COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021/22 ISSUE by Coast Publishing

SUMMER 2021/22

HISTORIC BRIDGES OF THE CENTRAL COAST KOALAS ON THE COAST, ONCE A MAJOR HABITAT FABULOUS RESTAURANTS OF THE HAWKESBURY WIN 3 SPLENDID DAYS & NIGHTS IN PORT STEPHENS

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WIN

A PORT STEPHENS GETAWAY

STAY AT THE MANTRA NELSON BAY 3 nights for 2 people in a 2-bedroom pool-view apartment featuring a private balcony with views of the beautiful lagoon pool. Valued at $900 for two adults. BE ENCHANTED BY A PRIVATE KOALA ENCOUNTER AT OAKVALE WILDLIFE PARK including admission for two adults. Valued at $216. EXPLORE SPECTACULAR BROUGHTON ISLAND, a national park island, with MOONSHADOW TQC CRUISES. Valued at $220 for two adults. OR, depending on booking dates, THRILL AT A DOLPHIN DISCOVERY CRUISE. Valued at $70 for two adults. DINE WATERFRONT AT LITTLE BEACH BOATHOUSE overlooking the bay, with a $100 gift voucher.

Just tell us why you’d like to win a Port Stephens getaway by entering at coastmagazine.com.au or simply use the QR code. Please read the Terms & Conditions listed with the entry form on the COAST website.

CONTENTS WIN a Port Stephens getaway

WELCOME 6 DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST Map: Central Coast villages and beaches Bridges of the Central Coast

8 9

Loving LOCAL

The Quarters at Forresters Beach

Can wholefoods be tasty foods?

Wholefoods heroes

Dinner parties are back

PEOPLE OF THE COAST Shirley Hadley, the first Mingara

MY COAST Laura Wells

FEATURE Koalas on the Coast

Home Style & HOLIDAY LIVING A sea view as far as you can see the view Luxury escapes

40 46

PEOPLE ON THE COAST Eden and Louise Fanelli

Eat and DRINK

Dana Chantler, the chef from Whistler Best kid-friendly dining Fabulous restaurants of the Hawkesbury The Sitting Duck, Peats Ridge

FEATURE The chime of bellbirds. What does it say to you? COASTING ALONG Living outside your comfort zone

56 58 62 66 68 70

Wellbeing BEING WELL

Roll out the mat ‘Butterflies’ in your tummy means your head-brain is talking to your gut-brain

Coast VIBES

Sarah Samild, curator, Gosford Regional Gallery Art confidence is changing our taste in art Long Jetty art scene: Glenn McKimmin Gallery Charmian Gadd: from a barefoot childhood to violin virtuoso Happenings on the Coast FEATURE Stonewall equestrian showground, Mangrove Mountain GREAT OUTDOORS Map: Central Coast National Parks and State Forests Great North Road bike hike: Bucketty Convict Wall to Wisemans Ferry

74 78

82 84 86 88 90

98 99

DESTINATION WEDDINGS How we met: Brett and Robbie

104

GARDENS OF THE COAST Coastal profusion. Garden designer Peter Nixon’s tropic-inspired space

108

36 hours in … Port Stephens Sip and sup with a view in Newcastle

114 116

Driving ESCAPES

Families ON THE COAST

Fun for Kids Sugar-detoxing your little sugar addict

119 122

YOUR WEDDING WORLD IS WAITING...

www.kantarahouse.net.au

CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | ACCOMODATION

Photo by: Woodlands Creative

COAST PUBLISHER Catharine Retter editorial@coastpublishing.com.au SUB EDITOR Carla Grossetti ART DIRECTOR Jude Rowe, Agave Creative Group PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Ennion • Lisa Haymes • Jack Hubbard • Kevin Morgan, Magic Light Photography PRINCIPAL WRITERS Megan Arkinstall • Jennifer Ennion • Libby Greig • Carla Grossetti • Suzy Jarratt • Catharine Retter • Sheriden Rhodes • Katie Stokes • Sarah Tolmie • Paul Urquhart ILLUSTRATORS Maps: Guy Holt • Lauren Merrick ADVERTISING Anissa Vineburg 0408 692 129 Lyndal Keyzer 0432 800 150 advertising@coastpublishing.com.au SOCIAL MEDIA Haley Sing, Vine PR admin@coastpublishing.com.au DISTRIBUTION Alex Tkachenko admin@coastpublishing.com.au ADMINISTRATION admin@coastpublishing.com.au

as a summer ever been welcomed by everyone with more open arms and open doorways? It’s time for reconnecting with our families, the kids home from school (again) but this time on the long summer holidays, days in the sun, being at the beach, and fun in and on the water. And most of all, we all hope, continued freeeeedom! And who doesn’t love a good ‘how we met’ love story? We do too, and that’s why our popular wedding pages have now sashayed into the stories behind the weddings – of love at first sight or even loathe at first sight, and the obstacles that always seem to stand in the way of true love. Don’t miss the first one in this issue.

To keep you flat-out (flat out like a lizard, or flat-out busy, whichever is your thing), our Summer issue is choc-full with interesting reads. Who knew that some of the oldest convict bridges in mainland Australia were right here on our doorstep? Or that our region was once the most important koala habitat in the state, south of Port Stephens? And of course there are the always-popular ‘where to shop’ pages where you can enjoy Loving Local for anything from dinner partyware to wholefoods. As we say to visitors, ‘We choose to live where you just holiday’ so for those not lucky enough to live in this beautiful part of NSW, welcome, enjoy COAST! c

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL ENTRIES IN OUR READER COMPETITION DURING LOCKDOWN. The lucky winner of the two nights at Marramarra Lodge on the Hawkesbury River is Rosie Marshall and her husband.

COAST

COAST is published by Coast Publishing ABN 11 145 976 049 PO Box 6407 Kincumber NSW 2251 For more ‘What’s On for Kids’ information contact Katie Stokes at playinginpuddles.com.au COPYRIGHT AND WARRANTIES The editorial content, photographic content, design and graphic art (including design of any advertisements by Coast Publishing) are all subject to copyright and must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Coast Publishing. While we strive to ensure information contained in this magazine is correct and current at the time of printing, details may be subject to change and we recommend contacting venues or event organisers before planning your visit. The information contained in this magazine has been provided by contributors, interviewees and advertisers and their sources. No warranty is given by Coast Publishing as to the accuracy of this information nor any liability arising from any reliance upon the information contained herein. FIND US ON Facebook Instagram @coast_publishing Receive COAST online, free, in your inbox each month by subscribing at coastmagazine.com.au We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Awabakal and Darkinjung peoples and their Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. ON THE COVER Terrigal, courtesy of Destination NSW. Photographer, David Ross.

Caring for the Central Coast

The Coast is a beautiful place to live and by working together, we can make it even better. We need to: Invest in infrastructure to clear the backlog Drive local jobs to support our economy Boost health services and provide quality care, close to home Stop risky environmental projects and protect our coastline OUR ECONOMY MATTERS. OUR HEALTH MATTERS.

OUR HOME MATTERS. BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE’LL HAVE A BETTER FUTURE ON THE COAST. 204/1 Bryant Drive PO Box 3763 Tuggerah NSW 2259 | 02 4353 0127 Emma.McBride.MP@aph.gov.au | emmamcbride.com.au Authorised by Emma McBride, ALP, 204/1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259

CENTRAL COAST

Villages & Beaches

Bridges

OF THE CENTRAL COAST

Phil Houghton Bridge, Piles Creek

Chances are, you’ve never thought of the Central Coast as a place of interesting bridges. But did you know that the oldest convict-built bridge still in use in mainland Australia, as well as the second oldest bridge and the fourth oldest bridge are all in our region? (The latter two are now without their roadways, and only their sandstone abutments remain.)

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

The oldest bridge, the Thomas James Bridge, can be found on the north side of the Hawkesbury River between Wisemans Ferry and the Devines Hill entrance to Dharug National Park on the old Great North Road (now Settlers Road). It was built in 1830 by 25 convicts under the supervision of Thomas James. Look beneath the bridge to see its massive sandstone abutments.

THOMAS JAMES BRIDGE, Settlers Road, near Dharug National Park

Thomas James Bridge

CLARES BRIDGE, Old Great North Road, Dharug National Park Just beaten as the oldest bridge by a matter of months, the second oldest, Clares Bridge, also built by Thomas James in 1830, is a little more off the beaten track, but still part of the old Great North Road. To find it you’ll have to bushwalk through the Dharug National Park, 1km north of the Ten Mile Hollow camping grounds. Even without a road deck, its sweeping design makes Clares Bridge one of the most visually impressive of all the old bridges along the old Great North Road. Both Thomas James Bridge and the Clares Bridge are part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Australian Convict Sites.

Clares Bridge

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Hawkesbury Rail Bridge

HAWKESBURY RIVER RAILWAY BRIDGE, near Brooklyn Another heritage-listed bridge is the 1889-built Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge built across the Hawkesbury. The Union Bridge Company of New York won the contract to construct the bridge but sub-contracted the actual work. The crossing was hailed as a symbol of Federation, and Sir Henry Parkes, made much of this when he opened the bridge. Just 12 months after its completion, faults were discovered in a number of piers, not helped by the fact that the double-lane bridge was the only point at which north and southbound trains could pass each other on the otherwise single track. By 1925, the deck of the bridge had to be strengthened and, by 1938, severe cracking was found in the southern pier, caused by the depth of river sediment, which had made it difficult to anchor the pier in bedrock. The bridge was then carrying 100 trains a day and the speed across the bridge was gradually reduced to a traffic-crawling 6km per hour while a replacement bridge was designed and built – considered an urgent requirement in wartime Australia. The old sandstone and concrete piers and abutments still stand beside today’s train bridge, which was opened in 1946 (and is also on the NSW Heritage Register).

MOONEY MOONEY CREEK BRIDGE, Mooney Mooney Creek (aka The Big Dipper)

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge

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Opened in 1986 by Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, the 75-metre-high bridge is, surprisingly, a twin bridge, each having a main span and two approach spans. Its carriageway is the main link carrying Pacific Motorway (M1) traffic between Sydney and Newcastle and all points north. Its simple, clean lines were designed specifically not to detract from the natural bushland surrounds. The original two-lane steel truss bridge from 1930, downstream from the newer bridge, still carries traffic on the old Pacific Highway.

THE SWEETEST PLACE ON THE CENTRAL COAST

Huge retail store • Cafe • House made ice cream • Kids chocolatier workshops • Factory tours Open daily 6 Jusfrute Dr West Gosford PH: 4322 3222 www.chocolatefactorygosford.com.au

EAT

STAY LOVE

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Paradise Botanical Gardens Bridge

Phil Houghton Bridge

PHIL HOUGHTON BRIDGE, Piles Creek, Brisbane Water National Park near Somersby

The Phil Houghton Bridge, also part of the old Great North Road, was built in 1998 after an older bridge – still visible a little upstream – was partially washed away by floodwaters. The footbridge can hold eight people, and is said to be quite stable even though, as a suspension bridge, it sways as you cross.

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PARADISE BOTANICAL GARDENS BRIDGE, Kulnura The Roman arch-style bridge across a spring-fed creek is constructed from local rock and was built after the previous owner of the gardens, Bob Cherry, acquired the property in the 1970s. Stone structures play hide-and-seek with visitors to the gardens, including whimsical stone statues, water channels and a magnificent rubble-stone wall.

Budgewoi Footbridge

DISCOVER THE CENTRAL COAST

BUDGEWOI FOOTBRIDGE to Dunkey Island (aka Budgie Bridge) The first traffic bridge across Budgewoi Creek was constructed by the Freeman family in 1902-’03. The footbridge, north of that bridge, was built to connect the Dunkey Island recreational area to the mainland.

THOMPSONS BRIDGE, Bucketty

Located between Murrays Run and Laguna, alongside the Great North Road, the bridge is no longer open to vehicle traffic. It was thought to have been built in 1830 by the No.7 Iron Gang but the quality of the work suggests it may have collapsed at some stage and been rebuilt to lessen the bend in the road.

CIRCUIT FLAT BRIDGE, Bucketty The old Great North Road joins the St Albans to Bucketty road near the Mogo campground in Yengo National Park where a walking track takes you 5.5km down the old road to the stone buttresses and Bucketty Wall, which are all that remain of the once-impressive, convict-built Circuit Flat Bridge. Reported to be the fourth oldest bridge in mainland Australia, and built in 1831 under the convict-gang overseer, William Barratt, it once linked Sydney to essential farmlands in the Hunter Valley.

BRIDGING OUR COMMUNITIES Ourimbah Creek Bridge, built in 1906, was the first direct road link between Wyong and The Entrance. The single-lane wooden The Entrance Bridge opened in 1934, was replaced by the concrete bridge in 1969. The steel-trussed Peats Ferry Bridge, completed in 1945, carries Pacific Highway vehicles across the Hawkesbury River. Alongside it, the 1973-built Brooklyn Bridge, better known as the Hawkesbury River Bridge, carries Pacific Motorway traffic. The Rip Bridge across Brisbane Water, first connected Booker Bay to Daleys Point and the Coast’s popular beaches in 1974. Toukley Bridge to Gorokan, opened in 1985, replacing the old two-lane wooden bridge built in 1939. And how could we omit the Spike Milligan Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists in Woy Woy, and named after the town’s favourite adopted son in 2008.

CUNNEENS BRIDGE, Wollombi

Cunneens Bridge was named after the landowner on whose property the bridge was built: Patrick Cunneen (or Cuneen) was a tailor who emigrated from Ireland in 1841 and worked for a time as a farm labourer before moving to Sydney as a tailor, then to Wollombi where he purchased land at the junction of Wollombi Brook. A modern Cunneens Bridge was built in 2020, and the old bridge was listed for demolition in 2021-22.

Circuit Flat Bridge

Cunneens Bridge

Spike Milligan Bridge

Loving

LOCAL

THE QUARTERS

THE QUARTERS You only need to drive by The Quarters to be impressed by the stylish new look of the main building in sophisticated black, with large white-framed arched windows. Alongside it, the contrasting fresh-white building houses a weddings and conference venue. The Quarters will stop you in your tracks (if it wasn’t for the line of traffic also rubber-necking behind you). Warren and Donna Hughes’ vision for the potential of this property shines through. Donna provides the bespoke coastal resort-style designer touches in crisp whites, with décor touches, and wainscotting that differs from room to room in the accommodation section, from eucalyptus greens to soft greys and sand colours. ‘Every piece of crockery, every paint colour, paver, chair, curtain, tap, tile, floor finish – that’s all Donna,’ says Warren with more than a touch of pride. Warren, too, was hands-on during the renovation phase as the site manager, where more often than not he could be found pitching in as well as project managing. ‘When you have 50 tradies on site – all locals of course – you need to be there,’ he says. He brings the practical experience of having worked in operational facilities for pubs, clubs, shopping centres and even military camps ‘These days, what we most enjoy is buying a “distressed” site and bringing the value and love back into it and into the

local community,’ Warren says. ‘What we particularly like about The Quarters is that it is bringing a much needed, good quality venue into the Forries area.’ The Quarters is the Hughes’ biggest venture, having invested over $10 million in it to date. ‘We’ve done things like installing a $100,000 solar panel system, a 30,000-litre water tank, and we have our own freshveggies patch,’ says Warren. There are four main quarters: the accommodation buildings with 34 rooms and 100 beds; the ballroom able to seat 150 guests for weddings, conferences and events; and the 500 sq metre-square restaurant, cafe and commercial area. Through the main entry you’ll find yourself transported into a tropical paradise where lush plants and trees mingle with a waterfall that tumbles into the guests’ pool. Here too, the Pantry Café spreads out into a large peaceful courtyard, while the nearby Gilded Anchor restaurant and bar offers fine dining in a relaxed holiday mood. You By Dr Shauna Watts has opened a boutique clinic and beauty salon offering cosmetic medicine and consultations with scientifically proven skincare, wrinkle injections and fillers, micro-peels, thread lifts, body contouring and more. Close by, Grace Taylor’s Something by Grace Hair Salon offers a boutique salon in chic, earthy tones and brass finishings where you’ll be transported from your everyday world with a relaxing head massage, morning coffee or an afternoon glass of wine while Grace and her team transform your hair into a fresh, ‘new you’. tqfb.com.au

A New Journey to Beautiful, Healthy Skin

“Whether you’ve experienced treatments before or you’re curious but cautious about starting your aesthetic journey, you’ll feel safe and secure in my care.” - Dr Shauna Watts Award winning GP, Cosmetic and Lifestyle Medicine Physician

Located at The Quarters. A bespoke retail, accommodation, wellness and events destination at Forresters Beach.

18 COAST

@youbydrshaunawatts

LOVING LOCAL

Can wholefoods be tasty foods? WE ASKED ONE OF THE LOCAL PIONEERS OF WHOLEFOODS ON THE COAST, THREE DONKEYS WHOLEFOODS CAFE OWNER, ROY MUSSALLI ABOUT THE INCREASING FOCUS ON WHOLEFOODS. Is this just another diet fad for health nuts? ‘I don’t even think of myself as a health nut,’ says Roy. ‘I just think it’s unnecessary to put anything in our bodies that provides no value to our organs and immune system. ‘Wholefoods are as natural as possible, so the benefit is that they don’t have a list of preservatives, artificial flavours, and additives that have no nutritional value. Sometimes those additives are designed to make you crave more, and sometimes they can create inflammations and irritations. That’s not to say, you should entirely avoid foods that have been minimally processed. Cheeses for example, go through minimal processing, but we make sure we only use products with the highest of quality. What was the trigger that made you switch to wholefoods? ‘My wife, Joanne, had developed an auto-immune disease. We’d tried every medical solution known but were told, “There’s no solution”. Her research told her that one of the biggest impacts on the auto-immune system was diet. She had nothing to lose, so she changed her lifestyle and diet, and it wasn’t too long before she saw improvements. ‘If you’re on a clean diet, your body is working naturally, and is not wasting energy fighting the rubbish in your system. ‘When we set up Three Donkeys, we didn’t want to sell anything we wouldn’t consume ourselves, so that’s why we directed the focus towards wholefoods. Any dish, when made well with quality ingredients and care, allows the flavours to

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shine. It’s a myth that good food doesn’t taste great, and our café proves that. I love food, and we have made it a point to ensure all our food is extremely tasty while also having that all-important nutritional value. We believe in “eating the rainbow”; try adding as much colour with fruit and vegetables on your plate and you can’t go wrong I think you’re convincing me. How can we swap processed foods with wholefoods in our diet? ‘You don’t even need to shop in the health isle to eat well, just minimise the amount of food items in packets. It’s that simple.’ Fruit, veges, meats, nuts and seeds are all wholefoods. If it’s that simple, what stops people from following such a sensible diet? ‘Mostly convenience, especially if you’re time poor. Wholefoods can require a bit more thought, time and sometimes money because you get what you pay for. But when you feel better because of it, it becomes second nature to you. Meanwhile, that’s why we offer our products and service to help people who don’t have time, or are not passionate about cooking.’ That was a not-so-subtle plug. So, what differences will I notice if I change to wholefoods? When you eat well, there are so many advantages that can’t all be listed but, in short, you can expect to have better skin, hair, maintain weight better, have more energy, be less stressed and have an immune system better equipped to deal with unwanted intruders – which all lead to also feeling better. And you can enjoy the true taste of your food.’ Three Donkeys Wholefood Cafe, 6 Ghersi Ave, Wamberal

LOVING LOCAL

WHOLEFOODS HEROES WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

A good spring clean means more than decluttering our wardrobes Marie Kondo-style. In addition to organising our cupboards in line with the tidying expert’s approach, we can spring clean our bodies with nourishing foods that put an extra spark in our step. To help you embrace healthy living without fuss, we’ve checked out the Central Coast’s best wholefoods cafes and grocers.

THREE DONKEYS WHOLEFOOD CAFE Leading the Central Coast wholefoods scene is Three Donkeys, in Wamberal. This is the kind of place people go out of their way to call into, thanks to its amazing hot drinks, treats and meals. Let’s start with the beverages: activated charcoal, matcha and beetroot lattes. For breakfast or lunch, you can enjoy fresh poke bowls (one of the biggest sellers) and lentil curry Buddha bowls. As for treats, the cafe has a reputation for its great selection of vegan and gluten-, refined sugar- and dairy-free desserts. Fancy a chocolate brownie protein bliss ball or a vegan mango slice with your morning cuppa? Such an amazing healthy menu sets Three Donkeys apart from many other Coast cafes, and owner Roy Mussalli puts that down to authenticity. ‘Everything we do stays authentic to the wholefood philosophy or we don’t do it, even though it may be a bit harder and more expensive,’ he says. 6 Ghersi Ave, Wamberal, threedonkeys.com.au/

BAY ORGANICS Real food prepared thoughtfully is the essence of Bay Organics. This organic cafe in the quaint strip of shops in Toowoon Bay is part of a community of locals who understand the importance – and appreciate the deliciousness – of good produce. Stand at the counter and you will find it hard to resist the urge to order a few of the vegan treats on display. Here, you’ll find creations such as gluten-free and refined sugar-free chocolate mint truffles and Cornetto-inspired organic cakes. The smoothie bowls are also popular, especially the banana and salted caramel, and there are plenty of healthy lunch options, including rainbow bowls and fresh juices. 82 Toowoon Bay Rd, Toowoon Bay, bayorganics.com.au

THE SOURCE BULK FOODS If you love natural, organic, sugar-free and local food then it’s likely you’ve already ventured into The Source at Erina Fair. We’re thrilled to see this big retailer open a shop on the Central Coast and, as great as it is to support small businesses, it’s also wonderful to see these stores positively influencing communities. Some of the things we love about The Source are the friendly, knowledgeable staff, the carob treats (try the honeycomb), the range of loose-leaf teas and the fact you can take your own glass jars in and fill them with local honey (and anything else for that matter). We’re also pretty fond of the small selection of sauerkraut, health-food cookbooks and eco cleaning items. Shop T346, Erina Fair, Terrigal Dr, thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/

LOVING LOCAL

SOULFOOD CAFE, GROCER & LIFESTYLE MEDICINE Rounding out our list is the 100 per cent plant-based wholefoods cafe and grocery store Soulfood at Woy Woy. Only three years young, go to ‘Soulys’ to feast on dishes such as daal made with organic red lentils and green split peas, or pick up a Raw by Hara ‘Bounty’ slice. If you’re not hungry, grab yourself a delicious sticky chai hot on tap and brewed on certified organic coconut milk (yum); the cafe is known for being caffeine-free. Soul Food also sells certified organic fruit and veg, artisan chocolate, and Heat & Eat frozen vegan meals. ‘People come and buy months at a time when they’re sick, just out of hospital, giving birth, or whenever they need some homestyle organic plant-based wholefoods cooking,’ says Soulfood founder Kristina Thompson. Tying in with the wholefoods philosophy is Kristina’s mug library, where visitors’ drinks are served in takeaway mugs, not disposable cups. Other great products for sale include wax wraps for food storage, reusable make-up wipes and natural deodorant. Shop 8, 23-27 Chambers Pl, Woy Woy, soulwoywoy.com.au/

ORGANIC PLUS

Pure Bulk Food

Locals and regular visitors who’ve been on a health-food journey for a while will be familiar with Organic Plus, Erina. Mary Conomos opened the supermarket about 20 years ago, starting with certified organic fruit and veg. She continues to stock plenty of Aussie-grown, in-season produce (which you can get delivered), but also has a huge range of items that cater to alternative diets, which is her main focus. Whether you’re following a gluten-free, paleo, keto or FODMAP diet, Mary will have ingredients you won’t find in the large grocery store chains. There is also a range of vitamins, essential oils and cleaning products that are safe for you and your home. 1 Bonnal Rd, Erina, organicplus.com.au

PURE BULK FOODS Encouraging us to live a healthy and waste-free life is the goal of Pure Bulk Foods at Ettalong Beach. The stylish boutique is independently owned and focuses on organic products and promoting plastic-free living. Peruse the glass jars of nuts, herbs, flours and dried fruit; pick up some insecticide-free almond butter, activated pumpkin seeds and bone broth powder. You can also purchase pasta, carob sweets, coconut bowls and Epsom salts. If you’re a conscious consumer, this is the place for you. Shop 7/46-48 Picnic Pde, Ettalong Beach, purebulkfoods.com.au

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Loving

LOCAL ERINA HEIGHTS 372 The Entrance Road

BULL & CHINA COAST

NEW HEIGHTS CAFE

Enjoy a relaxed, friendly shopping experience with women’s fashion labels, accessories and giftware from Elm, Foxwood, Betty Basics, Sass, Jaase, Worthier, Label of Love, Human Shoes, Adorne Jewellery, and more.

This café is a local secret that offers not only a warm welcome but the only place on the Coast serving Latitude coffee, plus food you’ll want to keep coming back for.

Open 7 days. Easy access parking. Afterpay available. Phone 4339 7385. Online store bullandchinacoast.com.au

Phone 0416 582 359. newheightscafe.com.au

SHARP N STYLISH HAIR SPA

MAKEUP & MORE

A team of blonde specialists, creative colour, cutting and styling. Sustainable salon with refined products and exclusive hair accessories. Cut and Colour above the rest. Come and treat yourself.

Green and holistic beauty salon by Rene Nikol. European-trained to deliver exceptional services that enhance natural beauty. Wide range of organic Australian products. Get pampered with Rene in her private beauty oasis.

Phone 4367 0748. sharpnstylish.com.au

Located in Sharp n Stylish Hair Spa. Phone 0431 544 531 makeupandmore.com.au

LOVING LOCAL

Dinner parties are back

WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

BRING OUT YOUR CHAMPAGNE FLUTES, SHINE UP YOUR CUTLERY, AND DRESS YOUR TABLE IN ITS FINEST CLOTH BECAUSE THIS SUMMER WE’RE CELEBRATING DINNER PARTIES. SAY GOODNIGHT TO RUSHED FRIDAY TAKEAWAYS AND INVITE THE GANG OVER FOR WEEKEND SPREADS THAT WILL NOURISH BODY AND SOUL. NOW SHOPS HAVE REOPENED, YOU CAN ADD EXTRA SPARKLE TO YOUR SETTING, TOO. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST CENTRAL COAST STORES FOR FINDING DINNERWARE THAT WILL IMPRESS.

Centered Ceramics If you love beautiful homewares, then you’ll adore Centered Ceramics. Primarily a pottery studio where you create your own bowls and plates, Centered Ceramics also sells an ever-rotating selection of handmade crockery. This is where you can expect to find gorgeous one-off pieces that will impress your dinner guests. Better yet, you can join a workshop and make your own. 246 West St, Umina Beach

Home by the Jetty A welcome addition to the growing Long Jetty retail scene, Home by the Jetty opened less than 18 months ago. It’s a hub of coastally chic homewares, with bamboo bowls and salad servers sitting alongside tropical-inspired cutlery, twine-covered carafes and neutral table runners. Recently added to the collection is fun cocktail glassware, great for a girls’ nights in. 266 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty

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SHOPPING

Blackbird Tucked out of the way in the Bateau Bay shops is Blackbird, a homewares and clothing boutique. The carefully curated treasures inside include a lovely range of Robert Gordon mugs for when dessert is best paired with a wind-down cuppa. Over summer, keep your eyes out for more platters, pâté knives and picnic tables for backyard get-togethers. 101 Bateau Bay Rd, Bateau Bay

Magnolia Home & Gift It’s highly likely Magnolia Home & Gift has caught your eye more than once as you’ve rounded the East Gosford bend. This is one of the Coast’s best lifestyle stores, selling everything from clothing and jewellery to an impressive range of dinner party supplies. This is the place to come if you need to grab more than a piece or two. You will find tropical bamboo bowls and a large range of eco-friendly cups and plates. There are timber chopping boards, salad servers, platters, Japanese-inspired ceramics, stylish glassware and plenty of tablecloths and runners. Expect to be impressed. 71 Victoria St, East Gosford

Haven at Home You’re guaranteed to find something special to up your dinner-party style at Haven at Home. Some of our favourite items lining store tables are the acrylic jugs, tumblers and Champagne flutes. The range comes in on-trend colours such as amber and forest green, harking back to the ’70s. The fact they’re plastic and not glass also makes them perfect for when you’re inviting a few families with young kids over, or for poolside hangs. For pre- or post-dinner nibbles, check out the resin cheese knife sets. 490 Central Coast Hwy, Erina Heights

Left to right: Paul Barnett, CEO Mingara Leisure Group. Shirely Hadley, No. 1 member, Mingara Recreation Club. Phil Walker, Chairman, Mingara Leisure Group.

Shirley Hadley, the first ‘Mingara’

Nonagenarian, intrepid joke-teller, and sparkly nail polish wearer. Mingara Recreation Club has turned 50 and it’s hard to think of a time when it wasn’t there, back to a time when women weren’t allowed in some clubs without being signed in by a male (whether known to her or not), and then that same male was responsible for her behaviour while she was in the club. But there’s one person who remembers Mingara Recreation Club when it was just a gleam in her eye. And that is its very first member, Shirley Hadley. A still-young 90-year-old, she has a ‘never-stop’ attitude, and an unquenchable enthusiasm. She’s a life member and, not so surprisingly, is also the club’s patron. ‘At one time, I’d had my head shaved to raise money for charity, so I was wearing a hat on my bald head. Then I went to the old Memorial Club but they wouldn’t let me in because I didn’t want to take my hat off, so the idea of a new and more welcoming club certainly appealed to me back then.’ ‘We raised money through chocolate wheels, chook raffles, car rallies and gambling nights. And on one occasion a dog.’ The club had its share of shenanigans across the years, and Shirley and her friend Joan Pateman (who’s proudly three weeks older) were never far away from it all. They well remember the Raging Rascals, an all-male review in the auditorium where the 100-strong female audience raised the rafters with screams of ‘get it off!’ Shirley is quick to say she was standing at the back of the auditorium with the local police officer who was keeping an eye on things. ‘He told me he was sorry his wife wasn’t there.

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“She would have loved it”.’ ‘We also spent hours in Wyong Library looking for suitable local names for the club. We chose “Mingara” because it meant “good spirit that controls the clouds”.’ By 1973, the members felt they needed their own clubhouse and purchased the leasehold of 1.2 hectares of Crown Land in Adelaide Street. ‘It was all tea-tree scrub, and we had to clear it before we could build anything,’ says Shirley. ‘After that, an auction came up at Holdsworthy Army Barracks and we thought it would be good to buy one of the army huts as a clubhouse. But when the men came back they’d bought two. ‘We soon knew we needed a bigger clubhouse, so we applied for a bank loan, and a few of us put our houses up as collateral. I don’t think anyone would be mad enough to do that today.’ In 1980, with the help of fundraising, the first stage of a new clubhouse was built. But, incredibly, by 1987, the club already saw the need for even bigger premises, prompting the purchase of 44.6 hectares on Wyong Road in Tumbi Umbi. And in 1996, the current Mingara Recreation Club opened its doors. Today, the one thing that hasn’t changed is its friendliness. ‘I have to drive 30 km to visit the club and, even if I’m feeling down in the dumps, this is where I go each week to cheer up,’ Shirley won’t be giving up her membership any time soon, nor her sparkly nail polish. mingara.com.au

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MY COAST

My Coast LAURA WELLS

A model for saving our coastline and marine life from plastic. LAURA WELLS IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP PLUS-SIZE MODELS AND HOLDS DEGREES IN BIOLOGY AND LAW, AS WELL AS QUALIFICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. SHE’S ALSO A KEEN SCUBA DIVER. IN FACT, IT TOOK BEING ACCOSTED BY A BLUE GROUPER FISH WHILE LOOKING FOR OCTOPUS AND EXPLORING SEAWEED PATCHES ALONG OUR COAST THAT FIRST TRIGGERED LAURA’S AWARENESS OF THE BEAUTY AND FRAGILITY OF OUR BLUE PLANET.

‘I’ve had amazing wildlife experiences on all seven continents,’ says Laura. ‘From walking the rocky, icy shores in Antarctica [Laura was a member of the largest all-female expedition there], to meeting penguin chicks, swimming with turtles in Hawaii, with manta rays off Lady Elliot Island, humpback whales in Tonga, and orcas in Norway. I’ve also watched sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean, and seabirds feed their chicks.’ Laura was also a mentor in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, encouraging systemic change for the future. ‘Closer to home, I’ve been lucky enough to experience the beautiful Central Coast, Hawkesbury and Port Stephens area on many occasions – scuba diving on shipwrecks, snorkelling off our beaches, and hiking our coastal trails. It’s so beautiful and there are many hidden gems just waiting for people to find.’ Laura was also able to work with scientists from the University of NSW to help document and restore Posidonia seagrass where boat mooring chains had dragged along the ocean floor, scouring it, and ripping out important meadows of seagrass. ‘The seagrass is home to many different species, especially juvenile species looking for protection. So it’s vital in the survival of so much of our marine life. ‘Every coastal and ocean experience has been incredible and leaves me with a sense of gratitude … but I have also experienced the utter devastation of plastic pollution rampant on many beaches around the world. Sea creatures entangled in plastic waste, beaches degraded by plastic trash, and micro plastics so thick you stick your hand into it and pull out just plastic and not a grain of sand.’

These sights left an enduring and lasting impression on Laura, which she has turned into a positive. She has become Take 3 for the Sea’s newest ambassador, championing awareness and encouraging all of us to be mindful of the impacts of plastics we use. ‘My modelling career has given me a great platform to educate people in this space, because I can inform the people who follow me on Instagram in the environmental space and grow a tribe of eco-warriors. ‘Having a background and love for the ocean encouraged me to delve deeper into these issues, find the cause and effect, find solutions and other like-minded people. Researching plastic pollution, volunteering my time and working to educate others on solutions has become my focus,’ says Laura. ‘We are all connected not only to each other but to our environment. Phytoplankton and algae, marine weeds and grasses create most of the oxygen we breathe. So if we don’t have healthy oceans, we can’t have healthy humans.’

Some of Laura’s favourite local places: Shipwrecks: ex-HMAS Adelaide, off Terrigal Walks: Bouddi Coastal Walk, Bouddi National Park Cafes: Green Tangerine, Long Jetty Seals: the bachelor seal colony, Barrenjoey headland Penguins: the little penguins at Lion Island For more information on Take 3 for the Sea, visit take3.org

WHAT HAS LUCY WICKS BEEN UP TO DURING COVID?

“We may have been in lockdown, but my local team and I have never been busier!“

• We have so many young families here who play sports on the Part of my vision for our region is seeing the Central Coast come into its own. We have a unique identity. We are not Greater Sydney, Newcastle or the Hunter. And I look forward to the day when we no longer have to leave the Coast to find economic, career, educational or other advancement opportunities, because we have them right here. • A university in Gosford has been a long-held dream for the Central Coast, and stage one is up and running. This investment puts our region on the map as an area of medical excellence, as well as forming part of our strategy to attract and retain more doctors and professionals. The Coast has welcomed its first 170 medical students and 700 nursing students. • Everyone’s work–life balance is important, and I know the difference that less time commuting can make every day. We’ve been working hard on the business case to pursue faster commuter times, and investing in up to 740 additional car parks at Woy Woy and Gosford train stations will also make a difference.

weekend or visit our local parks. These spaces are important and I am really passionate about delivering infrastructure for playgrounds, community spaces, clubhouses and skate parks where we can gather, create memories, and belong. – Redevelopment of the Narara Skate Park, one of the oldest skate parks on the Central Coast has begun. – We have committed $4.3 million to more footpaths and safety upgrades so parents with prams in North Avoca can get to the local shops and beach safely. – I am absolutely committed to seeing the $8.25 million upgrade of the Peninsula Recreation Precinct which includes the delivery of a skate park redevelopment, two new clubhouse facilities, and upgrades to another facility at Umina Oval. • The Morrison Government has committed $86.5 million to upgrade 29 local roads across the Central Coast, including Lushington Street in East Gosford, Steyne Road in Saratoga and Del Monte Place in Copacabana. I welcome your input, so please contact me on lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au so we can help realise the vision for the Central Coast together.

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Lucy Wicks and the Morrison Government are delivering for the Central Coast. Construction now complete for the $45 million Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute in Gosford. Reducing travel times for Central Coast residents with the $15 million Faster Rail Proposal. $18 million for a university campus extension in Gosford, including design, development, construction and fit-out. Up to 140 car spaces at Woy Woy Train Station and up to 600 at Gosford Train Station, with a $35 million total investment. Cutting travel times for Central Coast residents with the NorthConnex tunnel linking the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Hills M2 Motorway.

Investing $7 million to build a new regional library in Gosford. Continuous mobile phone coverage between Wyong and Hornsby and Wi-Fi at train stations is completed. A new $3.85 million Linear Accelerator for Central Coast Cancer Centre is now operating. $300,000 in additional funding for Clean4Shore environmental clean up programs. $20,000 to purchase a van for ‘Soul Soup’, a charity providing meals and welfare services to disadvantaged locals.

Construction underway for The Glen Women’s Rehabilitation Centre on the Central Coast.

Rollout of the Love Bites Respectful Relationships Program across local high schools.

Delivered upgrades to the M1 Motorway, including at the Kariong and Somersby interchanges.

Delivering better health outcomes for those sleeping rough through the Health on the Streets Homelessness Program.

LUCY WICKS MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON

Level 3, 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250 4322 2400 lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au lucywicksmp.com

Authorised by Lucy Wicks MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Level 3, 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250.

LucyWicksMP

FEATURE

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FEATURE

Koalas on the Coast The Central Coast was once the major koala habitat between the Victorian border and Port Stephens. WORDS CATHARINE RETTER As recently as the 1990s, the koala populations in Brisbane Water National Park and around Pearl Beach were so significant they were considered the most important koala populations in NSW from the Victorian border all the way north to Port Stephens. Since that time, a number of bushfires have devastated the koala habitats: first there was the early 1990s’ fire, which destroyed the Pearl Beach koala colony, followed by the widespread Black Summer fires of 2019–’20. Sightings are so rare now that it made the local news in 2020, when a single koala was seen crossing Patonga Drive near Pearl Beach. When Europeans first arrived in Australia, the koala population was thought to number in the millions. But when the first official count was done two centuries later, in the 1990s, their numbers in NSW stood at about 30,000, and today this is thought to have fallen by a further third thanks to bushfires, dog and fox predation, loss of habitat and, sadly, roadkill. As a result, there are moves afoot to change the status of the koalas of south-eastern Australia from vulnerable to endangered.

The Central Coast Council has recently conducted an extensive survey of the Coast’s national parks, state forests and even Coastal Open Space reserves to establish where there are koalas. Song meters were used in the spring of 2020 to record the presence of any koalas within a few hundred metres or so. You didn’t know koalas had a ‘song’? Unless you’re a female koala, you might rightly call it more of a bellow. In spring, the call of the males is an unmistakable low guttural growl to attract females. The females may call, too, but with much less volume. Mothers also make a range of soft clicking, squeaking and humming sounds to their joeys, but when annoyed will turn up the volume to a gentle grunt. The one sound you don’t want to hear is the heartbreaking, screaming cry they make when stressed. ‘The new acoustics method is proving highly effective at locating koalas in the breeding season, even where their densities are low,’ says Dr Brad Law, principal research scientist in the Forest Science Unit of the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

» 33

FEATURE

“Because koalas are picky feeders, it’s relatively easy to determine where their potential habitats may have

”

been – or could still be.

‘Surveys should be a priority before considering translocations into an area, and existing threats also need to be carefully considered and mitigated before translocating animals,’ he says, adding that, ‘Both Ourimbah State Forest and Brisbane Water National Park still contain potentially suitable habitat for koalas.’ Because koalas are picky feeders, it’s relatively easy to determine where their potential habitats may have been – or could still be. Where there is swamp mahogany, forest red gum, grey gum or Sydney blue gum, you have the koalas’ idea of a gourmet banquet. Historically, koalas would have populated the swamp forests of the Tuggerah floodplain, and around the edges of our coastal lagoons. It’s thought for an area to be sustainable for koalas, there needs to be between 100 and 400 suitable trees per koala. And when a fire devastates an area, it’s not only the koala’s food source wiped out, but also its home, its territory, its safety from predators such as foxes and feral dogs, and its nursery for the young joeys. And because koalas are very territorial, it’s not an easy matter for them to up sticks and move to the nearest unburnt forest if that already happens to be occupied by a rival population. In between sleeping 18 to 22 hours a day to conserve energy, koalas are slow breeders too, so that doesn’t help their repopulation. They start to breed from about three years of age and are productive for seven to 10 years, but may not breed every year. That means a female may have six or seven offspring in her entire lifetime, provided that lifespan is not cut short.

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ABOVE Koalas have poor sight and rely on their hearing to detect danger, and an acute sense of smell to find food and other koalas.

BELOW Koalas have two opposable thumbs on their front paws that help them climb smooth-barked trees, and the thumb on the foot has no claw, thought to help their balance.

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Once a young koala reaches sexual maturity, the colony will tell it to skedaddle off to another territory. That’s why you sometimes see a lone koala in an unexpected habitat such as crossing George Downes Drive in Kulnura. During the Council’s survey, official sightings were recorded in the Mangrove Creek Dam catchment area, and the Watagan Mountains, but this does not mean there are not koalas elsewhere. Dr Law remembers hearing bellowing koalas in Brisbane Water forests many years ago when he was an undergrad student. ‘Koala populations can be very thinly spread in areas where habitat is poor, and this is a natural phenomenon in some of our forests, especially those growing on infertile sandstone.’ Unofficial sightings by locals have also been noted in Picketts Valley, Bucketty, Cedar Brush Creek, Yarramalong, as well as the lone koalas near Pearl Beach and in Kulnura. Sightings are important to help in land planning decisions under the new Koala Habitat Protection State Environmental Planning Policy so if you sight a koala, you can help by sending a photo, location, date and time to ‘Koala Survey’ at centralcoast. nsw.gov.au or email ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au You can also help towards making the Central Coast an important habitat again by becoming a volunteer with the Pearl Beach Koala Project through: pearlbeacharboretum.org. au/koala-project

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Home Style &

HOLIDAY LIVING

Spring into Summer SUMMER 21-22

OZ DESIGN FURNITURE GOSFORD & TUGGERAH

A U S T R A L I A N O W N E D & O P E R AT E D

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A sea view as far as you can see the view

WORDS CATHARINE RETTER

abric Architecture of Toowoon Bay was faced with the task of turning a pole home with a stunning view, steep driveway, and a jigsaw of rooms and decks into a house that cunningly shortened the driveway, and unified the house into very liveable spaces. In so doing, they also managed to make the expansive view of the Pacific Ocean and across the lush bushland of Bouddi National Park even more ‘viewable’. When owners, Simon and Christian bought the house as their home away from home holiday house, they fell in love with the view and the house’s potential. ‘But the most arresting thing about the house was that it came in two shades of bright purple,’ says Simon. ‘It came in purple, mauve and touches of orange!’ Other than dramatically changing the colour scheme, Fabric Architecture’s Brent Fitzpatrick and Damien Furey’s first task was to extend the house forward to accommodate a new garage, thereby cutting the length of the long steep driveway by half, and leaving the remaining slope a much easier incline.

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HOME STYLE

‘The beauty of using local tradespeople is they have such a “can-do” attitude,’ says Simon. ‘And that extends to our builder and architect. They were very patient with us. Christian and I have lived all over the world and these are by far the best we’ve worked with.’ The area above the new garage became a garden with a lawn and bricked patio. It also meant that what was previously the carport under the house could be used as an additional guest bedroom opening onto the garden (and view), as well as a bathroom and laundry. Upstairs, the character of the ceiling trusses was retained but strengthened with European oak that sandwiches the existing trusses. This effectively meant some of the vertical support beams could be eliminated and the whole look simplified. The house now welcomes visitors through a sandstone entrance and bespoke front door in oak. The foyer warmly invites you up the handcrafted stairs in matching American oak, created by Frank Jarrett at Tusk Joinery in Erina Heights. Upstairs, the open-living space boasts a double-sided wood fireplace, comfortable seating area, kitchen, and study bench. The kitchen benchtop and cupboards are in Fenix, a very stylish, high-tech acrylic resin in a soft touch, fingerprint-free, matt finish. There are two dining areas: one with a square, eight-seater timber dining table towards the rear of the house, and the other undercover on the front deck (with view).

TOP The open plan living area flows to outside spaces as well as the kitchen and dining areas. MIDDLE The Fenix benchtop and cupboard finishes provide a sophisticated look as well as a soft hand-feel to the open plan kitchen. LEFT The sweeping lines of the oak stairway lend a sculptural effect to the interior.

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HOME STYLE

ABOVE Bespoke inset cupboard door handles echo the benchtop finishes. ABOVE RIGHT A new sandstone wall and bespoke oak front door provide a sheltered entrance way. RIGHT The double-sided wood-burning fireplace services the master bedroom and the open plan living area.

The master bedroom shares the loungeroom’s double-sided wood fireplace and has had a Juliet balcony added so that the large, sliding glass doors can be open to the sea breezes (and view). A pavilion in the back garden invitingly houses a workshop and a studio that also doubles as a spill-over bedroom. ‘The sliding glass doors in the pavilion have been placed so you can still look through the main house to the ocean while you sit and peacefully read a book there,’ says Simon. Simon and Christian’s greatest regret is that the house, now an ideal holiday home, is 4,000 km away from Western Australia where Simon’s business is now located. ‘We still regard it as our home away from home,’ says Simon. ‘It has a wardrobe full of our clothes, and some of our favourite paintings – a John Olsen print, and a Soe Moft painting that Christian bought in Hong Kong when we lived there. And there’s a beautiful little cabinet in the entry foyer that we use for books and games that served exactly the same purpose in our house in France. ‘We’re fortunate in that my business allows us to have time away from the office each month when we can come back to Killcare, Covid permitting. We love house parties and we’ve had five guests fly over from Perth for an extended weekend just to see this beautiful Killcare–Hardys Bay area we keep telling them about.’ The upside of Simon and Christian’s relocation to Perth is they have made their holiday home available to rent for those of us who dream of living the dream – and the sea view. centralcoastholidayescapes.com.au/accommodation/Killcare-Heights

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46 COAST

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48 COAST

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THE TONIC, Wamberal Beach This luxury Hamptons-inspired home with beachfront access to Wamberal Beach has been designed to comfortably accommodate a family holiday or reunion for up to 12 people. The furnishings and decor creates a home away from home mood with calming, soft neutral tones. You can catch the sunrise and watch the ocean from the main living space with its large expanse of glass. Beyond, the indoor–outdoor ambience extends to a 180-degree, wrap around deck and terrace. There are six peacefully styled bedrooms, four spa-like bathrooms (two of them ensuite) finished in a neutral palette of soft greys with black and bronze accents. The kitchen features a large modern timber shaker design centred with a stone island benchtop, and comes complete with all the appliances to cook anything and everything for a family. Pricing from $4500 a weekend. After a day at the beach, there is fine dining nearby, as well as in neighbouring Terrigal with its restaurants, trendy bars, cafes, and boutique shops, not to mention the new Terrigal Boardwalk to Terrigal Haven and the Skillion lookout. More information and bookings at nicheholidayrentals.com.au/thetonic

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Terrigal Pacific Coastal Retreat is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy all Terrigal has to offer. With modern & beautifully appointed studio units or 1-bedroom apartments both with fully equipped kitchenettes are perfect for a weekend away and our 2bedroom apartments accommodate for the whole family! Our romance suite is also the perfect place for a special night away. Relax poolside or enjoy a BBQ on our rooftop garden. Come discover a peaceful slice of paradise Contact us direct for a 10% discount: admin@terrigalpacific.net.au 02 4385 1555

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PEOPLE OF THE COAST

EDEN AND LOUISE FANELLI The young couple doing it right, organically. WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

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PEOPLE OF THE COAST

Regenerative farming

Following in the footsteps of his Nonna, with her natural farming methods, was a no-brainer. The farm had been dormant for 10 years and was therefore a ‘blank canvas’ – perfect for going organic. Along with all the certified-organic produce, the Fanellis also grow beans, legumes and oats between the citrus trees to create nitrogen for the soil. They use manure for fertiliser, plant native trees to build mini ecosystems, create windbreaks and practise companion planting. They have built a dam that catches water and sediment during storms. ‘A lot of people assume organic farming is just not using chemicals but there’s so much more to it. Soil health is the biggest one,’ says Louise, a city woman with a country heart. To improve their soil, the pair are big on composting, and Eden works with a Bondi coffee shop to collect coffee grinds, food scraps and recyclable paper, saving tonnes from landfill. They also grow their crops from seed, instead of buying seedlings.

The future

irst there was the drought. Then came the bushfires, right up to the farm boundary. Next was Covid-19, putting an end to Eden and Louise Fanelli’s main business to farmers’ markets. The couple thought they’d had their fair share of bad luck, but then came the rains in March, flooding large swathes of the Central Coast. Instead of curling up on the lounge with their baby son, Jude – which would’ve been a tempting choice – Eden and Louise pulled on their boots and headed back out onto their Mangrove Mountain farm to pick up the proverbial pieces yet again, keeping their passion alive.

Fighting spirit ‘It’s never easy to pick yourself up,’ says Eden, a fourth-generation farmer and co-owner of Fanelli Organics. ‘But we’ve brushed ourselves off and thought, “Okay, how can we make this something that’s almost bulletproof?” ’ The challenges have helped the couple to define Fanelli Organics, and how they will put their own stamp on a farm that started with Eden’s great-grandfather, who migrated to Australia from Italy in the 1920s. He purchased the plot for his daughter (Eden’s Nonna) as a wedding gift in 1945, and it’s been a big family affair since. Now, the 18-hectare farm is solely the home of Eden, Louise and Jude, and they have big plans. To start with, the young couple are the first farmers on the property to focus solely on fruit and vegetables – oranges, lemons, pumpkins, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, cabbage and more. Eden’s dad was growing citrus and raising cattle, but eventually leaned toward his more successful excavation business. Almost a decade ago, at the age of 28, Eden bought the farm but he was still commuting to Sydney, where he worked as a garbage truck driver and personal trainer. At four o’clock one morning, he was returning to the Coast on a train, wedged between two burley labourers, when he decided to go back to the land full-time. But this time, he resolved to do things his way.

As for those big dreams, the Fanellis are keen to expand beyond growing and selling food to encouraging people to re-connect with the land. They’ve already started farm tours, such as the ones they held during June’s Harvest Festival, and hope to regrow a sunflower plot that was devasted in the floods. It’s not only used as crop cover for soil regeneration but is also a great location for private photoshoots. Workshops are on the agenda, with mini farmer (for kids), composting and seasonal produce sessions planned, along with pick-your-own events. ‘From all of those hardships, we’ve actually gotten to the point where we know where we want to go and we know what we want to be showing people and educating people,’ says Louise. ‘Our heart and soul goes into this farm and why wouldn’t we want people to come here and see what we’re doing.’ To learn more, order produce or sign up to a farm tour, head to fanelliorganics.com.au.

Eat and DRINK

Wamberal locals Roy, Jo and their Three Donkeys, Sienna, Hunter and Elijah are very proud to own and operate Three Donkeys Wholefood Café & Three Donkeys Home. Offering a lifestyle of eating well, living well and feeling well.

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Home threedonkeys.com.au

Our menu caters to dietary requirements, specialising in gluten, dairy and refined sugar free options, as well as being Vegan friendly. Enjoy a Specialty coffee or one of our many caffeine free drinks, with your choice of locally made raw desserts.

The Home shop offers a unique range of décor, fashion, furniture and flowers. Jo and her team will also help you with any styling advice you may need, and if you haven’t got time to pop in, go to our website and shop online.

WHOLEFOOD C A F É Open 7 days. 7am-2pm 6 Ghersi Ave Wamberal NSW 2260 I 02 4339 8052

H O M E Open Mon-Sat. 10am-4pm 2 Ghersi Ave Wamberal NSW 2260 I 02 4309 5440

Your Destination this Summer 51-52 The Esplanade Ettalong Beach 2257 (02) 4343 0111 www.ettalongdiggers.com

EAT & DRINK

DANA CHANTLER, the chef from Whistler who swapped a snowchange for a seachange at TERRIGAL BEACH HOUSE

WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

56 COAST

BRITISH COLUMBIAN CHEF DANA CHANTLER HAS BEEN RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING CHEFS IN AUSTRALASIA, NOT LEAST OF WHICH WAS HIS BEING NAMED CHEF OF THE YEAR AT THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT AWARDS IN 2018. Dana moved to the Crowne Plaza on the Coast eight years ago after honing his skills at Rimrock Café, one of Whistler ski resort’s finest restaurants. It was while he was in the popular ski village that Dana met his Aussie wife and, after a short stint on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the couple relocated to the Coast. Since then, Dana has spent most of his work life in the kitchens at Crowne, starting at the former Florida Beach Bar, before moving upstairs to Seasalt Restaurant, and now as head chef to the newly renovated and re-branded Terrigal Beach House at one of the Central Coast’s most iconic venues. This latest post sees him charged with revamping the kitchen and reinventing the menu. But he promises to keep things simple and delicious. ‘My philosophy these days is definitely focusing on the ingredient and not trying to dress it up as something else,’ Dana tells me from the new light-filled dining room. Seafood will remain a primary focus, along with big, honest flavours, and fresh produce. He promises to leave the classics on the menu, but says, ‘We just want to make sure they’re the best classics you can get. We don’t approach it like a pub or a club would; that’s not my background.’ What Dana means by this is you can expect a lot more than your standard buffet fare. There’ll be burgers and steaks, yes, but you’ll be encouraged to try the share plates, such as prawns and oysters, too. If it’s been a while since you’ve pulled out a chair at the beer garden, you’ll want to do yourself a favour and return. This is a venue long-term locals can be proud of, and visitors from Sydney and Newcastle will feel at home in. ‘It’s really for everyone,’ Dana says. ‘There’s a place to come and watch your sports on a nice big screen, but there’s also a nice dining room [and] we’re working on bringing the food game up and up and up. And, yeah, it’s a welcoming place for everyone.’ Although the young crowd is certainly still welcome in the ‘beery’, as locals have always called it, management is making the venue more age-inclusive so it also caters to families, couples, and tourists who want to stroll in off the beach for an impromptu seafood platter. And even though the relaxed sundress and straw-hat vibe will always remain thanks to Crowne’s stunning beachside location, you’ll now be able to enjoy a more intimate dining experience. The outdoor beach terrace has an array of resort-style seating options with coastal-themed furnishings, natural wood finishes, new lighting and heating. Overall, it’s more comfortable and weather-proof. No doubt guests will be clamouring to pre-book the new VIP cabanas, too. Reminiscent of European beach clubs, the cabanas are a bespoke experience with table service and the best views of the ocean.

It’s the kind of welcoming venue Dana takes his wife and three young boys, who, at ages six, three and one, keep him on his toes. As if life as a chef isn’t busy enough, in Dana’s downtime he teaches his sons to ride BMX bikes and surf, making for a happy (and very Coast) life for this Canadian and his family. When it comes to cooking for his brood, Dana likes to ‘nudge’ his boys to try new things, just as he’s doing in his very subtle way at Terrigal Beach House. terrigalbh.com.au

EAT & DRINK

BEST kid-friendly dining WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL

BETWEEN TODDLERS WHO CAN’T SIT STILL IN THEIR SEATS AND BABIES WHO THROW FOOD AROUND LIKE JACKSON POLLOCK, MANY PARENTS OF LITTLE ONES WOULD AGREE THAT EATING OUT IS (SOMETIMES) HARD WORK. BUT THANKFULLY, THERE ARE A HEAP OF DINING EXPERIENCES AROUND THE COAST WHERE THE KIDS ARE KEPT ENTERTAINED WHILE MUM AND DAD ENJOY THEIR MEAL IN RELATIVE PEACE. THE LUXURY!

THE TAME FOX, Erina There was collective elation when the new owners of Tame Fox built a brand-spanking new playground where the mini farm once was. Complete with cubby houses, slides and toys, the fenced-in area is more than enough to keep kids busy while mum and dad enjoy the likes of housemade corn fritters, avo smash, poke bowls and good coffee. Conveniently, there are a few tables within the playground, meaning you don’t have to keep getting up and down to open the gate for your kids (i.e. you can drink your coffee while it’s hot!). The ‘foxy cubs’ menu features a cheese toastie, kid’s bacon and egg roll, and even a mini acai bowl, and offer free fruit for kids every day. The Industry Grounds, 224 Central Coast Hwy, Erina. thetamefox.com.au

t PARKLIFE COFFEE, Terrigal An awesome fenced-off playground with coffee at arm’s length is enough to please most parents, but ParkLife is so much more. In addition to swings, slides, a pirate ship, flying fox and climbing equipment, the kids go crazy for the kiosk’s bubble machine, communal toys and books, and the regular events – from messy play to discos. The healthy housemade food is above and beyond what you’d expect from a park kiosk (the toasties are seriously droolworthy) made using ingredients from the on-site garden, and if you have a small baby or sleeping kids in the car, you can phone through your coffee order to be delivered to your car window. Keep an eye out for Parklife Sunsets: a Saturday night event for the whole family, with grazing boards, BYO and late-night play! Tick, tick, tick. 11 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal (within Terrigal Rotary Park). facebook.com/parklifecoffee/

58 COAST

Ettalong Beach Waterfront Reserve

Restaurant. Bar. Beach kiosk. Fresh. Modern. Australian. e bookings@theboxonthewater.com p 4339 3369 www.theboxonthewater.com

61 Masons Parade Point Frederick Gosford Waterfront

Bringing the best cocktails, South American wines and a Latin American inspired menu to Gosford Waterfront e reserva@holafredericos.com p 4339 4067 www.holafredericos.com

EAT & DRINK

WYONG MILK FACTORY TAVERN, Wyong If it’s a casual pub-style meal you’re after, high-tail it to the tavern at the historic Wyong Milk Factory. This super family friendly tavern has an indoor area for the kids, complete with soft play equipment and games, while outside there’s a playground and kids’ party shack that can be hired for private events. Especially during school holidays, there’s a heap of kid-friendly fun including movie screenings, magic shows and petting zoos. The Wyong Milk Factory is also home to Daily Dough Co (for delicious dougnuts), Luka Chocolates (for handmade treats) and you can hire kayaks, row boats and stand-up paddle boards from All Sorts Fitness on-site on the Wyong River.

HELADO, Ettalong Yes, yes – we know that Helado serve healthy bowls, hearty bruschettas and classic breakfasts, but this is the type of place you take your kids when they deserve a treat (or, ahem, you need to bribe them). We’re talking sundaes, hot waffles and creamy pure gelato. Desserts that taste amazing, and also look fun with sprinkles, fairy floss and oozing chocolate – oh my! There’s also a play corner for little kids with toys to keep them quiet for that little bit longer, so you can enjoy your coffee in peace.

HELADO

141 Alison Road, Wyong. wyongmilkfactory.com.au

2/216 Memorial Ave, Ettalong. helado.com.au

THE SECRET CAFÉ, Charmhaven BUMBLE BANANAS

Despite its name, the word is out: The Secret Café is the local dining hotspot for families. Boasting a huge grassed yard for running and a fenced-in playground with cubby houses, slides and swings, kids are in heaven here (which means parents are, too). The all-day breakfast and lunch menu will satisfy any growling belly, featuring colourful, hearty dishes such as breaky bowls, club sandwiches, waffles and pancakes, vegetarian options, and all kids meals come with a scoop of ice-cream. There’s ample seating both indoors and outdoors, with plenty of shaded tables. And your fur babies are welcome here, too. 170 Pacific Hwy, Charmhaven. mysecretcafe.com.au

BUMBLE BANANAS, Wyoming Tiny tots to pre-teens are covered at this cute cafe, where they have thought of it all: a playpen, a pretend kitchen, puzzles and toys for toddlers, and several large chalk boards on the walls for kids of all ages. There’s also a baby gate at the door to prevent little escape artists, and paper tablecloths to doodle on. The menu is simple with sandwiches, burgers, salads, as well as freshly baked muffins, quiches and breads, while the coffee is from Legend, a local West Gosford roastery. 451 Pacific Hwy, Wyoming. bumblebananas.com

60 COAST

HERBIE’S INTERNATIONAL SPICERY Now open on the Central Coast

Ian “Herbie” Hemphil, one of Australia’s foremost herb and spice authorities, has now opened his spicery to the public. Visit the spicery for the widest possible range of signature herbs, spices and blends. 4/25 Arizona Rd, Charmhaven Open Mon to Fri 9am to 4pm. Sat 9:30am to 2pm.

Telephone 1800 437 243 Shop online herbies.com.au

FABULOUS RESTAURANTS of the Hawkesbury WORDS MEGAN ARKINSTALL

AT 120 KILOMETRES, THE HAWKESBURY RIVER IS SYDNEY’S LONGEST, STRETCHING FROM PENRITH TO BROKEN BAY WHERE ITS MOUTH POURS OUT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CENTRAL COAST. FOR THE THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL COAST LOCALS WHO COMMUTE TO SYDNEY DAILY, THE TRANQUIL WATERS AND HONEY-COLOURED SANDSTONE CHASMS OF THIS MAGICAL WATERWAY PROVIDE A WELCOME SCENIC INTERLUDE ON THEIR LONG TRAIN JOURNEY. THIS NEIGHBOURING REGION, HOWEVER, IS MORE THAN THAT. IT IS A DESTINATION IN ITS OWN RIGHT: A HAVEN FOR BOATING AND FISHING ENTHUSIASTS, RICH IN INDIGENOUS AND COLONIAL HISTORY, AMPLE IN NATURAL BEAUTY, AND HOME TO A NUMBER OF CHARMING HERITAGE TOWNS. WHAT’S MOST SURPRISING THOUGH, IS THE NUMBER OF EXCELLENT EATERIES DOTTED ALONG THIS MIGHTY RIVER. WHETHER YOU FANCY A DEGUSTATION MENU WITH SPARKLING WATER VIEWS OR CASUAL PUB GRUB IN AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST PUB, WE HAVE LISTED OUR TOP PLACES TO DINE ALONG THE HAWKESBURY.

BEROWRA WATERS INN, Berowra Waters Located on a tributary of the Hawkesbury, this former 1920s’ teahouse was transformed in the ’70s by awardwinning architect Glenn Murcutt. Helmed by chef Brian Geraghty, the riverfront restaurant offers an elegant degustation dining experience of modern Australian cuisine, while Bar Angophora is the perfect spot to while away an afternoon. Splash out and arrive by seaplane or take advantage of the complimentary boat transfers from Berowra Waters. berowrawatersinn.com

62 COAST

EAT & DRINK

HAWKESBURY RIVER OYSTER SHED, Mooney Mooney Whether you enjoy your oysters served fresh, Kilpatrick or mornay, the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed has you covered. This small farm located in Mooney Mooney serves its oysters straight from the source, as well as other seafood dishes and grazing platters. Oyster farm tours will be operating again, so oyster aficionados can keep an eye out for those. hawkesburyriveroystershed.com

COTTAGE POINT INN, Cottage Point This original boathouse in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has served many purposes since it was built in the early 20th century. It became a general store and post office for the river community, an inn for travellers and sightseers, and finally a fine dining restaurant that has become a favourite among locals and travellers alike. With incredible river views and two apartments for romantic overnight stays, guests can arrive by seaplane, boat or car. cottagepointinn.com.au

COOKS SHED, Sacksville In 2011, renowned chef Martin Boetz packed up his city life – where he headed up the lauded Surry Hills restaurant Longrain – to make the sea change to a sprawling 11-hectare property by the Hawkesbury River. Combining his passion for agriculture and cooking, Martin hosts regular dining experiences at the bespoke on-site venue ‘Cooks Shed’, focusing on the use of local produce. There are Thai-themed lunches, collaborations with other chefs such as Christine Mansfield and Paul Farag, and, on certain dates, takeaway dishes and hampers cooked up by Chef Boetz himself. cooksshed.com

MACQUARIE ARMS HOTEL, Windsor Calling the Hawkesbury home for almost 200 years, the heritagelisted Macquarie Arms Hotel built in 1815 lays claim to being Australia’s oldest pub. Serving up classic pub dishes – burgers, schnitzel and the like – the hotel’s inclusion on this list is less about the food and more about its fascinating colonial history and Georgian architecture, with many of its original features retained. Legend has it the pub’s basement has access to a tunnel that was purpose-built for illegal rum running during the Rum Rebellion of the early 19th century. macquariearms.com.au

A CHEF SECRETS, Berowra Waters Set within a charming 1898 boatshed located by the ferry wharf, A Chef Secrets offers the flavours of Italy within a classic Australian location, right on the banks of the peaceful Hawkesbury. Guests can order from the a la carte menu or feast on a set sharing menu featuring dishes such as Italian cold cuts, Sydney rock oysters, and fresh-made pasta and bread, all carefully prepared by hand and served like art on a plate. achefsecrets.com

ESTUARY, Brooklyn Perched at Kangaroo Point in Brooklyn – often referred to as the Gateway to the Hawkesbury – this sophisticated restaurant boasts sweeping views of the river from its location near the foot of Mooney Mooney Bridge. Serving contemporary Australian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is a focus on seafood, as well as a casual kiosk menu to be enjoyed in the sunshine on the front lawn. estuaryrestaurant.com.au

64 COAST

SEAFOOD & SPRITZ FRESH SEAFOOD - SPRITZ SPECIALS Sat Jan 15

6-10pm

Pre-paid event $79pp LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS FOR UPDATES

OD F O O ES

T BA IM E EDS - D T R T O OO

S O G m R S - NSSY -10ptial E L K I O 5 en

W KTAS & Gn 21 s ess H ACOCUNEFri Jaking

NE E V

U S SE

ER M M 2022

ES T

's 90

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LIVE ACOUSTIC

LONG LUNCHES & LIVE ACOUSTIC on the terrace Sat Jan 29

12-3pm

NAUGHTY NOODLE PRESENTS

ThursGAY

TRAVELLING SOCIAL CLUB DINNER & DRINK SPECIALS Feb 10

6-9pm

TACOS & TEQUILA $6 TACOS - TEQUILA COCKTAILS Fri March 4

5-10pm

JAZZ AFTERNOON WITH

THE WILL PERRY TRIO LIVE JAZZ - ROVING CANAPES ON ARRIVAL TAPAS MENU & HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS for purchase. Sat Feb 12 4-8pm $20 at the door - bookings essential

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EAT & DRINK

THE SITTING DUCK, peats ridge Discover fine food and wine in the hinterland

We all love the coast and its proximity to our beaches, waterways and the endless array of cafes and restaurants but hiding away at Peats Ridge – a not-too-long drive in the countryside – on over 50 hectares of manicured lawns and natural bushlands, is one of the gems of the Central Coast: The Sitting Duck Restaurant at The Springs. At the restaurant’s helm is chef Dan who came to The Sitting Duck via Claridges and The Intercontinental in London, but who would not dream of calling anywhere else ‘home’ now. Surrounded by local farms in almost every direction, chef Dan has been able to realise his vision to keep the food in the restaurant local, fresh and simple in order to best showcase its flavours. ‘We are so lucky to have seasonal oranges, avocadoes, pecans, organic eggs, honey, local cheese, organic vegetables and so much more, right on our doorstep,’ says chef Dan. ‘Our lunches are very much a farm to fork experience, and you just can’t beat that for flavour.’ Some of the delicious moments on The Sitting Duck’s summer menu include duck prosciutto with local oranges, a chicken pâté with a blood orange dressing, a roast spatchcock with porcini dust and chicken jus. Just be sure to leave room afterwards for the orchard-fresh toffee apple with cider jelly, dulce custard and toasted almond ice-cream! And ‘local’ doesn’t end with the food. The Springs mixologist, Jennifer, loves to surprise diners with fresh cocktails like her spicy cucumber margarita, or a blood orange and basil martini. Or if you really want to feel in heaven, a macadamia and white chocolate martini (to die for)! The Sitting Duck open for lunch Fri, Sat, Sun 11 am to 5 pm at 1080 Peats Ridge Road, Peats Ridge Restaurant bookings: 02 4373 1522 or the-springs.com.au/eat/ A perfect place for your special event or wedding.

66 COAST

SPRINGS GOLF P E AT S R I D G E

ESCAPE • UNWIND • ENJOY Escape to the Central Coast hinterland for the ultimate golfing experience on the beautiful, 72-par, 18-hole golf course designed to challenge players, whatever your level. Enjoy the range of on-site facilities, including new GPS golf carts, buggy hire, golf lessons from our PGA accredited golf professional, Phil Arthur, a fully stocked pro-shop, and state-of-the art locker rooms. Afterwards, unwind at The Springs’ Duck Inn while you sip on a local craft beer, enjoy one of Chef Dan’s famous Wagyu Beef Burgers. Or indulge in Chef Dan’s Farm to Fork experience at The Sitting Duck. Once you escape to The Springs Golf experience, you’ll want to keep coming back.

(02) 4373 1522 1 0 8 0 P E AT S R I D G E R OA D W W W. T H E - S P R I N G S . C O M . A U

The chime of bellbirds. What does it say to you?

or many, driving down the hill at Kariong, with the car windows down on a summer day, the tink of bellbirds was the signal for, ‘We’re here; our holiday has begun!’ For others of ‘a certain age’, the sound recalls school poetry assignments from the 1960s and 1970s when Henry Kendall’s poem, Bell Birds was ‘approved reading’ in schools. And it seems, many a visitor to Henry Kendall Cottage in West Gosford can still quote every line from the first stanza of that poem. But the association of bellbirds with Gosford and Henry Kendall goes back even further – to 1867 when Henry’s beloved poem was first published. The poet became a well-known figure in the area during the 1870s when he stayed with the Fagan family in West Gosford after the death of his daughter and the onset of his subsequent health issues. The bellbird became an unofficial mascot for the Central Coast, often featuring on postcards, and as a symbol associated with brands including the Bellbird Caravan Park in Terrigal, a cricket team, and the Gosford High School student newsletter. Henry Kendall, on the other hand, left behind his name engraved in a rock or two in a gully that was known as Kendall’s Glen. A great fan of Kendall, by the name of Henry Lawson, later tried unsuccessfully to locate the rock, but it remained a local myth until 1909 when the librarian from the Gosford School of Arts claimed to be the first to rediscover it ‘beside a beautiful pool and overhanging ferns and beds of bracken’.

68 COAST

Strangely enough, for such an often-heard but seldom-seen bird, urbanisation has helped its numbers grow. Its main habitat was traditionally around the edges of rainforests and in gullies, but with the spread of weeds such as lantana, a new protective understorey allowed it to nest well outside its usual domain. Bellbirds can scare off other birds, and insects otherwise eaten by those birds began to thrive in such numbers that native trees suffered from dieback. So the tall, bare trunks and branches you see haunting our tree lines, may well be for whom the bellbirds toll. Bell Birds, by Henry Kendall By channels of coolness the echoes are calling, And down the dim gorges I hear the creek falling; It lives in the mountain where moss and the sedges Touch with their beauty the banks and ledges. Through breaks of the cedar and sycamore bowers Struggles the light that is love to the flowers. And, softer than slumber and sweeter than singing, The notes of the bellbirds are running and ringing.

Source: Tales from the Rainforest: History and Heritage on the NSW Central Coast, by Peter Fisher (2020). Available to order on facebook.com/Tales-from-the-rainforest or email peterfishercentralcoast@gmail.com

ADVENTURE IS

CALLING

EXPERIENCE A WORLD OF WONDER & WILDLIFE AT THE AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK From the moment you arrive at Australian Reptile Park, you will be greeted by a journey that takes you into a magical world of wildlife and adventure. Hand-feed free-roaming kangaroos in a beautiful bushland setting and admire some of Australia’s most famous native animals including koalas, echidnas, wombats, cassowaries, dingos, quokkas, wallabies and Tasmanian devils. The Australian Reptile Park is also home to a variety of exotic reptiles from around the world including Komodo dragons, American alligators, and giant Galapagos tortoises. Visitors can also experience the awe-inspiring power of Elvis the saltwater crocodile during weekends and holidays.

FREE PARKING ∙ ON-SITE CAFÉ ∙ PICNIC AREAS ∙ KIDS PLAYGROUND WWW.REPTILEPARK.COM.AU | PACIFIC HWY, SOMERSBY NSW 2250 | PH: 02 4340 1022

COASTING ALONG

70 COAST

COASTING ALONG

Coasting along with

LIBBY GREIG

Living outside your comfort zone ...

have just realised that this year (or even next) I won’t be trekking to the Base Camp at Mount Everest. Not that I had actual plans to, but the option was always there. (‘Dream on’, I hear you say?) So, I have started to think about how exactly I was going to challenge myself, and I wondered if my comfort zone had become a little too comfortable. I asked around to see what other people were doing. Everyone is different it seems, and it turned out to be a very interesting survey indeed. So you want to live a little? Here are some suggestions. A friend has taken up a live drawing class that is extending her drawing skills and says it is something she never thought of doing. Her appreciation of anatomy has also increased greatly. She says she now knows the real meaning of ‘pressing the flesh’. Another mate has dived into a chocolate-making course that has extended her knowledge and waistline all at the same time. Ingenuous. She is now moving on to macarons – making her a welcome guest when she wants to show off the fruits of her labour. None of these activities seemed too dangerous, so when a group of friends signed up to go camping and abseiling in the Blue Mountains I must say I was impressed. I was also a little envious though not so much that I didn’t stay at a safe distance in case they invited me along. None of them seemed particularly spry, but they limbered up at a climbing wall – using their government vouchers. I’m still waiting to hear the full results, but given none of them made the TV news or returned in a helicopter, I assume it was a huge success. Should I take up flying? That would certainly take me out of my comfort zone as well as out of the state. In the end, I decided it would be terrifying to anyone who has driven with me. So I decided on another form of transport. The kayak. I consulted a good friend who has recently acquired one and

who may have decided that this perhaps was an easy way to get to New Zealand. Anyway, she happily gave me the lowdown on the big splash. The problem it seems with a kayak is not when you are on the water, but in getting in and out of it. Given that water is not exactly a stable surface, the thought of tying up a wobbly kayak alongside a wharf was definitely beyond the realms of science fiction. She also found that the alternative of getting the kayak back off the beach and on to the car roof rack a challenge. The addition of two hunky men in helping to get the kayak (and her) out of the water sounds like a good idea. Is there a dating site for this? Looking at my friend who is looking very good, this may be a comfort zone worth considering. My list of potential activities is growing by the day. Given my readiness to argue a point, joining a political party was suggested to me. Now, I have always loved a good party, but looking at the guest list is a bit daunting. Perrottet and the Pirouetters, Scottie and the Marketing Team, or Kermit and the Greens? Perhaps I could become a grey nomad, but I gather the waiting list for a caravan is two years. But then again, I do have the hair for it. I must say, the thrill of my hair turning grey is fodder for a whole other column, and it is certainly out of my comfort zone. Learning a new language seems beyond me, skydiving is so far out there for me that I might as well sign up to become a space traveller. At least you may get to meet a couple of billionaires that way. Perhaps I’m looking at this all wrong. Perhaps a nice easy comfort zone is just what one needs at a time like this. Really most of us are living in challenging times already, so if you are well and you still fit into your pre-Covid jeans, perhaps be grateful for a bit of comfort and just forget which zone you are in. I have perfected my soufflé-making and, though hardly daring … it is comfort food.

Wellbeing

BEING WELL

WELLBEING, BEING WELL

Roll out the mat IT’S TIME TO EASE OURSELVES BACK INTO WARM-WEATHER EXERCISE. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO SO IS BY ROLLING OUT THE YOGA MAT FOR A SESSION OF DOWNWARD DOGS, WARRIORS, PELVIC CURLS AND SCISSOR KICKS. TO HELP YOU FIND THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WE’VE ROUNDED UP SOME OF THE CENTRAL COAST’S BEST YOGA AND PILATES STUDIOS.

WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

74 COAST

WELLBEING, BEING WELL

Mindful Movement Pilates Studio

MINDFUL MOVEMENT PILATES STUDIO Long Jetty Nikki Jury runs a raft of yoga, flow and Pilates (reformer and mat) classes, plus barre in a large, fresh space behind the main strip in Long Jetty. The former professional dancer is seven years into the Pilates business (formerly called Pilates with Nikki) and will not only make you sweat with challenging and interesting classes, but her bubbly, energetic personality makes it plenty of fun. Be sure to book in advance as her classes are popular. mindfulmovementstudio.com.au

REFORM PILATES STUDIO Toukley Nikki Jury from Mindful Movement

If you’re after a practice that’s more clinical and focused on rehabilitation or easing back into exercise after a long stint away, give Reform Pilates Studio a try. There are matwork, reformer and wunda chair classes, as well as sessions that focus on spinal health and pregnancy, and others that cater specifically to people aged over 50. They also run semi-private classes for two people so you get more instructor/participant attention – or can enjoy a workout with your loved one. reformpilatesstudio.com.au

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WELLBEING, BEING WELL

THE YOGA COLLECTIVE CENTRAL COAST Erina This yoga studio garnered a strong following when it was tucked out of sight in a small room in Terrigal. It’s since moved to Erina (in The Lifestyle Building) and its loyal yogis have followed. Open seven days a week, there are always plenty of classes available, including prenatal yoga for women who want to slow the mind and breath. theyogacollective.com.au

Functional Movement

TOTAL BODY FITNESS STUDIO Erina Whether you want to strengthen and stretch the body, or feel your muscles working, Total Body Fitness Studio has a great range of class styles, including 30-minute workouts and reformer Pilates. There are also Fit for Fifty classes that blend cardio, core and stretching, while the matwork Pilates includes the use of balls, discs and foam rollers. totalbodyfs.com.au

FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT Terrigal Those who prefer to exercise in the comfort of a private studio should give Functional Movement a go. There are Pilates mat, reformer and barre sessions (plus personal training) that cater to all levels of fitness in an environment that is not too intimidating. You can sign up for private or small group classes. Instagram: @functional_movement Phoenix Pilates

PHOENIX PILATES Kincumber Having recently reopened after a major renovation, the Phoenix Pilates studio is now larger, with a fresh, contemporary vibe. Solely focussing on Pilates, the boutique studio offers a great range of classes, including clinical, private and small-group sessions, with styles ranging from mat and small props to reformer and springboard. It’s also a teacher training centre for keen students who want to expand their understanding of this in-vogue exercise. phoenixpilates.org

ETTALONG YOGA Ettalong Beach

Ettalong Yoga

This place isn’t your average yoga studio. Along with uplifting hatha, yin, flow and pre-natal classes, you can also practice meditation and journaling (great for mindfulness). If you want to take your practise into everyday life, you can also sign up for 12 weeks of dharma coaching during which you’ll learn how to live with intention. ettalongyoga.com.au

76 COAST

OPEN 7 DAYS

General Dentistry Emergency Care Cosmetic Dentistry Orthodontics and Invisalign Sleep Dentistry IV Sedation Oral Surgery Dental Implants 3D CT Scanning

40 YEARS LOCAL ONLINE BOOKING

NEW PATIENT OFFER

OFFERS (all patients)

Comprehensive check-up & clean

A thorough dental examination and oral hygiene appointment. Up to 5 x-rays included.

No Gap or $290 Children 8 years & under: No Gap or $190 02 4323 1933

FINANCE

Free orthodontic consultation Free dental implant consultation Free cosmetic smile makeover consultation Custom sport mouthguards: No Gap or $99

www.vcdental.com.au

On-site parking

Purveyor of unique Homewares & special one off pieces of furniture for Styling your home. Operating for 10 years and now incorporating great coffee at Drift Coffee Kazbah.

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Broken Bay Shellar Door

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WELLBEING, BEING WELL

‘Butterflies’ in your tummy means your head-brain is talking to your gut-brain. What other two-way conversations are they having?

WORDS DR MICHELLE REISS, Lifestyle Medicine Physician – Life Medical Centre

he brain in our skull computes the world through our touch, taste, smell, sight and sound, but we also have a ‘second brain’ that computes the world through hundreds of millions of nerve cells that line the gastrointestinal tract. This ‘gut brain’ hidden in the walls of our gastrointestinal tract, has researchers and modern medicine fascinated by the links between food, digestion, appetite, mood, overall health, and even the way we think. Researchers in Australia are leading the world when it comes to understanding these links. We’ve all experienced their conversations: ‘butterflies’ in our stomachs or the need to have a bowel motion when nervous. And those of us with irritable bowel syndrome know very well how stress and anxiety can affect our bowel function. Studies are showing that our gut feeds back to our brain by producing large quantities of neurotransmitters that are very closely linked to our mood, energy levels, immunity, metabolism and the inflammation that drives many chronic diseases. The positive or negative outcomes of these human processes is influenced by our food choices and the integrity and diversity of the microbiota (bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi) that live predominantly in our large bowel. Probiotics has been a buzz word for some time and refers to the 2kg–3kg of living organisms – trillions of microbiota – that reside in our intestines. Their diversity and effectiveness are essential for metabolism, digestion, and brain function. They also play a huge role in regulating our immune system and inflammation.

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The effect of a dysfunctional gut and microbiome can lead to Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, cancers, obesity, some types of dementia, mood disorders, to name just a few. We are starting to learn that the chemicals gut microbiota produce, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), also assist our brains in controlling appetite and in reducing cravings by influencing the reward centre for high-energy food such as sugar, takeaways and processed products. Gone are the days where food is seen purely as a source of fuel, survival, gratification, and the focus of socialising. Sadly, over the past few decades our diet has evolved to include large amounts of processed and refined food and much less fibre, which is the primary nutrient used by our microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids. If our ‘second-brain’ and microbiota have such an incredible influence on our mood, disease states, wellbeing and appetite, then it certainly is highly plausible that, for the most part, ‘we are what we eat’, and we have the research now to prove it. I would encourage anybody to think of food in terms of ‘adding value’ to your life, rather than just calories or gratification. Consider eating a ratio of at least 50 per cent colourful fruit and vegetables per meal, reducing or avoiding processed food, reducing alcohol intake and using antibiotics only when absolutely necessary to encourage healthy conversations between your ‘head brain’ and your ‘gut brain’. lifemedicalcentre.com.au

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VIBES

COAST VIBES

Curator, Sarah Samild (right) with Gosford Art Prize 2021 finalists, Cheryl McCoy and Donella Waters

SARAH SAMILD Curator, Gosford Regional Gallery When a curator does their job well, it’s hard to imagine just how much work goes into making an exhibition look effortless, even though it may have taken two years of planning and staging. ‘Some people think I just hang pictures,’ says Sarah Samild, curator of Gosford Regional Gallery. ‘It’s so much more. There’s initial research, sourcing artworks and collaborating with private and public owners, visiting the artists’ studios to see their work (I love that part), and selecting the artworks. Then there’s working out the logistics of delivery, storage, hanging spaces, and of course the admin side as well.’ A curator is also a storyteller, taking visitors on a journey through the exhibition. It involves how that journey begins, choosing the key artworks, and working out the sight-lines – what visitors first see as they enter each part of the gallery. ‘You need to bear in mind the grouping of artworks,’ says Sarah. ‘Size, bold colours and content can overwhelm a softer, more subtle painting, for example.’ For the 50th anniversary of the Central Coast Art Society exhibition (22 January to 28 February), the curator’s role

involved working with the Art Society on how best to celebrate their history. ‘Do you exhibit according to a timeline? Or by styles? Or, as we chose to do, by the geography of the paintings,’ says Sarah. ‘The Society is very inclusive, so the exhibition is also about variety. It’s about artists coming together and celebrating the landscapes of the Central Coast. ‘Half of the paintings in the exhibition are by current members of the Society, and the other half are loaned works,’ says Sarah. ‘That meant we had to research where those atworks were.’ There are paintings, prints, drawings and mixed media in the exhibition that includes a 1975 oil on canvas by Jean Isherwood; a 1982 oil on board of Noraville by Hans Giese; and a 1997 watercolour of Caroline Bay by Fran Melrose; as well as a more recent Margaret Hardy acrylic on canvas of Catherine Hill Bay.

COAST VIBES TOP Jean Isherwood, Angophora Forest (c.1975), oil on canvas, 55cm x 70cm, Central Coast Council Collection CENTRE Hans Giese, Gums of Noraville (1982), Central Coast Council Collection BOTTOM Paul Haggith, The Printing District, Seoul, (2020) oil on linen, 122cm x 153cm

In the case of the Gosford Art Prize (30 October to 9 January), Sarah has had just a few weeks to plan the hanging and staging of entries from the 135 finalists after they were announced in mid-September. The Art Prize is a highlight of the gallery’s year and the $25,000 in prize money attracted 951 entries from around Australia. Entries range across a range of mediums from oils and acrylics to ceramics, prints, digital, sculptures and textiles. And, as with the Archibald Prize, the People’s Choice Winner is always a popular interest. Sarah is excited about other forthcoming exhibitions in 2022, too. ‘We try to present a diverse program across the year, in a range of mediums and inspired by different ideas – about being Australian and being human,’ she says. ‘We have a touring exhibition with four female performing artists, the Barbara Cleveland Artist Collective, that’s quite edgy, and will get people thinking about and making sense of the ideas in it. ‘There’s Kathryn Jeane’s exhibition Gar, of her grandmother who lived in Mangrove Mountain but had no birth certificate and no documentation of her death. It’s an unconventional exhibition about elements that made up an undocumented life: in textiles, memories from her home – ephemera that keeps her memory alive. ‘Paul Haggith is one of the most exhibited artists in the Gosford Art Prize, and has been a finalist in the Wynne and Sulman prizes. He will have a solo exhibition on the built environment, Urban Landscapes, which highlights the play of light. ‘And, of course, the Dobell Drawing Prize, an initiative of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, which continues to be a barometer of the remarkable vitality and changing role of drawing within contemporary art. It covers animation, collage, charcoal, ink and watercolours and features Euan Macleod’s wonderful winning work, Borderlands – Between NSW and Qld. As a curator, it no doubt helps to have once been a budding artist, too, in order to appreciate the wealth of talent that is available to regional galleries. ‘I aspired to be an artist,’ Sarah admits. ‘But after studying at the Canberra School of Art and completing a fine arts degree at ANU, I realised I was more interested in facilitating the work of those artists who are so much more talented than I am.’ Her first roles at the National Gallery of Australia, followed by stints at commercial galleries, Museums and Galleries NSW, and the Australia Council for the Arts, prepared her well for her role as curator at the Gosford Regional Gallery. facebook.com/gosfordregionalgallery centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/galleries

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YOUR WEDDING WORLD IS WAITING...

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Photo by: Woodlands Creative

CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | ACCOMODATION

COAST VIBES

ART CONFIDENCE

is changing our taste in art WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

The market for vibrant, textural, statement artwork is booming on the Central Coast and beyond as residents become more confident about buying art to add to their collection. As the art scene moves beyond the wealthy investor stereotype to the everyday Aussie, Central Coast residents are also investing in higher quality pieces that stand the test of time, and placing more value on art in general. These aren’t just local trends.

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KAB Gallery co-owner Kerry-Anne Blanket says the contemporary art landscape is changing Australia-wide, and there are several reasons. ‘People have noticed through Covid that there are a lot of blank walls [at home] and they are looking for those nice feature pieces,’ Kerry-Anne says. There’s also a move away from disposable prints and ontrend artwork, possibly as a result of becoming more conscious consumers. ‘Even Millennials are looking for more quality work that’s going to stand the test of time,’ she says. There has also been a spike in the popularity of vibrant colours, while textural artwork continues to be a big hit, and buyers – local and otherwise – are more confident. ‘When I opened the gallery, I could see there was a clear gap in that communication to buyers, so I knew I wanted to have everything visual, I wanted to have everything open, have everything approachable, easily accessible. It’s really important,’ Kerry-Anne says. KAB Gallery has one of the Central Coast’s prime retail positions, on a sunlit corner of Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, opposite the region’s most touristy beach. As such, it’s not unusual for someone to stroll off the beach and into the inviting gallery to peruse the modern collection. ‘We do have people buying paintings in their cozzies,’ KerryAnne says with a cheerful laugh. At the same time that contemporary art is becoming mainstream, the Coast’s art scene is blossoming. Not only are we seeing local councils and local business owners investing in public art projects from the likes of popular Long Jetty artist Grant Molony and his creative mates, but there are now pottery workshops with companies such as Centered Ceramics (Umina Beach), Paint and Sip classes to celebrate special events (or just because it’s nice to do), and pop-up driftwood sculptures created by the talented Pete Rush along our beaches. As for paintings, people are favouring landscapes and still life over portraiture as artists become more liberal with their interpretation of the genres. One of KAB Gallery’s stand-out artists is Sally West. Hailing from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Sally specialises in impasto seascapes and you’ll occasionally see her set up in Terrigal painting plein air. Impasto is the practice of adding thick paint and brush marks to works, giving them extra dimension. It’s a popular style. As for themes, Kerry-Anne predicts art lovers will be looking for positive paintings this spring and summer. Likening it to a spring clean, she says buyers are influenced by the seasons, so if they’re out and about at the beach they will purchase fresh and light art reflecting their mood. When that time comes, KerryAnne has one main tip: Avoid the pressure to stay on-trend and buy something you’ll love for a long time.

CHECK OUT THE COAST’S ART SCENE AT: KAB Gallery, Terrigal: kabgallery.com Bay Gallery, Ettalong: artstudioscooperative.org Art Gallery on Palm Beach: artgalleryonpalmbeach.com/ Gosford Regional Gallery: centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/recreation/ venues-and-facilities/galleries/gosford-regional-gallery Bouddi Peninsular Arts Trail, Usually held in October: facebook.com/bouddiartstrail Bouddi Society Arts Show, Wagstaffe Hall, Usually held in October: bouddisociety.org.au Bobbie P Gallery, Terrigal: bobbiepgallery.com Toukley and District Art Society Gallery, Gorokan: toukleyartgallery.com.au/gallery

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LONG JETTY ART SCENE welcomes new gallery opening WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

Long Jetty’s art scene has been elevated with the opening of the sophisticated Glenn McKimmin Gallery. In the top position occupied by long-standing surf shop Borderline, the photographic gallery grabs the attention of passers-by with its large, windowed frontage. McKimmin, who has the printing and framing company, Created for Life in Erina, opened the Jetty space in May (2021). It primarily houses Glenn’s stunning photography of Central Coast landscapes, but he’s passionate about featuring other artists. ‘This is going to be not just a gallery for me but, hopefully over time, we’ll build it to a point that this is a quality gallery showcasing different art and really keeping that level high,’ Glenn says. Already the space has hosted an exhibition of works by fellow local photographer Luke Shadbolt, and Glenn plans to hold art and interior design evenings with degustation dinners, as well as more photography workshops. ‘It will be a certain level of artist and/or photographer,’ he says. There’s no doubt the gallery gives more clout to the creative community and Glenn hopes it inspires even more locals and visitors to pick up a camera. ‘The simplicity of the gallery is important in showcasing the art but I hope it also inspires people to go out there and take photos themselves, for the sheer joy of it. ‘Photography gives you a good reason to get up, venture outside, and create something from nothing. Whether you’re looking at photos in a gallery or taking them yourself, it’s a welcome antidote to the stressful world we live in.’ Stay up to date with exhibitions and workshops at glennmckimmin.com

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CREATORS OF THE COAST

Charmian Gadd with her 18th-century Venetian, Matteo Goffriller violin.

Charmian Gadd © PETER HISLOP

From a barefoot childhood to violin virtuoso WORDS ROSALIE PAINO

s a three-year-old barefooted girl in the bush (in Ourimbah), Charmian Gadd used to watch returned soldiers on the family property put down their rifles to take up the violins and cellos they’d left behind to fight a war overseas. ‘They’d disappear into the bush to practise Bach suites and concerti,’ Charmian recalls. ‘They’d walk along the track practising their violins. But when one of them saw a rabbit, another would hold the violin and bow, and – bang – rabbit stew for our dinner. ‘There was music-making in our home in the evenings and I so very much wanted to participate, but had to play on a full-sized violin and a half-sized cello. Finally, when I was six, I was given a half-size violin.’

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At the age of eight, Charmian’s mother entered her in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod, where she won first prize in the under-16s. ‘That’s when Mum realised she had to get me to a proper teacher,’ says Charmian and, at 12 years of age, she was sent to the Conservatorium High School in Sydney where she faced the shock of having to wear shoes and a uniform. The rest, as they say, is history. Charmian emerged as a talented young violinist, winning the 1963 ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition (Young Performers) and the Australian Music Examinations Board Overseas Scholarship. ‘The Viennese-trained violinist [and founder of Musica Viva], Richard Goldner, was one of my great teachers; he was exceedingly demanding,’ says Charmian. ‘Together with Josef

COAST VIBES

‘There was music-making in our home in the evenings and I so very much wanted to participate, but had to play on a full-sized violin and a half-sized cello. Finally, when I was six, I was given a half-size violin.’ Gingold [considered one of the most influential violin masters in the US], they instilled in me a severe dose of discipline to the music score, tempered with flair and colour.’ She soon found that the discipline of competing, learning new pieces, and that constant performing was a way to develop good concentration skills and ‘to build the confidence to do your best in front of the scariest juries’. In 1966, Charmian left Australia to compete in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow where she received its Diplôme d’honneur. Later, she was a prize-winner in competitions held in Vienna, Philadelphia, and in Helsinki where she gained a Diplôme d’honneur in the Sibelius Competition. Charmian also played with Yehudi Menuhin in the Bath Festival Orchestra, and with Sir Neville Marriner at St Martins in the Field. (It was Yehudi Menuhin who first invited Charmian onto the jury for the Menuhin Competition in Folkstone in England in the 1990s.) In 1969, Charmian joined Richard Goldner in Pittsburgh where she appeared as soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Vancouver Orchestra, the North-West Chamber Orchestra in Seattle, and more. She also became a founding member of Trio Concertante in San Francisco. Charmian and Richard married in 1970. In New York, Charmian also fell in love with an 18th-century violin, handcrafted by Matteo Goffriller, a renowned Venetian violin maker. ‘It’s a soulful instrument, and powerful. I feel a definite affinity to that voice,’ she says. ‘It’s not an easy instrument to play; it’s fairly large, it offers a lot of challenges, but it’s worth it. It tells you how it wants to be treated.’ In the 1990s, Charmian became a co-founder of the Macquarie Trio and began recording for ABC Classics. Today, her joy is still in the shared pleasure of playing with seasoned musicians, international students, local emerging artists, or even a seven-year-old violin student ‘itching to perform’. Her Copacabana home’s spacious music room houses a grand piano, Art Deco music stands, and a scattering of violin cases, as well as her collection of paintings and photos (Charmian is also a painter and writer). She knows the importance of a safe place with a receptive audience where that seven-year-old student, accompanied by a professional pianist, can fulfil her dream of playing a Mozart sonata – written when Mozart was not much older than she.

Charmian and Friends – with Phillip Shovk, Tony Gault, Robert Harris and Georg Pedersen – rehearsing in Charmian’s Copacabana home.

Seven-year old student, Manuela Huang, who played for guests at Charmian’s home early in 2021. Manuela is also performing with Phillip Shovk at Charmian’s concert on 9 January.

It’s also why Charmian has devoted herself to helping establish the Australian Strings Academy with its summer schools and competitions for students. And it is why she is patron of Symphony Central Coast and the Central Coast Conservatorium. She continues teaching, is a music consultant, and a member of the teaching and music committee at the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music. Celebrating her 80th in 2022, Charmian – still with her Goffriller violin – takes great delight in continuing to play in chamber music performances that have affectionately become known on the Central Coast as ‘Charmian and Friends’. Charmian’s ‘Coming of Age’ concert will be held at the Greenway Chapel on 9 January, 2022 Book at centralcoastconservatorium.com.au

HAPPENINGS

HAPPENINGS ON THE COAST Better Days Café, Tumbi Umbi Not only does this café feed the inner you with simple food and outstanding coffee, it’s also a social enterprise that will give you a warm glow by helping long-term unemployed people to upskill, in partnership with the Salvation Army’s employment plus program. 122 Adelaide St, Tumbi Umbi. coastcommunity.care/betterdays

Bushlands Reserve Playground and Bike Track is where you’ll find the longest, straight slippery dip on the Central Coast. The park is a kids’ delight with swings, spinner poles, flying fox, a bee rocker, a playhouse, and a toddler bike and scooter track that’s ideal for the littlies. Bushlands Reserve, 7 Bushlands Ave, Springfield.

Bobbie P Gallery CREATIVE SUMMER WORKSHOPS Landscapes in Ink: Explore contemporary and expressive drawing and painting techniques in ink. BYO sketchbook (heavyweight paper) and they’ll provide morning tea and all other studio equipment and materials you’ll need. 22 January from 10 am–1 pm. $145. The Waterlily Workshop in Acrylics: Inspired by none other than Monet, Robyn Pedley will guide you through painting techniques, colour-mixing, and ideas to create your own masterpiece. For beginners to intermediate. BYO sketch book, pencil and eraser. Morning tea, lunch, hand-stretched canvas, studio equipment and materials are provided. 19 February from 10 am–3 pm. $285. Bobbie P Gallery, Level 1, 7 Hudson Lane, Terrigal. Bookings 0490 061 949 or info@bobbiepgallery.com

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COAST VIBES

DOGGY GARDEN PAWTY, KARIONG The Street Paws Festival and Doyalson Animal Hospital are hosting a garden party for pooches and their humans. Celebrate our dogs and our community, grab a blanket, and enjoy some yummy food and doggy treats from the food trucks. There are prizes for the Happiest Pup, Old Timers (dogs, not owners), and Best Rescue Dog. There are vet talks, hints on nutrition, a training and behaviour workshop, and (shhh) a talk on cat behaviour, and much more. In the grounds of Doyalson Animal Hospital, 423 Scenic Drive, Doyalson. 13 March from 10 am.

Bonsai Open Show and Competition, Mingara With bonsai you get not only nature but sculpture produced with patience, pampering, attention to detail, and solid horticultural practice. Bonsai originated in China but was adopted by the Japanese over 1400 years ago, and in Australia, it’s been here long enough to evolve its own local flavour with exquisite banksias, tea trees, figs and bottle brush. See some of the best trees in Australia with about 200 bonsai trees on display, demonstrations from the country’s finest artists, mature and starter trees for sale, handmade pots, tools and more. The show also introduces the Shohin Open where ceramic artists are invited to create a pot for shohin bonsai, the smaller trees of the bonsai world. Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi. 5 and 6 March from 9 am–4 pm. $7 entry for adults, children free. centralcoastbonsai.org.au

Pilates with April Discover the profound impact that pilates can have on all aspects of your life with April Stamos. April specialises in pilates for all fitness levels to unleash your inner strength, coordination, and stability so you can find new and more efficient ways of moving to suit your body, your needs, and your goals. One-on-one or duo classes. Reformer Pilates Studio, Avoca Beach. facebook.com/pilateswithapril or email aprill@cosupilates.com

HAPPENINGS

Coastal Twist, LGBTIA+ arts and culture festival Five days and nights of contemporary culture, fun, play and surprises across Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach, Gosford and Umina Beach. Art, theatre, cabaret, dance party, beach party, youth party, film and community fair day. It’s all about getting unlikeminded people together to celebrate our diversity and what we have in common. Punks and plumbers, grannies and babies, freaks and geeks, and everyone in between – all welcome. 19–23 January. Find out more at coastaltwist.org.au

NAUGHTY NOODLE BLUES WITH MITCH GRAINGER BAND 11 December The Girrakool Blues Festival and The Naughty Noodle is set to party with Blues at the Funhaus. Grainger has wowed audiences from the US to Scandinavia. Banish your blues with talented vocals, harmonica and guitar, and Declan Kelly on drums, and Joel Burton on bass, for one night only.

ALTFEST ON THE COAST 5 February A celebration of alternative and diverse music at its best, with artists who like to blur the boundaries of genre music.

SUMMER SPANDE MITCH GRAINGER BAND

12 February

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a foretaste of Mardi Gras on the Coast. A handful of festival favourites in an evening of fun, eclectic, tongue-in-cheek va-vaboom variety. All bookings at naughtynoodle.com.au/whats-on

with Terrigal Ocean Tours WHALE WATCHING TOURS (MAY - NOV)

SUMMER FUN TOURS (NOV - APRIL)

Book your boat tour at www.TerrigalTours.com.au or 0449-999-868.

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STONEWALL EQUESTRIAN SHOWGROUND Mangrove Mountain WORDS SUZY JARRATT

‘Heath and Krissy Harris are creating a beautiful equestrian park that will be like no other in this country. It will be Australia’s version of Spruce Meadows, in Calgary and Aachen, in Germany, which host the most prestigious horse shows in the world.’ Olympian, Rod Brown

any people dream about owning a Melbourne Cup winner or conquering Everest. Others yearn to one day write a novel or live on an island in the sun. Former international showjumper, Krissy Harris, has always wanted her own showground. ‘When I was little, I’d go to a lot of equestrian events that were often held in beautiful historic surroundings,’ explained 58-yearold Krissy. ‘My favourite part was arriving early at these ag shows, settling in the horses and watching how the grounds came alive. The traders putting up their stalls, competitors arriving in floats and trucks, the “carnies” assembling the rides and sideshows. I loved the atmosphere. ‘When I began working on films with my husband, Heath [renowned, international movie horse trainer], it was a similar experience. We were always on set very early when technicians and operators would be all around us preparing for a scene. By the time the director called “action” and the cameras rolled, much of our work was done.

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‘I’ve always enjoyed the setting-up process, and when Heath retired after 50 years in the film industry I told him, “I’d like to own a showground.” He looked at me and said, “You’re crazy, but I’ll help you”.’ And so began the creation of Stonewall. Spread over 45 hectares at Wisemans Ferry Road, Mangrove Mountain, what was once a neglected citrus farm is being transformed into a world-standard equestrian facility. In February 2016, a stream of semi-trailers removed countless loads of rubbish – fridges, stoves, car bodies and tyres abandoned beneath jungles of lantana. Once it was all cleared away, the couple had a blank canvas upon which they could start realising their vision. They planted 2,000 trees, with more to come, and built nine kilometres of roads, the surfaces for which came from the North Connex tunnel excavation. ‘This new motorway cuts out Pennant Hills Road which has made it so much more convenient for people coming here from

places like the Camden area,’ pointed out Krissy. The first thing all visitors see as they drive though the entrance are the curving rows of drystone walls after which the property is named. ‘They run for two-and-a-half kilometres, and the sandstone comes from various local quarries,’ explained Heath. ‘They’re organic and unpretentious.’ And there are more walls in the making as is evident from the three heaps of stone stacked high beside the road referred to as ‘one-man’, ‘two-men’ or ‘machine’ piles depending upon the size of the rocks. When it comes to horse arenas, one thing they should never be is too hard underfoot. Experts consider Stonewall’s arenas to have excellent footing. Two arenas have a bespoke surface mix invented by Heath, and there is an enormous grass arena. ‘It’s 1.5 hectares and one of the largest competition grass arenas in the southern hemisphere,’ declared Heath, who is the facility’s major designer. He is also very handy on a backhoe, bulldozer, bob cat and, most importantly, an onsite sawmill, a great skill to possess as Stonewall’s bridges, clubhouse, terraced seating, staff accommodation and private dwellings are all being made using huge logs salvaged from a Newcastle subdivision, logs that were, incidentally, destined for shredding. There is also a separate 90m x 40m warm-up arena for horses and riders, with provision for trade stands, and food and VIP marquees.

FEATURE

A spring-fed weir flows into Popran Creek.

The new farmside training arena. Above and to the right of the arena is the site of the future stables.

FEATURE

Krissy Harris and ‘Corvette GHP’ in the 1.3-metre class at Stonewall in October 2020.

In a year or so, when all work is finalised at Stonewall Equestrian, there will be 20 hectares of beautifully appointed parkland with a four-hectare wildlife corridor leading to the remaining acreage on which Heath and Krissy will build their home. These two Aussie entrepreneurs are presently based at Ashbrookes Farm, Mt White where, among other things, they train, ride and care for horses and run a boutique saddlery. One of the most appealing aspects of Stonewall is that everything blends into the landscape. Nothing is ugly or intrusive. It is as if the dam and its ducklings, the Hay Plains’ windmill and the waterfall have always been there, along with the corrugated iron cabins reminiscent of the iconic movie, The Man from Snowy River, which Heath worked on in the early eighties. The medley of grasses appears to have existed for decades around the water’s edge and waterfalls. In fact, they were only planted recently by landscaper, Michael Cooke, one of many locals working on the property. ‘Brad Hunter, who does all our excavating, is from Somersby and his right-hand man, Adam, is just six minutes up the road. It’s lovely having these guys,’ said Krissy. ‘There’s a lot of underground water at Mangrove and they understand the terrain.’ When the couple had to build a drain along their land they didn’t resort to unsightly pipes or trenches; instead they created a waterfall with a habitat for frogs. ‘We call them “chubby gang

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gangs”, although I’m sure they have a more scientific name. ‘We’re going to plant a few more water natives, and more gums,’ added Krissy. ‘The trees here now aren’t suitable for koalas but we’re hoping to introduce the right species very soon. We’re also speaking to a fellow who has native bees and hives.’ Beginning just a few months ago, showjumping events are now regularly held on the property, as well as dressage weekends. At future events, the pair will showcase market stalls featuring local businesses and fresh food producers. And Krissy predicts there will be a boost to B&Bs and real estate in the area. ‘Stonewall, I believe, is at the forefront of a movement towards rural recreation across the mountain district,’ she said. At the first showjumping event at Stonewall, the main class of the weekend was over 1.25m jumps, and won by jumping legend Vicki Roycroft and ‘Licaviv’. Because it is so horse and competitor friendly, The Central Coast Dressage Association has recently made the grounds its permanent venue and, as a result, its membership has significantly increased with such beautiful grounds to compete on. Stonewall is also the official home of the Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association (TSHA) which Krissy founded in 2019 to help create a life after racing for retired thoroughbred racehorses. This year, Krissy is organising TSHA jumping and hacking classes, culminating in the inaugural Australian Thoroughbred Sport Horse Titles in 2022.

As well as being a competitive venue, Stonewall is also the training site for high performance three-day-eventers. Former showjumping Olympian, Rod Brown, from Kulnura, is one of the instructors. ‘Already it is an excellent centre which, upon completion, will be absolutely magnificent attracting spectators as well as equestrians!’ Rod says. Vicky Roycroft has declared it, ‘an amazing facility.’ Five-time Australian showjumping champion, Chris Chugg, who has been one of the country’s top riders for 30 years, and a producer of Grand Prix horses, an international competitor and an influential trainer agrees. ‘It’s about time we had well maintained surface-built arenas. The footing is outstanding … you couldn’t make the going any better. ‘Stonewall is a practical horse place run by practical people who have made use of the property’s natural resources and worked out what is sustainable and workable. It’s world-class.’ Undoubtedly Stonewall will make a difference, not only to the region, but to equestrian events in Australia.

Gina Montgomery on her eight-year-old, imported Oldenburg stallion, ‘Braveaux’ training at Stonewall.

Stonewall Showjumping Championships, 8am–5pm, November 24–27. facebook.com/stonewallequestrian/

FEATURE

CENTRAL COAST

National Parks & State Forests

GREAT OUTDOORS

GREAT NORTH ROAD BUCKETTY CONVICT WALL TO WISEMANS FERRY WORDS JAMES LUTWYCHE

PHOTOS GRACE LUTWYCHE

GREAT OUTDOORS The Bucketty Convict Wall sounds intriguing. The kids are trying to guess what happened there, and rather than looking at history in a book or on the internet we decide to make it the starting point of our next adventure, an overnight bike hike from Bucketty to Wisemans Ferry via the Old Great North Road. The road was constructed in the early 1800s by convict labour to give an overland route for horse riders, horse-drawn carriages (and bushrangers) from Sydney to the Central Coast and beyond. But after much deliberation and rerouting, it was later abandoned because of the steep gradients and lack of reliable water en route. We have decided to use our MTBs (mountain bikes), and it’s the first time the kids have joined me on an extended ride carrying overnight gear. I am teaching them how to use topographic maps so no Strava for this trip. We start at Bucketty and after having ridden steadily for an hour and travelling about 6 km, our first stop is at Circuit Flat Bridge, Mogo Creek. Alternatively, you can also start your ride here, at the intersection of George Downes Drive and the Great North Road to St Albans, where you’ll find a large, abandoned loop with the convict-built culvert, bridge, and stone-packed road surface. The remnant stonework is intricate, detailed, and has stood the test of time. It is credited to the convicts under overseer William Barratt in the early 1830s, and its longevity is testament to their skills. Just past the stone bridge on the high side of the track is an exposed sandstone slab where overnight rain has filled the many

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GREAT OUTDOORS

potholes in the rock. An Indigenous tracker and guide once told me how passing clans would always stop and clean out these holes when they were dry, leaving them ready for the next shower and thirsty visitor. I love this idea. How often do we walk with any regard for those who follow in our footsteps? Back on the bikes, the section of trail in front of us varies from open gravel trails to washed out sections of track. Some parts had to be walked (or push biking as we called it) and, with our full panniers, some sections are quite difficult, so the challenge quickly becomes the adventure. We pass through an area that was completely burnt out in the 2019 bushfires, and the Gymea lilies, (Doryanthes excelsa) and waratahs (Telopea speciossimia) are in full flower. Nature has an amazing way of restoring itself, and we feel dwarfed by the impressive flowering spears of the Gymeas. We stop for lunch among the rocks and caves, and find a spot where we can boil a pot of tea and eat our packed lunch. We have made great time, and after lunch we glide down the track single file into camp at Ten Mile Hollow. We covered just under 30 km in eight hours, including rest stops. There are plenty of level grassed areas for large groups, and National Parks & Wildlife has provided a composting toilet, fireplace and a water tank. It’s an unreliable water source though, so we’re happy to cook and wash with the water we carried in. With our tent up and firewood collected, we settle down to a cosy campfire, and roast our evening veggies in the coals and cook our steaks on a cast iron grill left at the site. We watch the sunset, while the fire dies to embers before we hit the sleeping bags. Life is good. The next morning, we break camp by 8 am and it isn’t long before we realise that stopping at Ten Mile Hollow the previous afternoon was a clever idea before the first 2 km uphill ride. Thankfully it’s a regularly graded government road, and you can easily see the hand carved gutters, drains and culverts left behind by the convict gangs. At the top of the hill, we re-join the Great

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North Road and start the final decent to Wisemans Ferry. Loads of ‘push biking’ again as the trail is quite washed out in some sections, particularly the short uphill sections. This in an amazingly long ridge, and at one point we scramble on foot up to a rocky outcrop to get our bearings and cross reference our map. By 10.30 we had completed most of the remaining 15 km track. We reach the end of the ridge and join the walking trail down Devines Hill, and check out the huge, buttressed convictbuilt walls built to support the roadway. Around us, on the surrounding cliffs, you can still see where they cut and blasted the sandstone blocks. We reach the end of the trail at 11 o’clock, and cross the river on the vehicular ferry, the kids proud they had completed another epic adventure. Next, hot chips at the kiosk. This trail can also easily be completed as a three day bushwalk.

James Lutwyche is a horticulturalist, and a local and experienced bushwalker who has led or been part of expeditions in the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Kosciusko, Tasmania, New Zealand and Mongolia. He lives and works in Yarramalong and is married with four children. James is also the local Scout leader at Peats Ridge Scout Group and spends his time between work at Paradise Botanical Gardens and exploring and enjoying the great outdoors.

YOUR WEDDING WORLD IS WAITING...

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CEREMONIES | RECEPTIONS | ACCOMODATION

Photo by: Whitelane Studio

How we met BRETT AND ROBBIE

WORDS SARAH TOLMIE

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HOW WE MET

ON THEIR FIRST DATE, ROBBIE ARRIVED IN HIS GLEAMING, WHITE CONVERTIBLE AND BRETT JUMPED IN THE CAR WITH A JAM DONUT. ‘Luckily, Robbie’s passion for food runs deep into his personal values,’ says Brett. ‘It creates togetherness, conversation, opportunities and ways to experience new things.’ ‘We challenge each other in a good way,’ says Robbie.’ We keep each other grounded. We are both passionate and different and yet, at the end of the day, we want the same thing. ‘Robbie’s deep love for me is comforting. He will always do small acts that really show me that he has been thinking about me. I know that everything he does is with our life in mind.’ With their instant connection and energy, Robbie and Brett both knew that their initial meeting was going to become something. The couple share a love for good food and developed an instant connection over their combined joy of shopping, cooking, preparing and eating great meals. They keep a file of best restaurants and have a wish list of dining-out goals. And for their first six weeks of dating they would recreate their first date with dinner every week at the same restaurant. After two weeks, Robbie had virtually moved in, and had a key. The attraction, friendship, love was fast and fabulous. It’s a love that oozes hospitality, parties, travel, and discovery. A love begun, nourished, nurtured and lived all around the food. ‘Sure, he drives me completely insane at times,’ says Brett. ‘But this is also a cuteness, and it’s a trait about him that makes me also love him more deeply. When I am with Robbie, I feel warm, secure, loved and entertained. We laugh so hard at times, at and with each other.’ For Brett and Robbie, their desire to marry was very much about celebrating their union, and their wedding day was the outward expression of their love and relationship. ‘Our whole life revolves around food and it was vital that the venue we chose for our wedding really focused on this. As soon as we walked into Bell’s at Killcare, we were sold. Plus it really did cater for everything: the ceremony, reception and accommodation. It was like the venue was purpose-built for us, right down to even doing a bespoke menu that catered

specifically to our requirements, and the delivered result was absolutely outstanding. Our guests gave rave reviews!’ ‘It was just so incredible and uplifting to see the love, happiness and emotion on everyone faces as we walked down the aisle,’ says Brett. ‘Our wonderful celebrant, Sarah suggested we face our guests during our ceremony to better share our love story. ‘We really got to take in the whole ceremony, connect with our guests, and enjoy the whole experience. Brett and Robbie’s original wedding date was for May 2020 but it was cancelled six weeks out due to the first Sydney Covid lockdown. More than a year on, Robbie and Brett recognise Covid revealed to them what was important. ‘In all honestly, Covid made us strip things back to what meant the most, which was sharing the love – and the food – with our family and friends.’ ‘I am so lucky to have Brett in my life,’ says Robbie. ‘I admire Brett’s strength on what he is passionate about. I love his ability to create, think and feel. He always has the other person’s intentions in mind and gives 1000 per cent to different projects and creations. He is always supportive of me, and I can count on him in any situation. And of course, Brett’s beautiful eyes. How could you possibly look away? When I am with Brett, I feel safe and I feel empowered that we can do or create anything we want.’

Ceremony and reception Bell’s at Killcare Photographer Wild Flower Photography Celebrant/officiant Sarah Tolmie Life & Love Celebrations Musicians The Hummingbird Collective Videographer Hip Shot Films Suits Couture Menswear Flowers Blooms on Darby

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- STUNNING WEDDING & EVENTS VENUE -

THE RIDGE ESTATE - PEATS RIDGE -

0402 866 352

www.theridgeestate.com.au

nicole@theridgeestate.com.au

HEADING

profusion

COASTAL

Garden designer Peter Nixon’s tropic-inspired space is a sanctuary of plant diversity at Forresters Beach.

WORDS PAUL URQUHART PHOTOS LISA HAYMES

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GARDENS OF THE COAST

Peter Nixon at the propagating bench

move from inner-city Sydney inspired the name ‘Sea Changer’, and even though only planted seven years ago it is already a go-to destination for garden lovers. The reason for the quick growth spurt is two-fold – firstly, good soil preparation and secondly, selecting fast-growing perennials. Nixon likes the term ‘cool tropics’ to describe his choice of planting – and it’s a good one. If you have ever visited North Queensland, you’ll recognise that the most seductive tropical plants will struggle even in the warmer parts of the Central Coast. Nixon has amassed a wealth of knowledge and plants with tolerance for our colder winters.

Take time with soil preparation

This small garden is tightly planted with a wide range of soft perennials that are tolerant of those cool days. The density of planting creates a microclimate to encourage plants that love warmth to thrive.

Let’s start at the beginning. Nixon moved in August 2014 to a property that was akin to a blank canvas. Straggly old plants and weedy grass were removed, packing boxes were reused as a weed mat and a 300mm layer of organic mix comprising milled cow manure and spent mushroom compost added. Nixon took great care to note where the shadow lines were, especially in winter, because that is the shadiest and coolest time in the garden and this period governs what will survive and what will thrive. The block is located at the bottom of a slope so cold air drainage meant winter lows down to 6°C. That sounds daunting, but a clever gardener can create microclimates, diverting the cold air and creating warm pockets within the space. Start by checking how tall your desired plants will grow and noting the position of north and the length of winter shadows. In winter, you need maximum sunshine. Nixon’s plan was to keep a brake on plant height. He opted for 3.6m tops along the boundary. People tend to plant tall shrubs or trees along the fence which, in a northerly aspect, effectively blocks the winter sun. More sun keeps soil warmer come spring. You should aim to plant by November when growing warm climate lovers. This gives roots a chance to establish before the following winter. If you are buying plants in say, April, hold them in pots in a warm spot, and plant late spring.

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GARDENS OF THE COAST

ABOVE The green wall is host to a wide range of begonias, bromeliads and other tropical delights. ABOVE RIGHT The deck is a comfortable spot for dining with a green wall backdrop to enhance the experience. The nature reed canopy keeps the sun off in summer. The potted plant is Alcantarea ‘White Star’. BELOW LEFT Repetition of the same pots filled with gold heart leaf Philodendron cordatum underline the green wall. BELOW RIGHT This unassuming plant is Fuchsia ‘Blutini’ but it flowers for a long time and is followed by dark purple berries. It’s also readily available in major hardware outlets.

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GARDENS OF THE COAST

Alcantarea on the left contrasts with lime green coleus ‘Wasabi’ while a kinetic art piece adds some movement in the sea breezes.

The fun part – planting Nixon’s advice for new gardens is to ‘plan for a stemless succession around the perimeter to hide fences’. In his case, on his corner block, the existing black PVC mesh disappears when planted out. He also alternated his planting on both sides of the fence to increase foliage density. The verge planting faces west, exposed to the summer sun, so needs appropriate plant selection to suit the aspect. Existing mature bottlebrushes shaded new plantings at one end but, where there was no protection, he chose sun-loving aloes, an under-utilised genus from southern Africa. Among them are the tree candelabra types, tall growers with impressive flowers such as Aloe thraskii x excelsa and A. excelsa. They grow in pure sand, need no irrigation and have spectacular winter flowers. What’s not to love?

Outdoor living To provide shade in summer when temperatures may reach 40°C, there are natural reed canopies over the side deck, dining nook, and over an adjacent space for casual seating. A laser-cut screen provides privacy from the street and obscures part of the garden for intimacy and surprise. A ‘green wall’ provides a useful microclimate for orchids, bromeliads and subtropical plants.

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SEVEN POINTERS TO CREATE INTEREST Nixon relies on foliage for long-term effects. His seven pointers will help establish all-year interest. 1. Flowers come and go so always aim to have interest at all times of the year. Use long blooming sub-shrubs such as Barleria ‘Purple Gem’ and Golden Plume, Schaueria flavicoma. 2. Source plants from plant fairs or specialist nurseries. 3. Take particular note of aspect and direction of the sun before you plant. 4. Have a plan. Don’t shop without a goal and avoid ‘plant fever’ shopping. 5. Take a few pictures of problem spots before you go shopping. 6. Seek advice. ‘The better your questions the better the plant selection.’ 7. Select plants for the conditions. ‘What will grow in full shade; will it keep its foliage colour?’; and so on.

Peter Nixon at Paradisus (m) 0418 161513. Instagram @paradisus_sea_change

Driving

ESCAPES

36 HOURS IN … PORT STEPHENS

36 hours in... PORT STEPHENS WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

A PLETHORA OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES HAS LONG MADE PORT STEPHENS A FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION OF CENTRAL COAST RESIDENTS. LESS THAN TWO HOURS’ DRIVE NORTH, IT’S A GREAT CHOICE FOR FAMILIES SEEKING AN EASY AND FUN STAYCATION.

Day One 10am

Hit the highway post-breakfast and head straight for d’Albora Marinas in Nelson Bay to start your family getaway with a wildlife cruise. Moonshadow-TQC Cruises has a handful of various sized vessels and run great dolphin-watching trips yearround. From autumn, you can also catch the whale-watching season (May to November), as the humpbacks head to warmer waters to give birth and mate, then return with the calves to their colder feeding grounds. I was most impressed with the captain’s commentary – the perfect mix between educational and humorous. If you’re travelling with small children, pack plenty of games and snacks. moonshadow-tqc.com.au

Noon

Back at the dock, landlubbers will be ready to refuel, and one of the best cafes in Port Stephens is just up the hill. The Little Nel serves sophisticated, contemporary fare such as king prawn & spanner crab malfadine pasta ($36) and sticky pork belly tacos ($21)*. The service is quick and friendly, and the patio is perfect for a sunny spring dining. littlenel.com.au

1.30pm

Squeeze in some shopping in Nelson Bay. At the marina, you’ll find the Artisan Collective gallery. It’s home to works by local artists, with pieces ranging from funky jewellery to glass sculptures and paintings. In the village proper there’s a mix of souvenir and boutique shops, with the coastalthemed Homebody and The Home Interior two favourites. artisancollectiveps.com.au

3pm

It’s then time to hit the beach but we’re not talking about swimming. Make your way to Birubi Point to meet 4WD Tours R Us. These guys know how to have fun, and a highlight of any family holiday to Port Stephens is sandboarding on Stockton Beach. The dunes rise up to 50 metres and you’ll be squealing as you ride toboggan-like boards down one. You can also go on a tour to famous Tin City with its off-grid squatters’ shacks that sprang up during the Depression. There are a couple of permanent residents so the most respectful way to take a squiz is with a trusted guide. (The Tin City tour is tide dependent, while sandboarding tours depart between 10am and 3.30pm.) 4wdtoursrus.com.au

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36 HOURS IN … PORT STEPHENS

3pm

Keeping with the morning’s animal theme, head back into Anna Bay to Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters. Having relocated last year, the new centre offers a more streamlined experience in a brighter, outdoor facility. Kids and ocean lovers will relish the opportunity to feed and pat the rays and sharks in a large lagoon, and you can even hop in the water if you fancy a slippery ‘hug’. sharkencounters.com.au

6pm

5.30pm

After a big day of adventure, check into one of Port Stephens’ hottest hotels, Bannisters at Soldiers Point. From the same company that did the beloved Mollymook properties, this version is a little more laid-back but still has the sophistication people have come to expect from the brand. There’s a Rick Stein restaurant worth booking a table at, as well as Terrace Bar (with light bites and killer cocktails) and the casual Cheeky Dog bistro for young families. The service at Cheeky Dog is especially friendly, while breakfast at Rick Stein’s is a nice way to kick off a day. Book a room on the fourth floor for great views across the Bay.

Round out your visit to Port Stephens with an early dinner at one of its finest restaurants, Little Beach Boathouse. Jutting out over its namesake beach, the restaurants specialises in modern Australian cuisine. Think dishes such as lemon mustard Atlantic Salmon ($44) and squid-ink spaghetti ($44)*. If you want to arrive earlier, there is bar downstairs with a nice range of wine, beer, cider and cocktails. It’s the perfect way to end a visit to our northern neighbours. littlebeachboathouse.com.au

*Seasonal menu.

bannisters.com.au

Day Two 10am

Berry pancakes or eggs on sourdough is the perfect way to start day two at Bannisters. After a lazy lie-in and leisurely breakfast, make your way to Oakvale Wildlife Park at Salt Ash. If you’re travelling with a young child, this is somewhere you don’t want to skip. Set on 10 hectares of bushland, the park is home to goats, lambs, pigs, horses, kangaroos, emus, reptiles and more. Time your visit for the 11am feeding of the farm animals, where visitors give bottles of milk to the littlest animals. You can also sign up for an intimate koala encounter where you’re allowed (hands sanitised) into the koala enclosure to pat the fluffy marsupials. oakvalewildlife.com.au

Noon

With the kids satisfied, spoil yourself with lunch at The Poyer’s, on the water at Lemon Tree Passage. Off-the-radar, this place is a locals’ secret with a tantalising menu. Seafood is dominant: scallops, abalone, kingfish, salmon and barramundi. After lunch, pop into Lemon Tree Passage Distilling, where you can enjoy a tasting cup or a cocktail of gin crafted from local and native botanicals (open Thurs–Sun). thepoyers.com.au; lemontreepassagedistilling.com.au

For more, visit portstephens.org.au The writer travelled as a guest of Destination Port Stephens.

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DRIVING ESCAPES

Spi and sup

with a view in Newcastle

WORDS SHERIDEN RHODES

‘Avoid restaurants with a view’ is how the saying goes, with the argument being that some eateries rest on their panoramic laurels alone. However, the following Newcastle restaurants and bars prove the exception to the rule. Here are the best places to sip and sup with a view. NAGISA, Honeysuckle A seafood-driven focus is apt given Nagisa’s plum locale on Newcastle’s bustling working harbour. Known for its fresh sashimi and sushi, Nagisa’s menu also injects an element of surprise. Smoked salmon carpaccio is delivered with a theatrical twist while Sydney rock oysters are given a fresh spin with a lychee wasabi granita. Several standout meat and plantbased dishes are also thrown into the mix. The alfresco terrace of this award-winning harbourside restaurant is the ideal place to nab a table (be sure and book ahead) with the comings and goings on the busy harbour a pleasant backdrop to the elevated Japanese fare. Nagisa was one of the first eateries to open at Newcastle’s Honeysuckle precinct and retains a strong and loyal local following who come for both the consistently good food and the view. Be sure and try Nagisa’s own awardwinning Amato gin made in collaboration with local Styx Brewery and the signature banoffee gyoza with fried banana, custard and miso caramel sauce. 1 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle. nagisa.com.au

CRYSTALBROOK KINGSLEY, Newcastle Arguably the city’s most arresting vistas combined with modern Australian cuisine made from the region’s world-class produce are on offer at Newcastle’s first five-star hotel. Eighty per cent of produce sourced for the hotel’s striking Roundhouse restaurant and Romberg’s bar is grown within a three-hour radius, while the extensive wine list showcases the breadth of the Hunter’s wine varietals. Eyeball the neighbouring clock tower over a martini at the show-stopping 10-metre bar crafted from Hunter granite before making your way for dinner in the adjoining olive-and-Mediterranean-themed restaurant inspired by the Hunter Valley’s archetypal groves and the hotel owner’s Syrian upbringing. Executive chef Natalie Bolt’s pared-back dishes celebrate the beauty of native Australian ingredients fresh from the earth and sea, working in partnership with local artisans, farmers, and fisherman. Highlights include Adina Estate olives and polenta cake with sweet fig jus and sustainably caught paperbark-baked whole market fish with sunrise lime pickle and harissa duck fat potatoes. 282 King St, Newcastle. crystalbrookcollection.com/kingsley/roundhouse

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SURFHOUSE, Merewether Food once took a back seat to the phenomenal sea vistas offered by Merewether Surfhouse until hatted chef Lesley Taylor took the reins. While Taylor is no longer head chef and there’s been a culinary pivot (the restaurant has been rebranded as Surfhouse Italian), the lofty standards haven’t skipped a beat. Executive chef Ryan Baird and head chef Bryce Harling deliver a thoroughly modern Italian menu with dishes such as avocado and crab cannelloni or cured kingfish with toasted pumpkin seeds, chilli threads and grape dressing. Wash it down with a David Hook Pinot Grigio as you watch surfers and dolphins frolic in the rolling waves. The three-storey venue caters to all comers – elevated dining and cocktails on the terrace upstairs; pizza, coffee and gelato steps from the sand downstairs. Henderson Parade, Merewether; surfhouse.com.au

THE SIGNAL BOX, Newcastle Housed in an historic working railway signal box, a stone’s throw from Newcastle’s working harbour, Signal Box’s minimalist steel and concrete dining pavilion pays homage to its industrial past. The contemporary menu by co-owner and head chef George Mirosevich roams from sambal chilli scrambled eggs and Morpeth vegetable curry through to crispy Pukara Estate lamb ribs best paired with a Hunter Valley rosé. While there are filtered views from the downstairs dining area, climb the steel spiral staircase to the rooftop for expansive harbour vistas stretching all the way to Nobbys Lighthouse standing guard at the harbour entrance. You can also see the old signalling and lever gear. 155 Wharf Rd, Newcastle. signalbox.com.au

RUSTICA, Newcastle East The jaw-dropping ocean vistas could easily eclipse the Mediterranean-meets-North African menu at Rustica. Thankfully, the culinary prowess of this seaside diner is equal to its sweeping Pacific Ocean panoramas. Take a seat inside the Dion Ackland baroque-inspired interior with its sparkling glass-jewelled lanterns and artisan treasures. Rustica’s menu ranges from tapas to generous, rustic, shared plates. Think half-shell Hervey Bay scallops served with preserved lemon butter and dukkha yoghurt, crispy zucchini flowers or the signature slow-braised kleftico lamb shoulder with oregano potatoes. The menu is backed up by a wine list featuring some of the Hunter Valley’s best drops. 2/1 King St, Newcastle East. rustica.com.au

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Families

ON THE COAST

FAMILIES ON THE COAST

FUN FOR KIDS

WORDS KATIE STOKES

Moo to Ewe Lacey the sheep loves a snuggle. Ivy the pig loves a belly rub. And Lizzie the goat is full of sass. Welcome to Moo to Ewe, a little-known and super special 14-hectare animal sanctuary located at Palmdale. Established by Carol and Craig Ashton and their children Brayden and Kaylee in June 2018, this Moo to Ewe’s mission is to provide a forever home to orphaned, neglected and rescued farmed animals. The family has more than 45 animals in residence, and they run small group tours, so people can meet the animals, hear their stories, and help with feeding and brushing them. During your tour you’ll befriend hens Gertie, Maud and Chlorie and the three not-so-little pigs, Bo, Sunday and Ivy, who love to snack on apples and carrots. You’ll also meet little Nalu, the male calf who was rescued from floodwaters in Taree earlier this year. He shares a paddock with the adorably named Moo Moo, a Jersey cow who spent eight years on a dairy farm before moving to the Ashtons to ‘live out her twilight years’. Small tours are run Friday to Monday and bookings are essential. mootoewe.org/

BABY SENSORY

Those first few months with your newborn are oh-so special, and a new baby class has started to help you bond with your bub and nurture their development. Baby Sensory is a multi-award winning class that’s been hugely popular in the UK and Sydney for some time, but only recently opened here on the Coast. The classes expose your baby to myriad sensory delights: think music, movement, sign language, smells, bubbles, textures, creative play and more. They’re a fabulous way for you to spend quality time with your tot, and a wonderful excuse to escape the house to meet with other mums experiencing the wild journey of parenting with you. Classes are run at Matcham and Umina, and there are whispers of a new Erina class opening soon, too. babysensory.com.au/centralcoast-nsw/

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FAMILIES ON THE COAST

Julie’s Place Grab an apron and get your tribe to Julie’s Place this spring break. The cooking school is hosting three five-hour school holiday camps that’ll up-skill your kids in the kitchen and – hopefully – give you a few nights off from the stove. In the Viva Italia! class, teens aged 13+ will make biscotti, calzone, handmade pasta and sauce from scratch in a way that’ll make You Tube and Insta star, @Nats_What_I_Reckon super proud. There are two options for children aged 8+. In the Edible Science Cooking camp, kids will learn how ingredients can be combined and food modified to bubble, sizzle, and pop, while The Mad Skills camp will have them ‘reading recipes like a boss’ and dicing and slicing their way to sous chef status in no time. juliesplace.com.au/

PAINT-YOUR-OWN COOKIES! Paint-your-own paper craft is so last year: local baker Little Loves Creative has stepped it up to create paint-your-own cookie kits. Ash Wood started baking cookies in Christmas 2019, and what started as a little fun and something for friends, soon took off. Under the name Little Loves Creative, she’s now one of the Coast’s go-to favourites for bespoke cookies for birthday parties, baby showers and hens’ celebrations. But it’s her $15 paint-your-own kits that are a hit in our house. Three vanilla sugar cookies come with an edible paint palette and are perfect entertainment for lockdowns and rainy days. And you can choose from a heap of designs: unicorns, rainbows, superheroes, trucks and dinosaurs, as well as TV stars Bluey, Lightning McQueen, Spiderman and Elsa from ‘Frozen’. littlelovescreative@outlook.com; littlelovescreative.com/

Keyboard Clubs Two fantastic new keyboard clubs have launched on the Central Coast. Sharon Hatton, of the Piano Bug Music School, started the Junior Piano Bug Keyboard Program earlier this year for children aged five to seven years. It’s a fun learning environment, Sharon says, in which ‘essential music theory skills are taught through games and worksheets’. There is also a little concert at the end of every term to help children with performance skills and showmanship. Sharon has also helped establish a new Keyboard Club at the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music (CCCM) for students from kindy to year 10. CCCM artistic director Patrick Brennan says the Keyboard Club is wonderful in bringing accessible, cost-effective and engaging music lessons to more Central Coast children, and will help students ‘gain a great foundation in reading music, developing music theory skills and learning piano’. The Piano Bug Music School: thepianobugstudio.com.au; Central Coast Conservatorium of Music: (02) 4324 7477; centralcoastconservatorium.com.au

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FAMILIES ON THE COAST

Sugar-detoxing your little sugar addict WORDS VANESSA GREEN

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FAMILIES ON THE COAST

ost of us should eat less sugar, and that goes for our kids, too. In a perfect world, we’d try to avoid giving our children a sweet tooth, yet we are born with a preference for sugar; breast milk is full of lactose (milk sugar), after all. Other sugars we eat include fructose (the sugar in fruits), and sucrose (cane sugar and table sugar). Then there’s glucose, which is what fructose and lactose are converted to in our bodies. But sucrose, in its white processed versions, and in syrups, sweeteners and grains such as flour, can wreak havoc if we overload our bodies. It can disrupt blood-sugar levels, cause weight gain, create inflammation, as well as generate mood and behaviour changes. We could probably all do with a sugar detox of some kind, but (the good news is) it should never be about quitting sugars that are good for you. Carbohydrates, sugar and starch in their natural forms – fruits and vegetables for example – are vital in the functioning of our cells, and in replenishing glycogen after exercise that, hopefully, your little ones are getting plenty of. Fructose and sucrose, in the right balance, are actually good for maintaining blood sugar levels.

Removing sugar can be dangerous Removing entire food groups from anyone’s diet can be dangerous – whether it’s for a low-fat, protein-only, vegetarian or a vegan diet. So there’s no need for us to add no-sugars to that list. Why? Well, there’s a scientific reason. When you first give up carbs, your body will use its stores of fat and protein as energy instead, but once that excess is gone, it will use adrenalin as its energy source. Then it will start breaking down muscle, and borrowing from other systems in your body. That’s a huge amount of confusion for your hormonal, endocrine and adrenal systems. It’s all about the balance in your diet.

How to start breaking the sugar addiction Most parents try to form healthy eating habits for their little ones as they introduce a variety of foods, but what if outside influences have already made your kids into little sugar addicts? Be reassured, there are surefire ways to get them off their sugar rollercoaster. Every meal – even snacks – should contain protein, fat and carbohydrate. (There’s that essential ‘balance’ again.) These three macro-nutrients work together to give us energy, reacting off each other to break down into nutrients that each of our cells can use. That’s the point of food in the first place. Pasture-farmed meats and their fats contain vital amino acids, which turn food into protein, and protein into energy that’s needed

to create muscles, brain function, and to repair any breaking down of tissues. They also help keep inflammation at a low. Healthy fats are part of every cell in our body, and even our brain is about 70 per cent fat. Sugars and starches help replenish glycogen after exercise, enabling us to have energy, and to repair broken down muscle tissue. Some ways to start gradually ousting refined sugars, and rebalancing with whole sugars in your diet, and particularly in your children’s diets are: • Start with removing all added sugar foods. • Then reduce processed foods from your kitchen. If you don’t offer it, they won’t eat it. Use wholefood sweeteners and, even then, use sparingly. • Encourage wholefood mini-meals and snacks so little bodies don’t go too long in between meals. Avoid high-sugar snacks like biscuits and cakes; they’re sweet, but low in nutrients and health. Try berries with nut butters, avocado wedges and plantain chips (from the banana family), which you can easily roast and crisp yourself. • Let them drink water, not juice or soda. Try flavouring the water with a few strawberries or other fruit slices for colour and taste. • Incorporate naturally sweet wholefoods in main meals, such as carrots, beets, parsnips, onions, and fennel. Experiment, and let your child tell you which is sweetest. • Cook meals from scratch and involve your kids in carefully cutting, and preparing their own if they’re interested. Kids tend to like foods they have had some involvement with. • You don’t have to cut out desserts completely; they’re still a treat and there are loads of good options. • Keep trying; they will eventually learn to enjoy newer foods. Oh, and the younger they are the quicker they learn to like less sugary tastes! Remember: one kid’s ‘yum’ is another kid’s ‘yuck’, and change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens by building up habits. That’s especially true in kids because they’re building new neural pathways in their brains faster than at any time in their lives. That also means that we’re flexing their nutrient-building little bodies better than ever before every day we offer our kids real wholefoods. Vanessa Green Nutritional therapy practitioner, FNTP, NTA Fitness Australia registered trainer, level 3 (15 years+) Functional movement systems, FMS 2 Chek holistic lifestyle and practitioner, level 2 @fit.by.nature, founder and practitioner

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Fish Safe Off The Rocks Your guide to rock fishing on the Central Coast

The Central Coast is a great place to fish but fishing off the rocks can be very dangerous. Please follow these simple tips to fish safe off the rocks: Always wear a life jacket – it’s the law!*

Never fish alone

Check conditions first – look at the weather and water reports

Ask locals for advice on where to fish

Wear light clothing

Wear appropriate shoes with good grip

Tell others about your plans

Bring ropes and torches

Never turn your back on the ocean

Call Triple Zero (000) for help if someone falls in the water, do not go in after them! See other tips for fishing safe, and check out our map of rock fishing locations on the Central Coast at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/rockfishing

COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021/22 ISSUE

Articles inside

Sugar-detoxing your little sugar addict

36 hours in … Port Stephens

GARDENS OF THE COAST Coastal profusion. Garden designer Peter Nixon’s tropic-inspired space

DESTINATION WEDDINGS How we met: Brett and Robbie

FEATURE Stonewall equestrian showground, Mangrove Mountain

Great North Road bike hike: Bucketty Convict Wall to Wisemans Ferry

to violin virtuoso

Long Jetty art scene: Glenn McKimmin Gallery Charmian Gadd: from a barefoot childhood

Happenings on the Coast

Art confidence is changing our taste in art

The Sitting Duck, Peats Ridge

Sarah Samild, curator, Gosford Regional Gallery

Eden and Louise Fanelli

Luxury escapes

COASTING ALONG Living outside your comfort zone

Dana Chantler, the chef from Whistler

FEATURE The chime of bellbirds. What does it say to you?

A sea view as far as you can see the view

PEOPLE OF THE COAST Shirley Hadley, the first Mingara MY COAST

Dinner parties are back

Bridges of the Central Coast

The Quarters at Forresters Beach

Laura Wells

Can wholefoods be tasty foods?

FEATURE Koalas on the Coast

WELCOME