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Queanbeyan-Palerang Feature Queanbeyan • Braidwood • Bungendore
Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales
SERVICE • INFORMATION • MARKETING facebook.com/jemalongwool
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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD
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trading as Regional Lifestyle Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.lifestylemagazine.net.au FACEBOOK @RegionalLifestyleMagazine INSTAGRAM @RegionalLifestyleMagazine PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@lifestylemagazine.net.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@lifestylemagazine.net.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay shotbyjake@outlook.com.au ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@lifestylemagazine.net.au
DISTRIBUTION Regional 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, the Monaro, 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.
Regional 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.lifestylemagazine.net.au. © Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2020 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 Regional Lifestyle Magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
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CONTENTS ISSUE 30 SPRING 2020
156 G UITAR HERO Internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Campbell Diamond is letting his fingers do the talking. 162 STEADFAST & TRUE Bathurst family business Frank Smith Work Clothing and Shoe Repairs has stood the test of time. 166 LIFE FORCE The story of Jacinta Haycock’s life so far is as colourful and layered as her eye-catching art. 172 MORE THAN A GAME Competition bridge has been winning tricks in Dubbo for more than half a century. 176 SITTING PRETTY Woodwork enthusiasts are stepping out of isolation to learn the ancient craft of making chairs and stools. 180 PRESSED TO IMPRESS A small family company with a worldwide reputation for excellence proudly calls Bathurst home. 184 CREATING MEMORIES Stuart Vorias is a devoted nurse and an artist adept at telling people’s stories through his work. 196 MARKET FORCE Jane Crowley has answered her calling and is sharing her lifelong love of antiques with the masses. 4 RLM
RECIPES
188 C AFÉ SOCIETY CSC in Dubbo serves up some of its favourite recipes. 192 SPOONFUL OF SPECIAL Lorraine Hills shares a tried and true palate cleanser.
GARDEN
200 W ELL CONSIDERED Jenny and Paul Gorrick’s beautiful Bathurst garden exudes a sense of ease and grace.
THE LAST WORD
240 D EFT METAL Andrew Whitehead’s scrap metal creations are fine figures of ingenuity.
SPRING
Queanbeyan- Palerang Feature Queanbeyan • Braidwood • Bungendore
SPRING 2020 VOLUME 30 >
COUNTRY CHARACTERS
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e take readers on a tour of QueanbeyanW Palerang, a stone’s throw from Canberra but with a distinct personality all of its own.
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208 G OING SWIMMINGLY Excellent customer service has earned Poolwerx Dubbo a plethora of retail awards. 212 LITTLE BEAUTIES The vast and unique Cook Islands offer the trip of a lifetime. 216 HOME SWISH HOME Bringing beauty to your living space has never been easier thanks to Bathurst’s Inside Outside. 220 LAND OF PLENTY Griffith is one of Australia’s most vibrant cosmopolitan centres. 222 MAGIC MOMENTS Dubbo’s Amy Allen has built her photography and design business on genuine connections. 224 THE GIFT OF INITIATIVE Kate Munsie’s Bush Registry is the beautiful by-product of trying times.
Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales
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TOWN FEATURE QUEANBEYAN-PALERANG
ON THE COVER Proud Tradition:
Braidwood’s Len Mutton & Co general store still standing proud after all these years. Braidwood Feature page 70. Image: Jennifer Harden
S P R I N G publishers’ letter
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
soldiering on “You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything or it could be nothing. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and then one day you’ll look back and see you’ve climbed a mountain.” – Tom Hiddleston
Welcome to Spring 2020! We should feel really pleased to be coming slowly out of COVID-19 and all the necessary restrictions. Life will gradually go back to some sort of normality soon. The beautiful garden owned by Jenny and Paul Gorrick, from Bathurst, featured in this edition on pages 200-204, is a sensory delight and will remind you that this glorious season has once again arrived!
Hilltops Feature Winter 2020 We have been overwhelmed with the response to this edition. It has been our fastest selling publication across the past 29 editions. Sales have been absolutely phenomenal. Thank you, readers, for your exceptional support. We hope you have been informed, motivated and inspired by the diversity of content in this edition and we trust that the experience will translate to a visit to the stunning Hilltops region soon.
Family celebrations As we are a family business, we are very proud of the contributions of our three daughters, Kate, Jane and Anna, in our team. During COVID-19, we had the joy of the birth of our precious granddaughter, Zara Hilary Boshammer, born to Kate and son-in-law Justin. This was followed shortly after by the memorable wedding of Anna to Jason Conn. Although only a small gathering (due to government restrictions) it was indeed a beautiful celebration. We have shared a family wedding image with you on this page.
Magazine distribution Alex covers thousands of kilometres each edition (within NSW and across the Victorian border), ensuring that newsagencies and selected outlets receive their allocated consignment of the latest magazine. He loves what he does and builds authentic relationships with the many business owners. Our outlets have grown considerably in the seven years we have been publishing and the list of stockists can be viewed on our website: www.lifestylemagazine.net.au.
Spring 2020 edition We are thrilled with the 141-page Spring 2020 Feature showcasing much of what is on offer in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Council area. It was incredibly exciting to discover so much history (especially in Braidwood, the first heritage-listed town in NSW), meet the many innovative business owners and enjoy the genuine warmth and hospitality extended to us as visitors to the area. We are sure you will be similarly welcomed when you decide to explore this fascinating region. We must acknowledge the tremendous support given to advertising businesses from the featured area by the QueanbeyanPalerang Council and the Braidwood and Bungendore Community Bank branches (Palerang Financial Services Ltd). This financial subsidy scheme enabled participating businesses to have an advertising presence in our magazine and share their unique business stories with our wide readership.
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A FAMILY WEDDING CELEBRATION: Justin and Kate Boshammer (with son Theo Boshammer), Elizabeth Tickle, newlyweds Jason Conn and Anna Conn (nee Tickle), Alex Tickle, Jane and Justin Sanderson. Image: Matthew Harper Photography.
Future editions We are honoured to be once again featuring the Snowy Valleys Council area in Summer 2020. This edition will be a Bushfire Recovery Feature. As you would be aware, much of this beautiful area was devastated by the bushfires early in the year. The edition will focus on the stories of courage, resilience and rebuilding, so inspirational to us all. The Snowy Valleys Council is to be commended on their very generous subsidies to local businesses to allow them to advertise in this feature. Regional Lifestyle Magazine is also very invested in this area (one of our favourites) and felt privileged to offer subsidies to all advertising businesses as well. You will see that these wonderful Snowy Valleys businesses are bouncing back with renewed strength. There is an open invitation to take a trip to the Snowy Valleys area. We guarantee you will not be disappointed. We hope you enjoy this Spring 2020 edition and invite you to share the magazine with family and friends. Stay safe and happy.
Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle
historic pub artisan bakery accommodation
320 Riverside Drive Jugiong NSW 2726 P. 0419 098 828
info@sirgeorge.com.au
S P R I N G Jake’s message
challenge accepted To our esteemed readers from near and far, what a testing year it’s been, and we still have a way to go. For the time being, the big news stories of climate change, a crippling drought and devastating bushfires and floods have all seemingly been put on the back burner as the country deals with the biggest pandemic of our lives. But there’s some good news on the local front. Your latest edition of Regional Lifestyle is crammed full of positive and engaging stories from the bush. In these troubled times, your best form of diversional therapy is to unwind with another bumper edition! Despite a few hiccups, nothing was going to stop us from publishing our 30th issue. Dealing with COVID-19 required some steely determination on our part and a lot of good will by those sharing their stories with us. I thank everybody for allowing the Regional Lifestyle team into their homes from a safe distance! There will be plenty of businesses still reeling from the financial impact. Now, more than ever, is the time to explore regional NSW for a well-earned holiday and support those doing it tough. Getting this magazine onto the shelves required a bigger effort than normal but pulling up stumps was never going to be an option – not with the great stories
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we’ve gathered from the beautiful country towns of Bungendore and Braidwood and the nearby city of Queanbeyan. It's testament to our belief in the bush. No matter how hard things may get, the show goes on. One day this will all be over and life will return to normal, whatever that may entail. As a first-time visitor to Bungendore, I was in for a genuine and uplifting surprise. One of the highlights of the town is the internationally acclaimed Wood Work Gallery. I enjoyed my short but memorable stay at Douglas Cottage and look forward to returning one day soon. The locals are laid-back and friendly, much like at Braidwood, a town overflowing with magnificent old buildings. My trip was short but full-on as people went about their daily lives while the world faced some serious issues. One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Bedervale homestead. It is one of the oldest surviving homesteads in regional Australia. What’s even more remarkable is that it has barely changed in nearly 200 years. My bags are packed but there will be no overseas travel, for a while at least. Stay happy and safe and I’ll see you all down the track.
Jake
ABOVE, FROM TOP: An intriguing moment for a steer being fattened on the edge of Bungendore as a mob of galahs take flight; a masked figure outside Bungendore's Village Antiques reminds everyone of the challenging times we live in; thanks to Geoff Nye, I was able to view how Bungendore may have looked if it had become the "waterside" Federal Capital in 1901.
Dunk Insurance has been helping individuals, property and business owners protect their assets for over 30 years, all over the Central West and beyond. Our new Agri and Commercial divisions have been established to meet our clients’ changing needs and can offer a range of policies and advice - WE HAVE GROWN AS YOU HAVE GROWN. Contact our experienced staff to discuss your best insurance options or to arrange a FREE Commercial on farm or business appraisal. Phone: 1800 219 496 or Email: youngmail@dunkinsurance.com.au
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2016 NSW/ACT National Insurance Brokers Association General Insurance Broker of the Year – John Dunk
2017 NSW/ACT National Insurance Brokers Association General Insurance Broker of the Year – James Dunk
Commercial Agri
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SPRING 2020 CONTRIBUTORS
meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
Publisher, Editor, Advertising
ALEX TICKLE
Publisher, Distribution, Advertising
JAKE LINDSAY
Chief Writer & Photographer
GINA CRANSON
JANE SANDERSON
AMY LOUISE ALLEN
ROBERT I BRUCE Photographer
Writer & Photographer
ROSIE O’KEEFFE
ZENIO LAPKA
ELIZABETH GRANT
SUE CURLEY
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
Photographer
Writer
Writer
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Wedding Writer
Photographer
Writer
ANNA CONN
ZORA REGULIC
Art Director & Writer
Writer
Advertising Designer
SALLY MARCEAU
MELISSA DUNKERLEY
JENNIFER HARDEN
ELIZABETH SWANE
KATE BOSHAMMER
HEATHER CROSBY
CATHERINE PLAYER
JO McKINNON
LORRAINE HILLS
PIP FROGLEY
JOHN CURLEY
Writer
Country Cuisine Writer
Garden Writer
Writer
Travel Writer
Advertising Designer
Website Developer
Writer
RLM Accountant
S P R I N G feedback
your letters I would like to congratulate Elizabeth and Alex on the Hilltops Feature in the Winter 2020 edition of Regional Lifestyle. This is the largest feature to date and perfectly showcases our entire region, celebrating our locals, their unique stories, struggles and triumphs. They are the backbone of our community and you have captured them honestly and genuinely, giving readers an understanding and appreciation of our way of life. Highlighting Young, Boorowa, Harden-Murrumburrah and Jugiong, the feature illustrates our lifestyle, our community, our incredible landscapes and local produce that is second to none. Thank you for capturing the true essence and beauty of the towns and villages we are proud to call home. We look forward to welcoming your readers to the Hilltops Region so they can experience first hand everything we have to offer. Brian Ingram, Mayor Hilltops Council
Congratulations, Elizabeth and Alex, on the Winter 2020 edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine. It has been a challenging time for all, navigating COVID-19 and associated restrictions. Difficulties and obstacles encountered by participating local businesses were overcome by Elizabeth and Alex in a very helpful and professional manner. We have received very positive feedback from the business community and believe that our investment in this feature will help support and showcase our amazing local businesses and attractions, and entice visitors back to the area following a time of restricted travel. With well-written stories and amazing photography, it is no wonder that Regional Lifestyle Magazine takes pride of place on coffee tables far and wide. Anthony O’Reilly, General Manager Hilltops Council
We were indeed privileged to participate in the Winter edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine and had no hesitation in securing this opportunity. The sheer quality and presentation of this edition, promoting Young and the greater Hilltops Region, is truly a credit to you and your team. We are thrilled with your professional, comprehensive coverage of our agency and would highly recommend your publication to future business advertisers and readers alike. David Coombes, Owner/Principal Ray White Young
Regional Lifestyle takes pride of place in my home, with every new edition providing a visual feast of beautiful photography and captivating reading. My husband and I moved from our life on the land near Dungog NSW and retired to Scone NSW in May 2018. We are delighted that this stunning magazine is available in the newsagency in Scone. The Snowy Valleys edition (Autumn 2019 Volume 24) prompted my husband and I to take a road trip south last November. Our stay was enriched by lovely folk along the way with gorgeous accommodation and wonderful restaurants. Regional Lifestyle was our guide to finding all we needed on our road trip. I understand that this stunning region will again be a focus for the Summer 2020 edition. I am keen to enjoy all that there is on offer once again, particularly as businesses recover from the devastating bushfires. The current edition featuring the Hilltops Region (Winter 2020 Volume 29) was another favourite of mine. So many features in this edition are a must see for us and will necessitate another trip south. With each new edition I make a big pot of tea, sit and enjoy yet another beautiful journey through every life-like page I turn. Julie Simmons, Scone
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QUEANBEYAN TOWN FE ATURE WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
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QUEANBEYANPALERANG COUN CIL FE ATUR E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
realising potential from the Mayor of Queanbeyan-Palerang Queanbeyan has a long and proud heritage and a firm focus on the future. Queanbeyan played a major role in building the nation’s capital and its ideal location makes it a regional gateway. I am immensely proud of the place we call home. The Queanbeyan-Palerang region is one steeped in history. Council is committed to preserving the heritage of our city, towns and villages, while fostering creativity and community. As Queanbeyan is transforming into a smart city, geared for the future, regionally we’re emerging as a major tourism destination. If you dig a little deeper and embark on your own treasure trail, you’ll see why it’s so captivating. You can explore the first town to be listed on the Heritage Register in NSW, Braidwood, which boasts a vibrant community of makers, creators and artisans. You can explore colonial buildings, which are now home to antiques, cafes and specialty shops. Braidwood is also surrounded by rich agricultural land exhibiting many innovative farming techniques. In Queanbeyan, you can visit a variety of impressively renovated historic pubs that have long served both our own and the Canberra community, particularly when the ACT was under a liquor prohibition from 1911 until 1927. Similarly, there are restaurants nestled in heritage buildings and a growing cafe culture. Queanbeyan also has a strong arts tradition, on display at The Q, a modern, popular performing arts centre, which hosts intimate theatre, comedies and more. And one
of the things for which we’re best known, sport has always been very well catered for. The town of Bungendore has its own rich story and its art galleries, antique and gift shops are well worth a visit. Bungendore is surrounded by beautiful gourmet fare with local wineries in nearby Wamboin and Bywong. You may want to explore some of the other villages of the region with goldmining histories, including Captains Flat, Nerriga, Araluen and Majors Creek. Queanbeyan-Palerang is blessed with a rich natural beauty, with national parks on our doorstep. There is so much to explore. Over the past decade, we have seen the City of Queanbeyan develop and transform. Council implemented a CBD transformation strategy in 2009, which led to substantial improvements including the Crawford Street Lifestyle Precinct and the dramatic upgrading of our beautiful riverfront. We have now adopted a 2019 CBD Spatial Master Plan, which will see further major improvements over the next decade. These plans and forward thinking are in the spirit of our city motto: Faith in the future. In 2016, we saw the merger of Palerang and Queanbeyan city councils and this led to the creation of Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. I take great pride in having been able to make a contribution to this diverse, vibrant and interesting region and I’m honoured to introduce you to all that we have to offer. The following pages will shine a light on the people, places and stories of Queanbeyan-Palerang. Cr Tim Overall Mayor of Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
“Queanbeyan-Palerang is blessed with a rich natural beauty, with national parks on our doorstep. There is so much to explore.”
endless POSSIBILITIES
Take time to wander through Queanbeyan-Palerang, a stone’s throw from Canberra but with a distinct character of its own. Experience the essence of the region by meeting the makers behind QueanbeyanPalerang’s unique produce and products, grown or handcrafted by passionate locals with exquisite care and attention to detail. Pay them a visit, chat to winemakers at local vineyards, join a truffle farmer on a hunt or get hands-on with a cooking class. Learn a few tricks of the trade from the region’s strong community of creatives and artisans. The rolling hills, evocative architecture and beautiful landscapes attract and inspire local and visiting artists. Braidwood, Bungendore and Queanbeyan are all home to numerous studios, galleries and exhibition spaces showcasing the talent and creativity of local artists. Relive Australian history by travelling in the footsteps of infamous bushrangers and explore the old goldmining villages of the region. A visit to the historic town of Braidwood is a must-do. The charming heritage-listed town is renowned for its colonial buildings brimming with antiques, galleries, cafes, boutiques and more. Bustling with life, and surrounded by Australian history, Braidwood is the ultimate country getaway for city dwellers looking for a slice of tranquillity. For something completely different, go on a charming rural escape just outside the nation’s capital, to the fascinating town
of Bungendore. The town lies along the meandering Kings Highway, boasting a community of incredible craftspeople, family-run wineries and a plethora of fascinating shops to explore, making it the perfect combination of country ambience and memorable activities for all ages. If instead you’re craving to be in the centre of the action, visit the dynamic and fast-growing city of Queanbeyan. Discover the city’s modern restaurants, reflecting a proud multicultural community. Visit the markets, enjoy a show at the theatre or make the most of the many special events, such as the Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival, Oktoberfest and Music by the River. And when you’re done, relax alongside the Queanbeyan River. To really get a feel for the unique nature of the region, load the car up with a picnic and some camping gear and take in the great outdoors with a trip to one of the region’s many lush national parks and nature reserves. Hike to fascinating natural landmarks, cycle through picturesque forest trails, or simply settle back, breathe in some fresh country air and keep an eye out for our impressive array of native birds and wildlife. While on the road, don’t forget to stop at Queanbeyan-Palerang’s quaint little
villages, nestled amid picture-perfect scenery. Discover the old-fashioned charm of historic goldmining villages where some optimistic visitors are sometimes spotted panning for gold. Feel the warmth of the community and stay in town for a nice meal and a rest before heading out to explore your next destination. Wherever you go, this is the stuff country dreams are made of. RLM ABOVE, FROM TOP: Mount Jerrabomberra Lookout. Image: Alfonso Calero; Braidwood by night. Image: Adam McGrath; Shoalhaven River between Braidwood and Bungendore. Image: Alfonso Calero.
a city with soul
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Queanbeyan T O W N F E AT U R E
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T O W N F E AT U R E Queanbeyan
the road to now
The area around what is now Queanbeyan was for centuries home to many groups of Indigenous people, providing them with rich sources of food and land. In late 1820, a party led by Charles Throsby came to the junction of the Molonglo and Queanbeyan rivers, leading to the opening up of the district to European exploitation, as grants of land were allotted to settlers. One property run by ex-convict Timothy Beard was called Quinbean, thought to mean “clear waters”, which evolved to the current spelling of Queanbeyan. In the 1830s, schools and a post office were established. The area was considered lawless and in 1838 Alured Tasker Faunce was appointed the first police magistrate for the district. In late 1838, the community, consisting of a few dwellings, was officially proclaimed a township with about 50 residents. The town grew and there are several sturdy buildings still remaining, including the Anglican Christ Church, St Gregory’s Catholic Church, a flour mill and mill house and St Benedict’s convent. In early 1885, Queanbeyan was proclaimed a municipality incorporating 5700 acres. JJ Wright was elected the town’s first mayor. In 1887, the first train into Queanbeyan Railway Station established a secure link with Sydney. In the 19th century, growth was based largely on the pastoral and agricultural wealth of the region. The next stage of history was dominated by the location of the national capital in its district. As early as 1899, a committee was formed in Queanbeyan to lobby for the new capital to be located in the district. John Gale, a colourful Queanbeyan character and newspaper editor, was particularly vociferous in his support for founding the capital here. Some people have been so impressed by his efforts that he has been called the “Father of Canberra”. It is ironic that one of his arguments to attract the support of MPs was the available hunting. “Game is everywhere plentiful – kangaroo, wombat, lyre bird . . . so that employment for the gun can always be depended on.” Nowadays, Queanbeyan delights tourists and locals alike with the sight of native animals and birds, including platypuses in the Queanbeyan River at twilight. The district contributed significantly to the war effort in WW1 with over 168 volunteers serving, including nurses as well as soldiers. The local newspapers revealed Queanbeyan as a microcosm of the wider community, as fierce exchanges took place in public meetings where families tried to balance patriotism with class and political loyalties.
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Queanbeyan T O W N F E AT U R E
After the war, Canberra took centre stage. The next significant era in Queanbeyan’s growth was as a support town for the construction of the capital. Thanks to wowser King O’Malley, a federal MP between 1901 and 1917, the Federal Territory was declared a “dry” area. Queanbeyan became the entertainment area for the workers and then MPs, and many fine hotels were built. The next stage was the post WW2 migration boom. With construction work available in Canberra and in the Snowy Mountains, migrants came to the region, often followed by their families. With cheaper freehold land available, Queanbeyan became a haven. The oral histories conducted by the museum society have revealed many stories of refugees struggling with the language and new customs, and living in sheds while they built houses. Ultimately, they found Queanbeyan a welcoming community where they and their children could settle. There was a certain cross-border snobbery, with some Canberrans regarding Queanbeyan as “Struggletown” but in fact the two cities (Queanbeyan was named a city in 1972) had a symbiotic relationship, with many people living in one and working in the other, while the lower grocery prices meant many Canberrans shopped across the border. Queanbeyan has long been the centre of strong sporting clubs. During the 19th century, there were formidable cricket teams on local properties. The city has also developed a solid cultural heart, with many renowned artists, a strong local theatre company, a state-of-the-art theatre and an active art society in a heritage building by the river. With new towns like Jerrabomberra and Googong on the outskirts, Queanbeyan is a modern, attractive place to live with heritage-listed precincts in the older parts of the city, pleasant river walks, bushland to explore and delightful parks to enjoy. RLM Words: President of the Queanbeyan Museum John McGlynn and Kerrie Ruth
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T O W N F E AT U R E Queanbeyan
perusing the past
Visitors to Queanbeyan are surprised by the rich history of the city and district, all beautifully displayed at the Queanbeyan & District Historical Museum. Queanbeyan & District Historical Museum Society president John McGlynn and wife Kerrie Ruth love their Australian history. Kerrie is a past president who has been active in gaining grants and organising events to make the museum more accessible and welcoming. And it shows. Located in the charming old police sergeant’s residence, which housed the local police sergeant from 1876 until the 1970s, the museum has something for everyone. It has been visited by a descendent of the first magistrate as well as by a sergeant’s daughter who played in its grounds as a child, and so has rich historical associations. From the outside, the museum looks deceptively modest until you enter and explore. There are seven rooms in the original building hosting exhibitions on pubs, schools, the post office, bootmakers, Indigenous history, early
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settlers, bushrangers, Mayor JJ Wright’s 1860s shop journal and Nina Farrer’s piano. The original kitchen with a fuel stove and cool safes is popular with grandparents and children, evoking memories and awe. There are new exhibitions, including an extensive camera collection and a fascinating room displaying children’s toys and games. As you move through, you will find an original cell door from the old police complex, an intact blacksmiths shop from Michelago and a wash house. You’ll be delighted by the neon Tick Tock sign and Queanbeyan Players costumes from The Yeoman of The Guard. Sobering is the polio display featuring a Both iron lung used at Queanbeyan Hospital during the 1950s polio epidemic. You’ll also find the taxi telephone box that became a dunny and then a tool shed! You
can see farm machinery still waiting for a new home to be built on site. Out the back is a magnificent historical mural painted by Margaret Hadfield based on photographs in the museum collection. John and his team encourage visitors on weekends from 1pm to 4pm. Entry is free, although donations are welcome. The museum welcomes small and large groups by arrangement. The site is accessible and there are new toilets. “We are also pleased to host family groups with a connection to Queanbeyan,” John says. “You never know what you might find or what we can find for you in conjunction with the local history librarian at QPRC.” RLM ABOVE: President of the Queanbeyan Museum John McGlynn and wife Kerrie Ruth.
Queanbeyan T O W N F E AT U R E
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T O W N F E AT U R E Queanbeyan
THE Q FOR
quality The Q Performing Arts Centre is the region’s leading entertainment venue, offering a diverse program of captivating concerts and performances and thought-provoking exhibitions.
The Q is nestled among Queanbeyan’s many restaurants and pubs – the perfect setting for a special evening or weekend out in the city. Home to a lively creative community, The Q was built to meet the demand for a dedicated theatre space that could host local, travelling and permanent exhibitions and productions. The work towards building the city’s very own go-to facility for arts and culture began in 2000, officially opening in March 2008. Since then, The Q has been a staple in the region’s arts scene, providing locals and tourists alike with an extensive range of eclectic productions to enjoy all year round. The Q’s design and configuration provides opportunity not only for live theatre productions, but also for music and dance concerts, conferences, movies, music or film festivals, award ceremonies, television or radio broadcasts, stand-up comedy, performing arts workshops and more. Spacious, light and elegant yet warm and intimate, The Q is applauded for its design – there is not a single bad seat in the house. Moreover, the foyer is a cosy and spacious spot where you can enjoy a drink before the show. The venue’s exhibition program features shows of outstanding visual arts, crafts and design from artists of local, regional
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and national prominence. Assisting the ongoing development of Australian art, the space also features innovative works by exciting contemporary and young emerging artists. With the introduction of The Q’s very own theatre company, Echo, the venue has recently increased its focus on creating from within. Aspiring performers from across the region hone their craft in the theatre’s very own productions under the guidance of powerhouse actor and director Jordan Best. Together with Echo, The Q forms a rich creative environment, promoting various talents that enrich the region’s cultural landscape. Whether you’re looking to see reimagined old classics or fresh and quirky productions, The Q is the theatre of choice for an evening of incredible performing arts. RLM
For more information go to: theq.net.au. ABOVE, FROM TOP: The Q foyer and events space; Stephen Pike, Team Leader Cultural Performance at Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council; main performance space.
Discoveracharming ruralescape. When you linger a little longer, you’ll find many gems dotted around this beautiful countryside. Stop for a coffee or a lunch, tour the fascinating art galleries, and stay for a glass of local wine or two in Bungendore. Visit the quirky shops of Braidwood for a spot of shopping, and step back in time on the historic town’s heritage walk. Take in the great outdoors while horse-riding, meandering through ancient forests or camping under the starry sky. Visit treasuretrail.com.au for more to explore, and find your treasure.
TREASURETRAIL.COM.AU
A venue with style The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre is conveniently located in the heart of Queanbeyan’s CBD. A magnificent award winning entertainment centre which offers drama, musical theatre, dance, comedy, contemporary and classical music and much more.
A venue that’s spacious, light and modern
The Q is well known for the variety and quality of productions presented to the community. See our web site for the full range of productions coming soon to the venue. The Centre is a multi-purpose venue with a variety of spaces available for hire to accommodate live performances, social gatherings and corporate events. The Q is spacious, light and modern and has become an iconic venue in Queanbeyan. It is highly regarded by many as the most intimate theatre in our region. It has licenced bars, a fully equipped kitchen, a range of break-out areas and is the perfect venue for large functions, conferences or corporate events.
Looking forward to your return
Please contact our friendly staff for any enquiries or visit us online.
02 6285 6290 v BOXOFFICE@THEQ.NET.AU THEQ.NET.AU v FACEBOOK.COM/THEQ.QPA 251 CRAWFORD STREET QUEANBEYAN
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the light fantastic Photographer Paul Kowalski knows just how much work goes into being in the right place at the right time.
“For me, the very heart of landscape photography is a sense of escape and boundlessness. The art of capturing light and nature has been a very important mechanism for as long as I can remember. The idea of removing myself from a busy life and venturing out into the wilderness, into the unknown with my camera, has been a necessity.” – Paul Kowalski Paul Kowalski prides himself as a minimalist landscape photographer. He still uses film and a large format panoramic camera. His gear is heavy and of the highest quality. He is patient. He can visit a location over and over until the light is just right, until something really special happens. The concept of actually taking the photograph is the easy part of the process for him and may be the result of months of planning and groundwork. “The way we live is fast and tiring. Photography is the method for me to stop and slow down,” Paul says. “I still use film because it is hard and complex. It keeps me sharp. Film forces me to slow down and stop and it creates incredible results when I get it right.” The surrounding region dramatically changes throughout the year, from hot summers to freezing winters. This brings endless photography opportunities not far from home. Paul loves autumn and the change that it brings. Finding those amazing colours in the trees on a misty day is like finding gold. Paul’s strong connection to Bungendore and the surrounding region is the result of his former dedicated gallery
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that was set up to showcase his work, to bring people to view the landscape. “I can remember countless trips to Lake George to try and photograph it with water and amazing reflections. I must have visited 50 times over the years. And then there is the top area of the Clyde, with its often mistcovered eucalypts and giant ferns.” >
ABOVE, FROM TOP: Without Breath, a stunning sunset over Lake George towards Bungendore; photographer Paul Kowalski with his tools of the trade. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Misty Cover, mist lingers in the afternoon after heavy rain at the top of Clyde Mountain; Plain Farm, the sun rises on a frosty morning across the Bungendore region.
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“I can remember countless trips to Lake George to try and photograph it with water and amazing reflections. I must have visited 50 times over the years.”
Over the past 10 years, Paul has been in the fortunate position of travelling throughout Australia with his family to simply capture the landscape through the lens. It wasn’t uncommon for them to pack up their four-wheel drive and camper trailer and be away from their home for months on end. For Paul, this is when the real magic happens, when he is totally immersed in the process and is in tune with his surroundings and close to his family. “Nature itself has a cycle. The seasons, the weather, the wind. We seemed to become tuned into it after being on the road for some time. This is when the really exciting stuff happened, when I would be there at the ready, to capture the amazing scene unfolding before me.” The future of Paul’s photography is bright. He and his family continue to travel, cameras close by, and continue to release
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new work. With the amazing success of their first coffee table book Visions of Australia, the second highly anticipated instalment is on the way. Horizons – There and Back Again should be released in 2021. RLM
Visit Paul’s website to learn more and view the quality landscape photography: www.paulkowalski.com.au.
ABOVE, FROM TOP: Ghost, Mulloon Creek fog pushes up the valley surrounding scribbly gums; Filtered Light, a misty start to the day on Clyde Mountain near Mongarlowe River; Mirror, Lake George comes to life with amazing reflections; Taylors Creek, a windy afternoon in Bungendore rattles a local canola crop.
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united in diversity The Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival is a celebration like no other.
The Queanbeyan CBD hosts a range of exciting events each year. From car shows to Oktoberfest, people come to the river city from far and wide to experience the ever-expanding calendar of events. But there is no event that captures the imagination of attendees more than the annual Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival. Over the years, Queanbeyan has evolved into a thriving, vibrant city of nearly 40,000 residents. Now home to tight-knit communities of German, Indian, Italian and Macedonian immigrants, among others, the city’s identity has been moulded by its rich multicultural background. This melting pot of stories, culture, customs and lived experience blends beautifully in the fun, warm and familyfriendly Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival. Community groups come together to honour their origins; an equal celebration of both our differences and the unifying humanity that makes us one. This celebration of cultural diversity is a multi-generational event. It is not unusual for a performance to offer up three generations from the same family, coming together to share their culture with the wider community. It is this inclusiveness that sets this event apart from the rest. Gender, age, ethnicity – nothing precludes participation and nothing precludes the wider community coming along to celebrate. As you approach the historic Queanbeyan Park on the day of the event, you are immediately captivated by the sights, sounds and smells. The main stage offers up a full day’s program of performances showcasing world music,
Community groups come together to honour their origins; an equal celebration of both our differences and the unifying humanity that makes us one. dance and costume. There is an energetic and spirited array of performers with a captivated audience that grows throughout the day. Witness dance performances inspired by the likes of Samoan, Colombian and Chilean cultures, or shimmy your way through interactive workshops of belly dancing, Bollywood dancing and more. And then there’s the food. Pick a cuisine, any cuisine, and you’re sure to have your hunger pangs satiated. From Nonna’s secret arancini recipe to an authentic, fiery vindaloo, there is something for the entire family to enjoy. Wander from stall to stall, choose a traditional favourite or be adventurous and try something new. Take
a seat and relax under the shade of the beautiful trees of the Queanbeyan Park or sprawl out on the grass for a picnic while eating your way around the world. Whether you attend the Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival to be entertained by the performers, try the amazing food or learn a new skill at a demonstration or workshop, you’ll leave richer for the experience. RLM Images: Janine Fabre
ABOVE: Colourful scenes from the Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Queanbeyan
ABOVE & BEYOND
Monaro Woman of the Year Nichole Overall plays a significant role in Queanbeyan as a community advocate, historian, writer and social commentator. Applauded for her organisational and leadership skills, born communicator Nichole Overall is passionate about creating a framework for the future while unearthing and honouring stories from the past. Nichole is the author of Queanbeyan City of Champions, an award-winning social and pictorial history tracing 175 years of development. She writes extensively on the Canberra and Queanbeyan area and hosts historic tours. Nichole’s calendar is full as president of Meals on Wheels, independent chair of youth mental health organisation headspace and inaugural
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patron of Molonglo Support Services, which provides support and assistance to people impacted by family violence and homelessness. She is heavily engaged in women’s programs at the Monaro Panthers Football Club, is the first female chair of St Edmund’s College boys’ school in Canberra and actively supports the work of her husband, Tim Overall, who has been mayor of Queanbeyan City Council and more recently Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council since 2008. Born and raised in Griffith, Nichole moved to Queanbeyan while studying at the University of Canberra.
ABOVE: Nichole Overall is passionate about contributing to her local Quenabeyan community.
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“As a girl from the bush, Canberra seemed too much like the big city,” she recalls. “Queanbeyan felt more like home and I have been here ever since.” Nichole worked at the local newsagency while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and became a journalist before detouring into small business. “When I first left university, I started a magazine and won a number of local business awards,” she says. “After our sons were born and before Tim entered local government, I went into real estate and owned an agency for eight years before selling and going back to journalism.” Nichole has always been active in the community and is strongly committed to giving back and being involved. “I don’t do the work for personal accolades, although it was very nice to be named Woman of the Year. “The award has helped to shine a light on issues that are important to me, including the critical roles played by Meals on Wheels, headspace and Molonglo Support Services.” As a keen sportswoman, Nichole is passionate about encouraging and supporting girls and women of all ages to play football (soccer). Captain of the first senior women’s football team established in Queanbeyan, she loves to play and values the sport as “a tremendous outlet that’s great for physical and mental health”. Well and truly bitten by the history bug, Nichole has been involved in wide-ranging research for 15 years. “The work really does become addictive and I love being able to present history in a way that appeals particularly to younger people,” she says. “I give history talks and tours for school groups and help them to feel proud about their home town and the region in which they live. “I love all the long-lost mysteries, and a ghost or two are thrown into the Mysterious Queanbeyan by Moonlight tours I have run for the past six years. “The tours have become quite popular and are a novel way for people to discover local history.” People are happy to share precious family documents with Nichole, who has compiled a sizeable archive over the years. “I have quite a collection of material and my husband tells me I am not to become the second Queanbeyan museum.” Nichole has strong connections with Canberra through her husband’s father, Sir John Overall, who was the inaugural Commissioner of the National Capital Development Commission. “Canberra as it is today is largely thanks to the work John did between 1958 and 1972,” she says. “It is of great interest to me personally to be able to present stories about the region.” Nichole’s most recent research project focuses on a blacksmith’s striker from Cooma who became a volunteer stretcher bearer during WW1.
Corporal Ernest Albert Corey was the only soldier in the British Commonwealth to be awarded the Military Medal four times for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the war, he returned to Canberra, married a Queanbeyan girl and lived and worked locally until his death in a Queanbeyan nursing home. In Australian culture, few would not be aware of John Simpson Kirkpatrick – the famous stretcher bearer who used a donkey to transport wounded men from the battlefield. Simpson worked day and night for three weeks before being killed. Ernie Corey survived in the same role for two years and saved hundreds of men, quite often single-handedly. Despite the significance of Ernie’s role, his extraordinary feats of bravery are virtually unknown. “It is critical for the story to be told,” Nichole says. Information about Ernie is scarce and she has spent many hours painstakingly piecing together facts, interviewing relatives and friends and crafting a book designed to connect with a wide readership. Nichole’s devotion to preserving Queanbeyan’s history will not be forgotten. Her work is a lasting legacy for future generations. RLM Words: Heather Crosby
“The award has helped to shine a light on issues that are important to me, including the critical roles played by Meals on Wheels, headspace and Molonglo Support Services.”
ABOVE: State Member for Monaro John Barilaro was very proud to present Nichole Overall with the coveted title, 2020 Monaro Woman of the Year.
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rising to the CHALLENGE Love of family and care for the community run deep in John Barilaro, the accidental politician and former chippy who is gratified to be Deputy Premier of NSW.
Born and raised in Queanbeyan, John Barilaro is fiercely proud of his Italian heritage and the strong values instilled by his migrant parents. With no family support and an unfamiliar language, Domenic and Anna Maria Barilaro arrived in Australia in 1968 with hopes and dreams of a better life. Hard work and community service became the cornerstones of the Barilaro household, where politics was often discussed around the dinner table. A career in politics was never on the agenda for John, who studied accounting at university for two years before taking time out to work in his father’s joinery shop in Queanbeyan. He stayed on, became a carpenter and joiner, eventually took over the family business and together with wife Deanna spent 20 years manufacturing double-glazed, energy-efficient windows and doors. Following in the footsteps of his community-minded father, John founded the Monaro Panthers Football Club and served as president for 10 years.
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“I was passionate about soccer and before long we had 1000 junior and 500 senior players,” he says. “There was always a shortage of sporting grounds in Queanbeyan and we were constantly told to book fields across the border in Canberra. “As a family man and business owner, it seemed unfair to be paying local rates when infrastructure wasn’t available to the community. “The situation needed to change so six weeks out from the 2008 local government elections I stood for council on the platform of building more sporting facilities in Queanbeyan. “I surprised everyone, including myself, by getting the second highest number of votes.” In 2010, John was approached by the Nationals to run against Labor minister Steve Whan in the state seat of Monaro. He said no three or four times “because it didn’t seem possible”. “Steve was a likeable, respected local member who was seen as a shining light and possible Labor leader.
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“I had family and local government commitments and a business with a staff of 30.” Deanna Barilaro knew her husband was passionate about helping the community and urged him to throw his hat in the ring. When John won Nationals pre-selection, Deanna took over the business. He spent 12 months doorknocking the electorate before winning the 2011 poll by 750 votes. “Labor put Steve into the Upper House and he became a shadow local member. “Thinking I was only there for one term, I made some tough decisions and stayed true to myself, fighting for my community and achieving positive outcomes. “I had a lot to learn and worked hard. Towards the end of my first term I received the portfolio of Small Business and Regional Tourism.” When Steve Whan recontested Monaro in 2015, John was again victorious and increased his margin from 2% to 2.5%. He became Deputy Premier in November 2016 and at the last election achieved the biggest swing in the state. John is proud to represent his electorate and the people of NSW. “I treat politics in the same way I ran a business – working long hours, seven days a week,” the 48-year-old says. “It is important to listen to what people say and I still turn up at the local pub to have a beer with blue collar Labor voters who remind me about where I started and the things that really matter in life. “I love what I do, fixing problems, fighting for people without a voice and helping to make a difference.” Whenever John has a tough day in politics, he thinks of one of his early achievements involving dialysis patient Rosie Schenker of Cooma. “Because services weren’t available locally, she had to travel to Canberra in the back of an ambulance three times every week,” he says. “In my first election campaign I promised to establish satellite dialysis at Cooma. “Rosie is a lovely woman and she was incredibly emotional when the promise was delivered. “The Cooma dialysis unit has now grown to 12 chairs and services a bigger area.” John turned his attention to changing the education footprint in the electorate of Monaro by challenging a long-held NSW Government policy of relying on facilities across the border in the ACT. “About 4000 students were travelling into Canberra on a daily basis because new schools hadn’t been built in the electorate for decades,” he says. “The policy position had to change and NSW needed to supply its own education outcomes. “I am proud to say more than $250 million is currently being spent on new schools and upgrades to schools in Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Braidwood, Cooma and Jindabyne.” John rates education as the single most important investment in laying solid foundations for children and firmly believes students in regional areas should not be disadvantaged. “My parents invested in the education of their children and Deanna and I are doing the same thing with our daughters. “Alessia, 23, is in the final year of a Law degree at the University of Wollongong, and Domenica, 19, is in the first year of Psychology and Criminology at the University of Sydney. “Four-year-old Sofia is our surprise baby who brings so much joy and helps to keep us young. “Life in politics means spending a lot of time away from home and in recent years much of my attention has focused on drought.
“I treat politics in the same way I ran a business – working long hours, seven days a week.”
“The impact on regional communities is a scar that will live with me forever. “You don’t forget the grief on children’s faces or the men and women who break down in tears.” The unprecedented scale of the 2019/20 bushfire season brought another layer of devastation, then COVID-19 changed life dramatically. John feels “blessed” that Premier Gladys Berejiklian asked him to play a role in rebuilding lives and communities as Minister for Disaster Recovery. “At times of great uncertainty, people look to government to provide policy and leadership, understanding and empathy,” he says. “Crisis recovery is taking me on an incredible journey and it is gratifying to have a trusted relationship with the Premier and the leadership team. “Our focus is on recovery, rebuilding and keeping people safe.” RLM Words: Heather Crosby
FACING PAGE: John and Deanna with daughters Domenica, Sofia and Alessia. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: John Barilaro assessing the bushfire damage on the South Coast with Bega MP Andrew Constance; prior to entering politics, John ran a small business in Queanbeyan for 20 years, manufacturing windows and doors; dinner at home – John’s mother Anna Maria and father Domenic; John Barilaro celebrating with his father Domenic Barilaro on the night of the 2019 State Election. Image: Newscorp.
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it’s cool
TO BE KIND
Beyond the gates at Jerrabomberra Public School is a picture of vibrancy and a close and caring community. From the kaleidoscope of colour in educational puzzles and games painted on the concrete throughout the grounds, to the gallery of children’s artworks lining classroom windows, Jerrabomberra Public School is spreading its positivity throughout Queanbeyan. As the 970 students, from Kindergarten children beginning their school adventures to the school leaders in Year 6, giggle as they play games and concentrate on learning activities in their friendship groups, it’s evident this playground is certainly a special place to be. Founding principal Chris Hunter OAM says: “It’s a big school with a small school feel. No matter how big or small a school is, it is there to serve the community and is an integral part of the fabric of the community. At Jerrabomberra, everyone cares for everyone, no matter what the year group. That sense of community is so important here and we even have visiting community groups using our purpose-built facilities at times.”
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Strong representation from local Jerrabomberra families and other residents to the Department of Education over 13 years led to the establishment of the school in 2002. Now, there are 38 classroom groups, 58 teachers and 21 non-teaching staff members. “In our first year in 2002, all the year groups from Kindergarten to Year 6 were represented with 242 students starting the year. By the end of the year, the student numbers had increased to 299. The second year enrolments were 490 students and it continued to grow significantly in the following years,” Chris says. While many of the parents work in Canberra and more than 77 per cent of children who attended Jerrabomberra in the early years had been enrolled at ACT schools, it was always planned to have access to education close to their Jerrabomberra residences. There have been several building projects and infrastructure improvements made since its establishment, and Chris concedes it
has been challenging for the building works program to keep up with exceptional growth. The school’s impressive performing arts centre and kitchen and science rooms were all constructed using funds raised from parents and citizens committee (P&C) activities. The biennial fete is one of the largest events on the community calendar, attracting more than 8000-strong crowds who enjoy a variety of family entertainment and stalls. “We always involve other community groups and more than $32,000 is usually raised for the school from this one event each time it is held. The P&C works on various projects and more than $80,000 is raised each year through their fundraising ventures, which is used for infrastructure and school improvement projects. Some prizes are donated to local charities too,” Chris says. Jerrabomberra Public School is a leader in adopting new ways of learning and embracing technologies in the key learning areas, especially literacy and numeracy. It’s also recognised for its approach to music
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Librarian Liz French and students enjoy the extensive library collection; teacher Steve Camp and students play in the colourful pole garden; Defence students gather around the school’s commemorative stone, a feature in the playground; the friendly front office staff Julie Naef, Natasha Cotter, Libbie Doyle and Nicola Boulding greet and support the school community; Principal Chris Hunter with the school emblem inspired by the local kangaroos – they only move forward and not backwards. FACING PAGE: Learning Support Officer Mary Piscone and Principal Chris Hunter with Kinder students in the school grounds.
and creative arts programs, an Indonesian language program taught to primary ages, a kitchen garden program where students learn to plant, harvest and cook produce, its sporting achievements, and defence mentor program. In fact, Chris was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her dedication and commitment to education through the development of a softball association and a program to encourage small schools involvement in sports, enabling these activities to be an outlet for those in outlying areas to access for developing their skills in the ACT region, and the inception of a defence mentoring program. “At our school, 20 per cent of our children are part of defence families, so there is a high level of mobility every year with new postings. We have created a defence mentor program to alleviate some of the challenges that come with the regular movement of families interstate and to support families through the transition from our school into other schools,” she says.
“In some years, we can have 70 students transitioning in and out of our school. We also have a coffee club where parents can have a coffee and meet other parents to help them settle in. The defence mentor’s role is vital in ensuring this percentage of our population assimilates into school in a less stressful way and helps the children feel valued and cared for.” This mentor program also complements a new resilience program. “We have a strong focus on resilience and teaching students ways of dealing with various disappointments, hardships, differences in friendships and encouraging inclusiveness and for them to develop a growth mindset, encouraging improvement and a real ‘never give up’ attitude,” Chris says. “We are really seeing students being more considerate and caring towards their peers since the introduction of this program.” Jerrabomberra Public School has a strong commitment to sport and has celebrated many district champions in cross country,
athletics and swimming over the past 15 years. The school is also renowned for its successes and commitment to public speaking with regular participants in the Rostrum program and past state champions awarded. Charity is also at the forefront of Jerrabomberra activities with the sponsorship of two children living in Tanzania and Ethiopia. “The compassion program we’ve been participating in for 10 years assists the two children we sponsor to have access to better education. We have a tin in each of the classrooms and the children take pride in being able to donate loose change, and we’ve also been able to buy cows, chickens and goats for these less fortunate families. We believe it is such a good thing for our students to be involved in and learn about how these families live,” Chris says. “Our children are the community of the future and we really want to encourage them to be great citizens. We are always striving to instil the philosophy ‘it’s cool to be kind’.” RLM Words: Rosie O’Keeffe
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a friend IN DEED
It’s no wonder Richard Stone has a deep sense of social justice and empathy for the underdog.
Richard Stone, the co-founder of a Queanbeyan-based support service for exservice personnel, experienced a childhood from hell and knows all too well what it’s like to be abandoned, abused and forgotten. When Richard was seven, his father deserted his family. In 1955, at age 10, he was placed in St Joseph’s Orphanage, Kincumber, and later Boys’ Town, Engadine. Children like Richard and his younger brother and sister were institutionalised due to financial circumstances and abandonment. Others were orphans or “juvenile delinquents”. His contemporaries at that time included Ivan Milat and Stewart John Regan, who later gained infamy as convicted serial killers. When Richard was 13, his mother remarried. “My stepfather was brutal to the family,” he recalls. “Nevertheless, I was lucky to attend Kendall High School with great schoolmates.” Richard “escaped” into the air force at the age of 15. “I was a wild boy until my early 20s when I eventually got a bit of ambition,” he says. “I went to night school to improve my limited education and received a lot of encouragement from senior officers who could see potential in me.” Richard was commissioned from the rank of sergeant to the logistics officer branch in 1976. He left the air force after 23 years and joined the Australian National University in Canberra. In 2001, Richard and good friend John Wright co-founded an independent organisation in Queanbeyan to assist all serving and ex-serving personnel. Now under the auspices of the City of Queanbeyan RSL Sub Branch, the Ian Kenworthy Support and Welfare Centre provides a venue for camaraderie and an interface between veterans, government departments and medical specialists.
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Richard assists men and women of all ages to lodge and follow up on applications for treatment, pensions and awards. He organises medical and mental health appointments and supports veterans who need to go to the Veterans’ Review Board. He takes pleasure in cutting through bureaucratic red tape and is scathing of the hoops vulnerable veterans are forced to jump through. “They are often too damaged – physically or mentally or both – to take up the fight,” he says. “The Department of Veterans’ Affairs can be unnecessarily complicated and slow to act. “Sadly, some veterans are thrown out on the street and end up in dire straits living as itinerants. Family relationships frequently break down and there can be all sorts of financial issues, including problems with the tax office. “In far too many cases, rightful pensions are cut off because there has been no response to a letter sent to an old address. “The attitude of some DVA staff is disappointing and I always ask if they tried to make contact through the RSL, the local police or the bank where the pension was being deposited.” Richard says veterans sometimes don’t have the capacity to understand what is happening to them. Problems can be amplified by mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction. “Veterans need advocates to go into bat for them and it is also essential for them to spend time with people who understand their situation,” he says. “My voluntary advocacy work is enormously rewarding and I am well supported by my Queanbeyan RSL colleagues. “It was nice to receive an Order of Australia and a NSW Parliamentary Medallion but, for me, the real satisfaction comes from seeing veterans improve their personal circumstances and self-esteem.” Texts and thank you cards from veterans and their families mean the world to Richard, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday. After 20 years at the advocacy coalface, he has no intention of slowing down. “There is still so much work to be done,” he says. “Assistance is provided to veterans from all over Australia. Many served in Vietnam and we are starting to see younger veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor.” Richard travels to the support centre in Queanbeyan each week and does a significant amount of advocacy work from his home in Canberra. “I have witnessed much injustice in my life and much of it happened to my own mother, who was treated badly by both my
“It was nice to receive an Order of Australia and a NSW Parliamentary Medallion but, for me, the real satisfaction comes from seeing veterans improve their personal circumstances and self-esteem.” father and stepfather. I used to try to stop them from assaulting her and know what it is like to be powerless and afraid.” Richard feels lucky to have been happily married for 50 years and describes his wife Beverley, a gifted musician and teacher, as brilliant. The couple first met in Wagga Wagga and later at a dance in Sydney. Their daughter Danielle is married to sculptor Benjamin Shine. Richard has written two well-received books and a string of award-winning and highly commended short stories.
His personal journey, told in the selfpublished work A Boy’s Journey, was shortlisted in the 2008 ACT Writing Awards. Judges compared the book to A Fortunate Life and Angela’s Ashes. RLM Words: Heather Crosby
FACING PAGE: Richard Stone OAM gains enormous satisfaction from his advocacy work with war veterans. ABOVE: Richard Stone was honoured to receive an Order of Australia and a NSW Parlimentary Medallian from His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSc (Retd).
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the heat of the
MOMENT A dynamic husband and wife team are still working wonders in their Queanbeyan glass art studio and gallery.
Matt Curtis and Harriet “Harry” Schwarzrock have been toiling away in their Curtis Glass Art Studio for 17 years, creating exquisite designs that are treasured by collectors from throughout the world. The move from Sydney in 2003 was made easier with an established glass community in nearby Canberra – home to the Canberra Glassworks, Australia’s largest dedicated glass studio facility. The artistic pair were looking for a home that came with a suitable workshop. They found what they were looking for in a former biscuit factory close to the CBD, installing a furnace and kilns to make and shape the glass. “We have a hot shop where we blow glass and a cold shop where the glass is cut and polished,” Harry says.
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In a good year they will typically create about 50 to 60 pieces for exhibition, with a good portion of their work carefully packed up and shipped to America. Harry was still studying when she met Matt at a glass exhibition opening in Sydney in 1997. Two years later, she graduated from Sydney College of the Arts with Honours in Visual Arts, majoring in glass. Prior to graduating, she travelled through North America, visiting renowned workshops and studios. On her return, she assisted at Sydney’s Denizen Studio, working with many of Australia’s best glassblowers, developing her skill and technique while finding inspiration and influence for her own work.
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Harry has exhibited extensively throughout Australia and abroad. Her work is widely collected. Her piece Breathe won the sculpture prize in the 2014 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize. “It’s a dream working with Matt,” she grins. “Of course, we have our moments – it can get tense working with tight deadlines on big projects.” Matt agrees. “Working with hot molten glass is a very exacting business – the overheads of running a furnace and kilns can be expensive. We can spend the best part of a week working on a piece before losing it. Often you don’t know if a piece is going to work until the very end.” As a young man, Matt tried his hand at various jobs in between his overseas adventures. That all changed after helping a friend build a studio. In return for his efforts he was taught how to blow glass. English-born Matt was hooked on the spot and still loves the process nearly 30 years later. Glassblowing generally works best in a small team. “In the early days we avoided working and assisting each other in the hot glass studio. Having children together and working together, we thought it might be too much,” he explains.
During the 2009 financial crisis, however, they were left with no choice but to join forces. “It can push you apart or pull you together – fortunately it has all worked out,” says Harry, who is busy producing a large body of blown glass and neon work for the National Portrait Gallery. Matt continues exhibiting all over the globe, while producing public artwork and mentoring locally. His work is in private collections (think Sir Elton John) and in public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia. Once a year they have an open house as part of the Queanbeyan Arts Trail, with regular visits from overseas collectors, including the US ambassador. They also exhibit at the Canberra Glassworks.
But the best part of all is sharing their journey with sons Oscar, 19, and Hugo, 16, in their home out the front of their workshop. Making glass art is rare but Matt Curtis and “Harry” Schwarzrock are doing their best at keeping an age-old tradition alive and well in the streets of Queanbeyan. RLM
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Harry and Matt from Curtis Glass with one of the many eye-catching pieces in their showroom; Harry blowing glass, making a glass heart in the hotshop Image: Adam McGrath; various pieces on display. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: The couple in front of Matt's permanent outdoor sculpture Field of Light at the Iskia building, Campbell, ACT. The internally lit piece is made from sculpted metal and cast glass components. Image: Rob Little.
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positivity &
PATIENCE Queanbeyan couple Mert and Buket Toplu were never going to let a pandemic destroy their hopes and dreams.
Mert and Buket Toplu opened Cafe 34 in early 2020 in Crawford Street, the heart of Queanbeyan’s CBD. The cafe traded for 10 amazing weeks until the virus virtually shut them down. During the height of the crisis, the business was reduced from 16 staff, including casual and full-time staff, down to Mert, his wife and their loyal barista Huseyin Yilmaz. After coming so far, Mert is keen for business to bounce back. He spent six years learning the ropes in one of Istanbul’s finest restaurants before travelling to Australia in 2007 to improve his English and broaden his skills in the kitchen.
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The convivial Turk arrived not knowing a soul but quickly adapted to the new language and lifestyle. A year later, he returned home to marry his fiancée and bring her back to the “Lucky Country”. For eight years, the pair worked in a Tuggeranong restaurant in the ACT, while raising daughters Nisa, now 7, and Lara, 2, and dreaming of setting up their own business. “I’m a warrior, and giving up isn’t an option,” a defiant Mert says. “If need be, I will keep my doors open with limited trade for an entire year. This town has supported us and we will keep our doors open and carry on.”
Queanbeyan T O W N F E AT U R E
There’s not a big Turkish population in either Queanbeyan or Canberra but the Toplus are proud to bring part of their culture to the CBD. Before the new distancing laws kicked in, Mert was comforted by the sight of dozens of contented diners indoors and almost as many outside. “By the time your readers are looking at this, it will hopefully be like that again,” he smiles. The Toplus are warm and generous hosts. As we talk, they insist I try their traditional Turkish coffee along with their signature dish of zucchini balls with garlic sauce, served with poached eggs, zucchini puffs, grilled haloumi, broccoli and cashews. The meal is gaining popularity in an area not overly familiar with Turkish cuisine. Regulars enjoy the cosy atmosphere of Cafe 34 and often inquire about the name. “That’s easy,” Mert says. “Turkey has 81 major cities, each with its own number. Thirty-four is the number for Istanbul – and it just so happened I turned 34 just before opening! It’s simple, easy to remember and means a lot to us.” Buket says the Australian lifestyle is vastly different to Turkey. “In Istanbul, we lived in a city with millions of people, our streets crammed with a constant flow of humanity with coffee shops and restaurants open around the clock,” she says. “Wages are relatively cheap. In Turkey, there’s an hourly rate and you get paid at the end of the month. It’s an amazing country. In 1934, Turkish women earned the right to vote and the chance to be elected to parliament – the first country in Europe to do so.” Buket studied tourism and hotel management but always preferred cooking in the kitchen of a good restaurant, which is how she met her husband, the head chef of a famous Istanbul dining establishment. “We were young and keen, and decided to come to Australia to improve our English,” she says. “We rented a fully furnished flat, thinking we’d be going home soon enough. We didn’t count on falling in love with the place.” There’s not a big Turkish population in either Queanbeyan or Canberra but the Toplus are proud to bring part of their culture to the CBD. Anzac Day is an important day on the calendar and Mert has been to Gallipoli a few times. “Now that we are Australians, it feels very different,” he says solemnly. “When I was living in Turkey I only ever heard the Turkish perspective.” Since the children were born, Mert and Buket have returned to Istanbul every two years to visit family but future plans are in disarray. Coronavirus has won the battle but not the war. The committed pair believe they will soon be back stronger than ever. And when that happens, don’t forget the complimentary Turkish Delight every time you order a traditional Turkish coffee. RLM
FACING PAGE: Mert and Buket Toplu are welcoming hosts at Cafe 34 in Queanbeyan's CBD. ABOVE RIGHT: Turkish raised Buket makes great coffee for her customers.
Always greeted with a smile 220B Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 02 5105 5017 • info@thirtyfourqbn.com.au Monday-Friday 6am–5pm • Saturday-Sunday 7am–4pm thirty_4_cafe_restaurant
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attention
TO DETAIL The beauty and intrigue of nature is in every brush stroke of botanical artist Cheryl Hodges’ exquisite work.
As a young girl on a rural property near the village of Hall in the ACT, Cheryl Hodges was much like other children growing up in country Australia. The beautiful creek flowing through their property was as good a place as any to spend an afternoon. “Sometimes I’d bring tadpoles home, or catch frogs, try to catch yabbies, or even pan for gold,” she says. “It was a farm with sheep and cattle, so there were a few wildflowers but not many.” Of course, Cheryl would remember the wildflowers, or lack thereof, at her childhood home because she grew up to be a botanical artist and the curiosity and specimen collecting of her early days have travelled with her into adulthood. Twenty years ago, Cheryl began painting botanical subjects and what started as simply seeing a beautiful flower and painting it has become a more in-depth process of getting to know each of her subjects. With no official background in botany, she relies on her research skills to make sure she is painting a botanically accurate specimen. Recently, her focus has shifted from painting plants that simply make a pretty picture to plants that have a story to tell. “One of the important aspects of my art is to draw the viewer in and make them curious about the subject,” she says. “Often I will choose a little-known or threatened native plant. I think if people can connect with nature through art, they are more likely to care for it.” Cheryl views her whole artistic process as a learning experience, and her continued curiosity about the world around her is infectious. Each new project is an opportunity for her to learn something new. She has expanded her artistic repertoire to include insects, and a recent project saw her creating a design for the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. This commission challenged her to illustrate 11 species including nine plants, one insect and a lizard among a setting of CWD. For the uninitiated, that’s coarse woody debris. “It’s a thing – told you it’s a learning experience,” Cheryl laughs.
For a creative, Cheryl’s studio space and painting routine is most likely more regimented that most. However, when you are working on extremely detailed artwork that can take weeks or even months to complete you must have a system. Like most good routines, Cheryl’s starts by getting her children Jack, 17, and Hannah, 12, off to school followed by a coffee. In addition to the obvious paint and paper, Cheryl says “the whole studio is filled with dead specimens – someone told me it’s not very good feng shui, but I must stress, they are not dead house plants, they are specimens which can still be useful in terms of looking at their size, structure etc.”. There are also plenty of collections of gumnuts, pine cones, kurrajong pods, shells, feathers, insects and more. Cheryl’s work is highly regarded and she has exhibited at many art shows, most notable being the Botanica exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney. In addition to her commercial clients, she also takes on private commissions. We don’t often think about the history behind the plants we see but some can hold a special symbolic meaning for people or have even been passed down from garden to garden in families. For these types of clients, a gorgeously detailed painting of just such a specimen can be a priceless treasure. When not at her painting desk, you will find Cheryl at her computer desk working to create cards, tea towels, tote bags and prints, which are offered on her website as well as by wholesale. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden
ABOVE: Three of Cheryl’s incredibly detailed illustrations, Banksia menziesii, Amanita muscaria and Rainbow Stag Beetle. FACING PAGE: Cheryl holding the book Florilegium by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust in which her painting Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Redgum is featured.
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right at home Caring for clients and job satisfaction go hand in hand, according to country born-and-bred lawyer Tanya Nadin. As a young girl growing up on a rural property in Braidwood, Tanya Nadin never thought she would become a lawyer. But after attending boarding school in Sydney, she had a change of heart and remained there to study Law. Whenever the university semester breaks came around, Tanya would escape the hustle and bustle of Australia’s largest city and head home to the family farm. Those holidays were hardly spent idly. She was keen to explore opportunities to gather practical experience in her chosen field so her parents introduced her to Bill Baker at Baker Deane & Nutt.
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It just so happened that Baker Deane & Nutt had a vacancy in their Queanbeyan office so Bill invited Tanya to assist as a secretary while she continued her studies. That was back in 2002 and she hasn’t left. Admitted as a lawyer in 2004, five years ago Tanya became a partner in what is one of Australia’s oldest law firms. She’s forged a close working relationship with Bill, whom she regards as one of the most important influences in her career. “Bill has been an excellent role model for me and has helped me become the
lawyer I am today,” Tanya says. “Bill is successful because of the type of lawyer he is. He is honest, smart, and genuinely wants to help people. He is an excellent lawyer.” Baker Deane & Nutt has more than 150 years in legal practice and draws its history from two firms. The first, Deane & Deane, started practice in Sydney in the early 1850s. The second, begun by Joe Scrivener, started practice in Queanbeyan in 1861. The two firms came together in 1923 when Deane & Deane relocated and purchased the Queanbeyan practice.
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Over time, variations have been made to the name of the firm but what’s remained is a continuity of practice, principles and values unique to a local and communityoriented business. “It says a lot about the culture of the business,” Tanya says. “The partners and staff are all part of the community and very much involved in supporting sponsorship with local sporting teams. “We have the reputation we do because we have been around so long but also because we are members of the community we represent and we live and breathe it.” Nowadays, Tanya lives with her husband and two young children in Bungendore and commutes 20 minutes to the Queanbeyan office. In COVID-19 times she’s enjoyed the opportunity of working from home. “It’s a nice community to live in and I’m fortunate to be part of a firm in the rural community. We have a really good worklife balance,” Tanya says. Tanya’s specialty and primary focus is family law but she also lends a hand in the areas of conveyancing, property law and wills and estate. “I think one of the good things about my job is that you get to deal with real people,
deal with real problems and help people,” she says. “When there is a breakdown in a relationship you can do things the ugly way or things the better way. I always try to keep people out of court and look for practical solutions without it costing an arm and a leg.” With offices in Queanbeyan and Canberra, Baker Deane & Nutt has the ability to offer legal services across two jurisdictions in the ACT and NSW. As a result, they have a rural client base that stretches from Canberra, Yass, Goulburn, Bungendore, Braidwood and down to Cooma. “We do a lot of work in relation to disputes between boundaries and subdivisions and we assist many families with succession planning, which can be challenging for people on rural properties,” Tanya says. She loves her work and says being a partner in Baker Deane & Nutt is a job for life. “My initial intentions were to move back to Sydney, and, before I knew it, I was enjoying it here. It’s a different pace to Sydney and allows a bit more work-life balance,” she says. RLM
ABOVE: A life in law – Tanya Nadin enjoys assisting regional communities. FACING PAGE: Teamwork makes the dream work – Bill Baker, Tanya Nadin, Lorraine White and Richard Baker.
Words: Jo McKinnon
Providing excellent legal services to the Bungendore, Queanbeyan and Canberra communities since 1861. PARTNERS: RICHARD BAKER, LORRAINE WHITE, BILL BAKER, TANYA NADIN
CANBERRA OFFICE
Level 1, Farrell Place, Canberra ACT (02) 6230 1999
QUEANBEYAN OFFICE
260 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW (02) 6299 3999
www.bdn.com.au
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T O W N F E AT U R E Queanbeyan
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HE’S GOT IT Inspired by legends, Jerikye Williams is a young man with big dreams and even bigger musical talent.
What do you get when you blend The Big O and Elvis? The talent of the Caruso of Rock with the charismatic looks of the King of Rock? The answer is 18-year-old Indigenous singer Jerikye Williams, based in Queanbeyan and boldly forging a career in music. Jerikye has a passion for Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, and his tribute shows are wowing local audiences. Jerikye acknowledges parallels between Roy Orbison and himself, both recognised for their passion and voice control, and both limit their stage movements, instead letting the lyrics and music arrangements be the focus. But what is it specifically about Orbison’s songs that captivates Jerikye? Instead of copying the contemporary style and sticking to happy, simplistic imagery, his lyrics often delved into the darker subjects of low selfesteem and personal loss, for example, the haunting Crying – Jerikye’s favourite. Jerikye says Crying expresses the pain of love lost. And although the subject matter of Orbison’s songs may have been influenced by personal tragedies, they resonate with us all. Especially now, with the COVID-19 lockdown, they are lyrics that inspire us to soldier on.
Collaborating with mentor and experienced musician Michael Simic, of Majors Creek, Jerikye has done several joint gigs at Queanbeyan’s Australia Day concert with Tex Perkins and the Festival ONE opening act for Shannon Noll’s set. They received a fantastic response from audiences, awestruck at the quality of local talent. Jerikye and Michael Simic have booked creative time in a professional recording studio. They plan to record and produce songs for sale to the public and promote their talent to radio stations. So how did Jerikye, with forward gigs abruptly cancelled, adapt to the enforced COVID-19 isolation? With raging frustration. And then he began to write some lyrics, refining and perfecting them over and over. At the time of this interview, Jerikye had written four songs, with another couple evolving too. His favourite? It’s based on the beautiful Lachlan River (that rolls through Cowra, Jerikye’s birthplace), titled Roll On Mighty River. Jerikye says whenever he is stressed or angry about something in life, he grabs his guitar and heads down to the riverbank, finding a quiet spot. He begins to play music and sing. And after a time, he is transported into a place of calm and joy, another world,
another zone, an altogether different perspective. A knowingness that this is his true purpose in life. Mostly self taught, Jerikye was just three when he first strummed a guitar. He admits to being a somewhat bored troublemaker at school, and was nicknamed Elvis by other students. Jerikye experimented with magic, too, having a fascination for card tricks. It’s something he started practising three or four years ago. Then, playing around one day in Year 10, Jerikye discovered Roy Orbison’s compelling sound, and that is when he knew music was his life, his magic. Just last year, Jerikye auditioned for TV’s Australia’s Got Talent. He chose Oh, Pretty Woman (a number one hit for Roy Orbison). The judges encouraged Jerikye to return when he further developed his style. Jerikye’s five-year goal is to be touring the world doing his own blend of Elvis and Orbison tribute shows. RLM Words: Sue Curley Images: Leonil Pepingco & Andy Heaney
ABOVE: Jerikye Williams with Michael Simic at the Majors Creek Pub. FACING PAGE: Opening for Shannon Noll in 2019.
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QUEEN OF collaboration
Nestled in the heart of Queanbeyan on leafy Crawford Street, a bright yellow 1910 cottage is creating a buzz among the locals, and Helen Ferguson is at the centre of it.
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Born and bred Queanbeyan local Helen Ferguson is creating a welcoming space where people can gather to appreciate art, music, share knowledge and experience, and to connect and nurture a sense of community. The Queanbeyan Hive is a gallery and cultural event space that is like no other. From its opening in 2018, it has pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, hosting more than 20 fringe events and showcasing local talent like Omar Musa, Endrey, Lucy Sugerman, Richard Larter, Michael Simic (Mikelangelo), Positive Feedback Loop and a host of others. Helen is creating something different from the many pubs and clubs in downtown Queanbeyan. It’s a place where people are free to express and create, connect with others and share their stories, passions and history. “We really aim to work with the artists to best showcase their work and capture and tell their stories,” she says. It is easy for visitors to be drawn in by the warmth and charm of The Hive. The white pressed-tin walls, original fireplaces and lovingly restored floors provide the perfect backdrop for art exhibitions and intimate music performances. Helen and her team of local craftspeople and volunteers (the “Bee Team”) spent over six months painstakingly restoring and bringing this Heritage-listed treasure back to life. The Wunderlich tin was treated for rust, the corrugated iron roof was replaced and the Western Red Cedar front door fully restored by Cuban-Australian woodworker Alberto Alarcon. It was during this time that The Hive first coined its phrase “Where Nothing is Standard”. The restoration project won the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’s Best Restoration of a Heritage Building Award in 2019. Helen is a highly creative “connector”, passionate about a sustainable planet. The Hive concept evolved as a natural expression of her way of being, though Helen sees her vision as much bigger than herself. “The ethos The Hive Mind reminds us that communities working together can be greater than the sum of their individual parts,” she says. Showcasing local voices and honouring the history of Queanbeyan is central to this ethos. The last event The Hive held in 2020 before having to temporarily close was an example of the resilience of the local community and showed the hunger for something new and fresh. Riverside Rhythms was a collaboration between local artists and musicians, The Hive and the local not-for-profit group Create Collaborate Collective. With the intention of raising money and morale in the wake of the bushfires, this event was created, promoted and presented in three days. The response was overwhelming and over $8000 was raised for Wildcare and WIRES. More than just a gallery and event space, The Hive is a hub for markets, music, arts, workshops, education, business meetings and local networking. The Hive partners with a variety of local food and drink vendors to support the community. The space is dynamic, with new experiences every visit. “From an intimate indoor gig in front of the fire on a winter’s night, to an all-ages outdoor dress-up Halloween event, The Hive is ready to hear what your ideas are. We will provide the space, infrastructure and support to bring your vision to life,” Helen says. “As our community navigates its way out of the social, emotional, and economic upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic and the last summer of bushfires, it is more important than ever to be creating spaces where people can connect locally, share their experiences, their art and music in innovative and exciting ways. “I believe that this is what our society has been lacking and perhaps now we are awakening to what is truly important to us.” Just like bees that are vital to the growth, rejuvenation and sustainability of ecosystems, The Hive seeks to nurture and grow the diverse talent this region has to offer. The Hive is committed to fostering change and is determined to be back and buzzier than ever in 2020, and beyond. RLM
Further information visit www.qbnhive.buzz.
ABOVE, FROM TOP: Timeline featuring the site history; “St Helen’s” room showcasing Richard Larter paintings available to purchase. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Hive view from Crawford Street; front cottage garden; Queen Bee Helen Ferguson; sculpture Nimby, 2018 by Sian Watson; the “Spades” room in The Hive.
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REBEL
with a cause Connee Colleen: Queanbeyan Character is a unique art-meets-history show at the Queanbeyan Hive art gallery and community cultural hub.
Living Queanbeyan legend Connee Colleen will be honoured with a special exhibition in October 2020 featuring her astounding sculpted portraits of real-life local subjects, and detailing her relentless battles to save Queanbeyan’s history and her irrepressible community spirit. The show is a sweeping retrospective of the sculptures, drawings, sketches, plans, history, and much more behind Connee Colleen’s long, multi-faceted, community-minded artistic career. Artist, activist, agitator, archivist: Connee is all these things. The collaboration between Connee Colleen’s family, local not-for-profit group Create Collaborate Collective, Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra and The Queanbeyan Hive celebrates how she fought to save Queanbeyan’s history and character. It is a tribute to a life dedicated to Queanbeyan’s community and its heritage. Her methods were eccentric but they very often worked. She saved heritage buildings by publicly campaigning and even storming council meetings, and although she lost a lot of battles to save old buildings from demolition by developers she never stopped fighting. Rusten House, one of the first hospitals in the Canberra district, and Furlong House, an Edwardian cottage in the centre of town, are still standing proudly. She led the effort to have John Gale recognised as the Father of Canberra for his successful lobbying to get Canberra to be chosen as the site for the national capital. She also managed to find funds to commission an impressive life-sized statue of Gale. Her antagonistic relationship with the local council, however, meant they refused to allow the statue to stand on council land. Undeterred, Connee drove to Wagga Wagga to badger then NSW Premier Bob Carr to let John Gale’s statue stand on state land. She was successful, and it can be found today on the steps of the courthouse gazing down Monaro Street, Queanbeyan. Connee has always stood up for her town. She has led rebel heritage walks. She has been ejected numerous times from council meetings. Connee Colleen’s passion for local community, characters and history shines through this whole show. Her sculptural works use local subjects living in Queanbeyan, including elderly residents of George Forbes House in the 1980s and differently-abled Koomarri program participants. The sketched pencil preparatory drawings and stunning sculptures she produced from these two projects form the backbone of Connee’s exhibition at The Hive. Connee spent months to years working with her subjects, creating the sculptures that were first exhibited in A Time and A Place (1985). She sat with them during the last days of their lives, sculpting these uncanny and eerily lifelike portraits. There’s John Smith, who grew up a ward of the state, was widowed young and raised his family alone. There’s Harold “Thistleroot” Gibbs, a mountain horseman all
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Connee Colleen’s passion for local community, characters and history shines through this whole show.
his life, who would end each day at his retirement home with a loud Monaro Coo-eee! And there’s Doris Noone, whose life-sized seated portrait so entranced Connee’s own elderly mother. Connee has said: “My sculptures are about individuals. I feel they capture the uniqueness of the Australian identity as well as conditions common to humanity. During the 1980s, my interest in preserving the memory of the spirit of old people linked with my mother who was suffering the same degeneration of a physical body.” “Connee’s beautiful artworks and community spirit deserve to be seen and enjoyed. With its wonderful heritage restoration and community focus, The Hive is the perfect gallery for her,” says Sue Jarvis, a longtime local resident, former councillor, Rotary stalwart and longtime friend of Connee. RLM
Connee Colleen: Queanbeyan Character will open at The Queanbeyan Hive in October 2020. Head to qbnhive.buzz for opening times and details.
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Woman 'n Cat (1983) Dorothy Roberts; Connee herself; Man ‘n Hat (1984) John Smith; Sixty Four Years (1982) Jo Foott-Hemler.
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encore, encore Music by the River is a classic cultural experience that is savoured by the Queanbeyan community year after year.
Thousands of music fans gather outwards and upwards from the river’s edge as the Canberra Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for an elegant and enthralling evening in the natural amphitheatre that is formed by the banks of the Queanbeyan River. A wine in hand, friends gather for a night of the classics. From Brahms to Beethoven, from Vivaldi to Mozart, the program for Queanbeyan’s Music by the River is peppered with both recognisable crowd-pleasers and more obscure gems that inspire a new wave of casual classical music enthusiasts. This regional city punches far above its weight in cultural events. Music by the River first appeared on Queanbeyan’s impressive annual events calendar in 2017 with the support of Icon Water; a dream realised, bringing together a new award-winning outdoor venue and the expanding touring program of the CSO. More than just a concert, Music by the River kicks off in the early evening with performances by emerging local artists. A range of stalls line the upper terrace; the aroma of mouthwatering delights settling over the riverside. The sensory delights draw the local residents from their homes and onto the footpaths as the sun sets and the anticipation builds. On first thoughts, classical music may seem like an unlikely drawcard. Far from
being an antiquated 18th century relic, the relevance of classical music continues, finding new audiences with each generation. This event wears its family-friendly reputation as a badge of pride. Although the event has proven popular with the grownups who come to enjoy a sophisticated summer evening complete with the region’s well-regarded cool-climate wines and worldclass music, it is the growing attendance of the younger crowd that ensures this event will continues long into the future. Over the course of the evening, the little ones find their energy failing and eyelids falling, yet their older siblings remain transfixed. There is enough mystery and magic to hold their attention and keep them coming back year after year. QPRC event coordinator Sara Wightman knows this is special. By the end of the evening she’s exhausted, but she can see the impact. “Events like this bring people together,” she explains. “It is so rewarding to see people coming back year after year, bringing their friends or their neighbours.” Classical music has an intrinsic quality that allows it to tell stories and evoke emotion in just a handful of bars. As Sara and her team prepare for another big event in 2021, she reminds us of the old adage that ‘“music begins where the possibilities of language end”. RLM Images: Janine Fabre
“It is so rewarding to see people coming back year after year, bringing their friends or their neighbours.”
ABOVE: 2020 Queanbeyan Music by the River.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
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BRAIDWOOD TOWN FE ATURE WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY BRAIDWOOD RLM 53
history in the streets
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adapting & changing Braidwood’s long and lively history is well worth exploring. When the first European explorers reached the Braidwood highlands in 1821, the district had been home to the Walbanga group of the Yuin nation for thousands of years. The explorers’ descriptions of fine streams running freely, grassy plains and finely timbered forest land soon attracted land-hungry colonists. A new era began. Early European settlement was dominated by ex-military officers, sea captains and retired naval surgeons who had been granted large areas of land. This was partly in recognition of their services to the Crown and partly in exchange for taking large numbers of convicts off the government’s hands. The district became a series of large estates. Agricultural development was rapid and successful, but keeping control and imposing discipline over the convicts was a priority. The original courthouse, lock-up and the police barracks were constructed in 1837, two years before the survey for the town. The first town blocks were sold in 1840. The discovery of gold in 1851 in various locations in the district saw a population boom. Among the newcomers contributing to the development of the district were large numbers of Chinese. Braidwood became the administrative centre of the southern goldfields and one of the most important towns in NSW.
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For six of the 10 years between 1859 and 1869, the Braidwood goldfields were the biggest producers in NSW. Along with the increased prosperity, bushranging became rife. In the 1860s, Ben Hall and his gang attempted to rob the Araluen Gold Escort. If successful, it would have been their biggest heist. The locally born and bred Clarke gang were possibly the most troublesome bushrangers of all time. They are suspected of the biggest mass murder of police, and the rewards offered were the biggest in bushranging annals. The district was in such a disturbed state in 1867 that the government appointed the first Royal Commission in NSW. Its purpose was to inquire into the state of crime in the district. Horse breeding and horsemanship has been outstanding in Braidwood. The district has produced six Melbourne Cup winners and won seven Melbourne Cups. Archer won twice, 1861 and 1862, the first and second Melbourne Cups. Local equestrian legend the late Neale Lavis won gold and silver medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the Three-Day Event. The decline in gold production and the subsequent loss of population mirrored the inevitable slowdown in Braidwood’s development. The promise of the extension of the railway to Braidwood in the 1880s did
not eventuate. The town was in economic decline until the 1970s. In 2006, Braidwood and its curtilage was the first and still the only town to receive State Heritage listing in NSW. The recognition of Braidwood’s heritage has been enhanced with its reputation as a centre of arts, crafts and fine foods, making Braidwood a great place to live and a great place to visit. The future is set for Braidwood to capitalise as a centre for heritage tourism. RLM Words: President BDHS, Peter Smith
ABOVE: Famous aviator Charles Kingford Smith lands the "Southern Cross" at the Braidwood Showground in 1932.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
STEP BACK IN TIME
Showcasing Braidwood’s intriguing past is expected to play a big part in the town’s future.
It seems fitting that Braidwood Museum is housed in a building of historical significance. In 1970, the then recently formed Braidwood & District Historical Society purchased one of the most historically significant buildings in the town dating back to 1845. Built of local granite and featuring a shingle roof, it was once the Royal Hotel built by well-known colonial surveyor James Larmer, who six years earlier laid out the town plan. He held the licence and lived there in the latter part of his life. Later, in 1870, the hotel was sold to the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, who bricked in a large rectangular hall on the lower floor, joining the separate kitchen to the main building. Another hall was built upstairs above the lower one, and concerts and dances were held in this upper hall. For many years, the building was empty before being converted into flats. Fortunately, it was in good condition when the Historical Society purchased it. The society has created a museum to preserve artefacts and photos that tell the story of the people who lived in the Braidwood district and of significant events in Braidwood’s history. The building itself is part of that story. Among items featured in the museum is the beautifully restored original gold escort wagon that was attacked by Ben Hall and his gang of bushrangers. Had they succeeded in winning the prized cargo, it would have been their biggest heist. A constable was severely wounded but the police fought back and were the victors on the day. The new Law and Order exhibition, under construction, has more items of interest concerning local bushrangers the Clarke Gang, who terrorised the district between 1865 and 1867. There is also a door from the now demolished Braidwood Gaol; the Black Book used by local police to identify harbourers of bushrangers; a painting
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exhibition by bushranger descendant Greg Willis; and photographs and models dressed in costumes of police and bushrangers. You will also find photographs of the old courthouse, police barracks and gaol and information from the Braidwood court records known as the Bench Books, dating back to the convict days. There is a comprehensive display of photographs and memorabilia from the many films made in the district, including Ned Kelly, The Year My Voice Broke, On Our Selection and a 1920 version of Robbery Under Arms. A feature of the display is the reproduction armour worn by Mick Jagger in the 1969 Ned Kelly film and the original projector from Braidwood National Theatre dating back to the1920s. The backyard of the museum houses the old lock-up from the Mongarlowe police station and an extensive collection of gold mining equipment, farm machinery and tools. The society has an ambitious plan to further develop this extensive area by leveraging the 2006 NSW heritage listing of Braidwood. The concept will help drive the revitalisation of the state’s only heritagelisted town after decades of neglect. It is being worked into a community proposal to realise the widely acknowledged heritage tourism potential of Braidwood. The society plans to create an artisans precinct, a working village concept of lost crafts. On-site accommodation will provide an experience for visitors to immerse themselves in a living museum. There will be a cafe and shop where visitors can buy the products made on site. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is enthusiastic about the plan and is looking for State Government funding under Braidwood’s state heritage listing. There are precedents around the country for what the society is planning. Heritage
tourism destinations such as Queensland’s Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame and Victoria’s heritage tourism concept for Beechworth started with such an idea and have taken off after an initial injection of government funding. The concept will help drive the revitalisation of the town and realise the widely acknowledged heritage tourism potential of Braidwood. RLM Words: President of the BDHS, Peter Smith
ABOVE: Braidwood & District Historical Society president Peter Smith stands next to a solid cell door from Braidwood's original gaol. It deterred even the toughest of bushrangers from misbehaving while in town. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Joss House doors from Jembaicumbene; the museum is housed inside one of Braidwood's earliest buildings; old journals and newspaper in the archives room; gold played a huge role in the early development of the town; the reproduction armour worn by Mick Jagger in the 1969 Ned Kelly movie; Mick Jagger in costume; the wagon has an interesting story.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
built to last
When you step inside the impressive “Bedervale” homestead you inhabit a time capsule that’s changed little since the early days of colonisation. Historic “Bedervale” is one of the great treasures of the Braidwood district, set on a hill overlooking the town. Owner Sonia Horan was showing RLM around when a semi-trailer pulled up near the stables. Husband Mark had arrived home after driving1720km on a Victorian hay run. He’s in need of a hearty meal and quiet ale before some much-needed sleep. “Yes, it’s green but this drought is far from over,” he mutters from under his walrus moustache. Later in the day, son Edward will feed their 300-strong Hereford herd, something they’ve been doing for three years. With recent good rainfall, they’re hoping their run of challenging seasons is drawing to a close. The Horans are made of tough stuff. Mark’s crashed three gyrocopters, survived Q fever and broken his back in four places after falling from a hay truck. He’s met farmers from all over the country during a six-year stint as vice president of NSW Farmers. That finished in 2018, allowing the pair to concentrate on promoting and sharing their unique home with others. Mark developed a greater appreciation for history after marrying Sonia in 1998. Her parents, Roger and Margaret Royds, bought the property, a living museum, back in 1972. Sonia grew up surrounded by countless old pieces that had been in the Coghill-Maddrell family for six generations. In 2012, the Horans became the new custodians, knowing full well that maintaining the big home would be a never-ending task. To help stay on top of the bills, Sonia has been a health care worker at the Braidwood Hospital for the past 12 years. She also welcomes visitors to her home, both on tours and as paying guests for the night or longer term. Thousands have tiptoed their way through room after room, seeing first-hand how our pioneers lived before cars and computers, television and electricity.
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As custodians, their main aim is to protect and keep the collection together. It’s a challenge but one they’ve grown to accept, even love. Being a former carpenter, Mark appreciates the fine craftsmanship that went into the homestead. During tours, he talks about the build of the house rather than its rich history, a subject he leaves to his wife. Mark predicts the homestead will still be standing in another 200 years. “There’s no question about it, every detail here was done to the enth degree – there’s barely a crack in the walls,” he says. The homestead and outbuildings were certainly made to last. Assigned convict labour used bricks made on the property, stuccoed and lined to resemble sandstone. The timber was cut locally using cross-cut saws, still housed today in the dry store, with black ash columns, polished cedar interior and hardwood floors. Two flanking wings and a two-storey stable block form an enclosed courtyard, meaning it could be easily defended from marauding bushrangers. The stables comprise horse stalls, harness room, grain room and coach house with loft above. Below the homestead is a huge cellar comprising eight rooms. Similar in temperature to a huge refrigerator, it was used to store food and wine for the family and indentured labour force. >
ABOVE: The rear view of "Bedervale", Braidwood, showing the two wings and courtyard. These are the oldest parts of the homestead, comprising the schoolroom and dryside on the left and the former kitchen, cool room and laundry on the right. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The magnificent columns at the front of the homestead were painstakingly hand-crafted from black ash; the homestead's long verandah, the two-storey stable complex is larger than most homes; owners Mark and Sonia Horan enjoy sharing their historic home with others.
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In a lighter moment, down-to-earth Sonia describes her historic home as more of a glorified three-bedroom country cottage. She says the impressive facade was crafted to give the impression of grandeur as the original owner was setting himself up as a gentleman in the colony of NSW. Sonia understands the enduring interest in the homestead and its contents. Recently while cleaning the dry store, she stumbled onto an invitation to the inaugural Federation Ball and an 1872 Sydney Morning Herald. A few years ago, a rusty old musket was found in a nearby paddock. More than likely it belonged to Captain John Coghill, commander of the convict transport ship “Mangles”. The good captain survived nine long and hazardous voyages between England and Sydney Cove before joining John Oxley in a farming enterprise at “Kirkham”, Camden. In 1826, he purchased 5600 acres near Braidwood for 1400 pounds. His first job was walking 1500 prime Merinos purchased from Captain John MacArthur, “Camden Park”, Camden, to their new surroundings in Braidwood. Next, he commissioned the highly acclaimed architect John Verge (of “Elizabeth Bay”, “Tusculum” and “Camden Park” fame) to create a colonial-style masterpiece on his land barely 60 years after the arrival of Captain James Cook. During the four long years it took to build, Braidwood had been gazetted as a town. Shortly after taking up residence, one of the captain’s daughters died after being run over by a dray. The captain packed up his wife and surviving daughters and returned to England for four years, where he attended business meetings with the soonto-fail Bank of Australia. During this time, their daughter Elizabeth met medical student Robert Maddrell in Germany. They married in London and eventually all returned to “Bedervale”, only to learn the captain’s only son David had perished while holding the fort.
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For several years, the newlyweds lived at a nearby cottage on “Braidwood Farm” while helping the Coghills run the farm. After the captain’s death in 1853, they inherited the property and for the next half century raised six children while increasing their holding to 34,000 acres. By Federation in 1901, eldest son Robert Coghill Maddrell was at the helm. The property remained in the family until 1972, when it was sold to Roger and Margaret Royds. By then, thanks to probate, the once sprawling property had been whittled down to 1200 acres. Roger had a story matching that of the old seafaring captain. His family came from England in the 1840s, amassing great wealth through their cotton and woollen mills in Rochdale. They also bred Archer, winner of the first two Melbourne Cups. Before acquiring “Bedervale”, Roger was a prominent pastoralist in the Braidwood district and well-known for his love of a good party. Roger was great mates with Robert Maddrell, the last man standing at “Bedervale”. With his brother, Dick Royds, the three men established the Braidwood Historical Society. In the late 1950s, Roger became a Braidwood councillor and helped save the town’s historic buildings, including the retention of verandah posts and the trees in Ryrie Park. Robert felt that Roger and Margaret had the discipline and passion to continue caring for his family’s enormous collection of early Australia. Soon after buying the historic property on bridging finance, things started going bad – a situation not helped by the 1974 cattle crash, which saw cattle prices plummet from $300 to $20 a head overnight. Roger was caught in a tight financial squeeze. CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: The formal dining room in its original form; this four-seater chair was known as a gossip chair; a typical bedroom; the lounge room is located near the formal entrance; Sonia Horan holds a photo of her family dressed as extras for the 1969 Ned Kelly feature film; a painting of Sonia's father, Roger Royds, who bought "Bedervale" in 1972.
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At the time, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam advised that cultural funds were available for the preservation of Australian history. The entire Maddrell collection was sold to the Australian public as part of the National Estate, an off-shoot of the National Trust. The priceless collection would be forever preserved. These days, Margaret Royds OAM lives in a new house near the entrance of the property. She’s a well-known and much-loved Braidwood character, having worked tirelessly to ensure the town’s rich history is preserved for future generations. When she moved to “Bedervale” nearly half a century ago, there was no electricity in the house, no proper kitchen, no heating and one very small bathroom. They had previously renovated houses while living in Sydney, later taking on Braidwood’s old mill and corner shops to save them from demolition (and now home to a model car shop, hairdresser and chocolate shop). After the collection was sold, there was a stipulation it had to be accessible at certain times of the year to the public. In 2005, Margaret received an OAM for her services to local history, including the restoration and promotion of “Bedervale”. The homestead was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999. Mark and Sonia have achieved a lot but there’s still a long way to go. With four adult children between them, this story is far from finished. Watch this space, or better still, come out for a visit. You won’t be sorry. RLM
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Time has stood still in the homestead since the early days of colonisation; a train line with trolley is still used for bringing firewood up to the homestead; the early kitchen was built away from the homestead to reduce the risk of fire.
AUTHENTIC COLONIAL HOMESTEAD
DESTINATION BRAIDWOOD
1 hour from Canberra & Coast - book a guided tour of Bedervale, National Trust listed homestead. Create a day out for your club or community group. Immerse yourself in early Australian history, have lunch or stay overnight in Bedertiny.
1a Monkittee St, Braidwood NSW 2622
Ph. 0427 422 481
sonia@bedervale.com
www.bedervale.com
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
HITS &
memories The Seekers’ Keith Potger is still busy making beautiful music, and his beloved Braidwood is all ears.
Making music is imbedded in the DNA of Keith Potger, a talented instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and producer who played an integral role in the trailblazing success of Australian pop sensation The Seekers. Keith contributed distinctive guitar riffs to the group’s chart-topping recordings and, together with Athol Guy and Bruce Woodley, created ear-catching harmonies that blended perfectly with the lead voice of Judith Durham. The popularity of The Seekers endures and, 60 years on, Keith is still making beautiful music and influencing the live entertainment scene.
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Born in Sri Lanka, Keith came to Australia with his family at the age of seven. He picked up a guitar at 12 and taught himself basic chords, never expecting to become a professional musician. During his senior years at Melbourne High School, he formed a trio with mates Bob Camfield and Bob Turnbull. CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: The Seekers UK tour 2014. Image: Elizabeth Hawkes; Keith’s arrangement for Georgy Girl. Image: Keith Potger archive; The Trinamics 1957, Keith’s first group. Image: Keith Potger archives.
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The Trinamics went on to win a school talent quest and appear on the Australia’s Amateur Hour radio show with Terry Dear. Keith started playing other instruments, learning mostly from books, and worked on musical arrangements for the group. “Music started out as a hobby and we morphed into another group with Athol Guy, who had a trio called The Ramblers,” he says. “We formed a new group called The Escorts, gave up our day jobs and turned professional. “Our main contract was with The Lorrae Desmond Show on ABC television in 1959-60. “When Athol left the group, the remaining members were Bob Turnbull, Ken Ray and me.” When The Escorts eventually disbanded, Keith returned to Melbourne and became an ABC radio producer. He kept in touch with Athol, who had met up with Bruce Woodley. Athol, Bruce, Ken Ray and Keith formed The Seekers in early 1962. Ken left the group to get married and Judith Durham became the new lead singer. “We did our homespun thing for a while, performing in coffee lounges and doing backing vocals for various artists,” Keith says. “Because I was at the ABC, we were able to get some studio time on a Sunday. We put down some tracks and ended up getting a recording contract with W & G Records. An album and a couple of singles were released in 1963. “Athol had a connection with a shipping line and we were offered the opportunity to perform on cruises in the South Pacific before singing and playing our way to England. “The idea was to stay for 10 weeks before the ship returned to England to take us home. “Our album and some promotional material had been sent to a UK booking agency and two days after our arrival we were asked to do a national appearance on Cliff Michelmore’s show on BBC TV.” The audience was about 11 million, which, at that time, equated to the entire population of Australia. A meeting with the executive of World Record Club followed. The Seekers recorded two albums and landed a contract with EMI. They appeared on the same line-up as Dusty Springfield during a concert at Blackpool and met Dusty’s brother, Tom, who went on to write some of the group’s most popular songs. “We had quite a career from 1964-68 before calling it a day when Judith wanted to resume her solo career,” Keith says. >
Athol, Bruce, Ken Ray and Keith formed The Seekers in early 1962. Ken left the group to get married and Judith Durham became the new lead singer.
ABOVE: The Seekers meet the Queen Mother after the Royal Command Performance 1966, London Palladium. LEFT: The Seekers being presented with a gold record for A World Of Our Own by Alan Freeman on the BBC's Top Of The Pops. Image: BBC TV. BELOW LEFT: London Palladium poster 1967. Image: Keith Potger archives. BELOW RIGHT: Sidney Myer Music Bowl concert 1967 featuring The Seekers. Image: HSV-7 TV.
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“We were just finishing a season at The Talk of the Town live music venue in London and on July 8, 1968 went into the BBC studios for a television special promoted as a final farewell to our fans.” Keith stayed in the UK for another 10 years, writing and producing jingles and having success with songs written for artists including Duane Eddy. He was part of the team that brought The New Seekers together in 1969, achieving considerable success. Back in Australia, Athol and Bruce were approached by Astor Records to reform The Seekers. In late 1974, Athol, Bruce, Keith and new lead vocalist Louisa Wisseling injected new life into the group, recording two albums, touring and topping the charts with The Sparrow Song. After Louisa left the group, the boys were joined by Cheryl Webb. More personnel changes followed and eventually Keith became the only original member. He returned to Australia with his family in 1978 and worked in the music industry, creating jingles, writing songs and producing. When Brisbane hosted World Expo in 1988, organisers reached out to Athol, Guy and Keith, who performed with Julie Anthony. The line-up went on to record an album and tour. When Julie left to start a family, she was replaced by Karen Knowles. The Seekers reunited with Judith as lead singer for a 25th anniversary album and ended up doing 120 concerts. “After the last performance, I went out on the road as a wandering minstrel, recording solo albums in 2004, 2007 and 2010 and touring Australia and the UK,” Keith says. “The Seekers played together for the odd charity performance and in 2012 we reformed for what became a huge 50th anniversary tour.” Athol, Bruce and Keith joined forces as The Original Seekers with their musical director Michael Cristiano. Their album sold well and an Australia Day concert in the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House was a great success. Keith now lives at Braidwood. He and partner Elizabeth Hawkes have renovated a historic 1860s house that stands proudly in the heritage-listed streetscape. A studio built at the back of the property is a haven for Elizabeth’s artistic skills and her work is exhibited in local galleries. The couple has helped to breathe new life into the town’s iconic National Theatre. Built in the 1920s as a roller-skating rink and electric picture palace, the 200-seat community hub has been reborn as a live music venue welcoming acts including Eric Bogle, Shane Howard, Fred Smith, country singer Nicki
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“The Original Seekers did four concerts last year and the success was quite amazing.” Gills, as well as Max Cullen and Warren Fahey’s two-man one-act play Dead Men Talking. Performances were put on hold due to Coronavirus and Keith looks forward to being able to safely resume the concerts. Keith’s solo concert tours have also been forced into hiatus and he is using time off the road to write, record and produce in his home music studio. “One of my songs has been translated into Danish and I’ve been helping vocalist Iben Hasselbalch finish her recording,” Keith says. “Another project with Indigenous elder Noel Butler and his musician wife Trish involves working on an extended play recording of songs teaching children the Aboriginal names for animals.” Keith has fond memories of his years with The Seekers and is still in regular contact with group members. “Fans from all over the world have stuck with us throughout the years. The Original Seekers did four concerts last year and the success was quite amazing until everything was stopped by the virus lockdown,” he says. Keith and Elizabeth enjoy life in the country and are active members of the Braidwood Community Association, a robust group involved in events and initiatives, including accommodating evacuated people from neighbouring districts during the devastating bushfires. Keith and Elizabeth shop in local stores and the Farmers’ Market, enjoying community camaraderie while doing so.
They have planted native species in their garden as a magnet for birds, bees and lizards and feast from a productive vegetable patch. Keith assists a range of organisations, including music industry charity Support Act, Variety Australia and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014. RLM Words: Heather Crosby
ABOVE, FROM TOP: Keith Potger solo at Woodford Folk Festival 2017. Image: Elizabeth Hawkes; Keith Potger with dog Ming.
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action station Braidwood’s resolve to keep calm and keep the radio on helped the community through the devastating bushfires.
As Braidwood faced rapidly changing fires late last year, the community turned to calm and knowledgeable voices coming over the radio from a purpose-built studio overlooking the town’s golf course. It kicked off 14 days of near continuous coverage. Braidwood Community Radio, operating for 17 years and known affectionately as the Barbed Wireless, had just quadrupled its transmission range when the fires struck. Station manager Gordon Waters, station president Rod McClure and their team volunteered around the clock for weeks to give local, accurate, up-to-date information on the bushfires. The team put updates from the Rural Fire Service to air hour after hour, took calls and relayed the best local knowledge to nervous landholders and residents. The station became a direct line of contact between locals and the RFS – for some, the only source of information. Listeners also gave observations on the fires from their vantage points as the days progressed. These included local identities Phil on the Hill, Matt on the Flat and Vera in the Village. “It was a great example of community partnership,” Gordon Waters says. “Many people said they were basing their decision on whether to stay or leave on the hourly updates we were giving. “People were coming to the studio to drop food and gift baskets off, to hug us, to thank us.” There were plenty of challenges in the small studio. Laptops, maps and phones were splayed out across the desk, while people dived under it to answer calls and not be heard on air. Managing conflicting information was a priority.
“Modern technology is wonderful when it works and when you can access it,” Rod McClure says. But it’s hard to beat local knowledge you can’t get from an app. People feel safer when they’re in touch with other people, real people.” Fittingly, Gordon Waters was awarded Braidwood’s 2020 Citizen of the Year – a validation of community appreciation. His drive, determination and technical expertise over nine years has been inspirational. Gordon points out the volunteer team has a unique blend of skills and experience, ranging from a retired commercial radio presenter, health workers, an artist and writer, traffic controller, school principal and business owners. Radio shows are beamed live with the station’s mobile broadcasting van. Events ranging from the show, markets, culinary festivals and sports days, music festivals, through to local rugby games are broadcast, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro, former Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly and QPRC Mayor Tim Overall being regular guests. In the world of apps, Twitter and the 24-hour news cycle, some would argue community radio’s news value is declining. But during the recent bushfires Braidwood Community FM proved nothing short of a lifeline. RLM Words: Sue Curley
ABOVE: The Braidwood FM fire update team, Darren Marks (RFS), Rod McClure, Gordon Waters and Violet Wasson.
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quality & TRADITION
Braidwood’s Len Mutton & Co is a general store with a long and loyal family history.
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Braidwood T O W N F E AT U R E Walk down the main street of Braidwood and it’s like stepping back in time along an elegant streetscape built off fortunes made during a gold rush era. One of the town’s most authentic and eye-catching buildings is Len Mutton and Co, which stands tall in the middle of Wallace Street. The historic double-storey general store is one of only a few of its kind left in Australia. It has been a central hub for everything from Akubra hats to pots and pans and underwear, and through the love and dedication of four generations of the Mutton family, many of its original features remain. For the past 21 years, Fiona Mutton has played an integral role in maintaining its special meaning to the local community and the thousands of visitors who flock there each year. “We are very loyal to the origins of the business and very proud it is still in the family after 107 years,” Fiona says. “There are very few original country general stores left these days. There are some in regional Queensland but most have gone by the wayside because there hasn’t been someone to take over and we have been lucky we have always had somebody.” Len Mutton and Co was established in 1913 by Fiona’s great grandfather, Edward Norman Mutton, and the shop operated as a true general store specialising in quality tailoring for men and women, fashion and footwear as well as extensive homewares and haberdashery ranges. In the 1940s, Fiona’s grandfather, Leonard Norman Mutton, purchased the business from his father and along with wife Isobelle continued to operate it until his death in 1976. Len’s children, Brian and Janelle, and Brian’s wife Ann Marie inherited the business and it continued to trade under their guidance until Brian’s death in 1998. The following year, Fiona moved to Braidwood and took over management of the business from her mother and aunt. “It’s been a privilege to stand behind the counter and keep the tradition going,” she says. Fiona knows the store inside out and has fond memories of her childhood spending school holidays helping her grandfather to run it. “It has been a huge part of my life. I used to come to work on Saturdays from the age of eight. My job was to fold the beach towels and he gave me lots of life advice along the way,” she says. “When I was 12 he said never be greedy and we will always be here and that’s true, we still are.” Fiona learned a great deal from her grandfather and holds huge respect for his legacy. Each day she sits down proudly at the antique American Oak desk he once used and does all the bookwork for the business in the old-fashioned way. “Everything is done by hand. I write in the original leather-bound journal and do all the accounts by hand and all the dockets are written by hand,” she says. “There are lots of nods to the tradition and history of this store.” With a background in senior management positions with major retailers Grace Bros. and Myer, Fiona has helped Len Mutton & Co to evolve and remain viable, and it’s since become renowned for specialising in quality women’s fashion. “We specialise in natural fibres such as cotton, possum and fine Merinos. Given the climate and how cold it is here, in winter those fabrics are very sought after and it’s where the bulk of our sales come from,” she says. “We have a real following for our fashions from Canberrans through to people down the coast. A lot come to Braidwood to visit us and we rely heavily on that trade.” Open seven days a week, Len Mutton & Co has built a loyal following with its customers and the store’s motto remains “Something for Everyone at Len Mutton & Co”. “Most people that come in are really happy to see the original fixtures, history and quality products. It’s a beautiful place to have a look around and a wander,” Fiona says. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon
FACING PAGE: Fiona Mutton welcomes customers and is always happy to chat about the history of Len Mutton & Co; many original fixtures and fittings remain and are home to the wide range of products on offer. ABOVE, FROM TOP: Len Mutton & Co circa 1913, the cornerstone of quality and customer service for 107 years; a photo wall proudly displays the history of Len Mutton & Co and the generations who have come before.
Len Mutton & Co The cornerstone of quality & customer service for 107 years. 124-126 Wallace Street Braidwood, NSW Ph. 02 4842 2446 lenmutton@bigpond.com
Opening Hours Mon to Fri 9am -5pm Sat 9am - 2pm Sun 10am - 2pm BRAIDWOOD RLM 69
BREAKING
NEW GROUND Braidwood regenerative farmer Martin Royds takes great joy from understanding his soils and the role of plants in the development of a profitable farm.
For 35 years, Martin Royds has been running cattle and crossbred lambs on “Jillamatong”, alongside more recent enterprises involving chooks, yabbies, truffles and garlic. No matter what Martin is growing or raising, he’s always working with the soil on his 455ha farm, necessary when Mother Nature is throwing big curve balls at you. Over the past eight months, he’s dealt with drought, snow, fires and flood. To cap it all off, he had a bad run with foxes attacking his free-range chickens – all before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
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“My goal is to build resilience into the landscape,” he says. It’s a topic close to his heart and one to which he has dedicated his life. During the recent drought, Martin was one of the few farmers in the district not to run out of water. This was welcome news for weary firefighters. During the fire season, two of his 14 weirs supplied water for the choppers for days on end. “By that stage, Braidwood was out of water and carting from over 100km away. For a short period, there was talk of pumping water into town from the Jillamatong weirs,” Martin says.
After meeting Peter Andrews in 2005, Martin was shown how to read the Australian landscape features and recreate the processes, working with all the plants at his disposal. The first process was to turn the erosion gully on “Jillamatong” into an interconnected chain of ponds. Martin introduced a range of water plants, including water lilies, to help reduce evaporation while keeping the water healthy and clear for livestock. “Complex dynamics are involved in reducing the temperature, increasing humidity and reducing wind across the water,” he says.
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“After the fires, we planted 20 different species in the paddocks to feed the soil and break up the compaction from the graders used to make fire breaks. The country has rejuvenated beautifully and the worms have come out of hibernation.” In February 2020, Martin hosted 80 farmers to demonstrate how the country rejuvenated so well from the fires. He normally hosts Tarwyn Park training run by Stewart Andrews three times a year, with about 20 farmers per group keen to see a new perspective. Free-range chooks live in a caravan, guarded by George, the Maremma. The chickens were introduced to eat the plague of grasshoppers that were decimating the last bit of grass before the welcome rains. “Before the 1990s, in our area agriculture was becoming uneconomical,” Martin says. “By 1995, costs of production were exceeding our return. We clearly had to change the way we farmed, which started with our pastures.
“In the past we sowed pasture every five to seven years until a mate, Rob Gordon, researched it was taking 10 to 12 years to get your money back through grazing. Set stocked sheep and cattle selected all the good grasses, leaving you with a paddock of weeds. “Now we manage the grazing so the sheep and cattle are together in the one paddock to graze. They eat everything and then we spell the country for up to a year, allowing the good grasses to recover.” Martin says he used to spray his paddocks and kill everything before sowing three grasses and two clovers. “Now I have a biodiversity of 80 herbs and grasses. We’re finding there’s always something that will grow, regardless of the season. After the fires, the ground was super hot and dry yet we had a native forb (grass) regenerate within days.” Martin has been interested in regenerating the land for the best part of 40 years. His practices have restored eroded areas, maintained ecological health, improved water quality and weeds have been outcompeted.
“In other words, by improving soil nutrients and soil carbon, your pastures dramatically improve and your farm becomes more productive and profitable,” he says. “I no longer spray for weeds, nor do I drench my livestock – and it’s all thanks to a healthy soil profile that produces healthy plants that my livestock can self medicate on.” Martin acknowledges that he would not have been able to achieve this without the many mentors who have helped him on his ongoing journey. RLM
FACING PAGE: Martin Royds is a leading edge farmer who understands the importance of soils, pastures and clean water in livestock enterprises. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Martin has introduced a range of plants to his dams to reduce evaporation and help maintain clear and healthy water; the Maremma protects the free-ranging chooks from foxes; the mainly Angus herd is healthy and happy, free from drenching; new vegetation on the dam’s ridges.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
YOU ARE welcome Braidwood Servicemens Club is a hive of activity with a strong sense of community.
The village of Braidwood is conveniently located between city and coast, a charming little dot on the map between Canberra and Batemans Bay that is well worth a stopover on your travels or a destination in itself. Braidwood Servicemens Club, known as “The Friendly Club in the heart of Braidwood”, is the perfect welcoming place to settle in for a meal like a local. While the club has all the offerings of your typical club, it is the part it plays in the community that makes it so much more than just that. It is the home away from home for more than 50 community groups who meet on the premises or use their facilities regularly. If you are looking to pick up a hobby there is certainly one for everyone. From fishing and Redbacks Rugby to tai chi, table tennis and dance, you can find it all on the corner of Coronation Avenue and Victory Street. Even the long-running and beloved Braidwood Community Radio station operates on site. The club offers everything you would expect from any quality club: a bar, gaming, TAB, Keno, members draw, raffles and courtesy bus. The Pine Garden Restaurant is open six days a week, serving up a variety of Australian and Chinese menu items. The club offers a number of spaces for all sizes of private meetings and functions, one of the most popular spaces being their outdoor area.
Club
Open 10am daily
Restaurant
Open Tues–Sun 12–2pm 5.30–8.30pm
Braidwood Servicemens Club Your local family club
Our Club is conveniently located just a short drive from Canberra or Batemans Bay and the South Coast of NSW. The relaxed atmosphere and country hospitality offers members and their invited guests the chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life.
“We have a wonderful outdoor barbecue entertaining area with a children’s playground, with the focus being on families,” club manager Michelle Griggs says. The club has a range of facilities for all your favourite leisure sports, including a nine-hole golf course, two bowling greens and two squash courts. An ideal place for a night out, the venue offers semi regular live music and special performances from a range of artists to suit any taste. The club is a huge part of the surrounding community and is also happy to welcome visitors to the village, offering its signature country hospitality. Michelle notes the club’s position just off the main street and the super-size car park, which makes it an easily accessible spot for trailers, caravans and buses. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Anjali Williams
Corner Coronation Ave & Victory St, Braidwood, NSW 2622 (02) 4842 2108 | braidwoodsc@internode.on.net www.braidwoodservicemensclub.com.au • Pine Garden Restaurant (02) 4842 2095
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Manager Michelle Griggs and staff member Anjali Williams; the clean, modern and spacious lounge; Braidwood Servicemens Club has a well maintained nine hole golf course; the bar area is complete with TVs, TAB and Keno; Frank Hansby serves up a cold beer; skylights create a sunlit corner of the lounge.
Making Good Things Happen Backed by Australia's fifth biggest retail bank, Braidwood & Districts Community Bank® Branch not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services, we're also committed to returning profits to our local communities. Get in touch with Braidwood & Districts Community Bank® Branch about your banking needs today:
Personal
Loans Accounts Credit cards Insurance
Business
Insurance Finance Cashflow management Equipment finance
Wealth
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Financial advice Superannuation Share trading Managed funds
Grants Shareholders Partnerships
To find out how we can help you, visit our branch or call us to make an appointment.
www.bendigobank.com.au
$2,313,478 93-95 Wallace Street, Braidwood, NSW 2622 Phone 02 4842 1700 Fax 02 4842 1711 Branch manager Nicholas Fry
Tombarra
ACCOMMODATION & EVENTS
Weddings • Family events • Training programs
579 Northangera Road Ph. 0497 638 631 Mongarlowe, NSW tombarra.com.au
Community Bank • Braidwood
Jillamatong
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FARM TOURS + WORKSHOPS
206 COOMA ROAD BRAIDWOOD, NSW
MARTIN ROYDS MATT HULSE PH. 0484 132 167 PH. 0438 648 468
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a bank you can
BANK ON Braidwood continues to benefit from the services offered and contributions made by the Community Bank.
Imagine a town that was about to have its last bank close its doors, the impact being that the closest bank would now be over 60km away. That is what happened to Braidwood almost 20 years ago. Braidwood has a rich history of agriculture and mining, movies, arts and sports and its community is passionate about its heritage. The loss of a financial institution could have had a devastating effect. Fortunately, a small group of locals had different ideas. They had heard of the Community Bank model that the Bendigo Bank had developed and implemented into local communities. They were keen to learn more. Basically, the model works on the profits made at the branch being divided equally between Bendigo Bank and the local operation at Braidwood under a Franchise Agreement model. Simply, the more customers the branch has utilising the lending and deposit facilities, the greater the return to the community. The branch opened its doors on September 6, 2002. The first branch manager, Craig Pettit, who is now Senior Manager of the Braidwood and Bungendore branches with outreach to Crookwell, says: “When I first saw the position advertised I mentioned to my wife Ruth that I had heard about the Community Bank model and thought it would be a good opportunity to help establish a bank in Braidwood. “I’m still here, as is Ruth, and our daughter Claire is now 16,” Craig says. “I remember my first interviews when applying for the role. We stayed at a guesthouse in Braidwood, which was run by Nick and Lesley Fry. They made myself and Ruth feel right at home and who would have thought that later on I would employ Nick? He is now branch manager and has been with the organisation for over 13 years.”
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The branch is overseen by a dedicated board of directors, who are all volunteers acting in a pro bono capacity. One of those past directors and chairman is Noel Wisbey. Noel spent over 18 years on the board. “To see the bank grow and still grow today has been a thrill,” he says. “I remember the first sponsorship applications were for $100 or $200. Now we are regularly approving $100,000 and even $350,000, which was part of the Braidwood Recreation Ground upgrade. “It’s a simple equation supported by passionate, knowledgeable and friendly staff who, along with strong community support, build resilience and a future back into the Braidwood and District community arising from banking services provided by the Community Bank.” Since opening its doors, the bank has given over $2.3 million back into the community in the form of donations and sponsorships. This, of course, leads to the economic and social prosperity of the community. The Community Bank over the years has worked closely with local and state governments and other organisations such as the Veolia Mulwaree Trust to deliver bigger far-reaching outcomes. Another former director, Mary Mathias, says: “The Community Bank has a terrific relationship with organisations in collaborating together for major projects. “It started with the Braidwood Hospital upgrade and then moved to school upgrades, the Braidwood Showground hall, the Braidwood Recreation Ground and even the local saleyards truck wash. This $2.3 million has leveraged to over $10 million and that can only be beneficial to our community.” The Community Bank also supports its youth in the form of scholarships for university and TAFE students. To this day, over $60,000 has been awarded to local people as an investment for the future.
“Our goal is to make our Community Bank branches the number one choice for the community’s banking requirements.” FACING PAGE: The Braidwood team, Nick Fry, Jayde Hardwick, Helen Farley, Karen Cairns, Scott Hart, Deb Waddell, Craig Pettit, Carrie Reeves and Jess D’arcy. Absent: Meagan Orford and Jenny O’Connell. ABOVE: The official opening of Baby Ben in February 2018. Baby Ben was a birthday gift from the Community Bank to the town. Over 700 people attended the opening. LEFT: Branch Manager Nick Fry. BELOW: The Community Bank donated $60,000 towards the recent Braidwood Bushfire Community Help Fund.
The future Chairman Shane Holness sums it up perfectly. “Our goal is to make our Community Bank branches the number one choice for the community’s banking requirements,” he says. “Our financial results and the community contributions delivered speak for themselves. The message we have to promote is that the more customers bank with the Community Bank, the more it is able to benefit our community.” RLM Images: Garry Watkins-Sully and Jake Lindsay.
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a curious Award-winning author Jackie French was always destined to be something special.
mind
With a head full of ideas and an insatiable appetite for learning, Jackie French started reading at the age of three and wrote her first book at six. Atrocious spelling and indecipherable handwriting could have been a significant impediment, particularly in an era when dyslexia was not widely understood. But, for Jackie, learning in a different way was simply part of life. “My grandfather was a neurosurgeon and psychiatrist and my mother trained as a psychologist,” Jackie says. “Both were dyslexic and I grew up in the world where it was always assumed there would be someone in the typing pool to sort out the spelling.” Jackie was pigeonholed as a slow learner when she started school and had difficulty recognising letters and words on the blackboard. All that changed one lunchtime when she was discovered in the school library speed-reading Black Beauty. “I clearly remember my teacher and the headmistress standing over me trying to figure out how the child who couldn’t read Run, Spot, Run was reading and understanding the book.
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“I was enormously fortunate to have Miss Davies as my teacher for the first two years. She realised I wasn’t stupid, never criticised, and went to enormous pains with everything from spelling to arithmetic.” When Sunday afternoon boredom led Jackie to write her own book, she took the story to school where it was printed out and circulated to all the students. From that time on, if the class behaved itself, Jackie was allowed to tell a story for the last 20 minutes of the day. With an innate interest in the world, she asked a constant stream of questions and remembers spending days with a notebook studying photosynthesis as white slime turned green in gutters near her childhood home in Brisbane. “When my uncle took me to the Royal Easter Show, I happily chose a skeleton instead of a doll on a stick. After discovering it was not anatomically correct, I went back to the stall to point out the inaccuracies of only having three ribs on each side. “After that, Grandpa sent me half a skeleton, then a microscope, and all the other things I needed to discover the world. “When I was seven he began sending me medical journals, research papers I might enjoy and books on neuroscience and psychiatry. “He must have been teaching me well before that because in Kindergarten I corrected the teacher when we learned the parts of the body, saying ‘those are the umbilicus and patella, not the navel and the knee’.” Jackie held on to dreams of becoming a published author but was discouraged by everyone around her. “I was told it would be impossible to earn a living as a writer and I would be better off becoming an academic who could take a sabbatical to do some writing.” Jackie went to the University of Queensland but didn’t like the idea of spending her life indoors. She wanted to be in the bush, not an office, and she wanted to write. “Except at school and university my writing was regarded as selfindulgent time wasting.” When Jackie’s first marriage broke up, she was desperately broke and living in a shed with a toddler. She sent off her first book and articles in an attempt to get enough money to register the car. Within three weeks the book was accepted, the articles had become regular columns and she was making a living as an author. Jackie has written more than 200 best-selling books and countless columns in publications including The Canberra Times, Australian Women’s Weekly, Earth Garden, WellBeing and Gardening Australia. She creates fiction for children, teenagers and adults and nonfiction works on gardening and backyard self-sufficiency. Published scientific articles have stretched from endangered species and wombat ecology to ground-breaking theories and practices on pest and weed management. Respected as a historian and ecologist, Jackie is also a passionate worker for literacy, the power of books and the right for all children to be able to read. Named Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014/15, 2015 Senior Australian of the Year and 2011 Federal Literacy Ambassador, she is patron of Books for Kids, YESS (youth educational support service), joint patron of Monkey Baa Theatre Company for young people and a director of The Wombat Foundation, which raises funds for research into preservation of the endangered Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat. Jackie has lived in the Araluen Valley near Braidwood for more than 40 years. On her first visit, she stopped at a lookout and experienced “an absolute Walt Disney moment”. “The mist lifted, there was a beautiful rainbow and birds started singing and hopping around my shoulders,” she says.
“The cliché was ridiculous but I knew it was where I was supposed to be.” Jackie lives in a solar-powered stone house with a waterwheel crafted by second husband Bryan. Much of their land has been made into a conservation refuge. A productive garden and experimental orchard with 272 varieties of fruit demonstrates how farming can co-exist with wildlife. Jackie and Bryan’s connection to the land is strong and they can’t imagine living anywhere else. They evacuated when bushfires roared through the region in December 2019. “If the wind had changed our house would have been lost. We were among the lucky ones,” Jackie says. “The area was badly affected by fire and a lot of businesses are now hanging on by their fingernails. Tourist traffic, initially disrupted by the fires, came to a standstill due to Coronavirus. “People are having a really hard time but our community is still incredibly strong because we care for each other and share the same ethos. The incredible social diversity and inclusiveness is enormously important.” Jackie is still a little surprised by the notion of fame and finds it rather odd that her written words impact upon so many people. “Writing is done in hermit-like isolation and although I do some public speaking, I don’t live the sort of life where people are impressed by who I am or what I have written. “In our rural area the public Jackie French is forgotten. I am just a friend and neighbour.” Jackie still reads scientific and medical journals and spends time advocating for literacy, the environment and dyslexia education. She is happiest in the bush, among the beauty of the plants and animals, dreaming up ideas for her next story. RLM Words: Heather Crosby Images: Kelly Sturgiss
ABOVE: Jackie French has enjoyed living in the Araluen Valley, near Braidwood, for more than 40 years. FACING PAGE: Jackie French has written over 200 best-selling books during her stellar career. Diary of a Wombat is just one of these acclaimed titles.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
BLACK magic Good friends and black garlic producers Jenny Daniher and Cathy Owen make a formidable team.
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Jenny Daniher is a fourth-generation farmer who won’t let anything stand in the way of her plans – not the drought, not the bushfires, a car accident that almost claimed her life or the lingering pandemic. Sydney-raised Cathy Owen came to Braidwood 16 years ago and fell in love with the lifestyle. Today she lives on her own 20-acre block and loves being involved with the Garlicious Grown garlic enterprise. Jenny and Cathy started growing garlic for family and friends seven years ago on their small farms between Bungendore and Braidwood. Then they discovered black garlic in gourmet food magazines. “The first thing you have to know is that it’s a process and not a variety,” Jenny says. “Fresh garlic is good but black garlic has 10 times the antioxidants than traditional garlic. “It’s good for boosting immunity, lowers both blood pressure and cholesterol and tastes amazing! Peeled black garlic cloves are shelf-stable and ready to slice on crackers, spread on a steak, add to pasta or put with a cheese – and the great news is it won’t leave you with garlic breath!” Jenny and Cathy met years ago on the sidelines as their young sons played soccer. Together they sold fresh garlic and jam to pay for their first dehydrator for experimenting in black garlic production. By then, there was a growing interest in black garlic in the gourmet food world. With increased demand, they needed to upscale production, controlling the humidity and temperature over the required 30-day period. Eventually they designed their own machine, enabling the garlic to slowly caramelise to create a fabulous black garlic with an initial molasses flavour and soft garlic notes. Since kicking off the business at the end of 2014, they are now processing approximately 1.5 tonnes a year, including garlic grown by themselves and other local growers. Garlicious Grown has various sales channels for their award-winning range of black garlic products. They have a successful online ecommerce site and sell to over 130 retail food and gift stores across the country. Up until the COVID-19 outbreak, they supplied big function centres like the International Convention Centre in Sydney and high-end restaurants. In the current climate, they are now busy supplying meal box service HelloFresh with thousands of 10g tubs of black garlic cloves. They’ve also exported to China, Dubai, New Zealand and Singapore.
Life changing In mid 2015, Jenny was slowing down on the Kings Highway, ready to turn into her property as she’d done thousands of times before. In a split second, she looked up to see another car drift to the wrong side of the road and collide with her ute head on. Without air bags, Jenny took the full brunt of the impact. It took nearly three years and an “insane” 250 medical appointments in Canberra, including six lots of surgery, before she was back on the mend. “I’m really grateful to be here talking with you but the scars of that dreadful incident will physically and emotionally haunt me forever,” she says quietly. “When you and
your family’s life is turned upside down in an instant, due to no fault of your own, it’s hard to accept and move on.” Husband Brian can never forget the scene confronting him minutes after the accident. He had just picked up their three boys, including twins in Year 12, from school. >
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The magic of black garlic; Jenny Daniher and Cathy Owen produce a wide range of black garlic products; a field of garlic. ABOVE: Fine Food Australia Stand 2019.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
“Unlike me, he remembers every bitter detail of the next few hours,” Jenny says. “He says not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about running up to my crumpled ute, knowing how close he was to losing me.” When she finally got back behind the wheel she constantly reminded herself that it wasn’t her fault and that she really was a good and safe driver. “I don’t do that so much now but I’m still very wary of other drivers on the road,” she says. “Dangerous drivers – be they speeding, overtaking carelessly or texting on their phones – still freak me out. I’m not sure that will ever change for me. What I’ve been through is not easily forgotten.” This is a sad story with a happy ending. “We’ve now been going for almost six years and enjoyed tremendous business growth in a patchy retail environment,” Jenny says. “We appeal enormously to the gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian consumers, which is definitely a growing trend.” Throughout her ordeal, Jenny was strongly supported by family and friends as well as the Braidwood community. Keeping the “super food” business going was a great distraction from her physical injuries and good for her mental health.
“My mum always says ‘things are bad but they could be worse’. To keep positive, that’s the way we’ve always looked at it,” she says. These days Jenny is more aware of fellow drivers and no longer takes the simple things in life for granted. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, perhaps with a side of black garlic and cheese,” she smiles. RLM
ABOVE: Nell Washington and Sam Daniher break up the black garlic bulbs into individual cloves for a HelloFresh order.
ENJOY THE RICHNESS OF BLACK GARLIC IN A VARIETY OF DELICIOUS DISHES The Ultimate Flavour Packed Fine Food Ingredient Grown in Braidwood New South Wales
139 Manar Road, Braidwood New South Wales, 2622 Ph. 0428 216 878
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garliciousgrown.com.au
Braidwood T O W N F E AT U R E
from the heart Like so many businesses, Gary Watkins-Sully’s Reidsdale cider enterprise has been hard hit by bushfires and the COVID-19 lockdown. But the erstwhile professional photographer has found positives among the negatives.
Once known as Irish Corner, it was the glimmer of gold that enticed Irish settlers to Reidsdale, a fertile district high on a ridge between the coastal escarpment and the Araluen Valley. One hundred and fifty years on and it was a different golden temptation, in the form of cider, that lured the Watkins-Sully family to the area. For the past six years they had run a family-owned Deli in nearby Braidwood, when unanimously they decided to shift focus from produce sales to production. The following year was spent renovating a 1920s cheese factory into a working cider factory with a cellar door for visitors.
An industrial building juxtaposed in a rural landscape, it had started life as the Reidsdale Dairy Cooperative, processing milk from 13 local farming families, all of Irish descent. Dairying in the district came to an end in 1957 and the building then served as a hay barn. The Sullys make their cider on a vintage, using genuine cider apple varieties and traditional techniques. The result is a diversity of styles and flavours that change from season to season, and batch to batch. Sometimes chewy and tannic, sometimes smooth and woody. It can be sweet and fruity or mouthpuckering dry, but always unique and never ordinary.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
Gary had trained as a photographer at Herefordshire College of Art and Design back in the early 1980s and worked as a professional photographer/ writer for the next 25 years. The Monga Mist rolling over Reidsdale farmland.
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Above, clockwise from top: Smoke from the North Black Range fire engulfs the Sullys' home near Braidwood; freshly harvested black truffles, from Terra Preta at Reidsdale; Telopea mongaensis, commonly known as the Monga waratah or Braidwood waratah, is only found in moist areas in and around the Monga National Park.
The Sullys see themselves as bastions of a time when food production had a connection with the landscape. Flavours are rich and unhomogenised. It is “real” cider, the antithesis of the sugary, industrialised cider that has flooded the market. But sometimes the environment can be challenging. Already in conflict with drought, the Sullys’ cider business became cut off by bushfires for nearly three months between November 2019 and January 2020. When recovery began, it was swiftly halted by the COVID-19 lockdown and they found themselves tumbling back into isolation. Fire and drought had resulted in a 2020 vintage on a minuscule scale. In no time, it was pressed and in tanks. Suddenly, there was a lot of spare time, a commodity that had been absent in their lives for a very long time. For the past 12 years, Gary Watkins-Sully had become immersed in produce, cider, apples and apple trees. He found himself reminiscing of days BC (before cider). Gary had trained as a photographer at Herefordshire College of Art and Design back
in the early 1980s and worked as a professional photographer/ writer for the next 25 years. He had freelanced in Africa, set up a studio in his home town of Chepstow, Wales, until in 1987 he migrated to Australia where he continued his work as a photographer in the commercial, advertising and editorial fields. It was a complete tree change in 2002, when he joined in business with his parents and siblings to establish the Braidwood Deli. His change in vocation had coincided with a watershed in the photography industry. Silver halide photography was in its twilight, digital was king. Gary did reluctantly convert to digital and continued to take photographs for the business and a few local projects. He had always intended to digitise his entire collection of negatives and transparencies and collate it with his more recent work, but never found the time. The COVID-19 lockdown has caused many lives to change, not always for the worst. Gary’s newfound intimacy with his scanner has become his solace in a time of much duress. RLM
Above, from top: Rainbow over the ruined Marshall Portable Engine at the Old Cheese Factory Reidsdale; braided garlic from Nanny G's Garlic Braidwood.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
a beeline for
business
An inherent love of bees is behind Scott and Armonde Williams’s Bees R Us business, established in 2005. Beekeepers Scott and Armonde Williams live on a small farm about 15 minutes out of Braidwood. They are still reeling from the disastrous 2020 fires on the Clyde Mountain when they lost a great number of their hives. Prior to setting up his bee business, Scott worked on a farm, building houses, sheds, vineyards, orchards and even a golf course. When Scott broke his ankle in a scaffolding collapse while helping a colleague build a shed, he figured it was time for a change. While on crutches he was restricted to office duties and decided to complete a beekeeping course to become a qualified apiarist with the intent of setting up hives on the newly developed orchards at his work place. “With the bees I saw an opportunity,’’ he says. “I also felt it could be something Armonde could sink her teeth into.” The couple have been married 22 years and for most of that time have run the town laundromat. With some juggling, they were able to fit their bee supplies into the shop. “We soon discovered there was a need for beekeeping supplies in this area,” Scott says.
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“There are probably about six commercial beekeepers within 100 kilometres of us but we mainly cater for the hobby farmer that only wants one or two hives in their backyard for pollinating their fruit and vegie garden. Receiving a little bit of honey is a bonus.” Scott estimates there are probably 30 to 40 amateur beekeepers in the Braidwood area alone, while plenty more drop in for a visit from Canberra and the South Coast. “I recommend anyone interested in getting into beekeeping to do a course on beekeeping through your local beekeepers association,” Scott says. “Have a chat to fellow beekeepers that are local to your area then come and see us and check out all the bits and pieces that are available to get you started. “By having one or two hives in your backyard you will also notice a greater yield in whatever you have planted.” Armonde has learnt to love bees and enjoys promoting them wherever she goes. “I never really appreciated or understood the importance of bees before my dear husband decided to create some more work for me,” she laughs. “The great Albert Einstein is rumoured to have said that without bees the human race would perish within four years. “Whatever the case, we need bees on our planet – otherwise our food sources would be severely limited, as one third of our food supply comes from bee pollination.” RLM
ABOVE: Bees making natural, tasty honey. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Nowra bees in a rural setting; Scott and Armonde Williams love their bees.
BEES R US ● BRAIDWOOD Scott and Armonde Williams Beekeeping Supplies 100% Pure Australian Honey Beeswax and Honey Related Products Shop online (we do mail orders country wide), find us at one of our many farmers market locations, or come into our store and say g’day.
02 4842 2360 • 0403 324 212 • scott@beesrus.com.au 69 Duncan Street, Braidwood, NSW 2622
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CAPTAIN
courageous
When rural firefighter Paul Bott is not out protecting his community, he’s crafting fine jewellery at “The North Paddock”, Mongarlowe, about 15 minutes east of Braidwood. Paul Bott and wife Di moved up from Victoria at the turn of the century and have never looked back. “Our search for our dream block took us all over NSW before ending up here – in the middle of a sheep paddock with glorious mountain views,” he laughs. After one night’s camping they knew the barren block would become their forever home. Being an accomplished builder, Paul and his two sons got to work building truck sheds, timber sheds and a stable. The pièce de résistance was the comfortable two-storey pisé (rammed earth) home with magnificent views over the Budawang Range. Paul and Di love having a cuppa on the verandah each morning to take in the glorious landscape. They also gather at sunset for a quiet drink and chat. Being surrounded by bush, they’ve always been painfully aware of the bushfire threat. When they first arrived, Paul joined the Mongarlowe Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade, thinking it would be a good way of meeting some of the locals. Now he’s captain of 25 active members and responsible for protecting some 300 homes in the immediate district. In 2013, the brigade faced the Wirritin fires, which dragged on for 23 days. That was nothing, however, compared to last summer when the mother of all fires descended on their valley. This time around the winds were much stronger. The adverse dry conditions created the perfect firestorm. “We normally receive about 26 inches per year but years of drought had turned the place into a dustbowl,” Paul explains. “When the river stopped flowing for the first time in 40 years, we knew it was going to be a disastrous fire-fighting season – all the tell-tale signs were there.” For 62 days until early February 2020, the volunteers fought the fires, taking only Christmas and Boxing Day off. “We were under-resourced for weeks on end, with fires in every district,” Paul says. “For a long time, we had no additional help apart from five ‘slip-ons’ (10 men) from National Parks – so we had two trucks from Mongarlowe and five from the Park. “By the end we had three strike teams and half a dozen Lake George units involving over 80 men and women. Volunteers came from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Canada and one American.” Paul and his team kicked off at 5.30am each day before crawling into bed, totally exhausted, usually around midnight and sometimes even later. For Di, it was the worst time imaginable. “Naturally, I was concerned for everybody, especially Paul. The smoke was always there. Many residents found breathing difficult and were forced to seek refuge in Braidwood. Sometimes the roads were closed and nobody could go anywhere.” The destructive fires also decimated the natural wildlife. In the middle of it all, Di’s favourite horse had to be put down. By then, the Botts had decided they were going to stay and defend their patch come what may.
“We were facing catastrophic conditions,” Paul says. “It was relentless and seemed to go on forever. It was hot and smoky and we didn’t see the sun for weeks. “It was like being in a war zone. We all felt there was no end in sight. It was becoming a new normal. We all knew the only way we could truly get on top of things would be a thorough drenching of six to 10 inches of rain, which thankfully happened in the second week of February.” The Mongarlowe landowners drew a collective sigh of relief after the downpour, despite the countryside looking bleak and desolate. After a few days, however, new green shoots started growing from the scarred landscape. Paul and Di were just getting back to normal when COVID-19 raised its head. This invisible enemy, they know, will also pass. In the meantime, Paul is back to his goldsmithing while Di is thankful no lives were lost during a disastrous fire season that claimed four local homes and 53 in the district. “We hope no one ever has to ever go through that nightmare again,” Paul says. RLM ABOVE: Paul and Di Bott enjoying a relaxing cuppa on the verandah of their idyllic home. It was a much different scene during the fires. FACING PAGE: Captain of the Mongarlowe Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade Paul Bott will never forget the intensity of the 2020 fires.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
the heart of
the arts
The arts community in Braidwood is strong and vibrant, and Cecile Galiazzo’s gallery and shop continue to serve as a stunning showcase.
In 1974, Studio Altenburg was a fledgling gallery run by master silversmith Christoph Altenburg and his wife Kirsty out of their workshop at Rose Cottage on Lascelles Street, Braidwood. Four years later, the stately Commercial Banking Company of NSW building on Wallace Street came up for sale, offering all the space they could want in a compelling location. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Since 1978, Altenburg & Co and its predecessor Studio Altenburg have been a cornerstone of the arts community in Braidwood, providing a vibrant space to support and encourage new and established local and regional artists and artisans. In December 2018, Cecile Galiazzo bought the gallery and shop from Francesca, the Altenburgs’ daughter. “When I moved to Braidwood in 1982, there was a small group of visual artists, craftspeople, writers and musicians, living in and around the town. Many of us had made the decision to leave the city bustle behind and find a quiet place to raise our children and continue our creative practices,” Cecile says. Her move to Braidwood turned out to be life altering. Making a sharp turn from her former work as a nurse, she studied Visual Arts at the ANU School of Art & Design, graduating in 2000. With Cecile’s strong background in the arts and her connection with friend and mentor Christoph Altenburg, acquiring the gallery was a natural progression and good fit for its proud history. Owning the gallery has also offered Cecile the chance to be a leader in a cause close to her heart. ANU’s Emerging Artists Support Scheme grants exhibitions to selected graduating art students each year. Cecile was given this opportunity 20 years ago and she says: “Supporting young artists is important and vital; it was done for me and so now I can return the same.” Since taking on the
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“Supporting young artists is important and vital; it was done for me and so now I can return the same.� gallery, Cecile has made it part of their mission to support the EASS and this year, for the third year in a row, they are granting an exhibition at Altenburg & Co to a graduating art student. Attracting people to stop in and say hi was never going to be a challenge when your gallery and shop is housed in a beautiful heritage building in the main street of town. Cecile has found people are keen to follow their natural curiosity about the building and often stop in to have a look around. Cecile and her team offer a range of fine
giftware, clothing, leather, toys and much more, standing on the principle of good design. Striving to offer Australian-made and ideally locally or regionally sourced items, in addition to the carefully curated art, Altenburg & Co have taken on a rigorous exhibition schedule, working to present a new show every four to six weeks. The artists range from printmakers and painters to ceramicists, meaning there is always a new and inspiring reason to stop in and have a browse. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Cecile stands in front of a series of works by Braidwood artist Alison Ford; handcarved utensils, decorative eggs and woven textiles are just a sampling of the wares to be found at Altenburg & Co; the Gallery Shop is filled with unique and often handmade artisanal items with a focus on being sustainably sourced and Australian made. FACING PAGE: Cecile Galiazzo, the proud owner of Altenburg & Co, at the gallery and shop housed in the old Commercial Bank building in Braidwood.
Hosting exhibitions of emerging and established artists. Offering curatorial support and small art handling services. Gallery hire available for events.
Altenburg & Co established in Braidwood over 40 years celebrating good design, art, collaboration and community. Fine Art
Giftware
Books
Clothing
Jewellery
Friday - Sunday 10am - 4pm or by appointment altenburg.gallery@gmail.com Ph. 0413 943 158
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in good hands
Capital Chemist Braidwood is steeped in history and brimming with care and expertise. For over 130 years, a pharmacy has operated out of 128 Wallace Street, Braidwood. It has had many owners but in recent history, Capital Chemist Braidwood has been owned by five pharmacists Bente Hart, Kayla Lee, Natasha Jovanoska, Elise Apolloni and Honor Penprase. While they have all been part of the Capital Chemist family for years, they joined forces at Capital Chemist Braidwood in 2019. Each woman offers a different piece to the puzzle that makes CCB such a comprehensive, capable and welcoming pharmacy.
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Bente is a Braidwood local and is held in high regard among her fellow residents. Described as a pillar of the community, her extensive knowledge of the pharmacy and community is invaluable. Braidwood is one of the most wellpreserved regional towns in NSW and Braidwood Pharmacy is one of the oldest pharmacies in Australia, still existing in its original home. The gorgeous leadlight doors are full of character and the pressedmetal ceiling retains its original charm. While the exact date that the Braidwood Pharmacy started operating is uncertain, a clue to its age lies in a dispensing book
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Each of the pharmacists has her own passions and interests, allowing their pharmacy to better offer expertise on a wide range of topics. dating back to 1886. Imagine the types of potions, pills, lotions and tonics that would have been prescribed to members of the community back then. “To know that we are in the same premises that pharmacists 100 years ago were in is something we think about,” Natasha says. “Our building history is all pharmacy and that is incredible. If the walls could talk I’m sure they’d have a lot to say about how the pharmacy industry has changed over the many years.” Each of the pharmacists has her own passions and interests, allowing their pharmacy to better offer expertise on a wide range of topics. Some of the special interest areas include mental health, cardiovascular health, diabetes, asthma, dermatology, wound care and medication reviews. Natasha and Kayla are both trained in sleep apnoea services.
The business has always had the greater good of the community at heart, helping to heal wounds, cure illness and keep people well. The best part? “Seeing how you make a difference, helping somebody understand their medications, providing services to help someone monitor a health condition, linking people with other services that they may require and being somebody to work through any problems that they have,” Natasha says. RLM Words & images: Jennifer Harden
FACING PAGE: Bente Hart, Natasha Jovanoska and Kayla Lee, pharmacists and owners at Capital Chemist Braidwood; Capital Chemist provides a range of products, from scrubs and lotions to gentle soaps, cute and comforting hot packs and cosmetics. RIGHT, FROM TOP: The antique leadlight doors and pressed tin ceilings are a few of the features that hint at the buiding’s history.
Locally owned and operated The pharmacy prides itself on professional, patient centred care and provides a range of professional pharmacy services, including:
Serving the Braidwood community since the late 1800’s Capital Chemist Braidwood is one of the oldest continually running pharmacies in Australia! We have some old dispensing books dating back to 1886 that show how much pharmacy has changed in the last 120 years. Today, Capital Chemist Braidwood is still locally owned and operated by pharmacists’ Bente, Natasha & Kayla.
• Absence from Work & Carers’ Leave Certificates • In-pharmacy and home medication reviews • Diabetes supply (NDSS) • Dose Administration Aid packing (Webster packs) • Home delivery to the local Braidwood area • Pharmacist Vaccination (when vaccines are available!) • Blood pressure monitoring • MedAdvisor prescription ordering program • Return of Unwanted Medicines (RUM) program • Compounding; we have a pharmacy in Canberra that can compound medications for you if you require a specialty medication and we bring this across to Braidwood at no extra charge
Our pharmacists are passionate about helping you reach your health goals and getting the most out of your treatment plan – including medication and non-pharmacological treatments.
OPENING HOURS:
Of particular interest is mental health, diabetes, asthma and respiratory conditions.
CONTACT:
We stock a wide range of evidence-based natural medicines and can source different products at patient need.
Monday to Friday: 8am–5pm Saturday: 9am–12.30pm Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
128 Wallace Street, Braidwood, NSW P (02) 4842 2528 F (02) 4876 7802 braidwood@capitalchemist.com.au www.capitalchemist.com.au
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
FIELD OF DREAMS Rugby Sevens supremo Lewis Holland says representing his country at the highest level in sport has everything to do with his country upbringing.
Lewis Holland is one of Braidwood’s finest sporting exports. Born and raised in the region, the 27-year-old has been playing Rugby Sevens for Australia since 2011. A former captain of the Australian Rugby Sevens team, Lewis has enjoyed numerous representative honours. One of the major highlights was competing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Lewis’s path towards elite-level football began during his school days at St Edmund’s College, Canberra. But becoming a sportsman on the international stage was not something he’d planned on back then.
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“Growing up, I wanted to be a jackaroo. I didn’t have any thoughts of being a professional athlete, which I have since been lucky enough to do,” Lewis says. With a long family history on the land around Braidwood, Lewis has been passionate about farming right throughout his life and attributes many of his sporting achievements to his upbringing there. “I have always loved Braidwood and credit it for a lot of my success because when I reflect back on a lot of the decisions I made they came from the way I grew up there,” he says.
“When you have a small community, they throw their support behind you. You realise how much they get behind you when you go to an Olympics and that’s something special.” Lewis visits his hometown as often as his busy schedule allows and feels a great sense of pride whenever he does. “It’s a beautiful place,” he says. “The trees that line the main street are the key to knowing you’re home and so are the surrounding mountains. The architecture in the main street is very appealing to the eye when you are driving around. “Braidwood’s not positioned too far out of Canberra and not too far from the coast or snow. “There are not many places like that where you can do anything and everything and not have to drive 10 hours.” Lewis is a real country boy at heart and in 2016 fulfilled a lifelong dream by heading off to Mainoru Station in the Northern Territory to work as a jackaroo for six weeks. “Looking back, it was always my dream because my uncles were all jackaroos when they were young,” he says. “I had just been to an Olympic Games but I was super excited to go up to Mainoru and catch buffalo. “It was hard work but a lot of fun too. I made some great mates and if I do get more time off from rugby I will go back.”
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Lewis and his fiancée, Charlotte Caslick, who also plays rugby for Australia, are busy carving out a rural lifestyle for themselves off the field. Three years ago, they bought 350 acres at Stanthorpe in Queensland, where they now run a small cattle operation. While their venture has faced some challenges through drought, Lewis says they are enjoying the journey, and, with the benefit of their combined incomes from playing rugby, they plan to grow their current herd of 75 head of Speckle Park x Angus cows. “When we bought the place, it was a good season and then fell into a drought so we did well to get through the drought. Our income through rugby helped a lot.” While rugby has assisted them in building their farming enterprise, the recent hardships bravely faced by many in Australian agriculture have inspired them on the field. “I draw resilience from those people and how they adapt and seem to always make something work,” he says. “Nothing else matters if you can’t eat or drink. It emphasises how important agriculture is to sustaining us and the future.” Lewis is an ambassador for Beef Australia and, together with Charlotte, has
worked with regional charities to support farmers and regional communities during tough times. He hopes to continue this work, and, when he retires from playing, wants to give back to regional sport. “I wouldn’t mind doing some coaching in rural communities because a lot of kids don’t get great opportunities.” That’s still a while off yet with busy times ahead for Lewis professionally and personally. He plans to play rugby for at least three more years. And in December he will marry Charlotte on their property at Stanthorpe, where they are building a barn especially for the occasion. It will later be converted into a home for them to stay in when they take time out of their sporting schedules. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Australian rugby star Lewis Holland is passionate about cattle farming; Lewis Holland has been playing rugby for Australia since 2011. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Lewis Holland and fiancée Charlotte Caslick will marry on their property at Stanthorpe in Queensland in December; bull-catching in the Northern Territory is a favourite pastime for Lewis Holland; Lewis with his grandmother Narelle Bunn and uncle Nigel Bunn.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
farmhouse FAVOURITES Barbara Hayes’s Country Workbox in Braidswood is a treasure trove of delightful pieces for crafty types and nostalgics.
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Thirty years ago, Barbara Hayes and her late husband Guy were both working as designers for magazines in Sydney, Guy as a graphic designer and Barbara a craft designer. While their careers must be on a dream job list for creative types, their desire was simpler: to live together in the countryside with fresh air and space to roam for themselves and their son. So in 1990, the Hayes family left Sydney behind to follow their hearts to the countryside. First settling in Golspie, they realised their goal of having a shopfront would be better reached in a village that enjoyed a bit more through traffic. With Barbara’s affinity for all things country and antique, Braidwood’s heritage-listed main street, unspoiled by modernisation, was the perfect setting. Not only did it have the looks, but it had personality. Barbara describes it as “a pretty country town with a mix of welcoming old and new residents” as well as the right amount of traffic in the form of travellers coming through on their way down the coast. Country Workbox, as their shop came to be known, started out as a craft store, a treasure trove of supplies and kits in addition to beautiful dolls and mohair bears made by the craft designer herself. Like most clever things, Country Workbox has evolved over the years into a gift and homewares shop filled with all the things that tickle Barbara’s fancy. Lucky for her customers, many of whom have become her friends over the years, Barbara has a wonderful eye. She draws inspiration from her English background as well as her nostalgia for bygone eras. A collector of “kitchenalia, old toys and a whole lot more”, her personal collections certainly influence the types of products you’ll find in her shop. Once you walk through the doors at 68 Wallace Street you are firmly planted in the Australian countryside. The shop is well stocked with beautiful classics such as enamelware teapots and kettles to practical favourites like wooden scrubbing brushes and wool dusters. Barbara also continues to keep her hands busy, sewing dresses for little ones from classic Liberty print fabrics, and she readily admits indulging herself with a healthy stock of teddies and wooden children’s toys. While she hesitates to put a label on the style of her shop, the vibrant Australiana and friendly chickens, cows and dogs that have found a home here point to Barbara’s wonderful brand of country farmhouse style. RLM
“Once you walk through the doors at 68 Wallace Street you are firmly planted in the Australian countryside.”
FACING PAGE: After nearly 30 years Barbara Hayes is right at home in her shop among her curated selection of country style wares. ABOVE, FROM TOP: Barbara handcrafts beautiful dresses for little girls with love from Liberty of London fabrics; cows, chickens, dogs and other country favourites can be found throughout the shop.
Words: Jennifer Harden
Country Workbox looks foward to adding you to their many local customers, gleaned over the last 21 years in beautiful, historic Braidwood. • • • • •
Baby gifts Kitchenware Toys Jewellery and much more...
Wed-Sat 10am-4pm Sunday 10am - 2pm
(02) 4842 1330 workbox68@msn.com
68 Wallace Street Braidwood NSW 2622
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
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sustainability
NOW
Braidwood builders Dan and Troy Vardanega are in the business of producing homes that are super energy efficient and of exceptional quality. When Dan Vardanega embarked on building his family home he was inspired by the Green Homes concept. The nation’s first internationally compliant green builder, Green Homes Australia (GHA), is the only operation of its kind, compliant with the International Standards Organisation for design and construction of energy-efficient homes (ISO 50001). “It’s a bit of a niche market that we stumbled across when I was designing my own place and looking for energy-efficient homes,” Dan says. “They are three times more efficient than a standard home on average.” So impressed with the outcomes of the project, Dan and his brother Troy, both builders by trade, explored ways to integrate the Green Homes way into their own business. “We met with the people at their head office in Orange and decided to run a franchise.” That was seven years ago, and, in this age of sustainability, things have taken off for them since. They were the second builder to get involved and there are now 30 across Australia, with others in New Zealand and the US. “Our clientele are normally not so many first homeowners but people who have owned homes in the past and know the cost of running homes and looking at ways to reduce cost,” Dan says. “We build to an international energy standard and there’s a ninestage audit process that starts from design to construction. “It gives the client peace of mind and a guarantee that we are building a home to the energy management standard we say we are going to. We work with the client from the beginning to end of construction.” Dan says that, in the wake of the recent catastrophic bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic, many clients are very focused on fire prevention and safety, and healthier homes. “What we experienced over summer was like nothing before and people are as focused on being as fireproof as possible, looking at materials they are using and putting in better fire management plans.” Dan and Troy work within a 100km radius of their Braidwood base and build up to 10 homes each year in the area. “We are proud of all our homes. It’s not a small investment so once you have completed a job and hand it over to the clients it’s good to have a good product at the end of the day,” Dan says. RLM
Green Homes Australia Builders, local brothers Daniell and Troy Vardanega
A sustainable, practical, healthy & affordable home
Better efficiencies mean lower energy costs
More home comfort, all year long
Words: Jo McKinnon
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sustainability is key for Green Homes Australia; Green Homes’ award-winning team; fire prevention is a priority for Green Homes clients; brothers Daniell & Troy Vardanega; energy-efficient and high-quality interior of a Green Home. ABOVE RIGHT: Plenty of accolades for the team at Green Homes.
For more information on our process, working with us or even a friendly discussion about your project get in touch:
Greater efficiencies lead to better homes
1300 724 661 sensw@greenhomesaustralia.com.au www.greenhomesaustralia.com.au
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live & learn
Braidwood farmer and 2019 Citizen of the Year Di Izzard has developed a much deeper appreciation for the land since losing her husband 17 years ago.
As she confidently calls out instructions to her dogs in the sheep yards on “Round Mountain”, Gundillion, about half an hour from Braidwood, you’d never guess Di Izzard was raised in town. Her late father, Jim Jonas, was overseer on the Braidwood Shire Council while her mother worked as a cook and cleaner at the local hospital. As a quiet and reserved young girl, Di was one of only a handful of students in her class at St Bede’s. Saturdays were earmarked for adventure – either a hike up to Jillamatong for the day or a walk to the Warri Bridge for swimming lessons (Di’s mother was later instrumental in raising funds for a new town pool). The Good Samaritan nuns, she says, were steadfast in their teachings, with one particularly fond of maintaining strict discipline. “One day we decided enough was enough and we burnt her collection of canes – smoking the place out in the process,” Di laughs. The nuns, she says, were extremely modest. Di found herself in all sorts of strife for attending school in a “naked” state – she was, of course, fully clothed but her dress didn’t have sleeves. Girls got into similar trouble for wearing shiny shoes. By the time she was 16, Di was working in the ANU printing department before finding work as a receptionist at an accounting firm. Before long she was learning to create profit and loss statements and key in data. It soon became obvious she possessed a natural flair for numbers. Even today, she’s often called upon by community groups to assist with their bookkeeping. At 17, Di met her future husband at a Canberra footy game and within a year had walked down the aisle of St Bede’s into Ron Izzard’s arms. In the late 1970s, they purchased a small block of land on Jerrabattgulla Road, running a few crossbred sheep and a handful of cows. Over time they increased their holding to 300 acres. By then Di was working in the Canberra Public Service, delivering mail in the registry department, writing programs
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and fixing the inevitable computer crashes. Ron, meanwhile, found work with a cement company. Although both had full-time jobs they still managed to train race horses and tend to their livestock on weekends. In the 1980s, they joined forces with another couple and built a pub – the Dinsdale Tavern, in Symonston, ACT. The pair again held down regular jobs and worked at the pub at night. Their next project was building a house on the farm. Ron assumed the role of farm manager, while Di was a willing “gofer”, faithful sheep dog and general roustabout rolled into one. “I was getting a solid introduction to farming life, not that I took much on board at the time,” she admits. Like many others, Ron was stubborn as a mule when it came to his health, preferring to steer well clear of doctors and checkups. When he finally had a blood test, the results weren’t good. In typical fashion, Ron insisted they go home and get on with life. That year, Di quit her job to look after him but by year’s end she had lost her husband to prostate cancer, followed closely by her father-in-law. After 32 years of marriage, it was time for the “roustabout” to assume command of what was now a 2000-acre farm.
A new role
The first two years on her own were mostly a blur. “There was so much to do and appearances to keep up – all the while I was totally overwhelmed,” she confesses. “It was four years after his passing that I finally got to
think about things and actually grieve my loss.” In the early days, everything was a challenge. A water pump would break and Di would drive to the rural shop, pick out all the components and lay them down on the ground for a quick visual, ensuring she hadn’t forgotten anything. The bemused shopkeepers remained forever patient and helpful. Di’s biggest fear was buying a new ram, a job traditionally held by her husband. Not exactly sure what she was doing, she mustered all her courage to attend a ram sale on her own. The auction was nearly over and she still hadn’t made a single bid. Finally, she put her hand up and the auctioneer halted his bidding to ask: “Lady, do you have any idea what you’re looking for?” Those present will never forget Di’s indignant reply: “I’m not here for a haircut, I’m here to buy a bloody ram!” Nowadays she’s on a first name basis with all the local agents, having processed saleyard data on sale day for six years. “I loved keeping my finger on the pulse of the value of things, to know what’s worth what, when prices change and why,” says Di, who finished up at the saleyards in 2017. Di lives alone and is used to it, spoiling herself on Friday nights with a few glasses of wine and a bubble bath. She’s convinced you must change with the times or risk being left behind. “There are changes you need to make that you may not like but you have to make them all the same. You have to do your own research and try new things,” she says.
Thanks to her voluntary work in the community, Di has received many accolades, including Citizen of the Year, 2014 Braidwood and Bungendore Community Bank Outstanding Achiever Award and the 2015 John Barilaro Service Award. The pandemic has slowed down her community work, leaving her time to plant a vegie patch. During many difficult times, Di has emerged braver, more assertive and business savvy. She also attends courses, asks questions and dreams of more hours in each day. Instead of craft books on the bench, you’ll now find drenching guns, tractor catalogues and her little yellow book that contains everything from lambing percentages to her weekly list of groceries. Di’s philosophy is to keep looking for the good things in life while helping the community. Currently she’s arranging another drive-through takeaway at her shearing shed for those needing extra supplies to get by. The old nuns at St Bede’s would have been proud. RLM
ABOVE: Since losing her husband, Braidwood farmer Di Izzard has learnt to manage her sheep flock with the help of her well-trained dogs. FACING PAGE: Di loves the farm life and is looking forward to spending more time in her garden after a few tough seasons.
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taking STOCK After a lifetime in the area, Ken and Tracey Harrison are considering whether to diversify, start afresh or retire.
In his late 50s, Ken Harrison is not quite ready to give up the farming game. He’s been working hard on the farm all his life and knows he’d be lost without it. His ancestors started the family dynasty in a most unlikely fashion. Henry Harrison is thought to have arrived in Sydney as an African-American slave. Family legend says he jumped ship in 1854, took the captain’s name and married in Parramatta. His new bride was an orphan from Ireland, who migrated to Australia as a government-sponsored refugee after her parents died in the potato famine. Without a penny to their name, the new Mr and Mrs Harrison trudged all the way from Sydney to the Araluen goldfields to join an estimated 20,000 hopefuls on one of the richest alluvial goldfields in Australia. With 120 pubs and sly grog shops, the punters were kept in high spirits, supported by four banks and four post offices. It was a very self-sufficient valley, 25km from Braidwood and 60km to the much bigger town of Moruya. “There used to be an old pub in the lucerne paddock,” Ken says. “As kids we’d go rock picking, always finding horseshoes, plough shears, stirrup irons, buckles from harnesses and broken old bottles.”
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Instead of striking it rich on the goldfields, Henry took to growing vegetables at “Deep Creek”, a property kept in the family for generations. Ken’s grandfather, Pierre Harrison, continued on Henry’s land and was responsible for establishing the orchard with sons Keith and Charlie. Peter, as he was widely known, would take off on his horse and sulky selling his produce to townsfolk in Captains Flat, Braidwood and Bungendore. In 1959, his sons moved to “Araglen” where they developed a healthy reputation for their peaches and nectarines. Meanwhile, Ken’s wife, Tracey, moved to Braidwood with her family in 1979. She was only 13 when she met her future husband at Braidwood Central School. “Oddly enough, I used to visit my grandparents in Braidwood even before then,” Tracey says. “I remember them driving me down the mountain to Araluen to buy peaches from the Harrisons.” As a farming family, they’ve endured the best Mother Nature can throw at them. Three years with limited water proved catastrophic for the farm. Without this most precious commodity, the orchard, vegies and lucerne crop all suffered.
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Cattle numbers were slashed by half and lambs were sold before they were fattened. Then came the fires. After the inferno, the fruit was covered in ash and unsaleable. Nearly half the trees in the orchard were badly scorched or burnt. The family need to wait and see what will recover and what will need to be bulldozed. “We just walked away from the packing shed and the orchard. At this stage we haven’t been back,” Ken says. After all they had been through, the Harrisons needed a big lift to raise their spirits. It came in March 2020 when their youngest daughter, Kaitlyn, married Kenny Jacobs, whom she met while working on an Alberta ski field. They were planning to get married in the orchard, however after the fires the ceremony site had to be altered. Fortunately, they received 14 inches of much-needed rain in February and with green grass and dams being full another site was chosen. “Ken is naturally a positive bloke but the drought and fires have hit him for six,” Tracey admits. The family are at the crossroads. Their eldest child, Carrie, is married to Matt Reeves and works in the bank at Braidwood, leaving Troy (married to Shannon) and Kaitlyn (and her new hubby) on the farm. The family know change is inevitable. In the 1980s and ’90s, there were more trees under production and it was normal to have a truckload to Sydney every second day. The season ran from the end of October into early March with the family employing up to 20 workers. These days it’s more like two ute loads per weekend at Farmers Markets in Braidwood and Canberra. “If we start again it could take us four to five years before we get back into production,” says Ken, who is still running Angus/ Limousin cows, wool and prime lamb enterprises on their 350 hectares. Whatever the Harrisons do, you can bet it will be a very well thought out process. RLM
After the inferno, the fruit was covered in ash and unsaleable. Nearly half the trees in the orchard were badly scorched or burnt.
FACING PAGE: Tracey and Ken Harrison have lived in the beautiful Araluen Valley all their lives. Fourth generation farmer Kaitlyn Harrison married Kenny Jacobs in early 2020 and the newlyweds are currently working on the farm. CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Ken has always raised cattle to supplement the orchard; a young Keith and Charlie (Ken's father and uncle) with Ken's grandfather and brother in the 1930s; the orchard is in recovery mode; a grim scene of the fire coming over the mountain.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Braidwood
The music of Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen comes from a hotbed of mid 20th century styles, with the old world of waltzes, polkas and mazurkas crashing headlong into the new world of swing, rhythm’n’blues and rock’n’roll. Charismatic lead singer Michael Simic, better known by his stage name Mikelangelo, is a prolific songwriter and an arresting performer with a powerful voice and presence. His lyrics can melt even the hardest heart. The band has played to huge audiences from the Sydney Opera House to Budapest and London’s West End. The boys love nothing better than sinking their musical chords into a meaningful project. Recently, the deep-voiced crooner and his band spent the best part of three years listening to the stories of Cooma’s European migrants who worked on the Snowy Mountains scheme in the 1950s and ‘60s. Most are now old men and women who were thrilled to share their stories. “For a while there were more nightclubs in Cooma than in Kings Cross, due to the influx of this huge migrant workforce,” Michael says. “All these dudes would put on their finest suits and serenade the local women. They dressed like movie stars but could barely speak a word of English.” Michael’s father, Vinko, was one of those men. In 1960, he escaped from communist Yugoslavia into Italy, spending a year in a refugee camp before being sent to the Snowy Mountains to work on the big machinery. Like many people from that era, Vinko met his future wife Ann on the dance floor. The more he talked, the more she smiled as they danced their first night away. “Although Mum never understood a single word he was saying, she still maintains he was more interesting than all the other blokes put together,” Michael says.
the power
of music
Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen are celebrating 20 years of theatrical music that draws on the evocative beauty of love and nature. 102 RLM BRAIDWOOD
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Michael Simic is stepping out under his own name, having joined Music NSW as a regional music officer based in Braidwood. They were married on Elvis’s birthday and are still going strong 54 years later. Michael is a big fan of the King and has often performed as the “Balkan Elvis”. From all those memorable yarns and friendships, the team compiled their fourth album called After the Flood, based on the adventure, hard work and raw emotion found on the Snowy project. “We were inspired by the harsh beauty of the landscape and the lurid tales of all those brave migrants,” Michael says. “They transformed Cooma from a sleepy country town to a world of 24-hour nightclubs with live music, drinking and dancing every night of the week.” There’s no doubt this is a band of powerful storytellers and melody makers. Their latest project, however rewarding, was nothing compared with Michael renewing contact with Rose Ricketson, by then a producer with Big hART and soon to be his wife. “Rose’s job was to manage the project and connect with the community. She lined everything up, so we could breeze into town and make the most of it. People in the community loved both her and the band,” Michael says. Nowadays you’ll find the fresh-faced 50-year-old soaking up the joys of fatherhood in a converted country church
in Majors Creek, an old goldmining village about 20 minutes from Braidwood. By the time the pair discovered the 1930s house of worship, it had already been turned into a beautiful, cosy home. Surrounded by a population of about 300, the old church is the perfect spot for a seasoned songwriter and first-time dad. “It feels remote but we’re only an hour from the Canberra airport. From there we can fly anywhere in the world for a gig,” he says. The church sits opposite the Recreation Ground, where a music festival is held each November. The boys have even performed on the church’s back deck. Near the church sits an insanely small caravan, painted with murals by Rose, where Michael records his demos. Although band members are scattered throughout the state they are as tight as family. “They are all amazing performers in their own right,” Michael says. “In our shows, each has a turn as the front man, telling their own story. After two decades you have to expect change – everybody’s got kids now, including me, so I don’t mind the solo gigs.” After Sunny was born, Michael took six months off to consider his future and enjoy time with his partner and new bundle of joy. Now Michael Simic is stepping out under his own name, having joined Music NSW as a regional music officer based in Braidwood.
“I talk to venues, councils and musicians located around Queanbeyan, Braidwood, Goulburn and Bowral. It’s all about connecting people and telling stories, something I’ve been doing all my life.” These days he is working two days a week, with the rest of the week devoted to family time and songwriting. In Michael’s world, everybody has a story in them, maybe even a song. Take Rose, for instance. Several years ago, she was lying in a hammock during a work break at a music festival. “I was singing a song on my guitar about my perfect man when Michael walked in through the bushes – just like that,” she laughs. “I knew instinctively it was him but it was another two years before we hooked up.” Michael grins. He’s in a great spot and admits life couldn’t be better. Becoming a dad can do that to a bloke. RLM Further information visit www.michaelsimic.com www.patreon.com/Michaelsimic ABOVE: Michael Simic with wife Rose and baby Sunny at their converted church in the old gold-mining village of Major's Creek. FACING PAGE: After decades in the music business, charismatic entertainer Michael Simic is finally making music under his own name.
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FAMILIAR
territory
It may have a new name but Nutrien Harcourts Real Estate has been serving the Braidwood community for over 80 years. Nutrien Harcourts, formerly known as Landmark, is run by real estate manager Reg O’Connell and his team, including property officer Cheryl Clarke and property manager Nicole Dixon. Reg’s family have lived in Braidwood for seven generations, making him a wellknown local. He’s been selling homes and commercial property in the area since 1991 and is unrivalled when it comes to experience and results. The office is located in a historic two-storey stone building in the main street. Over the years, it has been a pottery gallery, butcher shop, saddlery and private residence. The business deals with sales and rentals in residential, rural, commercial and business. It covers an area of around 100km in all directions from Braidwood.
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“We have all types of landscapes with varying uses and potentials,” Reg says. “We come with experience and expertise in hobby farms, working farms on large acreage and rural weekend retreats.” Reg firmly believes Braidwood has been “discovered” in the past few years by Sydneysiders looking to escape the busy city lifestyle. The heritage-listed town, first settled in 1839, is on the main arterial road between Canberra and the south coast and is just over two hours from Sydney on the Kings Highway. The town is a heritage treasure brimming with things to do. “The colonial streetscapes in our historic gold-rush town are criss-crossed with antique shops, country pubs and bakeries designed to beckon travellers driving between the
national capital and the glittering seaside town of Batemans Bay,” Reg says. He believes Braidwood is lucky to have so many facilities in a town of its size, with a Services Club with golf course, bowling greens and squash courts. The swimming pool is in a central part of town next to the recently completed playground – the site of many an upset toddler having to resume the trip to the coast. The nearby National Parks are perfect for overnight camping with some of the country’s most challenging 4WD tracks and scenery you won’t want to leave. Gold fever struck this already prosperous pastoral area in the 1850s and the outlying villages of Majors Creek, Mongarlowe and Araluen still remain as a testament to these times.
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These days, the area is home to the many artists, potters, craftspeople and designers whose creative influence helps inspire the events calendar. The gold fever continues today wit the Dargues Gold Mine at Majors Creek, 13 kilometres south of Braidwood, recently going into production. This, together with many other projects in the area, including a major upgrade of the local hospital and Central School, is bringing employment to the region. “We are now seeing workers travelling to the area from surrounding towns who would prefer to live here,” Reg says. “Unfortunately, a shortage of rental accommodation or even properties to buy is preventing this.” Reg says that, without doubt, Braidwood’s biggest asset is its people. “Most don’t have any real sense of time,” he grins. “There’s always time for a chat about the weather, with many locals congregating regularly in the quirky cafes or coffee shops to discuss the daily schedule. “And if you have a problem, there’s never any shortage of advice or a shoulder to lean on – even a cup of tea and a scone.” RLM
“We are now seeing workers travelling to the area from surrounding towns who would prefer to live here.”
ABOVE: Property officer Cheryl Clarke and property manager Nicole Dixon. FACING PAGE: Nutrien Harcourts sales manager Reg O’Connell and his team work from a historic Braidwood building.
Braidwood Real Estate
Buy your property with us
Property Sales Reg O'Connell Ph. 0402 833 344 reg@braidwoodproperty.com.au
Sell your property with us
Property Management & Sales Admin Nicole Dixon Ph. 02 4842 2707 rent@braidwoodproperty.com.au
Rent your property with us
Property Assistant Cheryl Clarke Ph. 02 4842 2707 rent@braidwoodproperty.com.au
Mon to Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am-12pm 116 Wallace Street Braidwood NSW 2622 braidwoodproperty.com.au
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BUNGENDORE TOWN FE ATURE WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
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bright and beautiful
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Bungendore T O W N F E AT U R E
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Bungendore T O W N F E AT U R E
unsurpassed
EXCELLENCE
The Bungendore Wood Works Gallery is the home of Australian wood art, giftware, sculpture and contemporary furniture by some of the country’s foremost designer makers.
The 37-year-old internationally acclaimed Bungendore Wood Works Gallery showcases the work of over 180 designer makers in wood. The man behind the project is New York-born artistic director and founder David Mac Laren OAM. His introduction to wood started on the corner of Manhattan’s Third Avenue and 27th Street after responding to a “Help Wanted” sign at the Impressions in Wood gallery. It was here that David developed a life-long love affair with shaping timber and fine woodworking. After a few years he moved to larger premises to a shared workshop on the Lower East Side, making domestic furniture and kitchens from White Oak and Walnut and fit-outs for architects, all the while designing and making smaller items for craft fairs.
In 1977, accompanied by a shipment of his beloved American Black Walnut, he left the Big Apple for the wide-open spaces of Bungendore, hoping to create a place for woodworkers to display their works – a place where diversity was encouraged and fine craftsmanship would be essential. To get the ball rolling, David approached seven local woodworkers and asked them to produce a piece from his precious timber. In 1983, an exhibition of fine woodwork in the heritage-listed Bungendore Store (opposite the present site) signalled the birth of the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. After winning back-to-back National Tourism Awards in 1990 and 1991, and with increased visitation and trade, David decided to build a new gallery across the street, which was completed in 1994.
ABOVE: Artistic director and founder of the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, David Mac Laren OAM, is proud of his internationally acclaimed gallery. FACING PAGE: With over 180 designers contributing their work to the gallery, expect to see some of the finest woodwork in the country.
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The gallery itself is worthy of praise, built with Jarrah posts, beams and staircase, Tasmanian Oak floors, ebonised Victorian Ash window and door frames with Flooded Gum wall panelling. It began as a “place to display” but over the decades David elevated the space into an art form. Under his daily direction, he and his staff proudly display the country’s finest wood work from many highly acclaimed makers. “We take great pride in the skill and art of Australia’s craftspeople and in the varied richness and beauty of our native timber,” he says. Getting it right is an endless quest for David. A gut-wrenching fire in 1999 claimed David’s workshop, tools, timber and works in progress. All was lost. It was the end of one chapter and the start of another. Instead of rebuilding, he devoted more time developing working relationships with the country’s top craftspeople. The journey took him from the Jarrah-rich forests of Western Australia through to the exotic stands of northern NSW and Queensland and down to the ancient Huon Pine environments of Tasmania. Recognising the simple, and at times, alternative lifestyles of dedicated “woodies”, he decided to help those who shared his deep love of all things wood.
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Realising the relationship with his fellow makers required sensitivity in encouraging them into a special partnership, he set about treating this as equal to, if not more important than, any commercial outcome.
So what’s next? “The journey simply continues,” he smiles. On reflection, he wishes he could build another gallery to create a greater gallery identity for the village. “I have development approval for this vision but not the resources. I would like to see the village be an arts destination, with a sculpture zone-arts precinct from the Wood Works along Ellendon Street to Gibraltar Street.” In the meantime, David and his team connect with thousands of gallery supporters via a newsletter, sharing their story and keeping the channel lines of communication open. “My biggest challenge is moving the gallery to a new generation, to make it an enduring institution,” David says. “On a more personal level, I aim to continue collaborating with others while designing and making distinctive furniture.” RLM
“We take great pride in the skill and art of Australia’s craftspeople and in the varied richness and beauty of our native timber.”
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The upstairs octagon art space is reserved for exhibitions by artists working in a wide range of media including printmaking, photography, wood and sculpture; senior gallery staff member Mahala Hill; the Main Gallery exhibits a wide variety of exceptional, affordable, functional homewares, exclusive giftware and creative artworks in wood.
something special
Opened in 2004, Louise Sailer’s Wild Rose Organics in Bungendore offers customers the largest range of ethically sourced, chemicalfree and sustainable living products under one roof in the Canberra region. Before they were under a roof with a plethora of ethically sourced products, Wild Rose Organics was simply Louise Sailer, a market stall and three or four of her most tried and true products. What started out as a hobby has become a devotion. Louise is proud to offer a store full of products that are thoroughly researched before they hit the shelves so customers can rest assured that anything they pick up will tread lightly on the earth. While herbal teas and essential oils may be a couple of the items that come to mind when imagining the contents of an organic shop, their range offers so much more. Clothing and accessories are made from ethically sourced bamboo, hemp, cotton and wool. There are also locally made jewellery and soaps, chemical-free skin and hair care as well as beauty products. And for those looking for something unique, a variety of crystals are waiting to be explored from rose quartz and amethyst to citrine and obsidian, each offering their own beneficial properties. While it is true that all of the products on offer are natural, organic and ethically sourced, they are also beautiful, high quality, and well priced. Louise believes you absolutely don’t need to compromise on any of these things just because you are buying organic. In truth, the fact that they are ethical is just a huge bonus. Living in a small town, Louise is providing not just a shop but a service to her community. It is a peaceful place for people to come in off the street and have a browse and a chat and sometimes find something new to take home. “My love of retail and the whole atmosphere that we’ve created keeps me going and enjoying it,” Louise says. The sanctuary she’s created stands as one of her proudest achievements. All her life she dreamed of having her own shop and Wild Rose Organics has allowed her to combine her love of retail with her core values of living simply and ethically. RLM
Ethically sourced, chemical free + sustainable living products under one roof OUR PRODUCT RANGE INCLUDES:
• Organic clothes • Hemp + bamboo products • Chemical free skincare, hair care + beauty products • Sustainable products for home • Locally handmade jewellery, homewares + gifts • Crystals, tarot + oracle cards • Books, tea + wellbeing products • Essential oils, candles + salt lamps • Bach Flower & Australian Bushflower Remedies
Words: Jennifer Harden
OPEN 7 DAYS ABOVE: Ethically sourced and organic products are at the core of the Wild Rose philosophy. Louise Sailer fills her shop with beautiful high quality products you can feel good about purchasing.
Weekdays 9.30am - 4.30pm Saturday 9am - 4pm Sunday 11am - 3pm
P. (02) 62381422 M. 0450 081 422 wrorganics@gmail.com Shop 2, 38 Ellendon Street Bungendore NSW 2621
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on a mission
To Hanna Darmondy, Bungendore is familiar territory but it will never be her comfort zone. Not many farmers can look out the kitchen window and see suburbia but it’s a familiar scene for Bungendore farmer Hanna Darmody. She wakes each day looking at a row of houses across the street. It’s all part of the magic of living in the home built by her grandparents in the 1940s. Their farm, “Wynella”, used to be on the edge of town but over 80 odd years the town has grown around it. Having residential homes on one boundary is simply part of this surreal landscape. Hanna grew up on the property with her parents, Paul and Sue Darmody, older sister Chloe and younger brother Ben. Her parents now live in a new house on the property. When her schooling finished in 2012, Hanna spent a year travelling through Europe, trying to figure out what to do with her life. “I always wanted a career in agriculture but was unsure in which capacity,” she smiles. On her return she completed a Marketing Diploma at the Canberra Institute of Technology, thinking she could add value to the family business, Bungendore Country Butchery, started by her father in 1996. Her initial focus was to promote the paddock to plate philosophy, which her father had kicked off many years earlier.
“We’re the butcher but also the farmer,” she says. “It means we are there every step of the way and can assure the quality of our product.” Life is busy between the butcher shop and farm but Hanna wouldn’t have it any other way. She enjoys working alongside her parents as much as feeding livestock and growing crops and pastures. “It’s a male-dominated industry but I just love it,” she says, referring to her work at the butcher shop. “After six years, the locals are getting used to me. I think they enjoy seeing the next generation come through.” With her parents they source young cattle from local sales and supplementary feed them for 60 to 90 days until ready for processing. They also breed their own lambs using premium bloodlines for the ultimate meat and wool combination. “Our product is our passion, and that’s why we choose to be there from the farm gate to the fork,” she says. >
ABOVE: Steers being fattened on the farm. Note all the new homes in the background. FACING PAGE: An inspirational Hannah Darmody is a credit to her family and the Bungendore community,
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Hanna’s family have always enjoyed a strong affiliation with the community, starting with her grandfather who ran Bungendore’s first rodeo in the front paddock of his farm during the 1950s. Many enthusiastic fans would watch the spectacle from the roof of the woolshed, which still remains on the farm. It was inevitable that Hanna would likewise be inspired to help her community. In 2012, she was the president of a small committee instrumental in forming the Bungendore B&S, which over six years raised more than $100,000 for the local showground. Five years later, Hanna was judged Bungendore Showgirl and later chosen by local member and Deputy Premier John Barilaro as the Local Woman of the Year (for Monaro). That helped prepare her for her next step as a Royal Agricultural Society Rural Achiever, one of only eight selected from throughout NSW. To cap off a stellar start to life, Hanna became the youngest person to serve on the board of the Bungendore and Braidwood Community Bendigo Bank and is now deputy chair. “I’ve been involved with the community all my life, and that has helped shape the woman I am today,” she says. “The old saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ really resonates with me. Everything I’ve been involved in has formed the path to my future. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my community and especially my family.” Hanna says she doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. “My inspiration is my family. My parents have supported and influenced every step of my journey – with much more to come,” she says with a confident grin.
“I’ve been involved with the community all my life, and that has helped shape the woman I am today.”
As a retail butcher shop, we aim to provide the best for our community through premium products and customer service. From farm gate to fork, our story of family and farming comes to life at Bungendore Country Butchery.
17 Gibraltar Street Bungendore NSW 2621 P. 02 6238 1240 info@bungendorecountrybutchery.com.au
bungendorecountrybutchery.com.au
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“You often forget what people say and do but you never forget how they make you feel. My parents make me feel like I can achieve anything I put my mind to and this is what drives my success.” Hanna is keeping a close eye on the latest Coronavirus news but says it’s had minimal effect on her life. “I still go to work as we are an essential business,” she says. “And I still work on the farm. There’s no escaping my family as we all work together!” Hanna says life throws us all sorts of challenges. “That’s the exciting part,” she says. “Challenges allow us to grow, learn and prosper. This is so important because great things never happen from our comfort zones.” RLM
Opening Hours Monday – Friday 6:30am – 5pm Saturday 6:30am – 12pm Sunday - Closed
ABOVE: Hannah Darmody loves the farming side of the cattle enterprise.
certified organic TRUE FREE-RANGE nutritionally dense eggs from chooks foraging on biodynamic pastures
All profits support landscape rehydration via the Mulloon Institute www.themullooninstitute.org
www.mcnf.com.au www.mcnf.com.au
Bungendore Village Leather • A family owned and operated business trading in NSW & ACT for 51 years •
Comprehensive range of Australian made belts, wallets & souvenirs
PROUD STOCKIST OF MANY ICONIC AUSTRALIAN BRANDS
Kings Highway (Cnr Ellendon St) Bungendore NSW 2621 02 6238 1805 | www.leatherandtrading.com.au Open 7 days Sep – Apr, 10am – 5pm | May – Aug, 10am – 4pm BUNGENDORE RLM 117
nurturing
nature
Tony Coote AM was a man of passion and a steward of the land who cared deeply about repairing his farmland and sharing his learnings with others. Tony began his regenerative farming journey in the 1960s by purchasing properties around Bungendore, which became Mulloon Creek Natural Farms. With a growing concern about farmland degradation worldwide and dropping food nutritional quality he recognised that repairing landscapes could be a part of the solution. His journey of learning how to restore his land’s optimal health saw him visit non-conventional farms around the world. Part of his legacy was having the curiosity, foresight, natural charm and ability to engage with a variety of people – from farmers and innovators to scientists and politicians. He gathered many enthusiastic supporters and highly experienced experts to the cause, including the Australian National University, who continue using the farm for research projects.
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Eventually, he concluded that a holistic and biological approach to land management also provided economic, environmental and social benefits. To prove its value, Tony worked with innovative and unconventional landscape thinker Peter Andrews to regenerate a small section of Mulloon Creek. Their goal was to reinvigorate the adjacent farmland by slowing the creek’s water so it had time to soak into the landscape. Over time, this evolved into the catchment-wide Mulloon Rehydration Initiative involving 20 neighbouring landholders repairing their farms and waterways across 23,000 hectares and 50km of creek. It has attracted Federal Government funding, a visit from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and an Australian Story feature program.
The ambitious initiative has also drawn international attention, with the United Nations recognising it as one of a handful of unique case study projects globally to help develop guidelines for sustainable, profitable and productive farming. For Tony, transforming his land from a degraded and unproductive state to a thriving, lush and healthy system had become his life’s passion. He was adamant that Mulloon Creek Natural Farms should be preserved as an example for the benefit of future generations. Wanting a mechanism to inform and help others do similar work, Tony and wife Toni established the Mulloon Institute (TMI), a not-for-profit charity that shares these regenerative practices with other farmers around Australia and across the world. At a time when most people would have been putting their feet up and enjoying retirement, the committed farmer continued his work on repairing and rehydrating his country as a way to improve the land and carrying capacity. Tony was practising tai chi and visiting his farm in his last days before cancer claimed his life on August 8, 2018. The 79-year-old was lowered into a grave on his beloved property in a handmade wicker basket made from willow – no doubt a parting gesture to those complaining about him planting willow trees to repair degraded landscapes. “He never wanted accolades for his achievements,” says TMI chairman and former Member for Eden-Monaro Gary Nairn AO. “Towards the end he had a real sense of accomplishment and feeling that his life work had been achieved.” Gary says his friend lived life to the full, leaving an indelible legacy on landscape repair and rehydration. “During the height of the drought, it was certainly dry out here and tough on the land but we maintained ground cover throughout,” he says. “Tony’s farms were organic and he was passionate about nutrition. He believed you couldn’t have nutritious food without a naturally functioning landscape.” During a most eventful life, Tony served as president of the Australian Retailers Association and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988 for services to the industry and community. “The country lost a great man with his passing,” Gary says. “He left an enormous legacy in his visionary commitment to the Australian landscape.” RLM Images: Adam McGrath
ABOVE: Great mates Gary Nairn AO and Tony Coote AM in 2018, outside an historic Cobb & Co Inn on the “Duralla” property at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms. image: Adam McGrath.
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FREE
as a bird
Mulloon Creek Natural Farms chickens are living the good life and loving every minute of it. Every time you buy Mulloon Creek Natural Farms eggs from the Harris Farm Markets and quality food retailers, you are supporting the legacy of Tony Coote. Their “true” free-range eggs come from chooks on a diet of certified organic feed, shell grit and water, supplemented by beetles, worms and grasses in the paddock. “We follow nature’s example in managing our soils, creeks, pastures and animals, by giving our animals a natural and healthy life outdoors,” Mulloon Creek sales and marketing manager Tony Booth says. “The pastures are certified biodynamic. Their food and water are placed outside the mobile sheds so they must go outside to eat. There’s no sitting inside all day for these birds.” After a day of roaming free in their paddocks, the hens return to their mobile hen houses to roost safely away from foxes. The purpose-built sheds are used for shelter, roosting and egg laying and are regularly moved to fresh pasture. The sheds have open bottoms above the ground, so the hens are never locked up and are constantly under the watchful eye of Maremma guard dogs, specially bonded to each flock to guard and protect them. “We keep less than 250 birds per hectare so our lucky hens have more space than many free-range operations. The Australian Government’s free-range maximum is 10,000 birds per hectare while the organic standard is 1500 birds per hectare,” he says. “Our eggs are high in Omega 3 fatty acids and other key nutrients, making them healthy, nutrient dense and a great source of protein. Free from manmade chemical inputs and antibiotics, they are amongst the most ethically produced commercial eggs in Australia.” All profits from the chook and egg enterprises support The Mulloon Institute to continue its research and
The hens are constantly under the watchful eye of Maremma guard dogs, specially bonded to each flock to guard and protect them. on-ground works rehydrating and restoring the Australian landscape that supports regenerative agriculture. “By buying our eggs you aren’t just getting great eggs, you are effectively investing and supporting a better future for Australia’s landscapes and agriculture.” RLM ABOVE: Farm manager Michael Fitzgerald with the free-range hens on Mulloon Creek Natural Farms.
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for the love of
LEATHER What began as a hobby back in the 1960s has grown into one of the region’s most iconic businesses – Bungendore Village Leather.
It all started when the Lake family matriarch, Meg, received a leathercraft kit as a gift to keep herself occupied when her children ventured off to school. For hours on end, she would sit at the kitchen table making handbags, wallets and belts for loved ones. Before too long, her special flair for making leather goods was noticed and when her husband Barry, a lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army, was posted to Canberra they decided to start selling some of her pieces at various art and craft shows and markets in the area. Soon after their move to Canberra, Barry served in the Vietnam War for 12 months and during that time things started to get more serious with the leathercraft business. An area underneath their residence was dug out and turned into a workshop for Meg. Son Brian and his three siblings helped out whenever they could, learning the necessary skills. Brian would eventually take over what became a very successful business. “I have been doing leatherwork since I was 10 years old. I started out making watch straps for my school mates. It’s been a real family affair all the way through,” Brian says. In the late 1970s after Barry’s retirement from the Australian Army, the Lake family moved to Narooma on the NSW South Coast. Lakes Leathercraft was at the centre of their new venture, YHA Backpackers – Narooma. The Leather Barn, as it was known back then, sold locally produced leather products. At age 31, Brian took over the business, which is now in its 51st year of operation. “At its peak in early 2000, we had four stores and moved into the big time, opening outlets in both Westfield complexes in the Canberra region,” he says. As Barry was reaching his 80s, the leases in the Westfield stores were not renewed and this allowed Brian and his wife Wendy
to spend more time assisting Barry in his old age. They were happy doing things on a smaller scale with just the one outlet in Bungendore. Bungendore Village Leather is a popular leathercraft gallery right in the heart of the township that stocks a broad range of domestic leather goods, animal hides and iconic Australian brands such as Akubra and Jacaru Hats. Genuine Aussie-made UGG boots are a year-round product staple. “You can come in and the cheapest item is a $2 hand-plaited friendship band and the most expensive is $700 for an extralarge cowhide,” says Wendy, who manages the marketing and promotion of the store. “A whole family can come into the shop and have an outing. All of them can purchase something that will fit with what they like. Some people come in to do their Christmas shopping, saying to us ‘Why travel? We can get everything we need here’.” Their business has received many prestigious awards including the Southern Tablelands Tourism Award for Excellence in Retailing, Capital Country Tourism Award for Excellence in Tourism Retailing, NSW Tourism Awards for Excellence in Tourism Retailing and the Bungendore Chamber of Commerce Retailer of the Year. Brian has also been commissioned by the Attorney General’s Department, the Australian War Memorial and the National Museum with requests to do restorations on historic items and produce specific products. Brian’s professional knowledge has also been sought by Parliament House for the maintenance of leather furniture in the building. Another great testament to the business was being invited to take part in the reopening of the Hyatt Hotel’s souvenir store especially for then US President Barack Obama and his huge entourage when visiting Australia.
“People who were brought here by their parents come in and introduce us to their children.” “To be invited was such a thrill. My father was around back then and he was as proud as punch,” Brian says. Brian and Wendy are semi-retired now but still work in the store up to three days a fortnight and keep up their connection with their many loyal customers. “People who were brought here by their parents come in and introduce us to their children. We have generations of people that visit us here in the store.” Bungendore Village Leather is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm during September to April and 10am to 4pm during May to August and is open all public holidays except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon Images: Jennifer Harden
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Wendy and Brian Lake; a stack of Australian made ‘Jacaru’ kangaroo leather hats; exclusive to Bungendore Village Leather beer or wine holsters; full leather horse head money box; travel to yesteryear as you browse the rafters. ABOVE, FROM TOP: Meg and Barry Lake in their workshop; the Federal Emporium in 1923, now housing Bungendore Village Leather.
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the people’s Pailthorpes Since moving to Bungendore five years ago, vicar Mike Pailthorpe has never been busier tending to his flock, and wife Chloe has her own unique way of connecting with the community.
The first thing parishioners notice when invited into the Bungendore rectory is the colourful splash of red, white and blue down the long hallway. The Union Jack hangs proudly on the wall surrounded by framed letters and photos from the British Royal Family. Harry smiles at you from the cluster of books and magazines dotted along an old church pew and other bits of memorabilia, each with their own story. The dates on the royal correspondence vary from recent times to a very special letter from King George in 1945, offering his condolences to a grieving family after their young son was killed in WW2.
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Somewhere in between these years is a letter dated September 13, 1989, from the late Princess Diana’s lady-in-waiting. The letter was penned to a young Chloe and her sister, thanking them for their letters written to the princess and expressing the gratitude of the famous royal. Nearby are letters from the Queen’s lady-in-waiting and notes of thanks from Sarah, Duchess of York, for drawings sent to Buckingham Palace. More recently, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwell, has hand-written her own thank-you letters. Chloe’s fondness for all things royal saw her drive the kids (Meg, now 13, Jack, 10,
and Will, 8) to Dubbo for a glimpse of the former Prince Harry and his blushing new bride during their 2018 whirlwind tour. The volunteers at Phil’s Emporium, the century-old Anglican hall next to St Phillip’s Anglican Church, organised a baby shower in honour of the duchess, with new gifts donated to take to Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. This connection to the Royal Family goes back to Chloe’s father, Craig Bennett, who encouraged letter writing from an early age. Now, 30 years later, Chloe has passed on the ancient art to her children, friends and even op shop volunteers.
Phil’s Emporium The vicar thrives in his job. Each day he loves making coffee for op-shop visitors, preparing for Sunday services and greeting church folk as well as the wider community. The op shop has allowed him to meet many new people he’d never have met otherwise. “Many of the locals are saying using the old church hall as an op shop has enriched the church presence in the community and supported many beyond a Sunday service,” he says. “Although we haven’t been able to use our church during the pandemic, we’re still able to love and care for each other and for those who are isolated and vulnerable in our community, albeit in new and creative ways.” With the help of partner Anglicare, Phil’s Emporium became an op shop after the 2017 Carwoola bushfires to help community members get back on their feet. “We were in a small shed behind the church for the first year but have grown into the hall,” a proud Chloe says. “We definitely need a place like this but it’s not just for the poor and needy – it’s there to help everybody.” Profits are ploughed back into the community through different charities, including Outreach. It also means the church, hall and home can all be well maintained. “We have a similar, albeit smaller, set-up at Captains Flat,” Chloe says. “We opened the church as an op shop. With its stainedglass windows, it’s probably the smartest looking op shop in the country.” Between the two centres are about 40 volunteers from all ages. All the clothes, books and CDs are generously donated by the locals. “People value recycling and upcycling. We are passionate about reducing wastage and offering affordable clothing from as little as a dollar,” Chloe says. The vicar and his wife also have a community food hub behind the church and a disaster recovery team. The pair met while Mike was undertaking work experience in Wagga Wagga. Chloe, a Cootamundra girl, boldly asked him to accompany her to Junee’s Monte Cristo, where she was patroness of a ball in the Miss Wagga Wagga Quest. Mike accepted, the two danced the night away and a lovely romance blossomed. Overcoming all obstacles, they lived and worked in Sydney, Bathurst and Grenfell before moving to Bungendore. The two make a formidable team, with Chloe managing the op shops and Mike being the vicar. The “Royal wall” in the vicarage is a great talking point when nervous couples visit for their wedding interviews. “If they are unsure about having a traditional wedding service, Mike just points to William and Catherine on the wall and says ‘It’ll be just like a royal wedding’, and they’re convinced,” Chloe laughs. RLM
“People value recycling and upcycling. We are passionate about reducing wastage and offering affordable clothing from as little as a dollar.”
FACING PAGE: Chloe and Mike Pailthorpe in Phil's Emporium where everybody gets a bargain and a great cup of coffee. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The hallway of the rectory is decked out in red, white and blue, with letters from several generations of the Royal Family; the good vicar loves his coffee machine; the couple inside the community food hub; St Phillip's Anglican Church is an important community asset.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Bungendore
READ
all about it
Sharon Baxter-Judge believes print media can still play an important role in uniting and informing regional communities, and Bungendore believes in her.
The Australian media landscape is constantly changing with dozens of regional and community newspaper outlets forced to close in recent times. And, while the economic impact of COVID-19 was undoubtedly the tipping point, many were already teetering on the brink as it’s never been tougher to sell advertising, which is the essence of any publication’s financial survival. Ever the optimist and with a passion for regional life, Sharon Baxter-Judge, the owner and editor of the recently renamed Regional Independent (formerly the Bungendore Weekly), sees this challenging climate as an opportunity for some rural publications to re-establish their importance within communities. “When I started the Regional Independent, the printer said to me there was a shift back to local independent papers because people want to see what’s going on in their own backyard,” Sharon says. “In the bigger papers there’s very little local information and it’s all very generic now.” It was 4½ years ago when the 57-year-old Bungendore resident decided to venture into the publishing business. She says the catalyst for the bold move was when the print run of a local paper came to a grinding halt. “We had a local newspaper here that stopped printing quite a few years ago now and the community was missing it,” she says. “I was looking for something different and I thought, ‘oh well, I will do some research’ and a dear friend of mine suggested I would be really good at it.” With an unwavering commitment to the masthead, Sharon has since lifted the Regional Independent’s weekly distribution to 4800 and she largely attributes this healthy growth to Bungendore’s strong community spirit.
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“I was only 52, and until then, had hardly been ill in my life. I had always been active, never smoked and only drank alcohol occasionally.”
“There’s always something happening in Bungendore. We have a lot of community groups and amazing volunteers here that contribute a lot to the paper as well,” she says. “Bungendore is growing with a large percentage of our population working in defence. We’ve also got farmers, a lot of hobby farmers and artistic people that work from home and of course the hundreds that work in Queanbeyan and Canberra. It’s a vibrant and diverse community. It’s just lovely.” Sharon and husband Graham, along with their two sons Owen and Ben, made the move to Bungendore 14 years ago and haven’t looked back. “We spent 17 years in Tweed Heads and a year in Tasmania. Then Graham secured a job in Queanbeyan and I did my research on good schools and everyone came back saying Bungendore Primary was excellent so we decided to come here.”
She wasted no time in immersing herself in the community. Being a vocal advocate for public education, Sharon joined the Bungendore Parents & Citizens Association where she served as president for three years. “With an amazing team of volunteers, we successfully campaigned for our Building the Education Revolution funding, replaced all our unflued gas heaters, and BPS was a pilot school for the ethics programs,” she says. “Along with an amazing team of volunteers, I have coordinated countless successful fundraising events. It’s hard work at times but I have made lifelong friendships through volunteering.” Running the Regional Independent keeps Sharon busy with plenty of responsibilities including writing some content, taking photographs and designing the layout. She then spends seven hours on the road every Wednesday delivering copies of the paper to its various stockists in the region.
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“God forbid if I am half an hour late. They say ‘I’ve been waiting for you, where have you been?’,” Sharon laughs. “It’s only a little paper and averages 12 to 16 pages, all relevant to our area and the region. There’s a lot of local information.” Regular readers eagerly await their free edition, and there is much anticipation around who will be featured in the popular “Pet of the Week” column. A wide range of animals has appeared over the years including ferrets, goats and cows. “They have to submit a picture with no human allowed in it, along with the name, age, likes, dislikes and claim to fame of the pet. People love it, I love it.” Sharon oozes pride and enthusiasm when she talks about the Regional Independent and could not be happier with the positive feedback she gets from the readership. “I love what I’m doing and I love our community groups. But I’m not really that ambitious and under no illusions. It’s no
Sydney Morning Herald or The Australian,” she says. “I like to write feel-good stories, factual and informative articles. The paper is not a hater of anyone. I tell people to save that for Facebook.” The greatest satisfaction Sharon gets from the Regional Independent is that it helps the community to thrive in so many ways. “I like doing things like promoting a community event, and then you go there and there are 2000 people there and feedback from people saying they saw it promoted in the paper. Or, people fundraising for things and getting more money because there was a push in the paper about it,” she says. “A lot of people tell me they read it cover to cover.” The Regional Independent is free and distributed to Bungendore, Braidwood, Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Googong, Tarago, Bywong, Wamboin, Captains Flat, Carwoola and surrounding villages. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon
“I like to write feel-good stories, factual and informative articles. The paper is not a hater of anyone. I tell people to save that for Facebook.”
ABOVE: Ben, Owen, Sharon and Graham. Sharon was awarded Bungendore Citizen of the Year in 2017. FACING PAGE: Sharon with her Jack Russells Buddy and Tasha.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Bungendore
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THE X
factor
Silversmith and gallerist Xanthe Gay unexpectedly found her life and passion during a random Sunday afternoon drive from her temporary Canberra home 22 years ago.
On her first trip to Bungendore, Xanthe Gay noticed a vacant, tiny and somewhat unloved building at the quieter end of the main street. Between the historic Royal Hotel and a retro style motel, it was without question the thinnest self-standing building in town – or any town, for that matter. It was not in the best of shape, but Xanthe saw the possibility of owning a gallery and without hesitation moved there the very next day – a bold and spontaneous move, considering she didn’t know a single soul in the community. Her only connection to Bungendore was through her grandmother, whom she later discovered had visited the town on her honeymoon in the late 1930s. “I guess you could say the town and the building spoke to me,” Xanthe says. While the building was indeed small, it came with a huge backyard. Xanthe got to work cleaning up decades of rubbish and built a serious vegetable patch. This led to new opportunities and introductions in town, including work as a chef, using her own produce. All the while, she was quietly carrying on her renovations, wall by wall, stone by stone. Seven years after arriving, Xanthe opened X Gallery. Local artists love the intimacy, energy and story behind the gallery and regularly exhibit there. Over the years, Xanthe hears fresh stories about her beloved gallery and workshop building dating back to the 1860s. It was once much larger, with an extension built in 1910, which burnt down during the 1960s and was never rebuilt. For a time, it served as a barber shop and home for an SP bookie but this North Shore girl had very different ideas for its new direction. Despite her education, which was heavily motivated to serious academic pursuits, Xanthe was always drawn to the artistic world, creating whimsical objects and jewellery from an early age. By 13, she was selling basic wire and beadwork pieces at the local markets. After school, she travelled extensively through Europe, soaking up the rich history and stunning landscapes. She fell in love with Prague, the Czech capital, where she decided to stay for a while, immersing herself in the cobble-stoned streets, language, culture and magnificent architecture. Feeling inspired and excited for her creative future, she returned to Sydney to commence a Bachelor of Visual Arts, specialising in Jewellery and Object Design. Her experiences of some of the larger
European cities had led her to think that Sydney would be too small to be her forever home. Little did she know that she’d end up in a tiny Australian country town. Her next move took her to Canberra for what she thought would be a year of post-grad study in gold and silversmithing. It was a huge shock when she informed family and friends that her new life and gallery would be in Bungendore. It’s a much slower pace than Sydney and one she’s grown to love. She was quickly embraced by the community and formed wonderful connections and friendships with people she now considers family. “In Sydney I didn’t even know my neighbours. Moving here was the best thing I ever did,” she says. There are other bonuses. The railway station is a few blocks up on Xanthe’s street. Her city friends love catching the train from Central on a Friday night and spending the weekend in Bungendore before returning home, fresh and invigorated, on a Sunday afternoon. A few years ago, the jeweller built a home behind her gallery. Xanthe Gay has never been happier or more content, and all because of one little road trip 22 years ago. RLM ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Silversmith and gallerist Xanthe Gay has found happiness in Bungendore; the old shop before restoration Image: Stan D'Argeavel; Xanthe's exquisite jewellery is in high demand; the jeweller outside her popular gallery. FACING PAGE: The small and cosy X Gallery is perfectly suited to Xanthe's jewellery making business.
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gourmet travellers
Adventurous foodies Christophe and Josephine Gregoire go the distance to plate up the region’s finest produce at Le Trés Bon in Bungendore. A love of great food combined with a special magic in the kitchen have helped cement the reputation of fine French restaurant Le Trés Bon. The love of good food comes from the marriage of two foodies who met overseas before bringing their special blend of cooking to Bungendore. Master chef Christophe Gregoire and wife Josephine bring a new level of sophistication to Le Trés Bon, a French term that roughly translates to “very good with regards to food”. Having shared his cooking methods in various ports around the world, it was in New Caledonia that he met his wife. “Christophe was teaching French chefs and I was working for the Australian Government in public health for the Pacific region,” explains Josephine, who speaks fluent Italian and French. “I’d just returned from India and Christophe was keen to visit the place, so this handsome chef invited me over for dinner.” Living, working and raising their three daughters in Bungendore since 2007, the pair share a combined passion for food and travel. Bungendore may seem a world away from Christophe’s village in France but, surprisingly, both areas share plenty in common, with granite soils suitable for growing fruity wines, truffles, berries and other essential ingredients in French cuisine. Christophe hails from the Les Vosges region, where French heroine Joan of Arc grew up among the pristine lakes and rugged mountains. It was here in the high country that he immersed himself in a centuries-old culinary tradition based on seasonal produce.
LEFT: Master chef Chistophe Gregoire and wife Josephine love meeting others and cooking fine food in their cosy Bungendore French restaurant.
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“Cooking and sharing food is an enjoyable way of bringing people together.”
“Some would call my style slow food,” he says in his deep and polished French accent. “The older French term terroir is perhaps a better description. It’s from the idea that a region’s climate, soil and physical shape of the landscape add distinctive flavours to its produce.” This style of thinking helps ensure their fortnightly cooking classes are relaxed, fun and hands-on. Many keep coming back to learn the secrets of traditional French cuisine. Classes are created by theme and range from patisserie and Christmas sweets to a celebration of truffle season. “Cooking and sharing food is an enjoyable way of bringing people together,” Josephine says. Likewise, with travel. They regularly offer European tours to enjoy delicious food and experience the French culture in a very personal way.
Award-winning French restaurant
“It really is rather special. Each year we return to Christophe’s village and visit many of the local wineries and restaurants he grew up with,” Josephine says. “We love sharing such a beautiful experience with other like-minded foodies and life adventurers.” Like everywhere, the Coronavirus has affected business but it won’t slow these jetsetters down from doing what they love – growing truffles, teaching, parenting and creating great French flavours in one of Bungendore’s oldest buildings. RLM
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: A Gregoire family get together – Gabby, Claire, Josephine, Christophe and Catherine; great start to a fabulous night of French dining; master chef Christophe serving his beef bourguignon – marinated Bungendore beef slow cooked in red wine, mushrooms and lardons and served with potato puree; an intimate dining experience awaits you at Les Trés Bon.
Convivial and informative cooking classes. Regular cooking class program or specially designed for your group; teambuilding, group of friends and family, special occasion or schools. Gourmet tours to France, New Caledonia and Italy. Small group tours guided by Chef Christophe and Josephine. letresbon.com.au 40 Malbon Street Bungendore NSW 2621 info@letresbon.com.au ph. +61 2 62380662
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country
CALLING The Jeffreys family are relishing the wide-open spaces of Bungendore, and a community that has welcomed them with wide-open arms.
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It was only a matter of time before Will and Meg Jeffreys moved their young family out of Sydney into the wide, brown land of rural Australia. Since taking up residence in Bungendore’s historic “Douglas” homestead in 2018, they’ve had no problems adjusting to their new country digs. “We moved to the bush to give the kids some space and the opportunity to grow up on a farm like we both did,” Meg says, referring to children Sophia, 9, Tommy, 7, and George, 3 – and Bella, their much-loved Beagle cross Cavalier. Will has been involved with the meat export business for two decades, with Endeavour Meats exporting chilled and frozen beef and lamb to 40 countries. He works remotely from home, similar to colleagues in Sydney, Gunning, Orange, Molong and China. They all communicate via a live Zoom feed. “It’s like being in an office,” Will laughs. “We even have Friday afternoon beers over Zoom.” Meg, likewise, works from home, devoting three days a week to a Sydney chartered accountant, a job she’s handled for six years. Apart from their respective jobs, the pair are kept busy raising their family while maintaining a large herd of Angus cows. The family are enjoying a decent autumn break after a few tough years. Sharing a cup of tea on the verandah, it is obvious the pair have spent a good deal of time together, having met at a Year 10 dance during their boarding school days in Sydney. Meg hails from Gunnedah while Will grew up working on the family property at Delegate, on the southern NSW border. Bungendore became the obvious halfway house between their Sydney work and Delegate. After 25 years together, they are thriving in their new country lifestyle, aware they are the first family living in the “Douglas” homestead for generations. The former owner was a confirmed bachelor, spending 50 years in the place, with legendary parties out the back in the “Bungendore Nightclub”. The historic homestead was built in the 1870s, with big, sweeping verandahs offering spectacular views of Lake George. “It’s been a fantastic change moving from Sydney and we all love it,” Meg says. “The biggest difference is the pace of life – and we feel especially lucky living on Lake Road, a small, tight-knit community with amazing neighbours.” While there are many times they don’t feel the need to venture out, they still love the proximity to Canberra, only half an hour’s drive away. For the time being, the Jeffreys family have the best of both worlds. RLM
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FACING PAGE: Meg and Will Jeffreys with children George, Sophie and Tommy on the front steps of "Douglas" homestead. CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: The large old homestead overlooks Lake George; Will and Meg enjoy a morning cuppa on the wide front verandah; cattle graze on the lush country of Lake George with wind turbines in the background; the family love the slower-paced country lifestyle; one of the outbuildings.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Bungendore
a way with
timber Bungendore’s Scott Mitchell has carved out quite a reputation in the wonderful world of wood.
Not many high-end designers can say they draw inspiration from a shearing shed. But that’s definitely the case for talented timber craftsman Scott Mitchell, who converted a 130-year-old woolshed into a spectacular workshop for his thriving oneman design business. The Bungendore workshop comes with glorious views over the very flat and typically empty end of Lake George, reputedly one of the world’s oldest lakes.
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In this very rural environment, Scott builds creations that might well end up in Parliament House, the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery or the Australian National University. He specialises in unique furniture pieces of high artistic value including specialty objects for the home. “My old workshop sometimes surprises visiting clients, who typically expect a contemporary and sophisticated studio,” he says with a grin.
“Fortunately, I have all the equipment I need, including three-phase power and a warm slow-combustion fire to feed my offcuts to during winter.” For many years, Scott had his own design studio in Canberra before making the welcome move to Bungendore with wife Nicola and their young family in 2017. Home is now a comfortable farmhouse on a 50-acre block with plenty of room for their three children. Work in the old woolshed is scarcely a stone’s throw away. Scott loves not having to drive to work and the energy only a rustic old wool shed can provide. In his heart, he’s always been a country lad, having grown up among nature on a small country block. Now his own kids are enjoying a similar experience. When Scott was 12, his father bought him a wood lathe, beginning a life-long obsession with creating things from wood. After finishing high school in the Tweed, he moved to Canberra to study fine wood design at ANU’s School of Art. At one stage, Scott thought he’d move the family to their little farm in the Tweed Valley but was thrilled to end up in nearby Bungendore, only half an hour from Canberra, where he receives most of his commissioned work.
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“My old workshop sometimes surprises visiting clients, who typically expect a contemporary and sophisticated studio.”
Wife Nicola drives to Canberra most days where she works at the National Library. She finds the 30-minute commute a good way to mentally prepare for a busy day and the return trip a great way to unwind from work. The pandemic hasn’t set Scott back at all. In fact, he’s never been busier. “I’ve been working from home since the kids were born,” he says. “This self-isolating thing doesn’t worry me at all – I’ve been doing it for years.” Scott says his mates often ask if he finds the peace and quiet a bit lonely when the kids are at school and Nic’s away. “They are forgetting just how much noise and dust I make all day long,” he laughs. “It’s actually a great thing to turn up the stereo and open the doors to the lake without having to be mindful of any close neighbours.” If ever you’ve been to Parliament House, you may have noticed the waiters stations in the Great Hall – all made by Scott. Over his career, he’s worked for both private and government agencies while developing his own range of unique products and designs. Recently he completed a stunning music
stand made from Fiddleback Blackwood, presented as a gift to the new Japanese Emperor from our Governor-General. Scott loves his new life in the country. “One of the best things about living out here on Lake George is the Bungendore community, with great galleries, shops and pubs everywhere you turn,” he says. “We felt such contentment as soon as we moved here and now cannot imagine living anywhere else. “We’re so fortunate to have the worldclass Bungendore Wood Works Gallery on our doorstep and I’m immensely proud to showcase my work there. You can’t pass through town to the coast without stopping in to see what’s new.” RLM
FACING PAGE: Timber guru Scott Mitchell feels right at home in his converted Bungendore woolshed. CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Scott's finished pieces end up all over the country; the new work space features all the latest equipment while keeping the integrity of the woolshed.
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the Windsor way Life is good for the Windsor family, in Bungendore and abroad.
John and Rosie Windsor live in the former gate house of Bungendore’s historic “Douglas” homestead. Their four highachieving children have all found careers, and love, thousands of miles from home. Rather than pine for their children, John and Rosie got busy building an art studio/ garage with a delightful upstairs living area called, naturally, “The Loft”. It accommodates family and friends but also airbnb guests who can’t help but love the unique space. It comes with country views over Lake George. The southern part of the lake is traditionally dry and a haven for roos with a few choice areas suitable for grazing. Rosie’s style permeates throughout the light and breezy space. The open plan is perfect for a few special family pieces – a chair from John’s mother, a painting from her grandmother. Rosie is the ultimate hostess and loves pampering her guests, from a fridge and pantry stocked with enough essentials for a fabulous cooked breakfast down to slippers and luxurious bath robes.
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A stone’s throw away from The Loft is their cosy and inviting home. From an outside table we take in the wind turbines and last rays of sunshine on Lake George to discuss life, family and the new virus on everybody’s lips. The Windsors have made many trips to the UK, and their children fly home whenever possible, hence they’ve recently added two more bathrooms to make their next visit more enjoyable. Rosie’s a bundle of energy while John is busy planning his upcoming 70th birthday. When the children were young, he taught ballroom dancing in the village and was in a class of his own when it came to the rumba, samba and jive. “Yes, he’s the perfect lead – a complete natural and very light on his feet,” Rosie laughs. They started the Spring Ball in the 1980s, an event still going decades later. Over a glass of local wine, Rosie admits that Bungendore reminds her of growing up in Turramurra, albeit in a very different era
when you didn’t need to lock your house or car and the kids could be out playing all day. Like two of their children, the Windsors found love a long way from home. Rosie met her future husband on a volleyball court during her first overseas holiday at Club Med, Tahiti. Six months after marrying, they moved to Canberra after John accepted a role with the Deptartment of Sport. Later he transferred to a new agency engaged to set up the Australian Sports Commission, a job involving federal funding for national sporting bodies. In those early days, Rosie worked in rental and property management for a local real estate company. Most of their spare time was spent back in Sydney socialising with friends and visiting their respective families. That all changed after one of Rosie’s sales team urged her to check out a property for sale on Lake Road. The Windsors drove to Bungendore and instantly fell for the charms of dry Lake George. They
Bungendore T O W N F E AT U R E negotiated directly with the vendor, a neighbour and later good friend, and bought Douglas Cottage on its narrow 10-acre strip. In 1984, they started renovations, followed soon by their family. Richard was born in 1985, followed by Sam two years later. The girls were next – Ellie in 1990 and Angelica in 1995. While raising her country brood, Rosie opened a small business in the Bungendore village called the Cane and Country Gift Store, closing after the stock market crash and recession in the late 1980s. The next two decades were spent in a senior role at the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. John finished his career teaching at Canberra’s St Edmund’s College, where his boys once attended, and retired in 2018. For several years, Rosie joined the Commonwealth Public Service but is now semi-retired to run the B&B and concentrate on her successful jewellerymaking business. She also enjoys helping the Bungendore business community, stepping in to work when local businesses are extra busy or when owners or staff need a short break. There are always things to do but you can bet her children are always at the back of her mind. Each of the four siblings spread their wings after completing their education.
The next generation Richard finished uni before following his girlfriend to the UK. Amelia is now his wife and they live with their son Pascoe in South London. His latest job is working as a project manager for an international firm that also has offices in Australia. The family are planning a possible transfer back home after 11 years in London. Sam always dreamt of being a professional rugby union player. He played rugby alongside his brother for Blackheath in South East London (reputedly the oldest rugby union club in the world),
rosiewindsorjewels rosiewindsorjewels @rwindsorjewels
then Leinster, Worcester and Ulster (in Belfast, Northern Ireland). He then followed his heart to the US, marrying his American wife Becca in Seattle in 2017, followed by a wedding in the front paddock of Douglas Cottage. Sam plays fly half for the Houston Sabercats in the US MLR (Major League Rugby) and is very much the team “ambassador”. The sky’s the limit for the girls. Ellie completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Communications with some study time in her final year in Bologna, Italy. After finishing uni in Sydney, she decided to join her brothers in London and for the past six years has worked in advertising. She has found her true love in Harry Fry and is aiming for an Italian wedding later this year. After completing school, Angelica couldn’t wait to join her siblings in the UK. After studying interior design and working in high-end fashion retail in Canberra, she travelled to London with her boyfriend, Jordan Cremarius, securing a senior stylist role at Selfridges, an upmarket department store. Although scattered over the globe, the family stay well connected through Zoom and WhatsApp. “We love our paradise and are blessed with wonderful neighbours along Lake Road and many friends in our community. The last few years have been a struggle with the drought and fires but recent rain has greened the place up,” John says. “Who knows, one day we might even get lake views again.” The sun has gone down and it’s time to move on. As I prepare for my short walk back to The Loft, Rosie’s parting words are about Bungendore becoming considerably more “sophisticated” since their arrival nearly 40 years ago. I’m thinking more about her children, knowing that when they do finally come home, they will be very well accommodated. RLM
FROM TOP: Rosie Windsor enjoys making jewellery in her new domain; Sam Windsor has played rugby all over the world; the Windsors catch up for a family wedding; Sam Windsor in full flight. Image: David Snook; Jordan Cremerius, Angelica, Rosie, Sam, Becca, John, young Pascoe, Amelia, Richard, Ellie, Harry Fry and Chuck the dog. FACING PAGE: Rosie and John Windsor in front of "The Loft"; the bedroom is light and breezy; upstairs has plenty of room with great views over Lake George.
ROSIE WINDSOR JEWELS Creating unique jewels to love and delight • Special commissions invited
0412 114 273 Bungendore, NSW
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here’s cheers Karen and Simon Stratton’s cool-climate winery and restaurant are giving them and their customers a reason to raise their glasses.
Two years ago, life’s journey led Karen and Simon Stratton down Norton Road to Wamboin, where they are now living out their long-held dream of producing cool-climate wines. “It was 30 years in the making and an overnight decision,” Karen laughs. “We had talked about it for so long and dreamt about it but the timing was never quite right.” That was until serendipity played its part.
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“We were coming to a friend’s birthday celebration. We googled wineries for sale and this one came up. It was the last weekend of open for inspections and so we popped our heads in to have a look and thought ‘this is it, this is the one’. “I then got a gentle nudge from a good friend whose words were, ‘you’ve talked about this for as long as I can remember, Karen. It’s time, this is it’,” she says.
ABOVE: Karen and Simon Stratton made the tree change to Wamboin to make wine. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Norton Road Wines boasts an undulating vineyard; the Strattons are hands-on at Norton Road Wines.
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Hailing from Adelaide, Karen and Simon spent many years indulging in South Australia’s iconic wine regions such as the Barossa, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale and during that time they developed a thirst to be involved in the industry. “It’s always been a plan of ours to move into the wine space.” Nestled on a gently undulating hillside surrounded by Eucalyptus trees and teeming with native Australian wildlife, the Norton Road Wines vineyard is a small four-acre parcel of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Riesling that was first planted in the 1990s by the Davies family (the former Shepherd’s Run). But, as is commonly the case with vineyards, it was let go. Since establishing Norton Road Wines, the Strattons have dedicated much of their time to restoring the vines to their former glory and 12 months ago took the important step of opening a cellar door and their American-style barbecue restaurant, Biggie’s BBQ. The whole process has been a baptism of fire, with drought and recent bushfires wreaking havoc. “We were impacted on by the fires from Braidwood. We get a southerly most nights and that picked up all the smoke so from mid-November to the end of January we were surrounded by smoke every day. We were hopeful that we might get through it OK but when we did some testing we could not use any of the grapes.” So, like many winegrowers across Australia, they were faced with the unenviable decision of having to completely write off this year’s harvest due to the effects of smoke taint.
All was not lost though and by sourcing grapes from a family member’s vineyard near Wentworth in NSW, they were able to make a small batch of Cabernet Sauvignon for the 2020 vintage. The focus on sustainability and innovation in small-batch winemaking is the modus operandi of Norton Road Wines. “We will focus on producing a variety of smallbatch wines, not large volume but high quality, and do so through working collaboratively with growers and winemakers in the Canberra District, and further afield,” Karen says. >
The focus on sustainability and innovation in small-batch winemaking is the modus operandi of Norton Road Wines. BUNGENDORE RLM 137
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With the guidance of respected winemakers Brian Johnston and Brian Sinclair, Karen and Simon are honing their wine-making skills. “So far, we have made two Pinots and they are delicious. We have had good feedback, which has spurred us to focus on producing cool-climate varietals.” The Strattons’ Biggies BBQ restaurant is housed at the vineyard and serves up Texas and southern American-style food every weekend. “We’ve spent time in Texas and Louisiana and have developed a passion for barbecue cooked low and slow and Cajun and Creole flavours. I love the variations in recipes and cooking styles, and the history of these different regions,” Karen says. After carefully surveying the smokehouses in Dallas, Houston, Austin and the home of barbecue, Lockhart, they decided to bring the concept home. “What we also found is that barbecue and wine pairing are important. Take the Texas Hill Country where they specialise in Rosé, which goes really well with spicy barbecue pork ribs!” Simon says. “We thought this was a fantastic opportunity to bring it to Canberra so we invested in barbecue smokers and since we’ve opened have built up a following of barbecue aficionados. Our barbecue is heavily influenced by the American style of cooking but we have given it a bit of an Aussie twist, smoking lamb, duck, kangaroo and salmon, matched with wine of course,” Simon says. The meats are smoked on site using housemade gluten-free rubs and sauces. Biggies’ head chef is Izzy Mendoza, who cooks for staff at the US Embassy in Canberra during the week. With such highly skilled people working alongside them, the restaurant and winemaking at Norton Road Wines is growing in reputation. Karen and Simon could not be happier. “It was the best decision we ever made,” Karen says. “I don’t regret it at all. It’s harder and longer hours than I expected, but I think we are developing an understanding of the vineyard and its terroir now. And despite a difficult 2020 vintage we remain optimistic for the future, continuing to expand our vineyard and planting additional varieties of vines. “We’ve had to learn how to re-establish a vineyard, make wine, and run a restaurant, but we’ve had some excellent support and have been embraced by the local industry and the Wamboin and wider Canberra communities.” Norton Road Wines is an exciting new offering to what is a unique grape-growing region that Karen believes has huge potential. “We have some fabulous wineries here and top-notch winemakers. There’s a lot to be optimistic about.” RLM Words: Jo McKinnon
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“I don’t regret it at all. It’s harder and longer hours than I expected, but I think we are developing an understanding of the vineyard and its terroir now.”
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Living the dream at Norton Road Wines; pizza is popular at Biggie's; Norton Road Wines is well worth a visit; Biggie's BBQ delights.
Norton Road Wines is a producer of small batch cool climate wines that reflect the terroir of the region. Join us for a food and wine pairing/tasting at the vineyard overlooking the vines in the beautiful foothills of the Canberra district wine region. Norton Road Wines hosts Biggie’s BBQ, an American BBQ restaurant for dining options.
Ph. 02 6238 3143 or M. 0411 657 640 enquiries@nortonroadwines.com.au For opening hours, please visit our website www.nortonroadwines.com.au
344 Norton Road, Wamboin New South Wales, 2620
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Sell, Buy and Rent Smarter BUNGENDORE RLM 139
home-town advantage Real estate agent Dan Woodford has no trouble spruiking Bungendore as the perfect place to live.
Third-generation local Dan Woodford knows Bungendore like the back of his hand. Two and a half years ago, he decided to capitalise on his intimate knowledge of the region, buying the rent roll from Sutton Real Estate and taking over the business and shopfront. Since then, and despite facing adversities such as drought, bushfires and COVID-19, PRD Nationwide Bungendore has become the area’s second-largest agency for selling property.
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Such a successful start was beyond his expectation. “The idea of it was to stay in the local area where I grew up and have a business. I was working in real estate previously and decided to test the waters and go back into it,” Dan says. “It’s been a great move. We have a great team. It’s very much about the culture and atmosphere and we have got it to a stage where it’s fantastic.”
Dan is forthright about his aim of building trust with clients and taking away the sketchy stigma that tends to be associated with real estate agents. “The fact that we are local helps and I have always stuck by an honesty system,” he says. “I have always wanted to be open and honest with everyone that we deal with.” PRD Nationwide Bungendore prides itself on the personal touch.
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“We offer something different to the clients – that little bit more personal care, and we feel that everybody who rings and inquires becomes a client,” he says. “Our job is not to take a call and if they don’t buy it just say ‘see you later’, we go out of our way to find them something and we are honest and realistic in our approach to pricing.” Dan is genuinely passionate about his community. Player/coach of the Bungendore Tigers premiership-winning team of 2015, he is now their president and says the football network plays an integral part in his business. “I think my coaching background and playing sport was a big thing to do with the reason the business has been successful. It’s taught me a lot of skills that I have brought into the business,” he says. “Most of my work life has been in Bungendore, and you build a lot of relationships through that and the sporting organisations and the time you give to those. It’s been good to me and my family.” Dan, his wife Martina and 10-year-old daughter Tarsha live on a 110-acre farm just out of town. He says the rural lifestyle Bungendore offers is luring many people to the area. As a result, median house prices are strong and steady. “Its getting stronger every year,” Dan says. “In the late ’90s and early 2000s it took off with a major subdivision and that was a big catalyst for people in Canberra, who realised Bungendore wasn’t that little country town that was far way any more. “We have the Canberra to Sydney rail in town, which is an easy way to travel, and the airport is so close.” Just a 40-minute drive from Canberra City, most buyers are opting to purchase semi-rural properties in Bungendore between five and 40 acres. Local infrastructure is improving all the time and has proved an added attraction. “We now have a few more services, including a new ambulance station and doctor’s surgery and new IGA supermarket,” Dan says. “They have all been good additions to the town and there’s even talk of a high school, finally. More sporting ovals are also being promised and so it’s becoming more attractive to families.” One thing’s for sure, Dan will be staying well put in Bungendore. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon
FACING PAGE: PRD Nationwide Bungendore principal Dan Woodford with his successful team of Chenice Jordan, Rachael Munro and Sharon Tutt-Lyons. RIGHT: Third-generation local Dan Woodford knows Bungendore like the back of his hand.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Bungendore
peace offering There’s a certain kind of tranquillity you can only find 16 kilometres down a dirt road – far enough off the beaten track to impart a sense of adventure, to take a deep breath, to listen to the sounds of silence. Butmaroo Station in charming Bungendore is no ordinary farm stay. Just far enough from the heart of the capital region, it’s nestled neatly into its own picturesque valley. There are 2500 acres to explore. Butmaroo Creek winds its way through the entire property and Tallaganda National Park is its neighbour to the south. The property offers its guests an array of natural experiences from bushwalking and bird watching by day to viewing the abundance of stars in the night sky. Clearly, it is a beautiful place to connect with nature but it is also an ideal spot to reconnect with friends, family and loved ones. With two well-appointed homes on the property, groups of up to 16 people or as small as just two can be accommodated. Stockman’s Lodge is set in a private corner of the property, tucked in between paddocks and dams with grand old trees dotting the landscape. The immediate surrounds of the accommodation offer a plethora of possibilities, even if you don’t want to venture farther afield. You can paddle a canoe on the water or play cricket on the lawn. Say hello to your neighbours the horses, cows and sheep or take in a leisurely picnic under the shade of a great willow tree.
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For the past decade, Penny, Peter and children Lachlan and Brie have been the proud owners of Butmaroo Station. Penny grew up nearby and Peter owned a farm at Braidwood, so they were familiar with the area and all it has to offer. Over the past 10 years they have come to intimately know their incredible property and with a clear vision for the future Penny says: “We have been moving Butmaroo towards an environmentally sustainable agricultural system while running an Angus breeding and lamb fattening operation.” However, in late 2019 the unprecedented bushfires brought much of the country to a screeching halt and Butmaroo Station was no exception. The family and staff’s attention, along with that of friends, neighbours and other members of the community, turned towards fighting fires, putting all other aspects of their operations on hold. With one of the major losses of the fires being 7.5 kilometers of fencing, it has been an immense help having their son Lachlan home on a gap year before he starts his Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University next year. His passion for agriculture and the natural surrounds of Butmaroo has already contributed to a number of meaningful undertakings. One such initiative was The Scarlet Robin Project, which saw Lachlan and a good mate plant over 700 trees. >
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FACING PAGE: Visitors to Butmaroo Station farmstay can enjoy quintessentially country experiences. CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Peace and quiet as far as the eye can see; the youngest visitors will be happy to see this swing set; fire pit, wine and a good book make the perfect companions on a weekend away; with two houses on offer groups of up to 16 can be accommodated comfortably; sheep graze the land; both houses offer outdoor areas to sit and take in the surroundings; Penny with her son Lachlan, left, and Jordan are just three of the 13-person team who keep Butmaroo Station running; escaping to the countryside lends itself to leisurely sleep ins and Sunday roasts.
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Penny, Jordan and Lachlan are off to check the fences, one of the many rebuilding projects after the extreme bushfire season; clean and comfortable modern country style flows through the homes; Penny at home behind the wheel of her ute; this rabbit welcomes guests to the Trapper’s Cottage.
“The goal was to revegetate Butmaroo Creek and re-establish habitat for endangered species in our area,” Penny explains. Fortunately, this project was saved from the ravages of the fire and it is rewarding to see the return of robins and many other threatened species of birds to the area. After what was a bushfire season for the history books, Penny reflects: “It was an extremely stressful time for us personally and everyone involved and we are still in the recovery stage, rebuilding our fences, creeks and paddocks. While this recovery has brought many hurdles it has also created fantastic new friendships, and there is a sense of hope as the bush shows new growth and wildlife returns.” Peter, Penny and the rest of their team are eager and ready to get back to sharing their gorgeous retreat and they look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors to Butmaroo once again. RLM Words and images: Jennifer Harden
Straddling the Great Dividing Range, Butmaroo Station sits in a picturesque sheltered valley with Tallaganda National Park wrapping the southern end of the property. Butmaroo is the perfect place to escape the everyday with two gorgeous self contained cottages and is suitable for families, couples or small or large groups. Enjoy the tranquility while being only 15 minutes from the village of Bungendore & a short drive to Canberra. Life at Butmaroo is slower and quieter – a place where you can finally unwind. A place where you can experience the simple pleasures in life. Snuggle in front of the fire, star gaze, listens to birds sing, stay in bed and watch the animals wander by, sit on the verandah and watch the sunset, cook a delicious meal, wander the 2500 acre property or do absolutely nothing, the choice is yours. Most importantly enjoy your time together.
+61 422371055 www.butmaroo.com butmaroostation@gmail.com 607 Butmaroo Road, Bungendore NSW 2621
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gifts
galore Like most successful businesses, Sharwood Hampers started with a good idea and the passion to drive it forward. Sharon Isherwood is the proud owner of Sharwood Hampers, based in Bungendore. What started out as a good deed, putting her hand up to create gift hampers for her children’s school teachers on behalf of the parents, has become her livelihood. Sharon enjoyed the entire process of creating these bespoke gifts, from selecting the perfect combination of items for each recipient to seeing the joy and appreciation on their faces. She thought it would be a great thing to turn it into a business and she hasn’t looked back. Since 2016, her business has been based on the principle of providing customers with premium hampers to gift to friends, family and business associates with an unwavering focus on locally made products. “All the products that I stock are sourced from around the Canberra region. With our hampers, we are able to support over 50 local businesses,” Sharon says. The beautiful presentation of the hampers, quality of products and convenience of online ordering as well as Australia-wide shipping add up to an easy choice when looking for a special gift. The high standard is consistent across the entire range, whether you are looking for something to spoil Mum, send get well wishes, romance your partner or help welcome a new pet. “So many of our suppliers are home based or small businesses who make high quality products with a dash of love – and it shows!” Sharon says. Inclusions range from wine, gin, beer and tea to biscuits, chocolates, preserves and salsa to name a few. To aid in relaxation, soaps, lotions, and even options to add on gift vouchers for local massage and wellness therapists. The icing on the cake?
A portion of the proceeds from every hamper heads to local charity Karinya House, a place for pregnant and parenting mothers and their babies to turn to when they have nowhere else to go. Sharwood Hampers has all the hallmarks of a successful business – passion, drive, great customer service and a product that makes people smile. If you can’t find a hamper on offer that you feel suits your recipient to a T, Sharon is more than happy to welcome custom orders to fit any budget and taste. Happy gifting! RLM Words: Jennifer Harden
ABOVE: Sharon Isherwood shows off the finished product. Just one example of the goods that can make up these fully customisable gift hampers.
Sharwood Hampers provides fabulous gift hampers uniquely filled with premium products sourced exclusively from the local region of Canberra and the Southern Highlands
S H A RWO
OD H AM
MIUM
PERS
PR E
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• Corporate • Celebrations • Best Mum in the World • Coolest Dude on the Planet • Cupid’s Arrow • New Beginnings • The Festive Season • Pet Hampers
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L GIFTS
Sharon Isherwood 0403 093 715 info@sharwoodhampers.com.au www.sharwoodhampers.com.au
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THE OLD &
the beautiful Antique lovers from throughout the district are being spoilt for choice at Village Antiques, Bungendore, thanks to the efforts of talented siblings Tim Bowcock and Allison Lloyd. Since taking over in 2017, indomitable twins Tim Bowcock and Allison Lloyd have poured their heart and soul into transforming their highway shop into a must-see tourist destination. The spacious and constantly updated layout makes it feel like a museum, the only difference being that everything is for sale. Making it extra special are the descriptive notes attached to many of the historical pieces. The friendly brother and sister team have led an adventurous life. With a father in the Defence Force, they lived in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea before they learnt to drive. In more recent times, Allison worked as an economist in Goulburn before joining the National Bank as a commercial finance manager. Tim has been a landscape gardener, sold wine in the wine industry and is qualified in Cultural & Heritage Management – managing old buildings, heritage restoration and the like. “I love old stuff,” he enthuses, as he shows me around the immaculately maintained showroom. “Anything old and unique is pretty cool these days, especially older pieces that are well made and have a story.”
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“My favourite piece is the one I haven’t found yet – it’s still sitting in someone’s garage or woolshed.” A steady stream of customers drops in looking for something quirky, special or rare. The shop goes on forever and there’s plenty to choose from. “Buyers like to be educated on the history of the piece, which enhances their appreciation,” Tim says. “They develop a relationship with the piece – it’s not like buying a mass-produced product that isn’t unique and doesn’t have a long shelf life.” Tim and Allison understand they are merely custodians of these one-of-a-kind treasures before new homes are found for them. Naturally, a few pieces don’t always make it immediately onto the shelf. “A few come home on appro before they make their way back here,” Allison laughs. The look of the shop changes constantly. New pieces are sourced every week from throughout NSW and parts of Victoria. Visitors often approach the owners with a unique piece for sale. Others turn up with a horse float of goodies. Fortunately, Village Antiques has a splendid reputation when it comes to buying and selling antique pieces. “My favourite piece is the one I haven’t found yet – it’s still sitting in someone’s garage or woolshed,” Tim says. “What I like is to find something and then share it with others. The thrill is always in the hunt.” Allison loves helping people find the right antique to complement their home. “You’d think our client base would be mainly from Canberra but a lot of collectors and antique lovers are visiting from Sydney and the Southern Highlands,” she says. RLM
FACING PAGE: Twins Tim Bowcock and Allison Lloyd have turned Village Antiques into a tourist destination; something old, something new. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The treasures are beautifully displayed and constantly updated; walking into a treasure trove; nearly everything is for sale.
A must stop destination with the biggest range of antiques, homewares, garden items and architectural pieces in the Southern Tablelands. Ph. 02 6238 1499 32 Malbon Street Bungendore NSW
Opening hours 9:30am - 4:30pm 7 days a week
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a pleasure doing
BUSINESS
The recently opened Harvest Fresh Cafe on the Kings Highway in Bungendore is the realisation of one man’s vision.
Greg Nye’s love of restoring old buildings is only matched by his love of dining out in Bungendore’s restaurants, pubs and cafes. Until the pandemic, he was dining out four or five times each week. “I feel very comfortable knowing I hardly recognise anyone anymore,” he grins. Although happily married, the independent 72-yearold has learnt to enjoy his own company. Dining out gives him the chance to concentrate on his latest restoration project, perhaps read another chapter from a local history book and reflect on an interesting life. He grew up in Melbourne, played cricket and studied Commerce at uni for a brief time before commencing work with the Melbourne Stock Exchange. A decade later he was head-hunted by a mining company based in Sydney. “They went bankrupt four years after I started with them,” Greg says. But something good did come from his time in Sydney – a lifelong taste for fine food and wine. When he came to Bungendore in the 1970s, it was one of the few rural villages within Canberra’s circle with its own water supply. “I was convinced the village had a big future because it was only 20 minutes from Queanbeyan and 35 minutes from Canberra,” he says. “Both of those places have jobs, hospitals, entertainment and some of the best cultural experiences in the country, including the national gallery, library and museum.” Greg owns numerous old buildings in Bungendore, including the old motel where Mick Jagger stayed during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969. “It’s no goldmine but it keeps me busy and I meet some interesting types who enjoy the motel’s retro feel,” he says. Instead of investing in shares for his superannuation, Greg invested in derelict old buildings and restored them to life. These buildings now support 52 town workers. Greg and wife Marjorie live in the old store-keepers home somewhere near the leather works and pie shop he restored. A lifetime ago, they lived virtually opposite each other in Melbourne but their paths never crossed. They met after a “hot tip” saw him drive to the Goulburn hospital where she was working. “My mate thought we’d make a good pair and he was right,” he laughs.
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While Marjorie established a Bungendore medical practice, which has grown to nine doctors, Greg enjoyed being a “stay at home father”, a pioneering feat in 1975. In 2018, Dr Marjorie Cross was awarded an OAM for her service to women’s health and education of rural doctors. They have a son in Melbourne, a daughter in London and another son who helps Greg with his projects. Although the Harvest Fresh Cafe is up and running, there is a lot more happening out the back. When finished, the complex will include an information centre, wine tasting room, a bakery and dining room, an eccentric gallery built from second-hand materials, and a fragrance garden – all architect designed and wheelchair friendly. With advancing years, this is the most satisfying and likely the last of Greg’s eight projects in town. “I purchased this place (the cafe) when I first came to town and lived there for four years during my bachelor days,” he says as he shows me through the renovator’s delight. For decades, the building enjoyed a variety of interesting occupants but the latest changes are revitalising that end of town. “I could live anywhere,” Greg says. “I could go back to Melbourne tomorrow but I enjoy living here. I don’t believe Bungendore is a chocolate box historical village, say like Braidwood or Hill End. “Bungendore is far more exciting. It’s a town in transition with half a million people living within easy driving distance. It gives the locals jobs and it’s an easy drive to Batemans Bay and the South Coast. “The town enjoys high employment thanks to its subdivision and strong building industry. This in turn draws more residents who spend money in the town.” Greg was a real estate consultant for many years but always believed his skills were in marketing. For 12 years, he ran a community newspaper, The Bungendore Mirror. Although the cafe is up and running, Greg expects his latest creation to be completed by the end of 2020. RLM Images: Jake Lindsay & Kate Leith
RIGHT, FROM TOP: Greg Nye is a great lover of Australian history and historic buildings; the old ovens and fireplace in the new Harvest Fresh Cafe have been brought back to life. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Customers enjoying a Harvest coffee; fresh produce; locally made jams; locally baked high top loaves; staff member Shanaye Fulton serving customers; quaint timber table number; regulars enjoying a catch up over coffee and cake; chef Stuart Trowler; customers in the alternative dining area; front of Harvest Fresh; main cafe dining, service and produce space.
AIR CONDITIONED RETRO
HARVEST FRESH
RELAXED
Cafe
COSY | 1870 WOOD FIRE | COURTYARD VEGES | GELATO | PIES
Kings Highway, Bungendore | 0490 004 801 harvestfreshbungendore@gmail.com
Quiet main street village location 30 minutes from Canberra, $80 night
28 Gibraltar St, Bungendore • 0411 039 937
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citizen
extraordinaire Heather Hubbard’s story is loaded with generosity and resilience.
Bungendore’s 2014 Citizen of the Year, Heather Hubbard, has witnessed plenty of change during her 42 years in town. Nearly half her life has been spent in her cosy home, built in 1900, next to the historic Presbyterian church. “Mum would visit the church on a buckboard (cart) with the minister from Queanbeyan for the weekly Bungendore service,” she says, waving me into her home. A pair of snowshoes line one wall. On the sideboard are scattered artefacts from Papua New Guinea, collected by her brother during his army days, a seashell collection from a great uncle, a missionary in northern Australia. For a decade, Heather ran a military medical museum she established in the old railway goods shed, featuring artefacts from the 1885 Sudan War through to the Gulf War. Her home is now a living museum. Her office is surrounded by book shelves, neatly lined with history books, firefighting documents and manuals. Everything is orderly and precise. It doesn’t take long to appreciate Heather is a creature of habit and a lover of world and family history. Her great, great grandfather, John Gale, established Queanbeyan’s Golden Age newspaper back in 1860 and later the Braidwood Independent. The Golden Age, known since 1907 as The Queanbeyan Age, is still published 160 years later. From all accounts, the paper’s proprietor was a man of great vision. “He was sitting on a horse gazing across the Monaro Plains when he had his light bulb moment,” Heather says. “He thought the area would make the perfect spot for the country’s national capital.” Nowadays he’s regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of Federation, with a bronze statue erected in his honour near the Queanbeyan Courthouse. Heather is very familiar with her family history. John Gale’s daughter (Heather’s
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In 2019 Heather was presented with an Outstanding Community Achiever Award, which sits next to her Life Membership to the Bungendore Fire Brigade. great grandmother) was held up by the English-born “gentleman” bushranger Jacky Jacky. Heather says he was “all very civilised about it” despite taking her hardearned savings. Perhaps the most resilient story of all is her own. Born on the cusp of WW2, she remembers squadrons of aircraft flying overhead and air raid drills at Harris Park, Queanbeyan. “I remember it all so well, although I’m not quite sure what I had for breakfast,” laughs Heather, now in her early 80s. She left school at 16 to start nursing at the Bulli District Hospital. After a few years nursing in Hobart and on the mainland, she teamed up with a few colleagues for a one-year working holiday in Canada. Heather fell in love with the people, the cold weather and spectacular scenery. One year soon became nine, including 18 months nursing in a remote outpost in the Arctic Circle. With a job and $300 in the bank, she was allowed to emigrate. She married cattle rancher Lawrence Hubbard and settled down to raise their infant son Tim in the foothills of the Alberta oilfields. Their new life together was tragically cut short when Lawrence died of a heart attack, aged just 37.
The ensuing years were tough for mother and son. Heather was far from home – a trained nurse trying to run a cattle enterprise, a terrified new mum trying to cope with her huge and unexpected loss. They returned to Australia before Tim’s fourth birthday, settling in Bungendore in 1978. Back then, the town was more of a hamlet, barely a quarter of its current size, with no doctor or high school. While she could buy a house for under $20,000, there was no welfare for a recently widowed mother without a husband bringing home the bacon. There was no one else to turn to. Without fuss or fanfare, Heather spent the rest of her working years in homecare before retiring 23 years ago. With time on her hands, it was time to help her local community. From her own life experiences, she knew she had the discipline and personality to become a frontline firefighter for the Rural Fire Service (RFS). Heather loved the camaraderie and ability to help others but after 15 years of loyal service, her advancing years were taking their toll. “About five years ago the trucks were getting bigger and I was having trouble climbing aboard,” she laughs.
The recent fires were the worst Heather has ever encountered. By then her role had developed into community liaison officer, with visits to schools and various groups, including seniors, to discuss fire safety. She is also the catering officer, responsible for feeding those on the frontline. At the end of the day, this tireless volunteer doesn’t do it for the accolades, although there have been quite a few along the way. In 2019 Heather was presented with an Outstanding Community Achiever Award, which sits next to her Life Membership to the Bungendore Fire Brigade. “Other people my age sit and watch TV and vegetate, waiting for the end of their world,” she says quietly. “I’ve been active all my life, even if I have slowed down a lot in the past few years.” Heather Hubbard still looks after others less fortunate than herself, with a pot of soup, comforting word or sympathetic ear for those lonely or in need. It’s just the way it is for one of Bungendore’s favourite senior citizens. RLM FACING PAGE: Much-loved Bungendore community stalwart Heather Hubbard has lent a hand to the local RFS for over two decades. ABOVE: Heather is a highly focused and wellorganised woman.
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ROCK stars It may have been heavy going, but Rob and Tracey Wallace’s dream to replicate Stonehenge on their Sutton property has turned out to be a rock-solid investment.
It’s not unusual for Rob Wallace to spend hours digging in the dirt. As an earth mover, it’s all in a day’s work. It is also not unusual for Rob to be struck with the occasional creative “aha” moment during his digging. Hi wife Tracey can attest to these moments, which have led to a range of unusual and innovative creations, installations and improvements throughout their property. During a series of digs on a nearby sheep farmer’s property, Rob unearthed a number of large stones. Tracey recalls her husband describing them as too good to simply get rid of. Robbie was hatching a plan. The Wallaces moved to their Sutton property, just 20 minutes’ drive from Canberra, in 2006. Their long driveway is
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visible to passers-by on Macs Reef Road. Although there is a good amount of space between neighbours, they do keep a close eye on what’s going on in their country neighbourhood. So naturally, in 2012 when some unusual activity started happening on Rob and Tracey’s hill, curiosity was running wild. The grand plan for all those large rocks removed from humble sheep paddocks was grand indeed. Rob planned to install a Stonehenge replica. Being one of the most mysterious and intriguing archaeological sites in the northern hemisphere, Rob and Tracey’s henge had a lot to live up to. One by one, the large stones went into place carefully following the plans created by the Druids over 5000 years ago, with just a few twists to make it work in the southern
hemisphere. One of those twists was literally turning it to face east/west instead of west/ east, securing that magic moment twice a year on the solstices when the sunrise and sunset line up with the large heel stones at the entrance to the circle. Once The Henge was complete, they invited their curious neighbours around to have a look. The locals were glad to finally be in on the secret project and surprised and delighted at the outcome. >
ABOVE: Perched on a hill overlooking Macs Reef Road in Sutton, Tracey and Rob’s Henge stands tall. FACING PAGE: Rob and Tracey Wallace stand between two of the huge stones; the newly completed accommodation at The Henge offers everything you need for the perfect getaway.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Bungendore
With the stones standing tall and proud atop their hill, Rob and Tracey even had a blessing of The Henge by a modern-day Druid. Druids are long believed to be the builders of Stonehenge and were the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic culture. In modern times, Druidism is a spiritual movement that aligns itself with the ideals of harmony, connection and reverence for the natural world. Mysterious places often attract interesting people, and The Henge is no exception. Since its completion, it has proudly hosted a number of events from solstice parties, to a LARP (Live Action Role Play) wedding complete with bride, groom and guests dressed in period costumes. Groups of astrophotographers also find the site an interesting place to capture the night sky. Tracey recalls two of the more amusing guests to The Henge, a pair of fans of the hit show Outlander, who hoped to follow in the lead characters’ footsteps by slipping through the stones to another time and place, the Scottish Highlands perhaps. No matter who you are or why The Henge calls your name, visiting and really immersing yourself in the experience of
being among the stones and the rolling hills of the property and surrounds has become much easier with the addition of accommodation on site. Tracey and Rob have created a cosy cabin complete with all the modern conveniences you could need when visiting a pseudo ancient site. A short drive from the capital, it is an ideal spot for a night away. The cabin is equipped with barbecue, comfortable chairs for lounging and a fire pit to relax by and take in the country view. A short walk across the ground leads you to The Henge, a perfect spot to star gaze,
watch the sun rise or set or have a relaxing picnic in a unique setting. Tracey and Rob always suspected that if they built it, people would come, and so far this one-of -a-kind spot continues to capture people’s curiosity in the best way possible. RLM Words and images: Jennifer Harden
ABOVE: A boulder inscribed with ‘The Henge’ welcomes guests to this recreation of one of the most famous Archaeological sites on earth: Rob’s creativity can be seen throughout the property which visitors are welcome to explore.
TheHenge FA R M STAY
Found just minutes from Canberra, TheHenge Farm Stay is the ideal property on which you can enjoy a relaxing farm environment but still be close enough to find city entertainment. Canberra’s amazing local wineries and attractions are also just at your fingertips.
992 Macs Reef Road, Bywong, NSW 2621
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TheHenge is the perfect little piece of paradise to enjoy that romantic getaway with your partner but also suitable for younger children to join you. Enjoy the ambience and magical aura of TheHenge with a impromptu picnic of if you’re an avid photographer, wander TheHenge or the property to find that amazing photo opportunity. TheHenge is the perfect place to come and help you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. From relaxing with your favourite wine and cheeses, to warming your toes by the fire pit on a cold winter night, you will find the stars are the brightest lights you will have to deal with.
thehenge@hotmail.com
www.thehenge.com.au
Opening hours by appointment Contact Tracey Wallace 0413 933 801
OBERON Paddock to Plate
Family owned and operated Supporting the local community Fruit & Veg • Meat • Groceries • Deli • Liquor
2018 Sydney RAS Virtual Taste Test CHAMPION
Online Shopping - igaoberon.com.au
2019 Sydney RAS Virtual Taste Test 1st Place
Large range of local products & thousands of weekly specials
Free range above 1100 metres
OPEN
7 days a week 7:30am - 8pm
141 Oberon Street, Oberon Phone: 02 6336 1101 Email: admin@igaoberon.com.au
OBERON, NSW FAMILY OWNED • LOCALLY GROWN PADDOCK REARED • HORMONE FREE Available at Mawhood’s IGA Stores: Cootamundra, Oberon & Grenfell Barker’s Butchery, Oberon Summer Centre IGA, Orange Trinity Heights & Westpoint IGA, Bathurst Email: sunnypoint@igaoberon.com.au
Other store locations: 141-149 Parker Street, Cootamundra 110 Main Street, Grenfell
02 6942 1131 02 6343 1611
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S P R I N G story name
guitar
hero
Watching Campbell Diamond play the guitar is mesmerising. His fingers fly over frets and strings, producing achingly beautiful music that has captivated audiences around the world.
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Born in Bowral and raised in Broken Hill and Dubbo, Campbell Diamond began playing classical guitar at the relatively late age of 17 and quickly emerged as a significant talent. He studied with leading instrumentalists Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang from 2010 to 2014, initially at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, before moving to the German city of Cologne to study with influential teacher Hubert Käppel. He is now relocating to Switzerland to further his music education. Regarded as one of the leading classical guitarists of the younger generation, Campbell has given concerts all around Australia and in Japan, Korea, Germany, Norway, Montenegro, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Brazil, Finland, India, Italy, Portugal, France, China, Austria, Serbia, Romania and Greece as a soloist and chamber musician. He has appeared on Australian and international radio stations and performed and given masterclasses at prestigious guitar festivals and music concert series. The younger son of Reverend Ian and Mrs Kay Diamond, Campbell was raised in a house filled with music. He started piano lessons at the age of eight but didn’t like to practise. “Being outside playing cricket and soccer had more appeal so I gave up piano after a couple of years,” the 28-year-old recalls. “I began playing chords on guitar in my early teens and eventually developed an interest in jazz and later classical music. “Until then I had disliked classical music and always wanted to turn it off. “My parents blasted Classic FM every morning and I came to associate the genre with having to get out of bed to go to school.” That negative mindset changed dramatically shortly before Campbell’s 17th birthday when he started to explore guitar tutorials on YouTube. He became transfixed by a video of renowned Australian classical guitarist John Williams playing Asturias by Isaac Albeniz. “Hearing what sounded like two guitars played by one person was a total revelation. I wanted to learn how to play like that.” Kathy Pingel, the then director of Dubbo’s Macquarie Conservatorium, organised video link lessons with Riverina Conservatorium guitar teacher Jeff Donovan (a former student of Timothy Kain). Lessons continued for more than six months before Jeff and Campbell met in person. “I was very busy during my final year at high school and in parallel was totally invested in guitar and wanted to see where it could take me.” Campbell enrolled at ANU in 2010 and immediately “felt behind” in many aspects of music education and understanding. “I had only begun serious classical training the year before and was daunted by the level of
the other guitar students, some of whom had been playing since the age of four or five. “Shortly after the beginning of the second semester I took leave after experiencing a twinge in my left arm due to a form of RSI. I was also feeling overwhelmed by the requirements of studying music at such a high level.” Campbell resumed his studies after six months and stayed at ANU until 2012 when the school of music experienced a creative crisis and brutal funding cuts. “I was already considering studying elsewhere and my teacher advised the best options were in Europe.” Sustained by youthful enthusiasm, tenacity and determination, Campbell headed overseas in late 2013. He entered a number of guitar competitions and had some lessons in Cologne – home to the biggest music academy in Europe with more than 1800 students and 440 teachers. “Germany is a student paradise because education is state funded and offered for free. “I returned to Australia at the end of January 2014 with the plan of raising enough money to move to Germany. “I taught guitar in Canberra until October and organised a concert tour through seven Australian cities.” Campbell moved to Koblenz, a city about an hour from Cologne, and spent nine months studying at a guitar academy and learning how to speak, read and write German. >
Sustained by youthful enthusiasm, tenacity and determination, Campbell headed overseas in late 2013.
FACING PAGE: Campbell Diamond is highly regarded as a significant talent on the international music scene. Image: Jeffrey Cheah. ABOVE: Campbell is a confident musician who plays without sheet music. His practice sessions extend to seven hours a day in the lead-up to performances. Image: Marvin HIllebrandt.
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S P R I N G music
“Once I started at the Cologne University of Music, I basically had to redo my Bachelor degree because credits from ANU weren’t accepted. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, providing more time to learn. “From 2017 I started teaching and did a lot of guitar competitions, which helped to keep me afloat financially. “I graduated with a Bachelor degree in July last year and went into freelancing to prepare for the next step in my musical journey.” Campbell travelled to Paris regularly to have lessons with virtuoso classical guitarist and musician Judicaël Perroy. “Early in our lessons he asked if I would be interested in leaving Cologne to further my studies. “It was a big step but I could see all the advantages and opportunities.” Campbell was awarded a full scholarship to undertake a Soloist Masters in Performance at the University of Music Geneva in Switzerland. He is excited about the challenges ahead and the benefits of studying with Perroy on a weekly basis. As a musician, Campbell understands it is difficult to have a financially stable career through performance as even the most successful guitarists in the world often teach. His aspiration is to secure a teaching position at a university, in Australia or overseas. “I can only go where the work presents itself and I really want to stay active as a solo performer and also in chamber music settings. “I would love to come home to have an impact on guitar and classical music education in Australia.” Campbell won the Vienna International Guitar Competition last year and also received the Sakurai Guitar Prize worth 8000 euros (approximately $13,136 AUD) and the Jeunesse Prize, which offered the chance to perform at the famous Vienna Concert House in 2020. His upcoming concert program includes an appearance at New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall. “It is an absolute dream to play in such significant locations and as someone who has always more or less gone with the flow, I am now planning concert events two years ahead.” Campbell returns to Australia as often as possible to visit family, perform and offer masterclasses. He gave a series of concerts during his most recent visit, in the summer of 2019-20. The most memorable was in the fire-ravaged community of Mallacoota. “I was scheduled to play at the Mallacoota Arts Centre at the beginning of February but everything was thrown into chaos when bushfires hit the area on New Year’s Eve. “I said if the concert was still able to go ahead, I would offer a program for free.”
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Campbell obtained a special permit to enter the burnt-out area and spent an emotional couple of days walking around the town getting to know some of the people. “I met a musician who had lost everything he owned. We collaborated on a piece of music that was played at the end of the concert with simultaneous video footage evoking a sense of hope and renewal for the region.” When Campbell is not studying or making music he enjoys jogging, cycling and following sporting events, particularly tennis. Fishing also provides an all-important chance to switch off. He practises guitar for between three and four hours, seven days a week. When preparing for concerts and competitions, his daily practice sessions extend to seven hours. Those who have been fortunate enough to see Campbell on stage are enthralled by his technical prowess, stage presence and sense of musicality. No one forgets the sheer beauty of his guitar playing. RLM
Campbell won the Vienna International Guitar Competition last year and also received the Sakurai Guitar Prize worth 8000 euros.
ABOVE: Playing with passion and skill, Campbell ranks highly in the world of music. Image: Picture People Cologne.
Hall's Coffee Cottage Enjoy coffee surrounded by history
Come and visit us at our strawbale winery. Taste through our range of organic and biodynamic wines with Steve and Margaret. Call ahead to book an appointment.
* Indulge in our chef specialty meals, try our famous vanilla slice or apple pie * Catering and functions available * Indoor and outdoor deck seating overlooking lush gardens * Antiques and gift shop * Excellent service * Seriously good coffee from award winning “The Coffee Bean Roasting House” 6-88 Whitton Street, Narrandera NSW 2700 M. 0431 696 795 * Wed-Sun 8am to 4pm
Grazing boards available by request or feel free to bring a picnic. Visiting from out of town? Stay in our newly restored Winery Cottage; a beautiful old pise farm house overlooking the farm, vineyard and olive grove.
82 Lawrences Rd, Canowindra 0427 732 895 info@wallingtonwines.com.au www.wallingtonwines.com.au
HANDMADE | ORIGINAL | AUSTRALIAN
Open Mon–Fri 9am–5.20pm + Sat 9am–12pm
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Workwear Countrywear In-house embroidery Handbags, wallets + jewellery Lego, toys + gifts Kitchenware
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GALLERY | SHOP | STUDIO
OPEN FRI TO MON 10AM TO 4PM OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT
PH. 0429 927185 or 0413 138 774 www.quirkycrow.net
50 + 53 Boorowa Street, Young NSW 2594 02 6382 2289 • youngworkwear@gmail.com
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CLOTHING • SHOES • GIFTWARE • BABY ESSENTIALS • FURNITURE
55 Talbragar St, Dubbo
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GIFTS • HOMEWARES • DECORATOR ITEMS • NAPERY • TABLEWARE • LOCALLY MADE JAMS AND PICKLES • STICKY BALSAMIC DRESSINGS • MORELLA GROVE OLIVE OIL PRODUCED IN THE RIVERINA • MUCH MORE
Hours: Wed & Thurs 10am-4pm
N IC
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Sat 9am-1pm
Sun 10am-12pm
Ph. 02 6382 4276
91 Boorowa Street Young, NSW, 2594
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MULTI AWARD WINNING AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COFFEE ROASTER
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• Est. 1999 • Roasted in Young • Live Music • Espresso bar • Barista training Phone: 02 6382 1151 35 Main Street, Young, New South Wales, 2594
www.artofespresso.com.au
Gifts | Kitchenware |Collectables | Local Produce
Annie B’s FULL HOUSE
102 Boorowa Street, YOUNG Ph. 02 6382 5970 jaynesfullhouse@hotmail.com
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Annie B’s Full House focuses on customer service and hope to deliver an exciting shopping experience. Only stockist of Maxwell & Williams in Young as well as Glasshouse, Willow Tree, MOR, Scanpan, Avanti, Zyliss just to name a few.
OPEN 7 DAYS
Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm Sat 9am-1pm Sun 10am-12noon RLM 161
S P R I N G family business
steadfast & TRUE
The strong foundations on which respected Bathurst family business Frank Smith Work Clothing and Shoe Repairs was built have more than stood the test of time.
As the longest continuously owned business in Keppel Street – over 40 years –Frank Smith Work Clothing and Shoe Repairs’ unwavering commitment to customer service has always been at the heart of the Smith family’s retail operations. Family patriarch Frank and wife Patricia opened their first store in Cootamundra, a cobbler’s shop, in 1960. Frank completed his trade in Wollongong after leaving school at the age of 14.
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They arrived in Cootamundra as newlyweds the day before the shop was to open. “They didn’t have a float, so Mum used what was in her purse to kick things off. As Dad says, ‘you just get on with things’,” son Glenn says. They later moved to Bathurst, opening a fish and chip shop in Keppel Street. In 1981, Frank resumed work as a cobbler and began selling work clothing after someone needed overalls. The business outgrew its premises and moved two doors down 26 years ago.
It is now operated by three of the couple’s five children – Glenn, Catherine Yeoman and Stephen. Frank and Patricia retired in 2000 but Frank still calls in to the shop most days “to give some cheek and free advice”, Glenn jokes. Well known for his quick wit, Frank has also developed quite a celebrity status on local radio, having banter with Glenn for shop promotions. “There is no shortage of material with Dad,” Glenn muses. “He is quite a character.”
story name S P R I N G
Highly regarded in business circles, Frank has also been heavily involved in the community, and was acknowledged as an inaugural “Living Legend” by Bathurst Regional Council. It is an award recognising achievements of individuals who have contributed positively to the community. As the business has evolved with changing times, the family continues to focus on the best possible shopping experience for customers. They supply high-quality workwear from Australia’s leading brands, combined with a dedicated shoe repair business, conducted by Stephen. As one of only a few recommended RM Williams boot repairers in the country, Stephen’s expertise is in high demand. “Stephen was trained by Dad and is a perfectionist,” Glenn says. “And people appreciate that. He has even had a surgeon admire his stitching!” The wide range of workwear includes FXD Workwear, Hard Yakka and King Gee. Safety and work footwear includes top sellers RM Williams, Mongrel and Redback. An emphasis on Australian labels extends to the wall of socks, for work, comfort and health, in natural fibres including wool and bamboo. Accessories include gloves, leather belts, Akubra hats and a range of other headwear, from practical to a little quirky. In store and online, the experienced retail experts assist customers with friendly, warm and personalised attention. A number of local business awards recognise their outstanding service. A valuable part of the team is Edwina Foster, who has worked with the family for over 25 years. A strong community connection is highly valued. “Bathurst supports us, and we support local groups and causes,” Glenn says. “And shopping locally supports local jobs and organisations, even more important in these (COVID-19) times.” The business participates in council and Chamber of Commerce initiatives, such as Doors Open! Bathurst. The other siblings in the close-knit Smith family, Alison Shurmer and Philip, also live and work in the district. A nephew, Matthew, works at the shop, and other family members appear during school and university holidays. This modern family business nurtures their traditional values and principles. “We treat people the way we would like to be treated,” Glenn says. “Just like Mum and Dad.” Details of the wide product range and updates can be found on the store’s website and Facebook. RLM
FACING PAGE: Catherine, Stephen, Glenn and Frank showing off the Australian-made Mongrel boots. CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE: Proud patriarch Frank with an Akubra Rough Rider outside the shop in Keppel Street; Frank and Glenn shooting the breeze with a customer; Stephen restoring a customer’s favourite pair of boots.
Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Zenio Lapka
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02 6882 0949 1/27 Bultje Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 care@dubbodental.com.au
A complete range of dental services: >
Preventative Family Dental Care
>
Cosmetic dentistry
>
Crown and Bridgework
>
Teeth whitening
>
Dentures
>
Local anaesthetic
>
Implants
>
General anaesthetic
>
Wisdom tooth removal
>
In house 3D x-ray imaging
>
Orthodontics — braces and clear aligners
>
Veterans Affairs
>
Paediatric dentistry
>
Medicare Child Dental BeneďŹ ts Schedule
>
Geriatric dentistry
Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Armitage
dubbodental.com.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
BRED TO FINISH ON GRASS! www.tattykeel.com.au
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Angus
Poll Dorsets
FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING AND SHOE REPAIRS
At Choices Flooring we know that good interior decorating starts
from the floor up
SHOE REPAIRS • WORK CLOTHING CASUAL COUNTRY CLOTHING
"Always an interesting place to shop" 71 Keppel St, Bathurst Phone 02 6331 7544 franksmithworkclothing@gmail.com
Choices Flooring by Brights 61 George Street, Bathurst (next to Dan Murphy’s) 6331 4866 choicesflooring.com.au
www.franksmithworkclothing.com.au
fish river roasters Roasters of premium coffee from around the world. We roast in small batches so we can deliver to you fresh and fast. Same day dispatch for online orders received before 3pm. Our philosophy is simple: Source the best coffee beans and roast each variety to bring out their best flavours and aroma. Our coffee has won 22 awards since 2010, including at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show and the National Golden Bean Competition.
Everything you need, at very competitive prices! Fencing Supplies • Farm Chemicals Drenches • Stock Feeds • Troughs Feeders • Stock Handling Equipment Shearing Supplies • Vaccines Pasture Seeds • Soil Testing Services Pet Care Products • Safety Wear Water Tanks • Concrete Products Cement • Poly Pipe • Lubricants Garden Supplies • Fertilizers • Tools Spraying Equipment • Harvest Products
Fish River Roasters provides speciality coffee from around the world to cafes and restaurants in the Central West, Blue Mountains and around Australia. Our award winning coffee is supported by barista training and espresso machine repairs and maintenance. We would like to thank the cafes and restaurants that stock our coffee and the coffee drinkers of the region for their support. 67 corporation avenue bathurst nsw 2795 02 6331 7171
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life force The story of Jacinta Haycock’s life so far is as colourful and layered as her eye-catching art.
When Jacinta Caton met Andy Haycock it was love at first sight. Like a secret nod from her own future, Jacinta somehow knew that she had just found her fit. Both school teachers, Jacinta and Andy had attended university at Armidale at the same time but it took a chance meeting back in Dubbo for the two to finally cross paths. Unlike previous suitors, Andy didn’t shrink when Jacinta mentioned her future children – six of them, she imagined. Within a month of their first meeting, the couple were engaged. Jacinta asked her parents if she and Andy could move into the old homestead on the family’s Dubbo property. Her mother was less than impressed with the idea as the homestead was dilapidated and served as a drop-in centre for rodents among a host of other six- and eight-legged interlopers. Despite her mother’s concerns, Jacinta forged ahead with her plans. Before too long, and after a full house rewire and a coat of paint, the couple had a little home on the family property. Marrying in 1992, the first few years of life together saw the arrival of the couple’s first two children, Isabelle and Hewett. But then disaster struck. Jacinta’s mother, Kathy Caton, was diagnosed, for the second time, with breast cancer. Putting on hold plans for more children, Jacinta nursed her mother at home until she died, at age 57, on January 25, 1997. Nothing can heal broken hearts like the joy of new life. On November 17 of that same year, baby Ruby arrived, bringing with her a sense of restored happiness. The following years passed in a blur of nappies and routine. Martha, Paddy, Sullivan, Fletcher and Georgette arrived, mostly within just a single year of the other. It was a full house and Jacinta and Andy enjoyed the love and laughter that a large family could bring. Already with two babies more than Jacinta’s childhood imaginings, baby Bessie arrived next, bringing the couples child tally to nine.
When Bessie was 11 months, Jacinta noticed that something wasn’t quite right with the baby’s sight. She expressed her concerns to Andy that Bessie appeared to be going blind. When optometrists seemed puzzled by Bessie’s condition, Jacinta and Andy knew it was time to see a paediatrician. Testing indicated a severe seizure problem. The problems quickly escalated with grand mal seizures becoming the norm and Bessie often seizing up to 100 times per day. Constant trips to Sydney, potent steroid treatments and other medications would follow, as would another pregnancy; child number 10, Darby. Darby especially loved Bessie, and had a certain wisdom beyond his years. Jacinta describes her son as Bessie’s best friend, and as such, he became his mother’s right-hand man when it came to tending to Bessie’s needs. With only 16 months between them, Bessie and Darby were inseparable. Eventually, Bessie’s seizures were becoming more controlled. However, as she was a non-verbal child with poor sight and autism, Bessie’s education was going to prove to be a challenge. A mother’s determination combined with the soul stain of teacher training is a powerful mix. Jacinta trusted that there must already be a program on the market that would assist her daughter to learn. After all, there were many children with similar learning needs. Finally, Jacinta found the Lizard program and it appeared to offer everything that she thought her daughter needed. Unable to attend daily classes in Sydney with Bessie, Jacinta spent a week in Sydney to train as a Lizard therapist. Back in Dubbo, the Lizard program commenced at the family farm. Bessie did not like it at all. In the beginning, she took particular exception to the gruelling and intense routine. However, ever so slowly the tantrums and objections eased and she began to learn. > These were stressful times for the entire
Jacinta says it’s always busy and as her children and grandchildren’s ages range from 25 years down to eight months, it’s all hands on deck each day.
ABOVE: Jacinta with her grand babies, Banksi and Alfie. FACING PAGE: Georgette, Isabelle, Andy, Lars (in front), Darby, Jacinta, Martha, Hewett, Sullivan, Fletcher and Ruby. Absent are Paddy (away at uni) and Bessie (there somewhere in spirit).
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family, and as such, Jacinta felt an urge to turn her hand to art. It was a creative outlet that she hadn’t practised in over 20 years. When she was a child, Jacinta and her siblings often helped on the family farm. One day, her father had found her painting when she should have been working. His words that day had left a big impression on the young girl. “Cheryl, no good can come of this painting thing. There is no future in it.” Jacinta had always followed his advice, until the day she didn’t. As she picked up her brush and swirled bright and chunky paint onto her entire canvas, she smiled into her own thoughts: “My name’s not Cheryl.” As Bessie could no longer see clearly, she adored her mother’s bright artwork and would run her fingers over the canvas’s textured and colourful surface. It was great therapy for everyone. Not to mention, Jacinta’s artwork was very good. If being the mother of a very large family and trying to teach Bessie a new learning program wasn’t difficult enough, life was about to write another twist into the plot. Throughout this period, Jacinta’s dad, Edgar Caton, became extremely ill with emphysema. At the time, Edgar’s brother Perry lived with him. As Perry had cerebral palsy, Jacinta now became carer for both men. Many nights passed with Jacinta’s father in the hospital’s emergency department for his breathing and with Bessie in the bed next to him for seizures. It was an extremely trying and emotional time for the entire family. Finally, Jacinta’s father could no longer be cared for at home and after what was an incredibly difficult conversation, he was moved to hospital. In February 2010, Edgar died holding his daughter’s hand. Jacinta’s Uncle Perry moved into a purpose-built granny flat at the back of the Haycocks’ house one year later. Jacinta began again to give her all to teaching Bessie and to improving her health. Embracing the new normal, Bessie continued to improve in many ways. What happened next, only three months after Jacinta’s father’s death, could not have been anticipated. Jacinta clearly remembers that winter’s night. The rugby was on television and Bessie was in a great mood. As she jumped between her mum and dad, she lavished them both with hugs kisses. It became evident that nobody was going to watch the rugby until Bessie was asleep. “Alright, miss, it’s time for bed,” Jacinta said. At 2am, a figure appeared over the top of Jacinta. She quickly made out the face of her daughter, Ruby. “Mum! Wake up! Something is very wrong. Bessie is on the ground and she is blue.” The doctors at Dubbo hospital tried
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Jacinta’s willingness to discuss her family’s challenges and the stories surrounding her sometimes tumultuous relationship with art flows freely. everything but it wasn’t long before Jacinta and Bessie were flown to Sydney. Doctors offered their reassurance; they’d get her better again. But the next day Bessie still wasn’t better and it was decided she should be taken off life support and granted the freedom to exit the world. However, goodbyes need time. Andy packed the children into the family’s bus and joined Jacinta and Bessie in Sydney. For three days the family sang Bessie’s favourite songs as they held and kissed her. Finally, as Bessie lay in her mother’s arms, she let go. She was five years old. Five years isn’t a long time. But it’s long enough for a family to learn to love unconditionally and to develop enormous empathy for anyone whose life has been met by challenge. Five years is also enough time to create beautiful and lasting memories. Bessie’s life had enriched the lives of her entire family. However, unlike when Jacinta’s father died, this time, there was no relief; only grief and sadness. Jacinta watched as each family member
individually lived out their personal heartache over the following days, weeks and months. It was especially difficult for Bessie’s best mate, Darby. At three years of age, his understanding was limited. Though the stages of grief were many and varied, Jacinta knew that all of her children were going to be OK. Recalling how baby Ruby had restored her family after her mother had died, Jacinta posed the question to Andy. She was 42 at the time. Was it even possible? Andy trusted his wife’s ability to know what her family needed. The news of Jacinta’s 11th pregnancy was met with mixed emotions by her other children. Aware that nothing would replace Bessie, Jacinta trusted that new life would give everyone someone to love and to look forward to. When baby Lars entered the world on July 4, 2011, he was met with an outpouring of love and excitement. Jacinta says that he was the angel sent by Bessie. He was, and still is, exactly what everyone needed. Jacinta continued to paint. When her
birthday rolled around in 2011 Jacinta went for coffee with a dear friend at the Short Street Store in Dubbo. Seeing the quirkiness of the store, Jacinta believed that her colourful decor art would look good displayed on the store’s walls. As a self-taught artist, self-doubt is simply a part of the creative process but that day Jacinta was brave enough to swallow her insecurity along with her final drops of coffee. Approaching the counter, Jacinta bravely inquired, “Excuse me. Do you hang people’s art here?” Within a week, Jacinta’s work was prominently displayed on the walls of the Short Street Store. To her surprise, people liked them, a lot. Over the past nine years, Jacinta’s notoriety and esteem in the art world has gone from strength to strength, finally exploding into a thriving business with the drought initiative Buy from the Bush. Today, nine of Jacinta and Andy’s 11 children still live with them and either study or work. The couple’s eldest, Belle, and her husband and their two children also live in the Haycock community. Jacinta says it’s always busy and as her children and grandchildren’s ages range from 25 years down to eight months, it’s all hands on deck each day. Fortunately, eight-year-old Lars helps keep everyone entertained as they do their chores. His preference is for singing opera and his insistence that his two-yearold nephew, Alfie, call him Uncle Lars, makes everyone smile. Jacinta’s willingness to discuss her family’s challenges and the stories surrounding her sometimes tumultuous relationship with art flows freely. It’s real and it’s raw. Her laughter is contagious and her energy is palpable. When Jacinta the teacher, mother and wife becomes Jacinta the artist, the buzz of creative energy flows. Perhaps that is what makes Jacinta’s art so special. Each piece is created in a magical moment of confidence-boosting self-transformation and that is enough to enchant, inspire and give hope to us all. RLM Words: Catherine Player Images: Amy-Louise Photography
You can find Jacinta on Instagram: @jacintahaycock_artist.
ABOVE LEFT: Jacinta has found a creative release through her art. FACING PAGE: Somehow Jacinta knew Andy was her future; the Haycock family, still growing and as close as ever.
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Restaurant & Cafe
Family owned & serving the Bombala and Monaro regions since 1960s
Finest Italian coffee • Alfresco dining • Homebaked cakes • Country style meals • BYO • Catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner • Small and large groups Open 6 days Monday – Saturday, 7am until late 133 Maybe St Bombala, NSW Phone 6458 3510
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
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“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
The Bakehouse is a family-owned bakery in Forbes Established in 1990, we were initially a small bakery and have since grown to be a 70 seat cafe serving the best meals in town.
ALL-DAY BREAKFAST MENU
•
LUNCH MENU INC. BURGERS + DAILY SPECIALS
SUSHI
GRAB AND GO BAR + SUPER SALAD BAR
FULL BEVERAGE BAR
PIES, BREAD + CAKES
AS WELL AS CATERING, THEME NIGHTS + PIE/LAMINGTON DRIVES •
VISIT US 6 DAYS A WEEK AT 15 TEMPLAR STREET, FORBES NSW 2871 MON -FRI:
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SAT:
6:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SUN:
CLOSED
www.thebakehouse2871.com.au 02 6852 3388
thebakehouse2871@outlook.com
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S P R I N G story name
more than a game Competition bridge has been winning tricks in Dubbo for more than half a century. Testing the mind through strategy, logic, reason and problem solving, bridge involves players working in partnerships and teams to seek victory with tactical bidding, card play and defence. Dubbo Bridge Club president Jane North has been an enthusiast for 60 years and thrives on the rivalry of local games, interclub tournaments and weekend congress competitions. “Bridge is a fabulous way to completely switch off because you forget about everything else,” the retired solicitor says. “People unfamiliar with the game may have no idea players are thoroughly enjoying themselves because everyone in the room looks intense and serious, totally immersed in concentrating, counting and strategising.” CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Dubbo Bridge Club 2020 committee Frank Cant, Penny Meers, Jane North, Denise Gough, Pat Ryan, Libby Lambell and Philip Powell; the Dubbo Bridge Club building in Elston Park; “dummy” goes down!; Judith Knight’s cards give Andy Taylor pause for thought. CLOCKWISE, FROM BELOW LEFT: Dubbo Bridge Club members Helen Malone, Patsy Wrigley, Betty O’Connor and Anne Ingram in the foreground; the bidding system is not yet computerised; Heather Bootle at the start of the day.
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story name S P R I N G
Derived from the 17th century card game whist, bridge is played worldwide in clubs and tournaments, among friends and online. Social bridge was played in homes in Dubbo and district for many years before a competition club was established in 1969. The arrival of Dr Bruce Meares, a former member of the Queensland bridge team, was the impetus for change. Frustrated by the lack of competition bridge, the medical practitioner was persuaded to run lessons on the mechanics of a higher level of the game. Macquarie Bridge Club was established in acknowledgement of many original members from surrounding Macquarie River towns, including Wellington, Narromine, Trangie and Warren. City librarian Audrey Inch and Barbara Tracey, secretary to the town clerk, were the main motivators of the club during its first 20 years. A 50th anniversary lunch held last year was attended by original club member Mimi North. Until 1989, games were held at the Macquarie Club in South Dubbo on Thursday nights. The inauguration of Wednesday morning games proved popular with sessions held in the Anglican hall in Brisbane Street and later the Masonic retirement village hall in Darby Close. The group became incorporated as Dubbo Bridge Club in 1997. The close association with Macquarie River towns continues today, although each now has its own bridge club. In 2007, the bridge club gained a licence from Dubbo City Council to take over the clubhouse at the Paramount tennis courts in Elston Park. The building was renovated and extended in 2014. Further upgrades were carried out the following year. The club has about 80 local members and 40 associate members from around the region.
Visiting players and new members are welcome. The club runs lessons on the fundamentals of the game every March followed by supervised play for the remainder of the year. When the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a community shutdown, bridge tutorials continued via Zoom internet video conferencing. Bridge club members in Dubbo range in age from early 30s to 80s and 90s. Regular playing sessions are held on Wednesday mornings, Thursday evenings, Saturday afternoons and on the fourth Monday morning of the month. Team and congress events are held in Dubbo and local players travel to competitions in surrounding locations including Parkes, Forbes, Wellington, Narromine, Warren, Cowra, Orange and Bathurst. The Australian National Championships will be hosted by the Orange club in 2021. Jane describes bridge as a game with multiple benefits, ranging from social interaction to mental stimulation. “You never stop learning and, regardless of skill level, it is always a challenge to work out how to play your best hand. “Technology has changed the convenience of the game over the years. “In the past, cards were dealt by hand and game directors would spend hours working on score sheets. “Nowadays, a machine deals the cards, scores go straight onto a tablet on the playing table and results are known as soon as the last hand is played.” RLM Words: Heather Crosby Images: Amy-Louise Photography
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Dubbo Bridge Club members at a Wednesday morning game; Frank Cant and Pat Ryan take entries prior to the game; not a bridge hand to get excited about; Shray Sinha, Gwen Crampton, Andy Taylor and Judith Knight take a break from the table.
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Come to Barnesstore for great country hospitality and a smiling face to greet you on your travels. Great coffee, homemade comforting food including our famous pies, burritos, belgian waffles and all day breakfast. Extensive gluten free menu including sweet potato crust frittata, belgian waffles, ice creams and sweets.
Open 7 days from 7am - 4pm 356 Albury Street Murramburrah, NSW 2587 Ph. (02) 6386 3316
www.barnesstore.com.au
Offering functions, birthday parties, weddings + more!
Subscribe online
Enjoy the facilities of the Oberon RSL Club including • lawn bowls • squash • bistro + bar facilities • pool tables
• entertainment • fully licensed bistro + takeaway Bistro 59 has fabulous lunch specials from $10! Members enjoy the the second Friday of the month as gourmet pizza night and the last Friday of the month as Seafood Friday. Lunch: 12pm - 2:30pm Dinner: Sun - Thurs: 5:30pm - 8:30pm & Fri + Sat 5:30pm - 9pm
Visit our website to keep up to date with upcoming entertainment including shows, morning melodies and our free Saturday night lounge entertainment.
Open 7 days Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 10pm Friday + Saturday: 10am - Midnight
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Cnr Dart + Oberon Streets Oberon 2787 Ph. 6336 1607 manager@oberonrsl.com.au oberonrsl.com.au
SUBSCRIPTIONS • BACK ISSUES BOXED COLLECTIONS SIMPLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ORDER WWW.LIFESTYLEMAGAZINE.NET.AU
The perfect gift for those who seem to have it all! Orders can also be made by contacting us PHONE: 0429 441 086 EMAIL: info@lifestylemagazine.net.au
A hidden gem in the CBD of Orange.
We get it. Brilliant service Outstanding seasonal menus Certified organic + fair trade coffee
186a Anson Street Orange, New South Wales
Ph. 0418 483 151 mervseatery@gmail.com
Mon - Fri 7:30am - 4pm Sat 8am - 3pm
Old Coolamon Hospital Spend a night or two in restful, composed rooms. Ever transforming, like an artist’s studio.
RUTH BAILEY 58 Cowabbie Street, Coolamon NSW 2701 0413 066 803
THE COURT HOUSE HOTEL OFFERS ECONOMICAL COUNTRY STYLE ACCOMMODATION WITH 12 SPACIOUS ROOMS. AIR CONDITIONED IN SUMMER, OPEN FIRES IN WINTER • A CHOICE OF REFRESHING BEERS ON TAP BISTRO / RESTAURANT OPEN 7 DAYS • BEST SCHNITZELS IN THE AREA • LOCAL LIQUOR BOTTLESHOP
12 MARSDEN ST BOOROWA • PHONE: (02) 6385 3005 • WWW.COURTHOUSEHOTELBOOROWA.COM.AU RLM 175
there’s a
chair in there
Woodwork enthusiasts are stepping out of isolation to learn the ancient craft of making chairs and stools from green wood. Rather than assembling factory-made furniture at home, students of all ages are lining up in droves to create Windsor chairs and stools using traditional tools like foot-operated pole lathes, shave horses, draw knives, froes, adzes, spoke shaves, scorps, travishers and planes. “We build chairs and stools using traditional techniques that are designed to last,” says enthusiastic master woodworker, musician and teacher Geoff Tonkin, “Brooklyn”, Molong.
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artisan S P R I N G
“It’s not about the chair at the end but the journey in making it.” “It takes time, patience and persistence but you learn to appreciate the physical effort required to make something unique and beautiful.” Geoff admits most of his students aren’t making chairs because they necessarily need one more in their home. “As only hand tools are used, students enjoy a very non-threatening, creative environment. I think most enjoy the comradeship and atmosphere found in our century-old shed, originally built for horse teams,” he says. "It’s not about the chair at the end but the journey in making it. Students enjoy it so much they often return to make another.” Self-contained accommodation is available in a shared house nearby but participants can also camp on site or drive 10km into Molong. “We have limited mobile coverage here, which allows for an uninterrupted environment for students to focus on the task in hand," Geoff says. “When the seven pole lathes are all in action, the atmosphere evoked is from another era.” Geoff’s wife Colina says people love the opportunity to create something with their hands without modern power tools. The end result is a beautiful chair or stool made from techniques that evolved in England during the 1700s. In pre-industrial times a chair was made in stages. The legs were turned in the forest by a “bodger”, who cut the timber and turned the legs on site. The “bottomer” in a nearby village prepared the seats and inserted the legs before sending them to the “framer” who completed the chair. Finally, they were loaded onto carts and sold at markets in regional centres. In those days, only wealthy people could afford a well-made chair. Over time, they became more affordable for the average person. “In recent times, there has been renewed interest in reviving these techniques with courses like ours,” Colina says. “It's wonderful to keep these ancient skills alive.”
Geoff has always enjoyed woodworking but never found the time during his 40 years as a wool grower in the Cumnock/Molong area. After selling his property in 2003, he and Colina attended two Windsor chair making courses in the Upper Hunter with Howard Archbold, now a great friend and colleague. Geoff then completed a Certificate IV in Fine Woodworking at the Sturt School for Wood in Mittagong before joining the Splinter Workshop in Sydney. They returned to Molong in 2010 and in conjunction with Howard began running courses one year later. To date, courses have produced 82 chairs and over 40 stools. As well as private commissions, another course on offer is making a cigar box guitar. After recently adding a blacksmith shop to the shed, they also now run toolmaking courses with visiting tutor Ian Percival from Stuart Town. Following a family musical tradition, Geoff is also a fine exponent of folk and bush music, being a founding member of the well-known bush band November Shorn, which has delighted audiences across western NSW for nearly 40 years. RLM Words and images: Jake Lindsay
For more information check out www.geofftonkin.com.au.
FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Master woodworker Geoff Tonkin with wife Colina and samples of the chairs made on their property; Geoff works a historic foot-operated pole lathe in his expansive workshop. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Geoff Tonkin enjoys sharing his many talents with others; some of the ancient tools used in the chair-making process; Colina and Geoff can also teach you how to make beautiful instruments.
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JACKSON’S BAKERY
P R O U D LY S E R V I N G
1 1 E AST ST R E E T
HARDEN
PH.
02
6386 2838
Looking for a unique location for your wedding? Nestled in the Hilltops Region near Young, The Rustic Maze is set on a working farm settled in the 1850’s. 1850's. With picturesque views, this lovingly created venture is a must to experience. Wander through the many beautiful garden rooms and explore the maze with its hidden treasures and riddles. A photographers dream location.
WEDDINGS - GARDEN CAFE - GARDEN - MAZE -- MAZE PUZZLES
Open by appointment for groups, family gatherings, functions, high high teas teas and and so so much much more... more... functions, Open to the public 4-6 times a year. Be sure to check our website and social media for for upcoming upcoming dates dates or or call call Jane Jane for for aa chat chat and and for for more more information. information. media
www.therusticmaze.com.au | Jerrybang JerrybangLane LaneMonteagle Monteagle www.therusticmaze.com.au 178 RLM
|
Ph. 0429 834 217
Fantastic selection of modern and contemporary fabrics and pre-cuts from leading worldwide designers.
Brands include Moda, Tilda, Riley Blake, Free Spirit Fabrics, Anna Maria Horner, Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink, Giucy Giuce + many more.
OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY M 0427 847 384 E info@fabricsauce.com.au W fabricsauce.com.au A 240 Lambs Lane, Milvale, NSW 2594
HARDEN COUNTRY MOTEL 42-50 Albury Street Harden, NSW
Your hosts Hilton and Alison welcome you to the Harden Country Motel, a rural motel set in historic Harden-Murrumburrah.
Breakfast Garden Free WiFi Daily Housekeeping In-Room Dining Service Conference Room Wheelchair Accessible Rooms 02 6386 2377 bookings@hardenmotel.com.au www.hardenmotel.com.au @harden.country.motel
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S P R I N G unique business
pressed to impress
A small family company with a worldwide reputation for excellence proudly calls Bathurst home. Pressed Tin PanelsÂŽ combines modern manufacturing technology and classic style in its popular range of pressed metal products for many domestic and commercial applications. Director Racquel Graham, who established the company in 1999, has a passion for design and helping clients achieve their vision. Drawing on combined industry experience of over 100 years, the team at Pressed Tin PanelsÂŽ work with a variety of metals including copper, aluminium, galvanised and zinc to create versatile and stylish
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options for ceilings, walls, bathrooms and kitchens, just to name a few. Their dedication and expertise ensure products of a high standard. The company specialises in authentic reproduction of Wunderlich Pressed Metal products, manufactured in Australia from the late 1800s to 1950s. This provides a timeless feature to the extensive suite of designs for decorative panels, splashbacks, cornices and architectural features. A suitable existing pattern can be reproduced, or custom design developed.
ABOVE: The dedicated team at Pressed Tin Panels: Savannah Graham, Teagan Graham, Pete Graham, Racquel Graham, Mick Beattie and Brendan Sauer. FACING PAGE: Be inspired when you visit the Pressed Tin Panels showroom at 22 Vale Road, Bathurst.
story name S P R I N G
“BEING GENUINE, WITH HONEST, OLD-FASHIONED VALUES, IS APPRECIATED.” “A lot of people install the product themselves. It is very user-friendly and we have an easy online guide,” Racquel says. “We pride ourselves on personalised service, taking our clients through projects to get exactly what they need, and are available to follow up. “Our philosophy is quality at best value for money. Customer service means everything to us.” Feedback from happy customers on the company’s online platforms features many impressive projects, from exciting applications in new homes to beautiful period renovations. Pressed Tin Panels® has 60 plus distributors worldwide, and this collaboration is greatly valued. “They are the core of our business,” Racquel says. An exciting recent project saw the company work with an Auckland shopping centre to incorporate heritage design into a large pressed metal entrance. Racquel is proud of how the business has developed over 20 years. She began with a background of family involvement in sheet metal manufacturing, and restoration interest inspired by her grandparents. It was challenging starting out in a traditionally male-dominated industry. With strong drive and determination, her aim is always to “give the best to people”. “Being genuine, with honest, oldfashioned values, is appreciated.” Racquel is proud of the dedicated team working alongside her at the Vale Road premises. This includes family members, husband Pete, and Teagan, Savannah, and Brendan. The family enjoy being part of the strong Bathurst community. Supporting other local businesses is a priority. “We source from the Central West wherever we can.” Racquel believes the challenges of COVID-19 have raised public awareness of the value of Australian made and will be a catalyst to look at how manufacturing can develop in the future. Pressed Tin Panels® is a great example of Australian ingenuity. The company’s social media and website are a wealth of information and ideas, including a splashback simulator for design inspiration. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Zenio Lapka
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W e’ ve
m
ov ed
!
AUSTRALIAN OWNED & MANUFACTURED
An impressive range of lighting for all your interior and exterior needs, as well as lamps and globes. We also have an extensive range of homewares to make your house a home.
8.30am–5.30pm weekdays 8.30am–2pm Saturday Visit us in our new location at
90 Victoria Street Dubbo NSW 2830 P. (02) 6884 8000
lightingandliving.com.au 182 RLM
Springfield
GUEST COTTAGES
a perfect retreat for couples and families
2964 Moppity Road Young NSW 2594
Phone. 0439 823 799 victoriaanderson@bigpond.com
Relax in one of our charming farm cottages, surrounded by lush gardens and rolling farmland. We also have luxurious cottages available in the town of Young.
Enjoy the quiet of the countryside in an historic stone cottage, the quaint gardener’s cottage, the original 19th Century stables or the grand manager’s residence. A short 7 minute drive from the bustling town of Young.
visithilltopsregion.com.au
LAMBING FLAT CHINESE FESTIVAL
Springfield Guest Cottages
Discover
victoriaanderson@bigpond.com
NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL
0439 823 799
FIRST WEEKEND IN DECEMBER
nationalcherryfestival.com.au
MARCH
Lambing Flat Chinese Festival
HARDEN KITE FESTIVAL OCTOBER
BOOROWA IRISH WOOLFEST OCTOBER LONG WEEKEND irishwoolfest.com.au
hardenkitefestival.org
Poppa’s Fudge and Jam Factory From Paddock to Plate we grow our own produce to ensure the freshest ingredients. We make all our products by hand, over 100 lines of jams, sauces and chutneys and over 50 varieties of fudge. Huge gift emporium in store.
Open 7 days Shop 1, 21 Lovell St, Young
Phone: 02 6382 5854 RLM 183
S P R I N G story name
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artist S P R I N G
creating memories
Stuart Vorias is a devoted nurse and an artist adept at telling people’s stories through his work.
In the 1970s, Australian newspapers were full of political caricatures. Bill Hayden, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, nobody was safe from tabloid satire. Throughout this era of life-changing political reform, the often humorous and grotesquely exaggerated images of Australia’s key political players tickled the imagination of seven-year-old Stuart Vorias. Before long, he was sketching his own political caricatures. To the dismay of friends and family, he was quite good. The seed had been sown. Stuart Vorias has been a nurse for 35 years. It’s a perfect fit for nature’s true gentleman. He loves his job and has a profoundly deep respect for the lives and lifecycles of people, animals and nature. These days, Stuart’s creativity has moved away from political satire and is expressed predominantly through country-themed watercolours. Having a photographic memory, Stuart’s process is unique, often commencing with the recollection of visions from his day. Unlike most artists who need to view the image that they are painting, Stuart only needs to see something of interest and his brain is able to recall it with remarkable detail. However, his creative process is far from simple. Stuart will often discuss his ideas first with his mother before beginning to create a visual story from a combination of several mental images. Interestingly, Stuart discusses his paintings in terms of a story that one will read, rather than an image that someone might view. After discussion and sketching a plan for his creation, Stuart carefully selects the correct music to enhance his creative flow. Each creation is different and therefore requires its own musical inspiration. The dulcet sounds of the 1930s and 1940s, in particular, often inspire his work. Though Stuart has tried to paint to contemporary music, he concedes that it somewhat stifles his creative process. A compassionate and empathetic man, Stuart sees the privilege in undertaking commissioned work. He explains that often a person is looking to express emotional content when they commission a piece of art. Lost loved ones, or other emotive situations, frequently give rise to the employment of Stuart’s artistic talents. Unlike paintings that Stuart completes for himself, commissioned work is not about his own creative desires, but rather, his ability to accurately interpret someone’s story. There is responsibility in being charged with such a task. Stuart begins this type of work with lengthy conversations in order to produce a work that captures the commissioner’s intended meaning. “These paintings will hold meaning and tell a family’s story for generations to come. That’s why I give it 100 per cent,” he says. Actively involved in the art community, Stuart will hold his second exhibition at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre sometime later this year. He also donates pieces of his work to charitable organisations for auction. Though he could easily
make a switch to full-time artist now, Stuart loves nursing and also wants to have his art to look forward to when he eventually retires. In the meantime, Stuart describes countless weekends lost in his studio, hours passing in the blink of an eye as Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra quieten and focus his mind. However, even after a lifetime of creativity, Stuart is still often amazed to think that he is the creator of some of his works. “You get up the next morning and go into the studio and it slaps you. You think ‘wow, did I really do that?’” Words: Catherine Player Images: Amy-Louise Photography
Stuart’s work is displayed at Dubbo Private Hospital. For more information email: sdvorias@gmail.com.
ABOVE: Losing hours to his passion, Stuart paints to music of a bygone era. FACING PAGE: Stuart’s photographic memory produces an astounding likeness.
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BOO R
E US O
COURT WA H O
BOOROWA COURT HOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP Quality Arts And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room
Quality ArtsOPEN And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room 10.00am TO 5.00pm Daily OPEN 10.00 TO 5.00 Daily
PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2856 02 6385 3885 boorowacraftshop@outlook.com
Kind words from some of our valued customers — “Wonderful scones and great service.” “What a wonderful place and marvellous volunteers.” “So many beautiful things, thank you.” “Love your arts and crafts and beautiful building”
PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2856 02 6385 3885 boorowacraftshop@outlook.com
BOO AR
Quality A
PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boo YASS ACCOMMODATION CONTEMPORARY, SPACIOUS 4 STAR MOTEL
264 COMUR STREET YASS NSW 2582 02 6226 1158 www.thunderbirdmotel.com.au
Modern 4 star accommodation with the well-known EWE’N ME restaurant on site. Stylish and updated rooms with kitchenettes/microwaves. Spacious family rooms, two-bedroom suites, fully self-contained cottage and spa suites. Free Foxtel & internet, pool, BBQ area and guest laundry. Great location 400 metres to Yass CBD. Thunderbird Motel offers 24 hour check in. The Ewe ‘n Me delivers a relaxed and modern dining experience. Best locally sourced produce, fully licensed and seating up to 70 people, the Ewe n’ Me is the perfect venue for a quiet dinner or a celebration with family and friends.
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Little Rustic Pantry taste
Great food Excellent service Seriously good coffee
Enjoy the experience! Thur-Fri: 8:30am-5pm | Sat & Sun: 8:30am -4pm 127-129 Cowabbie Street, Coolamon (Vegetarian & gluten free options available)
0499 184 927 |
Littlerusticpantry
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cafĂŠ society CSC Church St Cafe & Bar Dubbo delights diners daily with its creative, delicious and innovative menus that are seasonal and use as many local growers as possible. Here are a few favourite recipes for you to try at home.
Nourish Bowl Serves 4 SWEET POTATO FRITTERS Ingredients 2 eggs 250g sweet potato 1 carrot 1 zucchini 1 small brown onion 250g gluten-free self-raising flour Salt and pepper to taste Vegetable oil Method 1. Grate all vegetables. 2. Combine all other ingredients and mix in vegetables. 3. Shape into balls. 4. Shallow fry in vegetable oil until golden brown and cooked through or bake in the oven for around 15 minutes or until cooked through. BOWL Ingredients 1 bunch kale Cooked brown rice Avocado Beetroot hummus Kimchi Pickled ginger 4 eggs, poached Method 1. Lightly sweat kale in a fry pan and distribute among four bowls. 2. Add rice to the bowls. 3. Add in fritters. 4. Top rice with eggs and then kimchi. 5. Add in beetroot hummus and pickled ginger to taste. 6. Garnish with fresh herbs.
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recipes S P R I N G
Berry Smash Protein Smoothie Ingredients 1 cup frozen or fresh berries 1 banana 3 Medjool dates 1 /2 cup ice 2 tbsp honey 2 tsp chia seeds 1 scoop protein powder 1 cup milk Method Place all ingredients into a blender and blitz until desired consistency. The protein powder makes it super creamy and our choice of milk is coconut, which goes really well with the berries.
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S P R I N G recipes
Muesli Slice Ingredients 750g quick oats 750g mixed dried fruit and nuts 125ml honey 8 eggs 80ml coconut oil 2 tsp cinnamon
Method 1. Combine eggs, honey, cinnamon and coconut oil. 2. Mix in dried fruit and nuts. 3. Add the quick oats and stir until all is covered in honey mix. 4. Press into a 35cm x 20cm tray, ensuring it is all compact. 5. Bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees. 6. Allow to cool for an hour in the fridge before cutting. Images: Amy Louise
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Photography by Amy Louise Photography & Design & Copper.Co Photography
story name S P R I N G
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S P R I N G country recipes
spoonful of special Whether you're looking for a palate cleanser or just a palate pleaser, these country favourites are bound to do the trick.
TOMATO ICE Let’s look at something a little different from my county recipe collection. I started making this ice-cream about 30 years ago. I serve it first to clean the palate for the rest of the meal and it’s always a pleasant surprise. Ingredients 500g ripe tomatoes 1 small brown onion 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves 2 basil leaves, cut finely 1½ tsp crushed garlic 2 tbsp mayonnaise Juice 1 medium lemon 1 tsp brown sugar Salt and pepper to taste 300g beaten cream Chives for garnish
Method 1. In a saucepan combine diced tomatoes, diced onions, thyme, basil and garlic. 2. Cover and simmer till soft, then cool. 3. Press through a medium sieve. 4. Add mayonnaise, lemon juice and brown sugar. Mix well. 5. Fold in the beaten cream. 6. Pour into a flat dish and sit in freezer for half an hour. 7. Bring out and whip, then put into patty or muffin tins and freeze again till firm. 8. When ready to serve, just dip bottom of tins in a little warm water and place in dish to serve. 9. Garnish with finely chopped chives.
LEMON AND LIME DELICIOUS This tangy treat is one of my favourite desserts. Ingredients 3 eggs, separated 1 cup sugar 40g butter, melted 1 cup milk 2 tsp grated lemon zest 2 tsp grated lime zest Juice of 1 lemon ½ cup lime juice 1 cup SR flour Icing sugar for dusting
Method 1. Heat oven to 160 degrees. 2. Beat butter, sugar and grated rind till creamy. 3. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beat well. Add juices, don’t worry if it curdles. 4. Then fold in SR flour and milk. 5. In another bowl, beat egg whites till stiff. 6. Fold half of the egg white mixture into the other mixture, then add the rest slowly. 7. Pour mixture into greased ovenproof dish. 8. Place this dish into another larger dish that has had a few inches of hot water added. 9. Bake for about 50 minutes. 10. Remove from oven and dust lightly with icing sugar.
Recipes and images: Lorraine Hills
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coffee...sandwiches...meals...specatacles!
Freshly made sandwiches, home style cooking and friendly relaxed atmosphere. Function room. Reasonably priced meals, special dietary requirements catered for. 209B Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1877
Spectacles and sunglasses available. Adjustments and minor repairs carried out whilst you wait. 209A Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1852
DEJA BREW Shop 9 , 169 Clarinda St, Parkes NSW • (02) 6862 3572 Open M-F 6am-3pm + Sa 6am-12pm
Cafe Dolcetto YASS, NSW
Cafe Dolcetto is conveniently located in the heart of Yass and, is owned and operated by Noelene and Leigh, a dynamic mother-daughter team.
All day breakfast. Burgers, sandwiches, salads and wraps. Coffee, smoothies and protein shakes. Cakes and slices. Plus a wide selection of gluten free items.
The warm, friendly atmosphere of this quaint heritage building; with its all-day breakfast, delicious lunches and amazing coffee makes it an enjoyable stop for travellers, as well as a popular social hub for Yass locals.
129 Comur Street Yass NSW 2582 Ph: 02 6226 1277 Tuesday – Saturday: 6:30am – 3pm Sunday: 8am - 2pm Find us on Facebook: CafeDolcetto
Wantana Cottage Farm Stay Relax & unwind on a working 1000 acre sheep farm in a newly renovated station-hand 3 bedroom self-contained cottage, that has the real country feel with essential mod cons; like extra comfortable beds, high quality linen, reverse cycle air-conditioning & coffee machine with amazing country views and beautiful starry nights, just 10kms from Boorowa. Sleeps 8
For bookings contact Sharee & Bill on 0427 200 981 wantana@bigpond.com or www.airbnb.com.au-wantanacottagefarmstay
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Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes is a co-educational day and boarding school established in the Marist and Mercy traditions. The College, through its Marist charism, focuses on the spiritual, academic, cultural, personal and physical development of students preparing them to become ‘Good Citizens and Good Christians’.
Through difficulties to greatness.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2021 ARE NOW OPEN
College Road, Forbes NSW 2871 • rbcc@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au • (02) 6852 2000 • www.redbendcc.nsw.edu.au
CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope Visitor Discovery Centre Open 7 days • 8:30am - 4:15pm • Free entry 20km north of Parkes on the Newell Hwy 585 Telescope Road, Parkes NSW, 2870 Ph. 02 6861 1777 www.csiro.au/parkes Shop online: www.parkesdishshop.com
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visit A CAtHOLiC sCHOOL NEAR YOU Experience the welcoming, inclusive and highly affordable environment that awaits you and your child by visiting one of our 33 Catholic schools in towns across the Central West. visit bth.catholic.edu.au or phone 6338 3000 for further information.
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S P R I N G story name
market
FORCE
Jane Crowley, of Dirty Janes fame, has answered her calling and is sharing her lifelong love of antiques with the masses. Sometimes the path you take in life can take a few twists and turns until you are back on the one you always knew you were destined for. Jane Crowley, effervescent owner of Dirty Janes Antique Markets in Bowral and Canberra, is definitely on the right one. “In a world of mass production and mass consumerism, which means a lot of discarded goods, there are the people that catch and create,” Jane says, and that’s exactly what she loves doing. Dirty Janes Antique Markets are a remarkable success story. From humble beginnings, with just five dealers in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, they have grown to 80 dealers in a mere 11 years, and there are more than 94 dealers in the Canberra suburb of Fyshwick. Both markets are a veritable feast for the eyes, a treasure trove of vintage, antique, upcycled and recycled wares. Whatever you are looking for – leather saddles, sparkling silverware and crystal, jewellery, beautifully restored furniture, and quirky wares – Dirty Janes is bound to have it. >
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story name S P R I N G
A veritable feast for the eyes, a treasure trove of vintage, antique, upcycled and recycled wares. THIS PAGE: The two locations of Dirty Janes in Bowral and now Canberra are truly treasure troves where on any given day anything from industrial signs, to French provincial furniture, early Australian items, vintage clothing, jewellery and artwork can be found. FACING PAGE: Jane Crowley and her husband Bob take a break in their perfectly broken-in pair of leather chairs; a selection of splendid Victorian style glass taxidermy domes.
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S P R I N G story name
Dirty Janes is a family affair. Jane co-owns the business with her father Athol Salter and husband Bob. THIS PAGE: Offering more than just an impressive array of stall holders, Dirty Janes also houses a cafe and blacksmith's forge at their Canberra location. Pictured bottom right is Isaac Evans, the in-house barista at Billy T’s Larder at Dirty Janes Canberra. FACING PAGE: Stephen Hogwood (foreground) and Elliott Franklin-Browne are the two resident blacksmiths at Dirty Janes Canberra, who can create for you in their forge while you shop.
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story name S P R I N G
Dirty Janes is a family affair. Jane co-owns the business with her father Athol Salter and husband Bob. Their children are all involved in different aspects. Athol, a lifelong antiques dealer, was instrumental in fostering Jane’s love of all things antiquarian. “I’ve loved antiques since an early age and have been following Dad around auctions since I was three years old,” she says. Jane spent part of her childhood in Canberra as well as in the Southern Highlands and after studying Communications at the University of Canberra, Jane found she had to take stock of her life. “I had a full-time desk job in Sydney that I wasn’t enjoying,” she says. “So I joined Dad at his antiques business in Mittagong called The Shed, working seven days a week and loving it.” Local auctions at three years of age became father-daughter buying trips to Europe and the US. They then set up their first Dirty Janes store, housed in the old electricity commission machinery shed in Bowral. Why the name Dirty Janes, you may ask? Jane Crowley isn’t the store’s namesake, as many might suspect, even though her clothes are spotless with not a stain in sight. “Dirty Jane was a convict girl named Jane Dumphrey, who was transported to Australia in the early 1800s for stealing,” Jane says. “On her way to Sydney, she was pardoned and was sent to Gundagai to start a job at the general store. When she arrived at the doorstep of the store, she was caked in so much mud from her Sydney to Gundagai journey that the owner christened her Dirty Jane. “Dirty Jane’s father was a rag and bone man back in Ireland and Jane picked up the trader skills from him. She was a fair, formidable and resilient businesswoman, and after the owner of the general store passed away, Dirty Jane continued to run a prosperous store.” Dirty Janes has become a prime retail space, and prospective vendors have to be interviewed before being allocated a space to make sure there aren’t too many dealers selling the one product. There are also some rules to follow if you want to be involved, Jane says: “Good quality wares, keeping the original characteristics of the pieces and remaining unique, and no broken furniture.” Jane admits it takes a lot to impress her, but “the feminine curls of Art Nouveau furniture or Australian early hardwood furniture” are on her list of loves. At home in Bowral, Jane’s old Irish farm table, which dates back more than 250 years, is a favourite piece. “The stretcher under the table has wear marks where the farmer used to rub his boots against the timber. If only the table could talk, the stories it could tell!” After 11 years of growth, space was running out in Dirty Janes in Bowral, and so the search was on for a suitable spot for expansion. Having lived for spells in Canberra, Jane has a connection to the nation’s capital. “It’s a fabulous, fast-growing city, and the Geological Survey building was up for lease in Fyshwick. It took us three minutes to decide that this was the place,” Jane says. Dirty Janes Canberra opened in March just before COVID-19 restrictions and reopened in May. Along with the 94 vendors, there is a working blacksmith’s forge and Billy T’s Larder (for that caffeine pit stop). There is ample parking for more than 100 cars, and Jane has plans for Friday night markets and weekend market days, and a farmyard for the kids where they will be able to collect fresh eggs and feed the goats. If you are planning a visit, either to Bowral or Canberra, remember there’s no popping in for a quick look. Put aside quite a few hours to explore these antique nirvanas. Now that the Canberra market has been established, what’s next? “There may be one more Dirty Janes in us,” she says with a laugh. RLM Words: Zora Regulic Images: Jennifer Harden & Elise Hassey
For more information head to dirtyjanes.com.
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Plainsman Motel
22 Sherriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 • Free Wi-Fi available Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 • Rooms From $110 info@plainsmanmotel.com.au • Two Bedroom Apartment $165 Reception Hours: Tues to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat, Sun, Mon 8am - 9pm• Disabled Access Room Available
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Tuesday to Friday: 7am – 9am | Saturday, Sunday. Monday: 8am – 9am
Promote healthy living soils with YLAD Humus Compost • • • •
natural, organic compost teaming with microbes builds soil structure and soil carbon increases water holding capacity and reduces pest and disease
YLAD have solutions for all farming enterprises and all soil types, give it a try! To start transforming healthy soil into healthy profit, call us today 1300 811 681 email info@yladlivingsoils.com.au or visit www.yladlivingsoils.com.au
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Importers of Reclaimed Oak, Stone, Antiques and Architectural Salvage from across Europe for Australian homes & design.
SHOP 1, 4 DOORS UP 3619 JUGIONG ROAD, JUGIONG 10am - 4pm i thurs - mon Shop 566, Dirty Janes Canberra Open 7 Days
@WOODSTOCKRESOURCES Ph. 0439 878 470 INFO@WOODSTOCKRESOURCES.COM.AU WWW.WOODSTOCKRESOURCES.COM.AU
Shop Online
Farmgate Shop
Deliciousness delivered
Homemade goodness
Ballinaclash products available online anytime. Sweet and savoury jams and sauces, gourmet prune range, verjuice, wines and more.
Taste the ever-growing range of Ballinaclash house made, fruit inspired products. Book in for a cherry pie making class or try a delicious cherry ice cream cone.
Available all year round ballinaclash.com.au/store
Pick Your Own Authentic farm experience
The Mullany family invite you to pick your own flavoursome, sun-ripened cherries and stone fruit at Ballinaclash, in the heart of the Hilltops Region.
Cellar Door
Award-winning wines Taste the highly acclaimed Ballinaclash single vineyard, cool climate wines. Wine tasting experiences available for both small and large groups. Cellar Door specials
Available during cherry season
4321-4335 Olympic Highway (South), Young, NSW 2594 • P: 0418 271 770 • www.ballinaclash.com.au Cherry Season 7 days 8am–5pm • Rest of year Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am–4pm • Other times by appointment RLM 201
S P R I N G garden
a considered Excellent garden design and well-considered plant selection give Jenny and Paul Gorrick’s beautiful Bathurst garden a sense of ease and grace.
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garden
After 33 years living and working in Tamworth, Jenny and Paul Gorrick relocated to the Central West four years ago to be closer to family. In an estate on the outskirts of Bathurst, they found their potential retirement home and the one-acre block offered adequate space to pursue their dream of creating a lovely garden. Bathurst’s attractions also included a reliable town water supply and a defined seasonal climate where their passion for gardening could be indulged. A former orchard site, the estate offered reasonable granite-based soils. Jenny and Paul incorporated plenty of compost and organics, resulting in a good friable soil and superb plant growth. Many plants have doubled in size in just four years. With a keen interest and good knowledge of plants, the couple are enjoying the increased variety of plants they can grow in Bathurst’s climate. Moving from Tamworth, Jenny recalls one removals truck was full of furniture and another full of plants and pots. Most of the plants survived the move, and favourites like herbaceous cranesbill geraniums, pyrethrum daisies and grey-foliaged santolina are thriving in their new situation. A friendly neighbour swaps “across the fence” cuttings, divisions and local gardening advice. Existing screen trees and privacy shrubs along the eastern and western boundaries have grown particularly well, giving the garden a sense of enclosure and protection from strong hot winds during summer. Beneath this taller canopy, in broadened curving garden beds, varied and diverse plantings have been introduced. Jenny and Paul have used an interesting mix of foliage textures and colours and also shaped some plants into topiary forms. Lower growing perennials and mounded or rounded plants form the next layer and are interspersed with strappy bearded iris and spring bulbs. Formal features are well integrated throughout the garden, such as paired mop top robinia trees; weeping standard feature trees; trimmed box hedges to accentuate entry ways and topiary plants
in pots or as features in the garden beds. Well-placed containers filled with flowering annuals and a lovely white dovecote create additional points of interest. A large espaliered apple tree is both attractive and practical, producing fruit and screening at the same time. Shade is an all-important factor for outdoor living in the country. Magnificent ornamental grape vines are trained over the patio. Although it is time consuming to frequently prune and train the vines, it is well worth the effort as the vines respond with great vigour. Thick, lush foliage provides cooling summer shade and the foliage falls to allow in welcome winter sunshine. The patio is well utilised year round and is decorated with a collection of topiary, dwarf conifers and flowering plants in terracotta pots. On this south-west-facing block, well-positioned shade trees including golden elms (Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’) and Chinese elms are a huge bonus in summer. An elegantly shaped tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) colours brilliantly in autumn, and claret ash (Fraxinus ‘Raywoodii’) is underplanted with spring bulbs. A pair of ornamental snow pears (Pyrus nivalis) are favourites for shade, attractive autumn colour and delicate spring flowers. A shapely weeping mulberry tree was successfully transplanted into a better position. Smaller trees are planted closer to the house and include several graceful weeping standard flowering cherry trees. >
FACING PAGE: Rounded mop-top robinia trees and low box hedges form a verdant entry between garden and patio. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The newest garden area features curved gravel pathways and a myriad of seasonal perennial plants; decorated with potted plants, the cool shaded patio has a wonderful outlook to the garden; clever use of varying foliage textures and interesting plant shapes.
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garden S P R I N G
Paul says “the prevailing westerly winds can be horrific; screen plantings and tree plantings attempt to slow and break the wind. The photinia hedge along the western boundary does a great job and adds good colour with red-tipped growth”. Cold winters can be bleak. Hardy evergreens including deliciously scented winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), osmanthus and yellow-flowered mahonia add blocks of green to the winter landscape, which Jenny enjoys. Every home requires utility areas, and Jenny and Paul have made these practical spaces look beautiful. Raised timber vegetable and strawberry plots are lovely and perennial flowers attract pollinators. The sun-drenched clothes line area is surrounded by low-growing perennials and hardy Mediterranean herbs including sage, lavender and rosemary, which release their aroma when brushed. One side of the cubby house is festooned with climbing ‘Pinkie’ roses. The home’s rear walkway has a practical gravel surface and is adorned with groups of attractive potted plants, many belonging to Paul’s mother Trixie, who enjoys tending to these flowering treasures. >
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Harmonious foliage forms and beautiful weeping standard feature trees; the verdant outlook from the vine-covered patio; climbing rose ‘Pinkie’ and lush strawberries by the cubby house in the utility area; clematis thrive in this climate; a sun-drenched side passageway; garden beds filled with layered plantings give this garden beauty and charm. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: An eye-catching dovecote among the foliage and flowers; garden owners Jenny and Paul with their English spaniels Archie and Pippa; in the bush garden natural landscape materials are right at home.
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S P R I N G garden
Gravel surfaces on the driveway and pathways around the sides of the house allow water to drain and percolate into the surrounding soil.
Careful thought has gone into access, usability and stormwater run-off on this sloping site. During heavy rain, contour lines slow run-off, allowing water to soak into the soil gradually, retaining valuable moisture on site. Gravel surfaces on the driveway and pathways around the sides of the house allow water to drain and percolate into the surrounding soil. Similar gravel paths meander throughout the garden and are softened by spill-over plants such as cat mint (Nepeta), cranesbill geraniums and white alyssum. The garden utilises town water and all irrigation has been converted to a drip system to maximise use and conserve water. Two 45,000-litre tanks are being installed along with water recycling measures to future drought proof the garden. All garden beds are well mulched and this helps to retain soil moisture and protect plant roots from heat. A very handsome bush garden is situated in the lowest corner of the property. It is filled with layered plantings of local indigenous and Australian native species. Plants are selected for tolerance of both dry and cold conditions (down to -8 degrees Celsius) and also the occasional inundation when run-off water cascades from higher ground during storms. Paul sources some native plants locally from seed and others from Canberra nurseries. There are grasses, shrubs and a higher canopy of eucalyptus trees including red box (Eucalyptus ployanthemos) in varying foliage textures and colours. Argyle apple (Eucalyptus cinerea) is coppiced annually to maintain attractive rounded silvery blue juvenile foliage. Many flowering species including Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’, kunzea, callistemon and a local white-blossomed tee tree (Leptospermum sp.) attract birdlife. Pathways in this area use a combination of decomposed granite and steel edging, and timber sleeper steppers and natural rockwork also give the area a rustic feel. An old iron gate divides the area from the rest of the garden, an attractive and practical way to keep English spaniels Archie and Pippa within bounds. The newest part of the garden is by the front gates where gravel pathways meander among low plantings of dry-tolerant perennials and low rounded shrubs. Bearded iris, lambs’ ears, cat mint, chartreuse Euphorbia, salvias, lavender and daisy Anthemis ‘Suzanna Mitchell’ all vie for space, some spilling over the pathways. White-trunked silver birch trees add height and interest. Adjacent to the driveway, a row of white-flowered standard Iceberg roses is underplanted with mauve cat mint edged with a low box hedge. Paul says the deep block is deceptive in area, and gives the feel of a much larger garden. As the trees and the garden grow and mature each year it gets better and better. This relatively young landscape is providing beauty, shade, interest and a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment to its owners and visitors. It’s evident the move has been a good thing for Jenny and Paul and their family. RLM Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Robert Bruce
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Curved edges and generous garden beds are a feature; this pretty cranesbill geranium blooms profusely; a diverse range of native plants including this floriferous tea tree attract birds and beneficial insects; ballerina-like spring flowers on bearded iris.
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Hilltops Honey
Honey fresh from our bees to you!
Share our passion for bees and honey with our new honey recipe book “A Love of Bees and Honey� Check out our online store at www.hilltopshoney.com Phone 0429 405 889
A plethora of plants! We have a large range of beautiful trees, lovely native plant varieties and lush indoor plants, with an eclectic range of quality giftware, pots, planters and garden tools. Come and say hello and wander through our unique space! 44E Lovell Street, Young NSW 2594
Ph. 0447 750 369
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S P R I N G lifestyle
going swimmingly Excellent customer service is the foundation for many a good business. This is exactly the school of thought that has won Poolwerx Dubbo a plethora of retail awards and helped to bolster their great reputation in the Central West and far beyond. Poolwerx Dubbo owners Adrian and Jane Driscoll, both born and raised in the area, seized the opportunity to purchase the business in 2014 following a stint living and working in Melbourne. Adrian spent 20 years in machinery and truck sales, so entering the pool retail industry was certainly a change of scene. Jane’s many years of business management and marketing skills helped the couple to make a great impact with their business and lifestyle transition. “We started with a small and enthusiastic team,” Jane says. “In five years, we managed to more than double the sales growth of the business through prioritising our commitment to customer service.” It’s this focus that has seen the business win the Poolwerx Marketing Store of the Year award in 2016, and for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019, receive the National Retail Sales Store of the Year, comprising over 100 stores in Australia and New Zealand.
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It’s a credit to Jane and Adrian, and their team, given the ongoing challenges experienced in the region including a longstanding drought and the impacts of COVID-19. “Our success has been possible thanks to our very loyal customers, and the ongoing support our team delivers to them,” Jane says. “Over time, we have had to evolve and consider the best and most innovative ways to provide our products and services to our customers.” Not only does Poolwerx Dubbo service pools, they also carry out equipment upgrades including the installation of new chlorinators, pumps and filters, complete with glass media. Along with the sale of new spas and repairs to older spas, this makes Poolwerx Dubbo your one-stop shop for excellent products and great advice. Jane says she’s pleased to have her family involved in the business. Jane and Adrian’s two children, Ellie, 14, and Jed, 12, are active helpers after school and on weekends.
“Adrian and I would love to instil in our children a great work ethic,” she says. “We also want to show them that it’s about giving back to your community. We do as much community sponsorships and fundraising as possible.” Poolwerx is a national franchise but Jane and Adrian have really made a great name for themselves in Dubbo. They cover a wide area including Lightning Ridge, Coonamble and Walgett. With clients in Forbes, Parkes, Mudgee and Coonabarabran and further afield, they service both residential and commercial facilities. RLM Words: Anna Conn Images: Amy Louise Photography
ABOVE: The Poolwerx team of Danielle Giddings, Mark Batho, franchise partners Jane and Adrian Driscoll, Louise Andrews, Phillip Clark and Scott Barber.
Crampton’s bring the store to your door
SPLASH INTO SUMMER
WITH POOLWERX DUBBO!
For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van. Call us today to have one of our consultants arrange an appointment within your home FREE of charge. Servicing Dubbo and the Western area. Or call in and visit our showroom and friendly sales team.
WE CAN HELP WITH: Spas / Pool Chemicals & Equipment / Regular Servicing / On Demand Servicing / Green Pool Clean Up / Dust Storm Clean Up
WE COME TO YOU: Poolwerx Dubbo offers pool and spa servicing to rural NSW residents, including Mudgee, Narromine, Parkes, Gilgandra, Warren, Nyngan, Coonamble and Walgett.
Call us today to book 02 6885 5381 142 Erskine Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 | www.poolwerx.com.au
62 Hawthorn St, Dubbo | Tel: 02 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au
Visit our boutique gift shop for all your stationery, gifts and toys with a point of difference.
And don’t forget we are still printing! Our experienced graphic designers and trade printers can supply all your business and personal printing needs!
Beautiful baby gifts and children’s toys
Unique decor pieces and gifts to delight and inspire
Cards, paper, ribbons, envelopes and accessories
DESIGN - PRINT - PAPER - GIFTS 214 Macquarie Street, Dubbo NSW 2830
02 6882 1233 | printingworks.com | admin@printingworks.com
Celebrating 74 years as Dubbo’s printer RLM 209
S P R I N G story name
little beauties
Picture tranquil, clear-blue lagoons, extraordinary marine life, captivating cultural traditions and you have the hidden jewels of the South Pacific – the vast and unique Cook Islands, offering a trip of a lifetime.
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travel S P R I N G
The Cook Islands lie halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii in the South Pacific. Extravagantly beautiful, all 15 islands feature a collection of atolls, cays and volcanic islands boasting rare beauty, an idyllic climate and warm hospitality. The islands are treasure troves of culture, and each island paradise shares its own special traditions. The Cook Islands government and people pride themselves on their strong commitment to conservation. On the outer islands, the locals live in much the same way as their ancestors – farming, fishing and trading with nearby islands. >
The islands are treasure troves of culture, and each island paradise shares its own special traditions. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Aitutaki Lagoon, One Foot Island and Heaven sandbar; swimming in Rarotonga wearing pareo (sarong) and ei katu (flower head dress); exploring Aitutaki lagoon. ABOVE: Pool or beach? Little Polynesian Resort, Rarotonga. LEFT: The beautiful lagoon in Titikaveka, Rarotonga. Images: David Kirkland.
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Visitors to the beating heart of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, will be wrapped up in the warmth of the people and the tropical sun.
RAROTONGA AND THE OUTER SOUTHERN ISLANDS Visitors to the beating heart of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, will be wrapped up in the warmth of the people and the tropical sun. Fly into Rarotonga, and you’ll be greeted with Polynesian smiles and the joy of a local man singing a Cook Islands tune and playing the ukulele. Accommodation is unlimited. There are five-star villas and houses or for the budget conscious there is plenty of simple accommodation. Relish the traditional cuisine at the many restaurants and pick up some local fruit at one of the many stands along the main circular road. Coconut palms fringe the beach that surrounds the entire island, with luscious coves along the western edge including Muri Lagoon and Titikaveka with its boutique properties. Rarotonga’s turquoise waters are full of tropical fish swimming around the reefs. Snorkelling and diving are a must on Rarotonga and the outer islands, with most resorts, houses and villas supplying gear.
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travel S P R I N G
MANGAIA Another lush and beautiful garden and farming island is Mangaia. Steeped in history over 14 million years, Mangaia is the oldest island in the Pacific. Like Mauke, Mangaia consists of a central volcanic plateau surrounded by ancient coral reefs and has beautiful secluded beaches. Explore the many parts of the reefs and caves but make sure your host provides you with reef shoes as the reef can tear up your feet. There are plenty of walks and very few people on this island. Taro is a popular vegetable among the Cook Islanders and with a guide you can visit some of the many plantations across the small isle.
MITIARO
ATIU
For a cultural experience, try a typical island night performance or visit Highland Paradise, which offers the traditional viewing of the marae (secret religious gathering places). A typical Sunday service at the main Christian Church on every island is something any traveller to the Cook Islands must witness. A cappella singing, women dressed in their traditional woven rito hats and men in their Sunday best flock into the churches across the nation and follow up with a typical Sunday family lunch for the remainder of the day.
AITUTAKI
Aitutaki is the crown jewel of the Cook Islands with its magnificent lagoon. An atoll with small islands, Aitutaki is a favourite destination for many. Aitutaki’s stunning lagoon features beautiful coral, and the sea life is unlike anywhere else in the world. Experienced fishermen flock to Aitutaki in groups to try out their favourite pastime of bone fishing or deep-sea fishing outside the lagoon for Mahi Mahi or Marlin. Cruises take groups or individuals for day trips on the lagoon to snorkel among the coral.
For centuries, this island was infamous across the South Seas for its warriors and battles, but these days it is better known as the most eco-friendly of the Cook Islands. Like Mauke and Mitiaro, the island has dramatic natural features from volcanic hills and 1000-year-old rising coral forming a jagged makatea – coral rising reef. With its deep underground caves and dense coastal forest, blowhole and inland lakes, this is an island full of natural wonders, not to mention a unique coffee plantation called Atiu Coffee. Atiu is famous for its bird life, including the Koru bird, which has been bred back into the environment. Tours are conducted by George the birdman, who has been instrumental in bringing these famous birds back into existence.
MAUKE
Mauke is a rich garden island, abundant with wildflowers. The island consists of a central volcanic plateau surrounded by coral reefs formed over thousands of years. Mauke’s main road around the island features beautiful beach coves and lush vegetation. The only passing traffic are goats and pigs. Being the most quiet island, it is the perfect place to unwind, step back in time, read a good book, walk around the island, ride your bike, explore the underground caves or simply laze on one of the secluded beach coves.
Previously only accessible to the truly adventurous, this stunning hidden treasure offers beautiful and traditional homestay accommodation. Sleeping in woven Pandanus tree kikau huts, hosted by local families and listening to the waves breaking nearby, you step back in time and experience the customary living and kindness of the Mitiaroans. Visitors will delight in eating the fresh fruit and fish, exploring the little beaches and coral reef and experiencing the spectacular underground swimming holes.
THE NORTHERN ISLANDS
Air Rarotonga recently launched chartered and private jets for adventurous people wishing to take a remote experience to the northern group of the Cook Islands. Trips include Manahiki, famous for its black pearls, and Palmerston Island. RLM Words: Pip Frogley
For more information and travel updates, visit: cookislands.travel.
FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Aerial of Rarotonga from the south east, view of Muri Beach and motus (small islands). Image: David Kirkland; Cook Islands children; Cook Islands Christian Church, Rarotonga. Image: Dylan Harrison; from farm to table - local man pulls fresh taro (similar to sweet potato) from his plantation on Rarotonga Image: David Kirkland. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Catch and release fishing on Aitutaki lagoon; what traffic? The Kia Orana Aunties in Rarotonga; the white sands of the Heaven sandbar (near One Foot Islands), Aitutaki; the Cross Island Walk, Rarotonga. Images: David Kirkland.
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Clear Creek via Bathurst, NSW 2795
Farm Cottage Accommodation Two beautifully styled cottages set on 400 tranquil acres With option to hire together as your gorgeous garden venue for special occasions and wedding celebrations
Indulgent relaxation
Miller Street is calling...
Two private garden spas
SPEND A DAY EXPLORING THE HEART OF THE GILGANDRA REGION
Romantic wood fire
With delicious cafes and boutique shopping, you will love stopping in Gilgandra! Start at Gilgandra Visitor Information @ the GIL where you’ll find out how to enjoy all the Gilgandra Region has to offer.
Spectacular scenery
Browse the GIL Collective, where we showcase our region’s artists, makers and businesses as well as offer hot desks, free wifi, baby change and family friendly areas. Continue along Miller Street for more specialty stores, cafes, country pubs and local highlights.
Come say hi!
www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au
Event garden hire with accommodation
Enquiries to Jayne M: 0435 008 268 E: theglen1826@gmail.com
Accommodation only bookings
The Dale (1 bed) airbnb.com/h/thedalecottage Dempsey’s Cottage (2 bed) airbnb.com/h/dempseyscottage
Give your friends and loved ones a serious dose of FOMO-20. Take a road trip through the Snowy Monaro Region where you’ll find wide open landscapes as you rise up to Australia’s alpine high country. Most people think snow is the main game in these parts, but when the snow melts, the mountains come alive with alpine wildflowers. Our villages and towns such as Cooma, Berridale, Bombala, Adaminaby and Jindabyne are ready to welcome you. Your job is to stop, explore and be rewarded. After all isn’t it nice to get to know the history, beauty and wildlife in your own backyard. Go on, it’s time you had a really good look around the Snowy Monaro Region.
Cooma Visitor Centre 119 Sharp Street, Cooma 1800 636 525 Open 9am to 3pm 7 days visitcooma.com.au Bombala Visitor Centre 41 Monaro Hwy (Mahratta St) Bombala 02 6458 4622 Open 10am to 4pm closed Sunday 214 RLM
OUR COOK ISLANDS EXPERIENCES ARE UNLIKE OTHERS – UNIQUE IN EVERY WAY
Offering a selective range of unique experiences and journeys across the southern Cook Islands and private flights to the northern region. Each adventure is designed to reveal the true spirit, beauty and culture of each island.
COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE UNTIL 21 AUGUST 2020. BOOKINGS MAY TAKE PLACE LATE 2020, EARLY 2021. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY. CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Our specialty tours and luxury individual experiences explore the culture, history, landscape and the beautiful people. No Island is the same. Our aim is to immerse you into a different culture, experience and allow you to come away with a deeply rewarding experience.
CONTACT US info@uniquedestinations.com.au www.uniquedestinations.com.au
#lovealittleparadise #uniquedestinations
Photo courtesy of Cook Islands Tourist Corporation
COWRA
Wide-open spaces, delicious food & wine, breathtaking views, rich history, and of course our signature country hospitality, Cowra truly is ‘The Great Escape’.
Support Local Business and meet the team at
HELLOWORLD TRAVEL FORBES With 30 years experience & over 50 countries visited, let us make your travel dreams a reality. SERVICES WE OFFER: • Air Bookings • Air & Land packages both International and Domestic travel • Coach Touring • Cruising both Ocean and River
• • • • •
Gift Cards Redeem American Express points. 12 Months Interest Free Cash Passports Group Tours
Helloworld Travel Forbes 6 Templar Street, Forbes, NSW 2871 P: (02) 6852 2344 E: forbes@helloworld.com.au
Visit www.visitcowra.com.au to plan your stay
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S P R I N G home & style
HOME swish HOME Bringing beauty to your living space has never been easier, thanks to the awe-inspiring team, products and design at Bathurst’s Inside Outside.
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A must for those who value bespoke innovation and luxury products, Inside Outside’s range exudes an air of distinction not common to larger outlets. With a wide assortment of boutique homewares and heating, coupled with the added benefit of their design service, the team have a price point and style to suit all budgets. Owners Marty and Kylie Ryan have design in their blood. From a shoe design and retail background, the couple moved to Bathurst from Brisbane in 2010, instantly recognising a gap in the homewares and home design market. Their aim was to bring beautiful products to the Central West, thereby eliminating the homemaker’s pilgrimage to Sydney to source quality brands. Achieving a degree in Interior Design, Kylie’s skills now complete the picture when it comes to a one-stop-shop for everything home decor. However, Kylie’s design talent extends beyond the domestic, often designing beautiful commercial properties from restaurants to office spaces. Relationship building is an integral part of the design process, Kylie says. Getting to truly know her client is a major factor in understanding the client’s desires around their space. Each assignment commences by examining the customer’s design inspiration and then using it as a platform from which to navigate the design journey. Customer satisfaction is the driving force behind Kylie’s commitment and passion to every design project. Set in an industrial area of Bathurst, Inside Outside offers a visual surprise as you walk through reception, out to the outside furniture and then continue to their beautiful homewares showroom outlet.
With a hand-picked team of experts to greet you, you’ll be sure to feel well supported in your shopping endeavours as the staff engage in finding the right product to suit your project’s purpose, colour and design needs. And if you’re thinking heating, Inside Outside have you covered. With an extensive range of wood and gas heating, they stock an array of brands that encompass the latest in burn technology while reducing emissions. Their many stylish heater designs are sure to complement every home decor. In terms of the wow factor, the homewares emporium is a showstopper. Filled with beautiful items of unsurpassed quality, the sheer weight of their gorgeous feather insert cushions will have you nostalgic and reminiscent of a time long forgotten. The superiority of their products is second to none; made right and designed for longevity. With furniture, heating, lighting, rugs, design and decorator items to suit any living space, Inside Outside has it all. Looking for that perfect piece or simply just love your abode? Do yourself a favour and rewrite the definition of home with Bathurst’s Inside Outside. RLM Words: Catherine Player Images: Zenio Lapka
FACING PAGE: Fiona Kirkman, Kylie Ryan and Amanda Carter. ABOVE: An impressive array of homewares, gifts, lighting and rugs are a feast for the eyes at Inside Outside. Featured are Lopi Fireplaces and James Stewart Leather recliners, lounges and chairs.
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Billabong Cottage O B E R O N T R O U T F I S H I N G FA R M S TAY
Come up to Oberon for a breath of fresh air Mobile: 0427 365 144
Website: www.billabongcottage.com.au Mobile: 0427 365Email: 144 timcharge@bigpond.com Email: timcharge@bigpond.com Website: www.billabongcottage.com.au
XERO Gold Partner
DESIGN OUTDOOR ARCHITECTURE FURNITURE HOMEWARES LIGHTING Unit 5/113 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.
SUMMER 2020 Snowy Valleys Bushfire Recovery Edition
15A Lambert Street, Bathurst Ph. 02 6331 8900 M. 0414 715 185 office@inoutbathurst.com
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm Sat: 9am-2pm After hours phone mobile
INOUTBATHURST.COM
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Tumut, Tumbarumba, Adelong, Batlow and villages
AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2020 Subscribe to experience the magazine in print or online: www.lifestylemagazine.net.au
ALLURE ON MAIN
Spring Fashion arrivals means the warmer days are getting closer!
A warm welcome and country hospitality awaits you at Allure on Main New season styles with natural fibres arriving soon R.M Williams | Goondiwindi Cotton | Thomas Cook Ariat | Foil | Jump | Ping Pong | Alloue-The Label 6 7 R A N K I N S T R E E T, F O R B E S Ph. 02 6851 4778 M. 0417 726 290 allure_54@bigpond.com
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5:30pm Sat: 9am - 12:30pm
Trends this spring and summer include beautiful florals, gorgeous prints and stunning fresh colours in classic linens and cool cottons. Petite size up to 24.
Mitchell Highway, Lucknow Phone 6365 5437 OPEN Weekdays 9am – 4.30pm Weekends 9am – 4pm
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S P R I N G tourism
LAND of PLENTY Discover Griffith, one of Australia’s most vibrant cosmopolitan centres located in the heart of the Riverina.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Yarran Wines (Image: Destination NSW); husband and wife Ben and Michaela plating up their handmade artisan pasta; Lola & Iris; one of many familyowned fashion boutiques in Griffith; Zecca Handmade Italian; display of Riverina wines.
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Griffith exudes a rich blend of cultures and traditions, with more than 60 nationalities adding to the diverse cultural tapestry. It is a vibrant regional centre servicing a population of 52,000, bursting with life and energy. The tree-lined main street, Banna Avenue, is dominated by beautiful boutiques and Italian cafés serving great coffee, locally grown food and wine and house-made gelato. Griffith certainly punches above its weight as a regional shopping mecca for fashion, gifts and lifestyle needs. Life in Griffith revolves around food, wine, family and sport. The annual festivals are a wonderful time to visit as they showcase the local food and world-class wines, friendly people and colourful cultures. Not only does Griffith host a large number of major festivals and events for the region, but it is never short of live music, performing arts and unique cultural events, thanks to the regional art gallery, live theatre and local clubs. For the outdoors types, Griffith offers abundant areas to explore, including the Hermit’s Cave and Lookout up on Scenic Hill and Cocoparra National Park. No trip to Griffith is complete without a visit to some of the city’s wonderful wineries. The region’s wine industry has a strong heritage of Australian pioneers and Italian emigrants who saw the potential of the Mediterranean climate, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme and the rich red soil. Mostly known for its internationally acclaimed Botrytis and
fortified wines, Griffith also produces great quality and affordable table wines, as well as varietals such as Durif and Montepulciano, iconic to the area. The statistics are impressive. One in four glasses of Australian wine is produced in the Riverina, all wineries there are family owned and it is the largest wine region in Australia. Griffith is headquarters to some of Australia’s most innovative and sustainable companies. The Riverina is one of the most diverse and productive regions in Australia, contributing over $1.5 billion (2019) annually to the national economy. The region produces 90 per cent of Australia’s rice, 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes, grows the sweetest navel oranges and is the largest citrus region in Australia, producing 30 per cent of the country’s citrus. It is also the largest poultry producer in Australia. Other unique industries include Aquna Murray cod, almonds and walnuts, cotton, olive oil and quails, just to name a few. With great local food producers, passionate chefs and wineries, it is little wonder Griffith is fast becoming the new destination for foodies. And once you’ve had a taste of Griffith’s authentic hospitality, it is without doubt that you will return for more. RLM
For more information, head to: visitgriffith.com.au.
Take time to discover the Griffith region, you will be delighted at what you find. Credit: Destination NSW
Credit: Destination NSW
Credit: Destination NSW
Credit: Destination NSW
VISITGRIFFITH.COM.AU
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magic
moments Personal, genuine connections matter, and that’s the foundation on which Dubbo’s Amy Allen has built her photography and design business.
Simon & Amy Creative Co is the product of Amy Allen’s passion for getting behind the lens, and her husband Simon’s knack for videography. Together, they offer boutique wedding photo and video services across Dubbo, the Central West and further afield. It’s something Amy has been doing with great results for the past six years, and for over 12 months now, she and Simon have joined forces to offer videography too. “Simon and I absolutely love working together,” Amy says. “To be able to shoot side by side in our creative fields is such a blessing.” While maternity shoots are also part of the business, Amy admits her special love is being a part of a bride and groom’s big day. “Every wedding I shoot takes me back to my own wedding and I remember exactly how I felt on my big day,” she smiles. “Simon and I work really hard to create strong, genuine relationships with our couples. We take pride in getting to know them in the lead-up to their marriage, so by the time their wedding comes around, it feels like we’re good friends. “It’s important to us that our couples feel comfortable and relaxed on their wedding day, and it definitely shows in the photos and videos we capture. “I really believe that the best shots are the
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candid ones. We shoot in the moment, to make sure that nothing is missed.” Amy and Simon recently shared a significant moment of their own, with the birth of their baby girl, Audrey, in June 2019. “I am so blessed to be working in my dream career, and to be experiencing that alongside motherhood,” she says. “It’s a very exciting time for us as parents, and we’re more driven than ever to be there for our couples too. “We want to keep shooting weddings and connecting with amazing couples. We love being able to be one piece of the puzzle that is their love story and the start of their new life together.” There is no shortage of great wedding vendors working in the Central West region, and Amy appreciates that fact. “I love the people in this region. We’ve made so many amazing contacts and lifelong friends since being in the wedding industry, not only couples, but also other wedding vendors we’ve had the pleasure of working with.” RLM Words: Anna Conn Images: Simon & Amy Creative Co
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Rach and Nate at The Vinegrove, Mudgee; Rebecca and Jason by the Macquarie River, Dubbo; cake by Food at Yours; Georgia and Scott at Outback Cellar, Dubbo; Simon and Amy Allen.
Follow @simonandamycreativeco on Instagram.
BOUTIQUE WEDDING PHOTO & VIDEO Located on the 118 year old working property “Cora Lynn” in the Central West of NSW. The Fleece offers a total escape from the fast pace of modern life and demands, No Wi-Fi, no Television. Limited Mobile reception. Whether for a weekend or a week, The Fleece promises the perfect escape from the demands of modern life. Enjoy the big skies, the fresh air and rediscover the art of conversations and comfortable silences.
SERVICING DUBBO & THE CENTRAL WEST www.sacreativeco.com hello@sacreativeco.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM
www.thefleece.net
Handmade colourful canvas swings for little ones.
Landmark & Historical Place Function Centre Farmstay Accommodation Specialising in garden weddings & private dining
T: 0408 254 325
www.sleepyjays.com.au
Ph. 0408 249 954 cliftonhouseandgardens@gmail.com www.cliftonhouseandgardens.com
94 Maimuru SS Road, Young, NSW, 2594 Opening hours by appointment
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S P R I N G weddings
the gift of INITIATIVE Kate Munsie’s Bush Registry is the beautiful by-product of trying times.
It’s been a difficult time for many brides-to-be during the COVID-19 health pandemic, with restrictions forcing many to cancel the day they’d been waiting so long for. Yet in a show of optimism, Kate Munsie embraced this time in lockdown to launch Bush Registry, a new gift registry service exclusively featuring products from regional and rural businesses. Despite droughts, floods, bushfires and pandemics, it seems more Australians are wanting to support regional and rural businesses, and Bush Registry is helping to build this momentum. In February, Kate quit her full-time marketing job and started Bush Registry from her and her husband Nick's Angus beef enterprise in the Western Downs region of Queensland. By mid-May, Kate had partnered with over 30 bush businesses and launched bushregistry.com.au with over 1200 products.
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The lightbulb moment came when Kate and Nick were looking at gift registries for their own wedding. “We knew the majority of our guests would want to give us a gift. I said to Nick, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could support bush businesses through our gift registry?’ I knew as soon as I said it, that I’d found a business idea,” Kate recalls. The next five months saw Kate busier than ever building Bush Registry as well as feeding cattle during the drought while Nick was earning off-farm income. While the business has only been up and running for a short period, Kate has received nothing but positive responses with over 40 new registrants signing up to use Bush Registry in the first three weeks of launching. “Shopping locally has always been important to me,” Kate says. “I set up Bush Registry with the idea of providing gift-givers a meaningful experience knowing they are supporting businesses in the bush that rely predominantly on farming. “It’s also a chance for Australians to purchase beautiful bespoke products that you just can’t get from the major retailers, be it homewares, art, furniture, luxury accommodation, experiences and even donations to rural charities.” Perennialle Plants in Canowindra, Cedar Cicada in Mudgee, Salubrious Living in Gin Gin, and The Perfect Piece in Berridale are just some of the businesses who are connecting with Australia’s booming gifting market through Bush Registry. “We often get forgotten due to our location and this is just what we need,” The Perfect Piece owner Annie O’Keeffe says. “I’m really looking forward to providing customers with beautiful and unique pieces in celebration of their special occasions and milestones.” Faraway Domes, outside Warialda, has also partnered with Bush Registry. The luxury accommodation is a family business run by Kate and her family. “We launched Faraway Domes in 2018 to diversify the family farm during the drought. Since then, we have achieved an incredible amount of success, winning gold at the NSW Tourism Awards for Best New Business in 2019,” Kate says. Kate sees a bright future for regional and rural businesses and hopes to continue to support them through innovative ideas like Bush Registry. So if you are looking to create a gift registry for an upcoming wedding, baby shower or any other special event, support regional and rural businesses by visiting bushregistry. com.au. RLM ABOVE LEFT: Bush Registry founder Kate Munsie. LEFT: Annie O'Keeffe, owner of The Perfect Piece, Berridale, is excited to be part of the Bush Registry initiative.
Based in Gundagai, Embellish Catering delivers excellent quality food, outstanding service and value for money.
Located just minutes from Dubbo’s CBD, Lazy River Estate is the perfect setting for your next event. Specialising in life celebrations, weddings and conferences. Lazy River can accommodate up to 150 seated guests! CELEBRATIONS OUTDOOR EVENTS
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ACCOMMODATION
We go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are completely satisfied with their events. Embellish caters for functions of all sizes across the Riverina, Hilltops Region, Snowy Valley and Canberra. WEDDINGS • CELEBRATIONS CORPORATE FUNCTIONS Embellish Catering
56 West Street Gundagai, NSW 2722 0419 478 508 Regional Riverina, NSW
events@embellishcatering.com.au
Dubbo’s leading event venue events@lazyriverestate.com.au | 6882 2111 lazyriverestate.com.au
www.agfg.com.au
“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
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Iandra Castle
iandracastle.com.au
Open days in 2020 to be advised.
Weddings · Special Family Occasions · Select Event Hire
The LODGE RESTAURANT offers woodfire pizzas and a full menu. Bookings are advisable, see the website for opening days and times.
RUSTIC, SOPHISTICATED, CHARMING AND RELAXING
Dubbo Rhino Lodge is set among Australian bush surroundings. Corporate Events & special occasions with inhouse catering and resort style glamping accommodation.
Dubbo Rhino Lodge is like no other venue in the Central West, it is country with an edge. 14L Camp Road, Dubbo | E. info@rhinolodge.com.au | Ph. 02 6884 1760 | www.dubborhinolodge.com.au
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Circa 1929. Allow yourself to be transported to another place. A place where time stands still. A place where you are made to feel special from the moment you step through the front doors. Circa 1929. A peaceful retreat where our focus is on you. A place like no other.
109 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga Wagga 02 6925 9312 info@circa1929.com.au www.circa1929.com.au Facebook.com/Circa1929 Instagram.com/circa_1929
Industrie • WISH The Label • Thrills • Wrangler • Urban Originals • NXP
233 Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW
Phone. (02) 6862 1408
Email. abyrne4@byrneclothing.com.au RLM 227
S P R I N G weddings
TOLMIE + HAMILTON Alexandra Tolmie and Harry Hamilton were married at Orange on September 20, 2019. The ceremony and reception took place at Racine, Orange. The couple exchanged vows under an oak tree in front of 100 of their family and friends. The relaxed, cocktail-style reception followed, with stunning views and delicious food. A special touch
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was the classic white and green floristry styled by Alexandra’s friend, Amelia Hain. Alexandra and Harry enjoyed a Bali honeymoon before settling into their home at Orange. Photographer: Kirsten Cunningham Photography
ABOVE: Chloe Raines, Sam Campbell, Alexandra and Harry Hamilton, Ed Currenti and Will Macalpine.
SUITS
JOIN US ON A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME TO EXPERIENCE “THE SPEAKEASY” WITH AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SPECIALTY SPIRITS, CREATIVE COCKTAILS & GOOD TIMES. Monday 6pm–Late ◊ Thursday–Sunday 4pm–Late
Hidden away in the alley beside the gaol, this is an experience you’ll want to keep revisiting. Suite 2, Level 1, 88 Macquarie Street Dubbo, NSW 2830
WEDDING SPECIALIST ADDRESS: 39 TALBRAGAR ST DUBBO PH: 02 6882 2558 EMAIL: SALES@HARRYS.ONLINE WEBSITE: HARRYS.ONLINE
www.establishmentbardubbo.com.au /establishmentbardubbo
CADOGAN country house
luxury farm stay
Cadogan Country House is exceptional. This fully self-contained home has been beautifully renovated and features 5 bedrooms, all with ensuites - 3 queen bedrooms and 2 king (or twin) bedrooms, ducted air conditioning, underfloor heating in bathrooms, open fire, several living areas, a full kitchen with quality Smeg appliances, a large entertaining deck with BBQ and an outdoor fire pit. There is also a Tesla destination charger onsite. Located on a 2500 acre working Wagyu beef property, centrally located between Bathurst and Orange NSW, Cadogan Country house is very quiet and private and is surrounded by a spacious country garden. BYO horse and enjoy riding across our open paddocks and exploring the forest trails in Macquarie Woods.
Bookings
cadogancountryhouse.com.au
Enjoy picnicking at our private hedge maze, exploring the beautiful Guyong countryside on our complimentary farm tour and visiting the many wonderful local attractions, restaurants, wineries and historic villages.
Jane 0419 777 508 RLM 229
S P R I N G weddings
GRANT + OSBORNE Teagan Grant and Brent Osborne were married at Bathurst on January 18, 2020.
ABOVE: Alex Osborne, Leigh Kosef, Benjamin Stevens, Brent and Teagan Osborne, Janessa Docking, Jessica Harrowsmith, Kate Murray, Jacqueline Hoy, Megan Paff and Jessica Greening.
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The ceremony and reception took place in front of 140 guests at Church Bar, Bathurst. Brent’s groomsmen were Leigh Kosef, Benjamin Stevens and Alex Osborne. Teagan’s bridesmaids were Janessa Docking, Jessica Greening, Kate Murray, Jacqueline Hoy, Jessica Harrowsmith and Megan Paff. The bride wore a Prea James Bridal dress and veil, while suits were from Bent Threads Menswear and flowers by Florabundance, both local Bathurst suppliers. The couple have settled into their home in Bathurst and are looking forward to a honeymoon in 2021.
Photographer: Willow and Co.
Set amongst lush gardens the historic homestead ‘The Grange’ (est 1823) is a beautiful setting for a wedding or special celebration. Facilities for up to 120 guests, just 10 minutes from Bathurst. The property is also home to the Bathurst Grange Distillery. Contact Sue Jones for enquiries Ph. 0487 456 524 www.bathurstgrange.com.au
Special offer SPECIAL OFFER for regional FOR CENTRAL WEST lifestyle readers LIFESTYLE READERS
Book 3 nights and receive with two consecutive nights ourBook compliments a deluxe cheese and get third night free – board andthe a bottle of premium during March,inApril May. wine to enjoy our &gardens Bookings phone only. duringbyyour stay. All bookings by phone 0422 303 311 Offer Sep — Dec 2020
bishop’s court estate … a ‘deserved indulgence’ Secluded, private and exceedingly elegant, set on an acre of parkland gardens. Offering luxurious accommodation with a stunning chapel for private events and celebrations. Guests adore Bishop’s Court for its ambience, dining, service and attention to detail ... whether it be for business or leisure.
226 Seymour Street Bathurst NSW Ph: 0422 303 311 www.bishopscourtestate.com.au
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S P R I N G weddings
FAGAN + CORCORAN Susan Fagan and Marty Corcoran were married at Cowra on January 11, 2020.
ABOVE: Duncan McGrath, Hannah Higgins, Henry McKay, Emma Hyeronimus, Marty and Susan Corcoran, Ellen Russell, Rohan Leach, Madeleine Rose and Ben Heathcote.
The traditional ceremony was held at St Raphael’s Catholic Church, followed by a garden reception at Susan’s family home, “Warrengie”. More than 150 friends and family enjoyed a dinner of lamb provided by Breakout River Meats, Cowra, and prepared by Jo Robson Catering, Canowindra. The wedding cake was made by Marty’s sister, Steph Corcoran, with flowers by Catherine MacAlpine of Farm to Floral, Brewarrina. Special touches were Susan’s grandmother, Jean-Mary Fagan, saying grace before dinner as well as Susan wearing the skirt from her 70-year-old wedding dress, originally worn in 1950. The couple enjoyed their honeymoon in Vanuatu before settling back to life in Boorowa. Photographer: Rachael Lenehan Photography
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KINGS HALL JEWELLERS
180 MACQUARIE STREET, DUBBO
PH: (02) 6885 3500
WWW.KINGSHALL.COM.AU
Historic country property offering a range of outdoor settings for your ceremony and photography. Large reception marquee with a screened off area for your caterer. Accommodation available in the homestead for bride and groom, also for bride and her attendants the evening before. Includes continental breakfasts.
Photograph by Camilla Duffy Photograph by J McGrath
Individual packages tailored to suit your needs. Situated just out of Boorowa - 1½ hrs from Canberra & 3 hrs from Sydney.
288 Cunningar Road Boorowa, New South Wales 2586 Ph. 0408 677 940
corcoranplains.com.au
Photograph by Camilla Duffy
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S P R I N G weddings
KNIGHT + BOWIE Melissa Knight and Christopher Bowie were married at Braidwood on February 22, 2020. The garden ceremony was held at “Bedervale”, a heritage-listed colonial homestead built in 1840. The reception followed at the Braidwood Showground Pavilion, where the couple celebrated with 120 guests. Melissa’s bridesmaids were Rebecca Hughes, Lane Knight, Caron Cantrill and Crystal Staunton. Chris’s groomsmen were Nicholas Black, Tim Knight, Tim Moffit and Steven Howes. The couple’s niece and nephew, Chael and Zahli, were page boy and flower girl.
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Local businesses including Vanilla Catering, Bunyip Jungle Florist and Paul W Bott Gold and Silversmith contributed to the couple’s special day. The newlyweds honeymooned in Vanuatu before returning to their home in Braidwood. Photographer: Holly Bradford Photography
ABOVE: Lane Knight, Zahli Knight, Tim Knight, Chael Knight, Crystal Staunton, Nicholas Black, Melissa and Chris Bowie, Rebecca Hughes, Tim Moffitt, Caron Cantrill and Steven Howes.
Visit our beautiful boutique at
24 WINGEWARRA STREET, DUBBO
showcasing a range of handpicked homewares, fashion, gifts, accessories & furniture. We are here to help you SOURCE , CREATE & CAPTURE
the perfect Lazy Sunday feeling!
SHOP ONLINE
www.lazysundaylifestyle.com
Corner of Brisbane and Wingewarra Streets Dubbo NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6882 4411 Fax: 026881 8062
/DubboRSL
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Premier funeral services for Dubbo and surrounding communities
Shakespeare Funerals Shakespeare Funerals, Dubbo’s longest serving funeral home, have been setting the standards of funeral care since 1894. We understand how difficult and often confronting it is making arrangements for the funeral of a loved one. When you step into our office, you will be greeted with a warm welcome, a gentle smile and be surrounded by people who truly care. We encourage families to be active during the process of making funeral arrangements and making the service as personal and individual as possible. We are committed to exceeding the expectations of the families we are honoured to serve and our aim is to guide you through this journey while providing a professional and modern approach to funeral care.
Laura Carter
94-96 Talbragar Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6882 2434 info@shakespearefunerals.com.au www.shakespearefunerals.com.au OPEN 24 HOURS
Flowers on Talbragar
St Andrew’s Chapel
The experienced team at Flowers on Talbragar know how to convey the perfect sentiment through beautiful tribute flowers, bouquets, wreaths and casket sprays.
A non-denominational Chapel for funeral and memorial services, after-funeral functions, weddings, and bereavement seminars.
1/52 Talbragar Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6885 3242
72 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6882 3199
The facility is blessed with a homely, yet benign ambience that succinctly pervades every nook and cranny as well as providing an unsurpassed spaciousness under the influence of which clients can celebrate their special occasion in a naturally freeflowing atmosphere.
W Larcombe & Son
FUNERALS & MONUMENTS W Larcombe & Son Funerals are committed to providing superior care, service and support to Dubbo and the wider community in times of loss. 52 Talbragar Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6882 3199 info@wlarcombeandson.com.au www.wlarcombeandson.com.au OPEN 24 HOURS 236 RLM
As a full service funeral provider, we are able to assist you with every aspect of the funeral to make it unique and designed for your exact requirements. We focus on providing the finest quality products and services, including coffins, caskets, urns, flowers and vehicles.
Paul & Barbara Carter
The older rooms have been refurbished. The new rooms under construction will be roomy and well designed with a modern look. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms suitable for aged residents. Excellent, homely country cooked meals completely prepared on site.
BURROWA HOUSE RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE Burrowa House is a 12-bed residential aged care facility, currently undergoing expansion to 20 beds. Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes from Young, 50 minutes from Cowra and 1 hour 20 minutes to the centre of Canberra.
BurrowaHouse HouseininBoorowa Boorowa Burrowa
A large modern wellfurnished communal dining room. Modern television room with comfortable chairs. An activities room where residents may play cards, bingo and enjoy craft and other activities. Wireless broadband is available for all residents. Beautiful gardens with “bush views. We have well trained, caring staff 24/7.
further information facilities or to • A•12-bed aged care facility. • An• activities room isarrange forisbingo and card A For 12-bed aged care facility.on our Community owned and operated An activities room foran bingo and players card players inspection please call our Care Manager, Judy Ann on 02 6385 3773 or mobile 0484 000 797 • All• rooms havehave just just beenbeen modernised withwith new new and other activities. All rooms modernised and other activities. Ford Street, Boorowa NSW 2586 carpet and and curtains and and a re-paint. • There are “Broadband for Seniors” carpet curtains a79 re-paint. • There are “Broadband for Seniors” • All• rooms havehave an ensuite bathroom. computers available. All rooms an ensuite bathroom. computers available. • There are sizeable community dining facilities. • Wireless broadband is available for allfor residents. • There are sizeable community dining facilities. • Wireless broadband is available all residents. • Modern television room with comfortable new chairs. • Excellent, homely, country cooked meals. • Modern television room with comfortable new chairs. • Excellent, homely, country cooked meals.
Boorowa is situated on the Valley Way Way between Yass and Cowra. Boorowa is situated on Lachlan the Lachlan Valley between Yass and Cowra. BURROWA RETIREMENT INDEPENDENT LIVING We We are are onlyonly 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1and hour 20 minutes to Canberra. VILLAGE 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra IN BOOROWA ForFor further information on our facilities please call call our Manager, JudyJudy AnnAnn on 6385 3773.3773. further information on our facilities please our Manager, on 6385 16 one- and two-bedroom Each year, our retirement community asStreet more locals are NSW 79grows Ford Boorowa 25862586living, self-care independent 79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW realising they can have affordable accommodations with all the air-conditioned Villa Units. perks of independent living.
Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes from Young, 50 minutes from Cowra and 1 hour 20 minutes to the centre of Canberra.
All Villas have a single car garage built under the same roofline with automatic door and internal access. Villas are modern and roomy with pleasant “bush” outlooks. Villas are affordable on a “lend lease” basis. Entry fees start at a low $160,000.
The village has 14 self-care one or two bedroom villas. • All villas have a garage built under the same roof with an internal entry and an automatic door. • All villas have “vital call” facilities. • All rooms are spacious with a pleasant outlook. • Villas are affordable on a “lend lease” basis with entry fees from $180,000 depending on vacancies. • Fortnightly charge for recurrent charges is $145 to $160. • Recurrent charges cover: - All Council rates and charges including garbage charges. - Electricity charges for street lighting and community services. - All water rates and usageon charges. For further information our Community owned and operated facilities or to arrange an inspection - Building call insurance. please our Business Manager, Phil Coggins on 02 6385 3773 or mobile 0402 431 570 - Building maintenance. - Basic gardening and lawn mowing. 79 Ford Street, Boorowa NSW 2586 • Plenty of room for expansion with space for another 70 villas. Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra. We can send you a disclosure statement on our villas and a floor plan. Contact details: For further information on our facilities please call our Manager, Judy Ann on 6385 3773, 79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW 2586
Very reasonable fortnightly recurrent charges. NSW COMMUNITY HOUSING COTTAGES 4 one-bedroom units available with low rents in accordance with NSW Housing rent policy. “Nurse Call” system in all Villas and Cottages. Mowing of lawns and basic gardening is provided for Villas and Cottages.
RLM 237
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BLACK GOLD MOTEL Wallerawang, 6355 7305 blackgoldmotel.com.au
BOB BERRY REAL ESTATE Dubbo, 6882 6822 bobberry.com.au
BOOROWA COURTHOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP Boorowa, 63853885
BOOROWA HOSTEL Boorowa, 6385 3773 burrowahouse.com
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BUDGERIE BRAFORD STUD Gulargambone, 0428 438 253
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Bungendore, 6238 1240 bungendorecountrybutchery.com.au
BUNGENDORE MOTEL
Bungendore 0411 039 937
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FISH RIVER ROASTERS Bathurst, 6331 7171 www.fishriverroasters.com.au
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CENTRAL CALEULA MOTOR LODGE
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CHEMINEES PHILIPPE Sydney, 9564 2694 cheminee.com.au
CHOICES FLOORING BY BRIGHTS Bathurst, 6331 4866
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CLIFTON HOUSE AND GARDENS
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Bathurst, 6338 3000 bth.catholic.edu.au
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Young, 6382 4276
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FABRIC SAUCE
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COSMO CAFE
Bombala, 6458 3510
COUNTRY WORKBOX Braidwood, 4842 1330
COWRA TOURISM Cowra, 6342 4333 visitcowra.com.au
CRAMPTON’S CARPETS Dubbo, 6882 8911 cramptonscarpets.com.au
CROOKWELL GARDEN FESTIVAL Crookwell, 0418 235 264 or 0407 268 163
CSIRO PARKES OBSERVATORY Parkes, 6861 1777 parkes.atnf.csiro.au
DEJA BREW
Parkes, 6862 3572
DIRTY JANES
Bowral, 4861 3231 Canberra, 6169 4945 dirtyjanes.com
DUBBO DENTAL
Dubbo, 6882 0949 dubbodental.com.au
DUBBO PRINTING WORKS Dubbo, 6882 1233 printingworks.com
DUBBO RHINO LODGE Dubbo, 6884 1760 rhinolodge.com.au
DUBBO RSL CLUB Dubbo, 6882 4411 dubborsl.com.au
Dubbo, 6885 3242
Bathurst, 6331 7544 franksmithworkclothing.com.au
GARIAN WHOLESALERS Dubbo, 6884 1166
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Braidwood, 0428 216 878 garliciousgrown.com.au
GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL Gilgandra, 6817 8800 gilgandra.nsw.gov.au
GRAPEVINE CAFE
Dubbo, 6884 7354 grapevinecafe.com.au
GREEN HOMES AUSTRALIA
Braidwood, 1300 724 661 greenhomesaustralia.com.au
GRIFFITH CITY COUNCIL Griffith, 1800 681 141 visitgriffith.com.au
HALLS COFFEE COTTAGE Narrandera, 0431 696 795
HARDEN COUNTRY MOTEL Harden, 6386 2377 hardenmotel.com.au
HARRY’S FOR MENSWEAR Dubbo 6882 2558 harrys.online
HARVEST FRESH CAFÉ
Bungendore 0490 004 801
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HERITAGE MOTEL COOTAMUNDRA Cootamundra, 1300 130 172 cootamundraheritagemotel.com.au
HILLTOPS COUNCIL Boorowa, 1300 445 586 Harden, 1300 445 586 Young, 1300 445 586 hilltops.nsw.gov.au
HILLTOPS HONEY Young, 0429 405 889 hilltopshoney.com
IANDRA CASTLE Greenethorpe, 6383 9241 iandracastle.com.au
INSIDE OUTSIDE Bathurst, 6331 8900 inoutbathurst.com.au
JACKSON’S BAKERY Harden, 6386 2838
JAYNE EDWARDS REALTY Sydney, 0435 008 268
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LITTLE RUSTIC PANTRY Coolamon, 0499 184 927
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MACQUARIE VIEW BRASS AND IRON BEDS Wellington, 0419 207 194 bedmanwellington.com.au
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PLAINSMAN MOTEL Forbes, 6852 2466 plainsmanmotel.com.au
POOLWERX Dubbo, 6885 5381 poolwerx.com.au
POPPA’S FUDGE & JAM FACTORY
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PROFESSIONAL SKIN SOLUTIONS Bathurst, 6332 9880 professionalskinsolutions.com.au
THE PINK POT GARDEN SPOT Young, 0477 750 369
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THIRTY4 CAFE AND RESTAURANT
Queanbeyan, 5105 5017
THOM, DICK AND HARRY’S West Wyalong, 6972 0393 tdhww.com.au
THUNDERBIRD MOTEL Yass, 6226 1158 thunderbirdmotel.com.au
TOMBARRA ACCOMMODATION & EVENTS Mongarlowe, 0497 638 6 tombarra.com.au
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ST ANDREW’S CHAPEL
UNIQUE DESTINATIONS
SUNNYPOINT BEEF
Millthorpe, 1300 002 269 uniquedestinations.com.au
Dubbo, 6882 3199
SWEET BRIAR B&B
TANZA FASHION
Temora, 0418 978 134
TATTYKEEL
Oberon, 6335 8116 tattykeel.com.au
TEMORA EX-SERVICES CLUB, GOLDTERA MOTOR INN & KOREELA PARK MOTOR INN
VILLAGE ANTIQUES BUNGENDORE Bungendore, 6238 1499
W LARCOMBE & SON FUNERALS & MONUMENTS Dubbo, 6882 3199 wlarcombeandson.com.au
WALLINGTON WINES Canowindra, 0427 936 054 wallingtonwines.com.au
WANTANA COTTAGE FARMSTAY
Temora, 6977 2433 temoraexservices.com.au
Boorowa, 0427 200 981 airbnb.com.au-wantanacottagefarmstay
TEMORA FLOWER CENTRE
WEST ORANGE MOTORS
Temora. 6977 1788
THE BYNG STREET BOUTIQUE HOTEL
PRESSED TIN PANELS
Bathurst, 6332 1565 thehubcafe.com.au
Young, 6382 3799
PRD NATIONWIDE
Dubbo, 6885 0621 pressdubbo.com.au
THE HUB
TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP
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PRESS
Bywong, 0413 933 801 thehenge.com.au
SPRINGFIELD GUEST COTTAGES
THE BAKEHOUSE
Bungendore, 6238 0999 prd.com.au/bungendore
THE HENGE
Bathurst, 6332 4044 townandcountrybathurst.com.au
Coolamon, 6927 2222 sweetbriar.com.au
Dubbo, 6882 3933 peacockeaccountants.com.au
Brewongle, 439 334 936 www.bathurstgrange.com.au
Cooma, 1800 636 525 visitcooma.com.au
Grenfell, 6343 8288 outscape.net.au
PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS
THE GRANGE
TOWN & COUNTRY RURAL SUPPLIES
Oberon, 6336 1101
Parkes, 6862 1877
Dubbo, 6884 7977
SNOWY MONARO REGIONAL COUNCIL
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PARKES COFFEE POT
THE GALLERY DUBBO
Forbes, 6852 3388
Orange, 5317 8200 byngstreethotel.com.au
THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL
Boorowa, 6385 3005 courthousehotelboorowa.com.au
THE ESTABLISHMENT BAR
Dubbo, 8328 0349 establishmentbardubbo.com.au
THE FLEECE
Peak Hill, 0429 340 988 thefleece.net
Orange, 6361 1000 mbwestorangemotors.com.au
WESTERN PLAINS WINDOWS & GLASS Dubbo, 6884 8818 wpwg.com.au
WILD ROSE ORGANICS Bungendore, 6238 1422
WOODSTOCK RESOURCES Jugiong, 0418 646 011 woodstockresources.com.au
YLAD LIVING SOILS Young, 6382 2165 yladlivingsoils.com.au
YOUNG WORKWEAR Young, 6382 2289
RLM 239
S P R I N G the last word
DEFT METAL
Sculptor Andrew Whitehead’s extraordinary scrap metal creations are fine figures of resourcefulness and ingenuity. It was impossible to miss the big, bearded bloke assembling his latest masterpiece at the Coolamon Up-To-Date Store. By the time he’d installed The Water Dancer on the floorboards, organisers of the local art show were already mesmerised. Creator Andrew Whitehead, from the village of Urana, 45km from Lockhart, is very familiar with every inch of her body. He’s circled her hundreds of times, studying her curves from every angle. As work progressed, he shared his secret beauty online with tens of thousands of Facebook followers. Andrew discovered his amazing talent with scrap metal much later in life after his new wife Daphne suggested he build something with his hands. “I think she wanted me out of the house, I don’t know,” Andrew laughs. “Just as I finished this stupid-looking cow, a friend suggested I enter it into the Lockhart Art Show.” He built a special trailer to get his bovine beauty into town and took home first prize. “The locals support me with scrap and encouraged me to keep going,” he says. “With so much competition out there, I’ve got to come up with something fresh and new. I’m fortunate to have an artistic wife that can cook glass, meaning my work can stand out from the crowd.” The Water Dancer was made in a similar vein to Rain Dragon, his Lockhart piece that locals hoped would bring much-needed rain to the district. It worked and the town had a one-in-100-year flood. “With this piece I wanted to create a beautiful female form using rough scrap metal,” he explains. “She may be dancing at home as the rain comes, dancing down by the river to the sound of rippling water or down at the beach listening to the rolling surf. “In her own little world she doesn’t care about what anyone else is thinking or doing. She’s in her own space and loving it – and that’s what I wanted to capture.” Daphne collaborated with Andrew on the project, creating all the intricate glass discs in her kilns. Each disc is made with three different layers of glass – all hand cut and joined together to give a beautiful rolled edge, which in certain light picks up rainbow colours. Andrew now has 15 public artworks around the country, including The Kelpie and Sprinter at Ardlethan; The Goanna at Urana; Toolbox, a racehorse and jockey at Morundah; The Swagman and Dog at Boree Creek and Shearing the Rams at Lowesdale. “I come here to support the art show, as I do every year. It’s great to win a prize but it’s more important for my work to be seen by the public – that’s what gets me the commissions.” All in all, a remarkable effort by an endearing and humble bloke who secretly wonders where his much-loved artwork might take him. RLM Words and images: Jake Lindsay
240 RLM
ABOVE: Scrap metal artist Andrew Whitehead discovered his amazing talent late in life. LEFT: The Water Dancer is ingeniously made from hundreds of specially selected pieces of scrap metal. BELOW: Andrew and Daphne kick up their heels after their collaborative efforts in producing The Water Dancer.
Andrew’s latest offering brought drought-breaking rains. For his latest work, check out Andrew Whitehead sculptures on Facebook, including his recently finished piece honouring the late former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer.
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