Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue #24.3 June/July 2021 i Australian Country

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

EDITOR’S LETTER

At press time, vast swathes of the east coast of Australia were recovering from severe floods that have caused major damage to homes and properties. In some places, that’s on top of years of drought, which is still affl icting many farms and, of course, the fallout from the pandemic and the devastation it has caused for tourism operators, hospitality providers, the arts community and many other businesses. And don’t forget the bushfires that caused unspeakable suffering during the summer of 2019/2020. So it seemed like a good time to check in on some of the regions that were affected by the summer that went up in smoke. Our travel story covers the NSW Southern Highlands, so close to Sydney, yet so far removed in terms of its opportunities for…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

The art of country

Allison Bellinger cheerfully admits she knew nothing about running an art gallery when she opened her exhibition space in the centre of Inverell in rural northern NSW. The town is better known for agriculture and gemstones than a passing parade of potential art investors. But the former Sydney lawyer trusted her instincts and long interest in art and aesthetics and, in 2016, launched AK Bellinger Gallery with a sell-out show of works by contemporary Australian artist and three-times Archibald Prize finalist Vanessa Stockard. “I’d bought some of her paintings,” Allison explains. “Through the years, we’d become friends and she generously offered to give me my first show. There was real local interest in what I was doing, and opening night was wall-to-wall with people. Vanessa and her husband came up…

5 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

A haven for birds

Unearthly screams – as Australian author and poet Henry Kendall described the cry of the curlew – are an eerily familiar night noise at Pam and Daryl Foulis’s home in South Australia’s south east. Sightings of the nocturnal bird are rare, however, so it seemed like an omen when Daryl spotted a pair on the building site of their new home on acreage near the village of Mundulla. Daryl and Pam decided to go with the Aboriginal interpretation of the experience as the sign of new beginnings and fresh starts and named their property Curlew Park. Twenty years down the track, while curlews remain elusive, the garden they’ve created is a mecca for many other birds. Blue and scrub wrens, parrots, honey eaters, rosellas and lorikeets are regular visitors, while…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Southern sampler

It’s a frigid afternoon in the Southern Highlands and the Wingello Village Store is closing. “Come back tomorrow,” calls a chirpy adolescent through the diminishing space in the door jam. “We serve good breakfast.” He’s gone in an instant, but the warmth inside is palpable, even through the window. There’s a wall papered with newspaper clippings: local celebrities and feats of heroism. An open fire in the book corner. There are postcards picturing children in green meadows under homespun slogans: Wingello — Where summer walks are a short step away and Wingello — Where the grass is greener. The grass is green again. No mean feat since this was ground zero in last year’s apocalyptic Black Summer bushfire season, which, through a combination of record-breaking drought, the hottest year on…

6 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Tastes like country

STICKY DATE PUDDINGS Serves:6 Butter, for greasing 180ml strained orange juice Finely chopped zest of 1 orange 180g pitted dates, chopped 1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence ¾ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 90g butter, softened 100g caster sugar ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten 180g self-raising flour, sifted 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Caramel sauce ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar 120ml pouring cream 140g butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease 6 x 1-cup (250ml) metal moulds with butter. Set aside. Bring orange juice to the boil in small saucepan. Add orange zest and dates, turn off heat, and stir in vanilla and bicarbonate of soda. Cool. Beat together butter and sugars using an electric mixer or hand-held electric beater until light and fluffy. With…

5 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

HELPING OUT ON THIS ISSUE ...

BRONTE CAMILLERI, STYLIST & LOCATION SCOUT Bronte’s career began in visual merchandising for major Australian retailers, including R. M. Williams, Myer and Cue. She has been a lecturer on the subject for the tertiary education system, and has worked as overall coordinator on a range of projects from small studio propping to major photo shoots for international corporations such as Nikon, Japan and ING. ROSS WILLIAMS, PHOTOGRAPHER Ross has been a photographer for 30 years, shooting food, wine and commercial and residential architecture, as well as travelling overseas to capture everything from mining projects to aircraft. He relishes the challenge of arriving at a previously unseen location and working on the best way to showcase it. australiancountry.com.au facebook.com/AustralianCountry @australiancountrymag zinio.com pinterest.com/auscountrymag…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Shirt story long

Sue Holmwood candidly confesses she could barely take up a hem when she launched a handmade shirt business in the 1990s. But survival is a strong motivator and, through hard work and determination, she developed a brand that sold all over Australia and was so successful that it supported her children through boarding school. Sue grew up in Canowindra in the NSW central west, where her parents ran sheep and grew wheat. Her family’s association with the historic town on the banks of the Belubula River goes back to the earliest European settlement of the district as her ancestor was one of the region’s founding fathers, convict John Grant. He came to Australia at the age of 18 and was assigned to emancipist surgeon Dr William Redfern, who made him…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Fully booked

Meredith Jaffé apologises in advance for the unkempt state of her home and studio. She has a new novel to promote, is 20,000 words into her next, which means she has 70,000 more words to inject before the first draft is due in just 10 weeks. In her “spare” time, she’s directing the biennial StoryFest, a weekend of storytelling in the Shoalhaven region, which follows hot on the heels of the draft deadline and takes place from June 18 to 20. Then there are family lives to coordinate, a menagerie of pets to care for, a host of speaking and facilitating commitments to juggle and a B&B to manage, so describing her life as “busy” is a gross understatement. It turns out that Woodlands, the farmhouse Meredith shares with her…

11 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Paradise for plants

If Jim Flanigan hadn’t arrived home after work just as his two-year-old son rolled down the driveway and onto the road on an out-of-control bike, his family would probably still be living in suburban Brisbane. Fortunately for the Flanigans, there were no other vehicles around so tragedy was averted. But the event did set Jim, a builder working in air conditioning, and his payroll consultant wife, Jan, on the search for a property with more space to raise a family and keep a few horses. They found what they were looking for in a bush block at Mount Crosby on Brisbane’s western periphery. It was close enough for them to commute to the city for work and the children to attend school in Kenmore, and while it felt like a…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Charting new territory

“There is more in you than you think.” This simple sentence inspired German educator Kurt Hahn in the early 20th century to create the programs that made him a world leader in experiential education. By developing the philosophy that students learn through doing, he went on to found Germany’s Salem School and Gordonstoun in Scotland. This, in turn, inspired one of both institution’s more famous old boys, Prince Philip, to found the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Outward Bound program also owes its core values to Hahnian principles, as does Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop and Caulfield Grammar School’s Nanjing campus. Caulfield Grammar is an independent co-educational day and boarding school, with an enrolment of approximately 3300 students from Early Learning to Year 12. The school, which was established in 1881, has…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Off the shelf

THE CHAMPAGNE WAR FIONA MCINTOSH, MICHAEL JOSPEH, $32.99. In a former life, Fiona founded and ran a travel magazine with her husband, so her fiction is based on deep research and intimate knowledge of the setting. In this instance, it’s the region of Champagne and the important role women have played in the male-dominated world of the French wine industry. Just as Madame Pommery and the Veuve Clicquot paved the way for today’s generation of women in wine, Fiona’s protagonist, Sophie Delancré, was inspired by a real-life champenoise, whom Fiona met during her travels for this book, which threads its way from the battlefields of Ypres to the vineyards of Epernay. FROM OUR KITCHEN TO YOURS THE COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA, MURDOCH BOOKS, $36.99 The Country Women’s Association (CWA)…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

WIN A PRIZE

We appreciate your thoughts and in each issue, one correspondent wins a prize. Simply email Kirsty at kmckenzie@umco.com.au or write to us at Australian Country, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters before publication. Our favourite correspondent next issue will win a wonderful set of Resparkle household cleaning products, which are not only effective and toxin-free, but also zero-waste. Just send us your thoughts on the magazine and life in general to be in the running for this wonderful prize.…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Diary notes

OCTOBER 8 (QLD) LANESCAPE FESTIVAL If you’re planning on visiting the rural town of Goondiwindi in Queensland, perhaps plan your visit to coincide with this terrific twilight carnival. Focused around the charming Bowen Lane, Lanescape Festival showcases works that have been commissioned throughout the year. Expect murals, sculptures, plenty of art display, food vans, local artisan stalls and music. Best of all, it’s free. lanescape.com.au JULY 5-25 (QLD) FLOWERS IN THE DUST EXHIBITION Barcaldine artist Jenny Mace will be exhibiting her works in this beautifully curated exhibition with a purpose at the visitor information centre in the former Globe Hotel. The exhibition will promote the development of the Barcaldine Arid Lands Botanical Park. Jenny’s artworks are an ode to Australian native fauna, particularly the wildflowers of Queensland’s central west, and…

3 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Pride of the Monaro

The name Jardine is synonymous with European settlement and history on the rolling plains of the Monaro high country of southern NSW. The sturdy Scottish pastoralist, William Jardine, first arrived in the colony in 1841 and, by 1846, he had established himself at Curry Flat near Nimmitabel. The current custodians of this prime grazing property are Will and Caroline Jardine, and their children, Jack and Isabelle, represent the seventh generation of Jardines to have lived there. Will and Caroline, who also run the Nimmitabel Bakery, which produces pies that are legend among travellers heading to the coast or the ski fields of Kosciuszko National Park, live in the homestead, while Will’s parents, Sue and Jim, live in a nearby house, which was built when they semi-retired and handed over management…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Nurtured by nature

Wherever interior decorator Alenka Dirnbek goes, her “executive assistant”, Bugsy, is not far behind. He’s by her side during client consults and regularly joins her in the office, albeit sprawled in his favourite spot on top of the desk. “He’ll happily sit there all day,” Alenka explains of her toy Cavoodle. “His other roles include backyard excavation and testing rug durability.” Alenka, her builder husband, Milan Derganc, and Bugsy make a great team as property flippers, which has been their consuming sideline for the past six years. In their “spare” time, they are also transforming their own home on acreage in the Gold Coast hinterland. It’s a labour of love for the couple, as they juggle the restoration between the demands of their day jobs. But Alenka and Milan are…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Burning ambitions

BRUNNER BSK 06 Euro Fireplaces’ new line of inbuilt heaters from Bavarian manufacturer Brunner make installation a breeze. Prefabricated refractory concrete enclosure kits go together in an afternoon, look amazing and hold heat for many hours after the fire has gone out. eurofireplaces.com.au BOTANY PELLET HEATER Combining the style and feel of a wood heater with the convenience of a split system, these pellet heater units offer fully automatic temperature control and an integrated room sensor. Unlike split-system or central heating, the radiant heat emitting from the unit itself creates a cosy atmosphere. eurofireplaces.com.au UPPSALA The Uppsala is a sleek fireplace from Euro Fireplaces. It’s clad in 250kg of soapstone heat bank, giving it a beautiful and practical finish. With an eight-hour overnight burn, the Uppsala is perfect for larger…

3 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Store strolling

CLEMENTINE SLEEPWEAR Relax and unwind in the Stella nightie, $99.99, which is made from soft cotton with a beautiful floral pattern. Features include a rounded V-neckline with a pleated trim and cap sleeves.clementinesleepwear.com.au STONED CRYSTALS The Ashy Diamond Smokey Quartz, $129, from Stoned Crystals is known as the ultimate grounder for its capacity to provide earth-aligned energy and balance in your life. Each Stoned Crystal comes beautifully boxed and features an energy card.stonedcrystals.com COOMBER BROS JEWELLERS Based in Roma, Queensland, Coomber Bros Jewellers design, create and ship custom-made pieces all over Australia. This unique-looking nine-carat yellow-gold ring features a stunning green tourmaline in the centre with diamond surrounds, $1299.coomberbros.com.au STUDIO AUSTRALIA Studio Australia has been proudly producing Australian-made ceramic art in the Riverina district of NSW since 1990. This set…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Mailbag

RECOVERY ON A PLATE How wonderful to read about the bushfire-affected people coming back from the fires. Adam Liaw is a true ambassador for the regions promoting the produce and supporting the victims. It’s too easy in this time of trouble to forget last year’s devastation, so thanks for the reminder. I can’t wait to try the recipes as well. Patricia Olsen, North Perth WA LOVING LUCY I’ve long been an admirer of Lucy Culliton’s work, so it was a great pleasure to open Australian Country and learn more about her life and passions. She is such a wonderful person to be giving refuge to so many animals and I hope she inspires other readers to adopt some rescue pets. Anne Sullivan, Bundaberg Qld TRAVEL INSPIRATION Thanks for the great…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue #24.3 June/July 2021

Stockists & contacts

Belle Couleur ph: 0417 913 192 e: melissa@bellecouleur.com.au w: bellecouleur.com.au Birdsnest ph: 1300 696 378 w: birdsnest.com.au Bronze and Marble Gallery 1195 Osborne St, Stoneville WA 6081 ph: (08) 9204 4436 e: info@bronzeandmarblegallery.com w: bronzeandmarblegallery.com Chelsea Park 589 Moss Vale Rd, Burradoo NSW 2576 ph: (02) 4861 7046 e: chelsea@netkey.com.au w: chelseaparkbnb.com Clementine Sleepwear ph: 1800 336 153 w: clementinesleepwear.com.au Coomber Bros Jewellery 78 McDowell St, Roma Qld 4455 ph: (07) 4622 1145 e: sales@coomberbros.com.au w: coomberbros.com.au Cotswold InOut Furniture 29/69 O’Riordan St, Alexandria NSW 2015 ph: (02) 9906 3686 e: sales@cotswoldfurniture.com.au w: cotswoldfurniture.com.au Emu Wire Industries 2/25 Encore Ave, Somerton Vic 3062 ph: (03) 9308 5599 e: sales@emuwire.com.au w: emuwire.com.au Euro Fireplaces 165 Mount Buller Rd, Mansfield Vic 3722 ph: 1300 733 705 e: info@eurofireplaces.com.au w: eurofireplaces.com.au Glen Dimplex…

2 min