Love and furniture Huw McConachy

Love and furniture

Story by Nina Keath. Photography by Jonathan van der Knaap.

Page left: In process – Huw’s salt & pepper mills. Above: Huw and Steph at his Factory 9 furniture studio, Made By Making. Huw’s workshop has become a place of healing and contemplation after he and his wife Steph lost their first child, Arthur William McConachy, soon after his birth one year ago.

I meet furniture designer and maker Huw McConachy at his Made By Making studio in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 precinct on a day of summer rain. The warm air draws out the luscious scents of timber and oils, while the clouddimmed light lends his workshop an aura that feels almost sacred.

I soon understand that this feeling is not created by weather and light alone. Huw’s workshop has become a place of healing and contemplation after he and his wife Steph lost their first child, Arthur William McConachy, soon after his birth one year ago.

It’s been a gruelling year and Huw’s studio and the community within which it’s housed, have been at the heart of his healing. ‘When we returned from hospital, the community and everyone from Factory 9 had set up an esky outside our house and fed us for three months. Danny and MaryAnn, the owners of Factory 9, gave us rent relief. Helen from the Pilates studio taught me mindfulness – I would have lost my mind without those techniques,’ Huw recalls as we cradle coffees from Factory 9 neighbour DeGroot Coffee. Gazing out at the grey sky he muses, ‘So many people wouldn’t have the luxury to grieve properly – they don’t have the time, the support, or the finances – but our community have given us that and I’m so grateful.’ Part of Huw’s grieving process has involved retreating to his workshop and focusing on smaller, repetitive projects. ‘My salt and pepper mills are meditative to make,’ he says. ‘It’s soothing when you can do something that you love and then you get to sell it yourself.’

Huw credits his wife Steph, a senior marketing executive, with having the business brain that has enabled him to sell what he loves: ‘I was burning offcuts from table legs and Steph challenged me to find a way to use them. She suggested I try some homewares.’ So, Huw bought a second-hand lathe and made thirty salt and pepper mills until he found a design he liked. Steph then pushed him to promote it and after four or five Instagram posts the mills ‘went ballistic!’ Huw is now selling them around the world.

He is immensely proud of the way Steph has used her drive and expertise to not only support him and his work but also to channel her grief into their charity, Arthur’s Fund, raising much needed >

Above: The repetitive task of making is meditative and a process that Huw finds cathartic.

funds for neonatal units. An initial fundraising goal of $1,000 set by an overseas friend wanting to help has been eclipsed by the more than $84,000 now raised by the couple.

Huw feels that by sharing his grief in an honest and open way he can partly repay the community’s generosity. He reflects, ‘I feel like I’ve had a lifetime of knowledge rammed into one year and I’m so grateful for Steph and everyone here. So many people don’t share this stuff because there’s so much shame and pain. If you break a leg, people can see it but the pain from losing a child is hidden and needs to be actively shared. It’s painful but I’m happy to share.’

In terms of what comes next, Huw doesn’t profess to have a grand vision. He’d like to keep raising money for Arthur’s Fund and he’d like to work on some tables and smaller pieces to sell locally – pieces of beauty, crafted for longevity. ‘I just want to be happier, and I want Steph to be happier,’ he says simply.

Huw’s love and appreciation for his wife runs like a golden thread through our conversation. She may have had the marketing nous to help Huw find his design niche, but her insight reaches far deeper: ‘She sees something in me that I haven’t always seen,’ he says. After Arthur’s death, Huw has felt his self-perception shifting and he’s starting to appreciate what Steph has known all along. ‘In some ways, I lost a lot of confidence when Arthur died, but it’s forced me to work on myself, which has also made me stronger,’ he says. ‘I have lost a lot of innocence, but I know myself better now and I think this will be reflected in my work. I feel a seed of something inside, but I can’t define it. I think it was always there and I know something awesome will come out. I just don’t know when or how.’

Later that day, as I drive north along the winding road from Port Elliot, I can’t help but turn Huw’s words over in my mind. While Steph and the Port Elliot community may be the fertile ground that has helped to nurture and support Huw’s inner seed, it occurs to me that Arthur’s death is the fire that has cracked its hard kernel and begun the growth process. I pull over to the side of the road and silently send Huw a wish for continued growth and healing.

Create your escape

> Willunga

Story by Izzy McMillann There’s something about Willunga. Its understated charms draw you in, encourage you to slow down and stay a while. It’s organic and curious, rather than brash and boastful, much like the farmers market it’s become famous for.

Above: Gerard at Russell’s Pizza. Photo courtesy of Josie Withers.

While many come for the fresh produce at the Saturday market, there’s more than enough to fill your whole day, or weekend. Venture to mouth-watering cafes, quirky stores filled with unique, handcrafted treasures, and nod hello to some of the kindest people you will meet. Have a drink at the pubs (bottom, middle or top?) or cellar doors, and find yourself some unique jewellery or art to bring home. Willunga has it all.

EAT & DRINK:

Housed in the historic 1850s butcher’s shop, de Rose Kitchen brings in the coffee crowd and tempts them to stay with delicious meals like maple bacon French toast or sriracha scrambled eggs with kimchi. This family-owned cafe champions fresh local produce and treats its customers like their family friends dropping round for a cuppa. The outdoor seating is pup friendly, and a seat beneath the yellow and white striped umbrellas is a beautiful spot to ponder where you’ll head next.

Not far down the street is Russell’s, a Willunga institution. Large slate tiled floors with lead-glass lights dangling from the old ceiling create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With relaxed dining and the occasional space open to hold functions and weddings, the team at Russell’s are known far and wide for their delicious woodfired fare, backed up with a variety of local wines.

The Green Room is a must-see for everything organic. A favourite with the locals, this bustling café offers all kinds of goodies from breakfasts to on-the-go snacks. It’s vegetarian and vegan friendly, and caters to all kinds of specific dietary needs. With a range of beautiful fresh breads and roasted coffee beans for sale, there’s no

Top and above left: Mandy at de Rose Kitchen, where good coffee and good people meet. Above right and below: Fresh baked bread and delicious nutritious offerings abound at The Green Room.

need to look any further for your home essentials. The perfect place to meet friends for coffee, and stay for an organic lunch.

Cupcake cravings can be satisfied at Tealicious, surrounded by pink walls and vintage fine china. Newly opened Muni is a wine aficionado’s dream with a curated selection of natural wines complemented with the chefs beautifully presented and delicious menu. And don’t forget to stop in for a chat and a freshly baked muffin at the Willunga General Store. DRINK:

Explore and imbibe the best the town has to offer with Willunga Wander, a walking and hosted wine tasting experience developed by Aphelion, Hither & Yon and Battle of Bosworth. Beginning your trek in the morning, you’ll find yourself immersed in wine culture throughout the day, seeing Willunga through a winemaker’s eyes while exploring the beauty of the Fleurieu.

Starting at Aphelion, enjoy a glass of ‘bottled sunshine’ in their heritage-listed cellar door. Rob and Louise Mack love sharing their wines with the world, and enjoy giving their customers a personalised experience. The couple say, ‘It’s so rewarding for us to see folk enjoying our wines first hand.’ >

Top and bottom left: Collect your Willunga Wander map for a unique wine tour through historic Willunga. Bottom right: Winemaker Rob Mack will take you through a personalised tasting at Aphelion. Photos this page and top and bottom right on next page by Jack Fenby.

A short walk brings you to your second door of the tour. Picture mulled wine by the fireplace in winter, or prosecco in the sunshine in summer. Hither & Yon offers a unique wine tasting experience against a heritage backdrop featuring original slate floors and limestone walls. Brothers Richard and Malcom Leask put concern for the environment and sustainability at the heart of their winemaking. Their focus on sustainable practices and biodiversity means you can sip on a rosé knowing that the wellbeing of the planet at Hither & Yon is of utmost importance.

A twenty-minute walk beneath the trees leads to your final location on the Willunga wine tour. Battle of Bosworth creates certified organic wines from the beautiful Bosworth family vineyard. Winemaker Joch Bosworth took the reins from his parents in 1995 and began transforming the estate to organic growing. With wife Louise Hemsley-Smith’s sales and marketing nous, the winery’s care for what’s in the bottle is showcased through thoughtful design across their three labels: Spring Seed, Bosworth and Springs Road on Kangaroo Island.

SHOP:

No trip down the High Street is complete without exploring the old cottage stores to find something unique to bring home.

Morocco by Mish is your one-stop-shop for eclectic, brightly coloured Moroccan treasures. Owned by the wonderful Mish, her collection of imported goods including rugs, bags, jewellery, cushions and clothing is one of a kind. Mish, who spent many years living in Morocco, is a kind and bubbly personality who always endeavours to make sure you find something to fit your home space perfectly.

Kookery is home to a large range of cool, quirky items that will help you create a kitchen space that’s as unique as you are. Amy has designed a store that allows her customers to see themselves in the things she sells. From printed totes to gardening tools, to coffee beans and bread making bowls, no matter your culinary passion, Kookery has something for everyone. >

Top left: Fabrics, pillows, homewares and more at Coco & Raj. Top right: Unique jewellery and clothing designs all designed in house at séjour club. Bottom left: Unique art and artisan products at Willunga Gallery. Bottom right: Jungle in Willunga has an extensive (and we mean EXTENSIVE) collection of pots, plants and all your gardening needs. Don’t forget to bring bring the kids for a play in the jungle!

A little further up the hill, Bev’s Remnant House is filled to the brim with bright, colourful, designer upholstery fabrics. Explore the other side of Bev’s beautiful business by having a wander through the adjoining Coco & Raj. Bev’s carefully chosen pieces honour traditions of Indian artistry, and reflect the beauty only hand-made treasures can deliver.

Retail therapy in the form of fashion can be found at séjour club. Their range of unique clothing and jewellery takes inspiration from the beautiful world around us and their accessory range is handcrafted out of natural minerals, fibres and upcycled fabrics, all designed by owners Sam and Sven. An absolute must visit for any fashion lover. Nearby, the Willunga Gallery beautifully depicts the work of both local and interstate artists, designers and craftspeople. The ambience of the old cottage lures you in to discover their range of Australian ceramics, textiles, artwork, jewellery and more.

Before you head out of town, swing into Jungle in Willunga and wander among the wide range of bamboo, palms and tropical plants on offer to help you make your tropical dream garden a reality. With pots, plants, garden features, baskets and much more, there’s something to satisfy all gardeners. It’s also a wonderful place to take the kids, with tunnels of bamboo and palm trees open for exploration, and hidden animals to spot.

Page left: Kanyanyapilla (L50K), McLaren Vale. A Bicultural, Cultural and Ecological Renewal and Regeneration Project. This page: Burka – Senior man, Karl Winda Telfer holding the ceremonial Palyatatta, honouring the peace lore of Tjilbruke/Tjirbruki at Karkungga – Red Ochre Cove.

Ngai icharlee – Greetings friends. My name is Karl Winda Telfer. My traditional name is Winda Kudnuitya which means third born owl. I grew up here on this land, sea and sky country. The language from my tongue holds a song of my spirit of place.

This is a deep story of connection I carry from birth in my bloodline/ family clan. My mother Georgina Williams-Nganki Burka Mekauwe always spoke to me of this: who I am, where I come from and to not forget the old ways of our people.

I’m the first generation born off the mission. In my early years, we lived in Old Noarlunga – in Malpas Street right near the river, Ngankiparri (Onkaparinga River). I spent the first five years of my life living in that old red brick house with my mum and my three older siblings. Back then, there were only a handful of houses on Malpas and only one street light. This is where walking over country began for me. Mum would take us kids down to the river often and talk about the river and how we needed to always respect the water because it’s alive and lives in us. Mum’s traditional name is ‘Nganki Burka Mekauwe’ which means senior woman of water. She will be the only one who will carry this ceremony, because it’s her spirit that dwells in the river. Her granddaughters will carry her wisdom and her name forward to continue the memory song of their grandmother. I remember, as a little fulla, walking nigadee tjina (barefoot) through the Ngaltingga Mullawirra (Aldinga Scrub) with Mum and she would stop and sing out while we’d be walking and I wondered what she was doing, as I stood beside her holding her hand. I remember she would always have a walking stick and point to the traces and tracks on the ground, the flowers and the plants and trees.

When we were about halfway into the Mullawirra (dry forest), she would say, ‘Stop now, sit down, be still and listen.’ After about five minutes she would ask, ‘Whose spirit lives here?’ then ‘Can you hear them?’ then she would say, ‘This is where our families’ song lives and breathes’ and then she would say, whilst drawing a circle in the sand with her stick, ‘The song of the land is the dance of the people’ then she would turn to me and say, ‘Do you see it my little spirit boy?’ and I would just look at the sand then to her and nod my head and say, ‘Yes Mum.’

She taught me how to read country, listen to country and walk softly with the wind of our ancestors. I carry all her teachings, knowledge and wisdom with me to this day. I always will, ’cause my country is in my blood. She talked about us living in two worlds, the world of our old people – the circle – and the western world of the square. I talk about this often, when I do cultural training or doing a Tirkandi sharing tour and in meetings to impart knowledge and wisdom to educate and share our ways of understanding with all generations of our human family.

Above: Nganki Burka Mekauwe – Senior Woman of Water, Georgina Yambo Williams speaking spirit at the official opening of the Tjirbruki narna arra – Tjirbruki Gateway, at Warriparringa. Dedicated on the 30th October 1997 by his Excellency Sir William Deane, Governor General of Australia. Photo included with the express permission of Karl Winda Telfer.

driving he would start singing in a low voice and he’d often direct which way he wanted Mum to go. When he visited Mullawirra, his country, he spoke about this place from memory as a young boy and his connection to the old people and his spiritual ancestors of country. It’s these stories that connect me and my bloodline to this place, my grandfather’s country, mullawirrayerta (dry forest country). In the time of woltatti (summer time) Mum would take us kids, me and all the cousins, and head west down Beach Road towards Wonggayerlo, the coastline. First thing she would do is line us all up on the beach and we’d have a running race which she won most of the time. We would go collect periwinkles, and my older cousins would go spear fishing for nudli or kainbarra, butter fish, to share with the old people and our families.

Mum took me travelling country following the song line of the Tjirbruki/ Tjilbruke Dreaming Track and talking about the spirit of place and the Peace Lore as we moved along the journey from one place to the next. This started for me when I was nine years old. She took me walking on country while she was working hard to draw this ancient spirit song up from the ground to wake the people up.

My memory of this began in the seventies and in the eighties she led the placing of the Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke cultural markers (cairns) along the coastline in 1986. She said that this was for our cultural and spiritual renewal and for the children that are coming tomorrow. This became her life’s work which spanned more than fifty years. Mum’s still respectfully acknowledged today by our people as a spiritual and cultural leader and our family is recognised as the holders of the Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke song line. The Peace Lore fire has now been passed to me and I carry it with respect, wisdom and cultural and spiritual integrity.

In the late eighties and early nineties, Mum was at Warriparringga working with our family and our people to bring everyone together, to come home to our spiritual ways and to unfold the sacred significance of that place in the Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke story. This is where the language first came back home and I started to begin to speak words and revive the old language of our old world, out in the natural world from where it was first born. Mum said that she remembered hearing her grandfather speaking language on Pt Pearce Mission and from that she said follow our ceremony to our related people whose language has not been broken and if the women recognise your tongue, even just some of the language, then you know that you’re on the right track as the women are our first speakers. Warriparringga was where I first started speaking and teaching our dialectal language on the country where my language comes from.

Above: Burka – Karl Winda Telfer – Cultural and Spiritual Renewal, at the beginning of the 2010 Adelaide Fringe Parade.

We formed the Tjilbruke Theatre Dancers and became the first full Kaurna Meyunna Family Clan to come back to country to revive our language, cultural practices and ceremonies at Warriparringga. This was the first time in more than one hundred years that our family was able to come home to sing in our language, dance on our country, to honour and respect our ancestors and the Peace Lore of Tjirbruki/ Tjilbruke. This was the first time we made the fire the old way, no matches, no lighters, ‘cause the old people are always watching and if we are to honour our ancestors it has to be done the proper way, the old way using the fire sticks. I had to earn the cultural right to practise, along with the knowledge and wisdom of the spirit fire. One of my uncles taught me some of the language of fire and those who have shared in these ceremonies know this. Mum said, ‘Healing can only come from truth.’

These gatherings that Mum led at Warriparringga with her family and her people opened a conversation with the Marion City Council and they walked towards our people and became involved, especially Don Chapman. With a Federation Grant in 2001, Mum collaborated with Phillips Pilkington architects to co-design and build the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre (LKCC) with the intention that our people and community could come home to country freely. Mum talked about creating a Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke gateway to create a place of arrival where people would wait and be called in through the gateway and onto country. She and Don pushed for a Cultural Artwork to be funded to tell the story of our recovery and that’s when Mum met Gavin Malone, one of the artists chosen to work biculturally on the Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke Gateway at Warriparringga.

Our family started working with Gavin from then on. Our bicultural relationship started through ways of understanding and respecting the Peace Lore song of Tjirbruki/Tjilbruke. This was the time when Mum lit the first spirit fires that burned for seven days and seven nights continuously with her eldest son George, with the support of Gavin and myself. This was when the cultural sharing began, forming around the spirit fire and then the full moon friendship fires. This cultural and spiritual renewal continues today on our clan country at Lot 50-Kanyanyapilla (L50K) in the Willunga Basin.

In 2002 I was approached by Peter Sellars, the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival to join his team of creatives and I became the first Aboriginal Associate Director of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts. The first in the Adelaide Festival’s long history, so it was breaking new ground. I soon had my sister join the circle and we created Kaurna Palti Meyunna – the song of the people. This was held in the symbolic heart of the City of Adelaide – Victoria Square. I wanted to reclaim >

Above: Jakirah and Tikana Telfer – the granddaughter’s of Nganki Burka Mekauwe – Georgina Yambo Williams. They now carry the sacred ceremony of Ngankiparri Mekauwe which was passed down to them from their grandmother.

our space and have our first peoples from around Australia and the world recognised for the culture we carry and begin the healing of all our peoples who were still carrying the trauma from the colonial hurts of the past. It was hard working in the square wanting to bring a renewed cultural understanding through the form of our sacred circle. We did it though and there has been nothing like it since.

I have been back down working on my southern country for some time now and I have begun to forge respectful working relationships with some of the land stewards. As inaugural Chairperson of the First Nations Peoples Advisory Group at the Onkaparinga Council, I work with Council and the wider community to bring deeper knowledge of country and strong cultural leadership to create better ways of understanding so we can bring the circles and square together. We are walking softly and moving slowly, we are finding common ground, as we walk together at the pace of trust. My family’s partnership with Gavin Malone continues at Lot 50 Kanyanyapilla, where I seek spiritual, cultural, ecological and economic renewal.

Sadly my mum passed late last year and the cultural legacy has now been passed to me. The cultural responsibility I now carry is being passed on to her granddaughters, grandsons and our family clan Mullawirrameyunna, the dry forest people.

Come and walk with us and sit with us by the fire and listen to the stories from my country, the southern Kaurna Meyunna yerta – southern Kaurna country. Nukkada ngai icharlee – Until our paths meet my friends.

202 Main Road McLaren Vale (in Hardys Tintara Winery) Meet artists in their studios · See an art exhibition · Buy a gift made by a local artisan · Enjoy a coffee surrounded by beautiful art fleurieuarthouse.com.au

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