#35 Regional Lifestyle | Summer 2021

SUMMER

Inverell

Authentic Italian recipes from Griffith

TOWN FEATURE

Anna Brown BATHURST INSPIRATION

MONARO GARDEN Artist’s Delight

Showcasing

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Commercial Agri

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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD Trading as Regional Lifestyle Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418

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ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 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 2021 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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It starts with yes

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CONTENTS ISSUE 35 SUMMER 2021

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EGARDING HEINRICH Inverell can R thank its lucky stars that big-thinking outdoor adventurer Heinrich Haussler Snr decided to call it home.

44 NO STONE UNTURNED Veteran Inverell sapphire miner Bill Dawson has the proud reputation of being the last man standing.

62 THE LIFE OF BRIAN Now in his mid 80s, Brian “Spike” Baldwin OAM still enjoys the camaraderie only found at the saleyards.

106 MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING Digby and Jo McNeil were not prepared to let an exquisite and multifaceted piece of Inverell’s history sit and rot.

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SUMMER

Inverell

Authentic Italian recipes from Griffith

TOWN FEATURE

GARDEN

216 A LIVING MASTERPIECE Visiting artist Lucy Culliton’s Monaro garden is a joyful and inspiring experience.

Anna Brown BATHURST INSPIRATION

MONARO GARDEN Artist’s Delight $14.00 inc GST SUMMER 2021 VOLUME 35 >

COUNTRY CHARACTERS

114 L ES TO THE RESCUE With the heart of Phar Lap and boundless energy, Les Parsons OAM has done more than most in helping his beloved community.

150 STANDING TALL Cullen and Charli Adams know exactly how it feels living under a spotlight. They share their uplifting story with RLM.

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e bring to life the stories, the characters W and the community that make Inverell a jewel in the crown of the New England High Country region.

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INVERELL TOWN FEATURE

WEDDINGS

228 T ake a peep at some of the handsome country couples who tied the knot in style.

THE LAST WORD

240 S O THE STORY GOES Garry Newley turned his love of books and vinyls into a business so he could share his passion.

ON THE COVER

Between Inverell and Glen Innes stands the magnificent Kings Plains Castle.

Story, Page 22

Image: Girt by Sea Photography

South

Wales

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FROM THE PUBLISHERS

A time of rest & renewal “Life is like riding a bicycle, in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein

Welcome to summer in our beautiful state of NSW We anticipate the excitement of warmer weather, hopefully celebrating with family and friends and taking some time out to appreciate all we have to be grateful for.

Albury Holbrook Feature

The Spring 2021 edition featuring the Albury Holbrook region was warmly received across the state. We felt particularly proud to be able to use the historic Albury Railway Station image to create an absolutely stunning cover. The sales in Albury and Holbrook have been very strong and we have the usual high demand across the rest of the state and beyond.

You will see some feedback from the Mayor of Albury and the Mayor of the Greater Hume Council in our ‘Your Letters’ section.

Inverell Feature

We are thrilled to be able to bring to you a glorious 149-page feature on the Inverell Council area in this Summer 2021 edition.

Working with this council has been an absolute pleasure and we are very grateful for the strong association we have had with Inverell Mayor Cr Paul Harmon and Tourism Manager Peter Caddey.

We feel quite certain you will be impressed with what this dynamic area has to offer.

Businesses embraced the opportunity to collaborate with Regional Lifestyle, and we are thrilled to showcase all the entrepreneurs whose stories you will read in our feature pages.

Upcoming Autumn 2022 Feature

We have some exciting news to share with you!

Regional Lifestyle will be partnering with the Tamworth Regional Council to create a 120-page feature for the Autumn 2022 edition.

As Tamworth Council covers a diverse area including towns and villages such as Barraba, Manilla, Attunga, Nundle, Dungowan, Duri, Limbri, Niangala, Kootingal, Ogunbil, Somerton and Moonbi, we are planning to continue the feature on into the Winter 2022 edition.

So, you can expect an amazing array of stories, ideas for planned travel expeditions and a celebration of what this exceptional area has on offer.

The iconic Kings Plains Castle is filled with history. Image: Girt by Sea Photography

Happy holidays

May the Christmas break and the summer holidays be a time of rest and renewal as we face a new year and a new beginning.

Thank you for your continued support over the past years. We do appreciate your encouragement and feedback as we travel on through what has been the journey of a lifetime.

Be kind to each other.

Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle

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Claire Foxton’s luminous portrait mural in Evans Street, Inverell, featuring Aunty Elizabeth Connors. Image: Heinrich Haussler

S U M M E R Jake’s message

an absolute gem OF A TOWN

Greetings, loyal Lifestyle connoisseurs.

How are you all holding up in these exasperating times? Can you believe it’s the end of another year and we’re still standing? Congratulations for hanging in there. May you all enjoy a happy, healthy and hearty Christmas before tackling the new year with renewed hope and optimism.

For some it’s been a record-breaking season, particularly for stud cattle breeders, who are having a win after some very tough years. For the rest of us, it’s been a time of great uncertainty, peppered with moments of sadness and utter disbelief.

Without getting too philosophical about things, let’s just say there’s never been a better time to chill out with the two things that will never leave you high and dry: a drop of your finest, washed down with the latest copy of your favourite regional magazine!

In this edition, we delve into the sons and daughters of Inverell, an absolute gem of a town located between Moree and Glen Innes, with stunning historic buildings, a warm, friendly atmosphere and exceptional shopping, dining and recreational activities.

My time in the Sapphire City was always going to be good with fine digs at the Terrace Motel and a very special five-star experience at the renowned “Blair Athol” mansion. One of the highlights of my trip was spending a fabulous evening exploring the iconic Kings Plains Castle, where good old-fashioned service is still the name of the game.

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When you are visiting a new town and your trusty set of wheels suddenly lets you down, it’s good to have connections!

Fortunately, Gaukrogers was my next appointment, just around the corner.

They’ve been looking after hapless motorists like me since cars first hit the road.

Next on my agenda was a meeting with Amanda and Wally from Rex Daley Realty, who offered me their old farm jalopy for a few days while the Jeep went under the knife. Seriously, who lends a car to a complete and utter stranger?

With my belief in mankind soaring, the best was yet to come. While the Inverell Pioneer Village, Wing Hing Long Museum in Tingha, art gallery and motor museum are all outstanding, Inverell’s greatest treasure lies within the 17,000 or so citizens who proudly call the place home.

Few country towns can boast such a cluster of fair dinkum, home-grown Aussies like Malcolm the Mower-Man, legendary auctioneer and race caller Brian “Spike” Baldwin, Harleyriding grain trader David Stewart, community stalwart Les Parsons OAM and the last of the sapphire miners, Bill Dawson.

To make it really interesting, we caught up with high-achieving twins, a Japaneseborn architect and her amazing family, a renovating couple who featured on the ABC, a modern-day Mother Teresa, a delightful and inspiring couple from the LP (Little People) community and the CEO of Herefords Australia.

Throw in an opera singer, a famous international cyclist, a pack of hardrunning Highlanders and a renowned singer songwriter who diced with death and you are getting the picture.

A special shout out to my old photography colleague Heinrich Haussler, a free-thinking adventurer who started with a dream and is now one of the town’s most ardent ambassadors.

I thank everybody for their heartfelt honesty in sharing their yarns, often for the first time. It’s not easy baring your soul but if it can help or inspire others, then it has to be worth it, right?

I’ll leave you with an interesting snippet.

When I was young, I was poor, but after years of hard work, I am no longer young!

Then there’s this little purler: there will always be a “lie” in believe, an “over” in lover, an “end” in friend, an “us” in trust and an “if” in life.

So create your own happiness, love those close to you and saddle up for the ride of your life in 2022. Hopefully we are through the worst of it and can look forward to the “Roaring Twenties”, just like our forebears 100 years ago.

Till the next time I’m pointing a camera in your face, keep smiling!

Jake

ABOVE: The “Welcome to Inverell” sign greets visitors on the edge of town; Inverell and district boasts a rich and productive agricultural history.

It starts with yes

SUMMER 2021 CONTRIBUTORS

meet your team

ELIZABETH TICKLE

Publisher, Editor, Advertising

JAKE LINDSAY

Chief Writer & Photographer

ZORA REGULIC Art Director

GINA CRANSON

JENNIFER HARDEN Writer, Photographer, Social Media

KATE BOSHAMMER

Website Developer, Advertising Designer, Writer

MELISSA DUNKERLEY Advertising Designer

Advertising Designer

JANE SANDERSON

ZENIO LAPKA

ANNA CONN

ELIZABETH SWANE

ROBERT I BRUCE

LORRAINE HILLS

ELIZABETH GRANT

LEIGH STEWART

HEATHER CROSBY

LUCY TAYLOR

Sub-Editor & Proofreader

Wedding Writer

Photographer

Country Cuisine Writer

NATALIE SALLOUM Photographer

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ALEX TICKLE

Publisher, Distribution, Advertising

Writer

Writer

Photographer

ELISABETH EDWARDS Writer

SALLY MARCEAU

Garden Writer

JOHN CURLEY RLM Accountant

Photographer

Writer

Writer

JO MCKINNON Writer

Specialist Coffee Diverse menu including gluten free products Beautiful atmosphere in an historic building

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S U M M E R feedback

your letters Your latest Albury Spring edition for 2021 was, for many, the emotional uplift they needed in these dark times of the pandemic.

Whilst I could be considered biased when it comes to our beautiful region, your magazine showcased the Albury Murray region like no other publication. The stories from our local people and the humanisation of our regional story was quite liberating. The photography was breathtaking and the palette of colours sparkled across the stories featured. I especially loved the iconic shots of our historic Railway Station, the vastness of the Hume Weir sitting at the head of the meandering Murray River, coupled with our historic gardens and glitzy shopping and hospitality offerings. The power of the publication with its mixture of stimulating and informative storytelling cannot be understated as our region springs to life on every page. I especially loved the feature on Holbrook with its people, vibrant history and colourful streetscape. The magazine is a credit to all who assist in making it happen and I again thank you for allowing Albury City to be part of such a high-quality coffee table publication.

Cr Kevin Mack, Albury City Mayor

Congratulations, Elizabeth and Alex, and your fabulous team on the outstanding production of the Spring 2021 edition of Regional Lifestyle, which has perfectly captured the rural qualities and lifestyle opportunities of the town of Holbrook and the Greater Hume Shire. Greater Hume is crowded with a huge and diverse range of businesses, history and areas of interest to many locals and visitors alike. Our region is a lush, rurally productive and very picturesque part of southern NSW, and our residents are all very proud and feel fortunate to live, work and play in this superb region. All of those qualities of our shire were glowingly and beautifully showcased by your photographer and writers alike. I thank you all on behalf of the businesses and individuals whose stories were featured.

Cr Heather Wilton, Mayor, Greater Hume Council

The cover photo of Regional Lifestyle Magazine for the Albury town feature caught my eye on the internet, evoked much nostalgia and prompted me to buy a gift subscription. I’m very impressed. As an Albury boy during my childhood, I was fascinated by the stories of Albury past and present. Eagerly looking to find landmarks or people I might identify in the various stories, I was delighted to read about my school friend Byron Gray! Your positive stories of inspirational people making NSW a better place lifted my spirits, and the quality of presentation is exemplary. Thank you, you made my day! PS my wife was very impressed with the gift subscription.

Tony Hindmarsh, Kiama

What a beautiful magazine Regional Lifestyle is, and how lucky we were to be invited to be involved in the Albury edition. From the very start, meeting Elizabeth and working with the talented Jen Harden, who took amazing photographs, was exciting and a lot of fun. Showcasing Rose Cottage and sharing our property in this way made us very proud. The feedback has been incredible, and we certainly will make this our premium advertising medium. The locals have even discovered businesses that they weren’t aware of. A really good read! Thank you, Elizabeth, for this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to working together into the future.

Susan Hines, Albury

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

INVERELL TOWN FE ATUR E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY

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INVERELL COU NCI L F E AT U R E

sparkling assets from the Mayor of Inverell

Inverell has a stack of drawcards, not least of which is its very warm welcome.

I am asked on a regular basis why Inverell is such a wonderful place to live and to visit. The only difficulty in answering that question is where to begin.

Inverell is renowned as the Sapphire City and is truly a gem in the crown of the New England Region.

Our community is generous and welcoming, and the local business houses provide outstanding and friendly customer service.

Inverell is the perfect destination and, to coin a phrase, it has something for everyone.

From visiting our diverse range of attractions, to searching for a beautiful Inverell sapphire, you will enjoy a visit to our district from beginning to end.

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On arriving in Inverell, the first port of call should be our wonderful tourism complex in Campbell Street, arguably one of the best in Australia. Here, the friendly staff will provide you with all the information you need and answer any questions you may have. There really is no better way to discover the ins and outs of a place than to speak to local people who are passionate about their community.

When you take a wander or a drive through our main streets, you will notice the beautiful heritage facades on most of our buildings and the array of boutique stores housed within, which Inverell has become well known for. You will have an enjoyable day availing yourself of the excellent treats and delicious coffee on offer at our many cafes, strolling through the art galleries and relaxing with some retail therapy.

Inverell’s CBD is unique and inviting.

A morning’s shopping will bring you back time and time again. The girls (and guys) can pamper themselves at spots like the Day Spa at Blair Athol. This magnificent turn-of-the-century homestead has always been popular with visitors and now the grounds house a spectacular day spa reminiscent of the Roman Baths from days of old. My wife Anna and I have been several times since it opened and I can tell you from personal experience that the mineral pool does wonders. It is the perfect location to unwind, offering wellness options to help you relax and rejuvenate.

Not only do we have excellent eateries and fantastic shopping, but we have a multitude of attractions and events for the

whole family. If you love history, then the National Transport Museum and Pioneer Village are a must see. Copeton Dam is a fishers’ paradise, being only one of two inland waterways in NSW where there is no closed season on Murray Cod. The size of some of the fish is incredible.

There are still plenty of Inverell sapphires to be found at the various fossicking locations, and the local jewellery stores stock beautiful specimens.

Our waterways, National Parks and wilderness areas all have spectacular scenery. You will find that no matter what you choose to do, you will be made to feel welcome wherever you go.

Inverell is a vibrant community with a proactive council that continues to develop strategies to support and enhance all facets of the shire. You will find that a day visit is not enough.

Inverell Mayor, Councillor Paul Harmon

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

time to shine

Inverell Shire Council is proud to partner with Regional Lifestyle Magazine to bring to life the stories, the characters and the community that make Inverell a jewel in the crown of the New England High Country region.

Inverell is a vibrant regional centre for the many towns and villages it services. Whether they be commercial or industrial, the businesses all thrive not just from local custom, but from customers who travel substantial distances to shop here.

Situated in the beautiful MacIntyre Valley, Inverell Shire encompasses an area of more than 8000 square kilometres and stretches right up to the Queensland border.

Inverell is one of the few communities that can boast continual population growth over the past four censuses.

Inverell is proud of its history and heritage. The CBD features turn of the century facades on most shop fronts and numerous memorials scattered throughout the shire.

Inverell was given the epithet the Sapphire City after the sapphire boom of the 1960s and 1970s meant the area supplied 70 per cent of the world’s sapphire market.

There are several fossicking sites in the town where you can try your luck. If sapphires don’t excite you, there are many other gems and minerals on offer as well.

Inverell is home to Lake Copeton or, as it is otherwise known, Copeton Dam. The dam is one of the largest inland dams in NSW with a capacity of 1,364,000 megalitres, three times that of Sydney Harbour. It is one of two inland waterways in NSW where there is no closed season on Murray Cod, and there are some monsters for you to catch.

Council has recently completed a two-year, $5.7 million upgrade to the Northern Foreshores of Copeton Dam with support from the NSW Government. The upgrade included the installation of

the longest recreational boat ramp in the southern hemisphere, allowing recreational fishers and boating enthusiasts access to the water, even in the most severe drought conditions. The upgrades will cement the Northern Foreshores as a must-visit destination in the region.

The district offers many adventures and attractions, both indoor and in the wide-open spaces. Four distinct seasons can be experienced, so depending on what you enjoy, we have the weather to suit.

The Sapphire City Festival has been held every October for more than 60 years. A full 10-day program offers something for all members of the family, and details can be obtained from our friendly team at the Inverell Visitor Information Centre in Campbell Street.

Famous Australian painter Tom Roberts spent quite a bit of time in the district, staying with the Anderson family at the historic Newstead Station.

The Inverell Shire is a spectacular holiday destination and just as impressive if you are looking for a more permanent tree change.

Inverell is a welcoming community with affordable real estate and excellent services.

Enjoy real country hospitality as we welcome you to Inverell Shire. RLM Images: Lawrence Furzey

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Macintyre Falls at Kwiambal National Park; Northern Foreshores, Copeton Dam; National Transport Museum.

FACING PAGE: The Inverell Town Hall was opened in 1905.

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PROUD AND STRONG

Inverell represents a thriving and supportive community built on solid foundations.

T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

days gone by INVERELL

Photographs courtesy of Inverell District Family History Group.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

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fit for a king Between Inverell and Glen Innes stands a magnificent castle, and you don’t have to be royalty to appreciate its splendour.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

It’s easy to miss the turn-off to one of the few authentic castles in Australia. On a lonely bush road between Inverell and Glen Innes, you need a keen eye to spot the nondescript mailbox.

After a few kilometres of driving through heavily timbered country, the first sight of Kings Plains Castle is breathtaking. The 110-year-old castle is a fine example of baronial architecture, with 28 rooms spread over three levels, complete with towers and battlements.

The walls are partially covered with Boston ivy, which softens the outline and turns into a brilliant red during the New England autumn.

Walking into the drawing, smoking and billiard rooms is like stepping back in time. After its completion in 1910, the castle boasted 12 bedrooms, including two maids rooms. To combat the cool winter evenings, 14 fireplaces were installed. Four are still in operation.

The castle is steeped in history. In the early 1800s, tens of thousands of land-hungry Scotsmen sailed to the colonies to escape civil unrest and the devastating potato famine.

Among them was John Vivers, who in 1832 found himself camping at Waterloo Station for the night. He and his party of men enjoyed the high, cold country that reminded them of home.

Joseph King rode on ahead to inspect further land, later returning with uplifting news. He’d discovered a magnificent plain and called it “Kings Plains”, after himself.

John and his brother William Vivers settled on over 60,000 acres of promising pastoral land. William stayed on to oversee the extensive property and establish one of the New England’s founding pastoral families.

By 1850, it was estimated almost a quarter of the colony’s population originated from Scotland. A census from the same year lists “Kings Plains” as being occupied by five free males, one free female, six male convicts, 57 horses, 1300 cattle and 12,500 sheep.

Seven years later, William met his untimely death at the hands of a wool press. He had no wife or children, and the property passed to his nephews William and Thomas Vivers. William II seems to have made up for his uncle, fathering 13 children, including George, the fifth son who eventually took over the reins with brother Alfred in 1896. >

ABOVE: Kings Plains Castle is one of the most ambitious, unusual, distinctive and stately homesteads in the country.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

THE MAMMOTH BUILD TOOK TWO YEARS AND COST ABOUT £6000, A CONSIDERABLE SUM FOR THOSE TIMES AND IN TODAY’S TERMS, ABOUT $12 MILLION. After some years of consolidation, Alfred died early and the property became George’s. He was educated in Inverell, and studied Medicine at Sydney University, rowing in the university eights. Many regarded him one of the best strokes of all time.

After graduation, the eccentric young medico travelled extensively throughout Europe and Siberia, and twice to Japan as ship’s surgeon. In 1909, George gave the green light to commence building the Kings Plains Castle, designed by noted Sydney architect Herbert Ross, who also designed the homesteads at “Blair Athol” (see separate story) and neighbouring Waterloo Station.

The mammoth build took two years and cost about £6000, a considerable sum for those times and in today’s terms, about $12 million. The granite foundations were sourced from the property while the bricks were fired on site from local clay.

Some say George built the castle to make his first wife, from Sydney, feel more “at home” in the country, while others say he was aiming to leave a lasting legacy. Either way, they later divorced.

George married again but never produced an heir.

By then, a small township had sprung up around the settlement.

The station was practically self sufficient with its own store, blacksmith’s shop, polocrosse field, cemetery, tennis court and cricket pitch. There was even a racecourse.

Known as a colourful and popular figure, George was a devout follower of the sport of kings. One of his finest horses won the 1937 Sydney Cup. The Glen Innes Racing Club once held a race specifically for horses belonging to the good doctor.

George was consumed by the racing game, and “Kings Plains” was capably managed by his younger brother Allan, before being passed on to his nephew Jack, following George’s death in 1948.

By then, government officials had notified the family the station was to be carved up for soldier settlement blocks. Twenty-three exservicemen from 995 applications secured blocks ranging in size from 530 acres to 1830 acres.

Until its sale in 2003, the land had been in the Vivers family for nearly 170 years. The homestead portion of “Kings Plains”, including the castle and 3000 acres, was purchased by the late Don Hollingworth and wife Colleen. Today their sons Nick and Will manage the farm, while Don’s brother, Scott, manages the B&B. Another brother, Tim “Butch” Hollingworth, runs a Deepwater farm, about an hour away, and a sister lives on the Sunshine Coast.

They were all raised on “Warrandah”, one of the original soldier settlers blocks won by their father, Bruce, in a lottery 70 years ago.

Of the successful applicants, only a few had any practical farming experience. One of them was Bruce, who had been raised on a farm near Boggabri.

After spending four years overseas with the Australian Light Horse, in a transport division, it had been a long time since he had ploughed a field but he clearly knew what he was doing. From that little block of 570 acres, Bruce and Merle raised their family, sending each of their children to boarding school in Sydney. >

FACING PAGE: The ornate staircase leading into the turret; the castle in spring; the 12 bedrooms and six bathrooms are all beautifully furnished; the grand old building looks resplendent in autumn.

ABOVE: Colleen Hollingworth and brother-in-law Scott Hollingworth relax in front of the fire.

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A NEW ERA

Unlike his brothers, who were born farmers, Scott Hollingworth studied Ag Economics in Armidale before working with the CBA and later moving into merchant banking. He has two children in Sydney, where he keeps an apartment.

“My parents were good friends with Bill and Judy Vivers,” he tells RLM over sundowners in front of the fire. “As a family, we’d visit the castle once or twice a year, usually for dinner. We never imagined for a moment that we would one day became custodians.”

For a while, nobody was sure what to do with the castle. Don was more interested in the land, and the castle was simply part of the deal. The castle had always been lived in by the Vivers family but the Hollingworths had different ideas. Their choice was to run it as a B&B or board it up and basically forget about it.

After long discussions, the family felt compelled to keep George Vivers’s dream alive. Colleen tried out managers but finding somebody with the right fit was difficult. The family didn’t know

which way to turn until Scott, still living in Sydney and now single, decided to join the hospitality industry in 2019.

With no prior experience, he’s perfected the art of bed making and cleaning bathrooms but admits it hasn’t been an easy transition. He lives on the ground floor and is responsible for maintaining 11 magnificently appointed bedrooms.

He handles the laundry service and makes the 30-minute drive into Inverell or Glen Innes twice a week for supplies. In winter, Scott closes the doors for two months and returns to the “Big Smoke”.

“In the last few years, about 80 per cent of our guests are retired and just want peace and quiet, the majority coming in groups that book out the entire place,” he says.

Three-quarters of bookings are for two or three nights, which includes a guided tour throughout the castle, historic woolshed and the Vivers family cemetery.

When the castle was purchased two decades ago, the Hollingworths had to start from scratch. Furnishing two floors with period furniture was a colossal job, made easier by bulk buying trips to Brisbane and Sydney.

For many years, Colleen ran a licensed restaurant with evening meals for guests. These days guests cook their own meals in the commercial-sized kitchen but Scott still oversees breakfast.

Maintaining a castle requires deep pockets and plenty of commitment. Scott is unsure how long he will run his family’s unique B&B but admits the opportunity to be king of his own castle happens but once in a lifetime. RLM Additional images: Girt by Sea Photography

ABOVE LEFT: The family run a large herd of Angus cattle but a handful of Texas Longhorns remain firm favourites with guests.

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Ph. 0455 849 099 Kings Plains Road, Glen Innes, NSW 2370

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

showcasing Inverell’s The Sapphire City Festival comes alive each spring when the glorious New England weather is at its best.

The Sapphire City Festival, currently sponsored by Brighter Access, has been held like clockwork each October for more than 60 years and is a highlight on the social calendar for Inverell and district.

Held over a 10-day period, the festival is believed to have been born out of the Harvest Festival and later the Floral Festival due to the magnificent gardens and the show of colour in the perfect spring conditions. In recent times, the festival has simply become known as the Sapphire City Festival.

Each year, a dedicated team of volunteers plans a fantastic program that encapsulates a diverse range of events and activities to ensure the festival is inclusive for every member of the community to enjoy.

Holy Trinity Race Day (Caulfield Cup Day) is traditionally the first full day of activity in the program of events. This family fun day includes a great race program, children’s activities, fashion parades, fashions on the field and the drawing of the Holy Trinity Art Union.

An exceptional Gem and Craft Show and fossicking tours are a major part of the program.

What makes this festival unique is the incredible number of groups, organisations and service clubs that come together to deliver individual events for the benefit of the community.

finest

THE FESTIVAL PARADE IS A SEA OF COLOUR.

The biggest day of the festival is undoubtedly Finale Day. The fresh early morning air and the tranquil setting by the river in Campbell Park is the ideal location for the day’s festivities to commence with the Poets Breakfast. A hearty traditional Aussie breakfast, cooked to perfection, combined with Aussie bush poetry and verse makes for a great way to start the day.

The Festival Parade is a sea of colour with imaginative and quirky floats meandering their way to the park for the crescendo of the program. With live entertainment, plenty of food, carnival rides, the Crowning Ceremony and

spectacular fireworks display off the Town Bridge, the evening delivers something special for the family.

The Sapphire City Festival is a celebration by the community for the community and is the perfect time to come and enjoy all Inverell and surrounds has to offer. RLM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Inverell Pipe Band leads the parade; reigning Festival Queen Jemima McLachlan and Festival Ambassador Maysey Stewart; Paw Patrol entertains the crowd; Festival Princess entrant Felicity Barton; the parade is a lively stream of colour.

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pioneer village comes to life Inverell Pioneer Village offers more than just a glimpse of the town’s fascinating past.

Inverell Pioneer Village, which is gearing up for its 50th anniversary, has developed into a major tourist attraction, drawing up to 30,000 visitors each year.

The village features 23 historic buildings full of priceless memories from Inverell’s rich agricultural past.

A team of 20 dedicated volunteers and a full-time caretaker ensure the grounds and exhibits are presented in the best possible fashion.

Stewart Berryman has been at the helm for two years. Having lived in the district for 72 years, including 23 years as a secondhand dealer, he has a keen appreciation for all things old.

“I love seeing the good stuff preserved, to be shared with future generations,” he says enthusiastically.

Strolling around the village with Stewart is akin to taking an enjoyable history lesson, with authentic buildings, heritage displays

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and a true sense of the pioneering spirit coming through. Every building has a story behind it – even the front gates, designed and built by the inaugural president, the late Jack Littlewood.

The gates were made from hardwood slabs taken from the old “Kempton” homestead, Tingha, and the lamps are the original kerosene lamps that graced Inverell’s streets at the turn of the 20th century. The cast iron relief spanning the gates depicts a tired stockman shielding his eyes against the western sun. > FROM TOP: The impressive front gates of Pioneer Village, like the buildings and steam engine, have a fascinating story.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Pioneer Village is a major drawcard; each of the 23 buildings was individually trucked in and reassembled on site; caretakers Geoff Marsh and partner Denise Polosak in the village store; president Stewart Berryman loves seeing the good old days preserved.

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The village features 23 historic buildings full of priceless memories from Inverell’s rich agricultural past.

Stewart’s favourite building, Paddy’s Pub, was the first building brought to the village and the first to be restored. It was built by Paddy’s father, John McHugh, in Stanborough, a small mining village and halfway house between Inverell and Bundara. The mail coach, drawn by a four-in-hand, travelled between the towns via Tingha and Stanborough.

Until the turn of the 20th century, supplies were brought to Inverell by horse-drawn wagons and bullock teams. Many an exhausted teamster crawled into bed at Paddy’s Pub after a hearty meal.

The pub has not always enjoyed the tranquillity it enjoys today.

Remote and silent as the surrounding bush was in the 1870s, the road in front was always busy with people coming and going.

Perhaps a patient bullock team plodding along. Maybe a horse team carting timber or wool. Or drovers, mailmen and miners moving to or from their diggings, Chinamen chattering in their quaint tongue or Cobb & Co coaches with their cheery drivers – they were all part of the passing parade at Paddy’s Pub. “Contrary to popular opinion, this old watering hole is not necessarily the pub with no beer,” chuckles Stewart, as he shows RLM the highlights of the surrounding exhibits.

Bring a picnic lunch and visit the pub, the Grove homestead and dozens of interesting buildings covering all facets of pioneering life. Explore the War Museum’s collection of weapons, torpedoes and flags and learn about Inverell’s rich sapphire history. RLM

ABOVE: Thousands of visitors flock to the Pioneer Village every year to see how our pioneers lived. There is much to see, including Paddy’s Pub and Rob Roy Hall, home to Devines Photography Museum. George P. Devine opened his first studio in 1904 and travelled the district by horse and sulky documenting important events.

The village is open six days a week, closing Mondays for maintenance. It is open from 9am to 1.30pm on weekends and 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday.

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INDIGENOUS INSIGHTS Experiencing the Goonoowigall Soundtrail provides a cultural awakening like no other.

An integral part of any community is its history, and to immerse yourself in the history of a region has become one of the most popular reasons to travel.

Inverell gives you a unique opportunity to experience what life was like in one of the Indigenous fringe dweller camps on the southern outskirts of town. The Goonoowigall Soundtrail allows visitors to celebrate and commemorate the lives of the Aboriginal people who called Goonoowigall home up to the 1970s.

Goonoowigall (pronounced Gunny-Wiggle) is a Jukumbal Aboriginal word meaning “wallaby rocks”, and it features 120 species of native birds, native fauna and 10 kilometres of marked walking tracks.

The Goonoowigall Soundtrail is centred around the Nhunta Karra Kara track, and features individual stories from those who lived there and their descendants.

The project was initiated by Inverell Shire Council to not only increase the offering of Indigenous tourism experiences and education in Aboriginal history, but to ensure the preservation of the oral history of this location for generations to come.

A partnership was formed with the Elders to deliver the project, and the day of release was emotional for both Indigenous and nonIndigenous residents of the area.

The best way to experience the Soundtrail is to put on a set of headphones connected to your smart device to drown out the ambient noise, so you are truly immersed in an experience unlike any other.

The stories are informative, entertaining and even sobering. As you listen to the voices, you will be transported back in time and will become part of our nation’s history.

Before you head out, download the Soundtrails app from the Apple Store or Google Play, download the Goonoowigall Soundtrail in the app and you are good to go.

The Goonoowigall Soundtrail is centred around the Nhunta Karra Kara track, and features individual stories from those who lived there and their descendants.

The experience operates on GPS so you won’t use any data while you are on-site. Take a hat and some drinking water and allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular views and natural landscape.

Call into the Inverell Visitor Information Centre if you would like any further information or assistance.

This site affords an intimate living document into what life was like at Goonoowigall and is a powerful testimony to strength and endurance. RLM Images: Inverell Shire Council Tourism

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Some of the incredible views and natural wonders; one of the many bushwalks available for you to enjoy; the entrance to the State Conservation Area.

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the way we were History is alive and well in Tingha, a tiny community about 20 minutes from Inverell.

Today the streets of Tingha are quiet but it wasn’t always like this.

Following the discovery of tin deposits in the area, Tingha grew to a bustling town of around 4000 people.

Most were miners and a quarter of them Chinese, which explains RLM’s presence at the Wing Hing Long Museum, one of the few surviving examples of Chinese retailing in early Australia.

“They found tin here in 1872, quite by accident,” volunteer Danny Coleman said. “The mail coach became bogged, and two fellows on the coach got out for a walk and discovered all this tin.”

Danny has lived in Tingha all of his 70 years, and enjoys keeping the store and the town’s history alive. The former motor mechanic says the sign indicates the population of the sleepy town is 870, but he reckons there might be a few more. Plenty of newcomers love the inexpensive housing and quiet country lifestyle.

The town hasn’t changed much since the boom days a century earlier. These days, most visitors to town head to the store built

by Ah Lin in 1881. During the peak of the mining boom, between 1880 and 1920, large Chinese communities sprang up around the district, all requiring Chinese goods, services and general supplies. Here you could buy anything from groceries, drapery and ironmongery to tobacco and pipes.

Chinese-owned general stores, both large and small, were a feature in regional towns throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today only a handful remain but none quite like the Wing Hing Long & Co store, which still has many of its original features. > FROM TOP: The character-filled main street of Tingha; local identity Fred King enjoys the chilly winters and Tingha’s friendly townsfolk; Narelle King became a Tingha local 15 years ago.

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THE TOWN HASN’T CHANGED MUCH SINCE THE BOOM DAYS A CENTURY EARLIER.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Volunteer Dawn Buckley with an old gramophone in the museum. “In my day they called them talking machines,” she laughs.

Dawn remembers the 1950s when her late husband helped bring the ore and miners up to the surface; the Tingha store is a long way from Chinatown; the store is stocked with old merchandise and interesting displays; volunteer Danny Coleman never knows who will arrive; volunteer Linda Mozzell was born in the town and returned home for the quiet lifestyle.

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IN EARLY 1998, THE STORE AND ITS CONTENTS WERE PURCHASED BY THE GUYRA SHIRE COUNCIL WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE NSW HERITAGE OFFICE AND ARTS NSW.

Once the boom was over, Tingha’s population dwindled to just a few hundred people. Soon after, large companies moved into the area to mine the less accessible tin.

The store was run by a succession of owners starting with Ah Lin and followed by Ding Chee, Jock Sing, Ah Bow and Charles Hing.

In 1918, Chinese immigrant Jack Joe Lowe took over and placed an ad in the paper to remind locals that he was also able to treat a variety of complaints as a “noted Chinese herbalist”.

As the number of Chinese diminished, the store extended its customer base to the broader community. The history of the Wing Hing Long reflects the rise and decline of general stores as well as rural communities.

Before WW2 ended, the store was transferred to Jack’s eldest son, Edgar Lowe. In 1951, Mavis Pratt bought the property and ran the business until finally retiring in 1998. By then, the business was on its last legs. A decrease in the town’s population, improved roads and Inverell supermarkets all contributed to its demise.

In early 1998, the store and its contents were purchased by the Guyra Shire Council with financial assistance from the NSW Heritage Office and Arts NSW to be operated as a living museum and managed by local volunteers.

Wing Hing Long opened in its new guise in January 1999. By year’s end, the store was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

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Today Tingha boasts a hospital, preschool, primary school, caravan park, sports and recreation club, retirement home, first-aid post, hotel plus a handful of shops and services to satisfy daily needs. One of the main attractions is the Green Valley Farm Entertainment Park.

The Tingha Tigers Rugby League Club has produced several prominent players including Preston Campbell, Owen Craigie, Bevan French, as well as former Kangaroo and Waratahs rugby union star Nathan Blacklock.

In 2018, residents voted for the town (and museum) to become a part of the Inverell Shire Council area. RLM Come and discover the magic of the Wing Hing Long.

The museum is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, weekends and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Other times may be arranged for tour groups. Contact: (02) 6723 3156 or Danny Coleman after hours on 0402 415 804.

FROM TOP: Volunteers Dawn Buckley, Fred and Narelle King, Linda Mozzell and Danny Coleman behind the front counter; the Wing Hing Long store was turned into a museum to raise awareness of the Chinese contribution to NSW rural communities.

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great minds AT WORK

Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes it has found the holy grail to resolve the worker shortage, and it’s a recipe other chambers and councils will want to follow.

After crisis talks with the business community, Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Industry knew it was time to act.

The business community spent many late nights going over different concepts, and FLAG A JOB was born. In addition to FLAG A JOB is THE HUB, a concept created and built by Full Package Marketing’s Laura Cush.

FLAG A JOB is simply that: a flag directing you to a business that is seeking staff. The yellow flag reads: “We’re looking for you – come in and apply today”.

This eliminates the pressure of cold calling, searching the job vacancy list in the paper, or hitting the job search organisations for their current list of employment options.

FLAG A JOB cuts out the middleman when searching for employment, making the time from searching to engaging in employment minimal.

In conjunction with FLAG A JOB, the chamber launched a website, THE HUB, which is a one-stop shop, encouraging people to relocate to Inverell and find the work-life balance city cousins crave.

THE HUB provides job vacancies, schooling options, childcare vacancies, housing, training options, apprenticeships and a gallery of images showcasing the beautiful community and people of Inverell and so much more.

It is the complete resource you need when relocating. You can apply for a job, find your new home and source schooling options for your family all from the comfort of your home in one easy-to-navigate site.

The Inverell Chamber has engaged the business community along with the local council to become partners in the program, which has been positively received. Three major sponsors, Boss Engineering, Jobs Australia and Brighter Access, have thrown their hats in the ring.

Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Full Package Marketing are happy to discuss the program with other councils and chambers in their efforts to support other business communities. RLM For more information, visit flagajob.com.au.

ABOVE: Business leaders from the Inverell Chamber of Commerce include Kylie Wilks, Wendy Wilks, president Georgie King, Susan Ticehurst, Cherie Duffy and Laura Cush.

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dam, that’s big!

Copeton Dam’s capacity of 1,364,000 megalitres makes it one of the largest dams in NSW. When full, it holds roughly three times the water of Sydney Harbour.

ABOVE: Copeton Dam has been a popular tourist spot for generations of Inverell locals and visitors to the town. Apart from supplying water to the town and region, it’s a great place for water sports or to picnic with family and friends.

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THE REEL THING

Keen fisherman Jackson Haussler loves casting a line as much as he loves his soccer and German shepherds.

Copeton Dam was built as a reliable water supply for the Gwydir Valley while securing the environmental flows to the Gwydir Wetlands.

The dam is on the Gwydir River about 60 kilometres upstream from Bingara and 35 kilometres south-west of Inverell on the north west slopes of the NSW Northern Tablelands.

It is now more than 70 per cent full after dropping down to four per cent during the drought.

The dam took five years to construct and was completed in 1973. After the dam was built, construction of the nine gates began and the project was finally finished three years later.

Cotton, lucerne, cereals, oilseed, pecans, wheat and vegetables are some of the crops that benefit from the dam’s water supply.

Apart from supplying water for farming and for Inverell, it also has some wonderful recreational values. The Reflections Holiday Park at Copeton Waters is 37 kilometres from Inverell, and the recent redevelopment of the Northern Foreshores just 17 kilometres from town provides excellent camping.

Inverell is the proverbial fishers’ paradise. In addition to Copeton Dam, Lake Inverell and the Gwydir and Macintyre rivers attract anglers from near and far. RLM

Jackson Haussler took up fishing after returning home from Germany about five years ago. The catch-and-release angler is well experienced in finding and tempting monster Murray Cod. Unlike most Murray Cod lure fishing addicts, Jackson prefers to fish subsurface, finding the surprise, unseen hit of a cod exhilarating. The dam plays an important role because it’s here that Jackson finds multiple public access points with large, deep holes where big fish live.

Although he targets such holes, Jackson finds that most of his big cod come from the head and tail of the pool, in water one to three metres deep, or from weed beds in similar depths.

Jackson is a pro staff member of VIVA fishing and sponsored by fishing apparel brand Finding New Ground. He’s caught over 50 one-metre-plus cod, the biggest at 121cm long.

His record golden perch was 63.5cm long and his record trout measured 65cm in length.

Jackson’s partner, Laini, often joins him on his fishing adventures, sharing a lifestyle they both found in the Inverell district. It’s one they wouldn’t swap for anywhere else in the world.

They also care for six pure-bred, fourlegged family members from Lagerfeldt German Shepherds, a member of Dogs NSW and the German Shepherd Dog League of NSW. The well-natured and loyal dogs boast impressive bloodlines and play a big part in the extended Haussler family.

In 2006, Jackson was invited to join an elite football school in far-flung Germany.

The young footballer had been part of the Joeys All Star team that toured Germany during the FIFA World Cup. During a strong game against Victoria Cottbus, he caught the eye of one of the presiding coaches.

The impressive young teenager was invited to return to Cottbus and after three months was transferred to FC Frankfurt (Oder), an elite sporting school.

Jackson was there five years, playing for the U14s and U16s youth teams in the State League before progressing to the U19s Regional League, the second highest Youth Football League in Germany.

After completing his HSC in 2012, he started work as a school football coach. He later played for the Men of Frankfurt FC while running a football school for young players.

In 2016, he returned to Inverell where he continued coaching. Through one of his coaching jobs with Brighter Access, he found his niche and started working full-time for the organisation before switching to IAS, another disability service provider.

With everything he loves in the one place, it’s no wonder Jackson Haussler finally made it back home. RLM ABOVE: Keen fisherman Jackson Haussler pulls in a monster catch. Image: Heinrich Haussler

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HISTORY

on wheels

Housing 150 fully restored automobiles from around the nation, the National Transport Museum has long been one of Inverell’s premier tourist attractions.

Representing over 100 years of transport in Australia, the National Transport Museum boasts a magnificently presented line-up of vehicles from a bygone era.

Allow a few hours to inspect the 90 motorcycles, three trucks, two aircraft and four buses, including a rare double decker, all stored under a huge 4000-square-metre shed.

The many fine vehicles on display include a 1906 Dayton, believed to be the only one left in the world, 1912 Renault, 1926 Diana and 1929 Packard, along with various Holdens, Fords and Chevs.

Most of the vehicles are privately owned and on loan to the museum, which was established in 1999.

Today the museum is run by a dedicated team of 10 volunteers who steer thousands of visitors through the front doors each year.

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“We have one of Australia’s earliest vehicles to two solar cars donated by the University of NSW,” volunteer Kevin Dunn says. The former Central Coast marketing manager has been helping out for 20 years and admits he’s always had a soft spot for all things old, especially motorcycles.

“In the past, not all our female visitors shared their husbands’ fascination for looking under the bonnet of old vehicles, so we developed a huge range of things for the women to enjoy,” he says.

On display is everything from sewing machines, gramophones and telephones to competition wedding cakes, bridal dresses, dolls, cameras and typewriters.

There are also sailing and speed boats, 40 to 50 pushbikes, miniature railways and even a horse-drawn vehicle.

Kevin says one of his favourite cars of

all time, a Willys-Overland, was recently added to the priceless collection.

The Sydney monorail, the only one on display in Australia, greets visitors on arrival.

“Paying for it was much easier than getting it up here,” he laughs.

Inverell’s National Transport Museum is open every day except Christmas Day from 10am to 4pm. With COVID restrictions, check first. Groups are catered for with morning tea and lunches. RLM ABOVE: The National Transport Museum is a mustsee for visitors to Inverell. Allow several hours to enjoy the history of motoring in Australia and much more.

FACING PAGE: Some of the 150 automobiles on display from 1906 until about 2000, including two solar-powered cars donated by the University of NSW; volunteer Kevin Dunn has been helping out for 20 years and says the priceless collection brings joy to thousands of car lovers each year.

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regarding

Heinrich

Inverell can thank its lucky stars that big-thinking outdoor adventurer and photographer Heinrich Haussler Snr happened upon the region all those years ago and decided to call it home.

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Like all good stories, it started with a dream.

Heinrich Haussler Snr couldn’t speak a word of English when he arrived on Australian shores in 1975. He knew, however, that his future was somehow tied up in the bush, far from the madding crowd.

Born in 1950, when the repercussions of WW2 were still being felt throughout most of Europe, particularly Germany, Heinrich always dreamt of faraway places – removed from the war and its devastation.

His family, like most, suffered greatly during the turmoil. His grandfather nearly became one of Hitler’s first casualties after being shot in the stomach and spending three agonising days lying among slaughtered Polish horses and men.

Knowing there were to be no prisoners, he was too frightened to make a sound until he was finally found, barely alive.

By his early 20s, Heinrich had become a civil engineer, spending his time building atomic power stations. When he wasn’t working, his mind constantly drifted to the Australian outback.

“I was born too late for the American Wild West adventure but had read an adventure story of Aborigines living along the Murray River,” he says in his cheerful but thick German accent from his cosy Inverell home.

Although recently married to Veronika, Heinrich was still determined to live off the grid, unable to picture a life for himself poring over drawings in some bland German office.

After spending three months at university learning English, Heinrich’s dream came true, waking up in a tent in the middle of the rugged Blue Mountains. Every two months, the hardy couple travelled from Newnes to Lithgow for supplies and a highly anticipated ice-cream.

“I was Germany’s answer to Harry Butler in the Wild,” laughs the sprightly 71-yearold, known for his love of the great outdoors.

The Hausslers made their debut adventure film about oil shale mining in the Wolgan Valley near Newnes. Next, they arrived in Inverell, making a documentary about the mining and minerals of the New England region, including sapphires, gold, topaz and diamonds.

Heinrich admits they somehow ended up “stuck” in the town. During the two years it took to finish the film, Veronika left him to work in Sydney as a film editor, later working on films for Jane Campion, including The Piano. Heinrich and Veronika remain great mates and share a daughter, Josephine, who works in Canberra.

Heinrich had grown fond of Inverell and decided to stay put. One of his first jobs was photographing and writing stories for the Sapphire City News. With increased confidence, he established his photographic studio, the Fifth Continent in Pictures (back

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in Germany, Australia was referred to as the fifth continent).

Lady luck was smiling when nurse Wendy Mason walked into his studio for a passport photo. Heinrich felt an immediate connection but was too shy to ask her out, instead making up feeble excuses as to why the handprocessed B&W images weren’t finished.

After their marriage in 1983, Wendy developed into an accomplished photographer in her own right, in between raising a very special brood of children.

Both sons left home at 14 to pursue sporting careers in cycling and soccer on the other side of the world. Heinrich Jnr became a world cycling sensation after winning a stage of the Tour de France while his little brother, Jackson, achieved his dream of becoming a professional footballer with the Frankfurt Football Club. Daughter Stefanie lives in New Zealand.

“Kids and adults should always have a dream – it was never about me,” Heinrich says.

“When I was little, I’d take a scooter two kilometres down the road to visit my grandma, knowing there was an ice-cream in store for me at the end of my journey.

“I copped a hiding for going so far from home but promised myself that one day, if ever I was blessed with children, I would encourage them to step out and see the world.”

For nearly four decades, Heinrich was a highly respected and talented portrait photographer, all the while connecting with his community.

Since closing the studio doors in 2004, he’s devoted more time to his great passions of football, the great outdoors and music, always thinking of ways to promote his adopted hometown.

“I’m giving back to the town that enabled me to follow my dream,” he says. “When I’m not running a football tournament at Hervey Bay or travelling overseas, I work on my pet project, Hometown Inverell, a self-funded, totally independent source that promotes the people of Inverell and district.

“The town boasts an incredible pool of talent and achievers in all different walks of life. Over the last two years I’ve produced a series of podcasts, a website and a Facebook page highlighting the great achievers in sport, music and the arts.”

Another ongoing project is Lake Inverell and Copeton Dam, where Heinrich has spent thousands of hours in his kayak and out in the bush photographing the wide diversity of fauna and flora.

“The concept is to show visitors there’s a huge variety of recreational activities in the area. Visiting Inverell these days means you can have an adventure holiday right in nature’s backyard.”

FROM TOP: Heinrich and Wendy Haussler; Heinrich enjoys capturing wildlife images from his kayak; in his early Australian days.

FACING PAGE: After a lifetime behind the camera, Heinrich is now heavily involved with promoting Inverell, football and taking tourists on visits to his beloved homeland.

NEXT PAGES: Some of Heinrich’s breathtaking images.

Heinrich has twice competed in one of Australia’s most prestigious cycling classics, the Grafton to Inverell, more as a fun exercise than as a serious competitor.

He simply wanted to find out what it meant to ride 229km. Besides, it took place every year right at his own doorstep.

His real love, however, has always been soccer, as a player, coach and talent scout.

For eight years, the week-long Joeys Mini World Cup soccer tournament was staged in Inverell, before it outgrew the city’s ability to accommodate up to 6000 visitors.

Heinrich always organised a lay day during the tournament and came up with the idea of using a talented bunch of musicians to entertain the crowd on presentation night. In 2016, he assembled the Joeys Oz Band together with band leader Chris Richter, featuring six outstanding young musicians from Inverell.

He now takes the band back to Germany in July/August each year as part of his annual tour with the Joeys All Star team, featuring promising young Australian footballers. Coaches and parents ensure each trip is memorable.

The tour has become a stepping stone for many players, and every year a few of them sign contracts to play professional football in Germany.

Heinrich is an ardent supporter of German football. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are his favourite clubs.

Watching them play at all hours of the night is as normal as performing post production work on his photos and videos into the wee hours of the morning.

Although he doesn’t play any instruments, Heinrich has always been a music lover, growing up with the sounds of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bee Gees. His greatest joy, however, is still photography.

His devotion to capturing the right moment is inherent in the stunning images he captures when out in the bush.

Instead of happy family portraits and weddings, Heinrich is now training his high-powered, full-frame Canon camera and 100-600mm lens on native birds and wildlife.

Most of the images are shot from his kayak, paddling in Lake Inverell and the Macintyre River, knowing the shot of a lifetime might be just around the bend.

He never tires of capturing images of platypuses, sea eagles, pelicans, turtles, koalas and black swans that call Lake Inverell home.

Heinrich is finally ploughing his energy into the things he wanted to do 50 years ago – travelling the world with his photography, kayaking, music and soccer tours.

Promoting Hometown Inverell is this defiant man’s way of showing there’s much more to his beautiful adopted town than just sapphires. RLM

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leaving no stone Veteran Inverell sapphire miner Bill Dawson has the proud reputation of being the last man standing.

The sapphire boom lasted from about 1965 to 1990, when it became increasingly difficult for miners to get onto local farms and acquire the necessary mining leases.

Sapphire miner Bill Dawson suggests that over the years it simply became too hard for most miners to keep going.

“All the ground was worked out,” he laments. “Many of the miners didn’t restore the land and farmers were reluctant to let the mining continue on their properties.”

During 55 years of mining, Bill has never given up hope of striking it rich. He’s come close before, after stumbling across a massive 554-carat sapphire, blue and clean.

“I found the stone while working the back hoe,” he says from his mining site. “I noticed it on the side of a heap of rewash. Being the size of a golf ball, it really stood out.”

He remembers running up to his boss in an excited state, asking what he should do with it. “You found it, you keep it,” the boss said.

In all his years of mining, Bill hasn’t heard of a bigger sapphire unearthed in the Inverell district.

“I heard a story about a kid going to school finding a 300-carat stone on the side of the road but the one I found was bigger,” he smiles.

Eighteen months after his discovery, his former boss arrived back in town, selling a few gems to overseas buyers. He asked Bill for a quick loan of his prized specimen in order to get it valued.

Sadly, neither his former friend nor the precious sapphire, rumoured to be worth a cool million, were ever seen again.

These days, he is philosophical about the one that got away, acknowledging it was just another chapter in an extraordinary life.

As a young lad, Bill dreamt of being a jockey. Having grown up on a Bundarra farm, he could “ride like the clappers” almost by the time he could walk. By the time he left school at age 12 to join the workforce, he was regularly winning the local gymkhana races.

“Dad was a hard man,” he says. “He found me a job with a Gunnedah horse trainer and dropped me and a mate off in town, leaving us with nothing but a few bob and an old suitcase.”

Bill’s first boss was equally tough. “I was only a shy, young kid and he was forcing me to do the job of a fully grown man. After one of many incidents, I returned home and refused to go back – copping a hiding from the old man for my efforts.”

By the time he was 13, he was working alongside men in the Gunnedah abattoirs, before moving to the Inverell abattoirs, and into sapphire mining country.

Bill got his start in sapphires working for Ted Read at Fraser’s Creek in the Kings Plains area, before developing his skills with other bosses. By the age of 21, with some practical experience under his belt, he bought an existing lease and gear and set off on his own.>

unturned

“ONCE IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD, YOU’RE HOOKED FOR LIFE.”

FACING PAGE: After more than half a century of prospecting, Bill Dawson has no intentions of slowing down.

RIGHT: Bill in front of his plant; visitors to Billabong Blue try their hand at sapphire fossicking.

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At age 75, he’s still going strong, even if he is the last man standing. Nothing, he says, beats the freedom of working in the great outdoors. “I don’t regret a single day,” he smiles. “I have loved every minute of it, especially being my own boss.”

Throughout his long working life, Bill has worked on about a dozen mining properties, the latest being “Swamp Oak”, a 1300-acre block purchased with his three stepchildren and their partners, 15 minutes from town. In the quietness of the bush, he runs the Billabong Blue Fossicking Park, where tourists come and try their luck.

Bill and two offsiders still mine a few days each week.

During the boom times of the 1970s and ’80s, up to 140 miners from all over the country unearthed $30 million of sapphires from the immediate area.

“It’s been hard but we battle through. My desire to hunt for sapphires is probably no different to the opal miners. Once it gets in your blood, you’re hooked for life,” he grins. “Plus, there’s always the dream of striking it rich.”

Bill also has a keen interest in old cars. He has restored plenty but reserves a special love for “muscle cars”, at one time owning two of the very rare Phase Four XY Ford Falcon GTHO models.

One he wrote off after driving too fast around a bend and the other he sold three years later for a tidy $2000 profit. After seeing the very same car fetch a record $2 million at auction some 50 years later, Bill is forever remorseful he didn’t leave it in a shed collecting dust.

He says he was never meant to be rich, at least not in a monetary sense. While he’s narrowly missed out joining the millionaire’s club on a few occasions, Bill is content he married a winner. Wife Rhonda runs their sapphire shop with Anna and John Thivakon at the Information Centre while two stepsons take care of the farming side of things.

“I’ll die fossicking,” Bill says. “It’s what I’ve done all my life and what I love doing. I will never retire, not while there’s my next big stone to find.” RLM

ABOVE: Stoic sapphire miner Bill Dawson with wife Rhonda in the shop; Bill enjoys spending time in his Billabong Blue farm office.

more than meets the eye For decades, John Thivakon has been selling sapphires in Thailand. Before COVID, he was making up to eight trips a year.

“I sell the sapphires rough to the cutting factories, who turn them into jewellery,” he says.

Their value depends on the size and colour.

With wife Anna, whom he met at a computer course in Thailand, they run the Sapphire shop at the Inverell Information Centre with friends Bill and Rhonda Dawson.

“It’s a good business and people come from all over the country and the world to look at our sapphires,” says John, who arrived in Inverell in 1978. “I’d heard the town had great sapphires so I started negotiating with the local miners. You had to know what you were doing and inspect them properly, otherwise you could easily lose money.”

John is the last of the sapphire buyers in Inverell, just as his good mate Bill is the last miner. Together they have witnessed an interesting slice of never-to-be-repeated Inverell history. RLM LEFT: Sapphire trader John Thivakon inspects a gem; John and wife Anna with a tray of valuable gems.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

land of plenty Eat Drink Live New England is a festival celebrating the area’s makers, musicians, growers and produce.

“Eat Drink Live New England is constantly evolving,” says instigator and festival coordinator Sean Taylor.

The festival, which was first run in November 2015, highlights produce and products grown and made in the remarkably diverse New England region.

The Inverell Club runs the event and utilises the historic club building (circa 1902) and adjacent arts precinct (between Campbell and Otho streets). It seems to be getting bigger each year.

“When I first started organising the festival, I was blown away with the diversity of items and produce,” Sean says.

“There are some incredibly talented and passionate people within our region, with everything from the obligatory craft beer and wines to goat cheese and silversmithing.

We look to showcase these in a variety of different events during the week-long festival.”

A Beer & Brisket long lunch prepared by Smo-KING Barbeque kicks off the festival.

The locally sourced brisket is washed down with regional craft beers from the Deepwater Brewery and New England Brewery. Local wines are also available.

Patrons enjoy live music from the timber verandahs of The Inverell Club.

The committee is hoping to introduce a new event to the next festival.

“We are in the very early stages of organising an Eat Street for Friday night before Market Day,” Sean says.

“The vision is to have various regional food and drink outlets selling the products along with live music. With most of the infrastructure in place for the Saturday Market Day, the committee felt it was an opportunity to showcase these outlets.”

The Saturday Market Day kicks off at 9am and runs through to 3pm. Visitors peruse the 60 market stalls while listening to live music and sampling local and regional produce.

“There are some incredibly talented and passionate people within our region.”

There are celebrity chef demonstrations and local FM station STA-FM broadcasts live during the event. A beer garden on the front verandah and yard of The Inverell Club operates from noon and provides another perfect opportunity to sample local and regional beverages.

The festival winds up with a popular Degustation Dinner, held on the last Saturday night of the festival. A collaboration with TAFE NSW, it is used as an assessment task for their cohort of Certificate 4 Hospitality students.

“We’ve had a wonderful association with TAFE NSW for five years. TAFE chefs create the degustation courses with a focus on regional produce and students provide the service,” Sean says. RLM

The next festival will be held from Sunday, November 6 through to Saturday, November 12, 2022. For further information contact Sean Taylor on 0409 666 854.

FROM TOP: Eat Drink Live New England festival coordinator Sean Taylor; visitors enjoying a delicious meal; a taste of the fresh produce available for purchase.

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road to glory For six decades, the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic has been one of Australia’s great cycling races.

The inaugural race in 1961 was the brainchild of Inverell resident Harold Strahley, who got a few people together to organise the event on a shoestring budget.

With a dangerous gravel road over half of the 142 miles, just over 30 nominations were received.

Among the entries was Victorian cyclist Alan Grindal, who recalls seeing an advertisement for the race in a cycling magazine. He said the ad mentioned the 10-mile climb up Gibraltar Range but failed to mention the hills up Cattle Creek, Jackadgery and other sharp climbs that quickly took the “fizz” out of his legs before even reaching the mountain.

Alan started off scratch and came through the field to ride into Inverell alone. He likened the reception to that of an AFL grand final, with people lining the roads and blowing their car horns for miles out.

Turning into Otho Street, he was surprised by the size of the 3000-strong crowd cheering him across the finish line.

He’s been returning to the event whenever possible, and it was a great honour for the locals seeing him back on stage with the 2021 A-Grade winner, Rudy Porter.

That first race also featured local lad Jack Griffin, who became the brains and driving force behind the race. One of Jack’s most significant decisions came in 1979 when he and some other visionary people made the move to change the race from a handicap to a mass start format.

It brought the race in line with the big European classic races, and elevated the Grafton to Inverell as the most prestigious bike race in Australia.

Jack certainly achieved his vision, with the race attracting class fields year after year, including Australian champions, Commonwealth and Olympic medallists and international stars.

During most of the 1980s, the Grafton to Inverell was run as a UCI international event, and teams used the race as part of their preparation for the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic, a Brisbane to Canberra stage race that ran for 19 years before ending in 2000.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

The race was well-attended by riders from across Europe, including Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Norway, along with the USA and New Zealand.

The record books confirm international riders have enjoyed considerable success in the Grafton to Inverell. New Zealand’s elite riders have a long history with this race, with multiple podiums.

The past years of the gruelling 228km event have certainly maintained the excitement of previous years.

Patrick Lane broke the six-hour mark, clocking 5:57:55 in 2016. In 2017, the race included a full distance women’s division.

Previously, parallel women’s events had been held since 2004: The Celtic Country Classic de Femme from Glen Innes to Inverell, and the first Ladies Challenge from Grafton to Glen Innes.

The record for the most number of Grafton races is held by Bryan Ferris, with 30 starts and 28 finishes, including a first place in 1975. With 24 starts, the late Ian Manton holds the record for the most number of Grafton races by an Inverell cyclist.

The event always had that something “special” that people would talk about

years after the event. That was certainly the case for Noel Mathiske in the 1979 Grafton. He finished the race on a BMX bike borrowed from a spectator after crashing 2km from the finish.

Don Nutley deserves a mention, riding the 1977 race with an artificial limb after losing his left leg in a horrific race fall.

Local rider Cass Vanderhevel contested the race several times with an artificial hand strapped onto the handlebar.

Inverell will forever be connected with cycling as the birthplace and hometown of well-known professional riders Heinrich Haussler Jnr and Scott Sunderland and his nephew Dylan Sunderland.

The regard for this race is evident in the ways in which the town has celebrated its history. In Rivers Street, close to the finish line, you can see the names of all past winners engraved on pavers. And there’s also a public commemorative plaque from the 50th edition in 2010.

Thousands of riders from Australia and around the world have pursued the dream of winning “The Cycling Classic”. Riders, bikes and crowds have certainly changed over these years, but the hills remain, along with the passion and determination

needed to conquer and win the country’s toughest one-day bike race.

If you want to test your stamina and legs, why not have a crack in 2022 or at least come and support the most determined riders in the land. RLM Images: Heinrich Haussler

ABOVE: 2021 Grafton to Inverell winner Rudy Porter and racing stalwart Alan Grindal on the podium.

FACING PAGE: Rudy Porter enjoyed a solid win in the 2021 race; A-grade final placegetters.

your own adventure www.inverell.com.au

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

BLAIR ATHOL

where history comes alive It’s the little things that make country manor “Blair Athol” so utterly delightful.

It might be a friendly greeting from Dudley, the black Labrador, as you step out of your car. Or a free-range hen you’ve dodged en route to your luxury accommodation for the evening. Listen carefully and you can hear the horses, Jessie and Lucky, neighing in the distance.

They all add to the charm and atmosphere that convivial hosts Kim Kelleher and Pauline Jackwitz have created at Blair Athol after years of practice.

The grand old home, six kilometres from Inverell, is filled with family pieces, antiques, and memorabilia from Kim’s extensive overseas travels.

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Named after a picturesque village in Scotland, Blair Athol comes with six stunning bedrooms, all with en suites and most with private balconies. In the cooler winter months, guests enjoy a complimentary sherry or port by the open fire downstairs, where they can soak up the nostalgia and elegance of a bygone era.

Guests can stroll through the 150-year-old gardens or pause by the cemetery, the final resting spot for the original owners. The impressive driveway, lined with huge old Bunyah Pine trees, not only makes a statement but leads to a five-acre forest of majestic Moreton Bay Figs, Chinese Mourning Trees, Baobabs and Lemon-scented Gums. >

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

THIS PAGE: Owner Kim Kelleher and fellow hostess Pauline Jackwitz with adorable rescue dog Minnie; the magnificent old home has been tastefully renovated; guests enjoy the lavishly decorated bedrooms and bathrooms.

FACING PAGE: Located only five minutes from Inverell, Blair Athol attracts guests who appreciate the finer things in life.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

ABOVE: The Day Spa offers massages and facials, yoga and flotation therapy and a special atmosphere for guests to truly indulge.

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Kim loves the country pace, having taken over the up-market B&B nearly 20 years ago after running a similar business in Brisbane. Pauline followed a few years later, initially helping with functions and gardening. The two now share a great partnership, combining their love for preserving historic old properties and giving guests a night or two to remember.

Over the past decade they have successfully renovated and sold “Wyndham Ridge” on Bukkulla Station; “The Postman’s Cottage” in Brae Street and the “Policeman’s Cottage” in Ross Street.

It’s a unified team effort. Kim is a gifted interior decorator, while Pauline’s “tradie” skills are in constant demand.

After years of undertaking renovation projects and working in hospitality, the pair decided to expand on their original dream of making their country retreat extra special.

In May 2017, they opened their grand, purpose-built day spa and beauty treatment facility, based on the concept of a Roman bathhouse. Therapists offer massages and facials, yoga and flotation therapy, and it’s proved a big hit for women and men who love being pampered in an exquisitely indulgent setting.

“The Day Spa is a huge drawcard for visitors throughout the district to experience some special New England magic,” Kim says with a smile. “The Inverell Shire Council were very supportive and enthusiastic about our latest business venture.”

Over a glass of wine at the end of the day, Kim and Pauline tell RLM the Blair Athol story, starting with Frank Lewin arriving in the colonies with his parents in 1854. After seven years, the family embarked on an arduous three-month journey by bullock dray to Inverell, where the family established a flour mill.

They also bought land on the Warialda Road and planted the region’s first vineyard, which Lewin Snr later subdivided, giving son Frank 130 hectares. Frank called his new property “Pinehurst” and set about building a bungalow, surrounded by a shrubbery, orchard, and exotic trees from all over the world, most of them grown from seed.

Frank never got to see his trees grow to maturity. He was tragically poisoned at age 36 while sampling his own wine. The property passed to the Jardine family before being sold in 1898 to widow Anne Murray. Her daughter Florence later married Theophilus Cooper and the couple changed the name of the property to “Blair Athol”.

They engaged well-known architect Herbert Ross to design a magnificent 24-room, two-storey Federation house from locally quarried iron stone. The house was completed in 1904 and had everything, including a butler and housemaid call system, still visible today.

The lavish décor and generous rooms, replete with exquisite ornate ceilings and plaster mouldings, were all about making a statement. Sadly, Florence never lived there, dying during childbirth at her mother’s property shortly before it was finished.

The Cooper family occupied the homestead until 1938 before a succession of different owners called it home. By the 1990s, the building was sympathetically restored, and a B&B established, making it easy for Kim to fall in love with the place when she first visited in 2003.

Apart from looking after the business, Kim and Pauline are always busy on their next project. Currently they are renovating an adorable tiny home that can be easily moved to any spot on the property for guests, and themselves, to enjoy.

They rest well at night, knowing they have kept their dream well and truly alive. Their graceful old estate is now the perfect spot for a peaceful retreat in the country or a romantic getaway.

Failing that, just come and be pampered at the day spa. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. RLM

E X P E R I E N C E LU X U RY H O S P I TA L I T Y I N OUR GRACIOUS 1904 MANOR HOUSE Blair Athol invites you to indulge in the Blair Athol luxury bed & breakfast experience in the Federationera manor house, set in historic gardens on the outskirts of the prosperous town of Inverell. Relax in the drawing room or parlour, enjoying a beverage or two, in front of an open fire surrounded by antiques and family heirlooms.

Why not treat yourself to a gourmet cooked breakfast, with farm fresh produce, after a comfortable night’s stay in one of the elegant bedroom suites.

Or, experience some fun ‘glamping’ in the Coach House or Tiny Home listening to nature’s birdsong.

Guests are invited to book in for a well-deserved pamper session in the new ‘Roman Bathhouse-style’ day spa with an indoor mineral pool, spa, sauna and float room. Our qualified therapists offer treatments perfect for a total rejuvenation, with gourmet cheese platters and drinks available. The day spa offers an elegant, tranquil experience in a truly unique setting.

It’s all about indulging....

37 Blair Athol Rd, Inverell NSW 2360 (6 kilometres west of Inverell) P: 02 6722 4288 / 0414 525 092 E: blairatholestate@bigpond.com

blairathol

b l a i r a t h o l e s t a t e . c o m. a u

@blairatholboutiquehotel

art and soul Inverell Art Gallery is a place of historical significance, cultural richness and community activity.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Inverell Art Gallery has operated out of one of the town’s most iconic buildings since 1972.

Prior to WW2, the Inverell Municipal Council took over the adjoining buildings. The hall was used as a supper room when balls and wedding receptions were held in the nearby Town Hall.

During the 1960s, the School of the Arts building was leased to the Department of Technical Education for Secretarial and Rural Studies. In the early 1970s, the Inverell Art Society moved into Butler Hall to establish an art gallery. After a major renovation, the Inverell Art and Craft Centre opened to the public.

The buildings were linked together in 1995 to form the expanded Inverell Art Gallery as it appears today. A team of dedicated volunteers under the direction of gallery president Christina Smith looks after the day-to-day operations.

The Inverell Art Society committee is passionate about respecting and supporting local and further afield artwork from up-andcoming and established artists at the forefront of their industry.

“We are fortunate to be housed in two beautiful historic buildings within the town’s cultural precinct. It’s hard to miss and impossible to not get involved,” says gallery manager Jane Peterkin, who moved to Inverell a few years ago.

“Art culture has a strong presence in Inverell and it’s growing.

The town is indeed fortunate to have such a space where people of all ages can learn arts or crafts in the specialty workshops and weekly classes.”

Weekly classes and one-off workshops are held regularly at the gallery and are keenly attended by the public. These classes include Peter Champion – painting; Helena South – pastels; Peter Robertson – stained glass; and Nadia Kliendanze – screen printing on fabric, ceramics, abstract art and printmaking and children’s art classes.

Social groups regularly meet, working in spinning and felting, embroidery and needlework. A social ceramics group is called the Mudchuckers.

Once a month the gallery hosts Art Night Out, a workshop run

by Camey Edwards and Erin Newton. Students enjoy a social night out with drinks and nibbles and have the opportunity to complete their own paintings.

The Inverell Art Society hosts several travelling and solo exhibitions throughout the year.

The Inverell Art Gallery holds two annual competitive exhibitions. The Photography Prize, usually held at the beginning of the year, has several sections to entice both experienced and budding photographers to enter the competition.

The Inverell Art Prize is a major competitive exhibition held in September/October each year. With over $12,000 prizemoney on offer, it’s one not to miss.

The Contemporary Exhibition, held each May/June, features a collection of up-and-coming and established artists, curated by Christina Smith and assisted by members of the committee and the manager. RLM

Inverell Art Gallery opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm, although visitors are advised to check with the gallery.

TOP RIGHT: Knitter Betty Moore and spinners Lyn Daley and Janice Burrow; gallery manager Jane Peterkin among some of the local treasures.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Inverell Art Gallery is housed in two historic buildings near the Town Hall; Jane Peterkin with mascot “Florabelle”; the gallery hosts regular exhibitions and offers a myriad of quirky objects and art for sale.

“ART CULTURE HAS A STRONG PRESENCE IN INVERELL AND IT’S GROWING.”

Images: Pip Williams, Real Deal Photography

5 Evans Street PO Box 329 Inverell NSW 2360 Ph. 02 6722 4983 info@inverellartgallery.com.au

Opening hours Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 1pm

inverellartgallery.com.au

INVERELL RLM 55

ENJOY

your stay Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge’s Steve and Annie Johnson are well travelled and know what makes a stay worth savouring.

Despite being newcomers to the hospitality industry, accommodation owner/operators of Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge Steve and Annie Johnson are convinced they made the right choice.

With a background in construction and project management Australia wide, Steve says the change of career has been a rewarding process after a lifetime of project delivery work.

Having managed cafes, restaurants and large functions, Annie says the job combines everything both she and Steve know.

“We have travelled extensively for work and pleasure and appreciate what we believe to be important for your stay. We have implemented all the little touches to ensure that your stay feels ‘like home’,” she says.

Steve and Annie’s two children, Alex, 13, and Lilly, 11, are happy in local primary and high schools, keeping their mum busy driving them to rugby league, soccer, dancing and ballet classes.

The Johnsons selected and inspected numerous motels in NSW and Victoria, checking them all out before coming across their dream place.

The Inverell Terrace clearly ticked all the boxes. It boasts 18 rooms over two floors plus an adjacent three-bedroom cottage, and offers country-style breakfast served to the rooms seven days a week.

From Monday to Thursday, they also offer simple and fresh evening meals, along with dining recommendations for local cafes and restaurants.

The nicest part of the job, they say, is dealing with returning guests who account for a large percentage of the business.

“Catching up and swapping yarns and a laugh is a great part of the day,” Annie says.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank our staff, both past and present, as they have been part of our team and vision for this great little business.”

Over the past seven years, the couple have fallen in love with Inverell’s lifestyle, easy living and cool climate for winter.

“I love the town’s unique design, without big shopping centres dominating the beautiful main street. I hope it stays that way,” Annie says.

Inverell is known for its unique shopping, whether for a day trip or to relax and explore for a couple of days.

“The area has such diversity, with bush walks, native wildlife, bike rides, canoeing and Copeton and Pindari dams,” Steve says. “There’s also the National Transport Museum, sapphiring, Ultimate Day Spa experience, unique wood turning and sculptures, lavender and olive farms, art experiences and the Victa Museum.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Over the past seven years, the couple have fallen in love with Inverell’s lifestyle, easy living and cool climate for winter.

“The town has a high sporting profile and is home to some of the top cyclists in the country. We also have the finish line for the annual Grafton to Inverell bike race, having had its 60th anniversary in early 2021.”

For a great night’s sleep and relaxing stay look no further than the Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge. Your gracious hosts will ensure your stay is memorable. RLM

FACING PAGE: Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge hosts Stephen and Annie Johnson with children Alex and Lilly; well appointed rooms for guests to enjoy; guests can also be accommodated in the adjacent three-bedroom cottage.

ABOVE: The motel and rooms are immaculately presented with very comfortable beds and a welcoming feel.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

creative energy

Nadia Kliendanze is an accomplished artist and teacher who loves imparting her knowledge as much as she loves learning.

“Art is for people of all ages. I recommend everyone should learn to draw and paint, just like we learn to read and write,” acclaimed artist Nadia Kliendanze says.

“People think they need to be born with a God-given talent but that’s simply not true.”

Nadia, who is based in Inverell, has won numerous art prizes, exhibited in solo shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and participated in group exhibitions both in Australia and overseas.

She understands the value of a good education and enjoys the process of learning, spending three years studying Visual Arts at Southern Cross University, followed by a Master of Arts in Printmaking at Monash University.

Later, she finished an external Dip Ed at Charles Sturt University, enabling her to teach Visual Arts at high school. By the time she started teaching at Inverell’s Macintyre High in 2001, Nadia was ready to share everything she had learnt with her young students.

For two decades, she’s enjoyed interacting with hundreds of budding artists, imparting not only her painting skills but her knowledge of ceramics, drawing and sculpture. She finds that her students inspire her as much as she does them.

Prior to finding her “dream” job, Nadia worked as a legal secretary, with an accountant and for a desktop publisher but admits her current job is the most fulfilling.

“I knew I wanted to be an artist by the time I was seven,” says the mother of three from her comfortable home and studio.

Over a cuppa, Nadia tells RLM her choice of career was cemented after a portrait of her father won a student art competition at Treloars department store in Tamworth.

“All the attention felt rather special, so I decided then and there that I was one day going to be an artist. I always thought I’d give my art 100 per cent when I retired but when my sister died suddenly in 2007, I realised life was too short and I needed to focus more on my art practice.”

Around the same time, at an Arts North West conference, a director from a Sydney gallery told the audience he wouldn’t look at anyone who didn’t average 20 hours a week in the studio.

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“My work combines a conventional format in painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and even traditional crafts such as cross-stitch.”

“I started to do that and felt the discipline and focus was beneficial to my art practice,” Nadia says.

Within 12 months, Nadia had created 48 artworks for an exhibition at a private gallery in Tamworth, where she had lived until 1985 before moving to Lismore.

The opportunity to push the boundaries across mediums is fundamental to Nadia’s practice as a multidisciplinary artist.

“My work combines a conventional format in painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and even traditional crafts such as cross-stitch, with exploratory techniques and experimentation with non-traditional surface treatments,” she says.

“My artworks are a response to what I see in the landscape, not a pictorial representation.

Images are painted from memory and drawings done directly out in the landscape.

I’m interested in the way that memory affects the way we look at the landscape.”

Nadia refers to a Fred Williams interpretation of the Australian landscape to “see” our actual landscape in a different way.

“This is how the early landscape painters like Eugene von Guerard, Joseph Lycett, Thomas Watling and John Glover viewed our landscape when they first set foot on our shores. They brought with

them the memory of the English landscape and imposed it on our Australian land.”

Nadia focuses on creating contemporary impressionist landscapes with acrylic and oil, building up the layers with paint and glazes. She uses knives and brushes to achieve not only a textural surface but a feeling of luminosity.

Nadia has been twice selected as a finalist for the Blake Prize, with Spiritual Art, 2008, and The Director’s Cut Exhibition in 2011 and has taken residencies in Ireland in 2015, New Zealand in 2016 and Scotland in 2020.

Her work Pebbles was selected as a finalist and Highly Commended in the 2019 Fremantle Print Prize.

Both of her daughters have inherited their mother’s intrinsic love of art. Tash is a Brisbane interior designer and Nic is a graphic designer/illustrator in Melbourne.

Then there’s her son Benjo, an engineer in Scotland, soon to move to Sydney.

With the children leading their own busy lives, Nadia continues interacting with her young charges at school.

“My best advice is what I tell my own children: find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” RLM ABOVE: Visual artist and art teacher Nadia Kliendanze at work in her studio at home; some of her works.

PLANTER SPECIALISTS

HIGH-QUALITY AUSTRALIAN MADE MACHINERY

BOSSAGRICULTURE.COM.AU

Ph. 02 6721 2677 8.30am - 5pm 40 Taylor Ave, Inverell, NSW 2360 Boss Agriculture is a division of BOSS Engineering Pty Ltd

The Perfect Escape Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge is the perfect place to stay while on business, or as a destination to visit some of our wonderful local attractions.

Your hosts Annie and Steve go out of their way to ensure every stay is an enjoyable one, with personal touches found in each room, and modern facilities and furnishing ensuring your upmost comfort.

18 Guest Rooms In-Room Meals Interconnecting Rooms Room Service Well Stocked Mini-Bar

Foxtel iQ TV System Free Wi-Fi Self-Contained Cottage BBQ Area Free On-Site Parking

28 Warialda Road Inverell NSW 2360 02 6722 5200 www.inverellterrace.com.au

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

outstanding in the field Inverell boasts the biggest seeder manufacturer in the country, and BOSS is not about to relinquish its position.

BOSS Engineering is an Inverell success story based on a simple philosophy: from little things, big things grow.

“The planter is the most important piece of farm equipment,” production manager Michael Grills says. “Just as every good crop starts with a well-placed seed.”

The business continues to grow and is now the biggest seeder manufacturer in the country. The 34-acre site is in a continual state of expansion, with new sheds and extensions on the go.

The business started as a small workshop servicing the mining industry in 2007 but demand for Australian-made, high-

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quality farming implements resulted in an expansion into agriculture. The BOSS Agriculture line of machinery, including broadacre seeders, row crop implements and air carts, was launched in 2010.

A year later, BOSS Built was established and now manufactures and sells over 1000 steel utility trays each year.

“When we kicked off, we thought we’d rent half the (4000-square-metre) shed and employ about 20 people – that would have been a great outcome,” says Michael, who runs the day-to-day operations of the workshop.

Today, BOSS employs over 130 dedicated staff, including 14 apprentices, with a

production facility of 30,000 square metres under roof. Along with Bindaree Food Group and the Shire Council, it’s one of the town’s biggest employers.

Demand for agricultural products continues to grow, thanks to the company’s unique designs, quality manufacture and customer recommendations. With new marketing strategies in place and new products, this growth is expected to continue.

Design manager Andrew English is responsible for the design and development of BOSS products. Andrew and his team have developed the BOSS Agriculture and BOSS Built product range from the ground up.

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Every year they tweak their designs, always fine-tuning in response to the broadacre cereal farmers, who account for 90 per cent of the business. With a new seeding outfit costing anything up to $600,000, the money injected into the local economy is substantial.

“New seed varieties have seen improved yields despite our traditional dry climate, and crop establishment is vital,” Andrew says. “Our products are helping growers get more country sown more accurately with less people. Machines are getting wider and more efficient as it gets harder to attract farm employees and tractor drivers.

“Years of drought have depleted the on-farm labour force and now COVID is limiting backpackers and seasonal workers.

Growers are looking to invest in new, more advanced technology to get seed in the ground.”

Marketing manager Dan Ryan says the company now has over 1000 planters throughout Australia. If all its seeders were lined up from end to end, the line would stretch over 10km, and if worked simultaneously, cover 23,000 acres an hour.

“While Inverell is not your typical broadacre farming area, we still have a dozen BOSS owners within a 50km radius,” he says.

“Most of the customers we sell to are very good at what they do. With economies of scale, the bigger farmers can bounce back quickly after the dry times. A good machine pays for itself in extra yield, productivity and reliability.”

Everything is designed and manufactured in-house. Customers can walk in and talk to somebody from sales, design or manufacturing. Some clients enjoy a factory tour to see how things are made, including seeing robot welders, robot manipulators and laser cutters in action.

“We’ve got planters all over the graingrowing areas of the three eastern states, as well as South Australia and Western Australia, so we’re making implements to deal with variable climates, soils and country,” Michael says.

The drought may have temporarily slowed BOSS down but now they’re back on track, surpassing 2020 orders within the first six months of 2021.

All of the BOSS directors risked everything to start the business 13 years ago.

Now the business has sprouted into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and the directors are more determined than ever to keep their dream alive. RLM

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dan Ryan, Andrew English and Michael Grills in front of a WA-bound BOSS air seeder; in front of a 20,000-litre air seeder capable of holding 17 tonnes of wheat; with one of their made-to-order ute trays; performance in the field.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BOSS air seeders at work; an aerial view of the site; hosing down a 9000-litre air seeder; machinery from the past; some of the 130 BOSS staff.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

the life of Brian

For a time, Brian “Spike” Baldwin OAM was the youngest stock and station auctioneer in NSW. Now in his mid 80s, the community stalwart still enjoys the camaraderie only found at the saleyards.

ABOVE: A young Brian “Spike” Baldwin, centre, auctioneering at the 1958 Glen Innes bull sales, flanked by KP Wright, Bill Lake and John Weekes; Brian, top left, in the 1960 Tat’s Hotel Terriers rugby league team.

FACING PAGE: Armed with his auctioneering gavel and binoculars, Brian sold livestock and called New England races for nearly six decades.

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As one of the longest-serving auctioneers and race callers in Australia, Brian “Spike” Baldwin OAM loves to hear the familiar cry of auctioneers at work.

Other agents warmly greet him as they move quickly from pen to pen. While he may not have the same agility as he had 50 years ago, nothing misses his shrewd mind. His memory is still as sharp as it was the day he started work for Manilla stock and station agent VJ Byrnes in late 1953.

Up until then, life in the bush had been a struggle. The family didn’t own a car until after the war, meaning early school lessons were taught by his mother, who was a governess before marriage.

Brian started at the Manilla convent school when he was 6½, arriving with his little brother in a horse and sulky. When Brian was nine, his family moved to a horse stud, and he recalls riding his pony to school and parking the noble steed in the stables of Grady’s Post Office Hotel.

After gaining a bursary to Christian Brothers College, Tamworth, Brian lived with his grandmother in Manilla, catching the bus 28 miles to school. A few years later, his father joined Mr Byrnes at the local agency, then one of the biggest one-man operations in the state.

After school, Brian couldn’t wait to join the small team. In those days you had to be 18 to secure a restricted licence but Brian was barely 17, spending the first year becoming acclimatised to the job.

“On my 18th birthday, the Sergeant of Police fronts up at home and declares he has a summons for one Brian Laurence Baldwin,” he recalls. “I was shell-shocked and terrified. I later appeared in the Petty Court of Sessions to apply for my licence, complete with references from my school, our local priest and from Mr Byrnes. I had to promise the magistrate I’d never let him down.”

After paying three pounds, 12 and sixpence (about $7.25), Brian Baldwin became the youngest licensed auctioneer in NSW. “I spent my first few pay cheques on some decent clobber so that at least I looked the part of a working man,” he laughs. The first time he auctioned cattle was a pen of five Shorthorn steers, selling for 32 pounds and one shilling to W.G. McKnight, “Balmoral”, Attunga.

A few years later, Brian attended a dance in Tamworth where he ran into a young Tony Dowe, who would go on to have a stellar career in the Elders stud stock team. Having just joined the firm, Tony advised him they were looking for new auctioneers.

Ready for a change of pace, Brian took the train to Newcastle for an interview and was told he’d need three months’ training. On his first day of work he sold some poddy calves and milking cows at the Maitland saleyards. Back in the office he was informed that two staff members had been sacked in the Inverell branch and he was required to head there immediately. >

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

On February 12, 1958, Brian took up his new post. Once more, the stars were aligning. On his way home from his first day in the new job, he and a mate were crossing the street. Brian was discussing the car as part of his deal, when he spotted two young ladies approaching. One of them, Helen Daley, became his dearly betrothed. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 6, 2021.

Within a fortnight of arriving in town, Brian was selling at the Inverell ram sales, enjoying the stud stock side of things as much as the weekly fat and store stock sales.

In the October, he attended the Glen Innes Hereford and Poll Hereford Show and Sale, then the biggest whiteface sale in Australia. There were the traditional three Elders auctioneers up from Sydney but after one was rushed to hospital, Brian was invited onto the selling rostrum, alongside well-known Johnny “JK” Weekes.

Before 1958 was out, Brian called the trots for the first time at the Inverell Show, which in those days included 26 races over two days. Within a few years, he had advanced to the gallopers, leading to a mammoth 57-year career across the North West and New England.

“In the early days, it was an extra few bob in the kitty to help educate the kids and allow us to take an annual holiday to Coogee or Broadbeach,” he says.

In 1964, Brian joined Farmers & Graziers as Inverell branch manager and for the next five years became the state stud stock auctioneer, selling bulls and rams in Sydney and Dubbo.

One of his biggest thrills was selling the world record-priced Merino ram at the Sydney Sheep Show and Sale in the early 1960s. The show was opened by retired PM Sir Robert Menzies, who shook his hand. Brian is still figuring out which moment was more significant.

The Merryville ram sold for 7500 guineas to the Gill family, Walcha. The record, however, was short-lived, broken the following day by a Bundemar ram.

A highlight of each year was selling at the yearling thoroughbred sales in Brisbane with Garth Hughes. After one sale, Brian was unwinding at the hotel when he collapsed. His doctor warned Brian that if he kept up the tension and long hours he wouldn’t make it to his 33rd birthday.

Instead, he opened Brian Baldwin Auctioneers on April Fool’s Day, 1969, with one secretary. The agency proved good for the family, which now boasted four young children. The 1973 beef crash didn’t help, with cows in mint condition trading for $18 while fat steers commanded $35.

“Things eventually came good and I put a bloke on. We gradually built the business but it seemed like every time we were getting on top of things, another big meat company went bust,” he says.

At one point in his career, Brian was running the thoroughbred sales in Glen Innes and Inverell with Australian Estates. Later, Peter Milling invited him to sell at the Dubbo yearling sales, leading to similar work in Wagga Wagga and Canberra.

With all his experience, Brian was keen to pass some of it on to son Peter, who was keen to follow in his father’s footsteps. Brian encouraged him to get his licence at Hawkesbury Ag College, hoping he’d come home.

Instead, he was snapped up by a Sydney firm and, at 25, became Sydney’s youngest chief real estate auctioneer. The other children were also hitting their mark. Wendy works in a mobile preschool in Moree; Libby is a former agronomist working on a farm at Gurley, south of Moree; and Sean is the deputy principal of Trinity College, Lismore, and a part-time auctioneer.

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“AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU REALISE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE REVOLVE AROUND YOUR FAMILY, THE CHURCH AND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.”

AND THEY’RE OFF AND RACING

Brian loves talking about his family and the church, and a lifetime of racing memories always brings out a smile.

“I’m a racing man but never a punter,” he stresses. “My father once offered some stern advice: ‘Son, never bet on a race you are broadcasting’. I called thousands of races and over time his advice saved me a small fortune.”

For a short time, Brian dabbled in ownership and almost won an Inverell Cup with 100/1 long shot Mediator. As a spectator, he’s been to five Melbourne Cups and racked up 40 years attending the Brisbane Stradbroke Handicap and Brisbane Cup meetings.

He’ll never forget his trip to Ireland to witness Vintage Crop win the Irish St Ledger at the famous Curragh racecourse before coming to Australia to win the Melbourne Cup. Naturally, there are many tales of the many characters Brian has mingled with over his colourful life. And he remembers everything, down to the minute details.

One of his funniest recollections was calling a race in Texas, on the Queensland border.

“There was a dip in the road and the track was right alongside it,” he explains with a grin. “In this particular race there were four jockeys carrying red and yellow colours. I saw yellow on the ground and yelled out ‘there’s been a horrific fall’. (Brian admits it was a yellow car in the background, seemingly underneath the horses’ hooves).

“My mates in the racing game have never let me forget the blunder.”

Brian served as Inverell Jockey Club president, treasurer, patron, sponsor, committeeman and master of ceremonies. He’s

also called more charity calcuttas than any other race caller in the country.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Brian has had to face his own health problems. After a heart attack in 1999 at age 63, he sold the livestock side of his business but continued running the Inverell sheep and lamb sales for JA McGregor until 2017, when he suffered a second heart attack.

“There would be no more saleyards and no more adrenalin rushes,” he says. “And no more phone calls at odd hours of the night organising transport, deliveries and sales.”

In 2014, Brian added an OAM to his name for a lifetime of service to the church and community. His medal sits next to his Inverell 2011 Citizen of the Year award.

At 85, the irrepressible auctioneer still conducts the odd auction or clearing sale. The grandfather of five enjoys Rotary, having received a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1999, and is a proud Life Member of the Inverell Jockey Club and P&A Association.

“After all these years, you realise that the most important things in life revolve around your family, the church and your local community,” he says with a satisfied smile. RLM

ABOVE: Brian and Wendy Baldwin outside their home; the Baldwin family in earlier days; Brian still enjoys catching up with old pals at the saleyards.

FACING PAGE: Blessed with a great sense of humour and an uncanny memory, Brian has no trouble recalling the many colourful characters he has met over a lengthy career.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

GREEN ACRES

Unconventional entrepreneur David Stewart has always had his own way of doing things.

In the space of three decades, David Stewart has grown from a hard-drinking, hard-living shearer into one of the district’s biggest landholders. The jewel in the crown is Stewart’s Grain Trading, one of Inverell’s most iconic success stories.

When RLM turns up on a rainy Friday afternoon in June, there are 8000 tonnes of barley sitting in a bunker on the ground.

In January, 17,000 tonnes of corn, wheat, oats, canola and faba beans filled 21 silos, ranging in size from 150 to 1500 tonnes, most of it destined for local feedlots.

David is too busy getting through his list of duties to dwell on his impending 60th birthday, planned for the following evening.

There will be celebrating but the birthday boy will not be drinking. A drop of alcohol or a cigarette haven’t passed his lips in 30 years.

During the celebrations he’ll reminisce with old mates he knocked around with in New England woolsheds. His first job was as a rouseabout in an Armidale shed, hitch-hiking to get there and arriving a day

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late. He later tried his hand as a shearers’ cook and tried wool pressing before taking up the shears. He never slowed down, even after obtaining his wool classer’s licence.

“I started off with an old Holden ute and a pig dog. I didn’t even have a car licence,” he recalls.

Any life journey can change in an instant. It helps being in the right place at the right time. When he was 18, David was enjoying a quiet beer in the local pub with Rossy “Cracker” Cracknell.

David had grown up early and was already a familiar face to bar staff. It was a drought year and work was hard to find.

When Rossy asked if wanted to be his offsider in a small seed graining business, it was a green light moment.

It was a job he grew to love. After his boss’s retirement in 1992, David purchased his seed grader and got to work building the business. When it got too much for him, he put on his own offsider. Then another.

Today, nearly 30 years later, he has between

30 to 40 staff working on various farms and at the bustling grain office.

He’s unsure of exact numbers. With so many numbers whirling around his head at any given time, he admits it’s sometimes hard to think straight. He’s not being evasive; he’s simply never quite sure of his exact acreage. He estimates he owns about 22,000 acres, with a further 4000 acres leased.

He has bought and sold farms most of his life, convinced there’s no better investment. He started small, paying the deposit on a 40-acre block while shearing at Stanborough, half way to Bundarra.

“I had no money and was just a bustedarse shearer,” he laughs, referring to his earlier days. The man lives to work (think seven days a week).

David’s next dabble was a choice 100-acre block 12 miles from town, where he would later establish the grain business. What really fired him up was buying an 1800-acre Warialda block and selling it five years later for more than triple the price.

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With renewed confidence, he snapped up cheap blocks around the district, including “Auburn Vale Station”, “Tarrangower” and “Jindabyne”, a 12,000-acre property heavily covered in timber.

Nobody wanted it, especially with the headache of all those trees that had been planted. Now it’s all been cleared, refenced and rewatered and the family have gone back to farming.

“They don’t make land any more,” he says. “I realised if I could get my hands on as much dirt as possible, I couldn’t go wrong. Having said that, I believe you’re better off with 100 acres of good country than 500 acres of ordinary country.”

David and wife Irene have built their small empire from scratch, with no help from anyone. Any success they’ve enjoyed, they attribute to their staff. Many have been with them for years.

Despite making something of his life, David admits he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

“I had nothing as a kid,” he recalls, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “I had good parents but we had no money, no land. I never even had a pushbike – my old man reckoned they were too dangerous – and was 15 before we got a TV. “My childhood made me want to give my own kids more. It’s sad seeing the young kids of today spending so much time on their phones. One day they will find it hard communicating with real people.”

David admits his early years offered no hint as to the successful businessman he would one day become.

“By the time I was 20, I could drink with the best of them,” he says candidly. “I’d have a beer for breakfast before shearing all day. It was normal behaviour for some of the blokes.

At night I’d get stuck into the rum or wine.”

David’s heavy drinking played havoc with his liver and he fell seriously ill, waking up in a hospital bed. It was the first and only time he’s ever been a patient and he has no desire to repeat the process. David knew he had to turn his life around. It wouldn’t be easy but he was ready to take the first step.

“No doubt I’ll have blokes at the party tomorrow night wanting to have a beer with me,” he says with a grin. “You need to have strong will power.”

For the past 20 years, David has ridden with a local motorcycle club, always turning up on a Harley-Davidson. He bought his first one at 18 and is now the proud owner of six.

It’s very clear he’s a man who enjoys a challenge. Apart from his farming and seed grain businesses, he also owns a half share in two tyre shops, along with 2000 head of cattle in a Gravesend feedlot, destined for the domestic market.

“I BELIEVE YOU’RE BETTER OFF WITH 100 ACRES OF GOOD COUNTRY THAN 500 ACRES OF ORDINARY COUNTRY.” Although his many businesses can be timeconsuming, he always makes time for his wife and children. Richard works in the local abattoir, David Jnr looks after the farming, Mark is a horse trainer and local pet shop owner, while Tracey works in the office.

David has a soft spot for horses. Camp drafting was the sport of choice for family outings, right up there with a few hours of fishing.

For holidays he visits one of his farms.

“Jindabyne is my holiday farm and I go mustering in the hills by horseback. It’s a good time to sit back and relax. At work,

my head gets so full of figures it’s often hard to switch off.”

David Stewart embraces each day with strength, clear logic and a strong determination to leave something for his kids.

“The best thing is that I’m still here to tell the story,” he says. “I should have been dead years ago.” RLM FACING PAGE: Grain trader, farmer and local icon David Stewart in front of silos full of grain.

ABOVE: Inverell success story David Stewart believes hard work, foresight and a solid team are the recipe for success.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

a sense of duty For David Ferris, The Premier Store and its customers are like family.

The Premier Store lays claim to being Australia’s oldest department store still operating from its original site.

The current building in Inverell went up in 1901 but there was a building there many years before. The story goes the shop never closed its doors as major construction took place.

When the new store opened it was referred to as The Premier Store and described as among “the finest and most up-to-date emporiums in the country”. It even had a cash railway system, with one cashier receiving dockets and money from all parts of the store.

Current owners David and Margaret Ferris are aware of their shop’s historical significance. David’s uncles worked there, as did his father Joe, before putting his age up to enlist for King and Country during WW2.

Joe was at the fall of Singapore, the largest British capitulation in history. Taken prisoner and forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway alongside his pals from the Australian 8th Division, he survived 1305 days of living hell before being finally liberated.

Unlike most returned POWs, Joe talked openly about his overseas experiences, even visiting Japan as part of a 1960s study tour.

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“Dad was with F Force, probably the worst of the lot,” David says.

“They were doing the hard yakka clearing the forest. He and his mates were at the end of the line, the last to receive the meagre rations.”

Of the 7000 men from F Force who left Changi on April 21, 1943, only half survived after eight months of captivity. Joe referred to Changi as a holiday camp compared to the Burma Railway. He was known to regularly sneak out of the Changi jail in search of food, a risk with tragic consequences if caught.

At the same time, a world away, Joe’s brother Ted was impounded in a German POW camp. Highly decorated and considered a war hero, he never discussed his incarceration. Joe finally made it home in 1945, suffering from all the usual POW tropical afflictions, including beriberi, cerebral malaria, dysentery and tropical ulcers.

He immediately fell into the arms of his sweetheart Jean, whom he’d met before the war and whose photo lived in his pocket, close to his heart, throughout the long ordeal. Poignant letters from Changi are highly treasured among the family.

There were many times when Jean feared for her man’s life.

For years she wasn’t sure if he was even alive. Back on Australian soil, Joe only wanted two things: to get back to the girl he’d been

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

dreaming about and return to his old job at The Premier Store, then owned by Fred Fuller and Stan Gunson.

Joe and Jean married two months after his discharge from the army and headed back to work at Fuller and Gunson. Over the years the store had many monikers, usually bearing the names of the owners at the time.

In 1955, the store became a company and Joe acquired a five per cent share. When Fred died a bachelor, he bequeathed his shares to Joe, who by then was an integral part of the business.

Joe was a groundbreaker in gaining recognition from Veterans Affairs that the war had left some men with lasting physical and mental damage. His true love, however, was the Scout movement, becoming district commissioner of the Kamilaroi district.

After Stan retired in the 1960s, Joe took out a loan to buy him out and seize control. The store was finally in Ferris hands.

Before joining the firm, David spent a student exchange year in the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Up until then he had worked in the school holidays at the Mitre 10 store next to The Premier Store building. The family sold the building, known as the Farmhouse, four years ago to become the new home of upmarket eatery The General Merchant. >

FACING PAGE: David and Margaret Ferris with son Joe, Joe’s partner Erika Lonergan with baby Evie, and daughter Lydia in The Premier Store.

FROM TOP: David Ferris oversees the business from his upstairs office; the Fuller & Meyer store in 1928 with Alan Ferris on the right; Joe Ferris served with the 8th Division Signal Corp before the surrender to the Japanese in Singapore.

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DAVID FEELS PROUD IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT INVERELL SHOPPERS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE STORE FOR OVER 150 YEARS. In 1984, David joined his father but was only there a short period before Joe’s tragic death at age 61 while driving home from Tamworth with his wife’s test results. The news was not good.

Jean’s cancer had seriously progressed and she died a few months later – some say more so of a broken heart.

After a few years managing the store, David decided to travel for a few years, eventually settling in Tasmania where he met Margaret and graduated from uni with a degree in Geography and Environmental Science. David became a happy house husband and stay-at-home dad while his wife taught at the local school.

There was always the family business to take care of and at the turn of the century, David and family returned to his old stamping ground.

For the first few years, David ran the store with his brotherin-law Rick Boyce, before buying out his sister Janine’s shares.

Today, David and Margaret’s two children are working in the store, after years of helping out during the school holidays, like their father before them. Lydia is studying Science online at Melbourne University while Joe is the floor manager.

“Having the children here gives a great family feel to the business,” he says. The store, along with a similar department store in Glen Innes (run by Margaret), has a combined workforce of 21.

At the end of the day, David feels proud in the knowledge that Inverell shoppers have been supporting the store for over 150 years, buying a steady supply of clothes, hats, shoes, schoolwear, workwear and sportswear. There’s even a kitchen and giftware department.

A family owned, traditional country department store LADIESWEAR MENSWEAR FOOTWEAR

SPORTSWEAR SPORTS SHOES SCHOOL WEAR

STREET & FASHION BAGS & LUGGAGE KITCHEN & GIFT

Established 1868 Help support our rural communities by shopping through independent businesses.

Inverell Store

72 Byron Street, Inverell (02) 6722 1822 inverell@premierstore.com.au

Glen Innes Store

204 Grey St, Glen Innes (02) 6732 4686 gi@premierstore.com.au

www.thepremiertore.com.au

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“Until recently, Inverell was travelling well with the challenges of COVID,” David says from his office overlooking the store.

In some ways the pandemic has helped. Restrictions have meant people aren’t shopping out of town as much.

“I’m a firm believer that regional Australia needs to support local businesses – the mainstay of any community,” David says.

“Independent businesses like The Premier Store care about the local community. They invest back in the town, hire local staff and are quick to support people in times of need.”

After the devastating local fires, the store put over 600 pairs of quality Australian-made socks on the feet of local rural firefighters.

The business also recently purchased automated defibrillators for each store, available in times of need.

“These are things that locally owned businesses do in regional areas. Inverell residents can be justifiably proud there are many independent businesses operating and supporting the town.” RLM

FROM TOP: “Self service” groceries replaced the old shelf and counter groceries; The Premier Store in 1987 with David Ferris in the centre.

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HOUSE PROUD

David Reid Homes New England’s Dan and Kylie Wilks have built a solid reputation for reliable advice, attention to detail, clear communication and quality craftsmanship.

Dan and Kylie Wilks, of David Reid Homes New England, specialise in custom design and building projects with a strong focus on customer satisfaction.

Known as a man with a passion for building, Dan spent 11 years constructing homes and sheds with a reputable local builder before gaining further experience in Sydney building and repairing roofs of factories, terraces, churches and houses.

The pair established their building company, Danbuilt, in 2003 before joining the David Reid Homes franchise a decade ago. Coming from a building family, Kylie was thankful for her basic knowledge of a building site. When they first started, Kylie took on the accounting but over the years her role has evolved into the initial designer, before handing over the technical side to a draftsman to bring her ideas to life. She also helps with clients’ colour and fixture choices.

Kylie’s background as a picture framer fuelled her interest in home design. She’s always on the lookout for the latest trends.

“Today’s clients are more interested in the detail and the end result,” she says.

“Now we structure all this before we even start the build, helping clients achieve the right look for their budget. This also allows us to offer a fixed-price contract.

“Let’s face it, we are bombarded with options these days and so we source a lot of products to help clients feel comfortable with their choices. I am often heard saying to concerned clients in the beginning ‘you might not know what you want but you’ll know what you don’t want’.”

Once there is a clear picture of the end result, clients are able to watch the process happen with less stress during the

build. Their building service will guide clients through all the decision making and choices that can seem daunting when building or renovating.

Their aim has been to make the build a communicative, transparent journey, resulting in happy clients returning to do it all over again.

“Over the years the industry has gone up and down, as it does,” Kylie says.

“Thankfully we learnt many years ago how to work together and find the right balance.

“After 20 years in business together we realise how fortunate we are as a team.

I have the vision and Dan, with all his knowledge and experience, gets what I’m trying to achieve. We both have complete trust in each other’s abilities.”

The pair has won many HIA building awards for new homes, renovations and kitchens. On five occasions they have built the Northern NSW Home of the Year. Their 2006 and 2008 entries won them NSW State Housing awards for their categories.

Custom building and renovations have been their forte but they have also undertaken extensive commercial jobs, including the renovation of the Inverell Town Hall and the Inverell and Gunnedah McDonald’s refurbishments.

Always looking for a challenge, Dan has achieved outstanding results on several large, intricate renovations and new homes.

Over the years the team has finished some amazing jobs, including tripling in size the homestead on Inverell Station and turning a house in Cloonan Terrace into a three-storey home.

New homes like Zea or their two Mackie Lane projects don’t come by very often.

“Over the years we’ve employed big teams, including carpenters and bricklayers but one thing remains constant: our longstanding tradesmen, some who started as apprentices and have been with us for 17 years,” Dan says. “We love our job and intend to stay as a small boutique builder.”

Dan and Kylie have raised their three children Georgie, Dustin and Jasmine in Inverell.

“Inverell punches well above its weight across retail, sporting achievements, commercial opportunity and in the farming community,” Kylie says. “We love supporting local businesses and sporting events, our biggest being the major sponsor of the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic.”

For the past 20 years they have volunteered in event management and supportive roles in the bike race.

Kylie is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Promotional Committee and believes Inverell has a lot to offer new families thinking of spreading their wings in the country.

David Reid Homes New England should, naturally, be their first point of contact. RLM Images: Leigh Stewart and Kylie Wilks

ABOVE: Dan and Kylie Wilks from David Reid Homes New England, who both work from their stunning Inverell country home; inside and outside their home; careful planning is all part of the process.

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How sweet it is

Jenny Thomas has put her heart and soul into Inverell’s much-loved Freckles Cafe.

A young Jenny Thomas knew she was never far away from an excellent home-cooked meal or tea-time treat with her beloved mother Margaret in the kitchen of her childhood home in Inverell.

Growing up with a younger and older brother, Jenny was quickly given a nickname, and that childhood nickname of Freckles has followed her throughout her life as a term of endearment.

In 2013, inspired by her mother’s lifelong dream of opening a cafe, Jenny finally decided to take the plunge, opening Freckles Cafe and playfully sharing her moniker with her new venture.

As parents of three, Jenny and husband Andrew knew a thing or two about what young families look for when opting to dine out.

And they ventured to combine all the best bits of Jenny’s favourite cafes into her own.

“I wanted it to be a fun, bright, friendly, unique and memorable place to come,” Jenny says, and with a healthy dose of inspiration from her favourite lolly, the Freckle, her dream became a reality.

Jenny is thankful to have built a special customer family around

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her cafe over the past eight years, and she is proud to be a positive force within the community that has supported her.

Her high tea for drought-affected farmers’ wives is just one example of how she continues to give back to Inverell. However, it’s not just in extraordinary and difficult circumstances when Freckles shines, but in the consistency of the Freckles experience and the way they serve the community every day that makes the greatest impact.

“Families and kids especially remember all the extra little touches we add to their dining-out experience. From Freckles being written on their coffee to the Freckle on their milkshakes, they all make it fun, and if the kids are happy, Mum and Dad tend to be too,” Jenny says.

The team also pride themselves on offering delicious homestyle food, fresh juices and excellent coffee. Everything is cooked from scratch.

While preparing their menu fresh daily may take a little extra time, it allows them to uphold the high quality of food that arrives at your table.

Customer satisfaction is paramount at Freckles, and friendly service and consistency of quality have won them a loyal customer base.

Freckles Cafe is going strong, and Jenny has no plans to go anywhere any time soon. “My wish is that one day, whenever I walk away from Freckles, that people remember me, but more importantly the Freckles legacy and what we did for our community,” Jenny says. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Freckles team, (back row) Noah Youman, Tash Williams, owner Jenny Thomas, (front) Hayley Coles, Kim Mitchell, Josie Rutheford, Karla Cox; Freckles Cafe on Byron Street offers indoor and outdoor seating; a small but sweet retail section is available for your shopping pleasure; Freckles Cafe’s family-friendly environment.

COME HOME ... RELAX ... ENJOY WITH FRIENDS

25 YEARS + EXPERIENCE

Good service, good food, good times …life is too short for anything less

102 Byron Street, Inverell 0409 687 288 02 6722 1612 freckles@frecklescafe.com.au

Open 7 days a week Breakfast and lunch All dietary requirements catered for Pets welcome Pram and mum friendly

www.frecklescafeinverell.com.au

DESIGN AND BUILD SPECIALIST Dan & Kylie Wilks

m. 0417 650 210

p. (02) 6721 2215

e. danwilks@davidreidhomes.com.au

WWW.DAVIDREIDHOMESNEWENGLAND.COM.AU

emporium Emporium is a lifestyle store.

Inside is a lovely cafe with specialty coffee and teas, delicious food and friendly service.

We have a large selection of womens and mens fashion, homewares, manchester, sleepwear, furniture and food.

02 6722 4214 50 Otho Street, Inverell NSW 2360 Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4pm (winter) 8am - 5pm (summer/spring) Saturday 9am - 1pm

emporiumonbyron.com.au

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shopping

Built in 1919, the Nesbitt Building at 50 Otho Street, Inverell, has stood the test of time, and Elise McDonald has breathed new life into the space with Emporium.

FROM TOP: The team at Emporium pride themselves on personalised service; Matisse McDonald, Elise McDonald, Kate Ward, Prue Ticehurst, Summer Stewart; the Emporium range includes homewares, clothing and gifts and is tailored to suit the tastes of the fabulous local clientele.

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in style When Elise McDonald moved her Emporium into the historical Otho Street shop front, she conjured a bygone era of service to allow shopping and dining in style.

“The Nesbitt family was iconic in this town, and this shop was really needing someone to bring it back to life while keeping all those beautiful memories alive,” Elise says.

She was careful to retain the building’s original charm through the pressed tin ceilings and beautiful patina on the wooden floors that hold the footsteps of all the happy customers who have come in over the years.

“We are definitely a nod to yesteryear, but we are in no way oldfashioned,” she says.

Elise has had a fulfilling and varied career, both here and abroad, that influences her shop today. Starting out in hospitality, she eventually shifted direction and her work in marketing and sales led her to call Singapore and Indonesia home in the ’90s.

Years in fashion and jewellery design explain her well-trained eye, and the gorgeous displays at Emporium are no accident, Elise having worked in a high-end retail setting doing sales and visual merchandising.

First moving to Inverell 20 years ago with her husband Andrew, they made a move to Queensland to grow a new business from the ground up before returning to Inverell 10 years later in 2012 with their three children Ryan, Hunter and Matisse.

With the children at an age where they were becoming more self-sufficient, Elise decided it was time to open the doors to Emporium in its first location on Byron Street.

Sadly, it was the death of her best friend, her mother Joy, that motivated her to move the shop to the Nesbitt Building.

“Her style and individuality is my greatest inspiration,” Elise says. “She could do anything and make anything and she is my constant measure for how it should be.”

Along with her mother’s memory and her life experience, a third motivating factor for Elise and her team has been the fabulous women of the Inverell community. “Fashion is subjective, and although I have been in the industry for a long time, coming to regional Australia has really opened my eyes,” Elise says.

“The women in our town are really discerning and very stylish, and I love finding them something unique or out of the ordinary.”

While there is definitely a place in her shop for Australian and locally made goods, Elise’s experience abroad has led to her sourcing products from further afield. She loves bringing a taste of what the world has to offer to Inverell.

Emporium’s range includes everything from homewares and jewellery to clothing and furniture.

The in-store cafe offers a relaxed and friendly environment to enjoy a beverage or bite to eat pre or post shopping.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

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“THE WOMEN IN OUR TOWN ARE REALLY DISCERNING AND VERY STYLISH, AND I LOVE FINDING THEM SOMETHING UNIQUE OR OUT OF THE ORDINARY.” Everything on the menu is made on site, and they are proud to offer nostalgic sweets baked with care from classic recipes by local chefs and charity groups. These treats pair beautifully with their impressive selection of teas and expertly crafted coffee.

Elise knows that Emporium’s success lies not only in her but in her team, and she gratefully notes their fantastic work ethic, which contributes to the happiness and longevity of her business.

The Emporium staff are all about offering exceptional personalised service to the wonderful community they are part of, and Elise says “it’s the best job in the world”. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart and supplied

ABOVE: Gourmet goods and vintage-inspired toys are right at home in the old Nesbitt Building on Otho Street, Inverell; owner Elise McDonald.

RIGHT: Emporium’s in-store cafe offers expertly crafted coffee and a delicious menu prepared on site.

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side by side

Inverell’s Clover & Co is a stylish lifestyle store made all the more special by family and friendship, sisterhood and motherhood.

For Bec and Casey of lifestyle store Clover & Co, their partners identical twins Johnny and Miles Devlin were the lucky charms that brought them together, leading to a fast friendship and a wonderful personal and professional life unfolding side by side in the charming town of Inverell.

Bec and Casey’s retail journey started in 2014 at the local markets where they sold handmade concrete succulent pots and candles. After a few years and joyfully welcoming new babies into the family, they had less free time to create, but there was still time to dream, and a plan to open their own shop was coming to life in conversations around the dining table.

In 2017, an opportunity became available to occupy a small space at the back of a cafe. It seemed like the perfect first step, and, after only six weeks, their initial success saw them expand their retail space within the same location.

In 2018, the shop at 43 Otho Street became available and they jumped at the chance to stand alone in their own space.

What started with homewares, gifts and baby goods has since grown to include Hey Joe, an in-store coffee shop and cafe owned by their good friends Tilly and Lachy, creating a social vibe throughout Clover & Co. In 2020, they expanded further into the neighbouring shop, opening their clothing store in August.

“We feel that we have created a relaxed and fun space where our customers can feel invited, comfortable and inspired.”

A passion for Aussie brands and artisans guides their gaze when looking for what to stock next.

“It’s always nice when a brand has a story behind it and we are able to get to know the maker or supplier.”

The pair are also guided by what they would be excited to have in their own home and for their own children. Not to mention the kinds of clothes they want to see hanging in their own closets.

With Bec being a mum to three, Georgia, 6, Hugo, 4, Adeline, 2, and Casey mum to two, Harriet, 4, and Mabel, 1, their clan of cousins reminds them to keep the fun of shopping and meeting for a coffee accessible to mums with their bubs in tow.

“We especially like to make other mums feel like they have a safe and comfortable place to shop with children, offering a space for mums to breastfeed or change baby if need be.”

Noticing a need in the community for such a place, they decided to be proactive and are proudly and fabulously filling that gap.

While Casey is the go-to girl for making the store look fabulous and keeping up to date with all the latest trends, Bec is the resident tech guru who keeps everything humming along behind the scenes, which includes their popular online store.

Offering an online platform that is easy to navigate is a must for the conscientious pair. “We have quite a few online orders come through during the middle of the night when many mums are up feeding their babies,” they note.

Casey was born in Guyra, moving to Inverell at the age of 10, and Bec is a member of the McBean family. They are locals who truly value being part of the community.

“Inverell is a beautiful little town, which we are both very proud to call home. We sit alongside other beautiful boutique stores and together we all create a gorgeous shopping hub for people to enjoy.”

Casey and Bec’s love of their community, along with their genuine love and respect for each other, makes Clover & Co what it is today. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

FACING PAGE: Clover & Co owners and sisters-in-law Casey (left) and Bec; in store you will find homewares, gifts and clothing for mother and child with a focus on Australian brands in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Boutique fashion house, home and gift store in the heart of Inverell

Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm + Sat 9am - 1pm Ph. (02) 6721 0745 43 Otho Street, Inverell NSW 2360 cloverandcohome@gmail.com

cloverandco.com.au

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dressed BEST

Behind long-standing Inverell boutique Ellati is owner Marg Brady, whose early career in couture shaped her fashion philosophy and vision for her business.

“Learning my craft, where hand finishing and fine detail were the norm, set me up to appreciate beautiful fabrics and understand the importance of fit and finish,” Ellati owner Marg Brady says.

“And I’ve carried this philosophy through with me when searching for brands to stock in my store.”

Ellati carries a number of lines to suit clientele across all age groups as well as menswear, unique accessories and European footwear.

Originally from Sydney, Marg studied design and pattern making, which led to a position with legendary Sydney designer Beril Jents, who was known for creating stunning one-off pieces for the Sydney social set. “It was exacting work for very particular and often demanding clients” and she thanks her time with the designer for forming the high expectations of her own quality of work and that of others.

Years later, Marg’s husband Col’s passion for breeding cattle prompted a move to the bush, and soon after Marg opened Ellati.

Her shop has become a landmark on Otho Street, and Marg and her dedicated staff Kristyn, Kathryn and Lyn pride themselves on their personalised service. Loyal customers turn to Marg and her team time and again to assist them in choosing and accessorising their outfits.

One stand-out memory in Ellati’s history is the Inverell flood of 1991, when waters rose so quickly that it caught many in the community off guard. While at Ellati they managed to move much of their stock to higher ground; they were running low on time with the muddy water already knee deep.

“There was a pretty pale pink linen skirt and blouse on one of my stands that we didn’t get to,” Marg says. Leaving it on the stand, Marg quickly pinned the skirt and blouse up as high as it would go and left the shop, hoping it might be spared.

“By the next morning the water had receded and I arrived to a chaotic muddy mess, but my pale pink outfit was still standing and absolutely pristine without one spot of mud!” The outfit went on to be sold and worn to a race meeting without any hint of its almost very muddy past.

The long-term success of Ellati is driven by the passion that Marg continues to bring to every facet of her job.

Each morning as she opens her doors to welcome customers in, Marg takes pride in knowing that her store is as fresh and as beautiful as the day it was opened. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

FROM TOP: Marg Brady, the owner of Inverell boutique Ellati; in store you will find a carefully curated range of quality clothing and accessories for women and men, with excellent customer service.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

DOMESTIC BLISS After almost two decades, Magnolia Home & Gift continues to bring joy and style into Inverell homes.

The year is 2002, the shabby chic interiors trend is still going strong and Cheryelle Dowsley has opened her new shop Magnolia Home & Gift in Inverell.

Nineteen years later, we have moved on from shabby chic to boho chic, Hamptons style and modern country but one thing has stood the test of time: Magnolia Home & Gift. In July 2021, long-time manager Kristy Buxton proudly became the new owner.

In 2008, when Kristy came on board as a retail assistant, Magnolia Home & Gift had grown significantly since opening five years earlier, offering everything from jewellery and decor to bedding, sleepwear and luxurious toiletries.

The lines they carried had grown significantly, and they opened a second location to hold their kitchen goods and tableware called Magnolia Home & Table.

Kristy had been there a year when a larger location on Otho Street became available and they were able to move everything back into one place. They took the opportunity to expand again to include their well-loved children and baby section.

Kristy became manager and began learning everything she would need to know to take over as owner of this big, beautiful boutique.

Kristy moved to Inverell from the nearby

township of Tingha when she was 18. She and husband Luke are true “locals”, and it is a joy to see so many familiar faces come through the doors on a regular basis.

Two additional familiar faces in the shop are daughters Sophie, 14, and Chloe, 17. Chloe can be found in store on the weekends and during busy seasons such as the lead-up to Christmas.

“She has a love of decorating and making things look beautiful, like myself,” Kristy says.

Kristy and Chloe, along with the other dedicated members of the Magnolia team, Kim, Brooke and Alex, find satisfaction in providing friendly personal service to their customers.

“Running a business is one of the most rewarding things,” Kristy says. “I not

only love that I am able to offer my family opportunities for the future, but also giving our girls something to strive for, letting them know that they can do anything they set their minds to.”

But the excitement on shoppers’ faces when they walk in and are greeted with a plethora of gorgeous goods from well-loved brands and new favourites waiting to be discovered is the cherry on top. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The friendly team at Magnolia Home & Gift, Brooke Gavan, owner Kristy Buxton, Alex Croft and Kim Thom; the shop is full of beautiful wares for every room in your home and gifts for every occasion.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

makers’ mark

Industrious crafters and enthusiastic collectors Kaye Scott and Melissa Anderson are the mother-daughter team behind Little Nest Emporium in Inverell.

Kaye Scott and Melissa Anderson have adorned their Little Nest with all manner of handmade goods along with nostalgiainducing retro and vintage collectables.

For Melissa, the dream to open her own store selling handmade goods started when she was just a child, however the path to realising this dream started generations earlier with her grandmother Lorna.

Lorna’s hands were always busy. From knitting and crocheting to embroidery and sewing, she loved creating beautiful pieces for her home and her children.

On Christmas Day 1964, Lorna’s 11-yearold daughter Kaye woke to find a brown Vulcan hand crank sewing machine under the tree. With patience, her father Stan turned the crank all day while Lorna taught their daughter to sew. Her first creations were a blouse and skirt for her doll Suzie. As you might expect from any true collector, Kaye still has these priceless treasures today.

Naturally following in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps, Melissa learned to sew at the tender age of five. A library bag to bring to school seemed like a good starting point, and her endeavours flowed on from there to almost every corner of the creative landscape.

Both Kaye and Melissa spent their early years in Tamworth, and the two-hour drive to visit Lorna’s sisters in and around Inverell for holidays was a familiar journey.

Inverell, with its charming historic architecture and personal family connection, eventually won over both mother and daughter, who settled in Inverell in the late ’90s and 2020 respectively.

Shortly after moving to Inverell, Melissa began building her Little Nest in the former Divine Photography Studio at 62 Otho Street. Finally realising her childhood dream was made sweeter by doing so in the building where her own grandparents had their wedding portrait taken.

Like all good fossickers, the pair enjoy travelling to craft and antique fairs and revel in the random nature of what you might find on any given day. They strive to recreate the same environment of

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spontaneity and discovery within their store, hoping to spark a memory or two.

“We want people to be able to enjoy reminiscing with their family and friends (or us!) while they browse Little Nest.”

For Melissa and Kaye and on occasion Great Aunty Lola and her knitting needles, creating for their shop is a joyous process that is enhanced by sharing their handmade goods and vintage finds with the people who step inside their Little Nest. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

ABOVE: Kaye Scott and Melissa Anderson are the mother and daughter team that runs Little Nest Emporium; nearly everything in their store is either handmade or vintage. Pictured are some of the things that you will find in store, including knitted hats, pillow slips and blankets, decorative bunting, tea towels and collected treasures like tea sets.

magnolia home & gift For over 18 years we have been dedicated to offering the latest in gifts, homewares, decor, kitchen, baby wear & nursery, women’s fashion, accessories and much much more.

Featuring brands such as Elk • Maxwell & Williams • Glasshouse • Najo • Toshi • Aden & Anais • Alimrose

Ph. 02 6721 4666 magnoliahg@bigpond.com

magnoliahomeandgiftinverell.com

of Inver ell

SUBSCRIPTIONS • BACK ISSUES • BOXED COLLECTIONS

M O N T O F R I 9 A M - 5 . 3 0 P M & S AT 9 A M - 1 P M

ELL ATI

4 0 - 4 2 O T H O S T R E E T, I N V E R E L L , N S W 2 3 6 0

With international brands, imported leathergoods and handcrafted jewellery, we'll help craft that special look just for you!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ORDER: WWW.LIFESTYLEMAGAZINE.NET.AU

Orders can also be made by contacting us P: 0429 441 086 E: info@lifestylemagazine.net.au Pictured: The Spring 2021 edition, featuring Albury & Holbrook

Mon to Fri 9.30am to 5.30pm & Sat 9am to 12.30pm Phone. (02) 6722 4871 Mobile. 0427 224 871 10 - 12 Otho Street, Inverell NSW 2360

Little Nest Emporium

Beautifully handcrafted and locally made Unique yarn and fabric homewares and gifts Vintage and retro collectables and antiques

62 Otho St Inverell NSW 2360

Mon–Fri 9.30am–3.30pm Sat 9.30am–12noon

02 6721 1880 INVERELL RLM 81

small is

beautiful

There is a special charm about Gum Flat Public School, which has been the heartbeat of its rural community for well over a century.

Public education has been delivered continuously in Gum Flat, 12 kilometres south west of Inverell, for 138 years.

With a current enrolment of 19 students, Gum Flat Public is one of the smaller schools in the New England and North West region.

Principal Margarete Coddington has taught in small schools for close to 20 years and is a strong advocate for all they offer.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

The Gum Flat motto is “Caring and Achieving” and underpins a strong culture of inclusion, participation and achievement, supported by a close-knit community.

“It really is a unique experience,” Margarete says, looking out over the beautiful playground – close to 15 acres of native vegetation teeming with birdlife.

A large tallow-wood tree in the school has a resident koala family.

“It is such a beautiful tree and focus for the kids, who have lunch under it and check on the koalas every day.”

Primary is divided into two classrooms: Kinder to Year 2, and Years 3 to 6. Individual learning and academic achievement is supported with a personalised plan for each student.

“You can see the children’s growth every day, and what needs to be worked on,” Margarete says. “No one falls through the cracks.”

Small class numbers present opportunities to build confidence and life skills.

The school is part of the Sapphire Community of Schools network, a learning alliance of large and small schools in and around Inverell that work together, sharing resources, professional knowledge, and bringing students together for events like Education Week and sports carnivals.

At Gum Flat, students benefit from an experienced teaching and support staff, who Margarete praises as “fantastic, always willing to go above and beyond”.

“There is something special about Gum Flat,” she says. “It’s a place where people want to be, which is wonderful for students’ continuity of learning, too.”

A perfect example is administration manager Robyn Makim, a former student, who has been instrumental in the smooth running of the school for more than 30 years.

The school has a proactive and supportive Parents and Citizens group that raises funds and conducts social activities. And there is plenty of family involvement, including big turnouts for assemblies, Book Week and sports days.

Strong connections with the local community are highly valued.

The school was established in 1883, and together with the 90-yearold hall across the paddock, are the hub of the small township and wider farming district. This significant history is intertwined with generations of farming families, a constant during times of change on the land, through drought, floods and fires.

Current students are from town and country, with different experiences expanding the perspective for all. Enrolment will receive a boost in 2022 as eight new Kindergarten students are starting.

Genuine interaction between students from youngest to oldest, in the classroom and playground, is another unique aspect of small school life.

“The kids all play together,” Margarete says. “And they support each other. This interaction of ages really sets us apart.”

It flows into positive attitudes around behaviour and wellbeing, all working together towards being responsible, respectful and active learners.

The many and varied extra-curricular activities at Gum Flat rival that of many larger schools.

With the installation of a new multi-purpose sports court, students have access to state-level coaches in netball, basketball and tennis at their doorstep. Sporting representatives include State PSSA level in athletics, swimming and cross country.

A favourite excursion to Brisbane and the Gold Coast every three years for older students is an exciting tradition at Gum Flat. The Ekka is a highlight of a fantastic city experience, along with great activities like Outback Spectacular, iFLY and the beach.

The school visits local destinations and events such as Pioneer Village, art galleries, the eisteddfod, and Copeton Dam for fishing, as well as travelling to remote small schools for overnight excursions.

“It’s a place where people want to be, which is wonderful for students’ continuity of learning, too.”

Memories made at Gum Flat Public School are cherished.

This little school, which has stood in its tranquil setting for generations, is so important to this community, providing a unique education and fostering values to stand the test of time.

“I love it, and I think everyone feels blessed to be here,” Margarete sums up beautifully. “We are one big family. It really is pretty special.” RLM Words: Elizabth Grant

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Staff and students at Gum Flat Public School; the school boasts a lovely rural setting; a mosaic celebrating the school’s 125th anniversary.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Principal Margarete Coddington in front of the school, established in 1883; Heather Angel with Years 3-5 as they freshen up on computer skills; the school’s friendly koala; tennis lessons; happy students; Kel Butler with students from Years 1 and 2; students thrive outdoors.

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BATCH

For some, baking is about more than just the delicious end result but equally about the ritual. One such baker is Edwina Mill, the creative cook behind Sprinkle and Bake of Inverell.

of the day

Edwina Mill was drawn into the enthusiastic home baker’s club at a young age by her mother and grandmother, who were always whipping up a little something sweet to share around.

Within moments of arriving at her gran’s house in Narrandera, Edwina would peek in the fridge where there would be a variety of containers filled with sweet treats, ready and waiting for her Saturday afternoon tennis party attendees and sticky-fingered grandchildren.

“I have very fond memories of making a particular slice called Gran’s Caramel Slice,” Edwina says.

“The process of lining the pan with biscuits, crushing more for crumbs and mixing them into hot caramel was topped off with breaking up chocolate for Gran to melt, no doubt tasting as I went!”

It was from her mother that she learned generosity of spirit.

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“My mum is such a beautiful soul and has always been extremely generous,” Edwina says. She knew that sometimes a baked treat could convey more than words ever could, whether that be gratitude, comfort, sympathy or simply to say thank for being here to share morning tea with me. “Mum was always baking for others, and she still does to this day.”

After growing up in the small country town of Holbrook in southern NSW, Edwina earned a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and immediately put her degree to work. In 2010, she met her husband Geoff and they have grown their family to include children Ralph, 7, Henry, 5, and Sophia, 2.

While Sprinkle and Bake was officially launched in 2015, it wasn’t till after their move to Inverell to be closer to Geoff’s family farm a year later that Edwina shifted her focus from cakes to

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“WHEN I’M MAKING BISCUITS FOR BIRTHDAYS I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S REACTIONS WHEN THEY SEE WHAT I’VE CREATED.” biscuits. Twelve months of research and rigorous biscuit testing led to the launch of their personalised biscuits, made from locally sourced ingredients and offering superior quality with an excellent shelf life and stability.

In October 2019, Edwina’s business was featured on Buy From The Bush, which propelled her growth rapidly and saw her solely bake and ice over 30,000 biscuits within 12 months of being featured.

“It was definitely time to enlist some more help and I now employ one other person, a beautiful friend Heidi, who bakes all of the biscuits for me as well as employing others on a casual basis to help during busy periods,” Edwina says. “Not to mention wonderful supportive family and friends who come to my rescue as needed!”

And you can’t forget her supportive husband Geoff, who she says has learned more than his fair share about biscuits and packaging since Sprinkle and Bake began.

In July 2020, Edwina reached another milestone, stepping back from teaching to turn her focus entirely to her business.

“I adored working with children and I think that I’ve been able to translate that across into my biscuits,” Edwina says. “When I’m making biscuits for birthdays I often think about the children’s reactions when they see what I’ve created.” Brightly coloured sprinkles always bring smiles.

Edwina’s passion has built a solid reputation for delivering a quality and eye-catching product, leading to some incredible opportunities.

“I’ll never forget my very first large corporate order for Qantas,” Edwina says. “They wanted 1000 logo biscuits. I had no idea where to start, or how long that would even take me!”

She had all hands on deck to help her fill that order from baking, to icing and decorating to packaging and stickers. Repeat customer Qantas most recently enlisted Edwina to create biscuits for the Paralympians to enjoy onboard the plane to the Tokyo Olympics.

A Sprinkle and Bake biscuit became part of athlete Vanessa Low’s gold medal moment, creating a new high point in the history of Edwina’s business.

“Sharing a biscuit between friends is giving ourselves time to stop and enjoy the simple things in life over a cup of tea. The biscuit represents so much more than just the taste.”

And that’s the Sprinkle and Bake philosophy. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

FACING PAGE: Great care goes into baking, decorating and packaging every Sprinkle and Bake order, delivering a consistent, colourful and delicious product every time.

ABOVE: Edwina Mill is the creative force behind Sprinkle and Bake of Inverell.

Creating handmade vanilla bean iced biscuits, using only the best locally sourced ingredients. Choose a design and we can personalise them for birthdays, weddings, corporate events, parties or just because!

Ph. 0404 854 364 sprinkleandbake@outlook.com sprinkleandbake.com.au

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double or nothing LJ Hooker’s John and Miles Devlin make a formidable team in business and in life.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Some clients think they’re seeing double at Inverell’s LJ Hooker.

Business leaders and identical twins John and Miles Devlin have owned and operated the business since they were 21.

The brothers are rarely seen apart, which may account for how they’ve both achieved so many of their business and life goals at such a young age. They grew up with a strong love of tennis and were leading players at junior satellite tournaments, before directing their energies into a totally different game.

Miles got the ball rolling, working in a real estate agency as a school-based trainee while attending Inverell High School.

Loving the atmosphere and experience, he decided to leave school at the end of Year 11 for a full-time position. John was then fortunate enough to be offered a position in the same firm the following year.

After nearly five years in the industry and keen to forge ahead in the corporate world, the twins teamed up to establish LJ Hooker, Inverell, with the backing of their parents John and Jennifer Devlin. The former sheep and cattle farmers, now living on an Inverell lifestyle block, encouraged each of their four sons, including Matthew and Tom, to follow their dreams.

Working through the adversity of the worst drought in the region’s history, the Devlin twins shared a clear vision from the start. They share the load equally in the day-to-day running of the business and are both part of the sales team. Weekends don’t normally start until after a busy morning of open homes.

Sundays are normally free, which explains why we’ve caught up at John and wife Bec’s beautiful home they share with children Georgia, 6, Hugo, 4, and Adeline, 2. Miles lives around the corner in an old heritage-listed home with partner Casey Grills and children Harriet, 4, and Mabel, 1.

Despite John and Miles’s best efforts to trick them, the adorable children never get confused as to who’s who. Dealing with clients or friends is a different story. To complicate matters, they wear the same work uniform.

“Often a new client might see me in the morning,” says Miles, telling a familiar tale. “Later that day they might run into John and feel like they’re getting the cold shoulder! I try and warn my clients there’s another bloke out there that looks very much like me and to be prepared.”

John and Miles enjoy a candid and direct relationship. And while they have strong and varying opinions, they always seem to find common ground. They share the same friends, interests and hobbies, attend the same gym and enjoy sport, including hockey on Saturdays for the Men in Black.

There are not many people who could share an office with their brother every working day of their adult life, but for these two, it’s perfectly natural.

And their partners get along famously. Bec and Casey run a successful clothing and homewares boutique store, Clover & Co, that’s gone from strength to strength since opening four years ago.

Bec also manages the family finance.

Jumping into the real estate industry at age 16 and 17 and opening their own business a few years later might be seen as risky but the proof is in the pudding. Recently, the siblings merged with a second existing real estate agency and now have 15 team members and number one market share of the Inverell and surrounding region real estate market.

“We believe in the concept of working hard while you can,” Miles says. “We didn’t go to university. We were young and ambitious and, like our parents, wanted young families. Mum works with us a few days each week in property management and helps out when others are away. And we see our father nearly every day. We were lucky they both encouraged us from the get-go.” > FACING PAGE: Twins, business partners and best mates John and Miles Devlin in John’s home.

ABOVE: Casey and Miles Devlin with daughters Harriet and Mabel, John and Bec Devlin with children Adeline, Hugo and Georgia.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

After nearly five years in the industry and keen to forge ahead in the corporate world, the twins teamed up to establish LJ Hooker, Inverell, with the backing of their parents John and Jennifer Devlin.

At LJ Hooker Inverell we never stop growing.

Specialising in

RESIDENTIAL

RURAL

COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL

We have been operating in the Inverell area since 2010 and are proudly owned and operated by John Devlin and Miles Devlin.

LJ Hooker Inverell has the most energetic, professional and best-trained staff backed by Australia's Number 1 Real Estate Brand.

If you are considering buying, selling or renting in Inverell and surrounding areas, our team can assist you with up-to-date knowledge and help make the process a stress-free and enjoyable experience.

Trading hours Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm Sat 9am - 12pm Ph. (02) 6721 0215

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inverell@ljhooker.com.au 13-15 Byron Street, Inverell, NSW 2360

inverell.ljhooker.com.au

One of the most frequently asked questions is “what’s it like being a twin?”.

“Everybody asks that but there’s no easy answer. We know nothing else,” John says. “We may be twins but we’re also best mates. We lead different lives but with plenty of common ground.”

The twins, now in their early 30s, never stop thinking of ways to improve things, not getting too comfortable with their achievements. They are both extremely competitive, on the sporting field and in life. There’s always that underlying drive to outperform each other, to push each other out of their comfort zone.

The two power couples have achieved plenty while raising young families, with five children under the age of seven between them. Their success, they say, comes down to their connections.

As part of the fabric of the Inverell business and wider community, they play Saturday sport, volunteer on committees, sponsor local sporting teams and cultural events and attend as many social events as they can.

They understand the value of being part of a small rural community and acknowledge the benefits that come from a strong local economy.

Being a twin, there’s always somebody to hold them accountable, someone to help celebrate the wins and commiserate the losses. RLM

ABOVE: The LJ Hooker team: Donna Ehsman, Jenni Devlin, Monique McCoy, Tamika Hills, Annabelle Marsh, Jaclyn Krug, Wayne Daley, Sean Taylor, Bec Devlin, Chloe Doran, Marnee Mundy, Darci Norris, and LJ Hooker principals John Devlin and Miles Devlin.

ghtly prime sheep and lamb sales at IRLX • Privates sales, and accreditd Auction Plus assessors • Rural property and small acreage specialists.

C.L. Squires & Co STOCK AND STATION AGENT

LOCAL, PRIVATELY OWNED AGENCY SERVICING NORTHERN NSW AND SOUTHERN QLD FOR OVER 50 YEARS Offering weekly prime cattle sales, monthly store cattle sales and fortnightly prime sheep and lamb sales at IRLX Privates sales, and accredited Auction Plus assessors Rural property and small acreage specialists

3/137 Byron Street, Inverell NSW 2360 (02) 6722 2588 admin@clsquires.com.au www.clsquires.com.au Open M–F 9am–5pm

Proudly supporting Inverell for 25 years INVERELL RLM 89

T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

BIG BUSINESS Bindaree Food Group’s motto says it all: People, Passion, Flavour.

With about 850 staff employed at the Inverell processing plant, including 160 Pacific Islanders, Bindaree Food Group is easily the town’s biggest employer.

Everybody in town knows somebody who works there, and 10,000 hardworking men and women have made it a rite of passage since the abattoir opened in 1995.

In that time, six million head of cattle have been processed and an estimated billion dollars injected into the local economy. More than 40 dedicated staff have worked at the site for 25 years.

Nearly 2500 traineeships have been offered, along with 100 apprentices, who work alongside a mixture of accountants, IT, project managers, HR personnel, electricians, tradespeople, logistics staff, supply chain and cattle buyers.

The Bindaree Food Group owns the Myola Feedlot at Croppa Creek and operates a second processing plant/value add facility on the Gold Coast, with major operational hubs in Sydney and Shanghai.

The Inverell plant processes about 5000 head each week. About 50 per cent of all beef is destined for overseas markets. Inverell processing and regional producers support a global supply chain. The company ships product to more than 70 countries.

“Bindaree brands continue to promote the unique flavour of NSW grass-and grain-fed products and link the many thousands of producers who continue to support the company into consumer chains all over the world,” chief commercial officer for the Bindaree Food Group Andrew Simpson says.

“Our staff are the core of our business and the reason I get out of bed every day,” he says.

“Regional family-owned abattoirs are critical to the sustainability of towns like Inverell.”

While the processing facility has evolved greatly over the past 26 years, the company continues to embody the strong sense of family and integrity from which it was built all those years ago.

“The BFG business takes great pride in the experience and passion of its people as it navigates the complexities of both the food and cattle industries – as it has done for nearly three decades,” Andrew says.

“We’re passionate about supporting local and being active within the community – providing financial or in-kind support to schools, business, church and community groups, sporting teams as well as sponsoring and participating in many local events.” RLM

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“REGIONAL FAMILY-OWNED ABATTOIRS ARE CRITICAL TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOWNS LIKE INVERELL.”

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: The Bindaree Food Group, pictured from the highway, is one of Inverell’s big employers; chief commercial officer Andrew Simpson checks for quality; a hive of activity on the boning floor.

FROM TOP: The Bindaree Food Group processes about 5000 head each week and employs about 850 staff; nearly half of the processed beef is destined for overseas markets; the BFG slogan says it all.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

a champion TEAM

C.L. Squires & Company has been an active stock and station and real estate agency for over 50 years, servicing northern NSW and southern Queensland.

C.L. Squires & Co is the only agency in Australia that can lay claim to having three NSW state champions among its stable of four auctioneers.

Regarded as one of the premier agents in the New England, C.L. Squires & Co has gone from strength to strength since Kings Plains farmers Terry and Bev Pyne bought the agency in 1990 from Clifford Lawrence Squires.

Two very loyal team members have been with Terry since the start: Cliff’s son Peter Squires, a highly experienced auctioneer himself, and Jillian Oakenfull, who runs administration. Melissa Williams joined in 2002 as another capable addition to the administration team.

Selling livestock and rural property has been a lifelong dream for Terry, who runs a partnership with gun auctioneers Tom Oakes and Robbie Bloch. Both men share the honour of having been voted the best young auctioneers in NSW. Tom joined the company in 2007, followed by Robbie in 2011, and have since formed a formidable, successful partnership.

Another valued member of the team, Phil Hurford, also joined in 2011.

The latest addition, Will Claridge, joined the business four years ago, and is the reigning state champion of the ALPS NSW Young Auctioneers Competition.

As one of the six stock and station agents in town, C.L. Squires & Co has forged a strong relationship with local farmers and graziers.

“We’re proud to offer a reliable service to our clients,” Terry says after another big sale day.

“We strive to achieve the best results for our clients, using all forms of marketing livestock and rural properties, including saleyards, paddock sales, over the hook and Auctions Plus, along with all forms of advertising.”

The cattle are sold each Tuesday through the newly built Inverell Regional Livestock Exchange, with a fortnightly sale of sheep and lambs, along with four local stud stock sales each year.

Tom handles the sheep sales, Peter and Will share the cattle auctioneering duties at the fat sales, while Robbie specialises in the weaner and bull sales.

At the moment, the market is at an all-time high. Over the years, the agency has witnessed the highs and lows of markets and seasons, from crippling droughts and bushfires to lush seasons with record returns for clients.

C.L. Squires & Co is looking forward to continuing its client service well into the future, aiming to offer the best possible marketing outcomes for valued clients in both livestock and property sales. RLM

“WE’RE PROUD TO OFFER A RELIABLE SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS.”

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Will Claridge, Peter Squires, Terry Pyne, Robbie Bloch and Tom Oakes from C.L. Squires & Co. (Absent: Phil Hurford); Tom Oates is an old hand when it comes to selling sheep and lambs; well-known buyer Abbey Whan, Glen Innes, with Terry Pyne; big yards of sheep; action at the cattle sales.

FROM TOP: Terry Pyne and his team are enjoying one of the best years on record; selling sheep in days gone by; sisters Jillian Oakenfull and Melissa Williams run the administration side of the business.

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young gun It only took a day of work experience for Will Claridge to find his true calling in life.

During Year 11 at The Armidale School, Will Claridge spent an eventful day at the local saleyards and knew he’d be a stock and station agent for the rest of his life.

After school he was offered a start with Ray White, Armidale, before switching to C.L. Squires & Co, Inverell, two years later.

It was too good an opportunity to come home and join a progressive livestock team.

After four years with the agency, Will, 24, has already made a name for himself

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through his natural selling style and ability to mix easily with clients.

“The sales team has more experienced auctioneers than myself, but they’ve given me the opportunity to get some runs on the board,” a chirpy Will says after the weekly cattle and sheep sales.

During Easter 2021, he travelled to Sydney for a crack at the keenly contested ALPA NSW Young Auctioneers Competition. While selling each of his

three steers to professional buyers, Will managed to keep his nerves in check by imagining he was back at home selling to familiar faces.

“I was lucky enough to draw three good steers, which attracted some attention and helped make my job that little bit easier,” he says with a grin.

Will won the competition, and the first to congratulate him were his proud parents, Michael and Sonya Claridge, who live on a

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

mixed farming and grazing property north of Inverell, and delighted boss Terry Pyne, from C.L. Squires & Co. Terry has a knack of finding the best auctioneers in the land. Two of his fellow directors, Tom Oakes and Robbie Bloch, secured the prestigious title in 2003 and 2008.

Back in Inverell, Will is used to the long hours associated with his job, especially around sale time each week. The night before, he helps unload, draft and pen the cattle, frequently finishing at 10pm under lights.

Every day is different. On sale day he rises at 5.30am in the dark (in winter) and prepares his sale orders for the day.

He arrives at the saleyards by 7am, has breakfast and again checks his paperwork.

“I have values in my head before selling

that best prepare me to maximise returns for our clients,” he says.

“I’ve been fortunate to build a loyal client base through canvassing and offering competitive market opportunities, with support from both industry contacts and the Squires team.”

On free weekends, Will enjoys clay target shooting, jet sprint boat racing and some martial arts – made even better when surrounded by family.

“At the end of the day, work always comes first. I’m humbled and feel very fortunate to be part of such a great team,” he says.

Will is looking forward to representing NSW in the 2022 national finals. In the meantime, he is fine-tuning his auctioneering skills, knowing he will be up against Australia’s finest. RLM

“I’ve been fortunate to build a loyal client base through canvassing and offering competitive market opportunities.”

FACING PAGE: C.L. Squires & Co auctioneer Will Claridge has won the ALPA NSW Young Auctioneers Competition and will represent NSW at the national finals in 2022.

ABOVE: With a commanding voice and maturity well beyond his years, Will is a natural in the auctioneering department.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

attention

to detail Cameilia Grace Edwards has made a successful career out of creating skilful and heartfelt portraits.

Viewing the latest body of work by Inverell artist Cameilia Grace Edwards, you could imagine that she has been painting realistic portraiture her entire life.

The detail, depth and emotion she conveys on the canvas is admirable. But surprisingly, Cameilia’s career path has zigged and zagged and she has only recently landed where she knows she was always meant to be.

“For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to all things creative and aesthetically pleasing,” says Cameilia, however some of the stops on her journey so far have been quite outside the creative realm.

After graduating high school in Toowoomba, she began studying mathematics at university. After months of numbers, her creative side was calling her back and she completed a diploma of interior design and decoration.

Quickly changing tack again, she then went on to complete a course in financial services.

She enjoyed a career in financial planning for 11 years with a few home decorating and wedding planning jobs alongside her mum Barbie thrown in for good measure.

Growing up with her father Steve Jones, who Cameilia describes as a natural artistic talent, and brother Bohan, an architect, she has always been surrounded by creative people.

Cameilia painted on and off over the years, selling her art in the background until the demands of her young family with husband Chris – they have Harvey, 6, and Emerson, 2 – forced a break from painting in recent years.

However, in 2020 she was inspired to pick up her paint brush again, causing a seismic shift in her life. She had previously considered herself an abstract painter but her realistic and heartfelt piece Kindred Hearts was a departure from her typical style and, much to her surprise, won the Inverell Shire Council Acquisition Prize.

Winning the award gave Cameilia the confidence to pursue this new direction in style. The attention and accolades led to visibility on social media, and she accepted more than 20 commissions as a result.

As of December 2020, she was able to hang up her financial planning hat, with commissions booked through to May 2022.

“Some of the commission requests have been challenging in the sense that the reference photos were unclear or very old,” Cameilia says.

One particularly touching piece commissioned by a client for his fiancé comes to mind. “Her father had passed around the time that she was seven and she had no photos of them together.”

Cameilia was provided with two photographs: one of the father from 40 years ago and a school photo of the daughter when she was seven.

Cameilia painted a portrait of the father and daughter together – creating a physical image to cherish where once only a memory had been. Her client was “amazed beyond words”.

For many people, animals are also important family members, and this is true for Cameilia, who has had a special bond with horses since she was a young girl.

“Horses are in my blood,” she says. “If I close my eyes, I can feel them, smell them, hear them.”

Their form and features are etched into Cameilia’s memory, which contributes to her incredibly lifelike equine paintings.

“I know what it feels like when their hair changes direction or their muscles flinch under their skin,” she says. “It’s as if I was studying them throughout my childhood, unknowingly.”

Through her painting process, Cameilia draws from the different facets of her life to create one-of-a-kind pieces to fulfil her clients’ commission requests. Her aim is always to create art that will evoke emotion and draw you in, while also relying on her interior design principles to create pieces that will complement your space.

“Never before in my life have I felt like I had found my calling, until I started doing commission paintings,” Cameilia says. “To know that I am one of only a small amount of people that can provide this unique and personal service is very fulfilling.”

Her works of art hold immense sentimental value for her clients, a piece of family history that can be handed down for generations. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

FACING PAGE: Artist Cameilia Grace Edwards pictured in her studio shed at home in Inverell.

FROM TOP: Cameilia with husband Chris and children Harvey, 6, and Emerson, 2; the artist pictured with Ethereal, which was part of the Zara’s Day Fundraiser auction in October 2021.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

view to a

trill

Soprano sensation Peta Blyth OAM has enjoyed the rare honour of performing in operas in her own backyard – not just once but 14 times.

As the vision and driving force behind Opera in the Paddock, Peta Blyth and husband Bill were responsible for bringing opera to the bush.

Performing in every show from 2002 to 2017, Peta and her enthusiastic band of helpers watched numbers build from the original two singers, a pianist and flautist to 30 performers on the “Mimosa” stage.

Leading instrumentalists were sourced from Armidale, Newcastle and Brisbane, along with big-name singers including Inverell’s Elizabeth Campbell, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and tenor Rosario la Spina.

A recital at the Town Hall on the Friday night was followed by the big concert under the stars the following evening. The biggest crowd was 1800, with guests pouring in from all over the country.

“It was always tricky singing outside, especially on windy evenings, which can play havoc with your vocal cords,” Peta explains during a catch-up after a day’s work in Inverell.

Music and opera have always played a big role in her life, since early piano lessons at home with her sister in inner-city Brisbane.

Her first theatre experience was watching My Fair Lady, at age 10, at the now demolished Regent Theatre.

She remembers her time at Brisbane Girls Grammar school, strictly attired in traditional

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black stockings, hat and gloves. A love of languages would later come in handy for her opera and concert repertoire.

Peta sang in primary and secondary school choirs and loved drama and acting, stealing the show at combined plays School for Scandal and Carnival of Thieves with the “boys across the gully” at Gregory Terrace.

After graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Music from the University of Queensland, Peta was awarded the Sir Henry Abel Smith Scholarship, leading to a further 3½ years at the Royal College of Music, London.

On her return, she performed with the Australian Opera (AO), firstly chorus and many major role understudies, then principal roles, the first in Brian Howard’s Metamorphosis. Later AO roles included Papagena in The Magic Flute, Sophie in Werther, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Chava in The Fiddler on the Roof, First Niece in Peter Grimes and Jano in Jenufa.

Among her numerous understudies was the title role of Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment performed by Dame Joan Sutherland. Peta has also performed with the Lyric Opera of Queensland, in Hong Kong and in New Zealand as Musetta in La Boheme.

It hasn’t been easy being an opera singer, especially when you live on a mixed cattle

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

and grain farm 30km from Inverell. It’s a long drive to Sydney or Brisbane for rehearsals and coaching in different repertoires, but for Peta the trips are worth it.

In 2010, Peta was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for contribution to the performing arts, particularly opera.

By 2017, after 14 successful seasons, including the last one held indoors, Opera in the Paddock had run its course.

“With the recent drought and COVID the way it is, it seems we pulled up stumps at the right time,” she says.

Although memories of singing under a starry outback sky in the middle of nowhere always brings a smile to her face, Peta doesn’t miss the stress, particularly when it came to applying for grants and securing private sponsorship for the non-profit gig.

“After four decades of performance and teaching young singers, the power and beauty of the human voice continues to amaze me,” she says. “Like a fingerprint, no two are the same.”

For many years the Opera North West team has brought top singers and instrumentalists to the New England Region via Opera in the Paddock and other regional concerts.

“It was a great privilege bringing live music to country people, many of whom would never have had the opportunity to hear such artists,” she says.

A long association with pianist David Miller led to the release of CD Blyth Spirit, but Peta is equally content spending time out of the spotlight.

Her favourite space is in the peace and freedom of her garden, or sharing family time with children Simon and Sophie, their partners and three grandchildren.

And then there’s Peta’s husband of 44 years, her rock and knight in shining armour.

“I could never have achieved what I have without the unwavering support of Bill,” Peta sighs with a twinkle in her eye. RLM FROM TOP: By 2010, Opera in the Paddock was in full swing. Image: Kate Black; Peta Blyth OAM is still singing after 40 years while continuing her work for the local community.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: An aerial shot of “Mimosa” highlighting Opera in the Paddock; Peta in some of her early opera roles; with husband and “rock” Bill Blyth.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

the real deal After careers in other fields, Wally Duff and Amanda Green have found themselves right at home in the real estate game.

“Embrace the unforeseen opportunity – it will push you to strive to succeed. You’ll meet amazing people along the way that help you grow and develop as an individual.”

This is the mantra of Inverell business couple Wally Duff and Amanda Green, who bought RDR in 2018.

Their hard work and dedication have paid off, winning Agency of the Year for three consecutive years for the local area. Alongside this award, Amanda has been voted Agent of the Year for two consecutive years, now placing her in the top five per cent of agents in the country, as reported by Rate My Agent.

“The awards proved to us our decision to change careers was the right one, while encouraging us to keep striving forward,” Amanda says.

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“Our mission statement really sums up what we are all about: offering our clients outstanding personal and professional service – tailored to achieve the very best results, every step of the way. We strive to not only meet our clients’ expectations, but exceed them.”

After 17 years as a well-respected soil conservation manager and previously owning his own agricultural property, Wally felt it was time to pursue his dream of a career in real estate. Focusing primarily on the rural sector, Wally has found he now has the best of both worlds.

Before her real estate venture, Amanda spent 13 years in an accounting firm, followed by another four years with BEST Employment.

“A career change was not something I had contemplated but as we know, life can have different ideas and the change has been very rewarding,” she says. “There is never an easy time to start a new career, but by supporting each other through the transition we were able to take that leap of faith.”

Wally says they took over the business in the middle of the drought.

“In the last four years we’ve gone from the lowest of the lows to the highest of highs, with Inverell real estate busier than ever,” he says. “Nationally the property market has increased significantly in the first six months of 2021 and is expected to continue to grow.”

Wally and Amanda, along with their dynamic staff, have grown their business to be a strong competitor in Inverell and

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“OUR FAMILY HAVE GROWN UP HERE AND WE’RE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WITH AMAZING SUPPORT AND HARD WORK, WE’VE CREATED OUR OWN SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.” the surrounding districts with rural and residential sales.

“We have an amazing team at RDR, all from different career paths and with various strengths, however we share a common goal and vision,” Amanda says.

Elly Jurd joined RDR from the beginning and is an integral part of the business. As well as office manager, she takes care of marketing, photography and social media.

Kim McNamara recently joined the team as the assistant property manager.

Kim brings a wealth of public relations and administration experience, which is a must within the property management sector.

“If you have a dream and apply yourself, anything is possible,” Amanda says.

“Owning your own business can be stressful, but the satisfaction far outweighs the challenging times.

“It’s very humbling to play a part in seeing people’s lives change – when a buyer finds the perfect home or when a seller achieves their desired price, enabling them to move forward to the next stage of their life. It is such a privilege to be a part of that journey.”

Wally and Amanda pride themselves on being a local and independent real estate agency and couldn’t imagine living or working anywhere else.

“Inverell is a beautiful community-based town that will be as good to you as you let it,” Wally says. “Our family have grown up here and we’re very proud to say that with amazing support and hard work, we’ve created our own successful real estate business.”

With two sons chasing their own dreams, Wally and Amanda couldn’t be happier. Ben is in the WA cattle industry while Harry and his fiancee Melinda have established their own building business in Inverell. RLM Images: Leigh Stewart

FROM TOP: Wally and Amanda enjoy a cuppa together; celebrating yet another sold property, Wally Duff, Amanda Green, Elly Jurd, Kim McNamara; Harry Green, his fiancee Melinda Bullock, and Ben Green.

FACING PAGE: RDR owners Wally Duff and Amanda Green with assistant property manager Kim McNamara and office manager Elly Jurd.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

LISTEN UP

Inverell’s STA FM dishes up a lively and much-loved mix of musical diversity and community service.

Inverell’s STA FM community radio represents a broad crosssection of the community.

“We are made up of a small team of talented presenters with a wide range of skills and personalities. Our mission is to provide a voice for our local community,” explains Wayne Jones, who started in community radio nearly 40 years ago in Sydney.

Wayne was a member of Glen Innes community station 2CBD until 2009, when he and a small group of dedicated colleagues established STA FM in the Sapphire City.

“I enjoy all styles of music from the easy listening ’50s to the ’90s,” he says. “I like to play forgotten artists from the past, which brings back musical memories for a listener about a certain time, place or person.”

With nearly a dozen volunteer presenters from all walks of life, including Mal Really, Lynn Hunt, Ray Boon, John Shaw, Mike Williams, Beth Hamilton, Phil Stewart, Lindsay Peacock, Brett Turner and Jan Lemon, there’s more than enough music for everyone.

Laid-back breakfast presenter Gerry Taveira has worked in radio for two decades, including the past three years with STA FM. Gerry enjoys being the voice many listeners wake up to on the All STA Breakfast Show. He wakes at 4.30am each day and within half an hour is at the station organising the local news.

“I kid you not, it’s a very special time of day,” he laughs. “By the time I have breakfast at 9am, my day is half over while most others haven’t yet started.”

When he is not on air, Gerry loves his AFL, becoming the inaugural president and lifetime supporter of the Inverell Saints Football Club.

Chris Moran lived all over the eastern seaboard before finally returning to her hometown of Inverell about eight years ago.

“Music has always been something to lift the spirits and as such, radio has become a passion of mine,” she says. “You can walk in here feeling a bit low and within five minutes your spirits are soaring. I love communicating with my community.”

The station’s reach includes Inverell and its surrounding towns, and listeners can now tune in worldwide via online streaming. The station operates around the clock with music, community notices, live broadcasting and live interviews, in addition to local, state and national news and weather.

In recent years, STA FM’s role within the community has changed dramatically. The drought combined with flood and bushfire emergencies have seen the station take an active role in keeping the community informed and safe.

“We have just updated to a new location in the centre of town, installing state-of-the-art studios and newsroom to provide a more professional service,” STA FM president Peter Jarrett says.

“We have built a loyal listener and sponsor base and are keen to foster and develop our local community. From providing live coverage of Anzac Day ceremonies to supporting local service clubs and providing a detailed local news service, we are proud to be part of the Inverell community.”

STA FM has also partnered with Kellogg’s to provide over $250,000 of food products to help their community in need.

The happy group at STA FM welcomes new members with fresh ideas and a passion for community to join up. In the meantime, tune in to 91.9 for the time of your life. RLM

FROM TOP: Chris Moran always feels uplifted while presenting her show; breakfast announcer Gerry Taveira has worked in radio for 20 years; the new STA FM building in Inverell.

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Specialising in rural, residential, commercial sales + property management Office hours Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 12pm Contact us Ph. 02 6722 5500 admin@rexdaleyrealty.com

rexdaleyrealty.com

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upskilling & Community College Northern Inland is a leading provider of quality education and training, and is keen to bring more staff on board to share their skills.

Attracting quality trainers is vital to the ongoing success of Inverell’s Community College Northern Inland.

“We need skilled people to support our continued growth,” executive officer Alison Heagney says. “The influx of treechangers swapping city life for a regional and rural outlook presents opportunity to strengthen our current workforce.”

Alison is a tree-changer herself, finding her dream hobby farm in Inverell in 2017.

The town ticked all the boxes with a great

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uplifting

school (Gum Flat), reliable water supply and a progressive council.

She says the not-for-profit college is an attractive and rewarding employment option for people with a training background or interest in vocational education and training (VET).

“Our training organisation is all about building strength and resilience in regional communities through education, connection and employment opportunities.”

More than 2500 students are enrolled each year in a variety of programs, including vocational qualifications, non-accredited training and lifestyle workshops.

Students undertaking training with Community College experience faceto-face study or distance learning. At the heart of vocational education is the ability to deliver real workplace practical skills, pathways and programs to meet the needs of local communities, business and industry.

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Students are held in high esteem by industry and businesses keen to take on work-ready graduates with the required practical skills and knowledge.

While the Inverell campus is part of a statewide network, it is still owned and run by the local community, who work closely with businesses and organisations to utilise available facilities to run courses.

Continued growth is creating an urgent need to deliver training in aged care, community and disability services, first aid, construction and safety, engineering, hospitality, business, information technology, foundation skills and literacy and numeracy.

Alison says the program delivery includes outreach in businesses and farms and in townships.

“We also help communities in other ways, through programs like the Narrabri Women’s Shed that supports connection through shared activities and informal learning, and the adoption of the Barraba Community News, a locally owned and produced newspaper.”

Over the past five years, the college has grown exponentially. As well as Inverell, face-to-face training is delivered across six other campuses (Barraba, Bingara, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri and Warialda) by skilled trainers who work in the industry in which they teach.

A year and a half after opening, the Inverell campus has developed into a highquality facility for locals.

“We knew to attract high-quality trainers we’d need a top-notch facility, so we invested in an upmarket retail precinct that can hold 80 students and 10 staff at any one time, seven days/nights a week,” she says.

Arriving in 2020 from Macksville was Pauline Lonsdale, who works in aged care disability. After finding an affordable home in Graman and securing a job on the same day, she now teaches three days a week at the college and travels throughout the region teaching first aid.

“I’m thrilled to be working in such a great town as Inverell and especially love the lifestyle, with a few acres out of town for my six Dorper sheep,” she says.

VET manager Vicki Zammit made the tree change from Sydney to Inverell in 1994. She supports the trainers, organises accredited training, oversees the students and recruits new trainers, which at the moment are scarce.

“I love imparting the skill of learning to all students, starting with high school students.

Knowledge is the key and leads to the creation of new jobs and finding career pathways.

“The college desperately needs fresh new talent in the training department – people with passion and heart. If they want

At the heart of vocational education is the ability to deliver real workplace practical skills, pathways and programs to meet the needs of local communities, business and industry.

to be invested in their communities and share their knowledge, we need to talk.”

Inverell campus co-ordinator Tania Archer left Inverell when she was 19, returning home two decades later after time in Europe, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Townsville and the SA desert.

“I was drawn to Inverell’s relaxed lifestyle,” she says. “Now I create courses that businesses and students need. We are seeing a trend in aged care disability services and community services with some amazing outcomes.”

This organisation is clearly about changing lives. As a leading provider of quality education and training, each of the various campuses plays an important role in community development, providing local access to nationally accredited workforce training, innovative learning, life skills and lifestyle programs.

“Our people make the difference,” Alison says. “All of them are engaged and motivated by a real sense of purpose to do more and achieve more in their mission to empower others. Our college is an attractive employment option for people looking for greater meaning in their work.” RLM

FROM TOP: The upmarket Inverell campus is attracting staff and students looking for a modern and uplifting atmosphere. Photo: McMahon Structural – Advanced Homes; the Inverell community enjoys easy access to training in the centre of the retail precinct; tree-changer Pauline Lonsdale couldn’t be happier with her new lifestyle working as a regional trainer based in Inverell.

FACING PAGE: Community College EO Alison Heagney, marketing officer Lesley Rogers, VET manager Vicki Zammit, co-ordinator Tania Archer and aged care trainer Pauline Lonsdale at the Inverell campus.

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a monumental

UNDERTAKING Inverell identities Digby and Jo McNeil were not prepared to let an exquisite and multifaceted piece of the town’s history sit and rot.

ABOVE: Jo and Digby McNeil are well known for their ability to restore old buildings. Their most recent project is easily the biggest and most challenging; the old convent is next on their list.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “Lyndhurst” is also known as Egan House after the man responsible for the build; the McNeils have left no stone unturned when it comes to the massive renovation job.

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When Digby and Jo McNeil bought a historic “job lot” at auction including a convent, boys’ boarding house and Victorian terrace, they had little idea what they were getting into.

Fortunately, a love of old buildings and an ability to finish the job have enabled the McNeils to undertake projects that wouldn’t look out of place on The Block.

Keen to preserve local history, the pair commenced their restoration projects in 2014 with the redevelopment of the original old timber mill into three industrial-designed, eco-friendly apartments.

Their foray into the world of renovations would pale in significance to what lay ahead. In 2017, they found themselves in Dubbo attending a funeral, when Digby ducked outside to make the biggest phone call of his life. Within a few nail-biting minutes it was all over after the McNeils outbid five other hopefuls to secure a significant slab of Inverell history.

The old two-storey home was all but derelict until this industrious pair set to work, starting with a new upstairs balcony.

Fast forward nearly four years and “Lyndhurst” is now occupied by the ebullient Beth McNeil, Digby’s 89-year-old mother, who is enjoying her first year in one of Inverell’s oldest buildings.

“I love it here,” she declares with an infectious grin. “It’s close to town and there’s always plenty of activity in Victoria Park across the road, where I walk every day.”

Since the building was featured on the popular ABC show Restoration Australia, untold numbers of visitors have driven slowly past to see the town’s sole freestanding terrace. Some stop for a quick picture, often with Beth waving from the front porch.

Some visitors drop in to share early childhood experiences.

Beth’s daughter-in-law, Jo, is familiar with the rich history of all three convent buildings. The two-storey home was completed in 1876 as a residence for Charles Egan and his brood of 15 children, including two sons who joined the “Kurrajongs” before fighting on the Western Front during WW1. They had moved from Glen Innes after the family breadwinner was appointed Inverell’s first sheriff.

Charles later started one of the town’s first cordial factories and built several commercial buildings, including the Federal Hotel.

In 1922, the Sisters of Mercy bought the building to house boarders upstairs and teach music downstairs. After the sisters moved on in the late 1970s, the convent became “Ireby Lodge” for adults with intellectual disabilities, with the manager living in the home.

The buildings stood vacant for several years until purchased by eccentric American lawyer Gabriel Sheridan in 2002. He visited a few times each year, always staying in a humble convent room.

Occasionally he bought paint supplies and used McNeil’s Equipment Hire, unaware that the hard-working owners would one day finish the dream he’d started. >

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“WHILE THERE ARE SOME TRULY AMAZING PIECES, MANY ARE SO LARGE AND HEAVY IT MAKES OUR RESTORATION OF THE BUILDING SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER.” Gabriel used his importer’s licence to good effect, importing many containers of priceless antiques before dumping them in the convent. Every room is an Aladdin’s cave with rare and often outlandish pieces, from stuffed moose heads to a 1903 French Provincial bedroom suite and a bed once owned by Oscar Wilde.

Many items came from a prominent historical home in San Francisco, one of the few to have survived the disastrous 1906 fires. Among the many unopened boxes are exquisite pieces of Wedgewood furniture, grand pianos, Mary MacKillop’s tabernacle from her canonisation in 2005, a 300-year-old Chinese concubine bed and a gold replica of Tutankhamun’s chair from the early 1900s.

After the American’s untimely death on home soil at age 67, his estate was sold at auction in May 2017. That’s when Digby, a longterm local, and Jo, a Wagga Wagga girl, threw their hats in the ring.

After four years, they are now focusing their boundless energy on the third and final stage: the convent.

Fittingly, it will also be their biggest and most ambitious transformation, creating a functional and cosy home for themselves, while showcasing some of the pieces. By the time of the auction, nothing had been moved within the convent; there was simply too much. Unfortunately, the American’s legacy has proved to be one of the McNeils’ biggest headaches.

“While there are some truly amazing pieces, many are so large and heavy it makes our restoration of the building significantly harder,” admits Jo, who has employed an architect from Byron Bay to design an exciting new floor plan. He has worked on European chateaus and will bring the convent into the 21st century.

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The verandah has already been completed, leaving the convent’s internal fit-out to finish the massive project.

“We’ve been doing the renovations slowly,” Jo says. “The windows in Lyndhurst were made from the Oregon handrails from the convent. The island bench in the kitchen is the altar from the chapel, which had been sold by the nuns and later discovered by Gabriel in a Gunnedah farm shed.”

Their work to date has been significant and impressive. Digby and Jo are competent, skilful and motivated. The development of three new apartments from the old boarding house will ultimately become a luxury holiday rental with a mineral pool for guests to enjoy. Their hope is that this will ensure the financial longevity of the entire convent complex for Inverell in years to come.

When they are not busy looking after their farm, business and renovations, Digby and Jo enjoy spending time with their two daughters. Connie Twyford, 29, owns a F45 Gym in Armidale while Molly, 26, recently finished a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Newcastle.

“Our legacy will be three beautiful buildings that otherwise may have been left to rot in the ground,” Jo says. “We have saved these buildings for the people of Inverell to enjoy for many generations to come.” RLM Images: Must See Photography

ABOVE: “Lyndhurst” is occupied by Digby’s mother, Beth McNeil, pictured top centre; the kitchen and upstairs bedrooms reflect the history of the building while bringing it into the 21st century.

DESIGN | SUPPLY | INSTALL Kitchens • Bathroom • Laundries • Bench Tops • Flat Packs • Wall & Display Units Workshops and Hobby Room Fit Outs • Shop Fittings • Commercial Projects Australian agents for CNC Machines Edge Banders and Automatic Spray Paint Machines Preferred agent for Evo Stone Benchtops

ADDRESS PHONE EMAIL

193 Ring Street, Inverell NSW 2360 (02) 6722 4841 jeff@vineyardjoinery.com

SHOWROOM

7.30am–4.30pm Monday–Friday

WWW.VINEYARDJOINERY.COM.AU

We understand that for many people it is hard to make it to see us during our office hours, and we therefore are available for after hours appointments, please call our office to arrange a time.

T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

QUALITY inclusions

The Vineyard Joinery’s success story features state-of-the-art technology, excellent craftsmanship and team players with a diverse skill set.

Jeff Blanck and Rowan Butler studied each other’s game plan during afternoons on the tennis court but these days they’re on the same team as joint business owners of Inverell’s Vineyard Joinery.

The fellow directors were good tennis mates before deciding to pool their collective skills and buy an existing joinery in 2019 – Jeff having worked in his own joinery business in Toowoomba and Rowan ready to diversify after 30 years of farming.

The business has been a great local success story, going from one employee, Nick Blanck, to a team of 10 workers.

Vineyard Joinery continues to build quality kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and laundry joinery projects. They’ve invested in all the latest equipment, including two efficient CNC machines to reduce wastage and save time.

“We’ll build your kitchen to your exact specifications, from the designing stage through to the finished product,” Jeff says.

“We recognise the importance of keeping up to date with the latest materials, new technologies and systems that reflect and complement clients’ unique taste and lifestyle needs.”

The showroom is home to several kitchen designs, complete with appliances and cupboard storage solution ideas. There’s an extensive range of gorgeous stone, granite and marble products, a full colour palette of laminates, designer handles as well as traditional timber tops and door profiles.

With a strong reputation in delivering quality joinery projects in the region, the team at Vineyard Joinery is justifiably proud of its portfolio of recent commercial projects.

The business has recently finished big jobs at the Inverell Hospital, Guyra Tomato Farm and Calibre Country, Tamworth. On the local front, Jeff was involved in the kitchen work at Egan House as well as the roofing shingles at the nearby convent.

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Vineyard Joinery has also carried out work for renowned builder Richard Crookes, as well as securing long-term contracts with local and state government bodies.

“We deliver a broad range of joinery works from reception counters, large office fit-outs and stainless-steel kitchens and joinery for the food industry. There is no job too big,” Rowan says.

The experienced team will come to you for an obligation-free quote, as well as provide a 3D visual plan drawing of your kitchen, using up-to-date computer-aided drafting programs. The latest addition is virtual reality of your project, giving customers a more realistic image of the finished product. This helps with a visual sense of how your kitchen, bathroom or laundry will look.

Vineyard Joinery has started a new shed specialising in a new-age top, EVO Stone, which resembles stone but comes at a fraction of the price.

With the dry times now behind him, Rowan is busy on the farm but still drops in each week to keep an eye on proceedings.

Jeff’s son Nick has rejoined the team as onsite foreman, and business is flat strap.

With recent work in Newcastle, Dubbo, Tamworth, Gunnedah and Moree, expect Vineyard Joinery to turn up anywhere. RLM

WITH A STRONG REPUTATION IN DELIVERING QUALITY JOINERY PROJECTS IN THE REGION, THE TEAM AT VINEYARD JOINERY IS JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF ITS PORTFOLIO OF RECENT COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.

FROM TOP: Vineyard Joinery has developed a reputation for its high-quality work; the talented team is pictured in the factory.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: On-site foreman Nick Blanck with directors Jeff Blanck and Rowan Butler; Angela Gallagher and Kobee Luxford in front of a flat-bed CNC.

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marvellous

CREATIONS

Not many woodturners design and create metal sculptures but Rob Day is in a class of his own.

When Rob Day bought a heavily forested block near the Inverell airport 40 years ago, it was the start of a lifetime’s journey involving wood and discarded metal objects.

Rob cleared his Gilgai block the old-fashioned way, with an axe and a shovel. Everyone reckoned he was mad.

But is wild venture has led to the establishment of New England Woodturning and a showroom full of beautifully hand-crafted clocks, models, chopping boards and everything in between.

Out in the garden, Rob has been equally busy – even the trees aren’t spared. Among the more unusual pieces are the “wood spirits” carved into living trees, letting the artwork age with the tree.

“It’s an obsession really,” he confesses with a grin. “If an idea gets in my head it triggers something and I can’t help but go and do it.

I’m not sure where the ideas come from but if it’s not in your DNA I suggest you stick to golf.”

While some people can be accused of starting lots of different projects but never finishing any of them, Rob is the reverse. He can’t rest until the job is complete, finished to the best of his ability.

His brother Stephen lives a mile away and helps with customer service when a tourist bus drops in for a visit. He’s also very handy with Facebook videos, capturing great clips of his talented brother in action.

Rob has always enjoyed creating timber pieces. In his younger days he tried his hand at various jobs including motel maintenance and working at a drive-in theatre and caravan park. In his spare time he was always coming up with new ideas, some of them crazy but always colourful. Years of experience with his woodturning machines have stood him in good stead.

“The first decent thing I bought in life was a wood lathe and I’ve been adding to it ever since,” he says.

Over the years he has crafted thousands of timber pieces, from small to large intricate designs, all requiring precision work. He is also a talented maker of didgeridoos. He not only crafts them but is able to coax a haunting tune from each one, much to the delight of his visitors.

“We have the only steampunk didgeridoo in the world,” he laughs. It’s a beast of a machine, with all the bells and whistles you might expect from such a versatile instrument. Nearby is a saxadoo, an ingeniously styled didge made from plastic piping.

“With tour groups arriving from all over the country, we put on a little didge show followed by a cuppa,” he says. “Our business plan was always pretty simple: to ensure our visitors feel it’s the most memorable leg of their journey.”

The positive feedback keeps Rob going.

“After all I’ve produced, it’s still a struggle making a decent living, especially with all the cheap imports,” he says. “You can go and buy a timber wall clock or a didge made overseas for probably less than what I pay in raw materials. They may look the same, but it’s the old adage: you get what you pay for.”

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At the end of the day, Rob is thrilled he has created something he can share with tourists. His wife Gail and son Tommy, a taxi driver in Gilgai, have learnt to expect the unexpected from Rob, who refuses to slow down.

“This place is unique and different and we’re very proud of what we have achieved,” he smiles. RLM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: New England Woodturning’s founder Rob Day in his impressive showroom; Rob and brother Stephen with a wide range of didgeridoos that Rob both makes and plays; many of his timber pieces require hours of meticulous work; one of his many decorated “wood spirit” trees.

FACING PAGE: Woodturner Rob Day has crafted hundreds of unique pieces, including numerous clocks and this exquisite tractor, which required months of work in his spare time.

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Les to the rescue With the heart of Phar Lap and boundless energy, Les Parsons OAM has done more than most in helping his beloved Inverell community.

Since arriving in town 45 years ago, Les Parsons has served on countless boards, both here and overseas, and is still driving to work in his 85th year. Even with a crook back, nothing can slow the big man down.

Dubbed “a walking miracle” by doctors six months ago, he has lived to tell an extraordinary tale.

Born on the kitchen table of his grandmother’s Hornsby home in 1936, Les was already a big lad by his 14th birthday. Standing at six foot two inches, weighing 14 stone and built like an ox, Les preferred a breakfast that included nine Weet-Bix washed down with a pint of milk, and had the same before going to bed.

During school holidays he laboured for a stonemason, and he took up an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter after school. Later he became an electrical and mechanical design draftsman and started working his way up the food chain.

In 1969, Westinghouse Electric purchased the company he worked for, establishing a large electrical repair shop with American equipment. It wasn’t long before Les was running the place.

By then he had met his future wife, Heather Clark, a fourthgeneration girl from Beaulieu, a tiny speck meaning “beautiful place” in French, west of Inverell. Her great grandmother owned a local winery from the 1870s until 1921, when the land was resumed into blocks for soldier settlement.

Heather’s father, Percy Clark, a carpenter from Victoria, met his wife soon after arriving in town. Heather was the first of three children who attended a one-teacher school next door to the Beaulieu Country Hall. After the war, her family moved to Dubbo before landing in Sydney a few years later, living at Hornsby Heights.

Working at a jewellery shop in King Street, Heather ended up at a dance at the Hornsby Scout Hall. Her life changed after meeting a tall and handsome Rover Scout, then aged 17. Any romance had to be put aside, as Les was later called up for National Service, spending six months with the Air Force. > ABOVE: A proud Les Parsons and wife Heather with the OAM presented to Les after a lifetime’s service to the community.

FACING PAGE: Les Parsons OAM is a big man with a big heart.

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Heather penned him a letter each week and the relationship gained traction. Within weeks of his return, they were engaged. It’s been an unbreakable union, and the pair will celebrate 64 years of marriage in 2022.

It was a very different scene when they arrived back in the Beaulieu countryside in 1976, nine kilometres from Inverell. They had sold their house in Hornsby Heights for $38,000 and with two young children, Tracey and Rob, moved onto Heather’s family’s 20-acre block.

They lived there for 30 years before Les built an open-plan home on the property, similar to a Nissan Hut (from the war days), with an unusual curved roof. It is here, in his comfortable lounge chair, that Les reflects on his lengthy and successful career.

It started with the Pioneer Village. Les had visited Inverell a few times and had always driven past the landmark. After barely a few months in town, he attended the AGM and was elected to the board.

Within 18 months he was president, where he remained for the next 18 years.

Under his leadership, he brought in nine of the 23 buildings from the surrounding district, including the railway station and tonnes of railway line, Oakwood Hall, Rob Roy Hall (home to Devines Photographics), hospital isolation ward (now the RSL museum), Gooda Cottage and Inverell Foundry Office.

With the help of the Macintyre Lions Club, of which Les was a member, they brought the “Kiera” blacksmith shop and the Coolatai post/office store to the village. He also designed and supervised the caretaker cottage and garage, using the skills of his apprentices and design draftsman from his new shop, Arlington Gasweld.

Les is still a proud member of the Pioneer Village and is justifiably proud of his contribution.

Les really threw himself into community projects, twice being elected to the Shire Council, from 1979 to 1983 and again from 1987 to 1991, and worked for the North West County Council for the same years. With long-term vision, he and others provided some of the great infrastructure enjoyed today.

There’s not enough space to list all of Les’s accomplishments and every committee he has served on, usually as president or chair, but suffice to say tourism was one of his pet loves. He served as chairman or vice chairman of local, regional and state tourism bodies from 1981 to 2017.

As one colleague, a member of the Macintyre Lions, once famously told him, “Parsons, the only thing you are not president of is the bloody CWA”.

No one was surprised when Les was awarded Inverell Shire’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year award in 1994.

By then he had started the Australia Day Committee and served as chairman for 18 years. He spent nearly as long with the Bicentennial celebrations.

For something different, Les committed himself to olives, having surrounded his home with over a thousand olive trees. He was the inaugural president of the Australian Olive Association from 1985 to 2000, travelling throughout Australia to meet prospective growers and government officials.

At the end of the day, Les says it’s all about how you look at things. “I’ve always said it’s not what your community, association or organisation can do for you, it’s what you can do for them.”

Les’s life of service goes back to his Sydney days. He joined the Hornsby Heights RFS in 1965 and continued the work in Inverell until 1990.

“These days, it seems to be that people can’t find the time to help their local communities. The virus doesn’t help things but we still need to roll up our sleeves and become involved. If we don’t look after our service clubs we will lose them, and we are.”

Les has never been afraid to speak his mind. “I’m a great believer in free speech and will let anyone have their say. Whether I agree

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“I’ve always said it’s not what your community, association or organisation can do for you, it’s what you can do for them.”

with it or not is a different matter,” he grins.

Of all the boards he has served on, one of the more memorable was becoming President of the Australasian chapter of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, founded in the USA in 1933.

In 2003-04 he was elected international chairman, the only Australian ever to hold such a position. Heather often travelled with him, and the Americans called her the “First Lady”.

For nine years they travelled to America a staggering 48 times.

Neither can ever forget the time when Les took to the microphone and belted out Waltzing Matilda in front of a thousand bemused American and international members in Washington DC. After receiving a standing ovation, the audience demanded another song and Les delivered a rendition of The Pub With No Beer. Another standing ovation.

But Les doesn’t just live in his memories – he is still making them.

He still drives into work five days a week, where he employs five staff, including both children. At the end of the day, he loves coming home to his “rock”, who always has a meal in the oven for her “loud, lovely and kind” husband and best mate.

“I love using my brain. It keeps me mentally fit,” Les laughs.

“I couldn’t sit down and watch TV; I’d end up in the Gum Flat cemetery, where all our relations are buried.”

Perhaps his attitude to life is best summed up by his favourite quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Les Parsons OAM has certainly showed the courage through life to never quit. Every town needs a Les. Thankfully Inverell has the unmatched, unscripted and highly original version. RLM FROM TOP: Les Parsons OAM at work with his son Rob, daughter Tracy Rolfe, Bill Kainz and Nigel Hill. (Absent: Paula Sanderson); Les and wife Heather on their wedding day in 1958.

HOPS TO IT

Home brewing would have to be one of the most embraced pandemic activities, and The Brew Shed has all the products and know-how you need to make it happen.

The Brew Shed is your one-stop shop for home brew supplies. Formerly known as Terry O’Brien’s Brewers World, the business has been providing home brewing equipment, supplies and advice for more than 25 years.

Jane Brookman has been involved with the brewing business most of her life. By the time Jane was 14, her father owned two successful home brew shops in Brisbane.

When he retired in 2011, Jane, a nurse, and husband Darryl, took up the challenge.

Two years later, the pair decided on a tree change, choosing Inverell after several enjoyable fishing and camping trips there with their three young children.

Maddy now works at a thoroughbred stud in Scone, while Grace is at school and helps out on weekends. Her big brother Luke, 21, a moderate drinker in training, is enjoying working in the family business while learning the secrets of a good brew.

The home brewing process has become so popular, the family now runs four stores.

The online operation is run from Inverell.

“Our stores are run by an experienced team of home brewers who will help with any of your home brewing needs,” Jane says.

“We are here to help you create easy and affordable beer, wine, spirits, cheese, ciders and meads.”

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced home brew fanatic, The Brew Shed provides a top quality and affordable service, offering a wide range of recipes, home brew supplies, equipment, ingredients and accessories.

Jane’s personal favourite beer is a Dry Blonde, not too sweet and it’s refreshing on a hot day. There are hundreds of different beers and spirits to choose from. Anything you can buy at the bottle shop, you can have the satisfaction of making yourself for a fraction of the price.

“Making your own craft beer at home has never been cheaper or easier. You can make your own beer for as little as 40 cents a longneck or craft beer from about $2,” says Darryl, a former fitter at the Brisbane shipping terminal.

“It’s not rocket science. Yeast has been fermenting sugar into alcohol for thousands of years without any help. Follow the instructions and you can’t go wrong. Our oldest customer, who sadly recently passed, was 94 and he loved making his own rum.”

The Brew Shed makes it easy to make your own artisan distilled drinks safely at home. Get advice from the experts who understand what supplies and advice a home brewer and distiller needs.

“We are constantly sourcing new products in order to make the best brews possible,” Jane says.

They also stock all the toys for smoking your own food at home, with a huge range of options available from cold smoking to gas smokers, to charcoal and pellet smokers.

“We stock American barbecue rubs alongside many Aussie-made meat rubs too. Our range of specialty woods and Australian made barbecue charcoal is mind blowing.

To complement their beer and spirit range, they have introduced gourmet food kits, such as cheese, jerky, yoghurt, fermented vegetables and sourdough.

“In our store we have everything to make your barbecues special. We sponsor the home brew competition at the local show as well as the Big Barbecue Challenge at the rugby club, where everyone dined on slowly cooked beef ribs. We supplied prizes for the winners and raised money for Beyond Blue,” she says.

At The Brew Shed you’ll find beer on tap for tasting. Customers, particularly the newcomers, like to try before they buy and want a similar experience at home.

“We brew various beers in the shop to demonstrate how we do it and to allow our customers the joy of sampling our great products. Before COVID we had cheesemaking classes, brew days and barbecue demonstration days.”

During the height of COVID, The Brew Shed was inundated with inquiries.

“It really took off once limitations were placed at the bottle shop. Even the mention of such a move made all the beer drinkers nervous,” Jane laughs.

The answer lies in The Brew Shed, where a lucky customer’s name gets drawn out of the barrel each month to win a $25 in-store voucher. RLM

ABOVE: Darryl Brookman pulls a fresh beer in front of wife Jane and son Luke at The Brew Shed. It’s all part of the service for local home brewers.

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simply divine

Sally Kelso’s flæx designs are cool, calm and collected.

Sally Kelso, creator of clothing and lifestyle line flæx, regards her home as her creative happy place and endless source of inspiration.

Sally and archaeologist husband Tony Sonter are parents of four grown children, Clancy, Milly, Daisy and Paddy, and call Inverell home.

“Our beautiful old weatherboard home, with its abundant garden, has become a stimulating environment,” Sally says. And it is within her home and garden that her idea for flæx came to fruition.

Sally says “flæx grew from a dream into reality very quickly” and although she was ready with the ideas, work ethic and determination, one piece of the puzzle was missing.

“I had to become a risk taker,” she says.

Taking her idea from a burst of inspiration to reality when launching flæx in 2016 was a huge learning curve. It was a boundarypushing journey she was willing to make.

Flax by definition is the plant that is cultivated for its textile fibre, which is then woven into linen cloth. The traditional old English spelling, flæx, was a fitting name for Sally’s business venture.

She is inspired by the raw natural qualities of linen and the versatility of what can be created from it.

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FROM TOP LEFT: Sally Kelso at home in Inverell with a variety of her designs; Sally and husband Tony at their charming weatherboard cottage.

“My first creations were made from an old sheet,” recalls Sally, who would sketch her designs and then draft them onto simple brown paper.

“When I was confident enough, I outlaid on some linen and cut in!”

Sally loves the transformative process of crafting a garment. The process begins with an ordinary lifeless piece of fabric that, through the process of sketching, cutting and stitching, comes to life.

She gains great satisfaction from creating “a piece of clothing that has character and qualities, something individual and beautiful” and most proudly “something someone else chooses to wear”.

Since its beginnings, flæx has continued to grow and thrive with regular pop-up shops and functions in Brisbane, Inverell and other regional centres. A significant

highlight for Sally was showing a collection of flæx pieces in the 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show fashion parade, a huge honour for such a new enterprise.

While linen is Sally’s first love and still dominates the line, Sally allows her inspiration to flow in different directions.

At flæx you can also find one-off belts made from globally sourced vintage materials, tote bags fashioned from grain sacks and a range of leather bags.

Sally is committed to ethically handmade products with simplicity and style, knowing that quality of design, craftsmanship and raw materials are what create a truly beautiful result.

Buying from flæx is an experience that begins with a conversation. It is slow, morally conscious fashion at its best. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Leigh Stewart

Specialising in ingredients, equipment and knowledge for making artisan drinks and food by hand at home.

Spirits • Beer • Wine • Cheese • Fermented Foods • Smoked Foods

BAKER’S BARN SADDLERY 45-47 Vivian Street, Inverell 02 6722 3599 bakersbarn@bigpond.com

ALL YOUR SADDLERY NEEDS HUGE NUMBER OF BRANDS IN STOCK Not just for horses and horse people, but for any one who wants to look good and feel comfortable.

(02) 6722 4235 Shop 214 Byron Street, Inverell NSW inverell@thebrewshed.com.au www.thebrewshed.com.au MUCH MORE THAN JUST HOME BREWING

OPEN Monday–Friday: 9:00AM–5:00PM Saturday: 9:00AM–12:00 PM Sunday: CLOSED

SALES AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR

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Electric Motors

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Generators

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Pumps

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Welders

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Power Tools

Servicing the New England / North West for 44 years

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Compressors

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Pressure Washers

67 Oliver Street, Inverell (02) 6722 3151 sales@arlingtongasweld.com.au

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Hand Tools

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Machinery

(L–R) Les Parsons OAM, Rob Parsons,

Tracy Rolfe, Phil Kainz, Nigel Hill.

Paula Sanderson, not in photo.

AT VERY COMPETATIVE PRICES.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

GIDDY UP

Baker’s Barn Saddlery is a household name among horse lovers everywhere.

There’s a strong sense of connection at Baker’s Barn Saddlery, the type you can only expect after 35 years in business.

A legion of horse lovers has grown up with the family saddlery, conveniently located in Vivian Street, Inverell.

“After such a long time, we feel like we know just about everybody,” laughs Beth Camilleri, who runs the business with husband John and four part-timers.

They also have two grown-up children, Anthony and Natalie, and lead full and active lives, dividing their time between the shop and their 2000-acre farm, “Chaparral”, between Tingha and Guyra. The former fine

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wool enterprise is now geared up to having fun with Quarter Horses.

The Camilleris are second generation.

Beth’s parents, Ken and Di Baker, established Baker’s Barn Saddlery in 1987.

Since taking over in 2014, the Camilleris have undertaken two big expansions, growing the business into one of the biggest independent retailers in Inverell.

“Baker’s Barn Saddlery carries everything you need, whether you are riding for pleasure, a ribbon chaser or a farmer making a livelihood,” Beth says.

“We have an open mind to all products, including the latest safety-rated items,

extensive clothing from newborns and toddlers right through to size 14 in footwear for adults.”

There’s even a gift room for those who don’t own a horse but still love them.

Beth says clothing requirements change every season. Pony clubbers require different gear for general work and competition.

Every horse sport has different equipment, changing from season to season.

John comes in one day a week to the store to assist with leather repairs but he’s not the only one skilled in that department. Ken was a qualified saddler and passed a lifetime of knowledge onto his daughter.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“I worked with my parents on and off for the past 30 years and learnt a lot from my father, which helps me with saddle repairs and leather work,” Beth smiles.

Sponsorship is important to the business – getting their name out to the right place at the right time. Their banners travel extensively throughout the eastern seaboard, from smaller pony camps to major equine events.

“We pride ourselves on our customer service,” Beth says. “We’re part of one very big horse family and always want to know about our customers’ horses.

“We hear everything from the good and the bad, to the seriously funny. Customers send us photos and drawings, thanking us for making them happy and for any advice we’ve given them. This gives us great pleasure.”

Being experienced riders, John and Beth know what they are talking about. In 2019, they clinched the team penning Australian title at the Sydney Royal, overcoming stiff opposition from some of the best competitors in the country.

A year later they moved into the new equine sport of ranch sorting. Developed in the USA, the sport involves taking numbered cattle from one pen to another in chronological order, all within 60 seconds.

“It’s very challenging and the skill set is very testing,” John says. “It’s great fun for all the family and one of the only sports where adults and children compete on the same level.”

They travel to events throughout the state on most weekends, including 36 weekends away on the trot. The family are all highly competitive.

“Horse riding is a great stress relief after a busy week in the shop and it’s a great way to meet other like-minded families,” Beth says.

“Ranch sorting is the best equine family sport we’ve been involved with. It’s a very strong competition with 50 per cent payback on their prize pool.”

The big plan is for this horse-loving pair to compete at the ranch sorting world championships at Fort Worth, Texas. Currently they are in the top five competitors in the country.

Watch this space. The Camilleri family are only just warming up. RLM

FACING PAGE: Well-known in horse circles, John and Beth Camilleri are the faces of Baker’s Barn Saddlery.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Beth and John at their saddlery and clothing store; Natalie, John and Beth; Beth is a valuable asset in the workshop; Beth riding Subtle in Black, aka Matilda, at the Hunter Valley ranch sorting competition.

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tools for life

The Inverell Men’s Shed is not only a hive of industry but a place where real friendships are forged.

Laurence Moore at work.

Glen McKee is king of the metal area.

Former sparkies at work on the computer: Kelvin Allison, Trevor Gray and Phil Lankester.

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The Inverell Men’s Shed kicked off in 2007 and now has 40 enthusiastic members helping the local community.

The good-natured men, from all walks of life, gather at the showground each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am till lunch. Among the diverse group are some very talented individuals, including former farmers, a sparky, artist, office worker, watchmaker, chef, meat inspector and ambulance officer.

Club president Greg Brabant says no two jobs are ever the same.

“The majority of our work comes from orders or restoration work from customers – there’s not much the boys can’t do,” he says.

“COVID closed us up for three months and the boys missed their regular catch-up. They missed the chance to discuss life and get things off their chest.

“The Men’s Shed is a great place to talk about men’s mental health. Blokes who are suddenly living on their own find comfort and support from the other men. There’s a tight bond here and we all help each other.”

The group makes regular video calls to a similar Men’s Shed in Inverness, Scotland. The communication is uplifting and demonstrates the special camaraderie between men on opposite sides of the world.

Jack Grylls, 85 years young, knows first-hand the importance of the Men’s Shed. He lost his wife six years ago and is forever thankful for the support of his mates, who helped him through his grief.

“The men got me through the tough times,” he says. “I thoroughly recommend joining. You never know when you are going to need a friend to talk to.”

The retired farmer and school bus operator not only enjoys the banter at the Men’s Shed but says it’s a great opportunity to finetune his woodturning skills. RLM

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Ken Marquardt and Noel Barry join forces to restore an old phone table.

Peter Bradshaw demonstrates his skills with a paintbrush.

President Greg Brabant with a restored cubby house for a childcare centre.

Darryl Campbell applies a cedar stain to this 12-foot table for the Inverell Art Gallery.

Alf Newman, Bob Dawson and Bob Moore making a bible box.

Men’s Shed president Greg Brabant and treasurer Harold Siepmann with some of the men during morning smoko.

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home, sweet HOME

You don’t have to be born and bred in Inverell to be warmly embraced by its community.

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It was a classic case of “sliding doors” – Andrew Simpson walking his Japanese client to lunch, and while waiting for the lights to change on a busy Brisbane corner, bumping into Eriko Kawaramoto.

The two worked across the street from each other and had met briefly months earlier at a Cairns birthday party. This time it would be different – they swapped phone numbers and promised to catch up.

Eriko had left Osaka, Japan’s second largest city with a population of 19 million, as an adventurous 18-year-old, and spent the next six years studying Interior Design and Architecture at the Queensland University of Technology.

“It was around the time of the 1988 Expo,” she tells RLM from her rural retreat near Inverell. “Brisbane was shedding its country hick image and taking its place on the world stage.”

Eriko soon found work at an architectural firm, designing resorts, multi-storey apartments and high-end private residences, before starting her own practice, Seed Architecture + Interior.

Meanwhile, Andrew was working for a company exporting Aussie beef to Asia.

After their marriage in Noosa, the couple moved to Caloundra, where in October 2004, their first and only child Tomi was born prematurely at 34 weeks with cerebral palsy.

In 2012, Andrew was invited to represent the Australian red meat industry in Asia, resulting in a career move to cosmopolitan Singapore. After six years, Andrew took on a key management role at the Bindaree Food Group, kicking off yet another family adventure.

“It wasn’t easy moving from Singapore to Inverell in the dead of winter,” Eriko laughs. “It was a big shock to the system, as neither of us had been here before. I was nervous moving to a regional town without friends or family and worried if Tomi’s medical needs would be met.”

Any apprehension quickly evaporated after meeting real estate agent Amanda Green shortly after their arrival.

“Amanda showed us some houses when we were looking for a place to buy. She was so kind and helpful. In the end we didn’t end up buying a house from her but she invited us for Christmas lunch with her family, which led to a great friendship.

Amanda took us under her arm, and her circle of family and friends also adopted us.”

After 12 months of renting and finding their feet, Andrew and Eriko found what they were looking for in “Roscommon”, a small farming block barely minutes from town. Tomi loves living in the bush and has

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

nicknames for all the sheep and horses.

“Although Tomi can’t walk and has many physical challenges, he’s a happy and healthy teenager with a wicked sense of humour,” his proud mother and primary carer says.

Tomi, now 16, is class captain in a 15-strong support unit at Inverell High.

“The Special Education Unit supports people with challenges. Some are on the autism spectrum whereas Tomi has cerebral palsy and visual impairment,” Eriko says. “Although he may not see too well, he has the supersonic hearing of a whale. The teachers focus on their abilities and work on their strengths, trying to improve their confidence.”

Tomi enjoys the life skills activities, like cooking, but his favourite pastime involves feeding, grooming and preparing the school’s show cattle team. Tomi’s also had work experience at North Haven, collecting paper from various businesses before shredding and bagging it at home. Later it will be given to people for their laying hens and for composting.

Every day is different. Fridays are drama day. On Saturday he’ll watch soccer or go to a mate’s house to feed the farm animals.

Perhaps a spot of bushwalking in the Goonoowigall Bushland Reserve, one of Tomi’s favourite spots. He swaps his chariot for a three-wheel buggy and takes off on the 7km track, with his father providing the necessary manpower.

Sometimes he’ll go to the supermarket with his helper and a long grocery list from his mum, or explore Lake Inverell or Copeton Dam. Tomi never tires of trying to make others happy.

“Tomi has taught me patience,” Eriko says quietly. “After his birth, my life journey took a different path to what I’d planned. It’s now all about trying to help our boy reach his full potential.”

In summer, the family tries to spend a week or two at the beach, enjoying beach walks, sunsets and cocktails at the local surf club.

“Three hours later we can be back in Inverell, ready for work,” Andrew says.

“It’s one big adventure for all three of us, with weekends often turning into tours of surrounding regions or time out invited to local properties. In winter, we always seem to finish in front of a blazing wood fire at home, quite often with friends and a glass of shiraz in hand. It is a simple but pure formula that country, versus city, wins hands down.

“We’ve enjoyed great support in town and watched as beautiful, young people make a career out of caring. It’s been an uplifting part of our journey.”

“INVERELL IS A TOWN WITH COMMUNITY-MINDED PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY GOOD AT TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER.” Tomi certainly enjoys the company of the younger generation. When Andrew was the same age, he was living on a Kimberley station managed by his father.

After boarding school in Southport, he spent a gap year at a private English boarding school, working as a boarding master and sports coach. Later he returned to the University of Queensland, graduating in Ag Economics in 1992.

Now in his early 50s and a retired infantry captain, Andrew admits he might well have still been in the army had he not met an American economist who got him thinking about the global food chain.

“While earning my degree, I understood that to be progressive, I needed to understand our pivotal connection to Asia,” he says. “My university professors had completed PhDs on Australia’s wool impact on marginal areas of China and I wanted to get there and understand it ASAP.” While everyone else was thinking local, Andrew was thinking outside the box, spending two years in Japanese Wagyu and pork production. The following year was spent learning Chinese at Beijing’s Language and Cultural University.

After his father was diagnosed with a terminal illness, Andrew returned to Australia and worked as a beef marketing assistant. It was the start of a 25-year career in the red meat processing industry that would ultimately lead the family to

Inverell and his role as chief commercial officer of Bindaree.

“Inverell is a town with communityminded people who are very good at taking care of each other,” Eriko says. “Our community is so inclusive; we feel safe and love living here.”

Eriko is the town’s sole architect.

There are several draftspeople and building designers but nobody with her qualifications. She loves the integrity of country people and enjoys working from home, completing a number of bespoke residential and small commercial projects.

“I try to find a healthy balance between work and raising Tomi,” she says. It’s not your normal nine to five job and Eriko works when she can fit it in, taking on projects she feels confident about and where clients understand her unique situation.

“I’ve dragged Eriko from one corner of the world to another,” Andrew laughs. “But it’s all been worth it, especially having Tomi with us on the adventure, and now being part of such a beautiful community and rural setting like Inverell.” RLM

FACING PAGE: It’s a long way from their last address in Singapore but Andrew, Eriko and Tomi Simpson have adapted well to their new rural lifestyle.

ABOVE: The close-knit family have fully embraced their lives in Inverell.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

all smiles

You don’t necessarily need words to share how you are feeling, and for Tristan Morley, his smile says it all.

Tristan Morley is a long-time client of BEST Community Connections disability service in Inverell, and while non-verbal, the 33-year-old has made a lasting impact on the staff, as they have on his life.

“Before Tristan joined BEST Community Connections, he only did what we wanted to do. Now, he wants to go out and try new things and BEST Community Connections provides that level of excitement for him,” Tristan’s dad Harley Young says. “He enjoys being around different people and it has helped with his social interactions.”

Tristan suffered a stroke when he was 15 months old. He inherited a genetic metabolic condition, which caused several disabilities, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Despite the setbacks, he has always carried his bright smile throughout his journey.

“With all of the disabilities he’s got, he is always a happy guy,” Harley says. “He is always keen to go to BEST Community Connections. It’s the people Tristan is around there, that is why he smiles so much.”

BEST Community Connections provides social and supported living services for Tristan. These are just two of their many NDIS programs available to the community.

And since joining 14 years ago, Tristan’s progress hasn’t gone unnoticed, participant coordinator Alynya Shultz says.

“While non-verbal, Tristan is very engaging at the centre. He builds a connection with anyone who works with him,” Alynya says.

“He is more social, more cheeky, and you’ve got to watch him. He is quick. He is very happy and settled in himself and his house. And he just thrives up there.

“He is one of those clients you just know you’re going to have a good day when he is around.”

And his father says the feeling is mutual.

“I couldn’t imagine what life would be like without them [BEST Community Connections]. He has been there 14 years.

It’s part of his life, and he has made so many friends.”

This is what BEST Community Connections and the BEST brand is all about: changing lives for the better.

Since BEST Employment’s inception back in 1997, BEST now incorporates several identities, including BEST Community Connections, BEST Nursery, BEST Food Garden, BEST Harvest Trail, BEST Community Shed and the Linking Together Centre. However, the core objectives have not changed and the organisation still exists to positively change lives, champion social inclusion, and alleviate disadvantage within its communities.

“Everyone at BEST strives towards our vision every day to see our communities, particularly those most disadvantaged, independent, and free from disadvantage,” BEST Employment CEO Penny AllistonHall says.

“Our staff are our most valuable resource and the impact we have on our clients’ lives is why we do what we do. It’s a proud legacy we have in the Inverell community and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the future.” RLM Words: Kate Ottewell

FROM TOP: Brett Hawkins at BEST Made Furniture; fresh produce from the BEST Food Garden is propagated, harvested and delivered free to disadvantaged locals; BEST CEO Penny AllistonHall; Tristan Morley in his new home with dad Harley Young, Liam Merry, Rob Holder and Belinda Anderson; Isabel Williams, Lynda Pomfrett and Nancie Wilson with Anthony Boney and Taylor Ellis at the Linking Together Centre.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Happy faces at BEST; Nicco Munro, Claude Greenhalgh, Tori Bell and Brett Hawkins with some of the pine seedlings destined for Nowendoc; BEST staff; Matt Asara collects four dozen eggs each day; work on the pine seedlings; Simon Pope in the community shed; Alison Tully loves her chooks; volunteers in the BEST community shop; Brett Hawkins, Alison Tully, Matt Asara and Francis Tully in the garden; Vicki Wilson in the nursery.

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consummate CARE

McLean Care has been enhancing the lives of older people in regional communities for nearly 70 years, and it understands the value of independence, choice and personalised support.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A tranquil setting for all to enjoy; CEO Sue Thomson is dedicated to her role; residents participate in stimulating activities.

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From humble beginnings as a convalescence home in 1953 in Inverell as a not-for-profit, McLean Care has grown to become an industry leader in aged care at a national level.

McLean Care’s flexible lifestyle options include independent retirement living, residential aged care facilities across NSW and Queensland, and home and community care services throughout Australia.

The services are highly regarded and tailored to each individual.

McLean Care partners with its clients so that they can truly love their later life. The flexible home and community care services can help in many ways including personal care, housekeeping, specialised nursing, transport, utilising technology, gardening and staying connected with their community.

This support to stay active and healthy is crucial to retaining independence and wellbeing at home, and it is important to consider as early as possible how these services can be of assistance.

“In this rapidly changing world of aged care, we are constantly working to improve the quality of life for our seniors across Australia, in their own homes, throughout our residential and independent living centres, our centre-based respite and our wellness and enablement programs,” McLean Care CEO Sue Thomson says.

“More than ever, it is also important to us that we provide culturally inclusive, contemporary, relevant and person-centred services that offer choice, support independence and care that contribute to a fulfilled and positive ageing experience.”

Australia has a growing multicultural society, and McLean Care has launched its first Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) centre-based respite programs, the Affinity Club, in Tweed Heads, Dubbo, Logan Queensland and Rochedale Queensland.

In 2021, McLean Care received allocations to deliver short-term restorative care from the 2020 ACAR round throughout Tweed Heads, Hunter, New England, Darling Downs and Logan. This program will provide services to older people for up to eight weeks to help them delay or avoid long-term care.

It was also successful in the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Growth Funding Round for 2020-21 and 2021-22.

This financial commitment from the Australian Government aims

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“IN THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD OF AGED CARE, WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIORS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.” to provide choice to prioritised aged care services in high demand areas through the entry level tier of CHSP. “It will improve our range of flexible service options that provide assistance to clients via home and community services,” Sue explains.

“Providing equitable and affordable services, this grant will also provide the use of assistive technologies for our clients to live in a safe, stable and enabling environment. It provides us with the national provision of services and client reach throughout Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and NSW.” Another addition to their care services is the transitional care program in Toowoomba for seniors discharged from hospital.

Transition care is designed to support recovery and prevent hospital re-admission, with short-term specialised care and support in the home, helping older people regain their functional independence and confidence sooner.

To keep pace with the rapid developments in aged care, customer-centric, practical and collaborative approaches to innovation are needed now more than ever to meet the needs of older Australians and their families.

“We are constantly under pressure to respond to an ageing population and have learnt to be agile, adapting faster to changing

market conditions, consumer sentiment and regulatory changes and throughout it all we are strongly committed to our Australian ageing journey,” Sue says.

In all care options, McLean Care takes pride in the provision of services of the highest quality, with experienced and professional nursing and clinical staff making a positive difference in lives.

“As care workers, we help to protect the most vulnerable in our society, and further tap into the connection, courage and heart that has brought us through this era of health provision.

Our care workers strive to bring joy each and every day through simple acts of kindness that reflect our values, and define us as an organisation,” Sue says.

McLean Care values its partnership with every client, providing trusted, personalised assistance and information about the choices that will best suit each individual and their lifestyle. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: McLean Care boasts a range of high quality facilities; authentic caring relationships are an integral part of daily living; Home and Community client Sybil Motum appreciates assistance with her shopping from staff member Megan Frendo.

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celebrating

100 YEARS

While the past century has seen significant changes in the accounting world, at no time have changes to client service happened as quickly as they have in the past 18 months, according to David McLennan, Inverell based Principal of Forsyths Chartered Accountants and Financial Advisors.

With an extensive accounting history, David joined Forsyths four years ago, bringing with him 25 years of experience in public practice accounting.

Customer focused and team driven, Forsyths are celebrating an incredible 100 years providing accounting and financial services to the New England and North West.

Forsyths Chartered Accountants and Financial Advisers was founded in 1921 in Armidale as WS Forsyth and Co. Today, they have offices in Inverell, Armidale, Coonabarabran, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Narrabri and Tamworth, servicing clients throughout these regions and beyond. Their services range from basic tax accounting to business advisory, superannuation, audit, financial planning, insurance and insolvency.

With over 120 team members working and living across the region, the strength in having that breadth of experience and knowledge as a foundation allows Forsyths to not just celebrate the past 100 years but look forward with confidence to the next 100.

“With drought and fires, followed by floods and COVID-19 we have become a core support to our clients in times of need,” David says.

“We have had to decipher and understand the financial assistance provided by State and Federal Governments, analyse the support available to each of our clients and then communicate and implement – all while our team learnt to work remotely themselves.”

Forsyths has both the resources and expertise in house to provide this increased level of support to their clients quickly and with only minimal disruption.

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“The difference with a larger and more established firm is the breadth of knowledge, range of services and expertise we are able to provide to our clients, the support of specialists in Xero accounting software, and our understanding of business requirements.”

Looking to the future, David believes integrated technology and data management will change the way clients engage with their accountant. Compliance driven services such as processing a tax return may become redundant.

“Guiding our clients to be agile, to take maximum advantage of changes in technology and legislation will be key to the future,” he says. “Having up-to-date data at your fingertips, through the use of software like Xero, allows for efficient, timely and accurate decision making.”

Amidst their business roles, Forsyths are committed to the regional and rural communities in which they live and work.

David is a familiar face around Inverell, having lived there all his life, and with wife Rachel and their children Sam, Max and Emma. They are a sporting family, with David playing golf or actively pursuing soccer, cricket and rugby with his children.

Giving back to their communities, Forsyths established a foundation in 2015 that raises money for local charities and since then are proud to have donated over $67,000. Recent recipients include Ronald McDonald House (Tamworth House), Meals on Wheels Tamworth, Inverell Rescue Squad, Allawah Cottage Gunnedah, Armidale Family Support Services and Royal Flying Doctors Service. A strong sense of community, adaptability, and resilience are key factors in Forsyths’ exceptional achievement of 100 years in business.

“Our vision is to be the choice of business advisory services in regional NSW,” David says.

“We employ a large number of undergraduates and graduates each year, providing them the opportunity to gain experience from a strong and knowledgeable leadership team.

“There’s a lot to be said for brands that have proven their resilience and endurance by standing the test of time. It’s a huge achievement to stand next to 100-year-old companies still in business today, like Coca-Cola, Qantas and Kellogg’s.

“What it takes to get to 100 years are strong foundations and values. When our clients are successful and strong, it makes us successful and strong and is most certainly a testament to Forsyths’ longevity.” RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“GUIDING OUR CLIENTS TO BE AGILE, TO TAKE MAXIMUM ADVANTAGE OF CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY AND LEGISLATION WILL BE KEY TO THE FUTURE.”

FACING PAGE: Col WS Forsyth, founder of Forsyths in Armidale in 1921.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Inverell based Principal David McLennan is extremely proud of the Forsyths reputation; David and his wife Rachel take some time out; the McLennan family, David, Rachel, Sam, Max and Emma enjoy being active members of the inverell community.

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Home and Community Services

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BOUTIQUE A C C O M M O D AT I O N OPENING 2022/23 61 - 67 OTHO STREET, INVERELL NSW 2360 For more information email reception@oxfordonotho.com.au oxfordonotho.com.au

Immerse yourself in nature at its best.

Choose your own adventure in Inverell. www.inverell.com.au #inverellnsw

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

fancy facelift The iconic Oxford Hotel’s major makeover is still a work in progress but the grand old dame is coming back to life before the town’s eyes.

Inverell’s Oxford Hotel is back, bigger and brighter than ever.

The new Welders Dog bar opened in early August 2021. It’s stage one of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment.

The downstairs section has undergone major renovations but there’s still plenty of work to be done before completion by the end of 2022.

The back will be transformed into a big outdoor entertainment area, while 11 rooms, all with en suites, will grace the upstairs area. Four will have access to the new balcony and priceless views over charming Otho Street.

The watering hole has a rich connection to the town, opening in 1886 with all the bells and whistles. An archway on the far side of the main bar allowed Cobb & Co horses to pass through before a welcome feed in the stables. Back in those days, the small rooms

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upstairs were designed for travellers, usually men, passing through town.

For many years the hotel boasted a large hall, capable of holding up to 500 rowdy patrons, many of them early Scottish pioneers. Tom Roberts’s famous painting Bailed Up was partially painted in the hall, using an authentic Cobb & Co coach for inspiration.

Progress was inevitable. The hall was demolished in 1911 and partly re-erected as a nearby farm shed. With the move from horses to cars, local councils instructed pub owners to dismantle their verandahs, including the Oxford in 1958. > TOP: The stunning transformation of the Oxford Hotel in Otho Street, Inverell.

LEFT: The hotel opened in 1886 and boasted an upstairs balcony; the hotel as it looked in 2017 after being purchased by retired farmer Gary Cracknell and wife Wendy.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

The watering hole has a rich connection to the town, opening in 1886 with all the bells and whistles.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Proud Oxford Hotel owners Gary and Wendy Cracknell and Emilie and Brett Tomlinson. Image: Heinrich Haussler; the old kitchen is being revamped; Wendy has unearthed many treasures during the build; a beaming Gary is seeing his dream come to life; checking the overhauled upstairs accommodation area; the grand old staircase.

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In 2017, the pub closed suddenly one night and went up for auction. An offer was submitted and accepted before auction date. The new owners were now semiretired Bundarra farmers Gary and Wendy Cracknell, “Star Hill”, Inverell.

For Gary there was a sentimental attachment, remembering his short loo visits as a school lad during the 1950s, on his way to the doctor’s next door. Wendy has also fallen in love with the place.

“As soon as I walked in there, I felt something special,” she says. “It was very apparent this grand old dame was going to need a lot of help to get her back on her feet.”

The Cracknells love building projects, having built a cottage on their farm and renovated an old bakery in Bundarra.

Buying the old pub was one thing but doing it up was another. It wasn’t until they convinced local builder Brett Tomlinson to join the team that things started happening.

But it wasn’t easy winning Brett over.

Gary was delivering cattle to Brett’s hobby farm when the conversation turned to the old pub. Being booked solid for months ahead, the best Brett could manage was a “not now, I’m too busy” look.

A determined Gary called back a fortnight later with more cattle. He’s known Brett since the day he was born and convinced him to at least look at his project. Before you could pour a few frothy ones, Brett recognised the building’s enormous potential.

Brett and his wife Emilie were in. With a builder firmly on board, the new team looked at a complete transformation.

Inspired by Graze, a destination hotel in the tiny town of Willow Tree, they started the renovation of a lifetime.

The Cracknells love building projects, having built a cottage on their farm and renovated an old bakery in Bundarra.

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The first six months of their ambitious project was spent demolishing rooms and removing 40 tonnes of render. The original verandah, with its ironbark timber floor, wrought iron and bull-nose roof was reinstated, following a small but welcome government heritage grant.

“Our research indicates the pub was built in 10 months and it was a top job,” Brett says. “There’s not a single crack in the main structure.”

Some jobs were a true labour of love.

Gary spent months meticulously cleaning the paint from the stairs to reveal the beautiful cedar underneath.

Wendy’s family were among the last of the “Ten Pound Poms”, with Wendy arriving as a starry-eyed 10-year-old in 1964. By the 1970s, Gary was giving his back a good workout, shearing sheep for, among others, Brett’s grandparents.

Apart from some diligent and highly skilled subcontractors, the mammoth reno has been undertaken by Brett and his two apprentices. Brett is still excited as the day he first set eyes on the hotel two years ago.

The revamped pub will be family orientated, with a kids play area, local entertainment, cafe and an absence of poker machines.

Gifted Dorrigo artist Peter Mortimore, who painted the Dunedoo silos, is creating saleable artworks to feature on the walls.

The Oxford Hotel’s facelift demonstrates the Cracknell and Tomlinson families’ indomitable faith in Inverell. Best of all, it will be a lasting legacy for the town that will see out all of them. RLM ABOVE: At the recent bar opening, Gary Cracknell, Tom Croft, Wendy Cracknell, Dan Emery, Emilie and Brett Tomlinson. Tom and Dan are from the esteemed Welder’s Dog. Image: Heinrich Haussler.

LEFT: The logo on the front door.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

condiments

with character Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressing is a household name across regional NSW.

Growing up in Inverell, Rosie Strahley spent hours in the kitchen beside her mother, learning how to cook hearty meals that were served after the harvest and after the sheep had been shorn, when the whole family and then some gathered at the table. She has thrown the inspiration from creating with joy and ingenuity in her childhood kitchen into a business that she never imagined calling her own.

Sixteen years ago, with four young daughters, her teaching career on the back burner and the state in a crippling drought, Rosie was on the lookout for a way to contribute financially to her and husband Simon Turnbull’s 1800-hectare farm “Mayfield”.

An old dressing recipe that she had been given years earlier while Simon was on an agricultural scholarship in Canada came to mind.

She began making batches of the honey mustard dressing for family and friends in her own kitchen and soon realised how popular it was, attending her first market in Warren and promptly selling out.

Her product has come to be known as Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressing, and it has developed a cult following across regional NSW where it is still made in small batches, free of nasties and filled with an all-natural rich and tangy flavour that people love.

With two other businesses to their name (a mixed stock and cropping enterprise as well as Enviro Dust Solutions), adding Rosie’s Boutique Condiments into the mix was always going to be a family affair.

What started out in their tiny farm kitchen overflowing with ingredients, boxes and bottles has grown significantly over the years. Thanks to Simon’s dedication to the practical side of the business, seven years ago they moved into a space in Warren with their own purpose-built commercial kitchen.

Their daughters Katelyn, Emily, Annabelle and Holly were always keen to lend a hand, labelling bottles and packing boxes as soon as they came home from school.

They are now grown up, pursuing higher education and careers of their own, but Rosie still gladly accepts their help, especially when it comes to “solving many of mum’s technical problems”, she says with a laugh.

The Turnbulls proudly embrace their rural lifestyle at “Mayfield” and the 80 kilometres between them and the closest supermarket sparks their creativity in the kitchen. Whipping up delicious meals from even the sparsest of pantries has led to new product ideas and inventive ways to use Rosie’s beloved dressing.

Her customers’ feedback during the tough times has made Rosie realise her product is so much more than a condiment. A bottle of Rosie’s is a familiar sight and taste that brings delight to tables throughout the state, and knowing that inspires her to continue to grow her business for her daughters, the next generation of creative taste makers. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Supplied

What started out in their tiny farm kitchen overflowing with ingredients, boxes and bottles has grown significantly over the years.

FROM TOP: Rosie is proud to share her brand of Rosie’s Boutique Condiments; the Turnbull family, from left, Annabelle, Katelyn, Simon, Rosie, Holly, Emily; Rosie takes her products to events across the state and beyond.

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love grows where

Rosemary goes

Inverell’s Rosemary Breen OAM insists a life of giving has given her so much more.

Rosemary Breen OAM greets RLM at her Inverell home with a welcoming smile and her arm in a plaster cast.

“I’d love to say I was skiing down the Matterhorn but I slipped in town and broke my wrist,” she confesses as we venture to the verandah for a chat about her extraordinary life.

The afternoon sun is shining, and Rosemary is happy and content. Since moving to Inverell 40 years ago, she has devoted her life to helping disadvantaged people from all corners of the globe.

Rosemary travelled to Zambia on many occasions, first on a water project and later helping at Tikondane, a community centre to help many local people establish various money-making schemes.

Later, she went on to Tanzania to support Gemma Sisia at The School of St Jude. Rosemary taught her at school in Inverell, when she was Gemma Rice from Guyra, and continues to support the school, which is doing a wonderful job giving a fine education to hundreds of young Tanzanians.

In 2004, while still reeling from her husband’s untimely death, she answered a knock on her door. Through tears, a Thai friend, Anna, informed her about a tsunami that had wiped out much of the southern Thai coast.

“We collected all this money and we travelled to Thailand,” she says. “It was devastating, far worse than what we saw on the TV. We went to the people and asked what they really needed.”

Rosemary and Anna organised a team that helped rebuild 70 houses for a small fishing community. On behalf of the many Australian donors, they were able to help school students who had lost parents and homes and supported many other projects, especially in schools.

Rosemary returned a second time to see what had been accomplished with people’s donations. She also wrote a report for the local newspaper so people knew that their donations had been well spent.

In 2005, sisters from the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) in Melbourne rang to see if she would be able to travel with another sister to research the possibility of founding a community in Myanmar.

“I said yes, of course, before realising I didn’t have a clue where it was. After finding a map I found Myanmar sandwiched between India, China, Laos and Thailand. It had been under military rule for 60 years. The people were poor and the education system practically non-existent. We got there and travelled with barely a clue as to what we were doing.”

A year later she heard the community was going to be finally established at Yangon and Rosemary made the trip back every year, teaching English to would-be teachers.

One of these young teachers had returned to the Dry Zone of Central Myanmar, one of the most impoverished regions of the country, and asked whether it would be possible to have a large water tank for her village. When this was built, other villagers

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started asking for water tanks and many friends joined in, sending donations for this cause.

“I said I’d do 100 tanks but now, six or seven years later, we’re up to over 350, built in schools and villages around the Dry Zone,” she says proudly. Rosemary raised the money giving talks to church groups, Rotary clubs and through the generosity of family and friends.

Her counterpart in Myanmar, Saya Toe, organises the building of the tanks, taking no personal money from the Living Water Myanmar account, except fuel for the vehicle as he travels to remote villages. Despite his personal poverty, he once declared to Rosemary: “I will take personal money from the account the day you do – and that is that!”

“I travelled there each January for a month and visited every tank that had been built the previous year,” she says. “It was important to see the funds had been put to good use. I am always amazed and gratified at the generosity of so many friends who entrust their money to me.”

AN EARLY LIFE IN ENGLAND Rosemary was born on a little farm in Somerset, in the UK, a year before WW2. Her mother and older siblings had moved out there from London, fearing an imminent German invasion.

The Phony War had started and with little happening, they returned to London, which was subsequently bombed. Rosemary and her family sheltered in a cellar under the house. Her father, a jeweller and watchmaker, promised they would either live together or die together.

“One bomb landed on our street, but that was as close as it got,” she recalls. “After the war, things still hadn’t got much better. By the time our Queen was married in 1947 we were still on rationing.

Things didn’t return to normal for a long time.”

After school, Rosemary studied teaching in Manchester in northern England before deciding, at age 20, to join the convent.

“I loved it straight away and I’m still in contact with the many friends with whom I shared my earlier life,” she says. “It was the people that influenced my decision. Mind you, they were very strict and old-fashioned in those days. They gave me a good education but it was a spartan existence.”

Rosemary furthered her studies in Switzerland, undertaking Greek and Roman History and Latin. Nearly a decade later, by then fluent in French and German, she was helping run a school in Fribourg.

“People came from all over the world to learn French. I loved the country and in later years could go skiing but it really wasn’t what I had signed up for.”

Before her 40th birthday, Rosemary left the order. About the same time, Laurie, a Marist brother she’d met in Switzerland, was studying in London and became good friends with her family, also in London.

After leaving the order, he invited Rosemary to join him in Australia.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“THEY SAY THAT GIVING IS THE GREATEST JOY IN LIFE, AND WHILE I AGREE, I HAVE ALWAYS RECEIVED MUCH MORE IN RETURN.”

“We had written air mail letters and I knew he was a good man,” she says with a smile. Rosemary flew out to Australia in 1980 and a few weeks later they married in Brisbane. With little money, Laurie stitched a tent together for their honeymoon to O’Reilly’s, in the mountains to the west of the Gold Coast.

The following year they moved to Inverell after Laurie was offered the job of principal at Holy Trinity School. In 1988, after both had been teaching for some years, they returned to England for 12 months, which included a three-month spirituality retreat.

Their next big adventure was in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In Broome they ran into sisters from her old order, the FCJs. The sisters asked if the couple would be willing to teach locally and informed them the last secondary teacher at Beagle Bay had lasted 2½ days. The Breens were invited to stay and teach for the rest of the year, a time of real learning for them and the foundation of some deep friendships.

For Rosemary it was an introduction to the Aboriginal way of life.

Years later, in 2000, it led her and Laurie to join the marchers across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and later to setting up the Inverell Reconciliation Group with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members.

This group initiated various projects including the Nhunta Karra Kara track, which had plaques showing where Aboriginal families had lived until the 1960s.

Later she worked for a disability service in Inverell, opening her eyes to another section of the local community.

By our second cup of tea, it’s hard not thinking about Laurie, who built the house extensions and carved out a beautiful garden on their few acres along the Macintyre River.

Laurie died suddenly at age 66, taking his last breath at 30,000 feet, four hours out of Sydney. He was flying home after a wedding in England, all the while making plans for their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary.

“It was a terrible time but at least he passed in his sleep,” says Rosemary, as she quietly watches passing traffic. When she moved here four decades ago, it was a long way from home in England, and a long way to town. Passing traffic was practically unheard of.

Now in her early 80s, Rosemary still drives, loves her iPad and enjoys the company of her many friends. She remains in contact with her family in England and many former students, some now grandmothers, whom she taught nearly 60 years ago in Manchester.

Rosemary was awarded an OAM in 2008 for services to the community, particularly to people with developmental disabilities, refugees and women’s support organisations.

“They say that giving is the greatest joy in life, and while I agree, I have always received much more in return,” she says.

Having first lived in Europe and then Australia for 40 years, she has seen the best and worst of humanity. Always thinking of others before herself, Rosemary Breen OAM is an inspiration to all who meet her.

With friends all over the world, including 20 nieces and nephews from England and America, plus 47 great nieces and nephews, life is never dull.

“Sometimes, late at night, I try to name them all but I’m always asleep before I finish.” RLM ABOVE: Inverell community stalwart Rosemary Breen OAM has dedicated her life to helping others; not a day goes by when Rosemary doesn’t think of her late husband Laurie, who joined her on many of her overseas missions.

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striking a balance For close to 85 years, Inverell High School has been encouraging and supporting its students to always strive for their best.

Inverell High School has a proud history of outstanding achievement in many fields of endeavour, alongside a strong culture of care and inclusivity.

Principal Wayne Fowke points to the importance of developing “a good balance” between academic, sporting and cultural pursuits.

“We aim to develop well-rounded students, prepared to take on the challenges of life after school and be valued citizens in society,” he says.

Traditions run deep at Inverell High, which has a number of third and fourth family generations among the current student cohort of 485.

When he arrived 12 years ago, as deputy principal, Wayne discovered his own special link with the school, his great uncle having been one of the first students. Other relatives were involved with the early development of the town.

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Students travel from throughout the district for the opportunities, wide curriculum and excellent facilities that Inverell High offers.

An impressive academic standard is highlighted by strong Higher School Certificate results that rank consistently well in the state.

There is a popular vocational education program, flexible learning pathways and extension opportunities. Technology is accessible to all, and distance education programs ensure comprehensive course choices including languages.

Partnerships with TAFE NSW, Inverell Shire Council and other local businesses are greatly appreciated, supporting students undertaking school-based traineeships and work placements.

The school’s Indigenous Education Program has a number of initiatives to support Aboriginal students. This includes

involvement in the highly regarded Clontarf Foundation, a mentoring program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, which promotes education, self-esteem and employment opportunities.

A dynamic Creative Arts department appeals to students across all year groups, encompassing Dance, Music, Drama and Visual Arts. The biennial school musical is always eagerly anticipated.

“We encourage all interests,” Wayne adds. “There are a lot of students involved in dance, we have had representatives in Schools Spectacular, and some go on to NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts), too.”

Award-winning musical artists Melanie Dyer and Megan Longhurst are among the school’s alumnae.

An excellent reputation in numerous fields of sport, including rugby league, touch football and netball, stretches across local and representative levels.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Inverell High School has a highly valued Learning and Support Team, which meets the specific needs of students with additional learning and support requirements, including disability.

This inclusive education program has been incorporating mainstream opportunities and helping prepare students for the next chapter of life after school for 22 years.

Wayne says the school’s dedicated staff are the reason so much continues to be achieved, and possible.

“Our staff are so proactive. Their passion, care and constantly looking to give the kids opportunities is unbelievable,” he enthuses.

Wayne also praises the way in which staff, along with students, their parents and carers, have adapted to the challenges of online learning due to COVID-19.

Inverell High fosters strong connections with the close-knit district community, and welcomes all cultural backgrounds.

Partnerships within the town and district enhance opportunities and promote responsible citizenship, such as the links with charities and service organisations.

A great connection with the local Rotary Club sees students invited to participate in youth programs including public speaking, science and engineering challenges.

Appreciation of service to community is reflected in an active SRC (Student Representative Council).

“Our SRC support charitable initiatives, and each year the Year 12 students fundraise for charity, regularly donating over $10,000 to community organisations.

“The students appreciate the importance of contributing to society, of volunteer work and being good citizens,” Wayne says.

An active Parents and Citizens group makes a valued contribution to planning and fundraising within the school.

Also welcome is the input of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, which supports collaborative consultation, and provides advice on all matters relevant to education and training representing the viewpoint of the Aboriginal community.

Inverell High School prides itself on values of respect, integrity, tolerance and excellence, which have shaped its positive and inclusive culture.

This continues to provide a solid foundation for quality education in a caring and stimulating environment. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant

FACING PAGE: Inverell High staff and students (minus Year 10 on a school excursion).

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The front entrance; principal Wayne Fowke with Andrew Kerr and Christopher Drake; the Support Unit class and staff; Will Mann in the Year 8 Geography class; Andrew Kerr in the Year 11 Advanced Maths class; Year 9 English class in the old school hall.

INVERELL RLM 141

woman of substance Gifted with a wise head on young shoulders, Imogen McDonald is hoping one day to pursue a career in human rights law or politics.

Imogen McDonald grew up in a tranquil rural setting 10 minutes from Inverell with parents Kyle and Georgia and younger sister Bridget.

One of her fondest childhood memories was attempting world quizzes with her grandparents.

“Ever since I was young I’ve wondered about far-flung parts of the planet and different times in history. I think this curiosity and eagerness to learn has stayed with me – it’s the reason why I’m involved in what I do now,” she says.

Although gifted academically, Imogen equally enjoyed her ballet lessons at Craze Dance Academy from the age of three to 18 years, completing her Royal Academy of Dance exams. After a workout, she returned home to practise on her flute.

For the past decade, she’s been involved with the Inverell Music Eisteddfod and both the Junior and Sapphire City Concert bands.

As any country person knows, growing up in a tight-knit rural community comes with its own benefits.

“There’s something special about the little things, like how my Kindergarten teacher still takes an interest in what I’m up to and how I graduated from school with some of the same people I’ve known since I first started to walk.”

Imogen says the support system generated within small communities is unique.

“Since moving away, I miss being able to walk down the street and knowing most of the people you see, or at least having your parents or grandparents know them. This sense of community is built over multiple generations.”

This became more apparent as Imogen worked with local businesses both during and after school, including time at Ditton’s Pharmacy, Tin Cheung Restaurant and Raine & Horne. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels.

“Each of these jobs taught me the extraordinary bonds and connections the public have with small businesses,” she says.

During her formative years at Inverell High, Imogen spent six years as a member of the Student Representative Council, mixed with debating, public speaking competitions, school musicals and volunteer organisations.

Already displaying the characteristics of a leader, she was always looking to do more, beyond what she was able to achieve at school.

“I’ve always had strong opinions on social issues, particularly as a woman growing up in a rural area where concepts such as gender equality and feminism aren’t discussed or even perceived as relevant,” she says.

In her final years of school, she focused on major works with issues she was passionate about, such as the treatment of women in Australian politics for Community and Family Studies.

Then there was the fight for an Indigenous voice in parliament for Aboriginal Studies, interviewing Linda Burney, the first Aboriginal woman elected to the House of Representatives.

In Year 11, she took on the role of youth member for the Northern Tablelands in the NSW State Youth Parliament. Imogen was on the Women’s Affairs Committee, writing a bill to provide

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free sanitary products for NSW people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.

“This bill was debated and eventually passed in parliament by the Youth Parliament before being passed on to various politicians to review,” she says. “Our bill was very special to me because when people think of homelessness and the products that we should make readily available to these individuals, sanitary products are overlooked. They should be easily accessible.”

Towards the end of Year 11 and with some encouragement from the school librarian, Imogen entered the Country to Canberra competition, centred around creating leadership opportunities for girls in rural and remote areas throughout Australia.

“I wrote an essay in response to the question ‘How can we push through barriers to achieve gender equality?’ It’s about how gender equality cannot be achieved if it’s simply something we briefly learn about in school or on social media. It must become engrained into society and gender stereotypes must be disregarded from the moment children are born.”

Imogen was selected as one of the 18 competition winners, securing a four-day trip to Canberra, where she enjoyed public speaking workshops with TEDx and breakfast with politicians including Tanya Plibersek and Larissa Waters. A highlight was a tour of Parliament and meeting Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“Being surrounded with like-minded women from similar areas to Inverell was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had,” she says.

“Sometimes it can be difficult living in a traditional, rural town that can be isolated from progressive ideas. Country to Canberra equipped me with the skills to be more confident in voicing my opinions and standing up to issues such as sexism, which is often heightened in rural areas.

“It also inspired me to study in Canberra because I found the political environment extremely motivating. It felt like it was somewhere I could belong.”

After winning a Tuckwell Scholarship, Imogen is now studying a double degree of a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Relations at the Australian National University in Canberra.

In her first six months there, Imogen became a content editor and writer for ANU’s Women’s Department magazine, Bossy, and joined the music society band.

In 2021, she became one of 18 members of the NSW Regional Youth Taskforce, representing the New England and North West regions. This program works to find solutions and support for issues that regional youth are facing, including transportation, education and mental health.

“I feel so privileged to be involved in a taskforce that allows me to stay connected to regional NSW while living in Canberra,” she says. “The taskforce meets four times a year with the Minister for Regional Youth, The Hon. Bronnie Taylor.”

Imogen hopes to pursue a career in human rights law or politics, hoping to help young girls all over the world have access to basic rights such as education. RLM

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“COUNTRY TO CANBERRA EQUIPPED ME WITH THE SKILLS TO BE MORE CONFIDENT IN VOICING MY OPINIONS AND STANDING UP TO ISSUES SUCH AS SEXISM.”

Imogen McDonald is relishing her tertiary studies in Canberra.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

a driving

FORCE

The Gaukroger name is synonymous with the Inverell community.

FROM TOP: Gaukroger principals Braith Gartshore and Mark Palmer in the showroom in front of four generations of the Gaukroger family on the wall; staff after the war; an old image of the Gaukroger team selling imported Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

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For 100 years, since the introduction of the very first vehicles, F Gaukroger & Sons has faithfully served motorists in the district.

Founder of the business Frank Gaukroger first came to Tingha, near Inverell, in 1910 as a boiler inspector and mining engineer.

His job was to oversee the building of the first tin dredges in the Tingha area during the mining boom.

Frank opened his engineering workshop and started servicing mining equipment as well as motor vehicles. As time went on, he and his sons started selling new imported cars, including the early Model T Ford taking the world by storm.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

With a new workshop in Inverell, the business graduated from General Motors to Holden in 1948. Over the years, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai and in 2020 Isuzu UTE were added to the mix.

Today, F Gaukroger & Sons has one of the biggest car yards in the district, with anything from 150 new and used cars at any time.

Co-principal Mark Palmer has never worked elsewhere – apart from pumping fuel at the old Shell service station for a dollar an hour after school. He started in 1981 as an apprentice mechanic and after seven years in the workshop, moved into used car sales.

In 1997, he made history as the first person outside the Gaukroger family to become a partner in the business. By then, Braith Gartshore had joined the business, working under his wellknown father George in the used car department.

Within a decade, the men bought out Frank Gaukroger’s majority share and in 2006 the remaining share from Damian Gaukroger. After 30 years in business together, including the past 20 as owners, they have developed a healthy respect for each other’s abilities.

Their business is naturally influenced by the seasons in this agricultural town.

“After a few tough years of drought, we’ve never been busier,” Mark says. “We are fortunate to have Bindaree Beef close to town with its hundreds of staff. Currently there’s a shortage of new cars thanks to COVID, hence a shortage of good used trades.”

With 34 full-time staff, including 10 technicians and three apprentices in the huge workshop, the dedicated team will ensure your every motoring need is fulfilled.

They have also notched up 90 years with the NRMA. F Gaukroger & Sons is in fact the longest continually family-run NRMA Service Centre in Australia, having been appointed in 1931.

Both Mark and Braith have a huge respect for the Gaukroger name. The conference room is full of old photographs and newspaper articles detailing the family history over four generations.

“We’re often asked if we’ll ever change the name of the business and the answer is always the same,” Braith laughs. “We will never change a name synonymous with the Inverell community.”

The business partners say their biggest responsibility is protecting their business and thinking ahead.

“To do that we have to look after our two greatest assets: our customers and our team. Without either we don’t have a business.” RLM

F GAUKROGER & SONS HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAR YARDS IN THE DISTRICT, WITH ANYTHING FROM 150 NEW AND USED CARS AT ANY TIME.

FROM TOP: F Gaukroger & Sons has been with the NRMA for a record 90 years; Jack Gaukroger, son of the original founder Frank Gaukroger; part of the huge site; Braith Gartshore in his office.

F GAUKROGER & SONS

28-30 Vivian Street, Inverell NSW 2360 (02) 6722 2722 sales@gaukrogers.com.au

Your driving future LICENCED MOTOR DEALER 8234

www.gaukroger.com.au

Since 1912 INVERELL RLM 145

tried and TRUE

Inverell’s Campbell & Freebairn Chemists is one of the oldest pharmacies in the district, having served locals for over 120 years.

Campbell & Freebairn Chemists co-owner Brendon Campbell has been the face of the business for a quarter of a century but it might easily have been very different.

During his schooling at Macintyre High, he figured he might have made a good Maths teacher. The idea of moving from town to town, however, wasn’t such an appealing option. Besides, his family had been based in Inverell for generations.

Faring better in the HSC than imagined, Brendon achieved the marks to study Pharmacy at Sydney University, which he passed with Distinction. Although they didn’t meet till many years later, his future business partner, Emma Freebairn, was in the same faculty, two years ahead.

Brendon returned to Inverell in 1995, having worked at the Mitchell O’Brien & O’Meara Chemist during his uni breaks. He also undertook his registration year there. Upon Pat O’Brien’s retirement, Brendon bought into the business with D’Arcy O’Meara. He was 22 years old and couldn’t wait to get started.

“Looking back, it was a pretty big week,” he says with a grin, referring to the events of December 1, 1995, when he bought into the pharmacy. The following day he proposed to his school sweetheart and fellow high school captain Jenny Deegenaars on her birthday.

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Today they are the busy parents of three children, including daughters Ashleigh, 22, who recently graduated from uni with a Music degree, and Emi, 19, who lives at home and helps out in a variety of jobs across town. Then there’s son Zac, who like Ashleigh before him, is captain at Inverell High.

The friendly and outgoing pharmacist has enjoyed keeping fit, playing indoor and outdoor cricket for the past 30 years.

“It’s a great team sport and offers good stress relief at the same time,” the first-grade batsman and wicketkeeper for the Campbell & Freebairn Rebels says. For three years Brendon has played for the NSW Indoor Cricket Over 40s team but enjoys a social game of golf or volleyball just as much.

This year has been a big year for Brendon, celebrating 25 years of both his marriage to Jenny, a teacher’s aid in the support unit at Inverell High, and the business. His staff of 25 part-time workers, including six pharmacists and one pharmacy student, are the backbone of his success story.

“I’m big on training and recruitment,” Brendon says. “All I need is happy and honest people – I can teach them the rest.”

Brendon says it’s been a fulfilling career and he’s enjoyed helping customers through good times and bad.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

BRENDON SAYS IT’S BEEN A FULFILLING CAREER AND HE’S ENJOYED HELPING CUSTOMERS THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD. “In my job you often see people at their worst. In many cases, we’re the only people our seniors get to talk to – it’s inevitable we form strong bonds.”

In 2020 the pharmacy was forced to make drastic changes to its usually relaxed and welcoming store. Due to COVID, the pharmacy operated on the Otho Street footpath, the safest way to protect customers and staff.

“There were only a few shops open in the street, including the bakery, newsagents and coffee shop. We’d take orders and car registration and deliver straight to their cars. It was quite different – we even had a full-time delivery person.”

These days Brendon is semi-retired, working Mondays and Fridays to leave more time for family and travel.

Brendon has two delightful pharmacist partners at Campbell & Freebairn Chemists.

After graduating from the University of Sydney, Emma Freebairn completed her registration training in Sydney before travelling overseas to satisfy the adventure bug. Back in Oz, she worked in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for several years before returning home to Cowra to work with her pharmacist mother.

A Delungra cow cocky swept her off her feet and she married and moved to the beautiful New England. Emma was locuming around the area and in 2001 commenced part-time work for Brendon.

Enjoying the caring nature and camaraderie at the pharmacy, she was excited to join as a partner in 2007.

“I’ve always enjoyed looking after our many regular customers and chatting to any visitors to town,” she says.

When she isn’t at the pharmacy she’s probably helping her husband, Tim Lloyd, wrangle some cattle or chauffeuring her two boys, Simon and Fergus, to and from sports fixtures.

Emma is also known to take the controls of a trusty old Cessna 172 for some aerial sight-seeing. Having lived in the area for 21 years, she hopes to be soon considered a local.

The pharmacy’s newest partner, Justine Ehsman, grew up near Wallangra, a village north of Inverell. After an idyllic farming youth, she was delighted to be accepted into Pharmacy at James Cook University in tropical Townsville.

She completed her intern registration at Bribie Island, and the call of the bush was strong. After her arrival in 2006, Justine began stepping out with a delightful young farmer and grazier. They were married a few years later before he whisked her away to Coonamble.

In 2016, Justine and Matt returned to Inverell with children Monty, Ava and Bella in tow. Justine resumed working at Campbell & Freebairn Chemists and enjoyed the customers, staff and positive energy so much that she joined as a third partner in late 2019.

These days she lives west of Delungra on a mixed enterprise farm with her husband and young family. She can be regularly spotted taking on spectator duties at soccer, rugby, gymnastics or ballet, cheering on her husband as he puts his sheepdogs through trial competitions or taming her rambunctious garden. RLM FROM TOP LEFT: Newest partner Justine Ehsman is thrilled to have joined a chemist with 120 years of history in Inverell; Emma Freebairn enjoys helping her customers; Brendon Campbell is celebrating 25 years in business.

FACING PAGE: Staff at Campbell & Freebairn Chemists include partners Emma Freebairn, Brendon Campbell and Justine Ehsman and Erica Atkins, Annie Jane Smith, Clare McCosker and uni student Logan Baxter.

Brendon Campbell B.Pharm M.P.S Emma Freebairn B.Pharm M.P.S Justine Ehsman B.Pharm M.P.S

Professional Service, Personal Care

66 Otho Street, Inverell (02) 6722 3089 or (02) 6722 3714 FAX (02) 6721 0027 EMAIL sales@mooc.com.au WEBSITE campbellandfreebairn.com.au

PHONE

Ashford Health & Beauty

38 Albury Street, Ashford 6725 4013 FAX (02) 6725 4340 EMAIL ashford@mooc.com.au

PHONE (02)

INVERELL RLM 147

TOUR

de force

Extraordinary grit and determination propelled Inverell boy Heinrich Haussler to the world stage of pro cycling, and at age 37 he is still among the racing elite.

The odds may have been a million to one, but Heinrich Haussler never quit on his dream of competing in one of the world’s most famous cycling races.

His dream started at the tender of age of seven, when young Heinrich secured a bronze medal in the Northern Division titles at Gilgai, 10km outside Inverell. Jack Griffin presented him with his medal and asked him to address the crowd.

This was the moment that most likely set his destiny. He bravely declared to all and sundry that one day he would contest the Tour de France.

It was that day in 1989 when he learned that without pain, there’s no glory. Not only had he crashed his bike and almost wrecked it, he was bruised and bloodied. What hurt even more was the crowd erupting into laughter upon hearing his fearless prediction.

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While the odds were stacked heavily against him, no one counted on the steely resolve of the boy from Inverell. After driving the lad to race meetings all over the countryside, parents Heinrich and Wendy Haussler made the tough call to let their eldest move to Germany at age 14 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

Since that day, Heinrich worked harder than anyone, learning a new language while developing into a mentally tough and finely tuned racer. Moving overseas was part of the master plan. At that time, cycling was not on the same professional level in Australia as Europe, the traditional home of cycling. Today it’s a much different story.

When he left for Germany, some locals labelled his father “over ambitious”, but this was never the case, insists Heinrich Snr. “I was just helping a promising young cyclist chase his dream. It wasn’t just because he was my son – I could see great potential.”

Heinrich Jnr agrees. “Dad said: ‘You can stay here and keep trying or go overseas’,” he recalls. “My dad, he knew exactly what he was doing – he’s a bloody good guy. He’s really the person I have to thank for everything.”

Heinrich Snr says, given the chance, he would do it all again.

“The boy had a dream and if we hadn’t done what we did, we would never have known what could have been possible,” he says.

“I think letting him go at that young age helped shaped the hard man he is today. Stepping stones and stumbling blocks are all the same, it’s just the way you get over it that makes the difference.

“Heinrich may have got my stubbornness, but his athleticism comes from his mother. Everyone tells me that in her day, Wendy was a very good runner and excelled at athletics.”

In 2009, 20 years after his infamous declaration at that tiny bush race meeting in the middle of nowhere, Heinrich made good on his promise.

Through grit, courage and legs of steel, he won Stage 13 of the Tour de France. It was the night Inverell residents held their collective breath.

Stage 13 was 200km long, from Vitel to Colmar. The weather on race day was bitterly cold and wet. Many riders struggled in the atrocious conditions, but not Heinrich, by now dubbed the “Racing Kangaroo” and used to winning most of his races in similar conditions.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“This leg of the tour was held near where I live in Freiburg – a wonderful place only 30 minutes from the mountains, where I do my training,” Heinrich Jnr says. “It makes a big difference knowing every inch of the road.”

Heinrich was part of the exciting new Cervélo team, the first bicycle manufacturer to start its own pro cycling team in decades.

The team boasted a fair smattering of superstars. In Europe, especially in Belgium, these athletes are feted as gods.

One Cervélo press video says cycling is a “national obsession” in Belgium, and Heinrich was mobbed in the street when he stepped outside. There was no bigger feeling than crossing the line for Cervélo’s second stage victory. Overcome with emotions and totally spent, he broke down in tears.

“It’s the Tour de France – the biggest race in the world,” he says, years after the event. “It meant so much to me. You could see on the finish line, the emotions were going crazy,” he says. “I really did try hard to make that dream I carried with me since I was seven come true – that’s why I couldn’t hold back the tears.”

Later that year he finished a close runner-up in the 300km Milan-San Remo, beaten to the line by one of the great sprinters of the modern era, Britain’s Mark Cavendish, by a mere 7mm.

Although it was a gut-wrenching finish, that and other notable wins were enough for him to be ranked world number one road cyclist for the next six months.

These days, Heinrich Jnr knows more than most about the sacrifice of one’s body in order to achieve a goal. Over his career, he has had multiple accidents, resulting in a broken hip, broken collarbone, several knee surgeries and battle scars all over his body – all this for the pleasure of training five to seven hours a day to become race fit, before tackling some of the most gruelling events on the cycling calendar.

“If you can learn to suffer, if you can learn to handle pain, then you can go a long way,” he says.

The life of an international pro cyclist is never easy, even when you’re not actually riding.

“Travelling is a big part of my job but sometimes it can be annoying being away from home so often. Some of the guys have young families and I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for them being away from their family until I became a dad to twin boys.”

Now at the age of 37, Heinrich is riding for Bahrain Victorious on the Pro Tour as a road captain, mostly as a lead-out man for the team’s young sprinters.

Heinrich has now competed in all of cycling’s “big three” events but is also very well known as a spring classic specialist. He’s having one of his best seasons since 2009 and is signed up with the team for the 2022 season.

Heinrich has given his hometown Inverell plenty of exposure around the globe and will endeavour to continue to do so for as long as possible.

“Whatever it may be that you want to achieve, live and follow your dream because you can do it too,” says Heinrich, who firmly believes in giving back to the sport that has made him a household name in the cycling world.

For a time, he sponsored the Grafton to Inverell Cycling Classic and was also the major sponsor for the Racing Kangaroos, a development team for young cyclists.

His father is thrilled he’s giving back to the sport.

“Seeing him helping develop young cyclists and giving back to the sport ensures me that we’ve brought him up the right way,” he says proudly. “I’m sure that after he retires from racing we will find him still deeply involved with cycling and another chapter of ‘It started with a Dream’ will be written.” RLM

FACING PAGE: Champion international cyclist Heinrich Haussler Jnr after winning a major European stage race in the lead-up to the 2007 Tour de France.

ABOVE: Heinrich’s racing career started at age seven after receiving a bronze medal from the “father” of the Grafton to Inverell Bike Classic, Jack Griffin, pictured in B/W. The crowd erupted into laughter when he declared he would one day race in the world’s most famous race but Heinrich had the last laugh.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

standing tall

Cullen and Charli Adams know exactly how it feels living under a spotlight. As part of the Inverell LP (Little People) community, they share their uplifting story with RLM. Sitting at the kitchen table, Cullen Adams talks about growing up as the only short one in his family. When he was 30, he set out to find the truth.

“Genetics had come a long way since the day I was born,” Cullen says. “I ended up getting tested with samples flown to France, confirming what the doctors had suspected. I grew up with my parents always telling me I was just very special, so it was a big relief finding out I had a rare condition called Geleophysic Dysplasia – at the time, one of only 30 known cases in the world.”

After finishing his HSC, Cullen braced himself for a new life outside the school gates. Standing at 140cm or four foot seven inches, it was

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time to find a career. After a year in real estate, he established a highpressure water cleaning business with his brother, Glen.

For a decade they spruced up council works, railway stations, roofs, tennis courts, schools and homes before Cullen felt ready for a big move to Michigan, USA, where he established an online business. In 2009, his life changed forever after attending his first World Dwarf Games in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Here, the young Australian was introduced to the LP world.

After a lifetime spent in denial of his condition, he was suddenly surrounded by hundreds just like him. The best part was looking at others in the eye. Cullen performed well in the swimming, weightlifting and soccer events but on the track was unstoppable.

“There’s a real camaraderie within the LP community,” he says.

“We all understand what each of us is going through. For me it was like joining a brotherhood and I made new friends, both big and small, from all over the world. I felt I had found my tribe and left fully embracing who I was.”

Two years later, he landed his big break as a stuntman in the UKbased Snow White and the Huntsman.

“Working alongside Chris Hemsworth every day for 4½ months was a total blast,” he laughs. “Chris is a real larrikin and it was a time I’ll never forget. It’s definitely something I’m proud of and will share with my kids when they’re older.”

In 2013, the second World Dwarf Games were staged in Michigan. This time, Cullen clocked his fastest times in the 100 metres (14.02 seconds) and 200 metres (29.43 seconds) to clinch a double gold and new world records at consecutive games.

On the soccer field, he paired up with pint-sized co-captain Charli Worgan from Australia. Although they narrowly missed out on the Bronze, Cullen knew he’d met somebody very special.

Having attended Inverell Public School and Macintyre High School, Charli was well known around Inverell. Her mother and brother are both LP and her father is average height. Charli performed well at school but admits some days broke her heart.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“I learnt confidence is like a big balloon – things that happen around you or to you, will either make your balloon full, so it’ll soar, or cause it to become flat and deflated. Whenever someone at school made a snide little comment regarding my height, a little bit of the air in my balloon would slip out. Every time I was made to feel safe and accepted, whether at home or within my closest circle of friends, my balloon soared.”

Charli spent years seeking acceptance, trying to find comfort within large social groups.

“I became super responsive and exceptionally nice to other students, hoping they would think I was cool. I was fun, easy-going and kind but I never received the love from them that I always felt would signal my acceptance,” she says.

“I feared for the future of that balloon and believed I’d never have the life I wanted, thinking my height would always prevent me from being happy. I used to imagine how confident and beautiful I would be if I wasn’t 127cm tall, wishing I could be judged on my personality and not my height.”

Despite her outward confidence, Charli admits her self-esteem was completely shot. There had to be a better way forward.

“I chose to stand up for myself and embrace my height and my difference. My self-talk changed – the way you talk to yourself consistently over and over is the way you’ll let others speak to you.

I’m a firm advocate of growth, upskilling and developing but we must accept ourselves at our authentic core,” she says.

This type of thinking was essential while working at McDonald’s after school and on weekends. “At first I thought I couldn’t do it,” she confesses. “Everything was so high but I got by using safety step stools and a supportive team.”

After school, Charli worked with Telstra, leaving two years later to join Telstra Business in Melbourne. At 21 and knowing nobody, she was soon navigating her way through the cut and thrust corporate world. Later she would move to Sydney, home to Cullen after living in the US. At the same time, Cullen was offered a new contract for The Huntsman, a sequel to his first big movie. Within a week of leaving, he discovered his girlfriend was pregnant with their first child. After so many big days for Cullen in front of the cameras, Charli suggested they return to Inverell and wind back the pace. They moved to the Sapphire City with young Tilba in 2015, married in 2017 and haven’t looked back.

Choosing to have a child raised a few eyebrows in social media but it’s a topic Charli is happy to discuss.

“People are braver online and love offering their opinions. In reality, every pregnancy has its own risks and challenges,” Charli says.

“Eighty per cent of people with dwarfism are born to averageheight parents – and anyone can have a child with dwarfism without any pre-existing condition. If it weren’t for genetic testing, you may not even know until months after birth.”

Her first two children ended up with different genetic variations; Tilba inherited Charli’s Achondroplasia and Tully takes after her father. New baby Rip has defied the odds and will grow into a man of average height.

The couple had genetic testing for all three pregnancies. Charli says at the end of the day, the choice to have children was entirely hers. By opening up about her experiences, she hopes people will not judge her, and others, before learning the facts.

BUSY TIMES

Cullen and Charli are flat strap with their young family, a couple of small side ventures and social media, which over recent years has become a prominent platform with a staggering 400,000 followers.

“I’ve always been uninhibited when it comes to sharing things, so it was fairly natural for me to create an Instagram account about a decade ago,” Charli says. “I share my real-life scenarios of being a mum, of being a person of short stature. People seemed to warm to my candidness.”

“CHANGING PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS OF SHORT-STATURED PEOPLE IS A POSITIVE THING.”

She works with hand-picked brands, both small and large (called collaborations) and promotes their products and services for a fee.

As for the myths surrounding dwarfism, Charli says most folk are programmed to assume that LPs are less capable than people of regular height.

“It comes from mainstream media,” she suggests. “It’s one of the reasons I think my social media platform is so successful.

People can see our lives are a parallel of their own lives, just with different challenges. Our biggest challenge isn’t physical – it’s the preconceived assumptions of our abilities.”

Cullen says it’s time for everyone to get on the same page.

“Acting jobs have landed on my lap,” he says. “We want our girls to embrace who they are and capitalise on all the opportunities that will one day come their way.”

For the most part, the Adams family is one happy, noisy household.

“We have our arguments and challenges, like any couple, regardless of size, and we have our share of good times,” Cullen grins. “Changing people’s perceptions of short-statured people is a positive thing. Some LPs find it confronting but for us it’s a role we’re happy to play, especially now that we have kids.”

They have found a way around most obstacles but sometimes are challenged when it comes to changing a light bulb or reaching for the top shelves at the supermarket. Encounters at the shops can be interesting.

“Curious young children will sometimes come up to us and say something, or point and stare,” Charli says. “I’ve learnt to tackle it head on with resilience.

“If you are having a bad day and some kid laughs at you, it can compound your negative mindset at the time. That’s why maintaining that positive sense of self and practising self-talk is so important.

“Generally, I’m quite desensitised to it. We’re just a local family that’s always been here. People don’t think we’re anything out of the ordinary.” RLM

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cullen and Charli Adams with their delightful bundles of joy, baby Rip and daughters Tully and Tilba; the Adams family face the same issues as any family and are determined to make the best life for themselves; Charlie and daughter Tully enjoying the company of threemonth-old Rip. ABOVE: Tully and Tilba busy doing some artwork while inspirational parents Charli and Cullen look on.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

going from strength

TO STRENGTH Mountain Valley Poll Hereford and Angus stud principals Ian and Shelley Durkin are on cloud nine after their annual sale cracked the magical million-dollar mark.

Demand for bulls was so high at the Mountain Valley Poll Hereford and Angus stud sale that extra bid cards had to be written up for the 110 buyers hoping to secure one of the 71 bulls on offer.

An Angus bull, Mountain Valley Gabba Q995, topped the sale at $34,000, purchased

by Queensland buyers the Bassingthwaighte family, “Yarrawonga”, Wallumbilla. Top price in the Poll Herefords was $30,000 for Mountain Valley Quantum Q016, going to Glenwarrah Herefords, Bundarra.

The sale results came as welcome relief after more than three years of crippling drought and four decades of stud breeding.

The recently elected chairman of Herefords Australia predicts a bright future for the breed.

“Whiteface cattle are making a big resurgence in the beef industry,” Ian Durkin declares, as we inspect the new calf crop at “Mountain Valley”, Coolatai.

“We’ve seen record sales in southern NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with two stud sires each fetching over $100K, including a record auction price of $160K for an Injemira bull.”

Ian says that following the end of the drought, there’s been unprecedented demand for Hereford and Poll Hereford females. It was a very different story a few years ago.

At the start of the drought they had 1000 bales in storage, plus silage, normally enough to get them through any prolonged dry spell. But the latest drought was different – and considerably longer – than anything previously witnessed.

At one stage, Ian was securing hay from Victoria and as far as South Australia. When the situation spiralled out of control, they started looking at agistment. The process of where to send their females was proving a constant headache but the pair were in for a few surprises.

Long-time friends and clients Neil and Mary Rogers, “Toobrack Station”, Longreach, phoned to say they had received 12 inches of rain and offered to help out. At the height of the drought, the Mountain View herd were scattered to the four winds, with 300 head in

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“WE’VE SEEN RECORD SALES IN SOUTHERN NSW, VICTORIA AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WITH TWO STUD SIRES EACH FETCHING OVER $100K, INCLUDING A RECORD AUCTION PRICE OF $160K FOR AN INJEMIRA BULL.” Longreach and another 300 in Tasmania, spread over four different blocks.

Stud breeders Garry and Pat Clarke, from Burnie, looked after the bulk of their Poll Hereford herd for 2½ years. They tagged calves, weaned and joined before returning them in peak condition.

Trevor and Teresa Hall, Quarterway Angus Stud, Scottsdale, did the same for their joined Angus heifers. Twelve of their bull calves sold in the recent sale for an average $14,000.

“I’ve always believed the stud business is more about people than cattle,” a grateful Ian says. “We had a lot of help from a great bunch of friends. It made the logistics of having cattle agisted all over southern Australia an easier task and gave us peace of mind, knowing they were in good hands.”

Ian says he was never going to let the drought beat him but there were plenty of days when he was left scratching his head. In total, the drought cost him over $2 million.

“Our paddocks were bare dirt but, oddly enough, in 2019 in one of the worst seasons on record, we sold a record number of bulls,” he grins. >

FROM TOP: Mountain Valley stud breeders Shelley and Ian Durkin with their little band of workers Jorja, Stephen and Matthew; Angus bulls ready for sale.

FACING PAGE: High-quality stud Poll Hereford bulls are a source of pride for the Durkin family.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“OUR MOTTO IN OUR SEED STOCK OPERATION IS SIMPLE: QUALITY WITH CONSISTENCY.” The family is thrilled to finally have the herd all home and enjoying a tremendous season.

The Mountain Valley Poll Hereford stud was established in 1981 by Ian’s parents, the late Steve and Barb Durkin, with foundation females sourced from Bobanken Poll Herefords, along with select cows from Sevenbardot, Merawah, Moorelands and Tarrawonga studs.

The Durkins have been in the Coolatai district since the 1920s. Ian and Shelley currently run about 200 Poll Hereford stud cows, along with a smaller herd of commercial cattle over 5000 acres. About eight years ago they branched into Angus and today run a similar-sized stud herd to the whiteface.

With an annual 26-inch rainfall, the stock are run on natural pasture for the most part. Oats are planted for winter feed and fattening. For the past two years the family has taken a team of six to 10 Poll Hereford and Angus bulls north to Blackall, with encouraging results.

It augurs well for the fifth generation on the land, children Jorja, 15, Stephen, 10, and Matthew, 8. The boys attend school at Warialda, while Jorja loves boarding school in Toowoomba.

The Durkins have run a Suffolk sheep stud for the past few years, and recently introduced a White Suffolk stud. Young Matthew received a few on his birthday and it’s taken off from there.

“Being a stud breeder, I just can’t help myself – I’m always trying to improve things,” Ian laughs.

“Our motto in our seed stock operation is simple: quality with consistency.

Shelley and I take a balanced approach to breeding, concentrating on producing a complete animal that ticks all the boxes, with softness, volume, style and balance.

“We are committed to setting high standards and constantly improving to give our clients sound, profitable and, above all, affordable genetics they can rely on to get the job done, year in year out.” RLM

ABOVE: The Durkin family thrive on country life.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Poll Hereford cows and calves; mother and calf unit; bulls at play; Ian predicts 2022 will be a great year for the cattle industry; Shelley and Ian Durkin with a future herd improver.

Annual On-Property Sale 23 July 2022

Breeding bulls that offer quality & consistency, with volume, style & balance that can get the job done year in & year out!

IAN & SHELLEY DURKIN Coolatai, NSW || Ph. 0427299012 || www.mountainvalleystud.com.au || ian@mountainvalleystud.com.au

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still in the

GAME

Rugby union and Inverell go way back, and the game is still alive and well in the town to this day.

Rugby union is known to have been played in Inverell in 1888 with a match against a Glen Innes side. The local team are believed to have worn green and white striped jerseys.

In those early days, several district teams played locally as well as in competition with New England teams. Eventually North-West Rugby Union was formed in 1904 with Inverell as its headquarters.

Although many players responded to the call to serve during WW1, the game flourished during the early 1920s.

By the end of the decade, however, rugby league had become popular, and many players switched codes. This resulted in the decline of rugby union locally until the Inverell club was resurrected in the 1950s.

Although interest in rugby has waxed and waned over the years, reserve grade and junior grade teams have always been encouraged to play. By 1974, Inverell was competing in the Central North competition, winning the first-grade final in 1978.

The following year, the Inverell club opened their current grounds and clubhouse after several years of hard work. Since then, the Highlanders have reached the finals several times, winning firstgrade premierships in 2006 and 2008.

Some Inverell players have been selected for Country Week and other representative teams. Several toured with Australian sides in the 1920s and four are known to have represented Australia in matches played in Fiji and Tonga in the 1950s.

The current competition includes teams from Moree, Narrabri, Barraba, Gunnedah, Quirindi, Scone, Walcha and Tamworth.

Junior rugby is popular with both boys and girls and has its own competition.

Women’s rugby kicked off in 2011, and the women’s sevens rugby competition was established in 2017, playing teams from Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tamworth and Barraba. There are 15 girls in the squad, ranging in age from 16 to 30 years.

Captain of the team is Warialda High School student Liliana Reardon, 16. Liliana and Brooke McKinnon have been selected in the NSW under 18s all school sevens, with Leilani Tevaga a shadow player.

Coach Dale Beattie has been coaching women’s rugby for 16 years.

“We have a very young side, with about 80 per cent of the team still at school. Games away often involve a 500km round trip,” he says.

Rhiannon Byers, an Inverell inaugural player, is now a contracted professional player and has been selected for the Australian women’s sevens squad.

On any given Saturday, spectators come along to Rugby Park to support the teams. In recent years the Highlanders have included locally employed players from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, many of them from Bindaree Food Group.

Technology enables their extended families to see these matches live in their own homes, and players can review matches at their leisure. Rugby not only provides a sporting opportunity for players, but also an important social element for people of all ages. RLM

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

Piper David McIntyre and wife Christine, from the Inverell Pipe Band, have been supporting the Highlanders for years.

Ben Swan with Geoff and Sonia Crawford, Inverell.

The Highlanders first-grade side.

Inverell’s David Hawker and Philip Frame.

James and Lyndy Simpson, Inverell.

Margie Cirikidaveta, Sissy Natoba, Elena Babity and Meme Raiqeu, Inverell.

Inverell supporters Andrew Simmonds and Michael Spencer.

Michael Jorgensen, Henry Tomlinson and Rowan O’Brien, Inverell.

Reserve grade before the game.

Hannah Allan, Luke Mayne and Brett Tomlinso.

Secretary of the Highlanders club John Hodgens has been videoing the rugby for the past 16 years.

Inverell’s Renae Bolch, Nicole Ridley and Debbie Wilson.

Nikki and Steve Power, Warialda.

Bill Reardon, Jim Lucas, Mark and Georgina Smith, from Warialda.

The women’s sevens side.

Inverell supporters Dianne, John and Peter McMahon.

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Yours sincerely Not many musicians rise from the dead but miracle man Michael O’Sullivan has always defied the odds.

Singer songwriter Michael O’Sullivan spends his days in an Inverell caravan park with his soulmate Max, a trusty dingo/cattle dog cross.

Home is a tent, van and welcome campfire. After all he’s been through in the past few years, this enduring musician is happy to be alive, strumming his guitar and thinking about the next line to the song he’s working on.

For nearly 40 years he entertained audiences throughout Australia, including many years touring with Inverell’s Bandy Bill & Co bush band, made up of mostly school teachers. The band was popular at local dance halls throughout the district and achieved national fame.

Michael’s first hit was Hauling the Wattle, a song written about his great uncle who cut wattle bark with bullock teams in Tenterfield. It became APRA Song of the Year, which led to an association with Hadley Records, Tamworth. Modern Day Swaggies, with input from the great Jim Haynes, was another hit, making it onto Ian “Macca” McNamara’s first Australia All Over album.

After 10 days of release, it had sold about 140,000 copies. With proceeds from the album he bought a PA system and two Maton guitars, neither of which has left his side.

Bandy Bill performed everywhere, even as far away as Tasmania to play at the World Coal Shovelling Championships in Fingal, near Launceston. Their biggest crowd was 40,000 at the Gympie Muster.

In 1987 Michael toured extensively throughout the USA, his precious guitar travelling with him as hand luggage. He wrote the last lyric of Happy Birthday Australia on the ride home, in time for the Bicentenary concert at Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park.

He remembers a funny moment later that day in the Green Room of the famous Longyard Hotel.

LEFT: Musician Michael O’Sullivan has survived a near-death experience and come out the other side.

These days he is content sharing a lifetime of music with old friends and complete strangers.

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Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“There’s this nervous-looking bloke pacing up and down, ready to go on,” he laughs. “I asked him if he played in a band and he told me he was Bruce Woodley from The Seekers.”

Bruce had just composed the bones of a new song and was feeling the pressure. He sang the punch line, “I am, You Are, We are Australian”.

“I told him it sounded great and wished him well. Of course, the song, co-written with Dobe Newton, went on to be a phenomenal hit.”

Big hits and narrow misses, Michael has seen them all, including many occasions when he diced with death.

Over the crackle of the evening fire, he regales stories of a near drowning in his ute after being swept down the Clarence River in flood, of getting stuck up to his chest in quicksand as the tide came in, and surviving seven aborted landings after a terrifying plane ride across the Rocky Mountains into Denver.

After nearly a decade, the band members dispersed through “natural, happy causes”.

Michael performed live in the ABC studios and started touring with his great mate Macca. The pair were booked to perform at the Newcastle Workers Club the very night the earthquake flattened the building and claimed nine lives.

Instead, their gig was put back 24 hours at the last moment. Midway through their show at Taree the following night, they heard the sobering news – another near miss. Later they played for three nights at the Rialto Theatre in Brisbane, days before it burnt down.

By the early 1990s Michael was playing five nights a week in northern Queensland, typically on his own, while working in a community-based job during the day.

Working 80 hours a week, he burnt out, suffering a bad fall down the steps. His marriage ended and Michael headed back to Tenterfield and the country to start the healing process.

During this time he discovered his passion for busking, always loving the chance to share his music in front of small audiences.

Later he travelled through Asia, ending up in the Philippines to lay down some tracks. One day Michael received a call that his father had suffered a stroke and was dying.

He rushed home and began caring for his mother, by then living with dementia.

On Boxing Day, nearly two years down the track, she failed to recognise him.

“I didn’t drink at the time but remember going to the pub and buying a bottle of brandy,” he says, shaking his head. “I kept drinking, convinced it was doing me good.”

To ease the pain, Michael replaced food with alcohol and slowly drifted into a foreboding

“IT’S A REAL JOY TO SHARE MY STORIES AND MY MUSIC IN THE MOST DIRECT AND PERSONAL WAY.” LEFT: Michael and his best mate Max make a formidable team. For his part, Michael is just happy to be alive to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

space. Although still writing songs, the battle with the demon grog was taking over, leading to his eventual collapse in the laundry. He spent three long days on the floor without food or water in stifling 40-degree heat.

By the time the police and ambulance turned up, he was delirious and in a bad way. In 2017 he was driven by ambulance from the Armidale District Hospital to the McLean Care Village in Inverell, having wasted away to 44kg.

“The doctors gave me two months to live.

My family bought a burial plot and I was placed in palliative care, never expecting to pull through,” he says grimly.

What happened over the next year was nothing short of a miracle. Country musos don’t die easily, especially those born in the same maternity bed as The Tenterfield Saddler’s Peter Allen and legendary Tamworth guitarist Lindsay Butler.

With supportive friends from the music industry offering comfort in the darkest hours, Michael somehow found the will to hang on. After nearly three months of not eating, his first meal was a Chiko roll.

“I’m convinced my wonderful muso mates saved my life with the gift of music – they played for me around my hospital bed,” he says. “At the time, my hands were so contorted I never imagined ever playing again – the best I could do was stare at a guitar hanging on the wall.”

Not only has Michael O’Sullivan returned from the dead, he is playing again – but no longer on the stage of some of the country’s biggest country music and folk festivals. These days you’re more likely to find him busking out the back of Coles.

A while ago, in my younger days, when the glow of youth hadn’t gone away, my songs were known across the land and I played on stage in a nine piece band.

And people came from miles around, as I toured throughout all the country towns; they loved my songs and they loved my style; it made them happy and it made them smile.

Well now I’ve got a new gig, it’s not quite

as big but it helps me remember what day it is.

Country musos don’t grow old – they end up singing out the back of Coles.

These words are from the catchy song Out at the Back of Coles, written about Michael by local muso and good friend Bernie Killen.

For the past year, he’s been busking there three days a week. It’s just one spot of many throughout the New England region.

“Playing my guitar puts a smile on faces.

It’s a real joy to share my stories and my music in the most direct and personal way,” he says.

Learning from the actions of his own family growing up, Michael is generous with everything, especially his time.

“I was raised in a family of givers,” he says, putting down his guitar. “When I was a kid you’d never leave the family home without something, perhaps one of Mum’s biscuits or a bag of oranges – it was normal. In life you should never expect something back in return for the good things you do. You can be very happy with virtually no possessions.”

Of those, Michael has few but he still treasures his guitar collection and a box containing 15 music awards.

“We still don’t really know how this COVID thing is going to knock us around,” he says.

“My advice is to get up in the morning and do something you really enjoy, be it lighting a fire or tending to your veggies.

“Sadly, we are losing our life skills and the moral fibre of life is suffering. In recent times we’ve had a few local suicides, which have absolutely gutted the community. Life is precious. When I was a young fellow these sorts of things were virtually unheard of.”

While Michael thought the worst was behind him, he is not out of the woods, having recently been diagnosed with the onset of frontal lobe dementia.

It won’t dampen his eternally optimistic spirit.

“I’ve seen the world and I’m happy to be here in Inverell. This town has a very big heart and it seems to be growing. It’s been very kind to me and Max.” RLM

INVERELL RLM 159

T O W N F E AT U R E Inverell

THE

lawnmower MAN

Malcolm Pomfrett is not about to let the grass grow under his feet.

160 RLM INVERELL

Lawnmower aficionado Malcolm Pomfrett has long admired the Victa lawnmower, so much so that he now has 160 models displayed in his back shed.

With another shed full of impossibleto-find new parts, Malcolm says there is no mower he can’t rescue from the brink.

They arrive as junk, Malcolm having paid a few dollars for each of them at a garage or clearing sale. By the time he’s finished with them a fortnight later, they look brand new.

Nothing goes on display until they are in working order. Unfortunately for those wanting a quick repair job, Malcolm is not your man – he’s far too busy to help out with fix-it requests.

But he will happily share his fabulous collection with anyone. Malcolm says he can’t charge without having public toilets, meaning there’s no cost to hear his amazing story. Making a dollar, he says, is not as important as meeting strangers on a daily basis.

“Most of those that visit have owned a Victa at one stage of their lives,” the lively 77-year-old says. “They all have a story about their Victa experience, even though it’s a topic that’s rarely discussed.”

Having the mower collection comes with its own benefits.

Inverell T O W N F E AT U R E

“OVER THE YEARS, MY COLLECTION HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION BUT THE BEST THING IS PUTTING A SMILE ON THE FACES OF ALL THE VISITORS THAT DROP IN.”

“The mowers keep me occupied and out of a nursing home,” Malcolm grins. “When you live on your own, it’s important to wake up in the morning and have something to look forward to. Over the years, my collection has given me a lot of personal satisfaction but the best thing is putting a smile on the faces of all the visitors that drop in.”

Malcolm says it all started very quietly in 1991 while son Craig was serving his apprenticeship at Motor Mecca, Inverell.

Wanting to work on something during his lunch break, Craig contacted his father and Malcolm found just the thing: two brokendown Victas collecting dust under the house.

Using parts from both mowers, father and son managed to assemble one good one. For Malcolm it was the start of a long and rewarding journey. Today he has a big shed full of Victas, all immaculately presented and ready to cut grass.

“I hate things going to the dump,” the persistent old-timer says. “I used to go to the garage sales and clearing sales but I’ve run out of room.”

Malcolm is not exaggerating. The mowers stacked up on the verandah and under the house complement another big pile out the back. Even the house isn’t spared. Mowers packed carefully in the spare bedrooms are awaiting a new life in the display – when there’s room.

Malcolm says he was only a lad when Sydney inventor Mervyn Victor Richardson came up with the idea of putting an engine on its side to drive a blade rotating in a horizontal plane. He assembled a prototype from a few scraps of metal and a peach tin for a fuel can and it successfully cut long grass.

While it wasn’t the first rotary lawnmower developed, it was cheaper, lighter and easier to use than previous versions. By the start of the 21st century, following 50 years of operation, millions of Victa mowers were exported to 30 countries around the world.

Malcolm left school at age 14 to become the man of the house after the sudden departure of his father.

His first job was burr-cutting, earning him 10 shillings a day (about $5 a week in today’s money). He was keen, undertaking a five-mile bike ride to start work each morning. The young lad did his best putting food on the table for his mother and two little sisters but it was far from ideal. The pressure to come home with something was immense.

As Malcolm matured he became a roustabout and wool presser before working on a wheat grader and spent 13 years at the Bingara sawmill. In 1978 he arrived in Inverell to marry his bride but

sadly she left with the children seven years later. Malcolm has been living in the house for 37 years, most of them on his own.

Not one to dwell on things, he is thankful he discovered his passion for old lawnmowers, especially the mighty Victa.

Blessed with great eyesight, he is also a marvellous marksman and member of the Three Rivers Big Game Hunting Club.

Malcolm’s old car collection also brings a great deal of joy. His 1964 EH sedan, WB Holden ute and 1939 Chev Deluxe make regular appearances at the Inverell Antique Car Club.

As to what will happen with his priceless lawnmower collection, Malcolm says it will one day be passed onto his son, who started him on this crazy journey three decades ago.

For those wishing to view this extremely rare and comprehensive collection, make an appointment with Malcolm on (02) 6722 2974. You won’t be disappointed. RLM

FACING PAGE: Victa lawnmower king Malcolm Pomfrett has collected hundreds of old mowers, most of which carry the Victa brand.

ABOVE: Malcolm loves maintaining his small fleet of historic cars, including his trusty EH Holden; the “Mower Man” and his trusted companion Bella enjoy entertaining visitors in the showroom.

INVERELL RLM 161

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inspiration S U M M E R

COURAGE & CONVICTION “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

Novelist Anais Nin

For Bathurst-based recruiter and mother of three Anna Brown, digging deep has become a way of life, and striving to survive has been the only path forward.

“It has been tough, but I am here today strong and moving forward with my life.”

Those were the words Anna Brown shared at Loreto Kirribilli’s Federation Conference in 2007.

Loreto holds a special place in the hearts of Anna (a graduate of Loreto Normanhurst) and her mother, grandmother, and great aunt (Loreto Kirribilli alumnae). Anna’s grandmother donated the chalice to the chapel, which is still there today.

It was a tough and raw address for Anna to deliver, looking upon some 500 faces as she touched on some of her unimaginably challenging life experiences to date, and highlighted just how important scholarships were to families like hers. Anna’s own daughter, Lilly, was lucky to have the support of a bursary for her secondary schooling at Loreto commencing the following year – a meaningful gesture given the family’s strong connection and history with the school.

Anna maintains she never considers her life as being inspirational, yet her story is nothing short thereof, no doubt a sentiment shared by the women in the audience on that day.

It all started at Cunnamulla in Queensland, where Anna grew up, spending her days in the bush and doing her primary schooling through Charleville School of the Air. She followed in the footsteps of the women before her as a Loreto student for her secondary studies and became close friends with Marie Muldoon (nee Underwood), who grew to become a very dear friend to Anna in the good times and the bad.

In 1989, Anna was invited by Marie to visit the Underwood property 600 kilometres south-west of Katherine in the Northern Territory, setting off on an adventure that would change her life forever.

After a six-month stint working in Darwin, Anna was offered a job as a nanny for the three Warriner children at Newcastle Waters Station, a magnificent 10,000-square-kilometre breeding property in the west Barkly region of the NT, owned by the Packer family at the time. The station carried approximately 60,000 head of cattle including 20,000 commercial Brahman breeders, in addition to a 4000-head Brahman stud.

Anna’s time in the beautiful NT is one she describes as “the best and the saddest”.

“During my time at Newcastle Waters I got to know the most amazing group of people, many of whom I still keep in touch with to this day,” Anna smiles.

“The Warriner family was fantastic to work for, and for that I’m very grateful.

“I have a great association with the Territory because it was the best time of my life. But it was also the most challenging.”

It was at Newcastle Waters that Anna met her husband, Geoff “Brownie” Brown from Roma, who was the Brahman stud manager at the time before going on to manage the station.

Anna and Geoff were married in Dubbo in 1994 and proudly welcomed two beautiful children together: Lilly in 1995 and Harry in 1999.

Anna was seven months’ pregnant with their third child, Frank, when Geoff died at age 32 on July 24, 2001.

“We were in Darwin at the time,” Anna recalls. “By then I was involved in recruitment and had been attending a recruitment conference. Geoff was there for a cattlemen’s meeting.

“It was a terrible shock for us all when Geoff suffered a fatal heart attack while we were at dinner.”

Anna was overwhelmed with the support of her friends and relatives at the time of this devastating loss.

“My beautiful friend Marie was incredible. She returned with me to the station after Geoff’s passing,” Anna recalls.

“I was very lucky to have the amazing support of Ken Warriner and his family, enabling me to continue on at the station, which I did for three years. This gave me the time I needed to establish what my life was going to look like moving forward.

“I remember the unwavering support of my brother Garth McGilvray and sister-in-law Melissa McGilvray, and my incredible mum, Roslyn.

“I can recall heading out the driveway at the end of 2004 as we left Newcastle Waters Station and the Territory. My mother had one child and a dog in a vehicle and I had the other two children in another, thinking ‘this is it’.

“I was saying goodbye to my comfort zone and place of security, leaving behind so many memories.

FACING PAGE: Anna with the family’s much-loved pets, Wilbur and Wallace.

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S U M M E R story name

“The sooner you can get up and get going again, the sooner you can embrace life once more.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Geoff and Anna with their young children Lilly and Harry at Katherine Show in 2001; Geoff Brown at Roma in 1989; from the family album, Geoff at Benalla Roma in 1972; Anna’s brother Garth McGilvray; Anna’s mother Roslyn McGilvray; Anna and Geoff at Humbert River Station in 1990; Geoff and Anna’s wedding day at Dubbo in 1994; Geoff Brown and Ken Warriner at Alice Springs Show in 1998; Geoff and Anna at Katherine Show in 1995.

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inspiration S U M M E R

“The Territory is so big but also so small. There, I never had to explain who I was or what had happened to me. I formed so many wonderful friendships there, and many of those people have been an integral part of my children’s upbringing.”

Geoff was described by the Warriner family as “a quiet bloke who was incredibly devoted and loyal to his family and his friends, with a passion for cattle and the pastoral industry”.

There’s no denying Anna had been dealt an exceptionally unfair hand with the loss of her much-loved husband and the father of her children.

But the devastation wasn’t going to end there.

Less than two years later, Anna’s only sibling, Garth, was tragically killed cutting firewood on the property he and his wife Melissa managed at Eugowra in the Central West of NSW, also leaving behind his 14-month-old son, Oliver.

The weight of sadness after Garth’s loss, with Geoff’s sudden passing still raw in her heart, was almost unbearable for Anna.

“When Geoff passed, I lost my soulmate and my children lost their father. I lost any sense of direction in my life,” she recalls.

“On top of that, losing my only sibling in Garth was terribly difficult.

But in some ways, I was lucky in that I didn’t have a choice and simply had to keep going to survive. I had three little kids I had to raise.

“I’m a practical person. You just have to keep moving forward.

I’ve always been hard on myself, believing that there’s no point in crying about it.

“The sooner you can get up and get going again, the sooner you can embrace life once more.”

In 2004, Anna and her children made the move to Bathurst, where she established her recruitment business, Anna Brown Recruitment, with the assistance of Clifton Thompson Maher, a real estate and livestock agency based in Bathurst at the time.

Anna’s extensive industry connections, combined with more than 15 years’ experience in recruitment, allow her to effectively fill rural positions across the country, from station managers right through to first-year jackaroos. Anna also contracts her services to Spinifex Recruiting, servicing industries across NSW. Anna first crossed paths with her current partner, Andrew Doran, six years after Geoff’s death. Coincidentally, Andrew was a helicopter pilot in the Territory for 20 years and was born and bred at Helen Springs Station, right near Newcastle Waters.

Today, Andrew owns and operates a yard-building business at Bathurst, AD Contracting, in which Anna is a partner.

“By the time Andrew came along, I had become quite independent and rather selfish,” Anna recalls.

“I knew who I was. I had become a strong and outspoken person, because I had to be.

“There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t go back in my mind and think about what happened.

“But I am incredibly lucky to have found Andrew. He’s compassionate, kind and wonderful with the kids, and he has played a major role in my ability to move forward.”

Anna is a truly inspirational woman, and her story is one of strength and resilience. In it, there’s a lesson for us all: when you dig deep you will find the courage you need to survive, and then, anything is possible. RLM Words: Anna Conn Images: Zenio Lapka

ABOVE: The family relaxing on their farm near Bathurst: Lilly, Anna, Frank holding Wallace, Anna’s partner Andrew Doran and Harry with Wilbur.

RLM 167

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S U M M E R bespoke charm

RIDING HIGH Bike builder John Kitchen has for many years shared his passion for penny farthings with the adoring public.

“Everyone thinks a penny farthing bike could kill you trying to ride it, but it’s a beautiful thing.”

So says Bathurst’s John Kitchen, master bicycle frame builder, who has had a lifelong fascination with these marvellous machines.

The penny farthing is easily recognisable with its high seat, small rear wheel and large front wheel, intended to enable greater speeds.

English inventor James Stanley is credited with introducing the bike around 1870, however it is believed to have been inspired by the design of French inventor Eugene Meyer. Its name comes from the British penny and farthing coins.

John says the penny farthing may appear daunting but once you understand its intricacies and master the technique – much more arm than leg work – it’s a joy.

John and wife Ivy enjoy life on the outskirts of Bathurst, having lived in the area for 25 years. He is also a fitter machinist, boiler maker and tool maker.

From his workshop, this skilled craftsman undertakes meticulous antique bike restorations, and constructs penny farthings, tandems and tricycles, custombuilt for appreciative customers.

He recalls the thrill of assembling his first penny farthing, from bits and pieces and old sketches he obtained from an elderly gentleman.

“I was pretty chuffed, then thought ‘oh my God, now I have to ride it’,” he laughs, “I had never ridden one until then.”

John mastered the skill quickly, riding the couple of kilometres from home into Bathurst a few days later, although he admits sharing the highway with B-double semi-trailers was quite frightening!

“I thought, ‘this is scary as hell but it works’,” he says cheerfully. “And then I got used to it, and it really is a lovely thing to ride.”

He still has that bike, and has since built another 19, all made to order. The customer’s inside leg measurement determines the size of the wheel. >

LEFT: John Kitchen dressed for the show.

FACING PAGE: John loves the action of penny farthings and can reach impressive speeds.

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S U M M E R bespoke charm

Over the past few years, John has shared his penny farthing passion with the public at shows, fetes and other events across the region, completing the picture resplendent in top hat and tails.

The combination of the bike from a bygone era and its rider in period clothing attracts much attention, and John is generous in sharing his time and knowledge.

Even those with little interest in bicycles can be won over by the charm of the penny farthing, according to this dedicated enthusiast.

“People love it, they see it and smile, they think of happier times.”

On several occasions, he has joined like-minded aficionados to compete at the National Penny Farthing Championships in Tasmania, which captures the Victorian era in events and activities.

John has the support of Ivy in his building endeavours and public appearances.

“She is very encouraging; this wouldn’t happen without her,” he says, adding that while she has no interest in climbing up onto a penny farthing, she does occasionally enjoy a ride on a rare 1876 Coventry rotary tricycle.

It is part of a fascinating collection, some dating back centuries, which includes penny farthings, and Dublin, Coventry and Singer tricycles. There is a 1950s French Randonneur, vintage Speedwell, and many others from decades past.

“One day I raced, and won, with my 1957 Speedwell superlite against a $20,000 carbon fibre road bike,” he reflects happily.

John’s fascination with bicycles began as a child in Sydney. As a boy he was in poor health, suffering from asthma and respiratory problems, and his mother asked a doctor to advise.

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“The doctor said ‘not a bicycle, that could cause him stress, he could die’,” John says. “But Mum said ‘well he may as well enjoy the time he has left’ so she bought me a bike anyway.”

He had found his passion, joining the local cycle club, and spending every spare minute at a local bike shop before leaving school to work there.

When the shop’s owners borrowed a penny farthing for a demonstration ride at the Campbelltown Velodrome, the teenage John was smitten, nagging his boss to let him have a ride.

“He finally said yes, but before I could, the owner collected it. From that day, I wanted my own penny farthing.”

John later owned a bike shop in St Ives for nearly a decade. He is proud to have been the biggest seller of the

popular Centurion brand in the southern hemisphere for a number of years.

He would custom-build up to 20 modern bikes a year for racing or touring. One of his bikes took its owner across the Nullarbor Plain and back. The handmade machine is the only way to ensure a perfect fit for its rider, he maintains.

For this antique bike devotee, there is something extra special about the penny farthing: ingenuity of design, bespoke charm, and “the best thing is, it makes people smile”. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Zenio Lapka & Zora Regulic

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Coventry rotary tricycle; hand-crafted leather seat and turned red boxwood hand grips; carbide headlight from the 1800s; the seat of John’s penny farthing; Coventry at speed; wooden pedals on the Coventry tricycle.

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S U M M E R entertainment

for the love of MOVIES

As you enter Manildra’s heritage-listed Amusu Theatre, you are instantly transported back to the golden era of movies.

The Amusu Theatre is a no-frills building with wooden floors and hard seats, but everywhere are reminders of the movies and stars that brought audiences flocking to it since it opened in 1936.

Movie posters line the interior, lights on the walls shine with a soft orange glow, a piano sits as it would have done in the days of the silent movies, and a Nestlé’s tray waits to be paraded down the aisles full of chocolates and ice-creams. On either side of the screen is a monogram reading AT, which could stand either for Amusu Theatre or, as it happens, Allan Tom. It was largely due to the drive, dedication and enthusiasm of Allan Tom that audiences in central western NSW saw firstly silent movies, then the “talkies”.

When silent movies took Australia by storm in the early years of the 20th century, it was hardly surprising that Allan saw them as a means to combine business with pleasure. He and his older brother Jim inherited their father Sidney’s entrepreneurial flair and decided to bring silent movies to audiences in small communities in western NSW. The family business was a garage and bike shop, started by Sidney Tom in 1914. Lucrative as it was, with a car hire business charging “a bob a mile” and plenty of customers needing mechanical work, young Allan set his sights on entertainment.

He took his cue when the first electrical moving picture was shown in Manildra in 1922. The following year he borrowed £500 from a local publican and set up his own silent movie show using a Cummings and Wilson projector. Somehow Allan and Jim juggled the demands of the garage and the movies. Their mother, Wes, played an active role in the enterprise and gave the piano accompaniment, an integral part of any silent movie show. It was said that sometimes she became so engrossed in a movie that she forgot to play!

While Manildra residents were enthusiastic about the movie shows, Allan realised he could expand the business by taking movies to the bush. He modified an Oldsmobile car to act as a mobile projection room and used an HMV phonograph for sound.

A Chevrolet truck took marquees, seats and other items. > FROM TOP: A giant Cummings and Wilson projector was once used to screen movies; movie posters and memorabilia line the walls to spark the memories of many; Manildra’s Amusu Theatre and Tom’s Garage are reminders of the golden days of movies and the Tom family’s dedication to bringing films to bush communities.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Allan Tom was one of the original Australian picture-show men; the former Tom’s Garage is now a museum featuring posters and an eclectic collection of memorabilia; the Amusu Theatre is a rare original cinema from the 1930s.

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S U M M E R entertainment

AUDIENCES GOT VALUE FOR MONEY, WITH UP TO TWO FEATURE FILMS PLUS NEWSREELS, CARTOONS AND SERIALS IN EACH SESSION.

Demand was so great that in 1924 the brothers bought a second projector so they could show movies in Cudal or Cumnock at the same time as in Manildra. They became part of an unofficial group known as the travelling picture-show men, who brought the romance of the movies to isolated communities throughout Australia.

With the advent of “talkies” in the late 1920s, the Tom brothers adapted existing equipment to incorporate sound and started taking their Amusu Talking Movies on tour. So began the golden era of movies, with people flocking to their shows as far away as Cumnock, Eugowra, Bogan Gate, Tullibigeal and Tottenham. In Yeoval in March 1932, the crowd was so large they couldn’t all fit in the marquee. They decided to lift up the back of the marquee so that everyone had a sporting chance of seeing and hearing John McCormack in Song of My Heart.

Favourite actors during the 1930s included Dad and Dave, George Formby, Shirley Temple, William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy, and the Singing Cowboy Gene Autry.

Audiences got value for money, with up to two feature films plus newsreels, cartoons and serials in each session.

Sometimes instructive movies were shown, such as The Story of Louis Pasteur, which was deemed relevant to the man on the land as Pasteur had discovered how anthrax was spread in sheep and cattle. Much interest was generated in 1937 with a movie on the construction of the Chevrolet car. In 1939 audiences learnt what was happening in Germany as Hitler rose to prominence.

The shows were all about entertainment, and community singing was a popular feature between movies. In 1938 Allan’s 10-year-old daughter Lyn sang solos for the audience.

Always seeking fresh opportunities, Allan had the Amusu Theatre built in Manildra in 1936. He was assisted for 50 years by projectionist Len Townsend. Little did Allan know that the theatre would still be in operation 84 years later. He took out regular advertisements for the theatre in the Molong Express newspaper, always in the centre of a page so that readers could not miss them.

When Allan’s brother Jim died in 1937, Allan had to concentrate on the garage business for some years but he rebuilt the garage next door to the theatre so that he could keep an eye on both enterprises. In 1965 Allan took over the NRMA service van for Manildra and surrounding areas, a post he maintained for many years. Photographer Robert Bruce, who took some memorable photos of Allan at the Amusu a few years before he died, remembers his work came to a standstill when Allan was called away to do an NRMA inspection at the garage next door. “Won’t be long,” Allan said. And true to his word he reappeared within five minutes, ready to resume the photo session.

The Amusu continued regular screening for many years, even when, in the 1980s, many small cinemas closed, unable to compete against the lure of videos.

Allan retired as the NRMA’s oldest patrolman (as well as being the state’s oldest driver’s licence holder) in 1992, aged 90. In May 1994 he ran his last film at the Amusu and he died the following year.

It would have been inconceivable for the Amusu to cease screening movies, and in 1999 it opened for Saturday night screenings as well as hosting special group visits. In 2003 Cabonne Council took over ownership of the theatre and adjacent garage, and since then a committee of keen locals has ensured it remains viable.

The projection room has largely remained the same as it was in 1936, with two cumbersome Westrex projectors, which contrast markedly with the current DVD machines used today.

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The garage became a museum of movie posters, thanks to a significant donation by collectors Alan and Madeline Strahan.

In recent years it has diversified into an eclectic display of memorabilia – old telephones, gramophones, flat-irons, Elvis memorabilia – which delights visitors.

Long-term president Joan Stevenson and her husband Alan, as well as the other committee members, spend countless hours keeping the theatre and museum in order and making improvements, while Allan Tom’s 92-year-old daughter Lyn Woodhart maintains an active interest in the buildings that have always been a part of her life. All proceeds from screenings are ploughed back into maintaining the buildings and fixtures.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic, monthly Saturday screenings took place, after which the committee would provide afternoon tea or supper. The pandemic halted screenings for a few months but they were compensated by the fact that there was a surge in online sales of movie posters. Now, screenings have resumed and once again visitors are enjoying the movie experience created all those years ago by Allan Tom. RLM Words: Elisabeth Edwards Images: Robert Bruce

FROM TOP: A collection of donated movie posters has evolved into a display of all sorts of items from yesteryear; Amusu Theatre committee president Joan Stevenson leads a hard-working group of volunteers; between the theatre and the museum is Paris Lane.

Gundagai NSW Australia

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fit for PURPOSE Spinifex Recruiting has a broad footprint from country to coast that brings a unique perspective to its recruitment services.

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Leading recruitment agency Spinifex Recruiting has offices in Sydney, the ACT and across regional NSW, and covers all bases with their extensive experience and knowledge of the employment market.

This comprehensive network presents significant advantages to their clients, Spinifex Client Director Damien O’Donnell says.

“Our partnership between city and country is a unique point of difference.

“We have 50 team members across a vast area, dedicated to building strong and sustainable client relationships.”

Offices are located in Dubbo, Bathurst, Orange, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Byron Bay, Sydney City and Parramatta.

This enables Spinifex to have a strong presence on the ground in addition to their excellent digital capabilities.

Each client’s specific needs are met by qualified and professional team members.

“We are client focused and work to ensure a positive recruitment experience,” Damien says.

“Our services are bespoke, tailored to each client, and we have the industry-specific experience and in-depth understanding to deliver.”

Spinifex specialises in commercial, agribusiness, mining, state and local government, community, renewable energy and traffic control services.

Their specialist service lines cover an enormous range of roles, across a huge range of employment, from temporary to permanent, casual and contract positions, in workforces large and small.

Spinifex prides itself on offering a professional, innovative and personalised service, customised to ensure the right people are matched with every client.

Critical to the process is understanding exactly what is required and diligently applying the market research and analysis necessary to target the best outcome.

“We recruit the top 10 to 20 per cent of talent, a high calibre of applicant so we get the best people for our clients,” Damien says.

This Australian-owned company has strong connections with service in rural areas that stretches back decades.

It was formed in 2012 when three established recruitment agencies – Smalls Recruiting, GWS Personnel and JHA Recruitment – came together with a shared vision and purpose.

Spinifex Chairman Peter O’Donnell has held a number of executive management positions over the past 35 years, including senior roles in retail, IT, mining and recruitment, and since 1994 was CEO of GWS Personnel, which specialised in serving inland NSW.

recruitment S U M M E R

With 27 years’ experience in the industry, Managing Director Scott Small is a thirdgeneration recruitment professional, whose family had one of the first recruitment agencies in Sydney.

Spinifex Recruiting combines city and country expertise and experience into an agile-minded and progressive team to meet and exceed clients’ expectations.

Team members are closely connected to their communities, involved in a myriad of organisations and activities.

“Our team are local, they live and work in these areas, and are community-minded people,” Damien O’Donnell says.

Based in Orange, Damien has a passion for regional NSW that typifies how the company’s thorough understanding and knowledge of the regions can benefit clients and job seekers.

“Agribusiness has bounced back from drought,” he says. “We have also seen more people, particularly young professionals, wanting to come home to regional areas from cities.

“With the impact of COVID-19, we need to embrace the challenges and opportunities. Regional areas are creative and resilient.

“People could be looking to adapt to changed circumstances because of COVID, too, like relocating, a career change, or working in Australia instead of going overseas for a school leaver or university student.”

At Spinifex Recruiting, ensuring a great experience for each client is paramount.

Building positive and genuine relationships is crucial to delivering the best outcomes, and they strive to maintain a high standard of consistency and professionalism.

With strong and informed links between the city, country and coast, they have the capability to deliver outcomes to satisfy specific recruitment requirements.

“Ours is a can-do attitude, and we are here for our clients.” RLM

“WE RECRUIT THE TOP 10 TO 20 PER CENT OF TALENT, A HIGH CALIBRE OF APPLICANT SO WE GET THE BEST PEOPLE FOR OUR CLIENTS.”

Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Robert Bruce

Spinifex Recruiting is at www.spinifexrecruiting.com.au, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

FACING PAGE: Evelyn and Damien O’Donnell enjoy being parents to their son Alexander and daughter Victoria.

FROM TOP: Spinifex Client Director Damien O’Donnell is proud that Spinifex Recruiting is able to provide bespoke services; Spinifex Recruiting team members Mardi Van Dartel and Sarah Scott.

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S U M M E R fashion

branching OUT

Babywear is the newest line in the ever-evolving success story that is 2 Fat Ladies.

Innovation has always been at the core of Lucknow business 2 Fat Ladies.

Owner of the popular women’s fashion shop Helen Livingstone has, over the years, added gifts and jewellery to much-loved stock of women’s clothing and accessories.

She has also run workshops with themes such as travelling light and innovative use of scarves.

Now Helen is excited to branch out further into babywear with her Baby 2 Boutique, housed within the store.

The business opened more than a decade ago and for quite a while included a coffee

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shop. Helen now runs the store with her daughter Jacqui and two others. They are kept busy with regular local customers as well as people passing through Lucknow from Sydney, Bathurst, Dubbo, Cowra and western NSW. Many are return visitors, who relish the opportunity to buy unusual, quality items, either for themselves or as gifts for relations and friends.

Customers love the shop for its innovative clothing and gifts and its convenient location on the Mitchell Highway just east of Orange.

Helen saw the need for a quality babywear outlet, for young mums as well as indulgent grandmothers.

She has sourced exceptional brands of babywear for Baby 2 Boutique, including Woolerina, Dusty Road Apparel and OB Designs.

Forbes-based Woolerina, a regional success story, uses local Merino wool, which is spun overseas, dyed in Melbourne and made into clothing back in Forbes. Their range of children’s apparel sold at the boutique includes singlets, jumpers, pants and beanie sleeping bags as well as wraps.

OB Designs, from the NSW North Coast, specialises in cuddly baby toys, exquisitely crocheted blankets, bonnet and bootie sets, and cleverly made wooden rattles.

Dusty Road Apparel includes cleverly designed organic cotton t-shirts and rompers in a wide range of colours with beautifully designed Australian motifs.

“The new venture is exciting,” Helen says.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in it.”

Helen is sure her new range will prove popular with customers, and is confident about the future of her store, as well as the village of Lucknow.

“Locals have to support each other if we want businesses,” she says. “And I think a lot of people do just that.” RLM Words: Elisabeth Edwards Images: Robert Bruce

story name S U M M E R

FACING PAGE: 2 Fat Ladies’ Baby 2 Boutique stocks a range of quality toys and children’s books as well as babywear.

ABOVE LEFT: Owner Helen Livingstone is excited to offer children’s clothes and toys from a number of regional manufacturers.

BELOW: Customers love the jewellery, handbags and other accessories at 2 Fat Ladies.

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Light breezy fabrics, featuring stunning linen and cotton will help keep you looking beautiful and feeling cool this summer.

bohemian boutique for the wild at heart

Visit us:

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As well as all our lovely clothing, bags, jewellery, scarves, shoes, gifts and more.

Open 7 days 9am–4pm Visit us in store or online www.2fatladies.com.au Mitchell Highway, Lucknow Ph: 6365 5437

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Paddock to product ethos Handwoven alpaca fashion & accessories, sustainably grown & created Weaving studio for adults & children Freestyle weaving for creativity, relaxation & mindfulness Quilted wall art, bags & homewares ashculmetextiles.com.au 0414 478 585 fiona@ashculmetextiles.com.au OPEN BY APPOINTMENT

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER’S MISSION FULL OF HANDMADE LOVE AND CREATIVITY

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9.30am–5.30pm Mon–Wed & Fri 9.30am–6.30pm Thu 9.30am–3pm Sat Closed Sun RLM 187

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health S U M M E R

a helping hand A business with a caring heart and a wealth of experience is changing lives for the better in Dubbo and western NSW. Aidacare is a leading provider of healthcare equipment and assistive technology for hospitals, residential aged care facilities, home and community care, and rehabilitation.

Family-owned and operating throughout Australia, the company established a branch in Dubbo at the beginning of 2021.

The showroom, at Unit 3, 33-35 Cobbora Road, is managed by John Graham, who transferred from Sydney when his wife, Reverend Mel Graham, took up an appointment as the minister at Dubbo Uniting Church.

“We make a good team,” John says.

“Mel looks after people’s minds and I help with their bodies.”

John came to Australia from Scotland at the age of 21 and farmed on a family property at Glen Innes until prolonged drought in the 1990s meant life on the land was no longer sustainable for a trio of brothers.

Needing to secure employment elsewhere, John tried a number of things before finding his niche in the home care, lifestyle and mobility sector.

He describes Aidacare as a one-stop shop for assistive equipment solutions designed to improve the quality of life for people from a wide range of age groups, backgrounds and circumstances.

“The work is enormously rewarding and is all about giving people back their independence,” he says.

“We have an extensive range of specialised products to help make daily tasks easier for people requiring assistance, whether they are living at home, in hospital or aged care, or involved in rehabilitation.

“There are options to rent or purchase and all our products are backed by ongoing service and support.”

Aidacare is a trusted brand in supply contracts and support arrangements for hospitals and aged care groups throughout Australia.

Ongoing training is provided for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other allied health practitioners.

A team of skilled field technicians and engineers covers preventative maintenance and service support.

Aidacare manufactures an extensive range of products and is able to purposebuild equipment, such as specialised scripted manual and power wheelchairs, to suit individual needs.

Healthcare professionals and members of the public visiting the Dubbo showroom receive guidance in the selection of an extensive range of products including special care mattresses, seating and positioning products, pressure management cushions, specialised kitchen, bathroom and daily living equipment, mobility scooters, walkers and walking aids.

Everything is designed to make life simpler and more comfortable, especially for people wishing to remain living at home for as long as possible.

Aidacare has a range of post-operative discharge equipment and supplies appliances and devices for veterans and community organisations supporting National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or ageing needs.

Specialised advice and equipmentbased solutions are provided for complex rehabilitation needs. This highly specialised area is supported by an expert team of consultants working closely with local professional therapists.

Aidacare co-ordinates home modifications for home access, including ramping systems and rails, when people are no longer able to negotiate stairs and steps.

Modification work is carried out by reputable sub-contractors to ensure peace of mind and a high quality of workmanship.

Friendly and professional drivers and installers ensure clients receive the best support when equipment and services are delivered.

The company is also involved in custom fit-outs for aged care homes.

“We have our own team of interior designers and do everything from go to whoa,” John says.

“Aidacare is a very family-orientated business. At the end of the day, it is not

about the bottom line. We strive to look after people in all regards.

“Our aim is to provide the right outcomes for patients and clients and sometimes that does not require any money at all.”

Aidacare has 49 branches across Australia and brings the same range of products and services to regional areas as it does to major cities. The company is a trusted provider to the Department of Veterans Affairs and many other government bodies.

Aida is the Latin word for helper, from which the English word aid is derived. RLM Words: Heather Crosby Images: Natalie Salloum

The Dubbo showroom is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. No referral is necessary.

Appointments can be made outside of these hours. The Aidacare team can be contacted on (02) 5858 4599.

ABOVE: Manager of the Aidacare Dubbo branch John Graham.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dubbo Aidacare’s Manager, John Graham, Prajula Ghimire and Ben Starr; home care furniture and beds; the new Dubbo branch; a full range of scooters and powerchairs; an extensive range of lift and recline chairs; wheelchairs for every need; adjustable day chairs for everyone.

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VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS • Nationwide coverage with over 50 branches • Complete range of healthcare products to purchase or hire • Our expert staff will assist with in-store and in-home trials • We offer general equipment sales, service and support • Complex Rehabilitation product services available

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Est.

1920 trusted for generations We are proud to be the oldest independent real estate agency serving the local community of Wagga Wagga and surrounding areas. With a rich history spanning four generations, people have always been at the heart of our company, providing prompt, professional and highly competent service for all aspects of property transactions.

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Because people matter horeanddavies.com.au 190 RLM

126 baylis street, wagga wagga

6922 2900

THE BANCE FAMILY HAVE BEEN CARING FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1974.

Our lives are shaped in so many ways, impacted by many things: special people, special moments, incredible accomplishments and unique experiences.

It is Bance Funeral Services independence that enables us to provide families with a high level of personal service, care and compassion.

Bance Funeral Services are well known through-out the region and are committed to serving the community.

Your life story is full of intricacies and complexities, it’s what makes you who you are!

The Bance family have seen many changes in funeral services, coming from very traditional church services to more contemporary services. It is this vast experience that enables Bance Funeral Services to provide families with the experience necessary to plan a funeral service that truly reflects one’s life story, whilst honouring traditions but reflecting contemporary ideas.

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COMMUNITY OF CREATIVES

For over 25 years, locals and travellers alike have enjoyed the wonderful hospitality and creative talents of The Visitor Information Centre Courthouse Arts & Crafts Co-op at Boorowa.

Arts & Crafts Co-op volunteers provide delicious refreshments, an impressive array of quality homemade items for sale, and a professional visitor information service, all from Boorowa’s historic former courthouse.

This impressive building, a focal point of Marsden Street, dates back to 1886 and has been recorded by the National Trust.

The co-op plays a valuable role in the fabric of this country community. Founded in 1994, the co-op boasts a number of original members still actively involved.

All ages and interests are welcomed.

Friendship and community service are at the heart of the group’s activities.

Their many talents are reflected in the large selection of items available, including a collection of beautiful knitted and crocheted jumpers, scarves and beanies for adults and children.

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A lovely range of baby gifts, along with complimentary wrapping, is a feature for which the co-op is renowned.

Colourful blankets, gorgeous tea cosies, soft toys, and artwork add to the choice for appreciative shoppers from near and far.

Members also supply delicious homemade cooking for sale, along with jams and preserves.

Outstanding culinary skills combined with warm hospitality ensure a most enjoyable experience taking refreshment in the Magistrate’s Tea Rooms.

Light lunch, morning and afternoon teas are available. A scrumptious Devonshire tea of fresh scones, cream and jam is the quintessential country cooking delight.

Over the years, the consistent efforts of members have supported many local organisations and other causes. These

include district schools, the Show Society, Burrowa House aged care, the Cancer Council and Endometriosis Australia, along with Boorowa’s renowned Irish Woolfest, traditionally held on the October long weekend and celebrating the district’s Irish heritage and fine wool production.

In conjunction with Hilltops Council, the co-op’s members also conduct the Visitor Information Centre from the old courthouse, providing helpful and friendly service. While COVID-19 has had an impact on visitor numbers, the centre is usually very active, welcoming visitors from across the state and beyond. More volunteer helpers are always needed.

With its many attractions and wide appeal, the region is a popular destination for travellers. The centre has still experienced some of its busiest times over the past year, reflecting the desire people have to visit this beautiful area whenever they can.

From their base in the grand old courthouse, the dedicated members of the Arts & Crafts Co-operative continue to make a significant contribution to the town and district. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Supplied

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The historic former courthouse building in Boorowa is home to the Courthouse Arts & Crafts Co-op and Visitor Information Centre; gorgeous tea cosies and charming soft toys; the large array of items reflects the talents and creativity of co-op members; a beautiful selection of quality clothing and scarves; there is great choice for a special gift.

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ACCOMMODATION Resort Rooms and Lakeside Cottages set on 12 acres of lush bush land and overlooking spectacular Lake Hume.

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EAT + DRINK Lake Hume Resort’s restaurant The Boat Shed provides a magnificent dining experience for in-house guests and visitors.

Boasting a bistro, Hamptons style cafe and a wood-fired pizza bar.

WEDDINGS Our venue space The Boat Shed Lake Hume is the ideal wedding destination where your ceremony, reception, guest accommodation, and wedding party photography can be beautifully combined at one of Albury’s iconic venues.

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lakehumeresort.com.au

AUTUMN 2022

Featuring Tamworth

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sport S U M M E R

A GOOD SPORT Sport has had a major impact on the life of Dubbo identity Stuart Webster, on and off the field of play.

Former first-class cricketer Stuart Webster played 23 games with the Baggy Blues during the 1970s.

The prominent batsman scored 1215 runs at an average of 28.92, including a century on debut and six half centuries.

Justifiably proud of his sporting prowess, Stuart applied the same discipline and determination to make his mark in the business sector and contributed to the community as a cricket and rugby union coach and sports club administrator.

The now retired 75-year-old continues to use his skillset to assist others, most notably as a Rotarian and Dubbo Golf Club board member.

Born into a close-knit family with a strong work ethic, Stuart discovered early in life that nothing could be achieved by sitting on his backside.

“You have to set goals and really work to get what you want,” he says.

Stuart’s parents and extended family were great role models.

His mother, Doris, was a member of the Walker clan of Scottish Presbyterian farmers from the Upper Murray district of NSW. His father, Ted, grew up as a station master’s son and went on to have his own career with the railways.

Work transfers took Stuart’s family to Junee, Wagga Wagga, Grafton and Orange.

School holidays were frequently spent at an uncle’s farm at Tumbarumba.

“We had long days working with sheep and cattle. I learned that physical effort and personal discipline never hurt anyone.

My uncle always insisted on doing things properly because there wasn’t time to go and do them again.”

Playing tennis was part of family life, and Stuart enjoyed going to rugby league matches with his father.

“We didn’t have a car when I was quite young so I would dink to the games on the front of Dad’s bike.”

Cricket became a passion, and Stuart has vivid memories of the first time he walked onto the pitch at Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga as an eight-year-old.

“The sport really started to catch hold of me when we moved to Grafton,” Stuart says.

“Cricket there was very well organised and played at a highly competitive standard.

“I was also involved in tennis, rugby league and rugby union but cricket was my major focus.”

When the family moved to Orange, Stuart joined the Methodist cricket club, starting off in third grade and travelling around the region to country grounds with polished cement wickets.

“After working my way up to first grade, I got into district cricket and played Grindsted Cup, which was at a phenomenal standard and really shaped me.

“I captained the Orange district side at the age of 21. We played against good cricketers who were fair but gave you nothing. It was hard cricket and you had to earn everything you achieved.”

By this stage, Stuart was working in general insurance with Mercantile Mutual.

He wanted to see how far he could go with sport and played a lot of rugby union with Central West and NSW Country.

A cruciate ligament injury resulted in the end of rugby and was nearly the end of cricket, too.

Stuart applied for a work transfer to Canberra as a stepping stone to further his cricketing experience.

ACT cricket was part of the NSW country program and, if players were good enough, there was the chance of being part of the Prime Minister’s team when international cricketers were visiting Australia.

“I was picked for NSW Country and played in the Prime Minister’s XI against New Zealand, which was a marvellous experience.”

Stuart received invitations to join Sydney first-grade cricket clubs and accepted an offer from Western Suburbs. The club paid his fare to fly from Canberra every Saturday.

He eventually relocated to Sydney and went on to play Sheffield Shield from 1972-78.

“Travel, accommodation and meals were provided but cricketers did not receive a wage,” he says.

“I was fortunate that Mercantile Mutual allowed me to have three months of the year playing cricket and continued to pay my salary.” >

FACING PAGE: Stuart Webster, in his home office filled with memorabillia, reflects on a successful life.

ABOVE: Stuart shows his batting style in a Sheffield Shield game in his 20s; from left, Sir Donald Bradman, NSW Manager Warren Saunders and Stuart Webster during the NSW V SA Sheffield Shield game in March 1975.

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S U M M E R sport

Stuart played alongside and against top names including Gus Gilmour, Bob Simpson, Jeff Thomson, Doug Walters, Dennis Lillee, Rodney Hogg, David Horne, Kerry O’Keeffe and Ian and Greg Chappell.

After retiring from Sheffield Shield, Stuart sought promotion within the Mercantile Mutual network.

He was appointed regional manager at Newcastle and made lifelong friends playing cricket for the Waratah-Mayfield cricket club.

Returning to Sydney after two years, Stuart and his wife Dianne bought a house at Castle Hill.

When travelling into Pitt Street for work each day became too much of a grind, Stuart transferred to Dubbo.

He became secretary of the local cricket association, working alongside entrepreneurial president Geoff McMillan.

Night cricket was launched in Dubbo and became hugely successful. Stuart wrote to then town clerk Tony Kelly, lobbying for improved cricket facilities. Four additional turf wickets were obtained and Dubbo went on to run the NSW Country Under-17 Championships for a number of years.

Stuart has enjoyed coaching cricket and rugby union teams and at age 60 started taekwondo, attaining his black belt in six years (despite time off for hip and knee replacements).

He was bitten by the golf bug five years ago and is a valued board member of the Dubbo club.

“I play three days a week and enjoy working with top people including CEO Brett Holland, course convenor Garry Button and

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head greenkeeper Michael Wherritt as well as all those associated with Dubbo veterans golf.

“Brett really knows his stuff and is leading the club in the right direction. A new irrigation system has been installed, membership is increasing and we are attracting some big events,” Stuart says.

“The aim is to get Dubbo into the top 100 golf courses in Australia.”

Stuart devotes a significant amount of his time to Dubbo Rotary Club. Support is provided for a range of projects, including the Chumkriel Language School in Cambodia.

He has travelled to the school, near Kampot, a number of times.

“The work Rotary is doing there is very rewarding and making a real difference.”

Stuart was devasted by the death of his wife four years ago.

“Dianne and I attended the same high school in Orange and rekindled our friendship when I was playing cricket in Sydney. She was working there as a primary school teacher.

“Over the years, I spent a lot of time away with sport but Dianne always supported what I was doing. She collected and organised all my sporting photographs, certificates and memorabilia.

“When we first came to Dubbo, we bought a home on acreage at Angle Park Road.

“Happy times were spent creating a garden and putting up fences. I also constructed a series of drystone walls using rocks collected on the 15.3-hectare property and from neighbouring farmland owned by John and Peter Knaggs.

“Dianne and I later moved into town and purchased a place near the golf course.”

The walls of the home feature a wonderful collection of sporting mementos and treasured family photographs.

Family is important to Stuart who enjoys spending time with his children Rebecca and Sam and grandchildren Claire, Wyatt and Braxton. RLM Words: Heather Crosby Images: Zenio Lapka

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dianne and Stuart’s wedding day in 1975; Stuart enjoys a quiet moment in his lounge room; Stuart, daughter Rebecca, Dianne and son Sam on Rebecca’s wedding day; Dianne in her early 20s.

All bakery and cafe needs in one shop  Baking on site Coffee made with Fish River Roasters beans and Little Big Dairy milk Pies, cakes, salads, hot chips, burgers and more

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88 Bolaro Street, Dunedoo NSW 2844

02 6375 1677

Open 5.30am–5pm M–F

Always in Season www.visitsnowyvalleys.com.au

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2/68 Fernleigh Rd, Turvey Park NSW 2650 admin@topsyturvey.com.au (02) 6925 1375 LARGEST RANGE OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES • BEST RANGE OF GREETING CARDS • HOME DELIVERY AVAILABLE

02 6882 0949 1/27 Bultje Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 care@dubbodental.com.au

A complete range of dental services:

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Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Armitage

dubbodental.com.au

THE GLEN, Clear Creek via Bathurst, NSW 2795

Farm Cottage Accommodation

Stanton Cottage

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

F E E L R I G H T AT H O M E

Indulgent relaxation Two private garden spas Romantic wood fire

In the heart of Albury, Stanton Cottage has been beautifully renovated with all the original features of a double brick home.

Spectacular scenery

Fully equipped kitchen, open plan living and dining with various bedroom sizes - you’ll have the whole cottage to yourself!

Perfect for families, couples, friends travelling together or corporate stays. Pets are most welcome.

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

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Award winning Farmstay B&B Busy working cotton + sheep station Stunning homestead + garden oasis Pool + tennis court Native flora + fauna Pushbikes + outback walks Winter campfires Farm + cotton gin tours Halfway between Sydney + Adelaide Halfway between Griffith + Hay

www.corynniastation.com.au reservations@corynniastation.com.au P. (02) 6993 5807 Hosts: Julie + Bruce Armstrong

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S U M M E R handcrafted

the swing

OF THINGS

Upholsterer Kerry Imrie is in the business of bringing joy to small children.

“Sleepy Jays swings are made from quality Australian-made canvas and fabrics, with some of the beautiful linens we use coming from Lithuania.”

FROM TOP: Big brother Harrison Pickford from Yeoval pushing sister Lacey in a Sleepy Jays swing. Image: Sarah Pickford; twins Levi and Evie Frankel from West Wyalong love their Sleepy Jays swings. Image: Lee Wiencke

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There’s nothing quite like the smiling face of a small child delighting in one of life’s simple pleasures.

For Gulargambone-based upholsterer Kerry Imrie, that’s the very reason she’s in the business of creating gorgeous handmade children’s swings.

Her business is Sleepy Jays, named after Kerry’s grandson Jay’s own nickname, “Sleepy Jay”, which summed up his snoozing tendencies as a baby.

Fifteen years on, and Jay is now six-foot-something, which Kerry shares with a laugh.

She says she feels lucky to have seven grandchildren and three children of her own. When they went off to boarding school, Kerry had more spare time than ever before and decided to get into upholstery.

She acquired her upholstery licence and kept busy creating vehicle seats and farm tarpaulins, but says it was never quite her thing.

That’s where Sleepy Jays comes into the mix. Kerry had seen a photo of her aunt in a hessian swing when she was a baby, and with lots of spare canvas at her fingertips, Kerry decided to make one for Jay. Since then, Sleepy Jays swings have become a popular choice for parents far and wide.

From prints such as the Very Hungry Caterpillar and woolly sheep, right through to classic gingham and stripes, the quality canvas and fabric outdoor swings are guaranteed to be a family favourite. They are suitable for babies aged from three months – or as soon as they are able to hold their own head up – right through to little ones aged five.

The swings are comfortable and safe for babies to relax in while being supervised, and come with two beautiful matching cushions.

Kerry is pleased that the swings are being so well-received by her customers.

“Sleepy Jays swings are made from quality Australian-made canvas and fabrics, with some of the beautiful linens we use coming from Lithuania,” Kerry says.

“These linens are very durable and easy to keep clean, making them an ideal choice for baby swings.

“Upholstery has always been something I am passionate about, having spent around 15 years travelling to Baradine and Coonabarabran to do tech courses, and having taught upholstery in Dubbo and Bourke privately on weekends.

“It’s always kept me busy and it’s something that gets me out and about,” she smiles.

Today, Kerry and her husband Bob are based on their farm near Gulargambone where they predominantly run Dorper sheep and Angus cattle.

Kerry is right at home handcrafting her Sleepy Jays creations, which she sells online via her website, and at markets and field days.

Her favourite thing about selling her swings at these events?

“I’m lucky enough to see first-hand just how much the little ones love trying out the swings. Their little faces just light up!” RLM Words: Anna Conn

Handmade colourful canvas swings for little ones.

For children 6 months to 4 years T: 0408 254 325

www.sleepyjays.com.au

Fashion Boutique • Accessories • Homewares Opening hours Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9:30am - 5pm Sat 9:30am - 1:30pm Closed Sun + Tues

126 Dandaloo Street Narromine, NSW Ph: 6889 7497 ollieandinarromine@gmail.com

ollieandi.com.au

Timeless Classic Earthy

CLASSIC KIDS’ LEATHER BOOTS AND LOAFERS Fast delivery to all areas & free shipping for orders over $100.

www.littlefoxkidsshoes.com.au

1300 043 000 info@littlefoxkidsshoes.com.au

Providing parents with affordable, beautiful and quality hats, shoes and accessories for babies and children.

Our carefully curated collections from Australia and abroad have been tried and tested on our own children and are products that we love!

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passion for

boutique clothing S U M M E R

fashion

Down the main street of Narromine, in a former Scout hall full of rustic charm, you will find Ollie and I, a women’s boutique that is the creation and dream of owner Mary-Anne McKinney.

A school teacher with a passionate interest in fashion, Mary-Anne McKinney took the plunge and opened a small shop in 2016.

“I always had an interest in the rag trade, so it was very much a hobby when I started,” she says.

“I kept my part-time teaching position, which I loved and which was also a security blanket for me when entering the small business sector.

“We all take different journeys in our lives, and sometimes we just have to go with it. It chooses the path for us, and we have to make the most of it.”

Ollie and I prides itself on providing a range of beautiful clothing, accessories and gifts with exceptional customer service.

The quaint little boutique operated for the first four years from 77 Dandaloo Street, Narromine before outgrowing the premises and moving on.

The old Narromine Scout Hall became its new home in 2020.

There were layers of Scout green paint on the inside walls and quite a bit of work, but Mary-Anne knew she could tackle the job with the help of husband Martin.

“We freshened up the walls with a crisp white and a trim of teal green, which is the Ollie and I trademark colour, and the building took shape,” Mary-Anne says.

Ollie and I has experienced the hardships of a three-year devastating drought, mice plagues and now a pandemic.

“You just have to keep modifying yourself and your business,” says Mary-Anne, who trialled new brands and adapted the store to the challenging times.

With ever-changing COVID restrictions in NSW, Mary-Anne built a significant online presence for Ollie and I, which now enjoys a customer base that stretches across Australia.

“Both my daughters have been helpful in getting the business up and running,” Mary-Anne says. “Sarah has been my IT guru, as well as the two ladies who work with me. They are a big part of my business, and each has their customers who come to see them on their day.”

Ollie and I stocks a range of beautiful pieces, ensuring customers find something special, whether it’s a piece of clothing or a funky accessory to jazz up an outfit.

On any given Saturday, you will find the spacious boutique and luxury change rooms bursting with the laughter and chatter of women gathering to indulge in the latest fashions.

Mary-Anne is quick to credit her mother, who is behind the Ollie and I name.

“Olive was always very stylish, had a love for good fabrics and a talent for sewing. So, my love of fashion definitely came from Mum,” she says.

When passing through Narromine, make sure you pop into Ollie and I at 126 Dandaloo Street . Whether it is for a browse or a retail fix, you are bound to enjoy the whole shopping experience. RLM Words: Lucy Taylor Images: Natalie Salloum

ABOVE: Mary-Anne McKinney has a passion for providing the ultimate shopping experience for her many customers; the eye catching Ollie and I boutique is a result of a 2020 renovation of the Narromine Scout Hall.

FACING PAGE: Collections of beautiful pieces fill the spacious and welcoming store; standout products include wicker bags and baskets, charming leather accessories with character, funky sneakers and stylish clothing.

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WAGGA

WELCOME TO THE

GRIFFITH LEAGUES CLUB A club like no other, loved by locals and visitors alike.

Discover our extensive offering of delicious meals in the Bistro, refreshing cocktails, cold beer & a selection of wine from our locally curated wine list in the bar.

The Leagues is a place for all occasions, or none at all —a quick lunch, an after-work drink, a family occasion with the kids, drinks before the game or to party through till late on the weekend.

THE BISTRO

TAN’S CHINESE RESTAURANT

SOUTHSIDE LEAGUES CLUB

NORTHSIDE LEAGUES CLUB

A popular family friendly Bistro located in the centre of town — serving all the classic pub meals, with a range of dining options.

The Northside is a wonderful place to relax over a few quiet ones or grab some mouth-watering Chinese.

We have something here for everyone!

SOUTHSIDE LEAGUES CLUB 2 Bridge Road Griffith 02 6962 4577 reception@griffithleagues.com.au TRADING HOURS Thur–Sat 10am–12.30am Sun–Wed 10am–11pm Bistro open for lunch & dinner 7 days

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NORTHSIDE LEAGUES CLUB 255 Wakaden Street Griffith 02 6962 1611 • 02 6964 7596 (Bistro) TRADING HOURS Mon–Tue Closed Wed–Fri 3pm–10pm Sat 12pm–10pm Sun 1pm–10pm Restaurant open Wed–Sun 6pm–9pm

griffithleagues.com.au

texas jane Curating the very best from Australian Designers for the woman who knows that fashion should be fun!

114 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 0431 704 688 info@shoptexasjane.com OPENING HOURS: Mon-Wed: 10-4 Thu: 10-5:30 | Fri: 10-4 | Sat: 10-2

@shoptexasjane www.facebook.com/shoptexasjane www.shoptexasjane.com

Let us help you feel your most fabulous self!

FOR THAT SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL VISIT UNEKE HOMEWARES. Explore the gorgeous scents of the Glasshouse Fragrance Collection, see their beautiful baby and gift range, exclusive clothing labels, selection of unique jewellery, homewares and so much more. Supporting local and Australian made.

Mon–Wed 10am–4pm Thu 10am–5pm Fri 10am–5.30pm Sat 10am–3pm

(02) 6971 8881

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S U M M E R recipes

squisito!

Zecca Handmade Italian in Griffith is getting back to the true roots of regional Italian food, and is sharing some of its favourite recipes with our readers.

Ben, Daniel and Michaela are three locals passionate about simple seasonal cooking, local produce and Italian culture.

They’re bringing the old recipes back to life in a bustling cucina housed in the iconic Rural Bank building. Everything is prepared fresh daily for an ever-changing lunch and dinner menu.

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Zecca produces the Riverina’s only dried artisan pasta range, using traditional Italian techniques, bronze dies and slow drying combined with Australian-grown, export-quality durum wheat semolina to produce a beautiful premium product doing the region proud.

Stoneground Organic Whole Wheat Orecchiette with Broad Bean and Almond Pesto Orecchiette is the quintessential pasta shape of Puglia, the southern Italian region on the heal of the boot. In this case, we use locally grown and milled organic whole wheat flour to make the dough. Broad beans and almonds are grown in abundance in rural areas of Puglia, and match perfectly with the nuttiness of the whole wheat pasta.

Serves 4-6 Ingredients: Pasta dough 500g organic whole wheat flour (semolina also works for this recipe) 200g warm water Pesto 300g fresh shelled broad beans 1 small bunch basil 1 small bunch mint 1 garlic clove 100g toasted almonds 50g pecorino cheese, grated 150ml extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Method: 1. To make the dough, pour the flour onto a work surface, make a well in the centre and add the water, gradually mixing in the flour until a dough forms.

2. Knead the dough until smooth (about five minutes) and set aside for 20 minutes.

3. To make the pesto, use a mortar and pestle to pound the garlic with a pinch of salt until you achieve a smooth paste, add the broad beans, roughly smash and gradually add olive oil.

4. Add the herbs, pecorino and almonds.

Pound together to form a loose pesto. Season to taste.

5. To make the orecchiette, cut the dough into four equal parts, roll into long ropes about the width of a finger.

6. Cut the dough into 2cm length pieces.

With a butter knife, starting from the edge furthest from you, drag each piece of dough towards you so it curves over itself. Then using your thumb, turn each piece inside out to form the shape of a little ear.

7. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the orecchiette and cook until al dente.

8. Meanwhile, warm the pesto in a separate pan. Drain the orecchiette and toss through the pesto. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Aquna Murray Cod with New Season Artichokes, Asparagus Caponata and Oregano Salmoriglio The key to tasty Italian food is the use of fresh seasonal produce, harvested and eaten at the perfect moment. In Sicily, caponata has many variations and is made all year round using the vegetables that are harvested during any specific period. This spring caponata is an agro dolce dish (sweet and sour), which was introduced to Sicily during the Arabic reign and has remained an important part of the cuisine ever since. It is often served with fish. Aquna Murray cod is a fantastic local product of Griffith, which is versatile, consistent and delicious.

Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 Aquna Murray cod fillet 50ml vegetable oil 4 fresh globe artichokes 1 cup continental parsley 10 mint leaves 1 bunch fresh asparagus 1 lemon, juiced 1 celery heart 1 bunch fresh oregano 1 desiree potato 1 garlic clove 1 red onion 2 tbsp brined capers 150ml extra virgin olive oil 100ml red wine vinegar 100g tomato sugo Salt and pepper to taste Method: 1. Cut the fish into four to six portions.

The preparation for the vegetables for the caponata is as follows: 2. Cut the onion into a large dice and put in a large pan

with half the vegetable oil and begin to soften on low heat until translucent.

3. Meanwhile, peel and dice the potato into 1cm cubes, cut the celery into 2cm lengths and boil them together until tender in salted water. Drain and add to the pan with onion.

4. Roughly chop the asparagus in 3cm pieces.

Discard any tough ends.

5. Next, peel off and discard the tough outer artichoke petals until you reach the tender heart. Peel the stem and cut the artichoke in half.

Remove any tough inner choke. Now cut each half into quarters. Add prepared artichoke and asparagus to the onions along with 100ml water, cover and cook slowly until tender.

6. Remove pan from heat, roughly chop parsley and mint and mix through the vegetables.

7. Mix tomato sugo, vinegar and capers through the vegetables and there you have a spring caponata. Add salt and pepper as desired.

For the salmoriglio: 1. Pound the oregano and garlic in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt to make a smooth paste.

2. Loosen the paste with olive oil and lemon, season to taste.

To cook the fish: 1. Season each portion with salt, heat remaining vegetable oil in a heavybased pan, add the fish, skin side down until crisp and golden. Carefully turn the fish over and continue cooking about two to four minutes depending on the thickness of the fillet.

2. Spoon warmed caponata onto a serving dish, top with the Murray cod, drizzle on salmoriglio and enjoy.

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S U M M E R recipes

Almond and Amaretto Semifreddo Semifreddo is essentially a gelato cake, with countless flavour variations depending on the season. Our version is spiked with Amaretto, which is a bitter almondflavoured liqueur. This semifreddo is garnished with local spring ingredients, strawberries and fresh green almonds, which are an interesting and unique product only found in very early spring before the almond kernel matures.

Serves 6-8 Ingredients: 6 eggs, separated 800ml thickened cream 30ml Amaretto liqueur 150g toasted almonds, crushed 150g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 100g strawberries 100g really fresh green almonds, sliced 5 tbsp honey

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Method: 1. Line a tin or container with baking paper or cling film.

2. Whisk cream to firm peaks and set aside.

3. Beat egg whites to firm peaks.

4. In a separate bowl, whip egg yolks, sugar and Amaretto until thickened and creamy.

5. Combine the yolk mixture and cream then fold into the egg whites.

6. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared tin and sprinkle in half of the toasted almonds. Add remaining mixture and top with remaining almonds.

7. Cover with cling film and freeze for about four hours.

8. Once frozen, cut into portions and garnish with strawberries (chopped as desired), sliced green almonds, a drizzle of honey and serve straight away.

Recipes: Zecca Handmade Italian Images: Jennifer Harden

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Experience a taste of Italy in Canberra

With the atmosphere of an Italian Piazza, the lobby is your gateway to explore Canberra from the EAST. “At East Hotel, Roman chef Francesco Balestrieri, alongside the hotel’s food-loving owners Dion Bisa and brother Dan Bisa, has created a menu that honours and celebrates their shared Italian heritage—with fresh, handmade pasta, authentic Roman pizza and dishes you might find from a hole-in-the-wall, clandestine restaurant in Rome.”

Sonya Gellert, Delicious Magazine

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From $380

S U M M E R country recipes

guaranteed to please These long-time family favourites never fail to please at the dinner table.

CHILLI BEEF SPARERIBS These are just perfect to nibble on any time, day or night. Serve them for lunch or dinner with vegetables in season or with some rice.

Ingredients 1kg beef spare ribs 2 tsp minced garlic 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp ginger, peeled and grated ¼ cup oil 2 tbsp mild chilli sauce ¼ cup tomato sauce 1 tbsp sherry (cream) 1 tbsp soy sauce ½ cup water 1 tsp honey 4 shallots or large-leaf parsley

Method 1. Combine garlic, peeled and grated ginger and salt.

2. Rub this mixture into the spare ribs and stand for one hour.

3. Heat oil in pan, add the spare ribs and cook until brown.

4. Combine the remaining ingredients with the spare ribs.

5. Cover and simmer for at least two hours till tender and cooked.

PEACH COBBLER This is a very old recipe that is starting to become popular again. You can use tinned peaches but if you can buy fresh ones in season, the results will be worth it.

Ingredients ½ cup butter 1 cup SR flour 1½ cups sugar Pinch salt 1 egg, beaten ¾ cup milk 1 825g tin sliced peaches 1 tbsp lemon juice Cinnamon or nutmeg Method 1. Melt the butter in an oven-proof dish.

2. Combine flour and one cup of sugar.

3. Add milk and beaten egg, stirring to combine all dry ingredients till they are moist.

4. Pour batter mixture over the melted butter, do not stir.

5. Bring peaches and remaining sugar and lemon juice to moderate heat, keep stirring so it does not burn.

6. Place sliced peaches on top of mixture.

7. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg.

8. Bake at 160 degrees for 40 minutes until golden brown.

9. This dish can be served hot or cold.

10. Serve with a knob of hard sauce and a dusting of icing sugar.

Using fresh peaches while they’re in season is a dream.

Hard Sauce This sauce is a rich accompaniment to have with your Christmas pudding or peach cobbler. It is a recipe that has been enjoyed in our family for 60 years or more.

Ingredients 1 cup icing sugar 125g soft pure butter 2 tbsp rum or brandy

Method 1. Beat all together very well till smooth, pale and fluffy.

2. Don’t over beat as it will go oily.

3. When mixed, put into piping bag, pipe about one teaspoon of hard sauce mixture on a sheet of baking paper and place in fridge or freezer.

4. This will keep in freezer for a couple of months.

5. Enjoy this on your warm peach cobbler or Christmas pudding.

Recipes and images: Lorraine Hills

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Cafe Dolcetto YASS, NSW

fish river roasters

Cafe Dolcetto is conveniently located in the heart of Yass and, is owned and operated by Noelene and Leigh, a dynamic mother-daughter team.

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

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.

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

order online: www.fishriverroasters.com.au

The Ten Mile is a regional destination eatery featuring seasonal farm gate foods, local wines and fabulous coffee.

Celebrating local and regional produce through both our menu and our retail store.

Thursday, Friday, Monday 8am - 2pm Saturday + Sunday 9am - 3pm P. 02 6086 4800 120 Albury Street, Holbrook, NSW 2644

www.thetenmile.com.au

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Come to Barnesstore for great country hospitality and a smiling face to greet you on your travels.

Great coffee, real loose leaf tea, homemade comforting food including our famous deep dish pies, belgian waffles and all day breakfast.

Extensive gluten free menu including our veggie bake and chocolate brownies.

Our award winning relish, smoked salts and black garlic are all made onsite at Barnesstore and are available for purchase.

Opening hours 9am - 3pm Friday Saturday Sunday Monday (Corporate and private functions by appointment)

barnesstore.com.au

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356 Albury Street Murrumburrah NSW 2587 T: 02 6386 3316 E: info@barnesstore.com.au

S U M M E R garden

A living masterpiece Visiting artist Lucy Culliton’s Monaro garden is a joyful and inspiring experience.

Arriving at Bibbenluke Lodge, the car is surrounded by a pack of friendly canines including four languid greyhounds, a staffy cross and two very old sheep dogs.

“Hello! I hope you don’t mind dogs,” Lucy Culliton greets RLM, and a small brown goat seizes an opportunity to leap into the open car boot. The inquisitive kid is swiftly extricated by our photographer Robert Bruce, then harnessed by Lucy with a lead in hand.

“Walk with me while I turn off the sprinkler in the emus’ paddock,” Lucy laughs. With a twinkle in her eye, like a pied piper she sets off, dogs, goat and RLM all in tow. A garden visit to “Lucy Land” is unlike any other.

Lucy Culliton is a prolific and multi award-winning artist. She is a regular finalist in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW. Her self-portrait, Bogong Moth Jumper, was selected as a finalist in the 2021 Archibald Prize. Lucy’s creative output and love of colour flows naturally from her studio into the gardens and landscape surrounding her Monaro property.

In 2007, while visiting family and friends in the Monaro, Lucy chanced upon Bibbenluke Lodge for sale. The property is crowned with a rocky outcrop, nestled on the side of a valley with a lovely outlook over paddocks down towards the crossing of the Monaro

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Highway and Bombala River. It had plenty of open space, an existing rambling garden, mature trees, pony paddocks, a goodsized farm house and a few old sheds, and Lucy decided “that’ll do”.

The 24-hectare (64-acre) property has plenty of scope to pursue Lucy’s lifelong love of nurturing all living things. Painting is part of her everyday life, as are her animals and planting a garden.

Here at Bibbenluke the rambling, wildly colourful garden, her home, numerous animals and the wide-open Monaro landscape all provide inspiration and subjects for her many works of art.

Lucy and her partner Jamie share their property with a menagerie of creatures great and small. All are rescues, including dogs, sheep, horses, cattle and a large feathered flock. The 13 resident emus began as a birthday gift of four from a farm in Nowra. All the creatures have names and everyone is here for life. > FACING PAGE: Artist Lucy Culliton in her colourful garden with canine companions Lacey (left) and Mayday (right).

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Masses of self-sown spring flowers and conifers, including a fine specimen of Blue Spruce, feature in this rocky bank; richly coloured smoke bush (Cotinus) and bright salvia in the studio gardens; red oriental poppies and electric blue larkspur self-seed, repeating the display each spring; on this sunny bank roses, lupins and iris all vie for space.

story name S U M M E R

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S U M M E R garden

LUCY HAS ADDED HUNDREDS OF TREES, PLANTING AN ARBORETUM-LIKE COLLECTION OF INTERESTING AND VARIED SPECIES INTO OPEN GRASSY AREAS AND PADDOCKS. “I’m a vegetarian,” Lucy says. “No one gets eaten,” she adds with a grin.

Growing up in Sydney’s northern suburbs, Lucy preferred being outdoors in nature, bushwalking or riding her horse rather than the classroom. She credits her mother Stephanie for instilling an early love of gardening, growing plants and colourful flowers.

As a student at the National Art School and living in Sydney’s Surry Hills, Lucy favoured succulents and cacti. Her abundant potted collection has since travelled with her to Hartley in the NSW Blue Mountains and decades later reside happily in a glassedin section of her Monaro studio.

“There was a good variety of trees here,” Lucy recalls. “Every past owner planted something.”

The driveway is lined by an avenue of mature trees, including ageing Monterey cypress, Atlantic cedar, poplars and box elders (Acer negundo).

Lucy has added hundreds of trees, planting an arboretum-like collection of interesting and varied species into open grassy areas and paddocks. Selected for their varying shapes and richly textural foliage, autumn colour or spring blossoms, these young trees planted for the future will mature into beautiful shade and shelter providers. Columnar oaks, upright cypress and poplars provide vertical accents among the collection.

Conifers are Lucy’s favoured trees and well suited to the harsh climate of the Monaro. She has incorporated many different conifer species on the sloping bank closer to the house, in the grassy areas and the colourful gardens surrounding her studio. These varying

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forms include spruces, Abies, swamp cypress (Metasequoia), Conibear cypress and Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani). Among the more unusual are weeping sequoia (Sequoia giganteum ‘Pendulum’) with a striking ghoulish shape, the sculptural form of monkey puzzle (Araucaria auracana), endangered Wollemi Pine and Mexican spruce (Picea mexicana). In the chilly Monaro winters, the conifers’ evergreen foliage contrasts visually against the bare bones of deciduous trees and shrubs.

Originally the driveway was circular, which Lucy altered to accommodate woodland gardens under the various blossom trees, dark leaf prunus, maples, horse chestnuts and conifers.

In winter the understorey comes alive with Hellebores (winter rose), while pretty spring bulbs, green-flowered Euphorbia and nodding flowers of Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) are on display as the weather warms. Taller magnolia, flowering dogwoods, deliciously scented double mock-orange (Philadelphus), snowball Viburnum and Mollis azaleas join the colourful spring party. > CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The emu paddock; elegant weeping Mexican Spruce (Picea mexicana) among the conifer collection; upright conifers border the arboretum plantings; the 1880s timber hut is flanked by a young Wollemi Pine and a border of bright spring flowers; potted cacti collection; seedlings of Nigella among the stone flagging; plantings spill over a low stone wall.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Dense mixed shrubbery either side of an original stone pathway includes purple Berberis and grey ornamental pear; misty plumes of hardy favourite smoke bush; pretty and scented double-flowered Philadelphus; an original stone wall; entry drive with stone plinths and guardians; iridescent spires of pink lupins; self-sown annuals.

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S U M M E R garden

THE BANK IS A RIOT OF SPRING COLOUR, MASS PLANTED WITH TALL BEARDED IRIS, FLAME-RED POPPIES AND INTENSE BLUE AND PINK LARKSPURS.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A wild combo of colourful foliage and naturalised annuals; spring-flowering larkspurs, poppies and iris and rare variegated wedding cake Cornus feature beside the old hut; plein air landscape studies hang on the walls of Lucy’s art studio; massed plantings with golden highlights; the studio gardens feature a collection of exotic conifer species including monkey puzzle tree and Blue Spruce; lazing studio companion Mayday.

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To the west, a sloping stony hillside has been developed into a rockery garden and features an array of different conifer species, richly foliaged smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) and flowering shrubs including cobalt blue California lilac (Ceanothus) and hardy Rugosa roses. Self-sown clumps of lupins, orange California poppy, breezy Cosmos and grey-foliaged lambs ears vie for space between the shrubs. Higher up the slope near a rocky overhang, Lucy has planted a large patch of dahlias, her favoured summer flowers for both garden and vase.

Built from local stone, a low wall borders the sloping bank, which features a cute original 1880 timber hut. The bank is a riot of spring colour, mass planted with tall bearded iris, flame-red poppies and intense blue and pink larkspurs.

Adjacent are aviaries and enclosures full of chooks, roosters, 150 pigeons, ducks, geese and Guinea fowl. A couple of cockatoos screech noisily for Lucy’s attention. They are all rescues from homes where elderly owners could no longer care for them.

Gardens closer to the 1930s art deco-inspired farmhouse feature flowering shrubs, abundant roses and layer upon layer of colourful seasonal flowers.

“It’s nice to come out and pick something like spires of beautiful lupins, larkspurs or branches of spring blossom,” Lucy says.

There are lots of peonies that flower later in spring and darkfoliaged dahlias for summer colour. Kept rounded by pruning, a dome of silver-foliaged ornamental pear (Pyrus salicifolia) and rich purple Berberis offer foliage contrast among the plantings.

Cheeky self-sown love-in-a-mist (Nigella) and red poppies have colonised cracks in the stone flagged pathway, and seaside daisy (Erigeron) tumbles over the garden edges.

As a working artist, Lucy has a disciplined routine, rising early to feed and water all her animals and birds. By 9am she heads to her studio to paint until lunch time. After lunch, depending on her workload, she returns to the studio or spends several hours in the garden.

Lucy’s former studio was in an old barn. Seven years ago, she decided she needed a larger work area. A whole weatherboard building was salvaged and moved from Bomballa.

The south-facing side is glassed from floor to ceiling, creating a huge light-filled studio space. Now there’s room for everyone, including lounging space for her constant canine companions, chairs for creative gathering and the occasional brood of hatchling chicks. During our visit, the studio walls have numerous landscape works featuring regenerative farmer Charlie Maslin’s Monaro property. Gardening in this harsh climate hasn’t been without challenges.

“We pump water up from the river, and water the trees by dragging a hose to soak each one, which is hard work,” Lucy says.

“During summer drought the river dried up for four months, which was awful. Jamie came to the rescue using a water cart to help keep plants alive.”

There were losses, including an old privet hedge along the driveway. Turning this into a positive, Lucy cut it right back and periwinkle has grown rapidly, smothering the bare branches with a cloak of green.

Indefatigable, Lucy’s joy of life, her creativity and love of all living things is infectious. The happy memory of a visit to the colourful rambling garden and the place she calls “Lucy Land” will last a very long time. RLM Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Robert Bruce

You can find Lucy on Instagram @lucyculliton Galleries: kingstreetgallery.com.au and janmurphygallery.com.au.

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Wyatt the wonder Wyatt Powell is a seven-year-old with an extraordinary determination to meet the many challenges before him.

The door swings open to a Tamworth café and in strides a confident little boy wearing shorts and a navy blue shirt with white dinosaurs all over it.

He looks very smart and quite the character. He starts making a purposeful beeline straight towards me .

I think “surely this can’t be Wyatt Powell, the six-year-old who has Noonan Syndrome who I’m waiting to meet along with his mum to talk about their life journey”.

As he draws closer, a woman pushing a pram follows him in hot pursuit. I have a recorder and notebook laid out in from of me, and she realises I am the journalist they are due to meet.

“Oh hi, you must be Jo? Sorry about that, this is Wyatt,” Christie says.

Down he plonks on the seat right in front of me, all smiles and full of intrigue about this strange lady he is meeting.

Beyond the confident persona, I start seeing signs of a young child who has a serious physical illness on his hands yet a fierce determination to fight it and live a normal life.

“He’s a character,” 36-year-old Christie says. “He can certainly brighten your world. He’s taught us so much about life, he really has.

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boy

“I was that parent that wasn’t sure and didn’t know how I could cope with a child with special needs but he literally falls down and gets back up again and that’s what life is all about.”

Noonan Syndrome is a genetic disorder that prevents normal development in various parts of the body. A person can be affected

by Noonan Syndrome in a variety of ways including unusual facial characteristics, short stature, heart defects, other physical problems and developmental delays.

It is thought that between one in 1000 to one in 2000 children have Noonan Syndrome. Males and females are equally affected. Genetic changes on several genes are known to cause Noonan Syndrome, but the diagnosis is usually established on the basis of clinical features.

“A lot of parents don’t realise they have Noonan Syndrome until they have a child who has it and the child is diagnosed,” Christie says.

Wyatt is a twin, and he and brother Jack were born at 30 weeks’ gestation at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

“It wasn’t until he was four weeks old that they questioned that Wyatt might have had a syndrome. They found he had a heart condition and kidney condition, which we now know is part of Noonan Syndrome.”

story name S U M M E R

It wasn’t until Wyatt was eight months old that they formally diagnosed him with the condition.

“It can be a genetic condition or a spontaneous condition.

Neither my husband or I carry that gene,” Christie says.

“Wyatt’s Noonan Syndrome actually affects nearly every part of his body, so he has something wrong with almost every part of his body, whether it’s minor or moderate.

“We spent the first 12 months in and out of hospital and every time we went in he was diagnosed with something new.”

Wyatt was what’s described as a “failure to thrive” baby and had to be fed through tubes in his stomach in the early part of his life.

“It kept him alive. He also suffered severe reflux and would vomit up to 20 times a day. He couldn’t tolerate anything orally at all; it was a roller coaster,” his mum says.

“We didn’t know whether he would ever walk, talk or eat or act like a normal child. He’s very stubborn and determined and that’s what got us through.”

Eventually, at age 2½, Wyatt began to walk. It was a late start, but Wyatt is almost as active as other six-year-olds and this year started attending Uralla Central School.

Christie believes it’s vitally important that he integrates with other children.

“He goes to mainstream school, and has a support officer who is with him all the time,” Christie says. “We had a choice and chose to go with that as we have always taught him to try and integrate as normally as possible.”

That mindset has resulted in Wyatt possessing an extraordinary determination to get on and enjoy life, even if it pains him sometimes to be able to move as freely as other children.

“In true Wyatt style, every time he was fitted for a standing frame or a walking frame, he would start to do it on his own. More often than not, doctors would be amazed at how he would be writing his own story and not following the story they thought he would follow.”

Christie and her husband Andrew have three other children, Wyatt’s eldest brother Riley, his twin Jack and his baby sister Lottie, who recently turned one.

Juggling duties as a nurse at Tamworth Base Hospital, along with raising her family and managing Wyatt’s needs, has had its challenges over the years. Christie says she could not have done it without the incredible support of her local community.

“Throughout our journey, having a community, be that of our little country town, our family and friends, my work colleagues and Andrew’s colleagues to lean on, has made things easier for us as a family,” she says.

“Support can really make or break you. He will struggle with his medical conditions for the rest of his life, but he is not letting that stop him from trying to live life to the full.

“He loves life. He wants to be a motorbike-riding football player but he can’t do this due to his medical conditions and fragile bones.”

Being around Wyatt, you wouldn’t know he had such serious physical restrictions. He’s one of the most uplifting young spirits RLM has ever had the privilege of meeting, and his quirky personality and steely determination keep Christie positive.

“Some days are hard. But he’s taught me that life is unpredictable and can throw you challenges,” Christie says.

“I didn’t think I would cope with this stuff but it’s taught me I can cope with a lot.” RLM Words: Jo McKinnon Images: Jaymee Solomon Photography and Kaptured Photography

FACING PAGE: Wyatt is happy little boy who embraces life to the full.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Powell brothers: Wyatt, Riley, Jack (Wyatt’s twin); nine-month-old Wyatt during a stay in John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle; Christie and Andrew with their three sons on their Bendemeer farm during Christie’s pregnancy with Lottie ; six-month-old Lottie is doted on by her brothers; Wyatt and his adoring father Andrew; welcoming baby Lottie into the Powell family.

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S U M M E R events

the sounds of success WARREN

The inaugural Warren Chamber Music Festival from May 7 to 9, 2021 was a resounding success.

An array of star-studded performers from across the nation performed in four spectacular concerts in and around Warren, Central West NSW. More than 600 locals and travellers bought tickets to attend the performances, which showcased extraordinary musicianship, local hospitality, rural living, and arts culture and education in the bush.

The festival brought together some of Australia’s best musicians to perform works composed by Mozart, Handel, Copland and Foote.

A real treat was watching 30 young local musicians performing the world premiere of a work by Australian composer Fiona Loader. The work was commissioned for the festival to inspire and educate the

Kiran Phatak (Flute), Greg Taylor (Bassoon) and clarinettist Nick Evans, Warren.

The Hon. Ben Franklin, dramatic soprano Sonia Anfiloff and artistic director Frances Evans, Warren.

Musicians from across the nation performing Copland’s much-loved Appalachian Spring suite for 13 players.

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Words: Frances Wilson Images: Supplied

Macquarie Conservatorium instrumental students from Warren and Gilgandra.

Tim O’Hearn, Trish O’Hearn, Gretal Butler and Colin Burrows.

Enjoying Pacific Brass performing on stage at the Window on the Wetlands, Warren.

young instrumental students across the district. They performed the piece Itchy Feet with renowned Australian brass band Pacific Brass.

The festival was made possible by the generous support of the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s Tackling Tough Times Together grant, Outback Arts, Warren Shire Council, Warren Rotary and the Warren Services Club.

The feedback from the festival weekend has empowered the committee to move forward with plans to initiate a 2022 Education Week. In May 2022, the Warren Chamber Music Festival will welcome Ensemble Offspring to headline its event, which will facilitate 12 extraordinary opportunities to listen, learn, think, grow, understand, connect and imagine. RLM

Trumpeter Dominic Longhurst performs solo with Pacific Brass. Conducted by Ben Crocker.

Mother and son concert goers Annette and Douglas Irving, Warren.

Phil and Sue Hood and Annette Tyson, all from Queensland.

Violinists Peter Clark and Jessica Oddie.

Odette Connor warming up in the Warren Catholic Church.

Ready to perform, Pacific Brass trombone section Mace Mason, Colin Burrows, Ann Mason, Dale Vail.

A packed CWA Hall at Collie, NSW.

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.

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Ted & Olive provide a personal approach to fashion, style and luxury.

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Photography by Amy Louise Photography & Design & Copper.Co Photography

S U M M E R weddings

PILON + MANN Georgina Pilon and Russell Mann were married at Timbumburi near Tamworth on April 24, 2021.

The ceremony took place in the landscaped gardens of Goonoo Goonoo Station, where celebrant Helen McLean married the couple in front of 100 guests. Canapes followed on the deck of the Glasshouse Restaurant, overlooking the property at sunset. A three-course modern Australian cuisine dinner was then served in The Wool Store.

Georgina’s dress was from The Wedding Shoppe in her home

town of Dubbo, and Tamworth businesses Designer Bunches, Glamour Empire and Sweet Things by Sarah all contributed to the couple’s special day.

Georgina and Russell have settled back into their home in Dubbo and are looking forward to when international borders open to take their long-awaited honeymoon.

Photographer: Feather & Birch Wedding Co.

Above right: David McKinnon, Megan Stoneman, Jake Stoneman, Eliza Pilon, Austin Gilmour, Meg Carlin, Steve Terry, Maya Angus, Tom Redden and Aimee Hunt.

Front: Georgina and Russell Mann.

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EUROPEAN INSPIRED PREMIUM PRODUCTS EXCEPTIONAL COFFEE AND WINE OPEN Mon–Tue 6:30am–5pm Wed–Fri 6:30am–late Sat 7am–late Sun 7am–5pm

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S U M M E R weddings

Above: Molly Cronin, Kendell Lawson, Kate Wells, Grace Wiegold, Sarah and Jacob Darlington, Charlie Darlington, Mitch Darlington, Mitch Cavanagh and Josh Lawson.

WIEGOLD + DARLINGTON Sarah Wiegold and Jacob Darlington were married at Dubbo on November 27, 2020.

The ceremony and reception were held at Outback Cellar, where 150 guests celebrated the couple’s special day.

The bride’s attendants were Grace Wiegold, Molly Cronin, Kate Wells and Kendell Lawson, and by the groom’s side were Charlie Darlington, Mitch Darlington, Josh Lawson and Mitch Cavanagh.

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Dubbo businesses were supported by the couple with flowers by Denise’s Flower Studio, marquee and supplies from Adors Party Hire, makeup by Spoilt Beauty and hair by Studio 62.

Sarah and Jacob honeymooned at Hamilton Island and have since settled back into their Dubbo home.

Photographer: Amy Allen Creative Co

JILLIAN FRANKLIN COUTURE Jillian Franklin is an award-winning couture house, specialising in the creation of exquisitely crafted handmade gowns for the discerning bride.

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.

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.

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Dedicated to creating future heirlooms and keepsakes, We source contemporary and distinctive jewellery leading brands design and create unique custom made pieces and repair and restore family treasures with quality and trusted services

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S U M M E R weddings

COLEMAN + DAVIS Melise Coleman and Jake Davis were married at Browns Creek, near Blayney, on February 27, 2021.

Perched on a hill overlooking Jake’s family property, Jake and Melise tied the knot surrounded by friends and family. The reception followed on the property under a marquee of fairy and disco laser lights.

The bride wore a Jane Hill wedding dress, with flowers by Blayney Botanical. Guests at the reception enjoyed delicious food provided by Michelle Seymour Catering, Tara.

The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in the Northern Territory before settling back into their home on the Davis family property at Browns Creek.

Photographer: Jessica Turich Photography

Above: Molly Vardanega, Kim Fichera, Jack Sturt, Jake and Melise Davis, Isabela Gorringe, Cal Townsend and Chris Scoins.

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S U M M E R weddings

Back row: Layne Searle, Gabi Herbert, Jacob Phillips, Alex Fardell, Kate Hobson and Taylor Dunkley. Front row: Jake Brennan, Renee Wood, David Wood, Jackson and Karina Dunkley and Stephanie Gordon.

MINTON + DUNKLEY Karina Minton and Jackson Dunkley were married at Dubbo on October 9, 2020.

The ceremony and reception were held at Jackson’s parents’ property, with 130 guests joining the couple to celebrate their marriage.

In such uncertain times, being able to share the day with all of their loved ones allowed the couple to focus on the true meaning of marriage and not get caught up on the little things.

The newlyweds honeymooned at Byron Bay followed by Kangaroo Valley and the NSW South Coast before settling back into their Dubbo home.

Photographer: Georgie Newton Photography

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LUCKNOW SKIN SHOP & BOOT BARN

Lucknow, 6365 5330 lucknowskinshop.com.au

MAGNOLIA HOME AND GIFT

GUM FLAT PUBLIC SCHOOL

MAWHOOD’S SUPA IGA OBERON Oberon, 6336 1101

McLEAN CARE

THE CURIOUS RABBIT

Wagga Wagga, 6921 5391 thecuriousrabbit.com.au

THE GLEN

Clear Creek via Bathurst 0435 008 268

THE HUNTRESS XX

Albury, 0427 217 997

Wagga Wagga, 0416 213 227 thehuntressxx.com.au

ROSEBERNE COTTAGE

THE MONARCH

Bathurst, 0418 448 726 rosebernecottage.com.au

Tumut, 0429 020 888 monarchtumut.com.au

ROSIE’S HONEY MUSTARD

THE PREMIER STORE

Warren, 6824 2055 rosies.net.au

Inverell 6722 1822 thepremierstore.com.au

RUBY MAINE

THE SIR GEORGE

Dubbo, 6882 5362 rubymaine.com.au

Jugiong, 0419 098 828 sirgeorge.com.au

SAGE & ELM

THE TEN MILE

SCULPTED JEWELS

THOM, DICK AND HARRY’S

SLEEPY JAYS

TOWN & COUNTRY RURAL SUPPLIES

ROSE COTTAGE

0401 355 587 sageandelm.com.au Wagga Wagga, 0423 448 690 sculptedjewels.com Gulargambone 0408 254 325 sleepyjays.com.au

SNOWY VALLEYS REGIONAL COUNCIL

Tumbarumba, 1300 275 782 visitsnowyvalleys.com.au

Holbrook, 6086 4800 thetenmile.com.au West Wyalong, 6972 0393 tdhww.com.au

Bathurst, 6332 4044 townandcountrybathurst.com.au

TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP Central West, 6882 1511 toyota.com.au

MECCANICO ESPRESSO + WINE

SPINIFEX RECRUITING

UNEKE HOMEWARES

MONTY & MOO

SPRINKLE AND BAKE

UNEKE LOUNGE

MOUNTAIN VALLEY PASTURE CO

STANTON COTTAGE

VILLAGE ANTIQUES BUNGENDORE

Inverell, 6722 4983 inverellartgallery.com.au

INVERELL HIGH SCHOOL

Inverell, 6722 3777 inverell-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

INVERELL SHIRE COUNCIL Inverell, 6728 8288 inverell.nsw.gov.au

Wagga Wagga, meccanicowagga.com.au

Wagga Wagga, 0427 778 636 montyandmoo.com.au Inverell, 6729 9071 mountainvalleystud.com.au

MY SHED HOME OLLIE AND I

Dubbo, 6884 1760 rhinolodge.com.au

Holbrook, 6036 3333

Narromine, 6889 7497 ollieandi.com.au

JARDINE’S CAFÉ

OPTUS

DUNK INSURANCE

Wagga Wagga, 6925 8897

JEMALONG WOOL

Cooma, 6452 3130 Forbes, 6851 4000 Tamworth, 6760 7577 jemalongwool.com.au

JILLIAN FRANKLIN COUTURE Albury, 0418 975 665 jillianfranklin.com.au

optus.com.au

OUTSCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Grenfell, 6343 8288 outscape.net.au

OXFORD ON OTHO

Inverell, 6721 0077 oxfordonotho.com.au

ELLATI

Boorowa, 63853885

Inverell, 6722 4871 facebook.com/ellati.inverell.7

JOAN’S SHOES

Wagga Wagga, 6921 7575

Dorrigo, 0491 759 292 petermortimore.com

BORAMBOLA WINES

EMPORIUM ON BYRON

KINGS PLAINS CASTLE

POOLWERX

Inverell, 6722 4214 emporiumonbyron.com.au

Wagga Wagga, 6923 4100 charlessturtwagga.com.au

INVERELL ART SOCIETY

BOOROWA COURTHOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP

Gundagai, 0404 084 657 borambola.com

THE CHARLES

TURVEY TOPS NEWSAGENCY

DUBBO RHINO LODGE

Kingston ACT, 6295 6925 easthotel.com.au

Wagga Wagga, 0409 152 187 riverandwrenmarket.com.au

Orange, 5317 8200 byngstreethotel.com.au

Griffith, 6962 7477 speirsjewellers.com.au

J&B’S GOURMET CAFÉ

EAST HOTEL

Inverell, 6722 5500 rexdaleyrealty.com

THE BYNG STREET BOUTIQUE HOTEL

SPEIRS JEWELLERS

Dubbo, 6882 0949 dubbodental.com.au

BOB BERRY REAL ESTATE

Bathurst, 6332 9880 professionalskinsolutions.com.au

Inverell, 6722 4235 thebrewshed.com.au

Inverell, 1300 791 660 mcleancare.org.au

Wagga Wagga, 6921 3141

Holbrook, 0429 369 299

PROFESSIONAL SKIN SOLUTIONS

THE BREW SHED

Wagga Wagga, 6922 2900 horeanddavies.com.au

Inverell, 6722 5200 inverellterrace.com.au

DUNOON ANGUS

Bathurst, 6332 1738 pressedtinpanels.com

RIVER AND WREN MARKET

DUBBO DENTAL

Young, 1800 219 496 dunkinsurance.com.au

PRESSED TIN PANELS

LEXUS CENTRAL WEST

Inverell, 6721 4666 magnoliahomeandgiftinverell.com

HORE+DAVIES REAL ESTATE

Young, 6382 5854 poppasfudgeandjamfactory.com

REX DALEY REALTY

Griffith, 6962 8338 griffith.nsw.gov.au

Inverell, 6723 2883 gumflat-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

POPPA’S FUDGE & JAM FACTORY

Lucknow, 6365 5258 0419 363 654 larderandhome.com.au

INVERELL TERRACE MOTOR LODGE

Inverell, 6722 4288 blairatholestate.com.au Dubbo, 6882 6822 bobberry.com.au

FARMER’S BAKEHOUSE

CATHOLIC EDUCATION DIOCESE OF BATHURST

CHOICES FLOORING

BY BRIGHTS

ASHCULME TEXTILES

Inverell, 6722 2722 gaukroger.com.au

FORSYTHS

ANGULLONG WINES

Inverell, 6722 3151 arlingtonsinverell.com.au

F GAUKROGER AND SONS

Bathurst, 6331 7171 www.fishriverroasters.com.au

CHAD’S BAKERY

ARLINGTON GASWELD TOOL CENTRE INVERELL

Dubbo, 6885 4010 experimac.com.au

Inverell, 6722 3714 campbellandfreebairn.com.au

Darlington Point, 0412 060 342 altinawildlife.com Panuara, 6366 4300 angullong.com.au

EXPERIMAC

Inverell, 0455 849 099 kingsplainscastle.com.au

PETER MORTIMORE GALLERY

Dubbo, 6885 5381 poolwerx.com.au

Dubbo, 1300 800 301 spinifexrecruiting.com.au Inverell, 0404 854 364 sprinkleandbake.com.au Albury, 040 7913 428 airbnb.com.au

Mount Austin, 6925 1375

Wagga Wagga, 6971 8881 unekehomewares.com.au Wagga Wagga, 6925 8143 unekelounge.com.au

Bungendore, 6238 1499

STEAN NICHOLLS REAL ESTATE

VINEYARD JOINERY

Albury, 6021 5233 steannicholls.com.au

Inverell, 6722 4841 vineyardjoinery.com

SUNNYPOINT BEEF

WAGGA CARAVAN CENTRE

Oberon, 6336 1101

TED & OLIVE BOUTIQUE

Wagga Wagga, 6921 3538 tedandolive.com.au

TEMORA EX-SERVICES CLUB, GOLDTERA MOTOR INN & KOREELA PARK MOTOR INN Temora, 6977 2433 temoraexservices.com.au

TEXAS JANE

Wagga Wagga, 0431 704 688 shoptexasjane.com

Wagga Wagga, 6922 8307 waggacaravans.com.au

WAGGA REGIONAL LIVESTOCK Wagga Wagga, 6931 7880 waggalivestock.com

WALLINGTON WINES

Nyrang Creek, 0427 732 895 wallingtonwines.com.au

WEST ORANGE MOTORS

Orange, 6361 1000 mbwestorangemotors.com.au

THE AISLING DISTILLERY

WESTERN PLAINS WINDOWS AND GLASS

THE AUCTIONEER

WORM TECH

Griffith, 0428 438 336 theaislingdistillery.com.au Dubbo, 6882 3720 theauctioneer.com.au

Dubbo, 6884 8818 wpwg.com.au

Griffith, 6968 1921 wormtech.com.au

“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

RLM 237

VOLUME TWO

An iconic publication featuring a collection of the best of editions 19-34 Available now from all stockists of Regional Lifestyle Magazine, and on our website: www.lifestylemagazine.net.au Orders can also be made by contacting Elizabeth: P. 0429 441 086 E. editor@lifestylemagazine.net.au RRP: $20

A great gift for Christmas 238 RLM

Servicing the Central West for 25 years BUTCHERS SUPPLIES FROZEN VEGETABLES SMALLGOODS CAKES FINGER FOOD ANTIPASTO CHEESE

Garian Foods is a locally based, family owned business and a proud member of NAFDA. Garian stocks all the leading brands, we strive for customer satisfaction with our loyalty reward program and in store promotions. Come and see us today for all your meal, party or catering needs.

CONDIMENTS READY PREPARED MEALS PACKAGING FROZEN SEAFOOD BAKERY SPECIALTY COOKING OILS

Garian Wholesalers Pty Ltd Unit 2/13 Douglas Mawson Road Dubbo NSW 2830

PH: 02 6884 1166 FAX: 02 6884 1809 enquiries@garianfoods.net.au

Trading Hours Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 5pm Sat: 9am – 12pm RLM 239

S U M M E R the story last name word

so the story goes Once upon a time, Garry Newley turned his love of books and vinyls into a business so he could share his passion with others.

Preloved books and records are making a resurgence as young and old alike explore the world of ideas, imagination and music.

At least that’s the theory of Garry Newley, owner of the Orpheus Bookshop in thriving Otho Street, Inverell.

Garry is a laid-back bloke who simply loves listening to his vinyl and delving into one of his thousands of books. The bonus is having conversations with likeminded book and record lovers about their favourites.

He’s one of those blokes who can turn his hand to almost anything. Over the years he has worked in at least 15 different occupations – from clerk, car detailer, farm hand, railway shunter and mail contractor, to employment consultant, carpenter, motorcycle instructor and public servant.

The first business he ran was the Tender Centre in Armidale, which he wound up on the cusp of the GFC. During his time there, Garry enjoyed the book section.

One sunny Saturday afternoon, he ended up at a garage sale, only to find there was nothing left, bar 20 boxes of books he paid $100 for. They turned out to be cast-offs from a Wollongong bookshop and were mostly unsaleable. An early learning experience!

“We might have sold $30 worth but it ignited something. It all grew from there,” he says.

In 2009 Garry and partner Linda moved to Inverell. “It’s a really friendly town with a great climate and exciting business opportunities, especially for Linda, a speech pathologist,” he says.

For the first few years, his beloved books were kept in storage before eventually making their way onto the shelves.

Customers love the atmosphere and feel of the place, especially with an old vinyl spinning on the turntable.

“When I was 17 and still at school, my first job was packing groceries at Woolies.

With my first pay cheque, I bought a record. I’ve been playing records ever since – even when they became unpopular,” beams Garry, in between serving customers.

240 RLM

His love of music runs deep. In younger days he spent several years living on a small bush block without electricity. His cottage was equipped with a wood stove, gas lights and a long power cord running from the car to a little cassette player. The albums sat unplayed in the shed.

“They were great times, with my wife and two little kids. Foolishly, I sold 150 of my albums – and still miss every one of them three decades later,” he says. “I feel that CDs are on the way out and won’t make a resurgence like vinyl.”

Garry loves most musical genres but especially enjoys jazz, country and more recently, bluegrass. He’s also familiar with hundreds of authors but is still learning every day.

These days he prefers to buy books in bulk, especially from book fairs. With

strong competition from Big W, Australia’s biggest book seller, and from every charity shop that sells books, Garry still believes he caters for a unique market.

“We have a very strong non-fiction section as well as novels, classics and rare titles,” he says. “People like coming in to browse. I enjoy discussing books with my customers and love the interaction.”

Garry has found contentment playing new music every day. It’s his way of ensuring his prized vinyls, which sell for between $14 and $30, are checked before sale. RLM Words and images: Jake Lindsay

ABOVE: Proud owner of the Orpheus Bookshop Garry Newley is happiest at work listening to his favourite vinyls and taking in a good book.

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.

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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

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