#14 Central West Lifestyle | Spring 2016

2016 SPRING 2015

Discover the west’s best kept secrets

Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo & West Wyalong town feature

GARDENS IN SPRING SPLENDOUR

‘Gairloch’, Oberon & ‘Kiloren’, Crookwell

Showtime at CROOKWELL

The horse whisperer from

‘THE LAKE’

PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL WEST REGION

capturing the best in the west

• Selling in every auction sale week • Leading wooltrade broker • Forward contract with Riemann • Offering Auctions Plus wool • Accredited & modern rehandle • Cash settlement on small lots • Merchandise • Shearing finance • Web access to client account • One competitive flat rate for all bales • Comprehensive market reporting • Detailed clip analysis

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

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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD

CONTENT COVERAGE AREA

trading as Central West Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.centralwestmagazine.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/CentralWestLifestyle PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@centralwestmagazine.com.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@centralwestmagazine.com.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay shotbyjake@hotmail.com ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@centralwestmagazine.com.au

DISTRIBUTION Central West Lifestyle magazine is published quarterly (available at the beginning of each season) and distributed to selected newsagents and retail outlets within the Central West and in the bordering regions of the Far West, North West, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Goulburn, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue (mailed or online), visit www.centralwestmagazine.com.au. Š Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2016

All Rights Reserved

Subscriptions and back issues are also available to read online, on desktop and mobile devices.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.

While every care is taken in the publication of Central West Lifestyle magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.

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.

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CONTENTS SPRING 2016

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110-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: CONDOBOLIN, LAKE CARGELLIGO & WEST WYALONG Our three feature towns all boast rich histories and bright futures and a myriad reasons to visit and explore. But perhaps their greatest attributes are their people and a strong and unflinching sense of community.

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FUN OF THE FAIR

PLAN OF ACTION

HELPING HAND

IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Crowds flock to the 138th Crookwell Show.

Farming family's future is in safe hands.

Clever designs simplify life on the farm.

Cassie Garlick making it in a man's world.

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146

162 PIECE OF PARADISE

GARDEN OF GRACE

FABULOUS AL FRESCO

Meg and Peter Low's delightful "Gairloch Garden" is full of surprise and delight.

Crookwell's "Kiloren" is a picture of sophistication and tranquillity.

Timely tips for outdoor entertaining in style.

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174

178 NATURE AT ITS FINEST

FREE AND EASY

FAMILY FAVOURITES

A holiday that takes in some of Tasmania's extraordinary wilderness is good for the body and soul.

Delicious gluten-free recipes for the home cook.

Old-fashioned lamingtons with a spring twist.

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208

204 EVENTS IN THE WEST

WEDDINGS

MAN ON THE LAND

Pictures from CWL's Winter launch at Binda.

The Central West's blushing brides and gallant grooms tie the knot in true country style.

How hard work paid off for unlikely farmer John Daunt.

ON THE COVER Discover the west’s best

kept secrets

o Condobolin, Lake Cargellig & West Wyalong town feature

2016 SPRING 2015

Showtime at CROOKWELL

“The Horse Whisperer“ from Lake Cargelligo, Steve Johnson, harvesting with his team of Clydesdales.

Photography: David Woodside

‘Gairloch’, Oberon & ‘Kiloren’, Crookwell

$11.00

inc GST

608002

>

SPRING 2016 VOLUME 14

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The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.

GARDENS IN SPRING SPLENDOUR

The horse whisperer from

‘THE LAKE’

• EVENTS • TRAVEL AGRICU LTURE • STYLE GARDEN S • FOOD • L WEST REGION PEOPLE • HOMES • THE BEAUTI FUL CENTRA • AND MORE FROM CULTUR E • BUSINE SS

in the west capt uring the best

9

WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS.

CWL 5

SECTION

From the Publishers Welcome to spring in the beautiful Central West!

We always love this stunning season as it manifests itself in the flush of green, the new life in every shape and form and, in particular, the magnificent gardens that we have here in the Central West.

In this issue, we again have beautifully crafted garden stories, thanks to garden guru Elizabeth Swane. We have many comments about our photography and Angus Waddell can take the credit for the garden images you will see showcasing the fascinating gardens at "Gairloch", Oberon, and "Kiloren", Crookwell.

Edition number 13, featuring Boorowa and Crookwell, broke all our selling records with over 1050 copies sold in just three weeks in these two unique towns. We were thrilled with the way these local communities, visitors and friends embraced the Winter magazine and feel proud to have been associated with such visionary community leaders. Our launch held in May at The Stables, Binda, just north of Crookwell, was a night to remember. Mayors, council staff, politicians, advertisers, local identities and CWL team members celebrated in grand style, under the watchful eye of our gracious hosts, Annette and Wentworth Hill.

We enjoyed the Mudgee Small Farms Field Days, where we again made valuable connections with readers and introduced our magazine to many new people. Thank you for taking the time to come and say hello and give us your feedback about CWL.

CWL team members enjoyed the Winter Launch at The Stables, Binda.

Alex and Elizabeth with Zora Regulic, Anna Tickle, Kate Boshammer and Mitch Brakenridge.

The Spring Feature Towns of Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and West Wyalong were very welcoming and truly took on board the concept of sharing their thriving towns with our readers.

We are most grateful to have received overwhelming support from businesses. You will be able to marvel at the business success stories and gain inspiration from their determination to make their mark on the local economy.

As you would be aware, this magazine could not exist without the support of our loyal advertisers. There are a large number of advertisers who started with us in our first edition, Winter 2013, and who are still flying their flag in our magazine, 3½ years later! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

We appreciate your support of our advertisers wherever possible.

Our next Feature Towns for Summer 2016 are Blayney, Millthorpe and Carcoar (and the surrounding villages).

These quaint towns so rich in history will be a joy to research and we look forward to sharing their stories with you in our 15th edition of Central West Lifestyle.

Take care of each other, make every moment count and enjoy the latest edition of Central West Lifestyle!

Warm regards,

Elizabeth and Alex Tickle 6 CWL

One of the many stunning sunsets that Lake Cargelligo has to offer.

MOVING MOUNTAINS

W

elcome, dear readers, to issue 14, as we continue our journey of discovery. In this edition we visit Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and West Wyalong, three very different towns but all with amazing stories and a rich and diverse history.

West Wyalong certainly has the X factor. It’s a small but bustling town with so much going for it – friendly strangers, historic shops built during the heyday of the great gold rush, a crooked main street and new dynamic businesses forging ahead each day.

Less than a century after it petered out, the gold is back, albeit on a very different scale to that faced by miners a century ago. My time at Evolution Mines was a real eye-opener. Oddly enough, there is still a road in town aptly named Perseverance Street, which would have been pretty apt for the miners of the time.

Farming, too, is changing hands. Many of the old timers who still vaguely remember riding a horse to school, snapping up land for a few pounds an acre or doing big deals on the strength of a handshake down at the pub, are pulling up stumps and retiring to town, ready for a highly equipped new generation to take over.

Of course, there are others staying put, thank you very much. One of these characters is the irrepressible "Horse Whisperer" from Lake Cargelligo, Steve Johnson, who with his best mate and wife by his side, cleared a rundown old site on the lake’s foreshore to build a unique bush oasis for their family of big, powerful Clydesdales.

The way he works a 10-horse team is simply gobsmacking. Sadly there are not too many left with the skills, confidence and patience to get 10 tonnes of horseflesh working cohesively on the strength of a single command!

As usual I met my fair share of characters, from footballer and now bus-driving legend John Kelly to Brother Dominic Levak, a Franciscan friar discovering life in a chapel in the middle of a farm, to publican Paddy Reardon, who welcomes all his customers to the bar as if they're old friends.

A big thank you to my gracious hosts, Mick and Vicki Hanlon, for putting me up in their home during my stay, although I rarely saw them, such is the life of a newsagency owner!

I also visited some amazing contemporary homes, including the almost palatial residence of Len and Jo Lynch (West Wyalong) and the simply sensational open-plan home of Tony and Jill Broadley (Condo).

By the time you are reading this, the cold winter chill will have lifted as we enter spring, the most exciting time of the year (for me anyway).

It's the time to start again, to get motivated and feel truly alive, as the country bursts into colour and locals everywhere reconnect with the good (and often simple) things in life.

For me, personally, it will be a challenging time, as I sell/dump/move 25 years of my life, including suitcases full of negatives, prints and paper work, to my hometown of Coonabarabran after what seems a lifetime in the Country Music Capital.

It's that time in my life to bite the bullet. Real hard. Getting rid of the things that you liked and sourced through hundreds of little shops or auctions is like losing a tooth!

But the best things in life are not things. I've learnt that.

Across the lake I was able to take an early morning boat ride with Peter and Barbara Nilsson to view the majestic bird life. As we drifted through big mobs of pelicans, I heard some fascinating tales of life on the lake.

So it all has to go. The stage, where we had hundreds of memorable nights I can't remember with friends I'll never forget; the studio, scene of so many magical moments, is almost bare as I prepare for the next chapter of my journey.

Condobolin, on the Lachlan River, is another great town you can't help but like – and not just because some say it's the geographical centre of NSW. It's definitely the heart of the country and home of the Overflow Station, the setting for Banjo Paterson's famous poem Clancy of the Overflow.

What keeps me focused is the prospect of spending quality time with the most important person in my life, my dear mother, who is about to celebrate her 80th birthday (sorry, Mum, if it was a secret).

There's always something to do in and around Condo and I was fortunate to attend the ABBA Festival at nearby Trundle, the town with the very wide main street and now home to the only festival of its type in the world (all is revealed in the next mag).

Good luck in your endeavours and never, ever give up!

I've been writing and photographing the "best of the Central West" for over four years and can now say that I'm one bona fide resident.

“The best things in life are not things. I've learnt that.”

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Shot by Jake

SPRING 2016 CONTRIBUTORS

Meet your team

ELIZABETH TICKLE

ALEX TICKLE

JAKE LINDSAY

GINA CRANSON

Publisher & Editor

Publisher & Advertising

Chief Writer & Photographer

Sub-Editor & Proofreader

KATE BOSHAMMER

ZORA REGULIC

MITCH BRAKENRIDGE

CATHERINE PLAYER

ANNA TICKLE

ELIZABETH SWANE

ANGUS WADDELL

Business Strategist

Writer & Social Media Manager

PAULA STEVENSON

Art Director

Garden Writer

Advertising Designer

Photographer

Writer

Home & Style and Travel Writer

PIP TEYS

DAYNA TIERNEY

LORRAINE HILLS

PAUL & ANNE LOVERIDGE

ROBERT I BRUCE

Country Cuisine Writer

Seasonal Food Writers

Writer

Photographer

Writer

JANE SANDERSON

Weddings & Events Writer

SUE MEIKLE

Social Photographer

ALISTAIR BROWN

Social Media Curator

SECTION I have enjoyed receiving Central West Lifestyle since the day about eight months ago when I saw a copy on the table at a Moss Vale coffee shop. I hurried to the newsagent to buy a copy. Recently our newsagent told me that, if you don't turn up within a few days of its arrival, it is sold out. That doesn't surprise me because it is so stacked with very interesting stories.

Your last two editions, the one featuring Orange and the latest one featuring Crookwell and other towns in that area, are very special to me, because I was born in Bigga, a small village close to Crookwell and, when I was six years old, our family moved to Orange. My mother was a Bigga girl and my father was born in Crookwell, and, along with his brother and sister, served in WW1.

The aerial photos of the towns are particularly exciting and a challenge trying to identify familiar buildings and streets, and the personal stories about so many interesting people, with lots of familiar names, are lovely to read. Central West Lifestyle lives up to its name, featuring not only the facts about the towns but the stories of the people and the community spirit of each settlement.

Vera Pickford, Moss Vale

your letters

We are a very small business in the village of Bowning on the Hume Highway just outside Yass. When approached by Alex late last year, about selling the CWL in our home and garden decor business, we were not really sure that the magazine would “fit” our business.

How VERY wrong we were! Elizabeth and Alex returned, followed by Jake and his trusty camera. They prepared an amazing article about Mayfield Mews and the history of our magnificent home. The article was accompanied by beautiful photographs and appeared in the Winter edition. We are convinced that Henry Lawson, who lived in our home, would be very proud of the written word. The response from people in the featured towns of Boorowa and Crookwell has been mind blowing!

We are selling heaps of magazines to our loyal customers, Hume Highway travellers and people from all over the Yass region, the Riverina and beyond. The magazine is stylish, vibrant, honest and stunningly photographed and presented.

Cyril and Debby Cox, Mayfield Mews, Bowning

It was with great delight I read the Winter edition of Central West Lifestyle featuring Crookwell and Boorowa and showcasing the appeal and highlights of both towns and their shires. Many Crookwell and Upper Lachlan identities and attractions made an appearance in the glossy pages of the magazine. It proved an interesting read for locals, as well as adding to the area’s appeal for tourists and prospective residents. The demand for the magazine was so strong that the local newsagent sold out of copies twice and has now sold more than 800 magazines in the first month. Congratulations Elizabeth, Alex and your team; may there be many more splendid editions in the future.

John Shaw OAM, Mayor, Upper Lachlan Shire Council

I have been so impressed with your publication, not only the excellent features of people and places in the area, but even the ads are impressive. The whole publication is top class. As I am building my new home in Kew, I have found quite a few items from your local businesses for my build, especially the pressed tin manufacturers from Bathurst.

Congratulations to the whole team on such a professional publication.

I was so impressed, I immediately ordered the back copies and signed up for the next year. Be assured all of your magazines will be displayed on my coffee table for all to see. I am sure my friends will be driving over the “Sandstone Curtain” to experience your very interesting and historic country towns and cities that I have been enjoying lately, even seeing snow for the first time! Thank you to all for making my stay over in the Central West so interesting and I await your next publication with anticipation.

Colleen Sydenham, Kew

The Winter 2016 issue of Central West Lifestyle featured beautiful Boorowa and the surrounding region in a gorgeous display of words and images

by Jake Lindsay.

The launch of this issue showcased many inspiring stories that make up our town and countryside.

Boorowa is truly rich in entrepreneurial adventurers and, with a landscape that sets up success, its potential is limitless. Visually, our region came alive on the pages and has generated marketing and tourism opportunities that will share our particularly wonderful brand of living with other regions across NSW, and indeed, Australia. I have been told that this issue has been one of the highest selling issues in recent history and I am proud that Boorowa has played a part in that success for the magazine. On behalf of Boorowa and the Hilltops Council, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful portrayal of our town and our local area and the opportunities that this partnership has extended to the Hilltops region as a whole.

Wendy Tuckerman, Administrator, Hilltops Council Congratulations on the success of your amazing publication, which has survived so well in spite of the age of online technology. I have to admit I thought you were very brave initially but you have proved to have overcome that small hurdle by the popularity and sales you have achieved in just over three years in the publishing business. It is so good to be able to take such a lovely gift to friends and relatives! It has a broad range of appeal and is always very welcome wherever I take it. A beautiful magazine, wonderful photography and an informative showcase for our great region. I have even learnt quite a lot about our lovely district filled with so many unsung heroes!

Jan Kennedy, Warren

Share your feedback Email: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au

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CONDOBOLIN

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CONDOBOLIN

Welcome to

CONDOBOLIN TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

CONDOBOLIN CWL 13

FROM THE MAYOR As Mayor of Lachlan Shire, I am delighted that Central West Lifestyle is showcasing some of the gems on offer here. The Lachlan Shire encompasses the towns of Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham and the villages of Tullibigeal, Burcher, Albert and Fifield. In the near future, I encourage you to experience first-hand the good old-fashioned country hospitality that the communities of Lachlan are most famous for.

I am a proud local, born in Condobolin and raised in Tottenham.

This rural upbringing cemented my passion for rural life and dedication to making a difference for future generations by being an active member of my local community.

My hometown of Tottenham is located at the northern end of the Lachlan Shire and is the closest town to the exact geographical centre of NSW. Known as The Soul of the Centre, Tottenham has a town population of 330 with an overall regional population of 1000. The Tottenham community has a can-do attitude, driven by the desire to ensure that essential services and facilities are provided locally. The Tottenham community is testament that hard work and dedication pay off. There have been several notable achievements over the years including the refurbishment of Tottenham Airport to ensure its suitability for planes and medical aircraft to provide emergency air ambulance services, the vital recruitment of a full-time doctor for the community, the training of five local Ambulance volunteer officers to assist our single-officer Ambulance station, the construction of a new kiosk/ sports clubhouse at the oval, popular rural and community field days and environmental tree planting projects to name a few.

The pride and dedication of locals who actively contribute to their community is echoed throughout the Lachlan Shire, with each of our towns and villages boasting services and facilities that enable us to comfortably live our rural lifestyles.

Lachlan Shire Council will continue to grow and develop the region in partnership with our active communities. Already famous for our rich Aboriginal history, our unique attractions, quality events and vibrant natural beauty, I am excited about the future of the area. The unique beauty and potential for growth throughout the Lachlan Shire is why I initially stood for council in 1991 and over the years strong foundations have been built for future progress. More recently I was honoured to undertake the role as Mayor in 2015.

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THE PRIDE AND DEDICATION OF LOCALS WHO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY IS ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE LACHLAN SHIRE.

My father and uncle also shared the same vision for Lachlan. My uncle was the mayor on three separate occasions during the ’40s and ’50s and my father was mayor in the late ’60s. I have numerous memories as a child of my father attending council meetings and community engagements and I am proud of the growth and progress that has been achieved over the years.

The Lachlan Shire is a thriving region for my children, grandchildren and future generations to come.

I encourage you to visit and enjoy the various bush experiences that Lachlan provides, so reach for your hat, pull on your boots and feel welcome to make our home, your home.

Cr John Medcalf, Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council

CONDOBOLIN

the lure of LACHLAN T

he Lachlan Shire Council area is in the heart of NSW and is well known for its natural beauty, friendly and welcoming locals and relaxed bush lifestyle. Lachlan is home to approximately 6775 residents, and is in Wiradjuri country, with one in six identifying as Aboriginal.

Early European explorers recorded their journeys passing through Lachlan with surveyor George Evans, who named the Lachlan River, being the first European to visit the area in 1815. Explorers John Oxley (in 1817) and Thomas Mitchell (in 1836) were the first recorded European presence in the region, with Lake Cargelligo first named Regency Lake

by John Oxley in 1817, in honour of HRH Prince Regent, later George IV. Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell renamed it Cudjallagong, which was the name given to the Lake by the local Aboriginal people.

By 1844 the “Condoublin” run had been established and in 1859 the town of Condobolin was gazetted. For more than 20 years it was essentially a stopover and river crossing for drovers moving stock from the north and west of NSW. Copper and gold was found in the Condobolin area from 1885 until 1910 and the town benefitted from the subsequent traffic with Condobolin municipality declared in 1890. The railway arrived in 1898 and Condobolin was the railhead for the Central West until the line to Broken Hill was completed in 1927.

Agricultural production was further expanded when the Wyangala Dam was established on the Lachlan in 1935.

Lachlan is home to many traditional farming cultures and is one of the largest grain-producing areas of NSW. It is a rich agricultural area and in addition to grain, Lachlan is a significant producer of sheep, wool, beef and cotton. The agricultural sector accounts for nearly a third of economic activity.

A small but very successful light-manufacturing sector has emerged in both Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo and Council has also established industrial estates in an attempt to promote further growth. Tourism is an emerging industry, with the natural beauty of the Lachlan River, the picturesque Lake Cargelligo and Gum Bend Lake, and Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham being recognised as RV friendly.

Return visitation to Lachlan is high, thanks to our reputation as a relaxed and enjoyable destination.

Return visitation to Lachlan is high, thanks to our reputation as a relaxed and enjoyable destination.

The heart of NSW is home to many great events like gymkhanas, sports days, rodeos, cutting competitions and picnic race meets, all of which are held annually in our towns and villages. Bush adventure is also part of daily life. Covering an area of 15,000 square kilometres, Lachlan offers hidden gems to explore like the Christ the King farm chapel, Jan and Steve Johnson’s live draught horse display and several other local museums.

Lachlan is also a popular fishing location and is something of a dream destination for birdwatchers, thanks to our fertile river country, inland lake systems and flat prime agricultural land. The Lachlan district is a great place to explore and an even better place to call home. CWL

CONDOBOLIN CWL 15

centre of excellence IN THE HEART OF NSW IS A TOWN WITH HEART.

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CONDOBOLIN

The Heart of NSW...

Your Ultimate Bush Experience!

The Heart of NSW is well known for its natural beauty, friendly and welcoming locals and relaxed bush lifestyle.

Stay a while and enjoy our towns and villages, local events and unique attractions. Whether you are an action packed adrenaline seeker or simply love to relax to the sounds of our amazing birdlife while trying your luck fishing along the Lachlan River. The Heart of NSW is a unique destination that will warm your heart.

For a free copy of our Visitor Guide please email council@lachlan.nsw.gov.au

www.heartofnsw.com.au “

”

CONDOBOLIN CWL 17

Days gone by

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CONDOBOLIN

CONDOBOLIN CWL 19

Pride of place THE WIRADJURI CONDOBOLIN CORPORATION IS FOSTERING A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.

“B

y caring for our country and uniting and healing our community, we are forging a new beginning,” says the charismatic general manager of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation (WCC), Ally Coe.

Established in 2003 as a meeting place, conference facility and home for educational programs, the WCC has become the envy of many Aboriginal communities.

More importantly, Ally sees the centre as a special place for reconciliation.

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The centre is owned and run by local Indigenous people but is open to everybody. Condo is the home of the Kalarie people, lower Lachlan region, considered to be the heartbeat of the Wiradjuri nation.

The facility, beautifully designed and maintained, is used by the CWA, the Antique Motor Vehicle Club of Australia, the Garden Festival committee and Lachlan Shire Council as well as many schools throughout the district.

“It’s even become a tourist destination for those looking for exposure to the Aboriginal culture,” says Ally, a level-headed, determined man always prepared to take a stand.

He was the first Indigenous student from Condo to attend Hurlstone Agricultural College in Sydney before spending a lifetime with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. A few years ago he came home to be part of the WCC. “This gave me an opportunity to witness first-hand the wonderful work by John Spencer and the 16 young Indigenous people responsible for the construction of the very unique centre we now operate from,” he says.

The centre attracts thousands of visitors each year.

“We offer help and support to other Aboriginal groups from other areas,” Ally says, adding that the centre has created 28 jobs for the local Wiradjuri people, who operate the Affordable Furniture shop in town and have had the Australia Post contract for the past 10 years, sorting and delivering mail and parcels.

The result is a vibrant, independent, sustainable and self-determining Aboriginal community in a town with a large Indigenous population.

Condo is the home of the Kalarie people, LOWER LACHLAN REGION, CONSIDERED TO BE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE WIRADJURI NATION.

PUTTING CONDO IN THE SPOTLIGHT In 2013 the United Nations invited Ally to attend the World Indigenous Network forum in Namibia, southern Africa, to address how a small community organisation could develop a partnership with a major mining company.

“This partnership (with Barrick and now Evolution Mines) works well because the individuals involved are genuinely concerned for the advancement of the Wiradjuri Condobolin people,” he says.

“Not very many Indigenous communities around the world have that unique relationship.”

Ally’s presentation put the WCC on the international stage, in the presence of representatives from around the world.

“It reminded me just how fortunate we are to live in Australia. We spent three hours in a town camp in Windhoek. If you think we do it tough, you should see the struggles they go through,” Ally says.

“We’ve got so much we can teach and learn from each other. For us to be chosen Australia wide . . . it says a lot about what people see and know about the WCC.” Ally says he is now focused on recruiting a manager responsible for the long-term success of the organisation and to ensure the centre continues to be a place that people want to visit. CWL Above left: Ally Coe, from the WCC, senior departmental advisor of the Riverina Murray region (Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet) Kendall Clarke, with department community officer Paul McFadyen and local tourism and events officer Kristi Hoskins.

CONDOBOLIN CWL 21

GOD’S COUNTRY BROTHER DOMINIC LEVAK IS ENJOYING THE QUIET LIFE.

I

t’s a long and rocky road to the chapel of “Christ the King”, which sits majestically in the middle of a 7000-acre farm on the Lachlan River.

After a 50-minute drive from Condobolin, I am greeted warmly

by Brother Dominic Levak, who has spent two liberating years living a Spartan existence underneath the chapel.

He doesn’t receive many guests these days, although some determined pilgrims never fail to surprise him.

Dressed in the robes of a monk, Br Dominic is keen to share the chapel’s magic. Once inside the dome, the beauty of the place takes my breath away and renders me speechless.

“Guests are usually overwhelmed when they first get inside here,” he says with a gentle Croatian accent.

“Most are deeply touched, become emotional and some even shed tears.

I am still puzzled and surprised by that. Why does this place touch people so personally and profoundly? I don’t know why and don’t need to know.

All I can say is that it’s a form of healing.”

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The building was constructed by Swiss master builder Rudi Ehrat while talented Bulgarian artist Professor Todor Velin spent two years painting the dome, mosaics and the icons. As I marvel at the artworks, Br Dominic urges me to speak up in order to hear the chapel’s acoustics.

I thought he was joking until I raised my voice. The walls resonated with life. It felt like I’d been plugged into a massive sound system!

I can only imagine what it feels like when the choir comes to town.

Br Dominic enjoys explaining to strangers the symbolism of the art and why the building is round. He says it symbolises God’s eternity – no beginning and no end. (In Palestine all churches were built in a similar manner for the first four centuries of Christianity).

After soaking in the grandeur I am invited downstairs for a cuppa and chocolate biscuit. The humbleness of his home is almost overwhelming but I can sense I’m in for the chat of a lifetime. >

CONDOBOLIN

CONDOBOLIN CWL 23

“Being cosy and well off is not what my faith is about – it doesn’t help me to become my true authentic self.”

“I was already practising meditation and contemplation for many years in a monastery at Kellyville,” Br Dominic begins quietly.

On Mondays he goes shopping at either Lake Cargelligo or Condobolin.

It’s also the day he ministers to the Aboriginal people.

In a bid to advance his spirituality, he approached Walter Bachmann, the visionary who conjured up the chapel in a dream. Walter was accommodating and the visits started in earnest in 2012 before moving in two years later.

“I have been accepted and am loved by the Aboriginal people. Before that I had no experience with them and used to walk the streets alone," he says.

“My first visit here I freaked out. I got frightened and it was almost like a panic attack. By moving here I knew I would lose my family and friends.

In Kellyville I had everything and living in Sydney was beautiful. But when things get too easy I become uneasy,” he continues.

“Being cosy and well off is not what my faith is about – it doesn’t help me to become my true authentic self. I needed to really test my courage and faith out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“One day I smiled at an Aboriginal woman. She was an Elder and introduced me to all her people. Any donations I get are given back to these wonderful people. They call me The Good Man while I tell them ‘I am your brother from another mother’.”

The rest of the week is spent meditating, nurturing his faith and reminiscing about how he came to be here.

Br Dominic well remembers the shock when a Franciscan priest said that he had a “calling”.

These days Br Dominic feels much more comfortable – in both who he is and where he chooses to live. “I feel I’m developing. The paradox is, being alone out here has taken me away from people. Despite this, I feel much closer to myself, to others and to God by spending time alone in reflection.”

He hadn’t even reached his 21st birthday. In fact, his family had only arrived from Croatia 10 years earlier and his six siblings and himself were still mastering the English language.

He listens to the news on the radio but most of the time prefers the silence, which helps with his endless reading and writing. The TV went long ago, replaced by a journal that could well end up as a sequel to his first book Stay with me and Love with me, which can be found in correctional centres around the country.

“I always wanted to be a farmer. I didn’t want to be among nuns and priests, who always made me very nervous despite my Catholic faith.”

“My family came from a peasant background and we always grew our own vegetables and sustained ourselves with a cow, pigs and chickens,” he says.

On the wall sits a picture of Mother Teresa. Br Dominic met her personally in Rome in 1990 and draws daily inspiration from her courage, humility and work for the underprivileged.

The young man wrestled with his conscience for two years until he finally surrendered his heart. Six long years of study followed in Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne before he took his final vows of chastity, obedience and poverty in 1988.

She also helps guide him on his regimented weekly timetable. On Friday nights he sleeps in a nearby log cabin called “The Hermitage”, with air conditioning and fresh water.

“I came here for the blessing of the chapel in 2008 and it crossed my mind (living here) for a few seconds. I liked it but there was no way I thought I could ever live in such a remote part of the bush.

“When I’m there, looking at the stars at night, it’s as absolute as I can be at this point. It is so natural and uncontaminated. It’s as it was in the beginning – untouched and pure. I love to get in touch with that originality and know it’s a basic human need.”

“Now whenever I find myself lonely I dig deep into myself and find the real reason why I am here. Yes it’s a beautiful lifestyle but it has to be meaningful.

There’s no room for illusions or fantasies out here. You have to be realistic.”

Saturdays are for cleaning and on Sundays he cooks pasta and enjoys a red wine with lunch before embarking on a long bush walk. I inquire about the wine and am reminded that “the Boss didn’t mind a drink”.

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Br Dominic says it’s both a privilege and blessing to be sustained by Walter, who looks after his household bills. He has no idea how long he will stay.

“I came with no agenda and don’t know how long I will be here – it’s all in God’s hands,” he smiles. CWL

CONDOBOLIN

HELPING HAND LONG-TIME SES VOLUNTEER JUDY PRICE IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF CONDOBOLIN CAMARADERIE.

A

s an SES (State Emergency Services) volunteer, Judy Price is always ready for the unexpected.

Like her father before her, who was a former shearer, wood carter and stock carrier, Judy has lived all her life in Condobolin.

Nearly 30 years ago, while working in the office of the local garage, she joined the SES to help people in need and is still going strong.

Over the years, the dedicated Condo grandmother has helped countless hundreds involved in traffic accidents, storms and floods.

There have been plenty of other emergencies as well.

“Just the other day we were called out to help locate an elderly man who had gone missing overnight. The good news is that we were all set to go when they located him,” she says.

“That was a good outcome. I remember going to the same farm six years ago and we never found the missing gent – even to this day.”

About 10 years ago there was a plane crash about an hour away with four casualties. It was Judy’s daunting task, along with her small but dedicated team, to help locate pieces of the wreckage.

It’s not a job for the faint-hearted.

“Many years ago a train collided with a truck.

The train was filled with cyanide and we helped feed the fire-and-rescue department and other volunteers on the scene. I feel it’s important to help others less fortunate than myself in their time of need.”

She says she sometimes goes for months without a call but during the storm season and floods, she can be called out several times a week until the waters have subsided.

Judy has received a Community Service Award but she doesn’t do it for the accolades. Nor does her brother Allan, who also works for the volunteer group.

It’s a tight-knit bunch, with one dedicated volunteer, Keith Watt, now 90, having notched up 36 years of dedicated service.

“CONDOBOLIN IS A TOWN FULL OF CARING PEOPLE, WHO ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO DROP EVERYTHING AND ASSIST OTHERS WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.”

“Over the years I have witnessed some terrible tragedies but I have also seen the good that arises in such times,” she says.

“Condobolin is a town full of caring people, who are always willing to drop everything and assist others when the chips are down.”

Judy is also involved with Can Assist, where she helps to raise money for cancer sufferers in the Condobolin area.

She has been committed to this organisation for almost as long as her involvement with the SES.

“About a fortnight ago we had an Open Gardens Competition. We went out to one garden and provided morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for two days, with all profit going to Can Assist.”

Judy, now in her early 70s, has no plans of retirement.

“As long as I’m needed, I will continue serving the community in whatever capacity,” she says.

“We’re always looking for new volunteers and I can tell you first-hand, you will always get more out of it than what you put in.” CWL CONDOBOLIN CWL 25

CONDOBOLIN

Can-do man THERE IS NO STOPPING REX PRESS, A MAN WHO EMBODIES CONDOBOLIN’S COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

H

e is one of the first blokes in town to put his hand up for volunteer work but Condobolin’s Rex Press says it’s simply all part of living in a small, rural community.

Having lived here all his life, Rex, a youngish 60-year-old, has become somewhat of a local history buff, familiar with many of the historic buildings lining the main street.

One of his favourites is the grand old Commercial Hotel. Rex remembers as a young boy, back in the 1960s, sitting in the beer garden, waiting patiently for his father.

The pub eventually closed its doors, but the iconic building was only vacant for a short time before being transformed into the Community Arts Centre.

These days it also serves as an information centre but its primary role is as an arts centre for the local community. The upstairs area, featuring wide verandahs on two sides, is a spacious art gallery and function centre.

Rex has have been involved with the arts centre for nearly 40 years. During this time he has witnessed many changes to the town and district where his family have farmed since the 1890s.

He was raised and still lives on “Micabil”, which has been in the family for well over a century, and capably managed by younger brother Greg and wife Pam. “My mother, Dorothy Press, was a poet, writer, horse breeder and grazier but it was her love of history that rubbed off on me from an early age,” says Rex, who became a field officer for the Historical Society, which runs the town’s museum in the main street.

His father, Roley, was a jockey, horse breeder and an untrained bush vet who was known for his benevolent spirit within the community, including the retirement village, sheep drives (where graziers donated sheep to help raise money), the Picnic Race Club and the Masons.

Rex is involved with a host of events and works for about 13 different organisations in town.

He is known as the “can-do man” for his ability to get things done.

“Having lived in Condo all my life, I can tell you that the community spirit around here is alive and well,” he says.

The Hand from the Land western exhibit, which symbolised the importance of soil retention and man’s connection to the land.

Rex has just picked up Council’s Community Service Award, to go with his first award in 2009 and his Rotary community award.

Rex would probably attend the opening of an envelope but only if it meant talking about the tight old Condo community that means the world to him. CWL

“It probably comes from my parents,” he says.

“From an early age I realised they devoted themselves to the community.

He’s involved with the local show society and has been chief steward for the fine arts section for the past 32 years.

“They often reminded me of the joys to be had from giving back to the local community and I guess I’m really just following in their footsteps.

Perhaps his crowning achievement is helping out at the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show.

In 2010 he was the designer of the impressive

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Above: Rex‘s design for the 2010 Sydney Royal Easter Show district exhibit named The Hand from the Land.

CONDOBOLIN

TRUE BLUE CONDOBOLIN PUBLICAN, STOCK AND STATION AGENT AND FARMER BLUE REARDON IS A FULL-TIME CHARACTER.

W

hen he is in the pub, the colourful owner of Condobolin’s Royal Hotel, “Blue” Reardon, introduces himself to all and sundry. Not only that, he then introduces newcomers to his friendly staff and his mates. It’s country hospitality at its best.

This sort of banter can only be created by a fun-loving bloke who understands exactly what the average punter expects from his local watering hole: cold beer, affordable meals, interactive staff and a great meeting place after a hard day’s work.

One of Condo’s true characters and always known for his love of a frothy one, Blue was destined to one day stumble into the pub business.

That day was in 1997 when Blue bought the pub in partnership with then wife Katie and another local farmer Mark Ward (who was later bought out).

The original Royal Hotel was built across the street where the furniture store now stands. It was destroyed by fire in 1883, leaving only the rear stable complex, used to feed and stable the Cobb & Co horses.

Within three years the new Royal was built on the current site, with larger grounds including three sets of stables to care for patrons' horses and buggies.

There were extra bedrooms in a long timber building at the rear of the hotel for guests who couldn’t afford to stay in the more comfortable rooms overlooking Bathurst Street.

The lounge contained a piano and was also used as a meeting room for various organisations, particularly after the pub was fitted with acetylene gaslights in 1890. Later, the publican, David Tasker, installed the first electricity plant so travellers could enjoy a modern, well-lit hotel. > CONDOBOLIN CWL 27

CONDOBOLIN

A NEW HOTEL The approach of WW2 didn’t dampen progress. In 1939 Tooheys Ltd took over the hotel, which was demolished and replaced by a two-storey red brick building at a cost of £12,500.

The front exterior wall was tiled and the dining room could seat 60 patrons.

A booking office and guest telephone cabinet were all included – all very modern for the time.

The pub now has 22 rooms, three bars, a gaming groom, TAB and Keno facilities and Tasker’s Restaurant, named in honour of the original owner.

With another two businesses to attend to, namely the stock and station agency located a few shops down the street and the family farm, you won’t find Blue pouring too many beers himself these days.

He leaves that to his trusty bar staff, some of them European backpackers who love the pub’s laid-back country vibe.

“We have a constant stream of overseas staff, which brings in a bit of culture and a unique buzz to the bar, “ says the engaging hotel manager, Cassandra Spiteri.

The former beauty therapist started in the kitchen six years ago to help out her Aunty Fay on one of her shifts and has never looked back.

“Blue was quick to realise my potential and I was moved to the front bar where I have remained,” she says with an infectious laugh.

“Running a pub these days is nothing like it used to be,” Blue chips in.

“There are a lot of new licensing laws that don’t always apply to the country lifestyle.”

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When he is not working out sponsorship programs for local organisations, Blue is busy running the family farm, “East Merriwee”, suitably located on the edge of town. It is here that he catches up with his son, Billy, 17, who will have many career choices when that time comes.

The Reardon family have farmed in the district since 1888, with Blue’s brother Terence still on one of the original blocks.

His great grandfather, Bill Reardon, helped introduce the Anthrax vaccine in the district to help save sheep. Generations later, the land was taken up by his parents Noel and Joan Reardon, who spent a lifetime in horse sports. > Top: The Royal Hotel today. Above: The Royal Hotel has been rebuilt on several occasions. This was how the hotel looked at the turn of the 20th century.

Facing page: Hotel manager, Cassandra Spiteri; the ever-smiling publican, Blue Reardon; loyal customers enjoying an ale at the Royal Hotel.

CONDOBOLIN

CONDOBOLIN CWL 29

THE BIRTH OF AN AGENT Blue grew up on the farm and was well connected with the local stock and station agent, Warren “Scruffy” Straney. In 1986 the pair were having a beer at the pub when Scruffy mentioned he was going to South Africa for a holiday and needed somebody to mind the business.

On his return a month later he offered his young apprentice a job.

Four years later, at the same bar, Scruffy offered him the business.

Blue had 24 hours to think about it but it was already a done deal.

“Next thing, I’m the owner of an agency without even having a licence,” grins Blue, clearly a man who never backs down from a challenge.

The agency still trades as JN Straney & Son, specialising in livestock and sales, rural and residential properties, water trading, clearing sales and property management. His team includes three office attendants, leaving himself and cousin Paddy Reardon in the field.

“Blue felt opportunities were begging for a rural property specialist in the district,” says Paddy, who recently joined the team.

He comes with considerable sales experience, having worked in real estate agency Doyle & Rees in 1993-94 and spent a further 11 years selling farm machinery in Condobolin.

“I believe the rural property market can only get stronger,” he says.

“Currently a lot of property is changing hands. Many farmers are getting to the stage where they are looking at retirement. Some have no family to pass it on to while others simply want a change of direction.”

With Paddy now on board, Blue can now devote more time to his livestock clients, despite there no longer being livestock auctions in Condobolin.

Most of his livestock sales go through Forbes Livestock Agency, run by Tim Mackay and Randal Grayson. He has witnessed plenty of changes over the years to the farming landscape.

“In the past Condo was predominantly sheep and cattle on family farms.

Over the years many of these traditional family farms have been bought out by larger corporations and the emphasis seems to be heading towards more broad-acre farming,” Blue says.

“We’ve lost a lot of young farming families in the district as well as all the workers employed on these farms. It’s a growing trend. We used to have about a dozen shearing contractors in town and now we’re down to only a handful.”

Despite these changes, Blue is thrilled that livestock prices have hit record heights.

“In my 30 years in the game, I’ve never witnessed such tremendous returns. For some, the good prices have come too late, but for those farmers who stuck it out, the rewards are plentiful.”

Blue Reardon wears many hats and he likes them all – a farmer, an agent and a publican. It sometimes gets a bit complicated but Blue wouldn’t have it any other way. CWL Above left: Paddy Reardon. Left: The women behind the success of JN Straney & Son – Kelle Mooney, Sandra Parnaby and Sue Henley.

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CONDOBOLIN CWL 31

CONDOBOLIN

Picture of perseverance PHOTOGRAPHER KELLY TYACK IS CAPTURING LIFE ON THE LAND – RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE.

K

elly Tyack uses photographs to tell the story of daily life on “Hillview”, Tullibigeal. Right now it’s a pretty dry old argument.

Her personal project involves documenting the lives of her children Elly, Jessie, Charlie and Billy as well as husband Luke’s farming and cattle operations.

Having grown up on a Condo farm, she is used to long, hot, dry spells but the past few months have been the pits. Their home ran out of water a few months back, while dam water for stock has been non-existent for nearly five months.

Nobody is spared her imagination or infinite patience when Kelly has a camera in her hands. The results are thought-provoking images of rural daily life that evoke question and emotion, particularly those in her preferred medium of black and white.

The water carter is a familiar site these days; dropping off life-saving bore water for the house and lamb drop. With no rain and plenty of grasshoppers, the garden is all but gone.

“I’m passionate about black and white photography,” she says. “I see and interpret my world using various tones and I’m on the constant lookout for different light and shadows.”

“Last week we got a bit of rain that freshened up the lawn but we are really desperate for some good soaking rains,” Kelly says.

“It’s a lifestyle and you do it because you love it. Going through difficult times is part of that lifestyle. Like all farmers, we just have to make the most of it, knowing every day is one day closer.”

Kelly took up photography about four years ago as a way of helping her cope with the protracted dry spells, and has never looked back.

32 CWL CONDOBOLIN

Kelly combines various camera techniques, including multiple exposure, to add depth and texture to her black and white interpretations.

It’s been a good life. Kelly worked in Warren and Hillston (in cotton), and as a dry land agronomist in West Wyalong, before teaching at the Plymouth Brethren school in Condobolin.

She is now doing some casual days at the Tullibigeal Central School, with about 60 country kids attending classes from Kinder through to Year 12 (with one student).

To let off some steam on a basketball court involves a trip to West Wyalong, and that’s about 160 kilometres away. “You get used to it.

With our big family we drive to either Griffith or Wagga for our essential items like clothing.

These trips can take between four to six hours.”

Come the weekend, it’s game on for the whole family. With four kids, and netball and junior AFL commitments all over the district, the Tyack family are always on the go.

For a spirited woman who initially took up photography to capture her children on the farm, Kelly is now shooting weddings and even entering competitions.

Only recently she was judged runner-up in Capture Magazine’s 2015 Emerging Photographer of the Year.

“It’s very uplifting being recognised for my own style of photography that gives me so much enjoyment,” she says, as she prepares for another long drive home. CWL We are glad to report that much-needed winter rain arrived a month after this interview.

CONDOBOLIN

Kelly took up photography about four years ago AS A WAY OF HELPING HER COPE WITH THE PROTRACTED DRY SPELLS, AND HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK.

CONDOBOLIN CWL 33

Colour, style and passion an award winning ‘arrangement’!

B

“Love and passion built my business and have enabled it to evolve from a rural town florist into a business that could easily be labelled an interior design/giftware and homeware boutique,” Brenda says.

Brenda previously owned a successful florist shop in Milton on the South Coast. She fell in love with a Condobolin farmer, Evan Haworth, settled into life raising three sons on their farm and although she had promised herself she’d never marry a farmer or run another florist shop, that’s what happened and she couldn’t be happier.

“Floristry is a constant and busy aspect of the business and we provide services to corporate, community and individual customers six days a week. Flowers play a significant role in the milestones of our lives and in a rural community the level of customer contact is far more personal. This means that we are more involved with our customers, their extended families and their personal stories.”

renda Haworth, owner of Florist La Fleur in Condobolin, says she inherited her artistic side from her mother, who was a creative and inspiring role model for Brenda’s obvious talents in home decor.

34 CWL CONDOBOLIN

Flowers PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE milestones OF OUR LIVES.

CONDOBOLIN

Helping people and great customer service is what it’s all about and Brenda shouldn’t have been surprised that Florist La Fleur picked up a gold award for Customer Service in the 2015 Australian Business Awards.

“Our selection of giftware and homeware is extensive and constantly updated to provide up-market style or practical choices for all budgets or requirements,” Brenda says.

“My customers know we give attention to detail, products are customised to suit their style or event requirements, and my shop provides a chance to browse, unwind and experience the essence of country living.

“Store presentation must be constantly on trend, vibrant and appealing and provide a feast for the eyes and the senses for our customers.

“Our window displays have become a special feature. They regularly and creatively promote town and community events and have received accolades from visitors to the town.

“My customer feedback inspires me constantly and assures me that my business is valued and appreciated in Condobolin.” CWL Above: Brenda and her award for Customer Service in the 2015 Australian Business Awards.

(Image: Condobolin Argus)

CONDOBOLIN CWL 35

Beatties mean

BUSINESS

FOR INDUSTRIOUS PAIR SIMONE AND STEPHEN BEATTIE THERE IS NEVER A DULL MOMENT.

S

imone Beattie has been at Owens Rural Supplies in Condobolin for 21 years and knows her products – everything from fencing, paints, garden equipment, goldfish and chainsaws.

“I didn’t grow up with the dream of running a hardware store but the opportunity arose and here we are,” she says.

Husband Stephen joined her in the first five years before the pair expanded their business interests to include Condobolin Leading Appliances.

Simone and her three staff pride themselves on their huge range of products and great friendly service.

“We are a rural hardware business. I’ll sell you a goldfish, 1000 litres of ag chemical, some bottled gas and a bale of hay – and everything else in between,” she laughs.

36 CWL CONDOBOLIN

CONDOBOLIN

“We are a rural hardware business. I’ll sell you a goldfish, 1000 litres of ag chemical, some bottled gas and a bale of hay – and everything else in between.”

Simone, a genuine people person, loves interacting with her customers and staff.

There is never a dull moment.

“I love helping people with their hardware problems, even though a few newcomers assume my knowledge of rural products might be scant. Others think I’m just married to one of the male salesmen on our team,” she says.

On both counts they’d be wrong! Having grown up on a farm, Simone completed a degree in agricultural economics, before moving to Perth and meeting her husband.

Later they would return to Condobolin to raise their young family on a farm.

Up the road at Leading Appliances, husband Stephen is talking to long-standing shop manager Steve Taylor, about moving a few new beds from out the back of the shop to the street window.

The shop has been selling traditional whitegoods like fridges and washing machines, TVs, computers, outdoor furniture and barbecues for years but the beds are a recent innovation.

In the past eight months the shop has sold more than 150 beds, including special beds for the elderly and massage beds. Sheets, pillowcases and towels are now in-store to complement the bedding range.

Stephen and Simone have their fingers in a few pies. Along with their two successful businesses in town, they also breed Santa Gertrudis cattle on their two farms.

There are also two sons, Cameron, with the National Bank in Sydney, and Lachlan, still finding his feet after years at boarding school.

With the Beattie family involved in so many different rural enterprises, Lachlan has plenty of opportunities ahead of him. CWL Facing page: Stephen Beattie. Top: Simone Beattie.

Above left: Leading Appliances store manager Steve Taylor, with owner of the business, Stephen Beattie. Above right: Staff member Malcolm Parnaby serves customer Tim Jones.

CONDOBOLIN CWL 37

FAIRY-TALE RIDE CONDOBOLIN EQUESTRIAN MADELINE SINDERBERRY HAS EVERY REASON TO JUMP FOR JOY.

S

he doesn’t remember learning to ride but Madeline Sinderberry is carving up the competition in the equestrian world, recently being judged Most Successful Young Rider at the 2016 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

“Success comes from respect for the horses and developing a relationship of complete trust with them,” the 15-year-old says.

“Decisions are made in a split second on the jump course and you and your horse have to be a team, understanding each other and working together as one.”

The fun-loving Year 10 student from Condobolin High School is enjoying a fairy-tale ride, only recently back from Korea, where she and two other top riders were selected to represent their country.

Riding at this level is most unusual for a farm girl living 50 kilometres north of Condobolin.

“We are seven hours from the top level competition in Sydney,” Madeline says. “So a lot of travel is involved, which is hard on the horses, especially the first 30 kilometres of corrugated and pot-holed dirt road. They arrive at the competitions a little more tired than the city horses!”

38 CWL CONDOBOLIN

What makes her success even more amazing is that she doesn’t have access to the specialist coaches that most of her city competitors enjoy.

She trains with Dave Cameron, who is originally from Forbes, but now lives near Windsor, in the Hawkesbury.

“I only see him at competitions, or the afternoon before for a quick lesson. Dave is two-times Australian Senior Champion and is currently riding for a season in Europe,” she says.

“He is an example of how a country rider can do well in the sport – he runs a very successful showjumping business. He is a great coach and trains lots of riders and horses.”

Madeline has had a love affair with horses ever since saddling up for the Condobolin Pony Camps with her sister Emily.

“I took to the riding immediately and just loved the horses,” she says.

The girls tried whatever horse sports were on offer in the local district, including sporting, hacking, dressage, jumping and campdrafting.

But it was always the showjumping that she loved the most.

“I had a palomino quarter horse who loved to jump too, so we went to some ag shows. When I was 10 years old, the Australian Showjumping Championships were held in Dubbo. We went along and I rode successfully in ‘Ring 3’. It was there that I saw the best professional riders in Australia jumping in ‘Ring 1’ and got a taste for the sport.”

After that she jumped her way around western NSW on an old thoroughbred, attending new and exciting venues like AELEC in Tamworth.

“I rode fast on these super old horses and couldn’t believe I was now riding in ‘Ring 1’ with the professional riders I look up to,” she says. “I am lucky enough to be competitive at the best shows in Australia.”

Madeline usually rides two or three horses at a showjumping competition, enjoying her most successful partnership with Fernhill Zinzan, an eight-year-old she’s been riding for the past two years.

“He is a superstar and we have a great relationship,” she says with a beaming smile.

The winning combination saw Madeline awarded the Most Successful Junior Girl at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2015 and Most Successful Young Rider one year later.

This ambitious equestrian hopes to one day make a career riding these amazing animals in her chosen sport of showjumping. CWL Above left: Madeline and her horse, Fernhill Zinzan (Image: Stephen Mowbray); Madeline receiving a trophy (Image: Oz Shotz).

PART OF THE AUSTRALIA WIDE OFFICESMART STATIONERS

Try our fantastic on-site restaurant, open to the public.

Enjoy our famous breakfast or relax in our shaded pool area. With just a short walk to the centre of town, Condobolin Motor Inn is the perfect place to stay.

OFFICE, HOME AND SCHOOL STATIONERY We also stock an extensive range of MAGAZINES, BOOKS, GREETING CARDS, GIFTS, TOYS, FASHION JEWELLERY, SOUVENIRS and LOTTERIES PRODUCTS.

Shop locally and keep Condo alive

76 Bathurst St, Condobolin, NSW, 2877 Ph/fax: 02 6895 2162 /condo-newsagency www.condobolinnewsagency.net.au

20 William Street, Condobolin NSW 2877 02 6895 2233 condomotorinn@bigpond.com www.condobolinmotorinn.com.au

CONDOBOLIN LEADING APPLIANCES

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YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST OF Home Appliances Beds & Manchester Outdoor Furniture & BBQs Sporting & Camping 140 BATHURST ST CONDOBOLIN PH. 02 6895 2066 FX. 02 6895 2630

Ph. 02 6895 2771 90 Bathurst Street Condobolin

CONDOBOLIN CWL 39

CONDOBOLIN

OF COTTON AND CATTLE IT’S BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR LONG-TIME FARMERS ROSS BERRY AND DAVID HALL.

O

ne of the latest cotton crops to be picked in the Condobolin area was the 100ha irrigated crop at “Shady Camp”, belonging to Ross and Gai Berry and their sharefarmer and business partner David Hall.

The Berrys have been farming here for 60 years and are among only five cotton growers in the district.

Ross and David are good mates and have been growing cotton since 1999, whenever irrigation water was allocated. Along with Pat and Sue Kennedy, “Whitegates”, Condobolin, they were the first in the district to grow cotton.

Last year’s crop was a failure (underground worms ate it out in the early days from the roots up) but this crop has more than made up for that disappointment, yielding up to 15 bales per hectare.

Ross is the innovator and Dave “the man behind the team that makes it all happen”.

Driving the million-dollar cotton picker are father and daughter team Neil and Sophie Boshammer, from Brigalow, Queensland.

Although only 18, Sophie is an experienced driver, having picked the cotton at the largest irrigation farm in the southern hemisphere, Cubbie Station, Dirranbandi, when only 16.

This has been a short season, she tells me. They have been picking for a few months and after Condo will make their way to Forbes and then Hay.

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CONDOBOLIN

While the picker is serviced, Dave tells me that planting a good cotton crop is on par with a good game of rugby league with Penrith first-grade.

The legendary Ray Price was once asked who tackled him the hardest in his career and he replied it was a bloke from Condobolin called David Hall.

Laid-back Dave is enjoying seeing the crop come off after a few rain delays.

He is a can-do man and is always happy to help out in the community.

The Fijians, for instance, who come out for a few months each year to help the Kennedy family with their cotton watering, are doing it tough.

“Last time they were here a cyclone flattened their village and the Centre Life church are putting together a fundraiser, including a bush cook-up, to assist in the rebuilding of the local school. They will send a team from Condobolin to help rebuild.”

Ross is another tough old bloke, always looking ahead. The family also fatten 300 Santa Gertrudis and Angus steers, trucked in from their 18,000ha property further west. These are grown out to about 430kg before being finished at the Frampton Flat Feedlot at Tullibigeal.

Ross has been in sheep and cattle all his life and says prices for both have never been better.

It’s a far cry from the seven years spent on a million wild acres in the Gulf Country during the 1960s.

“My father and I drew Tarwallah Station in a ballot and the bush cattle, mainly Shorthorns, were pretty wild,” he says with a shake of his head.

The cattle work was performed by four Aboriginal stockmen and their families. The country was later sold for 29 cents an acre. “It was very rough country,” says the man who just celebrated his 80th birthday.

There are no plans for retirement, not with three of his four daughters and their farming husbands living in the area. CWL Above: Despite her youthful looks, Sophie Boshammer is an experienced cotton picker. Above right: Ross Berry and cotton picker Sophie Boshammer were thrilled with the cotton crop on “Shady Camp”. Right: David Hall shakes the hand of his good friend Ross Berry as the last of the cotton is picked.

CONDOBOLIN CWL 41

Talking shop CHAMEN'S REPRESENTS MODERN CONVENIENCE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

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CONDOBOLIN

A

lthough it’s bright and modern, Chamen's Supa IGA grocery store boasts a strong historical connection with Condobolin.

Initially, Chamen's was a traditional department store with everything from haberdashery, fine china, crystal glassware, toys and hardware.

By 1970 it had evolved into a grocery store and “liquor tavernette”, advertising a tube of Colgate for 38 cents or a box of Weet-Bix for 35 cents. A mere 17 cents would buy you either a can of soup or roll of toilet paper.

But the history of the building goes back much further. Condobolin’s very first store, built from bark slabs, was constructed here in 1861 when the fledging town had a population of just 71 people living in 14 dwellings.

The store was established by Murray Schultz, who advised the town’s inhabitants, squatters and overlanders they were “prepared to sell wholesale and retail at greatly reduced prices”.

Thomas Watson, a great visionary when it came to business, became the third owner in 1890, with his four sons running the successful Watson emporium until 1940. During this time they enlarged the store and supplied an enormous plate-glass window out the front – the largest in the town.

For a short period, it also housed the town’s first official post office before the new premises were erected on the opposite corner.

Arthur Musto was the new buyer but unfortunately died a year later, leaving his wife to run it until Albert John Chamen arrived on the scene in 1944.

The family are still there 72 years later.

Current custodians, Andrew and Christina Chamen, are following in the footsteps of Andrew’s father, John (now a grazier in Lake Cargelligo), grandfather Geoffrey and great-grandfather Albert.

Over the generations the family continued to expand and modernise, leading to the present Chamen's SUPA IGA store.

The store employs more than 50 staff, and after the shire council and the mine, is the biggest employer in town.

Andrew says that every day is different with its own challenges.

“I can be out the back, breaking down 20 tonnes of grocery in the morning and then talking to sales reps or suppliers in the afternoon,” he says with a grin.

The Chamen family are looking forward to the future while remembering the long line of hardy pioneers that came before. CWL

Left: Christina and Andrew Chamen. Above: It was generally accepted that the Thomas Watson Emporium was among the finest in any country town.

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CONDOBOLIN

Modern marvel NOT EVERYONE GETS TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN DREAM HOME, BUT THAT’S THE WAY IT PANNED OUT FOR DELIGHTFUL CONDOBOLIN RESIDENTS TONY AND JILL BROADLEY.

T

ony is a semi-retired chartered accountant who has called Condo home for the past 52 years, most of these with his supportive wife Jill firmly by his side.

Jill was born in Condobolin and is very active within the community. She admits that moving house later in life is never an easy thing. Their former home was a beautiful split-level structure with pool, but advancing years forced the couple to bite the bullet.

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They were attracted to this site because of its size, particularly the width of the block. More importantly, they would be closer to the CBD and within walking distance of their church, office, shopping centre and sporting venues (Tony is still an active golfer and bowler). An old house was demolished to make way for their new contemporary abode, to be designed by their son, Mark Broadley, from Giles Tribe Architects, as their retirement home. >

CONDOBOLIN

“Designing A HOME FOR YOUR PARENTS HAS TO BE THE ultimate highlight FOR AN ARCHITECT.” MARK BROADLEY

CONDOBOLIN CWL 45

THE HOME WAS beautifully constructed BY LOCAL BUILDER JOHN ADAMS SIX YEARS AGO BUT STILL LOOKS REFRESHINGLY NEW, WITH timeless style AND ELEGANT PROPORTIONS.

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CONDOBOLIN

Tony and Jill’s other son, Simon, a chartered accountant, is equally gifted, having taken over his father’s accountancy practice before establishing his main office in Orange, with a branch now in Condobolin.

“Designing a home for your parents has to be the ultimate highlight for an architect,” Mark says. “It is an affirmation of their belief in you and your work and provided the perfect opportunity for me to create an enduring legacy.”

Mark said his “clients”, now both aged 75, were very particular in their brief. “Mum wanted a view out onto the street, especially from the kitchen, with the living area all together, and to have light and sun in most of the rooms.” With tongue in cheek, Mark added his father’s only wish was that it didn’t matter what it cost as long as Mum was happy!

The home was beautifully constructed by local builder John Adams six years ago but still looks refreshingly new, with timeless style and elegant proportions. It includes everything that opens and shuts.

“I was very impressed by the approach and skill John demonstrated throughout the construction of the house,” Mark says. “He was very easy to work with, aspired to do a high-quality job and ensured his team and sub-contractors delivered to our expectations.”

The home includes many design elements, features and fittings not typically found in local residential construction.

“Whereas it would be easy to say it’s too difficult, it can’t be done or that’s not how we do it, John was always willing to listen and could understand the detail as well as the bigger picture,” Mark says.

The house has been built to the highest standard of construction and finish. Internally the house has a single-level, flexible open-plan and free-flowing entertainment area, with sliding doors enabling areas to open and close to respond to different situations.

Full-width glazed sliding doors separate the casual and more formal living areas without compromising the sense of space and views to the street.

The rear wing of guest rooms is similarly separated. Connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces was enhanced by an al fresco area forming an extension to the main living area, integrated into the form of the house.

The same timber flooring continues throughout and floor levels finish flush. Motorised retractable screens enable year-round use of this area.

“I really like having such easy access from the garage to the house, and am pleased the garage and solar systems are not visible from the street,” Tony says.

The house can be closed off for more intimate living or opened up when the family, which now includes three grandchildren, come to stay.

Perhaps it’s one of the most stunning and enduring homes in Condobolin, built as a result of 50 years of hard work and saving in a town the Broadleys have grown to love. CWL CONDOBOLIN CWL 47

Artistic LICENCE A

bout 30km east of Condobolin on the Henry Parkes Way, you’ll find an outback gallery like no other in the land. Just 3km down Mulguthrie Road, Ootha, you’ll find Utes in the Paddock, a must-see attraction for 20 very good reasons.

In a fun and quirky tribute to life in the outback, the 20 Holden utes were given a creative makeover by some of Australia’s favourite artists, including John Murray, Shane Gehlert, Peter Browne, Eris Fleming, Adam Cullen, Peter Mortimer, Belinda Williams and Karen Tooth.

The outdoor gallery celebrates Australian culture. There is Utezilla, the Emute, the TribeUte, even Dame Edna on the “dunny”. Other utes bear an uncanny resemblance to a bottle of Bundaberg Rum, a piano and a country bloke in a Driza-Bone and Akubra hat.

You’ll enjoy the variety of ways artists have turned the iconic Holden ute into a piece of art, reflecting some aspect of Australian history or culture.

Utes in the Paddock was the brainchild of the owners of Burrawang West Station who came up with the idea while travelling down the famous American Route 66.

If tourists were flocking to the Cadillac Ranch (near Amarillo, Texas), surely Utes in the Paddock would drive visitors to Central West NSW to view outstanding “uteworks” completed by Aussie artists and sculptors.

Since the first ute was installed in 2008, thousands of visitors from all over the world have visited the paddock.

There is no visiting fee and they can be viewed 24 hours, seven days a week. All the utes were donated by local residents and businesses, while the artists contributed their time and considerable talent.

Here in the middle of nowhere, Utes in the Paddock is a unique mix of art, humour, originality and culture. It could only happen in Australia! CWL

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CONDOBOLIN

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

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Welcome to

LAKE CARGELLIGO

LAKE CARGELLIGO TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

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UNEXPECTED OASIS IF THE IDEA OF A QUIET LIFE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY APPEALS TO YOU, THE LAKE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES.

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

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Days gone by

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

Past and PRECIOUS V

isitors to Lake Cargelligo Museum take a step back in time to view, among other things, historic agricultural implements as well as equipment from the old hospital and the town’s manual telephone exchange.

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

Go Placidly STEVE AND JAN JOHNSON ENJOY A BUSY LIFE BUT AT AN EASY PACE PREFERRED BY THEIR BELOVED CLYDESDALES.

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

w

ith the simple command of “walk on”, the 10 big Clydesdales, recognised for their beauty, strength and stamina, move gently forward as one. There is a paddock to plough and Steve Johnson, with his hat pulled down, is just the man to do it.

The sun has barely risen and Lake Cargelligo’s “horse whisperer” is at it again, keeping an age-old tradition of man and beast alive.

Already the grey nomads from the lake are watching from the sidelines, cameras poised and memories stretching back to their own childhood when the Clydesdale was king.

There is no shouting or cursing, and certainly no loud engine noises, just the sound of the jingling chains and birds that seem to follow the plough.

Despite the dust and discomfort, Steve finds it surprisingly peaceful.

The strong, obliging horses are doing what they’ve been bred for, deftly following commands that Steve barks out from his old cast-iron seat, like “come over” (to move right) or “come off” (move left).

When Steve yells out “Whooo”, the team, made up of seven mares and three geldings, most of them about 17 hands and weighing up to a ton each, come to a grinding halt. > LAKE CARGELLIGO CWL 57

LAKE CARGELLIGO

“This was the way it was done for over 100 years. I take my hat off to those early pioneers because I know first-hand the amount of hard work and long hours it takes to get a crop off.”

They all respond to their own names and are known by their distinctive personalities. There’s Molly, Steve’s main leader, and her daughters Gyspy and Jedda in the front row, followed by Belle, Maggy, Blossom and Bow and the geldings Barny, Baldy and Darcy.

“You can’t push these big horses around. You have to teach them to understand your commands by repetition and loads of patience,” explains Steve, a quintessential salt-of-the-earth bushman.

“To have a team work together like this can only happen through regular training. They are a team, much like a team of footballers. It’s not about individual performance but all about teamwork.”

Clydesdales are big, powerful animals and Steve, at one stage, thought there wasn’t one he couldn’t train, an opinion quickly revised after the first of several hospital visits. Even wife Jan has been flung 10 feet in the air by one well-aimed kick of the hind leg.

“Temperament is everything with these animals. We don’t keep any horses with a bad nature, it’s simply not worth it, not while there are so many good ones around,” says Steve, a natural and gifted horseman who appreciates their role in the early days of agriculture.

The breed dates back to early European settlement and by 1850 were very much part of Australian pioneer life. The gentle giants were extensively utilised in the country’s early development – ploughing, sowing, hauling loads of timber and wool, and, of course, clearing the land and developing dams and irrigation channels.

“This was the way it was done for over 100 years. I take my hat off to those early pioneers because I know first-hand the amount of hard work and long hours it takes to get a crop off.”

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

STARTING OUT It took a few years and a variety of jobs before Steve found his calling in life.

By the age of 14 he’d left school at Lake Cargelligo to help out with his father, a shearing contractor, and two brothers, in local shearing sheds. He later worked in the mines before scoring a job with the wool stores in Botany.

“I had some mates at Bondi and they reckoned there was more fun to be had on the beach,” says Steve, with a wry grin. “A job came up to help fit out bathrooms and I spent a few years doing that but felt like a fish out of water.”

One weekend Steve was roped into a working trip around Australia in an old Zephyr, moving from town to town whenever there was enough fuel money in the tin.

Eventually he made his way back to Sydney where he met Jan, his soul mate, in a downstairs unit from where he was boarding. Jan worked at the Dally Street telephone exchange, where all the country and interstate calls came through. They were married within 11 months and are still inseparable 45 years later.

In 1971 Steve brought his new bride to Lake Cargelligo where they snapped up six acres on the lake for a bargain $2500.

“It was a rocky scrap heap back then and no one wanted to live there.

The block was empty – no trees, nothing,” says Jan, over a cuppa in the cosy homestead with sweeping views over the glistening water.

Over the years the couple raised their two children, Melissa and Kane, (who both live in town and have inherited their parents’ love of horses), while building their country retreat, complete with sheds, yards, gardens and a lush green lawn. > LAKE CARGELLIGO CWL 59

LAKE CARGELLIGO

THE ARRIVAL OF THE CLYDESDALE In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland to all corners of the globe, including the new colony.

It was only a matter of time before the Johnsons purchased their first horse. Then another. By the early 1980s Steve was pulling an old scarifier behind a pair of horses, working the front paddock bordering the lake.

From these early experiences, Steve and Jan slowly set about building up their plant and horse numbers. Over time they were able to recreate a farming scene more reminiscent of the early 1900s.

“The bloke who invented the reaper and binder was a bloody genius,” says Steve, who has a great understanding of old farm machinery.

Seeing Steve work his horses is for many a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

He’s loath to admit it, but many call him the “horse whisperer” for his special affinity with his 14 Clydesdales, which are not just farm animals but his “special mates”.

He’s been working with Molly in the paddock for more than 20 years now and has formed an enduring friendship based on love and respect.

Having so much harness gear means Steve has had to acquire a new set of skills with, of all things, a sewing machine.

“You can’t go to the corner shop and just buy it. I have to make or mend everything and it’s important to keep the gear well oiled and maintained,” he says.

“I was fortunate that Jan’s father was a boot maker and during the seven years he lived with us, passed on a lot of valuable knowledge regarding leatherwork and machines.”

In recent years the tourism side of the business has picked up. The Johnsons are finding many of the grey nomads are dropping in to witness first-hand what they do with their Clydesdale team.

As part of the package they’re also able to inspect sheds chock-a-block full of locally sourced carriages, furniture vans, a street wagonette, spring carts and sulkies.

The pair have displayed their skills at many shows over the years but a definite highlight of their long association with Clydesdales was being asked to participate in the Bryce Courtenay novel Jessica, which became a two-part television mini-series in 2004.

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Filmed around Lucknow, near Orange, it involved six weeks of street scenes, driving carriages and “making wheels fall off”.

“We set off here with five old horse-drawn vehicles and 11 sets of harness,” Steve says. “I loved every minute of it. Working with stars like Sam Neill, Lisa Harrow and John Howard was an amazing experience.”

In the near future, Steve and Jan are hoping that “big mobs” of both senior citizens and young school children will soon be able to experience how farm work was performed last century.

Leave plenty of time. These guys don’t like to rush things, particularly when it comes to their beloved Clydesdales. The breed that helped build Australia is now putting Lake Cargelligo on the map for all the right reasons and the Johnsons couldn’t be happier. CWL

FOR GROUP INQUIRIES RING: Steve or Jan on (02) 6898 1384.

LAKE CARGELLIGO

QUIET AND COMFORTABLE

V

isitors can always find an affordable bed, clean rooms and a sumptuous cooked breakfast at the Lake Cargelligo Motel.

Owned for the past decade by Ingrid and Mark Stenhouse, the motel is located in a quiet street, only a block or two from the main street, shops and the picturesque lake.

There are 10 rooms to choose from as well as a pool to cool down in during the warmer months.

Ingrid and Mark were school sweethearts and have now been married 16 years. Before they bought the motel, they spent three years managing the Royal Mail Hotel.

They looked at other possibilities, including pubs, before deciding to try their hand in the motel business.

“AT TIMES WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES BUT WE MEET LOTS OF LOVELY PEOPLE.” Fortunately, the Stenhouse family are early risers. Mark is a baker at his mother’s business, Fisho’s Bakery, and starts work at 3.20am each day, while Ingrid cooks up a mean early breakfast, when required by her guests.

The motel is for sale, but the family harbour no plans of moving away from the town they were both born and raised in.

“At times we have our challenges but we meet lots of lovely people. Besides, it’s a lot quieter than living in a pub,” Ingrid laughs.

“It’s a good family business and very similar to running a business from home. I’m able to take our two girls to school and attend all school functions while still managing the motel.” CWL Ingrid and Mark Stenhouse offer great comfort at their Lake Cargelligo Motel.

LAKE CARGELLIGO MOTEL Great budget accommodation in a quiet, central location.

We are walking distance to the shops and the beautiful lake.

During your stay you can take a dip in our salt water pool and enjoy our BBQ facilities. We also offer a laundry service and free WiFi. 28-30 Canada St, Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672 Ph: 02 6898 1303 Reception hours are 7.30am - 9.00pm www.lakecargelligomotel.com.au LAKE CARGELLIGO CWL 61

Life by the lake PETER NILSSON KNOWS THE FAMOUS LAKE BORDERING LAKE CARGELLIGO BETTER THAN MOST.

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

P

eter Nilsson’s grandfather Ted established “Beechdale” in the early 1920s, setting up more than 100 acres of market gardens and orchards on the foreshores of the great lake.

During busy periods up to 18 men worked the fields. The fruit was distributed to local outlets while the tomatoes were taken by steam train to Sydney from Lake Cargelligo twice weekly.

“In the early days it was all horse and cart.

The women depended on this transport as there were not too many cars about.”

Years later the situation had changed. Bitumen roads and air-conditioning had arrived and people from the Lake went shopping in Griffith.

Ted’s son Oscar continued market gardening as did his son Peter.

The market gardens were phased out and Peter eventually took up work floor sanding in WA. In the meantime, his father had moved the family into a new house and his former home was left abandoned.

“We were all hawkers, selling our fruit and vegetables door to door and town to town.

The service was invaluable and well patronised,” Peter says.

“The place had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The cows had moved in and my father thought the best thing would be to strike a match,” he says with a grin. >

LAKE CARGELLIGO CWL 63

With his wife Barbara by his side, Peter has been “doing it up” for close to 45 years. “I’m a slow worker,” he jokes over a morning cup of coffee.

Today the place is still called home to their four adult daughters. Nearly all the work on the place has been done by Peter, who has acquired a reputation in the town as a handy furniture builder and mad collector of Australian memorabilia.

No story would be complete without mentioning his relationship with his mighty Clydesdale for many years. The family were into camping trips, country roads and stars at night.

For something different they would hitch up their wagonette and follow the Lachlan River down to places like Hillston, where they’d camp for a fortnight before making the slow return trip home.

The pair have grown up with Lake Cargelligo in their backyard and often go bird watching in their tinnie. Peter has identified at least 160 different land and water birds, a useful skill when you have bird watchers coming to the Lake from all corners of the world.

“The lake has been our lifeblood,” Peter says. “During the devastating 10-year drought, it got so bad we even thought about leaving.”

The lake dried out for the first time in 100 years and there were thousands of dead European carp lying on the dried lakebed.

They are not a natural species and regarded as a pest but the sight of them dead as far as the eye could see was too much for some. Nobody had experienced anything like it.

Thankfully Lake Cargelligo is once again a paradise, attracting a multitude of bird watchers, anglers and water sport enthusiasts.

The Nilssons have been involved with the Lake Cargelligo Wetlands and Lakes Council for about eight years. After a lifetime of living in their own slice of heaven, the family are now thinking about sharing their unique property with other like-minded campers and bird lovers. CWL Right: Peter and Barbara Nilsson with their daughter Angie and grandson Audy at their home on the shores of Lake Cargelligo.

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LAKE CARGELLIGO

BUSY BETTY BETTY BREESE LOVES HELPING OTHERS, MAKING HER A VALUABLE AND MUCH-LOVED MEMBER OF THE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY THAT IS LAKE CARGELLIGO.

T

he affable grandmother was born and raised at the Lake, where her father was a boilermaker.

As a young woman she moved to Sydney for work opportunities, ending up in administration at a nursing home before returning to the Lake about 15 years ago.

She is associated with the local show (held each year in September), the Christmas Carnival and Youth Support committees, and on the day of our visit, was busy working for Days For Girls International, making “Bags for Dignity” for women in third world countries.

“Every girl in the world deserves education, safety and dignity. We are glad to be able to do our bit by supplying girls with lasting feminine hygiene solutions,” she says.

“It’s a very good cause and will put in washable sanitary pads that we make here, underwear, face washers, and soap.”

Gaye has been here about 40 years. Her husband’s family have been on “Gapview” for three generations but in the district even longer.

Betty loves the great sense of community involvement in the town and says that small towns survive and rely on volunteers.

“It’s a friendly community and we all stick together,” she says, as she gets back on her sewing machine.

“We have the Curlew Hospital Auxiliary, the Cancer Support Committee, the Lakes Alive and Progress Association . . . the list goes on.

When I ask for assistance the response is always tremendous. It’s the same with everything.”

After 46 years of living in the district, Adele Hattwell enjoys her patchwork and quilting, especially now that she is no longer on the farm. She loves the water, which reminds her of Albany, WA, where she hails from.

At 75 years young, Betty admits she has slowed down a little in recent years. To the locals who know her best, she is still a “mover and shaker”.

Betty Breese is just glad to be home again, enjoying the friendships, climate and slower pace of an iconic country town. CWL

“She is best known for her organisational skills,” friend Gaye Davis says. “She gets the whip out and gets us all motivated!”

Above: Gaye Davis, Sue Newham, Sandra Smith, Therese Middleton, Maree Hayward, Amanda Haase and Adele Hattwell. Sitting: Helen Fair and Betty Breese.

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WEST WYALONG

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WEST WYALONG

Welcome to

WEST WYALONG TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

WEST WYALONG CWL 67

FROM THE MAYOR As a teenager, within days of getting my “P” Plates, my mother, who was secretary of Meals on Wheels, handed me the rosters for the next month and said: “Please deliver these to our volunteers to help us out”. It was the ’70s, there were no computers or emails, and rosters were dropped into letter boxes.

In this simple way, I started a lifetime of serving the community.

This journey would involve many years of coaching soccer, netball and volleyball teams, being secretary and president of sporting clubs, a Landcare group, disability group and the RFS as a deputy captain.

In 1981 I stood in a by-election for my local council and polled in last place.

In 1983 I stood again in the general election and polled in first place. At the age of 24, I was to become the youngest councillor ever elected to Wollondilly Shire.

In 1990 my wife Trish and I chose to make a break from this busy lifestyle and with our three very young children we moved to Gooloogong. I was a SkillShare manager for five years. In 1995 I was appointed as executive officer of Lachlan REEP, a national pilot program working with a variety of partners like RLPB, State Water, Soil Con and Landcare.

We found ourselves in West Wyalong at the beginning of 1997 when I was offered a teaching position at West Wyalong High School in their Middle School program.

It didn’t take long before the local government interest emerged once again and so in 1999 I stood for council. I was successful. Seventeen years and three elections later I find myself winding up my time on Bland Shire Council.

The Shire and this community has been a wonderful place in which to raise a family. Those deeply held and time-honoured values we hold dear as Australians are still easily found and evident in our community.

It has been a privilege to serve my community, firstly as a councillor and over the past six years as Mayor. I can leave this chapter of my life behind, knowing that over this time at Bland Shire we greatly improved our local parks and gardens. We developed fantastic sporting ovals and facilities for community use, facilities like the walking/cycle paths and the Wetlands.

We were able to source a quality aged care service provider to secure a strong future for the village. We continually supported medical practitioners to come to this community so we are now the envy of similar-sized towns. We have a council committed to organisational improvement and attracting economic development for the future. We respect heritage and initiated the successful verandah restoration program with great results. We have, I believe, compiled a very strong portfolio of achievement.

I sincerely thank all those councillors, community members and council staff who have worked so hard over these past years to make it all happen. It has been my privilege to play my small part in serving the community with you and for you.

Cr Neil Pokoney, Mayor of Bland Shire Council 68 CWL WEST WYALONG

IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO PLAY MY SMALL PART IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.

WEST WYALONG

THE BEST of the West W

est Wyalong’s iconic crooked Main Street takes visitors on a walk down memory lane.

Following the original bullock track that curved around trees and gold diggings shortly after European settlement in the 1890s, Main Street represents West Wyalong’s golden history as well as being the hub of a vibrant modern community.

More than 75 years after explorer John Oxley declared the area would “never be inhabited by civilised man”, the discovery of gold by Joseph Neeld in 1893 triggered the settlement of Wyalong and West Wyalong. In the meantime, people also soon realised the rich agricultural potential of the area and began to work the land.

Gold mining and agriculture remain the key industries of the modernday West Wyalong, which is home base to Evolution’s Cowal gold mine, the Pace Farm egg-processing plant and multimillion-dollar modern grain-handling facilities operated by Graincorp and Grainflow.

A diverse local business community complements the major industries and employers while a progressive Bland Shire Council supports a promising tourism industry.

Visitors can take a dip in Barmedman’s famous Mineral Pool, kick a ball on the oval in Ungarie where the four Daniher brothers learnt to play AFL, enjoy tea and scones at the Weethalle Whistlestop museum, hoist a football over the Mirrool silos or take a short trip off the beaten track to Tallimba – all within a half-hour drive of West Wyalong.

West Wyalong boasts incredible sport and recreation facilities including a refurbished swimming complex and picturesque family-friendly parks and playgrounds. A network of walking paths provides the opportunity to wander between Wyalong and West Wyalong or out to the local golf course.

With hundreds of available beds spread across varying styles of affordable accommodation including motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-contained apartments, West Wyalong is also a great base for visitors to the Central West and Riverina regions, ideally located within a 90-minute driving distance from Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Parkes, Forbes, Temora, Young, Cootamundra, Grenfell, Narrandera, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and many other towns and villages along the way.

The Wetlands is located between Wyalong and West Wyalong on the Newell Highway and is one of the Central West’s best-kept secrets and a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon bird watching, paddling, fishing or simply soaking up the tranquil atmosphere.

West Wyalong has a diverse annual events calendar. October is a terrific month to visit with the West Wyalong Rodeo, Mirrool Silo Kick, Barmedman Modified Tractor Pull and India in the West Festival all taking place in the space of five weeks. Another popular annual event is the West Wyalong rugby league knockout held on the last weekend in February each year at the iconic Ron Crowe Oval. CWL

A number of boutique shops and galleries showcase West Wyalong’s strong cultural identity while those with an appreciation for history will be captivated by the Wyalong Museum, located in the historic old Wyalong Court House, and other historical landmarks spread throughout the shire.

Above: Looking down West Wyalong's Main Street. Below: The Wetlands are a great place to go if you want to soak up the tranquil atmosphere.

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Days gone by

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BUILT TO LAST

THE ICONIC BRICK BUILDINGS THAT LINE THE STREETS OF WEST WYALONG ARE A FITTING REMINDER OF THE ROBUST AND STEADFAST NATURE OF ITS CITIZENS.

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FOSTERING RESPECT & UNDERSTANDING

AT THE HEART OF THE WWLALC'S OBJECTIVES IS A DEEP RESPECT FOR ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HERITAGE.

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he West Wyalong Local Aboriginal Land Council (WWLALC) was incorporated in April 1984 under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.

WWLALC is committed to caring and working for the wellbeing of all people of Aboriginal descent and affiliation to the WWLALC area, whatever their circumstances might be.

The council envisages a future where the whole community will have an improved awareness and understanding of the core functions of the LALC, and respect for Aboriginal culture and heritage.

The council is “committed to working towards a sustainable future for our community”. It aims to achieve this “through using our knowledge, resources and skills in traditional ways for the long-term benefit of our individual members, families and groups”.

The area for which the West Wyalong Local Aboriginal Land Council has responsibility is about 6850km2. The land council area is located within Bland and Lachlan shires and the membership is made up of several language groups, however it is predominantly Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Ngiyampaa tribal groups. CWL Above: Artwork by Darren Cooper. Above right: Artworks by Gordon Wayne and Danny Goodwin.

THE VALUES HELD BY THE WWLALC ARE: • A commitment to building and sustaining credibility of the land council; • Respect for our skills and knowledge as Aboriginal people, both within our own community and the broader community; • Honesty and transparency of business so every member of the Aboriginal community will benefit from positive credibility;

• Respect for our culture, in being true to our cultural traditions and our spiritual connection to country; • Respect for one another as members of the Aboriginal community; • A sense of pride in being Aboriginal people capable of shaping our own destiny.

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DYED in the WOOL THE BUTTENSHAWS HAVE ALWAYS THRIVED ON SHEER HARD WORK.

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ill Buttenshaw is a proud fourth-generation Merino breeder at “Laurel Park”, West Wyalong, on land that has been held in the family for 118 years.

The property was initially purchased in 1898 by Bill’s great grandfather, who saw great potential in the prime grazing country bordering Lake Cowal, particularly once it receded after a flood. Much of that country is now owned by the mines but Bill, like his staunch forebears, has learnt to adapt to forever changing times and landscapes.

As Bill feeds his stud rams from his ute (with a rope attached to the trailer full of oats), he admits the best thing he ever did was marry the girl from the Mornington Peninsula he met on a European Contiki Tour.

Bill and wife Heather recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in the company of their three children, who have all chosen to break from the farming tradition and row their own boat in life. Rohan teaches Japanese at a rural Victorian school, Grant is in the mining game and daughter Ashley Byron is a teacher librarian.

“Our children are fifth generation on the farm and they have between them five children but there is a question mark as to who, if any, will carry on after us,” says Bill, a laid-back bloke and dyed-in-the-wool sheep man.

Heather has fully embraced country life by creating a garden at “Laurel Park”, being involved in school and sporting activities for their children, as a member of the Bland Spinners and Weavers and as a steward at the West Wyalong Show.

But it’s a fact of life that being 50km from town and the logistics of getting young children to school and sport can be taxing.

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“We are a long way from family, and job opportunities just aren’t there for women,” she says. “For many, including ourselves, it can be an isolated existence. We have no extended family here, most have moved on and we can have days without contact with others.”

She feels that rural women today have to really enjoy and understand the farming lifestyle before making a lifetime’s commitment. > Above: Bill’s father, Reg Buttenshaw, was born in the old timber homestead, built in about 1888. It is one of the few original buildings in the area left intact from that era.

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Bill has lived here all his life and wouldn’t change a thing. Like the men before him, he has always loved breeding stock.

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Bill has lived here all his life and wouldn’t change a thing. Like the men before him, he has always loved breeding stock, and sells about 60 of his top rams at their on-property sale each September. Their last sale was the best in 20 years, with their draft of Laurel Park rams averaging just over $2000.

Their sheep are well known throughout the northern Riverina as big, long bodied, fertile sheep covered with long stapled, high quality, medium wool.

Bill has seen it all when it comes to fads in Merino breeding. He’s been through the Reserve Price Scheme where, he says, the message was just cut wool, it didn’t matter what type.

“After the fall of the Reserve it was to get fine or get out, then the trend was soft, rolling skins. The current trend seems to be ‘don’t worry about wool cuts, just grow meat sheep with a big frame’,” he says.

It’s a topic he is rather fond of. “We’ve been in the sheep industry a long time and our old classer, the late John Coy, told us to breed sheep suitable to the country, so we’ve continued breeding sheep that will still cut a quantity of wool while maintaining a good frame.”

It’s testament to his skills and experience that Bill can run the entire property with just one employee. It’s a far cry from his grandfather’s day, when there were two occupied houses on the farm and a ready team of willing workers.

It was only a matter of time before he established a cattle stud, with the Bramboyne Poll Herefords coming to the fore in 1984 and now numbering about 150 cows.

The family don’t exhibit their livestock at shows but there have been plenty of highlights along the way, like the building of the new woolshed in 1991, reaching the 100th anniversary of the Buttenshaws at “Laurel Park” in 1998 and Ashley’s garden wedding in 2010 (just after the breaking of the drought).

Maybe there is that old question mark about who will carry on the family tradition that began before Federation but Bill Buttenshaw is far too busy making the most out of today to worry about what might happen tomorrow. CWL

Above left: Bill and Heather recently celebrated 40 years of married life and are looking forward to the next 40.

Left: Bill feeds oats to some of his young ram drop.

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STANDING TALL THIS HISTORIC WOOLSHED NEAR NARADHAN HAS BEEN REBUILT TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

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IT WAS USED AS A DEPOT SHED FOR ALL THE SURROUNDING FARMS UNTIL WELL INTO THE 1940s.

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ith traditional rusty tin roofs and dilapidated timber yards, many old woolsheds around the West Wyalong district have been let go, lost to the ravages of fire, white ants, lower wool prices and plain old age.

But there is at least one woolshed that has enjoyed a total facelift, meaning it might be around for another 100 years.

The historic shed, built in 1888, on “Morwell”, near the village of Naradhan, has never been in better shape.

Built and designed by a man considered to be the most famous of all the Riverina woolshed builders, William McFadzean, from Narrandera, the shed features an unusual “T” formation, which Dr Stitts, the owner, felt would set a new benchmark for the area.

It was used as a depot shed for all the surrounding farms until well into the 1940s. In the early days of blade shearing it was a 28-stand shed, then in 1903, with new overhead equipment powered by an oil-fired single-cylinder engine, the number of stands was reduced by half.

The good doctor sold his shed and the 10,000-acre farm that came with it to Thomas Herbert Templeton, whose family farmed there for the next 125 years.

His great grandson, Tom Templeton, was born and raised on the property, spending nearly 75 years there before retiring into Lake Cargelligo with wife Lan two years ago.

The couple recently returned to the historic shearing shed that has given them equal amounts of joy and grief over the years.

One day they’d prefer to forget occurred in 1996, on their return from a holiday. The creek was flooding and a freak whirly wind had all but flattened the shed and blown away most of the roof.

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THE SHED, NOW DOWN TO THREE STANDS, WAS IN USE TILL ABOUT 2003.

After so many years of standing tall and proud, it was a gut-wrenching scene.

At times like this you can shake your head in dismay and move on or you can do what the Templetons did, which was to rebuild it stronger than ever, to be enjoyed by many future generations.

“I always kept the woolshed insured so that was covered,” Tom says.

“With a grant from NSW Heritage we were able to undertake a complete restoration, starting with recladding the walls with new cypress pine and fitting new shutters and doors.”

The decision was made to fit guttering to the roof section, with downpipes draining water away from the shed to help keep the foundations dry, which had rotted through at ground level and had to be replaced.

Fitting 19 new windows completed the project with the woolshed finally ready for its official opening before 300 thrilled locals in late 1997.

Harry Murrells from Ungarie undertook most of the restoration work, along with help from Tom and his son Richard.

“Harry’s expertise in building proved just the right answer to the exacting task of the work,” Tom says.

The shed, now down to three stands, was in use till about 2003 as cattle and broad-acre farming took over the landscape.

Tom and Lan have enjoyed the pleasure of seeing three wedding receptions take place in the historic shed, including that of their daughter Sandra back in 1998.

Since her family took over the property, Kyla Brooks may well be the first to be wed in the old shearing shed, which she loves as much as the Templetons. Only problem is, she is still waiting to find Mr Right! CWL Facing page: Former owners of the historic woolshed, Tom and Lan Templeton, with Kyla Brooks, whose family took over in 2015.

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The IRON LADY

COLLECTOR KYLA BROOKS IS PRESSING ON WITH A RATHER UNUSUAL OBSESSION.

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ou won’t find any old irons used as doorstoppers at Kyla Brooks’s country home near West Wyalong.

“They are far too valuable for that,” laughs the privately practising midwife who devotes her energies, on weekends at least, to her very unique and beautifully presented iron collection.

“It all started when I was about 12 when I went bottle collecting with my uncles,” she says. “I found a little polishing iron in the paddock and have been hooked ever since.”

That was 20 years ago and Kyla has now amassed about 700 of them, after countless visits to antique shops and garage sales as well as swap meets in Cootamundra and West Wyalong.

She concedes there could be other serious iron collectors out there; it’s just that she hasn’t met any.

“I’m a member of the American club of iron collectors but because a lot of them are older people, very few are on the internet, making communication rather difficult,” she says.

Over the years Kyla has done extensive research on her irons and is able to tell a story about each one in her collection – where it came from, its function and price.

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Many of her irons date back to the earliest days of the colony, while some of her antique English irons are even older.

All of the early irons were heated with coal, gas, petrol or fire, except for the Scandinavian ones, which were used to iron wet clothes.

The more common varieties cost as little as $30 each, while some of the rare models have set her back thousands of dollars.

Her massive collection is slowly taking over the “Morwell” family homestead, but this country girl is far from finished.

Others have more sentimental value, like her grandmother’s iron, which she brought with her from Sydney when she married Kyla’s grandfather, a farmer from Lake Cargelligo.

Although one of the youngest iron collectors in the country, Kyla Brooks is determined to keep the story of the humble iron well and truly alive. CWL

Each iron had a very specific task in their day, long before the advent of electricity.

Kyla Brooks with some of her amazing irons.

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FRIENDLY

& fabulous M

eeting, dining or shopping at Thom, Dick & Harry’s has never been a more enjoyable experience for West Wyalong locals and visitors.

Business partners and great pals Naomi Nicholson and Pam Clarke have run this vibrant business with the quirky name since 2007, although it has been operating on the present site for nearly 16 years.

It was originally known as a homeware store with a coffee shop and deli. When the girls purchased the florist next door, they knocked down a few walls to accommodate the growing café business and expand their florist and homewares store.

Pam is a born and bred local while Naomi moved here from the city as a young girl. It was inevitable their paths would one day collide.

Both husbands, their silent partners, are always ready to help out with any heavy work and maintenance. Chris Clarke is a local farmer while Tim Nicholson works at the gold mine but both unite on Saturday mornings with their famous big breakfasts.

Pam and Naomi are ably supported by excellent staff, including their florist, Jacqui Sandow, and chef, Katie Scriven.

The friendly staff and great coffee are what makes Thom, Dick & Harry’s the place to meet for lunch, a catch-up or to shop. While there, you can check the latest in kitchen and homewares or make somebody’s day with a bunch of fresh flowers.

They are well known for their fresh gourmet baguettes, and their newlook menu by chef Katie, but their coffee deserves special mention.

Ever since partnering up with Adrian Capra, from the Art of Espresso, they’ve developed a dedicated and appreciative following.

“I heard about a local guy from Young who was developing his own business roasting coffee beans, which he sources from all over the world,” Naomi says.

“We just had to have the best and freshest beans for our customers to enjoy, and the rest is history.”

It’s all part of the magic of Thom, Dick & Harry’s.

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Above: Florist Jacqui Sandow. Above right: Friends and business associates Pam Clarke and Naomi Nicholson have created a great mood at Thom, Dick & Harry’s.

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Back from the brink THE WORLD NEARLY CAME TO A CRASHING END FOR CHAMPION WEST WYALONG LONG TRACK RIDER HUNTER ANDERSON IN 2014.

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T

he young grass track rider had the world at his feet. He was about to sign up as a wild card entry in the European World Series and ride professionally for the Somerset Rebels Club in England.

On this warm summer’s day he was competing in a town near Birmingham. It was just a small meeting to fill the gap between the larger European national events.

The former Bland Shire Young Sportsman of the Year and winner of 15 national and 22 state titles (for dirt track and long track events) wasn’t even supposed to be there, deciding to compete at the very last moment.

Hunter doesn’t remember the accident but has watched the shocking video footage dozens of times, trying to comprehend what went wrong.

He’d endured dozens of small mishaps over the years, since starting as a six-year-old on Yamaha PeeWee 50s, but this accident was like no other.

Travelling at about 160kmh, he hit a bump, lost control of the bike and crashed to the ground. At that stage he wasn’t badly injured and two years later says he probably would have been ready to compete in the next race.

The problem, however, was another rider who had nowhere to go. He threw his bike down in an effort to miss the fearless Aussie rider but it still slammed into his head at an out-of-control speed, causing massive bleeding to Hunter’s brain.

His father and manager (and former dirt track rider), Rod, was quickly on the scene, along with life-saving paramedics who immediately placed him on life-support.

“I always kind of knew that riding motorcycles at great speed could be dangerous, but thankfully I survived the worst day of my life.”

Fortunately, Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, one of the best in the country, was only a short distance away.

With a punctured lung, a broken collar bone and severe brain injuries, Hunter was in a perilous state.

Back in West Wyalong he began work in the family earth-moving business and has never looked back.

He was in a coma for five long weeks, during which time his distressed mother Natalie flew over to join her husband at his bedside. Every parent’s worst nightmare turned into an eight-week saga of waiting and praying.

Now approaching his 20th birthday, Hunter admits he is probably fitter than he was before the accident that nearly claimed his life.

Once he came round, the medical staff at QEH were faced with the challenging task of teaching their star patient how to walk, eat and talk all over again.

Never one to sit down for long, he is now playing competitive basketball, AFL football and regularly attends the gym. His favourite games of rugby league and rugby union, however, are off the list due to potential head injuries.

His anxious parents were there for the duration and assisted in what doctors described as a “miracle” recovery. After extensive rehabilitation, the family, accompanied by a doctor, were finally able to fly him home to Australia.

One of the positive aspects to come out of Hunter’s ordeal was the outpouring of support he received from friends and complete strangers on social media.

Thankfully he was insured through Motorcycling Australia, who funded the trip, which otherwise would have cost over $80,000.

Cowra’s Kristie White, the wife of Hunter’s former bike mechanic, Tom White, started a Facebook page called “Thumbs up for Hunter”, which attracted thousands of supporters from all over the world, including the UK where he was particularly popular.

“We were most fortunate to have the best medical staff on hand, including one of the country’s best neurosurgeons and a bunch of amazingly talented physiotherapists,” Natalie says from her beautiful West Wyalong home.

Hunter only remembers fragments of his recovery and really only started putting the pieces of his life back together when home on familiar ground.

“Thankfully he doesn’t remember me showering and training him to use the toilet like a toddler. For a time at least, he thought I was his nurse,” she says, speaking of her darkest days.

“These messages kept me motivated and helped me move forward,” says Hunter, with a sheepish smile belying his grit and courage on the circuit.

Despite the dozens of articles written about him and the box of memorabilia his mother has collected over the years, he is still the downto-earth young country boy he’s always been.

“I always kind of knew that riding motorcycles at great speed could be dangerous,” Hunter says. “But thankfully I survived the worst day of my life.

Natalie still gets emotional thinking about the stress and pain the family endured in the most testing of times. She describes Hunter’s sisters, Britt, 22 and Bella, 17, as incredibly supportive during his long road to recovery.

“These days I’m fully aware of how one’s life can change in an instant. I feel that I’m probably one of the luckiest blokes around and thank my lucky stars every day that I’m still here to tell my story.”

Britt, now undertaking a double degree in nursing at Sydney University, proved to be Natalie’s rock. Despite her age, she was an amazing support unit while Bella, the youngest in the family, tried to stay strong while at boarding school in Sydney.

Hunter has participated in one race meeting since his accident, but his mother and sisters would feel a lot happier if he hung his helmet up for good.

Despite all odds, and with lots of little steps along the way, Hunter was back at work within 12 months, selling motorbikes at Chris Watson’s Motorcycles, Cessnock.

Six months later, however, Rod and Natalie were forced to once again bring their boy home, realising his recovery was far from complete.

“We’ve all been terribly proud of his achievements both on and off the track and are just glad to have our little champion back home in one piece,” Natalie says. CWL Facing page: Hunter Anderson with his most fervent supporter, mother Natalie Anderson.

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Down to earth

SARAH CURRY HAS COME UP WITH THE PERFECT GARDENING COMPANION.

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lfred Austin captured the essence of gardening so beautifully when he said: “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.

To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body but the soul.”

Major’s Mulch, and the woman responsible for it, fit perfectly into this idyllic little vignette.

I arrive at the place where the idea for Major’s Mulch was first conceived, “Majors Point” on The Bland, near Quandialla, and am quickly surrounded by three lively country kids all under the age of seven.

Their mother, Sarah Curry, is the savvy and down-to-earth inventor of Major’s Mulch, now making its way to landscapers and nurseries throughout Australia.

The mulch is all grown here on the Bland, rich fertile sedimentary flood plain country where the Burrangong and the Bland creeks meet.

Local legend has it that Major Mitchell, while surveying “The Levels”, as he called it, became trapped by rising floodwater and was stranded on a small rise now known as “Majors Point”.

The property is now home for Sarah, husband Josh and their adorable kids Ted, Cate and Jim. It’s also the headquarters for Sarah’s bourgeoning enterprise.

Together they farm 5500 acres with a rotation of cereal, canola and field pea crops along with their flock of South African meat sheep.

Josh is a third-generation farmer on this land while Sarah’s ties go back even further. She’s a Tullibigeal girl, where her great grandfather, her pop and eventually her father and two uncles all farmed until 2006.

“People say farming is in the blood and for Josh and I the saying couldn’t be truer,” Sarah says.

“I grew up as Dad’s little shadow around the farm, studied agricultural science at university and worked in the agricultural industry as an agronomist and consultant for farmers, specialising in soil and plant health.”

It was on her family farm “Glenarty” that her love of gardening began. “My grandmother had the most beautiful garden. It was like a wonderland for a little girl who loved exploring, collecting insects and picking flowers to decorate mud pies,” she says.

“Almost every flower I see reminds me of Nan and the smell of jonquils takes me straight back to her kitchen.”

Not surprisingly, Sarah is still a passionate gardener and farmer, deriving much pleasure from seeing what is happening in her garden and in the paddocks each day.

“I find gardening very therapeutic and am lucky enough to have about three acres of garden, which is mostly a pleasure but sometimes lots of work!”

THE BIG REVELATION When you have a baby bump, doing anything is difficult, but when you are trying to mulch your garden in preparation for another hot dry Quandialla summer it’s an almost impossible task.

The year was 2009 and Sarah’s eldest son, Ted, was due in early October.

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“People say farming is in the blood and for Josh and I the saying couldn’t be truer."

Sarah was determined to have the garden mulched in spring before his arrival.

“I realised how labour intensive mulching can be, and was concerned about the dust from the hay and the annoying fact that I was actually introducing more weeds into the garden,” Sarah says.

She decided to find an easier, safer and quicker way to mulch and the concept of “Major’s Mulch” was born.

This innovation was developed as a solution to a simple problem: “I wanted to make mulching safer, easier and quicker and eliminate the hassle of weeds sprouting from the freshly laid mulch,” Sarah says.

The mulching pellets are 100 per cent organic plant material condensed into a pellet for easy mulching. They offer all the benefits of ordinary mulch without any of the hassles. No weeds or dust, just quick and easy to use.

Most importantly, her mulching pellets improve soil moisture retention, and because they are made from premium lucerne or pea straw, as they break down they act as a soil conditioner, adding organic nutrients. > Facing page: Sarah, Ted, Cate, Jim and Josh Curry.

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MAKING IT HAPPEN The innovative product was launched at the Australian Garden Show in Sydney in late 2014 to an overwhelming response.

“It’s an incredible journey from concept to commercialisation, and one that took a lot of courage.”

By the end of the four-day show, they had nine stockists in Sydney, which has since grown phenomenally to over 200.

Next they were selected to be part of Revealed, which showcases the best new gardening products at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in early 2015.

From there it snowballed. “That’s what launched us into Victoria, Queensland and South Australia,” Sarah says.

In December 2015 they won the best new allied product for the Nursery and Garden Industry for NSW and ACT and a few months later were the 2016 national finalists in the same category.

The judging was in Adelaide but at the time Josh was busy fighting a bushfire. Sarah ended up driving 1000km on her own, leaving early in the morning and arriving in time for the awards.

“We feel honoured just to be nominated and are so grateful to the support of everyone who encouraged us,” she says.

“It’s an incredible journey from concept to commercialisation, and one that took a lot of courage,” she says, referring to the juggling act that many farm wives with a career have learned to live with.

“I’ve always been passionate about farming and gardening and am thrilled to have combined the two while creating a new business to value-add to our farm.”

The thing Sarah is most proud of is taking a waste product, which is the nutritious leaves and stems from their field pea crop, and turning it into something that adds real value to gardens, by improving the quality of their soils and conserving moisture.

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There is a lot of work involved. Once the field peas are harvested, the stubble is raked and baled immediately to preserve colour and nutrient value (once it is rained on, the nutrients start to leach out into the soil).

The large eight-foot bales are stored on farm before going to Cootamundra for processing. The hay is steamed to sterilise any weed seeds and to prevent peas from sprouting.

Then the pellets come back to the farm in bulk for bagging and storage. Andersons Transport, based in West Wyalong, then delivers it to distributors and warehouses in Sydney and Melbourne.

“We are so pleased to be able to support other local businesses,” she says. “All the components of Major’s Mulch are proudly Australian grown and manufactured, including the biodegradable brown paper bags.”

Sometimes this busy mother and career woman has to pinch herself.

But not for long. Farming is great lifestyle but time waits for no one, especially with three young kids, a farming husband and a crop in the field. CWL Clockwise from top left: a newly planted crop; Sarah and Josh's lovely home; Josh and Jim in the harvester; Sarah and Cate in the vegie patch where the idea for Major's Mulch sprouted.

For more information about what West Wyalong has to offer and upcoming events visit

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4

A FRESH approach T HE TRANSFORMATION OF ICONIC COUNTRY PUB THE ROYAL HOTEL INTO AN UPMARKET RESTAURANT AND COFFEE BAR IS CHANGING THE STREETSCAPE OF WEST WYALONG.

S

pearheading the changes are Bradley Shaw and partner Jodie Kellett, who moved from Ballarat to kick-start a business focused on great food and friendly service.

Former patrons would find it hard recognising their old watering hole.

The main bar has undergone a complete makeover, with a modern marble-like finish that sets the tone for the rest of the restaurant.

The pair have introduced a magnificent range of new (mostly local) beers and wines, along with a cafe known for its quality Italian coffee and Jodie’s sumptuous cakes and muffins.

Lunch and dinner is served from Tuesday to Saturday, with some of the popular dishes including chicken, avocado and prawns, traditional chicken Parmigiarna and perfectly cooked steaks with salad or vegetables. > 88 CWL WEST WYALONG

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Former patrons would find it hard recognising their old watering hole. The main bar has undergone a complete makeover.

“Everything is fresh, sourced locally and made to order,” says Jodie, a qualified chef who cooks from the heart.

“Every meal is made from scratch. This means a meal may take a few extra minutes but it is well worth the wait.”

Jodie commenced her career in a small Victorian country pub before graduating to Melbourne hotels.

After many years of toiling over hot stoves she was awarded the job of cooking up her sumptuous meals for politicians at Melbourne’s Parliament House.

Brad has previously worked in video production, sales and marketing but serving in the hospitality business has always been close to his heart.

When the opportunity came to lease the Royal, built in 1914, the entrepreneurial pair jumped at the chance to bring their passion and talent to West Wyalong.

“We are enjoying bringing fresh food served in a traditional style full of Jodie’s unique flavours,” Brad says.

Now that the restaurant is up and running, the couple are now concentrating on the hotel’s accommodation. The eight rooms upstairs are being given a new lease of life and will be ready for Christmas trading. CWL 90 CWL WEST WYALONG

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GOLDEN

OPPORTUNITIES MINING FOR THE PRECIOUS YELLOW METAL IS BIG BUSINESS INDEED.

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W

est Wyalong was built on gold, but prior to the discovery of gold, the area was primarily sheep and cattle grazing country.

Farmer Joseph Neeld changed all that in 1893 when he discovered the speckled stuff on his family property near present-day West Wyalong.

Miners came from all over the colony and within a year the population on the camps swelled from 500 to about 4200.

Armed with nothing more than pick axes and shovels, the typical miner in those days scratched for nuggets and sunk mine shafts (a far cry from today, where the rock is mined deep into the ground to extract gold in minute portions).

The town of Wyalong was established to house the hopeful prospectors, the majority of whom blatantly refused to move from the Main Camp (present day West Wyalong).

Main Street was laid out in 1895, following the path of the original, crooked bullock track.

By 1899 the Wyalong gold field was considered to be the most productive in the colony but within 20 years (and over 12 tonnes later) the gold, it seemed, had petered out. >

Right: Elliot Willemsen-Bell and Garry Pearson stand alongside one of the massive haul trucks.

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A site to BEHOLD

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enior social responsibility advisor Elliot Willemsen-Bell trained as a journalist but unable to find work, spent two years “getting blood out of donors” at the Red Cross Blood Service.

Undeterred, he followed the construction boom to Queensland, working on major infrastructure projects all over the sunny state.

He later scored a job in the coal seam gas industry, working with farmers and the community in Queensland. About five years ago, he commenced work for the Cowal Gold Operation.

Recently married to Melissa, a town planner in Forbes, Elliot is made for his role, which covers anything from community investments to engagement with local councils, Indigenous groups and community groups.

Elliot and the mine’s environment and social responsibility manager, Garry Pearson, offer to take me for a careful drive around the secured site.

“At the turn of the last century there were many mine shafts around the town but out here we run an open pit,” says Elliot as we arrive at the viewing platform.

It’s almost too big to fathom and the haulage trucks far below look like toys. But they’re pulling out gold, and with gold fetching a healthy $1700 per ounce, it’s big business.

The excavators and trucks in the pit will shift nearly 40,000 tonnes of rock each day, courtesy of a daily blast of 100 tonnes of explosives and up to 14 massive haul or dump trucks, each worth a whopping $3.5 million to replace.

These monster machines guzzle up to 1600 litres of diesel every 12 hours, with tyres alone costing about $45,000 and lasting 8000 hours.

For each truckload of ore (about 200 tonnes) the mine extracts about 7.5 ounces of gold or about 268,000 ounces annually.

This is the fifth biggest gold mine in Australia and Garry can’t get enough of it. He’s been in the mining game 34 years, including nearly a decade up in Arnhem Land.

“This landscape took 200,000 years to form and we have 15-20 years to put it all back,” he says. The operation has over 28 approved environmental management plans, and one of the best environmental records in Australia.

Elliot admits he is one of only a handful to have ever seen the gold room, a secure site where the precious mineral is poured into solid gold bars before being hauled out in armoured trucks to the Australian Refinery Company.

The rest of us will have to be content with the Evolution Mine Open Day, held each September for hundreds of visitors.

Above: Elliot Willemsen-Bell.

Above left: Members of the community with a dump truck at the Evolution Cowal Open Day. Right: Garry Pearson says Cowal Gold Mine has one of the best environmental records in Australia.

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WEST WYALONG

Fast-forward to 1981 and Geopeko began gold prospecting in the Lake Cowal area, the largest inland lake in NSW. The lake is ephemeral and capable of stretching over 40 kilometres.

The lake was full after the March 2012 floods but two years later completely dried up.

The Cowal Gold Operation gives back plenty to the community. In 2015 the mine spent over $10 million in the Bland Shire on goods, services and local contractors, not including wages and indirect spending by employees and their families.

The first application for development approval was rejected by NSW Premier Bob Carr in 1995, leading to protests in the streets of West Wyalong by nearly 2000 residents.

A further $100,000 in community support was directed to organisations within the Bland Shire, including the Cowal Partnering Program (sponsorship and donations) and Cowal Cares (volunteer incentive program).

Without the strong vocal support from Council and the Bland Shire residents, it is unlikely the mine would have been approved, as it was four years later.

Construction commenced in 2004 at a cost of $480 million, with the first gold bar poured on site two years later.

In 2015 Evolution Mining, which owns and operates seven gold and silver mines across Australia, acquired the mine from Barrick Gold for $700 million. The mine provides employment for 257 workers (the biggest employer in the Bland Shire) who work around the clock 365 days a year.

Included in the workforce are about 40 women, working in operations (trucks, plant and machinery), administration, technical (lab technicians, geologists and metallurgists) and senior management roles.

The mine also operates two scholarship programs for local students to access tertiary studies. The Endeavour Scholarship Program is run in conjunction with high schools in West Wyalong, Forbes and Condobolin.

Each year the mine contributes $60,000 to assist with the increased travel and accommodation costs facing rural students attending tertiary education.

West Wyalong locals were tickled pink earlier this year when they learnt ABC Bullion would be sourcing gold from the Cowal Gold Mine to make the coveted 18-carat gold 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy – the most legendary and beloved trophy in Australian racing.

Valued at $175,000, the trophy contains 1.65kg of gold and 44 pieces that are hand spun over a 250-hour production process.

As a result, the cup will be produced using gold that was mined, refined, and crafted wholly in Australia for the first time in its 151-year history.

Gold was responsible for the area being developed in the first place and now, in the 21st century, is one of the driving forces of the local economy. CWL

WEST WYALONG CWL 95

Well represented GP EVANS & ENGLERT IS A LEGAL FIRM THAT’S BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH WEST WYALONG SINCE 1894.

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he man who started it all, Griffith Parry Evans, was clearly a resourceful young man. Upon hearing of the discovery of gold at West Wyalong, the amateur cycling champion curtailed his holiday in nearby Barmedman and pedalled to a settlement he knew was about to explode.

These miners would need the law on their side. There may have been only about 200 at the start but soon their numbers would swell to the thousands.

Griffith was quick to establish an office, erecting the first timber, and later brick, building in Main Street. As farming gradually superseded mining he became one of the best-known authorities on land laws in the area.

The firm has continued to practise ever since – an unbeaten 122 years with, quite remarkably, only five owners during this period.

Current custodian Patrick O’Kane attended Kikoira Public School for his early education. With only 23 pupils in the entire school, it was soon apparent that one conscientious little tacker was destined for great things.

After completing his secondary education at St Francis College, Leeton, and Red Bend Marist Brothers College, Forbes (now known as Red Bend), Pat started work as an article clerk with then owner Lindsay Moore in 1971.

He completed the solicitors submission board course through Sydney University before attending the College of Law, St Leonards, in 1976.

Pat was admitted as a solicitor the following year, before entering a legal partnership with Lindsay in 1980. Before long they opened a second office in Lake Cargelligo, which Pat still attends on a weekly basis.

They also purchased the legal firm of F Hall & Sons at Condobolin.

Lindsay took over the ownership of this practice while Pat retained the Lake Cargelligo practice, after their partnership was dissolved in 2003.

Pat is very proud of the fact that the law firm has never moved from their initial office, built in 1927 and regarded as one of the best equipped and “most commodious” legal offices in the country at that time.

GRIFFITH WAS quick TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE, ERECTING THE first TIMBER, AND LATER BRICK, BUILDING IN

Main Street.

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The practice was associated with a famous High Court Case, known as the “Milly Milly Case”, which provided a precedent for charitable trusts throughout Australia.

The office is also famous for its connection with the world famous painting by Russell Drysdale, known simply as West Wyalong.

In 1949 the artist accompanied friend and barrister John Nagel (who later became a Supreme Court Judge to West Wyalong) who was being briefed by Harcourt Englert in a case before the district court.

After departing from the office one evening, the artist was intrigued by the absence of any inhabitants in the street. It was the era of hotel closures at 6pm and the pubs were packed full of thirsty patrons, leaving the streets deserted.

Drysdale made a quick sketch before returning to Sydney to paint his now famous work, currently valued at $10 million and in a private collection. (As a matter of interest, the artist sold the painting for a bargain £100 in 1950).

The firm provides a wide range of legal services throughout the Riverina and Central West areas and still practises in most areas of the law – probate, family law, conveyancing and local court being the backbone of the business.

The firm has a strong family feel about it and it looks as though the O’Kane name will be around for a long time yet.

“I came in for a divorce settlement 30 years ago and look what happened,” says Pat’s vivacious wife Gwen, who keeps everybody in line as the office manager and bookkeeper.

Their daughter Samantha O’Kane, 25, graduated from law in Wollongong and has been a solicitor with the firm for over two years.

Son Benjamin, 23, has recently completed a commerce degree at Wollongong University and is working in the practice while he contemplates his future.

Gwen’s children to her former husband, Philip and Elizabeth, are both local teachers.

The GP Evans & Englert building has tremendous charm and Pat O’Kane can only marvel at the extraordinary efforts of the first owner to establish a law firm that still bears his name 122 years later. CWL

Clockwise from top: Samantha, Benjamin, Gwen and Pat O’Kane with receptionist Bridget Plummer and legal secretary Kady Foley; Russell Drysdale’s iconic painting of West Wyalong depicts a deserted dusty street with rusted red houses and majestic verandahs; the GP Evans & Englert building today.

Facing page, clockwise from top: Pat O’Kane is only the fifth owner of the old law firm; founder of the law firm, Griffith Evans; the original timber building in West Wyalong.

WEST WYALONG CWL 97

TRIED & TRUE PARAGON BY NAME, PARAGON BY NATURE, THIS WEST WYALONG CAFE HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.

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he Paragon Cafe, opened in the 1920s by the Mallos brothers, is one of the few businesses in West Wyalong still operating from its original building.

Nearly 100 years on, the iconic business is forging ahead with bold new initiatives, while retaining some of the old retro style in its seating and jukebox.

The hard-working Pilon family renovated the cafe in 2012, retaining the original look and introducing a fully licensed cafe.

Jeff and Di Pilon have been in business for 40 years in the local community, with their first (and still existing) business, Pilon Engineering, located a few blocks up the road.

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All of their four children are involved in their enterprises, with Trent helping his father while twin brother Brent and sister Tonya run the cafe with their mother.

Eldest daughter Leeza also plays a role, putting to good use her many years of working in the business world and more recently her INN Health coaching course, which she advises from abroad, on the health website and coaching advice to their customers.

Di’s mother June is often seen clearing and cleaning tables and helping out with Tonya’s daughter Larna, making four generations actively working in the business.

The Paragon Cafe in the 1930s.

WEST WYALONG

The family previously owned the cafe in the early 1990s. With West Wyalong’s growth, they purchased the business again in 2005.

The menu has changed over time. These days the family boast a delicious menu, ranging from the traditional fish and chips, steak sandwiches and burgers to gourmet Turkish melts, home-made pizza and pastas. Then there are the mouthwatering cakes, slices, quiches and lasagne.

There is even a gluten-free selection along with a great organic coffee blend, from Griffiths Coffee in Melbourne, a boutique family-run coffee company established in 1879.

“We have two blends available, the popular Kingston blend and, of course, an organic blend with decaf available,” Brent says.

“Our home-made organic cashew and almond milks make any of these blends very unique,” Tonya adds.

THE FAMILY PREVIOUSLY OWNED THE CAFE IN THE EARLY 1990S. WITH WEST WYALONG’S GROWTH, THEY PURCHASED THE BUSINESS AGAIN IN 2005.

The Paragon Cafe offers fantastic catering ideas and services for functions offsite.

For the health conscious diners there are plenty of options including raw and paleo frittatas and soups and salads loaded with organic superfoods.

There are also cold-pressed juices and raw smoothies as well as raw home-made cakes, slices and superfood balls, great for a delicious and healthy treat.

Tonya joined the team in 2009 and was responsible for introducing these home-made organic smoothies and cold-pressed juices to West Wyalong.

Pilons Press Juices and Health Products evolved from these popular products.

Tonya utilised her experiences from training in Germany, London and New York to stock a great range of organic products, including fermented foods, superfoods and one-, two- or three-day juice cleansers, also available online.

A cold-pressed juice from the Paragon is one of the best-kept secrets to keeping the doctor away during the colder months and a great way to improve energy and detox your body.

In the health department, an infrared sauna and detoxing rooms are available. Tonya is also a colonic therapist and practises three days a week, personalising cleansing programs with juices, saunas and colonics.

THE B&B To add another string to their bow, in 2014 the family together tastefully renovated a 1920s apartment a few doors from the Paragon.

The result is a magnificent B&B with one king room and two queen rooms, all with comfortable beds.

The dining and lounge areas, with their high ceilings, are beautifully decorated with family heirloom furniture and decor to suit a bygone era.

There are now plans to add en suites into each room and rebuild the original verandah, allowing for a balcony over the main street.

Guests can expect to enjoy first-rate hospitality, with meals delivered to the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It’s perfect for an overnight or weekend stay, or if you have the time, a week to catch up with family or friends. The B&B is also proving popular with bridal parties on their special day.

The Paragon Cafe is a much-loved institution in town and the Pilon family are justifiably proud of their latest creation, a B&B to suit those who enjoy the finer things in life.

The family have recently launched their website for Pilons Press Juices at pilonspress.com.au. CWL

Clockwise from top: The tastefully renovated 1920s B&B; Di and Jeff Pilon with their son Trent, the faces behind Pilon’s Engineering; Tonya Pilon in Pilons Press Juices.

Facing page: Di Pilon with her children Tonya and Brent, who run the busy Paragon Cafe.

WEST WYALONG CWL 99

A N D H E A LT H P R O D U C T S

132 132 Main Main Street Street West West Wyalong Wyalong 77 days days 9am-9pm 9am-9pm

132 132 Main Main Street Street West West Wyalong, Wyalong, 77 days days 9am-9pm 02 02 6972 6972 2187 2187 tonya@pilonspress.com.au tonya@pilonspress.com.au

02 02 6972 6972 2187 2187

HEALTH THERAPIST AVAILABLE HEALTH SAUNA SAUNA AND AND COLONIC COLONIC THERAPIST

brent@theparagoncafe.com.au brent@theparagoncafe.com.au

www.pilonspress.com.au www.pilonspress.com.au

MENTOR CHAMBERS SERVICED SERVICED APARTMENT/BED APARTMENT/BED & BREAKFAST

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51-53 Main Main Street, Street, PO PO Box Box 199 199 51-53 West Wyalong NSW 2671 West Wyalong NSW 2671 02 6972 6972 2659 2659 02 100 CWL WEST WYALONG

02 6972 2187 132/136 Main St, West Wyalong Wyalong NSW NSW 2671 2671 West bookings@mentorchambers.com.au bookings@mentorchambers.com.au

WEST WYALONG

A CHARMED

childhood

FROM SELF-BUILT BILLYCARTS TO YABBYING TILL DARK, THE MAGIC OF A HUMBLE UPBRINGING IN WEST WYALONG HASN’T BEEN LOST ON SISTERS DAYNA TIERNEY AND CATH PLAYER.

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childhood in West Wyalong came hand in hand with freedom and fun, and experiences that forged a lifelong set of accepted norms, according to CWL writer Cath Player.

“It’s easy to fall in love with a town that names its main street, ‘Main Street’,” Cath smiles.

“I look back on life in my hometown with the affection that it deserves. As a child, I soaked up every sight, sound and sweat bead that West Wyalong offered throughout the dry summer, with enough enthusiasm to enjoy the freezing winters that its ‘flats’ are renowned for.

“As children in West Wyalong, we were on the cusp of a new world, with one foot on either side of two totally different realities.”

It was the close-knit nature of the town, and its unique quirks, that Cath remembers fondly.

“My ‘normal’ was building billycarts and racing them down hills with my siblings – you’d spill out and cut yourself, so naturally, you’d go home and fix the brakes,” she says.

“We would leave the house in the morning, and not return till night time, after a full day of yabbying, riding our bikes, and building things.

“As kids, we were completely and utterly worryfree – that was the uninhibited way of life that was common for children at the time, and I have some incredible memories of those days.”

A mother who sacrificed plenty for the benefit of her children and a father with an excellent work ethic as a builder were integral to both Cath and Dayna’s family experiences growing up.

Memories of a grandmother, fondly named “Madda” by the grandchildren, are special for both sisters, who relish the time they shared together in West Wyalong.

For Dayna Tierney, family was the pivotal factor that brought her back to West Wyalong in 2004. In 2006 the health of her daughter Miliana deteriorated drastically.

“That was a very trying time for us, and one that made me appreciate that, above all, nothing is more important than your family.

“To be able to return to West Wyalong at the completion of Mili’s treatment with my husband Jason, who also grew up there, was very special,” she says.

“West Wyalong is a friendly laid-back town.

No one’s in a rush, and everyone is always happy to stop and have a chat with you.”

“As long as we answered Mum’s ‘cooee’ and came in for lunch, we were free to play in the bush all day.”

Dayna enjoyed the close-knit nature of the town, and a childhood predominantly spent outdoors, in the company of family and friends.

“I have some wonderful memories of days spent exploring the bush that backed onto our property.

“As long as we answered Mum’s ‘cooee’ and came in for lunch, we were free to play in the bush all day.

“We built elaborate cubby houses, and rafts to put on the dam, none of which were ever water worthy!” she laughs.

Dayna is happy to see families returning to West Wyalong after their life paths have taken them elsewhere for study and work, and says it’s a credit to the town.

“A lot of people’s roots are in West Wyalong, and they enjoy the comfort and familiarity of the town,” she says.

“It’s about the special memories and associations that they have with West Wyalong, and it’s great to see them return with new skills and experiences to benefit the town.”

Cath is now based in Orange with her two children Jackson, 8, and Charlton, 4, working as an accounting lecturer at TAFE and employed in various forms of education including resource writing. Dayna lives in Dubbo with husband Jason and children Benjamin, 13, Miliana, 9, and Darcy, 3, and provides body and mind healing therapies at her Dubbo-based business Symmetrix Wellbeing. Both sisters agree wholeheartedly that they wouldn’t change their childhood years growing up in West Wyalong.

Cath and Dayna both write for CWL magazine, and both enjoy the vibrant characters and stories they encounter in their home region of the Central West. CWL Read more about Cath and Dayna on our website, www.centralwestmagazine.com.au.

Words: Anna Tickle

Above: Cath Player and Dayna Tierney.

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Daring DUO THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE ADVENTUROUS GARRY AND CAROLINE SHAW BECOME.

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arry and Caroline Shaw are proud owners of the former Bank of NSW building, one of the most iconic and eyecatching features of West Wyalong’s crooked Main Street.

The building will soon have its 100th birthday, with the Shaws creating plenty of action within its hallowed walls over the past 16 years.

It’s certainly a long way from Caroline’s roots in Africa. Her father was originally a Dutch tobacco grower in Southern Rhodesia but went on to become a Catholic priest after his wife died (and still with his own parish in a small town near Johannesburg despite being in his late 80s).

The industrious pair have successfully operated various businesses. Aside from their wonderful B&B upstairs, they’ve also operated a travel and real estate agency, in conjunction with the Westpac in-store, on the ground floor.

Caroline was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and met Garry in London during a working holiday in 1981. They were married in Zimbabwe two years later before returning to Garry’s hometown of Wagga Wagga.

The Shaws embrace change, knowing nothing stays the same.

The real estate business was sold, the travel agency recently closed down and the Westpac agency has been replaced by the Bendigo Community Bank agency.

In 1987 they moved to West Wyalong after Garry was offered a job as managing editor of the local paper, the West Wyalong Advocate.

Despite no journalistic qualifications, he enjoyed six years at the helm of the newspaper and got to know most of the locals.

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After the Westpac Bank branch closed at the turn of the century, the Shaws were offered the agency. A few years later they bought the double-storey, solid brick building and rented the upstairs area to construction workers from the new Cowal gold mine.

Around the same time the industrious pair established Oxley’s Real Estate, named in honour of John Oxley, the first surveyor general of NSW and Garry’s great, great, great grandfather.

Oxley was also a Director of the Bank of NSW, Australia’s oldest company formed in 1817. Next year marks 200 years since the famous explorer embarked on a major expedition from Bathurst, discovering and naming the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers.

He was the first European to travel through this part of the country and his famous explorations are not lost on Garry, who revels in history.

The upstairs section of his building, formerly home to the bank manager and his family, was converted in the 1980s into bank offices and processing rooms, well before the advent of electronic banking.

The busy branch at times employed up to 30 staff.

Garry and Caroline transformed it back to its original purpose of a residence after a major renovation in 2014. The offices became delightful bedrooms, lounges and living areas and the B&B was born.

Two smaller bedrooms, all with queen beds and featuring the original pressed-metal ceilings, complement the large main bedroom.

There are two bathrooms, each with shower, toilet and hand basins.

The second bathroom also incorporates a laundry. The kitchen is large, and fully equipped, right down to a dishwasher.

The large living areas are more than adequate for the three couples the accommodation is designed for, with dining table and chairs, lounges, TV and much more.

The closed-in verandah on Main Street provides large sunlit areas for dining or just relaxing in the ambience, while the outside balcony on Church Street is the perfect spot for a sundowner after a long day.

The glorious sunsets provide a great backdrop to enjoy the comings and goings around the town’s main intersection.

Their two children – Michael is a graduate accountant at Crowe Horwath in West Wyalong and Jessica is in Human Resources at Bland Shire Council – must never cease to wonder at their parents’ drive and initiative.

The next big adventure involves driving to Bundaberg, Queensland, where they have a five-month contract to bale sugar cane stubble, which will eventually end up as sugar cane garden mulch at Bunnings Warehouse.

“Although we have no prior experience, we are confident that our life experience will see us through,” Garry laughs.

It’s yet another exciting chapter in the lives of a dynamic couple who are clearly up to any challenge. CWL Above from top: The Bank B&B as it stands today; the original Bank of New South Wales building.

Facing page: The adventurous Garry and Caroline Shaw.

WEST WYALONG CWL 103

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Living the DREAM S

etting up her own shop in West Wyalong has been a dream come true for country girl Kristy Amarant.

Daughter Brody has been working with her mother for nearly two years and loves the retail experience.

Initially she started at their mechanical workshop, selling candles, jewellery, homewares, gifts and gardenware.

“This is my first job and I’m the go-between girl, working at both businesses as well as studying accountancy at TAFE,” she says.

“I started off in the workshop, and it worked well enough for my husband Troy to build me a showroom,” she says.

It’s a real family affair, with not only the girls running Kristy’s Cottage, but also Kristy’s mum Nellie and mother-in-law Julie always happy to lend a hand.

After three years, the couple purchased the building that formerly held a dry-cleaning business.

“We started off with mainly homewares before introducing our clothing line, which is fast becoming the mainstay of our business,” Kristy says.

They rolled up their sleeves and revamped the place, removing the old carpets to reveal the beautiful and original floorboards, painting the walls and rewiring the building.

It wasn’t long before Kristy got to work placing her carefully selected homewares throughout the shop as she juggled her duties as mother to three beautiful daughters, secretary and now hobby farmer.

Among the brands you’ll find at Kristy’s Cottage are Threads, Mavi, Jump, Jendi, Mossimo, Rugged Hide, Splosh, EOS, Lee Garrett, Stitch and Hide and many more.

“We offer country style gifts, accessories and homewares with friendly country service and if we don’t have it, we will try our best to find it for you,” Kristy says.

Kristy is a proud resident of West Wyalong, having lived here all her life.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to run my own homewares shop, and to be able to include the girls in the business is even better.” CWL

“I love the tight-knit community around here,” she smiles. “My kids are happy and safe and that’s all that matters.”

Kristy Amarant with her three teenage daughters, Brody, Paige and Kady.

Homewares, gifts, accessories and clothing.

We stock: Rugged Hide, Mavi, Splosh, Stitch + Hide, Lee Garrett, Threadz, Jendi, Jump, Mossimo, EOS, Peppermint Grove and lots more.

176 Main St, West Wyalong P 02 69723 963

/Kristys-Cottage WEST WYALONG CWL 105

THE ART of COMMUNITY SINCE OPENING THREE YEARS AGO, THE SPLATTER GALLERY HAS BECOME WEST WYALONG’S ARTISTIC HUB FOR VISITING AND LOCAL ARTISTS.

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part from the regular painting workshops, including kids’ classes on Saturdays, you will find every form of artwork in this place, from pottery and mosaic through to all the different facets of painting.

The gallery is the brainchild of Clairre Cumming, who grew up in South Africa, where her father worked as a ventilation officer in an asbestos mine.

“You can take the African out of the bush but not the bush out of an African,” she laughs.

Painting is all about firing up the imagination and learning in a relaxed and encouraging environment.

The Splatter Gallery features the work of about 20 local artists who both paint and exhibit here, including potter Marina Uys.

“He was the ‘canary’, who went underground to detect for gas emission,” she says in her slight accent.

FRESH TALENT

Clairre is married to Matthew, a South African diesel mechanic. The pair moved to West Wyalong 12 years ago to reunite with Matthew's brother.

Two artists who love being part of the team are Lisa Dangerfield and Leonie Campbell, who both took up the paintbrush about nine years ago.

Always one to thrive on activity, Clairre is currently exhibiting her contemporary abstract work, while building a permaculture straw bale home on the eucalyptus farm she shares with her husband and six children (aged from eight to 25 years).

Lisa moved here with husband Roderick, a retired farmer, about the same time as Clairre. The retired Canberra public service officer and former theatre actress started painting as a means of meeting some of the West Wyalong locals and is now a highly regarded, emerging artist in the district.

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WEST WYALONG

PAINTING IS A

IMAGINATION

LL ABOUT FIR

AND LEARNIN

AND ENCOUR

“I am a self-taught artist who thrives on variety and challenge,” she says.

“With a passion for colour, vibrant or subdued, as is evident in my work.”

Her style is diverse and deliberate.

“It doesn’t fit happily under a single description as it encompasses whimsical, surreal and the absurd. I like to think that a unique and often quirky perspective on all that surrounds my subject matter or me, helps tie my work together.”

As an artist, Lisa says her greatest challenge is transferring her abstract ideas and visions to tangible images on canvas.

“I create my images from ideas and inspirations derived from eclectic sources such as common phrases, play on words, juxtaposing objects with objects and animals with objects, homonyms, colour journeys and from nature itself.

“Painting is an amazing therapy. When I arrived here in the middle of a crippling drought, my painting provided great relief, particularly when a work was finished.”

ING UP THE

G IN A RELAX

AGING ENVIR

ONMENT.

ED

Leonie Campbell is a true-blue local, having been born and raised on a West Wyalong mixed farm. She is married to Warren, who works at the Cowal gold mine. Leonie’s work is best described as contemporary realism, with a good use of bold, loose and dramatic strokes.

Her artworks are created using many mediums, including acrylic, pastel, charcoal and oils.

All three women love the opportunities their art has given them and sing the praises of the inspiring and creative juices that flow like the Hudson River at the Splatter Gallery. CWL

Facing page from left: Leonie Campbell, Clairre Cumming and Lisa Dangerfield.

Above right: Lisa and her painting titled ‘Birds of Pray.’

WEST WYALONG CWL 107

Fun AND FASHION L

ong-time West Wyalong resident Mandy Hallahan had always dreamt of owning her own boutique, so when her two daughters had finished school and another boutique was up for sale the timing was perfect.

Opened in 2005 and located in downtown Main Street, Pink Velvet is a testament to Mandy’s style and love of women’s fashion.

“I had a dream that I wanted a boutique that was not just a dress shop, but a place for women to come in and enjoy,” she says.

Three years ago daughter Kate joined the team and the shop expanded from fashion into gifts and homewares.

“We have several leading Australian brands including Kip & Co, Incy Interiors and Blacklist Studios. We try to offer a city boutique feel in a great country atmosphere,” Kate says.

Mandy & Kate have also launched an online business, making their range available to customers who cannot visit the store.

Mandy’s youngest daughter, Fiona, now married with children, inspired the pair to introduce a babies and kids range that includes cots, beds, linen, handmade clothing and gifts.

Kate carefully sources the gifts and homewares, with a focus on Australian design and quality.

With retail demand, the shop has continually evolved over the past decade. About 18 months ago, the mother-daughter team decided to move a few doors down to a larger store so they could better display and style their range.

They have also launched an online business, making their range available to customers who cannot visit the store.

Their spacious new building was once an old garage and still has the original cement flooring and huge sliding glass doors.

Mandy and Kate are constantly updating the store and look forward to helping customers find something special. CWL Kate and Mandy Hallahan love working in their trendy shop, Pink Velvet.

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West Wyalong JEWELLERS

JEWELLERY, WATCH AND GIFTWARE SPECIALISTS ENGRAVING SERVICE, WATCH AND JEWELLERY REPAIRS

116-118 Main St, West Wyalong 02 6972 2202 www.westwyalongjewellers.com.au westwyalongjewellers@people.net.au

newsXpress West Wyalong specialises in quality gifts, homewares, greeting cards, collectables, toys, stationery, and magazines.

159 Main Street, West Wyalong, NSW 2671 02 6972 2040 | Open 7 days a week WEST WYALONG CWL 109

A JOB WELL DONE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WEST WYALONG LIES ONE OF THE MOST STUNNING CONTEMPORARY HOMES IN THE CENTRAL WEST.

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WEST WYALONG

F

ormer school sweethearts Len and Jo Lynch constructed their massive 574 square metre residence in Boltes Road in less than a year.

Since moving in eight years ago, the third-generation locals have never looked back. Their children, Bailey, 19, Logan, 17, and Paris, 16, love their space and are in no hurry to leave their private sanctuary.

“We were owner builders and did the bulk of the work ourselves, utilising Len’s concreting and steel fixing background,” says Jo, the charming host and chief designer of the home’s fresh and invigorating interior.

From the outside it looks like it’s built from sandstone but it is actually constructed from C&M Macquarie Stone, a reconstituted stone featuring selective use of washed river gravels, quartz, sand and the finest of Australian cements.

With its 22 grand columns and immaculate lawns, the home resembles a palace fit for a king.

Once inside, visitors can only look in awe at the spacious and freeflowing design. There is no such thing as clutter in this home, with every piece of furniture carefully positioned and lovingly maintained. >

Jo says her dream home is not quite finished BUT MORE OF A “WORK IN PROGRESS”.

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Among the many features are the ornate arches and cornices, the dado rail with painted wallpaper (done beautifully by Jo), the nine foot (2.7m) ceilings and a huge gold mirror that makes the place look even bigger than it already is.

The games room is a small house in itself, complete with pool table, shower and kitchenette. It is here the Lynch children relax, surrounded by an impressive trophy room showing off all their sporting achievements and sports memorabilia.

Perhaps one of the smartest concepts was the design and placement of the tastefully decorated bedrooms. Jo and Len live at one end while the children can make all the noise they like at the other, without disturbance or encroaching on each other’s space.

In the hot summer months they make good use of the in-ground swimming pool, complete with its own outdoor entertainment area.

There is ample room for parking, with a double garage joined to the house under the main roof, a 120 square metre garage adjoining the house (finished in the same style), along with an 80 square metre games room with a six-car port out the back.

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When Paris wants respite from her highly spirited brothers, she saddles up Toby, her quarter horse x thoroughbred, and practises her equestrian moves on the new dressage arena.

Nearby is a stable and tack shed, which Paris loves to return to when not boarding at St Paul’s College in Walla Walla, an elite equine boarding school near Albury.

WEST WYALONG

It was a huge effort completing the bulk of the work in less than a year, with the pool and games room completed soon after.

It was a huge effort completing the bulk of the work in less than a year, with the pool and games room completed soon after – all this while Len was still running his brush harvesting business.

These days he leaves that side of the business to Bailey, who has been learning the ropes over the past two years, while he and Jo tend to the West Wyalong Newsagency they bought in late 2013.

Logan, meanwhile, is a second-year apprentice boilermaker, who enjoys bringing his mates home for fun and games and sleepovers.

Sitting in the open-plan kitchen and dining room, which opens up to views of the pool, Jo says her dream home is not quite finished but more of a “work in progress”.

A former hairdresser, she spent 10 wonderful years working with her parents’ interstate transport company and ready mix plant in West Wyalong.

Jo admits the best part of the kitchen is the walk-in butler’s pantry, making it easy for food preparation away from the entertaining area.

The Lynch family are a close-knit bunch who believe anything is possible if you are committed and prepared to put in the hard yards.

Their beautiful home is testament to them, serving as a timely reminder that the family that works together, stays together. CWL

The Lynch abode is not only a stunning example of home decor, it is faultless in terms of practicality, meeting each member of the family's wants and needs equally.

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ALL THE

right moves “M

y passion is helping people,” West Wyalong’s Sandy Corcoran says. “I love seeing somebody that can hardly move when they enter my clinic, walk out straighter and in less pain.”

Sandy grew up in West Wyalong and returned in 1996 with her young daughter, Jess. A few years later she was looking for something challenging to occupy her days. Brendan, her partner (and now husband) suggested she try massage.

After qualifying as a massage therapist in 2005, Sandy started working out of rooms in the Cottage Health Food Store where Di, the owner, helped Sandy build up her clientele. Sandy then decided to go out on her own as Shambala Massage Clinic, with her business name being changed to Poised in July 2015.

Sandy admits her own body was starting to fail and contemplated retiring when she discovered KMI Structural Integration (SI).

“When I attended the course I had no idea what I was about to learn,” she admits. “All I knew was that the course was created from the work of a well-known international author, Thomas Myers, and that it released the myofascia (connective tissue) within the body.

“I had never heard of Structural Integration (SI) before and I had no idea what I was getting myself into!”

Eighteen months later Sandy graduated from the first KMI class to be held in Australia. Sandy is very proud to be the only KMI Structural Integrator in the Central West and one of only a handful of KMI practitioners in Australia.

“SI balances the body to gravity, restacking the body from above and below, improving breathing and opening up the joints to increase mobility and athletic performance,” Sandy says.

“SI is recommended for chronic pain and releases emotions held deep within the body. It eases the effects of ageing and prevents repeat treatments for the same condition.”

Sandy is a big advocate of the 12 Series, which involves 12 sessions lasting from 60-90 minutes each session, following a formula based around Tom Myers’s Anatomy Trains theory and Ida P. Rolf’s pioneering work.

Each session starts and finishes with a body reading to determine what is going on within the body and how the session will progress.

Clients are active throughout the treatment, moving to help retrain muscles to work optimally.

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“I give the power of the sessions back to the client by getting them involved in their treatment and by doing simple tasks at home to help the integration process. This can mean simply being made aware of how your body moves to gentle exercise or stretches.”

Fran, a local 74-year-old woman, says completing the KMI 12 Series was the best thing she’s ever done.

“I’m now walking much easier without a stoop, my headaches are nearly gone and my bladder control has improved 100 per cent,” she says in a testimonial. “We are so fortunate to have such a talented and professional therapist in this town.”

Sandy has recently completed a course in Scar Release to help clients with scar tissue from surgery, burns, accidents and childhood traumas that restrict their movement and lifestyle.

She continues to update her skills regularly to help her clients with the latest techniques to improve their quality of life. CWL

WEST WYALONG

RISING to the occasion N

atalie Anderson loves to bring a touch of city to the country, and that’s why her upmarket apparel store has struck a retail chord with her regular horde of shoppers from town and surrounding districts.

Since establishing All Occasions in Main Street, West Wyalong, in 2008, Natalie has never been busier, often calling on the support of her gracious mother, Jenny Cooper, to keep on top of things.

“Now that I’m retired from hairdressing, the shop keeps me active and in touch with people,” Jenny says.

The delightful shop specialises in giftware, clothing, lingerie, handbags, candles and special gifts for all occasions.

The business started off small but expanded as demand grew. Now, three expansions later, Natalie feels there is adequate space for all her gifts and homewares.

Natalie is married to Rod, a local earthmover, with three adult children, Britt, Hunter and Bella – all of them fifth-generation West Wyalong locals on both sides of their family tree.

The former wedding planner says the shop was her outlet from the earthmoving business.

Rod is a great supporter of her enterprise and always encourages her to strive for her best.

“Happy wife, happy life, he continually reminds me,” she says.

Natalie says she likes to maintain her stock and keep a fresh look in the place. “There is always something new and exciting to keep my regular customers coming back,” she smiles. CWL

Jenny and Natalie surrounded by the great products in store at All Occasions.

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A KEEN EYE

LORRAINE WILLIAMS IS EVER READY TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY AND CAPTURE THE MOMENT.

T

aking shots of her young daughters growing up has led to a fledging photographic career for long-time West Wyalong local Lorraine Williams.

Lorraine was born in the town, married a local man, Robert Williams, and has lived here for more than 50 years. Her passion for photography started when her two girls were only little, documenting every important step in their young lives.

“I would photograph them in their sporting events all over the countryside,” she says. “In the process I developed a great love for photography.”

This eventually led to her establishing the West Wyalong Photo Centre in 2007, in the town’s quirky bent Main Street, known as the Crooked Mile.

It’s here you’ll find her, camera never far away, surrounded by her favourite country images, many of which end up as postcards, bookmarks, fridge magnets, mugs or canvas prints.

“West Wyalong has been my home for a long time and I have grown to love the laid-back country style and friendly people,” she says.

“I love travelling to various events, hoping to catch competitors in their element, including campdraft, team penning and rodeo. I also love my rural scenes like shearing sheds and rustic relics.”

Weekend drives with her husband are equally enjoyed.

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“Normally we have no idea where we are going and just look for little gems along the way. It could be a field of canola or a dry, barren paddock. If you have the right light, the pictures are magical.

“It is often the unplanned or unexpected that can provide you with the best photographs and memories.”

Lorraine admits her photography reflects the person she has become. Despite being self-

taught, she has entered many photographic competitions over the years and even bagged a few awards.

“One thing I have learnt is that beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder,” she adds with a knowing smile.

“There are some photographs I’ve taken and not been happy with, which clients of mine have absolutely loved.” CWL

WEST WYALONG

Moving

PICTURES BRINGING OLD HOME MOVIES BACK TO LIFE HAS BECOME A HEALTHY OBSESSION FOR WEST WYALONG FARMER ROSS HARMER.

R

oss grew up on the 800ha family property “Strathnoon”, Clear Ridge, about 20 kilometres out of town, growing cereal crops and breeding Angus cattle.

His fascination with old films started during 1999 with West Wyalong Show Society celebrating its centenary year. Show members were busy compiling a book and doing the normal displays in shop windows.

“It’s hard to imagine that some of the footage I have acquired has not been seen by anybody for perhaps 70 odd years,” he says.

“I knew that people had often taken home movies of the show over the years and word soon got out I was looking for footage,” Ross explains.

While technology changed rapidly with the advent of video recorders, many old home movies were still being shot in the early 1970s.

“A small amount of film came forward but none of us on the committee really knew anything about presenting these old films in a format for public consumption.”

As time went on, many families simply ditched their old projectors because they couldn’t get spare parts for them but often stored the film in old school cases and promptly forgot about them.

Ross started making inquiries and with a bit of help was able to finally show some of the old home movies.

Ross hopes that CWL readers may still remember where they stashed the old family films and make contact with him, so that precious moments can be rediscovered by a new generation of viewers.

“I had been watching a bit of SBS and realised they were utilising a lot of home movies in their documentaries. I thought perhaps we could make a documentary about the local show or even the district,” he continues.

Things started happening, slowly at first. Over the years Ross learnt more about the production side of things and what was involved in putting documentaries together.

The remarkable videos that Ross has produced are available at several outlets in the district. It’s a unique market and Ross estimates he has sold well over 12,000 copies so far, with most of his profits poured back into copying the next film and expanding his library. CWL

“I was put in touch with filmmaker Philip McLellan, who ran Kia Video in Orange, and he took me under his wing and taught me everything I know,” he says.

His first video, West Wyalong Movies, featured footage shot from Salvation Army Officer Sydney Cook, who filmed Australia’s first feature film, Soldiers of the Cross.

The acclaimed cinematographer liked to shoot footage of the main street in many rural towns during his frequent trips around the countryside.

When he was selling the old Tivoli Theatre in West Wyalong, Don Douglas unearthed two old films from the 1920s and ’30s stashed along with countless other movie posters and memorabilia.

“The National Film and Sound Archive was just starting up and they took a trailer load of the stuff down to Canberra. The then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, just happened to be there and helped unload them,” Ross says.

A copy was sent back to the local museum and Ross was able to feature some of the content in his first DVD. “After that, countless people started contacting me, inquiring about how to convert their old films,” he says.

“Basically the deal was (and still is) I’ll get the film converted for free if I am able to share snippets of the footage with others through my DVD sales.”

Since he started his quest for salvaging old films, Ross has now produced 15 separate videos on the local area, the Riverina and Australian farming.

“It has become a huge treasure hunt. I’ve found old footage in secondhand shops, in various archives and even underneath old floorboards.

I never know what to expect, but rarely am I disappointed.”

In his collection, Ross has amassed close to 1000 hours of footage in his library, with amazing scenes of rural Australia including buckjump riding, car rallies, boarding school adventures, countless weddings, birthday parties and everyday family scenes.

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BEHIND the WHEEL BUS DRIVER AND FOOTBALL LEGEND JOHN KELLY THRIVES ON LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES.

J

ohn Kelly is a sprightly octogenarian who loves his sport almost as much as sharing a beer with his mates down at the local watering hole.

Although some of the locals might recognise him as a legendary footballer, most know him as the friendly bus driver who gets their children safely to school and back each day.

After nearly 40 years behind the wheel of Kelly's Coaches, John rates the latest crop of students as the best behaved he's ever come across.

It will be a big shock for them to hear that the word retirement is creeping into his subconscious. He knows the day is fast approaching where he will be forced to give the bus driving away for good, thanks to stringent health checks.

But don't worry, John Kelly is neither sick or short of things to do, whether it be social golf on Sundays at the local club (where he is club secretary/treasurer), a regular beer with the boys at his favourite pub or even watching the footy on TV. He's always had a soft spot for the Wests Tigers, perhaps because the great Noel Kelly (no relation) played there, and he believes Johnathan Thurston is the player to watch in the current crop.

Back in his heyday in the 1960s, John went head-to-toe with some of the greatest names in rugby league history, playing for many clubs including Temora, Newcastle, Stanthorpe and Griffith.

He was picked for both the Queensland and NSW teams, playing with and against four of Rugby League's immortals, including Reg Gasnier.

He rates Mick Cronin as a "top player and gentleman to boot".

It was here that he first became involved with sport, playing AFL on Saturdays before lacing up his boots for rugby league on Sundays.

He remembers a premiership in 1952 with the AFL-mad Ungarie club but it was his time in National Service that finally forced him to join the rugby league fraternity at Temora.

Years later, after establishing the Golden Fleece fuel depot, he teamed up with next-door neighbour Phillip Dixon, whose family had the bus run.

The savvy pair formed a successful partnership running fuel and buses.

John bought his partner out a decade later and changed the name of the business to Kelly's Coaches.

Later he became a Group Nine and later NSW selector, before being appointed chairman of the 1978 Australian selection panel to tour New Zealand with the team.

Today there are eight buses, five for the school run and a few spares for charter work. John has been driving the buses for close to four decades and knows most of his little passengers by name, like their parents before them.

You'd never know all this to look at him, which is just the way he likes it. In fact, John occasionally pinches himself at just how well his life has unravelled, from his love of football and family to a lifelong career as a bus driver.

"It gets me out of bed and keeps me going," says the humble 80-year-old.

He's been to places he could only dream about and played in front of fanatical sell-out crowds, but over the years learnt to be equally satisfied taking care of the school kids on his daily bus run.

"I love the friendships of a small country town like West Wyalong. Everyone knows each other. Probably the only disadvantage is the distance to our capital cities – about 500km to either Melbourne or Sydney.

"It's a fair hike getting there but fortunately Wagga Wagga, our main shopping centre, is only about 150 clicks away."

Like all footballers, there were a few disappointments along the way.

Like the time he broke his shoulder during a NSW versus Queensland game in the lead-up to a Kangaroos tour.

Married to his sweetheart Shirley for 54 years, John is thankful for her loyal commitment and unwavering support throughout his extensive rugby league career and beyond.

"There were three Kellys on the paddock that day. One was a hooker, one was the ref and the other was me," he says with a grin.

The pair have three children, all of whom live within walking distance of John and Shirley's home. Son Mark runs a fuel truck in town, Gae works for Landmark and Peter has joined his father at the bus depot.

Over a frothy one at the Metropolitan Hotel he tells me he was disappointed never to play for the green and gold.

Well, in one sense, he did represent his country but not in the sport he envisaged. A few years ago they were a man short for a team playing at the national lawn bowls championship in Hobart.

They all love their footy, with grandson Jarrad coaching the reserves and playing first grade for the West Wyalong Mallee Men, of which he is a staunch Life Member. Last year four of his granddaughters played in the women's tag team competition.

Legend has it that he went to Vinnie's and came out resplendent in white trousers, shirt, hat and shoes! He was ready to rumble and, characteristically, help out and have a go.

It looks like future generations of the Kelly clan will continue to thrive both on and off the football field and John Kelly, the man who started it all, will be watching proudly from the stands. CWL

Over 80 years you see and remember a lot of things. John has never forgotten his humble beginnings in the small village of Ungarie, where his father, a ganger on the railroad, was stationed following the advent of WW2.

Above: The popular John Kelly in front of his bus depot; John making a break in the 1959 Queensland rugby league side.

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Reading, writing and ruminants AN AVERAGE SCHOOL DAY FOR A GROUP OF WEST WYALONG HIGH STUDENTS INVOLVES DOTING ON GOATS.

T

here are a few goats running around West Wyalong High School and principal Greg Sheens couldn’t be happier.

There are 285 bright students but it’s the 19 spoiled angora goats that usually make the headlines.

The stud animals, each with their own name and personality, play an important part of the agricultural curriculum. They have their own sheds to sleep in and irrigated pastures to graze on.

Students from Years 7 to 12 are all involved in the goat enterprise, started in 1990 by much-loved agricultural/science teacher Mandy Statham.

Her Willow Glen angoras offer students the opportunity to participate in the daily management of a commercial stud.

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Activities range from daily feeding and husbandry, through to breeding decisions, part-management of an artificial insemination program, shearing and show preparation.

Then there is the exhibition of animals and mohair fleeces.

It’s all been a tremendous success, with many of Mandy’s students winning the state finals of the Angora Goat and Mohair Young Judges competition at the Sydney Royal.

“My students compete with others from all over NSW up to the age of 25. Seeing the joy the students get out of their achievements is the best reward,” she says.

“A young student can be quite shy and perhaps introverted. After becoming involved with the goats I can see improvements in self-esteem and confidence.”

WEST WYALONG

“A YOUNG STUDENT CAN BE QUITE SHY AND PERHAPS INTROVERTED. AFTER BECOMING INVOLVED WITH THE GOATS I CAN SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE.”

Over the years, girls and boys have become involved but this year it seems only the girls are up for the challenge.

Parents and past students all help with the current crop of students, especially during preparation for the Sydney Royal, when they help drive buses, organise meals and assist with camping arrangements in the Paddington Pavilion.

Principal Sheens is a big advocate of Mandy and her show team, and recognises the benefits of agriculture to his students.

“We see a lot of tremendous and often hidden value in the goat enterprise,” he says.

“It teaches students the responsibilities of animal husbandry as well as resource management skills. An important factor is they become part of an interactive team, giving the kids some relevance and authenticity to their learning.”

Greg was recently appointed as school principal after serving three years as deputy principal and more than 20 years teaching in western Sydney. He is clearly in the right spot in West Wyalong after making the country move from Emu Plains.

“My partner is originally from nearby Tullibigeal, so there was already a connection. We fell in love with the place and built a country

homestead on a five-acre block, a short walk from school,” he says with a contented smile.

Not every school has a goat herd but West Wyalong is one of the lucky ones. Sadly, Mandy will be retiring after a stellar 26-year career with the school but her goat enterprise will thankfully continue to nurture and educate students for years to come. CWL Facing page, top: Rebecca Morris, Lilly Spackman, teacher Mandy Statham, Sarah Morris, Gracelyn Norton, school principal Greg Sheens, Molly Cattle and Chloe Worner. Below: West Wyalong High School principal Greg Sheens.

Above: State and National Young Judges winner Emma Rowatt with Junior Champion Angora Doe.

West Wyalong High School aims to ensure all students exceed expectations.

Our vision is to create an environment in which students and staff constantly challenge themselves.

30 Dumaresq St West Wyalong NSW 2671 Phone: 02 6972 2700 WEST WYALONG CWL 121

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CWL 123

SECTION

SOMETHING

for everyone T

he 138th Crookwell Show, one of the first on the annual show calendar and regarded by many as a natural prelude to the Sydney Royal, was staged earlier this year.

The two-day show attracted nearly 4000 visitors from throughout the region, with something for everyone.

Some of the highlights were the harness racing, the annual woodchop and, of course, the cattle, sheep, horse and poultry judging.

The cattle judging rings saw 140 stud cattle line up from nine breeds, as well as a strong line of 75 commercial cattle.

The supreme cattle exhibit, a tidy cow and calf unit exhibited by Mick and Mary Parsons, Kia Ora Limousin stud, Roslyn, went up against the impressive champion Merino ram exhibited by Winston McDonald, Royalla stud, Wallendbeen, for the Supreme Beast of the Show, eventually awarded to the ram.

Show president Ken Ikin has been attending the Crookwell Show since moving from Goulburn in 2000.

“Numbers are up in all departments with a big revival in the cattle section,“ he says.

Retired former Department of Agriculture inspector Paul Anderson has been coming to the show for an unbroken 65 years, including the last 12 as show secretary.

2

“I love the comradeship and the support we get from our local and hard-working committee of about 30. Nearly half of the committee are under 40 years, which helps assure our future,“ he says.

The 2016 Showgirl, Claire Johnson, had a wonderful day with her family and friends and looks forward to promoting the show until her reign comes to an end in 2017.

Words and images: Shot by Jake

3

1

1. Judging of the British breeds.

2. Alex Berzins, “Lutton“, Exeter, loves his draught horses.

3. Clive McWilliam, Orangeville, James McWilliam, Holbrook, Scott Myers, Myers Limousin (holding the grand champion bull), chief cattle steward Ken McCallum, Crookwell, and Sam Beresford (Scott's partner).

4. Winston McDonald, Royalla Stud, Wallendbeen, with his champion Merino ram.

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COUNTRY SHOW

6

T H E C R O OK

5

WELL SHOW

THOUSANDS

7

9

11

ATTRACTED

OF SPECTAT

ORS.

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5. Representing the winning Young Farmers were Scott Kensit, 2012 The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Jasmine Nixon, Gearin Price (who opened the show), Crookwell Show president Ken Ikin, 2016 Showgirl Claire Johnson and Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor.

6. Courtney and Charlotte Primmer, Goulburn.

7. The underhand of the woodchop in action.

8. Mick and Mary Parsons, Kia Ora Limousin stud, Roslyn, with their supreme show exhibit, sashed by 2016 Crookwell Showgirl Claire Johnson.

Handlers are Belinda Barnes and Hayley Jones.

9. Retired shearer and studmaster Ernie Stephenson, Goulburn, has been attending the Crookwell Show for more than 40 years.

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10. John and Michael Lowe, “Innisvale“, Binda, were winners in the ANZ Agribusiness commercial Merino flock ewe competition.

11. Chief poultry steward and exhibitor of the grand champion bird of the show was Crookwell's Kim George. “The Chook King“ beat a field of 105 entries with his Australian Langshan Bantam pullet.

12. The most successful commercial cattle exhibitors were Radon Reynolds and son Bruce from the Fullerton Hereford stud, Lagan, who won the award in their 50th year of showing at Crookwell.

13. Show secretary Paul Anderson with pasture competition steward Chris Houghton.

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Looking forward,

LOOKING BACK NARROMINE'S HUNT FAMILY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THANKS TO OPEN COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE FUTURE.

“W

e all get along really well, and we’d like to keep it that way.”

“Through a collaborative planning approach involving our whole family, we have been able to better understand what our future path looks like.

Those were the sentiments of Narromine farmer Robert Hunt when he approached Cultivate Advisory facilitator James Hamilton at a local clearing sale just over a year ago.

“Our two sons, Richard and James, and daughter, Michelle, are all enthusiastic about evolving the farming business, and we wanted the two boys to be sure they had a future here.

As the operator of a farming enterprise himself, James was known to Robert both within the industry and as an experienced facilitator of succession planning, and straight away he wanted to know more.

“By the same token, it has allowed me to concentrate fully on the tasks that are within my capability as I ease back from the day-to-day runnings of the farm, knowing that its future direction is taken care of.

Succession planning can be a complex process, and if not managed well, it has the potential to cause significant conflict and disagreement.

Fortunately, this was not the case for the Hunt family.

Their proactive approach to planning for the future direction of their 1100-hectare farming enterprise, “Dunoon”, Narromine, came from a desire to build on good relationships within the family, and a universal enthusiasm to keep things going strong for years to come.

Working alongside the expertise and guidance of James Hamilton of Cultivate Advisory, Robert and Edith Hunt have enjoyed maximum flexibility and ease of mind as they move into a new phase.

“Addressing a succession plan for our business ahead of time was very important to my wife Edith and me,” Robert says.

128 CWL

“I’m getting used to the idea that it’s time for the young ones to have a go now, with all their modern technologies and bright ideas.”

“Dunoon” consists partly of a block Robert bought from his own father in 1977, as well as another parcel of land he bought four years later, prior to the drought.

The Hunts run around 1100 head of Merino ewes for both fat lambs and wool, and crop lucerne, wheat and lupins, and pasture for stock.

Sons Richard and James operate their own rural contracting business in partnership, Hunt Brothers Contracting, providing sowing, harvesting and spraying services. They have also recently bought a property next door to “Dunoon”, further adding to the capability of the family farming business.

While Robert is convinced he’s doing nothing out of the ordinary as a farmer in the Narromine area, he’s reaping the benefits of future planning, facilitated by James Hamilton.

AGRICULTURE

THEIR proactive APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR THE future direction OF THEIR 1100-HECTARE FARMING ENTERPRISE, “DUNOON”, NARROMINE, CAME FROM A DESIRE TO BUILD ON good relationships WITHIN THE FAMILY.

“James is an excellent mediator, and to support that, he has the skills and experience to guide the planning process from start to finish,” he says.

“His own background in farming gave me the assurance that he would specifically understand our needs.

“The great support he provided for our family meant we all had every opportunity to contribute to the process, develop a plan, and see it through, starting now.”

James has worked with a long list of farming families, individuals, business and government clients to manage the complexities of change, but in his mind, the Hunt family was particularly noteworthy.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside the Hunts, because of their positive and proactive approach to succession planning,” James says.

“It has been refreshing to see their enthusiasm for the future direction of Dunoon, and their ability to foresee a workable end goal.

“Typically, my role is to bring all parties together, assess the needs of every individual alongside the asset base, and progress towards an end state in which the objectives of all involved are met.

“While this is often a challenging task, it’s much more feasible with the guidance of a third party, or an external consultant.”

In James’s view, it’s about facilitating the shift from a current state to a future state, and there’s no better way to progress than to communicate, which the Hunt family has successfully achieved.

“It’s been a pleasure to get to know the Hunt family, and be a part of their long-term decision making.” CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Elizabeth Tickle

Facing page: Three generations of the Hunt Family at the entrance to Dunoon.

Above: James Hamilton leading discussions with Robert and Edith Hunt; James and Richard Hunt with father Robert: Richard Hunt with fiancée Courtney Croft, James Hunt, James Hamilton, Michelle and Phil O'Brien.

CWL 129

IN THEIR PRIME ONE SUCCESSFUL CATTLE BREEDING OPERATION STILL QUIETLY POWERING ALONG AFTER NEARLY 40 YEARS IS HELEN AND WALLY HUNT'S BUDGERIE BRAFORD HERD.

T

he home block is nestled on the volcanic soils of the scenic Warrumbungle Ranges near Coonabarabran, where Helen runs about 280 Braford cows.

Like her forebears, Helen has chosen to live and work here her entire working life, enjoying the quieter, more controlled pace of country living while managing her own hours and timetable.

One constant in her life, apart from her husband, are the majestic and ancient Warrumbungles, scarred in the recent fires but still there, resilient as ever.

They were just as imposing when her grandfather, Matthew Sowden, first took up residency on “Claremont“ in the late 1860s.

Her father, Owen Sowden, the youngest of eight children, was born 25 years after his eldest sibling, meaning that, remarkably, Helen is only the third generation on the family farm in over 150 years.

“When I was a young girl, this was sheep country with nothing but sheep for miles and miles,“ she says. “The sheep are virtually gone now, replaced by cropping and cattle.“

130 CWL

It's often the little things that put a smile on the face of this cattle woman, like her bold kitchen chairs and accessories, exquisitely painted by gifted Coonamble artist Coleen Graham.

They are great conversation starters for newcomers to the home she has shared with Wally for the past 44 years.

Over a cuppa, you get the feeling that Helen is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone and do her own thing.

She chose to go with the relatively new Braford breed when everybody else in the district was sticking to the traditional Whiteface (before the domination of the Angus).

With Wally, they became the first to grow a dry land cotton crop in the Coonamble district (the inputs were too high and the summer rain not certain enough to tempt many into such a venture).

Since the turn of the century, the proportion of cropping has increased, as paddocks formerly sown down to lucerne went back to cropping.

The Hunts are fortunate a good friend and skilled local sharefarmer attends to the all-important farming duties.

Today life is pretty good. Helen's much-loved Brafords are in prime condition, following recent and much welcomed rain. Cattle prices are the best in years, the countryside is sprinkled green and the next crop of calves aren't far away.

After so many years on the property, Helen has seen it all but knows very well tomorrow could well be a different story.

As she scans a well-trained eye over a mob of heifers, you can sense the strong connection, developed over nearly four decades of Braford breeding.

When she started, the breed was still in its infancy, having been developed only a few decades earlier when the Rea brothers crossed some Brahman bulls with their Hereford breeders on their Rockhampton property.

The resulting Braford quickly demonstrated an excellent mothering ability and high fertility with good hooded eyes, a rich red and white coat and an ability to tolerate the effects of drought and ticks.

Helen is still a dedicated stud breeder, selling about six bulls each year and constantly upgrading the commercial side of things, which has grown in numbers following the purchase of more land at Coonamble.

While there may not be too many Brafords in either district, Helen and Wally Hunt are convinced they made the right decision since starting their Braford herd all those years ago. CWL Words and images: Shot by Jake

Above: Recognised by a small hump, loose skin and rich red and white coat, the Braford breed still holds its own on many NSW and Queensland properties.

Right: Helen and Wally became the first to grow a dry land cotton crop in the Coonamble district.

CWL 131

australian braford society inc nsw branch Chairman

Doug Barnett Croppa Creek NSW 2411 Phone 02 6754 5240 Email baromadowns@activ8.net.au

Secretary

Braford cows are fertile, easy living and thrive in wide ranging conditions.

Their progeny are quick growing and high yielding, and are suited to various market options, including vealers, feeders, bullocks or replacement breeders.

Ray Gorton Wingham NSW 2429 Phone 02 6553 5181 Email rayandlo@bigpond.com

www.braford.org.au

Highly suitable for crossbreeding. Superior foraging ability in dry times. Bloat resistant in good times and NO PINKEYE PROBLEMS!

AIR SEEDERS

SmartBoom SPRAYERS

ATV TRAILERS

SmartSpray SPRAYERS

VersiVolt

134 Thornton Street, Wellington NSW 2820 T 02 6845 1857 E sales@graytill.com.au W www.graytill.com.au 132 CWL

AGRICULTURE

Clever DESIGN DAVE GRAYLING IS IN THE BUSINESS OF SOLVING FARMERS' PROBLEMS.

S

ixteen months can be a long time in business. Last year Dave Grayling was working on his own but now has a team of three men in a business producing ute-mounted boom sprays and retractable reel sprayers.

Sometimes he has to pinch himself when he thinks how far he has come. Dave's journey began in 2011, when, armed with a degree in mechanical engineering and five years’ experience designing seed drills and other tillage equipment, he founded Graytill with his wife Jen. Initially producing air seeders, Graytill now focuses primarily on ute-mounted sprayers.

“We built the first air seeder in a small shed that was barely big enough to fit the air seeder in, with all the fabrication outsourced. Our current shed is almost three times the size, and we now do all fabrication in-house,” Dave says.

Now with his new workforce, Dave produces ute-mounted boom sprayers and ute-mounted retractable reel sprayers for both local and interstate farmers needing to address their weed problems. “We have sprayers as far north as Darwin and as far south as Tasmania," he says.

Anything from 80-120 hours of work goes into each machine, which easily slides onto the back of a ute, thanks to its own built-in lifting mechanism, along with stands.

Dave is seen as a specialist. "I prefer to specialise in a niche market no one else really does," he says.

"The advantage we have is the ability to customise to whatever our clients require. We strive to bring unique and innovative ideas into reality and thrive on building machines that others say can’t be done."

Each year the team produces about 20 boom sprayers and 20 retractable reel sprayers, and are continuing to expand.

In summer the boys kickstart their day at 4am to beat the heat of the tin shed before knocking off at 1pm. Dave then goes home to complete office work in air-conditioned comfort.

Dave loves Wellington and after 10 years is happy to call it home for Jen, a primary school teacher at Wellington Public School, and kids Mark, 4, and Emily, 2.

"It's a central location with friendly locals and suits me down to the ground," he says, as he gets back to work. CWL

“WE HAVE SPRAYERS AS FAR NORTH AS DARWIN AND AS FAR SOUTH AS TASMANIA.”

Right: Dave Grayling with a Smart Boom, designed and built in-house at Graytill, Wellington.

CWL 133

Meeting a need W

hen you need something rural or something different that no other store has, think Aussie Rural, suppliers of all things for the man and woman on the land.

As well as their retail business in town, the Browns also run a small stud and commercial herd of Red Angus cattle at their property "Gunningbar", east of Dubbo.

Husband and wife David and Margaret Brown have moved to a new location in Victoria Street, West Dubbo, and love the change.

With son Bradley they have just begun exhibiting their cattle at the Dubbo and Wellington shows and enjoy the experience of comparing notes with other like-minded breeders.

They are celebrating 12 years in business, drawing on their own rural background to assist buyers with their choice of cattle grooming gear, electric fencing, and the latest cattle and sheep products, including identification.

"It does get a bit expensive but it is something we really enjoy as a family and it's an excellent forum to promote our cattle," David says.

"Breeding and showing our own cattle means we can better understand the needs of our rural-based customers," Margaret chips in.

The Browns have always liked to keep busy.

They were formerly in Cobar, where they ran a fuel depot for 15 years before relocating to Dubbo in 1989.

"We came here to educate the kids (Brad has two sisters, Shelby and Rebecca) and a change in life," David says.

Aussie Rural has been on the internet for 12 years, with the shop front for the past three years.

"We specialise in all the smaller items that are not traditionally stocked by many of the larger firms, like ear-marking pliers and tags," says David, a genuine bloke who likes a yarn.

With Aussie Rural's competitive prices, it is not unusual to send supplies all over Australia.

David and Margaret are renowned for their friendly service and their ability to track down the correct gear for the right job. CWL

specialising in cattle grooming, electric fencing and animal health AUSSIE RURAL - FAMILY OWNED AND RUN 34B Victoria St, Dubbo 2830 0429 872 751 or 0428 872 751 www.aussierural.com.au 134 CWL

Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn is a family run business

spanning four generations. We have a 45 year history of manufacturing sheepskin boots and two generations of wool classers - so we’re not just your average retailer, we know sheepskin inside out.

At Lucknow Skin Shop and Boot Barn we stock Thomas Cook and Wrangler Clothing for all ages, Moda Immagine ladies fashion and RM Williams Stockyard.

We have a wide range of boots and leather accessories for the colts and fillies too, in all the latest styles and colours to keep you looking great.

4601 Mitchell Highway, Lucknow 2800 OPEN 7 days 9:00 to 5:30 Phone orders welcome 02 6365 5330 Visit www.lucknowskinshop.com.au if you just can’t make it in-store.

NO MATTER THE BREED - WE’VE GOT THE MEAT YOU NEED! www.tattykeel.com.au

Australian White

Canadian Angus

Poll Dorsets CWL 135

I

t’s a cool morning in Orange and the Smoko Shed is doing a roaring trade in takeaway coffees. Whitey arrives in his ute and greets his mates. Philip White is well known here and the waitress brings him his order automatically.

His daughter Cassie drives up not long after; she has been delayed because it is her youngest daughter’s birthday. Charli is 5. She has two other children, Jack, 8, and Allie, 7. Her phone rings. It is the 50th call that morning. She deals with the problem; one of the drivers needs a new airbag for his trailer.

Philip sips his coffee and points out the guy who beat him in the recent golf competition, eliminating him from the next round. These days, Philip, 58, has time to play golf and travel, because he has handed his business over to his three daughters, Belinda, Cassie and Katie. Cassie is the full-time manager, working and balancing family commitments, while Belinda and Katie, also with young families, work part-time in the office.

When Cassie left school she considered doing nursing, but when she heard that her father was going to have a clearing sale and get out of the trucking business, she persuaded him to give her a trial in the office for a year. “Give me the phone,” she said, “and when I get sick of it, you can sell it.”

Philip agreed. He had begun the company with his father Jack and mother Judy, running it from their backyard at Nashdale, but the early years were tough. Philip spent time in Queensland during the season and he even took his new wife Cindy there, with the local paper reporting that “Mr and Mrs White will spend their honeymoon in a truck touring Queensland”.

Cassie found that she loved the work and was good at it.

Talent by the

TRUCKLOAD

NOT MANY WOMEN WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING A LARGE TRUCKING COMPANY A DREAM JOB, BUT CASSIE GARLICK IS SPECIAL. SHE NOT ONLY RUNS WHITES STOCK TRANSPORT WITH GREAT EFFICIENCY, SHE BALANCES FAMILY COMMITMENTS AS WELL. 136 CWL

“There are still some men who don’t want to talk to a woman, especially a girl who is 20 years younger than them,” she says, but most hold her in high regard and give her a few nicknames or titles like “the Minister”, “the Queen” or “Madam”.

These names highlight Cassie’s attributes, as she is highly organised and good with people.

She can deal with many problems without getting flustered; she can help a driver solve a problem, even if it’s the middle of the night.

She remains calm, keeping a sense of humour as she deals with the problem of a “cow down” or of a truck bogged in snow drifts.

The company has 15 full-time drivers who run in the fleet and another three that are used in busy times. The trucks go everywhere this side of Australia, from Burra in South Australia to the back of Bourke and to Cloncurry and Mt Isa in Northern Queensland.

Cassie handles it all. Her amazing mind holds all the details. When should the truck arrive?

How far is it to the property? How much sleep has the driver had? Will he be able to pick up a return load? What condition is the road in?

She knows all the sale days, abattoir schedules, distances, weights and the deadlines and care that is required in moving live animals, including Wagyu cattle en route to Queensland.

The company is successful and has a large client base. Cassie calls herself a control freak and makes sure that she matches clients with drivers, so there are no problems. She is constantly attached to her phone and takes it and her diary with her, wherever she goes.

In the office she answers incessant calls and orchestrates movements and drivers with exceptional ability. It is exhausting just to watch her in action.

Cassie’s children and husband are understanding and supportive. As babies the children were carted to work with her and when Charli was born on a Thursday, Cassie was back at work with her, on the Monday. When Cassie advised the buyers and agents that there had been generational change and that Philip had retired, she told them: “So long as you’re happy to hear a few kids in the background and get called Honey once in a while, we will all do well.”

Nick Masters, one of the owner-drivers, thinks she does a fantastic job. “A lot say that it is impossible to do what she does, without having been a truck driver, but she picked it up well and has gained a lot of respect,” he says.

Another driver, Peter Hyland, says that it’s different working for a lady boss. But, he says, she “rolls with it easily” and mixes it with the big boys.

THE COMPANY IS successful AND HAS A LARGE client base.

Cassie Garlick is a unique figure in a maledominated industry. Her father and family and clients would agree that she deserves her success, although she modestly rejects any epithets that elevate her above anyone else. CWL Words: Paula Stevenson Images: Robert I Bruce

Facing page: Cassie Garlick is the full-time manager of Whites Stock Transport.

Above: Philip and Cindy White with daughters, Belinda, Cassie and Katie.

LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE CATTLE HAULAGE (02) 6362 2099 | 0428 636 283 CWL 137

GARDEN

variety AREAS OF INTEREST ABOUND IN “GAIRLOCH GARDEN”, LOCATED IN A QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET IN OBERON.

A

dmiring the pretty front garden awash with colour from a sea of flowering alpine phlox softened by the delicate lacy foliage of cut-leaf weeping maple trees, I turn to see the owner looking a little perplexed. “Oh,” Meg says. “There’s much more out the back!”

Through a narrow side entrance the most delightful, surprising and inspiring garden awaits, chockfull of creativity and interest.

Meg and Peter Low have developed this piece of paradise over 30 years, and love to share their garden and creative ideas, opening to the public during spring and autumn each year.

The original town block was 1600 square metres, and the garden evolved as their young family’s practical needs dictated, with flat areas for playing, room for pets to run around and some large trees to provide shade.

Then, as the children grew so did Meg and Peter’s interest in gardening.

By 2000, having completely filled the block with gardens, they weren’t able to do as many farm gardeners do, simply move the fences out, so they seized the opportunity to buy the house and land next door. > 138 CWL

GARDEN

Facing page: Among the intensely planted garden beds and screening hedges pathways invite discovery; owners Meg and Peter with their friendly King Charles Spaniels.

Clockwise from top, verdant green passages meander among a garden filled with creativity and textural interest; this timber bridge leads across a water feature; the parterre garden features layered hedges, standard silver pear and weeping maples; long-flowering orange Helianthemum; pretty spring bluebells..

CWL 139

The planting here is intense; THERE’S A STUNNING AND DIVERSE ARRAY OF PLANTS USED, INCLUDING SOME RARE AND UNUSUAL VARIETIES TOO.

The acquisition of the neighbouring block in 2007 added another 800 square metres of garden space now filled to the brim with a series of themed garden areas, divided by extensive hedging, trellising and walling. The design focus on levelling and terracing the sloping block, especially in the newer areas, creates further interest.

Appealing details are an integral part of Gairloch Garden, and create a sense of fun and adventure as you wander from one delightful area to another. You will discover a walk-through fernery, sunken garden, formal parterre garden, stunning water features including a meandering stream, a croquet lawn, garden chess set, vertical wall garden, crimson birch grove, garden “ruin” and a tiny fairy garden to capture young hearts.

Meg says firmly “you can’t waste a space” and Peter has been very supportive, building and constructing to bring Meg’s imaginative design ideas to life.

The planting here is intense; there’s a stunning and diverse array of plants used, including some rare and unusual varieties too. Careful selection for cold tolerance is necessary for plants to survive Oberon’s very cold and snowy winters. Many plants have been sourced from friends and family, and most of the hedges have been grown from cuttings propagated under protection of a glasshouse on site. Meg and Peter also raise many potted plants to sell to visitors during spring and autumn.

Although there are hundreds of different plants here, Meg and Peter have used colour and texture artfully. Clever combinations such as the rusty hues of scalloped foliaged Heuchera, with orange and purple violas are inspired choices. Whether it’s soothing shades of green, subtle pastels, bold oranges and hot pinks or unusual black-flowered Geranium phaeum commonly called “mourning widow”, colour is an important element of this unique garden.

Standard, umbrella-like weeping standard and pillar trees have been extensively used as their more modest size and shape means Meg and Peter can fit more varieties into the space. There are unusual rare forms too such as Robinia ‘Lace Lady’, contorted Ginkgo biloba ‘Mariken’ looking like a giant bonsai over the river bed and weeping swamp cypress Taxodioum distichum ‘Cascade Falls’. Most trees have been under-planted with woodland perennials, ground covers and bulbs filling every nook and cranny to complete the pretty picture. Spring blossom trees such as ‘Floribunda’ crab apples and flowering cherries look equally lovely in autumn when their foliage displays an array of autumn colours.

A collection of quirky items, including vintage bits and pieces from Meg’s family farm, have been up-cycled and given a new life as garden ornamentation. You will find an old school bell, various bits of metal form sculptural birds, a rustic watering can fountain, old harrows, a vintage corn crusher and mirrors as wall art. Railway sleepers have been effectively reused as retaining walls supporting the terraces while driftwood, pebbles and rocks add natural serenity along the riverbank. Decorative pots and statues create points of interest throughout this unique garden.

Clockwise from left: Inspired foliage, texture and colour combos under the silver birch grove; a playful garden chess set under a shady arbour; bordered by a pair of pots, this pathway leads to the parterre and the croquet lawn beyond; even the vertical spaces are covered with plant life.

140 CWL

Rainwater captured from the shed and house roofs into tanks is recycled and reused in the garden, including the natural looking river that meanders down taking full advantage of this gently sloping block. Meg says “all country people love rivers, so we created one right here in our garden”. The sound of flowing water here and in several features, such as the blade fountain and the water-can fountain, creates a soothing, relaxed ambience. A bore sunk during 2009 provides supplementary water during dry times to droughtproof the garden.

Recycling is an integral part of this garden; nothing is wasted. Poultry manure is used as valuable fertiliser and all trimmings and garden waste are mulched or shredded then composted for reuse. Worm farms recycle kitchen scraps and provide worm tea liquid feed for the vegie patch and strawberry towers.

Gairloch is home to plenty of fauna too. There’s Meg’s poultry penthouse, consisting of 13 hen houses filled with fluffy white Chinese silky bantams, rare patterned Silver Sebrights and Gold Sebright bantams. Dotted through the garden are four aviaries housing budgerigars, canaries, lorikeets and quail. Three very friendly King Charles Spaniels are clearly the leaders of this fun menagerie.

Exuberant Meg says a dream garden is never finished, “ there’s always more ideas”. CWL

Top: The croquet lawn is tucked among green screens and bordered by intricate plantings.

Above left: Running down the sloping block the river bed displays rare and unusual specimens along its banks.

Above: Clever use of recycled materials and densely planted beds feature throughout the garden.

GAIRLOCH GARDEN Gairloch Garden is open during spring and autumn, for dates and opening times contact Meg and Peter Low on (02) 6336 0291 or visit www.gairlochgarden.com.

Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Angus Waddell

CWL 141

“Come up to Oberon for some fresh air”

Billabong Cottage Oberon Trout Fishing and Farm Holiday

Phone: 6336 5144 Mobile: 0427 365 144 Email: timcharge@bigpond.com Website: www.bluemts.com.au/Billabongcottage Your Hosts: Tim and Fran Charge

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH 7 DAYS

Open Thursday • friday • saturday nights FRIDAY SUNSET SESSIONS

COCKTAIL HOUR FROM 5.30

LIVE MUSIC 6-9 LOCAL WINE • CHEESE • WOODFIRED

PIZZA • TAPAS • COFFEE • LICENSED

69 BRIDGE STREET, LITHGOW 142 CWL

Casual Dining Experience

simple pleasures OberOn

Showcasing the majestic Jenolan Caves and world heritage National Parks, enchanting forest and farming country and village life

all at the centre of The Tablelands Way experience

adventures in nature

Adventure caving at

Jenolan Caves Fossicking

for sapphires and precious stones

“Sunsets” Fishing

Mushrooming

for wild trout

in pine forests

Mountain Biking Lake Oberon

in National Parks open for recreational boats and State Forests – canoeing and kayaking

Impressively proportioned, this immaculately presented property boasts spectacular lake views surrounded by the lush scenery of the Oberon Golf Course. This property is a recreational wonderland just seconds away from the golf course, fishing, beautiful walking trails, kayaking and sailing all within minutes of the property.

This property with its generous living spaces incorporates media room, indoor atrium, billiard room with bar, office, six bedrooms, five with en suites. One bedroom would accommodate a family of four.

Bushwalking and hiking in world heritage national parks

Oberon Visitor Information Centre Cnr Ross Street and Edith Road Oberon NSW 2787 02 6329 8210

oberonaustralia.com

With breathtaking views and the benefits of an entertaining lifestyle we encourage you to inspect “Sunsets” For further sale details or to arrange a private viewing, please contact Ray White Emms Mooney.

T (02) 6336 1109 F (02) 6336 1860 W http://raywhiteemc.com A 106 Oberon Street, Oberon 2787

...will take you there!

B&B of beauty, space and serenity A wonderful discovery...The original Brewery Manor at Oakey Park, Lithgow is an 1880’s historic house lovingly restored to a majestic residence and offered as a B&B by Stasia and Gabe Very as your hosts.

1 Brewery Lane Oakey Park NSW 2790 | 02 6352 2805 | 0425 286 649 | stasiavery@gmail.com

CWL 143

GREAT spaces O

utscape owner Catriona Glanville loves to create spaces. As a landscape architect, her occupation requires the application of ecology, botany and environmental science in the quest for sustainable beauty.

Working on the tensions of environmental factors, Catriona consults, plans, designs and transforms her clients’ canvas into a functional version of their dreams.

The creation of better spaces is a highly emotive occupation. The end product must evoke a sensory experience and an attachment to the area. Put simply, Catriona must design external places that people will enjoy.

A two-hour walk-through and briefing is the minimum requirement for Catriona’s inspiration to take form. Clients are left with basic planning that gives considerations to plants,

CATRIONA GLANVILLE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

the environment, visual analysis, form, line, colour and human behaviour. For some, this is an affordable way to purchase a quality design for their dream space. For larger domestic and commercial jobs, a master plan is a necessity.

Part of the design process is about appreciating the limitations of a time-poor modern Australia.

Low maintenance, water conservation and appropriate planting are key to owning an external space that doesn’t demand.

For more than 20 years Catriona’s work has been popping up all over the Central West and beyond. Her talent exists in the spatial solutions she derives from an imagination without limitation. Her clients are those who expect more than the average. CWL

Words: Catherine Player

Innovative, sustainable garden design Central-West NSW • D.A & C.C Plans T. 02 6343 8288 E. info@outscape.net.au

www.outscape.net.au 144 CWL

131 - 141 Clarinda St, Parkes P: 6862 4002 E: haysgifts@bigpond.com

NARELLAN POOLS WESTERN PLAINS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP Locally operated since 1989 Large range of great shapes and sizes of fibreglass inground swimming pools and spas. Fully installed or Kit options

GIVE US A CALL SO WE CAN HAVE YOU SWIMMING THIS SUMMER!

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Monday- Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-12pm Shop 1/ 31 Bultje Street Dubbo

FOR GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY CALL US

02 6884 3117

CWL 145

Timeless elegance &

sophistication TRANQUIL AND PEACEFUL ARE THE TWO MOST FREQUENTLY USED WORDS BY VISITORS TO “KILOREN” IN CROOKWELL.

F

or two novice gardeners to take on a three-acre garden planned by one of Australia’s foremost landscape designers was a challenging feat. However Jennie and Rob Churchill proved to be more than up to this daunting task, and have not only nurtured but added to this historically significant landscape. Thirty-five years on, Kiloren is a garden that has come of age, oozes sophistication and has a timeless grace, described by some visitors as effortless chic.

Both Jennie and Rob trained as veterinary surgeons and were busy working in the Southern Highlands. In 1981 they fell under the charm of this wonderful garden as they entered the winding driveway among copses of trees. It was love at first sight, and an instant decision to purchase the 13-acre property was followed by the acquisition of a veterinary practice in Crookwell. > 146 CWL

CWL 147

At Kiloren the gently undulating site gave Walling the scope to construct DRYSTONE RETAINING WALLS AND WIDE STEPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE CHANGES IN LEVEL.

148 CWL

GARDEN

Living and gardening in one of Edna Walling’s creations for 35 years, Jennie has absorbed the essence of Edna almost by osmosis, was inspired to alter her career to include landscape design and has gone on to co-author two books (The Vision of Edna Walling and Gardens In Time – In the footsteps of Edna Walling) about this famous lady of Australian horticulture.

Kiloren is one of Edna Walling’s most informal gardens and was commissioned by Dr and Mrs Broadbent in 1951. Most of her gardens – built between the 1920s and 1960s, especially in Victoria, combined symmetrical formality with a wilder, more relaxed part of the garden.

A backbone of built structures, such as stone walls, wide steps, pergolas or colonnades are a signature of Walling’s gardens. At Kiloren the gently undulating site gave Walling the scope to construct drystone retaining walls and wide steps to make the most of the changes in level. In keeping with Walling’s original designs, Kiloren’s new stone walls have been built based on her preferred dimensions. She disliked tuck-pointing, and always insisted on local stone being used. Here the local stone is basalt, and a new serpentine wall (inspired by Andy Goldsworthy) between the Wild garden and the original garden appears to simply flow, almost swallowed up by thick plantings. Only when the overhanging trees are bare in winter is the full impact of the structure revealed.

Jennie and Rob opened their garden annually as part of Australia’s Open Garden Scheme and most recently for the Crookwell Garden Festival.

One of the most common questions asked by garden visitors is “which way do we go?” and at Kiloren the design encourages you to wander, discover and explore its hidden corners. There’s a sense of mystery, with the hint of another path, or well-positioned garden bench, or stretch of lawn curving into the distance.

Eminently quotable, Walling said “a garden should, I always feel, be just a little too big to keep the whole cultivated, then it has a chance to go a little wild in spots, and make some pictures for you”.

Jennie and Rob love how the garden is large enough to have dense shrubberies around the boundaries where they rarely venture, giving wonderful shelter for remarkable birdlife.

“This is also one of the pleasures of the one-acre Wild garden we have developed next to Edna’s’ original design,” Jennie says.

Developed in a disused sheep paddock in the early 1980s, the Wild garden mimics a European woodland, featuring randomly placed birch, Amelanchier, aspen, silver elm, Parrotia and hawthorn trees. Underneath, drifts of subtle perennials, black and cream tulips, annuals such as honesty, forget-me-nots and aquilegia, and simple grasses add colour and movement. The occasional surprise such as the colourful rhino sculpture or an inviting bench encourage discovery along the mown pathways through the trees.

The overall colour pallet here is very soft, with a broad mixture of plants creating an impression of completely random plantings, however this “effortless chic” is thoroughly considered and immaculately executed.

Apart from the open expanse of front lawn, the many trees at Kiloren make this very much a light and shade garden. The shady areas draw you in, and Jennie describes the pleasure from watching the sunlight glancing off stone walls and filtering through the huge trees. One of the most beautiful examples of light and shade is formed by a resplendent old oak tree, its almost horizontal branches sweeping the mossy green mound below. Standing among these towering mature trees it is difficult to imagine that back in 1951 there was just one tree on this hillside.

Over the years, as their gardening knowledge developed, Jennie and Rob became bolder with their decisions and have opened up the tree canopy gradually, carefully removing branches to allow more light into parts of the garden. A wild snow storm in July 2015, which dumped 35cm of snow overnight, created some interesting challenges, as many trees and branches were damaged and had to be removed, creating areas of full sun in previously shady places and opportunities for new perennial beds.

As well as the magnificent trees, Kiloren features many of Walling’s most loved shrubs.

A framework of these hardy, solid performers includes Deutzia, Forsythia, various viburnums, Kolkwitzia, Spiraea, Choisya, Philadelphus, Abelia, hawthorns and japonica. These timeless favourites provide seasonal diversity in flowering, form and foliage texture and some boast lovely autumn colour or berries. Minimal pruning is the mantra here, so many of the beautiful old shrubs have reached generous proportions. Under and around these stalwarts mingle flowering perennials and leafy ground covers.

Perennial flowers are preferred over annuals, as they require little attention, other than an annual cutback, and put on a show year after year. Selfseeding annuals such as Honesty, primrose and forget-me-nots are used for a spot of colour and are managed carefully. Kiloren is surrounded by nine acres of grazed paddocks, preventing any exotic escapees from spreading.

At the time of our story Kiloren was for sale, and has since changed hands. The new owners have a treasured garden and a new chapter will unfold. CWL Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Angus Waddell

Clockwise from top left: Pretty self sown aquilegias nestle below a water bowl; Edna’s signature - white trunked Silver birch, and stone walling; lavender and pastel hued perennials spill over the terracing; the flower of Liriodendron – the tulip tree.

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CWL 151

COOL CUSTOMERS

WHAT LUKE ROBINSON DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT AIR CONDITIONERS PROBABLY ISN'T WORTH KNOWING.

W

ith summer on the horizon, now is an excellent time to check your air-conditioning system. If you haven't got the latest and coolest Daikin unit then it's time to visit the experts at Chill Rite.

Luke “Robbo“ Robinson is the newly appointed Daikin dealer in town and his recently refurbished showroom in Dubbo's Douglas Mawson Road is the place to go regarding heating and cooling in your home or business.

Luke is a fifth-generation tradesperson and third-generation electrician. After Year 10 he undertook a seven-year apprenticeship at Longley Mechanical Services, where he learnt the art of air conditioning in both commercial and domestic environments.

In 2010, Luke bought Chill Rite from Alex Klaassans and today has 23 trained staff between Dubbo and the new office in Orange – a far cry from his early days, when there were just four to manage.

Luke suggests routine maintenance on return air filters is essential for good, long-term efficiency.

“Air-conditioning systems work at their optimum when regularly serviced, domestically about twice a year and with commercial, as frequent as monthly,“ he advises.

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Chill Rite installs hundreds of mainly Daikin systems to not only homes but also hospitals, universities, shopping systems and nursing homes throughout the Central West, and travel as far as Tamworth in the west and Wagga Wagga in the south.

Luke has drawn a lot of inspiration from his father “Robo“ Robinson, who has guided him in this journey of building the largest air-conditioning company in the Central West.

With spring in the air, now is the time to think about how best to cool off in the scorching months ahead.

“He taught me work ethic. The work is never done and you are only as good as your last job.

He also impressed on me the importance of keeping communication channels open and running my own race.“

“The old days of evaporative air conditioning are gone and traditional fans don't really cut the mustard any more,“ Luke says.

While Luke operates mostly from his office, his hard-working team is the keystone to his success in a competitive field.

“Technology has changed dramatically in the last few years. Systems are smaller and far more efficient than in days gone by. There's simply no reason for families to swelter during the summer months.“

“Selecting trustworthy staff who share my work ethic and company goals has always been paramount to me. Loyalty is important in this game – both for retaining staff and keeping clients confident that we are here for the long haul.“ CWL

Another benefit of installing a new Daikin reverse-cycle system is the resale value to your home.

For your peace of mind, there are 15 service vehicles and multiple tradesmen, many trained as electricians and refrigeration mechanics.

“Back-up service is essential in this business and we have built our business on good, fast and friendly service,“ he says.

Luke Robinson and his father “Robo“ make a great team at Chill Rite.

T:: (02) 6361 4546 F:: (02) 6361 4566 : jasmin.bond@bigpond.com

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contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all types of air conditioning systems, both Dubbo office residential and commercial. We supply 3/55 Douglas Mawson Rd and install cool rooms of any size and Dubbo NSW 2830 application. contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all (02) 6885 2254 We a 24 systems, hour, day a week out types of of air airhave conditioning systems,7both both Dubbocall office types conditioning Dubbo office residential and commercial. commercial.

We supply supply residential and service for your We peace of mind.

You can 3/55Douglas Douglas MawsonRd Rd 3/55 Mawson and install cool rooms of any size and and install cool rooms of any size and rely on Chill-Rite to meet all you air Dubbo NSW 2830 Orange office application.

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(02)6885 68852254 2254in conditioning Refrigeration needs Wehave have 24hour, hour,77day dayand week callout out (02) We aa24 aaweek call 2/99-101 Elsham Ave servicethe foryour your peaceWest mind.

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You can Central this rely on on Chill-Rite Chill-Rite toto meet meet all all you you air air Orangeoffice office Orange NSW 2800 rely Orange conditioning and and Refrigeration Refrigerationneeds needs inin conditioning 2/99-101Elsham ElshamAve Ave 2/99-101 Orange office theCentral CentralWest Westthis thissummer. summer.

Dubbo office (02) 6361 4442 the Orange NSW 2800 Orange NSW 2800 13/19 Elsham Ave 3/55 Douglas Mawson Rd contact@chill-rite.com.au contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all (02)6361 63614442 4442 Orange NSW 2800 (02) Dubbo NSW 2830 types of air conditioning systems, both Dubbo office2254 (02) 6361 4442 (02) 6885 residential and commercial. We supply ARCDouglas No: AU25083 Refrig Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729C 3/55 No: AU25083 Refrig Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729CMawson Rd No: AU25083 Lic: 228729C Elec Lic: 228729C and install cool rooms of anyARCARCsize and Refrig Dubbo NSW 2830 application.

(02) 6885 2254 We have a 24 hour, 7 day a week call out service for your peace of mind. You can rely on Chill-Rite to meet all you air Orange office conditioning and Refrigeration needs in 2/99-101 Elsham Ave the Central West this summer.

Orange NSW 2800 (02) 6361 4442 contact@chill-rite.com.au Chill-Rite install, repair and maintain all types of air conditioning systems, both Dubbo office residential and commercial. We supply 3/55 Mawson Rd228729C ARCDouglas No: AU25083 Refrig Lic: Elec Lic: 228729C and install cool rooms of any size and Dubbo NSW 2830 application.

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153

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154 CWL

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CWL 155

From concept

TO CREATION

C

ompany directors Darren and Kylie Semmler from GJ Gardner Homes are now building in Dubbo and surrounding areas.

A local builder, offering great service and a commitment to excellence, Darren and his team are ready to help turn your dreams into reality.

Darren's wife and fellow director Kylie brings her own valuable expertise to the business, with extensive experience in the financial, HR, administrative and compliance fields.

Darren brings considerable experience to the team, starting his building and construction career in Dubbo 25 years ago.

From his formative years as site foreman, Darren has maintained a commitment to the quality standards that have been the foundation of his business success.

Darren has worked in many facets of the building sector, completing an extensive range of projects, progressing from renovations and extensions, to single- and double-storey residential housing construction and commercial applications.

He's also undertaken building consultancy work for insurance companies, real estate agents and government departments, utilising his wealth of experience and history in the building and construction industry.

What Darren loves most about building is the personal satisfaction derived from creating a new home, a special place where family and friends can live and grow together.

At GJ Gardner Homes there are over 100 home designs to choose from, created especially for modern families. New home consultants will help you choose the right design with plenty of choices for customisation.

With flexibility to personalise any plan to suit your family, no two houses need ever be the same.

156 CWL

With fixed price certainty and no hidden extras, building your new home to your budget is surprisingly easy. Everything at GJ Gardner Homes Dubbo is aimed at delivering the most rewarding building experience possible.

Kylie also enjoys the interaction with clients, transforming their ideas from concept to creation and working together to build dream homes for families.

Growing up in Narromine, and now living on the outskirts of Dubbo, Kylie has always appreciated the quality lifestyle and opportunities that make Dubbo such a great place to live.

"Our son, Josh, a qualified carpenter, also works as part of the GJ Gardner Dubbo team, along with other staff members, all born and bred in the local community," she says.

Darren and Kylie, both members of the Housing Industry Association Limited (HIA) since 2005, proudly support local community groups, including the Cancer Council, Variety – The Children's Charity, Royal Flying Doctor Service and various sporting associations.

The GJ Gardner team is excited about building your next home, using quality products with professional trades.

The result will be a home to suit you, your family, budget and lifestyle. CWL Above: The team at GJ Gardner Homes Joe Simpson, Gail Roberts and Emma Monsuere with directors Kylie and Darren Semmler.

Left: Kylie and Darren Semmler check on home plans.

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Crampton’s bring the store to your door For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van.

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Embracing

NEW TECHNOLOGIES SOLAR ENERGY CAN BE A CONFUSING CONCEPT FOR SOME. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS AND COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLAR ENERGY, A VISIT TO THE FRIENDLY TEAM AT ORANA ENERGY SYSTEMS SOLAHART IN TALBRAGAR STREET, DUBBO, IS WELL RECOMMENDED.

158 CWL

T

here you will probably be greeted by Emma or Suellyn. Emma is from the Yeoval area and moved to Dubbo some years ago with her family.

Suellyn has been enjoying her role in finance and marketing with Solahart for the past four years. The youngest of seven comes from Trundle, where her parents ran a mixed farm.

"Solahart has been around for more than 60 years – initially hot water systems in the 1950s – but a big swing has happened in the last few years regarding solar energy," Suellyn says.

"Dubbo is a solar hot spot with a high percentage of home and business owners, especially farmers, having embraced these new technologies."

While many people are familiar with their Solahart hot water systems, the staff of seven are excited about the latest developments in renewable energy, particularly the new Tesla battery systems.

"This system has been tested in the Tesla electric cars for years and now is available as a power storage system for homes. They are attached to the solar system and allow you to store any excess power generated by the system for use at night," Suellyn says.

Business owners Brian and Carol Parker have been here for more than 20 years and are well known and respected throughout the Dubbo business community.

Brian came from Sydney and managed the Natural Gas roll-out to the Central West.

"That took about four or five years covering many towns, then we saw the benefits of solar hot water systems and solar power in general,” Brian says.

The business is constantly evolving, keeping up with new trends.

"For a lot of people it is still a little confusing and so we try to educate our clients. A lot of people just want a price, but it is so variable that we feel it is essential to go out and inspect the property and analyse individual electricity needs,” he says.

"When it comes to solar energy there is no average household and there are many things to take into consideration. We provide this service free of charge.

Orana Energy Systems Solahart Central West covers a huge area, almost a third of the state.

"We really feel it's important that those looking at new solar options go through a local dealer.

A lot of people aren't familiar with solar and it's important to have a system designed properly, specifically for you. And it really can't be done over the phone."

Brian says having a quality, well designed and professionally installed system will ensure the best possible power generation and savings.

"There is also a lot of value in being able to walk into our shop and deal with us in person," he says.

"There's no initial outlay, it has a cash flow neutral effect and at the end of the lease you own the system. In effect it doesn't really cost you anything."

If you would like some advice or a Solahart Smart Check, call the team and they will arrange a time for Ashley to come and see you.

Ashley is an energy consultant, who has been designing systems with Brian for domestic and commercial customers across the region for several years.

Orana Energy Systems Solahart Central West covers a huge area, almost a third of the state, with the assistance of many Solahart-trained electricians and installers in various towns throughout the Central West.

More than just a solar and gas equipment supplier, Orana Energy Systems understands and supports the technical needs of the ever-changing power and gas industry. CWL

"Team leasing is what we do for commercial installations. We work out how much we can save you on your bill and usually these savings will Suellyn says.

Above: Business owners of Orana Energy Systems Brian and Carol Parker.

Facing page: Suellyn Rees with a Solahart hot water system.

Designed and built for Australian conditions Backed by trusted Solahart warranties Rigorously tested for efficiency and durability

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CWL 161

1

PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING

Prepare your elements the night before and have them sitting on the table ready to be laid out. Gather your cutlery, crockery and glassware. Don’t forget linen napkins and side plates.

2

FORGET ABOUT A TABLECLOTH

3

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

4

TABLE CENTERPIECES

5

CANDLES

When short on time, unfolding a large tablecloth is time consuming, so have at the ready your favourite placemats that suit the design you are planning. These are so easy to distribute quickly around the table. Matching drink coasters are also a must on timber tables.

Select a single flower and do mass displays throughout your home. I love white stocks as they not only look amazing, they are inexpensive, are long-lasting and have an enduring subtle scent.

Bunches of roses and peonies look fantastic arranged in silver teapots or vintage teacups for a high tea. Organise your flowers the day before the party.

SUPERB SPRING

soirees

w

ith the arrival of spring comes the desire to move our love affair with food outside.

Hosting a lavish dinner party on the verandah overlooking your lawns or pool might well be on the agenda but hosting a shindig at your place requires a degree of organisation and a test of your culinary and styling skills.

Here I show readers how to set the perfect table in 10 easy minutes, leaving you ample time for lippy and wine before your role as hostess begins!

Table presentation needs to be as exquisite as the food itself.

A superb three-course menu deserves better than your everyday crockery and cutlery. The outdoor table becomes a personal and creative expression of you. It begs to be blissful! Table centerpieces are an opportunity to be creative, adventurous and stylish, and this is most certainly not a five-minute job.

Keep table centrepieces simple and striking. I love stocks for their simplistic style but incredible impact. I buy them in numerous bunches and cut them in half to provide a landscape of lower bouquets. Guests do need to see one another across the table so steer clear of long-stemmed flower arrangements. One of my favourite centerpieces comprised several oversized white clam shells filled with a cornucopia of natural elements such as pinecones, figs, green apples, limes and pineapples interspersed with potted conifers and fresh peonies. It looked fresh and amazing.

I’ve used masses of flameless candles and had great success with these at functions I’ve held. Their impact is nothing less than outstanding, and they are maintenance free. If you prefer the real thing, be sure to arrange your candleholders the night before with candles inside. All you need to do is light the candles five minutes before guests arrive. Ensure your candles are fragrant but not too overpowering. The scent shouldn’t interfere with the flavours and aromas of your meal. Test them first!

6 LIGHTING

The right lighting is vital. No one likes fluorescent lights glaring into his or her eyes blinding them throughout the meal, not to mention what it does for your appearance. Invest in a dimmer switch. I find bright lights intimidating and prefer soft lighting for a more intimate feel to a party. Enough light to see what you are eating and to whom you are talking is all you need. Soft lighting encourages conversation and laughter. How good is that?

USE OF YOUR DECORATIVE 7 MAKE TABLES AND DRINKS CART

If you don’t have a built-in outdoor kitchen with benchtop, employ your furniture pieces that are easy to move around.

No one likes running back and forward to the main kitchen to gather necessities. Utilise side tables, buffets or drinks cart with all the essentials close at hand. This allows you to remain with your guests and they can enjoy your company, which is why they accepted your invite to dinner. If you have a beautiful cake, dessert (that doesn’t require refrigeration) or cheese platter planned for the conclusion of your meal, set these items out and accompanying flatware ahead of time. They make a great statement piece as guests arrive to the table.

Enjoy your spring festivities, soak up the glorious weather and the endless opportunities outdoors with your family and friends.

Words, styling and images: Pip Teys

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Beautiful Homewares and Furniture at Affordable Prices Furniture • Homewares • Lighting Chandelliers • Lamps • Cushions Throws • Coverlets

For ever changing trends while keeping a classic touch

7 Main St, Lithgow NSW • (02) 6352 3383

Opened in April 2014, eclectic Orange offers a unique shopping experience, inspired by one-off original pieces including furniture, homewares, clothing, accessories, collectables and more.

With 50% of our stock sourced locally, you’re sure to find your very own style amidst the stores range of retro, vintage, industrial, Art Deco, and contemporary wares.

new & salvaged

Open 6 days Mon-Fri 10-5pm Sat 10-3pm 188 Anson St, Orange | 6360 0437 eclecticstoreorange@gmail.com CWL 163

NEW ARRIVALS FOR

Ara 35649 pale grey or black

Call into your nearest store to see the full range of summer styles that have arrived!

clothing for the real woman www.respectfully.com.au

Range of casual and after 5 wear for the real woman - sizes 10 - 30 We also stock a range of bags, Sakroot, Cobb & Co, Cenzoni and Journey to name a few.

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Extensive range of shoes including Hinako, Isabella, Florance and Cabello.

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Bathurst 94 William Street ● Dubbo 174 Macquarie Street Orange 171 Summer Street ● Tamworth 284 Peel Street Wagga Wagga 56 Baylis Street ● Call 6332 3822 for a catalogue! www.easylivingfootwear.com.au FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

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closet cowra full full of ofclothes clothesand andaccessories accessories

Yarra Trail • Namastai • Foil • Goondiwindi Cotton Gordon Smith • Ping Pong • Hammock and Vine Jump • Corfu • See Saw • Philosophy

Catering for sizes up to 22 OPEN Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm Shop 2 / 37 Macquarie St, Cowra 2794 02 6342 2478, thecloset@bigpond.com 164 CWL

Country store, Country values, Country service…. That’s what Crookwell Footwear is all about

We stock iconic brands, coats for men and women, special items such as wallets, braces, handbags and much more!

Crookwell Footwear at 97 Goulburn Street Crookwell | Ph/Fax (02) 4832 1636 | It’s ‘The sole of the town’

The store for babies and little kids

94 Main St Lithgow Ph: 6346 2520

Baby and children's wear, toys, books, baby and nursery essentials, christening wear, reconditioned prams, cots, bassinets and more...

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wild

INTO THE

SOME OF MOTHER NATURE’S BEST WORK IS IN TASMANIA.

B

eing totally immersed in our natural environment for two weeks is my idea of the perfect holiday.

Endless boardwalks through national parks where you can reach out and touch trees and take in the amazing aromas of the fresh, natural vegetation surrounding you.

Five-hour treks through the wilderness that are challenging, to say the least, particularly when face to face with black snakes on your path.

Kilometres of scenery to enchant and mesmerise.

Layers of incredible colours that only Mother Nature has the ability to create. Wildlife in abundance, sunsets to guarantee you don’t have a care in the world, food so fresh you cannot quite believe it exists.

Tasmania is the place to take a dance with the devil (the Tasmanian Devil that is), and also experience the wonders of our earth.

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TRAVEL

My advice to readers is to take your own vehicle, and catch the Spirit of Tasmania. The overnight crossing of the often unforgiving Bass Strait to Devonport is a novel way to kickstart your Tassie holiday.

The Spirit is where one of the most memorable holidays of your lifetime will begin and end.

In order to understand the environmental significance of this remarkable part of Australia, you will need to put all five senses to work, plus your sturdy and comfortable walking shoes.

Tasmania is pure, wild and clean. The air is the cleanest in the world, and you get many opportunities to breathe it in during the many walks on offer.

We chose to make our trip to Tassie more of a nature adventure, interspersed with history, food and art. Every day our itinerary was all about the delights of Mother Nature. It is important to try to stay for at least two to three days in each location in order to completely absorb the character of each city, region or national park. We had completely perfect, summery weather for our autumn trip, however, whatever the season, do ensure you pack for all weather conditions.

The diversity of landscape in Tasmania is simply breathtaking. If you are an artist, inspiration is everywhere. There are layers of beautiful colours and rich landscapes to absorb; sunrises and sunsets that truly invigorate as you witness the sheer magnitude of natural beauty unfolding right before your eyes; vivid orange lichen-covered rocks extending not only through the Bay of Fires region on the east coast and through to Bicheno but popping up in northern Tassie at Boat Harbour Beach.

There’s the fragrant Mountain Spice, or Kerosene Bush as it is commonly known, and picture perfect wet heath and lichen-covered rocks atop all of 1271 metres of Mount Wellington with spectacular views across Hobart (once the dense fog lifted).

There are the tall timbers in the Huon Valley at the Tahune AirWalk and majestic trees such as Huon pines, leatherwood, sassafras and celery top pines widespread up the Gordon River (Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park) wilderness. > Facing page: View of Cape Bruny Lighthouse, South Bruny Island.

Clockwise from left: The Lady Jane Franklin II on the Gordon River; mossy tree in "The Ballroom" , Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park; orange lichen covered rocks at the Bay of Fires; Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park.

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There are those magnificent eucalyptus trees in Freycinet National Park with bark designs so fabulous that I concluded Mother Nature was my new designer idol; bright green algae laying atop the waterways of the wetlands in the Tamar Valley, so thick it looked like carpet; and tree ferns, bracket fungi, teasels, banksias and mushrooms intertwined throughout the virgin forests.

Then there are the crisp streams that are home to many a platypus with water so clear the reflections of the sky take your breath away; button grass, pink mountain berries and red mountain rocket (from the protea family) at Cradle Mountain.

We visited no fewer than six national parks and every one of them was proudly working hard to protect what is very special about Tasmania – its rare and unique wildlife and vegetation.

You need a level of fitness to experience the better walks through the national parks. Some of the terrain we covered on five-hour treks was steep and challenging. Fortunately, we had glorious weather. I’m not so sure we would have enjoyed these walks during times where the rocks become slippery with a cold chill at your back.

Encountering black snakes right in front of our path at Freycinet National Park was a bit of a thrill. We were on our way to Mars Bluff, a rare and spectacular rock formation right on the beach en route to Cape Elizabeth Lookout. It was the second time we had seen black snakes in the wild.

The first was when we spotted one having a sleep beside the boardwalk at the Tamar Island Wetlands. The second encounter was far more heartstopping as I walked through the sandy path where the big boy had been sunbaking, just seconds before.

One of my most memorable moments was seeing a mother wombat and her baby meandering in the foliage at Cradle Mountain as we enjoyed the circuit walk around Dove Lake. I didn’t even reach for my camera – the moment was far too special.

No wonder these national parks are world heritage listed, we see wildlife blossoming in front of our eyes. Shame this came too late for the Tasmanian Tiger. Wedge-tailed eagles, echidnas, spotted tail quolls, Tasmanian devils, and rock wallabies are some of the natives we were fortunate enough to spot in the wild during our travels. And far too much road kill for our liking.

A magnificent day out for us was the luxury cruise up the Gordon River on the Lady Jane Franklin II. Lounging in leather recliners on the Captain’s Deck with unrestricted views of the surrounding UNESCO forests and knowing Aboriginals were the first southern-most inhabitants and roamed these very forests for 40,000 years put a different perspective on things for me.

This wonderful part of Tasmania was also once home to Australian convicts who were transported to Sarah Island. This area, where the river meets the rainforest, is also home to the Huon pine, the second oldest species of tree alive today. Hearing stories about the original piners of the area, learning the history of the 200km-long Gordon River, charming Strahan village, cruising through what was called “Hells Gates” from the safety of this modern vessel as we sipped wine and ate a three-course meal truly made

us stop and ponder how tough the people from days gone by really must have been. Witnessing an old Huon pine tree, which our guide explained was at least 2000 years old, was such a privilege. I can highly recommend doing this cruise, but from the Captain’s Deck. Reclining among an abundance of superb natural phenomena just leaves you in awe.

Fortunately, the food in Tasmania is world class and it needed to be as our appetites were out of control due to all the physical activity we were undertaking. A memorable lunch complete with tasting plate on South Bruny Island offered stunning flavours in produce we had not experienced before. Tasmanian smoked salmon, cheese, oysters, chorizo, wallaby and pate were off the charts. Then there were the chocolate-coated berries from the Raspberry Farm, handmade chocolate delights from the House of Anvers, juicy red apples from local orchards and wines that truly made the world seem so much brighter. Tasmania has the very best of the best of flavours. No weight gain for us despite all the food and wine we consumed. Perhaps it was the exercise or the fact that this produce was 100% natural and preservative free (well, perhaps not the wine).

No trip to Tassie is complete unless you have ticked off some of the more popular tourist attractions on the Tasman Peninsula and these included: Eaglehawk Neck, the Tessellated Pavement, Pirates Bay, Blowhole, Tasman’s Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, Remarkable Cave and a trip to the historic Port Arthur. We tackled these all in one day en route to Hobart. It was a huge but memorable day! Other must-see destinations on the east coast include Honeymoon Bay and Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park.

We packed so much into our two weeks in Tasmania and still didn’t see everything we would have liked to. The exciting part about that is knowing that we have another adventure awaiting us when we return to this special place and sooner rather than later. If it is an authentic appreciation of nature’s beauty that you want to inhale, a road trip in Tasmania to its many national parks allows you to do so without distraction. Tassie’s national parks are a triumph, a joy to behold, a special gift from Mother Nature herself.

Words and images: Pip Teys

Facing page, clockwise from top left: View of Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park; Geeveston Circuit Platypus Walk, Huon Valley; Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve; Mars Bluff, Freycinet National Park; Dahlias in Launceston City Park; Wooden stairs at the Neck, Bruny Island.

Clockwise from top left: Port Arthur Historical Site; Honeymoon Bay in Freycinet National Park; sunset from the Spirit of Tasmania as we depart Devonport; red mountain rocket at Cradle Mountain.

Lithgow

Surprisingly diverse

Bellisimo is filled with creative ideas, products and giftware sourced from around the world.

The range includes superb homewares, candles, lighting, furniture, prints and rugs to allow your home to become a reflection of your personality. We also focus on décor and furniture for outdoor living spaces.

Our retail space houses a beautiful selection of women’s clothes, jewellery, handbags, and a quality collection of eclectic giftware for the new baby.

For a free copy of the

Lithgow Visitor Guide

Bellisimo also sells Josophans’ Fine Chocolates, created and produced in Leura in the Blue Mountains.

Lithgow Visitor Information Centre 1137 Great Western Highway, (PO Box 19 Lithgow NSW 2790) T: 1300 760 276 or (02) 6350 3230, F: (02) 6350 3239 E: tourism@lithgow.com

27 Main St, Lithgow NSW 2790 | Phone: 02 6352 1881 Bellisimo.com.au

www.tourism.lithgow.com august.indd 1

170 CWL

Lithgow Tourism 11/05/15 10:32 AM

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Fashion, Cafés, Beauty, Fresh Food, Gifts & Homewares.

TRADING HOURS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

9.00am - 5.30pm 9.00am - 5.30pm 9.00am - 5.30pm 9.00am - 9.00pm

Friday Saturday Sunday

9.00am - 5.30pm 9.00am - 5.00pm 10.00am - 4.00pm

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Free & easy

RECENTLY THERE SEEM TO BE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE REQUESTING GLUTEN-FREE MEALS AT THE QUARRY, SO WE THOUGHT WITH OUR SPRING MENUS THIS ISSUE WE WOULD PROVIDE SOME OF OUR GLUTEN-FREE DISHES OFFERED IN THE RESTAURANT. Recipes and images: Anne & Paul Loveridge

Sticky Pork with Crisp Noodles, Cashews, Chilli & Coriander We enjoyed making this dish with a Thai chef on beautiful Naka Island near Phuket. It was our favourite dish of the trip. You can add as much or as little chilli as you like.

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 1 finely diced onion 500g pork mince 4 green shallots, chopped 1 long red chilli, finely sliced (retain half for garnish) 1 bunch of coriander, chopped stems (retain leaf for garnish) 100g toasted cashew nuts, roughly chopped

172 CWL

1 cup of beef stock 2 tbsp gluten-free soy 1 tbsp mirin 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp fresh lime juice 100g packet of Chang’s fried noodles 100ml Chang’s fried noodle salad dressing To garnish Coriander leaf Finely sliced chilli

METHOD Heat a large frypan with a little oil and gently fry the diced onion until translucent and soft, then set aside.

Increase the heat and in the same pan, cook mince until browned.

Add the stock, shallots, coriander, half the sliced chilli, cashew nuts, tamarin, honey and lime juice. Stir to combine then cook a few minutes until liquid reduces and thickens a little.

When ready to serve add Chang’s salad dressing and the noodles and stir through.

Spoon into four warmed bowls or dish-shaped plates and top with saved slices of chilli and the fresh coriander leaf.

SEASONAL RECIPES

Provenรงale Rack of Lamb with Slow Roasted Garlic, Tomato & Minted Pea Pistou Serves 4 INGREDIENTS 2 x 6 rib racks of Cowra lamb, French trimmed 2 small bulbs garlic 1 punnet cherry tomatoes 4 cups baby spinach leaf 4 small chat potatoes, cut into quarters 1 cup fresh mint leaves 1 cup cooked green peas 2 cloves garlic Good quality olive oil

METHOD For the garlic and tomatoes Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Wrap whole garlic bulbs drizzled with a little oil in foil. Place on oven tray with cherry tomatoes, place in low oven for 20 minutes, remove from heat and set aside. When cool, separate garlic cloves and remove skin.

Turn oven up to 200 degrees.

For the Lamb Have lamb racks at room temperature.

Place on oven tray and roast for 20 minutes at 200 degrees, remove from oven and rest, covered loosely in foil until ready to serve.

For the potatoes Steam or simmer until tender, drain and toss in frypan with a little oil and gently fry to colour and finish cooking.

For the pistou Toss the peas, mint, garlic cloves and a half cup of oil in a one-litre jug and blitz with stick blender to make a smooth paste. Add more or less oil to produce a free-flowing sauce.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Set aside.

To serve Place large frypan over gentle heat with about three tablespoons of oil.

Toss in potatoes, tomatoes, garlic cloves and spinach and mix all together. While this is happening, cut lamb into individual cutlets.

Place spinach, tomato, potato and garlic on four hot plates. Add lamb and dot with pistou and drizzle a little extra around plate. Garnish with some fresh mint.

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SEASONAL RECIPES

Orange & Almond Syrup Cake (gluten free) This is a cake I made for two wonderful ladies from Cowra who were celebrating their 70th and 90th birthdays. Happy Birthday, Jenni and Jean-Mary!

A couple of the guests were gluten intolerant and this is the perfect gluten-free cake that everybody can enjoy. Looks wonderful, is extremely moist and not overly sweet.

Serves 8 INGREDIENTS 2 oranges 4 eggs 300g caster sugar 300g almond meal 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon METHOD Use a zester to remove rind from the oranges and save for the syrup.

Place oranges in a large saucepan full of cold water.

Bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes, repeat this process another two times. Remove oranges from water and cut into pieces, discarding any pips.

Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Line a 22cm spring-form cake tin with foil and grease.

Process oranges in a food processor.

Whisk eggs and sugar in an electric mixer until thick and pale. Add processed orange, almond meal, baking powder and cinnamon, then fold in until just combined.

Spoon into prepared cake pan and bake for one hour. Test with a skewer, if it comes out clean then the cake is cooked. Cool in the pan.

Orange Syrup INGREDIENTS 1 orange 100g caster sugar 60ml water 1 tsp orange essence METHOD Zest the orange and add to saved zest. Juice orange and place in a saucepan with sugar and water over low heat until sugar dissolves. Add zest and orange essence and cook for 10 minutes until the syrup thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

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To serve Remove the side of the cake tin, place a piece of parchment paper over the top of the cake then place a flat plate on top and upend the cake, remove the base and peel off the foil.

Place a beautiful cake plate over the base of the cake and carefully turn the cake over so that it is again right side up.

Top the cake with orange slices and fresh raspberries and also some of the syrupy zest. Serve with double cream, some orange syrup and either fresh berries, oranges in Grand Marnier or even my rhubarb and raspberry compote, which was featured in the Spring 2015 issue of Central West Lifestyle. CWL

M A R K E T S S AT U R D AY 2 9 t h O C T

9AM - 1PM BROUGHAM PARK Cowra

Taste wines in our unusual strawbale winery. Tasting platters and meals available if booked, or bring a picnic.

82 Lawrences Rd, Canowindra 0427 936 054 wallingtonwines@gmail.com www.wallingtonwines.com.au

GOLD

Stay in the newly renovated Winery Cottage, a beautifully restored pise farm house overlooking the farm, vineyard and olive grove.

Fres h

COIN

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S e as o n al W W W . C O W R AT O U R I S M . C O M . A U 02 6342 4333

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Restaurant & Cellar Door Lunch Thu - Sun from noon Dinner Fri & Sat from 6.30 Cellar Door Thu - Sun, 10 - 4 7191 Boorowa Rd, Cowra 02 6342 3650 quarry@bigpond.net.au www.thequarryrestaurant.com.au

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Fish River Roasters provides speciality coffee from around the world to cafes and restaurants in the Central West, Blue Mountains and around Australia. Our award winning coffee is supported by barista training and espresso machine repairs and maintenance.

We would like to thank the cafes and restaurants that stock our coffee and the coffee drinkers of the region for their support.

fish river roasters 67 corporation avenue bathurst 2795 02 6331 7171

Country Gardens MOTOR INN

Cowra’s little gem

Rooms:

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Located at the edge of town on an acreage, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. There are 18 luxurious, clean, comfortable, ground floor units to choose from. Park at your door, off street parking for coaches and trucks. Heated pool and BBQ in Australian native gardens.

• Family Suites (2 Bedrooms) • Spa Suites • Executive Suites (King beds & bath/shower) • Deluxe Queen Suites • Disabled Suite • Some Smoking Suites available

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Breakfast Room Service Free Unlimited Wireless Broadband R/C Air Con & Elec. Blankets Direct Dial Telephone Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Facilities Wide Screen TV’s (16 Channels) Mini Snack Bar

a. 75 Grenfell Road (Mid Western Highway), Cowra p. 02 6341 1100 e. cgmcowra@bigpond.net.au w. www.countrygardensmotel.com.au 176 CWL

Secure your future with trusted local advisors Crowe Horwath provides practical accounting, audit, tax, business and financial advice to individuals and businesses across the Central West region.

From business structuring and managing cash flow through to superannuation and succession planning, however simple or complex your needs are, we can help deliver the right outcome for you to ensure your goals are fulfilled.

We employ local people with local knowledge. Contact us today and find out how we can assist you.

Audit | Advisory Advice Dubbo| |Tax 02 6883 5600 | Financial Bathurst | 02 6330 2200 Orange | 02 6361 5200

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FOOD

How sweet Spring is in the air and it’s time to enjoy some sweet delights. Lamingtons are always popular but what about trying them with jelly instead of chocolate. Any flavour will work; our favourite is strawberry but pineapple is tasty too.

Recipe: Lorraine Hills Images: Shot by Jake

J E L LY L A M I N G T O N S INGREDIENTS

METHOD

125g butter

For the cake, place butter, sugar, flour, milk, eggs and custard powder in a bowl and beat well for three minutes, or until smooth. Place into a 19cm square cake tin. Bake in moderate oven for 45 minutes. Let cool in tin. Cut cake into 5cm by 5cm or to your liking.

1 cup sugar 1 cup SR Flour ½ cup milk 2 eggs 2 tbsp custard powder Jelly sachet Coconut

178 CWL

Have ready your jelly as instructed on packet. Let set till a little wobbly. Have coconut ready on a flat surface. Place cake pieces into jelly and coat all over. Let extra jelly run off, then roll into the coconut, let stand for a day. Enjoy!

BOOROWA COURT HOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP COURT WA H O

E US O

BOO R

Quality Arts And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room OPEN 10.00 TO 5.00 Daily

PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2856 Phone 02 6385 3885

144 Brisbane Street Dubbo NSW 2830

Phone: (02) 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS

The Grapevine Cafe has great coffee and great food. We offer an indoor or outdoor dining experience with full table service. Situated in a beautiful heritage listed building with a spacious courtyard.

Honey Mustard DRESSING Rosie’s Honey Mustard Dressing is more than just a dressing Gluten and preservative free, handmade with all natural ingredients. 100% Australian owned and made.

0427 418 861 Warren, NSW

Whip an ordinary meal into an extraordinary taste sensation

Perfect with fish, red meats, chicken, green salad and as a marinade. Order online today

www.rosies.net.au CWL 179

The good OIL OLIVES HAVE BROUGHT PETER AND SHIRLEY MICHALK CLOSER TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

P

eter Michalk grew up on a Parkes farm but it took many years before deciding farming, and growing olives, was the career for him and his young family.

After working as a bricklayer throughout the district, the amiable farmer saved enough to buy a 500-acre farm “Wattle View”, Parkes, about 30 years ago.

With his young wife Shirley by his side, he set about developing the block, utilising his bricklaying skills to build everything from house extensions (using cypress pine cut down from the hill where the olives are now growing), an impressive olive shed and a shearing shed.

The enterprising pair now have two other small farms where they run a prime lamb enterprise and grow wheat, barley and oats. They also have two sons and the story goes that when

“Growing olives has really enriched our lives,” she says.

The majority of the crop is used to make olive oil while the remainder is pickled for table fruit.

“Initially we thought we’d produce the olives and sell the product wholesale. We never envisaged we’d be making cosmetics and having such interaction with others.”

they left home they were advised to “take a mirror and a set of working clothes . . . and either find work or watch yourself starve”.

It must have worked as Ben is with the Army engineers, while Doug is a partner in the farm and works in the mines.

The family moved into olives 20 years ago as a means of diversification and today there are 1800 trees, producing about 25-40 tonnes of fruit each year.

“You don’t go into olives for a short-term gain,” Peter says. “It’s a long haul and the trees are at least five years old before they produce any fruit.”

Shirley enjoys growing olives but admits the real benefits lie in meeting people from all over the country – not just customers but fellow stall holders at the many farmers markets they attend.

Their cosmetics range are all olive oil-based with hand creams, body lotions, soap, massage oil, shampoo and conditioner, dog shampoo and dubbin (for your shoes).

All are made in Sydney with their oil and specific recipes. Their products are then marketed throughout the Central West – and not just at the markets but also select retail outlets.

“It’s the only thing we do on our farm where we actually meet the customer,” Peter says. “For us, this is important, because we get great feedback, which confirms we are doing the right thing.”

Apart from the olives and Merinos, Peter is also big on birds, with not just your regular chooks and ducks, but hundreds of smaller varieties, housed in a spectacular home-built aviary.

It’s a long way from bricklaying and this farmer couldn’t be happier. CWL

SUMMER ISSUE SPRING 2015

AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2016 Millthorpe, Blayney and Carcoar SUBSCRIBE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGAZINE IN PRINT OR ONLINE: WWW.CENTRALWESTMAGAZINE.COM.AU 180 CWL

PLOUGHMAN’S HILL OLIVES, PARKES NSW www.ploughmanshill.com.au EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL • VINEGARS AND INFUSED OILS • OLIVES • BEAUTY PRODUCTS

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN

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• Magazines • Papers • Cards • Gifts • Stationery • Darrell Lea

www.parkesnewsagency.com 284 Clarinda St, Parkes NSW 2870 Phone: 6862 2296

P: 02 6360 1232 E: advice@pwmadvice.com.au 14 Sale Street, Orange NSW 2800 PO BOX 19, ORANGE NSW 2800

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pick up a copy of the new destination guide or view online at www.visitparkes.com.au

visitparkes.com.au CWL 181

Rise & shine THE STEVENSONS ARE BREAD WINNERS FROM WAY BACK.

T

he biggest private bakery in regional NSW, Earlyrise Baking, has a rich history steeped in family tradition. Owned and operated by fourth-generation Dubbo baking family the Stevensons, the business is a story of hope, vision and enormous commitment.

In 1944 the bakery was sold to two of his children, Bob and Audrey, and Audrey’s husband Jack Goss. Later, Audrey and Jack’s children, Ted, Helen and John, joined the business.

Brothers Bill, Robert and John Stevenson, all directors in the business, can trace their baking history back to 1918 when their grandfather, Aussie Stevenson, established a small bakery in Tooraweenah.

Also working within the business was Bob and Audrey’s brother, John Stevenson (Bill, Robert and John’s father). While working at Goss’s Bakery, John met and married Christina Kosseris (from another well-known Dubbo baking family) and in 1965 they created their own baking business, South Dubbo Bakery.

Aussie delivered his baked goods on a horse and cart each day to local residents, building a successful business for his wife and six children. In 1923 he set up Stevenson's Bakery in Dubbo to reach a larger market.

It was inevitable their sons, Bill, Robert and John, would one day become master bakers and pastry chefs. They all learnt to bake from a young age, gaining experience after school, on weekends and during school holidays.

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Earlyrise Bakery has won more than 150 awards.

Their resolve was severely tested in 1982, when the teenage boys lost their father to a heart attack in the bakery. They had always hoped to follow in his footsteps, and following his untimely death, they were determined to keep his legacy alive.

In 1990 Bill, Robert and John and their wives bought the Village Hot Bake in Dubbo. The building was gutted to create the city’s first bakery café, opened in 1998.

Today it's a popular eatery for residents and travellers alike, trading seven days and offering a range of freshly baked treats, including gourmet pies, breads, cakes, sandwiches and espresso coffees.

In 2001 the family established the Earlyrise Baking Company, producing up to 150 freshly baked varieties that are distributed within a 500km radius daily to places like Nyngan, Cobar, Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Coolah, Orange, Bathurst, Parkes and Forbes, and everywhere in between.

With a staff of 150, including the factory and retail outlets in Dubbo and Orange (and soon Bathurst), Earlyrise Baking Co is one of the biggest employers in town. John and Bill are both very hands on, spending the bulk of their time working on the bakery operations and ensuring product quality and consistency.

While other major bread manufacturers are closing down their manufacturing plants in regional areas, this bakery is staying true to its roots and tradition, baking fresh bread for country towns and communities.

Ingredients are all sourced locally. All the flour and grain products come from Manildra, oils from MSM Milling, Canowindra, flour and canola from local farmers in Parkes, Forbes, Trangie, Nyngan and Narromine and Canobolas eggs from Molong.

High quality ingredients, combined with secret family recipes handed down over the generations, have seen the business win more than 150 awards, including the National Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition (in 2003 and 2005), and the 2013 Gold Rhino for Dubbo's most outstanding business.

As a reflection of their management, they won the 2014 State Chamber of Commerce Award for “Employer of Choice“.

The Stevenson brothers are proud to be regional country bakers born and bred in the bush. They remain committed to providing regional communities with the freshest daily products.

These days the brothers each run their own department. Robert is in administration and finance, John handles sales, research and development and Bill is the operations manager.

“Our valued staff are the core of our business. We are dedicated to growing our staff through strong family values, and our management team are equally dedicated to servicing our customers with the highest quality products,“ John says. “Food is about passion and that passion shines through in our products.“ John loves everything about food, whether it's a new style of bread or cooking a steak on the barbecue.

He was making sourdough in the early 1990s but at that stage the market, apart from the Europeans, wasn't ready to accept it. John has kept the sourdough culture going for 24 years and says it's a science to get the right loaf.

The brothers enjoy living in Dubbo. When they are not at the bakery, Bill likes classic cars, Robert loves playing the piano and water skiing at the local dam, while John loves spending time with his family.

With eight of Bill, Robert and John's children now in the business, the Stevenson name will be around for a good while yet.

“Our father once said that once you get flour in your veins it's very hard to get it out. I think that's why I'm so passionate,“ John laughs.

Aussie Stevenson wouldn't have believed that 98 years after he first hung up his shingle, the Stevenson family would go on to become such an iconic part of the baking industry in the Central West. CWL

Facing page: Bill, John and Robert Stevenson.

Above: Earlyrise bakery in 2016; John Stevenson loves everything about food; the delicious array of baked goods available from Earlyrise; Aussie Stevenson delivered his baked goods on a horse and cart.

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At Countryman Motor Inn our service is paramount, enuring your stay is an enjoyable one. Relax after your journey at the Lions Pride Cafe and Restaurant, the perfect setting to catch up with family and friends.

The Lions Pride will make all your occasions special with friendly service and a wide variety of tantalising meals.

The Lions Pride Restaurant is open 7 nights a week, cooking from 5.30pm till late.

47 Cobra St, Dubbo Countryman Ph. (02) 6882 7422 The Lions Pride Ph (02) 6884 3333 countrymandubbo@bigpond.com

www.countrymandubbo.com.au

184 CWL

www.thelionspride.com.au

MEAT & SEAFOOD • • • • • • •

Home grown grass fed “Cambjarah” lamb Personalized Customer service Orders packed in foam eskies if required Local and surrounding districts delivery service Fortnightly Specials Fresh Seafood direct from markets twice a week Private service kills cut to your requirements

Unit 8/55 Wheelers Lane, Dubbo 2830 P: 02 6881 8255 F: 02 6882 1504 E: contact@dubbomeatcentre.com.au W: www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au

Trading Hours: Monday- Wednesday: 7.00am-5.30pm Thursday- Friday: 7.00am-6.00pm Saturday: 7.00am-3.00pm

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Plainsman Motel 22 Sheriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 comforbes@exemail.com.au Reception Hours: Mon to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat to Sun 8am - 9pm

• Free Wi-Fi available • Room From $ 108 • Two Bedroom Flat $ 180 • Disable Room Available

RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday: Breakfast 7am – 9am | Saturday and Sunday: Breakfast 8am – 9am

hearty food baskets art from the heart friends that are country at heart heart racing adventures are waiting for you in forbes art trail heritage trail food experience fishing & canoe tours

call 02 6852 4155

www.finditinforbes.com.au

Breakfast and Lunches Giftware | Large off street parking Homemade cakes, pastries, pastas and pies

“A Cosmopolitan Sanctuary in the Heart of Regional NSW”

Open: 186 CWL

Tues to Fri 6am - 5pm | Sat 6am - 4pm | Sun 9am - 4pm

Newell Highway, Gilgandra

6847 2707

GILGANDRA HOME OF THE COO-EE MARCH

Stop for a coffee or stay for the night.

Museums | Art gallery | Boutique shopping | Southern gateway to the magnificent Warrumungle National Park

gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

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Upcoming Events NARROMINE SHOW 2-3 September Narromine Showground Jenny Ballhausen 0429 891 201 narromineshow@gmail.com www.show.narromine.net.au WELLINGTON ARTS AND SCULPTURE FESTIVAL 3-4 September Hermitage Hill Resort, Wellington Kim Kiss 0427 453 655 arts@wellington2820.org.au PYM STREET MARKETS 3 September, 1 October & 5 November Pym Street, Millthorpe 0429 721 266 TEMORA AVIATION MUSEUM AIRCRAFT SHOWCASE 3 & 17 September, 1 & 15 October and 5 & 19 November 2016 Temora Aviation Museum, Temora (02) 6977 1088 info@aviationmuseum.com.au www.aviationmuseum.com.au WOODSTOCK MEMORIAL SHOW 4 September Woodstock Showground Alison Rutledge (02) 6345 0104 nargong@activ8.net.au woodstockshow.wix.com/woodstockshow MUDGEE RACES 4 September & 1 October Mudgee Race Course Colleen Walker (02) 6372 6035 colleen@hwy.com.au www.mudgeeraceclubinc.com MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM LUNCHTIME CONCERT 7 September Forbes Town Hall Jan Facey (02) 6852 3766 www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au 141ST FORBES ANNUAL SHOW 9-10 September Forbes Showground Julie Hurkett (02) 6852 1311 forbesshow@gmail.com www.forbesshow.com MUDGEE WINE FESTIVAL 9 September-3 October Various locations in the Mudgee Region (02) 6372 6409 info@mudgeewine.com.au www.mudgeewine.com.au DAFFODILS AT RYDAL 10-11 & 17-18 September Various locations in the Rydal Region Lindsay Green (02) 6359 3237 lgreen@bigpond.net.au www.tourism.lithgow.com COWRA SPRING SHOW 13-14 September Cowra Showground Christie Anderson (02) 6342 1977 cowrashow@bigpond.com www.cowrashow.com MERRIWA SPRINGTIME SHOW 17-18 September Merriwa Showground Toni Jones 0498 378 500 secretary@merriwashow.com.au www.merriwashow.com.au BLAYNEY FARMERS MARKET 18 September, 16 October & 20 November Carrington Park, Blayney www.blayneyfarmersmarket.com.au

TEMORA SHOW 24 September Airport Street, Temora Glenda Iverson (02) 6977 4341 or 0409 259 227 temorashow@gmail.com www.temorashow.com NEVERTIRE FAMILY MUSTER 24 September Noel Waters Oval, Nevertire Sally Empringham 0428 239 317 belaringar.se@bigpond.com CHERRY BLOSSOM LONG LUNCH 25 September Local orchard, Young David Newberry david.newberry@young.nsw.gov.au www.visityoung.com.au/Visit-Young/Whats-On/ cherry-blossom-longlazylunch MUNGERY PICNIC RACES 2 October Tullamore Road, Narromine Sarah Masonwells 0428 325 982 www.mungerypicnicraces.websyte.com.au GULGONG CAMEL RACES AND FAMILY DAY 2 October Gulgong Diane Thompson (02) 6374 0226 thompsondm1@bigpond.com MUDGEE POLO CLUB V COUNTRY 2 October Parklands Resort, Mudgee Hugh Bateman 0418 413 413 info@mudgeepolo.com.au FORBES SPRING RACES 8 October Forbes Racecourse Blake Nicholson 0439 911 052 forbesjockeyclub@bigpond.com SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN 8-9 October Rosby Wines, Mudgee Kay Norton-Knight 0428 635 993 info@rosby.com.au www.sculpturesinthegarden.com.au FLAVOURS ON THE FARM 9 October Lazy River Estate, Dubbo Kelly Reynolds (02) 6882 2111 events@lazyriverestate.com.au www.lazyriverestate.com.au/events/flavours-on-the-farm ORANGE WINE FESTIVAL 14-30 October Various locations in the Orange Region David Crawley 0409 867 698 president@winesoforange.com.au www.orangewinefestival.com.au NARROMINE DANDY CUP 15 October Narromine Racecourse Libby Dennis 0429 891387 www.narromineturfclub.com.au FORBES 61ST ANNUAL SPRING & ROSE SHOW 15 October Forbes Services Memorial Club (02) 6852 1169 BARMEDMAN TRACTOR PULL 15 October Barmedman Showground Mandy Wells (02) 6976 2003 wellsbm@bigpond.com www.austractorpull.com PRIVATE GARDEN OPEN DAYS 15-30 October Mayfield Garden Jo Murphy (02) 6336 3131 info@mayfieldgarden.com.au www.mayfieldgarden.com.au/event/private-gardenspring-open-days-2016/

Do you have an event that you would like included in our magazine?

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AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FIELD DAYS 20-22 October 563 Borenore Road, Borenore Jayne West (02) 6362 1588 info@anfd.com. au www.anfd.com.au PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ART EXHIBITION 22-30 October 2016 Forbes Town Hall, Harold Street, Forbes (02) 6851 4868 forbesartss@gmail.com www.forbesartssociety.com CARCOAR SHOW 29 October Carcoar Showground Joanna Tait 0429 924 354 ridgeend@bigpond.com.au SCULPTURES BY THE RIVER EXHIBITION 29-30 October Lazy River Estate, Dubbo Kelly Reynolds (02) 6882 2111 events@lazyriverestate.com.au lazyriverestate.com.au RYLSTONE STREET FEAST 5 November Rylstone Diane Quaife dquaife6@gmail.com www.rylstonestreetfeast.com.au GARDEN FESTIVAL 5-6 November Various locations in the Crookwell Region (02) 4837 3117 www.crookwellgardenfestival.com MILLTHORPE GARDEN RAMBLE 5-6 November Millthorpe millthorpegardenramble@gmail.com QUBE LOGISTICS COTTON CUP RACE MEETING 6 November Warren Racecourse (02) 6847 4447 Bekbbk@bigpond.com www.warrenjockeyclub.com.au NEVILLE SHOW 12 November Neville Showground 0457 738 521 nevilleshowsociety@outlook.com DUBBO FARMERS MARKET 19 November Macquarie Lion’s Park, Dubbo 0488 685 006 enquiries@dubbofarmersmarket.org.au www.dubbofarmersmarket.org.au TABLELANDS VINTAGE FARM FIELD DAYS 19-20 November Taralga Ken Ainsworth (02) 4822 0676 enquires@kandhainsworth HUNTINGTON MUSIC FESTIVAL 19-20 & 23-27 November Huntington Estate Wines, Mudgee Alicia Riess musicfestival@huntingtonestate.com.au www.huntingtonmusic.com.au TEMORA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL 24-27 November Bundawarrah Centre & Temora Ex-Services Club 0408 597 307 bigriver@mcmedia.com.au www.temoracmf.com

Email: events@centralwestmagazine.com.au Compiled by Jane Sanderson All events are subject to change and we recommend contacting the organisers to confirm details.

The place to stop on the way to Jenolan Caves since the 1920’s Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm Mondays for groups by prior arrangement Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Contact 02 6355 2117 www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Join our dogs and us for a Saturday truffle hunt and hamper or Sunday truffle hunt and lunch in June, July and August.

Bookings are essential.

Fresh truffle and truffle products are available for purchase.

e. attractiv d n a t n a can” – vibr ften as I to offer o s a s h a e g g in n eturn hat Ora has me r e r “I love w u lt u c and wine It’s food 1 Live Life Live Saturday 24 September - Civic Square Northcourt 2 Mary Poppins Friday 14 to Saturday 30 October - Orange Civic Theatre 1

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3 Orange Wine Festival www.brandorange.com.au Friday 14 to Sunday 30 October - Orange region 4 Australian National Field Days Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 October - Borenore

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Orange Visitor Information Centre FREE CALL 1800 069 466 CWL 189

Fully licensed restaurant located in historic Laggan Village, great for all seasons. Dine amongst the established gardens of the former police barracks circa 1837. Enjoy the true local seasonal produce, stroll the kitchen garden and stay in Laggan Cottage, a superbly appointed B&B. CALL EVAN & SALLY WITH ANY ENQUIRIES FROM A TABLE FOR TWO, OR FUNCTIONS & WEDDINGS 02 4837 3039

/LAGGANPANTRY

THEPANTRY@LAGGAN.COM.AU WWW.LAGGANPANTRY.COM.AU

ARCADIA CROOKWELL Our unique business brings to you multiple shops all contained in a beautifully restored building in the centre of Crookwell

Antiques & collectables, ladies clothing and jewellery, alpaca products, hand dyed wools, patchwork items, handmade candles and soaps, organic teas, giftware & homeware, vintage wear & jewellery.

OPEN 10AM - 4PM Thu to Mon • 77 Goulburn St Crookwell 2538 0407 254 954 • arcadia.crookwell@yahoo.com.au

Pinn Cottage Bed and Breakfast is a beautifully restored 19th century bluestone cottage in the township of Crookwell.

A perfect country retreat or romantic getaway.

Enjoy your own private gardens. The accommodation is located within walking distance to Crookwell town centre, shops, golf, squash and tennis courts.

Contact Terry to make a reservation: 0421 457 135 / info@pinncottage.com.au www.pinncottage.com.au

THE COURT HOUSE HOTEL OFFERS ECONOMICAL COUNTRY STYLE ACCOMMODATION WITH 12 SPACIOUS ROOMS. AIR CONDITIONED IN SUMMER, OPEN FIRES IN WINTER • A CHOICE OF REFRESHING BEERS ON TAP • BISTRO / RESTAURANT OPEN 7 DAYS • BEST SCHNITZELS IN THE AREA

12 MARSDEN ST BOOROWA • PHONE: (02) 6385 3005 • WWW.COURTHOUSEHOTELBOOROWA.COM.AU 190 CWL

For your FREE Visitor Guide Ph: 02 4832 1988

CROOKWELL GUNNING - TARALGA Binda - Bigga - Collector - Dalton - Grabben Gullen - Laggan - Tuena

• • • •

• • • • • •

So close but a world away Boorowa Community Bank® Branch

www.visitupperlachlan.com.au

BOOROWA REAL ESTATE BOOROWA REALESTATE ESTATE BOOROWA REAL 34 Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2586

★

Telephone 6385St, 3337.

Mob 0429 820 389 34Marsden Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2586 34 Boorowa NSW 2586 2586 www.boorowa-real-estate.com Telephone 63853337.

3337.Mob Mob0429 0429820 820389 389 Telephone 6385 389 Real Estate Agents Stockwww.boorowa-real-estate.com &www.boorowa-real-estate.com Station Agent Auctioneer Property Management ★

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Real Estate Agents Stock Station Agent Auctioneer Property Management Real Estate Agents Stock && Station Agent Auctioneer Property Property Management Management

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BOOROWA 42 Marsden Street Old World Charm, Rare Opportunity BOOROWA42 42Marsden MarsdenStreet StreetOld OldWorld World Charm,Rare RareOpportunity Opportunity BOOROWA Charm, Rare Opportunity Historic double brick building tastefully renovated. underfloor heating opening onto existing lawns and Historicdouble double brick building tastefully renovated.

Approximately 1836 sqm, spacious mainrenovated. street holding.

Historic brick building tastefully renovated.

Approximately 1836 sqm, spacious mainstreet street holding.

Three bedrooms, large office, main main bedroom with ensuite Approximately 1836 sqm, spacious holding. holding.

Threebedrooms, bedrooms, large office,main mainbedroom bedroomwith withensuite ensuite featuring underfloor heating.

Three large office, ensuite featuring underfloor heating. featuring underfloor heating.

Open plan kitchen, living and dining areas with walk-in Openplan plankitchen, kitchen, living andand dining areas withawalk-in walk-in pantry.

Polished timber floors high ceilings feature.

Open living and dining areas with walk-in pantry.

Polished timber floors andhigh highceilings ceilings feature.

Gas water heating.

Three way and bathroom with underfloor pantry.

Polished timber floors a afeature. feature.

Gaswater water heating.

Threeway waybathroom bathroom with underfloor heating, separate second toilet, laundry and verandahs.

Gas heating.

Three with underfloor underfloor heating,separate separate second toilet, laundry and verandahs.

Expansive family room (8x8m) with ampleand storage, and heating, second toilet, laundry verandahs. verandahs.

Expansivefamily familyroom room(8x8m) (8x8m)with withample amplestorage, storage,and and Expansive and

underfloor heating opening ontoexisting existing lawns and gardens.

Carport, shipping container, garden shed and underfloor underfloor heating heating opening opening onto onto existing lawns lawns and and gardens.

Carport,shipping shippingcontainer, container,garden gardenshed shedand and chook run. gardens. gardens.

Carport, Carport, shipping container, garden shed and chookrun. run. chook chook run.

This appealing property also includes a separate Thisappealing appealing property also includes separate commercial shop area with retail and office space with This This appealing property property also also includes includes aaaseparate separate commercial shoparea area with retailand and office spacewith with r/c air conditioning andwith gasretail heating.

This premises is commercial commercial shop shop area with retail and office office space space with r/cair airconditioning conditioning and gasheating. heating.

Thispremises premises currently occupied by Australia Post Business and Gift r/c r/c air conditioning and and gas gas heating.

This This premises isisis Shop. currentlyoccupied occupiedby byAustralia AustraliaPost PostBusiness Businessand andGift GiftShop.

Shop. currently currently occupied by Australia Post Business and Gift Shop.

Price $560,000 Price $560,000 $560,000 Price Price $560,000

CWL 191

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EDITION LAUNCH THE STABLES, BINDA

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xcitement and pride filled the air as more than 80 guests gathered at The Stables function centre at Binda, north of Crookwell.

The occasion was the launch of the 13th edition of Central West Lifestyle and of the Boorowa and Crookwell Town Features.

Special guests for the celebration were the Hon Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn, Hon Angus Taylor, Member for Hume with his wife Louise, as well as Cr John Shaw, Mayor of Upper Lachlan Council and wife Suzi, together with Cr Wendy Tuckerman, Mayor of Boorowa (and more recently Administrator of the Hilltops Council) and Michael Tuckerman.

Many Boorowa and Crookwell advertisers attended as well as local identities featured in this edition.

Tempting canapes were served in style by staff of The Stables while Angullong wines were also enjoyed by those in attendance.

Guests received complimentary copies of the latest edition of CWL. The two magnificent and unique feature towns were brought to life in over 113 pages of the magazine. In the days that followed the sales of this edition of CWL broke all previous selling records with 1050 copies being sold altogether in both towns in three weeks.

Special thanks must be extended to our gracious hosts, Annette and Wentworth Hill, for the memorable evening. Their magnificent function centre has become an extraordinary asset to the local area.

Words: Elizabeth Tickle Images: Sue Meikle

192 CWL

1. Angus Taylor, Member for Hume, Alex Tickle, Publisher, Louise Taylor, Goulburn, Elizabeth Tickle, Publisher, Michael Tuckerman, Wendy Tuckerman, Boorowa Mayor, Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn, Suzi Shaw and Jon Shaw, Mayor Upper Lachlan Council, Annette and Wentworth Hill, The Stables, Binda.

2. Megan Skelley and Jess Boardman, Top Paddock, Crookwell, with Liz Ikin, Crookwell Show Society.

3. Louise Taylor, Goulburn, with Prue Burfitt, Taralga.

4. Andrew Croke, Director of Finance, Upper Lachlan Council, with Rachel Croke.

5. Paul and Lorna Vallely, Fullerton, with Jan Pont, Crookwell Garden Festival.

6. Jason Conn, “Hillview“, Wellington, Anna Tickle, Woollahra, with Kate and Justin Boshammer, “Elgin“, Condamine, Queensland.

7. Bert and Jo Agostini, Crookwell Footwear, Annette Hill, The Stables, with Sue Rolfe, St Clement's Retreat, Galong.

8. Barry and Gai Goesch, with Gary Kadwell, all from Crookwell.

9. Lucy and Andrew Lindner with Gisela Lindner, Lindner's Quality Socks, Crookwell.

10. Boorowa Mayor Wendy Tuckerman with Cyril Cox, Mayfield Mews, Bowning.

11. Liz and John Baker, Hovells Creek, Boorowa, with Eric Hurn, Crookwell (centre).

12. Sandy Prell, Molong, with Jeff Prell and partner Margaret Shepherd.

13. Margaret Anderson, Crookwell Garden Festival, with Susan Reynolds, Crookwell CWA. 14. Lyn Martin and Chrissie O'Neill, Eclectopia Gifts, Taralga.

15. Lorraine Corcoran and Lorna Spackman, Boorowa Court House Arts and Crafts Co-op, with Mitch Brakenridge (centre), CWL Advertising designer.

16. Jack and Heather Davies, Davies News and Crookwell IGA, with Suzi Shaw and Jon Shaw, Mayor Upper Lachlan Council.

17. Mark and Terry Chamberlain, Pinn Cottage, Crookwell, with Wentworth and Annette Hill, The Stables, Binda.

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CWL 193

Wantana Cottage Farm Stay Relax, unwind and enjoy this 3 bedroom self-contained cottage just outside Boorowa.

Sleeps 8, minimum one night stay, located on a working sheep farm

For bookings contact Sharee & Bill on 0427 200 981 | wantana@bigpond.com or www.stayz.com.au

194 CWL

Burrowa House in Boorowa

• A 12-bed aged care facility.

• All rooms have just been modernised with new carpet and curtains and a re-paint.

• All rooms have an ensuite bathroom.

• There are sizeable community dining facilities.

• Modern television room with comfortable new chairs.

• An activities room is for bingo and card players and other activities.

• There are “Broadband for Seniors” computers available.

• Wireless broadband is available for all residents.

• Excellent, homely, country cooked meals.

Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra.

We are only 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra.

For further information on our facilities please call our Manager, Judy Ann on 6385 3773.

79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW 2586

The village has 14 self-care one or two bedroom villas.

• All villas have a garage built under the same roof with an internal entry and an automatic door.

• All villas have “vital call” facilities.

• All rooms are spacious with a pleasant outlook.

• Villas are affordable on a “lend lease” basis with entry fees from $180,000 depending on vacancies.

• Fortnightly charge for recurrent charges is $145 to $160.

• Recurrent charges cover: - All Council rates and charges including garbage charges.

- Electricity charges for street lighting and community services.

- All water rates and usage charges.

- Building insurance.

- Building maintenance.

- Basic gardening and lawn mowing.

• Plenty of room for expansion with space for another 70 villas.

Boorowa is situated on the Lachlan Valley Way between Yass and Cowra. We are only 35 minutes to Young, 50 minutes to Cowra, 40 minutes to Yass and 1 hour 20 minutes to Canberra. We can send you a disclosure statement on our villas and a floor plan.

Contact details: For further information on our facilities please call our Manager, Judy Ann on 6385 3773, 79 Ford Street Boorowa NSW 2586 CWL 195

EVENTS IN THE WEST

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ART UNLIMITED EXHIBITION

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unedoo’s Art Unlimited competition reinforced its reputation as one of the must-see events on the regional arts calendar with a capacity crowd at its opening night. Established and emerging artists, photographers and ceramicists from around Australia were represented in the 480 works on show.

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The event was officially opened by the Hon Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon. Beautiful food was prepared and presented by Dunedoo Central School hospitality students, and fine wines from Mudgee’s award-winning Robert Stein winery kept spirits high.

Narrabri artist Nancy Hunt won the $3000 Pro Hart Prize for Hanging Art, which was chosen from 275 entries in that category by judge John Firth-Smith, one of Australia’s most acclaimed abstract artists. The prize is donated each year by Raylee Hart, widow of iconic outback painter Pro Hart, in memory of her husband.

The $3000 Photography Prize was awarded to Mal Carnegie of West Wyalong, for a work titled The Last Drop, chosen by judge Mervyn Bishop from 126 photography entries.

The $3000 Ceramics Prize was won by Geoff Thomas from Gilgandra for his work, Jar, chosen by well-known ceramicist Kaye Rice.

Images: Marianne Deutscher Words: Penny Stevens

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1. Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon.

2. Chris Bentley, Drew Stein, John Bentley

and Cassandra Wass, all of Mudgee.

3. Andrew and Judy Dunkley, of Dubbo, with Belinda Fergusson, of “Moreton Bay”, Dunedoo.

4. Judy Bowman, of Dunedoo, and Charlotte Hallett, of Coolah.

5. Penny Gilder, of “Toolangatta” Tambar Springs, with Rob Ingram, of Cobbora.

6. Sarah and Henry and Armstrong, “Snowdon” Dunedoo.

GALLERY MUSUEM CAFÉ COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE 76 WINGEWARRA STREET DUBBO NSW 2830 westernplainsculturalcentre.org 02 6801 4444

196 CWL

7. The Coonamble Ceramics Collective and

their supporters: Miriam Brandl, Margie Beck, Prue Cullen, Julia Borowski, Kookie Atkins, Kevin Welsh, Gemma Pettiford, Anna Kaineder and Melissa Ryan from Orana Arts.

8. Art Unlimited judges John Firth-Smith and Mervyn Bishop discuss the merits of the art and photography entries.

9. Lisa Christensen and Fiona Taylor, of Dunedoo.

10. Tooraweena visitor Ross Alison with Brian Bowman, of “Shingle Hut” Dunedooo.

breakfast

49 Nile Street, ORANGE PHONE 02 6363 1991 www.facebook.com/simplynilecafe

•

lunch

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functions

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outdoor courtyard

TRADING HOURS Tuesday to Friday 7.30am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 4pm Sunday 8am Breakfast/ Brunch only

Bridge View Inn 28 - 30 Louee St, Rylstone NSW 0409 564 747 Open Friday to Monday 10am - 4pm conventandchapel@gmail.com conventandchapelwool.com

Artisan yarns for discerning knitters

An unanticipated pleasure for knitters - premium yarns, accessories and hand knits.

69 Goulburn Street Crookwell, NSW (02) 4832 2319

Unique country style gifts, homewares, accessories & clothing

STOCKIST FOR Clothing: Betty Basics, Elm, Fate, LTB Jeans, Sass, Wish. Billie Shoes. Handbags & Wallets: Black Caviar, Journie, Pratten, Status Anxiety, 00Z00 watches.

CWL 197

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ABERCROMBIE HOUSE BALL BATHURST

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ore than 66 of Bathurst’s and the state’s dancing elite gathered for a grand period dance in the magnificent ballroom of Abercrombie House on Saturday, February 20, and an after dance on Sunday, February 21.

The dance group organised by Marlena Welch was made up of skilled old-time, ballroom and new-vogue dancers from Adelaide, Dubbo, Guerie, Wagga Wagga, Sutton Forest, Adelong, Orange, Canberra, Oberon, Lithgow and Bathurst.

Christopher and Xanthe Morgan invited the group to the Fifth Annual Abercrombie House Ball, which featured a beautiful three-course meal prepared

by Xanthe.

Phil and Ester, who are well known in ballroom dancing circles for their excellent rhythm and dance tunes, provided the music, and guests were entertained by William Amer’s beautiful strong singing voice.

Guests danced, toured Abercrombie House and enjoyed a relaxed brunch the following day.

The organisers are delighted that the proceeds help in the preservation of Abercrombie House, one of our region’s greatest heritage treasures.

Words: Marlena Welch Images: Peter Gamble

1. Ken and Pauline Murray, Wagga Wagga.

6. Peter Gamble and Ann Lehmann, Canberra.

2. Dancers dressed in period costume dating

7. Terry and Francis Hickson, Bathurst.

from 1850 to 1900.

3. Kaylene and Joe Fenech, Nowra.

4. Sarah and Brendan Childs, Lithgow.

5. Tom Kennedy and Lydia Belet, Adelaide, South Australia.

XERO Gold Partner

Unit 12/36 Darling Street Dubbo, NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6885 5594 E: admin@peacockeaccountants.com.au www.peacockeaccountants.com.au

198 CWL

Combining the knowledge of your business with our expertise – growing your small business or farming operation is our passion.

8. Graham Chapman and Ross Graham,

both from Dubbo.

9. Christopher Morgan performing the official opening of the ball.

10. Brian and Marlena Welch, Bathurst.

4.5 STAR WINERY 2015 James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for wine tasting and sales.

Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe / phone 02 6366 3444 11am to 5pm Friday to Monday / angullong.com.au

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE READERS Book two nights during Sep, Oct or Nov and receive a premium regional wine code CWL10 Bookings by phone only.

Enjoy ultimate luxury and relaxation, allow yourself to be pampered with delectable treats and stunning wines from our region and breathe in the aroma of utter peace. It’s the little things that count at Bishop’s Court Estate.

Bishop’s Court Estate 226 Seymour Street Bathurst NSW 2795 Ph: 02 6332 4447

www.bishopscourtestate.com.au

Top 1%

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WEDDINGS

St ewart *1 Leve tt Anna Stewart and Matthew Levett were married at Anna’s family property, “Minalty Park”, Wellington, on Saturday, April 2.

A garden ceremony was followed by cocktails, canapés and entertainment from Wellington singer Ellie Flanagan.

As the sun was setting, guests moved to a beautifully decorated marquee in a nearby paddock where they relished a three-course meal prepared by Mudgee Made using lamb sourced from the property. Jars of honey produced at the farm were given to guests.

After dinner, guests enjoyed a whiskey and cigar bar and danced under the stars. The celebrations continued the next morning at the farm where the Wellington Men’s Shed cooked a delicious post wedding day feast.

Photographer: Mark Quade Photography

Above right: Nicholas Stewart, Paul Levett, Tim Levett, Matthew Levett, Anna Stewart, Jessica Fabris, Rebecca Hurly and Eliza Deschamps.

200 CWL

GOURMET CATERING DUBBO

CWL 201

WEDDINGS

May *1 Smith A lifelong friendship was the foundation for the marriage of Rhiannon May and Jacob Smith on March 19.

The ceremony was held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Condobolin, where Rhiannon’s cousin sang Yours by Ella Henderson as she walked down the aisle. Jacob and Rhiannon had a bridal party of 17 that was made up of their closest family and friends, including Rhiannon’s aunty as matron of honour.

The reception was held under the stars at “Burnside” on the banks of the Lachlan River. Some 180 guests enjoyed a romantic open-air celebration with delicious canapés supplied by Dish Catering Co and a plentiful dessert table.

The couple have made their home in Condobolin and are looking forward to a honeymoon in the US later in the year.

Photographer: Stories by Ash

Above left: Isabella Swadling, Alyson Noll, M’Liss Reardon, Rhiannon Smith, Jasmine Sutton, Eliza Buckland, Stevie Wykes and Janaya Field.

Left: Brenton Riley, Janaya Field, Baden Hall, M'liss Reardon, Daniel Seton, Jasmine Sutton, Jacob and Rhiannon Smith, Isabella Swadling, Eliza Buckland, Logan Thorpe, Todd Smith, Jake Haddrill, Zachary Martin, Stevie Wykes, Matthew Hall and Alyson Noll (hidden).

202 CWL

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CWL 203

WEDDINGS

Naef *1 Bedford A romantic picnic after a surprise flight on a sea plane to a remote beach in the Hawkesbury was the setting for Richard Bedford’s proposal to Chantel Naef in 2015.

Following this romantic proposal, best friends Chantel and Richard were married in Orange on March 26, 2016.

The ceremony and reception were held at Chantel’s parents’ vineyard, Patina Wines, on a spectacular autumn afternoon.

The couple’s special day was shared with 65 guests, under a large gum tree overlooking Mount Canobolas and the rolling Orange countryside.

Many local suppliers were used on the day. Sarah Powell, of Bespoke Country Weddings, styled the flowers and decorations, Edwina Mitchell catered for the reception, and Ebonee Egan was Richard and Chantel’s marriage celebrant.

Photographer: Nadine Saacks Photography Above right: Claryssa Humennyj-Jameson, Michael Heffernan, Kristi Ward, Richard and Chantel Bedford, Rebecca Olson, Liam McKeown and Jessica Wodzga.

Top: Claryssa Humennyj-Jameson, Kristi Ward, Jessica Wodzga, Rebecca Olson and Richard & Chantel Bedford.

Right: Chantel's father Gerald walking her down the aisle.

204 CWL

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CWL 205

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PARKES NEWSAGENCY Parkes, 6862 2296 www.parkesnewsagency.com PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL Parkes, 6862 6000 www.parkes.nsw.gov.au PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS Dubbo, 6882 3933 www.peacockeaccountants.com.au PINK VELVET West Wyalong, 6972 3273 www.pinkvelvetboutique.com.au PINN COTTAGE Crookwell, 0421 457 135 www.pinncottage.com.au

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PLAINSMAN MOTEL Forbes, 6852 2466

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TOP PADDOCK Crookwell, 4832 2319

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BATHURST REAL ESTATE Bathurst, 6331 5555 www.bathurstrealestate.com.au

LAKE CARGELLIGO MOTEL Lake Cargelligo, 6898 1303 www.lakecargelligomotel.com.au

DMC MEAT & SEAFOOD Dubbo, 6881 8255 www.dubbomeatcentre.com.au

LAUREL PARK STUDS West Wyalong, 6972 5286

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BELL RIVER HOMES Orange, 6391 1888 www.bellriverhomes.com.au

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OBERON VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE Oberon, 6329 8210 www.oberonaustralia.com

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GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL Gilgandra, 6817 8800 www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

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We encourage our readers to support our advertisers. The magazine could not exist without them, and their loyalty shows their commitment to the communities of the Central West.

CWL 207

THE LAST WORD

John soldiered on, developing an insatiable appetite for all things farming. He attended countless field days and workshops, learning how to grow better crops and the benefits of lucerne and clover pastures.

Before long both properties were highly regarded in the district, kept immaculately and always ready for action when the rains fell.

The level of production that came out of the farms was nothing short of astounding, with regular wheat crops averaging 2.2 tonnes/ha – higher than the national average (at the time) and an amazing result for what was considered marginal country.

The entire operation typified precision, in the fencing, watering facilities, care of machinery and the way the land was farmed.

All of John’s meticulous homework paid off when the family went on to win the Lake Cargelligo Field Wheat Competition eight times, before bagging the big one, The Land NSW Master Farmer competition in 1988.

It’s a long time ago now, and John rarely mentions it. He’s that type of bloke.

“I was very lucky my parents allowed me to come out on my own, knowing I’d have better farming opportunities in Australia,” he says.

Reaping the

REWARDS T

he son of an Irish clergyman, John Daunt arrived on Australian shores with nothing more than a steely determination to make a name for himself on the land.

Half a century later he was crowned Farmer of the Year, proving that anything is possible through perseverance, plain “hard yakka” and an enormous reservoir of self-belief.

It all started in 1954 when John’s fervent desire to be a farmer saw him move from Limerick, in Ireland, to the far side of the world. By the age of 17 he was working for wages and a small percentage of the crop in the Gubbata district, not far from Lake Cargelligo.

208 CWL

Finding his way and saving every penny, he then went share farming at the lowest level. After growing some handy wheat crops, he acquired enough plant to move onto a two-thirds share arrangement, while managing “Milbong” on behalf of his father-in-law.

In 1966 John and wife Malvena purchased the property at $14.50 an acre and began developing it. Twenty years later they bought the neighbouring place “Carmarthen” at a cost of $220 per acre.

Interest rates soared from 13 to 19.5 per cent in a period that saw many farmers go broke. There were a few tough seasons, with low wheat prices and even lower wool prices after the dropping of the reserve price scheme.

Unfortunately, he never did get to see his father again, although there was plenty of lively correspondence.

“I came out with nothing and still have most of it,” he laughs. “Actually, I did have 40 pounds to kick off with,” he adds with a larrikin grin.

This bloke is a natural storyteller and looks a lot younger than his 78 years. He and Malvena retired in 2003 after 50 years of successful farming in the district. Two years later they moved into Lake Cargelligo and built a house on six acres overlooking the beautiful lake.

Over a lifetime they built a strong legacy for their son Peter, wife Judy and four children, who recently expanded their rural holdings to 8500 acres after purchasing an additional 3000 acres.

While John is active within the community, he still enjoys helping out on the farm during busy periods like harvest and sowing.

“I really enjoy driving these big headers with 40 foot fronts and all the latest technology and comfort,” he says with a smile.

“Australia, and in particular Lake Cargelligo, has been very good to me and so I try to give something back,” says the modest farmer who spent a lifetime turning his unlikely childhood dream into a reality. CWL Words and image: Shot by Jake

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