Home and Garden

WINTER 2017

HEARTY WINTER FOOD FUN WINTER CRAFT

WINTER GARDEN IDEAS

ENERGY EFFICIENT TIPS

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Page 2 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

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Covering 3 local shires and 4 regional newspapers reaching an estimated 25,000 readers across NE Victoria.

Spring edition published 6th September 2017 Summer edition published 29th November 2017 Autumn edition published 7th March 2018 Don’t miss out on being part of the next edition! If you wish to promote your business or service please contact our friendly team:

Lasagne Slice

iry e recipe from Da ble lasagne slic ta ge iry ve da t in as h ro ric is Nutritious | Th full of vegetables as well as being ed ck pa is . lia od ra fo st Au mfort perfect winter co ry.com.au. nutrients, and is www.legendai e se e, on is th e lik s pe For more reci

Ingredients

250gm wedge pumpkin, peeled and sliced 1 eggplant, sliced 1 red capscium, cut into quarters 2 zucchini (400g), sliced Olive oil, for drizzling 500gm tub ricotta 1/2 cup milk 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup chopped basil 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, extra

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Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced). Arrange sliced vegetables on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until just cooked and starting to brown.

Remove from oven.

2. In a separate bowl, combine ricotta, milk, eggs, basil and parmesan. Season well with salt and pepper.

3. Layer one third of the vegetables into the base of a 25cm x 18cm large baking dish. Top with one third of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients and layers.

Sprinkle with the extra parmesan and bake at 200°C (180°C fan forced) for 30-35 minutes or until slightly puffed and golden. Serve warm or cool.

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G N I N E D for winter S R A TION

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WHILE winter in the garden can seem a little drab, this need not be the case with so many wonderful plants flowering away, according to Maria Wadley from Wangaratta’s Park Lane Nursery.

Winter flowering plants not only look lovely, but also provide food for birds during the cold weather.

Maria said the stunning eucalyptus caesia ssp magna ‘Silver Princess’ has masses of nectar laden flowers and is a great source of food for nectar eating birds.

If you only have a small garden you could consider planting some correas, these lovely plants are hardy and range in height from around 30cm to 1.5m.

They flower profusely through the winter providing colour and attracting birds, there will be one to suit most positions.

Also flowering now are super hardy Sasanqua camellias, and azaleas – sure to brighten up any garden.

When it comes to winter maintenance, there’s also plenty to do in the vegie garden - adding compost, old cow manure, or an organic soil improver will go a long way to increasing plant vigour and cropping for the coming season.

Home & Garden Winter 2017 - Page 3

P O

Winter sunshine | Some of the staff members from Park Lane Nursery in Wangaratta with some winter flowering plants (front, from left) Kylie Hughes, Maria Wadley and Kath Kelly, and (back) Anthony Hicks.

PHOTO: Kylie Wilson If you don’t have your own compost there are a number of excellent soil improvers available at good garden centres; ask the knowledgeable staff for advice on what is best for your soil.

Maria added that it is time to plant Asian

greens, lettuce and salad greens, snow peas, asparagus, rhubarb and potatoes.

For more information, see Maria and the team at Park Lane Nursery, situated at 95 Park Lane, Wangaratta, today, call (03) 57216955 or see www.parklanenursery.com.au.

Spot of colour |

Camellias are flowering now.

Make a fresh start; 5HĆŤQDQFH 2ĆŞHU1 Get more from your savings, pay less on loans and cut down on fees.

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Apply online humebank.com.au

S R E T T U G are not up the spout

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Page 4 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

Make sure your IF the sound of rain on your roof is followed by the sound of a waterfall cascading down the side of your house, you could have a JXWWHULQJ SUREOHP bbb Properly installed and maintained gutters and downpipes are vital in allowing rainwater to flow from the roof to the storm ZDWHU GUDLQV b

must be carried out by a suitably registered or licensed plumber and a compliance certificate must be issued at the completion of any work costing more than $750,” said Mr Genco.

“Owner-builders embarking on a new project also need to make sure that all roofing such as metallic or polycarbonate roofing, including eaves and box gutters are installed by registered or licensed plumbers and that a compliance certificate for that work is issued by a licensed plumber.”

The VBA’s Plumbing Inspection Program has identified the widespread installation of non-compliant box gutters that are undersize, have changes of direction or do not terminate correctly to sumps or rainheads.

VBA team members have spoken to plumbers and builders that may have been unaware of some of the specific installation

Victorian Building Authority (VBA) director of technical and regulation Joseph Genco says property damage and expensive repairs can be avoided by cleaning and maintaining your gutters and replacing worn out or corroded sections.

“The installation and replacement of guttering and most roofing components

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Enjoy Winter Living

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requirements for these types of gutters and will continue to work with industry to help and educate practitioners on the installation requirements for compliant roof drainage systems.

Mr Genco says to ensure box and eaves gutters are compliant with the plumbing laws, architects, designers, builders and plumbers need to work together and be aware of the design parameters contained within the relevant installation standards.

For information regarding the correct installation of box and eaves guttering, read the plumbing practitioner resources on VBA’s website at www.vba.vic.gov.au.

Gutters being poorly maintained or in bad shape can lead to other, more expensive problems in your home.

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Home & Garden Winter 2017 - Page 5

Make the most of

R E T N I W ING V I L

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Let the sun in | Spanline can help you put together a

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EMBRACE the cooler months and create the perfect outdoor area to enjoy winter living this year with a Spanline home addition.

Offering a wide range of custom designed products including sunrooms, glass and screened enclosures, patios, verandahs and carports, Spanline Albury and Wodonga pride themselves on being

able to create an outdoor area tailored specifically to you, and your lifestyle.

A dedicated Spanline design advisor will meet with you at your home and help unveil the potential of any outdoor space.

This service is completely free, with no obligation to book. Spanline encourage anyone wanting to explore the possibilities of their outdoor space to request a tailored quote.

Their dedicated staff are ready and waiting to help you create the outdoor area you have always dreamed of.

With over 25 years’ experience and the security of a 15-year warranty*, Spanline work hard to make home additions easy, and will help guide you through each stage of the build process.

With superior products and first class

customer service, Spanline can replace existing structures, add new entertaining areas and create more space to change the way you live, play and entertain.

Visit their display centre at 598 Hume St Albury, NSW or call (02) 6023 5588 and let Spanline Inspire your lifestyle today, or you can also visit spanline.com.au for full details. *Conditions apply.

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HUME Bank invests over $20 million into the local region each year to support local economic activity.

Supporting the community is one of the most important things to those in the organisation, according to chief executive officer David Marshall.

“We ensure customers’ money goes back into developing the place they live, work and where their kids go to school,” he said.

“Hume is a purpose led organisation which exists to invest in its customers and communities it operates in.

“We’re a bank that doesn’t answer to shareholders.

“We work hard for our customers, not excessive profits.

“It’s not new, but it’s never been more relevant.”

Mr Marshall said that Hume has been working hard to bring its customers a better online experience, and added that its blended service approach to banking is personalised across its branches, ATM network, phone and online banking channels.

Customers can apply for a home loan online in the convenience of their own home.

H E S R F ST ART

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Page 6 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

with a competitive home loan

Your own space | Hume Bank wants to help you with your home loan.

Customers can find a range of self-service borrowing tools and online calculators from Hume’s award winning website or Hume’s App, which can be downloaded from your relevant app store.

With their First Home Starters Package, $1500 Refinance offer and a low two year Introductory Variable Rate offer, Hume offers a variety of loan options to suit customer needs.

Mr Marshall said there has never been a

better time to get started with Hume.

The Wangaratta branch is located at 76 Reid Street, and to discuss your home loan options with a Hume Lender call (03) 57213322 or apply online at humebank.com.au.

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Home & Garden Winter 2017 - Page 7

Switch off and embrace the escapism

R O I R INTE

D N E R T

WHILE we often find ourselves pining for the latest home technology, this year is all about unplugging yourself from your electronics and channelling your inner peace.

This begins with creating a stress-free zone in your home – a place totally free of digital devices, where you can tap into your inner musings and nurture your sense of wellbeing.

No matter if you’re working with an open-plan studio, a shoebox apartment or the family home, this can easily be achieved by pulling on those DIY gloves and reassessing your current interior design.

Create a reading nook You don’t need an entire room to create your own haven in the home; all you really need is a vacant corner.

Invest in a day bed or oversized armchair, or scatter some cosy floor cushions to laze about on.

Top your space off with a small bookshelf housing all your favourite reads.

Consider your lighting The way you illuminate your place of ‘escapism’ is vital to setting the mood.

Lamps are an ideal source of artificial light

– turn up the ambience by investing in incandescent or halogen bulbs in a warm colour temperature, and make sure your lamp has a translucent lightshade (this is idyllic for creating a soft glow while still providing adequate light for reading).

You’ll also want to maximise your use of natural daylight, which is where double roller blinds come in handy: install a light filtering blind to soften and diffuse sunlight, paired with a sunscreen blind to reduce glare while maintaining views of your garden.

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Settle in | The escapism trend is about being comfortable and seeking inner peace.

Designate your area It’s important to clearly delineate where your escapism space begins and ends.

Even if you don’t have the luxury of an entire room to play with, you can still create barriers in open living areas using rugs, folding screens and curtains.

Employ soothing tones This year’s on-trend colour for interior spaces is green, which works perfectly for creating stress-free zones.

Green emanates a sense of peacefulness, helping you to feel calm and refreshed.

Balance it out with soft timber accents and natural linens to create depth and earthiness.

Layer rich textures Another major interior design trend for 2017 is cosmic-inspired textures in jewel tones.

Floaty silks and sheer fabrics are ideal for adding character and a sense of luxe to your space without overwhelming it.

By making just a few adjustments to your existing space, you can indulge in your own personal at-home retreat and embrace escapism this year.

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Page 8 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

Tap into the

F O R E W O P P U O S this winter

PLANT-based diets are one of the biggest health trends this year, but despite this most Australians struggle to meet their daily vegetable quota.

The answer, according to dietitians, could be as simple as a humble bowl of soup.

Dietitians Association of Australia spokesperson Nicole Dynan said soups are the perfect way to pack in more vegetables, which can improve how we feel, help ward off winter lurgies and safe guard our health over time.

“This winter, switch the spotlight away from what not to eat, and instead think about how to get more goodness into your day,” said Ms Dynan, an accredited practising dietitian.

She said soups are an easy way to embrace winter vegetables, like spinach, kale, cauliflower, carrots, pumpkin, Brussels sprouts and beetroot, and also fibrerich legumes, which count towards your vegetable intake.

“What’s better in winter than a warm bowl of soup?

“It’s a true comfort food – a simple, lowcost and tasty meal that can easily feed a crowd, makes a perfect lunch at work and freezes well,” said Ms Dynan.

She recommends experimenting with new soup flavours or ingredients, while always keeping vegetables front and centre.

“Think laksa soup with Asian greens, noodles and light coconut milk, or carrot and lentil soup topped with natural yoghurt

and a squeeze of lemon juice, or minestrone, a family favourite combining vegetables, legumes and pasta,” said Ms Dynan.

Accredited practising dietitian Natasha Murray makes nourishing winter soups a staple in her household.

“Potato and leek is a classic combination that works so well.

“My 10-year-old daughter loves the lighter taste and will happily take it to school for lunch.

“And for the adults, I add some cracked pepper for a bit of extra punch,” said Ms Murray.

Lisa Donaldson, a Canberra-based dietitian, suggests soups featuring Jerusalem artichokes, which are in season over the cooler months.

“Do not be intimidated by the appearance of the artichoke.

“If you can steam and peel, you’ll have no problem.

“I love making chicken soup with artichokes, sliced lemon, capers, garlic, thyme and olives.

“These bold flavours really lift the classic chicken soup to the next level,” said Ms Donaldson.

To celebrate their love of nourishing foods and to mark the start of winter, accredited practising dietitians will share their favourite soups on Instagram this June (@dietitians_ association_aus and #LoveSoup).

Access nutrition tips and wholesome soup recipes at ‘Smart Eating for a Healthier You’ at daa.asn.au.

Top tips for nourish ing soups: > Make a soup with all

the leftover vegetab les in your fridge and any spare canned leg add umes (such as cann ellini beans, chickpeas or kidney beans) from the cupb > Substitute wholegra oard. in ingredients, such as wholemeal pasta , buckwheat noodles or brown rice, over mo re refined options, for > Use homemade sto a fibre boost. ck or broth (from co oking vegetables or base, but if this is no meaty bones) as a t possible, opt for sa lt-reduced store-boug > Top soups with fre ht stock. sh herbs, like basil, dil l or parsley, or add roa spices for a flavour tw ste d garlic or ist, or roasted nuts an d seeds for crunch.

Nutrients |

Soup is an ideal way to keep up your nutrients as well as being a winter comfort food.

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Home & Garden Winter 2017 - Page 9

handy zipper pouch A

THESE handy lined zipper pouches can be made in a range of sizes, depending on the length of your zip and size of your fabric.

They can be used to store a wide range of things, from pencils/pens to crochet hooks and knitting needles, makeup, medication and first aid supplies, travel documents, toiletries, cosmetic and hair tools, small craft projects, USB drives, phone chargers

and accessories, and much more.

These are also easy to run up as something to wrap a small present, becoming an extra little present in itself, and best of all, it is a great way to use up scrap fabric.

If you are using it to store something that needs a little extra care, you can always line the pouch in a thin yet soft fabric such as flannelette.

Method:

1. Sandwich your zipper between two of your rectangles, right sides facing. The zipper (ie the zipper pull part) should be facing the fabric that will be on the outside of the pouch. Pin together and sew carefully as close to the zip as you can, using the zipper foot.

2. Once you have done that, open up what you have sewn so the right side is facing out, then pin the other two rectangles to the other side of the zip. Again, the zipper should be face down on the outer fabric.

While pinning, pull down the zipper slightly to make things easier later on. Sew along zip as in step one.

3. Pin all four layers together with your inner fabric facing out, pinning as close to each end of the zipper as you can. Before you do this, ensure your zip is far enough undone that you can reach in and pull the pouch inside out to finish. Following the pins, sew your rectangle as straight as you can. I am a bit lazy and I keep using my zipper foot for this part.

Materials : > 1 zippe r (whatever size you w > 4 piece ant) s of fabric cut in a rectangle cut to the, with the long edg zipper (th same length as th e same, or ese can be all the e contrastintwo each of g fabric) > A sewin g machin e with a zipper foo t > Thread in your pre ferred colo r

4. Trim excess fabric from your rectangle, give it a quick press with the iron if you want, then turn it inside out and your pouch is finished.

Finished project

Tips: >You can generally find cheap zips and donated fabric/old sheets perfect for

upcycling at your nearest op shop, or cheap fabric remnants at your sewing store. > You can teach yourself more about the method for making these pouches by searching for ‘zipper pouch’ or ‘lined zipper pouch’ video tutorials on YouTube. > You can make these pouches as robust as your sewing machine will allow, but I tend to just use thin cotton type fabrics (and sometimes flannelette as above).

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Page 10 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

Keep an eye on winter RACV is encouraging Victorians to take simple steps to reduce their energy consumption this winter.

RACV has a checklist for Victorians to protect their home against the cold during the chilly winter months.

Aaron Flavell, RACV general manager of Home Services, says “we know that Victorians can do more to weather-proof and prepare their homes�. “We live in one of Australia’s coldest states and with energy costs on the rise, we want to help Victorian households be better prepared for the cold and wet days ahead,� said Mr Flavell.

Y G R ENE

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N O I T P U S M O N C

RACV’s

10tip-

Hot Stuff |

checklist

Make sure to keep your heater well serviced and maintained for maxiumum efficiency and comfort.

for Victorians this winter:

4. Seal windows and doors – install new 7. Check roof tiles – before the winter rubber weather-sealing strips around your storms arrive, check your roof tiles are window frames and door surrounds to not broken, missing or need replacing. prevent heat escaping.

This maintenance will minimise problems 2. Service heaters – to help energy occurring down the track such as leaks 5. Insulate your hot water tank – bring efficiency and prevent possible electrical and insulation loss. your energy bills down with a low-cost or gas faults that put your home at energy blanket which insulates your hot 8. Cover your pool – have your pool cleaned risk, get your heaters serviced by a water tank. and use a pool cover to stop leaves and professional. debris getting into the pool to prevent an 3. Check your home for cracks – fill holes, 6. Service your hot water tank – your hot algae outbreak while it’s not in use. water tank needs to be serviced every three window cracks, gaps in the floorboards years. If it’s solar – it’s every two years. and put draught-snakes in front of doors to help keep the warm in and the cold out.

1. Clear gutters – ensure your gutters are kept clear to prevent blocked drains, leaks and overflows as the rains set in.

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9. Spare keys – use this opportunity to make sure a neighbour, relative or close friend has a set of spare keys to prevent you being locked out in the cold.

10. Create an energy savings plan – take steps to save energy at what can be an expensive time of year for utility bills.

Heating only the rooms being used, reducing the temperature on your heater’s thermostat by a couple of degrees, and installing an energy-saving showerhead are a few ways to reduce your energy consumption.

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OVING

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MAKE no mistake about it, moving house is one of the most significant, and often most traumatic events families face – particularly given the time-poor lives we all live.

Moving house also has an upside – a new bedroom, new things to explore and the possibility of making new life-long friendships. Listed below are practical tips to help kids minimise stress during the relocation process:

Talk about it Pick the right time - have an open and honest discussion.

Offer your kids as much information as possible – highlights and attractions on offer in your new area.

What excites you doesn’t mean this will excite your kids – focus on the things that worry them and provide information surrounding their concerns.

If possible, take a family day trip to your new neighbourhood. As a parent, you can help relieve stress on your kids by familiarising them with their new suburb and its attractions – this helps build excitement and makes getting them on board with the idea easier.

with children E U HO S

Home & Garden Winter 2017 - Page 11

Pack Up | Organisation is one of the keys to a smooth house move.

Try and gain access to the new property itself before move day – you can both start visualising how their new room will look and the cool things the new place has on offer.

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Founder of Brisbane Removalists, Matt Fuller, makes these suggestions to parents: “Many of our clients have young children.

“If you only have one child, try and get them

involved with packing a few token items from their bedroom to further prepare them.

“If you have a large family and are busy professionals, it would be a wise idea to engage a professional packing service.

“Make prior arrangements for the kids to stay the night with relatives or friends.

“Young children simply shouldn’t be there once the movers come in on the day of your move.

“Ask the movers to setup the kids bedrooms first at the new place, then you can get to work in creating a ‘wow’ factor for when they arrive.

“On the other hand, if you have teens, they may well opt to be involved.

“If my 13 year old daughter is anything to go by, the last thing she would want is her parents setting up her bedroom.

“It’s a good idea to ensure your teenage children know where they can easily locate their essential items, such as their computer, devices and study materials.”

Lastly, being flexible on moving day is a must.

Don’t expect everything to go to plan.

Resolve yourself to the idea that things may not go smoothly, just in case.

Be especially mindful of your children – they’ll feel anxious about leaving their home and leaving their friends.

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The Pickets that Last!

wangarattachronicle.com.au

Page 12 - Home & Garden Winter 2017

Ashley Homestore coming soon ASHLEY Furniture is set to unveil a new concept of furniture store, opening the very first of many planned Ashley HomeStore’s in Australia.

Ashley is the world’s largest manufacturer of furniture, and also the largest retailer of furniture in the USA with over 600 locations. Ashley is now partnering with local retailers, Casey and Taylor McPhail who are very excited to offer Ashley to the greater Wangaratta community.

Justin Kerr from Ashley Furniture commented, “We are focused on delivering an inspiring shopping experience for our customers and are very proud of the new showroom, they have done an outstanding job.”

Kerr went on to say, “At Ashley we understand value, nothing is more enjoyable than delivering quality furniture to a customer and helping them make their home beautiful.”

The Ashley international merchandising and design team will arrive in Wangaratta next month to help with the final setup and layout of the store. “We have created a showroom that is easy for the customer to see how each piece could fit in their own home, knowledgeable staff who can help and a price tag that makes you say, ‘wow, I can afford this’.”

“We will also be launching our new online store so that those customers who are unable to come in-store can access the same range. The Online-Store

will also feature exclusive items available online only, all of which will continue to be delivered in person. Ashley’s range is huge and we can’t get a space big enough to show it all, so later in the year we will be adding new technology that will allow you to see and understand more products, these will then come in as a special orders.

“It’s all part of looking after the customer to help them make their home a place they are really proud of”. Taylor McPhail said.

Taylor explained further that “we are also very pleased to be able to open a distribution centre for Ashley Furniture in Newman Street, Wangaratta that once fully operational will mean customers will be able to collect their purchases on the day that they purchase. This has also seen our staff numbers more than double with seven new locally based team members being recently employed for the HomeStore and the Distribution Centre. We are still on the lookout for more great people to join our team as well!”

Ashley Furniture looks forward to continuing a strong and growing relationship with their Australian retailers and customers.

For more information please take some time to browse the US’s webpage: ashleyfurniturehomestore.com or drop in store at 54 Tone Road, Wangaratta and chat to the friendly staff.

Browse the whole range:

www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com