Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Country Style

NOVEMBER is my favourite month of the year. The weather warms up and everyone seems happier and more energetic, knowing winter is well and truly over. There isn’t the stress that comes in December as people get organised for Christmas and end-of-year parties, tick off lists, make plans to see family, and get ahead at work before company shutdowns or a well-earned break from the farm. December is frantic, as if everything is on fast-forward. November is more relaxed, which is not to say that everyone isn’t still working diligently. This issue is filled with hardworking people doing great things in regional Australia. On page 33, you’ll meet our five Legends of the Land Local Hero finalists. By coincidence, they’re all women and I’m amazed by the diverse way they…

WARUMUNGU AND LURITJA WOMAN Melissa Cole is the creative force behind Yaye, a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned bath, body and beauty range. With a passion for traditional Indigenous culture, Melissa has crafted luxurious products that celebrate the unique beauty and healing properties of our native flora and fauna. Yaye – which means “mother” in the local Kalkadoon language – embodies Melissa’s commitment to cultural preservation. “Growing up in Alice Springs was such a beautiful experience,” she says. “Camping, swimming in waterholes and having barbecues out in the bush… it was an idyllic childhood. My connection to Central Australia runs deep. There is nothing like putting your feet in the red dirt.” Melissa studied teaching at the University of South Australia and has been a teacher for 33 years, primarily working…

LEGENDS of the LAND KATHRYN WESTPHAL Boyup Brook, WA As the only pharmacist in Boyup Brook, three hours’ drive south of Perth, Kathryn, 37, knows firsthand the health needs of the town, where 46 per cent of the 1800 residents are over 60. She became worried about the lack of services for the elderly. “I had patients crying in the pharmacy because they didn’t know what to do,” says Kathryn, who grew up on a dairy farm in Victoria. She studied pharmacy after winning a scholarship from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with plans to work in the bush, then moved to her husband Clint’s farm in WA. After Kathryn – now mum to three boys – bought Boyup Brook Pharmacy in 2018, she helped set up a transport service…

THE FIRST TIME I WAS ever mesmerised by a tree was in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem about 25 years ago – although it feels like 200 years since those carefree mid-20s travels. I stood under an olive tree that was said to be more than 2000 years old and wondered about the life that tree had seen; what had gone on around it, how much life had ebbed and flowed while it stood in that garden, and how lucky I felt to meet a tree so ancient. My dad planted a single olive tree that very same year, at the same time that he planted our coffee grove. After I moved home to the farm and eventually took over the annual picking of the coffee grove, we always…

FROM THEIR PARIS APARTMENT, former Victorian Labor MP Tim Holding and his fiancée, Felicity Selkirk, loved browsing real estate listings for crumbling mansions. In 2020, they viewed the Château de Purnon, 320 kilometres south-west of Paris. The roof leaked so badly that rain created waterfalls down the grand staircase; one side of the building was held up by a support structure; and entire outbuildings lay in ruins. Nevertheless, as Tim details in his diary, he and Felicity fell in love with the place. May 19, 2020 The search for our dream château had taken us to 16 extraordinary domains. But it was Château de Purnon on the edge of the Forêt de Scévolles in Haut Poitou that stole our hearts. Built just before the French Revolution and set on a…

IT’S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE a place and a vibe that could be further from ‘country style’ than New York City. Maybe Tokyo? Regardless, it was the Big Apple that I chose as my holiday destination in April this year. I first visited in 1999 and instantly fell in love with New York – mostly because of the city’s go-go-go energy. After my children were born, it was the one place I wanted us to visit together, and finally at 16 and 18, my girls had reached the perfect ages. I also wanted to see if Manhattan still had its palpable energy after enduring 9/11 and, more recently, COVID. Ultimately, I guess I wanted to see if I still loved NY. After landing at Newark Airport in New Jersey and taking…

NAOMI ROHR FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF AVARCAS AUSTRALIA AND HEY LUNA, 44 Naomi lives on a 20-hectare property in Duns Creek, NSW, with husband Anthony, 48, sons Caden, 19, and Eli, 18, as well as Gus the border collie, Tully the Burmese cat, Reveille the Australian stockhorse, Edward the miniature horse, and two cows. What do you love about living in the country? It’s so peaceful, there’s so much open space, and the connection to nature has been life-changing for the whole family. How would you describe your style? Comfortable and easy. I gravitate towards monochrome, though earthy neutrals have been sneaking into my wardrobe lately. What’s the best style advice you’ve ever received? I did a fantastic shopping session with stylist Kate Kohler years ago and she said, “Only…

THESE STATUES WERE left to me by my mother. She probably bought them on one of her many travels overseas, perhaps as a tourist souvenir, as she had a penchant for Asian ornaments. They have ‘Made in Italy’ stickers on the base, but I can’t find any other markings. I would appreciate your expert opinion on them. Anne Schmidt, Yeppoon, Qld These figurines were, as the label indicates, made in Italy. The subjects are fanciful Asian figures with many small parrots and some kind of crane included in the composition. I doubt they are meant to represent any mythological Asian figures but are simply decorative. They were probably meant to conjure up an idea of the exotic Far East. It is strange to think of such figures, created in…

Editor KYLIE IMESON Creative director SARAH FARAGO Deputy editor HANNAH JAMES Queensland contributing editor CLAIRE MACTAGGART Art director BERNHARD SCHMITZ Junior designer SAFFRON SYLVESTER Stylist KATE LINCOLN Features writer REBECCA HOOTON Junior writer LISA EASEY Chief copy editor, Homes Group PETER GRIFFITHS Senior copy editor GRETA DUMBLETON Copy editor STEPHANIE HOPE Editorial coordinator ANNA CAMPBELL ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION Commercial brand manager MICHELLE O’HANLON Advertising production manager KATE ORSBORN Director of sales – NSW, VIC, SA KAREN HOLMES Head of direct sales – VIC, SA, WA WILL JAMISON Queensland head of sales JUDY TAYLOR Creative director CLARE CATT Senior event manager CATE GAZAL Head of Directories REBECCA WHITE Data and distribution manager JOSHUA BLANSHARD Production controller KARA STEAD Advertising production controller DOMINIC ROY All advertising inquiries ADVERTISING@AREMEDIA.COM.AU MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Marketing…

MY DAUGHTER IS A VET. She’s 12 months out of university in her first job. She’s working in a traditional mixed practice in north-west NSW, stretching from Coonamble to Walgett and out to Lightning Ridge. You need a multitude of skills in such a practice. She sees the full range, from pet roosters to snakebites, camel castrations and everything in between. Our text messages might give you a small indication of the challenges a just-graduated vet faces. “Any call-outs?” I text. She replies: “1am, four drunk bridesmaids and a dead cat.” Other call-outs are more intense. A valuable stallion with a terrible case of colic (deadly stomach-ache for horses). A heifer having trouble calving. Reader, vets now routinely deliver calves by caesarean section. Imagine my small daughter, driving through floodwaters…

FRIENDLY AND INSTANTLY LIKEABLE, Naomi Rohr is a self-confessed serial entrepreneur. “I don’t remember being like this as a kid,” says the busy mother-of-two, who runs two online businesses from her Duns Creek property in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, on the traditional lands of the Wonnarua people. “Although, I once convinced my mum to let me have a job delivering pamphlets in the neighbourhood. I was 13.” Naomi, 44, grew up on the south-western outskirts of Sydney with rural land just beyond her family’s suburban block. She enrolled in university on three separate occasions – for degrees in social sciences, chiropractics, and nursing – but nothing took hold, and travel beckoned. While skiing in the NSW Snowy Mountains at the turn of the millennium, Naomi met her…

“We tried to expose all the character, creases and stories of the house.” NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A GROWN-UP you are, sometimes your mother knows best. This is the maxim brought to mind by the story of how mohair designer Frances van Hasselt came to own her lovely home in the remote country town of Prince Albert, in South Africa’s arid Great Karoo region. Frances’s family first moved here when she was just a year old – so, she says, it has always been her “home base”. After spending some time away from her hometown, studying and working, Frances returned a few years ago to start the eponymously named Frances V.H Mohair, the mohair-weaving business she runs as part of her mission to create special, sustainable rugs, tapestries and…

I HAVE LONG SAID: “CAFE OWNERS, ignore the public’s appetite for soup at your peril.” This is especially true of our older citizens, for whom a steaming bowl of freshly made soup represents the true embodiment of comfort food. Nowadays, in food businesses on the hipper side of the ledger, it seems the humble soup has been relegated to the bench – and I think it’s a crying shame. So, why is it happening, you ask? Well, I suspect the inclusion of soup on a modern menu is like writing the name of a popular commercial band on your pencil case or backpack while at high school; you just wouldn’t do it if you’re craving street cred. This, my friends, is the crux of a greater malady affecting many of…

CRUISE MODE There’s cruising, and then there’s cruising in style. Aboard a Silversea Cruise, you’ll find some of the most spacious suites at sea, exceptional fine dining, and your own personal butler. All this, plus itineraries that take in the world’s dreamiest destinations, such as Alaska, the UK, the Galápagos Islands, and the Mediterranean. The only risk is you’ll never want to come home. Visit silversea.com perfect fit Traffic jams and plane delays mean rumpled outfits – until now. Luggage maestros July have invented the Everyday Garment Tote, a water-resistant marvel that fits plenty of pieces, keeping them safe and scrumple-free. Visit july.com TO THE RESCUE If your skin has been battered by dry aeroplane air, sudden changes in climate or general travel stress, reach for Grown Alchemist’s Skin Renewal…

Cheek Switch Crème Bronze Stick BR1, $57, from Napoleon Perdis, is a creamy, long-lasting formula that delivers radiance to cheeks and eyelids. Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna, $64, from Mecca, adds warmth and definition to skin. The silky-soft Light Thief Liquid Highlight in Bronze Honey, $55, from Napoleon Perdis, brightens the face and body. Natural Glow Loose Bronzer, $42.95, from Nude by Nature, is an oil-free mineral powder made with natural active ingredients. Dr Hauschka Translucent Bronzing Tint, $41, from Adore Beauty, enhances the complexion, either on its own or added to foundation. Luminous Highlighter Dusk Bronze, $42, from Eye of Horus, adds shimmery bronze to cheeks, eyes, lips and brows. Jouer Bloom, Bronze & Glow Bronzer & Highlighter Duo in Sungaze, $51, from Mecca, does it all: contour, define…

CHIC AND COMFORTABLE The weather is heating up, and so is Zebrano’s collection of new-season dresses in sizes 14 and above. Explore the range of carefully curated pieces designed with curvy bodies in mind, including the gorgeous LouLou Dress in Dark Ocean. zebrano.co.nz AGELESS ELEGANCE Zephyr prides itself on producing quality clothing in luxurious fabrics to suit women through all the ages and stages of life. The Macie Blouse in Caramel with Black Trim is made from 100 per cent linen. zephyrwares.com COOL EXTRAS Stay one step ahead with the help of Samsung’s Family Hub French Door Refrigerator, featuring clever apps that help you sync calendars, share photos, send messages, browse personalised recipe ideas, and even watch TV. harveynorman.com.au MADE TO MOVE Elevate everyday style and comfort levels with Frankie4’s…

FAMILIAR COMFORTS Joy of joys, I’m back subscribing after four years and just received my September Country Style. Where have I been? Hip replacements, bowel cancer, life-saving chemotherapy, and now my heart, which is playing thumping noises. What a difference four years makes – now there are full-page images of stunning houses and two-page vistas of rolling hills. No scrimping and saving on production. And as before, uplifting stories, country regions to visit, and scrumptious recipes. I can enjoy it all through these pages. Jenny Hughes, Leura, NSW TIMELY ARRIVAL Like every morning, I walked out the front door of my cottage at 8am to feed the magpies. I was greeted by the ginger “Puss in Boots”, a neighbour’s cat. The scattering of daffodils and my crepe myrtles were cheering,…

1 Babylon Forest lamp in Forest Green/Natural, $330, from Canvas + Sasson. 2 Evie table lamp in Walnut, $279, from Paola & Joy. 3 Pale Blue Birds in the Sky table lamp, $259, from Early Settler. 4 Amara Rattan table lamp, $429, from Few & Far. 5 Lima table lamp in Natural, $199.95, from Provincial Home Living. 6 Ourea Raffia table lamp in Green, $249, from Few & Far. 7 Studio VC Aspen Forged Iron table lamp, $940, from The Montauk Lighting Co. 8 1950s Audoux & Minet lamp, $3890 (sold as set of two for $7780), from Clo Studios. 9 Ticking lamp in Natural/Ink, $295, from Canvas + Sasson.…

ALI PAULETT ISN’T someone who sits still – ever. The managing director of South Australia’s Paulett Wines is the sort of woman to have an idea in one breath and make it happen the next. “I believe if you want something enough, you can make anything happen,” the motivated mother-of-three says. She talks like she works, cadence bright with passion, words tumbling over each other. It’s an energy that has seen a girl from the Adelaide Hills become a horseriding instructor, a vet nurse, a medical receptionist, a qualified draftswoman and designer, a wine marketer and now a manager at her family’s Clare Valley winery. This non-linear journey required her to decide exactly where to devote her energies, especially after burning out while running her own drafting business. “I was…

DAIRY, BAKERY, LOCAL SHOP – this charming house in Durras, on the NSW South Coast, has played several roles since it was built in the 1880s. Now, after undergoing an extensive but sensitive renovation, it’s ready to usher in a whole new era as a light-filled, comfortable family home. Its new owners – just the fourth in the home’s long history – have their own connection to Durras. Sarah and Geoff first bought property in the town, the traditional lands of the Yuin people, in 1987. “We lived there for four years and had our daughter there before moving to Canberra,” Sarah says. “We enjoyed years of idyllic beach holidays.” When they were ready to retire, Sarah and Geoff planned to renovate their Durras holiday house into a permanent base…

THE NAMES ALONE EVOKE a strong sense of place: Spargo Creek, Moorabool, the Great Dividing Range. The hamlet – “literally a sign on the road” – lies just off the freeway to Melbourne, amid thick forest, and close to Daylesford, a diverse and creative community where Natasha Morgan always stops for a morning cup of tea after dropping her children at school. Natasha worked as a landscape architect in Melbourne, before moving to Spargo Creek with her ex-partner and two children, Saffron, now 12, and Oliver, 10, in 2014. “I was always a city person, born and bred in Melbourne,” she says. “When I was pregnant with Saffron, we were living in an old scout hall. It had some chalkboards in it, and I used them to write down my…

IT’S AN EXCITING TIME to shop antiques. Whether you’re a collector or a new devotee, there’s a renewed energy in the industry and an explosion of interest as online auctions give all the convenience of mass-produced decor without the environmental impact. The benefits of decorating with antiques are almost endless. Antiques bring presence, even grandeur, while reflecting your personal style. They ground spaces, imbue a sense of timelessness and serve as a conversation starter. Plus, there’s an endless amount of availability (with no wait times). Whether you’re looking to throw in a hero piece for a vavoom effect, or to mix smaller items with contemporary furniture, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to find the right treasures for your home. Consider this your starting point to shopping for antiques,…

AND SO, November comes, bringing with it the promise of summer. The air is mild, and the dangling-carrot of holidays is on the horizon. Christmas planning is still a little way off, while spending time outdoors, eating and drinking with friends, sounds like a very good idea. Especially if it involves cake and berries. If you have ever eaten a Basque cheesecake, you’ll know what a delight it is. The deeply caramelised, dark, crackly exterior hides a gloriously smooth, creamy centre. Although made predominantly with cream cheese, I have – in a nod to the warmer weather (and swimsuit season!) – lightened my version with Greek-style yoghurt. This makes the cheesecake extra-light and a little less sweet, with a lovely lactic tang. Serve it topped with beautiful ripe strawberries, and…

UNFINISHED WOMAN Robyn Davidson, Bloomsbury, $34.99 Yes, this is the Robyn Davidson, who in 1977 crossed 2700 kilometres of desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. She was accompanied only by camels and her dog. For all the turmoil in these pages, this is a very joyous book. The memoir was supposed to be about her mother. Thankfully, there isn’t much direct contact with the unhappy woman who hanged herself when Davidson was 11; just reflections. Over the ensuing decades, Davidson took on extraordinary projects, including a year spent with nomads in India. A Rajput prince enabled the adventure, and she was his partner for two decades until he died. Shrewdly, Davidson postpones to the last chapters the account of her teen years as mistress of the owner of…

UNLESS YOU’VE SPENT THE past few months with your hoodie jacket on back-to-front, you might have somehow got an impression that there’s a crisis surrounding the availability of houses and rentals. The media would have us believe that there’s a vibrant market segment out there prepared to pay $20 million for a McMansion project home as long as it’s on a school bus route. Well, not in our parish. Touched by an outmoded belief that good, hardworking folk deserve food, clothing and shelter, it occurred to me that I might be in a position to help. Sharing Handyman Hall on our gently undulating and nonproductive rural estate is a second unoccupied structure. Okay, a bit of TLC wouldn’t go astray, but it’s the sort of place that real estate agents…