AUTUMN
Gorgeous
Monaro Garden
Griffith FEATURE
SHIRLEY, COOMA
HISTORIC HOUSE Nanima Homestead, Wellington
Rural stories from
DUBBO & COONAMBLE
Showcasing
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SERVICE • INFORMATION • MARKETING facebook.com/jemalongwool
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CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD Trading as Regional Lifestyle Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418
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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 2021 All Rights Reserved No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the publisher. While every care is taken in the publication of Regional Lifestyle Magazine, the publishers will not be held responsible for omissions, errors or their subsequent effects.
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CONTENTS ISSUE 32 AUTUMN 2021
144 T HE BRIGHT SIDE Whether she’s painting or putting her veterinary skills to good use, Jill Kelly’s love of the land shines through. 150 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Barbara Deans has had her strength and resilience tested on many occasions. She is yet to fail. 156 A BREED APART Ken and Terry Williams have stuck by Shorthorns all their lives and are now reaping the benefits. 162 FIELDS OF DREAMS ’Tis the season to remind ourselves why thousands of country sons and daughters are drawn to the game of rugby. 166 FOR THE LOVE OF FORBES Long-standing Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM is hopelessly devoted to her town. 170 NANIMA’S NEW LIFE Jennie and Carl Palmer could not resist taking Wellington’s historic “Nanima” under their wing.
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AUTUMN
Gorgeous
Monaro Garden
Griffith FEATURE
SHIRLEY, COOMA
HISTORIC HOUSE Nanima Homestead, Wellington
RECIPES
194 G ALLIC SEASONINGS Le Trés Bon chef Christophe Gregoire shares some of his favourite French recipes to tantalise the tastebuds at home. 198 STEP BACK IN TIME Lorraine Hills dishes up some more family favourites.
WEDDINGS
230 D EARLY BELOVED We are gathered here today to share pictures of some of the region’s super stylish wedding celebrations.
THE LAST WORD
240 T HE REAL DEAL There’s a little slice of old Italy preserved at one end of Griffith’s main street.
Rural stories from
DUBBO & COONAMBLE
$14.00 inc GST AUTUMN 2021 VOLUME 32 >
COUNTRY CHARACTERS
178 P AIR OF ACES Twin Dubbo-based entrepreneurs Kevin and John Walkom are quite the dynamic duo. 182 VESTED INTEREST Lauren Vest followed her heart when she took over the reins of The Australian Working Stock Dog Magazine.
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ULTURAL AWAKENING We share the C colourful stories of Griffith’s constituents and delight in the region’s food and beverage bounty.
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GRIFFITH TOWN FEATURE
ON THE COVER
Magnificent Monaro garden “Shirley”, owned by Sally-Ann and John Cottle, is a delight for the senses. Garden story, page 208 Image: Robert Bruce
62 Byng Street Orange New South Wales 2800 P 02 5317 8200 info@byngstreethotel.com.au
byngstreethotel.com.au
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FROM THE PUBLISHERS
A precious gift “Some people dream of angels, we have held one in our arms.”
Our Farewell to Zara
This has been a very difficult year for many people, and we as a family have experienced a very personal loss, which we would like to share with you. In the Spring 2021 edition you may recall we joyfully announced the arrival of our precious granddaughter, Zara Hilary Boshammer, born to our eldest daughter Kate and her husband Justin, who live on a rural property near Condamine in Queensland. COVID played against us so we were not able to meet our precious little girl until she was four weeks old, and after she had spent the first three weeks of her life in the special care nursery in Toowoomba. She patiently endured many health issues and was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to the Queensland Children’s Hospital on two occasions. Sadly, on November 2, she lost her battle and succumbed to a severe respiratory illness, at almost seven months of age. Our RLM team, extended family and friends have been incredibly supportive and loving, and helped us in many ways to cope with this traumatic loss. In Zara’s honour, Kate and Justin organised a Go Fund Me page and a fundraising afternoon in their garden, “Zara’s Day”. An incredible $150,000 was raised and has been donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Steve Waugh Foundation, a charity that supports children and young adults with rare diseases. High flow oxygen facilities have also been purchased for their local Miles Hospital (Queensland). We would like to extend our gratitude to the many family members, friends, neighbours, business owners, acquaintances and those not even known to us, who generously donated in many different ways. Zara’s precious life has had a profound impact on all of us, and her legacy will continue to improve the lives of others for a long time to come.
Summer 2020 Edition
The Summer 2020 edition featuring the Snowy Valleys Council area has been experiencing unprecedented sales and we are thrilled that it has been received so well. Again, we must tip our hat in thanks to the visionary Snowy Valleys Council, which so generously supported the 38 local businesses who chose to have a presence in our magazine. It has been our great pleasure here at RLM to support such wonderful communities and promote understanding of their courageous journeys after the devastating bushfires.
Griffith Feature
We are thrilled to bring you a large feature on the incredibly unique Griffith area. There’s so much agricultural diversity to be found as well as a vibrant, culturally rich community overflowing with innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.
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Zara’s precious life has had a profound impact on all of us, and her legacy will continue to improve the lives of others for a long time to come.
Our special thanks go to Bill Calabria of Calabria Wines, who believed in our publication and the value of this feature in spreading the good news about the beautiful Griffith area. We know you will enjoy every page of the feature and will feel compelled to take a visit there soon and enjoy the spoils of the region.
A focus on Wagga Wagga in Winter 2021
Continuing our journey through the vibrant Riverina region, we will be bringing you a 120+ page feature on Wagga Wagga this winter. After several visits to this thriving city, and getting to know and understand the social fabric, meeting lots of business owners, taking in the agricultural scene and networking with many people who call Wagga Wagga home, we are feeling quite excited about compiling all our discoveries to create edition number 33 for your enjoyment in the winter months of 2021. Autumn is such a beautiful season. Take time to relax, appreciate all you have around you and make every moment count.
Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle
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historic pub artisan bakery accommodation
320 Riverside Drive Jugiong NSW 2726 P. 0419 098 828
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A U T U M N Jake’s message
from the boundary fence Greetings and salutations. If you are reading this it’s safe to presume two things: you survived 2020 – a year that tested our mettle to the very core – and enjoy reading true and inspiring tales from the bush. This edition is firmly focused on cosmopolitan Griffith, so we’ll kick off with a hearty buongiorno! I played one of my favourite songs, Bella Ciao (from the engrossing Netflix hit series The Money Heist) all the way to the heart of the MIA to get me in the mood! Griffith is a multicultural centre in the middle of the Australian “food bowl” with an estimated 60 per cent of residents having direct links to the Italian population. There are many other fascinating cultures to be found too, including Indian. I had only just arrived in town when I spotted a man wearing a turban on his Sunday stroll. I pulled over to ask directions to the Sikh Temple and without a word he jumped in my car and we proceeded to his place of worship. The city’s residents can thank Walter Burley Griffin for the seemingly endless main street. Banna Ave is designed for shopping, with most of the shops on one side and lots of beautiful green park on the other. Being so wide enables multiple car parking in the middle. Griffith is a dynamic and exciting place to live but it’s also a rather cool place to rest your weary bones at the end of one’s life. The local cemetery is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Ornate (and very expensivelooking) marble mausoleums line up on one edge of the Catholic strip. When it comes to honouring their deceased, no money is spared. One Italian winemaker told me that erecting elaborate tombstones is a strong Italian tradition. “I think it’s more to encourage the grandkids to come and visit,” he told me with a wink. “At least that’s my view, to keep the family history going.” Yet again, I met some very talented individuals from all walks of life. It was wonderful catching up with some of the top winemakers in the country, citrus growers, artists, a wood carver, an ex-football star and so much more. I also sat down with a few of the country’s wealthiest and most successful individuals, all generous with their time, refreshingly humble and down to earth. During my short stay, I also witnessed the true joy of giving. One warm-hearted fellow offered to give me the stunning timber bowl I’d been admiring in his workshop. I was stunned by the generosity of this stranger, who reminded me that giving freely and from the heart is what life is all about. On my last night in town, I shared dinner in a very upmarket restaurant with a stranger who for three hours spun the most riveting tales I’ve heard in years. Among other things, he explained the true cost of borrowing money and the extraordinary things parents do for their children. The next morning, I finally got to see Griffith from the air, thanks to my fabulous pilot, Gary Dal Broi, who wisely wasn’t practising any of his aerobatic manoeuvres. I have always tried to capture the ultimate aerial landscape, an image that simply “pops” with colour and vibrancy and has a life of its own. Thanks to an advanced setting on my Fuji XT3, I finally nailed it after a lifetime of trying.
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GRIFFITH IS A MULTICULTURAL CENTRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN “FOOD BOWL”. The last thing I will comment on is the new Whitton Malt House, one of the most jaw-dropping ventures I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. The multimillion-dollar set-up was carved out of a bush paddock in less than a year. If forward-thinking people in the Australian bush can come up with such an iconic establishment in the middle of a pandemic, then we don’t have too much to worry about. In later pages, you’ll find an inspiring yarn about club rugby in the bush. Coonabarabran had been chasing a premiership for nearly 30 years but the drought and general apathy had all but killed the club before a resurgence and fairytale ending. I must admit it was a big day for me. When I was kicking off my photographic career, I drove my old EK to Gilgandra to capture the 1980 rugby league grand final. The Coona Unicorns won the historic encounter but, in my excitement later that evening, I opened the canister lid to expose the precious film to light, before the chemicals had worked their magic. I left town and quietly waited 40 years for the chance to redeem my name. There were no problems this time around as fathers from the last big win rejoiced with their sons on the paddock after the final whistle was blown. No wonder they call it the game they play in heaven. Life is not easy but it sure is grand. Enjoy the little moments that bring you happiness and don’t forget to visit some of the places you have read about. Till the next time you are in my sights, keep well and keep reading!
Jake
Fruit & vegetable image: Griffith Tourism.
ABOVE: Griffith is all about food, and lots of it, from paddock to plate.
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Fishing for tips from Grandad It starts with data the whole family can share
Explore the Optus Family Plan in-store today RLM 9
AUTUMN 2021 CONTRIBUTORS
meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
ALEX TICKLE
JAKE LINDSAY
ZORA REGULIC
Publisher, Editor, Advertising
Publisher, Distribution, Advertising
Chief Writer & Photographer
ROBERT I BRUCE
ELIZABETH SWANE
JENNIFER HARDEN Writer, Photographer, Social Media
Advertising Designer
AMY LOUISE ALLEN
JANE SANDERSON
LORRAINE HILLS
ELIZABETH GRANT
Photographer
Photographer Simon & Amy Creative Co
Country Cuisine Writer
Writer
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GINA CRANSON
Art Director
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
SALLY MARCEAU
MELISSA DUNKERLEY
ANNA CONN
KATE BOSHAMMER
JO McKINNON
KERRI AMBLER
MELANIE PEARCE
HEATHER CROSBY
CATHERINE PLAYER
SUE CURLEY
JOHN CURLEY
ZENIO LAPKA
ELISABETH EDWARDS
Garden Writer
Wedding Writer
Writer
Writer
Writer
Writer
RLM Accountant
Website Developer
Writer
Photographer
Advertising Designer
Writer
Writer
Writer
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Special offer for regional lifestyle readers Every two night booking includes complimentary evening drinks and gourmet breakfasts and every 3 or more night booking also includes one complimentary 2 course dinner for two people. Treat yourselves!
A U T U M N feedback
your letters Last year was a year of great surprises, most of which we could have done without. We endured drought, unprecedented fires, floods and the pandemic. One part of the recovery and renewal process has been Regional Lifestyle Magazine’s positive promotion on the strength and beauty within our community. This is the second time that Snowy Valleys Council has partnered with RLM. The first edition was fantastic and provided significant benefits to our community. The recent Summer edition is sensational. Here we see the stark reality of last year’s conflagration combined with the uplifting stories of resilience, rebuilding and hope. The Snowy Valleys highlighted in this magazine are a must see for residents and travellers alike, from rafting down the Tumut river, catching trout in clear mountain streams, hands-on history at the remarkable Adelong Falls, cycling the Tumbarumba Rail Trail or feasting on luscious fruits and berries from Batlow and surrounds. Special thanks to Elizabeth, Alex, Jake and the whole team for your skill, compassion and empathy in telling our stories. James Hayes OAM, Mayor, Snowy Valleys Council
Congratulations on the Winter 2020 edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine, highlighting our Hilltops Region. As a motel owner in Harden and Regional Lifestyle advertiser, we appreciate every customer who stays with us, especially new customers who have read the Winter edition, coming from Canberra and Sydney. This is invaluable exposure because not only does it benefit us but many other businesses in Hilltops, due to the flow-on effect. Regional Lifestyle Magazine highlights the cultural, business and family strengths in our community. Hilton and Alison Doberer, Harden Country Motel
My husband and I have been a coach driver and a hostess (recently retired) and the magazine has been a wonderful addition to my research as we travelled around our great state. I live on the south coast of NSW and wait eagerly each season for the best magazine I have ever read. My sister in Goulburn gave me my first copy about five years ago. The magazine is truly wonderful value for money, with the beautiful glossy pages filled with a vast array of stories and photos that have me mesmerised from page one. Through your magazine, we have realised there is so much to see and do “out there”. I am originally from Goulburn and as we all know “you can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl”. Debbie Allen, Nowra
I purchased the initial Central West Lifestyle (now Regional Lifestyle) in a Narrabri newsagency. The publication was well advertised and displayed prominently. The RLM stories link the past of various towns with their modern people and lifestyles. For example, the war stories of Coolamon, the history of Gilgandra and district and the statues and war history of Harden-Murrumburrah, together with these towns’ farmers, shopkeepers and business operators of today make very interesting and colourful reading. Positive outlooks built sometimes on harder times are uplifting. When transients like ourselves pass through these wonderful valleys and communities, your magazine acts as a catalyst to visit these places and to soak up the wonder of what makes them special to the people who live in them. Harvey Martin, Mission Beach, Queensland
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GRIFFITH TOWN FE ATUR E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
CULTURE CAPITAL Discover Griffith, one of Australia’s most vibrant cosmopolitan centres located in the heart of the Riverina. Griffith exudes a rich blend of cultures and traditions, with more than 60 nationalities adding to the diverse cultural tapestry. It is a vibrant regional centre servicing a population of 52,000, bursting with life and energy. The tree-lined main street, Banna Avenue, is dominated by beautiful boutiques and Italian cafés serving great coffee, locally grown food and wine and house-made gelato. Griffith certainly punches above its weight as a regional shopping mecca for fashion, gifts and lifestyle needs. You’ll find it all. Within the Riverina food bowl, Griffith provides the modernday traveller with an assortment of unique flavours, transports them behind the scenes of the agricultural industry, and connects them with a fascinating pioneering history. Griffith has a proud pioneering and migratory history, which has resulted in a multicultural food bowl overflowing with flavours and experiences fit to enthral the traveller’s palate. The abundance of the Riverina’s rich red soil truly astounds. Oranges, grapefruit, grapes, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, rice, olives, tomatoes and lemons would be just brushing the surface of its repertoire. Also worth more than a mention is the livestock, such as chicken, quail and even sustainably produced Murray Cod by Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, an awardwinning business opening up an often off-limits and protected species to the ingenuity of regional chefs.
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No trip to Griffith is complete without a visit to some of the city’s wonderful wineries. The region’s wine industry has a strong heritage of Australian pioneers and Italian immigrants, who saw the potential of the Mediterranean climate, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme and the rich red soil. Mostly known for its internationally acclaimed botrytis and fortified wines, Griffith also produces great quality and affordable table wines, as well as varietals such as Durif and Montepulciano, iconic to the area. The statistics are quite impressive with one in four glasses of Australian wine produced in the Riverina, all wineries being family owned and being the largest wine region in Australia. You could keep yourself occupied in Griffith for weeks, sampling the varied wonders of Australia’s food bowl, the product of a fertile landscape and a rich cultural heritage. With great local food producers, passionate chefs and wineries, it is little wonder Griffith is fast becoming the new destination for foodies. And once you’ve had a taste of Griffith’s authentic hospitality, it is without doubt that you will return for more. RLM Image: Destination NSW
ABOVE: Sun sets over a local orchard in Griffith.
a full calendar
Griffith has much to celebrate. You only have to look at its social calendar from year to year to know that its natural assets and sense of community are something special. Life in Griffith revolves around food, wine, family and sport. The annual festivals are a wonderful time to visit as they showcase our local food and world class wines, friendly people and colourful cultures. Not only does Griffith host a large number of major festivals and events for the region, but we’re never short of live music, performing arts and unique cultural events thanks to our regional art gallery, live theatre and local clubs. The Griffith events calendar is jam packed with experiences for everyone. The annual flagship event is Griffith Spring Fest, which takes place for two weeks every October while the incredible citrus sculptures are on display. Over 70 plus-size sculptures, put together with over 100,000 oranges and grapefruits, line the main street. The festival also offers the chance to explore the best of Griffith’s privately owned
gardens. This year, Griffith Spring Fest will take place from October 10 to 24. Griffith Easter Party is a multi-day celebration of fun festivities for the whole family over the Easter weekend. Celebrating the end of vintage, Griffith Easter Party brings you a host of entertainment, activities, demonstrations, wine and food. There is something for everyone between the Bacchus Family Fun Run, Griffith Vintage Festival, Pioneer Park Museum’s Action Day and the festivities at each of the local wineries. A Taste of Italy Griffith celebrates the city’s authentic Italian culture over a weekend in August each year, with food, wine and an abundance of good times showcasing the town’s authentic hospitality. Festa Del Salsicce e Salami, also known as the Salami Festival, is a ticketed long lunch to celebrate the winners of the year’s best homemade salami as voted by 24 local and interstate judges. If that’s not
Credit: Destination NSW
your thing, head to Griffith Italian Festival, which is a family-friendly event showcasing the rich culture in food, wine and traditional Italian music. This weekend is also a great time to taste the Italian wine varietals at each of the local wineries. Other annual events include the Griffith Shaheedi Tournament (Sikh Games), which takes place in June, or the Piccolo Family Farm’s music events such as A Day in the Orchard Festival or the Long Lunch in the beautiful garden. Banna Lane Festival is a wonderful time to visit and check out the mural artists in action painting larger than life artworks on the buildings in Banna Lane. RLM Images: Visit Griffith
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Griffith Spring Fest citrus sculptures; Griffith Vintage Festival during Griffith Easter Party; Festa del Salsicce e Salami (Salami Festival) during A Taste of Italy Griffith weekend in August.
GRIFFITH TOURISM HUB | VISITGRIFFITH.COM.AU
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
rich pickings Griffith’s rich red soil creates an agricultural tapestry of lush colour and produces world-class food and wine that leaves gastronomes spoilt for choice.
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COSMOPOLITAN CHARM Griffith’s vibrant township is a lively multicultural hub, celebrating history, diversity and community.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
days gone by GRIFFITH
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
once upon
a time
Thanks to its founder, Charlie Sharam, the Griffith Pioneer Park Museum celebrates its 50th birthday in 2021. Over the years, the popular open-air Griffith Pioneer Park Museum has grown to include over 50 buildings nestled among bushland overlooking the city. The collection features an array of historically significant items that uncover powerful insights into the individuals who have shaped the Western Riverina that we know today. The Italian Museum and Cultural Centre was opened in 2004 and is dedicated to the development of Griffith’s vibrant Italian culture. The Italian museum was built by the community and showcases items and stories of Italian migrants. Griffith Pioneer Park Museum is proud to acknowledge First Nations history, especially through the two scar trees that have
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been brought to the museum for preservation. These trees have been culturally modified by the Wiradjuri and are a rich representation of local Indigenous culture and knowledge. The Wine and Irrigation Exhibition is a must-see for visitors, offering insights into the origins of grape growing and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation scheme that progressed Griffith into the thriving agricultural and horticultural hub that we know today. The latest addition is the “Todd Shed”, opened in 2020 to showcase the progression of transport in the Western Riverina from horse-drawn vehicles to motorised vintage cars. The exhibition also features stories from the Todd family, soldier settlers and the collection’s original owners. >
Griffith T O W N F E AT U R E
THE COLLECTION FEATURES AN ARRAY OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ITEMS FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Inside the Italian Museum and Cultural Centre; a faithful replica of Taylor’s Store, the first retail store in Griffith’s Banna Ave; the city’s strong Italian heritage is on display at the Cultural Centre, opened in 2004; St James church dates back to 1907; an old truck in its final resting ground. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The main Italian exhibit covers areas such as immigration, improvisation and tradition; the Bynya Homestead was built from Cypress Pine in 1869; the drop-log saddler’s shop displays harnesses and saddler’s equipment; volunteer Cheryl Perrin and Pioneer Park curator and tour guide Bonnie Owen; a recreation of Dumossa Inn; vintage cars; the entrance to the museum; an old pioneer’s cottage.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
Griffith Pioneer Park Museum is not only committed to the preservation of history, significant items and buildings but also to the skills, trades, crafts and traditions that helped raise Griffith and the Western Riverina’s cultures and community. The annual Action Day commemorates the opening of the museum on Good Friday 1971, treating visitors to a range of exhibitions from wool spinning to blacksmithing. Guided tours aboard the museum train are offered on the first Sunday of the month or for group bookings. These allow visitors to view the entire site with commentary from the museum’s curator. RLM
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Griffith Pioneer Park Museum is located on 11 hectares of bushland; the city’s heritage is on display; wooden wheels were once all the rage.
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Griffith T O W N F E AT U R E
GRIFFITH
in pictures The people and places in and around Griffith have long been the focus of photographer Andrew McLean. My photography journey started when I was studying Landscape Architecture in Canberra and for years it was a work tool and a way of recording the sights and people I met when travelling. Following a career change to Information Technology and 30 years later, I left city living and settled in Griffith, where I have been for the past 11 years. I have strong family connections here and taking photographs has become my way of exploring and connecting with the region and the community through local events and sporting activities. The winter months are mainly spent following local sporting teams, capturing thousands of images of all football codes and netball. The land around Griffith is relatively flat, which is ideal for irrigation farming but less so for dramatic landscape photography, but I have learned to look for light and shade created by the skies and to find patterns in crops on the land. I try to anticipate the conditions so I can be in the right place at the right time. >
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sunset over Lake Wyangan; the Kooba Boundary Riders Hut; almond blossoms at sunset.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Griffith
Living year round in Griffith, I can follow the seasonal changes and look forward to capturing sunflowers following the sun in summer, avenues of almond trees in blossom in early spring and the changing autumn colours along Banna Avenue. I go back to familiar places to wait for the light and shadows to be just right. Scenic Hill behind Griffith is a favourite, especially early in the morning and at sunset, with or without the goats. Barren Box Swamp is a fantasy of blue and green reflections with black tree stumps and white pelicans as contrast. The Kooba Boundary Riders Hut, possibly the oldest building in the area, stands out when it is backlit by the setting sun. Photographic technology has changed greatly since I began 35 years ago. Digital cameras allow us to see our results on screen immediately and to take many more shots than a 36-shot 35mm film roll allowed. Drones provide a whole new bird’seye perspective, enabling you to see patterns in the landscape invisible at ground level. New applications allow us to plan and play with images to create and emphasise elements, the challenge now being to know the balance between on camera composition and post processing. The year 2020 was difficult for photographers that rely on annual community festivals, group functions and sporting events like myself. As restrictions hopefully ease, the year ahead should provide many more opportunities to explore the region and once again capture community and sporting events, along with the occasional landscape. RLM
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“I TRY TO ANTICIPATE THE CONDITIONS SO I CAN BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.” FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: The new year brings sunflowers; autumn brings colour to Banna Avenue; local gardens open up during Spring Fest. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Hot air ballooning over the orchards; almond blossoms in Beelbangera; bees play a vital role helping pollinate many of our local crops; grape vines stand defiant adjacent to Scenic Hill.