new england
January 2018. issue 128
Feature Story
Robert Harber - Surf-E
independent lifestyle in a private bathing and overnight nursing. after the needs of our residents home that is easier to manage and Ongoing health support and il ness long term,” Mr Bindon concluded. maintain. With full kitchens, large prevention can allow residents to shower bays, practical living areas live comfortably and independently Five new vil as are nearing ADDIN ADDING THE and private outdoor pati o s the vi l a s CARE i n a secure envi r onment at an Oak completion at Oak Tree’s existing CARE TO CAREare appealiCARE-FREE ng and practical. Tree vil age. vil age in Martin Street and
LIVI
LIVING
As residents age in a retirement vil age T their needs for in home T support wil change. While the Oak Tree Group are not an aged care provider, the management team work hard to identify local professionals who can assist the residents when help is needed.
“Life continues as per normal for residents at Oak Tree Retirement Vil ages,” says Managing Director of Oak Tree Group, Mark Bindon.
89 Martin Street, Armidale
1300 367 155
expressions of interest are now being taken for the new Taylor Street development. Oak Tree now offer even more choice for “Residents live independently and seniors looking for an easier have the freedom to come and go lifestyle in the neighbourhood as they please, but they have the that they know and love.
ree Armidale Village Manager Kate Pigram Oak Tree Armidale Village Manager Kate Pigram
ded advantage many lifestyle he of Oak Tree Group o Oak Tree play an active role in added advantage of many lifestyle he Oak Tree Group operate nefits and the ability to ageretireme with twenty-two introducing care providers to benefits and the ability to age with twenty-two retirement in the Easter nity in theirvillages homes, without villages in the Eastern states residents at morning teas and dignity in their homes, without of needing Australia. They special cessarily to move again information sessions. This assists the of Australia. They specialise in necessarily needing to move again providing affordable resi higher care. end user to understand the funding providing affordable residential to higher care. solutions for seniors look andlast services that are available. aim be the move that our solutionsto for seniors looking to We aim to be thein last movehom that our live independently idents need to Therefore, It is make. estimated that up to 30% of live independently in homes that residents need to make. Therefore, will provide for the future residents living in Oak Tree villages cess tofor care services in our will provide the future as their access to care services in our needs are change. receiving and professional ineasily home needs change. ages is important villages is important and easily assistance of some sort from anged using external providers. The stylish single arranged level using externalvillas providers. external organisations. The stylish single level villas in Oak Tree villages are oviding withself-contain Tree villages are our self-containedresidents Providing our residents with In-home care providers can offer a and designed for able-bodi information and convenient and designed for able-bodied the information and convenient for variety of services from assistance retirees who are looking cess to professionals retirees who aremedical looking for options with transport, cleaning Residents and access to medical professionals to downsize. live to downsize. Residents live an paramount in our aim to look meals right through to medication, is paramount in our aim to independent lifestyle in look a pr independent lifestyle in a private of er the needs our residents bathing and overnight nursing. after the needs of our residents that is easier to mana home that home is easier toMr manage and g term,” Bindon concluded. Ongoing health support and illness long term,” Mr Bindon concluded. maintain. With full kitchens, maintain. With full kitchens, large prevention can allow residents to shower bays, practical living ve new villas are nearing shower bays, practical living areas Five new villas are nearing live comfortably and independently private outdoor patios mpletion Tree’s existing and privateand outdoor patiosat the villasOak completion at Oak Tree’s existing in a secure environment at an Oak are appealing and practical are appealing and practical. age in Martin and TreeStreet village. village in Martin Street and As residents age in a retirem pressions of interest are now As residents age in a retirement expressions of interest are now “Life continues as per normal for village their needs for in hom village their needs for in home ing taken for residents the being taken for the new Taylor at Oaknew Tree Retirement Taylor support will change. While support will change. While the eet development. Oak T ree Street development. Oak Tree Villages,” says Managing Director Oak Tree Group are not an Oak Tree Group are not an aged w offer even of more choice Oak Tree Group, Mark Bindon. now offerfor even more choice for care care provider, the managementprovider, the managem niors looking for easier seniors looking for an easier hard to identif y “Residents live an independently and team workteam hard to identify local work estyle in neighbourhood lifestyle in the neighbourhood professionals can assis have the freedom to come who and go professionals who canthe assist the at they know and love. residents when need that they knowis and love. residents when help is needed. as they please, but they have the help
www.oaktreegroup.com.au
ww.oaktreegroup.com.au 89 Martin Arm 89 Martin Street, Armidale 1300 367 155Street, www.oaktreegroup.com.au 2 New England focus.
Armidale Focus ADV_Finding Companionship_340x275mm_FINAL.indd Armidale Focus1 ADV_Finding
11/12/2017PM 12:24 PM Companionship_340x275mm_FINAL.ind 11/12/2017 12:24
focus_ team.
team From the
O
Welcome to the January edition of New England FOCUS.
pen the floodgates and welcome in 2018! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and safe New Year. We are ready to start the year with our first edition about the New England’s Best Kept Secrets. Along with our regular contributors, we have the Crafty Beerstard back on the register, keeping you up to date with the latest happenings in the world of craft beer. ON THE COVER This month we have Alicia Cooper, manager of the Armidale Tree Group (ATG),which we believe is one of the New England’s Best Kept Secrets. The ATG have been regenerating the tundra around the New England for about 34 years now. Also with their great advice and retail shop, you are bound to make your garden a wonderful environment for all to enjoy. We’d also like to give a shout out to Kylie from R&V’s for lending us the
contacts. Got a story idea? Looking to advertise in Focus? Contact us for more information.
fantastic deck chair for our front cover. Local businesses like R&V’s support us with props - and we look forward to working with you in 2018! INSIDE THIS EDITION Our Best Kept Secrets edition is here! It’s a guide to all the little businesses that make our region a landmark. We also have a plethora of stories to start the year off … School teacher by day, photographer by night, James Russell creates imagery that tells a unique story about the New England. Recently having an exhibition at the Uralla Bowling Club about shearers of the area, FOCUS got behind the lens to see what make James click ... One of the last stops on your way through to Uralla is the unmissable Wrench King. It’s the bright blue and yellow building towards the Tamworth side of Uralla. Inside is like a trip into the ‘50s and ‘60s! FOCUS chatted with Charlie, the owner at the Wrench King, about everything restorable and renewed ....
In 2014, the then new principal at Uralla Central School, Michael Rathborne, introduced the “Academy”. This innovation has led to many changes at the school since then, but we thought we might check back in at Uralla Central School and see how the Academy is progressing with a group of Academy students. FINAL SAY “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” - Albert Einstein.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jeff Cowan
ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Di Johnston diane@focusmag.com.au
MANAGING EDITOR Jay Beaumont jay@focusmag.com.au
ART DIRECTOR Dylan Gaul dylan@focusmag.com.au
The Ascent programs include:
Tracy Le Messurier
SALES MANAGER Louise Beaumont
Ascent Community Care operates programs in the Uralla Shire for older people living in their own homes.
joey@focusmag.com.au
tracy@focusmag.com.au
Ascent Community Care
EDITION CO-ORDINATOR ADVERTISING CONSULTANT
louise@focusmag.com.au
ADDRESS 5/164 Beardy Street, Armidale PHONE 02 6771 5551 FAX: 02 6772 5551 WEB www.focusmag.com.au FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ne.focus TV www.focustv.com.au
Every pictured yourself in a sidecar of a motorcycle? Well, all you need to do is go visit Ural Motorcycles in Uralla. FOCUS got to jump in and find out what the real meaning of riding shotgun is like.
Centre Based Day Care Social Support Community Transport Minor Home Maintenance & Gardening Service
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joey Dable
jeff@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kyle Rathbone kyle@focusmag.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michael Marchment michael@focusmag.com.au
COPY EDITING Rite ‘n’ Rong Media Services rnrmedia@bigpond.com
PHOTOGRAPHER James Brooks james@focusmag.com.au
Comments and opinions of our contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of the Publishers or Editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.Information appearing in Focus is believed to be correct at the time of going to press however no liability will be held for inaccurate information approved or supplied by advertisers or contributors. While all care is taken it is recommended that readers confirm dates, times, prices and any other material including advice with individual businesses and industry professionals. New England Focus is produced and published by Creative House Publications Pty Ltd ABN: 62128786005. Material in New England Focus is Copyright © Creative House Publications Pty Ltd 2016 and may not be reproduced whole or in part, in any form, without permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.
Want to learn more?
02 6776 8977 ascentgroup.org.au
New England focus. 3
issue 20 inside this
Amridale Tree Group. Group Mass tree planting, nature corridors and exotic hard to find herbs and veg are just some of the Armidale Tree Group’s services. FOCUS goes bush with Alicia Cooper to find out what this retail business of 34 years is doing around the area.
Issue 128 - January 2018
Ural Motorcycles. One of Uralla’s best kept secrets is a motorcycle shop by the name of Ural. FOCUS got to jump in the sidecar of an iconic Ural motorcycle and hit the tar with Clare, who tells us more ...
29
Regulars 8. WHAT’S ON JANUARY 11. BUSINESS MINDS INGRID ROTHE 37. STAR GUIDE WITH TERRI
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focusinterview.
Surf-E Robert Harper
A HAWAIIAN BORN COME ARMIDALE LOCAL MAN ROBERT HARPER HAS PATENTED AND DESIGNED A NEW PRODUCT WHICH IS A CROSS BETWEEN A SURFBOARD AND SKATEBOARD. ENTER THE SURF-E ... THIS BATTERY POWERED WIRELESS REMOTE BOARD CAN OPERATE ON THE SAND, TARMAC AND ACCESS GRASSED LANDS WITH EASE. FOCUS GOT A SNEAK PEEK AT THIS NEW DEVICE …
W
hat led you to come up with the concept of the Surf-E? Growing up in Hawaii, I was raised around surfing. When I moved from Hawaii to Seattle, the water was just too cold from surfing. So I had an idea for an electric skateboard, which I played around with for a while. I wanted to re-design it to create the actual feeling of surfing. A skateboard is more restrictive than a surfboard is; I think this is the best of both worlds. During the design period, how many prototypes have you made? This is version three. The very first one was a rough design, made out of a piece of electrical conduit bent into shape with a caster wheel welded to it and a skateboard deck screwed on to it. I think I used a 40 V leaf blower battery then. What was the biggest design hurdle? The rigidity of the board, with the design component on the front; at full lean, the wheel pivots at about 85 degrees. The geometry of the design means it will flip on itself at around 90 degrees. So, creating the rigidity in the gooseneck ... Also, maintaining some kind of suspension component in the front. In previous versions I tried with a softer suspension and the heavier the rider, the more squirrelly it got. So I 6 New England focus.
have come to a sweet spot at the moment. What’s the next biggest hurdle for you? What scale of manufacturing I will be doing. Whether I will be producing 100 or 1,000 units. Also deciding on It has an estimated range of 60 what type of facility I’ll 80km on a single charge. It will need to create them. I’m push me up big inclines too! It just going through the control the accelerator weighs around the 10 kg mark crowdfunding process; and braking via a wireless and can take a rider up to 120 once that gains some remote. kg. The board is made of a 30 traction, that will give How difficult would it ply carbon fibre and it’s about me my scale. be to learn to ride the 30 mm at the thickest part. Are you taking it Surf-E? around Australia It’s very intuitive to now? learn. I would say it will Yes, I have four demo be easier for a surfer to boards that I’m currently assembling at the jump on and use, rather than a skateboarder. moment. I’m also creating a promotional video That’s down to the two points touching the at iconic Australian landmarks, e.g. Sydney, ground; it adds an extra balance requirement. with the Opera House in the background. Like anything, I don’t think it would take many What are the tech specs? people long to use with a bit of practice. Well ... It will do 50 km/h on the flat open At a consumer level, what do you expect road and about 40 km/h on the sand. The the price point to be? longest I have ridden it is just under four hours At the moment, I’m trying to keep it under in one charge. It has an estimated range of 60 the $2,000 AUD mark. The unit does cost a - 80 km on a single charge. It will push me up lot to make individually on a small scale, but I big inclines too! It weighs around the 10 would like everybody who’s thinking of getting kg mark and can take a rider up to 120 kg. one to be able to access it at an obtainable The board is made of a 30 ply carbon fibre and price. it’s about 30 mm at the thickest part. You also Did the entire production process lead to
any other design ideas? It has, yes. When riding the Surf-E on the sand, I set another level of barriers that I want to overcome. For example, it’s great on compact sand, but not as good on the soft sand. I’d love to ride from home to the beach, hit the soft sand and power up the beach to the great surf spots. So, there are more ideas in the works. What does the next 12 months hold for you and the Surf-E? Originally it started as just a machine for me to use as a side project. But every time somebody sees it, they are amazed, with led me to wanting to commercialise it. If people want to get involved, what do they need to do? The kickstarter starts February, the website is about to go live, but if you really want to help me along the journey, feel free to contact me via email - ledretrofitsllc@gmail.com Thanks Robert.
New England focus. 7
focus_What’s On New England
J A N U A R Y
January Markets in the Mall
What’s
Welcome all to 2018, and the markets team are glad to be back in action! This month we will be welcoming new stall holders who are visiting for the first time, such as some new cuisine and hand designed clothing stalls. Also come down for a special announcement from the Rotary Club of Armidale AM near the post office at 11am. We look forward to seeing you all as we celebrate the start of 2018.
18 13 Campdraft
First Saturday chats
Our next First Saturday chats will be hosted by Elizabeth Stahlut (Solicitor) from 10am to 1pm at the Legal Minds offices at 157 Beardy Street, The Mall, Armidale on Saturday 13 January 2018. As this is a popular program, bookings are essential on (02) 6788 1100.
Enjoy four days of campdraft action in Walcha. Competitors travel from Queensland, Victoria and across New South Wales to compete for the generous prize money on offer over the campdraft carnival. Trade exhibitors, food stalls and full bar in operation. Campdrafting starts at midday on the Thursday and continues right through to Sunday with all the finals. Join competitors at the bar on Friday night for the calcutta on the ladies campdraft finals competitors. When Thursday 18 January to Sunday 21 January. More info www.walchansw.com.au
17 22
The Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival
The Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival aims to showcase local produce, with delicious lamb and potato meals, boutique stalls, and daily entertainment and activities. Nestled under the beautiful Elm trees on the New England Highway at Guyra, it is the perfect stopping point for weary travellers during the school holidays. The festival runs in January every year, and the community hosts a variety of other events in conjunction with the festival, making it the perfect destination for your summer break. Escape the heat and take a break in Guyra this coming January. When Wednesday 17 January to Sunday 28 January. For more info guyralambpotatofestival.com
8 New England focus.
Contemporary Dance Masterclass
With Robbie Curtis. When Monday 22 January. Where The Fish Tank (9/10 - 85 Marsh Street, above the Wicklow) - 10am to 12pm (10 - 16 years $50) or 1pm to 3:30pm (16 years + $65). More info and enrolments info@littlefishentertainment.com
23
Musical Theatre Bootcamp
Sing. Dance. Act. Master the art of performance in our action-packed three day holiday workshop. Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 January - 9am to 4:30pm @ The Fish Tank (9/10 - 85 Marsh St, above the Wicklow); for 12 years + $250 per student. For further details and enrolment forms, email info@littlefishentertainment.com
26
Family Open Day
Australia Day - Our volunteers plan to make it a truly Australian Family Friendly Australia Day, with an Australia Day Raffle and much more. When January 26 - 10am 4pm, Saumarez Homestead. Entry via Armidale Airport. More info Phone 6772 3616. Free Entry Guided House Tours by Donation.
SCHOOL SHOES SPORTS SHOES IN DISGUISE
NEW STORE NOW OPEN
AVAILABLE IN STORE
ARMIDALE CENTRAL Near Woolworths Ph: (02) 6772 7288 New England focus. 9
CO OL IS TH IS
The Palate and Ply team would like to wish you all merry Christmas and thank you for your support in 2017! We have had an amazing year serving you the finest coffee from Artisti Coffee Roasters.
Daybed. $2195
Cargo Lane - Authentic Home Bellingen www.cargolane.com.au
10 New England focus.
W
e are so excited to serve you our house Signature Blend, which has just won a bronze medal at Australia’s largest roasting competition, the Golden Bean. With a bronze medal earlier in the year at the Sydney Find Food coffee show, we are so proud to be recognised for our consistency. With so much to offer, including our full range of speciality beans for you to enjoy at home and the largest selection of coffee brewing devices, including Aeropress, Syphons, Nanopresso, V60 and pourovers, we will excite
your inner coffee geek! Our head roaster has a weekly single origin if you want to step out on a tasting adventure! Visit our online store www.artisti.com.au so you can enjoy Artisti coffee at home, with FREE NATIONAL DELIVERY. We welcome you to experience the Palate and Ply difference, as we make you your custom coffee on the latest coffee equipment on the market. Our friendly team will make your day, every day with smiles and the caffeine kick your body is screaming for! See you soon, and bring on 2018!
focusinterview
Business Minds with Ingrid Rothe of VIVID Thinking
BUSINESS MINDS
Michelle wheatley READER’S COMPANION
Introducing Michelle Wheatley of Reader’s Companion, an independent bookshop offering an eclectic mix of books, music, DVDs, cards, stationery and gifts. Open in its current form for four years, Michelle, along with Roy, has built Reader’s Companion into a thriving local business. Brian is also a part of the team, keeping the administration running like a well-oiled machine.
A
place where you might find a poetry reading one visit, a jazz evening another, and a circus performer still another. More than a bookstore, it is a vibrant community. Can you tell us about your background? Roy is from Tasmania, and I’m from Newcastle. Roy and Brian met in the ‘80s, and I met Brian in 1992/3 in Vanuatu, and we moved all over the world. Originally, we had a business consulting firm in the leisure and entertainment industry and contracts all over the world. The nature of the work meant we could be based anywhere. Up until recently, Roy was active in both the consulting firm and Reader’s Companion. What brought you to Armidale? Roy and I were looking for a patch of bush around the Gloucester area for a bit of an escape. We headed online and started searching further afield. We emailed each other the same 100-acre property in Armidale, and I drove up the next weekend to have a look at it. We could see there were cultural events and organisations we could get involved with. We’d have hated to get 20 years down the track and wonder “what if”. What led you to buy a bookstore? Roy and I had always bought our books here and when we discovered it was closing
down, we didn’t want that to happen. We and sit and chat, get warm in winter and felt that Armidale, which is full of interested cool down in summer. and interesting people, was the kind of place This is the longest we have been in one that couldn’t do without an independent place. It’s this shop - and the community we book store. Neither of us had been in retail feel we are part of - that’s keeping us here. or the book industry, but we thought we Our customers have become friends. And the Kombi? could give it a go. We bought it What makes Reader’s because we liked it, Companion different? and initially we kept Initially, we just it just ours. After a bought the existing while, we thought it stock, which was less Our growth has been might be a nice idea to than a quarter of what organic. We’ve proved use the Kombi to look it is currently. Now I to ourselves you can after our customers in spend a lot of time develop a business surrounding towns. It is going through smaller without investing a lot typical for us to blend publishers and hunting of money. Instead, we are our life with that of the out smaller imprints always looking at how to use shop. Everything just off bigger publishers. what we have. We focus on evolves. I stock the kind of creating community, and it all Tell us about your things we would like evolves from there. evolution from and what we search for novice to successfully when we go to Sydney running a thriving and Melbourne. We independent find interesting things bookstore? that you simply can’t get anywhere else and Our growth has been organic. We’ve would even have difficulty finding online. proved to ourselves you can develop a Our vision was to create a community. I business without investing a lot of money. played this scene out in my head where a Instead, we are always looking at how to couple of people were saying, “Where will use what we have. We focus on creating we meet? I’ll meet you at the bookshop”. community, and it all evolves from there. We actively encourage people to come inside
What challenges did you face? When we first started, the commonly held view was “bookstores are dead; the Mall is dead”. More than once we were told, “You must be stupid”. We felt strongly that the Armidale community should be offered the same opportunities as those in the city. Now I can confidently claim that we have evolved into a truly vibrant community. What would you like people to know about Reader’s Companion? Don’t presume that we won’t have what you are looking for, that we’ll be more expensive, or that we can’t offer the standard offerings. If you are shopping online, we can order in for you. It takes the same amount of time as an online purchase and there will be no charge for shipping. Give us a chance: come and see what we have to offer. What would you advise a business just starting out? Have a passion and a love for what you are doing. Customers are discerning - they can see what you are passionate about. They quickly pick up on whether you are genuine or not. What do you recommend for summer reading? The Choke, Shadowland, Force of Nature and I recommend Ottolenghi’s new cookbook, Sweet. Thanks Michelle. New England focus. 11
focus_editorial.
LLARD’
Artisan WE
S
BAKERY
W
One of our favourite stalls and long-time advocate for community markets is the Wellard’s Artisan Bakehouse.
ellard’s market stall is a mobile café featuring delicious pastries and coffee made with
In the last few months they have started
Liz have finished work on a refurbished
bringing the bread to the Armidale
Carapark 1960s aluminium caravan to
Markets in the Mall, where it is becoming
add to the character of their stall. The
a popular feature. You can also purchase
markets team love having Wellard’s every
boutique roasted beans. As well as
a re-usable cup from Chris and Liz and
month to bring vibrancy and quality
the delicious pastries Chris makes, he
be ecofriendly - a big promoter for our
service to the community. Don’t miss out
is now also making old style artisan
markets.
on the opportunity to come down this
sourdough bread. Just like their pastries,
Wellard’s also make quality handmade
markets and kick off 2018 in style, by
the sourdough bread is made with local
croissants and Danishes that complement
having a coffee and macadamia croissant
flour from Wood's Organic Mill in Inverell.
their delicious coffee. Recently, Chris and
from this amazing artisan bakehouse.
focus_editorial.
Jenny King is Australia’s most innovative and amazingly diverse crochet designer. Crochet is her passion. She has been extremely lucky to have made her obsession her profession.
S
Crochet workshop COMING TO URALLA
12 New England focus.
pecialising in crochet only, Jenny is a passionate teacher with 30 years’ experience both in Australia and the USA. Jenny majored in textiles when she graduated as a teacher in 1981, and her fist teaching position was at Moree. Jenny was also a brick and mortar yarn store owner for nearly 10 years but has moved her business online, so that she can continue to focus on designing and teaching internationally. Jenny is also Australia’s most published international designer, with 20 pattern books to her name. She has had designs in major magazines in the UK, USA and Australia since 2001. Her beaded crochet work travelled in a crochet exhibition called Hooked for over two years throughout Australia and then the USA. Jenny is the only crochet designer worldwide to have designs published in Vogue Knitting Special Crochet Edition, Interweave Crochet Magazine and Crochet! three years in a row. Her work has been
featured in Noro magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Handmade, to name a just a few. Jenny is a featured presenter on TV’s Knit and Crochet Now season 5, 8 and 9 in USA. All her Crochet Guild of America classes were sold out in Chicago in 2017. Jenny is surrounded by vibrant colour as she lives in tropical Queensland, just two blocks from the beach. It is this color that inspires her designs. She has developed and trademarked her revolutionary design concept called Get Squared® where any garment style can be made in any thickness of yarn to suit anybody, and is guaranteed to fit first time every time using the stitch that is most commonly used in crochet. The best part of the concept is that there are no seams. And she is all ready to launch the second video in the series, called Kids Squared, for all sizes from babies to teens. To book your spot, please contact The Uralla Wool Room on (02) 6778 4226. The class will be held late April 2018 - date to be confirmed.
focus_editorial.
Catch up
old
with some
FRIENDS
Discover a new exhibition of photographic portraits at NERAM with a country flavour. The New England Regional Art Museum is inviting country music lovers to catch up with some old friends in the new exhibition “Gifted Country: Portraits by John Elliott” over summer.
P
hotographer and writer John Elliott has been taking portraits of Australian country music artists for over 30 years, and this exhibition brings together a selection of his iconic images of stars such as Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and many others.
“Country music and photography are two passions that drive my life,” said artist John Elliott. “Photographing country artists is my way of saying “thank you” to the singers for the music that sustains me. All great country music has a respect for the past, and I hope my photographs help young artists connect
with what came before. “I am as passionate about photography today as I was when I started clicking away in the 1960s,” he said. “Taking pictures is a bit like breathing; it’s something I do every day.” The exhibition will feature large-scale prints, moving images, performances, photography workshops and talks by John Elliott. “This will be a great opportunity for our audience to discover the work of one of the outback’s great social documentary photographers,” said Robert Heather, Art Museum Director. “We invite visitors to the 2018 Tamworth Country Music
Festival to make a detour through Armidale and discover the collections here at the New England Regional Art Museum and our beautiful city.” John Elliott has been a writer, photographer and documentary maker who is mainly concerned with Australian culture, the bush and music. Gifted Country: Portraits by John Elliott will be his first exhibition at the New England Regional Art Museum and will be on display from 15 December 2017 until Sunday 18 March 2018. The exhibition will be an official event of the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
focus_editorial.
LOCALS 4 LOCALS
T
he lucky winners include Cath Danieletto, who makes sure her pets are well cared for by shopping at the Armidale Pet
Shop & Aquarium; Imogen Gifford, who shops at Inner Path Natural Therapies; Jahna Hazel, who hires from Hubbard Hire; Jeanie Inglis, who loves shopping at Things with a Difference; and Kyle Johnson, who loves all the yummy treats at Moxons Bakery. All these winners each
Winners every month! It’s easy to see Locals 4 Locals love giving cash and prizes to you and me December being no exception! Winning cold, hard cash has never been easier; all you need to do is shop and enter at your favourite shops. The more times you enter, the more entries you have to win.
won $100 in Locals 4 Locals Gift Cards.
That's a winner for everyone.
With January underway, Locals 4 Locals are ready to continue supporting local businesses and the local community by continuing this amazing service of finding five lucky winners.
When you spend your hard earned
With so many Locals 4 Local members located in town, you'd be hard pressed to shop anywhere else! Not only does it boost our local economy, businesses spend dollars in the community too!
your entry at the counter. That's it! You
dollars, why not spend them where it matters? Look for the Locals 4 Locals sign in the shopfront of your favourite stores. Simply spend $25 or more. Register have one entry in the L4L prize pool. The more times you shop at participating businesses, the higher your chances to win! New England focus. 13
focus_contributor
WITH SUSIE DUNN
Icing
party season enjoy
ON
CAKE
Alice Cairns and Justine Kavanagh
with Things With a Difference
With a DROP of LEMON
One of the great advantages - and indeed strengths - of our region is the strong sense of community. This should advantage us. But the community has to be taken along with the direction those making decisions on our behalf are taking us.
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ureaucracies can have the best of intentions, but when expensive consultants are engaged, their first port of call should be to those most knowledgeable and most affected, currently retail businesses. We’ve seen plans come and go over the years, but the basic problems confronting Armidale’s Central Mall are still not addressed in the latest plan presented as a fait accompli - it or nothing! Sadly, this failure meant that when unveiled there was anger and dismay. Not happy! With worldwide changes in shopping habits, looking backwards wastes time. The Town Square as a central hub of social life, important buildings and events is a key to a community. That should not be allowed to slip away from us before properly given a realistic chance of success. To put a road through, with it as the inevitable central focal point, is one of the most expensive ideas possible, when plenty of other practical points haven’t been addressed at all - and it involves expensive relocation of assets such as the stage and fountain. Plus, long-term building disruption! One of the most important factors is the weather. To successfully have buzzy cafés and bars where people can congregate and linger, interspersed with specialty shops, it seems basic to recognise that cold, heat and wind are factors to be managed. It surely would have been better to spend money putting structures outside the cafés where blinds can be lowered on one side against the wind, leaving the others open, or with the ability to pull the blinds down on three sides with rainproof windows, and where heaters can be installed while people still see out and in. These structures are in use all over the country and leave the way open to foot traffic beneath shop awnings. There are many adjacent parking areas perhaps Council should look to adding to capacity. Drop-off areas near the Mall can be
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highlighted. The question of realistic rentals and absentee property owners should also be faced up to and publicised for discussion. We need to encourage a range of cafés and food outlets catering to different markets and to emphasise the socialising aspect of the area, with flexible opening times for different customers. It should be FUN to go there. Others do it - why can’t we? When the East Mall development of units happens, there’ll be new opportunities, with residents on the spot. People and light create atmosphere and security. We should be promoting Armidale as a bustling, sociable place, inviting young business people to move here and create their own niche businesses. There are a myriad ideas out there to revitalise the region and positive signage is one of them - signs that say NO, NO, NO this and that are discouraging - there are other ways of doing things. As the plans come and go fruitlessly, we’re in danger of a symbolic row of coffins outside once viable businesses. One of the most important things is not to copy town plans in other places - it happened with the previous Mall plan. We should be “ahead of the game” and do our own distinctive “thing” our way - not end up looking like everywhere else! I could go on, and on and on … I was lucky to be in Sydney when one very positive promotion of our area was launched with the BUSH TO BAY: HINTON AND THE ARTISTS’ CAMPS Exhibition at the Mosman Art Gallery in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. With four of the region’s exhibiting artists attending - Gabrielle Collins, Michelle Hungerford, Angus Nivision and Elouise Roberts - there was also a crowd of home team supporters cheering them on. Robert Heather, Director of NERAM, gave an excellent keynote speech and urged the Sydney artlovers to visit us in Armidale. It all went very well. Susie Dunn.
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W I T H R O S S F R O M D A I LY R I T U A L A R M I D A L E
Blend
month of the
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA AFTER YOUR CHRISTMAS INDULGENCES Tea is one of the largest sources of antioxidants in our diet. It is particularly rich in a type of antioxidant known as phenols. One particular phenol, epigallocatechin gallate, is a whopping 30 times more potent than vitamin E. There are a variety of other phenols in tea, including catechins, the aflavins, and gallic acid. Each compound has been studied extensively, with varying roles in health maintenance and disease prevention. Overall, the benefits of these antioxidants are helpful for heart disease, diabetes, eye disease, cancer and the signs and effects of ageing, including wrinkles. Comparisons between tea and red wine (another antioxidant rich beverage), show that tea has more antioxidant activity … and you can still
Where
drive home! Benefits of Wu-Long Tea Next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. For centuries people have been enjoying the taste and health benefits (knowingly or unknowingly) of Wu-long and other teas; maybe you have too! Majority rules! The health benefits simply cannot be ignored. Due to its overwhelming popularity, serious research has been conducted in the last 30 years regarding the many health claims of Wu-long tea, mainly as a weight loss aid and antioxidant. Many links to technical abstracts supporting health claims have been included, so if you enjoy reading “technical or medical” journals you can find many on the internet.
Find out more about other quality blends at www.dailyritual.com.au
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Making
waves Not so long ago, Coffs locals could be excused for thinking that the cultural compass passed them by. But for the third year now, there’s a summer event that is changing all that and putting the region firmly on the map for film, star-power and creative inspiration.
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creenwave International Film Festival is returning this month with its boldest and biggest program yet. In just three short years, the festival - known as SWIFF for short - has grown to be a flagship Mid North Coast summer cultural event which attracts visitors from across Australia and around the world. “The groundswell that’s happened behind SWIFF is part of the larger emergence of unique cultural events popping up around regional Australia,” says festival director Dave Horsley. “People in regional areas are really wanting a different type of cultural experience than in metro areas.” SWIFF 2018 will run from 10 to 25 January 2018, screening more than 70 films across locations in Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. Special guests, who will meet the audience for Q&As, include homegrown Hollywood star David Wenham, Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison, Sydney Film Prize winner Sascha Ettinger-Epstein, and veteran surf journo Phil Jarrett, among a line-up of 20 filmmaker guests. SWIFF Light Box, a free public projection art exhibition and a first for Northern NSW, is all about bringing the magic of moving image outside of the four walls of a cinema, says Dave. It covers four sites: Jetty Theatre, Forestry
SWIFF Light Box Building, Element Bar and South Coffs Island (quarry site) and forms a narrative as the viewer walks from site to site. Projections will run nightly from 8:30pm 'til late and are free to enjoy. SWIFF Light Box is a collaboration between local artists, including John Thiering and Brentyn Lungan, whose work is transformed into an arresting contemporary art light show by projection artists Illuminart, whose past work includes Vivid Sydney. Dave says: “To me, a festival is something that is out there, visible and vibrant in the community. That’s how the idea for SWIFF Light Box started - by us wanting to extend SWIFF out of the cinemas and into the public spaces around Coffs.” Top eight highlights of Screenwave International Film Festival 2018: Closing Night: Ellipsis, special guest David Wenham Screening of David Wenham’s directorial debut Ellipsis, which takes the audience on a night out in Sydney following the chance meeting of two strangers. Followed by audience Q&A with David Wenham. Festival wrap afterparty at South Coffs Island (Harbour Quarry): SWIFF pop-up bar, DJ set by Tim Helmy, all on a backdrop of cliff face projections from SWIFF Light Box. Jetty Theatre and South Coffs Island, Thursday 25 January from 6pm.
Men of Wood & Foam: live soundtrack event A portrait of six NSW friends from the golden decade of surfing - pioneers who shaped not just boards, but the history of surfing in Australia, including Coffs’ own surfing legend, Scotty Dillon. Special screening with a live soundtrack accompaniment performed by Band Of Frequencies. Audience Q&A with producer Phil Jarratt. Jetty Theatre, Saturday 20 January, 6:30pm. Opening Night Gala - Jungle SWIFF 2018 swings into action with Jungle from home-grown director Greg McLean and starring Daniel Radcliffe. It tells the true story of Israeli adventurer Yossi Ghinsberg, who survived alone in the Amazon for more than three weeks. Jetty Theatre, Wednesday 10 January 2018, 6pm for 7pm start. AFTRS workshop: Directing Short Film A full-day workshop on directing techniques for short films, to pull the performances and story you need to connect the audience with your vision. Presented by Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) lecturer Jonathan Ogilvie, a two-time Cannes Film Festival selected short film director and winner of Tropfest. Cavanbah Centre, Tuesday 23 January, 9am to 5pm. The Square This compulsively watchable, no-holdsbarred satire of the postmodern art world
won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2017. Stars Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West, Friday 12 January, 6:30pm, Jetty Theatre and January 19, 7:30pm Bellingen Memorial Hall. REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival See the 17 finalist short films from REC Ya Shorts Youth Film Festival 2017, made by young people aged 12 to 25 across regional NSW. A joint project with headspace Coffs Harbour, the films explore the theme of “connection” via music video, mock doc, drama, comedy and more. Jetty Theatre, Monday 22 January, 12:30pm. Australian premiere: A Bad Idea Gone Wrong Unmissable indie comedy. Two would-be cat burglars wind up with more than they bargained for when their get-rich-quick scheme sees them trapped in the house they’re trying to rob. Stars Matt Jones of Breaking Bad fame. Jetty Theatre, Saturday 13 January, 6:30pm. The Go-Betweens: Right Here Follows the band from its 1970s beginnings in Brisbane, through two incarnations over more than three decades, with all the successes, failures, romances, break-ups, betrayals, triumphs and tragedies. Audience Q&A with special guest Lindy Morrison from the Go-Betweens. Jetty Theatre, Saturday 20 January; Bellingen Memorial Hall, Sunday 21 January. New England focus. 15
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CAFé R E V I E W.
Armidale Coffee House
Bistro 1879 - Railway Hotel Armidale With the renovations complete at the Railway
with the inconvenience during our renovations.
Hotel & Bistro, there is now a new dining and
Love breakfast? We do too, so we made it last all day!
bar area for our patrons to enjoy; this area links on to our spacious beer garden. You won't find any changes with our top notch pub grub or the service from our friendly, efficient staff, but you
Our new chef has pulled out all the stops in our New All Day Breakfast Menu, that’s for sure! How about Eggs Benny? A Salmon Bagel? Or try our Zucchini, Feta and Spinach Fritters served with Garlic Tzatziki. Yum! If you are feeling hangry, try our Signature
Big Breakfast, The Morning After ... it’s got it all! For healthy alternatives, we have a range of Superfood Choices like our hugely popular Berry, Vanilla and Almond Superfood Smoothie Bowl. So whatever your hunger, we have you covered!
will find more room for a casual lunch, dinner or celebration with friends or family, or both! Also, a big thanks to all our regulars, who have put up
222 RUSDEN ST, ARMIDALE (02) 6772 3109 OPEN EVERY DAY FOR LUNCH (12NOON TO 2PM) AND DINNER (6PM TO 8.30PM).
Fat Goose Crossing Twenty Four on Moore - Chef Daniel Monti Starting in 2006 at the mere age of 15, Chef Daniel Monti was shown the wide variety of good quality food and culinary experience of the hospitality industry. This knowledge fuelled the fire that is the passion and dedication he has shown throughout his career. From working at The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, Longitude 131 at 16 New England focus.
Uluru, to the Red Grapevine in Armidale, he has travelled far and wide to develop his skills. Growing up on the outskirts of Ballina, NSW, Daniel's love of fresh and local produce creates the base for his meals, giving a modern twist on the favourites.
Fat Goose Crossing would like to wish everyone happy holidays and thank you for your amazing support! For those locals travelling away, safe travels and for visitors to the New England, welcome to our lovely part of Australia. Bring on 2018, we say … and don't forget we are open seven days a week during the holidays (open Boxing Day) and look forward to welcoming you
to our town and café during this time. Love Stephen and the staff @ Fat Goose Crossing.
SHOP 48 - 51 ARMIDALE PLAZA, ARMIDALE MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8:30AM TO 5PM; SATURDAY 8:30AM TO 3PM AND SUNDAY 9AM TO 3PM.
focus coffee.
Armidale Coffee House We LOVE great coffee and delicious food
bookings are always welcome.
at Armidale Coffee House! New chef, new menu with a range of healthy options for all. Vegan? Yep! Gluten free? Absolutely! Join us from 8am - 2pm, Mon - Sat (8 - 1pm Sunday) for our hugely popular All Day Breakfast, or if a burger or healthy salad is more your style, we have those too! Don’t worry; delicious sweets and Di Bella coffee is available all day! Takeaway and catering can be arranged, and
ARMIDALE PLAZA (02) 6771 9725 MON, TUES, WED & FRI - 8AM - 5:30PM THURS - 8AM - 6:30PM SAT - 8AM - 4:30PM SUN - 8AM - 2:30PM
Two Goats Café and Baa At Two Goats we are all about sustainability in all we do. This permeates all aspects of our business. As a business, we only have a residential bin for rubbish each week, due to our commitment to composting and recycling. We actively support other local businesses wherever possible by using fresh, organic produce from local producers. We even serve preservative free wine! So if you are after a venue with similar social conscious principles, pay us a visit at Two Goats Café and Baa sometime soon.
Trading Hours: Wednesday 8am - 2:30pm Thursday 8am - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 9:30pm Friday 8am - 10pm (live music). Saturday 8am - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10pm Sunday 8am - 12:30pm
85 MARSH ST, ARMIDALE (02) 6771 4052 TWOGOATSCAFE@GMAIL.COM
TwentyFour on Moore ( formerly Rene on the Mews) Starting in January, TwentyFour on Moore will be opening Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights!
As always, our wonderful staff will provide exceptional customer service and make you feel right at home.
Incorporating some of our favourites, like our scrumptious lamb curry, wholesome lamb shanks and our famous caesar salad, we will also have a wide variety of drinks, appetisers and desserts. There is sure to be something for everyone. Come and make the most of the beautiful weather in our outdoor seating area, or cosy up inside and enjoy our new interior and bar.
24 MOORE ST, ARMIDALE 0467 512 876 MONDAY - FRIDAY: 8AM - 5PM THURSDAY - SATURDAY: 6PM - 9PM SATURDAY: 8AM - 2PM
Bistro on Cinders We are now open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30pm. We would love to see you, so to avoid disappointment please book your table before you come, so we can make sure you don't miss out on our special dining experience. Our chef is ready to tempt your tastebuds with our unique blend of Australia, with a touch of Asia inspired food, made from the freshest ingredients, and always beautifully presented. Don't forget
we are open for breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Saturday also. We look forward to welcoming you very soon @ Bistro on Cinders (behind the Post Office in Cinders Lane) for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 1/14 CINDERS LANE (BEHIND THE POST OFFICE) (02) 6772 2828 TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 8AM - 2PM THURS, FRI, & SAT 5:30PM - 9PM
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18 New England focus.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
The Uralla Wool Room At the Uralla Wool Room we strive to stock quality Australia made labels and brands; these include: Walnut Hill, Merino Gold, Aklanda, MerinoSnug, Smitten Merino, Uimi, Woolerina, Signatur Knits, Humphrey Law and Otto & Spike. We proudly offer an extensive range of quality Merino wool and natural fibre garments and accessories for women, men and children in classic and contemporary styles. A range of beautiful woollen throws, blankets and cushions, in a versatile palette of colours, that look great in any home. Mollydale hand dyed yarns draws inspiration from Australian landscapes and the changing seasons of the northern tablelands and the mountain regions of the far north coast, NSW. There’s a huge range of colourways available. Our unique dying technique sometimes limits
the available quantity of a unique colourway; a typical dye-lot fixes 1.5 kg of yarn, so please take this into consideration when ordering. We also stock Patons and Cleckheaton yarns, including The Australian Super Fine Merino in the full palette of colours. This yarn is a delight to work with, suitable for baby and children’s knits, as well as adults. Erika Knight, Filatura di Crosa, Ashford, Naturally Yarns NZ, and Rosabella Threads are recent additions to our range. We have an extensive range of patterns for making socks, children, baby, women’s, men’s garments and accessories and homeware knits. Knitting and crochet circle held on Thursdays 1pm to 3pm and Tuesday evenings 6pm to 8pm. Crochet workshop with Jenny King is planned for early in the New Year.
Walcha Straddling the southern tip of New England High Country, Walcha boasts an elevation of 1,100 m and above 1,400 m on the shire’s eastern fringes. The extreme altitude invites wild gorges, waterfalls and wilderness areas to form the lie of the land and offer a climatic menu of mild summers and cool winters! Perfect conditions for the stunning exotic trees lining the streets, forever changing in colour and texture, providing a beautiful backdrop to the other intriguing part of Walcha’s streetscape - The Open Air Gallery (OAG), a permanent public collection of significant sculpture and artworks. Currently consisting of 50+ sculptures, contributing artists are of local, national and international origin. Experience the OAG by foot, bike or scooter along the paved levee banks of the Apsley River. FREE Loan-A-Bikes (two adults’, two kids’ bikes and a towable “Coaster” for two toddlers) are available from
the Visitor Information Centre. Perhaps it’s the vibe and supportive artistic environment that welcomes creative people. Along with over a dozen notable artists who hail from Walcha, other interesting creative people have been enticed to make the move. Antipodean Tynker is a fascinating gallery of bespoke motorcycles, also making (and selling) original handmade jewellery and other steampunk pieces. The Walcha Gallery of Art was opened by a local B&B owner, due to constant guest enquiry about Walcha’s amazing art and there being no accompanying retail outlet. Walcha Gallery of Art showcases and sells quality art in a contemporary space. Our Best Kept Secrets are our public art, various galleries and accessible AMAZING waterfalls and gorges. For more information, visit www.walchansw.com.au
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
Armidale
Mass tree planting, nature corridors and exotic hard to find herbs and veg are just some of the Armidale Tree Group’s services. FOCUS goes bush with Alicia Cooper to find out what this retail business of 34 years is doing around the area …
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hat’s your role at the Tree Group? I’m the general manager of the Armidale Tree Group. I’ve been in this role for about a year now. Tell us about how you ended up here ... I grew up on an isolated bush property north of Nundle. I do love the bush, hence probably why I’m in this job. I ended up in Armidale because I’d done bush walking here with an outdoor recreation group, so I’d met some people here and thought it would be a great place to live. I started out as a volunteer here, and worked as a casual tree planter with our Environmental Services. When a position for the retail coordinator became available, I moved into that role and then when our previous general manager left, I was offered the job! What do you do? We do so much. Our main business is the Environmental Services, which we have been doing for the last 34 years. Contract tree planting, revegetation services, weed control, and we provide this to both the public and businesses. A lot of people don’t actually know we grow our own herbs and veg on site here. We like growing some of the rarer, harder to find herbs and veg, just to spice up 20 New England focus.
Our big focus is the Saumarez Creek Wildlife Corridor, which will link the eastern and western sides of the New England Tablelands. the veggie patch a little! We also really pride It will follow Saumarez Creek right down to ourselves on providing the knowledge to locals the Dangarsleigh Falls. We are talking with about the conditions in the area. As we have landholders who are willing to be part of the a rather tricky climate, cold winters and dry, project. This project will allow flora and fauna hot summers and our clay soils, we know what to move across the landscape and towards the plants are going to work cooler eastern climates. and where they should It’s quite a fractured be planted. region, so this will act Do you only sell like a green highway. It native plants? WE ARE DONATING AN INwill also allow us to step It is 99% native; KIND CONTRIBUTION FOR away from relying on we have a really small government grants. EVERY TREE THAT GOES amount of exotics Wow, that seems like a IN, AND WE HAVE SOME on offer. There is a huge undertaking. How GREAT SUPPORT FROM misconception that long do you expect this native plants are LOCALS AND TREE GROUP job will take? unattractive. We find, CLIENTS. WE ARE HOPING Well, the more funds that’s because they THAT BUSINESSES WILL BE we raise and the more aren’t being cared for GETTING INVOLVED. landholders get involved, properly. Sometimes the more we can do. This people tend to think is a long-term project. We that you just pop a are donating an in-kind contribution for every native in, and it will flourish. They need just tree that goes in, and we have some great as much love and care as anything else in the support from locals and Tree Group clients. garden, and they will reward you with their We are hoping that businesses will be getting beauty. involved. Current projects the Tree Group are How many staff do you currently employ? working on are ... Three permanent staff and three casuals We’re working on the “Every Tree Counts” who work in the retail section. Then we have project. We’re aiming to raise funds and build partnerships to address landscape-scale issues. a pool of casual people we call on for tree
planting. We also have some great volunteers, and we’re always happy to take on a few more in the busy spring period. What do you love about your job? I love my team. I really like the people I work with. I think a lot of people don’t get to have that. Everybody gets along, and that’s fantastic. Other than that, I love what I do. I get a heap of job satisfaction doing this and seeing the results come through in the future. Why should we shop with you, rather than at the big chains? Firstly, I think our prices are competitive. Secondly, I have customers coming in here upset they bought a plant from the big chains and it died. We won’t sell you something that’s not suitable for our climate. We take the time to ask questions about your particular site. We want to make sure that you are going to get great advice and the right plants for your specific environment. Do you have everything any other nursery would have? For sure! We have all the potting mixes, fertilisers and garden care products. Not only do we have the retail nursery, we also have a wholesale nursery too, that provides large numbers of trees and shrubs for farmers, businesses etc. Say if you needed 5,000 plants for a screening belt or a nature corridor, we can accommodate that too. Not only do we sell wholesale, but we’ll also plant them as well! We can do it all, from growing, planting, watering, maintaining and the weed control. So basically, we can cater to any size, from your small backyard to your massive property! Any final words? We are a not-for profit organisation and we wouldn’t have survived this long without the support of the locals. So a huge thanks to you, the community! Thanks guys.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
ADFAS Armidale In 2018, ADFAS (Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Society) Armidale provides for its members and guests a program of ten illustrated lectures given by overseas and Australian lecturers chosen for their communication skills and expert knowledge in their fields.
Wishing Everybody A Happy New Year and we shall be re-opening on Tuesday 16th January 2018.
Wednesday 7th February 2018 30th Anniversary Lecture Marilynne Paspaley, The Australian Pearl Industry
Summer Palaces of the Tsars: The Highlights
Thursday 1st March 2018 Mr Christopher Bradley The Treasures of the Silk Road
6th September 2018 John Ericson The Shakers of North America: Their Beliefs, Architecture and Artefacts
12th April 2017 Robyn Haig Backstage with Margot Fonteyn 10th May 2018 Anne Sebba “Les Parisiennes” 7th June 2018 Adrian Boddy The Aesthetics of Traditional Japanese Architecture and Design 12th July 2018 Dr Alex Makhrov
9th August 2018 Ms Linda Smith Rossetti’s Women
11th October, 2018 Mr Martin Ellis Colour and Brilliance: Women Stained Glass Artists of the Arts & Crafts Movement 15th November 2018 Gary Wilson Duyfken - the first European ship to visit Australia in 1606 - Historic voyages and voyages in the replica
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
King
One of the last stops on your way though to Uralla is the unmissable Wrench King. It’s the bright blue and yellow building towards the Tamworth side of Uralla. Inside is like a trip into the '50s and '60s! FOCUS chatted with Charlie, the owner at Wrench King, about everything restorable and renewed …
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taking a look at it. As soon as I saw it, I said, "I’ll o Charlie, when did you move to the area? buy it!" I hasn’t been running for nearly 57 years, Just under a year ago I moved but I got it going. It’s a runner. here. Originally from Tamworth, I So, do they still have parts for it? saw an opportunity to buy this busiYou’d be surprised! With so many collectors and ness. The mechanical workshop has the internet, finding the correct parts has never been here for over 40 years; now that I have taken been easier. over the business, I have really made it my own. Are you going to resort it to its former glory? I’ve been a mechanic for the last 37 years and No. Patina. I'm just going to keep the current have a passion for restoring patina. It holds more value and collecting things. As looking the way it does. That's you can see, I love all things what people want at the from the '50s and '60s. moment. It does go in cycles So not only restoring old though; I won’t be surprised IT’S A REAL PASSION. I car and bikes, you can that in another ten years, peoLOVE THE '50S AND '60S, restore older wares too? ple will want it all blinged up. AND I HAVE AN ABSOLUTE Yes, absolutely! This petrol It’s sorta like fashion. PASSION FOR IT. I HAVE bowser took me countless I also have some 1960 BEEN COLLECTING FOR hours to repair and restore, Salemakers, which are petrol but it looks brand new. We pumps. I am giving them the MANY YEARS; PEOPLE are repairing anything that full restoration job though. TALK AND SAY, ‘I HAVE moves here at the Wrench They are going on display in THIS OR THAT’ - AND King. From cars, and vans, front of the workshop. THAT’S HOW IT GOES. all the way up to trucks. Are you just as happy to Since moving to town, restore an old car as you how has the locale rewould be restoring a 1960s ceived you? petrol pump? I thought that it would be a little slow to begin Yes, I’m happy to fix up anything. I’m always with. I was wrong; it went the opposite. We have having people dropping in to ask if I could. So been really busy. if you have something, bring it in. Also you can Tell us about your collecting style ... come in and just have a look too; I have heaps of Look, it’s me. It’s a real passion. I love the '50s stuff to look at, as you can see! I had the vintage and '60s, and I have an absolute passion for it. I car club in here the other day. have been collecting for many years; people talk Tell us about your staff ... and say, "I have this or that" - and that’s how it I have Jack, who has just finished his apprenticegoes. ship and is a qualified mechanic. I has also just put Tell us about some of the current restorations another first year on too. you have on the go at the mo ... Final say? In the garage, you'll notice I have a 1927 ChevI was brought up on if it broke, you fixed it. Kids rolet. It had been parked in a shed for many years, today, if you can, get a trade. and a customer asked me if I’d be interested in Thanks Charlie.
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
The Armidale Tree Group Inc. Hidden down a little tree-lined driveway on the eastern side of Armidale, you will find the Armidale Tree Group - the not-for-profit organisation still going strong after 34 years. The ATG services a variety of interests and needs. Herb and vegetable seedlings are grown onsite, with unusual or rare varieties often trialled to spice up the classic staples of the veggie patch. Anyone for a summer salad tossed with glittering leaves of Ice Plant? For those who like food for the soul as well as the family, an eclectic range of Australian garden plants are also on offer. The staff pride themselves on providing the right plants and the right advice - a must for Armidillians dealing with the local climate! The core business of the ATG remains the Environmental Services. Professional tree planting and weed control services are provided to the general public and private/public sectors, backed by the ATG’s large wholesale nursery growing locally acclimated stock. Whether you’re looking for a landscape management plan or some advice for that shady corner of the garden, come and visit us at 80 Mann St and have a chat with the friendly staff of the ATG.
Saumarez Homestead. Friday 26th January 2018 Free entry to Saumarez Homestead grounds for everyone in Armidale and New England, as well as our visiting travellers. To raise funds to support the conservation and education programs at Saumarez Homestead, on Australia Day we will be offering special guided house tours for a gold coin donation. Short House tours every half hour from 10am to 3:30pm (downstairs only). Regular full price tours at 10:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm. We hope to have plenty for people to buy on our cake, craft and garden stalls. Australian Garden History Society will be offering Heritage Roses for sale on their stall. Lisa Kathe will be playing her harp at midday. The Armidale Pipe Band will be performing at 2pm, and the Armidale and New England Spinners and Weavers Guild will be demonstrating their skills. We will also have our annual Australia Day hamper raffle and tickets available for our quilt raffle. We will have our Saumarez Café/Tea Rooms open and a sausage sizzle BBQ as well. Bring your picnic basket and have a family outing in our splendid gardens and farm area. Everyone is welcome, and it’s free. All in all, Australia Day at Saumarez Homestead should be a great family day out for all. Venue: Saumarez Homestead; enter via Armidale Airport New England Highway, Armidale 2350. Ph: 6772 3616. Email: saumarez@nationaltrust.com.au
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
The When it comes to craft beer, nothing seems to polarise the hordes like an acquisition by one of the big boys. The likes of AB Inbev, Coca-Cola and Kirin, who are collectively worth more coin than many small countries, are taking an increased interest in some of the craftier players in town - much to the dismay of many.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TAMWORTH C O U N T RY M U S I C F E S T I VA L … T H E W E L D E R S DOG TAMWORTH IS ALSO CELEBRATING WITH LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD TRUCKS, SO COME AND TASTE OUR FARMHOUSE GINGER BEER!
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orget muddying the water, plump payday. Psuedo-green-leftie-hypocrisy the recent buyouts of three of or legitimate comment on the nature of Australia’s largest craft breweries capitalist cannablism, I’ll let you decide … sees it dirtier than Dumeresque For those with less of an eye for economics dam, and pundits and publicans and more of a hankering for hops, the beer alike are then is our last bastion struggling to chart of hope for a bit of a course that allows objectivity. Despite not them to have the best being the means to Are we all suckers to subjectivity, quality quaffers, whilst any meaningful end, inconsistent ideals and hoppy also supporting the the anecdotal evidence hypocrisy? It all seems innovative, independent finds meaning in the about as clear as a size of its n. Such a and smaller operations. schooner of stout, but one sample must surely What makes these big thing is for sure - beer is signal statistically deals such a big deal better right now than it’s significant revision of seems to be two-fold; been at any other time in recipe in order to meet we like our hard-earned human history; so drink up, sometimes staggering squid to stay on shore because the future is frothy. increases in scale, what and the argument that a many believe to be the decline in beer quality is very thing that quality inevitable. inevitably succumbs to. And yet evidence of Let’s map out the money. When it comes any empirical nature still eludes us, unless to a craft acquisition by a carnivorous of course we choose to believe the wanton conglomerate, whose pockets are really being witchcraft of the sissy cicerone, that fauxpilfered? Can we claim it is us the consumer, phenomenologist upon whose brain the if on the one hand we have some kind of Platonic Form for any given style of beer was langoustine and liquorice lager, but the other decanted into at birth. Then again, we can is steering the fixie bike we’re using as a hardly hark the hardened bar hound who high-horse, sporting a foreign made frame harangues us with their turbid testimony. and boasting Beijing’s finest bearings? If we Are we all suckers to subjectivity, aren’t concerned about one, we can hardly inconsistent ideals and hoppy hypocrisy? It all be concerned about the other. At the same seems about as clear as a schooner of stout, time, it feels intuitively ingracious of a brewer but one thing is for sure - beer is better right to espouse their independence in order to now than it’s been at any other time in human separate us from our super, only to find history; so drink up, because the future is they’ve been putting together a long-play frothy. pitch to one of the big players looking for a
AUSTRALIA DAY
IN ARMIDALE
Market & Food Stalls
26 JANUARY Citizenship Ceremony & Australia Day Awards From 10am
Lamington eating contest
at the Armidale Town Hall
Fireworks in Civic Park 8.30pm
Live Music!
Australia Day Ambassadors Samantha HollierJames and Geoff Coombes
Follow us for more updates! facebook.com/ arc2350
@armidale regionalcouncil
@ARC2350 INNew ARMIDALE England focus.
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E N G L A N D
H I G H
C O U N T R Y
New England
HIGH COUNTRY
Events for the whole family
What’s
Located in the heart of the New England High Country there is plenty to see and do in the great outdoors. Escape the heat and experience the mild summer weather in Guyra this January.
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UYRA LAMB AND POTATO FESTIVAL Explore the natural wonders spread throughout the region this January while based here for the 32nd annual Lamb and Potato Festival. The festival kicks off on Wednesday 17 January and runs until Sunday 28 January 2018. There is lots on offer, with musicians playing daily, the ever popular rail trike rides to the rail museum, various car clubs, and the annual antique machinery display and swap meet, which is one of the biggest in Australia. There are also a range of retail and food stalls to browse, and the best thing about the festival is enjoying the local lamb and potato meals. The purpose of the festival, since its inception, has been to promote the lamb and potato industries in our region. Farms around Guyra have long been known for their potato crops and for producing some of Australia’s finest beef, lamb and wool. The Lamb and Potato Festival held in January each year celebrates the excellence of some of this local produce. So, why visit the Guyra region in January? MIGRATORY BIRDS ARE IN THE AREA The Mother of Ducks Lagoon is one of Guyra’s most important landmarks. Mother of Ducks Lagoon is situated at the south-western
26 New England focus.
edge of the Guyra township. Come face-to face with a huge variety of birds, including endangered and threatened species. See if you can glimpse the renowned Japanese Snipe, which lives here from August to April, before returning to Japan, and keep an eye out for other migratory birds, including Common Greenshanks and White-throated Needletails. Only a short (25 km) drive away you can also visit Little Llangothlin Lagoon - a birdwatcher’s haven. This is one of only a few high altitude wetlands in the country and is an important breeding and feeding area for migratory birds such as the Japanese Snipe. TROUT FISHING SEASON IS OPEN In our high country, Rainbow and Brown Trout thrive in lightly fished streams and can be fished between October and May. On the western side of Guyra, trout can be found in a number of streams: Laura, Ollera, Moredun, and Limestone creeks. Trout can also be found in eastern streams: Boorolong, Rockvale, and streams in the Ebor area. There are a number of fishing farm stays surrounding Guyra, some providing dam fishing and creek fishing. Dam fishing is permitted year-round at locations that provide this service, with the trout literally at the doorstep of your unique accommodation. MILD TEMPERATURES ARE PERFECT FOR
Guy Fawkes River National Park is a wilderness paradise popular for bushwalking and birdwatching. Featuring the spectacular Ebor Falls, the national park offers a tranquil rest stop for travellers and an exciting destination for locals.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Guyra has some interesting fossicking locations which are less well-known than those of the Glen Innes and Inverell areas. There are several locations where public access is possible to fossick for sapphires, and at Stannifer for jelly bean crystals. You can pick up a map from the Guyra Tourist Information Centre at Rafters Restaurant on the New England Highway, or ask for some local advice on the best spots for fossicking. Guy Fawkes River National Park is a wilderness paradise popular for bushwalking and birdwatching. Featuring the spectacular Ebor Falls, the national park offers a tranquil rest stop for travellers and an exciting destination for locals. LOCAL LANDMARKS, HISTORY AND RETAIL Take a drive on the New England Highway to the north, and on Elm Street to the east, to view the expansive, state-of the-art Costa Exchange tomato farm glasshouses. The glasshouses stretch across some 30 hectares, and produce 12.5 million kilograms of premium tomatoes per annum. The tomato farm employs more than 600 staff across the
two sites and is the most modern of its kind in Australia. While on the road, take one of Guyra’s scenic Tourist Drives spanning across the Guyra region and featuring some of the area’s historic and natural landmarks. A visitor guide, available from the Tourist Information Centre, features four suggested routes for a great day out. If you love the grandeur and history of local buildings, Go “back-in-time” and view a range of historic structures, such as the Railway Station, Museum, RSL Memorial Hall, Post Office, the Guyra Emporium and the Royal Hotel - all situated in the heart of the town. FEELING PECKISH? While taking in the local history, visit one of the many cafés, pubs and coffee shops in the main street. Why not do some shopping in one of our retail stores, or visit the Community Street Stall to purchase some local foods and crafts - operated by local community and charity groups. There are plenty of things to do and see in Guyra during summer, so come and escape the heat in the High Country!
A R M I D A L E
R E G I O N A L
C O U N C I L
Armidale Regional Council is inviting the whole community to join in a program of fun community events scheduled to coincide with Australia Day 2018.
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Australia Day
2018
he events are intended for all Australians - no matter where our personal stories began. What has Armidale Regional Council got planned for this year? Council is hosting a program of community events that will run over three days in late January. This is an opportunity to reflect on being Australian, celebrate contemporary Australia and recognise our history. Council intends for this program of events to be an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the wonderful community we live in. It is a time to let our hair down with family and friends to celebrate the unique lifestyle of our region, and of course Australia, that so many of us take for granted! This is also a chance for us to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of some of our local heroes, who give so much to our community. Australia Day Ambassadors will be on hand to join in community celebrations in Armidale, Ben Lomond, Guyra and Tingha. The program includes events across the Armidale region:
GUYRA AWARDS DINNER When Thursday 25 January 2018 - 6:30pm. Where Guyra Bowling and Recreation Club. BREAKFAST AT BEN LOMOND When Friday 26 January 2018 - 7am. Where Ben Lomond Memorial Hall. ARMIDALE OFFICIAL AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS AND CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY When Friday 26 January 2018 - 10am. Where Armidale Town Hall. GUYRA FLAG RAISING CEREMONY When Friday 26 January 2018 - 11am. Where Rotary Park, Guyra, on the New England Highway. ARMIDALE AFTERNOON IN THE PARK When Friday 26 January 2018, from 2pm. Where Civic and Curtis Park Armidale. GUYRA POOL PARTY When Friday 26 January 2018 - all day, Where Guyra Pool. TINGHA AUSTRALIA DAY LUNCHEON AND AWARDS PRESENTATION When Friday 26 January 2018 - 12:30pm. Where Tingha Sport and Recreation Grounds. FAMILY FUN AFTERNOON, MOVIES IN THE PARK AND FIREWORKS When Friday 26 January 2018 - 5pm. Where Tingha Sport & Recreation Grounds. GUYRA MOVIES IN THE PARK AND FIREWORKS
When Saturday 27 January 2018 - nightfall. Where Guyra Recreation Grounds. How will local people be recognised for their contributions? There are many wonderful people in our community who give their time and energy to make a positive difference - many of them quiet achievers. Nominations have been received from across the community for the 2018 Australia Day Awards. The Awards celebrate individuals, groups and organisations for their contribution to: sports, recreation, cultural pursuits, the arts, community services, education and other services. There are also awards for: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year. Awards will be presented at ceremonies across the region. After the formalities, how will the community celebrate? Awards and Citizenship Ceremonies will be held in Armidale, Guyra and Tingha - but that is just the beginning of community celebrations. Everyone can gather for breakfast at 7am on Friday 26 January at the Ben Lomond Memorial Hall. There will be a whole afternoon of activity and entertainment in Civic and Curtis Park
in Armidale following ceremonies there on Friday 26 January. The event promises lots of fun for the whole family, with traditional games including the egg and spoon races, sack races and the famous lamington eating contest. Be sure to check out all the food stalls! Bring a picnic blanket and settle in for the evening. Enjoy live music and entertainment and then finish off the day with a spectacular fireworks display! A flag raising ceremony will be held in Guyra at Rotary Park on the New England Highway from 11am on Friday 26 January. Then for the rest of the day, the Guyra Pool will be holding a pool party with a BBQ. On Saturday 27 January, Movies in the Park will be held at the Guyra Recreation Grounds commencing on nightfall. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display by Holy Smoke. Movies in the Park will be held at the Tingha Sport and Recreation Grounds on Friday 26 January. The movie will commence on nightfall and will be followed by a fireworks display by Holy Smoke. We hope everyone will take advantage of the free activities and entertainment and spend some time having fun as a community! New England focus. 27
AUSTRALIA DAY AUSTRALIA DAY IN GUYRA IN TINGHA
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January 2018 Australia Day Awards Dinner 6.30pm for 7.00pm start
January 2018 Ben Lomond Breakfast 7am
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January 2018 Flag Raising Ceremony and Luncheon 12.30pm
January 26
Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony at Guyra 11am
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Australia Day Ambassador Steve Widders
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January 2018 Family Fun Afternoon 5pm
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January 2018 Movies in the Park at nightfall
January 2018 Movies in the Park at nightfall
Follow us for more updates! facebook.com/ arc2350 28 New England focus.
@armidale regionalcouncil
@ARC2350 IN GUYRA
BEST KEPT SECRETS
focusinterview.
Motorcycles
One of Uralla’s best kept secrets is a motorcycle shop by the name of Ural. FOCUS got to jump in the sidecar of an iconic Ural motorcycle and hit the tar with Clare, who tells us more ...
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or those who don't know, tell us about the history behind Ural bikes ... Ural Motorcycles are the world's leading manufacturer of sidecar motorcycles and have been producing them for over 75 years. The origins of the IMZ-Ural (Russian for Irbit Motorcycle Factory) began during World War II. The motorcycle was modelled after a late-1930s BMW sidecar bike called the R71. The Red Army wanted to modernise its equipment and the motorcycles used up to that point had not been satisfactory; their technology was outdated and the manufacturing quality was inadequate to endure the harsh Russian climate and terrain. According to official accounts, five BMW units were purchased through Swedish intermediaries. Soviet engineers dismantled these, reverse engineered the BMW design in every detail and made moulds and dies to produce engines and gearboxes. Early in 1941, the decision was made to enter mass production. During WWII, a total of 9,799 M-72 motorcycles were delivered for reconnaissance detachments and mobile troops. Initially, the "URAL" was built for the military only. In the late 1950s, Irbit Motorcycle Works focused on making bikes for domestic consumers, when full production was turned over to producing non-military motorcycles. We have just finished celebrating 75 years
of Ural sidecar motorcycles! have produced a limited number of solo How did they come to Uralla? bikes for overseas markets. Jon and Vicki Taylor from Kentucky began How many models are there currently? importing the Ural sidecar motorcycles At present, we have the cT model, Tourist, back in 2008, where the business had Ranger and Retro/M70. They come in a been located. Following Jon’s recent range of colours, with some new metallic retirement, Ural Australia moved into our colours in the 2017/18 model range. There new headquarters on the highway at 119 are many great accessories available to fit to Bridge Street, Uralla, in your adventure outfit, September. Perhaps we depending on your are now Urals of Uralla! individual needs or What makes them requirements. unique? What's the best Some improvements over recent Our adventure ready selling model? years include fuel injection, sidecar motorcycles are The cT is popular, electronic speedo and designed for you to being our base model, Brembro disc brakes on share the adventures so accessories can all three wheels. These and explore further, to be added to suit the modern improvements have carry your passenger, needs and budget of made our latest models on par your luggage or your the owner. The Ranger with other adventure bikes yet canine pal in comfort model is also one of our keeping the original looks. and style with you most popular models, wherever you explore. being designed and Whether it be taking a accessorised for off ride to the local coffee road and long distance shop, taking the kids to school, loading up adventures. Until recently, the Tourist has with your grocery shopping, a weekend been the most popular, then the Retro/M70, getaway or exploring this great land of ours, being the more military style. Urals are gaining popularity as an adventure What will we see in 2018? lifestyle motorcycle, feeling right at home 2018 will see a new range of standard on the dirt and just as comfortable on the paint options in matte metallic, plus some tarmac. new custom colours in high gloss metallic Do you have to have them with the sideand semi gloss. The factory has continued car? to make some technical changes on the As the world's leading maker of sidecar new models, as they do each year. Some motorcycles, we specialise is making the improvements over recent years include fuel complete sidecar outfit. In the past, they injection, electronic speedo and Brembro disc
brakes on all three wheels. These modern improvements have made our latest models on par with other adventure bikes, yet keeping the original looks. We're expecting the 2018 models to be available in Australia late March. Any final thoughts? Ural owners come from all walks of life, be it young, old or in between, looking for something a little different. With the Urals' unique sidecar looks, they turn heads everywhere - guaranteed, bringing out smiles, creating special bonds and reminding us that adventuring together is better! There is plenty of leg space in the sidecar for your passenger and the seating is very comfortable. The sidecar has good suspension, a disc brake, grab rail, as well as a light and power socket for charging your devices. Each Ural outfit has plenty of boot space, plus extra luggage racks are available for an overnighter or that trip around Australia. Go off road with your local adventure bike branch or join the local classic motorcycle or sidecar club near you, which are becoming more popular. There is a Ural owners group, as well as our annual Ural Adventure Ride, which sees Ural owners from all over Australia come together to share the adventure, exploring some local roads over a few days. With the Urals' updated modern features, these outfits are a serious machine for a fun time! Thanks Clare. New England focus. 29
BEST KEPT SECRETS
The Great Family
Uralla locals Tracy and Greg Le Messurier have been taking their family to the iconic BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort in Coffs Harbour for a quarter of a century. Tracy chats to FOCUS about her family tradition… i Tracy and Greg. You’ve been visiting BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort for many years now. What first started off the tradition, and how many years has it been going for? My husband, Greg, attended a meeting there over twenty years ago, when our three sons were just starting school. When he returned home, he suggested that this would be a great spot to have a family holiday and as we live in Uralla, it was a short distance to travel. In 1996 we booked in for 10 days, and Greg, the boys and I loved it! So for the next 12 years, BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort was where we spent our annual family holiday. Each year there was so much to do; the kids enjoyed the pools, the takeaways and met a few friends who also came back a couple of times. However, I think we hold the record! Everyone got excited just prior to going and had such a good time every year, we just had to keep coming back. So many good 30 New England focus.
memories and photos! What kept you going back? As most families would know, choosing the right holiday destination is all down to keeping the whole family happy … Adults and children. The family villas are big and roomy and have all the comforts of home, so we would do a big grocery shop on the way to the resort, unpack and settle in. On holidays, getting in and out of a hot car with kids to see attractions always ended up with everyone in a bad mood. At BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort, everything is there; three amazing pool areas for all ages, Diggers Beach at your doorstep, tennis courts, volley ball, water slides, outdoor spas and of course, a lovely bar for us to enjoy looking over Diggers Beach, while the boys played footy on the grass in front us ... PERFECT! If the weather wasn't great, we could still hang out together in the comfort of our villa and of course, there is an indoor pool. The service has always been fantastic, from reception to the bar and restaurant team - even the gardening team have always
The service has always been fantastic, from
reception to the bar
Now our sons are all been friendly and and restaurant team grown up with families help make a great - even the gardening of their own, it was they experience for the team have always been who suggested that once whole family. The friendly and help make a year the whole family resort facilities are a great experience for should have a week second to none; the whole family. together in October. Yes, may of our friends we decided we would love and family interstate to have a family holiday can't believe something like this is located here. with our three sons, partners and our three As our children grew into mid to late grandchildren. It's always hard with everyone's teenagers, they were working and building busy lives and with not everyone living locally, their own lives, so the annual family holiday but we finally locked in a date and it was at BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort started to unanimously agreed to make it BreakFree phase out. Aanuka Beach Resort. Greg and I missed it so much, that we The boys wanted to revisit with their kids decided to have at least three to four long and experience what they did as kids. The weekends a year together at BreakFree slide pool was a hit again; it was as if it was Aanuka Beach Resort - and still do to this day - yesterday watching our boys, but now men although we have graduated to the spa bures, with their kids enjoying the experience of this as they’re nice and cosy for two! fantastic resort. You’ve recently started a new tradition, We had a great time. The weather was not just taking your own children, but perfect; everyone loved it and agreed to make your grandchildren. What do you love it happen again in 2018. So many great new about the facilities for the little ones? memories.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Wedding Open Day
Gold Award for local State Forest The amazing Sealy Lookout in Orara East State Forest was recently award top honours, achieving the gold award for best Tourist Attraction at the 2017 NSW Tourism Awards. At Sealy, you can enjoy beautiful subtropical forest, amazing views, be part of an Aboriginal cultural experience, have a picnic among the trees, or just enjoy the tranquil sounds of nature.
Saturday, 10 February 2018 9:00am – 2:00pm FREE entry and on-site parking
The Forest Sky Pier is the centrepiece - a majestic 22-metre platform delivering a breathtaking sweep of ocean, city and coastline. Adjacent Korora Lookout showcases Gumgali Track, an Aboriginal cultural interpretive experience telling the story of Gumgali, the black goanna. Visitors are invited to find the hidden goanna sculptures along the track. The story of Gumgali can be experienced at Korora Lookout sound bar. Sealy Lookout is part of a protected forest area
that has the Coffs Coast first ECO-certification. This means visitors can be reassured minimal impact management principles are applied to the area, including protection of flora, fauna, forest ecosystems, Aboriginal and archaeological values. Managed by Forestry Corporation of NSW, Sealy Lookout (Niigi Niigi in local Gumbaynggirr language) invites visitors to get their bearings on the Coffs Coast while discovering this fantastic forest playground. Getting there: Travel north on the Pacific Highway from Coffs Harbour. Past the Big Banana, turn left at the Sealy Lookout sign. Drive through banana plantations and ocean views to The Gap. Turn left onto Scenic Drive and follow to Sealy. Find out more: @visitnswforests #visitnswforests
You’re invited to experience the ultimate Coff Coast wedding venue. Take a tour of our unique ceremony and reception spaces styled and themed for you to picture your big day, and enjoy sparkling wine and canapés whilst you meet our talented wedding specialists. Let us spoil you on arrival with a free gift bag. Our preferred suppliers will be on hand to help you create your perfect day.
Wedding Open Day offer Book a wedding in 2018 within 7 days of the open day and secure a 50%* discount on venue and chapel hire and an additional night in a Paradise Spa Bure including full buffet breakfast for 2.
*Terms and conditions apply. Book by 17 February 2018. Minimum 40 guests to receive the offer. Discount applies to 2018 weddings only.
BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort 11 Firman Drive, Coffs Harbour Visit breakfree.com.au
New England focus. 31
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Kunderang E
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East Kunderang Homestead is located by the Macleay River in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Now open to the public, it truly is one of our area’s Best Kept Secrets.
ell us about the history of East Kunderang and how it became part of NSW National Parks and Wildlife? East Kunderang (EK) was purchased by the Fitzgerald and McDonnell families in 1889, at which time construction of the present cedar homestead began. The property was managed as a pastoral run. Between 1890 and 1900, extensions were carried out on the homestead, although further repairs continued to the existing structure until 1989. Local timbers such as Red Gum, Red Box and Red Cedar were sourced due to the remote location. The isolation of East Kunderang meant the Fitzgeralds had be self-sufficient. They had an orchard, vegetable gardens, grew crops such as corn and lucerne and produce their own meat. The National Parks and Wildlife Service acquired the former pastoral station of 32,000 hectares in 1989, which was an addition to Oxley Wild Rivers National Park (OWRNP). East Kunderang is open to the public; what can visitors expect to experience? Visitors experience firsthand what it was like to live in a late 1800s homestead with all the mod cons”. The homestead sleeps up to 14 people, with three toilets, two showers and a bath. The large modern country style kitchen accommodates large groups, which opens to a new outdoor BBQ deck area. The deck area was completed in June this year and really adds another dimension to the homestead. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on the new deck 32 New England focus.
from returning visitors; they just love it. the nights not too cold. Spring time, the heathlands are East Kunderang is very popular for family gatherings; a riot of colour and during summer, the waterfalls are once people go for the first time, they generally come likely to be at their most impressive and it’s the best time back. There’s plenty of activities for everyone at EK and for swimming. even more space to do it in. There’s no TV, mobile phone Plans for the future? service or devices, so it’s an ideal location for friends or NPWS would love to see more visitors at East family to get together without the interruption of today’s Kunderang. NPWS will continue to manage both the technology. Set on the banks of cultural and heritage values the Macleay River, anglers can try East Kunderang has to offer. their hand at fishing. The Macleay Maintaining the homestead, is full of Australian Bass, Herring, numerous out buildings and Catfish or for a more challenging other work associated with being Any time is great at East fish, anglers can chase Mullet. If a land manager keeps staff busy. Kunderang. Winter, fishing’s not your thing, there are We will aim to maintain the although cooler, is nice. short walks, beautiful swimming homestead as it is into the future, The open fireplace in the living holes, canoeing, bird watching, and work with our neighbours room is cozy and warm. The take your mountain bike or to manage a range of landscape light reflection from the fireplace maybe a game of cricket with the issues. Mostly, NPWS just want really enhances the beauty of family in the large yard. the public to take advantage of the old Red Cedar timber of the At the end of the day you can a unique piece of history that’s Homestead. relax and enjoy the picturesque on their door step, and enjoy views of the Macleay Gorges, everything East Kunderang has while you enjoy a cool drink and to offer. cook a BBQ. For bookings and more What is the best time to visit? information on East Kunderang Homestead, visit https:// Any time is great at East Kunderang. Winter, although www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/ and search for East cooler, is nice. The open fire place in the living room is Kunderang Homestead, or phone the Walcha Area cozy and warm. The light reflection from the fireplace NPWS office on 677 74 00. East Kunderang Homestead really enhances the beauty of the old Red Cedar timber is great value for money and can be rented for weekend of the homestead. It’s a wonderful place to relax and or week-long visits. Booking periods are from Fridays to catch up with friends and family. Autumn is a great time Mondays, mid-week or for seven nights. The road in is to bush walk and when the days are not too hot and gravel and steep, so a 4WD is essential.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
We sat down with farmer Justin Gilbert, whose Dorrigo property, Booma Family Farm, has been in his family for five generations - over 120 years! He fills us in on what’s involved in running a family farm, and why he believes it’s so important to supply the area with quality local meat and produce.
B O O M A
i Justin. What’s your relationship to the Coffs Coast? I was born on the Coffs Coast, and I have lived here for 31 of my 37 years. In that time I have been extremely active in sports in the area. Our business has always tried to promote were we live; we just love the area for its natural beauty and pristine environment. How did you come to be a farmer? As I grew up on the farm, it was a natural progression. When you experience the lifestyle on a farm (even though it can be quite challenging at times) it’s hard to imagine moving on to do anything else, and there would be nowhere else I would prefer to bring up a family. You’re the fifth generation of your family on the farm, with 120 years of history. How has the farm changed over the years? The property has definitely changed and is still continually changing. Over the years there have been many types of agriculture, aquaculture and horticulture on our property. With farming it is like every industry; you must continue to evolve. In recent years we have combined our farm with a meat processing facility in Dorrigo,
which has meant we are work together, helping The great thing about the able to grow, process to create a sustainable products we grow is that all of and distribute our own farm that produces them work together, helping meat products. This was quality products. to create a sustainable mainly goat meat until You stand by “from farm that produces recently; we are now paddock to plate”; quality products. able to promote all the how have you been Booma products. able to achieve this? How many people We are able to does it take to run stand by this as we Booma Family Farm? control all stages of production. This is very At the moment there are only three of us unique in the agriculture industry. We have - me, my father, and my nephew. However, moved towards this way of farming, because at different times of the year we have to get many consumers are wanting to know outside help to maintain everything on the where and how their food is produced. farm. We encourage school groups to come Meat isn’t your only produce; what are and visit our farm, as well as inviting our some other things you grow on the customers here for farm visits, so they can farm? all come and see how our products are As I said earlier, our property has produced and learn why it’s important to been involved in many different types of know where your food comes from. agriculture. By utilising the knowledge We try to give our animals a perfect stresswe have gained over the years, we have free environment for them to grow, in order decided to try and put this all together and to maximise productivity and quality. offer consumers the unique opportunity to We also provide a home delivery service, purchase a wide variety of produce, all from so we are literally taking our products from the one place. At the moment we produce a the paddock to your plate! You will still need range of products such as beef, lamb, pork, to do the cooking though! goat, free range eggs, as well as a large How important is the term “keep it variety of vegetables. The great thing about local”, and what does that mean to you? the products we grow is that all of them Local food is very important for us - both
enjoying it ourselves and making it available for our community means a lot to us. For a long time the Coffs Coast has not been recognised as an area that produces quality products. We are trying to change this view, not just for ourselves, but for all the tourists who visit this area. Bringing in products from far away when they are available here just does not make sense to me! By buying local you are getting fresher produce, being kinder to the environment and supporting your local farming families and businesses. Where do you see the farm heading in the future? As our customer base grows, we are looking to expand what we grow on the farm. Some of the things we have in the pipeline are dairy products, meat chickens, a larger orchard and also having farmstays. When you’re not out on the farm, what do you like to do with your time? My interest has always been sports. I am very lucky to have three children who enjoy them too. So, my time away from the farm is spent coaching the local Rugby and cricket teams, or playing sport with my kids! Where can we find out more about Booma Family Farm? www.boomafarm.com or Booma Meats on Facebook. Thanks Justin. New England focus. 33
focusinterview.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
James P H O T O G R A P H E R
School teacher by day, photographer by night, James Russell creates imagery that tells a story. With a recent exhibition completed at the Uralla Bowlo, James tells us what it’s like behind the lens ... i James. Tell us a little about yourself. I moved to Armidale with my family almost six years ago, after teaching and living in remote areas in the Northern Territory for a number of years. I am a High School PE Teacher and have worked at both Armidale High and currently at O’Connor Catholic College. Photography has been a hobby up until recently, where it has started to evolve into bit of a side gig for holidays and weekends. I am married to my wonderful wife, Renee, and have three beautiful daughters to chase after. When/how did you get into photography? I have always loved to flick through magazines ... and for the most part this was to look at the photographs. This fascination with photographs led to me buying a few different cameras over the years, but I didn’t really become seriously interested in the process of making photographs until we moved to Alice Springs when I was in my late 20s. With so much amazing scenery and colour surrounding me and totally unique 34 New England focus.
experiences to be had, I purchased the cheapest DSLR I could get my hands on at the time, a Pentax K200D. What began as a casual, occasional pastime changed significantly for me when I stumbled upon my first analogue camera a couple of years photographers, the ease later. I became obsessed and convenience of digital Much to my surprise, I was with the nostalgia often wins out. fortunate enough to do of film and vintage With some big brands pretty well, winning the cameras. DSLR, TLR, SLR, out there, what gear are portrait section with Rangefinder ... they all you shooting with? a photograph of one of became new play things, Most recently I’ve been my daughters and the and I was hooked on hooked on photographing landscape section with what could be achieved with a Fujifilm X-Pro 2. The the storm photo. in creatively controlling classic look and feel of the aperture and shutter camera combined with its speed, combined with technical ability and dreamy the random flukiness of colour rendition have film in a vintage body. An obsession to collect made it pretty addictive. Fuji also produce some vintage bodies also developed rapidly. Since this excellent lenses that are relatively affordable for time I have been absorbed with using both digital their excellent quality, so I have found it to be an and analogue mediums, although like many affordable, high quality set-up.
With the Armidale Art Prize from Armidale Art Gallery recently wrapped up, tell us about the works you submitted ... I submitted a few different images. A couple of portraits, a landscape taken after a massive storm near Gunnedah, a black and white of some local Koori boys I worked with dancing a traditional dance and a nice wildlife portrait of our friendly neighbours ... some Scottish Highland Cattle from over the fence. Did you take out any prizes? Much to my surprise, I was fortunate enough to do pretty well, winning the portrait section with a photograph of one of my daughters and the landscape section with the storm photo. Shooting style ... Everybody has their prefered genre of photography; what
focusinterview.
Style wise, I have not
gravitated too strongly towards any particular photographic style;
avenue have you taken and why? Style wise, I have not gravitated too strongly towards any particular photographic style; however, I particularly enjoy shooting portraits, documentary and landscape photographs. I have recently been drawn more towards crafting images that tell a story. This has led to me shooting a number of people in the local area who work in pretty traditional hands-on sort of jobs. These have included shearers, brewers, a saddler, foundry workers and mechanics. I have really enjoyed getting to chat to these people and attempting to show something of their skill and dedication towards their craft/trade.
however, I particularly You recently had an shearing time. Growing up enjoy shooting portraits, exciting exhibition. a bit of a city kid, I had no documentary and landscape Tell us about the real idea of what goes on in photographs. ideas behind of this a wool shed, so I have really body of work. enjoyed getting in and having Living in New a look around and chatting to England, I had been the hard working people who keen to capture some work in the sheds. shearing at some point. As I have mentioned, this I decided pretty early on that the images I was led to me photographing some local shearers. capturing were worth sharing and that I really With the help of fellow local photographer wanted others to see something of this uniquely Michael Taylor, I have managed to get into a few Australian industry and the characters who drive sheds and capture the hustle and bustle, as well it. Uralla Bowlo heard of what I was up to and as some of the quieter moments that go on at approached me about displaying some prints in their newly refurbished Bistro and having an exhibition. Naturally I was pretty keen, and we worked together to hang an exhibition of about 25 black and white images capturing local shearers and other workers, as well as some local historic wool sheds. The exhibition was titled Shearing ... a New England Tradition and some of the images will remain up for a while in the club. What attracted you to this style? I think I was really drawn to the idea of story telling though still images, particularly with the mystique of what actually goes on in these beautiful old sheds. This element of story telling is becoming more and more of a focus for my photography. I am really enjoying the challenge of capturing an image that not only attempts to tell what is going on, but also why.
Where do you pull your inspiration from? I actually feel that inspiration is all around us. I find myself driving around our beautiful part of the world spotting things or people that “I must get a photo of some time”. There is so much going on and so much beauty right on our door step. I also find a lot of inspiration in looking at the work of other photographers ... Obviously some of the classic come to mind, such as CartierBresson, Adams, Maier and Eggleston, but I also really like the photojournalism of Steve McCurry and Andrew Quilty. I’m also bit of a tragic for flicking through magazines, my favourite being Monster Children. What’s next for James Russell Photography? I plan to continue what I have been doing this past year - to focus on telling stories through the images I capture and to continue to try and improve my skills and develop as a photographer. I have also recently done a couple of paid shoots, so I am looking at doing more of these - family sessions, events, corporate/business photography. I have also been asked about doing weddings, so I am considering taking on this challenge as well. Marketing and selling my images is also something I would like to get into. Overall, I plan to continue getting behind the lens as often as possible to continue to improve at the craft of producing memorable images that impact upon those that view them. New England focus. 35
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Robert Heather M U S E U M
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D I R E C T O R
NERAM Hinton
COLLECTION
A lot of things have been changing at the New England Regional Art Museum over the past year. We caught up with Robert Heather, Art Museum Director to find out more about what has been going on and what we can expect to see in 2018.
e hear there has been a lot of change at the art museum. What has been happening? It has been an extremely busy year here at NERAM, with a variety of exhibitions and events throughout 2017 which have appealed to a wide range of audiences across the community. These have ranged from the works of local artists like Hilary Pollock, through to a major retrospective exhibition of paintings by Elisabeth Cummings, one of Australia’s most important living artists. There have also been talks, tours, performances, concerts, dinners and a whole range of community activities. The main change has been the work done to the exterior of the building, which we have completely replaced with Kingspan cladding, which has given the whole facility a sleek new contemporary look. The cladding has also improved the thermal performance of our building, leading to smaller power bills. What do you see as the highlights of 2017 at NERAM? We had so many great exhibitions and events, but the one which really stood out for me was the Black Gully Festival in November and the performance by the Yanaya ensemble. The festival was fantastic; we see it as an important way to activate community ownership and involvement in the whole site. It was great to see a wide cross section of people visiting the site, wandering around, eating at the stalls, enjoying the music and taking part in the activities. I think the whole community is hungry for the Black Gully to be 36 New England focus.
made more accessible as a public parklands, and regional and finally the state awards, where we we have been lobbying the Council to come up were a finalist. with a masterplan for the whole site. Our "Sustainable NERAM" program pulls toThe real highlight though, was the Yanaya gether the work we have been doing to improve performance on the main stage by David Leha our facilities and processes, including replacing (Radical Son) and a group of young indigenous lights with LED lighting systems, installing solar men and women from panels on the roof, recladacross the region. This ding the building exterior has been a project that and tinting windows, but NERAM has been working is much more as well. on with Beyond EmpaThese activities have We have a great range of thy all year. The final re-energised NERAM’s exhibitions lined up for 2018 event was just amazing supporters and become with something for everyone. - a polished hour-long a source of community We kick off the year with performance that used pride, made the building the gorgeous paintings indigenous language as a much more attractive and of Lucy Culliton and a starting point and ranged created opportunities for new series of Print Room between soul, hip-hop us to reposition ourselves exhibitions, showcasing the and country music, as one of the best regional work of printmaking artists from with all the participants arts facilities in the state. around the country. demonstrating incredible What exactly is different talent and skill. and what changes will You recently attendvisitors see when they ed the NSW Business come to look at the art? Chamber Awards in Sydney as a finalist. Why The first thing you will notice is that the art is the art museum winning business awards? museum looks brand new, thanks to our new Unlike most regional galleries, which are local exterior cladding - the whole building looks betgovernment facilities, the New England Regional ter. Then when you come in, the exhibitions are Art Museum Ltd is a small not-for-profit business looking better with our new LED lighting system, which must raise its own revenue and income. which enables us to control light levels within the We also look closely at reducing our costs, and spaces. we originally entered our "Sustainable NERAM" In early 2018 we will be opening our new perprogram into the Armidale Business Chamber manent exhibition, HINTON: Treasures of Austraawards to promote awareness of what we have lian art which will be a "salon hang" of over 100 been doing to be more financially and environpaintings from the nationally significant Howard mentally sustainable. We won the "Excellence in Hinton Collection, which will always be on display Sustainability" category and then went on to the so you can bring visitors to see them, as well as
get to know your own favourite artworks better. We want this to be a destination exhibition that people travel to Armidale to see and discover. What can we expect during 2018 at NERAM? We have a great range of exhibitions lined up for 2018, with something for everyone. We kick off the year with the gorgeous paintings of Lucy Culliton and a new series of Print Room exhibitions, showcasing the work of printmaking artists from around the country. We will have some of Australia’s leading artists responding to the centenary of WWI in the exhibition In their Footsteps, as well as leading contemporary indigenous artists responding to our region’s history in Myall Creek and beyond. A big group of local photographers have responded to the region’s landscape and community in Terry Cooke’s crowd-funded book and exhibition New England High Country, while painters Colin Isaacs, Rita Winiger and Christine Porter explore local subjects and Walcha based ceramic artist Myfanwy Gulliver’s quirky sculptures are sure to be a hit later in the year. How can we get involved in NERAM? The best way is always to come in and see what we have on display, dine in our café and buy a great gift at the NERAM Shop. If you like what you see, we would love for you to sign up for our e-newsletter, like us on Facebook or become a member of the Friends of NERAM, so you can find out what we are doing and what is on at the art museum. If you are interested in getting more involved, it is easy to make a donation to the NERAM Foundation, Adopt-an-Artwork or become a volunteer. There are lots of ways that you can support us and we are happy to talk to you about all of them.
with Clairvoyant Terri Hall Phone. 0424 818 343
January 2018
AQUARIUS.
GEMINI.
LIBRA.
JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19
MAY 22 - JUNE 22
SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 23
You have been busy recognising cycles that repeated in your past. However, you have grown in wisdom since. This is why they have little, if any, effect on you now. Set new goals and watch the outcome. Moonstone is great for ending and beginning cycles.
Endings and new beginnings are likely to play a major part this month. Set some goals, and stay tuned into your feelings to identify your opportunities. It will be important to feel passionate and happy connections in the home and workplace. Moonstone is great for new cycles. Wear some.
Stay connected to your beautiful qualities, as they will open doors of endless opportunities. 2018 symbolises a lucky year when using gifts and talents. Set some new goals and make a wish list. Prioritise some alone time for yourself and enjoy your solitude. Blue Lace Agate clears the mind and enlightens it.
PISCES.
CANCER.
SCORPIO.
FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20
JUNE 23 - JULY 23
OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22
You’re a problem solver; this is why others are compelled to share their story with you. You often hear wise words escape you. Hear these words; they will guide you well. Enjoying your creative pursuits is likely to be a strong influence towards the end of the month. Citrine stimulates our creative energy.
A fresh outlook towards the New Year will aid in becoming better aligned to receive good luck and abundance in all things. Release any fears and become their answers. Ownership of your reality will be a strong influence; embrace it. Clear Quartz amplifies energy.
If you’re carrying any undigested emotions from 2017 into this year, your success could be compromised. Release these emotions, so life doesn’t have to bring them to your attention. Think of something new to feel and wish for it. Malachite helps release past hurts and recognise the strength gained
ARIES.
LEO.
SAGITTARIUS.
MARCH 21 - APRIL 20
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21
Connect to your inner strength and gentle wisdom. Identify your qualities you approve of, to align yourself with the highest opportunities and abundance in life. Make a wish list, not a resolution. 2+0+1+8 = 11= a 2 year - a year to enjoy your talents. Amethyst connects us to our life’s purpose. Wear some.
As long as you are content to love, you will sparkle. Avoid placing conditions or hopes on your giving, as you will be disappointed. Instead, feel the Leo joy of giving, because you love to give and do it unconditionally. Feel how big your heart can be. Rose Quartz, the crystal of love,
If you are feeling trapped in life, it could be that you have outgrown your old beliefs and need to create new ones. Try debating your beliefs and see what you come up with. Anything that interferes with reaching your fullest potential is likely to be released this month, making way for better things. Citrine shatters negativity and
initiates all levels of love in our energy.
attracts an abundance.
TAURUS.
VIRGO.
CAPRICORN.
APRIL 21 - MAY 21
AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23
DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20
If you’re feeling unsupported, look inward at what needs strengthening and activate it. Set some short-term goals, as well as mid and longterm goals. You will soon know that there is no hurdle too big for you to remove. Laugh at your fears and become their answer. Ruby gives us strength of mind, body and spirit.
Romantic feelings towards life can be expected this month. Connect with your gratitude as often as possible, to benefit from the simple pleasures in life. Relationships will offer some adventurous new discoveries of the self, and feelings toward career are likely to change. Set some goals. Carnelian is great for our enthusiasm and strength of will.
Listen to your wise words when you are counselling someone. Your Guides are speaking directly to you on these occasions. Where would you like to see yourself at the end of the year? Let this aid in setting new goals. Career has to offer a happy environment for inner peace. Snowflake Obsidian shatters workplace negativity.
Our Gift to you... a Scholarship
IN 2019
Applications OPEN NOW Scholarship Day & Exam 26 February 2018
ALL GIRLS PRE-KINDER TO YEAR 12. BOARDING FROM YEAR 5.
plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au 02 6770 1700 Educating successful women of tomorrow in a Christian environment
IN ALLIANCE WITH PLC SYDNEY
New England focus. 37
Queen’s
Relay Armidale Regional Council is preparing for the Queen’s Baton Relay. After travelling an astonishing 288 days throughout the Commonwealth, the Queen’s Baton will arrive on Australian soil in Brisbane on 24 December 2017, having shared the dream of GC2018 with over one third of the world’s population. rom its arrival until 24 January community celebrations along the way. 2018, the Queen’s Baton The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold will engage with thousands Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games of Australians at popular Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where His summertime events, iconic Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will remove locations and children’s hospitals Her Majesty’s message and read it aloud to around the country, starting in Melbourne on declare the Games officially open. Boxing Day. Find out when and The Queen’s Baton will where the Queen’s scale Sydney Harbour Baton will be in your Bridge, celebrate the Taste of region at gc2018.com/ Tasmania festival, be a part of qbr. People can now Armidale region residents can the tennis action in Perth and see where the Relay will start planning for their Queens Brisbane, hit the roads at the travel, which streets will Baton Relay experience as it Tour Down Under in South be lined with crowds, passes through Armidale on Australia and respect the and the celebration February 1, 2018 on its magic that is Uluru at sunset. dates to mark in their way to the Gold Coast The complete list of January calendars across the Commonwealth Games activity is available at gc2018. 100-day journey in Opening Ceremony on 4 com/qbr. Australia leading up to April 2018. From 25 January 2018, the the Gold Coast 2018 QBR will shift gears to a more Commonwealth Games traditional relay starting in (GC2018). Canberra, where the Queen’s Armidale’s Queen’s Baton will join Australia Day Baton Relay Experience celebrations, before continuing in the hands of - What you need to know! approximately 3,800 batonbearers through every The residents of Armidale can start planning state and territory. for their Queens Baton Relay experience as it As the Queen’s Baton travels the length and passes through Armidale on February 1, 2018 on breadth of Australia, it will not just pass through, its way to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but spend quality time in the communities it Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018. Come and visits, calling into hundreds of local schools and join in on the celebrations by lining the streets of 38 New England focus.
Armidale to cheer on our local heroes who have been given the wonderful honour of being a Batonbearer on the Armidale leg. Our Baton Bearers 20 Batonbearers selected from the region have been given the honour to take part in the Baton Relay on its Armidale leg. Batonbearers are: Fiona Bedford - Gymea Bay Gregory Blanch - Armidale David Boundy - Armidale William Brunsden - Armidale Jock Bullen - Armidale Dennis Carson - Armidale Chris Doherty - Armidale Kay Endres - Armidale Bruce Favell - Carina Julia Gates - Armidale Ron Jackson - Yarrowyck Rochelle Joyce - Armidale Anthony Kelly - Armidale Aiden Kunkka - Arding George Lowrey - Inverell Sara Lynch - Armidale Wayne Sharp - Armidale Steven Widders - Armidale The baton will leave Armidale City Public School at 9:41am heading north down Faulkner Street, before turning right on to Rusden Street. From Rusden Street the Baton Bearer will turn north into Marsh Street and enter the Beardy Street Mall. The Mall will be a wonderful vantage
point to view the relay, as it will traverse the entire length from east, central and west all the way down to Beardy Street past Armidale Central, through the Markham Street intersection and then right into Butler Street. The relay will then turn right onto Dumaresq Street to Curtis Park, which will be the final destination of the Armidale leg at 10:28am. There will a short 10 minute celebration at Curtis Park, before the relay heads out of the city towards Ebor. Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said the Queen's Baton Relay was a chance to share in our civic pride, celebrate our local Batonbearers and share in the excitement of the Commonwealth Games. "The Queen's Baton Relay is an iconic part of the Commonwealth Games and we are excited to have it come through Armidale,” said Cr Murray. "Council has been working hard to prepare for the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay. A Traffic Management Plan is in place for the relay route, invitations have been sent out to all the schools in the region and a special community celebration has been planned. It will be a wonderful celebration of our unique region.” There will be plenty of opportunity to celebrate the Baton Relay visiting Armidale with Council hosting a community celebration in Curtis and Civic Parks from 9am. Live entertainment and a free community breakfast will be available.
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Baton route
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Ba Re ton sta lay 9.4 rts 1a m
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Celebrations from 9am in Civic & Curtis Parks
Ma rsh St
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PRESENTING PARTNER Ba
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focusinterview.
From Armidale to the Coffs Tri Josh Patricks, 30, has never done a triathlon and is planning on tackling the full Olympic distance bcu Coffs Tri in March. He bought his first road bike online on Gumtree just a few weeks ago and is determined to finish the 1.5 km ocean swim, 40 km cycle and 10 km run in under four hours. Village sports caught up with Josh to find out his motivation for signing up for this challenging event.
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hat inspired you to enter the bcu Coffs Tri? I have never even contemplated a triathlon before now, as I felt it was beyond my fitness level. I have signed up for the event, as I want to challenge myself physically and mentally like never before. Tell us a bit about yourself ... I am married with two young daughters. I work as an Employment Consultant with Key Employment and the majority of my day is spent sitting at a desk looking at a computer screen. What are your goals for the event? My goal for the bcu Tri is to finish in less than four hours. I also want to make my family proud and to inspire them to always challenge themselves. What are your strongest/weakest legs?
The ocean swim is completely out of my local competitions comfort zone. Born Born and bred in to complement my nd la ng E ew and bred in the New the N training. r fa , SW N England region of region of Do you plan to build ve ha I n, ea NSW, far from the from the oc on this in the lead up an ed pt m ocean, I have never never atte to the event? .” re fo be attempted an ocean ocean swim I hope to increase swim before. I feel most each discipline to twice comfortable running, so a week and add in some I would have to say that brick sessions (ride/run) to help would be my strongest leg. prepare my body for the transition When do you fit in your training from riding to running. I hope to take around family and work commitments? part in triathlon events with the Coffs Tri I train early in the mornings, as this Club in the lead up to race day. seems to fit in around my schedule. Do you plan to follow a set program? Currently I am building my capacity for each I find it difficult to follow a set program leg through running, riding and swimming due to the unpredictability of life, but I try to once a week and gradually increasing the complete each leg during the week to maintain distances. I also play cricket and hockey in
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motivation and progression with my training. I utilise those around me to discuss distances and strategies; and my family to help with diet and motivation. My family are my biggest support; they encourage me even when it’s wet or hot or if I have had a rough day. What is your advice to anyone out there like you who has never done a triathlon and thinking about it? Get out there and have a go. Build your fitness, increase your confidence and challenge yourself. I am really enjoying the training, and it certainly helps having a goal to work towards. Josh is planning on joining the Coffs Harbour Tri Club in the New Year, where he will be able to put his training into practice. The club runs regular fortnightly races and encourages newcomers to take part.
3rd & 4th
MARCH 2018
ENTRIES NOW OPEN
villagesports.com.au 40 New England focus.
focustourism
W I T H K AT R I N A G E O R G E F R O M T H E A R M I D A L E V I S I T O R I N F O R M AT I O N C E N T R E
tourism UPDATE
R O B E R T S Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Happy New Year. “Happy New Year” from the staff and volunteers at the Armidale Visitor Information Centre. 2018 is shaping up to be a very busy year, and the staff and volunteers will be working very hard to ensure that our visitors are experiencing the best that our region has to offer.
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uyra’s very own Lamb and Potato Festival kicks off on the 17th January and runs until the 28th January. The festival is open daily from 8am - 8pm. There will be in excess of 40 market stalls, live entertainment and of course, lots of lamb and potatoes. The Antique Machinery Rally and Swap Meet will be held in conjunction with the Lamb and Potato Festival on the 26th, 27th and 28th January. This January the kids have not been forgotten, with ice skating available at The SerVies from the 5th - 28th January. There will be set session times and booking is recommended; please telephone 0412 344 941. In February, Armidale will be hosting the Mountain Biking National Championships, with 500 people expected to attend over the four days. This is a very exciting new event on the Armidale Calendar. There are two significant conferences taking place in the first few months on 2018. On the 9th - 11th March 2018, Armidale will be hosting approximately 500 Rotarians for the 2018 District Conference. This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase everything the New England High Country region has on offer. The Country Women’s Association Conference will be held in Armidale from the 30th April - 5th May. This will be one of the largest conferences that Armidale has had the honour of hosting, with up to 1,000 people attending over the week. We are inviting local businesses to book a spot in a voucher book that will be distributed to all participants. We will be encouraging all businesses to keep their doors open for late night shopping on Thursday 3rd May. This night has been bookmarked in the CWA member’s itinerary for them to indulge in a little retail therapy. If you would like your business to be involved, please contact Katrina George on 6770 3906 or email kgeorge@armidale.nsw.gov.au
January is a fantastic time for Armidale locals to become a “tourist” in their own town. Whether you have friends or family to visit or you’re just spending time with the kids, here are some ideas to ensure you enjoy your holiday break. • Our nature playgrounds are there for everyone to enjoy at anytime of the year. One of the favourites for children of all ages is Gara Gorge (otherwise known at the Blue Hole). Just a 15 minute drive from Armidale, this is a beautiful spot for a picnic, rock hopping and a paddle in the river. • This January, why not try something new? There are numerous outdoor activities on your doorstep, such as fishing, fossicking, golf, tennis and mountain biking. The top fishing spots include Dumaresq Dam, Malpas Dam, Georges Junction and Wattle Flat. For those interested in fossicking, pans are available for hire from the Uralla Visitor Information Centre. Wooldridge Recreation Reserve is a great fossicking, swimming and picnicking spot. If you would like more information on any of these holiday ideas, please come and visit the Armidale Visitor Information Centre. We are open throughout the holiday period (closed Christmas Day), seven pays per week from 9am - 5pm. We were very sad to hear of the passing of the very talented local photographer Paul Earl. Paul was a wonderful supporter of tourism in the region, and his beautiful photographs have been used in numerous campaigns and visitor guides. Whilst we didn’t personally know Paul, we felt that we knew him very well through his spectacular landscape photography. One of Paul’s last projects was to put together a beautiful 2018 calendar using his favourite images, copies for sale in various locations around Armidale and the Visitor Information Centre.
Roberts Air Conditioning & Refrigeration has been a locally owned and operated business in the New England since July 2010 ...
Why would someone contact you at Roberts
Tell us about your team ... Our valuable staff members, who are great assets to our business, consist of: Kerrie, who is the office administrator; Tim, who is a qualified electrician and air conditioning and refrigeration technician; Brodie, who is a qualified air conditioning and refrigeration technician; Blake, who is our first year apprentice; and Jyr, who is a qualified air conditioning and refrigeration technician with over 24 years’ experience in this trade - 15 years self employed, and seven years operating Roberts Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.
conditioning, refrigeration and electrical, which
As a team, we thrive on giving our customers quality workmanship, expert advice, being punctual and rely on good old fashioned service.
ers a merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration? We specialise in all areas of commercial and domestic air includes: maintenance; repairs, cool rooms; freezers; split systems; ducted systems; and electrical work, whether an existing home, business or in the building process. Since relocating to the New England region and establishing our business, we have made and met so many great customers, who have helped continue to grow our business by recommending our business and spreading the word about our quality workmanship. We would like to thank and wish all our customNew Year and look forward to continuing to provide our services and advice in the New Year.
New England focus. 41
Get your health on track with HCF It’s that time of year when many of us start thinking about how we can make positive changes to our health for the year ahead. At HCF, being not-for-profit, we always put the health of our members first. So whatever your health goals for 2018, we’re by your side every healthy step of the way. Health and wellbeing programs Members can access a wide range of support, such as My Health Guardian and Weight Management programs, plus discounts on new Fitness First memberships and much more. A range of healthy apps To get fit and stay fit, you need an exercise plan that works for you. Designed by experts, our Get Fitter app allows you to choose a program that matches your current level of fitness, reflects your lifestyle and targets your fitness goals.
While, our Be Happier app helps you deal with the stresses of day-to-day life, providing tools to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. A healthy heart HCF has teamed up with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute to offer free heart health checks for members with extras cover. The Victor Chang health check booth visited our HCF Armidale branch in 2017 to check members’ blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Results were on the whole good, but members were often unaware of what their levels were. To find out how Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund can help you achieve your health goals in 2018, speak to Robyn and the friendly HCF team at 186 Beardy Street, Armidale.
YOUR HEALTH COMES FIRST As Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, we put our members’ health first, not shareholders. So as you set out on your new health regime for 2018, we can provide you with a wide range of support programs to help you reach your personal health goals. Whether you’re trying to get fitter, lose weight or simply be happier, we’re by your side every healthy step of the way. To find out what HCF can do for you in 2018, speak to Robyn and her friendly HCF Armidale team today.
VISIT US
186 Beardy Street, Armidale 42 New England focus.
CALL US
(02) 6772 8519
GO TO
hcf.com.au
focusinterview HUGH AND SHELLEY
Mihi homestead
Mihi located 25 kilometres out of Armidale was built in 1917. Hand built with love Hugh Cordingley’s Grandfather built the homestead at Mihi from the ground up. Interestingly enough even the bricks were hand made on the property. FOCUS Talk with Hugh and Shelley about the history of the home…
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ell us a little about the history of the homestead. The home was built by my grandfather, designed by a local architect. With 29 rooms it’s got a lot of doors. We painted the outside and we were stunned at the amount of doors and the amount of work that goes into repainting it. How many acres are we on here? Around 4000 acres, we run sheep and cattle at the moment. The property has the full compliment of outbuildings, designed for a property 4 or 5 times the size, comprising of 3 beautiful houses, a large woodshed which was originally a 16 stand woodshed. How many people have lived here? Well my grandparents had 5 children that grew up here, of course my farther and now Shelley and I along with our three children. How have you seen the landscape change over the years? It has always been grazing land here. In the recent years, we’ve opted to have cattle as they require less work. We did have more emphasis on sheep in the past, but we have changed that around in recent years to make life easier, with only me working on the property sheep tend to be a lot more work, so it’s a bit easier to run some cattle. We have seen the good and the bad side of farming, we’ve experienced some of the worst droughts and we’ve seen many good years too. This season is shaping up nicely as we have had a lot of great rain. At the moment we have about 700 head of cattle and 2500 sheep and lambs. We are pretty lightly stocked compared to the past where we’d stock up to around the 8000 head. We designed it so I can
work by myself which in turn is a more manageable amount and much less risk. Do you host any events here? We hosted an open garden, which I must say is a lot of work. We’ve had our daughters wedding here too. Have you made many changes to the property since owning it?
It has always been grazing land here. In the recent years, we’ve opted to have cattle here. We did have more emphasis on sheep in the past, but we have changed that around in recent years. With
only me working on the property, sheep tend to be a lot more work, so it’s a bit easier to run some cattle.
When I was a kid the property was generally very run down, in the last 30 years, much of our money has been going into the restoration of the home and land surrounding. We’ve also put in a laneway system which allows us to move all of our stock around. It makes life easy to move stock from the furthest paddock to the closest without having to run them through every paddock and get them mixed up. The laneway took about 10 years to create, so as you can imagine, it was not a small feat. Tell us how farming has changed over the years through your eyes... The biggest change is that wool has been very hard work. Since the 90’s it hasn’t been as valuable. That has had a major impact on the area. We run run cross-bred sheep that are bred for their
meat. We used to produce superfine merino wool but we got out of that as it seemed that we were working for everybody except ourselves. Why do you feel wool production has decreased over the years? I think it’s a range of things. How the product is used, as people become more urbanised and accustomed to an easier lifestyle, the clothing is worn, thrown in the washing machine to the dryer and then worn again. A lot of wool is sensitive to washing and drying. In today’s busy times, it’s not as viable. Where does your meat go? Well it does depend on the year that we’ve had. Generally speaking we’ll send our steers to a feed lot down in the Hunter Valley. In a different season, we’ll take them to the sale yards to sell them to somebody who’ll grow them on. Sometimes we sell them locally to turn into meat. We still eat our own sheep and we used to eat the cattle too, but with just the two of us, it would take us forever to eat one. When the kids were home we’d have one slaughtered and butchered and turned into sausages and different cuts of meat. These days it’s just not worth it. Will the kids take on the property on after yourselves? At the moment the kids are doing their own things and live away from town. At the moment, there aren’t any plans for them to take over the land, however you never know. Are you still on horseback mustering stock? No we stopped that when the kids were young. Now it’s all motorbikes, quads and side by sides. They are great machines, that never tire! Thanks Hugh and Shelley
Elders Insurance welcomes Laurena Vannucci. Elders Insurance welcomes Laurena Vannucci to the team ... What is your role at Elders Insurance New England? I have recently started a traineeship with Elders Insurance New England based in the Armidale office. I am learning new things every day and enjoying all aspects so far. My duties here include helping our clients with their insurance needs and providing assistance to my colleagues with their workloads, in order to provide an excellent customer service experience to our clients. Tell us a little about yourself? I grew up in Armidale and I have recently moved back here after spending some time living in Darwin. Although I do miss the sunsets over the beach, beautiful weather and lifestyle of the Northern Territory, it is good to be back here in Armidale with my family and friends. I am part Italian, so I love good food and wine, and travelling to Italy to see my family. What is it you love about working at Elders Insurance New England? Working at Elders Insurance Armidale, I am passionate about supporting local people with their insurance needs and helping all clients understand how to make their insurance work for them. Having worked in the industry for three years, I am proud to be working for a business that assists clients in every aspect of their insurance needs, from finding the right cover, providing ongoing support and assisting in the event of a claim.
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BACK TO SCHOOL focusinterview.
In 2014 the then new principal at Uralla Central School, Michael Rathborne, introduced the “Academy”. This innovation has led to many changes at the school since then, but we thought we might check back in at Uralla Central School and see how the Academy is progressing with a group of Academy students.
The URALLA CENTRAL SCHOOL o can you explain to us what exactly the Academy is? Monique: Everyone asks that question and despite the fact that my explanation might sound complex, it really is quite simple. At Uralla Central School we now complete our HSC studies in two halves. In the first year, Academy I, we study three courses and do all of the Year 11 and Year 12 course in one year; we then sit the HSC exams for those three courses. We then complete the next three courses when we are in the second year, what we call Academy II, following the same process. So how do you find that approach; it sounds pretty intense? Emily: I think at first we were a little ... I don’t know ... maybe the word is scared, but once you get going, it’s just what you get used to. I really like the intense side of things though, because you really get an opportunity to focus on your learning and develop great relationships with your teachers. We see them twice as much as we would at another school, so they really know where we need help and when we need it. Sophie: It makes you feel like you are making a lot of progress a whole lot sooner as well. Apart from one day in Week 5 of Term 4, we don’t have down time. We aren’t winding down until the end of the year; we are maximising our learning time. Mr Rathborne is always on at all of the students about why we are here - to learn and to learn HARD! Sarah: We talked about the intensity a bit at the beginning, but then we realised that only having three
subjects at a time really reduced winding down to the holidays? THERE’S NO GETTING the number of assessment Monique: That’s pretty funny. USED TO A NEW tasks you could have at any You obviously don’t know our TIMETABLE AND ALL point - can you imagine having principal. He wants us to make THAT. IT TOOK A LITTLE six subjects at once and all of the most of every learning BIT OF GETTING USED those assessment tasks? My moment, so we haven’t been TO, BUT IT’S JUST THE head would explode. winding down - but in fact the WAY WE DO THINGS Obviously, you see the exact opposite. The Academy AROUND HERE NOW. upside in the Academy. starts in Week 6 of Term 4 and Mr What are some other Rathborne promotes every student benefits? in the school to the next academic Jamie: I think there are a year (except for Kindergarten, I couple of big ones. Firstly, the number of subjects that think), and everyone starts their new timetable, with we used to be able to study at our school was quite their new teachers in their new classrooms. This is the limited and was probably only going to get smaller. last week of Term 4, and we have assessment tasks Instead since this model was introduced, the number due this week. By the end of the week we will have of courses has expanded, and I know that this year finished one term of the Year 11 course in our three a course that has never run before did - they built subjects. this table in it. The rest of these guys are in Academy Finished a term of Year 11 already? II, but I’m in Academy I, so for me one of the things Monique: Yes. By the end of Term One 2018 we will I like at the moment is that next year I’ll be able to have finished the Year 11 courses altogether. have another look at the subjects for Academy II Everyone is promoted to the next year; what’s after having some experience in Academy I and make that like? changes if I need to. If I was elsewhere, I’d be locked Sophie: It means that when you start back at school, in to subjects from Year 11 on. you’re straight back into it. There’s no getting used Katelin: I just really loved doing my HSC exams for to a new timetable and all that. It took a little bit of Academy I, and doesn’t that sound really weird? The getting used to, but it’s just the way we do things main reason was that I only had four exams (two for around here now. Mr Rathborne is very passionate English) and one each for the other two subjects, but about the power of learning and education; he I kept thinking how stressed I would have been if I’d reckons that it is the best way for all of us to “Stand had six or seven exams. tall and walk proud!” You all seem pretty calm; is that because you’re Thanks for speaking with us. New England focus. 45
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ALL GLOSS. ALL FREE. EVERY MONTH. Feature Story
new england
December 2017. issue 127
Feature Story Paul Kelly NEW ENGLAND
new england
Slow Fashion
November 2017. issue 126
Feature Story Paula Jenkins
July 2017//Issue 122
Mr & Mrs
Wild. RAPIDCLEAN NEW ENGLAND
Celebrating 20 years
N E W
E N G L A N D
C O N S E R VAT O R I U M
O F
M U S I C
OUR REACH
GREATER PORT MACQUARIE
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Prime My
project THE ROTARY CLUB OF ARMIDALE
The Armidale community is thriving with individuals and groups who are making a major contribution to the betterment of our society through giving of their time. These community projects are volunteer based, and with very little funding most of the time.
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hilst these initiatives 2018. Shortlisting will follow shortly after, and are celebrated successful bids will be invited to speak at our and supported by club’s meetings about their project and explain our region, there how we could help. are many new or Following this, our club will choose three emerging projects finalists to present at a gala fundraising dinner. that aren’t able to achieve their goals, usually due This dinner will be held on 13 April 2018 at the to a lack of financial and practical resources. The Armidale City Bowling Club. At this dinner, the Rotary Club of Armidale AM has been supporting three finalists will speak on their project, why the Armidale and wider community for 26 years. they are passionate about it and what it would This year, we have decided on rolling out a major mean to have our Rotary Club’s involvement and community initiative to a donation. We hope to help our community that see many people of the we are excited to share, Armidale community come called Prime My Project. to celebrate this major Just as a hand pump event. At the end of the Our goal is simple; to find requires priming before it evening, our Rotary club a project that an individual, works efficiently, our new will announce the winner. group, or organisation has initiative aims to help We will then make an started or is in the process of emerging and ongoing on-the-spot donation of getting going, that is in need projects championed by $2,500 to the winning of help, and provide it to them. members of our local project, and a commitment We aim to find a project community get a head of our club’s full support that will prosper from start. Our goal is simple: for 12 months. The financial, mentoring, to find a project that proceeds of the fundraising and financial assistance an individual, group, or dinner will also go towards to help them achieve organisation has started the winning project, and their goals. or is in the process of we will have a charity getting going, that is in auction as part of the need of help, and provide fundraising component for it to them. We aim to find a project that will the evening. prosper from financial and mentoring assistance, We then hope to get involved in this project’s to help them achieve their goals. development and see it achieve its aims with the To do this, we are proud to announce a help of our club. As Rotary is an international competition that we will run next year in organisation, there is the potential of order to find the project that we can provide international grants to take the winning project’s help to. On 28 January 2018 at the Armidale philosophy overseas, where other countries could Markets in the Mall, our club will officially benefit from the work that a volunteer group is launch Prime My Project at a press conference. doing in the community of Armidale. During this time, applicants will fill out a form At the end of the process, all the applicants to explain how their project would benefit from will be listed in the press to showcase to the our Rotary Club’s involvement and a financial region just how much community spirit we have donation. The applications close on 2nd March in Armidale. 50 New England focus.
B U Y I NJane G O R Pfi S E Lster PROPERTY – WITH AMELIA BRAYLEY (SOLICITOR) thinkingconveyancing Thinking Conveyancing with Thinking Electronic Conveyancing WL II NT GH(Solicitor) AMELIA BRAYLEY (SOLICITOR)
What is Pexa? thinking electronic thinking THINKING conveyancing conveyancing. CONVEYANCING
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F I R S T H O M E B U Y E R S A S S I S TA N C E S C H E M E
Conveyancing is the transfer of land in writing from and onewill party to solicitor for the vendor exchange theircontract first home. your original for the originaland contract another for the consideration of a sumpurchase of money. The lodgement Further, the vendor. SchemeYour also applies towill thethen signed by the contract registration of the transfer of land is completed by NSW Land purchase vacant The from scheme “come toof life” and land. be dated theoffers day of Registry Services, formerly known as the Land and Property an exemption from duty on vacant land up exchange. The contract will then complete Information office (LPI). The proprietor of the land then holds theandtitle to thesettlement. purchase price of $350,000.00 a upon for the land which is documented on what is called a Certificate of Title. concession on vacant land priced between Settlement:
Buying: heisrelease of buy the NSW State Once a decision made to a property, Budget on 1 July 2017 it is important to decide whether you arecame with a welcome change purchasing as a company or individual, asto a the existing laws on stamp joint tenant or as a tenant in common with equal or unequalduty. shares. Stamp duty istoone of the It is also extremely important decide additional costs associated with buying a how the purchase is to be funded and to home that is imposed by the State on the EXA, what it? secure adequate funds to is cover the deposit transfer of land from one party to another. acronym PEXA translates (usually 10% of The the purchase price), the pest The payment of duty is an obligatory to stamp Property Exchange Australia. and building reports, and the stamp duty, the cost in all transfer of land transactions. It is the platform in which It is a insurance of the property and the balance of purchaser’s responsibility to pay the cost of a conveyance is conducted funds that will be required on settlement. stamp duty when buying a property. electronically as an e-conveyance. Your solicitor will also ask questions relating So, what areonly thethe Changes Stamp Duty? PEXA is not name oftothe workspace toThe yourState circumstances to establish whether or Government has introduced but also the company itself. Governed by the not First you have eligibility to receive Scheme grants from the Home Buyers Assistance Electronic Conveyancing National Law (ECNL) the Office of State Revenue for the building (“FHBAS”). which is adopted in NSW under the Electronic ofThe a new home or any opportunities applicable duty FHBAS provides for relief Conveyancing (Adoption of Nationalstamp Law) Act exemptions. from the burden of paying stamp duty by 2012 (NSW). Athome this you With should the first buyers. increasing housing PEXA is time revolutionising thealso wayconsider a conveyance advantages of an independent pest and prices, the idea of owning a first home was, is completed. PEXA is designed to streamline building report. for many, a distant dream. with the the settlement procedure of However, a conveyance The Contract: implementation of the FHBAS, this dream to ensure that all documents are lodged may be within reach for more families It payments isnow essential that you have a clear and are disbursed efficiently. It is and individual first home buyers. understanding contract especially in anticipated that of all your conveyance matters will take Previously, the grants schemes offered relation to inclusions, cooling off periods, place digitally on PEXA byand 1 July 2019. to first home buyers were burdened with to inCertificates Title are also transitioning rescission andof penalties, special conditions credibly limiting criteria. This made it difficult the spectrum. It is thecondition intention and, that andelectronic the effects of the special for first home buyers paper Certificates of Title willto bequalify phasedfor outthe the some length of the contract. schemes. Thewith previous schemes applied and replaced what is called an electronic Your Solicitor will look carefully at theonly copy to new homes, being homes that had not Certificate Tile, included or e-CT, by 1 July of the titleofdeed with the2019. contract previously lived in, and offered only a How does been PEXA settlement and check to see improve if there are any caveats, discount on the cost of stamp duty. performance? covenants or other dealings that could impact Now, the incentive behind the FHBAS is to conveyance conducted of by the each party’s onAyour use andisenjoyment property invite a broader range of people to join the representative, being either an Australian Legal before you proceed to sign the contract. residential property owner market. For many, Practitioner or Licenced Conveyancer. Your solicitor will conduct searches and the dream of paying off their ownmanually mortgage, Traditionally, each representative investigate the council file to ensure that the and not someone else’s, is now attainable. completes all required forms and liaises with property you are intending to purchase has The FHBAS abolishesindependently. stamp duty forPEXA proptheir client’s mortgagee no hidden surprises. erties priced up to $650,000.00. The scheme provides an opportunity for each representative Exchange: further a concession stamp duty and theirprovides client’s mortgagees toon collaboratively When all investigations into $650,000.00 the property for properties priced between work together in an online workspace. and contract are enables concluded, your finance is and The$800,000.00. workspace key documents such formally and unconditionally approved and The implementation of the FHBAS could as the Transfer form and Discharge of Mortgage your you, deposit paid orand is ready be paid, save example, almost form to befor prepared signedto$25,000.00 digitally. your solicitor will organise the exchange when buying a residential property Cheques are no longer required as with all a of contracts. Your solicitor will then purchase price of $650,000.00 delivering settlement funds are administered andgive the original contract youwish to the substantial saving forsigned people who to disbursed electronically via theby PEXA workspace.
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46 new england focus.
$350,000.00 to $450,000.00. Your contract front page will specify the AreaYou Eligible? may easily transfer For purchaser, number of daysyou the contract will exist for. The FHBAS may only be applied to Conyour payment into your At the end offor thisstamp time duty period the balance tracts dated from 1 July 2017. This means representative’s trust account for the funds to of funds are to be paid and your matter is that if your Contract was exchanged before 1 be disbursed directly to Revenue NSW, formerly settled. The title to your new property will July 2017, then the previous home buyer Office of State Revenue (OSR), first on settlement. be handed over from the vendor, you will be grants and schemes will be applicable On PEXA, settlement documents, suchtoasyou. in possession of the purchased property and Scheme is only applicable to people theThe Transfer form, are lodged instantly with the title to thenot newpreviously property purchased will transfer to you who have a home. NSW Land Registry Services on settlement. In a following registration. The Scheme now applies onlyare to lodged new manual settlement, Transfernot forms Selling:but to established homes, being older homes manually, usually by post. PEXA eradicates sale of your property homes beenthe previously livedin in. theWhen risk that ofconsidering thehave Transfer form being lost it is important that you have your contract The property you are purchasing must the lodgement process and reduces the time andintended special such a way be to betoyour primaryinplace taken for theconditions Title be drafted transferred intoof the as to ensure a quick and smooth conveyance residence. It is a requirement that you as purchaser’s name. toYou the purchaser, avoiding the purchaser of the property mustworkspace live in may interact with yourunnecessary PEXA the home for a period of 6 months within delays. yourself by creating an account with SettleMe. theYour firstsolicitor 12 theregister property formally can of also a power SettleMe is amonths website which is integrated with becoming yours. of Attorney willand assist to maximise and poweredifbythis PEXA enables you to First Home Owner Grant (New Homes)to receive notifications and checklists your convenience and allow yourregarding solicitor Scheme your settlement. attend to property matters on your behalf Theyour Scheme mayinstruction. also be coupled with Confidentiality with written the First Home Owner Grant Homes) PEXA is bound by the Australian Privacy Whether you are creating a(New new Scheme. Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).a subdivision, buying, selling, transferring This scheme applies strictly to easements new This means only or parties relevant to homes your property orthat adding removing that have not previously been lived in and conveyance are able to view your PEXA or other dealings on your title, a registered new builds. The The other New Homes Scheme proworkspace. parties to your Power of Attorney can allowprivy another vides a $10,000.00 grant to assist with PEXA workspace to view yourthe individual to act are on not yourable behalf for dealings purchase of a brand new home priced up to private information, such as your bank account with the NSW LPI, Crown Lands, the Local $600,000.00. details. Council and your Surveyor. First home buyers that build a new residenProcedural Requirements While attending to the change in your tialToproperty on vacant landworkspace, will be entitled participate in the PEXA your financial circumstances created by the to a $10,000 grant on homes to representative must receive fromworth you a up signed property transactions, your solicitor can $750,000. PEXA Client Authority. This Authority permits assist you with attendingpurchasing to any alterations If you are considering your representative to sign documents,your suchfirst that may beshould required totooryour to the creation home, you talk solicitor as the Transfer form, and distribute fundsto on of testamentary documents such Will, inquire about scheme may be your behalf. It iswhich important that thisas hasaavailable been Enduring of Attorney orprovide an Enduring to you. The newprior schemes signifdisclosed toPower you to thecan PEXA workspace Guardianship. icant benefit to purchasing your first home. being created. be inspired. Talk totous.us.You’ll Talk You’llbe beinspired! inspired! Jane C. Pfi ster Amelia Brayley Amelia Brayley Solicitor Solicitor Solicitor
new Newengland Englandfocus. focus. 55 51
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