#16 Central West Lifestyle | Autumn 2017

autumn SPRING 2015

Unearth the Treasures

TEMORA town feature

Australian travel

ADVENTURES

NEW SERIES: Follow the Bushranger Tracks PEOPLE • HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD • AGRICULTURE • STYLE • EVENTS • TRAVEL CULTURE • BUSINESS • AND MORE FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL REGIONAL AREAS

Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales

• 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 2017

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 AUTUMN 2017

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108-PAGE TOWN FEATURE: TEMORA It is widely known as "the friendly town", and Temora's constituents are doing everything in their power to uphold this fine reputation.

Surrounded by golden countryside, Temora is alive with a champion community spirit and characters galore.

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RUNNING WILD

SOLUTION IN SIGHT

TEA AND EMPATHY

SPREADING THE WORD

Gregory Powell shares the story of the Lady Bushranger.

Young Eyes and a vision for a crystal clear future.

John Dunk prides himself on being a good listener.

Tech-savvy Alexandria Kelly knows how to get a message across.

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142 A THING OF BEAUTY

STYLE COUNSEL

FANCY FARMHOUSE

Sarah and Andrew Ryan's magnificent "Hillandale" garden represents wise and wonderful plant choices.

Gemma Sewell dons some country classics.

We visit Emma and Matt Barrett's gorgeous "Glengarry".

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WE'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN

TREAT YOURSELF

NO SECRETS

Alistair and Nellie Brown travel all over the countryside with their two sons, creating memories to last a lifetime.

Seasonal dishes to delight the dinner guests.

Family favourites that are well worth passing down.

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EVENTS IN THE WEST

WEDDINGS

THE LAST WORD

Orange Young Professionals soak up the carnival atmosphere.

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

Touching bass with Temora Town Band's Taz Rundle.

ON THE COVER autumn SPRING 2015

Unearth the Treasures

RA TEMOfeatu re town

Australian travel

ADVENTURES

Photography: Shot by Jake NEW SERIES: Follow the Bushranger Tracks $12.00

inc GST

608002

>

AUTUMN 2017 VOLUME 16

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

Story featured page 40 in the Temora Town Feature.

• EVENTS • TRAVEL AGRICU LTURE • STYLE GARDEN S • FOOD • AL AREAS PEOPLE • HOMES • OUR BEAUTI FUL REGION SS • AND MORE FROM CULTUR E • BUSINE

Wales region al New South best of rural and Show casing the

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WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS.

A Family Affair: Lizzie, Angus, Evie and Charlie Cooper tending to their farm duties in their henhouse at Temora.

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

We trust you are all in a relaxed mood after a memorable Christmas and a holiday break, however small, that helped you to renew and refresh.

Another year in and let us hope for an even better one than 2016.

The Summer 2016 magazine featuring Blayney and villages, Carcoar and Millthorpe was launched in great style at the historic Carcoar Courthouse. We have been receiving excellent feedback on this newest edition and a selection of our valued feedback can be seen on the Your Letters page. A highlight of our visit to the Blayney area (apart from the launch) was attending the Blayney Farmers Markets on the Sunday morning where we met many of the wonderful locals who have grown to love their fresh, locally grown produce available every third Sunday of the month. The Blayney Council staff were out in force at the markets and enjoyed manning a stand under the guidance of Blayney Council General Manager Rebecca Ryan, where the new release of CWL was sold. All proceeds were donated by Council to the Palliative Care Unit in Blayney.

Central West Lifestyle has been profiling some of our loyal and staunch advertisers, mayors and newsagents across the Central West through two-minute video clips. These video clips can be seen on our CWL Facebook page as well as on the CWL Youtube channel. We thank talented videographer Josh Cornelissen-Birch, who skilfully created footage that tells the authentic stories of these remarkable people.

Some team members, friends and family made the trip to Crookwell in early November to attend the two-day Crookwell Garden Festival.

Although Crookwell welcomed us with some brisk weather, it was a very inspiring time, admiring stunning gardens and meeting their creative owners. We had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Pinn Cottage in Crookwell, a special and unique piece of Australian history.

Blayney Council General Manager Rebecca Ryan and CWL Publisher Elizabeth Tickle at Blayney Farmers Markets. All sale proceeds of CWL were donated by Council to the Palliative Care Unit in Blayney.

A pleasure for me (Elizabeth) was being able to go back to my former career of teaching and facilitate a writing and publishing workshop at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School recently. Our daughter Jane Sanderson is most fortunate to teach in the secondary department at this school.

Not only were the students a pleasure to work with but I witnessed some outstanding creative talent that I am certain we will hear of in the years to come. We thank CWL Dubbo writer Dayna Tierney for sharing her story with the students and giving them the vital encouragement so necessary for success.

Elizabeth Tickle and students from Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, who took part in a writing and publishing workshop.

In this edition, we welcome travel writers (and photographers) husband and wife team Alistair and Nellie Brown, who took the plunge with their two young boys and travelled throughout Australia for nine months pulling their camper van. The images they captured are phenomenal, as reflected in one of our favourites seen on this page.

Watch out for our 100-page Winter Town Feature on Coonabarabran (Warrumbungle Shire) and Gilgandra in edition number 17. So many inspiring and innovative people have been able to share their stories.

CWL looks forward to taking you on a personal tour of these inviting and progressive western communities!

Until next time, enjoy the Autumn edition featuring beautiful Temora and share the good news about the Central West!

Warm regards,

Elizabeth and Alex Tickle 6 CWL

A stunning image from husband and wife travel-writing team Alistair and Nellie Brown.

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ALIVE & KICKING GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS to our esteemed CWL readers.

Say goodbye to those long, hot summer nights as we usher in the vibrant colours and cooler temperatures of autumn in these, the days of our lives.

Forget if you are young or old, or somewhere in between, it’s time to start feeling alive! Reach for the stars and enjoy all the good things we’ve been blessed with simply by living in this great country.

Reading about our feature town Temora, in the heart of the graingrowing district of southern NSW, is a positive start! Scratch the surface of this friendly Riverina town and you will find it has everything, and much more.

Temora, like many towns in the bush, was created during the exhilarating days of the gold rush before making its name as a prosperous wheat and sheep district.

By 1880 the goldfield was producing half the state’s gold. The population swelled to 20,000, mostly hopeful miners, who extracted 4000kg from the ground, including a monstrous 7.3kg nugget unearthed at the Mother Shipton mine.

The all-important railway arrived in 1893 from Cootamundra, transforming Temora into an impressive wheat terminal (nearby Ariah Park was the first place in Australia to try out bulk grain handling 100 years ago).

With the gold came money and the inevitable fine buildings that still stand tall in Temora today. De Boos Street has one of the most impressive concentrations of churches to be found anywhere in rural Australia, not to mention a most inviting B&B. As you have come to expect in this magazine, we prefer talking about people rather than monuments.

Sports fans can read about local hero Scotty Reardon, who proved, yet again, that anything is possible with sheer determination and a heart like Phar Lap. Speaking of horses, there’s a life-size statue of the legendary pacer Paleface Adios in the main drag.

Then there are our farming stories – and aren’t our farmers the most resilient and optimistic lot you’d ever care to meet. I guess they have to be. I met some great families – always around the kitchen table – and yarned about wet weather, past deeds, challenges, hopes and dreams.

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You will read an uplifting tale about the Colonel and the progressive farmer who works alongside his three sons and their families. Reminds me of that great Australian songwriter John Williamson, who wrote that classic line: “How fortunate, how proud, can an old fellow be, three sons in their swags around the stock camp with me.” OK, we might swap the campfire for a big red tractor, but you get the point.

I survived long lunches, movie premieres, flying in a Vietnam War plane and art exhibitions. Along the way I met countless country women making their mark on society, from pilots, vets, funeral directors and lawyers to a gifted portrait photographer and her seven special little Australians.

During my visit, the countryside was a kaleidoscope of green and gold, our national colours and best seen from a few thousand feet up. Council call it the Canola Trail and I was on it. Farming is big business in these parts but there’s so much more.

The Aviation Museum is among the best in the country, while the Rural Museum, located at the opposite end of town, takes you on a colourful journey into the past.

Perhaps my most meaningful chats were with three proud but weary WW2 diggers. All in their 90s, these are the last of the last. Old people and nursing homes go together and Temora is fortunate to have the best of both.

There are some great spots to stay in and around this place. You can stay in a quaint railway carriage under the stars, at a former pub right in town or camp at the Koreela Park Motor Inn, where my gracious host Michael went out of his way to ensure a comfortable stay.

A big thank you to Council’s highly competent Craig Sinclair, who put our team in touch with the right people and welcomed us like old friends.

I know you will love reading about Temora, a quietly efficient town that relies on the collective strength of the community to get things done.

Now it’s time to settle down into my new life in Coonabarabran and enjoy more of Mother’s tantalising spinach pie! I’m so glad to be finally settled in the Central West and look forward to unlocking some great yarns here and in Gilgandra for our next feature.

Until next time, keep happy, positive and on track.

The Central West is alive and kicking!

Shot by Jake Above: Temora’s famed Canola Trail; taking notes in Temora.

AUTUMN 2017 CONTRIBUTORS

Meet your team

ELIZABETH TICKLE

ALEX TICKLE

JAKE LINDSAY

GINA CRANSON

Publisher, Editor, Advertising

Publisher, Distribution, Advertising

Chief Writer & Photographer

Sub-Editor & Proofreader

KATE BOSHAMMER

ZORA REGULIC

MITCH BRAKENRIDGE

CATHERINE PLAYER

ANNA TICKLE

ELIZABETH SWANE

ANGUS WADDELL

JANE SANDERSON

AMANDA O’SULLIVAN

HAYLEY MAUDSLEY

ROBERT I BRUCE

DAYNA TIERNEY

HEATHER CROSBY

ZENIO LAPKA

SUE MEIKLE

NELLIE & ALISTAIR BROWN

Business Strategist

Writer & Social Media Manager

Home & Style Writer, Photographer

Writer

Art Director

Garden Writer

Household Hints Writer

Advertising Designer

Photographer

Photographer

Photographer

Social Photographer

LORRAINE HILLS

PAUL & ANNE LOVERIDGE

Country Cuisine Writer

Seasonal Food Writers

Writer

Wedding Writer

Writer

Photographers & Writers

SECTION After spending most of my working life as a rural journalist, editor and managing editor, and many of those years in Cowra, Wellington, Harden and Young, I love reading Central West Lifestyle magazine.

Congratulations on the Summer 2016 edition. Your magazine is becoming richer with each edition, because of the diversity of country life it presents. I am always drawn to producers from the land, and know many other people who don’t come from rural areas are too, because of their honest toil. The difference with this magazine is it captures their authenticity for a broad cross section of readers, as well as farming communities.

Despite the digital era, a voracious appetite remains for print media, most especially when presented on quality gloss stock, and with superb photos and time-tested characters. I can imagine people from the regional towns featured in Central West Lifestyle magazine feel a little prouder, and happier, with where they live, after leafing through its beautifully presented pages. My mother gave me my first edition knowing I would enjoy it, and I have ever since.

John Thistleton, Goulburn

your letters Here’s a true story. A mate Robbo and I headed down from Sydney to Temora last September for the air show. We were in the Terminus pub on the Friday night when a bloke called Jake Lindsay approached us. He told us how he was a writer and photographer for a glossy mag, Central West Lifestyle, which was going gangbusters; family driven and walking off the newsagency shelves, at a cover price of $11.

Yeah Jake, you bet!

At last count, Robbo and I have, combined, about 90 years in advertising and media, running ad agencies and media shops. So we know “the media” and we certainly knew that there was no way that Jake’s story could be the case. It was entirely counter-intuitive, given our professional experience. In the digital age printed mags were closing, not opening and growing. So we had a lively beer with Jake and then parted.

But, the next morning, something still niggled. We were sure Jake was having us on.

We trotted into the Temora newsagent and asked if they carried the mag. Yep, she had one copy left! Apparently they always walked out the door so we were “lucky”. Robbo and I therefore had to share it. (I bought it but he got first go at reading it!) Back in Sydney and three weeks later, he dropped it over to our place, with a note pinned to a page featuring the Royal Hotel in West Wyalong. The note simply read: “We’ve gotta go here!”

I grabbed it to have a quick look and ended up reading the mag for four hours straight. (Retirement is a wonderful invention.) So we two couples, plus a third coming across from Naracoorte, are now booked in to the Royal for three nights in April ’17. And we’ll work our way back to Sydney via a couple of other nearby towns; away 10 days in all. And those 60 tourist days are all down to your mag.

It is that persuasive. The reading/advertising environment that you’ve created – yes, OK, my apologies to Jake – is simply so positive and attractive. For city dwellers it makes promises that, in our recent experience, the local tourism product then delivers. Friendly places, with nice people and a welcoming vibe. And positive stories of community, of effort, innovation and success in The Bush – a welcome balance to the devastating downside of “droughts and flooding rains”.

Congrats on a fantastic publishing initiative. You do your communities very proud.

Ian McDonald Chateau d’Espair Chatswood

David and I would like to express our sincere thanks for the feature you did on our home in Carcoar. We are thrilled with the coverage and quality of the photos and have received many comments from friends and family. My budget is being stretched, sending copies overseas and interstate!

Of course, our whole area was featured and it is outstanding. As you must know, there are many old dwellings in and around Carcoar that are worthy of exposure, both historically and in appearance, for your lovely magazine.

We also greatly enjoyed the launch at the Courthouse. It was amazing to see so many familiar, and unfamiliar, faces. The catering was delicious also!

Keep up the great work and congratulations to you all at CWL. Libby and David Pickett, “Kentucky”, Carcoar Thank you for inviting Blayney Shire and the historic villages of Millthorpe and Carcoar to be featured in the Central West Lifestyle Summer edition of 2016/17. The value add to our branding of the Shire of Villages has been tremendous.

The final result is a testament to the high-quality stories and images that have revealed to the world our heritage, local tourist attractions, artists, beautiful homes, amazing gardens, businesses and interesting locals.

It is refreshing to collaborate and work with committed people who care about the region and showcase the benefits of living and working in a great part of the NSW Central West. Looking forward to future issues and features.

Rebecca Ryan, General Manager, Blayney Shire Council The recent Central West Lifestyle magazine featuring Blayney and our villages has been a wonderful promotion of our area. The package that Council purchased from Central West Lifestyle (enabling the area to have a 100-page feature) has proved to be great value for money.

The feedback I’ve received has been exceptional, with people enjoying the quality photography and stories. This magazine has been sent all over Australia to family and friends to read and enjoy. The Central West of NSW is a great place to live and work and your magazine is a beautiful showcase of our scenery, buildings and people.

Best wishes for 2017.

Cr Scott Ferguson, Mayor, Blayney Shire Council Share your feedback Email: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au Facebook “f ” Logo

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TEMORA

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TEMORA

Welcome to

TEMORA TOWN FEATURE WORDS & IMAGES: SHOT BY JAKE

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FROM THE MAYOR Temora Shire is a very special place! As Mayor, I am delighted to support Central West Lifestyle in showcasing the wonderful people, lifestyle and destinations that make Temora Shire a memorable place to visit and a deeply satisfying place to live.

Comprising the township of Temora, the villages of Ariah Park and Springdale, and a strong and diverse agricultural base, there is so much that our shire has to offer – adventure, discovery, relaxation, innovation, sport, culture, heritage – supported by outstanding facilities and services. it is with pride that I see our community – with a population of 6100 and growing – maintain its heritage and salute a rich past while warmly embracing our exciting future.

I trust you will enjoy discovering some of our many attractions and features on the following pages, and I also hope you gain a sense of our strong belief in community and belonging. A spirit of generosity and kindness runs very deep within the community, reflected in our large volunteering network for a diverse range of community and charitable interests.

All my fellow citizens of Temora Shire truly do care for each other.

No wonder it has been dubbed the “Friendly Shire” – a title we hold dear.

This spirit of warmth and welcome echoes throughout our community.

Temora Shire is home to many families who have been here for generations, which is very special indeed.

We will continue proudly serving our citizens and working tirelessly to remain one of the most successful councils in NSW.

We also have many new residents from all demographics and walks of life bringing their considerable talents, people who choose to come to Temora Shire and wish to make a positive difference. Many a time someone has come for a visit or short stay, only to be captivated by the community and lifestyle and decide to make it their home.

My fellow Temora Shire councillors, together with our dedicated staff, will continue to do all we can to ensure our continued strength and prosperity, building on our solid foundations for present and future generations.

Our community was strengthened even more when the council recently won the right to continue as a stand-alone Local Government Area. This didn’t happen without major effort; it occurred because we have a strong and united group of councillors, executive and general staff, but even more importantly, we have a community that believes in us and each other very deeply.

Temora Shire is truly a wonderful place. Whether it’s to live, work and play, or simply to spend a few days on a holiday, one way or another our communities will touch your heart and inspire you to meet up with us again.

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I am deeply honoured to be the Mayor, a councillor, a businessman and a citizen of Temora Shire. It is home to my family and generations before us.

Cr Rick Firman OAM, Mayor of Temora Shire

TEMORA

Yesterday, today,

TEMORA

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deally situated in the eastern Riverina, the Temora Shire impresses and delights visitors, and provides a fabulous rural lifestyle that attracts people of all ages.

The shire comprises the town of Temora, villages of Ariah Park and Springdale, and rich, gently undulating farmlands yielding a diversity of produce, with cropping and livestock prominent.

The first inhabitants of the region were the Wiradjuri people. European settlement dates from 1836, with gold discovered in the area in 1869.

The goldrush of the ensuing years culminated in the proclamation of Temora Goldfield in 1880.

The potential of the area for farming saw large farms established by early selectors, and German settlers, in particular, played a major part in early pastoral days.

Today the shire has a strong and innovative farming sector and a successful agribusiness industry. The Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre, a partnership of Temora Shire Council and FarmLink Research, is a leading centre of excellence for mixed farming research and development.

A visit to Ariah Park, 20 minutes west of Temora, is a step back in time, with the well-preserved, heritage main street harking back to the 1920s. The village offers impressive facilities, a museum and shopping including antiques.

Springdale also displays the results of a strong community spirit and is perfect for a stopover with excellent amenities.

Temora has a long and proud association with aviation. During WWII, it was the base for the No.10 Elementary Flying Training School, the largest operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. Now it is home to the internationally acclaimed Temora Aviation Museum, an outstanding facility with one of the world’s best collections of flying historic aircraft.

Regular aircraft showcase days provide an interactive and memorable experience. Temora also has an aviation estate, which offers its residents a unique lifestyle with direct access from residence to runway.

Backed by a strong and proactive council, it is a vibrant shire looking confidently to the future.

The award-winning Temora Rural Museum, with its many interesting collections and exhibits, pays tribute to Australia’s rural heritage.

It is located in the Bundawarrah Centre, which also houses the Visitor Information Centre and NSW Ambulance Museum.

Experience the hospitality of the state’s friendliest town while enjoying some of the many activities and events year round. From aeroplanes to jet boats, harness racing to theatre, extensive sporting options and a thriving arts community, there is something to appeal to all.

Enjoy Temora’s picturesque Lake Centenary, magnificent parks and gardens, recreation centre with heated pool, boutique cinema, and stunning heritage buildings and architecture. Temora is also an RV friendly town and will host its inaugural RV Muster in April.

Backed by a strong and proactive council, it is a vibrant shire looking confidently to the future, exemplified by the recent opening of a new medical precinct, adding to outstanding facilities in health, education, aged care and recreation. A progressive attitude to new development underpins a healthy local economy with a growing mix of excellent retail, industrial, agricultural and service businesses.

There are plenty of inviting accommodation options in the shire, and a tempting line-up of eateries, from great cafes, to classic pub fare and fine dining.

Visitors and new residents can be assured a warm welcome from a community proud to share the many wonderful aspects of a rural lifestyle and tourist destination among the best in the country! CWL TEMORA CWL 15

Best of both WORLDS A PERFECT BALANCE OF TIME-HONOURED TRADITION AND PROGRESSIVE THINKING PROMISES A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TEMORA.

“This spirit of warmth and welcome echoes throughout our community.”

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TEMORA

MUSIC • FOOD • ADRENALINE SPORT • HERITAGE • CULTURE

SIGN UP TO OUR MONTHLY ‘WHAT’S ON’ GUIDE WWW.TEMORA.COM.AU TEMORA CWL 17

TEMORA

Days gone by

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TEMORA

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TEMORA

FLIGHT of FANCY A WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION OF 14 MILITARY AIRCRAFT THAT SERVED AUSTRALIAN TROOPS FROM WORLD WAR II TO VIETNAM HAS BECOME TEMORA’S TRUMP CARD IN THE TOURISM STAKES.

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ecades after they were consigned to the scrapyard, the restored vintage aircraft, or “Warbirds”, attract more than 30,000 visitors a year to the Temora Aviation Museum. And the big difference with other museums around the world is that most of these aircraft are actually flown.

The visionary behind the collection, and indeed the museum, is David Lowy, son of billionaire Frank Lowy, of Westfield Shopping Centre fame, and he is a man who doesn’t do things by halves.

His commitment to the project is motivated by his father’s history and the story of the Holocaust survivor who arrived in Australia as a penniless immigrant before carving out his fortune.

David possesses the same dogged determination to make things happen.

Having become fascinated by aerobatics, he didn’t rest until he’d become national champion. It was this focus that saw him establish the museum, built in stages and dedicated to aircraft and pilots who defended Australia.

Temora Aerodrome ticked all the boxes for this one-of-a-kind attraction - rich in aviation history, an encouraging and cooperative local council, good weather, flat terrain and uncontrolled air space below 20,000 feet.

The first hangar was completed in early 2000. The museum opened for public viewing later that year while construction commenced on the exhibition buildings, a theatrette, gift shop, children’s playground and picnic area.

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The final stage of the complex was completed three years later with the opening of a massive display hangar, which houses all the aircraft.

All are maintained in pristine working condition and taken out for regular air shows.

The museum exhibits include Unsung Heroes, The History of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, The Magic of Flight, The RAAF in Korea and CAC Sabre.

There are also tributes to the Martin Baker Ejection Seats and the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force.

The most fascinating display, to the locals at least, is the history of No.10 Elementary Flying Training School, set up by the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1941.

No.10 EFTS was the largest of all the flying schools scattered throughout the country, with 2741 young recruits earning their wings on 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft. Four satellite airfields were set up around the district to cope with the demand to train the RAAF pilots.

In March 1946, it became the last flying school to close. Since then, Temora has continued its aviation heritage, becoming the preferred airfield for a growing number of sport aviation activities including gliding, parachuting, aerobatics, ultra-light aircraft operations and model aircraft. >

TEMORA

Temora has continued its aviation heritage, becoming the preferred airfield for a growing number of sport aviation activities.

Facing page: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII. Clockwise from left: The Lockheed Hudson; Big crowds converged at the 2015 Warbirds Downunder Show; the CA-13 Boomerang; General Manager Peter Harper.

TEMORA CWL 21

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Temora Aerodrome ticked all the boxes for this one­-of-a-kind attraction rich in aviation history, an encouraging and cooperative local council, good weather, flat terrain and uncontrolled air space below 20,000 feet.

Above: Volunteers Malcolm Chaplin and John Ricket; Temora’s No.10 Elementary Flying Training School during WW2; engineers Marty Lancaster and David Finch at work on the Hudson Bomber. Below: The Temora Aviation Museum; Jenny Manning from the gift shop.

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TEMORA AIR SHOWS Around 20 days each year the Temora Aviation Museum celebrates its existence with a flying day, when many of its military aircraft are put through their paces.

The entertainment is superbly organised and designed to appeal to everyone from experts to novices. With great views, excellent commentary and interviews with the pilots, there is something for everyone.

“Warbirds Downunder” is held every two years, with the next one staged for 2018. It is Australia’s largest gathering of “Warbird” aircraft and provides a colourful history lesson.

Stars of the show are the Dh-82A Tiger Moth, CA-16 Wirraway and CA-13 Boomerang. Most afternoons end with a display from the Vietnam War era, which combines a slow-flying small Cessna 0-2A, some spectacular aerial displays and a dramatic victory roll from a Cessna A37B Dragonfly.

The highlight, however, is always the flight of one or both of the museum’s Spitfires. The design beauty of this small plane and the distinctive roar of its Rolls-Royce Merlin engine conjures images of the Battle of Britain and the tragic loss of life of the young men who flew them into battle.

The museum holds the only two flying Spitfires in the country. The Spitfire Mk VIII was donated to the Museum by David Lowy in 2000, and the Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI, which flew 12 sorties over Germany and was subsequently used in the films Reach for the Sky and Battle of Britain, was purchased in 2006.

At the end of a flying day the barriers are taken down and spectators can walk out onto the tarmac in front of the viewing area and talk to the pilots and inspect the planes.

General manager Peter Harper is part of the 14-strong team at the museum, including five aircraft engineers, a salesperson in the gift shop, three in administration and gardeners and maintenance personnel.

The former firefighter, born and raised in Temora, loves the fact that the museum is constantly evolving, as new aircraft appear and old models are painstakingly restored in the workshop.

From his upstairs office he enjoys a marvellous view of work carried out on the aircraft. Right now he’s watching the Museum’s Hudson Bomber - the only flying Hudson in the world - being fitted out with two new engines.

“On flying days you might meet a few of the old veterans who once flew these historic aircraft,”he says. “The new batch of pilots, who cut their teeth on anything from crop dusters to F-111s, are equally as happy to share their passion with anyone keen to listen.”

Next time you hear the distinctive throb of a Spitfire going through its paces somewhere over Temora’s sprawling wheat belt, quietly marvel at one of the greatest flying machines ever produced and perhaps even spare a thought for those pilots and engineers who worked and flew these aircraft during the darkest days of WW2. CWL Aerial images courtesy of Gavin Conroy

Above from top: CA-16 Wirraway; RAAF CA-27 Sabre; Gloster Meteor F.8.

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Familiar territory KEN AND IRENE HARPLEY’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ARE ALL IN ONE HANDY LOCATION.

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emora childhood sweethearts Ken and Irene Harpley never strayed too far from home – about a block and a half, at a pinch.

Not many couples can say that, but the truth is they grew up literally around the corner of their eye-catching home, “Bodalia”, on the rise of Vesper Street.

The two first met in the 1950s as young children living across the road from each other. After 50 years of marriage, four children and five grandchildren, Ken and Irene are enjoying their retirement years in the house they’ve always had a soft spot for.

As teenagers they often spied on the old place, enthralled with its old-world charm, windmill and tank stand, plus the fact it stood so majestically on a two-acre block at the very top of the road.

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It’s always been one of those houses in town you just can’t miss – as any local motorist will attest – despite most of the home being shrouded behind a massive hedge, signs and a nice planting of trees.

Rumours that it was haunted only added to the house’s mystique.

When it came up for auction 16 years ago the Harpleys were the first on the scene. As a small crowd assembled, Ken cast one final eye over the property but shook his head, conceding there was too much work involved.

With hands firmly entrenched in his pocket, the property was passed in at auction before selling to a local builder, who started long-overdue renovations to the front verandah.

Over the following months, Ken often dropped in to see how things were progressing. One evening he revealed that he and Irene had been secretly eyeing off the place for years. >

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IT’S ALWAYS BEEN one of those houses IN TOWN YOU JUST can’t miss.

Although this little bit of information came as a surprise to the builder, he was nonetheless prepared to move onto other projects, leaving Ken and Irene to become only the third family to live in the home since it was built at the turn of the 20th century.

“The actual age of the house remains a contentious issue,” Ken says with a sigh. “I’ve got an old photograph of the building when it was first built and the writing on the front indicates 1903. It was given to me by the grandson of the McCrones, the people that built and lived here until about 1937.”

They eventually sold it, complete with furniture, to the Coleman family, who made it home until the Harpleys became the latest custodians.

Ken knew only too well the house needed a lot of work before moving in but this time there was no turning back. The kitchen was virtually a “black hole” and the bathroom very basic. Both were totally overhauled after 10 months of hard work by themselves and family members.

Ken has always loved gardening and enjoys growing and nurturing anything that has strong shades of green. His other great passion is painting.

He painted the place before they moved in, some sections twice since then, and is about to start all over again.

“When I first began, we were washing the walls and discovered it was just chalk paint, with the original colours still there underneath. Apart from one room inside, we’ve used the original colours that the house was painted in 100 years ago.”

Reaching high points can be hazardous. Ken, now 73, only recently fell from a ladder and bruised his back. Irene’s pleas for Ken to refrain from climbing ladders seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Ken’s always had a steely determination to finish what he starts, a trait that saw him spend the last 20 years of his working life managing a nursery for Jeff Cornford, following a decade of running his own nursery and florist, Occasionally Yours.

Irene, meanwhile, trained at Royal North Shore Hospital before nursing at the Temora and District Hospital. She finished her career with a long and enjoyable 32-year stint as an RN at the Temora Medical Centre.

Irene admits her dream was always to end up in a cosy, old home on a decent-sized block. When she’s not tending to her quilting, you’ll often find her sitting out on the back verandah, reflecting on her growing family.

It’s calm and peaceful, especially in the cooler winter months. Sometimes Ken will join her and they will reminisce, sometimes about their life-long friendship but always about the big old house on the hill. CWL 26 CWL TEMORA

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SCREEN LEGENDS FOR THE ULTIMATE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE, LOCALS AND VISITORS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES, TEMORA-STYLE.

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emora Town Hall Theatre, right in the heart of town, is a community-based facility, owned by Council and operated by the community it serves.

It blends state-of-the-art facilities (including Blue Ray or DVD with high quality 7.1 Dolby Digital surround sound) with country hospitality.

Patrons get to sit back in one of the 82 reclining theatre seats to enjoy Friday Night Flicks or perhaps a Sunday afternoon matinee. Six weekly screenings (and 10 during school holidays) accommodate all moviegoers.

Expect to be greeted by ticket sellers, ushers, candy bar assistants and a projectionist – all volunteers rostered on each session.

Most undergo training, are provided with a uniform and perform six hours’ duty each month in return for free movie admission.

EXPECT TO BE GREETED BY TICKET SELLERS, USHERS, CANDY BAR ASSISTANTS AND A PROJECTIONIST – ALL VOLUNTEERS ROSTERED ON EACH SESSION.

The Mayor’s mother, Beth Firman, is one of the 30 adult volunteers, with ushers drawn from a pool of about 20 mostly school students.

The Movie Club appeals to film lovers, with the showing of foreign, art house features or some of the old classics of the silver screen.

Beth says the movie-going experience in Temora is still exciting seven years after it was first launched. The “special” nights, with champagne on arrival, are held about eight times a year and not to be missed.

The local group is so committed it won the national award for the animated movie Cars.

There was a fellow dressed up in racing gear, surrounded by chequered finishing flags, special T-shirts and even a little red sports car out the front.

“It’s great fun and you have the chance to meet people you’d never normally meet,” she says.

“When we first started the ladies got dressed up in fur coats, but not so much these days.”

With professional lighting, the theatre also doubles as a performing stage and is popular for conferences and lectures.

It’s also perfect for kids’ birthday parties, school fundraisers, sporting and community groups.

Take advantage of the quality facilities for your next work function or become involved as a volunteer. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. CWL Above: Robert and Sue James love going to the movies; Georgia Campbell, Mark McClintock, Lyn James and Frances Dwyer; James and Kathleen Broad are regular cinema goers; Ajit and Nuala Kamath; volunteers Beth Firman, Trevor Player and Jenny Devereux.

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A tribute to TEMORA TEMORA’S RURAL MUSEUM TELLS THE CAPTIVATING STORIES OF THE TOWN IN COLOURFUL DETAIL.

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emora’s Rural Museum is one of the region's finest tourist attractions. Located in a vast landscaped area, which includes the Visitor Information Centre, the museum boasts a growing number of excellent exhibitions.

The town’s gold mining past is recalled by the Pirate King mine’s fivehead ore crusher and a replica of the huge “Mother Shipton nugget”.

The museum’s ebullient general manager, Bill Spiers, says the chance of sharing history with visitors is an important part of the job.

The unusual Ambulance Museum is a combined effort from ambulance organisations in NSW and the ACT and features vehicles and equipment from the past 120 years, while the collection of rocks and minerals is a gift from Athol Stean, who spent his life accumulating the impressive collection.

A gifted storyteller, Bill has an intimate knowledge of virtually every single piece on the grounds, all delivered in an informative and engaging style.

Perhaps most impressive, for those who remember, is the memorabilia of the famous boxing promoter and showman Jimmy Sharman.

His infectious personality and genuine passion for keeping alive the stories of various old treasures is contagious.

A good place to start is a walk through the Tomb of the Old Tractors – the ones that replaced the once mighty Clydesdale as the beast of burden on the land. There’s an array of them, both restored and working, along with stationary engines and farm machinery.

In the grounds surrounding the museum is a collection of buildings, including a hardwood slab cottage that was Sir Donald Bradman’s first home, a worker’s cottage restored to reflect life in the 1920s, a one-room public school, bush church, public hall, printing works and flour mill.

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It’s all a very natural fit for Bill, who has enjoyed 12 years in the manager’s chair. His history with the museum, however, goes much further back to 1981, when he started out as a committed volunteer.

A life-long interest in all things historical, combined with the skills developed during an innovative three decades of farming and community leadership roles in the P&C, scouting, progress and heritage committees and the church, have all helped him serve the museum well.

Two significant developments in recent years have seen the extension in museum hours to open all day, every day, and a pro-active approach to attracting like-minded community organisations to share the museum site.

The Family History Group, Men’s Shed, Visitor Information Centre and local radio station have all made the move.

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The museum has brought many locals together and continues to inspire and bring joy to so many. In the end, it’s a community project that’s having a positive impact on all who tread her hallowed grounds.

The Bundawarrah Centre, the brainchild of Bill and Temora Shire engineer Fabio Giacomin, houses a temporary exhibition gallery and function centre, allowing the museum to host a wide range of community events.

The Temora Fire Brigade Exhibition, Wagon Shed, Shearing Shed, Header Shed, Rural Fire Service Exhibition and Temora Ambulance Museum have all been added to the complex within the past decade.

Closest to Bill’s heart are the subterranean Temora Community Archive and Willo’s Wiradjuri Keeping Place, each an eloquent and practical expression of his deep personal commitment to preserving and sharing his community’s collective heritage.

You’ll often find Bill in his office, up to his ears in papers, or down in the storage bunker, home to priceless documents, books, journals, newspapers and old photographs.

Soaking up so much history has made Bill Spiers another jewel in this national treasure.

The museum is open from 9.30am to 5pm daily. Check out www.temoraruralmuseum.com or phone (02) 6977 1086 for further information. CWL

Facing page clockwise from top left: Temora locals Dale McIntosh and Jane Gilbert learn crochet from teacher Jean Luck at the Bundawarrah Centre; Keen local historian and museum manager Bill Spiers; The Men’s Shed has 60 followers including Jeff Sargood, Jack Oliver, Jeff Cornford, Horrie Mortlock, Brian Sandow, Adden Baker, Gavin Abra and Tom Haines.

TEMORA AMBULANCE MUSEUM Showcasing the heritage of the Ambulance Service in Australia

A feature exhibition of the TEMORA RURAL MUSEUM A beautifully presented showcase of Australia’s changing country lifestyle Other highlights: Sir Donald Bradman’s First Home, Temora Rock & Mineral Museum, Willo’s Wiradjuri Keeping Place, A working collection of tractors & stationary engines

Open 7 days: 9-30am to 5-00pm Group bookings welcome | Catering available Annual Exhibition 2nd Saturday of March each year 29 Junee Rd., TEMORA | Tel. 02 69 771 291 Email: ruralmuseum@temora.nsw.gov.au

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Don Bradman was born in Cootamundra – everyone knows that!

Indeed he was, but the house in which he was born in Adams Street, was “Irena”, a two-bed “lying in” hospital, run by local midwife Eliza “Granny” Scholz, not his parents’ home, which was on their small farm located half an hour north of the town.

Our “Bradman Cottage”, is that family home, dismantled when it had fallen into disrepair, and reconstructed on the present site to closely reflect the 2½-year period when the infant Bradman lived there before his family moved to Bowral in 1911.

IF YOU’VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT! Why else would anyone give a headstone pride of place in their landscaped grounds half a world away from the grave it commemorates? Quite simply, Marie Narelle was one of us – a very special “one of us”.

Born at Combaning into the pioneering Comans family, Molly Ryan was blessed with both a three-octave vocal range of operatic quality and a rich heritage of Irish music upon which to build a career.

“Who’ll take a glove?”

Jimmy Sharman’s challenge rang out at country shows up and down the Australian east coast for decades, indeed, for generations!

Jimmy began his boxing career in 1906 and he progressed to become the Lightweight Champion of the Riverina in 1910. A year later he became a boxing promoter for bouts in the Star Theatre and in 1912 opened his first boxing tent at the Ardlethan Show.

Jimmy Sharman was succeeded by his son, also Jimmy Sharman, in the mid 1950s, who conducted the boxing tent until its close in the early 1970s.

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She made her international debut under the stage name “Marie Narelle”, at the Irish Exhibition in 1902 and went on to repeated tours of the concert halls of Europe and America, promoted as “The Queen of Irish Song”.

In 1905 she became the first female vocalist to be successfully recorded by Thomas Edison on his phonograph.

She recorded the Irish air Killarney.

She married into comfortable circumstances in 1911 and, thereafter, performed mainly for charitable causes, although she continued to record until 1923. Her last public performance was in 1938 in London where she was living with her daughter.

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Breathing life into ambulance history The paramedic may be Australia’s most trusted professional, but in NSW, their proud heritage had been unable to find a permanent home before the Temora Ambulance Museum opened in 2014.

Retired ambulance officers were quick to support the prospect of expanding the modest ambulance exhibit at the

museum when it was first considered but when the NSW Ambulance Service also backed the project, the Temora Ambulance Museum rapidly took shape.

It is now one of the most extensive collections of its type in Australia and almost unique in its high level of accessibility to the public.

UP IN FLAMES Fire reshaped much of the Temora streetscape during the early 20th century. The Criterion Hotel, The Grenfell Hotel, Cashman’s Family Hotel, The Royal Exchange and Tattersalls Hotels all met a fiery end. The Garford and Dennis fire engines in the Temora Fire Brigade display represent the first motorised units of the busy local brigade.

“What have we left of all the long, long years, of ancient forest and the vanished tribes?”

(Dame Mary Gilmore)

POWER COUPLE “The Heartbeat of Ungarie” was well named because for many years its steady beat could be felt throughout the village from morning until night as it toiled away generating their electricity.

Today it stands beside the engine that was once the driving force that powered Pardey & Co.’s Temora flour mill. Both engines were manufactured

by Ruston & Hornsby and are H10 models. The critical difference is that the Pardey engine is a two-cylinder model, while the Ungarie engine is its single-cylinder equivalent.

That icon of the industrial revolution, the ubiquitous “stationary engine”, found a multitude of applications in rural Australia in the 20th century, powering shearing machinery, chaff cutters, saw benches, grain augers, pumps and elevators.

Little enough, but “Willo’s Wiradjuri Keeping Place” is dedicated to respectfully preserving what understanding we still have of the lifeways of Temora’s first community.

Willo is believed to have been a member of the Gudhamangdhuray (Cootamundra) clan of the Wiradjuri nation. In his youth he befriended a young Irish convict, Valentine Lawler, who had been assigned to shepherd sheep on Brawlin Run in Cootamundra Country.

They became firm friends and Willo instilled in Lawler his love of the Australian bush. In 1847, Valentine Lawler, with J.D. McCansh, became the first European to apply for the lease of Temora Run.

A love of Listers The “Max Fairweather Collection” featuring mainly Lister engines, pays tribute to Max as one of a growing group of enthusiasts who devote countless hours to preserving these engines and restoring them to working order.

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A happening place TEMORA EX-SERVICES MEMORIAL CLUB HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

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emora Ex-Services Memorial Club has come a long way over the past 60 odd years, thanks to the dedicated efforts of a handful of Temora residents who dreamt big and thought outside the square.

The club was initially formed in the late 1940s, and members met regularly in the building now occupied by the Waratah Cafe in Hoskins Street.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to obtain a liquor licence, leaving the club no option but to close down.

In 1955, a meeting was called to reform the club, with a view to obtain a liquor licence. The president of the then RSL Sub-Branch chaired the meeting with 17 members in attendance. That day it was moved and passed that the club reform and the first committee was formed.

In late 1956 a liquor licence was finally obtained and the committee arranged to borrow six poker machines from a club in Wagga Wagga, just in time for Christmas. Needless to say, there was cause for much celebration and the beer flowed freely during the festive season.

From that time on, Temora Ex-Services Memorial Club has steadily grown in its membership numbers and gone from strength to strength to become Temora’s leading entertainment venue.

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The club has four function rooms and three commercial kitchens, all well patronised by the locals. There are also a number of social activities, such as the Friday evening Golden Gifts and the Tuesday club draws.

The bowling green is also enjoyed by the town’s bowlers.

The club is a popular venue for private functions, including weddings and conferences. It’s big on live music, with a steady stream of quality acts and shows throughout the year.

Expect to hear Roy Orbison and Elvis tribute shows, along with local entertainer Craig Giles, one of the many star acts to strut their stuff at the Temora Country Music Festival each November.

The club has recently undertaken a major refurbishment, with a new restaurant, the Gallery Bistro, offering a new a-la-carte menu as well as a constantly changing blackboard menu. A kids’ room has been built into the restaurant, so parents can enjoy dinner while their little tackers amuse themselves on the playstation.

The club also supports the town by sponsoring many sporting clubs and social groups. CWL

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The Goldtera Motor Inn The Goldtera Motor Inn, in a quiet street right in the heart of the CBD, has been managed by Bill and Julie Collins since 2011.

With 12 rooms, all fitted with quality furniture and queen-sized beds, the 3.5-star motel is popular with both itinerant workers and travellers. Guests have access to a pool and barbecue area, popular during the hot summer months.

“We have recently renovated all our bathrooms, bringing a modern touch to our motel,” says Bill, who along with Julie, enjoys catching up with regulars.

Above: General Manager of the Ex-Services Club Michael Boland.

The Koreela Park Motor Inn The Koreela Park Motor Inn represents the Temora Ex-Services Club’s foray into the motel business, with the 16-room motel opening in 2003.

Proud local Michael Dehlsen was the club’s bar manager when offered the chance to manage the town’s only four-star accommodation in 2012.

“Managing a motel by myself is at times challenging but I really enjoy meeting our guests, many of whom have driven all day to get here,” he says.

“I love greeting them with a big smile and always take the time to show them their room and car park.

“We have a lot of repeat customers who, over a period of time, you get to know really well. I’m lucky to have a very good memory so can usually put a name to a face.”

Michael, a dedicated greyhound trainer, is quick to offer his guests all sorts of information on the town and the best spots to dine and explore. There are special discounts if you dine at the nearby club, but if you prefer to explore the beautiful surroundings, Michael can prepare a picnic basket.

“It’s special seeing our guests leave happy and I look forward to seeing them next time. Life is too short not to smile and be the best person you can.”

It’s this special rapport with guests that helped the Koreela Park Motor Inn win certificates of excellence on Trip Advisor in 2015 and 2016.

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Toni Davidge with Michael and Kelly Harper, Koorambi Winez, Temora.

Principal at St Anne’s Kathy Holding with chief organiser Georginia Breust.

Eat, drink and be merry THIS ST ANNE'S CENTRAL SCHOOL FUNDRAISER PROVIDED GUESTS WITH PLENTY TO SAVOUR.

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he Temora Long Lunch was held on a beautiful day last spring, when nearly 170 friends of St Anne’s Central School gathered on the train platform for an afternoon of fabulous food, friendship and fun.

The afternoon featured a three-course lunch by Michele Seymour Catering, music by Jarryn Phegan and an opportunity to hear from former local entrepreneur Campbell Headley, from Two Heads Brewing Company, Orange.

The bar featured the regional delights of Two Heads Brewing Company and Temora’s own Koorambi Winez.

The school fundraiser was voted a tremendous success and plans are already in place for next year’s event. CWL

Marita McRae, Liz Grant, Alison McCrone and Cassie Coddington.

Andrew and Chloe Tidd with Matt Hart.

Carolyn O’Brien, Ellen Edis and Sam Dart.

Lisa Taylor, Nicole Boys, Rachael Guymer and Belinda Maxwell.

Georgia Hughes, Ange Blackwell, Anne Rands and Kirsty Oliver.

Craig Sinclair (standing) with Mel Gallagher, Jayne Ormerod and Lucas Winton.

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ART & soul PAINTING NEED NOT BE A LONELY PURSUIT, AS THE ARTISTS OF TEMORA WILL ATTEST.

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emora and District Visual Arts Community (TADVAC) president Bob Brabin is passionate about painting and says the Temora art scene is alive and well.

“We have a very active group of like-minded artists who occupy the renovated scout hall in Aurora Street,” he says.

The 40 members paint, draw, print, sculpt and photograph a variety of subjects, many of which have a local theme.

“Art is fun and I hope we can provide a centre for Temora and district people to express themselves for many years to come.” CWL

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D O U G H E G AR T Y

J U DY G O R T O N

“I started painting after I retired and enjoy working in all mediums. I also like to draw, a skill that helps me understand perspective and tonal value in my work. I also enjoy the challenge of painting any subject, from portraits and landscapes, to steam trains, old cars and horse teams. Most of all, through art, I have a more enriched outlook of the wonderful world I live in and people I have met, who I’m fortunate enough to call mates.”

“I love to learn and always wanted to try to paint a decent picture. I have been doing weekly classes for over two years as well as the weekend workshops with artists at the TADVAC centre. I enjoy using and learning about all mediums with my favourites being oil and pastels. It is a lot of fun working with the art group and getting to meet new people.”

B O B B R AB I N

K E N FO R S T E R

S U E FA U L K N E R

“I have been painting for five years since retiring from high school teaching.

I completed a three-year Visual Arts Certificate at Temora TAFE and many workshops, learning from some very accomplished Australian artists. I am passionate about my leisure time activity, painting and drawing.

My style is headed towards impressionism . . . I think. This allows me to interpret the subject manner and paint in a loose manner.”

“I have always had an interest in art and my retirement has afforded me time to pursue this interest and make new friends within the Temora community.

I particularly like landscape painting and experimenting with different mediums.”

“I tried for many years to find an art group in Mudgee but finally found what I was looking for in Temora. Here I paint with an amazing group of people where we have art classes and general painting days. I enjoy it greatly and it’s been such an important part of my life that I fly to Temora from Mudgee each week.”

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Art’s in the right place

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rt is thriving in Temora. The Temora and District Visual Arts Community (TADVAC), launched in late 2011, is a place where like-minded people come together to explore the artistic side of their brain.

Many members have not drawn or painted for years, while others are keen to try new mediums and help others.

Some just attend our drop-in sessions to talk, laugh, sing and even do a bit of art after the obligatory cuppa.

As well as drop-in sessions, classes by a qualified teacher are conducted each term with a day and evening class. These classes are well attended and cater for beginners to the more experienced punters.

We also bring visiting artists from all over Australia to the centre to provide stimulating tuition.

The progress of some locals has been astounding, with talents discovered and nurtured. The outcomes of the students’ endeavours are displayed in our November to January exhibition, A Brush with Art, in the Bundawarra centre at the Temora Rural Museum.

Local works are also displayed and celebrated at the TADVAC art exhibition in our work centre in May and during the Temora Shire Art Exhibition in August.

Both of these events are well supported and attended and provide an opportunity for the art critics to come out of the woodwork and have their say. CWL Words: Bob Brabin

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Main image: A collection of works by some of Temora's talented artists.

Above: Temora identities Andrew Robbins, Ken and Clare Smith and Gubby Allen.

Left: Temora’s Bev and Craig Pellow.

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Right: Artist Sue Faulkner and husband Ken Smithwell.

Below: TADVAC president Bob Brabin with Deputy Mayor Graham Sinclair.

Above: Yannika Hendess and Sonia Casanova from Riverina Regional Tourism, Craig Sinclair, Temora Shire Council, and Jennifer Connor and Mandy Strong, Lockhart.

Above: Temora locals Lorraine Sinclair and Monica Reid at one of Temora's art shows.

Above: Amanda Gay with Temora Community Arts and Culture events officer and Deputy Mayor Graham Sinclair.

Above: Local artist Louise Adams.

Left: Ruth Kemp from the Temora Independent and local videographer Masoud Varjavandi.

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Maternal instinct

PHOTOGRAPHER ANNE COOPER IS QUITE THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO MOTHER LOVE. 40 CWL TEMORA

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nne Cooper doesn’t need to go far to find photographic inspiration.

It’s in her alluring century-old homestead, on the weathered floorboards of her rustic woolshed and in the stillness of a perfect day . . . and, of course, in the eyes of her seven children, ranging in age from three to 16 years.

Husband Mark is still scratching his head in amazement. He felt blessed with just one but now can’t imagine life without his “Seven Little Australians”.

Two years after moving to “Oakleigh Park”, a 100-acre block 10 minutes from Temora, the Coopers have undergone a new lease of life. Out here, the kids make their own fun, exploring the creek and outstation buildings, playing games, collecting eggs from the chook house and simply being part of an unusually large family. >

Facing page: Anne and Mark with their “Seven Little Australians” Angus, Charlie, Ben, Lizzie, Evie, Ellie and Hannah.

Above: Beautiful “Oakleigh Park”, home to the Cooper family; the jetty comes complete with paw prints.

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There’s Ben, Ellie and Hannah, followed by Angus, Lizzie, Charlie and young Evie. Feeding, packing lunches and getting them off to school on time is one thing. Sharing one bathroom between nine is another.

For Mark and Anne the advantages far outweigh any negatives. The big plus is that the tranquil, country landscape lends itself to Anne’s specialty of creating stunning newborn portraits and young children being themselves.

“My sessions are all about creating a relaxed atmosphere so that true personalities can shine,” says Anne, who completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts (UNSW) in Paddington after first winning the Sydney Morning Herald Student Photography Award while still at high school.

Her signature work involves newborns, which requires a reservoir of patience and understanding. Anne prides herself on her ability to handle and soothe her young subjects, no doubt helped by her own mothering experiences.

“I am a storyteller first and foremost, aiming to capture a baby’s story and portray that through my vision,” she explains. “The first few days when a baby is sleepy, squishy and curls up as if still in the womb. The first smile, the flaky skin and the swish of curl upon their head.”

Anne and Mark’s two lives became one in the Snowy Mountains town of Batlow where Mark, a local lad, was working on the town’s infrastructure while Anne was the new school teacher.

“Some of my students set us up,” Anne laughs. “Some of the senior boys were encouraging me to meet this apparently handsome fellow called Coop.”

They were married in the Botanic Gardens, Orange, where Anne spent her formative years. It was a special moment, arriving in a 1932 Dennis fire truck lovingly restored by her father-in-law.

For Anne’s 40th birthday, Mark took her on a short American sojourn, during which time they visited the site of the 9/11 Twin Towers collapse.

Being a fireman, Mark found it to be a particularly emotional and solemn occasion.

“It’s hard to explain your thoughts as you read through the list that perished that fateful day,” he says.

Blue-eyed and cute-as-a-button Evie, their youngest, was conceived during this period, serving as a reminder that beautiful things can happen in the saddest of places.

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Anne still teaches photography and visual arts at Temora High School, one of the few schools left in the state with a “wet” darkroom, where students learn to process black and white film and process prints the old-fashioned way, as well as a fully functional digital lab.

Despite major alterations to the home (and getting that second bathroom), Anne Cooper has found contentment in her country environment and is in the right state of mind to beautifully record the lives of our youngest Australians. CWL Above: Anne’s photography is simple and dignified, featuring beautiful lighting and locations. With seven children, there’s no shortage of models.

TEMORA

How to

MAKE A LAKE

LAKE CENTENARY IS A MAN-MADE HAVEN FOR AQUATIC ENTHUSIASTS.

ocated a few kilometres north of Temora, the 22ha artificial aquatic waterway boasts three small islands and landscaped recreational foreshores.

L

Water sports are a passion for both locals and visitors. The lake has an excellent boat ramp as well as landscaped picnic facilities, making it an ideal venue for a relaxing day out.

It’s ideal for power boating, water skiing, sailing, canoeing and swimming, and can be accessed by a 4km walking or cycling track from town for those who enjoy exercise or simply relaxing in a beautiful environment.

For the safety of all, boat operators are reminded to be considerate and mindful of the rules and regulations governing the water.

Adhering to the guidelines will help ensure a safe and happy time for all.

The project is a tribute to many big-thinking and equally hard-working Temora individuals and organisations.

Encouraged by the availability of suitable grant funds through the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation in the mid 1970s, Narraburra Shire Clerk Ted Leary first proposed the construction of a recreational lake near Temora.

The Temora Apex Club supported the proposal and in early 1979 convened a public meeting to gauge local support. Reassured by the response, the Temora and District Lake Development Committee was formed, with Brendon Fritsch the inaugural chairman.

The Trigalong Creek, on land belonging to the Temora Agricultural Research Station, was the natural site.

Shire engineer Bill Swann designed the lake, which in 1981 was stocked with 20,000 silver perch before its official opening one year later.

Today, Lake Centenary is a great place to visit, to either unwind in a beautiful spot or get fired up in an adrenalin-charged V8 superboat. CWL TEMORA CWL 43

Trail gazing T

here’s something very special about the Canola Trail.

You’ll know when you are on it, especially during the last few months of the year, when the fields of canola are showing their true colours.

From the beginnings of the rail and agricultural industry to the thriving region of today, the trail will immerse you in the story of each shire and its people.

It’s a journey through history, with a tantalising array of food and wine experiences, spectacular landscapes and some exciting and award-winning Riverina attractions.

Follow the trail through charming towns and quaint villages, overflowing with hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Uncover treasures in the many boutique stores and collectible shops along the way.

The Canola Trail takes in the shires of Coolamon, Junee and Temora, and is located just north of Wagga Wagga and two hours from Canberra.

The Canola Trail boasts a wide variety of accommodation options, including caravan parks, farm stays, unique B&Bs, a variety of motels and pubs soaking in rich local history. CWL

44 CWL TEMORA

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The perfect gift for those who seem to have it all!

Orders can also be made by contacting us PHONE: 0429 441 086 EMAIL: info@centralwestmagazine.com.au TEMORA CWL 45

A formidable TEAM THE ROBINSON FAMILY FARM IS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.

H

aving three sons to share the workload at “Westbury”, Grogan, makes Bruce Robinson both a very proud father and one switched-on farmer.

At a time when big corporations are devouring many family farms, Bruce and wife Janet are bucking the trend, welcoming their fourth-generation farming sons home and expanding operations to accommodate them.

Combining their collective skills and creating a workforce with significant pulling power has enabled them to double the size of their farm in the past 15 years.

The powerhouse team consists of Grant and wife Amy, Dane and wife Emma and Tony and wife Mel. Then there is big sister Kylie (and partner Mike Chambers), who works in Cowra for the Local Land Services. Bruce calls her an exceptional stock worker, which is handy considering 30 per cent of the farm is dedicated to livestock enterprises with the rest devoted to cropping, mainly winter crops like canola and wheat.

The last wheel in the Robinson workforce is Nathan Bett, a talented mechanic who’s been on the farm since 2009. He has the experience and ability to repair most of the highly sophisticated farm machinery.

Living in Temora with his wife and four children, Nathan drives out every day, often with an urgent piece of machinery or vital kitchen ingredient.

He has equal shares in the 80-strong Angus commercial herd and is treated like a family member.

All the boys are married with young families of their own, living on various properties but working under the umbrella of Westbury Pastoral Company.

46 CWL TEMORA

With no fewer than four agronomists in the family – Grant and Amy along with Tony and Emma – all bases are covered when it comes to soil, pasture and crop advice. Emma, who works part-time at Temora Landmark has the most clout in this department but it really is a team effort. It’s also useful having Amy work part-time with a grain marketing firm.

“Having this supply of skilled labour allows us to do a considerable amount of off-farm contracting – windrowing canola and harvesting further north in the state before our own harvest starts,” Bruce explains during a mid-morning meeting around the kitchen table.

It’s a bit of a madhouse, with all the wives and 10 of the 12 grandkids present. There is lots of laughter as the boys discuss the weekend football results – they all played rugby at Hurlstone Ag College and later for the Temora Tuskers – along with the normal discussion of the prolonged wet weather.

“This is about as wet as it gets,” Bruce says. “The only wetter year, in my time at least, was 1956, when we received 40 inches – about double our normal 21-inch rainfall.”

Janet manages to keep them all happy. Like everyone, she has her finger on the pulse, thanks to her efforts as the family bookkeeper. She says that having the extra income from contracting enables them to keep their harvesters and windrowers new and up to date. >

Above: The Robinson family is still expanding. A proud Janet and Bruce (centre) with Mel and Tony, Amy and Grant, Emma and Dane and the grandchildren.

TEMORA

TEMORA CWL 47

Above: Bruce Robinson with his hard-working sons Tony, Grant and Dane. Below: The Robinson men check on their healthy canola crop.

Combining their collective skills and creating a workforce with significant pulling power has enabled them to double the size of their farm in the past 15 years.

“Contract harvesting certainly helped things along during the droughtridden ’90s,” she continues. “The boys go contract harvesting and windrowing for about 10 weeks each year (in October and November), leaving Bruce and I at home to hold the fort.”

It’s pretty obvious this family gets along. Bruce looks around the room and admits he never dreamt that one day they would all come home.

After school, Grant and Tony completed Ag Science degrees and worked for a time in agronomy, while Dane did a stint on a north Queensland cattle property.

“We tend to all work together and have a monthly meeting to make sure we’re all on the same page. We consciously address succession planning and have a fairly good idea of where we’re at and where we’re heading,” says Bruce, who bought “Westbury” back in 1975 after his marriage to Janet.

Back then the land was going for $50 an acre. Today you can’t buy similar country for 20 times that amount. “Land prices have gone crazy and we haven’t even seen the end of it,” Bruce says.

“I’ve never seen a period in my lifetime where there was a greater demand for farming land in this district and at the same time less land available,” he continues.

“Corporate farm expansion as well as family farm demand means that land is going to get even more expensive and harder to buy.”

With so many personalities on the team, the obvious question is how does it all work?

“There have to be no secrets – everybody is informed,” Bruce says. “We share ownership, are prepared to compromise and utilise an objective farm advisor with up-to-date financial and business knowledge.”

Janet says the family enjoys greater financial strength operating as one unit rather than four smaller units. There is also the joy of working for yourself with a constant infusion of youthful energy and ideas.

For a decade after 2000 the seasons were tough, with only 2001 and 2005 decent years. “Since 2010 the seasons have been very kind to us and, of course, low interest rates have helped the business expand. Somehow we even managed to expand during the noughties (when land was much cheaper at about $400 acre),” Bruce says.

“Since the boys have come, the seasons have improved and family farms in the district are still profitable, although inefficient farmers are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Certainly there is still a very good and profitable place for family farms in the district." CWL

48 CWL TEMORA

TEMORA

LITTLE treasures

F

or those looking for a special line of giftware and baby wear, look no further than KaMarley & Me Homewares & Gifts, a specialist store located in the former Federal Hotel in Hoskins Street, Temora.

Owner Nicole Block thoroughly enjoys running her own business, and says much of her inspiration comes from her young children.

Once Marley, five years, and Kayla, now four, were old enough, Nicole was keen to re-enter the workforce.

Nicole felt the town could do with a specialty shop and ploughed all her energies into creating a well-thought-out store that has something for everyone.

She came up with the unusual name KaMarley & Me, after combining her daughters’ names.

“Having my own business offers me the chance to be flexible with the girls,” she says.

The shop is ideal for new mothers. “We have baby clothing from newborn through to three years, baby gifts, wraps and blankets, kids’ books, puzzles and toys,” she says.

Both Nicole and husband Nathan share a love of the land. Nathan is a farmer with his father Garry near Temora while Nicole grew up on the family farm at Barmedman.

It’s a close family and when she’s flat out or desperate for a break, she calls on her mother, Michelle, for assistance.

Her passion is for homewares and fashionable women’s clothing, including Firefly, Elm Lifestyle and Eb & Ive. “We also stock a great range of wallets, from Elms + King, as well as a leather wallets and clutches from Stitch & Hide.

“The aim of my store is to offer the locals more variation when it comes to shopping locally,” Nicole says with a big country smile. CWL Owner of KaMarley & Me Nicole Block is proud of her speciality shop in Temora’s main street.

We stock a range of womens clothing wallets and clutches, giftware, candles, jewellery and a collection of clothing and giftware for the new baby.

Visit our website to view our latest stock

www.kamarleyandme.com.au 173 Hoskins St, Temora NSW 2666 /KaMarleyMe

@kamarleyandmehomewaresandgifts

TEMORA CWL 49

No place like home CINDY CASSIDY HAS A DEEP-ROOTED LOVE OF THE COUNTRY AND A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF AUSTRALIAN FARMING IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

50 CWL TEMORA

TEMORA

w

ith mud on her shoes and the rain falling softly on her face, the state winner of the 2015 RIRDC (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation) Rural Women’s Award is in her element inspecting the canola crop on “Foylewood”, Ariah Park.

After a stellar two-decade career in agribusiness that saw her attending farming conventions throughout the world, Cindy Cassidy loves being back home, rain or shine.

Surrounded by her parents, Mick and Lyn Cassidy, brother Ben and wife Sally, and her eight-year-old daughter, Olivia, it’s a timely reminder of her own connection to the land and the importance of family.

The steady downpour seems intent on spoiling the party. While the family are accustomed to the vagaries of Mother Nature, the persistent wet weather is like a bad cold and won’t go away. Everybody is praying the heavens ease up after the heaviest winter falls on record.

Although the Cassidys have been breeding sheep and growing crops on this same spot for 120 years, it’s never something they take for granted.

In his early days, Mick went shearing for 20 years to help make ends meet. It was the hardest physical work he’s ever done and probably up there with the tough pioneering spirit displayed by his grandfather, JW Cassidy, who first took up part of Mimosa Station in 1897.

Back in the homestead, built over a century ago and now home to three generations, Ben says that apart from a few years contract spraying, he’s been here all his life. “To survive you have to keep abreast of technology,” he suggests. “The secret is to not over capitalise and keep everything in perspective.”

“I STILL BELIEVE THAT RURAL WOMEN miss out on a lot compared to our city cousins.

That’s why at FarmLink we are targeting more women, who represent 50 per cent of the rural workforce.”

“Lifestyle is still the best thing,” Cindy says.

“And it’s still a great place to raise kids.” She is, of course, referring to Olivia, who catches the same school bus (with the same driver, Ian Harper) as Cindy once did. Like three generations before her, Olivia attends St Anne’s Central School, Temora.

“Land values are up, increasing farm equity and making it difficult getting into farming, particularly considering the returns you can expect to make from it,” she explains. “It’s all about financial survival. If we don’t adapt to change we won’t survive, pure and simple.

“We are custodians of the land,” Cindy continues.

“It’s a job and not a big asset unless you cash it in at the end. Succession planning is a vital part of the process, particularly considering the family history in this place.”

Only time will tell if the farm is kept under the Cassidy name for future generations. Apart from Ben and Sally and their four kids, Cindy has a brother Chris in Temora (in the spare parts team of the local John Deer dealership), and a sister Kym, a Melbourne house-mum with three teenage boys more interested in bikes than boom sprays.

“It puts a bit of pressure on our one grandson at home,” Lyn laughs. “But we all know you can never pressure a man to devote his life to the land. It’s got to be something he really wants to do.”

Mick sits at the head of table, quietly digesting every word. He is used to having strong women in his life, which is why he enjoys the Monday night ritual at “Foylewood”, when three generations of the clan assemble around the kitchen dining table.

The pizza oven is fired up and generally one important topic on the agenda is discussed from every angle. With 12 minds to contend with, it can be a long and drawn-out process but that, along with much love and laughter, is part of the process.

“There is so much change, even in one generation,” Mick says, scratching his head. “The bottom line is we need to improve returns on what we produce in order to stay in business.

Food is not a luxury item, it’s a necessity.”

Cindy nods her head in agreement.

“Regardless of what each of us does each day, it’s our farmers who truly put dinner on the table and the shirt on our back,” she says.

“Investing in their future and thinking about how we can help them adapt to changing environmental, social and financial conditions has to be good news for everyone.” > Facing page: Mick, Cindy, Lyn, Sally and Ben Cassidy, with their canola crop.

Above: Cindy Cassidy at home on “Foylewood,” Ariah Park.

TEMORA CWL 51

“WITH HER EXTENSIVE TRAINING, Cindy understands, better than most, that change on the land is inevitable and farmers must be ready to embrace it.”

She knows better than most, having returned home to Temora three years ago to take up her role as CEO of FarmLink, a non-profit farming systems group based on the other side of town.

It’s a fulfilling role and vastly different from her former life in Melbourne, where she thrived with the culture, football and notoriously wet weather. Cindy worked for the Australian Barley Board, the Australian Wheat Board, and co-established Wheat Quality Australia, of which she was executive officer for three years.

During many overseas trips with the wheat board, Cindy became comfortable mixing it with politicians, leaders and game changers.

“I’m really enjoying my career,” she says.

“I’ve been able to travel nationally and internationally, meet interesting and influential people and learn about international markets for Australian produce.”

With her extensive training, Cindy understands, better than most, that change on the land is inevitable and farmers must be ready to embrace it. The sources of change are endless and constant. The ability of our farmers to identify and respond to changing conditions, she says, is critical to their long-term viability and success.

“Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is often referred to as ‘survival of the fittest’, when in fact the key element of his theory was that it’s not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent that survives - it’s the one most adaptable to change.”

Having a motivated personality no doubt helped Cindy win the prestigious NSW Rural Woman of the Year award. Her name now sits alongside Central West identities Pip Job, Cumnock (2014) and Sophie Hanson, Orange (2016).

For more than two decades the award has championed women from Australia’s diverse industries and communities, giving them a platform to become part of the national conversation.

The award supports emerging leaders with the desire, commitment and leadership potential to make a greater contribution to primary industries and rural communities.

52 CWL TEMORA

“I still believe that rural women miss out on a lot compared to our city cousins. That’s why at FarmLink we are targeting more women, who represent 50 per cent of the rural workforce, and organising activities like the ladies agronomy tour at our annual Open Day,” Cindy says.

“Farmers really are a mixed bunch. While they are passionate about producing food for the nation and committed to the ever-changing face of Australian agriculture, our farming future is in fact everyone’s responsibility and everyone’s reward.”

Focusing on the mental, social, physical and financial well-being of our farmers as a national priority is important in securing this future.

“All of the jobs that I’ve had were at an industry level and focused on working nationally to improve the quality of Australian agriculture products through policy and marketing,

whereas, my role with FarmLink gives me the opportunity to work with farmers on things that really matter to their daily operations.”

Cindy believes research and innovation are key to securing our farming future.

“When I think about the future of farming in this country I envisage productive, profitable, sustainable farms, prosperous, healthy farming families and robust, vibrant rural communities.”

During 2017 the Cassidys will quietly celebrate 120 years on the farm. It will be another milestone for Cindy, too, who feels fortunate to be back at the farm.

“Coming home four years ago was the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says with a smile. “Olivia is surrounded by stability and love and I’m doing something I’m really passionate about.” CWL Cindy, Ben and Sally Cassidy inspect the canola on their family farm.

TEMORA

ZEST FOR THE BEST I

f you enjoy gourmet dining in a cosy environment with friendly staff and a constantly changing blackboard menu, then you will find Temora’s Zest Cafe to your liking.

Owner Alleey Dyason has always enjoyed cooking for others, developing a healthy reputation for hosting family and friends for meals and long lunches.

“My love for good wholesome food definitely comes from my family, where celebrations are always about the food, laughing and sharing at the dinner table,” she says.

For Alleey, nothing beats a four-hour lunch with several courses and good company.

“Everyone has that family favourite they look forward to but can never quite reproduce like the creator – grandma Helen’s cauliflower and white sauce, aunty Rob’s chocolate cakes, grandma Pat’s mint and pineapple jelly.”

It was a natural progression for Alleey to move into the cafe scene, and she took ownership of Zest in late 2012.

By then she was married to Steve, who works on the family farm between Ariah Park and Coolamon. Alleey felt she wasn’t quite ready to settle down to be “a 100 per cent farmer’s wife” and discovered the perfect business to complement the farm.

“I’ve had various jobs over the years, including gymnastics coach, winery lab assistant and pole dance instructor,” she says as she whips up a dish in her busy kitchen.

The lunch menu changes seasonally with new inspiration found from regularly dining out.

One of Alleey's favourite dishes is the roast pumpkin pasta, and there’s always plenty of requests for her dukkah salmon salad and curried vegetable pies to be a repeat menu item. CWL Above: Alleey Dyason loves catching up with her regulars at Zest.

“I begin the day with a latte in my favourite cup, and a nibble off the end of whatever’s fresh from the oven – always have to taste test,” she laughs.

“I’m not good at following recipes and prefer to throw in a bit of this and a bit of that, and taste along the way. I have a folder with scraps of bits and pieces I’ve remembered to scribble down.”

Alleey enjoys experimenting with old school CWA-style recipes before adding her own twists (think raspberry crumble cake and caramel nut slice).

She makes her own jams (raspberry and lime, fig and ginger), relishes and sauces to use. In this health-conscious world, Alleey is always trying to cut back on sugar and salt, using apple and pear as a substitute sweetener.

She uses fresh fruit and veg from the family farm, along with herbs grown at the back of the store and fertilised with coffee grounds.

Basil, she insists, goes ballistic on coffee grounds!

She’s passionate about using local and Aussie-made products where possible and works closely with suppliers to achieve this. Zest also uses take-away containers, coffee cups, toilet paper and hand towels that are biodegradable and made from recycled material. All kitchen scraps go to the chooks.

“My favourite part of the day is the morning coffee rush,” she says.

“It’s great catching up with all our daily regulars who are generally tempted with some fresh oven produce.

“I enjoy hearing what people get up to on the weekend and am always discussing the grandkids or the local footy results. My clients are really an extension of the Zest family.”

Alleey is equally appreciative of her wonderful staff “I couldn’t survive without Maryanne and Robyn, the backbone of my store,” she says proudly. “We all work well together and if one is having an off day another steps in.”

168 Hoskins St, Temora | 02 6978 0332 OPEN 8am till 5pm Weekdays.

Saturday brunches during Summer.

TEMORA CWL 53

Forging a FARMING FUTURE CHANGE IS PART AND PARCEL OF LIFE ON THE LAND, AND THANKFULLY OUR FARMERS HAVE EXCELLENT ADVICE AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

F

arming - noun - the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock (Oxford Living Dictionaries).

The meaning is simple, as is the sentiment held of the farming lifestyle, but, in reality, a farmer in Australia in 2017 manages a complex business system, the success of which is influenced by internal and external factors often beyond their control.

Navigating those factors – to change, adapt and prosper – is the ultimate challenge for today’s farmer. And farming systems group FarmLink, stands with today’s farmer in that challenge.

The FarmLink region spans 1.2 million hectares of arable land in southern NSW and boasts a membership of innovative farmers, advisers and researchers who combine their skills to produce crops and livestock valued at $1.2 billion to the NSW, Australian and world economies.

From a groundswell of interest to form a farming systems group in 2003, a broad mix of farmers have embraced, led, enacted and followed the FarmLink story.

Now, in 2017, FarmLink is located at Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre (TAIC), itself a centre of agricultural research for over 100 years, with a staff of six. FarmLink manages the 600-hectare farm on behalf of Temora Shire Council, along with a research, development and extension (RD and E) portfolio valued at over $1.9 million.

Spanning generations, the complexity of farming has seen families challenged with holding onto their traditional values, embracing innovative ideas and enacting change on their farms to maximise profitability.

The research, development and extension (RD and E) work by FarmLink enables members to change, adapt and prosper as they take their turn as caretakers of the land.

FarmLink is joined in its RD and E pursuit by an array of partners, from funding bodies such as GRDC and MLA, which enables

54 CWL TEMORA

grower/producer levies to return to local regions for local research projects, to research powerhouses like CSIRO, DPI, CSU and industry leaders like Dow AgroScience, Bayer and AGT. Funnelled through FarmLink, this concentration of RD and E expertise and investment delivers the best outcomes for the people of the land.

The essence of farming. CWL

Above: FarmLink staff: Cindy Cassidy, Colin Fritsch, Kellie Jones, Kylie Dunstan, Lyndal Turner and Chris Williams.

Facing page: FarmLink is all about sharing information; FarmLink CEO Cindy Cassidy (third from left) with members of the Board of Directors, Darryl Harper (chair), Robert Patterson, Lisa Anderson, Rob McColl (deputy chair) and Michael Sinclair. Absent were Bernard Hart and Ron Heinrich.

TEMORA

The FarmLink region spans 1.2 million hectares of arable land in southern NSW and boasts a membership of innovative farmers, advisers and researchers.

TEMORA CWL 55

A floral tribute THE COOKE FAMILY HANDLES FUNERALS AND FLOWERS WITH PASSION AND EXPERTISE.

I

t’s not often that your local funeral director can offer freshly cut flowers in the darkest of times but that’s what Stephen and Marie Cooke and daughter Stephanie have managed to achieve.

For 36 years, Temora & District Funeral Service has been supporting families through a simple philosophy of understanding, compassion and attention to detail.

Stephen and Marie were raised in West Wyalong, married in 1972 and lived in Canberra until 1980. Stephen was an accountant and Marie a primary school teacher before they took the leap into the funeral business.

In 2005 they expanded the business to include the people of Cootamundra and West Wyalong and districts.

The Cootamundra funeral firm Smith & Rinkin Funeral Directors was purchased along with the building at 169 Main Street, West Wyalong, which was refurbished to accommodate the Bland District Funeral Service.

The funeral homes operate independently and offer privacy to families in their time of need. Each of the premises includes a reception area, an arranging room, casket display room and a private viewing room for families wishing to view their loved ones.

Staff are available to provide a comprehensive range of services and assist families with making decisions at a difficult and emotional time.

“Our trained and courteous staff are on hand to give confidential advice and guidance on all matters concerning funeral arrangements, with a wide selection of caskets,” Stephen says.

With funerals, there was always the need for flowers. Marie learnt floristry during the early 1980s before gaining a Diploma of Floristry. A

56 CWL TEMORA

small room at the side of the funeral home was used until 1988, when the family moved the shop into the CBD under the trading name of Temora Flower Centre.

This shop still operates today but under the new name of Native Botanical, in line with Stephanie’s existing floral shop in Young. Both studios offer fresh and silk flowers for all occasions, including birthdays, arrivals, weddings, funerals, corporate functions and special events.

Like her mother, Stephanie is a highly qualified floral designer and holds Certificates II, III and a Diploma of Floristry. She has also been the recipient of several highly coveted awards, including the NSW Florist of the year in 2012, then again in 2013 (the first time any florist has won this title back to back.)

Stephanie later went on to win the Australian Retail Awards Independent Retailer of the Year in 2013. Adding to their list of accolades was the “Fresh Awards” for NSW florists in 2016.

After their works were featured in Woman’s Day, Stephanie and Marie have taken their love and care for their local community to new heights.

As word spread of the quality and beauty of the designs coming from their Temora studio – delivered with the care, compassion and service you can only find in a small town – it is no surprise they’ve become highly sought after. CWL

Above: Mother and daughter team Marie and Stephanie Cooke in their Native Botanical floral studio.

Right: Marie Cooke understands flower power for special occasions.

TEMORA

TEMORA CWL 57

A helping hand RURAL CANCER PATIENTS NEED NOT FACE THEIR TREATMENT AND RECOVERY ALONE.

A

part from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, with 15,000 cases diagnosed each year.

One in eight women will be diagnosed by their 85th birthday.

Thanks to pioneering women like Mona Campbell Ham, who in 1955 established The Cancer Patients’ Assistance Society (CPAS), country-based cancer patients receive invaluable support during their treatment in Sydney.

Today there are more than 50 Can Assist branches throughout rural NSW, all manned by volunteers who raise funds to support local clients and their families.

It’s up to each client, when diagnosed with cancer, to get in touch with their Can Assist branch for help, as branches are not able to make the first contact.

The Temora branch was established in 1983 and helps people living in the Temora Shire who attend a local GP. The branch members elect a committee each year to handle finance, interviews and client welfare and offer assistance with fuel vouchers and travel, accommodation and pharmacy expenses.

58 CWL TEMORA

President, local wood worker and cancer survivor Ken Smith says each client’s journey is different and any other needs are considered on an individual basis. All assistance is subject to available funds and closeness to treatment centres.

One cancer survivor who used the service is a thankful Helen Taylor, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, following a regular check-up. Although it was terrifying news, Helen at least knew something about her tough journey ahead, having had four family members, including her mother, face the same battle.

After informing her family, she contacted Temora Can Assist and set the wheels in motion. Following surgery and a short break, her chemotherapy began.

“Before each round I took expensive anti-nausea medication and this is where Can Assist really started to help,” she says. “They paid all my pharmacy costs relevant to my cancer, and this continued until 2015, when my medications stopped. Also, for each trip to Wagga Wagga for chemo we received fuel vouchers.”

Next stage was radiation, which involved five treatments per week for five weeks. Helen was able to stay at the Can Assist-affiliated Lilier Lodge,

a wonderful place set up for people having radiation. This saved travelling every day and Helen was able to come home on weekends.

“Once again, Can Assist helped greatly with fuel and accommodation costs, and we will always be grateful for their support,” she says.

Once treatments were over, support did not stop with a Women’s and Men’s Support Group meeting held each month.

“My husband goes to the Men’s Group, even though he does not have cancer, but is able to talk to others who have,” Helen says. “Our Women’s Group has morning tea and a chat. It’s here that we are sometimes able to unload, and share our good and not so good experiences.

“As well as the physical side of our cancers, the mental side is an ongoing issue for many of us, and this is where our Can Assist support groups are so necessary.”

With requests for assistance increasing, the Temora branch is looking for new active members. Anyone wanting more information about assistance, meetings or support groups can contact the branch on 0429 774 966. CWL Temora Can Assist secretary Lynn Hegarty, president Ken Smith and Helen Taylor.

Cosy accommodation for up to 38 guests in 16 individual rooms

The home of Red Hen catering

Inviting BBQ courtyard and guest lounges. Function rooms available for hire.

Savour in-house catering from RedHen Hospitality. Self-catering facilities also available. Huge cooked country breakfast included in room tariff.

Located in the heart of Temora’s main business precinct, with off-street parking

173 Hoskins Street, Temora, NSW 2666 E tmccrone@dodo.com.au M 0428 781 133 T 02 6977 4565

Marie and Stephen Cooke

244 Hoskins Street Temora NSW 2666 02 6977 1788 Monday – Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am to 12 noon

www.nativebotanical.com.au

Established 1980 Servicing Temora and District A long established local family owned funeral service Understanding your individual needs and providing a quality, respectful and caring service 24 hours 7 days Pre-Paid and Pre Arranged Funeral Specialists 02 6977 1332 | 0428 848 543 | 0418 437 635

TEMORA CWL 59

A WARM welcome THIS BED AND BREAKFAST REPRESENTS A PATCHWORK OF SIMPLE PLEASURES.

Y

ou won’t find a cold beer at Temora’s old Federal Hotel but you can be assured of a comfortable bed and a sumptuous breakfast right in the heart of town.

It’s all under the umbrella of the Patchwork Inn B&B.

Travellers, tradesmen and contract harvesters enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the former pub, as well as the secure off-street parking at the rear of the building (close to the back of the police station).

The Patchwork Inn B&B also caters for larger groups, including school groups, car and bike clubs and large family groups for weddings, funerals and celebrations.

The historic hotel was built between 1908-1912, on the site of the original Grenfell Hotel, which burned down in spectacular fashion in 1901, together with several shops in the vicinity.

Along with other buildings in Temora’s main street, it lost its verandah balcony and posts during the late 1960s. Although built of solid brick, it too was brought to a sudden close following a disastrous fire in the front bar and other parts of the ground floor in early 1996.

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The Temora Shire Council looked at the building as a possible tourist information centre but nothing eventuated until Barry and Gai Smith and Rob and Lyn Cartwright bought the premises (later selling the licence to a Sydney hotel for the upcoming Olympics).

Current owners Teresa and Paul McCrone purchased the historic building in 2006. The first week the hot water system blew up and a smoker started yet another fire but fortunately the fire brigade, located one block away, was quickly on the scene.

Since then, things have settled down and Teresa’s cooking skills are the new hot topic of conversation. Her culinary skills in the kitchen are known far and wide, as is her catering arm, Red Hen Hospitality, based on good-old fashioned country hospitality with a passion for local produce.

Teresa cooks for functions within the Federal but is also happy to cook offsite – whatever it takes to help out with your next meeting or party with breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea provided on request.

Teresa has lived in many places and seen a lot of the world but since moving here 19 years ago to raise her family, admits that Temora has grown on her and she couldn’t imagine making a home anywhere else.

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The business plan was to have it paid off in 10 years before putting the Patchwork Inn B&B back on the market. The “for sale” sign went up out front on September 11 – 10 years, less one day to be exact.

With 16 individual rooms and 32 beds, there is enough room to sleep about 38 people. Shared bathroom facilities are adequately spread throughout the building to accommodate large numbers when required.

“Travelling has been put on hold until the kids are more independent but Temora remains my home forever,” she says. “One of the great benefits of being here is that I meet people from all over the world and often feel that I’m still travelling.”

Included in the tariff is a magnificent farm-fresh cooked breakfast. Rooms are available from $60 a night per room for a single with a queen-size bed or up to four in a room for $120. Cheaper options are available for longer stays.

Husband Paul works part-time at a feedlot, grows pine nuts and helps out at the old pub, as does son Kip and older daughters Molly and Tilly.

Teresa says the family business is going from strength to strength as more people learn about her unique accommodation arrangement.

Downstairs from the Patchwork Inn B&B is the Southwest Slopes Credit Union, a gift shop, KaMarley & Me and the Coffee Bar on Hoskins. All under one convenient roof and ready to make your stay in Temora just that little bit more memorable. CWL

Until Maisy, the youngest of four, went to school, Teresa had never embraced social media but now suggests that Trip Advisor and Facebook have boosted her occupancy by at least 20 per cent.

Facing page: Teresa McCrone is in her element at the Patchwork Inn B&B. Above: The Patchwork Inn is the hidden gem inside the old Federal Hotel.

TEMORA CWL 61

A law unto HERSELF MEL GALLAGHER'S CAREER PATH HAS BEEN UNCONVENTIONAL, TO SAY THE LEAST.

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ot everyone falls into their dream job, just ask Temora’s Mel Gallagher. She left school at 15 and followed many career options before finally landing her ultimate gig as a lawyer.

In early 2014, she took over the reins at Granleese and Co, a law firm established by Graeme Granleese in the early 1980s.

In doing so, she fulfilled a goal she had held since childhood of following in the footsteps of her uncle, a lawyer in Inverell. She got there eventually, but it was a long and often winding road.

At 44 years of age, Mel says it’s relatively late to get into law but early to own your own practice.

“After three years here it’s been both challenging and exciting and everything I dreamt it would be,” she says. “If you put your mind to something you can do it but you have to work really hard to get there.

There are certain sacrifices you have to make to attain your goals, but in the end it’s worth it.”

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Her school days at Beverly Hills Girls High in Peakhurst, by her own admission, were not the greatest.

“It was a rugged battle to keep me at school on a daily basis,” she says candidly. “At times I would need to be physically restrained by the teachers when dropped off for school so I wouldn’t run home.”

With a strong resolve to leave the NSW education system as soon as possible – and forfeit any chance of becoming a lawyer - Mel left after Year 10 to attend secretarial business college before commencing work in a Sydney finance firm.

After 10 years in a number of different companies, including Macquarie Bank and law firm Clayton Utz, she decided to give education another go.

Admittedly, the decision was made on a long flight home from London.

“After sitting for a special entrance exam as a mature-age student, I found out I was accepted and could pick any uni I wanted. It was a shock and a thrill at the same time,” she says.

TEMORA Her life was turned upside down as she studied psychology for the next four years, finishing with a Bachelor of Arts, which led to work as a research psychologist at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University.

“The thing about psychology,” she sighs, “is that I really wanted to understand myself better, although I’ve always been fascinated by people and how they perceive the world.”

Although she made the most of her new career, Mel’s thoughts kept going back to her first passion of law.

In 2002, she applied and was accepted to law school. A year later she commenced studies, and like last time, diligently worked a number of jobs to help get her through another degree.

Four years later she undertook her first practical training with Patrick O’Kane in West Wyalong.

“As I was working full time, I needed to do my prac in two blocks and was fortunate that Pat was able to accommodate this,” she says. In 2008 she completed her final block and was admitted as a solicitor.

“I always had a desire to live in the bush, fuelled by many years of holidays to Mum’s home town of Inverell. Following my admission I contacted Pat via email to see if he knew of any solicitors looking for graduates,” she recalls.

“It felt like five minutes after sending the email that Pat was on the phone offering me a job. In late 2008 I packed up my life in Sydney and relocated to West Wyalong. I loved living there - the people are amazing and I made lifelong friends.”

While there Mel was able to tick at least one item off her bucket list - to live in a farm house, which she did for a few years until an opportunity arose with Granleese & Co in 2014.

Mel first experienced Temora’s charms while visiting her sister, a captain in the Salvation Army, which led to her travelling with various Salvation Army choirs around the world. She has sung in places like the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Rachmaninoff Hall in Moscow and on the streets of Zimbabwe.

Mel commenced formal opera training in 1994 with a private teacher and during her time with the West Wyalong Dramatic Society appeared in two of their stage shows - Leader of the Pack (as Ellie Greenwich) and The Addams Family Musical (as Wednesday Addams).

In her new digs she has stretched the vocal chords at a number of club events and with the Temora Shire Carol Service. She sings in Italian and French and, fittingly, her favourite song is I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.

But it is in law that she really shines. After eight years in study mode – not bad for a girl who despised school – she is in her element at Granleese & Co, where she covers litigation and court work, family law, conveyancing, wills, estates, commercial law and legal aid.

There are now three solicitors, a secretary, conveyancer, junior clerk and an accounts manager working from the former Commercial Bank building.

“I feel honoured and blessed to be able to serve the community through my law firm,” she says. “I love this town so much that I convinced my parents to relocate here in 2015.”

Mel admits she was bored at school and was keen to enter the workforce.

“I took a harder path to achieve my dream but it has given me a greater insight into how the world works and turned me into the person I am today,” she says.

“Psychology and law have several things in common. You are dealing with people at their worst and supporting them through often difficult times. My understanding of psychology helps me practise law and gives me a greater understanding of people’s reactions and decision-making processes.”

Mel is the second owner in the business and if all goes well, hopes to have another good 20 years at the helm.

To cap it all off, she has invested in a stunning apartment across the road where she can relax and reflect on a life that seems to improve every day. CWL

Facing page: Paula Gilchrist, Megan Evans, Billie-Jo McShane, Darryl Wilson and Mel Gallagher are the committed Granleese & Co team.

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Pellow TALK

CRAIG AND BEV PELLOW KNOW TEMORA AND ITS PEOPLE LIKE THE BACK OF THEIR HANDS.

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edicated stock and station agent Craig Pellow prides himself on his intimate knowledge of the local market, a great advantage when dealing with his many and varied clients.

Since opening the doors of Ray White Rural in Temora six years ago, he and wife Bev are building a reputation as the leading real estate and livestock agency in the region.

Born and raised in the country, Craig believes in being open and honest in his dealings, from introduction through to the close of a sale. Over many years, this approach has gained him the mutual respect and trust of many clients.

He brings plenty of first-hand knowledge to the agency table, particularly in the sheep department. In his early years Craig worked on his parents’ farm, “The Bungalow”, Temora, jackerooed nearby on the Robinson family’s “Lone Pine” and helped run livestock enterprises with his uncle on “Glen Lee”.

Never afraid of a challenge or trying something new, Craig learnt to mules sheep while still at school – a skill that would form the basis of what later became a large livestock contracting business.

Introducing mobile crutching and dipping to southern NSW, the business serviced clients from western NSW through to the Eastern Tablelands, handling more than 500,000 sheep a year.

So extensive is his network of contacts that many sales aren’t even advertised, but negotiated directly between himself, the vendor and buyer. Only someone with Craig’s experience, approach and genuine understanding could inspire that kind of trust.

By his late 30s, however, Craig felt it was time for a new direction, cutting his teeth in the agency game with Elders, Cootamundra. Craig soon built up a substantial agency portfolio, many clients coming from his livestock contracting business.

Satisfied clients commonly cite his finely tuned negotiating skills as the key to the successful sale or purchase of their livestock or properties.

Craig admits it’s the smaller details that often make all the difference.

Seven years later, armed with his stock and station agent’s licence, he embraced the challenge of working for commission and returned home to Temora to join Landmark. So happy were his clients with Craig’s service and ability to make them a dollar, that all of his clients came with him to Landmark.

When pressed to explain his exceptional track record of delivering results for his clients, Craig puts it down to effective communication, client trust, knowledge of his clients, an understanding of their business and the ability to motivate buyers and sellers.

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Growing tired of working for big corporations, it was finally time to call in the support of Bev and go for broke.

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“I rang Charlie Maher, the national sales manager for Ray White, and struck a deal to start a Ray White Real Estate & Livestock franchise in late 2010,” he says. “Ray White management said there were no boundaries; just keep our good name.”

Since then, the Pellows have established new branches in Narrandera and Boorowa, always starting with optimism and a simple determination to do their best.

Having different outlets and covering all areas of real estate and livestock enables them to value-add their business while reducing risk, thanks to the varying climatic regions and markets.

As livestock agents, the team quietly go about their business, be it selling at Tattykeel, Oberon on sale day, running clearing sales or attending the weekly sales at Wagga and Yass saleyards.

Staff numbers have climbed. Bev places immense value on the customer service experience, treating every client with the attitude that they will be a repeat customer.

From behind the scenes, she provides an experienced perspective on small business, management and looking after people. Her simple business philosophy is “Do what you say you are going to do”.

With 35 years’ nursing experience, much of it in management and teaching, Bev readily admits her former career has many parallels to her work today.

“Nursing covers a multitude of skills, but at the end of the day you are still managing people, helping clients and building relationships,” she says.

Then there is family. Eldest son Thomas, 28, works on a property in Harden; Andrew, 26, is in residential sales at the Narrandera office; Courtney, 23, is almost at the end of her nursing degree; and Lachlan, 19, has completed a civil construction traineeship with the Temora Shire.

The family is heavily involved with the local AFL club, the Temora Kangaroos. Lachlan plays and assists with coaching. > TEMORA CWL 65

The Pellows recognise the importance of working together and giving back in a small community. Among their favourite charities are the Burrumbuttock Hay Run and Bale Out Ball, each a success because of team and family involvement.

This fun-loving couple really shine when they are promoting their community of Temora. They are first to admit they are totally biased and think it’s is the best place to live.

For the past five years they have been integral in the town’s outstanding reputation and success at Regional Living Expo. Every August they take their team to Sydney Showground to showcase Temora to city dwellers looking to escape.

“We found Steffen Toppich, our property manager, at Expo,” Bev says.

“We always do our bit to promote the town and love helping families relocate here.”

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Never ones to rest on their laurels, the Pellows are always looking for avenues to expand and improve their business. “Technology in particular is changing the business environment more rapidly than ever before. We need a business structure that can respond quickly in the best interests of our clients and be at the forefront of the industry” Craig says. “Bev and I with the backing of our team are confident that the best way forward for our business as a whole currently lies outside the Ray White franchise.”

Now known as Quality Property and Livestock, Craig, Bev and the team are excited about the possibilities for the new-look business.

“You will see a change in name and branding but it will be the same team continuing to provide great customer service to our rural communities,” Craig says.” CWL Above: Craig Pellow, Jason Haines, Brad Pellow and Ken Sutherland..

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The good life THIS MODERN COUNTRY DWELLING REFLECTS ROBERT AND BARBARA MEACHAM'S STRONG CONNECTION TO THE LAND. 68 CWL TEMORA

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obert started farming with his father, also called Robert, on “Malinyook” in the late 1950s. In 1968, with a new bride by his side, he purchased “Uanbar”, Morangarell, about half an hour from Temora, and settled down to raise their family of four children.

“They were 14-hour days from 4.30am until about 6.30pm. You couldn’t get away but it was a good time, as supermarkets hadn’t yet encroached on our market share.”

After 16 years of ploughing paddocks, growing crops and running sheep, the Meachams changed direction and bought a Queanbeyan newsagency.

In 1991 they returned to Temora where Robert became a bus driver for the next 15 years, delivering hundreds of young students from around the district to and from school.

“It was frantic and proved a quick, steep learning curve,” laughs Robert, known to his many friends as Meach.

After retiring in 2006 it was time to tackle the ultimate goal: building their retirement home. > TEMORA CWL 69

On the ground level is a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area and a well-thought-out master bedroom.

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Robert always had a firm idea of what he wanted, and with an encouraging word from Barbara, draftsman Joanne Jones and builder Greg Reardon, the two-storey structure soon had neighbours scratching their heads in awe.

At the back of the house is a barbecue/entertaining area, popular on cold winter mornings (it faces north and gets all the morning sun) and balmy summer evenings.

The home features low-maintenance Colorbond walls and a stunning curved roof. On the ground level is a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area and a well-thought-out master bedroom.

Further on is the matching Colorbond garage, with a curved roof, similar to the house. Solar panels on the roof supplement their power supply.

The kitchen area has a large pantry, complete with fridge, freezer and all their white goods. It’s handy for stashing away kitchenware when guests arrive.

Upstairs are two bedrooms with a shared en suite, for family and visiting guests. On the wall are dozens of framed family portraits spanning six generations on both sides of the family.

Robert’s grandfather first took up land in the district in 1894, accompanied by his mother and 11 siblings, some of whom went on to take up land in the Temora and West Wyalong districts.

Barbara was raised on “Lone Pine”, which is still in the Robinson family.

Their children’s lives are well documented in photos. There is Andrew, a recently retired colonel in the Australian Army; Stuart, a cropdusting pilot in Moree; and Sarah Yeo, a Bluescope Steel IT executive in Wollongong. Their son Craig, a plumber, was tragically killed in a motorbike accident in 2000.

There are no lawns to mow, resulting in a low maintenance garden, featuring plenty of greens.

“We find it a most convenient home to live in,” says Barbara, who loves her tapestries (mostly depictions of rural scenes from Tom Roberts’s paintings), and spending time with her friends and eight grandchildren.

Robert spends a lot of time on his computer, studying his investments and planning holiday destinations.

They don’t tow a caravan, preferring bus trips to places like Kakadu, the Kimberley, Cape York, the Flinders Ranges and Margaret River.

In 2015 Barbara visited London and Paris with daughter Sarah and granddaughter Kayla on a special “girls-only” trip.

With 52 years of marriage under their belt and a lifetime of wonderful memories, it’s little wonder the Meachams love coming home. CWL Above: Robert’s maternal grandparents arrived in Temora in a covered wagon in 1907.

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DREAM RUN EASY-GOING COUNTRY MUSIC ENTERTAINER CRAIG GILES IS ONE OF TEMORA’S TRUE-BLUE AMBASSADORS, WITH A STRING OF HIT SINGLES AND ACCOLADES TO HIS NAME.

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nown by media and fans alike as “Mr Versatile”, owing to his immense and varied repertoire of songs, Craig Giles is one performer truly living the dream.

As he travels with his guitar across three continents, this proud Temora-born local always spruiks the town that he and his family share a long and colourful history with.

Two of his great-grandfathers arrived in Temora back in the early 1880s, with Andrew Giles setting up a blacksmiths shop and Hugh Thomas opening a tailoring business.

Andrew joined the local fire brigade and in 1891 became a member of Temora’s first council. He was elected mayor in 1908 but sadly died a year later. His four sons, Andrew Jnr, Jack, Bill and George (Craig’s grandfather) established Giles Brothers in 1920, building coaches before progressing to automobiles a decade later. In 1933 they began a long association with the Ford Motor Company.

It was in this family environment that third-generation Craig worked for more than a decade as a panel beater/spray painter, alongside his father and uncle. While plying his trade, however, he dreamt of a very different career.

His grandfather, George Giles, was a well-known musician in town during the 1920s (he sang, played trumpet and mandolin), and he and his orchestra played at country halls throughout the shire.

Having been brought up with a healthy dose of live music, it was only natural that Craig started dabbling with local bands in the 1970s. He even made a few early recordings while still panel beating – a significant effort for a fellow who suffered chronic asthma as a child.

But the best was yet to come. A romance blossomed with Roz, the girl next door, who gently encouraged him to follow his heart. In 1986, Craig took time off from work to pursue his music, promising to return within a year.

While visiting family near Victoria, however, Roz secured a singing engagement that was the beginning of a professional career, which is still going strong 30 years later.

In the early days he toured with Ray and Lee Kernaghan, while appearing regularly on regional morning television shows. Over the years he has produced a string of successful albums and hit singles to complement his endless awards and accolades.

It wasn’t long before Craig was flying solo as an independent artist.

When he and Roz are not criss-crossing our wide brown land they head overseas to host popular overseas music tours.

For the past five years Craig has hosted a music tour of America’s Deep South, where he performs an Elvis tribute in Mississippi, guest spots at Al Green’s Tabernacle Church in Memphis and a Johnny Cash tribute in Chattanooga.

In 2017 he is hosting a music tour of Canada and Alaska along with his sixth tour of America’s Deep South. Despite the gruelling touring schedule, Craig managed to record his 15th album, Living The Dream in 2016.

There seems to be no sign of slowing down for this popular artist, who is known to captivate his audience with his spontaneous performances.

Temora has always remained close to his heart, which is why he and Roz relocated there in 2011 after 25 years in Finley. They wanted to be closer to family and to become part of the town’s well-documented strong community spirit.

“It’s an amazing and robust town where the townspeople are incredibly proud of their history while embracing the future. The folk here work very hard in ensuring the town’s survival,” he says proudly.

His love of the town was apparent when he recorded the Temora Centenary Song for the town’s centenary in 1980. Craig always endeavours to be home for the town’s Australia Day Celebrations, and the annual Seniors Day at the Temora Ex-Services Club always sees a capacity crowd of locals and folks from visiting retirement villages and nursing homes.

“Temora always supported our family business, Giles Bros, and when I decided to pursue my music career, the town was behind me all the way.

Now I enjoy giving a bit back by promoting this wonderful town and it’s friendly people wherever I travel,” Craig says.

He is quick to point out he couldn’t have achieved such longevity in the business without the unbridled support and enthusiasm of Roz, who runs Big River Entertainment, co-ordinating festivals and music events across the country.

Roz launched the Temora Country Music Festival in 2013 with the aim of attracting more visitors to the town. It has gone from strength to strength, and Temora’s fifth consecutive festival will be held in November 2017.

It’s all rather fitting, as Temora has always had strong family ties for not just Craig but also his wife, whose grandfather, Ray Keen, owned and operated the Sunshine Dairy through the 1920s and 1930s before relocating his family to the South Coast.

Giles Brothers changed hands in 1993 and today operates as Southwest Ford. It is, however, still the place where a former panel beater dropped tools to forge a new career that’s taken him all over the world.

“The best reward is still making music and travelling after all these years,” Craig says. “Doing it with someone you love is even more amazing.” CWL Facing page: Craig and Roz Giles promote Temora everywhere they go.

Above:.Craig Giles is a gifted performer; the family business in the last years of the 19th century; until 1986, Craig was a panel beater at Giles Brothers before switching careers.

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Top gun gets the GOOD OIL TEMORA GOLDEN GIRL CLARE FLAKELAR LIKES TO TAKE CONTROL – EITHER AT 5000 FEET UP OR WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE GROUND.

Undeterred, she continued to pursue her flying dream. Her determination was rewarded with a Giving Young Flyers Training Support scholarship, and Clare was soon flying high.

She gained her recreational pilot's licence in 2011 and has since logged more than 100 hours in the air.

“After finishing school at Temora High School I had a vested interest in agriculture and farming, even though my parents were school teachers,” says the 26-year-old from the museum hangar.

Clare took up an early entry offer to Charles Sturt University in Wagga and began a nutrition and dietetics degree before switching to a Bachelor of Science, which she completed in 2012.

Following her degree, she took up a scholarship and commenced honours in Analytical Chemistry, which led into a PhD. “Being born and raised in Temora, a town well-recognised for its strong agricultural base, and working with Graincorp during harvest, I naturally focused my research on canola seed and oil,” she says.

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he’s a young woman on the move, but she will never forget how it all started out for her in Temora growing up near the airport.

By the time she turned 15, and already accustomed to the sight and sound of aircraft flying overhead, Clare was helping with catering duties at the Temora Aviation Museum, feeding VIPs, pilots, staff and crew on their flying weekends.

“My PhD research has progressed on from this and involves investigating ways we can improve canola seed and oil quality and provide possible premiums for Australian canola growers and canola oil processors.”

Clare has travelled to the US, Canada and interstate to present her research to academics, oil chemists, industry and the public.

Among her career highlights is speaking at the 2015 Australian Oilseeds Federation AGM in Melbourne.

Clare’s many conversations with pilots were soon fuelling her own imagination.

“It was very challenging,” she says. “I was asked to present my research and what the research could do for them. I flashed up some figures and had a big reaction, and from that developed a number of partnerships with Australian oil seed processors.”

She applied to join the Australian Defence Force Academy as a pilot but was unsuccessful in gaining admission.

Speaking overseas was another milestone.

Clare addressed a much older, mostly male audience at the International Rapeseed

She later worked in a variety of jobs there - as a gardener, on ticket sales, washing windows, in the gift shop. It was almost like a second home.

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Congress in Canada and the American Oil Chemists Society’s annual conference in Utah in May last year.

“Speaking to a large research base in Salt Lake City was amazing,” she says. “It’s certainly one of the most intriguing cities I’ve ever visited.”

Clare says 90 per cent of our canola seed is exported, mostly to India and China.

“We have the potential and capacity to hold some of the seed and generate more oil in Australia.”

There’s plenty of study, research and now teaching involved, but Clare thrives on her punishing schedule.

“Being female and young can be challenging,” she smiles. “Seventy five per cent of the students in some of my classes are older than me and mostly male. You have to know your material and need to earn their respect.

“I work very hard because of this and thankfully the majority of students are receptive.”

Clare says she will always maintain close ties with Temora and the shire, thanks to her flying, family and friends, the “Museum family” and triathlons at Lake Centenary.

“Temora is more than just a place. It’s a family-oriented community and everyone is close. Temora will always be home, no matter where I live.”

Her advice to youngsters entering the workforce is to be flexible.

“Don’t be afraid to say yes to opportunities. If something doesn’t work out, other chances always come along,” she says.

Which is why, at the time of writing, she is about to leave for Brisbane - following her path and making her own opportunities. Stay tuned to hear more from this driven young woman in the future. CWL Above: Clare Flakelar leads a very full life but always has time for the Temora Aviation Museum.

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FLOUR POWER

TEMORA’S ROUNDABOUT BAKERY HAS BEEN SERVING UP BREAD, PASTIES AND DELICIOUS PIES TEMORA GIRL CLARE FLAKELAR LIKES TO TAKE FOR 16GOLDEN YEARS, EVERY DAY, RAIN OR SHINE. CONTROL - EITHER AT 5,000 FEET UP OR WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE GROUND.

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edicated owners Gary and Anne Hartwig started their business in 2001 after converting an old mechanical shop into the bakery it is today.

Anne says they are pretty sure the place was also a bakery more than a century ago.

Gary, a chef by trade, moved away from Temora to achieve his qualifications before returning home a few years later.

The family opened Gazzanne’s Pizza shop, which they operated for seven years (and is still an ongoing concern), before deciding to get into the dough.

Over the years, the enterprising pair opened branches in West Wyalong and Forbes, employing about 30 staff, including 18 in Temora.

“It’s a lot of hard work and long hours,” Gary says. “When we started we virtually lived here but it does get easier the longer we go.”

They have four sons but there is not a baker among them.

Sam, 22, is studying economics at ANU in Canberra; Charlie, 20, is in America playing golf on a college scholarship while studying sports science; Will, 18, is enjoying a gap year in Ireland; while Hunter, 14, is still at school in St Anne’s Central School, Temora.

“We’re not disappointed they haven’t followed in our footsteps,” Anne says. “They all know the long and crazy hours involved.

“We told them all to work very hard at school, so they didn’t have to go through what we did! We certainly have no regrets and love feeling part of three wonderful country communities.”

All three bakeries support various local sporting clubs and are always generous with fund-raising.

“It’s important to give back to those communities that support us,” Gary says.

The dedication of their staff, they say, is the key to their success.

“We have got where we are because of our wonderful staff that help us run the bakery and two outlets. Without their dedication and team work it just wouldn’t happen.”

Baking takes place most mornings at 1am, making 100 trays of pies and 300 loaves of bread.

They are trucked out every morning, seven days a week, to West Wyalong and Forbes. The truck leaves Temora between 2.30 and 3am and arrives fresh before the stores open for business.

Fresh bread and pies are available seven days of the week, with a 5.30am start in Temora for early workers. CWL

Hoskins St, Temora, Ph: (02) 6978 0020 Main St, West Wyalong, Ph: (02) 6972 1777

Above: Gary Hartwig loves feeling part of the local community; Steffi Haynes, Sue Chalal and Karen Bushell in the Temora Roundabout Bakery.

Sherriff St, Forbes, Ph: (02) 6852 3257

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TEMORA

HOSTS with the MOST GARRY COCKS AND HIS PARTNER JONE PAVELIC LIVED VERY DIFFERENT LIVES BEFORE TEAMING UP TO LAUNCH THEIR LATEST TEMORA BUSINESS, COURTHOUSE COTTAGE B&B.

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arry and his twin sister were born in Sydney at the end of WW2. His family had a beach house in Terrigal for 50 years, which helps explain his deep love of the sea and barefoot water skiing.

It was only natural he landed a job in sales with P&O Cruising in 1961, where he spent 26 years, including the last eight as national sales manager.

“It was a dream job that enabled me to see the world, particularly the Pacific,” he says from his new abode. “These days, ocean liners are five times the size and carry many more thousands of passengers.”

After leaving P&O, Garry held several roles in the travel industry before venturing into advertising. During the next 17 years, he worked for a number of large companies, the last being Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited, where he sold advertising space for its 23 Sydney newspapers until retirement in mid 2012. >

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By contrast, Jone was born in Temora and grew up on a farm in the Narraburra district.

She lived in Temora for 37 years and worked for a local legal firm for nearly 20 years before moving to the NSW Central Coast to manage a large mobile home village with about 250 permanent residents.

It was on the Central Coast that Garry and Jone met and subsequently went on to start a new life together in Sydney. Over the next 17 years the pair regularly travelled to Temora to catch up with Jone’s family and friends.

By this stage, Jone had become accustomed to the city lifestyle, with the opportunity to work for a variety of companies and industries. She was unsure if she could ever return to live in her hometown but with Garry’s retirement looming, it was time to make some serious decisions.

“I thought Temora was too hot, too cold, too dusty, had too many flies and was way too slow,” she laughs. However, as they both have small families, they finally conceded that Temora was indeed the most logical place for them to settle.

Not surprisingly, the “sea-change” to “tree-change” was a decision they’ve never regretted. In 2013 they purchased the existing Courthouse Cottage B&B in DeBoos Street but closed its doors while undertaking a major renovation, including a fabulous new extension at the back of the home.

“We’ve been operating now for 18 months and have met some truly wonderful people who come for the air shows, weddings and family functions.”

After six months they agreed to re-open the B&B, and kept the original Courthouse Cottage name. It’s a perfect arrangement and guests are raving about the beautifully appointed rooms, both with en suites, privacy and quietness.

“We’ve been operating now for 18 months and have met some truly wonderful people who come for the air shows, weddings and family functions,” Jone says. “It’s also a popular halfway destination between Sydney and Melbourne.”

Being very aware of the need to be part of a small community, Jone has ploughed herself into the local community and is currently the president of the Temora Show Society, vicepresident of the Quota Club, chair of Council’s Promotions and Visitations Committee and on the board of the Temora District Education Fund.

These days Garry has taken up lawn bowls, perhaps in a bid to demonstrate to his brother, a former Wallaby, that sporting prowess really does run in the family.

His other great passion is running the thriving B&B business with Jone. Garry is the ideal “meet and greet” man, even buying guests their favourite bread (be it white, brown, sourdough or full grain) and milk (ranging from lite milk, full cream, lactose and even goat’s milk).

There’s never a dull moment at Courthouse Cottage, which is why a visit is almost mandatory. CWL Garry and Jone enjoy a well-earned glass of wine in their beautifully renovated B&B.

COURTHOUSE COTTAGE B&B

Courthouse Cottage is one of a kind as it is the only Federation Home accommodation offering luxury bed and breakfast in the heart of Temora

158 DeBoos St Temora P: 02 6978 1911 courthousecottagebandb@gmail.com

www.courthousecottage.com.au 78 CWL TEMORA

TEMORA

Treat YOURSELF D

eb’s Jewellery, Temora, provides the region’s finest and most sought-after jewellery range, establishing a reputation for excellence in style, design and customer service.

It was a dream start for owner Deb Davidge, who, after school, spent three years at a local jeweller learning invaluable lessons like watch repairs, engraving, self discipline, motivation and connecting with clients.

In mid 1990 the idea was born to go it alone and by year’s end Deb’s Jewellery was up and running.

“I was running my own business by age 21 but I think it was in my DNA. My father, Brian Hartwig, was in retail menswear for 48 years and was a great sounding board for my business,” she says.

Deb is still going strong 26 years on and is still as enthusiastic. Since venturing out on her own, she’s met some amazing people, including a business mentor she still works with.

She is also a patron and deputy chairman of TBEG (Temora Business Enterprise Group) and adheres to her own business philosophy.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

Most importantly, enjoy what you do. I don’t dwell on the past and am always moving forward. I seriously love what I do and enjoy working with a supportive team every day in beautiful surroundings,” she says.

“There is a really special feel when you walk into our shop,” Deb says.

“People often ask me what the one thing is that makes it that way. I know for sure it’s never one thing but many different components: presentation of the business, our in-store team providing great customer service and attention to detail.”

Deb (centre) with staff members Babette and Janette.

Deb loves the challenge of new ideas and embraces them wholeheartedly, with a webpage and Facebook site up and running.

“This connection between our team and our clients is paramount in how we continue to grow our business. I believe you need support from your team, the community we live in, as well as our online community.”

Deb admits her greatest passion or what she calls her “Five Star Experience” is building a distinctive jewellery piece from scratch and pulling it all together – the diamonds, the precious coloured stones and the metal. Nothing, she insists, beats the feeling of that journey with her clients.

Deb and the team are very excited to launch their latest product: My Dream Ring, a comprehensive collection of engagement rings, cocktail rings, wedding rings and right-hand rings.

All rings have been designed with the consumer in mind, attention to detail and longevity of each piece a priority.

“With so many different designs and gold colour combinations, we can build this from the ground up, with the stone of your choice, be it diamond or coloured or maybe our client has their own stone. The choices are limitless.”

Deb says jewellery is special, beautiful, and above all, personal.

“Whether it is being given for a birthday, engagement, wedding, graduation, anniversary/special life event or something just for you, jewellery is designed to speak for itself, when you don’t have the words.”

Her team is committed to being at the forefront of current fashion trends, supplying a range of fashion jewellery, handbags and scarves along with a fine collection of Australian and international exclusive brands.

“Deb’s Jewellery is an Aladdin’s cave of jewellery and fashion,” she says.

“And I look forward to the years ahead and the changes to come.”

Paleface Arcade, 242 Hoskins St Temora, New South Wales (02) 6977 4122 info@debsjewellery.com

www.debsjewellery.com

So spoil yourself with a visit to “the country store with a city chic feel” to ensure your next jewellery piece is as unique and stylish as you. CWL TEMORA CWL 79

GOLDEN BOY

SCOTT REARDON IS A COUNTRY BOY WITH WORLD-CLASS SPEED AND DETERMINATION.

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emora boasts many fine sporting exports – NRL stars, a three-time Hawthorn premiership player and a world champion triathlete.

There’s even a statue of legendary pacer Pale Face Adios adorning the main street.

Now there are new bragging rights, with Paralympic gold medallist and former water-skiing world champion Scott Reardon, who secured gold in the recent Rio Paralympics T42 100 metre finals.

“This year there were five sprinters that beat the winning time in London, which was insane,” Scott says from his base in Canberra.

“I had to step it up and take it to another level. Fortunately, when I’ve needed to run fast my coach has always been able to make me run fast.”

Scott admits he was “extremely relieved” after the finals. “It was pretty messy, to be totally honest. I kind of fell apart through the middle section of the race, which is normally my strong point.

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“At the end of the day, however, it doesn’t really matter how I got there.

Talk to any golfer, they don’t tell you how they hit them, they only tell you the score.”

With all these sporting stars from the region, one would be forgiven thinking there might be something in the water but Scott has a different explanation.

“Temora has always had a strong sporting community. When there’s not a lot else to do except play sport, I guess you play sport,” he laughs.

“My uncle (Steve Reardon) played football in the NRL, so it was always something that was there and always something I tried to achieve myself. Excellence is kind of bred into the town.”

Scott’s dream run in Rio was seven years in the making. Up on the dais, a million thoughts swirled through his head, including his support team half a world away, more specifically, his parents Peter and Carol Reardon, who run a mixed farming enterprise at “Inglewood”, Temora.

TEMORA

It was there in 2002 that a freak accident changed his life. In a moment of unimaginable horror, the 12-year-old’s shoelace became entangled in the tractor's power take-off shaft and severed his right leg. Scott was 2.5km down the back paddock and 35km from the nearest hospital.

“My initial thought was, ‘Well, there goes his footy, athletics and many other things he loves to do’,” says Carol, one of his most devoted fans.

“But I found strength in knowing he was young, positive and fit. These attributes were all on his side.”

After sitting with her son in the emergency ward for what seemed like an eternity, she finally got the dreaded question: “Have I lost my leg?”

Fighting back tears, she replied: “Yes, mate, it’s gone.”

“Scott was silent for a moment, and in great thought replied: ‘Oh well, Mum, you can’t go backwards, you have to go forward’,” she recalls, like it was yesterday.

“From that moment on, I knew he was going to be OK, and that he was going to help us through this – more than the other way around.”

Scott was in hospital for nearly one month before returning home.

“I fractured my femur in the accident and had to wait another month before I was fitted with my first prosthetic,” Scott says.

A fortnight later he was mobile, surprising medical staff with his gritty determination.

“Six months after the accident, we went on a water skiing holiday, as skiing was a big part of our life and something we loved doing as a family,” Carol says. Scott decided to give it a go for the first time since his accident.

“After long periods of waiting, all of a sudden the clock said 12.56am,” says Carol, reliving the moment. “My nerves started growing as the field prepared for the second heat of the T42 100 metres.

“Scott had a great start, looking controlled and running his own race.

He eased over the finish line in first place, breaking the Paralympic record. We both breathed a huge sigh of relief. He had made it into the final as the fastest qualifier.

“Just over 24 hours later we were all glued to the TV set once again. He is focused, my heart’s beating fast, they’re off, 12.26 seconds goes so fast, it’s hard to take it all in. I think I forgot to breathe. He’s over, it’s gold! Yes, gold for Australia! He’s done it!”

Carol was an emotional wreck. “There really were no words to express my feelings the moment he crossed that finish line – uncontrollable tears, relief, pride, joy – the ultimate goal,” she says, still on cloud nine.

“After the final, the phone started ringing off the hook. I still couldn’t talk with the tears still flowing freely. Our son has done it, the fastest paralympian in the world.”

Back home, Temora Mayor Rick Firman OAM said the community was extremely proud of Scott’s track record. “To represent Australia at yet another Paralympic Games is indeed an honour. To win gold, however, is something very rare and special.

“We all know Scott and his family. They’re kind, decent and hard-working people. With the loving support of his family, one of our own has turned adversity into triumph – and all of us in the Temora Shire couldn’t be more proud of our Golden Boy.”

“After about three attempts, he was up on his left leg. Lucky the sunnies were on, because everyone that was standing on the bank along side of me had a tear or two in their eye.”

Council hosted a special mayoral reception for Scott during a lightning visit home before returning to Canberra, where he is studying to become a design and technology teacher. He also works as a motivational speaker and enjoys golf and photography.

One thing led to another, and Scott competed in the 2005 World WaterSkiing Championship in Belgium. From there he competed in two more world championships in Townsville and France, winning three gold, four silver and a bronze.

“In the end people may forget about what you did or what you said, but people will never forget how you make them feel,” Scott says. “I am proud to be a country boy, as it made me who I am. I will never forget where I come from.”

In 2008 he clinched the NSW able-bodied water-skiing title, becoming the first person with a disability to do so. One of his prizes was a TV, from which he watched the Aussies compete in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Out of the blue, Scott boldly declared to his parents he was going to run in the next London games.

There are some good lessons in life to be learnt from Scott’s experience.

A few months later he was at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, getting fitted for a running leg and meeting new coach Iryna Dvoskina. Under her guidance he quickly developed into a world-class athlete.

“I set out on a journey to become the best at what I do. I have owned every record possible for the 100m and won everything there is to win, so what keeps me going?

Peter and Carol were there to watch him compete in London. “As we sat in the stadium waiting to see our son on the world stage for the first time in athletics, the tears rolled freely down my face,” Carol says. “I thought our boy had reached his ultimate goal and was living the dream.”

“The path we walk, we do by choice. The choices we’ve made in the past shape the present. It’s up to us to shape the path we continue on.

Sometimes failure or adversity is the best thing. It made me stronger and helped me be a better athlete and a person.

“Primarily, to push my race into the future, to take it beyond what people thought possible for people with my disability, to run 100 metres in 11 seconds. It also gives me a unique opportunity to inspire and encourage others to live a life with positivity and happiness.”

Scott raced in the 200m before picking up silver in the 100m T42, with only .03 seconds splitting first and second place.

This likeable Temora athlete is living proof that dreams can come true if you are prepared to do the hard yards, overcome obstacles and believe with all your heart. CWL

Four years later he was in Rio but this time his anxious parents looked on from their television sets at home, as 26-year-old Scott lined up for the race of his life.

Above: Scott receives a hero’s welcome to Temora after his Rio Olympic gold medal win.

Images courtesy of the Temora Independent

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SMASH HIT TEMORA IS MAKING A SENSATIONAL TENNIS COMEBACK.

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he good folk in these parts have always loved their sport and produced many champions over the years.

When Paul New was growing up in the 1980s, tennis was at the height of its popularity, but somehow during the past decade, the sport lost its appeal.

A primary school teacher by day, Paul brings a personal touch to the club after 15 years in Sydney hospitality, including a year of travelling from his base in London.

Paul, a gifted tennis coach, moved his young family, including wife Deirdre and children Jase, Kyla, Adelia and Joey, back to the bush four years ago, hoping to reverse the disturbing trend.

Paul is a big fan of the big serve and volley game, as displayed by some of the former greats like Pat Rafter and Stefan Edberg.

“Tennis Australia have put in some great management structures for local clubs to follow,” he says from the local clubhouse, which has 12 courts – six clay and six synthetic.

Today he is in the process of starting up new competitions, including a business house tennis competition involving 20 teams. Paul is also hoping to revive the club championships.

In a bid to get more players involved in the game, he’s even introduced new tennis formats, such as three a side, or triples.

Although initially a shock to the purists of the game, it soon caught on as a good way to socialise and get off the couch.

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His passion for tennis has seen him and Deirdre attend all four of the Grand Slam events – the Australian, Wimbledon, French and US Opens.

Of the modern era players, he likes the aggressive style of Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, although his temperament can be an issue.

There is nothing quite like watching a great game in progress, Paul says, where strong personalities and amazing talent come to the fore.

“For a lover of the sport, Wimbledon was the holy grail,” he says. “You feel the history and mystique of the place and can’t help but be impressed.”

The News had tickets for two days but unfortunately it rained, as is so often the case.

“We had to abandon our front-row seats to watch Mark Philippoussis but on the second day were thrilled to watch the fiery Lleyton Hewitt in action.”

One of the country’s greatest sporting legends must have made an impression. Nearly two years ago Paul organised a Sydney-based graffiti artist to paint a huge and very lifelike image of the former champion on the wall behind one of the courts.

“It inspires the young kids, who are known to yell out his famous catchcry of ‘C’mon’,” he says with a grin.

Today he has 75 children on the books, with a further 25 in Junee, aged from three to 12 years. Training sessions are held on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Some, like Temora’s Monique Lynch, have gone on to play at the top level. Monique reached number six in Australia, scored a wildcard into the 2010 Australian Open mixed doubles and now operates a tennis centre in Cronulla with her husband, also a former top player.

“She is one of the best to come out of here in recent times but there’s always hope of unearthing another champion here in Temora,” Paul beams. CWL Paul New stands in front of the imposing artwork of Lleyton Hewitt at the Temora Tennis Club.

TEMORA

WELL connected FEELING CROOK PUSHED ROSS MARSH INTO A MEANINGFUL CAREER THAT HAS KEPT HIM ON HIS TOES FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

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s a young man in the late 1950s, Ross Marsh suffered migraines and bronchitis, not to mention a painfully stiff neck. Work friends urged him to visit the local chiropractor in Dubbo, as all conventional approaches offered little or no relief. Ross’s mother, a midwife, totally opposed the idea, but in desperation he made the call.

After an examination and x-rays, followed by three or four adjustments, the pain in his neck cleared up. Much to his amazement, the migraines stopped and his breathing and overall health dramatically improved. This got Ross thinking. He rang the chiropractor to ask if it was just coincidence or did the dramatic changes in his health have anything to do with his treatment.

The chiropractor explained the connection between the nervous system, spine and function. He was informed that if the nervous system had an impediment-free expression, then the body had the best chance of functioning efficiently, leading to better health.

This concept so fascinated Ross that by 1964 he’d saved enough money to enrol in the Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa, USA, one of the few accredited universities in the world. After four years of study he received his chiropractic licence.

In the meantime, Ross Marsh, with the unfailing support of Carolyn, continues to bring hope and comfort to those suffering nagging backs, either through accident or something that’s been brewing for years. CWL Above: Ross and Carolyn Marsh have been helping people with back ailments and other conditions throughout the Riverina for more than 45 years.

Upon his return to Dubbo, Ross married local girl Carolyn Soane and in 1971 set up practice in Griffith. Shortly afterwards, a branch opened in Temora. Ross has been making weekly visits (on Wednesdays) ever since.

Over the past 45 years he’s made the 320km round trip more than 2000 times – in the early days from the comfort of a thumping V12 Jaguar.

The practice still provides care to residents throughout the Riverina, in Griffith, Temora and West Wyalong. Some years ago, Timothy Ellis assumed the role as principal while Ross continues to practise as an associate.

Over morning tea, Ross concedes his profession is often misunderstood.

Most people, he says, associate chiropractors with anybody who can typically fix a bad back. From his own experience, a chiropractor has far greater potential to help other conditions.

“For many, chiropractic care is part of a healthy lifestyle, along with regular exercise, good nutritious food and effective handling of life’s stress,” he says.

“It may have taken a long time for the nature of chiropractic work to be better understood, but throughout the world, millions of people today receive great relief, irrespective of the public understanding.”

YOUR LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR IN GRIFFITH, TEMORA AND WEST WYALONG, SERVICING THE RIVERINA FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

While he has spent a lifetime honing his skills, none of his children have followed in his footsteps. John teaches at TAFE in Sydney and is a frustrated movie maker, Ben is a Qantas pilot in Perth, while Alison, also in the west, is finishing her psychology degree.

“Most of my customers are farmers who come to me when the wheels fall off,” he says. “The body has amazing tolerances but it’s not generally a quick fix. Discs deteriorate and you can relieve them but not always fix them.”

Although there are plenty of physios and masseurs in Temora, Ross is the sole chiropractor. The spritely 76-year-old still has plenty to offer and only plans to retire after “a little intervention from the bloke upstairs”.

5 KOOBA ST, GRIFFITH NSW 164 HOSKINS STREET, TEMORA 41 CHURCH ST, WEST WYALONG

TIM ELLIS PRINCIPAL 02 6962 4264 WWW.RIVERINAFAMILYCHIROPRACTIC.COM.AU

TEMORA CWL 83

A LITTLE MORE

conversation

JOHN HARPER IS LEADING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY IN CONQUERING DEPRESSION.

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he fear of talking and discussing our mental well-being, either on an individual or community level, is impacting negatively on lives in the bush.

This is the sentiment of ex-shearer John Harper, who lives by the bush maxim “actions speak louder than words”.

“The irony here is the simplest action that may prevent suicide and minimise the negative effects of poor mental health is to talk about your emotions and feelings when struggling,” John says.

Married to Michelle and with three daughters, John enjoys country living on the family farm “Baltimore”, east of Temora. From here he roams across remote parts of rural Australia with his “Mate helping Mate” program, which addresses the problem of depression and suicide.

“Temora is such a caring and positive community that coming home builds my optimism for a brighter future and recharges my batteries for the next trip. I am definitely a product of my family and community,” John says.

He is convinced that many old country sayings and philosophies – “a problem shared is a problem halved” and “to help another is to help yourself” – reflect the strategies and principles used by our forebears to overcome adversity, like the challenge of opening up new farming land, prolonged droughts and financial woes.

“These strategies and philosophies got rural Australia successfully to where we are now and I’m confident that those same strategies work in the modern, ever-changing society we now live in,” John says.

Since personally experiencing depression, John has been active in promoting mental well-being and championing simple strategies to enhance suicide prevention in the bush.

In 2006 he established “Mate helping Mate”, a self-help program with the objective of motivating people to help others.

“Many individuals in rural communities are in danger of falling into depression,” he warns.

“Social, climatic and financial situations are providing the perfect conditions that promote poor mental well-being and depression.”

John believes isolation – the perception that nobody cares about you – is one of the main contributors to depression.

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“Isolation leaves us with self-doubt that brings us undone … it’s bloody dangerous,” he says.

“Having mates and promoting mateship appeals to many Australians and this type of relationship seems to overcome the stigma of mental health.”

John says mates must ask mates if they’re OK. “It’s understood that a mate truly cares about you and will do whatever is necessary to help out when the going is tough.”

John’s “Mate helping Mate” presentations go a step further in trying to highlight the networks of support and help available to all individuals and communities.

“Throughout Australia there are daily examples of mates helping out and making life better, happier for all,” John stresses. “Being happy and enjoying life is the opposite of depression and contemplating suicide.”

One organisation John has been involved with for several years is Bumper Farrell’s Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, delivering faith, hope and optimism, in the tangible form of hay, to communities in despair.

“For many of us country folk, actions do speak louder than words.” CWL John Harper is a farmer delivering a strong message to country men.

TEMORA

WAR STORIES

A total of 109 men enlisted from the Temora district to serve their country in WW1.

Twenty years later the unthinkable happened and the world was again plunged into a global conflict. This time, nearly one million Australians served in the armed forces, including 300 men from Temora. Sixty-two never returned. CWL dropped in on three of the town’s remaining WW2 veterans and found that while the years may have taken their toll, their indomitable spirit continues to soar.

Ray Cheney

R

ay Cheney was working in the Commonwealth Bank in Quandialla when Prime Minister Curtin conscripted him into the army soon after his 18th birthday.

Although Curtin, as leader during the 1939-45 conflict, was a strong opponent of conscription during WW1, he made the decision to send conscripted troops to serve outside Australia.

It was his rejection of the British strategy for Australian troops that enabled the successful defence of New Guinea. And, in a remarkable twist, he put US General Douglas MacArthur in charge of Australia’s defence forces.

Ray saw active service in the New Guinea campaign, particularly the second phase, lasting from late 1942 until the Japanese surrender. He was part of the Allies, consisting primarily of Australian and US forces, which helped clear the Japanese first from Papua and finally from the Dutch colony.

The campaign resulted in a crushing defeat and devastating losses for the Japanese. As in most Pacific theatres of war, disease and starvation claimed more lives than enemy action. Nevertheless, it was one of the most arduous campaigns of the war and Ray Cheney was caught up in the thick of it.

“I remember a lot about the bloody war,” he says loudly in his typically fearless, no-nonsense manner. “The Japs were on the run but it was the soldiers there before all the reinforcements arrived that did all the work.

“It was more open warfare in Borneo where we could see the enemy and it was more of a show.”

It’s a long time ago and Ray has plenty of time to reflect on his war experiences and 53 years on the land with his wife and three sons at “Iona”, east of Barmedman.

“I REMEMBER A LOT about the bloody war.”

The farm, which holds a lifetime of memories, is very close to his heart, having built most of the infrastructure from cypress pine on the property with his “own bare hands”. A framed aerial shot of the property lies above his bed in the small room at Greenstone Lodge that he now calls home.

Ray used to march in Sydney with his old army mates each Anzac Day until his knees broke down. “I gave it away and came back to Temora,” the 94-year-old says.

“I look forward to life and good company each new day. I’ve even got a secret crush on one of the nurses,” he winks. “But I can’t tell you which one. She has the most beautiful eyes and says g’day to me each morning.”

Ray gives a bit of cheek to the nurses and doesn’t hold back with his thoughts. “Hurry up, will ya,” he bellows. “This conversation is over; I’ve got lunch to get to.” And with that, the staunch old war veteran is gone. > TEMORA CWL 85

TEMORA

Gerry Manion

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It was a frightening and perilous time for all concerned. Although Gerry rarely made contact with the enemy, he remembers one occasion as though it were yesterday.

Instead of making sausages and washing up duties, he was given a rifle and sent to New Guinea and North Borneo to defend his country against the advancing Japanese.

“We were having a clean-up on the east coast one day, when I heard this very ill Japanese fella moaning “please help” in perfect English.

I found him under a tree, ragged and crook as hell.

In the mortar division of the 2/17 Infantry Battalion (part of the famous 9th Division), Gerry says he and his mates did the job they were told to do with plenty of his 10-pound bombs finding their mark.

“As soon as I found out he was unarmed, instead of shooting him – which I could never have lived with – I offered the poor blighter some water and told him I’d pass the word on,” he says quietly.

eter Manion, better known as Gerry, put his age up to enlist in the war. He was just 17 and working in a butcher’s shop for 10 bob a week (about one dollar) when he decided to do his bit for King and Country.

It’s not a subject that Gerry likes to dwell on.

In fact, he rarely speaks about the war, which ended over 70 years ago.

“I never talked about it, not even with my mates who had been there with me.

“You try not to think about it but you can never forget it. The best you can do is remember the good times and push the rest away.”

When he finally made it home in 1946, Gerry swore he’d never leave Temora again – and apart from the odd holiday, stayed true to his word.

Within a year he married the “most beautiful girl in the world”, his darling Rita, a nurse who bore him four daughters and a son (including Susanne Wylie, who runs the local newsagency with husband John).

After the war he resumed work as a butcher and spent the next 40 years working at the Granleese and Roberts butcher shops.

Now living out his sunset years in Temora’s Greenstone Lodge, this sprightly 92-year-old admits it has been an interesting and long life.

“I often wondered if I’d reach the age of 20,” he says thoughtfully.

“YOU TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT but you can never forget it.

The best you can do is remember the good times and push the rest away.”

One of the most important days on his calendar is Anzac Day. For many years he marched in Sydney with his unit but the last few years have seen him “slow up a bit” and he now does the Temora march in his trusty wheelchair, proudly pushed by his son or one of his 13 grandchildren (the Jeep option is “too damn difficult getting into”).

Gerry can’t speak highly enough of the town and its “friendly, wonderful citizens”.

He was recently awarded life membership at the local RSL Branch and is still a member of Legacy after 60 years. Gerry Manion is not only one of life’s true gentlemen, he is also one of the town’s proudest unsung heroes. >

Facing page: Gerry holds framed photographs of his beautiful bride Rita and himself in army uniform.

They were both 19 years when the photos were taken.

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TEMORA

TEMORA CWL 87

TEMORA

Tommy Woods

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reat-grandfather Tommy Woods has always been up for a challenge, whether it be boot making, running a country pub, playing footy, racing his beloved greyhounds or defending his country.

Born nearly a century ago on October 5, 1918, this happy-natured war veteran still enjoys living in the house he’s called home for the past 50 years, despite failing eyesight, knee replacements, a triple heart bypass and a few cancer spots.

Apart from that he’s as fit as a fiddle. “I used to sunbake in the backyard and never wore a shirt,” he says of his brush with skin cancer.

“I used to be very brown – you’d never guess that now.” He closes his eyes and smiles at the mere thought of it.

He started out early, leaving school at 14 to join Billy Brooks, the bootmaker. Always up for adventure, Tommy signed up with his Temora mates in 1942, keen to do his bit for the country. His father, a truck driver who carted grain for the local farmers, was nonplussed.

Although he had four sons, he had silently watched the effects of warfare on the previous generation of country lads who had cheerfully signed up for King and Country and was far from happy letting any of them go.

Tommy, however, had already become very much a team player and wasn’t about to let his mates down – a trait maintained throughout his life.

Survival strategies often came down to pure luck. Tom recalls bombs exploding in places he visited only hours earlier. “So many times it could have been me. Food was scarce and we were often on the run.”

Tommy was one of the first home and quickly made up for his lost years in the New Guinea jungle. He had never been fitter, having taken up boxing during his army days, and was ready to put the war firmly behind him.

One place he enjoyed letting off steam was on the footy field. He laced his boots for Dubbo’s RAAF Firsts, where he was coach and captain.

He trained in Townsville before being shipped further north. The Japanese had invaded New Guinea and looked like taking Port Moresby.

Australia was in the firing line and tensions were understandably high.

The Dubbo Rugby League Club is said to have made him a lucrative offer but he thought Griffith, where he had the chance to coach, may have been a better option. His first impression wasn’t a positive one. “This is a one-horse town,” he declared and politely declined the offer.

“I’m happy on my own,” he says. “Pam prepares most of my meals, does the hospital run and takes great care of me. My two girls give me a bit of cheek but I’m not complaining.”

“I was there from the start to the finish,” he says proudly. Working on the ground staff of the RAAF, Tom helped build, among other things, Port Moresby’s airstrip.

Instead he married sweetheart May Clout in Temora and promptly moved to Coonabarabran, where he opened a successful shoe shop near the post office.

It doesn’t take long to realise his mind is still sharp as a tack. We delve back to his childhood, back in the halcyon days of the roaring 1920s.

Tommy was one of seven – his infant brother Wallace died of whooping cough – and recalls walking to school with his siblings.

The Japanese replied with 86 air raids, each one meticulously recorded in a tiny notebook kept firmly in his top pocket. After a bit of rummaging through his bedroom he was able to show me this treasured memento, which dealt with his harrowing daily thoughts written a lifetime ago.

All was well in Coona until his father-in-law, and owner of Temora’s Railway Hotel, suddenly died. Tom packed up his young family and moved home to resume life as a publican.

By his side is daughter Pam Rees, who along with her sister Dianne, has been caring for him for the past 20 years. They don’t live with Tom but are never far away.

“A bloke by the name of Jopling was our teacher – and a damn good one at that," Tom declares from his recliner. His memory is in sparkling form – for today at least – and Tom is in the mood to sit back and reflect on his long and interesting life.

“We were raided every day and often at night,” he continues. “When the siren went off, I’d head for the scrub. You’d hear the bombs coming, all right. It was bloody frightening, mark my words.”

During this time he developed an unbreakable friendship with the greyhound racing fraternity that was to span 50 years. His hottest property, Perfect Socks, won five straight at Harold Park and was hailed one of the best. The prize money, all in pounds, came in handy while raising his family of four children (three girls and a boy).

“WE WERE RAIDED EVERY DAY AND OFTEN AT NIGHT. When the siren went off, I’d head for the scrub.

You’d hear the bombs coming, all right.

It was bloody frightening, mark my words.”

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Tom and his dogs became a familiar sight in Temora. He walked them every morning and life was good, despite losing May to cancer at age 50, a long and heartbreaking 46 years ago.

We talk about the significance of Anzac Day and how there are only a handful WW2 vets left in the country.

“I’m lucky to be alive, really,” he says quietly. He hasn’t attended a march in years and generally doesn’t discuss his war days.

So what does he do for fun? Tom laughs and admits to a love of singing. “Would you like to hear one?” he asks.

Next moment, in a beautiful baritone voice, out spill the words to South of the Border. Tom doesn’t miss a beat. He sits back and laughs before pulling snippets from My Happiness, Evening Shadows Make Me Blue and Danny Boy.

Tom used to enjoy a beer but not so much these days. He watches TV but his eyesight is failing. “I can hear it but can’t see it much.

Instead I listen to the rugby league and all the news.”

On a sunny day he likes to sit in the sun, enjoy a good steak or grilled fish and chips, and feed the stray cats that regularly visit.

Until only a few years ago he was playing lawn bowls three times a week and before that was a keen gardener, cricketer and tennis player.

Typically, he remains modest about his sporting abilities. “I played all sports but was never a champion at any of them. I played second row in the footy and reckon that helped me live this long life. I liked the training and went hard. I kept myself fit.”

After a bit of thought Tom declares: “Temora has been a good town to me. You won’t find better, although Coonabarabran holds some fond memories.”

Tom Woods has lived a full life, serving with the Air force and taking part in the Battle of the Coral Sea, but it’s his love of sport that continually punctuates his life story.

Longevity, he admits, runs in his genes.

His 103-year-old brother, Jim, resides in a Queanbeyan nursing home, while another brother, Norman, recently turned 80 in Temora.

For Tommy Woods it’s been a classic innings and he hopes to make the ton before his final retirement. CWL Above: Tommy with a treasured photograph of May. Facing page: Tommy is eternally grateful for the support of his daughter Pam Rees.

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THE OLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

TUESDAYS ARE ALWAYS BUSY FOR THE ELDERLY FOLK AT TEMORA’S NARRABURRA LODGE. THE MENFOLK ARE BUSY MAKING THINGS IN THEIR “MAN CAVE” WHILE THE WOMEN ARE TENDING TO THEIR CRAFT DUTIES.

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he lodge was established in 1995, while the nearby Greenstone Lodge has been operating since 1977. Both are part of the Whiddon Group, which runs 18 nursing homes across NSW. Director of Care Services Gail Lynch runs both residences like mini resorts and is responsible for 90 staff and 76 residents, all of whom she knows by name.

Clocking up 38 years as a registered nurse (having trained at the Temora Hospital), Gail has all the right qualifications, and more importantly, the right temperament for this job.

Her residents range in age from 69 to 103 years, with the average resident aged 87 years. The average length of stay is about 2½ years.

Residents enjoy their sunset years surrounded by caring and committed staff, interesting neighbours and plenty of activities to become immersed in.

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“We try and make it feel like home for them,” Gail tells me as I am introduced to some of the town’s most senior citizens and custodians of stories from the old days.

“It’s a big change for elderly people to finally leave their family home,” she continues, as we pass several ladies having their hair attended to by a visiting professional hairdresser.

“After a lifetime of being independent, many of our guests are rather emotional when they first arrive and find it difficult to cope. Some feel they are a burden on staff, which is never the case,” she says.

Gail suggests that everybody should discuss their future needs while they are still well rather than wait for a crisis to occur.

“Talk to your doctor and get assessed, and either get community care at home or think about the alternative of permanent residential care.”

Accommodation fees, she says, are dependent on your assets. If you are simply on the pension without any assets, there is normally a bed available and all you pay is 85 per cent of your pension.

“Everything is provided and there is nothing more to worry about,” Gail says. >

Facing page: Director of Care Services Gail Lynch.

Above right: Gail Lynch with the ladies’ craft group.

Centre: Retired farmer Kevin Corby; Neville Thompson enjoys the simple lifestyle; Gwen Solley, 88, has lived in Temora all her life; Stephen Williamson proudly displays his 1962 crane driver’s certificate; resident Ken Goesch.

Right: Maintenance officer and Men’s Shed co-ordinator Ian Simons with some of the residents in their “Man Cave”.

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“RATHER THAN SIT AT HOME FEELING LONELY, RESIDENTS HERE CAN MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND BECOME INVOLVED WITH A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES.” Guests here no longer have to concern themselves with mundane chores like laundry, cooking and cleaning. Apart from three meals a day (plus morning and afternoon tea) and activities on tap, there’s something else – and that’s company.

“Rather than sit at home feeling lonely, residents here can make new friends and become involved with a range of activities, from Happy Hour on Friday nights (including a traditional Aussie singalong) to newspaper readings, indoor bowls, bingo, craft days and the Men’s Shed.

“Their social life is almost better than ours,” quips Gail, as she stops to chat with another group.

“Life is a journey and we respect everyone. If somebody wants to kick back and relax they can or they can become involved as much as they want to.”

Many of the oldies fondly remember Gail from her younger days. She is a true-blue Temora local, born and raised on the family farm near Barmedman and happily married to a local Temora man with three children of her own.

This savvy businesswoman, nurse and carer is doing her utmost to ensure each and every resident receives the opportunity to squeeze the most out of their sunset years at both Narraburra and Greenstone Lodge. CWL

Above: Friday night traditional Aussie singalongs are a popular social event; Dr Wayne Lehmann with visitors Bill and Noni.

Alex is 90 and still growing At Whiddon we believe in caring for the whole person. It means ensuring that the older people we support can still enjoy doing the things that matter to them: gardening, art, singing, even raising chooks. It helps people stay socially engaged, active and make the most of every day.

With 70 years experience, our award winning approach makes Whiddon a leader in residential and in-home aged care.

Award winning aged care services whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388 92 CWL TEMORA

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A fresh approach THERE ARE SMILES IN THE AISLES AT THE NEW AND IMPROVED IGA TEMORA.

“U

nbelievable”, “What a difference” and “It’s hard to believe it’s the same supermarket” are some of the many comments floating around the entrance to the newly renovated IGA Temora supermarket.

You only have to eavesdrop for a while around the fruit and veg section to see that the locals love the changes and are relishing in the fact that the supermarket, after years of being a corporate store, has been returned to the town.

The Davies family, spearheaded by Floyd, Heather and Jack, have transformed the store into a modern supermarket that oozes “Temora”, with the outside of the massive store covered in historical murals of the old Temora.

A five-metre by two-metre aerial photo of Temora hits you the moment you walk into the store and customers line up to study it in detail on their way through the door. The store’s new signage gives you the feeling that you are winding your way through a vast yellow canola field.

Jack Davies says that his aim was “to give Temora and surrounding residents a great shopping experience” and the changes that have taken place have certainly created that. The supermarket has a completely new fresh food area that leads onto a bakery, cheese fridge, salad bar, heat and eat section and completely reconfigured deli.

There’s a new coffee and cake café where friends can stop for a while to catch up while shopping. As we wander around the store, customers are praising the changes and seem really proud of what has taken place, almost as if they themselves own the supermarket.

As manager Matt New explains: “Temora residents have always been very loyal to the local IGA, due to its tremendous customer service, and they just needed someone to spend some money and update the old store. That has now happened and the town loves it.”

Jack continues: “The supermarket has a brilliant loyal retail team, led by long-term manager Matt New, with department managers Tim Pike, Chris Brown, Julie Hargrave, Deb Hillier, Amy Oliver, Kasey Ford, Gwen Williams and well-known butcher Michael Matthews forming a team that is second to none. We love working with them and the rest of the IGA team of 45 staff.”

Floyd Davies adds: “IGA supermarkets have a really important part to play in the community and, in addition to providing a great retail service to the community, they also play an important part in the everyday lives of the local people.

“We are a great meeting place for local families and residents and our staff play a pivotal role in the lives of the elderly people in the community. We are heavily involved in supporting the local community and have just given out sponsorship cheques to 12 local junior sporting groups.” CWL Above: The Temora IGA team; some of the great photographs of Temora that adorn the outside of the IGA. TEMORA CWL 93

STEEPED in HISTORY FARRELL GOODE IS A LONG-ESTABLISHED COUNTRY LAW FIRM WITH MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TO ITS NAME.

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n recent years, Farrell Goode has grown dramatically from its Temora base to include offices in West Wyalong, Ardlethan, Narrandera and Cootamundra.

With 13 staff, including three solicitors, spread over the five branches, the highly qualified Farrell Goode team provides a wide range of experience and expertise for both individuals and businesses.

They cover all areas of general law such as property law and conveyancing (including buying and selling property and businesses), business and commercial law (including leases) and family law (including divorce, children’s matters and property settlements).

They also attend to wills, deceased estates and criminal law, including driving offences.

“We really do a bit of everything,” Jason Goode says. “Mainly real estate conveyancing, wills and estates with a bit of business law, family law and attending the local courts.

“We have gained a reputation for our professionalism and success and pride ourselves on our friendly, approachable service.”

The Temora office has a long association with the town, with photographs of various owners proudly displayed in the reception.

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First on the scene was RC Dibbs, who commenced practice as a solicitor in 1896 before venturing into a partnership with Michael Farrell in 1911 to form the legal practice of Dibbs and Farrell, which developed into a highly regarded firm for almost 60 years.

One of Temora’s most outstanding public and professional figures, Michael Farrell helped transform a scattered mining township into the progressive community centre it is today.

Associated with practically every public activity in the town and district, he was a founding member of the bowling club and on the board of the local hospital, show society and golf club. His keen business acumen, foresight and initiative were greatly admired by all who met him.

As a solicitor, he possessed a keen legal brain, was brilliant in debate and appeared with outstanding success in some of the most important cases to come before the courts in this part of the state.

His partner, RC Dibbs, laced the boots for the Temora Rugby Union side and was declared the best all-round player during the 1898 season.

He not only represented NSW in rugby union but was also a splendid rower, cricketer and yachtsman. On top of all that he was one of the state’s earliest motorists, holding licence number 13.

TEMORA

Their business finally merged with Thompson & Goode to become Thompson, Farrell & Goode in 1970. Jason’s father, Daryl Goode, put in 40 odd years there, with Jason joining the firm in 1985 before taking over in 2000 and changing the name to Farrell & Goode.

As a youngster, Jason always fancied himself as a fireman, but admits that as he grew older all he ever wanted to do was follow in his father’s footsteps.

The former councillor is big on family tradition and, like his forebears, served on the board of St Anne’s School (the Goode family have attended school there for four generations).

Jason attributes the success of his business to his committed staff.

Jenny McCabe and Sandra Kite are two team members who have both notched up more than 25 years’ loyal service.

He was admitted as a solicitor 25 years ago and still loves his rugby, a by-product of his school days at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.

“It’s important we continue law firms,” he says. “In the early 1970s Temora had six solicitors but since then law firms have been quietly disappearing in the bush.

Jason and wife Lisa have two sons. Tom is finishing school at The King’s School, Parramatta, while Jack is studying commerce at Macquarie University (where Jason studied law a generation earlier).

“I am very proud to head up a firm that has history going right back to the town’s beginnings. It’s a happy, well-balanced team and we can deal with most inquiries that come through the door.” CWL

Following schoolboy rugby in Sydney has become an enjoyable pastime but the local rugby club, The Tuskers, is never far from Jason’s mind. The club, established in 1896, has teams in the men’s, women’s and juniors, the latter of which he has coached.

On the legal side of things, Jason is vice-president of the Riverina Law Society and also on the Elder Law and Succession Committee of the Law Society of NSW, contributing to policies in state and federal government.

Facing page: Jacob Herron, Jason Goode, Sandra Kite, Kate Turner, Rebecca McKenzie, Jenny McCabe and Mitchell Flakelar.

Above: Solicitor Jason Goode from Farrell Goode.

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A gift for HEALING LIFE TOOK MANY TWISTS AND TURNS BEFORE RACHEL CHRISTMAS WAS ABLE TO CALL HERSELF A DOCTOR BUT THE POPULAR AND INVIGORATED MEDICO, WHO SPECIALISES IN OBSTETRICS, HAS MADE TEMORA HER NEW HOME.

A

fter school, and without the required marks to get into medicine, Rachel moved into her second choice of engineering. After graduation, she worked for three years on both sides of the continent.

The ball was rolling. Rachel began work in the new Temora Medical Centre in late 2013. The complex comprises modern architecture and exceptional facilities, including 12 consultation rooms, specialist rooms, minor procedure areas and on-site pathology.

A nagging desire to get into medicine, however, forced her to bite the bullet. It was now or never.

She entered post graduate medicine, doing a further four years of study at Sydney University, followed by three years of hospital training and a year of general practice.

The facility has on-site parking, ambulance docking area and ample parking for patients.

A radiology service is now at the rear of the site, providing CT and ultrasound services from Monday to Friday.

She finally moved to Wodonga to be closer to home and stayed with the medical centre for a further seven years.

During this time, Rohan Christmas was busy fixing medical equipment at the practice. After some time he started turning up when nothing was broken! They were married in 2008 and now have three beautiful children, Imogen, 7, Sten, 5 and Lauren, 3.

During one of their regular trips back to “Strathern”, Combaning, a farm that’s been in Rachel’s family since 1887 (and now managed by her brother Andrew and wife Nicole), Rohan raised the question of moving to a smaller centre. Why not Temora?

In mid 2015 Rachel joined as an associate, partnering with Dr Wayne Lehmann OAM, a well-known figure who has practised in town for more than 35 years, and Dr Arturo Jeri, from Peru, who has been in Temora for more than a decade.

By then she and her family had already settled into a wonderful old home in Gloucester Street, built in 1904 as the residence for the Presbyterian Church minister.

The rambling old home is on a huge block.

“We’ve inherited a ridiculously big garden,” the happy doctor laughs. “We have some grand plans for the old place. We are loving the process of doing it up.”

Equally important, the home is within walking distance of the hospital, schools and the CBD. “I can run up the hill to answer a night call at the hospital,” she says with a grin. “The pre-school is across from the park and the primary school is only a block down the road. For us it is fabulous.”

Rachel admits to being initially a tad nervous about the big move to Temora but is now convinced the decision to come home was the right one.

Her young family enjoy being part of the vibrant local community. Rachel has joined the local brass band, playing the trombone, an instrument she last played at school 25 years earlier.

“It’s very challenging but I love it,” she enthuses.

Rohan, too, has established his own business, selling laboratory and medical equipment and highly specialised refrigeration for pharmacies.

“It allows great flexibility, particularly with Rachel’s demanding schedule,” he says.

Rachel has worked tremendously hard to get where she is and looks forward, with the rest of her dedicated team, to ensuring that Temora and district receive the best medical help possible. CWL

Above: Temora Medical Centre is well represented by Dr Kyaw (Joe) Oo, Dr Ajit Kamath (OAM), Dr Arturo Jeri, Dr Rachel Christmas, Dr Wayne Lehmann (OAM) and Dr Jennifer Smith. Facing page: The Christmas family in front of their 113-year-old home.

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Caring for customers PHARMACIST FAY BAUN CHERISHES HER PART IN LOOKING AFTER THE RESIDENTS OF TEMORA.

I

“We deliver to their homes free of charge and offer many other services with no charge to the customer. It’s our policy to give them all the best care and attention we can to ensure the best health outcomes.”

Fay Baun’s pharmacy has been serving the town and district for more than 15 years, providing the best possible service to its customers, with a dedicated team of pharmacists and staff on hand.

Needless to say, it’s a happy, dynamic team. “We communicate well with other allied health professionals in our region to make sure every patient can access the facilities and continuity of care they need and deserve.”

“We talk to your doctors to help our patients receive optimal care at all times,” Fay says amid the morning rush.

The biggest problem now facing small community pharmacies like Fay’s is the challenge to survive the invasion of the “big is best and cheapest” pricing war that’s happened in the past three to four years.

t was later in life that Fay Baun found her true calling. The proud part-owner of Temora Capital Chemist has demonstrated that any dream is possible if you are made of "the right stuff".

Many years back there were four chemists in town, until they eventually all merged into the Russ Miller Chemist, which then became Temora Capital Chemist, one of 39 outlets in four states.

Capital Chemists dispense over a million prescriptions each year and are wholly owned by pharmacists like Fay, dedicated to providing quality pharmaceutical and ancillary services to their clients.

The partnership, the largest private pharmacy grouping of its kind in Australia, attributes its success to a very clear focus on what community pharmacy does best, that is, the provision of primary health care.

“Our goal is to continue with what we believe is the best pharmacy practice we can deliver,” says Fay, a committed and caring community member.

“Thank you, Temora, for making us feel so welcome! Temora is a little town with a very big heart and we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else after settling here.” CWL Facing page: Part-owner of Temora Capital Chemist Fay Baun.

Fay and husband Andrew moved to Temora from Dubbo in 2002, when Andrew took up a position with Temora Shire Council. Fay had only just commenced her pharmacy degree at CSU, Wagga Wagga as a mature-age student.

“As I progressed through my degree I became a casual staff member at the pharmacy, particularly on Saturdays and through holidays. I enjoyed the work so much that when I finished my degree I hoped I would do my intern year there,” she says.

Her husband’s contract with council was renewed so they didn’t need to think about moving on. Andrew White, the managing partner of the pharmacy, was just as keen for Fay to complete her internship but at the last moment, a major hurdle confronted her.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2006, and experienced the full journey through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” she says stoically. “Even though I worked continuously, it took me an extra 12 months to reach my goal.”

Although it was a testing time, Fay says everyone was incredibly supportive, especially her workplace colleagues. “To this day I think my experience through the cancer journey gave me enormous insight and compassion for the people I care for every day in my professional role.”

In 2009 Fay was offered a partnership in the pharmacy – an opportunity she never imagined or dared dream of – and gratefully accepted.

In early 2012 Fay and her partners opened their second store, Harvest Pharmacy, in the Woolies carpark area, an extension of the existing business in a popular location with easy parking.

Today both thriving businesses employ about 15 local staff, while supporting various charities and sporting teams within the community.

There are several pharmacists on the roster, including Murray LeLievre (from Wagga Wagga), Clare Leahy and Fay’s son, Robert Baun. A handful of juniors help after school plus five delivery boys.

“We still carry products that new pharmacies wouldn’t bother with because many of our customers are elderly,” Fay says.

Our pharmacy staff pride themselves on the level of customer service that we provide to our customers.

Our well trained staff can provide the best health advice, we are committed to all your health care needs, including: • Safe and appropriate use of medications • Monitoring blood pressure, diabetes and weight loss • Support and advice on smoking cessation & asthma management • Home medication reviews, dose administration aides

FREE home delivery (02) 6977 2026 204 Hoskins St, Temora NSW 2666 TEMORA CWL 99

THE ANIMAL WHISPERER

TEMORA VET NICOLE CHRISTIE EMBRACES ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.

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icole Christie always knew she wanted to be a vet. There was never any question about it. Growing up in Narrabri, in north-west NSW, she surrounded herself with cats, dogs, goats and kangaroos.

Today the Temora vet is much the same, sharing her home with six dogs and four cats. It’s been a long and often emotional journey getting here but she now feels right at home after two years of running her own country practice.

After school she enjoyed a gap year in Denmark before starting her Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Sydney University. After graduating in 1994, Nicole married and became mother to Annabelle, now 17, and Zachariah, 16, who have learnt better than most, the personal sacrifice involved with having a parent working as a vet.

As we are talking, a pet alpaca wanders through the office, waiting for her hernia check-up. Nicole smiles and shrugs. Nothing much surprises her any more.

Some days she has to pinch herself when she reflects on the way life pans out and how she came to be running her own practice.

Prior to this, she spent nearly two decades working in a number of small veterinary practices, including Bowen and Brisbane, in Queensland, as well as the South Australian towns of Henley Beach and Hallett Cove.

She even worked in England for six months.

“Leaving didn’t seem an option,” she says thoughtfully. “It was an opportunity to have my own veterinary business and help a community that was supporting me.

“Starting a new business as an outsider in a country town can be tricky at the best of times, but Temora seemed to welcome me and made me feel wanted at a very difficult time in my life.”

Her mettle was severely tested in her first few weeks. “After the boss died, I almost stepped on a brown snake in the office, which was a rather frightening experience,” she says, shaking her head.

Today Nicole is involved with more placid animals like sheep, goats and cattle but her main focus is the companion animals, like cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets and even the odd rat.

She helps out with WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) and has worked on a goanna, kangaroos, owls and kookaburras, even a turtle. She insists, though, her canine friends are the ones she’s developed the closest bond with, courtesy of their constant love and loyalty.

“I’ve also been involved in animal rescue – cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. And Temora people have opened their hearts and homes to this too,” she says.

Throughout these years Nicole gained valuable hands-on experience, while always looking for the right spot to settle down.

“Helping to rehome greyhounds has become a passion of mine.

We run a successful program and have so far adopted about a dozen greyhounds to local homes. One was even transported to Adelaide.”

After her marriage breakdown in 2014, Nicole moved to Temora with her children, keen to return to her country roots and start afresh.

There is never a dull moment in a small country practice like Nicole’s, with a variety of caged dogs and cats in various stages of treatment.

Ten days after arriving, her boss died – a sad, bewildering and traumatic experience for all parties involved. Her choices were to stay and try to make a go of it or pack up and leave.

“Did I say why I wanted to be a vet?" she asks me, with a laugh. “My response to that has always been . . . ‘I love animals’. I was always told that that’s not enough but it’s true.

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“I do what I do because I want the best for the animals I meet. I honestly believe you should do what you love and love what you do.”

“I do what I do because I want the best for the animals I meet. I honestly believe you should do what you love and love what you do.”

“Temora is a bustling little town, which has everything you need,” she says. “Both locals and newcomers seem genuinely happy to be here.

Nicole is full of praise for the people of Temora who have so warmly embraced her, particularly her staff, including Julie, Michelle, Kate, Shauna and Janine.

“I never planned to be running a business but now that I am, it’s very satisfying, albeit exhausting. The people of Temora offered me a chance and I can never thank them enough.” CWL

“My best friends are the people I work with, as I spend most time with them,” she says. “I am on call 24/7 and it’s virtually impossible to have a social life. They (my friends) also understand the pressure of always having to be available.”

Her children are growing up quickly. Annabelle is completing her HSC year at Temora High School and works part-time at the veterinary hospital, while Zachariah is studying Year 11 in Camden with his father.

Facing page: Tess, the Border Collie, about to be examined by vet nurse Julie Glasspool and vet Nicole Christie; Nicole can handle just about any pet, including Misty the alpaca, photographed with handler and student vet nurse Kate Stewart and Nicole’s daughter Annabelle.

Above: Nicole with Boxer Mastiff-cross rescue puppies Addie and Dexter.

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DRESSED for success PAM LANYON IS LIVING THE DREAM IN HER NEW DRESS SHOP.

“W

ithout dreaming we lose the excitement of possibilities”.

These are the words on a framed card sitting on the counter of Pam Lanyon’s new dress shop.

Pam is a firm believer in dreams and making things happen, which is how she finally opened her clothing store, Peony Boutique, in Temora.

Formerly known as New Fashions for 30 years (and owned by Heather New), the business was purchased by Pam in mid-2015 and moved to a central location in the main street.

“My first year went very fast,” she says. “Getting back into the swing of the season and stock changes has been a satisfying challenge.”

The store has recently undergone a name change to Peony Boutique, and an exciting new range of labels including Corfu, Goondiwindi Cotton, French Country, and White Label by Ellis & Dewey.

There’s also new labels in the accessories department, including Journie, Boho and Sakroots.

Harmonie products in the jewellery section have “taken off”, with triple-plated silver and rose chime balls, lockets and coin sets all at affordable prices.

The store has b een a dream of Pam’s after 30 years of work ing in retail.

Pam still stocks popular brands like Threads and Jendi in accessories, fascinators, scarves and clothing, as well as Black Pepper and Sportswave for mature ladies in a wide range of sizes.

Now with new owner and a new name

“My overall aim was to provide a range of clothing suitable for 18-80 years with flexible styles for comfort,” Pam says.

The business uses Facebook to extend its reach.

“It’s been a very positive move for customers in their 30s and 40s who find this medium more approachable when looking for new styles of fashion.”

It’s a real family affair, with daughter Katie Keith instrumental in helping with social media and the shop decor.

Daughter-in-law Lisa Duffy also helps out.

The store has been a dream of Pam’s after 30 years of working in retail.

She has tried her hand at remedial massage, childcare and teachers aid work.

New Labels: Goondiwindi, Corfu and Ellis & Dewey Come, see & find your style

234 Hoskins St, Temora 02 6977 2221

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“There is always something to learn and a lot to look forward to,” she says.

“I believe it’s important to never give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult it is to achieve them. You never know when they will come true.”

Pam is keen to see her business continue to grow. Her customer base ranges from Griffith to Canberra and outlying areas like Barmedman, West Wyalong, Ariah Park, Barellan, Coolamon, Junee, Springdale, Stockinbingal and Ardlethan.

“Women from all these places drop in and often go home with something special." CWL

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Well suited RICK FIRMAN IS TAILOR-MADE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

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emora Shire Councillor and Mayor Rick Firman OAM gains enormous satisfaction from being well-dressed.

When it came to establishing his own business, he put two and two together to come up with the perfect fit.

Rick Firman’s Menswear was established in 2004, in a building that’s provided men’s apparel since WA Smith & Son first commenced operations back in 1909. Rick is the seventh owner, taking over from Mark Hughes.

The store stocks a quality range of clothing, from Thomas Cook Boot & Clothing Co, and other top brands like Yakka and King Gee, Bisley and DNC – quality workwear that lasts.

Giving the wider community access to stylish and wearable gentlemen’s fashion for all ages, Rick Firman’s Menswear can also mail out orders.

“We are one of the last general menswear businesses around the Riverina region,” Rick beams.

“We really enjoy helping a range of customers from all walks of life and the challenge of trying to make them happy. We stick with the top quality labels, as it’s always easy to sell something you believe in.”

Rick has his fingers in a few pies. “We renovated the brick building at the back of the shop into two accommodation units, which provides another source of income,” he says.

His appreciation for antique furniture led to Rick opening an antique business next door, where customers can view a quality mix of English, French and Australian pieces.

There are many impressive and well-priced pieces from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

“It’s a nice sideline for us, and certainly creates much interest in our main street. I greatly admire the quality and craftsmanship of these antique pieces, which were all made to last, but of course we are only ever the custodians.”

Rick describes himself as a “humble bachelor”, with two cherished 13-year-old god-daughters, Heidi Schmidt and Layla Macauley. “No lady has been able to put up with me for any length of time,” he says, tongue in cheek. “I would like to have a wife one day but have heard they’re rather expensive to keep!

“In the meantime I’m blessed to have fantastic parents, Bruce and Beth Firman, and a sister Jaime, who all support me greatly, along with my sales assistant and great friend, Vicki Oliver.

“We have a lot of fun and take pride in our business, product and customers, hence our slogan ‘Where quality and service come first’,” he smiles.

The Temora Shire means a great deal to Rick.

Both sides of his family have been farming here for generations (Walkers and Firmans).

“It’s the people that make Temora so special.

We care for each other, it’s as simple as that,” he says. “It’s one of the reasons I’m so proud to be the Mayor of Temora Shire, having been a councillor since 2004.

“I believe it incumbent on us to give something back to our community and I really enjoy being involved in many community groups.”

When he is not involved with his business ventures or with his mayoral duties, Rick enjoys trying to keep fit as an Aussie Rules umpire, something he has enjoyed for nearly 30 years.

Whether it’s the football field, council chambers or the menswear, expect to be greeted with the Rick Firman warm smile and a commitment that the locals have come to know and love. CWL

Mr. R.B. Firman OAM, JP ~ Proprietor Ph/Fax: (02) 6977 2021 ~ Mobile: 0429 204 060 230 Hoskins Street Temora NSW 2666 Email: rbfirman@bigpond.com

www.rickfirmansmenswear.com.au TEMORA CWL 103

LOVE IS IN THE AIR HIGH FLYERS JILL AND NORM BAILEY HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT PLACE TO SETTLE.

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emora traffic. Tecnam Five-Four-Nine-Two, inbound five miles from the north, 5000 feet on descent, Temora.”

Jill Bailey is making a general broadcast to other pilots in the vicinity before she lands her Tecnam aircraft at the Temora airport. She’s been flying at speeds of up to 300km per hour and will soon taxi down the runway and end up in her own private hangar before walking the 20 steps from “shed to bed”.

Having your own hangar is not a new concept but having that hangar adjacent to your home must be the ultimate dream for any pilot.

In recent years Jill has soared to the top of her game. As national operations manager for Recreational Aviation Australia, she manages 165 flying schools across the country, with close to 10,000 members and 3500 aircraft. Not a bad effort for a girl who started flying for fun.

Husband Norm, an only child born in Bankstown, was accustomed to seeing a lot of planes in the sky, virtue of his proximity to the airport.

He grew up playing the piano, not realising that music and flying were to become the anchors of his life. “The music was always there but we all know that most musicians struggle financially,” Norm admits. “I thought about a career in plumbing but not for long!”

His first job was in a Bankstown music shop, selling and restoring organs and pianos. It was something he loved and was good at, and he soon found work in Wagga Wagga and later Nowra.

WHEN THEY ARE NOT FLYING, THE BAILEYS LOVE KICKING BACK TO A GOOD MOVIE.

In the meantime, Jill’s father, who was with the Commonwealth Bank, also moved his family to Nowra after a bank transfer. After buying Jill an organ, it was time to find a teacher. In 1983 Norm stepped up to the task.

Before long, Jill had a job as a salesperson in the same music store and romance blossomed. Within a few years they struck out on their own, establishing Southcoast Music before finally tying the knot.

Fast forward 20 years and the pair were looking for adventure in their lives. Norm offered his wife a trial flight for her birthday, not knowing this single act would one day result in a career in aviation.

It wasn’t long before Jill was a flying instructor and naturally she couldn’t wait to take Norm up as her first passenger.

Not to be outdone, he too caught the flying bug, so much so that he took a year away from the business to build a Jabiru Tail-Dragger aircraft, acquiring his own flying licence along the way.

The home-built aircraft was finished by 2000 and all nerves were put aside as an experienced flying instructor took the plane on its maiden flight.

Later they shared flying duties as they flew the Jabiru to many landscapes across our wide, brown land.

“We have one rule when we fly together and that’s whoever is the pilot in command is in charge and no correspondence will be entered into,” Jill laughs.

After they sold the music business, Jill and Norm embarked on a flying trip around the country looking for a suitable location to establish a flying school.

In 2007 they flew to Bundaberg for an air show and came home via the inland route, stopping overnight in Temora, a town with a rich history of aviation. (The reason this airport was chosen as a major training school during WW2 was because of the town’s consistent weather patterns, which were favourable for flying).

The next morning, however, the Baileys awoke to a thick fog. With time to kill, they wandered down to the aero club where they bumped into Alan Powlay, the local flying instructor who was looking to retire.

Not quite believing their luck, they took a good, hard look at the town.

“Temora was a well-kept, tidy town with all the banks and services one would require,” Jill says. “We decided to rent for six months to see how we felt about the local community but within two weeks the decision was made to buy a property at the airport.”

They bought an empty block in Tenefts Street, (which stands for Number 10 Elementary Flying Training School), where several like-minded people had already built homes at the front of the road with a hangar and taxi access to the runway out the back.

Norm got to work building the massive hangar, with enough room for all their toys, and they lived there for several years before Norm started on the house.

These days Norm is retired with plenty of time to tinker with his hobbies, including the restoration of old organs and volunteering at the local community radio station, TEM FM. Never one to sit still, Norm’s interest in audio and pictures prompted him to design and build an extraordinary home theatre that is the envy of all his mates.

His specially designed room is like stepping back into the 1920s, with theatre seats, old art-deco lighting and a theatre organ that rises like a phoenix from a purpose-built organ pit.

The state-of-the-art, computer-controlled home theatre system features Blu-ray technology and a Dolby Atmos sound system.

When they are not flying, the Baileys love kicking back to a good movie, especially anything to do with flying.

They have hundreds of movies in their collection and love nothing better than immersing themselves in the cosy atmosphere of their theatre, where they can lose themselves in the story and special effects.

Today they are surrounded by about 30 like-minded “aviation tragics”, as Jill likes to put it, living out at the airport. Each has their own house and hangar, containing one or more aircraft. Many visit on weekends from Sydney and Canberra to enjoy the free, blue skies of Temora.

Jill works from home and reckons she has the dream job. It comes with a little bit of stress (one aspect of her role is aircraft accident investigations) but generally it is smooth sailing – or rather, flying.

“Our organisation or fleet – made up of recreational flyers like us – generally clocks up more than 300,000 hours per year,” she says.

“After nine years in Temora, we feel that we definitely made the right decision and are very thankful for that foggy morning, which changed our lives.”

Norm is equally content. “Some people really enjoy going to the same holiday destination,” he says. “We love flying to new places, meeting new people and checking out other pilots’ aircraft.” CWL Facing page: This adventurous pair love flying but their feet are firmly planted on the ground.

Above: Jill and Norm Bailey with their much-loved organ.

TEMORA CWL 105

Digging in for the

LONG HAUL

TEMORA IS A BIG MACHINERY TOWN - JUST ASK ALLAN GALLAGHER, A DETERMINED INDIVIDUAL ONLY A FEW YEARS SHORT OF CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE TRACTOR BUSINESS.

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hen Allan Gallagher arrived in Temora in 1969, six dealers lined the main street. Today, only three major operators remain.

Allan and wife Bev established Temora Truck & Tractor Service in 1980 in Hoskins Street before moving to a purpose-built site in Melaleuca Street.

The premises have been expanded over the years and has a massive workshop for tractors and harvesters and an assembly shed for tillage equipment.

Allan served a mechanical apprenticeship in Wagga Wagga before moving to Temora to take up work with the local Chamberlain dealer, PJ Reid.

He later gained eight years of invaluable experience working with heavy machinery as plant foreman for Narraburra Shire before the Gallaghers took the plunge and established their own business.

At first there was just Allan and Bev, who still works in administration, and an apprentice.

More than three decades later, the business has a staff of 20, including three in their second branch, Gallagher’s Machinery, at West Wyalong.

Allan still holds the successful New Holland franchise, selling a complete range of farming machinery from tractors through to hay and harvesting equipment.

Like his father, who worked on Eringoarrah Station, Wantabadgery, his entire life, Allan has been his own boss for a long time.

Having just turned 70, he still rises each morning at 6am, like he’s always done. He’ll go to work with Bev and meet up with their sons, who both work in the family business - Barry maintains the machinery and Paul runs the truck section.

It’s a well-oiled operation but, as Allan points out, it’s all about “being there”. That’s why Temora Truck & Tractor are always active at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

“Being there is what it’s all about. When a farmer has a breakdown, he needs somebody – usually sooner before later,” he says.

In the past, farmers were able to maintain their own machines. In recent times, however, machinery has become larger, more expensive and more complex.

“For many years farmers survived on their own,” Allan says. “Some still do, but as machinery becomes increasingly technical they require expert help.”

Allan has been dealing with farmers all his life and understands the pressures of the occupation.

“Our staff are trained to provide a level of service which promotes repeat business, especially in the farming sector. As land holdings increase, we are getting fewer customers but bigger machines.

“That’s why the locals keep coming back,” he says.

“We back up what we sell with service and parts.”

Allan’s philosophy on business is to “always try and play the game straight, follow solid business practice and look after your clients”.

The word retirement is not in his vocabulary.

“A man has to do something,” he says with a grin.

“I think about putting my feet up for a spell but that’s about all I do – think about it." CWL Facing page: Allan and Bev Gallagher with their sons Paul and Barry.

Above: Allan Gallagher says the tractor business is all about prompt service and back-up.

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A gift for HEALING

TEMORA

Weathering THE STORM “HARDSHIPS MAKE OR BREAK PEOPLE,” GONE WITH THE WIND AUTHOR MARGARET MITCHELL WROTE, AND “TARA” CUSTODIANS PAT THORNE AND WIFE ANNIE HAVE MOST CERTAINLY MADE IT.

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he rock-steady colonel, Pat Thorne AM, and his steadfast sculptor wife, Annie, have found peace and contentment on their Temora farm after a lifetime journey that stretched their personal boundaries to the very limit.

The pair now lease most of their 2500-acre property to neighbouring farmers and are beginning to enjoy the fruits of their many years of hard labour.

Walking down a dirt road, hand-in-hand and surrounded by prime first cross lambs and a wheat crop that has never looked better, the Thornes can’t help but feel blessed.

Every day they take this therapeutic walk – all 8000 paces, carefully measured. They walk not only to see how their crops are faring but to enjoy quality time together.

It is on these walks they reflect on a farm they’ve grown to embrace the true meaning of life, love and commitment, often in the face of adversity.

At the halfway mark they pause at a family memorial in the middle of the paddock. It is the spot where Pat’s parents’ ashes lie scattered in a grove of trees on the land they gave up so much for.

Pat’s father, Theo Thorne (but known affectionately to the Temora locals as “The Major”), served with the British Royal Artillery in WW1 and was decorated with a Military Cross in 1918. He endured a horrendous time and at one stage was left for dead in the hospital, recuperating from a bomb blast in the trenches.

After the war he started a printing and publishing company, Thorne’s Limited, in Calcutta, publishing newsletters on aviation and the railways – even The Planters Journal, similar to The Land.

When WW2 unfolded he tried enlisting but the war hero was rejected on his age. Instead he ran a POW camp in Bangalore (now the IT capital of India).

The Major invited many Italian prisoners to his wedding under the proviso they gave their word, as men of honour, they wouldn’t try to escape.

After the war he harboured ambitions of becoming a farmer but it wasn’t an easy road. Having failed his farming examinations, he later became involved with politics (defeated by none other than Sir Winston Churchill in his electoral aspirations) before managing a rubber plantation in Sumatra.

India finally gained independence in 1950 and the Thorne family, including seven-year-old Pat, moved to Australia to create a new life on “Tara”.

After many army postings he was appointed commanding officer of the Corps of Staff Cadets at Duntroon, where he was based for two years in the early 1980s. During this time, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia – one of the youngest to receive such a decoration.

Despite no farming experience, the Major was a resourceful and determined individual, undaunted by a “rundown farm full of rabbits, dust and rocks”.

In 1989, and having attained the rank of Colonel, he left the army after a series of crippling misfortunes, including a broken neck (from surfing), compound multiple leg fractures (legacy of a motorbike accident) and a divorce that broke his spirit, finances and even his resolve to live.

Young Pat spent 10 years at Canberra Grammar School and then under his father’s instructions, a further four years as a cadet at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, before finally graduating into the Royal Australian Artillery as a lieutenant.

Throw in post-traumatic stress and it was a pretty bleak picture. It took a flaming redhead who had spent a good chunk of her life in central Africa, to finally turn him around. That woman was Annie Nelson, whom he’d met briefly as a teenager but hadn’t seen for over 20 years. >

He went on to serve in Vietnam as a forward observer – the same job as his father in WW1.

Facing page: Pat and Annie Thorne take a walk through their farm every morning.

Above: Pat Thorne and his inspirational wife Annie check out their wheat crop.

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In their early courting days, Pat rescued a sheep from the bottom of a gold mine. It was a fairly perilous affair, and his noble actions won the fair maiden’s heart.

Annie’s story is another filled with strong ambitious types. Her father, Ted James, and grandfather James James, were both former Temora mayors and astute businessmen in their own right (Miller & James is still trading after being established in 1903). Her brother Peter continued the fine family tradition and served in a similar role in the 1990s.

Annie, however, had her own agenda, which didn’t include local politics.

Having trained as a pathology technician, she spent 12 years travelling and working in the great cities of London, Cape Town and Nairobi.

When Pat’s father arrived 64 years ago, $20 (roughly a week’s wages) could buy you an acre of land or two Merino ewes. These days the land in the district sells for up to $2000 an acre and those same sheep are making over $200.

After improving the farm, the Thorne family won the Narraburra Cup for Sustainable Farming on four occasions and also bagged local wheat and canola crop competitions.

While proud of these achievements, Pat’s involvement with the military, and his helping of other Vietnam veterans, is closer to his heart.

“The Vietnam vets were in a bad shape when they came home, with many living in difficult circumstances,” he explains.

She gave birth to her daughter Antonia in a mud and straw missionary hospital in darkest Africa. It was on the old slave route in Tanzania, where the famous words “Dr Livingstone, I presume”, were uttered by Stanley.

Pat formed the Vietnam Veterans South West Slopes with the aim of helping them get their pension entitlements and develop a social network.

After her African sojourn, Annie and her (then) husband and three young children were sent to the World Bank headquarters in Washington, just up from the White House. During her decade in America she studied sculpture, earned an associate degree in fine arts and even dined in the White House.

“Although many had given up, they all now receive their pension entitlements. About 20 of them have been coming out here every year for the past 15 years.”

In 1989, about the same time as Pat, she returned home to Temora, minus her husband and with her spirits at an all-time low. With her daughters at boarding school in Canada and England and a son at The King’s School, Parramatta, it was a stressful time being a mother.

“We had both hit rock-bottom. Our only alternative was to put it all behind us and devote our energies to the farm and each other,” Annie says.

A few years into farm life, they were again confronted with a serious challenge – a drought that nearly pulled them to the brink.

“After 25 years overseas – all stimulating and exciting times – to come back to a crippling 10-year drought seriously tested my resolve,” Annie says.

Time is a great healer and today the Thornes are happy, prosperous and content beyond their wildest imagination.

Walking to the family memorial each day reminds them of Pat’s parents’ lofty aspirations when they first came to “Tara” to build a new life.

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“We redeveloped the Springdale Anzac Memorial and continue to meet monthly to plan trips and keep in touch,” he continues.

Annie’s real interest lies in palaeontology – the study of bones and fossils.

She also enjoys her sculpture, making magnificent bronze and steel pieces that adorn the family home.

I ask her what makes her happy. “It’s a combination of happiness that we built with each other, through the farm and with the wonderful local community,” she says thoughtfully.

Even though they are both at retirement age, neither has plans of leaving the property that saved their lives and provided a firm base for their five children, who have all gone on to make their own lives as firm friends.

Like in the movie Gone with the Wind, “Tara” has become intertwined with their own personal journey and led them to a rich and fulfilling life that they hope to continue for many years. CWL Above: The memorial dedicated to Pat Thorne’s parents; Annie with one of her sculptures.

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he earthmover, known simply as Newy, has lived in Temora all his 79 years and shows no sign of slowing down, in business or his untiring community service.

Over the years, the soon-to-be octogenarian has served on more committees than he can count.

He was, at one stage, the chairman of the Temora and District Sports Council, the Stadium Steering Committee, and the local trotting club (Newy’s always maintained a great love for his trotters and insists he’s still waiting for that good one).

He is also a devout supporter of the local rugby league team, the Temora Dragons, at both junior and senior levels, and he did all the earthworks for the Nixon Park complex.

The big man has also been involved in Riding for the Disabled and the Lake Centenary Committee as well as a ringmaster with the local show society for 15 years.

WORKING WONDERS JOHN NEW IS KNOWN AROUND TOWN AS THE MAN WHO CAN MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH.

In 1993 Newy was awarded the Citizen of the Year, in recognition of all his years of service but he doesn’t do it for the accolades. He’s just a bloke who likes to roll up his sleeves and get things done.

It’s the way he has always winged it, just like 40 years ago when he put an ad in the paper for some earthmoving work. He ended up at the London Hotel in Ardlethan with two big jobs and didn’t bring his plant home for 18 months.

Over a beer at his local watering hole, Newy doesn’t like talking about himself, but rather the things he and the town have been able to achieve by working together.

He reckons the Temora sporting complex is as good as any in NSW. “For the opening of the indoor stadium we had the Sydney Kings line up against the Newcastle Falcons, thanks to the generous sponsorship of local business houses.

It was an unbelievable turn-out for a game of basketball,” he says.

“Temora is a town that once you decide to do something, you can call on help and you’ll get it. The indoor stadium had 22 local carpenters putting the roof on – all working for a barbecue and a few beers afterwards. Thanks to the help of volunteers we shaved a quarter of a million dollars from the cost.”

He enjoys a quiet beer with his son, Herb (one of five children), who works in the business with him at the other end of town. It’s a special

bonding time between father and son, before Newy makes the short walk home to greet his supportive wife, Joan.

They’ve been married 58 years and have quite the extended family, including a staggering 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

“I’ve occasionally had arguments with people but at the end of the day we’ve always managed to move on without any malice,” he says with a friendly grin.

John New may not be a shaker but he is certainly a big mover, and a great example of a pretty normal bloke who has devoted a good slice of his life to helping others. He embodies the community spirit that makes Temora tick. CWL Top: There’s not much in the earthmoving business that John New doesn’t know.

Above: By the end of the day, John loves unwinding with a cold beer at the Terminus Hotel with his son Herb. Barmaid Jess knows most of the locals.

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Little village, BIG HEART ARIAH PARK IS NOT JUST KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT INDUSTRY.

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ith a population of several hundred dwellers, Ariah Park (pronounced “Area Park”), lies in the heart of a strong and diverse rural community, well known for its cereals, oilseeds, wool, beef, prime lambs, stud stock and pigs.

The locals even count “Babe” as a favourite son, born and raised here before finding fame on the silver screen in 1995.

The heritage village, just 20 minutes west of Temora, offers travellers a glimpse of living history tucked away in modern rural Australia.

Affectionately known as the town of nothing but “Wowsers, Bowsers and Peppercorn Trees”, the main street has been renovated to preserve the central avenue of peppercorns, with a central plaza offering picnic tables and seating.

The commercial centre hasn’t changed from the peak of the village’s prosperity in the 1920s, with several restored vintage petrol bowsers in the main drag for good effect.

The district was first settled in 1850, with Ariah Park connected to the main southern railway line via Temora in 1906. The village was gazetted the year after this connection and flourished at the expense of the nearby settlement of Broken Dam. Ariah Park is known as the “Birthplace of Australian Bulk Grain”, with the first bulk-wheat loading operation on rail being dispatched from Ariah Park in 1916, the first in the country.

Until then, the biggest impediment to the expansion of cereal grain production was the problem of transferring the grain from farm to marketplace.

The steady expansion of the railway network in the decades prior to WW1 signalled some big changes, namely the clearing of huge tracts of arable land for cropping.

Until then all the harvested grain was bagged – a tough job and not for the faint hearted. The war deprived rural Australia of many of its able-bodied agricultural workforce, further increasing the urgency of grain-handling reform.

Local produce agents Webster Bros, in late 1916, successfully loaded nine tonnes of wheat into a rail truck at the local siding, with no wastage or damage. It was a pivotal moment and, 100 years later, it was time to commemorate the milestone.

Chairman of the Bulk Wheat Centenary organising committee Bill Speirs says the 2016 Centenary Weekend recognised Ariah Park’s unique contribution to our wheat industry.

“Changing economic circumstances have made the choice to live in communities like ours more about lifestyle than commerce, and many of us work tirelessly to preserve the quality of that experience,” he says.

The local community received a huge boost with the installation of a life-size bronze sculpture of a wheat lumper, beautifully sculpted

by Margot Stephens of Mudgee, and made by Crawford’s Foundry in South Strathfield.

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These days the village is enjoying a revival, with its own chemist, supermarket, hotel and café.

Daniel Chalmers, manager of A.L. Chalmers & Son, is the third generation of the family to run this fertiliser business. Daniel has expanded with a fleet of trucks and recently took over a local grain-handling facility.

The Ariah Park Hotel is the quintessential traditional pub with 20foot pressed-tin ceilings, stunning stained-glass windows and grand staircases. The beautiful heritage-listed pub has been serving the local community for over 100 years.

The nearby Ariah Park Cafe was shut in 2009 but the villagers didn’t take it sitting down. After a number of public meetings, it was decided to raise funds to save the cafe. Over $130,000 was raised by locals to purchase the cafe, which is now leased to operators but still owned by the community.

In late 2015, Krishna Mota and Pramodh (“DP”) Dhanpal bought the Ariah Park Supermarket and refurbished the store. Today it’s one of the best small-town supermarkets and is attracting customers back to the village.

Prince Samaan, his partner Mina Ibrahim and their families migrated from Egypt eight years ago, and have opened pharmacies at both Ariah Park and Ardlethan. They live in Temora, allowing them to pick up scripts in Temora in the morning and deliver the medication back to Temora that evening.

Toots Noack, Robyn Lewis and Sue Weise are resourceful local volunteers who regularly decorate any vacant shop windows. Every few months, the ladies apply different themes for Australia Day, Anzac Day, football finals, show time and Christmas.

Rowan Bromfield is another enterprising young man who set up a museum on the family property “Hazeldean”, at nearby Quandary. Rowan also obtained a $25,000 grant under the RAS Young Achiever Program in 2011, to build a Camp Kitchen at the Ariah Park Camping Ground, run by local volunteers.

The Ariah Park B&S Ball (always the last Saturday in October) has an Australia-wide reputation, and the committee has donated over $400,000 to local charities over the past 30 years.

It’s all about having a go and fighting for what you believe in. The Ariah Park locals are justifiably proud of their mighty little village with so much to show and tell. CWL TEMORA CWL 113

A ride back in TIME

LYNDSAY AND RITA BROMFIELD HAVE HEADED DOWN A DIFFERENT TRACK IN THE NAME OF TOURISM.

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here aren’t many farmers who can claim to be working on the same block as their pioneering ancestors, and surely only one who can boast of a fruitful new business involving two beautifully restored train carriages and a historic cottage dedicated to memories of the early days.

We’re talking about historic “Hazeldean” at Ariah Park and its custodians Lyndsay and Rita Bromfield. The keen historian and antique collector in the family is their youngest son Rowan, 31, who works at Delta Agribusiness in nearby Temora.

Today he’s come home to help his father on the farm and discuss the birth of their aptly named Country Carriage B&B. While the eye-catching carriages represent a tangible link to our once mighty rail system, the City Circle and Overlander really need to be slept in to unlock their majestic secrets.

How they came to be here is a story in itself.

“When we started we knew nothing about the tourism business,” explains Rita as she brings out a fabulous spread of morning tea. “We just knew we wanted something a little bit different.”

She found what she was looking for in 2006 - a train carriage at Tailem Bend in South Australia that was used as a crew van for the railway workers to cross the Nullarbor Plain.

“We drove over and decided we could do something with it, but when it turned up here on a prime mover outside our front door we shook our heads in disbelief,” she laughs. “What were we thinking?”

After six months of painstaking restoration, including replacing all the windows, the Overlander was ready.

Their first guests were Japanese tourists. Since then hundreds of couples and families, mostly from Canberra and Sydney, have stayed in the lavishly appointed carriage with antique furniture belonging to Lyndsay’s mother.

It sleeps up to six in three separate compartments.

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Fast forward a few years and Rowan was once again up to his old tricks. On this occasion he came home with a billiard table snapped up at a clearing sale. As was frequently the case with Rowan’s purchases, there was nowhere to put it.

It was time to once again muster around the old kitchen table. It’s where all the big family decisions are made. It’s where they agreed to phase out sheep and concentrate on cattle and where the concept for a B&B “with a slight twist” was first mooted 10 years ago.

After plenty of lively discussion, the family invested in an old “Red Rattler” from Londonderry that had previously been used as a computer classroom in Grafton.

It too was refurbished and christened the City Circle. The most difficult job was getting the billiard table in.

“Although I had no plans for a second carriage, they work well together, especially with extended families or couples,” Rita says.

“We’ve also enjoyed plenty of repeat visitors. One fellow comes up from Sydney quite regularly with his telescope. He sleeps all day and stays up all night star gazing.”

Dining in a carriage under stunning sunsets and brilliant stars might indeed be special, but the Bromfields had by now developed a much better appreciation of the tourism industry and what was expected of them.

Their next family project was developing a pioneer cottage to offer a glimpse of how their forebears lived and worked in the early 1900s.

The cottage arrived in two halves on a truck from “Ivanhoe”, Barmedman, in late 2010 and was pieced back together by Lyndsay and Rowan with help from local tradesman Desmond Delaney, who reinstated the verandah complete with a new floor.

The house, covered with hundreds of Rowan’s bits and pieces collected over the years, is like walking into a time warp. It’s all rather special and Rowan loves sharing his booty with visitors.

Nearby is the old shearing shed built prior to WW2, before its conversion to horse stables and dairy. In 1980 the thatch roof was replaced with tin but it still feels very old.

The family still have the original plough from about 1870. Rowan also maintains his grandfather’s first truck, a1936 Oldsmobile, which his grandparents camped in during their honeymoon on the Tumut River.

The old truck, which is rumoured to run on pure whiskey, was used as a farm vehicle when not transporting the Ariah Park ladies hockey team around the district.

“Whilst much of the farming plant came from our own family, many other pieces have been acquired through clearing sales and other sources,” says the knowledgeable Rowan.

“Hazledean” has been home to six generations of Bromfields.

Lyndsay and Rita’s eldest son, John, 32, is a technical officer at the Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga, with a small property and penchant for horses.

Lyndsay has been on the property most of his life and is proud of his family’s military history. His father, Jack, was an engineer at Tobruk, and his grandfather, Harry, fought in WW1 as well as being stationed in Darwin during WW2.

At the Back to Ariah Park Centenary of Bulk Grain Handling last October, Rowan drove Harry’s first vehicle, the Oldsmobile, in the parade while Lyndsay drove his last vehicle, an HZ Kingswood ute.

Rowan’s fascination with relics from the past started in earnest a decade ago when he found himself bidding for items at a family clearing sale.

Before long he was finding more things around the farm and was forced to build a new shed to house his treasured Clyde wagon purchased at a local clearing sale from a Victorian family who came to the area in the 1880s.

After 133 years of Bromfield history in Ariah Park, the family’s latest venture is by far the most exciting. This friendly family, with their roots firmly tied up in the district, extend a warm, country invitation to all to take a nostalgic ride on one of their spruced up “Red Rattlers” and relax in true outback style. CWL TEMORA CWL 115

From little things ...

MARGARET MILLER HAS SPENT A LIFETIME TRANSFORMING HER DUSTY, WINDSWEPT CHILDHOOD HOME INTO A GLORIOUS RETREAT ABUNDANT IN SHADE AND COLOUR.

A

fter one of the wettest winters and early springs on record, debris still hangs from the fence in evidence of recent high water levels as you step out of the car in Combaning, near Temora.

Full paddocks of canola, barley and wheat promise a bountiful pre-Christmas harvest, roadside grasses are drying off, and Margaret and Charlie Miller’s garden appears as an oasis behind the fences.

In full swing at “Sunnyside”, spring 2016 is almost decadent - lush green lawns, loads of gorgeous flowers in generous wide garden beds, all layered underneath the cooling shade of huge mature trees. Margaret’s garden has certainly benefitted from the recent heavy rains, but its true beauty lies in the heart and hands of this passionate gardener.

As we walk and talk in the garden, Margaret tells me she has lived here all her life.

“As a kid growing up, Mum and Dad didn’t have much of a garden and there was no water to spare,” Margaret says.

She recalls a small garden, no lawn, no protection from the westerly winds and the driveway close to the house was the main dusty thoroughfare for the farm.

Seventy-odd years on, the garden is a beautiful cool retreat protected from the elements and a welcome relief from the heat at the end of a long day’s farming.

Typical of many country gardens, over about 20 years Margaret has moved corrugated iron fences out past the boundary into the surrounding paddocks – at least four times!

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Each time shade trees have been planted, forming a layered garden under and around the trees with wide stone-edged beds divided by meandering gravel pathways.

“Dad and I planted three big claret ash (Fraxinus 'Raywood') and then added another … and another,” Margaret says.

“The old white cedar trees (Melia azedarach) used to be on the outskirts of the garden, and nobody would let me pull them out, so now they too form part of the tree canopy.”

Golden elm, Manchurian pears, crepe myrtles, golden honey locusts, flowering crab apples, white flowering peaches and dark leaved flowering plums have joined the tree collection over ensuing years.

Chinese poplar trees (Populus simonii) with their white trunks and lustrous dark green foliage line the long entrance drive. Densely planted carob trees went in as wind protection originally on the outer boundaries, and these too are surrounded by garden beds.

The garden beds started in dribs and drabs, narrow at first.

“Then I realised the need to move the edging stones out to make wider beds, which I could fill with plants. It’s grown like topsy,” Margaret says, humbly understating the garden’s fullness, diversity and generosity. >

Above: Shade trees form the foundations of this colourful, abundant garden.

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Many of the plants have been grown from cuttings gifted by friends in town, or from garden club members.

Clockwise from top left: Intense blue bearded iris; gravel pathways invite exploration among the generous garden beds; pretty and prolific ‘Pinkie’ climbing rose is almost thornless and blooms repeatedly from spring to autumn; aptly named ‘Lovely Lady’ pink hybrid tea rose; massed display of perennials, spring annuals, roses and in the foreground brilliant cerise Lychnis, edged with rosette shaped Echivera; locally sourced rocks border the generously planted garden beds and a lush well-maintained lawn completes the lovely picture.

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“I love my garden. I spend a lot of time in it and I do enjoy it.”

Clockwise from top left: Spires of foxgloves are a spring delight; climbing pink rose ‘Bantry Bay’; the front garden features even more lovely trees - including a massive Golden Elm, burgundy leafed Prunus and Manchurian pears; Margaret finds places to display colour everywhere; succulent Echivera is an attractive and tough border plant that multiplies easily from cuttings; this archway is one of two smothered in delightful ‘Pinkie’ climbing rose; rich purple statice – Limonium perezii.

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Many of the plants have been grown from cuttings gifted by friends in town, or from garden club members, and if Margaret sees a plant she likes she buys it and gives it a go. By the look of things, it’s good management, not just good luck, which make the plants grow so well here at Sunnyside.

Featuring a sizeable golden elm tree, the sunny front yard used to contain a vegie patch but has been transformed into lovely gardens featuring burgundy-leafed flowering plums, hardy flowering shrubs like abelia, polygala and red callistemons and, of course, more roses. In keeping with the bolder colour theme here, these are mostly reds.

Pink is a favourite colour, and a magnificent archway is smothered in thousands of clustered blooms as the prolific ‘Pinkie’ rose puts on a show-stopping spring display.

This season Margaret is trying out canola straw as mulch, and she feeds her roses with Sudden Impact for Roses.

Nearby ‘Bantry Bay’, ‘Lovely Lady’ and ‘Duet’ roses bloom among a sea of flowering perennials and spring annuals. Salvias are top performers here, with ‘Waverley’, ‘Phyllis Fancy’, ‘Indigo’ and ‘Mystic Spires’ among the best varieties.

Margaret’s tip is regular trimming, which keeps salvia compact and leaves room for the other perennials to put on a show.

Brilliant cerise Lychnis coronaria (syn Silene coronaria) flowers contrast against silvery foliage adding eye-catching bursts of intense colour among the softer pastel hues. Also known as “rose campion”, this hardy perennial self-seeds, adding longevity to its attributes.

There’s also a spot of formality among the riot of colour, a parterre formed with box hedging and soft pink and apricot David Austin, English and floribunda roses including Tamora, Norwich Castle, Ambridge Rose and Apricot Nectar. Cat mint (Nepeta), bearded iris, valerian and granny’s bonnet (Aquilegia) complete the spring picture, and colourful dahlias join the mix during summer.

Annual flowers such as Sweet William, poppies, cosmos and larkspurs pop up from volunteer seeds to add swathes of colour, and spires of pretty foxgloves are favourites planted from seedlings each year.

Margaret has edged many of the garden beds with rosette-shaped succulents, their plump silvery grey leaves lined with red adding another layer of colour and interest. These Echiveras love the dry conditions along the stone edges and are easily multiplied from cuttings.

Out the back near the water tanks are productive raised vegetable beds, but the vegetables are not confined to just one spot – you will find tall garlic plants flowering among the roses too.

New plants are watered in using Seasol – a seaweed tonic to promote root development. All-important water for the garden comes from big dams and is pumped up to water tanks behind the house. There’s just two beds connected to drip irrigation and the rest are watered by hand-held hoses or sprinklers, Margaret’s experienced eye managing the individual requirements of each plant.

Husband Charlie does most of the mowing, says Margaret, but she does most of the gardening with some help to cart stones for the garden edges, and Charlie usually prunes the roses in July.

“I love my garden,” says Margaret. “I spend a lot of time in it and I do enjoy it. I don’t drink or smoke, so I might as well spend my money on plants.”

The Millers have raised seven children here at Sunnyside. Son Craig now runs the 1000-hectare farm.

The garden is enjoyed by all the family, including 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. No doubt there will be some future garden lovers among them!

Garden Clubs of Australia encourage friendship through gardening.

Temora Districts Gardeners Club Inc. meets on the first Sunday of the month at various gardens and can be contacted via www.gardenclubs.org.au or What’s on Temora www.temora.com.au/events. CWL Words: Elizabeth Swane Images: Robert Bruce

Above: Through the trees there are glimpses of farm buildings beyond the garden fences. At Sunnyside the garden is a lush and colourful oasis created with happiness and a love of plants, welcoming family and visitors alike.

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BUSHRANGER SERIES - part 1

Wild colonial girl

THE CENTRAL WEST HAS A RICH AND FASCINATING HERITAGE, AND NO MORE COLOURFUL HISTORY CAN BE FOUND THAN THE STORIES OF OUR BUSHRANGERS. OVER FUTURE ISSUES OF THE MAGAZINE, AUTHOR AND BUSHRANGER HISTORIAN GREGORY POWELL WILL GUIDE US IN THE TRACKS OF THE BUSHRANGERS SO THAT READERS CAN GAIN AN APPRECIATION FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES AND PERHAPS BE INSPIRED TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE THE HAUNTS OF THOSE WILD LAWBREAKERS OF OUR PAST.

O

ut along the scenic Bylong Valley Way are the towns of Rylstone and Kandos, which both feature prominently in the story of one of our lesser-known bushrangers who committed her crimes in the 1900s.

Elizabeth Jessie Hunt has become known now in the area as the Lady Bushranger and, like all bushrangers before her, she lived by her wits in the bush and kept the forces of law at bay by cunning and fine horsemanship.

Jessie was born in 1890, grew up as a bush girl and joined a travelling circus at a very early age. Here she could show off her bush skills, especially in bareback riding and buckjumping.

Jessie later left the show and fell into criminal activity while living in Sydney and spent time in gaol. In 1920 she married Ben Hickman but this soon ended in divorce.

Jessie still had relatives in the Central West of NSW and so she headed to the wild isolated mountain country to the west of the Blue Mountains.

Her brother, Hector Kenneth Hunt, and his family lived in Kandos and Jessie would explore the remote Nullo Mountain and Widden Valley on frequent visits to Kandos. She made friends with the farmers and their families, who ran sheep and cattle on the high sandstone and basalt plateau. She even found an isolated sandstone cave to retreat to and later furnished it with basic items such as a wire bed and box cupboard.

It was then that the bushranger legend began to grow. Jessie met up with young cattle duffers on the mountain and joined them in droving stolen stock to nearby markets. They brought the cattle up into secret gullies and box canyons, known locally as “holes”, and then moved them out from the mountain ramparts via old routes forged long ago by the Wiradjuri people.

Jessie eventually had saved enough money to purchase two blocks of land in the narrow headwaters of Emu Creek, at the very limits of the Hunter River catchment. She built for herself a rough dwelling and lived comfortably. Jessie would be well hidden in her mountain hideaway and there was still the secret cave high up on Nullo Mountain for a lastminute desperate retreat if needed.

Above: Jessie’s 1913 gaol photo.

The police remained vigilant and Jessie was arrested at her Emu Creek property in May 1928 and transported to the cells at Rylstone. On May 9, 1928, Jessie was charged, in the packed Rylstone Court, with stealing cattle. Following this hearing, a trial was set for the Mudgee Court on August 28. Jessie was free on bail until then.

Left: The teapot from Jessie’s cave is now on display in Kandos Museum.

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Above: Lookout along the track in Ferntree Gully.

Krasovski Dmitri/Mongione/Shutterstock.com

There were times when Jessie had to leave her mountain sanctuaries to visit relatives in Kandos or to purchase supplies in Rylstone. These were dangerous times because she now came within reach of the law. When the police did pounce, Jessie was always able to make a daring escape and enhance her reputation. Her horseriding skills came in especially handy in these instances.

With the difficulty in proving cattle ownership in wild unfenced country, Jessie’s future looked positive. The jury found Jessie not guilty and Judge Sheridan declared Jessie a free woman. Her supporters were elated and her detractors, including the police, hoped that Jessie would have learned her lesson and that the robberies would cease.

An old circus era head injury now became more acute and as the years passed, Jessie became more and more irrational. She often made up stories to enhance her reputation or to frighten people into keeping their distance. These tales made life difficult for later researchers who had to try to glean the truth from the fiction.

It was at Emu Creek that she finally broke down and she was taken to the hospital in Muswellbrook and then transferred to Newcastle Mental Hospital. She died there on September 15, 1936, from the complications of a brain tumour.

Jessie was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in Sandgate Cemetery near Newcastle. She rests there still, but it is likely that her restless spirit still roams the ranges from Nullo Mountain to Emu Creek and beyond.

Visitors can easily explore the Lady Bushranger country by car. The little cemeteries at Widden and Bylong contain names of pioneers who Jessie would have known well and the sandstone escarpments are spectacular.

Above: Jessie’s cave on Nullo Mountain.

The main street of Rylstone has changed little since Jessie’s time. The Police Station and Court House, which were very familiar to Jessie, are still features of the historic streetscape. The rear of the Constables House now houses the current Police Station, with sandstone lock-up and cells no longer in use. The Sergeants House with slab stable at rear is now private and the Court House is still in use.

The recently upgraded Kandos Museum has on display Jessie’s blue teapot from her cave on Nullo Mountain.

Visitors can get a feel for Lady Bushranger Country by enjoying the walking tracks at Ferntree Gully Reserve near Rylstone. Jessie’s spirit can be felt here as visitors experience in a small area all of the natural features that are evident in the vast neighbouring Wollemi National Park, which provided Jessie with solitude and protection. Visitors to Ferntree Gully will experience sandstone escarpments, dry ridge tops, rainforest gullies and box canyons or holes.

By driving up the good but unsealed road onto the majestic plateau of Nullo Mountain, further feelings for Jessie’s life and times will be experienced.

Scenic Dunns Swamp within Wollemi National Park is an ideal place to camp while exploring further.

Above: Rylstone Court House and Police Station.

Gregory Powell is the author of Bushranger Tracks, published by New Holland in 2016. The book has 272 pages of colour photos of the sites where the exciting incidents from our bushranging era took place as well as text describing the history to be found at those sites. The Central West of NSW features strongly in the book.

With a keen imagination, the historic locations can transport the modern explorer back to the wild days of early settlement when gold glittered, guns blazed and men and women struggled their way into our heritage.

Bushranger TRACKS

Bushranger Tracks is the result of Gregory Powell’s 40 years of research and continuing passion for the bushranging era, and is possibly the most extensive book detailing bushranger sites ever published.

The book is available on Booktopia or from bookstores and visitor centres. CWL www.newhollandpublishers.com

Above: Gregory Powell overlooking Lady Bushranger country from Sandy Hollow.

History / Travel

Gregory Powell combines his interests in bushwalking and history to explore historical and scenic regions on foot. He is the author of books exploring the Snowy Mountains, the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley and has published four bushranger locality books.

Greg was a founding member of Hunter Bushrangers (formerly Rovent Historical Re-enactments), a living history group formed in 1969 which performed at public events all over the state until 2009.

Words & images: Gregory Powell

Gregory Powell

Read about the Ned Kelly gang, Captain Starlight, Ben Hall and many other bushrangers of our colonial past.

With a keen imagination, the historic locations can transport the modern explorer back to the wild days of the early settlement when gold glittered, guns blazed, and men and women struggled.

Bushranger Tracks is the result of Gregory Powell’s continuing passion for Australian history and, in particular, the bushranger era. This is possibly the most extensive book detailing bushranger sites ever published.

Broken Hill

Bonshaw

Enngonia

Tenterfield

Bushranger Moree

Collarenebri

Bourke

Walgett

Brewarrina

Gundabooka National Park

g rlin Da

Millie

Namo i

Inverell

Gunnedah

Nyngan

Breelong

Newton Boyd

Ollera

Narrabri

Boggabri

Quambone

Manila

Carroll

Tamworth

Quirindi

Murrurundi

Coffs Harbour

Armidale Uralla

Bendemeer

Blandford

Port Macquarie

TRACKS Narromine

Dubbo

Wellington

Merriwa Ulan Gulgong

Scone

Barrington Tops

Wingham Gloucester

Dungog Stroud Mudgee Singleton Paterson Rylstone Maitland Kandos Parkes Newcastle Wollombi Mossgiel Orange Forbes Eugowra Bathurst Canowindra Blayney Hartley Mt Wheogo Carcoar Cowra Blaxland Grenfell la n Grabine Jenolan Caves SYDNEY Lach Koorawatha Bigga Abercrombie Caves Bringelly Griffith Young Binda Thalaba Bargo Temora Wombat Leeton Narrawa Wallendbeen Wollongong Goulburn Mittagong Narrandera Wingello Yass Gunning Junee Wantabadgery Collector Wagga Wagga Gundaroo M Lockhart Jerilderie ur Bungendore ra Deniliquin Kyeamba y Henty Braidwood Majors Creek Walla Walla Mudmelong Batemans Bay Tumbarumba Krawarree Jinden Peechelba Nerrigundah Wooragee Wangaratta Cooma Beechworth Glenrowan Mt Kosciuszko Benalla Inglewood Greta Bendigo Euroa Whitfield Avenel Stringybark Creek Heathcote Castlemaine Mansfield

N E W

S O U T H

W A L E S

Discover the historic sites of our wild colon ial past

Ballarat Buninyong

A.C.T.

V I C T O R I A Wallan

Egerton

Hurstbridge MELBOURNE

Bairnsdale

Geelong Cape Schanck

Gregory Powell

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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.

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GREEN with ACTIVITY SINCE IT WAS FIRST OPENED TO VISITORS IN 2008, OBERON’S MAJESTIC MAYFIELD GARDEN HAS EVOLVED TO BECOME AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING, MAGICAL TOURIST DESTINATION, FULL OF WONDER AND INSPIRATION FOR ALL TO ENJOY.

T

he Mayfield visitor experience has multiplied, with an array of dynamic events and workshops on offer at the garden.

Owned by the Hawkins family, Mayfield is renowned as one of the world’s largest, privately owned cool climate gardens, and is now open 360 days of the year.

A promising new development for Mayfield has been the recruitment, in August last year, of CEO Hamish Keith, who was raised on a sheep farm on the Blayney Road near Bathurst.

Hamish has spent the past 10 years producing and creating high profile events across the globe. Based in New York for the past five years, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table combined with local knowledge.

“Mayfield Garden has so much to offer the tourism industry in the Central West. It’s a world class garden right on our doorstep, and that’s a truly exciting prospect for us, especially as we increase the experiences for visitors,” Hamish says. > 126 CWL

Above: The busy Mayfield Garden cafe .

Top: Live entertainment for visitors.

“MAYFIELD GARDEN HAS so

much to offer THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE Central West.

IT’S A world class GARDEN RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP.”

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en cafe.

Above: Al fresco dining at the Mayfield Gard

mer or fall, Mayfield Above: Winter, spring, sum

Garden puts on a delightful

show.

“THE GARDEN IS impressive ALL YEAR

ROUND, BUT THE COLOURFUL foliage of

autumn IS TRULY SOMETHING special.”

The 36-acre garden boasts a water and stone feature garden, bluestone bridge, a copper tree fountain, an obelisk standing 50 feet tall and an interactive gallery telling the history and inspiration of the garden, among other captivating features. The garden is impressive all year round, but the colourful foliage of autumn is truly something special.

Visitors to Mayfield Garden can now also enjoy the serenity of taking a rowboat out on Mayfield Lake, a feature included in the entry fee. Combined with Mayfield’s delightful picnic hampers, there’s no better location to enjoy a spectacular garden and wind down with friends and family.

“We’re also developing an incredible events calendar that will include live music on weekends, a Cool Climate Wine & Food Festival, a Winter Festival with tobogganing on real snow and a music festival with James Reyne headlining,” Hamish says.

“A wide range of workshops will also be on offer, including artist and yoga retreats, floristry workshops, boot camps, landscape design programs and much more.

“There is truly no end to the potential for Mayfield Garden. I really believe it can become one of the region’s most dynamic artistic and entertainment hubs.”

Mayfield Garden also welcomed centre director Heath Smith to the team last year, another familiar face for locals. Heath is an award-winning restaurateur from Bathurst with a passion for local produce.

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Above: Take

a rowboat ou

t onto Mayfie

ld Lake.

“Heath has brought his own touch to the dining experience at Mayfield Garden, and we’re privileged to have such a talented restaurateur helping to build our unique offering,” Hamish says.

“Food lovers will be glad to know Mayfield Garden has a delicious garden and paddock to plate inspired menu, where 80 per cent of the menu comes from our garden and farm, with the rest being sourced locally.

“Every morning, our chefs pick fresh vegetables and herbs from our three-acre vegetable garden before turning on the ovens.

“We also produce premium beef, lamb and chicken on Mayfield farm that surrounds the garden. It’s wonderful to know just how fresh and local our food is.”

Hamish loves calling the Central West home once again, and along with his wife, Mary-Ann, and two daughters Mina, 3, and Asha, 1, he knows it’s the ideal place to raise a family.

“I’m incredibly proud of the region in which I was raised, and I’m so grateful for the role I am able to play in the next big step for Mayfield Garden,” Hamish says.

Tickets to the Autumn Music Festival with James Reyne headlining, and the Cool Climate Wine & Food Festival, are available via www.mayfieldgarden.com.au/tickets. CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Mayfield Garden

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DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? A RURAL LIFESTYLE OFFERS A TANTALISING MIX OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY BUT WHEN CHALLENGES BUILD UP, STRESS CAN INFLUENCE MANY AREAS, INCLUDING OUR SIGHT, AS AN OPTOMETRIST FROM YOUNG EXPLAINS.

“W

e are working with communities in a state of stress,” says Janine Hobson, from Young Eyes. “The pace of modern life is so much more constant, we are never fully relaxed.”

What’s more, Janine explains, this is having a detrimental effect on some people’s vision, particularly in children and teenagers.

The good news is that this story is not one of despair, rather the opportunity for repair.

“A sudden loss of visual awareness” is the overarching sign that our vision has been affected by life’s changing circumstances, says Janine.

This can affect spatial awareness and depth perception, making everyday tasks more trying, she explains. “People often realise they have been bumping into things, and that they have lost confidence in their daily tasks and surroundings.”

While there are a number of reasons that can explain these changes (spanning all ages), it’s young people who have Janine’s professional and personal focus.

“Often children come to us because their teacher has noticed marked changes in behaviour and has suggested a raft of tests including sight and hearing to get to the bottom of the issue. The teacher has seen the child’s loss of confidence, and watched everything become difficult.”

Many of these children suffer from what is known as Streff Syndrome (first highlighted in research completed in 1962 by American Dr John Streff ). Few people may have heard of it, yet many know friends, family members or neighbours who have displayed similar symptoms at one time or another.

“The key to helping these patients is to resist the assumption that the person is simply malingering. While reading and everyday tasks have become markedly harder, it is certainly not a laziness issue. And it’s often not a mental health issue either – though this may need to be explored.”

This syndrome is seen in all sectors of society, and is sometimes referred to as “non-malingering syndrome”, describing a cluster of symptoms including reduced vision, stereopsis (depth perception) and colour perception that can make life harder.

Sadly, in the 14 years since opening her business in Young, the syndrome has increased across all sectors of society.

“The best news is that it’s treatable, sometimes with glasses, but more often with support from various health professionals. If you can remove or reduce the stress, patients can get better very quickly. The child then returns to its happy, functioning self, ” Janine says. “Most families come back and say it’s so much more relaxing now the issue is resolved.”

As a wish list for the future, the team at Young Eyes advocate pre-school screening for all children, as it gives health professionals a baseline measurement for many aspects of sight, which may become useful if sudden changes to sight develop later.

Pre-school testing is available through the NSW Government’s StEPS program (a state-funded, universal vision screening program for 4-year-old children), or via volunteer optometrists who move around local pre-schools.

But for now, Janine and her team encourage those with similar symptoms to follow it up. If you see something, do something, is the simple message.

Teachers often notice that some children reach a certain reading level, and then show poor concentration and lack of interest in the classroom.

“The biggest positive would be for people to be assessed early,” Janine says, adding that help is at hand. “We are just one tiny cog in the wheel.”

The defining link is the emotional stress. “When our staff chat with the children (teenagers or adults) during testing for these issues, patients often hint at various recent challenges such as family hardship, breakdown or elevated domestic violence.”

For further information, contact Janine Hobson, Young Eyes, on (02) 6382 4000. CWL

Janine’s interest in this area was sparked 30 years ago when she worked with a neuro-optometrist in Perth, who specialised in children’s sight.

Above: The pace of modern life is changing what Janine and Simon Hobson see in their optometry business; the Young Eyes team enjoying a lighter moment.

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Words: Merry Kirkwood Images: Denise Yates, 5 Hours West

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A PRE-SCHOOL, A PRIMARY SCHOOL, A SECONDARY SCHOOL AND A BOARDING SCHOOL ALL IN ONE! Dubbo Christian School was established in 1983 and offers Bible-based and Christ centred schooling for children from 3 years of age to Year 12. Five-day boarding is also now available for students in Years 7-12 from rural and remote areas.

Call us today to see why DCS would be a great choice for YOUR family.

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MANAGING PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS WELL IS KEY TO DOING GOOD BUSINESS, ACCORDING TO DUNK INSURANCE MANAGING DIRECTOR JOHN DUNK.

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t’s this savvy attitude, combined with nearly 40 years’ experience as an insurance broker servicing regional areas, that’s landed him the prestigious NIBA NSW/ ACT Broker of the Year award for 2016.

With 10 staff in the Young office, and five in Cootamundra, the business also has authorised representatives at West Wyalong, Wagga Wagga, Wauchope, and more recently in Sydney.

Dunk Insurance combines rural and regional experience with professionalism and expertise, something normally found in larger metropolitan organisations. Farming is their forte, with a team including specialist brokers in farm, commercial, crop and domestic insurance.

John was brought up on a 76,000-acre property at Hungerford, on the border of NSW and Queensland, which he still owns and runs today. As a result, he truly understands some of the struggles his more remote farming clients experience.

“Having grown up remotely near Bourke, I faced the same issues as many of my clients do today,” he says.

“As a result, I’m well-positioned to understand their financial, legal and social situations.”

Whenever John heads out to visit a client, he takes with him a cake baked at Wilders Bakery in Young, which his wife Wendy owns.

“Usually the client will make a cup of tea, and we’ll have the cake with it. I tell them, if you deal with us, you can have your cake and eat it too!” he laughs.

“These small gestures can mean a lot to many families, particularly in times of hardship, when freshly baked goods are so much more appreciated.”

John loves interacting with people, and particularly enjoys a chat with many of his rural clients who have interesting stories to tell.

“I’m well-positioned to understand their financial, legal and social situations.”

“There’s a great number of hardworking, genuine people in the country, who will do anything for you. That’s just how they are in rural and remote areas,” he says.

“I spend a lot of time travelling to visit farmers, many of whom are located hundreds of kilometres away, but it’s well worth it.

“For me, it’s about taking the time to listen, and speak with my clients face to face, and I suppose that’s why I’ve enjoyed a great number of long-lasting relationships.” CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Holly Bradford Photography and Kevin Chamberlain Photography

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RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday: Breakfast 7am – 9am | Saturday and Sunday: Breakfast 8am – 9am 138 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.

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• 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 139

DIGITAL DYNAMO DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF ALEX&RIA DIGITAL COMMUNICATION ALEXANDRIA KELLY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED TO MARKET THEMSELVES EFFECTIVELY IN THE CENTRAL WEST.

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ith experience in the media industry spanning eight years, she’s no stranger to the marketing and communications scene.

A businesswoman at just 19, Alexandria made her mark on Dubbo as the owner of a retail business for two years. Her communications career began in print media, as a cadet with a local newspaper, and saw her finish as an operations manager with the business.

Based on her intuition, Alexandria saw an opening to offer local businesses a multifaceted approach to marketing, particularly that within digital communications.

Before too long, the concept of Alex&ria Digital Communication was born, and Alexandria has been delighted with the journey.

“I’m so grateful I’ve been able to utilise my passion for digital marketing and social media in the community I grew up in,” Alexandria says.

“Having an extensive background in the industry, and being able to offer a comprehensive skill set, has been a real advantage for my business.

“My clients also truly appreciate that my upbringing in Dubbo lends itself to a thorough understanding of what makes the city tick.”

“I’m so grateful I’ve been able to utilise my passion for digital marketing and social media in the community I grew up in.”

Prior to starting her own business, Alexandria was approached by a number of local businesses wanting to engage her services, which now consist of advertising, social media strategy, photography and videography, just to name a few.

She demonstrates true professionalism and a can-do approach to working with her clients, the list of which is impressive and varied, comprising of Beautiful Image, Bob Berry Real Estate, Brennan’s Mitre 10, Dubbo Family Dentists and Sporties Dubbo. Another key client is based in the far reaches of Brisbane, a tribute to the upside of technology.

Collaboration has been integral to the recent growth of Alex&ria Digital Communication.

Alexandria works closely with Jaclyn Pope of Coppertop Creative (graphic design) and Terry Wilcher Designs (website design).

“It means a lot for my clients to be able to focus on running their business, while outsourcing areas like advertising, social media and web and graphic design,” Alexandria says.

“By collaborating with other Dubbo businesses, I can offer a greater breadth of service range, and also support small business locally.

“It’s important to me that I make the process as seamless as possible.”

Alexandria says partner David Treasure is a major part of her success with Alex&ria Digital Communication. Originally from a farming background in Bairnsdale, Victoria, David is now a registered surveyor in Parkes.

“David is the reason I grabbed the opportunity with both hands, to leave a full-time job and follow my passion, and create a small business of my very own,” Alexandria smiles.

“I’m very grateful that he’s been there for me in all my endeavours.”

Visit www.alexandria.digital.

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Words: Anna Tickle Images: Connor Coman-Sargent.

Facing page: Alex and her partner David; Terry, Alex and Jaclyn, a great team.

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glorious ABUNDANCE A GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT AND A PASSION FOR PLANTS ARE REFLECTED IN ANN AND MARK OLSON’S PLENTIFUL PARKES GARDEN.

Feast for the eyes AT SARAH AND ANDREW RYAN’S “HILLANDALE” GARDEN THERE IS MAGIC AT EVERY TURN.

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ntering “Hillandale” via simple farm gates, the long sinuous driveway meanders through paddocks past a couple of spring-fed dams towards a grove of towering trees. Horses are grazing on the pasture grass, unbothered as a few kangaroos bound past. At the end of the driveway a very special garden awaits, nestled among a canopy of trees.

Overawed by sheer size and scale of the mature trees dwarfing the 150-year-old house and garden, your eyes are drawn skyward to admire the pointed tops of emerald green Bhutan Cypress silhouetted against a backdrop of blue. Giant rhododendrons in full bloom are putting on a spectacular display with blowsy heads of carmine pink flowers. Lush mauve lilac shrubs are laden with fragrant spring blooms, and pathways beckon exploration.

During garden openings, visitors sometimes ask which way they shoud go. At Hillandale any way will delight and inspire. This garden entices imagination and invites discovery with its huge trees, enormous rhododendrons and dense shrubberies. The shaded tree fern glade edges a natural spring fed stream that culminates in a beautiful reflection dam, there’s a delightful cutting garden, and a sundrenched perennial border. Through the trees there are glimpses of the countryside beyond, and vistas open up over sweeping grassy hills. But it also has something magical – the most wonderful relaxed atmosphere that invites you to wander and simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. > Facing page: Towering over-scale trees including Bhutan Cypress and massive rhododendrons dwarf the 150-year-old house.

Clockwise from above: Luscious pink peony; hot pink azaleas and carmine rhododendrons flank the verandah; handsome bearded iris; signage marks the entrance to "Hillandale"; covered in winter snow this mature weeping elm and adjacent potting sheds create a storybook picture (image supplied by owners); scented mauve lilac; pure white spring rhododendron; the perennial border is a tapestry of colour and texture.

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For plant lovers it’s a smorgasbord AND FOR NOVICE GARDENERS IT’S A LESSON IN GOOD PLANT SELECTION. Having a mutual interest in horticulture, Sarah and Andrew Ryan met while studying at TAFE in Orange. Purchased in 1999, the 170-acre property with a 150-year-old house became home in March 2000 to Sarah, Andrew and their four children. The couple set about renovating and extending Hillandale’s 2.5-hectare garden. Andrew trains racehorses and also does the bulk of the work in the garden, including mowing the expanses of lawn, and Sarah has run a garden maintenance business for over 20 years. Her dream is to grow Hillandale Garden and Nursery into a business for their future.

Hillandale’s former owner, Ray Willott’s parents had an association with legendary Australian garden designer Paul Sorensen through mutual friends, and his classic trademarks remain evident, including rock walling, a silver birch grove, flowering cherries, unusual conifers and a large variety of ornamental trees and hardy flowering shrubs. Sarah and Andrew had great foundations to work with, and have carefully maintained areas, judiciously pruned others to allow in all-important light, added to the diverse collection of cool-climate plants and extended the dams. For plant lovers it’s a smorgasbord, and for novice gardeners it’s a lesson in good plant selection, clever colour combinations and working collaboratively with what nature provides rather than trying to tame or radically change the landscape. The tree ferns were growing naturally in the moist gully; some have been transplanted creating an enticing fern grove along the edges of the spring fed stream.

Completing the relaxing picture under the shelter of surrounding trees along the stream are shade-loving shrubs such as rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas and peonies; smaller trees including maples and silver birch; and pretty highlights of delicate flowers such as Solomon’s seal, forget-me-not, hellebores and aquilegia. A high altitude of 1150m above sea level, rich basalt soils and an almost uninterrupted supply of spring water make this ferny glade an ideal spot for cool-climate plants to thrive. Covered in winter snow, it resembles a storybook wonderland!

Above: A favourite for owners Sarah and Andrew, the lovely view across the spring fed dam provides reflection and a sense of scale in this expansive, very beautiful garden; looking down the perennial border in early spring to a backdrop of farm paddocks and landscape beyond.

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Below the shaded glade, the garden opens out onto expansive green lawns leading down to the reflection dam with views to the surrounding countryside. Towering poplar trees (Populus yunnanensis) border the high side of the water, and a dense shrub-filled garden nestles on the opposite bank. “The dam garden was the first shrubbery I ever made,” Sarah says. Mounded forms of Rosa rugosa ‘Sarah Van Fleet’ and species roses combine with flowering Viburnums and ‘Pink Cloud’ Kolkwitzia and are punctuated by Chinese Elms. “Now we have created more shrub borders along the fence lines and steep slopes where we don’t want to mow,” Sarah says. This sounds simple, but involved beating the blackberries and bracken, which had colonised the paddock boundaries.

This ferny glade is an ideal spot for cool-climate plants to thrive.

COVERED IN WINTER SNOW, IT RESEMBLES A STORYBOOK WONDERLAND. On the sunny north eastern edge of the garden, down a sloping hillside, Sarah and Andrew began a perennial border in 2003. Admitting she knew little about herbaceous perennials, and beginning with just a few Russell Lupins, Sarah’s masterful eye and clever plant selection have created a glorious tapestry of colour and texture now extending 125 metres in length, seven metres wide and showcasing over 300 species of plants.

Beginning in late October, the succession of colour extends until late April, peaking in late summer and autumn. The colour pallet is blues, pinks and mauves at the top of the slope, punctuated by lime green, hot pink and burgundy, then progresses to yellow, silver and white, and next is orange, which Sarah says goes with everything. A collection of ornamental grasses changes the dynamic of flowers, adding texture and movement, and their soft wheaty colouring is a wonderful foil for other colours and changes to intense russet hues in autumn and winter. Gorgeous roses transplanted from clients’ gardens, and contrasting burgundy foliaged shrubs including Sambucus nigra (Elderflower), Berberis and Cotinus (smoke bush) add height and rounded forms among the perennials.

Sarah maintains the herbaceous perennials in superb condition by constant deadheading and doing what she calls the “Chelsea Chop” – cutting back around a third of the current growth to stop plants getting too tall and keeping them compact. She appreciates the drying seed heads and has become accustomed to the bare wintery look of the perennials, then once the show is completely over, the entire border is gradually pruned back to ground level over several months and then covered in mulch (and sometimes snow!).

Over the fence beyond the chicken run is the cutting garden, filled with annuals, more perennials and roses. During summer dahlias are a highlight – their huge flowers commanding attention and perfect for picking.

Nearby a glasshouse for propagating plants is under construction and neat rows of potted plants are labelled ready for sale in the nursery.

So what is Sarah’s favourite place in the garden?

“You can’t ask me that!” Sarah says, conceding that they both love to sit by the spring fed dam looking up towards the house, especially as the late afternoon light touches the tops of the trees beyond.

Sarah’s enthusiasm for plants and gardening is infectious. She and Andrew regularly share their garden with tour groups and Hillandale Garden and Nursery is open to visitors on selected weekends during spring, summer and autumn (check dates at www.hillandalegardenandnursery.com.au).

Put a visit to see the summer perennial border on your gardening bucket list! CWL Words Elizabeth Swane Images Angus Waddell

Above: A spring fed stream flows gently through the emerald-green fern glade; gravel pathway invites exploration and discovery; hardy pink Kolkwitzia or beauty bush; neat rows of potted plants ready for sale in the nursery.

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Lithgow

Surprisingly diverse

Perennialle Plants in Canowindra is a unique nursery offering a rare collection of frost and drought tolerant shrubs, perennials, and other garden plants.

Alongside the nursery, the inspirational garden is a delight to visit and showcases the plants offered for sale.

The garden is designed to display the plants through the seasons and changes throughout the year.

The gorgeous garden shop stocks high quality garden tools, giftware and designer homewares; all sourced for their beauty and practicality.

The nursery, garden and shop are open Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and at other times by appointment.

Perennialle Plants is also an online nursery. The website, www.perennialle.com.au offers plants and garden tools for mail order delivery. Plants are carefully packaged and posted weekly.

For a free copy of the

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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

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Keeping it classic GEMMA SEWELL

TEACHER GEMMA SEWELL IS IN A CLASS OF HER OWN IN THE FIELD OF FASHION, AND SHE HAS LEARNT MORE THAN A THING OR TWO FROM HER BEAUTIFUL MUM.

A

s we move into the beautiful changing colours of autumn, there’s no better time to experiment with fashion to get your look just right.

A teacher at Cumnock Public School, Gemma Sewell encapsulates an edgy country style, from her clothing to her accessories. Living in nearby Orange means her wardrobe needs to be versatile, particularly as winter approaches.

Gemma loves experimenting with style, and adding a few special touches here and there from local stores. Mixing dark and light colours is perfect for an autumn style of dress, and Gemma knows it’s hard to go past a touch of tan to keep things classic.

Be it casual chic, or dressing it up, she adds a new dimension to her look with a beautiful smile.

Here’s a sneak peek into Gemma’s favourite looks.

Words: Anna Tickle Images: Robert Bruce

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FASHION STYLE FILE

Wardrobe wisdom How would you describe your personal style?

My style is very flexible and relaxed. I love neutral and pastel tones of clothing, which are suited to my body shape and olive skin tone. I like to be practical, yet still stay feminine, and I like to mix and match.

BANGLE Silver bangle $120 White Rock Silver 0419 482 449

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My autumn fashion item.

What is your go-to autumn outfit?

I love the combination of denim jeans, a flowing top, boots, a watch and a knitted vest! I think this casual blend is perfect for any wardrobe. You can take away the boots and add heels for when you go out for dinner later.

Your must-have accessory?

My absolute must-have accessory is a scarf!

A scarf is such a versatile accessory that you can use to dress up your outfit or add a pop of colour, as well as to keep you warm in the chilly autumn wind. My large-faced watch is also a must!

What autumn fashion item do you have your eye on at the moment?

Anything that is off-the-shoulder, like a nice crop dress or top. I think that this style adds another element to a casual or even a more formal occasion. Tanning your shoulders and arms with tanning products like Bondi Sands is a great way to feel confident with showing off your upper body in autumn.

TOP Country Road off shoulder top $99.95 countryroad.com.au

Your favourite thing about autumn in the Central West? outfit, Autumn go-to denim jeans!

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TANNING LOTION Bondi Sands Self Tanning Lotion $20 Orana Mall Dubbo (02) 6881 6007

BOOTS Pikolinos boots $289 Easy Living Footwear Bathurst (02) 6332 3822

I love the brilliant sunny days and the start of rugging up in warm clothing. I love how the leaves change from a vibrant green to a dull orange and slowly fall to the ground, covering all the footpaths and streets. I also love the start of the frosts and lighting the wood fire in the evenings.

What is your best piece of autumn style advice?

Layer your clothing. Add a scarf, a cardigan or a vest to your dress or shirt. Layering your clothing also allows for you to dress to the weather conditions but still stay stylish.

Lastly, who is your style icon and why?

My style icon is definitely my beautiful mum.

She has given me all the advice – both style and otherwise – I’ve ever needed. My mum has been an inspiring role model for everything I intend to achieve in my life. She is also great to borrow a scarf or two from!

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Artisan yarns for discerning knitters

An unanticipated pleasure for knitters - premium yarns, accessories and hand knits.

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Country store, Country values, Country service…. That’s what Crookwell Footwear is all about

We stock iconic brands, coats for men and women, special items such as wallets, braces, handbags and much more!

Crookwell Footwear at 97 Goulburn Street Crookwell | Ph/Fax (02) 4832 1636 | It’s ‘The sole of the town’

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Meet the makers

TO SET FOOT IN A STORE AND FEEL TRULY INSPIRED BY ALL THAT YOU SEE MAY BE RARE, BUT YOU’LL CERTAINLY FIND IT AT SADDLER AND CO’S NEW SHOPFRONT IN STERLING STREET, DUBBO.

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ou’ll find yourself immersed in the store’s massive space, with tasteful furnishings and, of course, the delightful handcrafted leather pieces for which Saddler and Co is increasingly well known.

The building housed a stamp company many years ago, and while Saddler and Co’s Bede and Jemima Aldridge have recently spent nine months transforming it into something new and incredible, it’s reminiscent of days gone by.

Just peek through the large white window into the workshop where Bede can be found keeping the old trade of saddlery alive, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The window has a story of its own, retrieved from a pile of unused building materials in a paddock near Bede’s hometown, Yass.

From the salvaged barn doors, to the large wooden table from a nearby shearing shed and eye-catching vintage French lights, the space is beautifully presented.

It’s an all-encompassing, shared creative experience, where you can witness the passion both Bede and Jemima have for their craft.

Bede and Jemima have a distinct ability to express the bespoke nature of their brand, 154 CWL

and the new store has given them an endless opening for building their business.

A range of original saddlery pieces including saddles, bridles and reins, was built upon in the early stages of the business to incorporate an ever-popular range of timeless products like leather tote bags, travel bags and clutches.

“We’ve envisioned the Saddler and Co store for quite some time now,” Jemima says.

“Bede and I have thoroughly enjoyed creating, revitalising and perfecting this new space for the business.

“It’s incredible to see the result of our vision – and in every part of the store, there’s a little bit of both our personalities.”

The space has been well used collaboratively, through a seasonal style workshop hosted by Saddler and Co, along with The Meadow Floral Design, in December last year. More workshops are being planned, with an emphasis on hands-on experiences.

The Saddler and Co store is the perfect place to enjoy and appreciate, surrounded by all things beautiful. CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Clancy Job & Abbie Melle

Above: The beautiful interior of the Saddler & Co flagship store; owners Jemima and Bede Aldridge; Bede’s workshop.

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www.easylivingfootwear.com.au

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HOME & STYLE

HANDY HOUSEHOLD WITH HAYLEY MAUDSLEY

hints

Rule of plum Did you know that pre-cooked and frozen plums will last for about 12 months in the freezer? They make an ideal stand-by for pies, or as simple stewed fruit and jam, and they are ideal in a plum cake, which I make during busy times such as planting and harvest.

Prepare and stew the fruit for about half the normal time.

A very handy hint that works well is to add a crushed Vitamin C tablet to every half-kilo of fruit.

It retains the colour.

begins with a beautiful mind.”

Disappearing act Cosmetics and make-up around the collars of garments can be removed with a soft cloth dipped in a little warm water, to which has been added a small cap full of cloudy ammonia.

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When summer turns to autumn, just like when winter turns to spring, it’s an ideal time to clean your windows.

I am sharing with you a tip that I highly endorse. You will no doubt read this and think “how is this so?” But it is by far the most successful window cleaner I have used to date.

Another reason I love it is the fact that I know what’s in it. ¼ cup white vinegar 1 tbsp cornflour 2 cups warm or hot water Combine in a bucket and apply either with a cloth or, as I do, with a window washer dryer squeegee.

THAT'S THE WAY WE ROLL To store linen cloths, roll rather than fold them. If they are folded, they will develop creases. Take them out every now and again and hang on the line to air. If they are to be folded again, fold off centre so that the creases are in a different place each time. If this is not done, the creases can set,

I can see clearly now

making it impossible to move later.

The best storage place for linen is a very dry area. Line the shelves or drawers with paper, such as brown or wrapping paper, then sprinkle with Epsom salts before putting the linen away. This will deter moths and silverfish.

Tom Gowanlock/Mongione/Shutterstock.com

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HOME & STYLE

Glen GORGEOUS AFTER YEARS OF SEARCHING FOR THEIR IDEAL OLDER-STYLE HOME, EMMA AND MATT BARRETT FOUND “GLENGARRY”, A GRAND OLD LADY LOCATED AROUND 30KM FROM NARROMINE.

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his old farmhouse was built in 1923 after the previous homestead was destroyed by fire.

Emma Barrett, a corporate designer, said she could see the potential and believed the house had great bones and just needed a lick of paint to freshen it up.

Four years later and after lots of licks of paint, the grand old lady has been transformed room by room, into a stylish country home.

“There’s many layers of paint! It’s probably holding the house up,” Emma laughs. “Nothing is square or even in the house, but that’s the charm of an older country home.” > Above: The kitchen is Emma’s favourite room in the house.

Facing page, clockwise from top left: Emma created a geometric white wash on the floors in her sunroom; a beautifully restored vintage sideboard; Emma updated these gorgeous chairs with fresh white paint and new fabric; the hallway has a strong emphasis on the crisp combination of blue and white.

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HOME & STYLE

Emma’s

decorating style focuses on collecting older, vintage pieces with history.

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Emma

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balances her love of crisp colours and classic lines with rustic pieces.

HOME & STYLE

The home consists of four large bedrooms, an office, lounge/dining, kitchen, mudroom and sunroom – all joined by a long hallway that runs down the centre of the house. Situated at the front of the house is a country style bar, that would be the envy of most men. A large wraparound verandah circles most of the home and is adorned with blooming, fragrant vines.

During the kitchen renovation, Emma searched for a large island bench, for the family to enjoy meals together, but nothing she found suited the space.

So with the help of her dad they worked together to build the perfect large island bench. It is ideal for casual dining, especially with the morning light streaming in the window at breakfast. Emma says the kitchen is definitely more functional now, which makes it a pleasure to cook and live in.

Emma runs her freelance design business, Emma Barrett Creative, from home and it is clear that her creativity extends beyond graphic design.

She has an obvious flair for combining patterns and colours, with a strong emphasis on the crisp combination of blue and white. Stripes and florals abound, which are in keeping with a country home, but are used in an Anna Spiro-inspired way, a sophisticated approach to decorating.

“We’ve done almost everything ourselves. Because we are a reasonable distance from town we’ve become quite resourceful,” Emma says. “I have done all the painting in the house and tiled the kitchen too.” Looking around the home, it is easy to see that Emma has put her stamp on most items in the home, and in doing so has added an element of warmth and authenticity.

Emma’s decorating style focuses on collecting older, vintage pieces with history, which she believes instantly injects soul into her home.

She balances her love of crisp colours and classic lines with rustic pieces.

This contrast of clean and rugged works well throughout the home.

While the house itself is complete, Emma has more plans for future renovations, including a new laundry and extension from the mudroom.

“Eventually we will have French doors leading from the kitchen onto a new deck that will complete our wrap-around verandah.” Emma believes that a home should always be evolving and changing, adaptable to suit everyone’s needs.

“I love a good roadside find or visiting the recycling centre,” Emma says.

“It’s always exciting to find an old piece that can be transformed.” And transform them she does! Cushions, chairs and bedheads have been recovered in beautiful fabrics, while old pieces of furniture have been given a new lease of life with fresh white (or blue) paint. Emma’s passion for paint is not limited to the walls or furniture, even the floor in the sunroom has benefitted from a little geometric stencilled paint.

Emma and Matt’s young son, Teddy, almost three, is spoilt for choice on where to play. With the lovely long hallway, many rooms and a wide verandah, little Teddy has many places to explore. His own room boasts a stylish tepee, which would tempt any child inside to play.

The kitchen is Emma’s favourite room in the house, and it is easy to see why. It is the space in which the family spends most of their time together.

Emma said the kitchen was a budget renovation, but it certainly does not look that way. They removed a doorway and rearranged the cabinets, added new timber bench tops and a coat of beautiful navy paint.

“I think I may have been a gypsy in a previous life, because I like to rearrange things constantly,” she says.

Gypsy or not, no one can deny Emma’s unique talent for stylish and practical design. “Glengarry” is lucky to have her. CWL Words and images: Amanda O’Sullivan

Facing page clockwise from top left: Teddy’s room with his own tepee; after searching fruitlessly for a suitable kitchen island bench, Emma and her father made one together; who says a mudroom can’t be stylish? Fresh stripes and gorgeous baskets will dress up any space; one of the beautiful bedrooms.

Above: There’s no need to head to the pub when you have a traditional country bar located within your own home; sundrenched verandahs wrap around the charming country home.

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Homewares, gifts, accessories and clothing.

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/Kristys-Cottage CWL 163

SPIN KINGS

NADINE AND ANDREW HULME’S ADAGIO MILLS IS A RIPPING YARN IN THE MAKING.

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elcoming her new client, Nadine Hulme takes receipt of a large plastic bag. Inside is the saddle of an alpaca. “My prized stud, Hawkeye,” the client smiles. Observing as it is thrown onto a round table, the pair admire the fleece as one might a newborn. Colour, quality and the fibre length are all eagerly discussed and praised. As they walk through the mill, there is a level of heightened consciousness; something very special is unfolding.

With its state-of-the-art Italian-made equipment, the mill’s processes are quite technical. The shed is kept at a constant 22 degrees and humidity must remain at 65 per cent for optimum yarn manageability and quality of output. The mill also has an ethos firmly embedded in the concepts of sustainability, with 90 per cent of the water used in manufacture, recycled. It’s an impressive operation, yet the personalised nature of the client experience and the raw passion displayed by the mill’s owners and staff are far more striking than the processes themselves. As each step is explained to this first-time client, Nadine’s love for her work is exposed.

You get a sense that this is far more than just a job.

In the heart of Orange, Adagio Mills is the brainchild of Nadine and Andrew Hulme. Both engineers, the couple have much in common, including their passion for music. Andrew is a conductor and trumpeter and Nadine is a flautist. Sydneysiders looking for a tree-change, the couple bought nine acres of land and instantly fell in love with the local food, wine and the restfulness that their new abode provided. Adagio, a musical term for restful and at ease, was the obvious choice for their property name. When the alpaca stud and processing mill followed, the Adagio brand was extended to encompass all facets of their new venture. “It holds so much meaning for us both,” Nadine says.

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THE RAW PASSION DISPLAYED BY THE MILL’S OWNERS AND STAFF ARE FAR MORE STRIKING THAN THE PROCESSES THEMSELVES.

They recognised a gap in the alpaca processing market, but the banks didn’t initially share the couple’s enthusiasm. Eventually, with time and a solid business plan, one bank was convinced. However, Italian milling equipment comes at a high price and Nadine and Andrew turned to crowd funding to finish the mill’s fit-out. Pre-selling yarn to 200 clients before the couple had even produced a single ball of yarn was brave and came with enormous risk. “That was 18 months ago. We aren’t out of the woods yet,” Nadine says. “There is as long road ahead but I do see a bright future.”

With a range of alpaca yarn produced under the Adagio brand, the Adagio Alpaca Mills also offers a retail outlet located at the front of their business premises. The natural colours of the alpaca fibre are vibrant and rich. It’s destination shopping sure to please any knitting enthusiast.

Clientele range from small-time alpaca hobbyists, who might only have a few animals, to larger alpaca breeders who wish to value add their fleeces by having them processed. Nadine also informs that the processing of sheep wool and mohair is also possible.

There is a four- to six-week turnaround from fleece to yarn, and Nadine often emails clients a photograph of their fleece as it is being transformed. “It adds to the excitement; theirs and mine,” she says. Every customer can expect the same personalised treatment. “When the customer finally holds their animal’s yarn, it’s a moment of absolute magic. We all feel it!” CWL Facing page from top: State-of-the-art Italian-made dehairer and pindrafter; the Hulme family; Nadine and Andrew.

Above: Nadine at the spinner; Andrew and Nadine working at the skirting table.

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ARCADIA CROOKWELL Our unique business brings to you multiple shops all contained in a beautifully restored building in the centre of Crookwell

Antiques & collectables, ladies clothing and jewellery, alpaca products, hand dyed wools, patchwork items, handmade candles and soaps, organic teas, giftware & homeware.

OPEN 10AM - 4PM Thu to Mon • 77 Goulburn St Crookwell 2583 0407 254 954 • arcadia.crookwell@yahoo.com.au

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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

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4.5 STAR WINERY 2015 James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for wine tasting and sales.

Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe / phone 02 6366 3444 11am to 5pm Friday to Monday / angullong.com.au

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GOING THE

distance

A TRIP AROUND AUSTRALIA REPRESENTS A LONG AND WINDING ROAD, WITH HIGHLIGHTS AT EVERY TURN. THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE OF ALISTAIR AND NELLIE BROWN AND THEIR BOYS ARLOW AND DIGBY.

“I think we should go travelling around Australia.”

“Pardon?”

“I think we should pack everything up and travel around Australia.”

“I am going to have to call you back.”

And from this phone call grew an eight-month, largely unplanned trip around Australia. Who could think of anything better than travelling 27,000 kilometres, pulling a camper trailer with your two young sons? Well, that is exactly what we did.

Now we’re back, everyone asks “was it fantastic?”

It was, in so many ways, in so many unexpected ways, however it was also fantastically challenging. It was amazing to experience for ourselves and to show our children that we are extremely lucky to live in this sunburnt land.

We were able to take time to visit friends and make new ones all over this country. We were able to gasp at breathtaking scenery in rugged and unforgiving landscapes. We were able to 168 CWL

randomly pick and choose what we did and didn’t do without any real considerations for modern-day living. However, we also travelled in very close confines every day, every week, every month for eight months. Not surprisingly, it had its moments.

We will remember our trip for vivid colours and vitality. After a long, wet winter, Australia was alive with an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers.

It was completely by chance that our adventure coincided with the country being in its prime. We were able to create memories with our family and capture snapshots that we can share, hopefully inspiring the next intrepid traveller to go out there and experience the splendour for themselves. > Above: The Schwerin Mural Crescent Range along the Great Central Road, Western Australia; Kings Canyon, Northern Territory.

Facing page: The Quamby Rodeo, north of Cloncurry, Queensland; Aboriginal rock art at Gundabooka National Park, near Bourke, NSW; a ghost gum above Ormiston Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory; the desert yards at Marqua Station, Northern Territory after the day’s cattle muster; Nellie and Alistair with their two sons Arlow and Digby.

TRAVEL

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SECTION We set out from Queensland. Our itinerary was loose to ensure no long-range commitments hung over our timeline, enabling us to stop for a little while longer in a special spot if we felt that way inclined. However, it became apparent rather quickly that there is an abundance of special spots and, in the end, with a looming fear of not making it out of Queensland, we decided we had to be a little more controlled – now they had to be extra special, and turns out there are plenty of them too!

In remote areas of Australia, a quick trip to the shops might be a day’s drive away. Thankfully, those living in these places are almost always pleased to see someone, which we made good use of when invitations to visit were extended. The only way to really experience the authenticity of an area is to be given an all-access pass by a local, so make sure you do.

How else are you going to find out about that secluded gorge, a pristine swimming hole, an amazing look-out high above the landscape?

Remain content in the knowledge that this beautiful country has a chameleon-like ability to change dramatically, sometimes instantly.

Clockwise from above: You are bound to come across some friendly kangaroos at Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, near Esperance, Western Australia; Arlow and Digby enjoying the chilly crystal blue water at Lucky Bay; the rugged coastline and deep blue sea at Point Westall, near Streaky Bay, South Australia.

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TRAVEL

Central Australia is one place that is extremely well documented, so we thought we knew what we were in for. Travelling from Alice Springs through the West MacDonnell Ranges, onto Kings Canyon, then a stormy Uluru and Kata Tjuta, we were continually amazed at the feelings generated while immersed in the experience. Feelings that are hard to describe, feelings that you only get when you are there, in the moment, for that moment.

Being caught in a thunder storm while walking at the base of Uluru was one of those moments. The overwhelming impact of the water pouring off the rock, engulfing your senses with not only the sight, but the roar of the water crashing from dizzying heights and the smell of the freshly drenched mulga.

Something that can only be truly experienced by being there at that precise moment.

Highlights emerged from every state and territory we visited – a list that is almost as long as the kilometres we travelled but also a list that is specific, individual and unique. A list that will be completely different for those who have gone before and those yet to set off. A list that’s not right or wrong, only whatever you want it to be.

Remain content in the knowledge that this beautiful country has a chameleon-like ability to change dramatically, sometimes instantly, which offers surprises at almost every turn. So, when you are out there exploring, compiling your own special list, remember to take a moment to be in the moment in all the special spots that you find. CWL Words and images: Alistair and Nellie Brown

Clockwise from above: An iconic ghost gum along the Great Central Road, near the Northern Territory/ Western Australia border; “Inside Australia”, an exhibition

by Antony Gormley comprises 51 sculptures scattered across 10 square kilometres on Lake Ballard, near Menzies, Western Australia; wildflowers and storm clouds over Uluru, Northern Territory.

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O R I E N TA L H O T E L & O R I K I T C H E N • Fantastic NEW RENOVATIONS incorporating various INDOOR & OUTDOOR dining & bar spaces

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• SPORTS BAR, TAB & outdoor smoking lounge • Pub Style ACCOMMODATION • 3 Bedroom SELF CONTAINED COTTAGE accommodation next door

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SPECIAL OFFER FOR CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE READERS Book two nights during May, June or July and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Bookings by phone only.

Enjoy ultimate luxury and relaxation, allow yourself to be pampered with delectable treats and stunning wines from our region and breathe in the aroma of utter peace. It’s the little things that count at Bishop’s Court Estate.

Bishop’s Court Estate 226 Seymour Street Bathurst NSW 2795 Ph: 02 6332 4447

www.bishopscourtestate.com.au 172 CWL

Top 1%

Outstanding service & advice to our clients in all aspects of livestock, rural property & real estate sales Selling livestock at CTLX CARCOAR & CWLE FORBES Darren Connick: 0439 663 732 Lindsay Fryer: 0428 104 132 119 Peisley St Orange (02) 6362 4755

View our current listings at www.mccarrons.com.au

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.

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pleasure ON A PLATE

Recipes and images: Anne & Paul Loveridge

Duck and Apple Ravioli with Fig and Cider Syrup THIS RECIPE CAN BE PREPARED a few hours before required and is a simple way of serving ravioli without going through the lengthy process of making pasta. If you don’t tell anybody it’s not actual pasta they will not realise!

We source our fig syrup and dried figs from a local producer, Rosnay Organic.

They are an organic vineyard and grow figs and olives as well. In summer, we love to use their fresh figs and in Autumn we can utilise their bottled and dried fig products.

We sell all their wonderful wines and produce here at The Quarry Cellar Door.

Serves 4

Syrup INGREDIENTS

1 cup brown sugar 1 /4 cup apple cider 1 /3 cup red wine vinegar 1 /3 cup fresh orange juice 2 tbsp Rosnay fig syrup ½ tsp ground star anise

Duck ravioli

METHOD

Garnish

Begin with the fig and cider syrup.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil then lower heat to simmer and cook until reduced to a syrup consistency.

This does take time and when reduced you will only have about a quarter cup of thick sticky liquid. Set aside to cool.

For the duck filling, combine minced duck, grated apple, fig jam and seasoning.

INGREDIENTS

TO ASSEMBLE

INGREDIENTS

I duck breast, skin removed and minced or diced very finely 1 tbsp fig jam 1 /4 cup grated apple 16 wonton wrappers Salt and pepper for seasoning

Very finely julienned apple Dried fig, thinly sliced micro herbs 174 CWL

Place four wonton wrappers on a kitchen board then repeat with four below these so almost touching. Place a teaspoon of mix on

the top four wrappers, brush edges of pastry with water and place the bottom layer on top and press to seal. It is important to squeeze out the air pockets by pressing from the centre to the outside edges. Using a scone cutter cut rounds from the square ravioli. Repeat for the other three serves. These can now be covered with cling wrap and refrigerated until required.

TO SERVE

At serving time, bring a large frypan or saucepan of water to a rolling boil and cook ravioli four at a time for three minutes. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and keep warm until the four serves are ready. Place onto warm plates, drizzle over the dressing and garnish with the apple, fig and a few micro herbs.

SEASONAL RECIPES

Dry Aged Fillet of Beef with Asian Inspired Dressing WE ARE FORTUNATE IN COWRA to be able to source some beautiful Watervale Beef direct from Breakout River Meats. In this recipe, we have used the best cut of fillet. It may be more expensive but you will have no wastage. We love to bring this on a platter to the table and have another dish with crusty roasted potatoes and a lovely green salad to share with friends.

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS

1kg of grainfed butt fillet of beef

Marinade INGREDIENTS

/3 cup soy sauce 1 /4 cup water 1 /4 cup dark brown sugar 1 tsp hot English mustard 1

/2 tsp sambal oelek Juice of 1 lime 1 tbsp oyster sauce 1 bunch chopped coriander root (keep the top of the coriander to use as garnish) 1

Sauce INGREDIENTS

/3 cup good beef stock 2 tsp tomato paste 1 /2 of above marinade 2

METHOD

One week before required, source your beef and place on wire rack over tray in refrigerator.

The beef will weigh less after a week uncovered in the fridge, but the taste and texture will be enhanced.

On the day of cooking, mix together all the marinade ingredients and combine well.

Place half of this mix in a ziplock plastic bag with the fillet and leave to marinate for two hours.

Reserve the rest of the marinade to make sauce.

Heat a large fry pan to smoking hot and sear beef in a little sunflower oil, turning to brown well on all sides and ends for five minutes.

Place the fillet on a tray and place in preheated 220ยบ oven and cook for 14 minutes.

Retain fry pan to make sauce.

After 14 minutes, remove meat and allow to rest in a warm place while you make your sauce.

For the sauce, reheat the fry pan and deglaze with the beef stock. Add tomato paste and stir in. Then add remaining marinade ingredients and stir to combine. When ready to serve, pour into a preheated jug.

TO SERVE

Place the beef on a warm platter and garnish with some fresh coriander. This can be brought to the table whole and then carved into eight even slices and served to your guests. Let them add their own sauce and help themselves to the potatoes and salad.

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SEASONAL RECIPES

Tiramisu in a Glass IN THE AUTUMN OF 2013 I travelled with my daughter to the beautiful island of Sardinia in the middle of the Mediterranean. On our first night we were treated to the most amazing creamy tiramisu served in a small preserving jar. We then spent the rest of our two weeks sampling tiramisu in many restaurants, attempting to find a better one. Although all were delicious there was something very special about the first!

After many attempts, I believe this recipe is as close as I can get to the sublime tiramisu we tasted in the little town of Pula.

Serves 6 INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Mix together the espresso coffee and Kahlua.

If you aren’t able to make espresso coffee, then mix together strong good quality instant coffee.

(The espresso coffee is worth the effort though).

In a small bowl beat the egg whites with the pinch of salt until just starting to stiffen. Add 45g of the sugar and beat until dissolved.

In another small bowl beat the egg yolks with remaining 45g sugar until thickened and pale, then stir in the Marsala. Gently fold in the Mascarpone.

Fold in half of the egg whites, then fold in the remaining half until incorporated.

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Pop a heaped tablespoon of egg mix into six lovely glasses or small preserving jars.

Break a ladyfinger in half and submerge into the coffee mix for about five seconds, then place on top of the egg mix in each glass.

Repeat this for five other glasses.

Shake cocoa powder over this layer.

Top with another heaped tablespoon of egg mix and top with coffee-soaked Savoiardi biscuits again. Top with another heaped tablespoon of egg mix.

Cover with plastic film and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, dust each glass with cocoa powder, a dollop of whipped cream and more cocoa.

Buonissimo!

Natalia Bulatova/Shutterstock.com

200ml espresso coffee 60ml Kahlua 12 small Savoiardi biscuits (Italian sponge lady finger biscuits available in most grocery stores) 2 fresh large eggs, separated Pinch of salt 90g sugar (divided into 2 x 45g lots) 40ml Marsala 250g Mascarpone Good quality Dutch cocoa powder

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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FOOD SECTION

Well worth sharing

DE V I L L E D SH E R RY L A MB CHOPS

RECIPES FROM FRIENDS OR THOSE PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE FAMILY ARE SURE TO WARM THE HEART AND TANTALISE THE TASTEBUDS.

This recipe was given to me many years back by a delightful friend and is made in my home quite often because it is so tasty.

INGREDIENTS 2 large forequarter chops for two people ¼ cup finely chopped celery 1 onion, cut finely 2 tsp prepared mustard 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp Worcester sauce 1 tbsp lemon or lime juice 2 tbsp sherry 1 can tomato soup, undiluted METHOD Arrange chops in a casserole dish and bake for about half to three quarters of an hour in a moderate oven. Remove excess fat.

Have onion ready. Heat remaining ingredients and then add onion.

Pour over chops. Bake covered for about three quarters of an hour.

Have ready your favourite vegetables to serve with it.

TA PIOC A CR E A M Do you remember this dessert? It was a favourite of many families 50 years ago.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup tapioca 1½ cups milk 1 tsp vanilla essence ¾ cup sugar ½ cup cream METHOD Soak the tapioca in water and cover overnight.

Next day, boil the tapioca in the milk till soft.

Add vanilla essence and sugar. Make sure you keep stirring in saucepan as it can stick to the bottom.

When nearly cool, fold in cream.

Serve it with some stewed fruit.

Words and Images: Lorraine Hills

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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

At Countryman Motor Inn our service is paramount, ensuring 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

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

www.thelionspride.com.au

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

Reflect

& REJOICE

YOU’LL BE SAVOURING THE TASTES LONG AFTER YOUR DINNER DATE AT THIS FINE DUBBO RESTAURANT.

S

lightly food obsessed, I’m generally too hungry for dinner at eight. True to form, we arrive at Reflections restaurant in Dubbo, just on seven. Greeted by friendly staff, we are shown to a table overlooking the calming vision of a majestic pool. Keen to remain present, I turn my attention to the diners, restaurant banter and the inspiring aromas.

I’m always excited to find clever food when dining in rural Australia.

In a world where reality television has made us all restaurant critics, fresh and tasty is now just a basic expectation; I want more. Give me a seductive menu and arouse my senses further with artistic plating.

However, if you want my true commitment, show me the genius of a fusion flavour profile. That’s where this restaurant has me.

As the entrées arrive, I start profiling the chef. I suspect female, modern and unencumbered by Australia’s culinary past. At best it is a guess but I am quietly confident. The plates are deliciously designed with a distinctive feminine wisdom and styling. Colour, symmetry and bold flavours feature.

Chilli garlic lemon pepper prawns, served with tomato, olive, artichoke and grilled Turkish bread, is first. Though defined by ingredient choice as Mediterranean, the chilli sauce has an unmistakable Asian sambal characteristic and I am thrilled. A combination of sweet, sour and heat lifts the dish into another realm and fuses effortlessly with the antipasto accompaniments. Simply brilliant.

The second entrée is red pepper scallops served on potato pancakes with a pancetta vinaigrette. I enjoy the mild earthiness of this dish. The potato pancakes are as delicate as the scallops themselves and there is sophistication in the subtle use of herbs. The zip to this dish is provided by the pancetta dipping sauce, which adds a perfect salinity and acid balance. In particular, this dish is a stand-out in visual design.

Enjoying a chilled Sav Blanc, we eagerly anticipate mains. First is Sous vide lamb canon with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, served with chimichurri sauce. Sous vide, is a French cooking method that literally translates to “under vacuum”. Marinated, sealed in a bag, then cooked in a water bath, this technique has the effect of locking in flavours and achieving a heavenly tenderness.

This main immediately grabs my attention. The cooking style, vegetables, protein choice and flavours are distinctly Mediterranean but the chef had chosen an Argentine chimichurri as the accompanying sauce. Usually made with basil, parsley, coriander, mint, oregano, garlic, lemon, pine nuts and Parmesan, chimichurri seems to share similarities with Italian pesto.

After some quick internet research it is starting to make sense to me.

In the early to mid-19th century, a flood of Italian migrants moved to Argentina to escape the rise of Italian fascism. As often happens when people are displaced, many recipes are fused and new ones invented.

Upon finally tasting the dish, there is no further need for discussion.

Indisputably, the cultural fusion has worked extremely well.

180 CWL

A huge fan of Asian cuisine, I am immensely excited to see a whole salt and pepper barramundi set before me. Served with crispy noodles for texture and an interesting salad choice, the fish holds moisture and is well seasoned.

As I have come to expect, each dish at Reflections has its own idiosyncratic feature. In this instance, it is the chef’s compelling use of wasabi. Mixed with mayonnaise and lemon, the sweet yet mild wasabi sauce complements the fish perfectly, drawing to a long and invigorating front of palate finish.

With the instruction “surprise me”, a double-layered chocolate mousse and ruby port and rhubarb risotto concludes the night. The chocolate mousse would please any chocolate lover; creamy and rich. The presentation is also extremely inviting. It seems a shame to destroy such art. Desire eventually winning over, it does not disappoint!

Rhubarb, or the art of cooking it, has been an age-old nemesis of mine.

Chef Arshpreet Thind explains that the trick to achieving a silky texture is cooking the rhubarb in a red wine buttery reduction. Presented on a sweet cinnamon risotto, the balance of tart and cream makes for a whole palate experience and an interesting mouthfeel.

I get the feeling that the restaurant’s food style is not fusion by intention.

However, their intention is clear and evident in terms of flavour profiling.

Combining traditional cultural ingredients and various cooking disciplines might say as much about the restaurant’s desire to be innovative and truly unique as it does anything else. This food is distinctive from that of its competitors. It comes with its own delicious stamp and if you’re a foodie wanting a great dining experience, you can’t go past it. CWL Reflections Restaurant is located at Quality Inn, Dubbo.

Phone (02) 6882 4777, visit qualityinndubbo.com.au or email reservations@qualityinndubbo.com.

Words: Catherine Player Images: Zenio Lapka

3.

1.

2.

Menu

4.

Entrée

1 & 2.

CHILLI GARLIC LEMON PEPPER PRAWNS, SERVED WITH TOMATO, OLIVE, ARTICHOKE AND GRILLED TURKISH BREAD. RED PEPPER SCALLOPS SERVED ON POTATO PANCAKES WITH A PANCETTA VINAIGRETTE.

Main

3 & 4.

SOUS VIDE LAMB CANON WITH ROASTED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES, SERVED WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE. SALT AND PEPPER BARRAMUNDI SERVED WITH CRISPY NOODLES AND SALAD. 5.

DessertDOUBLE-LAYERED CHOCOLATE MOUSSE.

5.

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Call or SMS 0438 645 656 85 Jubilee Street Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia

182 CWL

XERO Gold Partner

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e: council@lachlan.nsw.gov.au CWL 183

EXPANDING WITH PASSION WHEN THE OAK TREE GROUP WAS FOUNDED JUST OVER A DECADE AGO, THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE BRAND WAS NEVER TO BE THE BIGGEST, BUT THE BEST IN THE FIELD OF INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING.

T

he group was set up with a mandate to provide quality and affordable retirement living options that would offer an easier, maintenance free way of life for seniors but still remain within the financial reach of the average Australian home owner.

Realising a unique and undersupplied opportunity in regional locations, the Oak Tree Group made this their focus, and charged forward on what they describe as being a busy, but deeply gratifying journey.

“This not only breaks down a community, but puts unnecessary stress on the lives of our seniors who would rather stay in the places they love and know to be home.”

Oak Tree Villages offer modern and purpose built homes designed to help seniors age-in-place and live independently well into their retirement years.

“When first considering retirement living, many may misconstrue it as a nursing home, which is very far from the actual truth,” Mark says.

Starting out with just the one Village in Brisbane’s western suburbs of Goodna, the group has grown their village portfolio to include 28 villages throughout Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and NSW and they are now expanding across the Central West with villages in Orange and Bathurst and soon, new retirement opportunities in Mudgee and Dubbo.

“Our residents may be in their senior years but they are able-bodied, independent and busy enjoying life and all of the benefits retirement living has to offer, and so they should!

“We are passionate about, and intrinsically linked to, regional towns and their people – I grew up in Armidale and my business partner’s family are originally from Ingham,” Founding and Managing Director of The Oak Tree Group Mark Bindon says.

“With like-minded friends and neighbours nearby our residents always have companionship and an on tap support network that they can grow to trust and rely on as their needs and circumstances change – be it a health issue, loss of a partner or if they feel isolated from their families. >

“All too often seniors are forced to relocate to bigger, metro cities to get the support they need because regional towns may lack the infrastructure.

Facing page: Oak Tree Tamworth residents Ann and John Fittler. “There is always someone up for a chat and a cuppa and residents can be as private or as social as they wish.”

184 CWL

“Our village communities are intentionally smaller in scale to help encourage a more close-knit, family community where it is easy for residents to get to know one another and feel like they belong.

"We enjoy living at Oak Tree Retirement Village so much it is hard to imagine living anywhere else!"

CWL 185

Each village has a village Manager who is there to maintain the asset to an extremely high standard, manage resident service requests and coordinate social activities.

“We offer our residents a maintenance free lifestyle where all lawns, gardens and external and internal maintenance are managed to ease the burden on our residents and free up their time to do more of the things they love," Mark says.

Gated communities offer an added sense of security and residents have easy access to a variety of facilities right on their doorstep - including a village centre, complete with hair dressing salon, lounge and media room, kitchen for functions, library and computer room and breakout activity zones.

Depending on the climate, some villages also offer a swimming pool and a lawn bowls green, which residents can use at their leisure.

With all of these benefits in mind, it’s no surprise the retirement industry received the highest industry customer satisfaction ratings in a nationwide survey.* “As a group we are extremely proud of these village census results,” Mark says.

Oak Tree Villages are registered under the Retirement Villages Act, and like most villages in Australia they operate under the Deferred Management Fee model, which allows residents to buy into a village lifestyle and enjoy all of the benefits for a lower price.

“Different from a standard property developer where they build, sell and move on, Oak Tree is here for the long haul, which means we do not expect to receive our development profit margins up front.

Oak Tree Retirement Villages in Orange and Bathurst are now selling with plans in motion to commence construction of the village in Dubbo early in 2017. It is hoped that stage one will be complete by year's end.

Coming soon is also Oak Tree Mudgee located within the brand new prestigious Caerleon Estate.

“Although it’s exciting to be expanding we aim to stay true to our intentions and grow and learn along the way,” Mark says.

“We have built our reputation around being personable, approachable yet professional and focus our energies on the end product – our villages and our residents’ comfort and happiness.

“Over a decade later, we are still as committed and passionate as ever to give seniors the opportunity to enjoy an easier way of life throughout their retirement with the support they deserve."

“Especially when you consider our demographic are ageing and are experiencing health issues, financial troubles and even loss, retirement village residents on the whole are statistically proven to be the most content demographic in Australia at this present time.

Find out more about Oak Tree Retirement Village by phoning 1300 367 155 or visit www.oaktreegroup.com.au CWL

“It certainly means we are on the right track and retirement village living is something to be seriously considered.”

Facing page: Mark Bindon, Managing Director, Melissa Luck, National Business Development Manager, and Franco De Pasquale, Executive Director.

186 CWL

* Source - http://www.mccrindle.com.au/the-mccrindle-blog/retirement-villages-thequiet-achievers-australia-s-highest-rated-industry

“Over a decade later, we are still as committed and passionate as ever to give seniors the opportunity to enjoy an easier way of life throughout their retirement with the support they deserve.�

CWL 187

HART & SOUL OWNER/OPERATORS OF THE RAILWAY HOTEL IN PARKES, BIANCA SHERIDAN AND KASIE FERGUSON, HAVE A LOT TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.

N

ot only did they welcome the birth of their son, Hart, in October 2015, but they’ve created a brand new boutique bar for Parkes locals and visitors to enjoy, using the same memorable name.

Hart Bar was officially launched in November last year, and marks the start of something very special for the township.

Bianca and Kasie developed the initially empty space based on a longstanding vision to create something new and different for Parkes, with a wide and varied offering.

From an upmarket space to enjoy a cocktail or two with friends, to a corporate space, and even a unique venue for a wedding reception, Hart Bar was created with versatility in mind.

Located just above the Railway Hotel, it’s perfect for those wanting something a little out of the box.

“We brought Hart Bar to life based on our extensive experiences in hospitality in metropolitan areas,” Kasie says.

“Bianca and I both spent a couple of years working on Hamilton Island, where we met, and have also travelled regularly to places like Sydney and Melbourne, and even Bali, where we’ve sourced inspiration.

“Hart Bar is a dynamic mix of the design, interior features and overall feel that we’ve seen in some of our favourite places, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Hart Bar is edgy and undeniably special. With a verandah that wraps around the outside, it has a stunning view of the Parkes silos. The exterior is being painted with heritage colours, taking it back to its original Edwardian period in 1915.

188 CWL

The successful launch showcased an art exhibition by Jac Clark of Morabon Print & Design, while the interior design was done by Jac’s sister, Bec Thomson of Saint flo.Designs.

“Both Jac and Bec are incredibly talented and creative, and along with our builder, Josh Fisher, have played a major part in bringing our dream to reality,” Kasie says.

“We were so proud to collaborate with them for the development and launch of our new project.

“The community have also been extremely supportive, welcoming Hart Bar with open arms.”

Downstairs, in the original Railway Hotel, patrons can still enjoy the usual offerings like the full restaurant, TAB facilities that have recently been refurbished, gaming and Keno. The diverse menu caters for everyone, including popular pizzas and the all-time favourite Ribs and Rump on a Thursday evening.

“THE COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE, WELCOMING HART BAR WITH OPEN ARMS.” For Bianca and Kasie, and their team of 25 staff, it’s been an exciting journey.

“We truly enjoy being able to provide an atmosphere where family and friends can create memories and share special moments together,” Kasie says.

“Having a close country community means we get to see the people we know and love on a daily basis. To share these special moments is incredibly rewarding.” CWL Words: Anna Tickle Images: Kat Stanley Photography

Facing page: Josh Fisher, Bianca Sheridan, Kasie Ferguson and Bec Thomson.

Image: Parkes Champion Post.

“A new and unique function space created for the people of Parkes and the Central West to celebrate and be entertained.”

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS • www.therailwayhotelparkes.com.au

CWL 189

100 MILE DINNER Canowindra

THE 100 MILE DINNER IS A HIGHLY ACCLAIMED DINING EXPERIENCE HELD IN THE MAIN STREET OF THE BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC VILLAGE OF CANOWINDRA.

T

he 100 mile concept is all about acting locally and thinking globally – proving that eating locally produced food is good for the planet, the local economy and our tastebuds. This year features an exciting menu of shared platters created and prepared by Kim Currie, owner/chef of the famous Zin House restaurant in Mudgee.

Canowindra is the Australian capital of hot air ballooning and has several art galleries along with The Age of Fishes Museum, which celebrates one of the world’s greatest fossil discoveries.

Canowindra is also home to several small wineries and a great weekend destination. Many old buildings are often used as sets for period movies.

The 100 Mile Dinner, on Gaskill Street, will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 7pm. For more details, call Trudi on 0436 023 965. CWL Words: Elizabeth Picker Image: Margaret Wellington

Above: The dinner features dishes created from local produce sourced within a 100-mile radius of Canowindra.

Wine not?

Spend a weekend in Cowra & Canowindra and enjoy some of Australia’s finest wineries.

Taste wines in our unusual strawbale winery. Tasting platters and meals available if booked, or bring a picnic.

Book your next escape to Cowra with the Visitor Information Centre cowratourism.com.au | 02 6342 4333 190 CWL Cowra Wine Not Advert.indd 1

23/12/2016 7:59 am

82 Lawrences Rd, Canowindra 0427 936 054 wallingtonwines@gmail.com www.wallingtonwines.com.au

Stay in the newly renovated Winery Cottage, a beautifully restored pise farm house overlooking the farm, vineyard and olive grove.

DISH CATERING CO Specialising in catering on-site at your event Covering the Central West & surrounds DCC can cater to any event— corporate, conferences, meetings, weddings and any special celebration

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

We offer personalised service— We pride ourselves on working with the customer to create a truly memorable event.

Specialising in offering a diverse service—we can plan, cater, organise and co-ordinate your event - with 50 years combined experience in the industry Email:

enquiries@dcc.com.au

Mobile:

0425 209 138

DCC—dishing up a truly memorable experience

Country Gardens MOTOR INN

Cowra’s little gem

Rooms:

Facilities:

Located at the edge of town on an acreage, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind. There are 18 luxurious, clean, comfortable, ground floor units to choose from. Park at your door, off street parking for coaches and trucks. Heated pool and BBQ in Australian native gardens.

• Family Suites (2 Bedrooms) • Spa Suites • Executive Suites (King beds & bath/shower) • Deluxe Queen Suites • Disabled Suite • Some Smoking Suites available

• • • • • • •

Breakfast Room Service Free Unlimited Wireless Broadband R/C Air Con & Elec. Blankets Direct Dial Telephone Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Facilities Wide Screen TV’s (16 Channels) Mini Snack Bar

a. 75 Grenfell Road (Mid Western Highway), Cowra p. 02 6341 1100 e. cgmcowra@bigpond.net.au w. www.countrygardensmotel.com.au CWL 191

Upcoming Events ARCHIBALD PRIZE TOURING EXHIBITION

1 – 19 March Cowra Regional Art Gallery (02) 6340 2190 cowraartgallery@cowra.nsw.gov.au www.cowratourism.com.au/events/ www.cowraartgallery.com.au MUDGEE SHOW AND RODEO

3 – 5 March Mudgee Showground Allison Beer (02) 6372 4099 secretary@mudgeeshow.org.au www.mudgeeshow.org.au DINNER UNDER THE STARS

4 March Gulargambone Angela O’Brien obrien93@bigpond.com www.2828nsw.com/ 100 MILE DINNER

4 March Gaskill Street, Canowindra Canowindra @ Home (02) 6344 7153 www.canowindraathome.org.au/ RED HOT SUMMER TOUR

4 March Lazy River Estate, Dubbo (02) 6801 4450 regionaltouring@gjr.net.au www.redhotsummertour.com.au/ MUSIC ON MOUNT DAVID CONCERT

5 March Kennedy Park, Loch Erin Road, Mount David Alexandra and Rod Tuson (02) 6337 9679 tourism@oberon.nsw.gov.au www.oberonaustralia.com BINDA PICNIC RACES

11 March Funny Hill Racecourse, Binda Diane Layden (02) 4832 1376 dlayden2@yahoo.com.au www.facebook.com/Binda-Picnic-Races

FORBES RODEO

CANCRUISE

18 March Parklands Resort Mudgee Glenn Box 0411 047 825 glenn@mudgeetravelandcruise.com.au www.cudgegongcruisers.org.au/ GRENFELL RODEO

25 March Showgrounds Alexandra Street, Grenfell Lleiton Purdie 0447 339 493 www.facebook.com/grenfellrodeo2017/

24 March – 2 April Cowra, NSW Cowra Council (02) 6340 2087 festival@cowra.nsw.gov.au www.cowracouncil.com.au/

MAYFIELD GARDEN AUTUMN FESTIVAL

MUDGEE RACES

24 March – 9 April Blayney 2 Bathurst Cycling Route Melanie Monico (02) 6368 2104 mmonico@blayney.nsw.gov.au www.blayney.nsw.gov.au

GULGONG ANNUAL RABBIT RACES

7 May Collector village Gary Poile 0410 568 748 poile@ipstarmail.com.au www.pumpkinfestival.com.au CROOKWELL POTATO FESTIVAL

13 May Crookwell Showground Crookwell Visitor Information Centre (02) 4832 1988 secretary@crookwellpotatofestival. com.au www.crookwellpotatofestival.com.au RANCH SORTING

13 and 14 May Dubbo Showground - Indoor Arena Lonnie Henderson and David Egan 0418 774 121 or 0438 912 537 ranchsortingdubbo@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/Ranch-SortingDubbo-RSD-936149119791333/events ORANGE SHOW

IRONFEST

1 April Coonamble rtcassistant@coonamblertc.org.au www.coonambleagfieldday.com/

21 – 23 April Tony Luchetti Showground, Barton Street, Lithgow Macgregor Ross (02) 63 531 638 ironfest@lisp.com.au www.ironfest.net/about/

19 – 28 May Dunedoo Central School Hall, Digilah Street, Dunedoo Penny Stevens (02) 6375 1540 media@artunlimitednsw.com.au www.artunlimitednsw.com.au

CEMENTA ART FESTIVAL

MERRIWA CUP RACE DAY

20 May Crookwell Showground Paul Anderson 0417 985 686 paul_anderson@bigpond.com www.crookwellshow.com.au

F.O.O.D. WEEK

31 March – 9 April Various locations in and around Orange Rhonda Sear (02) 6360 1990 rhonda@brandorange.com.au www.brandorange.com.au COONAMBLE AG FIELD DAY

22 April Merriwa Racecourse Sue Bayliss 0418 238 475 mulgowrie3@bigpond.com www.merriwaraceclub.com.au HORSEPOWER ARIAH PARK

7 April Towac Park Racecourse, Canobolas Road, Orange Gavin Pilossof 0448 149 282 office@racingorange.com.au www.racingorange.com.au GRENFELL PICNIC RACES

22 and 23 April Ariah Park Showground Rita Bromfield (02) 6973 1221 facebook.com/horsepowerariahpark/ www.temora.com.au/events BEYOND AVALON OPEN GARDEN

17 – 19 March Coonamble Andrew Shearer coonamblechallenge@hotmail.com www.coonamblechallenge.com/

8 April Grenfell Racecourse Holy Camp Road Danny Kotel president@grenfellpicnics.org.au www.grenfellpicnics.org.au/

22 – 23 April and 29 – 30 April 68 Reserve Avenue, Black Springs Rosalie Pollock (02) 6335 8257 tourism@oberon.nsw.gov.au www.oberonaustralia.com

LITHGOW AGRICULTURAL SHOW

GOOD FRIDAY CAMEL RACES

WINGS, WHEELS AND WINE SHOW

14 April Forbes Racecourse Lee Marsh forbescamelraces@gmail.com

Do you have an event that you would like included in our magazine?

192 CWL

COLLECTOR VILLAGE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

13 and 14 May Orange Showground, Leeds Parade, Orange Orange Show Society (02) 6362 0535

ORANGE GOLD CUP

17 and 18 March Tony Luchetti Showground, Lithgow (02) 6353 1775 www.lithgowshow.org.au

ORANGE APPLE FESTIVAL

5 and 6 May Various locations in and around Orange Rhonda Sear (02) 6360 1990 rhonda@brandorange.com.au www.brandorange.com.au

16 April Gulgong Bowling Club Colleen Ryan (02) 6374 1054 gbsclub@optusnet.com.au www.gulgongbowlo.com.au

BLAYNEY ART FESTIVAL AND ARTISAN MARKETS – TEXTURES OF ONE EXHIBITION

COONAMBLE CHALLENGE AND CAMPDRAFT

GEMBOREE 2017

14 – 17 April Tony Luchetti Showground, Barton Street, Lithgow Alan McRae (02) 63315404 amcrae@lisp.com.au

16 April Mudgee Racecourse Colleen Walker (02) 6372 6035 colleen@hwy.com.au www.mudgeeraceclubinc.com

BLAYNEY HAY BALE ART CHALLENGE

6 – 9 April Kandos Alex Wisser 0413 555 860 awisser@cementa.com.au www.cementa.com.au

17 – 19 March Blayney Shire Community Centre Penny May 0412 768 030 pmay22@yahoo.com.au

14 – 16 April Lake Burrendong Holiday Park Matt Hansen 0427 454 357 or (02) 6846 7435 matt@reddenhansen.com.au www.iwra.com.au/

15 – 30 April Mayfield Garden, Oberon (02) 6336 3131 info@mayfieldgarden.com.au tourism@oberon.nsw.gov.au www.oberonaustralia.com

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF UNDERSTANDING

SPIRIT OF ANZAC CENTENARY EXPERIENCE

12 – 17 March Orange Indoor Tennis Club www.spiritofanzac.gov.au/book-tickets

LAKE BURRENDONG FISHING CLASSIC

18 March Forbes Showground 0422 395 030 forbesrodeo@outlook.com

24 April Mudgee Airport info@mudgeeaeroclub.hwy.com.au www.wingswheelsandwine.com.au

ART UNLIMITED 2017

CROOKWELL BAKE AND BREW

MARTHAGUY PICNIC RACES

20 May Quambone marthaguypicnics@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/pg/ marthaguypicnicraces/ ORANA MUTUAL DUBBO SHOW

26 – 28 May Dubbo Showground, 108 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo Sue Hood (02) 6882 4364 dubbshow@hwy.com.au www.dubboshow.org/ COONAMBLE SHOW

30 and 31 May Coonamble Showground Rosie McClymont 0457 221 103 treasurer@coonambleshow.com www.coonambleshow.com/index.html

Email: events@centralwestmagazine.com.au Compiled by Heather Crosby All events are subject to change and we recommend contacting the organisers to confirm details.

BLAYNEY & VILLAGES • Barry • Carcoar • Hobbys Yards

• Kings Plains • Lyndhurst • Mandurama • Millthorpe • Neville • Newbridge

Indulge your senses ...Share our history #historicvillages #warmwelcome

• Magazines • Papers • Cards • Gifts • Stationery • Darrell Lea

www.visitblayney.com.au www.blayney.nsw.gov.au/VisitorGuide

Blayney Shire Visitor Information Centre 97 Adelaide Street, Blayney • Ph 02 6368 3534 • Fx 02 6368 4360

www.parkesnewsagency.com 284 Clarinda St, Parkes NSW 2870 Phone: 6862 2296

HENRY PARKES CENTRE Visitor Information & Museums

Henry Parkes Centre & Parkes Visitor Information Centre Newell Hwy, Parkes | 02 6862 6000 | www.henryparkescentre.com.au

OPEN 7 DAYS CWL 193

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EDITION LAUNCH CARCOAR

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almy spring weather set the scene for the launch of the 15th edition of Central West Lifestyle at the historic Carcoar Courthouse.

About 80 guests, mostly locals, joined Member for Calare Andrew Gee and wife Tina, Blayney Council General Manager Rebecca Ryan, Deputy Mayor Allan Ewin, senior council staff and CWL team members to usher in this exciting new edition.

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Blayney and villages, Carcoar and Millthorpe were featured in over 100 glossy pages where country characters, innovative businesses and many other hidden treasures came alive.

Guests enjoyed Angullong wines throughout the evening as well as delicious canapĂŠs prepared by Robyn Kingham and her team from Food for Pleasure.

Guests took home a complimentary edition of Central West Lifestyle at the conclusion of the evening. Many purchases have since been made at local newsagencies and selected outlets, with some copies being posted interstate and even overseas.

Words: Elizabeth Tickle Images: Sue Meikle

1. Andrew Gee (Member for Calare), Tina Gee, Alex Tickle and Elizabeth Tickle, Publishers of Central West Lifestyle, Karen Somervaille (Athol Gardens), Councillor Allan Ewin (Deputy Mayor Blayney Shire Council), Michelle Ferguson, Rebecca Ryan (General Manager Blayney Shire Council), Melanie Flynn (Administration Officer Blayney Shire Council), Melanie Monico (Community Development and Tourism Projects Officer Blayney Shire Council), Councillor David Kingham.

2. Fiona Johnson and Alex Kruczaj, Blayney.

3. Gemma and Stuart Green, Manurama.

4. Susie and Nick Lee, Carcoar.

5. Carl and Louise Purcell, Carcoar.

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6. Tim Charge, Oberon, Ian and Sue Rogan, Millthorpe Garden Nursery, with Fran Charge, also from Oberon.

7. Loretta Kervin, Penny May with Nyree Reynolds, Blayney, and Melanie Monaco, Tourism Manager, Blayney Shire Council.

8. Allan Ewin, Deputy Mayor Blayney Shire Council, with Deidre Malloy, Mandurama.

9. Sisters from Millthorpe, Kathleen and Ada Clark.

10. Anthony Taylor, Blayney Young Citizen of the Year, with Melanie Monaco.

11. Phil and Eileen Cram, Stoke House B&B, Carcoar.

12. Shannon Mendham, Blayney, Tamara Miller, Hobbys Yards, Donna Broekhurzen, Millthorpe, and Rebecca Price, White Rock Silver, Blayney.

13. Miles Hedge, Kings Plains, Sally Green, Burnt Yards, with Peter Snare, Snare’s Newsagency, Dubbo.

14. Cassie Hedge, Kings Plains, with Rachel Burke, Blayney Post Office B&B. 15. Libby and David Pickett, Carcoar.

16. Ros and Grahame Rees, Bathurst, KLR Marketing.

17. Tom and Monika Miller, Newbridge.

18. CWL team members Sue Meikle, Morpeth, Anna Tickle, Wellington, with Zora Regulic, Sydney.

19. Joanne Howarth, Ironbark Espresso Bar, Blayney, Dane Howarth and Joey Cunningham, Le Billot de Boucher, Millthorpe.

20. Shannon and Tim Mendham, Blayney.

EVENTS IN THE WEST

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CWL 195

EVENTS IN THE WEST

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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ORANGE

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range Young Professionals (OYP) held its inaugural Christmas Party at Groundstone, Orange, in December. Rain was no deterrent. More than 150 young professionals from across the Central West came to celebrate and dance the night away, thanks to a rocking DJ. Source Architects, Whiteley Ironside & Shillington Solicitors, YBM, NAB JBWere, Colton Computer Technologies and Pulse HR sponsored the event.

Carnival-themed, the quirky food and entertainment channelled circus vibes with a stiltwalking, bubble-blowing pirate and drag queen.

The night was all about local heroes.

Groundstone reinvented carnival classics. Think Dagwood dogs and a delectable macaron Christmas tree. Milla Cordial, Printhie and Two Heads Brewing quenched thirsts. But the real hero was OYP, donating all profits to locally run Tuberous Sclerosis Australia.

OYP aims to connect, engage and develop like-minded young business and professional people within Orange and surrounds. OYP runs six major events annually and informal social gatherings in between. If you want to know more, check out OYP’s Facebook page or email orangeyoungprofessionals@gmail.com.

1. OYP Committee members Alice Munro, Kenny Wisse,

Vanessa Vazquez, Mitch Colton, Kahina Kharitos and Sally Sutherland.

2. Jason Conn, Anna Tickle, Gemma Sewell and Josh White.

3. Joseph Cunial, Ying Shi Chang, Ming Tan, Cheng Zhang and Clarence Da Cruz.

4. Alasdair Donaldson, Micaela Outtrim and Richard McMichael.

5. Rebecca Forbes, Dannielle Ford, Brooke Foley and Rebecca Pugh.

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6. Mylena Duchene, Diane Tucker, Theresa Armstrong

and Tamara James.

7. Lou Carroll with Jessica Gough.

8. Ed Swift of Printhie Wines.

9. Ranald Riddel with Andrew Thomas.

10. Beth Fitt with Beau Baddock.

11. Lauren Clear, Matt Sherratt and Sandy Meyers.

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12. Brothers Tristan Steventon and Matt Steventon

with Reanna Steventon.

13. Shah Alford and Harriet Sharp with Talulah (middle).

14. Jo Kingwill with Danielle Klingberg.

15. Kelly Dent, Nic Brazier.

16. Emma Blackwood, Clare Stuart, Jo Fairfax.

17. Jim Cornwell, Kenny Wisse, Matthew Rumble.

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1 Crafted Live - Brewed & BBQ Festival www.craftedlive.com Saturday 4 March - Orange Showground 2 Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience www.spiritofanzac.gov.au Monday 6 to Monday 20 March - Orange Indoor Tennis Club 3 F.O.O.D Week www.orangefoodweek.com.au Friday 31 March to Sunday 9 April

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4 Orange Camel Races - Give me 5 for Kids www.visitorange.com.au Easter Sunday 16 April - Towac Park 5 Canowindra Balloon Challenge www.canowindrachallenge.org.au Tuesday 18 to Tuesday 25 April - Canowindra 6 Eugowra Murals Weekend facebook.com/EugowraVillageofMurals Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 April

CWL 197

EVENTS IN THE WEST

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CROOKWELL GARDEN FESTIVAL CROOKWELL

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he organising committee of the 2016 Crookwell Garden Festival is still basking in the success of its second festival, which attracted well over 1000 visitors.

Held on November 5 and 6, 2016, the Crookwell Garden Festival showcased the unique cool-climate gardens of Crookwell in the Upper Lachlan Shire. The nine gardens on display looked in peak condition after bumper winter rains.

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Visitors were overwhelmingly positive about their experience at the festival, describing their garden visits as “incredible”, “magnificent” and “stunning”.

The variety and high standard not only applied to the gardens but also to the Garden Lovers Market. Celebrity guest Angus Stewart presented a workshop on propagation.

Angus said he particularly relished the opportunity to talk to so many keen gardeners at a specialist market.

Words: Lorna Vallely Images: Anna Tickle 1. John and Vicki Brassil, Yass, with Lynne and Les Hewett, Crookwell.

2. John and Margaret Mitchell, owners of McAlister, with Wellington

visitors Chris and Aleisha Conn.

3. Colleen Pratten with Anne and Ray Jackson, owners of the beautiful garden at 45 Cowper Street.

4. Hosts of the Palmer garden, Geoff and Jeanne Palmer, Crookwell.

5. Richard and Charmaine Gay in their garden at 2 Denham Street.

6. Jeanine Wade with Diane Brady, both from Yass 7. Margaret O’Neill and Jan Easton, Haberfield, in the Palmer garden.

8. Roslyn Latty, Cremorne, with Virginia King, Crookwell.

9. Kathleen Griffiths, Dubbo, Libby Ratten with daughter Annie Rubner, Roseberry, and Tim Ratten. Tim and Libby own Bowood, featured in the Winter edition of CWL. 10. Owners of Casa della Pace, Marg Anderson and Jan Pont (centre), with Megan Shields and Jeff Shields, Davistown, Central Coast.

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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.

For your FREE Visitor Guide Ph: 02 4832 1988

CROOKWELL GUNNING - TARALGA Binda - Bigga - Collector - Dalton - Grabben Gullen - Laggan - Tuena

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So close but a world away

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Boorowa Community Bank® Branch

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

CWL 199

WEDDINGS

*1 y a K c M Irissou Samantha McKay and Thibaut Irissou were married at the McKay family property “Wattle Hill”, Rylstone, on September 17, 2016.

Samantha was accompanied by bridesmaids Monique Carroll, Kate Marsh, Alarna Haigh, Lauren Marsh and Monique John, as well as flower girl Frankie Marsh and pageboy Tyler Carroll. Thibaut’s groomsmen were Will Budd, Kris Klein and Will Askam.

The country ceremony, with stunning views overlooking Rylstone, was attended by 92 special guests, who enjoyed canapés on the lawns before the marquee reception.

Native flowers from Sydney markets, as well as gum and wattle collected from the property, perfected the bouquet, ceremony arch and marquee styling for the day.

The couple honeymooned in Noosa before returning to their home in Newport on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Photographer: Katherine Wilson Photography

Above right: Frankie Marsh, Kate Marsh, Alarna Haigh, Lauren Marsh, Monique John, Monique Carroll, Samantha and Thibaut Irissou, Will Budd, Kris Klein and Will Askam.

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Enjoy boutique accommodation in the heart of historic Millthorpe. Perfect for larger groups looking for an indulgent and relaxing weekend away.

RedAgape Guesthouse 4 Blake St, Millthorpe www.redagape.com.au follow us on Instagram: @redagape

CWL 201

WEDDINGS

Swain *1 Tipping Melissa Swain and Jack Tipping were married at Lilianfels Resort and Spa, Katoomba, on September 10, 2016.

The Dubbo couple met as children through their parents, and were reintroduced as adults via mutual friends. The two soon became inseparable and have now married in front of 30 close family and friends on the Oak Lawn at Lilianfels.

The wedding photographs were taken around the venue’s stunning gardens and on Flat Rock overlooking the escarpment.

The reception was held in Lilianfel’s Wollemi Pine Room. A personalised touch to the day was a Vera Wang cake knife and server with the couple’s names and wedding date engraved on them.

Melissa and Jack enjoyed honeymooning in New Orleans and New York before returning to their home in Dubbo.

Photographer: Still Photography

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Ph 0419 482 449 118 Adelaide St Blayney NSW 2799 www.whiterocksilver.com.au

Parkes

‘The Wedding Suit Specialists’ Onsite Jewellers | Designers | Manufacturers | Repairs & Remodelling Retailers of Modern & Contemporary Jewellery

Whitneys Jewellers have been hand crafting diamond engagement rings for 4 generations.

Their master jeweller can delicately restore, repair or resize your precious jewellery on site in a minimum time.

Visit Whitneys Jewellers at 149 Talbragar Street Dubbo NSW Tel: 02 6882 4620 www.whitneysjewellers.com.au

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CWL 203

WEDDINGS

Palmer *1 Hume Sarah Palmer and Wei-Li Hume were married at St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Crookwell, on April 16, 2016.

Sarah is the daughter of Geoff and Jeanne Palmer, of Crookwell, and Wei-Li is the son of Terry and Bee Hoon Hume, of Ashfield, Sydney.

Guests travelled from country NSW, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Singapore to witness the couple married by their minister Reverend Chris Braga of Summer Hill Anglican Church, Sydney.

A photo shoot at Kiloren Gardens and Crookwell Railway Station and a lunchtime reception at Crookwell Showground Pavilion followed the morning church ceremony.

A traditional Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony attended by close family preceded the wedding on Friday.

The couple honeymooned in the Tweed Valley and have made their home in inner west Sydney.

Photographer: Samuel Yick Photography

Above: Terry and Bee Hoon Hume, Wei-Li and Sarah Hume and Jeanne and Geoff Palmer.

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Above: Andrew Palmer, Ashleigh MacAulay, Matheus Yeo, Sarah and Wei-Li Hume, Sarah Rootes, Luke Sweeting, Yang-En Hume and Emily Napper (front).

A tranquil setting for a special occasion A unique function centre in a 350 acre estate near Blayney in the picturesque Central Tablelands of NSW.

84 Newbridge Road Blayney NSW 02 6368 2639 www.atholgardens.com.au

CWL 205

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A COUNTRY WEDDING BINDA Binda, 0419 234 890 www.acountryweddingbinda.com.au

COURTHOUSE COTTAGE B&B Temora, 6978 1911 www.courthousecottage.com.au

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THE LION’S PRIDE Dubbo, 6884 3333 www.thelionspride.com.au

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COWRA TOURISM CORP Cowra, 6342 4333 www.cowratourism.com.au

KAMARLEY & ME HOMEWARES & GIFTS Temora, 0419 287 735 www.kamarleyandme.com.au

PRESSED TIN PANELS Bathurst, 6332 1738 www.pressedtinpanels.com

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CRAMPTON’S CARPETS Dubbo, 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au

THE OLD MILL CAFE Millthorpe, 6366 3188 www.theoldmillcafe.com.au

ALL OCCASIONS West Wyalong, 0427 722 373

CROOKWELL FOOTWEAR Crookwell, 4832 1636

ALL SAINTS’ COLLEGE Bathurst, 6331 3911 www.saints.nsw.edu.au

CULTIVATE ADVISORY Narromine, 0428 890 151 www.cultivateadvisory.com.au

ANGULLONG WINES Panuara, 6366 4300 www.angullong.com.au

DEB’S JEWELLERY Temora, 6977 4122 www.debsjewellery.com

ARCADIA CROOKWELL Crookwell, 0407 254 954

DISH CATERING CO Parkes, 0425 209 138

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ATHOL GARDENS Blayney, 6368 2639 www.atholgardens.com.au

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LAGGAN PANTRY Laggan, 4837 3039 www.lagganpantry.com.au

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BILLABONG COTTAGE Oberon, 6336 5144 www.bluemts.com.au/billabongcottage

ECLECTOPIA GIFTS Taralga, 0468 934 483

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BLACK GOLD MOTEL Wallerawang, 6355 7305

FARMLINK RESEARCH Temora, 6980 1333 www.farmlink.com.au

BLAND SHIRE COUNCIL West Wyalong, 6972 2266 www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au BLAYNEY POST OFFICE B&B Blayney, 6368 2466 BLAYNEY SHIRE COUNCIL Blayney, 6368 3534 www.visitblayney.com.au

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BOOROWA COURT HOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP Boorowa, 6385 3885

FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING & SHOE REPAIRS Bathurst, 6331 7544 www.gottheboot.com.au

BUDDENS B&B Rockley, 6337 9279 www.buddens.com.au BURROWA HOUSE Boorowa, 6385 3773 BURROWA RETIREMENT VILLAGE Boorowa, 6385 3773 BYRNE CLOTHING Parkes, 6862 1408 www.byrneclothing.com.au CENTRAL CALEULA MOTOR LODGE Orange, 6362 7699 www.centralcaleula.com.au CEREMONIES BY AARON Central West, 0400 002 019 www.ceremoniesbyaaron.com.au CHILL-RITE Dubbo, 6885 2254 & Orange, 6361 4442 www.chill-rite.com.au

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CONVENT & CHAPEL WOOL SHOP Rylstone, 0409 564 747 www.conventandchapelwool.com

IRONBARK ESPRESSO BAR Blayney, 0408 461 937 www.ironbarkespressobar.com

COUNTRY CARRIAGE B&B Temora, 6973 1221 www.countrycarriage.com.au

JEMALONG WOOL Forbes, 6851 4000 www.jemalongwool.com.au

COUNTRY GARDENS MOTOR INN Cowra, 6341 1100 www.cowracountrygardensmotel.com.au

JENNY’S CLASSROOM & TOYS 2 Orange, 6362 6078 www.jennysclassroomtoys2.com.au

KATE JONES @ ONE NINETEEN Orange, 6361 4390 www.katejonesatonenineteen.com.au KLR MARKETING Bathurst, 0428 953 925 www.klrmarketing.com.au KRISTY’S COTTAGE West Wyalong, 6972 3963 KUBOWICZ BUILDERS Mudgee, 6372 4200 www.jkbuilders.com.au

QUALITY INN DUBBO INTERNATIONAL Dubbo, 6882 4777 www.qualityinndubbo.com.au QUALITY PROPERTY & LIVESTOCK Temora, 6978 1008 www.qplrural.com.au

REDAGAPE GUESTHOUSE Millthorpe, 0448 626 391 www.redagape.com.au RICK FIRMAN’S MENSWEAR Temora, 6977 2021 www.rickfirmansmenswear.com.au RIVERINA FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Temora, West Wyalong & Griffith 6962 4264 www.riverinafamilychiropractic.com.au ROSIE’S HONEY MUSTARD Warren, 6824 2055 www.rosies.net.au ROUNDABOUT BAKERY Temora, West Wyalong & Forbes 6978 0020 ROYAL HOTEL CONDOBOLIN Condobolin, 6895 2009

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MACQUARIE HEALTH COLLECTIVE Dubbo & Narromine, 6815 9900 www.macquariehealthcollective.com.au

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PARKES NEWSAGENCY Parkes, 6862 2296 www.parkesnewsagency.com PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL Parkes, 6862 6000 www.parkes.nsw.gov.au PATCHWORK INN B&B Temora, 0428 781 133 www.patchworkinntemora.com.au PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS Dubbo, 6882 3933 www.peacockeaccountants.com.au PERENNIALLE PLANTS Canowindra, 0427 077 798 www.perennialle.com.au PEONY BOUTIQUE Temora, 6977 2221 PINN COTTAGE Crookwell, 0421 457 135 www.pinncottage.com.au

STOKE HOUSE CARCOAR Carcoar, 6367 3235 www.stokehousecarcoar.com SUZIE HOPE DESIGNS Mittagong, 0438 423 824 www.suziehopedesigns.com TATTYKEEL Oberon, 6335 8116 www.tattykeel.com.au TEMORA & DISTRICT FUNERAL SERVICE AND NATIVE BOTANICAL Temora, 6977 1788 www.nativebotanical.com.au TEMORA AVIATION MUSEUM Temora, 6977 1088 www.aviationmuseum.com.au

THE HUB Bathurst, 6332 1565

THE OUTLOOK CAFE Dubbo, 6884 7977 THE QUARRY RESTAURANT & CELLAR DOOR Cowra, 6342 3650 www.thequarryrestaurant.com.au THE RAILWAY HOTEL Parkes, 6862 1553 www.therailwayhotelparkes.com.au THE SCOTS SCHOOL Bathurst, 6333 4702 www.scots.edu.au THE TANGLED VINE CAFE Taralga, 4840 2929 THE WHIDDON GROUP Temora, 1300 738 388 www.whiddon.com.au THE WHITE PLACE Orange, 6363 1160 www.thewhiteplace.com.au THOM, DICK AND HARRY’S West Wyalong, 6972 0393 www.tdhww.com.au TOP PADDOCK Crookwell, 4832 2319 TOYOTA CENTRAL WEST GROUP Central West, 6882 1511 www.toyota.com.au ULTIMATE DIGITAL Dubbo, 6884 5949 www.ultimatedigital.com.au UPPER LACHLAN SHIRE COUNCIL Crookwell, 4832 1988 www.visitupperlachlan.com.au WALLINGTON WINES Canowindra, 0427 936 054 www.wallingtonwines.com.au WE KNOW TRAVEL Parkes, Dubbo & Orange, 6862 2466 www.weknowtravel.com.au

TEMORA CAPITAL CHEMIST Temora, 6977 2026

WEST ORANGE MOTORS Orange, 6361 1000 www.mbwestorangemotors.com.au

TEMORA EX-SERVICES CLUB, GOLDTERA MOTOR INN & KOREELA PARK MOTOR INN Temora, 6977 2433 www.temoraexservices.com.au

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TEMORA MEDICAL COMPLEX Temora, 6977 3600 www.temoramedical.com.au

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TEMORA RURAL MUSEUM Temora, 6977 1291 TEMORA SHIRE COUNCIL Temora, 6980 1100 www.temora.com.au TEMORA TRUCK & TRACTOR SERVICE Temora, 6977 1098

WHITE’S STOCK TRANSPORT Orange, 6362 2099 WHITE ROCK SILVER Blayney, 0419 482 449 www.whiterocksilver.com.au

TEMORA VETERINARY HOSPITAL Temora, 6977 1451 www.temoravet.com.au

WHITNEYS JEWELLERS Dubbo, 6882 4620 www.whitneysjewellers.com.au

TERMINUS HOTEL Temora, 6978 0968 www.terminushoteltemora.com

WOMBEYAN & ABERCROMBIE CAVES Wombeyan via Taralga, 4843 5976

THE CLOSET Cowra, 6342 2478 www.theclosetcowra.com

PLAINSMAN MOTEL Forbes, 6852 2466

THE COFFEE CLUB ORANA MALL Dubbo, 6882 0347 www.coffeeclub.com.au

PLANNING POTENTIAL Orange, 0412 395 668 www.planningpotential.com.au

THE COURT HOUSE HOTEL Boorowa, 6385 3005 www.courthousehotelboorowa.com.au

YLAD LIVING SOILS Young, 1300 811 681 www.yladlivingsoils.com.au YOUNG EYES Young, 6382 4000 www.youngeyes.com.au ZEST BYO Temora, 6978 0332

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

It’s all about THE BASS O

ut on his farm, far removed from the stress of work, Taz Rundle relaxes under his favourite peppercorn tree and serenades an unsuspecting troupe of chooks, Suffolk sheep, alpacas and Boof the labrador.

Not with his voice. Oh no. He’s belting out mellow tunes from his 96-year-old Conn sousaphone, a variation of the better-known tuba, but with a different shape and lower bass sound.

The animals seem mystified but Taz knows this is one instrument that affects everybody in different ways.

During one practice session an inquisitive alpaca sauntered up and placed her head in the bell of his instrument. It’s all part and parcel of living on the Temora hobby farm he shares with wife Tracy and mother-in-law Margaret.

Taz and Tracy met 30 years ago while Tracy was playing triangle in the Hobart City Band.

Taz had been performing there since he was 14 – always playing the big, lower-sounding instruments.

He notched up 37 years with the band and would have still been there had it not been for his desire to become a paramedic.

Taz left Tasmania’s beautiful Huon Valley to study on the mainland, and after working in colourful Paddington he moved his family to the fringe of Temora several years ago.

In mid 2016 Taz relaunched the Temora Town Band, which had run out of puff by the 1970s.

He even rounded up an original band member and is proud as punch of their efforts.

Already they’ve enjoyed several public performances, including a gig at the Temora Show, Grandparents Day at a local nursing home, Christmas carols and a street march in nearby Ariah Park.

“I’m the man out the front with a big stick,” he laughs, when discussing his impressive march moves.

With his pencil-thin moustache, he is the quintessential orchestrator. He dreams of one day taking his band overseas. He’s done it before, performing at a big fashion festival in China as well as the famous Calgary Stampede.

“Most people think of it as a rodeo but it’s also a band competition,” he says with a perpetual twinkle in his eye.

Taz plays a range of instruments including the tuba, trumpet, trombone and bass guitar but his firm favourite is the sousaphone.

Taz plays a range of instruments including the tuba, trumpet, trombone and bass guitar but his firm favourite is the sousaphone. He finally got his hands on one for $150 and a case of beer, 20 long years after he first fell in love with it!

Taz explains that most of the brass instruments in the band are similar to what you’d find in English brass bands. The sousa, he says, was developed for American marching bands, thanks to its ability to push sound forward.

It’s dented, strapped up and lost a lot of its silver but Taz is adamant it’s like a fine red wine and only improves with age.

At 30kg, the instrument is not for the fainthearted. Taz first marched with it last Anzac Day with six others – his first march in 14 years.

208 CWL

There are dozens of instruments out there but Taz likes the ones that are a little different.

A bit like him, really.

Temora locals, watch this space. You haven’t heard the last of Taz Rundle and his amazing sousaphone. CWL Words and image: Shot by Jake

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Cowra Toyota 02 6342 1988 cowratoyota.com.au

Lean & Bennett (Lithgow) 02 6352 2211 leanandbennetttoyota.net.au

Orange Toyota 02 6362 2988 orangetoyota.com.au

Dubbo City Toyota 02 6882 1511 dubbocitytoyota.com.au

Macquarie Toyota (Warren) 02 6847 4266 macquarietoyota.com.au

Parkes Toyota 02 6862 9777 parkestoyota.com.au

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Mudgee Toyota 02 6372 1799 mudgeetoyota.com.au

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Nyngan Toyota 02 6832 1477 nyngantoyota.com.au

Ron Stubberfield Toyota (Wellington) 02 6845 2522 ronstubberfieldtoyota.com.au

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