Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 27.6 i Australian Country

editor's letter

As we go to press, photographer Ken Brass and I are just back from a trip through country NSW to south-western Queensland's Channel Country, which inspired the travel A story for this issue. It's been a timely reminder of the amazing rewards that are out there for travellers who are prepared to venture a little off the beaten track and get to know some of the hardworking and dedicated people who live there. It's also been a great opportunity to see the remarkable standards many people in the hospitality industry are achieving in this part of the world. Many of them also run grazing or other businesses and they are working hard, and collaboratively, to promote their region. So a huge shout out to shearers’ cook turned chef Fiona Ferguson…

2 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

bush oasis

OUTBACK LIFE Frankie Dunsdon jumps out of the car and immediately starts gathering a bunch of wildflowers from beside the road. She may only be five years old, but Frankie displays wisdom way beyond her years as she identifies the paper daisies and foxtails in the bunch. The endearing moment illustrates all that is remarkable about Frankie's world. Growing up on Francvillers, a sheep and cattle station just south of the outback Queensland town of Cunnamulla, Frankie and her little brother, Henry, aged three, have 50,000 acres (20,234 hectares) to call their backyard. They are completely immersed in station life, with chickens and poddy lambs Spot and Sandy to feed and dog Belle and cat Smoky to care for. Even at their tender ages, they have a deep appreciation for…

5 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

a rural perspective

WRITER IN RESIDENCE “When I wasn't reading, I was busy pretending to be a librarian. As a child growing up on a farm on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, Tricia Stringer's twin passions were for reading and pretending to be a librarian. Her fascination with all things literary has manifested into adult life first with her career as a teacherlibrarian and, more recently, as the author of an impressive line-up of rural romance, historic and contemporary relationship-focused novels. “My mother was a huge influence, both as an avid reader and as a volunteer at our local library,” Tricia recalls. “When I wasn't reading, I was busy pretending to be a librarian, arranging all our books in alphabetical order and checking books in and out.” Tricia went off to boarding school in…

6 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

channel country charms

ESCAPE ROUTES Corey Richards is of average height, but he stands way below knee height beside the replica skeleton of the remains of Australia's largest dinosaur, Australotitan cooperensis. As the operations manager of the Eromanga Natural History Museum, Corey explains that when this giant grass-eating sauropod nicknamed Cooper roamed what is now the Channel Country of south-western Queensland in the mid-Cretaceous period some 95 to 98 million years ago, he was the third-largest creature on Earth (Patagotitan and Argentinosaurus from present-day South America just pipped him to top billing). Weighing about 67 tonnes and measuring 30 metres long, Cooper and his slightly smaller distant relative, Zac, who is remarkable because he was an articulated fossil (his bones were found in anatomical order), were both discovered on Plevna Downs, an hour…

10 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

by a billabong

THIS COUNTRY LIFE For a family who's kept a station diary every day for the past 100 years, it's a bit surprising that there's some contention over the installation of a billabong that gives the homestead at Moble station its “sea” breezes and water views. In Meg Rutledge's version of events, it was a wedding gift from her grandfather for her parents, Brian and Kylie, when they married in 1985. Brian's recollection is more pragmatic: yes, the diversion of TU Creek was created at that time, but not so much as a gift, more as a sign of his father's constant attention to water supply on the 120,000-acre (48,562-hectare) property in the Quilpie district of south-western Queensland. “Water is a precious resource out here,” Brian says. “We've always been very…

7 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

timeless texture

MEASUREMENTS Width (approx.) 120cm Length (approx.) 90cm MATERIALS 25 x 50g balls Cleckheaton Country 8 ply (0019 Beige Marle) Use only the yarn specified. Other yarns are likely to produce different results. Quantity is approximate as it can vary between crocheters. Ensure all yarn is from the same dye lot. HOOK AND EXTRAS 4.5mm crochet hook Wool needle for sewing in ends TENSION 15 sts and 17 rows to 10cm over Texture patt, using 4.5mm hook. Correct tension is not essential for this throw, however stated measurements and yarn quantity are based on this tension. ABBREVIATIONS beg = begin, beginning; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; dtr = double treble; htr = half treble; lp, lps = loop, loops; patt = pattern; rep = repeat; sl st =…

2 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

helping out on this issue …

KIM SELBY PHOTOGRAPHER Kim is a multi-award-winning family, wedding and commercial photographer. She is best known for her natural and emotion-filled lifestyle photography. She loves being able to capture those special little moments that abound in everyday life and knowing people will be looking back at their photos in years to come. She lives in the Macedon Ranges with her husband and two beautiful boys. ANASTASIA CASEY WRITER & EDITOR Anastasia's passion is to see the world and tell the tales of the people (and animals) she meets along the way. She has worked in publishing for more than 10 years as an editor, writer and sub-editor and, until recently, was working for NewsUK in London. She is currently enjoying being home in Australia. australiancountry.com.au facebook.com/AustralianCountry @australiancountrymag zinio.com pinterest.com/auscountrymag…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

table for six

REGIONAL LIVING Who would've thought a tiny onebedroom apartment in suburban Brunswick would become the setting for one of the trendiest venues on the Melbourne foodie scene? Certainly not its owner and chef Jung Eun Chae when she first started inviting the public into her own home five years ago. “I absolutely did not expect this,” Chae says of the success of her two-hatted namesake restaurant. Born and raised as an only child in Seoul, South Korea, growing up, Chae remembers her mother making huge batches of kimchi to share with family. Her father would package 20 kilograms worth and mail it to his side. Chae's mother would make soy sauce, soybean paste and sesame oil from home-grown sesame seeds. But it wasn't out of a love of cooking, it…

5 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

branching out

ON THE RIGHT TRACK “There's no textbook for growing Christmas trees. If it weren't for Christine Duver's unwavering commitment to having a “real” Christmas tree, her daughter, Kim, and son-in-law, Rob Sizer, might never have established Hillview Christmas Tree farm at Dungowan, near Tamworth in the NSW New England region. As Christine's husband, Wayne, tells the story, he and Christine returned to Australia after 20 years living and working on her family farm in her home county of Norfolk. They bought a farm at Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast. “Having never had a fake Christmas tree in her life, Christine wasn't about to start just because we'd moved to Australia,” Wayne recalls. When she came home with what could only be described as an overpriced twig, Wayne…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

ESCAPE ROUTES

PLACES TO STAY • Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla clubboutiquehotel.com • Francvillers Station Bush Camping, Cunnamulla outbackescape.com • Charlotte Plains, Cunnamulla charlotteplains.com.au • Cooper's Country Lodge, Eromanga enhm.com.au/accommodation • Toogunna Plains, Eromanga toogunnaplains.com.au • Artesian Waters Caravan Park, Yowah Ph: (07) 4655 4991 • Moble Homestead, Quilpie moblehomestead.com.au • The Lake, Quilpie thelakequilpie.com WHERE TO EAT & DRINK • Wildflowers, Cunnamulla wildflowerscunnamulla.com.au • Toogunna Plains, Eromanga toogunnaplains.com.au • Eulo Queen Hotel & Caravan Park, Eulo euloqueenhotel.com.au • Noccundra Hotel, Nockatunga Ph:(07) 4655 4317 • South Western Hotel, Toompine (07) 4656 4721 • Royal Hotel, Eromanga Ph:(07) 4656 4837 • Brick Hotel, Quilpie brickhotel.com.au • Elegant Emu, Adavale elegantemu.com WHAT TO DO • Cunnamulla Hot Springs, Cunnamulla cunnamullahotsprings.com • Artesian Mud Baths, Eulo artesianmudbathseulo.com.au • Hydro Power Plant, Thargomindah explorebulloo.com.au/attractions/thargomindah/hydro-power-plant • Eromanga…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

framed on farm

Growing up in Western Australia's Central Wheatbelt inspired 16-year-old Charlie Kilminster from Bruce Rock to pick up a camera and showcase his home country in all its glory. “I've always been fascinated by the vast open spaces, the rolling hills and the rich agricultural land that surrounds me,” he says. “I wanted to capture the beauty of the landscape, the people and the stories that make this region so unique. But I also wanted to highlight the challenges that come with living in a rural area, the struggles that farmers face and the impact of climate change on our environment.” As a boarder at Perth's Wesley College, Charlie has learnt much about the food industry and the disconnect between consumers and the source of their food. “I've realised that most…

2 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

comfort zone

RECIPE EXTRACT CHEESEBALL LEMON RICE WITH CHILLI BUTTER SERVES 6 There's something really reassuring about a rice tray bake. Add the right amount of water, seal the dish well, pop it into the oven and forget about it. This is as comforting and delicious as you'd expect cheesy, briny, chilli-butter-doused rice to be. It's the perfect side to something simple like a roast chicken, or can be eaten as a main with some wilted greens. GETTING AHEAD: The rice wants to be eaten fresh out of the oven but can be taken up to the point just before the hot water and aromatics are added, if you want to get ahead. 8 cloves 6 cardamom pods, bashed 1 lemon: shave the skin into strips, then juice to get 2 tablespoons 125g ricotta 150g feta,…

8 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

off the shelf

TWO DAUGHTERS Alison Edwards, Atlantic Books Australia, $32.99 Alison Edwards was raised on the south coast of NSW and completed a PhD in linguistics at Cambridge University before writing Two Daughters, her first novel, which cleverly manages to intertwine both worlds. Ava is raised in coastal NSW by a father who suffers from MS, lives in a caravan and is able to provide little but love. She heads to Sydney for uni where she manages to navigate her way to the UK courtesy of a scholarship. Laurie is also raised by her father, a Cambridge don, as her mother died in childbirth. Their worlds intersect in this intriguing tale of the ties that bind, privilege, or lack thereof, social justice and just a glimmer of hope for escaping all of…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

stockists & contacts

AM-Boss Access Ladders, 11-13 Maida Ave, North Sunshine Vic 3020 ph: (03) 9310 8788 e: amboss@ambossaccessladder.com.au w: ambossaccessladder.com.au Australian Antique & Art Dealers Association e: info@aaada.org.au w: aaada.org.au Emu Wire Industries 2/25 Encore Ave, Somerton Vic 3062 ph: (03) 9308 5599 e: sales@emuwire.com.au w: emuwire.com.au David Roche Foundation e: info@rochefoundation.com.au w: rochefoundation.org.au Glen Dimplex Australia 8 Lakeview Dr, Scoresby Vic 3179 w: glendimplex.com.au Glenlowren Luxury Accommodation 281 Bottings Ln, Dixons Creek Vic 3775 e: tinne@glenlowren.com.au w: glenlowren.com.au Glenview Products 3 Edenholme St, West Pymble NSW 2073 ph: 0411 732 950 e: sales@glenviewproducts.com.au w: glenviewproducts.com.au Harkaway Homes 57 National Ave, Pakenham Vic 3810 ph: (03) 5943 2388 w: harkawayhomes.com.au Howard Products 33 Griffin Ave, Tamworth NSW 2340 ph: 1800 672 646 w: howardproducts.com.au Laura Ashley ph: 1300 656 626 w: basfordbrands.com…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

diary notes

NOW-FEBRUARY 9, 2025 (NSW) Bagan Bariwariganya Bundanon is hosting Bagan Bariwariganya: Echoes of Country, an exhibition of new works created by Walbunja/Ngarigo artist Aunty Cheryl Davison, Gweagal/Wandiwandian artist Aunty Julie Freeman and Wiradyuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones. Celebrating local stories and upholding local Aboriginal values and kinships, this major collaboration between the renowned First Nations artists will feature largescale installations, a 75-metre-long mural and new paintings, as well as significant cultural objects. bundanon.com.au JANUARY 17-26, 2025 (NSW) Toyota Country Music Festival Grab your guitars and head to Tamworth in northern NSW for the 53rd Toyota Country Music Festival. Troy Cassar-Daley, John Williamson, Max Jackson, James Johnston and Lee Kernaghan will join a line-up of performers during the 10-day festival, which is held across various venues in Australia's country music capital. Toyota…

3 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

the taste of korea

STEAMED CHICKEN WITH CRISPY RICE CRUST NURUNGJI DAK-SAMGYE-TANG SERVES 2 Korean dishes believed to have nourishing properties are known as boyangsik. They're prepared with ingredients considered to have health-promoting benefits, such as certain grains, vegetables and medicinal herbs, and are most often enjoyed when you need to replenish your energy or strengthen your body, such as after an illness or during the cold winter months. Samgyetang, or chicken soup, is a typical example of boyangsik. This hearty and nutritious meal provides a balance of essential nutrients to support overall wellbeing. 1 × 1.35–1.45kg whole chicken, trimmed of excess fat 250g (1 cup) glutinous rice 120g (1 cup) chopped spring onion KOREAN MEDICINAL HERBS 1 packet of Samgyetang soup base (available at Korean grocers) 60g garlic cloves, peeled Salt and pepper,…

11 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

a dance through history

OUR PLACE IN THE COUNTRY When the historic Islay House popped up for sale on Tarni James’ computer screen, she says the two-storey colonial Georgian-style building leapt out at her. “I went, ‘There it is, that's it, that's the one,’” she says with a laugh. “And so we jumped on it like a seagull on a hot chip.” The former ABC executive producer of programs including Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell and Hard Quiz knew the solid-brick and weatherboard house needed a bit of love, and she and her partner, Clive Warner — a trained boat builder and furniture maker — were up to the task. “We love renovating old properties,” Tarni says. The Heritage-listed building sits on the main street of Woodend, 70 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, on Dja…

5 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

an organic process

GARDEN PROFILE The smell of garden at Denbigh greets visitors long before they've even set eyes on the Clivia-lined driveway or the yellow bungalow homestead. The heady scent of jasmine in full bloom assaults the senses as guests arrive for Susie and Ian McIntosh's early spring open day. The jasmine cascades over the front fence, climbs up tree trunks and tumbles over walls throughout the garden, which, in a sense, has been a work in progress since 1812. In that year, the property in the newly discovered Cowpastures district was granted to merchant Charles Hook as a reward for his loyalty to Governor Bligh during the military coup that became known as the Rum Rebellion. Hook supplemented his 1000-acre (404-hectare) grant from Governor Macquarie with a further 200 acres (80ha).…

8 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

fringed benefits

MEASUREMENTS Width (approx.) 120cm Length (approx. excluding fringe) 130cm MATERIALS 7 x 125g balls Heirloom Merino Magic Chunky (6209 Rust) 6 x 125g balls Heirloom Merino Magic Chunky (6595 Hot Pink) 5 x 125g balls Heirloom Merino Magic Chunky (6570 Buckwheat) 5 x 125g balls Heirloom Merino Magic Chunky (6573 Tutu Pink) 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 6.5mm (UK 3) circular knitting needle (100cm long) Piece of cardboard 20cm wide and crochet hook TENSION 14 sts and 24 rows to 10cm over pattern, using 6.5mm needles. Correct tension is not essential for this…

1 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

store strolling

AYA SKINCARE The multitasking Signature Retinol Serum, $58, by Aya Skincare is a naturally powerful blend of lemon myrtle oil, bakuchiol, niacinamide and vitamins to reduce pigmentation, control sebum production and minimise fine lines. The Australian-made serum offers radiant skin while supporting overall skin health. aya-skincare.com.au HEALTHY TRIM Healthy Trim's Daily Meal Replacement Shakes, $63 for a variety pack of 14 single serves, contain collagen peptides and probiotics to support gut health and boost energy. With flavours such as Coffee Fusion and Crème Brûlée, these low-calorie shakes provide a convenient meal replacement to keep you nourished from within and energised to take on the day. healthytrim.com.au AMELIA LANE BEACH BAG If it's going to get wet, it should be waterproof. If it's going to get sandy, it should be able…

4 min

Australian Country|Issue 27.6

mailbag

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 quartet of 50th-anniversary novels from our friends at Mills & Boon. Just send us your thoughts on the magazine and life in general to be in the running for this wonderful prize. BRICKBAT I just bought the August/September Australian Country. Could you please explain why you are talking about winter in several places? Nice magazine but I was looking for spring inspiration. Quite confusing and I would appreciate…

1 min