WINTER
Hilltops Feature Young • Boorowa • Harden Murrumburrah & Jugiong
Grenfell’s Silo Art
COUNTRY EVENTS:
Mudgee Races Jugiong Art Show
Garden Beauty at The Glen, Bathurst
Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales
SERVICE • INFORMATION • MARKETING facebook.com/jemalongwool
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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
trading as Regional Lifestyle Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418 ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 FAX 02 6867 9895 WEBSITE www.lifestylemagazine.net.au FACEBOOK @RegionalLifestyleMagazine INSTAGRAM @RegionalLifestyleMagazine PUBLISHERS, ACCOUNTS & ADVERTISING Elizabeth & Alex Tickle info@lifestylemagazine.net.au EDITOR Elizabeth Tickle editor@lifestylemagazine.net.au CHIEF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Jake Lindsay shotbyjake@outlook.com.au ART DIRECTOR Zora Regulic artdirector@lifestylemagazine.net.au
DISTRIBUTION Regional 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 surrounding regions of the Far West, New England & North West, Riverina & Southern Slopes, the Monaro, Southern Highlands, Canberra, Northern and Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in addition to a selection of other rural and coastal areas of New South Wales. Subscriptions and back issues are also available to read online, on desktop and mobile devices. Unsold magazines are distributed to cafes, health waiting rooms, quality hotels/motels, bed and breakfast establishments, hair and beauty salons and tourist outlets.
Regional Lifestyle showcases authentic content from across rural and regional New South Wales. The heart of the magazine is in the Central West of the state, but a great story knows no boundaries. We are continually amazed by the innovation, inspiration and spirit that we find time and time again in communities both within the Central West and further afield. It is our passion and privilege to bring these stories to you.
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE To order a subscription or back issue (mailed or online), visit www.lifestylemagazine.net.au. © Central West Lifestyle Pty Ltd 2020 All Rights Reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher. While every care is taken in the publication of Regional Lifestyle Magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
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CONTENTS ISSUE 29 WINTER 2020
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104
80
14
64 136
110 TOWN FEATURE
HILLTOPS YOUNG, BOOROWA, HARDEN, MURRUMBURRAH & JUGIONG With so much to showcase in the Hilltops Region, RLM revisits the area to explore a little further. Known for its fresh produce, rich history in gold and agriculture, its natural beauty and cool-climate wines, the Hilltops also harbours an abundance of extraordinary constituents with a story to tell. STARTS PAGE 14.
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story name W I N T E R
160 188
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172 212
204 COUNTRY RECIPES
188 W INTER WONDERS The cooler months call for hearty, no-fuss recipes that are bound to please.
WINTER
Hilltops Feature Young • Boorowa • Harden Murrumburrah & Jugiong
GARDEN
190 P EACE AND QUIET When Jayne and Simon Beverly created their three-acre garden, it wasn’t just about beautifying the landscape.
Grenfell’s Silo Art
COUNTRY EVENTS:
THE LAST WORD
224 TOWN TREASURE Nothing can slow down great grandmother Mary Corcoran.
Garden Beauty at The Glen, Bathurst
>
196 HAPPY SNAPS Check out who attended the RLM Autumn 2020 Launch, Mudgee Races and Jugiong Art Exhibition. 212 WEDDINGS Gorgeous photographs of happy, handsome country couples tying the knot.
Mudgee Races Jugiong Art Show WINTER 2020 VOLUME 29 608002
EVENTS
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160 WONDER WALLS Muralist Heesco’s extraordinary images loom large and linger in the minds of those who view them. 164 THE GOOD DOCTOR Highly respected general physician and gastroenterologist Dr Joe Canalese has for decades been an integral part of the medical, sporting, cultural and social fabric of Dubbo. 168 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL Gulargambone farmer Stephen Rae makes every moment count in a second chance at life. 172 TWO OF A KIND Identical twins David and Matthew Hall share much more in common than their looks. We visit their stylish home in Young. 182 DRAWN TO DRAW Drawing and painting are as natural as breathing for talented Central West artist Karen James.
Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales
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COUNTRY CHARACTERS
168
ON THE COVER
Clifton House and Gardens This Circa 1890 Victorian style homestead near Young is a renowned local landmark and function centre. (Hilltops Council Feature, Page 28). Image: Jennifer Harden
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W I N T E R publishers’ letter
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
stay safe, stay strong “Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.” – Catherine DeVrye, The Gift of Nature
Welcome to Winter 2020! We have all had a very challenging and worrying time with COVID-19, accompanied by real uncertainties. So many lives have been impacted, and the effects are being felt right across our society. Our wish is that you have been keeping safe and well and supporting one another in positive ways. We hope we will all come through this with an inner strength that will underpin our journey forward.
Autumn 2020 Launch A wonderful night of celebration was enjoyed by over 80 guests in the stunning Forbes Town Hall. Even though this was the second time we had featured Forbes and Parkes, plenty of local heroes and charismatic characters (as well as innovative businesses) were found to showcase across 113 pages of our publication. The highlight of the launch evening was a very moving presentation by indigenous Forbes songman Yarangirri Holmes and the River Spirit Dancers.
Drought-breaking rain Much of our state has received welcome rainfall since our last publication. It is so wonderful to see lush feed in many areas and livestock and crops taking centre stage once again.
Winter 2020 Feature You may recall we featured Young in Spring 2015 (Edition 10) and Boorowa in Winter 2016 (Edition 13). These editions were very well received and so the Hilltops Council had no hesitation in collaborating with Regional Lifestyle once again. For that we are most grateful. We were given a wonderful opportunity to revisit many of our favourite places, meet familiar faces (but lots of new ones as well) and generally take a trip down memory lane. Lots of new things have been happening here in the Hilltops Region and it is just as productive and beautiful as ever. We were most fortunate to meet some incredibly hard-working people, some local heroes and others who are innovative and visionary.
Regional Lifestyle Magazine team members at the Forbes Launch: Back: Jo McKinnon, Heather Crosby, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle, Sue Meikle, Zora Regulic, Anna Tickle, John Curley. Front: Mayor of Forbes Shire Council Cr Phyllis Miller OAM and Mayor of Parkes Shire Council Cr Ken Keith OAM.
Edition number 30 – Spring 2020 It is hard to believe that soon we will have produced 30 editions of our magazine! That’s 7½ years since we took our first tentative steps in Winter 2013. Even though this is, in theory, our job, we often talk about it as a journey, the trip of a lifetime and an incredible privilege. Thank you to the many councils, advertisers, newsagencies and you, the readers, for supporting us throughout this epic ride! Edition number 30 will feature the Queanbeyan-Palerang Council area (Queanbeyan, Braidwood , Bungendore and villages). This area was devastated by bushfires earlier in the year but there is a definite strong recovery occurring. A massive thanks to QPRC and Bendigo Bank for their foresight and generosity in providing substantial funding to the many advertisers who came on board for the Spring Feature.
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You can look forward to 120+ pages profiling many amazing aspects of this region. We can strongly recommend that this area should be on your bucket list of places to visit. Enjoy the beauty of winter, the cosy crackling wood fires and the company of family and good friends.
Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle Please note: At the time of going to press, the COVID-19 government restrictions were in place. Thank you for taking this into consideration and making allowances when you read our content. We recommend that you check with event organisers before you make any travel arrangements.
W I N T E R Jake’s message
from the boundary fence Greetings, esteemed reader. Mother Nature has been working overtime, creating havoc in the bush that’s already copped a battering. We’ve had the full gamut – drought, fire, massive dust storms, record temperatures and flooding. Now we can add the Coronavirus to the equation, and what a drama of epic proportions. It was 101 years ago the world faced the 1918-19 influenza pandemic that claimed more lives (between 20 million and 40 million people) than WW1. These are serious times indeed. While we are all bunkered down, let’s remember the frontline health staff who continue putting their lives on the line every day to help the rest of us. On a lighter note, thankfully we’re easing into the cooler winter months, which means there’s no better time to plonk yourself down in front of the fire, clutching your latest Lifestyle. Like longlost cousins, we are revisiting the Hilltops Region, specifically Young, Boorowa, Harden-Murrumburrah and Jugiong. During my travels, I attended the 70th Cherry Festival. I dip my lid to the organisers, who combined the markets with never-ending music, a colourful sideshow alley, street parade, fireworks and, of course, long-standing competitions like cherry pip spitting, cherry pie munching and the most important one of all, cherry picking! The district’s cherry farmers are a cheerful lot. It was great catching up with various members of the Mullany tribe at the Ballinaclash and Grove Estate cellar doors. I managed to catch up with some legendary bush characters – all with big hearts, bold dreams and positive outlooks. Men of the calibre of John Dunk, who built an insurance broking empire on the strength of his handshake, old-fashioned service (he brings out a Wilders cake to all his rural clients) and a shared love of sport. And Greg Haines, a former shearer who crafts beautiful knives from old files and blade shears. Actually, I met a handful of old shearers this time around, including John Stephens, still working in his 80s and fitter than most blokes half his age. Then there are the Goodman brothers, who pedalled their way across Australia to raise funds for charity. Age shall not weary them – they performed the same feat 40 years ago!
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We’re delighted to revisit the iconic Iandra Castle, where big things are happening. A younger generation with new dreams is reshaping the fortunes of one of the country’s few genuine castles. During an aerial flight from Young to Boorowa, it was hard not feeling despondent taking in the barren landscape below. In a good season, it rates as some of the top farming country in Australia. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Hilltops Region but businesses in these parts, like everywhere, are feeling the ongoing effects of the drought, bushfires and pandemic. You and your credit card need to go exploring, possibly online. There’s never been a better time or reason. The golden gong for my favourite spot is the happening little village of Jugiong. It’s in these tiny little outback gems you find the best people – and you’ll be reading about their fascinating lives in the following pages. Sermon for the day: Remember to live each day as though it were your last. Think about this for a second. One day, perhaps when you least expect it, it will be game over. End of your innings. I thought my time on this planet was up after a sudden and scary asthma attack. Fortunately, I pulled through but a few of my mates, in recent times, haven’t been so fortunate. Each day becomes more special as we realise our vulnerability. You can multiply that feeling by 10 for our older folk and those battling illness. So, dear reader, be compassionate and live life to the full as you strap yourself in for an invigorating Hilltops experience. You’ll be travelling first class all the way, and don’t forget to send a postcard when you get there!
Jake
PS Since I started writing this we’ve copped about 10 inches of good, soaking rain in Coonabarabran. The catheads have gone gangbusters and life goes on. Please take care in these perilous times and remember, more than ever, to take care of our old and vulnerable.
ABOVE: A recent aerial shot of Young, showing the diversity of orchards and wineries; cherries are synonymous with Young, featured in this issue.
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WINTER 2020 CONTRIBUTORS
meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
GINA CRANSON
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
JAKE LINDSAY
Publisher, Distribution, Advertising
Chief Writer & Photographer
ZORA REGULIC
JENNIFER HARDEN
JANE SANDERSON
ANNA TICKLE
Art Director & Social Media Manager
Home & Style Writer, Photographer
Wedding Writer
Writer
Writer
SALLY MARCEAU
MELISSA DUNKERLEY
ZENIO LAPKA
Advertising Designer
Photographer
KATE BOSHAMMER
Advertising Designer
ELIZABETH SWANE
ROSIE O’KEEFFE
ROBERT I BRUCE
CATHERINE PLAYER
JO McKINNON
SUE MEIKLE
JOHN CURLEY
HEATHER CROSBY
Garden Writer
Writer
LORRAINE HILLS
Country Cuisine Writer
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ALEX TICKLE
Publisher, Editor, Advertising
Photographer
Social Photographer
Writer
RLM Accountant
Website Developer
Writer
62 Byng Street Orange New South Wales 2800 P 02 5317 8200 info@byngstreethotel.com.au
byngstreethotel.com.au
W I N T E R feedback
your letters On behalf of a grateful community, I thank and congratulate Elizabeth and Alex and their Regional Lifestyle Magazine team for the magnificent work in compiling the latest feature on Parkes and Forbes. This is the second time Parkes has been featured, with the Winter 2015 edition showcasing our shire. Tourism is an economic driver in our shire with events like the Elvis Festival in Parkes and the ABBA Festival in Trundle. During these challenging years of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, we can look to bounce back on the exposure given to our community through this quality magazine. It has been a delight to work with such a professional and dedicated team and I wish them every success in the future. Cr Ken Keith OAM, Mayor of Parkes Shire
Congratulations to Elizabeth and Alex Tickle on the magnificent job they have done in compiling the Autumn edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine featuring Forbes and Parkes. The stories are a true reflection of our life here in the Central West of NSW and the photography is exemplary. Readers get an in-depth look into the lives of the amazing people in our region, who are incredibly proud to call Forbes home. Their life stories will no doubt inspire others and encourage people to visit our beautiful district and discover even more. I have followed the incredible journey of this magazine over the seven years it has been in production and, without fail, each edition brings the most amazing and interesting stories to life. I look forward to reading about all the other incredible communities our state has to offer. Cr Phyllis Miller OAM, Mayor of Forbes Shire
Regional Lifestyle Magazine gives our family great joy to read, creating visual appeal as it is displayed centre stage on our coffee table. It inspires dynamic topics of stimulating conversation from the beautifully written articles. There is nothing better than discussing artwork or a unique regional location. An extra buzz of joy is generated when we spot a friend in the magazine. Country farming articles are read with great interest. Thank you for such a fabulous magazine, capturing wonderful country locations. Sarah Robson, Tamworth
I recently purchased my first copy of your magazine and was immediately impressed. Your articles tell unique stories complemented with great pictures, understanding people’s commitment, struggles and achievements without becoming overwhelmed with too much detail. I have found it particularly useful to the community visitors scheme that I volunteer with, as we visit people that are isolated or do not have regular contact with family or friends. We empower them by listening to their life stories and history. This magazine gives us the opportunity to share your stories and it will help volunteers to gain knowledge about other towns, assisting the friendship bond. I bought every back issue of the magazine that I could. I would like to thank Elizabeth and Alex Tickle for supplying me with early issues of the magazine that I couldn’t purchase. I was truly overwhelmed by them doing this. Congratulations on such a wonderful informative magazine. Gwen Yelverton, Dubbo
As a proud owner and avid reader of all 28 editions of Central West Lifestyle and its successor Regional Lifestyle published so far, I have watched the beauty, history and spirit of regional NSW come alive over seven years. My eyes, mind and heart have been taken to so many towns and districts, homes and properties, large and small, near and far. There I have met ordinary Australians going about their daily lives, some of them doing extraordinary things. The fascinating human interest stories, enhanced by crisp, moodcapturing photographs, have given me a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of life beyond the coastal cities. The regional focus in each edition, together with other varied content, is strengthened by a bright and contemporary graphic design and high-quality production values – even the advertisements look good! This magazine is truly a celebration of our great state and its people. It is a tribute also to those women and men whose faces and names appear on the staff pages of this and previous editions. Their combined efforts have successfully captured our unique regional lifestyle in words and images for present-day readers, and the well-researched historical narratives have given us a glimpse of those on whose shoulders we stand. Congratulations and thank you to all. May there be many more editions to impress and inspire. Paul Smith, Campbelltown
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HILLTOPS COUN CIL FE ATUR E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
the hills are alive from the Mayor of Hilltops Council Welcome to the Hilltops Region, among rolling hills, orchards, canola and wheat just over an hour north of the nation’s capital. The growing Hilltops Region is renowned for its award-winning food, wine and produce, wide-open spaces and amazing sunsets. Including the thriving towns of Young, Harden-Murrumburrah and Boorowa, along with many unique villages, Hilltops has something for everyone. Our region is located along a strategic transport corridor, including the Hume Highway, the busiest interstate road freight corridor in Australia. This closely connects us to major markets including Sydney and Canberra. With excellent accommodation options along with great food and wine, Hilltops is a convenient and welcoming destination for those wanting to enjoy fresh local produce, explore a rich history of gold and agriculture, discover the region’s natural beauty and wide-open spaces or just relax and unwind. The arts and culture of the region’s towns and villages are also a key drawcard for our residents and guests to enjoy. Hilltops is one of the state’s most exciting new wine regions, with cool-climate conditions allowing for the production of elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, which is
powerful yet balanced and with proven ageing capabilities. The first vines were planted in the Hilltops Region as early as the 1860s. As a region, we are known for our diverse agricultural sector that includes the production of wheat, fruit, prime lamb, wool, pork, eggs, poultry and much more. Hilltops is home to innovative businesses in the fields of research, technology, milling, genetics, accounting, telecommunications, construction, sustainability, concreting, mining and biogas. As a council, we have a focus on infrastructure projects that will set a solid foundation for our future as a recently merged Local Government Area. We have over 75 community projects funded up to 2022 and continue to work closely with the Canberra Airport around regional tourism and export freight opportunities to make our region a place that our residents love to live in, tourists love to visit, and where our businesses thrive. We are grateful for our relaxed country lifestyle and peace and quiet, which are the things that people love most about living in the region. I invite visitors to escape to the Hilltops, discover our region’s rich history, natural beauty and unique country hospitality. Cr Brian Ingram, Hilltops Council Mayor
“As a region, we are known for our diverse agricultural sector that includes the production of wheat, fruit, prime lamb, wool, pork, eggs, poultry and much more.
land of plenty The towns and villages of the Hilltops Region are an easy drive from the busy cities of Sydney and Canberra, but a gear change down from the stress of urban living. The Hilltops Region, reached from the Hume Highway in just over an hour from Canberra and 20 minutes from Gundagai, has everything for the tourist who wants to sample great wines, try delicious food, shop, exercise, rest, and explore Australia’s history and rural life. The Hilltops Council area is home to both the Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal tribes. Travelling through the picturesque landscapes to the broad streets and historic buildings of the Hilltops towns, you will find farm-gate produce, antique shops, boutiques, and welcoming hotels and cafes. Thousands visit the region’s festivals, celebrating histories of Chinese migration, the gold rush, the wool industry, and the waves of newcomers from across the globe, who brought their skills to develop pastoral, mining, agricultural and horticultural industries. The thriving towns of Boorowa, Harden-Murrumburrah and Young and villages such as Jugiong offer unique experiences of rural life. Hilltops is convenient to escape the stress of work, to shop in an unhurried and uncrowded street. Enjoy a facial or have your hair done, explore our history, enjoy innovative or traditional meals matched with award-winning coffee and wine. The twin towns of Harden-Murrumburrah feature distinctive church spires and Italianate-style buildings that showcase the rich history of the area. The Light Horse Memorial honours the district’s contribution to Australian military history. Harden is home to the annual kite festival, which sees thousands of kite enthusiasts converge on the racecourse for a day of flying and fun. Boorowa boasts a proud Irish heritage, which brings many travellers from the homeland. Boorowa is home to the annual Irish Woolfest, a unique celebration of the town’s Irish heritage
and production of fine Merino wool. The running of the sheep is a feature on the Woolfest program not to be missed. In the late 1800s, Lambing Flat attracted miners from around the world ready to try their luck on the goldfields. A clash of cultures resulted in a riot to rid the area of Chinese miners. Lambing Flat was renamed Young and today we embrace and celebrate our rich Chinese heritage through the Lambing Flat Chinese Festival held in March. Following the gold rush, Young was identified as suitable for growing cherries, eventually becoming the biggest cherry producer in Australia, and so the title of Cherry Capital was born. The harvest is celebrated on the first weekend in December, with the National Cherry Festival uniting locals, visitors, seasonal workers and growers. The Hilltops landscape changes with the seasons. Orchards, grapevines and olive groves decorate the slopes. The area boasts spectacular vistas featuring dramatic hills, distant forest ranges and misty valleys. The colours change constantly: greens of pasture and growing crops; sweet pink and white almond, apple and cherry blossoms; bright gold ripe canola and pale gold of wheat ready for harvest; luscious red cherries; purple plums; and orange apricots. Visit, relax, unwind and enjoy. RLM Image: Cherries, Destination NSW
ABOVE: Seasonal crops make beautiful backdrops; Young is the official Cherry Capital of Australia where picking your own cherries is a popular activity. BELOW: Farming is the backbone of the Hilltops Region; the cherry blossoms line the roads in spring.
YOUNG TOWN FE ATURE WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
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forever Young
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The Hilltops Heritage Rally breathes new life into old engines.
A grand tally of 125 vintage stationary engines, many well over 100 years old, highlighted the 2019 Hilltops Heritage Rally in Young. Also on display were six vintage air compressor exhibits, four collectables displays, three old trucks, one motorcycle, one vintage mower collection and 17 historic tractors. Many of the tractors featured in the Cherry Festival street parade, including two century-old work horses owned by the museum but under custodianship to Cherry Capital Collectors Club members who restored them to their glory. “For once, the weather gods were smiling on us,” club secretary David Curtis says. “Our last rally two years ago was washed out with over 100mm of rain. This year temperatures were high 20s/low30s, which was fantastic considering our position in Carrington Park under the shade of the very large trees.” Exhibitors came from near and far, including Walcha, Newcastle, Sydney, Eden, Albury and Echuca and lots of places in between. “It was a great rally, perfect weather with plenty of different engines and exhibits on display. I cannot recall anyone having too much trouble with their machines not running – a rarity considering their age.” The Saturday night dinner attracted over 80 enthusiasts with lucky door prizes including a 5kg box of cherries, fuel, M-10, hotel and bakery vouchers and a stack of giveaways from Young and Harden’s auto supply stores and local business houses. “A huge shout out to all of the Cherry Capital Collectors Club members who helped make this a great rally,” David says. RLM
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1. A Star petrol engine. 2. Ian Browning, Arcadia, Dennis Coopes, Bathurst, and Roy White, Canowindra. 3. David Curtis with a Macson water pump. 4. Gordon Wise, Warren, with a 1942 Lister petrol kerosene engine. 5. Coleen Southwell and Allen Hillard from the Highlands Vintage Machinery Club, Mittagong, with a 1937 Lister. 6. Justin Wentworth, Mullion Creek, with his Star petrol engine. 7. Young collectors Mark Hall and Lindsay Crowe with Peter Nixon, Queanbeyan. 8. Hans Broers, Canberra, with a 1932 two-horsepower open crank engine. 9. Richard Dillon, Goulburn, talks with Cherry Capital Collectors Club president Kim Davidson. 10. Athol Moorby, Keith Croker, Peter Brough, Milton Moorby and Justin Taylor from the Cherry Capital Collectors Club. 11. The day was a huge success. 12. Sydney machinist Adam Benson with a Blackstone oil engine. 13. Stephen Carter, Harden, with his cream separator.
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take your
pick
Young’s National Cherry Festival offers a cornucopia of pleasures. They are sweet, juicy, taste divine, and people over the world love to pick and consume them straight from the tree. A hugely popular fruit, cherries are at the heart of the National Cherry Festival held annually in Young, centre of the Hilltops Region in the Southern Tablelands. The National Cherry Festival is held on the first weekend in December. This year, it is scheduled for December 4, 5 and 6. It’s one of Australia’s best-known harvest festivals, drawing thousands of people to celebrate another delicious crop. The three-day festival brings together people of many nationalities, ages, backgrounds and beliefs as they seize the opportunity to take part in the cherry harvest and immerse themselves in the town’s friendly hospitality. Over the seven decades since its foundation, the festival has always been about the cherry, which was first planted in the area in gold rush times back in the 1860s. Traditionally, cherries are front and centre of the festival, and some of the most memorable activities for those attending have been cherry inspired, including the quirky cherry pie eating and cherry pip spit events. These competitions always attract big crowds to watch participants with some humorous commentary helping to inject laughter and drama into the program. Other attractions include a fireworks display, the state’s longest street parade, buskers, stalls, farmers markets, live bands, quick shear, a car show, combined pipe bands, a big breakfast, bush poets, kelpie demonstrations and an art exhibition. The pick-your-own-cherry experience in orchards around the district are another attraction that keeps growing in popularity. The annual cherry harvest usually starts around Melbourne Cup time in November and finishes at Christmas time. Whether it’s a visit to Hilltops to pick your own cherries during the weeks of harvest, or a plan to attend the December National Cherry Festival itself, make Young in the Hilltops Region your destination to visit in 2020. RLM The National Cherry Festival is set down for December 4 to 6, 2020. For more information visit: nationalcherryfestival.com.au.
LEFT: The 2019 Cherry Festival was one of the best in years with plenty of entertainment on show; Cherry King David Munnerley; Viebke Mason from Vagabond Travel Gear was one of the many stall holders. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The festival drew huge crowds; Emily Page, Layla Ali and Erin Cox were kept busy at their drive-in orchard stand; the woodchop in action; contestants in the cherry pie eating contest; Jasmin Bond from Molong with her Greentrees Gourmet Preserves; Roseann Seery, David Butt, Jacinta Edgerton and Michelle Duggan from Woolworths.
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cheers to the
CHERRY The National Cherry Festival is a celebration like no other and a major highlight on Young’s calendar.
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Young T O W N F E AT U R E
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