WINTER 2016 SPRING 2015
MAGNIFICENT
GARDENS
to inspire
The bush spirit of
RYDAL SHOW
Historic Bleak House
MUDGEE
Explore the country charm of
BOOROWA & CROOKWELL town feature
PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL WEST REGION
capturing the best in the west
• Selling in every auction sale week • Leading wooltrade broker • Forward contract with Riemann • Offering Auctions Plus wool • Accredited & modern rehandle • Cash settlement on small lots • Merchandise • Shearing finance • Web access to client account • One competitive flat rate for all bales • Comprehensive market reporting • Detailed clip analysis
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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
trading as Central West Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.centralwestmagazine.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@centralwestmagazine.com.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@centralwestmagazine.com.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay jake@centralwestmagazine.com.au ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@centralwestmagazine.com.au
DISTRIBUTION Central West Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly (available at the beginning of each season) and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Central West and in the bordering regions of the Far West, North West, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Goulburn, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales.
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue (mailed or online), visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. Š Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2016
All Rights Reserved
Subscriptions and back issues are also available to read online, on desktop and mobile devices.
No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.
While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
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CONTENTS WINTER 2016
12
114-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: BOOROWA & CROOKWELL
Snuggle up by the fire with your CWL and meet the characters, see the sights, and marvel at the enterprise, ingenuity and calibre of two of the Central West’s most picturesque and enticing villages.
128
134
110 SHOW OF FORCE
A PEEK AT BLEAK
The tiny town of Rydal hosts the “biggest little show in the west”.
We visit one of Mudgee’s oldest and finest homes.
4 CWL
154
150
156
LOVELY LINEN
HOME AND COSY
COOL, CALM AND CLASSIC
A natural fibre fabulous for home decorating.
Beat the winter blues with these style tips.
We visit the stunning Millthorpe home of Incy Interiors founder Kristy Withers.
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168
172
176
WHAT COMES NATURALLY
TICKET TO PARADISE
DISHES TO DIE FOR
Leather, Mohair, Merino and Cashmere make fine fashion staples.
Pip Teys holidays on Hamilton Island.
Anne and Paul Loveridge from The Quarry Restaurant share a winter menu that’s bound to satisfy and delight, while Lorraine Hills serves up some tried and true family favourites.
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208
202 190 EVENTS IN THE WEST
WEDDINGS
THE LAST WORD
Pictures from CWL’s Autumn launch at Mayfield Garden.
The Central West’s blushing brides and gallant grooms tie the knot in true country style.
Fraser Lyon takes his photography skyward.
ON THE COVER 2016 R 2015 WINTE SPRING
MAGNIFICENT
GARDENS to inspire
The bush spirit of
RYDAL SHOW
Highly respected pastoralist Jeff Prell OAM in his historic woolshed at “Gundowringa”, Crookwell. Photography: Shot by Jake
MUDGEE
of Explore the country charm
BOOROWA & CR OOKW EL L town feature
$11.00
inc GST
608002
>
winter 2016 VOLUME 13
772201
The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.
Historic Bleak House
• EVENTS • TRAVEL AGRICU LTURE • STYLE GARDEN S • FOOD • L WEST REGION PEOPLE • HOMES • THE BEAUTI FUL CENTRA • AND MORE FROM CULTUR E • BUSINE SS
in the west capt uring the best
9
WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS.
CWL 5
SECTION
From the Publishers Welcome to winter in the Central West! We are thrilled to present to you a Town Feature on Boorowa and Crookwell. Very welcoming and full of history and amazing stories, these two towns were certainly a pleasure to research and explore. Although CWL attended the Crookwell Show and experienced that country vibe and feeling of pride that comes with the annual show, we have chosen to showcase this special event in the Spring 2016 edition. It is with great sadness we share the news of the passing of one of West Wyalong’s much-loved residents, John Pellow. CWL writer Cath Player wrote a beautiful story about John in our Summer 2015 edition. We had a great deal of positive feedback from that story and many people recounted friendships that they had with John or work relationships that were based on trust and loyalty. West Wyalong will certainly miss John’s smiling face and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Alice, and John’s family and friends. It has been a great privilege to be part of an adjudication panel for the Nationals Soap Box Challenge public speaking competition, facilitated by the Deputy Premier and Member for Dubbo, Troy Grant. This competition included participants from public and private high schools in Mudgee, Wellington, Narromine, Trangie and Dubbo. The finals held in Dubbo in April saw spirited competition from both boys and girls from Years 7 to 12 with James Barton, Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, Dubbo, and Maree Pobje, Dubbo College Delroy Campus, Dubbo, taking out the coveted titles. Congratulations to all students who entered this competition and to school staff and families who supported their endeavours. We recently attended the Nationals Dinner in Dubbo where we had the great thrill of meeting former Prime Minister John Howard. He held the prime ministerial office for 11 years as one of the longest serving prime ministers of our time. We felt very proud when Troy Grant presented Mr Howard with the 3rd Anniversary Collection of CWL. Dubbo recently had the honour of a visit from NSW Governor, General David Hurley. Snare’s Newsagency, Dubbo, was one of four businesses in the city to receive a visit from the Governor. Peter Snare chose to present a gift of the first 12 editions of CWL, packaged as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Anniversary Collections to the Governor. This was certainly a great thrill for the CWL team! We farewell our advertising graphic designer, Lisa Starr, from the CWL team. Lisa has worked with us over the past nine editions and we thank her for her collaboration with our many advertisers and her high quality creative input to our magazine. We would like to welcome Orange-based Mitch Brakenridge, who takes up the advertising graphic designer position. He comes with a wealth of experience in design, marketing and communication and we look forward to working with Mitch on our journey with CWL. April saw yet more Open Days at Iandra Castle where CWL enjoyed having a stand, showcasing our magazine to visitors and networking with many people, some of whom were visiting the amazing Iandra Castle for the first time. We have been busy visiting and researching our next three towns to be featured in spring, West Wyalong, Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo. What incredibly interesting and progressive towns we discovered with so many people involved in ventures that add to the intrinsic fabric of their captivating communities. Till next time, stay warm, find a cosy spot to curl up and enjoy the latest edition of Central West Lifestyle. Warm regards,
Elizabeth and Alex Tickle 6 CWL
Above: From left, back row: Adjudicators Pip Job, 2014 NSW ACT Rural Woman of the Year, Elizabeth Tickle, CWL Editor, Nathan Quigley, State Director of the NSW Nationals. Middle row: Trophy donors Nancy Peacocke, wife of the late Gerry Peacocke, Judy Jakins, the first female member of the Legislative Council (Upper House), with the Hon Troy Grant MP. Front row: Winners James Barton and Maree Pobje.
Above: Publishers Elizabeth and Alex Tickle with former Prime Minister John Howard.
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Photographic memories
G
reetings and salutations to the good folk carving out a living and growing older by the day in the good old Central West!
During my memorable stay in the delightful little town of Boorowa I was fortunate to camp out at the converted jackeroo quarters at the Wantana Cottage Farm Stay. The likeable owners, Bill and Sharee Darmody, had gone to the coast for a well-earned break and left the farm to yours truly, with no responsibilities other than to sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the bush, the stars at night and early mornings for writing. The last time I stayed in a jackeroos’ quarters (along with five other mostly ute owners, making my old pink EK Holden sedan look appalling) was 36 years ago at Gunbar Station, Merriwagga (near Hay). I must admit I was never cut out for farm work but my time there was a real eye opener for a young bloke still trying to find his way. The days were long and the pay, at $60 a week, was enough to get by on. While I often struggled with the horse-breaking, constant mustering and endless drenching, lamb-marking, dipping and grass-seed removal, I had at least one constant companion (besides my kelpie dog, who was about as useless as this correspondent) and that was my Konica camera, permanently tucked away in my saddlebag.
Looking back, I could see it was my images and not my stock handling ability that would take me places in this world. So, all these years later, I am still taking pictures and sharing my stories, but this time with an audience – you, the faceless and largely unknown readers who have grown to love this magazine and the little unsung legends we seem to uncover!
When the lights went out I would get to work in my makeshift darkroom (in the small space next to my bed), printing images of all facets of station life and hanging them on a piece of wire to dry overnight. There was a constant stream of “new chums” coming and going and I never tired of listening to their stories and shooting a way of life that in many respects has now sadly disappeared.
I totally love Boorowa and not just because it has three pubs and two clubs, making it, per capita, one of the biggest drinking towns in the country (I must admit that it never quite looked like that, but you get my point).
I even made a few bob selling the prints to the station’s workforce, including the manager, a Mr Peter Wilson (who smoked a pipe and commanded deep respect), the overseer, six jackeroos (including your traditional “green” Pommy Jackeroo who was the butt of even more jokes than me), four station hands, a cook and a “cowboy”, who taught me how to butcher a “killer” (probably the most gruesome job of all and one that I never really got my head around!). Then there were the shearers, who camped in the shearers’ quarters for weeks at a time, and the horse-breaker, a nuggety bloke from Gunnedah who put me on some frisky, station-bred young colts that were clearly not like the ones I used to ride in my old Pony Club days! How I wished I hadn’t put my Barcoo Poley saddle on that top rung of the yards on my first day (I was later reminded that it meant I was prepared to ride anything!).
Left: In the air with Ross Williams over the skies of Boorowa. Below: Nothing like a good sunset at Wantana Cottage Farm Stay to see the day out.
Staying in Crookwell, just over the ranges, was much the same. I kept running into folk with great vision, like John and Liz Baker who saw a lovely home in an old, decrepit Cobb and Co building out near Frogmore and spent years bringing it back to its former glory. Visionaries like former mayor Robert Gledhill, whose love for the town knows no boundaries. Farmers like Bill and Sharee Darmody, who quietly go about their business and the Big Boys like Wally Merriman (Merinos), Garry Kadwell (potatoes) and John Kelly (thoroughbreds), all putting their respective country towns in the spotlight. I was honoured to catch up with two very skilled wordsmiths in this issue. Peter Austin is a household name for readers of the bush bible, The Land. He was my editor during a memorable two-year stint in Tamworth back in the 1980s. I have the utmost respect for this man who has devoted 40 years of his life to informing people of what’s happening in our country. I shouldn’t have been so nervous about seeing him for so long – he hasn’t changed one bit! I was also lucky to catch up with Laggan’s Christopher Lee, a gifted scriptwriter responsible for some of the most engaging programs we have seen on our televisions. This man reminded me of some very good lessons: seize the moment and live life to the full. The spirit of the bush is truly alive. I must also thank the two generous men who gave up their time to take me flying over Crookwell and Boorowa: Jake Bush (in his boss’s chopper) and Ross Williams (in Brett Hughston’s funky little trike ultralight). Seeing these towns from 1000 feet up always offers a new, if not a daring, perspective of the towns we are proud to call “home”. I’ll leave you with a thought from the Dalai Lama, who said “Man” surprised him most about humanity. “Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die and then dies having never really lived.” Hoping you are all living life to the max and enjoying good health and peace. Now go and find your favourite chair for the good bits!
Shot by Jake 8 CWL
Oberon St, Oberon NSW 2787 Phone: 02 6336 2100 Fax: 02 6336 2114 Email: btrout@bigpond.net.au www.bigtrout.com.au Chinese Restaurant: 02 6336 1133
Situated close to trout fishing in Lake Oberon. 29km from Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Boyd National Park. Visit Mayfield Water Garden, Open 7 days with Nursery & Kitchen Cafe.
The Big Trout Motor Inn is located in the township of Oberon, which is best known for Jenolan Caves, Kanangra Walls, trout fishing, its snowfalls in winter and daffodils in spring. It now also has one of the largest privately owned cool climate gardens in the country, Mayfield Garden. The town and its environment abound with magnificent scenery and offer exciting adventures and activities for visitors of all ages. These include, bush walking, 4 Wheel Driving, gem fossicking and mushrooming. Canoeing, Kayaking and sailing on Lake Oberon are also popular during the summer months. We specialise in Coach Groups and provide organised tours of the district with a local guide. Tours take in
surrounding towns and villages including Hill End, Sofala, Bathurst, Rockley, Carcoar, Lithgow and Jenolan Caves. They can be tailored to include a farm experience, Mayfield Garden tours, timber harvesting as well as the history of the region. With 33 ground floor units, there are facilities to suit everyone. Two units in the complex have luxurious spa baths. A Licensed Restaurant with popular Chinese and Australian cuisine is connected to the motel, while room service is available on request.
Features Include: • • • • • • • Kanangra Walls
33 Ground Floor Units 2 with spas Central Heating Disabled Unit Family Room Wi Fi Internet Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
• • • •
Speci al Coach ising in & Dis Groups trict T ours
Television Hair Dryers Electric Blankets Direct Dial & STD Phones • Licensed Restaurant • Room Service
WINTER 2016 CONTRIBUTORS
Meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
ALEX TICKLE
JAKE LINDSAY
GINA CRANSON
Publisher & Editor
Publisher & Advertising
Chief Writer & Photographer
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
KATE BOSHAMMER
ZORA REGULIC
MITCH BRAKENRIDGE
CATHERINE PLAYER
ANNA TICKLE
ELIZABETH SWANE
ANGUS WADDELL Photographer
Weddings & Events Writer
AMANDA O’SULLIVAN
Business Strategist
Writer & Social Media Manager
ALI WANCHAP WOOD
Art Director
Garden Writer
Advertising Designer
Fashion Writer
Home & Style and Travel Writer
PIP TEYS
DAYNA TIERNEY
LORRAINE HILLS
PAUL & ANNE LOVERIDGE
ROBERT I BRUCE
Country Cuisine Writer
Seasonal Food Writers
Writer
Photographer
Writer
JANE SANDERSON
Home & Style Writer
ALISTAIR BROWN
Social Media Curator
SECTION On behalf of myself and my husband Andrew McDougall OAM, I would like to express our gratitude and thanks to Elizabeth Tickle, photographer Jake Lindsay, and the great team at Central West Lifestyle magazine, for putting together a remarkable Summer 2015 edition. It has been a great experience being a part of this edition for the Orange community. The focus on heritage and the depth of passion within rural communities and local families is an important element. This was brought home recently when we hosted Christmas 2015 at “Strathroy”, Orange, providing the perfect opportunity for the Phillips family to come together and enjoy five generations of women being together. Family matriarch 92-year-old Gwen Phillips was able to spend time enjoying the company of daughter Deanne, granddaughters Michelle and Nikki, great granddaughters Grace and Abbey and most importantly great-great-granddaughter Evelyn, along with other family members. Five generations enjoyed a luncheon in the beautiful “Strathroy” garden, making this a memorable occasion for all. Thank you to a great team of professionals, producing a very exciting publication supporting rural towns, villages and individuals.
your letters Anyone who lives in the Central West region of NSW knows it is a great place to live, work and play. While it’s great that we recognise how good we’ve got it and how privileged we are to live in this beautiful area of the state, I am grateful that we have an opportunity to showcase our region to visitors and local communities alike in a professional and quality publication. Since the winter of 2013, Central West Lifestyle has captured and showcased our region. Across 13 editions to date, this first-class publication has told the stories of our remarkable community members and promoted the beauty of our area with spectacular photography to not only other regions in NSW and Australia but across the world. Central West Lifestyle goes behind the images and resilience of the area and takes the reader with them as they delve into the lives and the history of the Central West’s greatest assets: its people. It is compelling editorial and visually delightful. I look forward to grabbing each edition off the shelf at my newsagent every quarter. Thank you to the team at Central West Lifestyle for recognising our region and for the professional manner in which you promote our area. I congratulate you and wish you every success for many more editions to come.
Deanne Phillips OAM, Orange It is with pleasure that I look back and consider Oberon’s experience with the Central West Lifestyle magazine team. Oberon and Lithgow shared a 113page feature in the Autumn edition. The compilation was painless and professional from our perspective, the launch was very enjoyable and the end result, the magazine itself, was spectacular. The individual stories were interesting and well researched and the photography visually stunning. Community feedback has been extremely positive and I have no doubt this project will encourage visitation to our region. Of the complimentary issues we received, I have already given copies to several metro council mayors, prompting comments such as: “What a stunning part of the world you live in” and “I had no idea the Central West was so beautiful”. I consider the project a winner and I hope to continue our relationship with Elizabeth and her team into the future. Kathy Sajowitz, Mayor, Oberon Council I buy each issue and marvel at your well-deserved success. Each issue seems to be getting bigger. It is such an outstanding magazine. Alex is obviously a whizz at securing advertising, such a genuine man to deal with – why wouldn’t everyone sign up! The content of each magazine is so motivating, I have decided to go on a winter road trip and discover some of the lovely country towns in NSW that I have never visited.
Pamela Munson, Paterson
Troy Grant, Deputy Premier, Leader of the NSW National Party, Member for Dubbo Lithgow City Council partnered with Oberon Council for the Autumn edition of Central West Lifestyle. This proved to be a very successful venture. The positive remarks and enthusiasm this gorgeous magazine has created is really wonderful for our future tourism opportunities and has spread the word of our silent achievers doing fabulous things! I have spoken to many people from the Central West since the launch of the magazine. The interest that has been created far exceeds my expectations. It has been enlightening and encouraging. The stories and photography are incredible, very personal showing a side of our fellow citizens that perhaps we never get to see. These are real stories that have educated us in the journey of others. Maree Statham, Mayor, Lithgow City Council
Share your feedback Email: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au
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CWL 11
BOOROWA
12 CWL BOOROWA
BOOROWA
Welcome to
BOOROWA TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE
BOOROWA CWL 13
FROM THE MAYOR As a child travelling from Canberra to my birthplace of Cowra to visit my nan, a school holiday ritual for my family, we used to make a point of stopping at the clean facilities at the Boorowa Courthouse Park. My father would begrudgingly appease the moaning from the backseat from his four children, and pull in to the recognisable spot. At the time, I was of the opinion that Boorowa was just a one-street town with little appeal. I could have never imagined that Boorowa would play such a large part in my future. In 1997 my husband and I decided to buy a farm and raise our gorgeous boys, aged four and two at the time, some 15 kilometres from that familiar main street of Boorowa. It was a bold move, but clearly one of the best life choices we have made. The Boorowa community embraced us as their own and it felt wonderful to be connected with such a vibrant, passionate and welcoming community that truly made us believe we were indeed the fortunate ones. We embraced the people and the places and became part of a diverse range of community groups. Through this engagement we have made lifelong friendships and reaped the rewards that a rural life is known for. A pivotal suggestion saw me run for council in 2004, and I was elected and later became Mayor in 2007, a role I continue to be honoured to hold to this day. My greatest thrill was being a part of a visionary council that designed and upgraded the main street and gave Boorowa a sense of place, an aesthetic that enticed the travelling public to stop and take notice and, more importantly, gave the locals a place to be proud of. We all knew the beauty held within, we just needed to unlock that beauty for the rest of the world to enjoy. The transformation is so visible and vibrant and the recognition that Boorowa receives from far and wide is truly well deserved. My sense of pride and belonging to such an inspiring town only grows when I am stopped by a stranger, to be told me that they have been to Boorowa and what a beautiful town it is. Beyond the main street there are beautiful parks and small villages in the Local Government Area, each offering their own unique appeal and yet a commonality. Boorowa continues to be recognised for being home to agriculture leaders and innovators and was the clear choice as an idyllic location for the CSIRO Agriculture Research and Development Farm. Boorowa will be showcased to the world as research and development teams visit, make their home here and experience what we have been so proud to call home for so long. Come and visit and see for yourself the many reasons why Boorowa is beautiful! You’re welcome any time! Wendy Tuckerman, Mayor of Boorowa 14 CWL BOOROWA
BOOROWA
PRIDE of place B
oorowa presents a picturesque and varied landscape ranging from rugged wooded ridgelines to rolling hills and open grazing land. The hills and flats host rich grazing country and productive croplands. The ridgelines also contain veins of various precious ores and rare minerals. Boorowa is host to some beautiful colours and views all year round! The area sits along the borders of the Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri Aboriginal country. Europeans settled in the early 1800s, which saw the establishment of the agricultural industry evident in Boorowa today. As settlers gradually moved onto the fertile flats and valleys of the district, the towns and villages grew at river crossings. The township of Boorowa quickly emerged as the significant centre. The importance of the transit routes from Goulburn were reinforced by the gold rush that occurred at Lambing Flat from 1860. Immerse yourself in some of this beautiful local history by following one of the three Shamrock Trails. The trails tell the history of Boorowa, providing a compelling story of bushrangers, settlers, convicts and gold.
A particular highlight is the Boorowa River Walk that meanders along the river banks through beautiful parks and gardens. A must-see site along the beautiful trails is St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. The church is reminiscent of a cathedral in all its beauty. Ned Ryan on his ticket of leave from Clonoulty was instrumental in building the new church and bringing priceless marble from Italy to form the magnificent altar. Prominent above the doorway is a stained glass window dedicated to Daniel O’Connell, the liberator of Ireland. A particular highlight is the Boorowa River Walk that meanders along the river banks through beautiful parks and gardens. Often you can see platypuses playing at dawn and dusk and look out for the native superb parrot in spring. A pub stop or few along the way will quench the thirst of any weary traveller. Picture yourself with an ice-cold beer, a hearty pub meal, having a good old yarn, whether it is the local update on wool prices, the weather or the footy scores. You will experience good old-fashioned hospitality when in beautiful Boorowa. Boorowa’s Irish history and woolly heritage led to the famous annual event The Running of the Sheep. Imagine sheep rampaging down the main street of beautiful Boorowa, leading a colourful street parade at the annual Irish Woolfest on the Sunday of the October Long Weekend. This is the feature event not to be missed and one for the bucket list. CWL BOOROWA CWL 15
A TOWN well
16 CWL BOOROWA
built
BOOROWA
Days gone by
Images courtesy of the Boorowa Historical Society.
BOOROWA CWL 17
RIPPING YARNS FOR THREE GENERATIONS THE MERRIMAN FAMILY OF BOOROWA HAVE STEADFASTLY STUCK TO THEIR HIGHLY PRIZED MERRYVILLE BLOODLINES, WHOSE GENETICS ARE SAID TO HAVE INFLUENCED MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF THE WORLD’S FINE-WOOL SHEEP POPULATION.
I
t all started with Sir Walter Merriman, who created a Merino sheep dynasty, the likes of which the country has never seen before or since.
Since coming to “Beverley”, on the outskirts of Boorowa, and living in the cottage with his five siblings, there was never a dull moment.
A fine physical man with a mind to match, Sir Walter was highly regarded as a superb sportsman, public speaker, businessman, sheep and cattle breeder and one of the pioneers of pasture improvement in the district.
Young Wally grew up with his brothers, the sheep, station hands, shearers and plenty of old family friends and mentors. Breeding was in his blood from the time he could walk.
Perhaps his most memorable ram purchase was snapping up Sir Francis in 1917 from the Falkiners’ Wanganella stud in the western Riverina. He paid 1000 guineas for the sire as a five-year-old – a risky proposition in the days before artificial breeding. When Collinsville sold its record-priced ram in the 1980s, an actuary was asked to work out the equivalent in modern money to the Sir Francis sale. The calculation put the purchase at about $250,000 – an enormous investment for a stud not yet 14 years old. He had tried a few Peppin rams in the mediums, but this one really “nicked” with his ewe flock. The dynasty continued through his much-loved son Bruce, who died in 1988, and now his grandsons, Wally and George. It’s a big family. There’s also Ron, a local vet and a partner in the business, Charlie, who runs the Merrignee stud, and Michael, who operates from “Fifeshire” at Yass. Wally knew from a young age that he would follow into the sheep industry and perhaps, at some stage, take over the stud, established in 1903, although stud breeding records go back at least another 50 years from that date. 18 CWL BOOROWA
“I always followed my old man around,” he says matter-of-factly over a cuppa in the old homestead, which he has called home for the past 50 years. “I never thought of anything else. I did what he did and it was just a natural progression.” The homestead is cosy, cool and functional – a big testament to wife Tina, a former Darling Downs girl who Wally met at the Yass Picnic Races. They have two daughters, Penny (with her pure Merino wool jumpers, she featured in CWL’s 2015 Winter edition) and Prue, who works for a catering business in Canberra and also dabbles in dress design. For such an icon of the wool industry, it’s natural we start with one of his favourite topics, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which he has been attending, without fail, for half a century. He can never forget his first outing, when Merryville won the most prestigious sheep award in the country: the Stonehaven Cup. “There would have been 20 to 30 teams in the old Hordern arena out at the old showgrounds,” he says. “It took about an hour and a half to sort them out. When the winner was finally announced a great roar went up. I thought ‘How bloody good is this’ but it was another 10 years before we won another one.” >
BOOROWA
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WALLY CREDITS A LOT OF HIS SUCCESS TO HIS STAFF, WHOM HE HAS ALWAYS HAD CLOSE LINKS WITH.
Merryville last picked up the “Holy Grail” in 2014, making it a record 26 wins, unsurpassed by any other stud in the land. Despite the great name of Merryville, things have not always gone smoothly, particularly when Mother Nature has had her way. After returning home from boarding school in Canberra, Wally spent his first two years on the farm feeding out sheep nuts from Cowra to keep the prized flock alive. There have been plenty of droughts since then, including the one about 10 years ago, when the normally safe area received less than 10 inches of annual rain, in two consecutive years. “It was supposed to be the one-in-100-year drought but we copped it back to back. It blew a big hole in our family finances as we are forced to hand feed. There is no real option of buying back genetics with 100 years of breeding.” The family has also endured its share of fires. Merryville (when it was at Yass) was burnt out in the devastating fire of 1964, while the “Old Boss” was still alive. Sir Walter didn’t believe in insurance and in today’s terms, the family lost nearly $2 million of stock, fences and property. Wally concedes it’s all part of life on the land. More important are the genetics of his beloved stud, something he has devoted his life to and is still passionate about. He explains how his grandfather came to merge the superb wool but slight stature of the Saxon strain with the large-framed Peppin Merinos from the western Riverina, to produce a productive sheep that could cut far larger quantities of wool. 20 CWL BOOROWA
“That’s really how we got started and what put us above the rest of the pack,” Wally says. “You had people going for the short, wrinkly sheep – that was the fashion – and my grandfather said ‘no, that’s no good, you’ve got to have staple and size’.” These days the family runs about 25,000 sheep and sells about 350 to 400 rams a year throughout Australia. Then there is the herd of 750 mostly Poll Hereford commercial cattle. Both enterprises run over four properties in the district totalling about 3700 acres. “Historically, we’ve always had a few cattle, originally Shorthorn,” Wally says. “They complement the sheep, until you get a drought, but there has always been more money in sheep,” he adds with a sheepish grin that belies the grit and determination in his bones. Wally has always been a competitive bloke, and with the stud’s solid reputation, he admits he doesn’t like being beaten. His track record makes it fairly plain it is not all that often he is, whether it’s in the sale ring, the show ring, at wether trials or on the show floor at wool sales. Like his forebears, he is an excellent promoter, particularly in the show ring. The stud’s preparation and presentation techniques have become a role model for the sheep industry. Wally credits a lot of his success to his staff, whom he has always had close links with. These bonds were no doubt inherited from Sir Walter, a man who received enormous loyalty from his contingent of workers. By the time of his death in the old homestead, there were 45 staff on the books, including Bruce Hunter, who ended up working for the family for 61 years.
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THE FAMILY RUNS ABOUT 25,000 SHEEP AND SELLS ABOUT 350 TO 400 RAMS A YEAR THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA.
“We’ve trimmed right back since then, but George and I still have five full-time workers – about one man to 5000 DSE (dry sheep per acre).” Being a one-finger typist and more at home in the paddock than in front of a computer, Wally employs Tamara Stadtmiller, who has been handling the paperwork for the past 12 years (before that, Maurice Bobbin worked in the office for 25 years).
With all his commitments you’d think it’d be hard to switch off. “Work is my hobby,” he laughs. “I like going to the races and following the breeding. I go down to the Melbourne Cup each year – that’s my holiday. It’s a good place to catch up with people, a bit like the Easter Show.” The future is unknown.
For most people, keeping a firm eye on sheep and cattle enterprises would be more than enough to worry about, but not Wally, who continues to promote Australian wool throughout the world.
“George is 12 years younger and he will eventually take over from me. I have two daughters who are interested and George has three boys and a daughter but no one knows what the next generation will do. They’re all interested and keen and good kids.”
Seven years ago he was appointed the Chairman of the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) after serving as president of the NSW Stud Merino Breeders Council and later the Australian Stud Merino Breeders Association.
The Merrimans are a unique family. Their character and influence on the history and development of Merinos throughout the country will probably never be fully appreciated.
“I fly a lot with the AWI job,” he says. “I’m not much of a traveller but because of the importance of China, I’ve been over there about seven times.”
Wally is unpretentious and steadfast in his pursuit of excellence. In the end, he says in typical laid-back fashion, he’s just “a knockabout bloke who ended up on a few boards and operates a family business.” CWL
“China used to process about 80 per cent of our wool – mostly for re-export – but now consumes 60 per cent of that 80 per cent. So it has become a major retail market as well as a processing market.” Harking from such an illustrious background has been both a blessing and a curse. “Some people are trying to make a meat breed out of the Merino,” Wally says. “In our business model we go for higher fleece weights with what we call residual mutton. “We keep our wethers as wool-cutters till they’re five-year-old and then they go to mutton markets. Last year these wethers cut $62 worth of wool (gross) and sold for over $100, beating our fat lambs.”
STOP PRESS Merryville’s Fine/Medium Grand Champion Ram was named this year’s Supreme Merino Exhibit at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Their other notable wins included the Grand Champion Superfine Ram, Grand Champion Poll Ewe, Grand Champion Fine Poll Ewe, Grand Champion Fine/Medium Poll Ewe, and second in the Stonehaven Cup.
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A CLASS ACT NEWHAVEN PARK IS A WORLD-CLASS THOROUGHBRED NURSERY THAT HAS HELPED PUT BOOROWA IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. JOHN KELLY JNR IS PROUDLY CARRYING ON THE TRADITION WITH APLOMB.
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here’s a cracker of a story always doing the rounds at a special property out at Frogmore, a tiny speck on the map near Boorowa, which depicts the great Australian battler come good. It concerns a hapless swaggie named Jack Cassidy who invested a few bob in an Australia-wide Melbourne Cup sweepstake in 1896. He drew a horse called Newhaven and prayed for a miracle.
From the moment you drive through the black security gates, you know you are visiting something very special – a world-class facility.
Somebody must have been looking down on him that day because the galloper romped home to win. With a whopping £5000 in his bank account, Jack “went a roving no more” and purchased land near Boorowa, naming it “Newhaven Park”, in honour of the horse that changed his fortunes.
Nothing was done by halves and every single detail was thought about carefully. The original homestead, built in about 1908, was totally renovated about eight years ago and is now the perfect respite for international visitors who come from all corners of the globe to talk horses, racing and lifestyles befitting the rich and famous.
Fast forward a century and the property – and name – is still in the hands of the Kelly family, who bought the place from Jack in the 1920s and turned it into one of Australia’s leading thoroughbred nurseries. The property, all 4250 hectares of it, is prime agricultural land with rolling hills of granite earth and alluvial river flats, nestled on the banks of the Boorowa River. It’s perfect horse country.
Today, the Kellys cater for about 150 broodmares, half their own and the remainder owned by clients from all over the country and the world. A few command seven-figure price-tags and John, a horseman from his early days, recognises each and every one by name.
Seventh-generation farmer John William Kelly Jnr and wife Sarah are the current custodians. Together with John’s parents, Richard and Shirley, and the generations that have gone before, they’ve undertaken a massive transformation that would have seen the old swaggie turn over in his grave (in a good way). 22 CWL BOOROWA
Having worked briefly on some of the world’s top stud operations in England, Ireland and America, John, like his father and grandfather, knew if the family were going to compete with the best, they had to develop a first-class breeding centre that reflected the family’s unbridled passion and commitment to thoroughbred racing.
They are such valuable commodities that Newhaven Park has a full-time vet, necessary during the busy foaling season, from August through to December. > Above: Sarah and John Kelly standing in front of a portrait of Newhaven, the horse that started it all. Facing page: South African sprinting sensation Delago Deluxe is their leading standing sire (Image: Sharon Chapman).
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John describes it as a fabulous industry that sees tremendous highs paralleled with unbelievable lows. “We are on red alert during the breeding season and are often up in the wee hours of the morning assisting mares with the birthing process,” he says. Losing a foal (or the mare, or even both) is about the worst thing that can happen, although a breakdown on the racetrack can be equally devastating. In this game, John says, you concentrate on the positives. And there are many.
A SHORT HISTORY LESSON John’s grandfather, also John Kelly, was the visionary founder of the stud. On leave from Australian Army duties in Singapore, he purchased his first mare, Solex, for 300 guineas. Solex was in foal to Manitoba, and this foal fetched him 1500 guineas at the Inglis Yearling Sales, igniting a lifelong passion for breeding that would inspire Newhaven Park’s early development. He also imported White Ensign, the first of many stallion imports over the years. The French-bred Wilkes, however, was the masterstroke, providing a foundation that saw the stud firmly cement its place in the industry. At its peak, the stud ran up to 800 thoroughbreds. In a mere 22 years, from 1944-66, the sheep farmer from Boorowa had created a horse-breeding establishment to rival any stud farm in the world. The 1980s were exciting corporate years. Taxation laws had eased and the aim of many enterprises was to float on the Stock Exchange. Newhaven Park became a public listed company with John Kelly Snr as chairman. Newhaven Park was a rare survivor from those heady days, when some 25 thoroughbred studs listed only to falter or at worse, fail. Following John’s death in 2003, sons Fred and Richard instigated a share buy-back that saw Newhaven Park return to the ownership of the Kelly family.
Richard, now 73, lives with wife Shirley on “Ballymena”, a neighbouring property that houses additional stables. It, too, boasts a magnificent homestead, with plane trees lining the avenue to the modern stable complex. Here some of the 26 staff can be seen going through their paces. It’s a full-on business and the expensive thoroughbreds are well catered for. But it’s not just the prized horses that roam the 8600 acres of combined country here. The family also run 7000 Merino ewes and trade in cattle when the seasons dictate. John loves the beautiful granite and red hill country he calls home. He has come a long way since his boarding days at Riverview and endless hot days up at Longreach where he spent time as a jackeroo on the AA Company’s Maneroo and Corona stations. It was his overseas trips to the world’s foremost studs, however, that created lasting impressions on the young man with big ideas. He worked, during the breeding season, on studs like Ashford in Kentucky (owned by Coolmore) and the magnificent Irish stud Kildangan, owned by Sheikh Mohammed (who owns a string of top-notch studs throughout the world). “The Sheikh’s property was immaculate, every hedge, every building – a truly amazing standard that inspires me each day to try harder and do better,” John says. John and Sarah and their dedicated team work in close partnership with their clients to offer an exclusive experience based on integrity and absolute commitment to success. The job takes John all over the world, with Newhaven’s clients in Hong Kong, Korea and Japan as well as Europe.
“ T H E R A C I N G I N D U S T RY P R O B A B LY H A S T H E B R I G H T E S T O U T L O O K S I N C E I B E C A M E I N V O LV E D 2 0 Y E A R S A G O . ” J o h n K e l l y
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Sarah and Shirley share most of the entertaining with clients from all over Australia and abroad who visit the stud. Sarah loves the thoroughbred industry almost as much as her fanatical husband and was well prepared for her role at Newhaven, having grown up on the land near Sale in East Gippsland, Victoria. The pair met at Melbourne’s Botanical Hotel on Derby Day. John told her that first night she was the woman he’d marry and he was true to his word. Love blossomed and now they have two teenage daughters Claire, 15 and Alice, 13 (both at boarding school in Sydney) and a son Richard, 11. Newhaven Park is a family-run business and John’s siblings are very much a part of the stud. John has two sisters, Sophie and Jeanie, and a brother Charles – a country boy at heart, who successfully manages the company’s three Sydney hotels, the iconic Doncaster at Randwick, the Great Northern at Chatswood and the Brookvale, near Manly-Warringah’s home ground. John drives to Sydney once or twice a month to check on the races, sales and his daughters. The busiest time is the Autumn carnival in Sydney, during March and April, when they sell at the famous Easter Yearling Sale and attend the big race meetings. Newhaven Park sells about 85 yearlings each year, and is one of the biggest vendors both in Sydney and at the Magic Millions Carnival. While it’s all glitz and glamour on the outside, the team at Newhaven Park aren’t there for the holiday. It’s all about winning the big ones and Newhaven Park has enjoyed a good track record with four Golden Slipper winners to date. Luskin Star, one of their prized stallions, was a Golden Slipper winner and the darling of the Australian race track. He sired more than 450 winners, generating prize money of more than $22 million. Although he’s had a few starters in the Melbourne Cup, John admits it’s not high on his list. “It’s bit like a footballer – do they want to win the premiership, State of Origin or play for Australia?” he asks. “In horse terms, most breeders, well our family at least, strive to win the classic races, like the Golden Slipper or a Cox Plate.” Attending these big fixtures means being out there, rubbing shoulders with the clients and promoting the stud. In many ways it is not that different from working at home. While the property (and stud) smacks of success, there are some setbacks with living in such a remote part of the country. With no mobile service, John gets frustrated. “It’s really disgraceful,” he laments. “How can you run a business with a slow internet and no mobile reception? And it’s also a safety issue for our staff. You tell a staff member there’s no mobile reception and it’s like telling them to cut their arm off.” On the bright side, he says the horse industry, at the end of the day, is all about people and being connected to the sport of champions. “We’re very passionate about trying to breed good horses and although it does get a bit consuming at times, there’s nothing else like it. We love what we do and we pinch ourselves every day that we’re involved in such a great business.” Currently the stud has South African sprinting sensation Delago Deluxe as their leading (and only) standing sire. The stallion’s first yearlings were recently sold at the Magic Millions (on the Gold Coast) and the Classic Sales in Sydney. Averaging $170,000 for 13 progeny, Deluxe was the talk of the town and made what John calls a “lasting impression” among savvy buyers. His first progeny will race in the spring of 2017. “The racing industry probably has the brightest outlook since I became involved 20 years ago,” John says. “Country prizemoney has trebled in the past five years and the influx of Chinese investment in our industry is enormous.” John says the only way he will leave the business is to die or go broke. With things looking so rosy at the moment, it is hopeful he will do neither.
Facing page: Richard and John Kelly are major players in the thoroughbred industry.
The old swaggie, Jack Cassidy, would have been so proud!
From top: The 4250-hectare “Newhaven Park” property; the Newhaven Park homestead; the old homestead around the turn of the century; Sarah and John Kelly relax in their fine old homestead.
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Images: Shot by Jake
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seeds of change THE LARGE PARK-LIKE GARDEN AT “HILLGROVE” NEAR BOOROWA HAS A WONDERFUL RELAXED AND WELCOMING APPEAL. BUT IT HAS TAKEN TIME, PERSISTENCE AND REPLANTING AFTER MANY OF THE OLDER ESTABLISHED TREES SUCCUMBED TO THE RAVAGES OF YEARS OF DROUGHT.
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urchased in 1986, “Hillgrove” has been the rural base for Nick and Julia Burton Taylor and home since 1990. They were fortunate the property featured many lovely established trees. Built after the Depression, two small cottages were put together to make a large family home, which the Burton Taylors renovated into a lovely country homestead, long and narrow in design, with windows looking out towards the expansive garden from every room. The views of the garden from within the house are wonderful. Through the trees Julia says she can see who’s coming and going on the long curved driveway that leads into the property.
Drought has played a role in shaping the garden and the plant selection needs to be tough to survive through harsh times. Julia says from 2008 till now we really haven’t had a lot of rain so what you see here now made it through drought. When many established trees, including a huge Deodar cedar died, the garden was exposed to more sunlight, so plantings have changed and evolved over time. Today, the combination of areas of open sweeping lawns, generous garden beds, dense and dappled shade and curved pathways among the established trees comes together to create a very lovely and inviting country garden. >
Above: On the lawn, under the dappled shade of established trees this wooden horse sculpture is an exceptional discovery. Facing page: The country homestead offers wonderful views of the expansive garden and established trees from many windows. 26 CWL BOOROWA
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Drought has played a role in shaping the garden AND THE PLANT SELECTION NEEDS TO BE TOUGH TO SURVIVE THROUGH HARSH TIMES.
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Newer plantings have been established with a very sensible approach TO FUTURE MAINTENANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS LARGE (10-ACRE) GARDEN.
Describing their spring garden as “in your face bright” when there are loads of flowers, then softening to yellows, whites and grey during summer, Julia loves observing the colour change through the seasons until autumn when the deciduous trees take centre stage. During the fierce summers the trees’ cooling shade and shadows created on the swathes of emerald lawn form a welcome green oasis. The tennis court fence proved to be a tough spot to garden, however despite the hard soil, in spring it was ablaze with colour and perfume as rose pink ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ and ‘Kathleen Harrop’ thornless climbing roses, star jasmine Trachelospemum and velvety heirloom ‘Cupanii’ sweet pea smothered the fence. Blue bearded iris and seaside daisy flower in the bed below. One of Julia’s favourite flowers is the peony, and after moving them around the garden for years she finally found a sweet spot among the mulched beds of yellow ‘Graham Thomas’ roses. Encouraged by nutrient-rich compost sourced from the cattle yards, the peonies have absolutely taken off, looking fabulous in the spring garden or arranged in vases. Newer plantings have been established with a very sensible approach to future maintenance and sustainability of this large (10-acre) garden. Beside the house, a stand of white-trunked birch trees under-planted with Hellebores replaces a grove of weeping flowering plums. A large rose garden became difficult to manage after a protective windbreak was lost to drought, so this area awaits new lawn, Holm oaks and garden
beds filled with sun-loving bearded iris. Repetition with successful, hardy plants is Julia’s mantra, filling the generous garden beds with agapanthus, roses, grey-foliaged Teucrium, lavender and loads of pretty perennials including valerian, aquilegias seaside daisy, arum lily and forget-me-nots. In the outer boundaries of the garden, Quercus ilex or Holm oak is used extensively for hedging. It’s an evergreen, very hardy and drought-resistant form of oak with tough leathery foliage. Julia and Nick are so impressed with its resilience they’ve propagated more to use as windbreak trees around the property. Manchurian pears (Pyrus ussuriensis) are lovely and one of the first trees to colour up in autumn, however the wood is brittle and sometimes damaged in storms. ‘Bradford’ pears are more upright, and not so brittle, so tend to do better in this climate, Julia advises. There are many different varieties of crabapple trees offering profuse spring flowers, autumn colour and plenty of ornamental fruit. Pool fencing was necessary to keep free-range children safe. Its elegant French-inspired iron and stone construction is weathering beautifully with age, the rusty colouring blending into the landscape with ease. Large Chinese elm trees backdrop the pool area and double gates lead to an avenue of ‘Golden Hornet’ crabapples, creating a marvellous vista beyond the pool. The meadow-like grass underneath these trees is mown just a couple of times a year.
Clockwise from left: Overlooking the ornamental lake and jetty, a favourite vantage point; the tennis court garden displays climbing roses including deep pink ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, and paler ‘Kathleen Harrop’, scented star jasmine and heat loving tall bearded iris; yellow rose ‘Holterman’s Gold’ chosen to commemorate Shore School Centenary in 1988; ornamental grape vine covers and shades the verandah along the front of the homestead, and the trees create dappled shadows on the swathes of green lawn. 28 CWL BOOROWA
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Clockwise from top left: Grape vine wraps its gnarled trunk around a verandah post; a picturesque spot to sit and enjoy the garden; the design invites you to wander throughout the garden to discover the landscape beyond; classic in shape, the large swimming pool is in an elegantly fenced area with a backdrop of huge trees; pretty pink ‘Pierre de Ronsard’ climbing rose adorns this corner; this brick pathway leads to the guest accommodation.
Keen plants man Nick used to run a farm nursery here. He’s grown many of the plants at “Hillgrove”, although the Poplar trees were seedlings gifted from Jennie Churchill when they admired them on a visit to “Kiloren”, Crookwell. His interests include seed collecting, propagation and aquaculture, and he’s also into food production as evidenced by the extensive fenced vegetable garden, fruit-filled orchard and chook runs. Nick says you know when the almonds are ready, as in come the cockatoos to harvest! Birds are a big element in the garden and it’s host to a wide variety of visiting native birdlife. Within the garden there are large aviaries housing Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and Eclectus Parrots and on top of a fence post stands a metal sculpted eagle bought at a fundraiser for the Boorowa Education Foundation. The lawns and garden around the house are watered to keep them looking fresh over summer, but beyond the perimeter, grass is allowed to brown off over summer. The water from the lake is not used for irrigation, however water is piped from an alternate dam supply. At the rear of the house beneath the shady canopy of towering English and Golden elm trees is a wonderful space for entertaining and parties. Rather than battle with lawn under these massive trees, its surface is crushed gravel, and this area is partially enclosed by a fabulous stone wall. A motion sensor triggers water to flow over an intriguing metal ball sculpture, there’s a pizza oven, and smoker for cooking up feasts showcasing their premium Kenny’s Creek Angus beef. Among the trees in the back garden there’s a cottage built to accommodate visiting clients, guests and family. From here it’s a short stroll down to the expansive lake – a favourite spot to relax with their four children, their partners and five grandchildren. They gather together under the shade of the willow trees and there’s a fire pit for lingering long after the sun has set. CWL
From little things, big things grow Julia and Nick Burton Taylor are passionate about education and are founders and patrons of the Country Education Foundation (CEF) of Australia and the local CEF in Boorowa. This foundation was set up 20 years ago to assist rural and regional communities to support school leavers furthering their education. After starting with a few people around a kitchen table in Boorowa, the CEF is now a semi-national family of foundations spanning four states. By funding expenses such as text books, trade tools, course equipment, travel and accommodation, CEF is changing the lives of disadvantaged rural and regional students – and in doing so, investing in the future of their communities. Last year the CEF provided almost $1 million in grants and support to more than 500 rural and regional students. For more information go to www.cef.org.au. Nick Burton Taylor AM Julia Burton Taylor OAM
Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Angus Waddell
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The rest is history FATE HAS PLAYED A BIG PART IN CYRIL AND DEBBY COX’S LIFE. FATE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER AND FATE FOUND THEM A UNIQUE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF BOWNING, NEAR YASS.
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heir latest venture, Mayfield Mews, has finally seen Cyril and Deb settle down after a lifetime on the move. Funny thing is, neither came from a retail background. Deb was raised in Mildura, the daughter of the local police sergeant, and worked with the Mildura Co-op when she left school. She also picked grapes for several Italian families for more than a decade. “I looked forward to their sumptuous lunches, always accompanied with home-made grappa, and considered offensive to refuse, but it was always bloody hard returning to work in 45-degree heat after those splendid spreads,” she laughs. In her mid 20s, and by now managing a local travel firm, Deb ventured up to the Red Centre for a well-deserved weekend break. She got a lot more than a break – she nabbed a future husband, who was working as a customer service officer for TAA when they met at a local Italian cafe in Alice Springs. They were married within 12 months and Cyril, known universally as “Coxy”, began a 15-year association with Ansett Airlines, starting in Darwin in the mid 1980s, while Deb worked for the company responsible for the construction of the NT Supreme Court and Parliament House.
Following their transfer to Alice Springs in the late 1980s, Deb joined NT Health, and after a final transfer to Perth, as an administrator with Crop Care Australia. Following the collapse of Ansett in 2001, Coxy and Deb and their two teenagers, Ryan and Katie, transferred from the west to the Yass region after Coxy accepted a position with Defence in the ACT. It was during a 2013 outing in the quaint village of Bowning that they found themselves standing in front of a beautiful old home that had captivated Deb. “She demanded I knock on the door and ask whoever lived there to sell up!” Coxy remembers. “Of course I didn’t and we looked at another property we’d arranged to view, however it was unsuitable. Our astute agent then suggested we might be interested in Mayfield House, the very place we’d admired earlier.” The agent approached the owner on behalf of the family, and a deal was made. In an astonishing sequence of events, the seller, an Englishman, ended up buying the couple’s brand new home in Yass. >
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A STEP BACK IN TIME Coxy and Deb love the romantic history associated with their home, built circa 1860. It was a privilege that the great Australian bard Henry Lawson lived there with his uncle and aunt from around 1900 through to the beginning of WW1. A frequent visitor was the great AB “Banjo” Paterson, who rode from nearby Illalong to collect the weekly mail. From all reports, both legends of the pen were frequently spotted on the verandah, spinning yarns and composing some of the works that would later make them famous.
Henry’s grandparents, Henry and Harriet Albury, bought the home soon after it was completed and named it Albury House. Their 12 children were raised there, including second child Louisa, who was Henry Lawson’s mother. The eldest Albury child, Phoebe, married the former Gulgong Mayor, Richard Steer, and eventually took over the house from her parents while running the Bowning General Store next door (the two properties were always together). When Richard established another trading post out at Barren Jack (now Burrinjuck Dam), the store was sold to a Thomas Glover, who ran it for the next 30 odd years, including a stint as an agency for the Bank of NSW (now Westpac). Until recently the store was run as an upholstery business. Owner David Fraigneux and his wife Tina came from the English village of Mayfield, which is how the home became known as Mayfield House (in English terms the “mews” relates to the adjoining coach house and stables). The original coach house and stables out the back of the store have since been tastefully converted into a small retail precinct, featuring local artisan work, gifts, homewares and regional condiments. The stables hold a fascinating connection to horseracing, with the first Melbourne Cup winner, Archer, being stabled there in the early 1860s. Nearby, in the yards where Archer would have exercised, Cyril and Deb Cox have established a beautiful garden centre, full of quirky, locally made sculptures and plants. Nestled at the back of the garden centre is a popular coffee spot, where regulars and visitors from Canberra, Yass and Hume Highway travellers come to relax in a tranquil and inspiring environment. “We were both disenchanted with our roles within Canberra’s Public Service and after a decade were looking for an alternate lifestyle,” Deb says. “The Mayfield precinct provided us with the perfect option. It was right under our noses all the time. Now that we’re up and running, we know we made the right decision and couldn’t be happier. “We certainly don’t miss the daily commute to Canberra and have met lifelong friends through the business.” The couple admit their investment has opened doors they didn’t believe possible. “It’s not often you get to own a piece of Australian history and to share it in the way we can,” says Coxy, a friendly bloke who is living the great Australian dream. CWL Above left: Henry Lawson lived at Mayfield Mews with his uncle and aunt from around 1900 through to the beginning of WW1. Above right: Deb and Cyril “Coxy” Cox with their son Ryan at their popular coffee spot.
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BOOROWA
Country life
is the best medicine
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robably one of the best-known faces in Boorowa is pharmacist Sue Corcoran, a country woman well known for getting things done.
land. They loved the green, rolling hills that reminded them so much of their home in Ireland. “Corcorans Plains”, the original block, is still in the family.
Sue was born in Hillston and her brother is still on “Woorilla”, a property that has been in the family for nearly 100 years.
Three years after arriving, Sue bought the pharmacy, which now has a staff of six to serve the local district.
After studying pharmacy at the University of Sydney, Sue worked in pharmacies in Mosman, Lidcombe and Leichhardt, learning the business and enjoying the hustle and bustle of Sydney life. To spice things up a little, she even did a stint in Broken Hill.
Sue and Mark have three children. Son Martin is back on their mixed farm “Bindaree”, while daughter Stephanie has followed her mother’s footsteps into pharmacy (at Gundagai), and Jacqueline is studying Fine Arts at the University of NSW.
Sue arrived in Boorowa in 1985 as a locum. She soon fell in love with the town, not to mention finding a husband in local farmer Mark Corcoran, whose family ties go back to before Boorowa was even thought of.
“After 30 years of living in Boorowa I can tell you that it’s a wonderful place to live,” Sue says with firm conviction. “The community is very proactive, we look after ourselves and are quite happy to stand up for our rights.”
Mark’s ancestor Roger Corcoran arrived as a convict with Ned Ryan, of Galong fame, in the 1820s and ended up with a vast tract of
Sue was committed to the new bank in town (she was on the steering community and is currently the chair of the bank, a position she
has held for 15 years) and also serves on the board of Burrowa House, the town’s aged care hostel. She always enjoys catching up with the oldies, many of whom have spent a lifetime in the district. To keep fit Sue plays tennis, cycles, swims, walks and gardens. It’s also a good wind-down after a long stint at work helping to keep all the friendly locals in the best of health. CWL
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Above: Karlee Barton, Bec Bruce, Anthony Harding and Sue Corcoran are always on hand with cheerful advice at the Boorowa Pharmacy; Sue Corcoran outside her pharmacy. BOOROWA CWL 33
The old and the BEAUTIFUL “OLD GRAHAM” MAY WELL BE OLD BUT ITS ADORING OWNERS HAVE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO IT.
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hen Boorowa builder Bede Morrissey and his son Aaron arrived at “Old Graham” on a frosty September morning in 1992 and surveyed the abandoned stone house they were about to restore, Bede commented, as he looked around, “Well son, I don’t know what we’ve let ourselves in for here”. More than 20 years later the old homestead is a wonderful tribute to the craftsmanship of Bede and the others who worked on the house, including stonemasons such as the late Frank Keefe of Boorowa, church plaster specialists and other tradesmen. “Old Graham” is now set in a beautiful country garden, opened in 2013 under the Open Garden Scheme. Surrounding the garden is a 20-acre paddock, which provides the setting for more than 40 sculptures, with sheep grazing among them.
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THE DISCOVERY In the early 1990s, as an escape from their busy Canberra consulting business, John and Liz Baker regularly went on what they called “exploring” trips. One long weekend they had been to Forbes, Parkes and Dubbo and were driving back to Canberra, taking a cross-country route past Wyangala Dam. This took them to Boorowa through Hovells Creek, where, seeing an old seemingly abandoned stone house they stopped to stretch their legs and admire it. Very soon the owner of the house pulled up, nervous they might be wanting to steal the cedar fireplace, which was what the last visitors had tried to do. However, seeing their interest she showed them around the empty house, which hadn’t been lived in since the 1950s.
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Liz recalls that sheep had been sheltering in one room, in which most of the floor had gone. In another room there was a rotting sheep carcass, while other rooms had no roof, with the timber ceilings starting to fall in and swallows nesting in the corners. Doors were free to swing in the breeze, and some windows were missing. The remains of the kitchen building behind the house could be seen – apparently demolished in the 1950s and the stone used to realign the road! Driving back to Canberra, John and Liz decided that restoring the house was just the sort of project they needed, and so nine months later in August 1992 they became the proud owners of the house set on its lot of 35 acres.
RESTORATION OF OLD GRAHAM The initial restoration of “Old Graham” relied on the advice of Peter Freeman, a Canberra-based heritage architect. Peter’s 1980 book, The Woolshed: A Riverina Anthology, is a classic. In 1992, while advising the Bakers, he was also supervising the restoration of Port Arthur in Tasmania. Peter’s initial advice was that stage one of the restoration work, involving repairing the roof, making the house weather-tight and making several rooms liveable, could be done for about $50,000. The problem, the Bakers discovered, was that as soon as “you start work and remove something you discover something else that needs fixing, and so it goes”. Fortunately, they rapidly became committed to the restoration project, so that when the initial budget was exceeded they told the builder to press on. John said that when spending exceeded $100,000 they simply instructed the builder to continue but stopped tallying the bills. To this day they’ve never dared to add it all up! The restoration was undertaken according to the heritage principles of the Burra Charter, which require “like to be replaced with like”. Thus, the old badly rusted galvanised iron roof was replaced not with continuous sheets of zincalume, but with traditional eight-foot lengths of galvanised iron. >
Above: John and Liz Baker and the beautifully restored Old Graham. BOOROWA CWL 35
Cracked glass in windows was only replaced if it had many bad cracks and was basically unusable. The builder had to source specially profiled cutting blades to remake the traditional very narrow sash windows, and so it all went on. For Bede and Aaron the work on the house was also a battle against termites, a brown snake living in a hole in the stone walls, swallows that having lived in the house for many years would fly back in at the slightest opportunity, and rats gnawing holes in the sewer pipes.
HISTORY AND THE HOUSE “Old Graham”, or “Graham” as it was originally known, was built by Irishman Edward Kerr and wife Mary Ann. When they married at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney in early 1861, he was described as a draper and she as a dressmaker. It appears that he later became a hawker of goods as their children were born at various places along the route from Sydney to Boorowa. The first record showing him living in the area is in Mary Cunningham’s 1872 will, where she leaves her land (700 acres of valley flats) and possessions to Edward Kerr, storekeeper of Hovells Creek, “in consideration of my personal friendship and regard for Edward Kerr and for the many acts of kindness and friendship shown by him”. The house lot of 35 acres was purchased in 1878 and within a year, Joseph’s Church was opened nearby. As the stonework and style appear identical to that of “Old Graham” it seems likely they were built by the same man (thought to have been William Duncan). The original granite stone house had seven rooms, and was built of stone picked from the neighbouring hills, with a roof made of the famous Gospel Oak galvanised iron – one of the first types of galvanised iron imported into Australia. In about 1882 a further three rooms were added – a bar room, a cellar and a sitting room. Whereas the roof of the original house was of pit sawn hardwood, the roof of the extension was built of round black cypress bush poles, presumably cut from the adjoining land. The stone walls of the extension were held together with mostly mud. The extension was added so that the “Glencoe Inn” could open for business. Edward Kerr was granted a publican’s licence in April 1884, and on the Queen’s Birthday, a free ball and supper was held to open the inn. The celebrations soured a few months later with Edward’s sudden death at 46 years from a heart attack. Mary Ann continued running the business on her own, despite having 10 children to raise. She joined her husband a year later of “disease of the heart, accelerated by intemperance”. Their eldest son, Gregory Kerr, by then living in Sydney, sold the house and land in 1886. From then on, the property was occupied by a succession of 10 different graziers between 1886 and 1992. A local identity attributed the problems of some of the owners to a rabbit plague, “the drink”, and slow horses (or horseracing gambling losses). In May 1994, with the restoration mostly completed, a party was held at “Old Graham” for all the people involved in the restoration, plus neighbours and friends, 110 years to the day since the “Glencoe Inn” was first opened to the public.
From top: Old Graham before restoration; the slab hut; a collection of things found under the floorboards during restoration; the final restored living area; Liz has a large collection of plates and glass lanterns. Facing page from top: A colourful country garden; a stone labyrinth; the granite standing stone sculpture; lovely stone pathways. 36 CWL BOOROWA
BOOROWA
FURNISHING AND DECORATION When the termite-damaged floorboards and log bearers were lifted for replacement, the accumulated dust and dirt of over 100 years had to be dug out to allow for better under-floor ventilation. Liz sieved through it all and unearthed many interesting items – coins, jewellery, beads, hair pins, rosaries, buttons, collar studs, marbles, a tin soldier, mouth organs and a Jew’s harp, broken china (featuring the first Wattle pattern made by Royal Doulton), used opium phials, spoons and nit combs among other things. She also scraped back the woodwork to try to find the original paint colours. The verandah posts had been a terracotta colour, which was matched. Other paintwork was done in heritage colours. The replacement cypress pine floors, which are termite resistant, were finished with varnish coloured with dark Japan, as would have been traditional. Wunderlich pressed metal ceilings were present in some rooms and retained. Traditional bathroom fittings were used including a cast iron bath that had been rescued from a paddock and refinished. A tessellated tile floor was installed to complete the bathroom. The internal walls were in very bad shape and so church plasterers were engaged to replace or repair most of the rooms using a three-plaster coat process. Traditional brass rods were used for the curtains and the house was fitted out using mainly Australian cedar furniture, cast iron beds, some kauri pine furniture and various old light fittings. Large traditional rugs have been laid in all of the rooms. The lovely old “Lighthouse” stove in what had been the kitchen was cleaned and blacked but not made functional. The Bakers met a woman who had lived in the house as a child in the 1930s and who remembered the stove being installed. Two rooms have Australian cedar mantels over the fireplace. They had been painted blue and red so had to be stripped and waxed. As a bit of fun, the two dormer windows up in the attic looking out onto the road now have mannequins, and dressed appropriately – a lady in a mob cap and shawl with a baby and a man in work clothes. Cars regularly slow down when passing for the children to spot the people up in the windows.
THE GARDEN Ever since she was a child, Liz has been keen on botany and wildflowers, and having established two gardens in Canberra, the challenge of establishing a country garden was one she really took to. Originally the old house simply sat in the paddock with no garden, although there were a few old shrubs and trees including a quince, a flowering quince, a grape and a fig. In 2001, Liz and John decided that “Old Graham” deserved to have a country garden to complement the house. They had lots of ideas for elements they would like to be included, so they decided to engage Chris Webb, a garden design consultant from Bowral, to help. Once they had a detailed plan, the hard elements comprising stone walls, a sunken garden and stone paths, as well as excavating for a pond were supervised by John. Brian Doyle, a stonemason from Crookwell, did much of the early work, with John and Liz making innumerable trips with the ute up into the hills collecting all the required stone. Meanwhile, planting trees and shrubs was well under way, as well as setting up a computerised dripper system to keep them all alive. Underlying principles were that the garden had to be low maintenance and use as little water as possible. So many truckloads of tanbark mulch were delivered, which then had to be barrowed and spread thickly under all the plants. > BOOROWA CWL 37
Two large water tanks were installed to store rainwater from all the roofs so that they had enough water to get through the summer. All that setting up has proved to be very successful and the garden thrives. Having been keen art collectors for many years, and with their walls full of paintings, the Bakers slipped into collecting sculpture at “Old Graham” about 15 years ago. Their collection now extends to more than 70 sculptures, including some very large outdoor pieces. Some sculptures are from locals, including several by Ken Hutchinson from Wattamondara and one by Natalie Reid from Stuart Town. However, many sculptures are from the Australian National University’s School of Art, where the Bakers fund an annual sculpture scholarship. Whimsical sculptures include: a three-metre-high fibreglass Bambi; a tree trunk with 75 teddy bears mounted on it – all “rescued” from charity shops around NSW; a folly made of six Sydney sandstone columns originally from the old Resch’s residence in Double Bay; a beautiful bronze bust mounted on a rusted steel base; a glockenspiel made from recycled metal objects purchased at “Sculpture by the Sea” in Sydney. There’s even a large moose made from driftwood. Recently John organised the erection of a large sculpture, comprising nine standing stones of granite from a nearby abandoned quarry. The stones ranged in size from one to two tons up to four or five tons and standing up to three metres high. The stones now stand high on the ridgeline and can readily be seen by passing motorists. Nearby there is a labyrinth made from local stones carefully laid on the ground, which never fails to appeal to visitors. Scattered around the paddock adjacent to the house garden are pieces of old farm machinery collected over the past 20 years from clearing sales. The slab hut and adjoining sheds are also home to a large collection of wagons, horse-works, chaff cutters, old fencing and blacksmithing gear. These have been collected from clearing sales from as far apart as Temora, Bega, Crookwell, Bigga, Young, Grenfell and Rye Park. John said that his rule when acquiring old machinery and farm gear for his collection has been that it must be the sort of item that could have been found in the past on a sheep property like “Old Graham”. He said he met an old timer at one sale who insisted on giving him his business card, which in black gothic print said “so and so, Rabbit Trap Collector”.
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BOOROWA
CHURCH REVIVAL Some years after completing the restoration of “Old Graham” the Bakers realised the old stone, deconsecrated Catholic Church just down the road was deteriorating. It had holes in the roof, windows were broken so that birds could nest inside and the front door had been broken open. After repeated efforts they succeeded in buying the church from the Catholic Diocese and set about restoring it. This involved reroofing it with the same galvanised iron sheeting and then converting the inside by adding a well thought out mezzanine floor. Much of this work was supervised by Bede Morrissey, who did the original restoration of the homestead, and who was persuaded to come out of retirement for one last job. You have to ask why a couple like John and Liz Baker made such a commitment to a place like “Old Graham”.
“When we arrived in Canberra from the UK in 1970 – and having grown up in a very historic town in rural Lincolnshire – we had an innate appreciation of historic and heritage things,” John says. Perhaps to escape the pressures of the nation’s capital they latched onto “Old Graham”, a historic home that literally begged to be saved. Their children and grandchildren certainly love visiting. Son Drew is married to Amanda with two children in Canberra, and daughter Jayne is married to Matt Whiteley, both paramedics in Yass. The old home is now making new memories for the family. The home, and indeed the entire farm, has become a permanent reminder of what you can do with a little money, a lot of muscle, an unquenchable passion and some very clever thinking. CWL Below left: On the walls of the old church lies a collection of 107 paintings, mostly oils. All were purchased for less than $100 from antique stores, junk shops or clearing sales from throughout the country.
OPEN GARDEN WEEKEND “Old Graham” will have an Open Garden Weekend on October 29 and 30, 2016. A contribution will be made to the Graham Bushfire Brigade.
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PEOPLE YOU CAN BANK ON WHEN BOOROWA WAS FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF HAVING NO MAJOR BANK IN TOWN, ITS RESIDENTS WEREN’T PREPARED TO TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
“THE COMMUNITY BANK HAS DONE MORE FOR THIS TOWN THAN ANY OTHER
I
ORGANISATION
n 1999 a steering committee was formed to establish the Boorowa Community Bank and, within 12 months, 330 shareholders had pledged $370,000 to purchase a community bank franchise from the Bendigo Bank.
EVER HAS. ” Former Boorowa mayor and local farmer Robert Gledhill
The bank was formerly Thomson’s rural supply shop, which moved down the road to the former Country Energy depot and shop, which was then relocated to the town’s industrial area. In 2001 the bank opened with well-known Aussie entrepreneur Dick Smith flying his helicopter to Boorowa to perform the official honours.
Former Boorowa mayor and local farmer Robert Gledhill was chair of the inaugural banking committee for the first 12 months.
Now, 15 years later, the bank has about 4000 accounts with $125 million in business loans and deposits.
“We didn’t want the impression that council was running the bank so it was my intention to get the bank up and running before stepping down,” he says.
During this time the bank has returned more than $1 million to the local community via grants, sponsorships, donations and dividends. In 2009 the bank purchased a house to provide accommodation for the local doctor. Bank manager Greg Pryor has been involved with banking for 37 years and agreed to help out for one year. He is still there 14 years later and admits the town has grown on him. Although he still lives in Yass and commutes to Boorowa every day, his childhood memories of growing up in a small town in Victoria never escape him. 40 CWL BOOROWA
“My personal feeling was that the best thing to happen to this town was when all the major banks gradually moved out. When Westpac closed down we probably had the biggest public meeting ever held here, with over 300 supporters in a story closely covered by A Current Affair. “The Community Bank has done more for this town than any other organisation ever has. It was also noticed, very strongly by the then Premier Bob Carr, who always showed an active interest in our town.”
Customer relationships officer Jenny Dwyer has also been with the bank from the get-go. She transferred from Parkes in 1976 with the Bank of New South Wales and has been in the banking business 34 years. Her interests are family (she’s grandmother to three) and growing roses. Now that the hubby is retired, you can add travel to the equation. “I love the concept where the Community Bank gives back to the community, and I’m proud to be involved with helping them achieve their goals,” she says. The good people of Boorowa have spoken!
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Top: Bank tellers Judy Ford and Leanne Farrell, with Cath Carmody, manager Greg Pryor, Jenny Dwyer, Julie Dunn and Lyn Coddington. Above: Robert Gledhill, Sue Corcoran and bank manager Greg Pryor are proud of their achievements with the bank.
Boorowa Community BankÂŽ Branch
MAN OF
action HE’S GOT A MEDAL FROM THE QUEEN FOR HIS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY BUT ROBERT GLEDHILL RECKONS THE BOOROWA LOCALS ARE JUST AS DESERVING. HE’S THAT SORT OF BLOKE.
N
ow in his mid 70s, Robert is justifiably proud of his achievements in local government, including 14 years as Boorowa’s long-standing mayor.
“We achieved fantastic results and helped put the town and entire region on the map,” he says. “We fought the last amalgamation very hard (about 12 years ago) and led the fight to Sydney and were victorious. It’s the same fight we’re facing now, with the Coalition trying to amalgamate us with Harden and Young. Unfortunately, it’s more or less cut and dried and the situation looks inevitable.” Robert says it’s all about the community – you only have to ask for something and it’s done. “When the hospital burnt down, just after I became mayor, the insurance didn’t cover a lot of the smaller items, so the community rallied together to raise funds for things like TVs, curtains and rugs. “I had a commitment from the Carr government within two days of the fire, reassuring us that it would be rebuilt. It was a devastating blow to the town but we never lost a patient and there were no injuries.” Robert was born in Newcastle in 1941 and was soon working long days in shearing sheds, pressing wool, throughout the Hillston, Boorowa and Moree districts. In the meantime, his parents bought the Rugby store (in about 1970) – about the same time and place he met his wife, Jeanne. Always willing to “give it a go”, Robert leased a service station in Canberra for several years but his heart yearned for the bush. About 35 years ago they moved onto a place near Frogmore, via Boorowa, and established the Dranoel Hereford Stud. For three decades they sold bulls and exhibited cattle at the Sydney and Canberra Royals. In partnership with Hilton Kelly, Jessmond Hereford Stud, Crookwell, they jointly exhibited Jessmond Muffet, the grand champion bull and supreme Hereford exhibit at the 1980 Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was a great effort and humbling experience to achieve the pinnacle of success in the fiercely competitive Hereford show ring. Muffet was taken home and eventually died of old age in the paddock. Several years ago Robert and Jeanne moved in closer to Boorowa and the pair live on 40 acres with a few ponies, which he has always enjoyed breeding. The pair have two sons. Robert has an earthmoving business and lives next door while Matthew works for the Snowy Mountains Authority. They are big men like their father, in fact both measure in at six foot six inches.
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Robert’s a big bloke himself, six foot three, and played in a curtain raiser to the mighty All Blacks at the Sydney Sports Ground (in the Under-18 Country team playing City). Although he loved the game, he gave it away to pursue his work, which included serving on many boards and committees and a role as vice president of the NSW Shires Association. On an invitation by the Chinese government, Robert led a delegation of mayors from throughout NSW to take part in the opening ceremony of the Asia Pacific Games in 2005. “We were looked after like royalty,” he says. He is also president of the Boorowa Musical and Dramatic Society, who travel the region putting on free concerts at the nursing homes and aged care units. “It is greatly appreciated,” he says. “We have to look after the older people, who have done so much for us in the past.” Looking after the community comes as second nature to this gentleman farmer. “We’ve had some massive bushfires here and I am dumbfounded by the ability of the locals to roll up their sleeves and do what is necessary,” he says. “We’ve had some tough times here, with some terrible droughts, but we always manage to get by.” Robert feels that Boorowa is in a good spot and can only improve with the new roadwork and CSIRO coming to town, shifting their farming establishment from Canberra. “We’ve been told that by the year 2050 we have to double food production to feed the world. This only augurs well for this region,” he says. “I owe so much to the Boorowa community,” says the big man who holds a genuine passion for rural Australia. It seems only fitting, that after a lifetime spent helping others, Robert Gledhill was awarded the Queen’s Centenary Medal for services to the community. CWL
BOOROWA
HAPPY campers
T
he good elderly folk of Boorowa can all be assured there’s a great, modern facility in town where they are guaranteed a firm bed, a healthy regular meal and pleasant company in their sunset years.
The Boorowa Hostel Committee Incorporated has three business elements: a small, 12-bed aged care facility known as Burrowa House; the Burrowa Retirement Village comprising 14 self-care villas; and the four NSW Community Housing units known as Burrowa Cottages. The organisation’s philosophy is to provide affordable accommodation for the older people in and around Boorowa.
“We have no debts and our policy is to simply provide a caring, country-home atmosphere for our elderly guests,” Board President Phil Armitage says. The next job on the agenda is to expand Burrowa House by an extra eight beds to take accommodation numbers up to 20 guests as the older population grows. Phil says there are similar expansion plans for the village, with room to build another 70 self-care units. It’s important to him that our seniors are as happy as they can be. As the sign on the reception reminds them every day: “We don’t stop laughing because we grow old, we GROW OLD because we stop laughing.” >
Top: Board President Phil Armitage with some of the committed staff members Virginia Horne, Jan Pearsall, Kathryn Cooper, Judy-Ann Stokehill, Bridget Chudleigh and Deanna Roberts. BOOROWA CWL 43
Clockwise from top left: Norman O’Reilly, 88, was a butcher for a marathon 55 years in various spots throughout NSW. He says that the tiny village of Wombat was easily the best. “It was only a two-horse town but my butcher’s shop was next to the pub and business was always good,” he laughs as he tends to his flowers. Dawn Barton was a member of the original committee when Burrowa House was built in 1992 and is now a life member on the Board of Directors. She enjoys living in the Burrowa Retirement Village and is still active in community affairs. 44 CWL BOOROWA
Kathleen Phillips, 94, has lived in the Boorowa district most of her life. She was the first to move into the Burrowa Retirement Village 19 years ago and says she wouldn’t change her unit “for anywhere in the world”. “This place has everything I could possibly need. There are no steps to trip over and it’s the nicest unit I’ve ever seen.” Board President Phil Armitage with the new proposed extension plans to Burrowa House.
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Betty Connell Betty, 94 years young, had never heard of Boorowa until coming to Burrowa House seven years ago. She has a remarkably agile mind and well remembers the dreadful day when her family was ripped apart by a drunk driver coming home from the horse races. She was only 14 when she lost her father in the tragedy but remembers it like it was yesterday. “The mind’s a funny thing, isn’t it,” she says with a mischievous grin. Betty married a farmer and enjoyed 54 years of happy married life with five children, six grandchildren and nine great grandkids. She used to go for drives but these days looks forward to playing cards, bingo twice a week, “happy hour” at 5pm and doing the colouring-in for seniors. “It’s a very precise thing and a bit hard on the eyes but it’s good for you. I think I’m pretty good and have three of them framed.”
Betty has always had a keen eye and likes to remind strangers she once scored a hole in one in her golf-playing days. Like many senior citizens of her vintage, she well remembers the end of WW2. “Our neighbour, who had just slaughtered a sheep and had blood all over his hands and face, came running over screaming ‘The war is over, the war is over’,” she recalls. This warm-hearted woman says if you’re going to grow old, then Burrowa House is the place to do it. “It is wonderful being here and we are very well looked after.” I ask her what she most looks forward to and without hesitation says: “Heaven. I’ve served my time here and we’re having a race to see who gets there first!” >
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Nancie Sheridan Nancie, also 94 years young, was Sydney raised but married a farmer from Mudgee. Her uncle left her a Boorowa property, “Little Range”, which her husband promptly sold to Walter Merriman. They then bought “Campbell Fields” before again selling. Their last property, “Mattaui”, became home for the next 30 years before living in town for a similar period. “It was a big change coming here 65 years ago but I have some wonderful memories, especially during the wool boom of the 1950s and 60s,” she says quietly. During those halcyon days Nancie played the violin and fiddled away in plenty of musicals. She frequented the Golf Club and the Court House Hotel, where she’d sit in the lounge with her girlfriends (in those days women were not allowed in the main bar, where the men congregated after a hard day’s work). Nancie did clerical work in Sydney and can never forget the war years. The same night she moved to Bondi the Japanese invaded Sydney Harbour in their midget submarines. On August 15, 1945, with the news that the war had finally ended there were scenes of unbridled joy on the city streets with people “screaming, kissing and dancing”. Nancie’s joy was sullied in part by the death of her special “gentleman friend” who lost his life in the merchant navy on board the Iron Knight. Picking up the pieces, Nancie went on to marry and is now the family matriarch to three children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. An extraordinary life for one of the jewels at Burrowa House. CWL Nancie is pictured with Burrowa House manager Judy-Ann Stokehill.
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Burrowa House in Boorowa
• A 12-bed aged care facility. • All rooms have just been modernised with new carpet and curtains and a re-paint. • All rooms have an ensuite bathroom. • There are sizeable community dining facilities. • Modern television room with comfortable new chairs.
• An activities room is for bingo and card players and other activities. • There are “Broadband for Seniors” computers available. • Wireless broadband is available for all residents. • Excellent, homely, country cooked meals.
Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra. For further information on our facilities please call our Manager, Judy Ann on 6385 3773. 79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW 2586
The village has 14 self-care one or two bedroom villas. • All villas have a garage built under the same roof with an internal entry and an automatic door. • All villas have “vital call” facilities. • All rooms are spacious with a pleasant outlook. • Villas are affordable on a “lend lease” basis with entry fees from $180,000 depending on vacancies. • Fortnightly charge for recurrent charges is $145 to $160. • Recurrent charges cover: - All Council rates and charges including garbage charges. - Electricity charges for street lighting and community services. - All water rates and usage charges. - Building insurance. - Building maintenance. - Basic gardening and lawn mowing. • Plenty of room for expansion with space for another 70 villas. Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra. We can send you a disclosure statement on our villas and a floor plan. Contact details: For further information on our facilities please call our Manager, Judy Ann on 6385 3773, 79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW 2586 BOOROWA CWL 47
BOOROWA
KEEP IT REAL BILL AND SHAREE DARMODY ARE KEEN TO SHARE THEIR LOVE OF THE COUNTRY LIFE WITH FARM STAY GUESTS.
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BOOROWA
Y
our hosts at Wantana Cottage Farm Stay, traditional sheep breeders Bill and Sharee Darmody, have a strong connection to the land around Boorowa. Their farming enterprise consists of wool and prime lambs with the pair running about 4000 sheep over 2000 acres.
Her forever patient husband may not be the most enthusiastic walker but does accompany his adrenalin-loving wife on overseas jaunts to places like the Milford Track in New Zealand. They have even trekked the Andes, finishing off with a long and arduous walk to the famous Machu Picchu ancient ruins.
For the past three decades the hard-working pair have called “Wantana” home. It is where they’ve raised their three children and where they continue doing what they’ve always done: breed sheep.
Sharee loves her overseas hiking expeditions, with or without Bill. She is a powerhouse and part of a select group of women called Wild Women on Top.
Since opening the farm stay in late 2015 they’ve had plenty of “lovely and interesting guests” who constantly remind the Darmodys of how blessed they are to live in this neck of the woods.
A Boorowa girl who once worked in the local ANZ Bank, Sharee remembers first meeting Bill at a party, where they discovered a common love of water-skiing.
“We love to explain and show, when we can, the running of our farm,” says Sharee, who is fit, fun and focused.
In the meantime, Bill’s father (also named Bill) came home after his overseas war service and bought “Pine Hills”, 10km from their current farm.
“The difference between different sheep breeds, how wool is produced and where the lamb chops on their plate come from. We enjoy meeting different people from all walks of life and letting them experience our little slice of heaven.”
In the early 1970s the family bought “Wantana”, and within a decade had established the Wantana Merino Stud. These days it’s run by Bill and his brother Jim, who run about 500 stud ewes, in conjunction with their commercial fine-medium wool enterprise.
If you are lucky you may even get the chance to discuss life, health and overall fitness with Sharee, who has become somewhat of a local well-being guru.
Bill and Sharee increased their holdings after purchasing the neighbouring farm, “The Pinnacles”, when interest rates were at a crippling 20 per cent. There have been some hard times on the land, but this family have always managed to steer themselves through.
“It’s all about being the healthiest you can be,” says Sharee, who runs pilates in Boorowa and neighbouring villages each week. Sharee also runs walking groups, called the Weekend Warriors. It’s all about being fit for life. This is a women’s-only group with about 20 ladies from all walks of life aged from their 20s to 70s taking up the challenge.
“I remember selling Santa Gertrudis cows in the middle of the beef recession for $80 a head,” says Bill, a typical laconic bushman who knows a thing or two about living on the land. “Dad had about 200 steers and said he was going to eat them all, one at a time, rather than sell at those give-away prices!”
One of her favourite training hills involves tackling Mt Canemumbola, just out of Boorowa. Typically she runs two-hour work-outs, proving good basic exercise for mind and body while keeping participants fit and mobile.
Bill feels a strong connection to the country he works and loves. His ancestors were among the first 200 people to settle in Canberra. The Duntroon Military Academy was once part of a big sheep station where Bill’s great-great-grandfather was the local butcher.
A few times each year Sharee takes her enthusiastic team on a more challenging walk, perhaps a 26km walk on the coast or a challenging lap over Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain.
“Old Parliament House was once home to the local saleyards and I’ve heard stories from my forebears of them droving their sheep to sale.”
She’s been a fitness fanatic all her life and started teaching about 15 years ago. The walking business started slowly and gradually took off. “It’s a wonderful social interaction with nature,” she says. “Getting fit is just a by-product. Participants slowly get fitter without realising it and start enjoying their life a whole lot better.”
Farming is in the blood. Bill later ventured into a White Suffolk stud, and currently sells about 50 rams to local breeders who cross them with their Merino ewes to produce quality prime lambs. The Darmodys also sell about 50 Merino rams at their annual on-property sale in early October. > Above: Bill Darmody is as country as they get. Left: Sharee and Bill Darmody follow a healthy lifestyle that keeps them young at heart. BOOROWA CWL 49
Their three children Tara, 28, Tegan, 26, and Ben, 22, were raised on the farm and educated locally, first at Boorowa Convent School and in the senior years travelled 60km to Hennessy Catholic High School in Young. They were brought up in a debilitating 10-year drought. There was no feed, no money, no water, no holidays. It was all work and no play. Little wonder that Ben, their only son, opted for a career in hospitality and is now based in Canberra, about an hour away. Tara is a school teacher in Canberra, while Tegan is a registered nurse in Cowra. Bill and Sharee, after years of toiling on the farm, have finally bought a part-share in a catamaran. They have since enjoyed many adventures, including sailing from Cairns to Lakes Entrance in Victoria. Sharee always remembers Bill’s recently departed mother, Ruby, telling an anecdote about her little boy, aged two. Apparently Bill was famous for always pulling a boat in the dirt while all the other lads were content playing with their tractors! A love of the water was born. These days, with their children away doing their own thing, the pair are enjoying managing the farm on their own, as they’ve always done. One evening over dinner they discussed the accommodation shortage in Boorowa and felt their old workers cottage could be put to better use. “We love sharing our passion for farming and the true Aussie country way of life with visitors from mainly metropolitan areas,” Sharee says. “We offer our guests a taste of real Australia. As we both are passionate about country life, the land, the wool and the meat we produce, we thought the farm stay could show people from the cities and other countries the real heart of this country.”
The Darmodys admit they couldn’t live elsewhere. “At times it can be a tough life with long hours, but that’s part and parcel of country life. It all depends on the weather,” she says. “We have four very different seasons here. Hot dry summers, milder autumns, cold winters, that can have beautiful sunny days thrown in, and beautiful spring days where everything grows in abundance. “Our countryside changes from beautiful green paddocks and rolling hills, to misty autumn/winter mornings to the hot dry Australian countryside. Whatever the season is, it’s always beautiful. “We are very fortunate to live this lifestyle and are thrilled to let others experience what we do every day.” CWL Above: A typical sunset at Wantana Cottage Farm Stay; Sharee Darmody in the middle of the refurbished cottage, with views in every direction.
Wantana Cottage Farm Stay Relax, unwind and enjoy this 3 bedroom self-contained cottage just outside Boorowa. Sleeps 8, minimum one night stay, located on a working sheep farm
For bookings contact Sharee & Bill on 0427 200 981 | wantana@bigpond.com or www.stayz.com.au 50 CWL BOOROWA
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RAISING THE BAR
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ou can always be assured of a frosty cold beer, a great feed and a welcome smile at Boorowa’s Court House Hotel. And there’s no gaming room or TAB to spoil the atmosphere of an old-style pub first established back in 1853. Publican Chris McIntosh has been here five years following a three-year stint at the Boorowa Hotel at the other end of the main street. Although his parents had pubs in Sydney and Temora, Chris spent his early years working in Wollongong clubs. While he occasionally misses the ocean, he has developed a soft spot for Boorowa and his local patrons, some who have been sipping on middies here for half a century. The hotel has 12 guest rooms (starting from $60 a night), and is home for Chris, wife Anna, the deputy principal at Young High School, and their daughters, Meg, 16, Marlie, 12, and Elle, 8. Lunch and dinner is available seven days a week, with several cooks serving between 300 and 400 meals each week. There are two daily lunch specials, ranging in price from $8 to $15. The pub is a major sponsor of the Boorowa Rovers, the local rugby league team, which has been reformed after two years in hiatus. The Court House also has a drive-in bottle shop for those too busy to relax in one of the oldest and friendliest meeting spots in town. CWL
Clockwise from top left: Publican Chris McIntosh serves a cold beer for one of his regulars, Max Donohue; the Court House Hotel is an old-style pub, complete with the original tiles out the front; local girl Kim Blomfield loves working in the traditional country pub.
THE COURT HOUSE HOTEL OFFERS ECONOMICAL COUNTRY STYLE ACCOMMODATION WITH 12 SPACIOUS ROOMS. AIR CONDITIONED IN SUMMER, OPEN FIRES IN WINTER • A CHOICE OF REFRESHING BEERS ON TAP • BISTRO / RESTAURANT OPEN 7 DAYS • BEST SCHNITZELS IN THE AREA
12 MARSDEN ST BOOROWA • PHONE: (02) 6385 3005 • WWW.COURTHOUSEHOTELBOOROWA.COM.AU BOOROWA CWL 51
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GLORY IN GALONG THE HISTORIC ST CLEMENT’S RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTRE IN GALONG HAS ITS ROOTS IN ONE PLUCKY IRISHMAN WHO WAS BANISHED TO THE COLONY OF AUSTRALIA IN 1816 ON BOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP SURREY. 52 CWL BOOROWA
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F
or many years after the failed 1798 Rebellion against British rule, things in County Tipperary were decidedly unsettled. Edward “Ned” Ryan’s crime was to partake in the burning of a home with dire consequences. The ringleader was hanged in the ruins while Ned, a happily married man with young children, was sent in chains, along with the others, to the far side of the world. For the next 14 years he worked as an unpaid servant to Goulburn surveyor James Meehan before being granted his freedom. Despite his advancing years, by 1840 Ned had turned his life around. He was cultivating 355 acres and running 49 horses, 990 cattle and 8822 sheep over an area infinitely bigger than his meagre holdings back home. During his days as a squatter at Galong, 22km from Boorowa, Ned amassed a workforce of more than 60 mostly Irish workers, all living in primitive slab huts but working steadily towards a bigger and brighter future. Through hard work and tenacity he was soon being referred to as Edward Ryan Esquire. Back in Ireland, Ned’s poor wife Ellen was having her own battles. Her husband had been taken from her when she was only 20, leaving her with three young ones to raise on her own. Her eldest son died at Kindergarten age and when she finally made it to the colony in 1847, she hadn’t seen her Ned for 30 years. Once she was on the scene, however, Ned was spurred into action. He constructed a substantial residence, befitting his newfound status, and named it “Galong House”. At some point he added a stone tower with battlements and the locals dubbed it “Galong Castle” with Ned Ryan as its ruler. Ned served on committees, his name appeared on almost every public subscription and his presence was noted at community events. Despite his gruff exterior, he was, without question, an extremely generous man who was known to have supported many of his compatriots for almost 30 years. But time was running out. To the east of his original slab hut, Ned set aside two acres of land as a burial ground and it was here that many of his predominantly Irish Catholic workers were laid to rest (the cemetery was among the oldest Catholic burial grounds in the colony, right up there with Richmond and Bungonia). Ned joined the ranks of the fallen in 1871 and lies in a large family vault surrounded by an impressive stone wall. Several monuments for Ned’s descendants were later crafted by the well-known Gundagai mason Frank Rusconi, best known for his bronze sculpture of the “Dog on the Tuckerbox”, erected outside his home town in 1933. > BOOROWA CWL 53
With Ned gone, the 40,000-acre property was handed to his unmarried and greatly admired son John Nagle Ryan, who did much to further the interests of those living in the Galong, Binalong and Burrowa areas. After his sudden death in 1887, the terms of his will set the future direction of Galong. He bequeathed the homestead and land to his only sister Anastasia Ryan, who was well known for her hospitality to strangers, providing substantial sums to the church and various charities. Within two years a second two-storey extension was added to the homestead, providing a chapel and accommodation for a visiting priest. Deeply religious, she also followed Irish customs, particularly in relation to the observance of wakes for the deceased. She died in 1900, just before Federation, and was honoured by the homeless “swaggies” who lined the route of her funeral. Her cousins, Anastasia, Edmund and Laurence Barry Ryan, built a church and convent school in the nearby Galong village in memory of the family from Tipperary who had carved out such a great legacy in the colony.
A NEW BEGINNING After Anastasia’s death in 1914 (the last remaining Ryan to live at Galong), the property was eventually transferred to the Redemptorist Order (who had arrived in Australia some 30 years earlier) after a “friendly” but expensive court case with the Irish Cistercian order. Their leader, Father Edmund Vaughan, had visited the property years earlier and felt it would make an ideal place to develop a boy’s school for aspirants who might one day wish to join the order.
In 1914, with war raging overseas, Father Edmund Gleeson eventually took up residence in Galong House and prepared to transform the property into St Clement’s Monastery. He sent plans to Rome for approval before the foundation stone was laid in 1917 for the initial three-storey building, with a classroom wing added several years later. Initially, life at the monastery was spartan, there not being “a stick of furniture” in the dormitory. There was no hot water, and a weekly rostered bath was obtained by each boy bringing in heated water in kerosene tins. The boys studied Latin, Greek, French, English and mathematics along with spiritual instruction. Games of football were played on hard, thistle-covered fields and occasional excursions to Boorowa, Yass or to the Black Ranges helped enliven the normal routine. Over the years living conditions improved with the building of shower blocks, the advent of a common room and the introduction of a radio for the boys. A language laboratory appeared in the 1950s, well ahead of many other educational establishments. By the mid 1970s, some 900 boys had attended St Clement’s but the writing was on the wall. Although a few went on to the Redemptorist “novitiate” and entered the order, most chose not to. In 1975 the monastery closed its doors, presenting something of a crisis. What was to be done with all those large monastic buildings full of now empty spaces? The initial solution came in the form of spiritual retreats guided by members of the order and others. Galong Castle has been renovated and part of the original old house is now a museum dedicated to the Ryan family and the history of the Redemptorists at Galong.
Left: St Clement’s manager Sue Rolfe next to a statue of St Alphonsus (the founder of the order). Above left: Fr John Airey and Fr Leo Coffey in front of a painting of the founders of the congregation. 54 CWL BOOROWA
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Recent developments include the upgrading of the old classrooms into a well-equipped conference centre, along with fresh accommodation in the old monastery. Today St Clement’s Retreat and Conference Centre is a unique spot for all to come and worship, meditate or take part in one of the dozens of retreats and conferences throughout the year. CWL
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Moving mountains “Even if the efforts we had made saved one person’s life – even if it saved one single family from going through what we were made to – then… it would be worth it.” – Will Gay
THE SHOCKING NEWS OF A SUICIDE CAN ROCK EVEN THE MOST UNITED OF COMMUNITIES TO ITS CORE, AND THAT WAS THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN BOOROWA WHEN MADDIE AND WILL GAY’S FATHER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE IN NOVEMBER 2009.
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ony Gay was a well-known farmer and a highly respected member of the Boorowa community, and, like many around him, suffered through countless droughts and ongoing hardship.
His death represented a senseless loss of a life as a result of mental illness, and as his children Maddie and Will would recognise, something clearly needed to change. In late 2015, Maddie and Will set out with an awe-inspiring determination to tackle the stigma of suicide in rural and regional communities, while contributing to suicide prevention in Australia. Their efforts raised $160,000 for Lifeline Australia, a national charity committed to providing 24-hour suicide prevention services to Australians experiencing personal crisis.
“Even if the efforts we had made saved one person’s life – even if it saved one single family from going through what we were made to – then in my mind, it would be worth it,” Will says.
It would be a colossal feat that demanded diligent planning, ongoing training and an unwavering sense of purpose for Maddie and Will to have the best chance of making their mark on a very important cause.
“If there’s anything I’ve learnt about mental illness, it’s that you really need to be there for people, by showing you care and communicating with them.”
Their project was named 6NIL, thoughtfully coined to reflect the monumental undertaking: six mountains, five countries, four continents, three months, two people, one goal: zero suicides.
Maddie and Will are constantly reminded of their dad’s character, for the most part in trips back to their hometown of Boorowa, when family and friends recall hilarious tales of Tony’s life.
“Our dad was one of the most determined people we’ll ever know,” Maddie says.
“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by the generous donations that have helped us to achieve this,” Maddie says.
“He was always so committed to bringing joy to those around him, and encouraged my brother and I to do something we are passionate about.
“Our community of Boorowa has gone out of its way to help us in every step of our journey.
“As he used to say, ‘bite off more than you can chew, and chew like crazy’, so in his honour, we decided to take on 6NIL.”
“It makes us very proud to know that we have their support.”
Maddie and Will began their journey climbing Mt Kinabalu, Malaysia, on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day. Five mountains and just over two months later, their incredible achievements came to a close on the descent of Mt Kosciuszko, joined by more than 80 of their friends and family. Maddie and Will’s mother, Pattianne, climbed four of the six mountains and played an important role in the project; an incredible show of strength in her own right. While each of the mountains presented a unique set of challenges for the family, Will remembers a particularly poignant moment. “The final set of stairs to the top of Machu Picchu, Peru, as the Incan ruins came into sight was pretty amazing,” Will says. “I could see Maddie was extremely touched as well, and that was one of the moments we would remind ourselves that this was all worth our while.” Will believes there’s a fair way to go before the stigma surrounding suicide disappears, but he knows it’s up to each and every one of us to make it happen.
While the 6NIL project is now complete, Will and Maddie will continue to contribute to suicide prevention in years to come. 6NIL has been a powerful triumph for not only a family and a community, but is also a huge step in the right direction for suicide prevention. CWL If you or someone you know needs support in a crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Above: Tony Gay on the family property ‘Clonalton’, Reids Flat. Facing page, clockwise from top left: Maddie and Will Gay raised $160,000 for Lifeline Australia; Maddie and Will at Aoraki Peak on Mt Cook, New Zealand; overlooking Mt Veronica on the Inca Trail, Peru.; on the Inca Trail, Peru; Mt Meru, Tanzania.; at Kibo Hut, Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Will, Maddie and Pattianne at the summit of Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman’s Pass) on the Inca Trail, Peru; Will and Maddie in the Okovango Delta, Botswana (2013). Words: Anna Tickle Images provided by Maddie and Will Gay
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Boom TOWN ith two young and dedicated Flemings now on the team, Boorowa Real Estate is in for some exciting times.
Justin Fleming bought into the business in 2012, after several years working under the guidance of Andrew and Carolyn Mitchell, who established the agency in 2000. He is a second-generation stock and station agent, following in the footsteps of his father, Jim Fleming, who ran a similar business in Cooma during the 1980s and early ’90s. While Justin isn’t active on the stock side of things, he has a firm grip on the local real estate market in Boorowa and nearby Harden. 58 CWL BOOROWA
He knows the area well, having initially jackerooed on “Springfield”, Boorowa, in 2005 and 2006. While he enjoyed the job and living in the district, a career move was always on the cards. Justin studied Property Economics at Western Sydney University before returning to Boorowa in 2009 to learn the ropes from his mentor Andrew, who sold him the business following his retirement. Boorowa Real Estate now who has three full-time employees. It’s a young, dynamic team, with Leanne Corcoran, who has been around for over a year, joining Justin and new import, Richie Fleming.
Irishman Richie, 28, is the other Fleming to hit town. Richie has lived “Down Under” for five years, cutting his teeth on a cattle and cropping property at Come-by-Chance, in north-west NSW, before working in the marketing and advertising department for the Creative Agency in Sydney. He can add store manager to that resume when Richie becomes the new face of Harden’s latest real estate branch. The two young men share an interesting story of how they met. Richie was at boarding school in the Midlands of Ireland when Justin went there for his gap year in 2004. They were introduced to each other in the school’s refectory and have remained good mates ever since.
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“Boorowa enjoys a close proximity to some of the major centres while retaining the flavour of a small rural community.” Both men will lace up the footy boots to play rugby for the Boorowa Goldies in the 2016 season but work, For Sale signs and customers will never be far from their mind. Justin sees a bright future for Boorowa, which he says was like any other sleepy little country town until about 10 years ago when the main street underwent a major facelift. Since then there has been a resurgence in real estate, with many people moving from Sydney, Canberra and even Melbourne. “Boorowa enjoys a close proximity to some of the major centres while retaining the flavour of a small rural community,” he says. “The median price of a home in Boorowa is probably about $250,000, making it very attractive for retirement for Sydney and Canberra residents.” Their enterprise is one of three real estate businesses in town taking advantage of these changes, managing about 120 residential properties both here and in Harden.
Justin is a qualified auctioneer, specialising in property clearing and furniture sales and prides himself on good service, an enthusiastic demeanour and the ability to get the job done.
“With a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude we work together to ensure the needs of our clients are met,” Justin says. “We are known for going above and beyond the call of duty.” CWL
While staff members at Boorowa Real Estate have different roles, there is very much a friendly team mentality across all facets of the business.
Left: Justin Fleming and Richie Fleming. Above: The Boorowa Real Estate team includes Richie Fleming, Leanne Corcoran and Justin Fleming.
BOOROWAREAL REALESTATE ESTATE BOOROWA 34Marsden MarsdenSt, St,Boorowa BoorowaNSW NSW2586 2586 34 2586 Telephone6385 63853337. 3337.Mob Mob0429 0429820 820389 389 Telephone 389 www.boorowa-real-estate.com www.boorowa-real-estate.com ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Real Estate Agents Stock Station Agent Auctioneer Property Management Real Estate Agents Stock && Station Agent Auctioneer Property Property Management Management
★ ★
BOOROWA42 42Marsden MarsdenStreet StreetOld OldWorld WorldCharm, Charm,Rare RareOpportunity Opportunity BOOROWA Rare Opportunity Historicdouble doublebrick brickbuilding buildingtastefully tastefullyrenovated. renovated. Historic renovated. Approximately1836 1836sqm, sqm,spacious spaciousmain mainstreet streetholding. holding. Approximately holding. Three bedrooms, large office, main bedroom with ensuite Three bedrooms, large office, main bedroom with ensuite ensuite featuringunderfloor underfloorheating. heating. featuring Openplan plankitchen, kitchen,living livingand anddining diningareas areaswith withwalk-in walk-in Open walk-in pantry.Polished Polishedtimber timberfloors floorsand andhigh highceilings ceilingsa afeature. feature. pantry. feature. Gas water heating. Three way bathroom with underfloor Gas water heating. Three way bathroom with underfloor underfloor heating,separate separatesecond secondtoilet, toilet,laundry laundryand andverandahs. verandahs. heating, verandahs. Expansivefamily familyroom room(8x8m) (8x8m)with withample amplestorage, storage,and and Expansive and
underfloorheating heatingopening openingonto ontoexisting existinglawns lawnsand and underfloor underfloor heating opening onto existing lawns and gardens.Carport, Carport,shipping shippingcontainer, container,garden gardenshed shedand and gardens. gardens. Carport, shipping container, garden shed and chook run. chook chook run. run. Thisappealing appealingproperty propertyalso alsoincludes includesaaaseparate separate This This appealing property also includes separate commercialshop shoparea areawith withretail retailand andoffice officespace spacewith with commercial commercial shop area with retail and office space with r/cair airconditioning conditioningand andgas gasheating. heating.This Thispremises premisesisisis r/c r/c air conditioning and gas heating. This premises currentlyoccupied occupiedby byAustralia AustraliaPost PostBusiness Businessand andGift GiftShop. Shop. currently currently occupied by Australia Post Business and Gift Shop. Price $560,000 $560,000 Price Price $560,000
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HE’S CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE CORPORATE LADDER AND TRAVELLED THE WORLD, BUT ASTUTE LITHGOW-BASED BUSINESSMAN DICK AUSTEN HAS MAINTAINED A REFRESHING HUMILITY THAT HAS ENDEARED HIM TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
CRAFT’S in session T
he proud old Boorowa Court House has a new lease of life as an Arts and Crafts Centre and a very helpful Visitor Information Centre. The court house has a rich history, closely tied to that of Boorowa itself. A short history lesson is in order. Picture the scene in 1855 when the Court of Petty Sessions was proclaimed in Boorowa. Early courts were held at the Crown Inn, later renamed the Court House Hotel.
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A new building was then required and one was erected with stunning proportions. There would be little change from £6000 but the building was officially opened three years later. The lock-up was proclaimed a Public Gaol in 1880 with electricity installed in the building in 1926.
For some grand old buildings, that would be it, but the good citizens of Boorowa sprang into action and came up with a grand plan. The court house would become the new home of the Arts and Crafts Co-operative, which originated from a public meeting held by the council in 1994.
In 1984 renovations were carried out on the historic building to celebrate its centenary.
In recent years the court house has lost none of its history or magic. The dock, the chambers, in fact everything, is all still there, just as it was 130 years ago.
The government of the day closed the court house in 1988 and all records were transferred to Yass.
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On the other side of the building lies the Arts and Crafts Shop, now occupying the former Clerk of Petty Sessions Office. The co-op is made up of local people who make and sell their goods through the craft shop. The tea room is situated in the former Magistrates Office, where visitors are served light refreshments (at a most reasonable cost) by enthusiastic “country girls”. The co-operative incorporates the Visitor Information Centre into their services and is greatly supported by the local council. Dawn Barton is shop manager and continues to play a big role in the local community. Like all the other women, her time is voluntary. “We’re very glad to have saved the building to ensure that future generations can enjoy it. It’s also an avenue for local women to share their knowledge and gifts with the public,” she says. The doors wouldn’t be opened half the time if it wasn’t for Lorraine Corcoran, another stalwart member and wonderful cook. Joy Mattress heads the standards committee and her enthusiasm keeps the craft shop in great order. She is an excellent knitter and has an eye for perfection in all things crafty.
Lorna Spackman, the new secretary, is interested in family history. Julie-Anne Gibbons, who is the youngest member and mother of two small children, is the new treasurer. You will find items for babies, lots of handknitted jumpers, scarves and beanies. There is even a range of socks from Humphrey Law, who sources wool for these socks from the Boorowa area. There is also a range of jams, jellies, pickles, cakes and slices. Bookworms are well catered for, with a collection of local historical books and even recipe books. The co-op supports the community with donations to various organisations like the Boorowa Show Society, Boorowa Central School, the Cancer Council, Burrowa House, Can Assist and SouthCare Helicopter. New members are always welcome.
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The old court house is now the home of the Boorowa Arts and Crafts Centre; Lorna Spackman, Lorraine Corcoran and Dawn Barton enjoy a cuppa with their woolly friend in the tea room.
BOOROWA BOOROWACOURT COURTHOUSE HOUSE ARTS ARTS&&CRAFTS CRAFTSCO-OP CO-OP Quality Arts And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room Quality Arts And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room OPEN 10.00 TO 5.00 Daily OPEN 10.00 TO 5.00 Daily BOO R BOO R
E US O E US O
COUCROU WA A T HRT H O OW
POPO BOX 65,65, Marsden St,St, Boorowa NSW 2856 Phone 0202 6385 3885 BOX Marsden Boorowa NSW 2856 Phone 6385 3885 BOOROWA CWL 61
Gentle Giants YOU FEEL THE ROMANCE OF A BYGONE ERA THE MOMENT YOU DRIVE INTO MARENGO STATION, NEAR THE VILLAGE OF MURRINGO, BETWEEN YOUNG AND BOOROWA.
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he first thing you see is the old coach house, which stands opposite the magnificent stone homestead, believed to have been built in about 1840 and completed in 1860 as gold was found at Lambing Flat, now Young. The property, a jewel in the district, was settled in 1827 and within 20 years was listed as being a 40,000-acre run with 1400 Shorthorn cattle and 2000 sheep. By the turn of the 20th century, however, the property had been carved up into smaller blocks. Elsie May Malone was granted the last 1000 acres as a wedding present in 1929. Elsie’s daughter, Pauline Parkman, who featured in our Young edition, was born here before spending a lifetime at the family property “Orizaba”, Young. Everywhere you look there are magnificent Clydesdale horses, which have been bred here since John and Janet Donaldson moved here 30 years ago.
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John is a New Zealander who came over for a three-month holiday in 1968 and is still here. His first port of call was the colourful Kings Cross. It was a happening place back then as the swinging ’60s drew to a close. “The Vietnam War was still raging and the place was full of prostitutes, drag queens and sailors. We were friends with them all,” John says with a big grin. “I was just a starry eyed New Zealander from a two-bob country town out of Wellington who grew up with a rifle over his shoulder, shooting rabbits, pigs and deer.” In those early days he used to fit out Sydney shops as well as the Paddington showgrounds, in time for the Sydney Royal Easter Show. He later cut his teeth in the building trade, restoring old terrace houses before moving to the Central Coast to restore old homes to their former glory. > Right: John Donaldson with Ruby and her colt foal.
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He’s been kicked and bitten but the big horses have grown on him and he doubts he could live without them.
John met his second wife, Jan, at Tumbi Umbi, where she was running her own fish and chip shop. The pair soon discovered they shared a lot in common. Born in a little fishing town in eastern England, Jan came to Australia as the proverbial “Ten Pound Pom” in 1964. She ended up fitting and selling bras and girdles at David Jones. “I couldn’t wait to get out of the city and move to the Central Coast,” she says in her slight English accent. Jan ended up cleaning some of the buildings John was restoring and says “the pay was rotten but the boss was all right”. Later they bought a rundown historic home on 23 acres, raising their twins, John and Sarah, in the old dairy while the homestead was renovated. John often thought about what he might do with the land.
GIDDY UP Being “city slickers” they had no idea how to stock the bare paddocks. One day an ad in a city paper promoting a Clydesdale sale in Wodonga grabbed John’s attention. “Neither of us had ever owned a horse before, let alone one of those bloody big Clydesdales,” John laughs. They ended up buying a mare and colt and were soon smitten with the temperament of these gentle giants. Before long they figured they needed more land and the hunt was on to find a historic home with a minimum of 100 acres. A good mate of John’s was an agent and the pair ended up flying all over the country inspecting properties before finally settling on “Marengo”, which was now 333 acres. That was more than 30 years ago. The twins spent their formative years in the historic homestead, which John gradually renovated over the years. They attended Murringo School before going to Young. John Jnr is now a building contractor in Brisbane while Sarah, a hairdresser, lives on a nearby property with her husband Ben Sharp and their three kids. The kids may have moved on but the Clydesdales, all 25 of them, are still here. Until recently, the Donaldsons were regular exhibitors at Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne Royal Shows. The stud was called Sarjon Park, combining both names of the twins. 64 CWL BOOROWA
Melbourne was the biggest gathering of Clydesales in the country, with entries of up to 150 horses. If you could win there, you could win anywhere. “It was an interest, carting them around for about five years,” John says. “We picked up plenty of champion ribbons but it was a love of the horses and meeting fellow competitors that we most enjoyed.”
TED BECOMES A LEGEND The Carlton United Breweries team were always looking for new horses. “One day they came out to visit us and took a keen interest in Ted, our young colt. He ended up spending 15 years as the lead horse in the brewery team.” This gangly-looking and flighty bay with one black leg commenced a journey that would capture the attention of horse enthusiasts from all walks of life and the general public. When he was retired they sent him home and he died there at the ripe old age of 25 years. Dealing with the big horses can sometimes be dangerous. Only last Christmas they were moving some of the heavy horses through the flowing creek. In a split second, the mare took one gigantic leap over the water and landed on top of Jan on the other side, breaking her leg. She is lucky to be walking. John has endured plenty of black toes from when his horses have stepped on him. He’s been kicked and bitten but the big horses have grown on him and he doubts he could live without them. “We love the size and temperament of a mature animal but also love the foals,” Jan says. “As soon as they hit the ground it’s action stations. Our first job is to ensure the foal can stand and has access to milk.” The Donaldsons are glad they responded to that horse ad 30 years ago but are even prouder of stepping out from their homelands a lifetime ago to create a new life together in the Australian bush. CWL Clockwise from above: the stunning old homestead was built more than 150 years ago, the old steam engine, used to drive sawmills or chaff mills, was brought here from Holbrook 10 years ago; John and Jan Donaldson love living in the bush with their beloved Clydesdales; Ted was the leading Clydesdale with the United Breweries team in the early 1990s; the massive frame of Sarjon Park Ruben, another great show horse and one of the current stallions on the property; John with his majestic Clydesdales.
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Welcome to
CROOKWELL TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE
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FROM THE MAYOR Did you know that wonderful things are happening in the Upper Lachlan Shire right now? In fact, I believe that the Upper Lachlan is one of the state’s best-kept secrets, and it’s right on the doorstep of our national capital. I’ve lived all my life right here. I raised my family in Gunning, my wife and I have forebears going back over 150 years in this community. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. So why is this region such a hidden gem? The Upper Lachlan is ideally situated. It is within 2½ hours of our national capital, Canberra, our state capital, Sydney, our picturesque coastline and magnificent snowfields. Although we are close to regional centres such as Canberra and Goulburn, our shire has retained its strong rural character, free from the usual stresses of city life. We are renowned for fine wool and seed potato production, for our history, when bushrangers once roamed, and our picturesque countryside. While we maintain a connection to our strong farming and grazing roots, the Upper Lachlan Shire has expanded beyond traditional agriculture. Alongside Merino wool, fat lambs, cattle and seed potatoes, producers have taken advantage of our soil types and climate to diversify into olives, grapes, lavender, honey, alpacas and many other rural enterprises. It’s not just the farmers who are putting the area on the map. Our shire is now becoming a popular tree-change destination, with retirees and younger people seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Tourism is now our third biggest industry, after agriculture and retail. Our population of just over 7500 is spread throughout the shire’s many villages, including Bigga, Binda, Breadalbane, Collector, Crookwell, Dalton, Grabben Gullen, Gunning, Laggan, Taralga and Tuena. It’s easy to see why we’re known as the Shire of Villages. Throughout the year, these villages experience four glorious seasons, from dustings of wonderfully powdery snow in the winter, to the warmth and golden glow of summer days. 68 CWL CROOKWELL
OUR SHIRE IS NOW BECOMING A POPULAR TREE-CHANGE DESTINATION, WITH RETIREES AND YOUNGER PEOPLE SEEKING TO ESCAPE THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF CITY LIFE.
The sense of community is strong within these villages. A wide range of community groups, including Rotary, Lions, CWA, View Club, church groups, historical societies, progress associations, chambers of commerce, arts groups and sporting clubs, just to name a few, thrive and help the towns and villages prosper. In fact, Crookwell had the honour of establishing the first branch of the Country Women’s Association. Jump in the car and spend a day exploring the shire, and see for yourself just why it is one of the state’s best-kept secrets. If you would like to know more about visiting the Upper Lachlan, or making the move to join us here, please go to www.visitupperlachlan.com.au or give our fantastic Visitor Information Centre staff a call on (02) 4832 1988. John Shaw, Mayor of Upper Lachlan Shire
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eautiful vistas, magnificent produce and fascinating characters are just some of the things you will enjoy in Crookwell, high on the Great Dividing Range in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Despite being an hour from Canberra and only 2½ hours from Sydney, Crookwell has remained largely untouched by the rat race yet is a thriving country town in the heart of a pioneering pastoral district. Travellers come to Crookwell for different reasons; some are beating a different path home, some are exploring while others come for the history or special events. The Crookwell Potato Festival and Binda Picnic Races bring thousands of people every autumn, and attractions such as the Lindner Sock Factory entertain and educate visitors all year round. Garden lovers are well catered for in the region with a range of stunning properties including the Edna Walling-designed Markdale at Binda. Many of these gardens are featured in the annual Crookwell Garden Festival in November. The rich soils ensured that the region was a major source of produce for the new colony of Sydney including wheat, butter and potatoes, the latter remaining an important part of the local economy along with prime lamb, wool and cattle.
You can’t visit the country without enjoying some on-farm hospitality. Options include Doonkuna Orchard for stunning seasonal fruit, the gorgeous Crystal Brook Lavender Farm and the Crookwell Alpaca Experience, to see how these magnificent creatures have become a permanent part of Crookwell district agriculture. The main street of Crookwell offers some excellent speciality shopping, and your tastebuds will also be well looked after with fine country hospitality available at a range of cafes and bakeries. Why not stay a while and explore this wonderful region. Accommodation in and around the township includes a wide range of self-contained cottages, B&Bs, hotels and motels or, if you are self-sufficient, Crookwell Caravan Park is popular with carvanners and campers. Come and meet the people, enjoy the produce and take in the views high on the range. CWL
First explored in the early 1820s, Crookwell and surrounds were an important part of early pioneering and many families find that they have ancestral links to the area. Crookwell is the birthplace of Dame Mary Gilmore, and each August the township hosts a weekend of poetry and music in her honour. For the outdoors types there is excellent fishing in the local dams and streams, especially at Grabine Lakeside on the shores of Lake Wyangala, which holds an annual fishing competition in August. There is also the opportunity to explore some underground wonders at Wombeyan Caves. Since the 1850s people have been seeking to strike it rich, fossicking for gemstones at Grabben Gullen or visiting the township of Tuena, which is an old gold mining village. Public fossicking can be arranged through the general store, which has been in the hands of the same family since the 1860s. Now there is local knowledge! CROOKWELL CWL 69
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Days gone by
Images courtesy of theCrookwell and District Historical Society. 70 CWL CROOKWELL
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FINE AND upstanding
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SHEAR brilliance ONE OF CROOKWELL’S GREATEST SUCCESS STORIES ALMOST DIDN’T HAPPEN.
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ast your mind back to the turn of the 20th century and Australia is finally united as a Federation, thanks to men of the calibre of Queensland sheep grazier Charles Prell, who rode 56 miles on horseback from “Savannah Downs” to the nearest polling station at Bunda Bunda to record his vote. A few years later we find Charles and his young family travelling in a steamer from Townsville down to Sydney, hoping to snap up some prime grazing land near Crookwell. Charles continues on his own to Goulburn. In 1901 the Goulburn to Crookwell railway line was completed and he catches the train to Woodhouselee, the nearest siding to his final destination: “Gundowringa”. He is far from impressed with the country he’d seen from the train window and is loath to walk the final seven miles out to the property. In true bushman style, he rolls out his swag on the platform and waits for the next train. In the meantime, he yarns to the postmaster, the only bloke around for miles, and is told the country further west is nothing like what he’d seen from his window. He offers Charles a ride in his sulky and the rest is history. Charles found a series of rolling hills with plenty of creeks, and water, everywhere you looked. The last one was the Wollondilly River where he would, within four years, build his homestead. Charles knew he’d found exactly what he was looking for, gladly paying two pound 10 shillings (about $5) an acre for 9000 acres. He knew enough about business to know this was a solid investment. His own father, a trader from Hamburg, Germany, had arrived in 1850. Next thing he was a cattle baron, owning a half-share in a string of properties stretching from Julia Creek all the way down to the Riverina.
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After boarding school Charles was packed off to “Richmond Downs”, Julia Creek, where he worked his way up the ladder to become manager. His uncle, a Brisbane banker, suggested it might be time to become independent of his father. The neighbouring station was “Savannah Downs”, beautiful sheep country but lacking precious water. No worries, he could water divine. Some can do it, most cannot. He bought the place and the bank said you’re welcome to it; you’ll end up broke like the rest of them. Charles called in the drillers and found water. “My grandfather was convinced there was water under a big rock strata and there it was – the water came gushing up 12 feet out of the ground. The amazing thing is that you could drink it. It was unbelievable,” descendant Jeff Prell says. >
“My grandfather was convinced there was water under a big rock strata and there it was – the water came gushing up 12 feet out of the ground. The amazing thing is that you could drink it. It was unbelievable.”
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Charles developed the station and mustered the wild country with the Aboriginal stockmen. Although there were nearly enough cattle to pay off the bank manager in one hit, life was a struggle. His young English wife, Ivy, never saw another white woman for her first 12 months of married life and the couple had already buried their eldest daughter. All these thoughts were behind him as Charles started new farming practices in the hills of Crookwell that would soon have the entire country talking. He was the first man to introduce subclover (from Mt Barker in WA) and superphosphate to his country. He’d spread the clover seed by hand and in 1920 used a hopper and a spinner off a truck to spread the super. By the late 1930s “Gundowringa” was one of only three large properties using 1000 tonnes of superphosphate. The Prime Minister Joseph Lyons once brought his whole cabinet here to see his newest innovations. Charles, who later was presented with an OBE, was clearly a man of great vision and action. Extracts from his speeches and writings exemplify his single-mindedness and perseverance. His great work was achieved through effort and by putting into effect ideas and theories in which he staunchly believed. He was willing to stake everything on his convictions and took risks that would have daunted men of lesser faith and courage.
THE NEXT GENERATION Two of his sons, William and Harold, were still at school when WW1 erupted. William went to King’s and later died on the battlefields at Ypres in WW1, causing devastating grief among his family. Charles and Ivy went on to have two more daughters and another son, Stanley, who along with Harold, served overseas during WW2, before spending a lifetime on the property with their unmarried sisters, Dorothy and Peg (following the war there was an acute shortage of men. The majority of Australian families were in the same position – everybody had a maiden aunt). In 1928 Harold married Florence Jeffreys and went on to have four children, including one sitting in the room opposite me – the imposing frame of Jeff Prell OAM, himself now a spritely 85 years and current custodian of “Gundowringa”. By his side is his artistic partner and cherished friend, Margaret Shepherd (Jeff’s wife died in 2007, after 60 joyful years together, while Margaret was left widowed after the death of the much-loved former Crookwell mayor Bob Shepherd OAM). Jeff and Margaret grew up in the same era and have known each other all their lives. Her father was the family doctor. They enjoy country life and reminiscing about days gone by. You could write a book about the grand adventures of Jeff, the family patriarch. Like his uncle, he attended Tudor House, then King’s, for 10 years from 1939 to 1949, playing on the wing for the 1st XV and later the GPS firsts. Our country lad was fast, winning the GPS 120-yard foot race and hurdles. The natural all-rounder also captained the King’s cricket team in 1949, clinching the premiership after a 14-year hiatus and again making the GPS 1st XI. He spent a year at St Paul’s College, studying vet science, but the lure of the farm and his beloved Corriedales was too strong. He never gave the cricket away, playing for a full 50 years – from his first century, aged 10, till he retired in 1990, not out. The property still has its own cricket ground and pavilion, built by the Kookaburra Cricket Club in the 1960s. Jeff travelled the world with his cricket, joining a group called the 1959 Australian Old Collegians and playing in matches against Singapore, Pakistan, India, Berlin (with the British Army), Dusseldorf (against the British Air force) and even played a game in Paris (against the colonials) and the holy grail of cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground. 74 CWL CROOKWELL
You could write a book about the grand adventures of Jeff, the family patriarch.
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The wool boom represented good times on the land. The biggest years were the 1960s, when Jeff’s team would shear 16,000 Corriedales, including lambs, in the historic shearing shed. Jeff had the opportunity to travel again in the 1970s-1990s during his term as president of the Corriedale Association. He attended the World Conference in southern Chile (where he judged) and also visited Uruguay, Brazil and Peru. During this time, Corriedale were the second-largest purebred sheep (in numbers) in the world, with many exported to South American countries. By the time his father died in 1964, Jeff was in his 30s, married to former national hockey player Jessica Marshall and raising their own family of five children. The wool boom represented good times on the land. The biggest years were the 1960s, when Jeff’s team would shear 16,000 Corriedales, including lambs, in the historic shearing shed, built back in the 1850s. On the wall of the kitchen is a chart with every rainfall since 1890. “In seven years we had over 1000mm, 40 inches, and six out of the seven years were 1950-60. There wasn’t just a wool boom but there was rain. It may have caused difficulties with footrot and fly strikes but they were bloody good years,” Jeff says. “One day (eldest brother) Tony and I were in a taxi going to the Sydney sheep show in June (they were exhibiting their Corriedales), talking to the taxi driver, and I said ‘I suppose you think we’re millionaires’. He said, ‘as long as you are out there making money, I know I’ll always have a job.’ I have never forgotten that and it was 65 years ago.”
Fast-forward another 50 years or so and all his children are married with 12 children and eight grandkids of their own. Charles still works for the Windfarm Association in Goulburn but still finds time to manage the “Gundowringa” flock. Margaret moved out here about five years ago and still loves to paint. A studio was constructed in the grandchildren’s room where she carries on her fabulous work. Margaret says there’s never a dull moment with Jeff. “He has a wonderful memory and is interested in everything,” she adds with a smile. “The most important thing to me now is my partner and family, my health, my dog and the farm – not necessarily in that order,” Jeff says. Incredibly all of Jeff’s siblings are still alive – Tony and sisters Jennifer (still at Delegate) and Susan in Sydney (never married but mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records for scoring consecutive holes in one in the 1970s at Chatswood Golf Club, where she still plays). It’s a fascinating story of generations of Prells at “Gundowringa”. One can only imagine the stories told at family gatherings on the old homestead verandah – something this family has been doing remarkably well for the past 114 years. To think it may not have happened if it wasn’t for that affable postman who offered a stranger a hand all those years ago. CWL
The Prells have always acknowledged the benefits of a good schooling. “The girls all went to Frensham, Mittagong, where my mother and aunts had been, while my son Charles went to King’s – where, incidentally, he was the most popular lad thanks to having two older and two younger sisters,” says Jeff with a grin. Charlie must have inherited some of his father’s skills, as he scored the first century at TKS’s new oval.
Facing page from top: Jeff and Margaret are the proud custodians of “Gundowringa”; many great parties have been held in the homestead’s dining room; countless shearers, over many generations, looked forward to a hearty meal in the shearer’s quarters after a long, hard day at work. Above: The old shearing shed holds many special memories for Jeff Prell. CROOKWELL CWL 75
Blossom MAGIC
THIS GORGEOUS ROSLYN GARDEN CONTINUES TO BLOOM AND GROW UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF LIBBY AND TIM RATTEN.
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all it serendipity, chance or fate, but perhaps “Bowood” at Roslyn near Crookwell was just “meant to be” for Libby and Tim Ratten.
Tasmanian-born keen sailor Tim had resided in Esperance and Fremantle in Western Australia for more than 40 years, while country girl Libby, born and raised in the Central West, had lived near Crookwell for 21 years and Sydney for 10 years.
Dating back to the 1800s, formerly part of a larger property long known as Turners, one of the original land holdings in Roslyn, the “Ferndale” block had a long-disused circa 1850 blue stone cottage, built in two sections. Previous owners Murray and Heather Branch had begun restoration and the foundations for the garden, including establishing many of the mature European trees and especially the rare golden-leaved oak (Quercus robur ‘Concordia’).
They married in 2005, and home was on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Seeking a change of pace, Tim and Libby had viewed properties for sale in Crookwell and Bathurst when they came across an advert in The Land for a property at Roslyn, near Crookwell. They fell in love with the restored stone home, established gardens and 12-hectare (30-acre) block set among the rolling countryside, then known as “Ferndale”. Straight away their northern beaches home was on the market and in 2010 Roslyn became home.
The Rattens’ decision to rename the property “Bowood” in 2014 honours Tim’s mother’s family property in Tasmania, fond childhood memories of playing in the garden, fox and rabbit hunting and family gatherings. >
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In 1999, “Ferndale” again changed hands and, inspired by the rich red basalt soils, Ian and Ros McCausland extended the garden boundaries, creating a beautiful landscape surrounding the immaculately restored and extended Georgian home.
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Facing page: At the entrance, white clematis swathes the verandah, and a host of pretty flowers greets visitors in spring. Clockwise from top: The formal parterre courtyard garden has an elegant bluestone backdrop, features tall rose arbors and is designed to become a giant posy; the verandah garden is planted with weeping standard apricot ‘Crepuscule’ roses, and Shasta daisy, wooly lambs ear (Stachys) and misty mauve cat mint (Nepeta) smother the bed underneath; owners Libby and Tim Ratten enjoy sharing their garden.
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At “Bowood”, Tim and Libby now gratefully enjoy both the spacious home and one-hectare garden, adding their own touches, including an interesting and varied art and sculpture collection, and they love to share their beautiful relaxing space with others. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. In 2013, an unlikely disaster turned into an opportunity for Tim and Libby to rearrange the gardens beds. All of their roses, surrounding plants and shrubs were accidentally poisoned with herbicide, and rather than becoming bitter about the experience, this positive couple turned instead to rose catalogues and carefully compiled an extensive shopping list from specialist rose nurseries. Around 150 new roses were planted in 2014, and a further 16 the following year. It’s an enviable collection, including old-fashioned hybrid teas, David Austins, floribundas, miniatures, Delbard and Guillot roses from France, Alister Clark, Rugosa, shrubs, climbers, standards and weeping standard roses.
What was originally like a box of licorice allsorts has become a tapestry of harmonious colour and fragrance. Although only a few years old, the roses are well nurtured and, enjoying the rich basalt soils, have settled in beautifully. Against the blue stone backdrop, the garden alongside the verandah displays a simply gorgeous combination of delightful apricot ‘Crepuscule’ roses, raised up on weeping standards, under-planted with white Shasta daisy, soft grey lambs ear (Stachys) and misty mauve cat mint (Nepeta). At almost 1000 metres above sea level, winters are cold, and in July prior to our visit, “Bowood” like many other properties in the Crookwell area experienced heavy snow with 40cm falling overnight. This winter wonderland was magnificent to look at, but had dramatic and damaging impact on trees and shrubs. Much clearing, chopping, repairing and replacing, followed by phenomenal spring growing conditions, saw the garden recover in record time. Photos and memories are all that remain – another disaster averted.
Tim and Libby now gratefully enjoy BOTH THE SPACIOUS HOME AND ONE-HECTARE GARDEN.
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Arriving at “Bowood”, you realise this is a very special place. The large turning circle at the entrance features a dense grove of golden and claret ash trees, which create a shady retreat in summer and offer stunning autumn colour. During spring, white flowered Clematis festoons the front of the bluestone cottage and a host of pretty flowering perennials, roses and herbs jostle for space in the curved garden beds by the front door. The bluestone home and garage form a courtyard enclosed on two sides by picket fencing, and a gorgeous formal parterre garden is located in its centre. Surrounded by a blend of roses, shrubs and perennial plants in yellows, soft pinks, creamy whites with splashes of lilac, purple and white, it is hoped that this will be one giant posy when it reaches full maturity. Already it’s evident that Libby’s careful plant selection is paying off beautifully! A rose-covered arbour invites you to leave the confines of the courtyard to wander through and explore the rest of the garden. Surrounding the house, crabapple, fruiting apple espaliers and pears lean relaxed against the stone walls, and Cox’s Orange Pippin apple spreads its branches on the west side of the courtyard. Libby says “Laurel, Photinia, Buxus, Pittosporum, olive and Camellia sasanqua hedging both separate and frame areas of the garden. A group of pleached Manchurian pears form an arbour of wonderful shade in which to relax and ponder the day. The verandahs become viewing platforms, and depending on where you sit, offer varied views of the garden. A bench facing west looking into the courtyard is one of Tim’s favourite spots to relax and enjoy a late-afternoon beer after a day’s gardening, while the grapevine-covered barbecue terrace overlooks sweeping lawns and the picturesque ornamental lake, well stocked with around 1500 trout. Positioned throughout the garden there are some surprising and interesting sculptures, including Blue Swimmer, Fin Life Saver and the remarkable Ned Kelly astride a donkey, by acclaimed Western Australian artist Russell Sheridan, looking at home under a grey-trunked eucalypt.
Groves of mature trees including Birch, flowering crabapple, Oak, olives and unusual fruiting medlars, stand majestically among well-kept lawns. On the southern and western sides of the garden, there are groves of native tree and shrub plantings. The northwest and eastern sides are graced with rows of ghost gums. An orchard of mature fruit and nut trees offers up fresh and seasonal ingredients for fruit salad, pear tartan, quince paste, apple crumbles and much anticipated pomegranate gremolata. There’s a vegetable garden, however Libby has incorporated many edible herb plants including sage, golden oregano, marjoram, thyme and chives throughout the garden as ground covers and foliage highlights. Life looks idyllic at “Bowood”. Living with four distinct seasons and sharing it with wondrous bird life, Libby says the garden and home have a lovely relaxed feel, and it’s very easy to entertain family and friends. It’s clear “Bowood” is a home and garden that’s loved, nurtured and, above all, enjoyed. CWL Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Angus Waddell
Facing page, clockwise from left: Sculpture of Ned Kelly astride a donkey; the view across the ornamental lake highlighted by golden foliaged oak Quercus ‘Concordia’ and splashes of blue flowered Convolvulus; deep Pink ‘Princess Ann ’ David Austin Rose and pink Persicaria or knotweed add colour in the parterre garden; Blue Swimmer, a remarkable piece in Tim’s favourite hue. This page, clockwise from top: Combinations of shape, texture and colour create year round interest; ochre yellow Alister Clark rose ‘Lady Huntingfield’; wisteria trained as a weeping standard; espaliered fruit trees grace the stone walls; rosette shaped Sempervivum, a hardy succulent ground cover.
“Bowood” was opened for the Crookwell Garden Festival in 2015. For information about the 2016 Crookwell Garden Festival (November 5 and 6) go to www.crookwellgardenfestival.com.
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BREAKING new ground CROOKWELL-BASED GARDEN DESIGN BUSINESS GROUND DESIGNS OPENED IN 2012 AND HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK.
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wned by garden designer and horticulturist Lorna Vallely, the business prides itself on treating each garden as something special.
Lorna came to Australia with a backpack, quickly developing a love for our native flora and fauna. Some years later she found herself with her Australian husband, Paul, living at Fullerton, north of Crookwell, on a sheep property. Lorna was destined for a professional career in landscape design following a lifetime’s passion for gardening. Growing up in a country town in Ireland, she was greatly influenced by her gardening mother and two aunts. According to Lorna, garden design is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling profession, combining science and art with Mother Nature. “I adore working with each client, commencing with the client brief, then working closely together in order to develop a conceptual outline before the final design drawings,” she says.
Spend a weekend indulging in all things gardening! Crookwell will open 10 beautiful town and country gardens on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th November. Stroll around lovely gardens, be inspired, and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the Southern Tablelands.
$20 for all gardens (valid all weekend) or $5 per garden
On Saturday, a Garden Lovers Market will sell a tempting array of garden-related products such as plants and trees, garden tools, local produce, garden art, and much more.
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Ground Designs supports the clients with implementing the landscape plan. In some cases, Lorna provides planting plans for completion by garden contractors. “In the garden pictured, my design incorporated the curved stone wall and plantings to extend the existing garden. Using an organic shape and the natural colours of the local basalt rock blends the garden into the landscape.” As part of her services, Lorna can source stonemasons, plants, gardeners or landscapers to complete the plan. Lorna is quick to point out that garden design is a worthwhile investment, as any mistakes can take years to remedy. Working in the Southern Tablelands is special due to the distinct seasonal changes, allowing cold-climate plants to shine. Autumn is particularly spectacular due to the deciduous trees that abound here. High rainfall and basalt-derived soils are an added bonus. To contact Lorna, telephone (02) 4834 2132 or email lorna@grounddesigns.com.au. CWL Above: Lorna Vallely loves the opportunity to enhance gardens; before and after – the delightful stone wall works a treat.
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aving opened Top Paddock in Easter 2015, sisters Megan Skelly and Jess Boardman are settling in nicely to their retail business that features unique homewares, gifts, clothing and accessories. The girls were raised on nearby “Stillbrook”, Crookwell, with their two brothers. Parents Bill and Sally Bensley still graze cattle on land that has been held in the family for generations. Both these bubbly ladies lead very active lives. Megan does the bookwork at Burra’s Service Centre, a mechanical repairs business operated by husband Chris, while raising their three young children. Jess, on the other hand, has a full-time job as a Senior Finance Officer at Rabobank in Orange, and also runs the books for husband Steven, an electrical contractor to the mines.
69 Goulburn Street Crookwell, NSW (02) 4832 2319
For most people, that would be enough, but the sisters, who get on fabulously well, felt there was room for more. “We were sitting around at Christmas pondering with the family about what new business venture we could start up that would benefit our small country town,” Megan says. “We had this idea in our minds for years. With family support it was decided to turn our dream into reality and that’s exactly what happened.” Megan had some prior retail experience, having run her parents’ service station on and off for about 15 years. Jess also learnt the ropes of small business there. It’s a real family affair, with not only the girls running the store, but also their mother Sally and some close friends dropping in to lend a hand.
“We offer unique, country-style gifts, accessories and homewares with friendly country service,” Megan says. “You only have to ask for a certain item and if we don’t have it, we will try and meet your needs.” Outside of their work life, Megan and Jess enjoy waterskiing and touch football, as well as tending to the kids’ football, hockey and soccer practice and matches. Jess and Steven are looking forward to the birth of their first child some time in June. Next time you are in Crookwell, make sure you visit Top Paddock to browse through a unique speciality shop run by two fun-loving country girls. CWL Joint owners Jess Boardman and Megan Skelly are thrilled to be running their new business in Crookwell.
Unique country style gifts, homewares, accessories & clothing
STOCKIST FOR Clothing: Betty Basics, Elm, Fate, LTB Jeans, Sass, Wish. Billie Shoes. Handbags & Wallets: Black Caviar, Journie, Pratten, Status Anxiety, 00Z00 watches.
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Cottage craftmanship TUCKED AWAY IN A QUIET LITTLE STREET IN CROOKWELL LIES A FASCINATING PIECE OF HISTORY. PINN COTTAGE, BUILT 141 YEARS AGO, IS NOW ONE OF THE TOWN’S DELIGHTFUL ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS.
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hile Prospect Street, a few blocks from the CBD, boasts only a handful of dwellings, the Pinn Cottage stands out for its longevity, stunning gardens and simple, warm design.
Englishmen Phillip and Paul Pinn built Pinn Cottage of bluestone back in 1875. The brothers were responsible for building many of the fine churches in Goulburn that still stand today. For many years the building was slowly falling into a state of disrepair until Mark and Terry Chamberlain realised its potential about 13 years ago. The couple had moved from Sydney to the area in the early 1980s before stumbling on a big block on the Kiama Creek, which was formerly a horse yard. They fell in love with the place and built a big old homestead in which they raised their five children. “We weren’t big on television and the kids spent their days building bridges and cubby houses and enjoying the outdoors,” says Terry, a warm and insightful young grandmother and artist. The cottage was on the tip of their block and when they acquired it, was initially used by family members and friends but now is a place where anybody can visit. There was a lot of repair work, however, to be undertaken before people could stay, particularly on the verandahs and internal structures, as well as new plumbing and wiring. Among the features of the cottage are the magnificent stained glass windows in the bathroom, which came from a prominent Sydney building that was being demolished. Terry found them at the back of a shed in Crookwell and knew she would one day be able to put them to good use.
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“The interesting thing about them is that they were Lyon & Cottier leadlights, generally only found in wealthy homes or government buildings and churches,” Terry says. “I felt that Phillip Pinn would have been thrilled to see these leadlights in his modest little cottage.” Terry has always felt the cottage has a life of its own. “When we did the extensions I was able to track down some lovely timber French doors that were actually built locally around the same time as the cottage.” About eight years ago the Chamberlains opened their doors with a fully self-contained studio (for either a single or couple) and two-bedroom apartment – both available for short- or long-term stays. Since then have met many fine and interesting guests from all walks of life.
Pinn Cottage Bed and Breakfast is a beautifully restored 19th century bluestone cottage in the township of Crookwell.
You will find many of Terry’s fabulous drawings scattered throughout various rooms. They add to the serenity of the place, which is remarkably quiet, except for the tranquil bird calls that emanate from throughout the leafy gardens surrounding the cottage. Terry has lovingly expanded the gardens over the years. “It’s very satisfying working in the garden and it’s really not that much different from sharing my artworks. People come and feel inspired and relaxed, which is what art for me is all about,” she says. “We really need to connect with our gardens because it helps us bond with each other and helps gives us balance in our busy lives.” Now that Terry and Mark spend most of their time in Goulburn, the homestead can accommodate larger family groups. With the capacity to sleep 10, as well as a further six in the cottage, there is certainly room for everybody during weddings, funerals, birthdays and special occasions. “I thoroughly enjoy coming up here to attend to both the gardens, the rooms and my guests. This place holds only great memories for me.” CWL Above: Terry Chamberlain with one of her beautiful drawings from the cosy Pinn Cottage in Crookwell.
A perfect country retreat or romantic getaway. Enjoy your own private gardens. The accommodation is located within walking distance to Crookwell town centre, shops, golf, squash and tennis courts. Contact Terry to make a reservation: 0421 457 135 / info@pinncottage.com.au www.pinncottage.com.au CROOKWELL CWL 83
Man on the land WHILE HE’D BE THE LAST TO ADMIT IT, CROOKWELL QUIET ACHIEVER ERIC HURN IS SOMEWHAT OF A LEGEND AMONG THE LOCAL FARMING FRATERNITY. ONLY A YEAR FROM THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 90, ERIC HAS SEEN IT ALL AND THEN SOME.
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rom the most humble of beginnings, Eric Hurn turned his hand to breeding some of the best prime lambs in the district as well as growing tens of thousands of tonnes of potatoes. But it’s been his commitment to Landcare management practices over nearly half a century that really put this unassuming, diminutive and seemingly ageless farmer in the spotlight.
age of 60, through frugal living and astute management practices, he had accumulated about 400ha and acquired a solid reputation as one of the best prime lamb producers in the district.
When CWL turned up for a chat, Eric was enjoying the rain from his neat home in Crookwell, where he retired to only about five years ago after a lifetime in the bush. It doesn’t take long for this former battler to open up about his early days in the Depression years.
In the meantime Eric developed a healthy respect for land conservation, planting about 50,000 trees by hand on various properties.
His father, Bertie, served for King and Country in Belgium and France during WW1 as an ammunition carrier. At one stage a donkey, the preferred choice of beast in trench warfare, was blown apart by a shell fragment. Bertie was lucky to survive the blast but seldom, if ever, talked about those dark, perilous days. When Bertie finally made it home to Victoria, he embarked on an arduous two-year journey on a horse-drawn wagonette, working his way into NSW and meeting his young wife, Jean, at Henty along the way. “The reason they stopped at Crookwell was thanks to my birth,” Eric chuckles. It was during the middle of a snowstorm and Eric, who was to spend the rest of his life in the district, says he can never thank Mother Nature enough for forcing his parents to pull up stumps here. Over the years he has witnessed many snowfalls but he suggests the winter of 2015 was like nothing else. “Our snowfall this past season was probably the heaviest I’ve seen in 30 years,” he says. “I’m secretly glad I wasn’t breeding lambs at the time but of course there are benefits to the moisture and it’s said that the snow also supplies nitrogen.” Eric grew up with four siblings on a leased farm in Limerick, near Crookwell. “We were raised in fairly difficult circumstances due to the Depression. The house was very basic, several rooms had dirt floors, there was no electricity, phone, refrigeration or even transport,” he says, as though it were yesterday. “We were dependant on others to catch a ride 22 miles into town. We only visited a few times each year to buy essential supplies, mainly clothes. Us young fellows, my brother and I, would trap rabbits for eating and we’d grow our own vegetables. We knew nothing else and enjoyed life to the full.” There was a bush school about three or four kilometres away and the children walked there every day, acquiring a rudimentary education. In those days it was essential to pull your weight from an early age, and Eric couldn’t wait to plant his first patch of potatoes at Laggan when only 14 years of age. “You’d carry a potato bag around your neck and we’d plant them by hand with a horse coming behind you, dragging a plough to turn the soil,” he says. “It would take a week to sow 10 to 15 acres. These days, you can plant two or three rows at a time and thanks to modern tractors, can achieve this same feat in several hours.” As soon as that job was over he was lucky enough to secure work as a rouseabout during shearing on “Carrabungla”, a station property between Laggan and Roslyn, owned by Angus McIntosh. “The boss seemed to like my ability to work and I was eventually offered a job as a station hand,” he says. While many farmers in the district had realised the potential of potatoes in the high-rainfall Tablelands, Eric’s boss was mainly into wool production. In the early 1950s, however, he allowed the ambitious and hard-working Eric to develop a small five-acre block, utilising his machinery. This was about the normal size for many farmers at the time. The first crop proved a major success and for Eric it was the start of a 50-year association with the humble spud. Eric put in 20 long years on the station and by the time he ventured out on his own was considered part of the family. While he ploughed virtually all his energy into work, there was still time, at least in his younger years, to enjoy hockey, cricket, fishing and shooting. By the time he retired, Eric, with the help of four permanent staff (and triple that during harvest and packing time), was growing 180 acres of potatoes annually and selling 1200 tonnes of government certified seed to growers in South Australia. Although he was renowned for his potatoes, his real passion was breeding prime crossbred lambs. Over the years he bought and sold a number of properties, always selecting richer agricultural land. By the
“In those days we called them fat lambs and I remember when they were making $20 a head, which was pretty good,” he recalls. Those same lambs today are clearing anything from $150 to $200.
“It became obvious because of the cold climate, shelter belts were necessary. By providing these, lambing percentages would lift by about 15 per cent and pastures were greatly improved – a win-win situation.” Eric believes something that’s often overlooked is the increased value of the property through the work of shelter belts and their benefits to the landowner. “When the time came, I was able to sell land normally valued at about $2500 per acre for $3000 an acre,” he says. Now regarded as the grandfather of land conservation, Eric has taken out a multitude of Landcare awards, including the 2013 NSW Individual Landcarer Award for his commitment and dedication to rejuvenating areas in the Southern Tablelands. He was co-founder of the Roslyn Landcare Group and founding member of the Upper Lachlan Catchment Co-ordinating Committee.
“Considering my very humble start to life, I was just happy to grasp opportunities when they rose.” “Well, I want to go back to the very beginning,” he explains. “When I was a young bloke I witnessed biodiversity at near its best. I’m talking about animal and bird life, pristine waters and the aquatic life associated with it. “It’s all changed because of the excessive removal of timber and wildlife habitat. So now we are determined to plant more trees as suitable habitat to encourage the return of many wildlife species. There are at least 23 different species of birdlife that disappeared with the removal of bushland over the past 70 odd years.” Foxes and feral cats have also played their part in drastically lowering birdlife in the area. “We as a Landcare group have thankfully witnessed great progress in this department. Platypuses have been sighted, the birds are coming back and the country is not only looking better but has increased its value.” Age does not seem to have caught up with Eric, who has a motor home and is planning his next trip. Although he has never ventured overseas, Eric has managed to see a good slice of Australia. “I am hoping to get to the Darling River near Louth and take in some fishing,” he says with a grin. “My normal driver and good friend unfortunately passed away at the age of 61 and I will probably undertake this journey on my own.” When he reflects upon his 75 years of farming, Eric is always thankful for the staff who embodied his own philosophy of working hard and doing things properly. “We weren’t afraid of hard work and didn’t follow regular working hours, especially in the early days,” he recalls. “I just loved country life. It suited me just fine and hard work and long hours were never a great concern. I just took it for granted. Considering my very humble start to life, I was just happy to grasp opportunities when they rose.” Eric is equally optimistic about his home town of Crookwell. “I think it’s probably the best town in the state, if not the entire country. It’s hard to explain but that’s why I spent 20 years in local government. Crookwellians are a friendly bunch, always ready to help their neighbours out in times of need.” Any regrets? “If I had my time again, I might have taken time out to get married. I was too busy putting the package together to spend time chasing skirt! But apart from that, life has been great and I thank the Good Lord for my health and guidance.” CWL CROOKWELL CWL 85
STEP BACK IN TIME THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOE BUSINESS – JUST ASK BERT AND JO AGOSTINI, THE PROUD OWNERS OF CROOKWELL FOOTWEAR.
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s you enter the doors of their charming old shop in the main street, you will be greeted with the comforting aroma of leather and the sound of friendly chatter. Their celebrity dog, Roxy, often sits in the shop window and regularly poses for photographs. The place has been a shoe shop for more than 70 years and this fact is not lost on the owners. “Many older people come back to this store to revisit their childhood memories. They walk in and always comment on the unique smell of leather in the shop,” says Jo, who fell into the business by accident. “We were initially looking at buying a service station but it got sold before we could make an offer. Then we were told there was a shoe shop for sale,” she laughs. “Bert looked at me and said ‘Why would I want a shoe shop?’. We later had an inspection and we immediately decided to take the plunge into retail for the first time.” That was 12 years ago and they have never looked back. Thanks to the excellent support they receive from valued staff members Ailsa Roberts and Tracy O’Brien, the shop is going from strength to strength.
WE LOVE THE SEASONS OF CROOKWELL BUT MOST OF ALL WE LOVE THE STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT. The Agostinis have ensured that the menfolk of Crookwell are well catered for, with not only shoes but shirts, jackets, vests, jumpers, work wear and Akubra hats – in fact just about anything a man could want. “We can supply an entire casual outfit for the men but don’t expect to be suited up,” Jo says. Prior to the shoe shop, Bert spent 30 years as an electrical project supervisor, working anywhere from the Pilbara to central Queensland. He retired five years ago but still loves coming into the shop for the interaction with the locals. As a young man he spent a decade living in northeast Arnhem Land, as an electrical supervisor in Gove. “They were some of the best years of my life and I really enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle. We never had to lock our houses or cars. There was no way out of the place except by plane,” he says. Jo was a trained nurse and then in her 30s started at TAFE managing government commercial programs.
After living in Wollongong and Robertson, they bought the shop and built their dream home just out of town. They love gardening and have a four-acre patch to maintain. It is a tree lover’s delight. A large garden room bordered with blackwoods provides a microclimate for a wide selection of conifers, rhododendrons, maples and redwoods. Other features include a circular bed edged by boxwood hedge and filled with flowering annuals, perennials and roses. “We love the seasons of Crookwell but most of all we love the strong community spirit,” Bert says. “It sounds cliché but the people here really do look out for each other, in a quiet fashion.” The Agostinis are looking forward to spending many more great years in Crookwell, selling shoes and clothes, spoiling their 14 grandchildren and expanding their much-loved garden. CWL Above: They’re one happy team at Crookwell Footwear. Tracy O’Brien and Ailsa Roberts with Bert Agostini, Roxy the wonderdog and wife Jo.
Country store, Country values, Country service…. That’s what Crookwell Footwear is all about
We stock iconic brands, coats for men and women, special items such as wallets, braces, handbags and much more! Crookwell Footwear at 97 Goulburn Street Crookwell | Ph/Fax (02) 4832 1636 | It’s ‘The sole of the town’
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ONE-STOP shop
he beautiful old building at 77 Goulburn Street, Crookwell, has been a lot of things to a lot of people. Today it houses goods from a collection of local businesses, all conveniently located under the one roof. You never know what you will find there! The original building was constructed in 1902. A fire in 1915 destroyed one wall, and then a 1938 inferno burnt it to the ground. It was rebuilt for £3000. It was part-owned by Archie McIntosh from the 1940s and has been passed down through three generations to current custodians Christine Seaman and her sister Geraldine and brother-in-law David Johnson. 88 CWL CROOKWELL
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The building was home to Denning’s Furniture, then Pitt, Son and Badgery (taken over by Farmers & Graziers). During that time there were many little offices that housed an insurance agent, a barber and even a photographer. It was always a bit of an arcade. From 1984 the building was leased to the Lynam family who ran Lynam’s Cafe for 29 years. After their retirement the family tried selling the building, thinking it might make a great restaurant, wine bar or reception centre. No one saw the potential so the family took on the task of renovating it. They were halfway through the facelift when an opportunity arose for David to purchase a consignment of antiques and collectables. Weekend trading commenced. A grand concept was born.
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“We couldn’t lease it to one business, so we took it over and decided to rent floor space to a number of small, mostly local enterprises,” David says. “In a small town, it is difficult for smaller operators to justify their rent, electricity, insurance and staff and make a go of it.” The three family members are now running the shop, supporting the following businesses: 2 Fat Ladies; Country Treasure; Natural Indulgence; Marion’s Hand Spun; El Patcho; Irish Vintage Plus; Bush Beautique; Your Home Matters; Sally Milner Publishing; Alpaca Products Australia; and David’s Antiques and Collectables – all under the roof of Arcadia Crookwell. There are also some fine works by award-winning local artist Humphrey Price-Jones. These days Arcadia is going from strength to strength with regular events and charity fundraisers held throughout the year, including fashion parades, author visits with book signings and antique appraisal days.
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ARCADIA CROOKWELL Our unique business brings to you multiple shops all contained in a beautifully restored building in the centre of Crookwell
The trio are enjoying running the business together with their broad range of working backgrounds. Christine has come on board after 38 years of teaching in Kandos, Cowra, Wagga and finally Crookwell. David still works as a contract plumber in Goulburn while Geraldine is a fitness and yoga instructor for Beyond Body Yoga in Crookwell. “Crookwell is changing and more visitors are coming here for the day from Canberra, Goulburn, the Central West and the Southern Highlands,” David says. “This has meant we now open on weekends and close Tuesday and Wednesday.” Arcadia Crookwell has provided a great opportunity for small businesses and local craftspeople to showcase their wares in a wonderful old building. It’s a win-win for everybody. CWL Images: Chris O’Brien
1. Marian’s Home Spun. 2. Natural Indulgence. 3. Country Treasure. 4. Arcadia. 5. Christine Seaman, David and Geraldine Johnson are the friendly team at Arcadia. 6. Your Home Matters. 7. 2 Fat Ladies. 8. Kimbla Quilts, Violet and Lil-Mantiques. 9. Sally Milner Publishing. 10. El Patcho. 11. Bush Boutique. 12. Irish Vintage Plus. 13. Alpaca Products Australia.
Antiques & collectables, ladies clothing and jewellery, alpaca products, hand dyed wools, patchwork items, handmade candles and soaps, organic teas, giftware & homeware, vintage wear & jewellery.
OPEN 10AM - 4PM Thu to Mon • 77 Goulburn St Crookwell 2538 0407 254 954 • arcadia.crookwell@yahoo.com.au CROOKWELL CWL 89
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THE WRITE STUFF WITHIN THE LAND NEWSPAPER’S HIERARCHY, PETER AUSTIN MUST SURELY TAKE THE GONG FOR MOST PERSISTENT PERFORMER IN A STELLAR CAREER THAT HAS SEEN HIM NOTCH UP NEARLY 40 YEARS WITH RURAL PRESS, NOW FAIRFAX MEDIA.
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eter is, in literary terms, a living, if not bemused legend, very well known around bush circles for his ability to tell it how he sees it. I meet him again, 30 years since he was my boss, in his neatly maintained home in the Blue Mountains.
I tell him about our Crookwell feature and that we’re looking for a few good stories on people who had an “association” with the town. I’ve always known his fondness for Crookwell, a town that kick-started his career and which he still thinks of as “home”. “Although it’s nearly 40 years since I lived there, Crookwell is still the place where I know more people than I know anywhere else,” he muses. Peter grew up in the Sydney suburb of Cremorne, where his mother, a uni graduate, was hoping he’d follow her example and enter the halls of academe, but all Peter wanted to do when he left school was “go bush”. He wasn’t going to stick around for another four or five years to get a degree after his name. “My mother said ‘You’ll be sorry one day that you didn’t’ and she was right – except that I wouldn’t have had any idea then of what uni course to pursue. If I had my time over again, I’d have studied economics, which I now realise is the best academic guide to how the world works.” Country career options then for non-graduate school leavers were basically to go jackarooing or to join a wool firm. Peter chose the latter option and joined Winchcombe Carson Ltd, starting in the mail department at its head office in Bridge Street (where the AMP tower now stands). After a year he was posted to Brewarrina, the most remote outpost of the company’s branches. After 12 months under a tough boss, learning the basics of merchandise sales, bookkeeping and being nice to occasionally disgruntled clients, he was transferred to Crookwell – from the hottest branch in NSW to the coldest. As part of a three-man office at Crookwell, Peter was responsible for merchandise and running the office, and was finding his feet, in more ways than one. It was in Crookwell that Peter met a schoolteacher named Anne on her first country posting. They married at age of 21 and had two boys, Hamish, now a schoolteacher in Japan, and Edward, who lives in Melbourne where he works with a parenting advisory agency. Both have their own children.
During his 13 years in Crookwell (the longest period he has lived anywhere, as an adult), Peter worked his way up from merchandise sales and bookkeeping to livestock work and, in due course, to the position of branch manager. At weekends, if he wasn’t working, the family would often join another couple at their favourite picnic spots on the Abercrombie River or in the hills around Peelwood. At one point he owned a sailing skiff, which he’d take to Wyangala Dam. “One night each week I would join others at the Crookwell Barbell Club, in the old stone mill building behind the Commercial Hotel, to heave weights around – not that it had any impact on my scrawny physique, but it may have helped me manhandle the heavy woolpacks and iron posts that were part of our merchandise stock in trade.” Peter admits Crookwell has changed significantly to what it was in the 1960s when he first arrived. “Many properties are now owned by absentee owners, and the town has been experiencing something of a residential boom as ageing city folk relocate to Crookwell for its excellent medical and aged care facilities,” he says. “It has been brought into the Sydney orbit (something like Bowral was 50 years ago) by progressive upgrades of the Hume Highway, which mean that instead of being a five-hour drive from Sydney as it used to be when I was there (when most of the Goulburn road was still unsealed), it is now less than two hours’ drive.” We delve into the past and are back in 1978, when Peter decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of his working life in agency work, or tied to one spot. He had always enjoyed writing, and thought that if he had a particular strength, that was probably it. “I’d been writing a newsletter for clients for some time, and writing letters to newspapers with some success, so that when I saw an ad in The Land seeking someone to be their regional reporter based in Tamworth, I decided it was time to test the waters, so applied for the job.”
A NEW CAREER In those days one didn’t need a university degree to land a job as a rural journalist, just a knowledge of the subject and a demonstrated ability to be able to string a few words together. The family moved to Tamworth and for the next two years Peter worked as the paper’s northern representative, covering a territory from the Queensland border to the Hunter Valley. “I rapidly learned about a whole new side of farming compared to the fairly limited field I had been exposed to at Crookwell. Here was serious wheat-growing, irrigation, cotton, cattle feedlots, huge tractors and a host of issues quite new to me but intensely interesting and demanding my attention,” he says. The work was demanding, especially as it involved covering country shows at weekends, meaning he saw little of his family. He must surely have been one of the last to write all his stories in longhand before typing them, two pars at a time, on copy paper (half an A4) before bundling it all up, along with his captions, and race off to the airport to get them on the East West plane heading to Sydney. “You had to be spot-on with your on-the-spot photo captioning because in the days of film cameras you didn’t have the luxury of looking over your pictures later like you do now on digital cameras.” In the end, Peter grew weary of the amount of advertising support writing (known in the trade as “plugs”) that he was required to do, taking up time he’d rather have devoted to more serious reporting. “I made noises to the effect that I would appreciate a move to the company’s Sydney head office, so I could free myself of a lot of the rouseabout work I was doing.” > CROOKWELL CWL 91
He was promptly appointed agriculture editor, enabling him to travel widely across the state to cover major stories, and later deputy editor, and eventually editor, in which position he served for two stints of four years each. During this time The Land relocated from inner Sydney to Windsor, and later North Richmond. It’s probably the ambition of every reporter to one day become editor of his or her newspaper or journal, and Peter certainly felt honoured to hold the position, and was proud of the papers that came out during his editorship. But it was stressful, full on, and demanded long hours. “We lived during these years at various addresses in Sydney, around Ryde and Epping, but as my work demands increased I started spending my week days in a shared house at Richmond, rejoining the family only at weekends”, Peter says. “It wasn’t an ideal situation.” Once released from the responsibilities of editorship, Peter was able to return to full-time writing, which he found much more satisfying. In 2003 he began what would become an enduring association with the property section of the paper, editing the content and writing stories about properties coming up for sale. “I have always been interested in the history of properties and their owners, and now I had the perfect opportunity to write about them and be paid for the privilege,” he says. “I guess I get my kicks going to a property that’s got a bit of history, especially if it’s a place that I’ve always heard about but never got to. When the owners are selling they generally let their guard down and will share their history with you.” Peter retired from The Land in 2007 but continues to write. Apart from contributing to the paper’s well-read property section, he still writes his “Peppercorn” column, started in 1990 and still going strong 1000 editions later. In 2003, keen to make a final break with city life, Peter decided to settle in Mt Victoria in the upper Blue Mountains – another cold-climate location like Crookwell and a useful base for the bushwalking that is now his main leisure activity. It is out here on his front porch, in the cool of an evening, that he ponders about the old days – of headlines, deadlines and changing rural landscapes. While he enjoyed the camaraderie of the newspaper scene, and the serious partying that took place when city and country staff periodically got together, Peter looks back on his years in Crookwell as probably his happiest, from a lifestyle point of view. “I often revisit Crookwell, which is now a comfortable 2.5 hours’ drive from Mt Victoria along the all-sealed road via Oberon to Taralga across the Abercrombie River,” he says. “I have good friends in the town and whenever I walk down the main street, I usually bump into someone who knows me from the past.” In 2013 he published his first book, A Country Calling, which mostly dealt with recollections of his Crookwell years. The local Davies newsagency arranged a book signing session for him one Saturday morning and Peter caught up with many former clients and friends. Although the book didn’t exactly make the best-seller list (and obviously wasn’t expected to), it sold well among readers of The Land, who were always its intended audience, and inspired the author sufficiently to follow it up with another memoir, Of Flutes and Foghorns, published last year, about growing up in Neutral Bay in the 1950s. A few days before the launch of this latest book, which is available at some Lower North Shore bookshops or through The Land, the legendary Bob Rogers, who shared a number of his recollections from that period, interviewed him on radio 2CH. But we’re talking about Crookwell and the many changes he has witnessed in the town over the past 40 odd years. 92 CWL CROOKWELL
“I am happy to have had the opportunities that rural journalism has given me, to see so many things, travel, and meet a lot of special people.”
“Among the other changes, the town had five banks when I lived there; today there’s just one, plus an agency. There were six stock and station agents then, including five wool firm branches. Now there are just two wool firm branches, plus two private agents. “There were four licensed hotels, each with its own regular clientele; now there’s just one (although another is about to reopen), which says something about the antisocial impact – in country areas, at least – of random breath testing and changing lifestyles. “It amazes me now to see the residential development taking place behind the cemetery, and along the Kialla Road where in my time it was all grazing paddocks, in one of which was located the slaughter house where the local butcher, Gordon Hills, did his weekly kill! “The site of the former sheep saleyards at the junction of Saleyards Road and Laggan Road, where we once conducted our annual January store sheep sales, is occupied now by the Viewhaven Lodge aged care facility,” he continues. “It’s indicative of the changed economic and social focus of a town that was once pastoral to its roots.” Alongside the lodge is the site of the former cattle saleyards – demolished about a decade ago and where he once used to nearly freeze to death on winter mornings at the regular fortnightly combined agents’ cattle sales. As well as providing a handy local outlet for the district’s fat cattle, the sales were an important meeting place for country folk, and an excuse for some beneficial socialising afterwards at the town’s various watering holes. “Sadly, that institution has gone forever, and with it the social contact so important to the sanity and self-assurance of farmers living a life that was – and is – often hard, solitary and stressful,” he says. These same words could just as easily be applied to this humble wordsmith. “Professionally, I’ve enjoyed my work, but it’s probably come at a cost to my personal life. I am happy, though, to have had the opportunities that rural journalism has given me, to see so many things, travel, and meet a lot of special people – opportunities I would not have had in my previous career.” Like many long-time newspaper “junkies”, Peter doesn’t see a bright future for print media. “I think newspapers are on the way out with the ageing of the population. There are people who grew up with papers, but when they’re gone, papers will go. Magazines are different. People who don’t read books read magazines for pleasure but with papers there are new ways to absorb news.” Soon to hit his 70s, Peter Austin is an inspiration to all. He still looks forward to reading The Land, the so-called “Bible” of the bush, and admits there are still plenty of things that people need to know that they can’t get elsewhere. CWL
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A family TRADITION MOST TRAVELLERS ARE MIGHTY GLAD TO SEE PARSONS GENERAL STORE IN THE HISTORIC MINING VILLAGE OF TUENA.
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estled in a picturesque valley between Goulburn and Bathurst, Tuena is an ideal destination for those preferring the simple, quiet life.
Although the population today has been whittled down to about 20 die-hard locals, in its heyday Tuena was a bustling town following the discovery of gold in 1851. A year later a post office was established along with various stores, hotels, churches, a bank and a school. In 1886 Gilbert Tom Parsons opened the Parsons General Store and, quite remarkably, it’s still in the hands of the Parsons family. Gilbert’s son, Arthur, manned the place for decades before handing the baton onto his son, also named Arthur. Since 1993 the shop has been capably managed by Jenelle Parsons (married to Arthur’s son Bryce) and her sister-in-law Lynda Carney (nee Parsons). The current shop was built in 1950, on the site of the Post Office Hotel, which would have, in its day, served a lot of thirsty miners in the area.
The store is like stepping into yesteryear, with plenty of old enamel signs, original cedar counters and shelves and a small museum of relics from the gold rush days, along with essential foods and alcohol (the last pub closed down four years ago). For the past century the store has also served as the post office, with the mail van arriving from Crookwell three days a week. Business is also kept alive by the many campers who visit the area as well as passers-by. “You need patience, top organisational skills and a good sense of humour to be in this business,” Jenelle laughs. After 23 years in the job, she knows all the locals and says there’s always something to do. “I never get bored but sometimes I worry about who will keep the great history of the Parsons Store alive.” Jenelle and Bryce have three children: a son, who is into earthmoving, and two daughters, one who manages a lab at the Red Cross Blood Service, while the other is a medical information officer in Melbourne.
Lynda has two sons in Sydney and Melbourne, and there is a big question mark as to who, if anyone, will be ready to carry on a proud family tradition spanning 130 years. CWL Above: Jenelle Parsons stands behind the beautiful red cedar counters of the historic Parsons General Store in Tuena; Jenelle has been the Post Master for the past 23 years. CROOKWELL CWL 93
DYNAMIC DUO
CROOKWELL HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL SPORTING GREATS OVER THE YEARS, BUT PUTTING THE TOWN ON THE MAP RIGHT NOW ARE TWO TALENTED YOUNG WOMEN EXCELLING IN THEIR CHOSEN SPORT OF HOCKEY.
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ellie White, 25, and her friend Emily Smith, 24, both grew up with hockey in Crookwell and are now with the national team in Perth.
“Hockey is thick in my family, starting with my grandparents and all their siblings,” Kellie says. “It was the sport to play in winter in Crookwell. Everyone and anyone played it. “At first I just loved playing with my cousins and friends but as I got older I really discovered a passion and competitive nature every time I crossed the white line and heard the whistle blow.” Kellie was fortunate that her parents, Des and Julie, always made time to take their children (including brother Joshua who also loves the game) to training and matches all over the countryside. She debuted for the Hockeyroos in 2011 in Argentina. It was an immensely proud moment, knowing her parents and brother were cheering from the sidelines during her first representative match. “I have been lucky enough to attend a Champions Trophy, World League final, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and am currently involved with the 2016 Rio Olympic squad,” she says. “The highlights of my career were the 2014 World Cup, where we won silver, and Commonwealth Games 2014, when we finally struck gold.” 94 CWL CROOKWELL
In her spare time Kellie loves being with her fiancé Josh Miller and her dog Lucy. Away from her gruelling training regime, she enjoys cycling on weekends, shopping, having a coffee with friends and relaxing at home. “I love my life now, training six days a week with the Hockeyroos, living in Perth with Josh and my dog, and travelling the world with an amazing bunch of extremely driven and passionate people who inspire each other every day,” she says. Nevertheless, it’s always good to come back to her home town. “I love the joy I get when I see the ‘Welcome to Crookwell’ sign, or the little grass hockey fields on the right-hand side, or seeing my family every day and having a homely greeting from every local down the main street.” Kellie’s teammate, Emily Smith, was likewise born to play hockey. Her father, Ashley Smith, and an uncle played hockey for NSW and were always good for a chinwag. Her siblings Hannah, Jessica and Bradley have all represented the state in hockey while Grace is the soccer player in the family. Emily started playing hockey at Todkill Park at the age of five, following in the footsteps of most family members. “Hockey was a very popular sport in Crookwell. I would often play three games on a Saturday and was always keen to fill in for other teams if they were short on numbers,” says Emily, who thanks her country upbringing for her healthy outlook on life.
“Playing in a small country town was the key to my success. From a young age you had to play people a lot older than you and had to play against boys.” Her first experience of women’s hockey was with a team called “The Crookwell Golf Club”. Her mother, Venetta, played in that team and it provided an ideal opportunity to learn from the more experienced players. Emily broke into her first NSW team when she was only 13, and worked her way up the age ranks until she made the open NSW team, the NSW Arrows, of which she is still a committed member. Like Kellie, she played her first game for the Australian Hockeyroos in 2011 and has since played 142 games. The team’s striker has also scored a hard-hitting 58 goals. She has travelled the world playing hockey but some of her key highlights are the 2012 London Olympics (finishing fifth); the 2014 Hockey World Cup in Holland (for a second) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games (gold). “The Crookwell community has always shown incredible support and helped me reach my goals by fundraising and organising events, such as the parade down the main street after winning at the Commonwealth Games,” Emily says. She lives in Perth with partner Dominic, and trains full-time with the Hockeyroos. In her spare time she enjoys relaxing at the beach and camping. “I owe a lot to Crookwell and its residents for my stress-free, relaxed and enjoyable upbringing,” Emily says. “Crookwell will always be home to me.” These two determined country girls from Crookwell will soon be flying the Australian flag in Rio and you can bet, among a worldwide audience, there will be plenty of fervent Crookwell locals spurring them on. CWL Left to right: Emily takes control on the field; Kellie celebrates a goal with teammates; Kellie sets her sights on a goal. Images: Daniel Carson, DC Images
CROOKWELL
CHIP OFF THE
old block
THE OLD GREEK TRADITION OF RUNNING CAFES IS ALIVE AND WELL IN CROOKWELL THANKS TO THE INITIAL EFFORTS OF PAUL AND GEORGINNA CASSIMATIS, WHO ESTABLISHED PAUL’S CAFE 40 YEARS AGO IN THE MAIN STREET.
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aul arrived in Australia as a young boy and went straight to work in Armidale with his uncles, the Tzannes brothers, who ran the Nectar Cafe for nearly six decades.
In 1976 the pair came to Crookwell to establish their own business, living behind the cafe and raising their daughters Anna and Helen.
“This cafe was my father’s pride and joy,” the gregarious Anna says. “This place means everything to him. We are so proud to keep our Greek culture alive in a small country town and love providing the best fish and chips, hamburgers and pizzas in town.” The family take enormous pride in Paul’s Cafe, which is well known for its cleanliness, huge array of tucker and friendly staff.
Twenty years later the industrious pair moved to nearby Goulburn where they continue to run the Goulburn Fresh Food Spot Cafe. Anna, now a capable young woman, was left to man the fort, after her sister took up residence in Canberra.
“I have been here nearly 40 years and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” Anna says. “It’s a good business and Fonda’s English is improving by the day!” CWL
During a holiday to Crete 24 years ago, she met a kind-hearted man called Fonda Keramianakis, who soon became her husband. Despite speaking no English, Anna knew she had met her match. The power of love enticed him to leave his homeland and emigrate to Australia to become the backbone of the fish and chip shop.
Above: Fonda and Anna Keramianakis, with their daughter Mariah (standing). Below left: Anna’s parents, Paul and Georginna Cassimatis.
“We are probably the only Greeks left in town,” laments Anna, who has been involved with the shop since she was seven years old. “In those early days all Fonda could say was ‘Can I have a glass of water please?’ “ Now Anna and Fonda live in a new home, run a thriving business with five permanent staff, and have two wonderful children to their credit. Tassi, 23, is studying economics and law at ANU in Canberra while Mariah, 20, is doing her gap year at the cafe. She loves to sing and play the piano and aims to study psychology and music teaching next year. The big renovation took place in 2009, meaning that Anna would finally lose her old bedroom out the back. During the building process, Fonda was surprised to find literally thousands of old horse shoes buried under the foundations, making them believe that perhaps the shop once belonged to a blacksmith.
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PIZZAS, FISH & CHIPS FRESH SANDWICHES SIT DOWN MEALS CAKE AND COFFEE AND THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN!
(02) 4832 1745 102 GOULBURN ST, CROOKWELL CROOKWELL CWL 95
A SHOW OF
strength
THE CWA TRADITION PROUDLY CONTINUES IN CROOKWELL, THE PLACE OF ITS INCEPTION.
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he first branch of the largest women’s group in Australia, the Country Women’s Association (CWA), was established in Crookwell in 1922.
Branch founder Florence Laver said in a stirring letter to the editor of the Crookwell Gazette: “I feel it would be a splendid thing if the country women and women of Crookwell and district be among the first to join our new Country Women’s Association. “By doing this we will have an opportunity of proclaiming the Crookwell district not only as a rich agricultural one and the ‘home of potatoes’ but as a progressive place where our women are among the first to join an association of country women anxious to show their real interest in all that pertains to country life.”
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It is difficult to comprehend nowadays that women in the country suffered tremendous hardships, as did their children and families. They were denied health services, education, communication and transport that was accepted and expected in the cities. Florence embraced the challenge to improve conditions and women arriving in horse-drawn sulkies or on foot, some travelling many miles, attended the first Crookwell CWA meeting. The mood in town was generally sceptical. Husbands were not always supportive of their wives being involved in a “feminist group” and the women had to use their resolve and ingenuity to attend meetings. The determination, dedication and energy from the members of those early years gradually changed the attitude of local citizens. The Shire Council was persuaded to lend rooms for a baby health centre.
A nursing sister came from Goulburn once a month, which raised standards of child health in the district. The sister’s wage, return first-class fare and equipment, was a heavy financial burden for the Crookwell branch. The need for cash to support various causes generated many imaginative ways of fundraising. Women were granted the right to vote in 1908 when politicians had not considered women influencing politics. CWA changed this as they gently but persistently lobbied politicians to improve conditions for country women and their families – baby health centres, hospitals, immunisation programs, improved animal care during droving, white lines on roads, lobbying for initiatives to improve farm safety and the wearing of seat belts were some of the results.
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The CWA continues to present a case to state and federal governments on issues that impact or affect women and families including recognition of Lyme Disease, support for the 1800 RESPECT initiative, to assist domestic violence victims, restriction of the sale of high energy drinks to minors and improved communications for rural areas.
“I have developed some great friendships with my fellow members and love helping the community,” the sprightly 80-year-old says.
As a small branch, Crookwell punches well above its weight, raising funds for the local hospital, education grants and programs, mother and baby packs for New Guinea and rugs for local hospitals.
Margaret was Most Successful Jam Exhibitor for many years. Formerly a Sydney girl and medical secretary for 25 years, she moved with husband Norm to Crookwell after his retirement. With three children and a few sheep, Margaret is forever knitting, a keen gardener (she has 200 roses) and loves being involved with the local community.
Handcrafts, Anzac biscuits, jams and traditional damper with sticky golden syrup are all sold to support Care Flight, natural disaster victims, medical research and aged care facilities.
A LIVELY CREW The Crookwell CWA has some interesting and committed members. Crookwell president and treasurer Margaret Williams, “Normaroo”, has been involved for 15 years with the branch, which now boasts 36 members, ranging in age from 34 up to 97 years.
Many of the CWA ladies play an active role in the local show. One is a cake judge, another works with the harness racing and others serve as stewards. Of course, they are also great scone makers!
Adagio Alpaca Mill in Orange, to create dog jackets, scarves and beanies. If that’s not enough, she also makes alpaca ergonomic mattresses for dogs and cats. Secretary Gai Goesch has been with the CWA 13 years and lives on a small farm, “Magic View”, Bannister. “It’s a great way to meet people, get involved with community affairs and is an opportunity for other ladies from surrounding villages to have a voice,” she says. Crookwell CWA continues the spirit of community service and friendship for women on the land and those living in town. With more tree-change movement, Crookwell CWA is attracting professional women who have left the city lights for the country.
Publicity officer Susan Reynolds moved here from Sydney six years ago and not only has her private pilot’s licence but breeds alpacas on her small farm “Greenridge Glen” on the edge of town.
The traditional woman on the land still has strong representation, as do the younger generation, who see the value, support and friendship that CWA offers, ensuring a bright future for the branch that started it all. CWL
With 90 of the cute, fluffy beasts, all known by name, she has regular tourists visiting for the complete alpaca experience. Susan doesn’t just breed them, but also knits products from the alpaca fibre, which is processed at
Facing page: Susan Reynolds offers the complete alpaca experience at her small farm on the edge of Crookwell. Above: Crookwell CWA President and Treasurer Margaret Williams with Publicity Officer Susan Reynolds and Secretary Gai Goesch. CROOKWELL CWL 97
Spuds, sweat and tears THERE’S NO GREATER ADVOCATE OF THE HUMBLE SPUD THAN CROOKWELL POTATO FARMER GARRY KADWELL.
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hen his father went on holidays about 30 years ago, Garry bulldozed the old family orchard and planted his beloved spuds! “It was a bit of a shock when the Old Man came home,” Garry says with his trademark grin. This fourth-generation farmer is a big man with an equally big heart and commitment to the local community. He’s a natural behind the microphone and is known among certain circles as the man who makes things happen. It’s his spuds, however, that he has devoted his working life to. Although Crookwell was once regarded as the home of the humble potato, today he is one of only four growers left in the district, growing 78ha of certified seed potatoes from his property “Rosedale”, on the edge of town. “My great-grandfather planted an orchard and market garden when he moved here from Goulburn back in 1901,” he says. “He wasn’t into spuds, which were really established by my grandfather and father.” The homestead was built in 1916 and Garry has lived there all his life. “When I was a young fellow the orchard was still going strong but I was itching for something different,” he admits. Garry never slotted into the school regime and was ready, from age 15, to roll up his sleeves and assist his father with farm duties. It didn’t take long to realise he had an enormous appetite for spuds, which he says is an expensive business akin to “legalised gambling”. Garry has two harvesters, worth in excess of $200,000 each, plus the tractors to go with it. On top of that there are five full-time staff plus another 10 during harvesting and packing. With nearly a quarter of his 350ha farm put into spuds, it’s serious business. “When Dad was growing spuds, 20 acres was considered a big crop,” he says with the look of a man who knows what he’s talking about. “The number of growers in the district has taken a big dive thanks to irrigation and nutrition issues, which has changed the face of all farming, particularly potatoes. We’ve gone from high altitude, small area production systems to sandy country, broad acre production.”
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And the number of growers has changed accordingly. “We initially had 26 growers at the formation of the Crookwell Potato Association in about 1990. Now the four remaining producers are growing the same area. I remember Dad telling me when he was a young man, nearly everybody had a patch of spuds with almost 200 growers in the district.” Garry produces about 1500 tonnes annually, all certified seed, with the majority going to South Australia, the current Australian home of potato growing. Certified spuds from the farm are also destined for the Atherton Tablelands (up past Cairns), Kempsey, Cooma and Robertson. A seed potato looks identical to any spud you would eat but it is grown under strict quarantine conditions and continually tested for virus and other diseases. On average they are worth double to the commercial grower but costs are considerably higher. Garry says he must rotate the crops every year and has to organise a helicopter for spraying foliar fertilisers to keep the crop at optimum nutritional levels to combat disease and insect attacks. “The good thing about spraying from the air (about three times each crop) is that our crops are not disturbed and we can do the job in perhaps four hours compared to several days using conventional methods,” he says.
With a well-trained eye, he scans across his country and declares the year is shaping up to be an excellent one, with crops showing great health and vigour. “Naturally it’s all underground and we can’t physically see the crop but we use sap tests to monitor the nutrition levels,” he says. “The future for high quality seed potatoes in this area is always assured. We are the cleanest seed production area in the southern hemisphere.” Spuds are a staple part of Garry’s diet. Mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, roast potatoes, potato salads and, of course, chips – the whole gamut and Garry loves them all! It seems the family business, Crookwell Seed Potatoes, will be in solid hands for many years to come thanks to fifth-generation farmers Daniel, 22, who works full-time with his father, and Jarrod, 20, in the earth-moving business.
“It’s an amazing thing to see something pass on from generation to generation, particularly when it has a sustainable and prosperous future,” Garry says. But it’s not just the humble spud that he lives for. One third of his property is a conservation area, which includes wetlands, attracting natural wildlife, particularly birds, to his property in droves. “It’s all about conservation and leaving the property in better shape for future generations.” CWL
Above: Garry and his son Daniel inspect the growing potato plants; Daniel sorting through the potatoes. Images: Shot by Jake and Kim Shirley
Crookwell Potato Festival The Crookwell Potato Festival celebrates the district’s relationship with the humble spud over more than 150 years. The aim of the festival is to entertain, educate and delight all ages. Visitors can enjoy farm tours, demonstration cooking, live music, kids shows, car displays, a book sale and lots more. The 2017 festival will be held on March 3-5. For details go to www.crookwellpotatofestival.com.au or contact the Crookwell Visitor Information Centre on (02) 4832 1988.
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BEHIND the
news
DAVIESNEWS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF BUSINESS IN THE CROOKWELL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958.
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enerations of residents and junior staff have grown up shopping and working at DaviesNews. The Davies family is proud of its longstanding commitment to the local community and have been keen sponsors and supporters of community organisations, schools and sporting teams in the area. Two generations of the Davies family have owned a number of newsagencies in Canberra and on the South Coast. DaviesNews has remained their little gem in Crookwell, and is now one of the longest family-owned newsagencies in Australia. Syd and Dell Davies bought the original newsagency in 1958 and ran the business for 31 years until their retirement in 1989. Their son Floyd and his wife Heather assumed control and have been there nearly as long, with their children, Jack, Tom and Claerwen, all working in the family business during their younger years. DaviesNews employs 12 staff, under the management of Maria Cartwright, who has been with the store for more than 23 years. The business has always striven to adapt to the significant changes in the newsagency industry. Throughout the past 58 years the shop has undergone multiple refurbishments and significant product changes for the benefit of customers. “The Crookwell community is undergoing many changes, with an influx of part-time farmers, who visit on weekends, retirees, who have moved here to settle, and tourists, who are enjoying all that the area has to offer,” Floyd says. “Gone are the days when we knew everyone, but it’s great to have this vibrant and growing community.” CWL
Above: DaviesNews owner Floyd Davies and manager Maria Cartwright. 100 CWL CROOKWELL
CROOKWELL
Smiles
IN THE AISLES
WHEN CUSTOMERS WALK INTO CROOKWELL IGA THEY ARE AMAZED AT WHAT GREETS THEM INSIDE.
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anager Julie White and her staff have created a modern, vibrant, colourful and well-stocked supermarket. As you enter you are presented with an enticing array of fresh fruit, cheeses, freshly baked breads and pastries and a deli that will tempt your tastebuds. Crookwell IGA opened its doors in its present location in late 2004 and has been a hub of activity ever since. The store was designed and developed by the local White, Horton and Davies families. Prior to the new supermarket opening, product range and options were limited, which resulted in people having to shop out of town. Julie has recently celebrated 20 years in the supermarket business, and is now ably assisted by Samir Javed. With a current staff of 55, Crookwell IGA is one of the town’s largest employers. The business is proud of its junior employee program, which has prepared many students for the workforce. The following staff members have been employed since the opening: Julie White; Norma Jamieson; Glennis Leonard; Felicity Croke; Colleen O’Reilly; Venetta Smith; and Amanda Merryfull. Crookwell IGA has won more than 50 Regional Retailer of the Year awards and has been nominated for State Retailer of the Year in various product areas, on many occasions. This success is due primarily to the commitment and dedication of its hardworking department managers and staff. As a reflection of its ongoing commitment to the local community, Crookwell IGA has proudly donated more than $150,000 to the local community over the past 12 years. They remain major supporters of many of Crookwell’s community events and organisations, including the Viewhaven Lodge aged care facility. “We as an organisation are extremely committed to and proud of this ongoing commitment,” Julie says. Crookwell IGA aims to support and include products supplied and grown by fellow local business people and farmers. Co-owner Floyd Davies thanks local business operators Hills butchers and Kemp milk vendors, along with the many local produce farmers and wineries, for their invaluable contribution to the IGA product range. Crookwell IGA has run many competitions over the years with the highlight being the recent Fiji promotion, where five trips to Fiji were won by local shoppers and a lucky staff member. “We have just completed a $250,000 shop refurbishment, which has completely modernised the appearance and function of the supermarket,” Floyd says. The emphasis has been on “fresh” with an increased range in all the fresh food areas of the delicatessen, fruit and vegetables, bakery and cheeses. “It is our belief that these changes will entice people to stay in town and support not only the Crookwell IGA but importantly, all the other local businesses as well.” CWL Above: Co-owners of Crookwell IGA Floyd Davies and Julie White (absent is Tom Horton). CROOKWELL CWL 101
SOCK of AGES CROOKWELL’S LINDNER SOCK STORY IS ONE OF HOPE, DETERMINATION AND COURAGE. THIS SMALL FAMILY-RUN OPERATION, ESTABLISHED IN GERMANY AND NOW IN ITS 95TH YEAR, IS TODAY ONE OF THE FEW BUSINESSES IN AUSTRALIA TO PRODUCE SOCKS OUTSIDE THE METROPOLITAN AREA.
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he Lindner family and six casual staff produce about 25,000 pairs of socks each year, using their 12 German and English-made automatic sock-making machines – most of them built in the 1960s and 1970s.
Matriarch Gisela Lindner admits the strong local community is one of the main reasons they set up shop in Crookwell. “My role is serving our wonderful customers who come from near and far, including Orange and Canberra. Depending on the seasons, we get plenty of bus loads of people who are keen to see an old-style business in action,” she says. “If they want, they can see the factory in operation and purchase a beautiful pair of socks made from a mixture of locally grown Merino wool. The quality of the wool and the yarn used means our socks are similar to an old-fashioned, hand-knitted sock with a well-shaped heel.” During a quiet period in the factory, Gisela says the Lindner sock story had its roots in the German town of Thalheim. The hosiery industry had been a major part of the town’s growth and economy from as early as 1730, and it was here that Max Lindner, with his wife Meta, founded the “H. Max Lindner Strumpf Fabrik” in 1921. The business grew over the years, and Max’s son Alfred later joined him in the enterprise, beginning a tradition that continues to this day. The Soviet occupation of the region in the years after WW2 prompted Alfred to send his pregnant wife, Elly, and two young sons to her mother in the USA, where third son, Wilfred, was born. In 1951 Elly brought her boys back to Germany, and after a short time the family was reunited with Alfred and moved to Bavaria. It was here that Alfred began the painstaking process of rebuilding his war-torn business producing socks with two machines in the cellar of his home. A new factory was later built with a home attached on the outskirts of Neumarkt. When it was completed Alfred and Elly, with sons Reinhard and Wilfred, moved in and continued to expand the business. By 1970, the Lindner Strumpffabrik had grown significantly, and began making socks under contract for the sportswear company Adidas. In 1974, the West German football team won the FIFA World Cup wearing Adidas socks manufactured by the family. After Alfred died in 1975, his sons soldiered on together. Within a few years Wilfred moved into a new home he’d built not far from the factory, married Gisela and had sons Andreas (now known as Andrew) and Matthias (or Matthew). Following the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, with concerns for the health and safety of his young family, Wilfred decided to split the business with his brother, and move with his half of the machines to Australia.
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A NEW START In 1987 Lindner Quality Socks started up in a small factory in Goulburn and quickly became popular with the locals. While selling socks directly from the factory and through markets, Wilfred and Gisela slowly built a customer base of retail stockists, particularly in rural areas, many of whom continue to stock a selection of their socks today. The Lindner brand became known to wider and wider circles for its wonderful comfort and durability. In 1997, the family moved lock, stock and barrel to Crookwell, bringing their machines to a new factory and shopfront on the main street. The local community welcomed the German family and fully embraced their sock shop. Many locals have since tried out their unique footwear and over the years the shop and factory developed into one of the town’s top tourist attractions. After many years of sock knitting, Wilfred handed over the reins to Gisela and son Andrew in 2008, and returned to his native Germany for a well-earned rest. With Gisela now in charge of the orders and the sewing room, and son Andrew taking care of the sock machines, the Lindner sock-making tradition continues towards a century of production. “At Lindner Socks, we have been manufacturing socks by the same tried and tested methods for generations,” says a proud Andrew, 34, who has dropped his German accent and sounds like your average Australian. With Aussie wife Lucy, who also helps out in the shop, and two-year-old daughter Dorothy, the family live on a farm half an hour towards Boorowa, where Andrew enjoys fishing, camping and working with the Rural Fire Service.
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Gisela lives “two hills away” and relishes life on her 90-acre farm with a menagerie of dogs, cats, chooks and even a few sheep . “I was brought up in a country village in Bavaria and moving to Crookwell nearly 20 years ago isn’t that much different from home,” she says with an endearing thick German accent. After a long day in the factory, she still converses in German to Andrew and even young Dorothy. It’s a small but important way of keeping the family heritage alive. Her own mother is still alive in Germany and is a regular visitor. Andrew has a firm head for business and is determined to keep abreast of the times. “Not much changes because not much needs to change. Our machines make great socks and we are proud to put our name behind them. After many years of hearing our customers asking if our wool is locally grown, we are finally able to say yes with confidence,” he says. “It has taken a while, but we are now making and supplying customers with some truly local wool products.” When the Lindners first began making socks in Goulburn in the 1980s, a region known for its fine wool production, there were many more woolprocessing facilities supplying a larger manufacturing sector. Over the years, however, it became increasingly difficult to source locally grown, natural yarn that was processed locally. “As manufacturing moved offshore and imported products became cheaper, we’ve seen the closure of scouring operations across the country, and woollen mills downsized the scope of their production to primarily supply the hand-knitting market,” he explains.
“The impact this transition had on our supply chain is that we were only able to source yarn that fits our specifications from an Australian company that buys Aussie wool from all over the country and sends it to China to be scoured, spun, dyed and shipped back to us. “Being a woollen product manufacturer in one of the premiere woolgrowing regions of the country, the question from visitors to our shop ‘is the wool local?’ resonated with us. We asked ourselves how we could be in this location and yet not able to proclaim that our wool is from local sheep.” Since then Andrew has been on a mission to find a way to use locally grown wool, ideally processed locally, to knit into socks in their factory. In the past two years he started sourcing local wool from Bigga, Roslyn, Yass, Murringo and Boorowa and is now manufacturing socks using local Merino and alpaca wool. The family are still working on and perfecting the complete local processing from paddock to product. Andrew suggests the internet is an important advertising tool for buyers who have already purchased their product and wish to order more as well as those who can’t make it to Crookwell. “Our factory is our stage. People want to see, feel and experience how our products are made. Once they form a connection, that starts it all off,” he says. His mother agrees. “On the flip side, having the shop enables us to better help our customers with any particular concerns. We love engaging with our customers and are known to stop for a chat. We make time for our sock buyers and this approach seems to be working well.” CWL Facing page: Andrew Lindner at work making socks on the same machines used by his father and grandfather. Below: The Lindner family today: Gisela, Andrew, baby Dorothy and Lucy.
In 1997, the family moved lock, stock and barrel to Crookwell, bringing their machines to a new factory and shopfront on the main street.
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A driving FORCE
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n the halcyon days of the 1960s, Bailey’s Garage was open seven days a week and employed 13 mechanics along with two spare-parts men.
Not a bad effort for a garage in the sleepy little town of Gunning, population 500, on the Hume Highway and nestled not far from Canberra. It’s a lot quieter these days but third-generation garage proprietor Craig Southwell still loves his job after 40 years of helping local and visiting motorists with their car maintenance and repairs. When the original owner Frank Bailey died in the 1940s, Craig’s grandfather Vern, who owned a garage down the road at Dalton, bought the place and agreed to his widow’s request not to change the name of the iconic garage. “You don’t need something with your own name on it, and it is easier for something to become an institution if it hasn’t got your name on it,” he says. Over the years Craig took the paintwork of the old building back to the original, working from the original letterhead. He’s always enjoyed a bit of history. Over a chat in his office he tells me that three years before Australia’s first Holden rolled off the assembly line in 1948, the Southwell family were selling Pontiacs, Buicks and Chevrolets for General Motors from their garage. By the early 1960s his father would take the train to the Holden factory in Pagewood, Sydney, and then carefully drive the car home. “Dad used to go down every week to pick up a new car. In those days we would have to go down and drive them back,” he says. Back then it took a five-hour trip (whereas now you’d do it in half the time), running the new cars home at about 35 miles per hour.
His father Doug ran the NRMA depot for many years. “My dad would have to go out to all the accidents – the tow-truck guys used to get people out with the ambos and police, all at the same time,” he says. “Holden took the dealership off us in 1995 after we went 50 years. It was a shame, it was the little guys who did a lot of the stuff for Holden.” General Motors presented the family with a badge recognising the half century, only to close the dealership years later because they were not selling enough Holdens. These days Craig employs two other mechanics and, after 40 years in business, knows quite a deal about good-old fashioned service. He is not sure if the family tradition will live on. A stepson, Justin, did his apprenticeship at the garage but will not carry on the family business, which has grown to accommodate the school bus run. CWL
Craig Southwell is the proud owner of the iconic Bailey’s Garage in Main Street, Gunning. 104 CWL CROOKWELL
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Timeless TARALGA T
aralga is a picturesque village steeped in history and dating back to the early 1820s when the family of John Macarthur took up land grants and helped pioneer the country’s fledging wool industry. Taralga was officially established as a town in 1860, with a number of stores and two hotels, both of which are still operating. With a population of several hundred, Taralga is a popular spot for tourists, located at the intersection of the Goulburn-Oberon Road and the Laggan-Taralga Road, not far from the famous Wombeyan Caves. CWL
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Handmade HEAVEN
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chance coffee break in Taralga produced a deliciously wonderful idea. The owner had let slip a whisper that a particularly desirable shop front was coming up for lease. The seed of a lifelong dream had been planted. All Chrissie O’Neill now required was a plan and the support of her partner Lyn. The latter was never in question. Over several months the idea grew from contemplation into an unstoppable dream train. Chrissie had already taken her life-long love of artisan products and turned this passion into a popular market stall. Now, five years later, and in a great leap of faith, Chrissie was providing her much-loved products with a permanent home of bricks and mortar. Eclectopia Gifts is an exciting shop that gives quality handmade giftware a forum. Neither kitchenware nor homeware, the items escape the confines of classification by their eclectic nature. “I want to promote artisan-inspired gifts that come with a twist,” Chrissie says. The 1920s retail space plays host to numerous emerging artisan designers. Candle makers, a ceramicist, jewellers, textile designers and illustrators all decorate the store, having injected their own personality into each vibrant design. Though the artisans’ talents are already known to Chrissie, she delights as each new customer recognises the craftsmanship held in their hands. Chrissie says that the customers thoroughly enjoy the point of difference that her Eclectopia provides. “My customers prefer artisan products over mass-produced retailing. They value the integrity of handmade items. There is an honesty about it all. They are made with passion, dedication and love,” she says. A great place to treat your loved ones, Eclectopia is a treasure trove for those with a keen eye and a love of high-quality modern design. CWL Words: Catherine Player Image: Chris O’Brien
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DEEP, DARK SECRETS IF YOU LOVE PEACE AND QUIET AND PLACES OF IMMENSE NATURAL BEAUTY, THE WOMBEYAN CAVES – SET IN A SECLUDED VALLEY AMONG THE BEAUTY OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS – IS JUST THE PLACE FOR YOU. 108 CWL CROOKWELL
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magine a place so ancient that it was old before the first dinosaur walked the earth. Over millions of years, a maze of underground passages, streams and caverns have developed.
Known to the Aboriginal people for perhaps tens of thousands of years, the caves were first visited by Europeans in the early 1800s, when explorers stumbled across a vast opening leading into the amazing depths below. David Smith is the caves manager and has seen half a million visitors during his 20-year tenancy. With three permanent staff, including wife Corin, and half a dozen casuals, Dave has all the good oil on how the caves were formed. Dave and Corin live near Taralga and tackle the thin, windy road to work, five days a week. “I haven’t been lost but I have found somebody who was lost,” Dave says. “There are hundreds of wild caves and it’s easy to become disorientated. In 20 years I have only seen probably 20 per cent of them.” Some of the caves are several hundred metres long. “The show caves are spectacular and very well lit. They’re one of the best-kept secrets in the country,” David says. This bloke enjoys the variety of work in one of the most beautiful offices in the country. When not attending to paperwork, he can be leading guided tours for people who visit from all over the world. “I couldn’t think of working in a finer place,” says Dave, a natural for the job. “On weekends a lot of people camp out here. It’s very peaceful, there’s a lot of wildlife, it’s cost-effective and the scenery is spectacular.” CWL Facing page: Cave manager David Smith says the Wombeyan Caves are one of the best-kept secrets in the country. CROOKWELL CWL 109
It takes two to
tangle
T
hey’re a friendly mob out at Taralga, a small but vibrant village 40km from Crookwell. This is readily apparent upon setting foot into the Tangled Vine Cafe, where you instantly feel welcome.
It’s a cosy environment where friendly locals congregate daily to discuss their lives and the weather over a cup of coffee. It’s also become a popular spot for tourists to sit back and enjoy the tranquillity of historic Taralga. The Tangled Vine Cafe is the brainchild of Steve and Stefanie Fitzgerald, a busy husband and wife team who have been run off their feet since opening in mid 2015. The couple had a number of catering businesses and a cafe in southern Sydney for many years before making the big move to the bush. “Ten years ago we had a complete tree change and came to Taralga,” the bubbly Stefanie says. “It changed our lives. Within a week somebody walked our little grey pony down the road for our daughter Madison, which demonstrated a strong community spirit right from the very start.” Community spirit is something they are both passionate about, especially in a village like Taralga that houses only a few hundred residents.
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In their early days here, Steve was the executive chef at the Taralga Hotel, while Stef found work teaching at the local school. Both were keen to get back into their own business and so the idea for the Tangled Vine Cafe and Vintage Store was born. “The cafe was supposed to be Steve’s business but things got so busy we are now both here,” says Stefanie, a woman who clearly thrives on the cosy and upbeat vibe of the cafe. “We just love it. The locals are great supporters and in turn we support local events like the annual rodeo on Australia Day, the local Lions Club and the Pony Club.” Steve says that Taralga is an ideal stopover for tourists discovering the area. “We seem to be the halfway mark between the Blue Mountains and Canberra or the coast,” he says. “The road is now all tarred and it’s a beautiful scenic drive that everybody should experience.” With its beautiful old buildings, Taralga is a definite pit stop and the Tangled Vine is the place to go for coffee, high teas, scones and cakes. Steve and Stefanie always try to use local free-range eggs, chutneys, truffles and meat. “Anything we can find that’s seasonal, we’ll use it,” Steve says with a smile. As well as the cafe there is also the Tangled Vine Vintage Store next door, which features bric-a-brac and antiques and curiosities sourced from local farms and churches. You’ll never quite know what little memento you will find there, and it won’t cost you a fortune! “We love the Taralga climate, people and lifestyle,” Stef says. “Steve had serious surgery years ago and we couldn’t believe how the locals helped out – some dropped off wood while others looked after our daughter. We couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.” CWL Facing page: Steve and Stef Fitzgerald at the Tangled Vine. Above: Madison Fitzgerald loves helping her parents out in the bric-a-brac shop adjoining the Tangled Vine Cafe. CROOKWELL CWL 111
BEHIND THE SCENES SCREENWRITER CHRISTOPHER LEE IS BEHIND MANY OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST KNOWN AND LOVED TELEVISION SERIES BUT THE RESPECTED WORDSMITH ESCHEWS THE LIMELIGHT IN FAVOUR OF THE QUIET LIFE IN LAGGAN.
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am sitting in the rambling old home of renowned screenwriter and author Christopher Lee. We’re in the middle of the small village of Laggan, eight clicks from Crookwell. More precisely, we’re in the 120-year-old kitchen of the former Laggan Post Office. Sheep graze contentedly in the back paddocks and life, for a moment at least, is blissfully quiet. I take one look at the man described by The Daily Telegraph as “arguably this country’s best screenwriter” and my nerves at meeting such an accomplished individual immediately dissipate. I know instinctively this former journalist and foreign correspondent, dressed in jeans and loose-fitting shirt, isn’t going to be the difficult assignment I’d perhaps imagined. After all, country life is agreeing with him. He is relaxed and feeling right at home in his rural habitat. First we get down to the nuts and bolts of his screen career. He was creator and writer of the ABC drama series Stringer, Police Rescue and The Bodysurfer (for which he won an AFI Best Screenplay Award) as well as Big Sky, Secret Men’s Business, The Secret Life of Us and Rush (among others too numerous to list). More recently he was responsible for writing the telemovie Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo for the ABC, the mini-series Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War for the Nine Network and the eight-hour mini-series Gallipoli, also for Nine. He has written drama-documentaries for BBC Radio and worked as a script consultant in New Zealand, Singapore and New York. To top it all off, he’s lectured in screenwriting at Canberra University, NIDA and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
“I was born in Orange,” he says. “Then the family moved to Wellington, so I’m very much a Central West person. I went away to boarding school (Newington) then lived in Balmain and Kings Cross before coming to Laggan in 2002. After all those years away from the country I felt like I was coming home.” He describes Laggan as “the centre of the universe” and cannot speak highly enough of the place. “I tell people I live in a beautiful little village with no shops but 14 houses, two churches, two restaurants and a pub. They can’t believe it,” he says. “The thing about the Laggan pub (across the road) is it’s not just a place where shearers go to drink schooners. It’s a cultural hub. Birthday parties, funerals, 21sts, reunions, visits from groups like bike and car clubs, not to mention the yabbie races – at the end you get to eat the contestants.” Chris writes in the mornings then in the afternoons attends to his farm duties: landscaping, planting trees, drenching sheep and chain-sawing timber for winter fires. “I can stop with a script problem, spend the afternoon doing stuff in the paddocks, then, next morning I find the solution has been worked out for me. For a writer, that time away from the computer is most important.” So where did it all start? Chris says his father was a GP in Orange and Wellington while his mother was a bit of a “proto-feminist” on the board of the Orange Base Hospital. From all accounts, she was a mover and shaker. “I was one of four kids,” he says. “Throughout my life I’ve met many people who had a ghastly relationship with their parents. Every time I hear their stories I feel blessed.”
With Miles Davis playing in the background, Christopher says he prefers the company of journalists before fellow writers. “Journos feel much more grounded than writers,” he says. “They have a shorthand between each other, which is hard to describe – it just is.”
Chris was a journalist for eight years with newswire service Australian Associated Press (AAP), starting in Sydney before spreading his wings to London, Darwin (just after Cyclone Tracy) and then Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea.
It is late in the afternoon and my enlivened host suggests we crack open a bottle of bubbly as we reminisce about the good old days of typewriters, shorthand and the noble art of making stories.
It was during those years as a correspondent he began writing his novel Bush Week at night, based on his experiences after three years of studying law. “I was unceremoniously thrown out for wild shenanigans and the novel was based on my university experiences,” he says with a wry grin.
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“I have no regrets. The wild times of sex, drugs and rock and roll formed the basis of my novel, which was published by Angus and Robertson in my early 30s. The critics were very kind but the novel is now way off the radar.” In fact, he says he has only one copy left, lost somewhere among the thousands of books that pile up chest high in almost every room. “I’ve always been a fastidious reader since I was a little boy in Orange,” he says, as though deep in thought. “I think that’s why I became a writer because initially I was a reader, starting with the familiar old classics like The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Treasure Island.” Later as a foreign correspondent, he quickly grasped the skills of being his own boss. Chris says he was simply writing articles as events unfolded. “As a correspondent, you never know what’s going to happen. You just know that if it does, you have to be there to report on it.” The highlight of his journalistic career came, ironically, towards the end. He was covering a story on the independence of Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) and there was a revolutionary breakaway group that was none too happy about the impending changes. “As our plane was coming in to land, we were shot at by rifle fire from the bush. At last I suddenly felt like a journalist! When I was a cadet, a seasoned pro had always told me you are nothing as a journalist until you’ve been shot at!” He later received a writer’s fellowship from the Literature Board of the Australia Council and that gave him enough money to live on for a year. “At the end of that year I was out of journalism but not into anything else. I had a wife and young children to feed but no income so I packed myself off to the Australian Film and Television School in Sydney.” At the time, students were paid to go there. It was here that he and two other mates devised a television show about a journalist, which made it onto the ABC. It was called Stringer and proved the catalyst for a new career. Now in his late 60s, he believes it’s the writer’s job to articulate the culture. “I think people understand their culture better, having seen the Australian stories that we writers tell. We tell the people’s stories for them – this is what I believe.” >
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“I THOUGHT, ‘HANG ON, WHAT ABOUT THOSE POOR SOLDIERS?’ THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR DIARIES THAT YOU CAN FIND AT THE WAR MEMORIAL OR THEIR LETTERS HOME.” The afternoon is moving along at a cracking pace and we decide to go for a stroll. While the front of the house is on the main street (just like in his Balmain days), out the back is his beloved 150-acre farm. This former city boy now presides over an empire of 40 Merinos (rumoured to have close genetic links to the four-legged, fleecy friends in the movie blockbuster Babe), complete with a genuine one-stand shearing shed! Chris admits it doesn’t get much better. He is as far away from the corporate world as can be. He has found an inner peace, that if anything, inspires him to thoroughly enjoy his craft. “In my writing career if I have to have face-toface meetings with producers, publishers or TV network people I put them all off and squeeze the meetings into a couple of days,” he says. “I go to Sydney or Melbourne, have the meetings, then rush back to Laggan. I can’t wait to get home. I think I’m pretty much buggered for living in the city now. Laggan’s changed me forever.” The conversation swings back around to books. He cherishes them like a lost friend and can easily get lost in a historical book, say on Gallipoli, for days on end. There’s an unbreakable bond. He just loves words, and the way they can be mashed together to create impact and feeling. Chris happily admits he has been paid for every word he’s written since 1972. “I wanted to be a writer in the early 1970s and everybody told me to write about something you knew, but I didn’t know anything!” 114 CWL CROOKWELL
After his first novel he changed direction with the book Howzat! Kerry’s Packer’s War, about the World Series Cricket revolution in the 1970s. Apart from watching cricket on the tube, Chris concedes he knew little of the sport. “But it struck me that cricket is filled with the elements of culture, conflict and character – a screenwriter’s bread and butter.” The onerous task took eight months in 2012, during which time he interviewed Tony Greig, Ian Chappell and many other cricketers from that era. He came away with a new appreciation of the rather delicate England-Australia relationship. His finished his latest book, Seasons of War, after writing the screenplay for the eight-hour mini-series Gallipoli. He visited the Dardanelles but with all that research and a myriad of vivid images of the Turkish coastline, the trenches and complete despair swirling around in his subconscious, he could barely eat or sleep. “In all the books that I read and all the research I conducted, it was always about the movement battalions,” Chris says. “As I read, I thought, ‘Hang on, what about those poor soldiers?’ They speak for themselves in their diaries that you can find at the war memorial or their letters home – but aren’t normally part of history. “So what I wanted to do in this novel was see if I could get into the mind of one of these guys and write from his point of view. “The whole concept of trench warfare and the indomitable Aussie spirit in this terrible tragedy totally consumed me. So I figured the only way to get it out of my head was to write my personal vision of Gallipoli. It took a few months but soon as it was finished I slept like a baby.”
The book describes the four seasons of the failed WW1 British and Allied campaign from the April 25 landing to the withdrawal in December. The story is told by Michael, a teenage Australian soldier caught up in the disastrous campaign. We learn his early high hopes for this assault on Turkey’s shore are quickly dashed, with the invaders forced to dig in opposite similarly entrenched Turks. Soon the original aim of advancing up the Gallipoli Peninsula and taking Constantinople is fading as attack and counter-attack become the norm and a stalemate ensues. Within this increasingly bloody landscape, Michael and his mates become aware the Turks, originally official hate-objects, are not that unlike the Anzacs. A meeting between the two opposing forces during a truce is exceptionally well done, underlying the futility and pity of it all. Seasons of War is probably the best read I’ve enjoyed in years. Captivating, painfully honest and real to the bone. I could hardly put it down. Perhaps it is his finest work. “It’s an old cliché, but if you truly enjoy what you do in your career, you’ll never work a day in your life,” he grins. I smile back and nod in approval. “I work because I have to, not because I have to.” The bottle is empty and our time is up. “I’ve been around forever and know I’ll never retire,” he says, as I head for the door. True words indeed from a gifted writer, a contented reader, a delightful host, a proud father and, might I add, a highly cherished Australian author. Seasons of War, published by Penguin Australia, is available in all good book stores. CWL
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The only way is up L
andscape artist Sally Wilson began exhibiting her works in 2002 and has enjoyed success in selected exhibitions and art awards. Her works – mainly acrylics on canvas – capture the atmospheric play of light on the land and the vastness and changing moods of the Australian countryside. She has been commissioned to paint for private collectors and the Australian Defence Force. Her landscapes are held in private and public collections both here and overseas. Sally’s acrylic works, exhibited in places like Dubbo, Cowra, Goulburn, Bungendore and Crookwell near her home village of Laggan, capture the landscape from a human perspective. But the Central West countryside, so familiar to us all, has suddenly taken on a new aspect for Sally. Right now she’s into space. A recent extended flight in a light plane suddenly had her viewing the Central Western panoramas in a whole new light.
“We flew over paddocks, rivers, pastures and scrubland at 1200 feet, and it was just a revelation,” she says. “Suddenly, the landscape I thought I knew so well took on a whole new meaning. “The land forms were unexpected and completely different and I realised if I was going to get the paintings right, from now on my relationship with the country had to change.” Sally’s revelation came after many years of country living, riding horses on the Laggan property, travelling the country in her 4WD and generally being a sharp-eyed observer of the world from ground level. Now though, her canvasses, from high above, reflect a different understanding of the Central Western countryside. She is embarking on a new series of paintings that break all the rules of landscape artistry she has followed since 2002.
“It’s not only a new way of looking at the familiar vistas, but a whole new way of trying to get those vistas to live,” she says. “My choice of medium has always been acrylics but now I’m learning to work it using new techniques to express aerial space. It’s all about new shape, structure and landscape patterns. “Aerial photography can look pretty weird in some ways. And painting the land from above you have to interpret it, just as you do normally. But it’s a new kind of dialogue you have to have with the land. “I’m realising our countryside is beautiful in so many strange ways. And there are many ways of seeing it. I’m now thinking wouldn’t it be great to get in a rocket and paint the earth from 20 kilometres up. That’d be cool.” CWL
Sally Wilson is enjoying a new direction with her artistic pursuits.
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LIVING the DREAM “IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE AND WAS MEANT TO BE.” THESE ARE THE SIMPLE BUT HEART-FELT WORDS OF DREAMERS EVAN MARLER AND SALLY EMERTON, WHO ARE SENDING CULINARY SENSES INTO A SPIN AT THEIR ENCHANTING LAGGAN PANTRY.
“W
hen we first saw the property, we thought ‘Wow, this place has huge potential – somebody’s going to do really well with this’,” says Evan, who never thought for a moment the dream restaurant and cottage would one day have their name stamped on the deeds.
Evan was only a boy but the recession kicked in and a few years later the family returned to a more subdued life in Sydney. Already, in his mind, he was liking the romantic concept of putting together old historic buildings coupled with great food and good oldfashioned service. But there were a few things to work through first.
“It was almost two years to the day that we finally settled. It was a long time from first viewing the property until we finally realised it was ours – but, oh, what a joy.”
From an early age he loved snowboarding and after completing his schooling at Newington, he hit the snowfields. He was meant to work on a berry farm but as soon as the ski season kicked in, he was off like a shot, finding work in the ski resorts at the Snowy Mountains.
They are still pinching themselves, but not for long, as word spreads about the beautiful garden setting, wonderful, personal service and mouth-watering meals happening out at the Pantry.
It was an addictive lifestyle. His natural flair for snowboarding soon had him teaching the relatively new sport to the new instructors, who would then pass on this knowledge to the happy holidaymakers.
It’s been a unique journey for Evan, who grew up in Sydney’s Lower North Shore, where his father was a barrister and his mother taught law and business at university. In the 1980s they purchased a magnificent 180-year-old building on the Derwent River and turned it into a guesthouse.
It was only a matter of time before Evan headed overseas to the worldrenowned snowfields in the Rocky Mountains. At the Winter Park Resort near Denver, Colorado, he was living the dream and spent the next 22 seasons back-to-back chasing winter and avoiding summer like the plague.
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“I got to see spring emerge twice a year, which is an amazing part of the year,” he laughs as he recalls the absurdity of his once crazy schedule. Evan found himself working in restaurants at nights, drawn to the kitchen, where he loved cooking “special” meals for others. Over the years he trained under “crazy Italian chefs where a clip across the ear wasn’t uncommon”. One day in a locker room at the start of the 2002 ski season, a new batch of instructors was strolling through the door. One blonde-haired Aussie girl immediately caught his attention. It was a young Sally Emerton, who was quietly carving up a name as one of the most competent female snowboarders on the fields. It was an immediate attraction and after years of living in suitcases they were keen to plant their feet in one location. They ended up in Charlotte Pass, back in Australia, where they spent eight years managing a 30-room lodge and a well-known restaurant, serving three meals a day. Sally’s commitment to hospitality started at an early age. She was born with buffet breakfasts, having been raised in various hotel restaurants in Canberra, where her stepfather was a revered hotel manager. “Simply said, if it wasn’t for Sally, none of this would be happening,” Evan says. “She’s by far the most impressive restaurant manager I’ve ever worked with. If there was such a thing as a hospitality professor, Sally would be that.” Being brought up in a hospitality family, she always had an eye for particular detail, from the positioning of cutlery, the visual design and appeal of a restaurant, the writing of poetic menus, the greeting and checking in of guests, putting up with hot-headed chefs, front of house, the lot! Eventually both were able to give up their snow jobs and settle down to a “real” job. They started looking around for a cool-climate property. There was no way after all those years in the cold, they could settle in a temperate environment. They looked at a tiny place in Binda but thankfully the agent steered them towards a unique property in Laggan that was just coming on the market. > Above: Evan and Sally in the dining room of their beautiful restaurant. Right: Laggan Pantry’s famous 12 hour pork belly, served on a cauliflower puree with a raisin and walnut salad.
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In 2011 they signed the deeds to their dream while continuing work in the Snowy Mountains. Over the next five years things slowly fell into place. With no children, the couple were desperate to adopt a dog and Obi, a Border Collie, became a welcome and much-loved member of the team. In November 2015, after an eight-year hiatus, the Laggan Pantry finally reopened its doors. The couple are thrilled to have just received a liquor licence to complement the 50-seat restaurant. It really is an amazing set-up. Before we talk about the restaurant, set among established trees and gardens, there is firstly the sweet-looking cottage, nestled in the corner. The former shearing shed, although you’d never recognise it, has been tastefully refurbished into a cosy and upmarket B&B. On the main street, virtually opposite the Laggan Hotel, stands the imposing main residence, built in 1837 as a police barracks. Evan and Sally love living in the spacious building with high ceilings and well-worn timber floorboards throughout. Underneath is a cellar that housed convicts and is rumoured to have once held the notorious bushranger Ben Hall. During WW2, secret tunnels stretched from the cellar to the church next door but the Japanese never invaded and the tunnels were filled in for safety. The historic home is not open to the public but can be seen from the restaurant, which has already become a Mecca for fine food lovers from throughout the district. Evan cooks up tantalising spreads while his partner delivers the highest level of service. “It’s bizarre, but most of our guests crave good service just as much as they enjoy the fine food on offer,” Evan says. “That never got a mention in our business plan but it has proved to be probably the most single important factor of our business.”
Underneath is a cellar that housed convicts and is rumoured to have once held the notorious bushranger Ben Hall. Their menu has all the usual suspects. For mains there is prime beef fillet rolled in seeded mustard served with creamy mash potato, caramelised eschalot and thyme pinot noir reduction or the equally appetising lamb shank ragout served on a chive and rosemary potato cake with minted pea puree. Most of the ingredients are sourced locally, if not from their highly managed kitchen garden, which grows everything from beetroot, zucchini, celery, onions to potatoes and asparagus. There are fruit trees everywhere on their seven-acre block, bearing quinces, pears, peaches, nectarines, almonds, hazelnuts, apples, plums and there are even a few secret truffle trees. For those who like to take something home, Evan and Sally have a range of homemade preserves, including relishes, pickles, chutneys and jams, which are proving very popular with their diners. “We always hoped to find a place with such potential but never imagined, in our wildest dreams, that we would stumble onto such a diverse property as this,” says Evan, an enthusiastic man who backs himself. “It feels like it’s our destiny and we look forward to sharing our little slice of paradise with anybody who enjoys good local and seasonal food in the middle of an enchanting garden.” The big bonus is that apart from the great food, there is a small, established Hatherleigh Vineyard adjacent to the property producing fine pinot noir, which Evan and Sally are now proud to share. Hatherleigh’s Nick Bulleid is perhaps one of the most knowledgeable winemakers in the country but that’s a story for another day. CWL
Fully licensed restaurant located in historic Laggan Village, great for all seasons. Dine amongst the established gardens of the former police barracks circa 1837. Enjoy the true local seasonal produce, stroll the kitchen garden and stay in Laggan Cottage, a superbly appointed B&B. CALL EVAN & SALLY WITH ANY ENQUIRIES FROM A TABLE FOR TWO, OR FUNCTIONS & WEDDINGS 02 4837 3039
/LAGGANPANTRY
THEPANTRY@LAGGAN.COM.AU WWW.LAGGANPANTRY.COM.AU 118 CWL CROOKWELL
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HERE COMES
the son
THERE’S A RARE CHANGING OF THE GUARD HAPPENING AT THE HISTORIC LAGGAN HOTEL.
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argaret Campbell has been the familiar face of the family pub for more than 50 years but is planning to finally take a well-earned rest and hand over the reins to her son Stuart. It was way back in 1947, just after WW2, when Margaret’s parents, Greg and Olive Hart, first took over ownership of the iconic pub. Apart from a short stint away at school in Sydney and early days away with husband Ron Campbell, Margaret has enjoyed a lifetime of pouring beers for her loyal patrons in the village she is proud to call home. “I just love the business and the people, many of whom I’ve grown up with,” says Margaret, a warm-hearted and bona fide Laggan local.
“I have witnessed many changes over the last five decades. The best times were back in the 1970s when pubs were the meeting place for most of the local cockies and sporting bodies like the local tennis, cricket and hockey associations,” she says.
Ron is still about, after 47 years of marriage, but is battling MS. They have three kids, including Stuart, who worked as a boilermaker in Europe for four years before “coming home to give Mum a hand”.
“Many of these establishments have now gone and we’ve turned our hand to food, not just the grog. We sponsor Crookwell teams and they seem to have no problem enjoying themselves out here.”
“She’s been in the pub for most of her 68 years and is looking at moving into Crookwell any day soon,” he says.
With no poker machines to fall back on, Stuart knows the key to their hard work and long hours will be their service, one of the reasons why the hotel runs a courtesy bus driven by Stuart or one of his cohorts.
With his sister Sally Galland, who is married to Andrew, an environmental engineer, the pair have taken over the responsibility of the legendary watering hole (another brother, Jeff, is in Ireland). The pub, built in 1924, is still the meeting place for all the locals.
“We need to offer that service and have enjoyable events to draw our patrons back,” he says, like a true publican. Some of the activities include a car rally in February, yabby races in November and the famous mouse races in March.
“There are only about 50 locals in the village but we draw from a large farming community, the tourists and Crookwell, less than five minutes away,” says Margaret, who has seen it all.
These days, people bring their families to enjoy a barbecue out the back on the lush grass. There’s also a tennis court and on weekends there are social games.
Stuart is looking at staging more functions out the back, including weddings, and says his girlfriend will make a great barmaid. “The local farming community is getting older and we no longer have the younger brigade to sustain us,” Stuart says. “It’s an expensive area to get into, and if they haven’t been handed down a property, they’re not going to stick around.” Stuart, wise beyond his years, says the Sydney money coming into the area is good, as they need people to work their properties. He sees a bright future for the pub and is excited about becoming the most important figure in the village! Margaret just laughs as she sums up her youngest boy. “He’s going well and has the right attitude. He grew up in the pub and knows what it takes to make it an ongoing concern.” CWL
Above: Stuart demonstrates his beer-pulling skills to his mother Margaret, who is soon to retire after a lifetime in the historic watering hole.
Renowned for our crisp cold beers, beautiful green gardens and tennis court. Established in the 1920’s this family run, friendly country pub is perfect for BBQ’s and garden functions like weddings and parties. Country pub food available. Peelwood Road Laggan NSW 2583, 02 4837 3208
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REACHING FOR THE
stars WENTWORTH MACQUARIE HILL IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN – ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NOW IN HIS OWN BACKYARD.
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entworth and wife Annette are certainly making things happen at A Country Wedding Binda, the ideal location for a magical wedding and the best excuse yet to make it a destination weekend. Central to the concept of a romantic, country wedding is “The Stables”, a uniquely designed complex overlooking the gentle rolling hills of Binda, near Crookwell, and the picturesque valley beyond.
Here wedding guests can enjoy a romantic and richly layered journey of discovery and delight. The crowning glory of the “The Stables” is the magnificent Mughal Marquee – pure romance with its white tower and draped sides reflecting the exquisite beauty of the Indian Mughal Emperors. Guests enter the courtyard through the “Games Room”, with its full-size and lovingly restored antique champion-size billiard table, Chesterfield sofas, French fireboxes and antique shuttered French windows. Be transported back to a time when life was elegant and graceful. The courtyard can be dressed to suit personal vision and can be draped with chandeliers, reams of fabric or jewel-lit strings of lights (all elements are included in the price). Here your guests can mingle and enjoy the fabulous food and delicious wines. At the appointed time, music will cascade forth and the Master of Ceremonies will announce that it’s time to be seated. The pair of magnificent 250-year-old Oriental 3.5-metre-high temple gates will be swung open to reveal the magical setting within the marquee, with its sides rolled up, letting in the magic of the surrounding land.
That’s why Wentworth and Annette created space for outdoor ceremonies that can be bathed in sunlight or resplendent at sunset with the hills aglow in dancing orange shards. Beautiful historic timber posts have been sunk, interlinked with wrought iron arches. This structure is dressed for a wedding, with draped white cloth and cascading bunches of flowers and greenery. Should inclement weather require a different strategy, the courtyard makes an ideal location for a covered ceremony. Or for smaller weddings, there is the “18 Mile Room” with its early 1800s French armoire and rich tapestry elements, which opens onto the courtyard. If your vision is a church wedding, there are several beautiful and romantic old stone churches in the Binda-Crookwell district, reflecting the early pioneer and pastoralist days from the 1820s. After a church ceremony, it is a lovely meandering drive through the hills to the Binda Valley. At the end of the valley lies their farm, “Spring Hill”.
NEW BEGINNINGS This one big fairytale started in 2004 when the Hills bought a vacant 55-acre block with the most brilliant views.
At the right moment, the MC will announce: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding and welcome Mr and Mrs. . .”
Over the years they designed and built a house of woolshed proportions, with an art gallery feeling. For the inside they wanted an interpretation of a cross between designers Ralph Lauren and Shanghai Tang.
There is something awe-inspiring about viewing beautiful countryside and watching the changing panorama of a sunset, the colours, the light, the breathtaking romance.
The wedding concept came about by accident. They both had successful business developments in Sydney and Asia. A few clients asked Annette if she did weddings. > CROOKWELL CWL 121
“We knew we could create a fascinating drawcard, given that we had already built ‘The Stables’ complex and had found our magnificent marquee (he first saw one in Persia 40 years ago and knew, one day, he’d get one). Already they’ve had nearly 30 weddings with big plans afoot. An 1870 granite farmhouse just down the road originally named “Hillcrest House” has just been expanded threefold. “Hillcrest House” will soon be offered at a five-star level. Beautiful pieces have been sourced globally to suit it. It will be spectacular. “It is positioned for the higher-end Sydney market,” Wentworth says. “The baby boomer market will explode over the next five to 10 years in numbers of retirees with medium-to-big incomes and seeking things to do.”
The Hill family was on the land for more than a century and Wentworth enjoys the connection.
He says you can buy a nice house in Crookwell for 40 per cent or less of what you can currently buy in Sydney. “So for those baby boomers without much super, there is a great opportunity to cash up on your house in Sydney and buy into beautiful Crookwell and live well for the rest of your lives.” Change is coming, he says. “The locals don’t want another Bowral but want Crookwell to be appealing both locally as well as to travellers.” This bloke thinks a million thoughts at once. I ask him about his name. Of course, with a moniker like Wentworth Macquarie Hill you are bound to have a good story to back it up. “The first of my family came out in 1793 as convicts sentenced because of a penchant for dressing up and silver – you know, ‘Stand and Deliver’,” he says with a mad laugh. “William Hill could read and write, which was unusual, and he was pardoned and became head of the Sydney abattoirs. One of his sons became the Sydney Lord Mayor while another son married, along with William Charles Wentworth, two sisters. They were like brothers and that’s how I got the name.” Very interesting. “My grandfather, when he was born, was named Wentworth Macquarie Hill, through the family association with the great explorer and the governor who was a great family friend. I’m the third one with this name.” I ask him about his Sydney work but it’s a difficult question. Following a chance meeting with Sir Warwick Fairfax, Wentworth spent seven years with The Sydney Morning Herald as a leading financial writer and later a political economic writer at Parliament House, Canberra. Another 10 years was spent as a strategic planner in the advertising world, including advising Treasurer Paul Keating on how to resell FBT and tax substantiation. These days he is “identifying gaps in the markets and creating product to fill those gaps”. He is also working as a corporate advisor with venture capitalists. It all sounds rather complex, much like himself. “For 20 years I designed products to go on casino floors, to put the fun and gambling look into slot machines to make them highly appealing,” he says, gaining momentum. 122 CWL CROOKWELL
“I got to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for clients, doing up rooms. It was an interesting world. What it gave me was the ability to run with my vision. We were creating fantasy worlds.” By age 50 he was divorced and had virtually nothing. Around this time, and with a lot of soul searching, Wentworth knew he had to reinvent himself. In the process he met his soul mate and wife, Annette. They’ve been together 16 years and are a formidable team. His describes Annette as an extraordinary, creative soul, with great energy. “She is my true equal partner. Everything we do, we do as equals. She is very special and I’m blessed that our paths crossed.” Annette still runs a Sydney-based company with blue chip clients specialising in events, conferences and communication and is a leader in her field. Wentworth grew up hearing all the yarns passed down from his great grandfather’s day when they owned, at various points, well-known properties like “Mumblebone”, “Buttabone”, “Quambone” and “Ringorah” at Warren. That was on one side. On the other side was “Burrabogie” and “Glencoe” at Hay. The Hill family was on the land for more than a century and Wentworth enjoys the connection. He’s a powerhouse of energy. “The essence of life is living it and creating it. One day I’ll die and I’ll know I did it. I didn’t just dream it.
“I’m getting close to everything I ever wanted but there’s still a load of work to do.” At 66 years, and at a time many are considering retiring, Wentworth is only just warming up. “Life doesn’t stop at 65 – that was an arbitrary number to suit government and employees,” he says in mock horror. “Look at Hilary Clinton, nearly 70 and running for the American presidency.” Wentworth is a confessed capitalist who likes to make things happen. But he does have a soft side. “The essence of our soul is what we have created for others to enjoy,” he says. “A marriage isn’t just about putting a ring on their finger and having a big shindig. It is the opportunity to come together and build a life together. “We’re not in this for the financial gain – I could do that by investing. This is about doing something right and leaving a legacy for others to enjoy. What a way for newly married couples to start their lives with something really poignant, a wedding under the stars at ‘The Stables’. ” The strategic planning arm will open later this year as the “Corporate Foresight Retreat” at Binda. “Great ideas come from the heart, soul and passion for what you are doing, in being commercially relevant and desirable,” he says. “Locked in an office is soul destroying. We will get our clients into spaces to reconnect with their inner powers and passions, to create and deliver.” Wentworth Macquarie Hill is doing it again: making things happen. CWL
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tock and station agent Greg Anderson and his real estate agent wife Jodie took over the business from Greg’s parents, Mick and Jacky Anderson, in about 2000. Heading up the administration side of things is Greg’s sister, Robyn Smart.
There are four stock and station agents in town, down from the dozen or so operating 20 years ago when Greg first started off, with cattle sold each Tuesday in Goulburn and sheep sales conducted the following day. “With the Goulburn yards, however, we’re struggling to compete with numbers and find ourselves selling stock at the bigger centres further afield like Carcoar, Cowra, Moss Vale and Wagga,” Greg says. The business has a good base of local clients who have been raising livestock in the district for generations. “With the unprecedented prices for cattle and prime lambs at the moment, there is a strong incentive for local graziers to supply the ever-growing market,” Greg says. “We’ve got solid numbers of cattle and prime lambs in the district, and with good early rains it’s shaping up to be a good year.”
From GOOD STOCK
IT’S VERY MUCH A FAMILY CONCERN AT ANDERSON STOCK AND STATION AND REAL ESTATE IN CROOKWELL.
It’s a complete package at Andersons, who also sell rural residential properties throughout the district and property manage. Greg and Jodie have three children: Bailey, a Year 12 student who aims to head to AIM (the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney) and youngsters Joseph, 9, and Mia, 8, who loves attending sheep sales with her father. Then there’s Lexi, the family’s Jack Russell, well known for her ability to muster both sheep and cattle, alone and unassisted. She raced at the Binda Jack Russell Cup last year and took home the junior cup for fastest dog on the track. Greg has a large and loyal client base in the agency but also helps Jodie with some of the larger rural property sales.
The Anderson family has been in the agency game since 1975, when Greg’s parents ran the business. While Mick sadly died three years ago, Jacky often drops in to chat with various family members. In Jacky’s day, the business was run without computers. “All the bookwork was done manually, using an old typewriter. Things were very different back in those days, oh yes, indeed they were,” the matriarch says. “As time went on we realised we couldn’t do without computers and I quietly faded into the background.” One thing that hasn’t changed is the friendly, experienced service you’ll find in a business that has played a crucial role in Crookwell’s development for more than 40 years. CWL
The pair are busy and rarely get breaks. In fact their last holiday was a few years ago in Italy and Jodie admits it’s one of the few times she has seen her husband without a phone in his hand! “Crookwell is such a beautiful place, something I didn’t fully understand until I became a real estate agent in 2008,” Jodie says. “New people making their home in the district are always telling me what a wonderful place and lifestyle Crookwell offers, and I have to agree.” 124 CWL CROOKWELL
Above left: It’s a real family affair at Andersons with Greg and wife Jodie (and dog Lexi), Robyn Smart, and the family matriarch, Jacky Anderson. Above: Agent Greg Anderson loves selling livestock.
CROOKWELL
Locally owned and operated by three generations of the Cummins and Anderson Families. The Old Post Office Queen Street, Binda $560,000 The current owners of this beautiful piece of Binda village history have lovingly restored this once Post Office and General Store into a much loved family home. Circa 1875 this blue granite, three bedroom, two bathroom multi-story home comes with a one bedroom and bathroom unit attached, perfect for B & B use. Grounds consist of five acres on nine titles, three road frontages, a new American barn, dam and other infrastructure.
Haven Hill 575 Peelwood Road, Laggan $645,000 If you’re looking for the best of the best, look no further. Situated on 40 acres of undulating to flat grazing, farming land this well-established home away from home really does stand out from the crowd with many luxury touches inside and out. This three bedroom, two bathroom home has a custom built open fire, wrap-around hardwood deck five bay American barn and amazing views.
Office 48 321 056 Livestock Sales | Greg Anderson 0409 921 556 AH 48 322 318 Real Estate | Jodie Anderson 0428 322 318 A H 48 322 318 Email mdjja@goulburn.net.au Visit our new website mdjjanderson.com.au
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Rydal SHOW R
ydal’s 94th show was hailed as a resounding success by organisers. Known as the “biggest little show in the west”, Rydal Show is one of the few remaining country shows held in a bush setting.
Gate numbers exceeded all expectations, even with the overcast and showery conditions that loomed overhead throughout the day. Isabel Hawken was crowned 2016 Rydal Showgirl with Josh Grant claiming the title of Junior Ambassador. Spectators were spoilt for choice with a large variety of stalls to tempt, and the Lithgow City Band and dancers from the Prudence Schwarz Academy of Dance provided entertainment during the day. Entries in the horse section as well as the horticulture, fruit and vegetable sections were up on last year. Judges were most impressed with the high standard of entries in the pavilion, especially the needlework. As usual, the wood chopping, lamb auction, yard dog trials, commercial and stud cattle, horses and goats gave visitors some authentic country memories to cherish for many years to come. Words: Elizabeth Tickle Images: Robert I Bruce 1
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1. Ian Litchfield has been the chief wool steward for 55 years. 2. Lorraine Stack with Opal, the Champion Clydesdale. 3. Joan Hicks with Maisie Scott, Patron of the Rydal Show. 4. Rydal Show Executive, president Brett Radburn, secretary Rachael Young with treasurer David Black.
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5. Layla Cradock competing in pony events. 6. Luke O’Marra competing in the wood chopping. 7. Jenny Cox from Manildra with her dog, Nancy. 8. Mark Glendenning from Camden, winner of the novice harness class. 9. Leigh Scott, chief cattle steward, with his wife Lynda and their children Laura and Izack from Meadow Flat. 10. Jenny Shephard presenting Meghan Porter with the trophy for the Most Successful Junior Cook. 11. Chief horse steward Scott Hadley.
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12. Zoe Cox, Rydal Showgirl 2015, with 2016 finalists Jasmine Perish, Claire Pilbeam and Isabel Hawken, winner of the 2016 Showgirl title. 13. Kristy Wyrzykowski and baby Tomas with Renee Difranco. 14. Sisters Catherine Royal, Sarah Doyle, 2004 Rydal Showgirl, with Suzannah Fuller, 1997 Rydal Showgirl. 15. Helena Leone from Leura with Janet Baker, who was performing in the Lithgow City Band. 16. Ian Rufus, Robert Braat and Carlo Jenson from Rebellion on the Turon.
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BLEAK HOUSE History in the making IT IS RATHER FITTING THAT A MAN WITH EARLY TIES TO MUDGEE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME CUSTODIAN OF BLEAK HOUSE, ONE OF THE TOWN’S OLDEST AND FINEST HOMES ON THE BANKS OF THE CUDGEGONG RIVER.
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We have to take a quick history lesson to truly appreciate the building. Picture the scene in 1834 when the present site of Mudgee, east of the Camping Tree and west of George Cox’s “Burrundulla”, was initially proposed for a village. Prominent grazier and businessman William Blackman, whose parents were district pioneers, was among the first to buy land at the new site in 1838, when 20 allotments bound by Douro, Market, Court and Mortimer streets were auctioned in Sydney.
first slab hut store, which he built on the site where Bleak House now stands. Now it was time to deliver a strong statement that demonstrated his huge belief in the new town, by then boasting a population of 1500. After completion, Bleak House soon acquired the reputation as the largest and most elegant house in the district. The unique name made it even more memorable. It was probably William who came up with the idea, apparently after reading Dickens’s novel, published just seven years earlier. The Blackman family sold out in 1901 but the unusual name stuck as the building served a myriad of purposes. >
Mudgee had just been gazetted as a village and declared a municipality in 1860, making it the second town settled west of the Great Dividing Range. William owned Mudgee’s first hotel and the
Right: John Kellett, part owner of Bleak House, relaxing on the verandah.
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amed after Charles Dickens’s ninth novel, the imposing house of Georgian proportions is one of only a few two-storeyed houses within town to have survived the 19th century.
HERITAGE
Bleak House soon acquired the reputation as the largest and most elegant house in the district. The unique name made it even more memorable.
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In 1921 Mudgee grazier Henry Hunter White of “Havilah” offered the house to the Church of England for use as a girls’ hostel and in 1928 gifted the property to the church. The hostel closed in 1935 and the property was sold and subsequently subdivided. A cottage near the entrance and the former coach house and stables were now on separate titles. After WW2 the house was divided into four flats. In 1981 new owners Barry and Enid Doherty began a massive renovation and restoration program to bring the building back to a single dwelling. Fortunately, many of the original features were intact – the grand stair hall and cornices, architraves, skirtings, doors, windows and French doors. Restoring the place to its former glory fell in the hands of cabinet maker Barry, who personally undertook most of the restoration work and was responsible for establishing the gardens. Subsequent owners continued to enhance the house and expand the garden. Bleak House then functioned as an upmarket Bed and Breakfast until being purchased by John Kellett and partner Bronwyn Sams in late 2007.
Bleak House is near Mudgee’s town centre and only a short walk to the attractive colonial buildings on Market Street, which testify to the region’s early prosperity.
These days the boutique accommodation is no longer offered but it’s still a beautiful home, with four bedrooms, three with access to the enormous verandah wrapped around the front of the house and a fourth overlooking the swimming pool at the rear. The verandah is the place to be at sundown, when birds bathe in the garden’s fountain and you can watch shadows drift across the blue-green hills beyond Mudgee. Bleak House is near Mudgee’s town centre and only a short walk to the attractive colonial buildings on Market Street, which testify to the region’s early prosperity. A smattering of deli-cafes and restaurants suggests this wine country capital is pretty sure of its place in the world.
PIONEERING FAMILY It was appropriate that a member of the Kellett family bought one of the oldest homes in Mudgee. There are many long-standing family names associated with Mudgee that still abound today, the Kelletts being among them. Hardy pioneer William Kellett was the first on the scene in 1859, creating a department store for all the gold prospectors of the day. It was to stay within the family for a remarkable 140 years. The store was only closed in 2003, by great, great-grandson John, to make way for Woolworths. After 30 years of working in the family business, John could see the writing on the wall and sold up to enable the establishment of the big department store. For several years he ran a small stockfeed business, Kellett’s Produce, before buying historic Bleak House in partnership with Bronwyn nearly a decade ago. The pair continued to run the place as a prestigious B&B for three years before reverting it back to a private residence for only the third time in 155 years. According to John, it’s a lovely house to live in. With the outside walls three bricks thick, the place is well insulated. “It’s cool in summer, and also in winter,” he adds with a grin. With three sons (in the army, finance and landscape gardening fields), John can’t predict the future of Bleak House, a house he has grown to love in his early retirement. After 17 former owners, John and Bronwyn were thrilled to witness Bleak House’s 150th anniversary in 2010. Official celebrations involved a welcome speech by John, a historical summary by John Broadley (author of Historic Houses of Mudgee ) and an explanation of the significance of the name “Bleak House” by local bookshop owner and historian Col Jones. Col’s daughter, Lilly, concluded the official celebrations by reading excerpts from the novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Whichever way you look at it, Bleak House is an odd name for such a historically important building. This place, like the owners, is anything but bleak. At least it makes a good starting point for conversation. And an ending one. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake
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contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all types of air conditioning systems, both Dubbo office residential and commercial. We supply 3/55 Douglas Mawson Rd and install cool rooms of any size and Dubbo NSW 2830 application. contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all (02) 6885 2254 We a 24 systems, hour, day a week out types of of air airhave conditioning systems,7both both Dubbocall office types conditioning Dubbo office residential and commercial. commercial. We supply supply residential and service for your We peace of mind. You can 3/55Douglas Douglas MawsonRd Rd 3/55 Mawson and install cool rooms of any size and and install cool rooms of any size and rely on Chill-Rite to meet all you air DubboNSW NSW2830 2830 Orange office application. Dubbo application. (02) 6885 2254 conditioning Refrigeration needs Wehave have 24hour, hour,77day dayand week callout out (02) 6885 2254 in We aa24 aaweek call 2/99-101 Elsham Ave service for your peace of mind. You can servicethe for your peace West of mind.this You summer. can Central rely on on Chill-Rite Chill-Rite toto meet meet all all you you air air Orangeoffice office Orange NSW 2800 rely Orange conditioning and Refrigeration needs in conditioning and Refrigeration needs in 2/99-101 Elsham Ave 2/99-101 Elsham Ave Orange office theCentral CentralWest Westthis thissummer. summer. Dubbo office (02) 6361 4442 the OrangeNSW NSW2800 2800 Orange 2/99-101 Elsham Ave 3/55 Douglas Mawson Rd contact@chill-rite.com.au contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all (02)6361 63614442 4442 Orange NSW 2800 (02) Dubbo NSW 2830 types of air conditioning systems, both Dubbo office2254 (02) 6361 4442 (02) 6885 residential and commercial. We supply ARCDouglas No: AU25083 Refrig Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729C 3/55 No: AU25083 Refrig Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729CMawson Rd No: AU25083 Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729C and install cool rooms of anyARCARCsize and Refrig Dubbo NSW 2830 application. 142 CWL (02) 6885 2254 We have a 24 hour, 7 day a week call out
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Servicing the www.chill-rite.com.au Central West
At Countryman Motor Inn our service is paramount, enuring your stay is an enjoyable one. Relax after your journey at the Lions Pride Cafe and Restaurant, the perfect setting to catch up with family and friends. The Lions Pride will make all your occasions special with friendly service and a wide variety of tantalising meals. The Lions Pride Restaurant is open 7 nights a week, cooking from 5.30pm till late. 47 Cobra St, Dubbo Countryman Ph. (02) 6882 7422 The Lions Pride Ph (02) 6884 3333 countrymandubbo@bigpond.com
www.countrymandubbo.com.au
Narromine’s Residential
www.thelionspride.com.au
Skypark
Where you’re not just buying a lot... you’re buying a lifestyle Build your house and hangar on your own block of land at Narromine Aerodrome with taxiway access from your backyard
FULLY OTS L ICEowDer, water, V R E S p
gas ding tural Inclu d na n a r sewe incl.) (GST
FROM
00 110,0
$
•
Totally unrestricted aerodrome
•
No landing fees
•
Two sealed runways
•
Walking distance to town centre
•
18 hole golf course next door
•
New Aviation Museum
•
Modern club house with restaurant and bar facilities
•
Clean and green country lifestyle
ONLY 8 LOTS LEFT!
CONTACT: Narromine Shire Council - Robyn Ryan P: 02 6889 9999 F: 02 6889 9998 E: mail@narromine.nsw.gov.au W: www.narromine.nsw.gov.au CWL 143
Breaking THE MOULD IF YOU EVER WONDERED WHERE ALL THOSE AMAZING LIFE-SIZE ANIMALS AT THE TARONGA WESTERN PLAINS ZOO CAME FROM, WONDER NO MORE! THEY COME FROM A WILD SPACE IN THE HEAD OF A MAN WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF PATIENCE, SKILL AND IMAGINATION.
T
im Johnman has shaped dozens of animals, including rhinos, elephants and lions, with many of his works ending up as prize exhibits at the Taronga and Western Plains zoos.
The work for Sydney’s famed Taronga Zoo commenced in 1996, with Tim making interpretative displays and some very large elephant mouldings, each strong enough for kids to crawl over. It was a far cry from his earlier work in the props department of The Sydney Theatre Company and fitting out the foyers of top hotels and casinos. Within a few years of getting the gig with the zoo, he dropped all his Sydney-based work and brought his favourite clients, like the National Parks, zoos and hospital playgrounds to Lithgow. Tim’s been working at the old Lithgow Pottery for the past 18 years and his workshop has to be seen to be believed. Such is the life of a sculptor! “In Sydney I shared a single-car garage with two others for my workshop and here I am in this rambling old pottery with unlimited space. That’s what brought me here – this building, which I fell in love with the moment I saw it,” he says with a grin. Despite having a Visual Arts degree under his belt, there was never any guarantee of a job. “At the time everybody told us to never expect a job, especially if you weren’t prepared to teach,” he says, as he continues on his latest project. “I was a dreadful student but as far as I know, I’m one of the few who actually found work.” Thanks to his engaging personality and wonderful creations, this sculptor has been busy for years, a feat Tim attributes to Lithgow’s lower overheads while being able to feed off “Sydney money”. 144 CWL
Most jobs involve the use of expensive materials, like cast stainless steel, and require countless hours of refinement and commitment. Some commissions, like the six-metre centipede, take months to complete. “It’s really impressive when I get to see kids gobsmacked in the playground. It makes all the endless hours of work worthwhile,” he says. Tim admits working as a sculptor is not as glamorous as it sounds. “There’s really only a 10 per cent ‘sweet spot’ where you’re being arty,” he says candidly. “After that it’s all moulding, casting, spray painting, grinding, sanding and painting – not all that different, really, from a panel beater. People who work in a bank and paint on weekends probably get more creative time than I do.” Assisted by his partner Sarah who runs the office from home, and with two school-age children, Tim also enjoys undertaking smaller jobs, like frogs and other wildlife, which are sold to mostly councils and parks. You’ll also find his sculptures at Manly, with his work on display at the walk on Shelly Beach, while other pieces take pride of place on the picturesque walk from Bondi to Bronte and the new Three Sisters Lookout. “My whole family have moved here and now my brother’s mates are moving here after attending a barbecue and seeing what Lithgow has to offer,” he says, as he settles in for another long afternoon working on his latest creation. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake
Above: A work in progress and one of Tim’s completed sculptures. Facing page: Tim in his workshop at the old Lithgow pottery.
“In Sydney I share d with two others fo
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Call and speak to one of our friendly team today.
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The next chapter for
COURTYARD
A
nne and Graham Bush have been working in the architectural design and construction industry for more than 45 years, building houses on the North Shore and Northern Beaches of Sydney and 33 years in the Bathurst and surrounding districts. It wasn’t easy finding the architectural elements they needed for the homes they were building, so they started making their own quality pieces. It started with just window sills and threshold steps. It wasn’t long before other owners and builders were wanting these elements for their own building projects. The product range expanded to include structural concrete columns, fence pillars, capping and all types of pier caps. After getting this range of products established, Graham identified there wasn’t a good-quality lightweight cement moulding for external building enhancement, so he set out to design and invent their own.
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It took three years of research, development and trials before they were happy that they had a product that was easy to use, cut with wood working tools, didn’t rot, was bird proof, resisted white ant attack and that wouldn’t burn. A range of reconstituted limestone products has also been created to cater for the French and Tuscan-style farmhouse design. These include paving, fireplace surrounds, gate entry pillars, wall panels, wall blocks and mouldings just to name a few.
Artist metal fabrication has always been a part of Courtyard Architectural Mouldings and Decor’s service with products such as pavilions, wrought iron gates and fencing, furniture, mirrors, doors and a range of designer lights, all of which are available through their new retail decorator outlet and outdoor display yard in 50 Keppel Street, Bathurst. With owners, Anne and Graham Bush retiring, there is an excellent opportunity to take on the reins of this innovative and creative business. CWL Enquiries (factory and retail): Phone Anne on 6332 5299.
Your home, your lifestyle.
Building your new home just the way you like it is surprisingly easy. Call or visit us today to find out more.
Get in touch today. 118 Erskine St, Dubbo NSW 2830 Call us on 6882 4333 or visit gjgardner.com.au
Bellisimo is filled with creative ideas, products and giftware sourced from around the world. The range includes superb homewares, candles, lighting, furniture, prints and rugs to allow your home to become a reflection of your personality. We also focus on décor and furniture for outdoor living spaces. Our retail space houses a beautiful selection of women’s clothes, jewellery, handbags, and a quality collection of eclectic giftware for the new baby.
131 - 141 Clarinda St, Parkes P: 6862 4002 E: haysgifts@bigpond.com
Bellisimo also sells Josophans’ Fine Chocolates, created and produced in Leura in the Blue Mountains. 27 Main St, Lithgow NSW 2790 | Phone: 02 6352 1881 Bellisimo.com.au CWL 149
linen
IN LOVE WITH
SITTING AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE ROOM ARE NATURAL FIBRES AND SYNTHETICS. WHERE DO YOU SIT?
T
here is no argument in my opinion. Natural fibres surpass synthetics in terms of quality and aesthetics. And linen, which actually improves with time, is one of the best natural materials for decorating, craft and everyday use. And for all those folk living in the Central West, a vote of confidence in our primary producers! Linen fabric is woven from the flax plant. It became one of the mainstays of the textile world dating back as far as 5000 BC and was used extensively in Europe and Egypt. Today it still holds its position as one of the world’s most popular fibres. The finest linen is still made in Europe today, but it is also produced worldwide. Do you have a favourite linen piece? When in Tuscany last year I was fortunate enough to visit many eclectic boutiques that stocked linen. When standing in front of an intimate and cosy store resplendent with linen, floor to ceiling, it was a sight to behold. Pictured top right is one of the hand-made linen tablecloths that found its way into my suitcase. Exquisitely designed and executed, with its colourful array of knives, forks and spoons, this linen is a work of art. Linen is extremely versatile. It can be made as fine as dainty handkerchief linen or heavy and durable for upholstery. Linen is very strong, both absorbent and sunlight-resistant, making it a hard-wearing fibre that will stand the ravages of time and the wear and tear that families inevitably inflict. It is also an easy-care fibre, making it ideal for couches and sofas. Resilient and aesthetically pleasing, linen is the ideal fibre for home decorating. There is little that can beat linen for its beauty, touch and durability.
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HOME & STYLE
Linen has a naturally slubbed finish, which is a slight unevenness of the threads. Far from being a flaw, this adds character to the fabric and makes it perfect for rustic, casual, country-style interiors. It is advisable to select coarser linens, where the slub is more noticeable, for high-activity areas such as the family room, and finer linens for curtains and pieces of furniture that are less frequently used. Due to linen’s versatility, it is an ideal fibre to use in crafts. Embroiderers and cross-stitchers frequently use it as it is an easy medium to work on and gives beautiful results.
T H E T R AD I T I O N AL B R I DAL T R O U S S E A U X C O N TAI N E D ENOUGH LINEN TO LAST A B R I D E AN D H E R FAM I LY A L I F E T I M E.
Historically, linen was widely used to make the articles in brides’ trousseaux – hence, the generic term “linen” to describe household essentials such as the bed sheets, towels and tablecloths. The traditional bridal trousseaux contained enough linen to last a bride and her family a lifetime and included sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins, tea towels, doilies and more. They were often exquisitely embroidered and beautifully finished with fine detailing. Many women, however, were reluctant to use the contents of their trousseaux, deeming these exquisite pieces too good for everyday use. As a result, antique linens are still widely available today. Popular with our country readers would be linen doilies. A perennial favourite for use on the dresser, as a base for the jewellery box or on the buffet and hutch with a vase of flowers on top. Pictured on the facing page are several antique doilies that belonged to my dear 88-yearold neighbour’s mother. Even the flowers I have used to style the photographs are from her garden to give the complete picture of how utterly refined this woman is. How divine! Linen is the perfect starting point for creating a fresh, white colour scheme. The bedroom is the ideal setting for using fine linens. Beautifully soft bed linen creates an inviting environment to curl up in at night. As it “breathes” well, linen is a natural air conditioner, cooling the body in hot weather and helping retain warmth in the cold. Add a few touches of colour to bring your room to life. A colourful patchwork quilt folded on the end of the bed and the rich tones of timber furniture are perfect companions, particularly for our country decorators. Pictured left are 100% linen limited edition tea towels by photographer Kara Rosenlund, which are going to be framed. Let the versatility and quiet elegance of linen inspire a naturally beautiful approach to decorating your home. From tea towels to trousseaux, linen enjoys a heritage that was once humble and grand. Today it takes its place nearly everywhere in the home – for upholstery, curtains and bedding as well as clothing, even artworks. Why not fall in love with linen all over again. What is hiding in your “linen” cupboard that could be salvaged and given new life?
Words, styling and images: Pip Teys
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Crampton’s bring the store to your door For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van. Call us today to have one of our consultants arrange an appointment within your home FREE of charge. Servicing Dubbo and the Western area. Or call in and visit our showroom and friendly sales team.
The
General Store by Chalk N Cheese
44 Lovell St, Young NSW 2594 02 6382 3515
62 Hawthorn St, Dubbo | Tel: 02 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au
NARELLAN POOLS WESTERN PLAINS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP Locally operated since 1989 Large range of great shapes and sizes of fibreglass inground swimming pools and spas. Fully installed or Kit options
GIVE US A CALL SO WE CAN HAVE YOU SWIMMING THIS SUMMER!
OBLIGATION FREE QUOTES
Install over Winter
SERVICING: Robert Everdell | robert@everdellconstruction.com.au
M: 0427 020 067 152 CWL
| P: 02 6382 7558
Dubbo, Narromine, Mudgee, Nyngan, Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Cobar and surrounding areas
Monday- Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-12pm Shop 1/ 31 Bultje Street Dubbo
FOR GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY CALL US
02 6884 3117
Don’t let a butcher put the chop on your next renovation or building project. He might do good steaks, but we craft GREAT homes and renovations! Do you have an unusual or difficult job that is beyond other builders? We love coming along side you, our customer, grasping your vision and creating your masterpiece.
Call us NOW to discuss your next project Phone: 02 6372 4200
Family owned and operated since 1954 Servicing Mudgee and surrounding districts
www.jkbuilders.com.au
Kitchens - Laundries - War dr obes - Stone Benches Vanities - Floating Floor s - Commer cial Joiner y For the best value custom and flat pack kitchens 28 Hawthorn Street, Dubbo Phone 6884 1292
23 Timor Street, Coonabarabran Phone 6842 2788
www.krc.com.au
112 Dalton Street, Orange Phone 6360 0505
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winter
WARMING TO
B
rrrrrrrr! Winter has arrived again. This year, rather than dread winter, I’ve decided to be more upbeat about the cooler season and embrace it with a different attitude.
This winter, I intend to cure any winter blues by ensuring my home is decked out with essential cosy comforts. Read on and see how I plan on ensuring that my home becomes a winter haven both indoors and outdoors, throughout the coldest season of the year. While I do love colour, I also love white with a passion, and styling your home with white homewares is one way of keeping those dark, dreary days at bay. No need to be completely blanketed in white, though, adding in several layers such as a seam of black and white or a glimmer of gold will add interest and have the space on fire. Here are my 10 must-have cosy winter essentials, which I recommend in order to beat the winter gloom.
BED
WHITE DECORATIVE OBJECT
If you’re anything like me, I crave bedtime in winter. Snuggling under the soft covers in my flannelette pyjamas is so blissful, particularly when your covers are quality and luxurious. I love Sheridan’s Deluxe Dream Micro-Fibre Bed Topper on my bed, you feel like you are sleeping on a cloud even if you already own a pillow-top mattress.
An eye-catching sculptural artichoke (above) can keep you company while you are waiting for the sun’s rays to intensify once more. I love the textural element of the leaves and how it can be styled with just about anything in my home.
WHITE COTTON SHEETS While still under the covers, I think that keeping things simple in the bedroom is definitely a winning strategy, and soft cotton sheets are an essential. Some luxurious 235-thread count Sheridan sheets are the perfect choice for simple and classic style.
SOFT FAUX FUR THROW Winter is most definitely the season for faux fur. This gorgeous throw (pictured) will add instant glamour to your home. And who couldn’t use a little bit of glam during those chilly winter months?
TEXTURAL CUSHION Consider a cow-hide cushion or two. You will want to curl up with these super soft pillows all season long! Introduce this eclectic look to your home by adding a few of these pillows to your bed or sofa. They’ll help you stay cosy until spring arrives.
WHITE BATH TOWELS White luxurious towels in the bathroom help to create a calming, sanctuary-like space. I can’t go past Sheridan’s super-absorbent, soft bath towels, which are perfect for drying off after a long, hot shower on a cold winter’s night.
CANDLE Most CWL readers probably know by now I love my candles and this winter my favourite fragrance is Ecoya Decadence Paris-Josephine. With crisp, zesty opening notes of citrus and green leaves developing in a warm floral heart, Paris-Josephine ultimately settles into a lush, creamy base of sandalwood, vanilla and musk, making it a very sensual scent. Perfect for red wine by a roaring fireplace.
COFFEE MUG Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned hot drink on a cold day to cheer the mood and warm the bones? I love my 24-carat gold and white stripe coffee mug by Cristina Re. Not only does it look good, but it also seems to make the coffee taste that much better (or is that my husband’s barista skills?).
OUTDOOR GAS PATIO HEATER I absolutely adore our outdoor gas heater in stainless steel as it totally transforms our outdoor living area into a functional entertaining space that is perfect for cooler days and nights. The outside temperature can be in single figures, and this little gem gives off enough heat for a party of 12 to remain warm and comfy around the outdoor table. Just have a spare gas bottle close by. Wishing everyone a wonderful winter filled with warm hearts and flame-filled moments.
WHITE DINNER SETTING Giving your dining table the ultimate, elegant makeover couldn’t be simpler when utilising a stunning white dinner setting. As you may be dining indoors more over the colder months, it’s a great idea to exchange your current daily crockery for a look that is clean, classic and timeless. 154 CWL
Words, styling and images: Pip Teys
Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn is a family run business
spanning four generations. We have a 45 year history of manufacturing sheepskin boots and two generations of wool classers - so we’re not just your average retailer, we know sheepskin inside out.
At Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn we stock Thomas Cook and Wrangler Clothing for all ages, Moda Immagine ladies fashion and RM Williams Stockyard. We have a wide range of boots and leather accessories for the colts and fillies too, in all the latest styles and colours to keep you looking great.
4601 Mitchell Highway, Lucknow 2800 OPEN 7 days 9:00 to 5:30 Phone orders welcome 02 6365 5330 Visit www.lucknowskinshop.com.au if you just can’t make it in-store.
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PERSONALITY THIS STUNNING MILLTHORPE HOME IS COOL, CALM AND CLASSIC COUNTRY.
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plus
HOME & STYLE
I
t is no surprise that Kristy Withers has great style. She is the founder of Incy Interiors, a designer bedroom furniture company specialising in furniture for little and big people. Her clear eye for style is reflected in the décor of her cool country home. Kristy and her husband, Simon, left the buzz and hum of Sydney to raise their children, Oscar (7) and Polly (4), in the beautiful heritage town of Millthorpe. It is a unique village, entirely classified by the heritage trust and not far from the sheep farm near Oberon where Kristy grew up. Kristy describes their home as a classic country house with a twist of cool. The kitchen and living areas boast a beautiful natural colour palette with lots of texture in the form of leather, animal skins and perfectly placed greenery, which brings warmth into the space. Her clean and concise styling allows her statement pieces, the deer head and large Urban Road horse print, to take centre stage. Kristy has a soft spot for items with sentimental value, but the dining table is particularly special to her and Simon. It was their first “grown up” purchase together and something she says they will keep forever, in the hope of passing it onto their children one day. Every bedroom in the house contains a bed from the Incy Interiors range, not just Oscar and Polly’s rooms. The spare room welcomes guests with a muted colour scheme of pale pink and duck egg blue, combined with subtle spots and stripes. Polly’s room is a little girl’s dream with lots of happy colours and fun décor pieces, like the colourful garland that hangs on her wall. Oscar’s room is ideal for a growing young man, featuring blues and greys with accents of black. His four-poster bed gives the room a feeling of structure and strength. In the main bedroom, natural light pours in through the white blinds, highlighting the shine from the stunning metallic bed. A perfectly composed Kara Rosenlund horse print and sheepskin throw from Society of Wanderers add the finishing touches to create a peaceful retreat to retire to at the end of the day. Kristy has some great advice for those decorating their homes: “Your home is your sanctuary, so don’t be afraid to pop in random pieces, as it will give your home personality. Secondly, spend as much as you can afford on furniture pieces that will stand the test of time and then use inexpensive items such as cushions, blankets and accessories to style the space.” Sound advice for anyone wanting to create a stylish home in a practical and affordable way. CWL Words: Amanda O’Sullivan Images: Jessica Condon
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Plainsman Motel 22 Sheriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 comforbes@exemail.com.au Reception Hours: Mon to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat to Sun 8am - 9pm
• Free Wi-Fi available • Room From $ 108 • Two Bedroom Flat $ 180 • Disable Room Available
RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday: Breakfast 7am – 9am | Saturday and Sunday: Breakfast 8am – 9am
Hearty f d baskets. art from the heart. friends that are country at heart. heart racing adventures are waiting for you in Forbes. ART TRAIL HERITAGE TRAIL FOOD EXPERIENCE NATURE EXPERIENCE FISHING & CANOE TOURS OUTBACK DROVING TOURS
CALL 02 6852 4155
www.finditinforbes.com.au
CATRIONA GLANVILLE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Innovative, sustainable garden design Central-West NSW • D.A & C.C Plans T. 02 6343 8288 E. info@outscape.net.au
www.outscape.net.au 158 CWL
B&B of beauty, space and serenity A wonderful discovery...The original Brewery Manor at Oakley Park, Lithgow is an 1880s historic house lovingly restored to a majestic residence and offered as a B&B by Stasia and Gabe Very as your hosts. 1 Brewery Lane Oakley Park NSW 2790 | 02 6352 2805 | 0425 286 649 | stasiavery@gmail.com
4.5 STAR WINERY 2015 James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for wine tasting and sales. Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe / phone 02 6366 3444 11am to 5pm Friday to Monday / angullong.com.au
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Natural wonders T
he vast landscape of our beautiful country provides constant inspiration for designers and creatives alike – the earthy tones of the dirt, the deep blue of the sea and sky and those creatures that thrive off this landscape. I love the natural collaborative synergy between us and the land, particularly when it comes to the use of natural materials in fashion. Compiled by Ali Wanchap-Wood
M O H AI R
L E AT H E R
From the angora goat, mohair is a long, lustrous fibre that has a soft and distinctive handle, with great durability. Widely used in the home as blankets and furnishings, this lovely fibre can also be worn with great enjoyment.
A finely crafted leather item can last a lifetime. A classic handbag that will stand the test of time is a fashion item continually coveted. For longevity, seek leather goods based on timeless design and craftsmanship, like this stunning handmade Saddler & Co bag.
Ponchos are an easy to wear winter fashion item.
SCARF St Albans Oregon Scarf, Pure Mohair $64.95 www.stalbans.com.au
PONCHO St Albans Granite Poncho, Pure Alpaca $269 www.stalbans.com.au 160 CWL
TOTE Saddler & Co The Market Tote, Nutmeg Leather $450 www.saddlerandco.com.au (0419 496 834)
FASHION
MERINO WOOL This fibre boasts a myriad of beautiful benefits, including its seductive softness next to the skin. Merino fibres are extremely fine, enabling them to bend far more than traditional, coarser wool fibres. This makes Merino wool feel soft and luxuriously gentle next to your skin. Opt for a superfine knitted sweater that you can layer with ease.
JUMPER Avery Jumper, Cockatoo 100% Superfine Australian Merino Wool $299 www.judeaustralia.com
JUMPER Pippin Jumper, Slate 100% Superfine Australian Merino Wool $299 www.judeaustralia.com
COAT Megan Zip Coat, Denim 100% Australian Merino Wool $549 www.cablemelbourne.com.au
CREW Superfine Bobble Crew, Nectar 100% Australian Superfine Merino Wool $269 www.cablemelbourne.com.au
CASHMERE Deriving from the cashmere goat, this fibre has a reputation the world over as the ultimate luxurious fibre. Cashmere provides natural, lightweight insulation without bulk, and even better, it doesn’t wrinkle. The must-have item for fashionable globetrotters is a classic cashmere scarf.
SCARF Cable Scarf, Oatmeal 100% Superfine Australian Merino Wool $229 www.judeaustralia.com
A great travel accessory Cashmere doesn’t wrinkle! JUMPER Cashwool Jumper, Ash Grey Cashmere Wool $299 www.cablemelbourne.com.au
SCARF Yum Cashmere Essential Plain Wide Scarf, Heather Grey 100% Cashmere $189 www.yumcashmere.com.au CWL 161
CLASSIC ST YLES FOR WINTER Audrey Avenue JACINTA tan, black, navy grey $210
clothing for the real woman www.respectfully.com.au
Audrey Avenue AKUNA red, bluette, black $210 Audrey Avenue ALICE blue, black, brown $269 Audrey Avenue AFRICA black, dark grey, tan $229
Range of casual and after 5 wear for the real woman - sizes 10 - 30 We also stock a range of bags, Sakroot, Cobb & Co, Cenzoni and Journey to name a few. Hats, fascinators and jewellery. Extensive range of shoes including Hinako, Isabella, Florance and Cabello. Great range of boots for all shapes and sizes for winter.
Audrey Avenue HISTORY tan, navy, black $219
Bathurst 94 William Street ● Dubbo 174 Macquarie Street Orange 171 Summer Street ● Tamworth 284 Peel Street Wagga Wagga 56 Baylis Street ● Call 6332 3822 for a catalogue! www.easylivingfootwear.com.au FIND US ON FACEBOOK! 162 CWL
*Conditions apply.
MENTION THIS AD FOR $10 OFF YOUR PURCHASE! *
Respectfully | 104 Main Street, Lithgow | 02 6351 4337
karyn@respectfully.com.au | www.respectfully.com.au
164 Boorowa St, Young
02 6382 2795 www.littlecherrytree.com.au check us out on facebook and instagram
Bridge View Inn 28 - 30 Louee St, Rylstone NSW 0409 564 747 Open Friday to Monday 10am - 4pm conventandchapel@gmail.com conventandchapelwool.com
Artisan yarns for discerning knitters
An unanticipated pleasure for knitters - premium yarns, accessories and hand knits.
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dress this HOUSE
R
unning her fingers over her grandmother’s brocade lounge, Maryann Young was first awakened to the world of textiles. The texture and the design inspired what would become Maryann’s livelihood. Further cementing her interest was Maryann’s talented seamstress mother. With a mixture of fondness and bemusement, Maryann recalls the many dresses that her mother lovingly sewed for her and her sister, always in matching fabric. Owner of Material World Orange and Mudgee, Maryann has shifted the business direction in recent times, having seen the need to delve further into the interior design market. “People are generally time poor these days. Many home skills are now dying with the generation previous, and people are looking for services that will ultimately achieve ‘the look’ without weighing on them personally,” she says. With curtains, blinds and soft furnishings Material World’s specialty, Maryann stays on trend with her continual industry research. Though often a mistaken addiction, Maryann assures that her many hours spent on social media platforms, such as Pinterest, and the numerous style magazines adorning her living space, are all part of remaining at the top of her game in modern design. Maryann, who loves attending industry trade fairs, has her finger on the textile pulse. “We look through fabric samples and know exactly what our customers will like. It’s our business to know,” she says. CWL Words: Catherine Player Images: Robert I Bruce
Above: Holly Fitzsimon, Rachael Gauel, Kylie Cummins, Maryann Young and Brittany Carey-Speirs. 164 CWL
AN EYE FOR style T
he Closet Cowra is a collection of high-end fashion labels set to test the strongest female resolve.
The nucleus of this fashion hub is active community participant Ruth Fagan. Ruth’s enthusiasm for Cowra and life in general is infectious. With a passion for both people and clothing, Ruth’s customer service skills have an appealing and distinguished air of old world. “I like to help people find clothes they love. I encourage them to try lots of things on. Often the locals take items to try on in the comfort of their own home. It’s really just old-fashioned retailing,” she says. Ruth’s professional experience is vast. Having owned several local businesses in the past, Ruth’s current activities rival the busiest executive’s schedule. Some of these include: local council member; chairman of The Festival committee; an executive officer for The Western Division of Councils NSW; CWA member; and a board member for The Cowra Showground Trust, Local Government NSW and Regional Development Australia. It is a dizzying list of commitment, but Ruth explains that she is simply high on life. The evidence of this energy can be seen in her current business conduct. With a database of more than 600 customers, Ruth remains in contact via text message, Facebook and mail and prides herself on an all-inclusive business demographic. “I cater for people from 16 to 102,” Ruth says. Paying tribute to her three daughters’ valuable buying advice and to her fantastic staff members, Ruth says the reason for The Closet’s ongoing success is simple. “I have the opportunity to afford locals with beautiful clothes and I just love it!” CWL Words: Catherine Player
the
closet cowra full full of ofclothes clothesand andaccessories accessories
Yarra Trail • Clothing Company • Marco Polo Foil • Goondiwindi Cotton • Nouvelle • Gordon Smith Ping Pong • Hammock and Vine • Jump • Corfu
Catering for sizes up to 22 OPEN Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm Shop 2 / 37 Macquarie St, Cowra 2794 02 6342 2478, thecloset@bigpond.com CWL 165
Opened in April 2014, eclectic Orange offers a unique shopping experience, inspired by one-off original pieces including furniture, homewares, clothing, accessories, collectables and more. With 50% of our stock sourced locally, you’re sure to find your very own style amidst the stores range of retro, vintage, industrial, Art Deco, and contemporary wares.
new & salvaged
Open 6 days Mon-Fri 10-5pm Sat 10-3pm 188 Anson St, Orange | 6360 0437 eclecticstoreorange@gmail.com
The Loft
Large range of scarves to suit all occasions Largest range of hats and fascinators in the South West Slopes Handbags and jewellery Fantastic range of co-ordinate leisurewear Cocktail, evening and mother-of-the-bride outfits
The Loft has the variety, style and practical clothing to suit sizes 8 - 24. Surrounded by great cafes come in and browse. 144 Boorowa St, Young
166 CWL
“One stop shopping”
Fashion House
•
6382 1533
Black Pepper Yarra Trail Gordon Smith Goondiwindi Cotton Corfu Fine Merino Knitwear by Slade, Harp & Dublin, Bridge and Lord.
“A complete shopping ex perience”
Orange’s finest luxury retreat for discerning couples. • Superbly appointed suites with private entrances, full ensuite facilities, king size beds. • Stunning uninterrupted, panoramic rural views. • Savour the tranquillity and beauty of 11 hectares of landscaped gardens, fields and orchards. • Featuring full cooked breakfast with the best of local produce prepared by chef Annette. • Close to town, restaurants, wineries, golf clubs and recreational parks and gardens.
69 Wrights Lane, Orange NSW 2800 Phone: (02) 6365 3305 www.arancia.com.au
CWL 167
Paradise FOUND
THE RIGOURS OF REALITY ARE A WORLD AWAY WHEN YOU’RE HOLIDAYING ON HAMILTON ISLAND.
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C
lose your eyes and transport yourself to paradise, a tropical island destination where the sun beams brightly, the ocean sparkles like diamonds and you are reclined under a curved palm tree right on the beach, complete with swimwear, Camilla silk kaftan, bare feet sipping a French cosmopolitan cocktail out of a coconut. The sounds of waves lapping at the beach are omnipresent as are the smells of saltwater and sunblock. The fringe of your beach towel has left a soft raked pattern on the bleached white sand. A new-release novel is by your side and as you sip your refreshment your son whispers in your ear, “Thank you, Mum, for this lovely tropical paradise holiday”. This is not a dream. This was my second day on Hamilton Island off the coast of Airlie Beach, Queensland.
TRAVEL
I think everyone can relate to a beach holiday. We all understand how relaxing and soul-replenishing a trip to the seaside can be. Layer in a spot of air travel (with no delays) to an island destination where there are no cars or traffic, just golf buggies to get you to all points on the island. Already, the mood has calmed significantly, and you haven’t even checked into your accommodation. Once there, with the most spectacular views overlooking Dent Island, Henning Island and extending all the way out to the Whitsunday Islands, from a very generous verandah, the holiday mood is under way, and it is incredible! For our week-long stay on Hamilton Island, we chose to stay at “Shorelines” apartments, which have 180-degree views across the Coral Sea. Each day the water was different, the sky a unique colour and the activity on the water ever changing. On the water were 100-foot cruising yachts, catamarans transporting travellers to the world-renowned Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, fishing boats, sailing boats, jet boats, jet skiers and kayakers. The water was constantly alive with action. Every morning, we were greeted by sulphurcrested cockatoos. They would land on our verandah and check us out. One morning I counted eight cockatoos all lined up to take a gawk at what was going on inside, or to scavenge for leftover barbecue meat? They were friendly and keen to interact, bemusing really. They also appeared to enjoy nibbling
on placemats if left unattended! It was very Australian and very natural. There is something for everyone on Hamilton Island. Even if you don’t want the exhaustive variety of water sports, you can play 18 holes of golf on Dent Island or have fun with the go-karts (my husband was lapped at least four times by my son). One tip is to take advantage of the many walks on the island. Passage Peak was our first trek. A 5km round trip, you do need a good level of fitness to do the walk or risk not being able to walk at all for the balance of your holiday. Take water! The incline is steep and there are copious stairs. It is hard work even for people with a good level of fitness. However, once at the top, the views are just breathtaking. You are rewarded like no other as the scenery offers extensive views of the many surrounding islands. I can highly recommend a visit to Passage Peak as an exhilarating challenge and if you love nature, you are bound to see some truly beautiful things along the way. Definitely, take in a spot of lunch at the Beach Club after such hard work and do not think twice about dessert after working off all those calories during the tough climb to the peak. A special outing was our catamaran cruise to the sublime world-renowned Whitehaven Beach. On the way, we spotted beautiful green sea turtles occasionally popping their heads up to have a look at us. It was truly special to witness nature at work. The sand here is the whitest you will ever see. We took a walk to
Hill Inlet where we were rewarded with the most spectacular views of Whitehaven Beach and the outer islands. From here you can refresh and rejuvenate with a swim in the crystal clear water, laze in the sun or go snorkelling on Chalkies Beach. You are literally centre stage among the tranquil Whitsundays. It is hard to believe our world can be anything other than at peace when at one with nature on this island. With much activity always comes refuelling and Hamilton Island is home to many world-class restaurants. A favourite spot was Mariners Seafood Restaurant where we indulged in mojitos, oysters, tiger prawns and Moreton Bay bugs from our vantage on the verandah, overlooking the luxurious boats glistening in the moonlight. We were delighted to be able to dispel the myth of how expensive it is on the island for food and refreshments, with choice plentiful it does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Hamilton Island is unequivocally the jewel in an azure sea. It is not too touristy, very scenic, peaceful and definitely worth a trip if you love the ocean and nature. One man’s dream became a reality. Keith Williams was a man of vision and he created a world-class tourist destination, which I highly recommend. B.E.A.C.H. (Best escape anyone can have).
Words and images: Pip Teys
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ASTON HOUSE
Newly renovated Federation home centrally located on Boorowa St, Young
Every comfort and luxury you require in a home away from home
Boasting 2 king bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully ducted air conditioning and centrally heated.
14 ROOMS Family, twin-share, queen, spa and two bedroom suite.
P 0418 975 965 E astonhouse@bigpond.com
Celebrating
100 YEARS
ELEVATION RESTAURANT A-la-carte, fully licenced, room service, catering for functions Salt water pool, BBQ, Wi-Fi, Foxtel Close to orchards and vineyards
HILLTOPS RETREAT MOTOR INN 4662 Olympic Highway , Young P: 6382 3300 E: info@hilltopsretreat.com www.hilltopsretreatyoung.com.au
Honey Mustard DRESSING Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressing is more than just a dressing Gluten and preservative free, handmade with all natural ingredients. 100% Australian owned and made.
0427 418 861 Warren, NSW 170 CWL
Perfect with fish, red meats, chicken, green salad and as a marinade. Order online today
www.rosies.net.au
W.F.GilbERt StAtionER & bookSEllER 100 Boorowa Street, Young • Phone: 02 6382 2021 Email: wfg100@bigpond.net.au
Whip an ordinary meal into an extraordinary taste sensation
Proudly serving Young for 65 years. Good old fashioned service, great coffee and the perfect place for Breakfast, Lunch or that special treat.
“More than just a bakery” www.wilders.com.au
Wilders Bakery Pty Ltd
Our Opening Hours
207 Boorowa Street, Young P: 02 6382 1275
Monday to Friday: 6am to 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 3pm
Street Parade • Market Stalls • Live Music Fireworks • Amusements • Festival Food Celtic Tattoo Parade Cherry Pip Spit Competition Cherry Pie Eating Competition Hilltops Region Wine Tasting National Cherry Festival Car Show
67TH NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL
Pick your own Cherries and more...
2nd - 4th December 2016 For the latest event information go to www.visityoung.com.au or connect with us #VisitYoung
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warmers
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HEART
W
inter is upon us, so it’s time to think of some warming dishes for the colder months. The following recipes are all dishes we love to serve on our Winter Menu at The Quarry Restaurant. All the recipes we have discovered on our travels in recent years and tailored to suit our menu. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Recipes and images: Anne & Paul Loveridge
T w i c e - b a k e d G o a t ’s C h e e s e S o u f f l é w i t h Na s h i & Wa l n u t S a l a d We tasted this beautiful soufflé in a restaurant looking over the Dordogne river in France. We had just completed a three-hour kayak down the river, one of the best things we have ever done on our travels. This was a very welcome tasty treat after hours of paddling, downstream of course! Heat oven to 180 degrees. Spoon the mix into the soufflé dishes, then sit them in a roasting tin. Pour boiling water into the tin to reach halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake the soufflés for 20 to 25 minutes until they are risen and coloured. Remove the dishes and set aside for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, then turn out onto an ovenproof tray. The soufflés can now be kept covered in the fridge overnight.
Parmesan Glaze 50ml double cream 25g grated Parmesan 1 large egg yolk METHOD To make the Parmesan glaze, whisk the cream, Parmesan and egg yolk until combined.
Goat’s Cheese Soufflé
METHOD
Serves 6
Melt the butter in a large saucepan and use about one tablespoon to grease six 200ml soufflé dishes. Place the remaining butter back on the heat, then scatter over the flour and mix well. Cook for five minutes, stirring constantly, then gradually whisk in the warm milk, a little at a time, until you have a thick, smooth mixture. Stir in the Parmesan, mustard and thyme, then set aside to cool slightly. Beat in the egg yolks, fold through the goat’s cheese, season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a large bowl.
INGREDIENTS 100g butter 100g plain flour 600ml full-fat milk, warmed 2 tbsp grated Parmesan 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp chopped thyme leaves 4 large eggs, separated, plus 1 large egg white (keep the yolk for the Parmesan Glaze, see below) 175g goat’s cheese, crumbled 172 CWL
In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until they just start to stiffen and hold peaks. Use a metal spoon to fold them into the cheesy mixture.
About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat, heat oven to 180 degrees. Transfer the soufflés onto the plates you would like them to be served on. Drizzle the tops of the soufflés with the Parmesan cream. Bake for 10 minutes, and then finally flash under the grill until the tops are golden. You could also blow torch the tops to brown them. Just before serving scatter with the micro herbs.
Salad Baby cos leaves 50g chopped walnuts 1 Nashi pear cut into julienne 1 tbsp red wine vinegar 3 tbsp walnut oil ½ cup fresh micro herbs METHOD Toss the salad leaves, pear and walnuts in a salad bowl. Mix the red wine vinegar and walnut oil together, season, then dress the salad.
SEASONAL RECIPES
“A hearty warming ragu shared with friends and family by the fire is
Ca sa reccia Pa st a w it h It a l ia n S a u s a g e R a g u , To m a t o , B a s i l a nd Pa r m ig ia no-Reg g ia no
”
a beautiful thing to do in winter.
A spicy warming ragu shared around the fire with friends and family is a beautiful thing to do in winter. This is a dish we enjoyed a few years ago in a quaint little restaurant on the Aeolian island of Lipari, just off Sicily. We enjoyed it so much we now love to have it on The Quarry Restaurant menu in winter. Serve with some hot crusty bread to soak up the rich sauce. Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 500g casareccia pasta (or similar) 1 tbsp olive oil
500g canned tomatoes Fresh basil for garnish Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano (Italian Parmesan)
2 finely chopped onions
METHOD
2 cloves freshly crushed garlic (leave this out if you prefer no garlic)
Heat oil in large frypan over low heat and add onion and garlic. Cook gently for five minutes. If heat is too high garlic may burn and taste bitter. Place this on a side plate. Remove skins from the sausages and crumble into pieces. Increase heat under pan and add crumbled sausage in small batches to brown, discard the juices from pan between batches. When all the sausage is browned return the onion and garlic to pan.
600g Italian sausages (could be replaced with veal and pork sausages and add double the quantity of fennel & oregano) 2 tsp dried fennel ½ tsp dried oregano 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 cups good quality beef stock
Add canned tomatoes, fennel, oregano, tomato paste and beef stock to pan, bring to the boil then lower heat and simmer gently until liquid has reduced (about an hour). When it has reduced to a rich sauce, toss in chopped parsley and season to taste. While sauce is simmering bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Once boiling rapidly, add pasta and stir immediately so pasta does not stick together. Cook for the time indicated on pack or al dente. When cooked, drain well and place back in saucepan and toss with a little olive oil to coat. Add sauce to pasta and fold to combine, divide onto four hot plates, top with lots of shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and fresh basil leaves. CWL 173
SECTION RECIPES SEASONAL
Ho t C h o c o l a t e P u d d i n g If you have a thing for chocolate as much as I do you will love this hot, gooey, chocolate pudding. The beauty of this recipe is that it can be made up to a week in advance and cooked straight out of the fridge 10 minutes before needed. How easy is that! This is the one recipe my children (now adults) have asked for as it is so easy to make and a wonderful hit at a dinner party. When entertaining at home I like to make these puddings in beautiful little teacups. You could also turn them out and serve as lava puddings, however, I find it much easier to serve in the ramekin so there is no chance of dropping the ramekin on top of the pudding, which I have done, trying to serve it in the restaurant as a true lava pudding. The pudding will look cooked on the outside but will have a gooey almost uncooked chocolate centre. Serve with vanilla bean ice-cream. Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 100g dark cooking chocolate (If I run out of Callebaut I use Plaistowe) 100g butter 2 whole eggs 2 egg yolks 50g caster sugar 80g plain flour, sifted Dutch cocoa for dusting the tops METHOD Place chopped chocolate and butter together in a microwave bowl and microwave on half power for two minutes. Stir to combine then heat for another 60 seconds or so until melted. Do not overheat. In a small bowl beat eggs, yolks and sugar for about five minutes until mixture becomes quite thick and pale in colour (the thicker the better). Fold chocolate mixture into egg mixture gently. Fold sifted flour through egg/chocolate mixture. Pour or spoon mixture into four greased one-cup ramekins and put in fridge for cooking when needed.
To cook Preheat oven to 190 degrees. Place ramekins on oven tray and cook for 10 minutes. Check them at about eight minutes. If concave they need a little more cooking. They should just go from concave top to convex top. Remove from oven, dust with cocoa, then serve in the cup (much easier than trying to turn them out). I like to serve this with simple vanilla bean ice-cream, as it is quite rich. CWL 174 CWL
Taste wines in our unusual strawbale winery. Tasting platters and meals available if booked, or bring a picnic.
82 Lawrences Rd, Canowindra 0427 936 054 wallingtonwines@gmail.com www.wallingtonwines.com.au
Stay in the newly renovated Winery Cottage, a beautifully restored pise farm house overlooking the farm, vineyard and olive grove.
Restaurant & Cellar Door Lunch Thu - Sun from noon Dinner Fri & Sat from 6.30 Cellar Door Thu - Sun, 10 - 4 7191 Boorowa Rd, Cowra 02 6342 3650 quarry@bigpond.net.au www.thequarryrestaurant.com.au
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SECTION FOOD
Comfort food Now the weather is cool, it’s time to think about warm and wonderful desserts. Our dinner guests love to share these special treats with us. Recipes: Lorraine Hills Images: Shot by Jake
G OL DEN DU M PL I NGS INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1 cup flour
Rub dry ingredients together and add beaten egg. If too stiff, add a little more milk. Have ready two cups of boiling water, brown sugar and syrup in saucepan.
1 tsp baking powder Pinch salt 1 egg 1 tbsp butter A little milk 1 cup brown sugar 1 tbsp golden syrup
A PPL E ROL LS INGREDIENTS 1 cup SR flour Pinch of salt A little milk 2 cooking apples, cored and cut into quarters 1 tsp cinnamon ½ cup sugar 1½ cups boiling water 1 large tbsp golden syrup 60g butter METHOD Add pinch of salt to flour, and with a little milk mix to a stiff dough for pastry. Stir together sugar, boiling water, golden syrup and butter till melted. Roll pastry out thinly and cut into eight squares. Place a quarter of apple on each pastry square. Sprinkle with cinnamon, roll up and place into a greased baking dish. Pour syrup over the apple rolls. Bake in moderate to hot oven for 30 minutes. Serve with your favourite cream.
176 CWL
[ golden s y r up]
When boiling, pop in little knobs of the dumplings and boil for 5-10 minutes without lifting the lid. Serve with a little ice-cream or a dollop of cream.
Breakfast and Lunches Giftware | Large off street parking Homemade cakes, pastries, pastas and pies
“A Cosmopolitan Sanctuary in the Heart of Regional NSW”
Open:
Tues to Fri 6am - 5pm | Sat 6am - 4pm | Sun 9am - 4pm
Newell Highway, Gilgandra
6847 2707
Hand Decorated Cakes for any occasion
XERO Gold Partner
Unit 12/36 Darling Street Dubbo, NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6885 5594 E: admin@peacockeaccountants.com.au www.peacockeaccountants.com.au
Combining the knowledge of your business with our expertise – growing your small business or farming operation is our passion.
16 Flavours of Pies | Sausage Rolls | Spinach & Fetta Rolls Fresh Sandwiches | Gluten Free Products Bills Beans Coffee prepared by fully trained Baristas. Huge range of cakes and slices everyday ranging from the cinnamon donut to the exclusive Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Dine in or takeaway 71 Dandaloo St, Narromine
02 6889 1921
kobby99@bigpond.net.au Find us on Facebook
breakfast
49 Nile Street, ORANGE PHONE 02 6363 1991 www.facebook.com/simplynilecafe
•
lunch
•
functions
•
outdoor courtyard
TRADING HOURS Tuesday to Friday 7.30am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 4pm Sunday 8am Breakfast/ Brunch only CWL 177
The journey WITH FOOD THE DISH CATERING COMPANY HAS BEEN TRAVELLING THE EXTRA COUNTRY MILE THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL WEST FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
A
sk Craig Smith, owner and operator of the Dish Cafe and Dish Catering Company, how he came to live in Parkes over a decade ago and he will tell you “it was the hand of fate”.
Hailing originally from Dulwich Hill, Sydney, Craig had happy childhood memories of visiting country cousins. With overseas travels behind him and wife Rochelle, an opportunity arose for the couple to relocate to Narromine, while Rochelle completed her physiotherapy training in Dubbo. In March 2004, Craig’s appreciation for good coffee drew him to The Dish Cafe, Parkes. A series of coincidences saw coffee dates with his daughter evolve into ownership by December that year. The Dish Cafe’s reputation has travelled since then, quite literally. Seizing on the success of the Dish Cafe, renowned for its outstanding service, signature dishes and stunningly unique views, Craig combined his love for food and hospitality in The Dish Catering Company, which has been operating throughout the Central West for the past six years.
The Dish Cafe is renowned for its outstanding service, signature dishes and stunningly unique views.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Craig loves the buzz that mobile catering presents. “No one event is ever the same,” he muses. “You really have to be able to think on your feet. We are faced with weather extremes, lack of power and water, bug infestations and all manner of issues.” The Dish Catering Company offers flexible packages to suit a range of budgets, functions and personalised menu requirements. Craig will happily cater for weddings, cocktail parties, work functions, private parties, barbecues and large community events. CWL Words: Dayna Tierney
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DISH CATERING CO Specialising in catering on-site at your event Covering the Central West & surrounds DCC can cater to any event— corporate, conferences, meetings, weddings and any special celebration We offer personalised service— We pride ourselves on working with the customer to create a truly memorable event. Specialising in offering a diverse service—we can plan, cater, organise and co-ordinate your event - with 50 years combined experience in the industry Email:
enquiries@dcc.com.au
Mobile:
0425 209 138
DCC—dishing up a truly memorable experience
Fish River Roasters provides speciality coffee from around the world to cafes and restaurants in the Central West, Blue Mountains and around Australia. Our award winning coffee is supported by barista training and espresso machine repairs and maintenance. We would like to thank the cafes and restaurants that stock our coffee and the coffee drinkers of the region for their support.
fish river roasters 67 corporation avenue bathurst 2795 02 6331 7171
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Coffee with PERSONALITY SOMETHING IS BREWING AT THE GRAPEVINE CAFE, DUBBO, AND IT’S NOT JUST THE GREAT COFFEE.
T
he air is brimming with good vibes as one of the longest established cafes in Dubbo prepares to celebrate its 21st birthday this year. Since buying the business in December 2012, owners Kim and Tim Houghton have together created the perfect recipe for relaxed dining, delectable food and quality service. As the morning sun filters through the popular al fresco area, pockets of conversation are shared between savoured sips of coffee. Tim is busy serving customers seeking sanctuary within the Grapevine, a serene retreat from the busy city centre. His conversation is both warm and genuine, a reflection of the Grapevine’s trademark personality – country hospitality infused with heart-warming dishes seasoned with a smile. By midday the tranquil surrounds of the courtyard are transformed to an open arena of conversation, laughter and delicious aromas. Tim’s enthusiasm to provide a positive experience for patrons is shared by the tireless work of business partner, head barista and wife Kim. “Kim is the cornerstone of the Grapevine. She is essentially the ‘nuts and bolts’ in the running of the business,” Tim says. Tim and Kim are united in their inspiring ability to tackle life’s challenges with good humour and determination. Tim’s farming background provides handy problem solving skills while Kim’s strong background in system analysis and financial administration has enabled the Grapevine to successfully roll out new ideas. “I’m the minister for war and finance,” Kim jests from behind the coffee machine. “Tim can be full-on sometimes. I usually cave. I just have to mull it over, and see how we make it happen on paper.” With an ever popular menu and a handy takeaway servery, the food has never been so fresh, flavoursome or convenient for Grapevine patrons. The Grapevine’s continuing success, Tim believes, is due largely to the cafe’s personality. “The Grapevine is an experience,” Tim insists. “It’s not just another coffee shop.” CWL Words: Dayna Tierney
Left: Tim and Kim Houghton.
144 Brisbane Street Dubbo NSW 2830
Phone: (02) 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS
The Grapevine Cafe has great coffee and great food. We offer an indoor or outdoor dining experience with full table service. Situated in a beautiful heritage listed building with a spacious courtyard.
180 CWL
NEWSAGENTS SINCE 1955
29 Talbragar Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 Tel: 02 6882 9528 theswishgallery@bigpond.com www.theswishgallery.com.au Open weekdays 9 - 5ish Sat 9 - 12ish!
Now specialising in Hema Maps for: Home • School • Office • World • Region Country • Topographic Maps We sell Central West Lifestyle magazine, including back issues
MEAT & SEAFOOD • • • • • • •
Home grown grass fed “Cambjarah” lamb Personalized Customer service Orders packed in foam eskies if required Local and surrounding districts delivery service Fortnightly Specials Fresh Seafood direct from markets twice a week Private service kills cut to your requirements
Unit 8/55 Wheelers Lane, Dubbo 2830 P: 02 6881 8255 F: 02 6882 1504 E: contact@dubbomeatcentre.com.au W: www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au
Trading Hours: Monday- Wednesday: 7.00am-5.30pm Thursday- Friday: 7.00am-6.00pm Saturday: 7.00am-3.00pm
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STAR quality
D
ynamic business owners Kerrieanne Nichols and Carolyn Rowe are passionate and progressive women. Since August 2013 the proprietors of Quality Inn Dubbo have created positive change in the local business sector, initiating monthly moteliers meetings within council.
The recent and continuing renovations provide high-end accommodation for corporate clientele while still remaining the perfect choice for families. Just 800 metres from Taronga Western Plains Zoo and nestled alongside the golf course, the Quality Inn Dubbo provides numerous services to enhance the customer experience.
Vice president of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, Kerrieanne believes the potential for continued growth is strengthened by shared knowledge and mutual support among businesses. Her passion to make a difference is a vision shared by Carolyn.
“It’s the attention to detail that is our signature service,” Kerrieanne says. “We like to know our customers and anticipate their needs and personal preferences.”
“Motels are often the first point of contact for visitors to Dubbo and regular corporate and business guests,” Carolyn says. ”As an industry we need to represent Dubbo favourably and deliver a positive experience every time.” Owning her first beauty business at age 18, Kerrieanne expanded her expertise to make-up artistry and embarked on a career with Napoleon Perdis, Sydney. A unique style sense afforded Kerrieanne television opportunities as an extra, appearing on Home and Away and Packed to the Rafters. Carolyn, a one-time Wellington local, was involved in the corporate world of liquidation and receivership. Her savvy business capabilities provide the prefect tension to balance Kerrieanne’s creative genius. The combined skillset crafts a traveller’s utopia.
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The Quality Inn’s contemporary cuisine in its Reflections Restaurant specialises in fresh seafood and is highly favoured by visitors and locals alike. Head chef Jai Rajaburai has worked in premium restaurants throughout the United Kingdom and Dubai, enjoying a reputation for creating dishes that burst with flavour. “We employ people who love their profession,” Kerrieanne says. “Passion delivers excellence.” CWL Words: Dayna Tierney Images: Lisa Minner and Craig Wilson
Below: Corporate and business guests can enjoy world-class meals at The Quality Inn, Dubbo; Kerrieanne Nichols and Carolyn Rowe.
“Cosmopolitan style, local value and service.”
opening hours
make an appointment
monday 9am-7pm tuesday to friday 9am-5pm
bella & sissi 74 macquarie street dubbo nsw 2830 02 6882 1001 hair@bellasissi.com
• Zoo Packages available only 800 metres from Taronga Western Plains Zoo • Free Wifi and Foxtel
• Corporate Conferencing & Events • Weddings • Day Spa
• Outdoor pool
follow us on facebook
Reflections Restaurant & Bar - open to the public Monday - Saturday from 6pm. Bookings advised.
• 30m from the only Golf course in Dubbo
• Tennis court
QUALITY INN DUBBO INTERNATIONAL ACCOMMODATION AND CONFERENCING 165 Whylandra St, Dubbo P: 02 6882 4777 E: reservations@qualityinndubbo.com.au W: qualityinndubbo.com.au
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Upcoming Events PYM STREET MARKETS 4 June, 2 July & 6 August 3 Pym Street, Millthorpe 0429 721 266 TEMORA AVIATION MUSEUM AIRCRAFT SHOWCASE 4 & 18 June, 2 & 16 July 1 Tom Moon Avenue, Temora (02) 6977 1288 info@aviationmuseum.com.au www.aviationmuseum.com.au GULGONG GOLD CUP RACES 5 June Gulgong Race Course, Gulgong Diane Thompson (02) 6374 0226 thompsondm1@bigpond.com www.mudgeeraceclubinc.com MERRIWA FESTIVAL OF THE FLEECES 11 June Merriwa Jan Sinclair (02) 6540 1301 jsinclair@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au www.upperhuntercountry.com ORANGE REGION FARMERS MARKET 11 June, 9 July & 13 August Orange Showground, Leeds Parade, Orange Cath Thompson 0425 259 350 www.orangefarmersmarket.org.au HD HR NATIONALS SHOW AND SHINE 11-12 June Ollie Robbins Oval, Bligh Street, Dubbo David Bates 0408 865 052 www.hdhrholden.info/hd-hr-nationals-2016 HENRY LAWSON FESTIVAL 11-13 June Gulgong Joy Harrison 0418 541 998 joyh@ozemail.com.au www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au IANDRA CASTLE OPEN DAY 12 June Iandra Road, Greenethorpe 0429 455 409 kershaw101@bigpond.com www.iandracastle.com.au LAZY RIVER OUTDOOR POP UP MARKETS 12 June Lazy River Estate, Dubbo Kelly Reynolds (02) 6882 2111 events@lazyriverestate.com.au lazyriverestate.com.au BACH IN THE DARK, IN THE BUSH! 12 June “Kennedy Park” Loch Erin Road, Mount David Rod and Alexandra Tuson (02) 6337 9679 ACOUSTIC SUNDAY 12 June, 10 July & 14 August The Silver Shed, Millthorpe Motel, Millthorpe www.facebook.com/acousticsundaymillthorpe?fref=ts WINTER WINERY WANDER 16 June Various wineries in the Bathurst Region Greg Tucker (02) 6331 7044 33RD ANNUAL ZONTA ANTIQUE, JEWELLERY AND VINTAGE FAIR 17-19 June Orange Function Centre, Eyles Street, Orange Frances Young 0407 952 675
MICHAEL FIX GUITAR MASTER CLASS 19 June Town Hall Theatre, Loftus Street, Temora 0428 029 184 agay-mccrone@temora.nsw.gov.au www.temora.com.au/events BLAYNEY FARMERS MARKET 19 June, 17 July & 21 August Carrington Park, Blayney Rebecca Price 0419 482 449 www.blayneyfarmersmarket.com.au info@blayneyfarmersmarket.com.au MICHAEL FIX LIVE IN CONCERT 20 June Town Hall Theatre, Loftus Street, Temora 0428 029 184 agay-mccrone@temora.nsw.gov.au www.temora.com.au/events MID-WESTERN DANCE FESTIVAL 29 June-4 July Mudgee Public School Hall, Mudgee Emma Yule 0457 711 169 mudgeedancefestival@hotmail.com LIVE THEATRE: BASIN 30 June Town Hall Theatre, Loftus Street, Temora 0428 029 184 agay-mccrone@temora.nsw.gov.au www.temora.com.au/events STARS OF DUBBO DANCE FOR CANCER 1 July Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre, 155 Darling Street, Dubbo Lily White (02) 6937 2608 lily.white@nswcc.org.au TEMORA DISTRICT EDUCATION FUND DEBUTANTE OF THE YEAR BALL 1 July Temora Town Hall, Temora Rick Firman 0429 204 060 rbfirman@bigpond.com 2016 JUNIOR INDOOR CRICKET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1-6 July Dubbo Sportsworld, 163 Sheraton Road, Dubbo Briana Binch 0421 525 699 Briana.Binch@cricket.com.au www.cricket.com.au XXXX GOLD WINTER RACE MEETING 3 July Mudgee Race Course, Mudgee Colleen Walker (02) 6372 6035 colleen@hwy.com.au www.mudgeeraceclucbinc.com COUNTRY & WESTERN: LANDSCAPE RE-IMAGINED 9 July-28 August Orange Regional Gallery, 149 Byng Street, Orange (02) 6393 8136 www.org.nsw.gov.au MUDGEE SMALL FARM FIELD DAYS 15-16 July Australian Rural Education Centre, Mudgee Steve Garland (02) 6372 3899 steve@arec.com.au www.mudgeefielddays.com.au SCULPTURES BY THE RIVER WORKSHOP 20-22 July & 10-12 August Lazy River Estate, Dubbo Kelly Reynolds (02) 6882 2111 events@lazyriverestate.com.au lazyriverestate.com.au
Do you have an event that you would like included in our magazine? 184 CWL
AUGUST 6, COWRA WINE SHOW
JAZZ IN JULY EVENT WITH GALAPAGOS DUCK 22 July Young Tania Noyes (02) 6382 5737 tania.noyes@yrsm.org.au www.visityoung.com.au WARREN POLOCROSSE CARNIVAL 23-24 July Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren Vanessa Hartge 0447 332 093 www.nswpolocrosse.com.au CATTLEMAN’S CUP RACE MEETING 26 July Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren Bek McKay (02) 6847 4447 bekbbk@bigpond.com www.warrenjockeyclub.com.au EVANS ARTS COUNCIL ART EXHIBITION 5-7 August Bathurst RSL Club, Rankin Street, Bathurst Shirley Walsh (02) 6331 7027 srwalsh@tpg.com.au COWRA WINE SHOW (PUBLIC TASTING) 6 August The Cowra Showground Pavilion, Cowra (02) 6342 1977 cowrawineshow@bigpond.com www.cowrashow.com/CowraWineShow.htm MUDGEE READERS FESTIVAL 13-14 August Mudgee Portia Lindsay 0422 227 539 info@mudgeereadersfestival.com.au www.mudgeereadersfestival.com.au PSSA STATE RUGBY UNION CARNIVAL 22-25 August Glen Willow Sporting Complex, Mudgee Linda Densmore 0457 551 250 l.densmore@bth.catholic.edu.au CONDOBOLIN SHOW 26-27 August Condobolin Carol Ann Malouf 0427 119 535 WARREN CAMPDRAFT 26-28 August Warren Racecourse, Old Warren Road, Warren John Hardie (02) 6833 5471 DUBBO STAMPEDE 28 August Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Obley Road, Dubbo Tim Ferraro contact@dubbostampede.com.au www.dubbostampede.com.au
Email: events@centralwestmagazine.com.au Compiled by Jane Sanderson All events are subject to change and we recommend contacting the organisers to confirm details.
Join our dogs and us for a Saturday truffle hunt and hamper or Sunday truffle hunt and lunch in June, July and August. Bookings are essential.
Fresh truffle and truffle products are available for purchase.
ive. d attract ” n a t n a r I can r – vib often as s to offe a s h a e g g in n n a r L e retu hat Or F TRAVE re has m “I love w TASTE O u lt A u c E A e R MC and win SCOTTY It’s food 1 Antique, Jewellery and Vintage Fair Friday 17 – Sunday 19 June • Orange Function Centre
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2 Black Tie and Gumboot Truffle Hunt Saturday 16 July • Borrodell Vineyard 3 Best In Show Dogs in Australian Art 1 June – 3 July • Orange Regional Gallery 4 Orange Region Farmers Market 11 June, 9 July, 13 August • Orange Showground
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Orange Visitor Information Centre FREE CALL 1800 069 466
GALLERY MUSUEM CAFÉ COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE 76 WINGEWARRA STREET DUBBO NSW 2830 westernplainsculturalcentre.org 02 6801 4444
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Strokes of genius
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ifted oil painter Garry Pettitt started showing promise with the brush as a 10-year-old student at Lithgow Primary School, a gift that culminated in his recent solo exhibition at the Lithgow Workmen’s Club.
Before entering the art world full-time in 1994, Garry spent 19 years as an electrician until he had developed the confidence and expertise to pursue his art as a career. In his younger days Garry was influenced by the works of the late Reg Campbell, who was well known for portraying his subjects with realism. Garry strives to emulate the colours of nature and his paintings are often mistaken as photographs. He uses a palette of only nine colours plus white, to produce an infinite number of colours in his paintings. “As an Australian traditional artist, I take pride in the country I live in,” he says. “I love the relaxed people and the beautiful scenery that surrounds me. Every corner I turn, I find a new subject! Maybe a landscape, a seascape, a street scene or a still life, animals or people. In my paintings, I use light, colour and detail to capture the atmosphere of these surroundings.”
Over the years, Garry has had six solo exhibitions and won many awards, including Most Outstanding Traditional Landscape at the 2008 and 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show, People’s Choice Portland 2010, and an Award of Excellence at the 2011 Sydney Royal. He has featured in Australian Artist magazine and is slowly becoming recognised as one of the top traditional artists in the country. Although landscapes are still his main subject matter, Garry continues to broaden his horizons by taking on many difficult subjects including portraits, horses, still life and seascape. This variety was evident in his recent exhibition held at the new Longwall Gallery at the Lithgow Workies, where he displayed 40 thought-provoking oil paintings to rave reviews. For some years, Garry has struggled between being an owner-builder (he has a house in South Bowenfels that will eventually hold a gallery) and his love of painting. In his “spare” time he continues to produce works and hopes to finish the house within the next few years. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake
Clockwise from top left: Stormy sky, Palmers Oaky; Garry Pettitt with his Eucalypts in the Mist; The sparkling Turon River.
As an Australian traditional artist, I take pride in the country I live in. 186 CWL
QUALITY FOR KIDS A n early childhood teacher for 30 years, Fran Fergusson was ready for a change. Drawing from her childhood love of playing shops, Fran considered the children’s retail industry. The market had gaps and needed a one-stop children’s shopping destination. Three years ago, the idea came to fruition with the opening of Lithgow’s Kiddingabout. Originally focused on second-hand items, Fran lovingly hand selected, cleaned and restored children’s toys and clothing, breathing hope and revitalisation into every fibre of their existence. The romance of Fran’s craft, and the emotional content evoked by its themes, were not lost on the locals. Nor was the uniqueness that such a product offered. Outgrowing her original location and shifting the store’s focus to new products, Fran moved to bigger premises in September 2012. The spacious store offers an extensive collection of clothing, toys and baby essentials. Still refusing to follow trends, Fran bases stock choice on intuition and on how she feels about the item and its functional purpose, on sight. In terms of toys, Fran’s past in education gives her buying skills an air of credibility. “I am very passionate about toys that foster development,” she says. Matching her store’s content to the needs of the area, Fran prides herself on having an abundance of quality warm winter items, baby basics, toys, books, second-hand and new prams, all lovingly packaged under the one convenient roof. An eclectic mix of affordable quality, and soon available online, Kiddingabout is very serious when it comes to fitting out your kids. CWL Words: Catherine Player
The store for babies and little kids
94 Main St Lithgow Ph: 6346 2520
Baby and children's wear, toys, books, baby and nursery essentials, christening wear, reconditioned prams, cots, bassinets and more... CWL 187
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH 7 DAYS
Open Thursday • friday • saturday nights FRIDAY SUNSET SESSIONS
COCKTAIL HOUR FROM 5.30
LIVE MUSIC 6-9 LOCAL WINE • CHEESE • WOODFIRED
PIZZA • TAPAS • COFFEE • LICENSED
69 BRIDGE STREET, LITHGOW
Casual Dining Experience
Natural – Ethical – Sustainable Healthy, quality pork produce delivered from the farm gate to your door Orange – Bathurst – Lithgow – Oberon – the Blue Mountains – Sydney For more details or to place an order visit
www.crackwillowfarm.com.au info@crackwillowfarm.com.au 02 6336 3030
“Come up to Oberon for some fresh air”
Billabong Cottage Oberon Trout Fishing and Farm Holiday
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Phone: 6336 5144 Mobile: 0427 365 144 Email: timcharge@bigpond.com Website: www.bluemts.com.au/Billabongcottage Your Hosts: Tim and Fran Charge
Beautiful Homewares and Furniture at Affordable Prices Furniture • Homewares • Lighting Chandelliers • Lamps • Cushions Throws • Coverlets
For ever changing trends while keeping a classic touch
7 Main St, Lithgow NSW • (02) 6352 3383
The place to stop on the way to Jenolan Caves since the 1920’s Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm Mondays for groups by prior arrangement Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Contact 02 6355 2117 www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
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EDITION LAUNCH MAYFIELD
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magine, a magazine launch for the two beautiful towns of Lithgow and Oberon held at the breathtaking Mayfield Garden. Almost 80 guests representing council, local community members and advertisers from both Lithgow and Oberon attended the Autumn CWL launch. Oberon resident Don Capel acted as MC, while Mayor of Oberon Kathy Sajowitz, Mayor of Lithgow Maree Statham, CWL publisher Elizabeth Tickle and CWL garden writer Elizabeth Swane extended welcomes. Guests enjoyed canapes and finger food prepared by the Kitchen CafĂŠ at Mayfield Garden, as well as wine supplied by long-term CWL advertisers Angullong Wines, Millthorpe. Oberon and Lithgow councils together with CWL hosted the night. The newly released 12th edition featuring Oberon and Lithgow was incredibly well received at the conclusion of the evening as guests marvelled at the impressive content reflecting their home towns. Magazine sales have been exceptionally strong with many new discoveries being made about these two towns, full of hidden treasures. Words: Elizabeth Tickle Images: Sue Meikle
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1. Oberon Mayor Kathy Sajowitz and Dieter Sajowitz, CWL publishers Elizabeth and Alex Tickle, CWL writer Anna Tickle, Lithgow Mayor Maree Statham, CWL features writer and photographer Jake Lindsay, CWL garden writer Elizabeth Swane, CWL photographer Robert Bruce. 2. Rhonda Pearce, Fran Charge and Pam Dellow, all from Oberon. 3. Oberon Cr John Morgan with his wife Lorraine. 4. Renae and Brad De Losa, Lithgow. 5. Don and Jenn Capel, Oberon. 6. Sue and Colin Roberts, Lowes Mount Truffiere, Oberon. 7. Deidre and Tony Robertson, Buddens B&B, Rockley with Robyn Gilmore. 8. Lithgow Council general manager Roger Bailey with Julie Wallis and Oberon acting general manager Gary Wallis.
9. Bernice and Chris Kelly, Crack Willow Farm, Oberon. 10. CWL publishers Alex and Elizabeth Tickle with Andrew and Louise Joseph, Lithgow. 11. Lynne Woods, Sydmouth Valley Homestead, Oberon with Annie Joseph and grandson Reggie. 12. Meg and Peter Low, Gairloch Garden, Oberon. 13. Oberon Citizen of the Year Ian Gordon with Anne Bruce, Orange. 14. Michael Ireland, Lynda Ireland, The Scots School, Bathurst and Lithgow with Cr Ian Doney, Oberon. 15. Martin and Kate Kong, Forestry Corporation, Bathurst with CWL photographer and features writer Jake Lindsay. 16. Dick and Yvonne Austen, Lithgow with Lithgow Mayor, Maree Statham. 17. Debra Marks and Lyn Causer, Oberon Visitors Centre. 18. Brian and Kathy Beesley, Oberon.
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EVENTS IN THE WEST
WELLINGTON SCOUTS CENTENARY WELLINGTON
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wonder if Spencer Anoliffe White realised how many lives his initial effort would touch when registering the 1st Wellington Scout Troop on July 14, 1915. With 16 brave young lads initially signed up to the troop having duly passed the tender foot test and taken the Scout Promise, they would meet at Dr Savage’s establishment on Thursday nights at 7pm. It is now 2016 and the 1st Wellington Scout Group has just celebrated its Centenary. Our hall and grounds were thrown open to the general public to help us mark this milestone. Past and present leaders and members attended the celebrations. They joined in scouting activities and revisited the past through our spectacular collection of memorabilia. The 1st Wellington Scout Group is still taking our youth out into the bush to teach life skills, leadership and fun.
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Words: Danny Hawke Images: Sue Meikle
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1. Back: Rebekah Pool, Baden Spargo and Jeff Spargo with Naomi Toynton and Eden Spargo (front). 2. Back: Belanna Bouffler, Aiden Barrett, Charlie Edwards with Balian Williamson, Duncan Hinchcliffe and Desiree Cookson (front). 3. Danny Hawke, 1st Wellington Scout Group Leader-in-Charge, Cr Anne Jones, Mayor of Wellington, Aunty Joyce Williams, Aboriginal Elder, Ben Williamson, Regional Commissioner The Golden West Region, Sheriden Turnbull, Regional Commissioner for Cub Scouts, Bev Midson, previous Regional Commissioner for Cub Scouts. 4. Past and present Scout uniforms. 5. A collection of memorabillia including the registration form for The 1st Wellington Scout Group.
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SPRING ISSUE SPRING 2015
AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2016 West Wyalong, Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo SUBSCRIBE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGAZINE IN PRINT OR ONLINE: WWW.CENTRALWESTMAGAZINE.COM.AU 192 CWL
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6. Three generations and 24 years of scouting between them, Geoff Hawke with grandson Tom and son Danny. 7. Ist Wellington Scout Troop in 1946.
Lithgow simple pleasures OberOn
Surprisingly diverse
Showcasing the majestic Jenolan Caves and world heritage National Parks, enchanting forest and farming country and village life
all at the centre of The Tablelands Way experience
adventures in nature
Adventure caving at
Jenolan Caves Fossicking
for sapphires and precious stones
Fishing
Mushrooming
for wild trout
in pine forests
Mountain Biking Lake Oberon
in National Parks open for recreational boats and State Forests – canoeing and kayaking
Bushwalking and hiking in world heritage national parks
For a free copy of the
Lithgow Visitor Guide Oberon Visitor Information Centre
Lithgow Visitor Information Centre 1137 Great Western Highway, (PO Box 19 Lithgow NSW 2790) T: 1300 760 276 or (02) 6350 3230, F: (02) 6350 3239 E: tourism@lithgow.com
Cnr Ross Street and Edith Road Oberon NSW 2787 02 6329 8210
www.tourism.lithgow.com
oberonaustralia.com
...will take you there!
august.indd 1
Lithgow Tourism 11/05/15 10:32 AM
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EVENTS IN THE WEST
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MAGGIE ROSSO EXHIBITION MOLONG
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n exhibition titled Wine, Women and Song, comprising 45 collagraphs by Orange artist Maggie Rosso, was officially opened by photographer Robert Bruce, also from Orange, at Jayes Gallery, Molong, on April 19.
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An enthusiastic crowd, including many well-known local artists, gathered for the event. They enjoyed a glass of wine and canapes and viewed the framed works, which reflect the use of various printmaking techniques, textures and hand colouring. Collagraphs are made by creating a collage using different textures with string, coffee grounds, glue, lace, netting and more, attaching it to a plate using a canvas board or cardboard as a base, and printing by running it through an etching press. It can be an unpredictable process, creating an element of surprise through the inking and printing process. Three large hand-coiled, hand-painted ceramic pears added to the diversity of the exhibition. The artist gained her inspiration researching the lives of women from the ancient, mythological and modern worlds, songsters and songbirds, paying homage to the local winemakers from Orange and surrounding districts who, like all artists and artisans, are passionate about what they create. Words and Images: Elizabeth Tickle
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1. Robert Bruce, Orange, who opened the exhibition with
Maggie Rosso and Jayes Gallery owner Libby Oldham. 2. Elizabeth Nock, Springside, via Orange and Lyn Lampe, Orange. 3. Manildra artist Marian Duncan and Maureen Massey, Dolls Point.
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4. Alan and Michelle Powell, Orange, with Ann and Bruce Marriott, Dilga Station, Cumnock. 5. Maggie Rosso (centre) with her children Clare Rosso and Timion Rosso. 6. Orange artists Reimega Houghton and Neil Cuthbert with Neil’s wife, Jacqui. 7. Two local artists enjoying the exhibition, Michael Carroll, Molong, with Victor Gordon, Orange. 8. Bob Campbell and local artist Rhonda Campbell, Orange. 9. Jenny Hubbard, Windera, with Jayes Gallery owner, Hugh Oldham. 10. Margaret Paton, Blayney, with Nat Ryan, Molong. 194 CWL
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Tranquil. It's the perfect word to describe the Japanese Garden. You can't help but feel completely at peace when you walk through the lush gardens and cascading streams which represent the landscapes of Japan: where the hill is a mountain, streams are the rivers and the ponds, inland lakes and the sea. Spend some time walking around the exquisitely manicured Kaiyushiki (strolling) garden. Special features include a traditional Tatami Room, 3 Room Cultural Centre, Tea House, Bonsai House, Bonsho Bell, Gift Shop, Audio Guides, Golf Buggy Hire and Café. Open Daily 8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Closed Christmas Day) Admission charges apply Ken Nakajima Place (PO Box 248), Cowra NSW 2794 P: +61 2 6341 2233 F: +61 2 6341 1875 E: info@cowragarden.com.au www.cowragarden.com.au
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Country Gardens MOTOR INN
Cowra’s little gem
Rooms:
Facilities:
Located at the edge of town on an acreage, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. There are 18 luxurious, clean, comfortable, ground floor units to choose from. Park at your door, off street parking for coaches and trucks. Heated pool and BBQ in Australian native gardens.
• Family Suites (2 Bedrooms) • Spa Suites • Executive Suites (King beds & bath/shower) • Deluxe Queen Suites • Disabled Suite • Some Smoking Suites available
• • • • • • •
Breakfast Room Service Free Unlimited Wireless Broadband R/C Air Con & Elec. Blankets Direct Dial Telephone Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Facilities Wide Screen TV’s (16 Channels) Mini Snack Bar
a. 75 Grenfell Road (Mid Western Highway), Cowra p. 02 6341 1100 e. cgmcowra@bigpond.net.au w. www.countrygardensmotel.com.au CWL 195
Come to Young and Celebrate the start of Spring at the Cherry Blossom Long Lunch. Long trestle tables, exceptional Hilltops food and wines, and the rustic charm of one of Young’s most picturesque orchards combine for an unrivalled experience during the spring time blossoms. Sunday 25th September 2016 For more information and to register your interest in attending call Young Visitor Information Centre on 02 6382 3394 (Adults Only)
Springfield
GUEST COTTAGES
a perfect retreat for couples and families
A fusion of history meets modernisation - country meets urban!
Enjoy the quiet of the countryside in an historic stone cottage, the quaint gardener’s cottage, the original 19th Century stables or the grand manager’s residence. A short 7 minute drive from the bustling town of Young.
Springfield Guest Cottages victoriaanderson@bigpond.com
OPEN all day Tuesday to Sunday | 2 Campbell St, Young www.kettleandgrain.com | 0497 247 246
0439 823 799
Poppa’s Fudge and Jam Factory Welcome to Poppa’s Fudge and Jam Factory, Young’s sweetest tourist attraction. From Paddock to Plate we grow our own produce to ensure the freshest ingredients. We make all our products by hand, over 100 lines of jams, sauces and chutneys and over 50 varieties of fudge. Huge gift emporium in store.
Open 7 days Shop 1, 21 Lovell St, Young 196 CWL
Phone: 02 6382 5854
T:: (02) 6361 4546 F:: (02) 6361 4566 : jasmin.bond@bigpond.com
E:: jasmin.bond@bigpond.com F:: (02) 6361 4566 (02) 6361 residence withT:: peaceful, valley4546 views. Landscaped
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To Forbes
To Dubbo
OTHELLO - BELL SHAKESPEARE Friday 8th July 2016 - Saturday 9th July One of William Shakespeare’s most famous and passionate tragedies, Othello will be directed by Bell Shakespeare’s Artistic Director Peter Evans, in a gripping productions that will touch audiences to their core. www.org.nsw.gov.au or 02 6393 8111 COUNTRY & WESTERN: Landscape Re-Imagined 9 July – 28 August A comprehensive exhibition with works by leading Australian artists. A Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Touring Exhibition, curated by Gavin Wilson. www.org.nsw.gov.au or 02 6393 8136
Home made cakes, decedent chocolate drinks & fondues. Summer gelato bar. Children’s party room.
8/220 Lords Place, Orange NSW 2800 Roxanna Joerg 02 6360 3396 www.facebook.com/chateauduchocolatorange
FUNCTIONS & EVENTS
Orange Visitor Information Centre FREE CALL 1800 069 466 www.visitorange.com.au
Wine and Dine. Big or Small. Corporate or Social. Formal or Casual. Enjoy quality service and superior drink and dining options within the sophisticated and charming walls of the heritage-listed Union Bank. Contact our friendly and professional events team today to make your enquiry. functions@unionbank.com.au
unionbankwinebar unionbankorange
+61 2 6361 4441
unionbankwinebar
84 Byng Street, Orange
02 6361 4441
unionbank.com.au
wine bar & dining
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Culinary COUPLE J
ess and Ben Stanley are lovers of fine cuisine. The culinary demands of Lilianfels, Katoomba, provided the perfect setting for two young chefs to foster their passion for food and for each other. With Jess originally from Eugowra, the couple eventually ventured back to the township in 2010 to commence working at Eat Your Greens function centre. In 2015 the business came up for sale and the duo leapt at the opportunity. Jess says that after five years working in the business, they knew that it was going to be a great new chapter in their lives. The centre provides a majestic view over the town’s old golf course. The manicured greens provide a fantastic backdrop for wedding photography and other special occasion memories. The business caters for small intimate functions, right through to the lively commotions of a large wedding reception. With a wide range of delicious menus to choose from, they feature the best food and wine from the region. Their services are not just limited to the function centre either. Eat Your Greens offers a convenient mobile catering service for all occasions.
The couple pride themselves on being extremely agreeable when it comes to customers’ requests. Ben and Jess are happy to alter menus to cater for dietary requirements. “It’s a great way for us to explore and invent new dishes. The challenge excites us,” Jess says. Admitting that her biggest love is hosting weddings, Jess says that she always manages to sneak from the kitchen to view the most important formalities. “When the tears start to well, I know it’s time to get back to work,” she laughs. Describing husband Ben as a creative genius who pushes the boundaries of modern cuisine, Jess’s admiration is quite the tribute. Equally, her own talents cannot be left unsung. A short conversation with Jess exposes her extensive international food knowledge and her perpetual quest for new and exciting local produce. The pair pride themselves on their unique relaxed atmosphere, quality and impeccable attention to detail. “We aim to take the stress out of the event. We want people to enjoy their day and leave the worrying to us,” Jess says. CWL Words: Catherine Player
Left: Jess and Ben Stanley share a passion for food.
The centre provides a majestic view over the town’s old golf course. The manicured greens provide a fantastic backdrop for wedding photography and other special occasion memories. 198 CWL
Here, there or anywhere... We can cater for all your celebrations. Our function centre is the perfect location for garden wedding ceremonies. Our modern cuisine ranges from flowing finger food to a lavish banquette of several courses. With years of experience in catering at your location, Eat Your Greens catering handles all events, private or corporate, in a professional manner every time.
www.eatyourgreens.com.au
phone 6859 2386
mobile 0428 595 259
find us on
CWL 199
WEDDINGS
Byr ne *1 Mann Exactly a year to the day since their engagement, Oliver Mann and Emily Byrne were married in Cumnock on October 4, 2015. Emily and Oliver enjoyed the company of more than 120 family and friends as they took their vows during a heartfelt garden ceremony. Bridesmaids Kara Matthews, Gemma Madigan-Beach and Georgina McNamara and groomsmen Scott Whiting, Andrew McNamara and Damien Englart stood alongside the couple on their special day. A canapé garden party followed the afternoon ceremony, before guests were seated for a fun and relaxed dinner reception in the huge custom-built “Wed Shed”. Guests enjoyed excellent catering provided by Byng Street Local Store of Orange. Speeches were a highlight of the evening, with the bride moving the whole room to tears before dinner. The groom brought the laughs with his post-dinner speech, which was then followed by a stunning fireworks display. Oliver and Emily honeymooned in Byron Bay before returning to their new home in Orange. Photographer: Anna Tenne Photography
Right: Kara Matthews, Gemma Madigan-Beach, Georgina McNamara, Emily and Oliver Mann, Scott Whiting, Andrew McNamara and Damien Englart.
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Situated in the picturesque Orange Botanic Gardens and boasting spectacular views, Botanic is a unique venue, perfect for special occasions with a ‘wow’ factor. Run by the team behind local café, Byng Street Local Store, Botanic offers an event experience perfect for lovers of quality food and surrounds. Specialising in weddings, but also available for corporate and social events, Botanic is a flexible space that can accommodate between 30 and 140 people for a sit down occasion and up to 180 for a cocktail style reception. Turn your plans into truly memorable events at Botanic.
Byng Street Local Store is a foodie haven in the beautiful Central west, renowned for great coffee, delicious food and friendly staff. With Byng Street Catering, you can have the Byng Street experience at a location of your choice! Whether it’s an intimate birthday party at home or a large garden wedding, Byng Street Catering will make your event unique and exciting, with beautiful rustic catering tailored to meet your needs.We can cater for functions from 10 to 200 people and at locations up to 1 hours drive from Orange.
Contact us: 02 6361 4007 | lizzie@byngstreet.com.au | www.byngstreet.com.au
SPECIAL OFFER FOR CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE READERS Book two nights during June, July or August and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne. Bookings by phone only.
Enjoy ultimate luxury and relaxation, allow yourself to be pampered with delectable treats and stunning wines from our region and breathe in the aroma of utter peace. It’s the little things that count at Bishop’s Court Estate.
Bishop’s Court Estate 226 Seymour Street Bathurst NSW 2795 Ph: 02 6332 4447
www.bishopscourtestate.com.au
Top 1%
CWL 201
WEDDINGS
Moon *1 n a h a r n a H Shell Moon and Craig Hanrahan were married at ‘’Glen Echo’’, Cowra, on April 11, 2015. When guests were invited to an engagement party on April 11, little did they know it was to involve a celebrant, a white dress and a photographer. ‘’Glen Echo’’ hosted 100 guests for the ceremony, which was led by celebrant Amy Fulthorpe. The couple’s bridal party included Trilby Newling, Nathan Eslick, Melissa Montgomery and Daniel Case. The reception then kicked off on Shell’s parents’ property, ‘’Rosemonte’’, where guests enjoyed a night to remember. Photographer: Christopher McCulloch
Above: Daniel Case, Melissa Montgomery, Shell Moon, Craig Hanrahan,
Trilby Ryan and Nathan Eslick.
202 CWL
Enjoy boutique accommodation in the heart of historic Millthorpe. Perfect for larger groups looking for an indulgent and relaxing weekend away.
RedAgape Guesthouse 4 Blake St, Millthorpe www.redagape.com.au follow us on Instagram: @redagape
Whitneys Jewellers create more than timeless & elegant jewellery. Whitneys create family heirlooms & precious memories.
Whitneys Jewellers have been hand crafting diamond engagement rings for 4 generations. Their master jeweller can delicately restore, repair or resize your precious jewellery on site in a minimum time. Visit Whitneys Jewellers at 149 Talbragar Street Dubbo | P: 02 6882 4620 | whitneysjewellers.com.au
CWL 203
WEDDINGS
s e r i P o n a Men t d r a h b e *1 G Stephanie Menano-Pires and Edward Gebhardt were married at “Kanoona” Harden on September 12, 2015. The bride is the daughter of Jose and Isabel Menano-Pires of Frenchs Forest. Stephanie has a degree in Veterinary Biology and is employed by Pinjarra Veterinary Hospital. The groom is the son of Ralph and Nerolie Gebhardt of Harden. Edward studied Agricultural Science at university and is employed by Nufarm. Stephanie’s bridesmaids were her best friends Kieana Stephens and Elle Moyle. Groomsmen were Daniel Brown and Alex Gebhardt, the groom’s best friend and brother, respectively. The couple honeymooned in Koh Samui, Thailand, and now live in Mandurah, Western Australia. Photographer: Sarah Bell Burch Photography
Above: Daniel Brown, Kieana Stephens, Edward and Stephanie Gebhardt, Alex Gebhardt and Elle Moyle.
204 CWL
Australian owned brands & products
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Schedule an appointment today 6885 5001 or 0439 064 230 251 Fitzroy St, Dubbo NSW 2830
0410 363 429
• • • • • • • • • •
Romantic couples only accommodation 4 Star rating Fabulous self-catering wedding venue for up to 120 guests Rustic wedding barn Huge all weather shade pavilion Everything provided for “your” special day Choose your own caterers & supply your own beverages Six cosy spa log cabins Ceremony area with spectacular lake and mountian views Vintage bar caravan
For further information please contact us on 02 6355 6300 or enquiries@seclusions.com.au
www.seclusions.com.au
CWL 205
Our Advertisers WINTER 2016 2 FAT LADIES Lucknow, 6365 5437 www.2fatladies.com.au
BYRNE CLOTHING Parkes, 6862 1408 www.byrneclothing.com.au
G.J. GARDNER HOMES Dubbo, 6882 4333 www.gjgardner.com.au
OBERON VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE Oberon, 6329 8210 www.oberonaustralia.com
THE CLOSET Cowra, 6342 2478 www.theclosetcowra.com
A COUNTRY WEDDING BINDA Binda, 0419 234 890 www.acountryweddingbinda.com.au
CENTRAL WEST TRAILERS Orange, 0466 289 075 www.centralwesttrailers.com.au
GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL Gilgandra, 6817 8800 www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au
OLD GANARRIN GARDEN CENTRE Dubbo, 6884 5157
THE COURT HOUSE HOTEL Boorowa, 6385 3005 www.courthousehotelboorowa.com.au
ABSOLUT BEAUTY Dubbo, 6885 5001
CHATEAU DU CHOCOLAT Orange, 6360 3396
ADORS PARTY HIRE Dubbo, 6882 9333 www.adors.com.au
CHILL-RITE Dubbo, 6885 2254 & Orange, 6361 4442 www.chill-rite.com.au
GRAPEVINE CAFE Dubbo, 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au
ALL SAINTS’ COLLEGE Bathurst, 6331 3911 www.saints.nsw.edu.au
CHOICES FLOORING BY BRIGHTS Bathurst, 6331 4866 choicesflooring.com.au/store/bathurst
ALLURE ON MAIN Forbes, 6851 4778 www.allureonmain.com.au
CONVENT & CHAPEL WOOL SHOP Rylstone, 0409 564 747 www.conventandchapelwool.com
ANGULLONG WINES Panuara, 6366 4300 www.angullong.com.au
COUNTRY GARDENS MOTOR INN Cowra, 6341 1100 www.cowracountrygardensmotel.com.au
ARANCIA B&B Orange, 6365 3305 www.arancia.com.au ARCADIA CROOKWELL Crookwell, 0407 254 954 ARROWS NEWSAGENCY Oberon, 6336 1256 ASTON HOUSE Young, 0418 975 965 AUSSIE RURAL Dubbo, 0429 872 751 www.aussierural.com.au AUSTRALIAN BRAFORD SOCIETY NSW Branch, 6754 5240 www.braford.org.au BATHURST HERITAGE MOTOR INN Bathurst, 6334 3433 www.heritagemotorinn.com.au BATHURST REAL ESTATE Bathurst, 6331 5555 www.bathurstrealestate.com.au BELL RIVER HOMES Orange, 6391 1888 www.bellriverhomes.com.au BELLA & SISSI HAIR & BEAUTY Dubbo, 6882 1001 www.bellasissi.com BELLISIMO Lithgow, 6352 1881 www.bellisimo.com.au BENDIGO BANK BOOROWA Boorowa, 6385 3277 BETTAFRAME AND TRUSS Dubbo, 6881 8544 www.dubborooftrusses.websyte.com.au BIANCA VILLA Lithgow, 6352 3383 BIG TROUT MOTOR INN Oberon, 6336 2100 www.bigtrout.com.au BILLABONG COTTAGE Oberon, 6336 5144 www.bluemts.com.au/billabongcottage BISHOP’S COURT ESTATE Bathurst, 6332 4447 www.bishopscourtestate.com.au BLACK GOLD MOTEL Wallerawang, 6355 7305 BOB BERRY REAL ESTATE Dubbo, 6882 6822 www.bobberry.com.au BOOROWA COUNCIL Boorowa, 6380 2000 www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au BOOROWA COURT HOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP Boorowa, 6385 3885 BOOROWA REAL ESTATE Boorowa, 6385 3337 www.boorowa-real-estate.com BRENNO’S HOT BAKE Narromine, 6889 1921 BRUCE’S MENSLAND Young, 6382 6762 BUDDENS B&B Rockley, 6337 9279 www.buddens.com.au BURROWA HOUSE Boorowa, 6385 3773 BURROWA RETIREMENT VILLAGE Boorowa, 6385 3773 BYNG STREET LOCAL STORE Orange, 6361 4007 www.byngstreet.com.au
GRAYTILL Wellington, 6845 1857 www.graytill.com.au GREENTREES GUESTHOUSE Orange, 6361 4546 www.greentreeshouse.com.au HARTLEY HISTORIC VILLAGE Hartley, 6355 2117 www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
ORANA ENERGY SYSTEMS Dubbo, 6885 2295 www.oranaenergysystems.com ORANA MALL Dubbo, 6882 7766 www.oranamall.com.au ORANGE CITY COUNCIL Orange, 6393 8250 www.orange.nsw.gov.au OUTSCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Grenfell, 6343 8288 www.outscape.net.au
HAY’S GIFT AND GARDENWARE Parkes, 6862 4002
PARKES COFFEE POT & PARKES OPTICAL SERVICES Parkes, 6862 1877
COUNTRYMAN MOTOR INN Dubbo, 6882 7422 www.countrymandubbo.com.au
HILLTOPS RETREAT MOTOR INN Young, 6382 3300 www.hilltopsretreatyoung.com.au
PARKES NEWSAGENCY Parkes, 6862 2296 www.parkesnewsagency.com
COURTYARD ARCHITECTURAL Bathurst, 6332 5299 www.courtyarddecor.com.au
JEMALONG WOOL Forbes, 6851 4000 www.jemalongwool.com.au
PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL Parkes, 6862 6000 www.parkes.nsw.gov.au
COWRA JAPANESE GARDEN & CULTURAL CENTRE Cowra, 6341 2233 www.cowragarden.com.au
JENNY’S CLASSROOM & TOYS 2 Orange, 6362 6078 www.jennysclassroomtoys2.com.au
PAUL’S CAFE Crookwell, 4832 1745
COWRA TOURISM CORP Cowra, 6342 4333 www.cowratourism.com.au CRACK WILLOW FARM Oberon, 6336 3030 www.crackwillowfarm.com.au CRAMPTON’S CARPETS Dubbo, 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au CROOKWELL FOOTWEAR Crookwell, 4832 1636 CROOKWELL GARDEN FESTIVAL Crookwell, 4837 3117 www.crookwellgardenfestival.com
JUDE AUSTRALIA 0412 726 882 www.judeaustralia.com KETTLE & GRAIN CAFE Young, 0497 247 246 www.kettleandgrain.com KIDDINGABOUT Lithgow, 6346 2520 KITCHEN & RENOVATION CONCEPTS Dubbo, Coonabarabran & Orange 6884 1292 www.kitchen-concepts.com.au KLR MARKETING Bathurst, 0428 953 925 www.klrmarketing.com.au
CROOKWELL IGA Crookwell, 4832 1159
KUBOWICZ BUILDERS Mudgee, 6372 4200 www.jkbuilders.com.au
CROWE HORWATH Central West, 1300 856 065 www.crowehorwath.com.au
LAGGAN HOTEL Laggan, 4837 3208
CULTIVATE ADVISORY Narromine, 0428 890 151 www.cultivateadvisory.com.au
LAGGAN PANTRY Laggan, 4837 3039 www.lagganpantry.com.au
PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS Dubbo, 6882 3933 www.peacockeaccountants.com.au PINN COTTAGE Crookwell, 0421 457 135 www.pinncottage.com.au PLAINSMAN MOTEL Forbes, 6852 2466 PLC ARMIDALE Armidale, 6770 1700 www.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
PRESSED TIN PANELS Bathurst, 6332 1738 www.pressedtinpanels.com PWM ADVICE Orange, 6360 1232 www.pwmadvice.com.au
DISH CATERING CO Parkes, 0425 209 138 DMC MEAT & SEAFOOD Dubbo, 6881 8255 www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au
LITHGOW TOURISM Lithgow, 1300 760 276 www.tourism.lithgow.com
REDAGAPE GUESTHOUSE Millthorpe, 0448 626 391 www.redagape.com.au
DUBBO PRINTING WORKS Dubbo, 6882 1233 www.printingworks.com
LITHGOW WORKIES Lithgow, 6350 7777 www.workies.com.au
RESPECTFULLY Lithgow, 6351 4337 www.respectfully.com.au
DUNK INSURANCE Young, 1800 219 496 www.dunkinsurance.com.au
LITTLE CHERRY TREE Young, 6382 2795 www.littlecherrytree.com.au
ROSIE’S HONEY MUSTARD Warren, 6824 2055 www.rosies.net.au
EARLY RISE BAKING CO Dubbo, 6884 6878 www.earlyrisebaking.com.au
LOWES MOUNT TRUFFIERE Oberon, 6336 3148 www.lowesmounttruffles.com.au
EASY LIVING FOOTWEAR Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, 6332 3822 www.elfshoes.com.au
LUCKNOW SKIN SHOP & BOOT BARN Lucknow, 6365 5330 www.lucknowskinshop.com.au
ST CLEMENT’S RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTRE Galong, 6380 5222 www.stclement.com.au
EAT YOUR GREENS Eugowra, 0428 595 259 www.eatyourgreens.com.au
M.D. & J.J. ANDERSON Crookwell, 4832 1056 www.mdjjanderson.com.au
ECLECTIC Orange, 6360 0437
MATERIAL WORLD Mudgee & Orange, 6372 2914 www.materialworld.com.au
EWE TWO ON DANDALOO Trangie, 6888 8268 www.ewetwo.com.au
FISH RIVER ROASTERS Bathurst, 6331 7171 FLOWERS HERE Wellington & Dubbo, 0410 363 429 www.flowershere.com.au FORBES SHIRE COUNCIL Forbes, 6852 4155 www.forbes.nsw.gov.au FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING & SHOE REPAIRS Bathurst, 6331 7544 www.gottheboot.com.au
MAYFIELD MEWS Bowning, 0413 476 255 www.mayfieldmews.com.au MIDNIGHT DOWNS Narromine, 6889 4427 MUDGEE SMALL FARM FIELD DAYS Mudgee, 6372 3899 www.mudgeefielddays.com.au
SADDLER & CO Dubbo, 0419 496 834 www.saddlerandco.com.au
THE NEXT GRIND COFFEE & GALLERY Gilgandra, 6847 2707 THE OUTLOOK CAFE Dubbo, 6884 7977 THE QUARRY RESTAURANT & CELLAR DOOR Cowra, 6342 3650 www.thequarryrestaurant.com.au THE SCOTS SCHOOL Bathurst, 6333 4702 www.scots.edu.au THE TANGLED VINE CAFE Taralga, 4840 2929 THE WHITE PLACE Orange, 6363 1160 www.thewhiteplace.com.au TOP PADDOCK Crookwell, 4832 2319
UPPER LACHLAN SHIRE COUNCIL Crookwell, 4832 1988 www.visitupperlachlan.com.au VERTO LTD Central West, 1300 483 786 www.verto.org.au VISIT YOUNG Young, 6382 3394 www.visityoung.com.au WALLINGTON WINES Canowindra, 0427 936 054 www.wallingtonwines.com.au WANTANA COTTAGE FARM STAY Boorowa, 0427 200 981 www.stayz.com.au/181676 WE KNOW TRAVEL Parkes, Dubbo & Orange, 6862 2466 www.weknowtravel.com.au WEST ORANGE MOTORS Orange, 6361 1000 www.mbwestorangemotors.com.au WESTERN PLAINS CULTURAL CENTRE Dubbo, 6801 4444 www.westernplainsculturalcentre.org
SECLUSIONS Rydal via Lake Lyell, 6355 6300 www.seclusions.com.au
WESTERN PLAINS WINDOWS & GLASS PTY LTD Dubbo, 6884 8818 www.wpwg.com.au
SIMPLY NILE CAFE Orange, 6363 1991
WESTPAC AGRIBUSINESS Dubbo, Young & Orange, 0429 653 591
SNARE’S NEWSAGENCY Dubbo, 6882 1191
WF GILBERT STATIONER & BOOKSELLER Young, 6382 2021
SOUL FOOD DESIGN DEPOT & GALLERY Narromine, 6889 7997
WHITE’S STOCK TRANSPORT Orange, 6362 2099
SPRINGFIELD GUEST COTTAGES Young, 0439 823 799 SWISH GALLERY Dubbo, 6882 9528 www.theswishgallery.com.au
NARELLAN POOLS WESTERN PLAINS Dubbo, 6884 3117
TABERNER’S GLASS Orange, 6362 3633 www.tabernerglass.com.au
NARROMINE SHIRE COUNCIL Narromine, 6889 9999 www.narromine.nsw.gov.au
TARA MEAT SHEEP STUDS Rockley, 6337 9330
NORMAN J. PENHALL FUNERALS Orange, 6361 7777
THE LOFT FASHION HOUSE Young, 6382 1533
UNION BANK WINE BAR & DINING Orange, 6361 4441 www.unionbank.com.au
RAY WHITE EMMS MOONEY Oberon, 6336 1109 www.raywhiteemc.com
MAX ASTRI OPTOMETRISTS Dubbo, Wellington & Cobar, 6884 4077 www.maxastrioptometrists.com
THE LITHGOW TIN SHED Lithgow, 6352 1740
POPPA’S FUDGE & JAM FACTORY Young, 6382 5854
LINDNER QUALITY SOCKS Crookwell, 4832 0202 www.lindnersocks.com.au
EVERDELL CONSTRUCTION Young, 0427 020 067
THE LION’S PRIDE Dubbo, 6884 3333 www.thelionspride.com.au
TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP Central West, 6882 1511 www.toyota.com.au
QUALITY INN DUBBO INTERNATIONAL Dubbo, 6882 4777 www.qualityinndubbo.com.au
ECLECTOPIA GIFTS Taralga, 0468 934 483
THE HUB Bathurst, 6332 1565
PLOUGHMAN’S HILL OLIVES Parkes, 6866 1260 www.ploughmanshill.com.au
LINDEN TREE MANOR Oakley Park, 6352 2805
DAVIESNEWS Crookwell, 4832 1061
THE GENERAL STORE BY CHALK N CHEESE Young, 6382 3515
TATTYKEEL Oberon, 6335 8116 www.tattykeel.com.au
WHITNEYS JEWELLERS Dubbo, 6882 4620 www.whitneysjewellers.com.au WILDERS BAKERY Young, 6382 1275 www.wilders.com.au WOMBEYAN & ABERCROMBIE CAVES Wombeyan via Taralga, 4843 5976 YLAD LIVING SOILS Young, 1300 811 681 www.yladlivingsoils.com.au YOUNG WORKWEAR Young, 6382 2289
We encourage our readers to support our advertisers. The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.
PLOUGHMAN’S HILL OLIVES, PARKES NSW www.ploughmanshill.com.au
PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL • VINEGARS AND INFUSED OILS • OLIVES • BEAUTY PRODUCTS
pick up a copy of the new destination guide or view online at www.visitparkes.com.au
visitparkes.com.au
coffee...sandwiches...meals...spectacles!
Freshly made sandwiches, home style cooking and friendly relaxed atmosphere. Function room. Reasonably priced meals, special dietary requirements catered for. 209B Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1877
Spectacles and sunglasses available. Adjustments and minor repairs carried out whilst you wait. 209A Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870 (02) 6862 1852 CWL 207
THE LAST WORD
LESS IS MORE
A whole new I perspective
f you see what appears to be a UFO hovering around the skies, don’t be alarmed. It’s probably Fraser Lyon’s drone capturing stunning views of the district.
The Crookwell local has been a chef for 20 years, once making tasty meals for hungry tourists on Sydney’s Goat Island, but his head was always in the clouds. Now, thanks to his drone, his eye truly is in the sky and the results are spectacular. His passion for photography started in 1975, while dabbling in the darkroom at Crookwell High. This love of capturing images was cemented after being awarded runner-up in The Sydney Morning Herald school photography competition. After jackerooing for many years during the 1980s with the Twynham Pastoral Co, and working in towns like Forbes (“Jemalong”), Warren (“Buttabone”), Narromine (“Aspen Farms”) and Hay (“Steam Plains”), the work eventually dried up and he moved back to Crookwell to start up his own maintenance business with a family and three kids, who are now, incidentally, all involved in the photography industry. After years of taping cameras to two kites – it was, admittedly, a hit and miss affair – technology finally caught up with him. About three years ago he bought his first drone or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Fraser believes he is on a winner, photographing prestige real estate without the traditional cost of having to hire a photographer, pilot and a plane (or the more expensive chopper). Crookwell’s snowstorm last year provided a major opportunity. Fraser was perhaps the only one up there, with the right gear, to capture the almost surreal snow that had blanketed the town overnight. He has crashed one drone in the ocean, never to be seen again, but apart from this mishap, his enthusiasm has never wavered. After spending about $20,000 on his pet project, Fraser is hoping the best is yet to come. He has been approved by CASA to fly his drone anywhere, but don’t worry, he is not, by law, allowed to photograph you sunbaking in your backyard! CWL
Top: One of Fraser’s great snow shots. Above: Fraser with the tools of the trade. 208 CWL
Words and images: Shot by Jake
THE NEW FORTUNER IS HERE IN THE CENTRAL WEST
With its origins influenced and inspired by Toyota’s iconic SUV and unbreakable HiLux range, Fortuner already boasts a proud and proven 4WD heritage. With Fortuner you’ll have the power, comfort and reliability to confidently go wherever your ambition takes you. To find out more visit toyota.com.au/all-new-fortuner
Contact your local Central West Dealer for more information. Armstrong Toyota (West Wyalong) 02 6972 2400 armstrongtoyota.com.au Bathurst Toyota 02 6334 2224 bathursttoyota.com.au Cobar Toyota 02 6836 4007 parkestoyota.com.au
Cowra Toyota 02 6342 1988 cowratoyota.com.au
Lean & Bennett (Lithgow) 02 6352 2211 leanandbennetttoyota.net.au
Orange Toyota 02 6362 2988 orangetoyota.com.au
Dubbo City Toyota 02 6882 1511 dubbocitytoyota.com.au
Macquarie Toyota (Warren) 02 6847 4266 macquarietoyota.com.au
Parkes Toyota 02 6862 9777 parkestoyota.com.au
Gilgandra Toyota 02 6847 2106 gilgandratoyota.com.au
Mudgee Toyota 02 6372 1799 mudgeetoyota.com.au
Jeffery Toyota (Forbes) 02 6851 1644 jefferytoyota.com.au
Nyngan Toyota 02 6832 1477 nyngantoyota.com.au
Ron Stubberfield Toyota (Wellington) 02 6845 2522 ronstubberfieldtoyota.com.au
TOYOTA T OYOTA ACCESS A SMARTER WAY TO BUY