WINTER
Wagga Wagga FEATURE
Rod Pilon
Dubbo Trucking Entrepreneur
Beautiful
Bathurst Garden
Dunedoo Silo Masterpiece
Showcasing
the
best
of
rural
and
regional
New
South
Wales
Agri
Commercial Agri
SERVICE • Agri INFORMATION • MARKETING Commercial Agri facebook.com/jemalongwool
twitter.com/jemalongwool
CENTRAL WEST LIFESTYLE PTY LTD Trading as Regional Lifestyle Magazine ABN 151 6322 9418
CONTENT COVERAGE AREA
ADDRESS PO BOX 1050 DUBBO NSW 2830 PHONE 0429 441 086 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.
Pegasus Print Group, is an environmentally responsible printing company that is committed to helping achieve a sustainable environment. To underscore our commitment to environmental sustainability, Pegasus Print Group is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified as well as being ISO 14001 accredited. Paper and paper-based materials carrying the FSC® symbol can be tracked back to their source, guaranteeing they come from forests which are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations. Pegasus Print Group is also an accredited ISO 9001:2008 supplier, which ensures each step of our production process is aligned with world’s best practice to deliver the finest quality possible. Together, these accreditations offered by Pegasus Print Group, offer our clients a guarantee that their printed products are produced by world’s best practice environmental and finest quality standards.
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CONTENTS ISSUE 33 WINTER 2021
174 T HE BIG PICTURE Dunedoo’s spectacular new mural is proving to be quite the town drawcard. 178 QUINTESSENTIALLY COUNTRY From a young age, Peter Mortimore has been captivated by the image of the classic Australian stockman. 184 HOUSE PROUD The owners of Nyrang Homestead, Boree, fell in love with the place even before they began exploring its intriguing past. 190 HERITAGE PRESERVED Maintaining the quality and heritage of Clydesdale horses is a passion for hardworking septuagenarians Colin and Karen Brown.
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WINTER
Wagga Wagga FEATURE
GARDEN
220 R OOMS WITH A VIEW Overseas travel has influenced and inspired Denise and Peter Hennessy’s garden style at “Adelong Park”, Brewongle.
Rod Pilon
Dubbo Trucking Entrepreneur
Beautiful
Bathurst Garden
Dunedoo Silo Masterpiece
WEDDINGS
228 T ake a peep at some of the happy, handsome couples throughout regional NSW who tied the knot in style this past year.
THE LAST WORD
240 C ARVING OUT A CAREER Timberloving Tumbarumba local Justin McClelland is sinking his teeth into an unusual artform.
$14.00 inc GST WINTER 2021 VOLUME 33 >
COUNTRY CHARACTERS
196 A DRIVEN MAN There’s no such word as can’t in the vocabulary of Rod Pilon, the Dubbo-based founder of a transport empire known throughout the length and breadth of Australia.
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he regional capital of southern NSW is T a vibrant city that boasts a proud history and looks to the future with confidence and positivity.
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WAGGA WAGGA TOWN FEATURE
ON THE COVER
The majestic 140-year-old Borambola homestead is a Riverina treasure. Story page 36 Image: Destination NSW
South
Wales
62 Byng Street Orange New South Wales 2800 P 02 5317 8200 info@byngstreethotel.com.au
byngstreethotel.com.au
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
winter wonders
“The whole world is a series of miracles . . . but we’re so used to them that we call them ordinary things.” Hans Christian Andersen
Welcome to a chilly winter 2021 across the glorious state of NSW.
In Appreciation
Thank you to all the lovely people who sent us beautiful messages on the loss of our precious granddaughter, Zara Hilary Boshammer. We felt uplifted by the many caring expressions of sympathy and thank you all most sincerely.
Griffith Feature
We could not have predicted the incredible sales figures that broke all records with the gorgeous Autumn 2021 edition featuring Griffith. So many people have commented about how this edition has prompted them to make travel plans to visit Griffith. We had a recent trip to Griffith and had the honour of sharing the story of Regional Lifestyle with the Griffith Food & Wine Club, whose members enjoy regular camaraderie and social gettogethers. It was a memorable experience, and we thoroughly enjoyed the gracious and generous hospitality. More recently, we shared our Lifestyle journey with the Dubbo/ Orana Branch of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW. This was a pleasure, and we were delighted to be presented with a thank you gift from their most mature member, 95-year-old Jack Munro. Following this, we were invited to speak at the Dubbo View Club meeting, another opportunity we are most grateful for.
Wagga Wagga Feature, Winter 2021
This 152-page feature, showcasing the thriving Wagga Wagga area, is a celebration of great diversity, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. We are certain you will love reading this edition as much as we did researching and compiling it for your enjoyment.
Collector’s Edition Volume 2
After the success of the Collector’s Edition Volume 1, we have decided to produce a Collector’s Edition Volume 2. This publication will celebrate the iconic stories in Central West Lifestyle and Regional Lifestyle, edition numbers 19 through to 34. We are very excited about this venture and will be pleased to release it for sale on October 1, 2021. The Collector’s Edition will be a popular seller as a gift for Christmas, Mother’s and Father’s Days and birthdays as well as a general keepsake. Thank you to all the councils and businesses that have generously supported this initiative. As always, your commitment to our vision is greatly valued.
Albury Feature, Spring 2021
We have had several trips to the stunning city of Albury recently, working on the Spring 2021 Feature. We are thrilled to inform you of some upcoming content that is unique and spectacular. At the conclusion of the 120-page Albury Feature will be a 25-page feature
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on nearby Holbrook, a dynamic small town in the Greater Hume Council. There is certainly some outstanding content to look forward to in this upcoming Spring edition.
Field Days
There is wonderful news that the annual field days are on our calendar this year, thanks to the easing of COVID restrictions. Mudgee Small Farms Field Days will be held on July 9 and 10, 2021. Regional Lifestyle Magazine will have a stand in the Founders Pavilion. We’ll be networking with many lovely visitors and selling the current Winter 2021 edition as well as back copies, still in high demand. Hope to see you there! Ag Quip at Gunnedah will be held from August 17 to 19, 2021 and has so much to offer. As Australia’s largest and premier primary industry field day, it provides a huge array of experiences, for all ages. Look out for our stand in the Lifestyle Pavilion.
Family Joy
We are very proud to announce the recent births of two new grandchildren. Anna and Jason Conn from ‘Hillview’, Wellington, are thrilled with the arrival of their baby boy, Hugo Oliver Conn. Jane and Justin Sanderson from ‘Warriston’, Collie, via Dubbo, are joyously announcing the birth of their son, Henry Charles Sanderson. We feel very fortunate indeed. Until next time, take care of each other and always believe something wonderful is about to happen.
Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex Tickle
story name W I N T E R
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W I N T E R Jake’s message
ROCKY ROAD Greetings, faithful Lifestyle readers. I trust you are all keeping it all together and finding joy in the great journey of life, full of its many mysteries and intricacies. Life is not always easy in our so called “Lucky Country”. For many, our resolve is tested every day. Some days are write-offs, when we feel nervous about the future – concerned for our health, wealth and personal well-being, feelings often magnified by those with more years behind us than ahead. Despite being the son of a doctor, I typically steer clear of those in the medical fraternity. I know it’s another “bad habit” but I still avoid them like the plague. Most times, it’s easier not knowing the truth. And if it’s not something breaking down in our bodies or minds, you get hit from left field. Recently, my much-loved big TV met an inglorious end, moments after the loudest clap of thunder I’ve ever witnessed. A huge old gum split in the backyard, barely 10 metres away. While recovering from the shock, a visiting canine thought he’d improve his looks with my fine set of dentures. I kid you not! Then my computer was hacked – sorry if you received a strange message from me demanding money. In moments like this, I turn to music, my saviour. I play the soundtrack of The English Patient and the emotions kick in. It’s a touchy subject but there are a couple of songs that remind me of the fragility of life. I lost another school mate the other day, taken by a heart attack at 58 after a canoeing adventure. He was otherwise fit as a fiddle and never saw it coming, taken without any goodbyes. News like this cuts to the bone and reminds me it could be any one of us at any time. Life is fleeting and good fortunes can turn on a dime. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy sitting down with people from all walks of life whom I would otherwise never expect to meet. The funny thing is, deep down, we’re all pretty much the same. All of us have to fight our own battles as we go about our daily duties. On a brighter note, let’s talk about beautiful and vibrant Wagga Wagga, our biggest regional city. Note to self: Never call Wagga Wagga “Wagga”. The same applies for Woy Woy, Curl Curl, Goono Goono, Bong Bong and Terry Hie Hie. During my fortnight visiting the city on the Murrumbidgee, I enjoyed mixing it with young blokes chasing their dreams, including one reaching for the skies (literally) and a teenage golfing sensation. Then there were the fascinating old timers like Wazza Smith (cricket coach) and Eric Hill (miniature loco driver) still giving it their best shot in their 70s. Both these legends continue doing what they have always loved – and they’re not stopping because they’ve reached a certain number. It’s always great meeting resilient farmers and on this trip, I met up with a few forced to deviate from their standard routine. The results have not only changed their lives but helped the environment. It’s truly inspirational stuff, especially when there are two or three generations involved. Without doubt, my favourite interview was with a distinguished old gentleman who did his part for the war effort in Bomber Command. Bert Adams, only a few years shy of the elusive ton, has the most amazing memory and positive outlook on life. I have always relished WW2 history and to meet somebody actually involved was a humbling and unforgettable experience. Nearly 80 years ago, the navigator gambled his life every time he went on a mission, knowing there was only a 50 per cent chance he’d make it back. How many blokes today would go to work knowing that?
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Bert defied the odds and came home to share his extraordinary life with Val, his wife of 68 years. Bert, you are a true legend and one of the most amazing men I will ever meet. Writing yarns about Wagga Wagga personalities reminds me of that fabulous ABC show Backroads, which brings to life all the good found in country towns. We may not have a hit TV show or the resources of a major publishing company behind us but the dedicated team at RLM are doing the same, highlighting the strength of people living west of The Great Divide and showing just how resilient and resourceful country folk really are. Failures, I’m told, are simply part of life. If you don’t fail, you will never learn. If you don’t learn, you will never change. And we all know the only thing constant in life is change. One hundred years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today, almost everyone has a car and only the rich own horses. The stables have turned! I’ll finish with a quote attributed to Mark Twain, which best sums up my attitude to life. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do more than the things you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Until I’m looking at you from across the kitchen table, stay safe, well and happy. The gift of life is indeed special.
Jake
ABOVE: It’s always a thrill catching up with three generations working on the family farm. Frank, Nick and Harry Austin live on “Mundarlo”, 50km east of Wagga Wagga. Their remarkable story is featured on page 51; Wagga Wagga’s Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) is renowned as the premier centre in Australia for the marketing of cattle, sheep and lambs.
story name W I N T E R
ONCE A YEAR OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT
ought Visit our Dr lief Rural Re precinct!
AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER PRIMARY INDUSTRY FIELD DAYS!
lack Jack Road UNNEDAH NSW
www.agquip.com.au New features including Agri-Tech Expo, Education Expo and the Rural Relief Expo.
TUESDAY - THURSDAY 17 - 19 AUGUST 2021
AgQuip is the most anticipated agri -event of the year! Showcasing over 3000 rural companies - You’ll see the biggest range of state-of-the-art agricultural machinery, implements, information, lifestyle and technology.
Black Jack Road ONCE A YEAR TO VISIT AT GUNNEDAH NSWOPPORTUNITY Contact ACM Rural Events
AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER PRIMARY www.agquip.com.au INDUSTRY FIELD DAYS!
agquip@austcommunitymedia.com.au (02) 6768 5800 | www.agquip.com.au
AgQuip is the most anticipated agri-event of the year! Showcasing over 3000 rural companies - You’ll see the biggest range of state-of-the-art agricultural machinery, implements, information, lifestyle and technology. Organised by
Supported by
Sponsored by
RLM 9
WINTER 2021 CONTRIBUTORS
meet your team
Publisher, Editor, Advertising
ELIZABETH TICKLE
Publisher, Distribution, Advertising
Chief Writer & Photographer
JAKE LINDSAY
ZORA REGULIC Art Director
Sub-Editor & Proofreader
ROBERT I BRUCE
JENNIFER HARDEN Writer, Photographer, Social Media
KATE BOSHAMMER
Website Developer, Advertising Designer, Writer
MELISSA DUNKERLEY
JACKIE COOPER
JANE SANDERSON
ZENIO LAPKA
ANNA CONN
ELIZABETH SWANE
LUCY TAYLOR
LORRAINE HILLS
ELIZABETH GRANT
SUE CURLEY
HEATHER CROSBY
PEITA VINCENT
BELINDA BENSON
JOHN CURLEY
JO McKINNON
ELISABETH EDWARDS
JOHN EGAN
Photographer
Wedding Writer
Country Cuisine Writer
Writer
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ALEX TICKLE
Photographer
Writer
RLM Accountant
Writer
Writer
Writer
Advertising Designer
Garden Writer
Writer
Writer
GINA CRANSON
Photographer
Writer
Writer
Photographer
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It starts with yes The world is a work in progress. With a tweak here, a tweak there – great things can happen. The potential is at our fingertips.
W I N T E R feedback
your letters After the past 12 months of the COVID pandemic and so much uncertainty, it is so gratifying that 2021 is looking a lot more positive. Regional Lifestyle Magazine plays a huge part in keeping Australians informed of so many positive activities available, while spreading the word about what regional Australia has to offer. RLM takes on the role of guiding holiday makers and tourists to some very exciting destinations to visit. I am so grateful to Elizabeth, Alex and the team at RLM for such an amazing and informed Autumn 2021 edition featuring Griffith. The feedback I have been receiving from the community of Griffith and the surrounding regions just goes to show how popular the magazine has become. The fact that over 1000 copies were sold at the News and Gifts on Banna in Griffith in the first four weeks after release means readers love what RLM has to offer. This would not happen without the determination shown by the team at RLM to highlight what inland Australia has to offer, showcasing the stories that need to be told. So come and visit Griffith, the food bowl of NSW. Bill Calabria AM , Calabria Family Wines, Griffith
Regional Lifestyle Magazine is world class, featuring the country communities and people of the regional areas we live in. It is so uplifting to read of the lives of so many honourable people who have worked hard to build this great state (and nation) and who contribute positively to their communities. The articles highlight the classic and beautiful Australian values that are the foundation of the regional and rural areas. Thank you for honouring the humble, the great and the good. We honour you and your magazine of integrity. Heather and David Parkin, Wagga Wagga
As a long-time subscriber to RLM, I was thrilled to see, in the last edition, a feature on the wonderful town of Griffith. My first experience of the magazine was years ago when I saw the cover story on “Dundulimal”, a well-known property at Dubbo. My late father was a part-time shearer on that property. The magazine was full of interesting stories on people who we would call “the quiet achievers”. The Lifestyle team did a wonderful job showcasing one of the best towns, in my opinion, in Australia. The reality is that this exposure is only a small fraction of what can be shown about the accomplishments of the people of Griffith. It is my hope that the Lifestyle team will return and, with the help of the powers that be, can do a complete job on the initiative, inventiveness, creativity and determination of the people that make Griffith the wonderful place it is. It’s absolutely wonderful to sit and read a magazine like RLM that concentrates on the positive contributions that people from all over are making to the country. I have sent copies of this magazine to many places in Australia and the feedback is that people had no idea of the diversity and versatility of Griffith. Just imagine the impact when the complete Griffith story of accomplishment is told. It will take several editions. Ross Marsh, Binya
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK: info@lifestylemagazine.net.au
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W I N T E R story name
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story name W I N T E R
WAGGA WAGGA TOWN FE ATUR E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
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T O W N F E AT U R E Wagga Wagga
WAGGA WAGGA COU NCI L F E AT U R E WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
time to shine from the Mayor of Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga is a progressive, diverse and connected city with a strong and vibrant future. Wagga Wagga is a unique and vibrant city. It is the regional capital of southern NSW with a proud history and even brighter future. The city is known in the Wiradjuri people’s language as a place of “dance and celebration”. And indeed there is much to celebrate. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in rural and regional NSW, gateway to the Riverina, Australia’s food bowl. It is a vibrant multicultural city with people from 112 nationalities calling Wagga Wagga home. It is the Home of the Soldier, with every Army recruit from across Australia undertaking their basic training in the city. The city’s RAAF base not only trains RAAF personnel but also Army personnel. Health and education are the city’s two largest industries. It is home to one of the NSW Government’s Special Activation Precincts. Wagga Wagga boasts a very secure water supply, with the Murrumbidgee River flowing through the city, making it the envy of many other centres throughout Australia. Wagga Wagga is a thriving, innovative and inclusive community with a population of 70,000, which is expected to grow to 100,000 over the next 20 to 25 years. For thousands of years, this area has been a meeting place, and the traditions set by the original inhabitants have continued following
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white settlement. Wagga Wagga is a place where paths cross and people meet. The heart and soul of the city are the people, who are among the most generous in all of Australia. During the 2020 bushfires, Wagga Wagga residents opened their hearts, their homes, their wallets and their pantries to assist those impacted. The city also helped neighbouring councils by providing much-needed people power and equipment. Festivals play an important part in the social fabric of the city and these events cater for all ages and interests. Included on the yearly events calendar are a food and wine festival, major cycling event, multicultural celebration, a festival for young children and even a winter solstice event in one of the city’s back lanes, complete with food, drinks, entertainment and fire buckets. Wagga Wagga is open for business. There has never been a better time for investors to look outside the major cities and see what a regional capital city has to offer. Business operators and entrepreneurs continue to look to Wagga Wagga as a hub for opportunities to invest and develop. The attraction to regional investment is based on affordability, a skilled and reliable workforce, high quality education and training facilities, and a new focus on regional connectivity. Two years ago, the city was named as the site for one of the state’s six Special Activation Precincts, with tens of millions of dollars to flow into the city over the next
four years, to be spent on infrastructure and attracting new industries to the huge 4000-hectare business park. The precinct is located on the MelbourneBrisbane Inland Rail line, which connects Riverina products to domestic and global markets overnight. Construction on the new Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub started in January 2021. The project is set to be Wagga Wagga’s economic driver for decades to come. There has never been a more exciting time to live in Wagga Wagga or one of its surrounding nine villages. I invite you all to come and check out the attractions, the festivals, the museums and galleries, our restaurants, recreational facilities and experience the city’s rich culture. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Cr Greg Conkey, Mayor of Wagga Wagga City Council
you are welcome
Whether you come to Wagga Wagga to live or visit, experience an event or enjoy the area’s incredibly diverse culture, no matter how many years pass, one thing remains true: you are welcome. Wagga Wagga. It’s a name that’s instantly recognisable around the world. Our city’s name was derived from the language of the Wiradjuri people, the largest Aboriginal nation in NSW and the traditional custodians of this land. Wagga Wagga means a place of many celebrations or a place of many dances. In the heart of the Riverina, stretching along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga has a long and proud tradition of welcoming and celebrating people.
City of open hearts and open arms
Each year we welcome refugees, humanitarian entrants and skilled migrants to our city, as we have done for over four decades. Our residents hail from 112 countries of origin, speak 107 languages and practise 62 faiths. Wagga Wagga City Council’s annual FUSION Multicultural Street Festival, a celebration of music, food and culture, is our way of honouring our city’s vibrant multicultural identity. This identity is strengthened with each citizenship ceremony we hold – always a joyous occasion for us as a city. It’s equally heartening to witness the radiant faces of our newest citizens and the outpouring of welcome from the local community. Citizenship ceremonies serve as a wonderful reminder of just how special this region is, that so many families who arrive in Wagga Wagga choose it as their permanent home in Australia.
Celebrating identity
We’re a city that embraces and respects the vast range of identities, perspectives, experiences and lifestyles of our residents. Council’s FRESH + RE-FRESH intergenerational program is a month-long celebration bringing millennial, Gen Y, Gen X, baby boomer and silent generation audiences together to exchange ideas, garner fresh insights and gain new perspectives. Even our littlest community members are catered for, with our annual Spring Jam festival providing wild and wonderful outdoor adventures, music, food and fun for youngsters and their grown-ups. Access and inclusion are priorities for our city. Through Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, we have been working
to create a city that people of all abilities can enjoy. From our allabilities playgrounds, adult lay-down change facilities, to ramps opening up our Riverside precinct, we’re working to ensure Wagga Wagga is a home that affords everyone equitable opportunities for work and play. When Wagga Wagga hosted its first Mardi Gras in 2019, over 10,000 people from across the country poured into the city to join us in supporting our LGBTQIA+ community. It was an important day for the city, and the huge turnout was a powerful indicator of how much love and support there is in our region for all members of our community. We value the contributions made by all our residents, because we know our diversity strengthens us as a city.
Championing sport and culture
In Wagga Wagga we work hard, take care of each other, and celebrate life. Over 1.37 million people visit Wagga Wagga each year for our business, sporting and cultural events, and to spend time with family and friends. We’re a culturally rich and creative city with a wealth of experiences for lovers of the arts. The Wagga Wagga Art Gallery alone welcomes over 40,000 people each year to exhibitions, events, educational and public programs. Wagga Wagga is the inland sporting capital of regional Australia, and is a great place to be a sports lover, whether you’re a player or a spectator. The phrase “the Wagga Wagga effect” is used by the Australian Institute of Sport to describe the disproportionately high number of elite sportspeople who come from regional cities. This effect, combined with council’s long-term infrastructure development program, attracts national events of all types and sizes to our city. RLM
ABOVE, FROM LEFT: The roses in full bloom at the Victory Memorial Gardens in Wagga Wagga’s CBD; ‘The Bells’ extravaganza on the Civic Theatre Lawns, overlooking the Wollundry Lagoon.
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SOLID FOUNDATIONS
Wagga Wagga is the regional capital of southern NSW. It is a vibrant city that boasts a proud history and looks to the future with confidence and positivity.
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Wagga Wagga T O W N F E AT U R E
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on the
RIGHT TRACK Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack says he has every confidence in the region’s ability to grow and prosper.
The Federal Government has stood with regional Australians throughout their most challenging times, including droughts and bushfires, and we will continue to stand with them as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Wagga Wagga will play a vital role in building the road to our national economic recovery. The roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to get regional Australia back to some sort of pre-COVID normality. I know being your voice in Parliament is also about getting things done locally. Over the past decade, I have fought to ensure the Riverina and Wagga Wagga has received its fair share and the Federal Government has invested heavily in regional Australia.
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Wagga Wagga T O W N F E AT U R E
These investments include: Some $960 million – almost $1 billion – for upgrades to the Army Recruitment Training Centre (Blamey Barracks) at Kapooka and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Forest Hill. Defence plays such an important role in the local economy and this investment will help to ensure the city’s continued prosperity into the future; The Wagga Wagga Medical School, which will be located on the Base Hospital premises as part of the Federal Government’s MurrayDarling Rural Medical Schools network. First-year University of NSW students began their first year in February and the facility is expected to be completed by 2022; The Bomen Enabling Roads Project – $14.5 million towards improving access and road safety to unlock hundreds of hectares of industrial land north of Wagga Wagga. On top of this, a further $4.9 million was put towards the $10.6 million upgrade of the Eunony Bridge – an important part of the Wagga Wagga High Productivity Freight Route, which is designed to take trucks off Wagga Wagga streets and give better access to the Bomen Special Activation Precinct. These projects will maximise the potential of the transformational Inland Rail and
the future Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub, bringing more industry and more jobs to the city; The badly needed Kapooka Bridge upgrade received a $27.5 million contribution from the Federal Government; A $55 million Federal Government contribution towards the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment; A $4,288,879 injection into the Botanic Gardens Precinct Renewal program through the popular Building Better Regions Fund; A $10 million grant towards developing a new Police Citizens’ Youth Club facility; A $10 million investment towards a $23 million project to upgrade the entire levee system; A state-of-the-art multipurpose complex at the Equex Centre with a $4.4 million grant; Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program as part of the Federal Government’s $110 billion infrastructure roll-out, which will go towards the upgrade of Lake Albert Road and Stage 2 of the Riverside Project. These are just some of the many projects being funded and delivered in the Wagga Wagga region and I will continue to ensure Wagga Wagga receives the investment it needs, wants, expects and deserves.
I continue to be optimistic about regional Australia. I’ve lived, worked and raised my family in the Riverina. I see first-hand that our regions are about people. If COVID-19 has proven anything, it is that you can work remotely and anywhere. We know increasing numbers of Australians are choosing to decentralise, to regionalise. This plays into Wagga Wagga’s ambition to grow to a population of 100,000 by 2038. We want more businesses and public service agencies to take full advantage of the opportunities we now have by encouraging their employees to work from a regional or remote area. Wagga Wagga is big enough for a great cup of coffee yet small enough to still care. The Wagga Wagga community has the drive and the Federal Government is providing the conditions to make it thrive. RLM FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Michael McCormack speaks to the media at the front of his Wagga Wagga office; Michael McCormack with Wagga Wagga Deputy Mayor Dallas Tout at the Botanic Gardens, which is being rejuvenated with a $4.28 million grant from the Building Better Regions Fund; the $10.6 million Eunony Bridge upgrade will ensure improved road safety and better access to the future Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub.
Michael McCORMACK MP NATIONALS MEMBER FOR RIVERINA • DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
D e li v e r in g fo r t h e R iv e r in a a n d Central West Wagga Wagga office
02 6921 4600 Parkes office
michaelmccormack.com.au
02 6862 4560
MichaelMcCormackMP
michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au
m_mccormackmp
M_McCormackMP
Authorised by M. McCormack MP, National Party of Australia, Suite 2, 11-15 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650.
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T O W N F E AT U R E Wagga Wagga
ONWARD Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr is confident regional NSW will lead the way in the nation’s economic recovery.
and upward
It’s often been said that politics is one of those topics people should avoid raising in social settings. While that may the best advice for some, it wasn’t the case in Dr Joe McGirr’s family. Even as a child, Joe enthusiastically joined in dinner-table debates about the issues of the day. That interest in politics remained, even as Joe studied, built his medical career and raised a family with his wife, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding, who is an orthopaedic surgeon. Having forged a career in emergency medicine, then senior health management and eventually as an academic and university administrator, Joe retained his interest in politics, but the decision to run for parliament was more recent. He was elected as the Independent Member for Wagga Wagga at a byelection in September 2018. It was the second time he had stood. He also ran in 2011, with the push for a new Wagga Wagga Base Hospital as his primary issue. While he did not succeed on that occasion, he obtained a substantial primary vote and voters echoed his calls for improved medical facilities. Perhaps not surprisingly, work began on the new hospital not that long after the election.
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Seeing the redevelopment nearing completion has been especially rewarding for the MP. He spent part of his time as a junior doctor at the old hospital and later returned to work in, and eventually run, the emergency department, before going on to manage the whole facility. Wagga Base is also where Joe first came to know Kerin. Although their burgeoning careers took them away from Wagga Wagga again, the couple later returned and subsequently raised three daughters and a son in the city. “We believed this was the perfect place to combine both our careers with having a family,” Joe says. When he made the decision to stand again in September 2018, he was supported by his family. For the MP, the whirlwind pace of that byelection campaign continued into office. The timing of the election meant there was only a few days between the declaration of the poll and his first day in Parliament. There’s been no slowing down since he was first elected. The electorate was still in the grip of drought when it was hit with catastrophic bushfires. A still-reeling community was pressing ahead with efforts to renew when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The recovery slowed, but did not stall, and 2021 is shaping up to be a year of recovery. Joe believes regional NSW will lead the way. He sees opportunities not only in the city of Wagga Wagga, but across the whole electorate, which also takes in the Lockhart and Snowy Valleys councils. Current developments in Wagga Wagga’s industrial precinct are expected to set the city up as the largest inland port on the Inland Rail line, with its designation as a special activation precinct likely to make it more appealing to industry and development. “This really is a tremendous opportunity to have all levels of government working together to support industry and create links to education and research,” he says. Wagga Wagga is also shaping up to be a major health hub. Already there are about 6000 people employed in health and related fields in the city and Joe believes the development of what is being called the health and knowledge precinct could see this double. After a bumper harvest, farmers are buoyed and the shift to tele-working, a necessity during the lockdown, has shown people there are new ways of working that could make a move to regional NSW possible. RLM Images: Jackie Cooper
FACING PAGE: Politics has been a lifelong interest for Joe McGirr, who previously campaigned for a new Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. ABOVE: Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr and his wife, orthopaedic surgeon Kerin Fielding, with family dog Theo. BELOW LEFT: Joe McGirr was elected as Member for Wagga Wagga in September 2018 and returned six months later at the 2019 general election.
Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA
I love our beautiful vibrant region.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or thinking about a “tree-change”, you’ll love everything we have to offer. Phone: (02) 6921 1622 Email: waggawagga@parliament.nsw.gov.au Online: www.joemcgirr.com.au
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T O W N F E AT U R E Wagga Wagga
garden variety A fantastic array of flora and fauna brings Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens to life, day in, day out.
The acclaimed Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens are set over 22 glorious acres at the base of Willans Hill. A mini zoo, free flight aviary, children’s adventure playground and rainforest section are all designed to keep the kids occupied for hours. Construction of the gardens started in 1961, and the official opening was in 1968. There are nine distinct garden areas, including a Chinese pavilion, three playgrounds, tree chapel and model railway. Among the many highlights is the free zoo and aviary, featuring more than 60 species of native and exotic birds and animals, including the stunning peacocks that roam freely within the grounds. Take a self-guided tour to discover the many hidden treasures, rare plants and surprising facts about the gardens. The native flora section features scattered trees in lawn areas, with native plantings around the perimeter. The tree chapel provides a venue for weddings in a natural and rustic setting. The Camellia and Azalea Gardens adjacent to it were established to celebrate Wagga Wagga’s sister city relationship with Kunming, China. Craftsmen from Kunming, using tools and materials that have hardly changed in a thousand years, constructed the entrance gate, pavilion and a marble Chinese lantern. The Shakespearean Garden is designed in line with the Elizabethan period. The small formal beds are planted and trimmed to form what is known as a Knot Garden, a style typical of the time. This garden features drought-resistant plants from Africa and America. The children’s Farmland, with chooks, ducks and rabbits, is always popular. The rainforest gully displays assorted ferns and trees. It’s kept moist and humid by an automatic spray system that operates throughout the day to create the conditions required to grow rainforest plants in a hot and dry climate. Near the entrance to the zoo lies the Waterwise Garden, which provides practical advice on landscaping and irrigation to reduce water usage. When in full bloom, the David Jones Memorial Rose Garden is ablaze with colour, and overlooks a pond with a gazebo. Children can enjoy the cable ride, lose each other in the labyrinth maze and climb until their hearts’ content on the massive climbing net. The area is fully fenced, shaded, close to toilets and the zoo. A fantastic concert area has a covered stage and is suitable for small or large concerts. Manager of the Parks and Strategic Operations Henry Pavitt loves the diversity of the job and says 110,000 visitors go through the zoo each year, and three times that number through the park. “This place is always improving,” he says. “We’ve had upgrades at the zoo, with new fencing, turf and shelters and we’ve recently introduced the new native playground.” Need help finding your way? The Wagga Botanic Gardens Adventure Tour is a free, app-based tour to help you discover hidden treasures, rare plants and surprising facts about Wagga Wagga’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. Download the app from the museumriverina.com.au/app. RLM
The zoo and aviary is open daily from 9am to 4pm except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
LEFT: The Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the beauty of nature in a quiet and tranquil setting.
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AMONG THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS IS THE FREE ZOO AND AVIARY, FEATURING MORE THAN 60 SPECIES OF NATIVE AND EXOTIC BIRDS AND ANIMALS. A wide variety of plants and animals make the Botanic Gardens a haven for both young and old; park manager Henry Pavitt with one of the star attractions – Russell the wombat; the Camellia Garden was created to acknowledge the relationship between Wagga Wagga and its sister city Kunming in China; the pavilion and gates were a gift to the city during the 1988 Bicentenary.
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all aboard
The Wagga Wagga Society of Model Engineers has created a miniature world of rail that brings unbridled joy to thousands of visitors each year. Established in 1978, the Willans Hill Miniature Railway features two stations along the tracks, which weave through gardens, woodlands, a tunnel and across to the Museum of the Riverina (currently closed) and back again. The Wagga Wagga Society of Model Engineers owns seven locomotives with a few more privately owned, including three belonging to railway veteran Eric Hill. Eric has been involved with miniature locomotives for a marathon 52 years, becoming involved at the Willans Hill Miniature Railway 15 years ago. He has always loved the sound and magic of trains, working with the railways for more than four decades. He started as a junior station assistant and finished as a first class station master. In his collection are two Bundaberg Fowler locomotives, Bundy 5 and Lucy D, both miniature versions of the sugar train locomotives. A third is a different design called Swampy. It’s a Wombat model, named by the man who designed it. With about 50 members in the club, there’s always plenty to do. The trains keep 73-year-old Eric young at heart. “I quite enjoy it,” he says. “On Wednesdays and Saturdays, we have working bees and twice a month we share our love of trains
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AN INVITATIONAL RUN HAS BEEN HELD EVERY YEAR SINCE 1988 ON THE FIRST WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER. with children and their parents. It’s a great pastime and a fun way to connect with others who love their miniature railways.” An Invitational Run has been held every year since 1988 on the first weekend of November. Miniature trains converge from all over Australia for two days of non-stop action. The Saturday event is for club members only while the Sunday event is open to the public. Trains run on the first and third Sunday of every month, and tickets are $3. RLM
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The miniature trains are a big hit with the children; all-aboard!; train enthusiast Eric Hill has been involved with miniature locomotives for over 50 years; volunteers Richard James, Eric Hill, Peter Micenko and Michael Dean; Jody Jackson drives one of the miniature trains.
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TRIPLE
treat
Wagga Wagga community station Triple A FM is celebrating 40 years of continuous broadcasting to the Riverina community. Triple A FM broadcasts on 107.1 seven days a week from 6am till midnight, providing listeners throughout the district with hits from the 1960s to present day, along with local and up-to-date news. “As one of the most identifiable and wellrespected stations in the Riverina, Triple A FM can aptly be called an icon in the market place,” station manager Mick Toshack says. Mick brings 30 years of media experience to the job, with a passion for encouraging and promoting community projects. A music and radio tragic at heart, he believes in the power and reach of radio and the important role it plays in regional Australia. “Triple A FM is all about people. Our wonderful presenters and volunteers contribute so much of their time, energy and enthusiasm to our devoted and loyal listeners.” Over 60 volunteers work at the station to serve and entertain the Wagga Wagga and wider community. Some presenters have been there 30 years, clocking up over 5000 hours on radio. The station had its beginnings in 1978, when a handful of people gathered to
discuss the idea of establishing Wagga Wagga’s own community radio station. Test transmissions were conducted from the Wagga Wagga College of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in early 1980. Programs included classical, middleof-the-road, rock, country, folk, opera, ballet, jazz as well as music from various international groups presented in their own language. After a licence hearing later that year, 2AAA-FM was granted a licence by the then Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, with the first official broadcast on July 31, 1981. In those early days, the station transmitted from temporary premises in the Australian Arcade, Fitzmaurice Street before relocating a year later to its own premises on the corner of Young and Coleman streets. Mick says despite the implications of COVID-19, the station has never been stronger. “We are taking the opportunity to upgrade our studios to make them fully digital and future-proofed and we have built a new disabled access. It’s been a
big investment but we’ve always aimed to provide the best for our members, volunteers and loyal listeners.” Among the six presenters is Marguerite McKinnon, who arrived at Triple A with the early 2015 training class. The experienced journalist worked for WIN Television, Network TEN, radio 2UE and Seven News before starting community radio at 2MCE in Bathurst. “I love it here,” she gushes. “It’s my favourite part of the week and a great way to connect with the local community.” RLM FROM TOP: Station manager Mick Toshack, breakfast presenter Steven Spink, volunteer presenter Denise Hart, volunteer Robyn Petts and sales manager Stewart Allen; Marguerite McKinnon presents her Friday Magazine segment.
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magic
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MOMENTS
Grant Higginson first picked up a camera when he was in Year 11, and ever since then, he’s made a living out of using one.
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After studying TV production at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Grant Higginson graduated and became a professional news cameraman with WIN Television. During his exposure to the broadcast world, he developed an interest in still photography. “Doing stills didn’t come about until eight years ago when DSLR cameras included video capability and I switched over to using them,” Grant says. Nowadays, Grant runs his own successful business in Wagga, Cut Above Productions, which employs three staff. It specialises in everything from filming and production of TV commercials and corporate videos to wedding photography and portraits for businesses and individuals. “The best part of it is I have taken a hobby and turned it into a business and do what I love every day and get paid for it.” With a real love of the outdoors and fishing, Grant takes his camera with him on most of the adventures he goes on and it’s during these trips he’s been able to hone his skills as a landscape photographer. “There’s plenty to shoot around here, particularly the river. I’m a keen fisherman and the river is everything. It’s so special to me. I always love getting out there. “When I go fishing, sunrise and sunset is the best time for photos, and when I’m fishing, I am always torn between the rod and the camera.” >
FACING PAGE, FROM TOP: Kangaroos in the morning fog near Forest Hill; the mighty Murrumbidgee River captured at sunset from Grant’s fishing boat. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A drone shot of a freshly harvested paddock; Grant Higginson shooting a video at Mt Cook in New Zealand; sunrise over the Murrumbidgee River; this stunned emu was using Grant’s tinted car window as a mirror; a winter drone shot of a hill near Tarcutta Creek outside Wagga. WAGGA WAGGA RLM 29