Diary Dates to keep you cultured this Spring

Spring Diary Dates

While our diaries are looking a little busier this issue compared with last, life is not quite back to ‘normal’. Dare we say we’re entering a ‘new normal’ or a ‘next normal’? Whatever it is, we’re still seeing most large community events unfortunately cancelled following Victoria’s second wave. So while large events like the Southern Fleurieu Jazz Festival have been cancelled, smaller, socially distanced community gatherings are returning. And of course there are the numerous open-air markets around our region that continue to draw locals and visitors alike, week after week. All the market details can now be found on our website www.fleurieuliving.com.au. So enjoy these festivals and events responsibly, and give your COVID marshal an air high-five on your way past, as thanks for keeping us safe.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: SEPTEMBER

Kids Community Market

Yankalilla Visitor Information Centre September 13, 10am – 1pm With a variety of youth-run market stalls, this market is a celebration of school-aged children’s skills, creativity and imagination. It’s a unique opportunity for kids to learn practical business and finance skills in a fun and interactive environment. For more information phone 0407 315 030 or visit: www.facebook.com/kidscommunitymarket

Festival of Nature

Yankalilla September 17 – 20 Celebrate sustainability and the unique natural wonders of the Fleurieu coast through four days of activities. The vibrant program includes guided bushwalks, snorkelling and twilight cruises, as well as pop-up workshops and local food, craft beer and wine. For more information visit: www.visitfleurieucoast.com.au

Willunga Farmers Market on High Street

September 19 and 26 Enjoy a different setting and atmosphere at the Willunga Farmers market when it opens on the High Street for these dates in September. The street will be closed to traffic and High Street traders will join in the festivities with sidewalk sales and street food.

OCTOBER

Almond Blossom Festival

Willunga Recreation Park October 17 – 18 Usually held on the last weekend of July, the Almond Blossom Festival attracts locals and visitors from far and wide. It’s an eclectic mix of local food, fun and entertainment, with market stalls and petting zoos, live music and carnival rides. $5 – $10 entry. For more information visit: almondblossomfestival.com.au

NOVEMBER

Yoga Yoga at Wirra Wirra

Wirra Wirra Winery November 22, 9.30am – 12.30pm Join Wirra Wirra Wines and Roaming Zen for a relaxing morning of yoga coupled with wine and goodies – the perfect combination to kickstart a well-deserved indulgent Sunday. Cost: $55. For tickets and more information visit: facebook.com/pg/wirrawirrawines/events

ONGOING

School of Cheese classes

SloWhey Saturdays, 9am – 1pm Whether you fancy a slab of golden haloumi, some cultured butter or a gooey wedge of camembert (or let’s be honest, any kind of cheese), SloWhey is here to teach you how to craft these dairy delights. Through a variety of intimate workshops, visitors learn about the captivating world of curds and whey, and leave with full hearts and bellies. Bookings essential. For more information visit: slowhey.com/classes

Studio Vino Art Classes

Coral Street Art Space, Victor Harbor Various dates and times The Studio Vino paint and sip experience makes for a unique way to uncork your inner artist. Enjoy a nice wine among other curious creatives as you replicate Starry Night or paint your partner’s portrait. Experienced instructors and all equipment included. BYO drinks. Classes start at $55/person. For more information visit: studiovino.com.au

Club YAM

Yankalilla Showgrounds Third Saturday of every month, from 7pm Club YAM (Yankalilla Acoustic Music) is a regular get together of folk, blues, roots, country and more. It’s a celebration of any kind of acoustic jam, where free camping and BYO drinks are encouraged. Gold coin donation on entry. For more information call 0439 861 001

Ach-min Exhibition

Coral Street Art Space, Victor Harbor August 15 – October 5 Featuring paintings created by elders in Aurukun Far North Queensland, Ach-min (beautiful) shares stories, knowledge and language with younger generations. Free entry. For more information visit: coralstreetartspace.com

Ghostnet and Marine Debris Creations

Coral Street Art Space, Victor Harbor August 15 – October 5 South Australian artist Gina Allain features a thought-provoking collection of transformed Ghostnets and other marine debris. The exhibition draws attention to the devastation brought by these materials to marine life. Watch Gina actively create from 11am to 2pm on selected dates. For more information visit: coralstreetartspace.com

Southern Deadly Yarns

September 1, October 9, October 26 Neporendi Aboriginal Forum Inc. in conjunction with Onkaparinga Libraries presents a series of virtual author events. Join First Nations authors Anita Heiss, Tyson Yunkaporta and Marlee Silva as they unpack topics including truth telling, recognition, and the makings of a good yarn. Free online seminars. For more information visit: onkaparingacity.com

Shimmer Festival of Photography

Various locations September 11 – October 11 The biennial photography event lights up galleries, cellar doors and restaurants across the City of Onkaparinga. Elevating and celebrating the best contemporary photography, the festival showcases Tony Kearney and Hayden (Rich) Richards, among other prominent artists. For more information visit: onkaparingacity.com/shimmer

Jam Factory Icon Angela Valamanesh: About Being Here

South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa September 11 – November 1 The connections between science, poetry and art inspire Angela Valamanesh’s biomorphic ceramic sculptures. One of the state’s most influential craft-based artists, Angela exhibits an eclectic collection of evocative drawings, watercolours and mixed media works. For more information visit: visitalexandrina.com

From The Inside Tokuremour

Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa Wharf Precinct October 30 – December 6 Photographer Richard Hodges explores an ancient remnant tea-tree reserve, Tokuremour, in the southern Fleurieu region. In collaboration with contemporary dancer Tammy Arjona, the two artists present the reserve in a richly layered combination of photography and movement. For more information visit: visitalexandrina.com

Top of page: The connections between science, poetry and art inspire Angela Valamanesh’s biomorphic ceramic sculptures. See her work at the South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa from September 11 to November 1. Below left: Image by Hayden (Rich) Richards. See his work and more at this years Shimmer Festival from September 11 to October 11. Below right: Take the family on a guided bushwalk during the Festival of Nature in Yankalilla from 17 to 20 September.

We believe in being yourself. We celebrate your differences. We embrace change. We, like you, are one of a kind.

New Locales Spring’s the perfect time to find new favourites on the Fleurieu. Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick.

Above left: The old cracking shed is now the Almond Door at Papershell Farm where during their opening hours, you will find sustainably grown produce for purchase. Right: At Manna McLaren Vale you will be greeted with a friendly welcome, a great coffee and a wholesome brunch – with a lunch menu catering to a variety of dietary requirements.

The Almond Door, Papershell Farm

203 Almond Grove Road, Willunga When throwing back a fistful of almonds between afternoon errands, one doesn’t usually consider the journey of each individual nut from tree to hand. At The Almond Door in Willunga, you can be sure every single almond is nurtured from blossom to belly in fertile soils without a drop of spray, then hand harvested, and roasted before you experience its delightful crunch.

Swapping out busy New York lifestyles for a property in Goolwa, before landing at their nine-acre Willunga home in 2017, Jessica and Surahn Sidhu have since focused their lives on cultivating harmony and happiness on Papershell Farm through their almonds and wellbeing experiences. In a region that’s become so widely loved for its sprawling vineyards, it’s easy to forget Willunga’s recent history as one of the most substantial almond plantings in the southern hemisphere during the 1900s. precious soils and trees of the Willunga Basin’s agricultural legacy. Adopting management and harvest practices that are chemical and machinery-free, they have returned the focus of their orchard and surrounding crops to more sustainable, small-scale farming.

Now, among the range of experiences to be enjoyed in their fruitful sanctuary, the Sidhu family are offering their lovingly and sustainably grown produce for purchase at their farm store. Located inside the old cracking shed, The Almond Door is sure to contain some of the lowest-impact produce you could possibly get your hands on. It’s Jessica and Surahn’s way of expressing and sharing their gratitude for the privilege of living in such a beautiful part of the world.

Manna McLaren Vale

211 Main Road, McLaren Vale The idea of heaven can seem far stretched at times like this, but husband and wife duo Scotty and Beth have opened a brand new hub to bring their own little slice to us. ‘Manna’, coming from a biblical story where food fell from heaven to people in need, seems a fitting title for this new oasis. Offering a wholesome lunch and brunch menu that caters to a variety of dietary requirements,

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that life is anything but predictable. Embarking on a new business venture is a gamble at the best of times, even without the addition of a global crisis. But no matter what the universe throws at us, it seems we can always rely on the unrelenting support and optimism of the Fleurieu community and business scene. Behind the chaos, a number of brave local folk have been chipping away to deliver us new little pockets of joy across the region.

Above left: The Little Cheese Room at Yankalilla owner Jane Arnold is scaling up her Second Valley Cheese business, offering a range of quality soft cheeses as well as a curated selection of products from a range of Fleurieu producers. Right: Sicily Mare offers a truly authentic Sicilian experience – with delicious snacks like arancini and a super delicious pizza menu made from the freshest produce – all complemented by a view to soothe. Photo by Heidi Lewis.

the couple hope to welcome tourists and locals alike to eat, drink, and indulge in the experiences of the wider region. With a delayed opening date thanks to the pandemic, Scotty and Beth took it on board as a blessing in disguise and used the time to get the place exactly how they wanted: bright, peaceful, bohemian and inviting.

Little Cheese Room

98C Main South Road, Yankalilla After nearly four years making delicious Second Valley Cheese Company products from a shipping container, Jane Arnold decided it was time she found some room to grow. Jane had the keys to a quaint Yankalilla shopfront in her hand on the first of February, but then March happened. What she expected to be a quick refit took slightly longer while border closures held up equipment deliveries. Despite the unforeseen hitches, Little Cheese Room opened in late April to offer a select range of build-your-own-platter ingredients. Alongside her own cheese range and a few carefully selected cheeses from further afield, Jane is also stocking products from a range of other Fleurieu producers.

Sicily Mare

106 Esplanade, Aldinga Beach While our feet remain stuck on home turf, one may find their mind wandering to warmer places. Perhaps your imagination has landed you in the centre of a romantic Sicilian summer, swimming in Nero d’Avola while gorging on arancini. Since we can’t currently embark on a steamy European escape, Sicily Mare has delivered us the next best thing, right here in Aldinga Beach. Although born in Australia, owner Cono Gorgone is a Sicilian at heart. From the menu itself, written in the local Sicilian dialect he grew up speaking, to the home-style dishes made with love from recipes passed down from his mother, Sicily Mare offers a truly end-to-end Sicilian experience – with our beloved Fleurieu coastline as the backdrop. >

Above left: Sand Road’s latest wedding and events venue The Vine Shed at Conte Estate will be offering a range of experiences including BBQ, platters and rides in their vintage tractor. Right: Kookery at Willunga. Here you will find an abundance of carefully considered everyday items and gifts. Photo by Sally Badnall (SweetShute).

The Vine Shed

270 Sand Rd, McLaren Vale With visions of a high-end, rustic cellar door and venue to replace their lonely skeleton of a vineyard machinery storage shed, the Conte family got to work on Sand Road’s newest addition: The Vine Shed. Set to open in the very near future, the new business has begun accepting bookings for cellar door experiences and venue viewings. In addition to venue hire, The Vine Shed is offering picnic and BBQ hampers to enjoy on their lawns, Italian pastries, espresso coffee and tastings of their Conte Estate wine range. If that weren’t enough, guests will be able to enjoy an open-air grazing experience from the comfort of a secured trailer, while they are pulled around the picturesque vineyards by vintage tractor.

Kookery

18c High Street, Willunga With some extra time to enjoy inside our own four walls, many of those spent tinkering in the kitchen, it seems now is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a few homely comforts. Whether you seek the finest bread knife for sneaking slivers off your home-baked sourdough, a smooth new wooden cheese board for a stay-athome gourmet experience, or even a punny tea towel to bring a little laughter to the washing up, Kookery has it all. Amy PalmerMillin began the Kookery concept when her daughter was born, growing the brand and her personally crafted designs online. Eleven years later, and the brand – alongside an abundance of carefully considered everyday items and gifts – now calls Willunga home.

Above left: The de Rose Kitchen wants every customer to feel part of the de Rose family, as though they’re popping in for a cuppa or brunch (a delicious cuppa and brunch at that). Photo by Lewis Potter Photography. Right: The new cellar door at False Cape Kangaroo Island offers a rustic beauty complemented by delicious food and wine.

de Rose Kitchen

17a High Street, Willunga After a year and a half getting settled into their space at what was formerly known as 3 Monkeys Fine Foods, Dan and Mandy de Rose have emerged with their own new take on the business. The new name is all about the couple’s philosophy: they want every customer to feel part of the de Rose family, as though they’re popping in for a cuppa or brunch. Offering products that connect their guests with the growers, the region, the roasters and the people, the space is more than just a good spot to drop in for a cuppa and brunch. Having both worked for several years at the Willunga Farmers Market, their relationship with local farmers and small producers makes de Rose Kitchen the perfect bridge between customer and producer.

False Cape Wines

1054 Willson River Road, Kangaroo Island Named after the nearby Kangaroo Island landmark, False Cape Wines established their off-grid, sustainability-focused vineyard in 1999. Their minimal intervention wines are best enjoyed from their new cellar door, built from recycled wood, jetty timbers and limestone sourced on the property. Opening late last year, the cellar door opening had a rocky start. Bouncing back from the KI bushfires, before a second knock from COVID-19, the business is now back in full swing to offer a rustic escape from the mainland. This handbuilt labour of love offers a cosy indoor wood heater for the cooler months, and a rustic stone deck for summertime gatherings. Guests can take in the picturesque surrounds while enjoying homemade pies and deluxe platters, while the impressive wooden playground and kids menu means the little ones can join in the fun too. >

Above left: Enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee, or even a local gin on a sunny afternoon at Millie Mae’s Pantry. Photo courtesy of South Australian Tourist Commission. Right: The farm house at Eleanor Downs offers a quiet reprieve – on a working farm with a central location and great hosts. Photo by Heidi Lewis.

Millie Mae’s Pantry

1 Nat Thomas Street, Kangaroo Island Raised by passionately self-sufficient parents and grandparents, Jan Ordway’s childhood was flavoured with fresh backyard produce, chutneys, jams and preserves. Waitressing as a young girl at her parents’ Penneshaw restaurant, The Old Post Office, Jan developed a deep love for the Kangaroo Island community, lifestyle and quality produce. Inspired and named after her beloved grandmothers, Millie Mae’s Pantry was born. Stocking honey, preserves, candles and pottery – most of which are made in-house or sourced on KI – Jan wants the business to focus on low food miles, sustainability and supporting local producers, while sharing her family’s wholesome island story. Despite this year’s setbacks, Jan’s symbiotic relationship with her Penneshaw community sees the cafe soldiering on, now with a new outdoor pergola area to enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee, or even a local gin on a sunny afternoon.

Eleanor Downs

Parndana, Kangaroo Island With big plans to host the second Adelaide Fringe Bush Festival in March this year, Nathan Tretheway and Olivia Baker of Eleanor Downs were thrown some unexpected curveballs. Despite coming out of the KI bushfires with plans intact, pandemic restrictions stopped the festival in its tracks. In lieu of a big party, the couple are instead welcoming guests to their farm – whether by ferry or their private air strip – for a sufficiently isolated and tranquil country escape in their 1952 Soldier Settler cottage.

Above left: Pizza at Nino’s to Go – same great pizza but now in it’s own dedicated space. Right: At the Pickle Pot you will find a delicious array of curated Fleurieu providore items as well as chef/owner Carolyn’s own homemade goodies. Photo by Tommy Woods Photos.

Nino’s To Go

1A Ocean Street, Victor Harbor For over 45 years, Nino’s Cafe has been a Victor Harbor life force in the form of casual Italian dining. With business bursting at the seams, the restaurant is spilling a few steps over the road to give their takeaway menu a home of its own. ‘Big Nino’s’ will be reserved for the same dine-in experience Victor Harbor locals know and love, while their takeaway service will have its own streamlined space to grow. Nino’s To Go will continue to focus on great local produce made from scratch – think casual Italian pizza, pasta and fresh breads – but with double the ovens, hungry bellies will get their fill in half the time.

The Pickle Pot

33 Commercial Road, Strathalbyn After almost thirty years sourcing the highest quality local produce for restaurant diners, chef Carolyn Woods decided to bring together her experienced insight and favourite South Australian ingredients in one place. The Pickle Pot in Strathalbyn, sitting at the junction of multiple renowned food and wine regions, is inspired by the region’s abundant farmers’ markets. Offering a delicious selection of local and international cheeses, Small World Bakery breads and flours, smallgoods from San Jose and Little Acre, and Newman’s condiments, you can become your own in-house gourmet chef. If all the choice is overwhelming, she has also designed hand-selected food boxes to take away. Ensuring her cooking skills remain sharp, Carolyn also has her own homemade goodies on offer, including oldschool pork sausage rolls and Portugese custard tarts.

Faces and places

Hope Lovelock Deane

Harvest Studio, McLaren Vale Artist / Botanical Wrangler / Ambience Curator Step inside Hope’s studio – a botanical wonderland where she sculpts, weaves and crafts locally foraged and grown bounty, creating experiences of awe and moments of connection with the beauty of the natural world. Photo by Jason Porter.

ARTIST PROFILE: Richard Maurovic Story by Petra de Mooy.

Page left: ‘Murray Bridge SA’, 45 x 30cm. Top: ‘Cattle Crates’. Above: ‘Afternoon Shadows, O’Halloran Hill’.

Artist Richard Maurovic doesn’t like the term ‘self-taught’. ‘It seems to lack credibility,’ he says. He’s adopted its synonym ‘autodidact’ as shorthand for his particular mode of study, which has seen hard work and an unwavering commitment level maintained over thirty years build into a solid career.

‘I work a long day but I don’t see it as being a job because I really enjoy it,’ he says. It’s not always luck that allows us to pursue what we love. In Richard’s case, it has been determination and a strong will.

Richard enjoyed drawing and painting as a young child but left it behind for other pursuits. ‘I always wanted to be a cowboy,’ he says, and in his late teens he left school for a career as a drover. However, a life-changing accident, resulting in paralysis, in his early twenties led to a period of convalescence during which Richard began to draw again. With help, he invented an apparatus that would allow him to steady his hand over the paper (a device he still uses today). At first, drawing was a way to pass the time but he rediscovered >

Above: ‘McLaren Vale Turn-Off.’

his love for the art and eventually submitted work to a few group exhibitions. After some practise he added painting to his skillset and began to exhibit that work as well.

Richard taught himself how to paint by reading, going to galleries and looking at the works of other artists. And by practising. Practising and practising and practising. ‘I don’t know whether what I was doing was right but it is what worked for me,’ he says. ‘I was very fortunate to win some art awards which gave me great encouragement and gave me validation to feel that what I was doing was worthwhile.’

Richard bought an old home in Hyde Park close to Adelaide. They say you should never buy the first home you look at, but that’s precisely what he did and thirty years on he’s still there, these days with his partner, Toni Radway. The front room, which used to be a grocery store, became Richard’s studio. It has lovely light thanks to the large windows facing the street. That proximity to the street allows Richard a close connection to the community, while still maintaining some distance. ‘I enjoy my work and tend to work a lot,’ he says. The windows offer an opportunity to say hello, know his neighbours but still work in relative solitude. It also provides an informal gallery space for him to show some of his work.

Richard’s first solo painting exhibition in 1996 at Barry Newton Gallery in Adelaide sold out. ‘It was the most successful opening night the gallery had ever had,’ Richard says proudly. The constructed environments of Richard’s painting have an everyday feeling but the spare geometry has an order and matter-of-factness that has great appeal. Everyday scenes pared back to their strongest elements with the light just right and the absence of daily clutter.

Richard’s subject matter is mainly rooted in constructed environments but he’s also well versed in painting landscapes, animals and portraits. He likes to paint things that are part of his life, studiously documenting them. Working from photographs and observation, he begins first with small studies before moving to larger canvases. ‘The studies are very important because that is where your first thoughts are put down. It’s a creative state that has the enthusiasm of your initial idea,’ he says.

Australian painter Jeffrey Smart was an early hero. The two corresponded and Richard had him over to lunch one day – a date that remains a career highlight. He also spent considerable time with artist Tom Gleghorn. ‘He taught me a lot about materials and how different materials respond to canvas,’ he says. In Richard and

Above: Artist Richard Maurovic in his studio. Photograph by Jason Porter.

Toni’s living area hangs a large portrait of Richard submitted for the Archibald prize for portraiture by Robert Hannaford. Richard learned a lot from him just through conversation and observation while sitting for the portrait.

Now an established artist, these experiences have helped to form the painter he is today and he now spends time with younger artists giving back in the same way. He’s very grounded in his practise and looks very closely at what he does, choosing only to put out his best work. ‘As a more established painter,’ he tells me, ‘you don’t lose the enthusiasm, but you’re much freer to pick and choose, which comes with maturity, development and age.’

Richard will be exhibiting new work at the Strand Gallery at Port Elliot opening on January 14th. Gallery owner Sonya Hender says, ‘We are very proud to have widely recognised and awarded artist, Richard Maurovic exhibiting with us. He is an artist of immense technical skill and his perception of his subject matter is unique. I appreciate his natural warmth, intellect, humour and determination.