but my boxers, it was a moment I’d rather forget!

Failing to locate the owner, or anybody else for that matter, I finally managed to regain some dignity (if you can call it that) after pleading with a vertically challenged Chinese student to part with some garments.

Wearing an insanely small pair of shorts and T-shirt, I sheepishly made my way up to Spider’s joint at the other end of town, where, to his credit, he offered me the shirt off his own back as he rolled in laughter at my predicament.

Such are the good folk of Narrabri.

I enjoyed meeting gifted authors and poets, park rangers, polocrosse players, saltof-the-earth spud growers, inspiring cake makers, innovative shop owners, legendary cattle breeders and a former Dutch backpacker who has made Narrabri home.

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I even met up with Josh and Joe Smith, the photographer and pilot taking the country by storm. I shot Josh’s wedding two decades ago and never imagined he would scale such heights with a camera!

Speaking of photographers, we have a heartfelt story on Shanna Whan and her quest to help those in the bush turning to the bottle for relief from life’s struggles. Hers is an amazing story of fighting back and helping others with this insidious problem.

Back in 2001, Narrabri residents woke up to find that Channel 9’s Today Show had voted them the Sportiest Town in Australia. Outside the information centre are plaques remembering all the great sporting names. I have no doubt that a local javelin thrower will soon make that list.

Probably the funniest Narrabri moment was a fishing trip, my first, snagging a giant barramundi after only a few minutes.

OK, it was the Narrabri Fish Farm but I still reeled him in and have the photos to prove it! Thanks, Ricko, for a sensational time!

I’ll leave you with a little poem penned overnight by local wordsmith and community stalwart Max Pringle OAM. He’s a champion bloke and sums up much better than I, the spirit of the people who live around these parts and a little about this magazine.

Till next time, keep well, keep happy and keep up the good fight!

Cheers, Jake

ABOVE: Narrabri boasts a great CBD with shopping adventures in abundance; Holy mackerel! Fishing for burra and I’ve landed the big one with some guidance from fishing expert Ricko Cunningham.

We got a pic seconds before his great escape!

There’s this local publication That comes out four times a year Central West Lifestyle magazine And it deals with folk round here.

Where they highlight country regions And the country way of life From business folk to sportspeople And the farmer and his wife.

With tales of country characters And there’s some in every town They’re important to the make-up As are people of renown.

Most country towns need volunteers To keep their region going And the need for them to fill the gap Is something ever growing.

There are movers and there’s shakers They’re the ones who get things done Who always push the boundaries They’re what makes these small towns run.

With some articles on history And places tourists visit And where to go and what to see That’s not a bad thing, is it?

They cover all aspects of life Of each town that they highlight Before they start they do research To make sure they get it right.

That’s why in this publication You’ll find quite a lot to read Of rural towns and country life Its contents are all you need.

And if your photo does appear Then it’s not there by mistake You’ll find you’re in an elite group Of those people “Shot by Jake”.

– Max Pringle OAM

WINTER 2018 CONTRIBUTORS

meet your team

ELIZABETH TICKLE

GINA CRANSON

Sub-Editor & Proofreader

AMANDA O’SULLIVAN

KATE BOSHAMMER

ZORA REGULIC

ANNA TICKLE

Writer & Social Media Manager

ELIZABETH SWANE

Art Director

LORRAINE HILLS

CATHERINE PLAYER

ZENIO LAPKA

JANE SANDERSON

THERESE CULLEN

HEATHER CROSBY

Advertising Designer & Business Strategist

Country Cuisine Writer

ANNABELLE AMOS

ROBERT I BRUCE

GREGORY POWELL

HAYLEY MAUDSLEY

JOHN CURLEY Accountant

Chief Writer & Photographer

Writer

Household Hints Writer

Photographer

Bushranger Series Writer

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JAKE LINDSAY

Publisher, Distribution, Advertising

Home & Style Writer, Photographer

Writer

ALEX TICKLE

Publisher, Editor, Advertising

Photographer

Health Writer

NICOLE BONFIELD Travel Writer

Garden Writer

Wedding Writer

JOHN BALTAKS

Travel Photographer

Writer

feedback W I N T E R

Congratulations, Central West Lifestyle, on your 20th edition! It is a fabulous magazine and I loved the feature on Yass Valley. It was well written and highlighted how beautiful this part of the world is.

My wife, Pip, and I would also like to thank you for the article you covered on our farm at Gundaroo. We love to come here with our kids and grandkids to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney.

Keep up the great work in producing a top-quality magazine.

YOUR LETTERS

Dick Smith, Terrey Hills

Yass Valley Council was delighted to partner with Central West Lifestyle for the Autumn 2018 edition to promote our lovely and diverse local government area to your loyal readers. We feel so privileged that you chose the Yass Valley – with our extraordinary community, enviable lifestyle and flourishing businesses – to be shared on countless coffee tables throughout NSW and Australia.

The results, we think, speak for themselves. Yass Newsagency has reported bumper sales of the magazine this month with more than 400 copies walking out the door! Yass Valley residents have been purchasing the premium publication and sending multiple copies to friends and family. Our special secret is well and truly out!

The feature has perfectly encapsulated the spirit of our people, the beauty of our places and the pride of our communities. Thank you to the local identities, who generously opened up their homes, and their lives, to tell their unique stories to the writers of Central West Lifestyle. You have done us proud. The people are the heart and soul of small rural towns and villages all over Australia. Their tales are the common thread that ties us all together.

Thank you to Elizabeth, Alex and the hardworking team behind Central West Lifestyle for expertly showcasing the very best the Yass Valley has to offer. Thank you for collaborating with our staff at council, our businesses and our community members to help spread our magnificent message near and far.

The Autumn 2018 edition is one we will treasure forever.

Just over 12 months ago now I had the pleasure of Elizabeth Tickle visiting my Temora business, Deb’s Jewellery, and offering an advertising package for the Temora edition of Central West Lifestyle. As a long-term advocate of our amazing township of Temora, I felt obliged to take up some form of advertising in support of this worthy cause.

Over my 30 years of fine jewellery retail experience I can assure you that many dollars have been consumed on advertising and many have failed. To my surprise, Central West Lifestyle has risen like a phoenix from the ashes to prove me wrong about paper/ magazine advertising dying. CWL has flipped this train of thought 180 degrees. Since starting advertising in this space I have had calls from all over the state, from Moree to Mudgee and beyond, which has created a real interest in our beautiful store. We have clients now calling into to see what all the fuss is about with Deb’s Jewellery and we have an opportunity to showcase our brand, which has been delightful.

The reactions to my beautifully crafted ads by the team at Central West Lifestyle have been truly groundbreaking.

It has been a win-win for both parties. Central West Lifestyle is certainly owning this space in the magazine world and Deb’s Jewellery is more than happy with the results.

Debbie Davidge, Deb’s Jewellery, Temora

#CentralWestLifestyle

Rowena Abbey, Mayor, Yass Valley

It was a pleasure to meet Elizabeth and Alex recently with Helen Tickle at the Tamworth Cavalcade.

I have now read my complimentary copy of Central West Lifestyle. I must say I am extremely impressed. The quality of the photography and printing is exceptional. That aside, I strongly believe that regional Australia has some absolutely fantastic stories to tell, and you are telling them to the world.

What an inspirational story @ohhbulldust, thank you for sharing it with CWL.

John Worldon, Tamworth

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Narrabri TOWN FE ATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

Image: Josh Smith

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best and fairest from the Mayor of Narrabri

“Narrabri Shire has been named Australia’s Sportiest Shire. A Sporting Wall of Fame in Narrabri highlights the number of highly skilled sportspeople this shire has produced.”

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The opportunity for Narrabri Shire to feature in Central West Lifestyle Magazine has been met with great enthusiasm by the local community, who love to showcase the diversity of our region.

I have been Mayor of Narrabri Shire Council for two years, Deputy Mayor for three years and a Narrabri Shire Councillor for 10 years and have lived here all of my life. I own a small business in Narrabri West and am involved in various local community groups both personally and through my work as Mayor.

Our community is made up of the three main towns of Narrabri, Boggabri and Wee Waa and numerous villages, all boasting their own uniqueness. The whole shire covers an area of some 13,000 square kilometres with Narrabri being the administrative centre of the shire.

Our shire is one of great beauty. From the vast Pilliga State Forest in the south to the fertile black soil plains of the northwestern areas and the towering Nandewar Ranges in the east – there is something for everyone.

The Nandewar Ranges are a true icon to our residents and are a great tourist attraction. A trip to the Kaputar summit is well worth it for the 360° views and, in the height of winter, visitors can even enjoy snow at the peak! The Mount Kaputar National Park features Sawn Rocks, which boast a unique “organ pipe” rock formation and are easy to reach with a short walk. There are many other natural wonders around the shire, including the Salt Caves, Sandstone Caves and Yarrie Lake to name a few.

As part of Narrabri Shire Council, I am very excited about the opportunities that our region will be enjoying in the near future. The Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail line will be passing directly through the shire, bringing

our local producers numerous opportunities. Council is currently planning the development of a Logistics and Industrial Hub to take advantage of the new rail infrastructure and other strategic advantages that will make the site attractive to new industry.

These infrastructure projects will be positioned to take advantage of the highquality agriculture and resources that continue to be produced within the shire and will see our community continue to prosper into the coming decades.

As well as world-class agricultural produce, our shire is leading the way with three research facilities. Narrabri Shire annually hosts PhD students from across the globe at the Australian Cotton Research Institute, Australia Telescope and IA Watson Grains Research Centre.

As can be seen from the businesses featured within this magazine, Narrabri Shire has a thriving commercial and retail sector. The variety and quality of the products on offer in our CBDs would rival our city counterparts with residents also enjoying a great café culture. You can definitely get a top quality latte in Narrabri Shire!

Narrabri Shire has been named Australia’s Sportiest Shire. A Sporting Wall of Fame in Narrabri highlights the number of highly skilled sportspeople this shire has produced.

A drive through any of our towns will showcase the variety of sporting facilities and open spaces our residents enjoy, which make us a very active community.

I hope you enjoy discovering more about Narrabri Shire in the coming pages and we look forward to warmly welcoming you to our part of the world very soon!

Cr Cathy Redding, Mayor of Narrabri

going places

Narrabri Shire is synonymous with progress and community cohesion.

Narrabri Shire is in the heart of the Namoi Valley in north west NSW. It is an area full of surprises, boasting natural beauty and an abundance of opportunities across a range of industries.

Narrabri Shire is located half way between Brisbane and Sydney on the crossroads of the Newell and Kamilaroi highways. The area is well serviced by road, rail and direct flights to both Sydney and Brisbane on weekdays. The shire has a population of some 14,000 residents and covers an area of around 13,000 square kilometres.

The town of Narrabri is the administrative centre for the shire and is set against the backdrop of the Nandewar Ranges on the banks of the picturesque Namoi River. Narrabri has all the conveniences of city living with quality shopping, modern cafes and a state-of-the-art theatre complex, bringing the latest movies and live performances to the community.

The town of Boggabri is in the east of the shire, an area rich with agricultural and coal resources. Boggabri is known as the “Little Town with the Big Heart� and it certainly showcases that every year with the popular award-winning Drovers Campfire event, drawing visitors from across Australia to enjoy the hospitality of this community.

The town of Wee Waa is in the western part of the shire, and is an area blessed with rich fertile soils. These soils gave birth to the Australian cotton industry in the 1960s and still produce top quality fibre to this day. Wee Waa is a bustling town, servicing an advanced irrigation industry producing food and fibre to feed and clothe the world.

Although agriculture remains the most important industry within Narrabri Shire, the area has diversified into resources and other industries that value-add to the high quality commodities found here. The advent of these new ancillary businesses is providing a breadth and depth of job opportunities for the shire.

Narrabri Shire boasts a number of leading research facilities in the areas of cotton, grains and astronomy and is leading the way with global advances in these areas. The research conducted at the Australian Cotton Research Institute and IA Watson Wheat Research Centre is regularly put into practice locally, improving water efficiency, chemical usage and crop yields.

The landscape of Narrabri Shire varies greatly from black soil plains to thick native scrub and rugged mountain ranges.

This variety makes Narrabri Shire a popular tourist spot and an important stopover on the Newell Highway. People who enjoy the outdoors will not be disappointed by the range of activities and sights within the shire.

Narrabri Shire Council is progressive and cohesive and is working closely with the community to plan for the future.

Narrabri Shire is seen as an area of huge opportunity with the announcement of inland rail travelling through the area and opportunities for further diversification within the local economy.

The future is looking bright in Narrabri Shire! CWL

ABOVE: Rose Street is the hub of the Wee Waa community; the telescope is a major drawcard for tourists. Telescope image: Janet Dampney.

FACING PAGE: Narrabri West Lake; Maitland Street by night. Images: Cindy Galvin.

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T O W N F E A T U R E Narrabri

days gone by Narrabri

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Images kindly supplied by the Narrabri and District Historical Society.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

TRULY TIMELESS Built on solid foundations, Narrabri boasts a proud past and a bright future.

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crimes and MISDEMEANOURS If only the walls could talk inside the old Narrabri Gaol.

Designed by colonial architect James Barnet and built by J. Conlan in 1882 for 3590 pounds, eight shillings and six pence (just over $7000), Narrabri Gaol operated for 100 years before becoming a museum and home of the Narrabri and District Historical Society.

The gaol, planned for 32 inmates, comprised an office, charge room, medical room and seven cells for male prisoners. The women weren’t forgotten, with a cell and extra room with bath and laundry facilities.

The front section once housed the warden’s quarters but is now a fine representation of a parlour and bedroom (from between the wars) featuring a time line of Narrabri’s first 150 years.

History enthusiasts Gordon and Helen Cain are among the 15 volunteers operating the museum. Having spent most of their lives on a string of properties in the district, they know as much as anyone about Narrabri.

Over the years they’ve met dozens of inmates who served time in the penitentiary.

“They drop in and tell us their hard-luck story and then return the next day with their wife and kids, pretending never to have met us,” Gordon laughs.

No notorious murderers were ever locked up, he says, mainly drunks and sheep pilferers. Often men had a few too many in one of Narrabri’s many pubs and spent the night recovering in the lock-up.

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“In the early days they had vegetables and turkeys in the yards.

One bloke got locked up every Christmas just to enjoy a decent feed and a bed – it was better than sleeping under the bridge.”

Helen is a family tree researcher and publicity officer, having worked for Warner Bros in Sydney on their show Who Do You Think You Are? She is well acquainted with the history of Narrabri’s pioneering families and is always up for a chat on virtually any subject regarding the town’s colourful past.

Open Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, the Narrabri Heritage Centre, which houses the museum, welcomes coaches any time. Ring Gordon on 0427 247900 to make an appointment. CWL

ABOVE: These sturdy gates ensured nobody tried to escape; clothing from a lifetime ago; this large clock came from the railway station.

FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The old Narrabri Gaol is a must-see attraction for both locals and visitors to Narrabri; a mounted trooper in front of the black tracker’s hut; the parlour is a fine representation of life in the Depression years; a reconstruction of how a cell might have looked last century; Gordon and Helen Cain are enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guides at the old gaol; the sportiest town in the country has plenty of sports memorabilia.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“One bloke got locked up every Christmas just to enjoy a decent feed and a bed – it was better than sleeping under the bridge.”

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wow factor Breathtaking scenery, natural wonders and extraordinary wildlife are par for the course in this neck of the woods.

SAWN ROCKS For a great day trip from Narrabri, head to Sawn Rocks on the Killarney Gap Road to Bingara. Stop to use the free barbecues and enjoy the outlook over surrounding farms.

The Sawn Rocks formation, an almost perfect example of geometric organ piping, is a short stroll along an easily accessible walking track.

The best time for photos is midday when the sun is overhead but it’s an impressive sight any time of day.

From Sawn Rocks, the adventurous can continue north to Waa (pronounced wor) Gorge.

Only about 1.5 hours from Narrabri, but accessible only in dry weather, you’ll feel like you are truly off the grid.

There are a few farm gates along the road into the gorge, so please leave them as you found them.

Once at the carpark, you’ll find picnic and toilet facilities.

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There’s a 500-metre walking track to the Mill-Bullah waterholes, but from this point you must scramble another kilometre along the creek.

You are now in the Grattai Wilderness Area so there is no formed trail. Your reward is the impressive walls of Waa Gorge towering 70 metres above you.

With more than 170 bird, 33 reptile and 27 mammal species recorded in the park, the chances of wildlife encounters are high.

The most famous resident is a giant pinktriangle slug. This impressive slug is hot pink, about the size of an adult palm and leaves behind distinctive scallop-shaped tracks.

They are found in the high-altitude, sub-alpine parts of the park and only come out in the wet.

They are usually found on smooth-barked trees and rock surfaces. > Image: Josh Smith

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

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T O W N F E A T U R E Narrabri

MOUNT KAPUTAR Wherever you are in Narrabri you won’t miss Mount Kaputar, a stunning volcanic remnant that dominates the horizon to the east.

It’s hard to resist the urge to explore. Mount Kaputar National Park provides opportunities for everyone, whether it’s just a scenic drive and light stroll or setting off into the wilderness for three days.

The park protects over 55,000ha of the Nandewar Range. The highest point, Mount Kaputar, rises 1510 metres above sea level with 360 degree views over the range and surrounding plains.

It’s been said you can see 10 per cent of the state from the Kaputar Summit Lookout, although it’s a claim hard to prove.

The range was formed by two shield volcanoes between 21 to 17 million years ago. It used to be about one kilometre taller but erosion has incised the range with steep gorges and exposed a remarkable collection of plugs and dykes, leaving behind a jagged landscape that begs exploring.

One of the great things about the park is that you can drive all the way to the top in two-wheel drive.

The steep and windy road, however, is unsuitable for caravans and motorhomes.

The lookouts along the way are awe-inspiring. It’s hard to choose a favourite, so stop at them all and decide for yourself.

As you drive up the mountain the vegetation changes from typical western NSW forest of ironbark and white box, moving through stringybarks, until you reach the amazing subalpine woodlands.

It’s incredible looking out over the hot northwest plains while being surrounded by snowgums and snowgrass. If you happen to be there in winter, there’s a chance you’ll be standing in snow, with falls occurring most years.

During summer, the top of the mountain is around 10 degrees cooler than Narrabri, making Mount Kaputar a very pleasant place to be when temperatures are soaring elsewhere.

The park has a network of walking tracks for all abilities and timeframes. Many of them intersect so you can choose your own adventure, explore at your own pace. Picnic facilities are located throughout the park.

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Camping areas are available at Bark Hut and Dawsons Spring. In a valley halfway up the mountain, Bark Hut is the most sheltered of the camping areas.

Dawsons Spring is at the top of the range among the snowgums, about an hour from Narrabri. For those wanting a little more comfort there are three semi-detached cabins. > Bookings can be made at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

ABOVE: Mt Kaputar, image: Boris Hlavica; Dawsons Spring in snow.

FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Yulludunida; Mt Kaputar, images: Josh Smith; Yulludunida Crater: image: Boris Hlavica.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

O ne o f t he gr e a t t hin g s ab o u t t h e p ar k i s t h a t y o u c an dr ive a ll t he way t o t h e t o p i n two - w h e el dr i v e.

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The Pilliga The Pilliga forest – or “scrub” as it is affectionately known by locals – offers over half a million hectares of forest to explore. It stretches from the Namoi River in the north to the Warrumbungle Range in the south.

The Pilliga is a hub for wildlife. With about 250 bird species you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the birdlife.

Take a scenic drive along the unsealed roads through the forest, follow a bird route or stop for a picnic and a walk.

There are plenty of ways to surround yourself with the natural wonders of the Pilliga and it can be done as a day trip from Narrabri or you can spend the night in one of the free camping areas.

The Pilliga is accessible but it is vast, so you do need to be prepared. Free maps are available and are a must, as map apps don’t work in the Pilliga. The best time to visit is autumn-spring.

SCULPTURES IN THE SCRUB Here, natural beauty and stunning art join forces. This four-year project was the result of collaboration between five renowned artists, the local Aboriginal community and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

From the picnic area follow the 3km return walk track along the top of the specular escarpment. Here you’ll find the sculptures dotted along the path with the vistas of magnificent Dandry Gorge in the background. Give yourself plenty of time to admire the sculptures and consider the connection to country that they represent.

From the escarpment descend into the cool gorge below and wander back along the creek. If you’re lucky enough to visit in spring you’ll be surrounded by an astonishing array of colourful wildflowers.

There is a picnic area with free barbecues so you can stop and enjoy your lunch, or stay longer at the camping area.

RIGHT: First Lesson (Dhayaanduul Waanda) by artist Brett Garling.

SALT CAVES AND PILLIGA FOREST LOOKOUT TOWER From Narrabri your first stop should be the Salt Caves. Climbing the Pilliga Forest Lookout Tower is a great way to drink in the vastness of the forest around you.

The 360 degree views stretch from the Warrumbungle Range to Mount Kaputar across the forest below.

The dam is an easy 1km stroll from the picnic area. Sit, be still and you won’t have long to wait for the wildlife to come.

The Salt Caves visitor area is in the north of Timmallallie National Park on County Line Road. The Salt Caves boast modern picnic facilities, free gas barbecue, non-flush toilet and a camping area.

RIGHT: Pilliga Artesian Bore Baths; Salt Caves picnic area from the tower.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

SANDSTONE CAVES The Sandstone Caves, located just off the highway, 35km north of Coonabarabran is a special place for the Kamilaroi people and a great place to experience some of the Pilliga’s ancient culture.

The 1.7km medium grade walk winds through the picturesque sandstone hills. Enjoy the colours of the numerous cathedral caves and marvel at the artwork sheltered within. In particular, soak up the changing light at sunset before driving back up the Newell Highway to Narrabri.

At the request of the local Aboriginal elders, the turn-off from the highway is not signposted. Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre staff can provide directions.

Simply stoked

Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre A great place to begin your exploration is the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre, on the main street of Baradine.

Friendly staff can provide maps, information on local road conditions and help plan a visit tailored just for you.

The Discovery Centre is housed in a unique, architecturally designed building and is brimming with interactive displays that will reveal the flora, fauna and stories of the Pilliga, like you’ve never seen them before.

You may be lucky enough to catch a travelling art show in the exhibit space.

Give the staff a call on 6843 4011 or email pilliga.discoverycentre@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Programs Manager for Northern Inland Branch Jessica Stokes loves national parks and Mount Kaputar in particular.

She moved here 11 years ago to take up a ranger’s position with the Mount Kaputar National Park, fell in love with the landscape and stayed.

“I’ve worked in Sydney parks and in remote parks in the Territory but have developed a real soft spot for Narrabri,” she enthuses.

“I’ve lived in the desert where people come from around the world to watch the sunsets but ours beat them hands down.

“When my family and friends come to visit they are blown away by the size of the sky. We have breathtaking sunsets and our dark skies mean that the display of stars is second to none.”

Jessica especially loves the contrasts of Mount Kaputar National Park.

“It’s a rugged mountain range where you can walk into the wilderness areas but you can also just drive all the way to the top for one of the best views in the world,” she says.

“In one morning you can conquer the red outcrops of Yulludunida, which rival anywhere in the Pilbara, and then you continue up the mountain to surround yourself with snowgums and snowgrass at Dawsons Spring.”

Jess started with the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 2005 in the tour office of Sydney Harbour National Park.

“I got to sit in the office at Cadmans Cottage, aware I was in the oldest building in Australia and look out to the Opera House.”

From there she worked as a ranger at Royal National Park, West MacDonnell and Finke Gorge National Parks near Alice Springs.

Jessica thrived during her time in the Territory. Living in remote parks was one big adventure for a girl who grew up in the Sydney suburbs.

She finds plenty of reasons to love Narrabri.

“It’s an easy town to live in,” she says. “Houses are affordable, there’s plenty of space and no traffic. We’ve got the theatre, a pool, kayaking down the river and the National Parks to explore.

“I haven’t lived in Sydney for a couple of decades now and while I love visiting I can’t imagine moving back.”

And her favourite part of the park?

“Hmm . . . it varies depending on what I’ve just done. Every time I do either the Yulludunida or Coryah Gap walking tracks I change my mind and think that one is my favourite.

“Having said that, cosying up to fire in one of the Dawsons Spring cabins with a glass of red during winter is pretty nice too.” CWL ABOVE: Dawsons Spring cabins; Jessica Stokes loves exploring the park at every opportunity.

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T O W N F E A T U R E Narrabri

pleasure on a plate Nosh Narrabri started as Nosh on the Namoi in 2003 as a small food and wine festival to showcase locally grown produce.

The response to the inaugural event was overwhelmingly positive, and the event has now grown into one of the best known food and wine festivals in regional NSW. In 2017, a new committee revamped Nosh on the Namoi to become Nosh Narrabri, giving the event a modern edge to showcase local growers, food creators and beverage makers and gathering the community together to celebrate the creativity and talent of others.

The event is held in the parklands on the banks of the Namoi River and features a series of events including the Food and Wine Expo, Long Lunch and “Nosh On� night event.

The next Nosh Narrabri is planned for August 2019 with the committee already planning an even bigger and better event. CWL Images: Janet Dampney

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Take a Trip to

Narrabri Shire Visitor Information Centre 103 Newell Highway, NARRABRI NSW 2390 Phone: 1800 659 931 | 02 6799 6760 Open: Monday to Friday | 9am - 5pm Saturday to Sunday | 9am - 2pm

Narrabri Shire Yarrie Lake is an unexplained wonder of the natural variety, a 3km saucer-shaped expanse of water on the very edge of the Pilliga Scrub. It is much appreciated by locals, visitors and wildlife alike.

Made up of six identical antennas, the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array is used by astronomers to study the structure and evolution of our Universe. Take a look at the astonomy exhibition and visitors centre.

Fauna

Space

Yarrie Lake

Telescope Array Keen to experience an almighty wall of organ pipes without stepping foot inside a church? Then Sawn Rocks, with its towering wall of pentagonal basalt pipes is the place to go. The most iconic reminder of Mount Kaputar’s volcanic past.

Get a taste of life as a prisoner of yesteryear at the Narrabri Old Gaol Museum. Be regaled by fascinating stories from the days of the gaol’s operation and take a sneak peek at how the prisoners lived.

Nature

History

Sawn Rocks

Old Gaol

www.visitnarrabri.com.au

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REACH FOR THE STARS

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA).

Narrabri’s world-leading radio astronomy research facility attracts about 12,000 visitors each year.

The Visitors Centre is open from 8am to 6pm every day of the year. Entry is free with access to a theatrette, electric barbecues and picnic facilities.

Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the antennas and wander through indoor and outdoor astronomy exhibits.

The theatrette features free films on ATCA and astronomy. One of the garden displays is the people’s telescope, which simulates the operation of the Australia Telescope.

ATCA was constructed using cutting-edge technology and was one of the first radio telescopes in the world to utilise optical fibres – 160km in length overall.

The main rail track is 3km long with a 9.6m-wide gauge carrying five dishes that move along it. A sixth dish is “parked” 3km further to the west.

The antennas need to form a straight line in space (rather than following the curvature of the earth) so the construction of the stations and the track required great precision.

The site was chosen as CSIRO already owned the land, which formerly housed the solar radio heliograph used for studying the sun. The site was suitably spaced for synthesis mapping, had good receiving capabilities (no mountains), low radio interference and was close to Narrabri.

The telescope detects radio waves from space and converts them into images for interpretation by scientists from around the world.

These signals reveal structures and objects in space that are invisible through an optical telescope and help unlock the secrets of the universe.

Astronomers can operate the telescope from the Narrabri control room, the Science Operations Centre in Sydney or from any other location in the world via the internet.

These astronomers don’t look through the telescope, instead using mathematics (called Fourier transforms) to reconstruct images of what the sky must look like, given the signals that the telescope receives.

ATCA is used to investigate a vast range of objects in the universe, from nearby planets and asteroids to black holes in other distant galaxies.

ATCA is also called into action whenever a giant star goes supernova or a gamma ray explosion is detected.

Radio astronomy is continually developing and spin-offs find application in satellite communications, medical image processing (MRIs & CT scans) and in recent times fast wireless LAN making Wi-Fi possible. CWL Image: Janet Dampney

ABOVE: The five dishes enable scientists to unlock the secrets of the universe.

THE TELESCOPE DETECTS RADIO WAVES FROM SPACE AND CONVERTS THEM INTO IMAGES FOR INTERPRETATION BY SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 28 CWL NARRABRI

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

top of the

world The sky’s the limit for Narrabri photographer Josh Smith.

Gifted aerial landscape artist Josh Smith is stunning the nation with his eye-catching images of life on the land from the back seat of a Jabiru aircraft.

Forget drones, this is the real deal. High tech and with the best Canon lenses in the world, Josh has an insatiable appetite to produce fresh rural images from a perspective rarely seen or appreciated. >

NARRABRI CWL 29

“My goal is to highlight the work of Australian farmers, the best and most sustainable in the world, through my photography,” he says.

Thanks to the modern technologies used by today’s farmers, Josh is able to reproduce a symmetry in his images that is a “dream” to work with.

His “light-bulb moment” occurred while standing in a Bondi bakery watching customers order different types of bread. He wondered if they had any idea what farmers went through to put that bread on the table.

It spurred him into action. For the past decade Josh has been capturing the sprawling, glowing beauty of some of our most remote rural areas.

His large fine art prints, some 60 inches wide, are helping expose more people to Australia’s natural beauty beyond its coastal fringe.

Josh has always liked photography but it’s been a meteoric rise to where he’s at now – in demand and with his large body of fine art abstract work represented by a top Darlinghurst gallery.

With five OUTBACK magazine covers to his credit, he feels he has chosen the right field, even if his office is the back seat of a plane without doors.

When I meet him he is still jubilant about his most recent cover, an iconic shot of one of his farmer mates with his dog during harvest. >

ABOVE: An enduring partnership: Pilot Joe Smith with acclaimed photographer Josh Smith.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

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T O W N F E A T U R E Narrabri

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“You have to make your shot at about 190km/h and everything happens in seconds.”

He and wife Robyn have just returned from his latest exhibition in the new Canon Gallery at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney, where his Great Barrier Reef images received critical acclaim.

Josh reveals his love of pictures started after watching his father’s slide nights in the family lounge room featuring images from two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. After attending boarding school in Sydney, he worked overseas, rolling out accounting software in North America. After a few years his lust for adventure took him backpacking through Europe and later to Perth.

With him all the way was Robyn, another Narrabri local whom he met on a blind date. With two children it’s been a blessed union.

Josh agrees that while the Smith surname is the most common in the country, it still came as a surprise that he would marry one and traverse the country with another.

In the early days of their relationship Robyn was the photographer.

With a standard 35mm Olympus she was soon overtaken by Josh once he purchased his first digital camera.

“When the digital era took off it was the logical thing for me.

There was no learning curve, all the technology was understood and it all felt very natural,” he explains.

The other Smith in the equation is his trusty pilot and wingman, Joe Smith. The pair have known each other all their lives and shared many great adventures across the globe.

It was pure coincidence they both gravitated back to Narrabri with their wives to start their families, hoping to give their children the same opportunities they had of growing up in a small country town.

Joe is well known for his ability to fix most things on trucks. The same applies to his aircraft. He is a talented bush pilot and takes off from his grass strip on the edge of town.

It was in Narrabri, when Josh’s photos were beginning to garner interest in corporate and agribusiness sectors, that Joe first suggested they check out the flooding.

After the Sydney Morning Herald picked up some of those aerials, the phone rang off the hook and a new career was born.

From that moment on they took to the skies at every opportunity.

Floods, bushfires, harvest, sowing – you name it. If there was something interesting going on in the district, they captured it.

The two are on the same wavelength when it comes to “catching the moment”.

“You have to make your shot at about 190km/h and everything happens in seconds,” says Josh, who uses a Canon wide angle and a long telephoto to record his images.

“What differentiates us from drones is that we get much higher and can be pretty well anywhere in a matter of hours. If we get up early enough we can be in Uluru, the Gulf or anywhere else that takes our fancy.”

Expect to see a lot more exposure from “Team Smith” in the future as they continue to showcase the scale and beauty of Australian farming and landscapes from dizzying heights. CWL Images: Josh Smith

BELOW: Josh and wife Robyn at a recent Sydney exhibition.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

lone star It takes great skill and endless patience to run a successful cattle stud operation.

But Santa Gertrudis stalwart Sylvia Kirkby is no ordinary woman.

She is using her 34 years of stud breeding experience to take her to the very top of the game. There isn’t much this strong-minded cattle breeder hasn’t achieved – from judging and show success to serving on the board of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ Association.

To a stud breeder, however, the highest level of respect is earned in the sale ring. In this regard, her Warenda bulls are making headlines for all the right reasons. Over a cuppa in her beautifully maintained homestead, Sylvia reflects on her stellar career.

It all started in 1934 when Sylvia Kirkby’s grandfather Errol Scholefield purchased “Spring Vale”, 16 kilometres east of Narrabri at the foot of the spectacular Nandewar Ranges.

It’s where Sylvia, an only child to parents Nick and Edna Scholefield, enjoyed an idyllic childhood. “I was my father’s shadow – never keen on cooking or sweeping floors but madly enthusiastic about all matters pertaining to life on the land,” she says.

After helping with the milking of the house cows each morning she helped her father with all the farm work, including lamb marking, calf branding and mustering – always on horseback, just as it’s done today.

Her rural upbringing was disrupted for five years while attending the prestigious Abbotsleigh school, Wahroonga.

Despite new friendships, many of which she has steadfastly maintained, Sylvia missed the great outdoors and the plethora of dogs, horses, cattle and pets on the farm. The highlight of each term was rattling home on the North West Mail train.

With her education done and dusted she hightailed it back to “Springvale” to become her father’s right-hand man. During the late 1960s cropping and sheep were gradually phased out and replaced with cattle.

Her love affair with the Santa Gertrudis breed was ignited at the 1960 King Ranch bull sale in Warwick, which she attended with her parents. >

FACING PAGE: Sylvia Kirkby has been a trailblazer in the Santa Gertrudis breed; a typical Warenda cow; cows and calves on a dam.

LEFT: As a young child with parents Nick and Edna Scholefield.

NARRABRI CWL 35

The famous stud had introduced the breed to Australia only eight years earlier, and Sylvia remembers being mesmerised by their volume, slick coats and big floppy ears.

In 1965 her father introduced a first-cross Santa bull into their Poll Hereford herd from Arthur Kirkby, Moree, a lifelong friend from their boarding days together at the The King’s School, Parramatta.

“It was early days for the breed in Australia and Dad was severely criticised by friends and neighbours for introducing these ‘dreadful Yaks’ to the region,” she recalls with a grin.

Despite the negativity, Nick maintained a strong faith in the Santa’s ability and soon recognised an improvement in the herd.

Thereafter, only Santa bulls were purchased and a commercial herd was established.

A new direction

Keen for some independence and change of pace from the often monotonous farm duties, Sylvia became secretary for two Sydney share-brokers.

Despite loving life in Rose Bay there was always that nagging feeling of being a square peg in a round hole.

She later married Philip Kirkby and had her only child, a daughter Elizabeth, who breeds cattle with husband John Manchee on their Narrabri property.

Her grandchildren Nick and Sophia are both attending Abbotsleigh and King’s, as the family have done for generations.

In 1986 her marriage dissolved and a few years later her parents passed away. After 40 years it was time to finally come home to “Spring Vale”.

Since then Sylvia has devoted herself to her Warenda cattle, managing the property and tackling life as a single woman.

From 1998 through to 2009 she conducted an on-property sale, with commercial and stud buyers attending from throughout northern NSW and southern and central Queensland.

Good averages and high stud prices were achieved during this time, including the record-priced $80,000 sale of stud sire Warenda Sahara to the famed Yugilabar stud on the Clarence River near Grafton.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

After a reduction sale, Sylvia no longer had the numbers to sell at home and in a masterful stroke began offering bulls at the Santa Central Sale in Clifton, Queensland.

In recent years she has enjoyed considerable success in the sale ring – Equator selling for $42,500, Halifax fetching $47,500 and Killimanjaro knocked down for a neat $50,000.

In 2017 Sylvia’s good run continued, selling the 1105kg Labrador to Hardigreen Park stud, Tamworth, for a handy $55,000.

Results like this just don’t happen. Sylvia has been upgrading her bloodlines and exhibiting cattle for nearly 30 years at the Sydney and Brisbane Royal Shows.

In 1993 she was awarded the grand champion bull and best exhibit at Sydney with Carlton, replicating this feat at the Brisbane Ekka a decade later with Jester.

Her Santa females have also reached the pinnacle of success, with Pollyanna taking out the grand champion award at Brisbane in 2005.

During her long association with the breed, Sylvia has been knocking down many doors, becoming the first woman to be elected to the Santa council, resigning in 2006 after an eight-year tenure.

She’s also used her cattle acumen to judge at Hobart and Adelaide Royals and visited numerous studs in Texas (the home of the breed), Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Namibia.

Never far from her side is her trusty Nikon camera, used to capture some remarkable images of African wildlife and cattle – both overseas and in her own backyard.

Now in her mid 70s, Sylvia has no plans of retirement and is enjoying excellent health. She takes no medication and puts it down to good genes and a lifetime of outdoor work.

For 40 years this highly respected cattlewoman has forged her own path in the fiercely competitive stud stock world.

Through persistence and an innate ability to meet the market, Sylvia Kirkby has carved out a solid name for herself and her Warenda prefix.

It hasn’t been an easy journey but it’s made every success along the way that little bit sweeter. CWL FACING PAGE FROM TOP: A full-bodied matron of the Warenda herd; Sylvia Kirkby derives great pleasure from breeding quality Santa Gertrudis cattle; one of Sylvia’s big sellers, Warenda Halifax, fetched $47,500 at auction.

ABOVE: The “Spring Vale” homestead.

WARENDA SANTA GERTRUDIS STUD 35 Years of Breeding Quality Cattle

TOP BULLS SELL ANNUALLY AT

SANTA CENTRAL SALE

Nobby, QLD • 18th September 2018 Paddock bulls also available.

CONTACT: SYLVIA KIRKBY “Spring Vale”, Narrabri P. 02 6793 5262 M. 0428 922 099 E. warendasg@gmail.com

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

TO THE MAX

Max Pringle OAM is not just a gifted wordsmith but a genuine, down-to-earth Narrabri community stalwart.

Out beyond the scrub called Pilliga, the town of Narrabri Looms clear amidst the black soil plains beneath the Autumn sky.

A town of vast potential with its stretching rural scene, Where mobs of sheep and cattle graze on pastures lush and green.

Each town must have its citizens who never stop to ask ...

But tackle with a willing smile an often thankless task.

Max Pringle is a man who wears the benefactor’s gown ...

A pillar of society who loves this thriving town.

He gives his time with willing smile to every worthy cause, With never a thought of selfish gain or hesitating pause.

Max Pringle, you’re a citizen that keeps the town ablaze ...

But like great heroes everywhere you shrug off the praise.

Conduct a tour, or man a stall, or cook a barbeque ....

Attend to jobs that so many are loath to do.

A thousand hours service freely given by this man He well deserves his OAM ... although scorned the plan!

A town with many pleasures that will please the passer-by ...

A silhouette beyond it all stands Mr Narrabri.

A few excerpts from Ellis Campbell’s poem Mr Narrabri

Throughout his 78 years, Max Pringle OAM has tried his hand at many things – and not all of them successful – but his desire to never give up demonstrates the very ethos of what it is to be an Australian.

Max began writing poetry 25 years ago, and in recent years was further inspired by the late and gifted wordsmith Ellis Campbell and Carol Heuchan.

“Mum used to recite poems from the old masters like Will Ogilvie, Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson when I was a kid. I had no idea I would one day take it up myself,” he says.

With two books under his belt – Reflections and Recollections and Max on Show – and a third on the way, this timeless old bushie shows no signs of slowing down.

“I love the way bush poetry allows me to tell a story. If I can introduce a little humour along the way, that’s a bonus.”

His most recognised works are The Santa Photo and one about a dog called Useless, which, like much of his poetry, can leave an unsuspecting audience in stitches.

In recent years he’s competed in competitions in three states.

He’s had a few wins but admits the social interaction is more important than any award.

Despite his outward confidence, Max gets extremely nervous the moment he climbs onto a stage.

“From the minute they call my name, my nerves are shattered,” he reveals with a wry smile.

“If I see a TV camera out of the corner of my eye I can lose it in an instant. In this game it’s all about presentation, rhyme and rhythm. Once you lose your mojo it’s hard to pick up the pace.”

This one little hiccup, however, won’t stop him reciting poems about the bush and some of the great characters he’s met.

But Max isn’t just recognised for his poetry. In 2008 he was awarded an OAM for services to the community and has twice been Narrabri’s Citizen of the Year.

While Max never expected such acclaim and was initially embarrassed by all the attention, his tireless efforts cannot be disputed.

It all started when he joined the historical society, serving as president for 14 years. One day he helped out on the barbecue at the Narrabri Show, which turned into two decades, helping raise more than $100,000 for the showground.

Such a dab hand with the tongs, he was soon seconded into organising the rodeo and campdraft barbecues.

He also plays bowls, delivers Meals on Wheels, is vice president of Red Cross, on the committee of 2MAX FM, past president of Probus and now in his sixth year as secretary.

“Our community pulls together to get the job done. We look after each other and you’ll find, as we get older, that we could all do with a hand.”

Each month he shares his poetry with the residents of the town’s two retirement homes.

“I’ve been to a lot of places and met some great people. My poetry mates are really special and there are so many good Narrabri folk who seem to take a strong interest in my wellbeing.”

The Early Days: Life and Love By his own admission, Max was an appalling school student.

He left at age 15 to help his father on the farm.

“From an early age I was chasing the almighty dollar and when I made a buck I managed to keep most of it,” he laughs.

His grandmother ran the old Sunshine Cafe in Cessnock. One morning he was helping her out when a young Dorothy Cody waltzed in for a cup of tea.

Sparks flew and on New Year’s Eve, Max dropped to one knee and popped the question.>

FACING PAGE: Max Pringle is a community stalwart, gifted poet and all-round terrific bloke.

NARRABRI CWL 39

KILLARNEY BIKE CLASSIC The Killarney Bike Classic draws people from all over the region to enjoy the scenic ride in the name of a great cause.

John and Pam Waters started the ride 10 years ago after family friend Mark Lampe died from cancer.

The family event promotes a healthy lifestyle and sees more than 200 cyclists each year enjoy the picturesque ride from the top of Killarney Gap in the Nandewar Ranges, all the way into Narrabri.

The ride is largely downhill and takes in some spectacular scenery along the way.

The event welcomes people of all ages. A new children’s ride last year attracted riders as young as three years old.

The Killarney Bike Classic raises money for cancer support groups, in particular Narrabri Hospital Palliative Care Unit. CWL The next Killarney Bike Classic will be held on Sunday, September 16. killarneybikeclassic.com.au

“I’ve had a bloody good life, the only sadness was losing my dear wife after nearly 40 years of marriage.”

In 1964 the newlyweds bought a convenience store in Weston (near Kurri Kurri). They saved their pennies and travelled to England for a two-year working holiday after Dot’s sister married a Pom. Max loved the place but missed the wide-open spaces. They returned to the store and finished up opening a supermarket.

“The twins, Thane and Mardi, arrived just after our return,” Max says. “Dot was very happy when the baby came out but was very surprised to learn there was another one tucked inside.”

Their ambitious business venture proved too much. Eventually Max and Dot sold everything and purchased a farm at Wollombi, near Cessnock.

“We were in the middle of a raging drought and saw an ad in The Land for a small property in Narrabri with plenty of feed,” he recalls.

In 1994 they packed up and started all over again, a move he’s never regretted. After losing his beloved Dot in 2005, Max stayed on the farm a few more years before moving into town in 2011.

“I can live anywhere. I accept where I’m at and make the most of it.

I’ve always seemed to be able to fit in with my surroundings,” he says.

“I’ve had a bloody good life, the only sadness was losing my dear wife after nearly 40 years of marriage.”

Despite having penned more than 600 poems and becoming a great grandfather, Max Pringle, one of nature’s true gentlemen, is only just warming up. CWL ABOVE: Max and Dot Pringle made a great team over their nearly 40 years together.

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ABOVE: Patricipants pose in the Killarney Bike Classic social media photo frame; Grace and Harry Freeman riding in the Killarney Kids Classic; the original Killarney Bike Classic committee; Killarney Bike Classic competitors.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Just a few kilometres west of the scientific wonder of the Australia Telescope lies an unexplained wonder of the natural variety.

Yarrie Lake, a 3km saucer-shaped expanse of water on the very edge of the Pilliga Forest, is thought to have been formed by a falling meteor many thousands of years ago.

Whatever its origins, its existence is much appreciated by locals, visitors and wildlife alike.

A veritable mecca for over 70 bird species, its sheltered position makes it an excellent natural bird breeding ground. Travellers seeking a little peace will love the quiet isolation, while powered sites, hot showers, toilet and laundry facilities bring that touch of civilisation to this bush camping experience.

Some marvellous sunsets make Yarrie Lake a popular spot for photographers, while others come here to enjoy water sports or a touch of yabbying.

For camping bookings and before launching boats, please call the Yarrie Lake caretaker on 0427 666 105. There are no pets permitted. CWL ABOVE: Visitors can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Yarrie Lake.

Image: Shane Strudwick.

RIGHT: Wakeboarding on Yarrie Lake. Image: Cherie Nancarrow.

Discover the Potential of Narrabri Shire Home to world-class Agriculture.

Direct return flights from Brisbane and Sydney through Fly Corporate.

Established Transport and Logistics industry soon to be boosted with a planned Logistics and Industrial Hub.

Scientific Research centres in Cotton, Grains technology and Astronomy.

Range of local annual events on offer to suit all interests.

Friendly welcoming community of 14,000 people covering an area of 13,000 square kilometres.

Strategically located on the crossroads of the Newell and Kamilaroi Highways and on the proposed Inland Rail route.

Unique tourism experience offering a diverse range of attractions.

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GIFTS galore In its heyday, Narrabri’s first hotel attracted locals and travellers in droves.

Now the heritage site is a popular retail hub filled with treasures and beautiful gifts.

Shawn Wales established The Grayhound two years ago in a large rendered brick building with lovely Art Deco stained glass windows.

With plenty of room to move, the commercial space is perfect for showcasing giftware, ladies’ and children’s clothing and shoes, baby products, furniture, home décor, soft furnishings, silver jewellery and skin products, including Crabtree & Evelyn.

Men are catered for with a range of European pocket knives, wallets and torches, and a fabulous playhouse constructed in the centre of the store keeps little ones entertained.

Shawn was born in America and immigrated to Australia as a six-year-old. Drawn by opportunities offered by the cotton industry, her family settled in Wee Waa. Shawn adjusted quickly to life in the agricultural heartland of the Lower Namoi Valley and lost most of her American accent.

After marrying and raising a family she worked for a friend who had a coffee shop.

“That was my first foray into the retail sector,” Shawn says.

“Thirteen years ago, my husband Stephen and I opened a giftshop in Wee Waa called The Little House on Rose.

“We later expanded into The Grayhound at Narrabri and ran both shops concurrently before making the decision to concentrate on one retail outlet. The Little House on Rose is now being transferred to an online store.”

The Grayhound caters for everyone in the family and specialises in fantastic gift wrapping.

While people from the Narrabri area make up a large portion of the customer base, the store also caters for travellers who are attracted by the lovely old building and its beautiful windows.

Originally known as The Greyhound Inn, the building was damaged in a devastating fire.

“The rebuilt premises have been a landmark in Narrabri for a long time,” Shawn says.

“Because of the heritage significance I was keen to retain the name for the retail premises. Regulations associated with the greyhound racing industry required me to change the spelling to grayhound.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

LEFT: Shawn Wales enjoys her role at The Grayhound; The Grayhound makes a stylish statement on Maitland Street.

FACING PAGE: Shawn Wales with retail assistant Chelsea Wales; a wide range of stunning quality products and gift lines adorn the space at The Grayhound; Shawn’s grandson Noah Flewitt explores the children’s range; Shawn with her grandson, Eli Flewitt.

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“The rebuilt premises have been a landmark in Narrabri for a long time.�

RISING FROM THE

ASHES One of Narrabri’s truly grand buildings, the Greyhound Hotel, once proudly stood opposite the Clubhouse Hotel on Maitland Street but was plagued by disaster.

Starting out as the Greyhound Inn in 1858, it was Narrabri’s very first watering hole.

Owner Stephen Humphries bought the accommodation quarters on the big Tibberena Run from JC and W Lloyd for 500 pounds. It was one of the first leases around the emerging village of Narrabri, which at that stage was uncharted country.

The inn fronted what is now Tibberena Street. To its side was Weenie Creek, which was later filled in and named Dewhurst Street.

Explore our emporium in Narrabri, full of beautiful things...

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Stocking brands including Najo Sterling Silver Jewellery, YAYA & Very Very Ladies Clothing, Love Henry, Seedling Kids’ Craft, B Box, Alimrose Designs, NanaHuchy, Toshi, Crabtree & Evelyn, Ted Baker, ECOYA Candles, and many more.

85 MAITLAND STREET, NARRABRI 02 6792 1363

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In those early pioneering days, a sheet of bark served as the counter and the floor was bare earth. The opening of the inn was a momentous affair, drawing squatters, managers, stockmen, shearers and shepherds for the horse, foot and dog races.

The Greyhound served many purposes: court sittings, church services, weddings, coach bookings and as a meeting ground for the Oddfellows Society.

In 1897 a fire started in the kitchen. The publican told the subsequent inquiry he might have extinguished the flames with a few buckets of water had the pump serving the overhead water tanks not failed. All he could do was sit and watch the inferno.

A two-storey Greyhound Hotel was built from brick soon after but it, too, came to a similar fate in 1917 when a massive fireball swept along Maitland Street, devouring most of the top floor.

It was left in its damaged condition until tenders were called in 1920 but never rebuilt to its former glory. The lower section, including the bar and dining room, went on to become commercial premises. CWL

ABOVE: For a short time the Greyhound Hotel was one of Narrabri’s finest buildings but the historic structure was gutted by fire 100 years ago.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

quintessential QUAMBI Jocellin Jansson’s iconic Narrabri residence, “Quambi”, is elegant, eye-catching and just keeps improving with age.

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Featuring two towering palm trees, impressive gardens, wide verandahs and a bright, spacious interior, the McClintock Street home could easily pass as a rustic country homestead or upmarket beach retreat.

The home was completed in 1939 for the Dunnet family, proprietors of the local newspaper, the Narrabri Courier, just as the world plunged into WW2.

The next owner was pastoralist, Changhi POW and former local mayor Jock Cameron, who bequeathed it to daughter Beatrice. She never lived there and over the years the grand old home lost its charm.

Jocellin grew up nearby, her father working for Auscott before returning to farming interests in Niangala. The home always held a curious fascination, despite her never having stepped inside.

“When I moved back to Narrabri in 2014 the mining boom was at its peak and houses for sale were scarce,” she says over an evening wine with fiancé Stan Waldren, “Woodleigh”, Yass.

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“Fortunately, Narrabri has an amazing real estate agent, Carla Baxter, and within half an hour of inspecting the house, which wasn’t even on the market, we’d done the deal.”

Jocellin’s first move was naming her new purchase “Quambi”, an Aboriginal word for shelter but also the name of the little cul de sac in Edgecliff where she lived for two decades while running her recruitment company in Sydney’s CBD. After extensive architect-designed renovations, she applied her own personal touch, creating rooms with style, comfort and space.

It’s little wonder she is enraptured with her beautiful home and stunning garden, regarding it as her “Zen-like sanctuary”.

“I just love the aspect and proximity to the Namoi River less than 200 metres away,” she says with a beaming smile. “I walk my dogs (dachshunds Rocket and Franklin) every day along the river and golf course.”

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

Stan is a big fan of her ability to create magical spaces. “She has a great eye for detail,” concedes the southern sheep and wool grower with his own keen interest in property.

The fun-loving pair met through a shared interest in the National Party, although Stan regards himself as more of a business person than a political voice.

Jocellin, however, is totally committed to the cause, having served on the party’s NSW Central Council for the past three years and in various roles in her electorate.

She’s still a regular visitor to Sydney, having run two charitable foundations (after selling her recruitment business) that focused on rural and regional Australia, with an emphasis on tertiary education opportunities for rural youth.

“One of my key interests is helping young rural people fulfil their potential through education and training,” she says.

Nowadays, when she is not working on her property interests (including the building, which was once part of the historic Greyhound Hotel – see separate story) or renovating Stan’s farm house, Jocellin enjoys working in her garden and entertaining guests at home.

In recent years, the “Quambi” garden and big verandah have hosted several fundraiser events, sculpture and art exhibitions and the odd National Party gathering.

“It’s been great creating a place that we can share with others,” she says.

Recently Jocellin packed her bags to join Stan in the Yass Valley but plans to keep her home as their northern base. CWL FACING PAGE: Stan and Jocellin enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of “Quambi” with Rocket and Franklin.

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PRIDE OF PLACE

Stuart Southwell believes he’s one of the luckiest people alive to have been born and raised in Narrabri.

Well-known real estate agent Stuart Southwell loves the thriving town of Narrabri and enjoys showing it off to old friends from school and university days.

“They are always surprised by how much is going on and how friendly it is,” Stuart says.

“Narrabri is a great place to live and run a business. There are many young families here and the support services are good and getting better all the time.

“We have lots of options for socialising and eating out with a range of cafes, pubs and clubs as well as Narrabri’s much-loved

Blue Boars Rugby Club, although I’d have to say my playing days are well behind me.

“Regular flights provide quick links to Sydney and Brisbane.”

Stuart’s wife Brooke, who comes from Tamworth, has a successful consulting business in Narrabri.

The couple have their hands full with young daughters, Georgia, aged two, and four-month-old Jacqueline.

Stuart is passionate about real estate and reports properties are selling well in the town with interest from outside investors increasing over the past two quarters.

“The market is picking up and with a few major infrastructure announcements on the horizon, Narrabri will be a very interesting market to work in over the next few years,” he says.

“New families are consistently coming here and we are one of the few towns west of the Great Divide that is growing. With a diverse mix of industries, no one thing can make or break the town.”

Stuart describes Narrabri as a go-ahead place that plays a role as a service centre for manufacturing, mining and research as well as cotton, grain, beef and lamb production.

It’s also a natural transport hub with national and state highways crossing major rail lines.

“First-home buyers continue to be active and that frees up owners who are seeking to upgrade to larger properties,” Stuart says.

“That, in turn, allows people who no longer need a big family home to retire to the location of their choice.”

Stuart is a strong supporter of the Narrabri Education Foundation, established to provide financial assistance for young people seeking to further their education.

On Saturday mornings the family are regular participants at the Parkrun fitness event at Narrabri West Lake.

“We put the kids in the pram and head off on the course with about 30 others,” Stuart says.

“When Parkrun ends, it’s time for a coffee before heading off to show real estate.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

TOP: Stuart and Brooke Southwell with daughters Jacqueline and Georgia.

LEFT: Narrabri Real Estate agency.

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ENDLESS OPPORTUNITY

Narrabri and surrounding regions SO MUCH TO LOVE Growing population Strong, vibrant, open community Major infrastructure announcements Diverse economy not just one industry Direct flights Sydney / Brisbane Major transport hub

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We love where we live

SARTORIAL STAR David Pierce admits Lady Luck helped him on his path to becoming a successful retailer. Owning Authentic Trademarks, he insists, happened by being in the right place at the right time.

“Never pass up a good opportunity. To succeed in life you must believe in your own abilities and surround yourself with highly motivated individuals,” David Pierce tells me during time out from his immaculately presented Narrabri home.

Over a wide-ranging conversation, the likeable and well-spoken local identity says that life is what you make it and sometimes you just have to follow your gut instincts.

His father worked for Dalgety’s in Sydney before moving to Narrabri in the early 1960s. The story goes he met his wife after a 10 bob bet between his mates, all hoping to score a date with the new and attractive Latino-looking dental nurse in town.

“Mum only found out about this well-guarded family secret on their 40th wedding anniversary,” he laughs.

Growing up with his sister, Michelle, David displayed an artistic flair from an early age, always drawing or cutting and pasting articles and pictures. This didn’t help his cause at Narrabri High.

“I wasn’t your typical country kid,” he admits. “I didn’t play sport and was left-handed with a really bad stutter. Being mildly dyslexic I chose to live in my own little world.”

That little world would one day get a whole lot bigger. By the end of his schooling days he aspired to become either a doctor or an actor but his HSC results suggested otherwise.

Instead, David commenced his retail career at Parkers Menswear and within a few years discovered a natural gift for “selling the dream”.

The 1980s were halcyon days for the fashion industry and the young salesman loved his dealings with big name clothing companies like Marks, Stuart Membery, Country Road and JAG. David may well have stayed there forever had it not been for a window display competition staged by Levi Strauss, the biggest jeans company in the world.

His abilities at drawing attention to the store were rewarded with first prize, a 10-day trip to Hong Kong. It was his first overseas adventure and the start of an exciting new chapter in his career.

“The food, architecture, history and culture were nothing short of amazing,” he recalls. “I saw things I’d only read about in magazines and was totally blown away. From that point on I knew I wouldn’t be content living in a small country town.”

Levi Strauss offered him a job as visual co-ordinator in their flagship Pitt Street store after a gruelling interview process involving some 2000 applicants.

“It was like a big casting call. They were looking for leaders to sell the Levi’s brand and you barely had a minute to sell yourself.

I jumped up and did a little impromptu fashion parade. That’s really where it all started.”

The shy country boy was soon in a world surrounded by beautiful people, celebrities, fashion shows and magazine launches.

It was a full-on lifestyle, living in Paddington and walking to work to dress big names like a young Kylie Minogue (“tiny but delightful”); Lennie Kravitz (“bizarre”); Snoop Dog (“spaced out”); David Hasselhoff (“a big, physical man”) and Elle Macpherson (“stunning but slightly intimidating”).

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His biggest thrill was spending time with singer Chris Isaak, who performed an impromptu gig in the store while encouraging him to follow his dream.

When one of his models failed to materialise, David stepped up to the plate. The “accidental model” was soon involved with shoots for big brands like Pepsi, David Jones and MTV. “I was comfortable in front of the camera and would have loved to have done it full time but knew it was a short-lived career,” he says.

During those crazy, fun-filled days he travelled regularly to Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo to cement the Levi’s brand and witness first-hand how the company’s top Australian store compared to its Asian counterparts.

After five of the best years of his life, David longed for a complete change of pace.

New beginnings

“In early 2000 I woke up one morning and decided I was sick of living out of a suitcase and working 90 hours a week. I just wanted to come home,” he reveals with heartfelt honesty.

“I couldn’t pinpoint why but I missed the sense of community and belonging somewhere. My rock star lifestyle was over.”

He returned to Narrabri with a new gusto, teaching retail at the local TAFE and writing a column on Sydney’s celebrity scene for the Narrabri Courier.

One day, quite by accident, he ran into his old boss, Rex Parker, from the menswear store where he started.

“Rex Parker always said that when he was ready to sell I was the man. It was the only thing I knew anything about and so on April Fool’s Day, 2000, I bought Authentic Trademarks.”

But David was no fool. Starting with only one other staff member and flying by the seat of his pants, he soon realised it wasn’t simply a matter of bringing his proven city sales techniques to the bush.

“I had to re-educate the Narrabri locals about fashion, the way they buy things, the complete shopping experience,” he explains.

“I keep coming back to the wow factor. I started in-store events like modelling using local kids, fashion shoots and themed Christmas parties. People would drop in, feel special and for a moment forget about the drought.”

As the business expanded he moved to larger premises across the road. He got Levi Strauss to sponsor a skateboard and BMX competition, which proved popular for several years.

“Every year I looked for a face to represent Authentic Trademarks – a local girl to be our face for all our advertising,” he says. “People were starting to sit up and take notice. Companies like Billabong and Levi’s started investing in the shop.” >

FACING PAGE: David Pierce enjoys chilling out at home with Gatsby, his pet Schnauzer; David’s home is his castle and he’s always looking at new ways to improve it.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

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The clothing business was doing well but David concedes it was often a rollercoaster ride, similar to his time in the “Big Smoke”.

Today he is much more settled, living with his young Schnauzer, Gatsby, in his delightful home a few blocks from work.

Featuring a stunning open-plan living space, a carefully tended garden and thought-provoking pieces from his trips to Asia, it is a beautiful haven he loves sharing with friends and family.

Among his frequent visitors are niece Harriet and nephew George, who inspired him to create Harri G Designs, an offshoot business featuring home decor and a range of scented candles.

Described as a “cross between Coco Chanel and Alice in Wonderland”, the little sideline has proved a big hit with the locals and visiting big city shoppers.

“I’d been selling other people’s brands for 30 years and just wanted to do something for myself,” he says candidly.

“I remember George saying to me, ‘Uncle David, your house always has a certain smell to it’ and that’s how it started! I kicked

off with my own three signature scents after being introduced to a Sydney candle chef who took me under her wing.”

Returning to Narrabri with nothing but determination to make something of himself, David has gone full circle. Having recently turned 50, he has decided to sell Authentic Trademarks and begin the next chapter of his life.

“One of my greatest joys is mentoring young people and instilling in them the self-belief that they can do anything,” says the man credited with introducing city bling to Narrabri retail.

“The world is a big place and while Narrabri has plenty to offer, there’s nothing like stepping out of your comfort zone.” CWL

ABOVE: David Pierce at Authentic Trademarks, with the backdrop featuring local models; Harri G Designs has been David’s pet project for several years.

COUNTRY LIVING...GLOBAL STYLE WWW.HARRIGDESIGNS.COM.AU

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

THE FULL treatment You could be anywhere in the world once you walk through the door of NuYu Day Spa and Beauty at Narrabri.

Dedicated to peace of mind and physical wellbeing, mother and daughter team Whitney Gleeson and Cheryl Pawley offer clients a serene and luxurious environment for relaxation, rejuvenation and recuperation, equal to the best high-end treatments found in metropolitan destinations.

A registered nurse, Cheryl undertook rigorous training courses to qualify as a holistic health coach and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) practitioner.

With a strong understanding of key body systems and skin biology, beauty therapist Whitney has the skill and experience to provide a menu of first class cosmetology procedures designed to invigorate the senses, relax the body and calm the mind.

“Pampering is our passion,” Cheryl and Whitney say. “And it involves a lot more than simply applying products to the skin.

“We talk to our clients about nutrition, health and general wellbeing, hormone changes and healthrelated issues, including the impact of stress on both the body and the mind.”

It is not as simple as advising on one particular diet or program. As a health coach, Cheryl is able to customise wellness programs to meet individual needs.

NuYu Day Spa and Beauty specialises in a range of body treatments, shellac manicure and pedicure, facial and body waxing, ear and nose piercing, performance-based facials using Australian made and owned ASAP skincare products, relaxation massages, spa treatments, make-up applications,

“WE TALK TO OUR CLIENTS ABOUT NUTRITION, HEALTH AND GENERAL WELLBEING, HORMONE CHANGES AND HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES.” LED light therapy and IPL therapy for permanent hair reduction, skin pigmentation, vascular lesions, skin rejuvenation and acne treatment.

The salon’s celebrated packages are designed to enhance beauty and wellbeing, making them the perfect gift or me-time pamper.

Men and women are warmly welcomed, and gift vouchers are available for all treatments.

Personal attention, unconditional care and resultsdriven therapy are the focus of Cheryl and Whitney and their team of expert and qualified staff. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Mother and daughter team at NuYu Day Spa and Beauty Cheryl Pawley and Whitney Gleeson.

Specialising in: IPL (Intense Pulse Light) • Microdermabrasion • LED Light Therapy Lash Extension/Lash Lifting • Gel & Shellac Manicures/Pedicures • Waxing • Massage Spa Treatment • Make-Up • Ear & Nose Piercing • Holistic Health Coaching Performance-Based Facials using ASAP Skincare Products 1/159 Maitland St, Narrabri NSW 2390

1/159 Maitland St, NarrabriPhone: 02 6792 2663 nuyudayspaandbeauty13@hotmail.com Ph: 02 6792 2663 www.nuyudayspaandbeauty.com.au

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golden MEMORIES The 80 members of the Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club can hardly wait till their 50th anniversary celebrations in August.

The Galloping Gully Polocrosse Club caters for all levels through the different grades, and prides itself on its family-friendly atmosphere.

A handful of the old originals are still actively involved, including president and life member “Bones” Falkiner, fellow life members Robert and Bill Guest and patron Warwick Hann.

When CWL turned up for a brief chat, “Bones” was away in Kenya with wife Jenny (another life member) but the Guest brothers were on hand to discuss the club in its formative years.

Both old-timers had built up a raging thirst for our sundown chat at the foot of the Nandewar Ranges, Robert having just mended a broken boom spray and Bill busy preg-testing cows.

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These loveable larrikins have been farming in the Narrabri district all their lives and are the only ones never to have missed a carnival since day one. Bill even changed his wedding date so as not to miss the action.

The boys left school at an early age to join their father on the farm, just up the road from where the club began. They jumped at the opportunity to start the fledgling club despite any lack of experience in the game.

“When we started there were no restrictions,” Robert says. “The only ones telling us what to do was our father and the local sergeant in town.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“It’s not just about winning but more about the friendships formed and the camaraderie of the polocrosse family, which spreads across all Australian clubs.”

“Teams were picked on the day, depending on who turned up. Some of the fellas didn’t have phones so it was always a bit of hit and miss.”

In those early days everyone had a secure job, and station horses were plentiful. A carton of beer set the punters back $8 while smokes were only 80 cents a pack.

“We used to throw a tarp over our stock crates, using the same trucks that we used for carting our grain and livestock – nothing like the fancy goosenecks we see today,” Bill says.

“We’d go off to a carnival but it wasn’t just the players involved, it was the entire community. Everyone chipped in and helped, whether it be with the cooking, time-keeping or any other jobs that needed doing.”

It was considered rude to leave before the presentation, even if you weren’t placed and it was generally preferable to hang around for a beer or two with members of the host club.

“The original barbecue was an old ship’s tank cut in half,” Bill laughs. “We used to feed everybody western free-range pork!”

Bill retired from the sport after a hip replacement while Robert played for 42 years until a heart attack midway through a game halted his playing days.

Over the years, each of their five children has saddled up for the club. Bill’s youngest, Mathew, is a current player and daughter-in-law Anthea serves as secretary.

Today the sport boasts around 135 clubs in Australia with over 4000 members scattered across the nation.

Over the years Galloping Gully has been a fertile breeding ground for top-notch players. Jane Melbourne (daughter of original member, the late Bob Tapp) has regularly competed at a national level since the 1990s.

Jane and great mate Jo Hamilton were virtually born into the club and have played ever since. Now their husbands and children play alongside them.

“That’s one of the most enjoyable parts of polocrosse,” Jane says.

“There’s nothing greater than playing the game with our children, just as our parents did with us.”

She says the club is all about having enjoyable weekends away.

“It’s not just about winning but more about the friendships formed and the camaraderie of the polocrosse family, which spreads across all Australian clubs,” she says.

“There’s nothing better than catching up with friends from other towns and clubs and having a weekend away full of laughter and mateship.”

Her own daughter, Sara, 23, is a third-generation player and looks forward to the carnival each year. The Narrabri-based University of Sydney research assistant has travelled throughout Australia and overseas through her love of the sport.

She is one of a long history of members who have represented the club in zone, state, national and international level competition, in both playing and administrative roles.

Local farm hand Murray Scott, 24, has played for the national team in juniors and intermediates. He’s been with the GG club for six years and has competed in New Zealand and South Africa.

Galloping Gully’s 50th anniversary carnival will be staged near Narrabri on August 11 and 12. The club is organising a reunion for all players who have participated at carnivals over the years and is hoping for a huge roll-up. CWL

FACING PAGE: Jane Melbourne and daughter Sara, Murray Scott, Jo Hamilton, Shona Robilliard, Anthea Guest and daughter Eleanor and, sitting, club stalwarts Bill and Robert Guest.

ABOVE: Lach Melbourne in action on the polocrosse field at the Galloping Gully carnival (Image: Cate Rae); Polocrosse is a game for all ages.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

salt of the EARTH Livestock agent Hunter Harley has come to know and love Narrabri.

“We have built an ethos of local service, national strength,” Davidson Cameron Narrabri branch manager Hunter Harley says.

With more than 16 years’ experience in the agency business, Hunter deals mainly in livestock. For the past three years he’s also been the branch auctioneer, following real estate training with one of Sydney’s leading auctioneers, Josh Larsen from Di Jones Real Estate.

Born and bred in Gunnedah, Hunter went straight into the agency business after school, spending his first two years at home with Cramsie McRae Dalgety and Landmark.

After a brief stint working in Charters Towers, Hunter returned to work with Graincorp before being offered the chance to get back into the agency game at Elders, Dorrigo under the legendary Brian Darby.

In 2007 he joined the newly formed Narrabri branch of Davidson Cameron, a company that’s been providing professional, personalised service to clients for more than 30 years.

With 11 offices scattered throughout regional NSW, they have a strong, dedicated team entrusted to livestock, clearing sales, rural and residential property, property management, finance and insurance.

Hunter obtained his licence in 2010 and three years later was appointed branch manager after Michael Guest left to concentrate on rural sales.

Today he is one of the four livestock agents operating in Narrabri while Davidson Cameron is one of the six rural and residential agencies in town.

“The majority of our livestock business, about 70 per cent, is done outside the saleyards,” he explains.

“Most consignments are sold on-property direct to the abattoirs or feedlots, with a smaller proportion of online selling with Auctions Plus for our store cattle.

“Being one of 11 branches means we can consign cattle to our other branches when necessary.”

Hunter admits he has developed a soft spot for Narrabri.

“I love living here. It’s such a big area with plenty of salt-of-the earth type people and it’s very community minded.”

Hunter also loves his rugby, coaching the Blue Boars club to three consecutive grand finals and two premierships.

His love of footy goes back to his school days at Farrer, Tamworth, where he played league in the firsts for three years. In his debut year he was fortunate to play with Alan Tongue, of Canberra Raiders fame, and in his last year took to the field as captain.

Hunter made the switch to union when he first moved to Narrabri. In 2017 he again pulled out his rugby boots and played with the reserve grade team, making the grand final before losing narrowly to arch-rivals Moree.

With the great camaraderie within the Blue Boars club, and in a bid to maintain his general fitness, Hunter declares he may lace up the boots for one final season. CWL

ABOVE: The experienced team at Davidson Cameron & Co, Barry Thomson, Kim Rozendaal, Hunter Harley, Tiarne Allison and Adrian Byrne.

FACING PAGE: Auctioneer Hunter Harley at the Narrabri saleyards.

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THE EXTRA MILE

Narrabri cafe owner Alisa Manton is an astute businesswoman with energy to burn.

Seven years after taking control of popular Narrabri eatery One 23 Cafe and Restaurant, Alisa Manton is firmly in control of her life and business.

With a new husband by her side, the bubbly chef enjoys working at her establishment, named after the number in Maitland Street.

“I love catching up with all the locals and feeling the buzz around town,” she says as she delivers another sumptuous meal to one of her regulars.

Her coffee, from Coffee Synergy in Newcastle, is becoming as well known as her meals and friendly staff. The business goes through 25 kilograms of coffee each week and her customers can’t get enough.

The qualified chef worked in various restaurants along the Murray River for 12 years before establishing One 23 Cafe and Restaurant in 2011, after recognising the potential of a top noshery in the main street.

Her staff of 10 has been run off their feet, serving up a storm of locally sourced fresh food in an upmarket and friendly environment. Eggs Benedict is always a favourite for breakfast while the honey mustard chicken salad always gets rave reviews.

“My biggest asset is my reliable and energetic team, many of whom have been with me since day one,” Alisa says.

“They all know our customers are the backbone of the business and greet most of them by name. I definitely feel our clients come back because we go the extra mile.”

Always full of surprises, on November 18, 2017, Alisa and her new beau Dylan Manton tied the knot in an undercover, low-key family wedding ceremony at their Narrabri home.

“I DEFINITELY FEEL OUR CLIENTS COME BACK BEC AUSE WE GO THE EX TR A MILE.” 58 CWL NARRABRI

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Those who rocked up to their “engagement party” later that evening were surprised beyond belief to hear the newlyweds announce they’d already said their “I dos” before a specially picked group of eight of their dearest family and friends.

“Everybody was stunned. Nobody suspected a thing, not even the hairdresser who did my hair,” she laughs.

Her children Ava, 8, and Eli, 5, enjoyed the experience nearly as much as the newlyweds.

When she is not at One 23, Alisa dons another cap as president of the Kogil Street Preschool, where she helps keep the cogs turning, ensuring Narrabri’s young children get the best possible start to their education.

The cafe is open seven days a week, with breakfast from 6.30am during the week and 8am on weekends. As a licensed venue, One 23 is also a great place for private functions, parties, weddings and corporate events.

Look out for her quality gourmet food at local trade fairs like Moree on a Plate and Nosh on the Namoi. Once you get a taste of it there will be no turning back. CWL

ABOVE: Emma John is a dab hand when it comes to making coffee; gourmet breakfast is available every day of the week; fresh juice, a great start to the day.

FACING PAGE: One 23 owner and qualified chef Alisa Manton.

E E F F COOPENAYS DAYS AL7 W S P L E H FOLLOW US

ABOUT ONE23 One23 Café & Restaurant captures the essence of Narrabri from its amazing location in the heart of town. Hope we see you soon! * Delicious Food * House Made Cakes + Desserts * Locally Sourced Ingredients * Daily Specials Board * Fresh Juices + Smoothies * Organic Fair Trade Coffee Blend * Gourmet Breakfast * A La Carte Dining *Responsible Cafe Member * Catering + Private Functions * Take Away Available

YOU CAN DO IT - Coffee

6:30AM - 4:00PM WEEKDAYS 8:00AM - 12:00PM WEEKENDS

t c a t con ils deta ONE23 CAFE 123 Maitland Street NARRABRI NSW 2390

RESERVATIONS 02 6792 5262 alisa1258@hotmail.com

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T O W N F E A T U R E Narrabri

between the

LINES

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

Chris Taylor has been spellbound with romantic novels since she was a young girl growing up on a farm near Inverell with her five sisters. Her time as a criminal lawyer sparked a thirst for mystery and intrigue that embodies her work today.

The mother of five writes romantic suspense novels full of emotionally engaging characters searching for love amid the high drama of police investigations.

Her stories are set in the city and the bush with an unabashed Australian flavour.

In the past four years, Chris has penned 25 novels eagerly snapped up by an international audience.

CWL sat down for a candid chat with the author at her lifestyle property “Nimala” near Narrabri.

When did you discover your talent as a writer?

I finished Year 12 not knowing what I was going to do with my life.

Much to my family’s horror I didn’t apply for university, returning home to the farm to write my first book – a light and trashy Harlequin romance novel.

During this time I decided to become an enrolled nurse. The course only ran for 12 months and you could live in the nurses’ home quite cheaply. I thought it would be a great qualification to have for when I eventually decided to go to university. It was while nursing that I switched to law.

How long before you started writing?

I was writing fiction romance stories on and off for years. I was a lawyer for about 15 years and writing every day was part of the job – letters, briefs, witness statements and drafting documents. So I was writing lots of words, even though I wasn’t thinking about it as actually writing.

It’s a pretty big change writing legal documents to writing romantic thrillers.

Yes, I guess so, though I did get married during that time, so romance was definitely on my mind! And my books have a strong suspense element that draws on my experience in the criminal courts, working as a defence lawyer and with the police.

You fell in love at a young age.

Did that influence your writing?

I met Linden when I was 15 while cotton chipping in Moree with some of my sisters. He was a Moree boy, born and bred, and three years older than me. So yes, I did fall in love at a young age but I was into love and romance long before that.

I remember as a young girl my mother would drive us 75km from the farm into Inverell on Saturday mornings for shopping. She’d drop the younger ones, including me, off at the town library for several hours. To a lot of young people these days, the library would be the worst place you could ever be but we couldn’t get enough of it.

Up until then our only exposure to fiction books was in our school library and of course they didn’t have any Harlequin novels.

So the library is where I discovered romance books. We’d make my older sister borrow them while we hid outside.

To that librarian’s credit, she never once said anything – just checked them out like they were Black Beauty. We would hide them in the bottom of the library bag and put age-appropriate books on the top so that if Mum happened to glance at the bag, she wouldn’t see anything she didn’t want us to read. We did that every Saturday and loved it.

We’re talking romance.

Do you write when the mood strikes?

Now that I write full time, I can’t afford to wait for the mood to strike. I think most professional authors would tell you it’s a job. As for getting into the mood, I’m at my desk by nine in the morning and often write late into the night if I haven’t got my word count up. I’m very disciplined that way and I think you have to be because as an indie (independent) author there’s no one hanging over your shoulder cracking the whip. You schedule your book to be on your editor’s desk at a certain time.

Sometimes the writing comes easy and sometimes it doesn’t.

Someone once told me you can’t edit a blank page, which is very true. Sometimes I write words down that are fantastic and flow really well and other times I hit the delete button more than I like but that’s the way it goes.

How important is your intro?

I think the introduction is extremely important and I always have a strong opening. I like to put a confronting scene right at the start because the digital retailers like Amazon and iBooks allow people to sample 20 per cent of the beginning of the book, which is a chapter or two, before they buy.

I don’t want people thinking my book is a light and fluffy romance, buying it and then giving me a bad review – not because it’s a bad book but because it’s not the kind of book they enjoy. I’m only writing to a specific audience, the kind of reader who likes gritty, confronting stuff along with a romance.

Is the greatest moment starting or finishing?

I think the biggest relief moment is finishing a book. There’s so much satisfaction getting to the end. But there’s nothing like the excitement of having a new idea and working through it and then going for it. So I usually start with an idea, perhaps from a newspaper article or crime book I’ve read or something I’ve seen on TV. I watch a lot of true crime shows for inspiration because truth is stranger than fiction.

I start with a handwritten rough draft where I’ll go chapter by chapter. Others go from start to finish flying by the seat of their pants. That’s not me. I need to know where I’m going but that’s not to say things don’t change as I go.

Sometimes the story goes in a different direction but I always know the beginning and the end and the black moment. This is a term used by authors where it just seems impossible that anything is ever going to go right – these people are never going to get together. That’s the black moment and then of course, it all comes together in the end because that’s what we promise with romance. A happily ever after.

So you’ve always got to have a happy ever after?

Absolutely. That’s the premise of the romance novel – it must end happily every time. We call it a HEA – happily ever after or HEAFN – happily ever after for now. So you don’t have to have the wedding like you used to in the old days. Nowadays you just have to leave the reader feeling that they (the couple) are going to make it. > FACING PAGE: Best-selling author Chris Taylor.

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I did FALL IN LOVE at a young age but I was INTO LOVE and ROMANCE long before that.

Movie or novel. What comes first?

For me, books are always better than the movies. Books aren’t often limited by word counts so the author has the freedom to write the story they want to write. But movies are different – they have to fit into a certain time slot. The person making the movie is restricted by that. The director has to take stuff out of the movie to keep it within the time frame, which happens all the time.

The other thing is, a lot of movies are made for a Hollywood audience who expect certain things. Most books aren’t written for a Hollywood audience. They just tell a story the author wants to tell.

So the movie can sometimes be quite different to the book.

I love a good movie if it’s done well. I get value for money and an uplifting experience. Then I go and read the book and love that too. It won’t detract from the movie because I’ve already had that wonderful experience. By watching the movie before I read the book, I get to enjoy both experiences.

So what type of people are reading your novels?

I write predominantly for the North American market. That was a conscious business decision because it’s the biggest market in the world. There are 25 million Aussies and 350 million of them so it’s purely a numbers game.

I write all the spelling and phrases in their language. For example, I talk about a trunk not a boot. Most Americans think a boot is something you put on your foot, not something at the back of the car. I use the term flashlight not torch and things like that.

That’s not to say I don’t have Australian readers. I absolutely do and love my Aussie fans. They write to me and tell me how they love reading books about cities and towns they recognise. I also have a lot of UK readers who often relate to Australian stories better than the Americans, who tend to get a bit confused about things.

So your readers are mostly women?

Men don’t read romance novels, do they?

Of course men read romance novels! My main readership is women, usually 35 plus but I’m always surprised at the number of emails I get from men, especially older men. Generally they tell me they’re retired, have time to read and are enjoying my books, usually a digital book they’re reading on their iPads or Kindles.

Probably 99 per cent of my sales come from digital books.

However much we love the feel of a book, digital books are certainly the way of the future. They’re cheaper, easier to store and you can fit 5000 books on a Kindle.

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But getting back to my male readers. Generally I get an email that starts with “Dear Mr Taylor”, because statistics show men will choose a book written by a man before they do a female author, particularly if that author is completely unknown to them.

I chose the name Chris (her real name is Christine) for that reason – it could be both male or female. At the back of my book my bio makes it quite obvious that I’m a woman and I’m not pretending otherwise.

So I usually get an email: “Dear Mr Taylor, I’ve never read romance before and have just picked up one of your books. Now I’ve read the whole series.”

I think it’s great we’re educating men to read romance because they can learn so much. I don’t write mushy romances – mine deal with some fairly gritty topics like domestic violence, tissue and organ donation, online predators and PTSD in police officers. Then I wrap them all up in a nice romance.

Let’s talk numbers. How many readers do you have across the world?

I’m not sure how you gauge the number of readers. I guess you look at sales. I’ve sold over 200,000 copies of my books since 2014 and one of my free books has been downloaded more than half a million times, so I’ve got a reasonable fan base. I get plenty of emails from readers and have a Facebook fan page where fans can go and chat among themselves.

Does writing pay the bills?

Absolutely. I was earning a good living as a lawyer but I do a lot better selling books! For me the other benefit is the freedom of working from home. With five kids I have various demands on my time but I’m able to attend school functions easier than if I was employed elsewhere.

Do you need to travel to get inspired?

I’ve always loved to travel and have been very fortunate to go to the US five or six times to attend conferences, workshops and seminars where I network with other authors and refine my craft.

I don’t travel for inspiration and tend to get that from TV and newspapers. I remember reading an obituary in a Moree paper years ago – only the person hadn’t died! I haven’t written that story yet but it really got me thinking about possibilities and about what might have been going on there.

Are you so well known that you don’t have to promote each new book?

No, I’m certainly not well known enough that they just sell themselves. Unfortunately I’m not a Bryce Courtenay or Colleen McCullough although I’d like to be one day! I still do plenty of promotion, take out Facebook ads and have a newsletter that goes out to my subscribers letting them know about new releases.

I don’t think any author, even ones traditionally published, can sell well without promotion unless of course you are, say JK Rowling. All she has to do is to tweet that she’s got another book out and she’s on the top of the charts. I’ve made the USA Today Bestsellers list but I’m certainly not in her category.

You can purchase Chris’s books from all digital retailers.

Paperback editions are available from Createspace, Amazon and The Book Depository and can be ordered in by your local bookstore. The Munro Family series is also available in audiobooks at Audible, Amazon and iTunes.

For more information check out: www.christaylorauthor.com.au CWL

ABOVE: The Taylor family: Imogen and Angus (standing) with Rory, Millie, Linden, Madeleine and Chris.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

MIND OVER MATTER A Narrabri woman is harnessing the power of the brain to help people create happy, confident and productive lives.

With a background in science and education and a passion for encouraging others, Helen Dugdale established Australian Brain Coaching to teach people new ways of dealing with confidence issues, stress, anxieties, fears and phobias.

She is a certified NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioner and one of only three people in Australia trained in an advanced coaching method combining limbic system eye-tracking and myostatic muscle reaction.

“My work is all about developing new cognitive pathways and patterns of behaviour to optimise productivity and creative ability, stabilise emotional and mental balance, and ease confronting and demanding situations,” Helen says.

“It is enormously rewarding to see clients overcoming challenges in their private and professional lives, achieving work-life balance, dealing with difficult people, strengthening mental resilience and changing unfulfilling situations.

“I help people of all ages and walks of life with issues ranging from fear of heights and flying to anxiety in social situations, road rage, public speaking confidence, sports consistency, sleeplessness and sense of self-worth.”

Helen began her working life in agricultural science research and moved into high school teaching before running training programs for unemployed youth.

After moving to Narrabri 22 years ago, she worked in cotton research and development and managed a number of research projects.

“I became interested in human capacity in regional areas and started my own business running personal development workshops for rural people,” Helen says.

“As my interest grew I enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Psychology at the University of New England.

“That’s when I discovered Wingwave – a German method of helping people with anxieties and fears.”

Helen went to Europe for specialist training and launched Australian Brain Coaching three years ago.

“Retraining the brain is life changing, and clients gain so much by getting themselves out of bad habits and developing good habits,” she says.

“Fears and anxieties can stop people enjoying their lives to the full and it doesn’t have to be that way.

“The mind can have a big impact on thinking, emotions and the physical being.

“Many people are aware of the brain’s plasticity and the need to change aspects of behaviour but it can be difficult as it is easy to fall back into the same way of doing things.

“I can help people put a stop to that by identifying triggers and developing strategies and techniques to create new neural pathways.”

Helen consults in Narrabri as well as Tamworth and has clients in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

In addition to brain coaching, she facilitates workshops and conferences on health, personal development, leadership and sustainable communities.

Her personal interests include reading, swimming, cycling, bushwalking and psychology. CWL

ABOVE: Helen Dugdale is passionate about helping people to improve their lives.

Australian Brain Coaching Personal training for your brain Re-train your brain to help overcome: Anxieties, stresses, fears, phobias, and improve confidence and sporting & business performance.

Helen Dugdale | 0417 064 507 helen@australianbraincoaching.com.au www.australianbraincoaching.com.au

Words: Heather Crosby

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SO FAR, SO GOOD Although still a Narrabri High School student, Will Alexander’s skill with the javelin could easily propel him to the top echelons of the sport.

Already a schoolboy international gold medallist, there’s a lot more to this hugely talented almost 17-year-old than meets the eye.

With a finely tuned 97kg body and six foot four (193cm) towering frame, Will Alexander could have excelled in any sport. He chose the javelin after a long association with horses and Little Athletics.

Will’s parents, Robert and Pernelle, run a stud and commercial cattle business on the family farm, “Bohena”. Robert works at Cargill while Pernelle is an enrolled nurse in the health industry.

Both are accomplished horse breeders and competitors. It was only natural Will inherited their love for horses from an early age.

Saddling up by the age of three, Will was soon competing throughout the state in the show ring and stockhorse events.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“Will was an exceptionally shy child and we thought his involvement with horses would help boost his confidence,” says Pernelle, his most ardent supporter.

Crowned 12 times the ANSA (Australian National Saddlehorse Association) and ASHS (Australian Stockhorse Society) national champion in the under 18 years youth events, Will was at the top of his game before switching his energies to athletics nearly three years ago.

“Mum and Dad couldn’t handle me doing both sports as well as cricket,” Will says. “It was way too time consuming so I had to choose.”

Athletics has played an important part in his life since he was a tacker barely out of nappies.

“He’s a bit like Forest Gump,” his mother laughs. “When he was really little, well before pre-school, he was always telling us to stop the ute in the middle of the paddock so he could run home.”

By the time he was eight he’d represented Narrabri West School at state level in swimming but was equally competitive out of the water, winning the age championship in every local Little Athletics meet since age five.

Will picked up the javelin for the first time when he was 12 and in his very first competition almost smashed the long-standing school record.

In 2016 the school record stood at 37 metres but Will rewrote the history books with a huge 46.18-metre throw. A year later he broke a 32-year record with a throw of 48 metres, so far his best effort.

If he had been born a century ago it would have been just 14 metres short of the Olympic Games record. These days a throw of about 90 metres in the men’s open competition would bring home Olympic gold.

In 2016 Will embarked on his first overseas trip after being selected by Australian Sport to compete in the javelin under-15s in Canada, going up against the country’s number one javelin thrower.

The strapping teenager has also been on an excursion to Cambodia with the Narrabri High School team led by Kathy Bailey, helping the locals build houses and wells.

He’s always been good with his hands, being a handy welder from a young age. When he finishes school, Will hopes to work in construction, become an athletics coach and personal trainer.

In the meantime, he is focusing on his training. He pumps iron at Phoenix two390 Gym several times a week under the tutelage of owner Lachie Cameron.

Without proper strength and flexibility, javelin throwers are particularly prone to injury, especially in the shoulder and elbow.

Core stability helps transfer his physical power from the ground and through the body to the javelin.

Will uses stretching and sprint training to enhance his speed at the point of release. You’ll often find him practising down on the town oval, hurling his 800-gram spear.

“It’s all about technique,” Will says. “In some ways it’s not all that different to throwing a dart.”

It does help being physically strong, which means a balanced diet. A nutritionist advised him he should be devouring 2500 calories along with 230-250 grams of raw protein each day.

“It’s like feeding a horse,” Pernelle laughs. For breakfast Will prefers a protein shake, with snacks or fruit for lunch followed by a big steak or rack of ribs for dinner. Robert butchers his own sheep on the property, knowing where most of it will end up.

Whenever the family dines out, there’s always Will to clean up the leftovers.

Their only child was always tall and skinny until recent years when he beefed up. By the time he left primary school he had outgrown his mother and today towers over most of his teachers at school.

To keep up his competitive edge, Will travels to Sydney a few times each year for state events and is a regular competitor in the state CHS athletic carnivals at Olympic Park.

“He’s always been passionate with his sports and has an intense drive to excel,” Pernelle says. “We are happy to support him in whatever he chooses to do but we’re not going to flog a dead horse.”

There will be plenty of miles ahead for his parents and plenty of anxious moments but the Alexanders would have it no other way.

With hundreds of medallions, ribbons and trophies to his name (from horses, swimming, cricket as well as athletics), Will Alexander is proud to fly the flag for the sportiest town in Australia.

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics only a few years away, Narrabri’s latest sporting prodigy is already dreaming of one day competing at the country’s highest level. CWL

ABOVE: Will and his proud parents Pernelle and Robert Alexander; the champion horse rider has competed all over Australia.

FACING PAGE: The star athlete gets in some javelin practice on the farm.

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MARKET MAGIC The Gypsy Willow Markets on the Narrabri Creek have attracted hundreds of savvy shoppers on the first Saturday of the month for the past 20 years.

With about 35 vendors from southern Queensland and all over NSW, the markets are a great meeting spot for locals who enjoy seeing something different.

Organiser Tricia Hadley has been involved with the running of the markets for about 15 years, and says market day is a great family day out.

Held one day before the Moree markets, there’s always something new, from home-made wares, plants to fresh fruit and vegetables. CWL

Wood turner and pen maker Bill Timmins, Gunnedah.

John Kerklaan from Timber Alive, Quirindi, with one of his crafted didgeridoos.

The Ecopella choir, celebrating their 20th year, are causing harmony to the environment.

Susie and Josh Bunting, Buntings Wholesale Nursery, Coonabarabran.

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Krystal Hobden from Treasured Traditions, Maules Creek.

Kevin Dodds, with some of his hand-crafted leather belts.

Chris Doyle makes the monthly trip from Queensland with his fresh pineapples and watermelons.

Lions Club members Craig Jallow, Tim Tapscott, Wayne Dornbusch, Ben Noble and John McPherson.

Bev McNellee, Narrabri, sells succulents in old work boots.

Anjela Egan from Swahili House, Gunnedah.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

food

FOR ALL A Narrabri woman with a flair for baking is transforming lives with delicious cakes and desserts created especially for people with allergies.

Nicole Gleeson-Lendon didn’t retreat from the world or kick up a fuss when her family was hit hard by food intolerances.

She got busy in the kitchen, discovered a whole new way of cooking and established a business producing everything from birthday cakes and special occasion desserts to cereals, Easter eggs and hot cross buns.

Whipped Baking for Allergies was a hit from the start and has a growing customer base.

Nicole is unable to eat eggs, dairy, gluten, nuts, legumes, corn, ginger and mushrooms.

Her son Rafferty is intolerant to potatoes, beef, tomatoes, citrus and bananas.

Gluten, potatoes, citrus, rye, oats, soy, onions and cocoa are off the menu for daughter Tilly.

Nicole’s older son, Darcy, does not have intolerances or allergies.

“When the food intolerances were first identified some people expressed concern about what we were able to eat,” Nicole says.

“I saw no need to focus on what we cannot eat because so many lovely foods are still available for us.

“EATING THE RIGHT “People with special dietary requirements don’t have to be stigmatised – with some know-how and organisation it is quite easy to enjoy a happy and socially inclusive life.”

Nicole grew up in a family that valued the art of home cooking and she shies away from processed foods with long lists of preservatives and additives.

Always fond of cakes and desserts, she was determined to find a way of enjoying special treats using safe ingredients.

“Eating the right food makes a huge difference for people with allergies,” Nicole says.

“I started experimenting with different ideas and through trial and error came up with some great recipes.”

Before long Nicole’s baking was in demand in the Narrabri area and further afield.

FOOD MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES.” She makes gluten-, dairy-, nut- and eggfree cakes for a local café, fills special orders for people who must avoid certain foods and also cooks for people who do not have allergies. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Nicole Gleeson-Lendon with her children Darcy, Rafferty and Tilly.

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true colours Brooke Dalton’s artistic flair is evident the moment you step into her vibrant Narrabri home.

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Each room of Brooke Dalton’s home has been carefully organised to reflect her love of painting, with bright colours and finishing touches that create an overall ambience of love, life and laughter.

Sharing the home with husband Steve and sons Archer, 10, and Baxter, 9, and Ringo, a miniature Schnauzer, Brooke always makes time to dabble in her chosen craft.

She picked up the paintbrush when her youngest started school, after several years of interior design.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

"Don’t be afraid to use colour to bring personality into your home."

“I got sick of being creative for somebody else,” she says with a smile.

Her busy life revolves around the children and office work but she looks forward to Wednesdays when she lets her creative streak come to the fore.

Raised on a Moree dryland farm with her parents and brother, she loved art at school but preferred sculpture to painting, leading to five years of industrial design at QUT (Queensland University of Technology).

Although work was difficult to find, she did manage to snag a husband after her brother arrived on her doorstep with 20 uni mates from Armidale.

She later married and ended up for a short time in Melbourne, a city she loves. The pair moved north to Narrabri after Steve scored a job, later starting his own business, Agvantage Commodities, as a grain, cotton and pulse marketing broker.

These days Brooke paints mainly still life.

Laying the foundations for her work was the drawing, composition and lighting she picked up during her university days.

“I start in the morning, get all excited and by lunch it may have gone pear-shaped. Hopefully by the end of the day with a lot more work, it comes together,” she says.

Brooke was involved in a group exhibition in Narrabri in late 2016 and sold nine of her 12 artworks, which was encouraging.

“It would be nice to quit my job and concentrate more on my art but with two kids and a business it’s a constant juggling act,” she admits.

The home has undergone some delightful renovations since the pair moved in 13 years ago. Today it’s vibrant, cool, cosy and open.

“Not many people have the confidence to use colour but it has a function. Don’t be afraid to use colour to bring personality into your home.

“Our house is probably more outgoing than I am,” she laughs. “Painting is always challenging but I’m always learning and that has to be a good thing.” CWL

ABOVE: Brooke Dalton’s artworks are as colourful as her home.

FACING PAGE: Brooke loves decorating her bright home and looks forward to her painting each week.

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event CENTRAL

North West Events has everything you need to make your function fabulous.

Imagine a beautiful marquee setting in the middle of a paddock under the stars. Enraptured wedding guests are kicking up their heels to the sounds of a good old country band as the bride and groom enjoy the time of their lives.

It’s a familiar scene that Joe Hayne has witnessed a hundred times or more but it’s one he never tires of.

As the owner of North West Events, he is responsible for assembling the marquee and providing everything from the custom flooring, lights, tables and chairs down to the smaller items like glassware, crockery and cutlery.

“It’s always very rewarding looking at what was once a bare paddock and quietly thinking ‘Hey, I did that’,” he says from his Narrabri office.

His journey began after buying a local party hire shop, which he transformed into North West Events. In the first two years he tripled the size of the enterprise, injecting half a million dollars into four marquees and other gear.

The burgeoning business is now a major sponsor of the Moree Jockey Club, Nosh on the Namoi, local sporting teams and various community events.

At the 2017 Nosh on the Namoi, Joe put up two 30 x 10 metre marquees next to each other, giving 600 square metres under the one roof. About 350 guests sat down for lunch with plenty of room to spare.

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He was there again at the twilight races for the Moree Jockey Club, setting up eight marquees, including one measuring a massive 40 x 10 metres.

Joe admits it’s a young man’s game, requiring loads of organisation, hard labour and attention to detail.

With him to lend a personal touch to each event is talented partner Katy Simshauser. Preferring to work behind the scenes for Joe, she provides creative inspiration and ideas for the finishing touches that make each event unique and special.

Katy, a registered nurse and yoga teacher, also runs her own business in Narrabri, a yoga and wellbeing studio specialising in mental health and wellbeing promotion for rural women.

Joe got his start in the industry while working in Sydney’s hospitality scene. Starting behind the bar, he worked his way up the ladder to become operations manager of a major hotel group.

During this time he was involved in the Night Noodle Markets, a festival attracting more than 100,000 revellers over 10 nights.

For four years he was in charge of all the beverages for the event.

Eventually he tired of the city life and for a complete change of pace worked on a cotton farm in Burren Junction, sitting on a tractor all day while contemplating his future.

When opportunity came knocking, Joe jumped at the chance of establishing his own business and is now deeply committed to taking North West Events as far as he can.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E He now spends his days driving all over the country to handdeliver each and every quote. With an excellent product range, competitive prices and a friendly personality, the long hours behind the wheel are very worthwhile.

“It shows we’re genuine,” says Joe, who doesn’t think twice about making a 700km trip for a 15-minute interview.

With 30 weddings already booked in for 2018, the bulk of them in Moree and Goondiwindi, the business is taking off.

“We cater for all sizes – from a small, intimate wedding with about 80 guests to big, lavish affairs with over 400,” he says.

Each wedding has different requirements. North West Events offers three types of chairs, four table varieties (round, square, rectangle and timber tops) and everything down to the plates and utensils.

Of course, not all weddings come with a marquee. Joe and his team can also transform shearing and machinery sheds into magical places for weddings and corporate events.

Joe and Katy are always looking to the future and currently developing new strategies to expand into the Dubbo and Central West market.

“You can never have enough work,” Joe says.

With the energy and determination of this talented young couple, the future looks bright for North West Events.

Find Joe on Instagram @northwestevents and Katy @inspiredkato. CWL

“It’s always very rewarding looking at what was once a bare paddock and quietly thinking ‘Hey, I did that’.”

FACING PAGE: Joe Hayne and Katy Simshauser from North West Events go far and above the call of duty to ensure your wedding is a smashing success.

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ABOVE: The craft shop’s bean counter, Wayne Solomon.

BELOW: Riley McClenaghan, 14, was brought up with crafts and is a dab hand with his embroidery.

ABOVE LEFT: Doll maker Ellen Solomon loves her patchwork.

LEFT: Gallery co-ordinator Janice Smith.

making things, making friends Narrabri Art & Craft Society has played a vital role in the community since the 1970s.

The Narrabri Art & Craft Society committee purchased its quaint little cottage, built in 1897, after securing guarantors for a bank loan in 1978.

Over the years it has been a great outlet for its 75 members with its ideal location on the highway (between the bridges).

In 1988 the society received a bicentennial grant to build a studio and gallery out the back.

“Part of the grant stipulation was we had to encourage and promote the arts in our society,” gallery co-ordinator Janice Smith says.

“And that is what we have done over many years, staging exhibitions on a regular basis, holding workshops and being an outlet for creative people.”

It’s a busy complex. The potters meet each Monday with patchwork in the evening. Stitching, fabrics and embroidery are held on Tuesdays while Wednesdays are reserved for the card stitchers. Thursdays attract the district’s artists and Fridays are open to everyone.

“We also rent out our room for meetings, art classes, mosaic, felting, patchwork and papermaking workshops,” Janice says.

In 2018 the society introduced Veranda Saturdays, where members display handmade crafts that are showcased in the shop.

Members are thankful to Narrabri Shire Council for its recent grant, used for painting the craft shop with the pink chimney. CWL

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ABOVE: Kaylene McClenaghan loves her arts and craft.

ABOVE: Margaret Fernance keeps busy with her appliqué.

ABOVE: Knitter Helen DeFredrick.

LEFT: Betty Panton enjoys her cross-stitching.

ABOVE: Alice Nehrkorn appliquéing a tea towel.

LEFT: Potter Pat Hlad.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

ICING ON the cake

Narrabri cake decorator Janice Smith is known far and wide as the “Royal Icing Queen”.

For 30 years, Janice Smith has created quite a stir in the kitchen with her vintage style, artistic flare and novel approach to cake decorating.

Over the past decade, she has judged the best cakes in the country at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

It’s a top gig, with accommodation and travel covered by the Royal Agricultural Society, along with show tickets, VIP parking and tickets into the Members Stand.

“When you arrive at the showground you’re met by two stewards who explain the procedure for the first stage of judging but before anything happens you are served morning tea in style,” she says.

Each cake is marked out of 100 for overall impression, presentation, creativity and execution of skills. The Masters Section is the best of the best in all techniques.

Over two days she will sift through as many as 100 entries, commenting on each one while her stewards handle the paperwork.

On a local level, Janice is secretary of the Narrabri branch of the Cake Decorators Association. She also organises the cake section at the local show, treating it like a mini Sydney Royal, with chief steward Kristy Faris.

“We have generous sponsors and great prizemoney along with a perpetual grand champion trophy donated by Michael Gleeson,” she says.

“The junior decorators section is made up of our up-and-coming decorators and is always well supported. Through my RAS connections I’ve been able to encourage two Sydney judges to make the trip to Narrabri to judge our show.”

Janice learnt the finer skills of cake decorating through the TAFE system in the 1970s and keeps up to date with the latest trends by attending seminars and workshops in Sydney.

“Over the years many changes have been made to teaching techniques, with the introduction of cutters and edible glue but I’m from the old school and still teach the basic techniques like royal icing.”

Janice teaches at the Narrabri Community College but also conducts private lessons in her squeaky clean kitchen.

“My passion is helping others become confident and even professional decorators,” she says proudly.

“I teach beginners and advanced students in a relaxed creative environment.”

“I teach beginners and advanced students in a relaxed creative environment. All classes are hands on and easier than you think. A basic kit is provided to get you started.”

With the advent of online classes, Janice still encourages students to come in and make new friends.

Her skills are hugely appreciated by the crew at Meals on Wheels. Janice, her students and members of the Cake

Decorators Association make and decorate about 60 mini Christmas cakes each year for the town’s senior citizens.

“Over the years I’ve probably made thousands of cakes,” Janice says with a beaming smile. “It’s a sweet life”.

For those interested in learning from the best: www.cakeart.vpweb.com.au. CWL ABOVE: Janice Smith is the cake-decorating queen of Narrabri.

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the pick of the bunch

A woman with a flair for colour and design is letting her creative talents blossom in a new business venture in the heart of Narrabri’s central business district.

FLOWER SUBSCRIPTIONS • SILK FLOWERS HAND-CRAFTED CHOCOLATES • VASES DECORATIONS & GARLANDS

ALL OF YOUR FLOWER NEEDS FOR WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAYS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS & CORPORATE EVENTS.

PHONE: 6792 2755

Konnie Wilson launched Blooms on Maitland last October following a 10-year career in the hospitality sector.

Skilled in the use of fresh flowers in cake decorating, the former restaurant manager decided to expand her visual design skills into floristry.

Surrounded by beautiful flowers and heavenly scents, Konnie is excited to be running her own business, happy in the knowledge that everything she creates makes people smile.

“I have always loved the colours, fragrances and textures of flowers,” she says.

“My favourites are peonies and a hot pink rose named Pink Floyd.”

Konnie works on her own, employing casual staff to assist with preparations for weddings and special events.

Creations include bouquets, posies, single flowers and box arrangements favoured by hospitals and nursing homes.

Specialty work for weddings ranges from flower crowns, bouquets and button holes for members of the bridal party to garlands, arches, centrepieces, aisle decorations and hanging floral installations for service venues and receptions.

“I am always working on new ideas and studying trends coming in from overseas,” Konnie says.

“At the moment I am working on new ways of using Oasis in letters and hearts.”

Konnie is happy to work on custom designs for clients, many of whom come into her shop with folders of photographs.

“It doesn’t matter if people have strict budgets or an unlimited amount of money to spend,” she says.

“There are ways of making every special occasion beautiful and memorable.”

The busiest times of year for Konnie are Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and the wedding season, running from March to November.

Happy to share the secrets of her profession, Konnie has a simple trick for extending the life of cut flowers – every second day change the water in the vase and reduce the length of each stem by one centimetre. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka and Elizabeth Tickle

109 MAITLAND STREET, NARRABRI

ABOVE: Konnie Wilson loves running her business, Blooms on Maitland.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

choose life Narrabri-based freelance photographer and writer Shanna Whan has hit the national media again following her announcement as a finalist in the 2018 NSWACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. But life for this extraordinary woman has not always been easy. In fact, several years ago, she was, in her own words, ready to die.

Life in Australia for Shanna began 38 years ago when her parents Bucky and Robbie Rowlands made the difficult decision to move continents to escape the ever-present civil unrest of their home in Zimbabwe.

By the late 1970s they were living in a rickety caravan on the banks of the Mehi River at Moree. The cotton industry would become their new life and Bucky would go on to head up agricultural giant “Colly Cotton” with other industry pioneers.

Shanna’s childhood growing up on Collymongle Station (the heart of Colly Cotton) was that of a typical, free-range bush kid.

She loved the freedom to just “be a kid’’ and spend her days among a never-ending menagerie of animals, exploring the bush bareback with her beloved “paddock” horses.

From the age of 10 she followed the well-worn path of many bush kids and was sent to boarding school, and later, university.

She defaulted into an extensive career in agriculture and travelled around the broadacre and cotton growing areas of NSW, Queensland and South Australia.

In her 30s she embarked on a complete ‘’tree change’’ and ditched corporate agriculture for a stint as a tour guide in Alice Springs. This would see her reconnect with an old “mate” from her Ag days. That old mate, Tim Whan, would eventually become her husband – and later, her rock and one of the reasons she is with us today.

The pair returned to the north west when they finally grew tired of being “itinerant, broke and exhausted”.

Their early years were not without challenges.

Despite Shanna transitioning “completely by accident” into the role of a successful and sought-after freelance photographer – and appearing to be a happy and confident woman – a battle with infertility would take her to her limits and expose a dark underside of PTSD from past events.

The grief of this battle, along with a long-standing unhealthy relationship with alcohol, would tip into high-functioning alcoholism before finally sending Shanna spiralling to rock bottom.

After a “nightmare” five years she fought her way back by choosing survival.

In addition to her ongoing documentary photography work she has in the past several years graduated as a health coach, become a blogger and paid speaker.

She still works across Australia in her freelance photography and writing, but any spare time is now dedicated to her self-made addictions ambassador role.

Shanna has subsequently developed a national profile thanks to her tireless work connecting and offering hope to regional people through her brutally honest story.

Aligning herself with other networks and organisations, she is bringing change through simple conversation to the rampant and often unhealthy booze culture that dominates rural Australia.

She connects peers and other corporate, career people or busy rural mums and working dads who find themselves in the same bewildering, inescapable situation by giving unprecedented insight into what she calls an insidious, common disease.

Thanks to experience in the public speaking sector, a huge regional network and an unstoppable work ethic, she has found a willing community getting behind her fight to bring long overdue change. Her media engagements are now gaining rapid momentum.

This is her story. >

ABOVE: Health ambassador Shanna Whan with her faithful Blue Heeler, Fleabag, is speaking up about the effects of alcohol in the country.

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where there’s a will Three years ago Shanna Whan was locked in the fight of her life.

She had come crashing down after a protracted battle with infertility and depression, which eventually led to an ugly spiral into chronic alcoholism that destroyed her will to live.

Today Shanna is happy, healthy and thriving. In 2017 she graduated as a certified health coach and became recognised for her tireless work as an ambassador in rural Australia for those who, like her, think they’re too-far-gone and alone; and for those who just want to talk about the unhealthy relationship so many of us have with alcohol in the ever-present booze culture of rural Australia.

Recently she was named a finalist in the national AgriFutures (formerly RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award in recognition of her ongoing work towards the prevention, education and awareness of rural alcohol abuse and for her years of volunteer work behind the scenes.

Regardless of whether she’s announced winner of the associated bursary she’s developing and launching an online support platform this year for other regional and remote at-risk peers.

She’s been described as a “total anomaly” for the simple reason that most people – especially in small town or rural settings – are exceptionally private about such battles, thanks to an ever-present fear of small-town persecution, stigmas and judgement.

She now refers to this as the completely bizarre paradox of country life: a life in which we are more than happy to watch our mates get fall-down drunk time and time again, and yet become awkward and silent when somebody acknowledges this isn’t OK and chooses to get help.

As somebody who came through the whole raft of all those fears and challenges, Shanna’s all too aware of the immense difficulties of broaching this conversation in the country sector – and that’s why her sheer volume of lived experience, along with a refreshing brand of honesty, self-deprecating humour and humility is helping spread the message far and wide.

“I am nothing unique or special,” she says. “I’m just a regular country girl who survived and recovered from alcoholism – and I’d like for others like me to know there’s a way out. Because, we are everywhere.

“I guess the only thing I am doing that is unique is that I’ve chosen to break the silence around this, and to open my life for public dissection and lead a charge for discussion. Purely to help others.

“Having been among those fortunate enough to make a full recovery from this brutal and complex disease, I feel mandated to do what I can. And that’s why a few years ago I decided to stop being anonymous and to take the worst aspect of my life and turn it into something genuinely useful for others like me.

“We can’t do anything about the elephant in the room if we keep pretending it’s not there,” she says bluntly.

“We need to recognise the reality of what our booze culture is doing to our health.

“See, the thing is, I am an everyday example of where our love for casual alcoholism can lead.

“I’d always been a binge drinker – the life and soul of a party. The loud one. The last to leave. The person guaranteed to do something profoundly outrageous and wild at some point. I thought that just made me a great representative of the party-girl scene,” she recalls.

When she was a younger woman in the country-party scene of barbecues, picnic race days and the old-school B&S balls she naively considered her drinking efforts a badge of honour.

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But those unhealthy university day binges and self-destruction followed her into adult life. And it quickly stopped being OK. Or funny.

Especially when in her late 30s she and her husband began a long battle with undiagnosed infertility.

“I think a lifetime of unaddressed trauma and hurts simply came crashing down. This was the proverbial last straw. Everything I had fought so hard to contain and avoid just rose up to drown me in sorrow and pain.”

Shanna believes much of what was at the core of her personal pain started after boarding school when a series of traumatic events occurred. The ramifications of those built over time – and she never received help when she needed it most.

And she said her battle with the bottle increased in frequency after a total private nightmare decade in her 20s.

“By the time I was in my late 30s and found out I was probably never going to be a mum – the only thing I ever wanted – I became completely overwhelmed by self-pity and anger. I suppose that after having so much taken from me as a young woman I could not cope with the injustice of it. And I started spiralling faster and faster into complete self-destruction.

“This is why I am now so determined to help the community see the simple fact that most substance abuse (whether it’s overeating, drinking, smoking or gambling) stems from unresolved mental health issues.

“I learned the simple truth of the fact that when somebody is in pain, it’s often easier to dull those feelings. That’s what I did when it came to alcohol. I drank my feelings.”

“I didn’t drink during the day (before five o’clock) and didn’t drink every day, so I was certain I couldn’t possibly be an alcoholic.

“And that’s why I am now determined to help friends and family see the truth of how this disease can manifest, and look.”

The catalyst for her final freedom from alcoholism came after she hit her absolute rock bottom. When she finally faced the fact that alcohol was ruining her life and causing immeasurable pain and anguish for her husband, family and friends.

She finally surrendered and faced the truth that she could never drink again.

“In the end I had to stop living in the pain of the past. I simply had to stand up, step up and take complete responsibility for myself, my own poor choices and actions and what I had become,” she says.

Her ultimate walk to freedom was part miracle and part hard work and commitment, she said.

“I had to get real, get honest, and grow up fast. That included facing the demons and destruction from my past and so many things I had spent a lifetime avoiding. Asking for help, reaching out and admitting I had become an alcoholic was the hardest and yet best thing I’d ever done.

“To this day, when people ask me about sobriety, I tell them the simple truth is that somebody who wants to quit booze altogether simply needs to be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

“There’s no doubt that achieving this in an isolated setting presents a challenge. Here in the bush there is, as usual, a lack of support and services for the sheer volume of population.

“I didn’t drink during the day (before five o’clock) and didn’t drink every day, so I was certain I couldn’t possibly be an alcoholic.”

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“We need more than ever to stop the stigmas that just keep people hiding when they’re sick.”

“This is one of the reasons I use the power of social media to reach out as far and wide as I can because people are slipping through the cracks left right and centre. And because it’s working.

“What many don’t realise is that high-functioning, educated and intelligent people are at great risk,” she continues.

“The perception is that if somebody holds down a job, works hard, has a family and a home or is successful they can’t be an alcoholic. That’s the kind of logic that keeps people trapped, sick and unable to reach out.

“We all know that the very mention of the ‘A’ word comes with a mountain of stigmas.

“And the truth is, out here in the country, we simply aren’t anonymous.

“I truly believe each of us is an integral and important part of our small communities and close-knit circles.

“That’s why I reckon we need to look at the current model, and why we need more than ever to stop the stigmas that just keep people hiding when they’re sick.

“It’s a discussion that needs to be had far and wide because it is being proven again and again that the opposite of addiction is connection – and connection is what rural communities do better than anybody. Especially when we have a wounded member.

“What might work in the city where anonymity is possible simply doesn’t work for so many out here. Recovery meetings are great – but completely ineffective if we can’t even get somebody through the doors.

“My vision is to therefore use an internet-based platform to take this conversation into the homes, tractors and paddocks of those who need it most. To just help them to have a chat, to connect and to re-evaluate their relationship with booze if it’s a problem. It’s just a hub. A place to start.

“I have faith that we can break down those stigmas and the language and barriers around this topic. To help educate communities understand a disease is a disease.

“Recovery, wellness and good outcomes are entirely possible, but it has to be the individual who makes the choice.”

Shanna can be found at www.shannakwhan.com. CWL

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feeling right

AT HOME

Former Dutch backpacker Bregje van der Heijden is a young Narrabri woman on a mission.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

Since arriving on Australian shores eight years ago, Bregje (pronounced brek-i-a) van der Heijden has fallen in love with the Aussie way of life and established her own occupational therapy business to assist children and adults with conditions such as autism and other physical and intellectual disabilities.

“We often take basic activities for granted – things like going to school and attending assembly or going to the supermarket,” she says.

“A large number of children and their families are struggling due to the overwhelming sensation of noise, vision, touch and movement. I help them become independent and better able to cope with daily activities.”

Bregje also assists with equipment and home modification needs, like organising wheelchairs, toilet aids and grab rails to ensure people in the community are as independent as possible in their home environment.

It’s a world away from her own family and home in the Netherlands but Bregje couldn’t be happier in her adopted country.

Weeks after graduating in mid 2010, she followed an age-old Dutch ritual and embarked on an Aussie back-packing adventure, spending seven months touring the outback.

While her Occupational Therapy qualifications were being assessed for Australian approval, she worked on several farms, developing a love for horses and wide-open spaces.

In 2012 she was offered a part-time job with Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC) in Narrabri but still required a sponsor to obtain permanent residency.

“I got in contact with Logistics Health, who offered me a contract and sponsorship, which I embraced with open arms. My life changed from being a backpacker to an Australian resident.”

From the day she arrived in Narrabri till the time she received the granting letter of her visa application, Bregje boarded with Scott and Jo Hamilton, great friends who helped create a social network in the district.

“During those few months I fell in love with a particular horse and enjoyed a great balance working as an OT while riding in the early mornings and late afternoons,” she says.

Once her permanent residency was granted, she moved to “The Valley”, at the end of Kaputar Road.

Without mobile phone reception or internet and few neighbours it would have been a daunting prospect for any newcomer but Bregje thrived in her new surroundings.

A few months later she was joined by her brother Joris, a pilot who soon found work as a flight instructor with Namoi Aviation.

There were several bush fires during her first summer at “The Valley”, which encouraged her to become closer to neighbours at Bullawa Creek.

“This resulted in regular barbecues, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. I worked during the day and in my spare time went riding and bushwalking or relaxed with an evening drink on the dam.”

In April 2016 she became a proud Narrabri home owner from where she runs her business.

Equally exciting was being nominated by Logistics Health for the NSW/ACT Young Achievers Award, finishing as one of the 10 finalists.

“I was honoured to be recognised but in my eyes I just love helping people with disabilities,” she says.

Later that year Bregje fell head over heels for John Busby, one of the neighbours from Bullawa Creek.

“In late 2016 John and I visited the Netherlands to celebrate Christmas with my family and to show him around the beautiful country I grew up in. We’ve been living together ever since.” CWL

“A large number of children and their families are struggling due to the overwhelming sensation of noise, vision, touch and movement.”

FACING PAGE: Bregje van der Heijden is relishing her vocation as an occupational therapist in Narrabri.

ABOVE: Bregje helps out Nathan Flower, 9, with his weekly therapy class; a recent trip back to the Netherlands rekindled many fond memories; feeling the love with partner John Busby.

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READ ALL ABOUT IT

Narrabri’s community spirit is alive and well at MJ’s Newsagency.

When Melissa Richardson and Jodie Hill opened MJ’s Newsagency in the main street of Narrabri a group of locals turned out to help set up the store.

The response was “unbelievable� and something the long-time friends had never expected. “The Narrabri community was really pleased when we decided to open the business because the town had been without a newsagency for several months,�

Melissa says. “A lot was involved in getting everything organised and the day before our official opening we were running behind schedule. “In the evening we put out a Facebook post asking if anyone was willing to lend a hand. Amazingly about 30 friends turned up to help. Then a whole lot of other people started knocking on the front door asking if there was anything we needed. “Some people stayed for several hours.

The response was just amazing and the locals have never stopped supporting us. “The shop was filled with flowers on opening day and we received bottles of champagne and cards with messages of support.�

MJ’s is located in the main street in an older style strip of commercial buildings.

Open seven days a week, the newsagency stocks everything from newspapers, magazines and stationery to giftware and toys. “We see all the locals on a regular basis and also deal with a lot of travellers,� Melissa says. “The newsagency is a real meeting place where people like to spend time catching up. “Our customers have their regular routines and come in to buy their preferred

publications on certain days. Thursday is always a busy time because that is when a lot of farmers come in to town.�

Melissa and Jodie are both married to butchers and have been friends for more than 20 years.

They played the same sport and later worked together at Woolworths supermarket for more than a decade.

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112 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390

02 67 923 797

Melissa has three children and Jodie has four. They both rate Narrabri as a great place to live. “Everyone knows each other,� Melissa says. “Parents feel comfortable letting their children wander up the main street or walk across town to visit their friends.� CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Jodie Hill and Melissa Richardson.

• • • •

paper delivery stationery magazines cards & wrap @ mjsnews

• toys • giftware • books + much more...

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

Karen Carter grew up in the village of Baan Baa, 25 minutes south of Narrabri, and completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Sydney.

During university holidays she came home and worked at Colless’ Pharmacy in Narrabri to gain valuable experience with pharmacist Jim Colless.

Karen expanded her qualifications with a Diploma of Hospital Pharmacy and worked in the renal and intensive care units at Prince Henry Hospital in Sydney for a year before undertaking locum work at Quirindi, Wee Waa and Forbes.

After some travel she came back to Gunnedah and took over a pharmacy. In 2009 the opportunity arose to expand the business by buying a pharmacy in Narrabri.

Karen divides her time between the two pharmacies and is also involved in aged care medication reviews at Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri, Walgett and Bourke.

“I wanted to work in Narrabri because of the association I had developed with the town from a young age,” Karen says.

“I am passionate about pharmacy and really enjoy my work. Being a local I have a lot of family connections in Narrabri. My parents, Judy and Frank Maunder, brother Robert, and nephews live at Baan Baa.” Located in the main street in the former Barrakets’ building, Karen and her team of friendly and qualified staff are available to answer health queries and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Narrabri Pharmacy offers a full beauty therapy and make-up service, wound care, flu vaccination, diabetes supplies, sleep apnoea equipment and an extensive range of giftware.

“A member of our team goes to gift fairs in Melbourne and Sydney to bring the latest trends back to Narrabri,” Karen says.

“The pharmacy also offers a full range of vitamins and supplements.

“Because I grew up in the area I enjoy living and working in the north-west. I have waterskied at Yarrie Lake and Keepit Dam.”

pharmaceutical

BENEFITS

Pharmacy involves much more than simply filling prescriptions. For Narrabri pharmacist Karen Carter, it is about promoting health, quality use of medicines, contributing to the betterment of the community and reaching far beyond the shopfront to build strong and effective relationships.

Karen and her husband David have enjoyed playing tennis, cricket and golf around the area. Their children also played tennis, cricket and rugby in the Narrabri region.

Son Justin and daughter Wendy are both studying pharmacy. David manages the back office of the pharmacy, doing the bookwork for the business.

“Narrabri Pharmacy is your health destination with a friendly team who are available for your health needs,” Wendy says. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Image: Janet Dampney

ABOVE: Narrabri pharmacist Karen Carter with her son Justin, a pharmacy student.

Our qualified staff offer professional and friendly health advice. We have a wide range of in-store services and products including: • • • • • •

Sleep apnoea equipment • Gorgeous giftware Home medication review • Makeup & skincare brands Meds checks including Revlon, Natio, Flu vaccination service Nude by Nature, Sukin, French fragrance Dr LeWinn’s, Kora Organics Leather wallets & handbags • The Beauty Room 127 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390 P: 02 6792 2105 karencarterchemist.com.au

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Mr Versatility Narrabri’s Spider Cunningham has turned his hand to all manner of jobs.

With his bald head, thick-set frame and deep, gravelly voice, Don “Spider” Cunningham could well pass as a hard-core army drill sergeant.

He’s the type of bloke you’d definitely want on your side in any altercation but as most Narrabri locals would attest, the big fella would also be the first to give you the shirt off his back.

Throughout his career, Spider has held down more than 40 jobs and never been given his marching orders.

Born and raised in Narrabri, the middle of five kids to a father who worked for PMG (now Telstra) and a catering mother, he was always up to something.

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“We’d get around town on pushbikes, shooting shanghais and slug guns at sparrows and starlings during a time (the late 1960s) when laws were pretty relaxed,” he says.

Many afternoons were spent putting worms on lines along the Namoi River bank and catching the odd cod or yellow belly.

By the age of 15 he was cleaning windscreens, filling up petrol tanks and doing the occasional grease and oil change at the Ampol Garage.

Two years later he found himself in the “Big Smoke”, but not for long.

“I saw a bloke get his throat slashed with a broken schooner glass and another fellow get his eye poked out with a pool cue. That was it for me,” he says.

“I couldn’t wait to get back home where if you had a disagreement you’d go out the back for a blue, shake hands and then have a beer.”

Back on familiar soil, Spider spent time on the Grain Elevators Board, loaded flour onto trains and became a bridge fettler.

He then scored a job as assistant pool manager. Four years later he was promoted to manager, a position he held for the next two decades.

As King of the Kids, he demanded respect.

Everybody soon learnt Spider’s stringent rules of play and stuck to them religiously.

Later on he tried his hand at plastering before becoming an Aboriginal Education Assistant (AEA), which led to a gardening job.

While he loved work there was always a lot of pent-up energy to deal with. As a young man he laced up his boots for the North Tamworth Bears, the Narrabri Blues and the Wee Waa Panthers.

He was known as a rugged and fiery hooker who never stepped back from a blue. “You could bite, scratch and punch and get away with it. Very rewarding stuff, particularly if you won a loose head scrum,” he laughs.

For two decades he was a feared bouncer at local hotels. Regulars learnt not to mess with him. Firm but fair, Spider was the man hoteliers could always count on.

“I just rolled up my sleeves and had a go at anything. Even now, close to retirement, I’m still prepared to do the dirty work like scrubbing loos.”

Spider is referring to his latest job, running budget accommodation at the Centre of Town (COT).

He loves meeting folk of all different nationalities and is known for his ability to spin a yarn on just about any topic. It doesn’t take long to figure out Spider’s heart is made of gold. He demands honesty in all his dealings and can sniff out a ratbag a mile away.

Spider is still making the most of each day, swimming, fishing and living a moderate lifestyle.

He is married to childhood sweetheart Chris, who works at C&D Electronics with son Leon. Eldest son Ricko runs the fish farm and daughter Natasha manages the Telstra Shop.

Between them and the six grandkids, one of Narrabri’s greatest characters is still rolling out the punches – only this time with good, old-fashioned humour. CWL

ABOVE: Well-known Narrabri identity Spider Cunningham.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

SITTING PRETTY in the centre of town

With its magnificent stained glass windows, creaky old timber staircase and great ambience, the former Clubhouse Hotel has played a huge role in Narrabri’s history.

The original hotel, established in 1885, was destroyed 12 years later in a disastrous fire that engulfed 23 buildings in Maitland Street.

The hotel was rebuilt in 1898 and was a popular gathering spot for the next 110 years until finally closing its doors in 2008.

The heritage-listed pub was purchased by Best Employment, who run their business on street level.

“Upstairs was closed off and sat there for years with pigeons and rats having a party,” says the Centre of Town manager, Spider Cunningham.

“It took five months of cleaning before we finally opened in 2012.”

Today there are 16 rooms plus a large flat out the back, which can accommodate families and large groups.

Spider comes to work every day at 6am and returns in the afternoon to tidy up and take bookings for the night.

He is a no-nonsense manager and keeps the place meticulously clean, safe and affordable. Single rooms start from $50, twin rooms $110 and family rooms from $130. The flat can be booked for $150 a night.

Discounts are available for lengthy stays for itinerant ag workers, tourists and anybody watching their budget.

Spider is on hand during a complimentary breakfast to dispense information on local tourist sites and the best dining options.

For further information ring Spider on (02) 6792 5390 or email centreoftown@bigpond.com. CWL

ABOVE: The Centre of Town accommodation features 16 rooms and a large flat.

BELOW: The former Clubhouse Hotel, pictured left, was a popular meeting spot at the turn of the 20th century.

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staying focused Life is never dull for keen amateur photographer Janet Dampney, who derives great satisfaction documenting daily activities on her Edgeroi farm.

Janet Dampney’s camera is always close by to capture the different seasons, crops and livestock – often with the stunning Nandewar Ranges in the background.

Despite always showing a strong interest in art, she followed the path of many girls of her generation and chose nursing as a sensible career option.

After her marriage to Peter in 1971, any artistic pleasures were temporarily shelved as she settled down to farm life and raising her young family.

When her two children started primary school, Janet enrolled at TAFE studying art with teacher Peter Chapman. Within a year or two she was exhibiting her work until life, once more, got in the way.

During this time she was kept busy with the bookwork and helping Peter in all aspects of farming.

“It’s good safe country,” Janet says. “We survive drought years by our irrigation farm closer to town and conserve fodder with numerous silos and hay sheds.”

She has farmed alongside her husband for 47 years, and it was only in 2000, with the advent of digital photography, that Janet was able to again tap into her artistic side.

By then her children had grown up and started their own families.

Son Tony works on the farm with wife Kylie and their two children while daughter Joanne established a Newcastle skin care range, which she runs with partner Dion Zukowski and their two children.

This left Janet with no excuses. Armed with two Olympus camera bodies and a host of lenses, she launched herself into a new world of Photoshop, depth-of-field and f-stops.

These days she’s quite at home shooting ominous storm clouds, rainbows and glorious sunsets. No farm animals are safe from her prying lenses, including the Shorthorn/Simmental-cross cattle, horses and dogs.

Other favourite subjects are the crops of sorghum, wheat, cotton and chickpeas at different stages of development.

For the past 30 years Janet and Peter have lived at “Junefield”.

They also own a 229ha cotton irrigation block closer to Narrabri and “The Wilgas” past Edgeroi.

With nearly 900ha of prime dryland country to maintain and photograph there is always plenty to do.

Janet has won several photography competitions and twice reached the top 20 finalists in the Sydney Morning Herald photograph of the year.

She exhibits at the Capturing the North West Photography Group and has no plans of retiring or putting down her camera, a hobby that keeps her motivated, sane and hungry for that “perfect” shot. CWL LEFT: Janet Dampney documents daily life on the farm; Peter Dampney busy cutting dryland lucerne, which was baled a few days later. Janet is by his side, with camera ready for action.

FACING PAGE: Some of Janet’s photographic work.

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Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

W i t h n e a rl y 9 0 0 h a o f p r i m e d r y l a n d co untr y to maintain and photograph th e re i s always pl e nty to d o.

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special attention Southwell Land & Water is firmly focused on the task at hand.

An open letter from Rob Southwell, Southwell Land & Water After 15 years of operating a leading NSW real estate franchise, we designed a business model to better suit the future needs of our clients – to sell nothing but land and irrigation water assets.

Specialising allows us to spend maximum time on the sale of each property with zero conflict of interest.

We understand that over the lifetime of a farm investment, which might be five years or even 100 years, about 30 per cent of income from that investment is generated from the activity of farming, be it raising livestock or growing crops.

The remaining 70 per cent is generated by the capital appreciation of the land asset.

Most farmers have little experience when it comes to realising that capital appreciation. They are great at growing crops and generating profit but rarely get a chance to work in the capital realisation space.

I have seen plenty of growers with experience in buying farms but little or none when it comes to selling. Their initial approach is based around their buying experience.

Selling the farm requires an entirely different approach – a whole different kettle of fish. Selling the farm is nothing like selling a commodity.

When we decided to specialise we looked very closely at the product we were selling and came to the conclusion that a lifetime of effort needed a specialist dedicated to the sale of that asset – be it water, land or somebody to tidy up the farm machinery at the end of the job with a clearing sale.

Unlike typical agencies we’re not trying to be a pastoral house or banker. We don’t want to sell your livestock and we won’t take your listing just to fill up our shop window or internet page to make ourselves look good.

When we’re talking about farms, it’s sometimes a one-in-a-hundred-year transaction that requires absolute dedication and full-time commitment.

We are a family business that understands family farms.

Our name is highly recognisable and synonymous with gaining superior results with integrity.

With a quality rural contact database built up over 35 years of doing business throughout the eastern states, we come with a reputation for hard work and attention to detail.

Ours is a small company producing big results. Marketing is our forte and what attracted me to selling properties after many years in the farm machinery business. I get a big buzz out of presenting a farm to its absolute best.

Right from the start I was drawn to irrigation properties with all their complexities and uncertainties. I think they frighten a lot of agents but I love the challenge.

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Let’s face it, selling an irrigation property is a complex business.

You really need to understand water, water licensing, works approvals, when you can water, when you can’t water.

Over my lifetime I’ve witnessed sheep farms turn into wheat farms and then into irrigation fields. There’s a lot at stake. To be able to present any farm and get the best results for the people who have developed that property is particularly satisfying.

I spend a week each month in our Sydney office maintaining contacts within the corporate world, including agricultural advisory specialists, super fund managers and overseas investment representatives.

We aim to keep these contacts in order to provide a full service for our NSW and southern Queensland clients.

When you dig right to the bottom of it, what we sell is trust. When someone has worked at building an asset over generations they need to be able to hand the sale to someone they can trust.

Trust is built up over many transactions, making it easy to trust your livestock agent or somebody you’ve been doing business with on a constant basis.

But when it comes to that one-in-a-hundred-year transaction, you have to carefully consider who to place that trust with.

Do I trust somebody who has been selling my cattle for the past 30 years and doing a great job or do I need to find a specialist?

We do nothing else. When we’re engaged to sell a property we explain the process so that vendors can make informed decisions.

We gather market intelligence for our clients and then work out a strategic marketing plan. Marketing is our strong point. We’ve won so many awards we don’t keep them any more.

Narrabri is at the cutting edge of Australian agriculture, which is why we moved our family here in 1983.

If you take a four-hour drive around Narrabri you’ll find the best farming in the country – Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, St George and Roma, Walgett, Coonamble, Warren and the Liverpool Plains.

The town also boasts a very high level of agricultural research, including the University of Sydney and the Australian Cotton Research Institute. It’s a very educated community and I’ve been told we have more PhDs per head of population than anywhere else.

A great cross section of people from all over the world come here for research. It’s been a great place to bring up our children, all of whom achieved tertiary education at the University of New England.

Our daughter Emily is with Westpac Agribusiness in Tamworth, our eldest son John is an advisor to the Federal Minister for Agriculture and Stuart has settled here with his family and runs Narrabri Real Estate.

And while I have a passion for fly fishing and clay target shooting (cast and blast), tragically I’m not very good at either. Selling land and water, however, is another matter altogether.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Formidable team: Rob and Helen Southwell, Jo Turner, Tracey Campbell, Stuart Southwell, Guy Gallen (auctioneer from Jacob and Anderson) and Alec Macintosh; a clearing sale in action; irrigated cotton is big business; Rob loves his fishing; father and son at work; water is the lifeblood on most farms.

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the grains of Roth Eminent agricultural scientist Dr Guy Roth has gone to extraordinary lengths to educate Australians about the origins of our food and fibre.

During Christmas 2016 Dr Guy Roth made national headlines after planting a tiny wheat crop on the footpath of his Narrabri home.

“I was hoping to choke out the bindi-eye and pig weed while improving the soil structure,” he says with a grin from his office at The University of Sydney’s IA Watson Grains Research Centre.

“My young sons Christian, Leo and Viktor and their mates handplanted a local variety of wheat and nurtured it through to harvest using a research plot header.”

The Narrabri Education Foundation had the wheat – all 14kg of it – milled at Australian Grain Technologies before turning them into a batch of scones.

To better illustrate the “farm to your food plate” concept, last year he came up with another attention-grabbing stunt on National Agriculture Day. With assistance from colleague Kieran Shephard and local photographer Josh Smith, the word FOOD was cut into a wheat paddock at the University of Sydney’s Llara research farm during harvest. The photo went viral on social media.

Perhaps all this innovative thinking comes from his German ancestors, who settled in Mudgee 160 years ago, planting the region’s first wine grapes as well as producing fruit and vegies for the gold rush workers.

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Guy joined The University of Sydney’s Narrabri campus 18 months ago as the Director of Northern Agriculture, co-ordinating teaching and research.

The university has had a presence in the town for 60 years, principally focused on the grains industry.

“This year we had 40,000 research plots with 45 staff and postgraduate students from 12 nationalities working on the campus,” he says.

“We collaborate with 20 organisations on site including the Wheat Research Foundation and Grains Research and Development Corporation. In our seed vaults we store about 200,000 different lines of crops.”

Scientists exploit this genetic diversity to improve crop productivity for farmers and food quality for consumers.

Like many young agriculture students, Guy’s career in the cotton industry began in the late 1980s as a cotton chipper at Wee Waa during university holidays.

“The aim was to make a fortune so I could go backpacking around the world – which I did and highly recommend,” he laughs.

He is credited with pioneering research into the relationships between water use and cotton plants.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E In the early days he used hand-held remote-sensing technology, canopy temperatures and later, satellite and airborne video imagery, which tested the correlation between plant stress and crop outcomes. These days it’s all done by drones.

“I’ve always been interested in agricultural research, farming methods and technology. Much of my research focus has been around soils and water use in agriculture,” he says.

Coming from Mudgee where the Roth family runs a pick-yourown cherry farm, he understands the interest in food provenance – that is, where food comes from and how it’s grown.

“I see a huge disconnect in understanding the journey it takes to get food to the consumer and see great potential in joining the dots, especially in premium grain crops of north west NSW.” The university’s research in Narrabri has a global impact on food security through education and training, long-term research on crop diseases, weeds, water-use efficiency, heat and drought tolerance.

Grain growers will recognise the wheat variety names such as Suntop with origins in Narrabri.

The wheat variety names mostly start with SUN, which stands for Sydney University Narrabri and in September 2018 the 35th wheat variety with this prefix will be unveiled.

These varieties are part of the north west’s 1.5 million-hectare wheat story.

For a country man who relishes life in the bush, Guy often finds the important university work occurs outside work hours through conversations at cricket and rugby games or on the steps of the post office.

Guy and wife Ingrid and their sons now live on the university farm, which means he is at work 24/7.

“Hopefully our boys will have a greater understanding of the land and food production, with plenty of space for secret adventures.” CWL

your specialist

rural land & water asset sales agency...

FACING PAGE: Josh Smith’s aerial shot went viral on social media.

ABOVE: Dr Guy Roth with his sons and their mates prior to harvesting their little wheat crop in town; Dr Guy Roth has spent a lifetime focused on soils and water use in agriculture.

Southwell Land & Water is a firm of agents specialising in selling rural land and water assets throughout NSW and QLD, founded by Rob Southwell, the agent you have known and trusted for over 35 years.

• • • •

First class agency Total focus to maximise the vendor’s result No conflict of interest No Mates

Narrabri & Sydney | 0419 269 328 | rob.southwell@gone.com.au | www.southwellrural.com.au

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CALLED TO THE BAR

The social atmosphere of working in pubs has been the key to a long and happy relationship for Vince and Wendy Weakley of the Namoi Hotel in Narrabri.

In the heart of the town’s central business district, the Namoi Hotel is proud of its icy cold beer, cosy atmosphere, friendly staff and home-style meals.

“We are very much a working man’s establishment,” Wendy says.

“Vince and I thrive on the pub lifestyle and really enjoy spending time talking with locals and travellers.

“The Namoi is our third hotel and over the years we have met so many interesting characters who all have great stories to tell.”

Born and raised in Gunnedah, Vince and Wendy developed a strong work ethic at a young age.

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“Vince became an abattoir worker and I left school at 14-and-a-half to work for the bulk and health food store owned by Kevin and Pat Mooney,” Wendy says.

“I later worked at Gunnedah Hospital before venturing into hotels, working alongside outstanding cooks Bonnie Lane and Jenny Wharton, who taught me all the tricks of the trade.

“Vince went to work at Preston Coal after mine manager Roy Simpson visited local hotels scouting for staff.

“In 1983 Preston was involved in a sit-in strike for 55 days in an attempt to prevent the closure of the mine.

“ON A TRIP TO BUY SOME HAY FOR THE CATTLE VINCE MET A FARMER WHO MENTIONED HE HAD A PUB LEASE TO SELL.”

“The mine eventually closed and Vince only had a few cattle to rely on for money so I went back to work at the Railway Hotel.

“On a trip to buy some hay for the cattle Vince met a farmer who mentioned he had a pub lease to sell.

“That was it. Vince decided to buy the lease and we packed up our family and my best mate Deniece and moved to Woodenbong – we had never heard of it but it sure was an adventure.”

After leaving Woodenbong, Vince and Wendy took over the management of the Commercial Hotel in Narrabri.

Five years later they were approached by Peter Manton to buy into the freehold of the Namoi Hotel.

“Vince and I were to be licencees and managers with the backing of Peter’s cousin John Hindman,” Wendy says.

“We decided to go for it and that was certainly the right decision. When Peter passed away several years ago he left his share of the hotel to his two sons, Tim and Todd.”

Todd, a qualified chef, took over the kitchen at the Namoi as his own business.

Wendy and Vince love Narrabri and have many friends in the town.

“Our children are also very settled,” Wendy says.

“Sharmaine and her husband Rick Cunningham are the owners of the Narrabri Fish Farm. They have two children, Alya and Charlie.

“Renae, who has two daughters, Allira and Lilly, works for NDCAS in Narrabri.

“Matt has his own business, carting cattle and hiring harvest machinery. His partner, Whitney Gleeson, is an owner of NuYu Day Spa and Beauty.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Elizabeth Tickle

FACING PAGE: Wendy and Vince Weakley in the bar of the Namoi Hotel.

ABOVE: Chef Todd Manton enjoys serving up delicious hearty meals.

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SHEAR artistry

It’s hard imagining Graeme Compton once used his delicate hands to shear big Merinos but this pianist and illustrative artist is a man of many talents.

“I always wanted to be a writer and artist while playing the guitar and piano but my parents felt it wasn’t a viable career option,” Graeme Compton says from his studio and home in Narrabri.

After leaving school, Graeme became a shearer, classer and wool buyer. Australia might easily have lost one of its brightest artistic talents to the wool industry had it not been for the persistence of wife Donna.

With gentle prompting, Graeme got serious with his illustrations and since 2012 has co-produced 15 books.

It all started with a childhood fascination with comic books, superheroes and Disney cartoons. This continued throughout his teens when artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko caught his attention.

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ABOVE: The artist at work; Graeme is a widely published illustrator.

Behind him stands his wife Donna, his biggest supporter and best mate.

Narrabri T O W N F E A T U R E

“Even when I was slogging it out in the woolsheds, I would go home and sit down with a pencil and paper.”

When he could afford new comics, he opted for the Uncanny X-Men, enthralled by the pen work of John Byrne.

At the same time he absorbed illustrations in encyclopaedias, studying the human anatomy pages and sketches of mythical figures in story books.

By then Graeme was devouring sci-fi novels and drawing space ships. But the biggest influence, he says, occurred after his father brought home The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

That’s when the dragons first started appearing on his sketch pad.

In high school he learnt to be independent in art classes, interpreting the teacher’s requirements and completing projects according to his own vision.

He left school after Year 10 but continued poring over the works of Bosch, da Vinci, Michelangelo, van Eyck, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Mucha, Dali, Escher and Fuchs.

Eventually, Graeme returned to his love of comics, inspired by classic artists such as Floyd Gottfredson (Mickey Mouse), Carl Barks (Donald Duck) and Winsor McCay (Little Nemo).

“Add to this bulky list my interest in Hokusai and Hiroshige, along with Indian sculptures of various periods and Buddhist artwork and you almost have my influences in a nutshell,” he laughs.

His infatuation with comic book heroes is matched by a deep love and appreciation of classical music.

“I love watching and listening to many gifted performers and particularly enjoy the playing of Gerard Willems, whom I’ve had the great pleasure to paint for the 2010 Archibalds,” he says.

Graeme enjoys working alone, rising at the crack of dawn and hitting his straps by mid morning.

“Once the link between mind and hand, hand and page is established, it’s a sublime sensation to allow it to continue – to flow with that stream of thought,” he says.

“The motivation is drawing ever nearer the figment, until one is so close to the paper, graphite and the ink that the canvas and paint cease to exist and the image takes on a life of its own.

“Then to release that newborn beast for other eyes! That is the challenge. It takes long hours of practice, study and thought – both free and disciplined.”

Graeme tries to focus on one piece at a time, although frequently there are two or more works in various stages of completion. He is always sketching new ideas, regardless of what else is happening.

“I have tried to keep track of my work hours but I’m not much of a time-keeper once the line begins. If you think about the hours I put into each work I’m probably making the same as a kid flipping burgers at McDonald’s.”

Working ridiculous hours doesn’t faze him, nor the quizzical looks he frequently gets when he describes his occupation.

“People look at my beasties and then look at me with a question mark hanging over their brow – ‘what’s inside your head, Graeme?’ they ask. It’s funny, because I’m a relatively harmless, peaceful sort of person – and yet I love monsters and elephants.”

Graeme says the focus of his working life has changed, having finally achieved the goal that took decades to manifest.

“Even when I was slogging it out in the woolsheds, I would go home and sit down with a pencil and paper or do my scales and practise my pieces.

“I remember the day before my seventh grade pianoforte exam holding a steel post for a bloke while we were mending some yards.

“He was about to slam it with a sledge-hammer and I gave him a look, half warning, half entreaty and said ‘Just don’t hit my hands!’

Thankfully, he didn’t.”

With him every step of the journey has been his soul mate.

“Donna has inspired me, advised me and sometimes given me a mental shove to help me achieve my musical and artistic goals,” he says.

“When it came to earning my diploma for the piano, she stuck by me the whole way, even travelling to the exam venue six hours away so I could sit for it on her birthday! Needless to say, I passed.

How could I fail on her birthday?”

Donna also ensured he took his art more seriously.

“For a while I became too cautious about it, too caught up in the machinery of life, allowing the cogs to run dry. Donna urged me to get into it – buy more paper, buy more ink! Draw more!”

Despite serious health setbacks, Donna has forged on, wanting to live, study, experience peace, feel contentment and help others – and she has achieved all of those things.

“Having lived with her through her struggles, she is the most courageous, inspiring person I know,” Graeme says quietly.

Now that he is finding his feet, Graeme is thinking about ways to get his art work out to the masses.

“An exhibition would be a great achievement,” he says with a grin.

“Having time to paint in between commission work and teaching is the challenge. Being famous – in a hermit-like way – and being paid enough to live and paint would be ideal.” CWL ABOVE: Examples of Graeme’s artistic talent.

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PLASTIC FANTASTIC Ever wondered what happens to the millions of plastic milk bottles we toss into our recycling bins each week? The answer lies with Narrabri’s Dale Smith, a man who thinks outside the square.

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Within six years, Dale Smith has turned our garbage into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

The humble entrepreneur started with nothing when he left Victoria for a six-week working holiday to the north west 30 years ago and never returned.

These days he lives with wife Helen and their four young children on “Bluegums”, between Burren Junction and Wee Waa. It’s been a remarkable adventure.

The trip to the north west all those years ago had a hazardous start, with a traffic accident leaving him with a $28,000 debt.

He paid it off while working for wages in his first five years in the district. Then Dale ventured into contract hay making, which led to share farming and eventually his own farm north of Moree.

With a few runs on the board, it was time to think big. Within a few years he amassed another four or five broadacre properties and today supervises 12,000ha (30,000 acres) of dryland and irrigated crops.

With that much land he needed trucks, and lots of them. Today the partnership runs Namoi Logistics, with 100 trucks loaded daily through the busy cotton-picking season.

The Smiths cart about 30 per cent of Australia’s cotton from the gins to warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

In the early years, the trucks returned empty, which got Dale thinking about possibilities within the recycling industry.

He decided to check out a few Australian factories but none had precisely what he was looking for. A whirlwind tour of Korea, China, Germany, Thailand and the UK followed.

BY RECYCLING A RANGE OF PLASTICS, DALE BELIEVES HIS COMPANY IS PLAYING ITS PART TOWARDS CREATING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FUTURE.

Since then, Dale and Helen have ploughed nearly $10million into their business, Australian Recycled Plastics, with a huge factory on the edge of town.

Each year their fleet delivers up to 15,000 tonnes of compacted bales from all over the east coast, and two million plastic bottles are processed daily by a team of 40 dedicated workers.

These are broken down into high quality flakes, trucked to Melbourne and used to manufacture new products like supermarket meat trays and verandah deckings.

By recycling a range of plastics, Dale believes his company is playing its part towards creating a better environment for the future.

Apart from the farming, trucking and plastics businesses, last year Dale stored 50,000 tonnes of cotton seed. Most of it will end up at Cargill to be crushed for oil seed, with the rest sent to feedlots in southern Queensland.

This laid-back farmer clearly isn’t afraid of taking on the big jobs.

“I’ve never had a plan for anything,” he admits with a grin that belies his uncanny business acumen and ability to step up to the plate. He freely admits he never imagined for one moment it would all end up this big.

No doubt he gives his bank manager a few grey hairs, especially considering he keeps tabs on his 70 workers and daily commitments without a diary!

Dale’s philosophy is simple: “Every day is an adventure and we just make it up as we go! I don’t want to die wondering.”

The bloke in the floppy blue hat certainly has no flies on his back and reckons they’ll probably engrave his favourite saying “She’ll be right, mate” on his tombstone. CWL FACING PAGE: Dale Smith stands in front of tonnes of plastic bottles that will be sorted, cleaned and processed.

ABOVE: The resulting plastic flakes; Dale Smith with the end results – verandah decking and plastic trays found in supermarkets; Australian Recycled Plastics is a multimillion-dollar business in Narrabri.

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T O W N F E A T U R E Boggabri

quaint life

GRAND What Boggabri lacks in size, it makes up for in spirit.

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Boggabri is a quiet little community known for its big heart.

Before settlement, the area was home to convicted armed robber George “the Barber” Clarke, who escaped, painted his skin dark and took two Aboriginal wives.

He wandered the north west stealing cattle before the authorities caught and hanged him in 1831.

His creative tales of a navigable river flowing into a vast inland sea prompted Sir Thomas Mitchell to lead an expedition into north west NSW in 1831.

Along the way he discovered the region’s fertile plains. An initial site was settled in the 1830s but was relocated 20km north after an 1850s flood washed it away.

Boggabri was proclaimed a town in 1860 and is now the only town in the Narrabri Shire that doesn’t succumb to flooding.

The town’s central business area has been located in three different streets, creating an interesting mix of architecture best explored by foot along the Boggabri Heritage Trail.

Boggabri T O W N F E A T U R E

One of the most impressive buildings in Boggabri is the 1926 Commercial Bank of Sydney, now The Vault restaurant and B&B.

The town’s post office has been here since 1867. In 1881 it was rebuilt and operated as the telephone exchange until 1985 when the service was automated.

A social highlight is the annual Drovers Campfire, which celebrates Boggabri’s rich rural history over five days each April.

The event evokes the camaraderie of Aussie drovers sharing a hot meal and conversation around an open fire, underneath the twinkling night sky.

Gin’s Leap between Boggabri and Narrabri also has an interesting history as a stopover hotel between 1854 and 1867, and as the site where two Aboriginal lovers supposedly leapt to their deaths. A historic gravesite marks the spot. Here, there is a picnic area and interpretive sign.

The town is also home to the John Prior Health Service and Prior House Frail Aged Care Home, both named after Dr John Prior OAM, who served as the community’s sole doctor for half a century and is believed to be the state’s longest-serving GP. The surrounding district produces wheat, wool and cotton.

Consequently the town is defined by its large grain-holding facilities. CWL

Boggabri’s first Court House dates back to 1877. The existing structure was built in 1934.

The Royal Hotel, built in1909, hasn’t changed in nearly 110 years.

Conway’s Centennial Hall was erected on the northern side of the hotel and was, for many years, the town’s main venue for dances and functions.

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FAMILY MAN

Clarence Carrigan has a remarkable story to tell his 16 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Universally known as “Snow” due to his blonde hair, Clarence Carrigan served king and country, became a legendary jockey and with his family behind him, helped pioneer cropping on Boggabri’s rich, black-soil plains.

But his proudest achievement, he admits, was raising six healthy children with his beloved wife of 63 years, Joan, on the family property.

Sadly, Snow lost his life partner in 2010 but their children continue to prosper, with Maria and Judee living in Gunnedah, Jerome and Paula on the Gold Coast, Arna farming near Spring Ridge and Andy living in the original family homestead.

The family patriarch, just a year shy of his 100th birthday, lived independently in Gunnedah until 2017 after his retirement from the farm.

He continued mowing his lawn, following the horse racing and driving until his 97th birthday. Even now he is always on hand, ready to share his wealth of knowledge in all matters pertaining to agriculture.

A year ago he made the transition to Alkira Nursing Home, where he is well cared for and wants for nothing except the odd excursion out to the family farm, the repository of so many precious memories.

Snow loves catching up with family news and checking on the latest farming developments including rainfall, cropping yields and commodity prices.

CWL caught up with the endearing old-timer, who apart from poor hearing, enjoys sound health.

After selling their Macintyre River holdings (near the Queensland border) for the princely sum of a pound per acre, his parents John James Carrigan, better known as “JJ”, and wife Mary snapped up “Milchengowrie”, 12,000 acres of largely undeveloped land in Boggabri.

The two oldest sons, Lionel and Charlie, were sent south to Boggabri in order to prepare for the remainder of the family. In true Irish-Catholic form, “JJ”, Mary, 19-year-old Snow, his sister Enid and younger brother John, were reunited as a family on St Patrick’s Day in 1937.

Mary masterminded the build of a historical Art Deco homestead featuring personally designed lead light and decorative horsehair plaster features.

The spacious five-bedroom home, complete with lounge rooms doubling as ballrooms, was completed two years after their arrival.

At 96 squares and costing 6000 pounds, it was a remarkable achievement considering the scarcity of materials at the time. > LEFT: Three generations of the Carrigan family have made their mark in the Boggabri district: Zac, Snow and Andy; Snow’s wedding day in 1947; a soldier who helped defend the empire; Snow’s father JJ Carrigan harvesting a 14-bag crop of Geralying wheat in 1940 with a Sunshine header.

FACING PAGE: Snow Carrigan, close to his 100th birthday, reminisces about his days as a leading jockey in the 1950s.

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Boggabri T O W N F E A T U R E

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AFTER RENOVATING THE HOMESTEAD THEY ARE NOW SEEING THE FOURTH GENERATION MAKE THEIR MARK.

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In the early days the land was devoted almost entirely to wool production. When Snow wasn’t riding the boundary fences, he was scheming of ways to win over the heart of Joan Kenniff from Maules Creek.

Fortunately, he was a patient kind of chap as there was always a line-up of lads hoping to score a dance with the local beauty.

Just when he felt he was making some headway, a faraway war started rumbling in Europe and Snow enlisted to the Lighthorse Brigade.

When Japan entered the conflict, he was transferred to the AIF in the 80 Australian Transport Platoon and spent 30 gruelling months in New Guinea.

Battling malaria and scrub typhus, he learnt to avoid the shelling during the day while at night his thoughts drifted back home to the farm, his horses and a young lass praying for his safe return.

After his discharge, Snow spent six weeks recovering at Concord Repatriation Hospital before exchanging vows with Joan at the Boggabri Catholic Church on July 9, 1947.

After the war, “JJ” divided the “Milchengowrie” holdings into four equal land parcels for Snow and his three brothers.

Snow and Joan named their portion “Dia-Lynn” and built a new homestead to start a family of their own.

The war was seldom discussed as Snow threw himself back into the Merino enterprise, always on horseback checking the fences, water and stock. During lambing he never left his faithful steed.

In his saddlebag he carried a pair of hand shears, a bottle of Dieldrin drench and a hoe for picking the infernal weeds. He also carried a Gatt pistol to help eradicate pigs and vermin.

Coming from a well-known horse racing family, it was inevitable that Snow would develop into one of the north west’s most successful amateur jockeys.

The Carrigan boys established their own line of thoroughbreds.

“JJ” imported stallions from England and bred them with their own mares. All the brothers were involved with the breeding and training, however it was Snow who rode the majority of them to the post.

In one season he rode 23 winners in nine days of picnic racing, including his first Wean Cup win on Tempest King in 1950, wearing the traditional Carrigan colours of blue with gold hoops.

In a battered old suitcase lie an old saddle, a few whips and little mementoes from a lifetime ago.

Snow sifts through them and smiles. He says he doesn’t miss living on pineapple juice and sitting in saunas to keep his weight down but can never forget the thrill of the country racetrack in the early 1950s.

His riding career came to an end in 1954 after being badly injured in a spectacular fall at Warren, suffering a broken jaw, arm injuries, lacerations and concussion.

By that time he’d booted home some 300 winners at country amateur races, earning 30 whips for the most successful rider at a meeting.

Snow’s run of bad luck continued. A year later he witnessed “a good percentage” of his Merino flock washed down the Namoi River in the devastating 1955 floods.

The sheep, or what was left of them, were gradually phased out and replaced with Poll Herefords.

In a carefully maintained journal, Snow recorded the selling price of vealers in 1963 as one shilling and 11 pence per pound while cows were fetching 39 pounds.

In those early days Snow developed two steadfast family rules.

They would never borrow money and never work on a Sunday, which was reserved for Mass followed by a hot Sunday lunch.

Piling into the family’s white Dodge Phoenix, four in the front and four in the back, it was always a big thing getting to the church where he made his vows.

Boggabri T O W N F E A T U R E

Change of direction Around this time the Carrigan family ventured into wheat farming on Boggabri’s rich, black soils in a move virtually unheard of at the time.

“After a lot of clearing, our first few years were disastrous but with better advice, land management practices and wheat varieties, it finally became successful,” Snow says.

He remembers his first tractor, a Massey Ferguson with 65 horse power that pulled a 12-foot combine.

“It could take up to 12 days to sow 1000 acres of dryland wheat,” he laughs.

In 1964 after sinking a few bores, they introduced irrigated crops and grew corn, soya beans and sorghum. Much later came cotton.

In 1991 “Milchengowrie”, portions of “Dia-Lynn” and neighbouring properties totalling 16,000 acres were sold to South Pacific Agricultural Co in a big family settlement.

The land changed hands multiple times again before Andy and his wife Georgina purchased back the original family homestead and 300 acres of irrigated land surrounding it in 2006.

After renovating the homestead they are now seeing the fourth generation make their mark. Son Zac and wife Ellie are proudly continuing the family tradition into the 21st century, farming “Dia-Lynn” and “Milchengowrie Homestead”.

Daughter Kate and husband Nat Groves are close by, farming at “Myalla”, Gunnedah, and raising their two daughters.

Snow is thrilled to see his grandchildren continuing his farming legacy, although he concedes it’s very different from his early days.

And while he has outlived many of his army pals, he is still proud to wear his medals and participate in Anzac services.

“The sun still shines and the birds will always sing,” he says quietly, as he departs from his former home. CWL

ABOVE: Current custodians of “Milchengowrie” Georgie and Andy Carrigan with Andy’s legendary father; Snow riding home a winner in the traditional Carrigan colours during the early 1950s.

FACING PAGE: The Milchengowrie Homestead has played a vital role in the life of Snow Carrigan; many a great night has been spent in the family homestead.

happy campers unite The Boggabri Drovers Campfire began in 2006 and since that time has gone from strength to strength.

The event, which was the brainchild of Geoff Eather as part of the Boggabri Lions Club, has become a much-anticipated highlight for caravanners, motor home owners and travellers throughout regional NSW. Every year, the event prepares a wonderful program to keep visitors entertained over the weekend with tours of the local area and lots of activities at the Boggabri Showground. The hospitality of the local community is on show, with many getting involved to showcase their community.

The awards the event has received are a testament to the huge efforts of the community and unique nature of the event. In 2016, the event won both the Gold in the Regional Tourism Awards and Silver in the NSW Tourism Awards.

A date is yet to be confirmed for the Drovers Campfire in 2019.

Visit www.droverscampfire.com.au. CWL

ABOVE: Campers enjoying the annual Drovers Campfire at Boggabri.

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wonderful

WEE WAA The iconic Imperial Hotel takes pride of place in the main street of the oldest town on the Namoi. It is the oldest three-storey building in north-western NSW.

Cotton pickers at the Namoi Echo Museum, Wee Waa.

The Wee Waa Clock Tower Memorial was erected in honour of the locals who served in WW1.

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Forty clicks west of Narrabri, Wee Waa is the cotton capital of Australia.

Wee Waa T O W N F E A T U R E

Irrigated crops were first grown here in the early 1960s after the building of Keepit Dam. Intensive research and improved farming methods have created the largest cotton yields in the country, bringing considerable prosperity to the district.

Although protected by a levee bank, the town is subject to regular floods. Thousands of residents were isolated on properties in 2012.

Famous explorer John Oxley was the first European to reach the area. In 1818 he noted the “majestic” Nandewar Ranges from about 70km to the south.

Only a few decades later, Wee Waa became the first town built on the Namoi River. Squatter George Hobler took up the Wee Waa run in 1837 and an administrative centre was established in the late 1840s with a police station, court of petty sessions and post office.

The Imperial Hotel in Rose Street was the first three-storey building in the north west. Completed in 1912, it features fine cast-iron lacework on the balconies and a small square tower.

Wee Waa was also the first town in Australia to use DNA testing to unearth a rapist.

The town’s main sport is rugby league and is home to the Wee Waa Panthers, where Jamie Lyon first laced up his boots before launching an international career.

The Namoi Echo Museum in Wee Waa houses a wonderful display of items, machinery and documents pertaining to the Wee Waa district. Residents and visitors alike can spend many hours exploring the array of items within the museum including Aboriginal artefacts, a spray plane, an original two-row cotton picker and the local saw mill cabin Schwager’s cottage.

Other main attractions lie beyond the town. Yarrie Lake is a delightful retreat for picnics and the Australia Telescope enables visitors to learn about the cosmos.

This tight-knit rural community sits in the rich agricultural heartland of the Lower Namoi Valley and boasts some of the state’s most resilient and innovative farmers. CWL

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THE COTTON CLUB

The Kahl family has well and truly changed the Wee Waa landscape.

Third-generation Wee Waa cotton farmer Daniel Kahl casts a well-trained eye over the cotton stretching for miles before him and smiles with satisfaction.

As the green plants thrive under another hot day on the blacksoil plains, the strapping 28-year-old admits the crop looks promising.

“We’ve had good water in Keepit Dam over our last two summers and everyone in the valley has had the chance to plant a good acreage for a change,” he says.

“Last year we got smacked by a five-week-straight stretch of over 35 degrees and that stressed the crop, reducing yields by 20 to 25 per cent.

“This year it’s been a lot better. While it hasn’t rained as much as we would have liked, the crop isn’t stressed and the plants aren’t spending energy, nutrients and water on basic survival.”

Daniel is anticipating the biggest and most valuable harvest since the family settled on “Glencoe” 57 years ago. This year’s cotton crop is a record 1720ha, a far cry from the first 26ha crop planted here in the spring of 1961.

Third-generation cotton farmer Daniel Kahl is back home after 18 weeks abroad following his Nuffield Scholarship.

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Today the family business, Merced Farming, has developed into a massive, finely tuned operation with 23 staff. In 2014 it doubled in size to include 7500ha spread across eight properties.

“We do our own harvesting, have our own trucks and improve our water infrastructure with our own earth-moving gear. The only contractors we use are for aerial spraying and large land levelling,” Daniel says.

While cotton remains the primary crop, the family also produces wheat, mung beans and corn as well as running 300 Angus breeders. A stockman looks after that department, with Daniel’s mother Rose as his chief offsider.

Daniel watches as his huge Irish Wolfhound, Fergus, splashes in the channel. It’s good to be home after his Nuffield Scholarship, which saw him on an 18-week whirlwind tour across the globe, much of it shared with girlfriend Kate Logan.

He’s looking forward to another rugby season with the Narrabri Blue Boars, having played the sport since the age of nine. Apart from missing a few seasons when he took up refereeing (after breaking a shoulder), he rarely misses a game.

Sam and Daniel Kahl both love representing the Narrabri Blue Boars.

Wee Waa T O W N F E A T U R E At a towering six foot six, he is a valuable team member, having played in two grand finals in 2015 and 2016 for one win.

Daniel also loves playing cricket in Australia’s sportiest town.

“Rather than stand out in the sun irrigating I stand out in the sun and play cricket,” he laughs.

After his school days at The Armidale School, he came home for a year before completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Newcastle.

There was always the possibility that Daniel and his brothers Sam and Matt might follow in the footsteps of their father, James, the managing director of the business, and grandfather Paul Kahl, the pioneering cotton farmer who put Wee Waa and cotton on the Australian map.

“I gave myself every chance to find something other than farming but kept finding myself on the road back to Wee Waa. When we took on more land, my brother Sam and I altered our plans and came home – perhaps a bit earlier than otherwise planned.”

Daniel is now the business manager while Sam is the crop production manager. James’s brother Robert, the fourth family team member, looks after all the capital works.

The men attribute much of their success to the legacy of Paul, a man easily recognised by his distinctive American accent and GI-style crew-cut.

The family story goes back to the California Gold Rush days of the 1850s when they first took up land in Merced County, 200km southeast of San Francisco.

We’ll skip a few generations and take up from when Paul, a B17 pilot in WW2, was shot down in 1943 over German enemy lines.

Paul Kahl and Frank Hadley in the early days of the industry.

After landing the plane safely, Paul and his eight crew members split up and scrambled for cover. Paul was crawling across a field when accosted by two fumbling local boys who had grabbed an unloaded rifle from a nearby farm house.

Of course there was no way of knowing this vital piece of information and he grudgingly surrendered. Paul’s fighting days were over.

That night local villagers guarded the plane until crack German troops arrived. Among them was an enterprising apprentice blacksmith who removed the propellers and the tail wheel, hoping to melt them down during his two-hour shift. >

Team effort: James, Matt, Daniel and Sam Kahl (standing) with Kate Logan, family matriarch Jean Kahl, Rose Kahl and Georgie Stoltenberg.

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T O W N F E A T U R E Wee Waa

Running out of time, he was forced to bury one of the propellers in a hole.

Meanwhile, Paul and his flight crew were preparing themselves for a two-year stint in Stalag Luft III, the notorious high-level prison made famous by the three secret tunnels codenamed Tom, Dick and Harry in The Great Escape.

While he wasn’t one of the 76 mainly British POWs who finally got out that fateful night (most were soon recaptured and executed for their efforts), he and his comrades survived the gruelling conditions and all made it home.

After his incarceration, Paul wasn’t keen on restrictions, which included how much cotton and other crops he could grow in the San Joaquin Valley.

Intrigued by a newspaper report suggesting Wee Waa had ideal but unproved growing conditions for cotton, he teamed up with neighbour Frank Hadley and set off for the tiny speck on the Australian map to find out for themselves.

The timing for this enterprising pair couldn’t have been better, especially with the recent completion of Keepit Dam. With land and water readily available, it was an opportunity the two adventurous Americans couldn’t resist.

Together they purchased “Glencoe”, a 728ha sheep property for £45,000 (about 50 pounds an acre) and in so doing sowed the seeds of a multibillion-dollar industry that transformed the Namoi and Gwydir valleys and hundreds of thousands of hectares in NSW and Queensland.

Frank planted the first crop while Paul and wife Jean, with six young children in tow (including Daniel’s father), arrived in Sydney as migrants aboard the Oriana.

“In that first year, yellow vine choked out the cotton and the noogoora burr was apparently six feet high,” Daniel says.

The first crop was hit and miss but proved the area was indeed the best place to grow cotton in Australia.

The duo, still relatively young men with energy to burn, were able to prosper after many years of challenges, including bugs, floods, dirt roads, the absence of a local gin for processing and scepticism from local farmers.

“Many local farmers thought they’d pack up and go home after a few years,” Daniel says. “Some felt the land didn’t need improving and that they could just as easily survive on wheat and wool as they’d done for generations.”

But with great yields and a terrific buzz in the town, they were soon jumping on the cotton bandwagon. Before long there was a virtual “cotton rush” as dozens more families arrived from California, seeking to make their fortunes in the Wee Waa district.

“It was a big change for Wee Waa and the social dynamics of the town. It’s not like that any more but many of the original families are still here, spread further afield down the valley.”

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“I GAVE MYSELF EVERY CHANCE TO FIND SOMETHING OTHER THAN FARMING BUT KEPT FINDING MYSELF ON THE ROAD BACK TO WEE WAA.”

A FITTING END

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world nearly six decades after Paul Kahl’s plane was shot down, a German farmer was ploughing his fields when he hooked a strange metal object that was dragged to the surface. Upon closer inspection it was revealed to be an aircraft propeller.

It ended up leaning against the back of his barn for years.

Eventually, the farmer was doing a clean-up and wanted to get rid of it. A local historian heard about the find and decided it would make an excellent addition to the local museum.

After painstaking efforts, he tracked down the plane, the crew and eventually the pilot. In 2008 Daniel was on a bus in Scotland when he received an invitation to view the propeller. Incredibly, he met the two boys, now old men, who had captured his grandfather 65 years earlier.

In 2015, Paul died at the ripe old age of 96, knowing the farm was in strong and capable family hands. With him till the end was Jean, with whom he’d shared almost 70 years of wonderful marriage.

With 26 grandchildren and over 30 great-grandchildren, the 97-year-old family matriarch still lives in the farmhouse built on their arrival a lifetime ago.

Daniel and his brothers enjoyed a close rapport with their pioneering grandfather and continue to draw inspiration from his courage, vision and steely determination. CWL Cotton images: James Thomas

ABOVE: Cotton is big business at Merced Farming, Wee Waa; Daniel with girlfriend Kate Logan.

Wee Waa T O W N F E A T U R E

a vision in green

As you head west into the Pilliga scrub from Wee Waa, the last thing you’d expect to come across is an island of green amid the greys and browns.

Welcome to “Bulgarra”, the century-old homestead belonging to Tim and Sue Fragar.

Originally, the property was a large sheep station on the south side of the Namoi River but by 1994, when the Fragars took over, it had dwindled down to 1000 acres.

By then the grand old homestead was suffering from years of neglect. The real estate agent advised them to bulldoze it and start afresh.

He didn’t count on the tenacity of Tim and Sue, who saw great potential in the charming old home, being surrounded by the bush, river, creek and teeming with birds and wildlife.

More importantly, it was a special place where their two teenage children, Julie and Ben, could enjoy the freedom of outdoor life during their crucial years.

It also boasted a large workshop where Tim could base his industrial and agricultural engineering and contracting businesses.

The old house was a perfect canvas for Sue to test her skills with bountiful water to build an extensive garden.

Tim and Sue had moved to the area a decade earlier to work in the cotton industry, and since then they have become deeply involved in the welcoming and close-knit Wee Waa community.

They found life in a country town a great contrast to the much more socially isolated life they experienced on the Central Coast, where they both originated.

After living at “Bulgarra” for a few years, they carried out some major renovations to the home, adding a large living room to the front of the house.

The next step was increasing the width of the verandahs to give it back the full wrap-around effect as originally intended. A new kitchen and improved bathrooms finished the job. >

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Wee Waa T O W N F E A T U R E

The garden has continued to develop over the years, and many of the trees planted nearly 20 years ago have reached maturity.

Plantings have differed over the years as the mature trees offered greater shade, requiring a change to the types of plants that would thrive under them.

In the hot climate of the north west, shade will always take precedence over the needs of sun-loving plants.

The soil of the garden is nearly pure sand, meaning countless truckloads of cotton trash, manure and various mulches are regularly applied.

The sand has the benefit of allowing roots to travel deep into the soil so that watering is less frequent than that needed on the black clay soils. Fortnightly watering is all that’s required.

In 1999 Tim suffered a spinal injury on the property while flying his small plane, which left some scars. He doesn’t allow that to slow him down and continues to be the driving force behind business and community interests.

In 2003 the Catholic Church in Wee Waa sold their parish hall in Rose Street, which Tim and Sue bought with the hope of developing.

The bare block was rejuvenated with new soil and Sue injected some bold ideas for the garden to be utilised by the townsfolk.

They moved an old building from behind the Wee Waa Post Office that had been used for retail for many years and are still renovating the old parish hall for future use.

The garden continues to grow and thrive under the care of Paul and Gwen Webber, who keep it as a wonderful place for locals and visitors to enjoy a shady break.

Both their properties, and in particular their extraordinary gardens, demonstrate what can be achieved with vision, water and a lot of hard work. CWL

They found life in a country town a great contrast to the much more socially isolated life they experienced on the Central Coast, where they both originated.

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SPUDS, SWEAT & CHEERS Proud fifth-generation Wee Waa farmers Matt and Sarah Ciesiolka have set a cracking pace growing potatoes in an area better known for its cotton.

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Wee Waa T O W N F E A T U R E

Matt and Sarah Ciesiolka started farming on “Eskdale” in 1994, gradually expanding their operation to about 1200 hectares of highly productive land on which they grow potatoes, peanuts and grains.

Each year the family produces around 50 million potatoes, one million kilograms of peanuts and enough wheat for 3.3 million loaves of bread. The end-point value of this product is in excess of $50 million annually.

The pair feels honoured to be able to provide up to 20 permanent and seasonal jobs.

Access to underground water to irrigate their crops is essential – an invaluable asset that underpins the viability of their entire farming operation.

“Here at Narrabri and Wee Waa, and in the broader region, we have the ideal trifecta – pristine, potable water, fertile soils and an ideal climate,” Sarah says.

“This means farmers like us can achieve productivity levels equal to, if not better than, anywhere else in Australia, sustaining billions of dollars of agricultural production annually.”

It’s ironic then, that they find themselves less than 6km downstream from the largest proposed coal seam gasfield in NSW. “Our customers come to us for clean, green food, yet now we find all that threatened by CSG. We are forced to live with the daily stress and uncertainty of this ever present cloud over our lives,” Sarah says.

Potatoes are their primary crop but this ebbs and flows depending on seasonal conditions and markets. Planting takes place in stages between July and mid-August, with harvesting commencing in late October and running for six to eight weeks.

Good fortune favoured their 2017 potato harvest. It was a bumper crop of 7600 tonnes, the largest ever produced – and all of it from just 200 hectares. A combination of factors made this possible, not least of which was ideal climatic conditions throughout the growing season and harvest.

The Ciesiolkas have the capacity to ship up to 350 tonnes of potatoes daily, with most destined for one of two main suppliers of the potato chip market.

There’s little time for rest in this farming operation. As soon as harvest is complete, they get to work planting a forage crop, which is then mulched back into the soil, providing vital nutrients for the next crop and boosting carbon levels in the soil.

Cultivation and irrigation of the peanut crop planted in October is ongoing through to harvest in April.

“We are constantly striving to invest in the most sustainable, water saving irrigation systems and farm management practices, ever conscious of our environmental footprint,” says Matt, a quietly spoken farmer who understands the country and its potential.

“We consider farming this land a privilege and with that privilege comes responsibility. As farmers we are custodians and it is incumbent upon us to leave this land in a better condition than when we started.”

Matt and Sarah feel deeply about the future of agriculture and their precious land and water resources. The World Bank and United Nations predict there won’t be enough food to feed the global population by 2050, only 30 years from now.

“The critical importance to our region, to the state of NSW and to the nation of our food producing areas cannot be overstated – not just in terms of food security but also in terms of ongoing, long-term and sustainable employment, investment and productivity,” Matt says.

“The future opportunities for growth and expansion in the agricultural sector in this region are significant and we are but one tiny cog in that wheel.” CWL

“WE CONSIDER FARMING THIS LAND A PRIVILEGE AND WITH THAT PRIVILEGE COMES RESPONSIBILITY.”

FACING PAGE: Potato grower Matt Ciesiolka works around the clock bringing in his bumper harvest.

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care & responsibility Long regarded as a leading provider of holistic support for the aged, Mackellar Care Services in Gunnedah has expanded its horizons to deliver whole of life care for everyone, from infants to seniors and all in between.

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story name W I N T E R

The not-for-profit community organisation acquired the town’s GP super clinic at the end of last year. Operating as Mackellar Rural Health Centre, the state-of-the-art facility at 27 Marquis Street offers permanent general practitioners, a range of specialist medical services, Laverty Pathology and allied health practitioners including a dietician, physiotherapist, psychologist and podiatrist.

The super clinic is the only one of its type in the north west of NSW and is dedicated to providing individuals and families with integrated care in a customer-focused environment.

The rural health service is a mixed billing practice and offers both bulk billing and private medical services.

Mackellar Rural Health Centre is committed to supporting mining, rail and general industry by providing employment medicals and other related services.

Dorothea Mackellar, the organisation’s namesake, immortalised Gunnedah in her famous poem, My Country. Poet’s Corner Café, located within the facility, caters for Mackellar Rural Health as well as the general public.

Poet’s Corner is the first café in Gunnedah to use the “Hey You” ordering app to allow customers to quickly collect their coffee.

As part of its commitment to Gunnedah and surrounding areas, Mackellar Care Services has also been upgrading its independent living retirement village in Callander Avenue.

Mackellar Village includes 48 two-bedroom units that are refurbished to contemporary standards before occupancy. Each unit has been designed with consideration to meet the needs of seniors living independently and those who may require assistance.

The design of the village layout enables all occupants to have privacy within a secure living environment.

Security is a key priority for the village community, and residents have access to reassuring 24-hour emergency support.

The warm and welcoming community has areas designed for visitors, within individual units and in the spacious village grounds. Some residents have brought their pets.

The lovely gardens and open spaces include a putting green and cardio walk along specially designed pathways.

With general day-to-day maintenance organised by Mackellar Care, everyone in the village has time to enjoy life. The recently renovated hall is a meeting point for several community groups and the centre of regular events, social gatherings and celebrations.

Scheduled outings include regular shopping trips and excursions to places of interest.

The independent living village is located on the same campus as Mackellar’s residential care facility, purpose built for people no longer able to live at home and in need of ongoing help with day-to-day tasks and 24-hour health care. Mackellar Care provides a range of home care services for retirement village residents and members of the wider community. Offered under the Commonwealth Government’s Home Care Program, the focus is to assist older people with complex health needs to remain living independently in their own homes.

Consumers are offered choice and flexibility in the way support is provided.

Home care package services include meal preparation and delivery, personal care, medication assistance, transport and social support, cleaning, home maintenance and gardening, clinical and complex nursing care, access to allied health services, home modifications, provision of assistive devices and the acquisition of mobility equipment.

Mackellar Care also offers NDIS recipients support in a wide range of services.

According to Chief Executive Officer Mrs Sandra Strong, Mackellar Care Services is a name synonymous with Gunnedah.

The design of the village layout enables all occupants to have privacy within a secure living environment.

“As a community-based organisation we have an impact on all areas within the community and are essential to the growth and stability of the town, employing in excess of 150 staff,” she says.

“At the same time our organisation has the responsibility to provide the quality of services that our residents, clients, patients and families expect of us.

“Our philosophy is to provide holistic support for those to whom we provide care and assistance, enabling all the opportunity to realise their personal potential.

“We remain community focused as a value-based organisation that considers our core values of respect, integrity, compassion and inclusiveness part of our decision-making process with our vision that everyone in the continuum of care is given the opportunity to live, laugh and enjoy life’s journey.’’ CWL Words: Heather Crosby

ABOVE: A newly refurbished villa with an accessible kitchen; the community rotunda.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A villa unit with views over the spacious grounds; external view of a villa unit; the village recreational putting green; the newly aquired GP Super Clinic situated next to the hospital.

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W I N T E R story name

bushranger

BOOM

The Central West has a rich and fascinating heritage and no more colourful history can be found than in the stories of our bushrangers and the police who pursued them.

Author and bushranger historian Gregory Powell continues to guide us in the tracks of the bushrangers so that readers can gain an appreciation for the spirit of the times and to perhaps be inspired to get out and explore the haunts of those wild lawbreakers of our past.

In NSW there were two main eras of bushranging activity: the convict escapees of the 1830s and the 1860s gold rush era Wild Colonial Boys.

Bathurst was well placed to experience both of these lawless eras.

In late 1830 the Bathurst Convict Revolt began when 26-year-old convict Ralph Entwistle escaped from custody and formed a gang with other escapees.

Entwistle was known for wearing white ribbons in his hat. This Ribbon Gang terrorised the farms south of Bathurst and drew even more convicts to their cause, possibly 100 or

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more. Outlying homesteads were raided by the huge mob and on September 23, 1830 an overseer named John Greenwood was shot dead because he refused to join the revolt.

Four days after the murder of Greenwood, 130 soldiers of the 39th Regiment set out from Sydney under Captain Walpole, while a detachment of mounted police headed out from Goulburn under Lieutenant Macalister to hunt for the rebels.

Meanwhile, a party of Bathurst citizens tracked the gang to their hideout near Grove Creek Falls downstream from the Abercrombie Caves.

In the gun battle that followed minor wounds were received on both sides but the good citizens of Bathurst were forced to retire on foot.

Moving to a more secure position on a bald hill beyond Abercrombie Caves, at a place now known as Bushrangers Hill, Ralph Entwistle and his Ribbon Gang of now about 20 men prepared once more to do battle with the authorities.

The area proved to be an excellent fortress and the parties of soldiers and civilians could not penetrate the defences. The battle was a bitter affair with charges against the bushrangers’ fortified positions. The military had two seriously wounded soldiers to take care of and they retreated towards Bathurst. One soldier would later die from his gunshot wounds.

The gang moved on to the Lachlan district around Cowra and continued to raid homesteads and attract recruits.

Walpole’s 39th Regiment, which had marched over the Blue Mountains from Sydney, was now closing in.

It was Macalister’s party from Goulburn that first encountered the gang in the vicinity of Galong, south of Boorowa. In the gun battle, Macalister was wounded in the leg and other wounds were suffered on both sides. The mounted police troopers were forced to retreat but they did so taking three bushranger prisoners with them.

The combined military force, marching from Bathurst, now overcame the exhausted bushrangers and on October 14, 1830 the final seven, including Ralph Entwistle, surrendered and were taken into custody.

Krasovski Dmitri/Mongione/Shutterstock.com

BUSHRANGER SERIES - part 5

story name W I N T E R

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ben and Bridget Hall spent their wedding night at Bentinck and Piper Inn in 1856; Ribbon Gang Lane; The rampaging Ribbon Gang by Andrew Ambrose. Courtesy of the Governor Macquarie Motor Inn; The Battle of Bushranger Hill by Andrew Ambrose. Courtesy of the Governor Macquarie Motor Inn; these private residences on the Vale Road were once Mutton’s store and home, which were raided by the bushrangers; the old Native Home Inn on Trunkey Road is now a private residence.

FACING PAGE: The 150th anniversary re-enactment of Ben Hall’s raid in 2013; the museum at the Court House displays the Edgar Penzig Bushranger Collection.

Gregory Powell is the author of Bushranger Tracks, published in 2016 by New Holland.

Read about the Ned Kelly gang, Captain Starlight, Ben Hall and many other bushrangers of our colonial past.

With a keen imagination, the historic locations can transport the modern explorer back to the wild days of the early settlement when gold glittered, guns blazed, and men and women struggled.

Bushranger Tracks is the result of Gregory Powell’s continuing passion for Australian history and, in particular, the bushranger era. This is possibly the most extensive book detailing bushranger sites ever published. www.newhollandpublishers.com

History / Travel

Gregory Powell combines his interests in bushwalking and history to explore historical and scenic regions on foot. He is the author of books exploring the Snowy Mountains, the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley and has published four bushranger locality books.

Greg was a founding member of Hunter Bushrangers (formerly Rovent Historical Re-enactments), a living history group formed in 1969 which performed at public events all over the state until 2009.

Broken Hill

Gregory Powell

were detained and robbed before the gang moved on to the Native Home Inn where teamsters were bailed up.

By now the nearby Bathurst police had been alerted and the bushrangers disappeared into the darkness. Canowindra would be the next town to play host to the gang and they would stay for three days.

Ribbon Gang Lane can be visited in the centre of the city and the Ribbon Gang murals can be seen in the restaurant at the Governor Macquarie Motor Inn. Abercrombie Caves and Grove Creek Falls make a pleasant day outing from Bathurst.

The shops that were entered by the Hall gang were located near the Acropole Restaurant on the corner of William and Howick streets. They then exited via Howick Street and back along George Street to the Sportsman’s Arms, which was on the site of the present Bathurst Panthers.

Shots were later exchanged with police near Rocket Street.

Ben Hall was married in Bathurst in February 1856. He and Bridget spent their wedding night at the inn that still stands on the corner of Bentinck and Piper streets.

The Bathurst Bowling Club was once the police station. In their haste, some of the bushrangers mistakenly rode towards the police station before heading back towards the Sportsman’s Arms.

The Bathurst Historical Museum at the Court House has some bushranger era displays as well as the Bushranger Room incorporating the Edgar Penzig Collection.

The Vale Road makes for a pleasant scenic drive today. CWL

Bushranger TRACKS

These last 10 gang members were tried before the first Supreme Court sitting in Bathurst. They were some of the first to be tried under the Bushranging Act of April 1830.

The 10 men were hanged on November 2, 1830 in the old Bathurst town square at a place that is now known as Ribbon Gang Lane.

By 1863 Bathurst was the oldest and largest town west of the Blue Mountains.

This factor alone would be enough to entice Ben Hall and his gang to make a raid to really make the authorities look foolish.

The 6000 residents went about their Saturday evening business, unaware that Hall, Gilbert, O’Meally, Vane and Burke had come to sample the wares.

The bushrangers inspected the weapons in Pedrotta’s gun shop but decided that they already had better.

The alarm was raised while they were bailing up McMinn’s jeweller’s shop and the gang was forced to flee, but only momentarily. They ducked into the Sportsman’s Arms Hotel, bailed it up and enjoyed hospitality while the police patrols thundered about in bewilderment outside.

Eventually the gang departed from Bathurst, firing shots at a pursuing police party as they disappeared into the night.

Defying police and armed Bathurst citizens, the bushrangers returned to the area three days later. They first raided Mutton’s store and house on the outskirts of the town. From here they moved further along the Vale Road towards Perthville and Caloola, robbing Walker’s hotel and McDiarmid’s store. The Hen and Chicken Inn was the next to be raided and patrons

Bonshaw

Enngonia

Tenterfield

Bushranger Moree

Collarenebri

Millie

Walgett

Brewarrina

Bourke

Gundabooka National Park

g rlin Da

Inverell

Namo i

Newton Boyd

Ollera

Narrabri

Boggabri

Quambone

Gunnedah

Manila

Carroll

Nyngan

Tamworth

Quirindi

Breelong

Murrurundi

Coffs Harbour

Armidale Uralla

Bendemeer

Blandford

Port Macquarie

TRACKS Narromine

Merriwa Ulan Gulgong

Dubbo

Wellington

N E W

S O U T H

Scone

Barrington Tops

Wollombi

Orange Bathurst Blayney Hartley Cowra Carcoar Blaxland Jenolan Caves SYDNEY Bigga Abercrombie Caves Bringelly Binda Thalaba Bargo Narrawa Wollongong Goulburn Mittagong Wingello Yass Gunning Wantabadgery Collector Gundaroo

Forbes

Wingham Gloucester

Dungog Stroud Mudgee Singleton Paterson Rylstone Maitland

Kandos

Parkes

Mossgiel

Newcastle

Eugowra Canowindra

Mt Wheogo

Lach

Grabine W A L E S Grenfell Koorawatha

la n

Griffith

M ur ra y

Discover the historic sites of our wild colon ial past Jerilderie

Deniliquin

Wombat

Temora

Leeton

Narrandera Junee Wagga Wagga Lockhart

Walla Walla

Ballarat

Wooragee Beechworth Glenrowan Greta Euroa Whitfield Avenel Stringybark Creek Mansfield Benalla

Bendigo

Castlemaine

Buninyong

Heathcote

Bungendore

Kyeamba

Henty

Peechelba Wangaratta

Inglewood

Young

Wallendbeen

A.C.T.

Tumbarumba

Braidwood Majors Creek Mudmelong Batemans Bay Krawarree Jinden Nerrigundah Cooma

Mt Kosciuszko

V I C T O R I A Wallan

Egerton

Hurstbridge MELBOURNE

Bairnsdale

Geelong Cape Schanck

Gregory Powell

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the longest

RIDE

Before meeting Jamie “Dodge” Manning, writer Cath Player had intentionally not read the press that had covered his story over the past four years. She had been given a vague outline of facts and decided that it would be best to hear his story first-hand. Since then, she has read everything she could find on the man, only to be left feeling curious. The stories failed to mention one glaring detail – Jamie Manning is a living legend. Jamie prefers to describe himself as “lucky” but having now spent time with him and wife Karen, Cath is convinced that luck has little to do with it.

Ten kilometres from Dubbo, out on the Mendooran Road, sits a big timber slab sign. It reads, “Home of Wildfire”. The 1200-kilogram, 15-year-old Brahman bull Wildfire is an impressive beast. Known for his friendlessness, he strikes an intimidating silhouette against a mid-February dusk sky, especially if you’re not from around here. Careful not to look Wildfire in the eye, I make my way up to the home of Jamie, Karen and their three children.

I am greeted by Jamie. He is the epitome of old-fashioned Australian spirit. Endearingly rugged and with an iron clasp, he shakes my hand. He reminds me of someone – Bear Grills or Mick Dundee, I can’t decide. As his wife Karen joins us, I begin to sense that I am about to hear one heck of a story. Bracing, I ask, “Start at the beginning, please.” “I was born and bred in the Hunter Valley . . .,” Jamie smiles.

Life’s passions

Falling in love with the land and livestock from an early age, Jamie worked mustering, fencing, and later, breeding horses. Nicknamed “Dodge”, for his ability to dodge opponents on the football field, Jamie eventually tried his hand at bull riding, where his skill proved, yet again, very useful. By bull-riding standards, Jamie was a latecomer to the sport but his ability to stay on top, and to dodge the giant beast’s hooves, made him a natural. With eight seconds in his sights, 17-year-old Jamie was hooked. “That then became my life.”

Committing his future to the land and to bull riding, it was no surprise that Jamie should attend Tocal Agricultural College, at Paterson. It was here, in 1993, that he first spied her. “When I laid eyes on Karen it was instant attraction.” Finally building up the courage to ask her out, Jamie was taken not only by her beauty but by her easy-going charm.

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The local McDonald’s was the couple’s first date destination.

Running out of petrol on the way, the pair had to walk several kilometres to get fuel. “If taking her for a cheap Macca’s meal on our first date and then running out of petrol didn’t bother her, she was shaping up to be a real keeper.”

The early years

The couple exchanged wedding rings in the autumn of 1998 and Jamie’s bull-riding career went from strength to strength. A rodeo champion in Australia, Jamie eventually spent two years living in Texas and California, riding the US circuit and teaching children in both Noumea and New Caledonia how to ride.

Jamie suffered more than his fair share of injuries. In 2005, he fractured the fourth cervical vertebra in his neck, only to sign himself out of hospital straight away. Two days later, Channel Seven called to ask if he would like to attempt to break the Guinness world record for the longest ride on a mechanical bull.

“I ripped my neck brace off and didn’t tell them about the injury.

I didn’t want to lose the opportunity.” Thirteen years later, Jamie still holds that record.

Not a fan of hospitals, checking himself out of them would soon become Jamie’s modus operandi. In 2006, at the Sydney show, Jamie was gored by a bull. The injuries were severe, including a fractured spine in two places and breaking the wing off the fifth cervical vertebra. Waking from a two-hour coma, and keen to go back and watch the bull riding, Jamie checked out of hospital wearing nothing but hospital gown and boots. “After years of sporting injuries, I had the opinion that I knew if I was actually bad enough to stay in hospital or just rest at home, and besides, I wanted to watch the final bull buck.” >

story name W I N T E R

“THAT DAY WAS THE LUCKIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. IT WAS THE DAY THAT I SHOULD HAVE DIED, BUT I DIDN’T.”

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W I N T E R inspiration

Over time, the couple’s family grew from two to five, with the births of their children, Jedd, Braydon and Lori. With their young family in tow, Jamie and Karen enjoyed spending their weekends escorting their Brahman bull, Wildfire, to various events.

Wildfire’s size, friendliness and general charm always made him the star attraction.

In 2008, when Jamie was working on a farm in Cassilis, an opportunity arose for a shift to Dubbo. Thinking that it would be good for the children to go to a larger school, the couple moved.

“Funnily enough, the kids ended up back at a small school again at Mendooran.”

Doctors and lawyers and such

Cowboys ain’t easy to love and they’re harder to hold, might only be the sentiments of song, but for Jamie’s wife Karen, these lyrics might just be true. In Jamie’s own words, his wife is absolutely selfless, but every supportive wife has her limit.

In 2010, on the family’s first ever vacation, Jamie announced his desire to replace his lost wedding ring. To that date, Jamie had managed to lose, and to replace, his wedding ring twice. It was missing, yet again. “I think I deserve an upgrade before you get another one.

You’ll only lose it again,” Karen recalls telling him. Confidentially, Jamie insisted that he would not lose his ring this time.

The words “Kaz” soon adorned his ring finger, right where his wedding band had once sat. Staring at her husband’s new tattoo, Karen warned, “Understand, if you lose this wedding ring, it’s over!”

The luckiest day

Thursday, March 27, 2014, started out ordinary. With the end of the work day done, Jamie now had only one thing left to do. Calling in to see Karen first, Jamie confirmed he’d be back soon, he just needed to give a neighbour a hand.

Driving back home again, at around 6pm, Jamie’s ordinary day soon turned. “I remember a truck coming towards me. I swerved and hit a tree.”

Waking up, Jamie discovered that he had been in an accident.

The vehicle’s engine now sat on his lap, and his foot was pinned in the footwell. A fire raged around the centre console and was enveloping his left side, including the seatbelt fastener. Staring for a moment at his wedding ring, Jamie thrust his thumb under his other two fingers and over the tattoo of his wife’s name. Throwing his hand into the fire, he desperately tried to unbuckle the belt.

However, by this time, the belt had burned into his clothes. “I remember just tucking my hand up into my chest trying to protect that finger. I think my thumb must have stayed put. Eventually, I fell unconscious again.”

As Jamie recalls this day, his wife’s eyes fill with tears; mine too.

Jamie consoles: “I see everyone getting upset but that was four years ago. I’m looking ahead. That day was the luckiest day of my life. It was the day that I should have died, but I didn’t.”

Trapped

Coming along behind Jamie that day were Charles “Tom” and Faye Mitchell. Checking for vital signs, Tom realised that Jamie had a pulse. Faye made a call to the ambulance for help. Tom saw that the car was alight but the car door wouldn’t open. He began to fear for the worst. Adding to the stress, the emergency call wasn’t going well. The operator was unable to understand where Jamie had crashed. Tom continued to try to force the door open but it was firmly stuck. Eventually giving way, Tom now needed someone to urgently help him release Jamie from the vehicle.

Three hundred metres down the road, Brock Lawrence had just arrived home from work. He and his partner, Katie Abbott, heard two loud bangs. Unfazed, Brock assumed it was one of his cattle

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kicking a panel but Katie decided to go out front. “I can see smoke,” Katie called. They could hear someone shout, “He’s on fire!”.

With Katie 8½ months pregnant, the pair leaped into action.

Arriving at the accident, Brock saw the vehicle was already ablaze and ran to assist. “I can’t get him out,” Tom yelled. Calling to Katie to grab his knife, Brock thought he might free the injured man if he could cut his seatbelt away.

With the vehicle cabin now full of thick dark smoke, Brock couldn’t make out the man trapped in the cabin but he could see that the fire was now engulfing the area around his head.

Two weeks earlier, either by pure luck or an untold destiny, Katie had bought two small fire extinguishers. Brock now emptied both of them onto the man in the vehicle.

Becoming conscious again, Jamie heard a familiar voice.

“Is that you, Brock?”

“Dodge?” Brock replied.

“Yeah.”

Slashing at the seatbelt, Brock soon realised that it was stuck to Jamie’s jumper and was burnt away at the fastener end. “It was at that point that I realised that he was jammed in the vehicle,” Brock said.

Clutching Jamie’s clothes, Brock tried in vain to pull him out.

Coming to once more, Jamie saw the danger Brock was in. “Just leave me, mate. It’s going to blow up.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Brock replied.

Grabbing the leather belt around Jamie’s waist and pushing his foot down hard on the vehicle, Brock gave one final heave.

Ninety seconds later, the vehicle was fully alight. Away from the fire, and laying on the ground, Jamie’s real fight had only just begun.

story name W I N T E R

“I remember a truck coming towards me. I swerved and hit a tree.”

A feeling

After a call to both Jamie’s personal and business phones had gone to message bank, Karen texted him in frustration: “Nobody likes cold steak!”

As the children sat down to eat, a friend from town phoned.

“Is everything OK? I’ve just seen emergency vehicles tearing out your way?”

Wives sometimes just know.

“Stay here,” Karen told the children. “I’m going for a drive.”

A run down the road

Brock thought that Jamie, who was unconscious and with his face and the left side of his body badly burnt, wouldn’t make it, but then Jamie woke up. As he tried to get to his feet, Brock told Jamie to stay down as the ambulance was on the way. “I don’t need an ambulance,” Jamie insisted.

The force of being pulled from the vehicle had dislocated Jamie’s left hip and his other hip was broken. Lifting his leg up, he yelled at Brock to straighten it out for him. Each time Brock lifted Jamie’s leg, it opened up a large wound. “I told him, ‘That’s as far as it will go’,” Brock recalled.

“Rip it up, ya’ weakling!” Jamie yelled. “Just put it back in. I’ll run down the road and Karen will fix me up.”

It was at this point that Brock thought Jamie might just come through this. “I told him, ‘Stay down. The ambulance will come and fix you up enough to go home’.” Another 40 minutes would pass before Jamie was finally on his way to the Dubbo Base Hospital.

Rock bottom

Hitting a line-up of vehicles, Karen stopped and got out. “I can’t find Jamie but I think that might be him,” she said to a woman she knew.

The woman offered to walk up and find out, but Karen insisted that she would go. Leaving her car, she walked towards the flames.

The fire from the vehicle lit the night sky. A silhouette against the flames confirmed Karen’s worst fears. It was Jamie’s custommade dog box. There was no mistaking it. Two police officers stood by, watching the vehicle burn but there were no ambulances. Karen dropped to the ground and sat slumped in the middle of the road.

“You can’t sit there,” a male voice broke through Karen’s whirling thoughts.

“Really, does it matter?” she asked.

“He isn’t dead. He isn’t good but he’s on the way to hospital,” the man confirmed.

Having believed that Jamie had died, Karen had already hit rock bottom. “Everything from that point was a bonus. Jamie was alive.” >

FACING PAGE: The love Jamie and Karen share has endured all odds; Jamie and Karen on their wedding day.

ABOVE: Jamie with his faithful quarter horse, Arrow.

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W I N T E R story name

Where there is life

At the Dubbo hospital, the medical staff held out little hope for Jamie. His injuries were extensive. A major head injury, broken bones including skull, back, hip and every rib, internal injuries and third degree burns to 40 per cent of his body made Jamie’s chances of survival small. However, it was the effect of smoke inhalation on his lungs that doctors believed would actually take his life that night.

Walking around to Jamie’s left side, Karen examined her husband. Running her eyes down his completely charred and blackened arm, she suddenly saw it. Illuminating from the darkness, on a small band of perfect skin, shone the word “Kaz”.

“From that point, I knew he was going to be all right.”

While you were sleeping

For seven weeks Jamie lay in a coma at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Charged with being her husband’s voice, Karen authorised the amputation of Jamie’s left leg, above the knee, and the fingers on his left hand, along with numerous other operations.

“I was always thinking, ‘What would Jamie want? What would Jamie think?’ And everything always told me that he would be pretty positive.” Karen requested that nobody discuss Jamie’s amputations in the room. “I didn’t want him to think on anything negative when he had so much fighting still left to do.”

Though the doctors and nurses were very good in all they did, eventually the conversation turned from Jamie’s survival, to how Karen would cope once he was gone. Realising that the fight for Jamie’s life was waning, Karen endeavoured to educate everyone on who Jamie was and why they couldn’t give up on him.

“I printed out 120 photos of our life, all the kids, him bull riding and I put them up on the hospital wall. I needed everyone to become invested in his fight.”

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From that point on, the mood of the room changed. Doctors and nurses started to talk to Jamie about the photos as they tended to him.

Conversations suddenly lifted: I’m looking at a picture of your little girl, swimming in the mud when she was two years old; I’m looking at your kids feeding the poddy calves; I’m looking at you riding a bull.

Karen had now introduced everyone to her husband. He was a man with a life, a husband, a father. He was worth their continued fight.

A new normal

Slowly waking, Jamie learned of his injuries. At first in denial, Karen had to show Jamie that his leg had been amputated. He took the news as Karen had expected he would.

“I’ve always been very positive. I never dwell on the negative. How can anyone live like that? I just wanted to get home,” he says.

Eight weeks in intensive care were followed by eight more weeks in the burns unit. The man who was meant to have permanent brain damage, and who faced the likelihood of never walking again, had already set September 1 as the date that he wanted to be home by. “It’s good to have goals, but your goals need to be realistic,” the medical staff warned. “Maybe you can go home for a day or two at Christmas and then come back.”

Having checked himself out of rehab, and now staying in an apartment, the day soon arrived for Jamie to have his prosthetic leg fitted. Karen recalls the staff’s amazement at how quickly he took to it. “They were calling everyone in to watch him walk. They said that it usually takes three months of intense training to get to that point.”

The staff suggested that next session they would teach him how to walk upstairs. “Teach me now!” Jamie insisted. After a quick lesson, it was declared that it was enough training for one day. As chance would have it, the lift back up to Jamie and Karen’s seventh-floor apartment was broken that day.

“Well by the end of that day, I had certainly learned to both walk and climb stairs,” Jamie grinned.

story name W I N T E R

“I’ve always been very positive. I never dwell on the negative.

How can anyone live like that?”

Where the heart is

Smashing his own goal, Jamie arrived back on his Mendooran property on August 1, 2014. Physio, massage and reconstructive operations, including those on his nose and eyelids, consumed his new life. “It was a really busy time,” Karen says.

Having been away from the children for so long, Jamie felt the need to go away with his family in order to reconnect. In mid-2015, Jamie set himself the goal of learning to ride a horse without the use of his left leg and hand, and then riding along with his family, from Tilpa to Dubbo. “You go out there and then you’ve got no choice.

You’ve got to ride home, so you’re going to have to learn how.”

Around the same time, Channel Nine contacted Jamie and asked if he was interested in setting and achieving a goal for its upcoming television premiere, This Time Next Year. Jamie declined as he said that he’d be too busy planning for his ride. Rethinking it, Jamie realised that he could combine the two objectives.

Not only would Jamie need to learn how to ride again, he decided that he would raise money and awareness for the charity Limbs 4 Life along the way. Limbs 4 Life is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to providing up-to-date information and peer support to those who have lost limbs.

Eighteen months after Jamie’s car accident, and often in excruciating pain, Jamie, along with his family, completed the near 600-kilometre ride from Tilpa to Dubbo in 24 days.

The home of Wildfire, 2018

Returning to employment in September 2017, Jamie says that he now feels more like himself again. “People might laugh, but I missed work so much.” Now back to work, Jamie’s set a new goal.

The exact nature of this goal is still a secret but no doubt the world will hear about it soon enough.

Jamie says that he just wants people to know that no matter what happens or what changes in life, there is always something else you can do and another goal that you can set and look forward to. He also reflects on the things people take for granted, only regaining perspective when tragedy strikes. “I have my wife and kids, a house with animals all round. We all have so much to be happy about and to live for.”

As for Jamie’s wife Karen, she’s certainly proved that her heart and mind are selflessly focused on her family. Though Jamie is quick to point out, “She is a liar though. I lost my wedding ring again and she’s still here.” Looking at Jamie’s new “Kaz” tattooed wedding ring, now adorning his right ring finger, Karen laughs: “OK, I reneged. But this is his final chance. I mean it this time.”

Ten kilometres from Dubbo, out on the Mendooran Road, sits a big timber slab sign. It reads, “Home of Wildfire.” I can now confirm that’s not even the half of it. CWL Words: Cath Player Images: Zenio Lapka

FACING PAGE: The Manning family – Jedd, 16, Braydon, 14, Jamie and Karen, and Lori, 8.

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FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING AND SHOE REPAIRS

SHOE REPAIRS • WORK CLOTHING CASUAL COUNTRY CLOTHING

"Always an interesting place to shop" 71 Keppel St, Bathurst Phone 02 6331 7544 franksmithworkclothing@gmail.com www.franksmithworkclothing.com.au

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Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn is a family run business

spanning four generations. We have a 45 year history of manufacturing sheepskin boots and two generations of wool classers - so we’re not just your average retailer, we know sheepskin inside out.

At Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn we stock Thomas Cook and Wrangler Clothing for all ages, Moda Immagine ladies fashion and RM Williams Stockyard.

We have a wide range of boots and leather accessories for the colts and fillies too, in all the latest styles and colours to keep you looking great.

4601 Mitchell Highway, Lucknow 2800 OPEN 7 days 9:00 to 5:30 Phone orders welcome 02 6365 5330 Visit www.lucknowskinshop.com.au if you just can’t make it in-store.

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success is in the air

Dubbo’s Juliet Duffy became known as “that asbestos chick” when she established a small air-quality monitoring laboratory in a room in her home. A decade later, the founder, owner and director of Regional EnviroScience is in the spotlight as the 2018 Regional Woman of the Year.

Receiving the coveted honour was a surprise for Juliet, who sat at the NSW Women of the Year awards gala thinking the organisers had already notified the winners.

“Those sort of events are always very well organised and in my mind I imagined award recipients had been given time to prepare suitable acceptance remarks,” Juliet says.

“When my name was announced I was absolutely gobsmacked.

I had an enormous smile on my face as I delivered an off the cuff speech.”

The Regional Woman of the Year title recognises and celebrates Juliet’s outstanding personal achievements and her contributions to industry and rural and regional communities.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be the winner but the funny thing is I wasn’t all that keen about being nominated in the first place because I always have so much on my plate,” she says.

“For me, the award is a very personal thing because it recognises the hard work that has been required to get the business where it is today.

“It hasn’t been easy and sometimes the long hours have been detrimental to my family and friends as life is lumpy and you still have to manage tragedy and trauma.

“As any business owner knows, you can’t juggle everything all the time, no matter how much you try.”

Regional EnviroScience offers consultancy on health and safety hazards residentially and commercially and helps to develop higher skills in occupational and environmental hygiene.

Last year the business received recognition in the Australian Financial Review Fast 100 list of growing companies.

“We were thrilled with that achievement,” Juliet says.

“It was pretty amazing considering the idea for the business started 10 years ago when I was socialising with friends in a local pub.

“I was talking to a project manager who was working on a big asbestos removal job in a civic area.

“I asked who was doing the asbestos air monitoring and he said consultants were being flown in from Sydney.

“When I told him I could do the work in my sleep he advised me to put in a price.”

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Juliet initially studied medical laboratory science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga and now holds a Master of Sustainable Management from the University of Sydney.

She has been managing asbestos, hazardous materials and environmental issues since 1988, when the first national code was implemented.

While working in Sydney and Brisbane during the 1980s and ’90s she managed hazardous materials in schools, hospitals, refineries, chemical manufacturing plants and contaminated sites.

“Asbestos management is a highly specialised field and I had presumed someone in Dubbo was already offering the service,” she says.

“During that conversation in the pub I realised there was an opportunity to establish a business so I set up an office and laboratory at home and started specialising in asbestos air monitoring.

“When people in Dubbo and the region needed specialist hazardous management services they would say ‘give that asbestos chick a call’.

achiever W I N T E R

“Throughout the establishment, and still now, the business has been supported by family and friends.”

“I never thought that my little start-up would grow like it has.

The first couple of years were hard work and it was very much a one-woman show with support from my daughter Lizabeth and my cousin Nicole, who helped by typing reports and washing and preparing laboratory consumables.

“Throughout the establishment, and still now, the business has been supported by family and friends. And they are an integral part of the organisation today.”

Seven years ago, Regional EnviroScience “took off” and Juliet started to employ and train field staff.

She currently has four young graduates with qualifications in rural science, geoscience, environmental science, biotechnology and microbiology.

“The company is bringing money back into regional areas and proving that you don’t have to be based in a metropolitan city to achieve success,” Juliet says.

“We have 26 employees working in offices at Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Maroochydore. We also have a warehouse in Sydney to store equipment and vehicles.

“We fly in and out of Sydney for work and love to tell people how much we love the reverse seagull effect.” >

ABOVE: Juliet relaxes on the verandah of Tutuila, her circa 1890s home in Fitzroy Street, Dubbo.

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“The company is bringing money back into regional areas and proving that you don’t have to be based in a metropolitan city to achieve success.”

The success of Regional EnviroScience has resulted in significant employment and economic gains for regional NSW and has also made communities safer by improving access to specialised occupational and environmental hygiene expertise.

In recent years Juliet has been involved with safely managing naturally occurring asbestos and has undertaken more than 1000 air samples, building a bank of exposure data related to undertaking construction works in various locations for dam works, NBN cable rollout, water pipelines, quarries, road building and private and commercial development projects.

Regarded as an expert, particularly in the field of naturally occurring asbestos, Juliet is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences nationally and internationally. She often travels the state to educate government organisations, including councils.

She takes her role as a leader in science, technology, engineering and maths seriously by mentoring young women and urges girls to study STEM subjects at school.

Juliet is the chair of the Western Research Institute and has previously been involved with Regional Development Australia (Orana) and Orana Arts.

She enjoys playing hockey and went to the World Masters Games in New Zealand last year with a group of very social women.

Juliet appreciates old buildings and has sympathetically renovated three homes.

The latest project has given new life to Tutuila, a heritage-listed property in Fitzroy Street, South Dubbo.

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The circa 1890s home was built for Jack Serisiser, the eldest surviving son of Jean Emile Serisier, the vigneron and storekeeper who helped to found Dubbo.

“The grapes in the garden are most probably linked to the original vines Jean Emile brought to Australia,” Juliet says.

“I love the history of the building and the wonderful craftsmanship and character. The big ceilings and verandahs are wonderfully overproportioned. It is such an individual property that has stood the test of time.”

Juliet has plans to expand the Regional EnviroScience footprint to new areas but will always keep the head office in Dubbo.

“We are constantly exploring new markets and new verticals, working on research and new products and embracing constantly changing technology” she says.

“The business is on a path of perpetual growth and has diversified into other ranges of services and products based on our clients’ needs.

“Our laboratory is accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) and is expanding into many interesting areas.

“Resilience, hard work and fantastic people are the key assets in business and hopefully it will be a case of watch this space with our plans going forward.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Juliet and Ken Archer in the Regional EnviroScience NATA accredited laboratory; Juliet and her daughter Lizabeth enjoy coffee together.

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W I N T E R story name

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local legend W I N T E R

yes MINISTER Social justice has shaped the life of a pre-eminent statesman who played a significant role in the development of NSW and helped elevate Dubbo to its position as a major regional city.

John Marsden Mason was a Methodist clergyman before the shock death of a close friend became the catalyst for a radical deviation into politics.

During a 16-year term in the NSW Legislative Assembly, he served as Member for Dubbo, Minister for Lands, Deputy Opposition Leader and Opposition Leader.

John was involved in the completion of Burrendong Dam and worked hard to convince Macquarie Valley farmers to embrace irrigation.

He lobbied for regional infrastructure improvements, pushed for the decentralisation of government departments, played a role in the creation of Western Plains Zoo and organised tour groups of politicians and business leaders to showcase opportunities on offer in the Central West.

Now aged 89 and retired in Dubbo, John is proud to see the continued progression of the city and region that will always have a special place in his heart.

Throughout life he has been driven by concern for people, a quality developed in early childhood while living in one of the poorest areas of Sydney.

His father was the Methodist minister at Newtown Mission and the parsonage was in St Peters, an area where people suffered greatly during the worrying years of the Great Depression.

Described as a capricious child, at age three John was looking through a drawer when he found a bundle of envelopes tied with ribbon. There was a great to-do when he decided to play postman and distributed love letters from his father to his mother to all the houses in the street.

“I was taken by my father to retrieve the letters,” he recalls. “On that day my sense of justice had a true beginning.”

After leaving Sydney Boys’ High School, John commenced studies in Law before changing to Theology. Graduating in 1948, his first church appointment was assistant minister at Lismore.

“I had become engaged to the beautiful woman I had been courting,” John says.

“Our wedding was being finalised but had to be put on hold for 12 months due to church policy and a shortage of housing.

“Meg, who was a skilled draughtsman, had to leave her job once we were married. That was the way things were in those days. Imagine young people today being forced to give up their job and agreeing to accept being told where they could live and when they could marry.”

John worked at the Inland Mission at Katherine and in the parishes of Goulburn and Tighes Hill (Newcastle) before being assigned to Wesley Church in Dubbo.

“We were happy to be part of the Dubbo congregation and became great friends with Les Ford and his wife Peg. Les was mayor as well as local member, a great leader destined to have a big career in parliament.

“Tragically Les died when he suffered a massive heart attack while driving to Sydney.

The shock was enormous and there was a great vacuum in Dubbo.

“I laughed when a prominent businessman approached me suggesting I take the place of Les in parliament. >

“I laughed when a prominent businessman approached me suggesting I take the place of Les in parliament.”

LEFT: John played an important role in the development of Dubbo.

He remains active in the local community, enjoys catching up with friends and still takes the occasional church service.

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local legend W I N T E R

“I wasn’t thinking about politics at all and felt happy with my role in the church. Then the campaign started – the phone kept ringing and people tried to push the idea on me wherever I went.

“The pressure was immense so I consulted the chairman of the church district and was very surprised when he said God could be calling me to a different sort of ministry.

“After a lot of prayer, I decided to stand for preselection. There were a number of candidates and I was pre-selected. A week later I was given seven days to retire from the ministry.

“There I was with five children living in a church house without a penny, stuck in a sort of limbo because the election was not held until May.” The community rallied and a house and car were provided along with donations of fruit and vegetables.

“My parents were absolutely marvellous and the generosity of the people of Dubbo kept us alive,” John says.

“I won the election at a time when the population of Dubbo was about 13,000.

“Dubbo was on the move but there was a lot of work to be done before it became a thriving government centre.

“Improving infrastructure was a major focus and we wanted to advance the Macquarie Valley with irrigation. Farmer resistance was enormous – it’s a wonder I wasn’t tarred and feathered at some of the meetings.

“Irrigation brought big benefits to the region and Dubbo became an important regional centre.

It is still progressing today, which is great to see.”

John retired from politics in 1981 and spent a year as director of the Save the Children Fund before returning to the ministry at North Ryde, Newcastle and Nambucca.

John and his wife enjoyed life at a retirement village at Salamander Bay but things changed when Meg died in 2015.

“It was a very lonely time,” he says.

“Our daughter Bizzi suggested coming to Dubbo for Christmas and that led to a permanent move. Returning to Dubbo is the best decision I have made for a long time.

“I know so many people here and have involved myself in a range of activities, including a group I started called Grumpy Old Men. I go to cultural events, the Dubbo Film Society, support the arboretum at Burrendong Dam and still take some church services around the countryside.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

“Irrigation brought big benefits to the region and Dubbo became an important regional centre.”

ABOVE: John has an extensive collection of much loved and well used books.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: John and his wife Meg enjoyed travelling in retirement; an official parliamentary portrait after John was elected Member for Dubbo in 1965; John spends part of every day in his study; John and Meg in 1978 when he became Leader of the Opposition in NSW; John and Meg at Wesley Church in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton in 2007 following a service marking his retirement from the ministry.

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Come and visit Elizabeth and Alex at the Central West Lifestyle stand at the following events this year. We’d love to meet you!

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VOCAL

hero Wellington-born tenor Hubert Francis has a story worth singing about.

From a country childhood on the foreshores of Lake Burrendong near Wellington, to now making his home on the far reaches of Ireland’s west coast, Hugh Francis (known professionally as “Hubert”) has travelled the world with his creative talent.

For more than 20 years, he has been working as a freelance operatic tenor across four continents, commuting mostly from London with his wife, gifted Irish-born mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons.

Hugh’s parents, Janet and John Francis, are second-generation livestock producers at “Tara”, Mumbil. A young Hugh attended Wellington Public School, and following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, headed to Shore in Sydney for his secondary schooling.

An alumnus of Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music in the UK and the coveted Royal Opera Covent Garden’s Young Artists Program, he works with conductors such as Pappano and Salonen, and directors including McVicar and Jones – all names that will strike a chord with those in opera.

Hugh is a vibrant presence and harbours a creative ability and level of commitment that has seen him take part in more than 125 performances with the Royal Opera in the heart of London, home to world-class opera, classical music, theatre, ballet and dance.

And while Hugh is proud of his success on international soil, he’s right at home in Wellington’s Cactus Café, where CWL catches up with him. His first piano teacher, after all, was “Chick” Marlene Jones, a well-known and much-loved musical identity in the local area.

“Returning back to this beautiful part of the world where I grew up has been a wonderful experience,” Hugh says.

Hugh is back in Australia on a month-long visit for an adjudicating commitment at the Sydney Eisteddfod. His work has taken him from New York to Los Angeles, Toronto to London, and Amsterdam, Geneva, Paris, Palermo, Singapore and Adelaide, and it seems everywhere in between. After two decades in Europe, it’s no surprise he is fluent in German, has good French and some Czech, Russian and Italian, all languages in which he’s required to sing.

“As human beings, we seem to be drawn to places in which we are known and feel recognised, something I think is very important, and for me one of those places is here in the Central West of New South Wales,” he says.> LEFT: Hugh’s wife, Irish-born Anne Marie Gibbons is a talented mezzo-soprano in her own right; Hugh and Anne Marie with children Emma, 5, and Tom, 7.

FACING PAGE: Hugh Francis has travelled far and wide with his musical talent.

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In the genes Hugh’s great grandfather, Sir Herbert Ramsay, had a fine voice and was the first man to sing Waltzing Matilda (written by Banjo Paterson) in Winton over 120 years ago. Himself a baritone, although untrained, Herbert emigrated from Scotland in the 1890s to join his first cousins who had founded a stock and station agency in Western Queensland called Ramsay Brothers.

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“I particularly admire the rural lifestyle and feel very lucky that both my wife Anne Marie and I were afforded that opportunity as children.”

Sharing a similar upbringing to Hugh, Anne Marie hails from a sheep and cattle farm on the North Atlantic coast near Louisburgh, County Mayo in Ireland (where she and Hugh were married in 2005). She is a talented mezzo-soprano and former English National Opera principal, and shares a love of opera alongside Hugh. They have two children – Tom, aged seven, and Emma, five. Both Tom and Emma enjoy music, and Emma can often be heard composing songs in the back seat of the family car.

While it’s apparent Hugh has long been a musical talent – he could sing before he could talk – he also worked for Qantas in marketing and public relations before heading abroad. Now though, through adjudicating and master classes, Hugh is passing on his musical knowledge.

“I believe eisteddfods provide vital performance opportunities for children, teenagers and young adults in rural communities like Wellington, and I have the world of respect for the volunteers, organisations and local businesses that help to make this happen,” he says.

“My wonderful former piano teacher Marlene ‘Chick’ Jones is a musical bedrock in the Wellington community with her 60 years of teaching recently recognised with an Order of Australia.”

There’s hope for us yet, as Hugh and Anne Marie are considering a move back to Hugh’s home soil, partly in an attempt to “chase sunshine”.

“We entertain the idea from time to time,” he says with a smile. “I can definitely see us teaching singing in the region. You can take the boy out of the bush, but not the bush out of the boy!”

For now, though, Hugh’s right at home in Europe with his wonderful family, living a life worth singing about. CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Portraits of Hubert Francis by Marshall Light Studio

Hugh and Anne Marie will perform at the Wellington Civic Centre on Saturday, July 14 at 2pm for a concert of operatic and musical favourites.

Tickets are available from Feed My Belly, 56 Lee Street, Wellington.

Phone: Karen Ryan 0428876882.

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W I N T E R story name

A HEAD START

Striving for high levels of learning begins early for students in Catholic schools within the Diocese of Bathurst, with the introduction of its Ready for Learning Kindergarten Program.

Learning about social skills, how to focus, how to ignore distraction, and improve mindfulness are not often associated with the first five weeks of Kindergarten, however, Catholic Education Officer Melissa Fuller says the Diocese of Bathurst is flipping that assumption on its head.

“We developed a program to teach our students the skills they need for learning every day in the classroom, teaching the students the social and emotional skills they need to strengthen relationships,” she says.

Students learn about core strength, holding their pencil correctly, and reporting kindness in other students through the “kindness cups” activity.

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“If Mary gets a token in her cup, it means that someone has seen her doing something nice on the playground, and have put the token in her cup to recognise that it is about looking for kindness and seeing it modelled rather than reporting their own acts of kindness,” Melissa says.

Executive Director of Schools Jenny Allen says the Ready For Learning Kindergarten Program is teaching students to identify emotions, and how to deal with them.

“If a child approaches a teacher in the playground upset about something, the teacher asks them to stop, name the feeling, take big belly breaths, and they can calm themselves down,” she says.

education W I N T E R

Students learn about core strength, holding their pencil correctly, and reporting kindness in other students through the “kindness cups” activity.

Twenty-nine schools across the Diocese of Bathurst are taking part in the program, and the results speak for themselves.

“By taking a proactive approach to learning, instead of a reactive one, we have seen an improvement in not only numeracy and literacy, but also gross motor skills and social skills,” Jenny says.

Parents, along with teachers, are already seeing the benefits of this alternative approach.

“We are receiving reports from parents who say their children are bringing their new skills into the home. This program is just one of the many ways that our schools are working in close partnership with parents to support all aspects of a young person’s learning journey,” Jenny says.

A team of passionate educators, using evidence-based research, is achieving positive outcomes.

“We have collected data from teachers who say the students who have experienced this program are ahead in their academic learning, their transitions and that their behaviour at school is making for a very positive experience for everyone,” Melissa says. CWL Words: Annabelle Amos Images: Jane Dempster

FACING PAGE: One of the passionate educators with students from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Manildra.

ABOVE: Children from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Molong enjoying the kitchen garden.

LEFT: A student from The Assumption Catholic Primary School Bathurst.

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equal opportunity for

RURAL STUDENTS

Compassion, citizenship and gratitude are just some of the core values that underpin Hunter Valley Grammar School’s ethos and educational philosophy.

This year, the school has launched an ambitious new Rural Scholarships Program aimed at providing students living in rural and regional NSW, the opportunity to finish their critical HSC years at Hunter Valley Grammar School, while staying in a homestay situation in the care of a Hunter Valley family.

“The program offers our school families and rural students an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, to dream about new possibilities and to take hold of opportunities when they arise,” Principal Paul Teys says.

“Our families are excited to provide a supportive and nurturing home to a student from rural NSW, and we’re hopeful that rural families will see this as a genuine endeavour to help address educational disparity between rural and city kids.”

The passion for the program comes from Paul’s own experience growing up in western Queensland, where quality educational opportunities simply were not available. “My parents moved away from their parents so we could get access to quality schools. This is often the reality and the challenges faced by rural families, but it doesn’t have to be,” he says.

“This program is an alternative to institutional boarding, which can be financially challenging for families and demanding on students. Instead, we can offer a remission on school fees, access to a fantastic region and an exceptional school, all while under the care of a local family who will help them navigate this important stage of life.”

Hunter Valley Grammar School is the Hunter’s premier independent, coeducational school for students from Preschool to Year 12. The school provides outstanding facilities on beautifully

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landscaped, tree-studded grounds in a calm and organised environment. Hunter Valley Grammar School students thrive in a wide range of academic and co-curricular programs, under the guidance and support of professional and experienced teachers.

If you are interested in finding out more about Hunter Valley Grammar School’s Rural Scholarships Program, please email Principal Paul Teys at teysp@hvgs.nsw.edu.au or visit the website at www.hvgs.nsw.edu.au/rural-scholarships.html.

You can also meet Paul in person at the Parkes Show from August 27 to 29. CWL Images: Chris Elfes, Elfes Images

TOP: Principal of Hunter Valley Grammar School Paul Teys is passionate about education.

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rose gold

Kathie and Arthur Mills’s Orange garden is a story of evolution, and a picture-perfect one at that.

The colourful stories Kathie Mills recalls about the development of their garden are bound to produce a smile.

Ingenious, funny, serendipitous, the tale tells of a long and productive partnership between plants person and heritage rose enthusiast Kathie and her husband Arthur, oral surgeon, welder and supreme mulch maker. The result of this collaboration is a wonderfully interesting and diverse country garden “Badine” in Orange.

Purchased in 1978, the house took shape in 1982 on this 16.2-hectare (40-acre) property. With just two existing Eucalyptus and Acacia trees, around 200 tube-size trees were planted, only to be decimated by the harsh 1982-‘83 drought. After the drought broke in 1983, Arthur and Kathie started planting again, mostly gardens close to the house to facilitate easy mowing. >

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story name W I N T E R

THIS PAGE: Elegant rounded Buxus line a curved pathway that leads out into the garden.

FACING PAGE FROM TOP: This lovely hybrid tea rose is ‘Spirit of Peace’ bred by Meilland (France), introduced in 1994 and named to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Rose ‘Peace’; a pretty combination of flowering rose bushes and mauve flowered catmint (Nepeta) provides months of colour.

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W I N T E R story name

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gardens W I N T E R

Many of the old roses are European favourites including species roses from the 1900s along with some early 20th Centur y types.

Most garden lovers would shudder at the thought of goats in their garden, however for Kathie, goats – or their manure – formed the foundation of this now beautiful garden. In 1983 Arthur came home with two goats, which quickly increased to 10, then 56 and finally 112 “grass eaters”. In addition to a source of farm income, the goats supplied plenty of manure, an ideal garden soil conditioner. A necessity for stock yards saw Arthur learn to weld, a handy skill he put to good use in later years fabricating garden arches and supports for climbing plants like wisteria and large climbing roses.

Growing up, Kathie was familiar with her mother’s modern Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses. In 1987 Kathie visited a heritage rose day at Manildra and became smitten with roses she had never seen before. The varied flower forms, colours and perfumes of older rose species captured her imagination and she set out to learn more about heritage roses.

In 1988, the couple responded to the newspaper advertisement of retired Englishman George Pilgrim, recently returned from managing a piggery in Manildra and looking for gardening work. Kathie and Arthur took on George and he played a significant role in the workings of the garden at “Badine” over the ensuing 22 years.

George encouraged Kathie to develop more garden beds and extend the country garden to 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres). Returning from holidays, Arthur was shocked to discover his lawn browning in large swathes where George and Kathie had sprayed out the grass for new garden beds. “Well, you can’t expect me to mow around those curves,” he stated.

The solution: George took on the bulk of the lawn mowing around those many curves.

In 1989, Kathie bought 200 heritage rose bushes.

George dug the holes and together they laid out garden beds, each home to a separate group of roses.

Among these are China, Tea, Rugosa, Damask, Moss, Centifolia (meaning 100 petals), Gallica, Noisette, Hybrid Musk roses and more.

Today, Kathie’s knowledge and understanding of old roses is phenomenal. With the charming familiarity of a rose lover who has spent countless hours among these beautiful plants, she rattles off individual names and characteristics of every species and variety CWL encounters during our visit.

Many of the old roses are European favourites including species roses from the 1900s along with some early 20th Century types. Most heritage roses are spring blooming only and the plants are generous-sized bushes, requiring space to reach their full potential. >

FACING PAGE FROM TOP: Roses and much more – terraced beds in front of the house display roses and a diverse selection of trees and shrubs; a spring view – wide grass pathways curve around the garden beds, inviting exploration of this large country garden.

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Reflections on the dam change with the seasons; eye catching colour – pendulous purple heads of Cerinthe major; well suited to the climate in Orange, this flowering Prunus puts on a fantastic spring display.

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Other more recent introductions include Australian-bred Alister Clark roses, English David Austin and French Generosa roses, which combine the look and fragrance of old roses with the repeat blooming habit of more modern types. These are floriferous and great for picking, Kathie says.

Given the space they require, heritage and old roses grow well in this climate, encouraged with rose fertiliser, an occasional handful of blood and bone and Arthur’s home-made mulch. Arthur’s mulch recipe combines horse manure from local stables, rotting wood-chip, chopped garden prunings and blood and bone, which increases the organic content of the local volcanic soil and helps to retain valuable moisture.

Diverse plantings throughout the property and among the roses create an ideal habitat for insectivorous birds. Giant Russian garlic plants also help deter sap-sucking aphids. Kathie never uses sprays for pests and diseases, and relies on natural resistance and good cultural practices to maintain healthy roses.

To extend her knowledge in 2000, Kathie enrolled at TAFE Orange to study Horticulture. She developed a new appreciation of cool-climate trees and shrubs “whether it was a Dogwood or a Claret Ash tree”, the garden benefited – becoming “a rose garden with everything else” as hundreds more plants were added to the collection!

The extensive country garden is chock-a-block full of a wide variety of cool-climate deciduous trees, ornamental flowering and foliage shrubs, borders of flowering perennials, screen plants for hedging and conifers. Climbing plants and roses adorn archways and pergolas and scramble up trees. Gold and burgundy colouring in foliage of both trees and shrubs are favourites, and used for highlight and interest.

The diversity of planting makes this a garden for all seasons. During autumn the deciduous trees and shrubs transform the garden in a parade of intense seasonal colour. Winter snowfalls see the garden blanketed white.

In the outer paddocks, towering Eucalyptus trees including Apple Box (E. bridgesiana), Inland Scribbly Gum (E. rossii) and Yellow Box (E . melliodora) provide shade, shelter and are a haven for the plentiful local birdlife. Colourful visiting parrots and rosellas enjoy snapping off succulent spring growth and rose flower buds. An inventive method to deter the unwelcome destruction – shiny foil owls strung on bungee cord suspended from bamboo stakes bob about among the rose bushes – was successful.

“I’m not a gardener,” Arthur says. “Kathie is the plants person and decides what goes where and how. I’m happy to do labour, irrigation and make mulch.”

A domestic-sized mulcher wasn’t up to the task; this more practical solution works better. All the garden prunings (except roses) are strewn on the ground, then Arthur goes back and forth with a tractor and orchard mulcher, breaking down small branches and foliage into fines as the basis for valuable garden mulch.

“The diversity of planting makes this a garden for all sea son s.”

During construction of the big dam at the front of the house in 1992, Kathie gained the nickname “Wilma of the Flintstones” as she worked ahead of the bulldozer gathering basalt rocks to use as garden edging. George came up with a plan to terrace the sloping area in front of the house overlooking the dam. Salvaged topsoil was reused for the terrace gardens and to underlay the sweeping lawn area. An oversupply of bricks from the house construction was put to practical use for support walls on the terrace and garden edging.

In this strong partnership, Kathie says, “Arthur has never held me back”. He has done all the irrigation, including gravity-fed water from the dams for the garden. As the garden kept growing, he put in an additional dam for water storage and supply.

This energetic couple’s future plans include downsizing the garden, bringing the borders in to a manageable size closer to the house so they can stay to enjoy their creation a while longer.

To learn more, Kathie recommends a visit to Orange Heritage Rose Garden within Orange Botanic Gardens. November is peak blooming time. CWL Word: Elizabeth Swane Images: Robert Bruce

FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A colourful display of summer flowering Hydrangeas; Badine’s well-planned garden combines open spaces, many trees and generously filled garden beds; this reflective owl acts as a parrot deterrent giving tender new rose shoots a chance to develop; lush rounded leaves of Bergenia or pink Saxifraga suits the cool shady spot under a large tree behind, grey-foliaged germander (Teucrium) forms a neat border.

ABOVE: Badine is a garden for all seasons, shown here in its autumn glory (top) and blanketed by a winter snowfall (bottom).

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jude fleming PAINTER

natural irregularity I and II diptych | 420 x 2830 mm

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e: plants@perennialle.com.au CWL 157

standing tall Nola and Colin Honeysett’s “Sherel Park” is a garden to look up to.

Towering trees command attention at “Sherel Park”. The fertile soil and access to ground water supports a forest of outstanding trees and a very fine garden. On the outskirts of Dubbo, this 3.2ha (eight-acre) former market garden site has been home to Nola and Colin Honeysett for the past 32 years. > ABOVE: The welcoming entry to Sherel Park; this formal cast iron urn and seating features in the lower garden; well maintained sweeping lawns provide a park-like feel; sunny yellow ‘Gold Bunny’ climbing rose along a fence.

FACING PAGE: With deep roots accessing ground water, the trees have reached impressive proportions.

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story name W I N T E R

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garden W I N T E R

“The t wo - storey hou se sits in a f ine position on a hill of raised soil , supported b y hidden piers, overlooking an expan sive 1.2 hectares (three acres) of garden .”

Selected for their tall, straight white trunks and quick growth, imposing Dunn’s White Gums (Eucalyptus dunnii) were labelled as reaching a height of 15 metres. Planted as tube stock by Colin and Nola three decades ago, these giant gums are now topping out at almost triple that height, dwarfing most of the surrounding tall trees. With roots deep down in red river soils of the floodplain, their grand scale combines with other large trees including She Oaks (Casuarina), Ironbarks and Queensland Bottle trees (Brachychiton rupestris), giving the garden a wonderful park-like feel. An added bonus is a generous amount of cooling shade on scorching hot summer days.

Along the curved driveway, a mixed border includes dwarf sacred bamboo (Nandina nana), Snowball Viburnum, roses, red geraniums and pretty crab apple (Malus spp) trees. A large Box Elder tree (Acer negundo), with its wide spreading branches, creates beautiful shade from the blazing western sun. Closer to the house, neatly trimmed Japanese box hedging (Buxus microphylla var japonica) and standard white ‘Iceberg’ roses make an attractive and welcoming entry.

The two-storey house sits in a fine position on a hill of raised soil, supported by hidden piers, overlooking an expansive 1.2 hectares (three acres) of garden, which slopes down towards the river flats.

Accessed by sloping lawns or sandstone steps, the lower part of the garden has an inviting ambience, encouraging a wander along the lawns among the giant trees to discover the different garden areas below the house.

Although the property is close to a through road, the trees along with screen and verge plantings ensure excellent privacy and buffer most road noise. The lower boundaries are screened using Fineleaf Paperbark (Melaleuca linariifolia) and Weeping Bottlebrush.

The dense foliage protects the garden from winds and also makes ideal habitat for abundant native birdlife.

The garden is irrigated using a combination of river and well water. Run-off rainwater is stored in large tanks. The low-lying section is flood prone; the last inundation during 2010 saw water lapping right up to the base of the trees.

Trees are high on the list of the Honeysetts’ favourite plants, and there’s plenty of variety, including evergreens like LemonScented Gums, Silky Oak and Canary Island Palms. Deciduous trees such as Golden Ash (Fraxinus ‘Aurea’), Robinia, Claret Ash (Fraxinus x raywoodii), Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo), Golden Rain Tree (Kolreutaria) and Liquidambar add foliage interest and provide a parade of autumn colour.

Productive fruit trees including figs, apples, cherries and wide weeping mulberries are grouped among the ornamental trees.

A corner grove of mature walnut trees creates a welcome spot on a summer’s day where the temperature is up to 10 degrees cooler under their thick green canopy. >

FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The view from the house towards the lower garden areas; pretty in pink ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ rose; an emu stands watch over the gravel garden; owners Nola and Colin enjoy sharing their garden with family and friends; this shady retreat is an ideal spot for both people and potted plants; sandstone steps lead down to the lower garden area.

ABOVE: Neat box hedging, standard ‘Iceberg’ roses and pretty perennials make a colourful and welcoming entry.

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“Sherel Park” wa s named after the Honeysetts’ three children: Shane, Erin and Elisha .

There are over 120 roses throughout the garden, some displayed in garden beds, others like buttery yellow ‘Gold Bunny’ adorn fences and romantic pink ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ climb over arbours or up pillars. Rose beds down the back of the property are home to productive varieties chosen for cut flowers. Gladiolus, liliums and snapdragons are also grown for picking. Colin and Nola have a regular and plentiful supply of gorgeous blooms to fill vases indoors or share with friends.

A grape vine-covered terrace at the back of the house is a shady spot to entertain and has a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding garden. This protected area is an ideal space for Nola’s lovely collection of container plants. From the terrace a steep bank leads down to the pool area. The bank is crammed with hardy lowmaintenance flowering plants including hellebores, princess lilies (Alstromeria), dainty seaside daisies (Erigeron), species gladioli and bold canna lilies.

Framed with a dense Photinia ‘Super Hedge’, a lovely area was a perfect site for their daughter Elisha’s garden wedding reception.

Edged with flowering standard white ‘Iceberg’ and rich ‘Burgundy Iceberg’ roses, pretty lilies and strappy agapanthus and featuring an attractive pond garden, it is a great location for family gatherings and functions.

Colin refers to his lawn as “the Heinz variety”, saying there are at least 10 different grass types that together make up the lush green swathes beneath the trees and among the extensive gardens.

The sizeable amount of lawn means a lot of mowing, especially in summer. Colin is up to his fourth ride-on mower, having already worn out three previous models over the years.

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Colin is adept at turning his hand to repurposing found items or making things to display or use as sculpture in the garden. He’s welded frames to support climbing roses and built structures including a practical outhouse, and an outdoor kitchen/pizza oven is housed in Colin’s tin shed. Features in the garden include elegant ornamental urns, wrought-iron tables and chairs and benches. A recent project is a rose garden with a sandstone slab bench, welded frames to support rich crimson ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ climbing David Austin roses and a contrasting red gravel surface.

This garden is both sanctuary and retreat for Colin, who runs a busy plumbing and property development business. “I love to come home at the end of the day and work in the garden,” he says. Colin devotes about 20 to 25 hours each week in the garden and with help for a few hours each week to keep on top of weeding, the garden is maintained to a high standard.

“Sherel Park” was named after the Honeysetts’ three children: Shane, Erin and Elisha. Watching the garden evolve over the years has been a source of great joy for Nola and Colin, particularly now, seeing their grandchildren play under trees they both planted!

They enjoy sharing the property with family and friends, and the garden is used for garden weddings and opened for autumn garden shows and charitable functions such as CanAssist. CWL Word: Elizabeth Swane Images: Robert Bruce

ABOVE: The wide spreading branches of this large box elder tree (Acer negundo) cast cooling shade over the driveway.

Crampton’s bring the store to your door For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van.

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Dubbo & Molong | www.earthplanthire.com.au CWL 163

W I N T E R story name

ROOM

to improve

Clever combinations of colour, pattern and texture can make a room sing.

Are you looking to inject a little more colour and pattern into your home décor, but you don’t know where to start? You do not need to be a professional decorator to make your home beautiful, but knowing a little bit about how to mix colour, pattern and texture can certainly help. When these three magical elements are applied in a balanced manner they will add depth and interest to a space. The aim is to create a space that reflects your personality and is aesthetically pleasing, a place where you feel comfortable and happy.

GOOD FOUNDATIONS

The biggest hurdle when introducing these three elements is where to start. Let’s begin with colour.

Find an artwork (or cushion, light fitting or upholstered chair) in colours that you love and use it as a starting point for decorating your room. This will be your key piece, where all colours for your décor will be drawn from. I prefer to add interest with accessories, because it’s much easier and more cost effective to change these when the trends expire or you want a fresh new look. Cushions, rugs, lamp shades and throws are all easy pieces to take out or change if you aren’t happy. But if you’re feeling brave, an armchair upholstered in vibrant colours and pattern could be a great starting point to decorate the rest of a room, or braver still, a large colourful floral print wallpaper would create maximum impact.

Whatever you decide, use the colour palette from this key piece as your guide for the rest of your décor.

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PERFECT PATTERNS

Don’t be afraid to play with pattern combinations. You can mix stripes, florals, plaids or spots as long as they tie into your palette. That said, if you want to feature all floral patterns you can make it work by varying the size of the print. Include some small, dainty floral prints with some larger bold blooms for good contrast.

I love using cushions to decorate because they can change the whole look of a room.

YOUR HAPPY PLACE

Use your best judgement when adding colours, pattern and texture into a space. Too much of everything can easily overwhelm a room, but not enough will look bland. Most importantly, choose patterns, colours and textures that make you happy.

MIX IT UP

Once you have decided on your colour palette, it’s time to think about texture and pattern. Texture is essential to add warmth into a space. While it’s great to include a variety of colours in your décor, if they are all the same texture your house will look cold and sterile. Try to mix up the fabric in your cushions, curtains and lamp shades. Add a textured rug onto a smooth floor and include natural elements such as wood and plants that organically provide a range of texture.

BEAUTIFUL BALANCE

I love mixing and matching, but you have to get the balance right. Too matchymatchy and you will look like you have tried too hard, but too much mixing and the room will look messy and overwhelming. Introducing a mix of patterns that feature colours from your palette will help get the balance right. I love using cushions to decorate because they can change the whole look of a room.

Odd numbers are always best on a lounge, as they appear less pretentious and more organic. Have one or two cushions in solid colours, but mix up the textures, maybe one in linen and one faux fur. Then introduce some patterned pieces for contrast – making sure they feature at least one colour from your colour palette. CWL Words and images: Amanda O’Sullivan

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W I N T E R home & style

Handy Household Hints WITH HAYLEY MAUDSLEY

The soft option Woollen blankets are best washed (in the machine) in cheap shampoo and conditioner. For a single sized blanket, use three dessertspoons of shampoo with warm water, rinse and wash again, this time using the same amount of conditioner. Double quantities for bigger blankets, then line-dry in the shade, not full sun or they will stiffen. Once they’re dry, your blankets will be lovely, fresh, clean and soft!

“Limitations live only in our minds.

But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”

- Jamie Paolinetti

DRY STORAGE

Getting the hang of it When bringing out your woollens again for winter 2018, after washing them to freshen them up, hang cardigans and jumpers on the line by threading an old stocking through

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HOT STUFF

To keep a wood fire chimney clean, put a chain with a hook on the top down the centre of the chimney so it reaches the fireplace.

When the fire is out and the fireplace is cold, hold the chain and tap it against the chimney and all the soot comes loose and falls to the bottom. It’s easy to clean and keeps the chimney clear. Also, to boost the heat, place two or three empty and clean Milo or coffee tins (without lids) into the centre of your fireplace. They will radiate more heat into your room without using as much wood.

the arms and attach the pegs to the stocking rather than the garment itself. This prevents peg indentations. You can also hang a coathanger on the corner of your clothesline, but be careful not to stretch the item too much when doing this.

Suitcase/Dmitry Zimin/Pegs/Valentin Balan/Shutterstock.com

Unfortunately, when it comes time to close our pools or no longer swim in the dam, too many people overlook the necessity for storing pool accessories such as floats and toys properly. Make sure all furniture, toys and floaties are completely dried and drained of any water, deflated and laid out flat, then placed in a cool, dry storage place such as airtight containers, vacuum seal bags, an unused suitcase or a clean wheelie bin. This prevents further weather damage, rodent damage and accidental holes from surrounding items.

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BUILT TO LAST

Commuting from Camden to Young is part of the working week for a man who played a role in the creation of some of the most significant buildings in Australia.

Dean Pritchard has spent 30 years in the construction industry and is proud to have been involved in the building of iconic landmarks including Sydney Olympic Stadium, the space-age-style air traffic control tower at Sydney airport, award-winning Adelaide Convention Centre and Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Dean grew up in Sydney and started his working life as a carpenter. He joined the staff of a major building and glass business and later became a director for another firm. In 1995 he started his own company and worked on buildings all over Sydney.

After suffering an injury, Dean reinvented himself by purchasing a factory at Young.

Tradesmart NSW produces timber frames and trusses for architectural and project homes and multi-development projects including townhouses.

“Most of what we do goes straight to the Sydney basin,” Dean says.

“My home base is at Camden and I spend several days each week in Young. Buying the factory 12 months ago was my first venture in regional NSW. “The factory is well-established and employs between 10 and 15 people.”

Dean’s extensive industry knowledge and the skilled workforce at Young enable Tradesmart NSW to turn out superior frames and trusses well regarded by the construction sector.

Designed for strength and flexibility, Tradesmart products are manufactured exact to size, shape and specification. They are able to stand the test of time and remain straight and true.

“Factory engineered frames and trusses are favoured by the construction industry and help save a lot of time on worksites,” Dean says.

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DESIGNED FOR STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY, TRADESMART PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED EXACT TO SIZE, SHAPE AND SPECIFICATION. Customers choose Tradesmart because of their quality and experienced tradesmen, accurate work estimates, competitive pricing and durable professional-grade supplies.

Dean is married and has three children who enjoy horse riding.

The family travels all over NSW taking part in activities ranging from dressage competitions to cross country eventing. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Dean Pritchard (front, second from left) and his team from Tradesmart.

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ARCADIA CROOKWELL Our unique business brings to you multiple shops all contained in a beautifully restored building in the centre of Crookwell

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meet the maker

Mandy O’Sullivan CWL 171

Tell us about yourself and your business.

I am a crochet designer, craft blogger and have an online creative company called RedAgape. I design fun and colourful crochet patterns for the home that can be purchased online in the form of downloadable PDFs. Some of my designs are available in kits that feature beautiful Australian yarn.

On my blog, www.redagape.com.au, I share free patterns and feature makers from around the world. I also sell quirky Japanese craft books and accessories for all kinds of crafters.

When and how did your love of crochet begin?

I had spent many years in a job that didn’t fulfil me, so I decided to turn towards something more creative. While trying a few new occupations, I also joined a local craft group, just for fun. It was there I admired the many crocheters and wondered if I could learn how to crochet. I have loved craft since I was little and have always dabbled in some form of it. I have tried too many crafts to count, but when I picked up the crochet hook a few years ago I knew I had found my one true love. Since then, I have abandoned all other crafts and focused on crochet. It still amazes me that a humble hook can transform yarn into a blanket, a cushion and more.

I began posting images of my crochet pieces on Instagram and my following grew astronomically. Soon people were asking for my patterns and I was happy to share them for free because I was still learning. I quickly realised that photographing the step-by-step images and writing the patterns consumed massive amounts of my time, so eventually I reached a point where I needed to charge for my patterns. I still offer a range of patterns for free, simply because I love to, but there are equal amounts of paid design work too.

“Just be yourself because that is what will draw people to you and your designs.”

How did you go about learning your craft?

A friend gave me a couple of quick crochet lessons, but I have learned most of what I know from books, online tutorials or through trial and error. There are enormous amounts of information and inspiration from the online craft community.

In the beginning I probably spent more time researching and learning new skills than I did designing and making.

My business doesn’t just rely on crochet and design skills alone, I have to be a jack of all trades. I have completed online courses in colour, blogging, photography, SEO and have learned how to set up an online store. It can be difficult to make an income from handmade, so it’s important for me to be able to do most of the marketing and website updates myself to save money.

What have been your steepest learning curves along the way?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to be careful about how much I share online before a design is officially released. I have had a couple of instances where my patterns have been copied before I released them. Protecting intellectual property is very difficult online, especially when I need to share my work online to market my patterns. It is hard to get the balance right. Thankfully, the online creative community is mostly a very honest and supportive one.

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What has been a highlight of your journey?

The first time my work appeared in an international craft magazine, Mollie Makes, was absolutely a highlight. It was also the confidence boost I needed to push myself forward. I have contributed many times since that first issue, and I still get a buzz each time. The excitement of seeing my designs being published won’t ever get old.

The biggest highlight is yet to come as my first crochet book, 12 Months of Crochet with RedAgape, is being released in August this year. When a Belgian publishing company approached me last year to write a book I felt like all my Christmases had come at once.

It is an absolute dream come true.

What do you believe your craft (and handmade in general) brings to your wider community?

Happiness and inspiration! People are surprised when I tell them I am a professional crocheter and most have a story to share about an aunt or grandmother who used to crochet. It’s a nostalgic craft for a lot of people and a very therapeutic one.

I also love that my public displays of crochet – I’m often crocheting at cafes or the park – encourage interactions with strangers who are curious about what I’m making. I believe crochet is contagious, pass it on.

What is the best advice you could give someone who is thinking about pursuing handmade?

If you are serious about making your handmade your main occupation, then it is a good idea to diversify your income streams. Selling patterns, craft kits, designing for magazines and being an affiliate for larger companies are just some of the ways I monetise my handmade craft.

Finally, be prepared to work very hard. Handmade is back in a big way, which is wonderful to see, but there’s also a lot of competition out there. Don’t try to be like anyone else, just be yourself because that is what will draw people to you and your designs.

Where can people find out more, or source your products?

You can find me online: www.redagape.com.au https://www.facebook.com/redagapeblog/ www.instagram.com/crochetbyredagape. CWL CWL 173

W I N T E R story name

business in full swing With a passion for life and a head full of great ideas, a Gulargambone district woman is enjoying success with a business based on skill, creative thinking and an old family photograph.

Sleepy Jays began when Kerry Imrie fashioned a canvas, dowel and rope swing for her first grandchild.

“The project worked out really well and several people asked me to make swings for the little ones in their families,” Kerry says.

“I started selling my products at markets and the development of a website and Facebook page led to requests from customers around Australia and as far away as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Bali.

“The original swing was based on a photograph taken more than 80 years ago. The picture showed my aunt as a little girl sitting in a swing handcrafted by my great-grandfather.

“I later expanded Sleepy Jays to include muslin baby hammocks with a special spring system designed to rock and soothe infants.”

Growing up in Gilgandra, Kerry became an accomplished sewer. After marrying her childhood sweetheart, Robert, she helped to run their grain and cattle property and later worked on the restoration of the 1878 Mt Tenanda homestead when land across the road was purchased.

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“Sewing was always an important part of my life and when our children went away to boarding school I started a five-year upholstery course,” Kerry says.

“When my training was complete I helped my TAFE teacher run classes for another 10 years.

“A business making tarpaulins, restoring furniture and stitching car and truck seats went to a whole new level with the success of Sleepy Jays.”

Kerry enjoys meeting people at markets in regional centres around NSW and at baby expos in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In 2016 she took Sleepy Jays to a craft fair at Hampton Court in England.

“My swings and muslin baby hammocks are designed for indoor and outdoor use and can easily be packed up to take away on holiday,” Kerry says.

“Many people have purchased multiple products over the years.

It is wonderful to have so many happy customers.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Kerry Imrie enjoys watching over grand nephews Wally and Sully Larnach in their Sleepy Jays swings.

Handmade colourful canvas swings for little ones.

For 6 months – 18kgs

T: 0408 254 325

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the maine

ATTRACTION Dubbo retail store Ruby Maine is more than a smart lifestyle emporium for people seeking quality women’s fashion, footwear, accessories and gifts.

The ever-changing eclectic mix of treasures at Ruby Maine has become a drawcard for locals and shoppers from throughout western NSW and as far afield as Sydney.

“Customers come in with their coffee to chat and browse,” mother and daughter owners Rhonda Cooper and Samantha Portelli say.

“They enjoy being able to find everything they need in one location and are attracted by our wide range of merchandise, including Australian and international brands.”

Rhonda and Sam bought Ruby Maine two years ago and moved the store from Narromine to Dubbo.

“It was a dream to have a mother-daughter enterprise,” they say.

“We enjoy working together, even though our lives have become quite hectic.”

Originally from Nyngan, Rhonda and Sam had no previous experience in retail.

Rhonda spent 20 years in human resources in the mining industry, with work opportunities sometimes taking her overseas. Sam worked in Narromine and Dubbo as a primary school teacher. She still does occasional teaching days and is also a mum to young sons Charlie and Dominic.

With a shared sense of style and attention to detail, Rhonda and Sam work hard to ensure their emporium is something special.

“Our range has a point of difference and customers appreciate being able to source fashionable items not available in other stores in Dubbo,” they say.

Ruby Maine carries a mix of premium labels including Mela Purdie, Andiamo, Elk, Chalice, Noa Noa, Vassali, LTB Jeans, Django & Juliette, EOS, Silent D, Top End, Walnut, Juju Bags and Kompanero bags as well as delectable produce from Pukara Estate and Peter Watson.

Rhonda and Sam pride themselves on customer care and are focused on making a trip to Ruby Maine an inviting, friendly experience.

“Many of our customers enjoy shopping in Sydney but always come back to our emporium. They tell us it’s because generally everything they are looking for is in one place.”

While gratified to receive positive feedback, the team at Ruby Maine has no intention of resting on its laurels.

Rhonda and Sam are always striving to improve their bricks and mortar shopfront, as well as their online store and encourage Facebook and Instagram followers to stay connected for a sneak peek of some of Ruby Maine’s gorgeousness. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

“MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS ENJOY SHOPPING IN SYDNEY BUT ALWAYS COME BACK TO OUR EMPORIUM. THEY TELL US IT’S BECAUSE GENERALLY EVERYTHING THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN ONE PLACE.”

FACING PAGE: Sam Portelli and Rhonda Cooper are the stylish mother and daughter team at Ruby Maine in Dubbo; the emporium is full of unique fashion, footwear, accessories and gifts.

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style W I N T E R

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Gulgong B&B “The Old Wesleyan Chapel” BUILT IN 1871 • LOCAL HERITAGE STATUS

Our unique residence will make you feel welcome and part of the Gulgong history.

The Wesleyan Chapel was one of the first buildings erected during the gold rush days and has Local Heritage status. Extensions to the chapel, now used as the guest accommodation, have received a heritage award for “Best sympathetic additions to a residential building” by the National Trust.

Two queen size rooms with private bathrooms • Tea & coffee making facilities • Fridge TV & DVD • Reverse cycle air-conditioning • Comfortable private seating arrangements Breakfast served in the Chapel dining room • Easy walking to clubs, pubs & restaurants P: 0458 487 706 178 CWL

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P R E S S Coffee Roasters, Cafe & Events 33 Bultje Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 www.pressdubbo.com.au (02) 6885 0621 Mon - Fri 7:30am to 4pm Sat 8am to 4pm Sun 8am to 4pm

COURTHOUSE COTTAGE B&B

Courthouse Cottage is one of a kind as it is the only Federation Home accommodation offering luxury bed and breakfast in the heart of Temora

158 DeBoos St Temora P: 02 6978 1911 courthousecottagebandb@gmail.com

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W I N T E R recipes

simple pleasures Delicious, satisfying meals need not be complicated. Try these at home.

The Outlook Cafe Dubbo is all about the food, the view and the people where we pride ourselves on fresh produce – using as much local as we can. It is the ideal place for a little gathering or a large function.

We have lots of options for all seasons: inside looking out our large

Eggs Benedict 8 free-range eggs (50g) Pinch salt 2 rashers rindless bacon 2 English muffins 50g butter, at room temperature EASY HOLLANDAISE SAUCE 200g unsalted butter 3 egg yolks 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste ½ tsp salt, or to taste 2 tbsp hot water Ground black pepper, to taste

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windows or out in the courtyard in the sun watching local sporting games on the oval. We are open for breakfast and lunch and also do private dinners for up to 80 people for all occasions. Following are some of our recipes to try at breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

1. Preheat grill on high and line a baking tray with foil. Poach eggs in simmering water with a dash of white vinegar.

2. To make the easy hollandaise sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Use a metal spoon to skim any foam from the surface. Pour the clear yellow butter into a heatproof jug. Discard milky residue. Place egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and half the hot water in a blender. Blend on high until mixture is pale and thickens slightly. With the motor running, add hot butter in a thin, steady stream.

Add remaining water to thin the sauce slightly.

Season with pepper, and extra lemon juice and salt, if necessary. Half fill a large bowl with warm water (if water is too hot, the sauce will curdle). Pour sauce into a small bowl and place in the large bowl.

3. Cook the bacon in a frypan on medium heat, turning once, until crisp. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

4. Place the English muffin slices on the lined tray and cook under preheated grill, turning once, until toasted. Spread with the butter, if desired.

Turn the grill off and cover the bread with foil to keep warm.

5. Reheat eggs by bringing a clean pan of water to the boil then removing it from heat. Add eggs.

Stand, covered, for one minute. Remove and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.

6. Place toasted bread on serving plates and top with bacon and eggs. Stir hollandaise sauce and drizzle over the eggs. Sprinkle with any fresh herbs you have in the garden and serve.

Roast Pumpkin Salad ½ cup pine nuts 1kg jap pumpkin, sliced into wedges 1 red onion, halved, thinly sliced 2 cups sparkling wine 30g Dijon mustard 2 cups olive oil 3 cups vegetable oil ½ cup water Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 120g feta, crumbled 500g mixed lettuce leaves 1. Place the pine nuts in a small frying pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a bowl.

2. Bake the pumpkin in the oven on 180° until tender and golden.

3. Let the pumpkin cool.

4. Put the oils, sparkling wine, water, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper in a small jar and shake till combined.

5. Add the mixed lettuce leaves, pine nuts, feta, onion into a bowl. Drizzle over the dressing. Serve in a salad bowl with pumpkin wedges on top.

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W I N T E R recipes

Florentines 3 cups cornflakes 200g mixed nuts or any nuts that you like 100g sliced dried apricots 100g chopped glace cherries 1 cup sweetened condensed milk 250g good-quality dark chocolate 1. Preheat the oven to 140°. Line two large baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

2. Gently combine the cornflakes, nuts, apricots, glace cherries and sweetened condensed milk in a bowl. Place spoonfuls of the mixture on baking trays, leaving enough room between each for biscuits to spread. Bake for 15 minutes until light golden brown, then set aside on a wire rack to cool.

3. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Set aside to cool slightly then spread over the underside of the Florentines. Use a fork to make wiggly lines in the chocolate, then place, chocolate-side up, on a wire rack until set. CWL Images: Zenio Lapka

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wag snag Riverina Bred and Fed Grass fed and pesticide free 100% Premium beef sausage locally produced from paddock to plate

www.w-ag.com.au

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THE REAL DEAL

Escape to a little piece of Italy at Bellotti’s restaurant in Dubbo.

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dining W I N T E R The popular eatery was established by Ashleigh and Monica Bellotti when they purchased the Cascades Motor Inn and Conference Centre.

With previous experience in the restaurant and accommodation sector, the couple set about creating a new destination in a city well known as a popular holiday destination and booming business centre.

“Dubbo has a diverse and thriving economy and a blossoming food and coffee culture,” Ashleigh and Monica say.

“We wanted to do something to complement what was already available by introducing authentic handcrafted Italian food.

“The idea of opening a traditional trattoria-style eating establishment did not appeal. Our goal was to create a special dining experience by bringing in chefs and waiters from Italy and offering traditional Neapolitan pizza using accredited Italian ingredients.”

Renovations resulted in the creation of a modern open kitchen, with exposed wood-fired pizza oven, and an al fresco dining area in an attractive garden setting.

“People coming to the restaurant like to see the chefs in action and children in particular love to watch the pizza dough being tossed into the air.

“All our cheeses and flours are imported from Italy and work beautifully with award-winning fresh ingredients supplied by top producers in the Dubbo region.

“We use meats from Bourke Street Butchery and Mother Clucker Eggs, who supply some of the best restaurants in Sydney. Quality fresh eggs are essential as they form the foundation for the pastas made in house.

“Vegetables are locally produced and we grow most of the herbs ourselves. Everything on the menu is fresh and handmade. The extensive wine list includes selections from some of the region’s best vineyards.”

Bellotti’s is open for dinner from Thursday to Sunday and for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Private dining is available for conference and business groups, special events and family occasions.

The Cascades has 36 guest rooms and five conference areas of varying compositions able to cater for groups as small as five and as large as 200.

The restaurant dining room is usually set for 80 people to provide plenty of space between tables. The al fresco dining space seats 50.

“Bellotti’s is very much a destination for people who want to have a good night out,” the Bellottis say.

“People are able to start their evening with a drink at the bar, have dinner and then conclude the night by enjoying coffee and liqueurs while seated comfortably on lounges in the break-out areas in the restaurant.

“We are licensed until midnight so there is no need for anyone to feel rushed.

“While special occasions are a specialty we also offer relaxed dining for family groups and set-menu two-course lunches.

“Upcoming events will include suppliers’ dinners with growers talking about the regional ingredients used in the creation of dishes.” CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka, Clancy Job & Kerrieanne Lavelle

TOP: Owners Ashleigh and Monica Bellotti with their son, Churchill.

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W I N T E R country story name recipes

flavour fest

These hearty dishes are guaranteed to tantalise your tastebuds and warm the cockles of your heart.

ORANGE AND CINNAMON LAMB SHANKS The delicious main makes a great talking point among dinner guests. It is a good idea to make this one day in advance as the flavour improves.

4 lamb shanks, before cooking remove as much fat from shanks as possible 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tbsp grated orange rind 1 tsp grated lemon rind 1 tsp salt 1 medium finely chopped cooking apple 1 medium finely chopped onion 1 cup orange juice [fresh or concentrate] 1. Roll shanks in plain flour and brown in hot oil. Then place in slow cooker.

2. Combine all ingredients and pour over meat in slow cooker.

3. Cover and bring to the boil.

4. Reduce heat and simmer for about 1½ hours until tender.

5. Strain and chill gravy to remove fat.

RASPBERRY BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING

The simple dessert is a favourite across all generations.

3 slices bread Butter ½ cup raspberry jam 2 eggs 40g sugar 360ml warm milk 1. P reheat oven to 180°.

2. C ut bread to size of bowls, and butter.

3. S pread with raspberry jam.

4. P lace jam side down and butter up.

5. P ut into bowls.

6. B eat eggs and sugar then pour in warm milk.

7. Strain over the bread. Bake until firm and set and brown on top.

8. Place a small dob of pure raspberry jam on top and serve with your favourite ice-cream or yoghurt.

Recipes: Lorraine Hills

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XERO Gold Partner

Unit 12/36 Darling Street Dubbo, NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6885 5594 E: admin@peacockeaccountants.com.au www.peacockeaccountants.com.au

Combining the knowledge of your business with our expertise – growing your small business or farming operation is our passion.

grass-fed, pasture-raised lamb, delivered direct to you Stoneridge71 lamb boxes are a convenient and easy way to enjoy premium, natural lamb, grown locally in the Young region

by Richard and Bernadette Page.

We believe that knowing where your food comes from is a vital part of eating right.

Our lambs are all born and raised on chemical-free pastures with a focus on their health and well-being.

Order online at www.stoneridge71.com.au P 0429 692 051 E info@stoneridge71.com.au Please check our website for areas where we offer delivery.

MODERN ITALIAN RESTAURANT | FUNCTIONS | EVENTS RESTAURANT TUESDAY – SUNDAY FROM 6.00PM CASCADES MOTOR INN & BELLOTTI’S ITALIAN DINING 147 COBRA ST, DUBBO 02 6882 3888

WOOD-FIRED PIZZAS ALSO AVAILABLE - EAT IN OR TAKEAWAY

WWW.CASCADESMOTORINN.COM.AU

BELLOTTISITALIANDINING

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agriculture W I N T E R

as nature intended

For four generations spanning close to 100 years, “Stoneridge”, Monteagle, has been in the Page family. For the past two, owner operators Richard and Bernadette Page have been producing premium, home-grown lamb for sale direct to the consumer.

What started as a “toe in the water sort of business”, according to Richard, has become a rewarding passion for the family. On their Hilltops Region property, they run a flock of 2500 Merino ewes, which are joined to White Suffolk rams to produce first cross lambs. Selected lambs are sent to the abattoir at nearby Cowra and processed at Gary’s Gourmet Meats in Young, before being packed and labelled by Richard and Bernadette, and finally delivered to the customer.

Originally a mixed farming enterprise, “Stoneridge” has evolved through holistic management with a focus on soil health. This aims to produce the healthiest possible animals with little or no chemical inputs, and as of 2012 “Stoneridge” runs solely livestock.

Depending on the season, the Pages take on agistment cattle to utilise their pastures.

“Providing home-grown, delivered lamb to consumers has been a business idea we’ve mulled over for many years,” Richard says.

“There’s a growing interest in knowing where your food comes from, eating healthily, as well as sustainable farming. We provide for all those things and we love the journey.

“Bernadette and I have taken a strong interest in holistic management, ecological agriculture and low-stress stock handling, having done a number of courses over the years. Training has certainly given us the tools and knowledge to change our systems to a sustainable and regenerative system.”

Bernadette also has an Advanced Diploma of Nutritional Medicine and has recently started consulting in Young as a nutritionist, creating a further connection with holistic management and healthy living.

Stoneridge71 is very much a family business. Madeline, 20, is in her first year of studies in Wildlife and Conservation Biology at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Darcy, 18, is commencing

Food and Agribusiness at the University of Sydney, and Callum, 15, is in Year 10 at Knox Grammar School, also in Sydney. During their holidays, they each lend a hand at home.

While Richard’s role extends from husbandry to logistics, Bernadette handles the marketing. Together they take on distribution, and by splitting the run they can fulfil a personal connection with customers.

“We see Stoneridge71 as an excellent way to connect with the consumer, and we’re constantly finding the more we put in, the more we get out of it,” Richard says.

Boxes filled with tasty lamb are prepared to order each month, and delivered free into Young. Richard and Bernadette are also delivering to Harden, Boorowa and surrounding towns, as well as select locations in Sydney and the Southern Highlands.

Customers can order a box of 8-10 kilograms of grass-fed pasture-raised lamb, ready to eat or put in the freezer for later.

If the growing customer base is anything to go by, it’s safe to say Stoneridge71 lamb beats its store-bought counterpart.

“We’re passionate about raising happy lambs that have plenty of space, sunshine and grass, as well as having a connection with the land that produces our food. We’re very grateful to be able to provide that link to our customers too,” Richard says.

For orders, visit stoneridge71.com.au. CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Holly Bradford

FACING PAGE: (L-R) Richard, Bernadette, Darcy, Maddie and Callum Page make a great family team; the Page family is passionate about raising happy lambs that have plenty of space, sunshine and grass.

ABOVE: Tasty homegrown Stoneridge71 lamb loin chops; Richard Page shedding lambs at “Stoneridge”, Monteagle.

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W I N T E R health & wellness

FINDING THE PERFECT

Hippocrates stated 2000 years ago that all disease began in the gut.

balance

Your gut houses about 100 trillion microbes, including about 600 different species of bacteria, several dozen types of yeast or fungi, and an unknown number of viruses, which we collectively call your gut microbiome.

Among its many roles, healthy gut flora contributes to the production of essential amino acids, neurotransmitters like your feel-good hormone serotonin, and vitamins like K and B12.

When your gut becomes out of balance it is called dysbiosis. This means the “bad” bugs take over and throw an unwelcome party in your gut.

These microbiome imbalances cause numerous diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, diabetes (type 1 and 2), allergies, asthma, and cancer.

Everyone always has some bad bugs in their gut, but when too many overpower the good bugs, they create these problems and more. Numerous

factors contribute to gut imbalances, including bad diet, chronic stress, constipation and environmental toxins.

How do you know you have too many bad gut bugs? People who have dysbiosis suffer from issues like recurrent diarrhoea, constipation, gas, bloating and that “stuffed” feeling after meals. Others experience skin conditions like rashes or hives.

Numbness in your hands and feet or joint pain can also be the result of dysbiosis.

The gut is often referred to as the second brain. It is a vital hub of information about your health and it’s sensitive, reacting to everything from stress to the food you feed it, medication and lifestyle choices. Avoid a diet high in highly processed, high fat, high sugar foods and opt for high fibre, nutrient dense wholefoods and your gut bugs will be happy. CWL Words: Therese Cullen

What you can do to create happy, healthy gut bugs We’re talking real, whole, nutrient-rich foods, of course, but also fermented and cultured foods. They support the growth of your “good bacteria”. These include cultured foods like yoghurt or kefir, fermented foods including sauerkraut and kimchi, and cultured beverages containing favourable live bacteria like kombucha and coconut water kefir.

2. SLEEP WELL

Sleep patterns can adversely affect your microbiome. That is why I recommend patients keep a consistent sleep schedule and enjoy at least seven hours (but more like eight or nine) of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night.

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3. EXERCISE

Exercise can enhance the number of beneficial microbial species, enrich microflora diversity and improve the development of good bacteria.

The message is clear – get out there and move your body. Look for ways to make movement exciting and enjoyable.

4. USE THE RIGHT PROBIOTIC

One supplement that is always helpful is a quality probiotic. Even if you eat plenty of fermented and prebiotic-rich foods, a probiotic supplement can deliver billions of these healthy bugs to where they are needed in order to maintain good gut balance.

5. MANAGE STRESS

You can’t eliminate stress, but you can certainly manage it with strategies like deep breathing, meditation, yoga or even walking your dog around the park.

Schedule them into your life and do them regularly. Your gut and your overall health will thank you.

Therese Cullen is a nutritionist specialising in gut health, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with people living in regional areas.

Website: www.livingnaturally.com.au Instagram: @living_naturally_therese

Antonina Vlasova/Shutterstock.com

1. NOURISH WITH THE RIGHT FOODS

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COSMETIC

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WEBSITE ESSENTIALS The important fundamentals every business owner should know. changed significantly in recent years, and this means that if you’re not online, you are at risk of losing market share.

For many, the prospect of creating a website can be daunting, so here are some fundamentals you should know before you start.

1. PROFE SSIONAL OR DIY? The first decision to make is whether you would like to attempt to create the website yourself, or if you’re happy to leave the process in the hands of a professional web developer.

If you have strong computer skills and are confident with technology, and if you have plenty of available time to spend on the process, then it’s worthwhile considering the do-it-yourself options available. There are a number of solutions online, with varying ongoing costs and some limitations – the pros and cons should be considered. Make sure you do your research before rushing ahead with a provider.

For those who acknowledge their time is scarce and would prefer professional results, then research is also important when choosing the provider you work with. A positive referral is a valuable way to find a web developer. You need them to be reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable in their field, with proven experience. Look at examples of their work and the type of clients they work with – is the standard of their work suitable, and do they seem like a good fit for you? You could also look at their Facebook page for reviews.

2. D OMAINS AND HOSTING In order to have a website online, you require a domain name. This is the address where people can find your website on the internet, such as www.yourbusinessname.com.au. You can register a domain name online and renew it annually, or every two years (for .au domains).

It’s a good idea to register multiple extensions of your business name domain for brand protection (.com.au and .com), and the additional domains can be pointed to your website.

Registering domains is something you can do yourself, or have your web developer do for you – just make sure they provide access details to you, such as the account login and domain password (it’s important your domain is registered to you, not them, and that you have a level of control and access to it).

Website hosting is required as the home for your website – the place where the website

files live in cyberspace. Most DIY options will include this in their service, but there are many providers out there to consider if you need to sign up your own hosting, but not all hosts are equal. Your web developer will usually take care of this for you, and often will have their own preferred provider that they work with.

Email hosting is another thing to consider. By owning a domain name, it allows you to have professional looking email addresses at that name. You will require email hosting connected to your domain, and I recommend going with a cloud-based option, such as G-Suite (Gmail for your business emails).

It’s also now important to ensure you have an SSL certificate on your website for security.

This can be purchased with your domain name or hosting, and means that your site will have https:// rather than http:// at the beginning of the URL. This is important for Google rankings.

3. THE PLATF ORM Today the majority of sites are built on an online content management system, which means you can access the site from anywhere to make updates yourself, and this is a very reasonable expectation for you to have.

Usually ongoing maintenance is required to keep the software and plugins up to date, to ensure the site is performing well, and is fast and secure.

It’s also essential that your site is mobileresponsive. It is now an expectation that a site will be responsive on mobile devices – users can quickly leave the site and go elsewhere if they find that it’s not. It was in 2016 that internet access on mobile devices surpassed desktop computers, and this is only increasing. It’s important to know that Google also penalises sites in its rankings that aren’t responsive.

Wi th a b as ic un dersta n di n g of th e fo un dations of yo ur webs i te, yo u ca n e mbrace th e process w i th conf iden ce a n d c la r i ty.

Words: Kate Boshammer Kate is the founder of Kabosh Creative, and since 2009 has specialised in providing quality website development for rural and regional businesses.

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Floral Deco/Shutterstock.com

W

e all understand how important technology is in today’s world, and it is widely accepted that without a website, many businesses are at a big disadvantage. The way our customers research and make purchasing decisions has

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RELAX AND ENJOY Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of superb sights, tastes and experiences.

We arrived in Sri Lanka after some time in India, and expected certain similarities, perhaps due to the proximity. But it was clear from the moment of arrival that Sri Lanka was rocking a much more relaxed vibe.

Touts were more likely to smile and walk away after a “no, thank you� from a potential customer, rather than follow you down the street with a rapid-fire sales pitch. Oh, and it was cleaner, much cleaner.

Our two-week itinerary was just enough to get a taste of a few different Sri Lankan experiences, and we had chosen carefully.

Touring clockwise from the capital of Colombo through the centre of this gorgeous island in the Indian Ocean, we visited UNESCO World Heritage sites, lush, mountainous terrain, an animal-filled nature reserve, sandy beaches and ate far too much delicious Sri Lankan food.

travel W I N T E R

Culinary and cultural delights awaited us in Kandy, in the centre of this compact isle, where firewalkers made their audiences gasp and clap in vibrant displays of traditional dance and music.

German backpackers were amazed at the filling (and cheap!) hoppers – a tasty dish traditionally served at breakfast, but can be eaten at any time. These delectable morsels are very like crepes only made in a bowl shaped pan from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, topped with curry and spicy sambal, edges folded in and eaten with the fingers. An egg hopper, unsurprisingly, has an egg added to the batter in the cooking process, for those looking for a more filling, protein hit. Is it any wonder that the backpackers were thrilled with this bargain?

From Kandy, a daytrip diversion to Sigiriya and Dambulla Temple Caves proved satisfyingly rewarding. We needed a very early start to our day to beat the crowds at one of the most awesome feats of engineering and imagination in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya, the Lion Rock, is also of much historical, religious and cultural importance. On the top of this imposing, impressive monolith are the remains of a palace fortress built in the time of King Kasyapa, hovering above his new capital city on the ground below. I have no idea how they would have managed the build or how many lives would have been lost falling off the edge of the rock, but it would have been a magnificent and wonderful thing, this palace. Now, only the macaques and lizards inhabit there. >

FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The beach of Unawatuna; elephant and baby in Udawalawe National Park; grey heron in Udawalawe National Park; rice fields.

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Mirror wall of Sigiriya; grey langur monkey in Udawalawe National Park; the view from atop Sigiriya; hoppers in Sri Lanka; russet-throated green bird in Udawalawe National Park; traditional lace making in Galle; water buffalo in Udawalawe National Park.

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where is it?

Sri Lanka is a small island off the south east coast of India, population 21 million.

how to get there?

Flights depart from Sydney several times daily with Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia (there are no direct flights).

what to eat?

Hoppers - plain, egg or string hoppers.

They are all delicious! And curry Sri Lankan curry tastes like no other!

what to do?

Visit the nature reserves, the beaches, the lush hill country, take a ride on a train through tea plantations, visit UNESCO sites and soak up the culture.

“Pe o ple s m i le d a s we p a s s e d a nd s t a f f at b a r s we r e p r e p a r i n g for t he a f t e r no on co ck t a i l r u sh .”

while, loving the experience and privilege of being so close to such wonderful and intelligent animals, watching their interactions and routines. A young bull elephant advanced over a hill, strutting his stuff and moving towards the group, but when he saw the older and much larger male poke his head out of the foliage, he did a quick turn and jogged off, ears flapping and trunk twitching.

Unawatuna

The nearby Golden Temple of the Dambulla cave complex provided welcome respite from the increasing heat in the afternoon.

These caves were filled with glorious examples of religious art, paintings and statues that left no doubt in the visitors’ minds the value of Buddhism in Sri Lankan culture. The five of the 80 caves in the area that are open to the public are superb.

Udawalawe National Park

In the yard of our tiny B&B not far from the park gates, we climbed aboard the open-sided jeep with its “stadium seating” and headed on in, ready for the glories about to unfold under the setting sun.

Strategically placed in the vehicle, we had all angles covered, poised to point upon the sighting of . . . well, anything! Only 300m into the park a dark grey, leathery head appeared out of the foliage, and we snapped off a ream of pics in case it was the only elephant we saw. But as we drove, the gifts just kept coming: elephant calves with their mums and aunties and cousins, eating, drinking, playing in the mud baths.

An open-plain expanse near a large water hole was a prime gathering spot for herds of water buffalo and wild buffalo. Nearby, a large extended family of elephants congregated, so we stayed a

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While there are a number of beachfront hotels on the bay of Unawatuna, we selected a small B&B villa across the road from the beach at a fraction of the cost. The afternoon of our arrival, we darted between a shop and a food joint to get to the expanse of sand. Immediately, we were struck by the simplicity and beauty of the curve of water meeting land. People smiled as we passed and staff at bars were preparing for the afternoon cocktail rush. But our priority was our first ever swim in the Indian Ocean, and we savoured the caress of the salt water, finding salve from the heat of the afternoon sun.

Our daily leisurely breakfasts were had on the verandah of our villa, overlooking the lush, well-tended garden, while sipping ginger tea. Morning was also the time to observe the gray langur monkeys frolicking in the treetops alongside our table. Thankfully, they had no interest in us, or our food, and enjoyed their own breakfast of leaves and shoots.

When planning a “travelling” holiday, it is easy to allocate too few days in one location and not enough down time. So our spell of four nights in Unawatuna was a gift. We slept in, had leisurely, abundant breakfasts, went for morning swims in the ocean, had massages, meals at some of the many restaurants on offer, more swimming, more relaxing, sunset cocktails on the beach, and occasional jaunts to the old fortress town of Galle. The sun and sea soothed our souls, and the Sri Lankan people, their culture and their food seduced us. CWL Words: Nicole Bonfield Images: John Baltaks

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sunset boats on Unawatuna Beach; up close with the elephants in Udawalawe National Park.

Miller’s Pharmacy

Miller’s Pharmacy Yass is a family owned and operated independent pharmacy with a strong local focus.

Our highly experienced team provides an innovative and comprehensive range of pharmacy and health services, which includes a sleep apnoea clinic, compression garment service, diabetes and asthma management, wound care and much more.

We also carry a beautiful range of giftware.

FREE HOME DELIVERY

112-114 Comur Street, Yass (02) 6226 1264

Comur House

homewares, fashion & gifts to inspire....

116 Comur Street, Yass NSW 2582 Ph: 02 6226 1411

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Yass Valley Launch: Left to right: Cr Kim Turner, Cr Mike Reid, The Hon Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn, Yass Valley Mayor Cr Rowena Abbey, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle, Publishers of Central West Lifestyle, Cr Geoff Frost.

CWL AUTUMN 2018 LAUNCH Yass The launch of the Autumn 2018 edition of Central West Lifestyle took place at Tootsie Fine Art and Design, Yass, in front of a large gathering of invited guests including the Member for Goulburn, The Hon Pru Goward, Yass Valley Mayor Cr Rowena Abbey, councillors and invited guests.

Deputy Mayor Cr Kim Turner acted as MC, and welcomed everyone to the celebratory evening. He recounted the time when he visited Australia 50 years ago and was mesmerised by the amazing views in the local area. “Little did I know I would spend the rest of my life in the Yass Valley,” Cr Turner said.

Tootsie Fine Art and Design owner Michaela Pothan said she relished the opportunity to showcase artwork in her space and acknowledged the large number of creative and talented local people.

“Central West Lifestyle has provided an amazing opportunity to put the Yass Valley on the map,” she said.

The Mayor, Cr Rowena Abbey, thanked all the people who had allowed the writers into their lives and shared their amazing stories.

“Throughout 100 pages, this magazine showcases the whole of the Yass Valley to readers across the state and beyond and shows what a great place this is to live,” she said.

MP Pru Goward congratulated Elizabeth and Alex Tickle, publishers of Central West Lifestyle, on another stunning edition.

“You have really captured the spirit of this region and the sense of excitement about what the community is achieving here,” she said.

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“I have no doubt it will promote the region and, with Canberra on our doorstep, I hope we can get that tourism market to appreciate the wonderful attractions we have to offer here in the Yass Valley.”

Elizabeth Tickle thanked everyone for their support. She made particular mention of those people from the area who had agreed to participate by allowing Central West Lifestyle to tell their stories.

She also thanked the visionary Yass Valley Council as well as the local advertisers from the Yass Valley whose support was vital for the success of the publication. Lastly, she paid tribute to the CWL team members who were in attendance.

In conclusion, Fran Charge from Oberon delivered some sentiments from CWL writer and photographer Jake Lindsay, who was unable to attend the launch.

Jake spoke fondly of the people and the Yass Valley and said: “Having never experienced Yass’s many delights before, I can tell you I was in for a lot of exciting times exploring the region and getting to know some of the real characters who have chosen to call this area home.”

Copies of the Autumn Central West Lifestyle magazine are available for purchase from the Yass newsagency, as well as newsagencies and selected stockists in many towns and cities across the state. Details of stockists are available on the magazine’s website: www.centralwestmagazine.com.au.

Images: Zenio Lapka

events W I N T E R

Nicola and Simon Lambert, Sutton, with son Syd.

Debbie and Cyril Cox, Mayfield Mews, Bowning.

Yass Valley Mayor Cr Rowena Abbey and Brendan Abbey, Yass Valley Media and Communications Officer Gill Elphinston and Cyril Cox, Mayfield Mews.

Leigh Robinson and Noelne Garner, Cafe Dolcetto, Yass.

Lyndall Eeg, ‘Eurallie’, Yass with owner of Tootsies and hostess for the evening, Michaela Pothan.

Chris and Tony Weekes, Thunderbird Motel, Yass with Sam Longmore and Jude Bannister.

Ian and Helen Chu with Cr Kim Turner (centre).

CWL travel writers Nicole Bonfield and John Baltaks with Andrew and Lee-Ann Dodds, Thyme to Taste, Yass.

Susan Hill, Hillgrove Pottery, with Derek Hill, Murrumbateman.

CWL Editor Elizabeth Tickle, Sam Longmore and Jude Bannister, Yass.

Diana Streak, Sutton, Nicole Bonfield and John Baltaks, Lapstone, with Bernard O’Shea, Sydney.

Graeme and Ann Shaw, Shaw Vineyard Estate, Yass.

Rocky and Kim Henderson, Grogansworth Merinos, Bowning, The Hon Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn, with Alex and Elizabeth Tickle, CWL.

Lindsay McDonald with Peter Minson, Binalong.

Bimbi Turner with Yass Valley Deputy Mayor Cr Kim Turner.

Tony and Karin Hawker, Yass Railway Museum, with Gary and Leigh Robinson and Noelene Garner.

Brendan Abbey, Yass, with Ben Haseler ‘Bowylie’, Gundaroo with Graeme Shaw, Shaw Vineyard, Murrumbateman.

CWL Publisher Alex Tickle with Paul Simons and Lyndall Eeg, ‘Euralie’, Yass.

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W I N T E R events

AUTUMNFEST Mayfield Garden On Saturday, April 7, AutumnFest at Mayfield Garden saw 540 guests sing, dance, eat and drink among the spectacular golden allee of London plane trees.

Mayfield handpicked the best local musicians to keep the crowd entertained along with the best local food, wine and craft beer stalls that kept every one’s tastebuds entertained.

Josh Maynard kicked the show off with some originals as well as covers. Wicked Whiskey got the crowd up with their

Melanie Pearce, ABC Central West, Orange with James Pearce, Orange.

Cr Mark Kellam, Mayor of Oberon Kath Sojawitz and Lexi Kellam.

toe-tapping songs, and Smith & Jones and friends played crowd favourites as well as many songs off their album.

Last, but certainly not least, Mickey Pye played until the sun came down.

The day also included free face painting and a giant leaf pit with prizes within, which was very popular with attendees searching for the prizes and swan diving at will! CWL Words: Hamish Keith Images: Zenio Lapka

Michael and Sue Mangan, Mangan Logging.

Entertainers at AutumnFest, Abby Smith and Sophie Jones, Smith & Jones.

A relaxed scene at AutumnFest.

Making great music on the day were Mickey Pye and his sister Clancy Pye.

Oberon Council General Manager Gary Wallace with Rhonda and Paul Taylor, Orange.

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CWL Publishers Alex and Elizabeth Tickle had a magazine stand at AutumnFest.

Karin and Warwick Mawhood, Orange.

Mina Keith, 4, plays in the leaves and sunshine that symbolise Autumnfest at Mayfied Gardens, Oberon.

Jim Snelson, Borg Panels, Michael Mangan, Mangan Logging, with Tim Charge, OBTA.

Jenny Bennett, CENTROC, and Emma Thomas, Regional Development Committee.

“Come up to Oberon for some fresh air”

Billabong Cottage Oberon Trout Fishing and Farm Holiday

Phone: 6336 5144 Mobile: 0427 365 144 Email: timcharge@bigpond.com Website: www.bluemts.com.au/Billabongcottage Your Hosts: Tim and Fran Charge

“Angullong has perhaps Orange’s best value range...” Huon Hooke Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for tasting and sales.

Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe. Ph: 02 6366 3444 OPEN 7 DAYS 11am to 5pm

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The Central West Lifestyle team members with partners.

CWL TEAM CHRISTMAS PARTY Blayney The CWL team enjoyed a night of reflection and camaraderie at the gorgeous Blayney function venue Athol Gardens in December 2017. Our sincere thanks to Karen and David Somervaille and their staff for their warm hospitality.

The emcee for the evening was Tim Charge, from Oberon, who did an excellent job. The garden setting was superb and encouraged the guests to savour the moment. Once in the dining space, spectacularly lit by

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fairy lights, stunning cuisine as well as very special wine from Angullong Wines made the evening complete.

Due to the diverse geographical location of many of our team members, the Christmas party provided a great opportunity to meet up, share our trials and tribulations and celebrate how far we have come as a committed and passionate group. CWL Words: Elizabeth Tickle Images: Zenio Lapka

events W I N T E R

Elizabeth Tickle, Dubbo (centre) with daughters, Anna Tickle (left), Wellington, and Kate Boshammer, Condamine, QLD.

Natalie Snare, Dubbo, Tim Charge, Oberon, Peter Snare, Talbragar Street Newsagency, Dubbo and Fran Charge, Oberon.

Elizabeth and Phil Swane, Dural with Gina Cranson (centre), New Lambton.

Greg and Christene Nash, Parkes News and Gifts, with Jake Lindsay, Coonabarabran.

Johno and Amanda O’Sullivan, Dubbo, with Lorraine Hills, Guyra, and Elizabeth Tickle, Dubbo.

Jason Conn, Wellington, Justin Boshammer, Condamine QLD, with Justin Sanderson, Collie.

Greg and Brenda Powell, Valentine.

Kev Cranson, New Lambton, and Sean Donaldson, Sydney.

Zenio and Lorraine Lapka, Blayney.

Kate Boshammer, Condamine QLD, and Zora Regulic, Sydney.

Jon and Heather Crosby, Dubbo.

Ian Hills, Guyra, Jake Lindsay, Coonabarabran, with Alex Tickle, Dubbo.

Night lights at Athol Gardens.

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W I N T E R events

YEOVAL PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISER Yeoval

Kate Brown and Katie Koady, Yeoval.

Jonathan and Rebecca Job, Dubbo.

Neil Spackman and Leonne Tremain, Yeoval.

Kim and Stafford Job, Toongi, Dubbo.

Rana Hunter, Yeoval, and Kristy Fogarty, Bathurst.

Brooke Dorin and Rory Ryan, Gillmore Poll Dorsets, Yeoval.

Kate and Nigel Kerin, Kerin Poll Merino Stud, Yeoval.

Ian Knox and Dionne Mitchell, Curra Creek.

Emily Johnson and Caleb Morris, Yeoval.

Jacqui Morris, Kristy Christie and Amy Dickens, event organisers, Yeoval, with Annette Gibbons, Director of Pre-School, with staff members Jenny Burke, Molong, and Rachel Cashman, Cumnock.

The small community of Yeoval united on March 17 to achieve a significant fundraising total fitting of a much larger community’s effort.

There are just 250-odd people in Yeoval but about 110 people attended the Yeoval Preschool St Patrick’s Day Seafood and Fundraising Night, raising more than $25,000.

The event was held at Nigel and Kate Kerin’s Kerin Poll Merino Stud woolshed, with a 12-lot live auction and 22-lot silent auction, which together grossed $19,500.

Auction items included a five-night family holiday package to Nelson Bay, a Kerin Engineering sheep lick feeder, a ClearWater Tanks concrete stock trough, and two Speckle Park cattle hides.

Nick Fogarty, from gold sponsor Bowyer and Livermore, worked his magic as auctioneer, and guests put their best feet forward to raise funds well above expectations.

“We still can’t believe it – we were hoping to raise $5000 or maybe even $10,000,” said one of the organisers and Yeoval Preschool Vice President/Secretary Amy Dickens.

“We had two clear objectives for the event: one was to raise funds to enable us to achieve development goals at the preschool, while the other was to bring our community together for a fun-filled evening.

“The timing of it couldn’t have been better from that social perspective, with it being so dry at the moment.

“The night was a fantastic opportunity for us all to get together and just let our hair down for the night.”

Amy said renowned poet, author and entertainer Murray Hartin got the crowd laughing in his role as MC, and following formal proceedings, Tamworth band The Redneck Gentlemen were a big hit.

“It was a really special night for our community,” she said. CWL Words: Amy Dickens Images: Zenio Lapka

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Yeoval locals Matt and Mia Wilkin with Olivia and Peter Atkinson.

Anna and Ryan Johnstone, Geurie, Angela Wilson, Lynda and Kim Swain all from Peak Hill, Alana Kerin, Yeoval, Ben Wilson, Peak Hill, with Matt Kerin, Yeoval.

John and Karen Smith, Yeoval.

Ray and Trish Kerin, Yeoval.

Kate and Tony Dickens, Yeoval.

Bronwyn and Tony Johnson, Yeoval.

Bron Flick and Angela Bruce, Cumnock.

Kieran Potter, Wellington, Annette and Evette Gibbons with Ralph Blue, Yeoval.

GILGANDRA HOME OF THE COO-EE MARCH

Stop for a coffee or stay for the night.

Museums | Art gallery | Boutique shopping | Southern gateway to the magnificent Warrumungle National Park

gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

DUBBO The Grapevine Cafe has great coffee and great food.

We offer an indoor or outdoor dining experience with full table service.

Situated in a beautiful heritage listed building with a spacious courtyard.

144 Brisbane Street Dubbo NSW 2830 Phone: (02) 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS CWL 205

A SEASON IN THE

country

WHAT TO SEE AND DO THIS WINTER Cowra Community Markets

ROSTO Festival of the Fleeces

Cowra Showground Pavilion Kaye Chapman 0473 346 046.

Merriwa Peta Luke (02) 6521 7046 FOTF@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au www.festivalofthefleeces.com.au

North West Equestrian Expo 1 – 5 JUNE

Coonabarabran Showground, Coonabarabran Rebecca Moxham 0427 426 228 coona.expo@gmail.com www.nwequestrianexpo.com

Henry Lawson Festival 7 – 11 JUNE

Grenfell Grenfell Visitor Information Centre (02) 6343 2059 info@henrylawsonfestival.com.au www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au

Pitch Fork

8 – 10 JUNE

Country Music Spectacular 8 – 10 JUNE

Macquarie Inn, Dubbo Mal Norton 0434 141 903 malnorton1@hotmail.com www.dubbo.com.au/events

Australian Scale Aerobatics Championships 8 – 10 JUNE

Parkes www.visitparkes.com.au

Henry Lawson Heritage Festival

8 – 9 JUNE

Cowra (02) 6342 1169 insideout@cowra2794.com.au www.pitchforkcowra.com

8 – 11 JUNE

Gulgong Charles Vassel (02) 6374 1209 www.gulgonghenrylawsonheritagefestival.com

Parkes Picnic Races 9 JUNE

Parkes Racecourse Publicity officer 0417 237 068 Facebook: Parkes Picnic Races

Mudgee Makers Market 9 JUNE

St Mary’s Church grounds Corner Church and Market streets, Mudgee Julie Watt 0412 222 442 farmersmarket@mudgeefinefoods.com.au

Blue Waters Art and Craft Exhibition 8 – 9 June, Pitchfork

Pitch Fork Cowra, a celebration of outdoor Aussie lifestyle, camping, cooking and sitting around the campfire with good food, good people and good yarns.

9 – 10 JUNE

Lake Cargelligo Tourist Information Centre (02) 6898 1501 www.lakecargelligo.net.au/artsandcrafts.html

Rosby Art Workshops

9 – 10 JUNE, 20 – 21 JUNE, 1 – 2 AUGUST

Rosby, 122 Strikes Lane, Mudgee Kay Norton-Knight 0428 635 993 kay@rosby.com.au

UneARThed 2018 9 – 10 JUNE

Gulgong Memorial Hall 0400 487 189 artscouncilgulgong@hotmail.com www.gulgong-arts.com

8 – 10 June, ROSTO Festival of the Fleeces

Merriwa Festival of the fleeces showcases the sheep industry in a very unique way - the sheep wear bright red socks as they walk down the golden highway.

Lake Cargelligo Historical Museum Open Day 9 – 10 JUNE

5-21 Holt Street, Lake Cargelligo (02) 6898 1384 www.mgnsw.org.au

17 June, Winter Winery Wander

Participants enjoying a delicious lunch and wine from Grass Parrot Vineyard, Bathurst.

Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft 9 – 11 JUNE

Coonamble Showground Rodeo Secretary 0487 815 066 Campdraft secretary 0427 221 393 www.coonamblerodeoandcampdraft.com.au

Taralga Art Show 9 – 11 JUNE

Taralga Memorial Hall Orchard Street, Taralga Jan Green (02) 4840 6101 greenjs@harboursat.com.au Facebook: Taralga Art Show

Antique, Jewellery and Vintage Fair 15 – 17 JUNE

Orange Function Centre, Bathurst Road, Orange Frances Young 0407 952 675 f.young@bigpond.com www.zontadistrict24.org

Winter Winery Wander 17 JUNE

Bathurst, six destinations (02) 6331 7044 book@panoramacruiseandtravel.com.au www.panoramacruiseandtravel.com.au

Mudgee Farm Walks

17 JUNE, 22 JULY, 19 AUGUST

Meeting point Mudgee Visitor Information Centre 84 Market Street, Mudgee Julie Watt 0412 222 442 farmersmarket@mudgeefinefoods.com.au

Blayney Farmers Market 17 JUNE, 15 JULY, 18 AUGUST

Carrington Park Corner of Osman and Church streets, Blayney Rebecca Price 0419 482 449 blayneyfarmersmarket@gmail.com www.blayneyfarmersmarket.com.au

Pitch Fork image: Cowra Guardian. Telescope image: John Sarkissian.

3RD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH

IN COUNTRY NSW

events W I N T E R

Articulate Festival 22 – 23 JUNE

Coonabarabran Cultural Precinct John Street, Coonabarabran Allison Reynolds 0412 729 756 hello@articulatefestival.com www.articulatefestival.com

NSW Regional Technology Expo 22 – 24 JUNE

Orange Function Centre and other venues Graeme Fleming 0427 291 664 Graeme.fleming@bigpond.com www.rdacentralwest.org.au

Music on Mount David Concert 30 JUNE

Kennedy Park, Loch Erin Road, Mount David Rod and Tuson (02) 6337 9679 rodtuson1@gmail.com

Weddin Workshop Month

JULY – EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Grenfell Grenfell Visitor Information Centre (02) 6343 2059 claire@grenfell.org.au www.grenfell.org.au

7– 22 July, Winter Festival @ Mayfield. Mayfield Water Garden with Rhododendrons in bloom.

Mid-Western Dance Festival

Mudgee Small Farm Field Days

Yellow Mountain Cross Country

Parklands Resort, Mudgee midwesterndancefestival@gmail.com www.midwesterndancefestival.org

Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC) 267 Ulan Road, Mudgee 2850 Cassandra Stanford (02) 6372 3899 info@mudgeefielddays.com.au www.mudgeefielddays.com.au

Condobolin and Tottenham Race secretary 0419 227 748 www.yellowmountaincrosscountry.com.au

6 – 12 JULY

Winter Festival @ Mayfield 7 – 22 JULY

530 Mayfield Road, Oberon Meg McKenna (02) 6336 3131 info@mayfieldgarden.com.au www.mayfieldgarden.com.au

13 – 14 JULY

Cowra Wine Show Public Tasting 14 JULY

Cowra Showground Pavilion (02) 6342 1977 cowrawineshow@bigpond.com cowrashow@bigpond.com www.cowratourism.com.au

AstroFest

14 – 16 JULY

Parkes (02) 6861 1769 astrofest@cwas.org.au www.cwas.org.au

Mount Arthur Challenge 15 JULY 13 – 14 July, Mudgee Small Farm Field Days

The Mudgee Small Farm Field Day is Mudgee’s largest annual event and is the premier field days event in Central West NSW.

Mount Arthur Reserve, Wellington Wellington Visitor Information Centre (02) 6840 1770 tourism.wellington@dubbo.nsw.gov.au www.mtarthurchallenge.org.au

Cattleman’s Cup Race Meeting 24 JULY

Warren Showground and Racecourse Warren Jockey Club (02) 6847 3749 info@warrenjockeyclub.com www.warrenjockeyclub.com.au

Warren Polocrosse Carnival

10 – 11 AUGUST

Tullamore Showground 0487 893 100 tullamoreshow@outlook.com www.tullamoreshow.org.au

Mudgee Readers Festival 10 – 12 AUGUST

Mudgee www.mudgeereaders.com

Mudgee Running Festival 19 AUGUST

Mudgee enquiries@mudgeerunningfestival.com.au www.mudgeerunningfestival.com.au

Condobolin Show 24 – 25 AUGUST

(02) 6895 2274 0499 597 844 carol-annmalouf@bigpond.com

Warren Campdraft Weekend 24 – 26 AUGUST

Warren Showground and Racecourse warrencampdraft@outlook.com

Supercrawl Australia 25 – 26 AUGUST

Wellington Chris Tierney 0412 028 775 chris@ultimaterocksports.com.au www.ultimaterocksports.com.au

Harp of Erin Irish Music Festival

Dubbo Stampede

97 Mayne Street, Gulgong (02) 63741166 pow@princeofwalesgulgong.com.au www.princeofwalesgulgong.com.au

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Dubbo Stampede (02) 6801 4450 contact@dubbostampede.com.au www.dubbostampede.com.au

28 JULY

The Central West Astronomical Society is holding its annual festival of astronomy, or AstroFest in Parkes.

Tullamore Show

Warren Showground and Racecourse Warren Polocrosse Club Facebook: Warren-Polocrosse-Club

28 – 29 JULY

14-16 July, AstroFest

4 – 5 AUGUST

Do you have an event that you would like included in our magazine?

EMAIL: events@centralwestmagazine.com.au Compiled by Heather Crosby

26 AUGUST

All events are subject to change and we recommend contacting the organisers to confirm details.

CWL 207

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208 CWL

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W I N T E R story name

THE BEST OF

Blayney

The village shire of Blayney is known for its character-building cold winters but the locals are warm and welcoming.

When most people arrive in Blayney and villages they are struck by the unique natural beauty of their surrounds. This is a product of the area’s four distinct seasons, which can be a rarity on the Australian mainland.

It’s not unusual to see snowfalls in winter with crisp, clean air to take your breath away.

This soon turns into a beautiful spring, with the glorious warmth of the sun bringing a real English feel to gardens as apple blossoms and wild flowers come to life. Summers are pleasantly warm with cool nights. Autumns are truly spectacular with our altitude allowing for European trees to show off their amazing colours. Tree-lined streets within villages are simply stunning. And as the seasonal cycle starts again, children experience the joy of playing and crunching as they walk through fallen leaves.

Whatever the season, there is always a unique way to get in tune and connect with the environment.

FAMILY FUN

Keeping the kids entertained through funfilled activities and learning experiences is easy. Blayney and villages is a destination where fond family memories are created.

With wide-open spaces, less traffic and where crowds are few, let your children indulge in the great outdoors with less hassle. Parents can relax knowing the kids are happy and content (and off screens) as they try new adventures in the country, indulging in family-friendly village life.

Keeping toddlers through to teenagers active won’t be a problem at the Blayney Heritage Adventure Playground and Wetlands. This award-winning park boasts Australia’s first mouse house, a climbing web, flying fox, playground with liberty

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swing and shared pathways. Featuring colourful deciduous trees, birdlife in the wetlands sanctuary, free barbecue facilities, amenities and dog off-leash area, this is a must stopover point on a long journey or during your stay. Most local villages have parks, tennis courts and playgrounds with Redmond Oval, Millthorpe, also featuring an intermediate level skate park.

CentrePoint Sport & Leisure is conveniently located in the heart of Blayney for climate-controlled indoor swimming throughout the whole year. Look out for the giant inflatable pool toys during school holidays.

Many local events cater to kids with free activities such as craft at the monthly Blayney Farmers Markets. Check the What’s On events listing on www.visitblayney.com.au for details.

There are numerous museums in Blayney Shire, some with interactive displays and stories of early village and rural settlement.

The Golden Memories Museum prides itself on bringing old rural machinery to life, such as the Sunshine Harvester with the press of a button. Children will enjoy a hands-on experience like no other here as they discover Australian inventions, early Wiradjuri life and more. There is even a 20th century toy museum in Carcoar with collectibles throughout the ages including robots, board games and Star Wars figurines. Australia’s only piano museum in Neville features rare instruments dating back to the 1860s.

It is the perfect venue to learn more about pianos. A living museum, visitors can hear instruments in fully guided tours offered on weekends and by appointment on weekdays.

Family meals are available at the country pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes.

Takeaway food is available in Blayney Farm Place Shopping Centre and along the main street. The Millthorpe General Store is a great place for old-fashioned burgers made fresh to order. And while in Millthorpe, wander down Pym Street to Millthorpe’s Sweet and Unique to pick your favourites for a lolly bag or pop into the Old Mill Café for delicious handcrafted cakes and country pies.

For the sweet tooth, get your Willy Wonka on at three of the best chocolatiers in the area including Dapper Chocolates in Adelaide Street, Blayney, Chocolate on Purpose for bush-flavoured tastes to tantalise and Millthorpe Chocolates at the Heritage Railway Station in Millthorpe. CWL Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: Visitors to the Blayney Shire enjoy exploring the landscape and villages of the picturesque Central Tablelands; families visiting Millthorpe are able to glimpse early European settlement of the Central West at the Golden Memories Museum; kayaking is popular as well as water skiing, sailing and fishing at Carcoar Dam, a short 10-minute drive west of Blayney town.

Honey Mustard DRESSING Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressing is more than just a dressing Gluten and preservative free, handmade with all natural ingredients. 100% Australian owned and made.

0427 418 861 Warren, NSW

Whip an ordinary meal into an extraordinary taste sensation

Perfect with fish, red meats, chicken, green salad and as a marinade. Order online today

www.rosies.net.au

BLAYNEY & VILLAGES

• Barry • Carcoar • Hobbys Yards • Kings Plains • Lyndhurst • Mandurama • Millthorpe • Neville • Newbridge

Indulge in the region’s vibrant local festivals, beautiful gardens, fresh produce, rich culture and heritage.

See the ‘What’s On’ events listing at www.blayney.nsw.gov.au #warmwelcome #historicvillages

Blayney Shire Visitor Information Centre 97 Adelaide Street, Blayney • Ph 02 6368 3534 • Fx 02 6368 4360

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W I N T E R weddings

MILLER + BURRELL Jemma Miller and Stuart Burrell were married at St Ambrose Anglican Church, Gilgandra, on September 23, 2017.

Jemma was accompanied by matron of honour Kimberly Simpson and bridesmaids Brodie Miller, Rachael Skinner, Madeline McCutcheon and Simone Burrell. Standing

by Stuart’s side were best man Angus Roberts and groomsmen Sam Miles, Lachlan Roberts, Thomas Burrell and Dylan Altus.

The couple’s reception was held at the Gilgandra Shire Hall, with catering by Megan O’Connor. Flowers were by The Meadow Floral Design, Dubbo, hair by The Studio, Gilgandra, and make-up by Spoilt Beauty, Dubbo.

The couple spent their honeymoon exploring the Blue Mountains and have made their home in Warren.

Photographer: Sheri McMahon Photography

BELOW: Lachlan Roberts, Rachael Skinner, Angus Roberts, Kimberly Simpson, Stuart and Jemma Burrell, Brodie Miller, Sam Miles, Simone Burrell, Dylan Altus, Madeline McCutcheon and Thomas Burrell.

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Spring issue SPRING 2015

COOTAMUNDRA & GUNDAGAI Available September 2018 Subscribe to experience the magazine in print or online: www.centralwestmagazine.com.au

Paleface Arcade, 242 Hoskins St Temora, New South Wales (02) 6977 4122 info@debsjewellery.com

www.debsjewellery.com

Corner of Brisbane and Wingewarra Streets Dubbo NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6882 4411 Fax: 026881 8062

/DubboRSL

CWL 213

W I N T E R weddings

BEECHAM + NOVAK Amber Beecham and Janez Novak were married at Abercrombie House, Bathurst on February 11, 2017.

Amber arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, supplied by Travealy Carriages, Cowra, at the historic Abercrombie House, where 120 guests were waiting.

The couple had their reception at Amber’s family property at Wattle Flat. Local Bathurst suppliers were used on the couple’s special day with Vanessa Pringle Florist, Posh Designs, JD Events and Utter Entertainment all contributing to make the day special.

Amber and Janez honeymooned in Europe for two months before making their home in Canberra.

Photographer: Danni Evans Photography

LEFT: Back: Alex Hoppe, Zacc Booth, Sebastian Bartoszewicz, Andrej Novak, Dusan Novak, Janez and Amber Novak, Melissa Hudson, Taitum Hudson, Alex Gorham, Billee Booth, Ruby Beecham, Amanda Beecham, Crystal Gearon and Megan Kennedy. Front: Zach Grimshaw, Laura Grimshaw, Pippa Grimshaw, Skylah Hudson, Kooper Beecham, Koby Beecham, Rylan Beecham and Braithan Hudson.

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W I N T E R story name

RING OF confidence There’s been a changing of the guard at a prominent Dubbo business steeped in history and tradition.

Kings Hall Jewellers was established by fourthgeneration craftsman Craig Carolan in 1997, not far from the Macquarie Street location where his greatgrandfather, Herbert Whitney, started in the trade more than 100 years ago.

Highly regarded for jewellery design, manufacture and restoration, Craig and his team of creative artisans have specialised in the custom manufacture of fine contemporary pieces using exotic gems, precious stones and diamonds from the world’s premier mining and cutting centres.

“My career as a jeweller has been enormously rewarding,” Craig says.

“But after 35 years in business my wife Kay and I feel the need to head off on a sabbatical. We feel relaxed about the different direction in our lives because new owner Stuart Gould will continue the high standards set by the business.

“Stuart has been an important part of Kings Hall Jewellers for 13 years. He is an excellent jeweller and designer and terrific at working with people.”

Stuart grew up in the Dubbo area and was always curious about the jewellery profession.

His mother collected brooches and was frequently in jewellery shops getting special pieces appraised.

“I often accompanied Mum when she came in to see Craig,” Stuart says.

“After I left school Craig offered me a job for a couple of days and that led to some work on the bench and an apprenticeship.”

Expert at working with platinum and all carat gold alloys, Stuart loves handmaking rings and inspired pieces of jewellery and the reverse engineering involved in restoration, remakes and repairs.

Rings comprise about 70 per cent of the bench work, which involves everything from lockets and earrings to pewter mugs and teapots.

Some of the pieces are of enormous sentimental value to owners, who love to share the stories of their origins.

Kings Hall Jewellers carries a large selection of quality giftware and jewellery as well as loose diamonds and gemstones, including fine Ceylonese and Australian sapphires, rubies from Thailand, Burma and Africa and black opals from Lightning Ridge.

Complimentary services include engraving and gift wrapping on all purchases. CWL Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

RIGHT: Stuart Gould is excited about the future as the new owner of Kings Hall Jewellers in Dubbo; Kay and Craig Carolan are taking a sabbatical after 35 years in business.

216 CWL

KINGS HALL JEWELLERS

180 MACQUARIE STREET, DUBBO

PH: (02) 6885 3500

WWW.KINGSHALL.COM.AU

CWL 217

W I N T E R weddings

REARDON + SIMPSON Peta Reardon and Lachlan Simpson were married on a perfect spring day at Duntryleague, Orange.

Lachlan and Peta, both of Dubbo, said their unique and personalised vows surrounded by 100 of their closest family and friends.

The couple decided against a large bridal party, instead involving friends and family in the ceremony. The bride was accompanied by flowergirls and nieces Rose and Ivy, while Lachlan’s brother, Joe, stood alongside the couple throughout the formalities.

Peta and Lachlan were thrilled with their choice of local suppliers with their ceremony, reception and catering by Duntryleague, Orange. They also utilised several suppliers from their home town of Dubbo with their wedding celebrant, Sue Curley, wedding cake from Church Street CafĂŠ and bouquets by Hot Poppyz Florist.

Peta and Lachlan enjoyed their honeymoon in Melbourne and have settled into married life in Dubbo.

Photographer: Anna Tenne Photography

218 CWL

Byng Street Local Store, the cafe with the red door, is a foodie haven, known and loved for its delicious food, excellent coffee and friendly staff!

Tasty seasonal menus feature local produce and wines from Orange and across the beautiful Central West.

Breakfast & lunch every day from 7am

I

Dinner Thursday & Friday from 6pm

Byng Street Group also provides catering for functions, events, private dinners and parties in and around Orange.

02 6369 0768 I store@byngstreet.com.au www.byngstreet.com.au

9

O

"the locals {ave" - Good Food Guide

CWL 219

W I N T E R weddings

MALONEY + CHAPMAN Danielle Maloney and Michael Chapman were married at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Murringo, on November 4, 2017.

After the ceremony, the couple had their wedding photos at the historic homestead and shearers’ huts at “Orizaba”, a nearby sheep property.

Michael and Danielle enjoyed their wedding reception at the Murringo Community Hall, where they draped the roof, hung fairy lights, set up wooden cable drums, made light fittings out of rusty wire and covered the stage with hessian and corrugated iron. The corrugated iron was made complete with both their grandparents’ wool bale brandings sprayed on.

The couple’s wedding cake topper was Danielle’s grandparents’ when they were married almost 60 years ago. Danielle also wore her mother’s veil, which added a sentimental touch to the day.

Danielle and Michael honeymooned in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville and New York and have made their home in Young.

Photographer: Holly Bradford Photography

ABOVE: Back: Michael Meharg and Patricia Dawe. Front: Danny Deasey, Kathleen Burns, Danielle and Michael Chapman, Georgie Parkman and Nathan Deasey.

220 CWL

“A unique function space created for the people of Parkes and the Central West to celebrate and be entertained.”

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS www.therailwayhotelparkes.com.au

CWL 221

Our Advertisers WINTER 2018

We encourage our readers to support our advertisers.

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HARRY HOWARD FINE FURNITURE

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ST. MICHAEL’S CONVENT Coolamon, 0412 177 230

SHAW VINEYARD ESTATE

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Yass, 6226 1158 thunderbirdmotel.com.au

THYME TO TASTE Yass, 0403 999 899

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TOP PADDOCK

Crookwell, 4832 2319

TOWN & COUNTRY RURAL SUPPLIES

Bathurst, 6332 4044 townandcountrybathurst.com.au

TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP Central West, 6882 1511 toyota.com.au

TRADESMART BUILDING SUPPLY CO Young, 6382 3111

WALGETT SHIRE COUNCIL Walgett, 6829 1670 walgett.nsw.gov.au

NARRABRI SHIRE COUNCIL

SOUTHWELL LAND & WATER

WALLINGTON WINES

STONERIDGE71

WARRUMBUNGLE SHIRE COUNCIL

Monteagle, 0429 692 051 stoneridge71.com.au

Coonabarabran, 6849 2000 warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au

SUZIE HOPE DESIGNS

WEST ORANGE MOTORS

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SWEET BRIAR BED & BREAKFAST

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JACK & JILL’S CAFE

Narrabri, 1800 659 931 visitnarrabri.com.au

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JEMALONG WOOL

NUYU DAY SPA & BEAUTY

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JUDE FLEMING PAINTER Warren, 0419 473 075 judefleming.com

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JUNEE SHIRE COUNCIL

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OUTSCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL

CASCADES MOTOR INN & BELLOTTI’S ITALIAN DINING

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THUNDERBIRD MOTEL

HUTCHEON & PEARCE

KAFFEINE 2582

FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING & SHOE REPAIRS

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KINGS HALL JEWELLERS Dubbo, 6885 3500 kingshall.com.au

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PERENNIALLE PLANTS

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Plainsman Motel 22 Sheriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 comforbes@exemail.com.au Reception Hours: Mon to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat to Sun 8am - 9pm

• Free Wi-Fi available • Room From $ 108 • Two Bedroom Flat $ 180 • Disable Room Available

RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday: Breakfast 7am – 9am | Saturday and Sunday: Breakfast 8am – 9am

Featuring 50 iconic stories, hand-selected from editions 1-18 of Central West Lifestyle.

A premium coffee table book of 212 pages, great value at $14.95.

AVAILABLE NOW From CWL stockists and online: www.centralwestmagazine.com.au

CWL 223

W I N T E R the last word

ripping yarns Narrabri’s Bill “The Breaker” Robinson has lived a life straight out of a wild west movie.

Bill Robinson is a tough-as-nails bushman who has had more lives than a cat but keeps pushing on, living his life to the full in a rough old camp on the edge of town.

Surrounded by his beloved horses, old camp ovens and dusty old saddles, he still dreams of one day breeding a champion.

“It’s a quiet and peaceful life – just how I like it,” he says with a grin. “I’ve got everything I need out here in my caravan and am more than happy doing my own thing.”

The mere fact he is still with us says a lot for his sturdy constitution.

He’s been shot at, almost drowned, survived two plane crashes and run his truck into a train, slicing it in half.

Throughout a lifetime of breaking wild horses, he’s been bucked off more times than he cares to think about, breaking his legs 10 times.

“Horses break my bones but women break my heart,” he says quietly.

“After a stroke three years ago my doctor advised me to give the horses away but they’re my life.”

Bill loves his campdraft and has been a competitor on the local circuit for over 50 years. He desperately wants a crack at Warwick before his 80th birthday in two years.

“It’s all between the ears for both horse and rider. A good horse has a natural instinct to work cattle, a bit like a dog. They need a good, calm temperament. They’re no good if they’re hot-headed.”

Born in Hughenden, Queensland, Bill developed his skills as a yard builder, fencer and dozer driver. In his younger days he worked as a stockman on the sprawling Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory.

“In the early 1960s you worked for wages and tobacco. That’s how it was for plenty of tax dodgers, wife dodgers and other wild characters who went up there to escape society,” he says.

“I used to smoke a tin and a half of Log Cabin each day but gave up those cancer sticks 25 years ago.”

The rum-drinking days are also gone.

“I saw too many good men go crazy on that stuff, drinking it straight with no water – especially up north when they’d bring in tonnes of grog for the races.”

224 CWL

Bill lobbed in Narrabri 42 years ago, expecting to stay a week while his sister had a baby. He never made it home.

Sharing the same name as his father and grandfather, he might well have been a painter. Forty years ago he entered a portrait of a cowboy in the Archibalds – “an old timer like me” – and was highly commended.

Bill pulls out his paints every 20 years and reckons he’s just about due for another one.

He lives by his own set of rules and has some simple philosophies in life. “If you wake up dead you got some problems, mark my words.”

I ask him if there are any regrets.

“When I look back on life, if I could have changed anything I would have finished school, become a vet, got married and had six kids.

“In this world family is everything. A lot of blokes don’t realise this – at least until they’ve lost it.”

While he may not have the material possessions or enjoy the comforts of modern day living, Bill the Breaker has a larger than life character that represents the last of a dying breed. CWL Words and image: Shot by Jake

ABOVE: Bill Robinson is a true blue country character.

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Contact your local Central West Dealer for more information.

Armstrong Toyota (West Wyalong) 02 6972 2400 armstrongtoyota.com.au Bathurst Toyota 02 6334 2224 bathursttoyota.com.au Cobar Toyota 02 6836 4007 parkestoyota.com.au

Cowra Toyota 02 6342 1988 cowratoyota.com.au

Lean & Bennett (Lithgow) 02 6352 2211 leanandbennetttoyota.net.au

Orange Toyota 02 6362 2988 orangetoyota.com.au

Dubbo City Toyota 02 6882 1511 dubbocitytoyota.com.au

Macquarie Toyota (Warren) 02 6847 4266 macquarietoyota.com.au

Parkes Toyota 02 6862 9777 parkestoyota.com.au

Forbes Toyota 02 6851 1644 forbestoyota.com.au

Mudgee Toyota 02 6372 1799 mudgeetoyota.com.au

Gilgandra Toyota 02 6847 2106 gilgandratoyota.com.au

Nyngan Toyota 02 6832 1477 nyngantoyota.com.au

Ron Stubberfield Toyota (Wellington) 02 6845 2522 ronstubberfieldtoyota.com.au