Fleurieu Living Magazine Summer 2014

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FLEURIEU LIVING

‘The Kelsey’ display home – 47 Sun Orchid Drive, Hayborough. Open: Mon-Wed-Sat-Sun and public holidays 1:00 to 4:30. Telephone South Coast Constructions on 8552 4444.

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FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE

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Lifestyle and sustainability.

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Beyond Expectations The Epicurean Way 03

SUMMER 2014

Beyond, the perfect balance of sustainability, life and luxury. Stages 1-7 SOLD OUT • Stage 8 on sale now ‘off the plan’ • Large allotments of 550-950 sqm from $160,000 SA’s most sustainable and energy efficient development • Phone 0412 620 022 or email adam@beyondtoday.com.au.

The house that Bailey built

In pursuit of sensual pleasure

Victor Harbor

Boutique Winemakers

Where you holiday at home 9

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South Australia’s premium lifestyle magazine with a focus on the Fleurieu. BUY IT · READ IT · BE IN THE KNOW. Available at newsagents, cafés, restaurants, cellar doors and Qantas Club Lounges.

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‘The Kelsey’ display home – 47 Sun Orchid Drive, Hayborough. Open: Mon-Wed-Sat-Sun and public holidays 1:00 to 4:30. Telephone South Coast Constructions on 8552 4444.

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FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE

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Key Personnel Petra de Mooy Petra is a publisher, an interior designer, a furniture maker and a devotee of good food, good design and good stories. After two years of producing FLM, Petra is grateful to everyone who has helped make the publication a part of the community. Jason Porter Jason has worked as a graphic designer and creative director both locally and overseas for more than twenty five years. When not in the office, he can usually be found in the garage tweaking some kind of rare hi-fi component. Leonie Porter-Nocella Ever the fantasist, Leonie sees her mission here as akin to ‘the Cleaner’ (the person summoned to clean a crime scene before the detectives arrive) ... leaving no trace of any (grammatical or stylistic) crime. She is also Oma Leonie (Monie) to Lucy! Perscia Maung After years of moonlighting as a blues singer and keeping rather anti-social hours, Perscia now enjoys her day job at FLM. This allows her to not only walk her Great Dane on the beach, but to properly take in the region she so adores.

Featured Contributors Mike Lucas Originally from the UK, Mike Lucas arrived in South Australia in 2010 and hasn’t looked back. He and his wife, Becky, own two independent bookshops – in Port Noarlunga and Blackwood – and are both active in the local arts communities. As well as selling books, Mike also writes them, regularly visiting schools, libraries and anywhere else that he finds will listen to him. The rest of the time he is a full-time engineer for a major utilities company. He can be spotted running and swimming along Port Noarlunga beach all year round. He considers himself lucky to have landed here.

Holly Dauk Based south of Adelaide in the small town of Delamere, Holly specialises in the portraiture of newborns, babies, children and families. Event and commercial photography is fast becoming a big part of Holly’s portfolio, which so far has been an amazing journey for her. She discovered her passion for photography soon after the birth of her second child, loving being able to capture and create beautiful memories and milestones. She went on to study a diploma in photography, registering her own business in late 2011. Having lived in a rural area on the Fleurieu Peninsula her entire life, Holly thoroughly enjoys and really appreciates the stunning backdrops she has available to her in local areas.

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Publisher Information Robert Geh Robert Geh can’t remember who is to blame for his descent into all things photographic, but he has been a purveyor of fine commercial photography for over two decades, servicing many clients both large and small over this period. His inspiration is drawn from the unknown – space, stillness ... and the constant fear of running out of money. Rob photographed the two homes featured in this edition of FLM, including our front cover.

Other contributing writers and photographers Quentin Chester, Chris Edser, Zannie Flanagan, Gill Gordon-Smith, Chris Harris, James Howe, emme jade, Stephanie Johnston, Heidi Linehan, Winnie Pelz, James Potter, Mike Rushby, Ainsley Roscrow, Esther Thorn and Amie Turner.

PUBLISHER Fleurieu Living Magazine is published four times a year by Fleurieu Living Pty Ltd. ISSN 2200-4033 PUBLISHING EDITOR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au EDITOR Leonie Porter-Nocella leonie@fleurieuliving.com.au ADVERTISING SALES Perscia Maung perscia@fleurieuliving.com.au ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Cathy Phillips GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Jason Porter jason@fleurieuliving.com.au PRINTER Graphic Print Group DISTRIBUTION Integrated Publication Solutions SUBSCRIPTIONS www.isubscribe.com.au ALL ENQUIRIES Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 111, Aldinga, South Australia 5173. ONLINE fleurieuliving.com.au facebook.com/FleurieuLivingMagazine twitter.com/FleurieuLiving COPYRIGHT All content copyright Fleurieu Living Magazine Pty Ltd unless otherwise stated. While Fleurieu Living Magazine takes every care to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publisher accepts no liability for errors in editorial or advertising copy. The views of the contributors are not necessarily endorsed by Fleurieu Living Magazine. Printed on paper from well managed forests using environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.

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Contents

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FEATURED HOME: Beyond Expectations – The house that Bailey built.

FEATURED TOWN: Victor Harbor – Where you holiday at home.

FRONT COVER PHOTO: Robert Geh.

FOOD & WINE

MARKETS & EVENTS

COUNTRY LIFE

54 Taste the Season – Eggplant aka solanum melogena

10 Diary Dates and Events to keep you busy this summer.

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20 The Epicurean Way – In pursuit of sensual pleasure. 64 Cooks and Chefs – Cindy Westphalen of Cindy’s Classic Gourmet and Adam Crabtree of Anchorage. 82 2014 Fleurieu Olive Awards.

Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge: Outback of Strath. Echidna Detective – Dr Peggy Rismiller OAM

LIVING GREEN 38 The Dirt – James discusses the importance of play 28 The Tree Whisperer – Paul Rosser OAM.

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FEATURE: The Epicurean Way – in pursuit of sensual pleasure.

FASHION FEATURE: Resort Style – ready to wear poolside and evening.

FEATURED ARTIST: Jane Smeets – The Art of Life.

BOOKS & WORDS

PENINSULA PEOPLE

BEING SOCIAL

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56 Jenni Mumford’s White Wave Studios – An artist’s inspiration at Encounter Bay. 84 Maggie Clausen – The bird lady. 42 Flynn O’Malley – Art Machine.

104 FLM gets out to see who was at the following events: · Stockman’s Challenge · Melbourne Cup Fillies’ Luncheon · Mike vs Michael · Winemakers’ Bushing Lunch · All That Jazz: Fashion Parade · Fleurieu Art Guide Launch · d’arenberg Artisan’s Launch · Tiny Taranga: Photography Exhibition

Mike Lucas dishes up five fantastic books for your summer reading list. Hunta comes up with the goods: Boat on roof, the real story.

WEDDINGS

GROWERS & PRODUCERS

98 Renee Behrdt and Lincoln Burgess – Waverley Estate, 5th April 2014.

46 Boutique Winemakers – Uniquely bold ... and boutique!

Elise Peacock and Christopher Karamanov – The Chapel Hill Retreat, Easter Saturday 2014.

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ACKNOWLEDGES

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

T H E BLUF F RESORT APARTMENTS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

Fleurieu Renewables COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC SOLAR SPECIALISTS TOMORROW’S SOLUTIONS. TODAY

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SOUTH COAST


Welcome to FLM We still love our jobs!

Letters to the Editor

People always ask, ‘How is the magazine going?’ The answer is always the same – ‘It’s going really well’ ... if you assess this on the number of people continually telling us how much they love the magazine – no not just like – LOVE.

Hi, just picked up the new issue of FLM and love it! Great article on the nurseries and loved the pictures of the racing at Sellicks Beach. I’ve sent a copy to a business contact in the US who I had lunch with at the Salopian – great timing :). Kerstin Holata Schuetz.

We get this all of the time and we never tire of hearing it. They like the quality and variety. They like the people and places. They like that sometimes they see someone they know in the social pages. So easy to please! Is it easy though? No. Do we want it to be? Not necessarily. We do, however, want that kind of respect ... and we work hard to maintain it while still remembering to address the reality that it is actually a business. Lots of people help us to realise this quality, variety and business acumen. The local businesses that support us, the readers who keep coming back for more; but our advertising partners are at the core of what we have accomplished – we salute them and their vision. Next up, the Fleurieu community at large – the endless array of talented entrepreneurs, characters, artisans and hidden gems we continue to find. At this time of year when we all reflect back and give thanks – we say ‘thank you’. Thank you for loving us and we love you back – okay, maybe not each one of you individually – but as a whole – mos’ def. Cheers to a great end to 2014: so bring on more challenges, stories, and the like in the second half of the second decade of the second millennium ... or 2015.

Hello, Having had the opportunity to see and absorb the recent Dorrit Black exhibition, I very much enjoyed the art appreciation article Light Breaks Through’ by Merenia Vince. It was a thoughtful critique of this under-appreciated South Australian artist. The Fleurieu inspires again. Kind Regards, Jenny Esots Dear FLM Team, What a magnificent region we are blessed to live in. The Fleurieu Peninsula is arguably one of Australia’s idyllic lifestyle destinations. What talented locals we nurture. What sensational restaurants we have. What premium food producers and growers’ markets we celebrate. What world class wineries we revere. What pristine beaches. What glorious National Parks. What an abundance of birds and wildlife. What fantastic Festivals, Arts and Culture ... all within an opal’s toss of Adelaide. Your Spring edition of FLM quite simply blew this place right out of the water. What a showcase of our mighty Peninsula. Congratulations on a first class Mag. You make me proud! Vicki Matchett

The FLM Team. Below: Early morning walk at Port Willunga. Photo by Jason Porter.



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MARKETS & EVENTS

Diary Dates Markets, Festivals and Events.

Markets: Willunga Farmers’ Market In the Willunga Town Square every Saturday from 8 - 12.30. You must go just for the Summer Fruits! Cherries, peaches, nectarines, blueberries – the freshest you’ll find! Willunga Artisans’ Market In the Willunga Show Hall (opposite the Willunga Farmers’ Market) on the second Saturday of each month. Local art and craft, with a little bit of something for everyone. A great place to buy a unique handmade gift! Victor Farmers’ Market At the Grosvenor Gardens, Victor Harbor every Saturday morning from 8 - 12.30. Over 32 stalls, with locally caught seafood, organic vegetables, seasonal fruit, local honey, mushrooms, fresh flowers, Fleurieu regional wines and much more. Well worth the visit. Goolwa Wharf Market Every 1stand 3rd Sunday of the month from 9 - 3.30. With around 80 stalls there is a myriad of goods on offer. Bric-a-brac, collectibles, plants, books both new and old, and hand-crafted goods. Kangaroo Island Farmers’ and Community Markets Lloyd Collins Reserve by the beach at Penneshaw — first Sunday of the month from 9.30 - 1.00 — with Kangaroo Island’s top food producers selling a range of fresh local produce in a great village atmosphere. For special SeaLink Ferry fares, visit sealink.com.au Meadows Country Market Meadows Community Hall on the second Sunday of the month from 9.00 - 3.00. Local produce, crafts, collectibles, plants and bric-abrac. A true country market. Strathalbyn Market In Lions Park, South Terrace, Strathalbyn. On the 3rd Sunday of the month from 8 - 2. Bric-a-brac, produce, coffee, pies, apples, plants, soaps, jewellery and much more in wonderfully historic Strathalbyn. Yankalilla Market In the Agricultural Hall, Main South Road, Yankalilla on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Craft and Produce Market featuring goods from the local area. You’ll be surprised at what you may find! Willunga Quarry Market Adjacent to the Willunga Oval, every 2nd Saturday of each month, rain or shine! Come and browse an eclectic mix of everything, ranging from second hand tools to plants to craft. Always something new to see.

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Above: Stocking up on fresh broccoli at the Willunga Farmers’ Market. Photo courtesy Alice Bell.

Port Elliot Market At Lakala Reserve Port Elliot, on the 1st and 3rdd Saturday of each month. A typical country market with plenty of fresh local produce on offer as well as a good mix of other goods, such as bric-a-brac, books, fishing gear — even a $2 stall! There is sure to be something for everyone. Aldinga Bay Art, Craft and Produce Market On the 4th Sunday of every month at the Aldinga Institute Show Hall from 8 - 1. Arts and crafts from local artisans, as well as fresh local produce. Myponga Markets In the old Myponga Cheese Factory every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday from 10 - 4. Enjoy browsing over 100 stalls offering produce, books, toys, Balinese imports, musical instruments, vintage collectibles and much more. Market of Earthly Delights Held from 1 - 4 at the Encounter Centre in Victor Harbor on the 1st Sunday of each month. Bring and swap your surplus produce with other like-minded growers. Think home-grown fruit, vegetables, seedlings, flowers, honey, sauces, recipes, kindling, compost and more! The Vale Market Held from 9am to 1pm at the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. The market features locally-made produce and products, wine, art and craft as well as hand-made souvenirs. The Vale Market is family friendly and features buskers and local acts. Willunga Farmers’ Twilight Market From 5.30 - 8.30pm on Thursday January 22nd have a stroll around Willunga and enjoy all on offer at this very popular local market. There’s sure to be entertainment, a good buzz and great food and wine. What more could one ask for on a Thursday night in January?


Festivals and Events: Tough Mudder December 13 and 14, Langhorne Creek Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile (18-20 km) obstacle course designed to test all-round strength, stamina, teamwork, and mental grit. Tough Mudder is probably the toughest event on the planet. Probably. www.toughmudder. The Surf: Celebrating twenty-one years of surf culture Exhibition launch December 12 at 6pm. Exhibition runs to January 18 at Port Noarlunga Arts Centre. Guest speakers; entertaining tales from the surf and live music from The Villenettes who play original rock‘n’roll with a splash of surf and a razor edge of zombie punk. They’ll make you party like it’s 1959! Free entry, all welcome. Fridays after Five December 26, January 2, 9, 16 and 23 5pm-9pm at the Home Grain Bakery, Aldinga Join the ever-increasing buzz along Coach Road and enjoy art and craft stalls, pizza and a good community vibe. Every Friday between Boxing Day and Australia Day! The Lions Family Christmas Party! 24 December at Normanville The Lions Club of Yankalilla presents the Lions Family Christmas Party. This will be a fun day for the whole family on Christmas Eve. Activities for the children include face painting, rides and a visit from Santa. Come and enjoy the all the fun and festivity!

Normanville New Year’s Eve Pageant December 31, 2014 at Normanville Parade starts at 7:30pm on Katherine Drive, culminating on the Normanville foreshore with food stalls and amusements, organised by local community clubs. The event closes with an exciting fireworks display on the beach beginning at 9:45pm. People’s Choice Credit Union New Year’s Eve Celebrations December 31, 2014 at Victor Harbor. Live music from 7pm until midnight, with face painting, children’s giveaways, roving clowns and much more. Bring a picnic basket and join in the evening’s festivities – finishing with the ‘Giant Fireworks Spectacular’. Strathalbyn Cup Sunday January 11, 2015 The racing action on the track, like the activity off it, will be first class. This is a day for the fashion-conscious as well as the racing purist, with quality racing, fashions on the field and family entertainment. General admission: $20 Concession and under 18: $10 Children under 15: Free www.strathracing.com.au Harvest Festival McLaren Vale Saturday January 17, 2015 11am to 8pm at the McLaren Vale Sporting Complex, McLaren Vale. Gold coin donation – Family event A celebration of the diversity of food, wine, music and the arts from the McLaren Vale region. Featuring a fantastic range of activities to keep the children amused – with pony-rides, face-painting live bands, celebrity challenges and heaps more. >


MARKETS & EVENTS

Festivals and Events continued: Love Velo Seaside Friday January 23, 2015 6.30pm at Port Willunga Beach Follow up a day at the bike race with Love Velo $150pp. Following the stellar night on the beach last year, a repeat of the amazing scenery and atmosphere at Port Willy is on again! Get in quick – will sell out fast! For more details and to book your tickets visit: www.onkaparingacity.com/lovevelo Santos Tour Down Under Stage 5 January 24, 2015 Professional cyclists from around the world participate in the Santos Tour Down Under. Cheer them on and take part in the activities in the region. McLaren Vale, Willunga, Aldinga. Information at www.tourdownunder.com.au Coopers Kangaroo Island Gourmet Gallop Food and Wine Festival January 24, 2015 First race 1pm Cygnet River Racecourse, Kingscote Blending racing with Kangaroo Island’s celebrated food scene, attendees can indulge in food, wine and live music from the many marquees dotted on the banks of the Cygnet River. Travel packages through sealink.com.au Compass Cup Saturday January 24, 2015 Main Oval, Mount Compass

Adults $7. Children under 14, gold coin donation Be a part of Australia’s only cow race; it is a fun, exciting, unique way to spend a family day. Loads of entertainment, sideshows, food stalls and crowd-participation events. Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic 25 January, 2015 Lower River Murray, Goolwa SA Free family event The iconic race takes in the 50kms from Milang across Lake Alexandrina to Port Sturt and down the River Murray past Clayton to the river-port of Goolwa. For a full program visit: www.goolwaregattaweek.com.au Australia Day Bush Fair Monday January 26, 2015, 5:30 to 9:30pm. South Adelaide Football Club, Lovelock Drive, Noarlunga Downs Another event packed with local foods, arts, crafts and novelties, with live entertainment and fireworks. Gold coin entry. South Australian Wooden Boat Festival 21 and 22 February, 2015 Goolwa, Fleurieu Peninsula The Festival, held within the Goolwa Wharf precinct provides a weekend filled with both on-water and on-land action, with loads of entertainment and an opportunity to get up close and personal with wooden river vessels – from elegant yachts to sleek, classic speedboats.

Fleurieu Four Seasons Prize for Landscape Photography $2,000 People’s Choice Award DON’T FORGET to vote online for your five favourite images and be in with a chance to win a free subscription to FLM. Vote at http://fwcsa.com.au/ffspca between 1 January and 28 February 2015. The winners of the $15,000 Main Prize and the People’s Choice Award will be announced 26 March 2015 and showcased in the Winter edition of FLM. The People’s Choice Award on-line voting is proudly supported by

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Beyond Expectations Story by Petra de Mooy. Photographs by Robert Geh.


Previous page: The home boasts low maintenance but striking landscaping, warm tones and dramatic sculptures. Above: Neutral cabinetry and furnishings serve as a neutral counterpoint to the array of art created by Ian.

The long low house sits at the edge of a wetland pond and looks out onto bushland to the south. Birds fly in and out. A heron; a dusky moorhen guiding her chicks; masked lapwings and an assortment of ducks. If this sounds like the idyllic rural property of dreams, you would probably be most surprised to find that it’s in a housing development. But this is no ordinary estate. ‘Beyond’ development at Hayborough on the Southern Fleurieu was conceived and envisaged by Steven Wright and family. It is a realists’ utopia. Beautifully landscaped living space resting among native bushland; wetlands; cycling and walking paths, and very well managed, carefully thought-out housing. There is even a path that runs under the busy main road to the west so that residents are free to walk or ride to and from the beach or the shops without having to negotiate traffic. Ian and Norma Charlton were not necessarily planning on building a second home away from their city home. They had initially purchased a block in a similar ‘green concept’ development in the near suburbs of Adelaide. Plans were laid, and a new home was designed for their then-vacant block where they hoped to experience the sustainable way of life that appealed to them. But as they witnessed the direction this particular development was going, they reconsidered and pulled the pin on the plans. ‘We really just made this decision to build here because of the Beyond Development itself,’ Norma says.

‘We loved the concept and the work the Wrights have done to ensure all the environmental and building criteria were well planned – it was so impressive that we couldn’t go past it. The Wrights have created something that is a legacy,’ Ian says. The climate and proximity to the ocean, beaches, and amenities was also a great draw card. ‘We find it is the nicest area to come to relative to other beach destinations – it has everything. It is a fantastic area for walks and it has great restaurants – it is very much a home away from home for us,’ Norma says. Located on one of the more secluded corner allotments, the Charltons were very lucky to secure a spot so close to the beautiful bushland. Norma and Ian had very clear ideas about the design and worked from fairly minimalist inspirations, giving the design careful consideration before seeking out the expertise of an architect. ‘We probably took thirty or forty houses that we really liked and shook it all down to what we liked about them, found a commonality – then we built a few three-dimensional models,’ Ian says. ‘We knew Marco Spinelli (from Architects Ink) so we asked him to help us design the home,’ says Norma. Architects Ink fleshed out the vision for the home and worked on preliminary drawings and concept sketches. Marco says, ‘the vision for the house was a simplistic form that would be unobtrusive to the landscape. I think Beyond is a great development, well executed and not overdeveloped – not your typical ‘greedy’ developer approach: to maximise return at all cost – it is true to its vision of sustainability and luxury while maintaining a vast amount of natural open space – which sets it apart from other residential developments.’ >

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Top: The home is idyllically located at the edge of a wetland and close to the bike path and bushland to the south. Above left and right: Bold sculptures dotted around the home create visual surprises and a contrast to the otherwise organic landscape.

Armed with their working drawings and their fantastic block, Ian and Norma set about finding a builder. For purely practical reasons they were hoping for a local builder, and when they met Don Bailey from Bailey Homes, they liked his practical and honest approach and felt confident he would fulfil the brief while not breaking the bank. Bailey Homes also has experience with working on homes with a high energy rating. It was an easy choice. Don understood what Ian and Norma wanted and they liked his ideas and his up-front style. Bailey also helped to change some of the original concept to come into line with the budget. Don says, ‘with a variety of textures, such as rammed earth, polished concrete, render and mini orb cladding, this home is visually exciting and complements its natural surrounds. Louvre and custom thermal pane windows help to manage the air flow, while

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a higher grade insulation to the ceilings and walls helps maintain a comfortable living temperature throughout the home. The open plan kitchen, dining\living area is functional and takes in the views through the floor to ceiling custom-designed windows on three sides, providing plenty of natural light while maximising the views.’ The house is situated on the block with an exact east-west axis. Harnessing the warmth from the winter sun and relying on a very well-insulated building to maintain this warmth: and with double glazed windows – and what Ian describes as a ‘thermal package’, Ian and Norma haven’t missed air conditioning – only using the gas fire on cold nights. ‘There are no roof penetrations (aiding potential heating and cooling loss) and there are a hundred good ideas like that in this design,’ Ian says.


Above left: The pond running along the side of the house is home to goldfish and offers an endless curiosity for magpies. It also helps cool the home in the hot summer months. Above right: The earthy nature of the paintings and sculptures work well with the rammed earth walls and polished concrete.

One thing that has proved very successful is the cross ventilation provided by the louvre windows next to the pond: cold air comes in from the bottom next to the pond and the warm air leaves the windows from the other side of the room via the small windows at the top. During the process of building Ian and Norma were very hands-off, leaving the builders to do their work without the pressure of watchful eyes. They put their trust in the process and their builders and four years later are very pleased with all aspects of their holiday home – the location, the home itself and their ever-growing friendships within the community. The home has a quiet confidence and its colour and landscaping – along with a few dramatic sculptures – all blend extremely well with the surroundings.

While sitting with the Charltons and observing nature – the changing light, watching the odd person strolling or riding past on a bike path just outside – the appeal of this community is evident and Ian and Norma clearly comfortable with their home away from home. Norma says, ‘It is just lovely to come here and the house is so low-maintenance that it is truly relaxing.’

When we first visited Ian and Norma in early spring we were impressed by the array or artwork on display – and very surprised to find that it was all Ian’s work. > 17


Above left: Everywhere you turn there is beautiful landscape or an artwork. Above right: Natural light floods the bathroom, while rammed earth walls provide a cool, natural and relaxing space. Below: The view to the south looking towards Port Elliot over the wetland.

Ian’s talents are numerous, but he contends he is a better sculptor than anything else. The sculptures are impressive, but equally lovely are the paintings – inspired by indigenous art. ‘I did art as a kid and didn’t really touch it much after that, but I retired reasonably early and was always interested in art so I picked it up again and went to TAFE – taking sculpture and painting classes.’ Ian’s talents are numerous, but he contends he is a better sculptor than anything else. The sculptures are impressive, but equally lovely are the paintings – inspired by indigenous art. The earthy nature of the paintings works well with the rammed-earth walls, polished concrete floors and limestone tiling in the home. Ian is involved with a co-operative group of artists at the Ocean Street Art Gallery in Victor Harbor. While sitting with the Charltons and observing nature – the changing light, watching the odd person strolling or riding past on the bike path just outside – the appeal of this community is evident and Ian and Norma clearly comfortable with their home away from home. Norma says, ‘It is just lovely to come here and the house is so lowmaintenance that it is truly relaxing.’ Don Bailey said “Ian and Norma were wonderful clients and it was a pleasure to work with them during the design and construction of their beautiful home.” 18



FOOD & WINE

The Epicurean Way Have you ever tried driving from McLaren Vale to the Barossa through the Adelaide Hills? Or vice versa? Even with GPS navigation it’s no easy task. Story by Stephanie Johnston. The newly launched ‘Epicurean Way’ proposes a road trip that joins the dots between four of Australia’s top wine regions – McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and Clare Valley. The concept is still a work in progress, screaming out for a usable app, or even the odd useful signpost. (Some have even suggested painting the road itself a shiraz-inspired hue.) So choose your driving companion(s) carefully and place navigational skills high on your selection criteria, remembering that while many associate Epicureans with the pursuit of sensual pleasure derived from fine food and wine, the philosopher’s emphasis was in fact on the pleasures of the mind. For a true Epicurean, the company with whom one eats (or imbibes) is of even greater importance than what is eaten or drunk. Day 1 of the official Epicurean adventure takes you to the Adelaide Hills via McLaren Vale. The suggested first stop is d’Arenberg winery, a fourth-generation family-run winery where the “Blending Bench” experience lets you play winemaker, and take home a bottle of what you make. Other starting points could just as easily be Chapel Hill Winery, or its rustic neighbor Samuel’s Gorge. Both overlook the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge, and if you feel that you’d rather spend the night in McLaren Vale before heading north, then Chapel Hill Retreat provides some of the best accommodation around. While you are in the aptly-named “Seaview” subregion, other excellent vantage points can be found at the Coriole and Beach Road cellar doors, both of which offer distinct Italian varietals, along with a choice of wood oven pizza or platters loaded up with local produce. (Beach Road’s Fiano is one of only two Australian wines that made it onto Jamie Oliver’s inaugural Adelaide wine list.) Bearing in mind the Epicurean emphasis on pleasures of the mind, you could also take in the museum at Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, located in a cottage cellar door restored by fifth generation descendants of pioneer settlers William and Elizabeth Oliver. The Elbow Room in McLaren Vale, and Fino in Willunga are the official lunch recommendations. You could do just as well at The Currant Shed (off Kangarilla Road), or Maxwell’s, where a fullygrown conifer maze provides pleasure for younger Epicureans. A variety of dining options can also be found at The Kitchen Door Restaurant at Penny’s Hill, where post and rail fences and blackfaced Suffolk sheep provide a quirky backdrop. > 20

Above: Patterson and Saaz holding court with sixth generation family winemakers Brioni Oliver and Corinna Wright at Oliver’s Taranga. Photo by Heidi Linehan. Opposite page: Illustration by Chris Edser.



Top: Hugh Hamilton Cellar Door and Vineyards Just one of the great destinations on the McMurtrie Mile. Above left: Gemtree’s child-friendly cellar door. Photo by Meg Hansen Photography. Above right: The Home Grain Bakery at McLaren Flat and Aldinga is a definite crowd pleaser. Photo by Heidi Linehan.

SA Tourism recommends taking in the McMurtrie Mile, which leads you to five Epicurean highlights all on the one road. Turn off Main Road at the Salopian Inn to find Wirra Wirra, Hugh Hamilton, Sabella Vineyards and the food, wine and art complex at Red Poles, where McLaren Vale Beer Company has its cellar door.

sweeping coastline. (The Victory’s famous cellar – stocked with wines from all over – is also more appealing if you only have a short stroll “home”.)

An alternative sidetrack down Kangarilla Road could include Ekhidna Wines, (featuring food, wine, preservative-free beer flights and alcoholic ginger beer on tap), the all-natural award-winning Goodieson Brewery, and the certified- organic Gemtree Vineyards, where sincerity about sustainability is the pitch and practice.

If you find yourself waking up in McLaren Vale on a Saturday morning, go straight to the Willunga Farmers’ Market, the first farmers’ market in South Australia, and one of the best in the country. Other great Epicurean pit stops in Willunga include 3 Monkeys Café and Hither and Yon’s cellar door, co-located in an old butcher’s shop where the original slate floors and fireplaces remind you that you’re in the town that slate built.

You could also do a beach detour down Malpas Road, dropping by Fox Creek’s cellar door before picking up a pasty at Aldinga’s Homegrain Bakery, or taking in the view at the iconic Star of Greece Café on Port Willunga beach. From there it’s not too far to the Victory Hotel at Sellicks Hill, by which time you might be ready to book into the B&B cottages behind the hotel, overlooking the vineyards and

Leave McLaren Vale by heading up old Willunga Hill to join Brookman Road, aka Highway B34, which will take you all the way to Williamstown, via Meadows, Echunga, Hahndorf, Lobethal, and Birdwood. You are now in the Adelaide Hills wine region, and the first two cellar doors of note are Lazy Ballerina, where inviting lawns and a unique garden create a kid-and-dog-friendly vibe, and K1 by

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Other great Epicurean pit stops in Willunga include 3 Monkeys Café and Hither and Yon’s cellar door, co-located in an old butcher’s shop where the original slate floors and fireplaces remind you that you’re in the town that slate built. Geoff Hardy, where the stunning waterside location helped it win an industry magazine accolade as one of Australia’s top ten cellar door experiences. Further up the B34 the ChocoVino experience at Hahndorf Hill Winery awaits you. For some relief from gastronomic pleasures, around the corner is The Cedars, the historic home of one of Australia’s most noted landscape artists, Sir Hans Heysen. An everevolving collection of 200 artworks and a great art book collection

Top: You have to experience this cellar door in person. It oozes character at Samuel’s Gorge. Photo by Heidi Linehan. Above left: The Salopian Inn McLaren Vale – an icon of the south. Photo by Robert Geh. Above: The award winning cuisine at d’Arry’s Verandah; scallops on half shell with wasabi foam and flying fish roe. Photo by Kate Elmes. 23


Above: Maxwell Wines’ impressive conifer maze will keep the kids (and adults alike) entertained for hours. Photo by Jason Porter.

are on display in the house and studios of Sir Hans and daughter Nora, also a renowned portrait artist. To work off some of that Epicurean indulgence you could take a stroll through the 60 hectare property, populated with the famous Heysen gums.

Top: Simply stunning views from the Star of Greece. Photo by Zak Kaczmarek. Above left: As well as being open seven days a week for dining – Nigel also hosts Happy Hour from 4 pm on Friday nights – dishing up great snacks and drinks while spinning his great vinyl collection at the Elbow Room. Photo by Heidi Linehan. 24

If the magic combination of wine, chocolate and fine art isn’t enough to satiate your inner Epicurean, head to nearby Beerenberg Farm to pick some strawberries or taste the range of sauces, jams and preserves. Then drop in to Udder Delights on the Main Street of Hahndorf for a hand-made cheese hit. Clustered nearby are cellar door experiences at Nepenthe, Shaw and Smith and The Lane Vineyard, where the only rival for the fabulous food and wine is the breathtaking panoramic view. A more informal family-friendly pit stop can be found at Walk the Talk Café in Verdun, where “EAT LOCAL” credentials guarantee locally-sourced ingredients. Next door Studio D Design offers a different kind of local produce – in the form of diverse and distinctive works by South Australian contemporary artists.


Top left: The Chapel Hill Retreat nestles elegantly into the hillside. Top right: Ingleburne Homestead at Penny’s Hill. Above left: On the pour at Hither & Yon. Photo by Carly Tia Photography. Above right: The ‘original’ Fino in Willunga. Photo by Grant Beed.

Still on the B34, The Lobethal Bierhaus brews award-winning handcrafted beer and also serves local produce, with the brewhouse visible from inside the restaurant. Drop into Woodside Cheese Wrights cellar door en route for a similar close encounter with this exceptional artisan cheese factory. Try not to overindulge because you are now on your way to the Barossa, where you could end the day with the Taste Your Birth Year tour at Seppeltsfield Winery, offering vintages back to 1878. Make sure to check out top-end craft outlet The Jam Factory and consider indulging yourself with luxury accommodation at The Louise or Kingsford Homestead. The following morning book a cooking class at Casa Carboni Italian Cooking School in Angaston and, if it’s a Saturday, the Barossa Farmers Market nearby is a must. Travel a few minutes west from there to Penfolds, where you can blend your own bottle of Barossa wine to complement your McLaren Vale bottled memento. Continue

west to Hentley Farm for lunch, or drop into Tanunda’s fermentAsian for an unforgettable South East Asian meal. Take in a masterclass at Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre in Rowland Flat before ending the day with a visit to Aussie food legend Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop near Nuriootpa. Alternatively, Hutton Vale Farm in Eden Valley brings you up close and personal with 6th and 7th generations of the Angas family, whose forebears were instrumental in the founding and colonisation of South Australia. The fourth and final day of the Epicurean Way brings you back to Adelaide via Clare Valley, famous for its award-winning rieslings. The Jesuits started Sevenhill Cellars in 1851 to produce sacramental wine and now they also make premium table wines. Knappstein’s offers wine and beer tastings while Skillogalee Restaurant is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing afternoon before you start the drive back to the city.

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WHAT’S ON AT THE ARTS CENTRE

the CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF SURF CULTURE EXHIBITION LAUNCH FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER, 6PM COME AND JOIN US AS WE LAUNCH THE SURF, OUR 21ST SURF ART EXHIBITION WHICH CELEBRATES EVERYTHING SUN, SAND AND SURF.

• PRODUCE • BAKED & SMALL GOODS • ARTISAN CRAFT • MUSIC & MORE!

first & third Sunday of each month 9am–1pm Held at the McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre, the market features locally made produce and products, wine, art, craft and handmade souvenirs. The market is the perfect showcase of all our region has to offer. Enjoy a family friendly atmosphere featuring live entertainment and free children’s activities.

We’ll have guest speakers, entertaining tales from the surf and live music from The Villenettes who play original rock ‘n’ roll with a splash of surf and a razor edge of zombie punk. They’ll make you party like it’s 1959! Free entry, all welcome

EXHIBITION DATES 12 DECEMBER – 18 JANUARY

BOOMSTARS – SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN! Tuesday 16 December, 11am Get the kids out of the house and dancing with riotous fun! The Boomstars specialise in performing fun high energy songs which embrace all genres of popular music. Suitable for children aged 3 to 10. Tickets $10

BARRY MORGAN’S WORLD OF ORGANS Wednesday 17 December Session times:11am & 2pm Barry Morgan is getting his Moog on! Let Barry organ-ise your world, he will delight you with a memorable musical experience as he shares his joy of the organ. Tickets $20

Tickets & information (08) 8323 9944 www.thevalemarket.com.au

Main Road, McLaren Vale

Contact the Arts Centre on (08) 8326 5577 or visit www.onkaparingacity.com/arts

GAWLER STREET, PORT NOARLUNGA


WILLUNGA FARMERS TWILIGHT MARKET Thursday 22 January, 5.30–8.30pm Willunga Town Square • a special night edition of this popular market

2015 BUPA CHALLENGE TOUR PRESENTED BY THE ADVERTISER Friday 23 January, 6.45am Willunga (second start) • register to ride at www.tourdownunder.com.au

LOVE VELO SEASIDE Friday 23 January, 6.30–10pm SA’s longest silver service dinner on the stunning Port Willunga beach

Saturday 24 January, 11am–3.30pm McLaren Vale – Aldinga Beach – Willunga • free community events

AUSTRALIA DAY BUSH FAIR Monday 26 January, 5.30–9.30pm South Adelaide Football Club Oval Noarlunga Downs • free activities & fireworks display • gold coin entry

PREMIER SPONSOR

IN THE CIT Y OF ON KA PA RIN G

2015 SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER BIKEEXCHANGE STAGE 5

BR E

• $150 – limited tickets available

A Y W A K A A

ONG WEEKEND ! ARY L U N A J IS H T

STAY & EXPLORE… Discover the region with a range of accommodation offerings and experiences to suit every taste and budget. Download a copy of the Hills, Valleys and Beaches Visitor Guide or contact the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre and start planning your trip now! Freecall 1800 628 410 or visit www.mclarenvale.info

FOLLOW OUR EVENTS ASSOCIATED EVENT PARTNER

www.onkaparingacity.com www.facebook.com/cityofonkaparinga Twitter @OnkaparingaCity


The Tree Whisperer Ainsley Roscrow introduces us to Paul Rosser OAM – a philanthropist with a passion for the environment. Photographs by emme jade. Paul Rosser (above) and right-hand man Andrew Baas (right) stand in the revitalised and revegetated natve gardens at The McLaren Vale Hospital.

It’s difficult to distil the essence of a man. Some individuals let you in; share their passion and vision and the journey of discovery is born. Paul Rosser shares. He shares with panache, punctuated with anecdotes and laughter, a philanthropist with a passion for the environment and immense horticultural knowledge. He shares unreservedly with no priority system or triage. Paul has the earthy grit of an environmentalist and the brain power of a mathematician. An educationalist, Paul has formed deep and lasting connections with the Fleurieu community in his work revegetating the Willunga Basin and transforming the McLaren Vale Hospital gardens. His driven, dynamic personality, peppered by strong leadership skills, high integrity and a genuine love of life has spawned a community visionary: a community visionary now recognised by an OAM Paul began his career with the South Australia Gas Company (SAGASCO) which spanned more than a decade. There was little room for error and he diligently set his mind to whatever task was presented. At times ultimatums were made: Fail and you’re fired! But with the support of wife, Bronwen, Paul struggled on, despite his dyslexia. Complementing his Chairman’s role in SAGASCO Training and Development, Paul was appointed to the inaugural South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) board, arguing for the inclusion of ‘work skill subjects’ alongside traditional core units. In addition to working fulltime, Paul was commissioned by the Education Department to write a report detailing ‘What Industry Needs’ from school leavers and university graduates. In 1990, Year of School and Industry, Paul’s report was tabled as a blueprint for education and industry for the future. After visiting Germany and England, where

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horticulture and agriculture form part of the core curriculum, Paul experienced the organised link between education and horticulture. Buoyed by this experience, Paul joined the Vocational Education & Training Board on his return and began a lasting relationship with the TAFE Horticultural School in conjunction with Playford Council who were experimenting with a new concept called ‘Landcare’. By this time, Paul, Bronwen and their two young children were working their first rural property in McLaren Flat. Barely able to afford the land, Paul couldn’t fund his primary goal, revegetation of the site. He began to research local community groups that assisted with revegetation and land care and found Trees for Life. Over the eight years spent at their McLaren Flat property, Paul and his wife, with the support of Trees for Life, planted over fourteen thousand indigenous plants. With the same tenacity he applied to his career, Paul began to apply his skills to landscape care and revegetation. The family purchased a new block on Strout Road and began propagating four thousand plants per annum, with three thousand planted on the freshly vinecleared property and the remaining thousand donated to Trees for Life. But Paul didn’t limit himself to just Trees for Life active membership, but was voted to the Board of the organisation and began to spearhead a restructure which would see Trees for Life maintain viability throughout fluctuating government funding periods. With fickle funding dependant on government sentiment, Paul helped Trees for Life find a sustainable balance between private and public funds, lessening their dependency on government subsidies. By 2000, after completing a three-year stint as Director of Education and Training at the SA Centre for Manufacturing, Paul moved to the eco-village at Aldinga where he quickly became involved in the Natural Environment Committee (NEC) and began revegetation projects from Range Road, Pages Flat to Bowering Hill Road, Port Willunga. Paul continued propagating indigenous plants to the tune of four thousand plants per annum. Plants were divided between the village, Trees for Life, revegetation sites and requesting community groups with surplus stock donated to local schools.


Paul’s vision for the garden encapsulates his belief that a gardener’s role is not only one of planter but of counsellor, social worker and psychologist. The garden landscape provides respite and the peaceful surrounds offer therapy to patients and connection to the land. The garden is an inclusive space where patients can get involved in the process and experience some spiritual rejuvenation. Andrew, testament to the powers of land, has blossomed in confidence alongside the flowering silver banksias. The relationship between Paul and Andrew is one of mentor and apprentice … but more deeply, they are friends, kindred spirits reshaping the landscape using nature as their guide.

Paul continued to mentor local children through Willunga Eco Kids, a Willunga High School initiative, and the eco classroom at Tatachilla Lutheran College. ‘Australian landscape is unique. Plants growing here are not often found anywhere else in the world. They survive in our harsh climate with only rainwater and the nutrients from their natural environment. They provide a balance in nature that provides a home to hundreds of creatures, some so small that we fail to see them.’ The plant and animal life which rely on the flora of the basin are as important to Paul as the plants themselves. It’s about the system, the biodiversity and the balance. ‘Projects have a start and finish date, revegetation is a process. It has a start date but no fixed finish.’ Paul was approached by the McLaren Vale Hospital for advice to transform their landscape from cottage garden to an indigenous one in an effort to reduce water costs and revitalise the space. His vision included the maintaining the current rose gardens and War Memorial site and incorporated a new water-wise planting strategy with indigenous flora. His business acumen coming to the fore, Paul designed a space divided into sections to improve garden maintenance efficiency. Part of the magic in the hospital garden is the pairing of Paul, head gardener, with Andrew, number one assistant. A complementary match of personalities, these two men have partnered to rebirth the garden space. Andrew, with mild intellectual delay and epilepsy, had dreamed of working in a garden since finishing school. He preceded Paul to the hospital garden by a couple of years, working tirelessly in the garden with volunteer, Gladys, and the support of the maintenance keeper, Charlie. When Paul arrived to introduce himself and talk about his plans for the garden, Andrew was shocked. ‘Who is this bearded man coming towards me? He carried papers and lists of plants and plans to change the garden.’ And change was difficult. Andrew found himself the man in the middle of old school and new school. ‘It was the cottage garden versus the indigenous garden, and we had a period of negotiation before we really understood what Paul was talking about.’

Paul recognised the importance of a War Memorial Hospital garden as reflecting the landscape soldiers had left behind. With Andrew’s help they are honouring the memory of local soldiers who left this landscape to fight overseas. ‘Soldiers overseas, far from home, dreamt of coming home to the scent of the eucalypts, the breeze sweeping through the allocausarinas and the time sitting by the dam with the sedges and reeds. It is fitting that a War Memorial Hospital should have a landscape to which they yearned to return.’ This is the landscape Paul and Andrew have worked to create, where heritage Grenache vines sit comfortably alongside the indigenous plants. Paul affirms that ‘this is a living memorial, not a dead one!’ When Paul developed double pneumonia and found himself in the interior of the hospital, rather than the exterior, he had to relinquish control of the garden. Unable to contain his curiosity, Paul would station near the window shouting directions through the screen. Andrew carried out the advice to the letter and found a new sense of confidence working on his own; to the extent that he planned for his own garden space. ‘Andrew’s Garden’. To say Andrew is proud of his patch of dirt with the indigenous plants and multilayered design is an understatement. In recognition of his work in the Willunga basin, a small group of dedicated volunteers nominated Paul for an Order of Australia Medal, a medal he was awarded in 2012 for environmental work in the Willunga Basin and wider community. Testimonials from local environmental organisations, complemented by an ‘Environmental Service Resume’ compiled by wife, Bronwen, illustrated Paul’s commitment to improving his local environment. Work at the McLaren Vale War Memorial Hospital was identified as part of his enduring service to the community. That environmental progress is what really excites Paul. His advice for people who want to get involved: ‘If you want to help the environment and have no money, give your time and if you have no time, give money!’ The texture of Paul Rosser is a man of integrity, a gregarious individual who gathers likeminded contemporaries together and inspires people to rehabilitate their environment. Distil Paul’s personality and you will find inspiration through laughter, organisation, planning and education; a true grit philanthropist. Paul in full flight is an unstoppable force. Not gale force, rather a refreshing crisp breeze, rejuvenating and filled with promise. You won’t mind that force heading your way. He will leave revegetated wildlife corridors in his wake and rejuvenated cottage gardens and laughter. And you will have learned something.

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Saturday 17th JAN

McLaren Vale

2015

• Harvest Festival Dish by Cheong Liew • Local Food & Wine Stalls • Regional Produce Market • Wine & Food Master Classes • Celebrity Wine Spitting & Pizza Making Challenge • Local Live Bands • FREE Children's Activities • Free Parking

Entry by gold coin donation.

Proceeds going to the McLaren Vale and Districts War Memorial Hospital

McLaren Vale Oval 11am til 8pm facebook.com/HarvestFestivalMcLarenVale

Supported by City of Onkaparinga

Graphics by Soupcan Design

Thanks to all of our valued sponsors

www.harvestfestivalmclarenvale.com.au



Victor Harbor

where you holiday at home Story by Amie Turner. Photographs by emme jade.


Previous page: Norfolk Pines are a living memorial to the Victor Harbor men who lost their lives in WWI. Above: A perennial favorite – Anchorage, Victor Harbor is open every day and oozes rustic charm. Get there at the right time and the Cockle Train might pull up!

On just about any day of the year you’ll find children running around (and around) the iconic Silvio Apponyi whale tail fountain. No longer just the sleepy seaside town of childhood holiday memories, Victor Harbor now buzzes with a new and vibrant energy, with an eclectic mix of shops, a couple of cool tapas bars, a gourmet farmers’ market and a younger demographic pushing for change. The tide is turning on this popular holiday spot and ‘Victor’, formerly referred to as ‘God’s waiting room’ is coming into its own. As winter recedes and the sun appears, the town’s population of just over 14,000 permanent residents swells to three-times that ... and the entire town springs to life. The roads get busier, the supermarket queues longer ... and you may even have to wait a few minutes for your coffee: but don’t worry, you’ll always get a table.

affordable housing and with them they’re bringing talent, experience and fresh ideas. Local business owners Nick and Louisa Gormely moved here in 2008 to escape the city and set up Notable Imprint, a funky graphic design and print studio in the main street precinct. ‘We came here to slow down but what’s surprised us the most is the thriving business community and an emerging desire for progress, says Nick. The 80km drive south from Adelaide takes you past wineries, a strawberry farm, and a cheese factory before coming over the rise into Victor Harbor and a jaw-dropping view. Nestled between the hills and calm waters of Encounter Bay and intersected by the Hindmarsh and Inman rivers, the town itself is extremely appealing to put it very mildly. From Kleinig’s Hill Lookout you can see the whole town, out to Granite Island and all the way over to The Bluff in the west.

Even with the influx of holidaymakers over the summer months, the pace of life here remains laid back and unhurried. Despite the fact that Victor is the major centre of the southern Fleurieu – there is still only one set of stoplights and with its three pubs it still manages to feel very much like a country town.

Heading into town towering Norfolk Island Pine Trees line the foreshore. The state-heritage listed trees were planted in 1917 as a tribute to the Victor Harbor men who lost their lives in WWI and now deliver shade to one of the town’s most popular areas – the Soldier’s Memorial Garden. At the southern end a playground houses an old, retired steam train providing hours of fun for kids of all ages. Locals and visitors flock to this beautiful open space year round, where during school holidays a traveling sideshow complete with Ferris wheel and dodgem cars sets up near the causeway, adding even more to an already relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Formerly known as a retirement town, the tides are turning and younger families are coming for the lifestyle, good schools and

Across the road Warland Reserve is the perfect place for a spot of people-watching. Just about any day of the year you’ll find children > 33


Above left: Young families are moving to Victor for the lifestyle. Louisa and Nick Gormley own a funky graphic design studio in the Main Street Precinct. Above right: The HarBar: this stylish bar offers tapas-style dining, cocktails, craft beers and boutique wines.

running around (and around) the iconic Silvio Apponyi whale tail fountain. Just as popular is Klaus’s German Hot Dog van. Every weekend and public holiday you’ll find Klaus serving up true Germanstyle hot dogs with lashings of mustard and sauerkraut. He’s been there as far back as anyone can remember, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Just around the corner is the old railway station ... and Victor Harbor’s first shopping precinct. Dating back to the late 1800s the strip included a cobbler, tearooms, and a small-goods store. The historic buildings are closed to the public now but the old bakery, built in 1905, is home to the Ocean Street Art Gallery, a cooperative art-space providing a commercial outlet for a group of passionate local artists. Every Saturday morning the Victor Harbor Farmers’ Market sets up in a small park on Torrens Street, across from the main shopping centre. It may be small, but it bursts with a wonderfully wide range of local produce, including Katrina’s free-range Parawa pork, Bronwyn’s Spice Girlz sauces and Neil’s wild caught seafood, to name just a 34

few. Fresh coffee, live music and cheery banter makes a weekly trip to the market an ideal way to kick off the weekend. Around the corner, Anchorage is one of the most popular eateries in town and it’s easy to see why with its prime sea views and remarkable ability to suit every occasion. It’s a place where mothers’ groups sit happily alongside business breakfasts and where even your dog is welcomed with a big bowl of water. The beautiful 1906 State Heritage Building churns all day, seven days a week, serving great coffee, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the other end of town, just a few metres from The Bluff, you can’t go past Eat@Whalers for an exceptional dining experience. The views over the bay alone are well worth the visit, and delicious food and friendly service make this restaurant a must. Tenney and Allister Parker took over this restaurant three years ago and have breathed new life into it adding special touches inside and out. They commissioned local artisan Chris Murphy of Blue Temper Ironworks to install a large corten steel panel ‘made to rust’ on the deck along with a herb planter box, both embellished with Chris’s signature sunflower design.


Above: At all times of the year Eat @ Whalers at Encounter Bay provides great food, service and atmosphere.

After-hours, another standout option is HarBar, in the main street. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights this stylish bar offers tapas-style dining, cocktails, craft beers and boutique wines. The brainchild of Simon and Kirsten Pitman, it’s exactly the type of venue Victor Harbor’s been lacking. Its casual, yet trendy upmarket vibe has been well received by the local 30-something crowd, injecting a bit of much-needed cool. Live DJs, delicious food and a relaxed and funky atmosphere ensure this popular bar is always packed. The sun isn’t the only thing that brings people en masse to this lively town, in the winter months the Southern Right whales pay a visit to Encounter Bay and put on quite the show. Appearing from May through to early October they come to breed and calve and can regularly be seen frolicking close to shore captivating the crowds with their playful twists and turns. Small numbers of Humpback whales also pass through each season along with the Common and Bottlenose Dolphins that frequent these waters year round. >

The sun isn’t the only thing that brings people en masse to this lively town, in the winter months the Southern Right whales pay a visit to Encounter Bay and put on quite the show. Appearing from May through to early October they come to breed and calve and can regularly be seen frolicking close to shore captivating the crowds with their playful twists and turns.

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Top: The Ocean Street Art Gallery offers an array or art and craft made by local artists. Above: From Klenig’s Hill you can see the whole town capturing the view all the way to encounter Bay. Below right: House of Allure offers very stylish interior design services.

There’s plenty to see and do in Victor making this one of the most sought after holiday destinations in South Australia, but it’s what you don’t have to do when you arrive that keeps generation after generation of families coming back. You don’t have to hustle for a good spot on an over-crowded beach, you don’t have to sit in traffic jams or walk a mile from your car park, and you definitely don’t have to rush. For the locals, living in this happy and vibrant town is something that many feel very fortunate to be able to do. The pristine beaches, topnotch eateries and wonderfully relaxed lifestyle all feel like one big holiday, but unlike the city dwellers, they’re already home.

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Sari, Sanita, Jock, Josh & James – Avenue Project

Experience the experience

urbanhabitats design|construction|development

RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONS NEW CUSTOM HOMES DESIGN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENTS

Expanding our design and construct services to the Fleurieu. To find out more about how Urban Habitats can help you... please contact us on 8373 1731 and visit our website urbanhabitats.com.au

Urban Habitats Pty Ltd BLNo 159586 L1/179 King William Road Hyde Park South Australia 5061 T 08 8373 1731


LIVING GREEN

The Dirt James Potter on the importance of play.

... unstructured, creative, accessible, healthy and fun; it all sounds so simple ... On the importance of play — the old, dead men are as quotable as ever. Confucius, Gandhi and Seneca toiled under lamp-light to give ‘play’ primacy of place; Carl Jung, Mark Twain and Alfred Adler espoused pithy aphorisms on the topic and even Albert Einstein chimed in with ‘Play is the highest form of research.’ So all the wiseguys agree and even the dullest among us can accept that play is crucial to children’s development and beyond. If this is the case, then how have we arrived at a point where a ‘nature play’ movement has developed to remind us of this fact and help with strategies to get the kids out and about? This is a Dorothy Dixer and the answer is all in the name. The ‘nature’ in nature-play is there so you understand that this isn’t play with i-things, X-boxes, Disney-themed Lego or your Crystal Series Furby (yes it’s a thing). Nature-play looks a lot more like what I, and probably you, did as a kid; mucking about outside, climbing a tree, building a cubby, harassing chooks, tadpoles and lizards, making mud pies, rolling down the hill and getting generally dirty. Unstructured, creative, accessible, healthy and fun; it all sounds so simple. But nature-play is definitely up against it, with a quick survey suggesting that Fleurieu kids already have access to approximately forty seven gazillion dollars’ worth of plastic crap to play with and screens to sedate in front of. Why would they ever venture out into the great filthy unknown with all its dangerous spiders, strangers and splinters? Add to this already depressing little sketch a significant decrease in back-yard size, reduced access to natural places, the rise and rise of risk aversion and the almost successful project to completely commercialise childhood ... and you now have before you the full technicolour, train-wreckesque perils of parenting. All of this lovingly and blindly facilitated by our glorious governments; well at the very least, they supplied the butchers’ paper and the crayons. That’s my bolshie take on it anyway. Things have changed: the thinkers and educators seem to have convinced the bureaucrats and administrators that the system is buggered and the new path to enlightenment is nature-play. The verbiage is through the roof and the money is flowing – of course the word to dollar ratio is six to one but momentum is building.

One modern-day merchant of mucking around is Matt Adams, community development officer with the City of Onkaparinga. Matt has been working with many other groups on the Our Big Backyard project and with almost 1000 of the project’s activity maps collected already; he can rightfully claim the project as a success. ‘It’s been great to hear children and parents talking about visiting natural places just around the corner that they didn’t know existed and the discoveries that they’ve made together.’ This program is designed for families to have plenty of free, accessible activities to do together, and according to Matt there is a real need in the community. ‘With so many new families moving to the area it’s become a wonderful guide to getting to know the great cultural, historic and wild places that make the area so special, we hope that children and parents will become ambassadors and champions for our region and its spectacular environment.’ Many a local school is also in on the gig and in many ways their projects are an extension of the ceaseless good work excellent teachers have always done. Kylie Harris, Big Boss at Flaxmill Preschool says the new nature-play space in the kindergarten has had a profound effect on the children. ‘I think the biggest impact we have seen on the children is how much calmer and more settled they are in the space.’ Kylie claims that the effect is more than sunny sedation: ‘They have the opportunity to resource their learning by having access to natural elements such as mud, water, logs, rocks, sand, plants, trees and flowers. We support them to think creatively and the natural environment is the best place to practice their problem-solving skills.’ Kylie cites the example of children collaborating to work out how to stop the water running into a mud pit when they want it to run into the sandpit, or how they will move a giant log closer to a tree to help them climb it. She also expands on the social and environmental impact the nature-play space has. ‘We have also noticed children are socialising and talking to each other a lot more, and if nothing else, we hope that children gain a sense of respect and love for nature and the outdoors as they are the ones that will be looking after it in years to come.’ Surely this vision will hold us in good stead and if the nature-play movement is going to be successful anywhere, you’d think it would be the Fleurieu Peninsula – a place endowed with so much natural beauty they gave it a French name. Image at right: James Godson enjoying a ‘Our Big Back Yard Event. Photo by Jason Tyndall.

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Our Big Backyard is a partnership between the Aldinga Children’s Centre; City of Onkaparinga; Natural Resource Management Board and AnglicareSA Communities for Children Onkaparinga.

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The Bird Whisperer Zannie Flanagan introduces us to Maggie Clausen – ‘The Bird Lady’. Photographs by Holly Dauk.

Art Machine

He’s not yet out of school, but Flynn O’Malley is already forging a career building sculptures from rusty car parts. James Howe learns his story.


Previous page: ‘Fish Out of Water’ was the winning sculpture in the Youth section of The Richard Cohen Memorial Sculpture Competition in August 2014. Top left and right: ‘Catch of the Day’ won the Young artist category at the Brighton Jetty Classics Sculpture Competition in January 2014. Above: Untitled (Elephant) was a commission.

Flynn greets me at the front door of the O’Malley’s ramshackle Aldinga home. A quietly-spoken, uber-chilled 16-year-old, Flynn has a talent for welding engine cogs into fish, elephants and lanky anglers.

It certainly looks a lot like a fish. ‘I was going to make something else, but dad saw that and thought it looked like a mudskipper,’ says Flynn.

He leads me onto his back deck to show me his first-ever sculpture. ‘Pretty basic,’ he says. ‘It’s a fisherman with his catch dangling from buckled, rusty iron rod’. The fisherman’s body is made from cogs and pulleys, and the face appears to be the shell of a carburetor.

It’s impressive the teenager is already making money from his work – even more so when you consider Flynn lives with a serious health condition which affects nearly every minute of his life. The illness – primary pulmonary hypertension – causes usually elastic blood vessels to become ‘like a garden-hose which has been sitting in the sun’ (Flynn’s words). The condition puts a lot of pressure on his lungs and heart, which causes him to be constantly out of breath. >

Flynn points to the fish — a mysterious cast-aluminium car part. He’s shown it to lots of petrol-heads, and no one can figure out what it is.

He can’t show me any more work, because of the eight sculptures he has made, this is the only one he hasn’t sold. He intends to hang onto it because he feels a bit sentimental about it.

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Above left: Flynn O’Malley with two of his sculptures. Above right: Flynn in his studio/workshop.

His position on Aldinga Beach forms and inspires much of his work. Even the sea spray, which readily blows into his back yard, corrodes his engine parts, lending them their trademark rustic, earthy look. The shapely sculptures have wowed judges, taking out first prize at three separate sculpture competitions. One judge liked his entry so much she bought it for her hallway. He also has to constantly wear a pump, which directs medication directly into his chest. With the condition, physical sports are out of the question. The silver lining is that Flynn’s illness allowed him to discover his talent for sculpture. ‘It all started in PE class at school’, he says. ‘At the start, I would just go and work on old assignments and stuff, or I would just sit on a bench for two hours,’ he says. ‘I had a lot of arguments with the teacher, who didn’t really like me — thought I was an inconvenience.’ Fortunately for Flynn there was a trainee-teacher at the school – Kim Davies – who had previously been a boiler-maker. When Flynn’s dad Brian learned of Kim’s past, he rustled up a bucket-full of scrap metal and took it to Kim, asking if he’d help Flynn weld it into a sculpture. The idea gelled with Flynn. ‘There’s a local blacksmith called Peter Stentiford in Willunga, and he’s close friends with dad. I liked his work, and just liked the idea of creating something, doing something with my hands,’ he says. ‘I love metal — it’s so pliable. If you stuff up, you can just weld it back together.’ Flynn made the fisherman under the direction of Kim Davies; then began dreaming up new projects. His subsequent works have become progressively more detailed, textured with dozens of cogs, and finished with steel plate – which he shapes with a plasma cutter. Most of Flynn’s sculptures reflect his love of the sea and fishing.

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Of the eight he’s made, three have been fishermen (and one a fisherman’s dog) and two have been fish. ‘Everyone knows something about fishing, everyone’s got a memory of it … it’s just something that’s easy to connect with,’ he says. Especially for people who live two doors away from the ocean, as Flynn does. His position on Aldinga Beach forms and inspires much of his work. Even the sea spray, which often blows into his back yard, corrodes his engine parts, lending them their trademark rustic, earthy look. The shapely sculptures have wowed judges, taking out first prize at three separate sculpture competitions. One judge liked his entry so much she bought it for her hallway. His plans for the future? ‘That’s complicated,’ he says. ‘I’d like to exhibit all around the world, but I’m also into finance a fair bit — stocks of all things.’ Still, he’ll choose a career in sculpture if it pans out. ‘With sculpture, you can look at that and you’ve achieved something. With stocks you haven’t really achieved anything, just sold a lot of stuff,’ he says. Flynn’s main focus is finding new and novel ways to live a full life despite his illness. He has taken up shooting, and recently bought a dry-suit and a water-proof housing for his pump so he can go in the ocean. ‘Definitely not what the doctors recommend,’ he says. Is it difficult to stay positive? ‘Nah, no way!’ he says. ‘You can sook about things and think your life is the worst life in the world. But it really isn’t.’


Emily 2 Storey from $162,600 on display at Aldinga Beach

McCubbin 2 Storey from $153,200 on display at Pooraka

Lindsay 160 from $99,400 on display at Old Noarlunga

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Above: Luke Growden and Caleigh Hunt of Year Wines.

Above: Wes Pearson of Dodgy Brothers Wines.

Uniquely and boldly

Boutique

The Fleurieu is a wonderful region for wine, with a patchwork of talent in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the smaller artisan producers who are following their passion, exploring new varieties and putting their unique spin on the classics in order to produce wines that reflect our amazing region. Story by Gill Gordon Smith. Photographs by emme jade.

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Above: Mike Farmillo of Five Geese.

Above: Rose Kentish of Ulithorne.

Year Wines

Five Geese

Integrity, sense of place, family and faith. Year Wines is the inspired work of Luke Growden and Caleigh Hunt, who have taken their passion and turned it into reality. The couple met in the cellars at Wirra Wirra and now have a young family based in the Vale.

Sue and John Trotts’ Blewitt Springs vineyard has some of the oldest Grenache in the district. The gnarly bush vines are drygrown, handpicked and produce balanced, complex wines with intense fruit flavours.

With a true artisan production, Year wines specialise in glorious Grenache. The winemaking is hands off, and all about the fruit which comes from 60-year-old Blewitt Springs’ vines grown on sand. Gentle extraction, time on skins, and long, slow ferments enable them to over deliver one of the most drinkable expressions of Grenache in the region.

The 32 hectares of Five Geese encompasses stunning Shiraz vines planted in the 60s, as well as Cabernet grown near McLaren Flat, making for rich, textural wines. Having such beautiful material gives respected and awarded winemaker Mike Farmilo the ability to craft premium wines, traditionally made and with the philosophy that the fruit comes first.

Dodgy Brothers

Ulithorne

With a name and label that definitely demands attention the three Dodgy Brothers are winemaker and sensory analyst, Wes Pearson; viticulturist, Peter Bolte and grower, Peter Sommerville. Together this dynamic and experienced team produce wonderful expressions of McLaren Vale classics such as Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet that are representative of the region.

Ulithorne’s first commercial release was in 2001. Peripatetic winemaker Rose Kentish has a resume that includes 2008 McLaren Vale Bushing Queen and finalist in the Gourmet Traveller 2014 Winemaker of the year. Fruit is sourced from the Old Ulithorne Vineyard, as well as her 1945 Shiraz – and Grenache-planted McLaren Vale vineyard, where a new cellar door and purpose-built winery are currently being constructed.

The wines are packed with generous fruit, are approachable and have total drinkability. The boys also play in the sandbox with emerging varieties, producing wines that are innovative and have more focus on the style.

Kentish spends part of her year making wines in Provence and Corsica. Here, she has been working with Grenache, Vermentino and rare red varieties, learning from the locals and making her own interpretations. Ulithorne wines are elegant, fruit driven and beautifully balanced. > 47


Above: Briony Hoare of Beach Road.

Above: Justin McNamee of Samuel’s Gorge.

Beach Road

Samuel’s Gorge

Beach Road is a true family wine business. Winemaker and enginedriver Briony Hoare has an impressive list of previous positions both here and overseas. Husband Tony is a respected viticulturist, and along with their four gorgeous children and Briony’s dad, David Seaton, vintage is a true family affair with everything being done on site – even the bottling.

Justin McNamee is one of the most innovative and recognisable winemakers – and Samuel’s Gorge one of the prettiest wineries and cellar doors in McLaren Vale, right on the Onkaparinga National Park. Justin makes wines of romance and detail, blends within blends, layered and harmonious wines with texture, fruit purity and provenance.

Beach Road makes a range of wines with classics such as Shiraz and Grenache, with exceptional examples of emerging varieties with an Italian focus including Greco, Fiano, Vermentino, Aglianico, Primitivo and Nero d’Avola. The wines are faithful interpretations and are available to taste at their new family-friendly cellar door and restaurant.

Each parcel of fruit undergoes long, slow fermentations in 100-yearold, open slate fermenters. The wines are basket pressed and oak aged before the final blend is decided. Samuel’s Gorge specialises in the four varieties of Tempranillo, Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Great drinkability along with texture and presence.

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Above: Tim and Amanda Geddes of Geddes Wines.

Above: Adam Hooper of La Curio.

Geddes Wines

La Curio

Tim Geddes is one of the most respected winemakers in the region and worked with the legendary Wayne Thomas from 2002, winning two Bushing King trophies during their time together. Trophy winner at the 2014 McLaren Vale wine show for his Seldom Inn 2012 Grenache among many well deserved accolades, Geddes believes in looking after the growers and sourcing the best fruit to make his elegant, structural and textural wines.

La Curio is the inspired work of creative and thoughtful winemaker Adam Hooper. Hooper has a history that covers time at some of the most well known wineries in the region along with vintages in France and Italy. With La Curio he creates beautiful and unique expressions of McLaren Vale Grenache, Shiraz, old school Chardonnay and is playing with emerging varieties such as Sangiovese and Primitivo.

A man of few words, he allows his wines to speak for him, crafting wines that he truly believes in, with integrity and minimal intervention. The Geddes cellar door will be open in 2015; meanwhile wines are available online through the website and selected retailers.

He sources fruit from 13 different vineyards including Blewitt Springs with older plantings from McLaren Flat. Accolades include McLaren Vale Small Producer of the Year and the prestigious Decanter International Award. Tastings are available by appointment.

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Above: Jim Zerella of Zerella Wines.

Above: Joch Bosworth of Battle of Bosworth and Spring Seed Wines.

Zerella Wines

Battle of Bosworth

Jim Zerella comes from a long line of hard working and entrepreneurial growers whose story started in 1926 as they bravely followed their dreams and migrated to Australia from Campania. This proud Italian heritage and passion for growing the best grapes has resulted in five vineyards across the region, each specifically chosen for attributes, that, combined with viticultural expertise, produce high quality fruit.

Established in 2001, Battle of Bosworth is a family winery that combines the traditional with the innovative. Joch Bosworth’s viticultural and winemaking journey has taken him around the world and he is noted as one of the most important organic winemakers and grape-growers in Australia. From their McLaren Vale winery Joch and partner Louise make single vineyard, organically grown and traditionally vinified wines that express true sense of place.

This allows Zerella wines to turn those grapes into exceptional wines of provenance, reflecting the vineyard and the variety. Zerella grows the traditional varieties along with emerging varieties such as Nero d’Avola, Arneis, Fiano, Prosecco and Tempranillo.

The Bosworths’ commitment to the environment, sustainability and excellence has resulted in pure, textural and balanced wines with transparency and drinkability. Their Spring Seed ‘Morning Bride Rose’ recently won Gold and a Trophy at the McLaren Vale wine show. Their cellar door is open 7 days a week.

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BOOKS & WORDS

Book Reviews by Mike Lucas.

shadowy, indistinct feeling that comes from reading this book gives reflection to how life must seem to those left behind. This is a tale to study, to discuss, perhaps to read once more; and there’s no doubt the book will collect a number of nominations for literary awards in the next twelve months.

Paper Planes by Allayne L Webster

Published by Scholastic ISBN 9781742990699 $16.99

See How Small by Scott Blackwood

Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9780007580958 $24.99 Scott Blackwood’s latest literary work flows along, haunting and hazy, in a dreamlike fashion. It’s as though you are half reading and half participating in a story which has its roots firmly set in an initial violent act, but its branches flourishing and reaching out into the effects of the aftermath on the individuals involved. Partly told from the point of view of the three young girls who have been meaninglessly killed during a break-in at an ice cream shop and partly from the surviving family, witnesses and suspects, this story carries the lonely echo of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Blackwood cleverly skirts over the violence without trivialising it. Instead, the tragedy is made all the more real and shocking by witnessing the legacy left behind on the physical world and its inhabitants. There can be no happy endings for people who live through tragedies such as this, and the

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with the Muslim family of Niko’s best friend, Nedim. Despite the differences caused by their cultural upbringings, the two boys promise to stay best friends throughout the hardships caused by the war, with the book demonstrating how the wishes of individuals and families are often swept aside in favour of the needless destruction of a city and a country. And don’t let the age of the target audience put off teenagers and adults from reading this book which is based loosely on true events. The Adelaide author has produced a vivid, saddening and heart-warming tale suitable for all.

A subject rarely written about, the plight of the people of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav wars of the early nineties is portrayed with just the right level of realism and impact for the target audience of upper-primary school children. Niko is eleven years old when the siege of Sarajevo begins and it is through his eyes that we see, not only the obvious physical devastation caused by the bombs and bullets, but also the secondary effects of poverty, hunger and separation. When his father refuses to leave the city with the majority of fleeing refugees, the family is forced to shelter in their apartment along

Nightingale by Fiona McIntosh

Published by Penguin Australia ISBN 9781921901966 $29.99 As the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings approaches, the devastating events of 2015 continue to be recaptured in various genres of literacy. Adelaide’s Fiona McIntosh uses this backdrop for the exploration of fate, love and faith in the midst of war and its aftermath. When Nurse Claire Nightingale tends to wounded soldier,


James Wren, the two of them realise that there is a bond between them that neither wishes to break. Back on the front line, during an armistice, Wren talks briefly with Turkish solider, Acar Shahin, and another bond is made. These two chance meetings are the first links of a chain that will tear Claire and James apart and send Claire on a course beyond the end of the war that will challenge her love for him and make her question her own virtue. Fiona McIntosh paints Istanbul in all its traditional vibrancy: its magnificent architecture, exotic food and majestic customs, while at the same time stitching the story together using individuals who have suffered the same losses; who have the same aspirations; who accept and respect each other’s differences. As with many of Fiona McIntosh’s novels this, as well as being a tale of profound characters, is also a fine story of culture and history.

Last Woman Hanged by Caroline Overington

Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9780732299729 $39.99 The tragic tale of Louisa Collins, hanged for the alleged fatal poisoning of her two husbands, has all but disappeared into the annals of history. Caroline Overington, writer and journalist has dug deep and wide, not only to unearth the facts behind the case that time forgot, but also to expose a true picture of the lives of the poor in New South Wales in the late 19th Century. Whether Louisa Collins was in fact responsible for the long, painful deaths of her husbands will never be known, but there are certain facts about the case that cannot be denied. At a time when a woman had yet to receive the right to vote and her place in society was considered less than that of a man, Louisa Collins was tried not once, but four times, by a male judge, jury and prosecutor before she was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. And to add to this injustice, the verdict was based mostly on circumstantial evidence. Louisa Collins was the last woman hanged in New South

solitude in a crowded world. These are stories that show how individual we all are; how our fate is at the mercy of others, yet is our own to bear … and how the past shadows us. Above all, if you have read Wolf Hall or Bring up the Bodies, here you will find many of the building blocks that helped to form the foundations of two bestsellers from one of today’s greatest writers.

Wales but her high-profile case stirred the public emotions and was a catalyst for the emerging suffragette movement throughout Australia and the world.

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel

Published by HarperCollins ISBN 9780007580972 $29.99 Twice winner of the Man Booker Prize, Hilary Mantel, has compiled a collection of short stories written over the past twenty years. This is an eclectic mix, written in Mantel’s distinctive, detailed style, dwelling on the small, building a picture with her resonating metaphoric language. There is the title story about a fictional assassination with a touch of black humour; a sinister tale of two young girls hiding in the woods, trying to catch a glimpse of a featureless baby; the depressive account of a young girl with anorexia and the effect that it has on her family. Most of these stories are dark, reflective and questioning, and if there is a theme that connects them it is that of

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FOOD & WINE

TASTE THE SEASON:

Eggplant

also known as Aubergine (Solanum melongena) Story by Leonie Porter-Nocella. Photograph by Alice Bell. The eggplant can be cooked in many different ways and even incorporated in many of your favourite recipes; but who would have thought that the seductively shiny, purple eggplant would make up part of the deadly nightshade, or Solanaceae family – along with other innocuous family members such as tomatoes, capsicum and potatoes? While the seductive and shiny pendulous purple is the most common eggplant (or aubergine) variety, others can be either lavender, jade green, orange, or yellow-white, and in sizes and shapes that are similar to a small tomato to large zucchini. While these can vary ever so slightly in taste and texture, they all share a pleasantly bitter taste and spongy texture. Eggplants grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. They contain many beneficial vitamins and minerals, dietary fibre, vitamin B1, and copper, as well as manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. They also contain valuable phytonutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic acid as well as others, many of which have powerful antioxidant benefits. Eggplant is also a protector of the brain. Nasunin, in the skin of the eggplant, protects the lipids (fats) in brain cell membranes. These membranes are almost entirely composed of lipids and are responsible for protecting brain cells from free radicals – by letting nutrients in and wastes out. Chlorogenic acid has a reputation as one of the most potent free radical scavengers in plant tissue. Qualities include anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-LDL (bad cholesterol) as well as antiviral. Good stuff for a member of the deadly nightshade family, eh? Oh … and among many other things, by eating eggplant you can stop worrying about contracting leprosy. Now that must be a huge weight off your mind!

Miso Eggplant (Serves 4)

Above: Photo courtesy of the Willunga Farmers’ Market.

Miso topping Ingredients (makes more than needed for this recipe, so freeze excess for use later on.) ½ cup miso paste (red or white) 2 egg yolks 2 tbsp sake 2 tbsp mirin 2 tbsp caster sugar ¾ cup dashi or fish stock or chicken stock

Eggplant 4 medium eggplant Unflavoured, mild oil (to coat eggplant) 2 spring onions, sliced finely on the diagonal Toasted sesame seeds to garnish

Method Place all the ingredients in heatproof bowl, reserving the stock Stir gently until all ingredients are blended, then place bowl over a pan of simmering water Gradually add stock until sauce thickens, then remove from heat.

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Method Cut eggplant in half lengthways and score the flesh of each half into diamond shapes Lightly coat both scored and skin sides of the eggplant with oil Grill or fry the skin side first, then turn and cook until flesh is soft Pour the miso dressing over the scored flesh and top with sliced spring onion, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds Briefly return eggplant to the grill to toast topping and serve immediately.


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Still in fou nding family hands.

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Winnie Pelz visits Jenni Mumford of

White Wave Studios

who feels that ‘doing up houses is like a painting. You finish one and you want a fresh canvas.’ Photographs by Robert Geh.

White Wave Studios sits on the side of a hill overlooking the Bluff at Encounter Bay. It was once the site of an old dairy that supplied milk and meat to the whalers who came into the bay, long before the south coast became the holiday destination for people from the city. There is little left of the circa 1901 building, but the property still occupies a position with extraordinary vistas to the rocky outcrops at the back of the Bluff and the ever-changing moods and colours of the sea, punctuated by distant views of Wright Island and Granite Island in the background. Paths lead from the garden to Petrel Cove and to the top of the glacial granite boulder that is a landmark of the south coast. Gazing from the windows it is possible to form an idea of the land and seascape as it might have been a hundred years ago. It is this land and seascape that is the inspiration for Jenni Mumford’s powerful and emotive paintings, that have won her much acclaim internationally and also closer to home. Her paintings have been selected four times for the Fleurieu Art Prize, including the rare distinction of being selected, in 2004, to exhibit in all four categories of the Prize. She has also been a regular exhibitor in the Heysen Prize for Landscape and in 2013 was awarded the ‘Best of Show’ Corporate Prize at the Victor Harbor Rotary Exhibition. 56

Her paintings resonate with the wildness of the Australian landscape, through rich impasto oil paint applied with vigour and a palpable energy. There is a subtle depth and richness in her work and at times moody, deep colours that give intensity to her postimpressionist interpretation of the world as she sees it. Jenni grew up on the west coast near Ceduna and began to draw and paint at a very early age. A move in the 1970s to Warooka, at the foot of Yorke Peninsula gave birth to a small business venture – the Aquarius Gallery. A photograph of Jenni and her gallery in the Southern Yorke Peninsula Times enchanted the young Clive Mumford, who decided he wanted to meet her ... and the rest, as they say, is history: almost 40 years of a creative and productive relationship. Clive came from hard-working farming stock near Port Vincent, and when he wasn’t helping with the harvest he was building boats, or out sailing his dinghy on Gulf St Vincent. His skill as a sailor took him >


Previous page:: White Wave Studios’ immaculately presented rear garden boasts impressive ocean views. Above: the front reception hall bathed in sunlight.

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Above:The spacious main living area serves as a gallery for Jenni’s paintings. Below: The carefully sculpted rear garden in full bloom.

into international competition in the 505 Class in the 1960s and 70s, but these days he enjoys the sea from a more distant viewpoint up on the hill. The family heritage at Port Vincent instilled a strong respect for the fragile environment and Clive embraced the principles of careful land management, revegetation of threatened species and restoration of landscape that had been damaged by neglect, weed infestation and rubbish dumping. This concern with land and environment has been passed on to Jenni and Clive’s children and their son Kristian, who is also a talented artist, is actively involved in coordinating local community effort to continue this work in the Port Vincent area. Besides their love of the landscape and the sea, Jenni and Clive have another passion: that of redecorating houses. Since the early years when they built a house in Port Vincent, they have lived in six or seven houses, all of which underwent transformations. As Jenni puts it: ‘Doing up houses is like a painting. You finish one and you want a fresh canvas.’ In the 1990s the family moved to the southern Fleurieu and for the next decade Jenni’s painting, inspired by the wild coastlines and hinterland, moved into a highly productive phase. She is a prolific painter, working from memory, as well as from sketches that capture the moment of a particular light or particular colours. To finish three paintings in a week is not unusual; although she doesn’t regard herself as a disciplined artist, but rather one who responds to the mood, which is frequently determined by the music she chooses to work to – anything from Queensland band Kingfisha to Pink Floyd. ‘The music goes on first; then I start to paint’ says Jenni. White Wave Studios has been home for some five years, and apart from its charming light-filled rooms, it has provided a wonderful 58

White Wave Studios has been home for some five years, and apart from its charming light-filled rooms, it has provided a wonderful gallery space for Jenni’s work. In every room the walls are lined with landscapes, seascapes and still life paintings with flowers as a dominant theme.


Above: The well-appointed kitchen. Below: Jenni’s studio offers a view to the natural beauty just outside, including a garden full of fairy wrens.

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gallery space for Jenni’s work. In every room the walls are lined with landscapes, seascapes and still life paintings with flowers as a dominant theme. Despite the more delicate subject matter, the flower studies are imbued with the same energetic brushwork, texture and strong sense of composition as her landscapes. Influenced by the Post Impressionist Russian artist Leonid Vasin who fled to China in 1938 and then migrated to Australia in 1978, the work reflects a concern with colour, tone and light. Jenni studied with Vasin for four years and regards his teaching as seminal in her development as an artist. Jenni finds much of the subject matter for her still life paintings in her own garden. Designed by son Kristian, the garden surrounding White Wave Studios is based on a traditional French theme. An informal parterre at the front of the house spills over with a colourful collection of roses, lavender, poppies, irises and daisies. Behind the house a terraced lawn is hedged with cypresses and a gate leads out to the conservation park where kangaroos graze and sometimes peer inquisitively into the garden. It is all designed to echo an earlier age of beauty and elegance, albeit in a somewhat contrasting climatic zone!

Top: Designed by Jenni and Clive’s son Kristian, the extensive garden is their pride and joy. Centre left: Jenni’s studio is flooded with natural light. Middle right: Views from the main living area stretch to Granite Island and beyond. Above: A grand four poster in a guest bedroom.

White Wave Studios is now on the market and once again: it’s time to look at a clean, fresh canvas.

aesthetic assurance — one based on solid knowledge, power of observation and a deep, intuitive grasp of inner states of being.’ Wherever the next move takes the family, the passion and romanticism, and the pursuit of a highly personal and individual expression will almost surely continue.

One observer wrote of Jenni’s work: ‘The paintings ... seem a declaration of personal freedom and demonstrate a considerable

For enquiries regarding the sale of this property, please contact Mark Forde from Harcourts South Coast; 0417 833 296.

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Above: The rear patio offers easy access to indoor living area and kitchen, along with plenty of space for outdoor entertaining.

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12 kw ground mounted solar power system, MOUNTAIN FARMHOUSE, Natural Local Farming, Inman Valley, SA.

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Strathalbyn Cup Sunday 11 January 2015 Celebrating a sparkling summer • Premium Adelaide Hills wines • Asian inspired food stalls • Perri Cutten fashion parade • Fashion at The Races competition • Live music from ‘The Happy Leonards’ • Thrilling thoroughbred racing Dry Plains Road, Strathalbyn Ph: (08) 8536 2248 www.strathracing.com.au

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SUMMER CELLAR DOOR THE RETREAT AT CHAPEL HILL EAT AND TASTE ALL DAY, WHY NOT STAY?

Summer Sunday Long Table Lunch - $60pp. Three courses plus wine. Book fast! Only 20 seats available per day. Retreat Kitchen Menu available daily.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE Visit Chapel Hill over the summer holidays and enjoy a cellar door experience like no other, with views over rolling hills to the ocean. 22 December until 31 January 11:00am until 6:00pm. (Closed Christmas Day)

CHAPEL HILL WINERY & RETREAT CNR CHAPEL HILL & CHAFFEY’S ROAD, MCLAREN VALE, SA 5171 FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT THE RETREAT ON 08 8323 8429 CHAPELHILLWINE.COM.AU/SUMMERCD

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LIVE THE ADVENTURE! Fleurieu Peninsula, the place to be! Stunning natural scenery of rolling hills and vineyards, broken only by picturesque beaches and rugged coastlines. If your interest is in food, wine, culture, nature and wildlife – the Fleurieu Peninsula has it all. Culture. Adventure. Life.

So much to do, so much to see! Just 45 minutes from Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula offers a tapestry of experiences showcasing the best of South Australia. For more information, please go to www.fleurieupeninsula.com.au

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FOOD & WINE

Leonie Porter-Nocella speaks to chef Adam Crabtree and caterer Cindy Westphalen ... who share their ideas for

Casual summer entertaining

Photographs by Heidi Linehan.

She’s now seriously into weddings, since she’s found that they provide an opportunity for her to channel all of her various passions into each function while bringing to fruition the bride-to-be’s wildest dreams for her day. When it comes to that, it’s difficult to gauge just who’s getting more fulfilment: Cindy or the bride! She’s now launched a wedding app to facilitate, and even help finance, every girl’s big day. See how it all works at www.cindysclassicgourmet.com.au. Once you get to know Cindy you realise that she’s made a success of everything she’s tried, owing in part to her ‘take no prisoners’ attitude, her larger than life persona ... and her uncanny ability to be undaunted in the face of ... well ... anything! The rest is due to her amazing work ethic coupled with her seemingly boundless energy and love of her job. Still, I’m told that these days the trend is all about pre-event roving canapé trays ... so try these and you, too, can be the star of your own show:

Cindy Westphalen of Cindy’s Classic Gourmet passes on some ideas for canapés – ideal for casual entertaining since they can be made, artistically plated ... and then you can just hang out enjoying time with your guests rather than rushing between them and the kitchen. Cindy’s a proud product of Whyalla, where at the tender age of twelve she had a food epiphany in her very first ‘home ec’ class (remember home economics?) That was when she realised that cooking would always play a major role in her life. And as it happens, it has. After obtaining certification at Whyalla in dental nursing and radiography, her first job was as a school dental nurse, but she quickly became disenchanted with the amount of hierarchical red tape observance that goes with a government job and thought the time had come to go with something she loved. Consequently she bluffed (in her own inimitable way) and told everyone she was a caterer; so every Friday she would sell lasagne from an esky at the primary school where she tended teeth – with her ever-obliging husband, John, selling her pate at the high school where he taught. Well, that’s sort of catering, isn’t it? From there she went to hosting dinner parties for eight ... at home. This went from zero to a hundred in no time flat, purely by word of mouth. After that there was no stopping her! She went on to cater events for Lord Mayors, Federal MPs, and various other high profile clients – including a Prime Minister. Along the way she’s won awards far too numerous to mention. 64

Canapés: Rare beef roulé with Neufchâtel and green peppercorn sauce (serves 12 people). Ingredients 500g of beef fillet 2 tsps olive oil 100ml white wine Sauce 150ml beef stock + 2 tsps of green peppercorns in brine, drained 1 tsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsps (1/4 cup thickened cream) Filling 250g Neuchâtel 8 anchovies Method Trim fillet of excess fat Brush the fillet with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper Heat a large frying pan over high heat, when pan is hot, add fillet and cook for 2 mins each side until browned, place in 180C oven for 10 mins Set aside and keep warm while making the sauce Add wine and beef stock to the pan; allow to simmer until reduced by half Reduce heat to medium, add peppercorns and whisk in mustard and cream Continue simmering for 2-3 mins until sauce is slightly thickened Blend Neufchatel and anchovies to make a smooth paste for filling. Assemble Thinly slice beef Roll slice around 1 teaspoon filling (approximately) Place in dish with skewer to hold firm Spoon peppercorn sauce over each fillet. >


Homewares furnished by Coast by Design, Port Elliot.


FOOD & WINE

Chicken and coriander cups (serves 12 people). Ingredients ½ roast chicken ½ red capsicum ½ green capsicum ½ Spanish onion ½ bunch coriander ½ chopped zucchini 1 tbsp curry powder 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsps soy mayonnaise 4 slices grainy, thinly-sliced bread Canola oil spray Small tin of mandarin segments Method Break all chicken away from the body Roughly chop in blender and set aside Place capsicum, onion, zucchini and coriander in blender and slightly chop Place oil in large heated frying pan Add chicken, curry powder and all chopped ingredients Stir curry powder until it coats all ingredients and is incorporated Remove pan and allow to cool 10 minutes Add soy mayonnaise. Cups Pre-heat oven to 180C Press out rounds using a small bread round cutter (3 rounds per slice) Spray a 12-hole muffin tin with oil Press bread rounds into muffin holes

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Spray the completed tray with canola oil once all cups are pressed into muffin holes Cook in 180C oven for 10 minutes or until golden Assemble Spoon mixture into cups Place on serving tray Decorate each with sliced mandarin segment.

Buttered garlic prawn spoon treats with sweet chilli (serves 12 people). Ingredients Ingredients 250 grams green prawn meat 1 tsp (=clove) garlic Knob of butter Chopped chives (small bunch) Sweet chilli sauce Method Heat large frying pan Add knob of butter to melt Mince or chop garlic and add to pan Place prawns in pan with chopped chives Season and cook 5 mins Remove from heat and stand. Assemble Place on serving spoon Decorate with a splash of sweet chilli sauce and chopped chives For lactose-free or gluten-free recipes, substitute butter and cream for lactose-free butter and cream and use gluten-free bread.


Now Adam Crabtree of Anchorage at Victor shares recipes for some of his very popular tapas. Adam is a rare species of chef: he’s uber-cool (without it being ‘a thing’) he gets along famously with fellow workers, he’s ethical, and manages to turn out consistently delicious food at a fair price. Oh ... and he calls into work for coffee on his days off. As his older brother is a chef and his sister a cook, it would seem that food is imprinted onto their genetic fabric. In fact, it was through his brother that the 15-year-old Adam got his first gig in a kitchen, working out of school-hours washing dishes at the venerated Mietta’s, no less. He was eventually taken on as an apprentice under Xavier Robinson at Mietta’s, Queenscliff, on the Bellarine Peninsula. He stayed there for 5 years and loved every minute of it! (Oh ... and he’s also steadfast and reliable.) However, after a bout of illness Adam decided to utilise the ‘food as medicine ‘concept, so applied for a job at an organic wholefood café in Manly. It was there that he met Sarah, his wife ... and became even more drawn to the health advantages of good food. Almost two years ago Adam, his wife, and by this time, two toddlers decided to make the Fleurieu home. They’re thrilled with that decision, but his move to Victor Harbor was probably not an altogether impetuous one, since Queenscliff has much in common with Victor – starting with the fact that they are not only both on the sea, but also on a peninsula ... and I’m sure Adam sees many more similarities. However, I can’t focus this story on Adam alone: I must incorporate John (Saunderson) into the mix. His coffee is the main reason Adam goes into Anchorage on his free days. I, personally, always judge a café or restaurant on the quality of their coffee. If the coffee is good, everything else tends to fall into line behind it. John’s coffee is a standout! He roasts it himself a few metres down the road in a large fabrication used for coffee roasting; but it’s other use is as Adam’s preparation area for large-batch cooking – like stocks, sauces, cakes and anything else that needs more space than Anchorage’s small kitchen can accommodate. While Adam is no longer the hardline vegetarian, his philosophy continues in his choices when sourcing ingredients. For example, he uses only sustainable fish: Port Lincoln mulloway, local line caught snapper, Coorong mullet, Goolwa pippies ... and the like. The lamb is Yankaponga Suffolk, the chickens free range and the beef MSA. He also cultivates his own herbs so that they’re picked fresh as required ... as they should be if you’re going for optimum taste and texture. Adam’s food and John’s coffee is well worth a special trip ... but meanwhile, try some of Adam’s tasty tapas in your own kitchen.

Tapas: Coorong Mullet Escabeche Ingredients 8 Coorong mullet fillets 1 brown onion 1 carrot 1 stick celery 2 cloves garlic zest of ½ a lemon ½ tsp coriander seed ½ tsp pepper corns 1 tsp fresh thyme 2 bay leaves 200ml E V olive oil 200ml white wine 200ml sherry vinegar Method Lightly pan-fry mullet for 30 seconds each side Place in 4cm deep tray Sautee vegetables until softened Add garlic, lemon, thyme, spices, and sauté for 2 minutes Add liquids, bring to the boil and add to fish Leave to cool and refrigerate for 3 days before using Serve at room temperature with grilled bread and greens.

Slow braised beef cheeks with cauliflower puree Ingredients 4 beef cheeks, cleaned, approx 150g each 2 brown onion 2 carrots 2 celery sticks 3 garlic cloves 2 bay leaves ¼ bunch thyme 300ml sherry 100ml red wine 150ml beef stock Method Season and seal beef cheeks in a hot pan, remove from pan into a baking dish Sauté mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery) until soft, add garlic, bay leaf and thyme Deglaze pan with red wine, add sherry and beef stock, add to beef cheeks Cover with foil and bake at 150 degrees for 5 hours Remove cheeks, strain sauce and reduce to 100ml Press cheeks between trays, with a weight on top overnight Portion cheeks into small squares ready to heat and serve Cauliflower puree ½ cauliflower 500ml milk 75g butter Place cauliflower and milk in a saucepan and bring to a simmer Cook until soft, strain and blitz, adding butter and salt to taste. >

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Confit duck croquettes with Romesco sauce Ingredients 2 duck legs – 180g each 100g sugar 100g salt 1 tsp fennel seed Zest of 1 lemon ½ L duck fat Method Combine sugar, salt, fennel seed and lemon zest, cover duck with mix and leave to cure for 15-24 hours Wash thoroughly and pat dry Cover in duck fat, and confit in the oven at 150 degrees for 3 to 4 hours until falling off the bone Allow to cool, shred meat and leave while cooking potatoes. Potatoes 1 kg potatoes 2 egg yolks 50g parmesan grated 40g butter 2 cups panko bread crumbs 1 cup flour 2 eggs Boil potatoes until tender, drain and mash Add yolks, salt, parmesan, butter and duck mixture Pipe mixture onto a tray, allow to cool Cut into 3 cm tubes, coat in flour, egg then bread with panko crumbs Fry until golden. Aioli 3 egg yolks 1 clove garlic

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Juice of 1 lemon 200ml sunflower oil 100ml EV olive oil To make aioli mix egg yolks, garlic and lemon juice in a food processer, slowly add oils, season to taste. Romesco sauce 2 ripe tomatoes (blanched and peeled) 4 garlic cloves 2 red capsicums (roasted and peeled) 75g hazelnut (roasted) 75g almonds (roasted) 60ml EV olive oil 1 tsp smoked paprika 30 ml sherry vinegar Combine all ingredients and blitz, season to taste.

Smoked quail, pomegranate, fresh herbs and potato rosti Ingredients 3 quail 100g hickory chips 2 Desiree potatoes boiled 2 tbsp chopped spring onion 1 pomegranate 20ml pomegranate molasses Fine herbs Method Debone quail. Set quail on a wire rack, place on a baking tray with hickory chips underneath. Place baking tray on flames, and set alight. Cover with another tray and bake for 10 minutes Grate potatoes and mix with spring onion and salt. Mould into a round shape and brown in a pan on both sides. Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds, molasses and fine herbs. And Buon appetito for your summer entertaining.


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This is Jimmy. This is his dairy.

$100 per dozen in cellar door.

Open Friday and Saturday 11-4pm. Many moons ago, Jimmy Smith ran a herd of dairy cows on that spot above. He slept in his dairy, and woke up before the sun. We’ve given his pride and joy a spit and polish – introducing Jimmy Smith’s Dairy, the Fleurieu’s newest, top-end B&B. We reckon Jimmy would be well chuffed. jimmysmithsdairy.com.au +61 409 690 342 Mentone Road East, Port Elliot SA (via Brickyard Road)

2013 GSM Grenache 52% Shiraz 30% Mataro 18% This wine displays intense black berries on the nose, with a combination of mixed spice and plums on the palate. Winestate Magazine

New Release Special Tasting 2014

Awarded Bronze medal

2014 Royal Adelaide Wine Show The Winery Door 69 Warners Road, McLaren Vale, 5171 South Australia

Telephone: 08 8323 8792 Email: buy@thewinerydoor.com.au Web: www.thewinerydoor.com.au Open: Friday & Saturday 11-4pm

Discover the fine mix of food, wine, art and ale! Red Poles Restaurant / Cellar Door / Art Gallery / B&B

Delight all your senses and also embrace live music, and an art gallery amongst lawns, gardens and vineyards! The cellar door for Brick Kiln wines and Vale Ale craft beers is set in an ambient courtyard. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 to 5 190 McMurtrie Road McLaren Vale Phone: 08 8323 8994 / 0417 814 695 redpoles@redpoles.com.au | www.redpoles.com.au

Open for coffee and lunch from 11 am Wednesday to Sunday Dinner Friday and Saturday Experience our Taste of the Fleurieu menu – a culinary journey.

Bookings: 8598 4184 www.leonardsmill.com.au 7869 Main South Road, Second Valley

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The kitchen meets the country at ‘The Kitchen Door’ Restaurant at Penny’s Hill

Regional, seasonal & affordable dining in pristine McLaren Vale. BEST RESTAURANT IN A WINERY (AUS) -2007 & 2013 BEST RESTAURANT IN A WINERY (SA) -2007, 2010, 2012 & 2013. Open for lunch Thurs – Mon from 12pm (closed Tue & Wed) PH: 08 8557 0800 | 281 Main Road, McLaren Vale, SA

WINNER - HOSTED ACCOMMODATION - 2013 STATE TOURISM AWARDS WINNER - LUXURY ACCOMMODATION - 2012 STATE TOURISM AWARDS

This luxury award-winning boutique hotel offers five modern Asian-themed suites along with professional and discreet service. Chef Juliet Michell prepares guest breakfasts, and for the public Saturday night in The Australasian Dining Room presents a 3 course, asian-inspired set menu. 1 Porter Street, Goolwa. T: 08 8555 1088 www.australasian1858.com

www.pennyshill.com.au

It’s not that hard to be bushfire ready.

CFS0123

Stay informed through local radio for a safer summer. For more information visit cfs.sa.gov.au

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Sasha’s emerald green dress by Muccia – available at All That Jazz, Port Elliot.


Resort Style Shot on location at The Bluff Resort. Overlooking Encounter Bay and Victor Harbor, The Bluff offers stunning ocean views within luxury accommodation. A stone’s throw from restaurants, shopping and pristine beaches. Photography by Holly Dauk. Hair and Makeup by Nadia Haddrick of Kink Hair.

Born and raised in Willunga, our model Sasha March delivers unique vocal-driven indie folk songs. Her alluring stage presence, emotive lyrics and sensual voice captivates audiences. As well as being an adept solo performer, Sasha fronts the band ‘Sasha March & the Dawnhorse’. The group combines Sasha’s vocal talents with Tom Redwood’s raw electric guitar, the creative rhythm of bass player Jon Scott and Sasha’s brother TJ on drums. Sasha’s debut solo EP released in April 2014 has received airplay in SA, Vic and NSW.


Maldive silk overlay by Layer’d, silk camisole by Zaket and Plover. White cargo pants by Ping Pong. All available at All That Jazz, Port Elliot. Jewellery available at Pure Envy, Hyde Park.

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Sunday Lunch silk jacket by Forget Me Not. Jumpsuit by Muccia. Available from All That Jazz, Port Elliot.

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Jewel tone maxi kaftan by Ruby YaYa. Available at All That Jazz, Port Elliot.

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The Victor Harbor Page

TAPAS

www.harbar.net.au

House made sour dough loaf with chef’s dips

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Shoe string fries, tomato sauce

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Fresh Shucked SA Oysters (3) Natural Thai lime and ginger

8 9

17-21 Ocean Street Victor Harbor Deep fried cayene white bait with herb salad and aioli

Tapas style One of the very nicest things about dining stop whatever it is we are doing an Professional cocktails SALADS Leafy green garden salad Great function Greek salad venue Roast baby root vegetables with stick SLIDERS

All sliders served with a side of fri

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Wagyu beef, cheese, tomato, pickle an

Spinach and fetta croquettes with paprika and aioli

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Smashed falafel, cucumber, mint and y

Crispy soft shell crab with Som Tam salad

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Pork, sweet onion jam, mustard cres

Pan fried SA calamari with chorizo, aioli and basil

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Any three sliders with a side of frie

08 8552 9883

Open Wednesday to Saturday Golden fried thick from cut polenta chipsand with house made harissa 5pm Spring BayFriday mussels, chorizo, chickfrom pea and tomato lunch 12pmbroth

8 11

Lamb meatballs with romesco dipping sauce

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Stuffed, baked filled mushrooms, ricotta cheese, rocket salad

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Red wine marinated chorizo with grilled sour dough

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Chicked Kofta skewers, quinoa salad, minted yogurt

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Can’t decide what to eat??

W

DESSERTS

Traditional Crème Brulee with almond

indulge in million dollar views, salty air&

Tempura battered king prawns with nham jim and Asian slaw

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Espresso rubbed beef fillet, romesco sauce, crostini

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Home made Churros with warm chocolate

Dessert platter for two (chefs select

Cheese platter, 3 cheeses and accompa

frosty glasses

Buffalo wings, sweet spicy and sticky with blue cheese sauce

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Beef Cheeks, briased in sherry, carrot and citrus puree

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at whalers

Share style dining, focusing on small dishes wit Our menu features produce from KI, the Fleur

HarBar is available any Please ask our friendly No seperate acc 08 8552 9883 www

After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even ones own relations Oscar Wilde

Open 7 days from 9.30am till late. Serving visitors and locals alike for more than 40 years. High quality, relaxed dining – coffee, dessert, gelati – and now serving a full breakfast menu on Sundays. 17 Albert Place, Victor Harbor (Opposite the Crown Hotel) Ph 8552 3501 www.ninoscafe.com.au

““err

eat

mmer!”

"Let’s celebrate su

Ph: 08 8552 4400

www.whalers.com.au | eat@whalers.com.au

omee o liii”

NEED HELP DECORATING? Studio 9/46 Coral St Victor Harbor SA. Phone: (08) 7516 3505 Email: hello@houseofallure.com.au Shop online: w w w.houseofallure.com.au

Enjoy amazing views! In one of our five fully equipped apartments, retreats and townhouses. Individually designed and decorated with elegant style. All with stunning ocean and island views in the elite area of town. McCracken , Victor Harbor S.A 5211. Phone 08 8278 6685 or 0450 798 952 Email victorapartments@gmail.com Website: victorapartments.com.au

offer expires 28/2/15

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The Art of Life Esther Thorn visits Second Valley artist Jane Smeets to discuss her work.

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Jane Smeets’ work is a paradox on canvas. The Second Valley artist’s paintings are as gentle as they are powerful; a Magpie is frozen in full flight in one and in another a tiny Silvereye is enlarged on a grand scale.

Jane’s current body-of-work is inspired by the Fleurieu Peninsula’s abundant bird life, but occasionally a human figure is also present in her paintings. The figure’s attention though is always directed to the sky; the realm of the birds and of one’s imagination. ‘It’s about making the unseen visible’, says Jane. ‘The figures are looking skywards, reflecting on the connection between earth and the heavens.’ The 57-year-old extremely humble and private artist has been creating for as long as she can remember. She studied at Adelaide Central School of Art in the 1990s and has been producing and exhibiting her work ever since. Until recently, her paintings and sculptures were largely figurative pieces. Then, three years ago, as Jane began spending more time at what was her shack, the image of a bird started to appear in her work. ‘Artists have always used birds to represent the spirit or a soulful connection’, she says. ‘Whenever I’d come to Second Valley all I could hear were the birds and I began to realise the importance of being quiet and just listening.’ Painting is now a meditative process for Jane Smeets. She works outside with the canvas flat on the ground and begins each piece by throwing large cups of watercolour paint over it. ‘(The technique) gives the work a sensitive, almost vulnerable quality,’ >

Previous page: Yellow (sulphur) crested cockatoo – mixed media on canvas. This page top left: Magpies – mixed media on canvas (152 x 102cm). Top right: Galahs – mixed media on canvas (152 x 102cm). Above: Artist Jane Smeets. 79


Above left: Blue Wren – Mixed media on canvas (102 x 102 cm). Above right: Kookaburras – Mixed media on canvas.

Jane Smeets’ work will be showcased as part of next year’s Festival Fleurieu, which runs from April 11 to 19. The event, formerly named the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, highlights artwork from the Western Fleurieu Peninsula. In addition to her paintings, Jane is creating a sculptural exhibition for the festival, titled ‘Vessel’. Jane says ‘It’s quite hard sometimes to have this perfectly white canvas and then throw cupfuls of colour over it, but it’s also an enjoyable process.’ Once the canvas is dry, which in a cold Fleurieu winter can take weeks, Jane creates the central image; first with acrylic paints and then oil pastels and charcoal. She only ever uses one brush for the entire piece and just ‘pushes it around to see what evolves’. Therein lies another paradox within Jane Smeets’ work, as her mixed media technique is also highly intentional. The layers of transparent watercolour, opaque acrylic and finally the ‘gestural marks’ of pastel and charcoal are symbolic of the multiple layers of a human personality. Jane perhaps knows more about the human spirit than most, because she works as an art therapist in palliative care. ‘When you work with people who are facing death, you really learn to appreciate life and I guess that’s what the birds (paintings) are expressing,’ she says. ‘Sometimes I worry that the birds look too simplistically pretty, but what sits behind the beautiful façade has a much deeper meaning and I think that resonates with people.’ Current interest in Jane Smeets’ work is testament to its ability to capture, and hold, attention. Her pieces are displayed at the recently revamped Leonards Mill, also at Second Valley. Owner Jane Mitchell met Jane Smeets at the restaurant and the pair instantly clicked. ‘I had a look at Jane’s work and the rest is history’, Jane Mitchell says. ‘I’m a real bird-lover so I just straight away loved her paintings.’ As do many of the restaurant’s patrons. ‘People will sit with the paintings while they eat and I think

that establishes a connection much more than viewing a piece in a gallery’, Jane says. ‘So often someone will buy a painting then and there or they’ll go home and ring the next day and say ‘“I just haven’t been able to get that piece out of my head’”. Jane Smeets’ work will also be showcased as part of next year’s Festival Fleurieu, which runs from April 11 to 19. The event, formerly named the Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, highlights artwork from the Western Fleurieu Peninsula. In addition to her paintings, Jane is creating a sculptural exhibition for the festival, titled ‘Vessel’. ‘I collect old boxes and drawers and create internal worlds inside them using found objects, photographs and collage,’ she says. The subject matter is highly personal. ‘As an art therapist you try to find creative ways to access people’s internal worlds and (the box art) is my own personal experience of this,’ she says. ‘I place each object very deliberately and allow the story to emerge.’ ‘Vessel’ may indeed be a snapshot of the direction in which the artist is heading. ‘I also collect old animal bones and I’m working on a series called ‘Bone Portraits’, Jane says. ‘I’ll invite people to choose a bone and then paint them holding that bone.’ Again her theme is the juxtaposition of life and death and humanity’s place in the natural world. It’s a thread that runs deeply through Jane’s psyche and she says it has come to the fore of her consciousness since making the Fleurieu Peninsula her permanent home. ‘To be surrounded by the natural beauty of this region has definitely made me more environmentally focussed,’ she says. ‘I feel very lucky to be a part of the wonderful creative culture that exists here.’


Eat, Buy and Shop Locally “A very personal endeavour: wines made with my heart, soul and my own hands in McLaren Vale and France.” Rose Kentish, Winemaker and Owner, Finalist Australian Winemaker of the Year 2014.

gallery Cellar Door Tastings 10am - 4pm throughout the 2014/15 summer holidays. The Mill at Middleton 29 Mill Terrace, Middleton SA 5213 T 0419 040670

studio If you love art, visit John Lacey’s contemporary gallery/studio and meet this award winning artist. Originals and prints. Open most days 11am - 5pm. 41 Woodcone Rd Mt Compass. T: 8556 8388 M: 0419 823 708 W: johnlacey.com.au

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Auraria Antiques Importers of Fine Quality Antiques

Specialising in items from the 15th century to the 1920s. Open Thurs & Fri 10 am ~ 4 pm. Sat, Sun and Public Holidays 10 am ~ 5 pm. Contact Gregory Bickford 0400 668 370 www.aurariaantiques.com.au 81


FOOD & WINE

2014 Fleurieu Olive Awards Featuring a fitting and enduring tribute to Vince Scarfo and Luigi Palumbo. Story by Zannie Flanagan. Photographs by emme jade.

The 2014 Fleurieu Food Olive Awards have been announced! The gold medal winners in this year’s competition are: Gold Medal and Best Oil of Show Gold Medal Gold Medal Best Olive in Show

Nangkita Olives Koroneiki Joseph Cold Press Diana Red Label Two Hills and a Creek Kalamata

The judging for this year’s awards was again held at The Elbow Room in McLaren Vale. Elbow Room Chef, Nigel Rich, joined Chief Judge Briony Liebich, Paul Petanga, Glenn Green, and Dianne Mattson from The Advertiser in the judging of the competition’s twenty-five oil and twelve, table olive entries. After serious consideration the judges awarded thirty-four awards: three gold medals, seven silver and thirteen bronze across the oil classes, indicating the high quality of entries in this year’s competition. Competition Chief Steward, Rachel McMillan, said that despite crop shortages the judges were very pleased with the quality of oils submitted this season. ‘We were all very impressed by the overall quality this year. The three top oils were only separated by two points,’ reported Rachel. The popular Punters’ Pick, held each year at the Willunga and Victor Harbor Farmers’ Markets, has become a regular feature of the Awards with local market shoppers judging their own winner from the three gold medal oils on offer at the popular public tasting. This year the Punters at both markets chose Joseph Cold Press as their preferred oil. The Awards’ Northern Italian inspired dinner was this year held at Our Place@Willunga Hill and hosted by Andy Clappis. The evening included a special tribute to Vince Scarfo and Luigi Palumbo who sadly lost their lives at sea in February. In appreciation of the search and rescue operation mounted for Vince and Luigi, Fleurieu Food donated the proceeds from the dinner to the Victor Harbor/Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron. Vince’s Diana Olive Press is now operated by his nephew Domenic, who processed the three, gold medal winners in this year’s competition. In memory of Vince, and as a special tribute to his

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Top: Gold Winner Mark van Gestel from Primo Estate. Above: Bronwyn Busbridge from Spice Girlz with Gold Winner Michael Harbison from Nangkita Olives.

significant contribution to the development of the region’s olive industry, the competition organisers have announced that the award for the Best of Show will now be known as the Vince Scarfo Best Oil of Show Award. A complete list of 2014 award recipients can be found on the Fleurieu Food website under the Events’ tab.


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The Bird Whisperer Zannie Flanagan introduces us to Maggie Clausen – ‘The Bird Lady’. Photographs by Holly Dauk.


Previous page: Wallace the white face cockatiel. Above: Maggie Clausen shares a close bond with all her avian companions, including this colourful rainbow lorikeet.

I met Maggie Clausen a few months ago at the local pet shop in Aldinga. She was chatting to the store’s owner about birds and it seemed Maggie was something of a bird whisperer! So on a beautiful spring day I drove down to Yankalilla to investigate. A flock of honking geese noisily signaled my arrival as Maggie greeted me with a beautiful Alexandrine parrot on her head! We headed inside via the back verandah that comprised an undercover area extending its whole length and out onto the garden. It was then I understood why Maggie was known as the ‘Bird-lady’ – the area was completely enclosed with avaries full of birds all squawking for Maggie’s attention. A little overwhelmed by the noise and keen to get inside, I found the interior of the house was like some inner sanctum for birds

with special-needs. They were flying across the room, perching on curtain rods, in open cages and peeking out of roosting boxes. I admit, being enclosed with so many birds with wings flapping and their scratchy claws trying to roost on my head and shoulders, I felt as though I’d landed in Hitchcock’s brilliant but terrifying film from the 1960s, The Birds. However, my anxiety soon abated as Maggie introduced me to her flock by detailing their history and quirky personality traits. It was obvious Maggie’s bond with her birds was something quite unusual! The birds’ relationships with each other too, seemed pretty strange. Martin, the Adelaide rosella for example, had taken a real fancy to a pair of mating cockatiels who were protecting their nest of eggs quite aggressively. Wallace, a pale-faced cockatiel that often waddles after Maggie in constant danger of being trodden on, is currently sitting on a clutch of rainbow lorikeet eggs! >

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‘It all started in 2001 with a corella my husband found on the back lawn. It was too young to fly so we brought it inside and when it was mature enough we released it back into the wild. But my daughter was so distraught we had to replace it with a little cockatiel we called Peaches, who was soon joined by a bird we took in from a rest-home after its owner had passed away.’ Top left: A lutino cockatiel. Below left: Pappy the seagull. Top right: Maggie and Wallace prepare dinner.

In all there are about twenty birds in her living room that fly from perch to perch, sometimes landing on the back of chairs understandably covered and protected by plastic. I asked Maggie where all her birds had come from. ‘It all started in 2001 with a corella my husband found on the back lawn. It was too young to fly so we brought it inside and when it was mature enough we released it back into the wild. But my daughter was so distraught we had to replace it with a little cockatiel we called Peaches, who was soon joined by a bird we took in from a rest-home after its owner had passed away. A purple crowned lorikeet was the next to arrive with the local postie, who had rescued it on her mail run. Not knowing what to feed it, I phoned Dr Ian Hough one of South Australia’s top avian vets, who gave me the knowledge I needed to nurture the bird back to health,’ she explained. After Dr Hough had treated another purple crowned lorikeet, he provided the RSPCA with Maggie’s name to see whether she would be able to take that bird in too. Maggie’s friendship with the bird specialist led to her attending an avian medicine course taught by Dr Hough and she has used this knowledge to save birds that would otherwise fail to survive in the wild, either because they have fallen out of the nest, been in some 86

collision often with car-grilles or born disabled in some way. Her home is a sanctuary for birds that would not have survived without her. Once they are able to fend for themselves, they are released back into the wild while those permanently disabled continue to be cared for. ‘I’ve had cockatiels with dislocated hips that I’ve had to splint, lots of birds with wings damaged in collisions with cars, two blind corellas and a galah called Rosie I got from the RSPCA in Lonsdale that has a thyroid problem and arthritis, ’ explained Maggie. I asked her how she decides which birds to save. ‘Any bird with a broken back or where it is obvious the bird will not survive is euthanised by the local vet for free,’ she answered without sentiment. There is one bird in her domesticated flock though that has Maggie’s heart – a beautiful seagull affectionately called Pappy. ‘Pappy is my pride and joy,’ says Maggie gently holding the bird close to her chest. I couldn’t help thinking that the day Maggie found him on the side of a road on a trip to Port Augusta was Pappy’s really lucky day.


Eat, Buy and Shop Locally

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Our personalised Gift Baskets contain a diverse range of local and gourmet products. 152 Main Road McLaren Vale. Ph: 8323 8500. www.YummyNutsMarket.com.au. Call us now to place your order!

DeeVine Yoga hosts a wide variety of hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga and meditation classes, as well as weekend workshops, seminars and social events. Join us on the mat soon, Namaste. DeeVine Yoga classes are held at DeeVine Studio 5-9 Aldersey Street, McLaren Vale SA 5171 M: 0419 035 344 E: deevine@chariot.com.au  W: deevinestudio.com.au  Facebook: Dee Vine Studio

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Out back of Strath James Howe gets chatting with some modern-day cowboys and girls. Photographs by James Howe.

The first thing you see when you reach the paddock at the end of the rut, are utes; lots of them. They bristle with flags, more than a medieval cavalry unit, only they bear tribute to Bundy Rum and Holden instead of the King. Taking a walk between them, I meet a proud owner who runs me through some of the seventeen judging categories: ‘vintage ute, restored ute, performance ute, bush ute, feral ute …’ ‘Don’t forget chick’s ute!’ The voice belongs to Morphett Vale’s Nicol McManus, who’s here with a VS Commodore Series 3 loaded to the gunnels with lights, flags and slogans. Nicol, originally from Port Lincoln, is a country girl at heart. She looks the part too, in her Akubra, jeans and blue singlet. She turns heads when she drives her ute through the streets of Morphett Vale. ‘People look and they think ‘‘what did I just see?’’’ she says. As vibrant and varied as they are, the utes play second fiddle to the main event. Based on the traditional skills of an Australian mounted jackaroo, the Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge pits competitors against six obstacles. 88

To finish, you’ll need to know how to hit targets with a stock-whip while cantering, ride bareback, load a packhorse, muster a mob of cattle, shoe a horse and gallop cross-country. ‘This event really relives what the stock-men and women had to do,’ says Chloe Pearce, volunteer committee member with the Challenge. ‘Someone along the way must have said ‘‘hey, we’re about to lose this — how can we keep it living and breathing?’’’ The first stockman’s challenge — The Man from Snowy River in Victoria — sprang up 20 years ago. Today, there are four of them Australia-wide. The Fleurieu version was founded in 2012 by Strathalbyn riding instructor Kathy Angel and her horse-breaker partner Shane Cooper. At the time, the concept of a stockman’s challenge was little hazy on the ground here on the Fleurieu. ‘We had a committee, and only about three or four people on it actually knew what we were trying to do’, says Kathy. ‘It was a real faith run for a lot of people to say ‘‘ok, we’ll run whatever this thing is you’re telling us about.’’’ Experiencing a low turnout the first year, Kathy and Shane decided to suspend it so they could muster enthusiasm locally and interstate. They held a stockman’s challenge workshop in Strathalbyn to familiarise local people with the concept, and kicked off again in


Previous page: Morphett Vale’s Nicol McManus poses proudly with her VS Commodore Series 3, loaded to the gunnels with lights, flags and slogans. Above: A competitor negotiates the bronco ride with utmost concentration. Photo courtesy of the Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge. Below right: Fifteen-year-old Brooke Walton from Strathalbyn.

September this year. This time, the event attracted 1500 spectators and 40 competitors. Strathalbyn school friends Brooke Walton and Nicky Bell are two of them. Aged 15 and 14 respectively, they’ve trained every day for two years to be here. ‘I never really got into doing dressage, because it just seems too posh,’ says Brooke. ‘When I saw this for the first time at Jindabyne, I thought it was really, really cool.’ Brooke and Nicky are preparing to enter the horse-shoeing element of the Challenge. ‘It’s one thing to have the routine worked out in training’, says Nicky, ‘another to have it run smoothly when the nerves, crowd and interstate competition come together.’ ‘Some of the kids from Victoria are pretty good’, she says. ‘You come out here and you think you’ve got it all perfect, but it doesn’t always go how you want it to go!’ HORSE-SHOEING, whip-cracking, packhorses: does anyone actually use this stuff anymore? If, like me, you’re doubtful, you’d do well to talk to Jade French, a strapping fellow in a crumpled Akubra. A contract musterer from Taralga in New South Wales, Jade splits his time between northern WA, the NT and the Snowy Mountains. ‘I came home four weeks ago and there was five inches of snow — I went from 32 degrees to minus seven in 42 hours!’ he says. >


Top: Contract musterer Jade French from Taralga in NSW. Above: A competitor hard at work during the horse-shoeing event. Right: The packhorse event, which requires competitors to pack gear into saddle bags, then load a packhorse and lead it though a series of obstacles.

Jade’s family has been mustering cattle for generations, and he doesn’t even remember when he first got on a horse. He’s a walking testimony to the fact that the skills forged in the colonial era are still very much alive. He uses all the Challenge skills in his work – bar, perhaps, the bareback riding. ‘You carry a whip every day, you shoe your own horse, three or four times a year we’ll pack out into the mountains to get cattle,’ he says. Even the brumby catch — an event which requires competitors to catch a wild horse in under three minutes — is based on real-life skills still observed today. Just ask Darren Town, horse-breaker and winner of the 2012 Challenge. Where he’s from (Stratford, Victoria), brumby catching is still common among farmers who run mountain cattle leases. ‘They’ve always had brumbies running with their cattle and they’ve caught them to use as work horses, or to sell for money’, says Darren. He’s caught his own share of wild horses over the years. So how does one go about catching a brumby? ‘We gallop up next to them, put a halter on and hang on,’ says Darren. ‘It’s probably not for the faint-hearted — in the mountains, the terrain can be hard 90

— there’s rivers, creeks and trees. Going up a gully can be difficult, because they can turn around and go back down again.’ Most of the brumbies are able to be broken, and can then be sold or used as working horses. ‘There’s one right there’, says Darren, pointing at a bay and white horse grazing calmly in the distance. ‘That was the one I caught here in the final two years ago.’ Horsemanship takes a less dramatic form here on the Fleurieu. But the old skills are still well maintained. ‘This is what we do every day,’ says Strathalbyn horse-breaker and Challenge competitor Bernie Dall’Aglio. ‘You’re cracking whips to desensitise your horses; you get on them bareback to prove that they’re broken in; you’re going over logs and through creeks. About the only thing I don’t do is pack my horses on the regular basis.’ For Bernie, there’s nothing better than being around so many likeminded people. ‘It gets a bit boring riding your horse by yourself – sometimes it’s just nice to have company’, he says. ‘I don’t think I’ve met a bad fella here.’


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Looking for a boutique winery experience in McLaren Vale with a difference? Small batches of hand crafted wines of Sangiovese, Primitivo, Aglianico, Chardonnay, Grenache and Shiraz can be tasted in the barrel hall. Call Adam on 83237999 or 0408849305 for a private appointment. Corner of Foggo and Kangarilla Roads, McLaren Flat (behind Ekhidna Restaurant) www.lacuriowines.com info@lacuriowines.com

Locally sourced ingredients. Delicious and skillfully prepared seasonal meals made to order using classical French technique by chef/owner Shane Horsley.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee & cake. Private functions enquiries welcome. Bookings essential. 27 High Street, Willunga (08) 8556 2379 altarbistro.com facebook.com/altarbistro NOW OPEN Thurs ~ Sat for dinner

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BOOKS & WORDS

The truth behind the rumours – boat on roof, the real story Mike Rushby aka Hunta, sets the record straight. Illustration by Chris Harris.

Now, this really is a true story, but first, I need to put things in perspective. At Sellicks Beach in the 50s, not many people owned boats. The three professional ‘Charleys’ had basic clinker built boats because they fished for a living. My old man, George, along with a few other keen fishos of the day, used to cast from the beach using long Rangoon cane rods and simple Bakelite side-caster reels. One guy who regularly fished with George was Clyde. Clyde was a woodwork teacher at Norwood High School. In the early 50s he built a small shack about a hundred yards from our place. George and Clyde ended up really good mates. Clyde had the very latest overhead reels and he could cast out miles, or so it seemed to me when I was only knee high to a hubcap. Clyde was cool. He also had rod holders. George didn’t agree with rod holders because he thought it was slack. Guess who caught most fish? Not George. It was exciting to walk down to the beach with them at around 4pm not knowing what lay in wait beyond the breakers. Generally, they caught a feed. But it was a far cry from endangering any species. A few little silveries, mullet, salmon trout, flathead: good fun but hardly a career. Not sure exactly when, but at some point they made a big decision. Building a boat together would mean moving into the big league. Leave the sprats behind. The new hit list included snapper, whiting, gummy shark, garfish, snook: can’t wait. George and Clyde were the perfect combination to build a boat together. George was pretty handy with timber having built our shack and all furniture by himself, and Clyde being a woodwork teacher speaks for itself. So they got hold of some plans and went to work. Back in Adelaide, George lived in Kensington Park and Clyde just up the road at Magill. They built the boat in Clyde’s shed on week nights over about twelve months. The result: a very seaworthy, beamy, fourteen foot bondwood boat. The boat trailer had been fitted with enormous 19 inch wheels which made beach launching easy, if it sunk in the sand you’d just heave on each wheel. Worth noting today: cars have reverted back to bigger wheels for all kinds of beneficial reasons. On Satd’y mornings just before the sun came up, Clyde would come over to our place and discuss the day’s fishing plan over a coffee. What was the weather going to do? Would the wind come up? Old Charley Dicky said it would be ok. Yeah, let’s do it! 92

Usually, the first stop was to catch a squid or two on the reef for bait. (A peeled spud on the old jag did the trick). Then out to the ‘fog’ ground, ‘Treasures’, ‘Big Pongy’, decisions, decisions. Remember, the 21/2 hp Anzani was flat out doing only a few knots in calm conditions. You couldn’t just whizz from ground to ground like these days. It wasted valuable fishing time. So, to lift the pick and move was a decision not made lightly. Over the next few years, George and Clyde enjoyed great days fishing together. Their secret marks were closely guarded. No GPS back then. If anyone asked where the grounds were, they’d say, ‘straight out and line up the purple rock with the cow on Just’s property’. Clyde, who was a little more adventurous than George, developed itchy feet and yearned for bluer pastures. He wanted to fish Goolwa, The Coorong, Victor, Yorks. But George, being a creature of habit, was quite happy and content within his Sellicks comfort zone. The upshot was Clyde built another boat to have for himself. Now, Clyde was a lovely bloke, not a mean bone in his body. I remember he’d always greet me with ‘howdy stranger’ in a laconic, Gary Cooper-type voice. (You never forget stuff like that; I would’ve been about 10 at the time). Anyhow, Clyde and George continued to fish together in the original boat. Nothing had really changed apart from the fact that Clyde now had his own independence. Tacitly, it was understood and accepted, that the first boat became George’s. As usual, one Saturday morning, Clyde came over to George’s to discuss the weather and possibilities of fishing. During their conversation, Clyde complained of indigestion and asked George for a Quick-Eze. When George returned with the tablet, Clyde was dead on the verandah, having suffered an aneurism. A very, very sad day. Clyde was only in his 40s. Again, time passed. Clyde’s wife sold all the assets with remarkable alacrity. Before long, we began to hear a rather vicious rumour on the Sellicks grapevine. It seemed that Clyde’s wife was claiming that George’s boat was half hers and that she was entitled to be paid for Clyde’s half. Clyde would’ve been horrified at the very notion. Now, my old man was many things but stingy wasn’t one of them. In fact, he was incredibly generous. But now, George’s squeaky-clean Sellicks image was being undermined and showing signs of decay. If the lady had fronted George in the proper fashion, I’m sure they would have arrived at a mutually happy agreement. However, George was deeply offended by the alleged claim and it was beginning to get under his skin.


From memory, it was a Saturday afternoon, George had been enjoying the odd sherbet and he, myself (Hunta) and a couple of mates were discussing how to resolve the situation. One of us, and I honestly can’t remember who, said, ‘if that’s the way she’s going to be, let’s chop the boat in halves and stick it up on her roof’. There was a brief silence then out came the big hand saw, a can of fire-engine red paint and a broad brush. We cut through both sides of the hull, plumb dead centre, leaving only the keel to hold the structure together. Down both white sides of the boat we painted in big red letters, GEORGE’S HALF. XXXXXX’S HALF. Me mate backed up his ute and we towed it over to her place. Long painter’s planks were placed at a 45˚ angle on one side of the house to be used both as a ramp and support for the boat. A long rope was tied to the front of the boat, tossed over the roof to the other side of the house and fastened to the tow bar on the ute. A few minutes later, she was perched high and dry on the flat part of the roof. We draped a few hessian bags over the cut so it appeared to be all in one piece.

I’d love to have seen the expression on her face when her new boyfriend climbed up onto the roof to discover that the boat was bisected and impossible to fix. For the normally sleepy Sellicks, this was like a slice of Hollywood. Tourist buses diverted their normal route to show passengers this truly bizarre sight. Locals and weekenders came up to take photographs and have a giggle or two. And the South Australian Truth’s last edition featured a special article complete with a Dan Russell cartoon. Just when it seemed the dust had settled, I was rudely awakened early one Saturday morning by a loud rapping on the door of our shack. George answered the door to be confronted by the local constabulary (the late and great Dave Bethune) following up a formal complaint from Clyde’s wife. With half a lip curl, Dave explained that she would lay charges of trespassing and more unless George made a public apology. It seemed like a small price to pay for so much satisfaction. So George said ‘sorry’. 93


CELLAR DOOR 167 ELLIOTT ROAD McLAREN FLAT OPEN. 10AM-5PM

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Offering premium luxury accommodation for up to 22 people. Waverley Estate is available for exclusive use, just an hour’s drive from Adelaide on the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula, minutes from Horseshoe Bay and the historic township of Port Elliot.


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The Echidna Detective Quentin Chester goes on the hunt with with Dr Peggy Rismiller OAM, environmental physiologist and nature-advocate extraordinaire.

Most people zip past Kangaroo Island’s Pelican Lagoon. There’s no shortage of water glimpses as you drive the gap joining Dudley Peninsula to the bulk of the island. But in the rush to the bigname attractions further west, it’s easy to misjudge the place. However, this collection of limestone-edged bays and shaggy headlands is among SA’s most esteemed estuaries. Indeed, it thrives as a treasury of natural wonders. And for the past twenty six years the Lagoon’s wild, northern shores have also been the home; field-study site; art studio; science lab; classroom; and beloved inspiration for Dr Peggy Rismiller OAM, environmental physiologist and nature-advocate extraordinaire. Given this unsung locale, it’s appropriate that Peggy’s quest has been to decipher – and celebrate – the secret lives of some of KI’s lesser-known locals. Her favoured, furtive subjects are a grounddwelling trio: the black tiger snake, Rosenberg’s goanna and, most notably, the short-beaked echidna. With such elusive quarry, it’s also likely that tracking down Peggy should be no simple task. She’s always on the move. Her work takes her out bush and out-of-range for quite long stints. Just as often she’s on the road for meetings, talks and workshops. Even when at home, finding your way to the lagoon HQ she shares with fellow-biologist Mike McKelvey, entails a rambling off-road detour through mallee scrub. 96

Yet in person Peggy is anything but furtive. Bright-eyed and bespectacled with a trademark blonde fringe, she’s warm, chatty and open. ‘For me it’s all about bringing people back to nature to rediscover our childhood curiosity,’ she says. At the same time, her inquisitiveness does tilt to the offbeat: ‘I love bones and teeth. People go “yuk”, but if you look closely at these small things there’s so much you can learn about the lives of animals.’ There’s surprising beauty too: ‘Take an echidna scat. If you break it open, inside it sparkles like jewels with the iridescence from all the carapaces of beetles and bugs.’ This kind of earthy enchantment developed throughout Peggy’s own childhood in a small rural community in Western Ohio, USA. An inveterate collector, she’d wander the backwoods gathering everything from small stones and feathers to mushrooms. A final school year as an exchange student in Germany opened her imagination to a wider canvas. After just a few months back in Ohio – ‘it felt like I didn’t fit in’ – so she returned to Frankfurt and stayed for 19 years. Her first love was music. However Peggy’s university studies soon gravitated to science subjects and eventually work on the physiology of the European green lizard. However, for anyone enraptured by reptiles, Australia is the place to be. When Peggy first lobbed onto Kangaroo Island in 1988, part of her study grant was to work on snakes. ‘That’s how I met Mike – our relationship started while taking blood samples from tiger snakes,’ she says with a smile. Her other project was to help solve a fundamental mystery about one of the world’s least understood mammals. According to Peggy her first job was ‘to find an echidna with an egg’.


Not an easy task. And it’s remarkable that until Peggy started fossicking around Pelican Lagoon, no one had ever seen echidnas mating or knew the period of gestation, age of sexual maturity, rate of reproduction or a myriad other vital aspects of their physiology and behaviour. With a creature as solitary as an echidna it takes an extraordinary amount of determination to track their lives in the wild. Thankfully Peggy possesses the true scientist’s resolve to keep digging for answers. ‘I love a challenge,’ she says. After the startling discovery of a female on the move, carrying eggs in her pouch, Peggy was hooked. So began an extraordinary 26-year love affair and an incredibly close-grained wildlife research project – the kind no government has the incisiveness to support. Given echidnas can live for 50-plus years, long-term study has other benefits. Among the most cherished of the spiny companions Peggy follows is Big Mama – the first creature she met way back in 1988. So in the eyes of their biggest fan, what makes echidnas so endearing? ‘Well just look at them!’ says Peggy smiling, ‘How can you not like them? They have such wise eyes. And they’ve been here 120 million years, just going about their business, harming nothing. And, well, they are weird looking and a bit comical – I used to call them bush gnomes.’ For all her serious burrowing as a researcher, Peggy has never lost her breezy sense of fun and wonderment. That’s reflected in her work with schools as a wildlife educator, as well as through a range of community art projects. For nearly a decade she’s been a contributor to Penneshaw’s Easter Art Exhibition. Her quirky, art-jewellery pieces, often utilising recycled materials, also pop up regularly at Fine Art Kangaroo Island. Another measure of the

... Take an echidna scat. If you break it open, inside it sparkles like jewels with the iridescence from all the carapaces of beetles and bugs ... affection that Peggy and her echidna friends generate is a vast assemblage of echidna-inspired objet d’art – much of it given to her by local friends and fellow artists. That in turn has inspired her latest book: Dr Peggy’s Echidn-Artefacts – a delightful compendium of anecdotes, natural history knowledge and artistic invention. Such wisdom and insight filters across the island in other ways too. For the past seven years Peggy has been a member of KI’s Natural Resource Management Board, lending her guidance to all sorts of decision making, from water management to biosecurity. ‘It’s about looking at all sides to these issues,’ she says. ‘There has to be a balance and we’re fortunate to have a lot of progressive farmers looking at sustainable practises and ways to advance our thinking.’ Indeed, given her standing within the KI’s broad nature-aware community, it’s almost impossible to imagine Pelican Lagoon without Peggy and Mike quietly going about their business. Their example is all about wonder and the rewards of belonging. It’s something Peggy sensed on day one. Her first sight of the island was aboard the old ferry, The Philanderer. As she recalls: ‘I had the overwhelming feeling like I was coming home. It was one of those goose-bump moments when you think … “here’s the place I’m meant to be”.’

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Fleurieu Weddings Elise Peacock and Christopher Karamanov – Easter Saturday 2014. Photographs by James Grose.

Elise and Chris were married on Easter Saturday 2014 at The Retreat in Chapel Hill Winery, McLaren Vale. They celebrated their union in front of close family and friends, with parents, siblings and a grandmother joining them to stay at the Retreat over the weekend. Elise and Chris met on a blind date in 2012 and from that moment their fate was sealed. Over the next 12 months their love for each other grew, to the point of taking the plunge and moving in together … along with their beloved dogs Lexi and Maggie a few months later. This culminated in an Encounter Bay proposal, confirmed with a Vera Wang engagement ring. They wanted to share a unique, intimate and memorable wedding, to create a magical experience for family and friends. From the moment they set foot in The Retreat, it was clear that this was their place. Their wedding weekend far surpassed anything they could have ever dreamed of, with Elise wearing a Spanish-inspired designer dress. The soft fabric and timeless style was a perfect fit for the elegant winery setting. Chris wore a slim, black suit, featuring slightly polished lapels. Elise selected a bouquet of vibrant purple lisianthus, and both chose their siblings as their bridal party. Jasmin Peacock interrupted her Meerkat study in the Kalahari Desert to be Elise’s Maid of Honour with Brad Karamanov as the groom’s Best Man. Elise and Chris continued their simple and elegant style into the room, with tall glasses bathing the room in candle light, fresh flowers,

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and crisp, white tablecloths adorned with vintage burlap runners. These simple embellishments allowed the architecture, stone work, old timber and fireplaces to feature more prominently. The whole day was enhanced by the breathtaking scenery and Rebecca Stubbs’ phenomenal food. Elise and Chris chose a menu that ranged from chorizo- and prawn-filled handmade ravioli, slow cooked lamb, quinoa and Snapper. Angel Wedding Cakes of Willunga provided a gorgeous Raspberry and white chocolate wedding cake. Bronwyn Lindsay, their celebrant, made the day with her funny, yet intimate ceremony. James Grose Photography and Premiere Films perfectly captured the day with their distinctive photography and video styles. The happy couple honeymooned in Malaysia and have now purchased a home in Seaford Rise, where they will be celebrating their first anniversary by welcoming their first baby.


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Renee Behrndt and Lincoln Burgess were married in the gardens of Waverley Estate Port Elliot, and held a reception for family and friends on the tennis court under a sea of fairy lights over the pool area. While the pool was meant to be off-limits during the festivities it didn’t deter the Matron of Honour from jumping in after dark, dress and all. Photographs by Alice Bell. Renee and Lincoln met through work. Lincoln was a sales rep visiting Renee’s place of business and after a short period of time he asked her out for a date. Renee declined. For Lincoln it appeared that she wasn’t interested. During his next scheduled rep visit … several weeks later … Renee agreed to a date. At first Lincoln had no idea what she was talking about. ‘I didn’t know what she meant and thought she was talking about something work-related. After he worked it out, the relationship began to blossom into what it is now. The bride wore a stunning dress by Justin Alexander, while the bridesmaids wore dresses by The Glamour Room in Stepney. The groom and ‘his boys’ were dressed in slim-fit three-piece suits from Jenny & Gerry’s. Floral arrangements were created by Renee’s godmother, Jane, a retired florist, and featured the favourite flowers and roses of the two most important women in their lives – Robyn, the groom’s mother and Debbie, the bride’s mother. Renee wanted this as a dedication to these two beautiful women. Other personal touches were by Lincoln, whose background in graphic design, enabled him to produce the printed stationery, while Renee added her own flair to the table arrangements. The couple chose to run with a vintage/rustic theme ... with a modern twist. The reception couldn’t have gone ahead without the help of family and friends; but Renee and Lincoln will be forever grateful to Cindy of Cindy’s Classic Gourmet Catering and Planners. Without her knowledge, input and love, the evening wouldn’t have come together as well as it did. 100

Renee and Lincoln both love Rosemount wines and wanted to share that love with their guests on the night; and since both Renee and Lincoln share a sweet tooth, they included a self-serve lolly buffet which proved to be a hit. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for their photo booth. One mature gentleman was seen by the entire bridal party and guests removing items of clothing one by one to end up on a couch in front of a camera completely naked except for a bright green feather boa and his socks. This happened even before the entrees were served! The event was captured by Alice Bell Photographics in Port Elliot. Neither the bride nor groom considers themselves to be photogenic, but they believe Alice brought out the best in them. ‘Alice has a passion for photography that really makes you feel comfortable, to the point where you no longer notice the camera. That’s when the real us showed through in our expressions.’ The couple honeymooned in July throughout Europe: in Santorini, Berlin, Venice, Paris, Cyprus and Abu Dhabi. The couple could happily live in Santorini, but after the holiday of a lifetime they both had to come back to reality and head back to work. Now planning their next trip away, and maybe starting a family of their own, they would like to thank everyone who contributed either directly or indirectly to their wedding and for granting them the wedding day and honeymoon they so desperately desired.


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SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: Stockman’s Challenge On the 21st of September some of the back paddocks of Strathalbyn played host to the Legend of the Lower Lakes Stockman’s Challenge and Bush Festival. It was all leather and dust with both local and interstate competitors chomping on the bit to get into the competition.

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Being Social: Melbourne Cup Fillies’ Luncheon On November 4th, ladies fashioned-up with their fascinators, ready to pick a winner – all in the name of fundraising for the Breast Cancer Foundation. Charnelle Collection, She Sews and Beyond Beautiful Style Lounge provided entertainment with a fun fashion parade.

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01: Louise Short and Natalie Koufos 02: Tess Robinson and Charlotte Everett 03: Calette Romana, Geoff Richardson and Ekers Davis 04: Mel and Laniey Towns 05: Caleb Pearce, Noella Angel, Nicki Bell and Brooke Walton 06: Deri Bower and Christy Connor. 07: Edita Radcliffe, Vanessa Dutton and Brenda Pearson 08: Jacqui Yard, Elizabeth Stewein and Angela London 09: Elle Maclure, Olivia Thompson and Shannon Steel 10: Jacqui McMurtrie, Meryl Coppin, Rebecca Boocock and Ebonee Schiffmann 11: Chloe Martin, Lisa Coppin, Lauren Mackay and Kim Middlewood 12: Meredith Archdall, Rita Ballantyne and Jane O’Connell.

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Being Social: Mike vs Michael Mike ‘The Juicer’ versus Michael ‘Strong Arms’ – Heavy Weight Dining. On August the 28th – in their inimitable style – The Salopian Inn opened their doors for a specialists’ night of food and wine matching. Mike Brown from Gemtree Wines paired up with Michael Armstrong’s old school culinary skills for a great night of competitive wining and dining.

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Being Social: Winemakers’ Bushing Lunch As usual, the McLaren Vale Bushing King Award was celebrated with style in a grand marquee at Penny’s Hill. Always a sellout, it was the place to be on the last Friday of October. The Bushing Kings crowned this year were winemakers Matt Caldersmith and Nic Bowen from Chateau Reynella.

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01: Cara and Tof West 02: Mike Brown, Ara Amai and Lez Shiell 03: Kim McFarlane, Karena Armstrong, Sarah Adams, Mel Amos and Jacqui Good 04: Lisa Robinson, Melissa Brown, Evelyn Steffen and Julie Days 05: Sarah and Nigel Hawker 06: Kevin Goult and Vanessa Campbell 07: Nairn Webb and Kelly Wellington 08: Rachael, Jake and Marty Greenrod 09: Mark Robinson, Josh Waechter and Andrew Waywood 10: Madeleine Church and Anna Bartsch 11: Micheal Wehrs, Malcolm Leask, Richard Leask and David Holmes 12: Sharon Romeo, Andrew Locke, Leon Bignell MP, Mike Brown, Kerry Treuel and Cathy Parker.

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SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: Hot Summer Days Fashion Parade On October the 26th the ladies were out in force for the All That Jazz Hot Summer Days Spring / Summer Fashion Parade at Shed 9, Factory Nine. With part-proceeds going to the Victor Harbor Hospital Chemotherapy Garden and the Victor Harbor FLO, the event was a huge success.

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Being Social: Fleurieu Art Guide Launch On August the 28th FLM attended the inaugural Fleurieu Art Guide launch. A long time in the making, the guide celebrates more than one hundred art and cultural attractions on the Fleurieu.

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01: Chris Wright, Bronwyn Roach, Lena Thumm, Pam Lindschau, Susie Van der Stelt and Meryl Brehin 02: Maggie Savage and Nisa Schebella 03: Susie Steele and Jenny Vincent 04: Karen Judd, Amanda Coulter, Cindy Westphalen and Carmen O’Shea 05: Ian Thornquest and Heather Cundy 06: Michael Westphalen, Andrew Glass and Josh Wallis. 07: Vikram Howard and Melissa Puust 08: Abbey Threadgold, Viv Collins and Peter Constable 09: Vivienne Holloway and Heidi Linehan 10: Greg Mackie and Miranda Lang 11: John Lacey, Lydia Lacey and Georgy Rogers 12: Billy Doecke and Prue Young.

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Being Social: d’Arenberg Artisan’s Launch With typical d’Arenberg flair and pizazz, a party to celebrate the new look Artisan range was launched on August the 20th. With over 350 guests from the trade, tourism and industry bodies, politicians, key SA business influencers and loads of lovely people – there were certainly a few sore heads in Adelaide the following morning!

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Being Social: Tiny Taranga On November the 16th Oliver’s Taranga launched a photography exhibition called ‘Tiny Taranga’. The exhibition of photos created by some of the younger Olivers Taranga team – profiles the work of Matiah Coppard (11) , Georgia Nash (10) and Miah McCarthy(12). The photos taken over a period of months celebrates nature in our local environment. Proceeds of the sales went to Heart Kids SA.

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01: Abbey Threadgold and Viv Collins 02: Eli Zaikos-Ridley, Tony Bond and Kris Lloyd 03: Jake Bley and Kelly Noble 04: Katie Spain and Nathan Moir 05: Nick Stock and Chester Osborn 06: Sam Fielke and Tash Stoodley 07: Matiah Coppard, Miah McCarthy and Georgia Nash 08: Nicky Connolly and Lisa McCarthy 09: Kate Wright and Hayley Mueller 10: Margie Oliver, Corrina Wright, and Don Oliver 11: Kym Inglis, Maisy Inglis and Kirsty Christmas.

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Our family is made up of Originals, Artisans and Icons. And that’s the people as well as the wines. With a style to delight every palate, there’s over 100 years of McLaren Vale history in every bottle. All so easy to spot with that famous red stripe. The d ’Arenberg family of wines. @darenbergwine | darenberg.com.au

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