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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Every so often one of those stories comes along. The ones that you always remember because of a funny anecdote or because something turned out okay in the end, against the odds. The story of Tim and Jo O’Brien is one of those stories.

The couple first met over 30 years ago, married when they were just 21 but sadly broke up after only two years. “I used to think about Tim often, about what could have been and what should have been,” Jo told our writer Barbara Sweeney when she visited them on their farm, Boggy Creek, in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Luckily, there is a happy ending to this story: the pair met again at a horse event and, in 2014, Jo and Tim walked up the aisle for a second time on what would have been their 25th wedding anniversary.

As Tim puts it, “some things are meant to be”. Turn to page 92 for their story.

Our A Day in the Country columnist this month is Chris Ferguson. I always enjoy her insights about life on the land as she never fails to give me something to think about, as she did in this piece about the happiness she is finding in her 50s. “This contentment has come as a pleasant surprise amid the flurry and worry of a rip-roaring drought and, consequently, a business on the edge. And while this situation is stressful, I’m reminded of the saying: ‘This ain’t my first rodeo’,” she writes. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few Country Style readers who might adopt that saying for themselves!

Artist Leisa Wharington was only 10 when she fell in love with glass blowing. Today, the 59 year old is as passionate as ever about her art as you will read on page 18. “I’m inspired by nature, and the sand and sea have always been part of my life,” says Leisa, who lives on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. “I walk on the beach every day, and I think that connection with sand and glass is amazing. It starts from a grain of sand and it’s how you can get this clarity from something as simple as a grain of sand that amazes me.” So whether you find your clarity early or later in life, perhaps the message this month is to just keep looking!

Enjoy the issue,

PHOTOGRAPHY DAMIAN BENNETT STYLING LIZ KAVANAGH

Victoria Carey

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CONTRIBUTORS

NEW BOOK WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE Become a subscriber for just $79.99 and you’ll receive a copy of Country Homes.

N I K O L E R A M S A Y

This photographer — who shot Harriet Birrell’s home on page 42, On the Move on page 100 and The Style Diary on page 118 — starts her day by paddleboarding.

Nikole discovered her passion early in life, studying photography as soon as she left school thanks to the encouragement of an inspirational teacher. “I’m drawn to light… the way it creates a mood and the cycle of change it brings to each day,” she says.

In fact, she’s often up at sunrise, paddleboarding on the river near her home on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula where she lives with her husband and two kids. In June, Nikole will venture further offshore when she co-hosts a food and photography tour of northern Italy with another local, Annie Orchard, of Annie’s Provedore & Produce Store. “I have photographed in the Veneto region before and was so inspired... It feels untouched in comparison to other parts of Italy.”

P E T E R M A R K O

Still adapting to the Australian heat, this Czech-born photographer tested his temperature limits when shooting his images of glassblower Leisa Wharington on page 18.

Val $59ued at .99

Visit magshop.com.au/CSH201 or call 136 116 and quote M201ACH

“I’m hopeless when it comes to dressing appropriately for the environment,” Peter says. “I forgot to consider the heat factor of Leisa’s studio, plus an unexpectedly hot, sunny day outside, and then I thought it was a great idea to say yes to a hot peppermint tea…”

Currently living in Melbourne, Peter’s long-term plan is to find a country base.

“The first time I saw rural Australia was the Mornington Peninsula,” he says.

“I was on an assignment for a developer and my first thought was: ‘This is where I want to settle down one day’. Coming from a small town in Eastern Europe, then living in some of the biggest cities in the world such as LA and London, I’m finally realising that I love the countryside the most.”

WORDS TRACEY PLATT PHOTOGRAPHY LUCAS ALLEN, PETER MARKO, NIKOLE RAMSAY

RECEIVE OUR

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Enjoy the best of summer and spend a day in a beach hut on the Mornington Peninsula coast.

73

J a n u a r y 2 02 0 | c o n t e n t s

50

42 COVER STORIES

50 Building a barn: A decorator’s new Daylesford home 73 Holiday shack: Creating beautiful interiors 100 106

for summertime Surf’s up: Visit the seaside town of Barwon Heads Buy from the bush: Our regional shopping guide

DECORATING

57 HOUSE NOTES: HOME COMFORTS 73

PEOPLE

PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN, MARNIE HAWSON, NIKOLE RAMSAY STYLING LEE BLAYLOCK, LYNDA GARDENER

18 THE GLASS MENAGERIE 92

58 LEADING BY EXAMPLE

MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD

80 DRINK: THE RISE OF GIN

taught her resilience in the face of adversity.

HOMES

34 ALL IN GOOD TIME

50

GARDEN

Artist Leisa Wharington on her love of glass.

OUR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY: FULL CIRCLE After more than 20 years apart, this couple remarried and returned to the farm he never left.

30 Author Jessica White shares how her rural upbringing

42

Create the look of the barn in Victoria’s Daylesford, that we feature on page 50.

DOWN THE COAST Embrace summer by choosing beautiful products that belong by the beach.

When a builder and homewares store owner renovate their own property it’s bound to succeed.

NATURE’S WAY Cookbook author Harriet Birrell shows us her home.

BUILD: SMALL WONDER A sneak peek into the compact country house that decorator Lynda Gardener just built.

Garden designer Kathleen Murphy showcases waterwise plantings in her garden in Central Victoria.

FOOD

86 88 90

Craft distilleries are popping up all around the country, creating uniquely Australian gins.

GAME, SET, MATCH Country Cook Steve Cumper gets nostalgic with a delicious raspberry jelly recipe.

HEIRLOOM: TASTE OF HOME A Hungarian beer snack, called kifli, reminds this family of their grandparents.

FLAVOURS Our food writer Barbara Sweeney has a look at some small and mighty businesses, and showcases a few of her favourite treats, from pickles to salt.

110

SCHOOLS 126

100

OUT AND ABOUT An outdoor education program in rural Queensland offered by a Brisbane co-ed school is teaching Year Nine students the ways of the land.

REGULAR READING

6 Contributors 12 Your Page: Readers’ emails and letters.

14 A Day in the Country: Chris Ferguson reveals 24 106 131 132 154

that, on balance, she is enjoying her 50s.

A Month in the Country Regional Shopping Guide Collectables Books Country Squire

SERVICES

TRAVEL

100 ON THE MOVE: BARWON HEADS

110

This Victorian holiday destination is drawing residents due to its proximity to nearby Geelong and its laid-back coastal lifestyle.

THE HOLIDAY HUNTER: DESTINATION PUGLIA Tips for an idyllic road trip in the south of Italy through the eyes of an Australian photographer taking in the best places to eat and stay.

FASHION AND BEAUTY

118 THE STYLE DIARY

124

The sustainable fashion choices of Harriet Birrell, plus what she’s reading, watching and listening to.

THE BROW EVOLUTION Find out the techniques and products to achieve the latest looks so you can put your best brows forward.

136 137 138 146

A COPY OF OUR NEW BOOK, COUNTRY HOMES Stockists Field Guide Country Emporium Country and Coastal Retreats

OUR COVER

This month, we head to a beach hut at Blairgowrie in Victoria and set up for a relaxing day (page 73).

PHOTOGRAPHY Lisa Cohen STYLING Lee Blaylock LOCATION Blairgowrie, Victoria

ON THE COVER Alfie, a six-month-old border collie poodle cross, loves going to the beach. Stool, bag on door and seagrass cushion all from Inartisan.

Hat from Folk Store. Chair from Angelucci 20th Century. Picnic set and checked cushion cover both from Le Weekend.

Small basket on the deck from Aura Home.

Kartio pitcher from Iittala. Shot on location at Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. For stockist details, see page 136.

PRIVACY NOTICE This issue of Country Style magazine is published by Bauer Media Pty Ltd (Bauer). Bauer may use and disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, including to provide you with your requested products or services and to keep you informed of other Bauer publications, products, services and events. Our Privacy Policy is located at bauer-media.com.au/ privacy. It also sets out on how you can access or correct your personal information and lodge a complaint. Bauer may disclose your personal information offshore to its owners, joint venture partners, service providers and agents located throughout the world, including in New Zealand, USA, the Philippines and the European Union. In addition, this issue may contain Reader Offers, being offers, competitions or surveys. Reader Offers may require you to provide personal information to enter or to take part. Personal information collected for Reader Offers may be disclosed by us to service providers assisting Bauer in the conduct of the Reader Offer and to other organisations providing special prizes or offers that are part of the Reader Offer. An opt-out choice is provided with a Reader Offer. Unless you exercise that opt-out choice, personal information collected for Reader Offers may also be disclosed by us to other organisations for use by them to inform you about other products, services or events or to give to other organisations that may use this information for this purpose. If you require further information, please contact Bauer’s Privacy Officer either by email at privacyofficer@bauer-media.com.au or mail at Privacy Officer Bauer Media Pty Ltd, 54 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

PHOTOGRAPHY NIKOLE RAMSAY, NICOLA SEVITT

100

29 Next Month 134 SUBSCRIBE TO COUNTRY STYLE TO RECEIVE

OU R N E W BOOK

LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO INSPIRING RURAL PEOPLE AND TAKE YOU INSIDE THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN OUR NEW BOOK, COUNTRY HOMES IN AUSTRALIA: 30 YEARS OF LIFE ON THE LAND.

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YOUR PAGE

This delicious Cherry Bombe Alaska, part of chef Annie Smithers’s festive menu, was loved by our followers on Instagram. “On our Christmas Day menu,” commented @thelambofamo Recipe @kittensmithers Photography @lisacohenphoto Styling @lee_blaylock

YOUR PAGE

Our Christmas issue cover stars Misty the West Highland terrier, Moss the labrador and Tommy the Cairn terrier proved to be very popular with everyone this year!

Their owner chef Annie Smithers put together a delicious festive menu inside and the issue also included a story on Michael and Kevin ‘Puddings’ of Pudding Lane in Newcastle, NSW, who make, yes you guessed it, some of the most delicious puddings around.

Photography @lisacohenphoto Styling @lee_blaylock Location @the_estate_trentham

KATE BREW’S STORY ON HER BUSHFIRE EXPERIENCE HAS STRUCK A CHORD WITH MANY WHILE ONE READER TELLS OF HOW COUNTRY STYLE KEEP HER FAMILY CONNECTED TO RURAL LIFE. SWEET MEMORIES

CHRISTMAS TREAT

I love how Country Style takes me back to when I was staying with my wonderful grandparents in the Queensland country town of Nagoorin. Memories of driving down the track and Grandma timing it just right with the morning tea — strawberry slice and little cakes with smooth icing on the table as soon as we walked through the door. I love all the recipes that are sent in from times gone by. Page by page, I love it all.

Noela Stockbridge, Gladstone, Queensland Editor’s note: We love the sound of that slice — please send in the recipe ASAP!

As the new magazine arrives I scan through it first before settling down to enjoy it from the first page through to the last. The stories are always great as are the photographs that go with them.

Being a lover of photography myself, I got to page 83 and it just about blew me away! What a magnificent image of Nic Poelaert icing his beautiful eclairs.

I take my hat off to Brigid Arnott and to the writer Barbara Sweeney as well.

I have messaged a friend who lives at Newcastle to go buy herself a treat for Christmas. I hope she gets to try them.

Beverley Pohlner, Nhill, Victoria

STRONG TIES

NEW TRADITIONS

I had tears in my eyes as I read Kate Brew’s story in the Christmas 2019 issue about bushfires, having experienced the same worry. We moved our young family three years ago to a 25-hectare property surrounded by state forest. We often cast our eyes over the horizon on hot days looking for a sign of a fire or check the Fires Near Me app. It has just become a way of life. Our income comes from jobs off the land, but we have spent thousands of hours rebuilding sheds, creating vegie gardens and making the property ours.

And we know a fire could wipe this out in minutes as that’s the risk you run living in rural Australia. However, the pull and love of a country life cannot be explained and here we stay, as the life we have created means we wouldn’t change a thing.

Rebecca Pope, Lake Macquarie, NSW

I am sitting on the verandah reading your Christmas issue putting aside, for an hour, the daily troubles we are all facing from the drought and the fires.

The article, When I Was a Kid, has got me looking forward and excited not just for Christmas, but for starting new traditions with my children so they can look back and think about what a wonderful time it is. It’s not only about the presents, but about spending time with friends and family.

Rebecca Johnston, Kelvin, NSW

12 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

KEEPING CALM It could be as long as 10 years or more that I’ve been reading your magazine.

To say that I love it is an understatement!

I tell my husband every month that we will be in that mag one day and I hope

they use me in The Style Diaries (one of my favourite parts). I read all the stories and it’s true, it is good to live in the country, the peace, the outdoors, the wildlife — we love everything about country living. The joy your magazine brings to me is so calming. I’ve just read the story, Give Me Shelter, and I found myself feeling the fear that Kate felt as we are prone to fires here in North East Victoria. I can’t imagine the fear of losing our castle, our small bubble of happiness that we call home.

Sue Dugmore, Tolmie, Victoria

GROWING UP WITH COUNTRY STYLE My mum has lived in some fairly remote regional areas across NSW, forming strong friendships along the way.

In 1985, my father passed away leaving mum to raise two small children.

As my dad managed a property, mum had to move us to the city to gain employment herself and to educate my brother and I. But Mum missed her country life, so 30 years ago we decided to subscribe to Country Style. In all honesty, we love the pictures, the homes, the people, the artistic talents, shopping ideas and feel-good recipes. Mum and I share a subscription, reading each edition twice — we love it! Mum swears the best time to read CS is first thing in the morning, when the air is crisp and the birds are chirping. Past magazines are piled high, never to be thrown out — against my brother’s wishes! Thank

We launched our book Country Homes in Australia: 30 Years of Life on the Land at a reader lunch held at Headricks Lane in Rockhampton, Queensland.

you CS for keeping the country connection for us all these years, it keeps our memories strong. We have a little house in the country, who knows we may be inspired to live there one day, but for now we’re working and educating our own children in the big smoke. You just never know what path lies ahead.

Fleur Hannan, Wareemba, NSW

BEAUTY AT HOME Through the pages of Country Style I have found a place of solidarity. Thank you to the people who graciously share their homes — through them I have learnt to see the beauty of my ramshackle cottage. Thank you to the businesses who share their vision. Because of their hard work I seek out regional online stores for something truly unique. And thank you to the people who tell it like it is, the beauty and the struggle, as that is the reality my family is also living. Solidarity is everything, and through the pages of Country Style you prove to me there’s nowhere else I’d want to be.

Cassie Harrex, West Launceston, Tasmania

WINNER THINK OF THE BUSH Christmas should be a time of joy and family celebrations, not a time for running yourself ragged with stress and expenditure. With many Australians affected by drought and bushfires in 2019, it has been really refreshing to see Country Style run features focusing on the importance of togetherness, and reflecting on those going through unimaginable trials on the land. It’s helped me to give my children a fresh perspective for this festive season — to refresh that we are thankful for what we have and to look at what we can do to help. We will be reigning in this year’s Christmas purchases and making donations to drought and bushfire relief instead. Sending love and best wishes for rain, a better growing season, and a safer fire season for 2020. Merry country Christmas to you all!

Jade Blee, Beerwah, Queensland

Congratulations to Jade Blee who has won a Sunbeam High Performance Blender worth $499. For more information about this stylisth and versatile kitchen appliance, telephone 1300 881 861 or visit sunbeam.com.au Share your thoughts and experiences with us by writing to Country Style, PO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 1028, or emailing austcountrystyle@bauer-media. com.au. Please include your address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.

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A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

AGE OF REASON ALTHOUGH THERE IS an obvious danger in generalisations,

I want to say to those finding life tough throughout their 20s, 30s or even 40s; hold fast, it gets better.

In her book Happy, Amanda Talbot describes lifetime happiness trends as a smile. She says that in general people are happiest in their youth, with joy dipping in middle age and then lifting again around the 50s. There are, of course, myriad of personal situations that affect our individual happiness, but I’ve rolled into my 50s thinking that the happiness curve may just be right.

This contentment has come as a pleasant surprise amid the flurry and worry of a rip-roaring drought and consequently, a business on the edge. And while this situation is stressful, I’m reminded of the saying: ‘This ain’t my first rodeo.’

Today we speak of resilience when what we’re really talking about is experience. In my 50-odd years there have been many obstacles that I’ve clambered awkwardly over, humiliations that I thought I could never recover from and moments of devastation that left me questioning the point of life. We go out into the world and experience sorrow, joy and despair and not only do we survive, but we grow despite or, perhaps, because of it all. With every storm that life throws at us we are pared back a little further, the fluff and nonsense is blown away, leaving room for us to grow into our own individual truths.

My friends agree that getting older is better than expected. We hold our tribe closer and find joy in the places we once overlooked. We know what is important to us, and make no apology for it. We are less likely to suffer the fools that once would have caused us angst.

A beefwood tree on Chris’ property Myrnong Station in Wanaaring, north-west NSW, continues to stand strong through the years.

14 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

When I look back on photos of young me, I remember how hard I was on myself when what I needed was kindness.

It would have served me well to cut myself some slack and understand that we are, all of us, just doing the best we can.

In my 20s it seemed that the path of my life stretched endlessly over the horizon, that what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to be, were impossible to achieve. It’s probable that there are now more years behind me than ahead, and thankfully reality and ambition have come to a harmonious compromise making the road a little easier to travel.

Although there is a sense of frustration that my body is wearing out, there is also pride in the fact that I haven’t held back. At the hands of a hard taskmaster it has suffered numerous breaks, dislocations, concussions and infections.

It has been dehydrated, poisoned, exhausted and fully used.

Now the aches and pains remind me that I’ve lived at full throttle — a knowledge that is strangely satisfying.

I imagine that if I arrived at the close of my life with a body that didn’t show the signs of wear, I would be disappointed in myself. I would suspect that I hadn’t lived like I meant it.

The voice of experience is more important than ever throughout the regions of rural Australia that are experiencing ongoing drought and subsequent hardship.

We are seeing honest and brave people showing up day after day and doing the best they can with what they have. We are all learning from each other that attitude is everything, that our culture’s fear of ageing is outdated and that we don’t necessarily need rain to grow stronger.

Chris Ferguson is a grazier and shares xperience of life in the outback at @lifeinthemulga on Instagram.

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS FERGUSON PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY GREG ROBERTSON

LOOKING BACK OVER HER LIFE, CHRIS FERGUSON IS FINDING HER FIFTIES TO BE A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

Editor-in-chief VICTORIA CAREY Creative director JO QUARMBY Deputy editor KYLIE IMESON Melbourne editor VIRGINIA IMHOFF Art director ANN DO Senior copy editor K ATE BARBER Art production/designer MATUS KUNDRAT Junior designer SOPHIE WILSON Stylists LISA BURDEN, NATALIE JOHNSON, ASHLEY PRATT Homes group production editor TAMARAH PIENA AR Homes group coordinator MATILDA RINGROSE (02) 9282 8456 Regular contributors CLAIRE MACTAGGART (Queensland contributing editor) DIXIE ELLIOTT (Food) ROB INGRAM (Country Squire) ANNABEL LAWSON (Books) JOHN McPHEE (Collectables) CHRISTINE REID (Gardening) BARBARA SWEENEY (Flavours) JULIETTE WINTER (Health and Beauty)

A DV ERT ISI NG A N D PRODUCT ION

Commercial brand manager RHYL HEAVENER (02) 8114 9420 Homes commercial manager RHONDA MAUNDER (02) 9282 8687 Advertising production manager KATE ORSBORN (02) 9282 8364 Victoria, SA and WA sales director JACLYN CLEMENTS (03) 9823 6341 Director of sales NSW KAREN HOLMES (02) 9282 8733 Victoria head of direct sales WILL JAMISON (03) 9823 6301 Queensland head of sales JUDY TAYLOR (07) 3101 6636 New Zealand inquiries +61 2 9282 8505 Sales manager, Directories NICK CARSON (02) 9282 8369 General manager, Production services IAN McHUTCHINSON Title controller and production planner SALLY JEFFERYS Advertising production controller DOMINIC ROY (02) 9282 8691 Creative director CLARE CATT (02) 8116 9341 Senior event manager CATE GAZAL (02) 8226 9342

M A R K ETING A ND CIRCU LATION

Marketing director LOUISE CANKETT Senior marketing manager JILLIAN HOGAN Brand manager SARAH WEBSTER Circulation manager NICOLE PEARSON Senior subscriptions campaign manager ELLIE XUEREB

BAU E R M E DI A C OR P OR AT E

PHOTOGRAPHY BRIGID ARNOTT

Chief executive officer BRENDON HILL Chief financial officer ANDREW STEDWELL Commercial director PAUL GARDINER Executive general manager, Publishing and digital operations SARAH-BELLE MURPHY Associate publisher SHANE SUTTON Head retail sales and circulation ANDREW COHN

General manager, Subscriptions and e-commerce SEAN McLINTOCK Business manager GEORGINA BROMFIELD Syndications SYNDICATION@BAUER-MEDIA.COM.AU

GENER AL EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

Mail Country Style, PO Box 4088, Sydney NSW 1028 Telephone (02) 9282 8456 Email austcountrystyle@bauer-media.com.au Online homestolove.com.au/ country-style Facebook facebook.com/CountryStyleMagazine Instagram instagram.com/countrystylemag Pinterest pinterest.com/countrystylemag

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FEBRUARY ISSUE ON SALE JANUARY 30 Enjoy our Dog Tale special about man’s best friend, our pick of the best regional shopping and we visit the NSW town of Walgett.

Published by Bauer Media Pty Limited (ABN 053 273 546), 54 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. The trademark Country Style is the property of Bauer Media Pty Ltd © 2020. All rights reserved. Printed by Ovato, 8 Priddle Street, Warwick Farm, NSW 2170. National distribution by Gordon and Gotch Australia Pty Ltd. 1300 650 666. ISSN 0004-931X. No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent from the copyright holders. Bauer Media Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage to or loss of freelance material submitted for publication. Allow several weeks for acceptance or return.

For inquiries regarding subscriptions, call 136 116, Monday-Friday, 8am–6pm AEST, email magshop@ magshop.com.au or mail letters to: Country Style Reply Paid 3508, Sydney, NSW 2001, or subscribe online at magshop.com.au. Standard subscription rate*: Australia $79.99 (one year, 13 issues); NZ A$99.95 (one year, 13 issues); other countries A$189.95 (one year, 13 issues). All overseas subscriptions sent air speed. *Recommended price, trademark Country Style.

Vamp by Lisa McGuigan is the newest cultural destination in The Hunter Valley. Having opened the doors in December 2019, Vamp is located within the Blaxland’s property on Broke Road Pokolbin.

This architect designed venue was purpose built for visitors to enjoy wines, design, art and oysters.

The Lisa McGuigan brand was established in 2010 and previously sold into 5 start hotels, premium restaurants and independent retailers in NSW. Vamp by Lisa McGuigan is a venue and wine room representing the evolution and next stage for Lisa McGuigan, where wine, art and fashion are enjoyed together. Vamp is the new stage where Lisa presents a gothic vibe, metallic feel and new direction straight to her audience.

02 499 7854

2198 Broke Ro d Pokolbin

vamp@lisamcguiganwines.com

Thursday – Monday 11am to 5pm

H ASTINGS V ICTOR I A PEOPLE Glass artist Leisa Wharington at The Studio & Co, a working space in Hastings, Victoria, incorporating several converted shipping containers that she shares with five other artists and a coffee roaster.

GLASS ARTIST LEISA WHARINGTON’S BODY OF WORK IS AS DIVERSE AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CREATIVE HUB SHE ESTABLISHED ON VICTORIA’S MORNINGTON PENINSULA. WORDS V IRGINI A IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY PETER M A R KO

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 19

PEOPLE H ASTINGS V ICTOR I A Leisa creating her latest piece, which she is shaping while it is still attached to the blowpipe.

FOR MUCH OF HER LIFE, Leisa Wharington has been under

the spell of glass. She was only 10 when she took classes with a local potter on the Mornington Peninsula, and it was there that she saw her first glassblowing demonstration.

“This glass business was so fluid and amazing, and the atmosphere in the studio was dynamic!” says Leisa.

“The fluid material was boiling hot, and you had to use tools to manipulate it. I was hooked on the drama of it.”

Now decades on, Leisa, 59, is a renowned glass artist who works from her collective creative space, The Studio & Co. It’s an old auto shop and complex of converted shipping containers shared with five other artists — and a coffee roaster — at Hastings on the Western Port Bay side of the Mornington Peninsula. Here, in front of a furnace blasting up to 1250°C, she spins, twists and rolls molten glass with theatrical flair into unique shapes defined by gravity and her tools. The glass is translucent, clear or opaque, sometimes coloured like the sea, or even tortoiseshell. Among the various pieces are glasses and decanters, food domes and plates, and blown shapes for the outdoors — “I like to plonk them around the garden” — as well as the delicate hanging vases that have been in her repertoire since she first started.

For the past decade or so Leisa’s also been making bigger, more sculptural pieces, such as chandeliers and “disco balls”, incorporating welded metal and found objects with wavy shaped glass discs. “Chandeliers are synonymous with glass and all the glass discs are made individually on the blowpipe,” she says. “Some have 100 pieces of glass in them and are quite heavy. They are all oval and organic in shape, thick and thin, and spin out differently. That’s what I love about the manipulation of glass, just letting it roll around on the blowpipe and allowing the centrifugal force to take over and dropping the glass down so it spins unevenly — they are slightly concave and look like little washed up jellyfish shapes!” There’s also a variation that she calls her “man lights”. “I use old cogs, old winches and propellers off boats, and put a big glass ball on top with a light fitting in it.”

Leisa, who has daughters Charlotte, 28, and Sophie, 26, and son Max, 22, from her former marriage, was born and bred on the peninsula, and now lives at Somers, in one of the original beach cottages overlooking Western Port with Tilly, her four-year-old rescue Yorkshire terrier. Her love of the beach and this southern coastline is an integral element of her glassblowing. “I’m inspired by nature, and the sand and sea have always been part of my life,” she says.

“I walk on the beach every day, and I think that connection with sand and glass is amazing. It starts from a grain >

20 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

“The fluid material was boiling hot, and you had to use tools to manipulate it. I was hooked on the drama of it.�

H ASTINGS V ICTOR I A PEOPLE FROM TOP Vases, glasses and bowls on display; finishing off a new work. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP Leisa knew from a young age that she wanted to be a glassblower; mouth-blown light fittings and other pieces in a cabinet at The Studio & Co.

of sand and it’s how you can get this clarity from something as simple as a grain of sand that amazes me. I think glass is a very underrated material.”

The beach is both inspiration and a resource for her work.

“I love using found objects,” says Leisa. “I was inspired to create a rope light a few years ago when a friend — a cray fisherman — took me out and he was pulling these lobster pots up with barnacles and mussel shells growing on the rope. That started the whole ball rolling. I find rope washed up on the beach that is discarded from ships — sometimes it’s a bit hard to drag up and across the road — and then I gurney it because it’s full of sand. I’m always looking for the bluey-green rope that gets washed up, and then I make blue-green glass light shades. I also buy a lot of rope and chain from second-hand shops or steel merchants. Now I love old ladder snow chains and I’ll make light fittings that tumble down the chain.”

That first magical encounter with glassblowing as a 10-year-old led to Leisa studying ceramic design at Caulfield Technical School (now Monash University). She then made trips to study at Pilchuck Glass School outside of Seattle in the United States. When she returned, she set up a glass studio at her mother’s property, Tanglewood Estate, a winery vineyard at Merricks North on the peninsula, and worked out of it for nearly 30 years. When the property was sold four years ago, Leisa relocated the studio to the former auto shop in Hastings and created the thriving artists’ hub environment that exists there today.

Meanwhile, back in 2008 she bought the Somers General Store and ran it until she sold it in 2015. It left her with a love of hospitality that now plays out in the series of unique dinners she holds at the studio during the cooler months of the year. “I have friends with a catering company and we set a table for 40 people and put on a bit of theatre for them.

When guests arrive at the studio they’ll have a glass of Champagne while we blow glass and do a demo in front of them. I’ll make a flat glass shape and then we’ll sear tuna on it, so it’s chargrilled and smoked, the chefs chop it up and it’s eaten straight away in the studio. Then everyone sits down for a three-course meal.” The whole idea, Leisa adds, is to showcase the drama and beauty of her glass light fittings while lit up at night.

Come morning you will find her back in her other favourite place, a far cry from the heat and energy of the glassblowing studio — the beach. “I live opposite the beach, I’m always beachcombing and walking Tilly there, every day.”

For more information, telephone 0407 812 982 or visit thestudioandco.com.au

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 23

Celebrate everything from gourmet King Island produce to The King of rock’n’roll at festivals and events around the country this month.

24 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

A MONTH IN THE COUN T RY

PHOTOGRAPHY KARA ROSENLUND

Tim O’Brien rides his horse Lyptus on his cattle and sheep property, Boggy Creek, on the edge of the Snowy Mountains in NSW. To read more, see page 92.

A MONTH IN THE COUN T RY Biota in Bowral, NSW, has a seasonal menu.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Boydell’s Camp is set within the rolling farmland; the luxury tent has a king-size bed; gourmet food and wine is supplied; take a soak in the copper bath.

Tamworth Country Music Festival, January 17th–26th The program for this iconic music festival is now so big you can download an app to access the 2800 free and ticketed gigs! If you’ve never been, Cold Chisel’s Blood Moon Tour may be just the incentive you need.

You can also catch Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley and more. (02) 6767 5300, tcmf.com.au Carcoar Village Fair, January 26th Thousands visit this tiny Central West village for its colonial-themed Australia Day celebrations. Highlights include a re-enactment of the first ever armed bank robbery in Australia, bushranger talks, market stalls, Cobb & Co rides and bush tucker demonstrations.

Adults $5, children under 12 free.

8.30am–4.30pm. carcoarvillage.com

QUEENSLAND NSW

Parkes Elvis Festival, January 8th–12th Slick back that quiff and make your way to Parkes to celebrate The King’s birthday. This year’s theme is Elvis’s 1966 musical Frankie and Johnny and there are more than 200 events in the jam-packed program to enjoy. From barefoot bowls and bingo to hound dog competitions, a mass marriage-vow renewal ceremony and boogie woogie lessons, there will be no time to take off those blue suede shoes.

Various locations and events. (02) 6862 6000, parkeselvisfestival.com.au The Great Eastern Fly-in, January 11th–12th The skies will be filled with aircraft of all shapes and sizes as aviation enthusiasts from around the nation converge on the Northern Rivers town of Evans Head for this annual event. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy re-enactments, joy flights and aircraft displays. It also celebrates the 80th anniversary of the largest Empire Air Training Scheme Station established in Australia during WWII to boost the supply of trained aircrew.

Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome, Memorial Airport Drive, Evans Head, (02) 6621 5592, greateasternflyin.com

Bush Mechanics: The Exhibition, until February 2nd An intriguing and, at times, hilarious tribute to the ingenuity of outback mechanics. Based on the ABC TV series, the exhibition shows how resourcefulness and sheer determination can get cars back on the road with nothing more than a length of spinifex. Adults $14.50. 9.30am–4pm.

The Workshops Rail Museum, North Street, North Ipswich, (07) 3432 5100, theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

Ginger Flower and Food Festival, January 17th–19th Now in its 24th year, this festival celebrates every aspect of this pretty plant — from the top of its exotic flower down to its spicy roots. There will be talks by gardening experts, such as Cath Manuel and Paul Plant, and cooking demonstrations by the likes of Matt Golinski. Free entry.

The Ginger Factory, 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina, 1800 067 686, gingerfactory. com.au/ginger-flower-food-festival

VICTORIA

A Dog’s Life, January 2nd–20th Celebrating the connection between humans and dogs, this exhibition includes canine-focused illustrations

by Michael Leunig, photographs by Jacqueline Mitelman, and stories from author and broadcaster Phillip Adams and actor John Wood. Free entry. Monday to Friday 10am–5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am–2pm.

Hamilton Gallery, 107 Brown Street, Hamilton, (03) 5573 0460, hamiltongallery.org Alpine Valleys Fringe Festival, January 9th–12th A weekend of laughs, great music and cabaret with the best up-and-coming talent in the region.

Held at Feathertop Winery, the festival kicks off with local musicians, the Alpine Bangers, plus canapés, bubbles

book a table NSW Biota The hero ingredient on chef James Viles’s menu this month

will be blood plums. “I always get excited about summer stone fruit,” he says.

Bowral’s cool climate produces very good stone fruit and James keeps a sharp eye on the fruit as it ripens on various trees on street verges and in gardens around town in an effort to beat the birds to it. “I’ve learned that putting an epic blood plum on the plate is enough,” he says. “But it has to be perfect.”

He’ll blacken the skin and serve it with homemade stracciatella cheese.

To accommodate his hyper-seasonal approach, James has introduced a new EMD (entrée, main and dessert) menu to run alongside the existing degustation tasting menu. “It means we can respond even more to the call of the season,” says James. Other local ingredient heroes James champions include the sheep’s milk cheese produced by Pecora Dairy at nearby Robertson — “The summer pasture produces milk that’s off the charts,” he says — and the aged dairy cow beef from Coppertree Farm in Budderoo. 18 Kangaloon Road, Bowral, (02) 4862 2005, biotadining.com BA R BA R A SW EENEY

W E E K E N D AWAY NSW Boydell’s Camp Fill up the copper tub and pour yourself a glass

of wine made from grapes grown on the property and enjoy the peace and quiet of Boydell’s Camp at East Gresford. Perched on a hill overlooking fertile farmland is a 52-square-metre luxury African safari tent — the ultimate escape for a couple who want to get away from it all.

Hosts Jane and Daniel Maroulis will give you a tour of their property then leave you to enjoy the seclusion of the tent. But with floorboards, a king-size bed made up with beautiful linen, a living room and a kitchenette stocked with local produce for dinner and breakfast, this is certainly no ordinary tent. 65 Allyn River Road, East Gresford, (02) 4938 9661, 0400 509 477, boydells.com.au/glamping KYLIE IMESON

WORDS VIRGINIA IMHOFF, TRACEY PLATT PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINIQUE CHERRY, ADAM GIBSON

and craft beer on arrival. Weekend pass $80. Various times. 6619 Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah, (03) 5756 2356, feathertopwinery.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Lavender Harvest, January 12th Join the celebration of all things lavender at an 1860s historic property and farm.

Watch lavender being harvested with sickles, distilling demonstrations, a working blacksmith, and enjoy music, dance and food. Adults $6, children $2.

10am–5pm. 350 Hepburn-Newstead Road, Shepherds Flat, (03) 5476 4393, lavandula.com.au

Discovering the Portrait: Legacy, Memory & Power, until February 9th Portraiture, traditionally the domain of the rich and powerful, is explored in its broadest possible application. Works range from painting to print, people to landscape, and aim to show how one of the oldest forms of art-making remains a powerful way to capture a likeness of the world. Monday to Friday 9am–5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am–2pm.

Walkway Gallery, 43 Woolshed Street, Bordertown, (08) 8752 1044, walkwaygallery.com

Sunnymeade Open Garden, January 18th–19th This garden was created by plantsman Peter Shaw and features dry-stone walls, a sunken garden, a fire pit and sculptures, plus amazing sculptured grass mounds and shrub plantings with a canopy of stringybark gums. Adults $8, students $5, under 18 free. 10am–4.30pm. 48 Harvey Street, Anglesea, opengardensvictoria.org.au

2020 Santos Tour Down Under, January 16th–26th Whether you’re keen to strap on your cleats or simply spectate, this is one of Australia’s greatest cycling events. As each stage winds its way through South Australia, fans have the opportunity to eat, drink and enjoy the best of the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.

(08) 8463 4701, tourdownunder.com.au

Crush Festival, January 24th–26th The Adelaide Hills comes alive with the sound of popping corks when its best wineries show off their wares at lavish degustation dinners, long lunches, tasting sessions, croquet days and fiestas. Various prices and locations.

1300 305 577, crushfestival.com.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY Greenbush Art Group: Shake, Rattle and Roll, until March 1st Discover how transport transformed Central Australia in works created by the Greenbush Art Group at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre. In the tradition of bush toy making, the artists have used salvaged materials to depict how the progression from horse and camel to steam and engines led to cultural change in the interior.

Adults $8, children $6. Tuesday to Saturday 10am–4pm; Sunday 10am–2pm. Araluen Arts Centre, 61 Larapinta Drive, Araluen, (08) 8951 1122, araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au >

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 27

A MONTH IN THE COUN T RY

ACT

Promiscuous Provenance, January 17th–March 1st Catch this travelling exhibition from Shoalhaven Regional Gallery at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Award-winning contemporary artist Anna Glynn reinterprets the images of Australia’s early colonial painters, reimagining them in a fantasy world that reflects the fascination many early settlers had for the environment and unusual creatures they encountered in their strange new home. 9.30am–4.30pm.

Visitor Centre Gallery, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, (02) 6250 9588, parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens

TASMANIA

Cygnet Folk Festival, January 10th–12th This pretty Huon Valley town is the site for one of Tassie’s most popular music events. Now in its 38th year, the festival attracts an eclectic array of musical talent from all over Australia and overseas; from ukulele orchestras to Argentinian tango music.

There will also be dance, poetry, films, children’s entertainment, food, wine, art and handicrafts. You can camp or glamp and weekend adult tickets start at $200. cygnetfolkfestival.org Festival of King Island, January 31st–February 1st Head to King Island for two days of music, seafood, wine and dairy products. Picturesque Currie Harbour is the place to enjoy folk, blues, country and rock music artists.

Plus, check out the pie-eating and tug-of-war competitions. Two-day adult day tickets $60; students and children free. foki.com.au

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Shaun Tan: Tales from the Inner City, until January 27th An ethereal exhibition of images from Tan’s recent book, Tales from the Inner City, which explores the relationships between humans and animals and the merging of natural and urban environments.

View the large-scale paintings created by this artist and author who has won

the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for his contribution to international children’s literature. Free entry.

10am–5pm. Fremantle Arts Centre, Kathleen O’Connor Gallery, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle, (08) 9432 9555, fac.org.au Mount Barker Grapes and Gallops, January 19th Wine meets equine at this popular annual race meeting at the town known as the gateway to the state’s stunning South Coast.

Try your luck picking winners on the eight-event race card while sipping samples from some of the region’s award-winning wineries. There will also be gourmet food and children’s entertainment. Adult gate tickets $20.

Frost Park Racecourse, McDonald Avenue, Mount Barker, 0447 512 873, mtbarkerturfclub.com.au

f arme rs’ marke t s It’s now 20 years since Australia’s first farmers’ market set up stalls in the Yarra Valley, starting a movement that has played a vital role in local food economies. Markets are important community touchstones and, as impossible as it seems, sometimes the only source of fresh food in regional areas. Congratulations to the farmers, food producers, market organisers and shoppers who believe in a better food future. farmersmarkets.org.au

NSW Bermagui Growers’ Market, every Thursday A weekday farmers’

market is a rare thing, but invaluable to the cook who needs a few things to get them through. The Sapphire Coast is known more for fishing than agriculture, so the market organiser has worked hard to find as many farmers, growers and producers as they can, with some travelling great distances. Donald Smith comes with luscious blueberries from his farm north-east of Cooma, while Imlay Nuts bring hazelnuts from further south at Towamba. You’ll also find homegrown lettuce from Bargo, heritage hen eggs from Coolagolite, organic veg from Cobargo and olives from Tathra.

3–5pm. Bermagui Country Club, Tuross Street, Bermagui, 0425 711 795.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Boyanup Farmers’ Market, fourth

Sunday This market has been going strong for 18 years. Join the queue at Fre-Jac Bakery for French-style breads to go with Jardin Estate’s butter — taste the Pedro Ximenez sherry vinegar-flavoured cold-smoked butter if it’s there. Collect blueberries from The Blueberry Barn, goat’s cheese from Scapegoat Dairy and cherries from Cherry Valley Farm. Boreham Valley Nursery’s fruit trees and Green Way Herbs cater for gardeners. 8am–12pm.

Boyanup Heritage Park, South West Highway, Boyanup, 0448 806 833, boyanupfarmersmarket.com BA R BA R A SW EENEY

ARTWORK BY ANNA GLYNN. EVENTS MAY CHANGE AND WE RECOMMEND CONTACTING ORGANISERS TO CONFIRM DETAILS AND ENSURE AVAILABILITY.

LEFT Antipodean Wonderland Tableaux Illawarra by Anna Glynn at Canberra’s Australian National Botanic Gardens.

PHOTOGRAPHY ABBIE MELLE

FEBRUARY ISSUE ON SALE JANUARY 30

Decorating ideas from a beautiful Danish country home plus how to create a stylish home office.

SEE OUR GREAT SUBSCRIPTION OFFER ON PAGE 134 OF THIS ISSUE.

MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD

AUTHOR JESSICA WHITE LOST HER HEARING AS A CHILD, BUT HER RURAL UPBRINGING TAUGHT HER RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. WORDS JESSICA W HITE

machinery shed. Mum tended a huge flower and vegie garden, as well as fruit trees, so researcher at the University of Queensland we always played outside when she was in Brisbane. The 41-year-old is a fiction gardening. In summer, we spent long days and non-fiction writer. Jessica grew up in the pool and ate grapes from the vine. on a 2500-hectare mixed farming property Deafness made me shy because I could near Boggabri in north-west NSW where never get the knack of talking to people she lived with father James, mother Anne, outside my extended family. At school, older sister Rebecca and younger brother I used a piece of technology called an FM Hadley. Her aunt, uncle and cousins, as well system, which is like a small walkie-talkie. as her grandparents, also lived on the farm.

A teacher for the deaf visited me once a week. My voice used to be flat, and my ONE AFTERNOON WHEN I was four, I became teacher taught me to put modulation into very ill with something like the flu. Mum’s it. As listening and communicating were sixth sense told her it was worse than this, and she bundled me into the car. She drove ABOVE Jessica, riding pony Stumpy at age difficult, I retreated into books. Stories eight, grew up on the family farm at assuaged the loneliness and boredom from our property near Boggabri to our Boggabri, NSW, with her sister Rebecca, I often felt, and passed the long car trips family doctor in Gunnedah. He told Mum to brother Hadley and six cousins. between home and the audiologists, school go to Tamworth Base Hospital immediately. and music lessons. From reading I turned to writing as a way After a lumbar puncture, I was diagnosed with meningitis.

That night I had a respiratory arrest, but I pulled through and of expressing my frustration with being deaf in a hearing world. However, I wouldn’t have taken my love of writing any recovered. A few weeks after I was discharged, though, my further were it not for my father. parents realised something wasn’t right, as I didn’t catch Dad farmed with his brothers during the day and painted everything they said to me. They took me to a specialist in watercolours at night. He won the Currabubula Art Prize in Sydney, who discovered I had lost all of the hearing in my left 1964, just as he left school, and more recently in 2019! When ear and half in my right.

I was 15, he moved us to Armidale to take up a position as an On the farm, we were a long way from services, and this art teacher at The Armidale School. My parents bought and shaped the decisions my parents made about my education. began renovating a rambling building that had been built One option was to send me to boarding school for deaf in 1874 and extended as the owner’s family grew. The last children in Sydney, but this was a six-hour drive away and I was too young to board. Dad also couldn’t uproot us from the extension was made around 1885. Over a century, the house fell into disrepair, eventually being converted into four flats. farm to move to the city. Instead, I attended the public school Despite its dilapidated state, my parents fell in love with its in Boggabri, which had just 100 kids from kindergarten bay windows, high ceilings and French doors. I became a day to Year Six. As I was speaking by the time I lost my hearing, girl at the New England Girls School. I studied hard, excelling I was able to learn to read and write without too much at English, while my teachers and the librarian encouraged difficulty. For most deaf people, it’s much easier to learn my writing. In 1996, I began a degree in English literature to sign. I would have benefitted from sign language, but this and creative writing at the University of Wollongong. It was didn’t become apparent to me until I was an adult. here, thinking about how Dad persisted with his art, that My brother, sister and I grew up on the farm with six I realised I could become a writer if I continued to work hard. cousins. My brother and I roamed the creeks and paddocks, When I graduated from the University of Wollongong, rode our bikes on the roads, or visited our cousins to swim I enrolled in a Master of Arts in Writing at the University in their pool or pat their horses. Sometimes we’d ride with of Technology, Sydney. From there I moved to London to do > Dad in the header as he harvested, or muck around at the

30 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY JOSH KELLY

DR JESSICA WHITE is a lecturer and

Jessica White has written three books and is a lecturer at The University of Queensland.

“...I also recognised how deafness and country living taught me important lessons: resilience, self-reliance, and a love for nature.�

FROM LEFT Five-year-old Jessica and her brother Hadley, four, feeding lambs; aged 12 after winning at an eisteddfod; at her wedding in October 2019; playing the euphonium aged seven; Jessica, four, ready for her first day of preschool; dressed as a fairy for a school concert.

The following is an extract from Jessica’s latest creative non-fiction book, Hearing Maud, a hybrid memoir, which intertwines her experience of growing up deaf with that of deaf 19th-century novelist Rosa Praed.

ON A MORNING IN early summer, I lay on a pale-blue

trampoline beneath the apricot tree. Its branches, which scraped against my bedroom window in storms, arched over me. The tree was planted by workmen who had lived in our weatherboard cottage before my parents moved in, but it never bore fruit. My mother appeared at the side of the trampoline. ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked.

I shook my head, unable to answer. I was nearly four years old. My head, neck and shoulders were awash with an ache.

A light breeze scraped my skin like a blade, while the sunlight, normally soft and dappled, speared through the leaves above.

My mother sensed there was something wrong, she would tell me in later years, something worse than the flu. She thought for a few minutes, then went inside and changed her farm clothes for a skirt and blouse. She collected her handbag, found my shoes and scrawled a note for my father.

Back at the trampoline, she wriggled the shoes onto my feet. ‘We’re going to town to see the doctor.’

‘Okay.’ It was hard to speak.

Mum collected my brother and sister, Oliver and Bella, and dropped them at my grandmother’s house a few kilometres away. We then drove over rough gravel roads for 40 minutes until we reached Gunnedah. When the local doctor saw me, his movements became quick and urgent: I was to go to Tamworth Base Hospital immediately. Mum drove for another hour. Sweat formed beneath her hands, making the steering wheel sticky.

At the hospital she watched in horror as she held me down while I screamed and the doctor drove a needle into my

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY HEART AND COLOUR

my PhD. My first novel, A Curious Intimacy, was published in 2007, and my second novel, Entitlement, in 2012. I have recently published my third book, Hearing Maud, a hybrid memoir which uncovers the life of Maud Praed, the deaf daughter of 19th-century Queensland-born novelist Rosa Praed. In researching Maud’s story, I realised how isolated I had been as a young deaf person because we were so far from urban areas where I might have met other deaf children, or deaf role models. Yet I also recognised how deafness and country living taught me important lessons: resilience, self-reliance, and a love for nature.

Over the years, I have returned repeatedly to my parents’ house in Armidale to write. The quietness of the town and of Mum’s garden has been a restorative when my busy life as an academic, as well as the unrelenting demands of deafness, wear me down. I often sit in the front room with its library of books lining the shelves, writing, as Dad sits down the back, painting in his studio. Our lives in Boggabri have become the rootstock of our work. Dad’s subjects include scenes from the saleyards, chooks and eggs in wire baskets, the ochres of the outback, and images from the beach, to which we escaped after the harvest was finished.

I write about rural communities and life in country towns, focusing particularly upon the experiences of women.

From Dad I learnt to love the stillness of the bush in the evening and the subdued colours of a sunset after a hot summer’s day. I am now a committed environmentalist, and my next books are about the preciousness of Australia’s unique environment and how critical it is that we care for it.

As I describe in Hearing Maud, had I not become deaf, I would never have become a writer. Additionally, had I not experienced that amazing childhood in the country, I would also not be writing the kinds of books that I am now.

Growing up so close to nature was a gift, one that we should ensure is passed on to future generations.

For more information, visit jessicawhite.com.au

MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD

FROM LEFT Jessica, seven, learning to ride a bike with the help of her six-year-old brother Hadley; holding a lamb; seven-year-old Jessica (far left) raiding the strawberry patch with her brother and cousin; Jessica (left, in white) aged six with her cousins, Jessica’s father James with a sow on their property in Boggabri, NSW.

spine. Results confirmed it was meningitis and I was given a massive dose of antibiotics to kill the infection on the lining of my brain. After that there was nothing to do but wait.

A few hours later my father arrived. My godparents, who lived on a property on the way to Tamworth, rushed in. They sat by the bedside in the darkness while I had a respiratory arrest and stopped breathing. A minister appeared, praying silently with my godparents, who were devout Christians.

My atheist parents, having lost a child five years before, held hands against the death of this one.

In the morning, my eyes opened. The adults held their breath. I blinked: ever combative, I had won.

I was in hospital for a month. My bed was adjacent to a sliding glass door that led to a small, fenced courtyard. If kids wet their beds, nurses slung the sheets over the fence to dry.

Sometimes they were mine and the nurses chided me for it.

My father often sat beside me, reading a Strawberry Shortcake book. I twisted the plastic identification bracelet on my wrist, unable to follow what was happening because his voice was a low burble. I liked the pictures, though.

Finally, I was allowed to go home. I tucked my stuffed toys, Mr Tickle and Mr Chatterbox, into the car seat beside me.

Within a few weeks, my parents realised something wasn’t right. ‘She keeps asking me what I’m saying,’ my mother said. ‘This morning I yelled at her down the verandah to clean her teeth and she just looked at me.’

I leaned against the doorway in the kitchen, watching them.

My father laid his hand on my head and stroked my hair.

Some weeks later, he and I rose in the coal-glow of morning and set off for Sydney, a six-hour drive away.

We stopped for lunch by the banks of a river and took out the sandwiches Mum had made. A weeping willow drooped into the water. Beyond it was a rickety wooden bridge, over which cars sometimes rattled. The sunlight was bright, the grassy bank warm beneath our legs. When crumbs from the sandwiches fell into the water, a swathe of eels appeared.

The bank looked precipitous and the eels writhing below our feet were disturbing. I drew up my legs.

In Sydney we stayed with friends who lived in an apartment, the first one I’d ever seen. Their kids, a boy and girl, showed me how to slide down the carpeted flight of stairs between each floor. In the evening, we put on a finger puppet show for the adults. I couldn’t follow what the kids were saying and quickly lost the thread of my lines.

I kneeled beside the cardboard stage, silent and ashamed.

This sense of soreness, of being around people and not knowing how to deal with them, has throbbed all my life.

This is my first recollection of the feeling, and yet I have no memory of the visit to the audiologist who found I had lost all the hearing in my left ear and half in my right.

It transpired that the large dose of antibiotics injected to cure the infection on the lining of my brain had saved me, but it had also damaged the nerves of my cochlea. My life came to be defined by what the ancient Greeks termed a pharmakon, that which is a poison and a cure.

Hearing Maud: A Journey for a Voice by Jessica White, UWA Publishing, $27.99.

BOGGABRI This small town, with a population of just 856 people according to the 2016 census, is located between Gunnedah and Narrabri in north-west NSW, 512 kilometres north of Sydney on the Kamilaroi Highway. The name Boggabri comes from the indigenous Gamilaraay word bagaaybaraay, which means having many creeks and is most likely a reference to the Namoi River which passes through the town. First settled in the 1830s, the town was first sited 20 kilometres south of where it is today; flood waters washed the original town away and it was relocated in the 1850s. Cotton is the most common type of farming in the surrounding area.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 33

HOME BER R ILEE NSW Views of Berowra Valley can be seen from Vicki and Andrew Saran’s home. On the verandah, the bench is an auction find and the cushions are from Orient House. The throw and the white urn are from Deer Willow. For stockist details, see page 136.

ALL IN GOOD TIME A BUILDER AND HOMEWARES STORE OWNER HAVE COMBINED THEIR CREATIVE SKILLS TO FINALLY RENOVATE THEIR FAMILY HOME. WORDS CLA IR E M ACTAGGA RT PHOTOGRAPHY NIC GOSSAGE ST YLING NATA LIE JOHNSON

34 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

STYLING ASSISTANT NONCI NYONI

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Andrew and Vicki Saran with Mr Bojangles, their 10-year-old briard, an ancient breed of herding dog that originated in France; urns and plinths from Vixen & Velvet; firewood for winter; beside the Xinjiang cabinet from Stone Pony in the living room sits a basket from French Country Collections. The rug is from Papaya and the framed shell necklace on the wall was bought in Ubud, Bali. FACING PAGE Dense bush surrounds the property. For stockist details, see page 136.

BER R ILEE NSW HOME

WHEN ANDREW AND VICKI SARAN discovered a house on

a couple of hectares near Berrilee in the Hills District on the outskirts of Sydney, their vision was to renovate it into a modern country farmhouse. With their combined skills and experience — Andrew, 64, is a builder while 59-year-old Vicki owns home and lifestyle store Deer Willow in Kiama — the project was guaranteed to be a success.

“I’m good at designing and Vicki is good at the finishing touches and pulling things together,” Andrew says. “We love being creative, recycling and bringing things back to life.”

The couple were living between Berowra Waters and Bronte in Sydney 13 years ago when they decided to relocate to acreage so they could raise their then six-year-old son Oscar in a more rural location. Berrilee is known for its scenery, hiking and riding trails and its proximity to the river and National Parks.

“It seemed like a beautiful place to bring up a little boy and we just fell in love with it,” Vicki recalls.

“Everyone has come to this area for the same thing — the lifestyle and letting children roam as well as the sense of community. It takes a village to raise a child and you know everyone here. When Oscar was little, we had horses and did a lot of boating and canoeing.”

The family initially inspected another property for sale but were drawn to the two-storey house next door that wasn’t listed. Luckily, it came on the market the following week.

Perched high on a ridge, the four-bedroom house was built in 1983 with a design borrowed from a country home at Leura in the Blue Mountains, 100 kilometres west of Sydney.

The 12-foot-high ceilings were a drawcard, along with the stunning view to Berowra Valley.

“We wake up, look down the valley and the cloud looks just like whipped cream. It’s mystical,” Andrew says. “The house is light and bright, even in winter.”

One of Andrew’s first tasks was to replace many of the windows and doors which he thought were too low and didn’t suit the generous proportions of the house. The couple decided to live in it and learn its nuances before they embarked on major renovations.

“Being married to a builder you don’t get it all at once, you do have to wait!” Vicki explains with a smile.

The bathrooms were renovated and new ceilings installed, with hardwood cladding over the steel beams to add to the farmhouse feel.

In the kitchen, marble Carrara benchtops add a timeless element and complement Andrew’s joinery, which he completed onsite in his workshop. An old European carpenters’ bench is used as an island bench and adds character to the all-white kitchen.

“I like to combine one-off pieces with modern ones for warmth, and each room should have one spectacular piece in it,” Vicki says of her mix of hero pieces with neutral textures and crisp white walls. Where possible, she also incorporates plants.

“I love putting all our favourite things together — we’ve collected so many from our travels,” she adds.

Andrew and Vicki have replaced some of the original windows with glass panels and box window seating to help frame the views. “We have the most amazing sunsets and beautiful views,” Andrew says.

Four years ago, Andrew built a self-contained barn for Oscar, who is now 19 and studying contemporary music >

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“Everyone has come to this area for the same thing — the lifestyle and letting children roam as well as the sense of community.�

BER R ILEE NSW HOME An antique chandelier hangs above an old European carpenter’s bench that Vicki bought Andrew as a gift. The rangehood is by Qasair and the tiles are from Amber. Andrew made the cabinets. Plates on the island bench are from The DEA Store.

Photographs on the wall are of the Sarans’ son Oscar at age five with his miniature pony. On the wall near the sink is a vintage Makenge basket from Zambia. FACING PAGE A hammock from Deer Willow has cushions on it from Orient House. The chandelier hanging in the tree was bought at an auction. For stockist details, see page 136.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 39

CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE Seat and cushion are from Deer Willow, and the throw is from Saardé; black and white towels by Saardé and white towels by Bedouin Societe, all from Deer Willow. The windows were made

by Andrew; rustic artwork; the gravel driveway winds through lush garden; a stool from Deer Willow is used as a bedside table and the Ledlux Blakely table lamp is from Beacon Lighting. FACING PAGE Quilt, ikat throw and bench from Deer Willow. Cushion from Evolution Product. For stockist details, see page 136.

BER R ILEE NSW HOME

at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. It is constructed almost entirely from recycled materials collected over time, sourced from auctions or on eBay. The doors were stripped and restored by Andrew. “A lot of Oscar’s friends come over and do practise gigs for their band Coconut Cream,” Vicki says. “The barn is a perfect space for it,” Most weeks, Vicki travels 2.5 hours south to Deer Willow, her boutique store in Kiama, which is stocked with clothing, homewares and one-off pieces of furniture.

She then stays overnight in their onsite van at Easts Beach.

She originally started Deer Willow in Dural but a ‘for lease’ sign on a shop in Kiama changed things. “Three years in I sold Dural thinking one day we might move to Kiama permanently,” she explains.

Upon her return to Berrilee, there’s a sense of anticipation as she approaches the gravel circular drive, flanked with plane trees and liquidambars, to be warmly greeted by Mr Bo Jangles, their 10-year-old briard rescue dog. “This is a place to escape to and the air is so clean. We have a vegetable garden and our own chickens, with black cockatoos flying overhead. I walk inside and go, ‘ahhhh!’” Vicki says.

With downstairs completed earlier this year, they now have their sights set on the top storey renovation. “Andrew and I complement each other and run things by one another all the time,” she says. “Your own house is the hardest one to do but this place has a beautiful feel and is great to entertain in.”

Deer Willow, 12 Manning Street, Kiama, NSW, (02) 429 1033. Follow @deerwillow @theridgesydney on Instagram.

ABOUT THE HOUSE

• The linen sofa is Urban Couture. For similar, try

MCM House, (02) 9358 0800, mcmhouse.com Vicki’s favourite stores include Island Luxe, Bangalow @islandluxeofficial and LivedIn Coogee @livedincoogee 0438 648 188, livedincoogee.com.au A similar bath tub is available from Candana, (02) 9389 8631, candana.com.au For textiles, Vicki shops at Walter G, walter-g.com.au; Eadie Lifestyle, (02) 4927 6309, eadielifestyle.com.au; Bedouin Societe, (03) 9391 3843; and Cultiver, (03) 9827 0781, cultiver.com.au Both chandeliers in the house were auction finds and the Sarans restored and rewired the French one in the lounge room.

• • • •

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HOME BELLA R INE PENINSULA V ICTOR I A Harriet Birrell and her koolie border collie cross Fred out the front of her corrugated iron-clad home. FACING PAGE Gardening essentials are stored at the entrance.

Harriet uses a basket bought years ago from Rigby’s Homewares to collect vegetables.

For stockist details, see page 136.

N AT U R E ’ S WAY

HARRIET BIRRELL’S LIFE IS CENTRED AROUND ALL THINGS NATURAL INCLUDING HER SIMPLE, BEAUTIFUL HOME. W0RDS V IRGINI A IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY NIKOLE R A MSAY

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HOME BELLA R INE PENINSULA V ICTOR I A The dining table and chairs were hard rubbish, which have been given a new lease on life in Harriet and Fraser’s kitchen. Harriet tests all her recipes here.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP The exterior of the compact home; the flourishing vegetable garden; Harriet and Fred; the functional kitchen with a Lofra cooker. For stockist details, see page 136.

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THERE IS A NATURAL theme that runs through all the threads

of Harriet Birrell’s life as well as the people and things she loves to have around her. It plays out in her idyllic relaxed country/coastal lifestyle in a tiny shack on the Bellarine Peninsula on the south coast of Victoria that she shares with her partner sustainable building designer Fraser West and their constant companion and blue-eyed rescue dog Fred, a four-year-old koolie border collie cross. Harriet lives by a simple, down-to-earth philosophy that manifests in her affinity with nature, the freedom of the beach where she surfs the waves as often as she can, and in the ethical, healthy choices she makes each day, including her love of beautiful wholesome and natural food. “We are quite simple people who don’t have anything all that luxurious, but we really enjoy having things around us with a story and meaning,” Harriet says, describing the “eclectic, beach boho feel” of the environment she and Fraser have created in their coastal hideaway. “I love good food, but I’m busy and I’m a lazy cook who doesn’t want to be spending too much time in the kitchen, so wholefood — using ingredients that are in their most natural least processed form, based on whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains — makes the most sense to me.”

Harriet, 33, is the author of Whole, a celebration of nourishing, unprocessed dishes and the second cookbook that she has compiled, styled and designed. She self-published it in 2018 and it is now published by Hardie Grant. Her first self-published book, Natural Harry was released in 2015.

Harriet grew up close to nature and it’s hardly surprising that she’s chosen to stay close to her early roots. She spent her childhood with her parents and two younger sisters on a farm in the coastal hinterland of western Victoria, close enough to the beach for her to form a deep, life-long connection, where there was always beautiful food on the table. After finishing school in 2005 she went off on a gap year to England. “I worked at a school in the Cotswolds,” she says. However, it was in 2006, when she moved to Melbourne to study fashion design, and later working in the fashion industry, that she began to lose touch with those roots.

“I grew up on my grandparent’s farm between Winchelsea and Inverleigh in a family that really valued good quality wholefood and so I always had that as a foundation,” she says. “But when I was studying design and working in the fashion industry I think I lost the focus on nourishing myself with good food — I was not feeling so good and I was not looking after myself.”

Before long, she was drawn back to the coastal lifestyle that she had always loved and met Fraser, 32, on the Bellarine Peninsula in 2012. “I naturally gravitated back to the coast as I love the space, swimming and surfing. I managed >

HOME BELLA R INE PENINSULA V ICTOR I A The black rice salad is from Harriet’s new cookbook, Whole. FACING PAGE Harriet reads a book on the Dreamer couch from Pop & Scott. The cushion was made from a Turkish rug. Mandala wall hanging from The Dharma Door.

For stockist details, see page 136.

HERBY BLACK RICE SALAD WITH MINTED BEETROOT YOGHURT Serves 2

Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes If you are after a simple, crowd-pleasing salad recipe, this is it. You can double the recipe and serve it as a share plate or take it to work for lunch, packing the yoghurt dressing separately. The creamy, probiotic-rich minted beetroot dressing is the perfect contrast to the crunchy, herby salad. Black rice provides the bonus of extra antioxidants and vitamin E.

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30g sunflower kernels 40g pine nuts 40g almonds 200g black rice, washed ½ red onion, finely diced ¼ cup dill, chopped ¼ cup parsley, chopped 2 tablespoons coconut amino sauce* BEETROOT YOGHURT 250g coconut yoghurt** 45g beetroot, grated juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a low heat. Add sunflower kernels, pine nuts

and almonds and gently toast until golden. Set aside to cool. Add black rice and 500ml of water to a saucepan.

Bring to the boil and simmer until all the water is absorbed. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, add coconut yoghurt, beetroot and lemon juice to a food processor and process until smooth.

Add mint and stir well. Spread beetroot yoghurt mixture over two serving plates. Combine all salad ingredients and serve on top of the beetroot yoghurt. * Available from health food stores. ** Soy sauce can be used instead of coconut amino sauce.

HOME BELLA R INE PENINSULA V ICTOR I A CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP Harriet’s surfboard rests near the outdoor shower; the shower inside is lined in corrugated iron, linking it to the outside; just-picked vegetables from the garden; Harriet and Fred walk down the dirt road towards to house. FACING PAGE The bed-sized bedroom features an artwork by Camilla Walford. Bedlinen is from Good Studios.

For stockist details, see page 136.

a manchester store in Geelong, I nannied, and then I had a men’s shorts label called Smuggling Budgies! Fraser grew up in Geelong and apart from living in Melbourne for two years after school, he had always lived in the area.”

Meanwhile, Harriet did a short online course in integrative nutrition and was quickly overwhelmed by the number of conflicting dietary theories and complicated recipes out there. She started developing her own simple recipes for a wholefood, plant-based diet and was keen to share them with others. “So, in 2013 we built a vintage wood caravan from scratch and opened it in Barwon Heads serving smoothies and raw desserts,” she says.

“We operated that over summer for three years, and we were very adamant that everything was completely organic wholefood and plant based. And then because of the popularity of that caravan, I wrote the first book with the recipes and self-published it. And because of the popularity of that book, I wrote the second book!”

In the same year the pair started operating the caravan, they also moved into their secluded haven — a 40-squaremetre, rural vernacular-style structure of corrugated iron and weatherboard, looking out to the farmland behind the coastal dunes. Towering eucalypts frame the backdrop and at the front, an ornamental grapevine shades a timber deck, which serves as an outdoor living space. Harriet’s surfboard leans up against the corrugated iron, left there after an early morning surf. “I love surfing and I just love the water,” she says. “I go to the beach daily to take Fred for a walk.”

Near the house there are raised vegetable beds brimming with herbs and homegrown produce that go into the meals and recipes that Harriet prepares in their simple kitchen with its stainless steel benchtops and fabric curtains underneath. “It’s quite a rudimentary kitchen,” she says, with a laugh. “But I love gardening and find the vegie garden very therapeutic when I get time. I enjoy growing as much of our food as we can.”

The interior of this tiny building is warm and filled with light, and simply lined in honey-toned plywood. Artworks from friends are dotted around and drying paper daisies strung in golden garlands hang across one wall. “I guess we are not completely minimalist!” Harriet adds. “I do like a bit of colour as well as the rural, natural tones.”

A third book is in the pipeline. “It will have recipes, but not necessarily food,” is all she can reveal. Little doubt though, it too will capture the celebratory sense of joy and distinct wholesomeness that emanates fr arriet’s home and life on the southern Victorian coast.

Whole by Harriet Birrell, published by Hardie rant, $50.

For further information, visit naturalharry.com.au. To read Harriet’s fashion tips, see The Style Diary on page 118.

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DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A BUILD The exterior of the one-bedroom studio is painted in a colour matched to Colorbond Woodland Grey. FACING PAGE Owner Lynda Gardener heads to the shops.

For stockist details, see page 136.

small wonder

A SLIVER OF LAND PRESENTED AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR A DECORATOR TO BUILD A MODERN COUNTRY GETAWAY. WORDS PENN Y CA R ROLL PHOTOGRAPHY M A R NIE H AWSON ST YLING LY NDA GA R DENER

BUILD DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A

DECORATOR LYNDA GARDENER is renowned for her expertise

in renovating and reviving old houses but — until recently — she’d never built one from the slab up.

In fact, her new barn-style home in Daylesford, Victoria, may not have existed at all if fate hadn’t intervened. The one-bedroom studio sits on a narrow block, which had originally served as a driveway into a large property. Lynda, who owns a handful of boutique accommodations in Victoria, was staying at her bed and breakfast The White House next door to the driveway when she noticed her neighbour removing trees along their shared fence line.

“I went out there in a mad panic and I said, ‘If you’re going to pull down any more trees, I’m happy to buy the land!’” she recalls. It was an extreme solution to a minor gardening problem, but the neighbour took it seriously, and Lynda was soon the owner of the 30 metre x 7 metre driveway.

Although small, the land inspired a grand vision: Lynda originally mapped out a larger building complete with a loft. However, budget restraints and an unexpected upheaval in her personal life downscaled the project to a modestly sized, one-level box with a bathroom ‘pod’ in the centre. “Everything you can trim off helps reduce the cost, so I made it shorter, with no upstairs,” explains Lynda.

“I just knew if I had an open-plan space, I could make it into something very special.”

After a drawn-out 18 months in planning stage, Lynda enlisted local builder Rob Roy to work on the project.

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The house, which took over a year to build, follows a classic barn design, with a high-pitched ceiling, exposed beams and split “Mr Ed-style” doors. Four large windows from an old schoolhouse add authenticity to the new build and flood the space with light.

For Lynda, who’s used to working within the limitations of existing houses, starting from scratch turned out to be an eye-opening, and at times frustrating, process. “You have to think about every nook and cranny!” she says.

Building codes and council restrictions also edited her vision — two rows of panes in each of the salvaged windows needed to be replaced to meet standards, the barn had to be set closer to the street than Lynda had initially planned, and the council nixed her dream of a chic black exterior (she went with a moody charcoal instead).

Managing the project on her own, Lynda’s response to the challenge was to simplify everything — from the layout to the finishes. “I didn’t do fancy in this place,” she explains. “I like to have a simple canvas that can never date. The details, for me, are in the furnishings and how you pull it together.” It’s why she’s used the same handmade tiles and concrete surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom and a wash of Bleached White from her collaboration with paint company Bauwerk Colour throughout. And while some design features were expensive — such as the exposed beams and lining boards — she was able to keep costs down by mixing in savvy budget finds. The taps, for instance, >

Large windows, white walls and a high ceiling all create an expansive feel. CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE Lynda has filled the barn with her personal treasures, such as artworks from Europe and a wardrobe from a shop fit-out. On the bed is linen from Major-Minor and a flokati rug. The light shade is from HK Living; the kitchen has a Glem Gas oven and Euromaid rangehood. FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT Lynda wears a fabric flower brooch from Eva’s Sunday; the bench was found at a sale at artist David Bromley’s studio and the peg hooks were made by a friend. For stockist details, see page 136.

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DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A BUILD A modular sofa anchors the living room. The table is from HK Living and is topped with some of Lynda’s favourite things. “It’s like a gallery but at the same time it’s very relaxed,” she says.

The light shades were bought some time ago but similar styles can be found at Beacon Lighting. For stockist details, see page 136.

are from Bunnings, the tiles used in the bathroom and kitchen were discounted end-of-line stock and light fittings were bought on sale, well before the build was complete.

What the new build did offer was a chance to detour from her signature vintage look. Although it has touches of traditional style, the finished barn is unmistakably contemporary, with black accents, masses of plants and streamlined furniture and fittings. “This being a new build, I wanted something fresh,” Lynda says. “I wanted it to feel like you were in a conservatory … and I just didn’t see a lot of old furniture in here.”

The key to creating a cohesive look within an open-plan space is a considered colour scheme, Lynda adds. “I think the palette is really important. Pick two colours that you love and then a nice, basic wall colour,” she suggests. “My palette is very natural, neutral, lots of wood and natural baskets … from the moment you walk in the door right through the bathroom to the bedroom, it all ties in.”

Layers of texture, from linen throws to woven light shades and glossy green foliage, create a sense of relaxed comfort in the sleek space, as does the modular sofa that dominates the living area. “The couch is in the centre of the room so you’re part of the whole space, not trapped in a corner,” explains Lynda.

Filled to the brim with treasured finds, like sketches fossicked from a flea market in Germany, the barn is now a sweet retreat. “It’s my little country getaway from the city,” Lynda says. “I’m a bit of a mover and it’s hard for me to really relax, so I come here as often as I can.

I appreciate the stillness.”

Located on Daylesford’s main street, it’s a short stroll to the historic village’s shops, where Lynda often heads for breakfast at Pancho café and a peek at boutiques Harry and Me and Manteau Noir. On weekends, you’ll find her rummaging around the local market at the old train station or walking around Lake Daylesford. That’s when she can tear herself away from the barn, where she simply likes to “hibernate a little bit”. “It’s just got a beautiful, ser eel to it,” she says. “I always feel happy when I’m here When she’s not in residence, Lynda offers the barn, dubbed Room + Board, as accommodation for singles and couples.

For more information, visit roomandboard.com.au

BUILD DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A

5000

ABOUT THE HOUSE Rob Roy from Roy’s Building Works in nearby Trentham completed the barn’s construction. 0419 528 458.

The exterior is painted in a colour to match Colorbond Woodland Grey and the interior is Bauwerk Colour Bleached White. 1800 022 999, colorbond.com; (08) 9433 3860, bauwerk.com.au Lynda suggests scouring salvage yards for unique fittings such as old windows and doors. “You can save a lot of money by going to salvage yards and buying second-hand,” she says, but adds it’s important to check what you buy is compliant with modern building codes.

The bed linen is from Major-Minor and the bedhead was custom made in organic hemp by Andrew Hemming of The Upholstery House Victoria. majorminorwares.com; 0412 924 621, theupholsteryhouse.com.au Hanging plants and mature trees create a conservatory feel in the light-filled space. Lynda sourced some of the larger trees from Glasshaus. 44 Cremorne Street, Cremorne, Victoria, (03) 9421 4300, glasshaus.com.au The bathroom and kitchen taps were a budget-friendly find from Bunnings. (03) 8831 9777, bunnings.com.au Lynda bought the woven light shades used in the living area years ago, but you can find similar styles at Beacon Lighting. (03) 8561 1599, beaconlighting.com.au

• 1800

•

DECK

• LIVING/DINING

7870

• KITCHEN 1400

•

90 1950

• BATH/LDRY

90 4000

BED

1800

DECK

•

HOUSE NOTES

1

The sink was custom made for the bathroom, the taps are from Bunnings, the towel rail is from Country Road and the towels are by Loom Towels.

FACING PAGE In the kitchen, bamboo bowls in Cocoa (right) are from Eco Impact and the light is from Beacon Lighting.

For stockist details, see page 136.

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3 4

5

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HOME COMFORTS

CREATE A MODERN FARMHOUSE LOOK

BY COMBINING OLD AND NEW. PRODUCED BY ANN DO

1 MRD Home Nendo pendant, $89, from Cranmore Home & Co. 2 Ledlux Lorne pendant in Natural, $299, from Beacon Lighting. 3 Petite Friture x Daniel Emma Cherry light, $1400, from Daniel Emma. 4 Woodrow drum stump, $390, from Fenton & Fenton. 5 Ashford cabinet, $3699, from Provincial Home Living. 6 Stump Tree Stool, $395, from Harpers Project. 7 Medina wool blend rug 1.6m x 2.3m in Blue, $449, from Temple & Webster. 8 Felix leather sling chair, $899, from McMullin & Co. 9 Mecca linen cushion in Rust, $69, from Domayne. 10 Milani Assembly taps and Elysian spout in Matte Black, $254 for set, from ABI. 11 Box concrete basin in Ivory, $720, from Nood Co. 12 Lime Paint in Bleached White, $40 for 1 litre, from Bauwerk Colour. 13 Laundry basket, $169, from Worn. 14 FAB 28RWH3AU fridge, $2490, from Smeg. For stockist details, see page 136.

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9 8

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The dramatic bright yellow heads of Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii.

FACING PAGE The Murphy children exploring the garden. From left, Conor, 13, Niamh, 11, and Niall, 12.

GISBOR NE V ICTOR I A GARDEN

leading by example GARDEN DESIGNER KATHLEEN MURPHY HAS CREATED A WATER-SAVING OASIS AT HER HOME WHERE CLIENTS CAN SEE HER WORK FIRSTHAND. WORDS CHR ISTINE R EID PHOTOGRAPHY M A R NIE H AWSON

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT The bold straps of Agave americana variegata contrast with blue chalk sticks at its base; Smokey takes in the world surrounded by upright Verbena bonariensis; a stone and steel sculpture made by Kathleen Murphy; close up of the agave; low-water use plants in the garden include yellow-flowered Sisyrinchium striatum. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP Benji, the family’s spoodle, enjoying the garden; native billy buttons (Craspedia globosa); a thriving snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) with self-seeded euphorbias.

GISBOR NE V ICTOR I A GARDEN

WHAT IS VISIBLE beyond the confines of a garden is often

a vital part of its atmosphere and extends the boundaries into what is known as the borrowed landscape.

At Gisborne in Central Victoria, this is certainly the case at Kathleen Murphy’s garden where the Macedon Ranges, and the definitive peak of Mount Macedon rising from the surrounding plain, are a feature of the garden’s landscape.

“We really bought the house for this view,” says Kathleen.

At the Murphys’ home, in the aptly-named Panorama Drive, there’s a conventional front garden — a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, and lawn with flower beds. But nothing gives a clue to the secrets behind.

However, once you step around the side of the house you are hit between the eyes with the distant panorama of hills, then at your feet, a contemporary take on the latest in garden ideas and plantings.

“I started my working life in the human resources field but I had always loved gardening. My parents are Irish and I travelled I went to Dublin where I studied horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens and even had a short stint at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show one year. I think this set me off on a new path,” Kathleen says.

After she returned to Australia, Kathleen studied native plants at The University of Melbourne’s renowned Burnley Campus. Kathleen and her husband Robert, a civil engineer, had moved to Gisborne, thinking it was only going to be temporary. A change of plan saw them buy in Gisborne and, as a newly qualified garden designer, Kathleen then had the proverbial blank canvas at her back door. However, with three young children, her garden ideas had to take a back seat for a few years.

Kathleen says she has been inspired by various Australian designers — Fiona Brockhoff with her climate-appropriate plantings; Phillip Johnson with his signature rock work and billabongs; Paul Bangay for the scale and proportion in his gardens and Bernard Trainor who works in California. “I love the way his designs fit into a garden landscape,” she says.

Influential as these designers are, it is Kathleen’s particular approach to gardening that is exciting and thoughtful. She describes her garden as multi-purpose.

“Firstly, I love to be in the space as a home gardener — planting, pruning and planning improvements — and enjoying the changing seasons,” she says.

“Secondly, I really love my clients to visit so they can see different plants — their form, foliage, flowers. They can get a much better idea from living specimens than on the plan.” >

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GISBOR NE V ICTOR I A GARDEN Benji waits for Niamh to cross the billabong which is framed by mature trees that border the garden.

“We have even seen a kangaroo hopping across the steps.

Birds, especially ducks, love it for swimming and preening.�

GARDEN GISBOR NE V ICTOR I A

Kathleen’s plant choices range from the towering vertical Beschorneria yuccoides with bright-red flower spikes springing from a nest of grey leaves and the yellow spires of verbascum flowers atop silvery leaves. At ground level, you’ll find many of the undemanding euphorbias, verbenas and perennial grasses.

“And it’s also a family garden where the kids — Conor, 13, Niall, 12, and Niamh, 11 — can kick a ball, jump on the trampoline or practise their basketball,” she says.

In an important adjunct to her design work with plants, Kathleen has also set up the garden’s water systems as an example for her clients. It’s designed to demonstrate water capture, retention and re-use. She and Robert have set up impressive storages, collecting stormwater from the house roof. They have also installed a water treatment plant. “It helps being married to an engineer!” Kathleen says. As a result, they have water to fill the billabong without using precious town water.

At the further end of the garden, the billabong, inspired

by Japan trips and Phillip Johnson’s work, is landscaped with rocks and large basalt blocks as steps across the water. “It’s amazing how the water attracts the wildlife,” says Kathleen.

“We have even seen a kangaroo hopping across the steps.

Birds, especially ducks, love it for swimming and preening.”

Prospective clients who visit Kathleen’s garden are also shown how to make the most of any rain that falls on their garden. “I get them to understand the difference between permeable surfaces such as gravel or toppings, which let water drain into the subsoil rather than installing hard surfaces. She also shows clients how to maximise every square metre of garden space. In a clever example, she created a small chook run under the trampoline.

A large herb garden near the house, all in neat boxed beds, has recently been replicated for growing vegetables, but is located further away from the house. “We removed most of the trees in the old orchard and have installed raised beds this time; we had to move the beehive and that caused the bees a bit of dilemma. They took a while to work out where their home had gone!” she says.

Kathleen’s design studio, installed three years ago, sits to one side of the garden. It’s where clients’ ideas are translated into beautiful plans on her computer while her real-life garden continues to grow outside.

For information on Kathleen Murphy Landscape Design, telephone 0405 250 890 or visit kmldesign.com.au

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CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE The Murphys gather at the fire pit in front of Kathleen’s studio. From left, Niall, Niamh, Kathleen, Robert and Conor; Agastache ‘Candy Pink’; Kathleen likes to show her clients around the garden so they can see how plants work together in situ. The dense and colourful plantings around the lawn include pink agastache and purpleflowering verbena; the curving deck outside Kathleen’s studio is a great spot to relax and take stock at the end of a day; agaves thrive in the no-water regimen. FACING PAGE, TOP LEFT Bronze fennel almost obscures a garden pot.

HOMEWARES OUT NOW Shop the Country Style range at madraslinkonline.com.au, or see page 136 for stockists.

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A soft fabric headboard set within a dark timber frame evokes serenity and creates the tranquil bedroom setting you’ve always dreamed of.

Curved edges and light, bespoke upholstery define the Maxis extended bed frame. Expertly crafted in Australia using premium-quality Warwick fabric, the Maxis can be customised to suit you. Choose from an array of stains and fabrics to create a bedroom you’re sure to love.

MATTER OF BALANCE Complement a gentle colour palette with dark timber furniture to bring a sense of sophistication to the bedroom.

Pictured here is the Maxis bedside table and Lotus tallboy. There’s a variety of bespoke furniture options available at Snooze, and you can customise a stain to suit your bedroom décor.

NATURAL CHOICE Style your bed with nurturing, organic tones such as rose and mustard. Here, the Linen House ‘Haze’ quilt cover set in Maple is teamed with the ‘Cleopatra’ Euro pillowcase. Accessorise the space with an assortment of throws and cushions to take your bedroom’s comfort to the next level.

Visit Snooze in-store or online to find out more about the Maxis extended bed frame and accompanying furniture ranges.

REFINED PRACTICALIT Y Furniture in a deep-toned timber stain is the perfect choice for a retro-style bedroom. The Maxis tallboy is a great spot to display your favourite personal belongings.

Expertly crafted in Australia, the Lotus bed frame, exclusive to Snooze, is the essence of modern design with a retro twist. It features a simple, rounded headboard and base in Warwick ‘Chambray Storm’ fabric and a Chocolate timber stain.

The Lotus is customisable in a range of fabric styles and timber stains, so you can create a bed that speaks to your personality and style.

CIRCULAR ACCENTS Accent your bedroom space with the circular form of the Lotus bedside table, which pairs beautifully with the Lotus bed frame and the Mayfield ‘Chet’ lamp.

Visit Snooze in-store or online at snooze.com.au to find out more about the Lotus bed frame and accompanying furniture ranges.

PROMOT ION

R ET RO F I T Come home to a modern take on a retro bedroom, where curved, expressive bedroom furniture is teamed with geometric patterns and playful ’70s hues.

PLAYFUL SHADES Add a bold, refreshing jolt of mustard and teal to freshen your bedroom for summer. Featured here is the Linen House ‘Nimes’ linen quilt cover set in Chai, ‘Pani’ cushion and ‘Belmore’ throw in Teal. Complete the look with striking geometric cushions.

“Indoor plants are firmly back in vogue. Showcase your plants in vintage vessels and rattan pots to beautify your bedroom and tie the modernretro look together.”

SAM AMORE, STYLIST FOR SNOOZE

PROMOT ION

CH IL D’S PL AY Create a bedroom that’s fresh and fun with beautifully designed furniture, delicious colours and accessories that are sure to get the tick of approval from the littlest Snoozers in your family.

“Soft furnishings and bedding in gorgeous colours and patterns add fun to your child’s bedroom. They can also be very easily modified as their tastes change.”

SWEET TREAT Make your child’s bed frame pop with linen featuring delicious motifs in gelato tones. Shown here is the Logan & Mason Kids ‘Sprinkles Gelato’ reversible quilt-cover set. Keep accessories sunny and fun with a cheery yellow cushion.

SAM AMORE, STYLIST FOR SNOOZE

TIMELESS TIMBER A practical Bingo timber bedside table coordinates beautifully with its matching bed and ensures you’ve created a space that will be easy to adapt as your little one grows. The Mayfield ‘Pia’ desk lamp provides the perfect accent here.

KEEP IT TIDY Bring order to your child’s bedroom with a chest of drawers to fill with clothes or their favourite toys. Decorate it with wooden trinkets, colourful wall hangings or fun, decorative pompoms to make it distinctly theirs. Featured here is the Bingo chest of drawers.

Play away, then fall into bed at the end of the day: the Bingo bed frame, exclusive to Snooze, is a bedroom piece your child will adore. The storage compartments beneath the bed look fantastic and means kids have no excuse not to tidy away their toys! Featuring a light-toned timber bed frame and white finish, this bed is versatile enough to last your child right through to adulthood. Sustainably crafted in Australia, the Bingo bed works beautifully with all styles of bed linen. It’s customisable in an array of upholstery and painted finishes, and available with a trundle base – so you’re prepared for the next sleepover.

Visit Snooze in-store or online at snooze.com.au to learn more about the Bingo bed frame and the new kids’ furniture range.

PROMOT ION

T H E PER SONA L TOUCH For bedroom furniture that reflects your own distinctive style, look to the customisable Lotus collection at Snooze.

Lotus bedside table and bed frame featuring Warwick ‘Chambray Storm’ fabric.

Lotus tallboy

Lotus chest of drawers

STYLE NOTES 1. Bring the outdoors in with pot plants, foliage and natural materials.

They will bring an instant sense of summer to your space.

2. Colour your bed with fresh, juicy hues.

The cheerier and more tropical, the better.

3. Complete your bedroom summer styling with artwork and decor with retro accents.

Visit Snooze in-store and online at snooze.com.au to browse the entire Lotus bedroom furniture collection.

PRODUCED BY STORY

Design your perfect space with the Lotus furniture collection at Snooze. Crafted in Australia, you can choose from various bedside, tallboy and chest furniture options to keep your bedroom neat and free from clutter. Each of these pieces are available in array of stains, sizes and shelving styles (for added storage). For added decorative detailing, opt for the Lotus chest in a Chocolate stain. The Lotus bed frame is the essence of contemporary style with a retro twist and can be customised in various stains and fabrics that suit your personal style.

COASTA L DECOR ATING Alfie, a six-month-old border collie poodle cross, likes nothing better than heading to the beach. CLOCKWISE, FROM DOOR Adisa string shopper, $69, from Inartisan.

Città Alice Stripe towel, $39.90, from The Panton Store (in bag). Made in Mada hat, $79, from Folk Store. Butterfly chair, $295, with cover, $150, from Angelucci 20th Century. Picnic set, $449, from Le Weekend. ON BASKET, FROM LEFT HK Living tray, $89, from House of Orange. The Oviedo tumbler, $69.95 for four, from Le Weekend.

Kartio pitcher, $165, from Iittala. Lally basket, $19.95, from Aura Home. Checked cushion cover, $49.95, from Le Weekend. Emin seagrass cushion, $199, and Rafi Peg stool, $199, both from Inartisan. For stockist details, see page 136.

IT’S THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS AND IT’S TIME TO RELAX — AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO DO IT THAN IN A BEACH HUT. PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN STYLING LEE BLAYLOCK

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 73

DECOR ATING COASTA L FROM LEFT Emin seagrass cushion, $199, from Inartisan. HK Living rattan lounge chair, $899, from House of Orange. SaardĂŠ Loom beach towel in Earth, $59, from Inartisan. HK Living mangowood side plate, $13.95, from House of Orange. R+D Lab x Lee Mathews Acqua water glass, $139 for two, and canvas tie-back slides, $399, both from Lee Mathews. HK Living tray in Speckled Peach, $89, from House of Orange. Rafi Peg stool/side table, $199, from Inartisan.

ON TABLE, FROM LEFT R+D Lab x Lee Mathews Acqua water glass, $139 for two, from Lee Mathews. HK Living breakfast plates, $19.95 each, from House of Orange. Knife, stylist’s own. HK Living mangowood side plate, $13.95, from House of Orange. Fern Ripple high-ball glass, $109.95 for four, from Make Designed Objects. R+D Lab x Lee Mathews carafe, $209, from Lee Mathews. Linen napkin in Pencil Stripe, $50 for four, from Cultiver. Marco travertine footed bowl, $200, from Fenton & Fenton. The Traveller tablecloth in Clay, $79.95, from Le Weekend (top). Flat sheet in Peach (used as tablecloth), $299, House of Orange.

ON DOOR Black and White Wave towel, $189, from Loom Towels. Made in Mada hat, $79, from Folk Store. ON SHELF Ro hurricane vase, $139.95, and Fern Ripple high-ball glasses, $109.95 for four, all Make Designed Objects. R+D Lab x Lee Mathews Calice wineglasses, $205 for two, from Lee Mathews. Iria rattan tray, $129, from Inartisan. For stockist details, see page 136.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 75

DECOR ATING COASTA L HK Living breakfast plates, $19.95 each, from House of Orange. Fern Ripple high-ball glasses, $109.95 for four, from Make Designed Objects. Studio bowl, $89, from The Panton Store. Small Lally basket with long handle, $19.95, and Lally tote, $69.95, both from Aura Home.

FACING PAGE Blairgowrie, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, has views to Port Phillip to the north and Bass Strait to the south. For stockist details, see page 136.

Summer holidays mean long, lazy days on the beach, just enjoying the simple things in life.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 77

DECOR ATING COASTA L

The beautiful beach at Blairgowrie in Victoria. ABOVE Small Lally basket with long handle, $19.95, from Aura Home.

ABOVE RIGHT Large Lally basket, $59.95, from Aura Home. The Oviedo tumblers, $69.95 for four, and The Traveller throw/ sarong in Sand, $79.95, both from Le Weekend. RIGHT Vintage palm fan, stylist’s own. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The Oviedo tumblers, $69.95 for four, four-person picnic basket set, $449, and linen picnic rug, $179.95, all from Le Weekend. Napkin included in picnic basket set from Le Weekend. Magic hat, $149, from Lee Mathews. Athena Ceramic octagonal side plate, $24.95, from House of Orange. Rubberwood plate included with picnic basket set. Majorca rattan cheese knife, $23.95, Provincial Home Living.

Paddle board, stylist's own. Blue cheese and Apple Cider and Sultana Chutney, both from Harper & Blohm Cheese Shop.

For stockist details, see page 136.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 79

DRINK GIN DISTILLERS Shene Estate & Distillery’s Myfanwy Kernke walking past a historic stone building on the property, at Pontville in Tasmania.

FACING PAGE Head distiller and heritage conserver at Shene Estate, David Kernke.

80 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

THE RISE OF GIN

FROM TASMANIA TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA, CRAFT GIN DISTILLERS ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER REGIONAL AUSTRALIA.

PHOTOGRAPHY MARK ROPER, ALISON COSKER

WORDS KYLIE IMESON

DRINK GIN DISTILLERS Hartshorn Distillery is located at Grandewe Cheeses, a 32-hectare sheep farm in Tasmania. The gin made here uses sheep’s whey, which is usually discarded in the cheesemaking process.

DAVID KERNKE MAY never have started making gin if

he hadn’t unearthed several old glass bottles as part of an extensive restoration of historic Shene Estate in Tasmania. Found buried in tonnes of soil on the verandah of the 1820s homestead, the bottles were sent away to be dated. A deep green one turned out to be a Dutch case gin bottle made in the 1850s, while a turquoise torpedo bottle with a London address on the base was also from the 1850s.

The address on the bottle corresponded with Pitts, makers of the first patented aerated tonic water. “The original owner, Gamaliel Butler, had it shipped to Shene and enjoyed it on the verandah,” explains Myfanwy Kernke, David’s daughter and marketing manager and ambassador of Shene Estate & Distillery. “Gin was the first product we made.

Sentiment was behind that decision.”

David is head distiller and heritage conserver at Shene and he made the first batch of gin in 2014 when craft gin distilling was taking off around Australia — some called it the ‘ginaissance’. It’s hard to put an exact figure on how many distilleries are now producing gin in Australia, as a new label seems to pop up almost every week, but at the time of writing there were just over 150.

Australian gins are unique, often containing indigenous ingredients as well as juniper — a white spirit can not be called gin unless it contains juniper — and have taken out many international awards. For example, Shene Estate & Distillery’s Poltergeist Gin Unfiltered has been awarded platinum status at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — the only Australian gin to achieve this.

To earn this accolade Poltergeist Gin Unfiltered had to win double gold medals for three consecutive years, which it did in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Myfanwy, 31, describes the Unfiltered as their “hero product. It is Shene in a bottle. It’s a bold, unique expression with a viscous texture.” Its signature botanical is the indigenous Tasmanian pepperberry, which earmarks it as undeniably from the island state.

Every bottle of Shene gin—there are two types, the Unfiltered and another called A True Spirit — carries its address, just like the tonic bottle found buried in layers of soil. “Maybe one of our bottles will one day be found on a verandah somewhere in the world — that is why we put our address on every bottle,” explains Myfanwy.

According to 67-year-old David, whose passion for Shene matches his ardour for gin making, there is a direct link between the history and restoration of the estate and the distilling process. “The art of alchemy means that I can distill the spirit of Shene. It’s captured in a bottle and then can be shared anywhere in the world. The story of Shene can live on,” he explains.

Another distillery making a unique gin from its home base just outside of Byron Bay, in northern NSW, is Cape Byron Distillery. After meeting master distiller Jim McEwan in 2014, Eddie Brook began utilising his family’s macadamia farm and 39 hectares of regenerated rainforest in the creation of Brookie’s Byron Gin. “Mum and Dad invested and planted 35,000 native rainforest trees around 30 years ago and now the farm is teeming with life once more,” says >

Australian gins are unique, often containing indigenous ingredients as well as juniper.

82 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE Kylie Sepos working on her Autumn Dry Gin at The Farmer’s Wife Distillery on her property in Allworth, NSW; distiller Ryan Hartshorn hand paints every bottle of his sheep’s whey gin; Eddie Brook of Cape Byron Distillery explains the gin-making process; one of the stills at Four Pillars in Healesville, Victoria.

At Cape Byron Distillery, where Brookie’s Gin is made, you can enjoy a gin and tonic on the deck overlooking the macadamia orchard and regenerated rainforest.

84 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

an 18-month wait for it to be made. She uses native sage — “it smells like the Australian bush” — lemon myrtle, anise myrtle and pepperberry, with some botanicals grown on the Sepos’ farm. But it is the sugarbag honey collected from native stingless bees that gives The Farmer’s Wife Autumn Dry Gin its signature flavour. “People ask who helped me with the flavour profile and I can honestly say my friends. I’ve got them to taste a lot! There has been no outside influence.

It took three years to develop the recipe,” says Kylie.

Her husband Gavin, 43, a third-generation farmer, kindly gave up his motorbike and machinery shed to house the still. Currently, this is where Kylie holds tastings, but they have plans to buy another 40 hectares on which they will build a distillery, cellar door, café and permaculture garden.

Kylie started The Farmer’s Wife to supplement income from the family farm. It was also important to her to help others on the land and $1 from every bottle of The Farmer’s Wife Autumn Gin sold is donated to Rural Aid. “We to support our farming community,” explains Kylie.

Shene Estate & Distillery, 76 Shene Road, Pontville, Tasmania, 0432 480 250, shene.com.au Cape Byron Distillery, 80 St Helena Road, Mcleods Shoot, NSW, (02) 6684 7961, capebyrondistillery.com The Farmer’s Wife Distillery, 166 Allworth Road, Allworth, NSW, 0473 001 033, farmerswifedistillery.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY DEMETRE MINCHEV

30-year-old Eddie. “Gin should showcase the landscape and the region from where it comes, and we wanted to craft our gin showcasing the rainforest that is unique to the Northern Rivers. We are lucky to be able to go into the rainforest, forage and harvest many unique native flavours to distill straight into our gin.”

The Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin contains native raspberry, riberry, aniseed myrtle, cinnamon myrtle and white aspen berry, to name just a few of the 25 botanicals used. Their take on traditional English sloe gin made with blackthorn fruit, which they have renamed Slow Gin, is distilled with Davidson plums, a fruit native to the subtropical region of Byron Bay. One of the newer gins on the market is made by Kylie Sepos on her 154-hectare Angus beef and free-range egg farm in Allworth, 61 kilometres north of Newcastle in NSW. After 20 years working in the corporate world and five years of research, the first batch of The Farmer’s Wife Autumn Gin was bottled in September 2018.

“I love gin but going from drinking it to making it is a big leap,” explains Kylie. “I went to Tasmania and fell in love with artisan distilling. We did a few distillery tours and I decided to start the business.”

For her gin, the 43-year-old wanted to source everything as locally as possible. The still came from Tasmania after

GIN DISTILLERS DRINK

OTHER GIN DISTILLERS With gin distilleries setting up all

Now collaborating with distilleries

over regional Australia, we looked

in Sweden and Japan, and offering

at 10 and some of the gins they

seasonal releases, its range

produce (below, from left):

H UR D L E CR EE K STIL L

MARGARET RIVER DISTILL IN G CO

myrtle, juniper myrtle, bush mint, sea parsley and thryptomene.

Surrounded by peppermint trees

10581C West Swan Road, Henley

includes 12 gins. 2a Lilydale Road,

in the picturesque Margaret River,

Brook, WA, (08) 9296 6656,

Healesville, Victoria, (03) 5962

this distiller is crafting unique gins

oldyoungs.com.au

2791, fourpillarsgin.com.au

under its Giniversity label. The

Visitors are welcome at The

Botanical is infused with

TWENTY THIRD STREET

Stillhouse, the rustic converted farm

A P P L E WO O D

sandalwood, boronia, lemon

DIST ILLE RY

shed near Milawa in Victoria’s King

Tucked away in the Adelaide Hills,

myrtle and eucalypt. Maxwell

The multi-award-winning

Valley. Here four gins are produced,

this distillery produces limited-

Street (off Carters Road),

Signature Gin is one of three gins

including one made using only

release, small-batch gins, some

Margaret River, WA, (08) 9757

produced at Renmark, South

locally grown juniper. 216 Whorouly-

with a hero indigenous botanical,

9351, distillery.com.au/giniversity

Australia, in a modernised

Bobinawarrah Road, Bobinawarrah,

such as strawbery gum, Geraldton

Victoria, 0411 156 773, 0427 331 145,

wax and samphire. The core gin

L AWR EN N Y

by Chateau Tanunda in 1914.

hurdlecreekstill.com.au

contains desert limes, wattleseed

On the banks on the pristine

They offer a range of tours

and peppermint gum. 24 Victoria

Derwent River in Tasmania is

and experiences. Corner

D I ST I L L E RY B O TA N I C A

Street, Gumeracha, SA, (08) 8389

historic Lawrenny Estate, built

Renmark Avenue and Twenty

Walk through the one-hectare

1250, applewooddistillery.com.au

in 1818. It is now home to an

Third Street, Renmark,

artisan gin distillery producing

SA, (08) 8586 8500, 23rdstreetdistillery.com.au

Fragrant Garden, where

distillery that was originally built

botanicals for the gins are grown

HARTSHORN

three gins, including Van Dieman’s

by herbalist and distiller Philip

This small distillery 40 minutes

Gin, which won a gold medal

Moore, to reach the tasting area

south of Hobart in Tasmania

at the San Francisco World Spirits

of this distillery. 25 Portsmouth

produces sheep whey gin — the

Competition. 6485 Lyell Highway,

N EVE R NEVE R DIST ILLIN G CO

Road, Erina, NSW, (02) 4365 3968,

first distillery in the world to do so.

Ouse, Tasmania, 0438 966 020,

Three mates produce four

distillerybotanica.com

Distiller Ryan Hartshorn uses the

lawrenny.com

juniper-forward gins at their

sheep whey leftover from the

distillery in South Australia. Their

F OU R P I L L A R S

cheese his mother, Diane Rae,

OL D YOUN G’S

Southern Strength Gin recently

Healesville-based Four Pillars

makes on their 32-hectare

Bottling four gins at their distillery

won Best Gin of Show at the

has been awarded the 2019

property. The result is a

in WA’s Swan Valley, the Six

Australian Gin Awards in Sydney,

International Gin Producer of

smooth, unique gin sold.

Seasons Gin is a tribute to the local

but our favourite is the Triple

the Year at the International Wine

(03) 6267 4099, 0416 289 786,

indigenous Noongar people and

Juniper Gin. 0424 446 737,

& Spirits Competition in London.

grandewe.com.au

includes native desert lime, lemon

neverneverdistilling.com.au

“Gin should showcase the landscape and the region from where it comes...”

TO P T O NI CS T O M IX WI TH Y O U R GIN The rise of craft gins being produced in Australia has led to the production of high-quality tonics to go with them. UK-based Fevertree was the first to make ‘real’ tonics that contain quinine, not just quinine flavouring, in 2004. Strangelove started making tonic in 2012 in Byron Bay, NSW, before moving their operation to Melbourne and expanding their range to include three different tonics as well as other mixers and sodas. Owned and operated by the Folk family, Capi produce their range of mixers in Kyneton, Victoria. The Capi Native Tonic is infused with native Australian botanicals to match many of the gins being made around the country. For more information, visit fever-tree.com, strangelove.com.au, capi.com.au

COUNTRY COOK STEV E CUMPER

game, set, match A MUCH-LOVED CHILDHOOD DESSERT MAKES STEVE CUMPER GO WOBBLY AT THE KNEES.

PHOTOGRAPHY NIC GOSSAGE STYLING OLIVIA BLACKMORE

ONE OF THE first things I learned to

‘cook’ as a child was jelly. I’m not alone here — like many Australian children of a certain age I can still recite the sunny Aeroplane jelly song. This jaunty jingle still manages to prick up my ears, the same way the lethargic mechanical circus music favoured by Mr Whippy sends me darting to the window for a glimpse of the ice-cream van.

Drawn to its lurid colours, fascinated by its wobbly constitution, one could reasonably assume jelly was concocted in a bubbling cauldron by a coven of Hansel and Gretel witches to lure children. But you’d be wrong.

Jelly has been around for a couple of hundred years and was originally designed for adult palates. It made its way down to us from the high tables of Europe, where impressive trembling edifices were considered a symbol of wealth due to the skill and time they took to prepare.

In those days, jelly was also a savoury dish. One could enjoy a scoop of jellied grouse stock next to a spoon of pineapple jelly at the all-you-can-eat 18th-century buffet. Think jelly and animals should never share a plate?

It’s at this point I should advise that gelatine — the main ingredient of most jellies — is rendered collagen from animal skin and bones. Too much information? Fortunately, non-meat-eaters can still make their jelly — and eat it too — by using agar, derived from seaweed.

When you start looking, jelly is everywhere in the kitchen. For instance, ever roasted a chook and left the remains in the tray to cool and notice the congealed juice at its edges? Jelly. Or simmer some quinces in sugar and lemon for a few hours and find the syrup sets once cool.

Also jelly. That panna cotta you enjoyed at a fancy restaurant? Yep, jelly.

Jelly has been layered in trifles betwixt sponge and lurking in terrines for quite a while now. It’s even become quite sexy in England where Heston Blumenthal once created an X-rated vibrating jelly and Nigella Lawson makes it with booze. However, this is also the land that made jellied eels a national dish, which are about as sensual as a slap in the face with a cold fish. Saying that, I recently browsed a posh cookery shop and was amazed at all the copper fish jelly moulds for sale. Have I missed something? Is fish jelly making a comeback? Cats of the world will meow in delight!

Fish jelly aside, here I’ve created a homage of sorts to that most famous of desserts created in honour of Dame Nellie Melba. I’ve paired one of summer’s best stone fruits with a raspberry jelly to show it’s not so hard to make from scratch. I’ve also used the vego-friendly agar so no-one will chuck a wobbly about eating it!

Steve Cumper is a chef and funnyman who lives in Tasmania and dreams of one day owning a fleet of holiday vans called Wicked Cumpers.

POACHED PEACHES IN RASPBERRY JELLY Serves 4

2 cups caster sugar 1 vanilla bean, split 4 peaches, halved, stone removed 1½ cups pure cream ⅓ cup icing sugar mixture 1 teaspoon vanilla essence mint leaves and extra fresh raspberries, to garnish

RASPBERRY JELLY

2 cups port 2 cups caster sugar 1 lemon, juiced 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 teaspoon agar* 4 x 125g punnets raspberries

Place 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boil. Add peaches and cook for 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cool peaches in syrup. When cool, use a slotted spoon to transfer peaches to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill.

To make jelly, place port, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla essence and agar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boil. Add raspberries and simmer for 10 minutes or until softened. Whisk to break up raspberries. Remove from heat and cool.

Remove skins from peach halves and cut into wedges. Place wedges into base of 4 glass serving dishes. Strain cooled jelly mixture into a large jug and gently pour over peaches. Place in refrigerator overnight to set.

Whip cream, icing sugar and vanilla essence in a bowl until soft peaks form.

Serve jellies topped with cream, mint and extra raspberries. * Available at health food stores.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 87

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY DAMIAN BENNETT STYLING LIZ KAVANAGH FOOD PREPARATION DIXIE ELLIOTT

FROM LEFT Theo’s aunt Erzsebet, grandfather Florian, grandmother Maria, mother Pancsika and father Tivadar Senior.

taste of home

A HUMBLE HUNGARIAN BEER SNACK EVOKES RICH MEMORIES FOR A FAMILY OF NEWLY ADOPTED AUSSIES. AS A PATHOLOGIST, it was only natural that Tivadar ‘Theo’

Miko took a scientific approach to recreating one of his Hungarian grandmother’s much-loved recipes.

He experimented with different flours, adjusted the yeast and monitored temperatures until the texture was just right.

“In my view, a kitchen is a laboratory… it’s a mixture of science and art,” Theo, 71, explains. “Temperature is critical. Grandma used a traditional wood-fired oven, thus her kitchen was warm, irrespective of the season… on cooler days I turn up the reverse air conditioning.”

Kifli — small crescent-shaped pastries sprinkled with caraway seeds or sometimes black cumin or poppy seeds — are just one of many recipes from a handwritten book that Theo, his wife, Rita, and his mother, Pancsika, brought with them upon migrating to Australia 10 years ago.

For Theo, they are not only a delicious snack (best enjoyed with his own home-brew), but a symbol of his hardworking grandparents. His grandmother, Maria, was born in the Hungarian town of Eger in 1898 and worked in a cigar factory until marrying Florian Kocsis in 1918. Florian’s left arm had been paralysed in WWI but this did not affect his work ethic and he gradually built a successful fruit and vegetable business.

88 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

Theo says Florian typically rose at 1am to start work, except on Sundays when friends and family would often drop by for a chat, advice or sometimes financial help.

“My grandmother always started making the kifli after lunch when the guests arrived as they are best eaten straight from the oven,” he says. Maria’s chicken paprika was another family favourite, along with goulash and her unusual stuffed chicken. “She would use a bicycle pump to inflate the skin and put the stuffing underneath… the skin was really crispy and delicious,” Theo says.

Florian and Maria had a son who died as an infant and two daughters, who each had one son. “I was the ‘heir apparent’ but Lenin’s followers had different ideas,” Theo says, alluding to a dark period when rising communism meant the family had to relinquish their business and share the family home with strangers.

When Florian died in 1958, Theo’s parents cared for Maria until her own death almost 20 years later. It’s a tradition he continues with his own mother, who, along with Theo and Rita, became an Australian citizen two years ago at the spritely age of 95. As a tribute to their heritage, kifli are still the first thing served at any social athering, much to the delight of their new Aussie friends.

food preparation and recipe testing china squirrel

WORDS TRACEY PLATT PHOTOGRAPHY AND ST YLING CHINA SQUIRREL

HEIR LOOM R ECIPE

CARAWAY & SALT KIFLI Makes 24

150ml warm milk 1 teaspoon caster sugar 1 x 7g sachet dry yeast 300g plain flour 1 tablespoon softened butter 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon salt extra 200g plain flour extra 1 teaspoon caster sugar extra 130ml warm milk extra 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 teaspoons sea salt flakes 2 teaspoons caraway seeds

Combine milk and sugar in a small bowl. Add yeast and stir until dissolved. Set aside in a warm place for 5–10 minutes or until yeast bubbles.

Place flour in a mixing bowl and make a well in centre. Add butter, egg and milk mixture and mix until dough starts to come together. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Place dough in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic

wrap, then a tea towel. Set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Using your fist, punch down centre of dough. Add salt, extra flour, extra sugar and extra milk. Using your hand, mix to a soft dough. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Cut into 3 equal pieces.

Roll each into a smooth ball. Working with 1 ball at a time, roll out into a 30cm circle. Cut into 8 wedges (triangles). Starting at widest end, loosely roll up each triangle and slightly bend into a crescent shape.

Carefully place onto oven trays lined with baking paper, allowing room for spreading. Brush kifli with extra egg and sprinkle with combined salt and caraway seeds. Set aside in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 180˚C. Bake kifli for 15–18 minutes, turning trays halfway through cooking. Enjoy kifli straight out of the oven as soon as they are cool enough to handle. They are best eaten on the same day they are made.

SHARE YOUR FAMILY FAVOURITES Do you have a recipe that has been passed down through generations?

Send it to us, the story behind it and a copy of a photograph of the relative who passed it on. Remember to include a telephone number. Email vcarey@ bauer-media.com.au or send a letter to Heirloom Recipe, Country Style, PO Box 4088, Sydney NSW, 1028.

HEIRLOOM COOKBOOK BAKING SPECIAL Celebration cakes Perfect sponges Danish honey cakes Nanna’s biscuits Date loaf

FAMILY RECIPES FOR A NEW GENERATION TO TREASURE

For more delicious family recipes, pick up a copy of the Country Style Heirloom Cookbook, $12.99, available at magshop.com.au

FLAVOURS

flavours

BARBARA SWEENEY CASTS A LIGHT ON SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GOURMET TREATS. Follow Barbara on Instagram @foodandwords

CHILL FACTOR If you are looking to relax in style, there’s no

cooler destination on the NSW Central Coast than Bar Botanica.

The café, created by Dan and Julia Hughes, is an airy, plant-filled oasis in the lush garden of craft gin distiller Distillery Botanica.

It is this garden that serves as inspiration to chef Dan’s menu.

The best way to cool off? A scoop of house-made Mr Goaty Gelato.

Imaginative summery flavours, such as strawberry and finger lime, and honeycomb and lavender, will lure you back for more.

Bar Botanica, 25 Portsmouth Road, Erina, NSW. 0405 655 100, barbotanica.com.au To learn more about the distillery, see page 80.

Steven Adey, Darling Mills Farm, Berrilee, NSW Twenty years ago, Steven Adey signed up to Sydney’s first growers’ market in Pyrmont and not long after became a founding stallholder at the Northside Produce Market in North Sydney.

As a grower of salad leaves, he was one of the pioneering farmers from around Australia to join the fledgling farmers’ market movement. In doing so, he’s helped forge a permanent and significant link in Australia’s food chain; one that provides fresh, seasonal and regional produce to shoppers who opt to buy direct from farmers and small food producers. “Farmers’ markets are perfect for my situation,” says Steven, who grows more than a hundred types of salad leaves, herbs, micro herbs and edible flowers. “The farm is like a big vegetable garden, filled with a little bit of everything, and it’s this diversity that creates a more sustainable and ecologically sound farming landscape.”

It also has customer appeal. “The enthusiasm of our customers has been vital in helping us to adapt to changing tastes and demands — plus, they’ve motivated us to try new and varied crops,” he says. The latest is myoga, or Japanese ginger. “It’s a fascinating plant,” Steven says. “You eat the flower bud, which grows out from under the plant. It’s in season in a few weeks, from late summer into early autumn.” Using the fabulous produce at his disposal, Steven’s son Max, a chef, makes sauces (chimichurri is a favourite), dips and curry pastes, also sold at the market stall. You’ll need to arrive early though as they, like the salad greens, sell out early. darlingmillsfarm.com.au

IN A PICKLE

Dillicious offers Americanstyle pickles made from Queensland-grown Kirby cucumbers and organic Victorian apple cider.

“Straight Up Garlic is the closest thing to the pickle I grew up with,” says James Barbour who runs the Mornington Peninsula business with his wife Liza.

“Eat them straight or add to a Reuben sandwich or a Bloody Mary.” $14 for 700g. dillicious.com.au

WELL SEASONED

Perk up tired tastebuds when you’re on the road with Australian salts in Olsson’s Well Seasoned Traveller pack. Traditional sea salt, mountain pepper blend and red gum smoked salt are all included. $21.99 for assorted set of six. olssons.com.au

MEXICAN WAVE A whirlwind tour of Mexico City courtesy of Mexico City native and travel writer Cristina Alonso’s new book Art and Fiesta in Mexico City (Hardie Grant Travel, $29.99) is one way to kick off new-year holiday planning. Alonso includes coverage of the best parks, churches and spas to visit, but no doubt fellow foodies will flick straight to the taqueria and market sections.

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PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MORGAN, JACKIELYN POWELL

MEET THE PRODUCERS

THREE OF A KIND Top Australian sommeliers’ knowledge informed the design of the elegant Plumm Three Sommelier Series of ultra-fine European crystal glasses, aimed to showcase the qualities of different wine varieties. Serve red in the Universal Glass and fresh crisp whites and sparkling in the White Glass or pinot noir and chardonnay in a third option. Twin packs, $89.95. plumm.com

EAT, DRINK, ENJOY. Give a great food experience with the Gourmet Traveller Gift Card.

gourmettravellergiftcard.com.au

FULL CIRCLE A CHANCE ENCOUNTER BROUGHT A COUPLE BACK TO THEIR FARM WHERE THEY NOW DEMONSTRATE THEIR HORSEMANSHIP IN AN AWARD-WINNING SHOW. WORDS BA R BA R A SW EENEY PHOTOGRAPHY K A R A ROSENLUND

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TUMBA RUMBA NSW OUR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY Tim O’Brien riding Lyptus, an Australian stockhorse cross quarter horse on his farm, Boggy Creek, on the western fringe of the Snowy Mountains in NSW.

Jo’s daughter, Harriet, is now part of the Boggy Creek show with Tim. RIGHT Dogs Tommy, Ding and Butch in the arena. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Tools of the trade; Jo saddling up; working cattle; Harriet with her saddle; the entrance hall; the couple walking through the arena.

TIM AND JO O’BRIEN live at Boggy Creek, a 200-hectare cattle

and sheep property west of Tumbarumba on the western edge of the NSW Snowy Mountains. They first lived here together in 1989 as 21-year-old newlyweds, but separated after two years. “It was a lack of maturity and foolishness that saw our marriage end,” says Jo. “It was something that we both came to regret.”

Twenty years on they met again at a horse event. “I used to think about Tim often, about what could have been and what should have been,” Jo says. “To bump into him like that and have a chance to say sorry for what had happened was amazing.” In 2014, Jo and Tim walked up the aisle for the second time on what would have been their 25th wedding anniversary. “Some things are meant to be,” says Tim. Today, like many farmers, they wear several hats. In addition to the farm, the couple run an Angus stud, teach horsemanship clinics and put on a horse show that taps into Tim’s bush heritage and showcases his horsemanship.

The 53 year old has ridden all his life and worked for many years as a stockman in the Snowy Mountains. He was a regular on the stockman challenge circuit, reaching the finals of the Man From Snowy River Challenge six times, always on a different horse. “I reckon it’s the greatest stockman competition in Australia in that you have to have

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so many aspects of horsemanship, from being able to work cattle with your horse to whip cracking,” he says.

He also spent four years as the choreographer of The Man from Snowy River re-enactment and rode in the Spirited: Australia’s Horse Story show in Canberra.

Joining him in the arena these days is Jo’s 15-year-old daughter Harriet Shaw. “She’s very much a country kid, loves animals, willing to try anything, independent and loves helping out,” says Tim. During the show season, which runs from September to June every year, everyone is run ragged keeping the property and the animals — 13 horses, six working dogs, Ninnie and Knuckles the mules, Clayton the goat, Apache the miniature horse, Errol the pig, and Harriet’s dog Bindy — in peak condition. In winter, the focus shifts towards maintaining the farm, feeding the stock and doing training sessions for the next season of Boggy Creek shows. “Only five of our horses perform,” says Tim. “Our older horses live here in retirement and we have some young ones coming up.”

Tim and Jo work together on most aspects of the business. “We work well together and share the same passion for life and living on the land,” says Tim. For more information, visit boggycreekshows.com.au

TUMBA RUMBA NSW OUR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

JO I grew up on a cattle and sheep property at Cudgewa in north-east Victoria. Horses were always part of my life: we have a family photo of Dad sitting on his horse with me as a newborn on the front of the saddle.

I learned to ride at about four, rode for my pony club until I was 17, and when I finished school went to work on a thoroughbred stud.

I started nursing, but quit after a couple of months to work as a jillaroo at a property called Clear Springs in Holbrook in NSW. Years later, I went back to finish my training and worked as a nurse. My horse Misty, an Arab quarter horse cross mare that my father bred and broke in for me when I was 13, came to Clear Springs with me and she was the horse I was riding at the gymkhana in 1987 when I first met Tim. I thought his horse was very cute, a buckskin mare named Minstrel.

He had a great smile and amazing blue eyes — Tim, that is — and I was very impressed.

We married a couple of years later and lived in the same house we live in today. The convention at that time was that once you

were married you had children and became the homemaker. With my upbringing and having worked alongside men as a jillaroo, I felt lost, as though I didn’t belong, and I left.

After our separation I travelled around Australia, working in shearing sheds as a rouseabout. I remarried and had a daughter, Harriet, who’s now 15. As fate would have it, 20 years later, I crossed paths with Tim again. With a lot of life experience behind us and a second chance at love; here we are today. Coming back to our house after all those years away felt like coming full circle.

I really am the luckiest woman in the world to get a second chance at love.

We work really well together. Tim is very talented and has an amazing affinity with horses, plus he’s a great teacher, the way he imparts his knowledge and explains things. He’s very well respected.

Thirty years ago as a young, newly married couple we were struggling to make an identity.

Here we are now, running a farm and a tourism business. It’s amazing what can happen. >

OUR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY TUMBA RUMBA NSW Tim patting Lyptus in the stables.

FACING PAGE The essentials for farm work are ready to go outside the O’Brien’s home.

“Tim is very talented and has an amazing affinity with horses, plus he’s a great teacher, the way he imparts his knowledge and explains things. He’s very well respected.”

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT The perfect spot at the end of a busy day; work boots at the ready; the stables and show arena; timing is important during the show season; Clayton the goat; horses in the yards; Tim out on the farm. FACING PAGE Tim riding Diesel, Harriet is on Dixie, an American paint horse, and Jo is on Roxy, a palomino.

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TUMBA RUMBA NSW OUR LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

TIM I’d always wanted to farm and bought Boggy Creek, a section of my father’s 550-hectare property Pound Creek, from him in 2003. Before that I worked with Dad and as a stockman for 25 years, taking cattle in and out of the high country for Ardenside Station, one of the largest cattle stations in the district that dates back to the 1800s.

It’s something I did as a kid. Dad had some mountain lease country and we used to put the cattle up there just before Christmas to graze over summer.

When I finished school I tossed around the idea of becoming a vet because I’d always loved animals. Dogs and horses are a necessity on farms so you learn how to train them as part of the work. But I was sick of school and got the job at Ardenside. With mustering, you’d be away for eight weeks, just you, your horse and your dogs. It was the best job I’ve ever had.

I was working at home when I married Jo and had just started shearing. After we broke up, I was pretty shattered.

I started the Boggy Creek shows after I was asked to do a demonstration with my horses at a tourist attraction near here. I’d competed in King of the Ranges and the Man from Snowy River stockman challenges for years. These competitions really test your horsemanship. It’s where I learnt to do tricks and show skills with my horses — go around in circles, change direction, pick up and carry things, lay down, rear up... I thought it was something I could do at Boggy Creek. The arena was there and we had a few hay bales for people to sit on. I had an idea of what to do, but it was very basic. At school I was shy, but I’ve learned to perform. It’s worked because I talk about what I know: farming in the high country, working dogs and horses. If I get a laugh from the crowd, I keep that joke.

“We work well together and share the same passion for life and living on the land.”

ON THE MOVE

BARWON HEADS

CLOSE TO THE BEACH AND A PROTECTED BIRD HABITAT, NO ONE EVER WANTS TO LEAVE THIS VICTORIAN HOLIDAY TOWN. WORDS VIRGINIA IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY NIKOLE RAMSAY ILLUSTRATION DANIELLA GERMAIN

THERE ARE A NUMBER of reasons why Barwon Heads

is one of Victoria’s favourite holiday destinations. It lies on the southern coast of the Bellarine Peninsula, where the gentle Barwon River estuary meets the wild Bass Strait, just 22 kilometres south-east of Geelong. It brings together all the elements of the classic Aussie beach escape: a shallow and sandy shoreline, a rocky bluff lookout with views across the ocean and back into town along with coastal walking tracks, and a justifiably popular ocean surf break at Thirteenth Beach with a long stretch of sand.

The town also has a swag of restaurants, cafés, bakeries, surf shops and upmarket boutiques, and four top golf courses. There’s fertile farmland to the west and north, plus Lake Connewarre Wildlife Reserve, an expanse of

wetland and water bird habitat that buffers Barwon Heads from the rapidly expanding growth corridors of Geelong.

All these things — and more — make Barwon Heads ideal for a holiday and a great place to live. This is, after all, the town that brought the term ‘sea change’ back into everyday parlance after the ABC TV series SeaChange was filmed there in the late 1990s. Today, this vibrant community of just under 4000 people enjoys a friendly, relaxed coastal and country environment, with easy access to all the amenities of Geelong, Victoria’s second largest city.

For Annie Orchard, 48, owner of the food, catering and tour business comprising Annie’s Provedore and Produce Store, Annie’s Kitchen (catering) and Annie’s Italy (small group tours to Italy), Barwon Heads has been home to her >

BA RWON HEA DS V ICTOR I A ON THE MOVE Jessie and Otto Coffetti’s children two-year-old Leo and Charlie, four, sampling their parents’ gelato.

FACING PAGE A fishing boat at the river mouth in Barwon Heads.

HOUSE PRICES $980,000 for a four-bedroom, two bathroom, two living room home near the river. In the heart of town, often called ‘old’ Barwon Heads, the same money would buy a block of land.

MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE $500 per week MARKET WATCH Andy Ingham, agent and auctioneer for RT Edgar Barwon Heads, says property in Barwon Heads is highly sought after.

Top of the market are homes in ‘old’ Barwon Heads with direct river frontage and in the golf club precinct.

“We recently sold a property there for just under $3.5 million, and have a couple of blocks of land for around $2 million. Anything in ‘old’ Barwon Heads [between Bridge Street and Geelong Road] is always in demand. whether an original beach shack that can be renovated or has potential for development site. The cost of entry-level homes for families moving out of town is anything between $800,000 and $1 million for a decent house with a good yard for the children.

You can still get some reasonable value at that level for families.”

Coffetti family COFFETTI GELATO

Otto and Jessie Coffetti and their children, son Leo and daughter Charlie, moved to Barwon Heads in 2017. They previously lived in nearby Anglesea, having migrated there from Bergamo, Italy, in 2015.

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CLOCKWISE, FROM FAR LEFT Homewares store Because of Jonny; Charlie Coffetti carefully carries an ice-cream cake; view from the Bluff towards the river; the light fading at Thirteenth Beach; a weathered shed in Barwon Heads; delicious looking chocolate s’mores dessert at Annie’s Provedore and Produce Store. FACING PAGE At the Heads is a popular restaurant on the river.

OPPORTUNITY

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Barwon Heads residents are mainly professionals, managers, technicians and tradespeople.

Of these, many commute to other areas of the Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, or Melbourne for work.

A growing number of people living in Barwon Heads work from home.

A traders’ group is in development.

FAMILY FOCUS

Barwon Heads offers a playgroup, kindergarten and primary school; the nearest secondary school is in Ocean Grove, a short distance away on the east side of the Barwon River.

The public and independent schools in Geelong and surrounding suburbs are also readily accessible.

The almost unanimous sentiment about Barwon Heads is that it offers a great lifestyle for young and old.

“It’s a fantastic lifestyle for young families and retirees, and there’s a great community feel,” says Andy Ingham from RT Edgar Barwon Heads. “The football, cricket, netball and soccer clubs are a big part of the community, as is the surf club.”

BA RWON HEA DS V ICTOR I A ON THE MOVE

and her two now-adult children Laine, 23, and India, 20, for 15 years. “It’s a fabulous place to bring up children,” says Annie. “You often see the kids riding their bikes with their surfboards attached to the side. There is a real element of freedom here. Barwon Heads has a very active lifestyle.

People are always out running, especially in summer.

You’ll see people out and about very early in the morning, whether it’s a dad getting a coffee for Mum with a pram and a child who hasn’t gone to sleep, to the local kids that you’ve literally seen grow up from babies and to now teenagers — kids riding their bikes to school, or going down to the local ice-cream shop. It has a wonderful sense of community and that’s what is so lovely about it.”

The Coffettis — Jessie, 31, Otto, 40, and their two children, daughter Charlie, four, and two-year-old son Leo — are just one of the many young families who have made Barwon Heads a home in recent years. The couple, who moved from further down the Surf Coast two years

ago, own Barwon Heads’ popular Coffetti Gelato, an authentic Italian handmade ice-cream and gelato bar in the heart of town. For them, Barwon Heads is an ideal place to live as it allows them to balance family life with operating their business. “It’s extremely easy for a family to live here,” says Jessie. “Especially before dinnertime, when you’ve got that hour to kill and you can walk down to the river, and the kids can swim, there’s the park, or we take a picnic down to the beach. You just live outdoors all the time, so the kids are happy. There’s a really good community, and there are a lot of new families here.

“Working in town is quite different to living in it, and since we opened our coffee shop a lot of mums have met there,” she says. “The kindergarten is so lovely and I’ve met so many people through that, then after that the kids will all go off to the primary school together.” > For more information about Barwon Heads, go to visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

GETTING THERE Barwon Heads is an 80-minute drive from Melbourne via the M1 freeway to Geelong connecting to C121. For the scenic route, drive via the Mornington Peninsula and take the car ferry at Sorrento to Queenscliff. Barwon Heads is 17 kilometres west of Queenscliff. A frequent train service runs between Melbourne and Geelong with a regular service by McHarry’s Buslines operating between Barwon Heads and Geelong. Avalon Airport, with interstate flights operated by Jetstar, is 45 minutes’ drive away via the M1. Melbourne Airport is 118 kilometres or a 90-minute drive away.

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Surfers at Thirteenth Beach. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Annie Orchard, resident and business owner; local kids, from left, Max, Ellie, Remy, Isaiah, Tully and Jack; a beach house; Moti owners, twin sisters Marilyn, left, and Christine; The Barwon Heads Golf Club; Moti’s display front; a picnic packed for the beach.

REASONS TO VISIT ADVENTURE FLIGHT CO

Enjoy a scenic flight over the coast in a warbird aircraft, with or without aerobatics, from Barwon Heads Airport.

Barwon Heads Road, Connewarre, 1300 341 006, adventureflightco.com.au BEACHES Families with young children love the safe shallow waters and sandy banks of the river estuary; surfers head for Thirteenth Beach, a long break with Surf Life Saving Club just west of Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary and rock pools. Take the scenic route to Thirteenth Beach along the walking track from the river estuary via the Bluff.

GOLF The Barwon Heads Golf Club is a private golf course with public access to dunes overlooking the ocean. Golf Links Road, (03) 5255 6255, barwonheads.golf 13th Beach Golf Links has two first-class courses, a modern clubhouse and restaurant. 1732 Barwon Heads Road, (03) 5254 2922, 13thbeachgolf.com

JIRRAHLINGA KOALA AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY The

two-hectare sanctuary cares for injured wildlife and is home to a wide range of native animals including emus, koalas, kangaroos and dingoes. Taits Road, (03) 5254 2484, jirrahlinga.com.au SHOPPING Make a beeline for the shops in Hitchcock Avenue, where you’ll find boutiques, food stores, eateries, homewares, fashion and beach gear, plus places to stock up on staples.

EAT

ANNIE’S PROVEDORE AND PRODUCE STORE Café, deli and

food store serving breakfast, lunch and dinner among shelves of pantry staples including local oils, jams and award-winning cheeses.

2/50 Hitchcock Avenue, (03) 5254 3233, anniesprovedore.com.au AT THE HEADS This former boatshed eatery overlooks the ocean and the Bluff.

The menu is modern Australian with a focus on seafood. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 1A Ewing Blyth Drive, (03) 5254 1277, attheheads.com.au COFFETTI GELATO A gelataria and café where Jessie and Otto Coffetti make Italian gelato in a range of flavours. 49A Hitchcock Avenue, 0434 274 781, facebook.com/coffettigelato HANOI KITCHEN Vietnamese cuisine reflecting the owner’s childhood around the family market stall. Open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday; lunch on Sunday. 37 Hitchcock Avenue, (03) 4202 0525, hanoikitchen.com.au

SHOP

BECAUSE OF JONNY Beautiful

homewares curated by interior stylist Kate Webber. 49 Hitchcock Avenue, 0412 659 097, facebook.com/becauseofjonny MOSS GROTTO Lifestyle accessories, fashion, homewares, textiles and art.

3/53 Hitchcock Avenue, (03) 5254 2277, facebook.com/mossgrotto

MOTI Exclusive, limited-edition clothing

made from Indian textiles, much of it hand-loomed and block-printed. You’ll also find bedding and nightwear made by selected Indian designers, artisans and collectives. Shop 3/41 Hitchcock Avenue, 0407 804 526, moti.com.au RIGBY’S HOMEWARES Fair Trade wares including rugs, baskets, light shades and furniture. 39 Hitchcock Avenue, (03) 5254 1890, rigbys.com.au

STAY

BARWON HEADS RESORT AT 13TH BEACH Relaxed, modern apartments

for couples, families or groups, some with views overlooking the golf links.

36 Fourteenth Road, (03) 5254 1777, barwonheadsresort.com.au CERES COASTAL Luxe two-bedroom, self-contained apartment located in the heart of town. Hitchcock Avenue, 0409 438 881, cerescoastal.com.au RUBY ON BARWON Two-bedroom modern apartment with a light, airy interior, quality linen, free wi-fi and balcony above the stores and cafés in Hitchcock Avenue, while being close to the river and beach. Hitchcock Avenue, 0409 438 881, homeaway.com.au SEAHAVEN VILLAGE Self-contained luxury villas with outdoor living areas, opposite parkland in the centre of Barwon Heads. Some dog-friendly villas. 3 Geelong Road, (03) 5254 1066, seahavenvillage.com.au

BA RWON HEA DS V ICTOR I A ON THE MOVE

Annie Orchard ANNIE’S PROVEDORE AND PRODUCE STORE, ANNIE’S KITCHEN AND ANNIE’S ITALY

Annie has lived in Barwon Heads for 15 years and brought up her children in the coastal town.

COMMUNITY

Barwon Heads Community Park is a tranquil village green with sports ovals, tennis courts, adventure playground, skate park, walking and bike tracks, barbecue and pony club facilities. Nearby, Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden is a community-based permaculture garden, art cooperative and environmental demonstration site, with a covered meeting space, and cooking and storage facilities.

Barwon Heads Senior Citizens Club offers a wide range of activities.

Along the river, Frank Ellis Reserve is a popular spot for relaxing with picnic areas, a playground, walking and bike tracks and pelican viewing.

The Barwon Estuary Project engages the community in caring for the waterway, part of which is the Ramsar-designated wetlands of Lake Connewarre. barwonestuary project.wordpress.com The local community is proactive in protecting the town’s character from inappropriate development. The Barwon Heads Association provides a forum for community discussion about issues and events along with a platform for community action. barwonheadsassociation.com

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REGIONAL SHOPPING GUIDE

HEAD TO THE BUSH

JANUARY IS A POPULAR MONTH FOR A ROAD TRIP. AS YOU PASS THROUGH RURAL TOWNS OR STAYA FEW DAYS, TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THESE STORES. WOR DS ABBY PFAHL

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Bella Yorke Boutique

Situated on the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula, the small town of Ardrossan is known for its long fishing jetty, abundance of blue swimmer crabs and relaxed seaside pace. In 2015, local mother and daughter-in-law team Liz and Amy Abell decided to open a shop to bring their love of fashion to life. Housed in a quaint building next to Ardrossan’s iconic bakery, complete with ocean views from the doorstep, Bella Yorke Boutique has a focus on keeping stock affordable to accommodate its regional customer base. Today, the shop is the perfect place to pick up a printed sundress, pair of bright earrings or cute fringed sandals at a great price. Amy’s eye for colour and fun accessories (check out her range of on-trend headbands) means she has a loyal following in the area, both young and old. Visit Bella Yorke Boutique’s website to shop online. 33 First Street, Ardrossan, (08) 8897 0249, bellayorke.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY ANNEKÉ HILL

VICTORIA The Marigold Merchant

Greeted by a sea of dusty pink, mustard yellow and sage green, you’ll find hip homewares, bedding, rattan furniture and framed prints at The Marigold Merchant in Warragul.

But it’s the delightful collection of baby and children’s clothes, plus sweet pieces for the nursery, that brings in customers. Hayley Scott opened the shop in late 2018, as the sister store to her fashion offering, Dear Blackbird Boutique, a few doors down. Hayley has a clean, crisp and functional website that gets a work-out from customers all over the country (tip: it’s great for newborn presents).

Popular brands include Sage x Clare, Kip & Co and Wandering Folk, with Quincy Mae, Children of the Tribe and gorgeous French label Louise Misha leading the children’s wear charge.

Follow @themarigoldmerchant on Instagram for gift ideas and updates.

Shop 2, 12 Napier Street, Warragul, (03) 5623 1386, themarigoldmerchant.com.au

Merricks General Wine Store

Nestled between the rolling hills and sparkling coastline of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, this rustic farmhouse-inspired general store is adored by Merricks locals and visitors. The fine selection of wine, art and produce on offer is mostly sourced from the surrounding area.

The bustling space hosts a busy summer of events (book launches, live music nights and guest speakers), including The Traders — a pop-up shop inside the on-site Merricks House Art Gallery, where an eclectic collection of fashion, homewares, hampers and more is curated by store owner Samantha Baillieu and her daughter, Georgia. Stop in and wander the cottage gardens, enjoy the bistro’s French-country fare and shop Stuart Cantor’s dreamy European summer photographs, floaty Palm Noosa dresses, Marigold Interiors’ treasures from Asia as well as locally crafted jewellery by Edenborough Evans. You can also purchase a selection of produce and wine online. 3460 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, (03) 5989 8088, mgwinestore.com.au

NEW SOUTH WALES Three Donkeys Home

Quieter than its well-known neighbour Terrigal, the beachside town of Wamberal is the perfect place to stop for a few hours, or even days, on your way along New South Wales’ Central Coast. In any case, a visit to Three Donkeys Home is a must.

Owners Joanne and Roy Mussalli opened the store, affectionately named after their three children, a year ago.

Joanne has a knack for sourcing vintage furniture and French farmhouse-style homewares with a modern feel — their calming neutral tones make the shop a pleasure to browse through. We love lush linens

by In The Sac, Meg By Design tunics and Joanne’s stunning selection of 10 Stones ceramics. Don’t miss her stylish range of mesh cloches over timber boards, too — essential for our kitchens in summer, be they country or coastal. Post-shopping, pop three

Joanne Mussalli affectionately named Three Donkeys Home in Wamberal, NSW, after her three children. ABOVE A range of 10 Stones ceramics. FACING PAGE Three Donkeys Home stocks homewares, fashion and vintage furniture.

doors down to this busy duo’s original venture, Three Donkeys café, for wholefoods and great coffee. 1/2 Ghersi Avenue, Wamberal, (02) 4309 5440, instagram.com/threedonkeyshome

Flots & Jets

“My mum had one of those!” is a phrase heard often, and received warmly, by Flots & Jets owner Megan Ridgway. The shop, in Megan’s coastal hometown of Yamba, was originally opened to alleviate her house of some of the interesting pieces she’d gathered over time while raising her five children — “items that I could see value in, when others couldn’t,” she explains. Four years on, the quirky store is a stylist’s dream. As Megan tells us, “it’s filled with found objects, weird collections and lots of old vintage and retro pieces like bottles, boxes, patterns, tins, lamps, buttons, beads and more.” A keen recycler and true >

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT The studio of Short St Gallery in Broome; a historic building houses the gallery; an Indigo Love Collectors lamp at Gypsy and the Bowerbird; 10 Stones ceramics at Three Donkeys Home. FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT In Mackay Gypsy and the Bowerbird has a bohemian vibe; Coco Blue owner Jo Taylor arranges wares in her light-filled shop.

creative, Megan values things that are well-crafted and made to last.

She finds joy in giving pre-loved possessions a new chance to add character to our homes. In store, you’ll also find a selection of modern treasures, such as Pony Rider textiles, Moe Moe jewellery and gorgeous Just Enough Beach soy candles, hand-poured in Yamba. 3/13 Yamba Street, Yamba, 0421 742 122, instagram.com/flots_n_jets

TASMANIA Coco Blue Coco Blue in Campbell Town is located along the Heritage Highway, the main road connecting the north of Tasmania to the south. “We often have tourists come in, stretching their legs with a coffee in hand,” says owner Jo Taylor, “plus we get a lot of husbands looking for ‘lost’ wives!” We can attest the light-filled weatherboard cottage is just the sort of place we’d love to get lost in. Jo wryly tells us she encourages “mooching” in store, and we know some customers do spend more than an hour browsing her stunning collection of

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antiques, art, homewares, women’s fashion, babies’ clothes, lifestyle books and men’s products — all carefully sourced from Tasmania, mainland Australia and beyond. Jo and her husband Dave are wool producers, so items made from natural fibres rate highly for Jo. She names Bow and Arrow, Woolbabe and Binny as some of her best suppliers. We can’t resist Antica Farmacista candles and locally made Just Add Moonshine jams and chutneys — and there’s a waitlist in store for The Essential Onion Jam. She says, “it’s addictive and always sells out.” Where do we sign up?

If you’re not in the area, visit Coco Blue’s website to shop online. 80 High Street, Campbell Town, (03) 6381 1150, cocobluegiftware.com.au

QUEENSLAND Fabric Society Fabric Society is a long-held secret among Noosa regulars. Every year, those in the know make the 20-minute drive from the Sunshine Coast holiday destination to see ‘the quilt lady’, as Diana Boden is fondly known, in her

permanent store at the Eumundi markets. Here they shop Diana’s exquisite range of vibrant Indian cotton kantha bedspreads, along with tablecloths, cushions, placemats and more. Breathable, lightweight and beautifully soft, the pieces are ideal for summer. Diana’s faithful clientele know she has an exceptional eye for detail, quality and price, thanks to her studies in screen-printing and textiles. Years spent in India, China, Mozambique, Thailand, Bali and Singapore also mean she’s carefully hand-picked a loyal group of fair-trade suppliers. This season, stock up on fresh blues and whites, teal greens and calming grey tones. Diana’s restocked her palm tree prints in green, pink, blue and soft grey — “everyone loves the palm print,” she tells us. Another rare find? Extra-long (340cm) cotton tablecloths for extra-long lunches and big family barbecues. Fabric Society is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and by appointment, or buy from afar online. Shop 216, 1–7 Napier Road, Eumundi Square, 0416 293 205, fabricsociety.com.au

SHOPPING GUIDE REGIONAL

Gypsy and the Bowerbird

PHOTOGRAPHY JESSICA COLEMAN, RENEE HODSKISS, SHORT ST GALLERY

When their favourite Mackay boutique came on the market, sisters-in-law Stephanie Hain and Claire Hammill jumped at the opportunity to buy it.

The pair have since enriched the store with earthy colours and bohemian

Morocco — Stephanie and Claire toured with Pip Brett from Jumbled in Orange, NSW, and Julia Green from Greenhouse Interiors in Victoria’s Barwon Heads. Conveniently, Gypsy and the Bowerbird shares space with The Deli Nook, who are arguably the

Coco Blue in Campbell Town stocks antiques, art, homewares, fashion and babies’ clothes. style, selling an eclectic mix of vintage and modern interior pieces.

Independent brands from Australia and New Zealand feature heavily — think tribal pieces from Indigo Love Collectors and Maison & Maison, decorative tiles by Ahoy Trader and summer essentials from The Beach People. With five children between them, it’s no wonder Stephanie and Claire also stock stand-out kids’ products, such as Olli Ella’s clever Strolleys and the Little People, Big Dreams books by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Look out for baskets and rugs picked up recently on a buying trip in

best baristas in Mackay so you can get your caffeine fix in store. The ladies also have an impressive website to browse from home. Shop 2, 139 Victoria Street, Mackay, (07) 4953 5125, gypsyandthebowerbird.com.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Short St Gallery

What better way to spend a summer afternoon in Broome than to immerse yourself in local culture. For more than 20 years, Short St Gallery has been specialising in contemporary art, showcasing some of Australia’s most collected and respected Indigenous

artists. Owner Emily Rohr and staff also work with and source from community-run art centres around regional Australia. The public gallery, located in the heart of Broome, holds specialised exhibitions each month, with this year’s calendar curated to include newcomers and established artists. More magic is to be found in the gallery’s studio space at Town Beach — a hidden stockroom or annexe. Walk down the red dirt path to the historic white bungalow surrounded by palm trees, with open louvres and a weathered front door.

Inside is described by the gallery as “a true Kimberley treasure trove” and it is run by friendly staff and knowledgeable resident artists. A visit to the gallery or studio is an amazing way to learn about complex and diverse Indigenous art practices. It’s easy to see why many clients return yearly for professional advice and, of course, to add to their expanding collections.

7 Short Street, Broome (public gallery); 3 Hopton Street, Broome (studio space, by appointment only), (08) 9192 6118, shortstgallery.com

Photographer Nicola Sevitt pauses in a doorway while exploring the city of Ostuni.

FACING PAGE Polignano a Mare is a town on Italy’s southern Adriatic coast famous for its white pebble beaches.

PUGLI A ITA LY HOLIDAY HUNTER

D E S T I N A T I O N P U G L I A PHOTOGRAPHER NICOLA SEVITT TRAVELLED TO THE SOUTHERN ‘HEEL’ OF ITALY TO INDULGE IN ITS FOOD, FAIRYTALE ARCHITECTURE AND COASTAL CULTURE. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY NICOLA SEV ITT

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The courtyard at Masseria Moroseta with a stairway leading to the rooftop; looking out beyond the swimming pool to where the olive groves meet the sea; one of the bedrooms; a vintage Fiat parked at Masseria Moroseta; Pablo, one of Masseria Moroseta’s resident English bulldogs; rock walls are a feature; exploring the streets of Ostuni.

PUGLI A ITA LY HOLIDAY HUNTER

exploring the streets. I feel inspired when travelling, and on return, I always feel like I’ve learnt so much.”

This month, she takes us to Puglia at the south-eastern tip of Italy:

spoilt for choice with stunning white sandy beaches, but I actually love the look and feel of the rocky beaches and inlets where you can dive straight into the clear blue Mediterranean sea.

WHY PUGLIA? Puglia has this rustic, genuine charm. I gravitate towards places that are a little less explored and unknown and, although Puglia now seems to be on everyone’s list, it feels as though tourism hasn’t yet fully hit this special part of the world. Also, who can go past pasta, fairytale towns, beautiful swimming holes and an abundance of fresh seafood?

DID YOU FIND ANY HIDDEN GEMS YOU WEREN’T EXPECTING? On our last day of the trip, we discovered this gorgeous little beach called Porto Ghiacciolo in Monopoli, which was situated right next to an old castle. We spent the afternoon playing cards and eating fresh peaches until the sun went down. It was pretty special. In Lecce we discovered the best bakery (Caffé L’incontro) on the outskirts of town that made the most delectable pasticciotto — an Italian custard-filled pastry that Lecce is known for. I still dream about them!

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU DID? We picked up a Fiat at Bari Airport and began to make our way down to the beautiful white-washed town of Ostuni. Initially, we were focusing on driving on the opposite side of the road and trying to work out the speed limit, or lack thereof.

But we took a turn off the main road and were suddenly surrounded by rows and rows of olive groves and driving in front of us was a white vintage Fiat — it was just so ‘Italian’.

As we approached Ostuni, a sea of white buildings up on a hill began to appear. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation, Masseria Moroseta, set among five hectares of olive fields.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the infamous resident English bulldogs, Beppe and Pablo.

FORMER COUNTRY STYLE staffer

Nicola Sevitt left us last year to broaden her horizons — in a quite literal sense. Her well-thumbed passport is rarely packed away for long as this talented lifestyle photographer has already travelled to Europe, South America, Bali, Japan and Mexico.

But for Nicola, travel is more than just sightseeing or relaxing on a beach.

“Travelling for me is all about soaking in everything a destination has to offer and imagining what it would be like to live in that particular place,” Nicola says. “I look forward to tasting new food, chatting to locals, taking in the architecture, and

HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR TIME? We spent our days eating delicious pasta and fresh seafood, reading, exploring the nearby towns and seeking out the most beautiful coastal swimming holes.

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS? Some of my favourite memories are from the stunning town of Lecce and exploring its history and baroque architecture. It’s so interesting and refreshing to see the craftsmanship of architecture that was designed centuries and centuries ago.

I also really enjoyed exploring the rugged coastline. In Australia we are

ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR DAY TRIPS? If you’re a ceramics lover, definitely take the time to go to Grottaglie. Only a 30-minute drive from Ostuni, this quaint little town has shop after shop full of traditional Apulian ceramicware.

For a piece of paradise, head to Grotta della Poesia, an easy day trip from Lecce. This picture-perfect natural pool is ideal for a dip and a seaside picnic.

MUST-DO ACTIVITY? I would definitely recommend doing a road trip in Puglia, I think it’s the best and only way to see the region. And obviously hire a Fiat! Puglia is only quite small, and having a car gives you the freedom to hop from town to town and explore whenever you feel like it.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL? The spaghetti alle vongole from Alba Chiara or Il Principe del Mare Ristoro. My fiance and I still talk about it! It had the perfect ratio of garlic, olive oil and pasta and tasted like the ocean. Puglia is also well known for orecchiette pasta, which look like little ears. We ate delicious orecchiette at a restaurant in Ostuni situated inside a cave (Osteria Del Tempo Perso). Something I wish we got around to doing was taking a cooking class — they’re offered in most of towns. >

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HOLIDAY HUNTER PUGLI A ITA LY Known as the Florence of the south, Lecce is famous for its beautiful architecture.

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The small cove of Cala dell’Acquaviva; a fruit seller near Canale del Ciolo; Nicola’s bedroom at La Signura Bio Suites in the historical centre of Lecce; the charming kitchen in the apartment; Tricase Porto is a beautiful seaside village; the rustic courtyard at Masseria Uccio in Tricase; a cocktail bar in one of Lecce’s laneways.

DID PUGLIA LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS? I had painted a picture in my mind of what it would be like and it turned out to be more beautiful than I’d imagined. This part of Italy runs at a different pace to the north. The days are slow and long (in the best way) and the people are relaxed and incredibly friendly. It’s rustic, rugged and not perfect — it’s just real.

ANY TRAVEL TIPS? Before I leave, I jot down the names of restaurants, towns, beaches and markets I like the sound of and plot them on a Google map. I also grab tips from friends or family who have visited the destination. But I’ve found that it’s always best to mix this with a bit of

spontaneity. The thing I love about travelling is experiencing and seeing something new every day.

WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER MOST? Driving through olive groves and watching the sun disappear over the horizon. Eating copious amounts of pasta and not feeling one bit guilty.

Getting lost in cobbled streets. Eating pizza and drinking too many negronis on a balmy evening as we watched the piazza in Tricase come to life: children played soccer, holidaying Italian teenagers flirted on benches and their parents sat at restaurants drinking, eating and enjoying the night. Italians really know how to live well.

Follow @nicolasevitt on Instagram.

PLACES TO STAY

• Masseria Moroseta, Ostuni

A big white stone farmhouse surrounded by gardens, a large swimming pool, and five hectares of olive groves. With only six rooms, Masseria Moroseta has an intimate atmosphere and there are various nooks and cosy spots for you to enjoy the peace and quiet on the property. Only a short drive from the rugged coastline and historic towns and villages, it makes a great base for exploring the area. Contrada Lamacavallo, s/n, 72017 Ostuni BR; masseriamoroseta.it Masseria Uccio, Tricase A charming little country house located in the hills of Tricase and surrounded by stunning green fields, farm land and other nearby masserias. Run by Francesco and his lovely wife, this B&B makes you feel right at home. Uccio is a great base for exploring both the east and west coast of Puglia and the breakfast here is not to be missed!

Via Madonna di Fatima, snc 73039 Tricase LE; masseriauccio.com • Masseria Cimino, Fasano Our one-night splurge! Located near the town of Fasano, this is a beautiful 18th-century masseria that operates as an upmarket hotel. The rooms are breathtakingly romantic and the interiors are artfully decorated.

Breakfast and dinner are included and take place in the stunning dining room where masses of dried tomatoes hang from the ceiling. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the white-washed lobby before sitting down to eat. Contrada Masciola, 72010 Savelletri di Fasano BR; masseriacimino.com >

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HOLIDAY HUNTER PUGLI A ITA LY

• Casa di Mario, Monopoli This gorgeous multi-level apartment was such a great find! Located in the old town, it is only two minutes from the ocean. If you don’t feel like leaving, take in the views from the rooftop terrace with a glass of red and a cheese board paired with produce bought from the local market. The apartment has been carefully curated with stylish pieces the owner has collected from his travels. airbnb.com.au/rooms/17115546 La Signura Bio Suites, Lecce A bright and airy B&B located right in the middle of town and a stroll away from amazing bars, restaurants and historic sites. Adjoining our room was our own private terrace; we would keep the wooden doors open and let the fresh air flow in while we took an afternoon nap. Delectable pasticciotto, croissants and organic fruit are left on the table for you every morning. Corte A Miali Angelo, 4, 73100 Lecce LE; lasignura.com

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WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

• Alba Chiara and Il Principe del Mare

Ristoro, Savelletri Both these low-key restaurants are located at the ocean’s edge and I couldn’t tell you which one was better. Sip rosé and nibble on fresh bread with balsamic and olive oil as you wait for your meal to arrive. Sea urchin is a local specialty, or you can’t go wrong with the spaghetti alle vongole, mussels, and a variety of freshly grilled octopus and prawns. Alba Chiara, Strada Provinciale TorreCanne, Savelletri BR. Il Principe del Mare Ristoro, SP90, 25, 72015 Savelletri BR. Osteria Del Tempo Perso, Ostuni A lovely laidback restaurant offering traditional Apulian dishes. It is located in a cave (request an inside table when you book) and local ceramics are

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A quiet place to work at Masseria Moroseta.

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everywhere you look. Be sure to order the orecchiette and, if you’re a cheese lover, try the burrata. Via Gaetano Tanzarella Vitale, 47, 72017 Ostuni BR. Caffe l’incontro, Lecce An old-school, no-frills bakery located on the outskirts of Lecce. Go here first thing in the morning for fresh pasticciotto. You will not regret it! Viale della libertà, 51, 73100 Lecce LE. Farmacia Balboa, Tricase One of my favourites! Located on the piazza in Tricase, this stylish cocktail bar is the perfect spot for an aperitivo and to watch the world go by. If you get peckish, head next door for a simple yet authentic Italian pizza. Piazza Giuseppe Pisanelli, 23, 73039 Tricase LE; farmaciabalboabar.com Taverna del Porto, Tricase We loved this quaint seaside restaurant where the staff fully embrace the rustic, nautical vibe by wearing striped T-shirts and navy aprons. The seafood is incredibly fresh and is artfully displayed on the counter. Order the banquet and pair it with a delicious crisp white wine.

Be sure to return another night and head to their upstairs pizzeria for the seafood pizza! Via Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 121, 73039 Tricase Porto LE; on Instagram @tavernadelportotricase Quanto Basta, Lecce This hipster cocktail bar in Lecce had an extremely impressive drinks menu. Sadly we didn’t make it here but we walked by almost every night and it was always packed with locals! Via Paladini 17, 73100 Lecce LE.

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THINGS TO DO

• Grotta della Poesia Only a short drive

from Lecce, Grotta della Poesia is a great spot to escape for the day. Located on the archeological site of Roca

Vecchia, this stunning natural pool attracts tourists and locals alike. If you’re feeling daring, the pool is deep enough to dive in from the rock platform above. Strada Statale San CataldoOtranto, 73026 Roca Vecchia, Melendugno LE. Cala dell’Acquaviva If I lived in Puglia, you would find me at Calla dell’Acquaviva every day in summer. Dive into the crystal clear water of this gorgeous inlet from the surrounding cliffs, or slightly awkwardly tip-toe in like I did via the pebbles that meet the shore. It’s a 20-minute drive from Tricase; bring a good book, water and some snacks and call it a day. Diso, Via Litoranea, 73030 Marina di Marittima LE. Polignano a Mare This unique town perched atop 20-metre-high cliffs with views of the Adriatic sea is not to be missed. The crowds here feel slightly more touristy, but you can’t go past the azure water and surrounding dramatic architecture. Spend some time walking around the town, try a gelato and look for the balcony that provides a stunning view of the beach below.

Canale del Ciolo A picturesque rocky cove we came across while driving from Tricase to Santa Maria di Leuca. The high cliffs make it another great spot for dare-devil divers and look out for a lovely old Italian man selling fruit. We picked up some delicious peaches and summer fruit for the rest of our journey.

73034 Gagliano del Capo, Lecce LE. Grottaglie If you’ve come to Puglia to buy ceramics, a visit to Grottaglie is a must. This town is full of little stores displaying work by various artists from around the region (you may even meet some of them). Make sure you’ve left enough room in your suitcase, as you’ll find it hard to resist temptation.

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Stay at Masseria Cimino, an 18th century farmhouse on the edge of San Domenico golf course; cacti in the garden at Masseria Cimino; dried tomatoes hanging from the dining room ceiling; the facade of the original farm house building; cacti leaves hanging on the reception area’s walls; the fishing town of Polignano a Mare; breakfast and dinner are included at Masseria Cimino; a local in his vintage car on the west coast of Puglia.

FASHION Harriet Birrell enjoys an afternoon walk along Front Beach in Point Lonsdale with Fred, a koolie border collie cross, near her home on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula.

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FOR COOKBOOK AUTHOR AND RETAILER HARRIET BIRRELL, HER PASSION FOR NATURE DICTATES HER FASHION CHOICES. WORDS VIRGINIA IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY NIKOLE RAMSAY

FASHION CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP Harriet and Fred. Hat, linen shorts and shirt from Natural Harry; a simple arrangement of crystals, Billy Buttons in vintage vases and Harriet’s jewellery box; firewood stacked in the garden.

HARRIET BIRRELL C O O K B O O K A U T H O R A N D R E TA I L E R , 3 2

For the owner of Natural Harry, sustainability is at the heart of all of her endeavours as well as her personal style.

How would you describe your style?

Down-to-earth; no fuss; no make-up; natural.

Are you interested in fashion? I have always been interested in fashion — my earliest memories all involve clothes and sewing. I even made my own teddies and dolls when I was a child.

Who are your style influences? Anyone who radiates ease and grace in their clothing choices.

What’s the best style advice you’ve ever received?

Find colours that suit your complexion and don’t slavishly follow trends. Buy according to personal taste, in colours that flatter, and you won’t go wrong.

What are your wardrobe essentials? Travel wrap dress, rope sandals, hat, and Blundstones.

What are your favourite clothing labels?

Spell & The Gypsy Collective, Rowie and Andean Collective. I love op shops too.

Where do you shop for clothing and accessories?

Op shops, vintage shops, second-hand shops and my store, Natural Harry!

Do you have any favourite accessories?

My dad’s old Akubra and a ceramic travel mug.

What are your go-to hair and beauty products?

I make my own shampoo and rinse with apple cider vinegar (recipes coming in book three!). I make my own ‘beauty’ products but keep it minimal and simple; I use very little make-up. For my body routine, the best thing I do is fill my plate with plant-based wholefoods and drink lots of water.

Do you have a favourite perfume? I make my own perfume too. Essential oils make the best perfume!

What do you never leave home without? Water, my dog Fred, bathers and a towel — you never know when you might want a swim!

What are you reading? The Yoga of Eating by Charles Eisenstein, Bewildered by Laura Waters and Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health by Mark Bunn.

What are you listening to? Bobby Alu, Alana Wilkinson, Shakey Graves, and all the oldies.

As for podcasts, I’m really into Deliciously Ella, Ted Radio Hour and How I Built This.

What are you watching? The Game Changers on Netflix, it’s about plant-based eating.

What do you love about country Australia?

Everything! I grew up in regional Australia and it’s where I feel most at home. I love the little country towns and the quietness. But the enviro t — coast and bush — is the real treasure.

For more information, visit naturalharry.com.au

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Harriet keeps her beauty regimen simple with homemade products.

Her recipes are available at naturalharry.com.au; Harriet feels at peace when connected to the outdoors; the kitchen is where Harriet tests all her recipes for her books; Fred makes himself comfortable. For stockist details, see page 136.

“I love everything about country Australia. It’s where I grew up and where I feel most at home.”

FASHION Harriet and Fred going in for a swim.

FACING PAGE Harriet has her towel and swimmers in her bag at all times in case she wants to take a dip in the ocean.

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HARRIET’S PICKS ARE NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL WITH A BEACHY FEEL. PRODUCED BY ANN DO

1 Andy fedora in Oak, $149, from Natural Harry. 2 Woven straw shopping bag, $115.14, from Sustainable Products. 3 Large travel cup, $55, from Clay by Tina.

4 Seashell gown, $329, from Spell & the Gypsy Collective. 5 Style 659 work boots in Brown Thoroughbred, $159, from Blundstone. 6 Line top in White, $219, from Kowtow Australia. 7 Hemp and silk Studio shorts, $165, from Good Studios.

8 Wellness essential oil roller, $30, from Courtney + Babes. 9 Sila bralette, $39.95, and high-waisted bottoms, $27.95, from Bimby + Roy. 10 Body Love body oil, $39.95, from Natural Harry. 11 Natural Harry and Whole (Hardie Grant) cookbooks

by Harriet Birrell, $49.95, from Natural Harry. 12 Mountain Momma sandals in Camel, $80, from Nomadic State of Mind. For stockist details, see page 136.

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HEALTH AND BEAUTY

THE BROW EVOLUTION

JUST LIKE FASHION trends, brows have

always had their own distinct look. In the era of big hair and shoulder pads, it was Brooke Shields’s thick and natural; along came the ’90s and we religiously plucked them into skinny, almost non-existent lines. When the noughties hit, we switched to strong and powerful, a brow movement the Insta-generation have since embraced.

“Brows are the most transformational feature on the face,” says Hannah Mutze, national brow artist at Benefit Cosmetics Australia. “The ’90s taught us not to experiment with brow trends that call for excessive hair removal.

This is one trend I can safely say is in the past.” The evidence of past beauty blunders often still remains, while bold, bushy brows catapulted the likes of Cara Delevingne to global modelling fame, generations of women with over-plucked arches spent the last decade testing out all manner of pencils, putties, powders and even tattoo needles to try to bulk up their still-sparse brows.

All this fuss about brows isn’t just driven solely by the ebb and flow of beauty fashions though — they can, in all honesty, dramatically change your entire look. “When shaped correctly, the lines and angle of your brows can make the face appear more balanced, and the eye area look more open and awake,” says Hannah.

“They can lift and contour our other facial features, taking years off in the process.” Of course, that means they can also do the reverse — add on years, that is — so it’s best to leave shaping to a brow pro and just learn the tricks for daily fine-tuning.

Exactly how you fix or fill them will largely depend on, you guessed it, current brow trends. This year,

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it’s all about creating texture — fluffy, natural and shiny — and playing with shadows and highlights. We’ll get to specifics in a moment.

“There’s a big shift away from the Instagram brow right now,” says Amy Jean Linnehan, the founder of the Amy Jean Brow Agency, who has carved out a successful international career sculpting the brows of local and international celebrities. “Fluffy brows are still very on-trend in 2020.

Keeping the centre of the brows soft, rather than dark, always looks more natural. I would suggest filling in the

“When shaped correctly, the lines and angle of your brows can make the face appear more balanced, and the eye area appear more open.” gaps and correcting the shape with a fine pencil, then using a powder or 3D brow gel to create a textured effect.”

There are several variations on the natural toned-down brow this year, the easiest of which is the dewy brow.

“This look is about creating healthy, textural and radiant brows,” says Hannah. “The most wearable take on dewy brows is simply setting your brows with clear gel — not only does the gel work like hairspray to set brow hairs in place, it also adds a subtle glossy sheen.”

The direction you brush on the gel can make a difference, too. For the past few seasons, brushing brows up has been the most popular technique, but things are shifting. “Windswept

brows are now the epitome of that effortless look so many of us covet,” says Hannah. “It’s a wearable take on brushed up, feathered brows and is as simple as brushing the hairs with brow gel on a slight angle towards the temple.”

If your hair is a little lighter in summer (naturally, or otherwise), Amy Jean recommends giving your brows the same treatment by using a light-coloured, tinted brow gel to create natural-looking highlights.

“Or, if you’re really artistic, you could try using brow powder to create an on-trend ombre effect,” she says.

“It’s all about creating depth. Fill in brows along the base, arch and tail with a deeper colour, then use a lighter colour through the centre of the brow and no colour at all along the top and where the brows start. Use light, feathery motions and blend really well with a spoolie to make this ombre effect look seamless.”

While trends will come and go, there are a few brow rules that never go out of fashion: keeping them on the thicker side is always more youthful; using a product that matches the colour of your brow hair will look the most natural; maintaining definition and fullness is easiest with a regular brow tint — we recommend henna brow treatments, which is kinder to sensitive skin and lasts longer than traditional tints; and shaping is always a job best left for an expert.

If ever you are tempted to tweeze between appointments, remember this advice: “Brows have the capacity to make or break your face,” says Amy Jean. “If they don’t harmonise with your face shape and nose, and the colour of your hair and eyes, your brows can seriously age you.”

PHOTOGRAPHY ABBIE MELLE STYLING ASHLEY PRATT

FORGET ABOUT EYELASHES, BROWS ARE THE NEW FOCUS OF THE MAKEUP WORLD. JULIETTE WINTER EXPLAINS HOW TO TRAIN YOUR ARCHES TO BE BANG ON-TREND.

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JUST BROWSING

Create beautiful brows with a few fabulous products.

1. Renowned for mastering natural beauty looks, this Bobbi Brown Brow Kit ($75) contains two gorgeous brow shades to define your brows and comes in a cute compact.

2. These handy Amy Jean Privée Collection Two-in-One Tweezers ($35) have both a straight tip and slanted end.

3. Brush your brows upwards with the Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows ($39) micro-fine brush and the tinted gel will thicken, tint and hold your brows perfectly in place.

4. A highlighter for your brows, Benefit High Brow ($38) is a creamy luminating pencil in a flattering pink shade that you blend along your brow bone to lift and open your eyes.

5. In a perfectly portable compact, Natio Brow Kit ($19.95) has two brow powders (so you can customise your own colour),

brow wax to keep your brows in place, two brushes and tweezers so you can tend to your arches wherever you are.

6. Fill in your brows like a pro with Amy Jean Privée Collection Micro Stroke Pencil ($42). It’s available in six shades with a very fine pencil end, so you can create life-like hair.

7. This clear Mecca Max Brow Guru Clear Control Gel ($16) keeps your brows in line, adds volume and a glossy finish.

8. Banish skinny or sparse brows with Benefit Gimme Brow+ ($43) that combines a tinted gel with tiny microfibres that grab onto your hair to build volume and texture.

9. A multitasking brow pen, this Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Brow Perfector ($40) has all the brow styling essentials including a 1.5mm micro-tip pencil for creating super-fine hairs, a powder applicator and a spoolie brush for blending the ultimate brow. For stockist details, see page 136.

OUT AND ABOUT A PIONEERING OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS GIVEN THESE QUEENSLAND STUDENTS A TASTE OF RURAL WORKING LIFE. WORDS CLAIRE MACTAGGART PHOTOGRAPHY PIP W ILLI A MS

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SCHOOLS Ella Cornish, a student in the Ironbark program at St Peters Lutheran College in Queensland.

FACING PAGE Students have activities each morning and afternoon, such as milking the cows and feeding the other livestock on the property.

SCHOOLS Ironbark is set on 600 hectares on the Darling Downs. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The school promotes physical and personal development; Sarah Lockhart and Ella Cornish cradling lambs; bringing the cows in; Matthew Sullivan, director of Ironbark, with Cherise Marks, Mihir Sud and Yasmin Duarte.

FOR MANY STUDENTS of St Peters Lutheran College in

Brisbane, the compulsory five-week stay at the school’s 600-hectare farm north of Crows Nest in Queensland’s Darling Downs is their first opportunity to ride a horse, collect eggs or witness the birth of a lamb. Each day, the students work in groups to complete farm jobs and milking the five cows — Pearl, Lily, Daisy, Poppy and Ruby — is always a rewarding experience.

Matthew Sullivan, 42, is the director of Ironbark and oversees the program that introduces students to farm life.

“There’s always the satisfaction of seeing milk in the bucket.

Some kids really thrive and some are quite apprehensive because they haven’t been around large animals. The biggest thing is their growth in confidence,” he says.

Each Year Nine student participates in the pioneering Ironbark program where day students and boarders learn about the mixed farm and develop their skills with outdoor adventure activities such as orienteering, hiking, camping, horseriding and high ropes. It’s a break away from technology and their formal curriculum that allows them to grow in self confidence, character, strength and resilience in a natural environment.

Day student Cherise Marks, 15, enjoyed helping in the dairy during her time at the farm in 2019. “This particular farm job helped me appreciate the food that is put on my table,” she says. “Being at Ironbark taught me to better appreciate the little things in life and show more gratitude.

I surprised myself with my ability to be able to complete tasks that I previously thought I wouldn’t be able to do, for example the four-day hike and Jacob’s Ladder heights activity.”

For Matthew, who grew up on a beef cattle property at Jandowae, near Dalby, his role allows him to share the lifestyle he grew up with, with students from the city.

“I think that’s very important because a lot of families now don’t have a connection to a farm. It’s also seeing the kids really grow across the five weeks and achieve things that they didn’t think they could do through perseverance and a bit of resilience. When they walk out of here, there’s that real sense of achievement and being willing to tackle new challenges. That’s the rewarding part for us,” Matthew says, who manages 50 to 60 students at a time, as well as 20 staff that assist with catering, farm management and outdoor adventure instruction.

The Ironbark St Peters Outdoor Education Centre property has a range of horseriding, running and hiking trails along with the working farm, which has a dairy, piggery, beef cattle, horses and chickens.

“The kids are involved in activities that help them understand more about their character essentially.

There’s a range of challenges they’re going to work through — physical challenges, working in groups and living in the dormitory,” he adds.

Students have rostered activities both in the morning and afternoon such as collecting eggs from 60 ISA Brown hens, feeding and caring for livestock, tending the vegetable garden, cleaning the dormitory or chopping firewood. They also help prepare meals and experience the full paddock-to-plate approach with eggs, vegetables, milk and meat grown on the farm.

Fifteen-year-old day student Oliver Pesce from Brisbane appreciated the different lifestyle during his stay.

“Personally, I liked the general work and maintenance around the farm. I really liked that you could get closer with the farm staff and listen to their stories. They live a very different life from ours and I love connecting with them,” he says. >

“Being at Ironbark taught me to better appreciate the little things in life and show more gratitude.”

128 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

SCHOOLS There is a horseriding arena at Ironbark where students learn the basics of riding and horse behaviour. Later in the program, they can choose to do a horseriding elective and join trail rides.

The Ironbark program has provided many defining memories for students over the past four decades as they transition to early adulthood, since the initial 32 hectares was gifted to the college.

“All of these experiences are set up in a way for the kids to see how they respond to the different activities and opportunities. There’s a lot of personal reflection that takes place throughout so they can identify their strengths, but also to do things that they struggle with,” Matthew says.

Another aspect is the development of social maturity as students overcome the challenges of working and living together and being away from home for an extended period.

During their time at the property, students also have eight nights camping and a four-day hiking expedition.

Fourteen-year-old boarder Terri Zhu from Shanghai, China, welcomed the opportunity to participate. “I have learnt a lot. Not only did I improve myself but I also learnt how to deal with interpersonal relationships better. In life, there will always be times when we need to ask for help from others and times when we need to help others.

It’s important to try your best no matter what,” she says.

Terri’s favourite part was the 24-hour solo activity in the last week, by which time students have the skills, confidence and self-belief to camp alone on the property.

The unique Ironbark program allows participants to apply their personal development to future situations in life.

For more information, visit stpeters.qld.edu.au

130 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS IRONBARK, ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE

This Prep to Year 12 co-educational school has two distinct schools — St Peters Indooroopilly and St Peters Springfield — and offers a holistic approach to learning. St Peters Indooroopilly campus is set on 21 hectares with boarding from Year Six onwards. The Ironbark program offers an expansive outdoor education experience which enhances personal growth. (07) 3377 6222; stpeters.qld.edu.au

TIMBERTOP, GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Geelong Grammar School’s innovative Timbertop campus, set on 325 hectares of bush and farming land, combines academic and outdoor education programs for Year Nine co-educational students to build confidence, resilience and life skills. (03) 5733 6777; ggs.vic.edu.au/School/Campuses/timbertop

GLENGARRY, THE SCOTS COLLEGE

Glengarry is a six-month residential experience in NSW’s Kangaroo Valley for Year Nine students of The Scots College, with experiential learning in a natural environment.

(02) 9391 7600; tsc.nsw.edu.au/glengarry

MLC MARSHMEAD, METHODIST LADIES’ COLLEGE The non-compulsory eight-week program MLC Marshmead centres on the concepts of personal, community and environmental sustainability where students gain personal development and life skills. (03) 9274 6333; mlc.vic.edu.au/ Why-MLC/Campus-Facilities/MLC-Marshmead

COLLECTABLES

MUSEUM PIECES

$50

THIS MONTH JOHN MCPHEE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA’S EXHIBITION OF MURANO GLASS FROM THE EARLY 1800s.

NEARLY EVERY AUSTRALIAN tourist in Venice pays a visit

to the island of Murano and marvels at the products of the glassmaking studios established there in the 15th century.

Liquid Light: 500 years of Venetian Glass, an exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, presents glass pieces from Venice and other countries that were inspired by techniques and forms developed by the Murano glassmakers. The earliest examples date from the 16th century, but the purchase of a large number of pieces by the gallery from the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880-81 dominates the exhibition. The flutes, jars, bowls and objects were often inspired by Renaissance objects but the love of fanciful decoration and a desire to show off their skills led the glassmakers to create some of the most delightful creations of the 19th century.

The ruby glass (below) is one of those purchased by the gallery in 1881. Its exaggerated flute is supported by a highly decorated stem in the form of a golden lover’s knot embellished with clear glass wings. Made to be looked at and admired, works such as this flute demonstrate the extraordinary skills of Venetian glassmakers.

In the 16th century Muranese glassmakers immigrated and established workshops in France, England, the Netherlands and Germany, and the Venetian industry declined. However, in the 19th century resulted in the modern glass workshops of today. In the early 20th century glassworkers began to produce modern items and Italian Art Deco glass is highly prized by collectors. The great revival of modern glass that occurred in the 1980s with Ettore Sottass designing postmodern objects for the Memphis Group showed the way for Italian glass. In America, Richard Marquis brought a playful hippy style to glassmaking, and on visits to Australia taught young Australian glassmakers such as the South Australian Nick Mount, whose whimsical creations are great fun. The exhibition concludes with work by Dale Chihuly, a glass artist whose skill and vision has its origins in Venice.

Liquid Light: 500 years of Venetian Glass, until 12 July 2020. National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, (03) 8620 2222, ngv.vic.gov.au The glass flute (right) was made by the Venice and Murano Glass and Mosaic Company, circa 1880. Purchased in 1881, it is now on display at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

$30

COLLECTABLES VASES WHICH BELONGED TO A READERS’ GREAT-GRANDMOTHER ARE EVALUATED. I INHERITED A VASE (above left), approximately 50 centimetres high, from my grandmother, which I understand was passed to her from her mother, my great-grandmother. The front features a painted scene and embossed scroll work. The back is simpler, decorated only with a painted rose. We know nothing about it except that it appears to be Japanese from the markings on the base and the style of the scene painted on the front. It has no chips or cracks and the paintwork is still very good.

I have a second pair of vases (above right), which my mother bought approximately 55 years ago from an antique store, just because she liked them. They also have ‘Made in Japan’ on the base. Any information you are able to give me regarding these vases would be most appreciated.

Kathryn Hede, Merimbula, NSW These three Japanese vases were made early in the 20th century. The single vase, perhaps originally one of a pair, has more elaborate painted decoration depicting a Japanese house in a landscape with pink iris in the foreground. The decoration seems more aimed to please a foreign market. The pair of vases featuring windmills were obviously made for the European market.

In the early 20th century, Japan was trying to modernise its ceramics industry by making goods for the European and US markets. Cheap ceramics were exported in vast quantities. Most, like the landscape vase, have a simple mark in Japanese script, but from 1915 onwards, export wares were marked ‘Made in Japan’ to meet US import regulations. The pair of vases were probably made in the 1920s or ’30s. They are interesting survivors.

John McPhee is an art historian who has worke n art museums for 30 years and was curator of Australian Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Australia.

If you have a precious (or simply mysterious) object that puzzles you, send your inquiry, along with a colour print or high-resolution digital image, your suburb or town, and your daytime telephone number, to austcountrystyle@bauer-media.com.au. The photographs must be clear and show the whole object against a white background.

Photographs will not be returned, even if they are not published.

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 131

BOOK CLUB AS THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS BEGIN, THE HAMMOCK AND A FEW GOOD BOOKS BECKON. REVIEWS ANNABEL LAWSON

Victoria Alexander, Murdoch Books, $59.99 Yes. Yes. Yes. Living solo isn’t selfish.

It’s often the kindest thing you can do to the planet. Alexander was a fashion editor at Vogue Australia so she’s certainly not a solitary eccentric riding a hobby horse. She’s been ‘six’, ‘five’ ‘four’ ‘three’ and ‘two’ before ‘one’. Let your first encounter with this glorious volume be pictures only.

Ideas. Possibilities. Then start digging into the wisdom. We firstborns know the trauma of a usurper butting into our world but at least we had that cherished own-zone for a while. Are you at all surprised that 21 of the first 23 astronauts were firstborns and the other two had no siblings?

Subconsciously or consciously, ones travel beyond the humdrum.

Alexander doesn’t give any captions, just the photographer credits.

We’ll never know the who or why of the bareback huntress in what looks like Nepal. My favourite photograph is the supine Berber enjoying an unhurried cigarette cheek by jowl with his prone camel. It’s a manifesto which ‘twos’ and ‘threes’ and, so help me, ‘tens’ can enjoy. And when ‘two’ must become ‘one’ some consolation is right here.

THE CHICKEN LIFE Fiona Scott-Norman, Plum, $32.99 I suspect this is going to be one of those peculiarly Australian wheezes that will propagate around the world.

Soon we will have similar publications parading hen fans in Mexico, Moldova and even in the smoky backlots of the technopolis Shenzhen. Scott-Norman finds hen love in aged care facilities and in a dialysis centre in Alice Springs. A pagan burlesque goddess

132 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

used chickens to ward off depression but then a fox got her five lovelies and depression is succeeded by grief. At the back, there’s a glossary and a warning against rearing ducks and chickens together (don’t ask). Miranda Boulton has designed a rehab chair to help injured birds to recover with dignity.

She’s being pestered by an American organisation, which sounds as though it does palliative care for chickens.

The paper, which is beautifully thick and matte, shows off the images to perfection. A treat.

THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE Emily Maguire, National Library of Australia, $29.99 Maguire presents the heroines of Australian emancipation and empowerment of females, many of them unfamiliar. Antipodean women got the vote ahead of Britain thanks to campaigning feminists, who were cruelly mocked. It was every bit as bad as present-day trolling. In fact, it would be useful to dig up flickering footage of Adela Pankhurst (1914) and Millicent Preston-Stanley (1925) to see how they crushed hecklers. Men —and women, too — in vast numbers were not merely unsympathetic to the cause but vicious.

In recent times, the bullies should know better but they don’t, viz. Julia Gillard. Surprisingly, Maguire does not mention Julie Bishop, trapdoored at the vote for PM.

WOMERAH LANE Tom Carment, Giramondo, $39.95 Most families have a member or two who, like Carment, resolutely do their own thing, heedless of good advice and norms. He’s a plein air artist and travels the length and breadth of Australia with crayons, paints and brushes. We’ve seen plenty of carefully

honed documentaries with scores of names in the credits. However, Carment’s solo work confronts a moment or an hour, occasionally longer. He meets people and they talk to him unscripted. This is as transparent a picture of Australia during the last 30 years as you’re likely to find anywhere. Carment established his family in Darlinghurst where gangs held sway. Today, there are terrace houses, which cost as much as an atelier in Paris. The gangs linger.

The painting of St Vincent’s hospital at night is structurally just rows of lighted windows and yet somehow the life and death tensions within grab you. How does he do that? The perfect book to place next to a guest’s bed.

BIRD BONDS: SEX, MATE CHOICE AND COGNITION IN AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BIRDS Gisela Kaplan, Pan Macmillan, $34.99 Kaplan bewilders and enchants in equal measure. Start with two chapters: The ‘heartache’ of finding a partner and Parenthood, spoilt offspring and life-history rewards.

Then go on to the other chapters, which are like two years of academic ornithology packed into an entrancing narrative. She shows that much of what we assume about Australian bird behaviour is either wrong or not quite right. Until recently, it was believed that the species we have here are versions of what travelled down to us from the north. It was the other way round. Australia is a cradle of the avian genome. You probably thought, as I did, that the miraculous performances of birds in migration, construction, song, courting rituals and parenting were all hard-wired.

Recent studies have shown that for many species and in much of their behaviour there are cognitive

PHOTOGRAPHY ABBIE MELLE STYLING ASHLEY PRATT

ONE: LIVING AS ONE AND LOVING IT

BOOKS

and social elements shaping and innovating. As only three per cent of male birds have a penis, mating takes many forms. The crested grebe’s acrobatic courting dance with clawshake and accompanying music and rhythm couldn’t be more different from the whistling kite’s swoop and move on. Kaplan claims that despite the millions of years of evolutionary distance between us and birds they were in some ways a prequel to the human species and our unique success at communication.

JUST KIDS Patti Smith, Bloomsbury, $59.99 I nearly skipped over this one because we reviewed an earlier version of it almost a decade ago. However, these memories and encounters are now counterpointed with Smith’s drawings and the photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe. When they met she was sleeping in ‘door wells, subway cars even a graveyard’. For a while they lived together. When wealthy Sam Wagstaff donated a loft in downtown Manhattan to Mapplethorpe one episode of the Mapplethorpe-Smith adventure was over but she would always be able to crash there. She survives. He did not. This is mandatory reading for those too

young to remember her music and her rebellion. And for those who maybe have forgotten. It maps the glory of freedom and the cost.

TARGETED Brittany Kaiser, HarperCollins, $32.99 No one’s too old to feel a wistful ‘what might have been’ when a young talented woman has the chutzpah to pitch to a man who believes he has no paragon in the whole wide world.

This is the true story of Brittany Kaiser, the man who bedazzled her — Alexander Nix — and their roles in ‘a one-stop shop for election swaying’

by Cambridge Analytica, the data manipulation laboratory in the UK. Lumbering governments are, as we speak, trying to halt Artificial Intelligence’s kaleidoscopic responses to Facebook and the harvesting of details which make your behaviour known and therefore — yes — directable. But the genie is out of the bottle. Legislation will always be a long way behind the likes of Cambridge Analytica. It used and, under a different name, still uses Big Data to analyse individual internet users and recalibrate their behaviour to deliver votes for a paymaster: American campaign directors, Nigerian princes, Middle Eastern

potentates, the power hungry in the Caribbean, Indonesia and Mexico. Note that even the remotest connection with Russia was a no-no for Nix and yet it was okay to be in cahoots with Hong Kong. Hmm. Brexit was a client although Nix’s work for them was free.

Kaiser needed money to help her parents out of a crisis. She’s sorry she ever clapped eyes on Nix, the Dungeon Master at SCL and then CEO at Cambridge Analytica. She quit. She testified. Nevertheless, you can sense her nostalgia (she’s megabrainy) for a unique glimpse of how the world works and how human beings can be persuaded without their knowledge or consent. Exciting.

TWAS THE NIGHTSHIFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Adam Kay, Picador, $19.99 Thirteen major newspapers, quoted on the inside cover, called his first book This Is Going to Hurt ‘hilarious’ and so did we. He’s back again, our favourite ex-obstetrician (he gave it up to be a comedian). As a bachelor registrar he was repeatedly dobbed in each year to work the Christmas shifts. I’m glad he does not aim to be a poet. Here’s one of his intros: “Who’s that you can see in his suit of magenta? It’s me I’ve been soaked head to toe in placenta

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STOCK ISTS LEFT A beach picnic is the perfect way to spend a summer’s day. See page 73.

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stockists

WHERE TO BUY PRODUCTS FROM THIS ISSUE. ABI 3/128 Gold Coast, Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads, Queensland, (07) 5520 2775, abiinteriors.com.au Amber 1300 139 868, ambertiles. com.au Amy Jean Privée Collection amyjean-collection.com Angelucci 20th Century 113 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, (03) 9415 8001, angelucci.net.au Aura Home 1369-1371 Malvern Road, Malvern, Victoria, (03) 9822 6980, aurahome.com.au Bauwerk Colour Unit 1/15 Emplacement Crescent, Hamilton Hill, WA, (08) 9433 3860, bauwerk. com.au Beacon Lighting (03) 8561 1599, beaconlighting.com.au Benefit benefitcosmetics.com/au Bimby + Roy bimbyandroy.com.au Blundstone 1800 258 669, blundstone.com.au Bobbi Brown bobbibrown.com.au Bunnings (03) 8831 9777, bunnings.com.au Camilla Walford camillawalford.com Charlotte Tilbury charlottetilbury.com/au Clay by Tina claybytina.com Colorbond 1800 022 999, colorbond.com Country Road 1800 801 911, countryroad.com.au Courtney + Babes courtneyandthebabes.com Cranmore Home & Co 0437 647 811, cranmorehome.com.au Cultiver 499 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Victoria, 1300 016 772, cultivar.com.au Daniel Emma Studio 10, JamFactory, 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 0466 612 354, daniel-emma-store.com Deer Willow 12 Manning Street, Kiama, NSW, (02) 42 93 1033, facebook.com/deerwillow Domayne domayne. com.au Eco Impact 0415 873 485, ecoimpact.com.au Elizabeth Arden elizabetharden.com.au Euromaid 1300 556 816, euromaid.com.au Eva’s Sunday evassunday.com.au Evolution Product evolutionproduct.co.za Fenton & Fenton 471 High Street, Prahran, Victoria; 191 Johnston Street, Collingwood, Victoria, 1800 433 686, fentonandfenton.com.au Folkstore 248 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, folkstore.com.au French Country Collections 1800 000 496, frenchcountrycollections.com.au Glem Gas (02) 9643 3500, glemgas.com/aus/ Good Studios goodstudios.com.au Harper & Blohm Cheese Shop 365 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Victoria, (03) 9381 0764, harperandblohm.com Harpers Project harpersproject.com HK Living (03) 9428 2400, hkliving.com.au House of Orange (03) 9500 9991, houseoforange.com.au Iittala 1300 852 022, (02) 8665 8200, iittala.com.au Inartisan 545 High Street, Praharan, Victoria, 0421 884 233, inartisan.net Kowtow Australia kowtowclothing.com Le Weekend leweekend.com.au Lee Mathews (02) 9997 3787, leemathews.com.au Lighting Collective (02) 6685 5744, lightingcollective.com.au Lofra lofra.it/en/ Loom Towels 0417 443 271, loomtowels.com Major-Minor majorminorwares.com Make Designed Objects 194 Elgin Street, Carlton, Victoria, (03) 9347 4225, makedesignedobjects.com McMullin & Co 0423 114 882, mcmullinandco. com Mecca mecca.com.au Natio natio.com.au Natural Harry 0447 125 558, naturalharry.com.au Nomadic State of Mind nomadicstateofmind. com Nood Co 7/7 O’Malley Street,Osborne Park WA, 0401 487 654, noodco.com.au Orient House 45 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, (02) 9660 3895, orienthouse.com.au Papaya (02) 8571 7777, papaya.com.au Pop & Scott 27a Hayes Street, Northcote, Victoria, 0474 548 194; Unit 4, 57 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay, NSW, 0472 905 186, popandscott.com Provincial Home Living 03 9825 9400, provincialhomeliving.com.au Qasair (03) 9482 7088, condari.com.au Rigby’s Homewares 39 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads, Victoria, (03) 5254 1890, rigbys.com. au Saardé Precinct 75 Suite 2.02, 75 Mary Street, St Peters, NSW, 0401 818 157, saarde.com Schots Home Emporium 400 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, Victoria, 1300 774 774, schots.com.au Smeg (02) 8667 4888, smeg. com.au Stone Pony 67 John Street, Leichhardt, NSW, (02) 9566 1046,

136 COUNTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

COUNTRY STYLE HOMEWARES NSW: Adore Homewares (02) 9446 7472 Avenue Luxe (02) 9489 6077 Billi and Gus (02) 9653 9845 Brentwood Interiors (02) 9871 5551, brentwoodinteriors.net.au Brush & Twine (02) 6655 9813 Cafe Graze (02) 6777 2409 Concept Homewares (02) 4982 0865 Champagne Lane (02) 6687 1616 Candleberries (02) 4464 3487 Cranberry & Fig (02) 9875 5555 Coasting Home (02) 6555 8838 Comur House (02) 6226 1411 Furnished In Glen (02) 6732 4386 Heart Of Home (02) 6687 1399 Heirloom On Victoria (02) 4322 9733 Honeysuckle Nurseries (02) 9487 3888, honeysucklegarden.com.au Humble Homewares 0423 843 773 Made On Earth (02) 9252 2322, madeonearth.com.au La Maison Castle Hill (02) 8851 7580 Little Polli and Blackbird 0478 127 101 Maddisonbea Home (02) 6672 2306 Magnolia Home and Gift (02) 4323 2400 Old Bank Gallery (02) 6742 3944 P&S Home Furnishings (02) 4365 1561 Precious Pieces (02) 6547 2016, preciouspiecesdenman.com.au Red Cedar Emporium (02) 6657 2920, redcedaremporium.com Sorrento (02) 9144 1799 Shack Yamba (02) 6646 399, shackyamba.com Stone & Co Vintage (02) 6546 6874 Swish Furniture & Homewares (02) 9913 1544, swishfurnitureandhomewares.com Taylor’s Of Maitland (02) 4934 2505 The Greyhound (02) 6792 1363 The Home Interior (02) 4984 4888, thehomeinterior.com.au The Lemon House 0417 248 359 Tigress Direct 1300 844 737, tigress.com.au Trouvé (02) 4365 5195 Umina Beach Flowers and Gifts (02) 4341 4771 Vast Interior (02) 6652 1111 Watermelon Home (02) 9949 5639 Whatever (02) 6372 6027, whatevermudgee.com. au Your Home Matters (02) 4822 7229 QUEENSLAND: Casa Noosa (07) 5447 3722, casanoosainteriors.com.au Eclectic Style (07) 5470 2946, eclecticstyle.com.au Emporium On James (07) 5520 3222 Galleria Interiors (07) 4444 4006 Highland Homewares (07) 4982 4905 House of Magnolia (07) 4984 1059 Ideas Cotton Tree 0407 218 551 Mount Isa Furniture and Bedding (07) 4743 0876, mountisafurniture.com.au My Country Escape (07) 5543 4042 Nest Homewares (07) 3878 4755 Perfect Decor perfectdecor.net.au Perfect Living (07) 3399 8335, perfectliving.com.au Robina In Focus (07) 5593 1556 Rococo Design (07) 5538 0830, rococodesign.com.au Saffron Noosa (07) 5449 9770, saffronnoosa.com.au The Alfresco Room (07) 5449 0290, thealfrescoroom.com.au The Bay Tree Homewares (07) 4038 3135 White Havana (07) 3359 8158, whitehavana. com.au SA: Best Wishes (08) 8379 9730 Canopy Home Fashion (08) 8384 2110 Canopy Interiors (08) 8725 4000 Get in 2 The Moose (08) 8298 2995 High Street Trading (08) 8536 8441 Loaves and Fishes Robe (08) 8768 2724 Living by Design livingbydesign.net.au One Rundle Trading Co (08) 8431 3033 Sassi Gift and Home Millicent (08) 8733 1222 The Miners Couch (08) 8825 1222, theminerscouch.com.au TASMANIA: Economy Warehouse (03) 6278 1119, economywarehouse.com.au Just For You Homewares (03) 6423 5540, justforyouhomewares.com.au The Importer theimporter.net.au Urban Wall (03) 6425 5468, urbanwall.com.au VICTORIA: Alpine Garden Supplies (03) 5779 1733, alpinegarden supplies.com.au Birch Living (03) 9482 1500 Gisborne Cottage Flowers (03) 5428 4199, gisbornecottageflowers.com.au Higheight Home and Living higheight. com.au Linen Room (03) 9481 8758 Maple Homewares (03) 9830 7809 Minimax minimax.com.au Mollisons mollisons.net.au Nextra Sunbury (03) 9744 1220, sunburynewsagency.com.au No Place Like Home 0409 140 624, no-place-like-home.myshopify.com Oliver Birch (03) 5444 1112, oliverbirch.com.au Poyntons Nursery (03) 9337 8111 Robertsons Furniture robertsonshorsham.com.au Southern Bazaar 0407 414 895, southernbazaar.com.au Supply and Demand supplyanddemand.com.au Thomas and Co (03) 9416 1063 Zest Living (03) 5352 4694 Warran Glen Garden Centre and Café (03) 9844 3027, warranglen.com.au Zest Living (03) 5352 4694, WA: East West Design (08) 9336 3944, eastwestdesign. com.au First Avenue (08) 9257 1660, firstavenue.net.au Furniture Barn (08) 9721 6144, furniturebarn.net.au Lloyds Of Margaret River (08) 9757 2074, shepgroup.net Luxe Gift & Décor (08) 9368 5631, luxegd.com.au Merchants Of Swanbourne (08) 9383 3493 Merchants On Mends ST (08) 9474 1581 Panache Living (08) 6460 8299, panacheliving.com.au Simply Gifted (08) 9387 3698 The Cumquat Tree (08) 9339 0043, thecumquattree.com The Furniture Gallery (08) 9444 1332, thefurnituregallery.com.au

FIELD GUIDE

FIELD GUIDE

BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY GUY BAILEY STYLING ANNA DELPRAT

BROWSE OUR ADVERTISERS’ PRODUCTS AND SERVIC CES.

UNIQUE STYLE

COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE

DIN NE ALFRESCO

The Silhouette range of handcrafted hardwood bedroom furniture from Snooze can be customised to suit your needs. snooze.com.au

BJ’s PJs offers Australian made, high-quality, pure cotton loungewear that is comfortable, modern and flattering. bjspjs.com.au

The stylish T Torens outdoor dining table is made from m moisture-resistant karri gum hardwood with a grey ceramic inlay. domayne.com.au/outdoor

FASHION FIRST

TOUGH ON TOP

ON TOUR

At Cint in Orange, NSW, you can find hand-picked labels from Australia, including Binny, as well as Europe.

You can also shop online. cint.com.au

Colorbond Matt roofing material was made using innovative paint technology to diffuse light.

1800 702 764, colorbond.com/matt

Experience the best of Poland on a boutique, small-group tour where you’ll enjoy the stunning landscapes and delicious food. experiencepoland.net

TAKE A SEAT

OFF TO BED

ALL MADE UP

Pick up pretty cotton pyjamas, including styles in Liberty fabrics, in sizes XS–3XL from PJ Miller. bowralboxers.com.au

Luxurious Antwerp linen bedlinen has been vintage washed for softness and will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. provincialhomeliving.com.au

The Charlotte dining setting mixes a rustic acacia timber tabletop with UV-resistant wicker chairs. harveynorman.com.au

NOW AVAILABLE

Boarding at Scotch College Boarding at Scotch College provides boys with an education of the highest standard, combined with accommodation in a caring, wellequipped environment.

Academic Excellence | Agricultural Opportunities International Equestrian Teams | Board with your horse Talented Athletes Program | Strength & Conditioning Online Distance Education | Wellbeing | Learning Support Round Square | Small class sizes | Boarding from Year 5 NEGS Armidale, NSW 2350 | P: 6774 8700 For more information visit: www.negs.nsw.edu.au

SCHOLARSHIP DAY - 28 January, 2020 Academic, Music & Visual Arts

Scotch has an outstanding reputation for the high standard of its academic programme and the wide range of its sporting, outdoor, and cultural activities. The boarding precinct is located within the College’s extensive 27 hectare grounds in Hawthorn, Victoria.

The Scotch boarding lifestyle provides an integrated, comprehensive package for the education and development of each boy.

For school tours, please contact Admissions on 03 9810 4203.

www.scotch.vic.edu.au

Scotch College 1 Morrison Street, Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia Phone 1800 622 912 Email admissions@scotch.vic.edu.au

Applications close: 20 January, 2020

WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

687SCO

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Scholarships & Bursaries

Ladies Accessories • Handcrafted in Gippsland • Australian Timber Finished With Plant Based Stains • Vegan and Eco Friendly

www.timberdesign.co

Hearts and Minds Art 1 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads art gallery : homewares : stationery 0418 108 299

heartsandmindsart.com.au

RITZYROCKS

Australian Designed & Handmade Jewellery Specialising in Venetian Glass.

Express post & special gift on order.

www.ritzyrocks.com.au

COUNTRY EMPORIUM

KHDUWV DQG PLQGV DUW

ˆ # y($# Â?'‰ Teacup series • Sculptural mixed media paintings with vintage tea cups FREE shipping in January use code; countrystyle

www.selinawilsonart.com.au

BINNY CAMILLA PRIMNESS LUNE SPRING COURT MORRISON ESTILO MARLE

cint_boutique

cintboutique

www.cint.com.au

Pure Cotton Luxurious Nightwear

www.knisa.com.au | 0411 267 872

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

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COUNTRY EMPORIUM

SALLY WILSON ART Shop 3 59 Princes Highway Cobargo 0408 702 737

10% OFF WITH CODE:

STYLEJAN20

ETHICAL, SUSTAINABLE & COLLECTABLE

Open Tuesday to Saturday or by appointment Fine Art | Limited edition prints | Landscape | Photography

sallywilsonart.com

lovemerino.com.au

IRONING BOARD COVERS Great new range of colours and designs, new products all ready for Christmas

Sleepwear • 100% Visit www.damaskbedlinen

www.hensteethtrading.com

www.suziehopedesigns.com

Australian made knitwear E: info@uimi.com.au | T: 03 9495 1746

uimi.com.au

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

We are here to help you SOURCE, CREATE & CAPTURE

the perfect Sunday feeling!

SHOP ONLINE www.lazysundaylifestyle.com

West Australian Designed Shipped Worldwide

www.bedtonic.com

@theshearerswife 0402 733 187

COUNTRY EMPORIUM

100% Pure French Linen For You And Your Home

Meron Somers Artist

Authentic French styled market baskets for all your carrying needs.

www.meronsomersartist.com | 0411 424 225

Afterpay and Australia-wide shipping

www.albanyecohouse.com.au

2ducktrading.com.au 02 9380 2672

For unique and beautiful hand-made home wares, soft furnishings, jewellery and gifts personally curated from around the globe and around the traps 287 Comur Street, Yass, NSW 02 6226 1240 shop@merchantcampbell.com

mer chant camp be l l . com. au

PJ MILLER

HOME OF BOWRAL BOXERS

y sleepwear sizes 8-24 Men’s & women’s cotton nightshirts XS-3XL

Women’s pretty sleep shorts & men’s shorts available now

Women’s pretty garments made with Liberty fabrics Beautiful clothing for women through all ages and stages of life www.zephyrloungewear.com 1800 804 776 Zephyrloungewear

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

www.bowralboxers.com.au Phone (02) 4862 2520

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COUNTRY EMPORIUM

PRE ORDER WEST HAMPTON 4 PCE SET

$1100.00 47 CHURCH STREET, BRIGHTON VICTORIA PHONE: 0448 865 728 TO ORDER WWW.MRSBLANCHETTS.COM

A timeless classic, the exquisite ‘Evalina’ Chandelier

by Ralph Lauren Home for Visual Comfort & Co.

THE

MO NTAUK L I G HT I N G C O.

The Montauk Lighting Co. brings the best of the world’s feature lighting to Australia, including collections by Ralph Lauren Home, Kelly Wearstler, AERIN, Thomas O’Brien and Kate Spade New York throughVisual Comfort & Co., Tigermoth Lighting from the UK and Spanish design studio HOUTIQUE. /HW XV KHOS \RX ôQG the perfect statement piece.

Visit our website to browse the entire range.

montauklightingco.com @montauklightingco 0417 099 031

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

Handmade homewares, giftware & babywear

kim haines creations | kimhainescreations@gmail.com

willowandmill.com

www.kimhainescreations.com.au

Enter discount code COUNTRYSTYLE for 10% off all orders

COUNTRY EMPORIUM

Rural Australian Artist Original artworks, fine art prints & commissions

w w w. w h i t s u n d a y m y r t l e . c o m

SoapOrders offers a speciality range of beautifully fragranced Soaps and hand poured candles. orders@soaporders.com.au | 0412 357 613

soaporders.com.au

Australian Made Leather Accessory Brand

www.laurajaynewicks.com.au

l

k

SAM MICHELLE PAINTINGS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH GALLERYSMITH EMAIL JESS@GALLERYSMITH.COM.AU FOR DETAILS

shop online, instore or at a stockist near you

ellaandsunday.com.au

Pure cotton, stylish, comfortable, flattering leisurewear and pyjamas with wire-free breast support so you can wear them everywhere! www.bjspjs.com.au

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 143

0''&.'%4#(6

Specialty Needlework Store • Supplies and Workshops 02 9498 6831 THECREWELGOBELIN.COM.AU

Handmade ceramics from Spain www.sunpots.com.au 02 4847 5052 info@sunpots.com.au

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

@wherethewildwomanroams

HOME A ND GA RDEN EMPORIUM

6*' %4'9'. )1$'.+0

Swings Teepees Swags Cradles Rope ladders & more...

TRIPOLINA CLASSIC FOLDING CAMPAIGN CHAIRS 0423194240 muumuudesign1@gmail.com

www.muumuu.net.au

Australian made since 1993 Ph 0414 551 895

www.swingz.com.au

For the love of wood

We grow over 800 modern and old fashion rose varieties Potted and bare root roses are now available online

www.wagnersrosenursery.com.au • 08 8739 3321

FLEXIBLE STEEL GARDEN EDGING WHICH BENDS TO VIRTUALLY ANY SHAPE FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, PATHS, FLOWER AND VEGETABLE BEDS. EverEdge® is easy to install (no extra pegs or joiners), suits all soil types and is available in a variety of colours and depths. EverEdge is made from 1.6 mm gauge PLOG VWHHO JDOYDQLVHG DQG SRZGHU FRDWHG RU ZLWK D &RU 7HQ UXVWHG ƓQLVK

www.everedge.com.au

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

0488 010 203

HOME A ND GA RDEN EMPORIUM

Your furniture needs it!

ORDER ONLINE OR FIND A STOCKIST NEAR YOU www.howardproducts.com.au

1800 672 646

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 145

• Separate Large Artists Studio • Courtyard • Spacious Interiors • Outdoor Entertaining • Country Gardens and Pond 3

2

4

Price: Offers over $1,495,000

19 BROLGA LANE, DULONG QLD Set on 3+ acres of ‘Monet’ style gardens this artist retreat is a haven for anyone wanting peace and tranquillity. The wonderful home is exquisitely finished and offers fabulous indoor/outdoor entertaining, a separate artist studio, raised vegetable gardens and solar energy.

Contact: Linda Shore-Perez 0427 378 687 linda@villarealestate.com.au

villarealestate.com.au

Historic Park Mount 1848 Jerrara/Kiama

Prestige Properties | New South Wales

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

Moroccan Haven For Sale on the Sunshine Coast

HARBOURSIDE APARTMENTS NORTH SYDNEY, NSW

FOR SALE Web ID (20950514) Vivienne Marris – Principal Elders Real Estate Jamberoo 0402 101343

Sydney’s absolute waterfront accommodation offers fully serviced and equipped studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Conveniently situated at McMahons Point Ferry Wharf Harbourside is the perfect Sydney base for business or pleasure.

02 9963 4300 stay@harboursideaparments.com.au harbourside apartments www.harboursideapartments.com.au

The destination for real advice

+ inspiration

By the creator of SOUL of Gerringong

THE LITTLE COOKING SCHOOL

Helping other holiday property owners through courses, workshops and much more. Learn, connect and be inspired about the holiday property industry – from build to styling to creating a stylish and profitable business.

The little cooking school offers informal, relaxed cooking classes showcasing the best regional produce resulting in a delicious, leisurely lunch.

Adjoining the school is a newly refurbished accommodation sleeping 8. Fully self-contained and stylishly appointed. Accommodation, dining and cooking class packages available.

w ww. s o u lh om e .com . a u

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

MUDGEE, NSW

0400 417 711 6 Henry Lawson Drive Mudgee www.littlecookingschoolmudgee.com.au

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

New South Wales

Discover our mouth watering paddock-to-plate food during F.O.O.D Week 27 March–5 April 2020

orange360.com.au

VISIT NUNDLE NUNDLE, NSW

Feel welcome year-round at Nundle, a charming town of 300 people in the beautiful Hills of Gold, 50km south-east of Tamworth.

Relax in the peaceful environment, surrounded by sheep and cattle grazing properties, and forest and bushland covered hills forming part of the Great Dividing Range.

Nundle Visitor Information 02 6769 3026 NundleNSW #nundlensw www.nundle.com.au

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

ECO RETREAT Each of the 4 luxury Villas at La Rocher Eco Retreat offers spectacular views of the world heritage Mount Warning/ Wollumbin and Border Ranges. Serenity, peace and tranquillity allows you to truly unwind and nourish your soul in this lush hinterland paradise, close to ancient rainforests and some of Australia’s best beaches. A comfortable 2-hour drive from Brisbane and just over 30 minutes from the Gold Coast airport.

gprocher@me.com • 7 Minto Place, Smiths Creek, NSW 2484 • 0402 272 727

www.larocher.com

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New South Wales | Northern Territory | Queensland

CHELSEA PARK & ARCADIA HOUSE Relax in the Southern Highlands

Chelsea Park is Hollywood in the Highlands. A boutique bed and breakfast in an art deco mansion, with three unique bedrooms. Ideal for reunions or girl’s weekends away. Close to all the magic of the Southern Highlands.

Arcadia House is a country-style home located close to the heart of Bowral. Fully self contained accomodation for familes and groups close to all the attractions. Savour the lifestyle and relax in the Southern Highlands.

589 Moss Vale Road, Burrudoo NSW 2576 • 02 4861 7046

124 Old South Road, Bowral NSW 2576 • 02 4861 7046

www.chelseaparkbnb.com

www.arcadia-house.com

Kakadu, Arnhem Land & beyond

EVANSLEA

MUDGEE, NSW Mudgee’s preferred five-star luxury boutique accommodation. Nestled among breathtaking gardens on a 4.5 acre riverside property privacy and serenity are guaranteed. Book a romantic getaway or a relaxed break with family and friends. Weddings are a specialty.

0455 505 882 info@evanslea.com.au Evanslea www.evanslea.com.au

8 days hiking the Top End • • • • • •

Fully guided, pack free – approx 60km of walking Most meals and snacks Two boat cruises – Kakadu flood plain and Katherine Gorge Swim in rockpools and under waterfalls Great hiking and lots of swimming Spend the day in Arnhem Land with indigenous guide

Contact us on (03) 5639 2615

www.parktrek.com.au

KINGFISHER PAVILION JERVIS BAY, NSW

Kingfisher Pavilion is a private suite at Bundarra Farm. Fronting Currambene Creek, which flows into Jervis Bay. Kangaroos and birdlife share the farm with cattle, horses, ducks and chickens. Featuring an outdoor spa, fire-pit and picnic table. The Kingfisher Pavilion is the ultimate luxury getaway.

0478 008 814 kingfisherpavilion@gmail.com www.kingfisherpavilion.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

Only one and half hours drive north of Brisbane, nestled amongst 20 acres of abundant Sunshine Coast Hinterland rainforest, this authentic haven from city life allows you time to experience and reconnect with nature.

07 5445 7650 • www.kondalilla.com

BLOOMS WORKSHOP DATES 2019/2020

Learn all about acrylic paint. Includes art materials and catering. Transform your creative abilities.

MELBOURNE – Glen Iris

PERTH – Midland Junction Art Centre

Blooms Freestyle 2 days $1850 pp Jan 3 & 4, 2020 Hours 9-5.30pm daily Create 3 paintings including a 1m square floral

Blooms 4 Day Workshop $2350 pp Evening Feb 28, 2020 from 5.30-9pm Then daily from Feb 29 to March 3 – Paint 2 large canvases in acrylics

Blooms 3 Day Painting Workshop $1480 pp March 18 from 2-9pm, March 19 & 20 from 9-5.30pm HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – Paint a large Blooms style canvas.

4 Day Painting Workshop $2450pp Sept 25-28 plus eve of Sept 24, 2020 SYDNEY – Willoughby 4 Day Painting Workshop $2350 pp Jan 9-12th 2019 plus evening of Jan 8 – Paint two midsize canvases in acrylics

FRANCE - BLOOMS

BAROSSA VALLEY – SA

May 5-17, 2020 $7697pp package inc art supplies, catering French chef, accommodation & transfers to/from Paris

Blooms 4 Day Painting Workshop $2350 pp

Paint Blooms USA Los Angeles

April 18-21 plus evening of April 17, 2020

February 7-9, 2020

artscreativehub.com/workshops • Phone 0412 587 438 or 0429 100 929

RIVER COTTAGE TASMANIA

MISSION BEACH, QLD

HEYBRIDGE, TAS

SHIP INN STANLEY

Luxury to budget homes and apartments situated between Townsville and Cairns.

Where to stay... what to do... in our paradise.

Escape life’s hustle & bustle at our tranquil cottage by the river. Close to beautiful sandy beaches + cafes & a short drive to the popular tourist towns of Penguin & Burnie. We are approx. 1.5 hour drive to the iconic Cradle Mountain & approx. 50 minutes to the beautiful historic township of Stanley.

Seven luxurious ensuite rooms with stunning views of the bay, and the Nut. Walking distance to the cafes, restaurants and beaches, with off-street parking, free wifi, gym, yoga studio and guest laundry.

0478 437 700 rivercottagetasmania www.rivercottagetasmania.com.au

(07) 4088 6699 www.missionbeachholidays.com.au

“Peace on earth.

This is truly a magical part of the world”

STANLEY, TAS

0439 749 140 hello@shipinnstanley.com.au shipinnstanley shipinnstanley.com.au

Golden light and long views to the bay. The sun is your companion.

Cygnet in Summer, dream the days away.

South Australia | Queensland | Tasmania

MISSION BEACH HOLIDAYS

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

Create a Masterpiece with Jacqueline Coates

@frenchmansrivercygnet

www.frenchmansriver.com.au • Kate/Posie 0466 790 142 • book@frenchmansriver.com.au

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 149

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

Tasmania

embrace summer

with a Tasmanian gourmet indulgence

Experience Summer in Tasmania. Join us for one of our cooking classes or experience our rustic dining showcasing local produce and wines. Luxury guest house and unique cooking school just minutes from Launceston. www.redfeatherinn.com.au

BOSCOBEL OF TASMANIA

Getaway to a mountain forest retreat with eco spa luxury in Tasmania’s wilderness area

WEST ULVERSTONE, TAS

History and luxury combined in beautiful, private guest suites. Beaches and cafes are within a 20-minute stroll. Great day trip options including Cradle Mountain.

Excellent for cycling: road, MTB or paths.

Breakfast includes delicious local produce.

0408 474 095 hello@boscobel.com.au boscobeloftasmania www.boscobeloftasmania.com.au

#thepeakforestretreat

Nestled in the mountain foothills of World Heritage forest, this luxury lodge and cottage with stunning views and seclusion is perfect for relaxing stays or as a central location to visit iconic places in Tasmania such as Cradle Mountain.

0408 553 976 | thepeakforestretreat@gmail.com | www.thepeakforestretreat.com

COAST HOUSE TASMANIA

Treat yourself to a totally private, tranquil waterfront retreat yet just a few minutes to the village of Cygnet.

Far away from city distractions. Visit Galleries, wineries and restaurants or just relax at our cosy winter retreat.

“We have been astounded by the beauty and tranquillity, superb accommodation and sublime location at Coast House”

www.coasthousetasmania.com | stay@coasthousetasmania.com | Tel: 0409 446 290

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

hellyersroaddistillery.com.au PETER RABBIT™ GARDEN

RIVERSDALE ESTATE

Take an enchanting stroll through Peter Rabbit’s™ garden, the only one in Australia.

Also see, Jemima Puddle-Duck™, Jeremy Fisher™, Benjamin Bunny™, Mr Todd™, Two Bad Mice™, Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle™ & Tailor of Gloucester™.

French provincial styled cottages on private country Estate, set amongst award winning vineyard and olive grove. 1 queen and 2 singles.

Panoramic water views, rolling countryside, rambling walks & private beach.

Families welcome!

03 6248 5555 Riversdale Estate, 222 Denholms Rd, Cambridge www.thepeterrabbitgarden.com.au

03 6248 5666 | 0448 701 447 wendy@riversdaleestate.com.au 222 Denholms Rd, Cambridge www.riversdaleestate.com.au

CAMBRIDGE, TAS

8009

CAMBRIDGE, TAS

BAIRNSDALE, VIC

A slice of ocean luxe in the heart of the village of Barwon Heads... Walk down the stairs and find yourself amongst the shops, cafes and river.

@cerescoastal

A balcony overlooks vibrant Hitchcock Avenue.

Relaxed interiors. Sleeps 5, 2 bathroom, 2 car, washer, dryer and a fully contained kitchen.

Bookings via: cerescoastal.com.au

Relax at tranquil Kananook’s circa 1880’s Executive Suite with glorious views over rolling green countryside or enjoy the Victorian period charm of the detached ‘Private Residence’ Apartment. This fine Country House has every new modern luxury for a world class contemporary getaway.

Revitalise and reconnect.

Tasmania | Victoria

KANANOOK HERITAGE HOUSE

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

EXPERIENCE TASMANia, in spirit

0400 33 55 46 www.kananookheritagehouse.com

Voted Top 52 Weekends Away in the nation in the Good Weekend October 2017.

Luxurious Accommodation in a Historic Homestead Situated on a Working Australian Farm in the Western District of Victoria. One hour from Geelong Great for Milestone celebrations, family and friends.

Fully self contained homestead • 7BR with own bathrooms • 4 inviting fireplaces • Pool • Spa • Tennis Court • Fishing • Bike riding & much more.

0458 507 655 • WWW.NARINGAL.COM.AU WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

JANUARY 2020 COU NTRY ST Y LE 151

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

Victoria | Western Australia | Escape and Explore

LITTLE WANDANA

WANDILIGONG VALLEY, VIC

Located in the beautiful Alpine Valley’s townships of Bright, Big Sky Walkers Lane boasts 4 warm an inviting bedrooms, 4 well appointed bathrooms and plenty of space to spread out whilst enjoying your next escape to the country.

w w w. b i g s k y ret re at s . co m . a u 0 4 1 8 8 1 3 9 7 1 | re s e r va t i o n s @ 3 74 1 b o u t i q u e . c o m . a u

MOORE RIVER HOLIDAYS

NINGALOO BED & BREAKFAST

Moore River’s No.1 Kayaking Holiday Home on the banks of the Moore River.

A region bursting with Stargazing and Pinnacles. One hour north of Perth, Why wait for a long weekend?

Want to swim with whalesharks?

Want to snorkel Ningaloo Reef? Stay with us, it’s private, relaxing and personal.

Not suitable for children under 10.

MOORE RIVER, WA

0419 909 167 mooreriverholidays rona@mooreriverholidays.com.au www.mooreriverholidays.com.au

Perched high on a hill overlooking the picturesque Wandiligong Valley sits Little Wandana, a luxurious bespoke tiny home – Bright & Surrounds only “Tiny Home” It’s the Tiny Details that make a home and no details have been spared in this Tiny Home.

0418 813 971 reservations@3741boutique.com.au www.3741boutique.com.au

NINGALOO, WA

0409 250 548 ningaloobedandbreakfast@netspace.net.au www.ningaloobedandbreakfast.com.au

Discover Persia

FOR THE BIRDS YALLINGUP MARGARET RIVER, WA

Breathtaking views to the Indian Ocean, For The Birds Yallingup is a sanctuary bounded by national park, valleys and expansive vineyards. Set in the heart of the Margaret River wine region, this wonderful light filled spacious residence, boasts ocean or forest views from every room.

0412 843 788 info@forthebirdsyallingup.com www.forthebirdsyallingup.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369

CHOOSE BETWEEN 10 TO 30 DAYS TOUR IN OCT/NOV

Persian Jewels 10 days - $5,570 Taste of Persia (FOOD TOUR) 12 days - $6,250 Persian Veils (WOMEN'S TOUR) 14 days -$6,560 Persian Discovery 16 days - $6,770 Persian Dreams (choose between a 19, 25 or 30-day tour

13 DAY KAMALAYA WELLNESS SANCTUARY & KOH SAMUI GETAWAY Departing 27 June 2020 from $6599 per person twin share from $7399 single

For a FREE Info Pack contact your Kiwi/Iranian guide Mehdi

Price includes airfares ex Melbourne* and a 7 Night Stay at the World’s Best Wellness Sanctuary** *other cities available on request **Winner of World Spa Wellness Awards 2018

1800 778 694 • hello@travelandtour.com.au

1300 885 255

www.travelandtour.com.au

w w w. s i s t e r h o o d w o m e n s t r a v e l . c o m . a u

Discover the heart and soul of Italy

Spring and Autumn Private, guided tours of Poland’s food, culture, art & designs.

with ITALIAN TOURS!

28 May –10 June 2020 MILAN AND THE BEST OF THE ITALIAN LAKES Fabulous opportunity to learn from local artisans

Slow down and experience the best of the Italian Lakes on one of our truly small group tours.

experiencepoland.net/tours 0405 336 240

info@experiencepoland.net

textiles Art Culture

Book your 2020 tour now! 02 9358 4923 | ciao@italiantours.com.au | italiantours.com.

Spain, Portugal & Morocco…

CUSTOMISABLE + COST EFFECTIVE WALKING TOURS

See more of Europe, village to village with a series of self-guided walks across multiple countries. You could walk the Cotswolds (UK), then the Salzburg region in Austria before finishing your Europe walks in beautiful Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.

with Wayfarer Experiences

with the Iberian Specialists

WAYFARER PROVIDE:

D Tailor Made Itineraries D Historic Accommodation D Expert Advice Ph: 03 9867 8833

• Walking Maps • Sim card • Local contact

Take your first step. Visit wayfarerexperiences.com.au

www.ibertours.com.au

HISTORY | NATURE

• Accommodation • Daily breakfast • Luggage service

Escape and Explore

EXPERIENCE

COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS

2020 Tours

NINA’S PATHWAYS

CULTURE | INDULGENCE

/[ UOCNN ITQWR VQWTU QH 5TK .CPMC CTG RGTUQPCN CPF ƃGZKDNG $QQM PQY HQT C TGOCTMCDNG GZRGTKGPEG YKVJ 0KPCoU 2CVJYC[U CPF NGV WU DG [QWT IWKFG KP VJKU VTQRKECN RCTCFKUG 0419 213 327

WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY

| www.ninaspathways.com.au |

/ninaspathways

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IT’S AN EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS NEED URGENT ATTENTION BUT DUNEDOO HAS AN ADVANTAGE, WRITES ROB INGRAM.

with a medical specialist who was able to remove a small swelling from my wallet. By way of conversation, he asked me if I’d prepared for the inevitable.

I told him I had my credit card with me, but that if he’d prefer I could slip him cash.

“I refer to the inevitability of life… which is death,” he said. ‘‘I’m needing to note that if — when the decision has to be made — you’d prefer the pointless charade of life support or have us throw the switch for a nice, tidy departure?”

My imminent demise came as a bit of a shock, but he eventually reassured me that his query was merely a bit of data control that doctors indulge in these days. A big relief… so was the news that he wasn’t fixated on my ability to pay.

A strong rumour about this particular practice is that if you don’t pay before you leave, you don’t get your clothes back.

You may have noticed that the news imparted by medical practitioners is now more troubling than ever before.

It used to be, “Nothing to worry about, it’s nothing”, then…

“Nothing to worry about, it’s nothing much”, then…

“If I were you, I wouldn’t worry about it”, then…

Rural Health Alliance has alerted the government to the fact “There’s a good chance here that you’ll have a disease that connectivity in rural areas is incredibly important named after you”, then… to health and wellbeing.

“I’m making another appointment for tomorrow. Bring And that’s where we’re really lucky. Dunedoo has the family with you.” connectivity like nowhere else. There was movement The ultimate, of course, is when the doctor leans forward at the station the other day because the word had got around across his expensive desk and advises:“Try to focus less that the doctor was visiting… and The Chosen One had an on a cure and more on a treatment you can afford.” appointment. But first she had to phone Norma about the art The media has done a pretty good job of informing us all show. Norma wasn’t there but her daughter Lisa answered. that rural health these days isn’t very well at all. In fact, No worries, The Chosen One told Lisa she’d phone Norma it’s crook. As crook as Rookwood in the words of those back after she’d been to the doctor. Lisa said to check before who know that Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery is the world’s coming into town, because she’d been largest remaining cemetery from WHERE WE’RE T’S THA AND down at Sue’s salon and she’d heard the Victorian era. Now there’s EDOO DUN KY. LUC LLY REA that the doctor was running very a claim to fame.

TY TIVI NEC CON HAS late with his appointments because The National Rural Health E. ELS E HER NOW LIKE of an emergency at the hospital.

Alliance, which takes the The Chosen One double checked with Sue at the salon, temperature and checks the pulse of thousands of regional then called Ciera the receptionist at the surgery. The communities across Australia, has its lights flashing information was good. Don’t come in till much later. and its siren on. It is demanding urgent government action On the way to the surgery, we called at the petrol station. to improve health outcomes for the seven million people “What brings you folk to town?” asked the bloke behind living outside Australia’s major cities. the counter. So we told him.

Compared with many towns, we appear to be lucky.

“Don’t be surprised if you have a bit of a wait,” he said.

We have a modern little hospital with an emergency “The doctor’s running late — an emergency at the hospital.” department and a dedicated and agreeable staff. About You might have a hospital, but you need a doctor. You all that it really needs, is a doctor. might have a doctor, but you ne nectivity. We’re a very At the time of writing, a doctor from another small town lucky little town in that regard. visits two days a week. Except when he doesn’t. The National

154 COU NTRY ST Y LE JANUARY 2020

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL WEE BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY SAM McADAM-COOPER STYLING PHOEBE MCEVOY

A FEW WEEKS ago, I was lucky enough to get an appointment

Attention all garden lovers! If you admire a beautiful garden and the power of plants to transform a home, you’ll love Great Australian Gardens Volume 2.

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