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SUMMER 2014 Volume 7
52-56 Lachlan Street, Forbes NSW 2871 | Phone 02 6851 5500
www.johndavismotors.com.au
32 - 38 Bathurst Road, Orange NSW 2800 | Phone 02 6362 0966
NEW HOME BUYER ANNOUNCEMENT
THEY SAID IT ’ COULDN T BE DONE. We did it.
Until now there was no such thing as a fixed price home building contract. Every builder exercises clauses in your contract for additional site costs, rock excavation, additional engineering or piers and so on and so forth. In short, this means that you can’t get a firm price and don’t really know what the final bill is until after you sign the contract. Now for the first time in Australian building history Bellriver Homes is offering ‘The No Excuses Fixed Price Home Building Contract’. We have only three conditions: 1) Excludes unregistered or contaminated sites e.g. Asbestos 2) Excludes new or unknown statutory requirements (if they change the rules) 3) Excludes sites at our discretion where we cannot do our due diligence. What’s The Catch? There isn’t one. Everything will be upfront, transparent and fully detailed in your contract. With Bellriver you can now feel as secure buying a home as you are living in one.
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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
trading as Central West Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.centralwestmagazine.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@centralwestmagazine.com.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@centralwestmagazine.com.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay 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. Š Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2014
All Rights Reserved
No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher. While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
Environmentally responsible, Titan Plus Gloss, produced in an ISO 14001 accredited facility ensures all processes involved in production are of the highest environmental standards. FSC Mixed Sources Chain of Custody (CoC) certification ensures fibre is sourced from certified & well managed forests.
This changes everything. The all new C-Class at West Orange Motors.
Hold your breath. The all new C-Class is changing the rules and raising the bar in every conceivable way. Unprecedented dynamics are delivered through the latest generation 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. Sleek design and aerodynamics set new standards in efficiency. Then, there’s a host of advanced technologies and comfort features that are unrivalled within the segment. Take the wheel. Prepare for change. Now exhale.
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West Orange Motors
32 Forbes Road Orange NSW 2800 Phone: 02 6361 1000 LMCT: 19853
CONTENTS SUMMER 2014
14 TRUE GRIT Maree Stockman is a mother, grandmother and farmer who has overcome remarkable adversity. This is the story of her courage and determination.
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86-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: COWRA Cowra is a unique place – a mix of rich agricultural land, a special history and a friendly and dynamic community. Long known for the tragic breakout of Japanese Prisoners of War in 1944, Cowra is now synonymous with peace and international understanding.
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HIGHLAND FLING
THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST
GOING THE WHOLE HOG
Mandurama hobby farmers Peter and Delia Thomson love all things Celtic, including their prized Highland cattle herd.
The National All Breeds Junior Heifer Show, Dubbo, enjoys record numbers.
A Dubbo business becomes a true success story in the meat industry.
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128
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BRAVE HEARTS
LIVING AND LEARNING
COUNTRY COLOUR
Clare Diffey had eyes that spoke a thousand words.
TAFE Western is changing lives. Meet the high achievers of 2014.
An industrious Canowindra couple have turned a hay paddock into a haven. And it all began with love and tree planting.
CWL | SUMMER 2014
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136 WARM AND WELCOMING
HOME & STYLE
RedAgape is a historic bluestone building in charming Millthorpe that has been creatively crafted into a unique guesthouse.
Explore Robyn’s space, don’t be afraid to bring your own eclectic style, and prepare for the festive season with inexpensive and time-saving style tips.
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SHOPPERS’ PARADISE
SUMMER STYLE
SEASONAL FOOD
Dubbo’s $30 million Orana Mall redevelopment.
Glamorous, locally stocked garments are showcased in a stunning Narromine garden.
Recipes for a delightful Christmas garden party.
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BELLAGIO BLISS
UPCOMING EVENTS
EVENTS IN THE WEST
Bellagio, Italy, is not called the Pearl of Lake Como for nothing.
Find out what’s on offer in the Central West this season.
Social snapshots from the Wellocal Ball, Trangie centenary celebrations, a Canowindra art exhibition and Dubbo Jazz Festival.
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ON THE COVER Former Miss World Belinda Green now calls Cowra home and loves her country life (page 40). Photography: Shot by Jake
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185 WEDDING BELLS
THE LAST WORD
The Central West’s beautiful brides and dapper grooms say “I do”.
An insightful yarn by acclaimed bush poet Murray Hartin.
CWL | SUMMER 2014
5
From the Publishers Welcome to summer and the special celebrations we all know and love that come with these exciting months! We are very thrilled to bring you, our loyal readers, a big bumper Summer edition, with 196 pages in all. Our magazine has continued winning hearts all over Australia. It is with great pleasure that we now send subscriptions to virtually every state in the country. The content of the Central West seems to forge close links with people from everywhere who make connections with our characters, businesspeople, and our enviable culture and heritage. Being present at both the Iandra Castle Open Days in October was a very memorable experience for us. We sold a great number of the Spring magazines (featuring Iandra) and introduced new readers to back copies as well. As a large number of visitors came from places far afield and interstate, this marked a very significant marketing exercise for our magazine. A special thanks to Iandra Castle managers Bev and Rod Kershaw for making us feel so welcome. The Summer Fashion Feature is included in this edition and represented a day of great teamwork and collaboration, staged in the glorious gardens of Judy and Tony Barlow at Narromine. We introduce our new fashion stylist, Bea Spackman, and thank her for her gallant efforts in bringing the day together. With sadness, we farewell Michelle Kent from our team. Michelle has a thriving fashion design business, So Stella, based in Orange. We have appreciated her dedication and creativity over the past four editions of CWL. We also introduce another new CWL team member, Amanda O’Sullivan, whose artistic design talents can now be seen regularly in the Local Spaces pages of our magazine. In this edition, Amanda and husband Johnathon’s own glorious Central West escape in Millthorpe, known as RedAgape, is featured. Cowra is the focus of our Town Feature in this issue. Special thanks to Cowra Mayor Bill West and his team for sharing our vision to promote their wonderful town and surrounds. We met many innovative and hard-working business owners in Cowra and greatly appreciate their advertising support. We know you will enjoy reading their unique stories.
100 years of Tooraweenah Show: Brian Armstrong, committee member Sue Armstrong, president Ross Alison, the Hon Rick Colless who opened the show, Geraldine Colless, Elizabeth and Alex.
The spectacular Orange Field Days were again a venue for us to showcase all our editions of CWL, meet new people and gain many new leads for future stories. We never cease to be amazed with the creative individuals who work so hard to present quality products for public appraisal. Tooraweenah recently held its 100th Annual Show. CWL felt privileged to be invited to attend their Black Tie Ball and their show on the following day. The sense of community that comes with the staging of a show and for Tooraweenah, all 100 of them, has to be felt to be understood. Congratulations to the hard-working committee (past and present) on this great achievement. We will have a feature on Tooraweenah Show in the Autumn edition and their ball will be seen in the social pages. Thank you to all the people who have given us thoughtful feedback this issue (‘Your Letters’ section). It is always a great boost to our team who diligently work on bringing you the “best in the west” for four seasons each year. We would like to wish you a memorable Christmas spent with the ones you love and a New Year filled with joy, good health and happiness. Warm regards,
Elizabeth and Alex Tickle
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CWL | SUMMER 2014
Kate Boshammer (Art Director) with parents Alex and Elizabeth at the 2014 Orana Mutual Rhino Awards in Dubbo. CWL was a finalist in the WIN Network Best New Business category. Image: Jenet Stewart, Imajenit Photography.
The Bush Oracle
Happy Christmas to all our lively Central West Lifestyle readers! Hope you are all settling into the great Aussie tradition of Christmas in the bush! Hot summer days, blue skies and a bumper issue of your favourite mag! It’s been a big couple of months for this reporter, starting with the Cowra Breakout celebrations, where I met many fine characters including perhaps one of the last surviving Japanese POWs, Teruo Murakami. This dignified and humble old soldier inspired everyone he met with a strong message of peace and reconciliation. I even got to spend a few interesting minutes with that jolly old giant of literature, Thomas Keneally, who commands plenty of attention wherever he goes. A big congratulations to Lawrence Ryan, committee chairman of the anniversary, for pulling together a wonderful crowd of people from all walks of life. Normal folk drawn together by the tragic events of one night 70 years ago.
You may even be one of them, reading this story right now and knowing you are part of a great collective throng of Central West unsung heroes! Cowra, like most towns, has its characters. The new publican at the Impy epitomises a lot about the town. Having a go, making a change. The new lads at the Oxley Wine Bar are also chasing their dreams. The beautiful couple who open their hearts to visitors at the Quarry Restaurant. The shops, food joints and service industries. The men and women on the land, diversifying, problem solving and keeping the dream alive. What a thrill to see spinach harvesting in action! Everything is so precise! The Fagan family has been working the land for generations and the latest crop of guardians are achieving results their forebears could only have dreamed of.
Everywhere there is hope. As you curl up with your favourite country mag in your favourite chair, please remember, Dear Reader, that where there is life there is hope. Everyone, including some big movers and shakers, are telling me the key to a happy life is to keep it simple. So I say to you, unwind, open that locally produced bottle of wine, get in the mood and let the next 196 pages take you on a thought-provoking and entertaining journey through your beloved Central West! It is shaping up to be a year of change! Don’t hold back! Till next time, keep it country. Keep it real and keep it simple!
Shot by Jake
After spending a week or two in the massive food-producing bowl that is Cowra, I got to thinking. What sets a town apart from the next? What defines a town’s character and make-up? I guess a lot of small places are pretty much the same. You have some families who have been there forever, you have the ring-ins, fresh blood. But, above all, you have people who, as a whole, love living in the bush and the friendships that naturally develop as a result of tight-knit rural communities. What you must know, Dear Reader, is that there are some pretty amazing and talented individuals in our collective midst! Look out for our instalment on the historic Egelabra Merino Stud, Warren, in our next issue.
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CWL | SUMMER 2014
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your letters Western towns in the spotlight The Spring edition, which featured Narromine, Trangie and Warren has experienced exceptional sales not only in these feature towns, but has been our highest performing edition overall. Thank you to the wonderful western communities for their support of the feature.
................................................................................. Congratulations on another top issue of CWL. Your feature on the western treasures of Narromine, Trangie and Warren really made me proud to call our district home. The stories showcased the charm and character of our towns, as well as the strength and diversity of the people who live here. I particularly loved the Anzac Day coverage, as my father spent four years in the war. I look forward to each issue of CWL – it is so uplifting to see friends and neighbours, rellies and acquaintances all portrayed in celebrity style!
On a recent trip to Cowra to visit family I stayed at the Country Gardens Motor Inn out on the Grenfell Road. Having left my book at home, I asked the proprietors if they had anything to read and was given the past three editions of Central West Lifestyle to peruse (Autumn 2014, Winter 2014 and Spring 2014). WOW! Was I impressed! The quality of the magazine was exceptionally high, the stories great and I could not get over the photography. The photography is just beautiful! Having visited most of the locations, it was compelling reading. Not much sleep was had that night as I read each from cover to cover. Congratulations to you and your staff on producing such a wonderful publication and I look forward to reading all about Cowra in the upcoming magazine. Elizabeth Gollan, West Pennant Hills
................................................................................. How fortunate I am that I was in NSW 12 months ago in Coolah. My cousin and I spotted this new magazine. It was the first copy of CWL and we were so impressed. When I came back to Victoria I went into the CWL website to subscribe. Although it is 47 years since I left NSW, this magazine brings so much pleasure; the stories and photography are brilliant. The worst part now is I am wishing my life away and can’t wait till the next season. I certainly have enjoyed the Spring edition. The cover is so grand, but then again all the covers are amazing. You must be so proud of it all. Congratulations to the great team at CWL.
Madi Simmons, Nevertire
Gail Dicks, Clifton Springs, Victoria
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I would like to tell you how absolutely fabulous the Spring edition of your magazine is. Having lived in Warren and now living in Narromine, I thought it was wonderful to read the features and stories of the people and places of these two towns. Thank you also for the feature you did on our small business Midnight Downs. I have received a lot of comments and inquiries about the story and our products. Good luck for the future of this brilliant magazine.
Just wanted to let you know that I found the fashion article “A stylish awakening” by Michelle Kent very inspirational. I think this can be applied to life in general and it has given me a gentle prod into action. Thank you for another lovely magazine full of interesting characters, photography and community.
Dawn Brydon, Midnight Downs, Narromine
Karen Granger, The Grange Permaculture Garden, Bathurst
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I’d like to congratulate the team behind the wonderful magazine that is Central West Lifestyle. Too many times social media, newspapers and television project negative images and stories of our region. But Central West Lifestyle highlights all that is wonderful about our community. So many interesting characters, amazing and gifted talents and unique businesses are showcased through the wonderful platform that is CWL. As a small business owner, I know it is vital to have a positive profile in a magazine that reflects all the hard-working, inspiring people in the country. I firmly believe we live in a truly vibrant region that has so much to offer for both visitors and residents alike.
Hello, I have just discovered your mag at a newsagent and I love it. Although I now live on the Central Coast, I was born and bred in Orange and still call it home. We were so humbled 10 years ago when our son was diagnosed with a rare disease – knowing we would not have him for much longer all of our friends and even those who we didn’t know got together, organised a booked-out black-tie ball and raised an amazing amount of money so we could be with him. We will be forever grateful for the generosity and kindness of so many. My beautiful boy was born in Orange and it will always be such a special place for us. Ten years in August since he passed, which was the day after his eighth birthday. Love to all the beautiful people in the Central West.
Julie McAnally, Ewe Two on Dandaloo, Trangie
Tracey Menser, Central Coast
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Just got my hands on the latest issue of the magazine (Winter 2014) and thoroughly enjoyed reading the article on Tony Bernardi of Bernardi’s Marketplace fame. When the Dubbo store opened last July, he was there and I had an opportunity to be in his presence for a short moment. It’s not often where you can attend a supermarket grand opening and the family patriarch is in attendance at the same time. I learnt a lot from Tony and he has instilled an amazing sense of pride in me, not only with my work ethic but as a person as well. Joseph Hupp, Dubbo Central West Lifestyle is a fabulous magazine. I am thrilled to now have the six issues. I used to live in the Central West at Coombing Park, Carcoar (Volume 4 – Fit for a King). So many people from far and wide have rung me about the story and I find that Sydney friends have it too! I bought several copies in Moss Vale and sent them to a variety of relatives and friends who live interstate and far afield. Your magazine is really special, fantastic, diverse, captivating, vibrant and I could go on and on! Love the photography too. Your professionalism is very admirable and we’re all loving Central West Lifestyle. Good luck for the future. Patricia Bellamy, Moss Vale
................................................................................. I enjoy reading CWL and always look forward to the next issue. It’s great to see so many local places and towns highlighted. My mother, who is 93, also looks forward to reading the magazine when I am finished with it. Liz Masters, Spicers Creek, Wellington
................................................................................. Having recently relocated to the Central West, I was excited to find such a high-quality local publication. The articles, photography and detail that are evident in the magazine really embrace what the Central West has to offer, and I am delighted to be able to supply copies of Central West Lifestyle for our customers to browse through in the seating area of our branch. I am often approached by customers telling me: “It’s great to have such good-quality magazines available for reading.” This is usually followed by them asking where they can get their own copy. We are pleased to see so many local businesses promoted and supported by what is one of the few locally owned and run publications remaining. My team and I are thrilled to support Central West Lifestyle and look forward to our continued association. Dave Egan, Bank Manager, Westpac Dubbo
................................................................................. Central West Lifestyle, being such an easy read, is a marvellous book to share with others. All the articles are so interesting and the reader can relate so well to the content. I hope you keep publishing it forever! Gweneth Beresford, Coonabarabran
................................................................................. Congratulations to the Central West Lifestyle team on such a comprehensive, vibrant and beautiful magazine. The feat of pulling together so many great stories accompanied by stunning photography must be an exhaustive task but you make it look easy. Who knew all these wonderful intimate details of the towns and characters you feature existed? I feel blessed that you allow me to travel across our magnificent region from the comfort of my lounge room. Well done and thank you. I can’t wait for the next edition. Alex Dennis, Orange
................................................................................. I have been in the newsagency business for 13 years and Central West Lifestyle has been a huge success for our business. CWL is a magazine of high quality and outstanding content. This publication generates a huge amount of local interest. Our sales have been well above expectations and continue to grow at a very strong rate. Paul Blunden, Nextra newsagency, Orange
................................................................................. Just wanted to say thank you for your amazing magazine! I can never wait till the next issue. I should slow down while reading each issue, but I cannot wait to see which of our great inland country towns you are taking us on a picturesque tour of. Living on the eastern coast all my life, it is so wonderful to visit by magazine the western area. The magazine brings back memories of my school friends and places they came from. My school was Methodist Ladies College, Burwood. My school friends always came back from holidays with such amazing stories to tell us all. Please continue to take us on these most wonderful, colourful visits to all the great places out west. I always pass the magazines on to my friends here in Taree, so they can also enjoy your beautiful publications. I am so grateful to be able to buy CWL and enjoy it so much. Peta-Gai Adamson, Taree
................................................................................. CWL is the best magazine ever! I just love it and wait impatiently for the next issue. I really enjoy the beautiful stories and photography. Deb Comer, Dubbo
................................................................................. Central West Lifestyle is full of interesting stories and I feel I can relate to the content. The feel of the magazine is luxurious and the photography is amazing and eye catching. I love how the magazine has a town feature in each issue. Ann Styles, Wellington
................................................................................. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all five issues of Central West Lifestyle so far. Having travelled extensively over the years, I really enjoy the well-written stories on travel by Pip Teys. They bring back wonderful memories for me and inspire me to want to travel and further explore the amazing places around our globe. As a lover of Australian history, I was delighted to read in the Winter edition about the rich history of Forbes, which included the Ben Hall connection and some amazing old photographs. Good luck to the CWL team for continued success. Sue Meikle, Morpeth Share your feedback: Facebook: www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle Email: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au
MEET YOUR TEAM Summer 2014 Contributors
ELIZABETH TICKLE Publisher & Editor
ALEX TICKLE Publisher & Advertising
JAKE LINDSAY Chief Writer & Photographer
KATE BOSHAMMER Art Director & Design, Writer
LISA STARR Advertising & Feature Design
ELIZABETH SWANE Garden Editor
ANGUS WADDELL Photographer
ANNA TICKLE Writer
CATHERINE PLAYER Writer
DAYNA TIERNEY Writer
PIP TEYS Home & Style and Travel Writer
AMANDA O'SULLIVAN Home & Style Writer
BEA SPACKMAN Fashion Stylist
LORRAINE HILLS Country Cuisine Writer
CHRISTINE LE FEVRE Food & Lifestyle Writer
SAM HUNTER Photographer
NERIDA INGRAM Advertising, Writer
CAITLIN CHRISTENSEN Events Officer
KELLY TYACK Photographer
GINA CRANSON Proofreader
More information on the team can be found on our website: www.centralwestmagazine.com.au 12
CWL | SUMMER 2014
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.
TRUE
GRIT WORDS CATHERINE PLAYER IMAGES KELLY TYACK
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CWL | SUMMER 2014
The red dust rises up to greet all visitors at “Forest Lodge�, Gubbata. The property is located in the Mallee plains of Western NSW, part way between Lake Cargelligo and West Wyalong. It is home to farmer Maree Stockman and her family. A non-traditional farmer, Maree has faced more than her fair share of hardships over time. But in 1988, only 18 months after a freak accident left her facing the enormous task of running the farm alone, yet another misfortune would strike. This time, it would change the way she did things forever. Driven by love for her family she battled on. This is the story of her courage and determination.
INSPIRATION
THE 1988 HARVEST DECEMBER 17, 1988, was a long day for farmer Maree Stockman. Being a weekend, her worker wasn’t on duty so she took to the header herself. Beginning in the morning, Maree was still driving after dark and as 9pm approached her mind turned to the three kids back at the farm house. The housekeeper would have them tucked up in their beds by now. She would be home soon herself. Just one more lap to go. For a mid-December, it had been unseasonably wet. As night approached, the straw drew the moisture from the soil and the job was made increasingly laborious as the knife on the New Holland TR85 constantly jammed, bringing the header to a standstill. The bad weather had flattened the crop and crop lifters had been attached to the header. This meant that a further obstacle had to be negotiated when clearing the damp straw. The process of releasing the jammed knife was repetitive and time wasting, especially for a weary farmer who knew that she must back it up again tomorrow. Blocking up once more, the header stopped for one final time that night. Maree wearily jumped down from the cabin. Looking for a quick fix, she chose to pull on the pulley-driven belt rather than remove all the clogged straw from in and around the knife. With minimal effort, Maree grabbed the inch-wide belt and with the speed of light it engaged once again. What happened next was life changing. Still gripping the fast-moving belt, both Maree’s hands were drawn into the pulley. Unable to release her hands, Maree was stuck for quite some time. There was a big Christmas party on in the area that night and any hope of being found was unlikely. Finally, without hope of turning the machinery off herself, or of being rescued, Maree decided to forcibly pull her hands from the pulley. “It was probably the worst thing to do but there was no pain. I don’t know why. I just looked down and my fingers were gone,” she said. Left with only two thumbs and a little finger, the injuries themselves produced very little blood. The belt on the pulley was very hot and had literally sealed her wounds. Though the nature of her injuries was devastating, Maree’s concerns instantly turned to the downtime that this sort of accident would cause at such an important time on her farming program. “When you have a breakdown at harvest time, some things can be fixed quickly and some things are more serious. My immediate thought was ‘Oh no! This is going to cause a real delay,” she recalled. Quickly jumping back up into the cabin, Maree instinctively went to radio for help but without fingers the two-way kept slipping from her grasp. Finally, she managed to radio the housekeeper to come and get her. After wrapping Maree’s injuries in an old towel, the housekeeper, who was in a state of distress, drove Maree to the neighbour’s house for help. Very soon she was on her way to the closest hospital, 30 minutes away at Ungarie. The sister on duty quickly assessed that there was little that could be done at their current location and she drove Maree into West Wyalong, a further 30 minutes on. By now it was approaching midnight. At West Wyalong, the doctor asked after her severed fingers. Until this point, it had not been something that Maree had given any real thought to. Assuming that they had been ground up in the pulley she had not once thought to look for them or that there might be any chance that they could be saved. “The police and a nursing sister were sent back to find my fingers. It wouldn’t have been a very nice job but they managed to find all of them,” she recalled. The West Wyalong Hospital staff quickly discerned that she must be moved on to a bigger hospital, and with adrenaline still madly pumping through her body, Maree was alert and chatted to the sister as they made the trip from West Wyalong to Wagga Wagga by ambulance. Some time after 2am, Maree would finally arrive at Wagga Base Hospital. “I lay around in Wagga for quite a long while. They were having trouble finding a hospital to send me to, I think. They finally decided that I would go into hospital at St Vincent’s in Melbourne. It was daylight before they put me in an air ambulance.”
Still gripping the fast-moving belt, both Maree’s hands were drawn into the pulley. Throughout this time Maree’s resolve was one of resilience. Her stoic nature challenged most medicos’ beliefs on grief and the brain’s ability to rationalise. Even today, Maree remembers the whole ordeal with very little emotion and often even manages a laugh at the more obscure elements of her story. “I generally don’t dwell or worry about things. I am always thinking of the next job that needs to be done,” she said. Maree endured several operations to re-attach her severed fingers. However, day after day, she still could not feel them nor did she have any movement in them. Even the archaic practice of leech therapy was used in an attempt to stimulate blood circulation. Finally, doctors accepted that all attempts were futile and an operation to remove her fingers was scheduled. Soon after, her stoic demeanour began to falter. Maree was inconsolable for days. Trauma counselling was arranged to help her mentally prepare for and accept a life without fingers. “There was a reason that the counselling didn’t work,” Maree said. “I wasn’t crying about my hands. They’re only fingers. They’re not important. I was crying because I felt like I had failed. I had failed my family. Most hurtful, I had failed my husband Mick.”
18 MONTHS PRIOR Easter 1987 should have been spent sowing the crop but the weather gods had other ideas and Maree felt that the family should take the opportunity to visit relatives in Tamworth. Maree’s husband Mick was from there and the children were looking forward to seeing their other Nan and relatives. Mick still had numerous friends in Tamworth so when he sourced a much-needed bulldozer part in Wauchope, it wasn’t hard to find a pilot and a plane to take him there. By chance, Mick’s father called by the house that morning and asked if he could tag along. That left one seat free on the plane and the two eldest children, Linda and Darryl, both wanted to go. In the end, it was an all-male trip. Maree described the day as “normal” and even though the men had not returned by dark it did not raise alarm bells for the women. “They were typically unreliable men,” Maree said. But at 8pm when a policeman knocked on the door of her sister-in-law’s place, Maree’s heart sank. The plane was missing. Days came and went. The official search party scoured the area between the two towns to no avail. By day nine hope was quickly fading but not for Maree. “Mick was an experienced bushman. He was larger than life. I just expected him to walk out of this. I truly thought, if the plane has landed in thick forest, he could still make it. He had survival skills.” On day 10 the official search party had ended. Some friends at the airport decided to conduct a search party of their own. To that date, only twin engine planes had been used in the search and their safety requirements prescribed a higher flight path than that prescribed for single engine planes. Using single engine planes, the new search party were able to search the forest much closer to the ground, making the forest more visible to them. Using the point from where the plane had last radioed in as a reference, the search party was able to locate the plane within one hour of their commencement. Over the next few weeks Maree’s days passed by in a nonsensical blur. Firstly there was the funeral for Mick’s father and the plane’s pilot in Tamworth. Acting on automatic, Maree endured the pain of burying both her beloved husband Mick and 11-year-old son Darryl in West Wyalong. A large number of people from the district came to show their respects. > Left: Maree (back) with daughters Linda Thomas (left) and Karyn Hoskinson (right), son in law Greg Thomas, and grandchildren Clancy Hoskinson, Ashley, Jacinta and Chelsea Thomas, Michael Stockman and baby Aiden Hoskinson.
CWL | SUMMER 2014
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