NOW 212 PAGES
Marvel at the beauty of
ORANGE town feature
SUMMER SPRING 2015
The grandeur of
CROAGH PATRICK
Explore a stunning
Lucknow garden CELEBRATE WITH
FESTIVE
PERSONALITY PLUS Meet the characters of the Central West
RECIPES
PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL WEST REGION
capturing the best in the west
52-56 Lachlan Street, Forbes NSW 2871 | Phone 02 6851 5500
www.johndavismotors.com.au
32 - 38 Bathurst Road, Orange NSW 2800 | Phone 02 6362 0966
IF IT COST NO MORE WOULD YOU CHOOSE A HEAVIER FRAMING SYSTEM, A BETTER WAFFLE POD SLAB, SUPERIOR STEEL BATTEN CONSTRUCTION, DESIGNER KITCHEN, FULL INSULATION, AIR CONDITIONING, A COMPLIMENTARY FACADE UPGRADE AND OF COURSE A GUARANTEED BUILD TIME AND A FIXED PRICE CONTRACT.
WHO’S BUILDING YOUR HOME?
1800 200 888 bellriverhomes.com.au Builders Lic. 61247C. BELL 2325-08
CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
trading as Central West Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.centralwestmagazine.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@centralwestmagazine.com.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@centralwestmagazine.com.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay jake@centralwestmagazine.com.au ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@centralwestmagazine.com.au
DISTRIBUTION Central West Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly (available at the beginning of each season) and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Central West and in the bordering regions of the Far West, North West, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Goulburn, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales.
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue (mailed or online), visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. Š Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2015
All Rights Reserved
Subscriptions and back issues are also available to read online, on desktop and mobile devices.
No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.
While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
Environmentally responsible, Titan Plus Gloss, produced in an ISO 14001 accredited facility ensures all processes involved in production are of the highest environmental standards. FSC Mixed Sources Chain of Custody (CoC) certification ensures fibre is sourced from certified & well managed forests. 2 CWL
CONTENTS SUMMER 2015
12
94-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: ORANGE The city of Orange and its fertile surrounds are undeniably photogenic but there is so much more to this enterprising, diverse, stylish, character-filled treasure of the Central West.
108
110
120
124
BIG DAY OUT
FROM THE ASHES
STREET APPEAL
WELL CONNECTED
Splendid weather drew a bumper crowd to the Narromine Show.
Philip and Chris Munge exemplify strength in adversity.
John Pellow is helping restore West Wyalong to its former glory.
Kerrie Phipps says there is so much to gain from chatting to strangers.
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133
140
160
PAINTING BY FLOWERS
HISTORIC HOME
HOME & STYLE
Gerald and Angie Naef's Lucknow home, garden and vineyard are true works of art.
Visitors to Grenfell Hall B&B are taken back in time.
Make your outdoors great by sprucing up the back deck.
168
162
170
FASHION
TRAVEL
FOOD
Bea Spackman shares her bold and beautiful summer style tips.
Pip Teys writes of her love affair with Paris.
Anne & Paul Loveridge, of The Quarry Restaurant, Cowra, share their favourite festive fare recipes.
200
184
208
EVENTS IN THE WEST
WEDDING BELLS
THE LAST WORD
Snapshots from Bathurst, Greenethorpe, Cowra and Young.
The Central West’s beautiful brides and dapper grooms say “I do”.
Meet old-school barber Lindsay Totman.
NOW 212 PAGES
Marvel at the beauty of
ORANreGE town featu
Historic "Croagh Patrick", built in 1883 by Edwin Hurst Lane, is now owned by OCTEC. (Orange Town Feature, page 22)
Photography: Robert I Bruce Explore a stunning
Lucknow garden CELEBRATE WITH
PERSONALITY PLUS Meet the characters of the Central West
FESTIVE RECIPES
$11.00
inc GST
608002
>
Summer 2015 VOLUME 11
772201
The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.
CROAGH PATRICK
• EVENTS • TRAVEL AGRICU LTURE • STYLE GARDEN S • FOOD • L WEST REGION PEOPLE • HOMES • THE BEAUTI FUL CENTRA • AND MORE FROM CULTUR E • BUSINE SS
in the west capt uring the best
9
WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS.
R 2015 SUMME SPRING
The grandeur of
ON THE COVER
CWL 5
SECTION
From the Publishers W
elcome to summer and the anticipation and excitement that comes with this wonderful season.
We are so very thrilled to present to you our biggest ever edition of Central West Lifestyle, containing 212 pages! We have had such demand from our readers (through our newsagents) and our advertisers that we have decided to expand our publication. This will make CWL one of the biggest (if not the biggest) regional lifestyle magazines in the state. We trust that you enjoyed reading edition number 10 of CWL, our Spring edition, featuring Young, the cherry capital of Australia. Sales of this magazine have been phenomenal, especially in Young where more than 750 copies were sold in the first three weeks of spring. Thank you to Lyle Gilbert, W E Gilbert, Young for his thoughtful comments about the Young Feature. Lyle’s valued feedback and others can be viewed on page 11 of this edition. It has been very rewarding to have been involved in presenting you with 94 beautiful pages on our Summer feature town, Orange, the regional food and wine capital. What a stunning place Orange is, with four distinct and spectacular seasons! We are sure you will love discovering the hidden treasures of Orange, whether it be its beautiful architecture, the hugely talented photographers who capture the scenic beauty of this region, the hard-working agriculturalists or the creative and dedicated business people of Orange who create a tapestry of services for all to enjoy. We have been thrilled to be part of many Central Western events in the past months. In our role, we love to visit our many advertisers and become familiar with what makes their businesses so unique. We enjoy getting to know newsagents on a personal level and we especially love attending events like the 110th Narromine Show, the hugely popular Cherry Blossom Festival in Cowra, the stunning Open Gardens at Forbes and the historic Iandra Castle open days at Greenethorpe. One only has to look at the Upcoming Events pages in each edition to see what a diverse range of events one has to choose from. What lucky people we all are!
Kate Boshammer and Zora Regulic meeting Peter Snare of Snare's Newsagency, Dubbo.
We recently farewelled our daughter, Kate Boshammer, from the role of Art Director. Kate has been with CWL from day one as lead designer of the magazine and she has assisted in our general business management. On behalf of the CWL team we would like to thank Kate for her creative and dedicated efforts in ensuring a long-term future for our magazine. Kate has now assumed the role of business strategist with CWL. We welcome Zora Regulic to the CWL team and we congratulate her on her appointment as Art Director. We acknowledge the great wealth of design experience she brings to CWL, through her previous roles as creative director and art director for leading publications. Zora recently visited Dubbo and enjoyed familiarising herself with this beautiful city (also our hometown). We were very pleased to be able to introduce her to Dubbo newsagent Peter Snare of Snare’s newsagency (see picture of Kate, Zora and Peter on this page). Peter is a great supporter of CWL and is our biggest overall seller of the magazine across the state. He not only sells our magazine each season but stocks all back copies and anniversary collections.
Alex and Elizabeth with Justin Smith, Manager of the Cowra Japanese Gardens at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Our Autumn 2016 Town Feature will be shared between Oberon and Lithgow. It will be a great pleasure to explore these unique areas and meet the characters and local identities who make these places so interesting. We would like to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a new year filled with fun, fulfilment and good health. Find time to relax, spend time with those you love and sit back and enjoy the Summer 2015 edition. Until next time, warm regards
Elizabeth and Alex Tickle 6 CWL
Beautiful vineyards in Orange, our feature town in this issue.
ORANGE
FOR SALE
4
R&H Dubbo 6882 1755
Be instantly charmed by this gorgeous circa 1905 residence occupying a large 1,312sqm block in the heart of Dubbo. Exhibiting many original features, the home includes a central hallway entrance, soaring 11ft ceilings, polished timber floorboards, ornate fireplaces and a full length verandah with French door access from the front rooms. Within B4 Mixed Use zoning, the property presents a rare opportunity for subdivision/development (STCA) as well as an attractive prospect for a conveniently located home just a stone’s throw from all that Dubbo CBD has to offer.
Contact Listing Agent
Monica Henley 0410 615 505
2
75 Bultje Street, Dubbo Outstanding Potential in Mixed Use Zone
Features *ducted cooling, wood heating & gas pts *built-ins *dressing room & ensuite to master *plumbing for 3rd bathroom *rear patio & brick BBQ *huge rear yard with side access *secure off-street parking .
rh.com.au/dubbo ORANGE CWL 7
Along the beaten track…. The snow is gently falling and I’m cocooned in front of a log fire in a converted Orange garage featuring massive glass panel doors on one wall. (A big thanks to my big sis Kate and mining husband Terry for demonstrating, first hand, how two working parents manage to fit that thing called “life” into their demanding schedules). Back to the snow. Like the sound of rain on a tin roof, the little flakes gently falling can have a mesmerising impact on the soul. Like a flickering fire, the sight of falling snow is almost hypnotic. Not having witnessed any snow since spending a memorable New Year’s Eve at the breathtaking Chateau Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains (a lifetime ago), it all seems quite surreal – even ironic. Such is the nature of our magazine’s production schedule, that by the time you are reading this, Christmas is just around the corner and the summer temperatures are, no doubt, starting to climb. Ah, the vagaries of life! Having spent a few weeks in Orange, I can say the locals are living in a very dynamic region with progress happening at every corner.
I would have used John Lennon’s famous words: “Love is all you need” (maybe with a few dollars to boot and a sprinkle of happiness). I recently read that life’s little essentials involved finding someone to love, finding something to do and having something to look forward to. If only it were that simple! I cannot believe how some businesses stay in the family for many generations. I mean, what if you don’t like the job your parents performed over a lifetime?
One of my highlights was catching up with pro shooter Alf Manciagli, the ageless photographic maestro who knows how to project “life” into all his imagery. He has travelled the world with his camera and learnt a lot about life (and himself ) along the way. The Orange community should be forever indebted for his priceless collection of shots that capture, so beautifully, the four distinct seasons that Orange is synonymous with.
Having said that, the West family of Orange have been happily growing apples on the same block (albeit much bigger these days) since the late 19th century. Then there are the Orange glass window manufacturers the Taberners, who are third generation in the business, with all six children living on the family farm together with their 26 offspring! Now that’s one big happy family that really knows how to work and live together!
It was also great to meet the indefatigable Robert I Bruce, who at last count had taken more than a million digital shots. These two gentlemen, both in their early 70s and showing few signs of slowing down, have devoted their lives to their craft and building photographic libraries that document life over a combined 100 years.
I love history and visiting two of Orange’s finest homesteads, “Croagh Patrick” and “Strathroy” was a definite highlight. Read all about them and the amazing drive of husband and wife Andrew McDougall OAM and Deeane Phillips OAM, who have devoted their lives to the community and its heritage buildings.
Talk about resilient! I was snapping eye-catching world champion tenpin bowler Jason Belmonte when I noticed a blind man, Joel Everett, lining up his bowl (with limited assistance from his wife) in the next lane. Strike me pink if he didn’t knock all the pins down on his first effort! I walked away thinking what a great inspiration these two blokes are – and for very different reasons.
Finally, I returned to a boarding house that was far different from the one I attended 40 years ago. My, how things have changed! At Kinross Waloroi School they now have high quality chefs and delicious, healthy meals served in what resembles a nice restaurant, not to mention comfortable boarding houses with “house mums”.
Meeting the very busy Supa IGA chief Ian Ashcroft was also a pleasure. This bloke, with a multitude of stores and a staff of hundreds, has a great philosophy on life and says there are only five things that are important at the end of the day: health, integrity, relationships, growth and contribution needs.
8 CWL
Above: Jake really enjoyed his time in Orange. Left: Where it all happens.
Hope you all enjoy our Summer edition and I look forward to sharing your company in a new year full of optimism, hope and new dreams!
Shot by Jake
• Selling in every auction sale week • Leading wooltrade broker • Forward contract with Riemann • Offering Auctions Plus wool • Accredited & modern rehandle • Cash settlement on small lots • Merchandise • Shearing finance • Web access to client account • One competitive flat rate for all bales • Comprehensive market reporting • Detailed clip analysis
Since taking over our family farm I have been using Jemalong wool exclusively to market our annual woolclip. Using a combination of the traditional auction system and the internet based Wool Trade™ we have been able to take advantage of any upward movements of wool prices. This is due to personalised attention to detail and flexibility due mainly to Jemalong understanding our needs as a business. - Simon Squire-Wilson, Tiverton, Harden, NSW
SUMMER 2015 CONTRIBUTORS
Meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
ALEX TICKLE
JAKE LINDSAY
GINA CRANSON
Publisher & Editor
Publisher & Advertising
KATE BOSHAMMER
ZORA REGULIC Art Director
Advertising Designer
ANNA TICKLE
ELIZABETH SWANE
ANGUS WADDELL Photographer
Weddings & Events Writer
EMMA DRESSER
Business Strategist
Writer
ALI WANCHAP WOOD
Garden Writer
Chief Writer & Photographer
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
LISA STARR
CATHERINE PLAYER
Fashion Writer
Home & Style and Travel Writer
PIP TEYS
DAYNA TIERNEY
LORRAINE HILLS
PAUL & ANNE LOVERIDGE
ROBERT I BRUCE
Country Cuisine Writer
Seasonal Food Writers
Writer
Photographer
Writer
JANE TICKLE
Writer
SUSI BELL
Writer & Photographer
My wife and I were sitting in a doctor’s waiting room in Port Macquarie when my wife handed me a magazine with Forbes splashed on the front cover. Lauraine knew this would raise my interest as a group of us, all small farmers, select a town once a year and stay in old pubs and investigate the area. Sometimes we stay upmarket. I was not able to finish the magazine, but was already fascinated so managed to scribble down the email address. When we arrived back home I sent an email and to my delight about 10 minutes later received a phone call from Elizabeth. This is customer service at its best! After speaking to Elizabeth for a few minutes I ordered a 12-month subscription plus the Forbes and Wellington magazines. A few days later we were in our local town of Wauchope, having a coffee, when I found another Central West Lifestyle magazine, this time featuring Narromine, Trangie and Warren. Being regulars, the cafe let us take the magazine home. We have now both read the magazine from cover to cover. We have since received our three magazines and are still thrilled with the content. CWL is a brilliant magazine and you have certainly found a niche in magazine publication. We both have started a new love affair. Alan & Lauraine Evans, Windeyer Downs, Pipeclay, NSW I have just received my copy of the Spring 2015 CWL magazine in the post. Each of the 10 publications has been wonderful and, in my humble opinion, if it’s at all possible, getting better with each edition. Actually, I am thinking I need to have an extended trip down to the Central West area of NSW and use CWL as my touring reference guide. Betty Wilson, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
your letters What a treat this summer in Britain, when I had a chance to examine a copy of Central West Lifestyle while travelling overseas. What struck me was the quality and sophistication of the publication. The photography and layout were superior and the stories, especially the human-interest presentations were a pleasure to read. When I returned to the US, I went to the internet to search past issues, as well as the current one just off the press. What a learning experience for one who has never had the pleasure of visiting Australia! I know that its appeal to this East Texan was powerful and created a strong desire to learn more about the lovely Central West. I’ll be in touch. Dr Allen Richman, Director of the School of Honors [retired], Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas USA
Central West Lifestyle’s 2015 Autumn edition provided readers with a wonderful overview of Bathurst’s unique identity and appealing visitor experience. The feature was of high quality and incorporated our vibrant culture, thriving food and wine industry, intriguing history and local businesses, which all add to the true beauty of Bathurst. I have had tremendous feedback from those who have purchased the issue and a number of them have said that they will be holding on to the publication as a memento of the celebrations held in 2015 to commemorate our 200th Anniversary. Cr Gary Rush, Bathurst Mayor My wife and I recently enjoyed our first ever trip to Orange. What a perfect part of the world! While there, we came across Central West Lifestyle. We loved the stories and photos. It is a refreshing read with classy presentation. We also had the very good fortune to meet Jake. He is an entertaining fellow! Be assured we will be having many more trips to the region, and look forward to many more editions of Central West Lifestyle. Harry Burkett, Canberra
To be involved in Central West Lifestyle magazine has been a positive and unique experience. The Spring issue highlights Young, cherry capital of Australia, and this comprehensive exposure of our town and businesses reflects not only the interesting characters of Young and district but also the historic, picturesque and diverse surrounds. Elizabeth, the publisher, was very genuine in encouraging our involvement, to tell our story of 100 years in retail in Young. To celebrate our milestone with this beautiful and quality magazine was an honour. Already we are receiving sales from far into the Central West. The number of magazine sales alone for us has been unprecedented. It has been financially rewarding and the interest and well wishes from the locals have been unbelievable! Thank you, CWL. Lyle and Tim Gilbert, WF Gilbert, Stationer and Bookseller, Young
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CWL 11
Welcome to
ORANGE TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE
Image: Seth Buchanan
FROM THE MAYOR As Mayor of Orange, I’m delighted to support Central West Lifestyle magazine’s special Summer edition, which offers a glimpse of what our city has to offer and the warmth of our welcome. For many years now, Orange has been widely promoted as Australia’s Colour City. One of the reasons behind this tag is the spectacular burst of colour during autumn as thousands of trees are transformed into a blaze of reds, yellows, purples and browns. Few cities across Australia can boast the number of street trees or the myriad of colours that Orange can. It’s a beautiful and spectacular time of year but as the calendar moves into summer, there are many more reasons to enjoy a trip to Orange to see the city at its colourful best. Orange folk are extremely proud of our city and are eager to share a taste of their fantastic lifestyle, fabulous shopping, award-winning restaurants, friendly winemakers, beautiful parks and great coffee shops. It’s all worth seeing. Visitors to Orange tell me it’s the mildness of our summer temperatures and the chance for a break away from coastal humidity that makes Orange a fantastic place to visit at this time of year. But while food and wine take pride of place there’s much, much more to be found during a visit to Orange. 14 CWL ORANGE
If you’re planning a visit, it’s always worth checking out the online program at the Orange Civic Theatre. One of the state’s best regional theatres, it hosted 164 different shows last year. Recent shows cover a broad range of tastes from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Bell Shakespeare, to the Sydney comedy festival and local theatre company and eisteddfod performances. The beauty of Lake Canobolas and the spectacular view from Mount Canobolas are the highlights of a drive in the nearby countryside. A round of golf at one of Orange’s three courses can be a relaxing break during a busy holiday. While the historic Cook Park with its ancient trees in the centre of town is a popular visit, the lesser-known Orange Botanic Gardens on our northern outskirts attracts 75,000 people every year. This 19-hectare site captures what’s special about our high-altitude climate. The gardens are easy to find for travellers on the northern bypass. The Orange Adventure Playground alongside the gardens provides a great opportunity for families to break their journey and stretch their legs. The Emmaville cottage and its links with poet Banjo Paterson recently gained national television coverage. You can find the cottage right alongside the gardens. Together with the residents of Orange, I look forward to welcoming you! John Davis, Mayor of Orange
A golden opportunity B
uilt on the banks of Blackman’s Swamp Creek and in view of Mount Canobolas, Orange was proclaimed a village in 1846. Explorer Major Thomas Mitchell named the village in honour of Prince William of Orange. Mitchell had met the royal family member who later became the King of Holland, during his military service in the Napoleonic Wars. The community of Orange grew from its rich mining past. In 1851 William Tom and John Lister found the first payable gold in Australia at Ophir. In the same year, gold was found at Lucknow, and these rich mines were worked for many years, through mining booms in the 1890s and 1930s. With Australia’s largest underground gold mine now operating at Cadia in the rocky hills south of Orange, gold remains a key part of the Orange economy to this day. The economic influence of the gold rush attracted a wide range of people and business to the district, including Cobb & Co, which operated horse-drawn passenger coaches, gold escorts and Royal Mail Services across the region. Despite the impact gold had on the colony, it was the fertile land in the area that led Orange to further develop. Early farmers found that wheat
and barley grew well with a reliable rainfall. By the 1860s, the Orange area was well known as the granary of the west and several flour mills were established. Orange is also well known as the birthplace of one of Australia’s most famous poets, Banjo Paterson, who was born on a farming property, “Narrambla”, owned by John Templer on February 17, 1864. A monument and statue are located at the site of his birthplace, Banjo Paterson Park, on the Ophir Road, just north of Orange. Today, Orange draws its strength as a regional centre providing a range of services to the central west. It is a source of specialist medical, educational, administrative and retail services for the broader region, and these fields are its largest employers. Orange’s highest tourism profile is for the excellence of its food and wine. The maturity of its high-altitude wines, the depth of its local food production, the quality of its restaurants and the warmth of its welcome are the drawcards attracting thousands of visitors to Orange each year. Our wineries look forward to welcoming visitors throughout the year, but during the summer months you’ll have the chance to enjoy a relaxed tasting and return home with a bottle or two, and the stories to match.
ORANGE
The colour of
ORANGE
THIS FETCHING CENTRAL WEST CITY AND ITS FERTILE OUTSKIRTS AFFORD PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AT EVERY TURN, NOT TO MENTION FABULOUS FOOD AND WINE, OUTSTANDING PRODUCE, AN INTRIGUING BACKSTORY, A LIVELY CULTURAL SCENE AND CHARACTERS GALORE. IMAGES: ALF MANCIAGLI
16 CWL ORANGE
ORANGE CWL 17
ORANGE
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ORANGE
ORANGE CWL 19
ORANGE
DAYS GONE BY
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ORANGE
ORANGE
Top: The township of Orange, possibly around 1908. Images courtesy of the Orange Historical Society. ORANGE CWL 21
ORANGE
STOREYS with STORIES THIS IS THE TALE OF TWO OF ORANGE’S FINEST OLD HOMES AND AN INSPIRATIONAL HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO KEEPING THEIR OWN PIECE OF HISTORY WELL AND TRULY ALIVE.
Image: Robert I Bruce
22 CWL ORANGE
ORANGE
“Croagh Patrick” he Lane family, early settlers who arrived from Cornwall in 1825, form the first part of our story. William Lane gradually acquired 4500 acres of prime country in the Orange district, leaving his legacy in the magnificent “Clifton Grove” and “Rosedale” homesteads. In 1870, the youngest of William and Catherine’s 11 children, Edwin Hurst Lane, married Louise Manton, the daughter of Methodist minister Reverend John Manton, one of the first missionaries in NSW and, for a number of years, head of Newington College, Stanmore. In 1883 Edwin purchased 56 acres in east Orange and built the magnificent “LLanello” homestead (possibly a play on the family name) that still stands today. All of their nine children were raised there until the outbreak of WW1, when the Catholic Church purchased the property and grounds for £4250 for use as the first Partician Brothers Novitiate in Australia. The building was renamed “Croagh Patrick” but the brothers pulled up stumps in 1925 and for the next 57 years the site operated as an orphanage under the Daughters of Christ and then the Sisters of Mercy.
Around 1980 a Family Crisis Centre was added to the orphanage until both were closed in 1986. It was left empty for several years until the local Kinross-Wolaroi School set up a boarding house that became known as Croagh Patrick House. In 1995 the building was sold to OCTEC Limited, a successful community business that now provides employment, education, training and advocacy services to communities across NSW, the ACT and Victoria. Since 2003 the building has been known as Croagh Patrick College, with a major multimillion-dollar redevelopment a few years ago transforming the place into a community services and state-of-the-art health training facility. Combined with her old-world charms and parkland setting, it really has become the perfect learning environment. >
Above: Custodian Andrew McDougall surveys the refurbished upstairs stables at “Croagh Patrick”. ORANGE CWL 23
ORANGE
“Strathroy”
T
he second part of our story involves another of Orange’s landmarks, “Strathroy”, also located in east Orange and built in 1875, just a few years after “Llanello”. The late Victorian-style two-storey home features a sprawling 2.5-acre garden, with a number of significant trees and plants dating from the original gardens laid out by Alfred Patterson (the first gardener at Cook Park), including magnolias, a white cedar, pines and box hedge. The garden has hosted the former NSW Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, for a National Trust fundraiser, and in 2000 held the largest Australian Open Garden Scheme event in NSW with more than 1400 people donating to charity to attend. The front elevation of “Strathroy” still has its carriage circle with brick edging dating from the original gardens, and original timber and iron horse stables, carriage sheds (with cobblestone floors) and a well. It’s the charming old home, however, that garners most attention. Only five families have lived there in 140 years. The first was Josiah Parker, a well-known chemist and stationer, who had the home built for his wife and 10 children on a massive 56-acre block. He originally owned a shop in Anson Street where he acted as a dispenser for the local doctors before moving his premises to Summer Street (now the Mid State Jewellers) in 1890. During the booming 1880s, Josiah was an auditor for the Orange Council and in 1888, when East Orange had developed to such an extent that it was proclaimed a municipality, he became its first mayor. He was secretary of the first building society formed in town and also played a leading role on the development of the Orange Hospital. The stately home’s second owner in 1890 was another prominent citizen, James Bonnor, who lived in the house with his bachelor brother George and their mother. George had hit fame as much for his magnificent physique (he was six foot six inches and 16 stone) as he was for his strong batting style in 17 Australian Test matches (including the original Ashes team of 1880).
24 CWL ORANGE
ORANGE
The big house came to be known as “Bonnors Mansion” and a great place to retire after a hard day of work at the family’s seed and produce store on the corner of Summer Street and McNamara Lane. Like his predecessor James would also become Orange mayor. As a prominent community member he was there (in early 1900) when the city was under consideration as the future national capital. From the 45 towns nominated, Orange made it to the final three but water supply was considered inadequate for a large population. During the Bonnor family’s stay, the verandah balconies upstairs and downstairs were filled in with decorative glass windows, probably to accommodate a large family and servants. In 1918 the Horrigan family took up residence at “Strathroy”, and remained firmly entrenched for the next 70 years. Paul and Anastasia (nee McKay) came from a property near Warren. Despite the ultimate amputation of both his legs due to farming accidents, Paul was still able to navigate his wheelchair around the vast garden to trim hedges and prune his roses. In the afternoon he often sat on the verandah, enjoying the afternoon sun. In a big break from tradition, the billiard room was converted into a downstairs master bedroom for his exclusive use. Over the years the (by then) eight-acre block, bounded by Byng, Park, Summer and Spring streets, was broken up, yet again, into many smaller housing blocks. Anastasia was a savvy businesswoman, relying on the sale of land to maintain her home (as her husband was unable to work). The accomplished artist lived to the ripe old age of 94. By the time Trevor Gazzard bought the property in 1989, it had fallen into a state of disrepair but with a sound knowledge of restoration and an appreciation of old homes, he soon set about restoring “Strathroy” to its former glory. En suite bathrooms were added to the bedrooms. The external walls of the infilled verandahs were removed, revealing the original cast iron columns by Pope, Maher & Sons, Darlinghurst. Old stencilling was copied for the interiors and the original cedar venetians and lace curtains maintained. Floor coverings were removed and the Baltic pine timber floors polished.
THE LATEST CUSTODIANS In 1997, new owners Andrew McDougall and Deânne Phillips, both OAMs, began their custodianship, sharing the historic building with guests for many years as the award-winning Strathroy Guest House. Today the home is once again all theirs, although they were recently joined by their great-granddaughter, Evelyn Grace Annison. Deânne’s mother, Gwen Phillips, now 92, makes five generations of females in the family, a rarity in any part of the Central West. While they obviously love their children – there’s a son and wife (Newtown-based lawyers), a Canberra-based daughter and husband (also legal eagles), and another daughter, a nurse practitioner married to a nurse – clearly their pride and joy is “Strathroy”, a warm, lived-in home imbibed with a perfect blend of love and history. Both floors feature carefully placed, priceless pieces, many coming from the original families that lived here (including Paul’s wheelchair). In many ways it hasn’t changed much from those early pioneering days, particularly with Deânne’s love of candles and the garden itself. >
Above: The dining room and beautifully designed master bedroom of “Strathroy”; Andrew and Deânne with their great-granddaughter, Evelyn Grace Annison. ORANGE CWL 25
Andrew and Deânne share a close involvement in Orange’s heritage, with OCTEC owning two of the city’s most significant properties: the Old Town Hall and “Croagh Patrick”, not to mention their personal treasure “Strathroy”. The Old Town Hall and “Croagh Patrick” have been developed into highquality business centres and in a sense, are still owned by the city’s people. “With the enthusiastic support of OCTEC we are contributing to the city by directly funding these projects,” Andrew says. “Our most recent project was the restoration of the original Council Chamber, with the work now complete they will prosper for another 100-plus years.” The dynamic pair have been closely involved with “Croagh Patrick” through their long association with OCTEC. Andrew was appointed manager of the small youth service supporting disadvantaged people 35 years ago and with Deânne, has seen the business grow to over 55 branches, with an annual $14 million turnover. OCTEC has always been very proud to promote Orange as its home base, with staff from across the country required to travel to the city to learn about their country origins. For many of OCTEC’s metropolitan-based staff this is their first taste of country living. Andrew is still there, leading a vibrant team, which over the years has collected many awards and accolades. During this long association, there have been plenty of difficult changes and reforms that saw many countrybased not-for-profit organisations falter and disappear. Andrew loves a challenge and has proved that he, along with the support of his wife (who continues her involvement on a casual basis), is here for the long haul. And while they are immensely proud of their joint OAMs for service to the community of Orange, they are even prouder of the business they helped build from scratch decades ago. Although there have been some lost opportunities in Orange, with some old buildings and streetscapes destroyed, there have also been some notable successes.
From top: The iconic Old Town Hall, owned by OCTEC, was the scene of a special meeting of local councillors held earlier this year; a second historic building, “Croagh Patrick”, is today used as a state-of-the-art health training facility. 26 CWL ORANGE
It is fitting that both Andrew and Deânne’s dedication to the disadvantaged is only matched by their enthusiasm for living in a historic abode that boasts such a rich history of service to the community by both its former and current owners. CWL Images: Alf Manciagli and Shot by Jake
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“The Old Town Hall and ‘Croagh Patrick’ have been developed into high- quality business centres and in a sense, are still owned by the city’s people.” Andrew McDougall
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Take your pick
H
untley Berry Farm is an OCTEC-owned and operated Disability Enterprise, as well as a significant contributor to Orange’s reputation for high-quality, locally grown produce.
Located on the rich, basalt plains of Mount Canobolas, the picturesque farm has always attracted visitors during the berry season (November through to May). Enthusiastic pickers simply arm themselves with a bucket and go for it – with at least 10 different varieties to choose from! The farm is moving with the times, with recent additions including a new shop and mini putt-putt course, set in the children’s playground area. There’s plenty of parking, an amenities block and the chance to catch up with all the friendly farm animals, including the hens, talking cockatoo, guinea pigs, rabbits, goats and lambs, Chris the Turkey, and friendly cats Tom and Jerry. Your picnic fare can be supplemented with mouth-watering berry ice blocks from the shop, which stocks a wide range of their own gourmet jams, fruit and berry syrups, sauces and vinegars.
Picking the fruit is always a busy time for staff at Huntley Berry Farm. 28 CWL ORANGE
"It’s a great place for a picnic or children’s birthday party, sitting under the shade of the magnificent trees, with an extensive level grass area for the kids to play," new farm manager Tony Belmonte says. Tony loves the work. It’s a far cry from his last job at Newcrest Arcadia Mines but he’s just happy to be working outside, growing all manner of fruit and directing his staff of 14 enthusiastic workers. There are five acres under strawberries, three acres of raspberries and two of blackberries, not to mention three acres of wine grapes – a recent farm addition, with plants kindly donated by the Charles Sturt University in Orange. OCTEC is immensely proud of the Huntley Berry Farm’s track record. As a provider of high-quality gourmet products, a significant tourist destination and an employer of disadvantaged members of the community, the farm stands as a unique and important enterprise in Orange and the Central West. CWL Above: Staff busy at work during harvest time; farm manager Tony Belmonte loves his job.
The new shop stocks all of Huntley Berry Farm’s award-winning produce.
Put Huntley Berry Farm on your must do list for this season - pick your own beautiful juicy berries, do your gift shopping and entertain the kids! You can also shop online – just visit our website!
Huntley Road via Orange NSW Ph (02) 6365 6282 • Mob 0427 252 308 www.huntleyberryfarm.com.au
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we’re about people
HUNTLEY BERRY FARM
“Providing individuals with training and employment opportunities, assisting industry recruit and develop skilled workforces, and contributing to communities becoming more sustainable.”
OUR SERVICES
• • • • • • • •
Disability Employment Services Q.temp Labour Hire Aged Care Training Disability Services Training Hospitality Training Short Course Training Get Healthy at Work Initiative Aspire Outdoor Education Programs
Serving the community for 40 years
Visit us at: OLD TOWN HALL BUILDING • CNR BYNG & ANSON STREETS ORANGE Or call: 6362 7973
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out r o d u ce ,
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Lyndey M ilan
orange is a great place to rejuvenate the spirit and rediscover your love of life. Enjoy fabulous shopping in the malls, the historic backstreets and the gorgeous villages. Discover the best food and wine in the country as you drive through spectacular scenery. Explore our galleries, museums and national parks. Millthorpe Markets Sunday 6 December
#NYEpa #millthor
pemarke
New Year’s eve partY UNder the stars Thursday 31 December
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live life live Saturday 23 January
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GNoo Blas ClassiC Car show Saturday 13 February BaNjo patersoN aUstraliaN poetrY festival Thursday 11 - Tuesday 16 February ColoUr CitY rUNNiNG festival Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February
iasnn alla ob #aus notr #g
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oa ival nbfe stts rago ning #d #run
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...brought to you by Orange City Council
www.visitorange.com.au
/visitorange
/visit_orange
Orange Visitor Information Centre free Call 1800 069 466
Bring the family, stay for a day, stay for a week. Check out all the details at… www.visitorange.com.au/discover ORANGE CWL 29
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WITH BOTH HANDS “ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT BOWLING HAS OVER GOLF IS THAT YOU SELDOM LOSE THE BALL.” – Don Carter
A
ustralia’s least known world champion could be our next Olympic hero. At least that will be the case if Jason Belmonte has anything to do with it. Having just returned from pitching World Bowling’s spirited argument to the Japanese Olympic committee, Jason believes that now is the time to depart from the bobby socks image of the 1950s. Tenpin bowling is a serious and professional sport and becoming part of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 might signal just how serious a sport it is.
This is particularly important when you begin to understand the game on a strategic level. Jason explains that the lane is covered in fine oil. A concept long understood by skiers who seek fresh snow, Jason purposefully plays in an area of the lane where the oil has not been interfered with by other competitors’ bowls. Essentially, this means that Jason’s bowl will be met with less resistance, resulting in more power and higher accuracy. Technicalities aside, Jason’s command over a bowling ball leaves you marvelling his wizardry. His skill is remarkable.
You could be forgiven for not knowing that tenpin bowling’s three-time US Masters champion, holder of 12 PBA Tour titles (five majors) and the world’s No.1 bowler for three consecutive years is an Orange local.
Of course, such skill is not by coincidence. Many hours are spent perfecting new manoeuvres before the public will ever get to see them in action. Tournaments can go for weeks and maintaining stamina, on both a physical and mental level, is integral to Jason’s success.
In the United States, bowling is a respected national sport and major finals are a televised event. “My star power in the US is higher,” Jason says. “I get recognised a lot. Anywhere and everywhere I go, I am getting stopped. “There are two sides to this: I wish I was more famous in Australia because then bowling would be better recognised but I also love the fact that bowling has allowed me to keep my private life. I wouldn’t want to share my children with the paparazzi, put it that way.” Jason’s two-handed bowling style has become his professional signature. But what makes his distinctive technique so endearing is its origins. Growing up in his parents’ bowling centre in Orange, bowling balls and pins were a perfect babysitter for an active young boy. “I was 18 months old when I started bowling with two hands. The ball was just too heavy for an 18-month-old,” he says. “I used to pick it up (the ball), waddle over, and throw it down the lane. My two-handed style developed from there.” Neither bowlers nor coaches, Jason’s parents let his style develop naturally, and by the time others in the sport tried to correct him, it was too late. Like all sports, tenpin bowling is not without its controversy, and though there is nothing technically illegal about Jason’s bowling style, it has certainly raised some eyebrows among conservatives. Jason cites the spin, curve and power that his unique style produces as the competitive advantage in his game. He explains that his two-handed approach puts a curve on the bowl’s trajectory that allows him to venture into an area of the lane that others cannot play in.
Spend any time with Jason and you will soon learn that rigorous training and his unique bowling style are not the world champion’s only secret weapons. Jason is quick to mention that he is married to the greatest woman in the world. He says that wife Kimberly has grown up with him and has always supported him throughout his career. He takes a moment to reflect on why his beautiful wife chose him, before excitedly discussing his children. He describes five-year-old daughter Aria as artistic with a love for song and dance, while Hugo, who is three, is a sharp two-handed bowler who enjoys deliberately bowling gutter balls to be cheeky. With the hope that tenpin bowling will be included in the 2020 Olympics, Jason admits that he has a few more career goals to bowl yet. However, pro bowling is a cruel master and the sport takes Jason away from his family many months of the year. With the couple’s recent announcement of a third child due in 2016, a more permanent residency in Orange is on Jason’s mind. He insists that he wants to be the doting and present dad that his own father was to him. However, his Orange future may hold the biggest challenge of his career yet. Scanning the bowling centre from where it all began, Jason suddenly looks unsure. “I somehow just need to convince the old man to hand the keys over to this place,” he jokes. CWL Words: Catherine Player
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