Indice dei contenuti per October 2015 in Country Style

If you have ever renovated or built a house, you’ll have to laugh like I did when you read the advice Suzanne Cowell has for would-be renovators — she recommends being married to a builder. It took three years for Suzanne and Paul to finish restoring their Launceston home but it was worth the time, as you can see on page 44. The couple lived without an oven during the renovation, something I’ve also had to do — but it’s amazing how resourceful you become when you only have a two-burner camp stove or a barbecue! I believe it actually improved my cooking, as I had to rethink the way I did things. Talking of culinary matters, I’m delighted to have a story about The Independent restaurant in Victoria’s Gembrook…

It would be hard to imagine a more fairytale setting for a wedding than the magnificent stone farm buildings at Shene in Tasmania’s Southern Midlands. And such was the case for Myfanwy Kernke when she married theatre director Ben Schostakowski at Shene in December 2014. After friends and family had gathered for the reception in the former barn, they formed an archway beneath the imposing stable edifice for the couple’s departure. The event also marked new life and purpose for the historic buildings, to the joy of Myfanwy’s parents, Anne and David Kernke. The couple bought the crumbling estate, one of Tasmania’s earliest and most important heritage-listed pastoral properties, in 2007 and since then have worked hard to restore the buildings. “It was a very special and emotional day,” says…

The building known as The Shearing Quarters on Mark and Margie Bahen’s Wilyabrup farm, 20 kilometres north of Margaret River, has an impressive West Australian timber pedigree. The structure rests on huge joists of karri, cut from timber near Pemberton to construct the Busselton Jetty and salvaged from a paddock after the jetty was destroyed by Cyclone Alby in 1978. The floor, still smelling faintly of lanolin, is made from wandoo, a type of white gum, that came from an Elders woolstore in Freemantle. “They have a lovely finish,” Margie says. “We haven’t done anything to them.” The stumps, also wandoo, are repurposed fence strainer posts — “Too hard for white ants to eat,” observes Mark — that were carted to Margaret River from the northern wheat belt years ago.…

I DIDN’T ATTEND an English boarding school and, much to my dismay, never experienced the thrill of policing dormitory corridors with the authority of tradition. I did, however, enjoy the snug fit of a blazer and the pleasure of wearing a straw boater rakishly off kilter in a Brideshead Revisited kinda way. The trouble was, I went to John Gardiner High School in Melbourne where there was no uniform, no prefects and certainly no rowing clubhouse serving cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. It was a shame really, as I always pictured myself strolling around the beautifully manicured courtyard of an esteemed institution, the hems of my corduroys gently scuffing my brogues, an armful of Yeats and Shelley, and the promise of a cheeky lunchtime pint at the imagined…

LEMON CURD Makes 400ml 3 medium lemons1 cup caster sugar3 eggs100g unsalted butter, cut into 1cm cubes Finely grate 2 teaspoons of rind from lemons. Place lemon rind in a bowl and set aside until required. Juice lemons. Strain ½ cup of lemon juice through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl. Add sugar and stir until well combined. Break eggs into a bowl and beat lightly with a fork. Strain egg through a fine sieve into a bowl. Add egg to lemon juice mixture and stir until well combined. Set heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water (make sure bowl doesn’t touch water). Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 20 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon. Remove bowl from pan and…

THE OWNERS OF De Salis Wines, Loretta and Charlie Svenson, like to make visitors feel welcome at Lofty Vineyard, a property 14 kilometres outside of Orange in NSW’s central west. Yet for all the couple’s broad smiles and engaging banter, they admit it’s their dogs — Rex, a border collie-kelpie cross, and Tanc, a pure-bred cattle dog — who kick the hospitality up to a new level. The two-dog greeting party diligently meets visitors at the car door and, tails wagging, escorts them to the tasting area on an expansive verandah that has splendid views over the 30 hectares. This dynamic duo has the ritual down to a fine art. Once the guests are safely seated, they return to a sunny patch of dirt, ready for the next arrivals. Rex…

When Helena Rubenstein burst onto the cosmetics scene in the early 20th century, she did more than take rouge from the stage to the street: she encouraged women to embrace products that made them feel beautiful. All in moderation, of course. “Whether you are 16 or over 60, remember understatement is the rule of a fine make-up artist,” Helena is famously quoted as saying. Her words still ring true — recent focus group studies have shown that subtle, rather than powerful, make-up is considered most attractive because a discreet contrast in skin tone best creates the illusion of youth. “The major trend at the moment coming from Europe is strobing… accentuating and adding radiance to create a youthful look,” says YSL make-up artist Helen Keegan of Melbourne. “It’s well suited…

DESIGNER’S TOUCH Stonefields by Paul Bangay for Elliott Clarke is the garden designer’s new collection of indoor/outdoor fabric, named after his property in country Victoria. 1300 355 468; elliottclarke.com.au Peony Never has that gardening motto ‘first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap’ been truer than when it’s applied to the peony, but it’s worth the wait. Best suited to colder climates, there are two main types: tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa Hybrids), a shrubby plant, and the smaller herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora). FOR THE BIRDS Designed with a small door to deter dreaded myna birds, the Tait ‘Birdcabin’, $200, comes in five colours, including grey and white. (03) 9419 7484; madebytait.com.au GREAT OUTDOORS The Harbour Outdoor ‘Coast’ dining table features teak slats on a powder-coated aluminium frame. $2195, from…

AMERICAN NOVELIST Peter De Vries is credited with the saying, “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” Cute. But, today, wrong. We’re currently riding a wave of nostalgia, a bombora, a tsunami of nostalgia. Put it down to global unrest, insecurity, economic uncertainty, a stagnant job market, out-of-reach house prices, lack of political vision, whatever, but our happy personal associations seem to belong in the past. It’s a strange sensation — a combination of hope and regret. “Time passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on,” someone once said. More and more, people in cities are searching for the values that small-town people never lost. The vision of Main Street triggers nostalgia for a sense of community, basic moral values, concern for others, friendly locals,…

JONATHAN CAMI The photographer went to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium for the portrait of the NRL’s Suzanne Young on page 34 . Spanish-born Jonathan came to Australia four years ago for love — he met his Australian wife on a plane and after three years together in Europe, the couple moved to Sydney. “It’s exciting to live in a new country and Sydney is a great place — almost as good as Barcelona!” he says. Of the Suzanne Young shoot, he notes, “It’s challenging when you don’t have more than 20 minutes to take a portrait, in a location you’ve never seen before. But the stadium was very interesting… I love to enter spaces designed for thousands of people when there is nobody around. I always find some magic in…

ORANGE WINE FESTIVAL 15th–November 1st. Lolli Redini restaurant is always a must when you visit Orange, and during the festival there will be a special dinner on October 31st. (02) 6360 1990. book a table NSW Tomah Gardens Restaurant Sean’s Panorama is a Bondi landmark, and now Sean Moran has opened this delightfully rustic restaurant within the stunning surrounds of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. The view inside is beautiful as well; local craftsman Roland Kindler made the tables, potter Steven Sheridan threw the plates, and wood turners Paul Trebel and Vincent Dobson turned the pepper mills and macrocarpa pod salt dishes. Open for lunch — the brisket and mushroom pot pie is a favourite — and morning and afternoon teas. 0421 552 746; bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au SA The Elbow…

As long as she can remember, Suzanne Cowell has been a collector. It was a love instilled by the Saturday garage-sale runs she used to do with her mother, Julie, and Aunt Kerryn (“an awesome op-shopper!”). She laughs now at her first collection of erasers, which she still has, and her early obsession with swap cards (Holly Hobbie a favourite). You need to allow an afternoon to do justice to a tour of this newly renovated East Launceston home. Suzanne loves sharing the story of each piece she has found during 30 years of collecting, and does this as precisely as if she’s introducing you to a much-loved if quirky old friend. “That blue cabinet has been around for 15 years,” she explains. “It’s a painted pine meat safe from…

ALL OF US have made mistakes with wine. Some have mistaken the spicy 1971 Château Lascombes for the slightly more astringent 1974 Château Brane-Cantenac. And many, many more of us have mistaken the inflammatory response from the immune system, the over-production of stomach acid and the expansion of the blood vessels in the head that comes with over-imbibing, with a flare-up of that 24-hour death thing that is going around. You know the feeling, so eloquently recounted by Kingsley Amis in his 1954 novel, Lucky Jim. ‘Dixon was alive again. Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way... He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider crab on the tarry shingle of the morning... His mouth had been used as a…

A nautical theme lets the imagination soar and wander. Teddy bears and rocking horses still have pride of place.…

If you haven’t visited Victoria’s charming provinces for a while, you may be surprised to discover how big-city savvy some places have become. If that’s the case, it may be time for a reconnaissance tour. Start with Bendigo, the state’s fourth largest regional city, 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, and you’ll find one of the most rewarding places to meet again. Bendigo, population 83,000, has always hung its hat on its mining heritage. Between 1850 and 1900, this was one of the richest goldfields in the world and today it basks in 19th-century goldrush grandeur — think opulent architecture, the imposing Alexandra Fountain, quaint tramcars trundling along Pall Mall, and at its heart, Rosalind Park — a stately, manicured garden that lends the city a distinctly European feel. Today these…

3RD–4TH SOUTH AUSTRALIA BURRA DISTRICTS OPEN GARDENS More than 25 gardens located in four towns in the Goyder region open their gates for a gold coin donation, plus view entries in the Art of The Flower & Garden competition at Burra Regional Art Gallery. 0427 267 766; burradistrictsopengardens.weebly.com 3RD–11TH NSW LEURA GARDENS FESTIVAL Situated in the Blue Mountains, the gardens of Leura are famous for azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods and other cool-climate exotics, as well as flowering annuals, perennials and bulbs. There are 10 Leura gardens open during the week, as well as musical performances and plant sales. $5 a garden or $25 for all 10. 0431 095 279; leuragardensfestival.com.au 10TH TASMANIA BLOOMIN’ TULIPS FESTIVAL Now in its 25th year, this festival in the small coastal town of Wynyard celebrates the…

COUNTING ON A SMILE I regard myself as technologically adept and appreciate the benefits of the Country Style app. However, nothing is as appealing or rewarding as receiving my hard copy. The minute I have the latest issue, I experience an overwhelming sense of pleasure and security. I cannot wait to begin. I physically feel the stress recede as I immerse myself in the journey that every page, home, family, photograph and recipe takes me on. When times are tough and I have to compromise on my purchases, Country Style is one constant that I will not let go of, such is the impact it has on my overall wellbeing. I know I’m guaranteed a smile on my face while I have a copy in my hands. Sasha Cooper, EVERTON…

DOMAYNE® MAKES IT SIMPLE FOR YOU TO CREATE A LUXURIOUSLY COMFORTABLE SOFA THAT WILL LAST YOUR FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS. PICK THE STAIN, HEIGHT, LENGTH AND STYLE OF YOUR DOMAYNE® TIMBER TABLE. JUST ADD MATCHING CHAIRS. CUSTOMISE YOUR DOMAYNE® BED SO IT’S PERFECT FOR YOU, THEN CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE FABRIC FOR THE BEDHEAD. Mattresses, trundle bed, bed linen and accessories shown are optional extras. DESIGN THE PERFECT SOFA WITH DOMAYNE® – SIMPLY SELECT THE SHAPE, SIZE AND FABRIC.…

EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY WEEKEND PACKAGE OCTOBER 23–25 Priced from $1999 per person for two nights’ twin-share in a luxurious Heritage Suite with a private pool. It includes daily breakfast, lunch and dinner with a select range of beverages, a $100 One&Only Spa credit, daily nature-based activities, and two tickets to the Country Style Champagne Dinner, with guest chef Russ Lusted from Sydney’s The Bridge Room, on Friday, October 23, at 7pm. Book on (02) 9308 0550 or oneandonlywolganvalley.com BYRON AT BYRON RESORT AND SPA WEEKEND PACKAGE NOVEMBER 27–28 Tickets for the dinner alone may be purchased for $195. Accommodation is priced from $1050 a couple for two nights in a Superior Suite at this beautiful resort just minutes from the heart of vibrant Byron Bay. Includes breakfast and two…

TASTE SAGA In Orange, NSW, Max and Fiona Schofield’s Fresh Fodder dip company was built on a recipe for taramasalata that was payment for a personal debt. It’s a wild story (told on the website) that involves violence, a narrow escape and a promise the recipe would make money one day. It did and a white variation now adds to the tale. (02) 6362 5815; freshfodder.com.au SHE’LL BE APPLES Food writer Kate McGhie grew up on a farm in Victoria’s Western District and Apple Blossom Pie (Murdoch Books, $49.99) blends her extensive kitchen know-how with memories of the food traditions of her mother and grandmother. Written with wit and charm — but not blind nostalgia, as she acknowledges that life on the land could be hard — the book includes…

LORETTA SVENSON SAYS she’s not afraid of trying new things. Yet despite having worked as a fisherman, caterer and childcare manager, nothing prepared her for leaving the beach at Sydney’s Manly to build a new life at a vineyard near NSW’s Orange. Loretta’s husband, Charlie, had a long-held desire to turn a passion for winemaking into a career and says he’s lucky to have a supportive wife. “We met in 1984 at Pancakes On The Rocks in Sydney. She was the night manager and I had a couple of cabs… we just took it from there.” After various interesting enterprises, they’ve fashioned a new life for themselves on the picturesque 30-hectare Lofty Vineyard, which is now home to De Salis Wines. The label was named after Charlie’s great-great-grandfather, Leopold Fabius…

THE REAL DEAL Myrtle & Moss, Georgina Nelson’s Melbourne-based beauty brand, makes skincare products that combine sumptuous scents with chic packaging. The range of hand creams, soaps, hand and body washes, and candles are made in small batches using pure essential oils. “Our desire is to create an incidental sensory delight through the feel and design of each product,” Georgina says. This soy wax candle, $34.95, includes lavender bud, rosemary and cedarwood. strength of character Following the cult status of L’Oréal Professionnel’s original Mythic Oil, there comes a new version, Mythic Oil Sérum De Force (50ml, $42), which treats the scalp and the hair with evening primrose oil, leaving it stronger and shinier than ever. TREE CHANGE It makes sense that the laboratory of Australian beauty label Synthesis is in…

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S coronation in 1953 is regarded as a high point in the story of massed bedding of annuals. Today you might wonder why. At that time, more than 60 years ago, public parks and gardens in the Commonwealth were awash with beds planted in patriotic combinations of red, white and blue — stripes, Union Jacks and all manner of fancy designs. Red ‘bonfire’ salvia, blue lobelia and white alyssum were the favourites. And when the celebrations were over, the annuals were discarded and a whole new combination of plants emerged. Massed beds became popular from the 1840s in Victorian England, and Australia followed this practice from the 1860s, particularly in our parks and botanical gardens. Garish colour mixtures of flowers and leaves were the norm. Today, the floral clock…

Armadillo & Co (02) 9698 4043 armadillo-co.com ASOS asos.com.au Birdsnest 1300 696 378 birdsnest.com.au Blu Dot bludot.com.au Bobbi Brown 1800 061 326 bobbibrown.com.au Breakaway 1800 001 399 breakaway.blackpepper.com.au Brownlow Interior Design(03) 9826 0062 www.brownlow.net.au Busatti(02) 9363 4318 busatti.com.au Calvin Klein 1800 812 663 calvinklein.com Catanach’s Jewellers (03) 9509 0311 catanachs.com.au Clarins (02) 9663 4277 int.clarins.com Cooper by Trelise Cooper 1800 873 508 trelisecooper.com Cult 1300 768 626 cultdesign.com.au Domo (03) 8803 8803 domo.com.au Dyson 1800 239 766 dyson.com.au Elizabeth Arden 1800 015 500 elizabetharden.com.au Est Australia (03) 9819 0726 estaustralia.com Estée Lauder 1800 061 326 esteelauder.com.au Fella Hamilton 1800 800 866 fellahamilton.com.au Forty Winks (03) 9574 5100 fortywinks.com.au Giorgio Armani 1300 651 991 armanibeauty.com Goondiwindi Cotton(07) 4671 5611 goondiwindicotton.com.au Great Dane(03) 9682 2777 greatdanefurniture.com Halcyon Lake Rugs & Carpets (03) 9421 1113 halcyonlake.com Hale Mercantile Co (03) 9939 1267 halemercantileco.com Hali Handmade Rugs 1300 131 120 hali.com.au Harvey Norman (02) 9763 6891 harveynorman.com.au Haymes Paint 1800 033…