Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 27.5 i Australian Country

As this issue goes to press, I’ve been reflecting on what an absolute privilege it is to work on this title and meet the amazing people behind the stories that fill these pages. I’ve also been reminded what good fortune I had to grow up in the bush. I was reminded of this when I interviewed the Lawson sisters — Emily, Clare and Abbie — for our education feature. Chatting with these wonderful young women reminded me of the ‘bottle’ it takes to leave home, in their case in Bourke in north-western NSW, and travel to the big smoke for an education and career opportunities that will take them far. While their boarding school experience sounds light years from my own in terms of amenities and freedoms, they’re there for…

WRITER IN RESIDENCE “I often play around with the original recipe and come up with something better. There are jars of homemade tomato chutney, quince paste and a freshly baked loaf of soda bread sitting on the hob in the kitchen at the home of Fiona Lowe in the regional Victorian city of Geelong. You'd be forgiven for thinking such a prolific writer wouldn't have time for the kitchen, but it turns out cooking is just one of many passions in this much-accoladed writer's portfolio, along with knitting, gardening and travel, preferably by bicycle. Fiona explains that this is not just any old Irish soda bread, this is a gussied-up version with butter, egg and raisins added to the traditional recipe that uses flour, salt, carb soda and buttermilk. “It's…

ON THE RIGHT TRACK OUR PLACE IN THE COUNTRY Matilda ‘Til’ Brown says it was slow-cooked lamb that changed her life. The actor, director and writer turned ready-made meal business co-owner had been committed to a vegetarian, at times vegan, diet for years when her soon-to-be husband, exercise scientist, nutritionist and chef Scott Gooding cooked up a six-hour lamb shoulder. As Scott recalls the moment, Til bravely had a taste. As Til tells it, it was like WD40 for her body. “My brain and bones came back to life,” she says. “For years I'd been depriving myself of protein and it took Scott to explain to me that not all meat is industrially farmed, that it is possible to raise animals ethically and farm regeneratively with minimal use of chemicals and…

CRAFT EXTRACT MEASUREMENTS Width (approx) 42cm Length (approx) 40cm MATERIALS 5 × 50g balls Patons Cotton Blend 8 PLY Charcoal (colour 45) 1 × 50g ball Patons Cotton Blend 8 PLY Wild Rose (colour 39) Note: Use only the yarn specified. Other yarns are likely to produce different results. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between crochet workers. Ensure all yarn of the same colour is from the same dye lot. HOOK AND EXTRAS • 4mm crochet hook • wool needle for sewing in ends TENSION 17dc and 21 rows to 10cm over dc fabric, using 4mm hook. Correct tension is not essential for this bag, however stated measurements and yarn quantities are based on this tension. ABBREVIATIONS NOTE – Australian/UK crochet terminology used throughout. beg = begin, beginning; ch =…

DON BRICE PHOTOGRAPHER Don is a life-long photographer working for media companies and books, as well as corporate, industrials, government and charitable organisations. He regards the camera as a passport, introducing him to the most amazing places and people, and allowing him to share those experiences with others. KEN BRASS PHOTOGRAPHER Ken has again been busy covering the country from the travel feature in Victoria's Yarra Valley, the profile on author Fiona Lowe and up the NSW coast for the stories about Til Brown and Stevey Arena. Never one to let a chance go by, he also snapped the scarecrows on Wherrol Flat Road and unearthed a great yarn about the genesis of the display and the good it does for the local community. australiancountry.com.au facebook.com/AustralianCountry @australiancountrymag zinio.com pinterest.com/auscountrymag…

COMMUNITY MINDED Jody Melton challenges anyone to drive down Wherrol Flat Road during spring and not to giggle. In the months of September and October the main access road in the NSW Mid North farming district is lined with scarecrows, all built by locals who compete to outdo each other in an unashamed celebration of community spirit and good humour. Jody explains that the annual event was born in darker times, at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. She and her husband, Dean, had just moved to the region having bought their ‘forever home’ on acreage. Both were dealing with COVID-related redundancies and finding it challenging being in a new community and lacking support and interactions with friends and neighbours. “There was a bit of a silver lining as…

RECIPE EXTRACT EASY PERI PERI CHICKEN This recipe gets rolled out a lot in our house. The little kids haven't taken to it just yet, but they will in time … and while we wait, there's more for Til, Tashi and me. We also sell this as a ready-to-use marinade at The Good Farm Shop — it's just so versatile. SERVES 4 ⅓ cup (80 mL) extra-virgin olive oil 6 garlic cloves, minced 2–3cm piece ginger, peeled and grated 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon sweet paprika ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons dried oregano Juice of 1 lemon, plus extra for drizzling 800g boneless, skin-on chicken thighs, charred Lemon halves, broccolini and radicchio wedges, to serve In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the chicken, lemon halves, broccolini and radicchio. Mix thoroughly. Add the chicken thighs…

CRAFT EXTRACT MEASUREMENTS Width (approx) 100cm Length (approx) 120cm MATERIALS 6 × 100g balls Panda Soft Cotton Chunky in Optical White (colour 3) 6 × 100g balls Panda Soft Cotton Chunky in Amber (colour 6) Note: Use only the yarn specified. Other yarns are likely to produce different results. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between knitters. Ensure all yarn of the same colour is from the same dye lot. NEEDLES AND EXTRAS • 1 pair 10mm (UK 000) knitting needles and a 10mm circular knitting needle (80-100cm long) • wool needle for finishing TENSION 9 sts and 13 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 10mm needles. Correct tension is not essential for this throw. If fewer sts to 10cm your throw will be slightly larger (and you may need more…

LAURA ASHLEY Rediscover the charm of Laura Ashley with gorgeous bedding, pillowcases, and cushions. This collection breathes new life into beloved heritage prints, blending the timeless elegance of yesteryear with contemporary designs. Perfect for adding nostalgia and comfort to your home, these pieces are a testament to the quality and style of the brand. thathomefeel.com.au GLENVIEW PRODUCTS This Pelican Weathervane captures the majesty of these fascinating birds. Whether gliding on the water or standing on shore, they are a sight to behold. This working weathervane is crafted in stainless steel and priced from $325 to $380. Just one of a collection featuring Australian birds and animals. glenviewproducts.com.au. GLENVIEW PRODUCTS This suspended Bird Bath-Feeder will create a meeting point for our feathered friends. Formed from solid steel, the 40cm round frame…

LAST ISSUE GENERATED LOTS OF FEEDBACK FROM OUR READERS. 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 fabulous bag from our friends at Amelia Lane. Just send us your thoughts on the magazine and life in general to be in the running for this wonderful prize. SMALL FOOTPRINT, BIG IMPACT I was delighted to read about the tiny house Mel and David Welsh have made for their family and guests on their farm in WA. It's great to see recognition of the benefits of stepping…

In this issue of Australian Country, we've got eight prizes to give away to eight lucky readers, from premium furniture to stylish flooring. For a chance to win one of these home must-haves, all you have to do is visit completehome.com.au/win-big and write, in 25 words or less, why you think this issue of the magazine is a great read. Good luck! Terms and conditions are available online at completehome.com.au 01: YELLOW MID-CENTURY BIRD LAMP Illuminate your space with retro charm using the Yellow Mid-Century Bird Lamp, a delightful fusion of style and functionality. This eye-catching lamp features a whimsical bird design, capturing the essence of mid-century aesthetics. This design era encourages a playful and optimistic atmosphere, making this lamp a timeless choice for those seeking vibrant and visually stimulating…

ON THE RIGHT TRACK “Cross the river and it's like you step back in time to a quieter, more relaxing era. The beach at South Ballina is deserted when Stevey and Nick Arena take their kids down for a ride on their beloved horses. On a clear winter's day, it's hard to imagine that such splendid isolation exists just a few kilometres away from the northern New South Wales coastal city of Ballina. The action in the water, however, is a total contrast as humpback whales, heading north for the breeding season, have chosen this day to turn on a show that would be worthy of a slot in a David Attenborough documentary. As Stevey and Nick lead Axel, aged seven, and Harley, six years, on their ponies, the whales…

WHERE TO STAY • Glenlowren, Dixons Creek, glenlowren.com.au • Chateau Yering Hotel, Yering chateauyering.com.au • Yarra Valley Grand Hotel, Yarra Glen yarravalleygrand.com.au WHERE TO EAT & DRINK • Cheesemonger Sophie, Healesville cheesemongersophie.com.au • No 7, Healesville no7healesville.com • Yering Station, Yering yering.com • Chandon, Coldstream chandon.com.au • Hubert Estate, Coldstream hubertestate.com.au • Punt Road Wines, Coldstream puntroadwines.com.au • Four Pillars, Healesville fourpillarsgin.com • Tarrawarra Estate, Healesville tarrawarra.com.au WHAT TO DO • Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville zoo.org.au/healesville • Alowyn Gardens, Yarra Glen alowyngardens.com.au • TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville twma.com.au • Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, Yarra Glen yvci.com.au…

RECIPE EXTRACT STICKY EGGPLANT, TOFU AND NOODLE SALAD Sticky, sweet, textural, meaty and just happens to be vegan? Tick, tick, tick, tick! This bowl's gloriously glistening with eggplant that's fried until it yields to silky strips, sponging up the sticky teriyaki sauce. Speaking of sponges, that's what tofu puffs are, and they get even juicier in the dressing overnight. Udon noodles are nifty because they're slippery and chunky, and you'll find fresh udon noodles in the chilled section at the shops. You'll get the best spring onion curls if you pop them into iced water, but slicing them chunky to fry with the rest of the mix is also an option. This is delicious cold and can be made a day ahead and brought back to room temperature to serve.…

TIPPING POINT Dinuka McKenzie, HarperCollins Publishers, $32.99 Detective Kate Miles is back with a case that's even closer to the personal than usual. In Dinuka McKenzie's latest crime novel Kate's somewhat distant brother, Luke, returns home to attend the funeral of a childhood friend, who has died by suicide. Then another of Luke's younger days cohort is found dead from gunshot wounds and Luke finds himself at the centre of the investigation. With her characteristic flair, Dinuka deftly plots the course of the investigation, navigating her protagonist's conflicts of interest — her loyalty to the police force in which she serves, her brother and their childhood friends. GLENROCK Lee Christine, Allen & Unwin, $32.99 Lee has left the Snowy Mountains where she centred her three previous novels and moved closer…

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