#9 Central West Lifestyle | Winter 2015 by Regional Lifestyle Magazine

Central West

WINTER 2015

Remarkable

PARKES town feature

HISTORIC

MENA

at its finest

Sensational spirit:

DUNEDOO Centenary Show

A Rare Breed

DUBBO’S THRIVING

BISON FARM

A passion for the

PENNY-FARTHING PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL WEST REGION

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

DISTRIBUTION Central West Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly (available at the beginning of each season) and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Central West and in the bordering regions of the Far West, North West, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Goulburn, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales. For more information on stockists, visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue, visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. ÂŠ Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2015

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher. While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.

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CONTENTS WINTER 2015

12 100-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: PARKES Parkes is a thriving country centre, best known for the iconic CSIRO radio telescope and for the Elvis Festival that celebrates the life and music of the King. Explore this warm, friendly and fun-loving community, and discover there is so much more to “Remarkable Parkes”.

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CONSERVING THE CRAFT

BEHOLD THE BEAST

Dubbo’s Bede and Jemima Aldridge are keeping the trade of saddlery alive, with immaculately handcrafted goods and personal service.

Steve Tolmie of Sandy Valley Bison, Dubbo, is one of only about five Australian breeders of these unique animals.

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WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE

THE FLYING FARMER

SPOTLIGHT ON DUNEDOO

A small team of dedicated ladies are making their mark in the world of grain.

Lawrie Donoghue has realised his life-long dream of flying.

The small community that’s big on spirit celebrated its 100th show in March, with a strong presence from exhibitors and spectators alike.

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140 GARDEN: MAGNIFICENT MENA

HOME & STYLE

Built in 1875, the Mena home and garden has experienced immaculate restoration under the custodianship of current owner Scott Gilbank.

Learn how to bring vintage charm into your home, and explore the timeless combination of blue and white. We visit the quirky, well-curated Millthorpe kitchen of Belinda Satterthwaite.

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166 FASHION

PACKING TIPS FOR CAREFREE TRAVEL

UPCOMING EVENTS

Winter’s local monochrome picks.

Seasoned traveller Pip Teys shares her top tips for breezy packing.

Find out what’s on offer in the Central West this season.

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EVENTS IN THE WEST

WEDDING BELLS

THE LAST WORD

Social snapshots captured in Canowindra and Tomingley.

The Central West’s beautiful brides and dapper grooms say “I do”.

Ray Barber will celebrate his 100th birthday this year.

ON THE COVER

WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS. The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.

Parkes physiotherapist Jeff McClurg decided to build his own penny-farthing and became hooked when he won medals at a national level (page 46). Photography: Shot by Jake

CWL 5

From the Publishers Winter is here again with its sharp briskness and chill. What an amazing selling period we have had with the Autumn CWL featuring brilliant Bathurst! This town feature has really brought out the community spirit and the pride residents have in their historic and culturally rich city. We are very excited to bring you the Parkes town feature in this Winter edition. Business collaboration with CWL was remarkable and we enjoyed developing a strong relationship with Parkes Council. This working partnership led to a magazine launch (our seventh to date) held at The Dish Cafe and located at the amazing CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope. Stylish catering was provided by Craig Smith, owner of The Dish Cafe. We enjoyed forging friendships with Parkes advertisers (and there were many), individuals about whom stories were written and council representatives. It provided a great opportunity to celebrate what a friendly and caring community Parkes really is. We have enjoyed participating in the two open days at Iandra Castle in April. This provided a perfect opportunity to again sell back copies of the Spring 2014 edition with Iandra Castle on our cover and featuring the towns of Narromine, Trangie and Warren. We never cease to be totally captivated by Iandra Castle, an incredible building that is so much a part of our Australian history. We love receiving feedback in the form of emails, phone calls and personal conversations. Quite recently, we received a phone call from a Grenfell lady, Wendy Goodsell. She told us how the story on Iandra Castle had impacted on her and of her remarkable connection to Iandra Castle through her grandparents, Kathleen and Tom Smith. Her story is a fascinating one and is told in more detail in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your Lettersâ&#x20AC;? section in this edition (page 11).

Elizabeth and Alex with Kerryn and Mike Baird (NSW Premier) and Toni and Troy Grant (NSW Deputy Premier and Member for Dubbo).

We were thrilled to be able to attend the Dunedoo Centenary Show in March with Dunedoo photographer Heidi Rookyard. It was a great experience to join in the celebrations, meet the wonderful committee and view the exceptional exhibits. We have now realised why this high-calibre show has managed to reach its 100th birthday and is still going so strong. We both felt incredibly honoured recently to be asked to the National Party dinner here in Dubbo (our hometown) and sit on the table with Premier Mike Baird and wife Kerryn. This privilege conveyed to us how the magazine is now being perceived in the Central West and beyond. Our spirits are continually buoyed by the support and encouragement we are given from readers, advertisers, newsagents and the general public. Thank you for the faith you have placed in what we do. We trust you are able to find a warm and cosy spot to enjoy this magazine. Remember to share the good news about the Central West with your workmates, friends and family. Until next time, warm regards,

Elizabeth and Alex Tickle

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Alex and Elizabeth at an Iandra Castle open day, pictured with Wendy Goodsell from Grenfell (left), whose visit to the castle renewed many long-held family connections.

Beating around the bush G’day trendsetters, With Parkes being our feature town it was obvious I’d have to rock up to the Elvis Festival to see what the hype was all about. All I can say is: put it on your bucket list if you haven’t attended this fabulous event, and it doesn’t matter one iota if it’s the middle of summer, you don’t know one Elvis tune and are a bit shy donning colourful jumpsuits with the obligatory black wig and sunglasses. At least that’s my view after spending a couple of days with thousands of enthusiastic Elvis fans, all out to celebrate what would have been the King’s 80th birthday. I have never seen so many cameras, friendly folk or a town pulling together like Parkes does every January. Congratulations to Council and all those wonderful volunteers who help the show run smoothly. Our Winter edition is jam-packed with stories on dozens of country characters going about their daily business. Meeting the ebullient Karen Creith, the home interior decorator, was a real eye-opener. Being a self-confessed hoarder, I felt her magnificent work may be wasted on me but no, I have seen the light! Only a few years ago my place was like an old bush museum with so much stuff packed to the rafters I thought the floor would cave in! These days I am trying to let go of nearly everything but it’s not easy. We get attached to familiar old things and often associate them with other people or events in our lives. Or we just like them! One of Karen’s main joys in life is to help others declutter their homes and create their own private sanctuaries. It’s always been said that Parkes is famous for its sporting bodies and after spending a few hours with cricket “tragic” Greg Morrissey, hockey stalwart Maureen Massey and tennis ace Helen Magill and her dedicated father Hedley Nicholson, it’s easy to see why. But there is so much more in this country town from champion cake decorator Kath Swansbra, scientist John Sarkissian (out at the Parkes telescope) and hugely talented artist Elsie Mahon.

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Everyone says that Parkes is a friendly place and I have to agree. A big thanks to my gracious hosts and neighbours Bob and Bev Bokeyar and Mal and Helen Westcott. During my last evening in town we dined under the stars in the immaculately maintained Bokeyar backyard, reminiscing about the characters I’d met over the previous few weeks (and they knew them all) and the “six degrees of separation” theory (which is how I got mixed up with these two amazing couples in the first place). For the past few decades I’ve never had neighbours (in the traditional sense) but wasn’t surprised when Bob described good neighbours as a real blessing. “We are fortunate to have the Westcotts living next door,” he says. “Good people of our vintage who share similar values – Mal with his passion for farming and Helen with her devotion to family, the community and volunteering. We look out for each other without living in each others’ pockets and enjoy impromptu barbecues over a bottle of wine.” I must admit sleeping in a luxurious bed with a balcony out the front is always nice. But when you can safely sleep with the double glass doors open to experience the cool evening breeze and then wake up to see the sun rising over the distant mountains every morning . . . well, I was in seventh heaven! I’ve stayed in hundreds of rooms over the years but my experience at Kadina B&B was certainly one of the most memorable. Until next time – live a life you’ll want to remember!

Shot by Jake Above: I had a ball at the Parkes Elvis Festival (commences page 22). I’m pictured here with the Silver Man and Melbourne’s TCB Gals. Miss Priscilla 2015, Ashleigh Smith, felt like a movie star after winning the prestigious title. The 18-year-old grew up with the Elvis Festival and is undertaking equine studies at TAFE.

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MEET YOUR TEAM Winter 2015 Contributors

ELIZABETH TICKLE Publisher & Editor

ALEX TICKLE Publisher & Advertising

LISA STARR Advertising Design

CATHERINE PLAYER Writer

ELIZABETH SWANE Garden Editor

ANGUS WADDELL Photographer

JANE TICKLE Events Officer

JAKE LINDSAY Chief Writer & Photographer

ANNA TICKLE Writer

PIP TEYS Home & Style and Travel Writer

HEIDI ROOKYARD Photographer

KATE BOSHAMMER Art Director & Design, Writer

AMANDA Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;SULLIVAN Home & Style Writer

GINA CRANSON Proofreader

More information on the team can be found on our website: www.centralwestmagazine.com.au 10 CWL

your letters The heritage of Australia’s first inland settlement was showcased to perfection in 94 pages of Central West Lifestyle magazine. What a cracker Autumn edition to help us celebrate our 200th birthday in 2015. It is now on coffee tables all round NSW and not to be missed. Thank you for such a big hand up in protecting, enhancing and promoting Bathurst’s rich unique heritage. Sandy Bathgate, Convenor, Bathurst 2036 Heritage Action Network

................................................................................. How absolutely delighted I was to find your Spring 2014 issue featuring Iandra Castle. Reading this article was such a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me as Iandra was the first Australian home of my late grandmother, Kathleen Kent. Born in Surrey, England, in 1889, she travelled to Australia by ship when she was around 18 years old as lady in waiting to Mrs George Greene. Her future husband, Tom Smith, was also employed by the Greenes as a stablehand/chauffeur. Postcards received from her family in England (which I still have) were addressed to the original property name “Mt Oriel”. She returned to England in 1913 and on her return to Australia, married my grandfather at St James Church of England in Sydney on the same day she arrived. After returning to Iandra they set up home above the stables and it was there my aunt and father were born. This was to be their home for the next three years, after which they left Iandra to establish several butcher shops in the Greenthorpe, Caragabal and Young districts. I well remember her reminiscing about when George Greene died and the rush to finish the front entrance of Iandra so his coffin could be carried down the front steps. She always spoke lovingly of Iandra and the years she spent there as a young girl and new bride. I often reflect on how difficult it must have been for her to leave her family and home in England at such a tender age to travel to Australia and start a new life. She had one more trip “home” as she called England, in 1947, to see her family with the promise she would return again if her father lived to 100 years. Unfortunately, he died aged 99. Just prior to my father passing away we were very fortunate to be invited to Iandra by David and Margaret Morris, where they gave us a guided tour of their beautiful old building. They have since dedicated a room to my late grandmother. At the end of a very interesting day, my dad commented: “How lovely that at the end of my life I’ve been able to come back to where it started.” Congratulations on a fantastic magazine, I look forward to each new edition and the wonderful stories that abound in the Central West. Wendy Goodsell, “Parkside”, Grenfell

................................................................................. We were very happy with the story on our garden in the Summer 2014 CWL magazine. We had a lot of positive feedback from our friends about how much they enjoyed reading it and how well written and researched the story was. We sent copies to our family in England and they were very pleased to be able to show their friends an Australian garden. The whole experience was very professional and we enjoyed the enthusiasm of Elizabeth Swane (CWL garden writer) and CWL photographer Angus Waddell. Anne and Mark Ward, Canowindra

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Some time ago my wife and I were in a Wagga Wagga newsagency and she noticed a magazine featuring Wellington (CWL Summer 2013) and the Dundullimal Homestead, near Dubbo. This immediately got my attention as my father was a shearer for Paddy Palmer, the then owner of Dundullimal. On purchasing the magazine we were both enthralled with the detail and history covered in this particular article, and all the other articles as well. The quality of the journalism and photography was spectacular! So impressed are we with the magazine we are in the process of purchasing all back copies to put in our chiropractic waiting rooms and signing up for a subscription as well. The chiropractic clinic I am associated with has offices in Temora, West Wyalong and Griffith and I know a lot of patients from our area consult specialists in Orange and Dubbo. These people would be interested to find out more about the towns they visit. I congratulate the publishers on a great idea, great implementation of the idea and wish them every success in the future, and we look forward to future editions. Ross Marsh, Marsh Chiropractic Clinic, Griffith

................................................................................. Congratulations, Central West Lifestyle, on such a wonderful publication. You must have a great team of collaborators to pull together such interesting stories for every edition. Being a photographer myself, I really appreciate the high-quality images throughout the magazine. It is a real credit to your photographers, who are able to beautifully capture the essence of the towns you visit and the wonderful characters that make regional communities so special. Can’t wait to see what you have on the pages for winter. Alistair Brown, Brown Gully Photography Roma, Queensland

................................................................................. Just a quick note to thank you so much for getting copies of Central West Lifestyle magazine to us for our judges. They loved the magazine and they have taken their copy of the magazine back home with them. It will now be seen in the USA, Netherlands, France, New Zealand, Queensland and Victoria. Sue Scaysbrook, Bradgate Park, Orange Co-Event Organiser, Dressage with Altitude

................................................................................. Thank you for the great article. The photographs are amazing and you have featured us prominently in the magazine, which is wonderful. On behalf of the Show Society, please accept my sincere thanks for a job well done. Jake, it was a pleasure to have you stay – there’s always a bed if you need one. Elizabeth, it was a pleasure to meet you and Alex. It was a memorable event for everyone but you made it more so. Sue Armstrong, Publicity Officer, Tooraweenah Show Society

................................................................................. Share your feedback Email: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle CWL 11

Welcome to

PARKES TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

Remarkable

PARKES

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PARKES is a thriving country centre located on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range and within the Central West Slopes and Plains. The area, traditional Wiradjuri country, lies close to the geographical centre of NSW and boasts some of the richest and most productive agricultural and grazing land in the state. The town is best known for the iconic CSIRO radio telescope dish at Alectown (24km north), arguably one of the largest and most accurate instruments of its type in the world and the “star” of the movie The Dish. It was through this telescope that the world received the images of man’s first moon landing. A visitors centre and cafe caters for public curiosity about the radio telescope and astronomy in general. Then there is the Elvis Festival that started in earnest 23 years ago. In the second week of January each year, the town more than doubles in size as it comes alive to the sounds of hip-swivelling Elvis impersonators and tribute artists over a star-studded five-day festival celebrating the life and music of the King of Rock’n’Roll. A large collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia is on permanent display at The King’s Castle, owned by Greg Page, the former yellow skivvy entertainer with hit children’s group The Wiggles. Greg has been collecting for many years and selected Parkes, the Elvis capital of Australia, as the perfect location to share his incredible display with the public. The complex housing the Visitors Information Centre, Moat Cottage, Historical Society Museum (one of the largest in the Central West), Elvis collection, Parkes Motor Museum and the Antique Machinery Museum (with an outstanding collection of old tractors and harvesters) is known as the Henry Parkes Centre. Today the Parkes Shire, comprising Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle, Tullamore and Bogan Gate, forms part of the catchment for two main river systems, the Bogan and the Lachlan rivers, both major tributaries of the Murray-Darling Basin System. The town is known for having a great sense of community, offering a fun and caring modern lifestyle for its almost 12,000 residents. Long regarded as the “friendly town”, Parkes has a colourful history going back to 1853 when it was briefly known as Currajong – named by early settlers due to the abundance of kurrajong trees in the area.

Like many western communities, Parkes’s rich history is intimately linked to the discovery of gold back in 1862. The small population of Currajong, just north of the current town, quickly moved south to be closer to the Bushman’s gold mine. The hastily erected “canvas” town that accommodated the thousands of gold seekers went by the same name as the mine. A year later the townsfolk petitioned to have a name change after a visit by statesman Sir Henry Parkes. Finally, in 1873, the town was renamed Parkes in honour of the “Father of the Federation” and the man who played such a pivotal role in Australia becoming a unified country. The main street was named after his wife, Clarinda, and other streets after his sons. Soon it was one of the richest gold producing sites in the colony. Today there are still plenty of precious minerals buried under the soil and modern mines, like Northparkes, utilise the best available technology in the world while employing hundreds of workers. It was a very different story about 140 years ago when mining diminished in importance, replaced by the plough and combine harvester. The golden grain that flowed from the endeavours of those hardy pioneers of agriculture underwrote the economic consolidation of the district. Parkes and the surrounding smaller towns of Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore have certainly come a long way from those old gold days to the agricultural “engine room”, National Logistics Hub and rich mining landscape of today. The city has developed into a major marshalling logistics centre on the Indian Pacific railway line, linking the west and east coasts of Australia. The future Melbourne to Brisbane inland rail will intersect the East-West line at Parkes. SCT, Linfox and Asciano already have operations and interests in the hub. Parkes is also renowned for the sporting prowess of its talented sons and daughters. Like the 35-metre-high Shrine of Remembrance on Memorial Hill, there is something in the water that makes this town’s residents simply stand out. PARKES CWL 15

FROM THE MAYOR In my travels around the state and the country, people always ask me about Parkes. When asked this question I am confronted with a challenge. How do I sum up the place and the community that I love and cover all the unique and interesting aspects in one short paragraph? The truth is, I can’t, so I always cater my response to my audience. When talking with holiday makers I speak of the warm, friendly and fun-loving community, of the world-class events that are held in the Parkes Shire, including the Parkes Elvis Festival, and of our strong sporting culture and the facilities and services available. Of course, I mention the Dish and the strong, proud links Parkes has with the scientific and astronomical community in Australia and internationally. On my recent trip to the National Logistics Council I spoke to industry leaders about Parkes’s unique position on the east/west, north/south freight route. I spoke of the Parkes National Logistics Hub and the immense opportunity that lies in the facility for intermodal freight. I speak with business leaders and government about our highly skilled workforce and our diverse industry and employment opportunities. I also mention the opportunities to further decentralise and take advantage of Parkes as a place to relocate government and business offices. 16 CWL PARKES

I have to say, though, my favourite part of any conversation is when I hear others talk about Parkes. I often hear “I visited and loved it”, “I came to one Elvis Festival and have been back every year since” and “I liked it so much I moved here”. New residents often speak of the “extra time” they now have to spend with their families and the “ease of life” our town offers. I am proud of the tolerant and caring nature of the Parkes Shire community. We have a friendship agreement with a village in Timor-Leste and send a team of volunteers each year to assist with their development. Parkes hosted many new Australians in a migrant camp following WWII and ever since has welcomed new residents. We have recently become a Refugee Welcome Zone, continuing this proud tradition. My fellow councillors and I love hearing feedback on Parkes, as it is what drives our work. As a council we are committed to delivering progress and value to our community. We achieve this through consultations with our community, developing strategic plans for the future and always capitalising on and creating opportunities to make our shire the best place to live, work and play. I invite you to come to Parkes and experience some of the magic our shire has to offer. Who knows, you might fall in love, like so many before you, and decide you’d rather be in Parkes, where you can have it all! Cr Ken Keith, Mayor of the Parkes Shire

PARKES

PARKES Life “Living in Parkes truly means that you can have it all.” time to enjoy our young family. Parkes boasts affordable housing, good schools and a great sporting culture. Angus still occasionally plays rugby for the Parkes Boars,” Anna says. “Our eldest two daughters have started school, which has added an extra layer of complexity to our lives. But as I don’t have to deal with things like peak-hour traffic, I can do the morning drop-offs, buy a beautiful coffee and be at my desk before 9am. I can even pop home at lunch time!” PARKES is well known around the Central West as a progressive and energetic place, with residents who are not afraid to embrace the quirky side of life. This sense of fun-loving spirit coupled with the strong employment prospects offered by major employers such as Northparkes Mines and the public sector are what drew Anna Wyllie and husband Angus to relocate here eight years ago, fresh from backpacking around North America.

Anna is now the Economic and Business Development Manager for Parkes Shire Council, while Angus has also climbed the ladder at Northparkes and is a mining engineer. They have three children: Mhairi, 7, Emmeline, 5, and Eleanor, 2. “Parkes is such a welcoming community that embraces new residents. Living in Parkes means that Angus and I can both work in professional jobs that we love but also have

Anna loves promoting Parkes and the benefits of the shire to families and businesses looking to relocate. “We are so lucky in Parkes, to not only have an amazing sense of community but to also have great infrastructure, services and an ideal location that is suited to transport and logistics and other industries.” To talk with Anna about relocating your family, business or investing in Parkes call (02) 6861 2333 or 0409 739 001.

“I’d rather be in parkes -

Where YOU can have it all.” For more information about how you can have it all and balance a successful career, business and family in Parkes please visit www.parkeshaveitall.com.au or phone 02 6861 2333. PARKES CWL 17

IMAGES COURTESY OF LEX AND JUNE WEAVER

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PARKES

WHAT DO YOU do when your hobby and part-time business threatens to take over your home? The answer is obvious: you simply buy the house next door! At least that was the case with Lex and June Weaver, a hard-working local couple who have devoted much of their lives to documenting the pictorial history of Parkes. Lex was born in Parkes and held down one job nearly all his life, putting in 43 years as computer manager with Central West County Council (in Parkes), while June was born in Canowindra, the daughter of the local postmaster. In those halcyon years (around the 1950s), the humble letter and telegram were major forms of communication. “In those days telegrams were transmitted in Morse Code and I can remember my dad, using two fingers, typing telegrams as the signal came down the line. It wasn’t unusual for a couple to receive perhaps 100 telegrams at a wedding, traditionally read out by the groomsmen,” June recalls.

CAPTURING THE moments

June also worked as an accounting machine operator (long before the computer era) for Boree Shire Council at Cudal. She transferred to Parkes in 1961, where she finally got to meet Lex in the flesh, after months of discussing work issues and payments on the phone. In 1968 they were married and produced one son, Nigel, who followed in his father’s footsteps and has a doctorate in computing while based in Canberra. As a youngster, Lex became involved in black and white film processing in the family bathroom, using the bathtub to wash the prints. Always a keen amateur photographer, in later years he worked for the Champion Post newspaper, with June supplying accurate captions. “We started collecting old pictures of Parkes, either buying them at second-hand shops, book fairs or even locals donating or sharing their images. A lot of it was word of mouth,” Lex explains. “We purchased the house next door and this gave us room to expand our hobby and allowed us to acquire more equipment, like copy stands, framing and darkroom equipment (including enlargers) and processing machines.” The workshop is chock-a-block full of old images, many of them framed. Sitting neatly in stacks are folders full of literally thousands of cut-up 35mm films and meticulously labelled proof sheets. It’s almost like stepping back in time to a bygone era long before computers revolutionised the photography industry. In his day, Lex was a wizard in the darkroom, and could reproduce beautiful 16x20 inch archival prints. Nearly 600 5x4 inch copy negatives and 630 pages of 35mm capture Parkes’s street scenes and old buildings, many of them now gone. By the time you read this, the Weavers will have produced a 160-page, hardcover book, Welcome to Parkes, featuring the four visits of Sir Henry Parkes to the town that bears his name. “We had been collecting material from Sydney and Canberra for 20 years but were too busy to complete our dream,” Lex says. “Eventually, with the years creeping up on us, we knew we had to bite the bullet and share this important part of history with the rest of the locals.” The coffee table book will be available directly from the Weavers but get in quick, as the first print run is only 500 copies. Now aged 77, Lex, a proud Parkes man, realises he will have to one day part with his historically valuable collection but in the meantime there is a book launch to plan and perhaps an exhibition of his priceless prints. From top: Lex and June Weaver with their new book; Lex Weaver in his old darkroom in his house next door.

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A Golden OPPORTUNITY “BALMORAL” IS ONE OF PARKES’S MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL HOMES, STANDING AS A LEGACY TO THE FORTUNES OF ONE LUCKY PUNTER WHO REALLY DID STRIKE GOLD! WILLIAM HAZELHURST was the most notable and successful of the many miners who sought and found fortune on the local goldfields. The spoils acquired from working the rich Phoenix Mine allowed him to build the English-style mansion only a few blocks from the main street in the 1890s. His run of good luck, however, did not continue. William died almost penniless and “Balmoral” was eventually purchased by Thomas Frecklington, a successful Goonumbla farmer and grazier in the 1950s. By this stage the property had been converted into five flats (two upstairs and three downstairs). In the 1960s Bert Frecklington (Thomas’s son) acquired the property in a very dilapidated condition and started renovations. In 1963 Bert and his family moved into an upstairs flat while renting the other four flats. By the late 1980s his renovations were complete. In 1993, Bert’s son, Ed Frecklington, a fuel distributor for Oilsplus, and his wife Chris took up the challenge of living in “Balmoral”. Like their forebears, they undertook major restorations. Under Ed’s custodianship the groundfloor has been returned to an open family home. The upstairs flats are still leased.

“It is great having tenants. The rent is handy but, more importantly, the property is being maintained,” Ed says. “Tell the truth,” Chris interjects. “The house is too inconvenient for one family to utilise fully: the heating, cooling and cleaning costs would be enormous.” Ed and Chris have two sons: Luke, 24, an agronomist in Griffith, and Jarrad, 21, studying IT and Business at CSU Bathurst. They both return home regularly. Both are fourth generation Frecklingtons to live in the grand old home. Chris sometimes wonders what her family got themselves into while Ed enjoys the family association to “Balmoral “ despite the soaring maintenance costs (an external paint job for instance would cost six figures). There is a steady stream of tourists and school groups stopping by to take photos. “Balmoral is heritage listed and Ed is currently working with Parkes Shire Council and the local heritage officer for the next stage of his work in progress,” Chris says. PARKES CWL 21

ELVIS

C’MON Y D O B EVERY THERE’S ALWAYS ONE LINGERING QUESTION ON ALL NEWCOMERS’ LIPS. HOW DID AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT LIKE THIS COME TO BE BASED IN A COUNTRY TOWN SO FAR FROM A MAJOR METROPOLITAN CENTRE?

LIKE MOST GOOD things, the concept was floated over a glass of wine (or two) at the Gracelands Reception Centre and Restaurant operated by Elvis enthusiasts Bob and Anne Steel, OAM. After an Elvis-themed birthday party in 1992, the Steels and a few of their guests, including longtime editor of the Parkes Champion-Post newspaper Roel ten Cate and councillor Ian Chambers, started discussing the possibilities of creating an event that other Elvis fans might enjoy.

Passionate locals from throughout the community joined forces to stage their first festival the following year, including an Elvis movie screening, a tribute concert by Eddie Youngblood, an Elvis look-a-like competition, a street parade (featuring only a handful of classic cars and just as many Elvis impersonators) and a few market stalls. About 200 die-hard Elvis fans attended the first event. During the first 10 years, more events were added until Council climbed on board in 2003. The festival then began to explode in popularity as word quickly spread about this fun and quirky event in the hottest days of summer in a small Central West country town. It’s plain to all who come that the success of this event is due to the incredible respect and enthusiasm people have for Elvis and how the Parkes Shire community gets behind and embraces the event, which now attracts an estimated 20,000 visitors each year. The iconic building where it all started now operates as “Hotel Gracelands”, offering modern accommodation and first-class restaurant facilities. The festival has slowly morphed into one of the best Elvis festivals in the world.

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ELVIS TIMELINE 1935: Elvis Aaron Presley is born on

January 8, weighing five pounds. A twin brother, delivered 35 minutes before Elvis, was stillborn.

1946: Elvis is given a guitar on his 11th birthday. 1948: The family move to Memphis. 1951: All Shook Up climbs to number one on the top 100 for eight weeks.

1952: Elvis receives rave reviews after he sings at his school’s Christmas concert.

1954: Elvis does the only commercial in his

lifetime, a radio ad for Southern Maid Donuts.

1955: Colonel Tom Parker becomes Elvis’s

manager and Mystery Train becomes the number one record on the country charts.

1956: Elvis records Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel and Heartbreak Hotel – all big hits. He appears in Las Vegas for the first time and is given the title of “King of Rock ‘n Roll” by Variety Magazine.

Love Me Tender, Elvis’s first movie, premiers in New York and the Ed Sullivan Show receives its highest rating with Elvis stealing the show. Elvis buys his mother a Cadillac but she is unable to drive it. It remains at Graceland until the day he dies.

1957: Graceland is purchased for $90,000;

All Shook Up, Jailhouse Rock and Teddy Bear debut on the charts. Elvis also records his first Christmas album.

1958: Elvis commences army duty in Germany (the first and only time he left the States) and meets the then 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu.

1960: Are You Lonesome Tonight is

recorded. GI Blues reaches number two in Variety’s list of top grossing movies.

1963: Elvis records Viva Las Vegas. 1965: Elvis entertains The Beatles at his home in Bel Air.

1967: Elvis marries Priscilla after a seven-year courtship.

1968: Lisa Marie Presley is born. 1969: Suspicious Minds becomes number

one on the charts and Elvis, dissatisfied with his acting career, quits making movies.

1970: Elvis and President Nixon meet at the White House.

1972: Elvis’s 33rd and final motion picture, Above: Crowds gathered to meet the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express as it pulled into Parkes, carrying 400 festival-goers, Elvis tribute artists and dignitaries.

Elvis on Tour, is released.

Right: The Elvis Festival started with this man, Bob Steel, OAM.

which he names Lisa Marie.

Information sourced from the Parkes Elvis Festival 2013 Calendar.

1973: Elvis and Priscilla divorce and Aloha

Concert Hawaii becomes the first program to be beamed around the world via satellite.

1975: Elvis purchases a Conair 800 jet, 1977: He performs his last concert at

Indianapolis. Elvis dies at his home in Graceland on August 16.

1993: The first Parkes Festival begins.

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1. Volunteers Bob and Bev Bokeyar were among the first to celebrate the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th birthday at the Poets Breakfast in the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club. 2. Peter Plummer, Sydney, has visited Graceland twice but this was his first visit to Parkes to learn more about the King. 3. Parkes Camera Club photographers Keith Turk, Steve Ostini and Julie Brown with photos from their exhibition. 4. Having a break from the mines are Angus Wyllie (Red Elvis) and Jacques Labuschagen. 5. Darren Armstrong, Camden, wears his 1960s GI Blues outfit for the first time. 6. Darryl and Renate Bill, Wollongong, love the relaxed atmosphere of the festival. 7. Jeff Deale, Calliope, Queensland, was in Parkes to visit family and friends. 8. There was a distinct Italian presence when Sydneysiders Anna and Ross Mancini and Antoinette Mazzitelli hit Parkes. 9. Youngsters Toby Collins and Wira Thomson donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind playing up for the camera.

L A V I T S E AF G N I K A R FIT FO 24 CWL PARKES

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12 13

15 10. Former Alectown farmer Don Littlewood has lived in Parkes all his life. 11. Wendy Gibson and Gail Goulding, Wollongong, ham it up for the cameras. 12. Local Elvis Ian Macrae having fun with Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TCB Gals. 13. Andrew Day, Peake Hill, with Sam Glover and Leanne Brookes, Caloundra, Queensland. 14. Daphne Whatley, Allora, Queensland, brings 10 guests with her every year. 15. Samantha Gray, Sydney, poses in her dance partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cadillac. 16. Buskers Savannah and Nelson Mantell, Richmond, enjoying their second visit to Parkes. 17. Bob Gould, Parkes. 18. Country gent Joe Crowe enjoys a cold one with Elvis performer Brad Cartwright, Sydney. 19. Janice Cassidy hams it up in front of her hair salon. 20. Bailey Sutcliffe, 11, Albury, was going for his fourth consecutive junior busking championship. 21. Roxy Lola Woo Woo, Morisset, hit Parkes with a storm.

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22. Parkes councillor Belinda McCorkell, Elvis and Kristy Berry, owner of Colouby Creations. 23. Jeff Langtip, Sydney, plaits his own beard, which hangs down past his waist. 24. The festival is all about meeting people and Danny Morris, Coffs Harbour, is thrilled to run into Sydney’s Belinda Passaris. 25. Brad Cartwright with a Ford Galaxie 500. 26. Retirees Bob and Elenita Morrison, Coffs Harbour. 27. Bob sports a fine set of rings. 28. It was a real family affair for Shane, Eryn, Zac and Nic Nisbet, Penrith. 29. Tamworth was well represented by Scotty Brae. 30. Volunteer Bob Bokeyar with some of Melbourne’s TCB Gals. 31. Bruce and Beth Hodges, Baldry, with Alan Marshall and Deb Weir from the Gracelands Over 50s Country Lifestyle Living Plan. 32. David Gouldson must surely have one of the deepest voices in the business. 33. Helen Westcott from Helen’s Home Hosting was there to greet the Elvis Express.

30 31

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34. One of the big stars at the festival was Roydon Donohue, Nyngan, who won a lot of new fans with his rich Elvis voice. 35. Sheridyn Bicket and Annika Benjafield dwarfed by Sydney Elvis impersonators Greg Orford and Rob Farrugia, Roley Bolty, Melbourne, and the Bondi Bus Driver, Paul Heginbotham. 36. Rock ‘n’ roll queens Annette Campbell-Sinni and Gracie Asta, Melbourne. 37. Ringmasters Wendy Mied and Cherry Tiffney, Bundeena, with John Mied. 38. Sheridyn Bicket, Parkes, loves the festival. 39. Big Al from Big Al’s World, Mt Druitt, is the ultimate Elvis fan. 40. Peake Hill former post master Eddie Parrott learnt Morse code as a young boy scout back in the 1940s and never forgot it. During the festival he was busy sending free Elvisgram telegrams on souvenir stationery all over the planet. 41. Orange Mayor John Davis. 42. US ambassador Hugo Llorens with Parkes Mayor Ken Keith.

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STERLING SILVER There aren’t many buskers who make good coin by keeping their mouth closed but the Silver Man is not your average, everyday busker. Phil De Silva gets paid to keep still and silent but being a statue is much harder than it looks. It can be extremely hot and monotonous work but this seasoned street performer is made of stern stuff. He can apply his theatrical makeup in less than 20 minutes before facing the hordes of visitors brandishing all those cameras. This year the Silver Man has taken his unique act to a whole new level. Mysteriously, he has learnt to sit down on an “invisible” chair while maintaining his ability to “freeze” for hours on end. When he is not busking at festivals throughout the country this endearing entertainer works as a general assistant at four schools in the Wagga-Albury district. You’ll also see him at the Tamworth Country Music Festival a few weeks after his gig in Parkes, where there will be even more punters, more competition and more heat! PARKES CWL 27

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OF S E C A F Y N A M THE

G N I K E H T

From left: Elvis impersonators John Collins, Paul Fenech, Justin Shandor, Al Gersbach and Luke Nash.

ALVIS HE HAS the look and mannerisms of the King but Parkes Council grader driver Al Gersbach, aka Alvis, admits he can’t sing for peanuts. This friendly Elvis impersonator is now an official Festival ambassador and he can’t wait for January when he dresses up in all his glitz and glamour. Summer days in Parkes can get rather hot but Alvis has learnt to stand where the breeze is. “The worst thing is stepping outside after being in air-conditioned comfort,” he laughs. Alvis takes it all in his enormous stride. After all, this bloke is still playing competitive rugby in his mid 50s. Hanging up next to his football jerseys are three Elvis suits, all purchased from the USA and some worth up to $1400 each. His hair is coloured and styled by hairdresser Michelle Roberts, who begins “the look” many months before the Festival. Alvis is one of the few impersonators who doesn’t wear a wig. “I used a wig once but it was too bloody uncomfortable in 42 degree heat.” Alvis loves hanging out at the Royal Hotel and his favourite song is Suspicious Minds.

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INTERNATIONAL sensation Justin Shandor has been making a living as an Elvis tribute artist since he was 16 and is the only artist to grace the cover of USA Today. He is indeed the king of Kings. Justin is such a dead ringer for a young Elvis Presley that he was once warned not to use photos of the real Elvis to promote his shows. “We had to prove to them that it wasn’t Elvis by demanding they look at the microphone – there’s no cord,” he recalls. Justin, 30, was arguably the most anticipated guest in the history of the Parkes Festival. He was crowned the world’s “Ultimate Elvis” at a Memphis competition in 2010, thanks in no small part to his high cheekbones and big, deep-set eyes. And then there’s the voice. The father of three was teased mercilessly at his Detroit high school for his Elvis obsession, which began when he heard a cassette of I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell at age nine. He would wear leather jackets and cuffed boots – “my father used to pull the curl down on my hair and taught me about the grease” – and by 16 he was signed and performing nine shows a day in Las Vegas. This was Justin’s first visit to Parkes. “I think Elvis would be tickled to see that he’s still remembered, especially so far away from where he’s from,” he says. Like most fans, he believes the lasting appeal of Elvis is grounded firmly in the songs. “It was his charisma, music, extreme good looks and style. Who else was wearing that kind of stuff? Big collars, the belts, fringe jackets and jumpsuits – nobody else could get away with that!”

JUSTIN SHANDOR

Image: Barry Green

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BARRY GREEN

BARRY GREEN is one of the few Elvis impersonators who actually has a singing career, which in itself is amazing considering he lost three fingers down to the knuckle of his right hand in a farming accident two years ago. There may not be much coin in it and playing guitar is all but impossible but Barry still loves performing and this year celebrates his 50th year in showbiz and the release of his debut album. This refreshing performer grew up on “Fernleigh”, northwest of Parkes, where he still farms with sons Michael (a musical director and keyboard player) and Robert. It’s a traditional mixed farm, with sheep and cropping and until three years ago was home for Barry and wife Cheryl before their move into town. Meeting Cheryl 12 years ago was the best thing since the birth of Elvis! Cheryl had lived in various parts of the world before coming back to Parkes for a year to be with her elderly parents and was tracked down by a persistent Barry after reading about her in the local paper. The pair had met at one of his first gigs and had never forgotten each other in the intervening years. This has been a big year for Barry, signalling his half century of professional entertainment. His first gig was a country hall in Bindogundra, playing with two of his three brothers on New Year’s Eve. He was barely 15 years old. “I never thought I’d last this long in the industry and never expected to finally release my album,” he says. Called First Time, the 12-track album features mainly Elvis songs and has proved popular with his legion of fans throughout the district. Barry plays at clubs throughout the Central West and about a quarter of his repertoire includes songs from the King. He can’t pick a favourite because he loves them all. With a little prompting he concedes he gets a special kick from singing You Are Always On My Mind, the first song on the album. It also happens to be Cheryl’s favourite love song and she prompted Barry to learn and later record the song. Naturally, Barry’s favourite time of the year is early January when he dons his blue suede shoes and lets his hair down with other Elvis fans, who converge on the town from all over the country. “It’s great seeing other people enjoy themselves and appreciate my music during this special time,” he says. Any thoughts on the best Elvis impersonator? “I’ve seen many Elvis tribute artists over my life but firmly believe Justin Shandor is the closest to the real thing. If you closed your eyes you’d swear you were listening to Elvis and when you opened them you’d be forgiven for thinking the King never died. I must say I was impressed by his humble nature.” Barry Green says he feels fortunate to have become Council’s “entertaining Elvis” – always on hand to perform at functions or help out with publicity. He’s the real deal and well worth a listen to!

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DICK HOWLETT DICK HOWLETT donned his blue suede shoes for what would become their final outing at this year’s festival. The colourful local identity and Festival volunteer shared his birth year with the King, so it was fitting that Dick was able to experience a shared tribute to 80 years at his final festival, before his recent passing. The former truck driver, coalminer and restaurant owner was always a huge Elvis fan and attended more than 20 festivals, after moving here from Camden in 1981. “It’s the highlight of the year for me and I get to meet some great people and have a heap of fun,” Dick said when we interviewed him at the Festival. Although he didn’t sing, Dick grew up with the music of Elvis and enjoyed humming his favourite tunes, including his number one song, Girl Happy. Dick made a formidable team with his wife Allison, and his legacy lives on in their six children, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The CWL team extend their sympathies to the Howlett family.

STANLEY KINGHAM is a man who likes to dress up. Prior to the Festival he spent 156 hours in a Santa outfit, putting smiles (well, mostly!) on thousands of children in Wagga Wagga.

Stanley Kingham

At the Parkes Festival he steps up another notch. Stan was born in 1934, a mere few months after the birth of the King. Elvis had a tough start in life and Stan was much the same, leaving school at 14 to help his father out on the family farm near Tichborne. Within a year he had learnt to shear (which he did for years) and he has been belting out tunes and raising fat lambs ever since on “Swan Hill”. Stan first started stretching the vocal cords as a boy soprano at Hurlston Ag College, Glenfield, and only discovered Elvis much later in life. His favourite Elvis song is The wonder of You and Stan has made it part of his repertoire when busking in the main street. “I once sang on the main stage in 42-degree-heat and received a standing ovation, probably as much for my endurance as any singing ability!” Money raised from busking duties is directed to Sophie Delezio, the courageous young Sydney girl who has endured a lifetime of pain but symbolises hope eternal. “She is my hero,” declares Stan, with a tear in his eye. “I have a photo of her on my TV and whenever life kicks me in the guts I look at her beautiful smile and realise how lucky I am.” PARKES CWL 31

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NORTHPARKES MINES STREET PARADE PARKES CWL 33

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DRIVING FORCE IT’S BEEN A LONG AND OFTEN PAINFUL RIDE BUT JOHN PIZARRO HAS CLIMBED THE HIGHEST OF MOUNTAINS IN HIS ACTION-PACKED LIFE. OVER THE YEARS HE HAS BEEN WELL RECOGNISED FOR HIS EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING 44 YEARS WITH ROTARY, AND THE SPORT OF GO-KARTING. JOHN attained life membership to the Australian Karting Association (2011) in recognition of his many years of work on safety in the sport. He also got the nod for an Australian Sports Medal authorised by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (2000); Parkes Sportsman of the Year (1973 and again in 1978); and Central West Sportsman of the Year (1979). But it wasn’t all beer and skittles. Born in Sydney to struggling poultry farmers, John has vivid flashbacks of the stinking hot, corrugated iron house the family once called home. “We were poverty stricken,” he says bluntly from behind his Parkes car wash on the Newell Highway. “The old man had polio as a kid and used to get around on a crutch and a stick. He died at age 54 when I was 12.” From an early age he learnt the power of listening and assessing the strength in a man’s character and not his size. When he does open his mouth it’s straight to the point. He doesn’t mince words and sounds like a man who has always walked the walk. His strong connection to Parkes started in 1968 with a visit to his sister, then living in the town. He reckoned the place had a similar feel to Liverpool (in those days the Sydney suburb was more akin to living in a rural village with lots of market gardens) and moved here two years later. That was 45 years ago and John is going nowhere in a hurry. He set up a smash repair business and admits it was hard, dirty work. “The harder I worked, the luckier I got,” he says. “In the late 1980s KFC came along with a fistful of dollars and I sold out and built three factories down in Clarinda Street, now housing a milk depot, an air compressor company and a mechanical repair shop. The rent is good and you know what you’re making before you get out of bed. I built some flats as well, which I sold and then built some more.” There are no flies on this man. One of his lasting legacies to Parkes will be the Astro Dish Motel, which he opened in 2013, featuring 19 well-appointed suites. The town’s newest and only 4.5-star motel in the district features beautiful artworks, a modern décor and seating for 50 people in the restaurant and even more in the function centre. The motel has a permanent staff of two, Donald and Valerie Chisholm, and a number of casual staff, including daughter Narelle, the only one of his four children still living in Parkes.

Most days you’ll find this unassuming man working at the car wash. He built it himself 17 years ago and enjoys his time there. “It’s a simple job with little stress,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders. That’s got to be a blessing when your body has been rocked by Parkinson’s Disease for the past decade. “I started working from an early age, probably 12, picking vegetables, gherkins and tomatoes and that sort of stuff,” he says. Georges River apparently had more appeal than Liverpool Boys High and John couldn’t get out of school quick enough. His principal, by then, had become well accustomed to receiving the usual supply of fake sick notes informing the school “John’s got the chicken pox . . . John’s got the measles, that kind of thing”. Like most young adolescent men, he craved fast machines and hot girls! The first came in the form of go-karts, a gruelling sport he dominated from the 1970s through to the 1990s with a record 15 Australian championships to his credit. The other involved a young girl who made him laugh and who would one day become his wife and most avid supporter. Her name was Marilyn and at a Baptist Church camp in Mona Vale everybody kept whispering to her “Johnny Pizarro still hasn’t arrived”. “I didn’t have a clue who he was but he arrived after work and was probably only about 14,” Marilyn says with a twinkle in her eye. “It was love at first sight and I married him when we had both turned 19.” In the courting period John would often have his leg ulcers fixed by Marilyn’s concerned mother. He was severely undernourished but it bred a hunger within him that would later push him to the very limit of his endurance and cost him a finger in the process. Socially he was a young man punching well above his weight – just the way he’s always liked it (especially during his racing days). The pair went ice skating near Sydney Uni but the real joy was watching the stock cars race around the track of the old Sydney Showgrounds. If only she’d known what was in store! > PARKES CWL 35

PARKES

THE BIRTH OF A RACING LEGEND John Pizarro was soon on his way in the go-kart world. He never raced anything but karts, choosing to focus on the entry level race category and getting the most out of it. “I actually wanted to ride motorbikes when I was a kid but didn’t want to get hurt so much. When I married I figured go-karts would be a safer option.” Back in 1963 he bought his first go-kart for “a few bob” with his brother-in-law. “We had this heap of junk, put a motor bike engine on it and took it to Granville. We did a few laps and broke the conrod, which was the first of many in those early days.” John remembers his first race clearly and the guidance he received following his first run. “My first kart race, hmmm, it was nothing exciting,” he says. “I got done like a dinner but once I learned to drive, Ron Droste helped me out. He was a good engine tuner and a very good driver. He gave me a few pointers and guided me in the right direction. Winning proved to be a lot of fun.” It wasn’t long before he was designing and constructing his own machines and taking home state and national titles. In 1975, he competed in the first of five world championship held in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium. John admits the competition was like nothing he’d ever witnessed back home. “I got flogged. It was like putting a trotting horse on a galloping track. On my way home, though, I came home through Japan and got the fastest qualifier in the Asian Pacific Championships.” While in Europe John got the opportunity to race alongside Ayrton Senna and Terry Fullerton, two very competitive drivers and miles ahead of the rest of the pack. “In karts Ayrton was very good but I never thought about how good he’d be in any other category (namely Formula One). He had an intensely competitive nature, which is what eventually killed him.” Having stopped racing, John started mentoring young drivers. “After I stopped racing I tried to help young kids. I tried to explain that it was a non-contact sport, which falls on deaf ears today. It’s a game of skills, it’s not football. You have to pass without bashing people. If you can’t do that then you aren’t racing properly.” Hitting the edge of 70, John admits he is slowing down, especially after his recent operation (when doctors drilled two holes in his cranium and offered him a second lease on life). His Rock of Gibraltar and best mate, born three days after him, is still by his side after 52 years of marriage. “Mum does millions of things behind the scenes and makes it look as though their lives are easy but nothing could be further from the truth. She is our unsung hero”, says Narelle, who has the fire in the belly passed down from her never-say-die inspirational father. “In one word, Dad is tenacious,” she continues. “He never gives up on anyone and will see a job, any job, through to the end. And then he’ll find another job. Dad always said you’ll make a lot of mistakes but that’s how we learn. He was never the life of the party, preferring to watch and listen to people, seeing what lessons he could pick up before having a crack at it himself.” “Work is his recreation,” sighs Marilyn, who probably knows him better than most. “He’ll work till he drops. The only time he ever sits still is when he sits down to watch his beloved V8 car races and to charge his batteries.” And she’s talking quite literally – he’s got a battery in his chest that stimulates his brain. Two of his favourite sayings come to mind. “Work hard and make your own luck” is a favourite but the other one he abides by is “Good, better, best. Never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best”. Both sayings reflect the amazing life and times of John Pizarro, the man who rose from humble beginnings to take on the best in the world. CWL Left: John and Marilyn with daughter Narelle and her daughter Indigo. 36 CWL PARKES

The lure of the land A MEDIOCRE PERSON TELLS. A GOOD PERSON EXPLAINS. A SUPERIOR PERSON DEMONSTRATES. A GREAT PERSON INSPIRES OTHERS TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES.

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PARKES

IAN AND LYN Frecklington are as country as you can get. They own and manage two Peak Hill properties, “The Grange” (where they live) and “Hollywood” (25km west), covering 2105ha (5200 acres) with a 19-inch average rainfall. “These days too many people, it seems, want to start at the top,” says Ian with a knowing look. “We had to start at the bottom and work our way up, and we are still getting there. Our road to success is always under construction.” The easy-going pair established their Hollywood Angus stud in 2000 after 20 years of breeding commercial cattle in conjunction with a Merino wool enterprise. Lyn’s Scottish forebears arrived in Australia in 1854 and finally ended up farming in the Toongi area, south of Dubbo. She was raised on “Pacific Hill”, where her brother, Warwick, is still there as a fifth-generation farmer. Lyn grew up with horses, sheep and cattle in her veins. The family even boasted a trotting track in the middle of the lucerne paddock. It was at the 1979 Dubbo Show, where she was exhibiting her prized Arabian mare, that she met her future husband, who was busy selling chopper rides. Lyn joined his family for dinner that night and was smitten by her new beau’s dashing good looks, wit and obvious charm. Within a few months she fluked a transfer from Windsor High School to Peak Hill Central. Although she was vaguely familiar with Peak Hill it was still a shock going from a school with more than 1000 students to a bush school boasting about 140 secondary students. After a few years of living in town, Ian’s father, Tom, passed away and the pair moved out to “The Grange” – a significant moment in the property’s rich history. Ian’s family first settled here back in 1904, making him a third-generation grazier. Like Lyn, he also has one brother and sister. He wasn’t particularly academic, preferring the freedom of farm life, and left Scots College in Year 10 in 1969. Now, 45 years later, he is still working on the farm that’s been in his family for 110 years. Ian likes the sheep and believes he can make a tidy turnover breeding 1000 crossbred lambs annually. They both love their wool and achieved their professional wool classing stencil in the 1980s. But it is the Angus herd that Lyn is truly focused on. There are about 100 registered females and a further 50 recipient cows, which carry embryos sourced from the best, proven Hollywood cows. Over the years Hollywood Angus have enjoyed considerable success at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra Royal Shows. 38 CWL PARKES

“Our greatest success was with Hollywood Diamonds R Forever D12, who won Supreme Interbreed Female at Melbourne Royal 2011 and Supreme Beef Exhibit at Canberra Royal in 2012,” Lyn says with a hint of satisfaction. As a former teacher, she knows only too well the power of learning, having mastered the art of artificial insemination, an onerous task she performs each year. It’s Ian’s melancholy duty to hold the tail while Lyn performs her magic! The pair sell about 40 bulls a year on farm from a starting price of $3000. “Not all bulls are equal but we pride ourselves on breeding thick, meaty bulls with good structure and quiet temperament,” Lyn says. Today the farm is midway between Northparkes gold mine to the south and Tomingley gold mine to the north. “It’s great for the town and certainly doesn’t affect our operation,” Ian says.

This bloke has an undeniable sense of humour and, like Lyn, enjoys travel and meeting like-minded people. The pair has attended the Denver Stock Show, Edmonton Farm Fair and the Calgary Stampede on numerous occasions. They have also inspected cattle in England, Scotland and Wales during a recent trip to the UK to attend Royal Highland and Royal Yorkshire shows. “It sounds a bit exciting but a lot of the time there are only the two of us here – and our friend Foxtel – but we do attempt to socialise at least once a week in Tomingley or Peak Hill,” Ian says with an infectious grin. “It’s important to make that effort to get away, especially when times are tough, as in droughts or depressed markets – two things we have no control over.” With no kids, they intend to fully enjoy the fruits of their labour.

“I intend to discover new, exotic locations and revisit our favourite country, Canada, each year. The plan is to spend it all before we go to that big cattle ranch in the sky,” Ian laughs. Lyn admits she hasn’t really thought too much about the future, preferring to live one day at a time. “We’d never retire to the coast and when that time comes to think about scaling down our operation, we’d like to think we’d retire to Dubbo, where there are great medical facilities. More importantly, we’d be close to our family and friends.” In the meantime, the Frecklingtons are enjoying the freedom of living on the land and pursuing their dreams while forever respectful of those who came before them to settle on this rather special selection. CWL PARKES CWL 39

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PARKES

REACH FOR the stars ONCE UPON A time there was a six-year-old boy who sat crossed-legged on the floor of his school’s assembly hall, surrounded by his well-behaved first grade classmates. The object of their fascination was a B&W television set, where they watched the unfolding of one of man’s greatest achievements: the Apollo 11 moonwalk. That starry-eyed little boy was scientist John Sarkissian, who 30 years later found himself working at the very same observatory that first received those awe-inspiring images from the Moon. The dream started right then and was reinforced a few years later. “On the cover of my Year 9 mathematics text book was a painting of the Parkes Telescope,” he declares from his office overlooking the famous Dish. “I would often sit during maths classes, day-dreaming of one day working at the Observatory. Miraculously, and with many twists and turns of fate, here I am!” John worked at other observatories in Australia and overseas before he came to Parkes in late 1996 to work on NASA’s “Galileo” mission to Jupiter. The telescope was commissioned to track the spacecraft orbiting the planet Jupiter for 10 hours every day for one year.

He is also involved in the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array Project, endeavouring to be the first to directly detect gravitational waves. He has undertaken many other interesting projects during his tenure at Parkes, including the Galileo mission to Jupiter from 1996-1997, the Huygens probe landing on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, in 2005, and most recently the Curiosity landing on Mars in 2012. John is also a co-founder of the Central West Astronomical Society and helps organise the annual Festival of Astronomy and The David Malin Awards for the best in astrophotography. With all his experience, it was natural he’d become a technical advisor on the hit Aussie film The Dish, providing a lot of the research material used in the film. “For example, the mathematical figures on the blackboard in the scene where the characters calculate the position of Apollo 11, were provided by me – and they are accurate,” he insists.

“Following the mission, I stayed on as an operations scientist. I joke that I am now 18 years into my 11-month contract,” he says with a big grin.

John and wife Anahid have three children, all born in Parkes. They love the community and look forward to one day being regarded as “locals”. Until that happens we can at least be very thankful young John wasn’t wagging school on that eventful day back in 1969! >

In addition to his regular operations work, John’s been involved in pulsar timing projects, helping to discover the only known double pulsar system.

Above: John worked as a professional photographer in the mid 1990s but nowadays focuses his lens solely on the Parkes telescope. PARKES CWL 41

PARKES

UNIVERSAL APPEAL The CSIRO Parkes Telescope is one of the world’s great research instruments and used by many of Australia’s, and indeed the world’s, leading radio astronomers. When built in the early 1960s, it was the world’s most advanced radio telescope and is still arguably the world’s finest single-dish radio telescope. Originally, it was only meant to have a lifetime of just 20 years, a figure well and truly surpassed.

Clever astronomers then use these to figure out what is happening at these distant objects. The dish surface can be thought of as a kind of radio mirror that focuses the radio waves to a detector sitting in the cabin at the apex of the dish. The radio waves are converted into electrical signals and pre-amplified in the focus cabin, then sent down some cables to the control room in the tower below. Here the signals are amplified several thousand, million times and digitised before recording them onto disk or magnetic tape. The data can then be displayed on computer screens and analysed at leisure by the astronomers. Eventually, many months or even years later, the results are published in scientific journals.

This is because we’ve continually upgraded the telescope with the latest technology and developments. As a result, the telescope – all 1000 tonnes of it – is now about 10,000 times more sensitive than when it was built.

The signals we detect from the stars are incredibly weak. How weak? Well, imagine releasing a feather from your fingers and watching it slowly drift down and hit the floor. The energy expended by the feather when it strikes the floor is more than all the energy, ever collected, by every radio telescope, ever built, in terms of the astronomical data.

The dish surface is 64 metres in diameter and was originally made up of steel, wire-mesh panels. Over the years we’ve progressively replaced the inner 55 metres with perforated aluminium panels, which has made the telescope more sensitive at the higher frequencies.

That’s why radio telescopes have to be so large. We need the largest possible surface area to collect as much of the feeble energy as we can in order to have sufficient signal to study. Another way to think of it is to imagine a mobile telephone placed on the Moon.

The telescope incorporated many revolutionary and innovative design features, which helped make it such a successful and productive scientific instrument. We are first and foremost a radio astronomy facility. However, the design was recognised early on by NASA to be a near-ideal instrument for tracking spacecraft in deep space.

The phone would be one of the strongest radio sources in the sky and we would have no problem detecting its signals, and we would definitely have no problem detecting them from our car park, which is why we ask visitors to switch their phones off.

NASA has often asked us to track some of the most historic and significant space missions to date, including the Mariner 2 mission to Venus in 1962, Mariner 4 to Mars in 1965 and the most famous of all, the Apollo lunar landing missions from 1969 to 1972, especially Apollo 11.

The energy emitted by their phones can easily overwhelm and interfere with the feeble signals we want to detect from the furthest reaches of the universe. That’s why radio telescopes are built so far from built-up areas with large populations that have many man-made radio emitters.

But this space tracking only represents a small part of what we do, only a few per cent, but they’re invariably the most famous, so people think that’s all we do.

Since mid-2013, the telescope has been upgraded to operate remotely, meaning that astronomers no longer have to travel to Parkes to observe. They can control the telescope over the internet from the comfort of their home institutions, either in Australia or overseas.

The dish is essentially just a very large radio antenna. Because we use it to study the radio emissions from the stars, we refer to it as a radio telescope. Unfortunately, this confuses the general public, because whenever you say “telescope”, the first thing people imagine is an optical telescope, to which you put your eye and “see” things. With radio telescopes we don’t “see” anything at all, we only detect the radio signals coming from specific points in the sky and plot them on a computer screen. 42 CWL PARKES

The CSIRO Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre is open every day of the year except Christmas and Boxing Day. We have around 100,000 visitors a year and entry is free. They can view the telescope from very close range and see the exhibits and watch 3D films. There is a souvenir shop and also the Dish Café for snacks and a welcome break from travel. It’s a great place to learn about what we do here. CWL Words and images: John Sarkissian

WHERE STARS ARE MADE

• It is very central to everything in town • The Galaxy Restaurant is open Monday through Saturday Nights • The Aastro Dish Motor Inn welcomes enquiries for special occasions & functions.

For Bookings & enquiries: Phone: 6862 3000 | Web: www.astrodish.com.au | Email: info@astrodish.com.au

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Spreading his wings ONE YOUNG MAN who has turned his hobby into a dream job is dashing young Parkes pilot Chris Finn. It is early and we are meeting at the Parkes Aviation workshop where Chris has just finished the morning Sydney to Parkes run. He will have a midday siesta before his next consignment of goods must be delivered to Bankstown Airport that evening. “We are lucky in Parkes that the weather conditions are usually favourable but in bad weather we just have to wait it out,” says Chris, who has both feet firmly planted on the ground. “Flying was just one of those things I always wanted to do. My parents organised a short trial flight with a pilot in the air to see what it was all about. From that moment I knew it would be my destiny to fly. Straight away I got a job at Woolies – on the checkout or packing shelves – in a bid to start saving money for my training,” he says. Chris had his first solo flight at 16 before gaining his private (or full) licence a year later. During this time he received a scholarship from AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) and Air Services Australia,

offering some financial contributions to his flying training, all the while clocking up hours for his commercial licence, which he received after his 21st birthday. Today, Chris, 24, is a charter pilot for Air Freight Solutions, responsible for bringing freight to and from Sydney on a daily basis as well as getting it out to Dubbo and as far afield as Lake Cargelligo. The business was started in 2004 by Tim Hall-Matthews and wife Esther, who now have four pilots for their four Chieftains, two Australian-built Airvans and one Piper Warrior. “I met Chris while working as an instructor for Orange Aviation when he was a student,” Tim says. “I lost contact with him for a few years and when I heard he hadn’t been snapped up by the major airlines, immediately offered him a job despite not having an opening for him at the time. “It’s important that we nurture our young pilots in regional areas. We started him off on our Piper Warrior, flying from Parkes to Condobolin to Lake Cargelligo before he graduated to the Chieftain, flying freight into Bankstown.”

Chris also performs passenger charters for clients from Lake Cargelligo, Young, Condobolin and Parkes. Most of the time it is business owners who get together, charter a plane and typically go to Sydney for the day. This has also taken Chris much further afield and it’s not unusual to fly interstate to pick up passengers. “No two flights are ever the same,” he explains. “There are many challenges when it comes to flying. Occasionally you have to make split-second decisions and that’s when training and reflexes come into it. In aviation there are very high safety standards one naturally has to adhere to.” For Chris, every time he takes to the air is a chance to improve his skills, clock up hours (he’s just hit the magic 1000-hour mark) and meet people from all walks of life. When he’s not flying, this active 24-year-old enjoys golf and spending time with long-term girlfriend Hayley Wood. Many days start at 4am, some even earlier. They can be long days but when you are doing what you love the time just seems to fly! CWL

PARKES

THE WHOLE kit & kaboodle THERE IS ONE VERY SPECIAL MILLION-DOLLAR HOME BEING OFFERED FOR SALE IN PARKES THAT COMES WITH AN UNEXPECTED BONUS: A BRAND NEW, PRESTIGE CAR.

CRAIG JOHN and his young family moved from the Hawkesbury/Sydney hustle and bustle to Parkes in 2002. “We hunted high and low for a suitable family home that we could move straight into,” Craig says. “We soon found out that they were few and far between. After many weekends of searching, we stumbled across this sturdy four-bedroom residence in a well-established street chosen by most local doctors and dentists in the late 1960s early 1970s.” The house comes with the three Ps – Position, Position, Position – and with a large half-acre block, loaded with trees and gardens, easterly aspect, elevated with views and virtually no steps. “We purchased the property the day after auction in 2003, feeling we had possibly lost our minds! It was going to be a long road ahead to convert this piece of real estate into something we could call home,” he says. As every kitchen is known as the hub of the home, a solid-timber kitchen was fitted by local craftsmen before the bathrooms were renovated.

“As we intended residing here for the rest of our lives, no expense was spared,” Craig says. The property now stands (as described in the advertisement) with many hidden yet appreciated features. “We now find we require more space for the in-laws and decided to put it on the market,” he explains. “Reluctantly, we called professional advice to determine our home’s market value, which turned out to be in excess of $1 million. As the property is somewhat unique in Parkes, we figured it should be offered in a unique way.” To support the market value recommendation, Craig offered to assist in the promotion of this property by adding a complimentary prestige vehicle for the successful buyer. This also makes the property stand apart from any other property on the market today. Craig is more than willing to negotiate a comfortable package. Inspections are strictly by appointment for genuine buyers only.

FOR PRIVATE SALE Looking for a spacious, luxury home in country NSW? Look no further! Large family home… with a quality ‘Boutique’ ambience! Elevated location with full easterly aspect Price on application. Genuine inquiries only. Call 0419 204 477 or email c.john2@bigpond.com

FEATURES INCLUDE: 6 Bedrooms • Solid Redgum Kitchen Wet bar • Outdoor kitchen/entertaining area 2100sqm approx. land size IN TOWN Manicured lawns and gardens • Town and rain water Fully computerised watering systems Natural gas • Underfloor heating Fully ducted reverse cycle air conditioning Under cover parking for up to 5 vehicles Shed/workshop • And more!

This property comes complete with a with complimentary* Mercedes Benz A45! Your choice of colour. *conditions apply

PARKES CWL 45

RIDING HIGH

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IN ABOUT 1870, English inventor James Starley, described as the father of the bicycle industry, began producing bicycles based on the French boneshaker but with a large front wheel and much smaller rear wheel. Although the trend was short-lived, the penny-farthing became a symbol of the late Victorian era and its popularity coincided with the birth of cycling as a sport. Parkes physiotherapist Jeff McClurg knew little of this when his mate invited him to Evandale (about 20km from Launceston, Tasmania) for the National Penny Farthing Championships in early 2012. “I needed a bike and checked out eBay and found nothing. I realised then I’d probably have to build my own, so attended a three-week crash course at Brisbane’s TAFE College on how to construct one of these mighty high wheelers,” he says. That was the first hurdle. Jeff knew he then needed a big enough vehicle to bring it home, so purchased a broken-down, rusty old Kombi for $200, which went on to rack up quite a few toll fines and even a speeding fine. “Driving it home with my new bike in the back, it felt like the old girl was using more oil than petrol and she finally came to rest at Newcastle. In the end, she was indignantly towed home and sat out the front, a poignant reminder of a wasted trip.” The race was rapidly approaching, however, and Jeff was forced, with some chagrin, to reassess the Kombi. Fortunately, a mate found a missing pin from the fuel pump and within a few moments the old girl roared back to life! Jeff made it to the championships and came home with two medals from the novice race. From that moment on he was well and truly hooked! He learnt a lot about the art of riding a penny-farthing that weekend and realised a big part of the appeal was the look of the rider and not just the bike itself. With this in mind, traditionally clean-shaven Jeff decided on a radical new look. Within months he was sporting a magnificent beard and handlebar moustache and ready to take on the world of penny-farthing cycling. Jeff’s daughters Lauren, 19, and Meg, 21, aren’t quite sure what to make of their father’s new look. “He used to be a normal dad but now I’m not so sure,” laughs Lauren, who has grown accustomed to seeing Jeff cycle around town on his antiquated mode of transport. Now that he has the bug, Jeff has returned to Tasmania on two subsequent occasions and also competed at the inaugural penny-farthing races at Steamfest, Maitland. This is not the last we will see of him. Only recently he attempted a 100-mile ride with about 15 others in Evandale, and although he didn’t quite finish, he remains determined to one day win the “Holy Grail of Pennies”. CWL

PARKES

Image: Barry Green

A nostalgic ride IF YOU LOVE classic old cars then make an effort to get down to the Parkes Motor Museum where you can drool over $1.5 million worth of the best on four wheels. The museum was established in 1972 before the big move into the Henry Parkes Centre, following the demolition of their former digs for road works. Today there are 24 historic cars and about 15 motorbikes on display, all of them at least 35 years old and privately owned by some of the 80-odd members of the Parkes Antique Motor Club. Among the many rare exhibits are the 1919 Cadillac (the only one of its type in the country), the Saxon (one of only three left in the world) and the Oldsmobile (one of only six made after-hours by Holden in 1940 – the factory had closed down for wartime production and the car was never built again).

Most club members grew up with these cars. New cars were too expensive and many of these old cars were relatively easy to fix and maintain, compared to the modern, technologically complex vehicles of today. “Restoring and nurturing old cars seems to be a dying art,” Alan Payne says. “The younger generation haven’t grown up with these cars and don’t have the emotional attachment or the time to mess around with time-consuming hobbies.” After the war, many men were forced to ride a motorcycle until they could save for their first car,” Heather Veal says. For nearly 40 years her club has run a vintage motorcycle rally over the October long weekend (pictured top right).

Some of the volunteers have a few interesting tales. Barry Garment’s first car was a 1926 Chevrolet, similar to the one on display. He paid 55 pounds for it back in 1956 (and claims to be still paying it off!).

The Australian motor building industry started in 1917, when Holden scored a contract to build 5000 bodies for Buicks and Dodges. In 2017 the Holden, Toyota and Ford factories will all be closing, signalling the end of a neat century of car manufacturing in Australia. Museums like the Parkes Motor Museum will preserve the rich history of the automobile for many future generations.

It was one of 15,000 Chev Fours that were on the road at that time. Barry is doing one up at the moment.

From top left: Barry Garment, Heather and Rex Veal (front row), Rowley Pengilly and Alan Payne; Rex and Heather Veal with a 1917 Saxon.

The volunteers come in on a regular basis. They clean and maintain the vehicles, including pumping up tyres, and talk to the thousands of visitors who come in to inspect these grand old vehicles from yesteryear.

48 CWL PARKES

BRIMMING FULL of HISTORY

The complex housing the Visitors Information Centre, Moat Cottage, Historical Society Museum, Elvis collection, Parkes Motor Museum and the Antique Machinery Museum is known as the Henry Parkes Centre. It’s here you will more than likely run into Yvonne Hutton, president of the Parkes Historical Society for 21 years. There isn’t much she doesn’t know about the town or its history and is a big fan of Sir Henry Parkes, whom she says had 17 known children to three wives. With reputedly 20,000 household items, it is one of the largest museums in the Central West. Out the back there is a huge collection of mostly farm machinery, including several rare and very valuable items. “Occasionally we fire up all the old tractors and they make one hell of a din,” laughs Yvonne, one of 50 volunteers who help out at the museum. Top left: Yvonne Hutton pictured with the “Big Four”. Only six were ever imported to Australia from Minnesota and this is only one of two restored vehicles left. PARKES CWL 49

PETER O’DONNELL might be the bloke who started GWS Personnel in Parkes but he is also known among car racing enthusiasts as a man who thrives on speed and adrenalin. He is credited with starting the recruiting and labour hire business in Parkes 20 years ago during a time when such offices were traditionally capital-city based. The business is now run by son Damien, with offices in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and Wagga employing about 20 internal staff and with a contract labour force at their disposal of between 1000 and 2000.

UP TO SPEED

“Our first ever client was Northparkes Mines, who have gone through three ownerships and we continue to work with them today,” Peter says. “We work closely with our clients, the majority of whom are very long term. We are also involved with the Cadia and Cowell Gold Mines, in Orange and West Wyalong, plus a few smaller operations.” GWS Personnel has extensive local experience, a trusted reputation and a fresh approach to recruitment, allowing them to connect the right people to the right jobs. “If you want a Mandarin-speaking truck driver from Trangie, I can find you one,” Damien says. “It’s all about us finding the right person for the job. At the end of the day we are a local business with temporary and permanent jobs not just in mining but in government, professional and agribusiness,” he adds.

50 CWL PARKES

“We supplement the workforce of companies who need flexibility. A lot of our guys out there are plant operators, mine technicians and people in the laboratories through to project engineers.” Peter and Damien’s discussion on business strategy and performance is abruptly halted by the unexpected arrival of Peter’s wife, Melinda. Our conversation swiftly changes to more personal aspects of life, including the stately home they live in, food, wine and romance. The last topic is particularly relevant as the two have just secretly married in the Blue Mountains. It was difficult pinning a date due to his hectic racing and work schedule but his brother is a marriage celebrant and the wheels were set in motion. The hardest thing for Peter was getting down on one knee (he’s just had surgery) and proposing! Melinda’s parents were hijacked for the day and were among a handful to witness the sharing of vows in a tranquil setting. A photograph was immediately texted to their seven kids (Peter has five sons and Melinda two daughters) as well as their siblings (Peter has four brothers and a sister while Melinda has four brothers and three sisters). The two have spent most of their lives in Parkes and their children went to school together. “He had to squeeze in my wedding between races,” Melinda laughs. Known for her innate ability to feed Peter’s pit crew and her cries to “Please slow down” (he hits speeds of up to 260kmh), she is also loved for her bright and bubbly persona. “I guess it’s true to say a lot of clients and workers associate our business with our GWS Race Team,” says Peter, who races BMWs and was crowned 2012 Australian champion in his class. He has also raced six times in the Bathurst 12 Hours and finished on the podium five times, including two class wins. He’s competitive and still has the spirit for love, life and adventure. She’s like a breath of fresh air, light-hearted, nurturing and insightful. “Peter is such a passionate person,” she says quietly. “It’s one of the qualities that I admire about him.” CWL From top: The O’Donnell men – Benson and James (back), Nikolas, Damien, Peter and Simon (front) (Image: Maree Grant); Damien O’Donnell in the Parkes office with some of his father’s racing trophies in the background; Peter and Melinda O’Donnell relax in their amazing three-tier Parkes home. PARKES CWL 51

PARKES

DRESSED for SUCCESS WORKLOCKER PARKES is up and running. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the good news from Byrne Clothing & Embroidery, one of the few remaining independently owned, true country retail stores around. There are not many shops you can walk into and buy the kids their school clothes, Dad his work boots, Mum a stylish top and the baby an embroidered towel. The spacious, well laid-out store stocks surf and streetwear, suits and workwear and more. Visitors to town often comment how easy it is to shop with everything under the one roof. The business is celebrating 46 years of trading. Originally called Arnold Byrne Mansworld, the store was founded in 1970 by Arnold and Margaret Byrne. Current owners, Tony and Mandi Byrne, Arnoldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son and daughterin-law, have huge confidence in the town and surrounding districts. The Byrnes have made some exciting changes with the expansion of workwear, corporate wear and schoolwear lines. The shop has had a large building extension and re-branded the adjoining store with its own separate identity to be known as Worklocker, run as an independent business with access from Clarinda Street but still accessible from the existing store. Worklocker stores are members of the buying group IWS (Independent Workwear Sellers Australia), of which Tony is one of five founding directors. There are now 60 member stores Australia wide and the group is growing rapidly. The advantage of the buying group is that it gives the independent retailer the opportunity to compete on price at a national level but allows the owner of the store to run the store. Worklocker provides in-store services such as embroidery, heat press, vinyl cutting and digital printing and has also expanded its range of workwear to cover Hi Vis uniforms, personal protective equipment, corporate uniforms and work boots. Tony and Mandi are proud of their team of 11 staff and the welcoming, helpful environment they foster in their store. Helpful service, a tradition started by Arnold nearly half a century ago, continues to this day. From top: Tony and Mandi Byrne; team members Sarah Gersbach and Jacob Foran. 52 CWL PARKES

C i t y, Co u n t r y, Co a s t a l Re c ru i t m e nt

Looking for the perfect candidate?

GWS Personnel is a passionate business, fuelled by passionate people.

Spinifex Australia Holdings

GWS Personnel was established in 1994 and has since been servicing the Central West, Orange, Manildra and Parkes. Now part of the Spinifex Group with 8 offices across regional and metropolitan NSW. We are a local recruiter and specialise in recruitment services for the following industries;

Agribusiness Professionals

Industrial & Manufacturing

Specialist and Executive Positions

Professional and Office Support

If you are looking for staff or interested in working for GWS, please contact us today. Leaders in Regional Recruitment

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PARKES CWL 53

PARKES

DOUBLE TROUBLE THE KEITH TWINS, KEN AND TIM, SHARE A LOT IN COMMON AND NOT JUST THEIR IMPENDING 60TH BIRTHDAY. IN AN UNLIKELY TWIST, THE BROTHERS HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO DRESSING UP IN PERIOD COSTUME, ALL IN THE NAME OF TRADITION, POMP AND CEREMONY. TIM HAS THE BIG VOICE THAT MAKES HIM A POPULAR TOWN CRIER, WHILE KEN, BORN A FEW HOURS EARLIER, IS THE LONG-STANDING PARKES MAYOR. 54 CWL PARKES

SINCE WINNING a “cry-off” with 11 other hopefuls in 1996, Tim (above left) has donned the elaborate outfit befitting a town crier on 219 occasions, each one carefully documented in his log book.

Ken (above right) also still loves his sport and likes to fit in a game of golf when time permits. Both are swimming for exercise, aiming for 40-lap sessions in a bid to maintain fitness in their busy lives.

Getting dressed is part of the ritual that all town criers have undergone since the 18th century. The uniform has to be spot on – the white breeches ironed within an inch of their life, shoes polished, vest all buttoned up and chains and fobs prominently displayed.

The Mayor and his wife Sue live on “Stanleigh”, breeding fine-wool Merinos and cross-bred lambs along with some cropping. The farm includes the original family block purchased by his grandfather of the same name back in 1908.

Every year he is one of dozens of town criers who congregate from all over the eastern states for the Australian championships. A lot of shouting takes place (both in the street and at the bar afterwards) and competition is fierce. Tim once clinched the Loudest Cry (at Maryborough) where he was clocked at a thumping 94 decibels and scored a second in the Best Cry (at Alice Springs).

In the early days Ken studied for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (specialising in education) at Sydney Uni and taught at both Forbes and Windsor High for several years before returning to “Ladysmith”, after the sudden passing of his mother in 1979.

“I practise most days when I’m yelling at my sheep dogs,” he laughs. “It’s fun representing your town and it’s a great way to meet people. I’ve even got photos of me with a few famous faces including Evonne Goolagong Cawley and former NSW governors Marie Bashir and Gordon Samuels.” Tim and wife Mandy lease their 1500-acre “Summerhill” farm and Tim spends his days helping the Mayor (on the farm next door), driving tractors, working in woolsheds and general farm work. Farm work has been the way of life for the Keith twins since their early days of growing up with older sister Heather (now Shaw) on the old family farm “Ladysmith” in the early 1960s. It was normal practice to attend church on Sundays followed by a picnic and leisurely afternoon drive. The twins agree it was great always having somebody to play with – either a hit of tennis on a clay court out in the back paddock or a game of cricket near the old shed. Both remember being ball boys at the NSW Hard Court Championships hosted by Parkes in 1966. Some “big name” players of the day were on hand, including Tony Roche, Roy Emerson and Fred Stolle (the only man in history to lose each of his first five Grand Slam singles finals). Just as their father before them, the boys attended Yanco Ag in the Riverina, where they thrived on their cricket and footy, winning the NSW CHS University Shield in rugby league. In later years the twins played touch football, club and representative cricket and hockey. Tim also played footy for the Parkes Spacemen Rugby League Club and ran the City2Surf 25 times, including last year with his two daughters, a son-in-law and future son-in-law.

He was first elected to Council in 1983 (after being involved with the Parkes Centenary celebrations) and served 16 years as deputy mayor before getting the top job in 2008. “It’s great being close to town. I can jump off a tractor, fly through a shower, throw on a suit and hurtle to town inside half an hour,” he laughs. The brothers have both enjoyed a long association with Parkes, polishing fruit in the district exhibit at the local show from the age of about five. Both are past show presidents, with Ken still the Chief Steward after 30 years. Their annual show exhibit is the largest independently designed exhibit outside the Sydney Royal, where Ken gained invaluable experience in the 1980s. The twins are quick to acknowledge the legacy of their parents, Jim and Vi, who were heavily involved in the community, leading by example and encouraging their boys to do likewise. “Hence our involvement in a range of community things such as Rotaract (a Rotary Youth group), and show and ag organisations like Landcare,” Ken says. “Jim was very proud in his last days to see his two sons carry the Olympic torch for their community service, passing the flame to one another over his head. Our fulfilling lives would not have happened without their, and our wives’, inspiration and support.” It’s easy to see why Ken and Tim feel that Parkes is one of the friendliest and caring communities in Australia. The Keith family has been part of that history for more than 100 years but the country ties will one day be severed. Ken and Sue’s three adult sons, James, Max and Douglas, have all followed their own careers as have Tim’s daughters, Jana and Bryana. The show always goes on, however, and in the meantime Tim needs to yell at his dog (and stretch those vocal cords) while his twin brother is due for his next appointment. CWL PARKES CWL 55

Attention to detail PARKES DECOR SHOPPE was established by Barry and Margaret Robinson in 1975 at the southern end of Clarinda Street. Barry died 10 years ago but the shop is still going strong with Margaret at the helm and four casual staff. The business was originally started as a wallpaper and lighting centre. In the 1980s wallpaper had reached its used-by-date and the pair started selling curtains, blinds and awnings, which now constitute a major part of the operation. Around the same time, the business joined Lighting Network, a buying group with 50 stores down the east coast of Australia. “This has enabled us to offer our customers a bigger range of home lighting at very competitive prices,” Margaret says. Margaret is still enthusiastic after four decades at the shop. Most weekends she offers a home consultancy business, providing practical advice on all aspects of lighting and home decorating. For 20 years she has regularly covered areas like Peak Hill, Cudal, Orange, Grenfell, Young, Eugowra, Forbes, Condobolin and smaller outlying areas. “We pride ourselves on solid customer service and attention to detail,” says Margaret, who also established the Rosegarden on Church BnB in her home of 38 years. Drawing on a lifetime of experience as an interior decorator, she has gone to great pains to ensure her visitors’ stay is memorable. It is only one of a few 4½-star accommodation places in Parkes and it’s easy to see why this very special home gets such a high rating. There are four rooms, all with their own bathroom and all exquisitely decorated. “The unique thing about our B&B is its handy location, being only 200 metres to the CBD with all its restaurants, pubs, clubs and shops,” Margaret says, adding that it also offers peace and quiet with all occupants having their own private area. Above: The friendly Parkes Decor staff includes Alison, Margaret, Indigo and Brooke. Right: Rosegarden on Church BnB is your 4½-star home away from home in Parkes. 56 CWL PARKES

Rosegarden on Church

www.rosegardenonchurch.com

Exquisitely decorated, 4.5 star rated property • 200m to CBD, restaurants and shops Relax in the beautiful garden or soak in the spa • Play the piano • Luxury inclusions and free Wifi All suites have their own privacy and ensuites, two with spas.

Phone (02) 6862 3504 • Mobile 0419 250 510 • Email: rosegardenonchurch@bigpond.com

Parkes Decor For all of your indoor and otdoor window furnishings

•

Established 39 years with one owner

•

We pride our business on the service we offer

•

Large range of lighting

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Member of Lighting Network

•

No job too big or too small

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We sell bedspreads, cushions, small furniture, lamps and bases.

•

An extensive range of ceiling fans

202 Clarinda Street Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 2677 PARKES CWL 57

PARKES

Ripping Yarns ROEL TEN CATE, OAM, IS A WELL-KNOWN AND MUCH-LOVED CHARACTER IN PARKES, MORE USED TO WRITING THE NEWS THAN BEING THE NEWS. BUT WITH HIS USUAL GUSTO AND LOVE OF LIFE HE AGREED TO A CHAT WITH CWL IN BETWEEN PRESSING DEADLINES FOR THE CHAMPION-POST. 58 CWL PARKES

The family moved to the “city” of Parkes in 1958 where Roel continued his schooling until offered a job at a car dealership. He was no salesman, however, and was intrigued when a colleague, whose husband worked at the Champion-Post newspaper, asked if he was willing to “come down for a chat”.

“I was never told I had the job but 47 years later I assume I landed it!” BEING OF DUTCH extraction, this affable old-school journo doesn’t mind the odd trip down memory lane to explain his unusual name. During the heady days of WW2, Roel’s family lived close to the German border and saw the war unfold from both sides. With German friends and Dutch family, they lived in a confusing and anxious environment. The Nazi onslaught had swept through Holland in a matter of days but the low-lying country was thankfully spared the fate of many of her neighbours. Five years after the war there was still a lot of tension in Europe, which later escalated into the Cold War. Roel’s father, a mechanic, feared for his family’s future and had legitimate concerns his country might once again get caught up in the ensuing drama. “Dad said we’d get out for about five years while things cooled down. Originally we were going to South Africa – Dad had even bought the plane tickets – but because we had friends who made the sudden decision to migrate to Australia, we changed tack and decided to join them instead. I still have those unused tickets, discovered in one of Dad’s old wallets many years later.” They were from what was considered an affluent family, so the Dutch government offered no financial assistance, unlike the many tens of thousands of displaced Europeans who were assisted in their overseas passage to a new life. Before their departure they wisely invested in a kit home, knowing they were only able to bring a limited amount of money with them. In early 1951 the family touched down at Sydney airport to be greeted by nobody but agitated immigration officials who, after some deliberation, demanded they be escorted to Bathurst.

Roel, only six months old at the time, later learnt it had all the makings of an unmitigated family disaster. His father couldn’t speak a word of English but was adamant he hadn’t taken his family half way across the world to finish in a migrant camp. After arriving in Bathurst he put his foot down, refusing to give in to the authorities. Having no idea where he was, and used to towns being relatively close to each other, he asked his wife to hail a taxi to take them to Tullamore, an hour west of Parkes, where his Dutch connections had taken up residence. “Before Mum died she told me the trip was one of the most horrific in her life. In a taxi, in the middle of the night, on rough dirt roads and with large distances between lights. Today the trip would take a few hours but in those conditions it was a six- or seven-hour nightmare. She felt they were going to be dumped in the middle of Australia.” When they arrived in the small village in the early hours of the morning, they had no idea where the Dutch family lived and their plucky driver was forced to knock on a few doors to solve the problem. They eventually discovered, much to their horror, that their hosts were frantically searching for them at Mascot airport. There had been some confusion with the overseas dateline and they had missed them by a day. “We lived with this family for six months, 10 of us crammed into a very small house. Eventually we got word that our kit home had arrived in Sydney and the Tullamore community rallied together to organise a convoy of trucks to transport it back to our new address.” There was a lot of interest as the home was erected within a few short weeks. It was all a bit novel for the locals, who hadn’t had much contact with Europeans.

“When I went to the newspaper, journalism was a well regarded profession but it was probably the last job I would have chosen as I hated writing compositions at school. The boss put me on three months’ trial. I was never told I had the job but 47 years later I assume I landed it! “In those early years I copped a lot of rewrites from my editor but in hindsight it was probably the making of me. Mind you, in those days, there were a lot of times when I was ready to walk out the door, feeling inadequate for the task.” His four-year cadetship finished in 1972. By 1979 he was a B-grade journalist and offered the position of managing editor of the Forbes Advocate, 20 minutes down the road. Roel relished his time there but five years later the man who first encouraged him into journalism was leaving Parkes and he was offered the top job back there. By then he was married to Chris Chambers, one of 10 kids, who had a crush on the young Dutchman back at school. It was an interesting first date. When she was sweet 16, she was looking for a suitable partner to accompany her to the Deb of the Year Ball at the RSL Club. Roel caught wind of her predicament and marched up to the dental surgery where she worked to volunteer his services. In these halcyon days he loved his hockey, having represented NSW in the Under 16 Australian Championships in Perth in 1966. Two years later he was selected for the state Under 21 team and even made the Australian open squad in 1971 before a damaged knee quashed any hope of going further. Instead of sport he settled down to family life, comprising twins Roel (now a civil engineering student) and Melanie (an accountant) followed by Carmen (a personal assistant in a government agency). In the meantime, Chris continued her work at Ron Dunford’s Soul Pattinson Chemist, where she has clocked up 25 years. In 2000, Roel’s extended family (including his four sisters, a brother and 50 relatives) returned to Tullamore on his mother’s 80th birthday and were fortunate enough to be shown through the old kit home where it all started. The following year, Roel and Chris finally embarked on a trip to The Netherlands after a 50-year hiatus, planning to catch up with their daughter in London before visiting the original family home in Enschede. > PARKES CWL 59

These days, Roel likes to take the 50-minute walk home after a long day in the office and enjoys his private time to reflect on a fortunate life. It’s been a long and rewarding journey, culminating in an OAM bestowed on him in 2013 from the Governor, Marie Bashir, for services to the community and country journalism. Later in the year, he was made a Paul Harris Fellow, a prestigious title traditionally reserved for outstanding Rotarians. “Both awards came as a complete and utter shock because I was just doing my job, which I love, and serving the Parkes community, which gives me tremendous satisfaction.

60 CWL PARKES

“There are no plans for retirement because when you find something you love, it ceases being a job. Having said that, running a small regional newspaper, putting out three papers a week, certainly has its challenges.” After almost 50 years of reporting the local news, Roel admits he particularly enjoys yarning about local personalities. Obviously, heavy news stories crop up from time to time and these certainly get the adrenalin running. “A few big stories that come to mind are the Billabong Creek tragedy (where a car was swept off the causeway with the loss of three lives); the fellow who climbed up the local radio station tower and refused to budge;

the 1973 Parkes fire (which almost destroyed an entire CBD block) and the death of four miners during a Northparkes Mines cave-in.” During the course of his work, Roel has rubbed shoulders with everyone from royalty and prime ministers to famous entertainers. He has met Prince Charles, Gough Whitlam, Bob Carr, Nick Greiner, John Howard, Harry Secombe and John Meillon, but it’s the locals with a good yarn who make Roel ten Cate the happiest bloke on the planet! CWL

Below: Roel and wife Chris with their three children Roel, Melanie and Carmen.

PARKES

IN THE NEWS HAVING LIVED in Parkes most of their lives, it was only natural that Greg and Christene Nash would invest in a business that involved dealings with the public. That’s why they got into the newsagency business seven years ago. In 2013 their two newsagents merged into one, now known as the Parkes Newsagency. It’s been a whirlwind ride, culminating in them being nominated among the top five newsagents in the state in 2014 – testimony to the family’s efforts in supplying friendly, efficient service. It really is a family affair, with all three children, Luke, Toby and Katie, all involved in varying degrees with the business. Luke, an accountancy student employed at Parkes Shire Council, proved a smash hit during the festival in his Elvis attire. Toby recently commenced his civil engineering studies at the University of Wollongong and Katie is still at school. Prior to the newsagency, Greg was involved in the banking industry followed by a decade driving a taxi. His business was the first to provide wheelchair-access taxis to the town in 2003. There aren’t many streets in Parkes – or locals, for that matter – that he doesn’t know. Greg is more involved in the day-to-day running of the business while Christene works in the gift area, a welcome add-on to the business three years ago. “We get to see a lot of our customers on a daily basis and like to think they continue coming back because of our high level of customer service,” Greg says. “Some may think that newspapers and even newsagents won’t be viable in the future, however we feel that if we continually diverge into new and evolving lines, there will always be opportunities for us.” It is a real family affair at the Parkes Newsagency with Katie, Christene, Luke, Greg and Toby Nash all working in the business.

• Magazines • Papers • Cards • Gifts • Stationery • Darrell Lea

www.parkesnewsagency.com 284 Clarinda St, Parkes NSW 2870 Phone: 6862 2296 PARKES CWL 61

CONTEMPORARY HOME

THE happy HOMEMAKER IF YOUR HOME FEELS LOST, CROWDED, DRAB OR DOWNRIGHT BORING, IT PROBABLY NEEDS AN INJECTION OF FRESH IDEAS FROM SELF-STYLING GURU KAREN CREITH, THE SAVVY PARKES BUSINESSWOMAN WHO REALLY KNOWS HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN A HOME.

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HER SKILLS in the styling department are evident at both the Parkes Furniture One store (run for the past 21 years with husband John) and the sophisticated, uncluttered and rather spacious (it’s 70 squares) home she relaxes in after an interesting day at work. It is here that the confident and engaging mother of two feels most comfortable, especially in her favourite chair near the pool. Sitting proudly on her lap is a copy of her new book, The Art of Fluffing, in which Karen reveals all her home decorating secrets in an informative, honest and refreshing style. “We shot all the pictures for the book in one day,” she says, “including 20 outfit changes.” Karen says she was “delirious” by the end of the day but still loved every minute of the exercise. “It may not have made the best-sellers list but I’m tremendously proud of it, and it has made our business a lot more interesting,” she laughs. The past few years have certainly been a whirlwind for this country lass. From writing a simple decorating column within the pages of the Champion-Post to two years later being the face of her very own national magazine, Style Your Home with Karen Creith, it’s been an amazing run, culminating with the launch of her coffee table book in 2014. She’s carved quite a niche for herself as a well-regarded and now published interior stylist and author who continues to help people all over the country bring their decorating dreams to life. From complete home renovations to simple “fluffing” projects to add the wow factor to anyone’s home, Karen’s enthusiasm is infectious. Regardless of budget or taste she feels everyone can turn their house into the home of their dreams. “I feel there is a true flow-on effect when you are happy at home and enjoying your life with family and friends. Your home needs to be your sanctuary from the outside world. It also needs to be reflective of you, so my top tip is to express yourself within your own home by having pieces that look sensational and give your home the wow factor.” Karen has her own home down pat but it wasn’t always like this, especially growing up as an only child to John and Kay Szczucki in the 1970s. It was soon apparent she harboured grand visions for her future. After finishing her schooling at Parkes High, where she was dux of the year, she couldn’t wait to head to the big city lights and start a double degree in accounting and economics at university. It wasn’t to be. During a brief visit home in that first year she admitted to her parents that years of study were suddenly off the agenda. Her career path may have temporarily stalled but a new life was in the making after meeting John Creith. “I had the absolute good fortune to meet the future love of my life,” she says with a smile. 64 CWL PARKES

CONTEMPORARY HOME

“I returned to Parkes six months later and after a whirlwind romance was married at the ripe old age of 19.” The Creiths were blessed with two children, Ali, now 23, and Jack, 21. “We enjoyed each and every moment of their younger years, as well as getting the chance to watch them grow into the wonderful young adults they are today. But that’s not to say that raising children was easy. There were plenty of challenges, good days and bad.” Apart from her kids, husband and the business, Karen is also obsessed with high heels! “I firmly believe you can never, ever have enough shoes in your wardrobe! I don’t know when the option of wearing ridiculous heels will be taken away from me as my feet progressively rebel against this obsession but I am going to enjoy them until the very last moment.” Karen is on a roll. “My heels are absolutely worth their weight in gold, for they are an immediate conversation starter. But essentially my heels are just another part of the package that makes me who I am. I have always loved shoes and they make me very happy.” With more than 60 pairs of stilettos and high heels carefully stacked away, Karen Creith is living testimony to the power of self-belief. “If you do what makes you happy and be true to yourself, then that gives your self-esteem a boost and the confidence that you need to say yes to whatever comes your way in life,” she says. “It’s about asking questions and doing what you love. I’m very anti-clutter and just bringing people up to date within their homes so they feel fresh and different. Sometimes it can be really simple to make a huge difference within your home.” Karen’s living a bigger life than she dreamed, inspiring regional women to see that they can pursue what they love doing regardless of their location. It just takes a little boldness to ask the questions, be yourself and surround yourself with positive people. “I am so lucky how everything eventually turned out for me,” Karen says. “Never be too hard on yourself if what you first dream and plan for your life after school doesn’t live up to your expectations. The most important thing is to be happy. I was so lucky to find John and have an inner happiness as a result of our union. Sometimes you just can’t plan everything out from the start because what you know while at school about the outside world can be so limited and incorrect.” John and Karen make a formidable team. They have climbed the Great Wall of China, worked alongside each other for two decades and recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. It hasn’t all been easy but love, dedication and a devotion to shoes have made it all worthwhile. CWL PARKES CWL 65

DESTINATION anywhere “To travel is to live.” - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN TRAVEL has been Kerin Stonestreet’s passion ever since buying into Thomas Cook Travel in Dubbo in 2003. Today, her business, now called We Know Travel (and part of the Independent Travel Group), is based in Parkes, Orange and Dubbo with 13 employees ready to prepare your next trip of a lifetime. Over the years, Kerin has witnessed many changes to how and where people are travelling. One thing that has remained a constant focus through all these changes is customer service. Kerin and her team are dedicated to not just getting their clients the best price but ensuring that when you step into one of their offices you are greeted with a friendly smile and made to feel relaxed about planning your next dream holiday. “With online bookings on the internet it is easy to have information overload,” she says. “Our team have access to all the airlines, cruise lines, hotels and touring companies you will ever need. They are with you from the planning stages right through to when you arrive home.”

Kerin says the We Know Travel staff are able to cut through the jargon, inclusions and exclusions, to inform you exactly what you need to know. “All our clients are valued, whether you are planning a luxury world trip or a flight from Dubbo to Sydney,” she says. The team comes with a wealth of experience, with more than 200 years of combined travel between them. Collectively they have visited more than 34 countries. Kerin lives and breathes travel and is thrilled to have her son Matt as business manager. “Our view and business mantra has never changed: Buy local, support local and keep it local. “We have personally travelled to most of the places we promote and if we haven’t been there we have access to hundreds of other seasoned consultants across our network to ensure you don’t miss out on those ‘must do’ and ‘must see’ sights, events, cultural or culinary experiences on your bucket list.”

The perfect one stop location to make your house into a home

13 Saleyards Road, Parkes | 6862 2545 | www.furnitureone.com.au

Locally owned and operated • Family Business • We’re with you start to finish Experts in Cruising, Touring and Independent Holidays DUBBO 116 - 120 Macquarie St 02 6885 1633

ORANGE 279 Summer St 02 6362 2033

hello@weknowtravel.com.au

PARKES 187 Clarinda St 02 6862 2466

weknowtravel.com.au PARKES CWL 67

PARKES

A labour of love

68 CWL PARKES

CRAFTSMANSHIP and attention to detail are the trademark features of long-standing Parkes builder Paul Cusack. In 2007, with 30 years’ experience in all facets of the building industry under his belt, Paul decided it was finally time to build his own Federation-style family home.

Given a choice, he prefers using traditional hand tools before power tools, and often does. With more than 20 years’ experience working with kitchens, it was obvious this was an area where he was bound to excel. The kitchen is crafted out of rosewood with granite bench tops and the latest design in cabinetry.

“Two of my brothers, also in the building trade, backed me for five years but I proved them wrong by six months,” Paul laughs.

Local man Tony Fisher is responsible for the skilful leadlighting, which features in the impressive front door and porthole.

Paul and wife Marjie are thrilled with the end result and love their open-plan home, testament to Paul’s dedication and skills. He has always enjoyed working with timber, commencing his carpentry and joinery apprenticeship back in 1976 with local company G.C. McCabe & Co.

Since moving here in April 2012, the Cusacks have enjoyed their home on many new levels. Marjie says her favourite room is the spacious kitchen and living area, with the centrepiece being Paul’s stunning rosewood dining table, which matches the kitchen and accommodates family and friends at regular gatherings.

Under the watchful eye of master craftsman Jack Anderson, young Paul spent his formative years in McCabe’s well-equipped joinery shop, learning to work with all types of timber. It wasn’t just a job, it was a passion that, if anything, has only increased throughout his lengthy career. “We lived in two Federation homes before and always admired many aspects of their design,” Paul says. “Marjie and I knew we wanted as many natural finishes as possible.” Western red cedar features in all their skirting boards, architraves, doors and highlights above the door frames. Other features include 10-foot ceilings with rosettes and decorative cornices and natural six-inch cypress floorboards. The eye-catching arched red cedar timber bay windows are matched by the front door and 20 internal doors. Then there are the French doors that lead onto the al fresco area – all painstakingly handcrafted by Paul.

“The sitting room was built to house the older pieces of furniture we have collected over the years. We enjoy this area as a quiet room for reading and catching up with each other at the end of busy, long days,” she says. Paul is particularly pleased with the wide featured hallways – almost long enough for a game of cricket – that provide light and an open feel to their home. “I am satisfied that I have finally been able to create something for ourselves to enjoy,” he says with immense pride. Now that their dream home is finished, Marjie’s passion for cooking has been reignited. Paul continues to spend his days at the joinery shop, where he produces stunning contemporary and traditional kitchens. He also produces commissioned furniture pieces as well as smaller items like butchers’ blocks, lazy Susans and cutting boards for his clients. CWL PARKES CWL 69

PARKES

WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY LONG-STANDING Parkes business Glassplace has had one name change and just three owners over its 35 years of trading history. Today it stocks the largest and most comprehensive glass products showroom in the district.

fibreglass or paw-proof gauze. They also make Panther Protection security doors, attractive decorative screen doors and privacy screen doors. Glassplace provides a free measure and quote service for all products.

Owner Col Lamrock regularly upgrades the showroom to present the latest designs. He’s been running the business for the past 11 years with his four dedicated staff members.

Mirrors are also made to order with framed, square-edged or bevelled edges. Wardrobe doors with mirror, translucent glass or routed and painted panels are also popular.

Glassplace is a member of the Australian Window Association, which guarantees its performance through annual auditing and compliance with AWA objectives. Col is also an active member of the Parkes Chamber of Commerce.

For the business community, Glassplace builds and installs shopfronts and provides a 24-hour repair and maintenance service.

Glassplace manufactures custom-built aluminium and timber windows in sliding, double-hung, awning and casement configuration. It can supply aluminium and timber doors in sliding, French, stacker, bi-fold or corner-entry designs. Screen doors are a specialty. The business can supply insect screen doors with standard

In recent years, Glassplace has supplied products to surrounding regional centres as far away as Moree, Narrabri, Cooma, Lithgow and Cobar. Away from work, Col is an avid vegetable gardener who likes to escape down the Lachlan River for a spot of camping and kayaking. Left: Col Lamrock, pictured right, with staff members Hayden Brunt and David Hudson in the factory workshop.

Fabulous FLOORS STEVE HAYWARD has been bringing old floorboards back to life throughout the Parkes district for the past 12 years. “When I go into somebody’s house it’s like a big blank canvas,” he says. After the carpet or vinyl is gone, staples removed, nailheads knocked down and reputtied and any large cracks filled in or repaired, it’s time to get serious with Steve’s German-made Lagler floor sanding machines, which are dust free and guaranteed to give your floors a dazzling, fresh look. A typical job can last anything from a day to a week depending on the size of the floor. Fortunately, Steve loves a challenge and enjoys working with not just older buildings but with new houses and commercial buildings that require a sanding and modern finish. His attention to detail is second to none. Steve traditionally uses a solvent-based polyurethane with gloss or satin finishes. Another type of finish is tung oil, which provides a flat, softer finish. 70 CWL PARKES

Then there are the non-toxic, water-based polyurethane finishes, with a quicker drying time and better suited for commercial premises and newer timbers. This winter, Steve will rejoin his wife Fiona, who has relocated to Mudgee after purchasing the OPSM franchise. But don’t panic, Steve will be making regular trips back to Parkes and other local areas that he has been servicing for years. Steve loves travelling and meeting new clients in different towns. His ute is his office and among his clients is the Hog’s Breath Cafe.

In recent years he has travelled to Brisbane, Melbourne, Parramatta and Canberra sanding the floors of new and old branches. Steve has also worked on school halls, churches, restaurants and hairdressers. Many need work to be done outside normal hours, often requiring a big effort during the night. Now that the business is expanding from Parkes to Mudgee, Steve Hayward expects to be run off his feet. It’s a physically demanding job and Steve is assembling a fit and reliable team to assist in his expansion.

The Envy Pivot Shower leaves little to be desired. available now from Glassplace

4 Clarke St, Parkes NSW 2870 Ph: (02) 6862 2346 Fax: (02) 6863 4275 Email: sales@glassplace.com.au

www.glassplace.com.au

PAUL CUSACK LICENSED BUILDER AND CABINET MAKER

• Kitchens • Fine Furniture and Joinery • Kitchen Accessories • Furniture Made to Order • Specialty Timbers • Solid Timber Entrance and Internal Doors

0417 127 181

PO Box 117, Parkes 2870 • Phone/Fax: (02) 6862 1144 www.paulcusack.com.au

Owner Operator Dustless Equipment Commercial & Domestic Non-Toxic Water Based Finishes Staining of Floors Polyurethane Tung Oil Finishes Will Travel Anywhere

0438 229 261

steves.sanding@yahoo.com.au PARKES CWL 71

HARDWARE MADE EASY GREG AND FRAN HAY, WHO RUN THE PARKES MITRE10 STORE AND HAY’S GIFT & GARDENWARE, HAVE A PROUD FAMILY HISTORY IN THE DISTRICT DATING BACK ALMOST A CENTURY.

IT ALL STARTED with a sawmill in Eugowra, which Jim Hay (Greg’s grandfather) bought into in 1920, the same year Greg’s father Jack was born. Young Jack worked at the mill with his father from the age of 14 until his father died in 1951. With Jack at the helm, the mill was converted from steam power to electricity. In 1970 Jack started a timber roof truss business on site with business partner Jim Cheney. It was the first business of its type this side of the Blue Mountains. Ten years later Jim set up his truss business in Millthorpe, allowing room for Greg’s older brother Ted to assume control of the plant. In 1984 Greg joined Ted, who left six years later to run a pub. Old Jack finally retired from the sawmill in 1993 due to poor health, leaving it to Greg’s older brother Ron. Two years later the frame and truss plant was relocated to Parkes and the family started a small building supply. 72 CWL PARKES

In 2001 they became a “True Value” hardware store and then upgraded to a small format of Mitre 10 in 2003. Around 2008 Bob Carr’s Labor government offered an exit package for many of the cypress sawmills in NSW, which Ron took and the sawmill closed down after 110 years of operation, leaving only three cypress pine mills left in the state. Greg and wife Fran started putting gift lines in their Mitre 10 shop but didn’t really have the space to do it justice. In 2011 they opened their giftware shop in Clarinda Street – Hay’s Gift and Gardenware – managed by their daughter Ann-Maree (who also manages the hardware shop and is engaged to their trade manager Troy Lydford,) and Lisa Watson. Last year the family branched out into clothing and now stock Thomas Cook, Wrangler and Ariat boots and Emu ugg-boots.

After 30 years in the business, Fran is stepping back, allowing her family to assume greater roles in the business. Middle daughter Laura is the Mitre 10 administration manager, while eldest daughter Melissa works for the RMS in Dubbo. It is a busy store with about 10 permanent staff and three casuals. “We are very proud to have four generations of the Hay family involved in the business,” Greg says. “The hours are long but the satisfaction involved with running your own business and working alongside family is worth it.” From top: Ann-Maree, Fran and Greg Hay and Laura Cranney at the hardware store; Ben Perry, Troy Lydford and Greg Hay in the truss factory; Fran and Ann-Maree Hay and Lisa Watson love working at Hay’s Gift & Gardenware.

131 - 141 Clarinda Street, Parkes P: 6862 4002 E: haysgifts@bigpond.com

PARKES

74 CWL PARKES

Being very much a team player, he became secretary of the Parkes Junior Association in 1977 and has been ever since (38 years). He was also secretary of the Lachlan Junior Cricket Council from 1986-2000 and when they merged with the Seniors, continued the role. There are many other cricket associations too numerous to mention but he is very proud of his role in convening and managing Primary School Cricket over Western NSW from 1982-2009. Western won the NSW championship in 2005, a great effort by a very talented bunch of boys. Being a bachelor allows Greg to follow his passion of cricket without restraint. He is a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground and also the Adelaide Oval – two of his favourite haunts on the planet. Greg’s a keen traveller and has been on seven Ashes tours to England, making some wonderful friendships while enjoying first-class cricket. In July he will once again pack his bags and head for the hallowed turf of Lord’s, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge cricket grounds where he will take his spectator’s seat among the hordes of Australian supporters.

RUNS ON THE BOARD GREG MORRISSEY has a head for statistics and general cricket information and can rattle off figures with consummate ease. Once, during an English Test those tuning in to ABC radio were asked a few trivia questions that Greg knew instantly. He won the prize but was surprised to later learn that a mate, who was also listening in bed, elbowed his sleeping wife with surprise and exclaimed “I know that bloke”. The poor wife ended up with a broken rib! It’s one of many colourful stories told by the self-acknowledged “cricket tragic”, who fell in love with the game in the summer of 1960-61 during the tied Test between Australia and the highly fancied West Indies. That was more than 50 years ago and his passion for the game has never dwindled. This cricketing guru grew up in Orange where his family ran the Gladstone Hotel. He concedes he was never a star player but was inspired by the efforts of certain school mates. “In my school years I was privileged to play with some great players, including Robert Thomas, who topped the batting and bowling averages in the 1969 Australian Schoolboys team; Steve Bernard, who just missed out on the Ashes tour to England in 1972 (and later had a long and distinguished career as the Australian Cricket team manager) and test umpire Darrell Hair. A great mentor in those days was Jack Moroney, assistant principal at Orange Public School and former opening Australian batsman. Another inspiration was Geoff Simpson, the Orange High School cricket and rugby league coach, who helped guide his school to the University Shield premiership, a state-wide knockout competition, in 1967 and 1968. He thoroughly enjoyed his teaching stints at Wilcannia and Nyngan. “They were wonderful years and I remember the mid 1970s when Nyngan regularly beat Dubbo – an inconceivable thought today.” Greg moved to Parkes in 1975 and since then has been involved in cricket at every level. “When I first came here, the late and great Duncan Macdonald was a towering influence on junior and senior cricket in the town. He was a wonderful player, coach and mentor and helped foster my love of cricket.”

He is particularly excited about meeting up with the world’s top cricket historian and renowned writer, David Frith, with whom he is a regular correspondent (remember this is the fellow who has 119 personal letters from cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman!). So who are his favourite players? “Allan Border, Adam Gilchrist, Mark and Stephen Waugh and Justin Langer are probably right at the top of my list of recent players,” he says. “It’s been personally rewarding watching the progress of young Nathan Lyon, from Young, who took 12 wickets against India at Adelaide in 2014. I have watched him develop as a spin bowler since he was a 12-year-old kid. He is still the same humble character he was when I first met him.” Cricket, he admits, is a game where you get to experience the highs and lows. “It’s very character building and typically has a lot of drama, humour and pathos – all the ingredients that get you really hooked in.” Greg admits he is a “traditionalist” who enjoys Test matches more than the one-day competitions. “I must admit I was entertained with the T-20 Big Bash series this summer.” Although he hung up the bat at age 25 he’s continued ever since in administration, coaching and umpiring. When CWL caught up with him on a hot summer’s day, he’d been umpiring a game for the Parkes Under-12s versus Young. Only a few days before he’d spent four days out in the sun umpiring some of the best juniors in the state at the NSW Combined High Schools Carnival in Bathurst. He is on his feet all day but says you get used to it, especially when he witnesses real talent. “You can recognise talent from a mile. I have witnessed a lot of young cricketers from the bush go on to achieve greatness. You can normally assess that sort of talent from an early age and I’ve had the joy of seeing young players like Michael Slater, Gilchrist and Lyon go on to play the world stage.” Cricket is clearly his number one sport but he’s also been involved in the Western School Sports Association, of which he is a life member. One of his proudest achievements was being presented with the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, signed by John Howard, for contributions to cricket and school sport. Greg is convinced that they have got a good thing going in this country town known for its sporting prowess. The Parkes Cricket Association recently won the Western Zone Premier League competition for 2014-15 – a remarkable effort considering a town with a population of less than 10,000 was able to knock off the best teams from Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst. “A vast majority of these players rose up from the junior ranks, which demonstrates that our grass-roots programs are bearing fruit.” For a bloke who was once a bookmaker’s clerk on bush racetracks, you could put pretty good odds on Greg Morrissey never giving up on the game that hit him for six! CWL PARKES CWL 75

MYTH BUSTER STEFANIE LOADER is living proof that it’s not just men who can climb the resources ladder. Listed in the top 100 most influential women in Australia for 2013 (for her contribution to the mining industry), Stefanie is the new Chair of the NSW Minerals Council, Managing Director of CMOC’s Northparkes Mines, a seasoned world traveller, role model, wife, daughter, mother and farmer. It’s obvious before even meeting this pint-sized dynamo that she has packed more than most into her 43 years. With slight trepidation I take the last available car spot and make my way to the demountable office at the mine’s entrance where I am breath-tested and signed in. A few minutes later I am met by none other than the boss herself with an engaging smile and firm handshake. At first glance (and dressed in her working gear) she could have easily passed as one of the 320 staff directly under her command. Under that friendly exterior lies a seasoned geologist who has clocked up nearly two decades of experience in the mining industry, some of that time spent in exploration with global mining giant Rio Tinto in some of the most lucrative mining spots on the planet. Among the places she has gone “rock-hunting” are Laos, Chile, Peru, northern Canada, London, New Delhi and now Parkes in Central West NSW. In her office Stef, as she prefers to be called, is quick to shatter a few mining myths. “There’s a big myth that mining is all about hard work, but really it’s not,” she says. “It’s high tech work where people use more brains than brawn.” At any one time there will be more than 200 employees on day shift and about 100 on night duty, keeping the mine operating 24 hours a day. They are not just miners but ecologists, nurses, education specialists, electricians, mechanical fitters and engineers. Stef not only knows most of them by name but even knows a little bit about their backgrounds.

PARKES These days Northparkes Mines produces more than 80 per cent of its tonnage autonomously with operators controlling the loaders from the surface. “We are primarily after copper but also produce gold,” says Stef, who has the ability to break down the complex process in simple, uncomplicated terms. “We produce a concentrate of both copper and gold. We take the minerals and separate those from the rocks – from a distance the concentrate looks like black powder but up close it has a subtle purple sheen to it. “The big smelting centres of the world are in Japan and China and we mainly sell to Japan, where the copper and gold is smeltered down from that concentration. We deliver about 160,000 tonnes annually and from that the smelters will generate about 50,000 ounces of gold and about 55,000 tonnes of copper.” In this business it helps to have above-average computer skills and be competent at maths – two important attributes for virtually every job. Stef says school students with a hankering for mining should study maths, geology, chemistry and science at school. It was an earth science program during a year in Germany (before high school) that first sparked Stef’s curiosity in rocks – an interest that developed as a teenager at the National Science Summer School in Canberra. By the time she left school, however, there was still the possibility of a career in medicine. “I couldn’t imagine myself in that role (as a doctor) today. I’d love to help people but would hate being presented with problems over which I have no control,” she says, choosing her words carefully. “I like the idea of having some degree of influence over what I’m doing and mining and geology gives me that opportunity.” Stef is clearly in the right place at this stage of her life. She has been at Northparkes Mines for almost three years and is at the top of her game. With two children (Philip, 8, and Sofia, 5) to her geologist husband Brendan (whom she “rediscovered” during her posting to Laos), she is enjoying settling down in the Parkes district with her young family after 17 years of living abroad.

Mining is big business, directly injecting about $70 million into the Parkes economy and employing about 12,000 people in the Central West district. “It’s a vital part of the Parkes economy. We produce more economic activity per employee than any other business – you have the Brisbane to Melbourne road link, Sydney to Perth rail link then farming, retail and services.” Many businesses have grown out of Parkes that service the mining industry, like GWS (employment) and Parkes Heavy Mechanical Repairs, a great participator in the community and a real success story, servicing mines at Orange, West Wyalong and further afield. “I love my job and enjoy interacting with people. It’s really about understanding what people are doing. I may not be able to repair a pump but I understand the skills required to fix it,” Stef says. On my visit there are a further 300 contractors on site (which helps explain the overloaded car park). The diverse workforce come from all over the world. At last count there were representatives from 18 countries. About one in five workers are women. “If the girls are up to it, they can do anything,” Stef says. “We have women electricians and even have a woman driving underground loaders, although it must be said most machines are operated by remote from the surface. The computer does 80 to 90 per cent of the work. The only thing we can’t teach a machine to do is to pick up the rock and balance the load, ready to ‘tram’ or travel.” The computer never grinds gears or puts workers at risk of injury – a perfect example of blending leading edge technology (the mine has a reputation as the most fully automated underground mine in the world) with an absolute commitment to a zero harm culture.

Although she hails from WA, her favourite state is now NSW, and more specifically, the Central West. Stef and Brendan have bought a farm in the district and spend weekends learning about cattle, something she admits is a slow but invigorating process. It’s a little known fact but working alongside the mines is an 8000ha dry-land farming operation that has been going 17 years. “The two enterprises can and do co-exist,” Stef says. “Of course we’re comfortable running both operations next to each other. “Relatively speaking, with the mining operations we leave only a very small foot print. To put it all into proportion, less than 10 per cent of one per cent of NSW is actually mined – a tiny fraction compared to agriculture.” Stef agrees an important part of her job involves working with the local community. “Every worker can take up two days volunteer service leave – it’s all about our teams getting together on site and lining up community projects that fit in with our values. It’s a team exercise and works both ways for us at the mine and our local community.” The mine’s association with the Parkes Elvis Festival also goes back many years. “We sponsor several events and have our people involved on many levels. Our leadership team meet the Elvis Express at the train station and greet all the arrivals with a lay and we also sponsor the parade.” Every two years there is an Open Day at Northparkes Mines that attracts about 3000 visitors to see for themselves part of the billion dollars invested in infrastructure and equipment. Stef Loader has a passion for the industry that is infectious. “Everything I do, I put my heart, soul and energy into it,” she says. That’s a good thing as the economic viability of the mine is projected to extend at least to the year 2032. CWL Top: Two weeks of production has produced this massive pile of 260,000 tonnes from straight out of the ground 600 metres below. Only one per cent will be utilised. PARKES CWL 77

PARKES

THE JOY OF SOY KRISTY BERRY started her business Colouby Creations nearly five years ago after moving back to Parkes following a number of years in Bathurst. After her second child, she figured it would be nice to be surrounded by family, so Kristy, husband Colin and their two children made the move to Parkes. Before opening the shop Kristy was selling her natural soy candles at markets from Canberra to Bathurst and Millthorpe and saw potential for a permanent store in Parkes with products that were not available in the town. The shop is probably one of the most colourful and quirky in town, with giftware, partyware, homewares, cake decorating supplies and her own candles made from 100 per cent natural soy wax. Kristy sources her supplies from all over the world and admits that the Festival is one of her favourite and busiest times of the year. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” she laughs. She loves the nostalgic era and enjoys dressing up and changing the store to match the Festival theme. “I’m lucky to have wonderful support from family and friends who help me out at the store,” Kristy says. “Our children are competitive scooter riders, which take us all over the country, and without this amazing support it wouldn’t be possible to run the place.” You can Like Colouby Creations on Facebook and follow on Instagram. Left: Kristy Berry and her mother Deanna Kennedy.

A pleasure doing business THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT is alive and well in the Parkes business community with the Chamber of Commerce recently being recognised for outside the box thinking on the SparkeLs Christmas “Shop Local” Campaign. The Chamber worked with local stakeholders on creating the campaign. More than 60 local businesses participated and 10,000 catalogues were printed that encouraged shoppers to “find Parkes among the Sparkles” with shops decorated and lit up to celebrate the festive season. 78 CWL PARKES

Other complementary marketing and communications also promoted Parkes as the ideal shopping destination.

networking and professional development opportunities including training, and we also lobby all levels of government.

President of the Chamber Geoff Rice says the goal of the Chamber, which has one of the largest memberships in NSW, is to make life easier for members and to attract and support new businesses in Parkes. “We understand our members are busy running their businesses so we provide marketing support to encourage local shopping,

“We love welcoming new members and businesses into the Parkes family and celebrating the achievements of our local people. The Local Business Awards, the Henrys, allow us to do that and come together for a great night out. Call Geoff for more information on the business awards and to discuss which membership option is best for your business or visit the website.

Parkes Chamber of Commerce aims to support the business community through networking, marketing, professional development and advocacy - come and join the team!

Giftware • Homewares • Party supplies • Cake decorating Quirky and vintage inspired products Childrens gifts & decor Locally made natural candles

For more information please contact Geoff Rice Chamber President 0429 629 966

Shop 2/256 Clarinda, Parkes

www.parkeschamber.com.au

Ph: 6863 4136

Parkes Shire Library #ParkesLibrary

DISCOVER. LEARN. CONNECT. KidsReadFun

ParkesLibrary

Bogan Street, Parkes NSW

(02) 6861 2309

library@parkes.nsw.gov.au www.parkes.nsw.gov.au historyparkes.org PARKES CWL 79

WHEN NURSE Judy Wilson first walked past the old convent, built for the Sisters of Mercy in 1923, she was immediately captivated by the building’s charm. Husband Colin wasn’t so sure and struggled to see past its dilapidated condition. Until a few months prior to their moving here in 1992, the pair had been living the dream on the south coast at Jervis Bay before Colin was transferred to Parkes with a senior management position. The nuns had moved away in the 1970s to another convent further up the road, leaving the place uninhabited for many years. In 1983 it was sold privately to new owners facing a myriad of problems. The next owners rolled up their sleeves and opened up the enclosed upstairs verandahs (which used to accommodate up to 50 young boarders who attended the since demolished school next door). When the Wilsons took over, it took several years to tidy up, with a lot of rising damp and seven rooms without ceilings. Missing railings also had to be replaced. “It was an absolute mess when we got it and it was a fairly daunting task getting it back to its former glory,” says Colin, who has always tried to retain the building’s original features. For many years the old convent served as the family home for Colin and Judy and their three daughters, Kristy, Peta and Leanne. Seven years ago, with the girls all leaving home, they decided to share their special space with guests who now come from all over the world for a night or two of comfort in the “Holy Grail” of B&Bs: The Old Parkes Convent.

Truly blessed

Today the downstairs area boasts a formal lounge room, TV and dining room, kitchen and laundry. The old music room, where the nuns taught piano, is now the Music Room Apartment, where typically a family of four can stay. Up the beautiful timber staircase are six private bedrooms, linen room, library, outdoor dining and TV lounge. Only one upstairs bedroom is utilised for guests. It’s called the Top of the Chapel and is easily the biggest room in the convent. The bottom section of the chapel is now an art studio run by daughter Leanne, a trained art teacher. At the Little Art Company, Leanne teaches young children art each day after school. During school holidays she conducts morning and afternoon workshops as well as evening adult classes. Two years ago a special reunion took place when 27 nuns were invited to inspect their old haunt. “We got to learn a lot about the place and they sang a beautiful song out the front,” says Judy, who is now training other nurses in various towns throughout the Central West while Colin mans the B&B in between his restoration work.

From top: Judy and Colin Wilson with Tilly, “The Director of First Impressions”, in the “Top of the Chapel” guest room; Leanne Wilson teaches young art students, dubbed “The Expressionists” at the Little Art Company. 80 CWL PARKES

At the end of the day the Wilsons have much to celebrate. They helped save an iconic building from the wrecker’s ball, now get to share it with others from all over the world and perhaps, most importantly, have reached a personal milestone with their 40th wedding anniversary.

A gift from God SISTER FLORENCE KINSELA was raised on a small farm just out of Parkes and was thrilled to make a return visit to the old Sisters of Mercy convent where she first began work as an 11-year-old. In 1934 the Mother Superior had sent a request to her parents informing them they needed assistance in the dining room, which at that time accommodated 23 boarders. The next six years of her life were spent helping out in the kitchen, laundry and refectory. She also chopped wood, did the banking and ran errands for the sisters. A young Florence yearned to learn the piano and typing but was too shy to ask, instead taking dressmaking lessons each Saturday. Although she never entered high school she was still allowed home, like the other boarders, on one Sunday each month. “My parents picked me up after mass in a horse and sulky,” she says. In 1941 she entered the

noviciate in Broken Hill just a few months after the family homestead burnt to the ground. In 1946 Sister Florence took her final vows. She has been a sister for an amazing 70 years, celebrating four jubilees along the way. Sister Florence returned to Mercy House in 2010 (nearly 50 years since she last lived in Parkes) and still cares for others both here and in the wider community. “A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I was last here (in the old convent kitchen),” she laughs. At 92, she is still in remarkable health. “I don’t call it retirement, I call it my third ministry,” she says. “I still love visiting and being with sick and aged people.” From top left: Sister Florence with Judy and Colin Wilson; the day before Sister Florence entered the convent in early 1941; as a young lady before taking her final vows in 1946.

Owners are looking for expressions of interest to buy The Old Parkes Convent

the

Old Parkes Convent BED AND BREAKFAST

Offering two self contained apartments 33 Currajong St Parkes NSW 2870

“Spacious seclusion in the centre of town.”

Contact

02 6862 5385 0428 625 385 www.parkesconvent.com.au

PARKES CWL 81

field of DREAMS PARKES GRANDMOTHER, SCHOOLTEACHER AND AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY REPRESENTATIVE MAUREEN MASSEY IS A SHINING INSPIRATION TO THE TOWN AND EVERY YOUNG SPORTSPERSON WITH A DREAM. HERS IS A STORY OF HOPE, COURAGE AND FAITH, WITH A FEW TEARS ALONG THE WAY. MAUREEN MASSEY well remembers playing hockey on the grass fields of Peak Hill Public School more than 50 years ago. She also excelled in softball, athletics, squash, tennis, netball and waterskiing (which she still enjoys) but it was hockey that would create a lasting and profound impact on her life.

By this stage she was into hockey coaching, from local and rep teams to various school teams, while working in administration. This all came to a shuddering end in 1989 when Maudie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy on her 38th birthday, a traumatic experience for herself and young family.

“My wife of 43 years is far better at all sports than me,” admits proud husband Peter from their comfortable home. “About the only thing she can’t do is lay bricks”, he laughs (he’s been a brickie for 50 years and has always been her rock).

“I thought it would signal the end of my hockey career but much to the surprise of all the nurses and my GP, I was back on the field within three weeks,” she says. The first time she hit the ball, the tears streamed down her face. The healing process had begun but it would be many years before Maudie recovered emotionally.

In 1969 Maureen, or Maudie, as she is affectionately known, was judged Senior Sportsgirl of the Year at Parkes High. Her sporting prowess was put on hold as she attended teachers college in Wollongong and later became mother to Kylie, Sharon and Leanne. 82 CWL PARKES

It was her love of family and hockey that usually kept her going. The Massey girls all played the game and represented Parkes at

various levels over the years. In 1993 all four played together in a local match – an extremely rare event in any sport let alone a physical game like hockey. These days she ought to be on the motivational speaking circuit but instead is a full-time teacher at Parkes East Public School, teaching young children with learning difficulties. “It gives me a buzz when the lights turn on and they finally are able to master the art of reading,” she says. Through the years she represented Parkes at the Veterans State Championships and in 1986 had her cheekbone broken in the semi-finals. “I was an aggressive forward but wasn’t coming off the field just because my mouth was smashed to bits. I gave what was left of my dentures to Peter, took a few Panadols and soldiered on.”

PARKES

THE COMEBACK Maudie retired from hockey in 2001, due to lower back problems, but felt a major part of her life was missing. In 2008 two daughters asked if she could perhaps fill in as a goalkeeper in their local B-grade team. Despite playing every other position over 45 years, Maudie had never put the pads on before. “I was reluctant to join them but the fact it was family proved the big drawcard. I thought I’d make a complete fool of myself but, much to my surprise, my hand-to-eye co-ordination was still there. I surprised a hell of a lot of people including myself.”

for the entire flight and refused to look out the window. If she thought that was bad, imagine how she felt when called to play in The Netherlands for the Grand Masters!

It didn’t take long to swing back into the game and she felt very comfortable in her new position.

Back home, she still plays A-grade for her local club often against women up to 45 years her junior. “At the end of the match, when I remove my helmet, some of these girls are staggered to realise they have been playing hard against a feeble old grandmother!”

In 2010 Maureen drove to Newcastle to trial for the NSW Over 55s State Masters team. “I felt most intimidated and nearly turned around. Much to my delight, I was selected in that team to play in the Australian Masters in Canberra. When my name was called I looked up to the heavens and thought of my dad, who had died 40 years earlier and never encouraged me to follow my dreams.” It was another emotional time, with all her childhood memories flooding back. “Being the youngest in the family with five older brothers I was expected to work and not follow trivial pursuits like sport. Instead I did the 6am milk run with Dad. They were tough days and we had no choice, it was just what we did.”

This obviously involved ridiculous amounts of flying time. Maudie would have to overcome her biggest fear since her brush with cancer. Once there she couldn’t believe she was playing in a very overwhelming Rotterdam environment against 21 countries. The Aussies beat the English 3-0 in the final and Maudie was now a world champion. This time she sobbed for a good hour!

In 2014 the Rovers (her local team) won the competition and Maudie took home Best and Fairest within the club from the umpires’ weekly tallies. Training still plays a big part in her success, especially running laps around the oval. “I would not have been able to achieve what I have over the past couple of years (with the Australian selections) without the support of Taylor Dolbel, an 18-year-old who has given up countless hours to coach me one-on-one. Not many young men would be prepared to coach a woman of my vintage,” she says.

Within a few months, Maureen almost withdrew from the team after Peter was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Friends and family rallied together and Maudie was encouraged to keep playing while hubby was on the mend.

Hockey has given Maudie many opportunities that she and her family will cherish forever. Among her many highlights was being awarded Parkes Senior Sportsperson of the Year and running with the Olympic torch in 2000 in the Cowra section of the run.

The following year the national championships were in Perth and due to her phobia of flying, Maudie and Peter hooked up the caravan and drove across the mighty Nullarbor while the rest of the team opted to enjoy the sights from 30,000 feet!

There are a few things this determined and highly spirited athlete tells her daughters and 12 grandchildren: “Love life and keep on keeping on despite whatever setbacks are thrown your way. Never give up and remember age is just a number.”

In 2012 she was playing for NSW again, this time in Melbourne. After the championships her team was enjoying dinner when Maudie was selected as goalkeeper in the Australian Over 55s team (despite being 62). Her name was the first one announced and the tears flowed like the Hudson River.

It’s been an incredible effort for a country girl to be recognised as one of the best players in the country for her age. Maureen “Maudie” Massey still can’t believe the way it all turned out. “I don’t know how long this hockey train will continue but I’m going to ride it for as long as I can.” CWL

Next she had to play in the Trans Tasman Challenge in Auckland, which meant flying over water. There was no way she could caravan across the Tasman. She grasped Peter’s hand

Maureen derives much pleasure watching several of her grandchildren play the sport she has been so passionate about all her life. PARKES CWL 83

A place to call home A STRONG SENSE of community spirit was one of the main things Darian and Suzanne Hill looked for when they made their recent tree change from the Blue Mountains to Parkes. Having experienced the devastating Blue Mountains bushfires first-hand, they knew the importance of neighbours and perfect strangers pulling together in times of need. Darian, a mechanic, has always wanted to live in the country but finding a workplace that catered to Suzanne’s career as a radiographer proved more challenging. “When I first spoke of Darian’s desire to head to the country, many of my colleagues suggested it would be professional suicide for my career. As it turned out, nothing could be further from the truth,” Suzanne says from the front verandah of “Kangas Park”, their tranquil 10-acre block barely 10 minutes from town. Suzanne had previously worked in one of the busiest practices in Sydney while Darian was a mobile field specialist, also working throughout the metropolitan area. “We sometimes have to pinch ourselves,” she continues. “We’ve come from a typical suburban home with neighbours a stone’s throw away to a rural retreat with views to the distant Cookamidgera hills. It offers us a great sense of freedom while living in a tight community similar to the one we came from.” This focused young career woman clearly loves her work and brings from Sydney a wealth of experience to the recently refurbished Parkes Diagnostic Imaging, which apart from CT scanning offers X-ray, OPG and ultrasound imaging services.

“I am currently working with the company to increase our services to Parkes, including upgrading our CT scanner to provide CT Cardiac Angiograms, a specific scan to look at the vessels of the heart,” she says. “We are also working towards employing a radiologist, a specialist doctor, to work at the Parkes site. The radiologist would then be able to perform small procedures patients would normally have to travel to larger regional centres for.” For Darian, finding work was much easier. He had met the owner of Forbes Machinery Centre years earlier and was given a business card that he’d diligently stuck to his fridge for nearly a decade! When they were thinking of moving to Parkes he figured a visit might well be in order and much to his surprise was offered a farm machinery job virtually on the spot! Darian and Suzanne are custodians of a 670-acre property near Cowra that once belonged to his great grandfather and has been in the family for generations. They are currently running Angus steers and regularly travel back for working bees. It is all turning out well and the contented pair are relishing their new life in the country. Suzanne loves Parkes’s main street and the educational opportunities for her two children, Chloe, 13, and Caleb, 11, who can’t get enough of their new expansive backyard. After a year in Parkes, they are well settled in their new digs and certainly not missing the daily grind of Sydney traffic. “In the end we feel that we didn’t choose Parkes, it chose us,” Darian says.

“Being a radiographer has always been a passion of mine and so working with a company that is always looking to improve the services to rural towns is really important to me.” Suzanne is referring to Alpenglow, a specialist medical imaging group that provides high-quality service to many areas of regional Australia including Parkes, Young, Inverell, Muswellbrook and Cowra. 84 CWL PARKES

Above: Suzanne and Darian Hill with their children Caleb and Chloe; as a radiographer, Suzanne brings a wealth of experience to Parkes Diagnostic Imaging.

PARKES

A HOUSEHOLD NAME

THE ICONIC Hunter Real Estate has been around a very long time. The business was established in 1932 by Gordon Hunter before a long run with sons Jim and Terry. Terry’s son, Matthew, and wife Natalie assumed control in late 2012, making it 83 years under the one family banner and one of the longest continually run family businesses in town (the oldest is surely J.T. Cock and Sons, the town undertakers). Matthew joined the business nine years ago, and it now has nine full-time and two part-time staff members. The busy team not only sells real estate but also conducts charity auctions, clearing sales and rentals – with a whopping 450 clients on the residential payroll and a further 280 commercial clients.

“One of the longest continually run family businesses in town.”

“This means we are always busy servicing our landlords and tenants,” says Matthew, who apart from three years in Canberra studying sports development and coaching, has spent all his years in Parkes. He is an avid rugby union fan and plays with the Parkes Boars whenever time permits. Matthew admits he gleaned a “ton of local knowledge” from his father and his Uncle Jim, who, in family folklore, “got sacked” from school

at 14 and went on to run the business for 60 years. When he joined the firm in about 1952, life was a lot simpler. “I’d pedal my bike around town collecting 30 bob here and a couple of quid there from various tenants,” he recalls. At the end of the week he’d pocket three pound, seventeen and sixpence (about $6.75). “In those days, selling a house was pretty straightforward. There were no building or pest reports, zoning certificates, drainage diagrams or cooling-off periods. Once both parties signed their sale contracts, that was it, done and dusted,” he says. “Dad and I would often seal a farm deal over a handshake at the Clubhouse Hotel, which is now gone. It could have been any pub really, at Trundle, Bogan Gate, any of those places out there. We rarely had any problems.” Matthew’s father, Terry, an agronomist, joined in the early 1970s and retired only two years ago. These days he enjoys riding pushbikes, especially to the Royal on a Friday night. Matthew Hunter, second from left, with his father Terry Hunter, Aunty Jan and Uncle Jim Hunter.

the unity g n rs re vi omm yea S s C 80 rke er Pa or ov f

Hunter Real Estate is an independent family owned business which has been operating in Parkes for over 80 years. We pride ourselves in providing excellent service for our clients, specialising in: • • • •

201 Clarinda Street Parkes NSW 2870

Phone: (02) 6862 5832 Fax: (02) 6862 4895

Property Management Sales Commercial Lease/Sales Storage Facilities

Email: mail@hunterandco.com.au Web: www.hunterandco.com.au PARKES CWL 85

PARKES

WE ARE FAMILY YOU CAN FEEL the love as soon as you step into Colin and Janice Skillin’s modest Bogan Gate home. While it may not be the flashest house in the small village, it is here this down-to-earth couple change young children’s lives for the better. Although happily married for 44 years and with five kids and 14 grandkids on the ground, this pair can’t get enough of foster caring. For the past 20 years they have helped raise a staggering 120 children in desperate need of love, guidance and a happy home. It all started rather innocently when they decided to take in some relatives in need and they never stopped. “A lot of children need short-term or emergency foster care,” Janice explains. Some stay for a few nights, some stay for months while others have simply become part of their extended family. Colin was a former builder’s labourer and has endured his own share of bad luck. Only a few months after marrying his sweetheart in 1971, the scaffolding on a roof job came down, damaging his vertebrae. Two days later, Janice discovered she was pregnant. It was a testing time but they soldiered on, always finding ways to make the impossible possible. Their love of family and firm belief that all children should be entitled to a happy upbringing has seen these unsung heroes dedicate their lives to helping those in need of some TLC. “Every child on this planet deserves a loving, caring mum,” Janice says. “Life is not perfect and not every mother is able to

provide that level of care, sometimes through circumstances beyond their control,” she adds with a knowing look. “I have always loved raising children and feel I was put on this world to care for others less fortunate than me.” Whenever the phone rings, Janice never knows what to expect. “How many?” is typically the first question asked. She will take on kids with emotional issues but cannot assist children with special medical needs. “Quite often the kids just need a friend to talk to that they feel safe with and can trust. Becoming a foster carer gives us the opportunity to make a real difference in a child’s life.” The house is always full and resembles a small cafe at meal times. The Skillins have two freezers chock-a-block for emergencies and then there are a couple of sheep out the back in case all else fails! Although Colin is popular with the kids, he sometimes needs a break. He doesn’t go far, however, as there are dozens of rusty old cars out the back he dreams of doing up. “At the end of the day, we feel very rewarded by seeing the children grow into happy, balanced adults,” he says. “We feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to help keep families together and steer them through difficult times.” It really is a labour of love. In the high-paced world we live in today, it is indeed refreshing to know there are still couples like Colin and Janice Skillin, who have learnt, first hand, the real joy of giving. CWL

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parkesdiagnosticimaging PARKES CWL 87

Shooting Star SILVER 2012

Australian Professional Photography Awards

GOLD 2013

Australian Professional Photography Awards

SILVER 2010

Australian Professional Photography Awards

PARKES

ACCLAIMED PORTRAIT and wedding photographer Maree Grant is passionate about life in Australia’s great outback and the characters living there. They have played a big role in the photography career of this former Brewarrina country girl. “I grew up with horses, with thoroughbred racing a passion of my parents before I became involved with rodeo. I have photographed many an action shot and the characters involved in this part of my life,” she says.

“I love to capture the lines in their faces and hands, which tell their life’s struggle.”

After school Maree worked in Brewarrina in the retail trade and for Telecom but photography was always foremost in her mind. Spectacular sunsets were magnificent to photograph and the locals soon engaged her for weddings and family gatherings as her talent was recognised. “I even did a bit of forensic work for the boys in blue,” she says. In 1984 Maree transferred to Sydney but soon had the calling to return to the country and made her spot in Parkes back in 1987. She became a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP) and started winning some state then national awards for her photography. Before long she became a Master Photographer with the Institute following a succession of awards and acclaim by the very best professional photographers in Australia. Her love of older folk in their natural environments became her passion. “I love to capture the lines in their faces and hands, which tell their life’s struggle.” She says to photograph them in their own environment is magic. She has also enjoyed photographing people in Italy, Spain, Morocco and more recently Vietnam. CWL Above: Maree with an example of her day-to-day studio shoot work. PARKES CWL 89

A CLASS ACT

PARKES

THERE IS SOMETHING REFRESHING ABOUT EATING OUTSIDE. IT SEEMS TO AWAKEN THE SENSES AND MAKES THE DINING EXPERIENCE PALPABLE AND ALIVE. OBSERVING FROM MY TABLE IN THE AL FRESCO DINING AREA, I COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK: THIS PLACE REALLY SHINES! PARKES’S LATEST CULINARY LUMINOSITY IS BENT AND I AM A HUGE FAN. THE AL FRESCO dining area says “city chic”. Interesting, yet non-intrusive, avant-garde privacy screens deliver comfort without taking anything away from the outdoor experience. Of course, none of this is relevant if the food isn’t gorgeous. Having fallen victim to some mighty cool packaging in the past, I am pleased to announce that Bent’s food is every bit as good as its styling suggests. The new kid on the block has an abundance of class. With an inspiring menu, owners Ryan Cunningham and Kyle Rayner have an assertive take on modern cuisine. These guys know their food. I appreciate when a restaurant doesn’t try too hard to reinvent the wheel. If you’re a frequent restaurant diner, you will know exactly what I mean. I am over anything deconstructed. Serve me honesty on a plate, please! That is why an entree of spiced lamb meatballs with haloumi chips, served with tzatziki and a further sweet chili-lime dipping sauce seduced me with ease. Although it was all Greek to me, I understood every last ancient whisper. I can forgive that haloumi is actually Cypriot and not Greek, because it was absolutely nostimo (tasty). Anyway, what’s 1000 kilometres between friends? Battling a vague memory that tzatziki might actually be Turkish in true origin, I tried my friend’s entrée: pumpkin and Parmesan arancini balls with chipotle sauce. Arancini, or “little Orange” in Italian, is one of my favourite starters. Golden fried balls of creamy pumpkin risotto, complemented with a little bite from the chipotle sauce, I’m almost certain that this is what “love” tastes like in Italy! Never one to whinge, I do however like to wine. Bent’s beef Napoli beckoned a good red. Neveceral’s 2011 Merlot added an oakiness to the chargrilled, organic porterhouse steak and lifted the fare with some heady caramel notes. Balanced with ricotta and spinach stuffed mushroom, the dish reached crescendo with its spicy Napoli sauce and finally came to rest on a bed of pumpkin and Parmesan risotto. Overall, it was a treat and went well with seasonal greens. Creamy stuffed chicken breast with chorizo, spinach, caramelised balsamic reduction served on a sweet potato rosti was beautiful, passionate and vibrant! Once the breakfast of Swiss farmers, the rosti is popping up in all manner of forms in modern Australian cuisine.

I love the versatility of rostis and this particular version was sweet and spicy. It blended perfectly with the creamy chorizo spinach stuffing. Residing in Orange, I prefer cool climate wines. When greeted with New Zealand’s Trout Valley 2014 Pinot Gris, I could really relate. Pear and rose to the nose and green apple and spice to the palate, the wine was sweet without forsaking flavour. It was a perfect match for the stuffed chicken. Compliments to the staff on this skill, they really know their food and wine! Bent’s banana fritters were served with a hearty dose of childhood memory. Suddenly, I was transported to another time. My childhood friend and I rode Colin the horse down a dirt lane to her grandmother’s neighbouring farm, for a day of old-fashioned cooking. Making banana fritters was problematic for two 10-year-old girls, and a hectic conversation on methods to separate eggs unfolded. Nevertheless, the end result was still delicious and memorable! Isn’t it amazing how good food can do that? Returning to the moment, I was delighted to taste the revival of one of my favourite childhood desserts exacted so superbly! The addition of Frangelico in the chocolate dipping sauce made these banana fritters magic! Oh sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found thee! Dessert concluded with by far the experience of the night: baked salted-caramel cheesecake with pistachio and sour cream. A good biscuit base and cleverly balanced salt and sweet caramel flavours first piqued my attention, but the mastery of this dessert lay squarely in its textural delivery. Creamy but firm; cake-like but so distinctly not. It was this textural genius that raised this dish to a level beyond earthly. The sour cream and pistachios gave an earthy citrus zing and provided relief from the dessert’s intensity. With its trendy little bar, great styling, a menu that reads well in any language and staff that are both attentive and knowledgeable, Parkes’s newest sensation is getting rave reviews. Taking the diner on an international journey, owners Ryan and Kyle know how to tastefully mix culinary influences with all the harmony of the world summit. Bent is yet another great reason to love where we live! CWL Above right: Ryan Cunningham and Kyle Rayner. Words: Catherine Player Images: Shot by Jake

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PARKES

Living the dream WHAT MAKES two clearly intelligent women who’ve worked for years in the health industry suddenly engage in the risky business of growing grapes?

that day was in fact for sale. Despite convincing herself on three occasions it was just a silly off-the-cuff remark she’d made, the deeds were signed a few months later!

Apparently it stems from their nursing careers in palliative care. “Palliative care is care for the dying and it teaches you that life is short,” says Twisted River Wines’ marketing guru Michelle Davies. “If you have a dream you must go forth and do it.”

It was a sombre beginning. The vineyard’s boundary on the west perimeter is Coates Creek and in their first year living full-time at the vineyard (2010) they witnessed the worst flood in 100 years. In a matter of minutes Coates Creek turned into a 150-metre-wide twisting river and hence the vineyard’s unique name! The road to making wine was a challenging one. In their second year of operation they faced further flooding, frost and fungal diseases.

Michelle with partner and fellow vigneron Helen Armstrong bought an existing winery on 250 acres bordering the Goobang National Park in 2007. Twisted River Wines is now a boutique vineyard located on the Henry Parkes Way (midway between Orange and Parkes), producing low-yielding, high-quality grapes. “We instantly fell in love with the place,” Helen says. “When you see the property you’ll realise why – apart from the 14-acre vineyard, it is mainly untouched native bush.” If you ask how it all began, expect to have some time on your hands. Apparently it’s a long story, beginning with an equally long lunch at a leading Orange restaurant. During the sumptuous meal Helen revealed to her fellow diners that she’d always dreamt of running a vineyard. It transpired that the vineyard responsible for the tantalising local wine they were consuming 92 CWL PARKES

But the persistent pair pressed on. “Our vineyard’s cool climate is important to our business because it allows grapes to ripen relatively slowly over a longer period than in warmer, more continental regions,” Helen says. “This slower ripening, in turn, results in fruit that has more intense flavours, more acidity and better balance, which combine to make wines of flavour, intensity and elegance that beautifully match a wide range of foods.” All Twisted River vines are hand-pruned and picked, adhering to a strict benchmark that aims to maintain the wine’s growing reputation for quality and consistency.

“Cool climate wines are all the rage in Australia at the moment,” Michelle says. “We have Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot, Viognier, Chardonnay and Muscat – some of them growing from 23-year-old vines – a great age to be producing fine wines.” A few big wins in 2012 have helped their growing reputation, including a gold medal and the UPM Raflatac and Impresstik Encouragement trophy at the 2012 Orange Wine Show for their 2011 Shiraz. The girls have achieved medals for all their subsequent vintages, including the Champion Wine of Show for their Shiraz Viognier at the 2013 National Cool Climate Wine Show. At last year’s Cabonne Shire Council Awards, known as the Daroo Awards, Twisted River was awarded gongs for Best New Business and Excellence in Tourism. Michelle and Helen put their success down to having a dream, a determination to succeed, fantastic support from friends and the skills of wine makers Chris Derrez and Lucy Maddox. Above: Helen Armstrong and Michelle Davies with some of their great wines.

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF

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SHIRE

www.visitparkes.com.au #visitparkes

Twisted River Cellar Door & Vineyard Award winning wines, great food, stunning surroundings, there is no better place to spend time, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a leisurely tasting, or attendance at one of our events. Twisted River is also the perfect setting to hold your next special event or just a great place to meet up with friends.

Cellar door open Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 5pm, however best to call first or just drop in when the flags are out. Twisted River Wines 6056 Henry Parkes Way, Manildra PO Box 2, Manildra NSW 2865

Phone: 02 6364 5447 Helen Armstrong 0429 998 023 Michelle Davies 0429 652 167

Email: twistedriverwines@gmail.com Website: www.twistedriverwines.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/TwistedRiverWines

modern australian cuisine and share tapas menu open tuesday to saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner

10 court street, parkes | 6862 2229 www.bentfoodandwine.com.au PARKES CWL 93

PARKES

ART with HEART

ELSIE MAHON is a talented artist who doesn’t specialise in any one field, preferring a variety of artistic pursuits to satisfy her insatiable appetite for colour and form. “I would get bored if I directed all my energies into the one medium,” she says from her garden in a quiet Parkes cul-de-sac. It’s an invigorating little hideaway on a double block with all the requirements for a doting grandmother and naturally talented artist. In pride of place is the studio, where Elsie indulges in her passion for painting flowers, partly derived from the love of her garden. Further inspiration comes from the works of Dubbo artist Polly Kimmorley, and on a larger scale, the paintings of Ben Quilty and Judith White. The well-appointed studio, adjoining the home, is one of her favourite hang-outs and where Elsie teaches retired women and young mums the finer details of mosaics, art, leadlight and embroidery. “I have a go at everything. I used to be a TAFE teacher in the art and fashion department in Parkes, Forbes, Peak Hill and Condoblin, but TAFE doesn’t run any hobby horses any more,” she says wryly. Once TAFE stopped, many women were a bit lost for their creative outlets so Elsie sprang into action and went solo. That was 22 years ago and some of Elsie’s students have been coming here ever since. “I have formed some great friendships and quite often it’s not about the art,” she laughs. “Some husbands tell me their wives come here for their weekly therapy.” Elsie and Henry, her devoted husband of 52 years, moved to their current address a decade ago and have since transformed their backyard into a relaxed haven for their two children and five grandkids.

94 CWL PARKES

“I would get bored if I directed all my energies into the one medium.”

While it is indeed a tranquil place, Elsie likes to keep herself busy with a vast number of projects swirling in her head. “I’ve always liked to draw and make things. I’m a creative artist without diplomas or formal training. It’s just what I like to do. Painting is my first love but I enjoy working with colour, regardless of the medium.” Over the years this energetic 71-year-old has created countless colourful mosaics, most of which end up strategically placed in her garden. Others are sold and many given to family and friends. Then there are the inspiring metal works. “Henry won’t let me use the angle grinder and assists with nearly everything I do – except the cooking and cleaning!” Elsie is a proud member of the Forbes Platypus Gallery, where she regularly exhibits her paintings, sculpture and mosaics. In recent years she’s been guest artist at several exhibitions and enjoys the feedback. If that’s not enough, she also enjoys interior decorating, recently assisting with the decor and colours in the new Astro Dish Motel. “Parkes is a friendly town and offers a broad range of cultural activities, although it must be said, sport dominates in this town. It is my fervent hope that one day Parkes will have its own arts centre, where like-minded people can pursue their love of creativity.” CWL Top left: Every April Elsie submits at least three entries in the Waste to Art competition using recycled materials. Among her entries will be the collage of the chooks using old newspapers. Top right: The sculpture on the front verandah was another Waste to Art entry. PARKES CWL 95

PARKES

Band of Brothers

PARKES has produced many fine sports champions over the years but the town also lays claim to some big-name musicians. Country music sensation Dianna Corcoran is a big name now but back in the late 1960s and early ‘70s two child guitar prodigies, Philip and Tommy Emmanuel, put the town on the map. It’s a long story and on this occasion it’s being told by Darcy, the youngest of the four Emmanuel brothers who grew up in Parkes but left in 1983 after the death of a good friend in a car crash. He returned 26 years later after presenting a local music award and soon realised the town he’d grown up in had lost none of its spark. He never made it back to Lismore, where he’d been a long-standing car salesman and truck driver, and now lives on a small farm out of town where he tinkers with his motorcycles. Over a few pints at his favourite watering hole, the Star Hotel, he tries to put the family connection to Parkes in perspective. “I remember first coming here when I was seven and we were all forced to wear shoes to school for the first time. We came from Ingham in far north Queensland (where siblings Chris and Virginia still live) and it was so flamin’ hot that we always went barefoot or wore thongs.”

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The year was 1967 and the family of five youngsters (one sister had moved to Gunnedah) had just lost their family bread-winner and father Hugh, at age 50. They knew the Booth family, from America, were living in Parkes and decided to try their luck there. It was a brilliant move because Jim Booth was renowned for his abilities at repairing those new-fangled colour television sets and amplifiers that Phil would later blow up with some regularity! Yvonne Hutton from the Historical Society later informs me few people realise Hugh was a returned Airforce man, shot down twice in New Guinea. “He should have been treated as a war hero but suffered what would now be described as post traumatic stress,” she says. Regardless of the tragic loss, the Emmanuel Express couldn’t be slowed down, with Phil and Tommy both earning good money as professional musicians long before they ever shaved. It was an early start to a life of entertainment. “Mum taught Tommy a few chords at age four and he passed on that knowledge to Phil, who was at primary school. That’s how it all started, after Tommy found Dad’s Maton under the bed,” Darcy says. The locals got right behind the family, making outfits, printing flyers and business cards – all made in town. Tommy became the rhythm guitarist and Phil the lead guitarist with other siblings on a range of instruments. The family band – known variously as The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers – spent most of their childhood days on the road, often touring with country and western star Buddy Williams. The line-up included three brothers plus sisters Virginia and Veronica, and they usually played in old town halls from Brewarrina to Bourke. “They often ran into the likes of Slim Dusty and Tex Morton on the road. Let’s just say they were rarely seen at school on a Friday,” Darcy says. “Phil and Tommy were already gaining notoriety for never playing one game of sport in their entire life!” Instead of sport Phil was excelling on the guitar. His high school band exploded onto TV screens in the 1970 series of New Faces and Showcase 69. “Back then there was no texting or computers and you’d have to send off a letter indicating which band you liked best,” he explains. “The people of Parkes got right behind them and they won the Viewer’s Choice award in both shows two years in a row.”

“They often ran into the likes of Slim Dusty and Tex Morton on the road. Let’s just say they were rarely seen at school on a Friday.”

Fast forward nearly half a century and Tommy Emmanuel, AM, is still based in Nashville, USA, and taking the world by storm with his complex finger-style technique (he uses all 10 fingers), energetic performances and use of percussive effects on his guitar. Big brother Phil is still considered among the hottest pickers in the country but shuns the limelight and lives on the Sunshine Coast with his longstanding girlfriend Mandy.

Phil’s musical prowess is said to be so astonishing there are times when the man becomes the guitar and the guitar becomes the man. Occasionally the brothers play together, as in 2000 when Phil and Tommy performed live at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. The event was televised worldwide with an estimated 2.85 billion viewers. When performing together the pair sometimes share and play just one guitar while leaving one hand free. Phil may have left Parkes in 1972 after a doomed apprenticeship at a local garage, but still has fond memories of the town, especially his rabbit shooting and fox hunting days. He returns every few years, especially now his little brother is back in town. After school, his first regular gigs were at Sydney’s famous Texas Tavern with “Nev Nichols and the Country Playboys” before forming his own band Goldrush with brother Tommy on drums. He’s won a Golden Guitar for best instrumental at the Tamworth Country Music Festival but these days you’ll have to travel to far north Queensland to see his magical fingers in action. “People don’t support live music much these days but up here live music is all the rage,” he tells me over the phone. Darcy isn’t prepared to let the Emmanuel name slip gradually into the abyss of time and has inadvertently become a bit of a family history buff. “Over the years the boys all just left and I was the last one standing (in Parkes). Whatever was left – all the old stuff like the odd guitar, drum skins and uniforms – were all here. Then I found the original guitar that Mum first learned to play on in Broadwater. It’s all in the museum (at the Henry Parkes Centre). The big news is that Tommy is going to forward a container of memorabilia from all over the world and most of that will end up there as well,” he says. It’s funny how everything seems to eventually go full circle. “Everybody sticks together in Parkes. It’s one of the reasons I eventually came back. The friendliness of this town is really what prompted me to once again live here and display all our family heritage in the museum.” Of all the places the Emmanuel family lived as children, it was Parkes where they stayed the longest. “We never really settled anywhere until we moved here and I’m proud it’s become our family’s spiritual home,” Darcy says. “I’m back and I’m staying. People know me and I can talk to anyone down town. Being an Emmanuel does have its benefits.” CWL

Above left: Darcy with a treasured photo of his mother Linda Emmanuel in the museum section of the Henry Parkes Centre. Facing page: Tommy aged 8 and Phil aged 11; Phil today and Tommy in his younger days. PARKES CWL 97

PARKES

Glowing RECOMMENDATION SINCE its establishment in 2009, La Bella Medispa in Parkes has experienced outstanding growth, having expanded to Orange in 2014. Owner Rebecca Miller has more than 20 years’ experience in the beauty industry. Rebecca, manager Jess Galvin and the La Bella team utilise their unique expertise to provide a customised and satisfying solution for every client. “Passion is at the core of what we do, and it is invigorating being a member of a results-driven team that is so competent and dedicated to constantly improving its practice,” Rebecca says. “Commitment to ongoing advanced, specialised education in our field means we stay up to date with the latest in technological advances. “We separate hype from fact so that our clients are not bamboozled in the plethora of skin care myths.”

Our brand new store is now Bigger and Betta than ever before; offering an extensive range of products throughout all areas. Our impressive kitchen display will provide you with nothing but quality and choice. Stocking a vast range of all the big brands like Miele, Smeg, Beko, Westinghouse, Arc, Fisher Paykel, Falcon, Ilve & many more. 98 CWL PARKES

La Bella offers everyday beauty services as well as IPL and laser treatments and, of course, indulgent spa packages. A unique product range from dermaviduals® is also on offer. dermaviduals® is an innovative, bespoke skincare brand with no fragrances or preservatives that delivers pure and active results. La Bella Medispa was honoured to be Parkes’s Most Outstanding Business for 2013. With their exceptional attention to detail and customer service, it’s no wonder the business is gaining popularity as the ultimate skin solution for the Central West. Visit La Bella’s treatment menu at www.labellamedispa.com.au or contact the friendly team on (02) 6862 5515. Above: Cherelle Kelley, Jasmyne Perceval, Codie Sense (back row), Jess Galvin and Rebecca Miller (front row). Words: Anna Tickle

OPEN 7 DAYS Mon-Fri: 9am - 5.30pm Sat: 9am - 3pm & Sun: 10am - 3pm Parkes Betta Home Living 11 Saleyards Road, Parkes

(02) 6862 2237

parkes@my.betta.com.au

Our specialised staff can assist you in designing your dream kitchen to suit any budget. We pride ourselves on exceptional service and product knowledge to ensure your experience is smooth and enjoyable. We are local here at Betta so why not call in and see us today.

STYLE with a SMILE NICOLE ROSSER of Charisma Hair Design has created an idyllic environment for anyone needing a quiet break from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a professional hair design experience.

“I lived and worked in London as a hairdresser for eight months, which was an incredible experience, while my husband Cameron played cricket there as well,” she says.

Customer service and expertise are integral to the success of the salon. The highly qualified team of four is friendly and knowledgeable, having experienced extensive training with well-known hairdressing figures from Sydney and participated in ongoing staff development events.

“Another memorable experience was in October last year when I attended the Unite Global Sessions in the US, an iconic event for the global hair design industry.”

Being proactive about new styles and products is crucial, says Nicole, who prides herself on featuring the very latest in the salon. “We stock a fantastic new range of products from the UK by Ego Professional, otherwise known as every girl’s obsession,” Nicole laughs. The display of products, including a boutique retail range by Unite Eurotherapy and an extensive colour range by Pravana, is a delight for the senses and showcases the team’s dedication to immaculate presentation.

Nicole brings to the table a valuable combination of experience and creativity. She enjoys spending time with her three-year-old son, and she and Cameron are excitedly awaiting the birth of their second child, due in July. “We are thrilled to be able to live and raise our family in the generous, kind community of Parkes,” she says. “Setting new goals and creating fresh concepts for 2015 is invigorating, and I predict we will always be aspiring to be bigger and better here at the salon.”

Originally from Victoria, Nicole came to Parkes at age 15 with her parents, who relocated for work at the Northparkes Mines. It was in Parkes that Nicole got her hairdressing apprenticeship, prior to travelling extensively overseas.

Call Charisma Hair Design today on (02) 6862 3798. Above: Kayla Tulloch, Amber Allen, Bree Hunter and Nicole Rosser. Words: Anna Tickle

open Tuesday to Saturday make an appointment 253 Clarinda Street Parkes NSW 2870 02 6862 3798

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PARKES

IT’S HARD TO get a good grip on award-winning Parkes professional tennis coach Helen Magill. A lot of her energy may come from her father, Hedley Nicholson, but the rest has come from a massive heart dedicated to ensuring juniors from a wide area get a chance to play the game of tennis in a fun and friendly environment. For the past 30 years she has made a professional career out of club coaching (she’s a Tennis Australia ANZ Hot Shots coach mentor) but coaching for her is much more than just following a set of principles or having a well-established program. Coaching, she says, involves interaction with young people’s lives. Helen sees it as her duty to help those under her charge develop character, discipline, self-motivation, self-worth, and an excitement and enjoyment for life. “When character development is the foundation for your program, your player will get the most out of their tennis experience,” she says. Her family, consisting of husband Greg and children Brad, a primary school teacher in England, and Cassie, studying human nutrition at the University of Canberra, are based on a 2000-acre mixed farming property, “Gwenvale”, on the edge of town. When the kids are home, three generations of the family will play on the synthetic grass court in the backyard. Even Greg will dare pick up a racquet, despite his football background and inside knowledge that his wife might well have achieved her dream of being a professional player if things had gone differently when she was 15 and winning nearly every tournament in the country (that’s another story). “It’s a great social occasion,” Helen says. “But my children, as they grow older, are developing more strategies in an effort to take my crown!” Despite the numerous coaching and community-related accolades and awards bestowed upon her over the years – including carrying the Olympic Torch in 2000 and her high profile in Australian tennis circles – it is her underlying humility and compassion for every person who steps onto the tennis court that is her most impressive asset.

A PAIR of ACES 100 CWL PARKES

“Dad has been an amazing role model and given so much of his time selflessly to the tennis club and Parkes community. What you can see here (the whole tennis centre) is his legacy. He manages the complex and grounds and it’s always in pristine condition.” The tennis light will certainly continue to shine bright throughout the Parkes Shire and indeed country NSW while ever Helen Magill is involved in the sport.

KING HEDLEY LOVES HIS TENNIS Parkes tennis stalwart and born-and-bred local Hedley Nicholson began playing school tennis as a 12-year-old and is still slogging the little yellow ball 63 years later. The grand master of tennis, in this town at least, is still heavily involved in the club (boasting 300 juniors and seniors) in his capacity as volunteer (since 1979), club president (1989-92) and vice-president ever since. The first four grass courts were laid in 1985 and another four in 1990 (and named in his honour). In 2000 he was awarded Country Volunteer of the Year by Tennis NSW and Australia’s Sports Medal of the Year (for volunteers), for which he received a certificate from then prime minister John Howard. In 1988 he and wife Pauline became life members of the club before the big one: an OAM in 2013 for services to tennis and the community of Parkes. “The camaraderie, social scene and the fitness – it’s all been good to me,” says Hedley, whose favourite player is Rod Laver. “He was not just a great player but a magnificent ambassador for the game. There were certainly no tantrums from a player of his ilk. “On a different level I also love the juniors playing here, whom I’ve been involved with for over 30 years. We have never had any trouble with them. Tennis keeps them off the street and enables them to play a competitive game at whatever level.” But his life wasn’t all just forehand crosscourt drives and lobs! In 1955 he started work on the railway as a 15-year-old call-boy, whose job it was to deliver telegrams to the drivers informing them of their work shifts. Over a 47-year career he climbed the ladder and ended driving the Indian Pacific, the Silver City Comet, the 38 Classes (steam engines) and everything else in between. For the past few years Hedley has displayed a similar dedication to the Australian Tennis Open and will get there at any cost. “Watching a big adrenalin match soaked in atmosphere is as near to heaven as it gets. Lleyton Hewitt is a gutsy and inspirational competitor but I also admire Roger Federer’s game. He’s just so good.” The Nicholsons have two daughters: Leanne Miles, who loves hockey, and the aforementioned Helen Magill, who shares her father’s love of the game and the good it does for the community. Above: Hedley Nicholson with daughter Helen Magill and some of the game’s up-and-coming players. PARKES CWL 101

PARKES

PIPE DREAMS

Setting up shop BRIAN AND VIVIENNE Cunningham have always worked side by side throughout their 60 years of marriage. They initially share-farmed near Peak Hill before years of drought and flood forced them to try option B, a fruit and vegetable run around town. After seven years of doing it tough they bravely opened their food store in 1964. Today, Cunningham’s IGA is run by daughter Janine and son-in law Peter Boschman and their staff of five seniors and a few school students. In the early days, Brian and Vivienne lived upstairs for about 10 years before moving to their small hobby farm. Both had experienced rural upbringings and were keen to own a few acres of their own. Brian was raised on “Pinewood”, Wongalea, the eldest of nine kids, while Vivienne spent her first 21 years on “Velvedere”, located on the Condobolin road. “There were five of us and we rode our bikes to school before advancing to the horse and sulky during the war years. Due to the fuel rations, Dad converted a Chrysler touring car to kerosene, and my brother could then drive us to school with the teacher who boarded with us. We’d go down various lanes picking up other kids and we’d all just pile in,” Vivienne remembers. Today, the old Deep Lead School is still standing (if only barely), near the current rifle range. Later, Vivienne’s father organised a school bus run. “He loved cricket and thought our sporting ovals weren’t up to scratch. A sporting council was formed and before long we had first-rate ovals. Dad’s efforts were certainly recognised and they named a hockey field, Cheney Park (her maiden name), and the grandstand at Woodward Park in his honour.” Now in their advanced years, Brian has scaled down from the breeding and training of his beloved pacers and the pair are now selling half the farm and moving into town. “I never really got into horses but Brian absolutely loves them. I blame his grandfather for that, a former great teamster from Parkes,” Vivienne laughs. Vivienne still works a few hours each weekend and, at age 81, is still bright and bubbly and a much-loved figure in the store she has helped run for more than 50 years. The business has undergone many name changes and expanded in size over the years but Vivienne has always remained the same friendly person who loves interacting with people and finding out what makes them tick. When she is not looking after the store or her husband and family, she still enjoys “tickling the ivories” at St George’s Anglican Church on a Sunday morning, although she admits that with the arrival of Richard Morgan her organ-playing duties are now happily shared! Above: Vivienne Cunningham loves coming to her store to interact with her customers. 102 CWL PARKES

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH in Parkes, St George’s, celebrated its 140th anniversary in early 2015 with a community dinner, church open day and a visit by the Right Reverend Ian Palmer, Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst. The church also celebrated the occasion with a grand organ recital. In August 2014 a brand new organ was commissioned for the church. This has been a very exciting addition to one of the grandest buildings in Parkes. The new instrument is a “virtual pipe organ” and the sound is produced by digital sampling of each pipe of an existing European organ. This gives the sound produced from its giant speakers the clarity of real pipes and the purity of an ensemble of authentic pipes. The console, or double keyboard and pedals, are built to the traditional organ specifications but inside there is a Mac computer that does all the work after the organist has selected the stops and pressed the keys. The church building today is filled with glorious music from this piece of modern technology. The church, dedicated in 1927 and extended in 1956, is a splendid example of a cruciform Victorian Gothic-style building with a central tower and spire over the central crossing. It has glorious stained glass windows, nearly all of them donated. It is attached to the parish hall, which is central to the 140th anniversary celebrations this year. The Reverend Canon Brett Watterson is the current rector and he conducts regular services of worship for a large and dedicated congregation. A line-up of musicians, including June Armstrong, Kathryn Bignell, Vivienne Cunningham, Robyn Gregson, Richard Morgan and Jay Quince, regularly perform on the new organ at St George’s. Above: Vivienne Cunningham and Richard Morgan at the organ console.

MAN OF VISION AFTER THREE DECADES of working for other optometrists, Charlie Pecenka branched out on his own three years ago and today is the proud owner of not only Parkes Optical Services but also Parkes Coffee Pot.

Cakes, sweets, biscuits, milkshakes, iced coffees, American cocktails and a variety of fresh sandwiches all feature on the menu, along with gluten-free meals, lactose-free milk and almond and coconut milk.

“We make spectacles at an affordable price and they’re ready within a few days,” he says from his two busy little businesses. “Many of my customers come in and have a coffee while I repair or make any adjustments to their glasses,” says Charlie, who arrived from the Czech Republic in 1969 and moved west to Parkes in 1976.

There is also a function room out the back that is handy for staff meetings, wakes and general get-togethers for larger groups.

Charlie keeps a comprehensive range of spectacles, sunglasses, cases, cords and chains.

That’s got to be a good thing for Charlie, wife Judy and three adult daughters – Tracey, a teacher at Forbes but still living in Parkes, and Christine and Michelle, who both have careers in Sydney.

Right next door at the Coffee Pot are five casual staff, who do an amazing job of making their regulars feel welcome. The team do breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea six days a week.

“Parkes has a great community spirit and it’s a town where people seem to care about what’s going on within their town,” Charlie says. “There are plenty of opportunities to get involved within the community.”

Above: Optometrist Charlie Pecenka with team members Leanne Smith, Tracy Tonkin and Marlene Symonds.

coffee...sandwiches...meals...specatacles!

Freshly made sandwiches, home style cooking and friendly relaxed atmosphere. Function room. Reasonably priced meals, special dietary requirements catered for. 209B Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1877

Spectacles and sunglasses available. Adjustments and minor repairs carried out whilst you wait. 209A Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1852 PARKES CWL 103

PARKES

Slice of Life

IN A QUIET little suburban Parkes street lives a woman who really takes the cake! But seven times national cake decorating champion and renowned cake demonstrator Kath Swansbra does not appreciate visitors when she is in the cake decorating mood. It’s not that she doesn’t like people, it’s just that there is no room in her house to accommodate them!

She would be up against the best cake decorators in the land at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the pressure was on to finish the job. She estimated that she had another six weeks of work ahead of her. “It’s bigger than Ben-Hur and requires a steady hand, good eyes and a ton of patience. It’s no good getting frustrated.”

For Kath, decorating cakes is not just a hobby, it’s all consuming. Cake boxes, cake boards, food colours and cake tins are scattered throughout her otherwise tidy lounge room.

Over the years Kath has decorated hundreds of wedding cakes, earning her enough to buy the necessary equipment and attend seminars at virtually every Australian capital city in the country. This dedicated cake enthusiast has even entered her cakes in overseas competitions, picking up gold and silver medals in Singapore.

“When my husband passed away 20 years ago I was very thankful to have a hobby that gave me something to do,” she says. “We had only just moved into Parkes from our Gunningbland farm and rather than sit at home and feel lonely, I immersed myself in cake decorating.” Her hobby started quite by accident. “My kids were starting to get married and I figured maybe I could decorate their cakes. I was able to make their wedding dresses but the cakes proved more difficult than I ever imagined,” she says. “There are different icings for different jobs and it takes years to get it right. In the old days we would make our coverings and decorations from a packet of icing sugar. These days it all comes pre-mixed with lots of moulds. Push in, pull out and stick it on the cake,” she laughs. Kath says she loves dreaming up new ideas and then turning them into reality. When CWL visited, Kath was working on her most ambitious project yet – a war memorial, featuring 100 years of Australians at war. 104 CWL PARKES

This determined and competitive artist will spend up to three or four months on a single creation. “Nothing ever goes right the first time. Proper sizing is imperative and the detail has to be spot on. The judges are very critical and there is no margin for error.” Kath has lived in the Parkes district all of her 75 years and says that despite fingers stiffening up and failing eyesight, she hopes to be still decorating cakes when she hits 80! From top left: Kath with a winning figurine; An Aussie Bush Wedding – a former national champion decorated cake that has been living in a box for the past five years. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into each creation. I could never throw them out,” she says. Above: this cake was a champion exhibit in Adelaide at the National Cake Decorating Championships. Every detailed figure was painstakingly created by Kath using icing and food colour. All the cakes and decorations must be edible.

PARKES

“LOVE LIFE at any age” is the mantra adopted by the friendly team at Regency Mediquip Centre. “Every family has its challenges, some great, some small,” company director Craig John says. “Our belief is that there is an abundance of solutions to help overcome every situation. That’s why we are so passionate about what we do.” Regency Mediquip Centre is the place to find a huge range of equipment from mobility scooters to customised power and manual wheelchairs, everyday living aids, pressure care and manual handling products for home or assisted living facilities.

READY, WILLING & ABLE

“We are so dedicated that our service doesn’t stop with supply only. The real challenge is providing the back-up service within your own environment. We service and maintain everything we sell, and provide education and training from our experienced team both individually or at a community group level, no matter where you live,” Craig says. Regency Mediquip Centre is an expanding family-owned and operated company that helps and supports the Central West and its remote communities by providing the exact equipment needed to assist in everyday life. Regency also is an approved DVA and Enable NSW provider. Back in 1989, Craig John commenced his career in the aged-care industry, based in Sydney, servicing hospitals and nursing homes across the state. Craig and his wife and family relocated to Parkes in 2003 to be more centrally located to the regions the company services. The spacious Parkes warehouse/showroom is open direct to the public. If you are out of town keep an eye out for their distinctive black-coloured mobile showrooms and service vehicles that are regularly seen in not just Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst but also the remote communities of Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Broken Hill and beyond. “We cover many kilometers of highways and byways, day and night,” Craig says. “What we enjoy the most – and it is our greatest reward – is witnessing the genuine smiles we create. Helping the disabled, the disadvantaged and the elderly is so satisfying to us. It makes the lifestyle changing experience a pleasure.” Give Regency a free call on 1800 675 434 to make an appointment, or just call in next time you are visiting Parkes. Craig and his friendly team would love to hear your story! Craig with staff members Maria, Blythe and Deanna.

YOUR SPECIALISTS IN DISABILITY, AGED CARE & REHABILITATION NEEDS

1800 675 434 for SALES

SERVICE

HIRE

Regency Mediquip Centre, 8 Royal Street, PARKES 2870 Fax: 02 6862 6312 Email: sales@regencyparkes.com.au www.regencyparkes.com.au

Mobile Showroom Standard & Customised Power Wheelchairs Home Care Equipment Mobility Aids Physio & Sports Rehab Equipment Bedding & Furniture Repairs & Maintenance Home & Needs Assessment Service PARKES CWL 105

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

PARKES COUPLE MAL AND HELEN WESTCOTT APPEAR TO HAVE THE PERFECT LIVES. HELEN RUNS A TRADITIONAL, HOME-HOSTED B&B WHILE MAL, FOREVER THE DILIGENT FARMER, SPENDS HIS DAYS SITTING ON A TRACTOR SURVEYING THE LAND THAT’S BEEN IN HIS FAMILY SINCE SETTLEMENT.

THE HOME-HOSTING idea was conceived during a month in Scotland in 1996, during which time they stayed exclusively in B&Bs, thrilled to find their hosts accommodating and willing to share their local knowledge. “This helped us learn more about a town than we ever could have, had we chosen to stay in regular types of accommodation,” explains Helen, a congenial host, expert cook and homemaker. “Most places we stayed were reasonably priced and so we decided to introduce this concept to Parkes, with a hint of luxury and lots of good, old-fashioned hospitality.” Soon after a plan was hatched. The Westcotts bought the family home in town, built 40 years earlier by Mal’s Aunt Millie on land that used to be her cow paddock before being snapped up by a property developer (naturally this wise old lady retained the best block to build

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her last home). Located on the edge of town, “Kadina” boasts glorious, unspoilt views to the Harvey Ranges, not to mention the spectacular sunrises to kick-start each day. Once settled into their new abode, the Westcotts wasted no time providing en suites for both their rented rooms, for added comfort and privacy. During this time Helen retired from her teaching duties at Parkes High while Mal continued running the family farm “Kadina Park”, one of dozens of Westcott properties scattered between Alectown and Peak Hill. The 4.5-star B&B (AAA Tourism-rated) is now marketed towards those requiring a short comfortable break while exploring the Parkes area. Mal loves coming home from the farm, never knowing who he is likely to meet and greet. He is a sentimental man, proud of his family history and thankful for his lot in life.

PARKES

FIRST SETTLERS Local historian Len Unger, in his book Stories of Alectown, writes about Major Mitchell and his 1835 expedition along the Bogan River. Hardy pastoralists followed in his wake with two major stations in the Parkes district, Coobang and Balderudgera, taking up 170,000 acres between them. The Robertson Land Act of 1861 made provision for would-be settlers to enter any pastoral lease and then apply for a selection of that holding. The very first person to select land for farming purposes in the district was Joseph Westcott (Mal’s great grandfather), an Englishman from Devonshire who took up 320 acres, four miles north of present-day Alectown. He named it “Bridgewater”, and the historic farm is still in family hands. One can only imagine the difficulties faced by Joseph and his wife, having to clear and fence their land using horse-drawn vehicles with none of the sophisticated machinery available today. No flick of a switch to turn on power, no cars or tractors and the nearest doctor miles away. A strong faith – still evident in the district today – was all that sometimes kept them going. In 1889 the discovery of gold 15 miles north of Parkes and only a few miles from the original Westcott land caused an immediate rush to the locality and the development of Alectown. The three Scottish prospectors who discovered the precious metal all shared the same christian name of Alexander and the village, which at one stage swelled to a population of 1000, was named in their honour. For a short time it was known as Alicks Flat, then Alick Town and finally Alectown, but today only a handful of residents call it home. The original goldfield, covering at most 50 acres of comparatively shallow sinking, was worked out by the turn of the 20th century and attention turned back to the noble pursuit of farming. > Left: Mal at the Alectown cemetery with the headstones of his great grandparents (right) and parents who started and continued the Westcott farming dynasty in the Alectown district. Mal, too, will one day rest here in this tranquil, rural environment surrounded by farmland. PARKES CWL 107

FARM LIFE Mal was born in this environment after WW2, long after his three older brothers, Cliff, Harry and Wes. Unlike so many Westcott men, his sons Brett and Grant never hankered for a life on the land as their forebears had done for generations. Instead Brett joined the Australian Navy and was recently deployed to Portsmouth, England, where he enjoys the rank of Commander. Youngest son Grant is a doctor, heading up the emergency department in a Perth hospital. Bearing this in mind, Mal sold the farm a decade ago to Neil and Alison Westcott. Neil is a switched-on fifth-generation farmer, more than happy to have his uncle around to help manage his now 6000-acre farming conglomeration, growing wheat, barley and canola in rotation. It’s an ideal situation for Mal, who simply couldn’t imagine not getting up before sunrise each day. At nearly 70, he is enjoying robust health and can’t wait to hop into the New Holland T9020 tractor or John Deere header, both his offices away from home. The expensive new machinery (and labour) is shared with neighbour Roger Armstrong in an enduring partnership that has lasted, in Mal’s case, more than 30 years. Although these state-of-the-art mini motel rooms boast air-conditioning, GPS, auto pilot and quality sound systems, Mal prefers to work in silence, keeping an ear open for any unusual noises, especially when towing the new deep, ripping plough. 108 CWL PARKES

“With our limited manpower, we try to maximise the use of our acres while at the same time protecting our soils over the long, hot summers. With our new deep ripper we are trying to repair 120 years of farming and break up some of the pans caused by compaction through livestock and machinery,” Neil says. “I might just be the worker but Neil is the brains of this operation,” confirms Mal, who is witnessing history taking place before his very eyes. When he grew up, Neil’s farm once supported seven different farming families who managed to make a living by being self-sufficient and keeping running costs to a bare minimum (think fuel, electricity, fertilisers, education, phones and food). This explains why many traditional rural communities, like Alectown, have shrunk in size. “Land is about the only thing left on this planet you can’t get more of,” says Mal, always the quiet philosopher. “They just don’t make it any more, which is why it is such a priceless commodity.” It’s been a great run but there’s no word of retirement. “You can only read so many books or play so much golf,” he reasons. “If I’m not working I get cranky and I’ve seen too many mates fall off the perch early into their retirement – an option that certainly holds little appeal!” Besides, he is having too much fun watching Neil transform the farming game into a business modelled on lifestyle and sustainability.

At the turn of the last century Neil ceased all livestock enterprises, pulled down fences and prepared his land for broadacre farming. “Since we moved away from sheep, we no longer have to worry about fences, flies, feed and water – all the normal things associated with running livestock. I’ve never yet seen a paddock of a wheat bust into a mob of sheep,” Neil says with a grin. “We even get the odd break with our current operation,” he adds. That’s a good thing for Neil and wife Alison, who have organised the hugely successful gospel service with their church congregation over the past 14 Elvis Festivals. Both men enjoy singing. It’s a Westcott thing. For many years Mal has enjoyed performing in the Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society. Only last year he brought the house down in The Pirates of Penzance, in which Neil was the highly talented musical director. So there we have it, the Westcotts in action. The younger generation farming in the modern era, a blissful grandmother running her B&B and a dyed-in-the-wool farmer who has been given a second lease of life thanks to his good-natured nephew. CWL Above: Neil and Mal Westcott with their articulated New Holland tractor; Mal and Helen Westcott are your warm hosts at Kadina BnB; Bishop Harry Westcott from Alectown and brother Mal.

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Call or email DEB WHITE to arrange a consultation 0400 121 264 | debwhitemillinery@gmail.com

• Perfect for a getaway • Incentive available for longer stays • Rooms feature ensuites, gowns, toiletries, free wifi, TV and air conditioning. • Beautiful view to the East • Children are welcome • Breakfast - 5 courses available, espresso coffee and a variety of teas

www.kadinabnb.com P: (02) 6862 3995 M: 0412 444 452 E: kadinabb@bigpond.net.au

LICENCED STOCK & STATION AGENTS, AUCTIONEERS & REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Weekly Livestock Sales at Forbes Over the Hooks Sales Accredited Auctions Plus Assessors for Sheep and Cattle Property Sales and Appraisals

242 Clarinda Street PARKES NSW 2870 Phone: 6862 2362 Fax: 6862 4120 Geoff Rice 0429 629 966 Matt Coady 0417 295 343 Greg Miller 0448 433 317 Cooper Byrnes 0427 417 480

Servicing South West Slopes, Central West Slopes and Plains, Western Districts and surrounding areas. PARKES CWL 109

TRIED & TRUE

THE LANDMARK LANGLANDS Hanlon livestock agency comes with an abundance of history. Kicked off in the 1930s by Jock Langlands and Bill Hanlon, the business has operated from the same building since 1937 with the same old phone number (the original number was 362 and is now 6862 2362. They are the only stock and station agent remaining in Parkes. Geoff and Renée Rice bought into the agency in 2004, managing to maintain the majority of the business. Geoff and Renée pride themselves on the fact that many of their clients are friends and have been with their respective companies for generations. Along with Geoff and Renée, the Landmark Langlands Hanlon team comprises Matt Coady (Eugowra/Forbes), Greg Miller (Forbes) and Cooper Byrnes (Parkes), who attend livestock sales twice weekly at Forbes, sell farms, conduct clearing sales as well as over the hook and private sales. The office staff consists of Renée and long-term clients Gaye Lees (Nelungaloo) and Margaret Porter (Trundle). The team services the Central West and South West slopes, Western Districts and is extremely excited to be expanding into the Central Tablelands in the future. It’s action stations every Monday and Tuesday when the experienced team contributes to a growing percentage of record yardings at the Central West Livestock Exchange, Forbes. “It’s a very competitive game but it has its lighter moments and all the agents get along very well,” Geoff says. Prior to taking on his own agency, Geoff worked for various wool brokers and managed the Elders office in Forbes. “Our joint venture with Landmark is something I’m especially proud of,” he says. 110 CWL PARKES

“It has merged together two of the longest standing agencies in the Central West: Langlands Hanlon and W.R. Martin and Co. It is great to see these stalwart agents attending our sales and showing their support to the next generation. “We still highly value the input of the great old agents like Leo Heraghty, John ‘Stumpy’ Martin and Clive Herbert, who are still regularly seen at sales and our offices both here and in Forbes. Times and prices have changed but our team is continually learning from these gentlemen.” All are proven stayers in an industry that looks after its own. Leo started with Langlands Hanlon straight out of school, aged 14. Eventually the agency would one day be his and he put in 50 fabulous years before he and Helen sold to Geoff and Renée on their retirement. The Rices were born in Parkes and Trundle and know the area well. They spent a number of years in Sydney, Bathurst and Forbes before finally returning home to set up a permanent base to be close to their respective families and to raise their five-year-old daughter, Clara. In their spare time Geoff and Renée support many fund-raising charities and events and are both active on committees and events for the district. Geoff is also a partner in a family farm. Geoff is an avid rugby enthusiast, having played, coached and refereed for many years with various Central West clubs but is now retired to the hockey field. Renée now works full-time in the business and, as the well-meaning staff will attest, can now boss Geoff at work as well as at home! Above: The Landmark Langlands Hanlon team – Renée and Geoff Rice, Matt Coady, Gaye Lees and Cooper Byrnes (Absent: Marg Porter and Greg Miller).

Powering ahead FROM HUMBLE beginnings in 1952, when A.A. Blatch was established by retired army captain Allan Arthur Blatch, the business has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of automotive and power transmission products in the Central West. It’s also one of the longest running distributors in the country for CBC, NTN, Timken and NSK Bearings, Tsubaki Chain and Exedy Clutch, with goods delivered quickly to just about anywhere in Australia. There is a daily airfreight service to Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo, road freight three times daily to Forbes and Condobolin and everywhere between Dubbo and Orange. “I can get spare parts to regional Queensland as easily as I can get them to Forbes,” says the founder’s grandson, Allan, who bears his name and joined the team in 2013. “It’s all about getting our customers high quality parts as quickly as possible.” The business has always had a Blatch family member at the helm. Allan Snr’s son, Warren, and wife Nancye joined the business in 1980 after 12 years in Papua New Guinea, where Warren was a road design draftsman.

• • • •

BEARINGS & SEALS CHAIN & SPROCKETS BELTS & PULLEYS CLUTCH & ALTERNATORS

• • • •

OILS & LUBRICANTS AUTOMOTIVE SPARES ENGINE KITS MACHINERY PARTS

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“We were really the last of the colonials before independence and were fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout PNG with the opportunities to travel through Asia and parts of Europe,” he says. It seems that travel is in the blood. Allan spent 12 years in television as a creative producer and director in both Sydney and London, while English wife Susannah spent six years in London as a producer, presenter and voice-over artist. As part of their media training, Susannah earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing and a Master’s degree in Studies in Fiction while Allan has a degree in Media and Communications. The pair have a daughter, Wilhelmina, and a Great Dane, Charlie, who was flown back to Australia with the family. “It was time for the next phase of our life,” Allan says. “We wanted to continue the family business into its third generation and were keen to settle down and raise our family. I am very proud to carry my grandfather’s name. He was a highly regarded fitter and machinist throughout this area and was in charge of army inspection during the war, opening munitions factories in Melbourne, Hobart and Perth.” Above: Three generations of the Blatch family: Warren and wife Nancye, Allan Jnr and wife Susannah and their daughter Wilhelmina. PARKES: CONCLUSION OF TOWN FEATURE CWL 111

Sales at Cowra Saleyards, Young Road, Cowra Cattle Sales Monday commencing approx 1pm Sheep Sale Fridays commencing at 11am The Team can also assist in Private Sales, Paddock & Over the Hook sales The Team are Fully Accredited Auctionsplus Livestock Assessors and can assist you to sell your stock to a wider audience through Auctionsplus. CWL_April2015_PrintAd_HalfPage.pdf

CMY

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Norman C Bellamy Pty Ltd Stock & Station Agents 98 Brisbane Street Cowra Tracey : Office 02 6342 1155 02 6342 4115 info@normancbellamy.com.au 9:53 AM

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conserving the craft â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe that handcrafted goods and personal service will never go out of fashion.â&#x20AC;?

FROM EVERY meticulously crafted leathergood that lines the shelves of Bede Aldridge’s Dubbo workshop, there emanates a classic and timeless aura. It is a story that reflects endless hours of effort and immaculate craftsmanship. Saddlery is a unique trade requiring skill and passion, both of which Bede developed throughout the apprenticeship he commenced at age 16, fuelled by a love for horses and the Australian bush. As a youngster he rode horses for a local race trainer near his hometown of Yass and, in return, he was given access to a horse come polocrosse season, giving him a leg in to the sport he loved. Leatherwork became an enjoyable, personally satisfying outlet for Bede, and a link to his passion for horses. “In 2010 the doors of the saddlery were opened to the public,” Bede says. “Initially I crafted premium quality saddles and did repairs before growing the offerings to include an extended range of original leathergoods.” Paired with his wife Jemima’s creative flair and innovative marketing skills, Saddler & Co as a brand has progressed to a place neither Bede nor Jemima had anticipated. Jemima’s work can be seen in the behind-the-scenes strategic brand vision, the modern design of many of Bede’s creations, and the charismatic display of Saddler & Co products at field days and special events. “We designed an array of personal leathergoods for everyday use to add to the product range, which has evolved to include belts, bags, book covers, briefcases and cases for phones and tablets,” Jemima says.

It’s not every day that you encounter a family as dynamic and interesting as the Aldridges. Both Bede and Jemima are creative talents in their own right, encompassing a commendable work ethic that will only see them progress further into personal and professional success.

These everyday classics are proving popular, and Bede now makes most products to order.

There’s something delightfully old-fashioned about the Saddler & Co product, having been custom-made by Bede with love and care – perhaps with the buyer’s initials stamped tastefully in the corner if requested – before being packaged beautifully by Jemima and sent off to its lifelong partner.

“We believe that handcrafted goods and personal service will never go out of fashion,” Bede smiles. “Jemima and I both love working with our hands, and creating a personal and memorable experience for each customer to relish.” Cut to another supremely significant element of the couple’s life and you will be greeted with smiles all round by Bede and Jemima’s four boys: Caleb, Amos, Reuben and Hughie, who were all surely put on this earth to melt hearts. The boys are all lovers of the outdoors, and given the opportunity will gladly help their dad in the workshop, aprons on and ready to go. “Our children are very connected to what we do,” Jemima says with great pride. “I think encouraging creativity in what they do is important, no matter the pursuit.” “It’s about learning to take what you have at hand and making something out of it,” Bede adds. 114 CWL

Bede and Jemima cater wonderfully for the customer seeking outstanding quality in a classic product that has been made to last, and the most divine aspect of all is the humbling story that goes hand in hand with the Saddler & Co brand. Be sure to view the Saddler & Co offerings online at saddlerandco.com.au.

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Above: Bede and Jemima Aldridge make a formidable team. Right: Three of the four young Aldridge boys – Amos (6), Reuben (4), and Caleb (7). Words: Anna Tickle

Keep your eyes peeled for Saddler & Co at the following events: Mudgee Small Farm Field Days: 10-11 July AgQuip, Gunnedah: 18-20 August Henty Machinery Field Days: 22-24 September Australian National Field Days, Borenore: 22-24 October

“Our children are very connected to what we do.”

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Behold the beast SEEING A MOB OF BISON GRAZING ON AUSTRALIAN PASTURES FOR THE FIRST TIME IS A SURREAL EXPERIENCE.

THESE massive animals, characterised by their long, shaggy brown coats, have poor eyesight but acute hearing and an excellent sense of smell. Their temperament is often unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. Their most obvious weapons are their horns but their massive heads can be used as battering rams, effectively using the momentum produced by a 900kg mass moving at 50kmh! The hind legs can also be used to kill or maim with devastating effect. At the time bison ran wild, they were rated second only to the Alaska brown bear as a potential killer, even more dangerous than a grizzly. Dubbo-based bison breeder Steve Tolmie admires these traits and was the perfect man to breed them in the Central West. He has always done things a little differently, and for years ran a herd of Scottish Highlanders, also renowned for their shaggy coats and impressive-looking horns. Steve is one of only about five bison breeders in the country, and his Sandy Valley Bison are not just a novelty but a thriving enterprise. “These thunder beasts are certainly unusual,” he says. “They are the largest land mammal in North America since the end of the Ice Age. Males can stand 1.8 metres at the shoulder and can weigh up to a ton. Occasionally they grunt like a pig but otherwise don’t make much noise.” Steve runs about 50 head on his 200ha farm, which is about a 10th of the national herd. The recent rain has transformed the block into a veritable green oasis.

THE BOTTOM DOLLAR After many years of creating a market for his bison, Steve is now confident of his investment, with breeding age females commanding price tags of up to $8500. The oldest known bison to put a calf on the ground was an amazing 38 years, although most females average about 22 calves in their long lifecycle. Steve has two breeding bulls and two “learners”. “They won’t be interested in doing the business until they are nearly five years old,” he adds with a knowing grin. In the past few months, Steve has sold eight bison, with an unlikely new market being found within the cutting horse fraternity. “Bison are a fast, agile and extremely intelligent animal and the cutting people just love them. An average horse trained on a bison will run rings around a good horse trained with a steer.” As far as eating them, Steve maintains that a prime fillet of bison commands the same price as Wagyu beef, about $45 a kilo. “A 300g steak of beef is comparable to 200 grams of bison. Bison beats the hell out of all meats, except perhaps fish.” According to Steve, a lot of people confuse bison with buffalo, mainly due to western movies. “We have the African (Cape) buffalo and the Asian water buffalo but both are related to the goat family and not the cow family.”

“We had 142mm last month and the country hasn’t looked this good for at least 12 years,” he says as he whips around the paddock on his quad bike.

At the end of the day it is all about the economics. The meat from a single animal can command up to $10,000, the hide (called a robe) can be worth up to $1000 and the skull and bones the same. Even the intestines have a market while the horns have ornamental value and are often used to make powder flasks for hunting.

His bison perform well in any harsh environment, be it hot or cold. Building the herd over 10 years was a slow process, with the nucleus coming from a zoo and the rest sourced from Victorian breeder Ashley Brown, the only Australian to have imported live animals.

Steve clearly has an affinity with these wild looking but hardy beasts that roam over his paddocks. While he will never own a herd the size we often see in the movies, his bison are a contented lot that are way too valuable to come to the grizzly end of so many of their ancestors. >

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AGRICULTURE

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AGRICULTURE

Back from the brink According to the history books, millions of bison once thundered across the North American plains. Historians suggest numbers peaked in 1800 when there were an estimated 40 million bison roaming the countryside. About this time, the US Army sanctioned and actively endorsed the slaughter of bison herds and within 100 years they were almost hunted to extinction. They were hunted primarily for their pelts, with the rest of the animal left behind to decay on the ground. After the animals rotted, their bones were collected and shipped back east in large quantities. The federal government promoted bison hunting for various reasons: to allow ranchers to range their cattle without competition from other bovines, and primarily to weaken the North American Indian population by removing their main food source and to pressure them onto the reservations. Without the bison, native people of the plains were forced to leave the land or starve to death. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In those early days of American expansion, the men opening up the west would board a train with a special carriage after Sunday church and shoot up to 10,000 head in a single session,â&#x20AC;? Steve explains. Fortunately there were still a few hundred left in captivity and these have been used to slowly breed up numbers over the past century. Farming of bison has increased their population to nearly 150,000 in the US and the magnificent creature is no longer considered an endangered species. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake

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WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE WITH ROOTS FIRMLY SET IN THE DUBBO AREA, THE GRAINPRO TEAM EPITOMISE WHAT IT MEANS TO BALANCE AN OUTSTANDING BUSINESS REPUTATION WITH TRULY FULFILLED AND EMPOWERED STAFF.

OWNER Angela Hawke, originally from Parkes, established the boutique grain marketing company in 2006 and has since built upon relationship management as an inherent part of the Grainpro identity. Grain trading is not new to Angela, who has 20 years’ experience in the field, as well as five years in the wool export trade.

“As a small grain trading company we have flexibility that the corporate companies simply don’t,” Alex commented. “It really is a vibrant, enjoyable place to be, particularly as we all work so well together.”

“Grainpro supplies a variety of buyers ranging from small domestic wholesales to large multinationals,” Angela said.

Grainpro has well-established relationships with a number of reliable local carriers, and the team prides itself on its loyalty and transparency in dealings with stakeholders.

“Initially, Grainpro specialised in pulses, but we now enjoy a significant presence in the corn and cereal markets as well.

“We speak with growers on a daily basis, if not two to three times a day, to try to achieve the best outcome for them,” Alex said.

“We work alongside growers to establish target prices, and source customers from Egyptian merchants to small coastal dairy feed suppliers.”

“Our background and experience in agriculture shines through in the way we deal with our suppliers and buyers.”

Grainpro works in a timely and efficient manner to get the best outcome for all parties. The company’s focus, as described by Angela, is to “provide the best possible prices and service to our suppliers and buyers, always honour our agreements and, of course, make timely payments”. This approach has earned Grainpro the respect and esteem within a competitive grain trading area that the team is so proud of.

Kerry Lee, Grainpro’s well-versed accountant, can be thanked for the fact the company retains a high position in their bank’s list for effective record keeping. Ann-Maree Eves handles the administration, completing the talented and personable team of four.

In an industry as male-dominated as grain is, it’s certainly revitalising to spend some time chatting with the four Grainpro women, who share an authentic friendship and who run farms and families of their own. Grainpro is a lifestyle in which each member of staff thrives. An understanding of the market and an authentic industry background give the dynamic team an edge over larger companies. If knowledge is power, the Grainpro team is unstoppable. Grain trader Alexandra Stuart joined the team in 2010, and it’s clear that work for her is a most enjoyable, satisfying pastime. 120 CWL

A recent expansion to Wagga Wagga will see new staff coming on board shortly, and will allow Grainpro to create and maintain local ties with growers in new areas. Their national presence is growing alongside the outlook for grain trading, and Grainpro is certainly powering towards bigger and better milestones and success. CWL Above: The Grainpro team – Ann-Maree Eves, Kerry Lee, Angela Hawke and Alex Stuart. Words: Anna Tickle

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SECTION

INSPIRATION

THE flying FARMER LAWRIE DONOGHUE REMEMBERS WAGGING SCHOOL AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD TO GO FLYING IN AN OLD CESSNA 180, WHOSE PILOT WAS SPREADING FERTILISER OVER THE FAMILY FARM, “TOOLANGATTA”, NEAR TAMBAR SPRINGS.

FROM THAT point on young Lawrie knew he wanted to fly but first had to finish his schooling, which included eight years of boarding school.

Lawrie finally achieved his recreational flying licence in 2010 and by the end of 2012 had secured his unrestricted private pilot’s licence. Since then, in his Cessna 182 aircraft, he has clocked up more than 300 hours.

“When I left school in 1967 I hoped to pursue a career in aviation but I was sternly reminded by my father that this absurd notion was totally out of the question,” he laughs from his comfortable home on the outskirts of Dubbo.

Alison only got to enjoy his newfound freedom once, succumbing to cancer in 2012, barely a year after being diagnosed.

It would be a further 42 years before he finally got to achieve his lofty ambition of taking to the skies. Instead of flying he immersed himself on the 1800ha family farm, breeding Herefords and Merinos, growing crops and raising a young family with wife Alison. Over time they took over the running of the farm, taking the 200-strong Toolangatta stud herd to new levels through the early introduction of Breedplan and performance recording. “Some old-school cattlemen were suspicious of change but it occurred to me that if you don’t adopt new technology you are excluding yourself from a part of the market that demands it,” he says. Bulls were successfully marketed at Gloucester and Glen Innes bull sales from 1973 through to 1996. By 1997 the operation had expanded to the point where they were able to conduct their own on-property sales. By the time of their dispersal in 2004, ending 43 years’ involvement with the Hereford stud industry, the family were selling about 60 bulls each year to three states for a healthy $4000 average. In one year Toolangatta achieved the third highest Whiteface average in the nation, behind Courallie and Charvel studs. Five years later the farm was sold and with that chapter of their life closed, Lawrie and Alison started exploring new opportunities from their new base in Dubbo.

Lawrie had lost his best friend and soulmate of 40 years and was naturally devastated. Theirs was a tight-knit family who did everything together. Lawrie is immensely proud of his children. Daughter Kath inherited her father’s love of genetics, studying rural science at university before obtaining her PhD in genetics at the University of Georgia. She is now married and working at the Trangie Ag Research Station. Son Andrew was dux of his farm management course at Marcus Oldham College and is now product and business development manager for Practical Systems Software in Armidale. Andrew also caught the flying bug and has recently attained his private pilot’s licence. Both have two girls, who give Lawrie tremendous joy, as does his new friend Margaret Hughes, who tragically lost her own husband five months after Alison’s death. The pair share many values and enjoy each other’s company. Margaret has grown accustomed to both long and short flights with Lawrie and even accompanied him on a recent aerial flight across the Nullarbor to WA. “Life goes on,” he says quietly. “My motto is to always look for the opportunities in life and keep moving forward.” Lawrie Donoghue is certainly doing that and in a positive way. It may have taken most of his life to finally achieve his ambition to fly but this proud grandfather and humble Hereford breeder has finally ticked another box on his bucket list. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake

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Spotlight: DUNEDOO

The Busy Baker IT MAY BE considered a small town but there’s no shortage of satisfied customers streaming through the doors of Chad’s Bakery, run by local couple Chad and Jennifer Stanford. The business, established late last year in the former St Vincent de Paul shop, is known as the friendly bakery, with a wide selection of fresh pies, cakes, made-to-order sandwiches and monster chicken rolls to satisfy the grumbling stomachs of the most discerning diner. There is an espresso machine to help provide a kick-start to the day for both travellers and the local workforce. The cooking is all done by Chad, who has grown accustomed to 2am starts (making up to 200 pies and pastries in his morning shift) while Tracey Matthews is the friendly face behind the counter. Chad has had 20 years’ experience as a baker in many different Australian ports, including Darwin and Cairns. “I grew up in Dunedoo and my wife is a Coolah girl. We figured it was time to come home, slow down a bit and start our family,” he says. The Stanfords have a busy life with the thriving business and three kids ranging in age from nine years to six weeks old. Above: Chad and Jennifer (right) with some of their customers; Chad preparing for the day ahead.

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Ton of fun at Dunedoo Show THE 100TH DUNEDOO SHOW, HELD ON MARCH 20 AND 21, WAS HERALDED IN WITH MOTHER NATURE TESTING THE SPIRITS OF THE RESILIENT CROWD WHO BRAVED THE BLUSTERY SOUTH-EASTERLY AUTUMN WINDS. NOT EVEN THE CHALLENGING WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF THE HARDWORKING COMMITTEE, ENTHUSIASTIC SPECTATORS AND THE DEDICATED COMPETITORS WHO BROUGHT ALL MANNER OF EXHIBITS TO BE CRITIQUED BY THE JUDGES OF THE CENTENARY SHOW. IT ALL BEGAN over 100 years ago when the first exhibition, called a “carnival”, was held on Mr Herb Nott’s property, “Rosedale”, Dunedoo. It was hailed a tremendous success with approximately 1000 people present (source: The Mudgee Guardian, May 8, 1913).

Some of the real highlights of this year’s Centenary Show were the sheep pavilion, the poultry pavilion, the wool pavilion and the stud cattle section, as well as the Bowman pavilion, the ring events and show jumping, the steer riding, poddy calf riding and mutton busting.

A show has been held in Dunedoo every year since then, except for three years when the show was abandoned during the Second World War (1942-1944).

The Bowman pavilion once again maintained its good record, having quality entries and an impressive showing of cooking, preserves, junior section, art, photography and needlework as well as horticulture, garden produce and farm produce.

Since then, the show has seen many presidents, secretaries and treasurers collaborate with their loyal and diligent committees to bring a showcase of local exhibits and produce for all to enjoy. One of the longest serving office bearers must be Stirling Fergusson, whose tenure began as treasurer in 1988 and his commitment in the role still continues to the present day! His nearest rival must surely be Les Bowman, president for 18 years (1928-1948 including the three exempt war years). Ronald Bowman, the current charismatic president who began his term in 2012, commented that this year’s show was a huge success with gate takings up significantly on previous years.

The two new sections in the Bowman pavilion proved to be hugely popular with entrants and spectators. These were the men’s butter cake competition, won by Peter Bennetts, and the home brewing competition, won by Andy Carpenter’s famous Munich Lager, the Champion Brew of Show. Dunedoo has long been known as a powerhouse area for producing high-quality wool and sheep, so it came as no surprise that there was an astounding showing of 380 head of sheep in the sheep pavilion. Sheep exhibitors were competing for prizes in the stud Merino section, unhoused stud Merinos and flock Merinos, as well British Breed stud

sheep consisting of Border Leicester, White Suffolk, Black Suffolk, Poll Dorset, Australian Whites, Dorset Horns and prime lambs. Among very strong competition, Max Rayner from Grathlyn Merino Stud, Mudgee, took home the coveted awards of Grand Champion ewe and Grand Champion ram in the Merino section. In the wool pavilion, exhibits were of extremely high quality with the massive number of 140 individual fleeces being exhibited. The Gaden family of Lockerbie Partnership Dunedoo won the Most Successful Exhibitor in the wool section. Three generations of the Gaden family, represented by Frank, Jean, William and Jackie and children Ollie and Madeleine, were all present on the day to receive the Lugsdin trophy donated by the late J.W. Lugsdin in 1955. Alister and Graham Lugsdin, sons of J.W. Lugsdin, (formerly of Cobbora Station, Cobbora) were on hand to present the trophy to the Gaden family. >

Above: Charlotte and Georgia Cluff, “Olive Lodge”, Dunedoo; the view of the sheep pavilion; Sally and Mark Dent, Cobbora Station, Dunedoo. CWL 127

The cattle section was well represented with more than 30 head of cattle competing. Top honours went to Nicholas Job, Royalla Shorthorn Stud, Yeoval, taking out the Supreme All Breeds Exhibit. The poultry section was once again housed with quality entries and the shed overflowing with exhibits. The domestic pets and dog section proved to be very popular under the watchful eyes of Chief Steward Ryan Beckingham and veteran judge Mark Powell of Coolah, who both did a wonderful job. The ring events once again drew a large number of competitors showing quality livestock. The new horse section of miniature horses, small horses and little horses was well supported with more than 30 entries on the day.

The Armstrong family of Pemcaw Meri

no Stud: Lou and Jen with Tom, Henry,

Sarah and Harry.

Additionally, the show jumping had approximately 60 individual horses competing and was very successful with one of the highlights being the last event: the Junior and Open Six Bar Jump. The sheep dog trials proved to be a crowd pleaser with more than 40 individual dogs competing. Although this event was watched with much engagement, the downside revealed itself in the form of the dust created by the trials and which covered almost everything in its path! Another unique event was the speed shear, and with more than $4000 in prize money up for grabs, it attracted lots of energetic competitors and kept the crowd entertained.

k Farm, Helen and John Wood, Goodiman Cree for itect arch the is Mebul, via Gulgong. John be to are h whic , lions pavi show new the completed by December 2015.

Angela Copeland, “Glengarry”, Dunedoo , with Jacquie Gaden “Lockerbie”, Dunedoo, and four-year-old Madeleine Gaden.

After the final of the open shearing competition, the winner and second place getters participated in a shear-off for the Leukaemia Foundation, shearing the heads of two gentlemen, Oscar from France and Kyle from Ireland, and raising $2000. The pinnacle of this year’s show was the official opening. Official guests included Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries and wife Lindy, Member for Parkes Mark Coulton and wife Robyn, 2015 Dunedoo Showgirl Effie Fergusson, Show President Ronald Bowman and wife Judy, and Show Treasurer Stirling Fergusson and wife Belinda.

The Gaden family of Lockerbie Partnership, Dunedoo, won the Lugsdin Trophy for the Most Successful Exhibitor in the Wool Section. Pictured is Graham Lugsdin with Madeleine, Jacquie, Oliver and Will Gaden, Jean and Frank Gaden, Brenda Cox (nee Lugsdin) and Allister Lugsdin.

After Mr Humphries declared the Centenary Show open, there was a ceremonial cutting of the Dunedoo Centenary birthday cake, very capably baked by Chad’s Bakery, Dunedoo. Mrs Graham, wife of the late W.A. Graham OBE and show president from 1959 to 1962, did the honours of cutting the cake. Dunedoo can be proud of its amazing achievement. With 100 years of shows to its credit, it can rest easy knowing the true spirit of this wonderful country community is alive and well. CWL Words: Elizabeth Tickle and Ronald Bowman Images: Heidi Rookyard

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The show was opened by Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon. Kevin is pictured with his wife Lindy Humphries, and Peter Milling, Dubbo.

ttle Vale”, Scott Russell, Dunedoo, and Brett Yeo, “Wa of Dunedoo, with Phil and Justin Stoddart . edoo Dun P/L, Co and Leigh Stoddart

COUNTRY SHOW

pion ram were Grand Champion ewe and Grand Cham no Stud, Meri hlyn Grat er, Rayn Max by ed both own n, ingto Codd hew Mudgee. Pictured is Matt e judg ewe, the ing hold bo, Dub , Roseville Park en, Hard , Stud no Andrew Davis, Demondrille Meri er. Rayn Max and

his Wool steward David Seis, Garry Cox with ation oper ly fami the from e fleec pion Grand Cham , edoo Dun , Stud at Langdene Merino and show president, Ronald Bowman.

Dunedoo Show president Ronald Bowman with Robyn Coulton and Mark Coulton, Mem ber for Parkes.

Sid Reynolds, Turee Station, Coolah, and Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon.

Judge of the dog section, Mark Powell, Coolah, with Ally Bogie and her Grand Champion Chihuahua, Gizmo, and the 2015 Showgirl, Effie Fergusson .

Father Carl Mackander, Wellington, There se Sullivan, Warrumbungle Shire Councillor Chris Sulliv an, Dunedoo, and Dorothy Stanford, “Narangarie” Lead ville.

The Supreme Hack was awarded to Jam ee Dutton, Wellington, with her Champion Large Hack, Sentimental Moment (centre). Jamee also own ed the Champion Galloway Hack, Paint the Pictu re (left). The Champion Pony Hack (right) was Kolbeach Honours , owned by Isabella Stinson, Willow Tree. Pictured are judg es Michael Smith and Sheila Bryant, Wellington.

Chief steward of the Bowman Pavilion Sam Johnston (centre) with the pavilion’s most successful exhibitors, Judy and John Robinson.

with Neville Stanford “Narangarie”, Leadville, ndra. Gilga , ona” “Ardm n, Paga r Sandra and Roge

Exhibitor Nicholas Job, Royalla Shorthor n Stud, Yeoval, and judge Shelley Cherry with the Supreme All Breeds Exhibit in the stud beef cattle section, Royalla Quo Vadis.

Most Successful Exhibitors in the wool section were Will and Frank Gaden of Lockerbie Partnership, Dunedoo.

John Horne is a local histor of the Dunedoo Histo ian and President rical Museum Inc. CWL 129

Centenary milestone for MILLING STUART

THE champagne flowed in Dunedoo when stock and station agency Milling Stuart Pty Ltd celebrated a remarkable milestone in reaching 100 years in business. The business held a centenary function in December, attracting 400 guests from across the state. Guests included current and former clients, employees, and two generations of family members of the original proprietors, including members of the Milling, Horne, Johnston and Yeo families.

The agency was originally started and owned by Mr H.E. Horne and Mr O.L. Milling in 1914, and descendant Peter Milling presented a wonderful speech. Roger Fletcher of Fletcher International also gave a speech congratulating Milling Stuart. The 100-year continuation of the agency is something that current principal John Stuart, together with his nephews Jamie and Angus Stuart and office manager Fleur Guan, are very proud of, particularly as it has always been a family-run concern. The business has become one of the leading privately owned saleyards in NSW. John is quick to praise the quality of the locally produced livestock, and to credit the success of the business over the past 100 years to the loyal support from the local community. Words: Alison Kensit Images: Alison Kensit and Natalie Ghiggioli

1. Jamie and Angus Stuart, Roger Fletcher, Fleur Guan, Peter Milling and John Stuart. 2. Adele Stoddart Jacquie Gaden and Alison Kensit. 3. Eddie Martin, Sarah Rose, Ant Martin and Troy Rose. 4. Gabby and Peter Milling. 5. Philip Wentworth-Brown, Mike Bowman, Alistair McClaren, Lou Armstrong and Henry Rouse. 6. Scott and Sandra Tudgey. 7. Louise Monk and Michelle Ward. 8. Robyn Croft and Victoria Seis. 9. Nick and Corinda, John and Jann, Ben and Tamsin, Jeremy and Victoria Stuart. 10. David Croft, Garwain Bowman and Jamie Milling. 11. Rosie and Angus Stuart with Pete and Claire Portelli. 12. John and Vera Shadwell, Peter Attwood, Ken Milling and Margaret Yeo.

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EDUCATION

A Smart CHOICE CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY (CSU) STUDENTS SAY DUBBO IS A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY WITH GREAT FACILITIES, A SPACIOUS CAMPUS AND HELPFUL LECTURERS AND STAFF WHO TAKE A REAL INTEREST IN THEIR WELL-BEING.

AT CSU’S Dubbo campus, staff members strive to provide their students with a university experience that is relevant to their needs, stimulates and satisfies their curiosity and empowers them to pursue the life they want. It’s a university education that prepares people for life in the real world while ensuring they have the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to actively engage in that world and their own future. Students from all walks of life say that Dubbo’s a great place to study because of the support for developing students’ academic skills. CSU is also mature-age student friendly and staff members are professionally up to date, ensuring all students are being taught current professional practice. Small numbers mean students can get lots of hands-on experience in the labs or practice rooms. There’s a high rate of full-time employment for Dubbo graduates in all professions. For example, over the past 12 years of graduating nurses, local health services have employed all Dubbo nursing graduates who have applied for a Registered Nurse position upon completion of their BN. These outstanding statistics are clear evidence that the CSU BN course has a good reputation within the nursing profession. Academic staff who deliver the professional degree programs have established excellent connections with professional staff based in schools, hospitals and other workplaces throughout the Central and Western regions of NSW. This is a critical element in ensuring the relevance of their course content and, ultimately, the value of their teaching programs for all students coming in to CSU to undertake a professional degree prior to going out to work in their chosen profession in the community in which they choose to live. 134 CWL

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Residential Program Find out about our all-round opportunities, caring culture, Evening Study Centre and family-style accommodation. With just 50 boarders, girls make life-long friends with fellow boarders and day girls. Apply early to avoid disappointment. Please telephone the Director of Enrolments on (02) 9409 4440 or email enrolments@wenona.nsw.edu.au to arrange a tour. Wenona School 176 Walker Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060 www.wenona.nsw.edu.au @Wenona_School

Do you live in the Central West and want to go to uni? Let’s talk. At Charles Sturt University (CSU), we want to work with our communities to help people achieve their dreams. Like you, we care about the quality of people’s lives in remote areas of NSW, and we want to give you opportunities close to home. CSU’s Dubbo Campus provides study options that will allow you to build an exciting future right here in the country and place you love. We have a small, caring campus where all staff and students know each other, so you will be supported at each step of your study journey. Let’s talk about how you can achieve your higher education goals. Tell us what you want to achieve and we can help you choose the course to get you there. Studying at CSU means you can choose the course to get the lifestyle and future you want.

6885 7305 www.csu.edu.au/dubbo

A11122

Drop in to CSU’s Dubbo Campus or give us a call to start the conversation today.

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SCOTS171_CWL HP Ad_Apr 2015.indd 2

27/03/2015 12:58 pm

Every story has a beginning

ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN Kinross Wolaroi School offers Pre-Prep to Year 12 co-educational learning in a safe and friendly country environment, with separate boarding sites for boys and girls from Year 7. The distinctiveness of Kinross Wolaroi School centres on the wide range of opportunities available to students, both inside the classroom and beyond. 136 CWL

â&#x20AC;˘ Applications for enrolment in 2017 and 2018 are now open â&#x20AC;˘ Places available for 2016 in some year groups, limited number for Year 7 Boarding Contact Registrar, Michelle Pryse Jones P: 6392 0300 M: 0427 683 751 E: mprysejones@kws.nsw.edu.au www.kws.nsw.edu.au

RED BEND CATHOLIC COLLEGE A local community of mission within the Australian Marist community

t us

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all girls pre-kinder to year 12.

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boarding from year 5.

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‘Through difficulties to greatness’

In alliance with PLC SydNey

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ENROL NOW FOR 2016 ‘Be A Light To The World’

A Catholic faith community dedicated to excellence in the education of young women

MacKillop College PO Box 691 Bathurst NSW 2795 P: (02) 6338 2200 E: mackillop@bth.catholic.edu.au W: www.mackillopcollege.com.au

‘An Educational And Boarding Experience For Young Rural Women from Years 7 to 12’ CWL 137

EDUCATION

FEELING right at home TARA ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS WELCOMED AT THE START OF THE YEAR A NEW DIRECTOR OF BOARDING, MRS SAMANTHA COCKS. MRS Cocks is keen to meet new families from regional NSW, having lived on the Central Coast of NSW. As a previous teacher of languages, Mrs Cocks is looking forward to a new period of Tara boarding as she brings her family onsite to create a great family-like atmosphere for the boarders to enjoy. “Before this year I had three children, now my family has expanded to 53 children. I love the community of sisters that I felt straight away between the girls,” Mrs Cocks said. Tara, an Anglican day and boarding school established in North Parramatta in 1897, has just over 50 boarders. Each girl is personally known and cared for, which is an advantage of being a smaller boarding house, something Tara has offered since 1958. “An advantage of boarding is that everything is available to the girls at their fingertips. They can get involved in everything that the school

offers, including 23 sports and the astronomy centre for budding scientists. Tara boarders have easy access to the school’s grounds with surrounding fields, pool and fitness centre. Just on our doorstep are museums in the city, Luna Park, and Wet and Wild Theme Park to visit on the weekends,” she said. For more information contact the Tara Enrolments Office at enrol@tara.nsw.edu.au. Scholarships entry Tara is offering multiple boarding and tuition scholarships to girls entering Tara who demonstrate a willingness and ability to enter fully into the life of the school. There will also be additional means-related scholarships for girls. To apply visit our website www.tara.nsw.edu.au. Inquiries to scholarship@tara.nsw.edu.au or meet us at the next Dubbo, Newcastle or Tamworth expo.

New Tara Boarding Scholarships for 2016 In 1897 Tara Anglican School for Girls was established as a boarding school in Parramatta. Regional Boarding Scholarships reflect the school’s continuing commitment to providing outstanding educational opportunities for girls from rural areas. Tara is offering multiple Boarding Scholarships to girls entering Years 7 and 9 in 2016 who demonstrate a willingness and ability to enter fully into the life of the school. There will also be additional means-related scholarships for girls. The application and portfolio submission is due to the Scholarships Office at Tara by Friday 31 July 2015. To apply visit our website tara.nsw.edu.au Enquiries to scholarship@tara.nsw.edu.au or visit us at the Dubbo, Newcastle or Tamworth expos.

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St Stanislausâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; College,Bathurst EMBEDDING EXCELLENCE IN BOYS EDUCATION

2016 enrolment applications are now being accepted We believe Stannies offers outstanding educational opportunities for boys through a rich and diverse curriculum. We have a broad range of co-curricular opportunities that cover all interests including sport, creative and performing arts, agriculture, equestrian, chess, public speaking, debating, computing and stage management. A boarding enrolment in 2015 of more than 120 students will provide rich diversity, meeting a range of interests in a total enrolment of 600. The main College campus is set on 38 acres near the centre of Bathurst incorporating 7 playing fields, an Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, an indoor recreation venue, well-appointed classrooms and specialist areas in a combination of modern and heritage listed buildings. If you are interested in providing your son with an educational experience which has demonstrated consistent success, please contact the Registrar for enrolment forms and details on 6331 4177 or email registrar@stannies.com

220 Bentinck Street, Bathurst

Phone: 6331 4177

www.stannies.com

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Magnificent MENA MENA WAS BUILT IN 1875 AS A HOME FOR ONE OF THE FOUNDING FAMILIES IN ORANGE, THE DALTONS.

JAMES DALTON, a prominent Orange merchant and pastoralist, had the residence constructed for his eldest son, Thomas Dalton. Designed when art nouveau was at its peak, Mena is believed to be the work of renowned architect and designer Benjamin Backhouse, who was also responsible for other famous Dalton properties such as Duntryleague (1876), Kangaroobie (1902) and Ammerdown (1906). During its long history the homestead became a maternity hospital from around 1930 to 1954, run by the formidable Matron Coote, and was sectioned off as flats at other times. Fortunately for Mena and its lovely surrounding garden, current custodian Scott Gilbank has beautifully restored the home and grounds to their former glory. It is a showpiece both inside and out.

The front garden fence dates back to the 1950s or ’60s. Scott’s aim was to formalise the front garden and to improve the colour scheme to complement the homestead’s paintwork and gorgeous leadlight windows surrounding the front door. So out went the yellow roses to be replaced with pinks and soft tones. Scott loves apricot Just Joey, which he says is bulletproof, and the front fence displays ‘Parole’ (a dark pink, highly fragrant hybrid tea rose), ‘Sight Saver’ (palest pink) and ‘The Children’s Rose’ (a mid-sized pink with a sweet fragrance). Standard white ‘Iceberg’ roses border the front verandah while frothy pink ‘Bonica’ roses on half standards grace the side gardens. Purple rhododendrons enjoy the shade of a neighbouring tree, and a sprawling ‘Cécile Brunner’ rose decorates the corner post.

Ornamented yet formally simple, the distinctive exterior of Mena makes a trip down Kite Street in Orange a memorable one.

Low box hedges provide a deep green formality to this area and seasonal plantings of annual petunias in summer and flowering pansies in winter add a burst of colour at ground level. Potted camellias along the verandah add winter flowers when the roses are bare. The verdant green lawn is a showpiece, and was hand-seeded with a mixture of Heritage Lawn seed (including Fescue and Kentucky Blue Grass) by Scott after he had removed 11 tonnes of depleted soil by hand and reinstated new soil, levelled and groomed the seed bed! He’s a dedicated Scott Bonnar “reel mower” greenkeeper, and cuts the lawn to perfection – including checkerboard pattern. >

The khaki-clad gardener on the mower or trimming the roses in the front garden is also the owner of this heritage-listed property. Photographer Scott Gilbank purchased Mena in 2003, but didn’t move in or begin renovations until 2005. The house was restored first, and while the building works were underway, Scott began to tackle the garden. Scott recalls how the eastern verandah looked before the restoration. Completely filled in when the home was sectioned into three flats, the verandah was reinstated and new tessellated tiles had to be laboriously cut by hand to match the imperial sized tiles on the front verandah. It took four tilers a week to complete, an indication of the dedication and eye for detail Scott has exhibited in every aspect of the restoration of Mena. The original garden was around two acres, and included an orchard and tennis court. Today the block is 2340 square metres (just over half an acre), the front garden a showpiece of immaculate lawns, low box hedges and pretty flowering roses. The rear garden is a charming blend of formality and softness.

Facing page: Mena’s front garden features manicured lawns, neatly clipped box hedges and profuse roses; standard ‘Iceberg’ roses border the front verandah; charming ornamentation, tessellated tiles and stained glass –Mena’s welcoming entry. Above: Verdant green lawn and box hedging; frothy pink ‘Bonica’ roses; statuary among the leafy green back garden.

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GARDEN

Outside the kitchen, a formal paved courtyard is home to large pots containing a variety of fruit and citrus trees including cumquat, Kaffir lime, patio apple, fig and dwarf nectarine, which revel in the warmth retained by the masonry walls. A paved pathway leads you past the stables to the shady oasis of the rear garden. Here, enormous tortured willow trees (Salix matsudana) tower overhead joined by Chinese poplars, narrow poplar and delicate foliaged Gingko to create a green shady oasis. A pair of elegant “cut-leaf” standard maple trees frame the entrance, and a green swathe of lawn invites you to lie and look up at the canopy. Under the mature trees Scott used blue stone to edge and shape the garden beds and introduced layered plantings including flowering Hydrangeas , white mock orange Philadelphus and other shrubs that were transplanted from the front garden. Crab apples, maples, pink flowering cherry, magnolia, rhododendron and holly form a second canopy between the shrubs and towering trees. Hellebores (Winter rose), honesty, Bergenia, violets, tree ferns and many other shade-loving perennials cover the ground and provide seasonal interest when they flower. Variegated Pittosporum forms a hedge, and its lighter-coloured leaves contrast well with the greens. Scott says there’s a sea of tree roots all competing for moisture, and thanks to a regime of mulching and the fully automated bore he installed he’s able to keep the water up, making sure the garden is lush year round. > 142 CWL

Above: Picture perfect – historic Mena viewed from Kite Street; elegant interiors – the formal dining room and the beautifully restored and furnished music room; miniature Pinschers Bonnie and Ben love romping around the garden and sat momentarily for a photo with owner Scott Gilbank. Facing page, L-R from top: Pink Kurume Azalea; scented mock orange Philadelphus blooms prolifically in dappled shade; potted Camellias line the front verandah; the rear garden is a sheltered green oasis; deep pink ‘Parole’ roses; Hydrangea enjoy the shade; the tessellated walkway in the front garden; towering tree canopy; patio-standard ‘Bonica’ roses along the driveway.

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GARDEN

Monarch butterflies are welcome visitors to the garden but three years ago a colony of 1000 bats arrived one night to take up residence in the trees. After a month National Parks and Wildlife counted 4000. The bats eventually moved on to nearby Cook Park and then migrated before the tree canopy was destroyed. Storms, too, over the years have taken their toll on the tree canopy, and not long after our visit Scott lost large branches from the tortured willows, but fortunately there’s still plenty of tree cover, making the rear garden a green shady oasis. The deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, allowing in lots of welcome sunlight, and mulch the garden beds below with loads of leaf litter. The leathery poplar leaves don’t break down well, so Scott rakes and loads these up for disposal. The rear garden also houses several outbuildings, including stables, gardener’s cottage and garden shed. Inside the stables is a fully restored steel-rimmed buggy, which Scott displays on open days and for garden weddings. The sound of the steel rims on the gravel drive is reminiscent of a bygone era. Mena received a Heritage Award in 2010 for renovation work, and was awarded best Open Town Garden by the Orange City Council Garden Competition in 2008 and 2010, when nearly 2000 visitors took the opportunity to view this magnificently maintained garden. Scott Gilbank has lovingly and meticulously restored and cared for Mena both inside and out and he is to be congratulated for his fine efforts. We wish Scott all the very best for the next interesting chapter of his life and thank him warmly for the opportunity to share Mena with our readers. As we go to press Mena is for sale, and is waiting for new owners to take over the guardianship. CWL Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Angus Waddell & Scott Gilbank

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Above: Garden outbuildings (left and right) include this cute and practical gardener’s cottage with a potting area; the sundrenched rear courtyard is home to a collection of potted fruit trees. In days gone by: The Mena street front; the view from the front of the western side and stables; the front of Mena looking to the north west. These images were taken around 1926/1927, by Elizabeth Newcombe (nee Howse), daughter of Sir Neville Howse (second owners of Mena). Mena was originally named Killarney, as per James Dalton’s Irish heritage.

Tranquil. It's the perfect word to describe the Japanese Garden. You can't help but feel completely at peace when you walk through the lush gardens and cascading streams which represent the landscapes of Japan: where the hill is a mountain, streams are the rivers and the ponds, inland lakes and the sea. Spend some time walking around the exquisitely manicured Kaiyushiki (strolling) garden. Special features include a traditional Tatami Room, 3 Room Cultural Centre, Tea House, Bonsai House, Bonsho Bell, Gift Shop, Audio Guides, Golf Buggy Hire and Café. Open Daily 8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Closed Christmas Day) Admission charges apply Ken Nakajima Place (PO Box 248), Cowra NSW 2794 P: +61 2 6341 2233 F: +61 2 6341 1875 E: info@cowragarden.com.au www.cowragarden.com.au

Narromine Iris Farm

Mail order all year round to all States. Free colour catalogue of irises or check website. Irises $11 each with some specials at $5 each (our choice). Geranium cuttings available 20 for $30. Postage $12 NSW $15 interstate on parcels. Over 1200 different varieties of tall bearded iris. Also Louisanna (water ) iris, and Spurias, Daylilies, Geraniums, Pelargoniums, Pigface and Poppy seeds. Enjoy a free Cuppa in the lovely shaded picnic area and browse through the wonderful collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, corals and shells.

Open 6 days a week – Closed Saturdays� “Villa Nova’, Narromine NSW 2821� Buses welcome but appreciate booking

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Innovative, sustainable garden design Central-West NSW • D.A & C.C Plans T. 02 6343 8288 E. info@outscape.net.au

www.outscape.net.au CWL 145

NARELLAN POOLS WESTERN PLAINS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP Locally operated since 1989 Large range of great shapes and sizes of fibreglass inground swimming pools and spas. Fully installed or Kit options

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FOR GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY CALL US

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Vintage Charm I ADORE vintage home fashion. Who would have thought this was possible? When I was a young woman I embraced everything new and hip – old things seemed so boring – until the first day I set foot in an antique shop in Paddington, Queensland, at the ripe old age of 20 and fell in love with a restored silky oak carved cupboard. It was love at first sight. Thus began the very humble beginnings of a love affair with antiques, timber and unique collectables. Vintage interior design is an emerging trend in home style and decorating. Old pieces incorporated into home décor today become stand-alone character pieces that effortlessly exude warmth and personality. In our short history, new Australians have been able to draw on a variety of decorating styles, such as Late Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau/Deco and more recently modern, to titivate the internal charm of our homes. Fads certainly come and go, yet vintage styling has always been very much “on-trend”. A vintage touch is unique and adds incredible charm to our interiors. Even those who love a minimalistic look will often include a small vintage piece within their décor. Perhaps it is the nostalgia that comes with the style? People are attached to heirlooms and treasures that are given to them by dear friends or a loved one and use these tastefully to enhance spaces in the home. Whatever the reason, there is something very special about the past and the present harmoniously working together within our homes. 148 CWL

HOME & STYLE Modern vintage decorating mixes old and new décor. The key to using vintage in your home successfully depends on blending the key pieces you adore with the remainder of your home décor so that it appears seamless and authentic. To illustrate this point, here is an example: Picture your fresh tropical outdoor room, with its classic wicker furniture, modern cushions in a deep green palm frond design, modern hurricane lamps filled with zesty citrus candles. The room is underlined by a stained timber deck with white timber French doors. Now introduce vintage: a cane coffee table picked up at a garage sale (would look amazing with a lick of Dulux Namadji), a cabbage leaf design platter found on vintage online website serving your nibbles at wine o’clock time, a silver tray with silver teapot and crystal glassware, your mum’s wedding gifts passed on to you. These vintage items provide the “British Colonial” touch. Perfect spot for hosting High Tea by day and Singapore Slings once the sun sets.

Enjoy your adventures discovering your local flea markets, garage sales, antique shops and vintage homewares stores.

It is the contrast of the worn against the new that adds charm to the modern vintage style of decorating. Perhaps you have a brand new kitchen, it could be a painted finish in white with stainless steel appliances. Everything is quite modern and sleek. The overall feel of your kitchen will change if you add in wicker baskets, an etched crystal vase filled with flowers and a well-travelled wall clock. Layering in an industrial-style pendant light over your island bench will also provide depth and character to what could be an otherwise bland room lacking in soul. Art, vintage rugs, statement pieces, such as a hand-carved mirror or furniture with classic lines, work beautifully with the modern vintage décor. Very popular is having older-style furniture painted and then used in a different way to what it was originally intended. For example, take an Edwardian sideboard and transform its tired, honey-coloured facade into a Hamptons-style TV console with a few soft grey paint strokes and some new brass, aged gold or black handles (the latest in hardware trends). The best part about undertaking a project of this kind is that no one else will have the same piece! Giving an old piece of furniture a modern twist with a custom paint job is a clever way to combine vintage with modern. Of course, the patina of antiques also forms a striking contrast against modern paint colours and finishes. There is nothing more beautiful than an antique dining table in Queensland Maple surrounded with white cross-backed chairs positioned in a room filled with indigo and white fabric, a sisal rug, silver painted pressed metal ceilings and cornices, crisp antique white VJ walls adorned with black and white photography. Exquisite blend of vintage and modern. Can you visualise this? Stunning! It is really up to you how much vintage you want to weave into your overall scheme. When your final result feels soothing and balanced, you’ve achieved a successful blend of vintage and modern.

Pip

Words, styling and images: Pip Teys

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• English furniture • Interesting collectables • Decorative items • Vintage teawares Gift Certificates and Layby available | Valuation service offered Goddard’s silver cleaner & National Trust polish available 2013 Carillon Business Awards Best New Business Winner 2014 Small Retail Finalist

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We buy vintage, old wares & antique individual items or house clearance

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Be Inspired....

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29 Talbragar Street Dubbo NSW 2830 Tel: 02 6882 9528

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blue crush BLUE AND WHITE TOGETHER IS SERENE, TIMELESS AND POETIC. IT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BLUE SKY AND FLUFFY WHITE CLOUDS. CALMING AND RESTFUL.

I’VE LOST COUNT of the number of people I know who list their favourite colour as blue, yet are afraid to incorporate this colour into their decorating. Blue and white is an extremely versatile and evocative colour combination. Introducing blue and white into your homes can be executed in unlimited ways. Blue and white is a timeless duo that rarely goes out of style. Thinking about the colour wheel, there isn’t a colour that blue and white would not blend with, in any décor setting. Blue and white mixes extremely well with all timber tones, yellows, greens, black, red and even pink! If you love blue and white, why not give it a go in your home? The variety of blues to choose from is extensive, from the palest sky blue through turquoise and cobalt to deep indigo blue and navy. It can be a cool colour, but that doesn’t necessarily mean cold – as long as you use the right shade of blue in the right light conditions, it’s more refreshing than icy. Scandinavians, starved of light for much of the year, used to paint their interiors in shades of grey-blue – this family of colours enhances natural light and brightens rooms while still managing to remain quite cool. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the deepest shades of blue (rich indigo or blue-black), teamed with antiques and textural elements, can conjure up an opulent and quite an exotic effect. Washes of different tones of blue can create a suitably watery environment in the bathroom while a soft shade of blue is extremely restful in the bedroom or a child’s room. It was once the colour of choice in the kitchen because, oddly, it was thought to keep flies away. Now more often than not, it is chosen in that particular setting because of its association with traditional blue and white tiles or crockery, like Churchill China Blue.

To make deeper shades of blue really pop, pair it with a white background. The combination creates a bold and bright palette suitable for any room and without being overwhelming. Add darker wood accents for balance. As illustrated in the above image, a dark denim blue wall is dramatic in this predominantly white bedroom for a man-child’s (new name for my 18-year-old son) bedroom. This deep shade of blue also adds cosiness and intimacy to the overall feel of the room. In a room such as this, because of the strong contrast, just one or two blue and white accessories (crab cushion and artwork above the bed) will make a huge impact in a room. With the presence of stained timber, natural sisal rug, lots of white accessories (bed linen, painted walls, painted study desk) and accents of black, nickel and a touch of olive green – this room is a winning combination. Blue and white is a colour scheme that has been popular for centuries. This timeless colour palette dates back to the ninth century when cobalt-blue pigments were used to create motifs on white pottery and porcelain in China. Chinese blue and white wares are traditional accessories that suit a room of any style and colour. During the 18th century, blue and white printed designs on fabric appeared in France. And, of course, the Blue Danube series of crockery. Blue and white is well travelled! Blue and white appeals to a large number of people because it looks so natural. In interior design blue and white is tasteful and refined. It exudes a simplistic grace that seems to elude other colour combinations. Consider shaping a room or verandah nook in blue and white. You are sure to be pleasantly surprised!

Pip

Words, styling and images: Pip Teys

“Blue is the only colour which maintains its own character in all its tones . . . it will always stay blue.” RAOUL DUFY, FRENCH FAUVIST PAINTER, 1877-1953

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Peta Carolan 79 Talbragar Street DUBBO CWL 153

WELCOME TO THE LIGHT-FILLED AND PERFECTLY CURATED SPACE OF BELINDA SATTERTHWAITE – THE FRIENDLY FACE BEHIND TOMOLLY, A HOMEWARES AND GIFT STORE IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC MILLTHORPE. BELINDA, her husband Stephen and their two children, Tom, 19, and Molly, 18, live in a charming cottage that is more than 100 years old and is brimming with character. Belinda is a collector, but not in the typical sense, as she is selective about the pieces that adorn her home so as not to clutter the space. With a clear eye for style and a natural ability to decorate, her kitchen/dining area is a visual delight with interesting pieces everywhere you look.

Belinda’s

How would you describe your space? It’s a light-filled space within a humble cottage. A place where we can relax, unwind and reflect. There are little touches of Tomolly here living alongside pieces we have collected over the years from tips, secondhand stores and antique shops.

SPACE

What do you love about the space? I love our white floors. Two years ago we painted the walls, ceilings, skirting boards and floors all white. We used a colour called Sunnydale, gave the floor three coats and it still looks as fresh and white today as the day we painted it.

Choose one piece in the room and tell its story: We found the slow combustion heater at the tip and Stephen painted it pot belly black. I’ve always looked at things differently and like to see the potential in things that people throw away. There was originally an open fire in the kitchen, but we installed the slow combustion heater and use it every winter.

If the room was on fire and you could only save one thing, what would it be? That would have to be the toys on the mantelpiece. The planes were a gift from my sister to my son Tom when he was born and the old toy truck was Stephen’s when he was a boy. What advice do you have for those decorating their own homes? Do whatever you want. Don’t let others tell you how to decorate your home, decorate it to suit yourself. Don’t follow trends and only choose pieces you love. Words, images and styling: Amanda O’Sullivan, RedAgape Guesthouse Millthorpe (www.redagapeblog.com)

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LOCAL SPACES 6

The crisp white floors and walls provide an ideal canvas for displaying Belindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully styled vignettes. The canvas from Paper Pear, in contrasting black and white, includes Millthorpe as a key destination.

Childhood toys belonging to Stephen and Tom are displayed meaningfully in the heart of the kitchen.

Flashes of red have been carefully used to add interest and contrast to the white and wooden surrounds. This designated tea-making area is a welcoming way to encourage visitors to stay a while.

Belindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection of white crockery and vintage canisters are grouped together to create an eye-catching display.

signage, found at the tip, is a 5 The fun and quirky addition to the space.

This cupboard was made by Stephen, a talented metal worker, and is a unique example of how items can be reused, rather than become landfill.

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PAiNTED DAISIES HOMEWARES • GIFTS • FURNITURE

Crampton’s bring the store to your door For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van. Call us today to have one of our consultants arrange an appointment within your home FREE of charge. Servicing Dubbo and the Western area. Or call in and visit our showroom and friendly sales team.

You don’t need to travel to the city to find unique and top design trends.

Interesting and inspirational homewares and furniture to fill your home. 77 Rankin Street, Forbes 2871 P: (02) 6852 4180 Like us on Facebook & Instagram to keep up with new arrivals weekly and our giveaways in store

D E S I G N

P R I N T

62 Hawthorn St, Dubbo | Tel: 02 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au

P A P E R

G I F T S

Visit our boutique gift shop... Specialty Paper, Envelopes & Embellishments Invitations & Party Accessories Children’s Toys for Creative Development Boxed Stationery & Cards Greeting Cards, Wrapping Paper & Ribbons

Dubbo’s printer for 68 years Corporate stationery & promotional material Trade compliance & record books Personal printing from invitations to family histories Experienced graphic designers in-house 166 Brisbane Street DUBBO NSW 2830 P: (02) 6882 1233 E: admin@printingworks.com www.printingworks.com Like us for all your gift ideas and new stock arrivals

156 CWL

P A P E R C R A F T S | S TAT I O N E R Y PA R T Y S U P P L I E S | S TA M P S

At Inspirations Paint Dubbo, the expert team love your painting projects and will work with you to make yours amazing. Need some inspiration, some creative ideas with redecorating? Then see the team at Inspirations Paint Dubbo. They have years of experience and can help you with your project no matter how big or small.

Doing a Paint Project? Join Paint Club Free! • Everyday discounts of 5% off paint and 10% off accessories • Colour recording to make future touch-ups a breeze • Early heads-up on offers and promotions Join in-store at Inspirations Paint Dubbo or online www.PaintClub.com.au

Store colour consultant Jean Cain says “The best part of my job is the end result and seeing the customers happy with what we do.” You can book an appointment with Jean to get project and colour advice from the comfort of your own home. A wide variety of trusted paint, woodcare and wallpaper products are available across Inspiration Paint’s favourite brands including Dulux, Berger, Porters Paints, Cabot’s and more. Inspirations Paint Dubbo now offers an exciting range of home and giftwares to perfectly complement that freshly painted room. Stock includes clocks, photo frames, cushions, vases, ornaments and unique gifts. Let the team at Inspirations Paint Dubbo help you with your next project.

3 2. The Traveller 100% wool felt hat by Fiona Schofield Millinery $85. 3. Jimmy Jean Contrast shirt in white (also available in black) $143, Ewe Two on Dandaloo, Trangie (02) 6888 8268.

4 1. Gitane light swing-style knitted jacket (also available in black with a chartreuse green trim) $138, The Closet, Cowra (02) 6342 2478.

4. Lady Kate High Boat Neck Sweater in Black and White Check $229, Lady Kate (www.ladykate.com.au).

5. Leather Clutch $90, Saddler & Co, Dubbo (www.saddlerandco.com.au).

MONOCHROME

in a class of its own 9

7 6. Ministry of Style Waver Dress in black $199.95. 7. Pink Ruby Captivating Dress $175, Gorgeousness, Bathurst (02) 6332 6333.

158 CWL

8 8 8. Moss and Spy Leah Jacket in black $455. 9. Moss and Spy Zambia Jean in black $285, Cherry Red, Mudgee (www.cherryred.com.au).

Clothing, shoes, hats, bags, jewellery and more George | Wish | Verge | Seduce | Mavi Jag | Binny | We are Kindred Collette by Collette Dinnigan | Mela Purdi Talulah | Akin by Ginger & Smart Samantha Wills | Sacha Drake and more! FOR ENQUIRIES T: 02 6372 3536 www.facebook.com/cherryred.com.au SHOP IN-STORE Market St Mudgee Terms & conditions apply; offer not transferable or available in-conjunction with any other offer including gift vouchers, credit notes or lay-bys. Offer only available on clothing and shoes. Valid until 30th June 2015.

AD SHOW THIS E AND RECEIV

Shop All Your 2015 Autumn Winter Trends

FF 20%RCO HASE A PU

OPEN 7 DAyS A WEEK SHOP ONLINE AT www.cherryred.com.au

If you want the best results you have to combine two things, professionally trained technicians with world leading products. Suite 3/88-90 Macquarie St DUBBO (02) 6885 3332 www.jessicajane.com.au

Treatment Menu Paramedical Facials Microdermabrasion Relaxation Facials Bridal / Formal Make up Spray tanning Waxing Tinting Ear piercing Gel & Shellac Nails Manicure / pedicure Relaxation Massage Gift Voucher

Ewe Two

on dandaloo

Now stocking Vigorella, Boo Radley, Jimmy Jean,Yarra Trail and Goondiwindi Cotton. Beautiful homewares and gifts including Flatout Teddies Glasshouse Candles and Sybella Jewellery. P 02 6888 8268 - E ewetwoclothing@bigpond.com -

www.ewetwo.com.au CWL 159

GROWING UP as the fourth generation on one of Australia’s leading fine Merino wool studs has led Penny Merriman to launch a new brand of Australian Merino wool jumpers. “I guess when you’re surrounded by super-soft Merino wool at home all your life, you really understand what a fantastic fibre it is and I want Australian women to become familiar with how luxurious and versatile Merino wool can be,” Penny says. Drawing on her own knowledge of Merino wool and her family heritage, Penny launched Lady Kate, a range of fine Merino jumpers designed for women who appreciate quality fabric and unique designs. The name Lady Kate is inspired by Penny’s great-grandmother, Lady Kate Merriman, whose husband, Sir Walter Merriman, was knighted for his services to the wool industry. “It’s a little nod to all the women in the wool industry,” Penny smiles. The brand launched in 2014 and has quickly acquired a broad fan base of country- and city-based women, who appreciate the unique designs and luxurious feel of the wool.

Dyed in the wool

“The feedback I’m receiving from women is that they’re really thrilled to have found knitwear that offers them something different, both in terms of the visual design and the quality of the fabric,” she says. “It’s especially rewarding for me when they comment on how wonderful the knits feel and how well they wear. So many people have an outdated negative perception of wool and it’s gratifying to see their eyebrows rise in approval as they discover its quality. “My hope is that through Lady Kate I can introduce Merino wool to a new audience of women and convert them to, dare I say it, dyed-in-the-wool fans!” Lady Kate is available at www.ladykate.com.au.

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ALLURE ON MAIN

ABOVE: Audrey Avenue Jassi $199 Swanky $229

Call in to view the full range of beautiful short and long winter boots!

Audrey Avenue SWANKY black, latte $229

New season styles with natural fibres. Cosy woollen knits and accessories The Clothing Company fashion co-ordinates | Carla Spring fashion co-ordinates Andiamo - Designed and made in Australia for Australian women. Full range of RM Williams in store; ladies and men’s; accessories, boots and footwear.

5 4 R A N K I N S T R E E T, F O R B E S Phone 02 6851 4778 w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / a l l u r e o n m a i n

MENTION THIS AD FOR $10 OFF YOUR PURCHASE! * Bathurst 94 William Street ● Dubbo 174 Macquarie Street Orange 171 Summer Street ● Tamworth 284 Peel Street Wagga Wagga 56 Baylis Street ● Call 6332 3822 for a catalogue! www.easylivingfootwear.com.au FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

*conditions apply

A warm welcome and country hospitality awaits you at Allure on Main and RM Williams.

Softwaves 61911 light choc, black $249

Zeta ALCOR purple, black $239

ARTISAN YARNS FOR DISCERNING KNITTERS A special experience for knitters premium yarns and accessories, hand knits and collectibles.

Open Friday to Monday 10am - 4pm or by appointment conventandchapel@gmail.com www.conventandchapelwool.com

Bridge View Inn 28 - 30 Louee St Rylstone 0409 564 747 CWL 161

the

SIN

ESS

closet cowra

FO R

SAL E

full and accessories accessories full of of clothes clothes and

“Cosmopolitan style, local value and service.” Toorallie • Yarra Trail • Clothing Company • Marco Polo • Metallicus Goondiwindi Cotton • Nouvelle • Gordon Smith • Ping Pong Hammock and Vine • Boo Radley • Jump • Zaya • Gitane • Corfu make an appointment bella & sissi 74 macquarie street dubbo nsw 2830 02 6882 1001 hair@bellasissi.com

opening hours

monday 9am-7pm tuesday to friday 9am-5pm

Catering for sizes up to 22

OPEN Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm Shop 2 / 37 Macquarie St, Cowra 2794 • 02 6342 2478 thecloset@bigpond.com

Keep Warm this winter at 2 Fat Ladies We have a great range of winter clothes, hats, gloves and scarves. New Seasons Woolerina plus a great range of Vigorella including the new Vigorella Ponti range which is great for the working woman. Petite size up to 24 Also come and try our Australian made clothing by RTM, Miss Me, Bling Creations and Lorissa as well as our wide range of bags and accessories.

Fashion | Workshops | Gifts Mitchell Highway, Lucknow

Phone 6365 5437

sales@2fatladies.com.au www.2fatladies.com.au Open 7 days per week 9am - 5pm 162 CWL

Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn is a family run business

spanning four generations. We have a 45 year history of manufacturing sheepskin boots and two generations of wool classers so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just your average retailer, we know sheepskin inside out. At Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn we stock Thomas Cook and Wrangler Clothing for all ages, Moda Immagine ladies fashion and RM Williams Stockyard. We have a wide range of boots and leather accessories for the colts and fillies too, in all the latest styles and colours to keep you looking great.

4601 Mitchell Highway, Lucknow 2800 OPEN 7 days 9:00 to 5:30 | Phone orders welcome Ph 02 6365 5330 Visit www.lucknowskinshop.com.au if you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it in-store.

HER: Frame: J-CH1032 PEACH Temple: J-PAT12 COL.A HIS: Frame: J-CH1034 BLACK Temple: J-PAT20 COL.E

Stockists: www.justeyefashion.com

Eyecare Plus Orange (02) 6362 2222

Eyecare Plus Dubbo (02) 6884 4077

Katoomba Optical (02) 4782 1239

Bigland & Cowley Optometrists Springwood (02) 4751 1070 CWL 163

PRANAYOGA CENTRE BATHURST YOGA TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY • RELAX YOUR MIND • OPEN YOUR HEART

Retreats for 2015

PRANAYOGA CENTRE WITH JAN GREEN

BALI UBUD 31st May - 6 June 13th - 19th September

YOGA CLASSES WORKSHOPS RETREATS MEDITATION COMMUNITY YOGA

INDIA - KASHMIR & LADAKH 11th - 26 July

a: Heaths Lane (rear 97 Keppel Street), Bathurst t: Jan 0423 205 801 e: pranayoga@optusnet.com.au

GORGEOUSNESS This little store is a blend of all things gorgeous and girly

We have an extensive range of clothing and accessories, so we can dress you from head to toe.

Some of our favourite brands include... Honey & Beau | Ministry of Style | Nude shoes

A mix of beautiful items for your home

Mavi jeans | Fate | Sass | Living Doll Top End & Mollini shoes

furniture | soft furnishings | decorator items gifts for men, women and kids and all things quirky!

120 William Street, Bathurst NSW 2795 ph/fax: 6332 3474 OPEN 7 days Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 10 to 6 Thurs 10 to 6.30 Sat and Sun 10 to 2.30 164 CWL

124A William Street, Bathurst NSW 2795 ph/fax: 6332 6333 OPEN 7 days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 to 6 Thursday 10 to 6.30, Saturday and Sunday 10 to 2.30

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.

Open 7 days 12 - late www.churchbar.com.au

We would like to thank the cafes and restaurants that stock our coffee and the coffee drinkers of the region for their support.

6334 2300

1 Ribbon Gang Lane, Bathurst

fish river roasters 67 corporation avenue bathurst 2795 02 6331 7171

Bathurst City Centre Opening June 2015

BBNT_Bathurst_City_Centre.indd 1

31/03/2015 9:31:06 AM 165 CWL

TRAVEL

Packing Tips for CAREFREE TRAVEL IT IS SUMMER IN MY FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS, EUROPE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO SHARE A FEW OF MY TRAVEL MUSINGS AND OFFER SOME HOT TIPS FOR CWL READERS ON THEIR NEXT SOJOURN.

WHEN I first started to travel, I found packing for an overseas trip stressful and strenuous (my husband laughs at my efforts to force the contents of my dressing room into two suitcases). And then there are the cosmetics (we won’t go there!). Planning, planning and more planning is imperative if you want to enjoy your trip. Travelling light certainly does make your time away that much easier. The experience of countless overseas trips has taught me that it is extremely liberating to live with an organised suitcase that works efficiently for you. This requires applying unyielding discipline to your packing and a methodical approach. Up front, two things work for me: (1) plan your outfits and (2) compartmentalise. These are the two overarching imperatives in my top tips list for breezy packing. This advice serves for a two- to three-week break. 166 CWL

I plan my packing on exactly what I will be doing when I am away. Write down all the activities, day trips, functions, dinners and so on that you will be engaged in. Plot your travel wardrobe around these events. Write down the outfits you will wear to each event. Hot tip: If you are not attending a function with the same crowd of people, wear these outfits over and over again.

Gather your core travel garments – pants, tops, knits, dresses, jackets – and then work out at least half a dozen ways with which you can mix and match these, adding different accessories to each outfit. Stick to solid basics in similar colour palettes for success. I begin with evening outfits that I can mix and match in black. My travel wardrobe usually consists of black and white, grey, camel, navy and denim, with pops of gold or silver and definitely pearls. Easy and classic. Be flamboyant with your accessories. I always pack scarves and different earrings/necklaces, as these can change the tempo of an outfit immediately.

Lay everything out on your bed, including your shoes. This is NOT your travel wardrobe, though. Now cull it! Remove a pair of shoes. Drop a pair of pants or two. Take one jacket only; the one that will go with everything. Be ruthless. It is necessary to take this step with committed discipline in order to finish up with a breezy travel capsule.

Shoes rob you of space and add weight very quickly. The emphasis must be on comfortable shoes that go with everything. Leave the six-inch heels behind. They will still be there when you get home.

Pack travel-sized toiletries or pop your regular creams into small containers for the duration of your trip. Use a vanity case that you can hang. Bench space can be limited when travelling. Purchase a thick transparent vanity case with zip closure for your carry-on luggage. Customs is stressful enough, so ensure your on-board cosmetics comply with customs regulations and are ready for unveiling (liquids, aerosols and gels under 100ml).

Packing cells (compartments) are a game changer for carefree packing. I purchased mine from Kathmandu during the post-Christmas sales. These packing cells are incredible. Using cells means that those smaller items (bras, socks, stockings, undies, T-shirts, PJs) are easily found and stored as you live from your suitcase. The airlines give you 7kg or 10kg carry-on luggage. Buy a good-quality carry-on suitcase. Usually 46cm or 56cm does the trick. Ensure your carry-on essentials include a change of clothing/ underwear and basic cosmetics. You never know if and when you may be offloaded and being unprepared for an overnight stay is the pits, to say the least. Ensure you have a protective laptop case for your precious computer. I pop mine inside my tote bag, which has my carry-on staples such as iPhone, earphones, earplugs, travel documents, reading book, antibacterial wipes, hand gel, socks and notebook and pen (for brainwaves).

Once you have your suitcase in order, adopt these travel tips and have the trip of a lifetime: • Don’t stress the small stuff, keep the big picture in mind, travel is fun, be patient and enjoy it. • Have plans but be agile and adaptable, be prepared to give everything a go. • Don’t waste your days sleeping; get up early and get on with exploring. • Take lots of money, particularly cash. Cash speaks, and splurge a little. • Stay away from the big cities, take a cottage in the rural areas close to the city and meet as many locals as possible. • Observe daily life and what is going on around you, get out of your hotel/room. • Take some technology, for memories and images, but limit the time catching up with people back home. Disconnect from social media and enjoy where you are. • Eat local, don’t pre-book, walk about until you find something that appeals. Don’t watch the clock. • Hold your husband’s hand and kiss him lots. Men like that you know! Thanks for reading to the end. Successful and carefree travels, everyone.

Pip

Words and images: Pip Teys CWL 167

Lithgow

Surprisingly diverse

For a free copy of the

Lithgow Visitor Guide

Lithgow Visitor Information Centre Great Western Highway, (PO Box 19 Lithgow NSW 2790) T: 1300 760 276 or (02) 6350 3230, F: (02) 6350 3239 E: tourism@lithgow.com

www.tourism.lithgow.com may 2015.indd 1

Lithgow Tourism 7/04/15 12:00 PM

Eat Sleep Celebrate

BEST WESTERN Goulburn 77 Lagoon St, Goulburn NSW 02 4821 2422

168 CWL

we invite you to come, relax, unwind and indulge in the orange region.

Winter Magic in Orange

NSW

Monday 1 June to Sunday 5 July memorate.com.au â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Victor Gordon. Fresh perspective on WWI www.org.nsw.gov.au 13 June, 11 July and 8 auguSt Orange Region Farmers Market, Orange Showground www.orangefarmersmarket.org.au/orange Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June 32nd Annual Zonta Antique, Jewellery and Vintage Fair www.visitorange.com.au 13 June to 16 auguSt The Poetry of Space: the art of Tim Winters | www.org.nsw.gov.au

Hamlet by Bell Shakespeare

Friday 10 July and Saturday 11 July Hamlet by Bell Shakespeare | www.orange.nsw.gov.au/theatre thurSday 30 and Friday 31 July The 26-Storey Treehouse | www.orange.nsw.gov.au/theatre www.visitorange.com.au /visitorange

/visit_orange

orange Visitor information Centre Free Call 1800 069 466 memorate.com.au â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Victor Gordon

The Poetry of Space - Tim Winters

...brought to you by Orange City Council

CWL 169

Upcoming Events POLL HEREFORD SHOW & SALE 1-2 June Dubbo Showground Sally Packham (02) 6889 4303 or 0428 822 045 knspackham@bigpond.com www.herefordsaustralia.com.au/ShowSaleInfo/ DubboShowSale.aspx HENRY LAWSON FESTIVAL 4-8 June Main Street, Grenfell (02) 6343 2855 info@henrylawsonfestival.com.au www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au U15 RUGBY UNION STATE & COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 6-8 June Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex, Mudgee www.nswcountryrugby.com.au DUBBO FARMERS’ MARKETS 6 & 20 June, 4 & 18 July, 1 & 15 August Macquarie Lions Park, Dubbo John Joseph 0488 685 006 enquiries@dubbofarmersmarket.org.au www.dubbofarmersmarket.org.au GULGONG GOLD CUP RACES 7 June Gulgong Racecourse Diane Thompson (02) 6374 0226 thompsondm1@bigpond.com www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/ race-days-in-the-mudgee-region IANDRA CASTLE OPEN DAY 7 June 910 Iandra Road, Greenethorpe Rod & Bev Kershaw (02) 6383 9241 kershaw101@bigpond.com www.iandracastle.com.au MITCHELL STRING QUARTET WITH CINDY FOX, PIANO 7 June Town Hall, Forbes (02) 6331 6622 bathurst@mitchellconservatorium.edu.au www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au SHORTHORN SHOW & SALE 8-10 June Dubbo Showground Debbie O’Connor 0418 978 546 www.nationalshorthornsale.com.au EVANS ARTS COUNCIL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 13-14 June Former Evans Shire Council Chambers, Lee Street, Kelso Shirley Walsh (02) 6331 7027 2015 GLOW WORM TUNNEL TRAIL RUNNING WEEKEND 13-14 June  Newnes, Wolgan Valley, via Lithgow Sean Greenhill 0409 047 714 info@mountainsports.com.au www.glowwormtrail.com CENTRAL WEST BRIDAL EXPO 14 June Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre Debbie Campbell 0407 489 634 or 0438 316 150 designerevents@internode.on.net www.centralwestbridalexpos.com WINTER WINERY WANDER 14 June Various locations in the Bathurst Region Greg Tucker (02) 6331 7044

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U16, U18, TIER 1 & 2 (SENIORS) RUGBY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS 20 June Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex, Mudgee http://crlnsw.com.au MUSICAL FEAST WITH THE BCO 20 June & 15 August Oberon High School, Oberon (02) 6331 6622 bathurst@mitchellconservatorium.edu.au www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au KENSUKE TODO SCULPTURE & DRAWINGS 21 June-26 July Cowra Regional Art Gallery (02) 6340 2190 www.cowraartgallery.com.au RED ANGUS SHOW & SALE 22-25 June Dubbo Showground red.angus@abri.une.edu www.redangus.org.au MID-WESTERN DANCE FESTIVAL 27 June-4 July Mudgee Public School Hall Emma Yule 0457 711 169 mudgeedancefestival@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/midwesterndancefestival WALLANGREEN SCULPTURE GARDEN OPEN DAY 6-7 July Fitches Lane, Grenfell Janice Wallace (02) 6343 1707 fitchs@bigpond.net.au www.grenfell.org.au/wallangreen/ sculpture_garden.htm MUDGEE SMALL FARM FIELD DAYS 10-11 July Australian Rural Education Centre Steve Garland (02) 6372 3899 steve@arec.com.au www.arec.com.au XXXX GOLD WINTER RACE MEETING 12 July Mudgee Racecourse Colleen Walker (02) 6372 6035 colleen@hwy.com.au www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/ race-days-in-the-mudgee-region FAWLTY TOWERS BY DUBBO THEATRE COMPANY 17-25 July Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (02) 6801 4378 info@drtcc.com.au www.drtcc.com.au WASTE 2 ART REGIONAL EXHIBITION 18 July-30 August The Flannery Centre Alison Thompson (02) 6333 6544 waste2art@bathurst.nsw.gov.au www.bathurst200.com.au

SACRED FOOTSTEPS FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORLD TOUR 29 July-2 August Cowra Regional Art Gallery (02) 6340 2190 www.cowraartgallery.com.au DUBBO BRIDAL & EVENT EXPO 2 August Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre Jan Grady (02) 6882 1425 jangrady@innovent.com.au www.dubbobridaleventexpo.com.au GRENFELL KART CLUB RACE DAY 2 August Corner of Midwestern Highway and Henry Lawson Way, Grenfell 0428 693 365 grenfellkartclub@exemail.com.au www.grenfellkartclub.org.au EVANS ART COUNCIL ART EXHIBITION 7-9 August Former Evans Shire Council Chambers, Lee Street, Kelso Shirley Walsh (02) 6331 7027 RIVERSIDE MARKETS 9 August Ollie Robbins Oval, Dubbo Sue Hood (02) 6882 4364 dubbshow@hwy.com.au www.dubboshow.org MUDGEE READERS FESTIVAL 15-16 August Parklands Resort & Conference Centre Melanie Trethowan 0457 727 682 info@mudgeereadersfestival.com.au www.mudgeereadersfestival.com.au THE PARIS UNDERGROUND CABARET 22 August Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (02) 6801 4378 info@drtcc.com.au www.drtcc.com.au MUDGEE RUNNING FESTIVAL 23 August Lawson Park, Mudgee enquiries@mudgeetriclub.hwy.com.au www.mudgeetriclub.hwy.com.au/ mudgee-running-festival COO-EE MARCH GALLERY HONOUR WALL LAUNCH 25 August Gilgandra Coo-ee Heritage Café, Coo-ee March Memorial Park, Gilgandra Libby Kermond Carr (02) 6817 8700 lkermondcarr@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

OMEGA ENSEMBLE 23 July Mitchell Conservatorium, Lithgow (02) 6331 6622 bathurst@mitchellconservatorium.edu.au www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au

NATIONAL MERINO SHOW & SALE 25-27 August Dubbo Showground Bradley Wilson 0417 467 911 bradley.wilson@landmark.com.au www.merinonsw.com.au/?page_id=1230

WINTER ILLUMINATION FESTIVAL 25 July Kings Parade, Bathurst Bathurst Regional Council (02) 6333 6111 www.bathurst200.com.au

WARREN CAMPDRAFT 28-30 August Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren John Hardie (02) 6833 5471

WARREN POLOCROSSE CARNIVAL 25-26 July Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren Vanessa Hartge 0447 332 093 www.nswpolocrosse.com.au CATTLEMAN’S CUP RACE MEETING 27 July Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren Bek McKay (02) 6847 4447 Bekbbk@bigpond.com www.warrenjockeyclub.com.au

Do you have an event that you would like included in our magazine? Email: events@centralwestmagazine.com.au Compiled by Jane Tickle. All events are subject to change and we recommend contacting the organisers to confirm details.

T:: (02) 6361 4546 F:: (02) 6361 4566 : jasmin.bond@bigpond.com

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Greentrees Guesthouse is a very comfortable country lawns, Orange 2800 flower beds, shrubs and trees combine to create a beautiful, relaxing garden and serene NSW atmosphere. 6 Lysterfield Road 6 Lysterfield Road Located close to Orange (only 4.5kms from the post office) in Central West NSW, Greentrees is less than four hours (Cnr Pinnacle and Lysterfield Rds), Rd and we are on your right. Rd and we are on your right. drive fromThis Sydney’s CBD. It is the which to explore Orange and the Rd. scenic andlefthistoric local areas. ourism RTurn ating TPinnacle becomes Pinnacle Rd.ideal Turnlocation left into from Lysterfield This becomes into Lysterfield ABN 762 Orange89 NSW 2800400 186 past Elephant Park then turn onto Racecourse Rd. pastpeaceful Elephantpastoral ParkAAA then turn onto Racecourse Rd. Our comfortable and elegantly decorated suites offer tranquillity and views. CBD. Turn left at Woodward St. (2nd Roundabout). Go CBD. Turn left at Woodward St. (2nd Roundabout). Go **** Book Directions: in today for business orSydney pleasure, and enjoy Orange a traditionalDirections: cooked breakfast, dinner in our BYO restaurant From drive through From Sydney drive through Orange and Ph 02 6361 4546 Jasmin Bond home-grown hospitality. Fax weekend 02 6361for4566 special two. (Pictured Below) special weekend for two. (Pictured Below)

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Tourism Rating AAA

GREENTREES

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SW AUST GE N RA

ABN 89 762 400 186

www.greentreeshouse.com.au RO

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and Sydney To Bathurst Orange CBD

Servicing the Central West for over 20 years

Summer Stit(Mitchell Hwy)five people. Line Full of country ambience sleeps Railway and Galahs are reflected in wall prints and tiles. Golf Course Rosellas,Duntryleague King Parrots, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos visit Greentrees Gardens. N Crimson and Eastern To Forbes This suite reflects the parrots that

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OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Mudgee Region is the perfect place to spend a leisurely holiday pottering around and discovering. Visit www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au to book accommodation, buy event tickets or purchase a gift from the Mudgee Region. The website also provides details on accommodation, things to do, tours and special events. Call us on 1800 816 304. Download our App from the Apple Store, Google Play Store or using the QR code below:

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UPCOMING EVENTS

MACQUARIE PHILHARMONIA JULY 4, 5 & 10 DUBBO, YOUNG, BATHURST THE Macquarie Philharmonia began performing in 2004. The first concerts were in Bathurst and Gulgong, and since that time they have travelled to many towns and cities in the Central West, performing on 24 occasions. The orchestra comprises professional musicians who teach and reside over a wide area of regional NSW, from the Blue Mountains to Dubbo, from Mudgee to Canberra. They come together to perform for a short season each year, giving these audiences easy access to full orchestral productions. The repertoire has covered everything from dramatic Russian works to cool classical, from the Beatles to Cole Porter. The orchestra has accompanied some of the region’s most outstanding opera soloists, performing at Western Plains Zoo for their 30th birthday, at the Parkes Dish for its 50th birthday, and in theatres, churches and halls throughout the region. The Macquarie Philharmonia recently performed at Mayfield Garden near Oberon (pictured right). This late-afternoon outdoor performance was a resounding success, attracting an audience of 2500 enthusiastic and appreciative patrons, who sat on the hillside with their picnic rugs and hampers to listen to a program of popular opera and Gavin Lockley’s Symphony of Australia, chosen as the program for 2015 to celebrate Bathurst’s 200th birthday. This wonderful program will be repeated at Dubbo Regional Theatre on Saturday, July 4, at 7.30pm; Young Town Hall on July 5 at 3pm; and finally at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on July 10 at 7.30pm. Images: Peter Yandle

Macquarie PhilharMonia

land Australia’s Inchest Symphony Or ra

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SUBSCRIPTIONS | BACK ISSUES BOXED COLLECTIONS SIMPLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ORDER

www.centralwestmagazine.com.au

DUBBO FARMERS’ MARKETS

The perfect gift for those who seem to have it all! ORDERS CAN ALSO BE MADE BY CONTACTING US PHONE: 0429 441 086 EMAIL: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au

TWICE MONTHLY, DUBBO THE Dubbo Farmers’ Markets is a sensory delight. An abundance of fresh local fruits and vegetables, mouth-watering regional pork, beef and lamb, and premium preserves, oils and jams make the Macquarie Lions Park the place to be on the first and third Saturday of every month. From 8am to midday, the park awakens with the familiar sound of friendly chatter as locals gather to enjoy a morning of simple pleasures, and with free entry the Farmers’ Markets are a must. There is something truly rejuvenating about a steaming hot coffee, particularly as the months become cooler. Perhaps the scent of freshly cut lavender wafting in your direction is more your thing, or the striking array of colourful jams, mustards and relishes. For the wine lovers, there’s no better location.

The Outlook Cafe passion is the view, the food, the people. We use only the finest and freshest ingredients for our menu that will fill your belly and warm your heart.

But it’s not just delectable treats and beverages to tempt you and your friends or family on an enjoyable day out. The markets are also an excellent place to pick up a few seedlings and an array of goodies to freshen up your garden. The playground for the little ones is the perfect excuse to bring along the whole family. Dubbo is the regional centre for the surrounding Central West, and the Farmers’ Markets are a fantastic display of the area’s premium produce. Whether you are a local or not, put the markets on your to-do list. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how incredible the produce of the region is, and you’ll certainly see it’s well worth celebrating. Visit www.dubbofarmersmarket.org.au.

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Open daily 9am to 5pm Closed Tuesday Open late Friday night

RESERVATIONS Phone 02 6884 7977 Email theoutlookcafe@hotmail.com

ADDRESS Western Plains Cultural Centre 76 Wingewarra St, Dubbo NSW

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UPCOMING EVENTS

COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY EXHIBITIONS JUNE 21-AUGUST 2, COWRA COMING UP at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery from June 21 to July 26 is an outstanding exhibition featuring the paradoxical steel sculptures and charcoal drawings of Canberra-based sculptor Kensuke Todo. Born in Kyoto, and educated in Japan and at ANU, Todo’s work extends his bi-cultural perspective and reconciles the differences between two very different traditions and cultures. His original creations showcase technical skill and highly developed aesthetic concepts. Peter Haynes, curator of the exhibition, says: “Kensuke Todo’s art possesses a serious aesthetic finesse. While it demands immediate visual and physical engagement it holds in reserve the poetics of resonance, association and memory.” From July 29, the Cowra Regional Art Gallery will host a visit of Tibetan monks supported by Drol Kar Buddhist Centre as part of Sacred Footsteps from the Roof of the World Tour 2015 (pictured right). Over five days they will create an intricate sand mandala based on ancient Buddhist text. There will also be a program of morning meditation sessions and a display of items for sale including Tibetan clothing, handcrafts and jewellery. The gallery will be open from 10am to 4pm each day during this unique cultural event. Phone (02) 6340 2190 or visit www.cowraartgallery.com.au.

Country Gardens MOTOR INN

Cowra’s little gem

Rooms:

Facilities:

Located at the edge of town on an acreage, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. There are 18 luxurious, clean, comfortable, ground floor units to choose from. Park at your door, off street parking for coaches and trucks. Heated pool and BBQ in Australian native gardens.

• Family Suites (2 Bedrooms) • Spa Suites • Executive Suites (King beds & bath/shower) • Deluxe Queen Suites • Disabled Suite • Some Smoking Suites available

• • • • • • •

Breakfast Room Service Free Unlimited Wireless Broadband R/C Air Con & Elec. Blankets Direct Dial Telephone Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Facilities Wide Screen TV’s (16 Channels) Mini Snack Bar

a. 75 Grenfell Road (Mid Western Highway), Cowra p. 02 6341 1100 e. cgmcowra@bigpond.net.au w. www.countrygardensmotel.com.au 176 CWL

We invite you to enjoy the following events in our beautiful region: June 2015— Harvest in the Park Market

KENSUKE TODO SCULPTURE & DRAWINGS 21 June to 26 July 2015

July 2015—Cowra Wine Show Weekend Kensuke Todo, Takashimaya (Takashimaya Department Store, Kyoto), 2007, mild steel, 43.6 x 71 x 16.3 cm. Private collection.

September 2015 - Sakura Matsuri October 2015—Harvest in the Park Market

SACRED FOOTSTEPS FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORLD TOUR

December 2015—Cowra Christmas Night Market

29 July to 2 August 2015 For details on these events and more please visit:

www.cowratourism.com.au Cowra Visitor Infomation Centre Cnr Mid Western Hwy & Lachlan Valley Way Cowra NSW 2794 PH: 02 6342 4333

Tibetan monk creating a mandala.

COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY 77 Darling Street Cowra NSW Tel: 6340 2190 Hours: Tues to Sat 10am–4pm, Sun 2pm–4pm. www.cowraartgallery.com.au

9-11 Kendal St, Cowra NSW | (02) 6341 4100

The Cowra Regional Art Gallery is a cultural facility of the Cowra Shire Council

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EVENTS IN THE WEST

100 MILE DINNER

CANOWINDRA CLOSE to 300 food and wine lovers joined local producers in a night of food, wine and song in Canowindra’s main street in early March with the relaunch of the Canowindra@home 100 Mile Dinner.

The evening was perfect, the food delicious and the mood up-beat as visitors from as far away as Brisbane and Sydney joined locals to savour four courses prepared by the talented team from Bathurst’s Restaurant 92. Gaskill Street was cleared to make way for long communal tables overhung with colourful lanterns running the length of Canowindra’s historic crooked main street. Many others partook in the event from other venues close by including Finn’s Store, The Old Vic Inn and the Royal Hotel. Organisers have already commenced planning for next year’s event. To make sure you are kept abreast of their upcoming events, like them on www.facebook.com/Canowindraathome. Words and images: Caddie Marshall & Josephine Marais

1. The main street of Canowindra came alive with the festivities. 2. Barbara Jeffery and Anne Ward. 3. Jo Marais and Ruth Fagan.

Canowindra’s must-see licenced emporium 35 Gaskill Street, Canowindra • Phone 02 6344 1638 OPEN: Thursday – Monday 9.30 – 4ish

Great coffee, plate of the day, grazing platters and all day spanish breakfast Wide selection of local wines Terrific range of gifts and furniture, exclusive clothing and accessories Contemporary artefacts and gallery 178 CWL

COWRA

Motor Inn We welcome ... groups, families, singles and couples In the centre of town, off the highway overlooking Lachlan River Park

Taste wines in our unusual strawbale winery. Tasting platters and meals available if booked, or bring a picnic.

82 Lawrences Rd, Canowindra 0427 936 054 wallingtonwines@gmail.com www.wallingtonwines.com.au

• 25 rooms, all with R/C Air conditioning • New High Definition LCD TV’s with free Austar • Queen size beds • Two bedroom family units

• Dining room & room service breakfasts • Free Wi-Fi internet • Salt water pool & spa • Only a short stroll to clubs & restaurants • Coach rates available

Stay in the newly renovated Winery Cottage, a beautifully restored pise farm house overlooking the farm, vineyard and olive grove. a. 3 Macquarie Street, Cowra p. 02 6342 2011 e. cowramotorinn1@bigpond.com www.cowramotorinn.com.au

Restaurant & Cellar Door Lunch Thu - Sun from noon Dinner Fri & Sat from 6.30 Cellar Door Thu - Sun, 10 - 4 7191 Boorowa Rd, Cowra 02 6342 3650 quarry@bigpond.net.au www.thequarryrestaurant.com.au

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4.5 STAR WINERY 2015 James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for wine tasting and sales. Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe / phone 02 6366 3444 11am to 5pm Friday to Monday / angullong.com.au

Secure your future with trusted local advisors Crowe Horwath provides practical accounting, audit, tax, business and financial advice to individuals and businesses across the Central West region. From business structuring and managing cash flow through to superannuation and succession planning, however simple or complex your needs are, we can help deliver the right outcome for you to ensure your goals are fulfilled. We employ local people with local knowledge. Contact us today and find out how we can assist you.

Audit | Tax | Advisory | Financial Advice

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Tel 1300 856 065 www.crowehorwath.com.au

www.finditinforbes.com.au luxury contemporary holiday house - Dunbogan

Osprey is a superbly appointed property of ultra modern design.

THE HOME:

Located half an hour south of Port Macquarie in the quiet, private Timbarra Estate at Dunbogan.

• Main bedroom has luxurious ensuite

The home overlooks native bushland and is only 200 metres from the beautiful South Beach and Crowdy Head National Park.

• 3 bedrooms - 2 queen sized beds and the other with 2 king singles

• Bathrooms have large bath with separate shower ALSO: Open plan entertainment areas featuring TV, DVD, stereo system, IPOD player. Double garage. Large decks with barbecue. Communal tennis court and barbecue area overlooking ocean.

BOOK for your next family holiday Owners: Pam and Mike 02 6556 5038 or 0439 424 538 Email: pamike72@hotmail.com

Plainsman Motel 22 Sheriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 comforbes@exemail.com.au Reception Hours: Mon to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat to Sun 8am - 9pm

• Free Wi-Fi available • Room From $ 108 • Two Bedroom Flat $ 180 • Disable Room Available

RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS (Closed Sunday) Mon to Fri | Breakfast 7am – 9.30am | Evening meals start 6pm – 9pm Saturday | Breakfast 8am – 9.30am | Evening meals start 6pm – 9pm

BUSINESS

FOR SALE

Monday ~ Friday 7.30am to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm

• Excellent coffee - bills BEANS • Home made meals and sweets • Beautiful giftware & jewellery

8 Templar Street Forbes • 6852 2239 CWL 181

EVENTS IN THE WEST

PICNIC RACES

TOMINGLEY TOMINGLEY Picnic Race Club President Dennis McGaw was thrilled with the large attendance at the annual picnic meeting on April 25.

The Alkane Resources 2015 Cup was taken out in a tight finish by Uaroo, trained by Rodney Robb. Fashions on the Field were extremely difficult to judge, with an abundance of beautiful fashions selected by female race goers. The gents dusted off their work gear, and also presented very smartly! A long weekend has been booked for next year’s meeting, on Saturday April 23. We look forward to seeing you there! Words: Sallie McGaw Images: Elizabeth Tickle

1. Jeanette and Ross Symons, Port Macquarie. 2. Megan and Jesse Mole, Perth, with Sheridan McMahon, Dubbo. Megan and Jesse are formerly from Tomingley and returned to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary at the races where they first met. 3. Amy O’Leary, Parkes, Laura Kunkel, “Harvey Park”, Peak Hill, Libby Dunn, Dubbo, and Amelia Hartin, “Suvla”, Peak Hill. 4. Ian and Kerry Morris, Dubbo. 5. Beth Hodges, “Baldrudgery”, Baldry, Michelle Wheeler, Dubbo, Gwen Harper, “Pacific Hill”, Dubbo, and Mal McIntyre, Narromine. 6. Bruce Hodges, “Baldrudgery”, Baldry, Eleanor Maher, “Spring Valley”, Narromine, Lyn and Ian Frecklington, Hollywood Angus, “The Grange” Peak Hill. 7. Bill and Fiona Gibbs with their daughter Annabelle, “Beltana”, Narromine. 8. Sallie McGaw, “Greendale” Tomingley, Ant Elliott, Balgowlah, Andrew McGaw and Colette Gely, Manly, Nicole Elliott, Balgowlah, Camilla Schroder, Seaforth, Dennis McGaw (Tomingley Race Club President) and John Schroder, Seaforth. 9. Jacob Unger, Danielle and Blake Tremain-Cannon, of Westray Merinos, with daughter Sloan, and Josh Boothby, all of Peak Hill. 10. Rhonda Roach and John Gordon, both of Dubbo, with John Paddison, Tomingley.

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Hand Decorated Cakes for any occasion

16 Flavours of Pies | Sausage Rolls | Spinach & Fetta Rolls Fresh Sandwiches | Gluten Free Products Bills Beans Coffee prepared by fully trained Baristas. Huge range of cakes and slices everyday ranging from the cinnamon donut to the exclusive Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Dine in or takeaway 71 Dandaloo St, Narromine

02 6889 1921

kobby99@bigpond.net.au Find us on Facebook

MEAT & SEAFOOD • • • • • • •

Home grown grass fed “Cambjarah” lamb Personalized Customer service Orders packed in foam eskies if required Local and surrounding districts delivery service Fortnightly Specials Fresh Seafood direct from markets twice a week Private service kills cut to your requirements

Unit 8/55 Wheelers Lane, Dubbo 2830 P: 02 6881 8255 F: 02 6882 1504 E: contact@dubbomeatcentre.com.au W: www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au

Trading Hours: Monday- Wednesday: 7.00am-5.30pm Thursday- Friday: 7.00am-6.00pm Saturday: 7.00am-3.00pm

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THE CLUB FOR ME AND THE CLUB FOR YOU

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere

NARROMINE UNITED SERVICES MEMORIAL CLUB LIMITED telephone: (02) 6889 4288

58 Dandaloo Street, Narromine | fax: (02) 6889 4408

Special Events throughout the year

RAFFLES Friday 7.00pm & Sunday 6.30pm BINGO Tuesday evening, Thursday morning & Sunday afternoon

COME FOR LUNCH, COFFEE AND CAKE OR DINNER AT THE FLIGHT DECK RESTAURANT Open 7 Days from 11am to 9pm

Well appointed Function Rooms an cater to all events

Wedding Reception | Conference | Private Functions

The best bet is one you can afford, is gambling a problem for you? G-Line (NSW) is a Confidential, Anonymous and Free Counselling Service Freecall 1800 633 635.

Narromine’s Residential

Skypark

Where you’re not just buying a lot... you’re buying a lifestyle Build your house and hangar on your own block of land at Narromine Aerodrome with taxiway access from your backyard

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CONTACT: Narromine Shire Council - Robyn Ryan P: 02 6889 9999 F: 02 6889 9998 E: mail@narromine.nsw.gov.au W: www.narromine.nsw.gov.au 184 CWL

•

Totally unrestricted aerodrome

•

No landing fees

•

Two sealed runways

•

Walking distance to town centre

•

18 hole golf course next door

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New Aviation Museum

•

Modern club house with restaurant and bar facilities

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Clean and green country lifestyle

ONLY 8 LOTS LEFT!

Walsh – Mackay Meaghan Walsh married Robert Mackay on January 10, 2015, in a rural, country-style wedding. The ceremony was held at St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Narromine, where the bride’s late grandparents also tied the knot, 70 years earlier. The groom’s grandmother handmade a beautiful cushion to hold the rings during the ceremony. Meaghan looked stunning in a Babushka Ballerina lace gown, with bridesmaids complementing her in a range of pastel skirts handmade by Narromine local Wendy Koerstz. Meaghan and Robert will treasure the wooden bench seat that acted as a guest sign book, handmade by the groom. Memories were captured prior to the reception on Peter and Margaret Walsh’s property. The Narromine Aero Club function room was transformed into a rustic haven, complete with handmade decorations for the reception of 120 guests. Following their honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple returned to their home in South East Queensland. Photography: Lauren Anne Photography Below: Jesse Grant, Bryce Arnold, Scott Mackay, Trent Wheelhouse, Robert and Meaghan Mackay, Erin Walsh, Kimberley Jom, Sally Speechley, Sophie Hanigan and Mika Orgias.

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Munro – Hawthorn Alice Munro and Ged Hawthorn were married on December 31, 2014, at Old Errowanbang Woolshed near Carcoar. The Orange couple celebrated a new year to remember with 150 friends and family from across Australia. The 129-year-old shed and a gentle summer breeze set the scene for this country wedding, which brought together many family members from the Merino sheep industry, including a relative whose father began jackarooing at Errowanbang in the 1930s. Everyone pitched in to help. Aunties and friends picked and arranged roses and hydrangeas, Alice’s sister made the bouquets, family members cooked up a storm for the supper table and Gemma Headon made the wedding cake. Alice’s mother brewed jams and relishes for gifts, while Ged’s parents Col and Jan Hawthorn provided the hay bales and helped to set up. Alice’s uncle, Bishop Philip Huggins, conducted the ceremony under a big, old gum tree in an adjoining paddock. Alice was attended by younger sister Emma Munro, Lauren Bright and Gemma Headon. Ged’s groomsmen were Nick Mills, Brendan Hawthorn and Tom Green. Alice wore a custom-made French lace and silk gown, and Ged’s suit was from Blowes, Orange. Eat Your Greens, Eugowra, provided the superb catering. Photography: Seth Buchanan

Above: Emma Munro, Lauren Bright, Gemma Headon, Alice and Ged Hawthorn, Nick Mills, Brendan Hawthorn and Tom Green.

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WEDDINGS

Wilson – Blunt Rebecca Wilson and Nicholas Blunt were married on November 22 at Nick’s family’s property, “Bondonga”, Orange. The property has been in the family for more than 100 years, and was the perfect location for the country-style ceremony and reception. Anthea McAlpine, Lauren Swiatkiwsky and Sarah Parker accompanied the bride, while Lachlan Blunt, Jeremy Cummins and Daniel Allam stood by the groom. The ceremony featured a string quartet, and Gabe Middleton and Malcolm Key provided the music at the reception, ensuring both young and old were on the dance floor under the stars. The 120 guests travelled from near and far, including from Yorkshire, England, and enjoyed beautiful catering by Bernadette Blackburn. Photography: Heidi Rookyard

Right: Jeremy Cummins, Sarah Parker, Daniel Allam, Rebecca and Nick Blunt, Lauren Swiatkiwsky, Lachlan Blunt and Anthea McAlpine

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heidi rookyard www.heidirookyard.com heidi@heidirookyard.com | 0407779263

• Hand crafted engagement rings • Exquisite fine jewellery • Certified Diamonds • On-site Master Jeweller and workshop

custom made engagement rings with our on-site master jeweller

• Remodelling / repairs • Beautiful gifts for all occasions Gina Brown (4th generation) 149 Talbragar St, Dubbo P. 02 6882 4620 info@whitneysjewellers.com.au whitneysjewellers.com.au

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144 Brisbane Street Dubbo NSW 2830

Phone: (02) 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS

The Grapevine Cafe has great coffee and great food. We offer an indoor or outdoor dining experience with full table service. Situated in a beautiful heritage listed building with a spacious courtyard.

flowershere.com.au

the central west’s premier flower group

0410 363 429

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE READERS Come & celebrate 200 years of heritage at Bishop’s Court Estate. Book two nights and receive a $50 dinner voucher with our compliments. Bookings by phone only.

Enjoy ultimate luxury and relaxation, allow yourself to be pampered with delectable treats and stunning wines from our region and breathe in the aroma of utter peace. It’s the little things that count at Bishop’s Court Estate.

Bishop’s Court Estate 226 Seymour Street Bathurst NSW 2795 Ph: 02 6332 4447

www.bishopscourtestate.com.au 190 CWL

Top 1%

OUR ADVERTISERS 141 ON MAIN Parkes, 6862 5900

CHAD’S BAKERY CAFE Dunedoo, 6375 1677

2 FAT LADIES Lucknow, 6365 5437 www.2fatladies.com.au

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A.A. BLATCH Parkes, 6862 2666 www.aablatch.com.au

CHERRY RED Mudgee, 6372 3536 www.cherryred.com.au

AASTRO DISH MOTOR INN Parkes, 6862 3000 www.astrodish.com.au

CHOICES FLOORING BY BRIGHTS Bathurst, 6331 4866 choicesflooring.com.au/store/bathurst

ABERCROMBIE HOUSE Bathurst, 6331 4929 www.abercrombiehouse.com.au

CHURCH BAR & WOODFIRED PIZZA Bathurst, 6334 2300 www.churchbar.com.au

ADECCO Bathurst, 6330 1100 www.adecco.com.au

COLOUBY CREATIONS Parkes, 6863 4136

ADORS PARTY HIRE Dubbo, 6882 9333 www.adors.com.au AIR FREIGHT SOLUTIONS PTY LTD Parkes, 0402 311 088 www.airfreightsolutions.com.au

CONVENT & CHAPEL WOOL SHOP Rylstone, 0409 564 747 www.conventandchapelwool.com

ALL OCCASIONS West Wyalong, 6972 2273

COUNTRY GARDENS MOTOR INN Cowra, 6341 1100 www.cowracountrygardensmotel.com.au

ALL SAINTS’ COLLEGE Bathurst, 6331 3911 www.saints.nsw.edu.au

COUNTRYMAN MOTOR INN Dubbo, 6882 7422 www.countrymandubbo.com.au

ALLURE ON MAIN Forbes, 6851 4778 www.allureonmain.com.au

COWRA JAPANESE GARDEN & CULTURAL CENTRE Cowra, 6341 2233 www.cowragarden.com.au

ANGULLONG WINES Panuara, 6366 4300 www.angullong.com.au

COWRA MOTOR INN Cowra, 6342 2011 www.cowramotorinn.com.au

ANIMA CLINICA Bathurst, 6332 4225 www.animaclinica.com.au BATHURST CITY CENTRE Bathurst, 6331 5993 www.bathurstcitycentreshopping.com.au BATHURST HERITAGE MOTOR INN Bathurst, 6334 3433 www.heritagemotorinn.com.au

COWRA REGIONAL ART GALLERY Cowra, 6340 2190 www.cowraartgallery.com.au COWRA TOURISM CORP Cowra, 6342 4333 www.cowratourism.com.au CRAMPTON’S CARPETS Dubbo, 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au

BATHURST REAL ESTATE Bathurst, 6331 5555 www.bathurstrealestate.com.au

CROWE HORWATH Central West, 1300 856 065 www.crowehorwath.com.au

BELL RIVER HOMES Orange, 6391 1888 www.bellriverhomes.com.au

CULTIVATE ADVISORY Narromine, 0428 890 151 www.cultivateadvisory.com.au

BELLA & SISSI HAIR & BEAUTY Dubbo, 6882 1001 www.bellasissi.com

DEB WHITE MILLINERY Parkes, 0400 121 264 DESIGNER DÉCOR AND GIFTS Dubbo, 6884 7392

BENT FOOD & WINE Parkes, 6862 2229 www.bentfoodandwine.com.au

DISH CATERING CO Parkes, 0425 209 138

BENT THREADS MENSWEAR Bathurst, 6334 4471 www.fb.com/bentthreads

DMC MEAT & SEAFOOD Dubbo, 6881 8255 www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au

BEST WESTERN GOULBURN Goulburn, 4821 2422 BETTAFRAME AND TRUSS Dubbo, 6881 8544 www.dubborooftrusses.websyte.com.au BISHOP’S COURT ESTATE Bathurst, 6332 4447 www.bishopscourtestate.com.au

DUBBO PRINTING WORKS Dubbo, 6882 1233 www.printingworks.com EASY LIVING FOOTWEAR Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, 6332 3822 www.elfshoes.com.au EAT YOUR GREENS Eugowra, 0428 595 259 www.eatyourgreens.com.au

BOB BERRY REAL ESTATE Dubbo, 6882 6822 www.bobberry.com.au

ESME’S COFFEE SHOP Forbes, 6852 2239

BOB JANE T-MARTS Dubbo, 6881 8900

EWE TWO ON DANDALOO Trangie, 6888 8268 www.ewetwo.com.au

BRENNO’S HOT BAKE Narromine, 6889 1921 www.fb.com/brennoshotbake BYRNE CLOTHING (WORKLOCKER) Parkes, 6862 1408 www.byrneclothing.com.au CACTUS CAFE AND GALLERY Wellington, 6845 4647 www.fb.com/cactuscafeandgallery CAMERON ANDERSON ARCHITECTS Mudgee, 0409 257 688 www.caarch.com.au

EZYSEAT Condobolin, 1300 014 014 www.ezyseat.com.au FINNS STORE Canowindra, 6344 1638 FISH RIVER ROASTERS Bathurst, 6331 7171 www.fb.com/fishriverroasters

CARINYA B&B Wellington, 6845 4320

FLOWERS HERE Wellington & Dubbo, 0410 363 429 www.flowershere.com.au

CENTRAL NSW TOURISM Mudgee, 0447 322 999 www.visitcentralnsw.com.au

FORBES SHIRE COUNCIL Forbes, 6852 4155 www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

CENTRAL WEST CREDIT UNION Parkes, Forbes & Cowra, 6862 2788 www.cwcu.com.au

FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING & SHOE REPAIRS Bathurst, 6331 7544 www.gottheboot.com.au

CENTURY 21 GOLDEN WEST Dubbo, 6884 9500 www.century21.com.au/goldenwest

GARIAN WHOLESALERS PTY LTD Dubbo, 6884 1166

WINTER 2015 GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL Gilgandra, 6817 8800 www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

MILLING STUART Dunedoo, 6375 1009 www.millingstuart.com.au

GLASSPLACE Parkes, 6862 2346 www.glassplace.com.au

MONICA HENLEY, RAINE & HORNE DUBBO Dubbo, 0410 615 505 www.rh.com.au/dubbo

GORGEOUSNESS Bathurst, 6332 6333 www.fb.com/gorgeousnessboutique GORGEOUSNESS HOME Bathurst, 6332 3474 www.fb.com/gorgeousnesshome GRAINPRO PTY LTD Dubbo, 6885 4667 www.grainpro.com.au GRAPEVINE CAFE Dubbo, 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au GREENTREES GUESTHOUSE Orange, 6361 4546 www.greentreeshouse.com.au GWS PERSONNEL Parkes, Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo & Wagga Wagga, 6361 1112 www.gwspersonnel.com.au HAY’S GIFT AND GARDENWARE Parkes, 6862 4002 HEIDI ROOKYARD PHOTOGRAPHER Central West, 0407 779 263 www.heidirookyard.com HOLLYWOOD ANGUS Peak Hill, 6869 1315 www.hollywoodangus.com.au

MUDGEE REGION TOURISM Mudgee, 1800 816 304 www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au MUDGEE SMALL FARM FIELD DAYS Mudgee www.mudgeefielddays.com.au NARELLAN POOLS WESTERN PLAINS Dubbo, 6884 3117 www.fb.com/NarellanPoolsWesternPlains NARROMINE IRIS FARM Narromine, 6889 1885 www.narromineirisfarm.com NARROMINE SHIRE COUNCIL Narromine, 6889 9999 www.narromine.nsw.gov.au NARROMINE UNITED SERVICES MEMORIAL CLUB LIMITED Narromine, 6889 4288 NORMAN C BELLAMY PTY LTD STOCK & STATION AGENTS Cowra, 6342 1155 NORTHPARKES MINE Parkes, 1300 727 537 www.northparkes.com OLD GANARRIN GARDEN CENTRE Dubbo, 6884 5157

HUNTER REAL ESTATE Parkes, 6862 5832 www.hunterandco.com.au

OLD PARKES CONVENT B&B Parkes, 6862 5385 www.parkesconvent.com.au

INSPIRATIONS PAINT Dubbo, 6882 7333 www.inspirations.com

OPEN HOUSE ENTERPRISES Molong, 0405 021 265

INTEGRATED DESIGN GROUP Bathurst & Sydney, 6332 6206 www.idgarchitects.com.au JEMALONG WOOL Forbes, 6851 4000 www.jemalongwool.com.au JESSICA JANE PARAMEDICAL & NATURAL BEAUTY THERAPY Dubbo, 6885 3332 www.jessicajane.com.au JOHN DAVIS MOTORS Orange, 6362 0966 www.johndavismotors.com.au KADINA BnB Parkes, 6862 3995 www.kadinabnb.com

ORANA MALL Dubbo, 6882 7766 www.oranamall.com.au OSPREY HOLIDAY HOUSE Dunbogan, 6556 5038 ORANGE CITY COUNCIL Orange, 6393 8250 www.orange.nsw.gov.au OUTSCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Grenfell, 6343 8288 www.outscape.net.au

ROSEGARDEN ON CHURCH BnB Parkes, 6862 3504 ROSIE’S HONEY MUSTARD Warren, 6824 2055 www.rosies.net.au SADDLER & CO Dubbo, 0419 496 834 www.saddlerandco.com.au SEEME EYEWEAR Scone, 0475 085 935 ST STANISLAUS’ COLLEGE Bathurst, 6331 4177 www.stannies.com STEEL WALSH & MURPHY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Cowra, 6342 1311 www.steelwal.com.au STEVE’S SANDING Parkes, 0438 229 261 SUMMER HILL SEWING EMPORIUM Hartley, 6352 3577 www.sewingemporium.com.au SWISH GALLERY Dubbo, 6882 9528 www.theswishgallery.com.au TARA ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS North Parramatta, 9630 6655 www.tara.nsw.edu.au THE CLOSET Cowra, 6342 2478 www.theclosetcowra.com THE HUB Bathurst, 6332 1565 www.fb.com/thehubbathurst THE LIONS PRIDE Dubbo, 6884 3333 www.thelionspride.com.au THE OUTLOOK CAFE Dubbo, 6884 7977 THE OXLEY WINE BAR Cowra, 6341 4100 www.fb.com/theoxleywinebar THE SCOTS SCHOOL Bathurst, 6333 4702 www.scots.edu.au THE WHITE PLACE Orange, 6363 1160 www.thewhiteplace.com.au

PAINTED DAISIES Forbes, 6852 4180 www.fb.com/painted.daisies.9

TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP Central West, 6882 1511 www.toyota.com.au

PARKES BETTA HOME LIVING Parkes, 6862 2237

TWISTED RIVER WINES Manildra, 6364 5447 www.twistedriverwines.com.au

KING’S ANTIQUES Bathurst, 0417 785 495 www.kingsantiques.com.au

PARKES COFFEE POT & PARKES OPTICAL SERVICES Parkes, 6862 1877

KINROSS WOLAROI SCHOOL Orange, 6392 0403 www.kws.nsw.edu.au

PARKES DECOR Parkes, 6862 2677

TWO DOORS CAFÉ RESTAURANT Dubbo, 6885 2333 www.twodoors.com.au

PARKES DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING Parkes, 6862 3399

WALLINGTON WINES Canowindra, 0427 936 054 www.wallingtonwines.com.au

PARKES FURNITURE ONE Parkes, 6862 2545 www.furnitureone.com.au

WE KNOW TRAVEL Parkes, Dubbo & Orange, 6862 2466 www.weknowtravel.com.au

PARKES NEWSAGENCY Parkes, 6862 2296 www.parkesnewsagency.com

WEBB & CO BEVERAGE EMPORIUM Bathurst, 6334 2176 www.webbandco.com.au

PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL Parkes, 6862 6000 www.parkes.nsw.gov.au

WELLINGTON TOURISM Wellington, 1800 621 614 www.visitwellington.com.au

LITHGOW TOURISM Lithgow, 1300 760 276 www.tourism.lithgow.com

PAUL CUSACK LICENSED BUILDER AND CABINET MAKER Parkes, 6862 1144 www.paulcusack.com.au

WENONA SCHOOL North Sydney, 9955 3000 www.wenona.nsw.edu.au

LUCKNOW SKIN SHOP Lucknow, 6365 5330 www.lucknowskinshop.com.au

PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS Dubbo, 6882 3933 www.peacockeaccountants.com.au

MacKILLOP COLLEGE Bathurst, 6338 2200 www.mackillopcollege.com.au

PLAINSMAN MOTEL Forbes, 6852 2466

LA BELLA MEDISPA Parkes, 6862 5515 www.labellamedispa.com.au LADY KATE Narrabri, 0427 016 601 www.ladykate.com.au LANDMARK LANGLANDS HANLON Parkes, 6862 2362 LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS Parkes, 6862 4775 www.lifestylesolutions.com.au/fostercare

McDOWELL’S HERBAL TREATMENTS Bathurst, 6331 3937 www.mcdowellsherbal.com McNAUGHT GROUP PAINTING Dubbo, 6885 4744 www.mcnaughtgroup.com.au MACQUARIE PHILHARMONIA Bathurst, 6331 7777 www.macphil.org.au MAX ASTRI OPTOMETRISTS Dubbo, Wellington & Cobar, 6884 4077 www.maxastrioptometrists.com MIDNIGHT DOWNS Narromine, 6889 4427

PLC ARMIDALE Armidale, 6770 1700 www.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au PRANAYOGA CENTRE Bathurst, 0423 205 801 www.pranayogacentre.vpweb.com.au PRESSED TIN PANELS Bathurst, 6332 1738 www.pressedtinpanels.com RED BEND CATHOLIC COLLEGE Forbes, 6852 2000 www.redbendcc.nsw.edu.au REGENCY MEDIQUIP CENTRE Parkes, 1800 675 434 www.regencyparkes.com.au

WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS. The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.

WEST ORANGE MOTORS Orange, 6361 1000 www.mbwestorangemotors.com.au WESTPAC AGRIBUSINESS Dubbo, Young & Orange, 0429 653 591 WESTERN PLAINS WINDOWS & GLASS PTY LTD Dubbo, 6884 8818 www.wpwg.com.au WHITNEYS JEWELLERS Dubbo, 6882 4620 www.whitneysjewellers.com.au WILD OATS CAFÉ & PAVILION Mudgee, 0428 417 364 www.wildoatscafe.com.au WINGS OUT WEST Dubbo, 0409 944 619 www.wingsoutwest.com YOUNG WORKWEAR Young, 6382 2289

THE LAST WORD

TOUGH AS NAILS THEY BREED them tough as nails out at Alectown if the extraordinary life of Ray Barber is anything to go by. This delightful old-timer has farmed in the Parkes district all his life and on December 15 will celebrate the holy grail of human life: his 100th birthday. Amazingly, he continues living on the family farm “Myralee”, with a little help from his compassionate American-born daughter-in-law, Janette Barber, widely known by the locals for her shop in town, Prestige Boutique, which closed several years ago when her in-laws required a helping hand. Janette arrived on the scene in the 1970s during an acute teacher shortage in the bush. NSW was hiring American teachers, flying them out and offering them two years of tax-free employment. During this time she met Lawrence, Ray’s son, and never returned. Both have lost their partners in life and love. Ray’s wife Myrtle passed away last year after almost 73 years of marriage while Janette’s husband died from cancer in 2003. Nevertheless, it’s been an incredible life journey for both of them. Ray had to fight hard from the start, born a premature baby who, according to family folklore, resembled a “skinned rabbit” that was wrapped in cotton wool and olive oil and kept in a shoebox on the hob of the fireplace! A few years later the family moved from Alectown to Baldry, where he was milking cows before the long walk to school. There was no time for sport for this hardened pioneering lad who lived through virtually all of the 20th century, including the Great Depression, two world wars and the moon landing. Instead, Ray developed a lifetime love of breeding Merino sheep, becoming self-sufficient and fixing anything that moved. With Myrtle he helped raise four sons. Grandson Zarin Barber today works the farm with wife Carla from their base at Baldry. Ray stubbornly refuses to enter a nursing home, not while there’s work to be done and there’s still energy in those old bones. Until recently, he was still feeding the dogs and chooks, watering his vegie patch (he loves growing rockmelons and tomatoes) and gathering eggs from the hen house. It was no problem climbing aboard the “paddock basher” to check on troughs and fences or taking the old Fergy (tractor) for a weed run. Later, there was his adapted gopher that enabled him to keep his weeds in check, but his practice came to an inglorious end when he tipped it over and knocked himself out (he was back at work the following day). Welcome to farming, Barber style! This endearing chap, who still has a sharp mind despite being blind in one eye and half deaf, has had many brushes with death over a lifetime in the bush. In his early 80s, his tractor rolled over him and in 2004 he endured a frightening bushfire that jumped the Newell Highway and swept up the hill towards the homestead. Miraculously, the house was spared as they cowered inside but the fire continued its devastating path, burning hundreds of acres of crop, stubble and even some sheep. He has survived five heart bypasses and despite being the oldest chap in the recovery ward was back on deck quicker than blokes half his age. Perhaps it was the fact he never drank or smoked but one suspects it was more his dogged determination to get back to his beloved farm. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake

192 CWL

Above: Ray and Myrtle renewed their vows after 67 years of married life at the Parkes Elvis Festival; Ray receives help from his daughter-in-law, Janette Barber.

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