#31 Regional Lifestyle | Summer 2020

SUMMER

GLORIOUS GARDEN White Hollow, Bathurst

BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FEATURE

Snowy Valleys Tumut • Talbingo • Adelong Batlow • Tumbarumba • Tooma Rosewood & Jingellic

Magnificent Mena Homestead, Orange

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.

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It starts with yes

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CONTENTS ISSUE 31 SUMMER 2020

166 T RUE NORTH Dr Robert North has been a valued member of the Dubbo community for more than half a century.

170 STEP BY STEP Cootamundra’s Silver Swans approach their weekly dance class with youthful enthusiasm.

174 MAGNIFICENT MENA Heritage-listed “Mena”, one of the Central West’s most elegant and significant homes, is looking for a new owner.

180 POSITIVITY ON A PLATE The committed team behind Cafe Dolcetto always looks on the bright side.

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RECIPES

190 F INE FARE Lorraine Hills shares some family favourites for the festive season.

GARDEN

200 A DELIGHT IN WHITE Amanda and Peter Carter’s beautiful Bathurst garden exudes ingenuity and resourcefulness.

THE LAST WORD

240 O PEN DOOR POLICY Tumbarumba Hotel’s Greg and Sue Scanlon say there’s nothing like a natural disaster to help forge friendships in a new town.

GLORIOUS GARDEN White Hollow, Bathurst

BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FEATURE

Snowy Valleys Tumut • Talbingo • Adelong Batlow • Tumbarumba • Tooma Rosewood & Jingellic

Magnificent Mena Homestead, Orange $14.00 inc GST SUMMER 2020 VOLUME 31 >

COUNTRY CHARACTERS

SUMMER

608002

egional Lifestyle Magazine revisits R the Snowy Valleys in the wake of a horrific bushfire season and in the midst of a global pandemic. Despite this annus horribilis, these rural communities are a picture of resilience, determination and positivity.

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184 A DIFFERENT PATH Academic Dr Gregory Peel Smith’s extraordinary life story is as honest and raw as it is inspiring.

194 TIME HONOURED Arriving at Hilton Homestead in Mandurama is simply a breath of fresh air.

222 ENTERPRISING SPIRITS A new chapter is being written in the rich history of The Grange estate at Brewongle.

Showcasing the best of rural and regional New South Wales

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TOWN FEATURE ROAD TO RECOVERY

ON THE COVER Peace and Tranquility

The stunning Tumbarumba Creekscape, Tumbarumba NSW Tumbarumba Feature page 120 Image: PeterMcDade

S U M M E R story name

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

bushfire recovery edition

“You can’t go back to and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

– CS Lewis

Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition

This edition is dedicated in large part to the beautiful Snowy Valleys area, well on the road to recovery.

In this feature, we share the stories of everyday Australians who have suffered tremendous loss from the devastating bushfires but through resilience, dedication and hard work as well as benefiting from a big community spirit, have rebuilt their businesses and their lives.

A huge thank you to the Snowy Valleys Council, which chose to support their businesses with extremely generous advertising subsidies to allow them the opportunity to be showcased within this publication Regional Lifestyle has also extended significant discounts in advertising costs to Snowy Valleys businesses to make this opportunity more manageable.

So we are thrilled to have 38 Snowy Valleys businesses on board with us, some previously advertising in the Autumn 2019 Feature but we are introducing new businesses to you as well.

Challenging times

Although we anticipated that COVID-19 would have a decreased presence by now, we have been sadly mistaken. Our thoughts go to the many individuals, families and businesses that have been negatively affected and we trust that with the supportive measures put in place by the Government, they will find a positive way forward.

Tourism within NSW

On the bright side, it is evident that with fewer options to travel overseas, people in their multitudes have decided to explore their own large backyard, the state of NSW. We have had huge demand, not only for our Spring 2020 edition featuring Queanbeyan, Braidwood and Bungendore but for back copies, which act as a travel guide to many beautiful areas within the state.

Back copies can be ordered online and posted to your home.

Autumn 2021 Feature

It is with great pleasure we announce we will be bringing you a feature focused on the beautiful Griffith area in the heart of the Riverina.

Having featured the nearby towns of Temora, Leeton and Narrandera, it was just a matter of time before we explored the stunning Griffith area and shared our discoveries with you. We know you will enjoy reading about the tourist attractions, the annual events, agriculture, local heroes, art and culture, iconic and unique businesses, and so much more that the region is known for.

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ABOVE: An idyllic view of snow on the Main Range, Kosciuszko National Park.

Image: Peter McDade.

Our thanks

Thank you to councils, newsagencies, advertisers and readers for your continued wonderful support across our eight memorable years in business. We’ve had a truly joyous journey and look forward to many more years bringing you all that is on offer in our glorious state.

The team at Regional Lifestyle would like to wish you a happy and blessed Christmas with those near and dear to you.

Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle

story name S U M M E R

historic pub artisan bakery accommodation

320 Riverside Drive Jugiong NSW 2726 P. 0419 098 828

info@sirgeorge.com.au RLM 7

S U M M E R Jake’s message

a year like no other Happy Christmas, trendsetters.

The virus is applying extra pressure in some departments but one thing it won’t stop is the spread of Christmas cheer. If ever you feel like you’re having a bad day, spare a thought for those lives turned upside down during the January 2020 fires barely a year ago.

Like any person who follows the news, I had briefly seen TV reports but they don’t really capture the story of everyday mums and dads who got caught up in the inferno. It didn’t reveal the personal struggle of people losing so much.

By the time I arrived six months after the fires, the drought was a thing of the past and the rolling hills greener than ever. It all looked fairly normal until you scratched the surface. It’s in the trees. Those still standing are blackened with green shoots bursting through. Entire communities are still recovering.

Everyone affected by the “mega” fire has his/her story of how events unfolded.

I was able to witness the remarkable resilience of the locals, many of whom have been to hell and back. For many of them, the emotions are still very raw.

Hundreds of homes were lost in the Snowy Valleys Shire and countless more damaged, along with thousands of livestock, untold miles of fencing and farm sheds. It was only a matter of time before people were reaching for a tissue or getting a lump in their throat when recounting the fire’s impact on their homes, lives and dreams.

I met one farmer who had survived three big fires in her lifetime.

You never forget them. It reminded me of my own experience with those big red trucks a quarter of a century ago. At precisely 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, my Tamworth studio caught alight while I was lowering the flag on the roof.

It was devastating. The smell was the worst thing. And the lost memories. But I went on to have another 20 great years there, realising that things, by their very nature, were always meant to come and go.

From the dozens of people I interviewed for our special Road to Recovery feature, one aspect came out loud and clear. Nobody could believe the kindness and overwhelming generosity of fellow Australians during their darkest days.

It got me thinking about these days of our lives. We all know there will always be good days and bad days, happy days and sad days. There will be days of confidence and days of self doubt. Days when you feel you figured it out and days you feel lost.

There will be days you lose friends and days you make new ones.

There will be days when you feel beat, when you can’t go on. Then there will be days you pick yourself up, brush yourself down and get motivated like never before. It’s OK, as humans we’re full of emotions.

The secret is never ever give up. Take breaks when needed. A day, a week or even a year – but never give up. Not one person I spoke to in the Snowy gave up – although there were many occasions when the RFS simply didn’t know which way to turn. The situation was that grim.

Now the Snowy Mountains folk are rebuilding their lives and homes and getting on with the joy of life. After what they’ve been through, the added pressure of living with COVID-19 is almost surreal.

Thanks to everyone who reached out to me with their heartfelt stories. This Road to Recovery issue really had to be done. We had to show, in our own way, the strength and resilience that exists in country communities when the chips are down. They are surely the backbone of this great country.

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“NOT ONE PERSON I SPOKE TO IN THE SNOWY GAVE UP.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Tumut and district has bounced back from the drought but is now facing fresh challenges; regrowth on the trees signal a fresh start; blackened trunks; a fresh spring lamb with its mother in the Tooma Valley.

We hope we don’t ever have to report on such destruction again but we know that floods, fires and drought are part and parcel of living in the bush. Hopefully, Mother Nature will at least afford us a few good years to recover, both in fire-affected regions and throughout the entire state.

Dear reader, you have a ton of riveting yarns ahead in your hands. Real people, real lives, real stories. You will find in this weighty edition a clear message for all of us.

Till the next time I see you in my camera sights, take care and enjoy the festive season as we prepare to sweep 2020 under the carpet and usher in a shiny new year with its own set of challenges.

Jake

story name S U M M E R

Fishing for tips from Grandad It starts with data the whole family can share

Explore the Optus Family Plan in-store today RLM 9

SUMMER 2020 CONTRIBUTORS

meet your team

ELIZABETH TICKLE

ALEX TICKLE

JAKE LINDSAY

ZORA REGULIC

Publisher, Editor, Advertising

Publisher, Distribution, Advertising

Chief Writer & Photographer

JANE SANDERSON

ANNA CONN

JENNIFER HARDEN Writer, Photographer, Social Media

Advertising Designer

AMY LOUISE ALLEN

ROBERT I BRUCE

LORRAINE HILLS

ELIZABETH GRANT

Wedding Writer

Photographer

Country Cuisine Writer

Writer

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GINA CRANSON

Art Director

Sub-Editor & Proofreader

SALLY MARCEAU

MELISSA DUNKERLEY

ELIZABETH SWANE

KATE BOSHAMMER

JO McKINNON

LUCY TAYLOR

PETER McDADE

HEATHER CROSBY

CATHERINE PLAYER

SUE CURLEY

ROSIE O’KEEFFE

ZENIO LAPKA

ELIZABETH EDWARDS

Writer

Photographer

Writer

Writer

Garden Writer

Photographer

Writer

Website Developer

Writer

Photographer

Advertising Designer

Writer

Writer

Writer

Photography by Amy Louise Photography & Design & Copper.Co Photography

S U M M E R feedback

your letters The Spring 2020 edition of Regional Lifestyle is a wonderful representation of the people, places and stories of Queanbeyan-Palerang. You have captured beautifully the spirit, tenacity and warmth that binds our community. I send my congratulations and sincere thanks to the entire team at Regional Lifestyle. This has been a very difficult year for our residents in Braidwood, Bungendore, Queanbeyan and all of the surrounding villages. The year began with the devastating bushfires, then localised flood incidents, closely followed by the onset of COVID-19. In this light, your publication is a timely and welcome celebration of what it means to live in or visit this part of the world.

We look forward to welcoming your readers as they discover our Treasure Trail: the amazing local produce, historic townships, vibrant arts scene and the spectacular natural landscapes of our region.

Tim Overall Mayor, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Congratulations, Alex, Elizabeth and staff on the Spring 2020 edition of Regional Lifestyle, focusing on Queanbeyan, Braidwood and Bungendore. This region has been through drought, fire, floods and COVID-19 over the past three years and has experienced many desperate times. The feature has given the Braidwood community a new lease of life. The publication has rekindled our sense of pride in our community. The combination of local council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and Palerang Financial Services Ltd (Braidwood and Bungendore Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank) to subsidise advertising costs by 50 per cent certainly encouraged local businesses in Braidwood and Bungendore to advertise and I hope this type of partnership could take place in other regional locations.

The photographs, articles and layout certainly made us realise how fortunate we are to live in this region. Thank you once again for a terrific publication.

Nick Fry, Branch Manager of Braidwood Community Bank, Branch of Bendigo Bank

What an awesome publication!

RLM Spring 2020 has certainly exceeded our expectations. The magazine has pride of place on not just our coffee table but in most of our family’s lounge rooms as well. The effort from you and your team to produce such a classy, quality magazine that allows regional families to share their stories, many so, so interesting, is wonderful.

Please also pass on our thanks to writer Jo McKinnon for her professional, friendly approach while listening and understanding the details of our family/business story and doing it justice; to advertising designer Melissa Dunkerley for her insight, thoughts and ideas with the designing of our ad; and also photographer Jen Harden for her expertise behind the camera showing our history in pictures. All this was created under the shadow of an unprecedented bushfire season rolling into a global pandemic. An amazing feat! While this was our first RLM purchase, it will not be the last.

Wendy and Brian Lake, Bungendore Village Leather

As a longtime resident of Canberra, with family connections to Bungendore in the late 1800s and Queanbeyan in the early 1900s, I was delighted to see your impressive issue featuring Queanbeyan-Palerang. Of course, since my late childhood in the 1970s, I have also witnessed the development of Braidwood and the numerous regional towns. So it was a total delight to see your feature, with its beautiful photographs, immaculate production and wonderful stories of so many favourite businesses and attractions. Thank you and your contributors for such a rich portrait of the region.

David Whitbread, Canberra

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SNOWY VALLEYS COU NCI L F E AT U R E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY

forging ahead from the Mayor of Snowy Valleys It’s no secret that our home, the Snowy Valleys, was devastated by the Black Summer bushfires, and that the experience was a traumatic one.

It’s also no secret that our region and our people are courageous and that our fighting spirit is strong.

With a population of 14,395, the Snowy Valleys is home to 5895 jobs and 1568 local businesses.

The impact of the bushfires in December 2019 and January 2020 was significant and extensive for our community, our environment and the industries core to our economy.

We watched as over 40 per cent of our plantation forest was burnt, 25 per cent of our bountiful fruit trees were destroyed and significant attractions including the Selwyn snowfields and the iconic Sugar Pine Walk were lost.

Despite these difficult setbacks, our community has rallied and is pushing forward, rebuilding, refocusing and planning for a new future.

Our landscapes and our people are seeing renewal and are bouncing back.

I come from five generations of farming families. These hills and valleys are close to my heart, and the renewal that we are now seeing post the fires is a heartwarming testament to our fertile farmlands and lush surrounds.

Our crystal-clear waterways are still the envy of many, and this is still the spot to possibly catch the biggest trout in Australia!

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In the past four years, our region has seen the benefits of significant influxes of funding, which has helped to improve the recreational and social resources across all our towns and villages for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Our region continues its development as a biking haven, boasting hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike trails winding through forests and open country, offering everything from simple scenic tracks to challenging downhill runs and technical climbs.

This year, Council was also proud to deliver the state’s first government-funded rail trail, the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail. It boasts 21 kilometres of sealed trail with gentle gradients and sweeping curves, and is already a fantastic local attraction, drawing visitors from across the country.

Our towns and villages also offer great family options for gentle rides and walks, as well as hosting fantastic facilities for improving skills including pump tracks, learner mountain bike tracks and skate parks.

For walking and exploring, the Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins and the Adelong Falls Walk are always family favourites, as is Paddy’s River Falls and the amazing Yarrangobilly Caves.

Talbingo, the birthplace of Miles Franklin, hosts a brand-new adventure playground and picnic area and is the closest town to the mighty Snowy Scheme’s new Snowy 2.0 project.

Fresh local produce in the Snowy Valleys is second to none. From roadside stalls selling the freshest apples, to pubs and cafes serving hearty meals, cellar doors, breweries and distilleries, our region has so much to offer as a lifestyle destination.

It is true that the people of the Snowy Valleys have been through a lot over the past few years. And while we’ve battled drought, bushfires, flood and then a pandemic, our spirit is strong and the Snowy Valleys is the perfect place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and get close to nature.

It’s no secret that we live in a most beautiful and grand place, and I invite you to come find us.

Cr James Hayes OAM, Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council Image: Fiona D’Alessandro

Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

a warm welcome

Summer in the Snowy Valleys has its own set of drawcards, not least being pristine waterways, beautiful and challenging bike trails and the much-loved Tumbafest.

Summer is a beautiful time to visit the Snowy Valleys. There is no denying that we have experienced some tough times recently.

However, out of this we have seen the emergence of hope and a greater appreciation for what we have here.

Summer is a time of family gatherings and visitors arriving from far and wide to find their place to relax. We are surrounded by open spaces that beckon people to take some time to sit back under a shady tree or put on their hiking boots and explore the natural beauty, of which we are so proud.

Kosciuszko National Park, home of Australia’s highest mountain, is to the east.

This is a popular holiday spot in the summer months, with many returning travellers having a favourite place to set up camp and seek out adventures.

It is a perfect time to visit one of our beautiful waterways, perhaps camping at Khancoban or enjoying a refreshing swim in one of our many swimming holes. Our rivers, creeks and dams are perfectly suited for a range of activities. You might like to cool down under the water of Paddy’s River Falls, close to Tumbarumba and accessible by a short walk. Blowering Dam is the perfect spot for fishing and boating, while the Tumut and Swampy Plains rivers are fly-fishing paradise.

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail is high on the list of must-do activities and part of a growing network of cycling tracks and trails in the region. The rail trail is 21km (or a 42km round trip for the more energetic) of sealed trail with gentle gradients and sweeping curves.

Walk, run, cycle or stroll the trail. You’ll love every minute.

For those who like their trails a little less smooth, the mountain bike tracks of the Snowy Valleys are calling. In Tumbarumba and Tumut, tracks for riders from the beginner through to the more advanced are on offer, with a new MTB Skills Park now open at Talbingo. Keen on cycling events?

The Tumut Cycle Classic is held each January, where participants raise money for Tumut Hospital while riding through gorgeous scenery. The Snowy Valleys Cycle Challenge is held in March, with riders enjoying challenging climbs and long sweeping descents as they pedal their way from Adelong to Tumbarumba and back.

Fresh produce is abundant and features on the menus of cafes, restaurants and pubs through the Snowy Valleys, or you can buy direct from many of our talented producers.

Take the time to stop and meet the makers and growers who all have stories to tell.

For those who love their history, Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins is a state-listed heritage industrial site with a remarkable collection of stone ruins, the remains of the Reefer quartz crushing mill, and wonderful lookout and picnic area. Explore the ruins, enjoy Adelong Falls Walk, or pan for gold in Adelong Creek. In summer, Adelong Falls is a popular place for a splash.

Summer ends with one of the region’s premier events, Tumbafest, when young and old gather on the banks of the Tumbarumba Creek to sample local wine, cider and beer, wander through the market stalls, and dance joyfully to the bands and musical acts featured on the Main Stage.

There is something for everyone in the Snowy Valleys. Come find us. We look forward to sharing it with you. RLM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Wandering through the vineyards at Courabyra Wines (Image: Ollie Khedun); walking the Hume and Hovell Track at Thomas Boyd Trackhead (near Tumut); enjoying Batlow Ciderfest; riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail (Image: Matt Beaver Photography).

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A TOWN FOR ALL SEASONS Sitting pretty in the valley on the edge of the Snowy Mountains is the delightful country town of Tumut.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

SHOW OF STRENGTH

The Snowy Valleys Council and community faced the January bushfires, and their aftermath, with courage and commitment.

The CEO of Snowy Valleys Council, Matthew Hyde, knows all about working with natural disasters.

After the 2020 summer fires ripped through nearly half of the Snowy Valleys region, he is now in the unenviable position of adding bushfires to his list of responses and recovery efforts.

“Like many others, we have had the full gamut of weather cycles here in the Snowy Valleys, from drought to fire and flood and then the pandemic. If we can get through this we can survive anything,” he says.

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The Snowy Valleys Council has 270 staff spread out across the region and nearly 60 per cent were involved in emergency operations at the height of the bushfire crisis.

“Everyone rolled up their sleeves, some assisting in the emergency centre, others out in the field supporting the RFS and other agencies,” he says.

Many staff were personally impacted by the fire but still came to work. Many worked multiple jobs, assisting their own family and friends while volunteering with food distributions and helping the RFS.

Some staff went home at night where their work was just beginning. Some jobs, like shooting affected livestock, were particularly stressful and took a personal toll.

Staff were focused on the job for the community rather than their personal losses and tragedies.

“It was only after everything slowed down that we were able to gauge the impact of the fire on our staff and their families,” Matthew says.

“I believe that in smaller tight-knit communities, the impact was felt more than in the bigger populated centres in other

Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

regions, due to the degree of separation and the number of associations.”

After the challenge of the fires, Matthew says the team had to turn their attention to recovery efforts and slowly get back to a more business-as-usual routine.

“We adapted pretty quickly,” he says.

“Our community and our staff, who are part of our community, came together in the aftermath of the fires to support each other and those who had lost so much.”

Now, nearly 12 months on, Matthew says the council team is moving forward and

focusing on renewal and resilience while adapting again to the restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 hastened our ability to move to a more electronic means of servicing our customers while still keeping them and their community safe.”

He is confident that things can only improve after the challenges of recent times.

“We have a very resilient workforce and community. We have survived and we’re coming out of this stronger than ever.” RLM

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CEO of Snowy Valleys Council Matthew Hyde; members of the Pound Creek Brigade, Ben Lesniak, Kieran Arnold, John O’Donnell, Anthony O’Brien, Peter Kelly, Ross Goldspink and Steven Goldspink. All participants were private citizens providing additional resources to protect Tumbarumba and surrounds (Image: John O’Donnell); Lochinvar Forest Park and picnic area at Laurel Hill (Image: Judy Cussons); during a lull in the firefighting SES members discuss their next move (Image: Gregor Turecek); Batlow Road from above showing the aftermath of the fire on Bago State Forest (Image: Helle Southwell).

FACING PAGE: Hard work in hot winds, a firie drags a hose along a firebreak to stop the fire. From The Firefront exhibition (Image: Gregor Turecek).

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

FIRES in focus The From the Fire Front exhibition was the idea of MaryAnn Marshal from Artists on Parade, and managed by Mick Egan and Peter McDade from the Tumbarumba Camera Club.

People impacted by the bushfire and crews from the local earthmoving groups and bushfire brigades, as well as a visiting photographer from Austria, took most of the photos.

The exhibition was a runaway success, selling more than half the works in the short time it was open. Proceeds went to local charities.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and the doors had to close. In March 2021, another exhibition called Twelve Months On will showcase the recovery and changes.

“We were evacuated to Wagga Wagga for a few weeks and had the exhibition after that,” Peter says.

“It was probably our most popular exhibition ever, running for three weeks until it was cut short by COVID-19.” RLM

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THE EXHIBITION WAS A RUNAWAY SUCCESS, SELLING MORE THAN HALF THE WORKS IN THE SHORT TIME IT WAS OPEN. PROCEEDS WENT TO LOCAL CHARITIES.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

relax and unwind The ultimate getaway is awaiting guests at Nimbo Fork.

The slogan at Nimbo Fork says it all: Stay, Dine, Relax and Explore.

By the time I reach the turnoff to the upmarket venue, halfway between Gundagai and Tumut, I am already feeling relaxed. Nimbo Fork is a remarkable, hidden gem set on 40 hectares, with sheep and cattle grazing happily along the river.

If you are not into fishing or bushwalking, you can relax in the expansive main building, built in 2006 as a fishing lodge.

Two years ago, the business was sold by the original owners to two enterprising couples from Wagga Wagga.

According to business manager Gemma Cummins, the lodge is busy all year round.

Weekends are especially busy with guests looking to indulge in some time to relax

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and unwind. Nimbo Fork also caters for corporate events, weddings and special occasions.

At full capacity, there is usually no more than 22 guests, who can spend the night in one of the five upstairs suites or choose from one of the six deluxe riverside cottages overlooking Nimbo Creek and the Tumut River, making Nimbo Fork perfect for intimate social or corporate events.

The team at Nimbo Fork Lodge provides the best of everything local, with beer brewed at the Tumut River Brewing Co, trout supplied by the Snowy Mountains Trout Farm and wines from the nearby Tumbarumba region. Coffee beans are roasted by Dusty Road Coffee Roasters in Cootamundra. >

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Nimbo Fork was originally built as a fishing lodge; the six deluxe riverside cottages are built for comfort; there’s plenty of room to sit and relax before your evening meal.

ABOVE: Located on the Tumut River, Nimbo Fork is the perfect country getaway.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

Guests enjoy the local touch but are equally happy with the pristine surroundings.

Nimbo Fork is a great stopover for those travelling from Sydney to Melbourne, but it’s even better to stop, unwind and relax for at least two nights.

Gemma estimates about 20 per cent of visitors are keen to try their luck fishing during the trout season (October to June long weekends) while others come to experience a little bit of luxury in the bush.

The restaurant is open from Wednesday through to Saturday. Unaccustomed as I

IF YOU ARE NOT INTO FISHING OR BUSHWALKING, YOU CAN RELAX IN THE EXPANSIVE MAIN BUILDING, BUILT IN 2006 AS A TRENDY FISHING LODGE. am to fine dining, I managed to (almost) get through a delicious meal fit for royalty.

With a lamb rump for an entree and a medium beef fillet steak for my main, there was no room left for dessert.

After a great night in one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in, I departed the next morning feeling pampered, energised and reinvigorated. RLM

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: No expense has been spared in furnishing the cottages; guests unwind with a drink in the lounge before dinner.

Surrounded by spectacular landscapes, and breathtaking views, Nimbo Fork Lodge is a flawless combination of natural raw beauty, luxury and tradition that guarantees a truly memorable experience.

Nimbo Fork Lodge has six luxury riverside cottages as well as five upstairs suites in the main lodge. In winter months, enjoy fireside drinks in the lounge before dining in our bespoke restaurant where our chef creates seasonal menus from local and sustainable produce. Whilst in the summer, take a stroll along the waters edge before cocktails on the lodge balcony.

Restaurant open for dinner Wednesday - Sunday.

Lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are required.

330 NIMBO ROAD, KILLIMICAT, NSW 2720 P. 02 6944 9099 M. 0447 131 423 NIMBOFORK.COM.AU

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VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ORDER: WWW.LIFESTYLEMAGAZINE.NET.AU

Orders can also be made by contacting us P: 0429 441 086 E: info@lifestylemagazine.net.au Pictured: The Autumn 2019 edition, featuring the Snowy Valleys.

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TUMBARUMBA TO ROSEWOOD RAIL TRAIL TUMUT RLM 27

T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

to the RESCUE

Truenorth Helicopters played a vital role in Tumut’s bushfire emergency efforts.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

Truenorth Helicopters, based in the Tumut Valley district, specialises in scenic flights up and over the Snowy Mountains, with regular stops at wineries dotted around the area.

And since 2001, the business has conducted emergency services such as search and rescue and aerial firefighting.

Three helicopters on base are all fitted with water buckets that allow for direct attack on frontline fires.

This service was essential earlier this year during the Black Summer, a period when bushfires burnt their way across NSW, in particular the Riverina area.

Owners of Truenorth Helicopters Bridget and Jim Ryan were already helping the bushfire effort when the call came in about the danger close to home.

“We were based further up in NSW as we had started firefighting there in mid July, which we had never done before,” Bridget says. “We had been going for just over five months by the time they [the fires] happened down here, so two of our aircrafts unfortunately weren’t even based in Tumut at the time as they had already been dispatched to other fires,” she says, adding

that the team was anxious to get back home and start fighting their own battle.

Once on familiar soil, their biggest concern was keeping people and property safe, which was no easy feat as their 15-strong crew were mostly locals who had family in the region that was being evacuated.

Once the crisis passed, Bridget and Jim surveyed the damage.

“We went for a fly in April and I could not believe how devastating it was,” she says. “It was as if a bomb had gone off and annihilated everything. At that point, I knew it would be a very slow recovery. Our beautiful country that we show off was scarred and it’s going to take a long time to recover.”

With the countryside blackened and charred, the region was coming to grips with the notion that it had hit them on all fronts. Agriculture and forestry had been impacted, as well as the tourism industry.

However, Tumut and the surrounding areas would not let this beat them. Bridget says once the initial shock had subsided, the community stepped up and began to rebuild. >

WITH THE COUNTRYSIDE BLACKENED AND CHARRED, THE REGION WAS COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE NOTION THAT IT HAD HIT THEM ON ALL FRONTS.

FACING PAGE: Talbingo Dam, which attracts watersport enthusiasts, fisher folk and anyone who appreciates the beauty of the great outdoors.

ABOVE: Blowering Dam, which is three times the size of Sydney Harbour and is also a popular recreation destination.

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“THIS HORRENDOUS EVENT HAS SHOWN THAT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO STEP UP WHEN THEY NEED TO.” “Everyone is moving forward. There are small shops opening up in town that are selling beautiful local produce, where you can buy directly from the farmers,” she says.

A common thread in the recovery effort is how towns and villages have come together with a greater sense of community. Bridget says in Tumut, individuals and groups of people have spent countless hours volunteering their time to organise donations for those who’ve lost everything, taking in animals and making space in their own homes for neighbours and complete strangers.

“This horrendous event has shown that everyone is willing to step up when they need to,” she says.

Truenorth Helicopters has started taking locals on flights around the burnt-out areas.

“They are ready to go and see what’s happened,” Bridget says. RLM Words: Lucy Taylor Images: Roslyn Clare Photography and Truenorth Helicopters

RIGHT: Truenorth’s scenic flights offer a bird’s-eye view of the breathtaking landscape, and make stops at wineries dotted around the area, including Obsessions and Courabyra.

SNOWY VALLEYS

Helicopter Experience The vast expanse of our nation is calling to be explored, discovered and adventured upon, but we often forget that some of the most amazing places to traverse are right on our doorstep.

Not only do we want to help you discover those Aussie treasures that are tucked away and hard to reach, we want you to adventure through, over and around the mountains, plains, forests and waterways in your own backyard!

We’re calling on the adventurers, the travellers, and the explorers. The curious, the fun-loving, and those hungry for more.

More experiences, more knowledge and more adventure; join us on a Truenorth Helicopters tour, and let us show you how incredible this country we call home really can be.

No matter what you love about this part of the region, there’s a tour for you.

There’s one for the foodies and the wine-lovers, and for those who can’t get enough of the mountains.

Explore Tumut, Tumbarumba and the Snowy Mountain Valleys.

Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to see, Truenorth’s unique brand of adventure tourism will take you there.

Adventure from a new perspective

P: 1300 145 407 www.truenorthhelicopters.com.au E: info@truenorthhelicopters.com.au

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

your time TO SHINE

Catherine Ann’s Beauty Therapy in Tumut has been bringing out the best in its clients for more than 20 years.

Twenty-five years ago, Catherine Ann French, the daughter of business-minded parents, scored in the top 10 per cent in her HSC for Business Studies.

Bolstered by this, and her encouraging mum, she pursued opening her own business. While a beauty business wasn’t the first venture that came to mind, an opportunity and a desire to explore the wide world of beauty therapy was enough to get her started.

Catherine Ann’s Beauty Therapy in Tumut is still beautifying the region. Since her early days in the industry she has developed a passion for gorgeous skin and an overarching goal of helping clients to achieve the results they are after in all facets of beauty therapy.

“The industry itself has kept me captivated with technology,” Catherine says, and it’s knowing this technology inside and out that helps her connect clients with the most suitable product matches for their individual goals.

Being able to offer these state-of-the-art products and technology in Tumut keeps business in the local community and that’s a win for everyone, especially the clients who won’t have to travel far to receive the best treatments available today.

“Connecting with clients and developing relationships is at the forefront of what Catherine and her team do.

BEING ABLE TO OFFER THESE STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY IN TUMUT KEEPS BUSINESS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. “Our team is intimate and local,” Catherine says. “These girls know our customers and continue to develop their skills to learn constantly and consistently, as do I”.

While skin treatments that deliver the desired results are her pet passion, rest assured Catherine Ann’s Beauty Therapy offers an impressive array of pampering services from shop 2/65 Wynyard Street, Tumut.

From manicures and pedicures to massages and facials, most services can be customised to suit the individual. Nails can be painted in an endless variety of colours, patterns and designs, and the team can help you choose exactly the right facial for your skin type, whether you are looking to soothe, restore or invigorate.

The newest beauty treatments such as lash lifts are also available. In addition to in-house treatments, clients can choose from a range of take-home products to help keep them glowing and gorgeous until their next visit. RLM Words: Jen Harden

ABOVE RIGHT: Catherine Ann French in her Tumut shop where she keeps her clients pampered with state of the art beauty services.

• • • • • •

Specialising in advanced facials Microdermabrasion Waxing Massage Gel/Acrylic/Shellac manicures & pedicures Double treatment room available

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN QUALITY BEAUTY SERVICES • • • • • • • • • •

Eyelash tinting & lifting Make-up Henna eyebrows Visiting specialists Cosmetic Injectables Doctor IPL Laser Technician & Cosmetic Tattooist Micro-needling Led light therapy Dermaplaning

Shop 2, 65 Wynyard Street, Tumut 2720

Ph. 02 6947 4437

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recovery mode Kosciuszko National Park, one of the most complex conservation reserves in Australia, is fighting back after a horror start to the year.

Covering nearly 673,542 hectares, Kosciuszko National Park includes unique glacial landscapes, alpine, sub alpine, montane environments and plants and animals you won’t find elsewhere.

In January 2020, bushfires tore through more than 30 per cent of the park. The fires also affected local communities, businesses and the tourism economy of the region.

This year has been a tough one for many, with the drought, fire and then the COVID-19 pandemic. Local communities have proven to be resilient, and together we are all working to recover, rebuild and welcome visitors back to this amazing destination.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service continues to focus on recovery works and the rehabilitation of Kosciuszko’s fragile

ecosystems, its important heritage assets, visitor infrastructure and natural environments.

NPWS is working with local community stakeholders to encourage visitors to return to drive economic recovery. It will be a long road ahead as they rebuild lost infrastructure, undertake projects to assist native flora and fauna to recover and work with communities to ensure the stunning natural landscapes of Kosciuszko National Park are here for future generations to enjoy.

With extensive water catchments, sub alpine regions and large tracts of forest and woodlands, the park has been a drawcard for generations of visitors looking for nature and adventure-based experiences.

Queanbeyan T O W N F E AT U R E

Although you will see the results of the fires on these landscapes, you will be amazed to see the resilience of the Australian bush with new growth and signs of recovery everywhere. From Tumut to Adaminaby, the park will keep you busy for a weekend or for weeks on end. Visitors are spoilt for choice with renowned waterways for boating and fishing, short walks to adventurous hiking, horse riding, car-based touring and mountain biking on the high plains.

Visitors can explore the magical Yarrangobilly precinct for a dip in the Thermal Pool, take in the views from the Bluff Lookout or a tranquil stroll along the Yarrangobilly River Walk or drop a line in for a spot of fishing.

Visitors can hit the tracks and trails for a 4WD adventure to experience the deep gorges and ancient formations at Blue Water Holes, step back into the past as they discover the pioneering heritage of the Snowy Mountains with a high country trip to the many huts and homesteads that dot the landscape along Long Plain.

There’s great fishing, boating and kayaking on Blowering, Talbingo and Tantangra dams or on one of the many rivers including the iconic Murrumbidgee.

After a day exploring this amazing ecotourism destination, you can relax at a riverside campground, pitch your tent and sit around the fire to tell a yarn or two while you look up to see the clear night sky with the stars so bright it will take your breath away.

If camping is not your thing, then why not book your own mountain cottage to recharge for a new day of adventures at one of the park’s accommodation venues such as the historic Caves House, first opened in 1901, or experience the high plains at Currango Homestead near Tantangra Plains at the northern end of the park. There’s a range of towns located around the park so head to Tumut, Talbingo, Batlow, Adelong or Tumbarumba to check into one of the many motels, caravan parks, cottages or hotels in the Snowy Valleys area.

If you are looking for a guided nature, adventure-based experience then why not book an activity with the National Parks Discovery Walks, Talks and Tours program.

Among the favourites are the Aboriginal cultural tours delivered by local traditional custodians, the Wolgalu and Wiradjuri people of southern NSW. There are plenty of commercial tour operators providing guided walks, mountain bike, horse-riding or kayak river adventures in Kosciuszko National Park.

ALTHOUGH YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS OF THE FIRES ON THESE LANDSCAPES, YOU WILL BE AMAZED TO SEE THE RESILIENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH.

These tours deliver professional, accredited and exciting opportunities to experience the great outdoors. You will be guided by locals dedicated to ensuring a quality, safe and exciting range of unique experiences you will treasure for a lifetime.

For inspiration, drop into the visitor centres in Tumut, Khancoban and Tumbarumba.

The visitor centre teams are locals ready to welcome you with friendly and professional service. They have all the information you need to ensure you can experience the very best the Snowy Valleys and Snowy Mountains and Riverina of NSW have to offer. RLM Images: Don Fuchs; Destination NSW, Murray Vanderveer, Lisa Freebody DPIE

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Aboriginal Discovery Rangers Shane Herrington and Talea Bulger; Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Take in the views from Blowering Cliffs Walk Tumut; time for a picnic at Geehi Hut, Khancoban area; Glory Arch, Yarrangobilly Caves.

For more information and to check out all there is to see and do in Kosciuszko National Park, visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

BOOTS & ALL

Abbey Footwear owner Hansie Armour readily admits she got tied up in the shoe trade by default.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Owner of Abbey Footwear Hansie Armour loves finding the right footwear for her customers; shoppers enjoy the wide variety of footwear.

When Hansie Armour first bought her Tumut shoe store, her plan was to use the shop space to expand the neighbouring fruit store she owned at the time. But that idea had to be shelved pretty quickly.

“When I bought it, I thought I would close the shoe shop down but it doesn’t work that way in a country town. The pressure from the community to keep it open was pretty heavy. I thought the community was going to shoot me if I closed it,” she laughs.

That was 30 years ago, and today Abbey Footwear is one of the Tumut main street’s longest running and most successful stores.

“The community is very supportive and always has been. They are very loyal to local business,” Hansie says.

Abbey Footwear originally traded as Mac’s Footwear and has had only two other owners in its history.

The original founder, a bootmaker, Mr Goode, ran the business for over 60 years before Jeff Macallister (Mac’s Footwear) bought it, holding on to it for more than 28 years.

Ten years after Hansie took over the shop, it underwent a makeover and a name change thanks to a bright idea that her husband Gary came up with during a funeral he attended.

“When we were rebuilding, Gary went to a funeral at Coolamon and enjoyed the themes of the church he was sitting in, so he came back and decided to make a roof similar,” Hansie says.

“They lifted it and created a church look and so we changed the name to Abbey Footwear.”

A bit like the store, Hansie has an interesting life history. She was born in the Netherlands and emigrated to Australia with her parents at the age of 12.

No doubt inspired by the colourful clogs her home country is famous for, she has a passion for colourful footwear and has injected that style into the offerings at Abbey Footwear.

“The nicest challenge is to get people that always wear black and tan and navy and say to them, ‘OK, you need some orange or red shoes to make a statement and have happy feet’.

“A bit of colour makes you feel happy inside.”

Abbey Footwear has a loyal clientele from across NSW. Customers travel all the way from Bowral, the suburbs of Sydney, Wagga, Cootamundra, Young and Canberra to buy their shoes.

Exclusively for customers, Hansie works in collaboration with a local podiatrist to ensure they get the right fitting shoe.

“Your feet affect your health. His clients get their shoes here and take them to him to make sure they suit what he’s doing with them. We have a close relationship that’s working very well.”

While shoes are her business, Hansie says, unlike many women, she doesn’t have a fetish for them.

“If I were in a lolly or chocolate shop, I would definitely be in trouble. I am not a shoe person. I just need to be able to get around with absolute comfort. I’m certainly not eating the profits,” she laughs.

Hansie sticks to a more practical look when it comes to footwear.

“I don’t set a fashion statement at all. The boots I’m wearing at the moment need a good polish. If a customer were to walk in like this, I would be tempted to offer for them to take off their shoes and give them a good bees wax rub over. I treasure good leathers.” RLM

The Abbey Footwear is a family footwear store where style meets comfort.

With quality fitting and superior customer service, The Abbey is your ultimate footwear destination.

Stocking a colourful, upmarket range, as well as all of your school, work and lifestyle basics.

REAL PEOPLE ◼ REAL SHOES 93 Wynard St Tumut, NSW 2720 ◼ (02) 6947 1239 ◼ abbeyfootweartumut.com.au ◼ admin@abbeyfootweartumut.com.au

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Words: Jo McKinnon

Prime river frontage Children’s playground Recreation areas Covered BBQ area Riverglade Caravan Park is located on the banks of the stunning Tumut River.

Known amongst the regulars as the best Caravan Park in Australia, it is hard to disagree when camping here.

2– 4 Fitzroy St, Tumut P. 02 6947 2528

TV and games area Modern amenities Laundry

riverglade.com.au TUMUT RLM 35

the great

Whether you’re seeking adventure or simply a good rest, Riverglade Caravan Park offers just about anything you could want in a holiday destination.

OUTDOORS

Almost 100 years after the NRMA denoted it an official resting place in 1929, the seven hectares along the Tumut River that make up Riverglade Caravan Park is still a place to rest, relax and reconnect for many visitors each year.

Born and raised in Tumut, Matt Pearce has run the park with wife Gemma for the past five years.

“When the opportunity came up for us to move our family here and take this on, we didn’t spend too many days thinking about it because Tumut has a way of naturally drawing you in and making you want to be here,” he says.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

A number of lucky families have been in on this secret for generations, returning year after year to give their kids and grandkids the same classic outdoorsy experience they had growing up.

“We love hearing stories about how Dad caught his first ever fish here in the river and now he is bringing his kids here to catch their first fish, too,” Matt says.

While fishing is an activity of note at Riverglade, it certainly isn’t the only riverbased activity. Holidaying families often brave the icy cold water as a welcome reprieve from the summer heat.

“Kids love the walk-in beach area and many families bring tubes and other floatables to head upstream and slowly come back down to camp,” Matt says.

If a cool dip isn’t your thing, plenty of people enjoy the river from the shade of the riverbank, relaxing with a refreshing drink and a good book.

Autumn and winter at the park are perfect for lighting a campfire next to the river and cooking up a big camp oven full of comfort food while you watch the ducks and platypuses swim by.

Riverglade offers the complete range of accommodation options from unpowered camp sites perfect for rolling out a swag under the stars through to cabins that can sleep up to six people and have all the amenities of home and everything in between.

Matt says the beauty of the location is that “there is so much to do here and so many ways to do nothing, so people really can enjoy their holiday no matter what style of holiday they love”.

If relaxing by the river somehow turns into boredom, it is easy to jump in the car for a day of exploration. Yarrangobilly Caves and Thermal Pool as well as Tumbarumba and its award-winning cool climate wines are about an hour’s drive. Less than 30 minutes away are Adelong Falls and the goldmine ruins, Blowering Dam for fishing and watersports and Batlow for Ciderfest and apple picking when in season.

The area occupied by the caravan park used to be police paddocks in the late 1800s, and Matt and Gemma say they feel a connection to the history of the land.

“We are often reminded of it by the American black walnut trees that are still standing here, originally planted for their highly sought-after timber, with the intention of using it as gun stocks for the police,” Matt says.

“And long before that, the Aboriginal people named this land Tumut, meaning ‘resting place by the river’, a clear reminder of what a special meeting place the banks of this river have been throughout the ages and will be for generations to come’.” RLM Words: Jennifer Harden

“THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO HERE AND SO MANY WAYS TO DO NOTHING, SO PEOPLE REALLY CAN ENJOY THEIR HOLIDAY NO MATTER WHAT STYLE OF HOLIDAY THEY LOVE.”

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Visitors enjoy camping at the Riverglade Caravan Park; the cabins come with wonderful river views; friendly caravan park manager Matt Pearce will ensure a memorable stay.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: The caravan park is in a superb location; cabins are close to the meandering Tumut River.

TUMUT RLM 37

the road less

Stuart and Chan Garner learnt to understand the meaning of the word “adapt” after a chance meeting on a bus in Thailand four decades ago.

For the past 17 years, Stuart and Chan Garner have been enjoying the best of two worlds, spending nine months of the year managing the historic Currango Homestead in the Australian Alps.

And every winter, they drive 2½ hours home for a few months of rest and relaxation in their unique and very comfortable camp in Yaven Creek.

Currango Station became part of the Kosciuszko National Park in 1969, with the 125-year-old homestead, stockman’s quarters and overseer’s cottage rented out during the warmer summer months under the watchful eye of the Garners.

“Between us and one ranger, we pretty well look after the place, including a museum in one of the outbuildings,” says Stuart, a fairdinkum, straight-talking bushman approaching his 70th birthday.

Stuart often gives a talk to guests while Chan enjoys cooking for various groups.

“We ensure our guests are comfortable and tell them where to walk or ride and where the fish are biting,” Stuart says “We meet people from all walks of life, from millionaires down to blokes lucky to have two bob to their name.”

There are many family connections with the High Country, especially on his mother’s side. Her father was a Patterson and worked as a stockman in the mountains for many years. He was a tough bloke, running away from home when he was 11.

Stuart was raised on a farm between Wee Jasper and Tumut and has always loved the great outdoors. He started fishing with his father in the pristine mountain rivers when he was five. Later he spent five years in the Kimberley, working with the Indigenous population, growing fruit and vegetables.

For over 40 years, he has helped restore old bush huts in the national park, all in a voluntary capacity.

The Garners have a fabulous history, which all started with a chance meeting on a bus in Thailand 40 years ago. Stuart was on the final leg of his European holiday and Chan could barely speak a word of English but they understood the universal language of love.

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travelled

Following their marriage in 1978, Stuart drove his new bride to his old church hall at Yaven Creek. It’s at the end of a long and winding road 40km from Adelong and a million miles from nowhere. It’s very rustic and a perfect getaway after a long season in the High Country.

“When we first came here, we were surprised to hear a car. It was very quiet until about 10 years ago when the road was paved,” Stuart says.

Chan was in the country for less than three weeks before finding herself camped in the Four Mile Hut in the middle of the Snowy Mountains. Despite not having seen a horse in the flesh before, soon she was riding like a champion.

“She is a good, balanced rider,” Stuart confirms, with a grin.

Riding led her to the brumbies and opened up a new love of photography. With endless patience, Chan has captured some striking images of brumbies in their natural habitat. She has often ridden endless miles on horseback to get the shot.

The pair have two sons, Laurance and Noy, now both in their early 40s.

Stuart has seen enough of fires in 2020 to last him a lifetime.

Country was burnt in both locations he calls home. The fires burnt a lot of country around Kiandra, claiming the historic courthouse and three huts.

“Large blocks of good land were devastated but this country comes back very quickly,” he says. “We love meeting people at Currango but it’s always great coming home for a few months of peace and quiet.” RLM

ABOVE: Chan Garner loves photographing brumbies in the High Country – this shot she calls The Greys.

FACING PAGE: Stuart and Chan make a formidable team in all areas of life.

Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

“BETWEEN US AND ONE RANGER, WE PRETTY WELL LOOK AFTER THE PLACE, INCLUDING A MUSEUM IN ONE OF THE OUTBUILDINGS.”

TUMUT RLM 39

runs on the board Tumut’s Neil Bulger is considered an all-round legend, in cricket and in life.

Towards the end of his cricketing career, the Queanbeyan Cricket Club referred to Neil Bulger as simply “The Legend”.

The big-hitting batsman had a name that struck terror among opposing teams during his 34 years of first grade cricket, playing with clubs in Gilmore, Wagga Wagga, Tumut and Queanbeyan.

By the time he joined the latter, there was no holding him back. It was only a matter of time before everyone was talking about the most talented Aboriginal cricketer ever to play in the district. In those days, he was rarely dismissed, once scoring over 1000 runs for an unbelievable 200 average.

During one season, he smashed 110 fours and 14 sixes. In one afternoon, he scored 132 against Batlow in 13 overs, including 20 fours and two sixes, and in 1983 his 143 not out in 356 minutes cemented the club premiership.

At one stage, Neil required only 14 runs to establish a new ACT batting record. He not only made the runs but did it at a fast rate.

When his eye was in, he had little trouble belting the ball out of the grounds.

In one game, after reaching 200 with only four balls remaining, he struck three fours before finishing with a mighty six over the bowler’s head, much to the amazement of all players.

He was also a talented left-arm, mediumpace bowler and natural all-rounder. When “The Legend” retired in 1997, the club lost its most outstanding player – and one of the toughest, once famously playing with a broken finger.

Two years later in Tumut, he made a comeback, hoping to play a few final seasons in his twilight years. In typical Bulger fashion, he kicked on for a further 18 years, towards the end playing with one eye and a crook shoulder.

He finally hung up the bat at 66 years, after an outstanding innings spanning more than half a century.

There have been plenty of highlights along the way, like being selected in the ACT rep side to play teams from the West Indies, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

During the1988 Bicentenary, he was picked for the Aboriginal team to tour England. The tour emulated Australia’s

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

maiden cricket tour in 1868, when a team of First Australians from the Western District of Victoria gave the Poms a run for their money.

“I will never forget walking out through the long room onto the oval at Lord’s, the spiritual home of cricket,” he says. The team was only on the ground for half an hour before the heavens opened and the game was cancelled.

Later, he would rub shoulders with royalty at Buckingham Palace. The red carpet was rolled out and Neil shook Her Majesty’s hand, the Queen having just returned from Canberra after opening the new Parliament House.

The following year, he played for the Prime Minister’s XI at a 50-over game in Manly, after receiving a personal invitation from Bob Hawke to be his 12th man. The boy from the bush was thrilled to be in the company of household names like Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Greg Chappell.

Neil still treasures his slightly battered old team photo, personally autographed by the late PM, whose love of the game was legendary.

It was certainly a long way from his humble roots. His father spent 33 years as a fettler on the railway, moving the family from Brungle to Gilmore in 1959.

Neil grew up the eldest of 11 children on a mission with four other families. There was never any shortage of volunteers to kick a footy or hurl a cricket ball down a not-solevel patch of the great outdoors.

From a young age, Neil displayed impressive eye-to-hand co-ordination skills, which would one day make him a very handy darts player.

Basing his game on the style of Sir Garfield Sobers, the mighty West Indian allrounder, Neil was playing first grade cricket for Gilmore by the time he was 13.

He was a big lad and couldn’t wait to leave school two years later to commence work in the local saw mill. Weekends were always reserved for sport. Neil loved his rugby league as much as his cricket, playing in three premiership teams in the 1970s, including two with the Tumut Blues.

Although sport dominated his life, Neil made a good living working for Parks and Gardens in Canberra and the Tumut RSL Club, where he was a popular barman.

“Cricket has been very good to me and I’ve met some lifelong friends through my association with the game,” he says.

He has an oval in Queanbeyan named in his honour and is a Life Member of the Queanbeyan Cricket Club, even with an award named after him for first grade batting honours.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cricket legend Neil Bulger was invited

by Bob Hawke to join his Prime Minister’s XI with some of the biggest names in the game; even as an older player, he struck terror among opposing teams, both with his batting and bowling; Neil reflects on a long and colourful innings.

As his 70th birthday draws closer, Neil continues to support the Tumut community where his family has lived for the past 50 years. Nine of his 10 siblings still live a stone’s throw away. They are a close family and firmly believe their talented brother should have worn the baggy green cap for Australia.

Neil, as humble as ever, prefers not to dwell on the past. While his greatest love these days is reserved for daughter Tahnee, he can never forget his life-long affair with cricket.

He continues helping out others, driving the bus for cultural activities and serving as an inspiring role model for the Tumut and Brungle Wiradjuri-Walgalu community, and that makes him a true legend. RLM

“CRICKET HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME AND I’VE MET SOME LIFELONG FRIENDS THROUGH MY ASSOCIATION WITH THE GAME.”

FACING PAGE: For decades Neil Bulger has been known as “The Legend” among the cricket fraternity.

TUMUT RLM 41

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THS Learning and Wellbeing Team out front of the Wellbeing Hub; relaxing in the Resource Centre during recess; winner of the 2019 Bruce Elder Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement Bronson Sutton with Mr Bruce Elder; Year 10 using technology in the Resource Centre; Year 11 Hospitality students; the Resource Centre caters for many groups; Tumut Clontarf Academy members with directors; Year 9 Robotics class; Year 11 students with year adviser Mr Anthony Van Stekelenborg; Year 10 at the Fiction Cove in the Resource Centre. Year 12 2019 in Europe.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

JOINING FORCES

Tumut High School is well connected to the broader community through a number of important initiatives, reaping benefits for everyone.

Strengthening connections and support networks between students and the community has always been a focus at Tumut High School, a well-established inclusive educational provider in the Snowy Valleys region.

Approximately 550 students are enrolled each year from Tumut and surrounding townships including Adelong, Brungle, Bongongo and Talbingo, with more than 50 teaching staff and 15 non-teaching staff members.

In 2019, the rural school saw the need to develop and create an innovative Learning and Wellbeing Hub to provide coordinated support for children, young people and families. The Hub provides access for students and families through collaboration with the school, local health and social services.

“I really don’t think we can separate learning and wellbeing; they are reliant on each other. The development and construction of this facility is an example of how our school is bridging gaps in community health and other external support agencies,” Tumut High School Head Teacher Wellbeing Andrew Somerville says.

“The Learning and Wellbeing Hub is inclusive and welcoming. Whilst it is part of our school grounds, it is very private so the wider community can access the space for confidential meetings and consultations.”

Funding for the construction of the meeting spaces was provided through various government programs and more outdoor cultural spaces and private meeting areas are planned.

“In its first 18 months since opening, our wellbeing and health in reach nurse, year coordinators, mentors and school counsellors have already connected with several organisations including Mission Australia,

Community and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), COMPACT Inc’s career guidance and wellbeing support service, and programs specific to young Aboriginal teens and their families including the Tumut Clontarf Academy.”

According to Principal Don Dixon, the school’s strengths include the learning and wellbeing team and its dedicated and committed teachers. The school’s Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) process is reinforced in all settings and reflects values of respect, responsibility and safety.

Last year’s high academic results were a pinnacle for the school in recent years and a reflection of student and staff commitment to high expectations. Several students excelled in a number of key learning subjects. The top ATAR at Tumut High School was 99.3, achieved by Samantha Barton, who is now studying a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science at ANU. Another of the school’s highest achievers in 2019 with an ATAR of 97.5 was Bronson Sutton, who started at Tumut High in Year 7. Bronson is studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of NSW. “I’m really proud of my results,” Bronson says. “In the beginning I didn’t think it was possible, being at a small rural high school, but I put in the extra work and I received a dual scholarship to study the course I am completing now. I chose my subjects based on the university course I was hoping to be accepted into and left my options open with subject choices like Chemistry, Physics and 3-unit Mathematics.”

Bronson accepted the opportunity at Tumut High School to participate in the F1 in Schools competition, a structured engineering design project promoting creativity and innovation, which influenced his career pathway.

“We were essentially put in charge of a Formula 1 team, managing the entire enterprise, gaining sponsors, growing a social media presence, financial reporting and budgeting,” Bronson explains.

Don Dixon says teachers’ enthusiasm for extra curricula programs and having students embrace these additional learning opportunities significantly impacts their results too.

“For Bronson, the involvement in the F1 program and World Championships held in Singapore was a unique opportunity that contributed to his ongoing development and we are fortunate to have access to the technologies such as 3D printers that went with that.

“The students who achieved significantly last year had support networks through the commitment of our teachers in providing additional tuition to assist them in career progression. We can offer a broad range of subjects, whether on site or via distance education programs. Teaching staff on site are able to give guidance in those areas too.

The results have shown students don’t have to leave town. They can still achieve high results at their local public high school.”

Staff commitment in broader community involvement, student excursions and trips and exchange programs highlights their dedication to rural education.

“Following their own passions certainly flows on to the students and whether it be a trip to Europe over the holidays, trekking in the mountains over a number of days, travelling to Central Australia or ski trips, the students are offered various opportunities to experience several different geographic regions, technologies and careers.”

Don says the school community encourages students to participate in community programs and external opportunities, including public speaking competitions, work experience in various industries including city-based internships, fostering local business partnerships and support and its student mentor program, whereby former students are employed within the school and involvement in student exchange programs.

These academic, wellbeing and cultural programs encapsulate the school’s vision statement: to foster independent thinkers for lifelong learning, support emotional development of resilient individuals, equip students to be responsible community members and to provide an inclusive learning environment. RLM Words: Rosie O’Keeffe

THE SCHOOL’S POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL) PROCESS IS REINFORCED IN ALL SETTINGS AND REFLECTS VALUES OF RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND SAFETY. TUMUT RLM 43

T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

IN THE SWING Tumut Golf Club offers members and visitors a beautiful golf course together with a pro shop managed by a PGA professional, and a warm and friendly clubhouse with dining, gaming and bar facilities.

Tumut Golf Club was established on its present site in 1940 as a nine-hole, sand green course designed by Prospero Ellis and carved out of a state forest.

During the war years with so many men away on active service, the course was maintained by a small group of volunteers, each responsible for the upkeep of a separate hole. Thus began a valuable tradition of member volunteering, which continues today.

Over time, both the course and the clubhouse have seen major changes. The clubhouse, which was originally a small wooden forestry cottage, has undergone several renovations resulting in the modern, spacious facility it is today.

The more significant course changes have been the addition of a second nine holes, the upgrade to grass greens, several layout

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changes and perhaps the most important one, the addition of the grey water irrigation system, giving reliable water to the course year round.

Today, the course presents a challenge to golfers of all handicaps with its narrow, tree-lined fairways and small greens, a number of which are elevated. The course is open seven days a week and visitors are most welcome. Hire carts and club sets are also available through the pro shop.

The course also plays host to a variety of wildlife including large mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. These offer great photo opportunities around dusk.

Apart from being one of the premier golf clubs in the South-West district, the club also acts as a social hub for the district, hosting weddings, parties, functions and conferences.

Club President Geoff Brain says that last year the club held its first dinner/ theatre evening, and it is hoped similar events will continue in the future.

Last November, the club also hosted a Classical Music Concert, which was held on the first fairway. Further concerts are in the planning.

The club is promoting Tumut/ Gundagai as a golfing destination as the two towns are only 25 minutes apart and both boast beautiful country golf courses where visitors are always welcome.

The club restaurant, serving Chinese and Australian meals, is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through to Sunday, with take-away meals also available. Dining on the verandah overlooking the course is a delight. RLM Words: Geoff Brain Images: Peter McDade

Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

FACING PAGE: The tree-lined 12th and 13th fairways of the challenging Tumut course.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Springtime on Tumut’s 13th tee; dining with a view at Tumut Golf Club; some rather inquisitive locals check out the course; view from the elevated 17th tee.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

sweet

SUCCESS

A mother and daughter team is delivering the goods at the popular Tumut Terrace Cafe.

Nyssa Belton reminisces about growing up with the aromas of her mum Pauline’s home-style cooking.

And now, they are working side by side sharing these special recipes at the Tumut Terrace Cafe at the foothills of the NSW Snowy Mountains.

It was the beautiful surrounding landscape that attracted Nyssa, who has a background in primary industries, to Tumut three years ago. Now Pauline, who has always worked in hospitality, is also proud to call the town home.

From its al fresco dining area, to its warm, country style décor with intimate and comfortable seating options inside, it provides the perfect social setting, or perhaps just a quiet place to retreat.

With its popular Fish River Roasters “hub” coffee blend, it’s a thriving eatery and a hub that has become ensconced on the popular Wynyard Street spilling onto the promenade.

everything cooked on the premises Beautiful homestyle cooking and fantastic coffee delivered by friendly staff in a great location.

The Terrace Cafe will have you coming back for more.

Shop 18, The Connection 95 Wynyard Street, Tumut NSW 2720 02 6947 6068

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“The cafe was already so character-filled in its décor and we have really wanted to keep a sense of that home-style feel and create somewhere for locals and tourists that is warm and inviting,” Nyssa says. “We welcome all different groups, whether for social catch-ups or business meetings.”

Nyssa and Pauline bought the cafe a year ago, just prior to the devastating bushfires that tore through the surrounding area and the enduring COVID-19 pandemic that restricted their operations for several weeks.

However, along with three team members, Nyssa and Pauline both worked around the clock to provide catering services to the emergency services crews and others impacted by the bushfires.

They have also since launched their own range of sweet treats, including fudge flavours and caramels, demonstrating their entrepreneurial and innovative approach to their hospitality enterprise, in what has been a challenging year for the industry.

“We are hoping to expand our retail offering. Already our original Russian fudge flavour is popular and we have espresso, cranberry, white chocolate/milk chocolate and caramel chews,” Nyssa says.

As well as the new range of fudges and caramels, the cafe has become renowned for its other sweet treats baked in the kitchen: melting moments, Monte Carlo biscuits, rumless rum balls (created from a family recipe handed down through generations) and cheesecakes.

Popular savoury options include focaccias, lasagne, sausage rolls and salads. RLM Words: Rosie O’Keeffe

ABOVE: Pauline and Nyssa Belton, Lisa Hutchins and Carolyn Symons cook up a storm at The Terrace.

Premium stonework projects BENCHTOPS / MEMORIALS / CIVIC PROJECTS

With the highest level of skill, knowledge and the most advanced precision technology available, KD Stoneworks deliver a quality finish to every project no matter how big or small.

Contact us to discuss your next project Licence no. 221105C T: 02 6947 2933

E: info@kdstoneworks.com.au

A: 158-164 Fitzroy Street, Tumut NSW 2720

W: kdstoneworks.com.au

Club open Tues - Sun. Carts and clubs available for hire. Licensed bar, ATM and gaming facilities in warm and friendly atmosphere.

Clubhouse: (02) 6947 1475 Pro Shop: (02) 69471139 admin@tumutgolfclub.com.au tumutgolfclub.com.au

FAIRWAY DRIVE, TUMUT TUMUT RLM 47

T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

setting a benchmark Established in Tumut in 1954, KD Stoneworks has since grown into one of the biggest stonemasonry factories in NSW.

KD Stoneworks is a family-run business with director Clayton Denson celebrating 30 years in the business. Fellow director Andrew James, a former fitter and turner, joined the business in 2000.

KD Stoneworks has enjoyed the patronage of many repeat clients, from far and wide, for decades.

Both directors agree that having happy customers is just as important as having happy workers.

“Without either, you don’t have a business,” Clayton says.

The multimillion-dollar business employs 14 staff, including apprentices, tradesmen and machine operators.

About 60 per cent of their work is kitchen benchtops and bathrooms, while the rest of their work is dedicated to traditional memorial works and civic projects for various councils.

The factory has a constant hum of machines and new technology with the occasional thump of hammer and chisel.

“Over the years we have invested heavily in hi-tech machinery so that we can deliver to our valued customers the finest quality products using the latest innovations,” Andrew says.

Clayton agrees. “Big changes have occurred in tooling technology over the last 10 years, and with the latest CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machinery we can produce absolute precision finished work at more than twice the speed. What once took a day by hand to do can now be done in a few hours.

“Our new water jet machine has allowed us to explore even more possibilities with cutting stone, steel and other products and has helped add another dimension to our business.”

This has also allowed KD Stoneworks to have control over many aspects of the process from the quarry right through to the finished product. RLM LEFT: KB Stoneworks directors Clayton Denson and Andrew James.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

THE MULTIMILLIONDOLLAR BUSINESS EMPLOYS 14 STAFF, INCLUDING APPRENTICES, TRADESMEN AND MACHINE OPERATORS.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The stoneworks factory is full of state-of-the-art equipment; David Thompson hand pitching rock edge work – the ancient practice hasn’t changed in thousands of years; completed headstones destined for cemeteries throughout NSW; Jonathon Wells polishing the underside of a kitchen island bench; Andrew James operating the bridge saw; the Tumut factory.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

THE ROYAL TREATMENT Fit for a king, “The Monarch” in Tumut is all about spoiling its guests.

Having lived in the village of Lacmalac 10 kilometres out of Tumut for 17 years, Judy Gordon must have taken hundreds of trips into town over the old Tumut bridge on Wynyard Street.

While much changed over the years, one thing was constant.

Every time she passed the heritage home at 12 Wynyard Street, it was sure to have a plethora of purple potted primulas on the verandah and they always caught Judy’s eye.

Eventually, the primulas were gone and it would seem that so too was the elderly couple who had called the old house home.

One day, a real estate listing came up for the house at 12 Wynyard Street. “The Monarch” was for sale and it turns out that not only had the flowers caught her eye, but the home had found its way into Judy’s heart as well.

Judy and husband Ian bought the house and thus began a two-year planning and restoration process. Several years of abandonment were not kind to the house built in the late 1800s.

In addition to water damage and rising damp, the home’s age presented a unique set of problems like crumbling bricks and cracking plaster.

Despite the challenges, Judy and Ian felt strongly about the importance of saving this home, originally built as the police station, where the constable and his family also lived.

Bars on the windows of one bedroom indicate that it was used as a gaol cell and rumour is it may have also been used as a strongroom for gold mined at Kiandra during the gold rush.

Having arrived in Tumut in the 1960s, the Gordons have seen a few disappointing demolitions in their day and they did not want this home to suffer the same fate.

With the help of their builder David Doon, who had previously worked with them on both their home residence and business premises, they were able to sensitively restore the original part of the home as well as create a light-filled generous-sized main living space at the rear of the property. The Gordons even brought in specialised heritage tradesmen to make historically accurate repairs to the facade of the home, redone in the original style of lime plaster.

Their goal was to gently bring the home into the modern age, while still retaining the original character and feel of the space.

As Judy thumbed through magazines collecting inspiration, she noticed a common theme among English homes: the conservatory.

While it wasn’t exactly what she wanted, it gave her an idea for a show-stopping centerpiece of the main living and dining space.

She hoped to create a series of vaulted skylights to flood the great room with light in every season. Luckily, with access to her husband’s engineering firm, her idea could be brought to life. A series of steel-framed skylights now run the length of the addition, a pleasant surprise for all who visit.

The Monarch is centrally located in Tumut within walking distance to shops, restaurants and the delightful River Walk.

About an hour’s drive from Mount Selwyn, it is the perfect base for

travelling up the mountain to enjoy the snow. And with Blowering Dam less than 15 kilometres away, you can easily bring your boat along to spend a day on the water, skiing and swimming.

Whatever the season, the house is spacious and comfortable with a wonderful outdoor entertaining area perfect for sitting back and relaxing after a day of exploring. Touches such as lavish bath products, fluffy robes and fine linens all add to the luxury heritage experience.

Judy’s simple motivation behind all the little ways she spoils her guests: “Wishful thinking for a life I would like myself.” RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Roslyn Clare Photography

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Monarch is a great base for visitors exploring the Tumut region; a fireplace keeps the living room cosy in the cooler months; a pleasing mix of new and old flows throughout the house; fine linens across all the bedrooms create a hotel-like experience; the bright country kitchen is a wonderful place to cook up a meal; new modern bathrooms stocked with premium bath products.

STAY • RELAX • ENJOY

Welcome to The Monarch SPOIL YOURSELF WITH LUXURY ACCOMMODATION IN THE HEART OF TUMUT.

This heritage listed house underwent a complete renovation and the result is pure luxury and comfort. With an abundance of space and light, you will find yourself not wanting to leave.

The house is perfectly located to be walking distance to all Tumut has to offer.

Do yourself a favour and come and enjoy this beautiful house. You will soon see that the owners have thought of everything, so you can enjoy a wonderful escape in a stunning part of the Snowy Valley.

12 WYNYARD STREET, TUMUT NSW / M. 0429 020 888

monarchtumut.com.au

TUMUT RLM 51

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

CLASS ACT For Michael McSweeney, the play’s the thing wherein he’ll catch the essence of the community.

Michael McSweeney never imagined being an usher at Tumut’s iconic Montreal Theatre on movie nights would lead to a Churchill Fellowship.

It all started innocently enough after he and wife Linda moved to Tumut in 2005.

“I loved the atmosphere of the weekly movie but always wondered why there was no live theatre,” he says. “Eventually, I came to realise that for things to change, I had to change.”

With no experience, he sat down and penned his first play, Songs of the Snowy, about the Snowy Hydro Scheme in the 1950s and ’60s.

“By the time we got on stage, there were nearly 60 people involved in the production,” Michael says. “We had busloads from Cooma, Adaminaby and throughout the Snowies, all keen to see my take on their history.”

To prove it was no fluke, in 2011 Michael followed up with another play called Love Reigns on Tumut Plains, a fantasy based on Miles Franklin’s early life in the district.

Then in 2014, he produced his first movie, Angel’s Apprentice, about a young man coming of age with ancestral ghosts guiding his journey.

The film premiered in Tumut, complete with red carpet and paparazzi, making for a fun, if not bizarre, experience.

“I really let my imagination fly with that one,” Michael laughs. It proved another family affair, with wife Linda and their three children Alex, now 23, Angela, 20, and Ruby, 15, all involved with the production.

His latest work was his 2019 play Skeleton Crew, starring a doctor’s skeletal model from the 1850s that kept appearing in Batlow over successive generations.

Writing a stage play or movie requires many talents but Michael reckons it’s in the genes. His grandfather wrote a musical play in the 1920s that sits in the national archives, and his mother was a singing teacher.

“I grew up with music, theatre and eisteddfods. I am now interested in creating connection within the community through theatre, with the emphasis on good times,” he says. “It’s never been about the money.”

While he may have never earned a cent for his efforts, he and Linda have cemented some great friendships along the way. It also led to the formation of a new community theatre group called CAST Snowy.

“Probably the greatest thing was watching people sing songs that I’ve written,” says Michael, as he shows me through the old Gocup School and residence they bought in 2014.

Built in 1886, the school is about 10 minutes from Tumut. A few months after moving in, they held a reunion for those in attendance at the school before its closure in the 1970s.

“We had students from 58 years through to 70 plus. They came from everywhere and had a blast, reminiscing about the past,” Michael says.

Soon after, the family left for England to give their three children an overseas experience and to meet Linda’s English family.

To make ends meet, Michael works as a mental health counsellor. Making music is never far from his mind.

Support from the Blakeney Miller Foundation and from past Churchill recipients led to him receiving a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study ways of supporting and helping local communities through theatre.

“They backed me to research how theatre helps connect isolated people in small rural towns,” he says. “Right now, I was supposed to be visiting America, Canada and New Zealand to learn more, but COVID-19 has put an end to all that.”

Instead, he and CAST Snowy put their energy into helping to organise a karaoke and singalong night in Batlow to bring joy to the locals battered by the fires. About 80 locals turned up, with many getting up and having their turn in the spotlight.

Recently, Michael and the rest of CAST Snowy have been tackling new projects, including short movies headed up by another member, Michelle Boyd, involving older people isolated by COVID-19.

There have been Zoom meetings, a script-reading night, and attending a

“I AM NOW INTERESTED IN CREATING CONNECTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEATRE, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON GOOD TIMES.”

short-play festival in Wagga Wagga. An acting workshop is in the pipeline and a magical Christmas pantomime.

“Then we’d like to take it all on the road through the Snowy Mountains, building connection within the community.”

It seems that Tumut’s hottest playwright is indeed only just warming up. RLM

ABOVE: The promotional poster for Love Reigns on Tumut Plains.

FACING PAGE: Michael enjoys the writing process and works best under pressure; playwright Michael McSweeney and wife Linda outside the old Gocup School residence they call home.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

yours sincerely Praise for the Tumut region flows naturally for Ray Piper, and not because he has a vested interest in selling properties there.

For good reason, Ray White Tumut principal Ray Piper is a genuine and convincing advocate for this part of NSW. “For me, it’s the family and friends and the lifestyle it offers,” he says.

“We are in such a great location to the bigger centres like Wagga, Canberra and Sydney, and we are halfway down to Melbourne and the snowfields.

“And there’s camping and fishing and the freshest water ever that could come out of the hills here.”

Only a few minutes into our conversation and he’s sold RLM on the place.

A former state manager for a livestock equipment company and franchisee with agriculture giant Elders, Ray is well travelled and passionate about Tumut and its surrounding areas.

“I have seen a lot of southern Australia and I think this is one of the nicest parts of the country.”

The area was hit hard by last summer’s bushfires. An estimated 25,000 hectares of native bush and 50,000 hectares of pine plantations that encircle the townships of Tumut and Tumbarumba were razed.

“Coming out of the rural part of this industry as a stock and station agent, I had strong relationships with farmers, and to see some of the pain they went through and the stock and financial losses they’ve gone through is quite sad,” Ray says.

But there are now many positive signs of recovery.

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

“I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE NICEST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.”

“BlazeAid has been busy in the area and the support the area has had has been good so people are getting on with their lives,” Ray says.

“You can see on the trees on the way to Batlow that the regeneration is coming along.”

The fires and ramifications of COVID-19 certainly haven’t affected what is a very strong local property market.

Buyers have adjusted to the times and embraced the technological change that the pandemic has brought about.

“We had a river block of 62 acres with no buildings on it that smashed its reserve by almost $200,000,” Ray says.

“In an environment when I thought people wouldn’t understand how to log on and bid online, they have.”

Ray White Tumut mainly specialises in residential property with rural holdings rarely offered because that market is so tightly held.

“We have had a fair share of rural property but very little is available and tightly held. The Kosciuszko National Park wraps around us on the southern side so there’s nothing to sell there,” Ray says.

“Residential has been the main part of our business in the last few years because of lack of availability of rural parcels.”

That hasn’t affected the performance of the agency that was appointed as a member of the Ray White Elite Group in 2017-2018, which placed it in the top 2 per cent in Australia. It also consistently rates in the company’s top three to five rural franchisees each year.

Ray now has a second office based in Gundagai and employs 14 staff. He expects the business to continue to grow, especially off the back of the impending Snowy 2.0 project, which is the next chapter in the Snowy Scheme’s history.

The project will provide on-demand energy and large-scale storage and is the largest committed renewable energy project in Australia.

It involves linking two existing dams, Tantangara and Talbingo, and at the peak of construction, will generate around 2000 direct jobs in Snowy Mountains regional areas.

“I think Snowy 2.0 has everyone sitting on the edge of their seat wondering what’s in store for our part of the world for the next few years,” Ray says.

“I’m positive and think it will make a huge difference.” RLM Words: Jo McKinnon

ABOVE AND FACING PAGE: Staff members Chloe Jesperson, Samantha Barton, Rebecca Denson, Letitia Burns, Jarrod Matchowitz, Ann Manton and Tammy Murdoch with Ray White principal Ray Piper; some of the properties depicting the stunning characteristics of the Snowy Valleys Council area.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

PEACE & POSITIVITY

Tumut Valley Motel’s Kevin Fish is confident that the “no vacancy� sign will be put to good use once again.

When looking for accommodation in the Snowy Mountains region, it is hard to drive past Tumut Valley Motel, an inviting 30room venue just 1.2km from the Riverina town nestled beside the river.

Kevin Fish and business partner Sunny have owned the motel for two years and believe that their biggest assets are the peaceful surroundings and large rooms. “Being on the edge of town away from the noise, we differ to most motels. Our clientele really appreciate and enjoy the quiet,� says Kevin, who also manages the motel.

However, the quiet was disrupted by the bushfires earlier this year.

“The smoke was the worst. It lingered and was chokingly terrible and at night all you could see was the glow upon the horizon from the fires,� says Kevin, who took in evacuees who didn’t know whether they would return to standing homes.

When the crisis passed and those who had evacuated returned home, the service teams moved in. “It began with a team who came into the region to cut all the power poles that had burnt down. They stayed at the motel for six weeks,� Kevin says. This was only the beginning of the recovery process that is still churning away within Tumut to this

day. In recent times, the residents have watched on as power grid workers have dispersed to rebuild grid lines as well as contractors who have been called in to demolish burnt houses and sheds.

Kevin is optimistic about the future of the Tumut Valley Motel and the region. He says occupancy rates are similar to what they were the previous year. “We did lose business in the lead-up to winter due to the fires, but that was also because of the pandemic. We have just started booking in people for Christmas, which is a really good sign.�

Like the majority of those in areas affected by the bushfires, Kevin admits that the recovery effort will be a long one. “But we are still here and we are all positive that tourists and visitors will come back to the area in due time.� RLM Words: Lucy Taylor

ABOVE: Sunny and Kevin are your gracious hosts at the Tumut Valley Motel; guests enjoy the large spacious rooms; the pool is popular in the summer months.

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56 RLM TUMUT

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A friendly, long serving family business, servicing Tumut, Adelong, Batlow,Talbingo, Gundagai and surrounding districts.

Ray White Tumut’s, Ray Piper boasts over 30 years real estate experience and over 80 years staff wide. This makes Ray White Tumut the most experienced real estate in the local area.

TUMUT

42 Wynyard Street (02) 6947 6777

AGENCY PRINCIPAL

Ray Piper

GUNDAGAI

171 Sheridan Street (02) 6944 3443

SALES • RENTALS • RURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

TUMUT RLM 57

T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

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Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

DUTY OF CARE He runs a small cattle enterprise and heads up a timber company, but Shane Walsh is also a pillar of the local community.

Shane Walsh has been involved with the NSW Rural Fire Service for 23 years, starting in Tumut before joining the team at Adelong. These days he is captain of the Wondalga brigade with 30 volunteers, including wife Jessica.

The couple bought Tumut Trusses and Frames in 2005, after Shane spent a decade learning the ropes from his former boss, Doug Martin.

Now with 25 years’ experience under him, he runs one of the most automated truss and frame manufacturing businesses in the Riverina and South West Slopes.

“There were two employees when I started but we have built it up to eight workers,” he says during a work break.

“Ninety per cent of our work is in Wagga Wagga. At our peak, we deliver two loads of prefabricated wall frames and roof trusses each day or roughly 100 tonnes a month.”

All that timber supplies five major builders who make upwards of 150 new homes each year.

Shane says the forestry, timber and pulp and paper manufacturing industries – Tumut’s big employers – have taken a big hit with the fires but he is confident the town will bounce back.

In the meantime, he lives on “Coreena”, a 100-acre cattle and sheep property on the edge of Adelong with his wife, 11-year-old twin girls, Ella and Lilly, and Jake, 4.

The fire started on December 28. The children were evacuated to their grandparents in Tumut. Years of training kicked into gear.

The pressure was keenly felt on two distinct days about a week apart.

“Our biggest day was probably January 11 but it’s all a bit of a blur,” Shane says. “One day rolled into another and it was just one long nightmare.”

At one stage, Shane and Jessica thought they had lost their own home while they were away saving others.

“We found out hours later we’d been spared, but we, and a heap of others, went through hell. Conditions were atrocious. The whole state was on fire. We knew we were on our own and had to make do with whatever resources we had at our disposal,” he says.

“AT OUR PEAK, WE DELIVER TWO LOADS OF PREFABRICATED WALL FRAMES AND ROOF TRUSSES EACH DAY OR ROUGHLY 100 TONNES A MONTH.”

“Adelong was in the firing line. Numerous times we felt as though we might lose the town. The fire was descending from four different directions and we were left scratching our heads as to where to go next.

The fires were just everywhere.”

The community lost a few outbuildings and about six houses on the edge of town and up towards the Wondalga village. They were lucky not to lose their fire shed, saved by a crew from Cootamundra.

“Just as we were able to catch our breath, the fire moved onto Tumbarumba, creating a new level of havoc,” Shane says.

He hopes to never again go through such a frightening ordeal but admits it makes him proud to be a volunteer firefighter.

“We went from property to property, trying to save what we could. Obviously, the homesteads were our priority but we did what we could to save outhouses and fences.”

After the fires, the first round of grants was used to upgrade the Adelong showground into a community safe place, with new light poles to light the ground and a powder-coated steel picket fence around the oval.

“In retrospect, it was really great timing, enabling BlazeAid to move in only a few days after the fire,” Shane says.

Shane delivers a weekly radio segment on Sounds of the Mountains and is also president of the Adelong Fishing Club.

The family has bought a block in town and intends to move the 30-year-old business there by the close of 2020. RLM FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Shane knows his timber; Jessica, Ella, Lilly, Jake and Shane Walsh love the country life.

ABOVE: Shane and Jessica Walsh have been running Tumut Trusses and Frames since 2005; Shane Walsh wears a few caps, including being captain of the Wondalga RFS.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumut

PRIDE of PLACE

An overdue facelift has brought the historic Gilmore Hall into the 21st century.

Originally named the Gilmore Agricultural Bureau Hall, Gilmore Hall has housed dances, card nights, weddings, socials and family gatherings for nearly a century.

When it was built in 1927, the biggest fundraiser was the “Gilmore Ugly Man Competition”, which raised a whopping 262 pounds while demonstrating the resourcefulness of the district’s early pioneers.

The final 400 pounds needed was taken care of by a loan from the Rural Bank with five prominent landholders acting as guarantors. The land was donated by CC Campbell, who owned adjoining country at “Burnside”.

The 1950s were a busy time for dances, which ran like clockwork on Friday and Saturday nights. Many a farmer found a wife in the rustic old hall, barely 10 minutes from Tumut.

The locals kicked up their heels well into the 1960s, when card evenings first made an appearance. Around this time, the hall had a name change to the Gilmore Progress Association. By the 1990s, it looked as though the hall had outlived its usefulness.

The president at the time was ready to retire, no one had volunteered to take over and the hall, in dire need of repair, looked like either closing its doors, being bulldozed or sold off.

“We lived across the creek, our children were young and I wasn’t working at the time. I agreed to take it on,” Tumut High School deputy principal Karen Hayes says.

The new committee began the long process of bringing the hall back to life, thanks to various grants to do much-needed renovations and repairs. This included a new kitchen with stainless steel benches and splashbacks.

Recent projects have included a new roof and floor, internal lining and insulation of the walls. The kitchen will soon be renovated with new appliances, and the wiring, lighting and exit signs will be replaced and brought up to current standards.

The hall has not changed much on the outside, with the original tin still cladding the walls. New aluminium windows and blinds were fitted some time ago.

The Gilmore Fire Shed shares the grounds.

During the Dunns Road Bushfire in January, the hall became a staging area for firefighters and emergency services to meet.

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The hall also served as an evacuation point for residents and a place for them to gather during the crisis. A community barbecue was held at the hall in February for residents to come together after the devastation of the fires.

Today, the hall is used by the community for meetings and annual events such as the Stockpot Muster, traditionally held in August, and the Community Christmas Party. It has never looked or worked better, thanks to the generous support of many locals.

Carol Regan was raised on a dairy farm in the Gilmore Valley before moving to Tumut when she married. In 1999, she returned to the valley after purchasing a property and for the past 15 years has served on the committee as either secretary or treasurer.

Her association with the Gilmore Progress Association follows on from her parents, who held similar positions in the 1960s.

“Now that my daughter and her family have moved to the valley, we’re hoping the proud tradition of office bearer will continue with future generations,” she says. Carol’s husband Colin is on the Hall Maintenance Committee and keeps the lawns around the hall mowed on a regular basis.

For nearly 100 years, the building has been used for elections, meetings and balls. It’s also been hired out for weddings, birthdays and engagement parties.

By working together, Gilmore residents have managed to keep their hall as a meeting place for the community for many years to come. RLM ABOVE: President Jonathon Caffery, Col and Carol Regan and their grand-daughter Macey Whatman; the hall has been brought into the 21st century and is once more used for weddings and community events.

Bookings or inquiries for hiring of the hall can be made via email to gpagilmore@gmail.com.

Tumut T O W N F E AT U R E

time of need

Food, shelter and pastoral care offered by Tumut Baptist Church were gratefully received by many bushfire casualties.

When the fires struck in early 2020, Tumut Baptist Church was among the first to throw open its doors.

“When Batlow was under threat, we opened as a drop-in centre, offering free meals in a safe and cool environment,” church spokesman Don Fisher says.

On the Saturday of the fires, it was 43 degrees and some fire-effected locals were camping in tents or cars by the river before eventually moving into motel or caravan park accommodation. Others stayed with strangers or extended family members who opened up their homes.

The church doors were opened for 10 days, serving more than 80 meals on their busiest days.

Food was donated from Flourish Australia, Woolworths, the Community Pantry and the local community while clothes were offered by the Anglican Church.

Among those needing assistance were 20 fruit pickers from Nepal.

“We had to use Google Translate so we could tell them what they were eating,” Aimee Owers says. “We put a post on Facebook looking for vegetables and within an hour our freezer was overflowing.”

Some of the locals dropped in eggs, while food, meat and grocery donations came

from as far as Wagga Wagga and Albury.

The local collection point for bushfire assistance turned up with 15 legs of ham and 24kg of scotch fillets.

“We were the only ones in town providing meals and air conditioning, with our church opening its doors from 7am to 7pm. Those evacuated to the local showground had no such comforts.”

Not only did they cook and serve meals in the church, they also made an estimated 300 takeaway meals for homeowners under threat.

Don and wife Sue were among the dozen church members involved with the pastoral care team. Volunteers also came from Gadara and Catholic schools, and others from the community pitched in.

“It was something we felt we needed to do,” Sue says. “We had the facilities and were simply a conduit for others, like the Salvation Army and Vinnies.”

Don says his church provided not just food but important pastoral care.

“We were a set of ears to listen and encourage those residents from Batlow, Talbingo and Adelong in their darkest hour. Many had no idea if they had a home to go back to.” RLM

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Among the helpers from the Tumut Baptist Church were Aimee Owers with Don and Sue Fisher; a hazy shot of the church sign during the fire; food was generously gifted and used to feed the hungry.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Talbingo

wheels in MOTION Mountain bike riders from all over will be treated to an adventure like no other in Talbingo, thanks to some hard-working local enthusiasts who’ve dared to dream big.

Like many good things, Talbingo’s mountain bike trails were dreamt up over a good cup of coffee.

“In early 2019, a group of us were talking when we suddenly recognised the opportunity to bring some serious mountain biking to our little town,” Talbingo MTB president Stuart Guy says.

Surrounded by a national park and a state forest, the area has always attracted mountain bike riders but only on a limited scale.

“We have a 1000-metre vertical drop right at our own back door – much bigger than the 700m at Thredbo,” Stuart says.

Through grants, fundraising and membership, they have completed Stage One, consisting of a skills park, trail head

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and a foreshore trail from town to T3 (Tumut 3 hydro power station).

Spearheading the works is John Doidge, a Snowy Hydro engineering manager who found happiness in Talbingo with wife Sarah a decade ago.

Before the chaos of the fires, he and Stuart and a few others were enjoying a coffee in the Talbingo shopping centre.

Stuart has been a tenant in the centre for 20 years with his ski hire and bike business, Go Play Outside. Both men knew if they were going to turn their grandiose plans into reality, they had to do it by the book.

“We’re looking at a $9 million project, with 120km of dedicated, purpose-built trails including the biggest vertical descent in Australia,” John says.

Talbingo T O W N F E AT U R E

The two have dared to dream big. Many locals are surprised at how fast things are happening.

“It will change the whole vibe of the place,” Stuart says. “Talbingo will become the Mecca of mountain biking in Australia. At least, that’s our vision.”

The club was formed in September 2019 – before the fires – and has become an important part of the recovery plan.

John is an enthusiastic mountain bike rider, having taken up the sport seven years ago. He has made it a family fun affair, with children Seth, 10, and Mia, 9, both keen riders.

His good mate Stuart is another committed rider. Married to Karen and with three teenage daughters, Stuart’s family have lived in Talbingo for generations. His grandfather had a house in Old Talbingo, now under water, in the 1950s.

The shop came under threat on January 4, 2020. Stuart was watching the fire through a webcam, which went black at precisely 5.56pm.

“I thought the town, including my shop, was gone. After an anxious wait of several days, I discovered the town was relatively unscathed.”

With news of the nearby Selwyn snow resort burning down, he anticipated a 95 per cent drop in business.

“It’s a big hit but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, we’ve diversified into mountain bikes. If anything, the fires have created more opportunity. At the end of all this, Selwyn will be the newest snow resort in Australia.”

Stuart says tiny Talbingo sits among some of the most scenic country in Australia.

“Our council and Talbingo locals continue to support our community venture and the bushfire recovery in general,” he says.

“We’ve got pristine alpine mountains and forests, streams and rivers and some of the biggest freshwater lakes in the country. Soon we will be able to add the Mecca of mountain bike riding.” RLM

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Mountain bike riders, both young and old, love the latest addition to Talbingo; Seth Doidge loves the thrill of mountain bike riding; young Lacey Martin likes the bumps.

RIGHT, FROM TOP: John Doidge, son Seth and Stuart Guy discuss mountain biking at Go Play Outside; John is a keen rider and shares the sport with his young family.

Talbingo Tourist Caravan Park Experience the beauty of Talbingo

is nestled in the foothills of The Snowy Mountains. Sitting on the edge of Kosciuszko National Park with views of Jounama Pond.

Accommodation ranging from 2 bedroom brick apartments to ensuite cabins, powered and unpowered sites.

Pet friendly on sites only. We have a large amenities block with laundry, pool, camp kitchen, and undercover barbecue and picnic area.

Visit Buddong Falls, Yarrangobilly Caves, Mount Selwyn and Long Plain Road, Boating on Talbingo Dam or Blowering Dam, both within 10 minutes.

Talbingo Tourist Caravan Park

45 Whitty Street Talbingo NSW 2720 P. 02 6949 5239 talbingocaravanpark.com

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T O W N F E AT U R E Talbingo

holiday mode

James and Di Smith are looking forward to settling into a new normal at their Talbingo Tourist Caravan Park.

After 20 years on the road, truck driver James Smith knew he wanted to spend more time with wife Di and his young family.

Their five-year search for a suitable motel or caravan park finally ended after discovering Talbingo. In summer, the town swells from a sleepy village of a few hundred residents into a sea of thousands of visitors.

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“We loved that Talbingo has two distinct seasons and we are close to family in Wagga Wagga,” James says.

The family, including children Teagan, 17, Josh, 15, and Daniel, 13, are kept busy with four new villas, five two-bedroom apartments, 15 en suite cabins and 30 powered caravan sites, all on the foreshore of Jounama Pondage, between Talbingo and Blowering dams.

In early January 2020, the family prepared for the fire as best they could, removing anything that could burn, including outside furniture and leaves in the gutters.

“We had fire hoses, preparing for what was described by the RFS as an ember attack,” James says.

Talbingo T O W N F E AT U R E

JAMES AND DI ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING A FRESH 2021 WITH THE NIGHTMARE OF 2020 BEHIND THEM.

Surrounded by farmland, bare paddocks and the pondage out the front, no one was expecting 50- to 100-foot flames.

“The fire hit the back of the park first. Everybody, including two mates and my brother, had a job to do,” he says. “The flames were too high and ferocious to think about saving the cabins so we poured all our efforts into saving the house.”

By then, the horse, children and dog had been evacuated to the Country Club. With flames coming over the house, they too hightailed it to the club with a backpack full of important financial papers.

A major wind change saw the adults return to defend their home and extinguish spot fires. The adrenaline was kicking in. In the meantime, the terrified children were hearing falsified rumours that their caravan park had succumbed to the insane wind gusts and towering inferno.

Looking out the window of their home six months later, the mountains beyond the pondage are still black. Fortunately, memories of the fire, in which they lost one cabin after a tree fell on it, are starting to dim.

With the fire dealt with, it was time to face months of the pandemic when the only guests were essential workers, whom Di cooked for seven days a week.

The business was finally reopened on June 1 and life has returned to a different normal. James and Di are looking forward to starting a fresh 2021 with the nightmare of 2020 behind them.

“Before the virus hit, we had people trying to come and stay,” Di says. “With the National Park, Talbingo Dam and the caves all closed, there wasn’t a lot to do but many of our regulars still came to support us. It was very hard.”

Having worked in a bank for 20 years, Di appreciates the great outdoors. Like her husband, she believes Talbingo Dam is one of the most scenic spots in Australia.

“The kids can snow ski in winter and water ski throughout summer. It’s not a bad life but we definitely had enough drama in the past six months to last us a lifetime.” RLM

FACING PAGE:Talbingo Tourist Caravan Park boasts glorious views over Jounama Pondage.

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Running the caravan park is a family affair for James, Teagan, Di, Daniel and Josh Smith; James and Di are caring and generous hosts and play a big role in the local community; rooms are modern, light and spacious; home and HQ for the Smith family.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Talbingo

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Talbingo T O W N F E AT U R E

all in together Talbingo Country Club has served its tight-knit community for 45 years, in good times and bad.

Talbingo Country Club is the heart and soul of the remote but well-connected Talbingo community.

Featuring a golf course, recently upgraded tennis courts, poker machines, keno and a pool table, the club is the only licensed premises and the lifeblood of the small town.

Six motel units were added in the 1990s, meaning there was short-term accommodation to complement the caravan park.

Club vice president Dick Bye moved to the alpine town, population 206, 12 years ago as a maintenance planner for Snowy Hydro.

Dick believes the nine-hole golf course, built in 1975 with stunning views over Lake Jounama, is one of the finest in the country.

“We have plenty of water, pumping anything from 40,000 to 50,000 litres of treated water onto the course every day over summer. It ensures the grass is always greener on our side,” he laughs.

The club house opened two years later, built by the Snowy Mountains Authority and local volunteers. Big drawcards are the Chinese and Australian meals, available seven days.

Talbingo Country Club chef Robert Wang and wife Christine moved to Talbingo five years ago, where they raise their two young sons and involve themselves in the tight-knit community.

“I love it here, mate,” he says. “It’s about as far as you can get from Peking. There are no traffic jams, the weather is great and the locals are always friendly.”

Summer is busiest, with water-skiers taking advantage of the calm waters of Blowering or Talbingo dams. There’s no snow in Talbingo but it’s only one hour to the Selwyn snowfields, burnt to the ground during the recent fires.

The school has 10 students, a far cry from the 1970s when there were up to 250 children at school. About half of the houses are used for holiday rentals or private holiday homes.

Captain of the local fire brigade and Country Club Life Member John Scott remembers he and his late wife stumbling upon Talbingo 26 years ago. They moved from Sydney, buying a home for $65,000, about a quarter of what you might expect to pay today.

“In the 1980s, two busloads of students went to Tumut High every morning. Nowadays, the place is home to mostly retirees,” he says.

January 4, 2020, will go down as the blackest day of John’s life.

“We were under direct attack from the fire, facing 40 degree plus heat, as were our neighbouring towns of Batlow, Tumbarumba and Cabramurra. Resources were stretched to the limit. We had just two trucks plus a Snowy vehicle lent to us,” he says.

“There are 280 houses in town but our main priority was to protect the Country Club, service station and shopping centre.

If any of those had gone up, we might not have rebuilt, spelling disaster for the town.

“We were stretched to the max. Given our equipment, we were forced to make decisions as to what you can try and save and what you can’t.”

The fire brigade consisted of 14 active members, mostly retired men. The oldest was 86.

“We knew it was coming three days before we were hit,” John says. “The wind, noise and temperature combined to make a frightening experience. The fire came in three waves, each one sounding like 20 freight trains coming over the hill.

“We had a town meeting the day before and the town spirit clearly shone through. Everyone co-operated. In the end, we lost a cabin and two sheds in Talbingo, three outlying farm houses, a homestead, 35 head of cattle, a shed of hay and some machinery.”

The emotions are still very raw.

The Country Club has served the community for 45 years.

Having emerged from the fires and COVID-19 relatively intact, staff and members are hoping for a less stressful 2021. RLM FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Vice president of the Talbingo Country Club Dick Bye is served a frothy one by friendly bar staff Renee Reindeers and Liz McLaughlin; captain of the local fire brigade John Scott is hoping this New Year’s Eve party will be a vast improvement on the last one; local character Robert Wang runs the fabulous Ming Restaurant with wife Christine.

Talbingo Country Club COUNTRY CLUB

MOTEL

MING RESTAURANT

Licensed club with a 9 hole golf course, weekly raffles, pokies and a function room.

Family friendly motel.

6 self-contained rooms with air conditioning.

Chinese and Australian meals Tuesday to Sunday night's from 6pm and lunch on weekends.

1 Bridle Street, Talbingo NSW 2720 ▪ 6949 5260 ▪ admin@talbingocountryclub.com.au

TALBINGO RLM 67

WHERE TIME STOOD STILL The quaint country town of Adelong has lost nothing of its historic appeal.

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

READY, WILLING AND ABLE

As the youngest member of Adelong Rural Fire Brigade, Bec Dean is a staunch advocate of giving things a go.

Bec Dean is an active member of the Adelong Rural Fire Brigade. Just 18 years old, she started training as a 12-yearold cadet when her dad, Tony Dean, was captain. Her pop, Ted Dean, was a previous captain too. Mum Tanya looks after their Facebook page and food for the organisation. “It’s a family thing!” she says.

The brigade has two trucks and about 30 members, who are mostly experienced older men. Bec is the youngest member, so she’s in the back of the truck and allocated “end of the hose” duties, which she loves.

During last summer’s main Dunns Road Fire, Bec’s truck was working from Yaven Creek, Takajo, Batlow, Tumbarumba and White Gate. It was an action-packed fortnight, from December 28 through to January 12. One day, Bec started in the truck at about 6am, working at different locations around the Adelong area all day as the fire dynamics changed. She remembers a truck catching fire in the township around midnight and by the time they had dealt with that, it was 2am before she “crashed out” on a camp stretcher at the fire station.

Exhaustion is the enduring memory from January. And the constant readiness to spring into action if needed, napping in a semi-alert mode, fire ready.

Bec’s most memorable day was with the fire threatening the Adelong cemetery and a friend’s house. Mum Tanya and Bec’s sisters had already evacuated their home, and moved to family living in Gundagai.

Bec and Tony remained with the Adelong fire-fighting operations. Bec knew it was going to be a big job when dad Tony gave her his fire-retardant flash hood (protective headwear worn under her helmet).

The shared experience has brought Bec and Tony closer. The whole community has bonded over working together, saving people’s valued livelihoods. Bec says she is more mature. She has insights into the raw emotions exposed on the job and the

BEC KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A BIG JOB WHEN DAD TONY GAVE HER HIS FIRE-RETARDANT FLASH HOOD.

impacts of disaster and devastation on people’s mental wellbeing.

Mia Hardwick, a 17-year-old fourthgeneration brigade volunteer, kept essential food and medical packs up to the troops. Mia was assisted by young helpers Mikaela and Matilda (daughters of firefighters), working out of the fire station.

They shopped for emergency parts, ran errands and did everything needed to keep the station operational. Mia says the public generosity was amazing. Masses of food donations rolled in. One Canberra woman cooked and delivered more than 100 meals for the volunteers.

Bec is a Bachelor of Nursing student at Wollongong University, and she has just finished her first practical hospital stint at Nowra Base Hospital. In her spare time, Bec loves catching up with friends (who are proud of her fire creds), farm life, and metallic silhouette shooting.

So, why fire-fighting?

“You are learning all the time. You see so much! Nothing can ever prepare you for what it will be like out there (on the job),” she says.

“The best way to learn is just to be a part of it.”

Bec would like to get more fire experience and more training, even to do her tanker ticket in the future. Bec says anyone thinking about volunteering should “just give it a go”.

She, for one, will be putting her hand up for more action on the front line. RLM Words: Sue Curley Images: Fiona D’Alessandro

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Bec Dean fighting a fire on the outskirts of Adelong;Tony Dean and Bec Dean’s shared experience has brought father and daughter closer; Bec in burnt pine near Wondalga following January’s horrific fires.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Adelong

ZEST FOR LIFE Keeping pace with Adelong’s First Lady is no easy feat.

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

Regional Lifestyle Magazine is greeted at the front door by smartly dressed Karen Hayes, who has agreed to a chat in her divine country home overlooking Adelong.

Thirty years ago, it was a bare paddock but today it’s the centrepiece of a 400-acre sheep and cattle farm.

Her obvious passion for fitness is evident in bikes of all descriptions scattered everywhere. Over a morning cuppa, Karen reveals she doesn’t do sugar and that her athletic talent was unearthed at primary school.

“When I was 12, my brother-in-law asked why I took sugar in my tea. I thought about that for a long while before deciding to cut it out of my life,” she says with an infectious grin. “Sugar is simply not good for you. I avoid soft drinks but it’s hard resisting the sugar in a really good cake.”

Going without sugar didn’t affect her ability to gain an Australian high school ranking in the high jump. And in her prime, Karen was also a talented sprinter.

“I was a problem child with energy to burn. My parents felt that sport would use up a lot of that energy,” she laughs, as RLM takes a closer look at her road bikes and mountain bike. In the upstairs studio where she once painted, stands a spinning bike used for training.

When she wasn’t competing on the athletics track, Karen played netball and basketball. It helps explain her 20 years as an aerobics instructor before becoming a Pilates personal trainer.

“At school I dreamt of being a PE teacher but was told I’d never get a job so I studied Art instead. At one stage I thought I might become a scientist.”

Her biggest role models were her father, a court reporter with a talent for shorthand, and her seamstress mother. She adored her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Kelly, while her Year 11 Art teacher, Lesley Brown, encouraged her to follow her heart and try out new things, no matter how absurd or difficult.

After school, she studied Arts at CSU, Wagga Wagga, before moving into teaching in her fourth year. By then, she had already met her soulmate with whom she would spend the rest of her life.

It was at the annual University Games, that year held in Perth. At the time, she was an 18-year-old student living on a $22-a-week scholarship. Rent was $15 per week, meaning money was always tight, especially after an exhausting three-day bus trip across the Nullarbor.

Thankfully, there were free barbecues, and a young man, who had taken the more sensible flying option, casually asked if anyone wanted his lettuce.

HER BIGGEST ROLE MODELS WERE HER FATHER, A COURT REPORTER WITH A TALENT FOR SHORTHAND, AND HER SEAMSTRESS MOTHER.

One confident, salad-loving Sydney girl was not shy in throwing up her hand. That was 41 years ago and the power couple have never been busier, or happier. Over the years, Karen worked her way up the teaching ladder to become a deputy principal at Tumut High School with 557 students.

It can be a hectic schedule but she still finds time to help junior students in Visual Arts. Her husband worked as a teacher at the same school for 30 years, finishing as head of Special Education. Since 2017, James Hayes OAM has been the popular and hard-working Mayor of the Snowy Valleys Council.

The fun-loving pair have two sons, Bill, a roofing plumber in Canberra, who slabs

beautiful timber for wood workers, and Sam, an environmental scientist working on his grandparents’ farm at nearby “Pentwyn”, Adelong.

Karen and James share plenty in common, including being born in the Crown Street Women’s Hospital in Surry Hills. At the time, it was the largest women’s hospital in NSW and the matron was James’s great aunt. >

ABOVE: Adelong First Lady Karen Hayes.

FACING PAGE: Karen and husband James outside their country home overlooking Adelong.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Adelong

PIECES HAD BEEN COLLECTED FOR YEARS – DOORS, WINDOWS, BEAUTIFUL BANISTERS FOR THE STAIRCASE, PEWS FROM THE GILMORE CHURCH AND CEDAR SCHOOLHOUSE DOORS.

For their first two decades of married life, the couple rented a cottage from the four enterprising Kelly sisters who ran a dairy in the Gilmore Valley. Eventually, they moved into their new house in 2003, after a two-year build and the movement of thousands of tonnes of soil and stone.

Pieces had been collected for years – doors, windows, beautiful banisters for the staircase, pews from the Gilmore church and cedar schoolhouse doors with at least a dozen layers of paint that Karen faithfully stripped back.

72 RLM ADELONG

One of the more fascinating pieces is a one-tonne bank vault door bought for $100. They wanted the space found in art galleries and cathedrals, albeit on a much smaller scale, for their home. Much of the timber was milled from the farm.

By this stage, we’ve progressed to the dining table, where James hovers in the background taking care of lunch. He looks rather bemused. He’s not your traditional “background” type and is usually the one answering the tough questions.

Karen can hold her own but relaxing for too long is clearly not her favourite thing.

Once, she felt like a caged lion after her husband convinced her to go on a cruise.

“It was a Mediterranean cruise and we were supposed to just eat, drink and be merry,” Karen says with a cheeky grin.

The weather was miserable and she felt trapped, like a prisoner. James spent a lot of the time pacifying his irate wife in the gym.

These days, he knows better. When they go on holidays, Karen likes to burn up some calories, and we’re not talking about a brisk walk around the block or a jog down to the shops and back.

Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

“I like to walk 100km or cycle around a country,” she says without batting an eyelid. So far, they’ve walked the Camino Trail in Spain and the Three Capes Walk in Tasmania. Two years ago, Karen cycled through Italy.

Karen is a foundation rider with L’Etape Australia, and has ridden Sydney to the ‘Gong, Bathurst to Blayney, the Tumut Classic and Snowy Valleys Challenge.

To keep her in top shape for her cycling adventures, Karen maintains a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegies, complemented by home-grown beef and lamb.

“James was never a fan of my chickpeas and lentils,” she laughs. “He wouldn’t touch them so I put my foot down and invited him to have a crack at the cooking.”

Never one to step back from a challenge, he now loves being boss in the kitchen.

Famous for his stews and pies, he loves experimenting with new dishes and is big on presentation.

Asked to describe his wife in three words, the response is direct: “Energetic, decisive and strong.” For Karen, 50km is a good bike run while 25km is a walk in the park. At the moment, a lot of training takes place upstairs.

During May, her challenge was to ride 640km with 5500 metres of elevation, all hooked up to her computer. She often joins Zoom rides that use online cycling platforms, allowing her to experience a changing landscape in a country on the other side of the world with cycling colleagues.

When she is not pushing her body to the limit, Karen loves immersing herself in a good movie or watching the Tour de France on TV. It’s always on late and she regularly falls asleep watching elite athletes conquer the steep French alps.

Until the virus, she enjoyed holidaying in Europe, regularly escorting school groups.

“I’ve always loved France but I’m becoming a big fan of Italy. I’m totally blown away by the people, food, culture and scenery. It’s just a wonderful lifestyle,” she says.

“I like riding with others although it can make me a bit nervous, as I’m a bit slower than most riders. Riding indoors is a lot less stressful.”

Riding a bike in general can be a hazardous experience and Karen has the scars to remind herself of how things can change in an instant.

“Yes, I’ve had a few accidents,” she concedes. “Once I hit the bike in front of me and it tipped me over, splitting my helmet in three parts and leaving me with concussion.”

Another time she hit a rock and came off. Only recently, she had a fall in Tumbarumba. James will join her on the small rides but can’t keep up with her marathon efforts.

FOR KAREN, 50KM IS A GOOD BIKE RUN WHILE 25KM IS A WALK IN THE PARK.

As RLM prepares to leave, we learn one of her great passions is tap dancing, which she started about 15 years ago. Karen is still longing for a local class to kick off after her teacher left Tumut. She took over for a while but admits it’s sometimes nice to do things without having to be out the front.

“I like performing but there’s a lot of planning that goes into it. I can relax if I can go somewhere and just be at the back and enjoy.”

Adelong’s First Lady has allowed Lifestyle into her home and busy life for a few hours but our time is up. RLM

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Karen has always enjoyed painting; bike riding in exciting European destinations; at home with the cat; making memories.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The entrance to their country home, featuring a painting of James’s father, Jervis, at the bottom of the stairs; James and Karen in front of their beautiful home; inside is warm, open and spacious.

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HELPING HANDS

BlazeAid volunteers are the first to admit that they, too, benefit from involvement in the program.

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain.”

It’s the daily quote, written up on the noticeboard at BlazeAid headquarters in the Adelong Showgrounds. Six months after setting up camp, a few workers still remain at their post, the most committed volunteers who have been helping fix fences for fireaffected local farmers.

“We try and send an experienced fencer out with each team,” says acting tool shed manager and Sunshine Coast resident Lindsay Blanch. Often the farmers are on hand to guide them.

“Living on the coast, we rarely experience bushfires – certainly nothing compared to the devastation that occurred in this area,” he says. Lindsay and wife Jenny arrived in the first week of February 2020, expecting to stay a few weeks.

Similar BlazeAid camps were set up at Tumbarumba, Bredbo and Tooma on a brilliant concept started by Victorians Kevin and Rhonda Butler after the February 2009 Black Saturday fires.

Like most volunteers, Lindsay and Jenny have enjoyed the experience so much, they’re still ensconced at the showground, five months later.

“At our peak we had 150 volunteers but numbers have dropped by about half in the past few months, especially after COVID-19, when numbers fell to about 30,” explains Jenny, who has teamed up with her new New Zealander friend, Anne Park.

They are running the kitchen, where over 15,000 meals have been prepared.

Apart from making breakfast, lunch and a two-course dinner, seven days a week, the team also makes food packages and toiletries for farmers, delivered by BlazeAid volunteers to wherever they’re working.

Lindsay and Jenny say the farmers are grateful and often overwhelmed by the support extended to them.

“Some of the farmers are reluctant to accept help because they believe there

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

are more deserving recipients of such kindness,” Jenny says. “On the road to recovery, having someone to talk to can make all the difference between a good day and an average one.”

In the beginning, they were kick-starting their day at 5am, extending to 6am during the colder winter months, before crawling into their caravans around 7pm.

So what compels them to volunteer?

“It’s hard to explain,” Jenny says. “We have all come to know what BlazeAid has done for the farmers but it’s been equally amazing for us as well. I may not be out on the fencing front line but it has been wonderful helping others in need while sharing our own lives with other volunteers.”

Lindsay agrees and says at one time they were all strangers but now have grown into one big, happy family. “It restores your faith in human nature,” he says.

“We have amazing support from local business houses. A Wagga Wagga building supplier turned up with a truckload of new wheelbarrows. Another mob gave us 100 shovels and the same in sledgehammers and claw hammers. Then we received three pallet loads of work boots.”

It was the same in the kitchen, with donations of 200 big coffee tins and huge amounts of clothes, food and smaller items like toothbrushes and toothpaste.

“It’s going to be hard leaving,” Jenny says.

“There will be tears. It’s been life-changing.

We will continue being BlazeAiders for as long as our health is good.”

They’ve met volunteers from all over the country who have stayed in their caravans or camped in tents and swags. One woman flew from the US during her two-week holiday to lend a hand.

The numbers are updated on a board each week. As of June 14, there had been 693 volunteers working 145 days, with an average age of 49 years. During that time, 177km of fencing had gone up.

BlazeAid had worked on 156 farms in the Adelong district and finished work on almost half.

“People come home exhausted but happy.

Probably 50 per cent of what we do is mend fences but there’s a lot more to it, like just listening to what somebody has gone through. We’re not counsellors, perhaps more like a pair of sympathetic ears,” Lindsay says.

There have been some unexpected bonuses.

“A lot of our farmers and volunteers are getting on in their years, so we have put a defribulator in each combat trailer and one in each camp,” Lindsay says.

“It’s nice helping people out but one of our greatest joys is seeing the green shoots coming out of blackened trees.” RLM

Adelong Camp Update to

Sunday, 11 October 2020 Opened 16 January 2020

Volunteers Needed Adelong BlazeAid camp is located at the Adelong showgrounds. We have volunteers from all walks of life involved in helping farmers recover from the January bushfires. It does not take much to lend a hand and perhaps change lives in the process.

You do not need any fencing experience, just a willingness to give it a go and learn on the job. You can volunteer for a day or two, or a week or more.

Fencing is not only “men’s work” and age is no barrier. Over one third of the previous BlazeAid volunteers were ladies. Many of our long-term volunteers are in their 50s and 60s, with other volunteers aged from teens to their 80s.

Interested? Then check out www.blazeaid.com.au or contact Steve Matthews 0425 138 222

Achivement to date: Total meals to date

TOTAL 20,024

Completed new fencing

219.8 km

Fencing removed

325.3 km

Properties registered:

254

Properties started:

192

Properties completed:

112

Properties % completed

44%

Total volunteers to date - 729 Volunteers days to date - 8,011 Money spent locally - $439,150.93

ABOVE: After the fires, BlazeAid volunteers assembled from all corners of the country to help affected farmers.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Volunteers Lindsay andJenny Blanch with donated food, kitchen and bathroom items; Lindsay at home in the tool shed of the Adelong Showgrounds.

ADELONG RLM 75

bread winners Always up for a new and exciting adventure, John and Jane Rose have found their calling and contentment in Adelong.

Jane Rose will never forget the time her husband declared he’d found their dream home.

It was nothing like she’d ever seen, he told her, alluding to a historic building in the main street of Adelong with an old woodfired oven out the back.

It didn’t matter that Jane had no idea where Adelong was. The search was finally over.

“We had driven all over NSW checking out chimneys and the backs of houses,” John laughs. “A double pot chimney on top of a small out house – that’s the giveaway.”

This one he found on the internet. Built in about 1880, it was in use until the rise of the big industrial bakeries in the 1960s, when many of the old ovens were closed or destroyed.

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“There used to be thousands of small bakeries all over Australia, each with a Scotch oven,” he explains.

John had no intention of investing in the building until he knew he had the skills to bring the oven back to life. One of his very first jobs was working in one of Sydney’s earliest sourdough bakeries 40 years ago.

He never forgot the rich European-style bread made to a special recipe by the Hungarian owners.

In 2014, he booked himself in for a three-month intensive course at the San Francisco Baking Institute. Armed with new knowledge, they moved to Adelong and began renovations.

The first three months were devoted to the old bake house, peeling back eight layers of paint to reveal the original brickwork.

Much of the equipment required wasn’t available in Australia, forcing John to look further afield. John bought the paddles in America and added the long handles.

The couches (linen) are also imported for resting the dough.

Within a year, the first loaf of bread emerged from the newly named Stella Rossa Bakery.

“It was a revelation and I found myself reborn,” says John, who still gets excited talking about his new profession.

“Getting up on a cold, frosty morning, mixing the dough and watching it rise, shaping it with my hands, lighting the fire, washing the oven floor and watching the steam rise, loading the bread with long wooden paddles – it’s heaven on earth.”

They had the product but would their sourdough sell?

Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

“In 2015, we weren’t sure if people would want our bread but thankfully we soon found a market,” Jane says.

The resourceful couple now have an email subscription for several hundred locals.

Each week, they send out their menu and the weekly orders come back. Their bread is also sold at the FoodWorks store across the road and at Simply Wholesome in Tumut, along with a range of sweet treats and tartlets made with fresh local fruits.

“We’re the only traditional, wood-fired sourdough bakery for 200km in any direction,” John says with a satisfied grin.

“I have deep respect for all bakers. It’s just that we do things differently. The only machine we use is the mixer. Everything else is done by hand, just like it’s been done for hundreds of years.”

These artisans embrace life to the full.

“We’re small time and not looking at taking over the world. Our satisfaction comes from seeing happy customers come back for more.”

Their home, built around 1860, has a colourful history. Over the years, it’s been a gold exchange, dental clinic, pharmacy, menswear and haberdashery before finally becoming a home.

John and Jane grew up in Sydney. John worked in media, marketing and major

events and Jane worked in arts and crafts.

For a long time, city life was dragging them down. The aggression, stress, noise and overdevelopment were all taking their toll.

When it was time to finally escape the rat race, they did it in style, running a tour bus to the Darling River and beyond. It was a gypsy lifestyle. Two years later, they ran a Hunter Valley farm stay before trying out life on the South Coast.

The Roses clearly like being on the move, which explains why they spend five months of the year cruising the French canals and rivers at a leisurely six kilometres per hour on board the century-old Dutch barge Eben Haezer.

“This would have been our fifth season but the Coronavirus put an end to all that,” John laments. “It’s our first winter since 2015 in Adelong and although it gets rather fresh, we love being part of a small and vibrant country community in such a beautiful part of the world.” RLM

FACING PAGE: Adelong bread maker John Rose is happiest making his sourdough.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: John and Jane in front of their historic building in Adelong’s main street; Jane kneads the flour before baking; prior to the pandemic the couple spent their winters leisurely cruising the French canals.

ADELONG RLM 77

with

gratitude

Legendary Adelong stockman Neville Clarke is hoping bad things don’t happen in threes. On January 4, 2020, his home was reduced to rubble in the bushfires. Then, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, his heart started missing a beat.

It’s been a big 12 months for the tough old bushman, who until recently was saddling up his horses and mustering cattle for longterm clients.

Fortunately, he was able to celebrate his 80th birthday with 300 of his nearest and dearest at the Adelong showground before the pandemic closed down big gatherings.

Number one supporter, as always, is wife Lesley. She was by his side as fires threatened their very existence. The first time around, they packed their car up with personal papers, a handful of clothes and a few precious old photographs.

The second time was more serious. Neville saved his favourite stock saddles and leather gear and moved into a base camp.

Neville was delivering food to the firies when the out-of-control blaze hit their country residence sometime around 4pm.

“We had the call to get out. The wind was ferocious. This time it looked like everything would go. The forestry blokes got out first but we still had about six volunteers fighting the fire down our end. With only a few slip-ons there was a limit as to what they could achieve.”

In a mammoth effort, the brave volunteers saved two of the four homes in the vicinity. Neville and Lesley knew them personally and cannot praise them enough for their valiant efforts.

Until the fires, Neville never thought about retiring into town. He is a man of the bush, a son of the soil, more at home in the scrub. After losing his home, Neville was forced to take up residence in one of Adelong’s quieter streets but desperately misses his horses and dogs.

He was riding the day before he took a bad turn. A low heart beat saw him shipped off to Sydney for a pacemaker. Next thing, his big old ticker was beating too fast, thankfully now slowed down by medication.

“I’m all wired up but I feel as fit as a trout,” the wiry old bushman says with a grin. All he thinks about is saddling up and returning to work.

He’s eternally grateful he at least got to enjoy his birthday party with a great group of country mates cultivated over a long and active life.

Neville reckons it was the best party since he and Lesley’s wedding 33 years earlier.

To help the Clarkes get back on their feet after the fire, Adelong’s Julie Roche painted an abstract called Salt of the Earth, which was auctioned for $5000.

The pair are quick to thank friends, neighbours and the Adelong community for their overwhelming support in their time of need.

“It’s not until you lose almost everything when you find out who your true friends are,” Neville says.

Lesley takes up the story. “When we moved into this house, it was all furnished. The fridge was full of food and there was everything we could ever want or wish for. It was completely overwhelming.”

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Neville and Lesley Clarke may have lost their home in the bushfires but they’ve gained a new appreciation of the Adelong community’s bravery and generosity.

Talking about the fire, Neville and Lesley are nothing if not pragmatic. “When you think about it, the fire was a good, forced clean-up,” Neville says, without batting an eyelid.

“It brought out the good and bad in people. We found a few rorting the system, others taking advantage of the situation. It leaves you feeling crook, with some taking hay and dog feed and things they didn’t necessarily need,” he says.

“Fortunately, we saw more good than bad and our faith in humanity has been restored. The support we received, especially from the people of Yass, was unbelievable.

“The main thing is we have each other. Apart from one poor bloke who tragically died from a heart attack while helping fight the fires, no lives were lost. Life goes on. It takes a fire to realise you can live without most of your possessions.” RLM

Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

“IT’S NOT UNTIL YOU LOSE ALMOST EVERYTHING WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHO YOUR TRUE FRIENDS ARE.” ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tough old Adelong bushman Neville Clarke was gutted after his home was devoured in the fire; in his younger campdrafting days; the unbreakable duo that is Lesley and Neville in front of their new home in town; the chimneys were the only things left standing after the fire flattened all before it.

FACING PAGE: A lot of hard sweat has gone into Neville’s battered old Akubra.

Fire Images: Tayla Martin.

ADELONG RLM 79

STAMP

of approval

Since the arrival of COVID-19, the role that the Adelong Community Post Office plays in the day-to-day life of its local residents is more important than ever.

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

The Post Office has always been a central hub for regional communities across Australia.

With an increasing number of people now relying on the internet to shop for items, Adelong Community Post Office has never been busier.

“We had a lawnmower through the mail. Everything bar the kitchen sink arrives here. In fact, we even actually had a sink as well. Nothing surprises us any more,” manager Fiona Annetts says.

While parcel deliveries have picked up enormously during the pandemic, Fiona says local customers are still using the PO for some of the more traditional services it offers.

“Our clientele is mostly the elderly paying their bills with cheques,” she says.

“Some even post them in or leave their bills in their mailbox and we bring it back in, process it, and then the receipt goes out in the next mailbag.”

This special touch epitomises the unique culture of Adelong and its businesses.

“Little things like that are happening and it’s quaint. It’s so good we can still do that. It’s lovely that these old traditions are still happening.”

Fiona has worked at the Adelong Post Office for five years and loves her job.

“It’s a great job. I love it. I have lived in Adelong all my life and I know most of the people,” she says.

“It works being in a small town and having a job like this.”

Fiona deeply values the relationships she has with each of the customers that walks through the doors each day.

“It’s nice to be on a first-name basis and the customers like that as well. We all know who each other is and, if we are not too busy, we can have a chat with them because we might be the only person they have a conversation with during the day.”

It’s hard to imagine that the Adelong Community Post Office, which sits inside a heritage-listed building, almost became extinct back in 2014.

The potential closure of the Post Office was regarded by many as a disaster for the town and would have forced residents to travel to Tumut for postal services.

But, thanks to a successful proposal to Australia Post by the Bendigo Bank and Adelong Community Enterprises group it never happened and in 2014, the Post Office’s ownership and operations fell into the community’s hands.

“Adelong has an ageing population. There are many retirees and they love the Post Office,” Fiona says.

“We get so much good feedback. It’s great that the community could buy the business out and continue running it as a post office.”

The Adelong Community Enterprises group recently bought the heritage-listed building that the post office is housed in.

Fiona says it was a timely move, considering the number of parcels that they now take in and deliver.

“There’s talk of renovations to increase our space for parcels.

In the day, it was built for letters so there’s not a lot of space.

“We now need a lot of space, especially if we are going to get more lawnmowers,” she jokes.

Open five days a week from 9am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm, the Adelong Community Post Office offers more than postal services. They also stock many items of need for the locals.

“We get to know the clientele and what will sell well. We have lots of kitchenware and giftware because people can’t get to shops any more and we don’t have an electrical shop in Adelong any more,” Fiona says.

“We also sell USB sticks, printers and inks and have noticed a real increase in those stock sales since COVID-19 and the fact that there are more people working from home.” RLM Words: Jo McKinnon

“IT’S GREAT THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD BUY THE BUSINESS OUT AND CONTINUE RUNNING IT AS A POST OFFICE.”

FACING PAGE: Heather Montgomery and Fiona Annetts in the Adelong post office; the post office in the 1930s.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: The Post Office in early years; Heather and Fiona look after regular customer Louise Salmon.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE

Adelong Licensed Post Office Owned and operated by your community

Come and browse our gift range, pay your bills, complete all your postal transactions and much more.

80 Tumut Street, Adelong NSW 2729 02 6946 2086 • Open 9.30am–5pm M–F CLOSED BETWEEN 12.30 AND 1.30PM

See Fiona, Heather and Gail for all your needs!

ADELONG RLM 81

T O W N F E AT U R E Adelong

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

FREE REIN Horses play a big part in the life of Adelong’s Brian Maher.

Quiet, devoted family man Brian Maher has made a career out of being a highly respected farrier and stockman who loves mustering the hilly Adelong terrain on horseback.

The slower paced life in the saddle offers Brian ample time to think about the best years of his life raising a family on the edge of town. Foremost on his mind is wife Mel and children Riley, 10, and Taylor, 8. Sometimes, if it’s a long day in the saddle, his mind drifts back to the Queensland cattle town of Roma where it all began.

He was working at the saleyards where two things grabbed his immediate attention: the loppy eared “Yak” (Brahman) cattle and a very capable Mel Dunn, who worked alongside the men. They hadn’t seen each other since Brian was a youngster in the closeknit polocrosse fraternity.

After his stint in the sunny state, he moved south and completed a farrier course at TAFE, all the time keeping in touch with Mel. The relationship flourished, culminating in their 2006 nuptials in Mel’s hometown of Adelong. After a few years of married life, they moved to Cobar when Brian scored a job driving dump trucks for a hard rock mine.

It was a way to earn some serious coin to help secure his family’s future, which by then included a young son and baby daughter.

Living in town, however, came with its own problems. Mel and the kids moved back home while Brian spent the next two years making the long trip home on weekends.

“While in Cobar, I shod as many horses as I could – when I wasn’t working on being a millionaire. Everyone told me you could make a fortune,” he laughs.

Eventually he returned home for good, knowing the highest reward came from being with his family. These days he spends one or two days each week helping local grazier Paul Roche with mustering, fencing and general stock work. His right-hand helpers are his faithful Kelpies.

That leaves the bulk of the week for shoeing all types of horses, from polocrosse and campdraft through to thoroughbreds and pleasure horses. When things are quiet, he throws some casual truck driving into the routine.

“There are no two horses the same. They all have their own personalities. I wouldn’t have minded being an equine dentist if I knew a bit more about horses’ teeth,” he says with a grin. “Some days I might shoe horses for four or five different clients, so it’s always interesting. I’m always moving around and mixing with different people.”

Mel also loves the farm life and and helps with the stock work on another Ellerslie farm. Riley and Taylor both enjoy their horses but love their motorbikes just as much.

Growing up in Harden, Brian always enjoyed the legendary tales of the Australian Light Horse and the famous charge at Beersheba. Many years later, he was working with the late Charlie Reddy, a saddler from Canberra who specialised in Light Horse reproductions.

Brian fell in love with the uniform after learning more about the unbreakable bond that existed between horse and rider. Most years he represents the Light Horse on Anzac Day in Adelong. He will methodically don his khaki uniform, complete with famous slouch hat and polished boots, and ride his mount down the main street.

Usually he is on his own, and that makes him even more determined. His wife and children are his biggest supporters.

From his well-worn Akubra down to his Wranglers, Brian Maher is the real deal, a country man following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather while trying to be the best version of himself. RLM FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Brian and Mel Maher with children Riley and Taylor; Brian Maher and Lauren Roche, “Rochedale”, Adelong, walk the cattle home; the level-headed stockman loves the outdoor life; being a farrier has enabled Brian to mix freely among a wide range of country people.

ABOVE FROM TOP: Adelong horse lover Brian Maher is immensely proud to keep the spirit of the Australian Light Horse alive on Anzac Day; working in the cattle yards with Adelong graziers Paul and Lauren Roche.

ADELONG RLM 83

T O W N F E AT U R E Adelong

here to stay

Bendigo Bank in Adelong is a testament to the fierce determination of a small regional community to rally together and save itself.

Adelong had been without banking services for many years after Westpac closed its doors. In the 1990s, a steering committee was formed and began a campaign to raise the necessary funds to set up a Bendigo Bank branch.

They achieved their goal, an outcome that current manager Stephanie Smyth is extremely proud of.

“Our town was dying because we could not attract any businesses. We were losing more and more services every year,” she says.

“A committee was formed to put a proposal through to Bendigo Bank that we could open a branch here. They looked at the proposal and saw it had merit.

“The amount required was $600,000 so we got community members to pledge

84 RLM ADELONG

amounts that became shares from $200 up to $10,000, so there are quite a few shareholders. The community now owns the franchise of the bank.”

Today, Adelong’s only bank is a hive of activity each day and plays a huge role in the wellbeing of the local community in which Stephanie has lived her entire life.

“I’m very passionate about what our bank has done for the town,” she says.

“People know if something is wrong, we will try and help them not to fail. Whether it’s in-kind support, monetary support, or emotional support.

“We have a lot of people come in just for a chat. It’s not a shoulder to cry on but we give another perspective on their problems.”

Since opening, the Adelong branch of Bendigo Bank has provided significant funding for projects in the community including a rebuild of the local swimming pool that was washed away in floods.

“Seed funding of $100,000 was raised for the swimming pool that was beyond repair so now we have a beautiful pool. It’s in a different position and on a hill now,” Stephanie says.

“We purchased the post office for the community. It looked like closing. It is now a thriving hub too.”

Last summer’s bushfires had a huge impact on Adelong and its surrounding areas and the bank supported the Tumut Community Foundation to raise over $200,000 to assist those affected.

Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

“The money allowed us to make up gift cards that could be spent at local businesses,” Stephanie says.

“We have since had some very touching emails from people that say they will take their husband out to dinner or just an outing because farmers don’t have a day off and when they are battling against adversity they will stay at home and won’t think of themselves.”

Adelong Rural Fire Brigade Deputy Captain Tony Dean is very thankful for the bank’s ongoing support.

“The bank’s been very good to us financially. They are not afraid to put their hand in their pocket and give us a donation for equipment and look after volunteers as far as fees go. I know that personally,” Tony says.

Tony has been associated with the brigade for 20 years and says through the bank’s generosity they have state-of-theart equipment.

“We got a new truck and they supplied a set of seat covers and some equipment for applying gel to things that you don’t want to burn.”

Stephanie says the Adelong community as a whole showed incredible support during and after the bushfires.

They also did whatever they could to help the BlazeAid workers who came in to assist the recovery process.

“The town got together, and we cooked their meals every night except Wednesdays when they went to the pub or cafe to get their meals.”

Those types of gestures make Stephanie pleased to call Adelong home.

“I love the feeling of community and Aussie way to help a mate, the way people relate to a small town and call in and help out. The volunteer thing is amazing,” she says. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon

“PEOPLE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, WE WILL TRY AND HELP THEM NOT TO FAIL.”

ABOVE, FROM TOP: The Bendigo Bank plays a major role in the local community; the Bendigo Bank helped establish the Rustic Creations Craft Shop in Adelong as well as the Golden Treasure Chest.

FACING PAGE: Staff member Lynette Nilon with Bendigo Bank manager Stephanie Smyth and Melissa Dean.

Your town. Your bank.

Everything you need

BANK LOCAL

Feel good about who you bank with. Try Bendigo.

Find out more. Call 6946 2922 or search Bendigo Bank Adelong.

Community Bank Adelong & District Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL / Australian Credit Licence 237879. (1507203-1507202) (08/20)

ADELONG RLM 85

heirlooms

in the making Farmgate & Twine is a bespoke homewares store in Adelong, offering both online and in person shopping where quality is key.

Farmgate & Twine owner Gina Roche has been providing her customers with a range of country lifestyle products for the past four years, however the seed for her shop was planted during her childhood.

“I grew up on our family property, only just up the hill in Batlow,” Gina says. As a girl, she had the freedom of exploring her family’s beautiful property, featuring apple orchards and a large magical garden.

While some children are drawn to the latest technology and what wonders the future will hold, others seem drawn to the past.

“As a child, it was always such a treat to help my grandmother set the table,” Gina says. “I would listen to her stories of where her lovely old tea pot was from and who owned the silverware before she did. It was a history lesson and, for me, a real connection to family and what we hold dear.”

These stories passed down from her grandmother Daisy were Gina’s first foray into the concept of “true provenance”, a guiding force in her vision for Farmgate & Twine.

Gina has no shame in admitting that she is rather oblivious to the latest “it” items on the homewares market. In place of trends, Gina has set her sights on objects that will stand the test of time in both quality and style.

“In the store we talk about living a true country-inspired lifestyle. This to me is immersing ourselves in the rhythm of daily tasks and having a certain value in what we bring into our lives.”

Gina personally uncovers the true provenance of all the items she presents to her customers. She is curating a collection of goods that have a high quality of craftsmanship and materials, that over time will show their true value within your home as well as adding beauty to the everyday.

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While Gina did stray from her country roots for a bit living in Sydney for a number of years, meeting and marrying her husband Jim drew her back to the area where he was living on his own family property.

“The Snowy Valleys region in all its glory is something I’m incredibly grateful for,” she says. “As a child you just know it feels good, but as an adult you can respect and celebrate the diverse seasons and all it has to offer.”

The Roches live on their cattle property “Weeroona” with their children Ned, Paddy and Lucy aged 14, 12 and 10. While Jim runs the farm, Gina runs Farmgate & Twine, always meeting in the middle to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

“Jim is always there to help tie up a ribbon or carry boxes,” Gina says of her supportive husband.

While she continues to strive for a work-life balance, the lines between her home life and professional life are a bit blurred and rightfully so. The way Gina lives at home with her own family is so entwined with the road map for true country living that she offers her customers.

Whether the goods are sourced locally, nationally or internationally, you can be certain that they have come from “artisans, makers and authentic suppliers, each with their own story”.

While choosing a favourite product would be akin to choosing a favourite child, a humble boot pull by the back door comes close. Handcrafted in Sydney from Tasmanian hardwood by another small Australian business, it has been proudly custom stamped with their property’s name by Farmgate & Twine, and Gina can assure you “not a day goes by where it doesn’t get a good workout”. It’s an heirloom in the making. >

IN PLACE OF TRENDS, GINA HAS SET HER SIGHTS ON OBJECTS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME IN BOTH QUALITY AND STYLE.

ABOVE: Everything you will find at Farmgate & Twine has that sought-after combination of form and function.

RIGHT: Gina Roche, the head and heart behind Farmgate & Twine, pictured in her Adelong storehouse. Her childhood in Batlow as well as her passion for uncovering the story behind every object guides her business.

Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

STORIES PASSED DOWN FROM HER GRANDMOTHER DAISY WERE GINA’S FIRST FORAY INTO THE CONCEPT OF “TRUE PROVENANCE”, A GUIDING FORCE IN HER VISION FOR FARMGATE & TWINE.

ADELONG RLM 87

FARMGATE & TWINE IS PREPARING TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THEIR NEW RETAIL SPACE IN ONE OF ADELONG’S OLDEST HERITAGE-LISTED BUILDINGS.

Due to amazing growth and humbling support from loyal customers near and far, Farmgate & Twine is preparing to officially open their new retail space in one of Adelong’s oldest heritage-listed buildings. As they transition into this new larger space, Gina and the team are pleased to offer continued shopping online or by appointment and they look forward to welcoming you back to the storehouse just in time for Christmas. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Rachael Lenehan Photography, Gina Roche

ABOVE: A bespoke boot pull custom stamped by Farmgate & Twine with Gina and Jim’s property name.

RIGHT: Gina and her team put so much care and thought into every aspect of the shop.

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Adelong T O W N F E AT U R E

STRENGTH in adversity While fifth-generation grazier Matt Pearce loves living on the land, he knows things can change in a heartbeat.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Matt and Ange Pearce with their children Sped, Hunter and Minnie; the cattle are doing well in the lush paddocks after years of drought.

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Matt Pearce and wife Ange and their young family live at “Muronga”, Yaven Creek, half an hour from Adelong and a million miles from nowhere.

His great-great grandfather took possession of a settlement lease in 1899. When “Billapallap”, a large holding in Yaven Creek was split up, one of his sons bought “Muronga” and it’s been in the family ever since.

Over successive generations, the property has been added to and subdivided. Today, the farming business comprises 2000 acres with a further 500 acres leased at Cootamundra.

The family lived and worked in Cootamundra for seven years, using the time to resolve family succession and bring the old “Muronga” homestead back into the 21st century.

Despite the occasional touch up, the 1930s building hadn’t been upgraded for 40 years.

While the renovations felt like they took forever, the family couldn’t be happier with the results.

Five walls were removed to make way for one big and bright room, showcasing Ange’s artworks as well as those from Australian artists such as Mitjili Napurrula and Minnie Pwerle.

Ange has been taking art classes with wellknown Tumut artist Jennifer Forster, who ran free art classes over several weeks for fire and COVID-19 affected people. Ange’s mother is artist Judy Spedding, who lives with husband Peter on “Corowood”, Grenfell.

The homestead is full of character. The kitchen bench support was salvaged from old cattle yards, a kitchen post from an old hayshed and pressed metal rescued from a derelict house.

“We are big fans of repurposing and putting life back into beautiful old pieces of timber,” Ange says.

The open plan has a great vibe and the kids love the space. It’s somewhere to enjoy the present and reflect on the past.

Matt is the eldest of four, attending Yanco Agricultural High School (like his father and grandfather) before gaining a Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Canberra.

His introduction to the workforce was as a stock and station agent in Wagga Wagga, and later Nowra, before joining a Sydney grain trading firm – one of the first companies to export wheat outside of the AWB. While working in The Rocks, he defied all odds and ran into Ange at a pub. They had met years earlier at university but this time a spark ignited between the grain trader and graphic designer.

After their 2002 marriage, the newlyweds lived on the farm before buying the historic Adelong Methodist Church in 2007.

Built from stone by Cornish miners in 1862, the church had been converted into a functioning home before a fire in the ceiling led to a basic rebuild from the floor up.

The fire that gutted the church was a precursor to an even bigger disaster in early 2020. The out-ofcontrol Dunns Road Fire jumped the containment line, thwarting the best efforts of all involved.

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THE FIRES DEVASTATED 90 PER CENT OF THE FARM, COMING WITHIN 100 METRES OF THE HOMESTEAD AND DEVOURING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH. NOW, MONTHS LATER, IT’S GREEN AND SERENE.

Matt was working in a bulldozer along with several other crews when the out-of-control fire engulfed them. Worse than any horror movie, he was stuck in a dozer for 20 minutes with zero visibility as the fire roared around him. The air conditioning stopped working in the intense heat and breathing was difficult.

“My initial response was to get out and run,” he admits, reliving the most terrifying experience of his life. Fortunately, he stayed put, maintaining contact with other crews caught in the inferno through UHF radio.

“The adrenaline really kicked in,” he says, shaking his head. “In the meantime, we’ve been so busy I haven’t really processed all that information – until maybe now.”

The fires devastated 90 per cent of the farm, coming within 100 metres of the homestead and devouring everything in its path. Now, months later, it’s green and serene.

“Before the fire, we had PTIC stud heifers on agistment from drought-affected Guyra. In a strange twist, our cattle are now up there,” Matt says.

The random acts of generosity and genuine concern have been overwhelming, especially from other farmers dealing with their own issues.

“We heard from an Illabo farmer that insisted we accept a load of hay. It turned out that in the 1990 Illabo fire, our family donated hay to fireaffected landholders and he was the recipient.”

It’s moments like these that Matt and Ange hold close to their hearts. In such challenging times, they’re glad to have three children to keep them occupied.

Sped has completed Year 9 at Snowy Mountains Grammar in Jindabyne, where he loves his footy, mountain biking and snow skiing. Hunter has finished Year 6 at Adelong Public School (where he was school captain) while Minnie prepares for Year 3.

Having attended school there himself in the early 1980s, Matt is thrilled to be the current president of the P&C committee.

Since the fires and COVID-19, Ange has stopped working from home and is now conducting her business in the church house, with regular trips into town for Hunter’s footy training and Minnie’s gymnastic classes.

Matt is kept busy running about 400 Angus cows. The family also back-ground Angus steers for a Queensland feedlot and trade cattle for the grass-fed slaughter market.

While his country was burning, Matt was meant to be in the US promoting Australian grass-fed beef at a conference. He hopes to be able to pick up the momentum again and continue promoting an industry he strongly believes in.

Now that the fires are becoming more of a memory, they can’t help but think about others who helped out when they most needed it.

“The fires were the most horrific thing we’ve been through but it revealed the best part of humanity,” Matt says. “And more importantly, to us at least, it strengthened our bonds within the tight-knit Yaven Creek and Snowy Valleys community.” RLM

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Matt and Ange Pearce with their children Sped, Hunter and Minnie in their revamped homestead; the church was built of stone by Cornish miners; the homestead’s main room where everything happens; inside the converted church.

ABOVE: Sped and Hunter love checking the cattle on their motorbikes; Matt and Ange with their Jack Russell, Perisher.

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Survival

SKILLS

The McMahon family lost so much during the devastating bushfires, but their incredible resilience and positivity have remained intact.

Driving along the winding road into McMahon farming land at Ellerslie, the fields are lush and green after one of the most promising autumns in years.

Angus cattle and prime lambs graze contentedly on country that’s just had two inches of soaking rain. Yaven Creek runs along the western edge of their 2200 acres of grazing country.

It’s hard imagining that just six months earlier the place looked like it had been hit by an atomic bomb.

In the aftermath, the family lost two homesteads, a woolshed, cattle and sheep yards and miles of fencing. About 95 per cent of their grazing country was scorched, with the devastating loss of 360 sheep and 10 cattle.

It was enough to bring even the toughest of characters to their knees. The McMahon families were the only ones in the Ellerslie district to lose their primary homes.

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For the past 12 years, Matt has worked for the Batlow Fruit Company as technical manager, similar to an agronomist, ensuring growers receive the best yield and quality from their fruit trees.

At the same time, he has been helping his parents Bob and Lorraine McMahon on the farm. As a family and over time, they’ve faced many obstacles. The 2020 fires, however, were in a league of their own.

The fires started on December 28, 2019, after a lightning strike on a private pine plantation adjoining the back of their property.

“Local RFS crews were out searching for the fire all that morning. Smoke from the Sydney fires that had been around for weeks made it difficult to pinpoint the fire’s exact location, until it was too late,” Matt says.

By the time they found it, the fire was well and truly ablaze. What became known as the Dunns Road Fire burnt all the way to Laurel Hill in the south in the first 48 hours. At the same time, it burnt into the National Park on the northern edge of the fire ground.

The family had been keeping a close watch for days as it worked its way through the park, largely unchecked. They defended their cousins’ home with six or seven tankers and half a dozen slipon units. It came under attack on three occasions but was well defended each time.

On January 4, their worst fears were realised.

“Dad and I had a good vantage point and thought we were well located to attend to any spot fires that might come out of the park under what was arguably one of the worst fire weather days in recent memory,” he says.

By chance, they were at the family home refilling with water when one of the spot fires caught up with them. They watched with horror as the old “Bahwidgee” homestead caught alight. It had been Matt’s parents’ home for 45 years.

“We just couldn’t get close enough to the flame, it was so hot,” Matt says.

There was no chance of defending his own house on “Boolgana Park” a few kilometres away. Matt had lived there with wife Jess

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for the past seven years, raising their four daughters, Kaitlen, 5, Emily, 4, Maddison, 2, and baby Alexandria.

By the time they got home there was nothing left.

“We consider ourselves lucky,” Jess says quietly. “We had a week to pack up photos, Christmas presents and all the kids’ favourite toys. During that time, we feared the worse but hoped for the best.”

For Matt and Jess, the ramifications of that fateful January day are still raw. This is their first in-depth interview with the media and reliving the most frightening time of their lives was never going to be easy.

Fortunately, they’ve moved into a brand-new home after six months in a private rental on a neighbouring farm.

“We were keen to move forward and get back into our own place,” Jess says. “Three days after the fire we got the ball rolling, dealing with insurances and the massive clean-up operation.”

Many random acts of kindness from complete strangers have touched their hearts.

Four beautiful hand-made quilts, one for each of the girls, were lovingly created by Margaret Seymour, whose husband John is the Mayor of Coolamon. Local woman Sue Henderson knitted four beautiful jumpers.

“We’ve been humbled by their generosity,” Matt says.

“Everyone’s been so kind, we are lost for words.”

Matt’s parents have moved to their house in town, while his brother Dave will take over part of the farm and build a new house later in the year.

The Batlow Fruit Company, where Matt continues to work, lost 10 per cent of their production.

“It will be another decade before the orchards are back into full production,” he says.

“The fires are nothing like a hailstorm, normally our biggest threat, which might wipe out an entire crop. That is only a oneyear loss. The fires affected the trees and that is going to take time to recover.

“Things will never be the same again but we are getting used to the new normal.” RLM

“WE CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY. WE HAD A WEEK TO PACK UP PHOTOS, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND ALL THE KIDS’ FAVOURITE TOYS.”

ABOVE: Matt and Jess McMahon were showered in kindness in the aftermath of the fires. The four girls – Maddison, baby Alexandria, Kaitlen and Emily are pictured in their new woollen jumpers and beautiful hand-made quilts; Jess and Matt McMahon with baby Alexandria are looking forward to a bright future in the cattle industry after the crippling fires.

FACING PAGE: Matt and Jess with their four gorgeous daughters stand proudly in front of their new home.

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LESSONS for life At Adelong Public School, knowledge is gold.

Adelong Public School Principal Peter Pilgrim says the school’s philosophy reflects the belief that ongoing learning has significant benefits academically, emotionally and socially.

The establishment of an educational facility in Adelong dates back to the 1860s.

The construction of the main and heritagelisted buildings on the current site of the school is documented to have occurred in the early 1920s.

Today, there are 63 pupils enrolled at the public school. They live within the Adelong township and the surrounding districts and rural properties. There are three full-time teachers, teaching principal, two learning support officers, two administration staff, a science and technology teacher, and a librarian.

The school’s heritage has been retained in building restorations that have taken place

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in recent years in the senior classrooms.

And there is a large playground including two sporting fields, cricket nets, basketball court and a covered outdoor learning area.

Along with literacy and numeracy, technology has become an important focus of learning at Adelong Public School.

“We have a large computer laboratory fitted out with modern technologies including laptops and desktops and the school has access to Wi-Fi in each classroom. Each of our classrooms also has an interactive whiteboard, which is linked directly to the internet to allow the teachers to be actively involved in multimedia,” Peter says.

“I also run the robotics program as part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) which includes coding, and our 3D printing is used in several of our key learning areas as well.”

From welcoming little “busy bees” who attend classrooms fortnightly in the two years prior to starting primary school, to the Year 5 and 6 students embarking on adventures as part of an annual ski trip or camping at Broken Bay, this inclusive rural school is leading the way with its educational focuses in the key learning areas of the curriculum and innovative approach to student wellbeing programs.

“With this year having such an emphasis on online learning, we have had a focus on cyber safety as part of our wellbeing program. The local police came to speak to the children about cyber bullying and with bushfires affecting so many of our families last summer, our school counsellor has been also guiding students and improving mental health,” Peter says.

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WITH THIS YEAR HAVING SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON ONLINE LEARNING, WE HAVE HAD A FOCUS ON CYBER SAFETY AS PART OF OUR WELLBEING PROGRAM.

“In the past, we have also had the police visit to help coordinate road safety activities and education and bike safety events.

“We have had a lot of success with our High Five anti-bullying program, in which students learn different strategies when they may find themselves being bullied, whether that may be at school, at home, or somewhere else.

“It is so important for us to be an inclusive school. We ensure that all students have the same opportunities. Even at our annual presentation evening, we ensure each child is celebrated in some way through an award.”

The school has an active Parents and Citizens Committee, which undertakes various fundraising initiatives and there is active involvement in community activities and events including the Adelong Show,

Anzac Day marches, NAIDOC Week and Education Week. Representative sporting opportunities and coaching is offered with football and soccer knockout carnivals, netball, PSSA small schools gala days and tennis, cricket and basketball.

Positive behaviour learning (PBL) and leadership programs are also a highlight, especially a new eco-warriors component, in which students focus on investigating environmental issues and exploring ways they can reduce their carbon footprint.

Adelong Public School is certainly promoting its “busy bees” and is excited to also welcome the littlest of the community in its unique form of transition program.

“We open our school to the children who will be starting school in the following two years to complete a fortnightly program, meeting teachers, seeing the facilities and

participating in learning programs. At the completion, we hold a graduation ceremony where they even wear little hats,” Peter says.

“They meet every teacher and it helps us to know more about the students’ different abilities before they are formally enrolled.

“It also puts parents at ease and allows families to really be part of the school community.” RLM Words: Rosie O’Keeffe

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Principal Peter Pilgrim and school Administrative Manager Rosann McCormick; Class 2/3/4 with School Learning Support Officer Louise Smith; Class K/1/2 with relieving teacher Mr Chris Till; Class 5/6 with their teacher Miss Veronica Thake.

FACING PAGE: The heritage-listed building where the primary classes and breakfast club are situated.

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BATLOW THE BRAVE Batlow’s determination to bounce back is bound to bear fruit.

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committed

TO THE CORE Fires and the pandemic have upset the applecart in Batlow, but the fruit industry is determined to regroup and rebuild.

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ABOUT 45,000 BINS OR 16,000 TONNES OF APPLES ARE PROCESSED IN THE FACTORY EACH YEAR. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Batlow apples are big business; picked apples; assessing the fire damage; the complex process of floating apples out of the bins, washing, polishing, waxing and then drying; bins awaiting delivery to the packhouse; CEO Pernell Hartley with his senior management team Jen Taylor, Sarah Hayward, Troy Stubbs and Stephen Miller; floating the fruit out of the bins minimises bruising and damage to the fruit; an old promotional sign advertising Batlow apples.

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The 2020 fires have been the biggest setback in nearly 100 years of apple growing in Batlow.

At least that’s the view of the Batlow Fruit Company’s general manager of operations, Pernell Hartley, who is guiding his workforce through uncharted waters.

The company draws workers from all over the world and is largely responsible for the town’s enviable reputation as the apple centre of mainland Australia.

Established as a co-op in 1922, it became a listed company in 2017. About 60 staff clean, sort and pack about 20,000 cartons of apples each week, bound for markets in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland.

New varieties like Rosy Glow, Pink Lady, Kanzi, Galaxy and Bravo have largely replaced the older varieties like Granny Smith and Red Delicious.

About 45,000 bins or 16,000 tonnes of apples are processed in the factory each year, the bountiful harvest coming from 15 to 20 local producers. Numbers have fallen dramatically since the 1980s and ’90s, when there were up to 75 growers.

The drought, fires and COVID -19 have all contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in 2020 production levels.

“It will take years to fully recover but we are confident we will overcome all obstacles and continue to be the town’s biggest employer,” Pernell says. “Without doubt, it’s the biggest setback we’ve had to face in the company’s 98-year history.”

He says that times have changed and many of the smaller farms are no longer viable.

“Many of our farmers have become older without the younger generations taking over.”

It’s not just that. The humble apple faces stiff competition on the international stage.

Today’s customers have never been faced with such a wide choice of fruit, most of it available all year round.

Fortunately, Batlow apples are recognised throughout Australia and overseas.

“Tasmania is also famous for its apples but the Batlow brand is number one,” says Pernell, who has learnt a lot about his local community in the past six months.

“Even in our darkest hour, Batlow’s unwavering community spirit kept us determined and our spirits high. It’s reflected by the Rural Fire Service and the local population assisting them in defending fires in the most perilous situation.” RLM Images: Roslyn Clare Photography and Jake Lindsay

ABOVE: Regional Orchard Manager Andrew Desprez inspecting apples prior to harvest.

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98 Mill Road, Batlow, NSW 2730

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kindness

ON TAP

As fires encroached on Batlow’s only hotel, publican Matt Rudd added new meaning to the word hospitality.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Batlow Hotel head chef Katrina Hargreaves with her offsiders Liam Lengronne and Rayleigh Gould; in a small outside dining area the Rudds were able to construct a wall made entirely from reclaimed timber from the defunct Mountain Made Cannery. The wall is a hotchpotch of old bins and structural timber from the site.

FACING PAGE: Batlow publicans Matt and Linda Rudd in the renovated front bar; the pub is the proverbial hub of the mountain town.

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Batlow Hotel publican Matt Rudd knew the fire was getting uncomfortably close when the nearby service station went up in flames.

“I was in the pub with my dogs anxiously watching the events unfold,” Matt says. His wife Linda had evacuated only a few hours earlier, while Matt stayed behind to help extinguish spot fires in areas surrounding the hotel as well as other homes around town.

“When the tree in the beer garden caught an ember and started to burn, I thought there was a good chance we’d lose the 100-year-old pub.

Being timber, it wouldn’t have taken much for it to catch alight,” he says.

The first round of fires saw the house next to the service station go up in flames. The servo was half saved but reignited the next day and was totally destroyed.

“I was worried about the gas bottles exploding, which they did multiple times, each time getting louder. It sounded like a war zone.”

But the pub not only survived, it stayed open during the inferno as a safe haven for locals.

Initially, there was no power but Matt still had cold beer in the fridges. For that first day and night he refused to accept payment for drinks and meals.

“It’s a small town. It was never going to break the bank,” he laughs.

The next day he installed generators, many borrowed from locals, and got the fridges going.

“A lot of our food was spoiling, so we decided to do a big cook-up with Trent Harvey from MasterChef, whose family own an orchard down the road. We gave him the challenge to cook in the kitchen and he performed admirably, cooking meals for over 60 locals throughout the night.”

The Rudds moved to Batlow 3½ years ago and have seen the very best of a small community working together in times of crisis.

“We were overseas, taking some time off, when COVID-19 hit Australia. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it back before the mandatory self-isolation period, so we had to stay with relatives for two weeks and try and run our business from there,” Linda says.

“By the time the isolation had ended, the pub was shut down. We had always had plans to renovate the bar and this seemed like the right time. Unsure of what was going to happen, the entire bar was stripped clean and started again. The results speak for themselves.”

Despite all they have been through, Matt and Linda consider themselves fortunate.

Due to the bushfires, clean-up crews started arriving in town while they were shut down.

“We were very lucky to be able to accommodate some of these workers, which helped with the finances,” Matt says. “We’re the only pub in town and we like to think of it as the heart and soul of Batlow.” RLM

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THE RUDDS MOVED TO BATLOW 3½ YEARS AGO AND HAVE SEEN THE VERY BEST OF A SMALL COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

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THE BATLOW HOTEL

Linda and Matt Rudd have owned the Batlow Hotel since October 2017.

In this time, we have done extensive renovations to all aspects of the Pub, with the Main Bar receiving the biggest makeover.

We offer nine comfortable, clean pub style rooms with a large TV/ Kitchenette area. Our Bistro serves a contemporary pub menu, focusing on seasonal, local produce. We also offer a large beer garden to enjoy any of our local ciders, regional wines or just an ice-cold beer.

There is off street parking as well as lockable shed areas for those travelers needing to secure their belongings overnight.

12 Pioneer St Batlow, NSW, Australia (02) 6949 1001 admin@thebatlowhotel.com www.thebatlowhotel.com @thenewbatlowhotel

Mouat’s Farm Our own apples, cherries, fresh crushed apple juice and homemade jams sold roadside. Other locally sourced produce also available.

Ready picked fruit available or pick your own apples and cherries in season.

Open 7 days (except Christmas Day)

M. 0427 491 519 or 0408 623 870 AH. (02) 6949 1519 4129 Batlow Road, Batlow 2730 102 RLM BATLOW

Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

the day the FLAMES CAME The fruits of their labour compel Greg and Kris Mouat to continue moving forward, but they will never forget the fury of the fires.

Orchardists Greg and Kris Mouat were understandably nervous when the Dunns Road Fire picked up intensity and hurtled towards Batlow. Their orchard was in the direct path of the out-of-control mother of all fires.

It was January 4, 2020, a day they will never forget. Nice and calmly, they had evacuated the day before, driving to son Tom’s home in Tumut with three cats, two chooks and two suitcases crammed with clothes, important documents and precious photos and belongings.

“Despite being half an hour away, we were in constant contact with what was happening, thanks to the Fires Near Us app and tuning into the fire scanners,” Greg says.

When father and son attempted to return a few days after the inferno had ripped through the district, they were stopped at a roadblock 18km from home. It was a testing time for all concerned and tempers were as hot as the smouldering countryside.

“We told the policeman we urgently needed to know what state our property and business were in. We really just wanted to know if we had a home to come back to. After some anxious moments, the kind-hearted authority showed some compassion by intentionally turning his back on us for a few moments.” > ABOVE: Orchardists Greg and Chris Mouat are back in business supplying apples from their roadside shop.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Batlow

PLENTY OF GOOD THINGS HAVE COME OUT OF THE FIRE, INCLUDING A SPECTACULAR NEW VIEW FROM THE OLD FAMILY HOMESTEAD. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The damage to infrastructure was devastating; burnt out machinery; Greg is optimistic about the future; the orchard has been in family hands for almost a century; Greg and Chris in front of their home that was miraculously spared.

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As they drove closer, they came across the remnants of their neighbours’ house. Greg immediately rang his wife and told her to pass on the heart-breaking news. Even thinking about it still upsets Kris, who says it was the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Their own home and roadside shop were spared but machinery and packing sheds were burnt to the ground, along with netting, irrigation lines, large stands of natural bushland and nearly 20 per cent of the orchard.

“After ploughing 34 years of blood, sweat and tears into this farm, it felt like someone had hit me in the back of the head with a piece of four-by-two,” Greg says, shaking his head. “Farming is hard enough at the best of times but losing infrastructure you’ve built up over a lifetime is a bitter pill to swallow.”

Wife Kris has been his rock through the darkest of times. The two met in the late 1970s at the Batlow Literary Institute’s drama club during her teaching days. Kris says there’s been no time to feel sorry for themselves. “You have to look for the positives, like the opportunity to replant and modernise the orchard, and not dwell on the negatives.”

Thankfully, the home Greg was raised in was still standing. He has lived on “Wyola” all of his 68 years, and remarkably, lived all those years in the one house.

Family folklore has it that his great grandfather met his wife on the ship taking him from Scotland to Kiama. When gold was discovered at Reedy Flat, the forerunner of Batlow, they made their way to the high country and stayed.

The 430-hectare orchard was bought by Greg’s father, Harry, in 1926. Like all good Mouat men, Harry chased gold for a while before concentrating his energies on clearing the land, raising cattle and growing fruit and vegetables.

“With the orchard, our biggest threat is hail, followed by droughts, birds and bats,” Greg says. “Due to our high rainfall (1300mm or about 52 inches), the odds of Batlow burning are fairly remote.”

The statistics didn’t help on this occasion. The fire has impacted the district in many ways – and in some industries will continue to do so for years to come – but six months on, the rebuild is happening. After months of reflection and hard work, insurances have been finalised, new plans put into place and new trees ordered.

“It was great getting recognition from the Government of the importance of our industry – not just to the local economy but to the country as a whole. It’s important to give the Government a huge tick on this. Personally, we were very happy to receive assistance in our rebuilding program.”

Plenty of good things have come out of the fire, including a spectacular new view from the old family homestead. A magnificent stand of pine trees once bordered the edge of their farm along the Batlow Road. They were burnt in the fire and removed, revealing for the first time in 70 years the spectacular mountain range in the background.

The farm has been in the Mouat family 94 years. The older generation are hoping one day one of their boys will come home and continue the family tradition. Richard is in the army, Sam is a service manager in Canada and Tom is a heavy plant operator in Tumut.

In the meantime, Greg and Kris are once more concentrating on growing cherries, berries and acres of the finest Gala, Kanzi, Delicious, Pink Lady, Fuji and Bravo apples. RLM

RIGHT, FROM TOP: The Mouat family are proud of their heritage in the Batlow orchard industry; Greg has been growing apples forever; cherries and apples ready for picking.

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a floral

VICTORY

Besotted by the beautiful waratah, Batlow’s Brian Fitzpatrick has made a career of breeding and growing them.

Brian Fitzpatrick loves growing waratahs so much he moved to Batlow at the foot of the Snowy Mountains.

In his travels, he’d seen plenty of them flourishing in local gardens and was keen to do the same, albeit on a much larger scale.

His love affair with waratahs started in Windsor about 30 years ago when a team from Sydney University discovered a white waratah growing near Mittagong.

Brian was able to propagate from that plant, which led to a lifelong interest in breeding new colours, including creams, yellows, pinks and salmon apricot shades.

At the same time, he struck a friendship with the famous Tasmanian grower Essie Huxley, who had a rare yellow Tasmanian waratah growing in her garden. This only further encouraged his commitment.

“By their very nature, they are not easy to grow,” he admits from his home, set close to rows of his favourite flower. “They grow well in deep, well-drained soils in the Blue

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Mountains, the Southern Highlands and the Central Coast and, of course, Batlow.”

With help from his father and four siblings, a commercial flower farm, Waratah Australis, was established on the edge of town, featuring our state emblem.

Now in his late 60s, Brian is recognised as the leading waratah breeder in the country, with no less than five coloured varieties on the market. His latest offering, Essie’s Gift, a floriferous pink, is probably the most famous of them all.

He bred it by crossing one of Essie’s waratahs with a NSW variety. It’s serious business. The rights have been licensed to a French grower and to growers throughout most of Australia.

Brian now has close to 1000 plants or two acres of waratahs. Each year, he cuts thousands of blooms. Family and casual staff all pitch in during harvest, which commences in late October and lasts for several weeks.

Compared to most flowers, the big stems of the waratah can be quite cumbersome to cut.

The hard yards are worth it. The waratah is one flower that never fails to impress.

The bulk of his waratahs are trucked to Sydney’s Flemington Markets, with the rest sold at local markets or to florists in Tumut and Wagga Wagga.

Waratahs have played a big part in the life of Brian. He worked on a waratah farm in the Blue Mountains for seven years, propagating the plants and selecting the varieties among the seedlings for superior characteristics.

“In 30 years of quiet dedication, it’s only in recent times I’ve started to show a decent return,” he says. “The royalties are finally starting to come in and my product is now in Europe. It all helps.”

To support himself, Brian spent 14 years working at a Tumbarumba mill while growing other flowers like peonies, David Austin roses and pineapple lilies.

Growing flowers is always a tough game and the recent fires didn’t help. In a matter of hours, the fires destroyed nearly 300 waratahs and about 200 English lavender plants, along with irrigation and 10 acres of pasture.

“Among the plants I lost was a new yellow variety that will set me back another few years,” he says, choosing his words carefully. “I was naturally devastated but compared to others I got off lightly.”

Having lived in Batlow for 15 years, this perennial green thumb is still passionate about developing new varieties of his favourite flower.

Next time you glance at your licence, check out our state emblem and think of Brian from Batlow – a man who has no greater love than for a good waratah. RLM CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Stunning waratahs; Brian Fitzpatrick loves selling waratahs at local markets; various waratah colours.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: A fresh bunch of waratahs; Brian checks young plants in his greenhouse.

T O W N F E AT U R E Batlow

will

POWER Ralph and Judy Wilson are rebuilding their orchard enterprise from the ground up.

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Ralph and Judy Wilson from Wilgro Orchards, Batlow, have been doing their bit to feed the nation for decades.

Although they know the country as well as anyone, nothing could have prepared them for the events of January 4, 2020.

With severe fire warnings in place, they had been evacuated the day earlier after police knocked on the front door of every house and ordered everybody out.

“The roads in and out of Batlow are all tree-lined and the authorities felt if people stayed home they would be putting not only their lives at risk but the lives of those tasked with saving them,” Ralph says.

With heavy hearts, they packed their bags for Wagga Wagga, knowing the horrendous forecast had the fires heading their way.

“We’d been told the worst possible news. Batlow could no longer be defended. All we could do was follow the radio scanner on the internet and listen to the firies on their two-way radio,” he says.

“While they didn’t tell us what was going on in our place, we knew what was happening in the general area. Another app, Fires Near Us, offered some indication of what to expect.”

What really had them sitting on the edge of their seats was when they heard the local fire captain screaming over the scanner: “Get over here. The fire is only 50 metres from the Wilson house.”

“We obviously couldn’t see a thing. You had to visualise. It was almost like being in a horror movie,” Judy continues.

“We could hear the firies pleading for increased air support, heavy equipment and manpower, but there was nothing more to offer.

“Next thing we heard, the water tankers had run dry, just before the fire careered towards Tumbarumba. And that was the last thing we heard from our area.”

Before evacuating, Ralph and Judy had placed a camera on their house and saw the wall of flames approaching before the vision suddenly cut out. They assumed the worst but prayed for a miracle.

It was five long days before they were allowed to return home. By then, they knew their fruit shop had been spared but not the home next to it.

Finally a brigade captain from Lockhart informed them he was going to take all the back roads to reach Batlow. The country was blackened with fallen trees strewn over their path. Then they came to the recently built home of long-time helper Rachel Galvin.

Surrounded by bush on two sides, it was somehow spared.

A little bit further on they came across their own home. The fire had come up to within metres of the back door but the firies had managed to save it.

There was a collective sigh of relief until a heartbreaking inspection of the orchard revealed the true extent of the damage.

“All the sheds were burnt and everything contaminated. We had to dump 5000 litres of cider and 7000 litres of vinegar. Another shed housed 700 wooden bins, machinery and equipment – all reduced to a smouldering mess,” Ralph says.

On a wider scale, a dozen of the 17 homes in the immediate vicinity were burnt to the ground.

“We were naturally devastated but others were considerably worse off. One neighbour lost 1000 head of livestock, mainly sheep,” he says.

“At one stage, we had our neighbours’ cattle in the orchard – not a good mix, so getting the fencing in order was a main priority.”

BlazeAid was stationed in Adelong and the Wilsons were the first family to receive help, barely 10 days after the fire.

“We had a BlazeAid girl come from San Francisco,” Judy says.

“She was a commercial banker, helping us for 10 days during her annual holiday. We will never forget her generosity of spirit.”

As well as the fencing, the fire destroyed more than six kilometres of irrigation piping, leaving 19,000 fruit trees desperate for a drink.

Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

“ALL THE SHEDS WERE BURNT AND EVERYTHING CONTAMINATED.” The family lost five per cent of their trees, while a further 20 per cent lost their fruit but are showing signs of recovery.

“We’ll never get back to where we were previously. Even if we invested heavily, it would still take us 10 years,” Ralph says.

“At our age, we aim to consolidate and concentrate on improving what we have rather than replacing what we’ve lost.

“While we consider ourselves fortunate to have both our shop and home, losing 40 years of infrastructure can still get to you.”

Judy admits that with their cool climate they never anticipated a fire – and certainly not one of the magnitude that engulfed their neck of the woods.

“We’re thankful to still be here, still working and concentrating on our future,” she says.

Thankfully, they had insurance and received various government grants but money isn’t the issue, it’s near impossible to find skilled labour. Then COVID-19 entered their world.

“I say to customers in the shop that 2020 is a year I’d rather forget but I know I can’t,” Judy says.

“Everybody wants to know about what we’ve been through.

Talking to all these strangers has been therapeutic for us and a great form of counselling.

“It’s important that people care, are asking questions and still supporting us.” RLM ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Rachel Gavin with home-made Wilgro pie and cider; it’s been a horrendous year but these three optimists believe there are good opportunities in the orchard business; Wilgro in snow; Ralph and Judy Wilson in their roadside stall.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Apples have always been the mainstay of the Wilson family business; passing trade is vital for a healthy bottom line.

Mountain grown - Famous for Flavour

Our cellar door and roadside stall is open most of the year, except late Winter.

Traditional hand crafted Apple Cider is made at our orchard from our apples.

Apples | Cherries | Cider | Vinegars Berries | Nuts | Pies | Juices & more 4065-4066 Batlow Road, Batlow NSW 2730

www.wilgroorchards.com.au

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T O W N F E AT U R E Batlow

PET PROJECTS There is never a dull moment in the lives of Tony and Lorene Cross, thanks to a crazy collection of rescue animals and a burgeoning cider enterprise.

Tony and Lorene Cross love all creatures great and small. Visitors to their 55-acre property “Wintergreen”, Kunama, a scenic 10-minute drive from Batlow, are greeted by an eclectic mix of farm animals.

“I love all animals with two or four legs and will take them on if I have room,” insists Lorene, the queen of her animal kingdom.

The big stars of the show are Houdini, Sadeek and Gobi, the much-loved camels that came direct from the desert as babies.

Then there’s Jimmy, the proud Scottish Highlander, Bentley, the feminine Jersey saved from the butcher’s knife, and Oreo, the Belted Galloway orphaned as a calf.

The two miniature donkeys, Roger and Marshmallow, love getting into mischief, while their bigger cousins Reggie and Ruby (unwanted pets) and alpacas Chino and Ollie are continually on the hunt for treats.

Every animal has a story, like Graham the Goose, who lost his mate to a fox, or Midnight, the miniature Shetland that could barely walk but is now fully recovered and looking for a new home.

Welcome to the SMART Animal Sanctuary, where everyone lives in one big, happy family.

The real champions of this magic menagerie are the cats and dogs that generate an income.

Tony and Lorene recently built a new state-ofthe-art isolation unit cattery and kennels.

A dozen dogs and several dozen cats are on the books, all micro-chipped, desexed, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and vet checked. All are looking for new owners after being rescued from pounds throughout regional NSW. “We have no government or RSPCA funding. The business is kept afloat by fundraising and adoption fees,” Lorene says. >

LEFT, FROM TOP: Tony and Lorene Cross both have a strong affinity with animals; the camels are a big hit with visitors at the SMART Animal Sanctuary.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tony shares a moment with Midnight; chooks of all colours; Lorene with her donkeys; the barnyard is full of chooks, ducks and goats; Jimmy the Highlander; Bentley the Jersey cow and Oreo the Belted Galloway.

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Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

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THE CIDER IS SOLD LOCALLY TO WINERIES, HOTELS, CAFES AND INFORMATION CENTRES. Having so many animals proved a nightmare in the January fires, the first in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. “There was plenty of help and, by gosh, we needed it,” Tony says. The fire was converging on three sides of the property and 90 per cent of the animals were evacuated.

The donkeys took off while the camels sat down and refused to budge. Anything else was mustered into the house paddock.

A second fire, a few days later, caught them off guard. This time they were on their own.

All the fire crews, to the last man, were protecting Batlow.

Tony and Lorene relied on support from their children, Floyd and Tessa, and with two water carts managed to extinguish the spot fires. Miraculously, the orchard, sheds and home were spared and no animals perished.

To help pay for the huge food bill racked up by their star recruits – including 400 small bales and three tonnes of cat and dog tucker each year – Tony manages an orchard a few miles down the road while Lorene works on expanding the sanctuary.

You’d think there was little time for much else but Tony is also a gifted and committed maker of premium cider, starting his cider affair a decade ago after seeing wasted fruit on the ground at harvest.

In the early days, he started making cider for personal use but somewhere along the way ignited a passion that grows stronger each year.

When they moved to “Wintergreen” in 2015, he was quick to plant one hectare of English and French varieties of apples.

Much to the consternation of his children, he converted their former teenage party shed into a small cidery and cellar door.

By then he’d studied in England for three weeks under Peter Mitchell, the internationally acclaimed cider guru. He is currently producing about 5000 litres of his own Crafty Cider but expects to triple this in the next few years as the orchard swings into full production.

The cider is sold locally to wineries, hotels, cafes and information centres. Tony has six unique styles of cider for you to taste and is working on a seventh. Their non-

alcoholic cider is a totally refreshing drink and one of his most popular requests.

Next time you are looking for a new family pet, make sure you visit the SMART Animal Sanctuary. At the same time, you can throw a case of fresh cider in your boot and keep everyone happy. RLM

ABOVE: Tony Cross is a passionate and dedicated cider maker at the small cidery and cellar door.

Handmade. t h e way c i d e r was i n t e n d e d to b e .

C r a f t y C i d e r i s c re a t e d f ro m o n ly t h e ve r y b e s t h a n d - p i c ke d i n g re d i e n t s , r i g h t i n t h e h e a r t o f A u s t r a l i a ’s a p p l e co u n t r y.

Co m e a n d v i s i t o n t h e we e ke n d fo r f re e t a s t i n g a n d s e e o u r wo n d e r f u l co l l e c t i o n o f f a r m a n i m a l s w h i l e yo u ’ re h e re .

CELL AR D O OR: W e e k e n d s 1 1 a m to 4 p m ot h e rw i s e by a p p o i n t m e n t phone: 0429 82 3 375 3 5 P O ST H U M E RS ROA D, KU NA M A , V I A BAT L OW NSW 2 7 3 0

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w w w.c r a f t yc i d e r .c o m . au

Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

BE OUR GUEST

At the core of Batlow’s Apple Inn is good old country hospitality.

The rolling hills of Batlow are famous for apples, and lots of them.

With more than 50 growers in the district, Batlow produces more than a million cases of apples each year.

And a testament to the huge role the humble apple has played in the local economy for more than 120 years, the tiny township’s main landmark is the “Big Apple”.

So, it’s little wonder that there’s a motel in Batlow called The Apple Inn. It’s owned by Sachin Arora and Yeti Gupta, who were drawn to the area for its mountainous, peaceful landscape.

Sachin says it fondly reminds him of a place in India where he spent much of his childhood.

“We saw an advertisement for the business online and we were looking in this region as we love the mountain area.”

Five years since investing in The Apple Inn, Sachin who lives in Sydney and manages the business remotely, is so taken

by Batlow that he plans to one day retire to the area and continue running the business.

“Definitely, when my kids are independent, I will retire in the quiet environment and run the motel.”

Sachin and Yeti are committed to making regular improvements to the motel and in recent times have renovated bathrooms, added a new outdoor barbecue area and upgraded security from a key system to digital locking.

WELL WITHIN REACH OF MAJOR CENTRES SUCH AS SYDNEY, WAGGA AND CANBERRA, THE APPLE INN OFFERS 12 COSY AND QUIET ROOMS.

“Wherever we can, we are always upgrading. We constantly look at guest feedback and try to implement the suggested changes to make their stay comfortable.”

Well within reach of major centres such as Sydney, Wagga and Canberra, The Apple Inn offers 12 cosy and quiet rooms.

Close to the RSL Club and IGA supermarket, it’s a tranquil and secluded property with easy access to sightseeing opportunities in and around town.

Sachin says COVID-19 and the subsequent travel restrictions have meant business has been slow of late but with surrounding areas undergoing bushfire recovery work there’s been some relief as the motel is an ideal place to stay for people working on those projects.

“If those people were not there then the business is badly affected,” he says. RLM Words: Jo McKinnon

ABOVE: Rooms at the Batlow Apple Inn are comfortable, clean and quiet, with the RSL Club next door.

IDEALLY LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE PICTURESQUE TUMUT VALLEY AND THE COOL CLIMATE WINE REGION OF TUMBARUMBA

Bikies welcome 10% discount on group bookings

1 Tumbarumba Road Batlow NSW 2730

Free Wi-Fi BBQ facilities

02 6949 1342 • 0490 677 164 Modern, affordable, comfortable motel in Batlow

...where we treat you like family!

reception@appleinn.com.au www.theappleinn.com.au

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T O W N F E AT U R E Batlow

blueberry bliss Brad Weintraub found his thrill on Laurel Hill, where he welcomes visitors to his picture-perfect blueberry farm.

Tucked away among magnificent pine and native mountain ash forests in the village of Laurel Hill between Batlow and Tumbarumba is a beautiful lifestyle property and blueberry farm.

It was 18 months ago that former Sydneysider Brad Weintraub realised his dream of living in this region, having first experienced the beauty of the scenic landscapes several years earlier. And, in 2018, he discovered the perfect small acreage property bordered by a traditional white post and rail fence to provide a new business and lifestyle opportunity.

As he prepares to saddle his stallion, bred from famous American quarter horse Acres Destiny and with his two cattle dogs by his side, Brad explains his tree change to the Snowy Valleys region after having spent a quarter of a century managing a busy photo lab in the bustling Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

“I had run my business in Double Bay for 25 years, and certainly dealt with some famous and well-known personalities, but the industry has changed now with the popularity of smartphones. It has also meant people are viewing their photos differently,” Brad says.

“It was time to explore the possibilities to change my lifestyle and seek a business prospect here in the country.”

Brad grew up in Sydney and eventually spent time living in the US, in Colorado, Vermont and California, where he explored his passion for resort and ski photography, before eventually taking over the photographic lab business in 1992 after his father died.

Interestingly, the two hectares of gardens and surrounding forests at his new property, Laurel Hill Berry Farm, spark memories of his life in America, from the sugar pines nearby, the conifers and sycamore trees next to the house, the snow that falls in the winter months, and the abundance of blueberry bushes that originated in North America.

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“I like the idea of being surrounded by bushland and the forests.

The altitude here means a slightly cooler climate, which makes it pleasant too,” Brad says.

“There’s so much diversification possible within the property, from the beautiful English-style formal gardens to the 70-squaremetre pavilion area, which provides a fantastic space for entertaining various groups. And the nearby Sugar Pine Walk is perfect for photographic opportunities. I really want to be able to share my property with others, so I am now taking inquiries for small weddings, functions and gatherings.”

It’s not the first time that social events would have been held on the property. It was once home to a hotel that serviced the neighbouring mill, and the history books state that the Cobb & Co delivery service workers used to camp in the coachmen’s quarters in challenging weather conditions. Historic photographs show a circus elephant travelling with a troupe stopping by.

Nowadays, Brad says wild brumbies are often spotted galloping through the paddocks.

And, around 900 blueberry bushes, believed to have been planted more than 30 years ago, annually produce more than three tonnes of deliciousness on this boutique blueberry farm.

Brad regularly travelled to the Canberra regional markets to sell punnets this year, and he is also now offering visitors the opportunity for a “pick your own” experience.

“The quality and the taste (of the blueberries) is amazing, but I’ve been focusing on also pruning the bushes more this year to make them even bigger and better. I pump all the water for irrigation from a nearby spring-fed creek, and I don’t use any herbicides or pesticides,” he says.

“I think the cooler temperature, being 1050 metres above sea level, and high rainfall add to the very high quality of the berries, quite possibly the best in Australia.”

Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

Brad has already welcomed some touring groups, school children and photography enthusiasts to sample the blueberries and even taste some blueberry pancakes.

“I really do enjoy the diversification I have and I am looking forward to sharing my beautiful property with other groups for tours and special events.”

After this article was written, (scheduled for an earlier edition just prior to the fires), Lifestyle dropped in for a progress report.

The 2020 fires were far too close for comfort. Sadly, two of Brad’s neighbours lost their homes. Brad’s house was spared but he lost an old barn used for storing hay for his horses, a pump house by the creek and gardening equipment. Althought the sugarpines were destoyed, the Pilot Hill Arboretum survived and will fill the void left by the iconic sugarpines.

He also lost all his pines and conifers, the basis of his garden.

The lavender did not survive and the century-old laurel tree, the oldest in the district, barely stood a chance.

Fortunately, Brad’s horses survived the inferno, thanks to a caring neighbour who fed and watered them during the height of the blaze.

“The last berry season was a write-off due to the fires. Once the nets were destroyed, the birds had a feast as there was little else to eat,” Brad says.

Following a good season, Brad is anticipating a highly productive 2021 and looks forward to your patronage. RLM

BATLOW 16.8km

22km

PICK YOUR OWN BLUEBERRIES (Jan-March) By appointment

Laurel Hill Berry Farm TUMBARUMBA

• Weddings • Functions • Parties • Receptions Complete packages or venue booking only

Words: Rosie O’Keeffe Images: Brad Weintraub, Peter McDade

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP LEFT: Views of the garden prior to the fires; blueberries ripening.

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Brad with his beloved cattle dogs Buddy and Yabby; Brad’s garden was damaged by the fires but he has replanted many trees and shrubs and opened his garden to the general public in the 2020 Spring Flower Festival; devastation after the fire.

2150 Batlow Road, Laurel Hill, NSW, 2649 Call Brad 0400 365 147 | bradleyweintraub@yahoo.com.au

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fresh OUTLOOK The Batlow fires may have momentarily stifled Kate Tainio’s dreams but the former Sydney businesswoman is already planning a grand resurgence.

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Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

Named after a Star Wars planet, Kate Tainio’s Endor Forest Retreat is a few miles out of Batlow on what is typically a scenic and tranquil mountainside.

The fires changed all that – for a while, at least. One day they will be a distant memory but right now Kate’s emotions are still raw despite her positive outlook.

After 20 years working in the motor and novated leasing industry, she’d bought her five-acre block a decade ago as a place to escape.

“I was frazzled and burnt out from the pressures of city living,” she admits. The fresh mountain air and abundant wildlife gave her a new lease of life.

Over time, Kate fell in love with the tight-knit Batlow community and moved there three years ago. By then, she figured that if she loved it, others would too. That’s when her forest camping adventures were born.

With the development of the Tumbarumba Rail Trail, Kate knew she was suitably located to capitalise on the increased tourism coming into town. Her new-found resolve was severely tested on January 4, 2020, the blackest day in Batlow’s history.

Two days earlier, Kate and her family evacuated from their Batlow home to Tumut, praying their beautiful little mountain town would be spared. It was a long and agonising week before they were allowed back.

“We expected the worst and returned to our forest camp with heavy hearts,” she says. No longer standing were four forest camping decks, along with their bush crafted decorations, bush dunny, birdwatching decks and camp amenities.

They were relieved to find the rustic country cabin was miraculously spared. Sadly, the same couldn’t be said for the native wildlife population. On the hill where the cabin sits, the fire descended on two fronts, trapping wildlife at the foot of the valley.

“I was advised by a local Wildlife Warrior, for my own sanity, not to go down there. We used to have sambar deer, grey kangaroos, black wallabies and even brumbies. No one is sure whether an elusive yowie, last sighted over the hill from here in 1936, survived the blaze,” she adds, while surveying the charred remains of her once pristine block.

“We are grateful the wombats, echidnas and birds were spared.

The lyre and bower birds have returned along with gang-gang cockatoos and other native species.”

The army were the first ones in, cutting down any dangerous trees. From the blackened country springs hope. Six months after the fires the trees are still black but some now at least have green shoots.

Over the next few months, Kate will erect two tiny houses, similar to mini solar-powered chalets with outdoor showers and a communal camp kitchen. No doubt, they will become popular with bike riders going for a spin around Batlow and Tumbarumba.

“Once we’ve moved on from the pandemic, we expect to be run off our feet,” she says with an optimistic grin.

“We will be a ride-in-ride-out COVID-safe business offering an off-grid experience. We will cater for a maximum of four adults, so we’re obviously not big on numbers. For us, it’s more about our guests having an unforgettable high-country adventure that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”

Like many small businesses in the area impacted by the fires, Kate received a welcome grant to help get her back on her feet.

“With fencing now completed, we can at last plant our inoculated stone pine, oak and hazelnut trees to establish truffle production,” she says. “We’re rather excited about other new opportunities in the pipeline for Batlow and the Snowy Valleys region. It is such a beautiful place to visit.”

Despite a few setbacks, Kate is confident of a bright future for both her business and the area she fondly calls home. RLM

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: New growth on burnt-out trees; Kate Tainio in her rustic cabin; inside one of her modern tents; Kate on the balcony of her cabin, a few months after the fires; the cabin thankfully survived the inferno.

ABOVE, FROM TOP: New glamping tents are up and running; the remains of Kate’s glamping business after the fire.

Just For Now @ Endor Endor is an Alpine forest camp in the picturesque Snowy Valley’s town of Batlow, offering unique off-grid camping experiences for adventure seekers.

A scenic twenty five minute drive to the Tumbarumba – Rosewood Rail Trail, Endor is the perfect mountain hideaway to map out your day.

• OPENING IN TIME FOR THE 2020 SUMMER SEASON • BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Bookings (ONLINE ONLY) hipcamp.com Enquiries info@jfnendor.com.au

www.jfnendor.com.au

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T O W N F E AT U R E Batlow

TOTAL RECALL Batlow’s Fred Fairlie looks back on a long and colourful life with extraordinary clarity.

On September 6, 1934, it snowed in Batlow. It was Fred Fairlie’s birthday, and as a four-year-old boy he was delighted to see his home garden in Nelis Street awash with white. As he peered out the window, he saw his 16-year-old cousin. She pointed and was calling out to him about the little snowman she had just made.

Turning to the fence, Fred soon saw it; a little white man sitting on the post, in all his icy wonder. It’s a happy memory, and for this 90-year-old Batlow local, it is his first memory in a very long list.

Fred’s father, David, first worked at Kobson’s Mill when he came to Batlow from Newtown in 1917. The mill produced 12-foot boat oars used in life-saving boats, and at the time, was the only manufacturer of boat oars in the southern hemisphere. David eventually was employed by Brown’s timber mill and along with Fred’s mother, Emily (nee Bingo), lived in accommodation provided by the mill some seven kilometres from the town.

In typical pioneer style, wood was the only source of heat and kerosene lamps were used for lighting. Times were tough. His mum came from a privileged life in Penzance, England, and Fred believes she may have struggled a little with the drop in living standards. Perhaps she may never have left England had she imagined the lifestyle shift ahead of her.

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Arriving in Kunama, NSW, in 1922, Fred’s maternal grandfather took up a soldier’s settlement on which to grow fruit, but the climate wasn’t suitable due to the frosts. Before too long, Fred’s mother ended up with her family in the fruitgrowing town of Batlow.

Like most women raising families in the depression, she made do by warming the beds with bricks left by the hob on snowy nights and making under garments from calico bags.

“People talk about the virus now but in those days there was no back-up from the government. There was no such thing as the dole.”

With a lack of work throughout the depression, Fred recalls the abject poverty in the district. Those lucky enough to get work were usually subject to mostly heavy labour occupations like road building. Crushed rock would be spread on the ground and then taking a large sledgehammer-like tool, called a napping hammer, the men would bash the rock into the ground to form a hard cobblestone-type surface. It was hard going but it provided a decent surface. Fred claims that remnants of the old roads can still be seen today in nearby bushland.

Batlow T O W N F E AT U R E

Survival was a key focus in the 1930s and childbirth was a precarious time for women, given the lack of supplies and often long distances to the nearest medic. Fred’s mother lost her two youngest, twin boys, as they needed attention at birth and the nearest doctor was 40km away. Fred’s mother never discussed this tragedy with him.

“It was just part of life in those days. You couldn’t stand around crying about something that had happened that you couldn’t rectify. You had to get on with life.”

Despite hard times, Fred recalls that he and his brother and two sisters were all quite happy.

Fishing and trapping rabbits occupied a lot of his time. Even today, Fred can talk at length on the art of fishing. His enthusiasm is evident.

“The fishing was fantastic. We used to really look after our waterways and fish stocks and the shooting was there to be had.

You’d go out with two packets of bullets, 50 bullets in each pack, and come home with 70 rabbits. You didn’t take any shots you thought you might miss.”

In the 1940s, Fred noticed the difference as the country came out of the depression. Suddenly, living standards improved. Clothes, food, transport and entertainment were all more available.

Leaving school in 1945, Fred first worked at the local wood mill as a saw doctor and earned, by today’s equivalent, a total of $1.95 for a 44-hour week. Though he stayed in this occupation for the next three years, eventually, the low wage had him searching for something else.

First, he worked as a fruit packer but as it was only seasonal, he eventually sought financial stability and worked at the local Mountain Maid cannery. This is where he met his future wife, Joan Johnson, who also worked there.

In 1952, Joan and Fred married. It was an early wedding as they had to catch a train at Gilmore by 2.30pm for their 18-hour-long trip to Sydney for their honeymoon.

Over the coming years, Fred and Joan would go on to have two boys, Bruce and Michael.

Fred set about building his family a house. However, supplies were slim after the war and this caused considerable delays. Iron was scarce and the roofing nails took a whole winter to finally arrive from Japan. However, with the assistance of his two brothers-in-law, one a carpenter and one a bricklayer, and his electrician brother, eventually the house was complete.

“I had to help my brothers-in-law make the equivalent of 30,000 house bricks, after work at night, to repay them for their service.”

In 1954, after a dispute with a work colleague, Fred left the cannery and became business partners with a man by the name of Bob Duffel, in a tree-felling business.

Fred and Bob had one day’s work left to go before the Christmas break. They had made very good returns that year and the two families were about to go on holidays to the beach. As sunset approached, Fred began packing the tools into the car. Bob announced that he would have one last try at bringing down a stubborn tree, by felling a smaller one onto it.

Fred heard the smaller tree fall as he walked back towards the work vehicle. However, the familiar sound was followed by an odd silence. Returning to the site, Fred made a terrible discovery. A part of the smaller tree had snapped off and fallen awkwardly from 10 metres above. It was rotten due to white ants.

There was little Fred could do. Bob was already gone.

“There wasn’t a grave digger available the day that Bob was to be buried. My brother-in-law, Arthur Lee, and I dug his grave by hand, pick and shovel. We finished a few hours before his funeral.”

As a single father, Bob had left behind five children. The three eldest secured a place to live and work, leaving Bob’s two youngest girls who were raised by Fred and Joan, and Fred’s sister and brother in-law, over the next few years, until relatives collected them.

Soon after Bob’s death, Fred commenced work at a local grocery store. He stayed there for the next 27 years.

“In those days, you needed to write the docket and collect up the groceries for people. You needed to remember butter was one and six, sugar was a shilling a pound, eggs were five shilling a dozen. You had to remember hundreds of items, write it on the docket and add it up.”

Leaving the grocery store in 1980, Fred returned to the cannery, retiring in 1995 to travel with his wife and to enjoy his days fishing.

Sadly, Joan died on November 30, 2019. Having been her carer for four years, Fred’s life was to change again. However, not quite as Fred had expected.

Still recovering from his wife’s death, Fred decided to take a holiday to Bermagui with his family over the 2019 Christmas break.

It would be a nice chance to catch up with family and to reflect.

However, Bermagui was next in line for the devastating fires that had been ravaging much of the state. Stuck in the area with no way home, Fred and his family camped in their car not far from Cobargo, which was then also left in a state of devastation.

Eventually, taking the long way home, though Canberra, Fred felt relieved to arrive back in his Batlow home. But this relief was short lived.

“I no sooner threw my port on my bed when a message came through the wireless to evacuate the town. We lost numerous amounts of orchard and we were burnt out from Batlow to Mount Selwyn.”

With these recent events behind him, Fred looks forward to each day. With firewood to cut, gardens to tend and lawns to mow, Fred is seldom bored. Reflecting on a life of trials and tribulations, he’s still a keen advocate for his hometown.

“The air is clean. The water is pure. The climate is great.”

A born and bred local, Fred’s joy is derived from the simple pleasures that come with a Batlow lifestyle. Perhaps this is why, at age 90, he’s fit, up to date on the world’s current affairs and still up for a long chat. RLM Words: Catherine Player Images: Peter McDade

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Michael, Fred, Bruce and Joan; a large Yellow Belly caught in Blowering Dam; when Batlow firefighters took out the Tumut Shire Fire Fighters Shield in 1966 .

FACING PAGE: Fred Fairlie, exactly two months prior to his 90th birthday; at almost 90 Fred still cutts his own firewood.

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HIDDEN GEM

Tumbarumba is a classic cool-climate country town with assets aplenty.

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TOP

drops

Raise your glass to the talent and tenacity of Tumbarumba’s grape growers and winemakers.

Tumbarumba. The name rolls off the tongue as smoothly as the wine goes down.

This hidden gem of the Australian wine industry sits high on the rolling western slopes of the Snowy Mountains where the vineyards cascade down hillsides to drain the cold air in spring, and catch the sun-drenched afternoons in summer and autumn.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the rising stars first grown at Tumbarumba because its climate has uncanny similarities to the great French region of Burgundy, a fact uncovered by pioneering grape grower Juliet Cullen some 40 years ago.

“The temperature graphs of Dijon and Tumbarumba have an amazing similarity,” Juliet says. “And from our first vintage, the wines have won the hearts of wine drinkers and the minds of wine judges.”

The Tumbarumba wine region is in a rebuilding phase following the fires that burnt five vineyards and impacted every grape grower.

“One of the best ways to help us this year is to support Tumbarumba labels that underpin our industry, and there are plenty to find online, in restaurants and good wine shops.”

From locally based Obsession, Johansen, Coppabella, Mount Tumbarumba Vineyard and Courabyra, to companies such as Hungerford Hill, Penfolds and

McWilliams, who have long supported Tumbarumba, there are some stunning wines just waiting to be discovered.

There is an interesting connection between the Tumbarumba grape growers and Canberra winemakers. Alex McKay from Collector Wines has been making Tumbarumba Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for over 20 years, first with Hardys, then his own Collector label, that have won accolades from wine lovers and wine reviewers. This has expanded into a strong partnership that now sees some great Tumbarumba wines under labels such as Eden Road, Kosciuszko and Clonakilla, to name just a few.

It’s not just Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that have wine drinkers sitting up and taking notice. The region produces great cool climate varieties such as Pinot Gris from Tumbarumba Wine Escape, Riesling from Mount Tumbarumba Vineyard, Gamay and Sauvignon Blanc from Johansens, and Grüner Veltliner from Courabyra Wines.

Following the recent bushfires, the Tumbarumba grape growers, along with their winemaking Canberra colleagues Bill Mason from Kosciuszko Wines and Alex McKay, decided to do something positive and send a collection of over 30 wines to the leading international wine writer Jancis Robinson in the UK.

Her praise was glowing. “The best of these Tumbarumba Chardonnays were just right: whistle-clean, well-constructed and packed full of interesting, savoury flavour. Oh, and cheaper than comparable white burgundy.”

Huon Hooke, one of Australia’s most respected wine writers, also reviewed the wines and was especially impressed by the Collector Chardonnays from Alex McKay, Hungerford Hill, Nick O’Leary and Penfolds Cellar Reserve. He singled out the 2019 Charles Sturt University Winery Chardonnay for his Wine of the Week.

Tumbarumba is now turning its attention to Pinot Noir. There are already some great Pinots produced by local vineyards such as Coppabella. Critics praised the 2018 Obsession Pinot Noir made locally by Adrian Brayne.

Tumbarumba is on the road to recovery from the fires, but it will take the best part of a year to see all cellar doors open with some new ones in the pipeline.

In the meantime, the fighting spirit of the growers is not dimmed as they prepare for the 2021 vintage. RLM Words: Juliet Cullen Image: Bottle and Brush Studio

ABOVE: Tumbarumba vignerons Cathy Gairn, Tracy Allen, Helle Southwell, Sigrid Cottam and Adrian Brayne with their wines.

The HOME of SERIOUSLY GOOD PINOT NOIR, CHARDONNAY, RIESLING, SPARKLING and other VARIETIES THAT REVEL in a TRULY COLD CLIMATE wines of INTENSITY and ELEGANCE. Discover Tumbarumba’s rising stars in good bottle shops, regional restaurants, pubs and cafes across southern NSW and ACT or online.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

artistic

LICENCE

Tumbarumba photographer Peter McDade has lived through some interesting times.

Since moving to the country 17 years ago, Peter McDade’s days have been taken up following his artistic ambitions, be that with a paintbrush or capturing stunning landscapes with his latest camera. This, in his own words, is his story.

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During the bushfires I was not worried about my place. I have open paddocks all around and a main road in front. However, the grass across from the road was quite long. I watched the fire make its way on the other side of the valley towards the vineyard where it was stopped. It was still running along the creek below and came rushing up the paddock towards me.

I had sprinklers going all day out the front of my place. I wasn’t concerned. It’s only grass and it would have to cross the road. I went down the driveway to take some photographs when I was surprised by the heat and quickly back-pedalled.

The firefighters were there and tackled it head on and stopped it.

Soon after, we were evacuated and on my return what I didn’t see, because of all the smoke, the large tree in my paddock at the front had all the leaves singed due to the heat.

I feel for those who were not so lucky and lost everything.

As an artist I’ve always been interested in photography. This has intensified after moving to Tumbarumba. Starting a camera club, doing small photo jobs and running classes has helped improve my skills.

The landscape of the Snowy Valleys and the Snowy Mountains inspires me and drives my art as well. I feel so lucky living in this region. My camera system, after being with Canon, is now Olympus.

The smaller bodies and lenses make it easier to carry around but the main reason is their advanced technology, making the getting of a good image so much easier. It helps having a trained eye. I use my photographs as the reference for my paintings. > On Jingellic Road as the early morning mists rose, I was photographing the winding poplar-lined driveway into Clear Springs, when I looked behind me and saw this exciting scene.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

THE LANDSCAPE OF THE SNOWY VALLEYS AND THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS INSPIRES ME AND DRIVES MY ART AS WELL.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Eastern side of Batlow; Peter and his cat in front of the computer screen; Adelong Falls; Tumbarumba creekscape; looking towards the Burra Valley with the Main Range in the distance; sunset on Graham and Carol Grant’s vineyard.

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My art is inspired by the local landscape and challenges run by Artists On Parade and the Carcoola Art Show. Having attended a number of workshops, I have developed a technique using acrylics (healthier than oils) for doing very detailed work.

Thinking about health, I have a mountain bike for exercise. I prefer not to ride on the main roads and stick to riding around town. Then along came the Rail Trail. I joined up with the Men’s Shed and helped with the track furniture and signage.

Now that it’s open, I have a 20km safe ride with magnificent views. After lunch I ride home. Continuing on with health, I have changed my diet to wholefood plant based. Since then my cholesterol and blood pressure have returned to normal without drugs or side effects. >

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

MY ART IS INSPIRED BY THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND CHALLENGES RUN

BY ARTISTS ON PARADE AND THE CARCOOLA ART SHOW. I’m also a member of the garden club and continue planning for the Tumbarumba Spring Flower Festival, traditionally held at the end of October. My role includes the graphic design and compilation of the brochure, posters and flyers.

Of course, all men like their toys. Before leaving Scotland, I had a Royal Enfield Continental GT 250 motorbike. It was the last one made in the UK but they continued with their factory in India.

I bought a Honda CB250 after moving to Sydney, followed by a Yamaha RD250. Then came a family of seven children until retiring early and moving to the country.

I thought of buying a bike again but with the youngest in pony club, horses became the main game for a while. Then recently I spotted the new Royal Enfield.

Nostalgia kicked in and the price was right. I decided that this was my last chance to get on a bike again. So I bought the new Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor. Mountains and valleys, here I come.

I thoroughly enjoy what I do. It’s a long way from being a national IT analyst/manager with Telstra. RLM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Burnt tree sunset at Batlow; Peter on the Rail Trail ride (image: Mike Egan); Peter with his latest painting of the Mitta Mitta Valley; Ellerslie Cottage, Tooma; Watercolour Artist workshop organised by Artists On Parade, Tumbarumba.

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THROUGH

the mill

Tumbarumba Motel, a refuge for so many during the bushfires, has witnessed the best of community in the worst of times.

On January 6, during the darkest days of the Black Summer period, the old timber town of Tumbarumba was a mere dot pinned between two walls of fire that were rapidly drawing together as the ever-changing wind swirled across the state border.

Before long, residents were advised to evacuate, leaving just 200 brave souls in the 1800-strong town. Among this group were Robyn and Chris Jones, owners of Tumbarumba Motel, which boasts 31 stylish suites and promotes the local food and wine industry through its 80-seat restaurant.

As the fires ravaged their way through the Snowy Valleys, the front of the disaster was a kilometre from the motel doorstep, which in an instant had become a refuge for those who had lost their homes and provided beds for the frontline fighters battling to control the blaze.

“It was a little surreal now looking back on it. We were so busy trying to evacuate people that I didn’t sense the danger until it had passed,” Robyn says.

“That was the beginning. We were catapulted into three weeks of the most horrific roller coaster ride that we had ever endured, but once the smoke cleared it was just sheer relief and we started the recovery process.” Robyn describes the rebuild of the region as phenomenal. With great pride, she explains how the state, local and federal governments combined with the close-knit community, and rallied to orchestrate a reconstruction that supported each and every person directly affected by the crisis.

“We had done food packages with necessary supplies to those in need, along with St Vincent De Paul, but unfortunately the reality is that it is going to be a very, very long recovery,” she says.

Robyn says Tumbarumba Motel has been extremely fortunate to be still running at almost full capacity with the flow-on of firefighters, maintenance and repair workers and now tradies that are working on building new homes and sheds.

It is, however, the community solidarity that has heartened Robyn the most.

“There is a stronger bond between everyone, which comes from neighbours helping neighbours, and strangers turning up at your back doorstep to help out even six months later. This place is pretty amazing.” RLM Words: Lucy Taylor Image: Peter McDade

ABOVE: The team behind the Tumbarumba Motel, Alisha Woodbridge, Chris Jones, Paula Enright, RobynJones, Katelyn Patricks and Ellen Jones.

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walk the walk Bruce Wright’s visceral connection to the Kokoda Track goes way back to 1942.

When a serious motorbike accident landed Bruce Wright in hospital he feared he may never walk again, let alone fulfil his dream of walking the Kokoda Track.

But two years after successful surgery and extensive rehab, Bruce tackled the infamous 96km trail in 1999.

He was accompanied by wife Colleen and seven good friends from Tumbarumba.

When things got bad, which they often did, Bruce thought of 1942, when his father found himself trekking across the same Owen Stanley Range.

As a signaller attached to the Headquarters Brigade of the 7th AIF, private Noel Wright’s job was receiving and transmitting Morse Code messages as the troops battled for every square yard along the notoriously narrow path.

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It was a nightmare from the start and it just got worse. They weren’t just facing a highly trained Japanese army that didn’t believe in surrender. Hordes of mosquitoes, low rations and tropical, muddy conditions combined to make their life hell.

“When we were kids, Dad told us a few war stories but they were more like glorified travel stories, which led to a lifelong interest in travel,” says Bruce, a former engineer at the Hyne mill and since 2017 a proud councillor on the Snowy Valleys Council.

As a young lad, he couldn’t wait for Anzac Day, when his father marched in Adelaide or the smaller South Australian towns of Mt Gambier or Tarpeena. Later in the day, over a few beers, he’d reminisce with fellow Diggers who had been there.

When Noel died, he left his six children a small and tattered war diary, later typed into a manuscript. It’s one of the family’s most treasured possessions – a personal account of their father’s harrowing journey that would change the direction of the Pacific war.

A random extract proved a grim reminder of the conditions faced at the time: “We plugged on, day after day, stinking with sweat, drenched with rain and up to our knees in mud. It’s cold at night in the mountains and we’re totally exhausted.”

It’s a sobering read.

“He always spoke fondly of the native Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,” says Bruce, who has always felt a strong connection with the track.

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

It all started in 1994 when he organised a team from Tumbarumba to build a Home Economics block at the Mainohana high school. With the assistance of local students and parents, they manufactured the wall frames and trusses on site and erected them on an elevated floor.

In the following years, Bruce helped in many Rotary projects, culminating in the building of the Kokoda Hospital. In 2005, he organised a Rotary team from Tumbarumba to construct a primary school and aid post at Abuari.

During this time, he trekked to a C47 Dakota wreckage site. He also walked to the Isurava Memorial for the Anzac Day dawn service.

Back home in Tumbarumba at a weekly Rotary meeting, the president asked for those present to think of new ways to inspire the town’s younger generation.

Later that evening, over a few beers, Bruce raised the concept of taking Tumbarumba High students on the walk of a lifetime. In 2007, he led his first Kokoda tour with 18 students and five leaders from the local community.

“I managed to persuade school teacher Grant Harris to join me on the adventure and he was my right-hand man for another dozen trips,” Bruce says.

Every second year, a group of students makes the trip. In the off years, Bruce takes the adults on a guided tour of an area he’s come to know particularly well.

So far, 113 Year 11 and 12 students have made the trip.

Bruce organises everything, from all the permits, payments along the way, food packing, training and logistics to basic training.

“Our student trekkers carry their own packs bar night food and tents but I use men from Abuari as my leaders and porters,” he says.

“The trek takes 10 days plus two rest days to allow our students to appreciate village life. I also take extra male and female leaders as mentors for them.”

Although Bruce has completed the track with various family members multiple times, he knows it’s not a walk in the park.

The hot, humid days and freezing nights, torrential rainfall and risk of tropical diseases create havoc for all participants.

“On the bright side, we have the best boots, lightweight packs and plenty of nutritious food – and don’t have a determined enemy taking pot-shots at us every step of the way,” he says.

Even still, the challenging conditions test the mettle of most, regardless of their age.

Bruce last walked the track in 2019 in his 70th year.

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, WE HAVE THE BEST BOOTS, LIGHTWEIGHT PACKS AND PLENTY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD – AND DON’T HAVE A DETERMINED ENEMY TAKING POT-SHOTS AT US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.”

“It’s always bloody hard, regardless of how old you are,” he says bluntly. “At my age you don’t recover as quick.”

Bruce feels the walk helps the youngsters better understand their history books while opening their eyes to life in a third-world country.

“The kids of today are far better than most give them credit for,” he says. “Our future is in safe hands.”

And he has some advice for anyone contemplating the trek.

“Every journey starts with a single step.

Don’t look at the top of the mountain and seek out short objectives along the way,” he says. “And never, ever give up.”

Bruce and Colleen apply these words every time they accept a new challenge – and there have been many.

In Australia, they have trekked Tasmania’s Overland Track, the Thorsborne Trails on Hinchinbrook Island and the Frome River in the South Australian Flinders Ranges, along with regular walks through Kosciuszko National Park.

Their enthusiasm regularly takes them overseas. In recent years, they’ve tackled The Camino from France into Spain, the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal, the Dordogne walk in France and the Coast to Coast walk in England. Only recently, they walked New Zealand’s Queen Charlotte Track.

For Bruce, the Kokoda Track holds something very special.

He will never forget the role of his father and the courageous spirit of the Diggers in New Guinea.

Early in 2020, Bruce was surprised, humbled and honoured to receive an OAM for his efforts in keeping the history of the Kokoda Track alive. RLM

FACING PAGE:Tumbarumba’s Bruce Wright OAM has walked the Kokoda Track a staggering 13 times, many times with students from the local high school; Bruce was inspired to “walk the walk” after his late father served with Australian troops there in 1942.

ABOVE: Bruce has taken many family members, friends and school students on the arduous journey.

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a vintage for It’s been a torrid year for awardwinning vignerons Brian and Cathy Gairn, who will soon celebrate 30 years in the wine industry.

Since planting their first grapes in 1992, Brian and Cathy Gairn have been producing world-class premium quality wines. Their sensational Courabyra Cellar Door and Restaurant were opened amid much fanfare in 2014.

The views over the vineyard are intoxicating and the sunsets always memorable. It’s not by good luck they are receiving numerous accolades from visitors.

Courabyra sits in a small pocket 6km north west of Tumbarumba, located at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. The mountain

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the books

town is one of Australia’s premium cold-climate wine regions, perfect for the production of high-quality sparkling and table wines.

About 20 acres are now under plantation, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Grüner Veltliner, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

The fire burnt out about 15 per cent of the vineyard and destroyed fencing, farmlands and trees. The family lost the gazebo and many house plants but thankfully the cellar door and family home were spared.

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

FOR A WINEMAKER WHO DID NOT HAVE A DRINK TILL SHE WAS 40, CATHY IS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME. Since Lifestyle’s first visit two years ago, Cathy has expanded the outside of the cellar door with two new timber decks.

The rural setting is ideal for weddings, family gatherings and celebrations.

For a winemaker who did not have a drink till she was 40, Cathy is making up for lost time.

Courabyra was a finalist in the 2019 Regional Tourism Awards and in 2020 won the Restaurant Award in the Australian Good Food Guide and Best Cellar Door in the 2019 Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Best Cellar Door Awards.

The 2020 wine crop was written off by the fire. In a normal season, they typically produce about 2500 cases of wine.

The last big setback was in 1998 when they experienced a severe frost. It was nothing compared to the fire, which will impact them for years to come.

“We had no power for three weeks but finally opened our doors on the January long weekend,” eternal optimist Cathy says.

“It was all very humbling. Others had lost their homes and businesses but were still going out of their way to buy our wines and support us. The tears flowed frequently.

“Then while the country shut down with COVID-19, it gave us the time to regroup and start the healing process.”

In the middle of it all, Cathy lost her dear mother, who raised 11 children in the 1950s and ’60s.

“Twenty twenty will go down as a shocking year. We are so looking forward to 2021, with all this drama behind us,” she says.

“People are itching to get out and start enjoying life, especially now the Rail Trail has been completed. It’s having a massive impact for all businesses in Tumbarumba, including ours. It’s been a real positive highlight in an otherwise disastrous year.” RLM

COURABYRA WINES CELLAR DOOR & RESTAURANT OPEN THURSDAY TO MONDAY 11AM-5PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS 6PM - 9:30PM

Catering for all private functions, weddings, conferences and events upon request.

Australian Good Food Guide Reader’s Choice Winner 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 2019, 2020 Gourmet Traveller Wine Best Cellar Door 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 & 2020 4.5 James Halliday Wine Companion

ABOVE, FROM TOP LEFT: Acclaimed winemaker Cathy Gairn in the Courabyra cellar door and restaurant; guests can be assured of a great meal and quality wine; the restaurant’s new decking means more people can enjoy the outdoor experience.

FACING PAGE: Courabyra grapes, plump with promise.

805 COURABYRA ROAD, TUMBARUMBA M. 0429 482 462 • P. 02 6948 2462

COURABYRAWINES.COM

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

FROM THE GROUND UP Replenishing timber plantations following the devastating bushfires is a mammoth long-term task that has already begun in earnest.

Forestry Corporation manages more than 260,000 hectares of timber plantations across NSW to supply house frames, furniture and other essential renewable wood products.

Around a quarter of these plantations were impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires.

Unlike many native species, radiata pine is not fire tolerant and burnt trees will generally not recover.

However, these fire-affected trees are not lost.

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Forestry Corporation’s Harvesting and Roading Manager Louise Bourke says that fire-affected timber has the same structural properties as unburnt timber.

“Last season’s fires impacted around a quarter of our pine plantation estate and, although affected by fire, they are certainly not lost,” Louise says.

“After a fire, we have up to 12 months to salvage the timber while it is still in good condition.

“We are working with the local timber industry to help ensure timber is available for the NSW community to rebuild after the fires.”

At its peak, the salvage harvesting operation was working at over double the normal rate to deliver timber from fireaffected plantations to processors and manufacturers.

These harvesting operations rely heavily on local contractors and businesses, so are an important part of the region’s economic recovery.

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

Forestry is a long-term industry, and the industry is focused on replanting and regrowing forests so they continue to produce renewable, sustainable timber products for the future.

The fire impact was substantial and recovery is an ongoing challenge. However, Forestry Corporation is committed to working with the local timber industry so Australian communities have a long-term timber supply into the future.

The 2020 replanting program is an important step in rebuilding the NSW plantation estate.

Forestry Corporation of NSW Silviculture Manager Roger Davies says this year’s planting program is replacing areas both harvested in previous years and those affected by bushfires.

“We have replanted over 9 million radiata pine seedlings across NSW,” he says.

“While the 2020 planting season has replaced forests harvested in previous years, it is also replanting into burnt forests – up to two-thirds of the planting program in some areas.”

The planting program also makes an important contribution to the recovery of burnt forests and communities.

“While we are happy to put the bushfire season behind us, a lot of work followed to lay the foundations for the ongoing bushfire recovery and rebuilding the plantations,” Roger says.

“The economic benefit from site preparation and planting crews will be an important boost to community recovery.”

Much work is happening this year to set up a record 2021 planting season.

“The $46 million equity injection under the NSW Government’s stimulus package has meant we are now preparing to accelerate our Tumut plantings by 40 per cent over the coming eight years,” Roger says.

“Forestry is a long term-industry and every time we sow a seed, we are planning more than 30 years into the future to provide an essential timber product for the next generation.”

THE PLANTING PROGRAM ALSO MAKES AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE RECOVERY OF BURNT FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Salvage harvesting operations are working at double the normal rate; sadly, the Sugar Pine Walk was destroyed in the 2019-20 bushfire season; over 9 million pine seedlings have been replanted in 2020, with the planting program ramping up by 40 per cent over the coming eight years; much work is happening this year to set up a record 2021 planting season.

FACING PAGE: The 2019-20 bushfire season impacted around a quarter of state forest plantations.

Image: Peter McDade.

The iconic Sugar Pine Walk was one of the most striking spots in the NSW forest estate, with majestic pine trees nearly a century old.

Forestry Corporation of NSW Regional Manager Dean Anderson says that, sadly, the walk was heavily burnt and could not be saved.

“The Sugar Pine Walk was a special place for many of us and one of the region’s striking tourist attractions. Some of our staff were even married there,” Dean says.

“To mark its passing, we launched a photo competition to give people a way to collectively share memories of the site.

“We were overwhelmed by the response and the stories people shared with us.

“I feel this was an important exercise in the recovery process and marking this loss.”

While the former site is now removed, a replacement walk is in the pipeline for future generations to enjoy.

“Seeds and seedlings from the current site have been collected for propagation and replanting,” Dean says.

“While it will take many decades to regrow, we are pleased to have started the process for future generations to experience.” RLM

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here’s to the FUTURE

Despite their baptism of fire, Tom and Helle Southwell are embracing life on the land and savouring infinite possibilities.

When Tom and Helle Southwell moved back to the Tumbarumba family farm in early 2018, Tom was working in IT and Helle was a pharmacist.

It wasn’t long, however, before they developed a love for farming and shortly after traded their jobs for cattle work and viticulture.

Months later, an opportunity to buy a neighbouring vineyard came up. When they first looked at “Glenburnie”, they loved the stunning views over Tumbarumba, the two beautiful homes and the old shearing shed converted into a cellar door, all included in the sale.

What really got their pulses racing, however, were the eight hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, planted 30 years earlier.

Not long after exchanging the title deeds, the young couple faced their first disaster when the 2019 crop, barely weeks from harvest, was decimated by hail.

Miraculously, the vines at “Mountain View”, owned by Helle’s parents, Rob and Heather Johansen, were spared, only to be devastated by the Dunns Creek Road Fire months later on New Year’s Eve. With burnt-out fences, their 230 head of cattle (run on several properties) were roaming around the back of Tumbarumba for nearly a fortnight.

“You’d see sheep and cattle literally roaming the streets,” Tom says. “And it wasn’t just our cows getting out – everyone was in the same predicament.”

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Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

WITH THE HELP OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO RE-ESTABLISH THE TRELLIS SYSTEM AND REMOVE 25,000 BURNT VINES. Helle agrees. “It was cattle mayhem but at least the cows weren’t going far. The grass definitely wasn’t greener on the other side.”

After the town was evacuated, there was still a huge threat.

Without power or phones, local farmers became reliant on radio, UHF and a daily town meeting.

“It never really felt like it was over. We were feeding cattle and filling water troughs, all the while having to look at all the burnt vines,” Tom says.

“The fire still affects us every day with our work in the vineyard and around the farm but good rain guaranteed a great autumn. After the fire, we resowed paddocks and the country has turned from black to green.”

Rebuilding has been a monumental process. With the help of family and friends, they have managed to re-establish the trellis system and remove 25,000 burnt vines.

“Amazingly, the vines have shown incredible resilience and have already started to regrow,” Helle says. All things going well “Mountain View” will have its next harvest in 2022.

The fires brought out the best in humanity.

“People from all over the world have been incredibly generous, buying our wines, sponsoring vineyard posts and sending messages of support,” Tom says. “It has been really uplifting and helped us greatly.”

Along with the cattle, vineyard and cellar door, the Southwells keep themselves busy with Glenburnie Cottage. This 1890s cottage is set among the vines, and has three bedrooms (two queen-sized beds and two singles), wood fire, reverse-cycle air conditioning, a full kitchen, laundry and outside fire pit.

“It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and toast some marshmallows, and with country views to die for,” Helle beams.

The cottage was opened for holiday accommodation in mid 2019 and has been attracting visitors from all over the country.

“Our guests love being surrounded by vines and rolling hills in a peaceful, rural setting, and they really love all the cuddles from our dog Fynn,” she laughs.

Gourmet Traveller rated it at the Cellar Door Awards as Best Accommodation in the Tumbarumba/Hilltops region. They have also picked up a few awards in the wine department, most notably when their 2016 sparkling wine was awarded best sparkling and best white wine at the 2018 Australian Cool Climate Wine Show.

“It’s been a tough introduction to farming but that’s what life on the land can be like,” Tom says.

“We don’t do this because it’s easy, we do it because we’re passionate about cattle and viticulture. The reward is being able to enjoy a glass of wine that reflects that love and passion and also tells a story about the season that was.”

As difficult as these past two years have been, Tom and Helle agree it’s brought them closer together as a family. Both are confident of a bright future for Johansen Wines. RLM

‘Glenburnie Cottage’ is nestled in a vineyard in the picturesque foothills on the Snowy Mountains. Immerse yourself in the tranquillity of country life beside the outdoor fire pit, perfect for enjoying a cool climate wine, toasting a marshmallow and soaking in the gorgeous views.

The self contained cottage has air-conditioning and heating to keep you comfortable, can sleep up to 6 people and is only a short five minute drive to the township of Tumbarumba.

Images: Simply White and Sam Murphy

ABOVE RIGHT: “Mountain View” Vineyard after being scorched by the NYE fires; the main machinery shed after the fire.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Overlooking “Mountain View” vineyard before the fires; family affair: Charles, Helle, Jack and Tom Southwell with Rob and Heather Johansen; Jack and Charles enjoying farm life.

90 Black Range Road, Tumbarumba NSW 2653 0424 689 492 info@johansenwines.com.au

johansenwines.com.au

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familiar TERRITORY You can’t get much more local to the Tumbarumba region than PRD principal Julie Giddings.

Julie Giddings’s family connects right back to Thomas Boyd, who was a member of the famed Hume and Hovell expedition, an important journey of exploration undertaken in eastern Australia in the 1820s to discover new grazing land in the south of the NSW colony, and also to find an answer to the mystery of where its western rivers flowed.

Thomas Boyd was a well-respected horseman, bushman and swimmer who, after the expedition, returned to the Tumut district and settled on Gilmore Creek. He married, had 12 children and died at “Windowie”.

It’s a history that Julie is proud of and one that gives her plenty of credibility when it comes to endorsing the area as a real estate agent.

For more than 25 years, she has worked in the property game and knows just about everybody in the region.

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“I went to a barbecue once and from the 50 plus people there I had either sold them a house or investment property, rented to them or had sold property for them. Every single person there was a client. That’s when it hit me about working in a small community, our clients become our friends,” Julie says.

In 2004, Julie, together with her late husband Mark, moved to Tumbarumba and opened the PRD office.

With Mike Kingwill as her business partner, they soon began to grow it into a reputable and outstanding franchise.

But tragically, in the early part of that journey, Julie lost her husband in a car accident and around the same time her mother died.

Thanks to locals rallying around her, Julie made it through one of the toughest periods of her life so far and managed to continue operating the business.

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

JULIE SAYS PROPERTIES ARE SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID-19 WITH MANY CITY DWELLERS DECIDING TO OPT FOR COUNTRY LIFE AND GET BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY. “After it all happened, I had to come back and jump into the business. It was amazing how the community supported me. People offered to help out in the office answering phones, typing or filing and even offered to go out to my farm and feed dogs and cows,” she says.

“That’s when you appreciate where you live.”

Julie says properties are selling like hotcakes in the area, especially since COVID-19 with many city dwellers deciding to opt for country life and get better value for money.

“Anything that we are listing that is priced well is selling pretty quick. Sometimes in rural areas you can have them sitting on the market for a while but not here at the moment,” she says.

“We are finding some people are coming here because of COVID as they have been retrenched from their jobs. They are renting in Sydney and have money set aside but can’t afford to buy there. So people that were contemplating coming down in a year or two are finding that now is the time to do it.”

Logging and tourism are the area’s main industry and the employment opportunities both offer make Tumbarumba particularly enticing for buyers.

“We are really lucky in Tumba that our unemployment is so low.

If you want to relocate as well as work, then there always seems to be jobs available. However, it is also the perfect place to retire with plenty to do.

“I see Tumbarumba continuing to thrive and the vibrancy of the town increasing as it has for the last decade or more.” RLM Words: Jo McKinnon

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A stunning rural view; idyllic escapes provide local residents with peace and tranquility; the Tumbarumba streetscape; quality real estate is always on offer.

FACING PAGE: The dynamic PRD team: Jemma Lorimer, Marney Pretzel, Julie Giddings and Tamikak Hoffman.

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Beautiful homewares, gifts and fashion set in the picturesque town of Tumbarumba. Home to Budzbykaz, locally designed handmade earrings and accessories. Rustic farmhouse style with a modern twist. Custom made furniture, locally sourced handmade products for that unique gift.

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RESIDENTIAL | RURAL | COMMERCIAL | LEASING | ASSET MANAGEMENT | PROPERTY APPRAISALS | RESEARCH 138 RLM TUMBARUMBA

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

COUNTRY

charm

Karen Halden is in her element at her Twisted Willow Homestore, which embodies a warm and welcoming rustic farmhouse style.

Late in 2018, Karen Halden got one of the best proposals of her life.

An old work colleague from her banking days was selling their business and asked if she might be interested in purchasing the homewares store.

“I knew immediately it was the perfect fit for me,” she says. “I was so excited, I started a Pinterest board instantly.”

Despite her instantaneous excitement about the future endeavour, it took her a little bit to work up the courage to reveal her plan to her husband.

After three days, it was her turn to pop the question. She sent off a text and kept her fingers crossed.

“I was so nervous. Thankfully he said yes!”

Karen remembers.

And so, in February 2019, she reopened the doors to the Twisted Willow Homestore at 36 The Parade in Tumbarumba as its proud owner.

Karen, her husband Craig, and their three children Hunter, River and Wynter, live 50km out of town on a property that was once a forestry house – a haven they have called home for the past 15 years.

“We’re constantly renovating, creating the dream space we always imagined when we first bought the property,” Karen says.

Her definition of haven embodies rustic farmhouse style. “There’s something so warm and welcoming when you mix old things with new. You can create such an amazing feeling,” she says.

Karen always knew this was the look she wanted to help others achieve and this is what Twisted Willow Homestore reflects.

As Karen began to purchase items for the 80-square-metre space, she realised that furnishing and filling it would be no easy task. Not afraid of a little DIY, she created a few reclaimed coffee tables and hall tables to help fill out her shop and display many of the goods on offer.

What started out as building something just for her own use, has turned into an enjoyable side gig with an expanding range of furniture and homewares that can be customised to suit your space.

A quick browse through the Twisted Willow Homestore website or glance around the shop will show you that there truly is something for everyone, from clothing and accessories to baby and children’s toys and gifts. Decor items include cushions, artworks, stylish trays and planters and there are fun yet practical pieces for the kitchen.

While Karen loves the whole experience of owning her shop, she loves warmly welcoming customers into the space. “Plus I get to shop and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love to shop? I really am living the dream, my dream.” RLM Words: Jennifer Harden

“THERE’S SOMETHING SO WARM AND WELCOMING WHEN YOU MIX OLD THINGS WITH NEW.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Karen Halden right at home in her shop with a backdrop of pretty protea prints; there is something for everyone at Twisted Willow from home decor, candles and art to clothing and accessories; Karen’s shop reflects the rustic farmhouse look that she has enjoyed creating in her own home, a warm welcoming mix of old and new.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

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Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

ON YOUR BIKES

The huge response to Tumbarumba’s new Rail Trail indicates Owen Fitzgerald was always on the right track.

Tumbarumba has become the first town in the state with its own Rail Trail to Rosewood.

While there may be over 1000km of rail trails in Victoria, the fire-ravaged district can now lay claim to having the district’s newest and biggest tourist attraction.

“The sceptics said we’d be lucky to get 1000 people in the first year of operation but we’ve had 6000 in the first three months, and that’s been in the middle of a pandemic,” says Owen Fitzgerald, who came up with the idea in 2003 after watching a VHS video of a rail trail in New Zealand.

“For a little town like Tumbarumba, it’s a massive achievement and a big shot in the arm for the local economy,” Owen says.

The Rail Trail is a 22-kilometre linear museum. Along the scenic route are three major bridges and four station sites, each depicting local history. The surrounding country has been revegetated by 44 volunteers planting hundreds of trees.

The 12-month construction phase was carried out by mostly local contractors. The huge job came in under the $5.7 million budget, leaving the committee with enough to add a few facilities, including restrooms, improved parks and creature comforts like seats and tables.

One of the more interesting jobs involved the local historical society and the Men’s Shed, who restored the old station sidings.

It was never going to be an easy project to get over the line. To get the ball rolling, Owen conducted countless community meetings at various towns and villages along proposed routes.

Among the many believers who crossed his path was Wagga Wagga resident Paul Gordon-Smith, who had visited New Zealand and witnessed first-hand the enormous tourist potential of a rail trail.

The two men put in a submission to the Riverina Regional Development Board to support the proposal for a rail trail in the area. This led to a feasibility study in 2006, which resulted in a big thumbs up. Progress, however, was notoriously slow.

“Due to shifting political circumstances, it took 17 years for my dream to be turned into a reality,” he says.

The Rail Trail enjoyed a virtual opening on Zoom at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was the first ever virtual opening of a rail trail anywhere in the world,” a proud Owen says. “We had state MP Justin Clancy and former MP and Patron of the Rail Trail Greg Aplin on the Zoom with others.”

By the end of the presentation, Owen was sipping his French champagne while everyone munched on cheese and biscuits in front of their digital devices.

Since then, the virtual opening has been viewed more than 40,000 times on Facebook. A book on the project, called Recycling Rail, written by Ron Frew for the Tumbarumba Historical Society, was later launched on Zoom with participants from all over the world.

How many of the historical society members have ridden on the Rail Trail?

“Each one of us here has ridden their bikes on the Rail Trail,” Owen’s wife Cathy says. “Most of us go back two or three times a week and we all love it. It helps break the monotony, is great for exercise and great for mental health.”

If you’re not up for a bike ride there are many ways to tackle the trail. Wheelchairs and motorised scooters, a penny farthing, tandem bikes, mums and dads towing trailers, three-wheelers, even kids on skateboards. Then there are the walkers, joggers, marathon runners and mothers pushing prams.

“There is no denying the popularity of the electric bikes. We’ve helped change the bike-riding culture in this town. Cycling is now for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.”

The Rail Trail complements existing rides in Tumbarumba, including a pump track, mountain bike trails and cycle paths around town and on the old stock routes.

Already, the Rail Trail has provided an economic boon to both Tumbarumba and the village of Rosewood.

“It comes back to that old adage – ‘build it and they will come’,” says Owen, a firm supporter of the Rail Trails. The final leg from Rosewood to Wagga Wagga will hopefully happen in the next 10 years.

While using the trail is free, visitors spend plenty in the local area at shops, service stations, hotels and accommodation. RLM

ABOVE, FROM TOP: Owen and Cathy Fitzgerald stand proudly in front of the old rail signs; Cathy and Owen with Mary Ann Marshall, Ron and Cath Frew and Bob and Ros Gay – all big fans of the Rail Trail; many bike-riding enthusiasts enjoy riding without the hills.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: New bridges were constructed; the Rail Trail is for people of all ages and abilities; your journey starts right here.

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petals & pedals A Tumbarumba family have capitalised on new opportunities in town with their new shop Tumba Bikes and Blooms.

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Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

Joerg and Emma Ernst and their children Isaak and Heidi opened their nursery in May 2020 but with the launch of the Rail Trail have swung into electric bike hire.

“These new electric bikes are really taking off in the area where it’s too hilly for much else,” Emma says. “We’ve had to order new bikes to keep up with the demand.”

There are 10 bikes and a “chariot” to tow the children behind.

The whole family is actively involved in the business. Isaak is getting ready for Year 11 while big sister Heidi is studying Criminology and Psychology at university.

Emma is enjoying running her own business after a lifetime in retail, including

six years with Mitre 10 and, before that, six years running an alpine retreat.

As Tumbarumba’s only nursery, Bikes and Blooms has been kept busy as local landowners replace plants, trees and shrubs after the fires.

Recently, they added fresh cut flowers to complement the business. Flowers are now available for funerals, birthdays and special occasions.

“It’s an enjoyable business that I can share with all family members,” Emma says. “We are always getting new stock, including new garden ornaments. No two days are ever the same.” RLM

BIKES AND BLOOMS HAS BEEN KEPT BUSY AS LOCAL LANDOWNERS REPLACE PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS AFTER THE FIRES. ABOVE: There are plenty of plants for those replanting after the fires; Isaak and his father Joerg Ernst are thrilled with the response to their electric bike hire.

FACING PAGE: Joerg, Emma, Heidi and Isaak Ernst love working in the new family business; fresh flowers are available; the colourful shop entrance.

Magenta Cooage The best way to explore the rail trail.

E-Bike Hire & Supplies Nursery & Garden Supplies Fresh Flowers & Gifts

Phone 0448 295 716

9 Mate Street Tumbarumba NSW Ph 0429 654 734

19 Bridge Street Tumbarumba info@tumbabikesandblooms.com

Self-contained cottage in the heart of Tumbarumba 3 bedrooms can sleep up to 8 people Surrounded by beautiful cottage gardens Walking distance to pool, park, cafés, gallery & shops Perfect for small groups, workers and families

www.magentacottage.com

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GREENER pastures Snowy Valleys farmers Mary and Peter Hoodless are emerging from the devastating fires with growing optimism and eternal gratitude.

The Hoodless family have been raising sheep and cattle in the Jingellic district, 45 minutes southwest of Tumbarumba, for more than 100 years.

Battling the elements has always been part and parcel of the farming game. Nothing, however, could have prepared them for the most catastrophic event in a century.

The recent fires that destroyed much of the district started out as the Green Valley Fire, ignited by a lightning strike on December 29, 2019.

On January 4, the fire hit “Karoo”, owned by Peter and Mary Hoodless. By then, they had already lost half the farm to a controlled burn, just as they had done in 1985.

“This time, the fire was more intense and the conditions far worse,” Mary says from the family homestead. “Temperatures hit 45 degrees and the winds were unpredictable. The fire was creating its own weather.”

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In between the mayhem, Mary spent 18 days tirelessly coordinating the Emergency Welfare Centre from the Jingellic Showground. A typical day involved cooking up to 400 meals for firefighters, emergency crew and Victorian residents.

“We were providing first aid, social support, welfare, food and accommodation,” she says.

“I had a core group of volunteers that worked around the clock. It was organised chaos.

“In the end, we were totally overwhelmed and called in help from Holbrook before being evacuated.”

The Hoodless family, including Felicity and husband Ashly and youngest daughter Anne-Marie, were defending the property.

“Then the police handed us a Section 37 – compulsory evacuation or arrest at midnight. So, on the night of January 3, we packed up three cars and our pet dog and headed off. The air was full of smoke and we could barely see three yards in front of us.”

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INFERNO, THE RESTORATION WORK CONTINUES.

To complicate matters, Peter was recovering from a knee replacement and in the heat of the moment was forced to abandon his crutches.

“We were stressed, sleep deprived and numb, basically on auto pilot. If you have ever seen the film Armageddon, well, that’s what it felt like,” Mary recalls.

It was the third big fire in her life. When she was only 10 and growing up on a dairy farm in central Victoria, the family homestead was gutted by fire.

After moving onto “Karoo” 35 years ago, they lost half the farm in a controlled burn. This time, however, the fire was totally out of control.

After the fire had swept through, they snuck home on the River Road to assess the damage. The bush was still burning and the ground was still hot.

The first thing they saw was the roofline of their home, which gave them a huge sense of relief, until they realised nearly everything else was gone, including the hayshed (full of 800 large bales), 20 tonnes of silage, 35km of fencing and a handful of livestock.

The woolshed was also gutted, prompting the family to finally give up their crossbred sheep enterprise, already decimated by wild dogs over the past decade.

BlazeAid initially helped with the massive clean-up before fencing contractors and paid labour got to work.

“We were so relieved that our homestead was saved. It’s our family home, our retreat at the end of each day,” Mary says.

“Although we got hammered and lost virtually everything, we can

never thank the RFS volunteers for saving our home. At one stage, the RFS were told to pull out, it was too intense, but a few of our family and friends refused to give up. We can never thank them enough.”

Six months after the inferno, the restoration work continues.

Both sides of the family helped in the reconstruction phase.

Two cousins left 40 tonnes of steel and fencing materials. Family and friends delivered hay to help keep 700 cattle alive. Other farmers offered their land for free agistment for several months while the country recovered.

At one stage, their herd was spread out over seven properties from Deniliquin to Camperdown in Victoria. Today, all their cattle are home without a single loss.

“About a month after the fires, we sowed pasture and received excellent follow-up rain. Since then we’ve had an amazing autumn and winter.

“Now we are in a sea of green, which has helped lift our spirits after the fire,” she says.

“The fire was so destructive. We hope to never see the likes of such devastation ever again.” RLM ABOVE: Mary Hoodless navigates her way through a creek on a Kubota ATV; new fencing has gone up; trees are in recovery mode; Angus cattle enjoying the green autumn pick; the family are reminded of the fires on a daily basis.

FACING PAGE: Graziers Mary and Peter Hoodless are slowly getting back to normal after the worst fires in living memory.

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good vibes

Tumbafest is a celebration of the region’s finest food, wine and music.

Nestled into the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, Tumbarumba has more to offer than just panoramic views and a fun name.

In 1997, Tumba locals thought they should showcase something they have known for a while, some of the best cool-climate wines in Australia were coming out of their backyard.

With the hope of shining a spotlight on their region, Bendigo Bank Tumbafest was created and, like most fledgling festivals, it started small. That first year, it was held in the main street of town and in true country fashion, the main stage was the back of a truck.

More than two decades later, the festival has grown to be an annual two-day event held on the last weekend of February. What started as a way to introduce those further afield to locally produced wine has become so much more.

Tumbafest is now held in the centrally located creekscape area just behind the main street of town. It provides a beautiful shady gathering point, perfect for lingering out of the summer sun.

A full program of events holds something for everyone, from cooking demonstrations, food and wine pairings and tastings to children’s entertainment

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and carnival rides. Stallholders bring everything from handmade jewellery and clothing to a wide variety of food offerings from pizza to Thai and, of course, coffee and sweets.

While the wine is a highlight for the grown-ups, the daily duck race is fun for all ages and a crowd favourite. Making good use of the creek that gently flows through the festival area, you’ll see rubber duckies in pink, blue and yellow make their way down stream at a cruisey pace.

In addition to all the shopping, tasting and relaxing creekside, music contributes so much to the Tumbafest atmosphere.

Whether you are right up near the stage dancing and singing along with friends, or you are simply enjoying the performances

as a top-notch soundtrack to your day, the music is widely appreciated.

“Who doesn’t like to listen to great music while enjoying local food and wine?” event coordinator Karly Fynn says. The main stage also allows the organisers to support local up-and-coming talent by giving them a place to perform to a large-scale audience.

“Bendigo Bank Tumbafest gives visitors an opportunity to embrace the collection of experiences that makes the region distinctive,” Karly says. RLM Words: Jennifer Harden Images: Bildmalerei

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Tumbafest Duck Race is a crowd favourite; music from the mainstage; event coordinator Karly Fynn; off and racing down the creek.

L AST WEE OF FEBRUKEND ARY MAIN STAGE

T O W N F E AT U R E Tumbarumba

BACK to

life

Mike and Deirdre Greenhalgh’s “Carcoola” is a picture of health following a fire season from hell.

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There’s no doubting the scenic beauty of “Carcoola”, Ournie, a blue-ribbon property in the heart of some of Australia’s finest cattle breeding and fattening country.

With rolling hills of green pasture and the fast-flowing Murray River serving as the Victorian border, the place has never looked so resplendent. It’s hard to believe, given that six months earlier the countryside was engulfed in a raging inferno.

Captain of the Ournie Fire Brigade Mike Greenhalgh has lived on “Carcoola” his entire life but never encountered the sequence of weather patterns that combined to create the perfect firestorm.

He knew the situation was critical and that 20 active volunteers in his brigade would be putting their lives on the line to fight a fire in extreme conditions.

When your world is caving it helps to be supported by someone sensible, practical and not prone to panic. Mike turned to wife Deirdre, better known as Dee, who’s been with him for the past 33 years, in good times and bad.

The farm holds a lifetime of memories for both of them. It’s where they raised their daughters Penny, Anna and Jo, now grown up and living their own lives away from home.

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

It’s been a good life. The resilient country couple have learnt to handle the different seasons, fluctuating markets and constant set of challenges handed out to them.

They weren’t, however, prepared for the arrival of the East Ournie Creek Fire, which decimated 10,000ha, including the back corner of their farm.

Within two hours, the Green Valley Fire had jumped the containment lines.

Devouring everything in its path, it hit their farm three hours later. It was 45 degrees and the country, dry as a chip, was about to explode.

The entire brigade area was burnt, apart from 6000 acres along the river and the bottom of the valley. The family could do nothing as a further 1200 acres of their country was devoured in the intense heat.

“We were told to evacuate but I was never going to leave the herd,” insists Mike, referring to his beloved Angus cows he’d bred up over a lifetime.

Dee drove to her sister’s place in Benalla for two nights but Mike felt if he left he may not get back in the short term.

Fortunately, they suffered no stock losses.

The only infrastructure lost was an unused set of timber cattle yards built by Mike’s

father. They feel fortunate compared to others who lost much more.

“We were one of only three farms in the valley to not feel the fire’s full fury,” he says.

“Unfortunately, we still lost four houses in the valley, thankfully none of which were being lived in permanently, along with about 500 cattle and 1000 sheep.”

When it was safe to do so, Mike and Dee were able to assess the extent of their damage. Almost two-thirds of their pasture and 32km of fencing were destroyed, a significant loss for any farmer.

Thankfully, it’s been a great autumn – it’s the best Mike has seen in his life – and the despairing sight of burnt-out paddocks is diminishing as the country recovers.

“We got much-needed rain three weeks after the fire and enjoyed seeing some green pick three weeks after that for the stock,” says Mike, the eternal optimist. “It meant we didn’t have to hand feed and were able to retain all of our stock.”

Mike and Dee will survive and go on, like they have always done. One day the big 2020 fires will go down as simply another chapter in the history books. For now, however, they are counting their blessings and getting on with life. RLM

ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR PASTURE AND 32KM OF FENCING WERE DESTROYED, A SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR ANY FARMER.

ABOVE, FROM TOP LEFT: Mike Greenhalgh recently discovered an Aboriginal Ring Tree, signifying a boundary, in the backyard. Mike and Dee’s daughter Anna was married under it, with wedding guests dubbing it the Unity Tree; Dee and Mike live in a beautiful part of the world; Angus cattle enjoying the green conditions after the ravages of drought and fire.

FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Mike has lived on the property all his life; the fires decimated the back corner of the farm.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Rosewood Tumbarumba

GREAT ESCAPES One of Rosewood’s pioneer buildings, Elm Cottage, is a great rescue story that mirrors the extraordinary life of George Szymoniczek.

Little is known about the origins of Elm Cottage, built in 1885 from large stones probably dragged by horse and cart from various locations around the property. Some suggest it might well have been a coaching inn. What is known is that the cottage was home for generations of the Doughty family.

In 2002, Ukraine-born George Szymoniczek was running a cleaning and restoration business in Nowra when his manager told him about the derelict stone cottage for sale. He and wife Judy drove over for an inspection.

“It had been abandoned for decades and really was in a dreadful state,” Judy says. “No one in their right mind would have taken on such a big project. There was no power or bathroom and an old tank for water.”

With countless working bees over the next decade, the cottage was slowly coaxed back to life. Doing it up proved the challenge of a lifetime, especially as neither of them had any experience at big restoration projects.

To complicate matters, George and Judy lived five hours’ drive away. Towards the end of the project, they were living in a caravan until the cottage became habitable. One day, out of the blue, Judy said she wouldn’t mind living there.

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The pair had recently completed their dream retirement home on the South Coast but the cottage and tight-knit Rosewood community had grown on them. After much soul-searching, they sold their new home and built a new house adjoining the cottage.

Judy is responsible for the tasteful decorating in both buildings, using pieces from her husband’s extensive farm tool collection.

George has been an avid collector for 50 years, having visited antique shops and countless garage sales throughout the country.

He loves spending time in his purpose-built shed that houses the magnificent collection. Everything is precious, particularly his blow torches, soldering irons and shoe-making tools from his step-father.

Today, the cottage is used for friends and family members during visits. Between them, the Szymoniczeks have five children, scattered from Muscat (near Dubai) and Bali to various parts of Australia.

So far, George and Judy have enjoyed visits from Rotary and the Men’s Shed but it’s a private collection and generally not open to the public.

Now in his early 80s, George is enjoying good health, attributable, he insists, to “clean living”. He’s been smoking a pipe for nearly 50 years and enjoys a beer on special occasions. >

Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

FACING PAGE: The historic “Elm Cottage�, Rosewood, has been meticulously restored under the direction of George and Judy Szymoniczek.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: George and Judy with the cottage they lovingly restored; the front door; a beautiful bedroom; old wares; the slightly uneven window frames are original, dating back to the 1860s; the kitchen furniture was made from two lopped elm trees; guest room; the crackling fire is enjoyed during the cool winters.

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A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL Today is one of those days and George is reminiscing about his tough childhood. It always makes him emotional, especially when he plays stirring Russian marching tunes in the shed’s nicely appointed bar.

He knows how lucky he is to be telling his story. In the early days of WW2, the Luftwaffe had reduced their home in Poland to rubble and the family became POWs in Germany, forced to help the Nazi war machine.

After the war, they were reunited in the Russian zone, a few hours from Berlin. When they discovered the Russians were escorting their citizens home, they made a bold escape to a Polish and later British camp.

After years of uncertainty, they were finally asked if they would like to migrate to Australia.

“In our ignorance, we thought they meant Austria and told the authorities in very clear terms what we thought of their idea,” George says, shaking his head.

In 1948, his stepfather secured a two-year government contract in “The Lucky Country”. The women and children would come later as soon as a ship became available. When his mother finally received the green light, her journey was unexpectedly halted in Italy. During their six-month wait, young George added Italian to his fluent Ukraine and German languages.

Eventually, they were reunited once more in Sydney. George was the only “new Australian” in his class at school but soon proved himself adept at Religious Instruction.

One morning, a Super Constellation flew low over the school playground, much to the excitement of his classmates. From his earliest days, George had learnt to identify various aircraft, surviving countless bombing raids on Berlin during the final days of the war.

GEORGE SZYMONICZEK APPRECIATES THE GIFT OF LIFE MORE THAN MOST. “And they (the school kids) were asking me if I’d ever seen a plane before,” he says, his eyes filling with emotion.

At 14, George left school to become a shoemaker, like his stepfather, before signing up with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and completing three tours of duty on HMAS Melbourne.

Starting as an ordinary seaman, George worked his way up the ranks for the next 23 years to become chief petty officer.

In 1996, he returned to the Ukrainian village where he was born on the eve of the most destructive war in history. Today, it’s a city of one million people.

“It was important for me to go back to where it all started,” he says quietly.

George Szymoniczek appreciates the gift of life more than most.

“I escaped death many times as a child and consider myself a most blessed individual,” he says. RLM Images: Peter McDade

ABOVE: George has been smoking a pipe since he was a young man at sea.

Image: Jake Lindsay.

LEFT: A famous promotional shot for Carlton beer bears a striking resemblance to George; this meticulous gentleman has been collecting old Australian tools for over 50 years.

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Tumbarumba T O W N F E AT U R E

WORK & PLAY

Tumbarumba Men’s Shed is about building relationships and building things, all for the greater good.

Tumbarumba Men’s Shed has always supported a good cause but 2020 was the year they raised the bar.

“Being involved with the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail has been one of our proudest achievements,” shed secretary Ron Summer says.

“We focused on the Rail Trail for nearly a year, knowing it would bring new money to the town. After the fires, we knew it would help with the town’s recovery. We call them travelling wallets, and right now we need them more than ever.”

One of the biggest jobs involved restoring six century-old, large level crossing gates along with concrete and steel station names, speed signs and mile markers.

They also manufactured and installed bicycle racks, seating and tables along the trail, along with large social history information boards at each station.

About 15 members catch up on Mondays and Tuesdays in a purpose-built shed in the showgrounds. Often, they score a few community “blow-ins” who come along if they are interested in a particular project.

Late politician Tim Fischer was their beloved patron, opening the facility in

2012. The shed is also supported by major sponsor Hyne Timber, who continue to support them through to the present day.

The proud “Old Boys” come from a wide range of professions. In this lot, there’s a former prison officer, telephone technician, project manager, sparky, coach captain, Salvo minister, truck driver and farmer.

The oldest active member is Ian Harrison, 83.

“The Men’s Shed is all about retired menfolk getting together to talk,” Ron says.

“Mental health is an important topic, just as important as our physical health. A popular topic among the boys at morning tea is prostate cancer.”

Ron says the Men’s Shed is virtually joined at the hip with the local historical society. “They get the ideas for something that needs restoring and we have the means and ability to do it.”

During the fires, the Men’s Shed made the premises available to the Local Land Services to provide fodder and veterinarian services to fire-affected farmers. At one stage, they were feeding 8000 head each day.

Mateship and peer support have become even more important after the fires, with several members personally affected.

“Our focus is maintained on watching for PTSD after the fires, particularly with new arrivals,” Ron says.

It’s been a big year with obvious benefits.

“Working together on meaningful projects has yielded positive outcomes and contributed to our wellbeing.”

Contact with members is frequent, providing a chance for the men to keep an eye on each other.

There’s never a shortage of jobs. Sitting alongside the Men’s Shed, a donated guards carriage awaits restoration. It’s intended to be a feature at the start of the Rail Trail and one day house a pictorial of railway history while serving as an event control centre.

Other jobs in the pipeline include the restoration of fettlers hand tools, restoring platforms at Glenroy and Rosewood stations and, for something different, work on the restoration of Sergeant David Maginnity’s gravesite. RLM

ABOVE: Members of the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed Ron Passlow, Peter McDade, George Martin, Ian Harrison, Lee Johnson, Brian Haddrick, Graham Derrett, Allan Collier and Ron Summer.

“THE MEN’S SHED IS ALL ABOUT RETIRED MENFOLK GETTING TOGETHER TO TALK.” TUMBARUMBA RLM 153

T O W N F E AT U R E Tooma

Tooma beauty Brigham House features prominently in the past and present of Tooma.

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Tooma T O W N F E AT U R E

On the western side of the Snowy Mountains, in the village of Tooma just 15km from the Victorian border, is Brigham House, a beautiful old building that has been the hub of the district since its construction in 1879 as Tooma General Store.

The store was vital to the local farming families and their everyday needs before it underwent an extensive remodelling in the 1990s to become Possums Restaurant. It sadly sat idle for five years before Jeff Sheather and business partner Rob Cox bought it in 2016, creating a country guest house.

“The B&B is very good for the whole shire as it sits among the premium accommodation that is available in the Snowy Mountains and has been received very favourably,” Jeff says.

The four superb queen rooms, inviting foyer and magical gardens attract guests from all over Australia.

But in early January, bushfires ravaged the surrounding area.

“They came [the fires] within 200 metres, which was horrific as it just kept coming closer and closer,” Jeff remembers. “But thankfully the winds changed and they were put out.

“I was never really concerned that we were in any danger, though. We are right next to the pub, and I honestly believe that the locals wouldn’t let it burn down.”

But the business was affected from as early as New Year’s Eve due to the fact that the guest house went without electricity for 28 days and their main water supply had become polluted from the soot and ash.

“The fires had an instant effect on bookings. January is one of our busiest times, everything had to be cancelled as there was no way to get into the region, or out,” Jeff says.

However, once the smoke had lifted and the recovery process to help rebuild the area began, Jeff was invited to be the Tooma delegate for the Snowy Valleys Bushfire Recovery Advisory Committee. This involved taking local concerns to the table, helping to ensure the area is better prepared for future natural disasters. “We are concentrating heavily on trying to shore up the continuity of power and communications because everything just goes off instantly, landlines and mobiles. You’ve got no way of communicating with anyone, so that is very much on the radar,” Jeff says. “But look, we’re doing extremely well here. This is Tooma after all, and everyone seems to be getting back to doing what they do.”

Jeff believes that compared to last year, business was slightly down, however, the essential services that were coming in directly after the fires meant that there were assessors, tradespeople and government officials passing through the valley that needed somewhere to stay, in turn keeping Brigham House booked with a constant flow of guests until the pandemic hit in mid March.

The rebuild has been a slow process, but the Tooma region has pulled together to help each and every business, farmer and individual affected. RLM Words: Lucy Taylor Images: Peter McDade

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The bedrooms are light and spacious; owner Jeff Sheather warms up by a winter fire; outside dining area; quality furnishings; a sunny reading, relaxing and TV room.

FACING PAGE: Visitors can expect a warm welcome at Brigham House; the small village of Tooma is a welcome sight for visitors.

“WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PUB, AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE LOCALS WOULDN’T LET IT BURN DOWN.” TOOMA RLM 155

in good company Chris and Trevor Mackay’s Tooma Inn has history and hospitality on tap.

ABOVE:The historic Tooma Inn is a great spot to relax with a meal or a cold drink while exploring the area.

RIGHT: Publicans Trevor and Chris Mackay love the peaceful, idyllic lifestyle.

Among Tooma’s assets are stunning scenery, Brigham House and a historic pub dating back to 1879.

The pub closed down in 1997 but was reopened a few years later at the turn of the century. These days, it is known as the Tooma Inn and run by Trevor and Chris Mackay, who come from the town bearing the same name.

They bought the watering hole in mid 2019, hoping to get away from the humidity. They received a warm, country welcome. In early 2020 they faced the fires, which left them without electricity for eight weeks, and now are up against COVID-19.

The inn is 30km south of Tumbarumba and 15 minutes from the Murray River. With only a few dozen locals, it survives due to the regular traffic flow on the nearby Tooma Road.

Although life is typically slow in these parts, it might well have been very different had just three politicians voted differently in 1908 – Tooma, and not Canberra, would have been the national capital.

The Mackays have four traditional pub-style rooms with shared amenities.

There’s also camping and toilets across the road and near the creek.

They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays but at all other times have drinks, meals and a story to share with discerning travellers. RLM

BRIGHAM HOUSE

Historic Country Guest House The perfect place to stay for your high country experience.

Cycling, skiing, photography, bush walking, fishing, or just relaxing.

19 Possum Point Road Tooma NSW 2642 02 69484173 ◼ 0414 522 688 brighamhouse@antmail.com.au

brighamhouse.com.au 156 RLM TOOMA

Tooma T O W N F E AT U R E

the fabulous

BAKER BOYS “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” could well be the mantra of Tooma dairy farming twins Keith and Neil Baker.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tooma

“DAIRYING IS CERTAINLY NOT FOR EVERYBODY AND IT HELPS IF YOU ARE BORN INTO IT.”

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Tooma T O W N F E AT U R E

Keith and Neil Baker have been an institution in the valley since their birth in 1956 – the year of the Melbourne Olympics and also the wettest year on record, with 50 inches falling in the district.

Parents Archibald and Elsie Baker took up the soldier settler’s block “Koolmundoola” in 1948 and, like all other newcomers, were required to be milking within 12 months.

In the long, hot summer of 1972, the twins began full-time work at the dairy. Text books were thrown out the window as the 16-year-olds officially entered the workforce down on the family farm.

Fast forward 49 years and the Baker boys are still hard at it. Both men are familiar with the breeding of each cow and know how much milk to expect from her. They use AI to genetically improve the herd.

The hard-working brothers live under the one roof, share the cooking and employ a housekeeper to keep the place respectable. Keeping it simple allows the twins to focus their energy on the cows and the production of the legend-dairy Baker milk.

They get up like clockwork before dawn and often get home after dark, a routine they’ve been following for nearly half a century with no signs of slowing up.

“Dad started with jerseys in the late 1950s and we’ve stuck by them ever since,” Neil says over a cuppa in the old homestead. “Back then, there were 14 dairies in the Tooma Valley but now we’re down to just two.”

It’s been a great innings and the twins have survived longer than most of their colleagues in the dairy world. They take it all in their stride, as they do with most things in life. Theirs is a life with minimum fuss, a concept extending to all departments.

The confirmed bachelors admit relationships can be tricky when you’ve already got 350 high-maintenance girls on the books.

Each year, the herd of predominantly Jersey cattle chow down on 350-400 tonnes of grain. Keeping them happy is imperative for milk production.

It’s a demanding job for the twins and their three workers but it’s one they’ve grown up with and learnt to enjoy. They have always worked for themselves and think of dairying as a lifestyle choice, far removed from a regular nine-to-five office job.

Dairying is certainly not for everybody and it helps if you are born into it. The Bakers have their own way of doing things and are frugal spenders.

For decades nothing has been spent on the house, which was being completed when the farm faced the 1952 fire. The same can be said for their 40-year-old rotary dairy, which milks 25 cows at a time. Instead of a modern farm ute, they get around in a monstrous 35-year-old fire truck, capable of crossing the flowing creek and traversing the hilly terrain.

The brothers agree on most matters. Both would rather buy a few more acres before ploughing funds into an old homestead or cruising the Mediterranean. They aren’t into fads and are very happy to go with what they’ve got.

“We live simply and would rather invest in more land or appreciable assets like livestock instead of bricks and mortar,” Neil says.

Over their lifetimes, the twins have bought four small neighbouring farms, each one typically a few hundred acres. They have also faced everything that Mother Nature could hurl at them. The 2020 fires were way too close for comfort. Although there were no stock losses, they lost miles of fencing and hundreds of acres of improved pasture.

A similar fire happened in 2009, when 25,000 acres were burnt in the district. The latest fire, Neil says, was infinitely worse and affected many more people.

Some might say the twins inherited their dairy and milked it for all its worth. Others may tell you the worst part of milking a cow is the dairy air.

There are sure to be a few jokes and a few funny yarns at their milestone anniversary in 2022. Among proud family members raising a glass will be an older brother who lives on a neighbouring property and a sister from Illabo.

There might even be a story about the fabulous Baker boys, who found contentment living a similar life to that of their parents – with the added bonus of never having to move out of home. RLM Images: Jake Lindsay

THEY GET UP LIKE CLOCKWORK BEFORE DAWN AND OFTEN GET HOME AFTER DARK.

FACING PAGE: The herd assemble in the yards for milking; the twins at work; the herd on their daily afternoon walk to the dairy; the feminine face of a Jersey cow; time for a quick drink before milking.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Neil and Keith Baker have been dairy farmers for almost 50 years. Image: Peter McDade; the dairy is set among the rolling green hills of the Tooma Valley.

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T O W N F E AT U R E Tooma

possum magic Life in the high country is a life less ordinary, just ask “Possum Point” farm manager James Crain.

The Tooma country is green and lush after a sensational autumn. Fresh young lambs are jumping on the ground and the cows are not far from calving.

It’s just another day on the land for “Possum Point” farm manager James Crain, who has to keep a vigilant eye out for potential problems.

“With the wet climate and the national park next door, I’m always on the lookout for wild dogs, worms, footrot and metabolic deficiencies,” he says.

Superphosphate and lime are regularly applied to keep the country fresh and productive. All stock is rotationally grazed with laneways to assist in stock handling.

James had been managing properties in Holbrook before accepting the job

160 RLM TOOMA

at “Possum Point”. Midway between Tumbarumba and Corryong, the 3000-acre property has been in the Jones family, based in Melbourne, for over 100 years.

Now in his ninth year, James loves working in the high country and raising his teenage family with wife Leigh.

Leigh is a busy woman, working at Carcoola Children’s Centre in Tumbarumba, doing the farm bookwork, helping James when required and being mother to Ada,16, Campbell, 13, and Alexander,12.

Ada boards at a school in Wagga Wagga, Campbell is at Tumbarumba High and Alex, the most rural inclined, is at the Tumbarumba Catholic school.

When James arrived in 2012, the valley was experiencing its biggest flood in 70 years after the mighty Tooma River burst its banks. Until good autumn rains in 2020, the country spent 12 months in drought.

James grows crops and phalaris-based pastures for his cross-bred ewe and Angus enterprise. It’s a big operation but James handles it with the help of one stockman and contractors.

With stunning views of the valley and livestock below, James admits he’s on top of the world.

“We never tire looking out the window,” he confesses.

It’s a dream job for this fifth-generation farmer from “Bangadang”, Adelong, a farm that’s been in the Crain family 130 years. RLM

Tooma T O W N F E AT U R E

IT’S A BIG OPERATION BUT JAMES HANDLES IT WITH THE HELP OF ONE STOCKMAN AND CONTRACTORS.

FACING PAGE: Angus cattle thrive on the green pastures at “Possum Point”.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The shearing shed; cross-bred ewes and lambs; the cattle come with a good temperament; living on top of the world; property manager James Crain loves raising his family in this rugged and beautiful part of the world; looking after an orphaned lamb is all part of the job.

TOOMA RLM 161

Country Workbox looks foward to adding you to their many local customers, gleaned over the last 21 years in beautiful, historic Braidwood.

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P. (02) 62381422 M. 0450 081 422 wrorganics@gmail.com Shop 2, 38 Ellendon Street Bungendore NSW 2621

Hosting exhibitions of emerging and established artists.

Offering curatorial support and small art handling services.

Gallery hire available for events.

Altenburg & Co established in Braidwood over 40 years celebrating good design, art, collaboration and community.

Fine Art 162 RLM

Giftware

Books

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Friday - Sunday 10am - 4pm or by appointment altenburg.gallery@gmail.com Ph. 0413 943 158

Making Good Things Happen Backed by Australia's fifth biggest retail bank, Braidwood & Districts Community Bank® Branch not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services, we're also committed to returning profits to our local communities.

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To find out how we can help you, visit our branch or call us to make an appointment.

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$2,313,478 93-95 Wallace Street, Braidwood, NSW 2622 Phone 02 4842 1700 Fax 02 4842 1711 Branch manager Nicholas Fry

Community Bank • Braidwood

RLM 163

Providing excellent legal services to the Bungendore, Queanbeyan and Canberra communities since 1861.

PARTNERS: RICHARD BAKER, LORRAINE WHITE, BILL BAKER, TANYA NADIN

CANBERRA OFFICE

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QUEANBEYAN OFFICE

260 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW (02) 6299 3999

www.bdn.com.au 164 RLM

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Sell, Buy and Rent Smarter RLM 165

TRUE NORTH Dr Robert North has been a valued member of the Dubbo community for more than half a century.

166 RLM

A man of vision and purpose with a strategic mind, genial nature and sharp wit, highly regarded surgeon Dr Robert North has made significant contributions to the development of health and community services and earned accolades as an academic educator, mentor, advocate and volunteer.

Unassuming about a lifetime of achievement, the 83-year-old now enjoys retirement with his wife Jane, a well-known retired solicitor and stalwart of Dubbo Bridge Club.

Robert was born in North Sydney and grew up in Wollstonecraft and Cheltenham.

His father, Robert Bell North, was a doctor who served in France during WWI and later became an eye specialist.

His mother, Kathleen Mullen (the daughter of Western Lands Commissioner A. W. Mullen), grew up in Bourke and later relocated to Mosman.

Robert was educated at Barker College at Hornsby where he excelled academically and on the sporting field.

Aspiring to be a doctor from a young age, he undertook medical training at the University of Sydney.

Graduating in 1960, he was an intern at Sydney Hospital, Crown Street Women’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Camperdown.

He took on other positions, including a stint as a flying doctor at Broken Hill, before sailing to Britain to spend five years training as a surgeon in Scotland and England.

“It was a wonderful period of my life,” Robert recalls.

“I gained great professional experience and enjoyed lovely travel.”

Returning to Australia in 1968, he moved to Dubbo at the suggestion of good friend John Logan.

“We went through Medicine together and corresponded regularly. I wanted to work in the country and Dubbo was recommended as a good location.”

Robert joined the Wingewarra Street practice of Don Sutherland and John Logan. Great medical colleagues across the road were John Beith, Warwick Adams and Brian Dickens.

Robert practised in Wingewarra Street from 1968 to 1992 when he moved to private medical consulting rooms in Myall Street, built by Dr Joseph Canalese.

“I had a lovely career at Dubbo Base Hospital and Dubbo Private Hospital. In those days, general practitioners and specialists worked together in the hospitals.

“We bonded together in what was called the Dubbo Medical Society and provided great continuity of care to patients.

“Camaraderie was reduced when GPs were gradually excluded from the hospital. By the year 2000, the health department employed specialists who weren’t so much a part of Dubbo.”

Robert started out as a general surgeon and gradually became more specialised, developing a particular interest in breast surgery.

He helped start the BreastScreen unit at Dubbo Base Hospital in 1996 and worked as attending surgeon at the service from 2002 to 2015.

Medicine changed significantly as technology advanced and Robert stayed on top of the latest developments.

“Ultrasound was the most extraordinary invention during my career and provided brilliant results for obstetrics, abdominal examinations and breast screening.”

A consummate professional, Robert loved his work and remained dedicated to supporting patients and colleagues.

He played a role in the early days of the University of Sydney School of Rural Health, which was established in the George Hatch building at Dubbo Base Hospital in 2002 before moving to a purpose-built campus in 2004.

local hero S U M M E R

“Professor Rick McLean was the Associate Dean and I became Sub Dean.

“Training and mentoring a new generation of medical practitioners was a rewarding experience. I stayed with the School of Rural Health until 2012 and also performed voluntary work at Lourdes Hospital, supervising a leg ulcer clinic.”

Robert developed great friendships through the Provincial Surgeons’ Association of Australia and attended annual meetings in locations throughout the nation.

His long-time service and commitment to health was recognised by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons. He taught anatomy and surgical skills training and examined prospective surgeons.

In 2009, he received the NSW State Committee Merit Award for services to surgery in NSW and in 2016 was extremely honoured to accept the Australian Rural Surgeon of the Year Award, travelling all the way to Albany for the presentation.

Robert has played substantial roles outside the field of medicine in a range of groups and organisations, including Delroy High School Parents’ and Citizens’ Association, the Dubbo chapter of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society and the Interrelate counselling service (formerly known as Family Life). He also enjoyed being part of the Wesley Players theatrical group.

Robert and Jane married in 1973 and raised three sons on a 10-hectare property on the western outskirts of Dubbo.

“It was a wonderful place for the boys to grow up. They enjoyed camping in the bush and gained tremendous benefits from spending time outdoors.”

Robert and Jane are proud of their sons – Robert (a gynaecologist and obstetrician on the Sunshine Coast), Doug (a physical education teacher at Alstonville, and Bill (a newspaper editor at Grafton).

Robert says he and Jane have always enjoyed being part of the Dubbo community and have no plans to relocate.

“Dubbo is a thriving regional centre that has expanded dramatically over the years. Despite the development, it is still a friendly, welcoming place that has long been an important medical hub for the surrounding region. It was the logical location for a Royal Flying Doctor Service base.”

Robert has enjoyed extensive travel over the years and has great memories of his time as a ship’s surgeon and humanitarian aid organisation volunteer in Sumatra.

A keen sportsman, he was also a torch relay runner in Sydney prior to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

In 2010, Robert and Jane travelled to China and Tibet when their eldest son, Robert, climbed Mount Everest.

“Spending a week living in tents with the group at base camp was an amazing experience. We came back through Nepal and were home by the time they reached the top of the mountain.”

Robert practised medicine until the age of 78 and remains passionate about advocacy and building a strong rapport with people.

“I have made so many great mates over the years,” he says.

“The camaraderie has been tremendous.” RLM Words: Heather Crosby Images: Jake Lindsay

FROM TOP: The final scrub, Dubbo Base Hospital 2001; the family in Beecroft during the 1940s, a young Robert in front; Dr North carrying the Olympic flame in 1956 between Turramurra and Pymble; working on a complex jigsaw with wife Jane; a family photo with Jane and sons Douglas, Robert and Bill at the turn of the century; the Norths surrounded by grandkids a few years ago.

FACING PAGE: Dr Robert North and wife Jane in their comfortable country home on the outskirts of Dubbo.

RLM 167

S U M M E R agriculture

an open letter to Australian farmers At the Mulloon Institute we’re committed to building resilient rural and regional communities by supporting the long-term, sustainable growth of Australian agriculture.

We work with farmers around the country to rehydrate and restore agricultural landscapes to help build soil carbon, increase vegetation cover and boost ecosystem biodiversity.

We acknowledge that healthy soil is the lifeblood of agriculture and is vital for healthy plant growth, more nutritious food and for thriving ecosystems that provide us with clean water and air.

As a leading research, education and advocacy organisation we partner with global innovators in agriculture and regenerative land management, with our work recognised internationally.

Our goal is to rehydrate and rehabilitate 2.5 million hectares of agricultural land, and

to improve the resilience, productivity and profitability of over 5000 farming families through our works, advice and support.

By actively integrating our leading-edge research into the services we provide through Mulloon Consulting, we’re able to offer specialist technical and practical advice in landscape rehydration, rehabilitation and erosion control.

Thorough planning followed by approved on-ground works successfully re-establishes the natural function, soil fertility and resilience of agricultural landscapes for increased productivity and profitability.

We work with a wide variety of clients including farmers, catchment communities and natural resource managers who are

passionate about creating more resilient, productive and profitable landscapes where agriculture and the environment are working in unison.

We invite farmers to join us in rehydrating and regenerating Australia’s landscapes for food and water security and healthier ecosystems. RLM ABOVE: TMI Chairman and former Member for Eden-Monaro Gary Nairn AO with his great mate the late Tony Coote AO in 2018. Tony purchased properties around Bungendore that became Mulloon Creek Natural Farms.

I n s p i r i n g + e m p o w e r i n g o u r AUSSIE FARMERS to Regenerate Australia

the mulloon ins tute for environment, farming and society

168 RLM

www.themullooninstitute.org

#rehydrateAustralia

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Opening Hours Mon to Fri 9am -5pm Sat 9am - 2pm Sun 10am - 2pm RLM 169

S U M M E R dance

STEP BY STEP

Cootamundra’s Silver Swans approach their weekly dance class with youthful enthusiasm.

Every Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock, the former Masonic Lodge on Cooper Street, Cootamundra, is overtaken by a bevy of swans, Silver Swans.

Joining Miss Chris, of Chris Edwards School of Dancing, which has been housed in the historic building since 2015, is a group of dancers ranging in age from 40 to 80.

As the dancers file into the studio, they ready their dancing feet with ballet slippers and remove their outerwear to reveal clothes made for movement.

Miss Chris is a vision in white, with crimson red dance shoes. She floats as she moves about the room, greeting her dancers and preparing the studio for class.

Her lifetime of dance training, and 36 years of teaching, is beautifully obvious.

As the music begins, the dancers make their way to the barre to warm up their bodies.

Toes are pointed and arms are gracefully curved skyward.

The women who make up this Wednesday morning club have taken many different

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paths to class. Some were invited by friends, some sought out a place to rekindle a childhood love of dance and others wanted to try something new. While most did not know each other before joining the class, this hour of music and movement that they spend together each week has created a special bond.

Miss Chris’s studio is a non-threatening space, which is just one of the reasons her students continue to come back. Without fear of judgement, they can fully enjoy the experience. Missteps are not mocked but merely fodder for laughter among the group.

Music is also a large part of the ambience.

The classical pieces flowing from the stereo create a relaxed air about the room, and with the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, the whole experience could be described as therapeutic.

Miss Chris cues up Giselle Valse, a colourful, mood-filled Romantic era piece composed by Adolphe Adam in the mid 1800s. The women move from the

barre to the centre of the room, forming lines where they perform a series of choreographed steps that weave together into a ballet performance.

Miss Chris encourages them along the way. Her voice commands rise gently above the music, arriving precisely on the beat.

“Right…left…turn and rise…now walk, walk and point your toes, 5…6…7 and 8.”

For this small amount of time each week, these women are able to leave behind whatever is happening outside the studio doors and return to a childlike state, doing something purely for the joy of it. RLM Words and images: Jennifer Harden

ABOVE: The Silver Swans, Emma Randall, Debbie Rose, Nancye Heath, Karen Maher, Kym Orman, Tracy Burgess, Marcel Gay, Tzarsa Meliyeni Vutroxerxes, Leigh Bowden, Daina Trethewey, Miss Chris and Annabel Marley. Not pictured, Denyce Smith, Judy Balnaves and Lindsae Cooper.

FACING PAGE: With over 35 years of teaching and a lifetime of dance training, Miss Chris (pictured top right) is the perfect leader for this group of mature aged ballerinas.

story name S U M M E R

MISSTEPS ARE NOT MOCKED BUT MERELY FODDER FOR LAUGHTER AMONG THE GROUP.

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Straddling the Great Dividing Range, Butmaroo Station sits in a picturesque sheltered valley with Tallaganda National Park wrapping the southern end of the property.

Butmaroo is the perfect place to escape the everyday with two gorgeous self contained cottages and is suitable for families, couples or small or large groups.

Enjoy the tranquility while being only 15 minutes from the village of Bungendore & a short drive to Canberra.

Life at Butmaroo is slower and quieter – a place where you can finally unwind. A place where you can experience the simple pleasures in life. Snuggle in front of the fire, star gaze, listens to birds sing, stay in bed and watch the animals wander by, sit on the verandah and watch the sunset, cook a delicious meal, wander the 2500 acre property or do absolutely nothing, the choice is yours. Most importantly enjoy your time together.

+61 422371055 www.butmaroo.com butmaroostation@gmail.com 607 Butmaroo Road, Bungendore NSW 2621

TheHenge FA R M STAY

Found just minutes from Canberra, TheHenge Farm Stay is the ideal property on which you can enjoy a relaxing farm environment but still be close enough to find city entertainment. Canberra’s amazing local wineries and attractions are also just at your fingertips.

992 Macs Reef Road, Bywong, NSW 2621

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TheHenge is the perfect little piece of paradise to enjoy that romantic getaway with your partner but also suitable for younger children to join you.

Enjoy the ambience and magical aura of TheHenge with a impromptu picnic of if you’re an avid photographer, wander TheHenge or the property to find that amazing photo opportunity.

TheHenge is the perfect place to come and help you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. From relaxing with your favourite wine and cheeses, to warming your toes by the fire pit on a cold winter night, you will find the stars are the brightest lights you will have to deal with.

thehenge@hotmail.com

www.thehenge.com.au

Opening hours by appointment Contact Tracey Wallace 0413 933 801

Norton Road Wines is a producer of small batch cool climate wines that reflect the terroir of the region.

Join us for a food and wine pairing/tasting at the vineyard overlooking the vines in the beautiful foothills of the Canberra district wine region.

Norton Road Wines hosts Biggie’s BBQ, an American BBQ restaurant for dining options.

Ph. 02 6238 3143 or M. 0411 657 640 enquiries@nortonroadwines.com.au For opening hours, please visit our website www.nortonroadwines.com.au

344 Norton Road, Wamboin New South Wales, 2620

Old Coolamon Hospital Spend a night or two in restful, composed rooms.

Ever transforming, like an artist’s studio.

RUTH BAILEY 58 Cowabbie Street, Coolamon NSW 2701 0413 066 803 RLM 173

S U M M E R story name

magnificent MENA Heritage-listed “Mena”, one of the Central West’s most elegant and significant homes, is looking for a new owner.

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heritage home S U M M E R

Many years ago, Scott Gilbank joked that one day he would own “Mena”, a stunningly beautiful Victorian home in Kite Street, Orange.

He would pass it on his way into town from the family farm in Canowindra and he never failed to be impressed by it.

“What struck me most was its street presence,” Scott says.

Set back from one of Orange’s beautiful historic residential streets, with an imposing entrance and intricate iron lacework, it is indeed a striking building.

Scott’s chance came at last in 2003 when “Mena” was put up for auction. He was working overseas at the time but his parents alerted him to the coming sale.

“Your house has just been on TV,” his mother said. “It’s coming up for auction.” His parents acted on his behalf at the auction and soon his dream of owning it came true.

The house was built in about 1888 for draftsman Edward Gerard, who named it “Cranleigh”. Its most notable owner was Thomas Garrett (“Gatty”) Dalton, who moved there from Sydney in 1895 and lived in the house for 16 years.

Gatty was the eldest of 12 children of Irish-Australian James Dalton of Duntryleague and helped run the family’s extensive retail and wholesale general goods business. He renamed the house “Killiney”after a Dublin seaside locality, which he had visited in 1884. Only weeks after Gatty, his wife May and six young children moved in, tragedy struck.

May died of complications arising from consumption. Gatty remarried two years later, and he and his second wife, Mary, continued living at “Killiney” until his death in 1911. >

FACING PAGE: The cosy cigar room.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The home’s glorious street frontage is what initially appealed to Scott; the formal dining room is furnished in period style; the music room with its folding cedar doors leading to the sitting room.

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S U M M E R story name

SCOTT’S TRAINING AS A GREENKEEPER STOOD HIM IN GOOD STEAD WHEN HE TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO THE GARDEN. Following the death of Mary Dalton, “Killiney” passed through a number of owners over the years, including Sir Neville Howse, VC recipient, doctor, Mayor of Orange and politician. During World War II it became a private maternity hospital run by Matron Ruth Coote, who changed its name to “Mena”, probably a reference to the famous World War I military hospital in Cairo. Scott can point out indentations still visible on the walls at the back of the house made by food and medical trolleys during its time as a hospital.

When Scott, a professional photographer, took over ownership of “Mena”, he found the décor was dated and there was an “ugly” infill verandah on the eastern side, but structurally the house was in excellent condition.

“Each owner did what they thought was best at the time,” he says.

“They came in with their ability, funds and energy and did it in the best possible way. I likened the house to a skeleton that just needed fleshing out. My vision was to lift its presence and give it that authentic original Victorian ambience, which I think it now has.”

On moving in, Scott set to work with a team of expert craftsmen.

Their first task was to restore the eastern verandah to its original open condition and replace its wooden flooring with tessellated tiles to match those at the front and western sides of the house. All of the columns and lace for the verandah were moulded at a Sydney foundry.

Next, the interior was painted throughout in neutral colours, the carpet was removed, the Kauri and Baltic pine floors sanded, tinted and polished. The back of the house was recarpeted and three years ago a new kitchen and laundry were installed.

Scott cleaned and oiled the Australian cedar woodwork throughout the house – skirting boards, picture rails, window surrounds, door jambs and doors, including the magnificent cedar

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folding doors between the music room at the front of the house and the sitting room. The build-up over many years of dust, fire ash residue and smoke was removed and gradually the woodwork returned to life. “Each room took a full day to do and I’ve never needed to do them since,” he says.

He demonstrates the inherent quality of all the inclusions in the house when he effortlessly opens and closes the folding doors with just one finger.

Some inclusions, such as the curtains in the dining room and the wallpaper in the music room, were in such good condition that Scott retained them.

The home’s imposing presence, which first attracted Scott, continues inside. The elegant front door, with beautiful leadlighting, leads into a spacious hallway with polished timber flooring. To the left is the north-facing dining room, which easily accommodates a 14-person dining table.

To the right is the spacious music room, behind which is the sitting room. Tucked away off the music room is a small room that Scott has named the cigar room. There are five bedrooms, one with an en suite, and an extra bathroom. The recently refurbished eat-in kitchen has been fitted out to blend in with the historic living rooms.

Interesting original inclusions are the small cloakroom alcove near the front door and the decorative marble fireplaces in all the main rooms.

A historic house such as “Mena” needs furniture in keeping with its Victorian origins. Even before he moved in, Scott started collecting suitable pieces, using a floor plan of all the rooms to ensure what he bought would suit and fit in. He had long been interested in antiques and relished the chance to find the right

story name S U M M E R

pieces for each room. He attended auctions in Orange and as far afield as South Australia, and gradually furnished the rooms with bedsteads, dressing tables, lounges and lounge chairs, bureaus, occasional tables and chests of drawers, all chosen for their late 19th century authenticity. Pride of place goes to two decorative vases, which sit in arched niches in the hallway.

One can imagine the flurry of activity at “Mena” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with adults, children, servants, gardeners and visitors all enjoying the ambience indoors and outside. At the rear of the house there is a gardener’s cottage, a garden shed and a former coach house. In its early days, “Mena” stood on a double block, which included a tennis court. The extensive gardens with mature trees offer welcome shade in summer.

Scott’s training as a greenkeeper stood him in good stead when he turned his attention to the garden.

“It was cottage style but didn’t have any formality to it so I brought back more colour and formality, but it’s still a low-maintenance garden,” Scott says.

He paid particular attention to planting roses in the front garden, which look an absolute picture in the warmer months.

After owning “Mena” for 17 years, Scott has decided to pass on the baton to a new owner, someone who will ensure the 132-year-old picture of elegance will remain one of Orange’s premier homes. RLM Words: Elisabeth Edwards Images: Scott Gilbank

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The tessellated verandah; colour and formality in the garden at the front of “Mena” complement the grand 19th century home; the gardener’s shed and cottage.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The music room; the wide entrance hall showing the front door with decorative lead-lighting; a mahogany hallstand sits in the light and airy bedroom wing hallway; the eat-in kitchen has been tastefully refurbished; one of the elegantly furnished bedrooms.

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MENA C I R C A

5 0

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ate Victorian mansion set on a 2326m2 private garden oasis.

A leafy street front surrounded by historical homes just 300 metres to shopping centre, cafes and dining.

K I T E

S T R E E T,

Immaculate condition and presention throughout, five bedrooms, two bathrooms and formal rooms.

1 8 8 0

O R A N G E

N S W

2 8 0 0

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o arrange a private viewing please call 0426 287 066 or email info@menahouse.com.au

PRICE $2.5 Million ( AVA I L A B L E

O N

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M E N A H O U S E . C O M . A U

Tombarra

ACCOMMODATION & EVENTS

Weddings • Family events • Training programs

579 Northangera Road Ph. 0497 638 631 Mongarlowe, NSW tombarra.com.au

Jillamatong

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE FARM TOURS + WORKSHOPS

206 COOMA ROAD BRAIDWOOD, NSW

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MARTIN ROYDS MATT HULSE PH. 0484 132 167 PH. 0438 648 468

BRED TO FINISH ON GRASS! www.tattykeel.com.au

Australian Whites

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02 6882 0949 1/27 Bultje Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 care@dubbodental.com.au

A complete range of dental services: >

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Medicare Child Dental BeneďŹ ts Schedule

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Geriatric dentistry

Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Armitage

dubbodental.com.au RLM 179

positivity on a plate

The committed team behind Cafe Dolcetto always looks on the bright side.

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On the many trips Noelene Garner made from Canberra to Yass to visit her daughter Leigh Robinson and family, they would often visit a quaint little cafe in the heart of the town.

As fate would have it, in November 2016 the cafe became theirs. The musings about what they would do if it were theirs became reality, and eventually the little cafe had its well overdue facelift.

The dining area was transformed into a bright, welcoming place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal and a catch-up with friends or interact with friendly staff. New colourful furniture replaced white plastic in the courtyard and the front of the cafe “popped” with new furniture under bright, cheerful umbrellas.

The rebirth of Cafe Dolcetto had begun. There were some ups and downs over the next four years, but the cafe couldn’t go wrong with a dedicated chef, friendly, experienced staff, an excellent financial manager and a determined mother/daughter team.

All was well until COVID-19 arrived for an extended visit – similar to an annoying distant relative’s appearance with an oversized suitcase. Its arrival brought with it an unprecedented, unsettling time with an uncertain future. Leigh, Noelene and

cafe culture S U M M E R

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Leigh Robinson and her mother Noelene Garner make a great team; a popular meal is the prawn zoodle bowl; smashed avocado; staff members include Chloe Crawford, Tara Alchin, Shayla Anderson, chef Trent Saltmarsh and Breanna Dyball.

FACING PAGE: The cafe has a wonderful enclosed area at the back with plenty of light and ambience.

Cafe Dolcetto YASS, NSW

staff battled on but eventually realised that this was not shortterm, and Cafe Dolcetto sadly closed its doors in March 2020.

However, it’s hard to keep a good family business down, and within five weeks the cafe doors reopened and it was back to business to the delight of dedicated staff and wonderfully supportive customers.

There were changes to trading under legislation developed to keep people safe against the threat of the insidious virus. Staff and customers accepted the changes and the little cafe bloomed again.

The laughter and chatter had returned. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had a negative impact on Cafe Dolcetto, there has been a positive realisation as well. It has shown Leigh and Noelene that the recipe for success is with its people – their dedicated staff, loyal customers, professional financial support and the strong bond between mother and daughter.

And there was the willingness to reassess business operations and continually improve work practices. One of the determinations that Leigh and Noelene have affirmed is their commitment to an environmentally sustainable business. RLM

Cafe Dolcetto is conveniently located in the heart of Yass and, is owned and operated by Noelene and Leigh, a dynamic mother-daughter team.

The warm, friendly atmosphere of this quaint heritage building; with its all-day breakfast, delicious lunches and amazing coffee makes it an enjoyable stop for travellers, as well as a popular social hub for Yass locals.

129 Comur Street Yass NSW 2582 Ph: 02 6226 1277 Tuesday – Saturday: 6:30am – 3pm Sunday: 8am - 2pm Find us on Facebook: CafeDolcetto

Images: Jake Lindsay

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Award-winning French restaurant

Convivial and informative cooking classes. Regular cooking class program or specially designed for your group; teambuilding, group of friends and family, special occasion or schools. Gourmet tours to France, New Caledonia and Italy.

Small group tours guided by Chef Christophe and Josephine. letresbon.com.au 40 Malbon Street Bungendore NSW 2621 info@letresbon.com.au ph. +61 2 62380662

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 • LOCAL LIQUOR BOTTLESHOP

12 MARSDEN ST BOOROWA • PHONE: (02) 6385 3005 • WWW.COURTHOUSEHOTELBOOROWA.COM.AU

DUBBO 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.

144 Brisbane Street Dubbo NSW 2830 Phone: (02) 6884 7354 www.grapevinecafe.com.au OPEN 7 DAYS 182 RLM

ENJOY THE RICHNESS OF BLACK GARLIC IN A VARIETY OF DELICIOUS DISHES The Ultimate Flavour Packed Fine Food Ingredient Grown in Braidwood New South Wales Enjoy 10% off by using this code RLOFFER

139 Manar Road, Braidwood New South Wales, 2622 Ph. 0428 216 878

garliciousgrown.com.au

Sharwood Hampers provides fabulous gift hampers uniquely filled with premium products sourced exclusively from the local region of Canberra and the Southern Highlands

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a different path

Sitting on a park bench outside Tweed Heads Hospital, 45-year-old Gregory Smith’s backpack contained everything that an itinerant addict could want for: alcohol, tobacco and drugs. What happened that day in March 2000 saw him leave behind all vices and embark on his journey to redemption. Placing his bag on the bench, Gregory would walk away with only two possessions: his name and his word. From there he would become not only a man of integrity and honour, but a role model for the ages.

It’s a hot December day in Orange, NSW, and the date sits somewhere in that delirium period between Christmas and the New Year. As I had no clue what day it was, I was expecting Gregory’s arrival to my home, tomorrow. Awakened by an early morning text, I quickly set about preparing a meal for my guest.

Just in time for lunch, 65-year-old Dr Gregory Peel Smith arrives with two small dogs in tow.

He is a quietly spoken man with a slightly bohemian look in his sandals, jeans, loose button-up shirt and black-rimmed glasses. His long hair sits roughly tied and slung over his chest, seamlessly blending into his long wizard-like grey beard.

A golden teddy-bear ring adorns his little finger. I refrain from asking; there’ll be time. Moving my focus to his eyes, I see kindness and the type of wisdom that can only be acquired by pushing on the boundaries of life’s limits, all of them.

Gregory keeps to a predominantly plant-based diet. A little out of my depth when it comes to vegetarian cooking, I am perhaps undeservingly complimented on my efforts.

As we share a meal, Gregory’s dialogue quickly gains depth.

Only too aware of his own mortality, his preference is not one for small talk. Though extremely candid, he takes time to formulate his sentences and you get the feeling that he’s purposeful in where and how his words land.

“Words have the power to change the way that I feel about you and how you feel about me. You can’t be careless with them.

Words are lasting. They change lives.”

He continues, likening speech to that of mixing a magic potion. He isn’t about to spoil or spill it.

However, Gregory was not always the considered and compelling wordsmith that he is today. Throughout the afternoon, Gregory tells me his amazing story. I am awake to the privilege.

Growing up in Tamworth from the mid 1950s, Gregory’s home life was a mix of alcoholism, abuse and dysfunction. This toxic combination often saw Gregory horrifically beaten by his father and he describes his mother as having her own demons.

Home life had taught a young Gregory four lasting lessons: how to fear, hate, fight and run. Although Gregory cannot remember a single happy childhood memory, he can clearly conjure the most haunting one.

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In 1965, when he was 10 years old, his mother announced a trip to visit Aunt Muriel in Armidale. What began as excitement and anticipation, soon turned to confusion and fear. Gregory’s mother pulled up at a large gothic-looking building where waiting nuns ushered him, and his sisters, inside. It was the first time that Gregory had seen these women, and their stiff demeanour struck fear into his heart.

There were no hugs or wistful goodbyes. He and his siblings were marched upstairs. Protesting, Gregory was given a swift slap across the head. He wouldn’t get the chance to speak with his sisters again for a long time.

His mother’s betrayal had a significant and lasting impact.

A searing anger now burned into Gregory’s core.

“For much of my life I couldn’t trust women. I couldn’t trust people. I had abandonment issues.”

A few months after leaving her children, Gregory’s mother returned to collect one of the sisters. She had had a new baby to a man who was not Gregory’s father, and needed Gregory’s younger sister to assist with the baby’s care.

Finally, 16 months later, Gregory’s mother collected her remaining children and took them back home, but hurt runs deep.

As a healed adult, Gregory views the entire situation without the need to lay blame. Accepting that his parents were unwell from their own unresolved childhood trauma, he reflects with understanding and empathy. However, for a time, the cycle of dysfunction ultimately continued into his own adult life and the lives of some of his siblings also.

In 1973, Gregory found himself a ward of the state, and he was sent to Minda Juvenile Detention Centre, Sydney. After a particularly nasty physical fight between himself and another youth, the institution sent him for psychological assessment.

The psychologist categorised Gregory as intellectually dull and considered him to be both traumatised and depressed. He was referred on to a senior state psychiatrist who rejected the assessment of trauma and depression and certified Gregory as a sociopath, unfit for medical assistance or any kind of intervention in general.

The limitations and impact that the words “dull” and “sociopath” placed on Gregory’s life followed him for many years, at least until he realised that there was no truth in it. It is quite apparent why, today, Gregory views words, and their impact, with the reverence that he does.

inspiration S U M M E R

Gregory’s adolescence was filled with abuse, petty crimes and constant fighting. As such, Gregory was continually on the run from educational institutions, the police, detention centres and his family.

Try as he might, the one thing he couldn’t run from was himself.

That was until as a young man, when he was finally free to do as he pleased, he first discovered alcohol and later drugs. Alcohol allowed Gregory to dull his mental torment and anguish. It also assisted him in relinquishing his pain by physically fighting anyone foolish enough to succumb to his drunken words of provocation.

“I never suffered from depression as such. Depression gave me a reason to be mean and horrible.”

The following years were spent in a haze of drugs, alcohol, odd jobs, homelessness and fighting. Gregory could never stay in any place for too long because he made trouble wherever he went.

“I was always wanting to be somewhere else. I always thought if I could just get to the next place everything was going to be all right.”

Throughout this period, Gregory experienced a failed marriage, unhealthy relationships, numerous jobs in various locations, homelessness, and, in joyful contrast, he welcomed his beautiful baby girl, Katie, into the world.

Gregory’s mental health was sinking further and further into decline until eventually, in an act of temporary insanity, he burnt his accommodation to the ground and faced jail time.

Gregory did not go to jail. Instead, he was simply deemed too unwell to be held responsible for his actions.

Continuing his nomadic lifestyle, Gregory wandered in and around the coastline of northern NSW. One evening in 1989, having left Mullumbimby, en route to anywhere, Gregory took shelter in the Goonengerry State Forest just on sunset. Despite the heavy rainfall that night, this became his home for the next 10 years.

“The next day was a nice sunny day. I had a bit of a look around and I decided that I’d like to stay. It was nice and peaceful. I felt OK. There was nobody to make me feel bad.”

Living off the eggs, fruit and nuts that he pilfered from neighbouring farms, Gregory supplemented his diet with whatever he could find in the forest.

“My philosophy was that if it moved and I could catch it, I ate it.”

However, over the years, Gregory’s health began to fail. His decline was exacerbated by an endless supply of homebrew, that he made with the river’s water.

“It tasted awful, but it wasn’t the taste that I was after.”

Finally, in a state of mental delirium and while experiencing extreme physical sickness, Gregory lost a fight with some strange visitors. They had come to try to convince him to leave the forest.

“The aliens won the argument. They convinced me that if I died in the forest, and if I was never found, I would cause pain and unresolved trauma for my daughter and sisters.”

At this point, I couldn’t help but to ask.

“Gregory, are we discussing real aliens?”

“It’s not relevant,” he replies. “At the time, they were real to me.”

For 10 years, Gregory had made the Goonengerry State Forest his home. When he left on November 2, 1999, it had become the Goonengerry National Park. The name of the forest had changed and so had the world. Unable to walk upright, or without the use of a stick, Gregory now weighed just 42kg and was desperately unwell.

Gregory and I break from his story for a cup of tea. Though the day hadn’t gotten any cooler, I sensed that the story was about to enter a change in season. However, as I’d soon discover, not before one more twist in the plot.

My last question had created a reflective silence. Into the silence I finally spoke.

“How did you know the date and your weight the day you left the forest?”

“Because the day I came out of the forest I was hit by a car.

The car then backed over me. I don’t remember this but there is a record of it because I was taken to Lismore Hospital by ambulance.” > ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Dr Gregory Smith in 2020; family photo of Wendy, Gregory, baby Roma, Glenda, Louise and Lynette; three years out of the forest; Gregory uses his vast knowledge and lived experience to teach future policy makers and those working with vulnerable people; Gregory with first wife Julie.

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S U M M E R inspiration

Over the next few years, while Gregory recovered, he was placed on the disability support pension. Living on the beach, he used community transport to move about and to visit the region’s soup kitchens.

It was after one such visit to a soup kitchen, and some five months after he had left the forest, that Gregory was sitting on the bench outside the Tweed Heads Hospital. Keeping the company of his only possessions, his vices of choice, he was feeling quite content until he had one defining thought.

“If I just had one friend to tell my problems to, I’d be OK.” What happened next, Gregory refers to as “the epiphany”.

Suddenly, the world fell into darkness.

Before him, Gregory saw a barren and smoking battlefield.

Peering through the fog, he desperately looked for the enemy.

Who had caused such destruction? But there was nobody there except himself. In his hands, he held an almighty sword. In fear and desperation, he tried to throw the sword to the ground, but his hands would not release it.

Coming to, he realised that this sword was his word and that all the pain and destruction in his life was on him. Placing his backpack on the bench, he turned away from the vices that had held him back and walked towards a new start.

In 2002, the word around the soup kitchen was that computers were the way of the future. Having missed the ’90s, Gregory knew little about them. Now sober, Gregory was contemplating future employment. Though the forest had taught him many good skills, there was nothing, in particular, that would transfer to his resume.

“I could grow pot and brew alcohol. I could track an animal through the forest at night and not break a cobweb. But that’s not the sort of skills that any employer wanted.”

It was time to become educated.

In 2003, and while still without a home, Gregory enrolled in a computer course at Kingscliff TAFE. The six-week course taught him many things. By day two, he was assured that he hated computers. However, he persisted, and by course completion, he was thirsty for more.

Enrolling in an adult tertiary preparation course at Southport TAFE, Gregory understood only two words in the course’s title: adult and course. Not surprisingly, Gregory was slightly taken aback when asked by the teacher at the course’s end what he wanted to study at university.

Perusing the University Admission Centre (UAC) guide, the word Sociology kept jumping out at him. Still without a home, it appeared that the study of society was a good fit for a man who didn’t feel that he belonged.

“I wanted to understand society because I wanted to learn why I hated it so much.”

Gregory completed his undergraduate in Sociology at Southern Cross University in 2007. By the time he finished, he had been renting for a year and half and had come to the conclusion that he didn’t really hate society. The real battle had come from within.

Around this time, Gregory received a phone call from Dr Sandy Darab, who offered him work, first tutoring, and then lecturing.

“My mind went back to why I started university in the first place.

I couldn’t get a job. I couldn’t get an interview. Now, here I was being offered a job without an interview. I can honestly say that I thought deeply about the offer for 0.5 of a second before I said ‘Yes. Thank you’.”

Invited to do his Honours, Gregory was encouraged to write from what he knew best. By the end of 2009, he had written his thesis I’d like to tell you a story, but I am not sure that I can. The research was based on the experience of people who endured institutionalised abuse in St Patrick’s Orphanage throughout the last century.

When the result came back, Gregory had received First Class Honours. His account was so powerful that one examiner stated: “This story has changed my life forever.”

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Based on the quality of his work, Gregory was awarded a scholarship to complete a Doctor of Philosophy. Now completing a PhD full-time and teaching 40 hours a week, Gregory’s life had flipped into a whole new way of living, understanding and perceiving the world.

His PHD research, Nobody’s children: An exploration into the institutionalised abuse of children while in care, was finished in 2016.

Dr Gregory Peel Smith now had an office with his name and title on the door. He decided that he would never hide his story again.

“If anybody asks me a question about my life, I am going to answer it candidly. I am not going to hide anything because all my life I have been hiding my story. I don’t need to be ashamed of my story. I don’t need to hide it.”

Having since had a flurry of media attention from the likes of Australian Story and Richard Fidler, among others, Gregory went on to publish his own book. Co-written by Craig Henderson, Out of the Forest, the true story of a recluse, was published in 2018. It details Gregory’s life and defines why his successes are far more miraculous than you could ever imagine. Though that isn’t quite how Gregory views it.

Today, Gregory continues his role as a lecturer in the Social Sciences at Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour. He is a social researcher for the homeless and vulnerable, a social commentator and consultant for not-for-profits, addressing the disadvantaged. He is also the ambassador for several homeless services, including Signal Flare, Fred’s Place and Pete’s Place.

The afternoon is cooling off. It’s time to part. Gregory is leaving for his home near Grafton. He owns a house and a forest, fully paid for, he tells me. I sense his own disbelief.

Gregory leaves me with new perspectives and a little less judgement about people whose shoes I’ve never walked in. I’ve been refreshed by the simplicity and ease in which he speaks the truth. In return, I hand him a bag of grapes, an egg and some sprouts. We laugh at the exchange. As new friends we hug goodbye, but before he leaves, I have one final question.

“Gregory,” I point. “Your ring?”

“When I was a child, I never had a teddy bear. Now I have one made of gold. It reminds me that there is a child that needs nurturing inside me; inside all of us.” RLM Words: Catherine Player

ABOVE: Gregory on his 2016 PhD graduation day with PhD supervisors Evon Hartman and Mark Hughes.

Visit our boutique gift shop for all your stationery, gifts and toys with a point of difference.

And don’t forget we are still printing!

Our experienced graphic designers and trade printers can supply all your business and personal printing needs!

Dubbo Printing Works practices COVID-safe behaviours.

▹ Cards,

▹ Decor

paper, envelopes, ribbons & accessories

pieces & gifts to delight & inspire

▹ Beautiful

baby gifts & children’s toys

DESIGN - PRINT - PAPER - GIFTS 214 Macquarie Street, Dubbo NSW 2830

02 6882 1233 | printingworks.com | admin@printingworks.com

Celebrating 74 years as Dubbo’s printer

Paddock to Plate

Family owned and operated Supporting the local community 2018 Sydney RAS Virtual Taste Test CHAMPION 2019 Sydney RAS Virtual Taste Test 1st Place

Free range above 1100 metres

Fruit & Veg • Meat • Groceries • Deli • Liquor

Large range of local products & thousands of weekly specials

OBERON, NSW FAMILY OWNED • LOCALLY GROWN PADDOCK REARED • HORMONE FREE Available at Mawhood’s IGA Stores: Cootamundra, Oberon & Grenfell Barker’s Butchery, Oberon Summer Centre IGA, Orange Trinity Heights & Westpoint IGA, Bathurst Cootamundra Butchery Email: sunnypoint@igaoberon.com.au

OPEN

7 days a week 7:30am - 8pm

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141 Oberon Street Oberon Ph. 02 6336 1101

141-149 Parker Street Cootamundra Ph. 02 6942 1131

110 Main Street Grenfell Ph. 02 6343 1611

mawhoodsiga.com.au

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“Angullong has perhaps Orange’s best value range...” Huon Hooke Visit our cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in Millthorpe for tasting and sales.

Cnr. Park & Victoria Streets, Millthorpe. Ph: 02 6366 3444 OPEN 7 DAYS 11am to 5pm

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Hall's Coffee Cottage Enjoy coffee surrounded by history

SPLASH INTO SUMMER

WITH POOLWERX DUBBO! WE CAN HELP WITH: Spas / Pool Chemicals & Equipment / Regular Servicing / On Demand Servicing / Green Pool Clean Up / Dust Storm Clean Up

* Indulge in our chef specialty meals, try our famous vanilla slice or apple pie * Catering and functions available * Indoor and outdoor deck seating overlooking lush gardens * Antiques and gift shop * Excellent service * Seriously good coffee from award winning “The Coffee Bean Roasting House” 6-88 Whitton Street, Narrandera NSW 2700 M. 0431 696 795 * Wed-Sun 8am to 4pm

WE COME TO YOU: Poolwerx Dubbo offers pool and spa servicing to rural NSW residents, including Mudgee, Narromine, Parkes, Gilgandra, Warren, Nyngan, Coonamble and Walgett.

Call us today to book 02 6885 5381 142 Erskine Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 | www.poolwerx.com.au

HANDMADE | ORIGINAL | AUSTRALIAN

Open Mon–Fri 9am–5.20pm + Sat 9am–12pm

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OPEN FRI TO MON 10AM TO 4PM OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT

PH. 0429 927185 or 0413 138 774 www.quirkycrow.net

50 + 53 Boorowa Street, Young NSW 2594 02 6382 2289 • youngworkwear@gmail.com

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S U M M E R country recipes

fine fare ‘Tis the season for something a little special on the dinner table.

JUICY DUCK BREASTS WITH CRANBERRY AND CHESTNUT SAUCE This dish is a triumph – the duck flavour really stands out, and the fruitiness is outstanding. It is ideal to share with someone special or to serve up at any kind of celebration.

Ingredients 2 duck breasts 2 tsp oil Pepper and salt to taste For the sauce 2 tbsp cranberry sauce 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 cup chicken stock ½ cup tinned chestnut slices, cut in halves 1 tbsp cornflour Salt and pepper to taste

Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

2. Pat the duck breasts dry and score the skin (four times across). This will be where to slice to serve.

3. Sprinkle with pepper and salt to season on both sides.

4. Fry the duck breasts skin down on medium heat for five minutes. Remove some of the fat that has come from the skin and fry the other side for two minutes.

5. Place in oven for about eight minutes on 180 degrees.

Remove from oven and rest for five minutes.

To make sauce: 1. Place cranberry sauce in butter. Simmer for a few minutes.

2. Add brown sugar. Keep stirring so it doesn’t stick.

3. Pour in chicken stock and simmer till reduced a little.

4. Add chestnut pieces cut into halves.

5. Stir in the cornflour, which has been mixed with a little water 6. Serve with in-season vegetables. *I drain the remaining chestnut slices, put them in a plastic bag and freeze.

STRAWBERRY CHARLOTTE This is a delicious sweet treat to make for an easy Christmas lunch or to have on Christmas Day. It always looks so fresh and inviting. You will need an eight-inch springform cake tin.

Ingredients 1 packet Sponge Fingers 500g strawberries ¼ cup + 2 tbsp sugar 2 packets gelatine (15g) 300ml whipped cream 50ml water ¼ cup juice of a small orange Method For the strawberry puree 1. Wash strawberries, cut off stems, set aside about 15 for the top.

2. In a blender, puree the rest of the strawberries and then put through a fine sieve to take out the seeds if you wish.

3. Prepare the gelatine as on the packet and cool.

4. Heat up about half the puree with quarter cup of sugar.

5. Add the gelatine, then add rest of strawberry puree.

6. Set aside to cool at room temperature.

For the syrup Heat up 50ml water, add the other two tablespoons of sugar and orange juice.

Stir till dissolved and cool.

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For the mousse 1. In a large mixing bowl, whip cream to a firm peak. Gently fold in strawberry mixture till a nice pink colour. Don’t overmix.

2. Line the springform pan, sides and base separately, with non-stick paper.

Cut a small amount off the bottom point of the sponge fingers to make them sit.

3. Cut about four big strawberries in half.

4. Dip sponge fingers flat side in the syrup and quickly line the side of the tin with them. Syrup side facing inward. Make these nice and firm and add some on the base of the pan.

5. Pour half of the mousse in the tin, this will keep things a little firm.

6. Place the strawberry halves in a layer, then add the remaining mousse on top.

7. Smooth the top and place the spare strawberries on top for decoration.

8. When ready to serve, take out of pan and remove paper from sides.

Words and images: Lorraine Hills

Come to Barnesstore for great country hospitality and a smiling face to greet you on your travels.

Great coffee, real loose leaf tea, homemade comforting food including our famous deep dish pies, belgian waffles and all day breakfast.

Extensive gluten free menu including our veggie bake and chocolate brownies.

Our award winning relish, smoked salts and black garlic are all made onsite at Barnesstore and are available for purchase.

Opening hours 9am - 3pm Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

356 Albury Street Murrumburrah NSW 2587 T: 02 6386 3316 E: info@barnesstore.com.au

(Corporate and private functions by appointment)

barnesstore.com.au

Offering functions, birthday parties, weddings + more!

The Bakehouse is a family-owned bakery in Forbes Established in 1990, we were initially a small bakery and have since grown to be a 70 seat cafe serving the best meals in town.

Enjoy the facilities of the Oberon RSL Club including • lawn bowls • squash • bistro + bar facilities • pool tables

• entertainment • fully licensed bistro + takeaway Bistro 59 has fabulous lunch specials from $10!

Members enjoy the the second Friday of the month as gourmet pizza night and the last Friday of the month as Seafood Friday.

Lunch: 12pm - 2:30pm Dinner: Sun - Thurs: 5:30pm - 8:30pm & Fri + Sat 5:30pm - 9pm

ALL-DAY BREAKFAST MENU

Visit our website to keep up to date with upcoming entertainment including shows, morning melodies and our free Saturday night lounge entertainment.

•

Open 7 days Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 10pm Friday + Saturday: 10am - Midnight

Cnr Dart + Oberon Streets Oberon 2787 Ph. 6336 1607 manager@oberonrsl.com.au oberonrsl.com.au

LUNCH MENU INC. BURGERS + DAILY SPECIALS

SUSHI

GRAB AND GO BAR + SUPER SALAD BAR

FULL BEVERAGE BAR

PIES, BREAD + CAKES

AS WELL AS CATERING, THEME NIGHTS + PIE/LAMINGTON DRIVES •

VISIT US 6 DAYS A WEEK AT 15 TEMPLAR STREET, FORBES NSW 2871 MON -FRI:

6:00 AM - 5:00 PM

SAT:

6:00 AM - 12:00 PM

SUN:

CLOSED

www.thebakehouse2871.com.au

02 6852 3388

thebakehouse2871@outlook.com

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JACKSON’S BAKERY

P R O U D LY S E R V I N G

1 1 E AST ST R E E T

HARDEN

PH.

02

6386 2838

Importers of Reclaimed Oak, Stone, Antiques and Architectural Salvage from across Europe for Australian homes & design.

SHOP 1, 4 DOORS UP 3619 JUGIONG ROAD, JUGIONG 10am - 4pm i thurs - mon Shop 566, Dirty Janes Canberra Open 7 Days

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@WOODSTOCKRESOURCES Ph. 0439 878 470 INFO@WOODSTOCKRESOURCES.COM.AU WWW.WOODSTOCKRESOURCES.COM.AU

visithilltopsregion.com.au ✉ VIC@HILLTOPS.NSW.GOV.AU

HARDEN COUNTRY MOTEL 42-50 Albury Street Harden, NSW

☎

1800 628 233

Your hosts Hilton and Alison welcome you to the Harden Country Motel, a rural motel set in historic Harden-Murrumburrah.

Breakfast Garden Free WiFi Daily Housekeeping In-Room Dining Service Conference Room Wheelchair Accessible Rooms 02 6386 2377 bookings@hardenmotel.com.au www.hardenmotel.com.au @harden.country.motel

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country escape S U M M E R

time honoured

Arriving at Hilton Homestead in Mandurama is simply a breath of fresh air.

Before even entering the house, you get a sense that it really would be quite easy to settle in and stay a while.

Hilton Homestead has been a loved family home for generations. Having recently undergone an extensive renovation and restoration, it is at once historic and contemporary.

The six bedrooms retain their period charm and with new luxuriously appointed bathrooms, the home can accommodate up to 12 comfortably.

A well-equipped country kitchen and the original pantry are stocked with local accoutrements and a herb garden grows just beyond the kitchen door, all to tempt the home chef.

Just 10 minutes from Carcoar and 45 minutes from Orange, all the best food,

wine and shopping of the region are pleasantly within reach.

Acquiring the Hilton property in the mid 1880s, George William Rowlands III and his new bride Jane Elizabeth Young built their home at Hilton after marrying in 1889. Over 130 years later, the home has never been out of family hands, each pair of newlyweds, each new child, new pet, new staff member leaving their mark on the home and adding to its history.

Having taken over from John’s parents George and Heather in 1997, today Megan and John Rowlands proudly manage Hilton’s farming operations, running a composite Charolais Angus breeding herd. >

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A piano in the sunroom provides the perfect opportunity for singalongs; the wood burning fire place in the main living area helps keep things cosy in the cooler months; Hilton Homestead built over 100 years ago is refreshed and ready to welcome visitors; while the home has been renovated throughout it retains its period character through the reuse of many items original to the homestead; Hilton’s Hills, an artwork by Megan and John’s daughter Sam Rowlands, hangs above a sideboard decorated with items found during the homestead clean-out.

ABOVE: Megan Rowlands relaxes on the back verandah with dogs Puddles the Border Collie and Basil the Bassett Hound.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The kitchen has been updated with nods to its history; a majority of the bedrooms open out onto the verandah; an acrylic on canvas artwork by daughter Sam, As The Land Moves, perfectly coordinates with the bedding in the front bedroom; open shelving in the kitchen keeps everything airy and provides a spot to display more original homestead finds; the main bathroom offers guests a large modern shower and tub; a large table perfect for communal gatherings was built

by Tom Baker of T.K. Reclaimed from hand cut slabs of native eucalypt timber salvaged from the wall of an old cottage on Hilton; a pretty washstand in the large original laundry turned bathroom that serves the bedrooms off the side verandah.

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country escape S U M M E R

THE PROCESS OF CLEANING OUT THE HOMESTEAD TOOK A YEAR ON ITS OWN. Before cattle had the run of the land, John’s ancestors raised fine wool Merino sheep at Hilton. Snapshots of Hilton history can be seen throughout the house and one such photograph depicts John’s grandfather Alexander “Sandy” Rowlands standing next to a large wagon at Lyndhurst railway station, the bales of wool ready to catch the train to the wool stores in Sydney. While the Merinos certainly had their time, Megan says: “Beef cattle fit within our environmental goals of regenerating healthy and resilient pastures”.

But Megan and John’s regeneration plans didn’t stop with the land. John, along with his brother Andrew and sister Jane, had grown up in the homestead. Their parents continued to live there until their father died suddenly in 2017, prompting a move for their mother and leaving the old home empty.

Despite the sad circumstances, it was the right time for John and Megan to breathe new life into the old home, beginning a new kind of regeneration.

“We decided to renovate the homestead and utilise it as an additional resource for our farm business,” Megan says. “Revitalising the history of Hilton through regenerating the building.”

Turns out revitalising a century-old homestead where many things came in but not many things went out was a more timeconsuming task than they thought it would be. The cleaning and organising of items in the house was akin to classifying and sorting artefacts on an archaeological dig.

As they decluttered each room and cupboard, they discovered everyday treasures from bygone eras. While some items left to find a new home, many things were cleaned up and made ready to be useful again for future guests. John’s great grandparents’, grandparents’ and parents’ china is now neatly stacked in the kitchen cupboard waiting to be used instead of saved for good. The old floor to ceiling pantry off the kitchen was found completely stocked full of old preserves made from fruit grown on the property and while John and Megan weren’t game to try them, some of their friends were and have lived to tell us that they were indeed preserved and tasty too.

The process of cleaning out the homestead took a year on its own and, once completed, they were at last ready for the restoration and renovation process to begin.

Although intrepid Megan obtained her owner/builder’s licence to undertake the renovations as the principal, their son Sandy, a construction manager based in Sydney, was instrumental in the process.

From the beginning, he was there to offer his

parents invaluable consultation. Drawing on his wealth of knowledge in the field, he helped his mother to make crucial decisions.

Sandy’s construction contacts were vital to the project, introducing his parents to John Elliott of Interlok Carpentry & Maintenance, who completed the major construction works and was relied upon to oversee tradespeople.

After 36 years at Hilton and a youth spent on her own family property north east of Barraba, Megan’s practical skills are many but in spite of this, she finds it’s her creative mind and ability to think outside the box that gets called upon most often. These creative genes were passed down from her own mother, Colleen, an accomplished ceramicist, to herself and then on to her daughters, Samantha and Olivia, who now work in creative fields.

The talents and vision of the three Rowlands women have been everything in putting together the interior design and decor of the house. While Megan made clever use of many of the original furnishings and accessories, Samantha and Olivia helped her elevate it with pops of modern art, textiles and cushions, all set against a soft neutral backdrop.

The restoration of the verandah, parts of which had been closed in over the years, was

an integral part of the project. Megan and John wanted to open it all back up, the way it was originally intended to be. They peeled back years of overgrowth to set it free only to find damage to the original bricks, which were fired from clay dug on the property. The verandah was taken down and each brick cleaned and the entire structure rebuilt.

The verandah is once again ready to host a sleepy cup of tea in the morning or a languid glass of wine in the afternoon.

The entire renovation and restoration of the property took a year to complete and in October 2019 Hilton Homestead began to welcome its first guests.

What greets you today as you arrive is very much what you would have seen all those years ago when George W. Rowlands III first built it. A proud house, fresh and clean, waiting for new memories to grow around it and friends and family to gather within. RLM Words and images: Jennifer Harden

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A rustic Hilton Homestead sign lets visitors know they are on the right path; the back gate of the property looks out towards the farmland surrounding the homestead; a mix of old and new intertwine through the property, the original marble fire surround is the star in this bedroom; a photo of George William Rowlands III hangs in the living room of the house; a twin bedroom makes a wonderful sleepover spot for visitors with children.

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e l i h w y r t n u o c e h t o t Escape y r u x u l n i staying

H I L T O N H O M E S T E A D is perfect for those looking to experience the serenity and solitude of the open country while still being close to nature reserves, wineries and locally sourced produce restaurants and cafĂŠs. Ramble through the picturesque towns of Carcoar, Millthorpe and Orange NSW, only a short drive away.

P. 0418 469 122 contact@thehiltonhomestead.com 91 Hilton Lane, Mandurama NSW 2792

The Homestead is one of Mandurama's original colonial buildings and has been recently renovated to give the perfect blend between history and luxurious comfort.

Situated on a large working cattle farm, both owned and operated, by the Rowlands family for the past 150 years.

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Crampton’s bring the store to your door

W e’ ve

m

ov ed

!

AUSTRALIAN OWNED & MANUFACTURED

For almost 30 years we’ve offered a free measure and quote service with our home service van.

Call us today to have one of our consultants arrange an appointment within your home FREE of charge.

Servicing Dubbo and the Western area.

Or call in and visit our showroom and friendly sales team.

An impressive range of lighting for all your interior and exterior needs, as well as lamps and globes.

We also have an extensive range of homewares to make your house a home.

62 Hawthorn St, Dubbo | Tel: 02 6882 8911 www.cramptonscarpets.com.au

8.30am–5.30pm weekdays 8.30am–2pm Saturday Visit us in our new location at

90 Victoria Street Dubbo NSW 2830 P. (02) 6884 8000

lightingandliving.com.au RLM 199

S U M M E R garden

a delight

Amanda and Peter Carter’s beautiful Bathurst garden exudes ingenuity and resourcefulness.

IN WHITE

“White Hollow” is home to three generations of one family. Built large enough to accommodate a blended family, the main house is occupied

by Amanda and Peter Carter with their two teenage children plus three adult children from a previous marriage for holiday get-togethers.

Amanda’s parents have their own cottage and separate outdoor space.

The charming garden surrounding the home includes a chicken coop, raised vegie beds, a frog bog, and enclosures for Peter’s extensive licensed reptile collection of lizards, bearded dragons and pythons.

The one-acre property is located in an estate on the outskirts of Bathurst. Previously an orchard, the site was a bare paddock when purchased in 2004. The couple built the shed where they lived for 2½ years while owner building their lovely home. During these years, the house took priority. The garden developed later as time and funds became available.

Amanda describes her style as “a bit quirky and not perfect”.

Peter brings substantial building and foraging skills. Amanda has an eye for design, detail and is keen on hunting down collectables or bargains. Developing a garden on a budget, the couple have made good use of recycled materials, adapting what was available, and cleverly repurposing many found timber and metal objects.

The house has a sun-drenched north-westerly aspect, and the land is gently sloping. Heavy clay site soil required building up with plenty of

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organics before planting. Amanda says over the years they have added loads of compost, and horse and cow manure to enrich the soil. Green waste and bark are used as mulch, often sourced from the local tip.

To complement the house, the garden colour scheme is predominantly white, silver and green with seasonal highlights.

White trunked silver birch trees (Betula pendula) among the eastern boundary garden were grown from tiny seedlings, originally from Amanda’s parents’ garden. Among the birch trees are pretty under-plantings of Italian lavender, silvery foliaged lambs’ ears, convolvulus and clumps of tall bearded iris. Smaller rounded flowering shrubs include hardy Hebe and Escallonia.

Handsome winter roses, Helleborus, add welcome winter colour, and white Shasta daisies bloom in summer. Edging the garden, recycled timber sleepers complete with iron fixings are a feature, foraged by Peter while working in a log yard. > ABOVE: Low hedging, edge planting and neat lawns form a welcome entrance to “White Hollow”.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The cottage is edged with seasonal plantings including this green flowered Euphorbia and red leafed Photinia; part of the green house, this recycled door forms a backdrop to display found objects; Amanda and Peter with son Eli and daughter Lili; the Carters designed and built their prize-winning greenhouse.

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S U M M E R story name

AMANDA DESIGNED HER OWN GARDEN ‘TROMP L’OEIL’, A TECHNIQUE THAT INVOLVES USING A PAINTED SCENE WHICH CREATES AN ILLUSION OF A DIFFERENT SPACE.

Amanda favours hardy plants known to be reliable, easy-care growers in Bathurst’s harsh climatic conditions. Throughout the garden are self-seeding selections such as Euphorbia, with its striking chartreuse flowers, purple heirloom sweet peas, clumping violets and Granny’s bonnet (Aquilegia) create a pretty spring display.

Hardy prostrate rosemary spills over walls combining aromatic foliage and attractive blue flowers. A bank of massed Italian lavender planted from tiny tube stock is now thriving. Sourced from Amanda’s parents’ garden, old-fashioned country garden favourites including saxifraga (Bergenia) and cerise pink valerian (Centranthus ruber) are dotted among roses and perennials, prolonging the colourful display.

Gifted for a recent birthday, roses are special favourites, grouped with peony roses, seasonal flowering perennials and tall bearded iris in the boundary garden. Amanda designed her own garden ‘Tromp L’oeil’, a technique that involves using a painted scene (done by one of Amanda’s friends), which creates an illusion of a different space. Softened by roses and pretty flowers, the mural invites you to step through the fence into another garden.

On the sloping site, a swale has been formed to slow the water run-off, allowing it to gradually soak into the soil. Closer to the house, a raised garden bed along the bank takes advantage of the slope and also promotes good drainage. It’s a perfect position for mass-planted lavender, while dense juniper ground cover and dainty seaside daisy (Erigeron) spill over the block retaining wall.

Accessible from the kitchen door, herbs are grown between stepping stones in a raised bed along the retaining wall.

Handsome, silvery foliaged olive trees are very reliable shade providers and complement the home’s colour scheme.

Low hedges of red-tipped Photinia and compact Buxus separate the grandparents’ cottage area from the family garden. In keeping with the theme, sinuous low box hedges border the lawn in front of the house. The western boundary hedge of Photinia was planted from tube stock and is now 10 years old. It has survived only on rain water.

Behind the cottage, a cute chook house built from recycled materials is home to eight laying hens and one rooster. Chickens are allowed to free-range through the garden and adjacent raised vegie beds. Raised vegie beds were constructed using repurposed timber pallets clad with corrugated iron inside and out for aesthetics and insulation. Two were built as wicking beds, with a water reservoir in the base. Thick organic mulch is regularly topped up after harvest. Abundant edibles include celery, squash, zucchini, peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, sorrel, spring onions and rhubarb. Flowering calendulas and violas attract bees. > LEFT, FROM TOP: A cast lamp post and pair of topiary plants add a formal touch at the front entry; one of Amanda’s creations set among papery trunked birch trees, silvery lamb’s ears and aromatic lavender.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Raised beds are ideal for producing plenty of seasonal herbs and vegetables; this “trick of the eye” artwork features in the pretty boundary garden; free-range chicken; brilliant cerise pig face; bright colourful plantings among the cottage garden; the sun-drenched retaining wall is an ideal spot to grow lavender, seaside daisy and trailing juniper; hedges act as screens and to define spaces in the garden; bee hotel made from timber and metal offcuts.

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S P R I N G garden

Free-range self-sown flowers are encouraged to bloom randomly among the gravel surfaces. Tolerant of the hot conditions, alyssum, viola and Aquilegia attract a host of beneficial insects and pollinators. Mini raised beds made from circular pressed-metal offcuts feature in this section of the garden. These are ideal for raising early tomatoes.

Adjacent to the vegie beds, through a recycled timber arbour, sheltered by a grove of wattle and native trees, are Peter’s raised enclosures, home to an extensive licensed reptile collection. As a boy, he kept a baby brown snake in his wardrobe. His interest these days is mostly lizards and goannas. Once home to the family, the large shed now houses a collection of non-venomous pythons. Peter’s varied collection including bearded dragons, Cunningham skinks, blue tongue and shingle back lizards created a buzz among visitors when the garden opened for the 2019 Bathurst Spring Spectacular.

A striking feature of this country garden is a vintage greenhouse.

It was constructed completely from repurposed materials, such as salvaged windows, doors, bed heads and floorboards. Peter sourced and collected many of the old wares and together he and Amanda drew up the plans and built the gorgeous greenhouse.

It’s a terrific spot during winter. It’s warm and cosy for painting, reading or studying and boasts ideal conditions for raising cuttings, and drying harvested herbs, flowers and collected seed.

Fitted to a rear wall, a handy water tank catches roof water, to fill watering cans for seed raising and watering cutting grown plants.

Now the garden is more established, the work and maintenance are becoming easier, with mowing and hedging the most regular tasks. There’s more time for the family to enjoy their garden, watch the birds and the bees and relax under the shade of the verandah with a cuppa or a cool drink. Inspired by the idea of creating “something from nothing”, there’s also time for this couple to dream up more projects. RLM Words: Elizabeth Swane Images; Robert Bruce

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Recycled timber arbour swathed in Chinese star jasmine; chartreuse Euphorbia blooms ; a practical retaining wall allows for level changes on the sloping block; the frog bog is ideal habitat for amphibious creatures ; blue tongue lizards basking in the sun; a gravel surface slows water run-off and is low maintenance; handmade bird houses and found objects are displayed throughout the garden.

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Hilltops Honey

Suppliers of all your pure wax honey, beeswax and beeswax products.

Share our passion for bees and honey with our new honey recipe book ‘A love for bees and honey’

A plethora of plants!

Available through our online store at www.hilltopshoney.com Ph. 0429 405 889

We have a large range of beautiful trees, lovely native plant varieties and lush indoor plants, with an eclectic range of quality giftware, pots, planters and garden tools.

Come and say hello and wander through our unique space!

44E Lovell Street, Young NSW 2594

Ph. 0447 750 369

Billabong Cottage O B E R O N T R O U T F I S H I N G FA R M S TAY

Come up to Oberon for a breath of fresh air Mobile: 0427 365 144

Website: www.billabongcottage.com.au Mobile: 0427 365Email: 144 timcharge@bigpond.com Email: timcharge@bigpond.com Website: www.billabongcottage.com.au RLM 205

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FROM FLOOR TO FLOOR The trusted team at Choices by Brights has been providing a comprehensive flooring service in the Central West for more than 30 years.

Owners of the highly regarded Choices

by Brights in Bathurst are longtime locals Greg and Debbie Bright and Peter and Anne Brown.

Their commitment to excellence in customer service is reflected in a high level of return business and referrals.

“We value greatly people putting their trust in us,” Debbie says. “And we’re thankful for the many recommendations we receive.”

Successive generations of families have been welcomed as customers over the years.

The Bright and Brown families have a long association with the industry, stretching back to both Debbie and Peter’s fathers, and they are proud to have their next generation involved in the business.

Continuing family traditions, sons Jack Bright and Scott Brown work in sales and installation respectively.

Quality flooring is an investment, and with the huge variety of products available, the Choices team offers the reassurance of experience and professional guidance.

“We like to spend a lot of time with people, and ensure they know about different products and suitability for particular needs,” Debbie says.

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The in-store team can provide expert advice and modern decorating flair, to assist co-ordinating all décor.

They include Sophie Hart, in accounts and sales, and Courtenay Fisher, who has recently joined the sales team.

“Both are young with a good knowledge of what styles of floor coverings and colours are popular. Importantly, they are happy to work with people’s individual needs,” Debbie says.

The Choices George Street showroom has recently undergone a makeover, creating an open, contemporary space that displays a wide choice of quality flooring from carpet to laminate, engineered timber, vinyl planks and hybrid flooring.

“Presently, the look and feel of chunky, woollen carpets are popular,” Debbie says.

Window furnishings include shutters and blinds, and a selection of rugs feature in store or can be ordered.

Locally and further afield, from smaller towns to the mountains, Choices offers a free measure and quote and employs 10 flooring installers to ensure customers’ needs are attended to in a prompt and professional manner.

Connection to community is important to the Bright and Brown families, and they support various local sports, schools and charities, giving back to the district that has been part of their personal and professional lives for many years.

“Bathurst is a prosperous area that ticks along steadily. There is always new housing and renovations under way.

“We have been fortunate to continue trading throughout the challenges of COVID-19,” Debbie says, adding they have noticed extra interest in renovations with people spending more time at home.

For all residential and commercial flooring needs, from product selection to installation and follow-up service, this helpful and experienced team is a smart choice. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Zenio Lapka

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Members of the helpful team at Choices by Brights who can assist with all flooring needs, Debbie, Jack and Greg Bright, Sophie Hart and Anne Brown; an extensive range of flooring is available; receive expert advice on co-ordinating your home décor; the contemporary new showroom at Choices by Brights is spacious and welcoming.

FRANK SMITH WORK CLOTHING AND SHOE REPAIRS

At Choices Flooring we know that good interior decorating starts

from the floor up

SHOE REPAIRS • WORK CLOTHING CASUAL COUNTRY CLOTHING

"Always an interesting place to shop" 71 Keppel St, Bathurst Phone 02 6331 7544 franksmithworkclothing@gmail.com

Choices Flooring by Brights 61 George Street, Bathurst (next to Dan Murphy’s) 6331 4866 choicesflooring.com.au

www.franksmithworkclothing.com.au

fish river roasters Roasters of premium coffee from around the world.

We roast in small batches so we can deliver to you fresh and fast. Same day dispatch for online orders received before 3pm.

Our philosophy is simple: Source the best coffee beans and roast each variety to bring out their best flavours and aroma.

Our coffee has won 22 awards since 2010, including at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show and the National Golden Bean Competition.

Everything you need, at very competitive prices!

Fencing Supplies • Farm Chemicals Drenches • Stock Feeds • Troughs Feeders • Stock Handling Equipment Shearing Supplies • Vaccines Pasture Seeds • Soil Testing Services Pet Care Products • Safety Wear Water Tanks • Concrete Products Cement • Poly Pipe • Lubricants Garden Supplies • Fertilizers • Tools Spraying Equipment • Harvest Products

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.

67 corporation avenue bathurst nsw 2795 02 6331 7171

order online: www.fishriverroasters.com.au RLM 207

Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes is a co-educational day and boarding school established in the Marist and Mercy traditions.

The College, through its Marist charism, focuses on the spiritual, academic, cultural, personal and physical development of students preparing them to become ‘Good Citizens and Good Christians’.

Through difficulties to greatness.

ENROLMENTS FOR 2021 ARE NOW OPEN

College Road, Forbes NSW 2871 • rbcc@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au • (02) 6852 2000 • www.redbendcc.nsw.edu.au

Take time to discover the Griffith region, you will be delighted at what you find.

Credit: Destination NSW

Credit: Destination NSW

Credit: Destination NSW

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VISITGRIFFITH.COM.AU

visit A CAtHOLiC sCHOOL NEAR YOU Experience the welcoming, inclusive and highly affordable environment that awaits you and your child by visiting one of our 33 Catholic schools in towns across the Central West. visit bth.catholic.edu.au or phone 6338 3000 for further information.

space to excel

the first choice in education for regional and rural students Scots All Saints College, Bathurst is offering an excellent opportunity for outstanding students entering Year 5 to 11 in 2022 to make their mark as part of our thriving educational community.

Applications are invited for our annual scholarship program to assist families with tuition and/or boarding costs for the time of the student at the College.

Applications close on 22 January 2021 Contact the Registrar on 6333 4726 or enrol@scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au

APPLY ONLINE NOW

Scholarships for 2022 now open – Year 5 to 11 students

Academic, Agriculture, All-Rounder, Performing Arts

scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au/scholarships A Presbyterian Co-educational Day and Boarding College for students Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 in Bathurst, NSW

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S U M M E R story name

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Serena turned to yoga as a form of self care from a young age; Serena has a growing range of carefully selected pampering products on offer, including bush remedy lip balms, bath soaks and skin care oils; an affirmation card in Serena’s signature pink; products can be mixed and matched to create the perfect self care box for yourself, a friend or loved one.

FACING PAGE: Serena Dyer of SL Care by Serena Louise. While often found in yoga clothes, Serena’s time in Milan and education in fashion marketing shines through.

treat

story name S U M M E R

yourself Serena Dyer, the bright personality and open heart behind SL Care by Serena Louise, is a cosmopolitan and adventurous spirit who has found grounding in the town of Mandurama.

“I have always been someone with a lot of energy,� Serena Dyer says. “Always doing lots of things and participating in every school sport, theatre, music and beyond.�

Growing up in England, Serena attended boarding school from age 11. It was during these busy school days that an evening phone call tradition started with her mother. “She would always say, make a cup of herbal tea and relax.� So she always did, and it would help calm and ready her for the next day.

Later, Serena was encouraged to take up yoga. It made sense that Serena’s mother Ketsarin, a practising Buddhist originally from Bangkok Thailand, would try to place her energetic daughter on a path of mindfulness.

As Serena moved from England to Milan and then on to Australia, the evening phone calls with her mother were a welcome constant in her life. In addition to a strong yoga practice, which now extends to teaching, and a healthy herbal tea habit, Serena’s mother offered another important pearl of wisdom to her daughter. “She always encouraged me to take joy in the little things and to treat yourself with something small as a reward.�

This was more than a lesson in retail therapy. It was a lesson in self-care that Serena has carried with her.

After first settling in Sydney, Serena took on regional work that would allow her to extend her visa, which is how she found herself on a farm in Molong, learning all the charms of country life.

As her time in the countryside came to an end, she returned to Sydney. Unbeknownst to her, she had caught the eye of a country boy who, after seeing Serena in a photo with some of his old school mates, was determined to meet her. Surprising even herself, she said yes when Campbell Wills was bold enough to reach out and ask her out on a date.

Four years later, that chance has paid off, pulling her back to the country where they have created a home together in Mandurama with their basset hound Truffle and red cattle dog Reggie.

While home has changed over the years, the self-care practices instilled in her from a young age have moved with her. Often finding unique products to provide herself with a little love and care, Serena enjoys sharing these with friends and family.

SL Care came about in the hope that she could help others show themselves the kindness and gratitude they deserve by treating themselves to a beautiful self-care package. Serena has done the research, sourcing locally and ethically made products ready to be wrapped up and sent directly to your door. From bush remedy balms and bath salts to essential oil rollers, face lotions and candles, Serena offers her customers a thousand little ways to slow down, find balance and start their own self-care ritual. RLM

Words and images: Jennifer Harden

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Plainsman Motel

22 Sherriff Street, Forbes NSW 2871 • Free Wi-Fi available Ph 02 6852 2466 | Fax 02 6852 3237 • Rooms From $110 info@plainsmanmotel.com.au • Two Bedroom Apartment $165 Reception Hours: Tues to Fri 7am - 9pm | Sat, Sun, Mon 8am - 9pm• Disabled Access Room Available

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT OPENING HOURS Tuesday to Friday: 7am – 9am | Saturday, Sunday. Monday: 8am – 9am

Springfield

GUEST COTTAGES

a perfect retreat for couples and families

Relax in one of our charming farm cottages, surrounded by lush gardens and rolling farmland.

We also have luxurious cottages available in the town of Young.

Phone. 0439 823 799 victoriaanderson@bigpond.com

2964 Moppity Road Young NSW 2594

DEJA BREW

Enjoy the quiet of the countryside in an historic stone cottage, the quaint gardener’s cottage, the original Century stables St, Shop 19th 9 , 169 Clarinda or the grand manager’s residence.

Parkes NSW • (02) 6862 3572 Open M-F 6am-3pm + Sa 6am-12pm

A short 7 minute drive from the bustling town of Young.

victoriaanderson@bigpond.com

BEES R US ● BRAIDWOOD Scott and Armonde Williams Beekeeping Supplies 100% Pure Australian Honey Beeswax and Honey Related Products Shop online (we do mail orders country wide), find us at one of our many farmers market locations, or come into our store and say g’day.

02 4842 2360 • 0403 324 212 • scott@beesrus.com.au 69 Duncan Street, Braidwood, NSW 2622 212 RLM

All day breakfast.

Springfield Guest Cottagessandwiches, salads and wraps.

Burgers, Coffee, smoothies and protein shakes.

0439 823 799 Cakes and slices.

Plus a wide selection of gluten free items.

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C n o s g a e n S t u s Yo Harve ber

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he t o t n i e r u t r n e u o V y k ic p o t s d orchar ies or s top by r r e h c ny a own m e h t one of d road-side n a s t ll n o a r f n p o o up sh k c o t s o e. t c s u ll d o a t r s p l a c o l sh e r f e h t visithilltopsregion.com.au @HilltopsRegion 1800 628 233

Poppa’s Fudge and Jam Factory From Paddock to Plate we grow our own produce to ensure the freshest ingredients.

We make all our products by hand, over 100 lines of jams, sauces and chutneys and over 50 varieties of fudge.

Huge gift emporium in store.

Open 7 days Shop 1, 21 Lovell St, Young

Phone: 02 6382 5854 RLM 213

view to a chill

Jayne Beverly, owner of The Glen, near Bathurst, has become quite accustomed to visual splendour and peace and quiet.

The Glen features three Airbnbs, and in the near future, will be a garden wedding and reception venue, all nestled among magnificent gardens overlooking the valley.

It’s taken a lot of work, but the results have produced an array of beautifully landscaped spaces that have already inspired 170 fivestar reviews from very happy guests.

Six years ago, Jayne Beverly and husband Simon bought a large home and rundown cottage and weekend accommodation on 400 acres just outside Bathurst. Before too long, the true beauty of the land’s natural features had Jayne thinking.

Airbnb was a new concept, and Jayne and Simon decided to dip their toes in to share this little wonder with others. Having completed the homestead’s renovations, they soon turned their attention to the original caretaker’s one-bedroom cottage, The Dale.

Set on the rise of a natural amphitheatre, The Dale, with its views overlooking a winding creek and hilly skyline, provided guests with a peaceful escape like no other. In only a short time,

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the popularity of The Dale was such that Jayne and Simon updated the weekend accommodation, now called Dempsey’s Cottage, and it too was a winner with guests.

Both cottages feature private gardens, a wood fire, and modern crisp design features. Theses spaces entice a sense of romance and foster cosy comfort in any season. Most guests say that the best views are to be enjoyed at night. The cottages’ outside private spas are considered the best seat in the house. Couples spend their nights star gazing over frothy warm bubbles and a glass of wine.

If the renovations weren’t enough, Jayne and Simon landscaped four acres with over 6000 plants and an array of beautiful sculptures. Jayne is awestruck by the artworks and marvels that they are simply made from what would otherwise have become landfill. The installation art adds an air of excitement as guests ramble through several acres of manicured gardens.

Quite organically, what was an exercise in sharing a beautiful place soon turned into a business, and The Garden at the Glen, a soon-to-be-finished wedding and reception venue, and the Creek Cottage, a larger cottage sleeping 13, sprang into existence.

Jayne says Creek Cottage is the perfect place for couples, families or wedding parties to spend time together around the fire pit or playing pool, before dolling themselves up for the big day.

The Glen is also pet friendly and is home to four pet chickens, known as “The Girly-Girls” and three Dorpa sheep, known as “The Baarbie Girls”. Luckily, there are also two resident Border Collies to keep them all in line.

All of The Glen’s accommodation options offer peace and serenity that can only come from leaving the hustle and bustle of daily life behind. RLM Words: Catherine Player Images: Robert Bruce

FACING PAGE: Free Falling is one of many beautiful pieces of garden art; Dempsey’s Cottage is quaint but with modern amenities and offers glorious uninterrupted rural views.

ABOVE: The Dale has that old world charm, decadent styling plus amazing rural vista to relax and recharge the soul.

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THE GLEN, Clear Creek via Bathurst, NSW 2795

Farm Cottage Accommodation Two beautifully styled cottages set on 400 tranquil acres With option to hire together as your gorgeous garden venue for special occasions and wedding celebrations

Indulgent relaxation

Miller Street is calling...

Two private garden spas

SPEND A DAY EXPLORING THE HEART OF THE GILGANDRA REGION

Romantic wood fire

With delicious cafes and boutique shopping, you will love stopping in Gilgandra!

Start at Gilgandra Visitor Information @ the GIL where you’ll find out how to enjoy all the Gilgandra Region has to offer.

Spectacular scenery

Browse the GIL Collective, where we showcase our region’s artists, makers and businesses as well as offer hot desks, free wifi, baby change and family friendly areas.

Continue along Miller Street for more specialty stores, cafes, country pubs and local highlights.

Come say hi!

www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

Event garden hire with accommodation

Enquiries to Jayne M: 0435 008 268 E: theglen1826@gmail.com

Accommodation only bookings

The Dale (1 bed) airbnb.com/h/thedalecottage Dempsey’s Cottage (2 bed) airbnb.com/h/dempseyscottage

Get out of that iso bubble & go nuts on insta.

Take a road trip and discover the beauty of the Snowy Monaro Region, between Canberra and the Victorian Border.

Our small villages and vibrant towns across this vast region are ready to welcome you. Your job is to stop, explore and be rewarded.

You’ll find wide open landscapes as you rise up to Australia’s alpine high country.

The mountains come alive in spring with alpine wildflowers, mountain bikers, paddlers, fishing fanatics and hikers seeking out trails to explore.

Go on, it’s time you had a really good look around the Snowys to discover the diverse heritage, arts and unique wildlife of the region.

Cooma Visitor Centre 119 Sharp Street, Cooma 1800 636 525 Open 9am to 3pm 7 days Bombala Visitor Centre 41 Monaro Hwy (Mahratta St) Bombala 02 6458 4622 Open 10am to 4pm closed Sunday #oursnowymonaro #snowymountainsnsw @coomavisitorscentre @visitbombala 216 RLM

ALLURE ON MAIN

Light breezy fabrics, featuring stunning linen and cotton will help keep you looking beautiful and feeling cool this summer.

A warm welcome and country hospitality awaits you at Allure on Main New season styles with natural fibres arriving soon R.M Williams | Goondiwindi Cotton | Thomas Cook Ariat | Foil | Jump | Ping Pong | Just Country 7 9 R A N K I N S T R E E T, F O R B E S Ph. 02 6851 4778 M. 0417 726 290 allure_54@bigpond.com

Mon - Fri: 9am - 5:30pm Sat: 9am - 12:30pm

Based in Gundagai, Embellish Catering delivers excellent quality food, outstanding service and value for money.

We go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are completely satisfied with their events.

Our brands include Vigorella, Gordon & Smith, Betty Basics and new organic cotton Orientiue from India feature wonderfully curated colours and patterns.

We have accessories, jewellery and shoes to put that finishing touch on any outfit.

Petite size up to 24.

Embellish caters for functions of all sizes across the Riverina, Hilltops Region, Snowy Valley and Canberra.

WEDDINGS • CELEBRATIONS CORPORATE FUNCTIONS Embellish Catering

56 West Street Gundagai, NSW 2722 0419 478 508 Regional Riverina, NSW

events@embellishcatering.com.au

Visit us in store or look out for our new website coming soon.

Mitchell Highway, Lucknow Ph: 6365 5437 Open 7 days 9am – 4pm

www.agfg.com.au

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well suited

With a long and happy family history in the rag trade, Peter Sutton is the perfect fit for his Talbragar Street menswear store.

Shopping for just the right gentleman’s suit, with shoes and accessories to match, isn’t always the easiest task. You’ll want just the right colour and style for the event, a nice firm fit and, of course, a quality garment that will stand the test of time.

And if it’s a suit for your own wedding, well that’s something you’ll want to get right the first time.

You can bet that when you set foot in Harry’s for Menswear on Dubbo’s Talbragar Street, you’ll receive the level of service only afforded by someone who comes from three generations of experience in the rag trade, namely store owner Peter Sutton.

“My grandfather, Harry Sutton, started our family’s retail journey in Dubbo back

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men’s fashion S U M M E R

in 1927, with a small shop that now stands at the corner of Talbragar Street and Carrington Avenue,” Peter says.

“So in 2016, when I decided to get back into retail along with my wife Wendy after a 16-year break from the industry, it made good sense to call our store Harry’s for Menswear as a nod to our family’s history.

“Continuing the family theme, we are now grateful to have our daughter Leanne involved with the business as well.

“We’ve done a lot of our growing in what we call ‘The Sunny Street’ – also known as Talbragar Street – so it was fortuitous that this is where Harry’s came to be.”

With a longstanding love for suits, it was only natural for Peter to get started by selling a rack of suits from his favourite supplier. Quality products and cuttingedge brands were the focus, without getting too carried away on price.

“It was always a priority for me to provide the best possible service to our customers, because buying a suit is inherently a ‘touch and feel’ experience,” he says.

“Fast forward to today and we are providing the shirts, daywear, shoes, ties, belts and more, offering our customers the absolute convenience of a one-stop shop.”

Peter has the expertise and spot-on advice that customers have grown to love, but for those who know exactly what they are looking for, Harry’s for Menswear also operates as an online store.

“Even though 2020 has been incredibly difficult for us with a massive decline in sales, we’re confident that our community knows well the value of small business and will support us when we get ahead of COVID-19,” he says.

“People need to understand that for them to have a vibrant regional centre and surrounding communities, they have to be more conscious of looking after local businesses.

“I think people are becoming more aware of the importance of buying local and supporting Australian-made products.”

And if the Sutton family’s 93-year history in business is anything to go by, it’s safe to say they’ll be here to stay. RLM Words: Anna Conn Images: Simon & Amy Creative Co

“I THINK PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYING LOCAL AND SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN-MADE PRODUCTS.”

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A Fish Named Fred shirts made in Amsterdam, Carlos Santana Trilby hats, Studio Italian linen shirts; Jazz collection from A Fish Named Fred; Lafitte crazy socks; quality accessories and The John Lennon Collection of long-sleeved shirts; A Fish Named Fred sports coats.

FACING PAGE: Two generations of the Sutton family at Harry’s for Menswear, Peter Suttton, Wendy Sutton and Leanne Sutton; the shop front on Talbragar Street.

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Presented by Pip showcases a variety of photographs and stories from around the World and Australia. The focus of the work uses a more creative and ar tistic approach and combines images with the written stor y behind the picture | presentedbypip.com |

Support Local Business and meet the team at

HELLOWORLD TRAVEL FORBES With 30 years experience & over 50 countries visited, let us make your travel dreams a reality.

SERVICES WE OFFER: • Air Bookings • Air & Land packages both International and Domestic travel • Coach Touring • Cruising both Ocean and River

• • • • •

Gift Cards Redeem American Express points.

12 Months Interest Free Cash Passports Group Tours

Helloworld Travel Forbes 6 Templar Street, Forbes, NSW 2871 P: (02) 6852 2344 E: forbes@helloworld.com.au

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CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope Visitor Discovery Centre Open 7 days • 8:30am - 4:15pm • Free entry 20km north of Parkes on the Newell Hwy 585 Telescope Road, Parkes NSW, 2870 Ph. 02 6861 1777 www.csiro.au/parkes Shop online: www.parkesdishshop.com

SUITS Handmade colourful canvas swings for little ones.

T: 0408 254 325

www.sleepyjays.com.au

WEDDING SPECIALIST ADDRESS: 39 TALBRAGAR ST DUBBO PH: 02 6882 2558 EMAIL: SALES@HARRYS.ONLINE WEBSITE: HARRYS.ONLINE

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S U M M E R story name

enterprising A new chapter is being written in the rich history of The Grange estate, at Brewongle, where the Jones family have created the distinctive Bathurst Grange Distillery.

Just outside Bathurst, The Grange is one of the oldest settlements west of the mountains, dating back to 1823, and its colonial homestead is state heritage listed.

It has had only three owners. The Jones family have been custodians since the 1960s.

Owners Toby and Sue Jones are passionate about this significant history and the development of their unique function venue and boutique distillery in the beautiful grounds.

The couple swapped global careers in marketing and health for farm life six years ago, embracing sustainable farming practices in their sheep and grain operation.

Keen to value-add to their produce, they also wanted to share The Grange’s special history, and further boost the district’s profile.

“Our family, home, and this region are our inspirations,” Toby says.

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spirits

They have created an appealing venue incorporating modern and rustic features, and a distillery with a growing reputation for innovation and quality.

The Grange offers stunning mountain scenery, options for marquee and outdoor wedding ceremonies, and distillery tours.

“The enthusiastic response of people who visit makes it all worthwhile,” Sue says.

It has given the family great satisfaction to work on the enterprise together. Son Nick is closely involved, while partner Alice supplies marketing and design skills. There is also support and involvement of daughter Siobhan and husband Jasper. They recently welcomed baby Theodore.

Toby’s parents also live on the property with a keen interest in the many activities.

story name S U M M E R

The family have many ideas, including more regional business collaborations when the challenges of COVID-19 ease.

“You have to roll with the punches,” Toby says. “The upside (of travel restrictions) is people discovering all there is to see and do in Australia.”

Adapting to change, the distillery produced hand sanitiser, donating half of the proceeds to local community groups and charities.

They bolstered their online presence, excited by positive feedback and popularity for their range of Australian Dry Gin, Blue Mountain Gin and Chilli Chocolate Gin. Success has followed their determination to perfect each “recipe”.

“Initially, we started the distillery with the intention of just making whisky but with the rise in popularity of gin in recent years, and the family’s love for a gin and tonic, we ventured into making gin with a local flavour using botanics unique to Australia,” Toby says.

The gin is triple distilled and infused with natural botanicals from the farm including herbs, rosemary and juniper.

The Blue Mountains Gin replicates the iconic colour of the Great Dividing Range, and has been a big hit, particularly in Leura and surrounds.

They also have a malt whisky ageing in oak barrels, and liqueurs under way that will reflect the region’s seasonal bounty.

The family is grateful for strong support received online, and in stores and restaurants across the region. Gift packs are popular, and for Christmas will have tempting inclusions like local gin and tonic marmalade.

Embracing history, the Bathurst Grange Distillery is forging an exciting future. RLM Words: Elizabeth Grant Images: Alice Schofield

“WE VENTURED INTO MAKING GIN WITH A LOCAL FLAVOUR USING BOTANICS UNIQUE TO AUSTRALIA.”

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Grange homestead, one of the earliest surviving colonial farmhouses in inland Australia, dates from the 1820s; perfecting technique; an ideal setting; at work in the distillery; the gin is triple distilled and infused with farm botanicals.

FACING PAGE: The Jones family, Siobhan Gardner, Nick, Alice, Sue and Toby, have created a boutique distillery and function venue in the beautiful grounds of their heritage property, The Grange.

Intending visitors should refer to the distillery’s Facebook and website for updated details.

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Located on the 118 year old working property “Cora Lynn” in the Central West of NSW. The Fleece offers a total escape from the fast pace of modern life and demands, No Wi-Fi, no Television. Limited Mobile reception.

Whether for a weekend or a week, The Fleece promises the perfect escape from the demands of modern life. Enjoy the big skies, the fresh air and rediscover the art of conversations and comfortable silences.

Set amongst lush gardens the historic homestead ‘The Grange’ (est 1823) is a beautiful setting for a wedding or special celebration.

Facilities for up to 120 guests, just 10 minutes from Bathurst. The property is also home to the Bathurst Grange Distillery.

www.thefleece.net

Contact Sue Jones for enquiries Ph. 0487 456 524 www.bathurstgrange.com.au

The LODGE RESTAURANT offers woodfire pizzas and a full menu.

Bookings are advisable, see the website for opening days and times.

RUSTIC, SOPHISTICATED, CHARMING AND RELAXING

Dubbo Rhino Lodge is set among Australian bush surroundings.

Corporate Events & special occasions with inhouse catering and resort style glamping accommodation.

Dubbo Rhino Lodge is like no other venue in the Central West, it is country with an edge.

14L Camp Road, Dubbo | E. info@rhinolodge.com.au | Ph. 02 6884 1760 | www.dubborhinolodge.com.au

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GIFTS • HOMEWARES • DECORATOR ITEMS • NAPERY • TABLEWARE • LOCALLY MADE JAMS AND PICKLES • STICKY BALSAMIC DRESSINGS • MORELLA GROVE OLIVE OIL PRODUCED IN THE RIVERINA • MUCH MORE

Hours: Wed & Thurs 10am-4pm

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Sat 9am-1pm

Sun 10am-12pm

Ph. 02 6382 4276

91 Boorowa Street Young, NSW, 2594

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Fri 9am -5pm

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MULTI AWARD WINNING AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COFFEE ROASTER

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• Est. 1999 • Roasted in Young • Live Music • Espresso bar • Barista training Phone: 02 6382 1151 35 Main Street, Young, New South Wales, 2594

www.artofespresso.com.au

Gifts | Kitchenware |Collectables | Local Produce

Annie B’s FULL HOUSE

102 Boorowa Street, YOUNG Ph. 02 6382 5970 jaynesfullhouse@hotmail.com

follow us on

Annie B’s Full House focuses on customer service and hope to deliver an exciting shopping experience. Only stockist of Maxwell & Williams in Young as well as Glasshouse, Willow Tree, MOR, Scanpan, Avanti, Zyliss just to name a few.

OPEN 7 DAYS

Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm Sat 9am-1pm Sun 10am-12noon RLM 225

XERO Gold Partner

Unit 5/113 Darling Street Dubbo, NSW 2830 Phone: 02 6885 5594 E: admin@peacockeaccountants.com.au www.peacockeaccountants.com.au

DESIGN OUTDOOR ARCHITECTURE FURNITURE HOMEWARES LIGHTING

Combining the knowledge of your business with our expertise – growing your small business or farming operation is our passion.

AUTUMN 2021 Griffith Feature AVAILABLE MARCH 2021 Subscribe to experience the magazine in print or online: www.lifestylemagazine.net.au 226 RLM

15A Lambert Street, Bathurst Ph. 02 6331 8900 M. 0414 715 185 office@inoutbathurst.com

Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm Sat: 9am-2pm After hours phone mobile

INOUTBATHURST.COM

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S U M M E R weddings

TICKLE + CONN Anna Tickle and Jason Conn were married at Geurie on June 13, 2020.

The ceremony was held at Windora Uniting Church, followed by a reception at Rhino Lodge, Dubbo.

The bridal party consisted of Anna’s sister Jane Sanderson and close friends Isabel Tait and Gemma White, along with Jason’s brother Timothy Conn and close friends Josh White and Stuart Tait.

The couple was married by family friend Minister Ian Spall, and the ring bearer was Anna’s nephew, Theo Boshammer.

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Jason and Anna honeymooned for a week in southern NSW and settled back into their home on the Conn family property near Wellington.

Photographer: Matthew Harper Photography

ABOVE RIGHT: Gemma White, Isabel Tait, Jane Sanderson, Anna and Jason Conn, Josh White, Timothy Conn and Stuart Tait.

“A 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

Industrie • WISH The Label • Thrills • Wrangler • Urban Originals • NXP

233 Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW

Phone. (02) 6862 1408

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S U M M E R weddings

WEBB + PRIOR Stacey Webb and Luke Prior were married at Bedgerabong on November 2, 2019.

The ceremony and reception were both held at Stacey’s family property overlooking the Lachlan River, where some 140 guests shared in the special day.

The bride wore a dress by Alvina Valenta, with the added touch of her mother’s veil. Central West suppliers were supported, with Harry’s Menswear of Dubbo supplying the suits, Midco Vintage of Orange creating the floristry and Eat Me Edible Goodies of Parkes providing the desserts.

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The couple honeymooned in Sri Lanka and the Maldives before returning to their newly purchased Dubbo home.

Photographer: Edwina Robertson Photography

ABOVE RIGHT: Nathan Suringa, Allisa Inwood, Kyle Sharpe, Kelsie Davis, Amelia Withers, Luke and Stacey Prior, Candice Dunkley, Jacob Perry, Tim Prior, Emily Miles and Brendon Prior.

Iandra Castle

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S U M M E R weddings

NEWCOMBE + MORRIS Jayne Newcombe and Ashley Morris were married at Wagga Wagga on April 26, 2019.

The ceremony took place in front of 100 family and friends at St John’s Anglican Church, with the cocktail reception following at the historic St Edwards of the Riverina.

The couple’s wedding celebration was held over three days to make the most of guests travelling from interstate and

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overseas, with a meet and greet the day before and a brunch the morning after.

Jayne and Ashley enjoyed a honeymoon in Mollymook and Thailand and have since settled back into their home near Young.

Photographer: Down Brushwood Road

KINGS HALL JEWELLERS

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S U M M E R weddings

ERIKSSON + FOX Rose Eriksson and Sebastian Fox were married at Coonabarabran on September 14, 2019.

The ceremony and reception were held at the couple’s property.

Local priest Fr Reynold Jaboneta married the couple under a tree on the property. Following the ceremony, guests wined and dined in the garden of Sebastian and Rose’s home.

For the special day, Rose wore a Grace Loves Lace dress gifted to her by her mother. Catering was provided by Pippa’s Pantry of

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Coonamble and the bouquets and flowers created by Stockholm Florist of Gunnedah.

The couple have settled back into their home on their Coonabarabran property and are looking forward to a honeymoon in New Zealand.

Photographer: Rachael Lenehan Photography

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RLM 235

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ADELONG COMMUNITY POST OFFICE Adelong, 6946 2086

ADELONG PUBLIC SCHOOL Adelong, 6946 2053 adelong-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

BUTMAROO STATION FARMSTAY Bungendore 422371055 butmaroo.com

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CHOICES FLOORING BY BRIGHTS Bathurst, 6331 4866

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COUNTRY WORKBOX Braidwood, 4842 1330

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EMBELLISH CATERING

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FARMER’S BAKEHOUSE

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FARMGATE & TWINE

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FISH RIVER ROASTERS

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GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL Gilgandra, 6817 8800 gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

GLENBURNIE COTTAGE

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GRAPEVINE CAFE

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HALLS COFFEE COTTAGE Narrandera, 0431 696 795

HARDEN COUNTRY MOTEL Harden, 6386 2377 hardenmotel.com.au

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INSIDE OUTSIDE

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JACKSON’S BAKERY Harden, 6386 2838

JEMALONG WOOL

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JUST FOR NOW @ ENDOR Batlow, jfnendor.com.au

KD STONEWORKS

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KINGS HALL JEWELLERS Dubbo, 6885 3500 kingshall.com.au

KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK

Batlow, 0427 491 519, 0408 623 870

NORTON ROAD WINES

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Laurel Hill, 0400 365 147

LE TRES BON

Bungendore, 62380662 letresbon.com.au Braidwood, 4842 2446

Dubbo, 6884 8000 lightingandliving.com.au

LUCKNOW SKIN SHOP & BOOT BARN

Lucknow, 6365 5330 lucknowskinshop.com.au

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OPTUS

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OUTSCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Grenfell, 6343 8288 outscape.net.au

PEACOCKE ACCOUNTANTS

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PLAINSMAN MOTEL

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POPPA’S FUDGE & JAM FACTORY

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Tumbarumba, 1300 275 782 visitsnowyvalleys.com.au

SPRINGFIELD GUEST COTTAGES Young, 6382 3799

SUNNYPOINT BEEF Oberon, 6336 1101

TALBINGO COUNTRY CLUB Talbingo, 6949 5260

TALBINGO TOURIST PARK

Talbingo, 6949 5239 talbingocaravanpark.com.au

TATTYKEEL

Oberon, 6335 8116 tattykeel.com.au

TEMORA EX-SERVICES CLUB, GOLDTERA MOTOR INN & KOREELA PARK MOTOR INN

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PRD NATIONWIDE BUNGENDORE

THE APPLE INN

Bungendore, 6238 0999 prd.com.au/bungendore

PRD NATIONWIDE TUMBARUMBA

Tumbarumba, 6948 2182 www.prdtumba.com

PRESSED TIN PANELS Bathurst, 6332 1738 pressedtinpanels.com

PROFESSIONAL SKIN SOLUTIONS

Bathurst, 6332 9880 professionalskinsolutions.com.au

QUEANBEYAN-PALERANG REGIONAL COUNCIL Queanbeyan, 1300 735 025 www.qprc.nsw.gov.au

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Jugiong, 0429 927 185 or 0413 138 774 quirkycrow.net

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RIVERGLADE CARAVAN PARK ROSIE’S HONEY MUSTARD Warren, 6824 2055 rosies.net.au

ROYAL BUBS N TOTS Dubbo, 6882 9565 rbnt.com.au

RUBY MAINE

Dubbo, 6882 5362 rubymaine.com.au

SCOTS ALL SAINTS COLLEGE Bathurst, 6331 3911 scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au

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NIMBO FORK

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LIGHTING & LIVING

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MOUAT’S FARM

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FLOWERS HERE

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Oberon, 6336 1101

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Gulargambone, 0428 438 253

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Batlow, 6949 1001 www.thebatlowhotel.com

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THE ESTABLISHMENT BAR

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Tumbarumba, 0406 382 534 www.tumbafest.com.au

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TUMUT TRUSSES & FRAMES Tumut, 6947 9388

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THE FLEECE

Millthorpe, 1300 002 269

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Mandurama, 0418 469 122 thehiltonhomestead.com

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THE MONARCH

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RLM 237

BOO R

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BOOROWA COURT HOUSE ARTS & CRAFTS CO-OP Quality Arts And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room

Quality ArtsOPEN And Craft, Magistrate’s Tea Room 10.00am TO 5.00pm Daily OPEN 10.00 TO 5.00 Daily

PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2856 02 6385 3885 boorowacraftshop@outlook.com

Kind words from some of our valued customers — “Wonderful scones and great service.”

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PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boorowa NSW 2856 02 6385 3885 boorowacraftshop@outlook.com

BOO AR

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PO BOX 65, Marsden St, Boo YASS ACCOMMODATION CONTEMPORARY, SPACIOUS 4 STAR MOTEL

264 COMUR STREET YASS NSW 2582 02 6226 1158 www.thunderbirdmotel.com.au

Modern 4 star accommodation with the well-known EWE’N ME restaurant on site.

Stylish and updated rooms with kitchenettes/microwaves. Spacious family rooms, two-bedroom suites, fully self-contained cottage and spa suites. Free Foxtel & internet, pool, BBQ area and guest laundry. Great location 400 metres to Yass CBD. Thunderbird Motel offers 24 hour check in.

The Ewe ‘n Me delivers a relaxed and modern dining experience. Best locally sourced produce, fully licensed and seating up to 70 people, the Ewe n’ Me is the perfect venue for a quiet dinner or a celebration with family and friends.

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RLM 239

S U M M E R the last word

OPEN DOOR POLICY Tumbarumba Hotel’s Greg and Sue Scanlon say there’s nothing like a natural disaster to help forge friendships in a new town.

When publicans Greg and Sue Scanlon took over the reins of Tumbarumba Hotel in late 2018, they could never have envisaged that barely a year later their mountain town would shut down under the threat of catastrophic fires.

The fires may have been closing in on all sides of the town but after 125 years of serving the community, the pub had no intentions of closing its doors when things went pear-shaped.

Greg was there on January 3 when the town desperately needed all hands on deck. His first job was hiring a generator to get things happening in the cool room.

“It was like the prohibition days. All the locals were knocking on the back door, seeing if we had any beer,” Sue laughs.

“There was no ATM and nobody had any money, so we ran beer tabs for everyone who walked through the door. And it didn’t matter if they were complete strangers. No one diddled us and we received cards and flowers from many of those we helped out.”

The hotel offered emergency accommodation for those who had lost homes, and not just of the human variety.

“Few places could take pets. At one stage we had 20 dogs in the bar and cats living in some of the rooms.

We even had to look after a bowl of goldfish.”

It was the best and worst of times. Sue gave one woman $100 to buy some food and personal things at IGA across the road, who were also running a generator. A fortnight later she returned with the money, flowers and a moving card. They both cried.

Greg and Sue welcomed anyone needing food, a cool drink or some company. The pub was somewhere to escape the heat, smoke and overriding pessimism permeating throughout the place.

For three frantic weeks, the pub took hundreds of meals up to the SES sheds. Feeding the masses was a huge undertaking. Greg and Sue are both ex-army and helping people was in their DNA. Both are firm believers in the old adage: You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

“We were accused of profiteering from the fires, which really upset us,” Sue says. “At one stage we were owed 10 grand and we received it all back, every penny.

“No one had any money. We didn’t even care if we got it back. We were expecting nothing or tenfold. In reality, we’ve been paid back 100 fold in friendship, patronage and loyalty.”

As newcomers to town and complete strangers to many of the locals, Greg and Sue describe the fire as an experience they can never forget.

It’s hard to put into words but what they experienced in early 2020 cemented the very reason

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FOR THREE FRANTIC WEEKS, THE PUB TOOK HUNDREDS OF MEALS UP TO THE SES SHEDS. why they moved to Tumbarumba in the first place.

They loved Hillston, but wanted a fresh start after getting married later in life. The fun-loving pair had gone out for several years when they were both younger.

When they reconnected decades later, the magic was still there. They are making up for lost time in their newly adopted town. RLM Words and image: Jake Lindsay

ABOVE: Publican Sue Scanlon appreciates Tumbarumba’s friendship, patronage and loyalty.

Dunk Insurance has been helping individuals, property and business owners protect their assets for over 30 years, all over the Central West and beyond.

Our new Agri and Commercial divisions have been established to meet our clients’ changing needs and can offer a range of policies and advice - WE HAVE GROWN AS YOU HAVE GROWN. Contact our experienced staff to discuss your best insurance options or to arrange a FREE Commercial on farm or business appraisal.

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Check your Owner’s Manual explanation of limitations.

Please drive safely.

CarPlay® is Apps a trademark Inc. intoyota.com.au/connected the U.S. and other countries. Android Auto™ is aassist trademark of Google LLC. Requires device, USB connection, mobile data,for network reception & GPS signal.

Mobile usage at user’s cost. subjectof toApple, change.

Forregistered details see is a trademark of Google LLC. Requires compatible device, USB connection, mobile data, network reception & GPS signal. Mobile usage at user’s cost. Apps subject to change. For details see toyota.com.au/connected