November 2019
CONTENTS
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Welcome i’m never too
sure about this time of the year. Despite everyone banging on about summer and when is it coming, my partially polar predilection means I already miss winter, even spring has its delightfully cool days. As the thaw fades into memory, and the blossoms spread from one end of the state to the other, one thing is on everyone’s mind. No, it’s not Christmas (except in the minds of the big retailers). Yes, it is November and that means spring — and the spring carnival. And, of course, the race that stops the nation. So girls fear not, we’ve got more fashion than you could poke a fascinator at. You’re sure to find something to help you get in the spirit for racing season. Our cover girls showcase the women who are set to be the leading ladies of the Echuca race track for this year’s cup day meeting. But here at bella+beau HQ there is a
more serious challenge ahead of us — albeit fashionably serious. For November means it’s time for guys to be a mo bro. The month aims to raise awareness for a number of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, which now kills more men than breast cancer kills women. Then there is mental health, the dark spectre of suicide and more. It is a cause which has touched so many; and encourages everyone to get on board and support the cause. As a journalist, I’m introduced to many people with so many important stories to share. But other times, as people, we don’t know the half of it. There are people silently suffering, whether it be directly or indirectly, from any of the above examples, and we would like to show them they are not alone. We will be sharing the stories of people working in the Riv office who will be taking part in the fundraiser. Between our editorial and advertising teams we will be raising funds walking
kilometres and, of course, some of us will be growing a luscious ‘stache, beard, goatee or anything in between. The before photos will also be showcased in our feature with the after pictures coming in the next edition of bella+beau. And if you’re low on inspiration for the mo you want to grow, don’t fret! We have a page dedicated to different styles of mos for you to give a go. But don’t think the ladies can’t get involved. We’ll also be hearing from a handful of ‘mo-sisters’, the wives, partners, daughters and friends of those taking part in the cause. These women will help lead the charge and make a difference by doing everything the guys do, with the exception of facial hair. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get my walking shoes on and get mo-ving …
Alex Gretgrix Editor
CONTENTS The thin blue line comes at a hefty cost........4 Unlabelledel.............................................................................10 Suddenly awesome............................................................10 Eenie, meanie, mighty Mo..........................................12 Spring, racing, Echuca...................................................14 Beauty is skin deep; skin cancer goes deeper.............................................................................16 Got milk?....................................................................................18
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Cassie’s the queen of the showring — and that’s no bull...........................................................21 Cool fashion for the hot days ahead................24 Recipes.........................................................................................26
COVER
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CONTACT US
WANT MORE BELLA?
Editor: Alex Gretgrix alex.gretgrix@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111
facebook /bellamagazineechuca
Advertising: Kerry Vevers kerry.vevers@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111
Instagram @bellamagazineechuca riverineherald.com.au/@bella
Pictured at a recent meeting getting ready for the spring racing carnival were, from left, jockeys Jess Philpott, Mikaela Lawrence and Madison Lloyd. The three apprentices are the future face of racing in Victoria and they are becoming regulars here as well.
Photography: Cath Grey, Dairy Australia, Australian Pork Limited Editorial design: Bella Considine Advertising design: Bella Considine, Tanya Main Words: Ivy Jensen, Sophie Baldwin, Andrew Johnston, Charmayne Allison, Jared Prestwidge
568 High Street Echuca • 0491 108 643 • Open 7 days • Locally owned and operated
THE THIN BLUE LINE
comes at a hefty cost
PROFILE
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Bernadette Waddington wasn’t just any policewoman. She was a pioneer for women in the Victoria Police and across more than three decades was an overachiever in Victoria, nationally and then internationally. She went from consoling shattered family members after murders as a young uniformed officer to digging up bodies to help run graveside post mortems as part of an international peacekeeping mission. She shared her remarkable story with Riverine Herald senior writer IVY JENSEN proud to have been a trailblazer — but in her wildest dreams could never have imagined the horrors through which she would be forced to wade on that journey. Starting as a teenager with no real idea where she wanted to go with her life, Bernadette found herself the first female detective in Richmond and Echuca criminal investigation units. Investigating everything from burglaries to the most heinous crimes of which society’s most depraved are capable. Kidnappings, armed robberies, home invasions, rapes and, of course, murders. “I’ve seen so many bad things, too many bad things, and so much of it I can’t un-see,” she explained. “There have been so many horrific things, freak accidents and so many dead bodies I can’t even remember them all.” It’s a career that has spanned more than 30 years and has taken her not just around Australia but overseas as part of an Australian Federal Police mission. But Echuca has been the Detective Senior Constable’s home and ‘office’ for the past six years, during which time she has not just seen a lot — she has also achieved a lot. “They say once you join the police force, it’s a front row seat to the greatest show on earth,” she said. “You get to see a bit of everything, see people from all walks of life, you get to help people sometimes and make their day a bit better.” Bernadette joined the force as a 21-year-old after moving from Bendigo to Melbourne. “I was working at a production company in Fitzroy and one lunchtime I saw a police car drive past with a female driving it,” she said. “I was a bit lost and didn’t really know what I wanted to do career wise and I thought that might be interesting, so I applied and went from there. I found my niche and I loved it.” The young Constable started in 1986, doing her training in the Northcote/Coburg area before doing most of her uniform work in Fitzroy. Out of 30 police officers, she was one of just half a dozen women. “I was working the div van, going to burgs and domestics mainly,” she said. “I remember when I first got there, a man had
bernadette waddington is
been walking home with his wife and family from dinner and a person tried to steal his wife’s handbag and he stepped in — and they shot him dead. “He had a daughter at the scene and the next morning I was tasked to go and sit with her for the day. I was only 22 or so and here I am sitting with her trying to answer her questions. “She asked ‘why was my father shot in the street like a dog?’ I didn’t have any answers for her, so all I could do was just cry with her. I remember thinking I’m not really a counsellor. That wouldn’t happen these days.” Bernadette stayed at Fitzroy for four years before being seconded to a surveillance unit of the National Crime Authority, now known as the Australian Crime Commission. Based in covert locations around Melbourne, her job was following targets and gathering intelligence for investigators. “It was interesting. We had to go undercover a few times and follow people and find out what we could,” she said. “We worked all over Australia and I learnt a few tricks of the trade. But a couple of years there was enough.” But it was a stepping stone to the CIB (criminal investigation branch) as it was then known. And it took the Detective Senior Constable to Russell Street CIB (later amalgamating with City West) in 1993 for 18 months and Richmond CIB where she stayed for 10 years. Working with five other officers, Bernadette was the station’s first female detective. “I remember the Sergeant saying, ‘we don’t want a female here’. But they got one,” she said. “I actually ended up getting on very well with him and we’re still friends to this day. I probably have the fondest memories there as well as the early days. It was a great place to work.” Richmond “threw up a bit of everything” for Bernadette. “It was a massive heroin area,” she said. “Not long after I got there, in the mid-90s, every shift we were going to a fatal heroin overdose. I think that was the year fatal heroin
overdoses overtook the road toll in Victoria. Which didn’t surprise me because we were going to fatal overdoses all the time.” While she got used to dealing with dead bodies, dealing with the live families was never easy. “I found it harder dealing with the families than actually going to the fatal overdoses themselves, although that is sad,” she said. “People look at them and see druggies, but they’ve all got loving families behind them, and they’ve just gotten lost, so there’s a big ripple effect for everyone.” Richmond’s heroin trade meant drug crime was also prevalent. “Back in those days, offenders would simply wait for people at ATMs then pull out knives because it was such a big heroin area, so people would come there to commit crime because that’s where they would buy their drugs.” Her most high-profile case at Richmond was the brutal murder of 15-year-old dancer Rachel Barber in 1999. Bernadette was part of the initial investigation before it was handed over to the Missing Persons Squad. “She was last seen on a tram and it was first thought she had run away,” Bernadette said. It was later discovered her former babysitter — 19-year-old Caroline Robertson — was jealous of her and wanted to steal her identity. Robertson enticed Rachel to her house on the promise of earning $100 to take part in a psychology study. “She strangled her with electrical cord and got a removalist to take her body to Kilmore and bury her,” she said. Rachel’s body was found, with the black electric cable still knotted around her neck, in a shallow grave at a Kilmore property owned by Robertson’s father in 1999. >>>
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PROFILE
MY FIRST JOB WAS IDENTIFYING BODIES IN MASS GRAVES. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FEW AND TAKE THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH WAS AN
>>> At her trial, the court heard Robertson had a destructive obsession with her victim and wanted to “become” the younger girl. The story was turned into a film, In Her Skin, in 2009, starring Guy Pearce, Miranda Otto and Sam Neill. After a decade at Richmond, Bernadette was seconded to the AFP and was sent to the Solomon Islands through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Island (RAMSI). RAMSI’s mission was to help the Solomon Island’s government in maintaining security, law and justice, economic governance and improving the machinery of government. It was part of Operation HELPEM FREN (Pidgin for Helping Friend), with Bernadette joining troops from Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Over the next two years, she worked with the National Investigations Unit, which investigated every major crime on the islands. “We were there as advisers because of the civil war in the Solomons over the land,” she said. “Some police had gone rogue, so we were there to build trust in the community and capacity build the police to what they were. So we had to learn Pidgin English before we got there. “There had been mass murders due to the civil unrest, a lot of escapees were out, and the jails were full to overflowing.” Covering an archipelago of about 900 islands (300 are inhabited), her new found home was a huge culture shock. “It was such a different area and culture to work in,” she said. “My first job was identifying bodies in mass graves. I was able to identify a few and take them back to their families, which was an amazing experience.
amazing experience “When we did that, they treated us like we were God. They embraced us into their village and invited us to the funerals for bringing their loved one back. That was probably the most rewarding part of my career.” Bernadette also recalled a murder investigation that became so involved, it was almost comical. She was called to a murder at the Russell Islands where a husband and wife had been fishing. “A person with mental health issues has gone down and stabbed them,” she said. “The woman was seriously injured but her husband had died from his injuries.” But when Bernadette arrived on the island, she discovered the local villagers had caught the killer and cut his foot so he couldn’t run away. “This is what it’s like over there. It’s just so different,” she said. “When we get there, he’s in the clinic and his foot is all wrapped up and he’s carrying on, so we all get in the chopper and bring him back to Honiara with the deceased.” After a short flight, the killer and the dead man are put in the back of a troop carrier for the 20-minute drive to Honiara hospital. “When we open the back of the troop carrier, the offender is very quiet and is not moving so we put him on the gurney and the doctor starts pumping his chest … and then he says to me ‘him dead’,” Bernadette said. “As it turns out, the villagers have cut through all these tendons on his foot and he’s bled out this is what’s caused his death. So off we go with another crew to investigate that murder. But the next morning when we go to the hospital to continue our investigation and get the pathologist to examine the man who killed the
fisherman, we find the family has stolen his body from the morgue overnight. “Over there, their culture and religion dictate burial straight away when somebody dies. “If we investigated homicides on the other islands, by the time investigators got there, more often than not the deceased would already be buried. “In those situations, we would bring the pathologists over and the family would pray over the grave when we exhumed the body and the pathologist would do the examination right there and then we would re-bury the body and the family would be happy with that.” While this meant some evidence was lost, it was still worthwhile doing, Bernadette said, as pathologists could often determine cause of death immediately. Another challenge the detectives faced over there was the Wantok system — Pidgin English for ‘one talk’. “People are related to each other by a common language or district where they live. It works like a social security system where they’re obligated to give food and shelter and defend each other in conflicts,” Bernadette said. “Looking for escapees over there was hard because of that Wantok system because they’re sticking up for each other or hiding each other. Every time we went to a village, we’d have to speak to the chief so we could get permission to do anything.” During her 100-week mission, Bernadette and another colleague were sent to Nauru to investigate the burning down of the police station and courthouse. “The suspects were well known in the community and were a family that had a lot of pull and influence,” she said.
PROFILE
“We faced a lot of resistance from the Nauru police, but we found one who was on our side and helped us. My colleague and I were just put on one side of the island and left to run our own race. “We got some good results, but it was hard getting people to sign statements because it’s such a small community and retribution, but in the end, we were able to identify the offenders.” With her new found skills, Bernadette moved to Carlton CIB where she stayed for four years before making the tree change with husband Steve to Echuca in 2013. Once again, the pioneer became the first female detective for the Campaspe criminal investigation unit. “The last six years have been really good, and I’ve loved working here,” she said. That’s not to say she hasn’t seen her fair share of crime. “The one that sticks out to me the most was the home invasion in 2016 where an elderly man was stabbed to the neck and chest with a Stanley knife,” she said. “That was a shocking crime. A man sitting on his computer minding his own business and gets slashed up by a Stanley knife. “The offender was grabbing things off the hallway wall like artefacts and photo frames and throwing them on the floor and the man cut the tendons of his feet on them. “Because it was such a crime that upset everyone and even shocked some of the criminal elements in Echuca, it made it easier to identify
the person.” The 23-year-old offender had fled to Queensland, where he was arrested a month later over unrelated matters and sentenced to prison. “We went up and interviewed him up there in prison and extradited him when he was released,” Bernadette said. A few years ago, she investigated a historical rape in Rochester, where a baby had been born as a result. “It was back in the 1960s and she was a young woman living in Rochy and she and a friend were picked up by two men and taken out of Rochester where she was dragged from the vehicle and sexually assaulted,” she said. “After it happened, she was sent to a home with the nuns in Melbourne. She was given a hard time. She had the baby for about six months and then adopted it out because she had no support. “It was a very sad story and she was a lovely woman.” Although the woman did not know the man, Bernadette’s investigation skills led her to identify and charge him. “She had a really good memory and remembered the car and knew his first name. Everything just came together,” she said. The case went to trial in Bendigo, but it resulted in a hung jury. “A retrial started straight away, and it was a video of the first trial which was unfortunate because the second jury didn’t get to see her
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in the witness box so unfortunately we lost that trial,” Bernadette said. “My heart went out to her. She was brave enough to come out with it, lived it all these years and reconnected with that son. We did all the DNA testing, but the man just denied it all.” When it comes to the worst thing she’s seen in her career, Bernadette struggles to choose just one. “Children stick out. I’ve been to a few SIDS, a lot of suicides and a lot of bodies where no-one’s missed them and they’ve been there for a few months,” she said. Trauma is an inevitable part of the job for police and, as such, “we look at life a bit differently to other people”. “You just have to go into work mode and not let things get to you, but obviously there’s times when you can’t help it,” she said. “Sometimes I worry if I can’t get onto somebody. It affects me that way and I hope nothing’s happened to them. “If I’ve been to a job and go home and I can’t not think about it, my coping is just to open a bottle of wine. I can talk about it with my partner because he has the same background but sometimes you just push it aside. “Back when I started, there was nothing. If you had a bad job everyone would just congregate at the pub which wasn’t a good thing but that’s how we dealt with it. Now things are different. And I believe there is enough support out there.” Thankfully, she hasn’t suffered from many of the inherent risks of the job, mental or physical. “I’ve been threatened a few times but nothing I’ve lost any sleep over,” she said. “I was assaulted by a young girl once. I was in the back of the car after arresting her for an armed robbery and my offsider was in the front driving and she just lent over and slapped me. She took me by surprise more than anything.” And while she has had to pull out her gun a few times over the past three decades, she has only used it once and that was to shoot a dog hit by a car. “Anyone who knows me knows I get very sad when it comes to the death of animals,” she said. Animals have always been an important part of Bernadette’s life. “I am happy pottering around at home spending time with my dogs and horses,” she said. “I find animals to be great therapy.” And her animals are now helping the 55-yearold decide what’s next. “After 33 years, I think I’ve reached my use by date,” she said. “I am currently taking time off to refocus and consider my future.” Bernadette has had a stellar career but, sadly, like so many, too many, police careers, it is the career from which you never fully retire, never escape. Because eventually you have to close your eyes to sleep, and the night brings forth its shadows from the darkest recesses of your mind. It hardly seems a fair reward for a life well lived, for standing in the frontline, for keeping the ugliness of humanity from the front doors of people like you and me. Yes, Bernadette blazed a trail for women in uniforms. But if there are still some rights not yet equal between the men and women in the force, there is one part of the job they all get to share equally. The memories.
O P E N 7 D AY S FROM 10AM 572 HIGH STREET, ECHUCA 0447 339 455
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UNLABELLED BY DR CARA
UNLABELLED Imprints that leave a label do you start your day with a ‘rise and shine’ — or at least a rise to get out of bed? The day is approaching and I just want to keep my feet snug as a bug in a rug and lay like broccoli, but the day has nudged me to get out of bed and start. I find the floor with my feet and then brush the fur off my teeth and get moving. As we go through our day the brain doesn’t acknowledge when it’s in a pleased state. Our brain acknowledges something when it feels uncomfortable, in danger, or awkward. Now I know it’s plenty of work to stay on top of our own mental health, but let’s look at others here too. What imprints are you carrying from the day? When you are about to lay down for the evening does your brain have imprints from the day in the form of questions? Are you carrying negative imprints (conversations, actions) from the day or are you taking positive reflections from the day and leaving a positive imprint? Are there just some days you wish you could push the delete button and start over? Imprints are just a figure of speech here, but they can be a long-lasting thesis in your life. But in the after-effects of a situation, conversation can be like the aftershocks of an earthquake. I learnt this when watching my little girls’ faces when I went away on first and second business trips. I found myself happy but by the third trip their little hearts and faces were taking on imprints of
sadness and frustration. I see their little faces in tears and their minds marinating in worry. I asked myself what memories or imprints was I leaving behind? Heck, I was happy doing business but sad, and a mixed bag of emotions to see my girls carrying emotions like this. I thought next time how could I improve this? So the next business trip, we had breakfast and I asked them why they thought I went away on business trips and both of them replied: “I don’t know”. I then told them it was our way to buy things like the art and dance classes they attend. I didn’t stop there, I grabbed some blow up balloons and some confetti with glitter in it and we had a little breakfast and a celebration before I left. The tears turned into giggles and smiles because of more conscious parenting. We had a little dance, they got some balloons and glitter (and who doesn’t like glitter?) So if we think about the trail of smoke we leave behind or the glimmer of hope I changed my approach to see a different vibration when I left. When packing for these trips I knew they were filled with hope, and excitement but for these little girls it was nothing but an aftershock. So again, what imprints are we leaving behind or carrying over from one day to the next? And if you are not a parent, or going to be, well think of this as a friend or parent. I wanted to leave more hope. The words we say have an impact, the actions
we do can be significant. If we raise our own vibe in our mind, then we leave more positive imprints for ourselves and others. After all, happiness is free and stepping into a new vibration is having a second thought. Some people say traumatic memories, I say lessons of life. It is trauma if you still allow the person to control your thoughts and feelings. The traumatic memories we carry, or imprints we had as children, are now the current chapters we call life. We do have the ability to change our thoughts within 90 seconds. These old imprints or subtle changes in your daily dose of mental health can be shifted into powerful resilient imprints and shifted into a new vibration. If you don’t choose a different more resilient thought, what is it costing you? Or secondly what is it costing our children and future generations? So next time you lay down, scan your day, scan your mind and reflect on the lessons and imprints you choose to carry over — or leave behind. After all, the next day is a do-over, then rinse and repeat. End your day with a scan and download and start your day with a rebooted attitude of the things you can change, solely within your personal control. After all, it is 5 per cent of what is done but 95 per cent in how we react and cope with/to it.
SUDDENLY AWESOME
OUT OF THE MOUTHS of babes _ and idiots
Our awesome mum has been put to a stern parental test after daughter number two — her baby — went public about her mental health to show other young people they were not alone, they could speak up and they could regain control of their lives. And that’s when a troll, society’s lowest common denominator, joined the positive online debate Molly had encouraged anxiety. it’s a nasty beast and it affects an awful lot of people. When Molly, my littlest bubba, chose to speak out about her experiences for a mental health feature we ran in the Riv, I couldn’t have been prouder. It was her choice, and she thought if she could help even one person by telling her story, well then it would be a good thing. And it was, until some dickhead decided to bully her online. Some gutless person who has never met my daughter decided to tell her she was fat and should jump off a bridge. I mean seriously, what the hell? Now I am a pretty even-keeled sort of person and I have always tried to let my kids fight their own battles but let me tell you, I was furious. I mean what on earth would possess someone to do that? The whole experience left us all gobsmacked and dumbfounded. This idiot obviously thought she was young, vulnerable and an easy target — and God help her
if she had been. But he underestimated my daughter. Not only can she lift heavy weights (she is a cross fitter), she is also quite capable of standing up for herself and her reply to his disgusting comments showed a maturity beyond her years (much more mature than her irate mother’s, that’s for sure). When she posted about her experience on Facebook she was inundated with support from so many people, she even received private messages from young people telling her about their own experiences with anxiety and commending her for speaking out. There is no denying the bully’s comments upset my bubba, but the support she received was simply overwhelming and as I said to her, you can choose to focus on the one negative person, or the hundreds of positive ones. This experience showed the best and worst of social media and it made me think about how the world has changed. I can remember when I was my bubba’s age, grappling with a floppy disk trying to save my
Year 12 English essay — and honestly the computer was big enough and heavy enough to crush you if it fell. I am sure today she wouldn’t even know what a floppy disk is. Bullying was around in my day but it certainly didn’t have the 24-hour reach it has today — I can’t remember too many people physically dialling a phone number and screeching down the phone line, although I do remember a few schoolyard fisticuffs to solve some issues. Bullying in the 21st-century is certainly a lot easier, a lot more anonymous and a hell of a lot more deadly as these assassins hide behind their fake identities and their computer screens. My bubba thought long and hard before she exposed her online bullying experience, as she didn’t want to open herself up to any more ridicule. And she certainly didn’t want to put any additional focus on herself. But in the end I think it has been worth it. Sometimes brushing things under the carpet isn’t always the answer and standing up for yourself is.
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MOVEMBER
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EENIE, MEANIE, MIGHTY MO
Grow some hair and have a go Like all of us, writers at the Riverine Herald have lived through the death of close family and friends, giving them the motivation to support Movember as prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the biggest cancer killer. ANDREW JOHNSTON reports many reasons to be a part of Movember. Most men are going to battle with something in their lives, be it something that attacks their body, such as prostate cancer, or something that attacks their mind, a la anxiety and depression. And chances are, it will catch you by surprise, right out of the blue. Roughly 18 months ago, my world changed in a phone call when my dad called to tell me he had prostate cancer. In many ways this wasn’t a shock — my grandfather had suffered the same condition, so there was family history there, and it made dad vigilant about getting himself checked. But even with that knowledge at hand, nothing prepares you for this moment. My dad, my best mate, was in for the battle of his life — and there was absolutely nothing I was able to do about it. A lot of the next few months are blurry to me — doctors’ appointments, more testing, decisions about treatment — all while I’m well across Bass Strait completely removed from my family. It has an impact on you — I didn’t sleep well, I was grumpy at work, I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with — because mentally, emotionally, I was in other places. This was all in the middle of football and netball season, which meant there was going to be almost no opportunity for me to get back to Tassie and see everyone — I made
there are so
one journey home for the entire season in the end — which was also not helping me emotionally. You desperately wish you were able to do something and be there for your family. There is also another thing that starts to invade your mind — my father and grandfather have both had this condition, that means I am probably going to have it too one day. Dad was coming to Melbourne in November for treatment, and I was going to go down and spend a few days with him. This was the time when my personal plans for Movember kicked into gear. Now, I can’t grow facial hair overly quickly — having something that even resembles a beard is a few months’ work for yours truly — so I decided to attack the other idea the foundation suggests and set myself a physical challenge. The goal for me was 300 km of walking, which isn’t a lot when you think about it. Getting up and moving 10 km a day really is quite achievable, and I hoped by knocking this goal off I might be able to raise a couple hundred bucks for the Movember foundation. The $200 I aimed for was raised by November 3, so I decided to reset that goal to a bit further — maybe $500. I got to Melbourne and saw my dad. Seeing him in a hospital bed really was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through, and again you can only feel helpless in those moments.
MOVEMBER
Dad wasn’t having a bar of that though — he wouldn’t let me feel down about it. He was taking the battle on, and he was taking the family with him. During the next few days he was first out of hospital, then he was walking to the corner, then to the tram stop, then just walking around Melbourne with mum as he continued his recovery. I was able to get down and walk with him a few times, slowly adding kilometres to my tally. Like all cancer, he isn’t out of the woods yet, and we won’t comfortably know whether he is for some time. And that’s part of why we are back here. Things don’t suddenly stop, we always keep moving and we always keep looking for ways to strengthen ourselves in this battle. Many more men are going to have battles in coming years, and we need to keep standing
IT’S A YEAR LATER NOW AND DAD’S DOING WELL. AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT
nothing will ever top
with them as they do. This year, the team at the Riv is joining the cause. Like me, every one of them has a story
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about why. I urge you to read them. I also urge you to read about the fantastic work the Movember Foundation does with the money they raise. We all have stories, we all have reasons for fighting. And we all need to fight to win this battle. By the end of the month, dad was feeling pretty good, and I had reached my goal. The 300 km was something I could control in a time where everything felt beyond my limits. While people around me had more than come to the party — I closed out Movember with more than $1000 to my name. It’s something of which I’m incredibly proud. It’s a year later now and dad’s doing well. And that’s something that nothing will ever top.
CHARMAYNE ALLISON
ARI BALLEBOWNESS
By participating in Movember, I’m standing with my dad, my brothers, my friends, colleagues and the many men I have interviewed. Men’s health is something which I am hugely passionate about. Not only have I personally witnessed the struggles of far too many men in my life, after interviewing several Echuca-Moama locals for the Mental Health Month feature we did recently I have also become starkly aware of the devastating men’s mental health crisis scouring this region. I believe every man deserves to live a long, happy and healthy life — but too many are being taken prematurely by men’s cancers or mental illness. Until this changes, we should continue to fight for change.
I have struggled with anxiety and depression from an early age. It is only through the love and support of my friends and family have I been able to take control. On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Nobody has to face this alone.
JARED PRESTWIDGE
IVY JENSEN
I first decided to raise money when my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2014. He’s since passed away, but I’ve made an effort to be involved in Movember in some capacity during the past five years. Having the opportunity to promote such a positive message has been endlessly rewarding and I can’t recommend it enough.
MEN’S mental health is a cause close to my heart. My father suffered from depression and watching him spiral into despair and into someone I didn’t recognise was one of the hardest things I’ve had to experience. Men are always told to ‘take it on the chin’ or ‘you’ll be right’ — to swallow their emotions — which does more damage than good. By taking part in Movember, I am supporting my father, the men like him and the many men I have interviewed over the years about suicide and depression, and encourage them to open up about their mental health. And hopefully this will reduce the stigma and lead the men in our lives on a path to wellness.
PRIMED TO GO: Echuca trainer Jim Lake with his star Honorellay, Echuca Racing Club general manager Flip Evans and models Rhiannon Chalmers and Courtney Hillier have everything you need for the complete day at the races — horses, people and fashion. Photo: CATH GREY
SPRING, RACING, ECHUCA
Be there and be ready to be wowed
It is always one of the highlights of the Echuca-Moama calendar — Melbourne Cup Day at the Echuca Racing Club on that first Tuesday in November. And this year is no exception with thousands expected for the racing, the socialising and, almost as importantly as the Cup itself, the Junction Moama fashions on the field. it’s spring. it’s spring racing. It’s the Melbourne Cup. And best of all, it’s Melbourne Cup Day at the Echuca Racing Club. Where thousands will flock to the local track from where they can see plenty of local racing — and without missing a thing from Flemington as the races there will be on the big screen at the finish line and monitors around the course. Not long after 3 pm on Tuesday the nation will come to a grinding halt as eyes everywhere — including trackside at Echuca — will be fixed on the seventh race at Flemington for the 158th running of the Melbourne Cup. And Flip Evans, about to run his first cup day after being appointed general manager at ERC, is hoping he might find time to watch the big race himself. But he’s no sure thing, as they say in the racing game. Because his primary mission for the day is to make sure everything, not just the occasional thing, is running perfectly.
“There’s a lot going on at that time,” he said. “I might be carrying beers or in the office or speaking to our patrons, I don’t really know. Hopefully, I have the opportunity to watch the race.” He’s unclear because, despite his long history of being involved in big events across the twin towns, Tuesday, may be the biggest job of Flip’s career. “It’s been a really exciting experience across the past few months,” he said. Tuesday’s meeting is rivalled only by the Echuca Cup itself in terms of importance on the Echuca racing schedule. “For years you attend this meeting just as a spectator, you probably take for granted what is delivered as an event. When you’re on the inside, you see just how much planning goes into an occasion such as this. “It isn’t something that comes out of nowhere, as a club you start to put these plans into place six, even 12 months in advance to make sure you are prepared.”
One of the most important pieces of that planning is the Junction Moama fashions on the field. This year local fashionistas advise to let your dress do the talking. Arbory Store owner Emma Chalmers said looking ahead to a fashion highlight of the year ahead of Melbourne Cup Day at Echuca Racing Club on Tuesday. Emma is sponsoring the Arbory Store Lady of the Day category in the Junction Moama fashions on the field, and knows all the fashion judging will be the biggest event of the day — off the track. And she is predicting the brighter colours are set to take centre stage in 2019. “People shopping for something with a bit of wow factor, a lot of lime green has been going out the door in the past few weeks,” she said. “In particular the midi bi-cut dresses are really in this year. But we have started to see sequin dresses making a bit of a comeback. “We have some women who come into the
SPRING RACING
store and say this is what I was wearing when I was a teenager. “It’s terrific to have something for everyone.” While picking the right dress for the occasion is important, selecting the right headwear is just as critical according to Chalmers. “Big and loud headpieces are always a stand out during the spring carnival,” she said. “You can’t really finish your outfit without a headpiece which draws attention. “We’ve had a lot of headbands rather than fascinators which is what the younger crowd will probably be going towards.” And when it comes to selecting your shoes and accessories, Chalmers suggests trying to not take away attention from your dress. “I would recommend matching your shoes with your handbag,” she said. “For example, if you’re going with a really bright dress then you would probably want to tie in your bag and shoes with either a nude or a black. “That way you let your dress stand out above anything else.” Junction Moama fashions on the field is offering more than $10,000 in prizes up for grabs. Echuca Racing Club’s Susie Pearson said the club was looking forward to the day’s festivities. “Melbourne Cup Day is always a great day for our local community,” she said. “We’re grateful to have so many local businesses come on board and support this event and we can’t wait to give back to them.” Plenty of work will go into nailing the perfect look, but if your day does go astray Endota Spa will be on hand to help you out.
“We’re excited to have Endota offering a pamper tent for patrons,” Pearson said. “It’s certainly something very different to what we’ve done in the past but we expect it to be very popular.”
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In The fashion stakes for Echuca Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday were Rhiannon Chalmers, in a black and white azadeh dress by Eliya the Label and Georgia Pearson in a black pattern dress with gold sequence dress, also by Eliya the Label. Both girls are wearing an Aida Crown by Ashlee Lauren. Lucas Wilson is in a New England jet mid-blue slim fit suit combined with a Jimmy Fox long sleeve fashion shirt. Finished off with Tommy Leather brown lace up shoes. Photo: CATH GREY
Book your Christmas parties now! We can cater for small or large groups with individual meals or share plates. Come in or call us to see how we can accommodate you.
505–507 High St, Echuca (03) 5480 1900 www.sunago.com.au
HEALTH
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Beauty is skin deep; SKIN CANCER GOES DEEPER
CHARMAYNE ALLISON talks to one of the leading medicos in the twin towns when it comes to keeping a close eye on your skin — and the damage the sun can do. With summer only weeks away there can never be too much advice on staying sun safe spring has arrived,
ushering in blissfully long, sunny days. But before you whip on your bikini or a pair of boardies and soak up some rays, make sure you think twice about the effects prolonged sun exposure could have on your skin. Because while a cheeky summer tan may seem like a little thing, it can have big consequences. “Each exposure to UV rays can have a cumulative effect that can lead to skin cancer,” Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice’s Dr Peter Nesbitt said. “So it’s not just about what you do now, it’s also about what happened in the past.” Skin cancer is, by far, the most common cancer in Australia. A staggering half a million people are treated for one or more non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia each year. While nearly 12,000 people are treated for melanomas each year. Statistics which don’t shock Dr Peter Nesbitt, particularly when it comes to Echuca-Moama.
“It’s massive up here,” he said. “Particularly for people in this community who have been farmers or exposed to sun for all of their life, particularly with very little protection over the years. “They are the ones who now have significant numbers of skin cancers.” Dr Nesbitt said the old adage ‘slip, slop, slap’ still held true. “If you’re going to be out in the sun, make sure you slip on some clothing and cover yourself as much as possible,” he said. “Make sure you replenish your sunscreen every three to four hours and ensure you use enough of it — just a little spray is not enough. “And finally, slap on a hat that covers your ears. And seek shade, especially in the middle of the day because that’s when you’re going to get your highest exposure of UV. “It’s also important to wear sunglasses, as a lot of skin cancers can be around the eyes, particularly the lower eyelid.” Even with these protections in place, Dr Nesbitt said people should get regular check-
ups, whether that’s a self-examination at least once a month or a skin check at the doctor. “It is normal to develop new moles, particularly for children, adolescents and pregnant women. The average person has about 50 moles,” he said. “What you’re looking for is changes. So if you notice that there is a new mole, an irregular mole or if there’s a mole that has been there for a while but starts to change, that needs to be looked at. “And if you have a mole that you’re either concerned about or the doctor might say ‘we need to keep an eye on this’, go home and get someone else to get out their mobile phone, get good light, get a little tape measure next to it and take a photo with a date on it. “That way in 10 years’ time, you can look at that and say, ‘this has not changed’.” Dr Nesbitt said it was important to have a regular skin check if you have a history of skin cancers or melanomas in the family, have had skin cancers before, have an outdoor occupation or if you participate in recreational
HEALTH activities and sport where you are outside for long periods of time. “My recommendation is to make a full appointment with your doctor — not just mentioning it at the end of a consultation,” he said. “If we’re going to do it properly we need a full 10 minutes and that should start with us getting some history including sun exposure, previous blistering, previous skin cancers, any lesions of concern and family history. “Then I normally do a top-to-toe examination.” Dr Nesbitt said he looked for the ABC of moles — asymmetry, border and colour. “So we need to look at anything that’s not symmetrical, has an irregular border or is more than two colours,” he said. “The other thing is that anything that bleeds, particularly with minimal trauma, we need to be very suspicious of.
“If a mole has any of those features, it should be checked.” While Dr Nesbitt said protection should start from day one, locals need to pay attention to their moles from adolescence onwards. But if anything concerning is picked up early, it can be easily cured. “There is a condition called actinic keratosis which is a very early, pre-cancerous skin lesion and that’s where the skin becomes a bit flaky and red,” he said. “That can be treated very easily either with cryotherapy where we freeze the lesion. Or there are certain creams for treating these. “Sometimes we want to do biopsies because we don’t know what it is and want to treat it the right way. “There are two different types of biopsies we can do — we can take a piece of the skin in total and we might need just one stitch. “Or we can do a shave biopsy where we
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take the top lesion but we don’t go all the way through the full thickness of the skin and that way you don’t need stitches. “We can then send these to pathology to confirm whether we need to do further treatment.” If the mole does turn out to be something sinister, Dr Nesbitt said it could be cut out by most GPs or — in the case of skin cancers around the face or eyes — by specialists. “We have all those people visiting here in town so we’re very fortunate the proper treatment can be done,” he said. But, above all, Dr Nesbitt urges locals to keep getting check-ups — so it never got to that point. “It’s so important because skin cancer is so common. But if we pick up on it early, it can be cured easily,” he said. “And if we’re confident there’s nothing nasty, the patient can be reassured.”
WE NEED TO LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT’S NOT SYMMETRICAL, HAS AN IRREGULAR BORDER OR IS MORE THAN TWO COLOURS. THE OTHER THING IS THAT ANYTHING THAT BLEEDS, PARTICULARLY WITH MINIMAL TRAUMA, WE NEED TO BE VERY
When it comes to our health, prevention is much better than cure. Doctors at the clinic: Dr BK Pillai Dr Peter Nesbitt Dr Clare Bottcher Dr Claire Goodman Dr Suzanne Harrison Dr Samuel Kennedy
Dr Jessica Hetherington Dr Cameron Taverna Dr Nyree O’Connor Dr Deborah Martin Dr Dominic Karunanayake Dr Christopher Leow
Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice, providing quality primary healthcare for over 45 years to the rural community in a professional, caring and compassionate manner.
179–183 Annesley St, Echuca (03) 5480 6001 1 Martin St, Moama (03) 5480 2933
Dr Jerry Wong Dr Lara Mucha Dr Vindana Gamage Dr Erwin Wong Dr Shammi Akther Dr Rahul Verma
OWNE
45 YEARS
D R
LO
LY AL
FO
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
C
suspicious of
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NUTRITION
milk? GOT low fat, no
fat, full cream, high calcium, high protein, soy, light, skim, omega-3, high calcium with vitamin D and folate, or extra dollop? It’s been almost a decade since the iconic Pauls Milk television commercial that listed the variety of milk choices available to the consumer, but the milk fridges have only become more confusing. Dietitian Bec Monk grew up on a dairy farm drinking fresh milk straight from the cow, but with so many options out there she is here to help work out which is best for you. “Going to the supermarket can be quite overwhelming and in 2018 there were more than 110 milks available,” Bec said. “And no doubt there are more than that these days, including camels’ milk,” she said. “It blew my mind how many are available. “There’s so much information out there and people genuinely want to do the best by their health, so they are looking at the alterative to try and improve it, but I would say most of the time there isn’t a need.” It’s easy to get caught up in what’s ‘healthy’ but Bec said people were overcomplicating food and it was best to focus on the whole diet when choosing the foods we eat. In the end for most it comes down to preference of flavour and even mouth feel, but for Bec, she just wants milk that tastes like real milk.
COWS’ MILK Unless you have medical or nutritional needs Bec suggests sticking with good old cows’ milk. “We know, in terms of nutrition, cows’ milk provides us with the most complete nutrition profile,” she said. But even with cows’ milk there is a smorgasbord of options including reduced fat, skim, and it can even be modified to be lactose-free which Bec said was a good option for those with an irritable-bowel-syndrome-like intolerance. “It’s recommended to choose a reduced fat cows’ milk after the age of two but it’s also important to think of how much we’re having of our dairy-based serves across the day,” she said.
NUTRITION
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HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Whatever your choice, it is important women get their recommended daily dairy intake. Between 14 and 18 years old — a vital time for ensuring good bone health — and over 50 or post-menopause due to hormone changes and the high risk of osteoporosis, women should consume four serves of dairy daily. Women between 18 and 50 should aim for three serves per day. One serve of dairy is 250 ml of milk, 200 g of yoghurt or two slices of cheese and Bec said coffee culture was helping women meet these needs. “For the modern-day woman a great source of that is getting a latte or flat white from a café which is something that has improved women’s consumption of dairy in the past decade.”
GOAT, SHEEP AND CAMEL MILK When looking at alternative milks, Bec said dietitians always strived for the nutrition profile of cows’ milk. “Goat and camel milk are becoming increasingly popular in our multicultural society as they are the milk alternatives in the Middle East, Asian and African communities.” she said.
PLANT-BASED MILKS For those who prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet, Bec suggests plant-based ‘milks’ such as soy, almond, oat and rice. “If there are genuine intolerances, allergies or health needs that’s when the alternatives are valuable, but they don’t necessarily provide you with any more health benefits than standard cows’ milk,” she said. But Bec said it was essential to ensure the alternatives were fortified with calcium. “For women it’s really important that we have adequate calcium from our dairy or alternative dairy sources,” she said. “It’s best to verify that they are fortified; and looking at the per 100 ml column on the nutrition information panel you want the calcium to be greater than 120 mg.” However almond milk must be avoided by those with a nut allergy, while oat milk is fine but should be avoided by those with coeliac disease, and soy milk isn’t recommended for those with a cows’ milk allergy.
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PROFILE
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CASSIE’S THE QUEEN OF THE SHOWRING
̦ _ and that s no bull
Most of her classmates would be into their phones, their computer screens and their local sport but as JARED PRESTWIDGE discovered when he met Cassie Hill her attention is 100 per cent focused on her future in the livestock business it’s not until you crunch the numbers that you realise the scrap of a 13-year-old leading a yearling heifer around a showring — in front of hundreds of noisy people — has a chance, however slim, of being crunched. Wringing wet, Echuca’s Cassie Hill wouldn’t make 10 per cent of the weight of her placid charge, but the pair did have something in common. They are both champions. Cassie Hill is a dyed in the wool country kid. Even a quick trawl through the Riverine Herald’s pictorial library turns up pictures of her at the Echuca show years ago — with an armful of young animals at the petting zoo. So it comes as no surprise that she has graduated to the bigtime on the nation’s biggest show stages.
Like any farmer worth their salt Cassie loves her animals. In her eyes they aren’t just paddock fillers, they’re not even pets. No, in Cassie’s world most of them are family. That’s why, two years ago, when she was preparing to lead out her first bull in competition, the then 11-year-old didn’t hesitate. “I just wanted to jump in and do it,” Cassie said. “I wasn’t nervous at all because I had been with him since he was a month old,” she explained. She has put in a dedicated apprenticeship in the show ring and in 2019 it has paid off. After three years on the cattle showing circuit, Cassie landed one of the biggest blue ribbons of them all — at the Melbourne Royal Show in September.
Along with grandfather Jon Weeks and his very aptly named one-year-old heifer Warrilla Perfection, the trio were able to take out the Charolais heifer (9–12 months), junior champion Charolais female and then, in a stunning success, their baby cow was named grand champion Charolais female prize. “I was so shocked when they named us grand champion, I thought the judges made a mistake,” Cassie said. And while she projects a humble attitude when discussing her success, Cassie’s family and friends will not hesitate to tell you simmering below the surface is a sharp focus and desire to win. “To say she hates to lose would be an understatement,” Jon laughed. “She’s very graceful in defeat, and she gets over it. >>>
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PROFILE
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO THE ROYAL I WAS NERVOUS, BUT OVER THE YEARS IT’S GOTTEN EASIER AND EASIER. I COULDN’T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I WAS WHEN WE WERE ANNOUNCED AS GRAND CHAMPION. AND NOW, NEXT YEAR, WE GET TO GO TO THE
Sydney show
>>> “Eventually.” But for the past three years, defeats are more the exception than the rule around Cassie and the Warrilla team. It has been something of a fairytale debut on the show circuit, Cassie was a winner the very first time she stepped into the show ring.
In 2016, Jon decided to try his hand at cattle showing with a few newly-acquired bulls and he had no qualms bringing his granddaughter into the fold. “We started tying up the calves and Cassie really took to that, so we thought we could make a real go at the Rochester Show,” he said.
Despite being 10 years old and having next to no experience, Cassie led a junior bull in front of the Rochester crowd and a panel of judges. “It was pretty scary because I had never led cattle before, and I was worried I was doing something wrong,” Cassie said. “And I wasn’t dressed properly. No-one told me what to wear so I just had a shirt and jeans on.” But she took to it like a fish to water, earning a win and an entrée to a whole new wide and wonderful world. She had always enjoyed the thrill of competition, such as on the netball court, but cattle showing couldn’t have been (like her current superstar cow) a more perfect fit. And even when she’s awake at five in the morning, cleaning and brushing her animals, rain, hail or shine, she said she couldn’t think of being anywhere else. “I put my heart and soul into my cows. I’m always with them pretty much so we have a close relationship,” Cassie said. Cassie and Jon have competed at the Melbourne Royal Show three times, as well as several smaller shows in between. Their first two attempts at the Melbourne Royal met with little success, but in September this year they proved the third time is the charm — coming in the form of the Charolais Warrilla Perfection, who lives up to the name. Purchased from New Zealand as an embryo, Perfection was designed to be a winner. And having been brought up on Jon’s Echuca farm from birth, it was the perfect opportunity for her and Cassie to build a relationship from the ground up. After blitzing through the junior competition, Warrilla came up against a seven-year-old mature Charolais to be crowned grand champion. She even placed third in the all breeds junior heifer category. “The first time I went to the Royal I was nervous, but over the years it’s gotten easier and easier,” Cassie said. “I couldn’t tell you how happy I was when we were announced as grand champion. “And now, next year, we get to go to the Sydney show.” The Sydney Royal Easter Show is the pinnacle of livestock showing and taking to the showring there has always been at the top of Cassie’s wish list. After all, she has been punching above her weight and/or age her whole career, so why not go that one step further? “Pop and I made a deal that if we won grand champion at the Melbourne Royal we could go to Sydney,” she said. “He said later the bet was his way of trying to get out of going, but it didn’t work for him.” And while Jon will make the trip up to Sydney with egg on his face, he said it was a small price to pay to see his granddaughter do what she loves most on the biggest stage. “The only reason I’m doing this is for her and having a win like we did in Melbourne will set up a lot,” he said. “The kids nowadays go into all different competitions, but few of them will show a grand champion. Cassie is very lucky to be able to do that at such a young age. “She could have a really good stud down the track if she persists with it. And I think she will.”
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FASHION
COOL FASHION for the hot days ahead
I Want I Need Outfit 1: Dress: Italian Star — Fray Seam Dress $169.95, Shoes: Rolli — Derby Midsole Cork Circle Punch $159.95, Earrings: Flossy Kate Mayes Big Tear Drop $49.95. Outfit 2: Top: FOXWOOD Black Possum Cami $69.95, Skirt: Lina $89.95, Shoes: Rolli — Sandle Slide $119.95, Earrings: Water Jean Blonde Big Tear Drop $49.95.
FASHION
Annabella Outfit 1: Top: KLoTH Emporium $129, Skirt: Love from Italy $149, Shoes: Walnut Melbourne, Rose Slide in Khaki $159.95, Necklace: Cindy G Collection $49, Kompanero Olive Handbag $199.95. Outfit 2: Kampanero Navy Blue Handbag $229.95, Bracelet and Earrings: Cindy G Collection $49 each piece, Shoes: Walnut Melbourne, Somerset Bow Slide in Navy Blue $79.95, Pants: Love from Italy $139, Top: Love from Italy $109.
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RECIPES
CORNFLAKE A cool new way to enjoy your cornflakes! INGREDIENTS
shake
• 1 cup cornflakes • 1 small banana, chopped • 6 medium (125 g) strawberries, hulled and chopped • 1 cup milk • 1 teaspoon honey • honey, cornflakes and fruit, extra, to serve
METHOD 1. Combine cornflakes, banana, strawberries, milk and honey in a blender and process until smooth. 2. Serve over ice and decorate with drizzles of honey, extra cornflakes and fruit.
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 0 MINUTES | MAKES: 2
MINTED RASPBERRY
and vanilla bean smoothie
Feeling like something a little more indulgent in your daily smoothie? Give this one a go. INGREDIENTS
METHOD
• 2 cups milk • 1 cup vanilla yoghurt • 1 cup frozen raspberries • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or seeds from 1 vanilla bean • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender for 1 minute or until thick and smooth. 2. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 0 MINUTES | MAKES: 2
DEATH BY
hot chocolate INGREDIENTS
• 1 x 250 ml carton Liddell’s Lactose Free Thickened Lite Long Life Cream • 100 g dark chocolate, chopped • 12 marshmallows • 3 x 250 ml cartons Liddell’s Lactose Free Chocolate Flavoured Long Life Milk • ½ cinnamon stick • 1 strip orange rind • ground cinnamon and chocolate shavings for serving Recipes supplied by Dairy Australia.
METHOD 1. Bring ⅓ cup cream to a gentle simmer, remove from the heat and stir in chocolate until melted. 2. Place one tablespoon of the chocolate mixture into 4 large glasses and swirl around the sides. Dip the top of each marshmallow in the remaining mixture and place on a wire rack, refrigerate for 5 minutes or until set. 3. Add remaining cream, chocolate milk, cinnamon stick and orange rind to saucepan and heat gently until just simmering. Whisk until frothy and pour into prepared glasses. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and chocolate shavings and serve with choc dipped marshmallows.
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES COOK TIME: 15 MINUTES | MAKES: 4
RECIPES
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Bacon and sweet corn
BREAKFAST MUFFINS INGREDIENTS • Olive oil spray • 4 (about 250 g) Australian rindless middle bacon rashers • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 300 g can sweet corn kernels, drained • 100 g butter, melted • 3 eggs • 1 tablespoon honey • 1 cup shredded tasty cheese • ¼ cup milk • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives, plus extra, to serve • 1 cup plain flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder
METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced. Spray a 6-hole (¾ cup-capacity) muffin pan with oil. 2. Line each hole with bacon rashers, slice the loin in half to line the base and use strips of bacon to line the sides. Chop the bacon off-cuts. 3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over mediumhigh heat. Add chopped bacon off-cuts and
PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES | MAKES: 6
corn. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until bacon is golden. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes. 4. Combine butter, eggs and honey in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. Stir in cheese, milk, chives and three quarters of the cooled corn and bacon. Sift in flour and baking powder. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
5. Divide batter evenly into each bacon-lined hole. Scatter remaining cooled corn and bacon over the top. 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and puffed. Remove from oven and set aside in pan for 5 minutes. Serve hot or cold scattered with extra fresh chives. Recipe supplied by Australian Pork Limited.
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