It is with great pride that we, the team at Fleurieu Sun and The Times, can share this fantastic publication - Fleurieu Magazine Coast to Vines.
The sales and journalism team had a spring in the step as soon as the idea to have an annual magazine was mooted.
It is an opportunity for us to again, get out in our communities and be creative with our writing while we meet and get to know some of the great characters in the region.
Fleurieu Magazine Coast to Vines Volume 1, Edition 1
Editor Michael Simmons
Contributors
June Taylor
Jan Potter
Tom Wyman, Emma Heidenreich
Jack Church
Dani Brown Michael Simmons
Photographers
Jesse and Saxon Ehlers
Design
Illyse Mendoza
Lisa Schulz
James Manuel
Sanya Anand
Aaron Walker
Advertising Sara Kuerschner (08) 8528 8400 sales@fleurieusun.com.au
There are many you may know and there are many who you will be able to get to know by reading this inaugural magazine.
The team is local and proud to be part of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
There are profiles on artists, a 170-years-old fishing family, couples who do not know how to fail, women leaders, business entrepreneurs and aerial photos that will blow your mind.
We are very satisfied with our first and definitely not our last Fleurieu Magazine Coast to Vines and I do hope you, the reader, will sit back and enjoy reading about just a few of the great people that live among us on the Fleurieu Peninsula. I thank everyone involved for making this magazine as special as it can be. We genuinely loved making it happen.
Michael Simmons
Table of Contents
Plates and pens
PAGE 5
Jan is a beautiful human PAGE 6
Family, gardening and community PAGE 7
Iconic name lives on PAGES 8, 9
Fires and fillies PAGE 10
Couple on business and life PAGE 11
Jesse captures the moment PAGES 12, 13
Goolwa’s slice of Switzerland PAGE 14
Electorate of Finniss PAGE 15
Meet the team
From print to the vineyard PAGES 16, 17
Louise experiences life PAGES 18, 19
Electorate of Hammond PAGE 20
Amber is bossing it PAGE 21
Keeping people safe PAGE 22
Electorate of Mawson PAGE 23
Willunga’s wonder woman PAGES 24, 25
Rumbelow dynasty PAGES 26, 27
Fleurieu First Nations women PAGES 28, 29
Art does the talking PAGES 30, 31
Electorate of Mayo
PAGE 32
Being a foster care family PAGE 33
The perfect combination PAGES 34, 35
Recipe PAGE 36
Puzzles PAGE 37
Hot Drop PAGE 38, 39
Paul Franke
Michael Simmons Dani Brown
Tom Wyman
Jack Church Emma Heidenreich
Kuerschner
Ehlers
Profile Katie Spain
Plates and pens
ON a small, 12-acre farm in Willunga Hill’s Hope Forest sits ’Sally’s Cottage’, the home of beloved, award-winning Fleurieu journalist and food and wine writer, Katie Spain and her partner, photographer Ben MacMahon.
WORDS: EMMA HEIDENREICH
PHOTO: BEN MACMAHON
The cottage was named after its original inhabitant, Sally MacMahon, Ben’s grandmother - its just one of the many family ties that pulled Katie, a former dairy farm kid, back to the region after 15 years of working in London and Germany.
“I lived and worked overseas for a long time,“ Katie said.
“Perhaps it’s the backdrop of scrubland, pasture and cows, but despite not growing up [in the Fleurieu] and traveling all over the world, this region is the one place I’ve felt like I could put roots down.“
Katie’s mum moved to Moana some time ago as well, so between writing and editing for esteemed food publicationsincluding Gourmet Traveller - her almost daily commute to Adelaide for work and leading weddings across the Fleurieu in her role as a celebrant - Katie’s life is full.
“Probably my most memorable wedding to date was an olive grove near Goolwa and a clifftop in Waitpinga,“ Katie said.
“I find there’s a real Mediterranean link between produce and livelihood in the
Fleurieu, which really sets the region apart.“
“Produce doesn’t just grow here, you sit down to eat it at a long lunch, often with a view of the ocean.“
It’s this backdrop that continues to inspire Katie in her role as National Drinks Writer for the Sydney Morning Herald, state editor for Gourmet Traveller and her role as Ambassador of the second Fleurieu Food Festival, which ran in August.
Katie is also the Australian correspondent for award-winning Swedish wine magazine Livets Goda and she’s written books, including The Wine Producers: McLaren Vale (winner of Wine Communicators of Australia 2022 Best New Wine Book), The Distillers: A Taste of South Australia, and was co-author of The Highly Improbable Audacious Adventures of Wirra Wirra.
“Ben and I have discussed maybe adding some Highland Cows and chooks to our property, but we just don’t have time!“ Katie said.
Katie in her home, ’Sally’s Cottage’.
Jan is a beautiful human being
WORDS & PHOTOS: MICHAEL SIMMONS
JAN Potter is one of The Times, Fleurieu Sun and Fleurieu Magazine Coast to Vines’ contributors.
We are so fortunate to have someone like Jan write for all our mastheads.
“The opportunity to work as a volunteer for The Times, Fleurieu Sun and now this magnificent Fleurieu Magazine Coast to Vines is too great to be missed,” Jan said.
“Being able to listen to the many wonderful stories and empathise with the people I talk to and turn them into words is an absolute privilege.
“You share their joys and their pain.
“Being able to write for our locally committed papers and magazine gives myself the ability to share many stories with everyone else.
“It is amazing, people let you in and you get to share their lives.”
Jan tries not to be too intrusive when conducting an interview.
“It is their story, not mine,” she said.
“Everyone has an interesting story to tell, filled with every human condition you can imagine.
“I thank the people who take a chance to sit with me and trust me with what they have to say.”
Jan is a passionate educator, born in Adelaide and living all over South Australia due to her father’s work needs.
12724360-SA47-24
Later, after her marriage to Jeff, Jan was to travel even further afield as she undertook teaching positions and later Principal positions.
She began teaching in Fregon in the APY Lands, then In Ernabella, she returned to work across the Southern Fleurieu, her final positions were on Eyre Peninsula until 2015.
Jan and her family lived on the Myponga Hills for almost 20 years before setting out for adventures on Eyre.
Returning to Victor Harbor was a culmination of many things, the unexpected loss of her husband, being diagnosed with cancer herself and needing treatment.
Two long years away from work led to her resigning in 2017.
Jan was welcomed into radio via Happy FM and the wonderful volunteers who worked there at the time.
Taking the opportunity to learn new things and get her brain working again after chemo saw her take on an on air position which “I enjoyed immensely”.
Jan’s main passion is community and helping, where she can, to promote community organisations and events as well as individuals and their work.
Others include arts, history. politics and of course, her wonderful family.
Jan is committed to supporting the areas of the Arts, in all its forms, mental health through connections with poetry and stories and Jan is passionate about Social Justice, Veteran’s Health and Indigenous Affairs.
“They are all particularly important to me.”
Jan Potter going through her notes after another interesting interview.
Jan is an educator and has a deep passion for the community.
Family, gardening and community
JUNE Taylor has been a beloved member of the Fleurieu Peninsula community for many years.
A mother of two, grandmother to ten and great grandmother of two, June has lived in Aldinga, McCracken and more recently moved to Moana with husband James.
Some will know her from her work with Fleurieu Peninsula radio station Happy FM, others will have read her articles for the Fleurieu Sun and Victor Harbor Times.
June’s love for gardening and the environment began at a young age.
“We rarely went out but were always happy to play in the large backyard of our rented house,” June said.
“We were all encouraged early to grow fruit and vegetables and each had our own patch.”
June’s time in the media began in late-1966, when she started work at The Advertiser as a copy taker.
In 1973 she took a position at Channel 10 in Adelaide as the evening receptionist.
“Later I worked in various other departments at the channel and ending up in the operations and production departments as a full time assistant manager,” June said.
“I clearly remember in the late 1970’s women were awarded equal pay which was a real milestone in the battle for equality for women.
“I worked at the channel for 11 years before being poached by Max Pepper, a well-known television director, to head up the new video production department at Pepper Studios.”
A few years later June was offered a position as production manager at Network Television Production company, before setting up her own production company in 1994.
It was around this time when June moved from Upper Hermitage to Aldinga, where she set up a herb farm.
“I studied herbs and became almost obsessed with these plants and would travel the state talking about the benefits of herbs,” June said.
“I had marketed my own products, sleep pillows, natural flea collars for
animals and a range of shampoos for animals along with calendula creams and other natural products.
“We had a shop and opened regularly for the public and busloads of tourists as well as we had regular weddings in our stunning gardens.
June’s work as a television producer took her into almost all corners of life from births, deaths and everything in between.
“It gave me a true insight into the world in which we live and just backed up my thoughts on how blessed I am,” she said.
“Working in the media opened many doors for me including travel, and from 2007 I regularly travelled to various parts of the world hosting garden trips for Phil Hoffmann Travel.
“Many parts of Europe were favourites, along with garden events in Australia and a history tour of Norfolk Island.”
Then in 1994, June’s love of herbs and gardening and media prowess overlapped and she began regular segments on herbs for 5AA radio station.
“I had been doing regular hosting on community radio prior to that with hosting a pet program and ‘back to basics’ program,” she said.
“These years were busy with board meetings, charities, my own TV production company, a partnership in a marketing company and running our own industrial estate.
In 2010, June and James sold the herb farm and moved to McCracken, where she worked on the board for events such as the Port Elliot Show, Encounter Celebrations and Victor Harbor Rock and Roll Festival.
For June, giving back to others was instilled at a young age.
“From a small child we were taught by our parents that the community belongs to you and you can make a difference to those less fortunate than us,” June said.
“My mother always volunteered at the schools we attended, local charities and my father was a 25-year volunteer for St John Ambulance.
“From me as a four-year-old running a basket of lemons over to a neighbour who was ailing, to my years of work for dozens of charities, the reward far outweighs the time and energy spent doing so.”
WORDS: TOM WYMAN
June Taylor is a well respected member of the Fleurieu Peninsula community.
Iconic name lives on
THE Hardy name is synonymous with McLaren Vale and the South Australian wine industry.
WORDS: TOM WYMAN
Thomas Hardy was one of the McLaren Vale’s first settlers and is widely regarded as the father of the South Australian wine industry, and Geoff Hardy has also made his own way in the Australian wine world.
But these days, Geoff’s daughter Bec and her partner Richard Dolan are continuing the family-name through Bec Hardy Wines.
However, despite the family’s renowned businesses, Bec says she never felt any pressure from her parents to work in the wine industry.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do until the careers path questionnaire at school, and it came back as landscape gardener, so I thought why not do viticulture?“ Bec said.
“When I was growing up I always used to go to the family vineyards, but I never really thought about what I wanted to do, I tend to take life one day at a time.
“But I like being outside, I like plants, being outside and growing things, so why not viticulture?“
Bec met now-husband Richard in late 2009 in what she describes as “the old-fashioned way“.
“We met in a bar in Adelaide that neither of us had been in before, and neither of us have been in since,“ Richard said with a laugh.
The couple married in 2011 and not long after, Richard got involved with the Hardy business.
Yet despite having been connected with the wine industry ever since, the prestige of working for Hardy’s has never been lost on Richard.
Bec Hardy and Richard Dolan at the cellar door.
“How does a lad for Yorkshire end up as a half-owner of a business with a sixth-generation member of one of Australia’s most famous wine families, it’s massively surreal,“ Richard said.
“Having married into the Hardy-family, the general public has a completely different perception of the reverence around the Hardy family name and history, and I see it from a different perspective now. I see them as a normal family who live that history.
“I remember when I first started dating Bec, on our third date we were having dinner at a favourite restaurant in Glenelg, and the maitre d’ gave me the wine list, and I knew a bit about wine, but I was shaking.
“The mystique and the reverence that we see as consumers, it’s interesting to see it from the other side.“
Richard is full of gratitude for living and working on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and McLaren Vale in particular.
“When I first came to Australian on holiday in 1998, I came down to McLaren Vale and went to Chapel Hill and had lunch at d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant, and I then came back for three weeks every six months for a few years, and I used to say I’d love to retire to McLaren Vale,“ Richard said.
“There’s the sea, the beaches and the proximity to a world class wine region, with a quality of life and standard of living that most people would give their right arm for.“
No two days are the same for the couple, who see that as one of the great positives of the industry they work in.
“There’s not many other industries where you’re able to be involved from the very first stage of growing grapes, all the
way through to production and selling the end product,“ Bec said.
“Because of that there’s so many steps and that’s why your role can be varied, and so many people can be involved in the industry.“
Richard and Bec admit they don’t spend much time away from work, but a swim in the new backyard pool with daughter Matilda is high on the agenda this summer.
Oakford Homes
A Statement of Quality
“There’s not many other industries where you’re able to be involved from the very first stage of growing grapes, all the way through to production and selling the end product,“
Bec and Richard are continuing the Hardy name in McLaren Vale.
new captain when she got a tap on the shoulder, and despite thinking she did not have the experience to take on the role, she did anyway and has loved it.
Fires and fillies: Katrina Lloyd’s story
Whether it’s riding on the back of a horse or the back of a fire truck, Cape Jervis woman Katrina Lloyd is always up for an adventure.
Katrina is the captain of the Cape Jervis Country Fire Service (CFS) brigade, but has also seen great success as a mounted games competitor.
The CFS shed is almost like a second home for her family, as multiple members volunteer with the service.
Her husband and son-in-law both volunteer with the Cape Jervis brigade, and her dad used to be a deputy group officer but is now a volunteer firefighter, too.
Her brother is at the nearby Rapid Bay brigade, and both his sons got involved as well before moving interstate.
“Sometimes you get a call out and Dad’s here, my husband’s here, I’m here, my son-in-law is here - it’s nearly a full family line,“ she said.
Katrina first got involved in the CFS when her neighbour, who had been the brigade captain at the time, told her she would be a handy firefighter.
She told him she would get involved once her kids were at school and she did just that, becoming a volunteer firefighter about 16 years ago.
“I sort of went, ’I don’t know if I could do that, being out in the fireground’, it’s scary stuff sometimes - but I thought I’d give it a go and volunteer,“ she said. In 2015, the brigade was looking for a
The brigade is small but fiercely devoted to helping its community, which drives Katrina.
“Our members are a loyal bunch and a great bunch of people, really good to get along with,“ she said.
“You feel good because you’re helping the community.
“We had to land a helicopter here for one chap, and we got a letter from his wife to thank us, so it’s really nice when you get things like that - they appreciate what you do.“
Thankfully, she said it is rare to have a big fire event; the incidents the brigade attended were usually crashes, trees down, helping SA Ambulance, or flooding.
Some of the crashes had been “nasty“, and being in a small community, sometimes she or other crew members knew the people involved, further complicating the situation.
One of the biggest fires she remembers attending was near her father’s house at the end of summer.
“The pager went off, and I went, ’Grass fire at Fisheries Beach? It’s a bit green, there can’t be too much in it’,“ she said.
“When I was driving out, I saw the smoke was up behind Dad’s place, and it was a vacant 35-acre block.
“Because nothing had been on it for years, there was a lot of dry fuel, with a little bit of green coming up underneath, so that was probably the biggest one I’ve had down here.“
Other nearby larger fires she had attended burned at Myponga and Carrickalinga, but despite being at the gateway to Kangaroo Island, Katrina stayed on the mainland when the 2019-20 bushfires swept across the Island.
“I get seasick and airsick, so I didn’t do the Kangaroo Island stuff,“ she said.
“One of our trucks went over, and some of the group trucks - one actually was in a burnover, and they were very lucky.“
Being in the CFS is more flexible than one might assume, Katrina said, and that is how she is able to compete in mounted games.
Mounted games is a high-speed relay race where riders and their horses show their agility and athleticism individually, in pairs, or in teams.
Katrina’s journey with horses began when she was a child and her family was looking after a neighbour’s horses, and as a ’thank you’ they gave the family a horse.
They joined the local pony club and Katrina was involved with it for a long time - until her daughters were old enough to be riding horses and take part in pony club themselves.
“My youngest, Caitlin, she rode for Australia in the pony club team, and they were lucky enough to win when they went to Kentucky,” she said.
The family soon discovered mounted games, and Caitlin was in the national team in that sport as well.
Ahead of one of her daughters’ competitions, a fellow Fleurieu competitor told Katrina that he had room in his float and she should “chuck a horse in“ for herself.
“That was it for me - once I started doing mounted games, I just loved it,“ she said.
And it turned out she had a talent for it, too.
Katrina is a two-time individual national champion, winning the over 25s competition in 2011 and 2013, and she has also collected two pairs national championships.
“The year that I won in 2011 was pretty special to me, because a lot of those that were in there were younger blokes, and I only won one race out of the finals,“ she said.
“You have three sessions of usually anywhere from six to eight games, and you go on points to make the A final, or the top eight.
“And so in those 10 races (of the nationals) I only won the one, but because I was consistent, I actually ended up winning overall - and it was pretty good because a lot of them were a lot younger than what I was.“
Despite her dislike for flying, it was mounted games that allowed her to travel overseas to New Zealand for a competition.
Katrina loves the speed and skill involved in the sport.
“It’s not all about speed either; it’s about the control of that horse and getting in the right position to get around things and without knocking things over,“ she said.
“You’ve got to have good hand-eye coordination, which my eyes are starting to fail me a little bit.
“It’s just the thrill of it, really.“
WORDS & PHOTOS:
DANI BROWN
Katrina Lloyd leads the Cape Jervis CFS brigade as captain.
Currency Creek couple on business and life on the farm
at the Saturday Willunga Farmers Market as well as the Sunday Goolwa markets and their products are stocked in 120 retailers across South Australia and interstate too.
VICKI Matchett first sighted Fiona Watson on the “Campberra” float at Sydney Mardi Gras 15 years ago.
Fi gingerly shows me a photo of her in a leather one-piece, a nod to her wilder days, but she admits life has slowed somewhat, since moving onto the farm with Vicki.
The duo live on a 33-acre property at Currency Creek with 50 odd Dorpa sheep, a substantial vegetable patch, fruit trees, vineyard and their dear little dog, Rune.
Life on the farm isn’t new to Vicki, who grew up in Auckland, was educated in Hawkes Bay and kicked working life off studying agriculture.
Vicki and Fiona have made their home together on the farm and it is every bit the idyllic existence that has given the couple space to grow their business - Matchett Productions and Big Sissy Foods.
You can find their handmade, sourdough bagels, crisps and condiments
Big Sissy Foods was named in honour of Vicki’s Big Grandma, an industrial caterer and a generous woman - in proportion and in spirit - to whom Vicki owes much of her early experience in the kitchen.
“I remember helping grandma peel 200 boiled eggs at a time,“ Vicki said.
“And making hundreds of sandwiches with ‘real butter’, before softened butter was available - it was a lot of hard work!“ She laughs.
It was here that Vicki learned the art of feeding many, but it wasn’t until she turned 22 that Vicki completed the intensive Le Cordon Bleu cookery course at TAFE and spent four years training to qualify as a professional chef.
Vicki opened her highly successful Queen of Tarts on Hutt Street in the nineties, which became renowned for its turkey sausage rolls, butter chicken pies and a roaring lunch trade that continued to set the business apart.
Eager for a new adventure, Vicki sold up and moved to Currency Creek in 2000. The business has undergone change in
that time, adapting to consumer demands, environmental and economic challenges.
The introduction of creative new products, such as her famous zero waste Bagel Crisps have been embraced by the punters.
With Fiona’s business, marketing and service background, the pair are a symbiotic match.
“Food brings people together and it brings us great pleasure to be a part of this wonderful region,“ Vicki said.
“That’s why we do what we do.“
The pair in their production kitchen, with their handmade pastries and bagels.
Allister Parker is with Vicki and Fiona.
Ehlers is a father of two children and is more well known for his behind the scene activities, operating South Coast Images.
Jesse captures the moment
humble and extremely professional,
our
Jesse also works for Fleurieu Sun and The Times newspapers as a weekend photographer.
He takes action photos at sporting events and social pictures. He is multitalented, but most importantly he loves his work and his family.
“The work is flexible and suits my lifestyle,“ Jesse said.
“I always have liked taking photos and you are always striving to get that best shot.“
Jesse caught the photography bug when travelling around Australia and it is when he bought his first camera.
“I took photos in Cairns, Byron Bay and really enjoyed it. The surfing photos in particular came up especially well,“ Jesse said.
“I was not totally aware the photos were that good, but people would tell me they were ok.
“It was nice feedback.
“When I returned to the area from travelling, The Times gave me an
Quiet,
Jesse is the man who takes the best panoramic photos of
beloved Fleurieu Peninsula.
Jesse Ehlers with his drone and camera ready to perfect the best possible photo ever. (Photo by Saxon Ehlers).
JESSE
The magic of Wright Island The Bluff.
The Murray Mouth and The Coorong.
WORDS: MICHAEL SIMMONS PHOTOS: JESSE EHLERS, South Coast Aerial Images
opportunity to take photos for the paper and I have been doing it ever since on the weekends.“
Jesse is a true Victor Harbor local, born in the South Coast District Hospital, played sport here, went to school at Victor Harbor Primary and High schools and is now very happy living in Port Elliot with wife Laura and children Saxon and Eli.
Jesse’a aerial photos are amazing and it is his signature getting the light right, the ocean, the angles and the position of the sun.
Jesse is a genius when it comes to taking that perfect photo and is in demand working for real estate agents and the two local newspapers.
“The workload gets a boost and I am so grateful for all these opportunities,“ Jesse said.
“I love living on the coast - fishing, surfing and swimming; we have it all here and it is the perfect place to raise kids,“ he said.
It is Jesse’s gift to capture those magical photos and why he is in such demand.
“I guess that gut feel all comes with getting the photo I want,“ he said.
“I am very happy with the way my life and the life of the family is going.
“Running my own business, which I love and having a healthy family ticks all the boxes.
“It is the dream I think.“
For more visit South Coast Aerial Images at www.southcoastaerialimages. com.au
A proudly family-owned and operated winery, Pirramimma’s Cellar Door is cosy n winter and cool in summer, and offers an authen�c experience for visitors to McLaren Vale.
Celebrate 130 years of winemaking at ou r 5-star Halliday winery and South Australian Hall of Fame business. Taste our highly acclaimed wines, whilst enjoying the view across the vineyards or wander though the gallery of renown local ar�st Louise Johnston. Open seven days.
Door
The beauty of the coastline along the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Goolwa’s slice of Switzerland
When I was a child I always wanted to do something in the kitchen
THE name Anita Robin is synonymous with the Goolwa and South Coast community. With the ‘Foodbuilder’ Anita made her move to the South Coast in 2019, but where did it all start?
Anita grew up in the Northern region of Switzerland in a creative family with a love for cooking.
She says this influenced her to try cooking herself.
“When I was a child I always wanted to do something in the kitchen, but my mum didn’t let me because her kitchen always had to be spotless,” Anita joked.
“My mum was really good at cooking, but my dad is very creative and he would want to try new things with cooking all the time.
“I think I have a lot in common with both of them, a bit of a combination.”
Anita then travelled to Southern Switzerland to complete her cooking and teaching courses.
“Cooking was not my first thing, I actually wanted to work with people and teach, but that combination all came together and now I get to do the best of both worlds.”
“I was always a cooking teacher, I was taught that in Switzerland along with nutrition.
“I love spoiling people, I love cooking for people, but what I love even more is working with people.”
When Anita left Switzerland she lived in Singapore for 10 years with her first visit to South Australia coming in 2003 as she looked to further her studies.
After her studies, Anita was working at places like Magill Estate and the
Bridgewater Mill amongst others, when she met her husband Peter.
After some time in Australia, Anita moved back to Switzerland for eight years, but she always imagined living on the South Coast as she and Peter built their home in Goolwa.
“We always knew we were coming back, we first lived in the hills and we had a house in Cumberland Park,” she said.
“Peter had a cousin living in Hindmarsh Island and we had always liked the area, so when this block came up it was the perfect place to build our dream home, and my dream kitchen.”
Anita and Peter moved permanently to Goolwa in 2019 and she kick-started her business at the height of Covid, opening
her kitchen in 2021 for cooking classes.
“My first idea was to help people cook when they couldn’t do much because they were stuck at home and were unable to go shopping,” she said.
“It ended up with people asking me to help them cook more specific things, so organically I ended up teaching people how to cook different things during workshops and sessions.”
More recently Anita wrote her first cookbook book ‘My slice of Switzerland’, which launched in 2023.
Anita’s Foodbuilder name has been a finalist for the past four years in the South Australian Tourism Awards, bringing a smile and plenty of keen cooks to the Fleurieu.
I love spoiling people, I love cooking for people, but what I love even more is working with people.
Anita Robin in her ’dream’ kitchen, holding her book ’My slice of Switzerland’.
Electorate of Finniss
EMMA HEIDENREICH
JESSE EHLERS - it is traditionally a very safe seat for the Liberal Party.
THE state electorate of Finniss is a district that stretches 1,395.4 kilometres squared across most of the popular residential and holiday seaside towns along the Southern Fleurieu, including Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, as well as Lake Alexandrina and the mouth of the Murray River.
The region is home to a diverse population of primary industries, tourism, professional services and is a major contributor to the state and country’s wine industry and its landscape includes national parks, valleys, pristine beaches, and ports.
Icons such as the Granite island Causeway, Steam Ranger Heritage Railway, The Mill at Middleton, The Heysen Trail, Victorian era architecture and many more serve as a reminder of the rich history the area has had in revolutionising the industries around the state.
The district was created in 1991 first contested and represented in 1993, by newly elected Liberal leader Dean Brown
The district is named after Boyle Travers Finniss, a South African soldier, surveyor and public servant, who emigrated to South Australia in 1836 as one of Colonel Light’s surveyors, with his work including the southern Fleurieu Peninsula and other areas.
At various times, Finniss occupied the positions of Deputy Surveyor-General, Police Commissioner, Legislative Councillor, Colonial Secretary and in 1856 was chosen as the first Chief Secretary and then, the first Premier of South Australia.
Finniss is home predominantly to Ramindjeri and Ngarrindjeri First Nations people and includes culturally significant sites to both these people groups, such as the Kongkengguwar (The Bluff) and Muwerang, the last known camping site of the Ramindjeri people.
Current Member for Finniss, David Basham, is in his second term in the role, after initially being elected in the 2018 state elections.
“I am very fortunate and immensely proud to represent the best electorate in South Australia,“ Mr Basham said.
Knights Beach.
Port Elliot Jetty.
Photo: Jesse Ehlers 441304_01
The Murray Mouth on Goolwa Beach. 441304_02
WORDS:
PHOTOS:
RETIRED newspaper journalist of 50 years, Tim Lloyd, remembers well the sound of the printing presses roaring to life and the click of typewriters as deadline approached at his first journalism gig in 1970s Adelaide.
WORDS: EMMA HEIDENREICH
PHOTOS: TOM WYMAN
Karla Bradshaw- Funeral
“I worked right on the turn of the technological revolution from hot metal print, to video display units and digital print options,“ Tim said.
“The digital world was arriving in old fashioned journalism.“
Now living on a small farm outside Willunga with partner, Helen Bennetts, Tim remembers fondly a time in journalism when 14 sets of eyes would gaze over each page and layers of sub-editors refined and reviewed the newspaper before print.
“The general public did not realise just how well-educated proof-readers were in those days,“ he said.
“If there was something wrong with the text, they knew.“
Cut to the modern day and Tim said a great deal of “democratisation“ has occurred in journalism.
Tim Lloyd on his property just out of Willunga.
“There are many more voices in the game now,“ he said.
“Once upon a time, there was no direct access to communicate in public - now, there are almost endless options.“
Tim graduated in 1975 with an Arts degree in History and faced what is ubiquitously termed ’the conundrum of the arts graduate.’
“I had no idea what I was going to do,“ he said.
Tim got a gig writing for The Chronicle - a rural weekly offshoot for The Advertiser, where he began writing regular reviews for amateur drama groups.
By 1978, he was a full-blown theatre critic, reviewing Adelaide Festival shows, and has done ever since.
For a time he worked under pioneer Shirley Stott-Despoja, the first female arts
editor of The Advertiser, eventually assuming the role himself in 1987.
“I had the opportunity to see and interview some of the greatest artists of all time,“ Tim said.
Tim also speaks of the decline of the financial standing of Adelaide Festival, which he said in large part had to do with the dilution of dedicated federal funding and former Premier Mike Rann’s decision to change the festival from biannual to annual.
“The patronage of arts has changed a lot,“ Tim said.
“Much of the funding doesn’t flow to smaller, second tier companies the way it once did.“
Tim is also an heir to Coriole Vineyards in McLaren Vale, which his parents purchased in the 1960s.
To this day, he and Helen and many others work to make The Coriole Music Festival happen each May.
The festival is an independently run, tax-deductible charity event and, much like Tim, aims to increase the visibility of smaller, lesser known artists, and to share their stories.
I had the opportunity to see and interview some of the greatest artists of all time
Tim and his partner, Helen Bennetts.
Tim on his families almond orchard at Coriole.
Louise experiences Life
LOUISE Edwards is an amazing woman.
She is a highly qualified strategic planner, twice elected Commodore of the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, passionate sailor, and community member.
ABOVE: Louise Edwards by the river which she has a love and a passion. (Michael Simmons).
WORDS: JAN POTTER
PHOTOS: MICHAEL SIMMONS
Louise was born in Adelaide and lived at Holden Hill with her family.
Completing her schooling at the Holden Hill Primary School and then Findon High School, Louise said her mother encouraged her to attend university and study subjects which she loved.
This led to studies in English and History. Throughout university Louise worked in various hospitality roles and successfully completed her first Degree.
Louise went on to study a Masters in Public Policy and various other high level qualifications when she embarked on a career with the Department of Transport working in Strategic Planning and finishing her degree at the same time.
This role took her to Port Augusta where she spent three years as a planning co-ordinator for the North-West State, National and Outback Roadwork, the first non-engineer to achieve this role before returning to Adelaide.
Louise was familiar with bush life having
spent a year as a Governess at Anna Creek Station.
In Port Augusta she and her partner Brian joined the Port Augusta Yacht Club, made many friends and enjoyed sailing and travelling in the local area.
An opportunity arose to take up a position as Strategic Manager with an AusAid Capacity Building Program with the Papua New Guinea National Government.
Louise spent two years in this program and then returned to the Department of Transport for 18 months, but then took up a second position in New Guinea.
This project was working again in strategic planning, but this time to cope with the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The political situation grew difficult and in the end she resigned.
When they were living in Adelaide, Louise and Brian bought a 16 foot Trailer Sailer which they took to Clayton Bay when the opportunity arose to enjoy the
outstanding local area and enjoy practicing their sailing skills.
Louise had enjoyed sailing as a teenager at West Lakes.
Both avid travellers, Louise and Brian have travelled through Asia, Europe, the Pacific, Russia and extensively in Australia, including the Canning Stock Route and just recently, a second crossing of the Simpson Desert.
In 2011 when Louise and Brian finished in Papua New Guinea they moved Goolwa.
They soon joined the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club and have had various sailing craft.
Both of them enjoy sailing and the club atmosphere; Louise has been a part of the race committee, is an accredited sail trainer, has been the club secretary for a number of years; two years as Vice Commodore and then two years as Commodore.
Louise is most proud of the Women’s
garden.
Sailing Program which she established in 2018 at the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club (GRYC).
Many new members have since joined the GRYC and now boasts a strong cohort of women skippers and crew racing.
In 2022, Louise won the Australian Sailing State ‘SheSails’ award and was a finalist for the National award.
“There are many challenges along the way, but establishing strong relationships is critical, getting to know people and validating and acknowledging their skills in a meaningful way is so important,“ Louise said.
“Many people come to new groups with
hidden skills and ideas as well as extensive experience, sadly this is sometimes not discovered.
“Looking forward there are Team Sailing Nationals coming up and all the planning which that involves and of course, the Wooden Boat Festival and Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic, both of which have become synonymous with Goolwa.“
Louise is quietly effusive about all things river and sea and the wonderful opportunities which the southern coast provides to connect with others and enjoy a stunning environment.
BuildingBeautifulHomes
Louise enjoys relaxing by spending time in the
Louise has won many sailing trophies over the years and her determination to do well matches her love for the sport. (Michael Simmons).
Electorate of Hammond
WORDS: EMMA HEIDENREICH PHOTOS: JACK CHURCH
THE district of Hammond is a large rural area located southeast of Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills and features hinterland farming areas, vineyards, the River Murray and Monarto Safari Park.
Hammond is one of the larger electorates in South Australia at approximately 3,340 kilometres squared and incorporates the Rural City of Murray Bridge, as well as parts of Alexandrina,
Mount Barker District and Mid Murray councils.
Notable localities include Mannum, Langhorne Creek, Strathalbyn, Wellington and Callington.
Hammond was contested and represented for the first time in 1997, following its creation as an electorate in 1994.
The district is named after Ruby Florence Hammond (1936–1993), who was the first South Australian Aboriginal person to stand for parliament.
Hammond was an Aboriginal rights campaigner and very active in public
affairs, serving the general community and the Aboriginal people — particularly in relation to policy formation.
Hammond developed an understanding of the needs of urban Aboriginal people through her association with activists, notably Gladys Elphick, and she joined the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia, which worked to counter discrimination in the community.
In 2006, Adrian Pederick, a member of the Liberal Party, was elected to represent Hammond and has since maintained his seat being re-elected to a fifth term in the 2022 election.
Personal interests of Adrian’s include Australian Rules football, in which he is a regular attendee and volunteer at the Peake Football Club.
His hobbies include lawn bowls and camping with his family.
Adrian continues to be actively involved in his local community including as a CFS member amongst other interests.
“I am proud and honoured to represent the regional electorate of Hammond in our State Parliament,“ Mr Hammond said.
MPs David Basham (Finniss), Adrian Pederick (Hammond) and Josh Teague (Heysen), read the local paper.
Kent Ielasi, Joanne Levick and Sharon Ielasi at the Strathalbyn Show.
Amber is bossing it
AMBER Zadow started her lashes business when she was just 13 years old and now, six years later, it is still going strong.
A fully trained lash technician, Amber has lived in Goolwa for 15 years and has worked to become her own boss since the start of her high school.
Born in Modbury, Amber moved to Goolwa just before she started school
“I actually grew up in Modbury, but before I started school my parents decided to move down here because we have a lot of family living down here,” she said.
As a kid Amber always wanted to do her own thing, trying different sports and exploring her options to find what she loved.
Ever since she can remember, Amber has always relished the idea of working for herself, even calling work a ‘hobby’.
“I grew up doing a lot of dance, I even played a bit of soccer here and there,” she said.
“I was always into makeup and beauty and that sort of thing, but I was always headstrong and I’ve always known I wanted to work for myself.
“I was always making little businesses out of things, I did jewellery stands at the Sailing Club when my parents used to take us down there, I even tried to start a cake business and stuff.”
“My hobby is working for myself, I like keeping busy with work.”
Amber’s life was upturned at just four months old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4s.
She had to go through chemotherapy and surgery, amazingly pulling through as the tumour was fully removed.
“At four months old I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4s which is a tumour cancer I had in and around my aortic valve and other parts of my body that I couldn’t even list off because there’s so many,” she said.
“It was a tumour the size of an adult’s fist.
“I went through chemotherapy and ended up having surgery that removed it quite a few months later.
“I’ve been in remission ever since and cancer-free for 17 or 18 years now.
“Fortunately I haven’t had any scares and I get checked up repeatedly throughout the year.”
Amber says she doesn’t even
WORDS AND PHOTOS: JACK CHIURCH
remember the ordeal but is grateful that she and her family were able to pull through.
“I was very young, I don’t really remember anything about it, just the good memories around growing up,” she said.
“Honestly I get more worried about my family because they were the ones that had to physically and mentally be there for me.”
The journey from then on has led Amber to take every chance she gets, so she decided to undertake a lashes course.
“I was 13 at the time, but I said yeah let’s do it,” she said.
“When I was doing the course I was a bit hesitant for the first year, when you’re building a business it takes a while to get to a stage where you have a regular clientele.
Looking back, Amber is proud of how much the business has grown and she is looking forward to the future.
“It’s funny because six years ago all I wanted was one client to trust a 13-yearold to do their lashes,” Amber joked.
“It’s definitely come a long way, it’s taken six years to be at the point where I’m fully booked and there is so much work that goes into running a business.
“I’m just excited to see what comes next.”
Amber now has two sites, one at her home in Goolwa, and another in Allenby Gardens as she looks to continue her passion.
It has been a real mental challenge to balance school and work and still maintain a social life, but I’m so grateful because a lot of my clients have been with me for many, many years now.
Skintech Medical
Victor Harbor & Yankalilla
·
· Skintech Medical Yankalilla - Skin
·
Amber Zadow at her home studio in Goolwa.
Amber is a certified advanced lash stylist.
Keeping people safe
CLIVE Mountford is an interesting man to sit down and have a chat with.
He is jovial, with a great sense of humour, but when it comes to water safety, there is a seriousness that comes across his face.
The water is something you do not take for granted and you must “treat with respect“
Clive is well educated - BSc, Applied Science (Data Processing), MBA, Business Owner, Coxswain and is the current Squadron Leader of Victor Harbor Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron Volunteer Marine Rescue.
Clive was born in North Adelaide. He lived with his parents and two siblings throughout South Australia, as they travelled with their father’s work in the bank.
After completing High School at Unley, Clive attended University in Adelaide and followed his passion for all things Technological.
He became a programmer / IT consultant and was employed in private enterprise and the government for many years and followed with fascination the speed of the changes which saw technology move from whole buildings of equipment to microchips.
During this time, Clive married and had four children. Eventually in the late 80’s Clive created his own business providing technical support for small businesses.
Clive has always enjoyed a passion for the sea and took up scuba diving and eventually bought his own five-metre motorboat so he could get out to sea for diving.
Clive took the opportunity to join the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron at West Beach and gained a radio licence, completed a Seamanship Course and later his Coxswains Ticket.
Clive’s other passions have been Classic cars, Pontiacs in particular and since retirement in 2011, travel.
Since then, he and his wife have travelled the seven continents.
In 2018 he and his wife moved to Victor Harbor for a sea-change and a location for their combined 10 grand-children and one great-grandson to holiday.
Clive joined the Victor Harbor Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron (VHGSRS) as a volunteer skipper and radio operator and eventually he became the Squadron Leader.
This role is about the every day operational co-ordination of the squadron.
This service is highly valued and supported by the government with regards to equipment and communication.
It is an essential service which coordinates with Police, Helicopter service, Surf Lifesaving to support rescue operations right across the Southern Coast from Kangaroo Island to the Coorong.
VHGSRS also cover the River Murray from Wellington to the Mouth and the Coorong.
WORDS: JAN POTTER
PHOTOS: MICHAEL SIMMONS
When asked about challenges, Clive said that in all areas “it is managing the continual changes often brought about by regulatory changes, both during his working life and in the Sea Rescue“.
“The regulatory changes have involved the VHGSRS becoming much more professional in their meetings, training and operations,“ Clive said.
“Today there is a need for far greater accountability and audits are done to ensure that the organisation is maintaining appropriate documentation of membership and training.
“This ensures that those who join, as volunteers, receive the appropriate training and are themselves competent and safe in sometimes extraordinary events and conditions.“
Clive is very passionate about boaties communicating vigilantly with Sea Rescue.
“Communication now enables those going out to sea to log in their likely direction and return times and then to log out when they arrive back on shore,“ he said.
“If a boat does not notify within a half hour of their expected time of return, radio contact is attempted.
“After one hour of no reply, a formal search is instigated and personnel mobilised.“
The Squadron will often take two boats out, both as a safety concern and if needed, one to deliver injured persons to the nearest support and the other to tow the boat back to the nearest harbour.
This is a free service.
The Squadron receives government funding and they raise additional funds by supporting a number of organisations and events to provide safety vessels and promote water safety and awareness.
VHGSRS is always happy talk to people who are interested in joining their ranks in whatever capacity.
The VHGSRS duty phone number is 0418 812 731.
It is very rewarding being part of VHGSRS and you get to meet a man like Clive.
Today there is a need for far greater accountability and audits are done to ensure that the organisation is maintaining appropriate documentation of membership and training.
Contact: 0418840713 Ashfordgroup@aldingacentral.com.au Mon-Fri 7:00am-9:00pm Sat 7:00am-5:00pm Sun 9:00am-5:00pm CLOSEDPUBLICHOLIDAYS
Victor Harbor Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron ready to patrol the waters of the south coast.
Victor Harbor Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron ready to patrol the waters of the south coast.
Mawson
THE electorate of Mawson is a country district that sits south of Metropolitan Adelaide and extends from McLaren Vale in the north, down the Fleurieu Peninsula and across to Kangaroo Island, an area of approximately 5,361.3 kilometres squared.
WORDS: EMMA HEIDENREICH
PHOTOS: JESSE EHLERS
Mawson incorporates Kangaroo Island Council and portions of Alexandrina Council, the City of Onkaparinga and the District Council of Yankalilla.
It includes, among others, the localities of Cape Jervis, Kingscote, McLaren Vale, Port Willunga, Sellicks Beach, Willunga and Yankalilla and its economy is based predominantly on agriculture, horticulture and tourism.
In the 2020 electorate redistribution, Mawson also gained the suburb of Maslin Beach.
Mawson sits on the traditional lands of the Peramangk and Kaurna First Peoples.
The district of Mawson was created at the 1969 redistribution and has been contested and represented continuously since 1970.
Mawson was named after Sir Douglas
Mawson (1882-1956), a scientist and explorer, who was associated with the University of Adelaide from 1905, as a geologist.
Mawson undertook geological studies in South Australia and led four Antarctic expeditions from 1911 to 1931.
Current Member for Mawson, Leon Bignell is a former journalist and has held multiple portfolios in State Government in ageing, health, transport, forestry and sport and recreation.
Currently, he is Parliamentary Speaker.
Mr Bignell was elected to the seat on March 18 2006, switching from the Labor Party to an independent in April 2024.
He is a passionate advocate for country sports, his electorate’s world-class wine industry and the environment.
“This is an amazing place to live,“ Mr Bignell said.
“Rolling hills running down to the gulf, paradise.“
Member for Mawson Leon Bignell, with dog Dusty.
The SeaLink ferry leaves Cape Jervis for Kangaroo Island.
Second Valley Beach.
Willunga’s wonder woman
WILLUNGA Football Club
President Julie Clifton is a woman of many talents.
She is a leader, trailblazer and respected member of the community, but a mother of two first and foremost.
Julie grew up in West Lakes and, after school, joined the South Australian Police Force.
During her time in the force, Julie spent time on the Fleurieu Peninsula in the Normanville and Yankalilla areas.
And soon enough, Julie and her family settled at a property between McLaren Vale and Willunga, where she has resided ever since.
When Julie’s daughters wanted to play football, they enrolled in Auskick at Willunga, but after deciding they didn’t want to play with the boys anymore, they returned to netball.
At the time, the pathways for women’s football were far from the streamlined systems in-place today.
But, two years later, the Willunga Football Club started up a women’s team to compete in the Great Southern Football League, and back to football they went.
When the women’s team needed a trainer, someone to take photos or to run water, Julie was there to answer the call.
Julie soon took over Willunga’s women’s football program, before being asked to be president of the club.
WORDS: TOM WYMAN PHOTOS: TOM WYMAN AND WILDFIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY
The first female president of the Willunga Football Club, Julie Clifton.
Lindsay, Julie, and Lauren Clifton at the Willunga FC’s 150th celebrations.
At Willunga, you’re part of something bigger than yourself and that’s huge.
“I wasn’t sure, not because I couldn’t do it, but were the club ready for their first female president?“ Julie said.
But Julie has embraced the role, and the club have embraced her.
Julie has now been involved in the club for ten years, and president since 2021.
“It’s hard, because you’re trying to manage lots of people with lots of opinions, but I love the people here, the players both the guys and the girls, and I really enjoy being president,“ Julie said.
The 2024 season has been a particularly special year for Willunga, who marked their 150th anniversary with a host of celebrations and events.
When asked what makes the Willunga Football Club so highly regarded across not only the Great Southern Footballing landscape, but the state, Julie simply responds with “the people“.
“At Willunga, you’re part of something bigger than yourself, and that’s huge,“ she expressed.
“Willunga has always been successful, both the football and netball. The football club has always been very familyorientated, and what we have is probably unique in that our stalwarts, our 300-game players, go onto coach.
“They’re just people but they’re passionate about their club and their town, and winning is a by-product,“ she said.
Julie’s tireless work around the club isn’t going unnoticed, having been recognised for several football community awards in recent years.
“I was pretty chuffed,“ Julie said with a trademark smile.
“I was nominated for an AFLW ambassador award in 2022 and that blew me away, and then when I got an email
about the SANFL Community Football Awards, I was like ’what’?
“When something needs to be done, you just do it, because everyone is busy and if I’m lucky enough to have more time, then I’ll do a bit more.
“I lead by example so if I want people to run water, I’ll run water, and if I want people to goal umpire, I’ll goal umpire.“
It’s a remark typical of Julie’s can-do, will-do attitude.
Julie Clifton, pictured fourth from left, is an integral part of the Willunga Football Club
Julie Clifton at Willunga Oval.
Rumbelow is a pioneering name in Victor Harbor
WORDS: MICHAEL SIMMONS
THE name Rumbelow has been synonymous with the Encounter Bay/Victor Harbor region since the 1850’s, when Malen, his wife Alice and their eight children had arrived in the colony.
Known particularly for their association with the local fishing industry, it was actually one of Malen’s sons, Malen junior, who set up the business on the foreshore at Yilki.
Fish were plentiful in the Bay in those days, with the Rumbelow catch reportedly amounting to 200 dozen mullet on some days, most of it smoked and sent to Adelaide.
Just as the Rumbelow name has been an integral part of the local community since its very beginnings, the same is also true of the Encounter Bay Football Club (EBFC).
There have been members of the Rumbelow family involved with the EBFC from day one, right up to the present day.
In the very early days of the EBFC, three Rumbelow brothers played football together.
Lionel, David and Stanley Rumbelow played in 1922, the year after the Bays
were formed in 1921.
Over the past 103 years, a Rumbelow has figured in playing, winning premierships and being involved in the administration of the club.
Don and Lesley Rumbelow are still involved, along with their son Brad and grandchildren Bayden, Zach and Declan who play in the juniors.
Planning has commenced for the 170th Anniversary event to be held at the Encounter Bay Sporting Club on the weekend of March 29 and 30, 2025.
A highlight on the weekend will be 12 paintings that feature members of the Rumbelow and Ewen families.
The Rumbelow and Ewen Portraits were painted by William Needs and his younger son, Andrew and bequeathed to the City of Victor Harbor by Mr Peter Matthews in the 1980’s.
“Peter thought it was important to capture their lives on the sea of these outstanding personalities and commissioned the 12 portraits to the then District Council of Victor Harbor,“ Matt Rumbelow said.
He wrote ‘I offer the portraits so that they may be safeguarded and exhibited from time to time – when hopefully Victor Harbor will have a gallery of its own and that I ask for no remuneration. It is just
something that I thought worthwhile of the men portrayed and who lost their lives at sea’.
The 150th celebrations attracted more than 300 visitors from across the country, while the 170th event is expected to be bigger.
south coast fishing is fun
Based in Victor Harbor - Half and full day fishing charters - 7.5 m Sailfish Catamaran - 8.5m Alufarm 4 or 9 passengers
Peter Rumbelow with a portrait of Malen Rumbelow 2nd who was born at Mildenhall, England on 15th June 1846. At the age of eight he accompanied his family to Port Adelaide on the Barque Pestonjee Bomanjee. Painted by W.R. Needs. Peter Matthews Collection.
There is a cairn recognising the Rumbelow fishing dynasty on Franklin Parade, Encounter Bay, street names and it is everywhere at the Encounter Bay Sporting Club.
Malcolm ’Skinny’ Rumbelow said from the earliest days the Rumbelow family had an affiliation with the sea.
“The family became more and more involved with the sea as each of the generations worked and made fishing a career and way of life, not just a job,“ Malcolm said.
“So it’s not surprising to realise that there were going to be tragedies just as there were celebrations of success.“
There have been six Rumbelows who have lost their lives at sea.
The first 1887 and the last in 1981.
Seven if you actually include Malen the 3rd who died of a heart attack while catching snapper on the outer grounds.
“Six drowning seems a high high number to any family, but when you consider the number of the family who would have spent time on the water it’s probably not a bad ratio,“ Malcolm said.
“Although there have been tragedies the Rumbelow family have always been ready to help those in peril. Three have been recipients of Royal Humane Society Bronze Medallions.
“So you can see that the family have always been prepared to jump in and give
a hand when it’s been required.“
Malen and Alice would not have expected that when they arrived at Encounter Bay on January 5, 1855 from Mildenhall, Suffolk in the UK that they would have established a family fishing dynasty that has evolved and grown for 170 years.
Don and Lesley are valuable contributors to the Sea Rescue Squadron and Don enjoys recreational fishing at Encounter Bay today with his mates and family.
Don was recognised for his services to the community at the City of Victor Harbor Australia Day ceremony in 2023.
The Rumbelow tradition continues.
For more visit https://tinyurl.com/ rumbelow170 Not surprising to realise there were going to be tragedies.
Charles, Geoff, David and Eric Rumbelow ready to fish at Encounter Bay.
The Rumbelow family portrait with Malen and Alice in the centre.
Don Rumbelow surrounded by his family when receiving his community service award at the 2023 City of Victor Harbor Australia Day awards.
Malen Rumbelow III.
Small family business with Mens & Ladies exclusive brands
Akubra, RM. Williams, Gazman, Thomas Cook, City Club, Breakway, Meyer, Elm, Yarra Trail, Goodiwindi and more...
First Nations women of the Fleurieu
WORDS AND PHOTO: EMMA HEIDENREICH
THE Fleurieu Peninsula is home to several groups of First Nations people who have called the Fleurieu home for over 65,000 years.
Most notably, these include the Kaurna, Ngarrindjerri, Ramindjeri and the Peramangk people.
In Victor Harbor, Muwerang, also known as Kent Reserve, was one of the last camping grounds of the Ramindjeri and this is where I meet with Kristal Matthews, Rosemary Kartinyeri and Aunty Leonie McCallum, to discuss what it means to be a First Nations woman on the Fleurieu.
The sun is beating down hard, but it reminds me that this is the sun-scorched land the First Nations people of the Fleurieu have cared for, loved and nurtured throughout time.
Kristal, a 29-year-old Ngunawal woman, is the youngest of the three women, and while she was born in New South Wales, she has come to love and feel connected to Ngarrindjeri Country.
“I am so grateful to live on Ngarrindjeri Country,“ Kristal said.
“Growing up in New South Wales, my childhood was very multicultural and coming to the Fleurieu was a huge shift for me - here it feels much less culturally diverse.“
“But it didn’t take long before I was welcomed into the community by the Aunties.“
Kristal is referring to Aunty Phyllis Williams and the late Aunty Eileen McHughes, who taught Kristal to weave and encouraged her to get involved in the work of Miwi-Inyeri Pelepi-Ambi Aboriginal Corporation (MIPAAC), one of the Fleurieu’s most established Aboriginal representative groups.
In many ways, Kristal represents the next generation of First Nations peopleshe was part of the formation of the local Nunga Youth Group.
“We live in a different time,“ Kristal said.
“I am constantly thankful for where we
Caring for the Fleurieu Peninsula
are and for the work our old people have done to make sure we have opportunities that they did not.“
In 2019, together with her sister Jazz, Kristal founded art company Wilay Designs.
“One of the things we focus on is passing on the stories our old people have worked so hard to protect,“ she said.
Ramindjeri, Ngarrindjeri and Gundjimarra woman Rosemary Kartinyeri turns 50 next year, but she does so with pride and a keen awareness that not all her Mob live to see older age.
Rosemary has called the Fleurieu home her whole life - born in Encounter Bay, raised in Victor Harbor she remembers only two other Aboriginal families in their part of town.
“My mum is still friends with the midwife who helped deliver me and my brother,“ she said.
“Growing up we dealt with alot of racism but never hid who we are,“ Rosemary said.
“And I know there is still prejudice, but the young ones have no idea how much harder it was.“
Kristal Matthews, Aunty Leonie McCallum and Rosemary Kartinyeri, share what it means to be a Fleurieu First Nations woman.
Rosemary Kartinyeri and Owen CruickshanksBoyd with Robert De Castella, founder of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, at a running forum in Adelaide. Photo: Supplied
The daughter of the late Uncle Archie Kartinyeri, a mighty Leader, Elder, Teacher, Father, Grandfather, Friend and Olympic Marathon runner for Australia, it was his death four years ago that led Rosemary to become involved with MIPAAC and to continue the work of its founders.
“MIPAAC is such an important resource for schools, councils and the community,“ she said.
“It opens the door for us to have a voice and gives us strength, as Mob, to fight for who and what we are representing.“
More recently, Rosemary has spearheaded NAIDOC events with MIPAAC, such as the one held in Victor Harbor in August that drew record crowds of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Rosemary is also working with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) founded by Robert de Castella and Fleurieu Run Tribe, to see Aboriginal youth included in marathons not only on the peninsula, but across Australia and worldwide.
Last, but by no means least, is Aunty Leonie McCallum.
Born on Raukkan, an Aboriginal community situated on the south-eastern shore of Lake Alexandrina, Aunty arrived in Victor Harbor 10 years ago.
In this time, she has made it her mission to bring black and white together and she has done this in multiple ways.
Aunty was behind the idea to make a mosaic at Muwerang Reserve, together with Ramindjeri-Ngarrindjeri and Narangga artist, Cedric Varcoe.
You will perhaps recognise Aunty by her beautiful green eyes and warmest smile, but it is her hauntingly beautiful voice that many have come to know at formal events and ceremonies.
For the most part, Aunty Leonie sings Amazing Grace in language, as a welcome.
She also looks at me firmly in the eye and makes it clear, that despite any suggestion otherwise, MIPAAC and the First Nations people of the Fleurieu are firmly against development at the Bluff.
“This is a culturally significant site to us, its in our dreaming,“ she said.
“And it is this sort of thing that we must be given voice on in our beautiful home - the Fleurieu Peninsula.“
THE BOULEVARD
Kristal and sister, Jazz, own Willay Designs, a First Nations art company. Photo: Supplied
AMANDA Westley is a talented artist, widely known throughout Australia and overseas.
Amanda lets
She manages her own business and has a deep passion for her culture.
Amanda is a mother and a partner and a proud Ngarrindjeri woman and artist, born in Victor Harbor.
Her totems are the whale, pelican, and black swan.
Growing up she experienced the best of both worlds living the farm life 12 kilometres out of the coastal country town of Victor Harbor.
Her father, Mike, was a boat builder, so the water and the ocean have always been a big part of her life.
Amanda attended primary school in Victor Harbor and went to boarding school in Adelaide.
Initial
After finishing school, Amanda worked in hospitality and travelled through out Australia finally settling in Queensland.
Amanda has two children and moved back to South Australia about seven years ago to be near her family and to take more time to expand her art.
Through her cousin, Amanda was fortunate to meet the owner and manager of Kiri Kiri Arts, now closed and found a mentor who helped her understand more about the value of her work and the ways in which she could promote herself as an artist.
This was life changing for Amanda.
Her painting style is dot work on canvas in acrylic and the bright colours from her coastal country hometown and
Amanda at work with her dot paintings that have a special message. (Photos courtesy The Forward).
WORDS: JAN POTTER
PHOTOS: THE FORWARD
Amanda and her daughters Sophia and Tigerlilly. (Photos courtesy The Forward).
My paintings represent country. For Aboriginal people, land has a spiritual and cultural connection and is so important to our identity and way of life.
her art do the talking
the ocean are represented through her paintings which vary in size.
“I have been painting from a very young age and my style is contemporary Aboriginal dot art,“ Amanda said.
“I have always enjoyed painting and the calm that it brings.
“My paintings represent country. For Aboriginal people, land has a spiritual and cultural connection and is so important to our identity and way of life.
“With my painting I have used a combination of pinks, yellows, blues, greens and oranges to represent how I see my Ngarrindjeri country.”
“My family is one of the oldest Aboriginal families here on the south coast so this land I call home has been a part of
1800 66 1800
Shop 6, 17 - 21 Ocean Street, Victor Harbor www.oopssecurity.com.au Wayne can help you
my family for a very long time and by creating these paintings I am acknowledging the important connection my family have with this land.”
Amanda travels extensively throughout Australia seeking stories and comparing art works.
Her passion at present is to curate an exhibition called ’Water People’ relating all the communities she has visited and their connection to water.
Many communities are around the western coast, in and near Darwin, on the Tiwi Islands, North Queensland, as well as inland.
“I am collecting stories and artefacts about water holes, rivers and springs to share in the exhibition,“ Amanda said.
“This will culminate in an exhibition in 2025 at the Coral Street Art Space in Victor Harbor.“
In her many forays into communities, Amanda has developed a passion for creating a Foundation to support the most basic needs of Indigenous people living on country.
The necessity of access has touched Amanda deeply and she has every intention of helping to make improvements through her interactions and her art and through collaborations and growing influence.
You can see examples of Amanda’s work the internet or on Instagram @ amandaindigenousartist
Amanda’s art work has a spiritual connection with the Indigenous communities.
Sophia and Tigerlilly working with Mum, Amanda on the next piece of artwork.
Mayo
TYREPLUS McLaren Vale provide for all your Tyre needs. Covering Lawn & Garden, ATV, Passenger, 4WD, Classics, Motor Bikes, Light Truck, Truck, Forklift, Construction, Agricultural and Excavator Rubber Tracks.
We also offer a range of services:
• Tyre repairs • Brakes & Suspension Servicing
• Batteries • Balancing
• Rotation & Wheel Aligning
• Pickup and drop off service when required
• Loan vehicle can be utilized
• After Hours On-site fitting
With over 30 years experience we know your Tyre!
TYREPLUS
McLaren Vale – Fleurieu Peninsula
231 Main Road, McLaren Vale SA 5171
Phone: (08) 8323 8166
THE federal electorate of Mayo is made up of the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, and some of the Adelaide Hills.
Mayo has an area of 9135 square kilometres, and within its boundaries sits five full council districts plus parts of three others.
The only parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula not included in Mayo are Maslin Beach and Seaford, which are in Kingston.
The traditional owners of the electorate include the Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri, Kaurna, and Peramangk people.
It is a diverse landscape, from beaches, rolling hills, and stunning coastline to vineyards, orchards, and agricultural land.
Along with agriculture, other popular industries in Mayo include tourism, hospitality, and copper mining.
The largest towns within the boundaries are Mount Barker, Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn, McLaren Vale, Stirling, Nairne, Aldgate, and Bridgewater.
The electorate is named after Dr Helen Mary Mayo OBE, who was the first woman elected to an Australian University Council in 1914.
She worked in South Australian maternal and child health and welfare, and in 1927 she co-founded the Mothers’ and Babies’ Health Association.
Only three members of parliament have held the seat since its establishment in 1984: Alexander Downer 91984-2008),
Jamie Briggs (2008-2016), and Rebekha Sharkie (2016-present).
Ms Sharkie said the beauty of the electorate was extraordinary and likened it to “God’s country“.
“Whether you’re on Kangaroo Island, the Fleurieu, or the Adelaide Hills, beauty is everywhere - I would live anywhere in the electorate,“ she said.
“It’s the unexpected wonder with every turn you take, the colour of the ocean, the smell of the beach.
“The people of the electorate make it an extraordinary place - their resourcefulness, and they deeply care about each other, and we see that in disasters like bushfires and even COVID; we all look after each other.“
Rapid Bay.
Delamere.
Hayborough. (Dani Brown: 441493_07)
Victor Harbor.
The joys of being a foster care family
WORDS AND PHOTOS: JACK CHURCH
STRATHALBYN mother-daughter duo Tracy and Holly Upton have found their calling, having welcomed children into their homes for years as foster carers.
It all started when one of Tracy’s relatives suggested the idea, but Tracy was busy enough with her own eight children.
As her kids grew up, she quickly realised how much she missed having babies around the house.
“I didn’t always want to foster, I had eight of my own so I was busy enough with them,” Tracy said.
“When my youngest was around eight, I realised I missed having babies around the place.
“My sister has been a foster carer for years and I always said that’s not for me, but then she had this tiny newborn baby and we all went to meet her, that’s when I thought this could be something I’d like to do.”
On the other hand, Holly always dreamt of being a foster carer and registered just before her 30th birthday.
“So I’ve wanted to do it since I was nine,” Holly said.
Now, more of the Upton family is getting involved, with another of Tracy’s daughters making her way through the process.
There are four types of foster care, emergency, short-term, long-term, and respite.
No matter how long you have a child for, Holly says the hardest part of foster care is saying goodbye.
“The hardest thing is when you have built a connection and they have to go, it does hurt when they leave,” she said.
Holly and Tracy have both been foster caring for more than seven years, but Tracy’s fondest memory is still the day she picked up her first foster child.
“The fondest memory I have is just the day we picked up our first girl, I was so nervous and the worker brought her out and she was this teeny tiny little girl, it just felt like bringing your own baby home from the hospital.”
Everyone has a different foster experience, but no matter the challenge, the agencies have support systems and social workers who will come and chat with you.
“If you’re struggling they will instantly set up a time to meet with you, to chat and navigate through any problems you’re facing,” Holly said.
“They’re just really good, I had a really difficult situation and my worker came and brought flowers and she sat with me for hours.
“You lose track of time sometimes because they are just so lovely and so easy to speak with.”
South Australia is in desperate need of more foster carers and both Tracy and Holly are encouraging anyone interested to start the process.
Kids don’t want much in life, all they want is to feel loved and safe, Tracy said.
“If more people could just open their hearts and homes to a child and give them that security, imagine how much better that will be for our youth.”
Suzanne Moss, Steve Green, Holly Upton and Tracy Upton attended a Foster Care forum in Strathalbyn earlier this year.
Tracy and Holly Upton have a passion for foster caring.
Tracy and Holly at the Soldiers Memorial Gardens in Strathalbyn.
The Perfect
JOHN Edwards had a massive 2023 and 2024 has been a year of self-reflection and enjoying more spare time.
In 2023, John retired from his own practice after being the local dentist for 40 years and also cracked the 70-years milestone.
John does not look or behave, as a now 71-year-old, but is a man that loves to keep busy and has hobbies, which continues to fill his days.
Dentists often put off selling their practices because they are concerned about life after dentistry.
What will they do with all those extra hours, how will they cope with leaving behind the identity that has defined them for decades?
John graduated in 1984 at the age of 30 from Adelaide University, after previously working in Canberra for Police and Customs as a computer programmer.
“My first day of practicing dentistry, I was working in Victor Harbor. My wife (Pauline) and I thought we would come here for a short term, get some experience and then consider a specialty,“ John recalled.
“I’m a country boy, so I was comfortable to come here to live and work.
“A practice came up for sale in 1985, 18 months in. We were scared at first because we had no business experience and didn’t know how to run a practice, but I was advised that this was an amazing opportunity and that I had to take it.
“My father was a business person, Pauline was good with numbers, my treatment skills were somewhat precocious, with a healthy dose of OCD, a warm heart, fair mind and solid work ethic.
“Combined, we began to believe that we could do it!“
And they did and made an indelible mark on the Fleurieu community.
John and Pauline made the practice work with only a single chair and working 60 hours a week.
They were an immediate success, as they mixed well into the community and became too busy for the site they were in.
“We had to move and so we purchased another building in Victoria Street, Victor Harbor, renovated it so that we could have three surgeries,“ John said.
John is now enjoying travel with Pauline, especially going to the United States to visit their incredibly intelligent, witty and personable son, Ryan.
“In my head and my heart, I’m 45 years old. I’m in good mental and physical health, so I do enjoy life,“ John said.
“After the practice was sold, I began to think about what to do next. Dentistry and practice ownership had been my life. I have loved it.“
John also has a passion for wine, as he ran his own label Mt Billy. So trips to the Barossa, Margaret River, Clare Valley,
WORDS AND PHOTOS: MICHAEL SIMMONS
John was the total professional as a dentist in Victor Harbor.
Pauline is surrounded by former players of the Victor Harbor Netball Club as court one at the club bears her name.
I’m a green thumb, I love gardening, cooking, wine making
Combination
Coonawarra are always on the agenda.
“When I was 21, I discovered red wine in Coonawarra. It just clicked with me. I became a wine enthusiast. I got interested in wine appreciation and in particular, collecting different wines,“ he said.
“Then, one fateful day, we had a BBQ at home and a mate of mine, who is a winemaker, looked at my paddock and said I should grow grapes.
“I checked with an independent consultant, who also said I could grow grapes there. I did a wine making course and started to make wine.
“We began planting the vineyard in 1991 and it was a few years before we produced a commercial volume.
“We started with sparkling wine and chardonnay and then expanded to grow red grapes and added Barossa Valley ‘Old Vine’ wines to our portfolio.
“I found a fantastic winemaker to help me.“
John’s wine-making style is called artisanal handmade wine making - it involves science and art.
“I was lucky that it worked really well. My wines were highly rated by wine critics and in recent years we sold all our products to China, until they started their embargo in early 2021.“
As a hobby John has now started experimenting with tiny batches of gin, vodka and Limoncello using professional/ traditional processes.
“I’m a green thumb, I love gardening, cooking, wine making, so it was a natural thing to move from wine making to making spirits,“ John said.
“I have nine Australian native botanicals
in my gin. And I’m not even a gin drinker!“
There is no doubt Pauline is the rock behind John, running the business in the office and the family. But she is also one of the greatest netball coaches to ever step onto a Great Southern netball court.
Pauline coached Victor Harbor for nearly 40 years, was involved with Adelaide Thunderbirds in the inaugural season of the Super Netball League in 1997, as an assistant coach to Marg Angove
They won the national netball title in 1998 and 1999 and was appointed State Under 19 coach in 1995.
Under Pauline, the Victor Harbor Netball Club was a powerhouse and still is, always playing finals and winning 13 A grade premierships during her tenure.
Pauline is a life member of the club and has court one named after her.
In my head and my heart, I’m 45 years old. I do enjoy life.
Pauline is surrounded by former players of the Victor Harbor Netball Club as court one at the club bears her name.
John, Pauline and Ryan Edwards celebrate John’s 70th birthday and three exceptional lives.
SERVES 4-6 PEOPLE
Ingredients
For the salad base:
■ 1kg cooked, peeled Australian king prawns
■ 1 head of iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
■ 2 avocados cubed
■ 2 mangos, cubed
■ 1 chilli (optional)
■ 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Prepare the dressing:
■ 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
■ 1 tsp finely grated lime rind
■ 100ml of cold pressed olive oil
■ Handful chopped coriander
■ Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the sauce:
In a small bowl, mix the lime juice, rind, oil and coriander. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix together to create a dressing.
Assemble the base:
Divide the shredded lettuce evenly between serving glasses or bowls. Top with diced mango, avocado and a sprinkle of chilli if using.
Add the prawns:
Arrange the prawns on top of the prepared base, ensuring each portion gets an even amount.
Drizzle the dressing:
Pour the dressing over the prawns.
Garnish and serve:
Garnish with a wedge of lemon. Serve immediately, chilled.
ACROSS
1 Creator’s protection (9)
6 Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album (8)
11 Object (7)
12 Australian certificate signifying knowledge of alcohol consumption regulations (1,1,1)
WORDFIND
13 1982 film starring Dustin Hoffman (7)
14 Temporary substitute (5)
16 Examine (4)
19 Tubular pasta (8)
21 Chinese steamed bun (3)
22 — Mendes, US actress (3)
24 Film genre (4)
25 Night Fever band (3,4)
26 Fish (3)
27 Soft, sweet food for afternoon tea (4)
29 Part of the foot (4)
30 Judge (7)
33 Mugful (3)
34 School subject (abb) (3)
36 Freedom (7)
39 See 9-down
40 Australian subscription video streaming service (4)
41 Electric guitar accessory (3)
44 Green tropical fruit (7)
45 Mythical ape (4)
46 Cinder (3)
49 Nation’s economic measure (1,1,1)
51 Unfancied runner (4,4)
52 Observed (4)
54 Rough woollen cloth (5)
56 Manhattan neighbourhood (7)
58 ‘The Greatest’ boxer (3)
59 Australian Greens senator, — Waters (7)
61 Tasmanian-founded confectionary company Pascall makes these internally colourful sweets (8)
62 Asian nation served by Changi Airport (9)
DOWN
1 Australian TV host, — Pickering (7)
2 Favourite (3)
3 Tasmanian location of the oldest stone span bridge in Australia (8)
4, 43-down Largest desert in Australia (5,8)
5 Australian actress, — Palmer (6)
6 Dull (4)
7 Drowsy (9)
8 John (coll) (3)
9, 39-across Location of Tasmania’s first British settlement in 1803 (6,4)
10 Australian scientist Howard Florey led the team that developed this life-saving drug (10)
15 Australian bank (init) (1,1,1)
17 State of drunkenness (7)
18 Australian motorcycle racing word champion, — Price (4)
20 Leading (5)
23 Calf’s meat (4)
26 Formerly (arch) (4)
CALCUDOKU
27 Skill (10)
28 Seaweed (4)
29 In what way? (3)
31 Genetically distinct form of plant or animal adapted to a particular environment (7)
32 Frozen treat (3)
35 Domestic animals (4)
37 Baz Luhrmann directed a biopic on this music icon (5)
38 Alaska’s largest city (9)
42 Tracks (4)
43 See 4-down
46 Grow older (3)
47 Moisten (7)
48 Australian swimmer, Susie — (6)
50 VFL team formed in 2001, Tasmanian — (6)
53 Synthetic fibre (5)
55 Ululates (4)
57 Gigayear (3)
60 Originated the role of Eliza in the Broadway musical Hamilton, Phillipa — (3)
HOW TO PLAY: Every row and column must contain the numbers 1 to 6 once each, with each outlined section equal to the number in the top left of the area when the noted mathematical operation is used. For subtraction and division, start with the largest number in the section.
