Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#19.6 August 2016 i Australian Country

with some extraordinary primary producers who are making the most of their natural resources. You’ll read all about them in upcoming issues, but the trip also provided a couple of random encounters with people who have close association with the part of central Queensland where I grew up. We’re talking tiny towns, not major regional centres, so it’s always a buzz to meet people from “my” part of the world. There’s an instant connection when you come from a little place and you meet others who are making their mark on another part of the world. My home country has thrown up more than its fair share of teachers, doctors and nurses, a couple of distinguished academics, a celebrated actor and an elite sports training coach to grab a few…

When Mark Bennett was 13 years old his mother bought an old brass bed that had seen better days. It cost her $32 and she envisaged it as a spare bed for visitors. It turned out to be so much more. Where the average teen may have seen nothing more than a rusting relic, young Mark saw opportunity, and began restoring it. “I enjoyed polishing things,” Mark recalls. “Two weeks later I sold it for $500. Mum was raising my brother and me on her own and we did not have a lot of money, so for a bit of polishing time, it was worth a lot to us.” From that first sale a young entrepreneur emerged. Mark hung an advertisement in the local CWA hall in his hometown of…

Salinity due to groundwater seepage into the Murray-Darling Basin is not a new phenomenon — explorer Charles Sturt found the Darling River water too salty to drink back in 1829. Murray River salt is a rare case of tasting good and doing good … every glorious pink sprinkle helps reduce salinity in the Murray-Darling river system. Australia’s largest river system supports our most important agricultural region, accounting for more than 39 per cent of Australia’s gross value in agricultural production. The Murray-Darling basin supports large chunks of the beef and sheep industry as well as dairying, pig, deer and poultry farms. The catchment area also produces horticultural crops such a citrus, stone fruits, pome fruits, grapes and vegetables and nearly all of Australia’s rice crop. Barley, oats, cereal rye, buckwheat,…

A truly international food, the eggplant is an established presence in almost all cuisines. Its migration from China to Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has produced across the centuries an endless collection of recipes reflecting its versatility. In some ways it has a universal identity, with many cuisines using it in similar ways. Call it eggplant, aubergine, brinjal or melanzane; smoking, char-grilling, frying and baking are common treatments. A member of the nightshade family along with tomatoes, capsicum, and potatoes, the eggplant, which is botanically classified a berry, ranges in appearance from the large purple common eggplant to a tiny pea-like Asian variety. Skin shades range from purple, lilac, green and white to yellow or orange. Except for the small round green (white apple or Thai) and the…

The Linen Press blue wren hand towel, $19.85, thelinenpress.com.au, (03) 9739 8779 Pure Bridestowe lavender oil 25ml, $36.95, bridestowelavender.com.au, (03) 6352 8182 Organza bag with dried lavender flowers, $6.95, bridestowelavender.com.au, (03) 6352 8182 Bridestowe SPA bath milk, $19.95 , bridestowelavender.com.au, (03) 6352 8182 Bridestowe SPA moisturising body lotion, $26.95, bridestowelavender.com.au, (03) 6352 8182 Aromatherapy Associates Perfect Partners, $44, aromatherapyassociates.com.au, (02) 9629 5193 The Linen Press sandalwood soap, $8.05, thelinenpress.com.au, (03) 9739 8779 Cocolux Australia 150g brass candle, $45, cocoluxaustralia.com…

Ambitious and motivated students and scholars attended the annual morning tea hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation. Held at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the celebration recognised the 58 rural scholarship recipients for 2016. Now in its ninth year, the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship program has been able to continue to gradually grow due to the generosity of individuals, corporate organisations and foundations. By providing a range of grants and scholarships for education and community development such as funding ideas and projects that will result in enhanced social and economic outcomes in country New South Wales, the RAS Foundation is successfully helping bring these communities together. The philanthropic foundation is making a major difference to regional Australians by providing more than 230 scholarships and more than…

MIRIAM VAN COOTEN HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST Miriam started in the make-up and hair industry 20 years ago in film and television and has worked on fashion pages for magazines across Europe and Australia. She has won many awards for bridal work and does many weddings the Sydney region. She teaches at an elite make-up school and tutors personal make-up and hair styling. TAMARA SIMONEAU WRITER & STYLIST Tamara is falling in love with her homeland again after almost a decade in Canada where she worked in TV, running the prime-time program, Entertainment Tonight Canada. She’s produced live shows, been on the red carpet for the Academy Awards, travelled the globe and worked with celebrities. She’d like to say she’s now living a quieter life as a writer on Queensland’s…

SLEEPY TIMES Resting will be easy with these beautiful quilt sets.  STYLE TIP! PICK UP YOUR CHOSEN ACCENT COLOUR OR ENLIVEN A NEUTRAL SETTING WITH A STRATEGIC CHOICE OF CUSHIONS, THROW RUGS OR BEDSIDE FURNISHINGS. STYLE TIP! CITRUS COLOURS BRIGHTEN EVEN THE DULLEST SPACE. GIVE YOUR BOUDOIR A ZESTY LIFT WITH THESE PIECES. LAZY BONES Make your room shine with these pillows, throws and finishing touches.  STYLE TIP! IT'S THE DETAIL THAT COUNTS. FROM CANDLES AND CLOCKS TO A NOTEBOOK FOR YOUR MIDNIGHT MUSINGS, WE'VE GOT THE FINISHING TOUCHES COVERED. STYLE TIP! WE'RE LOVING THE COMBINATION OF RECYCLED TIMBERS AND PRETTY PALE PASTELS. DREAM ON Turn your bedroom into a haven with these must-have decorator pieces.…

Sometimes it’s hard to spot the silver linings in the clouds. When one of Karen Burbury’s marketing company’s clients went belly up, she had little choice but to accept a 70-seat restaurant as payment for their outstanding debts. But Karen, whose qualifications are in business and accounting, and who has a background in publishing, marketing and property management, is also blessed with a can-do attitude and was not going to let a little thing like lack of experience in the hospitality industry get in her way. Eight years down the track, the restaurant she built from the rubble of what seemed like financial ruin employs 48 staff and has a turnover of upwards of $2.6 million. That’s the short version of her story. Of course there are a few twists…

AUTHENTIC HOMEMADE ITALIAN COOKING JOHN PELLICANO, NEW HOLLAND PUBLISHERS, $40 This cookbook possesses generations of exquisite Italian recipes, handed down to author and chef John Pellicano by his family in Italy. Each recipe contains its own unique twist on traditional Italian cuisine where passion, love and imagination exude from each chapter. Everything from entrees, pastas and pizzas to sauces, mains and desserts is covered in this adventurous collection. Highlights include well known classics such as Bolognese and lasagne, as well as mamma’s special pasta and veal saltimbocca. BASQUE JOSÉ PIZARRO, HARDIE GRANT BOOKS, $49.99 Acclaimed chef José Pizarro brings you Spanish heritage, culture, and most importantly food and drink in his latest cookbook,Basque. Focusing solely on one region of Spain, the Basque country, José shares his secrets on how to…

JUNE 12–AUGUST 14 (ACT) THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL Discover the magic of black truffles during the Canberra-based annual Truffle Festival. This five-week event showcases more than 60 local businesses that host a series of truffle-inspired activities in celebration of this prime winter delicacy. Cooking classes, banquets, farmers’ markets, tastings, growing demonstrations and truffle hunts are all part of the festive fun. truffl efestival.com.au JULY 31 (NSW) & AUGUST 28 (VIC) CONFETTI FAIR Tickets are now on sale for one of the tastiest and most colourful events in Australia, the Confetti Fair. As Australia’s only boutique party fair, expect to see cakes, sweets, planning and party supplies, entertainment, flowers, stationary and decor. Offering a haven for DIY party hosts, the vibrant event will take place on different dates in Sydney and Melbourne.…

They say to be born into the Turner family means to be born in the saddle. While that’s not strictly true, the Turner women all started riding almost as soon as they could walk. Gendy Parry Okeden, the oldest of the three Turner girls, started riding at the age of two and was back competing just three months after her twin boys, Sam and Tom, were born 11 years ago. “My mother, Beth, is a veteran eventer and horse riding coach and trainer,” Gendy explains. “She grew up in New Zealand where everyone rode and hunted and then she met my father, Warwick, who was also into horses. They came back to his family farm at Oberon where, naturally, my sisters Nicky and Jamie and I grew up not really…

The Essential Ingredient (NSW & VIC) The highly successful cooking franchise, The Essential Ingredient, was initially a mail-order business begun in the inner-Sydney suburb of Camperdown 30 years ago. Today, the continually expanding cooking school offers a diversity of classes in Victoria and New South Wales. Focusing on fundamentals, demonstration and a hands-on experience for students, the classes are hosted by professional foodies who conduct a variety of techniques and cuisines, catering to all levels of culinary skill. If you’re not sure which class to take, we’re sure you can find something from the enticing list The Essential Ingredient constantly updates. essentialingredient.com.au May’s Cooking Class (QLD) Inspired by country but located in the hustle and bustle of Brisbane city, May Isaac’s Indian cooking classes are secluded in the bush at…

ANTIQUE BATHS As the only manufacturer of cast iron baths in Australia, Antique Baths offers a variety of both new and restored iron cast baths. This traditional cast iron tub will bring luxe-chic style to your bathroom. antiquebaths.com.au YEALANDS Crafting beautiful wine in harmony with nature has led to award-winning success for sustainable wine grower, Yealands. The company’s extensive wine range offers distinctive flavours and delicious aromas. danmurphys.com.au HARKAWAY HOMES Harkaway Homes’ designs feature high ceilings, French doors and leadlight windows. More than 1500 Harkaway homes have been built since inception, with eight ranges from Victorian and Federation eras. harkawayhomes.com.au MAISON LIVING Maison Living offers homewares with a Frenchprovincial-meets-Hamptons style. Including decor, linen, lighting and mirrors, the store is a genuine bricks-and-mortar furniture and homewares retailer. maisonliving.com.au PRESSED TIN PANELS…

Lucky girls I was fascinated and envious of the girls from PLC Pymble (Ringleaders, AC 19.4). As an old girl of PLC Armidale and a country girl in the ’60s I would have loved to have studied agriculture instead of the dry subjects we had, some of which were compulsory. Congratulations to the PLC Pymble girls for winning prizes in the Beef Bonanza; that’s a great achievement. And thank you to Australian Country for finding such a great story. Catherine Sneesby, Empire Vale NSW Heritage notes What a delight to read about Woolmers in this edition. We lived in Longford before moving back to SA and visited numerous times and always found it interesting. And the the rose garden is simply spectacular. It made me want to go back for…