Innholdsfortegnelse for 18.8 October 2015 i Australian Country

Somehow it seems that people in remote and regional Australia, the folk who need fast, affordable and reliable telecommunications the most, are the ones who get, at best, intermittent mobile service, at worst none at all, not to mention the slowest and most expensive internet connection. A group of doctors in central-western Queensland was making headlines because the paucity of the internet connection means they are unable to complete their rural GP training. While regional town residents are waiting on the National Broadband Network’s (NBN) fibre-to-the-node, fixed wireless rollout for improvement in their internet, which might not be until 2020, the best the doctors can hope for in the interim is special access to the satellite service. Meanwhile, those on remote farms and communities who rely on the satellite for…

Aldona Kmiec left Poland in 2004 when the country joined the European Union and doors were flung open to the West. A decade on, she finds herself living and working in Ballarat where her photographs, particularly her portraits of fellow migrants, have drawn attention to the city’s rich multicultural fabric. She has also found time to renovate a large 1875 cottage in the historic inner-city suburb of Soldiers Hill. Step inside Aldona’s double-fronted Victorian cottage and it is the light that you first notice. From the soft and sophisticated light shades to the natural light spilling into the hallway, light plays a subtle yet central motif in this beautiful home. Given Aldona’s northern European origins and her work as a photographer, it makes perfect sense. She works from home, and…

LINEN LOVIN’ Comfort reigns supreme with this bevy of beautiful blankets, sheets and duvets. PILLOW TALK Gently does it. These cushions set the scene for a soft and stylish night’s sleep. DRESS TO IMPRESS Make your room shine with these prints, patterns and finishing touches. REST EASY Unwind and gain some quality ZZZs with these in-bed essentials.…

Kia ora My daughter started sending me your magazine last year. It has become a much anticipated arrival as I know I’m going to spend at least a couple of lazy Sunday afternoons reading it. I love the variety of the stories and the genuine people you talk to. The gardens make me want to spend more time tending my own and there is always a recipe or two to try. It’s refreshing to find a publication that avoids the celebrity and spotlights the often-overlooked rural and farming community. I loved the Grahame Sydney story, maybe your next Food Files should be in New Zealand … we could have a pavlova bake-off! My copy of Australian Country doesn’t stop with me. After I’ve read it through a couple of times,…

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 lives in the Macedon Ranges with her husband, two boys and dog Fergus and is trying to correct the gender balance by adopting Myrtle and Gertie the chickens! KAY FRANCIS FOOD EDITOR Kay grew up in rural New Zealand in a family of keen gardeners, who produced most of their own fruit and vegetables. She lives in Sydney, and for the past 20 years has worked as a food writer and stylist for various magazines and cookbooks, focusing on seasonal produce. Creative use of what is at hand is Kay’s signature and spontaneity the key, especially when camping or boating. GREG DUNCAN POWELL WRITER Greg has…

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. And sometimes the results are astonishing. The seeds of Dennis Roberts’ large rural garden were sown in the aftermath of a life-changing accident and much heartache. In 1986, Dennis was a happily married father of a four-year-old girl. However, a serious car accident — caused when a drunk driver collided with his almost stationary car — left him a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. “When I was in Hampstead [rehabilitation centre] for three months, I felt so confined,” Dennis recalls. “It was such a shock and I just needed to feel free and to have some space. The garden has been a response to that.” Five years after the accident, Dennis received a compensation payout, to be used to…

It is said that Alexander the Great found bananas in India in 327 BC and introduced them to the Western world. However, the earliest evidence of the fruit predates that by thousands of years, as archaeologists believe the people of the Kuk Swamp in New Guinea were the first to cultivate them domestically. It must have taken a bit of foresight as, at that time, the fruit bore little resemblance to the securely packaged source of energy we know today. Originally, it had large, hard seeds and not much pulp. The soft flesh and tiny seeds that have evolved from that ancestor are high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and dietary fibre. Nurtured globally for centuries, the banana is now a go-to, nutritious fast food option. Banana plants first…

CAESARSTONE The perfect fusion of style and practicality, Caesarstone’s raw concrete is a must-have in any new kitchen. The subtle grey tint and matt-textured finish create a luxurious surface. caesarstone.com.au MAISON LIVING Based in Melbourne, Maison Living offers the best of French-inspired furniture and homewares. For instant chic, look no further than the Tahtesa corner chair, featuring elegant tapered legs and plush fabric. maisonliving.com.au VILLA MAISON Amp up the style in your bedroom with this luxurious bed from Villa Maison. With detailed carving and an upholstered bedhead and footboard, the Collette bed is the answer to any Francophile’s decor dreams. villamaison.com UE MEGABOOM SPEAKER Let your eyes and ears feast on the wireless UE Megaboom speaker, which comes in a range of vibrant designs and blasts 360-degree sound. With a…

In a second-hand shop in Mooloolaba, Queensland, more than 50 years ago, Alan Hazelton purchased his first clock. It was a black, cast-iron Ansonia with decorative rams’ heads bracing each side. It cost him $45. When his grandparents opted to return to England in 1970, Alan, then aged 22, had the opportunity to build on his fascination. Their antiques and collectables were up for sale as his grandmother declared she had spiritually outgrown material objects and wished to find them a new home. “Four of Brisbane’s top antique dealers were invited,” he recalls. “But I was able to purchase 20 pieces of furniture, artwork and four clocks — a large carriage clock, a small carriage clock, a small ship’s clock in a gilded case and a wall-mounted chiming clock —…

THE LIFE PLAN SHANNAH KENNEDY, LANTERN, $39.99 Shannah Kennedy shares her enlightening experience and philosophy in her latest book, The Life Plan. Having coached many clients from stay-at-home mums and small-business operators to multimillionaires and elite athletes, Shannah’s latest venture seeks to teach readers how to live a more meaningful life. Featuring beautiful photographs, inspirational quotes and advice, this diary-style book is perfect for all those in need of a little soul searching. POSH TOAST EMILY KYDD, QUADRILLE, $29.95 Calling all toast lovers! Become a toast expert with these quick-and-easy recipes covering breakfast, lunch, snacks and teatime. From Nutella on Toast to Mini Croque-Monsieurs, Posh Toast is the ultimate fast-food recipe book that offers healthier options including sourdough, spelt and rye. This is the perfect accompaniment for those who are…

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