Fleurieu Living Magazine Summer 2019-20

FLEURIEU LIVING T H E B E S T O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A’ S F L E U R I E U P E N I N S U L A A N D K A N G A R O O I S L A N D

FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE

Whether you opt for a sea change or a tree change, you can certainly rely on our

SUMMER 2019/20

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Outstanding design and amazing service.

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A new chapter for Dowie Doole South Coast Surf Chasers Digging the dirt on regenerative farming Holiday at home: Staycation On the Radar: fine new favourites Tastes of McLaren Vale: Pullout map Art · Design · Food · Wine · Fashion · Photography · People · Destinations

Discover Kangaroo Island your way Escorted Tours with Shirley Tamm

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Join one of Shirley’s 4 or 6 day Escorted Holidays and you’ll enjoy meeting new friends, great food and seeing the wonderful sights of Kangaroo Island.

Discover the beauty of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. Complete the 5-day walk, and camp each night or stay in accommodation.

Inclusions

Inclusions

Return coach and ferry transfers to Kangaroo Island 3 or 5 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn with breakfast

Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle

All tour entry fees, guided tours, lunches, dinners and tastings

Complimentary car parking for 4 nights at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre car park

Fully escorted by Shirley Tamm from Adelaide

5 day Walking Trail / 4 nights Camping, Cabin or Lodge accommodation

Daily continental breakfast, lunches and dinners

One way transfer from Kelly Hill Caves back to Flinders Chase Visitor Centre car park on conclusion of walking trail

3 Day Food & Wine Lover’s Package

5 Day Experience Kangaroo Island Package

Experience KI’s wonderful local food, wine and spectacular scenery on this great foodie holiday.

Inclusions Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle 2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seafront Hotel in Penneshaw Bottle of local wine on arrival $60 dinner voucher at Penny’s Restaurant at the Penneshaw Hotel Gourmet lunch at Dudley Wines including a tasting platter and wine Premium wine tasting and platter at Bay of Shoals Wines

Call 13 13 01 or visit sealink.com.au

To see more of Kangaroo Island, stay 2 nights at both the East and West ends of the island.

Inclusions Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle

RACING DATES 2019/2020

Strathalbyn Racing Club TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS – WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2019 FLEURIEU FAMILY DAY – SUNDAY 5TH JANUARY 2020 NORTHPOINT FLEURIEU STRATHALBYN CUP – SUNDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn in Kingscote 2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat in Flinders Chase Welcome bottle of wine and picnic lunch for two (supplied by the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH 2020

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH 2020 SUNDAY MAY 19TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH 2020

S T R AT H R A C I N G . C O M . A U

It’s a Fleurieu Summer-time ... and the living is easy

Sarah Homes are #1 for holiday homes and homes that make you feel like you’re on holiday. It’s easy to see why!

They’re designed to include generous living areas and expansive decking. A brilliant space for entertaining or just relaxing.

Wide opening sliding doors and full-length windows deliver wonderful views and let you retreat to sunlit comfort.

We have a great selection of 1 and 2 storey home designs. Visit a Sarah Homes display today and discover just how easy it is to enjoy The Fleurieu’s easy lifestyle.

The Whiteley from an easy $141,600

*

* Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more details. Pictures for illustrative purposes only. BLD 175837 SH0509

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Key Personnel Petra de Mooy Petra has always loved, art, design, photography and words. Combining all of these into a career has been the fulfillment of these interests. She loves working with all of the creatives on the Fleurieu to showcase the best the region has to offer.

Jason Porter Jason has worked as a graphic designer and creative director both locally and overseas for over thirty years.

When not in the office, he can usually be found tweaking the crossover filters on his high end audio system.

Kate Le Gallez Kate started her working life as a lawyer and consultant, before turning to a lifelong love of writing. She confesses to suffering a mild podcast addiction, which results in her overuse of the phrase ‘I was listening to a podcast … ’ as a conversation starter.

Kirsty Gannon Setting up home on the Fleurieu only two years ago, Kirsty feels like she has found her place in the world. With a background in film and television production in Sydney, Kirsty now thrives on the ease and pace of semirural living.

Lulu Our company mascot Lulu started appearing in way too many of our Instagram posts – so now she has her own profile (sad, we know) where you can follow her charmed life. Search ‘@miss_majestica’ if you’re so inclined.

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Featured Contributors Brittany Pfeiffer Growing up in the Clare Valley, Brittany was drawn to a seachange while studying a Bachelor of Media. Now, over two years since moving to the Fleurieu, she loves nothing more than taking her two rescue pups to the beach every morning, sipping on a glass of locally produced wine (she’s rather partial to Italian red varietals), and writing in her spare time.

Working in marketing in the arts, Brittany is naturally drawn to stories about local artists, makers and producers. While she has travelled interstate and overseas extensively she has fallen in love with living on the Fleurieu.

Heidi Lewis Heidi is a location photographer working within the tourism, editorial, food and corporate worlds. She started heidi who photos in 2004 and has worked with News Limited, Melbourne Commonwealth Games, various magazines, hotel chains, boutique hotels, tour operators and government. A travel obsessive, Heidi is always exploring new places and you can bet she already has her next two or three trips planned. She also admits to an ongoing love affair with the ocean, considering it her soul home. She loves to surf and believes the best surfer is the one having the most fun, right?

Publisher Information Poppy Fitzpatrick Poppy is a soon-to-be journalism graduate, with an adventurous spirit and a strong appreciation for beautiful words next to beautiful pictures.

Growing up barefoot on the Fleurieu between sheep yards and sand dunes, her world travels always inevitably surrender to the lure of home.

When she’s not pointing her camera in people’s faces, or driving with her windows down on the Aldinga Esplanade blasting obnoxiously loud music, you’ll find her trying to convince people that she lives in the best part of the world - whether they’re listening or not.

Other contributing writers and photographers Mel Amos, Annabel Bowles, Jake Dean, Aise Dillon, Robert Geh, Gill Gordon-Smith, Lori-Ellen Grant, Zoe Kassiotis, Nina Keath, Mark Laurie, Heidi Lewis and Marcus Syvertsen.

PUBLISHER Fleurieu Living Magazine is published four times a year by Fleurieu Living Pty Ltd. ISSN 2200-4033 PUBLISHING EDITOR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au EDITOR Kate Le Gallez ADVERTISING SALES Kirsty Gannon kirsty@fleurieuliving.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jason Porter jason@fleurieuliving.com.au PRINTER Graphic Print Group DISTRIBUTION Integrated Publication Solutions SUBSCRIPTIONS Print: isubscribe.com.au Digital: zinio.com ALL ENQUIRIES Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 111, Aldinga, South Australia 5173.

ONLINE fleurieuliving.com.au facebook.com/FleurieuLivingMagazine instagram.com/fleurieulivingmagazine/ COPYRIGHT All content copyright Fleurieu Living Magazine Pty Ltd unless otherwise stated.

While Fleurieu Living Magazine takes every care to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publisher accepts no liability for errors in editorial or advertising copy. The views of the contributors are not necessarily endorsed by Fleurieu Living Magazine.

Printed on paper from well managed forests and controlled sources using environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.

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THIS ISSUE

Contents

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40

FEATURED VENUE A new chapter for Dowie Doole.

FEATURED HOME From the ashes: Mill Cottage, Goolwa.

FRONT COVER PHOTO:

by Robert Geh

FOOD & WINE

PENINSULA PEOPLE

68 Uncorked: Wine reviews by the award-

winning Gill Gordon-Smith IWE

94 Heart of the community:

Brenda McCulloch

78 Food & wine matching: Chicken

tostadas with Shingleback Fiano

66 Ask a local

82 An emerging wine region:

Kangaroo Island 96 Loving local honey

FESTIVALS & EVENTS 12 Diary dates: to keep you in the

know for things to do this summer 54 Northpoint Fleurieu

Strathalbyn Cup

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Who we Are: Charlotte Hardy and Ben Cooke Dan Aubin Olivia Baker and Nathan Trethewey

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Rising stars in sport: Nathan Munro Amy and Nikki Gore Tahlita Buethke

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FEATURE South Coast Surf Chasers.

GREEN LIVING FEATURE Digging the dirt on regenerative farming.

ARTIST FEATURE Rebecca McEwan.

BOOKS & WORDS

BEST OF THE FLEURIEU

BEING SOCIAL

104 Great summer reads by Mark Laurie

of South Seas Books at Port Elliot

88 Holiday at home: Staycation

HEALTH & WELLBEING

100 Product feature: Shop local

76 Fluid families

GREEN LIVING

ART & DESIGN

44 Producer profile: Cockatoo Creek Farm

111 FLM sees who was out and about at:

· McLaren Vale Bushing Lunch

· Daringa House Official Opening

· FLM Spring Launch at Samson Tall

· Mitch’s Tiny House Open Day at

Salopian Inn

46 SpaceCraft Joinery 38 Boutique and unique:

Rei Minohara-Starke’s unique

jewellery designs

70 On the radar: New favourite finds

26 Regenerative farming

WEDDINGS

62 Whatever happened to Greenhills?

84 Wedding showcase

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ACKNOWLEDGES

Our advertising partners A special thanks to the advertising partners that have made a long term commitment to FLM. GOLD PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

pril (Bookings 03 9005 7750) Road, Goolwa on 8 and 9 April otographic Exhibition at olwa from 9 to 23 April Mike - Kids Magic ary Hall, Goolwa on 17 April oden Boat Festival at the on 22 and 23 April hael Griffiths at Centenary l

Silent Disco 4 Kids Party at Strathalbyn Library Community Centre on 27 April *Sista Girl, at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 5 May Our Mob 2015, Aboriginal arts at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa from 5 May to 11 June Good Things Small Packages, at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa from 5 May to 18 June *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - The Elton John Tribute Show at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 20 May * tickets/ booking required

call Council’s Visitor Information Centre on 1300 466 592. Alexandrina Council a copy online for more events in the region, www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au

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Brand culture As a thank you to our advertising partners, we would like to showcase these amazing enterprises via a short introduction to their respective businesses. Each issue will offer some insight into three of our partners.

South Seas Books and Trading Occupying both sides of North Terrace in Port Elliot, South Seas Books offers a very special experience for lovers of books and design.

South Seas Trading stocks a diverse collection of design-oriented articles. Unique vintage pieces, homewares, textiles, cookware and gardening items are blended with art and crafts by prominent South Australian practitioners. A curated range of women’s and men’s clothing and footwear is also available, complementing the large collection of books on design, art, gardening and cooking.

South Seas’ original book shop across the road is the only independent bookseller on the Fleurieu. South Seas Books has offered eclectic literature, thoughtful gifts, elegant stationery and delicious coffee for more than a decade. The first stage of an exciting new extension by renowned architect, Max Pritchard, is nearing completion and will host a series of author events over the summer. It promises to keep the same intimate feel, while spreading South Seas’ literary eye candy a little further.

Like Cinderella’s slipper, the right book or design piece can be magical, even transformative. South Seas’ knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff are always on hand to offer advice to help you find the perfect read or defining piece.

Willunga Waldorf School They say a good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others. It’s only fitting then, that Willunga Waldorf School’s humble legacy began one March morning in 1989, when founding teacher Marita Huxholl lit the very first story candle. Ever since, Willunga Waldorf School has offered early childhood to year 12 Steiner education that teaches a deep understanding and respect for the developing human being.

The school’s impressive grounds rest on six hectares nestled between the undulating lower Mount Lofty Ranges and the Fleurieu’s

pristine coastline. Here, unique architecture forms an integral part of the education, with each learning space thoughtfully designed to explore and enhance curiosity, creativity, play, learning and curriculum themes. Though the learning spaces are individual stand-outs, there’s a connectedness that extends to the school’s partnership with parents, caregivers and the wider community.

Festivals are another special way that Waldorf education brings the community together to celebrate and reflect on the seasons and the cycles of nature. There’s been plenty of reasons to celebrate this year with September marking 100 years since the very first Waldorf School opened in Stuttgart and 30 years since Waldorf education started in Willunga.

Designtech Studio Specialising in high-end quality home design and additions, Designtech Studio has a passion for creating fine, architecturallydesigned residential housing.

For over fifteen years, Designtech has been helping their clients build their dream homes and create seamless extensions to house growing families and changing lifestyles. Their keen eye and attention to detail ensures their designs not only deliver on style, but will also meet the individual needs of their clients. They always take the time to discuss the details of their designs – from the big to the small – so that their clients feel comfortable and informed.

Beyond the design, Designtech Studio have built a reputation for helping their clients navigate what can be an overwhelming process with comfort and ease. From the first conversations and sketch designs, through to construction drawings and throughout the build process – the dedicated Designtech team are committed to providing their clients with the most outstanding service every step of the way.

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READER PHOTO

Taken an amazing photo on the Fleurieu lately? Send us an email or upload it to our Facebook page and you could see your handiwork in print. Each issue we’ll choose an image to publish right here in the pages of FLM: facebook.com/FleurieuLivingMagazine.

This photo depicting the beach, a pooch and the rolling Sellicks hills was submitted by Tegan Monaghan.

Welcome to FLM From the FLM team Well, 2019 is just about a wrap and it was another big year, full of all that we expect from living and working on the Fleurieu. There were fantastic events to attend – the new complementing our favourite calendar stalwarts – alongside our always delicious regional cuisine and the stellar line up of fine wines.

New businesses have opened and thrived with the support of the Fleurieu community and we’re proud to play a part in helping people discover them through the pages of FLM. We create our content with a great deal of thought and we’re always thrilled to hear that what we do is resonating with you, our readers.

From our readers A big thank you to everyone who entered the 3-Day Sealink / Kangaroo Island getaway competition. The winner was announced at the end of November. Here’s what the entrants had to say when asked: what do you love about FLM? ‘Each issue I learn more about the place I live and love. I buy extra for gifts when I travel.’

Bronwyn Lewis ‘The diversity of your stories and articles are what keeps me looking forward to the next edition time and time again!’

Andrea Stidwell ‘Showcasing all the great things about Fleurieu Peninsula – the natural pristine landscape, the friendly locals, great produce and so much more. Best place in the world to live.’

Eileen Yeo ‘I love that it showcases our beautiful region better than any other publication that I am aware of. Keep up the great work!’

Julie Potter ‘The stories about locals developing innovative businesses and artists and places to visit for our B&B guests.’

Sally Cornish

‘As a resident of the Fleurieu we love to read through and find new gems to look out for and enjoy in our own backyard.’

Kate Clark ‘Local, fresh, up to date, unique.’

Tanya Tilivi.

‘All the small stories about the interesting characters who make the Fleurieu such a wonderful place to live.’

Alexandra Fitzpatrick

A letter from Betty Harris, who we featured in the spring issue: Dear Petra & Jason, Thank you for your professional approach during the photographic session about my life in the Fleurieu Peninsula.

You were both very friendly and patient and put me at ease.

It was interesting to learn about the history and success of your wonderful magazine and your commitment to promoting a delightful part of our state.

I was particularly pleased at Jason’s skill in taking and choosing a lovely image of me as the setting looks relaxed and sincere and I enjoyed meeting your daughter.

My family are thrilled with the presentation and coverage, particularly my grand-daughter who lives in the district at Myponga.

Our introduction to your magazine has opened up a new interest in the Peninsula.

I have written to Kate congratulating her on her comprehensive writing skills and wish you and your staff a successful future with a growing readership.

Best Wishes Betty Harris.

‘The articles are informative, interesting, personal and varied.

They provide the reader with many options when exploring this magnificent region.’

Fionna Edwards ‘FLM is a high quality publication that gives an extensive insight into the many fabulous locations, events, produce, businesses and joys of living in and visiting the Fleurieu.’

Kerry Taylor

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At Urban Habitats our homes and extensions are uniquely tailored to every one of our clients. Creating homes that meet your particular aesthetic, functional and lifestyle aspirations is our passion.

Everything we do is considered and treated with design sensitivity every angle, joint, surface and finish. Your home is an expression of you. Design & Build your dream home with Urban Habitats in 2020. ___ Pictured: Port illunga House built by Urban Habitats / 20)+ inner – MBA Building Awards Excellence in a Contract Home of the Year over $2m / 20)+ MBA National Finalist

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MARKETS & EVENTS

Summer Diary Dates LOCAL MARKETS:

COUNTRY MARKETS:

Willunga Farmers Market Willunga Town Square Every Saturday, 8am – 12.30pm Come rain, hail or shine, enjoy fresh produce from more than eighty farmers and artisan food makers every weekend. Become a member for discounts on all your goods, and enjoy the nourishing community atmosphere.

Penneshaw Market Day Lloyd Collins Reserve/Penneshaw Oval First Sunday of each month, 9am – 1pm This market brings together the KI Farmers’ Market and the KI Community Market. Have brunch and enjoy Kangaroo Island’s top produce with a great village atmosphere by the beach. For discounted market ferry fares, visit sealink.com.au.

Willunga Quarry Market Adjacent to the Willunga Oval Second Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm Browse through an eclectic mix of wares ranging from secondhand tools to plants and crafts.

Meadows Country Market Meadows Memorial Hall Second Sunday of each month, 9am – 3pm A true country market with seventy stalls selling local produce, hearty country food, crafts, collectables, plants and bric-a-brac.

Willunga Artisans and Handmade Market Willunga Show Hall Second Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm An inspiring curated market showcasing local art and handmade goods. It’s a great place to buy a unique, handmade gift made from high quality materials.

Myponga Markets The old Myponga Cheese Factory (next to Smiling Samoyed Brewery) Saturdays, Sundays and most public holidays, 9.30am – 4pm Browse a variety of stalls selling art, books, fine china and glass, toys, local leatherwork, coins, records and fossils. There is also a variety of local food choices including waffles and gelato for those with a sweet tooth.

Goolwa Wharf Market Goolwa Wharf Precinct First and third Sunday of each month, 9am – 3pm With around eighty stalls including bric-a-brac, collectables, fresh local produce, plants, books both new and old, unique artisan goods and delicious food and coffee you will find a myriad of goodies at The Goolwa Wharf Market.

Port Elliot Market Lakala Reserve Port Elliot First and third Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm A classic country market with plenty of fresh local produce, plants, bric-a-brac, books, fishing gear, and even a $2 stall. Soak up the ambiance and variety of wares both you and your dogs can enjoy.

Victor Harbor Farmers’ Market Grosvenor Gardens, Victor Harbor Every Saturday, 8am – 12.30pm Spend the morning choosing from thirty plus stalls, with locally caught seafood, organic vegetables, seasonal fruit, local honey, mushrooms, fresh flowers, Fleurieu wines and much more. Well worth the visit!

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Strathalbyn Markets Lions Park Third Sunday of each month, 8am – 2pm A quaint, country-style market with bric-a-brac, local produce and condiments, craft, plants, jewellery and much more. A trash and treasure stall is also now available for anyone who wants to have a garage sale away from home.

Yankalilla Craft and Produce Market Agricultural Hall Third Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm This lesser-known market is a surprising little gem offering homemade jams and preserves, delicious sweet treats, locally grown fruit and vegetables, as well as craftwork, trinkets and unique gifts.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: DECEMBER

JANUARY

Freefall Festival Hindmarsh Valley Hall Saturday 7 December, 4.30 – 10.30pm Grab some fellow food and music lovers and head to the picturesque Hindmarsh Valley greens to relax and unwind. Watch the sunset with local beverages from Next Crop Wines and Swell Brewing Co. and foodie delights from Victor Harbor’s Chief Catering. This festival promises chill vibes, very good times and the best of all things local.

Tickets $40 - $50 available from Moshtix.

New Year’s Eve at Serafino Serafino Wines, McLaren Vale Tuesday 31 December, from 6.30pm There’s no better way to farewell 2019 than to party like it’s 1920!

Ring in the new year in full Gatsby-style glitz and glamour with pre dinner drinks and canapés to get you started, before sending 2019 on its way with a full fireworks display. Get your flapper dresses, pinstripes and suspenders ready for what will be a night for the history books.

Tickets $160 per adult available from serafinowines.com.au.

Kids Community Market Fleurieu Coast Information Centre, Yankalilla Sunday 8 December, 9.30am – 12.30pm Come and support budding entrepreneurs and their creations. A unique market that captures creativity and learning with all stallholders being school-aged children who will be sure to inspire you.

Free event, for more information contact Mel on 0407 315 030 or mel11@outlook.com.au.

The Vale Market McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre Sunday 15 December, 10am – 3pm Spend a sunny day celebrating Christmas among the vineyards.

Sample the region’s famous beer and wine while browsing the market for some extra special handmade stocking fillers.

Carols in the Park Port Elliot Town Square Tuesday 17 December, from 5pm Join the Port Elliot community, local bands and singers in celebrating the Christmas season at this special twilight event. Kids can expect to enjoy a guest appearance from Father Christmas, while families gather and relax in the local park.

Free event, for more information call 0428 554 286.

Island Sounds Festival Granite Island, Victor Harbor Friday 27 December, from 4pm Bring your favourite picnic blanket or camping chair along, set up under the stars and experience a night of epic live performances from some of South Australia’s finest young music acts while enjoying the stunning sunset over the bay. A range of delicious food options, as well as premium beer, wine, ciders and cocktails, will be on offer to savour against the backdrop of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s stunning waterfront. Family friendly areas and activities available.

Tickets $10 – $25 available from Eventbrite.

Normanville New Year’s Eve Pageant Normanville Foreshore Tuesday 31 December, from 7.30pm Locals and tourists alike cheer on the colourful floats as they wind their way to the beautiful Normanville foreshore. A fun-filled, family evening on the beachfront with music, amusements and fireworks at 9.45pm to celebrate the coming of a new year.

Free event, for more information see facebook.com/NormanvilleNewYearsEvePageant/.

Fleurieu Family Race Day Strathalbyn Racecourse Sunday 5 January, 10.30am – 5pm Come and experience the races and bring the whole family for trackside activities!

Summer Swell Outdoor Cinema 2020 ‘Oddball’ Classified G Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot Saturday 25 January, 6.30pm Oddball is the true story of an eccentric chicken farmer who, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog, Oddball, to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks in an attempt to reunite his family and save their seaside town. Bring your family, your blanket and your picnic basket, or purchase food and drinks supplied by the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club.

Free family event, bookings not required, for more information see visitalexandrina.com or contact jaw@alexandrina.sa.gov.au.

Santos Tour Down Under 16 – 26 January Professional cyclists from around the world participate in the Santos Tour Down Under. Cheer them on and take part in the activities across the region, including McLaren Vale, Myponga, Willunga, Aldinga and Victor Harbor.

For more information, see tourdownunder.com.au. >

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Above: The Santos Tour Down Under (16-26 January) always proves to be a spectacular few days of world class sport and entertainment. Photo courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS (cont.)

Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic Lower River Murray, Goolwa Sunday 26 January The iconic sail boat race takes place over 5 kilometres from Milang across Lake Alexandrina to Port Sturt and down the River Murray, past Clayton to the riverport of Goolwa.

Free event, for a full program see goolwaregattaweek.com.au.

FEBRUARY Strathalbyn Cup Strathalbyn Racecourse Sunday 2 February, 10.30am – 5pm Where the city and country meet. Get your best frock on and head to Strathalbyn for a day at the races. Fashions on the field and quality racing. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy.

General admission $20 per person.

Porchetta Party Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, McLaren Vale Sunday 9 February and Sunday March 1 from 12pm Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards will host a number of Porchetta Parties in 2020. Gather your friends for a generous four course lunch including porchetta-on-a-spit matched with a hand-picked selection of Oliver’s Taranga wines.

For more information look under the events tab at oliverstaranga.com.

Chilli Fest Willunga Willunga Recreation Park 8 – 9 February, 10am – 5pm A red hot weekend that promises to celebrate all things chilli – from chocolate to cocktails. With cooking demonstrations and an array of quirky merchandise, there’s something hot for everyone. Spice isn’t for you? That’s okay, chill out at the local artisan market with local tunes, beer, wine and sangria.

Cost: $5, children under 16 free. For more information, see chillifest.com.au.

Mt. Moon Rock Festival Mt. Compass Tavern Saturday 15 February Dust off your leather jacket and join local rockers for a brand new event boasting the greatest lineup the Fleurieu has seen since Myponga ‘71!

Tickets from $25 on Moshtix. For more information, call (08) 8556 8456.

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SeaLink Kangaroo Island Racing Carnival 20 – 22 February Join a crowd of over four thousand for racing, fashion and entertainment with a true country racing spirit. The best horses will come from far and wide to compete in Kangaroo Island’s biggest race.

For Cup Day packages, Long Lunch Marquee, travel and accommodation bookings contact SeaLink on 131 301 or sealink.com.au.

Port Noarlunga Fringe Sauerbier House Culture Exchange, Port Noarlunga February Port Noarlunga hosts Adelaide’s Southern Outdoor Fringe Hub over two massive weekends, featuring world-class live music, performing arts, children’s activities, art installations, food trucks, bars and artisan markets at this Adelaide Fringe award-winning event.

Experience a magical evening ‘down south’ by the river and the sea.

Fridays and Sundays: gold coin entry. Saturdays: tickets from $20 on FringeTix. For full details, see fleurieufringe.com.

ONGOING Feast & Beats Serafino Wines, McLaren Vale Every third Friday from November to March, 6 – 10pm Enjoy free entertainment with delicious local food and wine, while the kids enjoy the bouncy castle and beautiful green lawns.

Summer Sessions at Wirra Wirra Wirra Wirra Vineyards, McLaren Vale Friday 28 December, Friday 4 January, Friday 11 January, 5 – 9pm Wirra Wirra’s Summer Sessions are always a hit over the festive season. Bring along a chair or picnic blanket, settle in at their cellar door and enjoy live music, an abundance of Wirra Wirra wines and food from local food trucks as the sun sets.

Family-friendly, free event.

Fridays after Five Old Coach Road, Aldinga Every Friday from December 13 through summer Join the ever-increasing buzz along Old Coach Road and enjoy local market stalls, an array of food and wine and a good community vibe.

Different local musicians will serenade the beginning of the weekend each Friday, so bring along a picnic rug and settle in for a balmy night beneath the stars.

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A new chapter

for Dowie Doole

Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Robert Geh.

Page left and above: Just off California Road sits the new architecturally-designed Dowie Doole cellar door. A beautiful place to while away an afternoon with a glass (or two) of wine.

It’s not often you hear both architect and client speak positively of delays in the building process. But for both Oli Scholz, of Adelaide-based architecture firm Scholz Vinall, and Chris Thomas, managing director and chief winemaker at Dowie Doole, the protracted two year design and build process for Dowie Doole’s first permanent cellar door is all upside. The result is a more functional, more resolved and more beautiful building that will offer visitors an immersive insight into the world of Dowie Doole.

considered an existing house on the property, but that would have involved, as he bluntly puts it, ‘polishing a turd.’ It was Oli who, knowing Chris liked the idea of using shipping containers (‘I’m sure I watched too much Grand Designs as a teenager’), suggested plonking a few containers in the middle of a paddock. What was initially proposed as a pop-up has since grown in size and vision to become a new architectural icon in the region.

Establishing a new, local presence for Dowie Doole has been a dream of Chris’ since he and even other shareholders bought the brand from founders Drew Dowie and Norm Doole in 2015 (Norm remains a shareholder and board chair). The initial vision was big, with plans for immersive artworks, accommodation and entertainment areas before pragmatism took over: they needed a cellar door. Chris first

While Chris jokes about the influence of Grand Designs, the cellar door’s architectural value is a fitting continuation of the legacy of the winery’s founders, who have both influenced the region in significant and ongoing ways. Drew Dowie was himself an architect, who counted the Wolf Blass cellar door among his projects. Norm Doole was instrumental in establishing the Willunga Water Basin. >

Perched among the winery’s 1965 grenache bush vine plantings and their prized shiraz rock paddock (acquired by the winery in 2017) now sit four shipping containers shaded by a startling, sawtooth-esque roofline. Already the containers’ once grey exterior has developed a rich, rust patina. The built space is expanded by a large timber deck, highlighted by a stone wall built from rocks recovered from the adjacent vineyard and surrounded by paths laid with Willunga slate.

The space isn’t landscaped when I visit, but soon lawn will offer visitors another spot to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

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Page left: The containers are separated by breezeways and each module has a unique function including a slick bar, private tasting room, restrooms with a view and multiple seating areas both indoors and out. Top: Winemaker Chris Thomas (pictured) collaborated with Scholz Vinall Architects to create a very thoughtful design including an acoustic treatment inside, versatile seating areas and numerous opening and closing elements to create comfort in all seasons.

Both have supported sustainable grape growing practices. For Chris, creating an architecturally adventurous, sustainable cellar door was an important recognition of Dowie Doole’s origins. The choice of shipping containers also speaks to the brand’s significant export business, which accounts for 70-80% of their volume. ‘It’s really cool that we send our wine all over the world in these boxes basically, and we’ve sort of tweaked [or] done a bit of a twist on that and turned it into a pretty funky cellar door,’ says Chris.

While there’s certainly nothing new about building with shipping containers, Oli and Chris saw it as an invitation to play and experiment with the form. The minimal 2.2 metre width was one such challenge.

‘If you use a container, you’ve got to acknowledge that it has that width,’ explains Oli. ‘The answer in this case was that we created gaps between the containers, opened them up, and used the gaps as breezeways and as organising elements.’ The resulting interior space is roomy and light-filled, the breezeways marking the connection between the three offset containers that combine to create the main cellar door space (the fourth container separately houses the toilets and amenities).

The juxtaposition of the containers is just as important to the experience of the outside space as it is to the inside. ‘I believe that a building really should not be seen as an object; the spaces around it are just as important as the building itself,’ says Oli. ‘There’s all sorts of invitations for people to linger. And so all the little corners and little pockets are quite intentional.’

Where the outside finishes are raw, the inside is more refined, a theme that runs consistently through the design. ‘Whenever we were unsure about how to work things and how to deal with finishes and so on, we came back to that mantra of a rough exterior, refined inside. Or raw and cooked if you like,’ says Oli. So while outside the timber deck with be left to weather, inside the same timber is carefully oiled.

Likewise the brass fittings in the external toilet block are left bearing their weld marks while the taps inside are burnished to a soft glow.

All of these carefully considered details and the myriad decisions to put them into effect are directed at creating an elevated experience for visitors who can choose to either do a hosted wine flight, or to buy wine by the glass or bottle. The finishes – like the brass lining >

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Above: Underpinning every detail is a commitment to stainability and ultimate functionality. Where the outside finishes are raw, the inside is more refined, a theme that runs consistently through the design.

of a large picture window that casts a warm light through the interior – have been chosen to create a welcoming feel. Outside, the slanting pathways leading up to the cellar door are free from handrails that would otherwise dissect the 360 degree views of the vineyards, a decision that flies in the face of the typical approach to disabled access requirements. ‘It’s really easy to just comply with the regulations for disabled access and make it really ugly, but I find that it’s almost demeaning,’ says Oli. Instead, they chose a gentle gradient for the access that did away with the need for handrails and offers the same aesthetic and functional experience to both disabled and able-bodied visitors.

Underpinning every detail is a commitment to sustainability and ultimate functionality. One of the critical design principles was the space had to be workable for one person to manage the cellar door during quieter times. This not only drove layout decisions but also some of the build’s more high-tech aspects, with Oli enthusiastically demonstrating a ‘panic button’ which enables all the lighting to be controlled from one source. It speaks to the close and complementary relationship between client and architect: ‘I can be as good an architect as I possibly can, but it’s the client that makes a good building,’ says Oli. ‘[Chris] gave me all the latitude that I needed to come up with interesting ideas and then would sit 20

down and scrutinise them and look at them from different angles...is it serviceable? is it going to serve the brand?’

The design’s sustainable aspects are an important part of Dowie Doole’s brand story. While Oli sees sustainability as the bedrock of responsible design, there’s no doubt it’s equally important to Chris.

The winery is currently biodynamic-in-conversion, with the process to be completed in 2020. The cellar door is largely off-grid, with the distinctive roofline angled to maximise sun exposure to solar panels as well as facilitate rainwater harvesting. Wastewater is treated on site and materials have been sourced sustainably wherever possible.

The site itself was chosen not simply for it’s immersive position in the vineyard, but because it was a degraded site that would be rehabilitated and enhanced by the development of the cellar door.

The opportunity to create a new architectural and sustainable landmark is something neither Oli nor Chris take for granted. ‘I’m very lucky that I ended up working in a place like McLaren Vale that I really love and I have a job that I absolutely love. I get to be creative making wine and I get to travel the world, selling our amazing wines all over the place and see amazing things and do things that I never thought I’d get to do in this life,’ says Chris. ‘We need to make sure our vineyards are sustainable – what we do is sustainable – so that this place survives for future generations to enjoy and prosper from.’

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Page left: South Coast Surf Chasers, Chiton Rocks 1959 (photo John Arnold) Above: Local surfers pose for a shot, 1960 (photo John Arnold)

South coast surf chasers Story by Jake Dean. Images courtesy of Christo Reid.

‘It was all about the car… you didn’t just walk across the road [for waves] like you did on the East Coast,’ says author and photographer Christo Reid on the plight of South Australian surfers.

We’re sitting outside his Port Willunga studio discussing his latest project, Surf City – a photograph-heavy ode to South Australian surfing’s early years. The book, which he hopes to finish in the next year (maybe), will feature imagery and stories from across SA – the West Coast, Yorke Peninsula, Mid Coast, South Coast and south-east.

Central to the narrative are The South Coast Surf Chasers, a pioneering crew of surfers that, in the late 1950s, pooled their money together to buy a 1934 Ford V8 with homemade roof racks to explore the coast between Goolwa and Parsons Beach. This car was the original surf chaser.

‘Jimmy Miller, he was probably the pioneer of South Australian surfing, used to be a lifesaver at Chiton Rocks ...’ explains Christo, flicking through framed photos of the original car, the words ‘The South Coast Surf Chasers’ emblazoned along its side. ‘… Peter Smith – who still lives at Moana – Rolly Dalziel. This is some of the early crew.’

By the early 1960s, Adelaide surfers had up to seven surf chasers stationed along the coast with names such as ‘Malibu Maniacs’ and ‘Surf Seekers.’ The game plan was simple. You’d drive to Victor in your good car before cramming your boards and mates into the beat-up surf chaser to tackle the dirt roads out to then-isolated spots.

These early crews and their surf chasers eventually helped uncover some of the state’s marquee waves at Yorkes and the West Coast.

One of them was the infamous Cactus, where Christo – born in 1952 and shaping surfboards on the South Coast by the seventies – would eventually move for eight years, inspiring his first book, Cactus: Surfing Journals from Solitude. Christo’s second book – another stunning tome titled The Extraordinary Life of Sir Sidney Kidman – chronicled the life of his great-grandfather, perhaps Australia’s greatest pastoralist.

In Cactus, Christo knew he was only documenting a small part of South Australia’s surfing history. With many captivating images and stories leftover from writing that book, he felt compelled to explore South Australia’s wider surfing genesis for book three. Surf City will immortalise legends such as Miller and John Arnold – a surfing entrepreneur, photographer and filmmaker who documented the early days – who are relatively unknown to the public. In telling these stories, the book will also cast light on a state traditionally overlooked

by Australian surfing media. > 23

Top: Excerpt from Cactus by Christo Read depicting the Ceduna Boys with one of the original surf chasers, 1962. Middle: SA surf legend, Jimmy Miller slides left.

Bottom: Boomer Beach article, Surfabout magazine 1962.

Like Christo’s first two books, Surf City will be self-published and designed in similar scrapbook style, featuring worn photographs, newspaper clippings and other documents scattered with text.

‘If I’m gonna publish a book, I want it to be a work of art, really, in today’s digital world,’ he says. ‘These tactile things are very valuable for the soul.’

I ask Christo why it’ll only cover the fifties to the late-seventies, and he explains how the period – think The Beatles, drugs, the Vietnam War and Don Dunstan – heavily influenced him, and that the following years saw a commercialisation of surfing that clashed with his free surfing ethos. Ironically, many of today’s surfers try to emulate the look and lifestyles of the surf chasers and their ilk, and Christo’s pleased more and more are turning to the surfboard shapes and riding styles of the past.

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Christo’s still surfing, though not often locally. We joke about the southern surfer’s plight – how the South Coast continues to frustrate with its inability to produce good waves consistently, and how we’re still clocking countless kilometres in our cars.

Before I leave, he shows me the board he’s currently riding – a gorgeous new single fin heavily inspired by the Surf City era’s boards.

‘Magnificent objects,’ he says, rubbing his hand over the deck. Just like his books, I think.

Christo is seeking photos, footage and stories from the era for potential publication in Surf City. Submissions: info@cactussurfingjournals.com

Digging the dirt on regenerative farming Story by Nina Keath. Photography by Heidi Lewis.

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Page left: There’s carbon in them there weeds. Above: Scott Binns of Green Slopes Farm at Pages Flat uses regenerative farming principles and says, ‘once you look after the environmental and personal bit, the profit takes care of itself.’

There’s a radical idea sweeping the Fleurieu. It’s called regenerative farming and it presents the startling proposition that agriculture is one of our best bets against climate change and a suite of other social and ecological challenges.

Scott Binns’ farming lineage goes back four generations and all he ever wanted was to follow in his family’s footsteps. But the reality didn’t initially live up to the dream. ‘I got sick of dipping into my pocket to degrade the land. The animals were causing damage and I couldn’t cope with it. Every time it rained, the creek would run brown from erosion. Last year, I completely changed my ways and now when it rains, the creek’s running clear,’ Scott grins. ‘I’m not losing my topsoil anymore.’

I’ve been taught that our ancient soils and low rainfall make hardhoofed animals unsuited to the fragile Australian environment. So, how did Scott manage to retain his stock and eliminate erosion in less than two years?

First, he decided to change his perspective: ‘I went from feeling stressed and seeing profit as my primary motivator to thinking more

about the long-term sustainability of my land and business and my personal wellbeing.’ Ironically, he says, ‘once you look after the environmental and personal bit, the profit takes care of itself.’

Secondly, he changed his practices. ‘Keeping grass cover is key,’ says Scott. ‘It’s only October and they’re already talking about dust storms in the mid-north!’ Scott facilitated groundcover by adopting a practice known as ‘cell-grazing’ whereby stock are placed in tightly bunched herds and moved frequently between smaller paddocks, mimicking the grazing patterns found in nature. The result is a big influx of dung and urine in a condensed area followed by long rest periods, which optimise plant growth and soil health. In addition to fixing erosion, Scott says he’s also eliminated the need for synthetic fertilisers, and no longer requires drenches because his stock aren’t exposed to worms from overgrazed paddocks.

The changes Scott describes might sound revolutionary, but he insists ‘we’re not reinventing the wheel. It’s just that we’ve gone too far down a particular path.’ That ‘path’ is industrial agriculture and it’s one that a growing number of farmers believe is leading in the wrong direction.

Like Scott, farmers across the Fleurieu are taking an alternative route regenerative agriculture.

Viticulturist, Richard Leask has been walking this path for over a decade, and what started as a curious amble has turned into a > 27

Top left and right: Ben Ryan works his family’s cattle and sheep farm, Tent Rock at Deep Creek, using regenerative farming principles. Bottom left and right: This old Land Rover at the Leask family vineyard will also one day be regenerated.

purposeful stride. Richard says, ‘I first started being unhappy with our chemical use in 2005. We were bombarding the system and I thought, this can’t be good for us, the environment or the fruit. From there, it’s been a gradual journey and in the last six or seven years I’ve been very focused on making significant change.’ He continues, ‘modern farming is efficient, but degrades the system over time. As farmers, we’ve been taking from the system and we need to start giving back.’

As a recent recipient of the coveted Nuffield Scholarship, Richard has spent the past year learning from regenerative farmers across the globe. However, after an hour of conversation over a very drinkable malbec, I can see that defining the philosophy and practice of regenerative farming is no easy task. Richard swirls his wine and grimaces, ‘the challenging thing about regenerative farming is there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each system is unique to its environment and business. There are a number of common principles that you then apply in the way that works best in your context, but I’m faced with writing a report for the scholarship and it’ll be outdated in a year!’

Let’s have a crack at a definition though. In contrast to the reductionist approach of industrial agriculture, a foundational principle of regenerative agriculture is that everything is intrinsically linked, and the ‘culture’ part is just as essential as the ‘agri’ part. Another important principle is that healthy soils are our bedrock and getting carbon, water and beneficial critters into them is key. Rather than being an inert substrate, soil is a living system that grows and evolves over time. This means it can also die. Richard says, ‘people have real trouble understanding the role of soils. If you’ve got a bare paddock that you’re constantly tilling, overgrazing, over-irrigating and putting 28

chemicals into, you’re not going to have the biodiversity required to get it to grow.’

Healthy, living soils are supported by enabling constant groundcover with diverse plant species that draw carbon into the soil via photosynthesis. This turns the soil into a giant sponge, and as Scott says, ‘water is the new gold.’ Water in the landscape also means stable micro-climates and lower temperatures, something of increasing importance as our climate warms. Richard says he’s achieved ground surface temperature reductions of more than thirty degrees Celsius in his vineyards by following these simple practices.

Judiciously grazed livestock help break down green matter, fertilise soils and promote healthy plant growth. Instead of using sprays and slashers, Richard will borrow Scott’s cows next winter to help cycle carbon into the soil in his vineyard. Replacing poisons and synthetic fertilisers with microbiology brews allows beneficial bugs above and below ground to thrive, providing essential ecosystem services. For example, microbes and fungi help carbon cycling processes and support plants to access a far greater diversity of nutrients.

The combined result of all these things is rich, biodiverse, waterholding soils producing nutrient-dense food, healthy animals and productive farms. Farmers are happier, communities and ecosystems are healthier and farming economies are productive and stable for the long term. Scott says, ‘I want people to see that farmers aren’t enemies of the environment. Animals aren’t the problem either. The way we manage them is the problem.’

If you want to dig a little deeper (pardon the pun), NSW farmer Charles Massy’s book, Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture – A New Earth, is the Australian bible of regenerative farming.

Top left and right: Ben Pridham runs his vineyards at McLaren Vale using regenerative farming principles and says, ‘Once you’re sensitive to your surroundings and let your mind open it’s amazing what you can observe and achieve.’ Bottom left: Talking regeneration. Right: Celebrating the humble weed.

As he told Dumbo Feather, ‘We’re a species made for stories. We don’t want a serious textbook. Let’s have wonderful stories of these extraordinary farmers regenerating different components of how the landscape functioned.’ A second book could be written about people regenerating Fleurieu farms, but let’s start with just a few.

functions. Traditionally, we’ve looked at conservation over here and production agriculture over there with a fence in between.

Regenerative agriculture is about their integration. The flaw is in treating a complex biological system as though it’s an industrial factory. I view my entire farm as an ecosystem.’

Ben Pridham, of Pridham Viticulture, supports his customers to embrace nature’s services. He says, ‘it takes time to help them see that the grass and weeds they want sprayed are actually delivering a service and that nature is an ally.’ To illustrate his point, Ben suggests looking at the soil along established fence lines in conventionally farmed paddocks. Where grass has been able to grow without interruption along the fence lines, you’ll see a higher mound where the grass has created soil over time. In contrast, the soil being farmed on either side of the fence line with chemicals and fertilisers is ‘growing downwards.’ ‘It’s basically being mined,’ he explains. This holistic way of seeing the land is central to Ben’s regenerative approach: ‘you’re moving away from looking at the farm as the sum of its parts, towards seeing it as a whole system and treating yourself as part of that whole.

Once you’re sensitive to your surroundings and let your mind open it’s amazing what you can observe and achieve.’

Pastured egg producer Kat Snoswell from Falkai Farms couldn’t agree more. Mimicking natural multi-species grazing practices, her hens are integrated into Tom’s cattle property and protected by friendly Maremma dogs. For my part, I’ve never seen such happy chooks. Kat takes me to the top of a grassy rise to show me an endless patchwork of lush emerald squares where the chooks have been before. Shielding her eyes from the spring sunshine, she says, ‘regenerative farming takes sustainability to the next level and adds repair. You can be a sustainable farmer but sustaining what we’ve got isn’t enough. There’s a lot that needs to be done in terms of increasing diversity, building up the species that have been lost and putting carbon back in the soil.’

Lawyer Tom Bradman once provided legal and policy advice to the Federal Department of Agriculture in Canberra but says, ‘I wanted to do something rather than talk and write about it.’ So, he returned home and established Nomad Farms in the Finnis Valley, producing prime beef and poultry. Tom says, ‘I tell our customers, ‘you’re not just buying a lump of meat, you’re buying a set of outcomes. In a very real way, you’re spending your money on either landscape degradation or landscape regeneration’.’ He continues, ‘we can’t escape the fact that we’re part of ecology and depend on its

To this end, the first soil carbon credits were claimed by farmers in Victoria earlier this year and the Australian Government has just committed a further $2 billion for purchasing carbon credits through the Climate Solutions Fund. Platfarm’s Oli Madgett wants to help farmers make the most of this opportunity via clever software. He says, ‘if we mainstream this as an approach to agriculture, we’re talking up to hundreds of millions of tonnes of emissions reductions in Australia alone.’ But in his view, carbon credits are just the icing on the cake and it’s all the other benefits of soil carbon that farmers really need. Oli says, ‘I’ve been travelling the country and meeting farmers in crisis everywhere I go. Their current practices of monoculture, chemical weed control and high levels of inorganic > 29

Top left and right: Kat Snoswell works hard with her partner Luke Falkai at Falkai Farms to not simply sustain but repair the land in partnership with Nomad Farms.

Bottom left and right: Richard Leask of Leask Agriculture and Hither & Yon Wines has learned much from his travels and over a decade switching his approach he’s also found that the regenerative farming approach is what’s making the difference to his family’s farming practise.

inputs are seeing farm productivity stagnate and sometimes fail.

They’re looking for new answers.’

Ben Ryan, of Tent Rock farm in Deep Creek believes he’s found at least a few of those answers. ‘With industrial agriculture, weeds, bugs and soil nutrition are all treated at the symptom level rather than the underlying cause. And I bought right into that. But, twenty years ago, I woke up. My job for the day was to spray thistles and I thought, ‘bugger it, if I’m still doing this in twenty years, I’m failing’,’ he says.

‘My goal ever since has been to solve the problem and not treat the symptom.’ Today, Tent Rock farm is a thriving beacon for what can be achieved by long-term regenerative practices. Ben admits that he still sometimes struggles with the self-care aspect of the equation and muses, ‘I know farmers across Australia who’ve got into regenerative farming because they have no other option, but imagine if we started from a place of abundance rather than physical, mental or emotional desperation?’

It seems to me that many farmers on the Fleurieu are indeed starting from a place of abundance. Certainly, they’re dissatisfied with the status quo but they’re not desperate like their counterparts in other states. We’re a small, connected community in a relatively prosperous 30

region that has so far been protected from the worst impacts of climate change. The farmers I met are, by and large, curious and energised. They’re also generous with their knowledge and ideas.

They’re reaping benefits and they want to share these with their peers. And there are lots of them – many more than I could do justice to in this article.

Perhaps we should take Ben up on his challenge and start imagining what we could achieve if we made the Fleurieu a regenerative farming epicentre. Beyond the benefits to our own environment and community, we could stand against the malaise threatening to swallow many farmers in rural Australia and offer hope instead.

As Scott puts it: ‘regenerative farming shows there’s a way that people don’t have to walk off the land. Suicide and mental health are massive challenges for rural communities, and I want to show that we can do it a better way. We can improve our stress, we can regenerate our land and at the end of the day, we can be profitable.’

On 10 November, Ideas on the Fleurieu hosted a regenerative farming workshop in Mt Compass. To learn more and see video footage of some of the farmers featured in this article, go to: www.ideasonthefleurieu.com

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WHO WE ARE

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‘Having two brands really is a creative outlet for both of us, so we can both do things that we want to do with the wines instead of maybe battling each other for control.’

WHO WE ARE: Charlotte Hardy and Ben Cooke

Separate but together

Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Aise Dillon.

The little shack in Goolwa’s south that Charlotte Hardy and Ben Cooke now call home is unassuming, despite its unexpected profile.

You might describe it as fusion home design, with the exterior sampling liberally from different styles, the Tudor-esque half-timbered exterior meets seventies Australia under a gambrel-style roof.

Somehow, the overall vibe suggests the house would be more at home in the snow than by the sea.

They discovered the place on one of their many trips to Goolwa from their former home in Basket Range in the Adelaide Hills, chasing pipis for an after work wind down. At the time, both Charlotte and Ben were working as consultants in the wine industry as well as getting their own individual labels off the ground. Charlotte launched Charlotte Dalton Wines in 2015 (to limit confusion with the Hardys, no relation, she uses her middle name) while Ben collaborates with his two brothers on Cooke Brothers Wines, started in 2016. It was a spur of the moment decision: ‘[we] just thought, who doesn’t want a ski chalet at the beach?’ says Charlotte. ‘Especially one that’s falling down,’ Ben deadpans in return. ‘It is falling to pieces, we can’t open windows or anything at the moment,’ Charlotte agrees. ‘But that’s fine, we’re much happier than we’ve ever been.’

For a while the couple, now with baby Ada in tow, continued their frequent pilgrimages from the Hills. But for Charlotte, who grew up in New Zealand near the beach, and Ben, who grew up in Murray Bridge and had been heading to Goolwa for as long as he could remember, it was a fait accompli they would eventually move there.

Having both lost a parent early, their decision is a conscious commitment to building a lifestyle that suits them and their young family. And while the Hills gave them a lot both personally and professionally, the draw of the coast eventually won out. And so, with their second child Sammy on the way, they headed south in November 2018. ‘We just couldn’t keep away anymore, we just had to move down here,’ says Charlotte.

Moving to the Fleurieu has meant creating not just one new home, but two. Thoughts had been percolating on establishing a winery and cellar door for a while, but the idea really took hold over a coffee at De Groot. ‘We said I wonder if there are any sheds in here?’ recalls Charlotte, referring to Port Elliot’s Factory 9. And so, in a timeline that belies most commercial realities, they first exchanged emails with Factory 9 owners Danny and MaryAnn McMahon in May, commenced their lease in July and the cellar door opened in November.

Housed in The Joinery, the space will be home to both labels with the winery out the back and cellar door up front, the two businesses operating separately and yet inextricably linked by familial connections and practical necessity. ‘I don’t know of any other partners who have their own individual labels in the same place,’ says Charlotte.

‘Especially because they were definitely started very independently.

We’ve never worked in the same winery before.’

This separate-but-together approach gives each of them the independence they desire within a supportive net that will see them ‘work for each other’ during the inevitable busy times over vintage.

‘Having two brands really is a creative outlet for both of us, so we can both do things that we want to do with the wines instead of maybe battling each other for control,’ explains Ben. ‘We definitely bounce ideas off each other, but we’ve still got final say on our own wines.’

There’s also the brutal honesty only partners can get away with. ‘You know you’re getting the full story. And it’s really nice to have that,’ says Charlotte.

The cellar door itself is neutral territory, adopting neither the whimsical style of Charlotte’s brand, nor the black-and-white definitiveness of Ben’s. Vintage furniture sits comfortably next to the timber cladding, once a dancefloor, which now shows off its paint-splattered underside against bright azure blue walls. The collected feel seems a fitting response to The Joinery’s rich and varied history that includes stints as a furniture factory and artist David Bromley’s studio (there’s a couple of his originals still hanging out the back.) ‘I just want to open it and get people in to come and hang out with us. I don’t care if they even buy wine to begin with,’ says Charlotte. ‘Just come and have a drink.’ Invitation accepted.

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WHO WE ARE

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‘I’m an equilibrialist, I’m a handstand artist, I’m a balancer and I’m also a person who has had to re-find balance in their life in quite dramatic ways.’

WHO WE ARE: Dan Aubin

Striking the balance

Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Aise Dillon.

The night before I meet Dan Aubin, he gave a talk at the Victor Harbor Rotary Club that ended in a handstand.

Not your standard guest speaker move, but it’s become Dan’s signature. ‘I’m playing with the idea that a handstand is a symbol for people to be able to turn their lives upside down or see the world differently,’ he tells me. Far from being a speaking circuit gimmick, handstands have shaped Dan’s life. From childhood trauma, to a global acrobatic career and now as founder of Daring Humans, Dan’s physicality has quite literally been about bringing balance to his life.

Canadian-born Dan now calls Victor Harbor home, together with his wife Peta Johnston and their two children. It’s a far cry from his ‘wild, tumultuous upbringing’ with his mother, grandmother and younger brother on the opposite side of the globe. That upbringing was suddenly stolen away when, between the ages of eight and fourteen, Dan lost all of the most important adults in his life, including his mother, his grandparents and his absent father. His retelling is matter of fact: ‘within a span of five years, everybody just disappeared.’

He was heading down a dark path when his Aunt Suzanne intervened. She introduced Dan to gymnastics ‘and it just landed me in my body. And when I was doing a handstand or a flip or had a full body engagement, I couldn’t think about all the other things.

You were so present,’ he says. It was by no means an immediate fix, but it changed Dan’s life. ‘I started to learn about hard work and achievement. And I started to really find a way to balance out,’ he says. ‘I’m an equilibrialist, I’m a handstand artist, I’m a balancer and I’m also a person who has had to re-find balance in their life in quite dramatic ways.’

His love – and obvious talent – for gymnastics and the focus it brought his life meant he did things he never thought he would, attending university before travelling the globe in an acrobatic troupe for six years. One of the stops on his world tour was Thailand, where he met ‘a beautiful girl from Adelaide’: Peta. After some international to-ing and fro-ing, the couple moved to Australia. It was an inflection point

for Dan professionally, as he moved away from performing and into leadership roles, including as CEO and Artistic Director at Adelaide’s Cirkidz (now the South Australian Circus Centre) and then as a lecturer in Charles Sturt University’s innovative theatre media program in Bathurst.

At Charles Sturt, Dan began to think more deeply about being a ‘daring human’ – about the importance of taking chances and risks in pursuit of growth. It meant another big shift – this time at home. The couple agreed Peta would return to full time work after she landed a dream job in Victor Harbor, having worked and studied part time while their children were small. In a ‘magnificent shift,’ Dan took on the primary stay-at-home parent role and planned to work on his business – Daring Humans, which offers coaching and workshop facilitation to think differently – from the family’s new home on the Fleurieu.

Life in Victor has challenged Dan to explore what it means for him personally to be a daring human, in unexpected ways. Arriving with plans to accelerate his business, he’s instead found himself giving much of his time to the Victor gymnastics club, as president. The club, which started in the 1940s, was on the brink of closing before being resurrected by volunteers, who now include Dan. ‘It just became a complete passion,’ he says. And while he initially felt some internal tension between his business goals and his role at the club, he now feels he’s on the right path: ‘I came to this lovely serene place where I had so much purpose and meaning doing something that was voluntary but had huge impact.’

While his involvement in the gymnastics club has brought work to Daring Humans, it’s also made Dan think about how to engage more in the community, prompting him to join the 2019 Fleurieu Future Leaders program. ‘A lot of my life has been about me as a performer and about me connecting and now I’m shifting to try to explore what it is to connect other people,’ he muses. ‘I’m at a crossroads now, like I am most weeks, reflecting on why am I here in this place, on the Fleurieu, and what’s my part in it all.’ So aside from daring himself to be the best partner and father he can be, he’s now also thinking about how he can be a community builder. For now, it’s all in the balance.

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WHO WE ARE

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‘We really didn’t know whether it would work unless I moved here,’ says Olivia.

‘Because every time I came here it was like a holiday, and it wasn’t really reality.’

WHO WE ARE: Olivia Baker and Nathan Trethewey

From farm to property Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Heidi Lewis.

When I first speak to Olivia Baker and Nathan Trethewey, it’s hard to ignore the obvious cliché in the room. And it’s not their pet kangaroo, Skippy, who, after being hand-raised now sleeps with the dog in her kennel.

Olivia, a concert pianist from Adelaide, and Nathan, a fifth-generation farmer born and raised on Kangaroo Island, are the classic pairing: city woman meets country bloke. But the story they’re creating together doesn’t follow anyone’s script but their own.

The couple first met online in October 2017 and just seven months later, Olivia and her eight-year-old son Levi moved to the Island, joining Nathan and his two children, twelve-year-old Colton and fourteenyear-old Scarlett on Nathan’s property, Eleanor Downs, just outside Parndana in the middle of Kangaroo Island. ‘We really didn’t know whether it would work unless I moved here,’ says Olivia. ‘Because every time I came here it was like a holiday, and it wasn’t really reality.’

That reality looks very different to Olivia’s pre-KI life. Based in Glenelg when she first met Nathan, Olivia’s work as a pianist and in arts and community development had taken her around the world from the United Kingdom and Africa to Arnhem Land. Nathan also lived interstate and overseas including a stint as a ringer in the Kimberley. At 21 he bought his first farm, before he sold up to buy his parents’ property a few years ago when it came time for his dad to ‘semi-retire.’

Returning to Eleanor Downs means continuing an important family legacy for Nathan. His grandfather was allocated the land under the World War II soldier settlement scheme. Both his grandfather and father ran stock on the land, but Nathan and Olivia are now exploring what the land can do, not only as a farm but as a communal place.

Alongside continuing the stock business, they’re renovating the property’s two residences: the original early 1950s soldier settlement cottage where they currently live but will soon offer as holiday accommodation, and the similar-era homestead where they’ll live post-renovation. Add to that a new airstrip which not only allows Nathan to fly his Cessna 182 back to the mainland, but will also

welcome fly-in visitors who might glamp in the bell tent near the airstrip or stay in the settlement cottage.

The airstrip offers an important physical link to Olivia’s friends and relatives, but technology also helps limit the isolation; she even teaches piano over video call. Then there’s the links to local community. The whole family’s involved in the Parndana football and netball clubs – Olivia even made a brief and successful return to the netball court after being absent since childhood, before fears of a broken finger sent her back to retirement. For an outsider, it was an important ‘in’ that exposed her to some of the boons of country life. ‘It’s amazing. You’ve got babies, kids, teenagers, young people, people our age and then retired people and they’re all hanging out,’ Olivia says of the weekend sport ritual. ‘They’re all having a drink together. They’re all helping each other. It’s really beautiful.’

In other ways, Olivia and Nathan are expanding their community through their other ventures, including the Eleanor Downs Festival which will see them bring Adelaide Fringe acts over to the Island in March 2020 for the second year running. It’s about replicating the inclusive community feel at the footy, in new and different ways. ‘The locals want to do something different,’ says Nathan. ‘They might only come once if they don’t have a good experience and they might bag it and not come again but they’ll give it a shot,’ he adds with a wry grin.

The hard work happening now is all about setting up Eleanor Downs for the next fifty years. Nathan, in particular, wants to move away from the ‘more-is-more’ approach to farming that often leads to personal and environmental stress. He aims to create a complete property: ‘it’s not just the sheep in the paddock,’ he explains. ‘If we can turn this farm into a ‘property’ as such, that’s got all these other things going for it, some will add financial gain, some will add social gain or personal gain.’

In the end it’s the social and personal gains that will make this a sustainable lifestyle for Nathan and Olivia. They both look forward to re-gaining some balance in their lives (‘so we can go off and travel the world’). But in the meantime, there’s sheep to shear, renovations to finish and three happy kids to care for. And, of course, a pet kangaroo.

For more information on the Eleanor Downs Festival go to their Insta or Facebook pages; @eleanordownski 37

BOUTIQUE & UNIQUE

Above: Vase neck piece. Right: Coral brooch.

Rei Minohara-Starke Story by Brittany Pfeiffer.

When Rei Minohara-Starke was working in the IT industry in Japan, she never dreamed she could have a viable career in the arts. Ten years – and an international relocation later – and Rei is doing exactly that in her adopted home of Victor Harbor.

Wanting to break free from the daily work grind, Rei began her visual arts career after arriving in Australia almost a decade ago. ‘I wanted a more sustainable job that wasn’t as fast paced in comparison to back home,’ says Rei. She wanted to explore using her hands to craft works reflecting organic forms and the beauty of nature, and so jewellery seemed like a natural choice. Her creative process is intuitive, freeform and organic. ‘I tend to let my hands do the thinking, sometimes not knowing what my outcome will be,’ says Rei.

Rei primarily works with silver clay – otherwise known as precious metal clay – to create handmade jewellery from her home studio in Victor Harbor. Silver clay is a recycled, sustainable silver that, as the name suggests, is easy to manipulate to create effective textures through hammering and etching. The elegant forms and textures that characterise her pieces are inspired by her local surrounds, from the broad coastal views to the minutiae of the Fleurieu’s native flora she encounters on her daily walks. ‘[The] Australian surroundings are very different to Japan and is one of my greatest sources of inspiration,’ she says. This approach is reflected in her latest collection which features a number of pieces inspired by golden wattles. These pieces

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used the distinctive spherical flowers to create a mould for the silver, before the raw material was then manipulated and fired in a kiln at a high temperature to create the final outcome.

Reflecting her Japanese heritage, Rei often uses a metal alloy called shibuichi – meaning ‘one-fourth’ in Japanese – which refers to the typical formulation of one part silver to three parts copper.

Depending on the formulation used, a wide range of colours can be achieved, from shades of grey through to a bronze lustre. Rei has crafted several pieces using this technique, reflecting the juxtaposition of Japanese and Australian culture by coaxing this traditional Japanese material into the different shapes and textures of Australia’s indigenous flora.

Another strong source of inspiration for Rei is the feedback she receives from locals and customers. ‘Jewellery is such a personal choice, so it fills me with warmth when someone buys one of my pieces – there is nothing more uplifting and it is the reason why I continue to craft jewellery,’ Rei says.

While Rei mostly specialises in jewellery making, she’s no stranger to visual art. She’s been working on mixed media that mirrors her jewellery through her choice of colours and textures used, creating a unified approach. When viewed together, the pieces complement one another.

Each item Rei creates is entirely unique – from dainty rings to textured brooches. The evident craftsmanship in each work is breathtaking.

Rei mentions, ‘I’m so lucky to be able to have a career out of something I love. This wouldn’t be possible at home in Japan.’

Multi Award Winning Builder South Australian HIA-CSR Winners 2018: Country Builder (Award) Renovation/Addition Project $200,001-$350,000 (Commendation)

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South Australian HIA-CSR Winners 2017: GreenSmart Sustainable Home (Major Award) Lightweight Construction (Award) Custom Built Home up to $400,000 (Commendation) new homes

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From the ashes

Story by Brittany Pfeiffer and Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Angela Giles.

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Page left and above: The historic Mill Cottage is a testament to what vision and hard work can achieve, both interiors and exteriors have been restored and refurbished keeping the home’s historical charm at top of mind.

When Don Bailey of Bailey Homes saw Goolwa’s historic Mill Cottage up for sale, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to renovate and refurbish this piece of local heritage. Once a prestigious local residence, the c1853 cottage had been left to ruin in recent years. Now, the cottage has been given a new life, offering luxe accommodation in the heart of Goolwa while preserving the dwelling’s rich character.

Mill Cottage was originally built as the residence for the now demolished Goolwa flour mill by one of Adelaide’s most successful architects of the time, E. W. Wright, and lays claim to being Goolwa’s first private residence connected to water. In the early years, the cottage boasted prominent professionals and affluent families among its many residents and owners. But in 2007, its fortunes took a turn

when the then owners – who had occupied the house since 1950 – decided to put it up for sale. The house fell vacant and, before long, squatters moved in. In 2010 a fire broke out causing extensive damage to the entire building.

The cottage was left a burnt-out ruin after the fire. Strewn with broken glass, walls stripped, ceilings collapsed and the floors largely destroyed, the house was fenced off and the garden left to run wild.

Given its state, it’s perhaps no surprise the building continued to sit vacant, until Don and his business partner Wayne purchased the land the cottage was sitting on in 2013.

The extent of the damage meant they had complete flexibility on how to restore and renovate this beauty. Rather than completely modernising the cottage, Don decided to keep the historic aspects of the dwelling, complementing these features with new resources where necessary. ‘I believe the attention to detail we put into the project was the best we could to reflect the original condition of the building,’ says Don. It certainly shows, not only in the thought put into the rebuilding process, but in the beautifully refined final result. >

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Top: The external walls were sandblasted to expose the historic stonework from beneath layers of ivory paint and then repointed to reflect the cottage’s original facade. Bottom: The rear of the building features a new modern, elegant and stylish kitchen, with stone benchtops and polished concrete floor.

From the outside in, the three-bedroom cottage has been sensitively, but completely, restored. It’s been reroofed, repainted, replastered – using lime-based breathable plaster – rewired and replumbed.

The busy schedule at Bailey Homes meant the cottage started as a passion project, occupying many weekends until completion in 2018.

‘The Mill Cottage was an ongoing project for us, all in all taking a year to complete,’ says Don. Today, the stunning exterior of the cottage is almost unrecognisable compared to how it appeared post-fire. The external walls were sandblasted to expose the historic stonework from beneath layers of ivory paint and then repointed to reflect the cottage’s original facade.

Inside, the restoration reflects the cottage’s complete history, not simply its origins. In one of the bedrooms, some of the original flooring 42

remains along with the char marks from the 2010 fire. New elements have been modelled on the old, with Don salvaging the original door and window frames and replicating their style from new resources.

Other features could fortunately be restored, including the open fireplace in the dining room.

At the same time as paying heed to the past, the cottage has also leapt into the future with new functional wet areas designed in total contrast to the old. The rear of the building features a new modern, elegant and stylish kitchen, with stone benchtops and polished concrete floor. A new bathroom finishes the rear of the cottage and is fitted with a suspended custom-made timber vanity lit from above by monochrome pendant lighting.

Above: The neutral palette is enhanced by unique décor, handcrafted goods, and modern-farmhouse style furniture. Every detail has been thoughtfully selected with luxury and comfort in mind. Bottom left and right: The restoration can be fully appreciated when you can see what a state it was in when they began the process.

The colour palette of the cottage was chosen in consultation with the Alexandrina Council’s local heritage architect. The colours are natural and minimalistic, not only reflecting the era of the original building, but emphasising the classic and luxurious styling of the final project. The neutral palette is enhanced by unique décor, handcrafted goods, and modern-farmhouse style furniture. Every detail has been thoughtfully selected with luxury and comfort in mind.

With the restoration of Mill Cottage now complete, the latest chapter in its 160-year history is now beginning. Now offering accommodation for groups and families, the cottage’s central location offers visitors easy access to Goolwa’s charms, with the Main Street and wharf precinct within easy walking distance and the beach and river just a short drive away.

Don’s dedication and attention to detail in restoring Mill Cottage hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2018, the restoration won both the Major Award for Alexandrina Council Heritage Awards and the Building Restoration/ Conservation Practice Category. These accolades were followed by a Commendation for the HIA-CSR Housing Awards – Renovation/ Addition Project category. The industry recognition is matched by support from the community: the feedback from the locals and guests has been incredible. ‘They absolutely love it,’ Don says. ‘I’m so happy the project was so well received, and the community can appreciate the extent we have gone to with the restoration.’ And so, having risen quite literally from the ashes, Mill Cottage can now resume its rightful place within the Goolwa community.

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PRODUCER PROFILE

Above: Bridgett and Chris Day of Cockatoo Creek Farm.

New hands on tired land Story by Annabel Bowles. Photo courtesy of T. Pearce.

Three minutes from Yankalilla’s Main Street and I’m at Cockatoo Creek Farm.

Atop the eighty-acre property I see the dune-fringed Normanville coastline in one direction; in the other, Mount Hayfield blanketed in dense scrub.

In January 2018, during the region’s driest summer in a hundred years, Chris and Bridgett Day moved here to establish a regenerative farm. The October afternoon I visit is warm and uncharacteristically calm, and sitting between tin sheds and twisted gums, we notice the hills have already started to undergo their summer bleaching.

Anticipating another harsh season, Chris tells me last year they had significantly less rainfall than the annual average. ‘It was a tough year to start, however we are thankful as much of the rest of the state had basically desert climate conditions,’ he says.

The ‘usually reliable’ rainfall and good soil were two of the Fleurieu’s draw-cards, along with the peninsula’s beaches, communities and conservation areas. And the couple seem to be pretty happy here, as do their co-habitants: a flock of sheep, a dozen Angus cattle (affectionately described as ‘500kg puppies’), some chooks, a few alpacas, and Wombat, their stumpy-tail red heeler.

With a background in urban permaculture and a penchant for overlyambitious veggie gardens, Bridgett and Chris always wanted to transition to acreage. It was their vision to build a diverse regenerative farm and provide quality food direct to locals that earned them the 44

Willunga Farmers Market (WFM) Farmers Scholarship. Supported by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, the annual scholarship assists emerging farmers with start-up capital, mentorship and a two-year licence to trade primary produce at WFM. Market-goers can now find Cockatoo Creek Farm’s own grass-fed lamb, garlic and olive oil on the third Saturday of each month. The produce isn’t just an obvious marriage of flavours, but an ‘environmental service.’ Chris and Bridgett regularly move their shedding composite sheep (the shaggy ones that don’t need shearing), cattle and chickens to build nutrient-rich soil, sequester carbon, and improve pasture biodiversity. With strategic land and water management, the property remains noticeably greener than its surrounds.

‘You could say we’re grass farmers. We spent most of our first year here actively observing and interacting with our pasture and farm’s ecosystems. We try to work within the limits of nature and enhance what’s already here,’ Bridgett tells me. But the pair know that a sound understanding of the land isn’t enough in an increasingly unpredictable climate. To diversify their crops and income, they’ve planted 140 fruit and nut trees of all different varieties (as well as 1000 indigenous trees for native wildlife to enjoy). Chris also runs a permaculture installation and education business, Every Day Sustainable Living.

Bridgett and Chris are grateful to work within a region they say is ‘leading with entrepreneurs at the forefront of trying new things in agriculture.’ For them, this involves ‘small and slow solutions’ and combining new knowledge with long-learnt lessons, to simultaneously grow nutrient-dense food and restore natural ecosystems.

Custom Home Design

Phone: 7080 0476 www.designtechstudio.com.au

STUDIO

BUSINESS PROFILE

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Page left: Gail and Rob’s country-industrial inspired kitchen features wormy chestnut open shelving and profile doors with frame detail. Photography by Jonathan VDK, Stylist: Emily O’Brien. Above: David & Verity’s contemporary curves kitchen features American Oak v-panelling with a feature splashback of hexagonal tile in muted colour tones. This kitchen won Kitchen Design of the Year at the 2019 HIA Awards. Photography by Josie Withers, Stylist: Emily O’Brien.

SpaceCraft Story by Petra de Mooy.

I have a confession to make: I have been known to swoon over the kitchens created by SpaceCraft Joinery. Their bespoke modern kitchens and joinery are superbly crafted with standout style.

Founders Ellen and Nathan Wundersitz have formed a great partnership – both as a couple and with this company – and the many awards the business has received both locally and interstate are just a part of their success.

At the heart of the business are Ellen and Nathan – risk takers with an unerring eye for design and detail.

When they met, Ellen was working as general manager at Parallax Design in Adelaide. Nathan was working as a cabinetmaker and had started to take steps towards building his own business by taking on what they called ‘homies’ – cabinetry jobs that he undertook in his spare time. The work kept coming and so in 2007, with their first son on the way, the couple decided to take the plunge and set up their own workshop.

Ellen’s intelligent brand development skills ensured the fledgling business had a strong identity from the start. Their physical presence, however, took a little more work. ‘We saw this shed,’ says Ellen, referring to the current home of SpaceCraft, ‘on Christmas Day 2007 – but it was very grotty.’ After some deliberation, it was decided that her father would buy the building which is conveniently close to the main road in the heart of Strathalbyn. Nathan and Ellen cleaned it up and quickly set up shop and over time worked hard to pay back Ellen’s dad.

From these humble beginnings, the business has steadily grown.

‘We’ve pretty much employed one new person every year since,’ says Nathan. With their current team now at twelve, they have expanded beyond this original space, moving their assembly area into another building across the street. They’re also in the midst of planning a new purpose-built facility in Strathalbyn’s commercial precinct.

‘We were initially unsure whether being in Strath was a deterrent for potential clients,’ says Ellen. But after doing some extensive market research, they found that it wasn’t a barrier and today fifty per cent of their business comes from the Adelaide metropolitan area. ‘What we discovered was that people who are local love having us here but even more surprisingly, people who live in the metro area see it as a kind of ‘discovery location.’ They like going for a drive, making a day of it, going for lunch and doing a bit of antique shopping > 47

Top left: Nathan and Ellen’s eco-scandi inspired kitchen features hoop pine plywood internals, open shelving and laminated bench tops. Photography by Jonathan VDK, Stylist: Emily O’Brien. Bottom left: Terry and Gerry’s shaker-industrial inspired kitchen features solid wormy chestnut timber with a gorgeous tiled splashback. This kitchen won New Kitchen up to $35k at the 2019 HIA Awards and a Commendation for Kitchen Design of the Year. Photography by Josie Withers, Stylist: Emily O’Brien Right: Nathan and Ellen Wundersitz at their showroom / workshop in Strathalbyn.

while they’re here,’ she says. Certainly it works for them personally.

‘We love this town,’ says Ellen. ‘Our kids are at school and it’s such a nice place to live.’

The business works with reputable builders both locally and closer to the city. Over the years, these relationships have become an important part of SpaceCraft’s story. ‘We started out working for a few builders who have also expanded their operations and so with their growth we have grown too,’ says Nathan. These relationships continue to provide one of their two main sources of work, the other coming from private clients who are renovating.

In the twelve years they’ve been operating, the business has evolved faster than Nathan and Ellen imagined it would. It’s been challenging at times but despite a few growing pains they’ve gone from strength to strength, learning much along the way. Both partners put a strong emphasis on the ethos of the business both inside and outside the walls of their workshop and showroom. ‘We’ve worked out the importance of having people with not only the technical skills but also [a] good cultural fit,’ says Ellen. ‘Right now I would say that we have that perfect skill set and perfect team.’

If the accolades are anything to go by, it’s a winning recipe. The team swept the awards in every South Australian category they entered in the 2019 Kitchen and Bathroom Design Institute Awards (four in total, including Kitchen Designer of the Year). They also scooped a prestigious national award at the Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association Awards in Sydney. The awards are about boosting brand awareness and trust but they’ve also been a good platform for marketing the designer specs of the business and for building morale within their team.

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Good branding, quality workmanship and design are at the core of these achievements, but it’s Ellen’s years in the graphic design industry and Nathan’s work ethic that provide the foundation.

‘I guess that early grounding is where my marketing bent and my appreciation of good design comes from – I developed a real appreciation for the strength that a brand can have if it is positioned well and if it’s considered and all of the marketing collateral is consistent,’ says Ellen. ‘Nathan’s design expertise is where we meet halfway – it’s kind of like I work on the business and he works in the business.’

One thing they’ve come to understand about their clients, is that they seek out Nathan’s design work to help create a point of difference in their homes. Ellen elaborates, ‘our clients want to make their space personal and special so they come to us for something that is a bit quirky. They want to be a bit brave and do something a bit different.’

While SpaceCraft does do provincial, shaker and more traditional styles, they’re best known for their mid-century Scandi style. ‘Our clients come to us to create something special for themselves and their family and their home. And at the end of the day it comes down to the experience of our clients,’ they both concur.

A quick visit to the testimonials page on their website reveals words like ‘meticulous,’ ‘vision,’ ‘aesthetic,’ ‘pleasure,’ and ‘happy.’ And while those first few descriptors speak to quality and design, it’s the last word that really captures what Ellen and Nathan create for their clients through SpaceCraft. ‘Happy’ is certainly a good word to end on when it comes to design.

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ARTIST FEATURE

Rebecca McEwan Story by Petra de Mooy

Above and page left: Rebecca McEwan in her studio in McLaren Vale. Images by Rosina Possingham.

Rebecca McEwan spent the first fifteen years of her working life as a critical care nurse and came to her career as a professional artist later than most. Along the way, however, she maintained a lifelong practice of being creative in her spare time, influenced by her mum who was ‘always making.’

Perhaps signalling the direction Rebecca’s artistic life would eventually take, her creative diversions would come to blur the line between ‘spare’ time and ‘work’ time. In addition to the rigours of full-time nursing, Rebecca produced a line of children’s clothing, while a course in millinery led to a short stint in hatmaking.

Life apace with nursing and these sidelines, Rebecca also married, moved states and had children – eventually ending up closer to ‘home’ near the beach at Port Noarlunga. Despite a full life, she began to identify that making art was something she wanted to put more time into. She launched into more artistic study and quickly realised that this was where she really wanted to be. So in 2013 she enrolled into a full time program at the Adelaide College of the Arts graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design with an Award for Excellence.

The life experience that Rebecca brings to her practice seems to sit well with her. Although she describes herself as an emerging artist there’s an assuredness to her work that one would usually expect to see in an artist with many more years of practice. This confidence has seen her work her way from group shows to her first solo show quite quickly, winning accolades and taking opportunities as they have presented themselves. > 51

Top left: Work in progress. Photo by: Lee Walter. Right: Nagalingum. Pastel, pencil, gouache, oil, encaustic on board. 90 x 60cm. Bottom left: Pockets 10. Pastel, ink, encaustic and acrylic. Right: Pollen Landscape. Pencil, pastel, charcoal 100 x 80 cm.

One of those opportunities came in the form of a mentorship at the State Herbarium. As an avid gardener (and with her nursing background), this mentorship married together plants and science in a perfect union that also enabled her continuing interest in insects and the natural world to evolve. During her exploration she was able to draw on the expertise and knowledge of the resident botanists as well as the vast collections in the adjoining Museum of Economic Botany.

The chance to examine pollen under a scanning electron microscope – its patterns, shapes and textures magnified to extreme close up – was a unique source of inspiration. The experience prompted Rebecca to begin a series of drawings of pollen grains and one of those drawings was selected as a finalist in the Heysen Prize for 52

Landscape. ‘Being able to immerse myself in the Herbarium and talk plants and look at plants – it has given me a visual catalogue of museums and the way they present their work and the materiality of it,’ Rebecca explains.

The whole experience was a catalyst for Rebecca, taking her deeper into her interest in bringing science and art together and leading her to look into historical science. This study shaped her work while she was an artist in residence at Sauerbier House in Port Noarlunga during 2018, where she created a body of work looking at the history of bees and beekeeping on the South Coast. This in turn evolved into an exploration of the folklore and mythology related to beekeeping and a growing interest in the intrinsic connection between humans

Top left: The sea is ritual. Pencil, pastel, ink, acrylic, encaustic wax 90 x 60 cm. Right: Ritual Plunge #1. Ink, pastel, pencil, encaustic wax, paper on wooden panel 40 x 60cm.

Bottom: Work in progress. Photo by: Lee Walter. All other images courtesy of the artist.

and the natural world. The finished work was visually diverse, taking the form of drawings, paintings and 3D work using a range of materials including encaustic wax, honey and pollen. A large chandelier made from a mass of tiny vials of honey formed the centrepiece of the exhibition.

psyche: ‘The experience of immersion has been scientifically proven to slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and calm the mind.

But there are other unquantifiable responses elicited in us as humans by water, especially the ocean, that have a profound effect on our state of being.’

Rebecca continued to explore the connections humans form with the natural world in her 2019 exhibition titled ‘We are not strangers here’ for Hill Smith Gallery in Adelaide. This time, her work honed in on how humans connect with water and our physiological and psychological responses to it. ‘There is a space you go into with water, it’s quiet and meditative,’ Rebecca says. In her artist’s statement she elaborated further on the tangible and intangible effects of water on the body and

Rebecca draws on all of her experiences of making by creating eloquent, visual connections between her concepts and the physical work. There is a delicate and ephemeral nature to her art and the viewer is treated to these beautiful, quiet and thoughtful works created by the deft hand of this talented artist.

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Northpoint Fleurieu Strathalbyn Cup 2020 Sunday Feb 2

Summer race day glam meets Fleurieu country charm in a striking setting at the Northpoint Fleurieu Strathalbyn Cup. Radiant roses and manicured lawns provide the perfect background for indulging in a refreshing beverage at the ever-popular Pimm’s Pop Up Bar – a staple of any great summer event.

Cash and prizes are plentiful, and this year’s generous event organisers promise more chances to win big than ever before.

This is an absolutely fabulous day that caters for everyone – even if you’re not betting on the races you can still try your luck in the Fashion at the Races qualifying event. Categories of Best Dressed Womenswear, Runner-up Best Dressed, Best Millinery, Best Footwear Women’s and Best Dressed Menswear give you pretty good odds if you ask us! Either way, with a paddle in one hand and a frosty glass of sparkling wine in the other, you’re in for some fun-filled glamour and race excitement.

With vine-lined plains, award-winning wineries and beautiful historic buildings, Strathalbyn truly is the epitome of a quaint weekend escape – and the Cup is the perfect excuse to soak it all up.

Founded in 1922 by a group of Fleurieu racing enthusiasts, this stunning racecourse is operated by the Strathalbyn Racing Club, which hosts over fifteen race meetings throughout the year.

We have no doubt that this summer race is the best event to savour unparalleled trackside atmosphere, breathtaking panoramic views as well as the wholesome, friendly and hospitable local country atmosphere.

Whether you’re a racing enthusiast enticed by the quality fields and jockeys, or in it for the frocks, fascinators and glorious selection of local wines, this promises to be an affordable event for the whole family – and with $20 general admission and free entry for kids under fifteen we’re inclined to believe them. Premium packages – guaranteed to make for a divine day enjoyed in your very own gorgeous white marquee on a private lawn area – are also on offer for those looking for an extra lavish day.

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Get your bow ties and summer frocks at the ready!

For more information and to grab your ticket visit: https://www.theracessa.com.au

Wander, discover and enjoy Alexandrina...

Rivers of Australia - A Journey Along The Murray* in Goolwa on 16 Feb

Found sculpture exhibition at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct from 6 December to 27 January Portrait of a Kangaroo, Michael Chorney at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct from 6 December to 27 January Fun Family Flicks* during the school holidays ‘Sherlock Gnomes’ on 10 Jan, ‘Toy Story 4’ on 11 January and ‘The Comet Kids’ on 12 January at Centenary Hall, Goolwa Beaches Boats and Boards at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct from 6 Dec to 27 Jan

Almost Face to Face at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa on 17 January Creating Your Piece* workshop at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa on 18 January Australia Day Celebrations at Strathalbyn and Goolwa on Sun 26 January Annabelle Collett, Creator and Catalyst exhibition at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct from 31 January to 29 March Plastic Fantastic* workshop at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct on 15 and 16 February I AM BRAVE at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct from 31 January to 29 March

Margi Nolan at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa from 12 Dec to 31 Jan

Night Fever - The Bee Gees Tribute Show* at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 1 February Braggaddocio at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa from 5 February to 15 March

We look forward to welcoming you to our region Summer Swell Outdoor Cinema, ‘Oddball’ at Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot on 25 Jan

* tickets/booking required

For bookings and enquiries please visit www.visitalexandrina.com or call Council’s Visitor Information Centre on 1300 466 592.

For more events in the region view the program online at www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/jaw

Nathan Munro aka ‘Munners’ is a striker for the Croydon Kings in the National Premier League South Australia. He also had a stint playing overseas in the Welsh Second Division for Mold Alexandra FC. Hometown: Goolwa.

Styled by Rivalry Urbanwear.

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Rising stars Australians love their sport, whether it’s recreational, amateur or professional.

These rising stars started young in clubs around the Fleurieu. Through sheer hard work and determination they are taking it to the next level.

All clothing and accessories from Vicinity Colonnades Women’s hair by Hairhouse Warehouse Colonnades.

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Nikki Gore aka ‘Turbo’ is a mid-fielder and was the Adelaide Crows number one pick in 2018. She made her debut in Round 6 against Greater Western Sydney. In 2019 the Crows went on to win the Grand Final.

Hometown: Christies Beach.

Styled by Rivalry Urbanwear.

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In 2019 Amy Gore stepped up on the World Surf League Qualifying Series taking her world ranking to all new heights.

Only four years ago Amy was quoted saying ‘it is my dream to become a pro surfer’. Mission accomplished, but she’s not done yet. Amy now has aspirations to continue to climb her ranking to continue to compete against some of the best in the world.

Hometown: Christies Beach.

Styled by: Beaches Apparel.

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Tahlita Buethke plays centre or wing defence as a rep for the McLaren Vale Netball Club.

She was also the youngest person ever to make it to the A1 day league in 2019.

Hometown: Aldinga Beach. Styled by Lorna Jane.

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Summer feels Whether its beachside fun, dinner parties on the deck, or stepping out in style during summer’s warm lingering nights ... here are some of our favourite things for creating a relaxed vibe.

Dotti: Acrylic Panama (Natural) $19.95, Sunglass Hut: Michael Kors Sunglasses (MK1033 Pink) $284.95.

Beaches Apparel: Ripcurl Tote (Saffron Skies) $59.99, Dotti: Summer Tote Bag (Natural) $39.95.

Ishka: Fringed Stripy Hammock (Multi) $79.95 and Adeline Chenille Queen Quilt Cover Set (Dusty Red) $199.00.

Dusk: Anya Mosquito Coil Holder $34.95 and Sarhia Cone Incense Holder $19.95. Ishka: Round Mandala Ottoman (Aqua) $159.95.

Canopy: Davis & Waddell Mojave Bowls on paddle set $44.95. Harris Scarfe: Soren Otomi Picnic Plate $11.95ea and Otomi Picnic Tumbler $11.95ea.

Dusk: Outdoor Candle (Lemongrass & Citronella) $39.99, Australian Geographic: Hookey $49.99.

Colonnades Shopping Centre | Noarlunga @colonnadesshopping

BUSINESS PROFILE

Above: The areas along the river will be maintained as a public walkway with recreational picnic and play areas dotted throughout.

Whatever happened to Greenhills?

Story by Katrina McLachlan. Photography by Brenton Edwards.

Ask any South Australian over the age of twenty and they’ll have a funny story or fond memory about Greenhills Adventure Park. Although it operated right up until early 2016, Greenhills is really always remembered as a snapshot of Australian summers in the eighties and nineties, when board shorts, neon t-shirts and boob tubes were the outfits of choice. The good times on the paddle boats and go carts, scaling walls or putt-putting around the par-three golf course were all about having a laugh in the fresh air. It all added up to a day of wonderful family fun.

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Only a few years on and Greenhills has been transformed into a hidden haven of new homes. Local neighbourhood koalas, kookaburras and warbling magpies are now the closest neighbours of families ready for a new adventure.

Greenhills Adventure Park was established by Margaret and Bill McKenzie and Rosemary and Tom Builder in 1982 and officially opened in March 1983 by the then South Australian Minister for Tourism, Gavin Keneally. For more than three decades, energetic tourists and locals enjoyed countless hours playing and relaxing with family and friends across the ten-hectare grounds that offered more than twenty attractions.

Greenhills Adventure Park hosted circuses, jet ski demonstrations, and even South Australia’s first ever bungee jump which was strung up from a crane over the lake – and Craig Littlely has been there to enjoy it all. As the Grounds and Duty Manager of the Adventure Park the fun didn’t stop for Craig when the park closed, he stayed on as the Grounds Maintenance Manager of the Greenhills development.

Above left: Greenhills Land Management Group Director, Dean Kyros says, ‘most people don’t even know this secret little haven even exists.’ Above right: For Craig Littlely – the Grounds and Duty Manager of the Adventure Park – the fun didn’t stop when the park closed, he stayed on as the Grounds Maintenance Manager of the Greenhills development.

‘I worked as a staff supervisor while at university and travelling and then full time as one of the managers of the park so you could say I’ve been enjoying the fun at Greenhills for more than 25 years,’ Craig says. ‘During the mid nineties, I was even part of the stunt team in the school holiday jet ski show and dressed up as the Paddle Pop Lion on many occasions. Greenhills Adventure Park gave so many young locals a great start with a first job – a place to learn life skills and how to work hard.’

Craig says the Greenhills development has embraced the legacy of fun embedded in the old parklands and he can still picture the tractor-drawn train slowly making its way around the lake on a path that is now a walking trail. ‘My favourite memories include seeing the same families coming back summer after summer having such a great time, the hundreds of staff members I worked with and the mere fact that I managed and maintained an adventure park as my job for all those years,’ Craig says. ‘To now still be involved in maintaining the grounds, bringing enjoyment to new families and sharing some stories from the past as they embrace the gorgeous natural surroundings, is a privilege.’

Greenhills Land Management Group Director, Dean Kyros, knows how important location is for people wanting to purchase property and says the hidden location of Greenhills ensures it’s well protected from the coastal elements and any noise from passing traffic.

‘Greenhills has the beautiful Hindmarsh River running along a border and is adjacent to the McCracken Golf Course – a four-minute drive from Victor Harbor in one direction and the Expressway in the other – most people don’t even know this secret little haven even exists,’ Dean says.

‘Preserving the natural beauty of the Greenhills site has been a priority and we have worked hard with the Council to develop activation plans for the seven-hectare reserve where nature walking trails and jogging paths will feature along with a long lunching table for family feasts. Play equipment and a playing field with a basketball hoop court, soccer and footy goals will ensure there is always a friendly game to watch or join when not enjoying the peace and stillness of just walking through the gum trees lining the meandering paths,’ Dean continues. >

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Above: The developers are determined to retain the fun recreational aspects of the original development.

While Victor Harbor has an older population, City of Victor Harbor CEO, Victoria MacKirdy, says more families are choosing to live and raise their children on the Fleurieu Peninsula with great schools, affordable housing options, an enviable lifestyle, and the close proximity to Adelaide. ‘One of the key challenges we have faced is keeping young people here in our community as we often see students finish school and then move outside of the district for higher education or employment opportunities,’ Victoria says. ‘Our aim is to see young people access these opportunities here within our region so the Council has been working with Regional Development Australia advocating for a regional study hub in Victor Harbor.

Add this to our largest capital works program yet, worth $11.2 million, and investments by the SA Government of $20 million for the Granite Island Causeway and $6 million to create the Great Southern Ocean Walk and we are working hard to build a strong foundation for our future.’

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And the future is looking bright. Greenhills will soon be home to around seventy new residents and if the turnout to the Stage Two Launch Open Day in November was any indication, there are many more families planning on joining the twelve homeowners currently walking down memory lane. These homeowners include former Greenhills Adventure Park employee and now resident Chris Sedunary. Having lived on a farm in Hindmarsh Valley for all his life Chris was looking for an affordable home with a rural feel and so signed on his property at Greenhills in late 2017, moving in last May.

‘I actually worked at Greenhills Adventure Park for two seasons and so have heaps of memories of the fun times we all had but I was really attracted to how quiet it is and how it has such a rural feel with so many trees,’ Chris says. ‘The location is great for getting out to the main road to go to Adelaide easily, along the coast or into Victor and it is also close to the CFS Brigade where I volunteer.’

With such a rich history, a gorgeous location and much loved name, it’s no surprise that Greenhills is offering a raft of new adventures for those lucky enough to jump on board.

Visit Historic

OXENBERRY Farm

• Wedding & Event facilities • B&B accommodation • Cellar door boutique regional wines

EstablisHEd 1840

• Unique Grapple Ciders • Daily Café

26-28 Kangarilla Rd McLaren Vale, www.oxenberry.com Ph: 08 8323 0188

SCARPANTONI ESTATE GROWN - FAMILY MADE

Celebrating 40 Years of Family Winemaking in McLaren Vale 1979 - 2019 Tel:(08) 8383 0186, Scarpantoni Dr, McLaren Flat SA 5171, www.scarpantoniwines.com

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PENINSULA PEOPLE

Ask a local

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01. Andrew Banks Teacher, Willunga Waldorf School Where do you go? Bashams Beach – rocks, beach and when you’re lucky, a fun wave. To eat? Russell’s or Pipi at Middleton with my beautiful partner. For coffee? De Groot – reminds me of living in Melbourne. To drink? I’ve enjoyed playing in my band ‘Dust Bowl Chic’ at South Coast Brewery and the Shifty Lizard, while sampling their new creations. Where do you shop? Willunga Farmers Market. Love Najobe for slow cooked goodness. What was the best thing about 2019? Participating in the Fleurieu Future Leaders Program. Learning to play the cello with my kids at school. Going to my men’s group each fortnight and connecting with other blokes. What are you looking forward to in 2020? Seeing our new high school building at Willunga Waldorf complete and watching my son start school. Uniquely Fleurieu? Port Willy – beautiful blue water, unique sand, cliffs and happy families and kids. A good drop?

Anything from Noon Winery or McCarthy’s Orchard. Where I shop? Miss Gladys – I like the floral shirts and jackets. I’d like to try? Little Rickshaw – I’ve heard good things.

02. Cheryl Buck Owner/coach, Surf Culture Australia Where do you go to eat? Deep Blue Café Moana, Victory Hotel, Star of Greece For coffee? Goodness Coffee Aldinga, Pipi at Middleton To drink? Fall from Grace – I love the vibe and owner Gill is always up for a chat. Where do you shop? Miss Gladys on Sea, Littlest Vintage and the Fleurieu ArtHouse, McLaren Vale. What was the best thing about 2019? Finishing our home renovation and extension, winning the over 50’s state surfing championships and then competing at nationals, most nerve wracking thing I’ve ever done! What are you looking forward to in 2020? Expanding my surf business with the introduction of a new program for women encompassing the beach lifestyle. Uniquely Fleurieu? The view along the beach looking towards the Sellicks cliffs.

Stunning at all times, and in all weather. A good drop? Maxwell’s Eocene and Minotaur Shiraz, Hardy’s Rare Fortified Liqueur Sauvignon Blanc, Fox Creek Vixen Sparkling Shiraz. I’d like to try? Helicopter flight over the Fleurieu coast [and] snorkelling the Port Noarlunga reef.

03. Kristy Robertshaw Owner, Charlie & Jack Where do you go? For coffee? To eat? Coffee at De Groot Coffee Co. Food at home (because my husband is an amazing cook) but we recently went to Pipi at Middleton for a great burger! Where do you shop? There are so many fantastic small businesses on the Fleurieu! I love the goodies from Raw Bulk Wholefoods and the delicious fish and oysters from Oyster George. What was the best thing about 2019? Having the opportunity to expand my shop. I am so appreciative of the continued support I’ve had from the Fleurieu community. I also had three days camping in the Flinders Ranges … HIGHLIGHT! What are you looking forward to in 2020? I’m looking forward to building on my work/life balance so that my business can continue to support my community. I’d love to work on supporting some local charities and programs. Uniquely Fleurieu? We are walking distance from the beach [and] places like Deep Creek are practically in our backyard. A good drop? Mosquito Hill Blanc de Blancs I’d like to try? I’ve been trying to get to Salopian Inn for AGES!

04. Mary Trowbridge Audiologist and owner, Fleurieu Hearing Where do you go? To eat? For coffee? To drink? Spoilt for choice, but on the day Jimmie’s at Aldinga Beach to the Salopian Inn. The Meeting Place is an innovative and great place for coffee. Where do you shop? Gifts from McLaren Unvaled. I can always find something different and personal. What was the best thing about 2019? The genuine engagement of local businesses through Fleurieu Living, Mix and Mingles and the McLaren Vale Business Association.

What are you looking forward to in 2020? Hope all is as good in 2020, with a prosperous season for all farmers and grape growers. Uniquely Fleurieu?

It would have to be our beaches and Heysen walking trails. A good drop? Samson Tall reflects so much of our region with an amazing boutique winery.

I’d like to try? I’m still trying to get to the Willunga Market. Ridiculous!

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05. Marcus Syvertsen Interior designer/stylist/owner, Little Road Studio (plus stylist for FLM!) Where do you go? To eat? For coffee? To drink? Love a long lunch at The Currant Shed, seriously good food and impeccable service. 3 Monkeys for coffee – the girls know how to make a good almond latte. What was the best thing about 2019? Styling some amazing homes and businesses for FLM and crossing the finish line of the Melbourne Marathon. Fleurieu Future Leaders program – you all need to apply! What are you looking forward to in 2020?

Opening an interior design studio and retail store in Old Aldinga late December 2019. Uniquely Fleurieu? Silver Sands Beach, Kuitpo Forest with the kids.

A good drop? Down the Rabbit Hole Chardonnay – seriously good and my new favourite Samson Tall’s Grenache Rose – Paul and Heather are crafting some amazing wines. Where I shop? I wish I was closer to South Seas Books, also Miss Gladys on Sea, Willunga Farmers Markets. I’d like to try? Mitolo for lunch would be amazing.

06. Megan Jackson Restaurant manager, Nino’s Victor Harbor and Loco Mexican Where do you go? To eat? For coffee? To drink? To eat: Hotel Elliot for a great feed close to home, Salopian Inn for a formal lunch. What was the best thing about 2019? Nino’s Victor Harbor winning the Best Italian Informal Restaurant for Restaurant & Catering SA. All the hard work of the amazing people I work with paid off. What are you looking forward to in 2020? Further development of Victor Harbor to increase the hospitality and tourism industry in the area and keep the town I grew up in growing. Uniquely Fleurieu? D ​ eep Creek Conservation Park – Beautiful spots for camping and walking. A good drop?

Anything from Yangarra Estate or SC Pannell in McLaren Vale. Where I shop? The things I need: Jetty Food Store and Indulgent Meats in Port Elliot. Things I like: Mist in Port Elliot. I’d like to try? The Star of Greece and to experience – Waitpinga Quad Bike Adventures.

07. Michelle Wheare Director, Spoilt Rotten Hair Where do you go? To eat? For coffee? To drink? I eat at The Little Rickshaw, where I am always very spoilt with their yummy food. Where I shop? I love to shop at Miss Gladys On Sea, Joff and Razak always know how to dress me outside of the box. What was the best thing about 2019? Making new local friends and building my relationships with my beautiful clients. What are you looking forward to in 2020? I am looking forward to my son starting at Cardijn College – finally close to home. Uniquely Fleurieu? I love the beaches of the Fleurieu and my girlfriends coming down from the city to enjoy some tastings at our local wineries. A good drop? Ivybrook Farm Tempranillo, I love the rustic spanish, yet savoury flavour.

08. Susie Williams Owner, Fleurieu App Where do you go? To the beach and the national parks as much as possible. To eat? Star of Greece has always been a favourite to sneak off to with the hubby. For coffee? Bombora on the River at Goolwa, 3 Monkeys at Willunga or MV Meeting Place in McLaren Vale. To drink? Usually home since we have three kids … but we do sneak off to the Victory Hotel for a bevvie occasionally. What was the best thing about 2019? Settling back on the Fleurieu after five years living in New Zealand and then creating the Fleurieu App. What are you looking forward to in 2020? Our kids being more settled will be a great thing.

I also look forward to watching the growth of the app and getting back out exploring our glorious backyard! Uniquely Fleurieu? The location! The best of all worlds … the beautiful beaches and countryside, the relaxed atmosphere and people while still being close to a major city if you need.

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FOOD & WINE

Uncorked Wine reviews by Gill Gordon-Smith IWE

Chilling out We all know the Fleurieu can get pretty hot during the sunny season, which makes keeping wines at the perfect temperature a little problematic, especially if you’re a red lover. The classic room temperature for serving red wines is around eighteen degrees, but in our warm climate that can be an impossible dream and often they taste better a little cooler. This edition we look at some delicious varieties and styles to cool down and chill out with over summer.

Packed with personality and flavour, these wines work well in and out of the ice bucket.

Golden Child 2019 Manic Monday Pinot Noir Kuitpo Golden Child is a true family affair from grape to glass. James Hamilton’s wines have been going from strength to strength over the last few vintages and this delicious pinot is light on its feet and perfect for chilled summer drinking.

Packed with crunchy fresh flavours of strawberry, raspberry, pink grapefruit, mandarin pith and watermelon it’s a refreshing and light style that goes down far too easily. It’s summer in a glass.

I’ll be drinking this with duck salad, pomegranate and terrines.

Year Wines 2018 Cinsault McLaren Vale Young guns Caleigh and Luke from Year Wines are well known for thoughtful, juicy, flavour-filled wines with pure drinkability and this McLaren Vale beauty is right on brand. This wine is lower in alcohol but full of flavour, the perfect style for chilling down. Lashings of red fruits, cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry layered with a little spice and dried herbs. The palate has a silky texture and lovely finish that makes you want to fill the glass again and again.

Cinsault hails from the southern Rhone and is most often found in blends with those other Rhone stars grenache and syrah. I’ll be drinking this wine with prosciutto, ripe figs and cheese, meatballs and anything made by the good folk at Little Acre.

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Charlotte Dalton 2018 Love Me Love You Shiraz Adelaide Hills Talented winemaker and Hot 100 2018 winner Charlotte Hardy and her family are a welcome addition to the Fleurieu. Her family move from the Adelaide Hills includes opening a new winery and tasting room with husband Ben of Cooke Brothers Wines, in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 complex. The grapes and growers Charlotte works with tell the story of her winemaking and personal journey and reflect her fun and thoughtful nature. Her joyous labels are the work of talented Willunga artist Saul Matthews.

Intense black cherry, ripe red fruits and a little exotic five spice on the nose are followed in the mouth by plump, juicy plums, blackberries and mulberries that are perfectly ripe and full of flavour.

The wonderful pulpy texture and sense of life and energy, especially with a little chill on it, keep me coming back for another glass.

It’s a beautifully balanced wine that’s ripe but not jammy, fruity but not simple and would work beautifully with a little chill. Hit the farmers market and match with everything from antipasto to smoked meats, eggplant, Italian dishes and barbecued ribs.

Kimbolton 2019 Carignan Langhorne Creek Good wine is definitely made in the vineyard and the Case family are very good at what they do – growing exceptional fruit to make beautiful, fruit-driven wines that keep getting better and better each season. With the opening of their award-winning cellar door, they now have completed the circle as growers and producers. Carignan is a warm climate grape found under various names in Spain, southern France and Italy. It’s a hardworking grape that, when grown and made well, gives a friendly, fruit-driven and delicious wine.

This juicy, medium-bodied wine is packed full of lively, bright, black cherry, red and black berries along with savoury dried herbs and a little warm spice. The fruit is balanced by silky tannins and has a long finish with a little aniseed ball twist. This is the perfect foil for spicy beef salads, tea-smoked duck, juicy barbecued ribs and on its own. Keep it chilled over the summer months and drink it slightly warmer over winter. Totally smashable – so appealing.

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salopian.com.au

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/salopianinn

G I N DISCOVERY

@salopianinn

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08 8323 8769

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bookings@salopian.com.au

c o r n e r

m a i n

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

a n d r o a d

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a u s t r a l i a

Image courtesy of Mirage Homes

For 25 years, Bennett Design Architect has been creating beautifully tailored, sustainable, award winning solutions. By drawing inspiration from nature, we pride ourselves on designs and material selections which coexist harmoniously with the surrounding land. Using this method, we work closely with our public and private clients to produce designs for a range of applications including wineries, homes and everything in between.

Bennett Design Architect Pty Ltd · 107 Main Road McLaren Vale SA 5171 · (08) 8323 7737 · contact@bennettdesign.com.au

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On the radar

Summer’s the perfect time to find new favourites on the Fleurieu.

Story by Jake Dean.

Above: This summer, look out for the Old Speed Coffee van at beachside locations from Moana to Port Noarlunga South.

Winter is widely considered hibernation season, but we’d argue summer’s an equally tough time to leave the house.

Why get off the couch when the air conditioner’s cranking, the cricket’s on and it’s an earth-scorching forty degrees outside? Finding the motivation to get out and do something new, too can be stifled when your fridge is stocked with Christmas leftovers and your militant new year’s resolution dictates you can only eat a handful of calories a day.

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But resist the urge to stay home this summer, we implore you!

The Fleurieu’s business boom shows no signs of slowing, and the following selection of food vans, cellar doors, entertainment destinations and more, should be incentive enough to get you out the door. In between forty-degree days and cricket sessions, that is.

Caravans Pitstop Italian Food Authentic homemade Italian food made with love ‘like nonna does’ is at the heart of Silvia and Vanni’s food truck. The fully qualified chefs spent years working in restaurants in Tuscany and Victoria before deciding to open their own mobile kitchen in Castlemaine two years ago. Victoria’s loss has been our gain this year, with Pitstop serving up homemade pasta, gnocchi, Italian donuts (bomboloni) and a selection of hot and cold drinks at the beaches surrounding their Aldinga home, as well as private functions. Buon appetito!

Above left: With a semi-permanent spot at Big Surf Middleton, you can’t miss Frankie and the Good Life! Photograph courtesy of @explore_with_formo. Above centre: Look out for Zan’s Van at local hot spots such as Seaford and Port Willunga. Above right: Authentic and very delicious, Pit Stop Italian can be found on the foreshore at Aldinga most weekends.

Buon appetito!

Frankie and the Good Life What do you get when you combine a sky-blue vintage 1969 Franklin Caravan (‘Frankie’) with hordes of satisfied folks enjoying the bounty within? Espresso and smoothie bar, Frankie and the Good Life. Beginning life as a Port Elliot pop-up in summer 2018/19, it’s now grown semi-permanent roots at Big Surf Middleton in summer 2019/20 (only absent for appearances at Porchland and Handpicked festivals). Regular food options including sushi and raw treats mean all your summer hunger bases are covered.

Zan’s Van There are few more ideal employment scenarios for a surfer than owning an eight-foot caravan named Gidget that can produce coffees wherever the waves are. Zan’s Van owner Zanny Twopenny, a former restaurant owner, traded in her follow-up career in aged care for a more flexible life, and she now sells Soul City Roasters coffee, alongside other hot and cold drinks and locally sourced sweets, at hotspots such as Seaford and Port Willunga. It’s nice to know that even if the surf’s bad, the coffee’s always pumping. >

Old Speed Coffee Co. Old Speed Coffee Co. was born out of a love of VWs, good coffee, and the desire for a ‘job’ with freedom and family at its heart. Enter Fred, a 1966 Volkswagen Kombi, selling De Groot coffee and Fleurieu Milk Company milk (and the MILKLAB range) at beachside spots from Moana to Port Noarlunga South, as well as regular events across the region. Check social media for Fred’s whereabouts and drop by for a cuppa.

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Above left: Check out Mark McQuade’s designs at Factory 9, Port Elliot. Above right: Little Bosa is the spot for live entertainment. Photo of Kim Mitchell courtesy of Richard Hodges.

Furniture and design

Live entertainment

Mark McQuade Furniture & Design, Port Elliot Whether you’re after a simple beach sign or an entire floating house, Mark McQuade has got you covered. The versatile designer and maker is setting up shop in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 over summer (Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm), where you can peruse his diverse range of works, including furniture, landscape paintings, beach sign-writing, and even tiny homes. ‘My design ethos is to recreate traditional useful pieces of furniture with a twist, whether it be in the colour, the wash or simple details,’ Mark says. Head to Instagram (@markmcquade_furniture) to see examples of his work, which utilise recycled timber and tin wherever possible.

Little Bosa, Port Elliot On a small farm on the outskirts of Port Elliot lies an eclectic live music and comedy venue that hopes to draw more touring acts to the Fleurieu. ‘Amazing artists come to Adelaide but hardly ever travel any further,’ says owner Nathan Vincent. ‘The Fleurieu, Port Elliot in particular, is an amazing place and we feel we can attract great acts just by giving them a fun environment to perform.’ Promoting local talent is another priority, and Nathan aims for a vibe fusing laid-back coastal Fleurieu with a dash of Bosa, a Sardinian seaside village.

Subscribe to upcoming events at littlebosa.com.au.

Also look out for the opening of Little Road Studio in late 2019 / early 2020 in the historic township of Aldinga.

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Top left: Maria and Paolo Bottin at their newly opened cellar door where they will be serving delicious Italian food alongside their delicious wines. Photo courtesy of Heidi Lewis. Bottom left: The new Never Never Distillery in McLaren Vale is guaranteed to be a popular spot. Above right: Charlotte Dalton at her newly opened cellar door ‘The Joinery’ at Factory 9. Photo courtesy of Jessica Clarke.

Wine and spirits The Joinery at Factory 9, Port Elliot Winemaker Charlotte Hardy, of Charlotte Dalton Wines, made her name in the booming Basket Range, but it’s on the Fleurieu that she and husband Ben Cooke (of Cooke Brothers Wines) have begun their next chapter. The pair, now calling Goolwa home, recently opened their new winery in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 complex and, in November 2019, will launch both brands’ first cellar door (at the former home of The Joinery creative space). Expect a laidback zone where you can hang out, play pool, drink beer, share simple plates of local produce, taste wines and talk shop (but only if you want to).

Vigna Bottin, Willunga Want to enjoy an authentic slice of Italy, right here on the Fleurieu?

You’re in luck. Vigna Bottin – run by Venetian winemaker Paolo Bottin and his Calabrian wife Maria – launched its cellar door in Willunga in October, serving traditional Italian wines and a delicious

selection of homely spuntini (small bites) to the masses. The cellar door is located at the former Au Pear restaurant, with the building and scenery emanating undeniably Italian vibes (Tuscany, perhaps?)

So if you’re looking for an overseas experience at a fraction of the cost – a glass of barbera in hand – then look no further.

Never Never Distilling Co., McLaren Vale By the time Never Never Distilling Co.’s new cellar door experience opens (hopefully December), you won’t need to visit anywhere else.

Its distillery, bar, tasting room, tours and gin kiosk, will sit opposite Chalk Hill Wines’ new cellar door, with a food offering operating in the slipway between the two venues and a world-class view outside.

It’s just the latest accomplishment for the Never Never team, which recently won World’s Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards in London, and its swagger extends to the world-class cellar door.

‘It’ll be an experience like none other in South Australia,’ says brand director, Sean Baxter. >

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Above left: Take a journey Down the Rabbit Hole and enjoy the aesthetic offerings of Elise and Dom. Above right: Fall from Grace will open in their new location in the same building but around the corner in early December, hallelujah! Photo courtesy of Angela Lisman.

Down the Rabbit Hole, McLaren Vale We hinted at the 2019 cellar door opening by regional darlings, Down the Rabbit Hole Wines, in Fleurieu Living last summer, and – true to their word – they delivered in August. Bohemian vibes seep from every nook and cranny of this welcoming space, right up to the two-storey light blue vintage bus at its rear. It’s marketed as ‘a place you can visit, try our wines, roll out a rug, enjoy platters of delicious goodness, pour another glass, sit a while [and] smile a lot.’ And the fact they don’t take bookings, hens/bucks parties or functions, means you don’t need to worry about rowdy groups.

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Fall from Grace, Aldinga Aldinga-based wine tasting bar, bottle shop and wine education hub, Fall from Grace, has been closed for winter due to a relocation (right around the corner in the same building!) But, like a good bottle of wine, it’ll be better with age once opened. Revitalised space aside, Fall from Grace (reopening December) will feature its weekly Friday night small-producer tastings and weekend opening hours (12 – 4pm), more music options and events, and it’ll also now be available for functions as a private bar/event space. One thing that won’t change is its focus on small local producers alongside a world-class international list, and its passion for wine education in a fun and inclusive environment.

Above left: This summer visit Leonard’s Mill side bar where you can hang out on the lawn and enjoy a more casual menu paired with their amazing wine list.Above right: At the new Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill you will find the freshest locally caught seafood, delicious Greek cuisine and another amazing wine list.

Restaurants Leonards Mill Summer Side Bar, Second Valley Leonards Mill, housed in a beautiful 161-year-old flour mill, is kicking goals. It was recently ranked #37 in Delicious South Australia’s list of the state’s top 100 restaurants – testament to the passion of its relatively new team and its focus on using produce from local familyowned businesses. Summer’s the perfect time for your maiden meal, with its Summer Side Bar opening weekends for lunch from midDecember and seven days from Boxing Day. Offering a casual dining experience in its bar and lawns, it’ll share the sustainable ethos of its restaurant’s a la carte lunch menu and degustation dinners (think whole animals, smoked meats and regional platters).

Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill, Old Noarlunga Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill is the realisation of a lifelong dream for southern seafood stalwart, Peter Moularas. He says it’s also a natural progression, given the expertise gleaned from decades in the industry, ever since working in his uncle’s Port Adelaide fish shop as a teen. The restaurant has handpicked A+ talent, including head chef Neil McGlew, formerly of The Kitchen Door at Penny’s Hill, and former d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant maitre d’ Georgie Weber. The location, too, is a treat. Entry is via a walkway behind Peter’s shop, Seafood Chest, revealing a striking restaurant with brilliant views of the Onkaparinga River and beyond.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Fluid families Story by Lori-Ellen Grant.

My Nana raised five children and the domestic world was her domain. And she was good at it. She loved lavender and there were always dried bunches around her home, scenting our rooms. There were boxes of old comics, dress ups and games. She taught us knitting and crafting and she was the best recycler I’ve ever met. I still have some of the foil Easter egg wrappers that she carefully smoothed out to reuse.

I didn’t really appreciate all that she did. In my world as a child, it all just seemed to happen. But when I think back now from my perspective as a partner and parent, there was so much love in the simplicity and care in their home.

I was a late bloomer when in came to family life and it came as something of a shock. I didn’t appreciate the time involved in the household tasks necessary to keep everything running with four children – three of them under five years old. Achieving order is like trying to tame the sea. There are brief moments of calm and then it’s wild again. Learning to appreciate – even enjoy – this chaos was new to me.

Attitudes around running the household are formed by generational and familial experiences. As a health practitioner, I hear many people’s stories about their domestic lives and how they reckon internally and externally with their everyday reality. These experiences, including my own, reveal the internal tension we can create through the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

For many women, these stories involve a variation on having it all and doing it all. But the ‘all’ too often involves sacrificing the personal wellness of the woman at the centre. To those women, I say: it’s 76

alright for your needs to be met too. However, no one knows what you want if you don’t tell them. Ask, adjust and collaborate, so that everyone’s needs within the family are considered. And then ask again; regular check ins help reduce slippage into old habits. One of the great things about teaching our own children about accountability is that it’s best taught and modelled in the home by both parents.

Asking for what you want isn’t simple. You have to know what you want. See it, feel it, embody it and it becomes more straightforward to take the right action. Parenting (I think) can be fun. But when we have an empty tank it’s a whole lot less fun for everyone. When I feel depleted, I take off for a run in the natural landscape around my home. That hour of solitude fills my bucket and being in nature feels as refreshing as a dip in the sea. More often than not, everything is fine after that. Knowing what takes you back to your sweet spot is key.

Of course, the house still has to function. One idea is to hold a family meeting to discuss all of the household tasks, from paying the mortgage to feeding the baby, all the way through to cleaning up the yard. Having an open discussion about all the responsibilities and jobs that make up a household puts everyone on the same page – and gives every individual the chance to put their hand up for what they can do. In my own experience, everyone began to see how many things there were to do so it encouraged everyone in the family to put their hands up to help.

These conversations aren’t only about getting lunches packed and the kids to school on time. They’re about creating a vision for how we want our families to relate to each other and to the wider community.

Today’s families are no longer determined by gender-based norms.

Men AND women work, cook, parent and clean. Our roles within and outside the home are more fluid, embracing blood family and chosen family together; we open our homes, sharing and merging the journey of family life and community life. We are all in this together and looking after each other means also looking after ourselves. Let’s infuse our fluid family lives with joy, smell the lavender and keep it simple.

Seek your fresh horizon in 2020 Enrolment vacancies are now available for your child in Years 1-4 and Years 7-12 in 2020.

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FOOD & WINE PAIRING

Let’s get this party started Story by Mel Amos. Photography by Heidi Lewis.

Do you feel it? It’s that time of year again when the days are warmer and longer, school’s out (if you’re lucky, work is out too) and everyone is in party mode. That chaotic rush of the festive season is looming. And then before you know what, it’s passed us by and everyone relaxes into endless barbecues, alfresco eating and garden parties.

Fresh and easy eating is on the cards, so I’ve come up with a flavourpacked summer party starter requiring minimal effort on your part.

Seriously, it starts with a store bought roast chicken! Your friends and family will love you for it.

These little tostadas with their generous hit of spice and heat are begging for a chilled, summer tipple and this is where Shingleback’s 2019 Davey Estate Fiano comes in. This drop smacks of fresh green acidity, lime and apple aromas and fills the palate with a peachy creaminess. It just sounds like summer doesn’t it?

By the way, this recipe is extremely versatile – replace the chicken with pulled pork or crispy fish, or go vegetarian with some smashed white beans – they’re all winners. And if chilli is not your jam, then obviously leave it out or taper it down it bit. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Spicy chicken tostadas makes 25-30 Ingredients

Spicy chicken 2 packets of mini corn tortillas (approx 8-9 cm diameter) 1 store-bought roast chicken, meat picked and shredded 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground coriander 2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 tsp tomato paste Juice of 1 lime 100 ml water Freshly ground salt and pepper

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Quick pickled cucumber and cabbage 90 ml clear rice vinegar (or white vinegar) 60 ml boiling water 3 tbsp caster sugar 3 tsp salt 2 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced 2-3 mm thick 1/2 red cabbage, finely shredded Guacamole 2 avocados Juice of 1 lime Salt Garnish 2 or 3 bird’s eye chillis, thinly sliced Fresh coriander and mint, leaves roughly torn Sour cream

Method First, prepare the quick pickle by mixing the vinegar, water, sugar and salt together until dissolved. Split the mixture into two bowls and add the cucumber to one and the cabbage to the other (you could put them both in one bowl but you’ll end up with purple cucumber and no one wants that). Give them both a good stir so that the vegetables are completely covered in the pickling liquid. Set aside until required.

Heat the olive oil in a medium fry pan over medium-high heat and add garlic. Stir for one minute or until the garlic has softened but not coloured. Add the chicken and dry spices and cook for five minutes.

Add the lime juice, tomato paste and water and cook for a further three minutes. Taste it, season with salt and pepper as required and set aside.

Place the avocado into a bowl, add the lime juice and salt and mash with a fork. Season further with salt if required. Set aside.

Heat a dry fry pan or griddle pan over high heat. Add one or two tortillas at a time and fry for 2 or 3 minutes, turning once. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

To assemble the tostadas, place a spoonful of the chicken mixture on a tortilla, then a spoonful of guacamole and a drizzle of sour cream.

Top with some pickled cucumber and cabbage, fresh chilli, mint and coriander leaves (tip: don’t be over generous with your toppings, the idea is to eat these with your hands, not wear them!) Serve with lime wedges and Shingleback Fiano.

Note: if you can’t get hold of the mini tortillas, use the larger ones and cut out rounds with a cookie cutter. Save the scraps and make corn chips out of them by spraying with oil, season with salt and bake in the oven until crunchy.

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Relaxing on the Serafino Cellar Door deck is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Sit under the lights, with the traditional vines ready to weave their way through our pillars. Enjoy the atmosphere and the true pleasures of our wines. We have unique, delicious small bites and 3 gourmet platters to choose from, loaded with seasonal produce from our region. Look out for the food themed Serafino Cellar Door Deck Days, during Summer.

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FOOD & WINE

An intro to KI Wine Kangaroo Island was declared a wine region in 2001, making it one of the youngest wine regions in Australia, with the majority of the vineyards planted in the 1990s.

Bark Hut Road 2018 Shiraz Cabernet Franc This elegant Bordeaux-style blend offers firm tannins, natural acidity, beautiful blackberry and sarsaparilla notes with hints of French oak. It will age

The hilly terrain of the mainland that runs from the Flinders Ranges through Adelaide and down the Fleurieu Peninsula, extends on through Kangaroo Island, and with its cool Mediterranian climate, the grapes ripen almost simultaneously with those in the Adelaide Hills region.

Riesling 2019 This riesling is made from the fruit of vines thought to be the closest in the southern hemisphere to the ocean, growing just thirty metres from the water’s edge. The result is a fresh and lively wine with notes of aromatic key lime and lemon blossom, that complement a delicate yet zesty citrus palate.

The finish is clean and crisp and although perfect for drinking now, it will age beautifully and gracefully.

KI’s vineyards do come with a unique point of difference: the vines’ proximity to the ocean and its relatively consistent temperature, meaning the days don’t get as warm or the nights as cold, lead to a long, slow, even ripening period – resulting in perfect fruit for winemaking.

The producers of Kangaroo Island are passionate about the land and what grows on it. Many were farmers before they were grape growers and winemakers, and their knowledge of the seasons and their land enable them to grow some of South Australia’s best quality fruit. The wines are small batch, handmade and cared for from vineyard to bottle to consumer. With its natural beauty and healthy environment, KI truly is an untapped Australian wine region and is making an impression in markets around Australia and the globe.

The Islander Estate Vineyard The Rose 2019 Paying homage to Provençal wines, The Rose is elegant and playful. Don’t be fooled by the hints of sherbet, honeydew and rockmelon on the nose – this wine is dry but sports amazing texture and depth.

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beautifully up to ten years and beyond.

Bay of Shoals

Springs Road Chardonnay 2018 Planted in 1994 on a small sheep property just west of Kingscote, the Springs Road vineyard was bought by Joch Bosworth and Louise HemsleySmith in 2016 with their first wines released in 2018. Fermented in barrel, this chardonnay is a delicious full-bodied (but not buttery) wine showing cashew and white stone fruit on the nose and palate, with a hint of nougat too. A super balanced wine with lovely oak, acid, fruit and length.

The Stoke Wines Syrah 2019 Expressive red fruit with a freshness from 50% whole bunches. The palate has depth and a fine tannin structure that lingers. Enjoy now, or for the next five years.

Pinot Gris 2019 Varied ferment temperatures (and a touch in barrel) bring complexity, freshness and varietal aromas to this pinot gris. Time on lees fills out the palate, balanced by a crisp, bone-dry finish.

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Rich with inspiring venues, spectacular scenery and a host of amazing suppliers to ensure your wedding day is stylish, inspiring and unique, the Fleurieu Peninsula is an ideal location for a wedding. For this issue of FLM, a talented team of eight local suppliers collaborated to create this aspirational showcase. The images speak for themselves. 85

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Staycation Why leave home for your next getaway when everything you need is right here?

Story by Jake Dean.

Above: Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) in the azure waters off the pristine Port Willunga Beach. Who’s in? Photo courtesy of SUP Down South.

Pining for a holiday? Aren’t we all. Having a trip pencilled in the calendar gives us something to look forward to and being exposed to different cultures and experiences can help us grow in myriad ways. On the other hand, we often gloss over the negatives of vacations. There’s the exorbitant hit to the bank account (particularly if you’ve got kids in tow); the hours and days sitting on planes, trains and taxis; and the problematic nature of air travel amid global warming. And don’t get me started on jetlag.

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What if we told you your next getaway was right under your nose? The Fleurieu is blessed with world-renowned wine regions, unique natural environments and wildlife, and eclectic events and experiences. It’s a wonder more of us don’t plan regular short trips closer to home to take advantage of it all. So, book yourself a hotel, campsite or Airbnb and plan a fun itinerary full of new sights, smells and experiences. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Garden fun

Jungle in Willunga Tell your kids there’s a tropical jungle filled with exotic animals down the road and watch them roll their eyes. Then see their faces as you pull into the carpark of Jungle in Willunga, a specialist plant nursery that makes for a truly unique stop between Willunga and the Vale.

While specialising in tropical-look, unusual and indoor plants and bamboo, the nursery also contains a huge jungle garden with heaps of (fake) wild animals to discover, and a jungle climbing net. Watch out for school holiday activities in January (and make sure to clear space in the car for the plants you’ll want to take home).

Top: If surfing on the south coast is on your radar – Kombi Surf has lessons for all ages and abilities. Bottom left: Step into Jungle in Willunga for a taste of the tropics in Willunga. Bottom right: Experience the Coorong from the water with experienced local guides at Canoe the Coorong.

Water-based fun

Kombi Surf If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, Middleton’s gentle lines are the perfect place to do it. Kombi Surf offers lessons and hire for all ages and abilities, every day of the year, setting up its Kombi van and trailer at Middleton’s second carpark (opposite 184 Surfers Parade). The family-run business emphasises water safety, and it offers group and private lessons, a development program for 5-12 year-olds, multilesson packages and surfboard/bodyboard/wetsuit hire. They’re also pretty handy with local knowledge on where to eat and what to do when your lesson is finished.

SUP Down South Stand-up paddleboards are pretty damn versatile things. You can use them to keep fit (hello, ripped upper body), find peace of mind via a SUP yoga session or simply use them as a vessel to explore the coastline. Port Willunga-based SUP Down South has all bases covered with half-day tours, weekly summer yoga classes, lessons and board hire at one of South Australia’s most beautiful beaches

– Port Willunga. Its accredited instructors have more than thirtyplus years’ experience and an intimate knowledge of the Fleurieu’s beaches, while aerial and water photos let you take home treasured memories.

Canoe the Coorong The Coorong is truly a gem in the Fleurieu’s crown. It’s a wetland of international importance, supporting many significant and endangered flora and flora; it holds enormous cultural significance to the Ngarrindjeri people; and, of course, it’s incredibly beautiful. Canoe the Coorong offers one of the best ways to experience this magnificent body of water: by kayak. Their guides take small groups across sheltered water to the stunning sand dunes to enjoy delicious local food and gorgeous scenery. There are options to suit any ability or taste, from relaxing sunset tours with local beverages and a picnic, to four-day expedition-style tours. Bucket list stuff, this. >

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Top: Oceanic Victor’s Aquarium Swim allows you to swim with and hand-feed Southern Bluefin Tuna and cuddle a shark! Bottom: New this summer! Surf Culture Australia is standing by the culture and surf aspect of their name and offering a two-hour surf lesson followed by a visit to a McLaren Vale winery for a platter and tasting experience. Photo courtesy of Heidi Lewis.

Oceanic Victor Oceanic Victor has two goals in mind with its unique offerings – revive the much-loved Granite Island, and bring it into the future with a diverse range of experiences. Its in-sea Aquarium Swim allows you to swim with and hand-feed Southern Bluefin Tuna, cuddle a Port Jackson Shark and pick the brains of a crew of marine scientists.

Or you can take its Guided Nature and Penguin Tour, getting up-close and personal with Granite Island’s native, wild Little Penguin colony under the knowledgeable eyes of trained guides. Either way, you’ll leave with an appreciation for our marine life and a big smile on your face.

Surf Culture Australia Waves and wine? Is there a better combination? Surf Culture Australia’s surf school – established in 1991 – has an extremely cool package this summer where you can enjoy a two-hour surf lesson, followed by a visit to a McLaren Vale winery for tastings and a lunch platter. If, however, you’re solely focused on finding perfect waves, a

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range of options are available, from beginners and advanced group lessons, to private sessions. Lessons are offered at both the Mid (South Port and Moana) and South Coast (Middleton and Goolwa), so you’re set wherever you base your staycation.

Christies Beach Sailing Club The Christies Beach Sailing Club team is making it easier than ever for people to get out on the water this summer, minus the perceived snobbery sometimes associated with the sport, Christine Rootsey says. Kids learn-to-sail courses are held Saturday mornings from October to March; it hosts a new national program teaching teenagers to use sailing boats, power boats, stand-up paddleboards and windsurfers in a fun learning environment; while adult short courses run throughout summer. All equipment (including boats and lifejackets) is provided and courses are run by fully accredited instructors. The clubhouse is a perfect family-friendly spot to enjoy a meal or live music on the waterfront too.

Top: Come and have a go at sailing at the Christies Beach Sailing Club! Bottom: At Narnu Farm the kids love the chance to kiss and a cuddle a range of farm animals and experience life on a farm, free of technology.

Farm stays

Narnu Farm Ditch the phones, tablets and tellies this summer and head to the farm! Hindmarsh Island’s Narnu Farm is an award-winning familyfriendly farm-stay holiday destination, offering cottage and bunkhouse accommodation alongside a host of fun activities such as farm animal feeding and vintage truck rides. The Narnu philosophy? Take a break from modern technology and the bustle of city life, and allow kids to breathe fresh air, interact with nature, and engage their imaginations.

And the parents? Well, you can put your feet up and relax (if your inner child doesn’t see you cuddling animals all day too).

Art galleries and studios

Fleurieu Arthouse If you get tired of bouncing from winery to winery in the Vale, a stop at Fleurieu Arthouse is a must. The artisan hub allows you to interact with artists in their studios, learn from them in workshops or view their creations in the art gallery, providing visitors with insights into

the abundant artistic talent in our region. You can take a piece of the Fleurieu home via the retail shop, stocked with artisan products and artworks from glass, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, prints, paintings and more. And if you’re not yet tired of wineries, you’re in luck – the Hardys Tintara cellar door is mere steps away.

Free recreation spaces

Alexandrina Council The best things in life are free, and two of those things were recently added to Alexandrina Council’s impressive suite of recreation offerings.

At Goolwa, a new Pump Track – allowing bike riders, skateboarders and scooter riders to use momentum to propel themselves – opened alongside the town’s popular skatepark and BMX track in October.

Just days later, a $1.3 million recreation park – including a BMX track, skate park, open play spaces, picnic shelters, a basket swing and slide – opened at Mount Compass. Other Alexandrina recreation highlights during your staycation include the Bristow Smith Reserve (Goolwa) and Forest Reserve (Strathalbyn) nature play spaces. Bonus points for visiting all four. > 91

Top: When in McLaren Vale the Fleurieu Arthouse is a must. Bottom: The Bristow Smith Reserve is a great place for a picnic and while parents relax close by there is plenty to explore at this fantastic nature playground!

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Top: Going overseas was never so easy with walk-on passage to KI with SeaLink available. Once you’re there to hop on one of the many on-island tours. Bottom: Enjoy the modern Australian menu at the Island Café on Granite Island.

Short-term travel

Eateries

SeaLink Who says you can’t go overseas on your staycation! SeaLink offers a range of day tours if you’ve got time for a quick Kangaroo Island getaway. Its Seal Bay Discovery tour (perfect for wildlife lovers) and the popular one day KI Experience tour do pick-ups and drop-offs from Adelaide and the Fleurieu. Similarly, the Remarkably Wild tour (departing on island) only takes a day and encompasses some of the island’s finest natural experiences. If you’ve got more time, the twoday Best of Kangaroo Island tour combines Seal Bay and Remarkably Wild, or you could splurge on a beachfront house in Penneshaw (hopefully timing it with the farmers market, first Sunday of every month, October-April). Walk-on ferry passage is available for all of the above!

Island Café No trip to Granite Island’s complete without a stop at the Island Café, situated near the water’s edge alongside the Oceanic Victor booking office. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch over summer, with evening meals on weekends (and live local musicians on Saturday afternoons), and its modern Australian menu is heavily influenced by its surroundings. Local seafood, native botanicals and fresh produce all feature heavily, and if you’re looking to make a big day of it, you can purchase a package combining Oceanic Victor’s Aquarium Tour with a Seafood Tasting Platter from the café.

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HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

Hanging up the apron Story and photograph by Poppy Fitzpatrick. get an interview. But in an act of ‘divine providence,’ as a nun at the centre later described it, Brenda decided to simply call and ask, ‘what’s going on?’ This follow-up scored her an interview the next day, and she was offered the job.

Brenda has a refreshingly honest, thick-skinned, tough-love approach to life. She attributes this to years of experience, and what she refers to as an ‘unfiltered’ education on human beings. But it soon becomes clear that she has a far softer side than she first lets on.

Slightly glassy-eyed, Brenda recalls the moment she realised the centre had got into her blood: ‘it was a Friday morning and a man came in for breakfast, and straight away I wondered what he was doing there. He didn’t look like a homeless person.’ Noticing the man crying during breakfast, Brenda approached him and asked how they could help. He told Brenda how, without a dollar to his name, he’d hitchhiked all the way from Sydney, trying to reach his terminally ill son in Perth. Although such circumstances were usually beyond their power to help, one of the nuns decided to access her ‘magic red purse,’ an accumulation of money saved from recycled bottles and small donations. ‘We had that man on a plane at two-thirty in the afternoon,’ Brenda tells me. ‘He got to Perth and he saw his son before he passed away.’

It was this ability to help people in a real way that compelled Brenda to get herself out of bed at four in the morning, Monday through Friday, for all of the ensuing years. She has seen the Hutt Street Centre expand from a team of seven paid staff to seventy, who now serve Adelaide’s homeless population over 40,000 meals every year.

The centre also offers further support beyond breakfast and lunch, including access to education and training, assistance in finding housing, and health and social services.

All people have a path cut out for them, Brenda McCulloch tells me with conviction; she’s just glad her path led to the Hutt Street Centre. After twenty-five years as head chef and serving countless comforting meals to Adelaide’s homeless population, Brenda hung up her apron for the last time just a few months ago.

Now, she’s taking some well deserved time to slow down and reflect on her time at the centre and her pride in being part of a team who provide support to almost two thousand homeless people every year.

In 1979, armed with a twelve-month working visa, Brenda left her home in Scotland to explore down under. It didn’t take long for her to realise she wanted to stay. After moving between kitchen jobs in various states, an ad for a position at the Hutt Street Centre appeared in April 1994. In a pool of eighty-two applicants, Brenda didn’t even

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With over two hundred guests each day, Brenda’s role as head chef went far beyond the confines of the kitchen. At times a stern crowd controller and mediator, at other times a gentle and nurturing mentor or friend – her job title didn’t even begin to describe what was an incredibly multi-faceted position. Despite my admiration of her impressive stint as head chef, in her unwavering humbleness, Brenda insists that she is most proud of the growth of the centre as a whole.

After so many years of service, Brenda says she has earned her own set of keys, and forged an unbreakable connection to the organisation and its people. There’s no doubt she will be hanging around. Now volunteering her time to give talks about homelessness and the centre at schools and businesses, she also hopes to contribute more to her local community in Port Noarlunga.

As she enters retirement, Brenda is enjoying slower mornings, reading books, focusing on her relationship, and soaking in the beauty of the Fleurieu.

‘I’ve always said I’ll never buy a lottery ticket, because I got to come and live in Australia, I got my job at Hutt Street and I met my partner,’ she says. ‘So, I’ve had all the luck anyone deserves.

Life is very good.’

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Loving local honey When it comes to locally produced honey, the Fleurieu Peninsula is spoiled for choice.

Not only do our local, raw honeys taste amazing, they also come with tremendous health and environmental benefits.

Consuming local honey, where the pollen has come from your local environment or even your very own backyard, can help our bodies fight seasonal allergies.

And unlike mass produced honey, local honeys are often raw and unfiltered, so they retain all the nutritional and medicinal benefits that nature intended, including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. But it’s not just about the honey – bees play a crucial role in pollinating local flora, which benefits not only plant life but all local wildlife. With bees now classed as endangered, it’s more important than ever to support our local bee farmers who are raising and maintaining healthy bees.

Harbor Honey Harbor Honey is a fresh, new family business based in Victor Harbor focused on nurturing the exquisite and perfect workings of the honey bee and its hive. Embracing a love of the environment, Harbor Honey is a naturally rich and raw product drawn from the Fleurieu’s local flora.

It can be enjoyed in any style of cooking or simply nourish yourself by the spoonful.

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Lind’s Honey Lind’s Honey is a family-owned and operated business located in Port Elliot. What makes Lind’s Honey unique is the specific floral flavours of honey and honeycomb that are collected. From golden honey, beeswax, beauty products, soaps and beekeeping supplies, Lind’s honey has it all. All honey is raw, unprocessed and chemical free, just as nature intended. It’s always sustainably harvested to leave enough for the bee colony to be happy, healthy and productive.

Rose Herbs and Honey Rose Herbs and Honey looks after approximately one million bees, making honey from backyard herbs, flowers and native flora in and around Victor Harbor through to Currency Creek. They take a beecentric approach, only taking honey when the bees can spare it, and allowing the bees to build fresh wax comb to minimise any garden residues. No overheating or ultra filtering is used, to ensure all of the goodness is left in.

Bush Organics The family behind Bush Organics sustainably harvest raw honey and propolis from Ligurian bees which forage on Kangaroo Island’s abundance of native flora, rich in melaleuca, mallee and tea tree.

The honey is extracted from wooden hives, spun or cold pressed and lightly sieved to preserve the natural enzymes and retain the antioxidants and antibacterial properties of the honey. Bush Organics also handcraft salves and rubs in small batches.

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CORPORATE

HOSP ITALITY

Experience our new ‘Wine Flight’ matched with local chocolates and cheeses

Angove McLaren Vale Vineyards & Cellar Door 117 Chalk Hill Road, McLaren Vale 5171 Phone 8323 6900 www.angove.com.au @angovewine

Saturdays 8am –12.30pm Willunga Town Square

Meet the grower, TASTE THE REGION

We welcome you to our community.

Become a member for the day and receive 10% discount (available until 31st March 2020) off all purchases when you present this voucher to the Information Stall.

www.willungafarmersmarket.com.au

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NEED AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUR NEXT EVENT? CALL

ANGELA LISMAN PHOTOGRAPHY M: 0409 738 297 E: angela@angelalismanphotography.com.au W: angelalismanphotography.com.au

Delicious food, amazing cocktails.

Family friendly fare. Enjoy the fiesta!

17 - 21 Ocean Street Victor Harbor call (08) 8552 9883 or www.locomexican.com Open Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm but check extended summer trading hours on Facebook facebook.com/locovictorharbor/

FOR THE FLAVOURS OF THE SOUTHERN FLEURIEU

206 Port Road, Aldinga

Open from 11 to 9pm Fridays • Other times by appointment.

Tasting Classes • WSET and other wine courses available.

T: 08 8556 2590 E: gill@fallfromgrace.com.au

LUNCH / DINNER ACCOMMODATION FUNCTIONS / WEDDINGS

THIS SUMMER DINE IN OUR A LA CARTE RESTAURANT OR CASUAL DINING IN THE LEONARDS MILL SUMMER SIDEBAR

book via our website www.leonardsmill.com.au 7869 Main South Road, Second Valley

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experience

award winning wine

+ culinary delights TASTING ROOM

10am - 5pm 7 Days Come in and taste some of McLaren Vale’s most awarded wines, relax by the open wood fire or enjoy a picnic platter on the lawn.

WINEFOOD RESTAURANT

11:30am or 1:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday Sit at the Chef’s Table and experience an amazing wineinfused four course meal prepared in front of you by our famous Chef Horst.

PH 08 8323 9919 3 Stump Hill Road, McLaren Vale WWW.SHINGLEBACK.COM.AU

Cellar Door Open Daily 11am – 4pm IN TO SPR ING IT H A W R SUM M E Y T E G AWA LU X U RY ay s st k ee id -w 1 5 % off m ove mb er to N st 1 b et wee n D ec emb er th e 1 4 th n u m enti o w h en yo TAWAY ’.

E G M L ‘F

A unique and luxurious base to explore the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Bookings 0448 016 951 · stay@millestate.com.au

Bring this ad in to receive 10% off your next purchase.

t. 0885562082 e. cellardoor@hitherandyon.com.au w. www.hitherandyon.com.au

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RETAIL THERAPY

Shop local We sent FLM stylist and contributor, Marcus Syvertsen of Little Road Studio on a day tour of our region to find his top summer picks.

FOR HIM Top row L to R: Rolla’s Yellow Tee – West of Venus, ‘When Darkness Falls’ Painting / Sally Deans – The Strand Gallery, Mini Elm Stool – Little Road Studio Middle row L to R: ‘The Seafarers’ – South Seas Books, Brioni’s Blend – Oliver’s Taranga, Hand Turned Pen / Simon Bagshaw – Fleurieu Arthouse, Hat and shirt – Miss Gladys on Sea, Muscat – Oliver’s Taranga, Plant & Pot, Charlie & Jack, Magpie print / Ian McGregor – Fleurieu Arthouse Bottom row L to R: Denim Shorts – Miss Gladys on Sea, Thrills Wallet – West of Venus, ‘By the Sea’ South Seas Books, Leather Shoes – Miss Gladys on Sea 100

FOR YOU Top L to R: ‘In an Australian Light’ – South Seas Books, Protea & Blue Wren / Dana Kitner, Cup & Saucer / Joe Boas and ‘Messenger’ Bag / Stentorian Leather – all Fleurieu Arthouse Middle row L to R: The Hunt for Mrs Oliver Fiano Sparkling – Oliver’s Taranga, Scissors – Little Road Studio, Plant & Pot – Charlie & Jack, Plate, Bowl & Napery – Little Road Studio Bottom row L to R: Natural Throw – Little Road Studio, The Salopian Inn x KIS Gin – The Salopian Inn, ‘Forest Walking Among Trees’ – South Seas Books, Wooden Rabbit / Simon Bagshaw, Blue Glass Drop / Llewelyn Ash, Purse / Kitty Came Home – all Fleurieu Arthouse, 1841 Olive Oil – Oliver’s Taranga, ‘Olive Cotton – A Life in Photography’ – South Seas Books

FOR HER Top row L to R: Verona Wallet – Charlie & Jack, ‘As Kingfishers Catch Fire’ – South Seas Books, ‘Errand’ painting / David Parle – The Strand Gallery, Heart Vase / Dominika Yindi – Fleurieu Arthouse, Skin Yoga Oils – Charlie & Jack, Chica Mencia Rose – Oliver’s Taranga, Nude Weave Shoes – Gorgeous Soles, Kevin Murphy Hair Products – Spoilt Rotten, ‘Sea Urchin’ porcelain form / Merrilyn Stock – The Strand Gallery Middle row L to R: Scarf – Gorgeous Soles, Superga Shoes – West of Venus, Pinot Grigio – Serafino Wines, June Clutch – Gorgeous Soles, Sunglasses – Gorgeous Soles Bottom row L to R: Flare Jeans – West of Venus, ‘The Forest Feast Mediterranean’ – South Seas Books, Tear Drop Earrings – Charlie & Jack, Lipstick – Gorgeous Soles, Bento Toucan Dress – Miss Gladys on Sea

LESSONS & HIRE - MIDDLETON Dan & Meg 0414 341 545 kombisurf.com.au

BRIAN O’MALLEY OPEN STUDIO

lunch + tastings weddings + events handpicked festival bed + breakfast Step Rd Langhorne Creek 8537 3017 lakebreeze.com.au

‘Sellicks in winter’

Studio open by appointment. Call to arrange viewings or commissions.

15 Kestrel Terrace Aldinga 5173 (Enter off Magpie Road) Ph 0424 112 120

A slice of Italy in McLaren Vale · Cellar Door and Osteria Estate grown grapes · Family owned and run Delicious food that you would expect to find on Nonna’s Table 192 Main Rd Willunga SA 5172

Stand up paddle boarding based in Port Willunga servicing the Fleurieu Peninsula Stand up paddle board hire and lessons / Yoga / Tours / Team Building / GoPro Hire / Photos T: 0422 563 932 · supdownsouth.weebly.com

THE ISLAND CAFE Open 9 – 5pm daily

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Masterpiece ther Expect a ge 57 To k 56 or 16 W 75 d Skill hip. (08) When Love an Historic Towns the Aldinga In the heart of

Fully Licensed Restaurant | Functions | Kid-friendly | Extended Summer Trading Seasonal menu featuring exclusively sourced South Australian seafood, with some of the best ocean views on the Fleurieu.

0448 885 450 Granite Island

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MARCUS SYVERTSEN 0419 158 784 www.littleroad.com.au @littleroadstudio Interior Design & Styling Furniture Specification Building Selections Retail Store

Shop1/165 Main Rd McLaren Vale 08 83237405 · gorgeoussoles.com.au

INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO AND RETAIL SPACE Opening late December 2019 at 206 Port Road, Aldinga

FLY THE FLEURIEU AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO www.fly-the-fleurieu.com

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BOOKS & WORDS

Summer book reviews

by Mark Laurie of South Seas Books, Port Elliot domestic life. He demonstrates that amidst all of the craft and curated deception of the world he describes, it is the actual community of personal relations and their networks of loyalties and betrayals which define identity and place. Ultimately, this must prevail over the imagined community of the nation state and all of its petty jostlings.

of such luminaries as Edward Lear, Spike Milligan, Lewis Carroll, Peter Cook, Monty Python, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers and Shaun Micallef, he examines what makes us laugh and why. This may well vary with personality, societal mores and time, but our desire for silliness, to connect ‘with childhood, madness and the primitive’ in that space between anarchy and normalcy, is timeless and continuing. There must always be a place for those who wish to join the Order of the Occult Hand, promenade with their pet lobster in the garden, or celebrate having a face resembling a badger. To quote G.K. Chesterton, this book is an ‘exuberant capering round a discovered truth’ much like a giant inflatable Trump baby buffeted by a strong breeze.

Agent Running in the Field

by John le Carré

Published by Viking (Penguin Books) ISBN 9780241401217 $32.99 The master storyteller brings his finely developed clandestine world into the age of Brexit, climate change, Putin and Trump, its protagonists weaving their duplicitous craft within the divisions, contradictions and uncertainties of the current age. Reprieved from expected redundancy, veteran spy Nat is tasked with transforming a small, sidelined spy centre in London to run an unprepossessing assortment of Russian agents. At the same time, his longestablished badminton supremacy at the local club is challenged by Ed, an ill-at-ease and introspective man half his age given to railing at modern-day ills. Convergence between his private and professional lives forces Nat to confront the past, ringing in his ‘memory’s ear’ and the effects it has wrought on him, recognising that he may be ‘at a loss to know the difference between what he feels and is pretending to feel.’ le Carré is as watchful as his charges, his great gift the power to mix the oil of espionage with the water of ordinary 104

Silliness: A Serious History

by Peter Timms Published by Wakefield Press ISBN 97817433056455 $24.95 An engaging exploration of the philosophy, history and categories of human absurdity, demonstrating our need for freedom from the tyranny of rationalism and an antidote to respectability and conformity. Peter Timms draws forth a host of jesters, pranksters, comedians and eccentrics who have plumbed the ridiculous through the ages, exploring manifestations through word play, physical comedy, bizarre and eccentric behaviour within performance, writing, music and film, cataloguing creativity’s offbeat edges. From Aristophanes through to Arrested Development, linked by the efforts

Paris Savages

by Katherine Johnson Published by Ventura Press ISBN 9781925384703 $32.99 A fictional reimagining of the journey of three Indigenous Australians from Fraser Island to be exhibited and studied in Europe in the late 1800s. Drawing from extensive research conducted in Australia, Germany

and France, this novel draws ethnic shows and human zoos from the twilight of largelyforgotten history and gives life to the central characters of the time. The indigenes, scientists and showmen who took part are brought back to life, as are the crowds who participated in these immensely popular exhibitions.The author’s primary aim is to give voice and character to each of Bonangera, Dorondera and Jurano, the Badtjala people who travelled to Europe and were never to return. She seeks to rehumanise them against surviving scientific records of them as specimens, no more than the sum of their measurements and physical characteristics, or as cabinet curiosities to a public seeking only spectacle and affirmation of the self against the other.

In doing so, Johnson holds a mirror to the attitudes and theories of the time, exposing Western ‘civilisation’ to an uncomfortable past, filled with disease, prejudice and the self-serving effects of Robert Knox’s racebased theories of biological determinism.

While her research and training render substance, Johnson achieves this through nuanced character studies, of varying shades of dark and light, and the creeping compromise which may claim us all.

the heavy policing of dissent. The pain and dislocation dealt with here is no less real for being gently told. However, its appeal lies in the personal, nuanced treatments of protesters, bankers, shopkeepers and police through the book’s characters, and the understanding that a community is comprised of individuals rather than institutions. Good hearts, wry humour, quiet determination and a heartbreakingly brave horse draw the reader in.

social commentary, liberally enlivened with experimental typesetting, it defies labelling.

It also defies my attempts at a breezy, enlightening review. After numerous false starts I am left with an impressionistic series of loosely connected ideas and dialectics, that here we have; birth, growth, death and decay in an instant; the dangers both of nostalgia and of forgetting; nature as solace, saviour and slaughterer; the piercing of community’s thin skin. Unusually, I am easily able to pinpoint narrative stages, sentences and thoughts now, long after finishing the book. Stretching for tangible evidence, I return almost to the beginning: ‘…he wants to chop the village open and pull the child out. Extract him. Young and ancient all at once, a mirror and a key…

Then Dead Papa Toothwort leaves his spot and wanders off …drunk on the village, ripe with feeling, tingling with thoughts of how one thing leads to another again and again, time and again, with no such thing as an ending.’ Here is a story identifiably British but for all of us, peculiarly of its time and yet for all times, at once despairing and joyful. Hasten slowly with its reading.

Taking Tom Murray Home

by Tim Slee Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9781460757864 $32.99 Jack Murray’s father, Tom, accidentally perishes in the fire he made to deny the bank his foreclosed home. The pyre and his death are a cataclysmic event within the small dairy community in Victoria’s southwest, forcing those within it to confront their marginalisation and powerlessness.

A horse-drawn funeral procession to Melbourne, led by Jack’s mother and promoted by his twin sister, provides a platform for the dairy community to give voice to its plight and a fulcrum for rapidly spreading sympathetic support.

There is a quiet nihilism underlying this story, a simmering reaction to rolling, heedless neoliberal forces and untrammelled corporate power abetted by

Lanny

by Max Porter Published by Faber & Faber ISBN 9780571340286 $27.99 I’ve not read Max Porter’s much-lauded debut novel, Grief is the Thing with Feathers. Having just finished his second book, I will hunt it down immediately.

The possibility that it may be better than Lanny, with all the difficulties traditionally associated with following up great success, is irresistible. Describing this work is difficult. Composed as a cross between a long form poem or ode and a modern play, combining pagan mysticism with searing

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INDOOR PLANTS · CERAMICS · BASKETS · PLANTERS · HOMEWARES · BEAUTY PRODUCTS · JEWELLERY GIFT VOUCHERS · CARDS · SELECT GARDENING PRODUCTS

The best way to enjoy the Coorong is by kayak Visit canoethecoorong.com or phone us on 0424 826 008

charlieandjack.com.au · Victor Harbor

tours · school camps · group bookings · qualified guides · kayak hire

Women’s fashion in the heart of Port Elliot Located on The Strand elliotandme.com.au

Where artists and art lovers connect.

Located in Hardys Tintara 202 Main Rd McLaren Vale Open daily 11 to 4pm · fleurieuarthouse.com.au

Big Palms • Clumping Bamboo Glorious Exotic Foliage p 8556 2818 • 175 Main Rd Willunga 5172 www.jungleinwillunga.com.au

88 Victor Harbor Road, Old Noarlunga · Ph: 08 8327 2344

Jimmy Smith’s Dairy jimmy smith’s dairy style guide

For a unique and relaxing getaway at Port Elliot: jimmysmithsdairy.com.au Ph: 0409 690 342 Mentone Road East, Port Elliot, SA (via Brickyard Road.)

©JIMMY SMITH’S DAIRY STYLE GUIDE / JUNE 2013

COTTAGE & BUNKHOUSE STYLE ACCOMMODATION · HORSE RIDING · FARM ANIMAL FEEDING · TRUCK RIDES AND MUCH MORE! 'Kids just love it'

For a logo to be effective, it’s essential that it doesn’t change. It needs to be represented the same way over and over again. If a logo is suddenly represented in a different way (for example, a red logo suddenly becomes blue) the audience becomes confused and the strength of the brand diminishes.

Repetition and consistency is the key.

This style guide is a reference for your logo, and will outline how to use elements in different circumstances.

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FARM STAY

Monument Road, Hindmarsh Island T: 0438 060 585 W: narnu@narnufarm.com.au

John Lacey

gallery studio

W: johnlacey.com.au

follow me @johnlaceyartist

Open 11am - 5 pm most days 41 Woodcone Rd Mt Compass 0419 823 708

Learn to Surf

All ages, all levels, all time fun!

P: 0412 950 087

surfcultureaustralia.com.au

Healthy ageing is very dependent on good hearing.

We risk our social skills if we cannot communicate. A hearing test is simple and informative.

CALL TO BOOK A TEST NOW. Mary Trowbridge Audiologist 187 Main Rd Mclaren Vale M: 0411 779 916 mary@fleurieuhearing.com.au www.fleurieuhearing.com.au

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THE MARINE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Voyage to an in-sea aquarium via luxury catamaran for a unique interactive experience

www.oceanicvictor.com · (08) 8552 7137 · Granite Island, Victor Harbor

Man . Woman . Apparel . Lifestyle Man . Woman . Apparel . Lifestyle Man Man. Woman . Woman. Apparel . Apparel. Lifestyle . Lifestyle Terrace Shop 2, 33 North SA Shop 2, 33 Elliot North Terrace Port Shop Shop 2, Port 33 2, 33 North North Terrace Terrace

Elliot SA SA Port Port Elliot Elliot SA

elle + tathan 3D + Digital Design Interiors - Architectural - Space planning

T :0406 844163

elleandtathan.com

Mark McQuade

Designer and Builder · 0439 924 372

Design / branding / video production for forward thinking businesses. jason@threefiftyseven.com

tiny houses · floating cottages · furniture · stone work · art 107

Bespoke masterpiece Six local businesses that will help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

Above: Photography by Deb Saunders.

BEYOND BEAUTIFUL STYLE LOUNGE Located in the heart of McLaren Vale, Beyond Beautiful Style Lounge is an awardwinning bridal specialist. From boho looks to classic waves and everything in between, Lisa and the team know how important it is to feel and look amazing and they love sharing your special day with you.

DEB SAUNDERS Relationships of all kinds are important to Deb, and this is what makes her photography so special. She captures the special moments with your loved ones and the interactions that may be fleeting, but become your memories to last a lifetime and beyond. Whether it’s your wedding day, a tiny new life, a celebratory event or an up-todate family portrait, you can count on Deb for an easy, natural and fun process. www.debsaundersphotography.com.au

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JESSICA MARY MAKEUP ARTISTRY Jessica is a fully qualified makeup artist and hair stylist, based in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. She was recently listed as one of the top 10 bridal makeup artists in Adelaide, due to her attention to detail and professionalism. Jessica loves nothing more than seeing the smile and look of happiness on her client’s face when they see their completed look. www.jessicamarymakeup.com

SHE SEWS She Sews specialises in made-to-measure bridal and evening wear. Megan offers no-obligation quotes on creating an individual dress or outfit that fits perfectly and reflects your style. She Sews offers an extensive range of lace, silk, wool and satin fabrics. Megan will also tailor your ‘off the rack’ gown, and offers made-to-measure alterations for bridesmaids, mother of the bride and men’s suits.

THE TURQUOISE ROSE Multi award-winning floral designer The Turquoise Rose, is located in the stunning wine region of McLaren Vale. Vicky and her team work their magic from a purpose built design studio, having built an impressive portfolio of creations that showcase their flowers, passion and style. You can be assured The Turquoise Rose will bring your wedding floral dreams to life. www.theturquoiserose.com.au

TIPI LANE Based in McLaren Vale, Tipi Lane offer bespoke giant nordic tipis and venues for hire on the beautiful Fleurieu. From intimate weddings to extravagant events, their tipis create a magical and unique event space for up to 200 guests. Owner Cherie is a local marriage celebrant who is passionate about helping ensure your wedding or event is a dream come true. www.tipilane.com.au

www.shesews.com.au

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Fly the Fleurieu This photo was taken at Maslin Beach.

fly-the-fleurieu.com

SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: McLaren Vale Bushing Lunch The best winemakers and chefs of the region assembled on 25 October to celebrate this year’s most outstanding McLaren Vale winemakers.

Guests indulged in a merry Friday afternoon of delectable local food and wine before the Leask brothers from Hither & Yon were crowned the 2019 Bushing Monarchs.

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Being Social: Daringa House Official Opening Community members gathered to join the Scarpantoni family in the official opening of historic Daringa House on 18 October in what was a gloriously sunny Friday afternoon, perfect for guests to charge their glasses and wander through the charming cottage gardens.

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01: Malcolm Leask 02: Rosie Signer and Liam Van Pelt 03: Adam Spencer and Lucy Gosling 04: Fleur Runge and Sammi Davidson 05: Matt Koch and Sam Watkins 06: Bernice Ong and Berenise Axisa 07: Kate Burr and Tony Brooks 08: Fil, Louise, Paola, Pia and Michael Scarpantoni 09: David and Cheryl Hunt 10: Leon Bignell and Mark Maxwell 11: The unveiling 12: Rachael, Max and Donato De Ieso.

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SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: FLM Spring Launch at Samson Tall Friends and associates of Fleurieu Living Magazine celebrated the launch of the spring issue on 12 September. It was an enchanting evening where guests could relax and watch the sunset while savouring, great company, beautiful wines and delicious food from the Salopian Inn.

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Being Social: Mitch’s Tiny House On November 3, curious locals flocked to visit Willunga Waldorf student Mitch Phillips’ Year 12 tiny house project. Local tunes by Blind Arry made for an exquisitely relaxed Sunday spent marvelling at Mitch’s inspiring path to alternative housing which was extremely well crafted and well designed. Top marks.

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01: Brenda Boo and Leonie Hick 02: Summer Boag and son 03: Thomas England and Kate Le Gallez 04: Emily Heylen, Meg Dickson and Jason Porter 05: Juan Smith and Maria Romeo 06: Dave and Richard Bennett 07: Mitch Phillips and Noah Jordan 08: Zoe Kassiotis and Charlie Rhodes 09: Blaise Howard and Melissa Puust 10: Morgan and Cathy Phillips 11: Louise Flaherty and Hayley Rochford 12: Mandy and Steve Davies.

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Discover Kangaroo Island your way Escorted Tours with Shirley Tamm

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Join one of Shirley’s 4 or 6 day Escorted Holidays and you’ll enjoy meeting new friends, great food and seeing the wonderful sights of Kangaroo Island.

Discover the beauty of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. Complete the 5-day walk, and camp each night or stay in accommodation.

Inclusions

Inclusions

Return coach and ferry transfers to Kangaroo Island 3 or 5 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn with breakfast

Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle

All tour entry fees, guided tours, lunches, dinners and tastings

Complimentary car parking for 4 nights at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre car park

Fully escorted by Shirley Tamm from Adelaide

5 day Walking Trail / 4 nights Camping, Cabin or Lodge accommodation

Daily continental breakfast, lunches and dinners

One way transfer from Kelly Hill Caves back to Flinders Chase Visitor Centre car park on conclusion of walking trail

3 Day Food & Wine Lover’s Package

5 Day Experience Kangaroo Island Package

Experience KI’s wonderful local food, wine and spectacular scenery on this great foodie holiday.

Inclusions Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle 2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seafront Hotel in Penneshaw Bottle of local wine on arrival $60 dinner voucher at Penny’s Restaurant at the Penneshaw Hotel Gourmet lunch at Dudley Wines including a tasting platter and wine Premium wine tasting and platter at Bay of Shoals Wines

Call 13 13 01 or visit sealink.com.au

To see more of Kangaroo Island, stay 2 nights at both the East and West ends of the island.

Inclusions Return ferry for two adults and a standard vehicle

RACING DATES 2019/2020

Strathalbyn Racing Club TWILIGHT CHRISTMAS – WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2019 FLEURIEU FAMILY DAY – SUNDAY 5TH JANUARY 2020 NORTHPOINT FLEURIEU STRATHALBYN CUP – SUNDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Seaside Inn in Kingscote 2 nights at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat in Flinders Chase Welcome bottle of wine and picnic lunch for two (supplied by the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH 2020

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH 2020 SUNDAY MAY 19TH 2020 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10TH 2020

S T R AT H R A C I N G . C O M . A U

FLEURIEU LIVING T H E B E S T O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A’ S F L E U R I E U P E N I N S U L A A N D K A N G A R O O I S L A N D

FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE

Whether you opt for a sea change or a tree change, you can certainly rely on our

SUMMER 2019/20

HIA (Housing Industry Association) Awards 2019: · Renovation/Addition Project $400,001-$550,000 · Custom Built Home $550,001-$800,000 · Winner South Australian Lightweight Construction Housing using sheet or board materials · Winner 2019 HIA-CSR South Australian Housing Award Residential Building Designer MBA (Master Builders Association) Awards 2019: · Excellence in a Contract Home $350,000-$500,000

www.fleurieuliving.com.au

Outstanding design and amazing service.

AU $9.95 SUMMER 2019/20 03 03

Build your dream home – in your dream location | southcoastconstructions.com.au 37 Victoria Street, Victor Harbor, South Australia 5211 Telephone: 08 8552 4444 Email: admin@scconstruct.com.au 9 9

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A new chapter for Dowie Doole South Coast Surf Chasers Digging the dirt on regenerative farming Holiday at home: Staycation On the Radar: fine new favourites Tastes of McLaren Vale: Pullout map Art · Design · Food · Wine · Fashion · Photography · People · Destinations