Fleurieu Living Magazine Autumn 2020

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FLEURIEU LIVING T H E B E S T O F S O U T H A U S T R A L I A’ S F L E U R I E U P E N I N S U L A A N D K A N G A R O O I S L A N D

FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE www.fleurieuliving.com.au

HIA (Housing Industry Association) Awards 2019: · Renovation/Addition Project $400,001-$550,000 · Custom Built Home $550,001-$800,000 · Winner South Australian Lightweight Construction Housing using sheet or board materials · Winner 2019 HIA-CSR South Australian Housing Award Residential Building Designer MBA (Master Builders Association) Awards 2019 · Excellence in a Contract Home $350,000-$500,000

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AUTUMN 2020

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Pearl by the sea Twigden: Family, food and farm Tiny homes, tiny escapes Kangaroo Island calling Create your escape: Goolwa Art · Design · Food · Wine · Fashion · Photography · People · Destinations


Kangaroo Island IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS KI is a beautiful natural habitat that has recently experienced devastating bushfires. ...But the message is clear. Kangaroo Island is open for business. We want to show you what the island is all about and all there is to see, do and love. Go to sealink.com.au and find out about getting there, getting around and where to stay. So come on‌ what are you waiting for?

E XHIBITION VENUES: Stump Hill Gallery McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre Main Road, McLaren Vale

With a prize pool of $43,000, the 2020 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize will attract local and interstate artists and sculptors to McLaren Vale.

Fleurieu Arthouse 202 Main Road, McLaren Vale

Entries for artists close April 3rd 2020 with finalist announced April 27th 2020.

Hardys Tintara Sculpture Park 202 Main Road, McLaren Vale

The exhibition opens June 13th 2020 and is on display until July 19th 2020.

KEEP UP TO DATE Call 13 13 01, visit sealink.com.au or see your local travel agent

artprize.com.au | insta: @fleurieu_art_prize facebook.com/FleurieuBiennale


Give peace a chance

The NEW Pavilion 135 display is now open. Searching for a more peaceful life, whether by the sea or in the countryside? Then all we can say is it’s time to see the new Pavilion 135. Designed with a subtle Scandinavian influence, the vibe is at once simple and stylish yet versatile and practical. The Pavilion is a home with two unique buildings linked by an enclosed walkway and spacious outdoor decking. One is the hub of family life and entertainment, the other houses private family sleeping quarters and work areas. Both can be positioned to capture views and sunlight. Imagine entertaining while your children sleep quietly in their bedrooms. Now that’s really giving peace a chance! See the Pavilion 135 now on display at 9 James Congdon Drive, Mile End. Open 7 days, visit our website for more information. Imagery for illustrative purposes only. BLD 175837 SH0519


STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

Key Personnel Petra de Mooy Petra has always loved, art, design, photography and words. Combining all of these into a career has been the fulfillment of these interests. She loves working with all of the creatives on the Fleurieu to showcase the best the region has to offer. Jason Porter Jason has worked as a graphic designer and creative director both locally and overseas for over thirty years. When not in the office, he can usually be found tweaking the crossover filters on his high end audio system. Kate Le Gallez Kate started her working life as a lawyer and consultant, before turning to a lifelong love of writing. She confesses to suffering a mild podcast addiction, which results in her overuse of the phrase ‘I was listening to a podcast … ’ as a conversation starter. Kirsty Gannon Setting up home on the Fleurieu only two years ago, Kirsty feels like she has found her place in the world. With a background in film and television production in Sydney, Kirsty now thrives on the ease and pace of semirural living. Lulu Our company mascot Lulu started appearing in way too many of our Instagram posts – so now she has her own profile (sad, we know) where you can follow her charmed life. Search ‘@miss_majestica’ if you’re so inclined.

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Featured Contributors Aaron Citti Aaron Citti is an awarded commercial photographer based in Adelaide, Australia. He’s an Associate of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, specialising in architecture and interior photography. His images of projects in Australia and overseas are published nationally and internationally in London, New York, Europe and Canada. With a passion for architectural design and a background in art photography that saw his creative works exhibited across the world, Aaron treats each commercial image as a work of art seeking to evoke an emotive response and communicate a clear message to the viewer.

Gill Gordon-Smith IWE Gill is a Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) expert, artisan producer, retailer, writer, judge and educator based in McLaren Vale. With diplomas in Training Design and Development, as well as Vocational Education and Training, she is a Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Certified Educator and presents internationally for Wine Australia and VIA. If that’s not enough, she also coordinates the Wine and Spirit School at TAFE SA and lives out her passion for Italian grapes through producing a number of Italian varieties in McLaren Vale. You may have noticed a theme: Gill loves wine – she doesn’t do anything else.


Publisher Information Poppy Fitzpatrick Poppy is a soon-to-be journalism graduate, with an adventurous spirit and a strong appreciation for beautiful words next to beautiful pictures. Growing up barefoot on the Fleurieu between sheep yards and sand dunes, her world travels always inevitably surrender to the lure of home. When she’s not pointing her camera in people’s faces, or driving with her windows down on the Aldinga Esplanade blasting obnoxiously loud music, you’ll find her trying to convince people that she lives in the best part of the world – whether they’re listening or not.

Other contributing writers, photographers and stylists: Mel Amos, Olivia Baker, Aise Dillon, Zannie Flanagan, Lori-Ellen Grant, Nina Keath, Pia Nowland, Mark Laurie, Heidi Lewis, Heather Millar, Kathie Muir, Brittany Pfeiffer and Marcus Syvertsen.

PUBLISHER Fleurieu Living Magazine is published four times a year by Fleurieu Living Pty Ltd. ISSN 2200-4033 PUBLISHING EDITOR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au EDITOR Kate Le Gallez ADVERTISING SALES Kirsty Gannon kirsty@fleurieuliving.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jason Porter jason@fleurieuliving.com.au PRINTER Graphic Print Group DISTRIBUTION Integrated Publication Solutions SUBSCRIPTIONS Print: isubscribe.com.au Digital: zinio.com ALL ENQUIRIES Petra de Mooy petra@fleurieuliving.com.au POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 111, Aldinga, South Australia 5173. ONLINE fleurieuliving.com.au facebook.com/FleurieuLivingMagazine instagram.com/fleurieulivingmagazine/ COPYRIGHT All content copyright Fleurieu Living Magazine Pty Ltd unless otherwise stated. While Fleurieu Living Magazine takes every care to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publisher accepts no liability for errors in editorial or advertising copy. The views of the contributors are not necessarily endorsed by Fleurieu Living Magazine.

Printed on paper from well managed forests and controlled sources using environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.

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THIS ISSUE

Contents

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FEATURED VENUE Pearl by the sea.

FEATURED HOME Twigden Farm.

FRONT COVER PHOTO: by Aaron Citti.

FOOD & WINE

PENINSULA PEOPLE

36 Uncorked: Wine reviews by the award- winning Gill Gordon-Smith IWE

60 Trailblazer: Zannie Flanagan

70 Food & wine matching: Spanish- inspired bruschetta with S.C. Pannell’s Tempranillo Touriga 82 Helen Mouneimne: The Greek Vegetarian 94 Mixed Six: Six wines to buy and try 38 Producer profile: Lara Tilbrook of Bush Organics

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46 Zara Lupton and Chris Davies on building the Willunga Basin Walking Trail 78 Sustainability and you: Lucy Mount, Boe Langford, Marie Sulda and Louis Nicholson – finding ways to make a difference


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ARTIST FEATURE Annabelle Collett.

LOCAL TOWN FEATURE Goolwa.

54 DESTINATION FEATURE Kangaroo Island calling.

BOOKS & WORDS

BEST OF THE FLEURIEU

BEING SOCIAL

74 Great autumn reads by Mark Laurie of South Seas Books at Port Elliot

64 Create your escape: Goolwa

HEALTH & WELLBEING

24 Talking Shop: Six local retailers tell us what’s hot

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40 Building resilience

54 Kangaroo Island calling

FLM sees who was out and about at: · FLM Summer Launch at Dowie Doole · Serafino Bushfire Appeal · Party for Purpose at Fall from Grace · Bushfire Relief at the Bocce Club

ART & DESIGN

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

WEDDINGS

22 Boutique and Unique: Sarah Ashcroft of Stentorian Leather

12 Diary dates: to keep you busy this autumn

92 Mike Dinnen and Pia Nowland, 29 November 2019, Lapito House

28 Annabelle Collett: Creator and catalyst

58 Bush Festival – Kangaroo Island

42 Hither & Yon: Connection by design

90 Tasting Australia: Hot tickets here on the Fleurieu

32 Tiny homes, tiny escapes

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ACKNOWLEDGES

Our advertising partners A special thanks to the advertising partners that have made a long-term commitment to FLM. GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

pril (Bookings 03 9005 7750) Road, Goolwa on 8 and 9 April otographic Exhibition at olwa from 9 to 23 April Mike - Kids Magic ary Hall, Goolwa on 17 April oden Boat Festival at the on 22 and 23 April hael Griffiths at Centenary l

Silent Disco 4 Kids Party at Strathalbyn Library Community Centre on 27 April *Sista Girl, at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 5 May Our Mob 2015, Aboriginal arts at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa from 5 May to 11 June Good Things Small Packages, at South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa from 5 May to 18 June *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - The Elton John Tribute Show at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 20 May * tickets/ booking required

call Council’s Visitor Information Centre on 1300 466 592. Alexandrina Council a copy online for more events in the region, www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au

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Brand culture As a thank you to our advertising partners, we would like to showcase these amazing enterprises via a short introduction to their respective businesses. Each issue will offer some insight into three of our partners.

Samson Tall Strout Road’s historical chapel has gone through several reincarnations since its establishment in 1854. Its most recent custodians, Paul Wilson and Heather Budich, have given it new life as winery and cellar door Samson Tall – named in honour of the original owner of the property. Samson Tall wines are made from local McLaren Vale grapes, carefully selected and purchased by Paul and Heather. Their current selection of five single-vineyard wines are only available for purchase directly from the cellar door located in the historic chapel, which overlooks neighbouring vineyards and boasts a cosy interior. Paul and Heather, who met while working across the road at Wirra Wirra, had their eye on the property for eight years before they were able to call it their own. With no staff outside the family, the couple share the workload, with support from their smaller helpers during busy times of year: their two children and trusty dog Miller. They aim to keep it ‘nice and simple’ – a true team effort and an approach to business that ensures family comes first. Elders Insurance Southern Fleurieu The team at Elders Insurance Southern Fleurieu, located in Victor Harbor, pride themselves on their strong local knowledge and connection to the community. Their professional and approachable team seek to maintain the best of ‘old-fashioned’ business, by meeting with clients in-person to find the best possible solutions for their needs. By maintaining open and honest communication, Elders Insurance Southern Fleurieu make the insurance process accessible and

collaborative. Claims are handled by the team within the office, ensuring clients will have a highly personalised experience rather than being handed from person to person. Authorised Representative Adam Bowden says his highest priority is always being available to his clients when they need assistance. Despite always making sure he’s around to answer his phone, Adam also enjoys unwinding on the beach with his wife and kids, grateful for the lifestyle the Fleurieu coast offers. Sarah Homes Sarah Homes delivers contemporary, open-plan designs that are distinguished by their simplicity through maximising space, harnessing natural light and providing practical functionality. Always striving to be in tune with their customers’ needs, Sarah Homes offers more than fifty unique designs, with plenty of opportunity to add your personal touch. Incorporating expansive windows, decking and open-plan living, their layouts encourage you to soak in the boundless coastal and country playgrounds South Australia has to offer. Sarah Homes take pride in eco-conscious designs, which optimise seasonal light and shade and use sustainable materials. From planning through to construction, each home is built to minimise its carbon footprint. The Sarah Homes team provides years of professional experience, among a company culture of quality and integrity. Whether you seek a lifestyle with abundant space for fun and entertaining, or prefer quiet, relaxed contemplation, your dream Sarah Home awaits.

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Custom Home Design

STUDIO

Phone: 7080 0476 www.designtechstudio.com.au


Welcome to FLM From the FLM team

From our readers

Normally we aim to plan all the content for our autumn issue before we break for the holidays. It’s a great way to end the year; knowing we’re set up for the new year gives us the space to truly relax.

On the cover of this issue is the new restaurant on the Aldinga Beach foreshore, Pearl. Owners Jules and Bec worked thoughtfully through the design and build process to realise this dream and, with the help of council, friends and family, they opened in late January this year. Jules Rydon wrote us the following about the name – Pearl:

But this year, nothing was normal. Over the holidays, we spent time in East Gippsland in Victoria – narrowly escaping the fires that tore through much of the south-east coast. We then spent the rest of our trip taking detours to avoid other bushfire zones across New South Wales. After returning home to the Fleurieu, we were saddened to hear about the continuing fires and losses on Kangaroo Island. These experiences gave us pause. It seemed incongruous to go back to business as usual, as if nothing had changed. So we went about adjusting our plans to reflect a more mindful approach by giving sustainability a stronger focus across all our content for this issue. Some of what we’d planned already fit nicely into this subject area, like the features on tiny homes and the Willunga Basin Walking Trail. Celebrating Annabelle Collett’s work took on greater poignancy, with many of her pieces being made from found plastic, while new restaurant Pearl and the owners of Twigden Farm show the beauty that can be created from reclaimed materials and goods. We made a point of visiting Kangaroo Island to see the impact first hand, but also to seek out all that was not affected and to celebrate that, and we decided to include a feature on long-time Kangaroo Island resident Lara Tilbrook – an environmentalist and activist on the island. Our local retailers are also making more conscious choices about sustainable brands. Amidst it all, I hope we can appreciate the importance of the big and small pleasures of life, focusing on what’s important and the many things we have to be grateful for living in this wonderful part of the world. The FLM Team

‘We wanted a name that depicts the obvious connection with the sea but one that doesn’t define your dining occasion. The surface of every pearl is unique like a fingerprint – symbolic of us making our mark on the coastline and representing changing physical and food experiences. Pearls in their true essence are a natural anomaly, organically formed. We wanted to expand on this idea with our building and create something singular but harmonious with its environment, utilising natural materials and colours. The pitches of the roof have been designed to emulate a shell opening towards the ocean. And the circular imagery in our branding is symbolic of a cycle – the idea of the food waste we generate in the preparation of our food being returned to compost for use in growing more vegetables, back to the plate and so on.’ Some words from Charlotte of Charlotte Dalton Wines, and Olivia Baker of Eleanor Downs on Kangaroo Island, both of whom were a delight to work with in our summer issue: ‘Fleurieu Living is such a beautiful local mag – one of those real holiday treats, a read that you can settle into a hammock with and linger. Ben and I also had a lot of fun doing the feature on our new joint cellar door – The Joinery at Factory 9 in Port Elliot, and being dressed by Elliot & Me Boutique and West of Venus, both in Port Elliot was a real treat!’ Charlotte Dalton, The Joinery At Factory 9 ‘Dear Petra and the team at FLM, we’ve been avid readers of your quality magazine for ages now and love being introduced to new people and businesses in our region. So when you made the time and effort to visit our farm and we were able to see your work in action we were so impressed. Your enthusiasm and support for local people and their businesses is awesome. We are lucky to have people like you who are passionate about all things local and who actually promote our region for the right reasons. Thank you for incorporating Kangaroo Island in your magazine, it opens up so many opportunities for the wonderful things happening here and let’s the world know what we are doing! Keep up the awesome work.’ Olivia Baker, Eleanor Downs, Kangaroo Island.

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MARKETS & EVENTS

Autumn Diary Dates LOCAL MARKETS:

COUNTRY MARKETS:

The Vale Market McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre March 9, April 13, June 8, 10am – 3pm Showcasing local produce, wines, crafts and souvenirs from the Fleurieu with live music and a free bouncy castle for the kids.

Penneshaw Market Day Lloyd Collins Reserve/Penneshaw Oval First Sunday of each month and Easter Sunday, 9am – 2pm This market brings together the KI Farmers Market and the KI Community Market. Have brunch and enjoy Kangaroo Island’s top produce with a great village atmosphere by the beach. For discounted market ferry fares, visit sealink.com.au.

Willunga Farmers Market Willunga Town Square Every Saturday, 8am – 12.30pm Come rain, hail or shine, enjoy fresh produce from more than eighty farmers and artisan food makers. Become a member for discounts on all your goods, and enjoy the nourishing community atmosphere every week. Willunga Quarry Market Adjacent to the Willunga Oval Second Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm Browse through an eclectic mix of wares ranging from secondhand tools to plants and crafts. Willunga Artisans and Handmade Market Willunga Show Hall Second Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm An inspiring curated market showcasing local art and handmade goods. It’s a great place to buy a unique, handmade gift made from high quality materials. Goolwa Wharf Market First and third Sunday of every month, 9am – 3pm With around eighty stalls including bric-a-brac, collectables, fresh local produce, plants, books both new and old, unique artisan goods, and delicious food and coffee, you will find a myriad of goodies at this market. Port Elliot Market Lakala Reserve, Port Elliot First and third Saturday of each month, 9am – 2pm A classic country market with plenty of fresh local produce, plants, bric-a-brac, books, fishing gear, and even a two dollar stall. Soak up the ambience and variety of wares both you and your dogs can enjoy. Victor Harbor Farmers Market Grosvenor Gardens, Victor Harbor Every Saturday, 8am – 12.30pm Spend the morning choosing from thirty plus stalls, with locally caught seafood, organic vegetables, seasonal fruit, local honey, mushrooms, fresh flowers, Fleurieu wines and much more. Right: Don’t miss the McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic on the 4th and 5th of April with a street parade and events at various wineries throughout McLaren Vale.

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Meadows Country Market Meadows Memorial Hall Second Sunday of each month, 9am – 3pm A true country market with seventy stalls selling local produce, hearty country food, crafts, collectables, plants and bric-a-brac. Myponga Markets The old Myponga Cheese Factory (next to Smiling Samoyed Brewery) Saturdays, Sundays and most public holidays, 9.30am – 4pm Browse a variety of stalls, including art, books, fine china and glass, toys, local leatherwork, records and fossils. There is also a variety of local food choices including waffles and gelato for those with a sweet tooth. Strathalbyn Markets Next to the Gilbert’s Motor Museum on High Street Third Sunday of every month, 8am – 3pm A quaint, country-style market with bric-a-brac, local produce and condiments, crafts, plants, jewellery and much more. Yankalilla Craft and Produce Market Agricultural Hall Third Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm This lesser-known market is a surprising little gem offering homemade jams and preserves, delicious sweet treats, locally grown fruits and vegetables, plus craftwork, trinkets and unique gifts.


FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: MARCH

APRIL

Fringe in Goolwa Goolwa March 5 – 9 Enjoy a whole weekend of live music, performances, workshops, comedy and more as the Adelaide Fringe Festival comes down south.

McLaren Vale Vintage and Classic Main Street, McLaren Vale and local wineries April 4 – 5 There will be plenty of delicious regional produce to enjoy at the 15th Vintage and Classic Charity Dinner on the Saturday night, raising funds for new equipment at the McLaren Vale and District War Memorial Hospital and local fire brigades. Enjoy a celebration of vintage and collectable cars from the Fleurieu and beyond at the free street parade, beginning at 11am on the Sunday. Dress up in your favourite era – prizes for best efforts.

At the Wharf Signal Point Gallery Deck, Goolwa March 8, 1.30pm – 5pm Bring your own chair or rug to enjoy live music on the deck and lawns at Signal Point. Local wine is available by the glass and bottle, as well as delicious food. Stargazing at McLaren Vale McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre March 13, 8.30pm – 10pm Discover stars, planets and other celestial objects through telescopes with a multicultural laser pointer guided tour. Book a ticket online, or at the McLaren Vale Visitor Information Centre. 25th Anniversary Twilight Food Affair Tatachilla Lutheran College March 20, 4.30pm – 9pm Tatachilla Lutheran College will come alive as it stages its annual Twilight Food Affair – an enjoyable night for the entire community. Held on the college grounds, this family-friendly event showcases the best of the region’s food and wine, offering live entertainment, rides, fun activities and the Flagstaff Coaches Fireworks display. Bush Festival Eleanor Downs, Kangaroo Island March 21, 2.30pm – 11pm The second Bush Festival is back, and it’s bigger and better with more comedy, theatre and music. Six international shows brought to you straight from the Adelaide Fringe Festival, with gourmet food, live music, face painting and glamping tents. Tickets available online. Vine Warp Leconfield and Richard Hamilton Wines March 28, 3pm – 10pm Australia’s biggest outdoor winery party, celebrating the best music, dance and fashion of the past four decades. It will be a day of sunshine amongst the vines, with delicious wines and cocktails, gourmet food and jam-packed entertainment. Tickets available online.

Aquafest Goolwa Aquatic Club April 4 – 5, 9am – 5pm Aquafest is a fun day outdoors for the whole family featuring boat racing, outboards and hydroplanes. Willunga Waldorf School Autumn Fair April 4, 10am – 4pm Come along and celebrate Waldorf education in Willunga with good food, live music, fun activities and craft stalls. Field Good Friday Yeo Haus, Shop of Gentle Goods April 10, 12pm – 10pm Presenting the new Easter classic, Field Good Friday. A day of music and art right in the heart of Port Elliot. Kangaroo Island Easter Art Exhibition Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island April 11 – 19 In its 33rd year, the KI Easter Art Exhibition is the largest, most diverse art show on the island. The exhibition will display an outstanding array of artworks from the island’s many talented emerging and established artists. Come and celebrate the official opening and presentation night at 6.30pm on April 10, or visit at your leisure until April 19. More information at www.southaustralia.com Fleurieu Sounds Penny’s Hill Wines, McLaren Vale April 18, 4pm – 12 midnight This is going to be one fun party. The wonderful acts on the day include: The Levitators, We Move Like Giants, Laura Hill, Aidan J Jones, Great Moose, DJ Es’Ay and Josh T.C. Families are welcome, children under twelve are free. >

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Above: The 25th Anniversary Twilight Food Affair at Tatachilla Lutheran College on March 20th is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS (cont.) Beef Party Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, McLaren Vale April 19, 12 – 4pm Teaming up with 36° South for a four-course lunch matched with a selection of Oliver’s Taranga wines. These are very popular events, so get your mates together and book early! Tickets available online. Goolwa Airshow Goolwa Airport April 26, 10am – 5pm A fun family day full of aerobatics, warbirds, skydiving, formation aerobatics, and lots of static displays. Something for the whole family.

MAY Langhorne Creek Wine Show Luncheon Memorial Hall and Lake Breeze Wines May 1, 10am – 5pm Sample the best local wine indoors, ahead of lunch on the lawns by the fabulous Simon Burr of the Ol Factory Inn at Lake Breeze Wines, where the Champion Wine and Top of the Class Awards will be celebrated. A Taste of Italy Weekend Getaway South Australia Waverley Estate, Port Elliot May 1, 4pm – May 3, 12pm Your host is the amazing Chef Renato Di Stefano for this incredible two-night getaway in first-class accommodation. Five sensational meals, carefully selected wines, traditional Italian cooking and pasta making, recipes, a little Italian language, bocce and so much more! Red Poles and Spinning Yarns Aboriginal Festival Red Poles, McLaren Vale May 2 – 3 This Aboriginal Festival will include many activities and presentations such as welcome to country, a smoking ceremony and cultural dance performance. An indigenous artists’ market will be held on the lawns. 14

Snorkel the Star of Greece Shipwreck Port Willunga May 2 – 16 Join professional snorkel leaders and marine biologists for a guided snorkel at Port Willunga Beach. The reef is the final resting place of the shipwreck Star of Greece and home to an amazing variety of colourful fish and plant life. Book online at www.emsau.org Great Southern Run Fest Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club May 3, 6.30am – 2pm The Great Southern Run Fest 2020 offers 30K, half marathon, 10K and 5K events to be run or walked over a stunning and varied course around Aldinga Bay. There will also be a free kids’ beach run. Peninsula Olive Festival Peninsula Providore/Nangkita Grove, Tooperang May 24, 10am – 4pm Farmers market, local produce, food, cheese, music, pottery, meat, extra virgin olive oil tasting, olive pickling seminars, cooking demonstrations, wine, gin, beer, grove tours. What more could you want? Food bookings are essential. Visit www.peninsulaprovidore. net.au for more information.

EARLY JUNE 2020 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize Main Road, McLaren Vale June 13 – July 19 The Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize is celebrating its 21st anniversary by returning home to McLaren Vale. Artists from all over Australia will respond to the theme ‘Of the Earth’. Finalists selected will be shown at the Stump Hill Gallery, Fleurieu Arthouse and Hardys Tintara Sculpture Park.



Pearl by the sea Story by Zannie Flanagan. Photography by Aaron Citti. Styling by Marcus Syvertsen.


Page left: The south facing deck features large timber posts and beams salvaged from Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide. Above: The north facing kiosk serves delicious coffee and breakfast in a casual beach-friendly area but can become a versatile space for patrons to dine outdoors when the winds pick up on the south side. In the warmer months it can also act as a place to enjoy a wine or cocktail while you await your seat inside.

Pearl, the Fleurieu’s latest seaside eatery, is at last open for business. Jules Rydon and Bec Seidel have created a casual and stylish restaurant perfectly suited to the locale they both know so well. I confess I’ve known the owners since they were youngsters, so I admit to being biased. Not because I’ve known them for so long, but because I know them well enough to share their excitement about their new venture. Jules and Bec cut their teeth in hospitality as part of the local band of young pre-teens who worked at Russell’s in Willunga when it first opened in 1992. As they got older, I’d often bump into them on

the beach at Port Willunga with the old gang, cooking up a feed of fresh squid on a makeshift BBQ. Eventually they both moved away to pursue their careers but if you’ve been lucky enough to grow up here, the region has a way of seducing you home. After all, what’s not to love? The Fleurieu offers a relaxed lifestyle, affordable housing, and a supportive, creative community all wrapped up in an environment that’s hard to beat. Slowly but surely the region has developed a thriving tourist industry as more people discover what it has to offer. Once known only for its wines, there is now an innovative food culture evident every Saturday at the Willunga Farmers Market and on the plates of the best restaurants in the region. And that’s where Pearl comes into its own. Five years ago, the Onkaparinga Council realised the potential for coastal hospitality and offered a number of sites for tender. Jules and Bec’s proposal won the site at the Aldinga boat-ramp and after a long and often > 17


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Page left: Owner Bec Seidel stands at the front-of-house bar. The cascading plants are reminiscent of a sea garden or cascading waves – a tip of the hat to their stunning location. This page top: A cooling drink anyone? The Pearl logo represents their interpretation of a pearl – ever-changing, perfectly imperfect with no two ever being the same. Above: The large breezy dining room captures 180-degree views – also ever changing and dynamic.

protracted period of negotiation, the metamorphosis from dilapidated beach kiosk to hip, casual eatery began. Historically, there hasn’t been much on offer this far down the coast as it has often been a struggle for survival during winter months. So not surprisingly, locals, weekenders and holidaymakers have been keeping a keen eye on Pearl’s progress. The wait has been worth it. There’s a lot of creative juice in the DNA of this young couple and it’s on show everywhere. The space is beautifully crafted, full of respect for materials with history and provenance, with every detail thoughtfully considered and every problem creatively solved. Pearl

has been a friends’ and family affair from the beginning, with Jules’ dad Dave coming out of retirement to work beside Jules and Bec for the duration of the project. The couple’s combined creative aesthetic, beautifully expressed by Bec’s dramatic steel logo, is on show everywhere. Recycled timbers, painstakingly de-nailed and re-planed by Bec and Jules, cover much of the external face of the building, texturally offset by Corten steel, hosed down to create a beautiful rusted patina. The impressive verandah posts, salvaged from the recent demolition of Her Majesty’s Theatre in Grote Street, seem to anchor the building to the site. >

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Above left: Everywhere you look – a picture perfect view. Top right: Jules and Bec take time to enjoy the gifts of their efforts. Bottom right: Jules describes the menu as future-friendly seafood focusing on everything fresh and local.

Inside, the central dining area is lit by three giant light-shades that only folks my age would recognise as the upturned insides of old agitator washing machines. The bar area connects effortlessly to the kitchen and faces out across the dining area to the hills and ocean beyond. On the duck-blue back wall of the bar is a row of taps that draw local craft beer from kegs stored in the coolroom behind. The blue wall is actually one side of a container that has been converted to house not only the coolroom and freezer but also a dry store. Clever!

And then there’s the kitchen. You can tell the owner is the chef – it is spacious and open, with an enormous island bench and seemingly endless surfaces of glistening stainless steel. The area is light and airy with windows on three sides opening to the spectacular views. ‘For too long I’ve worked in closed-off kitchens with no natural light, separated from the front of house and disengaged from diners. It’s time for a change don’t you think?’ says Jules. This sleek kitchen is the heart of the restaurant, on show for all to see and I can’t imagine it’s going to be difficult finding chefs to work here.

The seaside environment can be a challenge especially with a site so close to the ocean, but in this building the prevailing weather patterns will be utilised to provide passive heating and cooling. On a fine day, the internal space is opened to the elements, intentionally submitting to the majestic views that give diners the sense they’re sitting in the sand dunes.

So what can we expect on the menu? Jules’ Greek heritage (his grandfather started a fishmonger’s dynasty in Melbourne) will no doubt be front and centre on the menu, and according to Jules, will reflect the location and the region’s abundant, fresh, seasonal produce. Expect bold, delicious flavours driven by the sea and the seasons.

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Top: In the dunes of Aldinga Beach you will find Pearl – a carefully considered labour of love. Bottom left: Jules says the menu at Pearl will evolve and change but always be influenced by what is fresh, sustainable and local. Bottom right: The Corten steel logo sits beautifully against the blue shipping container.

I managed to get a booking the second night they opened and it was everything I hoped it would be. The shared plates were ample for our table of five and the favourite dish of the night was the deep-fried school prawns that had been doused in tapioca flour and seasoned with saltbush and nori salt. The crispy little crustaceans were served with a house-made aioli. Next came a kilo of chilli mussels, distinctly flavoured with ginger and lemongrass. Then there was a stingray fillet topped with a pungent salsa verde and served with garlic and rosemary-flavoured potatoes. Finally, there followed a plate of two whole garfish, chargrilled with zaatar and served with a mild pickle of daikon, radish and carrot that perfectly offset the delicacy of the fish. We also tried a plate of grilled, chunky and still crunchy zucchini, and a modern version of a Greek salad featuring local feta and olives. For dessert, there was a panna cotta lightly flavoured with thyme and served with grilled peaches and galaktoboureko served with a

refreshing grapefruit and orange compote. Both were delicious. ‘It’s been a long road!’ reflects Jules as we sit looking out to sea watching the sunset, Bec nodding her head in agreement. ‘It’s taken five years and a lot of patience and persistence to get here, but we’re really excited for the next chapter.’ The next chapter will no doubt bring a completely different set of challenges to add to the mix when Jules and Bec’s first baby arrives in May. Hopefully I’ll get to have a cuddle now and then, though the competition is stiff with so many grandparents living close by. I’m willing to take my chances. Oh and one last thing, for those of you who walk the beach with your pooch – the coffee is excellent!

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BOUTIQUE & UNIQUE

Bottom right: Sarah Ashcroft in her studio. Two of her favourite bespoke designs – left: The ‘Ida’ bag and top right: ‘The Classic Messenger.’

Carefully crafted Story by Brittany Pfeiffer.

Port Willunga-based leather crafter Sarah Ashcroft handmakes minimalistic bags, purses and accessories under her label, Stentorian Leather. ‘Stentorian’ means a voice that speaks loudly and powerfully, and with their pared-back, perfectlyproportioned forms, Sarah’s pieces certainly demand your attention. Pursuing creative outlets from a young age, Sarah settled on leather crafting while she was living in Byron Bay. ‘Creating a leather product by hand from start to finish is a very rewarding thing. It’s lovely working with a quality material like leather, the feeling of pulling a piece of leather off the shelf and rolling it out on my workbench like a blank canvas is incredibly satisfying,’ says Sarah. After stocking up on leather scraps from a store in Byron Bay on her drive home from work one day, Sarah began using YouTube to teach herself the craft – making bags and accessories for friends and herself. ‘The wallets I made when I was starting out were so terrible, but it shows my skills are much more refined and I’m so proud of what I can make nowadays,’ says Sarah. Encouraged by her friends and partner, Robert, she started selling her pieces locally and Stentorian Leather was born. Sarah and Robert relocated to the Fleurieu Peninsula twelve months ago. Robert had spent his summer holidays in Port Willunga as a child and the slow and relaxed lifestyle and pristine beaches drew them in. Sarah is continuously inspired by the natural surroundings of her new locale, ‘the colour palette directly reflects the beach with the warm earthy tones or the shades of blue I choose,’ says Sarah. It’s not just the local landscape, but also the feedback she receives 22

from her local customers (who can buy directly or through Little Road Studio in Aldinga and the Fleurieu Arthouse in McLaren Vale) that inspires her. ‘Having a business is so thrilling when I get to see someone value the product I invested so much time into,’ Sarah says. Stentorian Leather was created with sustainability in mind and Sarah is committed to staying true to natural materials and traditional techniques, and making sustainable choices wherever possible. She chooses the best-quality, full-grain leather for all Stentorian products. ‘In a lot of cases the top layers of leather are shaved back to remove the imperfections and scars left from the lifetime of the animal. This in turn compromises the quality and strength of the leather,’ Sarah explains. Further to this, she uses vegetable-tanned leather for most of Stentorian’s products – the environmentally friendly alternative to chrome-tanned leather. ‘Roughly eighty per cent of leather out there is chrome tanned which is a highly chemical tanning process,’ says Sarah. Vegetable tanning offers a completely natural, albeit slower, tanning alternative, using various barks, leaves and plants to tan the leather. The result is a more durable, chemicalfree material. Each of Sarah’s pieces are designed and handmade in her backyard studio in Port Willunga using techniques that, alongside her choice of leather, contribute to a longer life for each of her designs. She uses a hand-stitching technique called saddle-stitch: ‘this traditional stitch uses two needles that weave through the leather in opposite directions. This technique is more durable and has a greater longevity,’ explains Sarah. While she prefers to hand stitch, Sarah is also looking to buy an industrial sewing machine this year to help with the growing number of orders she’s receiving. The demand and growth of Stentorian Leather means Sarah is looking to go full time in the next couple of months, bringing her husband on board to help with the business side. It seems the voice of Stentorian Leather will only continue to grow in strength.


We believe in being yourself. We celebrate your differences. We embrace change. We, like you, are one of a kind. Let us design and make your space. SA’s Kitchen Designer of the year. spacecraftjoinery.com.au


Above: Kristy Robertshaw.

Above: Abbi Webber

Talking shop Photography by Jason Porter.

Charlie & Jack, Victor Harbor Owner: Kristy Robertshaw (a.k.a Crazy Plant Lady)

Elliot & Me, Port Elliot Owner: Abbi Webber

Specialising in? Indoor plants, leather goods, ceramics, planters, baskets, homewares, jewellery, beauty products and more.

What do you sell? Women’s fashion, shoes and accessories.

Shop ethos? There’s no such thing as too many plants!

Shop ethos? To provide a carefully curated selection of ethical, sustainable, local and Australian brands to our community. We want our customers to always find something different and allow them to celebrate their personality through conscious fashion.

Why have you chosen the brands you have? Because I love them! I stock a majority of Australian brands – amazing artists who are passionate about their products. Favourite products coming in for autumn? It’s always exciting to see what’s available each plant shopping trip. I’m always looking for new products, it keeps it exciting for my customers and myself! Our customers say? They love that my plants have names and stories. Trendspotting... what do you see that you love? I think we are moving more and more into wanting to buy products that we believe in. Products that promote wellness and sustainability, that have businesses behind them who care and have a story with values that we believe in, and to build our sense of community.

Specialising in? We are well known for our Turkish leather shoes!

Sustainable brands? Elk the Label, Nancybird, Torju, Olga de Polga, Frock Me Out, Woodfolk accessories and JASKA earrings. Why have you chosen the brands you have? Firstly, our brands have an ethos that is aligned with our store vision. They work with sustainable manufacturing practices from the fabrics they utilise, the support they provide to villages where their factories exist, right through to their packaging. Secondly, most of our brands design their own fabric, have amazing cuts and offer such a great point of difference from mainstream, fast fashion brands. Favourite products coming in for autumn? Nearly the entire autumn/winter collection from Elk the Label. Our customers say? I can always find something unique in your store, there is nothing like this in town! Trendspotting… what do you see that you love? GREEN! Green will be everywhere this winter, and we can’t wait.

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Above: Grace De Leo.

Above: Marcus Syvertsen.

Miss Gladys on Sea, The Temperance Precinct, Aldinga Township

Little Road Studio, The Temperance Precinct, Aldinga Township

Stylist: Grace De Leo

Owner: Marcus Syvertsen.

Specialising in? Innovative design is our focus. Men’s and women’s clothing and footwear with a happy twist.

What do you sell? A curated range of furniture, art, homewares, textiles, lighting and lifestyle products.

Shop ethos? Honest, enthusiastic service that leads to long-term trust and friendship with both customers and suppliers.

Specialising in: We help clients all over SA with interior design and styling services, from individual rooms to entire houses.

Sustainable brands? Good design, innovation and fun create the icons of style which are both eternal and sustainable. So choose carefully.

Shop ethos: A unique offering of interior design and styling services, along with a concept retail store of curated furniture, art, homewares, lighting and lifestyle pieces.

Favourite products coming in for autumn? Every year we fuss about new shoe construction, materials and styling and curate with our clothing selections that we hope will help customers choose wisely.

Sustainable brands? Armadillo & Co, Stentorian Leather, Montauk Linen, Batch Ceramics, plus many more.

Our customers say? I want to dress for myself. Can you help me?

Favourite product/s coming in for autumn? Some new furniture pieces and stunning 70s inspired ceramics.

Trendspotting… what do you see that you love? Often spotted walking into our store but mostly (and preferably) walking out of one of our changerooms wearing a Sym Choon outfit! Anything else you would like to add? Enjoy.

Why have you chosen the brands you have? Point of difference, their ethical principles and high quality.

Our customers say? We’ve had an amazing response to our new space – everyone is loving the range, the concept and also the interior inspiration that the store and design studio provides. Trendspotting… what do you see that you love? I love the muted tones of the homewares range currently in the studio complemented by accents of cobalt blue and brass. >

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Above: Sarah Taylor.

Above: Elle Brown.

South Seas Trading, Port Elliot

Gorgeous Soles, McLaren Vale

Owner: Sarah Taylor

Owner: Elle Brown

Specialising in: Design-focused fashion and homewares. We stock a wide range of products including large-format books, fashion and homewares as well as art and craft by South Australian artists.

Specialising in: Beautiful footwear, accessories and clothing with a difference.

Why have you chosen the brands you have? We source Australian-designed products as much as possible. We seek quality and difference amongst products designed to last through time and change. Trendspotting... what do you see that you love? We’re excited about some of the cooler season coats, sweaters and shoes coming in, particularly a new range from some young designers in Victoria. Anything else you would like to add? We constantly change our displays and ranges, so there is always something new to see.

Sustainable brands? We buy from Australian-owned businesses and, wherever possible, designed (and made) in Australia and ensure that all brands are ethically made. Our cotton ranges are all certified organic. Why have you chosen the brands you have? We love brands that are passionate about fashion, that live and breathe their ethos, and who look after their customers. Maud Dainty and Binney are fabulous Australian designers, who put so much effort into their ranges, sourcing and designing, that it’s so hard not to get caught up in their world. We also love simple ranges that use beautiful linens and have an elegant simplicity, such as Ridley and Humidity. Bright and colourful ranges such as Rubyyaya are also on our list, along with beautiful knitwear that have a story to tell. Our footwear ranges are from all over. If they are gorgeous, we will buy them! We particularly love Rollies, Superga, Eos, Skin, Nude and Rafia Chic. Favourite products coming in for autumn? Gorgeous knitwear, patterned pleated skirts, really gorgeous snakeskin-look boots, and Rollas Denim (woohoo). Our customers say? Oh wow, the store is gorgeous! Trendspotting… what do you see that you love? We love the pleated skirt look with a big fluffy jumper and sneakers for autumn. Anything else you would like to add? We love selling fashion, but community and women’s wellbeing is at our heart, and we love to be involved and help out where we can.

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Annabelle Collett: Creator and Catalyst Story by Kathie Muir.

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Page left: Swamp Corset and Swamp Skirt, 2019. Installation shot at ‘From the Inside: Tokuremoar’ exhibition. Photograph by Richard Hodges. Above: Lunch with Frida, 2015. Photo by Sandra Elms.

In April of last year, friends, family and colleagues farewelled artist Annabelle Collett. Annabelle was only 64 and sadly passed away due to complications arising from cancer.

The book follows Collett’s lifelong artistic contribution beginning with her early years as a fashion and interior designer working in the east end of Rundle Street during the cultural explosion that coincided with the final years of the Dunstan era. It continues through to her later explorations of the human form, including her amazing ‘Plastic Fantastic’ sculptural bodywear made from found plastic.

A posthumous exhibition at the Signal Point Art Gallery in Goolwa celebrates her large body of work and the significant contributions she made to South Australian art and culture throughout her illustrious career. A book written by Kathie Muir and published by Wakefield Press documents her extraordinary creative output. Both the book and the exhibition are titled Annabelle Collett: Creator and Catalyst.

Collett was a significant figure in the development of Adelaide’s East End and the city’s developing art, fashion, design and gastronomic scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. At the time, Adelaide was an emerging hub of alternative Australian culture, and Annabelle was gaining an international following for her innovative and exuberant knitwear with its zany colours and lush organic designs.

The exhibition will feature a range of Collett’s works across fashion, design and visual art, including: knitwear, painted textiles, sculptural textile works, gouache, soft furnishings, camouflage, plastic sculptural works, and smaller consumables. Some of her smaller multiple works and knitwear will also be available for sale at the gallery shop during the exhibition.

During this period, Annabelle was commissioned to design the interior of the iconic Limbo night club in Fenn Place off Hindley Street. Limbo quickly became known around Australia as the hippest venue in the country and still has a Facebook fan group dedicated to it today. Soon after it opened, reviewer John McGrath wrote in the Adelaide Review: ‘Limbo is a place unique in Australia. Go There immediately.’ > 29


Top left: Ground Work – laser cut fabric collage from the Disruptive Pattern series. Photo by Michael Kluvanek. Above right: Annabelle in her studio. Photo by Cynthia Jones. Below left: War Books – a series of works with satiric and provocative titles. Photo by Michael Kluvanek. Below middle: Red Armour 2014. Photo by Rachel Harris. Below right: Jewel Mask 2013. Photo by Sandra Elms.

In 1985, Collett’s design excellence was recognised by her inclusion in Courvoisier’s Book of the Best – ‘the ultimate global guide to what’s in now.’

the gendered nature of clothing. She made sculptural pieces and unwearable garments that confounded expectations and disrupted assumptions about beauty, sexuality and wearability.

In her later sculptural works and her community work in her adopted home at Clayton Bay, she investigated the waste associated with the ubiquitous nature of single-use plastics, repurposing them into objects of beauty and functionality. In Disruptive Pattern Syndrome, Collett explored the nature of camouflage patterns, creating pieces that offer comment on war and domestic camouflage, including their use as ‘fashionable’ patterns apparently stripped of meaning. While often playful in her commentary, Collett’s practice also included pointed feminist critique of the beauty industry and the expectations upon women to conform to particular modes of beauty.

As with all Wakefield Press art books, this volume is beautifully produced and is a delight to hold in the hand and explore. The hardcover book will be available from Signal Point Gallery throughout the exhibition, and at a range of good local and Adelaide bookshops.

Collett’s art practice throughout the 1990s and right through until her death continued to explore her love of textiles and her concern with

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Background Information: As a visual artist Collett’s work is held in numerous State and Regional Galleries in Australia including the Art Gallery of SA, Museum and Galleries of NT, Museum of Arts and Sciences (Sydney), Victorian State Craft Collection, Ararat Gallery TAMA, and Mildura Regional Gallery. The exhibition continues at Signal Point Gallery until Sunday, March 23.


RETAIL THERAPY

Smart and sustainable With consumers becoming increasingly conscious about making sustainable choices, these products tick all the boxes while still retaining style, design and functionality.

Cotton On: Lifestyle 7/8 high waist tight (made of 82% recycled polyester) $39.99, Jenna low rise shoe $29.99, Go Vita: Stainless steel 330ml wine tumbler $15.99, Typo: Stainless steel tea tumbler $19.99, Cotton On: Collapsible 470ml drink bottle $19.99.

Castle Home & Value: Mango wood paddle board $21.95, The Body Shop: ginger scalp care conditioner and shampoo 400ml $19.00 each, birch wood detangling comb $9.00, hemp body mitt $15.00, Go Vita: bamboo and organic cotton reusable facial pads $19.99, palm oil free, cruelty free and vegan solid shampoo from $10.95, Hairhouse Warehouse: Davroe argan oil instant treatment 75ml $24.95, luxe leave-in masque 150ml $24.95 and tame detangler 300ml $23.95.

Kaisercraft: Bamboo fibre jug $24.99, bamboo bowls in small $19.99, large $29.99, bamboo canister small $11.99, Go Vita: bamboo lunch box $27.99, Cotton On: stainless steel straw set $9.99. Pink Tulip: House plant $60.00, hand crafted pot $70.00, dried palm leaf from $15.00 per stem.

Typo: recycled paper notebook $16.99, QBD Books: The Little Book of House Plants $16.99, Canopy: hand-crafted kissi stones from $6.95, leather and aluminium circle necklace $49.95.

Canopy: seed planting gift cards assorted $6.50, 500ml Earth Love hand washes $19.95 each, face bar and cleansing body bars $16.95 each.

Colonnades Shopping Centre | Noarlunga @colonnadesshopping


Tiny homes tiny escapes Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick.

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Page left: Escapod at The Vineyard Retreat McLaren Vale. ‘Sumptuous, sleek, polished, sexy, crisp, and replete with all the modern conveniences expected by today’s discerning traveller.’ Photo by Sam Noonan. Above: Matilda CABN at Kuitpo. Photo by Isaac Freeman.

No matter your age, it seems there’s something inexplicably pleasing about things that are small. But as life shifts from puppies and dollhouses to slightly larger responsibilities, like babies and mortgages, it can be much harder to appreciate the little things. There are some people who never lose their fascination with living life on a smaller scale, truly believing that – clichés at the ready – the best things really do come in small packages. In this case, that package is a home. Whether seeking an alternative path to home ownership, offering a novelty accommodation option, exploring sustainable living, or even as a way to feel more connected to nature, the tiny house movement seemingly has something for everyone. From low-budget, streamlined constructions, to high-end and luxurious escapes, this compact lifestyle is all about thinking outside the box – a tiny, cosy box at that. ESCAPOD The phrase ‘luxury accommodation’ may evoke images of plush king-sized beds, well-stocked mini bars, fluffy bath robes and glossy entrances. But a vital element often missing from the grandeur of a high-end hotel stay is the outdoor space. Escapod is quite literally breaking down the confines of traditional luxury accommodation by recreating the experience of a premium hotel room, in an immersive setting. Their design, although compact, provides a generous floor plan with flexible indoor and outdoor

spaces. This sense of immersion is amplified by generous doors and windows to frame surrounding views, enriching the space with natural artwork. From underfloor heating to automated blinds, everything you see and touch exudes contemporary quality. Although providing the time-efficiency and flexibility associated with typical transportable homes, the thoughtful design sets Escapod apart. Focusing heavily on the experience of the end user ensures a highly detailed and impressive outcome. Their first project currently serves as a luxurious private vineyard retreat in McLaren Vale. Beyond this, Escapod seeks to redefine regional tourism by activating our seemingly infinite picturesque Fleurieu landscapes with their modular creations. CABN It’s hard to disconnect from the pressures of modern life. Mindless scrolling eats away hours of precious time, ‘urgent’ emails jump into bed with us and phone vibrations constantly agitate our back pockets. When Michael Lamprell discovered the concept of ‘minimalism’ while travelling in the United States, he became transfixed on the idea of a life that placed value on loving people instead of things. Michael wanted to share this lifestyle revelation with others, encouraging them to disconnect from day-to-day life and reconnect with each other. Promoting an experience of ‘minimal interruption, for maximum interaction,’ CABNs are designed to make you feel at one with nature. High ceilings and large windows create a sense of space, while drawing you out into the beautiful outdoor settings in which they are placed. Stained timber exteriors ensure the CABNs blend in with the landscape, while the interior cladding is left to shine > 33


Top and bottom left: inoutside’s backyard rooms. More inside, outside! Above right: A Swale Design at Dakini Hideaways – Bill’s Boathouse – luxury floating ecotourism on the Murray River.

in its raw state. Each CABN relies on its own water storage and solar system, with composting toilets. This design has minimal environmental impact, while allowing the accommodation to be readily nomadic. In South Australia, CABN currently offers three quiet escapes – two of which are right here on the Fleurieu. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to nest inside your very own CABN, the business will soon be building to order. All materials are sourced from Australia, from the structure itself, through to the food and firewood provided for guests. The CABN experience offers an opportunity to detach, digitally detox and ‘enjoy the location through your senses, not through your lenses.’ INOUTSIDE Tiny living isn’t viable for everyone – as families grow and situations change, sometimes a small amount of extra space is a necessity. But standard builds and extensions can be a costly and disruptive process. Inoutside offers an alternative, affordable option to complement existing homes and backyards that doesn’t compromise the environment or aesthetics. Noting that many tiny living spaces have a shed-like, tinny feel, Inoutside developed four contemporary, high-quality outdoor room designs from which customers can select and customise. Once a design is decided, the entire building process generally only takes about eight weeks. Fabrication is completed in their Seaford factory, before the structure is flat-packed, delivered and ready for installation within four to eight days. Inoutside constructions are currently available in NSW, VIC, ACT and right here on the Fleurieu. 34

Whether the extra room functions as a studio, granny flat, extra living room or even a small backyard bed and breakfast, Inoutside builds are fully insulated, adaptable and sustainability-focused. The open and airy designs allow for a pleasing synthesis with their surroundings, bringing a little bit of the outside, in. SWALE / DAKINI HIDEAWAYS After losing his brand new timber and steel home to the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, Chris Clarke was left with nothing but a burnt-out skeleton on his Gippsland property. In the year following, determined to salvage any remaining elements he could, Chris set out to rebuild a more fire-resistant version of the original house. His build was followed by the television program Grand Designs, receiving significant interest after it was aired. It became evident to Chris that there was a serious need for immediate, affordable and sustainable homes in rural areas. Working with a modular factory in Vietnam, Chris discovered he was able to replicate his awardwinning, non-combustible corten steel design far more quickly and affordably using shipping containers. Chris now operates SWALE: Sustainable Work And Living Environments, constructing small, adaptable accommodation modules for both land and water. In an often over-complicated and unaffordable real estate industry, SWALE aims to significantly reduce the costs, hassles and inefficiencies associated with traditional builds, while making the most of under-utilised land and water. The high quality structures are adaptable to harsh Australian climate conditions and able to be relocated easily.


Top: Mitch’s tiny home was a year twelve research project. ‘Oddity’ at Port Willunga is only a brief stroll to the beach and Mitchell will be offering short stays in the tiny house through Airbnb from late March. Bottom left: Interior view of the riverside abode at Dakini Hideaways – the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and nature. Bottom right: A tiny piece of rural luxury at Coach Light Cabin.

SWALE’s ethos is about creating a sustainability movement through minimalism and ecotourism, something Chris has also adopted to suit his own transient lifestyle. Alongside SWALE’s land structures, there are also plans to continue expanding upon their ‘AquaNooks’: zero-impact accomodation options that float on water. If you want to give the lifestyle a whirl before you build your own, book a stay in one of SWALE’s modular nooks at Dakini Hideaways. ODDITY For eighteen-year-old Mitchell Phillips, the concept of a tiny house offered an interesting topic for his year twelve research project at the Willunga Waldorf School. Exploring alternative pathways to owning his first home, with an enterprising vision for a debt-free future, he decided to dedicate his final school year to building his very own tiny home. Many late nights, video tutorials and hard work saw Mitchell produce a remarkable first-time design and build. The house can sleep four people, with a fully-functional bathroom and kitchen, and an impressively sleek interior to boot. Mitchell’s design also incorporates a composting toilet, rainwater catchment and will be powered completely off-grid – a tiny home, with a tiny footprint. Placing it on a property in Port Willunga, only a brief stroll to the white sandy beach, Mitchell will be offering short stays in the tiny house through Airbnb from late March and paying off his loan with the income. Naming his first home ‘Oddity’, meaning ‘something different,’ seems a fitting way to encapsulate Mitchell’s ability to challenge the norm.

COACH LIGHT CABIN In 1984, Karen Czornohalan’s parents and grandparents purchased a ten-acre wheat paddock on Old Coach Road, Aldinga. From the age of ten, Karen enjoyed ample space for horse riding and bountiful fresh produce from the garden tended by her grandparents, before moving interstate with her husband. Her parents continued life on the acreage, planting a shiraz vineyard and revegetating the land with native trees and shrubs. In a bittersweet turn of events, Karen and her husband returned home to Aldinga in 2017 to support her father after her mother’s sudden passing. Leaving a dependable job behind in Brisbane, Karen proactively explored ways to make money off the existing property. From there, the tiny house dream was born and the next chapter of her family’s story on the Fleurieu began. Karen’s vision is for a modern and minimalist yet luxurious accommodation option from which guests can get out and explore the Fleurieu. Working alongside Alexander Brown Architects and Fred’s Tiny House Trailers, they are now in the final stages of building. With a deck among the thirty-year-old gum trees, overlooking their working vineyard, Karen hopes their guests will also enjoy a relaxing escape – and maybe even try their hand at pruning a few vines. The Coach Light Cabin will be available to rent in April, with plans underway to start building another soon after.

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FOOD & WINE

Uncorked Wine reviews by Gill Gordon-Smith IWE

Meet the makers In this edition of Uncorked, we’re going beyond the bottle to discover a little about some of the winemaking legends who have influenced the Fleurieu. You may not know all their names but you’ll probably have tasted the work of these sometimes quiet achievers who have introduced grapes and styles to our region, leading the way for many of our winemakers. Mike Farmilo This multi-award winning winemaker has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and contributed to the making of some of Australia’s most iconic wines, including Penfold’s Grange. His list of achievements, including two Jimmy Watson trophies, would definitely fill any pool room. Mike’s wine journey has taken him around the world and he has quietly influenced many labels and winemakers. From making classic Australian styles to working with Mediterranean varieties and collaborating with local growers, his passion for winemaking has never wavered. Colab and Bloom 2019 Fleurieu Montepulciano Montepulciano is a grape that has travelled from its Italian home of Abruzzo (and the Marche) to Australia and has found a solid following in the Fleurieu. Lifted black cherry, ripe red and black fruits sit alongside fennel and a blood orange pithiness with chalky, soft tannins that carry the flavour right through to the finish. The acid is crunchy and lively before the wine finishes on a slight herbal note. Great food wine with beautiful balance that is varietally correct. Diana Genders Diana Genders has a long family history of ground-breaking women in wine, dating back to Mary Laurie, South Australia’s first registered female winemaker and grape grower. Diana finished her degree in 1988 and worked for many well-known wineries locally as well as spending time overseas consulting in France. She is one of the most hardworking and independent women in wine, running her vineyards and McLaren Vale winery basically by herself and producing exceptional, classic wines. 36

Genders 2014 Keith Shiraz Classic McLaren Vale with dense, dark chocolate and ripe black fruits, cigar box, pure vanilla bean and toasty oak. There’s a floral, violet note, along with dried rosemary and dried oranges. On the palate, the tannins and lovely acid cut through the concentrated fruit flavours and freshen and lift the wine. It’s a class act all the way, so beautifully made and built for the long-haul. Tim Geddes Super-talented winemaker and all round nice guy, Tim Geddes is the man behind or the kick off point for many of the best wines and labels in the region. A master of grenache hailing from New Zealand, Tim is humble and prefers to simply get on with doing what he does best: making exceptional expressions of the Vale, rather than chasing awards (though he has many). Seldom Inn 2018 Grenache Mourvedre Complex and slightly shy at first, when this wine starts to open it’s full of red and black fruits and dusty savouriness with a little touch of smoked meats. There’s a velvety-ness on the palate, with exotic spices layered amongst the dark fruit. The wine strikes a wonderful balance between the fruit and the structure, with fine tannins and perfectly ripe grapes. Mark Lloyd Mark Lloyd’s name is synonymous with the premium wines, food and music that have made Coriole a cultural and gastronomic frontrunner in the region. His curiosity and forward-thinking have seen him lead the pack in alternate varieties on the Fleurieu, being one of the first to plant fiano and sangiovese among other varieties, while still championing our classic shiraz and grenache. Coriole 2019 Fiano Lifted and vibrant nose of florals, citrus and quince, bright and zippy acidity with a lovely textural mouthfeel full of citrus fruit, white peach, peach skin and fresh spearmint. Has weight to the palate without being heavy and overblown. Beautiful balance, fresh, lively and a delicious food wine; always reminds me of Italy.


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56 North Terrace, Port Elliot P: 8554 3540

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PRODUCER PROFILE

The healing salve Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick. Photograph by Sally Badnall.

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For Lara Tilbrook, owner and producer of Bush Organics Kangaroo Island, the Willunga Farmers Market (WFM) has long been a place of nourishment for her and her family, as well as a dependable location to distribute her ‘gifts from nature.’ After long days under harsh sun and adventurous explorations through the bush, Lara wanted to hydrate and heal her young daughter’s skin without using chemicals. Struggling to find products she trusted, she instead handcrafted her own. Gifting and trading her products between friends, Lara’s creations eventually evolved into the Bush Organics range. It seems fate played a hand in Lara’s first foray into selling her wares on the mainland. Her first market stall was at an organic market in the city where chance placed her next to Wild Harvest Olive Oil. With owner, Phil Mather, there was a meeting of the minds and the two began dating shortly thereafter. Phil’s organic oils now form the base ingredient in her skin products, while Lara’s property on Kangaroo Island provides the ideal conditions to produce almost every other ingredient – even the fragrant herbal and botanical infusions. Their only outsourced ingredient is eucalyptus oil from Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery, also located on the island. Now entering her sixth year of bringing the Bush Organics range to the devoted market-goers of Willunga, Lara has discovered that the community extends far beyond the exchange of goods. ‘As a producer, they’ve been like a bigger family to me,’ she says. The

devastation of the Kangaroo Island bushfires has seen the WFM – both patrons and traders alike – band together in a way that has moved Lara and her family deeply. For two Saturdays in January, the WFM donated all stall-holder fees to the BlazeAid Kangaroo Island Recovery Fund, and continue to provide collection buckets throughout the market. Additionally, Kangaroo Island traders have been welcomed into the market to sell their products. Lara is thankful some important assets remain, despite a large portion of her property being razed by fire, including a shed and some hives. Although committed to her small business, Lara considers herself an environmentalist first. She’s turning a heartbreaking event into an opportunity to regenerate and nurture Kangaroo Island’s rich, diverse ecosystems through a number of community initiatives. These include assisting with the development of a healing centre for Kangaroo Island residents, developing plans for an underground, fire-resistant ‘earthship’ to house a threatened species monitoring centre and formulating numerous long-term plans in collaboration with wildlife and land management groups. She’s also on the KI Landholders Association which is working to rid the island of feral cats which threaten native birds and small marsupials. Alongside her salves, balms and oils, Lara also sells raw honey in its most natural form, produced by a strain of Ligurian bees unique to Kangaroo Island. The honey is cold-extracted from wooden hives, then lightly sieved to ensure the medicinal benefits are retained. Lara first learned the art of beekeeping from her friend Ilker of Bugga Bugga Creek Apiary; they worked together to supply the honey for Bush Organics. IIker retired and happily handed over his girls ‘the worker bees’ and bee hives to Lara and Phil who now respectfully carry on the beekeeping.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Building resilience Story by Lori-Ellen Grant. Photograph by Jason Porter.

The word ‘resilient’ comes from the Latin resiliens meaning ‘to rebound, recoil’ and salire ‘to jump, leap.’ This etymology connotes movement, what I have come to define as ‘the act of bouncing back.’ But what does being resilient actually look like? How do we act? And where is the place for accepting what has happened – integration without denial – and moving forward? Experiences, both good and bad, can become imprinted on our senses, by a smell, a city, a song. Our memories are often triggered by these small things and can elicit the most pleasant of sensations, or painful reminders. It seems when a difficult experience is unresolved, then we relive the pain and shock over and over again. Yet when it is integrated into who we are, we have accepted it as part of the course of our life. My friend Angie passed away last year. She lived with her partner Greg on Kangaroo Island (KI) and was one of the most joyful people I think I’ve ever known. With an infectious laugh, she simply had a way about her. Her approach to life was creative, fun, simple and loved by our children. Straight away she’d be down on the floor with them drawing or setting them up on the rocking horse, showing them her latest shell collection or patting the dogs, Buddha and Bear. She had cancer, which had come and gone and she’d tried many things to heal. Yet in the end she was happy. In dying, she made many conscious choices about what to focus on and how she would spend her days. She was in pain, but in her way she quietly taught through example. Enjoying life can take a little or a lot of work; our minds need training, just like our muscles. And we can become what we think most about.

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It’s inevitable that, at some point in our lives, we will experience pain. It might be physical, emotional, psychological, existential. Crisis, trauma and shock can lead us to respond in different ways, as we have seen in the last few months with the bushfire crisis both nationally and locally in the Adelaide Hills and on KI. The devastation brought by the fires has galvanised the human spirit and spurred people to action, from the volunteer firefighters putting in hours at the front, to those coming along afterwards: building fences, planting trees, donating money, nursing wildlife or sewing marsupial pouches. Christchurch, Adelaide’s sister city, was my home for ten years and I was living there in 2011 when a major earthquake destroyed much of the city, killing almost two-hundred people. There were around 10,000 earthquakes the year following and much of the CBD was closed for six months, deemed too dangerous to enter. I found peoples’ response to this natural disaster overwhelmingly generous and creative in many ways. The intensity of the experience gave us the opportunity to tap into what was really important, what we truly valued and how we wanted to act. Human generosity was palpable. It was seen and felt and acted upon. People gave and people received and everyone felt better for it. Community was strengthened. Yes, there were looters and scammers. But there was also the opportunity to see the silver lining and each person could truly choose how they wanted to respond. At times of crisis one can often see that even though things aren’t good, it could be worse. Context can help to generate gratitude; we can be grateful for what we do have rather than focusing on what we don’t. This is not to make light of loss – loss of life, home, livelihoods, environment – more to acknowledge that at some point we must move on, we must choose to bounce back, to be resilient. And, we must take responsibility for what we focus on, making choices that take us in the direction that we want to go. Hopefully, to feel good again.


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DESIGN BEHIND THE WINE

Hither & Yon Connection by design Story by Kate Le Gallez.

Above: The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon by Adelaide illustrator Chris Edser.

The conjunction is grammar’s workhorse. These humble ands, buts and ors litter our daily interactions, carrying us tirelessly from one thought to another. Richard and Malcolm Leask, the brothers behind winery Hither & Yon, see the beauty in these myriad connections. It’s essential to how they see their roles as growers and makers, as facilitators of a lifecycle that begins in the vineyard and continues through to glass in hand. This continuity is reflected in the ampersand’s curves – the stand in for the conjunction at the centre of their winery’s name – and it’s become the central way they tell their story through design. From the very first wines released in 2012, the ampersand has been the defining feature of the winery’s packaging. It sits front and centre while the hero words of the name appear, ironically, here and there in each iteration. The overall design is conceptually simple, but in a veritable forest of wine options, a Hither & Yon bottle stands out as a rare specimen, thanks to the decision to invite a different artist to create their own interpretation of the symbol for each new label. 42

That process of interpretation makes the design of each label meaningful; it’s not design for design’s sake. ‘It has to represent something that tells a story about where something comes from or why we’ve made it in a certain way,’ says Malcolm. For viticulturist Richard, he sees the vineyard’s stories carried through to the end product in an engaging way. ‘Most labels don’t give you a sense of the wine. They tell you the vintage, the variety, who made it, but not how it will make you feel. That’s what I love about Hither & Yon. It might not be obvious at the start, but I like to think at the end people can look at the label and see how it reflects the feel of the wine,’ he says. Richard and Malcolm have collaborated on their labels and overall branding strategy with Adelaide design firm Voice from the very beginning. The decision to work with Voice came down to a gut feeling for Malcolm, whose interest was piqued after he saw founders Scott Carslake and Anthony De Leo present at a seminar. ‘I didn’t talk to anyone else. Sometimes it’s that immediate attraction you have with people,’ says Malcolm. It’s certainly paid off. ‘The working relationship is one of complete transparency, trust and learning – to all be better at what we all do, grow our businesses together and as people along the way,’ says Anthony. This shared professional respect means they can have >


Above right: The 2017 Malbec was also illustrated by Chris Edser – the only two labels created for H&Y by the same artist. Photo by Els Morgan. Above left: The Carignan captures Hither & Yon’s playful Australian spin on the French/Spanish variety. The artwork, by Spanish artist Mariano Pascual, depicts plump summer berries atop the ampersand and biscuits dipping into its side. It’s this sense of joy and fun that characterises the label. Photo by Lewis Potter. 43


Above: The floral and cherry aromas of the Grenache Touriga triggered nostalgic memories of dreamy afternoons and plans for spring picnics. In Turkish embroidery artist Defne Güntürkün’s imagining, the ampersand is adorned with tiny hand-stitched flowers and foliage that coalesce to create a sense of delight.

‘Most labels don’t give you a sense of the wine. They tell you the vintage, the variety, who made it, but not how it will make you feel. That’s what I love about Hither & Yon.’ the robust conversations fundamental to creating great work. ‘Have we ever disagreed on artists with the agency? All the time,’ says Malcolm. ‘Friction is good.’ The strong relationship between winery and designer comes to bear in perhaps the most critical part of the design process for each label: finding the right artist. Led by Hither & Yon’s philosophy, the process begins in the vineyard. At the time of writing, a new label is in the works and while vintage hasn’t yet begun, Malcolm is already cataloguing the lead up, mentally tucking away the factors that will play out in the final product. The next round of mental notes are added as they taste the fruit. Then, once the wine is made, Malcolm and Richard taste it together with members of their team, including cellar door, media and tourism manager Juliette Sirieys and brand manager Yan Ni to create a brief for Voice. This covers the usual wine particulars of variety, how it smells, how it tastes. But over the years the critical question has become about the feeling that comes with tasting the wine: where does this wine take you? 44

It’s not necessarily a deep, existential answer they’re looking for. Take the 2019 Carignan, which they affectionately call the ‘caravan wine,’ because it feels like the sort of wine you’d enjoy on the side of a dirt road. Once the brief is in Voice’s hands, they work with Malcolm to break it down further to identify one aspect that makes the wine special. ‘It’s really important this is a relatable aspect that is authentic, and from that, generally a visual direction will start to take shape,’ explains Anthony. This characteristic guides Voice’s global search for an artist and from a shortlist of three potential artists, they collaboratively decide who to approach. For the Carignan it was about capturing Hither & Yon’s playful Australian spin on the French/Spanish variety. The artwork, by Spanish artist Mariano Pascual, does represent the literal interpretation of the wine, with plump summer berries atop the ampersand and biscuits dipping into its side. But it’s the sense of joy and fun that characterises the label. This is a laid-back carignan made for spontaneous roadside pit stops.


Above left: Defne’s finished artwork on the bottle. Photo by Charlotte Nicholson. Above right: 2019 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs Richard and Malcolm Leask in their Willunga cellar door. Photo by Heidi Lewis.

The overall design is conceptually simple, but in a veritable forest of wine options, a Hither & Yon bottle stands out as a rare specimen. The 2019 Grenache Touriga has an altogether different feel. The floral and cherry aromas triggered nostalgic memories of dreamy afternoons and plans for spring picnics. In Turkish embroidery artist Defne Güntürkün’s imagining, the ampersand is adorned with tiny hand-stitched flowers and foliage that coalesce to create a sense of delight. The physical work now lives in Hither & Yon’s cellar door, with its digital twin adorning the label. Choosing a favourite design is like choosing a favourite child. Anthony nominates the 2012 Shiraz Cabernet, by Sydney-sider Luke Lucas. Malcolm starts with their first label, then lists a couple of others before settling on his ‘current’ favourite, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon by Adelaide illustrator Chris Edser. The differing views point to a unique marketing problem: the labels are memorable but customers struggle to recall the wine variety and sometimes even the winery’s name. ‘It’s really only in the last two years that people are recognising the brand as Hither & Yon rather than the brand that

has the ampersand on the label,’ says Malcolm. No doubt this is helped along by their crowning as 2019 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs. Despite this, Malcolm is confident they made the right decision with the packaging design. In short: it’s worth the risk to tell their story the way they want to. The payoff has been a very engaged community and a natural affinity with other makers, whether in arts, music or fashion including their collaboration with The Porch Sessions and their role as wine partner for SALA 2020 as they celebrate their thirtieth label. These connections expand the Hither & Yon lifecycle from vineyard to bottle and into the community. ‘The whole reason we do these things is to engage with people. It’s all about contact and feedback,’ says Richard. ‘It’s this feeling of community that we love being a part of.’

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HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

Above: Zara and Chris standing in front of one of the vistas on the Chalk Hill Road section of the trail.

Roaming the Willunga Basin Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photograph by Jason Porter.

Chris Davies isn’t quite sure, but he thinks the late Greg Trott (of Wirra Wirra) perhaps described the Willunga Basin best: ‘as you come over the rise near Pedler Creek, you get that ‘ahh’ feeling as you see the view laying out in front of you. That view you see is Willunga Basin.’ Inspired by the ‘freedom to roam’ in Scotland, Chris and his partner Zara Lupton, together with a dedicated group of volunteers, are establishing a walking trail that encircles and crosses the basin. The end result will not only literally connect the diverse terrain found within that marvellous view, but will offer locals and visitors renewed access to the landscape. The Friends of Willunga Basin, a group dedicated to preserving the basin’s beauty, agriculture and heritage first discussed the possibility of a trail in 2009. It was suggested as a way to define the area, which is bounded by the southern Mount Lofty Ranges as they sweep to the coast at Sellicks, along the coast as it stretches towards Port Noarlunga and framed by the cliffs and hills south of the Onkaparinga River. With the idea firmly planted in their minds, Zara and Chris left for a fifteen-month trip to Zara’s native Scotland. Their experience changed their perception and understanding of what it means to be able to walk in the landscape. There, walkers have a legally enshrined right to responsibly roam most Scottish land. Returning to Australia, Chris and Zara missed that sense of freedom. ‘I knew there were nice places to walk like the national parks and things, but you had to get in your car and drive there to do the walk.’ The question became, how could they achieve a similar level of access throughout the Basin? They found their answer in unmade road reserves, many of which were laid down in the planning for South Australia in London in the 1830s and have largely never been thought about since, at least until now. But they’re there, plain as day on maps of the region and remain public land in the council’s 46

care and control. By the end of 2012, Chris, Zara and friend Chas Martin had mapped a route connecting the area’s diverse terrain, taking in vineyards, farmland, native bush and coastal dunes. The route makes use of over twenty unmade road reserves with very few private links. Perhaps like most people, Chris and Zara assumed building the trail would be a matter for the Onkaparinga Council, which approved the route in 2012. That was until they discovered the backlog of trails yet to be built. By their calculations, it would be 27 years before work began. Instead of throwing their hands up, they submitted to council that they be allowed to do the work – a proposal that was accepted. ‘We had won, we were actually going to get on and do it, we’re not going to wait for somebody else,’ recalls Chris. That initial jubilation has given way to the hard work necessary to put the trail in. And it is a lot of work, becoming almost a full-time job for the retired pair. Since the beginning of 2019, volunteers have joined Chris and Zara at working sessions on the trail three times a week doing everything from putting in signposts and stiles (both designed by Chris) to removing olive trees and building the track itself. A $79,000 government grant helps pay for infrastructure but the volunteers do the work and there will soon be ongoing maintenance as well. Many of the volunteers come from a local walking group and the Willunga Basin Trail Inc. which incorporated separately from the original Friends group. So far, they’ve established 45 of the 130 kilometre trail. The goal is to complete the full track within the next eighteen months. If you keep an eye out, you’ll start to spot the unassuming signposts with their graphic blue and white logos (also designed by Chris) here and there. Among the walking community it’s certainly getting noticed. The group, and its two humble leaders, were recognised by Walking SA for their work in October 2019, while the Friends of the Heysen Trail have included it in its walks program. Chris and Zara hope the trail will be a place everyone can enjoy for recreation and that the community will feel a sense of ownership over it. A place where all can enjoy the freedom to roam. To find out more or get involved go to: www.wbt.org.au.


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Family, food and farm Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Heidi Lewis. Styling by Tess Twigden.

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Page left and above: Tess’ collector’s eye – inherited from her mum – has seen her style the house with vintage finds. Her knack for putting it all together is just a natural gift.

So often it’s the little things that make a home. For Tess Twigden, it’s the small room just off the kitchen. Originally marked as a study or bedroom, Tess imagined something quite different. It’s her favourite spot in the house: a butler’s pantry of sorts. But where modern homes so often try to hide away the evidence of life behind sleek cabinetry, this room seems to revel comfortably in the everyday good stuff.

the Twigdens and it quickly becomes clear that this little room – alongside the neighbouring kitchen and the big, welcoming table where we sit to eat Tess’ freshly-baked scones – is at the heart of life on Twigden Farm.

The butts of wine bottles protrude from a riddling rack alongside a coffee machine on a vintage workbench. A stand mixer sits ready to fill a tin marked ‘cakes’ and another ‘biscuits.’ It’s a room for the little, important moments of family life.

After a year of searching, they fell in love with the double-storey rammed earth house tucked away down a tree-lined drive. ‘I remember driving up the driveway and a sentimental song came on the radio,’ says Tess of their first visit to the house. ‘And there was a piece of furniture that my dad had restored that the lady had purchased off him in one of the rooms. There were just all these little things.’ And of course there were big things too: those high ceilings were breathtaking on first viewing. >

As a visitor to the home that Tess shares with husband Tom and their two small girls, Marlowe and Mae, this little room eschews the spotlight. It hides behind a reclaimed barn door (a roadside treasure) while the cathedral ceilings in the double-height living and dining area claim centre stage. But spend a little time chatting with

Tess and Tom moved to their Ashbourne home in 2014. In a complete lifestyle u-turn, the couple, who both grew up in Adelaide, bought the property after returning from a stint in Sydney. ‘I was going to be the editor of Vogue,’ jokes Tess, then a freshly-minted journalism graduate, of the Sydney move. ‘And the fashion magazine industry wasn’t what I thought it was, just wasn’t for me. We had to find out the hard way. We missed family, missed friends and Sydney was just so big and busy. We kind of wanted the complete opposite lifestyle.’

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Page left: All baked fresh for us! Country Women’s Association scones, a tarte tatin and a family biscuit recipe called Auntie Sis’ Biscuits. All delicious! Above left: Tess is happiest when in the company of family and friends at a table filled with delicious food. Right: The charmed life of Marlowe and Mae.

It’s a long way from the inner suburbs of Sydney, but that’s the point … the farm is their place to intentionally slow down and dream their ideal life into existence. Built in 1997, the house came complete with its original nineties’ colour scheme with dark benchtops and tiles in the kitchen and stained timber ceilings and balustrades. Tess and Tom’s first big project was painting every inch of that huge ceiling with its exposed rafters white. The job took four months and required two coats, the first painstakingly by (mostly Tom’s) hand, while the second could fortunately be sprayed. They made other aesthetic updates as well. Vinyl floors were ripped up and replaced with floating floorboards. They kept the original kitchen cupboards, but painted them white and added a new splashback, farmhouse sink and white marble benchtop (‘our luxe item’ says Tess). Upstairs they’ve created a haven for Mae and Marlowe, knocking out a wall to create a large bedroom for the girls to share once they’re a little bigger and a playspace overlooking the downstairs living area. Tess’ collector’s eye – inherited from her mum – has seen her style the house with vintage finds sourced from Gumtree and eBay. ‘Gumtree’s my best friend,’ she says. ‘I feel like our whole house is Gumtree. And from my mum. My mum’s really into older antiques and things. Anything that she gets tired of, I’m like ‘I’ll have that.’

I guess that’s where the love for the old stuff came from.’ Most recently, it’s a pair of French-made, 125-year-old timber beds that will soon be for Marlowe and Mae. They come layered in history, ready to absorb the stories and experiences of their newest owners. It’s a long way from the inner suburbs of Sydney, but that’s the point. While both Tess and Tom maintain working lives away from home – Tom works as a fireman and civil engineer, Tess at a fashion boutique in Adelaide – the farm is their place to intentionally slow down and dream their ideal life into existence. That dream comes with a long list of jobs. They’re part way through transforming a shed into a romantic getaway which they hope to finish this year (‘it’s going to happen! Good vibes!’ says Tess). Then there’s the empty slab just down from the house that enjoys the same views of the summer-baked hills around Ashbourne as the main house. Tess pictures a rustic barn where they can host weddings and events. ‘That’s just a big beautiful dream I have. But, we’ll see,’ says Tess. ‘We just love walking around and thinking about all the things we could do.’ >

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Top: The cubby house comes complete with a full kitchen and verandah. Bottom left: The style and collections are everywhere – all carefully curated by Tess. Bottom right: Tom and Mae on their way to the cubby.

While their few sheep keep the grass down, Tom has a list of trees he wants to plant so long ‘it’s not even funny’ and is also looking to establish a permaculture garden. ‘We’ve done the whole driveway, that was just bushes and a few ornamentals,’ says Tom. ‘Now that I’ve got into it, I just enjoy it. It’s nice to see things grow.’ Tom’s also the cook in the family. He describes his style as ‘rustic’: ‘it doesn’t have to be fancy it just has to taste good,’ he says. Barbequed meat. 52

A mound of roasted potatoes, their crumbled edges crisped to just the right shade of golden. Greens picked fresh. That sort of thing. Today, it’s pillowy scones peeking from a tea-towel cocoon. Marlowe declares she likes both the apricot jam and the cream equally, and sneaks a lick of the spoon. Little moments around a kitchen table are also the important moments that family life is made of. Follow Tess @twigsandvines on Instagram.


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Kangaroo Island calling Story by Petra de Mooy. Photography by Jason Porter.

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Page left: The beautiful geological features of Pennington Bay. This page top left: Beach Barista – If you get there before mid-April, you might find the Beach Barista awaiting your order. Photo courtesy Petra de Mooy. Bottom left: All roads lead to the beauty of KI – waiting to be discovered again and again. Above right: The Vivonne Bay Jetty stretching out over the pristine waters of the island’s South Coast.

There is something transformative about Kangaroo Island (KI). Since moving to the Fleurieu in 2004, we have travelled there over a dozen times both for work and for pleasure, drawn back by the relaxed pace and friendliness of the locals and the sheer beauty of the landscape. It’s an island of contrasts with the sheltered north coast giving way to the beautiful geological features and wild waters of the south. It’s a place where you can still experience a sense of discovery as you criss-cross the island, heading down yet another dirt road you haven’t travelled before, perhaps spotting a goanna or an echidna. We have spent many pleasant hours meandering, discovering everything from unique flora and fauna, to sandy windswept beaches, lighthouses and ancient mallee arbours. And then there’s

the unique local produce that spans the full gamut from gin, wine and beer to olive oil, lavender and eucalyptus. The many small businesses dotted around the island are fiercely proud of these products and of their home and community. After bushfires tore through over 210,000 hectares on the western end of the island in late December and early January, we vowed to get over as soon as possible. And following a two-day whirlwind tour in early February, we’re happy to report that none of the above has changed. Which is not to say that nothing has changed. We can’t understate the devastating impact the fires have had on locals, farmers and wildlife. But with the livelihoods of many on the island relying on tourism, local government and local businesses are quickly focusing on getting back to normal, pledging to promote and repair what is indisputably a large jewel in South Australia’s – and the world’s – crown. Indeed, for the first half of our trip we didn’t see any evidence of the fire at all. It’s easy to forget how big the island is and much of the north and south coasts were untouched by the fire. > 55


Above left: Take in the show at Raptor Domain. Photo courtesy Heidi Lewis. Top right: A big grey kangaroo sizes us up at Stokes Bay. Photo courtesy Petra de Mooy. Bottom right: Thank-you signs dotted around the island were a lovely gesture from locals to convey how grateful they are for all of the help received (especially from volunteer firefighters) during and after the bushfires.

One of our first stops after the ferry is always Pennington Bay, a favourite spot for surfers with a well-above-average swell and gorgeous views. The bay’s natural beauty is all the more enjoyable with coffee in hand following the welcome addition of the Beach Barista and his coffee van. More spectacular views are on offer at nearby Prospect Hill lookout which takes in an amazing 360-degree vista of the bays to both the north and south coast, while the recently upgraded stairs also offer a pretty good workout (all 500 steps!)

When hunger strikes, the Vivonne Bay General Store is still a great place to stop for a whiting burger, while a dip in the bracing waters off the jetty is the perfect antidote to a hot summer’s day. Take a lazy kayak ride down the river here, charter a fishing boat, go for a surf or simply walk along the pristine white sands and enjoy the views. The fires nearly reached the township and the nearby Vivonne Bay Lodge was destroyed, but the tireless efforts of the emergency services prevented further destruction.

On the southern coast, Seal Bay was also untouched by the fires. Apart from the obvious attraction of the seals and guided tours – this is also an area where the geological features offer sensational visual and textural contrast with the ocean. Close-by businesses like Raptor Domain and Kangaroo Island Wilderness adventures are all go, so there is plenty to see and do here.

Heading further west, we could see that the fires had left their mark and it’s hard not to mourn the loss of Flinders Chase National Park, where about 96 per cent of the park was scorched. But this new landscape is not without beauty. Regrowth has already begun and many trees were covered in beautiful young buds in poignant contrast to their burnt trunks. It’s a testament to the will of nature to prevail. The incredible yaccas are green again, and in place of what I

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Above and top right: Regrowth and revegetation coming on strong only four weeks after the bushfires. Bottom right: KIS (Kangaroo Island Spirits) – one of the many local producers making delicious products to try.

imagined to be a landscape of ruin, we found a landscape of beauty. We cannot overemphasise how stunning it all still is. Long-time local Nick Hannaford captured what this regrowth means for the people and businesses of the island: ‘The fascinating and dynamic process of nature’s recovery has great tourism value in its own right. If we allow the recovery process to be perceived as an end goal, we give no reason for tourists to visit us right now.’ I couldn’t agree more. Before visiting the island, I really felt that we were going to be heading into a kind of war zone. And I’m sure it did feel this way during the fires, but I was beyond relieved to find that life is, quite literally, continuing on. The destruction of bushland has resulted in a massive loss of habitat and many local groups are working hard to ensure the protection and safety of the precious insects, reptiles and animals that have survived. Alongside this, the community needs tourists to keep coming.

We happily immersed ourselves in the delicious distractions offered by the likes of Rockpool Cafe at Stokes Bay and Kangaroo Island Spirits, which is now part of a little food and wine hub called the Cygnet River Artisan Trail. The trail is just a stone’s throw from the township of Kingscote where we enjoyed the deliciously fresh Asianinspired foods of Cactus. At the time of writing, the Flinders Chase National Park had just reopened for the first time with some visitors and locals given access. The park’s Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keepers Cottages were saved and the famed Admiral’s Arch was unaffected, though the Remarkable Rocks no longer wear their crust of orange lichen quite so brightly. While a full reopening is still a way off, limited tours will soon resume. It’s further evidence that hope, as they say, springs eternal. And that’s certainly the case on KI. We’ll be back again very soon. 57


Some of the acts that will be featured at the 2020 Bush Festival: Top: From the UK – The Late Bloomers. Bottom left: From Scotland – The Clown Fish Theatre Show. Middle: String and vocal duo – Doctor Stovepipe. Bottom right: Glamping tents will be set up and available for guests who want to stay.

Bush Festival In 2019, a new comedy, arts and music festival started up in the heartland of Kangaroo Island. This year, Bush Festival – AKA the KI Comedy Festival – will return to the iconic soldier settler merino and cattle farm of Eleanor Downs. The festival showcases a dedicated troop of international Fringe acts who perform their award-winning shows for a crowd of enthusiastic locals sitting under the gum trees and on hay bales, with the kookaburras joining in on the laughter. This year’s festival has a special and grateful spirit attached to it. January’s devastating bushfires swept through the Parndana area, reaching Wittows Creek where the festival takes place. Had it not

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been for the bravery and hard work of the CFS, local farmers and volunteer firefighters, the creek would not have survived. In the wake of the fire’s destruction, the six visiting international acts are even more pumped to bring laughter, joy and happiness to both locals and guests on Saturday, March 21. In addition to the action on stage, there will be local award-winning chefs showcasing their food, face painters, musicians and glamping tents provided by Wandering Souls to sleep in. And with a little luck, the local CFS will be able to have the day off to spray down the kids if the weather is hot. For tickets and event information, please visit Bush Festival on Facebook or eventbrite. There are many local accommodation options available for visitors and many places to visit – Sealink ferry has regular ferries visiting and hire cars are available.


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TRAILBLAZER

Zannie Flanagan Story by Nina Keath. Photograph by Jason Porter.

I vividly recall my first introduction to Zannie Flanagan. It was 1985 and my sweaty seven-year-old self was clad in a pair of deeply prized hot-pink bike shorts. After a thrilling ride along the Shiraz Trail, my dad and I strode into McLaren Vale’s newly opened Salopian Inn. I recall crisp white walls, cool slate floors, contemporary art, mouthwatering aromas and the sounds of Nina Simone crooning beneath the clamour of conversation. Zannie, with a sharp brown bob and bold red lips greeted us with a huge smile. She instantly recognised the importance of my pink bike shorts and proclaimed her adoration with an enthusiasm equal to mine. She then informed me that she had a daughter just my age and proceeded to march me through the bustling kitchen, making sure to introduce me to every single person along the way, before depositing me onto the trampoline outside with her daughter, Eliza. Dad was left to contentedly sample the restaurant’s wares child-free. The rest, as they say, is history. And what a history it has been. In 2009, Zannie was recognised as a Food Legend by The Advertiser and, in 2010, she was awarded an Order of Australia for services to the food industry. In addition to creating the Salopian Inn, she also co-founded the famous Prewett’s at Kangarilla – both inspired by Zannie’s belief that restaurants should reflect the landscape in which they are situated. Menus were seasonal with an emphasis on regional produce – a relatively ground-breaking approach at the time. This was also when her passion for local olive oil was ignited and what led her to establish South Australia’s first farmers markets – the Willunga Farmers Market in 2002 and the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market in 2006. Eliza and I were observers in the background of it all. We were there as eight-year-olds, climbing the shelves of the Salopian fridge to raid the Vietnamese chicken that head chef Russel Jeavons, of Russel’s Pizza fame, valiantly attempted to hide on the top shelf. We were there as twelve-year-olds, listening as Zannie and her peers discussed food, art, and politics – her home a relaxed hub of ideas and action. We were there as sleep-deprived teenagers, taking liberties with the enormous benchtop jar of artisan goat cheese marinating in pungent green olive oil that conveniently refilled itself between my visits. After Eliza and I left the Fleurieu as young adults, I would call from interstate to hear of her progress starting the Willunga Farmers Market, and of the town hall meetings at which Zannie insisted on strict food provenance rules and her steadfast belief that the doubters would come around.

At eighteen, I wrote Zannie a letter thanking her for such a superb education in community, culture and food, and she was surprised to learn how valued she was. I was surprised that she was surprised. But she has taught me that even the most seemingly confident among us can have a soft and vulnerable core. On a sunny summer afternoon this year, we sit at her kitchen table and reflect upon the Salopian, the site of our first meeting. Zannie recalls, ‘the real estate agent tried to talk us out of buying it because it was so dilapidated. But I could see it. I often get a vision of what something could be. I always underestimate the work required but the vision keeps me on track.’ She scrolls through her phone to find a photo of the building pre-renovation and grins ruefully, ‘I look at that now and question how I saw that vision.’ And then, more quietly, she sighs, ‘looking through these photos makes me realise what a beautiful life I have.’ It’s a beautiful life that has at times been hard won. After the Salopian, she suffered a series of deep, personal losses, including the deaths of close family members and friends. Then, soon after the death of Zannie’s mother, her daughter Eliza, my dear friend, survived a brain tumor in her early twenties. Zannie recalls working with close friends Helen Bennetts and Jude McBain, saying ‘we started the Willunga Farmers Market as a way of coming out from under the doona! We’d each experienced our own deep, personal trauma and grief. Creating something good and healthy for the community helped us heal ourselves.’ In retrospect, she sees how the market offers an antidote to many modern challenges requiring healing. ‘The bushfires have brought home to people the importance of everyone doing their bit, but people become frustrated because they don’t know what to do. They struggle to see how their small acts will make a difference. They can’t see that it contributes to a massive cumulative effect,’ she says. ‘The market enables people to engage with small sustainable acts that ease the pain, frustration and sense of powerlessness when everything is done from the top down. As a consumer at the market, it’s easy to do the right thing, such as no plastic and low food miles, because everyone else is doing it with you and all the systems are in place to make it happen.’ Zannie muses, ‘all my ideas have come from a problem or a desire. I’ve always looked around and thought, I know what this place needs. And then I’ve gone about creating it. It’s about creating the life you want. It may not have been an easy life, but it is most certainly a beautiful one. I feel very fortunate.’

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Wander, discover and enjoy... Visit Alexandrina Photo courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission

Fringe Weekend in Goolwa including workshops, comedy, live music and more:

• George Kapiniaris in ZORBA THE FREAK!* At Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 7 March • The Goolwa Caravan at Jaralde Park, Goolwa Wharf Precinct on 8 March • Gumbo Ya Ya music entertainment at Signal Point Gallery Deck on 8 March

Aquatic April events including:

‘CabarMay’ (Cabaret Events):

• Aquafest at Goolwa Aquatic Club on 4–5 April • Wooden Boats, the Passion at Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct on 21 April–10 May • Vogalonga Down Unda at Goolwa on 26 April • Southern Surf Festival at Middleton on 24–26 April

• Up, Up & Away* at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 2 May • The Bald Eagles* band at Centenary Hall, Goolwa on 9 May • The Creedence Revival – A CCR Tribute Show* at Mount Compass War Memorial Hall on 30 May * tickets/booking required

Photo courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission

For bookings and enquiries please visit www.visitalexandrina.com or call Council’s Visitor Information Centre on 1300 466 592. Alexandrina Council continues the ‘Just Add Water’ arts and culture program in 2020. View a copy online for more events in the region at www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/jaw 62


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DESTINATION FLEURIEU

Create your escape > Goolwa

Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick

Goolwa, meaning ‘elbow’ in the local Ngarrindjeri indigenous language, affectionately hugs the edge of the Murray River as it meets the sprawling sands of our picturesque southern coastline.

Above: Take a relaxing sunset tour with Canoe the Coorong – and finish off with local drinks.

Goolwa’s laid-back lifestyle is underpinned by a deep respect for its rich natural history, as well as its importance to early European settlers as a bustling port town. Surrounded by an abundance of picturesque waterside playgrounds, with direct access to the best of the Fleurieu’s food, wine and art, it’s hard to understand why one would ever leave. But if forever is not an option, at least stay a while and explore some of the understated treats Goolwa has to offer.

EAT: Every good day must first begin with good coffee, and what better place to start than in Goolwa’s main street. Motherduck Cafe is a life force for holidaymakers and locals alike, with baristas slinging Proud Mary specialty coffee from 8am, Tuesday to Sunday. While you’re there, it might be tempting to peruse the brunch menu, and so you should. Whether you’re seeking vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, or plain old meat and three veg, owner and head chef Mel has every taste covered. While you’re strolling up the main street, make sure to follow the bend around to Rankines at The Whistle Stop. Silence your morning tea stomach grumbles with a delicious coffee and slice of cake, stay for lunch or come back around dinnertime to enjoy quality regional food while you work your way through their extensive wine list. As the main street bustle picks up, it might be time to seek a quiet refuge in the fresh air at Bombora on the River. Take a seat outside overlooking the sparkling Murray River while you enjoy a menu that takes full advantage of high-quality meat, seafood and produce from the Fleurieu. Indulge in their exclusively South

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Top: Shaw Family Vintners, winery and cellar door from above: Photo by Sam Davidson. Middle left: Go to long-time favourite – Rankines Whistlestop on the main road. Photo by Richard Hodges. Middle right: Bombora on the River – take a seat outside overlooking the sparkling Murray River. Photo by Jodie Edwards. Bottom: Motherduck Cafe is a life force for holidaymakers and locals alike. Photo by Josie Withers.

Australian wine list, including many options from nearby Langhorne Creek. If salty air and roaring waves are more your style, nestle yourself among the dunes at Goolwa Beach and devour some fresh seafood at Kuti Shack. The new restaurant, named after the beloved pipi or kuti as its known in Ngarrindjeri language, is offering a spectacular array of locally caught and foraged grub. The kitchen is a hub of experimentation, testing innovative fusions with indigenous ingredients – the widely celebrated kuti, however, takes the lead role.

DRINK: If you’re feeling adventurous, head slightly further afield and explore the lesser-known Currency Creek area. Take a short ten-minute drive from Goolwa and you can indulge your palate with the extensive range of wines at Shaw Family Vintners. Offering an impressive selection from McLaren Vale and Currency Creek vineyards – many with surprisingly modest price tags – this cellar door has something for everyone. While in the area, it’s only fair you pay a visit to One Paddock Currency Creek Winery. Their slightly smaller, but no less >

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Top: Artworx Gallery & Gifts displays original paintings, hand-blown glass, sculptures, mosaics and more. Photo by Andrew Kennedy. Bottom left: Nestle yourself among the dunes at Goolwa Beach and devour some fresh seafood at Kuti Shack. Right: The delicacies of the region can be found at Peninsula Providore Farm.

delicious wine selection is best savoured alongside a grazing platter under their gum tree. If you’re there on a Sunday, you can enjoy a more substantial feed from the restaurant attached. Also catering to large events and weddings, and providing secluded villas among the vines, this location offers a truly ‘end to end’ experience. Be careful: you might not want to leave. As the lazy afternoon rolls around, follow the train tracks back to the Goolwa Wharf Precinct and take a peek inside the Historic Railway Goods Shed, a building which once played a pivotal role in the region’s river and tramway trade. Here, you can enjoy a Fleurieu Distillery single malt whisky, award-winning beer, or refreshing gin. Sampling their locally crafted products, while overlooking the working brewery and stillhouse facility is a uniquely immersive experience.

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SHOP: With your thirst sufficiently quenched, it might be time to explore some more of Goolwa’s historic centre on foot. A short stroll under the pines in Jaralde Park and down the main street will bring you to a beautiful 1850s stone cottage, home to Artworx Gallery & Gifts. The gallery has established itself as a Goolwa icon, displaying original paintings, hand-blown glass, sculptures, mosaics and more. Showcasing a diverse range of talented local and interstate artists, complemented by a unique selection of giftwares, you are sure to find something for yourself or a loved one. If you’re finding it difficult to part ways with the delicacies of the region, then Peninsula Providore Farm can send you home with some delicious local souvenirs. Growing seven different olive varieties across two properties in Currency Creek and Tooperang, they produce premium extra virgin olive oil, alongside complementary goodies like garlic and herb salt, dukkah and vinegar. If you’re around in May, pay a visit to the Peninsula Olive Festival, held at their Nangkita Grove every year. A market-style showcase of the best olive oil and olive products the Fleurieu Peninsula has to offer, it would be a crime to leave empty-handed.


Top: Coorong Quays has a world-class waterfront location and contains everything you need in one place: fuel your boat, stop for a drink or meal at the tavern or stay a while to enjoy riverside accommodation. Middle left: Pay a visit to One Paddock Currency Creek Winery. Photo by Renni Maitland. Middle right: Spirit of the Coorong offers various tours departing from Goolwa. Bottom left: Enjoy a Fleurieu Distillery single malt whisky, award-winning beer, or refreshing gin. Bottom right: Mill Estate luxury cottage.

STAY:

EXPERIENCE:

If your Goolwa love story is more than a one-day affair, lucky you. Tucked just behind the main street, Mill Estate has two selfcontained, luxury cottages to choose from. If you’re on a romantic escape for two, The Abode provides a plush king-sized bed and spa bath to sink into after a day of exploring. If you’re enjoying a getaway with family and friends, the historical Mill Cottage can sleep up to six people, with room to entertain and enjoy the company of your loved ones. Offering a sophisticated escape that doesn’t sacrifice homely comforts, it’s the perfect place to use as your base.

Goolwa serves as a convenient gateway into the Coorong National Park, an area of great ecological and cultural significance. A short drive to the scenic lookout at Sugars Beach will give you but a glimpse into the untamed natural beauty of the area. Canoe the Coorong can escort you on a deeper exploration across sheltered waterways and soft sand dunes. From relaxing sunset tours finished off with local beverages, to multi-day camping expeditions, there are few better ways to experience the fresh, salty air of the Coorong.

After taking your boat on a winding escapade across the Murray River or Lake Alexandrina, find a safe spot to moor inside the Coorong Quays marina. The world-class waterfront location contains everything you need in one place: fuel your boat, stop for a drink or meal at the tavern or stay a while to enjoy riverside accommodation. If the quiet, relaxing and self-contained community way of life takes your fancy, you could even explore a more permanent residency at the Alexandrina Cove Lifestyle Village.

If you fantasise about walking in Storm Boy’s shoes, exploring rich Ngarrindjeri history and gazing at the mesmerising Coorong birdlife, but don’t quite have the upper body strength to navigate the waterways with a paddle, Spirit of the Coorong offers the perfect alternative. With various tours departing from Goolwa, you can still enjoy the beautiful water and landscapes, while letting the boat do most of the hard work. >

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Top: Signal Point Gallery curates various public exhibitions throughout the year. Middle left: Fleurieu Gyroplanes offer an exhilarating bird’s eye tour in the safe hands of an experienced gyroplane instructor. Middle right: Take a tour on PS Oscar W. Bottom: A scenic ride on the famed Cockle Train is arguably the most iconic experience on the south coast.

For those who prefer to keep both feet on solid ground, there’s one thing you simply can’t miss: a scenic ride on the famed Cockle Train, arguably the most iconic experience on the south coast. SteamRanger Heritage Railway will take you on a journey through history from Goolwa to Victor Harbor, with a few memorable stops along the way. From the comfort of heritage carriages, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Murray River and rolling southern surf. Complete the historical experience with a voyage on the PS Oscar W, departing from the Goolwa Riverboat Centre. See the original steam engine at work, feel the heat of the boiler and listen to a bit of local history while you traverse the river. The slow chug of the paddle steamer isn’t everyone’s speed; some might prefer to take to the skies and experience the region’s beauty from above. Fleurieu Gyroplanes offer an exhilarating bird’s eye tour in the safe hands of an experienced gyroplane instructor. Following a short introduction to the controls and a safety briefing, you can even have a go at piloting the plane yourself.

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SEE: If your itinerary still has some wiggle room, fear not, for there are plenty more ways to make the most of your Goolwa escape. Signal Point Gallery curates various public exhibitions throughout the year, providing an excellent platform for artists to gain exposure. In addition to their exhibits, the gallery also hosts numerous events, so make sure to check out their calendar. It’s worth keeping an eye out for a number of public art and play spaces for the whole family to enjoy along the way, including beautiful airbrush murals adorning the outside walls of the Goolwa RSL, a rustic pelican standing guard on the main street and carved wooden sculptures by local artists Silvio Apponyi, Robert Waldi and Lars Heldmann. If you want to learn more about the history of the area, grab a brochure at the Goolwa Visitor Centre and take yourself on one of three self-guided heritage walks. We won’t tell anyone if you make a few stops along the way.


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FOOD & WINE PAIRING

Delicious Spanish-inspired bruschetta Story by Mel Amos. Photography by Heidi Lewis.

Perhaps it’s because of the devastation our beautiful state and, indeed, our beautiful country has endured recently, but this summer has felt exceptionally long. It doesn’t feel as though autumn is quite ready to show her face just yet. Certainly not at the time I’m writing this article anyway.

Smoky sweet pepper bruschetta

So instead of a ‘stick to your ribs kind of meal’ (we’ll save that one for winter), I thought I would keep it a bit lighter with a Spanishinspired bruschetta. Beautiful peppers (or capsicums, depending on where you’re from) are abundant at this time of year. When roasted in their skins, their flesh transforms, turning sweet, succulent and smoky. Piled on toasted sourdough along with mellow, roasted garlic cloves and the very best extra virgin olive oil, you have a truly delicious yet simple meal.

Salt and pepper

Because this is such a simple dish, it’s essential you use quality ingredients; you really have nowhere to hide with this one. Make sure you buy locally grown peppers and garlic, quality cold pressed olive oil and proper sourdough. Needless to say, you will find the best of everything at our local farmers’ markets. This bruschetta is perfect served as part of a tapas board, so serve alongside jamon, burrata (not Spanish I know, but goes beautifully), fried chorizo, anchovies and some rocket to freshen things up a little. The perfect accompaniment to this meal is S.C. Pannell’s 2017 Tempranillo Touriga, otherwise known as ‘The Red One.’ Although tempranillo is swiftly gaining popularity here, its partner-inbottle, touriga nacional, is perhaps less well known. Described by S.C. Pannell as a lusty red variety that produces medium-bodied yet powerful wines with pungent fruit characteristics of fruit-mince or plum pudding, it blends well with the red fruit, earth and cocoa of tempranillo. This superb blend produces a medium-bodied wine with a complex flavour profile of cherry cola, bright red fruit, lavender and lilac, herbaceous notes of dried oregano and thyme, finishing on a spicy note of cloves and nutmeg. Big but not overbearing, we can’t get enough of this wine right now, and it’s the perfect pairing to my Spanish-style bruschetta.

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Serves 4-6 Ingredients 6 large peppers / capsicums (ideally a combination of red and yellow) 6 large garlic cloves, skin on 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp red wine vinegar 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked

Loaf of sourdough, thickly sliced Small bunch fresh continental parsley, leaves picked Optional sides: jamon, burrata, fried chorizo, anchovies, rocket Method Preheat oven to 230C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Slice the peppers in half lengthways and remove the seeds. Lay the peppers cut side down on the baking tray. Add the garlic to the tray (leaving the skin on). Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes or as long as it takes for your garlic to soften (keep an eye on it, as cooking time will depend on the size of your cloves). Once the garlic has softened, remove from the tray to cool and return the peppers to the oven for a further 20 minutes or so. They’re ready once the skin has blistered and blackened (you can also do these on a bbq grill, gas stovetop flame or under the grill). When blackened, put the peppers in a bowl and cover with a tea towel to allow them to steam for 15 minutes (this will make removing the skins much easier). While the peppers steam, squeeze the roasted garlic out of their skins onto a chopping board and chop roughly. Place in a serving bowl together with the olive oil, thyme and red wine vinegar and mix together with a fork. Now go back to the peppers and remove the skins by gently pinching them off. It’s fine to have a few flecks of blackened skin, so there’s no need to be pedantic as long as the bulk of it is removed. Slice the peppers into strips and add to the garlic oil. Set aside while you prepare the bread. Heat a griddle pan over high heat. Brush each slice of sourdough (on both sides) with olive oil and add to the pan. Cook on each side for 2 minutes or until golden. To serve, pile the peppers on the toast and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Place on a large serving board along with any sides and serve immediately. Salud!


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BOOKS & WORDS

Autumn book reviews by Mark Laurie of South Seas Books, Port Elliot.

Superpower: Australia’s low carbon opportunity by Ross Garnaut

Published by La Trobe University Press in association with Black Inc. ISBN 9781760642099 $29.99 It takes a special kind of personality to wrest practical optimism from Australia’s climate wars and America’s Trump experiment while our planet heats and extinctions multiply. It also takes a superior intelligence and considerable learning to see a clear pathway out of our present policy morass, let alone one which would see Australia prosper from the part it must play in the rapidly decarbonising future rational science exhorts us to secure. Eminent economist and policy adviser, Ross Garnaut, has taken the best part of two decades of engagement with climate science and energy, a working lifetime as a public intellectual and an illustrious published history to produce this timely and important book.

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The author steps out of the confines of classical economic theory to discuss climate change in scientific, ethical and political terms against the backdrop of economic history and the international political economy. He provides a crystalclear explanation for the diabolical policy position we find ourselves in, dominated by short-term thinking, an economic system which always deeply discounts future benefits against present gratification while under-pricing social costs, free riders and powerful vested interests (and their captives). However, he demonstrates the potential for environmental salvation with economic benefits, fuelled by massive and unforeseen decreases in the costs of low-emission technologies, increased awareness of the possibilities offered by carbon-sensitive land management and sustained low capital costs. The opportunity in Australia primarily lies in continuing our electricity transformation to zero emissions as quickly as possible, opening up opportunities for energy-intensive industry in our regions, rejuvenating both them and the long-declining manufacturing sector. It also lies in encouraging increased carbon sequestration through land management, largely through a biomass for ruminants swap. It would take a special kind of wilful blindness or venal self-interest to ignore the precepts and positions set out in this slim reference, characteristics which appear all too readily discernible amidst what passes for political and (in some sectors) economic leadership of this country. No longer can they plead ignorance.

Here We Are by Graham Swift Published by Scribner ISBN 9781471188930 $29.99 The setting, both time and place, for Booker prize-winner Graham Swift’s latest novel does much to define it. The English resort town of Brighton, a birthplace for mass tourism and spiritual home for Thomas

Cook Travel, was a site for pleasure, escape and reinvention before television’s onslaught and changing tastes drew the crowds elsewhere. The late 1950s witnessed the privations of the second world war beginning to ease, while England’s inhabitants remained deep in its shadows, their lives cast by the conflict and the changes wrought to families, places and circumstances. And so, ‘here we are’ in the twilight with a ‘flickering summer concoction’ of vaudeville’s ‘small glittery fish’ as its heyday draws to an end. Ronnie Deane, Evie White and Jack Robinson play out the season at the end of the pier, both on the stage and behind it, their theatrical success masking the reflected sadness and ordinariness of lives lived in a circumscribed world. There is much magic in this quiet little book, magic which transcends the trickery and illusion of the staged performance it portrays. It explores the magic we weave on one another through life’s ‘ballet of silent intersections’ whether benevolent, malevolent or benign. Like a memorable concert or play, its characters, scenes and language will take hold in the reader’s consciousness.


the imagery and narrative flows like the ceaseless stream of settlement into the old West, coming to occupy every corner of the reader’s imagination. Infused with neglected history, it tells a story of those settlers, marooned inland, thirstily seeking belonging in a harsh new world ever more crowded by those, both living and dead, whose grasping want is as unregulated as it is endless.

his satirical ambitions while discussing deep workplace and social ills. Wry observation, erudite humour and a fast-flowing plot make this novel an enjoyably revealing read.

Maybe the Horse Will Talk by Elliot Perlman Published by Penguin Random House Australia ISBN 9780143781493 $32.99

Inland by Téa Obreht Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson ISBN 9780297867074 $32.99 A dual-track narrative set in the rapidly receding frontier of America’s West at the end of the nineteenth century, this ambitious book reimagines the western from fresh perspectives, as the traditional gunslinging adventurer is pushed to the periphery and the spirit world pulled to the fore. A light-fingered immigrant of indeterminate parentage and a troubled past reinvents himself as a cameleer, while a pioneer woman tries to hold her family and herself together in a marginal settlement in the Arizona territories. Hunted and haunted by his past, Lurie keeps moving towards the horizon laid before him by the camel that becomes his conveyance, livelihood and companion. Nora finds solace from the consumptive power of her guilt, disappointment and rage in the enervating spirit of her long dead daughter. A worthy successor to Larry McMurtry and his Pulitzer prize-winning Lonesome Dove,

Working relentlessly as a commercial lawyer without any semblance of interest, security or reward, to pay a mortgage for a home he has been dispatched from, Stephen Maserov finds himself on life’s treadmill operating at too high a speed for exit without injury. A dream, spawned from exhausted sleep in the soulless onebedroom apartment he occupies during the brief interludes between trying to make budget, points to a way out, if he dares. Elliot Perlman presents us with a thoroughly modern corporate fairytale, complete with a wicked senior partner, the deep dark forest of workplace sexual harassment, and institutionalised Stockholm-syndrome among those on the ladder’s lower rungs. His latest book takes the worst aspects of corporate life and stretches them, although less than you might think. The white-collar wage slavery of the mega commercial legal firms with the hand-to-hand competition promoted among colleagues and the ground-down cynicism they engender are certainly real enough. So too the Machiavellian practices and experimental psychology of HR departments over the human resources they control. Against this forbidding backdrop, fortified by observations of modern marriages and financial management, specks of conscience and sentience shine like pearls. An ‘entertainment’ as Graham Greene would have it, Perlman has given full play to

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Above left: Will Mount was the inspiration for Lucy Mount’s ‘Will Power Challenge’. Above right: Boernardi Langford’s ‘Outback Cleanups Australia’ vehicle can be found scouring remote locations collecting rubbish from our pristine landscapes.

Sustainability and you Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick.

Consciously reducing your environmental footprint can seem like a challenging task, but on the Fleurieu countless opportunities to do better lay at our fingertips. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the bigger picture, the best thing you can do is something. The most powerful acts can sometimes be the smallest. Say no to plastic Almost everything we consume comes in plastic: vegetables in cling wrap, coffee in disposable cups and deli meat served on shiny polystyrene platters. For the month of January, Lucy Mount decided to live without plastic. After losing her older brother Will in an accident last year, Lucy wanted to honour his strength and community spirit. She created the Will Power Challenge in his memory, which continues the tradition of monthly challenges Will had been completing with his cousin Nick Dugmore. Each month, a new challenge is introduced. A slip-up warrants a ten dollar donation to the RSPCA, or participants can cough up fifty dollars to opt out for the whole month. Beginning with easier swaps like eliminating straws, bringing their own shopping bags or investing in reusable coffee cups, participants have gone above and beyond by taking their own containers when collecting meat at the deli counter, purchasing bamboo toothbrushes and even lining their bins with newspaper. Lucy and the group have discovered just how plastic dependent our world is, but she says that by adopting small changes, other things have become more achievable. ‘Also, it’s much more fun to do it with friends, and much easier to achieve when everyone gets involved and helps each other out!’ Lucy says. 78

Join the Will Power Challenge 2020 group on Facebook. February – Will’s birthday month – is your choice of either cold or two-minute showers. What lies beyond is anyone’s guess! Keeping our landscapes clean Luscious bushlands and infinite white sands are such a normal part of life here on the Fleurieu that we tend to forget just how fragile they are. Born in the outback, but growing up in Sellicks Beach, Boenardi Langford harbours a deep love for both his desert and ocean roots. After nineteen years with the south coast as his backyard, Boenardi has observed rubbish levels rising. While recovering from a work accident, Boenardi began walking the beach picking up rubbish. It was through this that he decided to dedicate his time to removing all the rubbish he can through his self-funded initiative Outback Cleanups Australia. Since February 2019, Boenardi has cleared numerous coastal and outback areas across remote Australia. With his friend Alex Steimo now on board, the pair are working towards getting Outback Cleanups Australia recognised as a legitimate charity organisation with a sustainable business model. They face increasing costs for fuel and vehicle maintenance, along with exorbitant dumping charges but are introducing innovative countermeasures, including a ‘voluntourism’ model, bringing volunteers along for picturesque remote adventures while they assist with clearing rubbish. Support their work through the Outback Cleanups Australia Go Fund Me page and follow their journey at @outbackcleanups on Instagram and Facebook. You can also volunteer your time by regularly clearing a particular area on the Fleurieu through the Adopt A Spot Scheme – your self-designated site becomes your personal area to maintain.


Above left: Marie Sulda has decided to try and go for a full year without purchasing any new clothing. Above right: Lou Nicholson of ‘Girl Fleurieu Organics’.

Sustainable retail therapy When you’re elbow-deep in a rack of cheap textiles, or lost in your tenth open tab of an online sale, it can be easy to forget just how much that ‘need’ for self-expression is impacting the environment. It was this constant urge to update her wardrobe that got Marie Sulda thinking. As managing director at Kaleidoscopic Travel, Marie wanted to take steps towards making both her business and lifestyle carbon neutral. Already actively reducing her waste in other areas, she decided to face her biggest area of consumption: clothes. Marie has challenged herself to go an entire year without purchasing any new threads. Instead, she’s updating her wardrobe more sustainably through giving second-hand items new life and hiring formal outfits for corporate events. Marie hopes the challenge will develop into lasting habits as she becomes more mindful of consumerism on a broader scale.

Not so fast food In our modern, fast-paced lifestyles, it can be difficult to find the time to consciously source our food. Supermarket chains are abundant, providing a fast and reliable one-stop-shop to gather our weekly groceries – but their convenience isn’t without consequences. The fruit and veg section is often an international display of imported produce, riddled with plastic packaging and a myriad of chemicals. Ideally, we could bypass the supermarket, buy direct from local farmers and know exactly where our food is coming from – Girl Fleurieu Organics does exactly that. Delivering boxes of certified organic goodies to local households every week, Girl Fleurieu Organics takes the hassle out of shopping sustainably. Run by Lou Nicholson and her family, the business focuses on using minimal packaging, reducing waste and lowering food miles.

Once the year passes, Marie will be shopping based on ‘need’ rather than ‘want’ and where she truly requires an item she plans to take the time to seek out higher quality items that will last. Online resources like the Good On You website, which rates brands based on their ethical and sustainable practices, help consumers make informed choices. Many of our local retailers also focus on sustainable brands.

Organic farming also helps to maintain healthy soils, which store more carbon and support greater biodiversity, resulting in less greenhouse gases and a thriving ecosystem. Products arrive on your doorstep in a polystyrene box or cooler bag, which are rotated every week. When the boxes become too worn out, they are returned to the supplier to be packed down into tiny squares, which are used to make building material.

Beyond her own efforts, Marie wants to inspire a grass-roots mindset shift in others. and has started a blog called Just Do Something Sustainable, where she hopes to also engage and champion others in their sustainability endeavours.

Fancy creating healthier soils, reducing waste and supporting a local business without even having to leave your front doorstep? Us too. Find Girl Fleurieu Organics on Facebook.

If you have any ideas, or your own sustainability story, contact Marie via her blog at justdosomethingsustainable.wordpress.com, or through her Facebook page @justdosomethingtoday.

Despite grim climate change predictions and scary statistics, as a society we still hold so much power to create a better future. The small steps we take now can only snowball into bigger and better things. A sustainable future starts with you. 79


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Above: Shakshuka eggs, yoghurt flatbreads, cheesy potato cakes, blistered cherry tomatoes and grilled halloumi with caramelised figs – paired with a delicious Samson Tall Grenache Rose.

The Greek Vegetarian Story by Petra de Mooy. Photography by Aise Dillon. Styling by Marcus Syvertsen.

Helen Mouneimne’s smile seems to be made for television. It offers the first glimpse into her optimistic worldview and – as a passionate cook – her love for food. You may have seen her smiling during the cooking demonstrations she sometimes runs at the Willunga Farmers Market. Soon she’ll be seen by a wider audience as the resident chef on season five of Channel Nine’s travel and lifestyle show, Adelady. It’s the sort of joie de vivre – alongside cooking prowess – that gets you noticed by the producers of MasterChef and saw her make it to the judges auditions in 2019. ‘I made it to the top thirty-five,’ she laments. It was this experience that galvanised her self belief and, after picking herself up and dusting herself off for getting so close to the top twenty-four, she began to fight harder for her dream. ‘Food has always been there and it’s something I should have pursued straight away after school. It’s the only subject I got As in through my whole schooling,’ Helen recalls. But in her final grading in year twelve she got an A- instead of an A in her food and hospitality 82

class. Not one to accept second best, Helen queried the teacher about the lower than average mark. The teacher told her, ‘you need to learn to follow a recipe.’ But Helen never did; she always had a flair for just making good things happen in the kitchen. ‘It’s always been food for me and it’s always been there, I think it comes from cooking with my mum. My first memory is cooking with her and she always encouraged me and taught me even though she was a perfectionist,’ she says. ‘Even to this day we get together to cook.’ After school, Helen reluctantly held off from a career in food, focusing instead on more ‘practical’ studies in marketing which eventually led in a roundabout way to a ten-year career in finance. Her enquiring mind and entrepreneurial flair then prompted another career change, leading her to open a bridal shop with a friend. Yet food was always there in the background. Despite busy day jobs, Helen was always moonlighting as a chef in the making – taking courses and cooking whenever possible. ‘At night I would read recipe books and bookmark everything I would like to make. It was always a driving force,’ she says.


Above: Helen Mouneimne – The Greek Vegetarian.

‘Cooking for people makes me happy. If someone cooks my recipe and writes to tell me they loved it, I am flying for days.’

The vegetarianism thing came about by accident. After a massive week at work, Helen’s mother kindly dropped a home-cooked bolognese off to help out and Helen couldn’t eat it. The same thing happened with BBQ chicken and then a serve of koftas (‘I love koftas!’ she says). ‘Couldn’t eat them!’ she exclaims. So she decided to stop eating meat then and there. That was three years ago. In 2018, Helen registered The Greek Vegetarian Instagram handle thinking there had to be a way to educate people about delicious vegetarian food. ‘Or if they want they can add chicken to it – whatever,’ says Helen, ever adaptable. ‘I can still make meat dishes for catering and cooking but I can’t eat it anymore. Hani [her husband] gets his chicken parmi’s in when he’s out for a work lunch,’ she smiles. While her Greek heritage is at the front of her branding, she’s aware that many may consider a ‘Greek vegetarian’ an oxymoron. But Helen is not at all limited to Greek cooking when it comes to cuisine. Although she does lean more towards a Mediterranean style, she is adept at cooking from many cultures, with Middle Eastern being one of her current favourites.

On the day we meet to take photos for the feature, Helen has no less than six dishes with her. The spread is generous and we have to change lenses just to get it all in. This is Helen in her element – cooking from the heart to create mouth-watering, healthy and hearty spreads. I was lucky enough to take home a plate and it was all delicious. ‘Food makes me happy,’ she says. ‘Cooking for people makes me happy. If someone cooks my recipe and writes to tell me they loved it, I am flying for days.’ I ask Helen what she wants from her food career and she says she’s open to everything. Apart from still running her wedding business, Helen is catering events, doing cooking demonstrations, and developing and testing recipes while also teaching private cooking classes. Watch out for her at Tasting Australia where she will be a representative ambassador for brands like City Cross, Romeo’s Foodland and others. But I think she’s made for television. Just saying.

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Casual dining With milder days and crisp evenings returning, it’s the perfect time of year to explore the many relaxed dining venues the Fleurieu has to offer. From seaside snacks to vibrant Mexican or the classic comfort of a pub meal, there are options a-plenty. Make a day of it, explore the area and discover these delicious eateries this autumn.

THE ANCHORAGE HOTEL

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PORT BURGER

Victor Harbor Focusing on seasonal, locally sourced menus in an enviable location, the Anchorage will not disappoint. Operating from a heritagelisted building, the Anchorage offers a unique ambiance and experience, seven days a week. Drop in for a barista-brewed coffee from 8am, or treat yourself to their quality food and personalised service for breakfast, lunch or dinner – or maybe all three. With on-site accommodation boasting sea views, you may never want to leave. www.anchoragehotel.com.au

Normanville Boasting incredible views of the stunning Normanville Beach and jetty and a restaurant quality menu, the Normanville Kiosk and Café is a must-visit destination. In the warmer months, experience an unbeatable Normanville Beach sunset while being served local wines and seafood on the outdoor deck. In the colder months, enjoy a hearty, lazy winters’ lunch indoors watching the waves roll in. Friendly staff, delicious breakfasts, coffee and cake await you. www.normanvillekioskandcafe.com.au

Port Noarlunga Head for Port Burger in Port Noarlunga for an award-winning dining experience in a modern industrial setting. The menu features chefcrafted burgers and classic sides made with the best Fleurieu produce perfectly paired with local beers. Pull up a seat inside one of the purpose-built shipping containers or find a spot on the deck overlooking a well-shaded grassed area and sandpit for the kiddos, while enjoying a slow-cooked brisket or zucchini burger, a PB lager and the chill vibes. @portburger

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PIPI

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LOCO MEXICAN

Middleton For soothing coastal vibes and the friendliest service, stop in at Pipi at Middleton. Relax and enjoy seasonal and locally sourced food, coffee from De Groot Coffee Co. and the best South Australian wines in Pipi’s beautiful inside space or venture outside into the fruit-tree filled courtyard. Settle in with family, friends and doggies to make the most of the all-day menu with weekly specials, cold press juices and house baked goods from Thursday-Monday, 8am to 3pm. @pipiatmiddleton

Strathalbyn The recently refurbished Commercial Hotel Strathalbyn offers a relaxed, family-friendly experience in the heart of the picturesque High Street. Make a day of it and enjoy Strathalbyn’s renowned antique shops before stopping in for lunch or dinner, seven days a week at this family-owned and operated venue. With quality food, award-winning local wine and produce, and friendly hospitality, the Commercial Hotel is exactly what a country pub should be. @commercialhotelstrathalbyn

Victor Harbor Perched in the upstairs level of the Flinders Arcade, Loco Mexican serves up fresh Mexican food the whole family will enjoy. A feast for the eyes as well as the belly, the bright interior sets the scene for the vibrant flavours to come. The extensive menu features Mexican all-stars like tacos, enchiladas and burritos with all smoked meats and pickled veg produced in house. With a designated menu and play area for the littlest amigos, this fiesta is for everyone. www.locomexican.com

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Above left: Head to the Producer’s Breakfast at the the much-loved Willunga Farmers Market. Right: Karena Armstrong – Tasting Australia Ambassador will be serving up a generous family dinner on March 30. Photo by Meagan Coles.

Tasting Australia March 27 – April 5 2020

Check out these Fleurieu based events!

Willunga Farmers Market Producers’ Table Breakfast 28 March 2020 8.30am-10.30am The freshest food in the region will be served at an exclusive long table breakfast hosted by producers of the Willunga Farmers Market. Sparkling wine on arrival will be complemented by fresh orange and green juices and – of course – coffee. The shared-plate breakfast will feature local pastries, croissants, farm-fresh yoghurt, smallgoods, cheese, fruit and shakshuka eggs with Little Acre Foods chorizo. And don’t worry, vegetarians will also be well looked after. After you’ve savoured all of that, a selection of sweet treats from Soul Food & Co will be on offer. This event will confirm the Fleurieu as a standout region for food and beverage production and continue to build the market’s stellar reputation, following its 2019 recognition as Australia’s most outstanding farmers’ market at the Delicious Produce Awards. Eat, drink and learn more about this passionate community. Salopian Inn Salopian Inn Family Dinner 30 March 2020 6.30pm-10.00pm The overarching philosophy at The Salopian Inn is simple: guests should feel relaxed, comfortable, and eat in their own way. What better way to celebrate this ethos than at the Salopian Inn Family Dinner. Everyone is welcome to this two-course family dinner and it’ll be fun for all, young and old, big and small! Salopian classics will have a family-friendly spin: steamed buns and dumplings are sure to feature. Produce will be provided by preferred local suppliers or picked straight from the Salopian’s very own organic kitchen garden. Owners Karena Armstrong and Alex Marchetti look forward to welcoming you.

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Top left: The Cube will come alight for Curiouser and Curiouser. Bottom left: A Picnic Under the Stars at Kay Brothers. Photo by Angelo Granozio. Right: The Vintage Dinner at S.C. Pannell will be a rare opportunity to dine with winemakers. Photo by Josie Withers.

S.C. Pannell Vintage Dinner at S.C. Pannell 1 April 2020 6.00pm-10.00pm

d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant Curiouser and Curiouser 28 March 2020 6.00pm-11.00pm

Step into the home of acclaimed winemaker Stephen Pannell and his wife Fiona Lindquist for a meal of garden-fresh vegetables and roasted meats straight from the smoker, as well as wines to toast the harvest. Guests will include hungry, thirsty, grape-stained workers from nearby vineyards and top McLaren Vale winemakers – the perfect opportunity to get the inside word on how the 2020 vintage is shaping up. The wines of Southern Italy are the inspiration for this event, with locally produced aglianico, nero d’Avola, fiano and montepulciano to be served alongside imported benchmarks – and we’re willing to bet the locals will win their share of taste tests. The set-menu, buffet-style meal will be prepared by Hayley White and Cameron Clarke from the S.C. Pannell kitchen. Expect plenty of fantastic bottles and tales to match.

Two chefs. Five senses. One event. Take a hedonistic journey of discovery and extravagance. d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant Head Chef Brendan Wessels and special guest chef Fabian Lehmann of Maxwell Restaurant will produce a roaming epicurist food and wine adventure. You’ll travel through the d’Arenberg Cube – and other mystery locations – for a dining experience far beyond convention. It will challenge and excite. Every bite, every sense.

Kay Brothers Picnic Under the Stars 4 April 2020 5.00pm-10.00pm Explore the cosmos in McLaren Vale with Kay Brothers winery at Picnic Under the Stars. Kay Brothers will host an evening of delicious wine, food and stargazing with Backyard Universe and an introduction to Aboriginal astronomy by Paul Curnow from the Adelaide Planetarium. Choose from delicious local produce to build your very own picnic basket, alongside handcrafted McLaren Vale wines from Kay Brothers. Situated on a hill 10 minutes from McLaren Vale Main Street, and only one hour from the Adelaide CBD, it’s a wonderful spot to enjoy an evening of delicious wine, food and the glittering lights of the night sky.

d’Arry’s Verandah Feral, Ferment and Forage a Winemakers Table 3 April 2020 12.00pm-4.00pm Head chef Peter Reschke has created a wild feast to match rare and museum d’Arenberg wines. Joining you at the table will be d’Arenberg senior winemaker Jack Walton. A dedicated gastronome, Walton will lead you through each course and wine pairing – expect bottles from deep within the d’Arenberg cellar as well as a snifter of a fermenting white and foraged red grapes.

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Fleurieu weddings Mike Dinnen and Pia Nowland married on 29 November 2019 at Lapito House. Photographs by Brión Photography

Above: Pia’s custom-designed and handmade dress by She Sews included a French-lace bodice and skirt in voluminous silky tulle, complemented by a silk veil hand-embroidered in edelweiss and native gum leaves by Pia’s mother, Yvonne, to symbolise Pia’s Swiss and Australian heritage.

Mike and Pia first met at the Mitcham shopping centre in 2002. Mike worked at Offshore Surf and Pia at Bakers Delight. Pia was absolutely smitten with the surfer from next door but he was unaware. Fast forward seven years and Pia now lives in Darwin, working as a journalist for the local radio station when she gets a text message from her good friend Emily, who also happens to be Mike’s sister. Emily had a question about the stonework at Pia’s family property, Lapito House. She also mentioned that one of her brothers recently moved up to Darwin. ‘All that was going through my mind was ... ‘I hope it’s Mike!’ He’ll definitely need a tour guide for the Northern Territory!’ says Pia. 92

Skip ahead another nine years from that serendipitous text, and the couple become engaged in Switzerland, in Lüscherz where Pia’s mum grew up. It was their last day in Switzerland and after a day of sightseeing, the couple went on a short walk to the nearby pine forest, which held special memories of Pia’s Grandma Alice. ‘Mike suddenly stopped at the apple tree and as a man of very few words he simply said ‘thank you for putting up with me, will you marry me?’’ Pia recalls. ‘What I love about this story is that if Emily hadn’t contacted me about the stonework at Lapito House, I would never have caught up with Mike in Darwin, and this love story would never have happened,’ says Pia. ‘It has simply done a full circle and I love that we celebrated our marriage at the very place that brought us together.’


Top left: Mike and Pia. Top right: Proud parents and partners. Middle: Glamping tents supplied by Tent Events ensured guests could enjoy the evening with accommodation a quick stroll away. Bottom: With the help of local carpenters, a shed was converted into a barn with a timber feature wall. Pia collected mismatched timber chairs, while her dad, John, was kept busy sanding and restoring them in time for their guests.

Both Pia and Mike’s families came together to help the couple create their perfect wedding day. Pia’s mum spent months hand-stitching and beading native gum leaves and edelweiss onto her veil to represent her Swiss and Australian heritage. Her dad designed the invitations and the couple’s own monogram which was used across all their signage on the day. Even the couple’s dog Doug, who played ring bearer, had his own Swiss red-and-white ring pouch hand-stitched with the monogram by Mike’s mum. She also travelled to every Spotlight across SA to buy enough cheesecloth to sew 126 napkins. With the help of local carpenters Leigh and Gabriel, a shed at the Myponga property was converted into a barn with a timber feature wall created with the leftover sheets from the Lapito House ceiling. The day before the wedding, Pia’s brother Toby collected fallen branches from the property which he and Pia’s dad built into an arbor,

while sister Lara, a freelance florist, spent the entire week styling the day. She used a mixture of natives from the property, white peonies, Queen Anne’s lace and lisianthus – all in addition to her role as one of Pia’s bridesmaids. Mike’s brother Rob was his best man, and also organised all of the catering through his Adelaide-based pintxos and tapas bar, Udaberri. Friends Duggie and Bec at The Stoke Wines provided the couple’s favourite Pétillant Naturel and family friend Marina officiated the ceremony. The weather was absolutely perfect, albeit with a few too many uninvited flies. Mike and Pia are so grateful to both of their families for making their day so special and memorable.

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Mixed six

Ranging from the best wines selected for the Hot 100 by The Adelaide Review to unsung local heroes, you can take our word for it – this mixed six pack is worth a try! Bleasdale 2017 Frank Potts Cabernet Blend Named for Bleasdale’s founder, this wine is consistently well received across vintages, regularly picking up awards and glowing reviews, including best red of show at the 2018 Perth Royal Wine Show. Not a bad effort for a wine from Langhorne Creek competing in the heart of WA cabernet territory. This Bordeaux blend is layered with red berry and darker fruit aromas, supported by fine oak tannin. Enjoy it young, or cellar for 10-20 years.

Dyson 2017 The Isadora Shiraz Viognier Created from Dyson’s low tonnage, sustainable vineyard at Maslin Beach, handpicked and bottled under the highest quality cork, the 2017 Isadora is their first blend of these varieties and the resulting wine has been well worth the wait. Featuring rich, ripe berries and toasty oak that mingles on the nose with slight leafy notes, the tight, elegant and subtle complexity on the palate rounds this wine off beautifully.

Zonte’s Footstep Nature’s Crux Organic 2019 Shiraz All around the world the bee is a superstar in our ecosystem, a bellwether one could say. Zonte’s Footstep view the bee as the barometer to their vineyard’s health and its biosphere. Healthy bees mean happy vines! In tribute, the Nature’s Crux is adorned with a busy bee. This vibrant shiraz smells of bramble, mocha, nutmeg and cinnamon interlaced with fresh blueberries and tarragon and displays plum, liquorice and highlights of blackcurrant.

Yangarra 2017 Shiraz Yangarra Estate is devoted to producing wines from the best southern Rhone grape varieties. The combination of rare geologies, elevation, cooling breezes from the southern Mount Lofty Ranges, and a Mediterranean climate provide the perfect conditions for these varieties to thrive. These factors coalesce in their 2017 Shiraz, which offers a cooler climate expression than the typical McLaren Vale style. It presents complex and concentrated flavours of dark berry fruits and spice.

Sherrah 2019 McLaren Vale Fiano Sherrah is an exciting new McLaren Vale small batch producer with a bright future, having already snagged the inaugural Hot 100 ‘New to the Game’ award in 2018 and five stars from James Halliday. This wine is crisp, dry and refreshing with bright and lifted aromas of lemon zest, white florals and hints of sea spray giving way to the signature texture and length Sherrah has become known for.

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Oliver’s Taranga 2017 Sagrantino Sagrantino has its traditional home in Montefalco, Umbria, Italy. Choc-full of wonderful black cherry flavour and violet florals, this dark, ripe red wine is full of plush fruit and swaddled in bittersweet chocolate tannins; the intensity of the tannins is what sets this variety apart. It’s showing promise in the cellar but has also been asserting itself at the Taranga vineyard as the guest of honour at our regular cellar door Porchetta Parties. Sagrantino + pork = delizioso!


SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: FLM Summer Launch at Dowie Doole On 10 December FLM was excited to help celebrate the opening of the stylish new Dowie Doole cellar door. Food from The Greek Vegetarian and sublime wines from Dowie Doole ensured that bellies were full and spirits were high.

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Being Social: Serafino Bushfire Appeal On 9 January Serafino head chef Daniel Armon joined forces with prominent local chefs, Karena Armstrong (Salopian Inn), Konny Putkin (Leonard’s Mill) and Chris Bone (Woodstock Winery) to create a three course dining experience. The sold-out event raised over $50,000 to support the Country Fire Service.

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01: Oli Scholz and Nina Keath 02: Paul Wilson and Heather Budich 03: Charlie Rhodes 04: Jessica Mary, Kristen Richter and Vicky Aldred 05: Kirsty Gannon, Summer Boag and Marcus Syvertsen 06: Hope Deane and Ben Pridham 07: Helen Mouneimne and Mandy Hall 08: Grant Pember, Hayley Pember-Calvert and Iain Calvert 09: Karyn Buchanan, Beth Newlyn and Perscia Maung 10: Anastazija Hankin, Gabrielle Harris and Silvana Bowman 11: Jan and Ron Logan with Mark Vandeleur 12: Sarah Wood, Sam and Maddie Marchetti and Eileen Lubiana.

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SOCIAL PAGES

Being Social: Party for Purpose at Fall from Grace Fall from Grace Wines hosted Party for Purpose on January 12 to raise much needed funds for the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network. Local businesses donated items to be auctioned and the event raised $18,000 – far surpassing the organisers’ expectations!

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Being Social: Bushfire Relief at the Bocce Club The McLaren Vale community really came together again with a sell-out crowd for their 1 February Bushfire Relief Fundraiser. Raising close to $50,000, the proceeds went to the Adelaide Hills wine region to help them get back up and running.

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01: Emily Dinnen Inglis, David Smallacombe and Judy and Steve Marshall 02: Janet Freeman and Jacqui Yard 03: Jill Liebich and Lex Whyte 04: Richard Jasek and Bernice Devereaux 05: Kathy Sharrad and Tony Simula 06: Organisers: Janet Freeman, Karen Bubna-Litic, Gill Gordon-Smith, Alison Alcock, Gary Smith and Lou de Leeuw 07: Annabel Fitzpatrick, Mandy Walker and Penny Lamb 08: Elle Brown and Judy Hoey 09: Jenny McGrath and Ciaran Cryan 10: Michael and Bronwyn Overmeyer 11: John Hugo, David Ridgway and John Wiese 12: Lachlan and Henry Mathews.

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Kangaroo Island IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS KI is a beautiful natural habitat that has recently experienced devastating bushfires. ...But the message is clear. Kangaroo Island is open for business. We want to show you what the island is all about and all there is to see, do and love. Go to sealink.com.au and find out about getting there, getting around and where to stay. So come on‌ what are you waiting for?

E XHIBITION VENUES: Stump Hill Gallery McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Information Centre Main Road, McLaren Vale

With a prize pool of $43,000, the 2020 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize will attract local and interstate artists and sculptors to McLaren Vale.

Fleurieu Arthouse 202 Main Road, McLaren Vale

Entries for artists close April 3rd 2020 with finalist announced April 27th 2020.

Hardys Tintara Sculpture Park 202 Main Road, McLaren Vale

The exhibition opens June 13th 2020 and is on display until July 19th 2020.

KEEP UP TO DATE Call 13 13 01, visit sealink.com.au or see your local travel agent

artprize.com.au | insta: @fleurieu_art_prize facebook.com/FleurieuBiennale


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FLEURIEU LIVING MAGAZINE www.fleurieuliving.com.au

HIA (Housing Industry Association) Awards 2019: · Renovation/Addition Project $400,001-$550,000 · Custom Built Home $550,001-$800,000 · Winner South Australian Lightweight Construction Housing using sheet or board materials · Winner 2019 HIA-CSR South Australian Housing Award Residential Building Designer MBA (Master Builders Association) Awards 2019 · Excellence in a Contract Home $350,000-$500,000

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AUTUMN 2020

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Pearl by the sea Twigden: Family, food and farm Tiny homes, tiny escapes Kangaroo Island calling Create your escape: Goolwa Art · Design · Food · Wine · Fashion · Photography · People · Destinations


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