FOUND Regional Issue 6 • Summer 2023-24

WHY WE LOVE FANNY

SHE DEBUTED AT THE ARMIDALE CLUB, PLAYED GLASTONBURY AND IS A FIXTURE AT THE TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL... BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

TAMWORTH JYE SEGBOER

COFFS HARBOUR YARRILA ARTS AND MUSEUM

GLENCOE THE RED LION TAVERN

GUYRA BRISK TRADING

DESPAIR I AND DESPAIR II

By Gareth Budge Coffs Harbour, NSW

Australian-based artist Gareth Budge is interested in how patterns and layers begin to emerge from the practice of wildposting, which sees the mass installation of posters to draw people’s attention. Both natural and social forces influence the layering and decay of old posters, which results in new forms. The artist’s work tells us that when understanding is abstracted, it doesn’t become misunderstanding – but rather, a tangle of stories about time and space.

garethbudge.com @garethbudge

FOUND Regional is published by The Found Media Group PTY LTD

CONTACT US

FOUND Regional

PO Box 2016 Armidale NSW 2350 hello@foundregional.com.au foundregional.com.au

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Steph Wanless steph@foundregional.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

Krysten Rhoades-Brown artwork@foundregional.com.au

PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Claudia Monique claudia@foundregional.com.au

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Meg Miller meg@foundregional.com.au

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Jeremy Banks jeremy@foundregional.com.au

COLUMNIST

Jen Drew hello@jenniferdrew.com.au

PROOFREADERS

Carole Hollebrandse and Elora Wilson

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Martin Wanless martin@foundregional.com.au

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES

Claudia Monique claudia@foundregional.com.au 0439 700 280

PRINTING Yes Press

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Dan Stanley Freeman

© Copyright The Found Media Group PTY LTD 2023 All rights reserved. All material published in FOUND Regional is copyright. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this magazine is correct. The Found Media Group makes no representations regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of any product or service advertised in this magazine, or any editorial material published in this magazine, and takes no responsibility for any errors or omissions herein.

COVER STORY

28 A NEW KIND OF DAWN

She’s won ARIAs and Golden Guitars, played Glastonbury, appeared on Rockwiz, Play School and runs her own record label – but at the heart of it all, Fanny Lumsden is a girl from the bush with a degree in Rural Science, an achingly beautiful voice, a drive to support the land she came from and a nickname that won’t quit.

FEATURES

40 IN CONVERSATION WITH Ali Flynn

48 TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Jye Segboer

54 Dreamy days (and nights) at Dungowan

80 Making it to Madison

Give the gift of luxury this Christmas

WITH A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES

I’m fairly certain I just blinked, downed several long blacks, wrote thousands of words, hit print a few times, and then BAM, Christmas arrived. It’s truly mindblowing how it rocks up faster every year. Don’t get me wrong – I’m here for it, except I’m not technically ‘here’ for it because I’ll be celebrating this festive season from the UK. This means many good things, including increased opportunities to eat pastry and scotch eggs… if I can just get over the sheer horror of being belted into a flying tuna can for 24 hours.

But before I get completely distracted by British baked goods and my long-held anxieties, let’s talk about this fun-filled summer issue. We’re talking all things music, dance, art and food. We've got stunning places to stay and shop, photography to inspire and hot chips to devour. Then there’s Fanny Lumsden… our cover gal with a degree in rural science, an achingly beautiful voice and a penchant for retro-inspired merch.

Things I learnt about Fanny include:

1. ‘Fanny’ is not her real name.

2. She’s an accidental (albeit passionate) country music artist.

3. One of her first gigs was at The Armidale Club.

4. She juggles motherhood with touring and owning a record label and winning Golden Guitars and ARIAs and playing Glastonbury.

5. Wow.

Read the story, head on down to the Tamworth Country Music Festival to hear her (and many more incredible artists) sing live… because there’s nothing better than live music. And sunshine. And pastry. And being with your favourite humans at Christmas. And not getting caught up in New Year’s resolutions because it’s just another day and you’re already awesome so keep doing what you do.

So here’s a big festive cheers to you for reading and sharing and celebrating alongside team FOUND Regional this year – you truly rock. Bring on 2024. We hope it’s filled with calm days and sparkly nights, deep breaths, long hugs and smiles that linger, curious conversations, creative connections and really great baked goods.

STEPH WANLESS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jim A. Barker

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, learn and work, the Anaiwan people, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend our respect to the Yaegl people to the north and the Gumbaynggirr people to the south, and all the Aboriginal people of this beautiful land we’re lucky enough to call home.

TULLI STEVENS

@tullistevensart

With thanks to Tulli Stevens for sharing this breathtaking artwork, Journey of Growth . Tulli is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman from Mullaway on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Tulli's paintings tell her story, reflecting family, community and the complex, elemental beauty of patterns in nature.

“This is one of my newest artworks after returning from a fivemonth trip through Mexico and Central America. It represents a journey, a symbol of growth, evolving and expanding our knowledge. I have always found knowledge to be something so important, that should always be shared and passed on, the most interesting and valuable messages, stories and teachings come from having conversations. The piece consists of one continuous line inside of another, starting in the centre and spiralling out, representing the journey of growth.”

Look for the good, the helpers, the folks who are here to make the world that little bit better.

Like the Indigenous students from Wauchope High School who have formed the Birpai Buddies – a program that passes traditional culture, including learning language and spear throwing, from one generation to the next at local primary schools.

Look to 83-year-old Kenichi Horie who has become the oldest person to finish a solo, non-stop sail across the Pacific Ocean, and to the adopted greyhound who visits Invermay Primary School in Tasmania every Friday to listen to children read. He goes by the name of Jake, he doesn’t comment, he’s non-judgemental and he loves a pat.

Look to Tami from Tennessee, who recently broke the world record for the world’s longest female mullet. She hasn’t cut her hair since 1990 and now has the certificate to prove it – way to go Tami.

Look to farmer Paul Diamond who had a custom-fitted wheelchair made for his beloved Kelpie, Ali, who lost the use of her hind legs in a farming accident. Thanks to her mad set of wheels, Ali has gone from spinal injury and paralysis to once again mustering sheep and becoming an international sensation on TikTok.

Look to the folks from the Department of Planning and Environment for using the drone that accidentally discovered 42 koalas living in a secret colony in a NSW National Park. Previously, just five koala sightings have been made in the region over the past 70 years –wowser, that’s a pretty big jump.

And finally, look to the owner of Coffs Harbour’s beloved Clog Barn, Thomas Hartsuyker. At 91 years young, Thomas has personally made all of the models featured at the iconic tourist destination by hand, and still comes in seven days a week to keep them up to scratch. Thomas, you’re a legend.

That’s a whole lot of good. Cheers to that.

LUXURIOUS BEACHSIDE RESORT IN COFFS HARBOUR

SPACIOUS ONE AND TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS

THREE

RESORT POOLS AND A NINE HOLE GOLF COURSE

BEHIND THE LENS

Guyra, NSW

RICKY WIRIANTO

I bought a one-way ticket from Indonesia to Armidale and started life in Guyra as a Working Holiday Maker. Since I’ve arrived, I’ve been so impressed with the beauty of regional Australia. Telling stories from each town with my camera is a way to share how exciting and fun this country is – I also hope I can encourage my fellow Working Holiday Makers to explore and enjoy each hidden gem around country NSW.

@rickywirianto

5.

8.

1. TITTLE TATS, MOREE

Located on Balo Street, Tittle Tats Moree has been curating timeless quality babies and kids’ clothing for the past 27 years. Drop into the store and say hi to Wendy and Allison – they will have your little ones shining brighter than ever with the perfect blend of comfort and fashion from top brands.

tittletats.com.au @tittletatsofmoree

2.

MAE & JEUNE, TAMWORTH

Your go-to gift store for all things bright and eclectic in Tamworth, NSW, Mae & Jeune is packed to the rafters with beautifully designed clothing, jewellery, bedding, and baby and kids clothes, as well as lifestyle, home, and giftwares.

maeandjeune.com

@maeandjeune

3.

VIVIER BOUTIQUE, INVERELL

Searching for the perfect outfit for your special occasion? Find the latest ladies' fashion, shoes, handbags, jewellery, accessories, and more at Vivier Boutique in Inverell, NSW.

@vivierboutique

4.

BLISS NUNDLE, NUNDLE

Bliss Nundle is a rustic-themed gift store focusing on handmade items. Driven by a desire to support other small businesses, Bliss Nundle continually sources new products to add to their collection. From tiny garden gnomes, candles, soaps, body lotions, and recycled glass earrings to mustards, meat rubs, handmade chocolate, and hardboiled lollies, Bliss Nundle has something for everyone.

blissnundle.com @blissnundle

5.

SQUEAKY GATE FARM SHOP, KEW

Based on the ‘Farm Shop’ concept common in the UK, the Squeaky Gate Farm Shop in Kew sells quality locally made and regional produce, giftware, and homewares. Stock up on baked goods, artisan food items, condiments and sauces, wood products, and more at the Squeaky Gate Farm Shop.

squeakygatefarmshop.com.au @squeakygatefarmshop

6.

BLING N THINGS, URALLA

Bling N Things adds a touch of glam to the timeless charm of Uralla, NSW – stocking ladies' fashion and accessories, you can find handpicked fashion pieces, unique jewellery, sparkly shoes, and a beautiful collection of giftware. Searching for the perfect Christmas gift? Look no further than Bling N Things.

@bling_n_thingsuralla_

7.

THISTLE FLOWERS, PORT MACQUARIE

Matt and Chris from Thistle Flowers in Port Macquarie sure know how to throw a bouquet together, and if these larger-than-life bunches aren’t impressive enough, they also provide styling for weddings and events. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, make sure you check out Thistle Flowers next time you’re in town.

thistleflowers.com.au @thistle_flowers

8.

TALLOW & TIDE CONSCIOUS COLLECTIVE, COFFS HARBOUR

More than a retail store, Tallow & Tide in Coffs Harbour is a place where mindfulness is celebrated. Born from a dream of conscious living that is both accessible and stylish, Tallow & Tide allows you to shop within your values, giving you full assurance that every product is ethically and sustainably sourced.

tallowandtide.com @tallowandtide

Gigs, plays and events

1. TOM CURTAIN'S KATHERINE OUTBACK EXPERIENCE SHOW, URALLA

20 January 2024

Multiple Golden Guitar winner and horseman extraordinaire Tom Curtain celebrates the release of his fifth album with his awardwinning show, Katherine Outback Experience. Featuring a one-hour live horse training and working dog demonstration, followed by one and a half hours of live music, the Katherine Outback Experience is a familyfriendly event – it’s entertaining, it’s engaging, and it’s a whole lot of fun!

katherineoutbackexperience.com.au @katherineoutbackexperience

2. SUBSONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL, RIVERWOOD DOWNS

8 – 10 December 2023

Find your sparkliest outfit and strap yourself in for the time of your life at the Subsonic Music Festival. A three-day event held at Riverwood Downs sees a massive line-up of artists including Crooked Colours, Barkaa, and Youngr, workshops, market stalls, art installations, and performance artists wandering the festival. Count us in!

subsonicmusic.com.au @subsonicmusic

3. THE GUYRA LAMB AND POTATO FESTIVAL, GUYRA

17 – 28 January 2024

Celebrating local produce, boutique stalls, and delicious lamb and potato treats, the Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival is set to be a great week. Held every year, the festival brings together travellers from all over Australia as they celebrate life in the highlands. guyralambpotatofestival.com

4. NEW YEAR'S EVE MASQUERADE BALL, TAMWORTH

31 December 2023

Okay, fairytale fans – this is your chance to live out your Cinderella dreams, except instead of a ballroom, you’ll be sipping delicious vino at the Tangaratta Vineyards, and instead of fleeing in a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight (hopefully), you’ll be celebrating NYE in style! Dance your way into 2024 with the Glitz & Glamour New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball. Tickets are limited. tangarattavineyards.com.au

5. CAMP CREATIVE, BELLINGEN

8 – 12 January 2024

A lively summer school and creative community in Bellingen, NSW, Camp Creative offers courses in art, music, dance, crafts, singing, photography, writing, drama, lifestyle, and wellness. Aiming to help you explore your artistic side, Camp Creative offers courses for both children and adults.

campcreative.com.au @campcreativebello

6. NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH WITH DUNE RATS, CHEAPSKATE AND BRIXTON ALLEY, THE HOEY MOEY

31 December 2023

Join Dune Rats, Cheap-Skate, and Brixton Alley at the Hoey Moey this NYE for one beer-fuelled heck of a good time! Having recently toured the USA, Canada, Europe, the UK, South Africa, and Australia, Dune Rats are hotter than ever – returning back to his hometown of Coffs Harbour, lead singer Danny is stoked to be bringing in the New Year with you, alongside a host of incredible artists.

hoeymoey.com.au @hoeymoey

7. DASHVILLE CHRISTMAS WEEKENDER, HUNTER VALLEY

8 – 10 December 2023

Camping, live music, picnics, community markets, kids’ activities, and a visit from Santa with opportunities for family portraits, the Dashville Christmas Weekender is a mighty fine way to spend your pre-Christmas weekend! This event is even pet friendly so cancel your pet sitter and pack the car!

dashville.com.au @dashville101

8. TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, TAMWORTH

19 – 28 January 2024

Held in the Country Music Capital of Australia, the Tamworth Country Music Festival spans across 10 days every January and has been running for a whopping 50 years and counting. No doubt one of this rockin' region's most esteemed events. Not just for country music fans, the TCMF has something for everybody and in our opinion, is NOT to be missed.

tcmf.com.au @tcmf_official

1. STEAM & CEDAR, GLADSTONE

If you’ve been searching for the best toastie on the Mid North Coast, look no further than Steam & Cedar in the beautiful riverside town of Gladstone. Boasting beautiful grounds for your little ones to run around in and a whole host of delicious treats, Steam & Cedar is the perfect place to spend a sunny Saturday morning.

steamandcedar.com @steamandcedar

2. THE HILLTOP STORE, SAWTELL

The Hilltop Store is a must while visiting Sawtell, NSW – perched on the top of the hill a short stroll from the beach, this beautiful cafe serves up great coffee, great food, and great vibes seven days a week.

thehilltopstore.com.au @thehilltopstore

3. THE GARDEN SHED CAFE, TAMWORTH

Hidden within the grounds of The Garden Shed in Tamworth, NSW is the Garden Shed Cafe – enjoy a relaxed meal from their delicious menu while browsing a beautiful range of products, including furniture, pots, fountains, wall art, and jewellery.

thegardenshedtamworth.com @tgs_tamworth

4. FRECKLES CAFE, INVERELL

Whether celebrating a special occasion, treating yourself to a casual brunch, or looking for the ideal place to stop while travelling, Freckles Cafe has you covered. With plenty of parking available (caravans and trailers included), a delicious menu, and pet-friendly dining, Freckles Cafe keeps you satisfied with breakfast, lunch, and fresh juices made with the best seasonal fruit and veg.

frecklescafeinverell.com.au @frecklescafe

5. PICCADILLY COFFEE, URALLA

A stone’s throw from the family favourite Alma Park in Uralla, NSW, Piccadilly Coffee is the boutique plant-filled cafe you never knew you needed – until now. Serving delicious Artisti Coffee Roasters coffee and boasting some of the finest treats to boot, Piccadilly Coffee might just well be your new favourite local haunt.

piccadilly-coffee.square.site @piccadilly__coffee

6. LUSCIOUS PICNICS, ARMIDALE

Based in Armidale, NSW, Luscious Picnics offers the experience of a lifetime: pop-up picnics donned with grazing boxes, cob loaves, and stunning aesthetics to boot. The best part? All you have to do is turn up. Yep – it’s that simple. Celebrate your next special event with Lucille at Luscious Picnics.

@luscious_picnics

7.

THE COFFEE INCIDENT, GLEN INNES

Serving up really awesome coffee and the tastiest muffins, slices, wraps, toasties, and croissants, The Coffee Incident in Glen Innes is a surefire way to start your morning off right. Drop in and say hi to the girls behind the counter – they pride themselves on creating a fun and special atmosphere for locals and travellers alike.

@thecoffeeincident

8. BERNIE’S DELI, COFFS HARBOUR

Bringing you specialty coffee and delicious sandwiches Monday to Friday, Bernie’s Deli in Coffs Harbour uses the highest quality ingredients and the most thoughtful approach to the art of sandwich making. If you want to experience the gourmet sandwich movement for yourself, Bernie’s Deli is THE place to try it –make sure you check them out on your next stroll through Coffs Harbour.

berniesdeli.com.au

@bernies_deli_coffs_harbour

IN PICTURES ONE IMAGE = ONE STORY

PHOTOGRAPHER Matt Gilligan mattgilliganphotography.com.au @mattgilliganphoto

“It almost feels like a bit of a cliché saying it, but photography gives me the ability to be present in my surroundings. When the camera’s in my hand, I get this burst of energy and I can really focus on what’s in front of me, without distractions.

“I love the way you can use the environment to frame and compose images. I love how you can create a whole story in one image – and when people look at my work, I want them to get a sense of what I was feeling when I was taking the photograph.

“Mountains and isolated landscapes draw me in every time, but I equally love photographing my home region of the Mid North Coast. I’ve been lucky enough to call photography a big part of my career for the past five years and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.”

IT’S SHOWTIME!

Originally designed to encourage farming in regional communities, the country show is an ingrained part of Australian culture. Today we celebrate the good humans keeping the tradition alive in Armidale, Tenterfield, Guyra and Glen Innes.

KYLIE – TENTERFIELD ART AND CERAMICS

We moved to Tenterfield from Brisbane six years ago. It was such a great decision for our family. It also gave me the opportunity and space to set up an art studio and gallery on our farm, where I make my ceramics, paint and host workshops too. We visited the show in that first year and fell in love immediately – it was fun, inviting and felt like a great big hug. It also has a blooming art and craft community that I’m so thrilled to be a part of. I couldn’t be as involved with that creative space in the city as I am here. It was hard for me to put myself out there, but moving here, assisting the show’s art stewards and joining Make it Tenterfield – a not-for-profit group with a shop in town – has given me the avenue to really pursue my ceramics in a supportive, encouraging community. There’s such a strong sense of belonging at the Tenterfield Show and I’m so proud to say my pieces have won in the ceramics section every year since I arrived. My work is now being recognised too, which is such an amazing feeling and I’m so grateful to not only Tenterfield, but the people who call the town home.

PHOTOGRAPHY Lara Flanagan

FELICITY – ARMIDALE CROCHET, ART, LEGO, DEMOLITION DERBY

The show is a real family affair for us – it’s something we’ve always done together and we have a great time at different shows across the region. I usually enter the knitting and crochet, needlework and flowers sections. In the 2023 Armidale Show, I was awarded Grand Champion for my crochet work, as well as some firsts and seconds. My children also scored some great results in their chosen areas – Thomas with his lego and woodwork and Klaudia with her scrapbook pages and art. My husband Nathan plays a big role in organising the demolition derby competition and has scored numerous wins over the years there too. We also work together to decorate the vehicles and have created some great works of art on the bonnet of a car. We always laugh because it takes us 12 hours to paint them and Nathan 10 minutes to wreck them. But being creative together is time well spent for us and we love every minute of it. Being part of the show is so important to us – it’s hugely satisfying and showcases the talents of the community we’re proud to call home.

KATE – ARMIDALE JAMS AND PRESERVES

I moved to Armidale in 2015 and joined the Show Society right away. Since then I’ve entered all sorts of categories, but the cooking section is where I’ve won champion ribbons – in the jams and preserves. This year I won with my lemon butter and a corn relish. More than anything, I want to support the section and keep old traditions alive. People don’t often see the hard work that goes on behind closed doors to keep these shows alive. It’s a 12-month preparation every year, the Society has monthly meetings and someone’s responsible for each and every section –it doesn’t just happen. We also work hard to come up with new ideas to ensure the local show remains a must-visit on everyone’s calendar. It’s great to see new people giving it a go and helping to keep the regional show nostalgia going.

RICHARD – GUYRA MEN’S CAKE COMPETITION

I’m originally from Wagga, I grew up on a family farm there but ended up studying economics and working at a swiss bank. That job took me to Sydney, New York and London, and it was there I met my now wife, Prue, and chased her back to Guyra. It was a great opportunity for us to take on her family farm and I’ve been a part of the Guyra Show Society ever since. What you give to these communities you get back in spades.

The Men’s Cake Competition has always been a part of the show and it comes with some unwritten laws. Firstly, if you’re new to town, you enter a cake. Secondly, it has to be cooked by a male with no assistance. And thirdly, you come along to the bar on Friday night to join us for a beer when the winner’s announced. I think it’s been great for men’s fellowship and you can fill a surprising number of hours having a laugh and talking about cake. Pictured with Anne Starr.

SAL – GLEN INNES GOURMET FIESTA

The Gourmet Fiesta is an integral feature at the Glen Innes Show. It all started more than 20 years ago over a champagne breakfast in the Yarraford Hall and has grown into a full blown celebration with cooking demos, gourmet lunches and traders celebrating what we grow and produce in the region. We have had many major cooking identities demonstrate for us over the years. Margaret Fulton, Valli Little, Lyndy Milan, Sophie Hansen, Cathy and Anna Lisle (My Kitchen Rules) Belinda Jeffrey, Christine Manfield, Kate Gibbs and the Monday Morning Cooking Club ladies. Every year we pinch ourselves that these amazing people come to our town for this event. We have been extremely flattered when some of them return in following years to soak up the atmosphere of the show and enjoy being part of the audience.*

toWelcome the stagetoWelcome the stage

ALEX COOK

Alex Cook was just three and a half years old when she started dance lessons. Since then she’s trained in contemporary and classical ballet, jazz, Irish dance and, after suffering a serious spinal injury, added Pilates to the mix. Discover how she moves her body today from her new home in Armidale, NSW.

WORDS As told to Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Catherine Stephen

Let’s start at the beginning – where did you grow up, and what did you treasure most about your upbringing? I grew up in Camden, NSW. Back then it was a small country town and while it’s a little bigger now, it has still retained a lot of its charm. I am part of a close-knit family and we all grew up spending a lot of time together, going on holidays down to the South Coast of NSW. I’ll always treasure those memories by the beach with my family.

How old were you when you started learning? I started taking lessons at three and a half, and my interest grew right through childhood into my early teens and then as a young adult. The more involved I got with dance, the more I loved and connected to it.

Was there someone or something in your life that inspired your interest in dance? I’ve been interested in dance for as long as I can remember. I have been fortunate to have parents

TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH MUSICIANS, PERFORMERS AND ACTORS FROM STAGE AND SCREEN.

GO WITH THE FLOW

You can find Alex choreographing mad dance moves and instructing Pilates (that burns) at both her home studio and at the New England Dance Theatre. She is also currently hosting open dance classes for adults learning the choreography from Jungle’s new album Volcano All abilities welcome!

@akcpilates

who are very encouraging and supportive of my creative endeavours. My dad, although not a dancer himself (I beg to differ), has always shared my passion for the performing and creative arts. He grew up around opera, classical music, and theatre and he definitely passed on that appreciation and connection with the arts to me from a young age. He would be a key figure who kept my interest inspired throughout my early years and into adulthood. To this day, he still relishes being my plus-one to any and all creative events and performances.

Do you have a favourite dance style? If so, what is it and why? My own style is probably my favourite. I love to improvise and move in a way that feels interesting, curious and good for me and my body. I’ve trained in contemporary and classical ballet, jazz, even Irish dance and I guess everything I’ve learnt and been exposed to has informed my own experience and style of movement.

Where did you study post-school, and can you tell me a bit about your time in the industry before moving to Armidale? I trained for a couple of years with the Premier State Ballet Company at The McDonald College and after graduating high school, I trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. I’ve been fortunate to work with some great choreographers over the years – Justin Rutzou, Dean Walsh, Nanette Hassall, Rhiannon Newton, Brett Murray and Josephine Jason. I’ve also dabbled a lot in the cabaret world and have worked with some pretty incredible artists, including Brendan de la Hay, travelling and performing in shows in Australia and Hong Kong. I also performed with Brendan on Australia’s Got Talent – lots of fun. When I moved to Armidale, I picked up teaching dance. I've done little bits here and there and have also taught classes for advanced students and adults at the New England Dance Theatre.

What led you to add Pilates to the mix? Pilates was a natural progression for me, however, after a serious spinal injury it became more of a focus. Partially for rehabilitation and then to keep me feeling strong, fit and mentally in check too. The link between mind/body for me is clear and I can always recognise the difference in myself when I’m not moving, or prioritising the physical health and strength of my body. Becoming an instructor soon followed as a way to impart some of the knowledge and awareness I have of how the body does and can move, how movement is not one-dimensional and definitely not one size fits all.

How do you work to ensure both Pilates and dance is still a part of your life today? They both inform each other. Both movement methods are connected and for me, having had a long experience with both, they have become interchangeable. I often find that qualities from my dance background, like an understanding of biomechanics, dynamic movement and rhythm, hugely expand on my Pilates practice and teaching. I still teach dance and I love it. I often find time to let myself move more now I’m a little older and doing it for expression and enjoyment. It’s no longer about performing for anyone else but rather to explore myself and my body, which I try to make sure I find time for.

What’s been your biggest challenge of your dance career so far? I guess I didn’t really have the dance career I thought I would. I got injured fairly young and my journey shifted and I had to grow up a lot when it came to my expectations of what a career in dance was and what it looked like. It wasn’t linear and it didn’t follow the path I had predicted from a very young age. The challenge lay in accepting that, learning from it and continuing to grow on my understanding of what dance meant to me and what it does now.

And what about your biggest highlight? I’ve been really lucky to meet some exceptional people through dance. Creative thinkers and emotionally curious individuals who seek to get the most out of themselves and their lives. Another regular highlight for me – meeting young people and teaching them to appreciate, respect and be curious about themselves and the world around them. That is a job I’m pretty honoured to have.

What do you love most about dancing and where to from here? It’s entirely my own adventure. There isn’t a greater feeling of energy and connection I feel with myself than when I’m moving. It makes me feel more alive and more myself. Keep moving, creating and working on small projects that fuel me for the long term. I’d love to keep choreographing for young dancers and continue to share my movement practices and understandings with people.*

A NEW KIND OF DAWN

She’s won ARIAs and Golden Guitars, played Glastonbury, appeared on Rockwiz, Play School and runs her own record label – but at the heart of it all, Fanny Lumsden is a girl from the bush with a degree in Rural Science, an achingly beautiful voice, a drive to support the land she came from and a nickname that won’t quit.

WORDS Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Dan Stanley Freeman

There’s a man called Brett who wants Fanny Lumsden to play at his funeral. He put some extreme thought into the big day, pitched the concept at the pub one night and provided a down payment – one load of wood. (A second load of wood, a cow and 50 grand, as suggested by Fanny, will surely follow.)

Brett means business. But what started as a night at the bar, sharing his dying wishes, became a source of inspiration for a song on Fanny’s latest album, Hey Dawn

“Brett is my muse for the single, When I Die. That night at the pub, he told me he wants his ashes put into a shotgun, shot into the sky at sunset –‘across the valley and through that golden light’ – while we all gather around a bonfire and I play guitar. Weeks later, I wrote the song for him, beneath the stars of the Nullarbor Plain.”

It’s a unique kind of beautiful, like Fanny’s own voice – which is entirely self-taught.

“While I do a lot before shows to keep my voice clear and controlled, I still don’t technically know how it works – it just comes out of my mouth.”

Fanny has never questioned her sound, and rightly so. Alongside her band, The Prawn Stars, her voice delivers divine layers of alternate country, the sweet and the sour, with a whole lot of heart. No traditional twang, keistersittin’, straw-chewin’ here.

“I’m telling stories the way I want to tell them – it just happens when I open my mouth to sing.” ››

GET YOUR COUNTRY ON

The latest album from Fanny and The Prawn Stars, Hey Dawn, is out now. Treat your ears to some damn fine country melodies and follow Fanny along for the ride while you’re at it.

music.fannylumsden.net/heydawn @fannylumsden

SHOW PONY

Fanny’s own story begins on a mixed cropping and sheep farm in the Northern Riverina. The eldest of four, her childhood was threaded together with horse riding and sheep shearing, bush poetry and piano lessons.

“Dad loves a good yarn and has written bush poetry for as long as I can remember, so that storytelling element has always been in my life,” says Fanny.

“The country influence comes from him too – car trips with dad meant James Blundell on the tape player. As for mum, she was very into classical music and taught us all piano and a bit of guitar.”

When asked what she was like as a kid, Fanny describes herself in two words: show pony.

“No doubt about it – I was always performing. Whether that was a circus on horseback, singing or dancing, literally anything that would make our parents watch us. It was pretty precocious really,” Fanny laughs.

A move to boarding school in Albury saw her add the fiddle to the mix, as well as her first attempt at lyric writing – “although they were terrible lyrics”. And that was okay, because to be entirely honest, at this point in the game, Fanny had no dreams or aspirations to be a professional musician. Sure, she was playing music and writing songs in her spare time, but she didn’t know anything about the music industry, had never been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and, after high school, arrived at Armidale UNE to study Rural Science with honours in wool, sustainability and high fashion.

“I loved my time in Armidale, but of course, a science degree is very factual, and there was a side of me that needed to be creative, so I started performing on the side.”

One of her first gigs was at The Armidale Club – Fanny remembers her college mates coming to watch her. She also remembers the fact she didn’t really know how to gig, including how to plug in her guitar. Still, she had a good time and carried on performing in the big smoke after scoring a job as a wool broker at Sydney’s AuctionsPlus.

“I’m telling stories the way I want to tell them –it just happens wheN I open my mouth to sing.”

This right here is the moment the tables start to turn and the balance begins to tip in favour of music. Deep down, Fanny knew she wasn’t in wool for keeps – she wanted to do other things, experience life and see her music grow.

“So I traded in that one good job for four part-time jobs to pay my rent and keep my life flexible while I was doing gigs – that was my first leap.

“I was very much at the start of my career, faffing around, but I somehow convinced all these incredible musicians to join my band. I still don’t know how I did that, not a single one of them was from the country scene. But they jumped on board at the start of 2011 and the first generation of Fanny Lumsden and The Glorious Whores was born.

As it turned out, they wouldn’t say that on ABC, so we changed it to Fanny Lumsden and The Thrillseekers. That didn’t stick either, so we evolved one final time to become Fanny Lumsden and The Prawn Stars.”

Not one to do things by the book, Fanny and her band hit the road to tour Australia and play anywhere they could –choosing to put live performances at the forefront of what they do.

“More often than not, you’ll see careers built up in the industry side first, then they grow the live performances from there. We were definitely the other way round and led with our Country Halls Tour from 2012 to bring live, original music with a full band and production to the bush. I knew there were people out there who wanted to experience live music, but were never going to make it to the city – so I decided to come to them, to make it accessible to everybody and raise community funds along the way.

“It started by accident, like most things in my career. No one knew me back then, but people from all over the bush came to see us. They listened and they danced and they helped build me as an artist.”

Then things got big, fast. ››

COUNTRY HALLS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

TOUR

Fanny and her husband Dan have been putting on shows in halls throughout regional and remote Australia for the past 10 years – all through their own record label, Red Dirt Road Records. Aptly named the Country Halls Tour, so far they’ve delivered an all-in-community-night-out to over 200 halls, having one hell of a good time and raising funds while they’re at it. #legends. If you or your town wants to join in the fun, check them out at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and online pronto.

27 January 2024

Tamworth Country Music Festival

Tamworth Town Hall

10-year anniversary Country Halls Tour dates announced soon! countryhallstour.com @countryhallstour

CLASS ACT

Entitled Small Town Big Shot, Fanny’s first album was released in 2015. It was financed entirely by crowdfunding, saw her described as ‘a breath of fresh country air’ by Rolling Stone Magazine and established her as an artist who wrote lyrics with soul, honesty and witty confessions – including peeing in the pool and stealing Juicy Fruit gum. Later that year, the album was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Country Album and two years later, Fanny released her second album, Real Class Act, under her own record label created with husband Dan, Red Dirt Road Records. It debuted at number one on the ARIA charts and saw her awarded the Professional Development Award (PDA) from APRA that same year… which was lucky… because she was running out of cash.

“We’d been touring in western Queensland in our tiny caravan, playing at all these random places like pubs and backyards and I got the call to say we’d won. That same day, Telstra called to tell me they were going to cut off my phone because I hadn’t paid my bill. But the PDA came with a cash prize of $15k, which was amazing.”

It was enough for Fanny to keep her phone connected, and enough to give her the nudge to quit her multiple side hustles. But not enough for her to rely on as income.

“That was a good thing – because it meant Dan and I still had to work out how we were going to make an actual income from the music. But it was still enough to get us across the line and take the jump to do it full-time.”

It was a good call. Because that same year, Fanny won her first Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year. In 2020, her third album Fallow debuted at number 10 on the all genre ARIA charts, won five Golden Guitar awards (including Album of the Year) and picked up the ARIA Award for Best Country Album. In August 2023, Fanny released her fourth album, Hey Dawn, debuting in the ARIA charts at number one (all genre) Australian album, number 10 on the album chart and number one Australian country album.

While none of the above was ever on some kind of bucket list, Fanny says she’d be lying if she said it didn’t mean the world.

“It’s a very cool thing and I’m so proud of what we’ve done – it’s a real validation to do these things that you didn’t even aspire to because you didn’t think you could achieve them.”

She’s humble alright, even going as far to describe herself as an “accidental country artist”. But don’t get her wrong, that doesn’t mean she isn’t proud as punch to be the country musician she is today – after all, telling stories about life in the bush is in her blood. Her dad wears the big cowboy hat and everything. But at the start of Fanny’s career, she thought she fell into the ‘Indie Folk’ side of life.

“Then came the day I visited Tamworth to watch a friend perform at the Country Music Festival. We got up, played a few songs and the audience reaction was out of this world. That was the moment I realised we had arrived where we belonged – I could see people in the crowd connecting with our story, dancing along to our own unique version of country, complete with banjos and mandolins. The community we found that day has played an enormous part in my career and I immediately knew I had to embrace it.”

From industry organisations and platforms to support networks far and wide, the country music community is a rare beast according to Fanny, who says that kind of vibe is hard to come by in other Australian music industries and has been instrumental in building her as an artist. ››

YOU BE YOU

There’s another community Fanny simply couldn’t live without – her family, her band and her children, who at just 18 months and five years old are living it large, touring on the road with their incredibly talented parents.

While the juggle is real, it’s doable.

“Dan is very hands-on, which makes it all possible,” says Fanny. “We’ve also had the same band since 2016 now, including my brother, so the kids have been raised by them too. They all chip in, lend a hand, pick them up – they’ve been amazing. And while I do try to have systems in place, it doesn’t always happen and ultimately we’re very tolerant of chaos and change.

“There will always be things that I keep consistent for the kids, so life feels safe. But I have no hard and fast rules because I think you would actually collapse if you tried to do that – you’ve got to be flexible living this life and I’m not into making long-term plans. This works for us right now and we’ll cross each new bridge as we get to it.”

It’s an admirable outlook, one that’s fuelled by creativity and love and sends a brave message to the small humans Fanny and Dan are raising – music is powerful, anything is possible if you work hard and should you fall, your people are here to catch you. As for Fanny’s advice to people who are hoping to break into the beloved country music community?

“I’d say don’t change yourself for anybody else, ever. One thing that has made us successful is the fact that we don’t sound like anybody else, and everything we do, everything I sing, everything we perform and everything I say I truly believe in. I wouldn’t be here if I was singing someone else’s words – so you need to figure out who you are and what you want to say.

“Also, don’t stop. Always strive to be better and get better – that still goes for me too. I never think we’ve made it. Every record has got to be better than the last. And remember there’s no one way to do it all – no one’s done it your way yet, so it all comes down to you.” *

MEET EDWINA MARGARET LUMSDEN

Yep – that’s Fanny’s actual name. But in the final year at university she was collecting books by English children’s writer Enid Blyton – who she adores to this day – and one of the characters in The Faraway Tree was named Fanny. A mate started calling her Fanny as a joke and, well, it stuck. When she started performing, it was a name people remembered, and now even her husband and family call her Fanny… which we love… because she rocks it like it’s nobody’s business. If you love Fanny as much as we do, grab a T-shirt that shouts it from the rooftops.

store.fannylumsden.net

“I’d say don’t change yourself for anybody else, ever.”

THREE TRAILBLAZERS WALK INTO A BAR…

As Armidale Regional Council works to grow a sustainable future for the burgeoning regional community, they look to trailblazers like The Welder’s Dog team to help lead the way. Here, FOUND Regional chats with Mayor Sam Coupland and Welder’s founders Tom Croft and Dan Emery on the launch of their newest venue, The Welder’s Dog Brewery and Entertainment Centre.

WORDS As told to Steph Wanless

Tom Croft on swinging the doors open to their new Brewery and Entertainment Centre.

“It’s been a huge relief to get open. While we’ve got plenty more work to do, this is stage one for us and it’s off to a great start. Right now, we want to see how the place works for people and different forms of live music we plan to host. We're testing the layout, the acoustics, the sound equipment and the stage set-up – none of this is an exact science, so we want to take the time to get it right. People near and far have been overwhelmingly supportive and certainly seem to be enjoying it. Huge shoutout to everyone who's helped us get to this stage – it's hugely appreciated. From here, our goal is to continually refine our offering and build on what the space can deliver."

Mayor Sam Coupland on how the new venue will support the town’s long-term goals for growth.

“We’re on an aggressive trajectory to add another 10,000 people to Armidale’s population – then ultimately take that to another 20,000 people. We have to get to a size where we can stand on our own two feet. The key to that is jobs, but equally important is amenities. We need to be a place where people want to live – that means having a vibrant heart. This latest development from The Welder’s Dog guys certainly ticks that box. The area they’re in, around the corner of Marsh and Beardy Street, is set to become Armidale’s entertainment precinct – and The Welder’s Dog Brewery and Entertainment Centre is the anchor for that.” ››

Dan Emery on working with the Council on the new development.

“Straight up, it’s been a great experience. All approvals came through in a timely manner and they’ve been really supportive of our vision from day one. When plan modifications have been needed, they’re always fast to respond, ensuring there have been no barriers to progress every step of the way. We’ve also recently put our application in to develop the space out the back of the brewery – this will feature a shipping container kitchen with rooftop seating, complete with umbrellas. The surrounding area will serve as a beer garden with a kids’ play area, all safely fenced off. This will create a great sense of connectivity between the indoor and outdoor spaces, while also creating a different area for private bookings. We’re hoping to have the space wrapped up by Christmas or early next year – so keep your eyes peeled.”

Tom Croft on preparing the venue for a range of activities.

“The space is really versatile, and we have great plans to use it for a whole variety of events. That includes conferences, workshops and even weddings – a few of which are already booked in! The space fits up to 250 people, is easily accessible and close to hotels in the centre of town, and we can also cater for your event too. That might be through our kitchen that Dan just mentioned, or with The Herd Bar who will take up permanent residence in the cafe at the front of the building from February 2024. We’re thrilled to have them on board, serving coffee, brekky treats and beyond from 5.30am daily.”

Dan Emery on designing the space.

“We’ve worked closely with Peter Holzberger of Armidale New England Building Design on the various development applications – he’s been fantastic. In terms of carrying out the interior design work, we’ve done a lot of that ourselves with the help of friends and my father-in-law, too. We built the coolroom together, we’ve laid bricks and fudged our way through our concrete bar top, built the bar and the stage. We all just got stuck in and made it happen and we’re so grateful for the people we have in our team. Even some of the furniture has been donated from local businesses, which really plays into our mix of old and new. It’s a very eclectic, industrial vibe, but it works. The whole town has been really supportive and eager for us to open and we can’t wait to keep building on our offering from here on in.”

Mayor Sam Coupland on the importance of trailblazers like Dan, Tom and The Welder’s Dog team.

“Big picture: we need trailblazers. What these guys have done is proof of concept. They put their money where their mouth is – so I’m really hopeful that others see that and take a punt. From a Council perspective, we can support people in taking that leap by facilitating more of these developments, work together to define the area as a precinct and make planning a lot more sympathetic. What they’re doing is certainly unique in Armidale, and it’s also unique throughout regional Australia. I’m looking forward to what else they can bring in with their new space and how it will highlight what a culturally diverse and interesting place Armidale is.” *

HEAD ON DOWN TO THE DOG

If you’d like to book your next celebration, conference or workshop with The Welder’s Dog team, get in touch today. The space is your oyster!

The Welder’s Dog Brewery and Entertainment Centre 101 Beardy Street, Armidale – at the old R.Noble’s Sales and Parts store 0423 200 699 theweldersdog.com.au @theweldersdog_hq

ALI FLYNN

Ali Flynn’s memory of her life before university is foggy at best. But after suffering decades of abuse, a stroke and a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, she continues to choose a positive attitude on the daily – and teaches others how they can do the same.

WORDS As told to Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Catherine Stephen

What do I remember most about my childhood? Very little. It’s probably one of the toughest questions someone can ask me – because in that moment, I go straight back to the trauma.

The sexual abuse started when I was five years old and lasted a couple of years. I had physical, verbal and emotional abuse throughout most of my childhood and teenage years.

It came out when I was in Year 10. I was sitting in English class and we were reading a book that talked about incest – I felt sick. I didn’t have any memories of the sexual abuse at that stage, but I just knew something felt really off in my world. All of a sudden I didn’t feel safe.

I caught the bus home and met up with a friend to talk –that’s when I started getting flashbacks. Together, we went and spoke to my mum and it all started to come out. Up until that point I had no idea what had happened to me, because I’d repressed my memories for the past 10 years.

I idolised the person who did it.

I used to follow them around. I copied what they did.

Everyone was so shocked – and they all had to choose their own way to process what had happened. But when confronted with that kind of information, some people can’t actually say, ‘Yes, that person who’s in my world, who I know, like and trust, has hurt someone else I really love’. Instead, I got told I was the reason it happened. I got told that, because of me, that person we once loved isn’t in our world anymore.

Not my mum though. She loved me so much. She was devastated when it came out and action was offered, but it wasn’t the action I needed at the time. I remember feeling so trapped. I was sitting in the car and all I wanted to do was kick the windows out.

I became pretty self-destructive. I got involved in a lot of high risk behaviours. It wasn’t unusual for me to be drinking out on the streets until 4am. And while it’s normal for teenagers to take risks, I was taking a lot. While it’s normal for teenagers to be a bit forgetful, I was forgetting a lot. Ultimately I was drinking to forget too – but the dots were never joined because I always made sure I never did it with the same crowd. I didn’t want people to think that I was a bad person, but that was my coping mechanism at the time.

It was a way of hurting me. I didn’t have any love for my body, my mind or for who I was. I had no self-worth, even though I presented as a highly confident woman with ambition and potential. The sexual and physical abuse aside, I’d grown up in a very privileged environment. I went to private schools, I played every sport under the sun and I had unconditional love in my life. But we moved a lot, from country to city, the beach to overseas. At my last count, I’d lived in 12 different homes by the end of university and no matter where I lived, decades of family violence followed. No one ever knew what really existed within our four walls – until that memory was triggered in a Year 10 English class.

I went into psychology for two reasons. Firstly, to understand human behaviour and why people do what they do. Secondly, because I wanted to help people in a similar situation to my own. I needed to see that people like me could get to a point where they didn’t live wondering if they were going to survive the next day. I knew from a young age that the life I was living wasn’t the life I was meant to live – I wanted to heal, move on and help others do the same. I wanted them to know that they can create the life they want to live and find joy and contentment outside of their trauma.

Studying and working in psychology means I have seen the worst of the worst of human behaviour, both personally and professionally. But it also means I have seen people come out the other side where they can heal and find love again.

And despite working with people for 20 years, I’m only just learning how to speak up about my story. It’s taken years of therapy and ongoing study and I still get wobbly – because for so long I was told that no one would believe me and that everything that happened was my fault. That shame is something I lived with for a long time and it’s something that’s often unspoken.

But silence breeds shame. So now I will talk. I will tell my story and I will go back and heal that inner child, that small girl who no one heard, no one saw, no one protected. I’ve done the work now and I can see she is safe, she can have a life and deserves to be loved. But therapy wasn’t easy, I’d take 10 steps forward, then 10 steps back. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband. He is my unwavering support, my rock, and still is today.

It was like black tar coming out of me.

My nervous system had been on fight or flight response my whole life and it not only needed the mindset work to heal, but physical support too. For me, that meant deep breathing, meditation, healthy human connection and exercise to calm my nervous system and give my soul the best chance to heal.

Today, I’m okay with not knowing my memories in detail. Some photos can help, but I’ll never really know what’s real. The body remembers, but I don’t have to have the facts. I don't need them to heal. I don’t need to know the number of times or the places it happened. I just know that it is what it is and my memories will always be grey.

What do I want people to know? First and foremost, that we can stop family violence. There’s no reason that should still be occurring, and as a nation, we need to step up and start having more conversations about it – the statistics are too high and we are too silent.

The other message I want people to hear is that we can heal. It does take time and you’ve got to find your own road to that place, but you can get there. Does the trauma still vibrate in my life? Sometimes, absolutely. But 95 per cent of the time I feel grounded, safe, stable and secure. I love my life and I love what I do – and that’s something I never thought was possible. ››

CHALLENGES THAT CHANGE US

Ali is the founder and host of international podcast, Challenges that Change Us. Since launching in April 2022, it has skyrocketed to the top 10 on the Australian charts and ranks within the top 10 per cent of all podcasts globally. Featuring interviews with inspiring individuals who share a challenge they have faced, how they overcame it and the lessons they learned along the way, the podcast was born during yet another incredibly difficult time in Ali’s life. Here’s how it all began.

“I had a backpack from a very young age that said I can do this on my own. You can hurt me, you can touch me, you can do whatever you want – but you can’t touch my mind.

But when I was 32, I had a stroke, and it felt like they finally took my mind.

I was in the bathroom, getting ready to run a bootcamp when I got a headache on my left side and pins and needles down my right. I knew my life was in danger.

“I thought – what is my greatest strength and how can I pull on that now? It is my ability to talk, listen and sit with human experience."

I’d had a stroke by the time they got me to RPA in Sydney and it was there they discovered I had a brain condition called reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. It’s a rare condition that lasts for four months of your life and five per cent of people who have it will end up having a stroke. I was in that five per cent.

I lost my vision in the top quadrants of both my eyes, the ability to read or write properly, my balance and my short-term memory – I remembered my life before the incident, I knew I was married and had three kids, but that was basically it.

I was so fortunate to have an undergrad in psychology and to be a fitness coach, because my mindset kicked in and my laser focus switched on. Each day, I did one thing that I knew would get me closer to recovery and I made becoming a triathlete part of my rehabilitation. I’d never ridden a road bike, been a long distance runner, or done an ocean swim – so what drove it? My ‘why’ is that I wanted to show my girls that you can do anything in this world. Anything is possible when we put our minds to it, when we’re disciplined, when we understand our why and our purpose and we layer that with habits, determination and the people and the external environments that support and nourish us.

Things were looking up – but I became unwell again during COVID. It started with pain in my legs, progressed to pins and needles and numbness in my arms. I had gone from being an iron woman to not being able to stand up to shower. I thought I was dying a slow death.

I thought – what is my greatest strength and how can I pull on that now? It is my ability to talk, listen and sit with human experience. So, ‘Challenges that Change Us’ was born – a platform designed to not only alleviate the isolation that often accompanies personal trials, but also to equip individuals worldwide with tangible strategies and life lessons to enrich their ‘life toolbox’.

One of my primary motivations was to assure my children, who were too young to grasp certain complexities at the time, that they are never alone in their struggles. I wanted them to get a sense of who I was and understand that every person harbours a unique story, a tapestry of experiences woven from pain, shame, fear, joy, love, and courage.

After many, many doctors appointments – I was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. One of my key symptoms is that my heart rate rapidly increases when I stand up, so I feel like I’m going to vomit or blackout. All that time I hadn’t made the connection that

it was my posture that was the problem and it can take people years to get a diagnosis. It took me 18 months, I was lucky. I’m now on the Australian POTS Foundation board to help raise awareness and advocate in this country.

Throughout this time, I’ve also founded and grown three companies and helped thousands of people across the country transform their own life of trauma into one filled with joy. I have this unwavering belief that, with the right support, obstacles can be overcome and everything I do – whether that be performance coaching, public speaking or interviewing people on the podcast – is a celebration of the human spirit.

It’s been a wild ride, but I have one key takeaway. You get to choose the attitude you wake up with every morning. So when you put your two feet on the ground, think about how you want to show up for yourself in the world and choose that.” *

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE shows.acast.com/challenges-that-change-us @challengesthatchangeus

FINDING ALI FLYNN

Ali Flynn owns Altitude Fitness Armidale and Tri-Altitude Performance. Discover these businesses that fuel her mind, body and soul below.

Altitude Fitness Armidale

Altitude Fitness Armidale helps train the person, not just the body.

171 Rusden Street, Armidale NSW altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au @altitudefitnessarmidale

Tri-Altitude Performance

Help individuals thrive within an organisation, and the organisation to thrive as a whole, with the Tri-Altitude Performance workshop series, performance coaching and yearly corporate programs.

trialtitudeperformance.com.au @trialtitudeperformance

THE MIGHTY HAM RUN

Every year, Regional Australia Bank’s management team spend a month delivering 270 Christmas hams to their teams throughout the region. Here’s how the legendary tradition began – and why it’s more important than ever, 20 years on.

WORDS As told to Steph Wanless

Okay… what on earth is the ‘Mighty Ham Run’? We love a Christmas tradition! Every year, our management team (led by our CEO, Dave Heine) travels across our network, hand-delivering each member of the Regional Australia Bank team a Christmas ham and some Christmas cheer! Just picture it – the sweet aroma of succulent, glazed hams wafting through the air, the laughter of delighted recipients, and a cheer that envelops the entire community. It's an event that brings us all together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and warmth during this special time of year.

Where did it all begin? The Ham Run officially started back in 2003 – at that time it took us about a week, I think we had around 10 branches. Now it takes us a month! Little did we know we were about to embark on an extraordinary adventure that would later become the legendary tradition we know today. This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mighty Ham Run.

Where do you source your hams? We always endeavour to use local producers and source our ham from several local butchers across our regions. Our little hampers include a jam and chutney, this year these will be provided by Seasons of New England in Uralla. We also make sure we support as many local cafes and restaurants as possible, in each of the local towns we visit.

Why is the Mighty Ham Run important to Regional Australia Bank? If you ask CEO David Heine, the Regional Australia Bank Ham Run is one of his most important jobs of the year. But it’s not just about the ham, “It’s an opportunity to see our front-line staff in every pocket of the network, and to show our genuine appreciation for their efforts over the past year,” he says. “When the Ham Run takes place, it serves as a profound reminder of the importance of our role in supporting these regional communities, and more importantly, the commitment our staff show in facilitating growth, financially and beyond to their regions.”

How many hams do you give out each year? Last year we handed out a whopping 270 Christmas hams. Each year the event gets bigger, as Regional Australia Bank grows so does our team – making each year’s event bigger and better than before! Let’s just say, the ham game is strong.

How big is the Ham Run, what towns do you visit?

We were so caught up in the adventure last year that we might have accidentally misplaced the total kilometres... Let’s not dwell on the details, because what truly matters are the countless memories we created along the way. Last year we travelled to 36 regional communities in NSW, from Tenterfield to Cobar, Dubbo, Tamworth, Armidale and down south towards Port Macquarie, Tea Gardens and everything in between. This year we’ve extended our network to include Newcastle and Wagga Wagga, so you guessed it, we’ll hit the road travelling to a total of 38 locations across NSW. *

JYE SEGBOER Time Of Your Life

The Central Hospitality Group exists today because of one man – his name is Jye Segboer. With eight incredible regional venues in his portfolio, he’s known for bringing his wealth of internationally acquired experience and exceptional standards to the Tamworth food, beverage and accommodation scene. What you might not know is that Jye’s career started when he was just 10 years old at a nearby caravan park. It was here he faced unimaginable loss and learnt how to stand (and grow) on his own two feet – fast.

WORDS Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Jim A. Barker

Once upon a time, Jye Segboer called himself overly confident – I prefer to use the words bold, fearless and self-assured. Three qualities that have enabled him to overcome huge adversity to become the exceptional businessman he is today. Here’s how he did it.

1988-1990

Nemingha Caravan Park, Nemingha

Jye Segboer’s working life started early out of necessity. Having lost his father at just four years old, then his mother in his early teens, keeping busy was more than a welcome distraction – it was a matter of survival.

“After my father died, my mother struggled with a lot of mental health issues. She loved me, I always knew that, but she couldn’t cope with the strain of life and found it difficult to work. So when I was 10 years old, I stepped up. We were living at a caravan park in Nemingha and I’d clean the toilets before and after school for $20 a day. I’d also help the milkman on his round – my reward was flavoured milk. Next, I started mowing people’s lawns and doing other bits and bobs to keep the money coming in. When my mum died I was in my early teens – from then on I was raised by my grandparents and my aunty, who I now call my mum.” ››

1992

McDonald’s, Tamworth

Back then, the minimum working age in NSW was 13 years and nine months. So by the time Jye’s 14th birthday came around, he’d secured a job at McDonald’s and was enjoying his first taste of life in the hospitality industry.

“I was there for two years and it went fast. I moved from supervisor to crew trainer, then started the management program – but a full-time assistant manager role came up at King Kong Sales so I leapt at it. While I’ve always valued education highly, I knew it wasn’t for me. I’d decided in Year 10 to give it up, but my grandparents encouraged me to stay. I made it halfway through Year 11 and was ready to leave – they supported me in that decision as long as I had a fulltime job. So I stepped away from school and through the doors at King Kong Sales. I was there for about a year and a half and by then I just knew retail wasn’t for me. I needed to move back to hospitality.”

1996

Ashby House, Tamworth

From bargain basement sales to fine dining and accommodation at Ashby House – Jye landed on his feet under the guiding hand of Graham and Marlene Manville, stalwarts of the Tamworth hospitality scene.

“Ashby House was my first foray into accommodation and my role there covered everything. I’d work front of house, in the kitchen, on reception, and if it was a quiet day, you might even do the laundry. It gave me a real taste of the full spectrum of work in a hotel accommodation environment and I really enjoyed it. It confirmed for me that hospitality was where I wanted to be. I love how it offers real human connection and a long engagement process through regular customers and guests. I’ve got customers who have followed me in my career for the past 20 years – there are some families where I’ve had the honour of hosting their wedding, their children’s 21st parties and then their children’s weddings too. That all began with Graham and Marlene, who are still my friends today. It was their entrepreneurial flair that ultimately inspired me to keep growing my career in the industry.”

1998

The Carriage Motor Inn, Wagga Wagga

One fateful night, Jye’s next move emerged thanks to some customers he was serving at Ashby House. That right there is the reason why he tells his staff today – always keep your game face on, you never know when your next opportunity might arise.

“Their names were Melody and Stephen Watson and they offered me my first management role – that led me to Wagga Wagga. I had family there, so I was open to the move and jumped at the chance to take on my first restaurant manager role at the Carriage House Motor Inn. It was my first time managing staff and I learnt very quickly not to be everyone’s best friend – there were some hard lessons there. It was also my first foray into managing a budget and controlling wage costs. That was a real eye opener and made me want to further my study, so I took on a diploma in hospitality management to improve my skills. It took me two years, but I was able to do it all remotely while essentially working seven days a week in Wagga.”

1999

Forresters Beach Resort, Central Coast

In November 1998, Melody and Stephen sold their Wagga property and snapped up the Forresters Beach Resort. Since they knew a good thing while they had it, the hospitality duo took Jye along for the ride.

“I arrived as their restaurant manager, but quickly moved up to my first hotel management role. It was a small property, 34 rooms, a restaurant and a big wedding venue. About 12 months later, they also bought the Apollo International in Charlestown, so I’d spend time between the two properties. It was a busy time in my career –I was thrilled when Melody and Stephen acknowledged my efforts by entering me into the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Hotel Manager of the Year. Which I won! At 21 years old, I was the youngest recipient to ever receive the award. It was a great moment, but I was also pretty cocky – a typical, overconfident 21-year-old who thought they knew everything. I needed some time off.”

2002

Las Vegas, America

When Melody and Stephen decided to sell their venues, Jye met with the new owner to re-interview for his role. While the conversation didn’t exactly go to plan, it led Jye to a well-earned break.

“The new owner told me I was too young for the role, and that I was overpaid. I told him I’d been successfully doing the role for three years and it couldn’t be that bad of a business if he wanted to buy it – there’s that overconfidence again! To Melody and Stephen’s credit, when I didn’t get the role, they gave me 12 months’ salary and bought me a car to thank me for the work I’d done building the business. So I finally took some time off and went travelling – first to Bali, then to America.

“I hadn’t stopped in years. I’d been living on-site, working seven days a week, so I never really switched off. I was so thankful for the time to experience somewhere new and Vegas became my favourite city – it was so ahead of the hospitality game. It became a place of learning for me, a city where I could explore new industry trends. I became conditioned to high-end service very quickly during my time there, because they all live on their tips. I was ready to bring everything I’d learnt, and more, back home to Australia.”

2003

Noah’s On the Beach, Newcastle

Back on home soil, Jye set up in Newcastle and took himself out to dinner at the city’s iconic Noah’s On the Beach. He knew the family who owned the venue and, as luck would have it, they were looking for someone to assist with a refurbishment project. Enter Jye.

“The Hallcroft family originally took me on to manage the redesign of the entire venue. We’d finished the ground floor and were about to start on the rooms when the father sadly passed away. Understandably, the work was put on hold. When they were ready to move again, they asked if I’d take on the role of General Manager. I instantly said yes, moved on-site and enjoyed a great period of business growth. We were the only beachfront hotel in Newcastle at the time and our revenue doubled. Life was good, and then Tamworth started calling me home.” ››

2006

The Powerhouse Hotel, Tamworth

Jye’s grandmother had been battling cancer for years. Despite going into remission, the disease had returned and Jye was driving home every second week to care for her and support the extended family. He’d stay at The Powerhouse each visit and it was there his next career move emerged.

“The General Manager’s role came up and I just knew it was the right time to move home, spend more time with my family and continue caring for my grandmother. Little did I know I’d spend the next 10 years of my life working at The Powerhouse. After the first six years, I stepped up to CEO and consider myself extremely lucky to this day to have worked alongside owner Greg Maguire. I took a lot of inspiration from him through my time working there and he provided me with a lot of opportunity for growth. After a decade, I felt ready to go out on my own.”

January 2014

The Pavilion Hotel, Wagga Wagga

Once the idea of going solo was in Jye’s head, it was hard to shake. So when Peter McIntyre offered him financial backing, it was an opportunity too good to refuse.

“It was hard to leave Greg and The Powerhouse, they’d played such a pivotal role in my career and I’m so grateful. I even got cold feet and pulled out of the deal with Peter when he first offered a vendor finance arrangement with his hotel, The Pavilion in Wagga Wagga. Then another 12 months passed, he approached me again and we finally struck a deal. I took on the property as a lease and needed to find $200,000 to put in as a guarantee against the lease. I didn’t have that kind of money and already had a few hefty credit cards in my back pocket. Still, I went and got myself another four credit cards to secure the $200k band bond. I’d gone from being shit-scared, to right in the thick of it. But I had faith in my own ability and I thought, if I fail, I’ve only got myself to blame because I’ll be the one who chooses to fail.”

December 2014

Central Hotel, Tamworth

Spoiler alert – Jye didn’t fail. In fact, his hospitality portfolio has grown from strength to strength thanks to some serious hard work, self-belief and willingness to jump on a regular 6.30am flight.

“The Attala family were doing up Tamworth’s CH Hotel and their broker approached me to see what could be done to turn the space into a four-star product. I ended up offering to buy it and ran the two venues simultaneously for months. I’d catch the early morning flight from Wagga, land in Tamworth by 8.30am, work the full day, then head back to Wagga that night. Eventually I made the decision to put the Wagga property on the market and that freed me up to move back to Tamworth full-time and focus on the Central Hotel.”

2020 – now

Central Hospitality Group, Tamworth

As the saying goes, from little things, big things grow. Over the next three years, Jye and his partner Arnold grew the Central Hotel into the Central Hotel (or CH) Hospitality Group. They have since added six businesses to the portfolio.

“First came DECO Wine Bar & Restaurant, which sits alongside the CH Boutique Hotel. Next was Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar, an incredible all-day venue in the beautiful surrounds of Bicentennial Park, followed by The Pavillion Function Centre, an award-winning venue that specialises in weddings and events. I was out there gardening one day – my Sunday retreat – when a broker rang me to say The Pig & Tinder Box was on the market. Me being me, I couldn’t bear to see such a prominent local venue not reaching its full potential, I’m so passionate about the town and our visitor experience. So we added ‘The Pig’ to the mix.

“At that point, I said that was it for food and beverage venues. We started talks of expanding our accommodation businesses, which is where our Ringers Road apartments joined the portfolio. These 12 fully serviced two- and three-bedroom apartments are based in Tamworth’s entertainment precinct and enjoy great views over the golf course. From there, we dived into plans for a block of 20 apartments on Dean Street – construction will start on those in February 2024.

“Then our accountant had an operator pull out of a deal on The Bureau by Red Ribbon, a fantastic little cafe nestled on Marius Street. At the time, we had a patisserie chef who needed an opportunity to lean into his creative flair. By adding The Bureau to our portfolio, it also gave us the opportunity to help him grow his career – that’s something that’s really important to me and something we try to do for all our staff.

“That was definitely going to be it for food and beverage… until the owners of Dungowan Station, Campbell and Narree McIntosh, asked if we’d consider taking on Dungowan Brewery. The moment we arrived we fell in love with the space, as well as the destination piece it can become for the community. I’m so passionate about creating unique visitor experiences for the region and increasing overnight visitation – The Brewery has given us a real opportunity to do that. It’s also given us a chance to try new things, like creating some of our own produce, and we started developing some of our own unique and truly local brews in November 2023.

“This latest venture has been really exciting and I’m loving meeting all of our new customers – people who have been big supporters of our businesses in town are making the drive out to visit and that really means the world. It’s why I fell in love with hospitality in the first place – human connection, following people on their journey and serving up some great food, beautiful accommodation and good times along the way.” *

FEELING PECKISH? SOCIABLE? SLEEPY?

The Central Hospitality Group can help you out with all of the above and more thanks to their eight incredible venues.

CH Boutique Hotel 52 Brisbane Street, Tamworth chboutiquehotel.com.au @ch_boutique_hotel_tamworth

CH Boutique Apartments The Ringers Road, Tamworth chboutiquehotel.com.au/chboutiqueapartments @ch_boutique_hotel_tamworth

DECO Wine Bar & Restaurant 330 Peel Street, Tamworth chboutiquehotel.com.au/dining

The Pavillion Function Centre & Gardens Corner of Nundle and Back Kootingal Road, Nemingha pavillionfunctioncentre.com

Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar

Bicentennial Park, Corner Kable Avenue and Hill Street, Tamworth hopscotchrestaurant.com.au @hopscotchrestaurant

The Pig & Tinder Box 429 Peel Street, Tamworth thepigandtinderbox.com.au @thepigandtinderbox

The Bureau by Red Ribbon 169 Marius Street, Tamworth thebureaucafe.com.au @thebureaucafe

Dungowan Brewery 803 Ogunbil Road, Dungowan dungowanbrewery.com.au @dungowanbrewery

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

Ever noticed how CH Hospitality Group’s venues are closed Christmas Day? We asked Jye why and his response added yet another dimension to this businessman who leads with heart.

“I remember having a complete meltdown one Christmas Day. I was working at Noah’s On the Beach at the time and was so tired and exhausted. I broke between lunch and dinner – we’d had 300 people for lunch and another 200 would soon arrive for dinner. It can be tough to push through when you’re serving people celebrating with their family, having a nice time and you’re there working. That’s why today, in our own business, we don’t open on Christmas Day, we don’t open Boxing Day and we also close the majority of our venues on Christmas Eve. After so many years of leaving my family to work on those days, I just knew I could never do that to somebody else – it’s entirely gutwrenching. There are special moments in life, like birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations that we always try to ensure our staff have time off to be with the people they love – because that’s what matters most.”

DREAMY DAYS (AND NIGHTS) AT DUNGOWAN

Welcome to Dungowan Station 1834: home to Dungowan Brewery, six off-grid tiny homes and a working farm complete with Scottish Highland cattle.

WORDS Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Shot By Jake and Creative

By George – Georgie Gavel

Narree and Campbell McIntosh have a thing about breathing new life into heritage properties. When they first bought Dungowan Station nine years ago, Narree described the property as completely rundown and in desperate need of some TLC.

“So that’s what we did – we injected some love into the station, all the while being respectful to the age and style of the buildings.”

While the 4000-acre station just 20 minutes outside of Tamworth was established in 1834, the homestead itself wasn’t built until 1904. The man on the tools went by the name of Lesley Sprague and the house was a labour of love for his fiancee Minnie Bruin.

“They were married on the property – and we carry on their love affair by sharing the space with other couples for weddings and elopements,” adds Narree.

“We converted a portion of our woolshed into a brewery and casual dining space, so guests could come and relax, grab a bite to eat and feed our animals,” says Narree, who still tends the extensive grounds and livestock alongside her husband Campbell on this busy, working farm.

“We have 320 Angus cows, grow lucerne and seasonal crops and a few years back started our Scottish Highland cattle stud. That has since grown to over 30, which guests can view from the balcony of the brewery.

“Having operated the brewery just short of 12 months, we were blown away by how well it was received by the community. We’re very excited to have now leased the brewery and wedding facilitation to Jye and the CH Group as we know they’ll take it to another level.”

STAY A WHILE…

While Campbell and Narree rarely sit still, they invite you to rest your weary head in one of their six eco-friendly, off-grid tiny homes, carefully placed across the property to give every guest an entirely private and unique experience.

Complete with all the creature comforts, each tiny home includes:

• A loft queen bed with a stargazing window (we told you it was dreamy).

• A comfy lounge that converts to a double bed (ideal for small families or mates on a weekend away).

• French doors opening out onto your own private view (to breathe in that fresh country air).

• A kitchenette with cooktop, microwave, sink, fridge/ freezer and breakfast bar (coffee anyone?).

• The chance to kick back, relax, enjoy a meal and the stunning views at the nearby Dungowan Brewery (cheers to that!).

• Bathroom with toilet, vanity and shower (no roughing it here).

• Reverse cycle air-conditioning (because year-round comfort is crucial).

Added to the mix are soul-stirring mountain and water views, the odd visit from friendly cattle and the chance to feel a million miles away. What’s not to love?! *

You can book your slice of tiny home heaven on Airbnb. What’s more, guests who stay two nights or more will currently receive a 30 per cent discount. Winning!

Simply search for ‘Dungowan Station 1834’ on Airbnb and keep your eyes peeled for the six tiny homes named: The Dragon Fly, The Bull Frog, Platypus Bend, The Rapids, Blue Hole Bend and Twin Dams.

For group bookings, we recommend The Bull Frog and The Dragon Fly – these two properties are intentionally situated closer together to keep your loved ones close. @dungowanstation1834

The Oxford on Otho hosts one of the most notable, forethought, period-reflective and respective designs I have experienced.

The Oxford, since my first sighting, had piqued intrigue and awe with her alluring charm. My commendation to the design, styling and hard work that has endured to create a space that is an absolute equilibrium of contemporaries amidst utilising and paying homage to historical foundation.

THE LAW AND I

Emalene Gemmell was drawn to study law for as long as she can remember. Today, communities throughout regional NSW and the cities beyond are benefitting from her extensive professional expertise on a daily basis.

When I meet Emalene Gemmell for the first time, I’m immediately grateful that people like her exist; people who make law their life’s work – to give the voiceless a voice and tirelessly advocate for the less advantaged.

Because it’s not easy, forever striving to balance the scales of justice – particularly when it comes to Emalene’s focus in family law. Her practice, Emalene Gemmell Family Law (or EGFL), supports clients across NSW in all areas of family law – including property settlements, parenting matters, family disputes, and divorce.

“You wouldn’t specialise in this field if you weren’t passionate about it,” she says.

“You learn pretty early on that you have to be tough, and accept the fact that you’ll never truly switch off – you are assisting clients at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Their world is often turned upside down when we meet, but it’s my job to find the best possible outcome for whatever circumstances they’re currently facing and providing the best possible path to navigate their way out.”

It’s a role that calls for a special type of human, one who’s driven and strong – one who doesn’t back down from a challenge and who’s not afraid to put the time in when it comes to study. So when I asked Emalene about her schooling days, I’m not at all surprised to hear she embraced all it had to offer.

“I boarded in Sydney during high school, then came to Armidale for my law degree,” she says.

“The residential system at the University of New England was wonderful and I ended up staying for six years –completing honours and my Practical Legal Training with a local firm. It was an incredible environment, one that gave me the opportunity to nurture myself and my studies.”

Following her honours degree and graduate diploma, Emalene worked for a few years before setting sail for Aberdeen, Scotland. Her goal? To complete her Masters in Private International Law with a focus on Family Law.

“That was a remarkable experience – full on, but fun. The subjects available, the exposure to our industry, the opportunity to experience study in another country

as well as the travel – everything about it was entirely fuelling and set me up for my return to Australia.”

Which was lucky, because once back in the land down under, Emalene cut her teeth at a specialist firm in Newcastle. The days were hard, fast-paced and would often see her racing from Children's Court, into the city to Family Court, then on to Federal Circuit Court. It served Emalene well on an advocacy exposure level, as well as arming her with some real hands-on experience – but four years spent commuting between Newcastle and her then home in Uralla was her limit. In 2015, she moved back full-time with a new plan.

“My first child was born that year and my whole outlook changed,” says Emalene.

“I wanted something of my own, something that would serve the community I’m proud to call home. So I did my sole practitioners course and started EGFL in our spare bedroom on 1 July – by December I could justify securing premises and built this incredible, all-female practice from there.”

THE BEST RESOLUTION

Today, EGFL is a thriving team of six who service clients throughout the New England, Western Plains and the Hunter, as well as those from further afield including Central Queensland, Brisbane, Western Sydney, Wollongong and Dubbo. Last year, Emalene added another string to her bow when she became an Accredited Specialist in Family Law through the Law Society of NSW. Emalene is the only practitioner to hold this Accreditation in Armidale and surrounds.

“It’s a tough subject and a tough course, but it’s important too, and all adds to the tools we have to best navigate the system for our clients. We’re here to assist the party instead of being the aggressor – which is so unnecessary in family law, but you see it time and time again.

“It’s not about the lawyers involved, it’s about finding the best resolution for the people who find themselves before the court system or in a world of discontent, which is the last place you really want to be. So while we’ll continue to arm ourselves and continue to grow, we’ll never lose sight of our personable approach. Our number one priority is to give our clients the best service, and that comes from the professional experience we’ve grown over the years.” *

WORDS Steph Wanless

PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Terry

Emalene Gemmell Family Law provides their clients with a unique and flexible mix of good advice, strong representation and an understanding of the emotion involved when it comes to family law matters. If you would like advice from Emalene and her team, you can find them in Armidale, Uralla and online. 9/108 Dangar Street, Armidale 60a Bridge Street, Uralla egfamilylaw.com.au @egfamilylaw

From left – Hayley Gritching, Lucinta Heinrich, Emalene Gemmell, Vicki Ward and Rhiannon Garrod.

Dispute Resolution

Mediation

Litigation

Separation

Divorce

Property Settlements

De-Facto Relationships

Child Support | Spousal Maintenance

Financial Agreements

Parenting

IVF | Surrogacy | Adoption

Succession Planning

Wills

Power of Attorney

Enduring Guardian

Family Provision Claims

Probate | Letters of Administration

Notary Public

TENTERFIELD

Chips Tour

THE REGIONAL ROAD TRIP

manilla guyra

Bundarra EBOR

inverell glen innes uralla

TAmworth

MururrundI

nundle

SCOTTS head

kempsey

SCONE

muswellbrook

FOUND FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FINE FEATHERED FOLKS HIT THE ROAD TO SAMPLE THE SIGHTS AND DELIGHTS OF OUR GLORIOUS REGION.

1. Off The Hook, Port Macquarie, 2. Sea Salt Fish and Chips, Coffs Harbour, 3. @J Cafe Scotts Head and 4. Neville's Store, Armidale. 4.

NOSTALGIA AND HOT CHIPPIES

Every Friday night, our family would come together for a simple, yet cherished ritual –sharing hot chips. Whether the sun was sitting low on the horizon during winter, or the evening light shone brightly through the windows in summer, like clockwork, my mum would ring our local diner, The White Rose, and order seven dollars worth of hot chips with chicken salt.

WORDS Meg Miller

We would drive down together to pick them up and once we returned home, the big, warm bundle would be unwrapped and left to lie open in the centre of the table where we’d all gather, plates at the ready.

Our table was a place where stories were shared and laughter was plentiful, especially on Friday nights. The smell of hot chips filled our home, bringing feelings of comfort and warmth with it. A hand would reach out and snatch the first chip, a glimmer in someone’s eye would tell you that you best hurry up or you’ll miss out, and an innocent comment would lead to a string of banter between my siblings and me.

I look back on hot chip Fridays fondly, but since leaving home 10 years ago, I haven't revisited the ritual. That was until recently, when, with a lot of trips back and forth from the coast, hot chips as a treat has found a place in my life once again.

NEVILLE’S STORE ARMIDALE

@nevillesstore

Neville’s Store in Armidale is an icon in the local takeaway food scene. Offering a collection of lollies from the 90s and early 2000s, unmatched milkshakes and a burger challenge that only the toughest can tame, Neville’s is a place where time stands still. Take a seat in one of the oldschool diner-style booths, order a wrap of hot chips with gravy and let nostalgia carry you back to the good ol’ days.

@J CAFE SCOTTS HEAD

@j__cafe

Nothing beats a trip to the beach with a handful of your closest friends, and Scotts Head is the perfect place for such a weekend. Spend the day reading, swimming and catching waves as they roll into shore, and once those nudges from your tummy turn into full-blown grumbles, head on over to @J Cafe. Conveniently located right across the road from the main beach, @J Cafe serves local fish and chips, burgers and fresh fruit and vegetable juices. We ordered the fish burger with a side of chips and enjoyed them back on the beach while the sun set –magnifique!

SEA SALT FISH AND CHIPS COFFS HARBOUR

@seasaltfishandchips

Locally caught fish served beside our favourite form of fried potato and a delicious fresh salad? Count us in! Sea Salt Fish and Chips in Coffs Harbour is a standout venue if you’re travelling through or popping in for the weekend. They also have locations in Woolgoolga and Toormina. Offering more than a standard fish and chip store menu with tasty options for our gluten-free friends, we think this venue is #winning.

OFF THE HOOK PORT MACQUARIE

@offthehookportmacquarie

A walk along the town beach breakwall in Port Macquarie might be just the thing you and your family need this summer, and with the allure of tasty fish and chips shared on the town green waiting for you at the end, why not turn it into an adventure? Off the Hook in Port Macquarie is always busy, and for good reason – this little fish and chip store packs a punch. Offering affordable and delicious options for the whole family, Off The Hook is also conveniently located right next to a kids’ park. Pack your bags, folks! We’re going on a road trip. *

ALL ROADS LEAD TO TAMWORTH

Listen up our music-lovin’ friends, it’s that time of year again! The Toyota Country Music Festival is set to kick-off in Tamworth from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 January, marking an impressive 52 whopping years in existence. Thousands of people will flock to Tamworth’s sun-tinted streets to see hundreds of artists perform across multiple venues. I mean, exciting is an understatement.

To celebrate, let’s chat facts.

Fact one – the event is recognised as the largest and longest live country music event in Australia and the southern hemisphere. (Whoah.) The main street is literally closed off to welcome buskers and performers, markets stalls and food zones, as well as carnival rides to boot!

Fact two – it’s not JUST for country music lovers. Sure, the festival dishes up

a toe-tappin’ mix of all country music tastes, from Bluegrass and Americana to Alt-Country and Bush Ballads. BUT the streets are also lined with rock, blues and folk musos doing what they do best.

Fact three – this year’s line-up includes Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, Casey Barnes, Fanny Lumsden, Amber Lawrence, John Williamson, Graeme Connors, Andrew Swift, Ashleigh Dallas, Loren Ryan, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham and Shane Nicholson.

Fact four – if you haven’t already, add the 52nd Toyota Country Music Festival to your list of must-dos. It’s an unforgettable experience. But don’t just take it from us. We recently spoke to three good humans who are front row centre on a regular basis at the festival – here’s what they had to say. ››

CLAUDIA MONIQUE

How long have you been attending the TCMF? I don't think I've missed one yet – 2024 will be my 33rd year!

What's your earliest memory of the festival? My grandfather, Gentleman Geoff Brown, was the very first person to sing country music in a venue in Tamworth. I of course wasn't around then, but my earliest memories are of my grandfather and my late uncle Gary Brown sitting on the back deck at their home in Tamworth, playing acoustic guitars and singing country music.

In my younger years, the festival was always a highlight for me. I have fond memories of my mum Cheryl Brown taking me here, there and everywhere as she worked in the industry – and still does. I didn't grow up experiencing the festival like most children, mainly being down the street and attending family-friendly shows in the park. Instead, I grew up behind the scenes and always loved getting to meet country music stars when my mum would introduce me. They were all so shiny and famous. How lucky I felt getting to be backstage from time to time. Now that I'm older, I don't get starstruck – haha! I see the artists as incredible humans and they're just that: people, doing what they do best. I have some beautiful friendships with people I only get to see once a year during the festival.

What do you love most about the event? I'll start by saying it truly shocks me, the amount of people I have met in nearby towns and even locally, who have never been and have no idea about how the festival works. Many think it's JUST country music and that the festival is held entirely in the park. But the Tamworth Country Music Festival is so much bigger and better than that! It's a feast of many genres of music and it's spread across the entire town in nearly every hospitality and entertainment venue. Of course there's country and bush ballads for the true believers, but there are also awesome country pop and alt country acts that come from Sydney and Melbourne. Jug bands, blues, rock, jazz, folk music – it's all here! The town truly comes alive for the 10 days. I also love that you can create the experience you want to have. Whether you've got kids, are travelling with your folks, your partner or with your mates, you can create the experience you want to have.

What would be your top tip for someone attending the event for the first time? Get your hands on an official festival guide. You can order one to be posted to your door pre-festival. It is jam-packed with all the artists and gig times.

You'll find the best music and good times in unexpected places and venues. So take the time to look up the bands and venues pre-festival to find the music and atmosphere you're looking for.

JESSICA ZALUMS

How long have you been attending the TCMF? I’m 33 now, so we’re talking a good 20 years.

What's your earliest memory of the festival? I remember walking down Peel Street as a kid and thinking: is there anywhere else in the world that literally closes off the entire main street just to play music?! It was wild. I knew then that the town took the festival – and this level of partying – very seriously.

What do you love most about the event? I now live in Sydney with my husband Vic and our three children – we have a threemonth old, a three-year old and a six-year old. So my favourite thing about the event these days is being able to come home and share it with my family. At the 2023 festival, my eldest was walking down the street and could see kids just a couple of years older than him busking. In that moment he saw that music and performing in this way was something children can do too. He absolutely loved it. Soon after he announced that he wanted to busk at the next festival and asked for a drum kit for Christmas. He also really loved the live music scene –which is something he hasn’t really experienced before. You wouldn’t usually bring a kid to a gig in Sydney, it’s not the most child-friendly atmosphere. But at the festival, kids are welcome everywhere. It’s such a great experience for the whole family.

I love how the festival shows younger generations how fun country music actually is and that it’s not just a daggy old genre for people who are 60-plus. The way I pitched it to my husband, who grew up in Sydney, was that the whole town shuts down to have a party for two weeks. It’s a celebration of all different music and the whole town joins in – the atmosphere is so unique and everyone is united by music.

What would be your top tip for someone attending the event for the first time? My advice for young families would be to not feel like you have to go to ticketed events – because with kids in tow, sometimes needing to be somewhere at a certain time doesn’t go to plan. Keep your days open and be flexible, you never know what’s going to take your interest. We often go to gigs we know are on at a certain time, but aren’t ticketed, so it’s not a big deal if the kids need a snack or a drink, or if someone wets their pants – we aren’t locked into anything so we can just roll with it. I’ll also say, there are so many fantastic free things to do and the annual guide is a great way to see what your options are. Walking down Peel Street and watching the buskers with kids, going to the carnival, even heading to the shopping centre – there was the most amazing band playing there too. There’s always something happening and you’re surrounded by people who are living their best life.

"I love how the festival shows younger generations how fun country music actually is and that it’s not just a daggy old genre for people who are 60-plus.”

ROSAMUND BURTON

How long have you been attending the TCMF? I’ve been going with my husband Steve for about 20 years.

What's your earliest memory of the festival? I don’t have a memory of one particular day, but I do remember the 2008 Festival very well. On several mornings we went to Steve Passfield’s fabulous breakfast show at the West Leagues Club – and that was the year he won a Golden Guitar Award. Simply Bushed were playing in one of the pubs, so every evening we were up dancing to them. During the day we’d stroll along Peel Street to catch all the performers, always making sure we saw the Chicken Man (Frank Turton), who had one perched on his hat, and was surrounded by the rest. It was 2008 that the Imperial Hotel decided to transform the beer garden into a beach by filling it with sand, and we all attempted to ride the electric surfboard. We’re looking forward to experiencing everything on offer in 2024.

What do you love most about the event? A highlight for me is sitting in a pub and hearing a great band for the first time. I remember being mesmerised by The Perch Creek Family Jugband performing at the Longyard Hotel – I just couldn’t believe the musical ability of this group of siblings.

What would be your top tip for someone attending the event for the first time? I think people who have never been to the festival are unaware of the huge variety of music and types of gigs on offer – from the well-known artists performing in the park, to little-known bands playing in the back room of a pub on the outskirts of town. My top tip is to spend a few days at the festival and go with no preconceived ideas. *

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

Need a breather from the festival? No worries. Check out these non-festival things to do while in Tamworth.

Tamworth Country Music Trail

A must-do when you visit Tamworth, especially during the Toyota Country Music Festival. Includes the iconic Big Golden Guitar, the National Guitar Museum and the bronze statue of the legendary Slim Dusty.

Tamworth and Kootingal Horse Riding Adventures

No horse-riding experience is required for this ultimate country experience of riding through the picturesque hills near Kootingal – just 20 minutes outside of Tamworth.

Tamworth Marsupial Park

Get up close with kangaroos, emus and a wide range of native birds at the Tamworth Marsupial Park. The park is completely free and is only a five-minute drive from the Tamworth CBD.

Visit Barraba

Head off the beaten track and see the awe-inspiring 40-metre high The Water Diviner silo art. Barraba is on the doorstep to the beautiful Warrabah National Park and Horton Falls National Park.

destinationtamworth.com.au

From top – Claudia Monique, Rosamund Burton and Jessica Zalums.

BECOME A FRIEND OF FOUND

Happy days! To advertise in our glorious magazine, get in touch with Claudia today to hear all about our whole range of packages, including bespoke opportunities – and thank you from the bottom of our regional lovin’ hearts.

claudia@foundregional.com.au 0439 700 280

Print offers a multisensory experience for maximum emotional impact – that means colours popping from the page, the weight and texture of the magazine as you hold it in your hands, hearing the pages crease as you turn them and even smelling the ink.

In theFrame

In theFrame

YARRILA ARTS AND MUSEUM COFFS HARBOUR

A GLIMPSE INTO THE ART WORLD WITH YARRILA ARTS AND MUSEUM, WHERE ART IS FOR EVERYONE.

HALFWAY

Adv. (being) at a place that is the same distance from two other places, or in the middle of something.

Adj. not very, but enough to be satisfactory.

WORDS Ash Frost, YAM Curator yarrilaartsandmuseum.com.au @yam.coffs

Opening Summer 2023, Halfway is a signature contemporary visual arts exhibition in the opening year of the new Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) at Yarrila Place.

Yarrila, pronounced YA-re-la, is a Gumbaynggirr word that means ‘illuminate / brighten / light up / illustrate’. Located on the Mid North Coast of Australia, YAM opened its doors in September 2023.

The exhibition Halfway celebrates the opening of YAM, taking us on a collective journey to explore place and the identity of a regional town as we are confronted with significant change through major infrastructure projects, both in the cultural and physical landscape.

Most Australians know Coffs Harbour as a place on the Pacific Highway, with a big banana, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. Now it is the last of 30 towns to be bypassed by the Pacific Highway upgrade. Highways and the places associated with them are sometimes thought of as ‘non-places’: spaces of transience and anonymity. The exhibition explores the duality of Coffs Harbour as a place and non-place, where the built environment is dominated by motels, service stations, ‘Big Things’ and tourism objects like windmills and model villages.

The freedom of the open road is an underpinning value in Australia, in contrast to the quiet, more insular life of the regional town. Yet, the freedom of the highway is transitory, even illusory, and works against a deeper engagement with place and environment. How do time, space, speed and distance shape our perceptions of a place? And how does an identity derived from being the ‘halfway point on the highway’ change when the highway is no longer there?

Gerwyn Davies, Prawn 2016, digital inkjet print. Collection, HOTA Gallery. © Image courtesy of the artist.

Halfway invites us to consider these questions through art and social history items from the YAM collection, loans, and commissions. Commissions include local artists Alyson Pearson, YOWA (Alanna Shorter) and Peter Wade who reimagine souvenirs in a post-bypass environment. Photographer Leah Moore and artist dowatfeelsgood (Jack Hodges), capture life and business on the roadside. A large-scale installation by Jane Skeer towers over us in the gallery as we encounter truck straps with the landscape embedded in their surface. Brisbane-based artist Yannick Blattner presents sculptural work featuring camp chairs that are neither open nor closed, neither distinctly pleasant nor unpleasant.

These works sit alongside several artworks that speak to human impacts on the environment, death, risk-taking, speeding, accidents, and memorials. Michael Corridore captures burn-out meets across regional Australia with his series Angry Black Snake Blak Douglas reinterprets road infrastructure with a sculpture depicting the traffic guide, often referred to as a ‘silent cop’, which is designed to ensure drivers don’t cut the corner when turning. Silent Cop is dedicated to the perpetrators of police brutality and misuse of power resulting in the disproportionate deaths in custody of Aboriginal people. Ronnie Grammatica presents images of roadside memorials created and lovingly maintained by grieving family and friends.

Halfway evokes travel scenes that send greetings from the familiar realms of regional holidays and everyday commutes. Imagine a guest from the 1960s who would spend the night at The Plantation Hotel as part of a stopover with Pioneer Bus Tours; a child’s vivid memory stopping at Coffs Harbour on driving holidays from Brisbane to Sydney with the anticipation and excitement of seeing the Big Banana each time; a solo Sunday driver taking the ‘old highway’ for a scenic route; the everyday commuter dreading the 12 sets of traffic lights through Coffs. For others, trips might include stopping at the Clog Barn, The Honey Place; or a hotel room not quite living up to the brochure. If you were lucky, a longer stay in town with summers spent jumping off Coffs Jetty, days at the Aqua Jet (circa 1990s), holidays with the serenity of freedom and the crackle of the radio. Are we there yet?

On the whole, Halfway unveils dualities. On one hand, it celebrates the privilege of holidays, evoking vivid memories of families eagerly anticipating roadside attractions and the simple joys of the open road. Yet, this celebration is juxtaposed with a sobering reflection on the potential risks and dangers that the highway brings from speeding, accidents, and deaths, as well as the way its dominance shapes and impacts the lifestyle and identity of places it passes through. Halfway invites us to navigate these intersections, provoking thought on how the freedom of the road coexists with the responsibility it demands.

This exhibition is supported by the Dobell Exhibition Grant program, funded by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW. *

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AT YAM

Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM), a new contemporary cultural hub on Gumbaynggirr Country in the heart of Coffs Harbour CBD, opened its doors in September 2023.

YAM, a City of Coffs Harbour cultural facility, has five contemporary exhibition spaces, including Yaamanga Around here, a permanent exhibition that explores the history and identity of the Coffs Coast and showcases the museum and gallery's collection. The other exhibition spaces host a dynamic program of rotating exhibitions.

The 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, a South Australian Museum exhibition Friday 1 December 2023 – Sunday 11 February 2024

Halfway Friday 8 December 2023 – Sunday 11 February 2024

Never Neverland Thursday 14 December 2023 – Sunday 4 February 2024

Fluttering on the Surface Thursday 8 February – Sunday 24 March 2024

Ok! Motherhood Thursday 8 February – Sunday 24 March 2024

Robert Moore, The Sydney to Brisbane silver hardarse service, 1989, metal, found object. Coffs Collections.

Peter Wade, Mood Banana 1, 2023, White Beech, acrylic, ink. Image courtesy of the artist.

REGIONAL ABODES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, SURE TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY, OVERNIGHT RETREAT OR RENOVATION PROJECT.

THE SURF

Housed in a distinctive curved building echoing the design of classic 1930s ocean liners, The Surf embodies beachside luxury at its finest. There are robes. And rain showers. And a rooftop deck complete with 360-degree ocean views and a plunge pool. You’re welcome.

PHOTOGRAPHY Elise Hassey and Amber Toms

GETTING THERE

Keen to hit The Surf? Good call – these digs look all kinds of perfect for the summer months ahead. Hailing from Yamba, The Surf is a comfy drive from just about everywhere in the New England, including Armidale (three hours), Guyra (three and a half hours), Glen Innes (two and a half hours), Inverell (three and a half hours) and Tamworth (just under five hours). For the Coffs Harbour folks wanting to compare waves, it’s a cruisy one and a half hours up the coast for you guys. City folks, you’re looking at a three-hour drive from Brisbane and either a one-hour flight from Sydney or a fun-filled six-hour road trip. We’d suggest listening to The Beach Boys along the way.

THE STORY

The Surf is owned by the Mayne family, who have considered Yamba a second home for more than 40 years. Graziers in their day-to-day life, the Maynes aren’t strangers to the hospitality scene either, having owned and operated the Barkly Homestead in the Northern Territory for 15 years. Swapping red earth for rolling waves, they seized the opportunity to buy The Surf 12 years ago and set about redeveloping the site – which just happens to be perfectly positioned opposite Yamba’s Main Beach. The result is a luxurious, private space boasting stunning ocean views and a roof deck screaming out for a G&T at sunset.

FAST FACTS

WHO?

The Mayne family has created Yamba’s only boutique hotel – ideal for anyone seeking a chilled-out retreat complete with ocean views.

WHAT?

The Surf – a luxurious, beachside escape in the heart of Yamba.

WHEN?

Book online at: thesurfyamba.com.au @thesurfyamba

WHERE?

Yamba, NSW

THE STAY

Inspired by the local landscape and iconic beaches, The Surf offers up 12 dreamy rooms ideally designed for a luxury retreat for two. Ocean views a must for your beachside escape? Be sure to book a room on the second floor – but no matter where you rest your head, you’ll be treated to some serious luxurious vibes. We’re talking deluxe king beds, private balconies, rain showers, Bemboka bathrobes, custom-crafted furnishings and terrazzo surfaces. Need to combine work with play? No worries – here’s some free Wi-Fi and a Smart 55” TV with Foxtel and media casting. The Surf has considered every practicality too, with each room featuring kitchenettes complete with caffeine and mini bar.

THE INTERESTING BITS

Designed by Sydney’s Design King Company, a distinctive curved building houses the hotel, echoing the design of the classic 1930s ocean liners. While ‘onboard’, guests can lap up uninterrupted 360-degree views of the ocean from the rooftop terrace and plunge pool. Yes, you read that right – rooftop – heated – plunge – pool. Still feel as though something’s missing? Maybe something to snack on? How about a hamper? Done. You can preorder a specially prepared, gourmet hamper or platter, showcasing local and regional produce, to be delivered to your room or roof deck. Checkmate. *

ECO-WARRIOR TALES FROM ACROSS THE LAND, SHOWCASING THE SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES BUSINESSES ARE BUILDING FROM THE GREEN GROUND UP.

WHEN SUSTAINABLE DREAMS COME TRUE

WORDS Steph Wanless PHOTOGRAPHY Jim A. Barker

Sandro and Stefania Pallotta are on a mission to prove that slow fashion manufacturing is entirely possible in the land down under – in Glen Innes, NSW, to be specific. Together, they’re choosing organic, natural fibres and sustainable practices every step of the way.

“I always say this is our third life – our first life was in Italy, our second life arrived when we moved to Sydney with our two sons and now here we are, starting again with our business in Glen Innes and a home in Guyra. I saw a house online. I fell in love with a picture and I said to my husband, ‘Monday we go’. We came, we saw the house, I bought the house, that was it.”

Stefania Pallotta sounds every bit the poet explaining how she and her husband Sandro ended up running a slow and sustainable fashion business aptly named The Organic Tshirt in the New England. She speaks with passion, and with an Italian accent that lingers from her first life. It’s no surprise to hear the couple aren’t new to business ownership, with Sandro in particular boasting more than 40 years’ experience in fashion.

“I’m the talker – it’s the way it’s always been since we first met at the age of 16. But he’s happy for me to talk for him,” laughs Stefania. “His career began back in Italy – he started a pattern-making course when he was just 20 years old. The year was 1986 and fashion in Italy was big. He worked in leather, then bridal gowns, then opened his own business.”

While running a fashion business in Italy sounds seriously dreamy, Stefania goes on to reveal how the economy took a turn for the worst and the young family were forced to reconsider their options. A move to Sydney heralded the start of their second life and Sandro secured patternmaking work with some of Australia’s leading labels, including Charlie Brown, sass & bide, Supre and Cotton On.

As for Stefania, her love for all things mind, body and spirit led her to establish her own private practice offering remedial massage, aromatherapy, reiki, astrology and life coaching. For 11 years, Stefania soothed souls while Sandro cut cloth. Until one day, she was searching for a uniform made of organic cotton and kept coming up blank. Extensive research teamed with a can-do attitude led to the creation of The Organic Tshirt in 2011.

“People thought we were crazy, saying manufacturing in Australia is impossible and that the competition is too tough,” says Stefania. “But we wanted to give it a go and since bringing Sandro on board, we’ve grown from strength to strength. I say if you have a dream, you can achieve it –and making the business as sustainable as possible is a big part of that dream.”

GET YOUR ORGANIC THREADS ON

The Organic Tshirt is a proud Licensee of The Australian Made Campaign, Australian Owned and Made. If you’re keen to help Sandro and Stefania buck big, fast fashion trends all while supporting local manufacturing and the environment, get in touch today.

2/150 Ferguson Street, Glen Innes theorganictshirt.com @theorganictshirt

RETURN TO SLOW FASHION

According to Clean Up Australia, the average Australian buys 56 items of clothing every year, most of which are made from non-sustainable, non-durable materials. Year on year, the price of clothing continues to drastically decrease, while the negative impacts to the environment as a result of the fashion industry continue to increase. What’s more, Greenpeace says the average person buys 60 per cent more clothing and keeps each item for about half as long as they did 15 years ago. It’s a trend Stefania is all too aware of.

“My mother was a tailor and she would make beautiful, good quality clothes for us that lasted years. The only reason you couldn’t wear it anymore was because you’d grown too big. That’s the kind of slow fashion we’re trying to move back to with The Organic Tshirt, all while supporting Australian manufacturing too,” she says.

To get there, Stefania and Sandro adopt the following key practices in their daily business.

NATURAL FIBRES

“We use only organic cotton, grown without harmful pesticides and fertilisers, preventing pollution and contamination of our planet. We also use Australian Merino wool, which is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, making it another excellent choice for clothing.”

BUY FROM LOCAL SUPPLIERS

“We buy fabric, labels and any accessories we need to make our clothing range from local and Australian suppliers. That goes for every element of the business, from the factory floor to our front office – we will always look to buy from an Australian company first in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint.”

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

“Our focus is on quality rather than quantity. We buy our fabric and accessories from the same Australian suppliers to ensure quality control and we cut and manufacture clothing that, if looked after, will last longer.”

COMPOSTABLE MAILERS

“We use satchels, made from home-compostable materials to ship our online orders. Additionally, any leftover fabric is used to make small bags to place clothing inside for extra protection when shipping. Scrap fabric pieces that are too small to make bags from are donated to local businesses as cleaning cloths.”

LOCALLY MADE TO ORDER

“To reduce environmental impact, we have cut down stock. We only order the fabric we need, produce clothing in small quantities and prioritise manufacturing on demand. When it comes to printing, we have our own in-house printer so we can offer on demand direct to garment and heat transfer printing too.”

As for the future, it looks bright.

“We are so proud to call Glen Innes home and bring our all-Australian, sustainable fashion offering to the local community and the nation beyond,” adds Stefania. “Our aim is to expand the business, employ a couple of machinists and keep following our dreams in this, our third life.” *

MAKING IT TO MADISON

Jake Douglas is the Owner and Coach at Tamworth’s Snake Athletic – where elite and everyday athletes train side by side. He’s also Ellen’s fiance, Frankie and Johnny’s dad, and sits in the top 0.02 per cent of male CrossFit athletes worldwide. Here’s how he made it to Madison, Wisconsin, to compete in the 2023 CrossFit Games.

WORDS Jessica Bradbery PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Watson

Before August 2023, walking through the doors of Snake Athletic in Tamworth’s Taminda industrial estate, you’d have seen one of the more than 30 weekly classes in session – a mix of tradies and teachers, nurses and doctors, mums with prams in tow, retirees (our oldest member is Jack, who recently celebrated his 84th birthday), sports teams in the off-season, police officers and everyone in between going about their daily workout.

Or, you’d have seen Jake Douglas – owner, coach and CrossFit Games athlete – working through one of his multiple gruelling daily workouts alongside training partner and fellow coach, Georgia Pryer.

Starting Snake Athletic in 2012 in his garage, Jake spent years coaching every class, running the business and working on his own goals as an athlete. He even continued working as a plumber for a short time, coaching classes before and after work before making Snake his full-time business.

In 2022, Jake narrowly missed a ticket to the CrossFit Games, coming fifth in a field of 40 when he needed to place in the top three. It was then he decided to do whatever it took to qualify for the Games in 2023.

With his ever-supportive fiancé Ellen by his side, their two children Frankie and Johnny cheering him on, and a can-do team helping to run Snake, Jake threw everything he had at making the Games vision a reality. He became a full-time athlete whose only mission for the 2023 season was to eat, sleep, train and be the best man he could for his family. ››

AGAINST ALL ODDS

The journey to Madison, Wisconsin, home of the CrossFit Games since 2017, was eight years in the making for Jake. One that involved nearly every possible excuse for not continuing to pursue elite fitness: multiple surgeries, becoming a father of two, running a business through COVID lockdowns, just missing out on qualifying, and finally making it to the Games as one of the oldest competitors in the field at 32.

Jake committed to his dream of qualifying for the CrossFit Games in 2015.

Competing in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting for several years, Jake was on track to join the Commonwealth Games Weightlifting team in 2019 in the 96kg class before an elbow injury ruled him out of the qualifying event. Jake returned to playing rugby, only to suffer a ruptured ACL during a game, which led to months of rehabilitation after multiple surgeries.

While the odds of ever making it back to a CrossFit Games qualifying level of fitness seemed stacked against him, Jake predicted his comeback in a pre-surgery Instagram post he wrote while lying in a hospital bed:

“I plan on coming back hard and fast. I’ll be fitter, stronger and more resilient than ever. Just wait and see.”

With a fifth-place CrossFit regionals finish in 2022, Jake knew he was on the right track. In early 2023, he was invited to join Mat Fraser’s training camp, Hard Work Pays Off –Mat, having won the CrossFit Games and crowned The Fittest Man on Earth five years in a row, was good company.

Now, for context, before you dismiss the idea of being able to give someone the title of the fittest on earth – or before the inevitable “but what about Iron Man champions, Olympic sprinters, professional soccer players, or MMA fighters…”

for the CrossFit Games, athletes must first participate in a three-week Open competition with over 322,000 competitors worldwide. Only the top 0.02 per cent of male CrossFit athletes worldwide qualify for the Games.

For Jake, the Torian Pro Qualifier event 2023 was a literal dream come true. His third-place finish placed him in that 0.02 per cent.

Take a scroll back through his Instagram to watch the moment he found out he’d qualified for the Games –Jake’s teary, clinging-to-daughter-Frankie’s-T-shirtreaction says it all.

THE GAMES

For those who love CrossFit, the Games are a surreal festival of all things fitness: a continual line-up of events to watch, a vendor village of every possible CrossFitassociated brand to explore, pop-up bars and food vendors to enjoy, as well as group workouts led by CrossFit HQ to join.

The week-long event attracts 50,000 people and hundreds of athletes across all divisions. It’s hot and loud and exciting and awe-inspiring.

Under the Wisconsin summer sun, Jake competed with everything he had and fought till the very last rep. While he placed far from where he hoped on the leaderboard, he inspired thousands with his effort and sportsmanship.

Reflecting on his journey and whether his children are his ‘why’, Jake mused, “They’re everything, they drive me – they’re not ‘why’ I’m competing, I’m competing because I’m that way inclined, and I need to compete in something, I enjoy it.

“I plan on coming back hard and fast. I’ll be fitter, stronger and more resilient than ever.”

Consider what it takes to find the fittest man and woman on earth.

The CrossFit Games are a gruelling test of fitness that athletes from around the world train for years to compete in. The competition spans all fitness domains, including cardiovascular, endurance, stamina, flexibility, power, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy, training for the unknown and unknowable – making them a test of mental strength just as much physical.

The workouts are announced just before and during the Games and can include any combination of running, swimming, bike riding, Olympic weightlifting, and gymnastics.

The fittest man and woman on earth are crowned after completing 12-15 workouts over four days. To even qualify

“But I really appreciate the fact that I get to set an example for them in the way I compete, the way I continue to show up – the lessons of perseverance, dedication, resilience that I get to set by example, not by just talking to them about it.”

Which is exactly what he does for the community at Snake Athletic. He leads by example, proving for over a decade that no matter your goals, hard work pays off.

And despite all the attention he’s gained, the podcast interviews, the hundreds lining up for a photo, sponsorships and thousands of supportive comments flooding his Instagram posts – Jake remains the same humble, hard-working, hyper-active, storytelling, family man with the big heart that the Snake community has always known.

Post-CrossFit Games, you may find Jake coaching or simply training with a class – more concerned about making sure his members have the best hour of their day when they walk through the doors of Snake than talking about his achievements on the world stage. Although, we’re all hoping to see him back there in 2024. *

BRISK TRADING

After 25 years working as a graphic designer, Bronwyn Grills had enough of staring at a screen. Her next move? To open Brisk Trading in Bradley Street, Guyra – a space filled with treasures and trinkets, coffee, colour and (more recently) CROP Hair Design. Today, the store serves as a happy oasis for locals and visitors alike.

WORDS Steph Wanless

Tell me about your life before Brisk Trading was born… I’m a Guyra girl through and through. I went to school in Armidale and skipped town for Sydney right after Year 12, thinking I’d never, ever return. My first move was to do a graphic design diploma at the Billy Blue College of Design. At the time, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and my art teacher said she thought I’d make a good graphic designer. So there I was, learning about the fundamentals and theory of design the old fashioned way – no computers to be seen. While I’m glad I learnt that way, by the time I graduated it was hard to find work as times were shifting and employers wanted us to have computer skills. I luckily got a job in publicity at ABC TV. There I learnt how to use the latest design software – it was an interesting job with interesting people. But after two to three years, I decided to travel and worked in London for a few months, backpacked around Europe and travelled to New York and Zimbabwe.

How did you end up back in Guyra? It’s that classic regional fairytale – I came home and married a farmer, so I’m here forever. I’d come back to visit and on one of those trips, I bumped into my now-husband at the pub, we’d known each other in primary school. I have two memories of him from back then – that his house burnt down and that his new house had a spa. It’s funny the things that stay with you. We got married in 1998 and that’s when I started freelancing and also spent seven years teaching part-time at Armidale TAFE. Back then they had a Certificate and Diploma of Graphic Design and I loved the opportunity to experience a departure from my usual work. It was so rewarding to help people develop their potential. Before then I’d been working within different organisations as a designer, all print work, including newspapers. By the time I started freelancing from Guyra, it was becoming easier to do things digitally… but after 25 years I’d had enough of staring at a screen. I yearned to do something for the community. In the space of a few short months I’d seen eight businesses close down, the town was really in the doldrums and I just thought I can’t sit back and watch this happen.

And so Brisk Trading was born? Exactly. I’d always wanted to have a go at this, to bring a happy oasis to the streets of Guyra. Looking back, it was probably a bit of a folly given I had no retail experience, but I knew I wanted to do something for the town – that was my whole vision. So I started out in the smaller space next door. I didn’t want a cookie-cutter shop, nothing prescriptive by any

means – I wanted something filled with unique treasures, products I love and that are a reflection of me. I’m also happiest if I’m doing something that helps me express my creativity – thinking and dreaming, planning and making. Brisk ticked that box for me too. The year we opened, our community faced the worst drought we’ve ever seen and the 12 months that followed were horrendous. In a way, the shop became a bit of an oasis, particularly for farming women. They didn’t have much money to spare, because everything was going into feeding stock. But it was lovely to be able to provide a space where they could come in and forget about what was actually happening in the world, even for a little while.

How did you join forces with Cathy from CROP Hair Design? It very much came from discussions while having my hair done. She was in a little salon further down the street and needed more room. The more we talked, the more we realised we shared the same vision for Guyra and what we’d love to do for the town. Together, we imagined a shared space where people could shop, sit and talk, have their hair done, feel good about themselves and leave feeling nurtured. So when this larger space became available, it was serendipitous for both of us and we just went for it. The building is 102 years old and up until 2021 when we moved in, it had always been home to a pharmacy. I guess you could say we broke the mould and haven’t looked back since. Sure it’s come with its challenges – getting people to come in off the highway is an ongoing battle, so we continue to expand our offering and now serve Allpress coffee and have a beauty therapy space out the back… there’s more to come there too, so watch this space!

What would your advice be to anyone considering opening a retail space? Find the reason why people need to come to you. That’s been a game changer for me. I was very much in the business of stuff you’d like, but don’t need. But having Cathy and the CROP Hair Design team here offering a service that people need has given people a reason to walk into the shop, and now serving coffee has added another reason for folks to visit. In a small town, trying to get people through the door can be tricky, but once they’re inside, I want them to feel happy they came. This is a place of respite, of joy and nurturing. And while I’ll never make my fortune here, that’s not the point. I’m here to bring a positive space to the community I’m proud to call home; and that makes me feel good. *

HOCKEY STARS AND HIGH FLYERS

Discover how Liv Wilson and Katie Edwards are striking the perfect balance between study, sports and flying high in the tight-knit NEGS community.

WORDS As told to Steph Wanless

LIV WILSON

Head Prefect 2023/24

It’s been hectic from day one as Head Prefect – but great fun too. I’m lucky I’ve got such a good team around me, that makes all the difference. I’ve felt that support network since I first came to NEGS as a boarder in Year 8. It’s so much fun – the perfect combination of random chats while brushing your teeth at night, then having your own space to focus on your studies.

My favourite subjects are chemistry and PDHPE – I love my sport. I’ve played hockey since I could basically walk and it’s been a big part of my life ever since (thankfully the school has amazing hockey facilities!). It started with my mum – she’s a hockey player too. I think watching her play inspired me to follow in her footsteps, I wanted to be just like her. I play attacking midfielder, which keeps me up near the striking line, and led me to make the NSW team last year. More recently, I’ve also been selected for the NSW Futures Team – a group of under 18 players who want to pursue a pathway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

We have a small training group that meets every Tuesday for fitness drills and training, then once every few months the whole Futures Team meets up at a camp. There will be hundreds of hockey players in the one area –amazing.

I know sport will always be a part of my life, and hopefully a part of my career after school too. I want to do primary school education, but a recent trip to Sydney Uni showed me how I can combine that interest with my passion for sport by doing a major in teaching with a minor in sports science. So that’s my plan for now.

In the meantime, it’s serving as a great balance from my studies as I prepare for the HSC – something I’ve been able to achieve thanks to support of the school community, too. Things can get busy, but being able to go and be with friends, do some intense training and just be together as a team is great for my mental health. I learnt early on just how important it is to balance my studies with my sport commitments. When I first arrived in Year 8, I had sport every morning and every afternoon. So I needed to learn to manage my time quickly. As the years have gone on, I’m more grounded and have come up with systems that work for me – like doing school work at lunch times so my afternoons are free for hockey. Learning those time management skills is really helping me now, because it’s going to be a big year ahead – but I know it’s nothing I can’t handle.

EDUCATION

Co-educational Pre-K to Year 6 Senior Girls Day and Boarding School 128 years young 13-83 Uralla Road, Armidale negs.nsw.edu.au @negs_armidale (02) 6774 8700

KATIE EDWARDS

Deputy Prefect 2023/24

I first came to NEGS for transition through to Year 1, then left to go to my new home town of Mudgee. But, halfway through Year 6, I had the opportunity to return as a boarder and I haven’t left since. It’s such a great, close-knit community and, growing up as an only child, I’m especially grateful for my boarding sisters.

I was recently selected as Deputy Prefect for 2023/24 – it’s been busy, but worth it. I love working with Liv and the leadership team and have also been working with the Head of the Creative Arts Department to enhance that space for the school.

I love the creative arts and am a big music person – I play the pipe organ, the flute, piano and guitar. I also love history and am studying modern, ancient and extension history for my HSC. As for sport, I’m the captain of the rifle shooting team – that’s been a real pleasure to lead our ever-growing team. It’s more of a patience sport than running around; I like that, I like taking my time to line up a shot and hit that target. Next year, I hope to compete with the team in the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools in Sydney. It’s the co-curricular activities like these that I love about NEGS – none of it would be possible without the opportunities the school provides.

I juggle all of that with my other big passion – flying.

I started lessons in 2022. I currently have my Student Pilot Licence and am working towards my Recreational Pilot Licence. It runs in the family; my great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father were all pilots. So I’m a fourth generation pilot and am also proud to be the first female pilot in my family line. One of the best things about flying is sharing that passion with my dad. It’s been 20 years since he’s flown, but because of me he’s up in the air again. That makes me so happy.

I had my first solo flight earlier this year. That was a great moment for me, albeit a little stressful. I remember singing while I was preparing to fly to calm my nerves. Obviously you have to be on your game, but you also have these moments where you’ll see the shadow of your aircraft on the ground. That’s when I can’t help but stop and think: that’s me, people can see me up here and I’m flying this aircraft. It’s a surreal but incredible experience. It’s a good thing mentally too, it makes you feel very in control of yourself, your aircraft, and serves as a good baseline for staying calm under pressure.

Where to from here? By the end of Year 12 I’ll have my Recreational Pilot Licence, university is on the horizon, but I’ll also work towards my Private Pilot Licence and ultimately, I hope to go for my Commercial and Air Transport Pilot Licences. That’s what will enable me to fly Qantas, Rex or FlyPelican – that’s exactly where I want to be. *

DREAM SANDWICH

A CELEBRATION OF FOOD AS A STORYTELLER, CULTURAL PECULIARITIES, NOTICING THE UNNOTICED, NOSTALGIA AND LOVE.

THE PRAWN

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Jen Drew @adventuresofjen

The prawn. Polarising little guy, but for the prawn lovers – it’s summer’s best mate. My summer memories seem to feature these little orange heroes on the regular.

The Prawn Cocktail – 80s classic. Mum’s ‘good’ glassware, prawns, shredded iceberg lettuce, all drowned in cocktail sauce with the occasional lemon twist and maybe something involving a cocktail onion and a toothpick with the green cellophane top. Those toothpicks were king. Prepping these with Mum, Fleetwood Mac cassette tape on repeat – I thought we were the fanciest family on James Avenue.

The 80s Party Platter – you couldn’t attend a dinner party or BBQ in the 80s without one of these in circulation. Prawns and cocktail sauce, cabanossi, cheese cubes and Jatz crackers. Dialled up a notch with the addition of that hardto-chew parsley that only now seems to exist in butcher shop windows.

Prawn Sanger – perhaps not as mainstream among prawn eaters, but it was a staple in my summer holiday memory bank. Cheap white bread with zero nutritional value, freshly peeled prawns from the fisherman’s co-op and the updated version of cocktail sauce – Thousand Island Sauce (still not quite sure what this sauce is but sounded very fancy at the time). Served on a paper plate at the Coffs Harbour Jetty or simply eaten on our laps at the water’s edge. Sand, seagulls and sunburn included. Golden. *

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK

THE CUSTOMER-OWNED BANK COMMITTED TO REGIONAL AUSTRALIANS

THE REGIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK STORY

At Regional Australia Bank, we live and breathe that regional Australia spirit. We want to play an active and influential role in our communities, and empower the people and businesses of regional Australia to achieve great things. Originally established as New England Staff Credit Union at the University of New England in Armidale, our roots go all the way back to 1969. Following mergers with Peel Valley Credit Union in 2004, Orana Credit Union in 2008 and Hunter Mutual in 2010, we became the Community Mutual Group, operating under New England Mutual, Orana Mutual and Hunter Mutual in the relevant geographical areas.

In 2016, we became Regional Australia Bank. We have since expanded geographically through merging with Holiday Coast Credit Union, and we continue to empower more regional Australians through our customer-owned banking services. Our mission is to become the trusted bank for all regional Australians.

WE’RE DIFFERENT

Every time we help an individual person grow financially, every time we help a regional business succeed, we’re helping our communities grow and succeed – and that’s our measure of success. The ‘Big Four’ banks in Australia are owned by investors – they exist to generate profits to deliver dividends for shareholders. We’re different. How? Our only shareholders are our customers, which means our motivation is purely on delivering value to our customers – our Members. By delivering quality, competitively priced products, superior service and by investing back into our communities, we are focused every single day on what’s important: the prosperity of regional Australia.

WE’RE COMMITTED

We currently have 38 branches across regional NSW, including the New England North West, Central West, Mid North Coast and Greater Newcastle regions – each of them staffed by local people who are committed to helping you succeed. We recognise the integral part they play in local and regional communities, and are proud to say we’re committed to keeping our branch network open.

WE’RE INVESTED

We’re a regional bank, yes – face-to-face service and a quality relationship is second to none. Equally, we are invested in delivering the very best digital experience and security for our Members. Our digital services are just as important as our branch network. Our online banking app and digital wallet enable you to transact easily and access your accounts from your device, while our 24/7 fraud monitoring service monitors your account in real-time, and will alert you if and when a transaction looks suspicious.

WHERE YOU’LL FIND US

We keep our offices and call centres local – all are based in regional NSW. With head offices in Armidale and Port Macquarie, and multiple regional call centres reaching Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Newcastle and Dubbo, as well as our branch network, we’ve proudly created more than 250 jobs for people from regional NSW.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PEOPLE

Our dedicated staff are specialists in their fields and have been carefully selected to deliver on our promise to our customers. They all have a deep understanding of their local areas and get a real kick out of helping individuals achieve their lifestyle and financial goals. They share the desire to see our communities succeed, which is why you’ll often see them coaching the soccer team, working on committees or helping raise money for the next big community project.

WE BELIEVE IN INTEGRITY, RESPECT AND FAIRNESS

And we live and breathe those values every single day. After all, that’s the mindset of regional Australians –relationships built on trust and reliability, a strong sense of community and the feeling of unity and belonging. We bring regional Australian values to you.

AND WE BELIEVE IN ACTIONS, AS WELL AS WORDS

Talking the talk can be the easy bit. We make sure we walk the walk. Whether it’s giving back to the community through our Community Partnership Program, which financially supports 1700 community projects every year, keeping our branches open, or choosing not to pass on full interest rate rises to our Members, we do everything we can to support you and your community, every step of the way. We’re driven by doing right by our Members. *

“every time we help a regional business succeed, we’re helping our communities grow and succeed."

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WERRIS CREEK

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SOUTH WEST ROCKS

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CRESCENT HEAD

Armidale

WALCHA

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URUNGA Moonee Beach

SAWTELL

VALLA

OPEN WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY

BAR 12PM TILL LATE / LUNCH 12PM - 2:30PM / DINNER 5:30PM - 8:30PM

CONTACT US TO ENQUIRE ABOUT OUR FUNCTION SPACE AND ACCOMMODATION

(02) 6722 1611 / 81-87 BYRON STREET, INVERELL @AUSSIEHOTELINVERELL

FRIENDS OF FOUND

Armidale Regional Council armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au @armidaleregionalcouncil

Barnson barnson.com.au @barnson_pty_ltd

Brennan & Smith Optometrists brennanandsmith.com.au @brennanandsmithoptometrists

Camp Quality campquality.org.au @camp_quality

Central Hospitality Group thechgroup.com.au

Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort charlesworthbaybeachresort.com.au @charlesworthbaybeachresort

EG Family Law egfamilylaw.com.au @egfamilylaw

Eve Flowers eveflowers.com.au @eveflowerfarm

BECOME A FRIEND OF FOUND

Happy days! To advertise in our glorious magazine, get in touch with Claudia today to hear all about our whole range of packages, including bespoke opportunities – and thank you from the bottom of our regional lovin’ hearts.

claudia@foundregional.com.au 0439 700 280

Green Homes Armidale greenhomesaustralia.com.au/ builders-armidale @greenhomesarmidale

NEGS negs.nsw.edu.au @negs_armidale

New England High Country newenglandhighcountry.com.au @nehighcountry

Oxford on Otho oxfordonotho.com.au @oxfordonotho

Powerhouse Hotel

Tamworth by Rydges rydges.com/accommodation/regionalnsw/powerhouse-hotel-tamworth @powerhousetamworth

Regarde Jewellers regardejewellers.com.au @regardejewellers

Regional Australia Bank regionalaustraliabank.com.au @regionalaustraliabank

Roberts + Morrow rm.net.au @roberts_and_morrow

Tamworth Regional Council tamworth.nsw.gov.au @tamworthregionalcouncil

The Australian Hotel @aussiehotelinverell

Tourist Hotel Narrabri touristhotelnarrabri.com.au @tourist_hotel_narrabri

Yarrila Arts and Museum yarrilaartsandmuseum.com.au @yam.coffs

Walcha Council walchansw.com.au @walchansw

W. Short Hospitality wshorthospitality.com.au @w.shorthospitality

TALES FROM THE BAR

WITH PETAR MASKEY

THE RED LION TAVERN, GLENCOE

Facebook @theredliontavern

PHOTOGRAPHY Jim A. Barker

It's an exciting feeling to be part of the history of this building and to contribute to a place that holds such an important historical aspect in the region.

Customers who haven't been in the building for 20 or 30 years walk in and almost immediately, their eyes go to a corner of the bar. They might have someone with them as they tell a story and point to a seat that used to be in the corner, or a picture that used to hang on the wall. It's just so nice to see them revisiting old memories while enjoying the changes we’ve made.

Since becoming the new business owners, we've embraced the Celtic history of the tavern and the region and mixed it

in with our own Celtic history. It's not just the same business reopened – it's actually a new one and we're driving forward with our passion for all things Celtic. Everything we provide here has a Celtic twist, right from the food to our large collection of Celtic whiskies, gins and other spirits.

A couple of times we’ve had people call up in the morning to tell us they’re just leaving and they’ll be here after lunch. When they arrive, we discover they’ve come all the way from Sydney or Brisbane, only to turn around and head back home at the end of the day. It's been quite a thrill to see that level of support and interest. *