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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 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 roderick.lindsay2@outlook.com 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 2023 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 42 SPRING 2023
MOREE TOWN FEATURE 20
BRIGHT FUTURE: Equally famous for A its rich, black soil and healing artesian waters, Moree is a thriving hub in regional Australia. Meet some of its greatest assets.
COUNTRY CHARACTERS 42
HE SKY’S THE LIMIT: In life and in T business, Richard Lucas Estens AO has aimed high, succeeding in all areas. 55 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: One of Moree’s major attractions is run by octogenarian Wally McDonald, who has found something that keeps him young. 74 A SHARED VISION: Boomi farmers Andrew and Georgia Brown represent the new face of Australian agriculture. 136 OPEN HOUSE: A Pallamallawa couple have opened their hearts and home to give sick children and their families a taste of farm life.
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146 G REATEST WISH GRANTED: One brave couple share their IVF journey with RLM readers and the long and winding road they took to reach parenthood. 158 FAMILY SUCCESS: One hardworking family has created an award-winning motel, restaurant and conference centre in Wallerawang.
GARDEN
166 H ONOURING HERITAGE: There’s more than a touch of history in the magnificent garden “Brandon”, near Glen Innes.
WEDDINGS
196 B RIDES APLENTY: Meet our beautiful brides and read all about their special day.
THE LAST WORD
208 M ADE WITH LOVE: Cafe Amor borrows from the Spanish word for love.
ON THE COVER
Moree was built on the strength of its agriculture. Pictured is the Deberi Contract Harvesting team harvesting wheat at “Courallie” Moree, owned by the Moses family.
Image: Rabbit Hop Films
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S P R I N G story name
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
Time for a fresh, new start ‘In a world where you can be anything you want, be kind’ - unknown
Welcome to Spring, a season of new beginnings, renewal and fresh hope. Outings for RLM
We had a wonderful time networking with our many current readers (and new ones as well) at the numerous Iandra Castle open days which were extremely well attended by enthusiastic lovers of Australian history. The recent Mudgee Small Farms Field Days were also a huge success with strong crowds frequenting each day. We really enjoy hearing what our RLM supporters love about our magazine and learning of ideas for stories to cover in future editions. The bonus is selling lots of back copies and our very popular Collector’s Edition Volume 2.
Winter 2023 edition
You will gather from the mayoral feedback on the Your Letters page that the Winter 2023 edition was very well received by the participating councils and their communities from the Gilgandra, Warrumbungle and Coonamble areas. We are very grateful to these progressive councils for their support. Exceptionally strong magazine sales seem to be the norm these days.
Spring 2023 Feature
We’ve been thrilled with the support from the visionary business community in Moree which quickly realised the opportunities that came with a 120-page Moree feature. Our appreciation goes to the Moree Plains Regional Council for its commitment to make a difference to its community profile by collaborating with Regional Lifestyle. I am sure you will be impressed with all that is on offer here in this area and will plan a visit in the near future. You’ll quickly realise there is so much to see and do!
Pushing the Boundaries
For 10 years RLM has been showcasing the best in rural and regional New South Wales. Now we are venturing into Southern Queensland with an Autumn 2024 Feature planned for the thriving Goondiwindi Council area. At some stage we will also showcase areas in northern Victoria as well. Our commitment is to stay loyal to providing you, our valued reader, with quality content from New South Wales and continue to service our core advertising businesses across NSW which have been supporting us for (sometimes) our entire 10-year journey.
Next Area to Feature
Watch out a for a second feature on the Inverell area in Summer 2023. The Inverell Shire Council had such positive feedback and benefits across its thriving community from the Summer 2021 Feature, a second feature was booked to be showcased two years later. The Inverell Newsagency can boast of some of the highest sales ever recorded in one outlet in a town after a feature release.
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ABOVE: The Hon David Littleproud MP, Leader of the Federal National Party, visited publishers Alex and Elizabeth at their Lifestyle stand at the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days; in the centre, the iconic Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) is a cultural hub enriching the lives of community members and visitors to the Moree area.
Family News
We are overjoyed to share with you the wonderful news that our daughter Kate and son-in-law, Justin Boshammer have welcomed a beautiful son, Mac Sterling into the world on May 21. We join with them in celebrating their precious blessing. Enjoy the warm Spring weather, spend time with those who uplift you and remember to tell your loved ones how important they are to you.
Warm regards, Elizabeth and Alex
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S P R I N G from the boundary fence
Soaking up Moree Howdy, folks. Welcome to the powerhouse farming district of Moree. Located on fertile black soil plains, the agricultural town is home to about 10,000 residents with thousands more on farms and in small outlying villages and towns. When the floods come they are usually widespread and devastating, as happened in October 2022, just months before the arrival of RLM. It’s times like these that the resilient Moree folk rally together, like they’ve always done. Apart from the broadacre farming that underpins the town’s wealth, Moree ticks all the boxes when it comes to comfortable living – from the many spa baths to the art deco buildings in the tree-lined CBD. Most were built between the wars, leaving the town an enduring legacy. Thanks to the Moree bypass, there are no longer problems from the thousand or so trucks passing by the town each day. Dubbed Australia’s Artesian Spa Capital, the discovery of the mercurial water in 1895 happened quite by accident. While searching for a reliable source of irrigation water, a bore was sunk into the Great Artesian Basin, delivering hot mineral water and a financial bonanza to the town. About 80 per cent of visitors to the spa baths are from out of town and of eastern European origin. I was fortunate to spend a fabulous week at the Gwydir Caravan Park in a very comfortable cabin adjoining the hot pools. It was more like a mini resort, with evenings sitting quietly in the company of perfect strangers speaking foreign tongues. For me, listening to them converse was almost as enchanting as relaxing in a hot tub! The bustling town has come a long way since George “The Barber” Clarke became the first white man in the district. The escaped convict fled across the Great Dividing Range into Kamilaroi country, one of the largest Aboriginal tribes in Australia at the time. Moree, believed to be Kamilaroi dialect for “rising sun”, was a favourite campsite to fish the two major rivers known today as the Mehi and the Gwydir. Then came the squatters, bringing with them small herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. By the 1860s, Cobb and Co, the bullockies, horse teams and the consolidation of the squattocracy turned Moree into a recognisable rural centre.
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A career on the land is the greatest gamble Australia can offer. Capital investment is huge as are the risks and rewards. Moree offers people the chance to set themselves up for life. A great day can be had exploring the historic buildings in the CBD or browsing the local art galleries and stunning murals, mixed in with a little shopping at the many boutique stores. When it’s time for a break, there’s an abundance of excellent cafes and restaurants. A walk through one of the lovely parks, some of which are bordered by the Mehi River, is a great refresher any day of the year. There are many fabulous aspects to the Moree Plains Shire but the best thing of all are the people – generous, communityminded, laidback, hardworking and with huge hearts. Before signing off, I must inform you gremlins snuck into a yarn on talented
Gilgandra artist Chris Kunko in our last magazine. In a bad blunder, a great portrait by Kearnsy Art was inadvertently included in the spread. I offer my sincere apologies to both artists for the mix-up. Finally, when you are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders, consider the following: Shared joy is a double joy. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow. Age doesn’t matter unless you are a piece of cheese. Maybe the word “forever” was meant for memories and not people. Time always reveals whose loss it really was. Some people lose diamonds in search of stones. Making yourself happy again is the biggest comeback. Till next time, chin up and push forward!
Jake Lindsay
ABOVE: I love driving into Moree and seeing this sign. There’s a lot of good people here I need to catch up with; thanks to the expertise of pilot Dick Estens, I will share with you my bird’s- eye view of this thriving community.
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SPRING 202 3 CONTRIBUTORS
meet your team
ELIZABETH TICKLE
ALEX TICKLE
Publisher, Editor, Advertising
Chief Writer & Photographer
ZORA REGULIC Art Director
ANNA ROSE
JENNIFER HARDEN Writer, Photographer, Social Media
Website Developer, Advertising Designer, Writer
Advertising Designer
SALLY MARCEAU
ANNA CONN
JANE SANDERSON
ELIZABETH GRANT
LYNNE WALKER
MADELEINE JONES
LIZ TICKNER
Sub-editor, Proofreader & Writer
Wedding Writer
KATE BOSHAMMER
Writer
LORRAINE HILLS Writer
Garden writer
NATALIE SALLOUM
Health and Wellness writer
Writer
SUE CURLEY Writer
Writer
Garden photographer
CATHERINE PLAYER
Photographer
ASSOC PROFESSOR SOL QURASHI
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JAKE LINDSAY
Publisher, Distribution, Advertising
PHILLIPA ENGLISH
JOHN CURLEY RLM Accountant
Photographer
Writer
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S P R I N G feedback
your letters Gilgandra is proud to be featured in the Regional Lifestyle Magazine’s Winter Edition along with Coonamble and Warrumbungle to showcase our Real Country region. It has been great to work with our neighbouring councils to get an appreciation of their history and communities. While often it may be said you should not look over the neighbour’s fence, what greater way to enhance the neighbourhood than by working collaboratively. Thank you to all those behind the publication; the stories of our local legends were crafted beautifully, woven together with powerful images that capture the vibrancy and friendly faces we are known for. The Coo-ee Spirit continues in our community today, and this edition is yet another page in our history books, depicting a place in time of the Gilgandra region. While today, you might see a flying pig, wonder of endless possibilities, be inspired by local artworks, give a “coo-ee”, see the crops growing, or be inspired by the nature of the Warrumbungles, Castlereagh River and unique cactus farm, it is always guaranteed you will leave with a smile on your face and a longing to return. We look forward to showing you more of our Real Country region. Cr Doug Batten , Gilgandra Council Mayor
I thoroughly enjoyed the Winter edition of the Regional Lifestyle Magazine. We all know that we live in a wonderful part of the world, so it was fabulous to see that the essence of our region had been distilled perfectly. The stories of our people, our landscape, our lifestyle, leap from the pages to draw you home, whether you have never left or you are on the other side of the world and wishing you were still here with us. Congratulations to everyone involved and roll on Spring! Cr Ambrose Doolin, Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor
The showcasing of Coonamble Shire as Real Country in the Winter edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine has given strong momentum to our new regional branding, alongside Gilgandra and Warrumbungle shires. Already a reader from Mildura noted disability access at the Coonamble Bowling Club, has contacted our Information and Exhibition Centre staff and organised a trip to visit Coonamble and other parts of Real Country. Other readers throughout the state recognised local faces in the magazine and rekindled friendships, promising a future visit. Several years of drought, followed by a mouse plague, really decimated our agricultural industry, on which we almost totally rely for a healthy local economy. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt another blow to the flow of visitors to our area. With true resilience, indicative of the Australian rural character, we held on and decided we needed to break our reliance on agriculture and diversify. In combination with Gilgandra and Warrumbungle shires, we are now building a regional tourism industry to attract our city cousins to visit us for a Real Country experience. The pages of the Winter edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine allowed us to highlight that we are more than wheat, sheep, and cattle. A quality publication like Regional Lifestyle Magazine has years of life in our homes, shared around our families and in the waiting rooms of service providers. We are thankful to the magazine’s production team for inviting us to be a contributor. Cr Tim Horan, Coonamble Shire Council Mayor
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Congratulations on another excellent edition of Regional Lifestyle Magazine. Some time back I read the Spring 2021 issue and really enjoyed the piece on Albury Railway Station, together with the stunning photographs. It certainly did justice to this iconic structure. With my long-term interests in railway history and engineering heritage, it ticked all the boxes for me! The article mentioned a number of “dignitaries” who changed trains at Albury and coincidentally, the issue also contained an article on the Bonegilla migrant camp. Many of those who went to this camp would have detrained at Albury Railway Station. My wife and her parents changed trains at the station, making their way from Princes Pier, Melbourne, up to Marulan (just north of Goulburn) when they migrated from Europe in 1953. For me, they are of equal importance to the “dignitaries” and I am sure this sentiment would be shared by many other people. As city dwellers, my wife and I look forward to scouring through each issue of Regional Lifestyle Magazine. We always find a wonderful array of articles on country towns and villages and stories about remarkable people, and so many ideas of places to visit and experience, interesting places to stay and eat. We just wish we could travel round more of NSW but after reading the Spring edition, Albury and its surrounds have been advanced to the top of our travel agenda – and sooner rather than later, we hope! Holbrook looks like a great stopping off point on the way. Congratulations to Regional Lifestyle Magazine (and its very friendly editor) for a really top-quality, informative and interesting magazine – we will definitely keep subscribing! Frank Johnson , Peakhurst
Thank you for your wonderful publication. After having worked around the state and having enjoyed so many towns that most have only ever stopped for food and fuel, it was such a pleasure to have found your publication. Your magazine presents these communities in their true light, allowing potential visitors to optimise their pleasure within each of these communities. We have found your magazine subscription a perfect gift for several of our friends who are now desiring to see more of their state as they retire. Thanks again for your commitment to keeping the “bush” in the public consciousness rather than allowing it to slip into history. Stephen Lister, Melrose Park
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T O W N F E AT U R E Moree
Moree T O W N F E AT U R E
MOREE TOWN FE ATUR E
WORDS & IMAGES: JAKE LINDSAY
MOREE
COU NCI L F E AT U R E
The future looks bright from the Mayor of Moree As Mayor of the Moree Plains Shire, I would like to welcome you to our unique and diverse part of the country which is at the heart of the most productive agricultural region in Australia. We acknowledge that the land on which we live and work is the traditional territory of the Gamilaroi (or Gomeroi) people and their historic connections to these lands continues to this day. Moree Plains is located at the crossroads of the nation’s Newell, Gwydir and Carnarvon highways with regional routes via rail, road and air. More than 13,260, residents call Moree Plains home – it is somewhere we are proud to call our home. It is a place we want to live, work, grow, invest and play. Our region’s rich, black alluvial soil has helped us to become the most productive agricultural shire in Australia and we are well positioned to benefit from the growing global demand for agricultural produce. Our shire is capable of producing about $1 billion worth of agricultural commodities under median rainfall conditions, making the Moree Plains a hotspot for investors wanting to gain a foothold in food and fibre production including prime grain, pulse, oilseed, nut, olive, orange and cotton crops, and livestock. As our region enters an exciting new phase of economic growth, major investment opportunities are available for businesses looking to capitalise on our strategic potential for food processing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, renewable energy production and tourism. We also have significant career opportunities across many disciplines, including health, education, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, construction, and professional and administrative services. The NSW Government announced the establishment of Special Activation Precincts in line with its 20-year Economic Plan. Moree was one of the first precincts declared, due to our location and growth opportunities. Our precinct will unlock millions of dollars of funding to attract investment and support the development of key infrastructure to streamline freight movements. The Moree Special Activation Precinct is a game-changer for the local and regional economy, fuelling future employment and business investment.
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Our region’s rich, black alluvial soil has helped us to become the most productive agricultural shire in Australia.
One thing is for certain, the opportunities ahead of us will transform and diversify our local economy, attract investment and offer long-term stability for families, as well as career pathways for our youth for generations to come. We invite your business and your family to visit, to stay and to invest – to become part of the incredibly bright future that Moree Plains Shire has to offer. I hope you enjoy your time on the Plains. Cr Mark Johnson Mayor, Moree Plains Shire Council
Moree T O W N F E AT U R E
Something in the water The Moree Plains Shire provides an enviable country lifestyle. Covering a large rural landscape, the Moree Plains is a strong and vibrant rural community supported by some of the most productive and fertile land in Australia.
The Gamilaroi people are the traditional custodians of the land in this region and their spiritual connection to Country and our waterways continues to this day. There are many significant Aboriginal sites and collections within the region which serve as important celebrations of Indigenous culture. A great starting point is Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM) in Moree, a regional art institution housed in a 1911 federation building offering an ever-changing program of contemporary exhibitions, as well as a creative program of art workshops, and boasts the most significant collection of Aboriginal artworks in regional NSW. The Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre houses one of Australia’s largest collections of Gamilaroi records with 100,000 artefacts and documents. Moree Plains Shire sits atop the Great Artesian Basin, the deepest basin in the world known for its mineral-rich, naturally heated, artesian waters. The basin’s water can reach temperatures from 30 to 100°C and contains sulphur, calcium and magnesium minerals that contribute to its famous healing powers. The growing popularity of our artesian waters has inspired a dedicated touring route to our heated pools at the Moree Artesian
Aquatic Centre, Boomi and Mungindi, with most visitors returning to experience the benefits of balneological therapy each year. The Moree baths are a place of historical and cultural importance due to its role in the 1965 Australian Freedom Rides and the Australian Civil Rights movement. If you like the outdoors, there are plenty of natural waterways and open plains to keep you occupied. Tour around one of our many working cotton farms to see firsthand how cotton is grown and follow the production process. Take a tour to Trawalla farm, the largest pecan nut plantation in the Southern Hemisphere, producing 95 per cent of Australia’s pecan crops. You can also sign up for a guided walking tour of Moree’s unique art deco buildings or take a guided indigenous food tour. If you are in the region during May, do not miss the annual food, wine and arts festival, Moree on a Plate, or the Golden Triangle racing carnival and its series of picnic race meets featuring country glam and hospitality. Moree’s art galleries are a jewel in the region’s crown. The BAMM Art Fair hosts micro-exhibitions by regional artists every
July, while the nearby Moree Gallery is an established destination exhibiting four major shows each year. The Yaama Ganu Gallery is a not-for-profit Aboriginal gallery featuring consigned works from artists of the local Gamilaroi nation and Aboriginalmanaged art centres from communities around Australia. There are so many impressive aspects to the Moree Plains Shire but the most memorable are the people. Generous, community-minded and hardworking, the people of the Moree Plains Shire will welcome you to be part of our community whether you are just passing through, enjoying a weekend away or relocating. RLM Images: Moree Plains Shire Council
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Wheat harvest in full swing; while in Moree explore the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre; finalist image Identity, by Jeddy Fernando, in the My Moree Photography competition; country racing at its finest – Talmoi Picnic Races, Garah; stroll through the beautiful parks and open spaces across the Moree Plains; enjoy the warm artesian waters; another finalist image by Gabi Bev in the My Moree Photography competition.
For more information visit: moreetourism.com.au
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