Table of contents for May 2022 in Country Style

excitedly (forgive our youthful insensitivity) ask Mum if school would be closed tomorrow. Although our house was on a hill and we could always get to school, the kids coming in from cane farms in Broadwater, and those who lived in Woodburn and Coraki, couldn’t get to Lismore as the roads would be cut off by floodwaters. My nan and pop in Kyogle would pack everything up under their house and go and stay with my aunty and uncle. If the water rose faster than expected, they would lose whatever they were storing, and businesses in Lismore’s main street would have water all through their shops. There was loss and there was mess, but there certainly wasn’t the death and destruction we saw in February and March. People that I…

to Jo Ellem, who has won a pair of Peggy & Twig Elizabeth earrings, made from a freshwater pearl and nine-carat gold, valued at $500. Turn to page 29 to see Peggy & Twig designer Emily Burton wearing her earrings at her wedding. peggyandtwig.com.au Share your thoughts and experiences with us by writing to Country Style, GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 2001, or emailing austcountrystyle@aremedia.com.au. Please include your address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.…

IT’S DUSK AS I SIT DOWN TO WRITE TO YOU. The light is golden and the shadows long. The silver birches still have a few leaves, but every night it seems the patterned bark is becoming more prominent and soon it will just be their stark skeletons glowing in the evening light. One of the challenges of this column is writing six weeks out from when the magazine pops into your letterbox or shopping trolley. Right now, we have a week of crutching ahead of us, but by the time you read this, we will be gearing up for shearing. There’s a rhythm to the year that’s somehow comforting despite the vagaries of weather and pandemics. Before our ewes are shorn in late May, they have to be crutched. The…

• Megan worked with Stuart McKenzie (hartslane. com), and Simon Rickard (simonrickard.com). • The house was updated on a modest budget as Megan plans further renovations, so she opted for light fittings, a kitchen island bench and farmhouse sink from Ikea, and tapware from Bunnings. • When searching for homewares, Megan heads to her favourite local stores: Manteau Noir, manteaunoir.com. au; and Found, found.style. She also sources unique pieces at the Mill Markets, millmarkets.com.au • Dreaming of retiring to the country? Boomer Home Loans could help: it’s Australia’s first over-55s specialist home loans provider. Visit boomerhomeloans.com.au…

IT MAY LOOK PRISTINE, but Emma Hawkins’s farmhouse in Victoria’s Barrabool Hills carries the scars of its smallest inhabitants. “Our youngest, Primrose, has just drawn all over every single wall,” says Emma ruefully. “And on the dining chairs and even on the grand piano – it’s 150 years old, my grandmother’s grandmother shipped it over from England, but she’s drawn all over the ivory.” It’s a familiar tale to anyone with small children – Arabella (“Belle”) is five, Primrose (“Mimi”) is three and a new little sibling will join the gang in July. But it’s meant that a large-scale renovation is off the table for now. Thankfully, the 62-hectare property had been recently renovated in 2016, when the Hawkinses moved in. “It’s such a unique pocket… you’re only 10 minutes…

COMFORT FIRST The most important piece in any bedroom is the mattress. For a wide selection of top-quality options in various sizes, weights and textures, visit harveynorman.com.au…

MARTINA GEMMOLA Photographer Martina, who took the images of Emma and Tom Hawkins’s house on page 82, loves escaping to the Grampians. “There was a lot of freedom growing up with the paddocks as our playground,” says Martina, 39, of her childhood at the foot of the Grampians in Victoria. “We’d disappear for hours down the creek, making cubbies and objects out of creek clay. We spent holidays on my grandparents’ sheep farm, playing in the woodshed and dressing up the poddy lambs.” Now living in Melbourne with husband Ari and sons Iraklis, seven, and Enzo, four, Martina often heads home for a break. Of her work, she says, “I’ve forever been interested in stories, and to see and capture the way other people live is a joy.” ANGELA SAURINE…

QUEENSLAND Port Douglas Carnivale, May 20-22 Presented by the Douglas Shire Council, Port Douglas Carnivale invites tourists to the tropics for a weekend of art, music, food and family fun. The Macrossan Street Parade draws thousands of spectators and ends with a dazzling fireworks display, along with markets, food stalls and amusement rides. This year’s Longest Lunch will be held at the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, with diners treated to a four-course meal showcasing the distinctive flavours of Far North Queensland, as performers from the Wonderland Spiegeltent work their magic. Elsewhere, Family Beach Day, held on Four Mile Beach, hosts the annual sand-sculpting contest. Book early to see Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows performing live on May 22. carnivale.com.au Callide Valley Show, May 13-14 The town of Biloela, just under…

IT’S THE ULTIMATE INSPIRATION, and a go-to guide for planning your destination nuptials. And we need you! Did you or someone you know have a beautiful country wedding in the past 12 months? If you would like to tell us your story (and if you can share professional, high-resolution photographs with us), get in touch. Email hannah.james@aremedia.com.au and your wedding may feature in the magazine. SAVE THE DATE! On sale September 26…

STEPHANIE STANHOPE WOULDN’T CALL HERSELF A FEMINIST but, as the NSW leader of the largest and most influential women’s organisation in Australia, she’s at the forefront of demanding a better deal for women, particularly those who live in the bush. “We’re not afraid of controversial issues – politicians listen to us,” says Stephanie, the State President of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW. Some of these issues include domestic violence, homelessness (particularly affecting older women), rural health, inland rail, and fracking for coal seam gas. Stephanie, a former dairy farmer, has suffered her fair share of adversity, from escaping an unhappy relationship to losing her home near Bega, on the NSW South Coast, in the Black Summer bushfires. “I’ve learnt that I can control my life; that I don’t…

MOVING TO A FAMILY FARM WITH a thriving olive grove in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, was the beginning of a journey that led to a successful handmade soap and skincare business for former Sydneysider Michelle Waite. The land, in rural Broke, had been in the family for over 40 years, and was used as a much-loved holiday spot. “It was just an empty property,” says Michelle, who’d been working as a home-care nurse in Sydney. “We’d come up here as children and camp and swim down at the river. Then when my mum moved up here 25 years ago, she and my brother Andrew planted the olive grove – it was one of the first in the Hunter Valley.” Having access to olive oil as an ingredient was…

WORDS JESSICA BELLEF “LIFE IS THEATRE!” EXCLAIMS LEAH STIRTON, an event florist living in the Queensland town of Emerald, 270 kilometres west of Rockhampton. A mum to twin daughters Cora and Gretchen, and wife to Angus Stirton (known to all as “Brolga”), Leah grew up near Townsville and spent time at the local theatre company, where her parents volunteered by making costumes and scenery. “I grew up in the theatre, so building sets and stages and setting a scene is all I’ve ever known, really,” she says. The colourful experience shapes her floral styling business, The Grower’s Daughter, and is reflected in the family home. Leah met Brolga, owner of an earthworks and equipment hire operation, in 2009 in Charleville; love transpired and their twins arrived in 2015. This prompted the…

• “Our style is still developing,” says Emma. “We’ve got a lot of stuff given to us from family, which we love, and we keep adding and moving things. It’s a great house for that because its bones are simple.” • Large framed photographs by Kara Rosenlund, a painting of Tom’s home countryside of Finley, commissioned by Emma from Katie Wyatt as a birthday present, and a flower painting by Emma Itzstein decorate the walls of the living room. • Emma treasures the pieces she’s inherited from relatives, including a grand piano and a writing bureau passed down by her grandmother. • Another cherished item is Emma’s quilt from Salisbury & Maude, @salisburyandmaude, which has a note she wrote to her children stitched on the back. “It says, ‘A handmade…

AN AMBLE THROUGH THE GARDENS at Glenmore House offers a series of enriched sensory moments. These are amplified when you take that walk with the vivacious Mickey Robertson, a self-taught gardener and the heart of all activity at Glenmore. Once a city-dwelling interior designer who lived by the ritual of buying herself a generous flower arrangement every Friday evening, Mickey is now immersed in the world of flowers and colourful seasonal plantings. The property spans 12 hectares of undulating land in Glenmore, nestled into the foothills of Razorback Mountain on the outskirts of Sydney. After purchasing Glenmore House in 1988, Mickey and her husband, Larry, would visit on weekends, driving from their home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. They were determined to revive the 1850s-era, sandstone farmhouse and the handful of…

AS AUSSIES, we aren’t really encumbered by a national cuisine, and so we’ve always demonstrated a certain promiscuity when it comes to choosing what we eat, a trait which we share with few other countries. Over the years, there’s been a swelling of interest in food, cooking and the customs of the table. We appreciate that our First Nations people have long had rich traditions to draw from, their relationship with Country informing their eating for generations. Immigration has also shaped our national palate, just like the way language is always evolving, and it’s now arrived at a place people a generation ago wouldn’t recognise. “From lamb’s fry to stir fry,” as noted Australian food journalist Cherry Ripe wrote in her formative book, Goodbye Culinary Cringe. The internet allows us…

LEAH STIRTON EVENT FLORIST, 43 Leah lives in Emerald, Qld, with her husband, Angus, twin daughters Cora and Gretchen, a groodle named Diana Princess of Wales and a rescue cat named Camilla Parker Bowles. What do you love about living in the country? Listening to people’s stories. The tale of how people end up in country Australia is often incredibly heartwarming and always so interesting. How would you describe your style? Curated and theatrical. I love to blur the lines between costume and fashion. It’s a fine line, but it’s most definitely there. If you cross it, you’ll look stupid. Are you interested in fashion? Most certainly. The way I put an outfit together is the same way I decorate my home or build a floral arch. Who are your…

I WOULD LIKE to know more about this fish vase (pictured above, from the front and back) that I inherited from my great-grandmother, who got it for a wedding gift. Do you know how much it might be worth? My great-grandmother’s uncle was a fishmonger and I think it came from Japan. It would be over 100 years old. Melanie Steele, Warrandyte, Vic What a perfect gift from a fishmonger. You are correct in thinking it was made in Japan. Dating from the early 20th century, the vase would have been new when it was given as a wedding gift, so you can establish a more accurate date if you know the year that your great-grandparents were married. Vases like this were made by potteries for the foreign market and…

STYLISH STORAGE Cut down on clutter with the attractive Byron Queen Bed, featuring four generous drawers in the base for handy storage. harveynorman.com.au LUXURIOUS COMFORT This exquisitely soft handknitted Mohair Slouch Jumper can be worn loose, tucked or belted, creating your unique boho style. soulsonglife.com NATURAL WARMTH Falcon’s Earth Colour Collection of range cookers takes inspiration from nature: Mineral Green, Stone Blue, or Charcoal Black. andico.com.au/falcon BUILT TO LAST Hand-forged in Holland with a lifetime warranty, the DeWit Spork Spade range makes winter gardening a breeze. europeantoolsaustralia.com ARTISAN KEEPSAKE For timeless gifts, Raw Home creates natural linen garments, textiles and accessories that are both elegant and eco-conscious. rawhome.com.au FEMININE BEAUTY With top-quality fabrics and flattering designs, Zephyr garments suit women through all the ages and stages of life. zephyrwares.com AUSSIE…

A SALVE FOR GRIEF Jetting my way back through the clouds to coastal Victoria from Queensland following my father’s funeral, I opened the March edition of Country Style and took a deep breath. After a week of family tension and grief, ‘The Art Issue’, always a personal favourite, was my salve. Married to an artist myself, I love reading the stories of other artists. In addition, having a large collection of handmade ceramics, Chrystie Longworth’s amazing molten vases reminded me of my West German ’70s lava glaze collectables. And Alison Fraser’s raw pinch and coil techniques made me wish I lived nearer to Burradoo so that I could attend one of her workshops. Perhaps the empty annexe off my husband’s art studio at the bottom of the garden might house…

VIC Greasy Zoe’s Just under an hour’s drive from Melbourne in the town of Hurstbridge, you’ll find Greasy Zoe’s, a one-hatted, eight-seat restaurant run by just two people – chef Zoe Birch and her partner, Lachlan Gardner. What’s more, there is no set-in-stone menu; instead, Zoe creates a new fine-dining experience each day. Sustainability and a minimal environmental footprint are key for Zoe and Lachlan, who grow many of their own ingredients and source the rest from hyperlocal farmers. Diners will be treated to a multi-course meal, featuring delicacies such as organic Wapengo rock oysters, Koji eggplant with miso sprouted lentils, and strawberry with purple basil. Elevate the unique experience with a range of paired wines. Book online. greasyzoes.com.au TAS Mewstone Wines Tasmania’s family-run Mewstone Wines recently opened their new…

DURING THE WEEK, Megan Fletcher is a busy corporate consultant, living in an industrial warehouse in gritty inner-city Melbourne. But when it’s time to switch off, she hits the road to Daylesford, feeling her shoulders relax with every passing kilometre. “As you drive through the forest from Woodend to Daylesford, through all the trees, you just feel yourself exhale,” she says. “I think I feel my truest self when I’m out in the country, with a bit of space around me.” Perhaps that’s because Megan’s family has roots in Victoria’s charming spa country that reach as far back as 1860. A history buff, Megan has long been drawn to Daylesford and surrounding villages like Blampied, where she would track down her ancestors in the old cemeteries and explore the roads…

• The mustard yellow in the dining room is Kuchinashi by Porter’s Paints, while the laundry and mud room features Ecology Green by Dulux. “I went through 75,000 greens to get to that one! It’s so green, it looks almost black in a certain light,” Leah says. • Other paint colours throughout the house include Dulux custom blends inspired by the English paint brand Farrow & Ball. “The lady at the local paint desk knows me – we’re mates now because I’m always there,” says Leah. • The custom joinery in the laundry and mud room is by Ben Fraser of FraserCo Carpentry, @frasercocarpentry • Wallpaper selections include designs by Catherine Martin, and Morris & Co. • The kitchen refurbishment was completed by Allens Cabinets, allenscabinets.com.au. The benchtop is composed…

COOL, CRISP AIR, WIDE BLUE SKIES and trees turning red, orange and russet: autumn may be the best time to visit Canberra. And it’s no accident that the seasons play such a starring role in travellers’ experience of the city – it’s a place uniquely in touch with the land it occupies. The wide, tree-lined streets, much-loved lake paths and myriad ways to get close to nature means it’s as close to a country town as a city can be. “I walk around the lake every night,” says Bianca Board, the marketing manager at Pialligo Estate, an urban farm, restaurant and winery. “I feel so safe. It’s easy to get around as nothing’s more than 15 minutes away. And you’re surrounded by lakes and trees, but you’ve also got all…

SO MANY BEATS OF THE HEART Carrie Cox, Affirm, $32.99 The two children are mature enough not to ask questions such as: “When’s Dad coming back?” Hamish has told Evie he needs space and silence, and it’s certainly NOT another woman. But Evie knows. This is the first step on a path that leads to divorce. How can she be so certain? Because for 20 years she was a marriage counsellor. Cox has hit upon the most brilliant idea for a novel I’ve seen in a long time. We follow Evie’s sessions with couples as she battles to apply her own rogue remedy – which is not to think about it. Those clients give us an overview of what goes wrong in modern marriage in Australia, the how and the…

SO, I’M WATCHING THE FLOOD COVERAGE on television, and my heart goes out. It’s usually my back that goes out. (My back goes out more often than I do these days.) But this time it’s my heart… and it goes out to the tens of thousands – and, who knows, hundreds of thousands – of people down the eastern fringe of Australia flushed out of their homes and their comfortable lives by relentless, unthinkable flooding. These are people who came home from work for tea one night… and woke up the next morning with a lifetime of memorabilia floating around the tops of their wardrobes. These are people who watered their gardens at the weekend and are now sitting on their rooftops nursing the family cats and dogs. Some will…