WHAT’S ON MARCHWHAT’S ON

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Tooheys Armidale Cup Armidale, it’s time to celebrate the Tooheys Armidale Cup. Fashions on the Field, flower wall, live music, free kids’ entertainment, bar, catering and eight big races When Sunday 1st March - 11am - 6:30pm. Where Barney St, Armidale.

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ADFAS Armidale Catherine Wallace Lecture Who Catherine Wallace (UK Arts Society Lecturer). Under The Open Sky: Newlyn & Lamorna Artists 1880 - 1940. This lecture gives an overview of art in Cornwall from the late 19th Century to the start of the Second World War that was created in and around the remote villages of Newlyn and Lamorna in West Cornwall and the port of Falmouth. When Thursday 5th March at 6pm Where Memorial Hall, The Armidale School, Brown Street, Armidale. Guest tickets only available on Trybooking: https:// www.trybooking.com/BHAOI Lecture and supper $25.

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ADFAS Tamworth Catherine Wallace Lecture Who Catherine Wallace (UK Arts Society Lecturer). A tale of two Barbaras - Barbara Hepworth and Barbara Tribe Famous sculptors, Barbara Hepworth and Barbara Tribe, made Cornwall their home for much of their lives. Barbara Hepworth (1903 - 1975) became a leading light in the modernist movement in British art, representing Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1958. She was made a Dame in 1965. Barbara Tribe (1913 - 2000) came from Australia. She became a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Sculptors in 1953, having made many notable portrait busts of Australian Servicemen in London during the war. The lecture looks at the similarities and differences in the work of these two pioneering 20th Century female artists. When Friday 6th March at 6pm. Where Passchendaele Room, Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall. Guest Tickets: $28.

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The Country Championships Race Day Eight races featuring the $150,000 Hunter & North West Country Championship Qualifier. Open to country registered trainers only. With first and second place qualifying for the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships final to be held at Royal Randwick in Sydney on Day 1 of The Championships, Saturday 4th April 2020. Dining bar and tote facilities, kids’ entertainment. When Sunday 8th March. Gates open at 11am - entry $10 Where Tamworth Jockey Club.

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Armidale Blues Rugby and Netball Club annual Imperial Hotel Knockout Carnival Men’s 15s, Women’s 7s Rugby teams. Entries from the New England, the coast and Sydney. This exciting event brings high altitude rugby action to Moran Oval in a one day carnival to be held on the 14th March. We have over $9,000 in prize money up for grabs. Full bar and canteen facilities When 14th March. Where Moran Oval. Entry $5pp.

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Armidale and New England Show See you ringside at the 145th annual Armidale Show! With stacks of family friendly entertainment, livestock competitions, food stalls, and pavilion displays, the event promises two wonderful days out. When March 6th and 7th. Where Armidale Showground. More info armidale show.org.au

12 New England focus. 7 First Saturday chats Our next First Saturday chats will be hosted by Elizabeth Stahlut (Senior Solicitor) from 10am to 1pm at the Legal Minds offices at 157 Beardy Street, The Mall, Armidale on Saturday 7th March 2020. As this is a popular programme, bookings are essential on (02) 6788 1100 or email at contactus@legalminds.com.au

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Tamworth Rescue Ball Celebrating 20 years of servicing the New England, the Tamworth Rescue Ball is the Service’s premier social event in New England, and will be held at the magnificent Oxley Lookout. When 28th March. Where Oxley Lookout. Tickets www.rescuehelicopter.com.au/events. $220 for individuals or $2,000 for a table of ten. Your ticket price includes bus transfers to and from, a three-course meal, beer, wine, and bubbles, plus all the fantastic entertainment.

Hi Justin. What's your role with the Armidale Show Society?

I’m the ring master and media representative. Show day sees me working very heavily with our equestrian committee, as well as co-announcing the night program with our incredible announcing team. This year's Armidale Show will be held on March 6th and 7th. What time will the show open to the public, and how much will it cost to enter?

Gates open at 7am. Entry Fees: $50 family (two-day), $20 single (two-day), children $6, conc. $8. What are some of the different sections people can enter in the pavilion this year?

There are plenty of sections in the pavilion this year, including some new ones! These include: Men’s Preserves - BBQ Sauce + Men’s Recipe; Feature Preserve 2020 - Teriyaki Sauce, Farm Produce - Schools Scarecrow Competition (Revamped); Men’s Cooking - Chocolate Cake, Six Scones; Photography - Secondary Colours Class, Photographic Alphabet (2020 Word - Japan), Armidale Show 2019; Business House Challenge - creation of an indestructible athlete using recycled/repurposed/upcycled materials in the theme of Tokyo 2020; Business Window Display - looking to see what the Armidale Show means to the community with a twist - the theme of the Olympics; Children’s Work (check out the colouring competition on the Show Website); Spinning & Weaving, Needlework & Handicrafts, Fine Arts, Knitting & Crochet, Farm Produce Section, woodwork, fine arts photography, Scrapbooking, Nursing Home Exhibits, Schools Exhibits, Home Brew.

The Armidale Caged Bird Club will be presenting a series of informative talks and

March 6 and 7 should see you ringside or in the pavilion at the Armidale Showground, for the 145th annual Armidale Show! Justin Matthews explains that the event has new sections in the pavilion this year, and the wide variety of food, livestock, entertainment and sideshow attractions promise two days of fun for all!

demonstrations across Saturday (10, 12, 2pm) with club members and judges - members of the public are encouraged to bring their bird (in a cage) along to find out more about the exciting opportunities of professional showing.

Young Judges Competition - Horses, Stud Cattle, Cookery, Fleece Judging - all on show this year in a great line up of youth focused competition. The show's livestock displays are always a big drawcard, and I believe there's a commercial sheep section this year?

The New England region is famous for its fine wool and Merino sheep breeds, and these will once again be showcased in our fleece and Merino categories.

New this year is the opportunity for producers to exhibit commercial lines of sheep - these sheep can often be utilised for their fleece or meat production traits, or in some cases a dualpurpose type breed. All the details can be found online.

We will also see the return of many show day favourites, including the ever-popular showjumping program (EA Affiliated) with major highlights set to be the Grand Prix and return of the Six-Bar Jumping Competition (Saturday), a new horse program with increased District & Pony Club Program (Friday) and Huge Competition Program (Saturday) and a great Stud Cattle Competition. The pet show sounds like a lot of fun for the kids! What types of pets can children enter? All creatures great and small are welcome to attend (reptiles included - just not the venomous kind!)

Prizes are awarded for Best Dog, Best Puppy, Best Cat, Best Kitten, Best Dressed Pet, Best Chook, Cutest Pet, Fluffiest - Champion and Reserve Champion Pet of Show.

This section is run by our outgoing Showgirl for 2019, Ms Victoria Lee and our cohort of 2020 Showgirl Entrants. And other attractions we can experience?

Sideshow Alley, with all the family classics plus some of the newest and best thrill machines will be back out in force. Show Day Value Coupons are available for pre purchase this year up until the show; $25 per sheet provides $30 of value that can be used on Showmen’s Guild Rides and Concessions Stands. There will be plenty of show day concessions for family favourites such as dagwood dogs, fairy floss and sausage sizzle BBQs presented by a wide array of organisations and service groups, to some of the more delectable gourmet show time treats around the grounds.

For the over 18s the Grandstand Bar will be open both days of the show, ready to quench that hard-earned thirst.

The show is a great place to showcase some of our wonderfully talented local performing groups, and you’ll be able to see that during select times throughout the weekend.

Other activities include the announcement of the 2020 Armidale Showgirl Recipient, Saddle Bronc Showdown and Stallion Shoot Out, Whip Cracking Comp, RSUS Young Farmers Challenge, Dachshund Dash Cup, Fireworks Display Spectacular by Holy Smoke Fireworks, Ute Show Bark Off and Barrell Racing, and Demolition Derby. Now in its 145th year, the Armidale Show's been around for a while! Why do you think it's been so successful?

One hundred and forty five years is a huge milestone for any show, and it’s wonderful to see the show celebrating this achievement in 2020! Shows are a real part of the community, whether it’s celebrating agricultural excellence through friendly competition or providing people with much needed time away from the land in a chance to catch up and socialise. Agricultural shows are a huge part of the fabric of many towns and one that blend a unique sense of tradition, heritage, mateship and showcase into a great event the whole family can enjoy. Why would you encourage everyone to come out and visit this year?

The show is a great opportunity to come and try something new, whether that be the gentleman in the men’s cooking class, or a youngster trying their hand at photography for the first time. It’s a great way to see and support the passion of the producers in our region!

Attending the show is not just supporting the show society; there are a huge array of local businesses, support organisations and stalls you can support just by purchasing items there. In today’s society where the push is to buy local more and more, what better way to start then to head along to your local show! Where can we find out more?

You can find more on our website armidaleshow.org.au/ or Facebook facebook.com/ArmidaleShow/ Online entries for pavilion items are now open: www.armidale.portalspawner.com.au/cgi-bin/ engine.pl?Page=page.html&Rec=6 Thanks Justin. New this year is the opportunity for producers to exhibit commercial lines of sheep - these sheep can often be utilised for their fleece or meat production traits, or in some cases a dualpurpose type breed. All the details can be found online.

NEW ENGLAND Finding by steward boggs

The 2020 calendar for Gallery 126 begins with an exhibition of paintings by well-known local artist Stuart Boggs, titled “Finding New England”, which opens on Friday 6th March, 6pm to 7pm.

During work hours, Stuart, along with his wife Anne, runs the local picture framing, art supplies business and gallery known as Armidale Framing and Art Supplies - Gallery 126. In his spare time, he can be found in his studio painting the large and sometimes smaller, contemporary landscapes for which he has a wellestablished career. He has exhibited widely in the New England region, as well as in Sydney. His works have been hung in many prestigious art prizes, including the Mosman Art Show, The Conrad Jupiters Prize, The Calleen Art Prize, the Norvil Art Prize, the Muswellbrook Art Prize and the Stanthorpe and Warwick Art Prizes.

We chatted with Stuart about the exhibition …

As a trained and once practicing geologist, my interpretation as a contemporary landscape painter usually has an underlying

theme of geological structure, more of a dissection of the landscape. In this series of paintings about the New England, I have explored this theme further.

Looking at the local landscape for inspiration for this exhibition was rather depressing to say the least, during the drought we have been experiencing. It was heartbreaking to see the New England landscape in such a sad state. During a clean-up at home, I rediscovered my old university geology notes of fi eld trips undertaken in the New England area. Re-reading the notes inspired me to look closer at the geological structures, rather than directly at the landscape forms. Following a conversation with a retired geologist living in the area, Richard Bird, who has an invaluable and extensive library of geological maps and books, he lent me a book which traces geological fi eld trips with extensive notes of the New England area. One such fi eld trip included a road trip around the Black Mountain area through to Dumaresq Dam, which was the fi rst of my weekend excursions. Other excursions included the Bundarra area, Hillgrove and of course, the gorge country around Armidale.

For the geologically minded amongst your readers, the New England area is made up of For the geologically minded amongst your readers, the New England area is made up of Sedimentary rocks of the Carboniferous and the Permian Eras, extensively faulted, which were once under sea.

Sedimentary rocks of the Carboniferous and the Permian Eras, extensively faulted, which were once under sea. Granitic intrusions came later in the late Carboniferous Era. This was then overlain with Tertiary Basalts, which give rise to the current landform of capped basalt hills, intruded granite and deep gorges cut into the softest sedimentary strata.

The paintings produced for this exhibition were inspired by these trips, looking at what is under the surface and how this forms and infl uences the current landscape. My paintings are made with an initial drawing of the geological strata in particular areas, which in turn leads to instinctive mark making and painting trying to portray and capture the energy of millions of years of settling and upheaval.

The exhibition includes 10 - 15 works on paper centred around a larger painting on paper, which shows the link between the topography and the geology of the New England area.

- returns in April - Autumn Armidale FESTIVAL

Armidale’s annual Autumn Festival celebration is returning on Saturday 4th April 2020, transforming the city’s centre into a hub of entertainment and tourist attractions.

The long-running event, a favourite on the community events calendar, is returning to its original name following public feedback and is moving from March to April, to further embrace the autumn season.

Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said: “We’ve heard the sentiment of our community, with many people keen to see the name returned to Armidale Autumn Festival.

“Holding the event later in autumn will also help to ensure festivities coincide with the changing colours of the leaves on the many beautiful trees that are a hallmark of the city.

“The festival will continue to have many of its favourite attractions, including the grand parade, twilight markets and amusement rides, arts and culture performances, and the criterium bike race, as well as a live music concert and many other activities.”

This year’s theme for the event is Revelling in the ’20s. “It can be interpreted as an exciting move into a new decade, or looking back a century to the golden years of the 1920s,” Cr Murray said.

“Participants in the much-loved street parade can decorate their fl oats to celebrate moving into the 2020s or step back in time to the wonderful ‘Roaring ’20s’.”

Applications for the grand parade are now open, and forms can be downloaded from Council’s website.

For all the attractions, dates and times, visit Council’s website or the Armidale Autumn Festival Facebook page. Last year’s inaugural Colour New England Street Arts Festival will be held as a biennial event and returns in 2021.

Twilight Food Markets

Last Friday of the month

Beardy Street Mall 5.30pm - 8.30pm Friday 28 February

Food vans Live music by Little Georgia Outdoor bar by Tattersalls Hotel

www.armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au

- of New England Expo -

We’re talking with Tara Toomey, Director of Seasons of New England and organiser of the Seasons Expo & the New Englander Rail Experience.

Tell us a little about the Expo for 2020.

On Saturday 28th March, over 100 New England businesses who make what they sell will gather in the small rural township of Uralla. The Seasons of New England Expo has been running since 2014, and the event has become a key opportunity to discover the makers, creators and producers of the New England - a region that punches well above its weight and is worth exploring. It’s an opportunity to meet the makers, to take some unique products back home and to discover some highly rated businesses, with more than a few medal winners among them. The Expo runs from 9am - 4pm, but people are welcome to arrive early for a sneaky brekky and coffee from 8:30am.

Every year the line up of businesses changes as businesses evolve and grow. 2020 is no different - a very special line up of vibrant entrepreneurs you will want to meet. They defi nitely make me proud to be working with them as part of our New England business community. It really has become a weekend to mark on the calendar; why do you think that is? I believe it’s threefold. As a business we have always worked to support New England artisans and producers; they in turn refl ect the character of our region. Our producers, makers and creators are doing a great job of making the New England a really attractive and inspiring place to visit. They are amazing people to meet, and that is a key part of why people head to the Expo.

Secondly, I think as everyone appreciates more these days, the value of what they purchase and use in their every day lives, we also value the story and the personality behind the products. Whether it’s the nougat, the wine or the pottery, taking time to make a careful purchase, to connect with the maker and see the very real impact your purchase makes, is a treasured experience that people look forward to.

And the fi nal reason is simple - we all need a break sometimes! For the perfect one, two or three day country escape, it really doesn’t get much better. Uralla is a welcoming country town with a beautiful heritage streetscape; Hampden Park, where the Expo is held, is a poplar lined cricket oval just one block from the main street and is happily situated adjacent to the Uralla train station. It’s the perfect location in a great community to showcase such a vast array of New England talent.

I should add a possible fourth reason - our commitment to the environment. We have always declined to sell bottled water, providing free water instead, and this will be our third year with a zero waste policy that all our exhibitors embrace. I think people value the effort that everyone makes in this area at the Expo; it’s an environmentally friendly way to shop too. Tell us about the New Englander Rail Experience?

For 2020 you can even arrive in style on board the New Englander, a heritage rail experience bringing passengers from Newcastle on Friday 27th March, through to Uralla and Armidale. The train will run a shuttle service on Saturday 28th March between Armidale and Uralla, making sure people can get to the Expo and the night time entertainment too. The train then returns to Newcastle on Sunday 29th March. Tickets for the shuttle service will go on sale in early March.

Tickets are $295 return to Uralla and $315 return to Armidale, which includes a New England sourced main meal and glass of our local wine, beer or apple juice on each leg of the journey.

The train is air conditioned, has a full dining car, as well as two bar and food service areas. Designed to put the New England on a train, the experience is all about relaxing, sampling delicious New England food, enjoying some live acoustic music and meeting some New England characters, who will also join us on the journey. We are really pleased that Little Coco’s are working with us to ensure the carefully sourced produce is brought together in some great dishes. Tickets are available at www. thenewenglander.com.au - follow on Facebook or Instagram at @thenewenglandertrain. There’s plenty to do over the weekend. Tell us a little about some of the other things on the agenda.

There sure is. The Uralla Rotary Club Art Show holds their opening night on Friday 27th March from 6:30pm at the Memorial Hall in Salisbury St. (Tickets are $20pp, available at The train will run a shuttle service on Saturday 28th March between Armidale and Uralla, making sure people can get to the Expo and the night time entertainment too. The train then returns to Newcastle on Sunday 29th March.

the door), and the Art Show then runs daily until Sunday 5th April. On Saturday 28th March they are opening for an extra two hours from 4pm - 6pm, to make sure everyone has the option to see the wonderful artworks that come from right across NSW and interstate. Entry is $5pp.

Following the Expo, there are more great meals available at Hampden Park, with the live music and the Seasons Bar continuing until the day closes at 9:30pm.

The Uralla Arts Lantern Parade is a magical evening to be a part of, with lanterns being made for months before the big day. There will even be lantern decorating available at the Expo between 9am and 4pm (unless sold out prior to 4pm) so everyone can really join in. You don’t need a lantern to be involved though, everyone is welcome to just walk along with the parade and enjoy the atmosphere.

The parade gets underway at dusk on Saturday 28th March at the gates of the Uralla Showground and concludes at Hampden Park, where more live music brings the day to a celebratory close.

And to top it all off, the beautiful township of Uralla is ready to welcome you both day and night. It’s a community of great people, wonderful businesses and genuine hospitality. Sunday brunch after the Expo has become a tradition for our visitors too - a great way to fi nish the weekend.

For more information visit www.seasonsofnewengland.com.au - email info@seasonsofnewengland.com.au or follow on Facebook at seasonsofnewengland, Instagram @seasonsne. Tickets for The New Englander Rail Experience can be purchased online at www.thenewenglander.com.au. Thanks Tara.

LITTLE

Hi Chris and Clementine. What prompted you to close your café and concentrate on the catering side of your business? We found the catering side of the business continuously growing and knew that if we wanted to do it well, we would have to make it our main focus. So the cogs were turning and after a lot of research and planning with council, we were able to renovate a space at the back of our home and fi t out a commercial kitchen complete with a grease trap and all the necessary equipment to satisfy food authority requirements. We defi nitely miss the daily interaction with customers and staff, but no looking back; it was the right decision for us. So you do everything from platters to three course dinners. Tell us a little about all the styles of cuisine you cater to.

Our menus really are diverse in terms of fl avour and cuisine. We do on trend food like graze tables, sliders and tacos. The paella and mezze platters are always a hit! While we love incorporating different cuisines, there is defi nitely a sense of traditional, but always with our stamp on it. For instance, recently Chris prepared some of the dishes from our banquet menu for a family event - pistachio and rosemary crusted lamb with minted

Recently Chris prepared some of the dishes from our banquet menu for a family event - pistachio and rosemary crusted lamb with minted tzatziki, Persian caulifl ower salad and honey roasted Dutch carrots. It was delicious! tzatziki, Persian caulifl ower salad and honey roasted Dutch carrots. It was delicious! So yes, we defi nitely enjoy our food and never prepare something we wouldn't devour ourselves! Do you just do weddings? Absolutely not. We have an "Everyday Menu", where you'll fi nd more simple options like sandwiches, wraps, salads etc. which are commonly used for work meetings or workshops, then there's a menu for more function type food, which suits anything from picnics to parties to weddings really. Yes, lots of weddings and we are fi nding that each couple has a different vision for how casual or formal they would like their wedding to be, and we seem to get a really good mix. Tell us about some of your most memorable events.

I think the fi rst one that comes to mind is a garden wedding last year. It was for a couple from Sydney and it was evident from the start that they were big foodies, so the pressure was on but it was also really exciting, because it allowed us to get really creative. The groom was Italian and they both loved seafood, so we had to incorporate that with a country wedding. We were all really happy with the fi nal menu, which included roast lamb, grilled asparagus, citrus fennel salad and the unanimously declared hero dish, beetroot cured salmon. Executing that meal and all the other courses for the day for 120 plus people took a lot of prep and planning, but was so worth it when it was done! What makes Little Cocos stand out from the pack? We are both perfectionists to the core and love to make food that not only tastes great, but looks beautiful. We both bring different aspects to the business. Chris is a very talented chef and he tends to focus on the "savoury" side of meals, while I (Clementine) is the one who takes care of all the sweets, baking and graze tables. We also believe in the personal touch. We won't ever expand to a point of hiring a team of chefs, as experience has taught us that if you pass a job on to someone else, it just won't come out to the standard that your clients have come to expect. Thanks Chris and Clementine.

Imperial Hotel ARMIDALE BLUES

CARNIVAL KNOCK OUT

JOIN THE ARMIDALE BLUES RUGBY AND NETBALL CLUB FOR THEIR ANNUAL RUGBY KNOCKOUT CARNIVAL!

This exciting event brings high altitude rugby action to Moran Oval in a one day carnival to be held on the 14th March. See teams from New England, Central North, Mid North Coast and Sydney fi ght it out for their share of the $9,000 prize pool. The day will include Women’s 7s and Men’s 15s divisions. Entry is $5 per person, and there are full bar and canteen facilities available on the day. When: Saturday 14th March. Where: Moran Oval, Armidale.

Art Exhibition

The opening of the 43rd Annual Rotary Club of Uralla Art Exhibition will be held at the RSL Memorial Hall, Salisbury Street, Uralla.

The club expects to display around 500 art works from artists across NSW and Queensland, with all art works for sale. The very popular Schools Section, with entries from pre, primary and high schools in the Uralla Shire area, has become a feature of the art show. Opening night is Friday 27th March 2020, at 6:30pm.

We welcome local guest artist Katherine Miles: Katherine loves colours, especially the purity of nature and the amazing effects of light and shade on subjects. Acrylics are her choice of medium, on canvas and board. Subjects vary from fl ora, fauna, landscapes and some portraits.

Finger food will be provided by the Uralla Central School hospitality students; Merilba and Whyworry Wines will provide wines for the evening’s offi cial function and a raffl e. Music will be by the ever popular Peter Stanley.

Cost is $20 pp; tickets available at the door. Please RSVP for catering purposes for the opening night to Rae (02) 6778 3751, Bev 0419 607 251 or leannedoran28@gmail.com Art Chairman Graham Carlon said the whole town is behind the annual exhibition with overwhelming sponsorship and fi nancial support.

Money raised goes towards Uralla community groups and supporting the youth of Uralla.

Uralla Art Exhibition is open daily: 10am to 4pm Saturday 28th March, to Sunday 5th April 2020, 10am to 2pm. Entry fees: $5 adult, $4 seniors, children under 12 years free. We welcome local guest artist Katherine Miles: Katherine loves colours, especially the purity of nature and the amazing eff ects of light and shade on subjects.

Fiori Musicali

Fiori

As a chamber choir of Armidale locals, Fiori Musicali is a musical treasure in our region. Currently, the choir is rehearsing one of the pinnacles of Western musical culture, J. S. Bach’s "St John Passion".

Their concerts in Coffs Harbour and Armidale in early April will offer a rare chance to attend a live performance of this masterpiece. Bach’s St John Passion presents the Biblical story of the judgment, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. While it has a religious theme, the music is operatic in its emotional depth and complexity. As conductor Bruce Menzies comments, “You can enjoy this music on so many levels: firstly, purely for its sublimely beautiful music; but it is also spiritually insightful and richly human, as well as engaging and inspiring.” Fiori Musicali was founded in 1993 by its first director, Dr Terry Norman.

Originally, the group specialised in a capella sacred music of the Renaissance. Now, the choir’s repertoire ranges across every period. Membership has always been by invitation, with many of the singers being professional musicians and music teachers. This high level of training enables the choir to perform repertoire often beyond the reach of community choirs.

As Stuart Pavel, one of the ensemble’s basses and regular conductors, explains, “As a member of Fiori, I get to perform some wonderful music, especially pieces that other, larger choirs might not attempt.” Stuart adds, “Performing in a small group is great for my own musicianship, and it’s a joy to share this repertoire with local audiences.”

Fiori Musicali has a policy of fostering young musicians from the New England region. In April, they will welcome home cellist Camilla Tafra and tenor Elias Wilson, and have invited both to perform significant parts. Elias is currently studying a Masters at Sydney Conservatorium, while Camilla has completed her studies at Queensland Conservatorium and now teaches in Brisbane.

Armidale audiences may remember Elias’s performances in Opera New England, and as Jesus in the Armidale Musical Society’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The choir functions as a musical collective, with members welcome to suggest and conduct programs. Fiori’s current conductor, Bruce Menzies, first joined in 1996. Recently, Bruce has conducted the choir in performances of Handel’s Messiah and Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, and Armidale. Their tours to the coast have become annual events, and the choir enjoys keeping to its original aim of being a small, friendly choir with high musical standards. As tenor and local piano tuner John Hadfield mentions, “The choir combines fine musicality with good company - what could be better?” On their tours, the seafood paella for 30, prepared by Fiori tenor and Goldfish Bowl chef Phil Oxley, is always a highlight.

Fiori Musicali values the support of several Armidale organisations, especially the New England Conservatorium that provides the choir’s regular rehearsal space; and The Armidale School. TAS’s Hoskins Centre is a favourite venue for performances. PERFORMING IN A SMALL GROUP IS GREAT FOR MY OWN MUSICIANSHIP, AND IT’S A JOY TO SHARE THIS REPERTOIRE WITH LOCAL AUDIENCES. In early April, local audiences will have a rare opportunity to attend a live performance of J. S. Bach’s St John Passion, one of the pinnacles of Western musical culture. The chamber choir Fiori Musicali will be performing Bach’s masterpiece at Coffs Harbour Conservatorium and the Hoskins Centre (The Armidale School). It is the third time the Armidale choir has toured to the coast in recent years. Conductor Bruce Menzies comments, “While performing for our home community is always a thrill, we love the warm and responsive audiences we meet in Coffs Harbour too.” Bach’s St John Passion presents the Biblical story of the judgment, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. While it has a religious theme, the music is operatic in its emotional depth and complexity. As Fiori Musicali chorister and local pianist Sheila Guymer comments, “This is an extraordinary work to perform. It’s musically challenging, but also richly rewarding.” As a Lutheran, it was important to Bach that his listeners understand the text. For Bach, that meant singing in German (rather than traditional church Latin), but Fiori Musicali will be singing the St John Passion in English. Singing in English enables listeners to appreciate how Bach brings out the meaning of the words through music, and helps performances to be the compelling experience that Bach intended. The St John Passion by J. S. Bach Fiori Musicali with conductor Bruce Menzies | 3pm, Saturday, 4th April: Coffs Harbour Conservatorium | 7pm, Sunday, 5th April: Hoskins Centre, The Armidale School | Tickets: $35 / $30.

ELIAS WILSON EVANGELIST JEREMY BOULTON CHRIST AIDAN O'DONNELL PILATE LEANNE ROOBOL SOPRANO ROBERT ADAM COUNTERTENOR BRUCE MENZIES CONDUCTOR FIORI MUSICALI CHAMBER CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

$35 ADULTS $30 CONCESSION TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR www.trybooking.com/BIAMP

f ioriM usicali C HA MB ER C HO IR AND ORC HE S T R A

C H R I S DAV I S

I’m Chris Davis (formerly Monk) ... Seventeen and a half years ago I purchased Monk’s Health Foods from a family who had owned it for 13 years previously. Over the years the business has just become Monk’s. I have always had an interest in our products and I love what I do. Prior to Monk’s I worked for a child care centre in Armidale as an administrative assistant and prior to that moved from Uralla to Armidale when the family purchased a corner store in town. I really have to thank my customers for the longevity of this business. I have learnt so

much from them over the years. I have retained the bulk food side of the business and am encouraging customers to bring their own containers for fi lling. Our large range includes dried fruits, nuts, fl our, local honey, fresh peanut butter, tahini, seeds, beans and much more. Our spices provide a vast array, and I would ask people to pop in and check out these. Hopefully by the year’s end we will be plastic bag free by offering this opportunity to refi ll by using the customer’s own containers. My staff are the face of Monk’s, and I can say that the past and present staff have enabled me to continue doing what I love.

AMIE CAMPBELL

Being a successful woman in business means different things to different people at different times in their lives. When I was younger, I evaluated this solely on my title and my income. I was in a race to get the CEO title and fi nd as much money as possible; hence, in 2012 I became a business partner with my husband and purchased Bakers Delight Armidale. Things changed immensely when I had my two sons. Then, being successful in business meant providing stability for my children, while providing for us fi nancially. If you plan your goals the right way, it will help you measure your company’s success in ways that you never could if you had not set any goals. The SMART way to setting goals is a proven method that helps ensure your success. The SMART method is as follows: specifi c, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. For your goals to be successful, you have to be able to measure progress, and your employees have to be able to feel that they have a chance at attaining the goal. You can then judge progress and adjust goals as necessary. The importance of goal setting in an organisation is something that we cannot stress enough. Goals are what keep your employees motivated, happy, and ready to come into work each day. If you set goals in the right way, there is no question that it will help increase the productivity and success of your company. Keep the SMART principles in mind, and always be open to feedback from your employees and managers. Today being a successful woman in business means making time for my family, friends and myself, while creating value at work. By fi nally incorporating my passion into my day to day, I am beginning to be truly successful in business and life.

It’s not just a tiny hole in the wall café … don’t walk past! Located in Dowe Street, Tamworth, CAMP GROUNDS IS THE RESULT OF THE COMBINED HARD WORK AND PASSION from Monique Hope and Matthew Bettesworth. g r o u n d s Camp

With a refi ned palate for all things coffee and tea and a social conscience too, Mon and Matt have partnered with coffee company Floozy - who not only promote a sustainable industry, but advance the roles of women within the competitive fi eld of coffee as well. How did you and your team come up with the concept behind CAMP Grounds?

From a humble hope to create a space for the community to come for special coffee and tea experience, Camp Grounds was born. We really wanted Tamworthians to have a coffee shop where they could come and learn about and try different brewing techniques, as well as taste a wide variety of specialty coffee from Aussie independent roasters.

At the core of the Camp Grounds concept is simplicity - really bloody good coffee, really fast, top notch service - open early, every day. Who are all the team members at your business, and what are their roles?

Matt and I (Monique) are the owners, and in addition to us we are super lucky to have Maddie and Alison, who are both talented baristas in our team of happy campers - Alison and Maddie make up the Camp Grounds family. We also have a new addition; Ella is training, and we are looking to expand the team to include another barista soon.

Why did you decide to focus on great coffee and tea, and not food, and how has this been working out for you? The decision to focus on specialty coffee and tea and not food was an easy one. We are not chefs, or even cooks for that matter, and wanted to do one thing really well.

Our business model is strategically lean - keeping overheads at a minimum with a small fl oor space (about 20 m square), no kitchen, serving majority take away. We are small but mighty and do not plan to expand our fl oor space or into food. Although, we do have a resident baker - Alison Spires - who makes our vegan treats under her business, Wake and Cake Catering.

We plan to grow in our depth of offerings within specialty coffee and tea - including an increasing focus on classes, retail offerings and a subscription service, just to name a few. We are open to shaping our business to follow Tamworthians’ interest, and so far they are picking up what we are putting down.

Our fi rst “Camp Coffee Class” sold out within an hour of being advertised on Instagram, and we cannot wait to offer more of these and other cool experiences. Tell us a little about "Floozy", the main We choose our suppliers very mindfully and to us, Floozy was a dream fi nd. The Floozy gang are not only roasting really tasty coff ee that is sourced with a focus on sustainability and traceability; they are also on a mission to promote and advance women in coff ee. espresso brand you work with. Why did you choose this particular brand?

We choose our suppliers very mindfully and to us, Floozy was a dream fi nd. The Floozy gang are not only roasting really tasty coffee that is sourced with a focus on sustainability and traceability; they are also on a mission to promote and advance women in coffee. We have become besties with these beaut people, because they share our passion for specialty coffee, as well as community, sustainability and quality.

We are stoked to be supporting an epic IWD campaign through Floozy, which celebrates women in coffee, as well as directly supports them fi nancially. The more coffee we buy through Floozy, the more women we can raise up, so for March we are showcasing six delicious Floozy coffees produced by six different women (from Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia). This includes our main espresso, as well as our guest fi lter coffee and retail bags too!

Floozy love Tamworth (nearly as much as we do) - they came from Newcastle to host our fi rst “Camp Class” with us and 10 lucky customers. Don’t worry, folks; they plan on coming back soon for another class, so stay tuned. Apart from espresso, what types of coffee and tea do you offer?

In addition to your espresso based coffee (that’s your fl at whites, long blacks etc.) we offer a wide range of brewing techniques, including fi lter batch brew, V60 pour overs, cold brew, nitro cold brew, house made ice tea and seasonal varieties within these methods, like Japanese iced pour-overs and batch brews over ice. You offer special monthly "campfi re chats" too. What's the aim of these ... and how can we fi nd out more about them?

Our monthly “Campfi re Chats” are focused on mental health education for the local hospitality industry. We provide the space, cuppas and platform for the experts at headspace Tamworth to chat with people from our local hospitality industry. Once per month we open the doors to chat about this important subject with our peers in the industry. Each month has a different focus; for example, we have done one on festival burnout ahead of TCMF and another for Managers/Supervisors to help their team.

Our industry employs a lot of young people and is unique in its challenges, including anti-social hours and always having to put on a smile. Our local headspace has the strategies and resources to assist us and our local community when it comes with mental health, particularly for young people. What plans do you have on the agenda for the rest of 2020 and beyond?

2020 and beyond plans: more events, subscription home brewing service, more coffee and good times. Final say …

Thank you for kindly offering to feature us! We are so grateful to be in your fab mag. Visit us at: campgroundstamworth.com You’re welcome! Thanks Mon.