Top 50: what’s hot in regional Australia

From women of the bush doing EXTRAORDINARY things to agricultural entrepreneurs, we present the BEST regional Australia has to offer. Here, in no particular order, we list the PEOPLE, places, events and organisations that have made their MARK on 2017.

PEOPLE, COMMUNITY & CULTURE 1 COLLEEN O’BRIEN, VICTORIAN BRUMBY ASSOCIATION

Since establishing the Victorian Brumby Association (VBA) a decade ago, Colleen O’brien has rescued and rehomed hundreds of brumbies from the Alpine and Kosciuszko national parks that would otherwise have been slaughtered. She also continues to lobby governments for the humane management of brumbies, and for a sustainable population of horses to remain in the wild. The Australian Brumby Challenge — a program initiated by the VBA and based on the American Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge — sees selected trainers work with a wild horse for 150 days until a final public event, showcasing their horsemanship skills and the brumby’s value and versatility as a domestic horse. 0408 201 107; victorian brumbyassociation.org

2 GLEN & LISA RUNDELL, LOST TRADES FAIR

In March this year, nearly 20,000 people visited the Lost Trades Fair at Kyneton racecourse, in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, to view the work of 116 traditional artisans — making it one of the state’s top regional events. The fair was established four years ago by local woodworker and Windsor chair maker Glen Rundell and his wife Lisa, who has dabbled in leatherwork. The pair (pictured left with their son, Tom) work to preserve the knowledge and skills of traditional tradespeople and champion their handcrafted wares. Next year’s fair is on the March 10th–11th. 0412 363 632; losttrades.info

3 SOPHIE HANSEN, MY OPEN KITCHEN

Voted the 2016 RIRDC Australian Rural Woman of the Year, Orange, Nsw-based Sophie Hansen has used the award to develop My Open Kitchen, a project that helps producers connect with their audience, and spread the word about the quality and provenance of their food. My Open Kitchen offers an e-learning course and workshops, as well as free podcasts (sponsored by Country Style), to “get producers, farmers and country creatives comfortable about using social media and turning their customers into advocates,” says Sophie. A mother of two, Sophie also helps her husband Tim run Mandagery Creek Venison farm, shares recipes and life on the farm on her blog, Local is Lovely, and is now writing her second cookbook. my-open-kitchen.com

4 GINNY STEVENS, ACTIVE FARMERS

Ginny Stevens founded this dynamic fitness service in 2015 in an effort to tackle the level of depression in rural communities. From small beginnings as an exercise class in Mangoplah, in the NSW Riverina region, Active Farmers now has fitness groups in 16 small rural locations across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania. The service is constantly evolving and includes advice and workshops on nutrition, mindfulness, finance and mental health care. Ginny’s aim is to give as many country towns as possible access to the service. 0439 343 925; activefarmers.com.au

5 TANYA DUPAGNE, CAMP KULIN

Each year, 1500 kids — including some who have experienced trauma — travel to Kulin on the WA wheat belt to attend Camp Kulin, a program focused on personal development and leadership. The camp was founded by Tanya Dupagne, who moved to the area in 2013, and was this year given the Agrifutures Rural Women’s award. Tanya now plans to use her bursary to expand the initiative to include a women’s program to make leadership development training more accessible to people in rural areas. (08) 9880 2000; campkulin.com.au

6

JULIA HARPHAM, NSW REGIONAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR

The declining and ageing population of the small town of Mingoola in northern NSW — combined with the imminent closure of the local school — was a call to arms for 2017 NSW Regional Woman of the Year, Julia Harpham (above). With the support of her husband, Philip, and the local community, Julia led a campaign in 2016 to resettle three African refugee families in Mingoola. School enrolments jumped by eight and, with their subsistence farming backgrounds, the new residents are now involved in a garlic growing project, with the first chemicalfree crop ready for harvest on the Harpham’s land. Chillies and other vegetables are next, and will be sold at farmers’ markets.

7 ALISON LARARD, NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

An agribusiness expert who is involved in her family’s Limousin cattle seed stock operation over three farms on Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, Alison Larard has been awarded a 2018 Nuffield Scholarship. With an interest in farm succession planning, part of Alison’s scholarship will be to undertake a global study tour and research project that aims to help equip the next generation of beef producers to better manage their businesses. Alison also works as a mentor for the Beef$ense Nextgen program in northern Queensland.

8 DANICA LEYS, CEO, NSW COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Danica Leys’s enthusiasm is helping her lead rural advocacy group, the Country Women’s Association of NSW, into a new future-focused era. Its latest campaign is raising awareness of the changing face of families in regional Australia and will focus on encouraging women to start small businesses, build financial literacy, provide greater support for teenage girls and increase the rights of grandparents as carers. Danica has a strong background in policy development and social media, and is the co-founder of Agchatoz, an online community for the agricultural industry, which hosts weekly Twitter discussions. cwaofnsw.org.au

9 EDWINA ROBERTSON, WANDER OF THE WEST

This year, photographer Edwina Robertson embarked on her Wander of the West project, an epic adventure through rural and outback Australia that relied almost entirely on goodwill — she photographed people and documented their stories in exchange for food, board and fuel. Over the course of 100 days, Edwina and her dog, Jordie, clocked up 27,000 kilometres in ‘Alice’ — her 1979 Landcruiser BJ40 — as they traversed five states, celebrating rural life and highlighting the many challenges, such as isolation and the difficulty of educating children in the outback and remote areas. edwinarobertson.com

10 BLAZEAID

In the wake of Cyclone Debbie, when the small community of Clarke Creek, about two hours north-west of Rockhampton, was still reeling from the devastating loss of livestock and infrastructure due to flash flooding, the volunteer-based organisation Blazeaid moved into the district and spent three months helping people get back on their feet. More than 100 volunteers assisted 22 properties with tasks such as clearing debris from 220 kilometres of fence line and re-erecting a further 230 kilometres of fencing. blazeaid.com.au

11 LIONS AUSTRALIA NEED FOR FEED DISASTER RELIEF

Since 2006, when Lions member and Need for Feed Disaster Relief coordinator Graham Cockerell donated and delivered a truckload of hay to Victorian farmers burnt out by bushfires, the program has grown to become a major fundraiser, and supplier of emergency fodder and transport to farmers affected by fire, flood and drought. This year, the program has supported struggling dairy farmers with fodder supplies and, in partnership with some IGA stores, provided shopping vouchers valued at more than half-a-million dollars. needforfeed.org >

FARMING 12 AIRLIE TRESCOWTHICK, THE FARM TABLE

A specialised information sharing platform, The Farm Table is the first truly national online aggregation of agricultural information for farmers. Founder Airlie Trescowthick, who’s based in Deniliquin, NSW, is also working with young farmers across Australia to develop the Farmer exchange, a place for farmers to engage online in a professional and community sense. farmtable.com.au

13 SUE MIDDLETON, MOORA CITRUS

Based near the town of Moora in WA’S wheat belt, Sue Middleton — the 2010 RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year — is using her oranges to join forces with bloggers, local business and the general public to help showcase the rich food production of the region. Sue, who grew up on a farm in Chinchilla, Queensland, also runs a broadacre cropping farm and a piggery with her husband’s family, and is working hard to start conversations about gender equality within farming. (08) 9653 1318; mooracitrus.com

14 SIMONE KAIN, GEORGE THE FARMER

An educational farming app for children, George the Farmer was co-created by Simone Kain and Ben Hood, who developed the platform in 2014 after finding no relevant books about farming for Simone’s young son. The stories mirror what life on a farm is like for two Australian characters — George and Dr Ruby, his agronomist wife. Simone is the national runner-up of the Agrifutures Rural Woman of the Year Award and will use her bursary to develop free educational curriculums for preschools and primary schools. georgethefarmer.com.au

15 THANK A FARMER FOR YOUR NEXT MEAL

University students Jim Honner (of Jugiong, NSW) and Sam Johnston (of Forbes, NSW) started this Facebook page in 2014 as a way to share farming photographs with friends. Now their Instagram account of the same name has close to 50,000 followers and the pair have become advocates for Australian agriculture. The hashtag #thankafarmerforyournextmeal has become a tool for city people to learn more about agriculture.

16 CHARLIE ARNOTT, LANDCARE AUSTRALIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AMBASSADOR

A biodynamic beef farmer from Boorowa in NSW and a passionate campaigner for sustainable agriculture, Charlie Arnott hosts biodynamic workshops on his farm and is one of Landcare Australia’s Sustainable Agriculture Ambassadors. He also champions the ‘who’s your farmer?’ thought process — asking the public to become better acquainted with the people who produce their food. 0412 623 422; charliearnott.com.au

17 GEN WINDLEY & ALICE GORMAN

In a bid to reduce food waste, Gen Windley and Alice Gorman — both wives of carrot producers from Kalbar in Queensland — teamed up with Jason Hannary of Flinders Peak Winery to create carrot vodka. The beverage was launched prior to the Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, held in late June.

18 WENDY BOWMAN, GOLDMAN PRIZE RECIPIENT

This year, 83-year-old Wendy Bowman — a farmer from Camberwell, NSW — was recognised for her campaigns for community rights against coal mining with this prominent environmental award. Wendy has been displaced twice by mining activities in the Hunter Valley and has fought to protect her farm and community since the late 1980s. goldmanprize.org

19 CHARLES MASSEY, AUTHOR

In his new book, academic and merino sheep farmer Charles Massey stresses the urgency of rethinking the way we farm and grow food, and the need to regenerate failing farmland, address climate change and build heathy communities. Awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to research organisations and statutory wool boards, Charles weaves his own farming experience in NSW’S Monaro into his argument that profit-driven big business is endangering the planet. Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture, A New Earth (UQP, $39.95).

20 DAVID RUBIE AND GLENN VASSALLO, SMART SHEPHERD

During 2017, New England start-up company Smartshepherd successfully trialled a smart tag system for tracking the pedigree information of ewes and their lambs to help reduce lambing losses and address welfare issues causing them. Founders David Rubie and Glenn Vassallo are now taking orders for their product for the 2018 breeding season, and receiving interest from abroad. smartshepherd.com.au

FOOD & HORTICULTURE 21 CLIVE BLAZEY, THE DIGGERS CLUB

A pioneer in the rescue and preservation of heirloom vegetable and fruit varieties, Clive Blazey founded The Diggers Club in 1978. He has since written seven books and passionately opposes the commoditisation of supermarket-driven food supply. In 2011, Clive and his wife Penny gifted ownership of The Diggers Club and the gardens of Heronswood and St Erth, Victoria, to the Diggers Garden and Environment Trust. (03) 5984 7321; diggers.com.au

22 MATT STONE & JO BARRETT, OAKRIDGE WINES

Winners of the Hostplus Trailblazer Award at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2017, head chef Matt Stone and senior sous chef Jo Barrett are passionate advocates of zero-waste cooking and have created a destination dining room in the Yarra Valley. (03) 9738 9900; oakridgewines.com.au

23 THE AGRARIAN KITCHEN

Four months after opening in June 2017, the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and Store (located in New Norfolk, Tasmania), was awarded two hats and won Regional Restaurant of the Year at the inaugural national Good Food Guide Awards. The restaurant is the next chapter of a 10-year journey for Rodney Dunn and Séverine Demanet, who kickstarted interest in farm-grown seasonal produce at their Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School and Farm in neighbouring Lachlan. (03) 6262 0011; theagrariankitchen.com

24 GRAZING DOWN THE LACHLAN

Set amongst the river gums on the banks of the Lachlan River in central-west NSW, this new food event is a collaboration between chefs O Tama Carey and Mathew Lindsay of Sydney’s Ester. The aim is to treat guests to a casual day outdoors and showcase the beauty of food and the landscape. The seven-course menu was influenced by the history of the land. grazingdownthelachlan.com

26 DAN HUNTER, BRAE RESTAURANT

Regional dining owes much to chef Dan Hunter and his three-hatted Brae Restaurant in Birregurra, western Victoria, which was crowned Restaurant of the Year 2017 in The Age Good Food Guide awards. Dan also released his debut book, Brae: Recipes and Stories From the Restaurant this year. (03) 5236 2226; braerestaurant.com

ART & DESIGN 27 JO BERTINI, ARTIST

Jo Bertini’s fascination for arid places has inspired her to document the cultural activity in deserts from central Australia to west India. Recently, she took up an artist’s residency in the northern New Mexico desert of the USA. She discovered that the seemingly most inhospitable places on Earth produce the richest artistic responses from human beings. See the Common Ground exhibition of works Jo created while travelling with the nomadic Maldhari herders in India, showing at Mars Gallery, Melbourne, from 25th November to 9th December. marsgallery.com.au

28 PETER MUNGKURI, HADLEY’S ART PRIZE

Central Australian-born Aboriginal artist Peter Mungkuri won the inaugural 2017 Hadley’s Art Prize in Hobart for his landscape painting of his homeland, Ngura Wiru, which means ‘good country’. The annual $100,000 prize is Australia’s richest landscape art prize, funded by Hobart hotelier Don Neil of Hadley’s Orient Hotel. hadleysartprize.com.au >

29 GUY MAESTRI, ARTIST

The winner of the 2009 Archibald Prize, Guy Maestri is widely recognised for his landscape paintings of some of the more arid parts of the country, though his more recent work took him back to the studio for a series of figurative self-portrait sculptures. Guy’s currently working on a new collection of work for a solo exhibition at the Jan Murphy Gallery in Queensland from 27th March to 28th April, 2018. guymaestri.com; janmurphygallery.com.au

30 SILO ART TRAIL

The 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail is converting Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee region into an outdoor art gallery. The project is revitalising tourism in the region’s small rural communities, as renowned street artists use grain silos as canvases for larger-than-life murals. The idea was inspired by Brisbane street artist Guido Van Helten’s Farmer Quartet work on silos at Brim in 2015. siloarttrail.com

CONSERVATION & TOURISM 31 SHENE ESTATE

This Tasmanian estate’s gold-medal winning Poltergeist Gin and the launch of single-malt Mackey Whisky — produced in the state’s largest copper pot — continue the amazing success story of this historic property at Pontville, near Hobart. Since the Kernke family bought Shene Estate in 2006, they have breathed new life into its crumbling glory, and painstakingly restored the magnificent sandstone stables and barn. The property is now open to the public for tours, events and even polo on the field. 0432 480 250; shene.com.au

32 GOONOO GOONOO STATION

Formerly one of Australia’s largest pastoral stations, Goonoo Goonoo Station is today a convergence of agriculture and accommodation. Making the most of the rich architecture within its heritage buildings, Goonoo Goonoo has diversified into boutique rural accommodation. The restoration was carried out by current owners, the Haggarty family, with the accommodation and on-site restaurant owned and operated by Simon and Sarah Haggarty, and the surrounding land, a cattle station, managed by Simon’s father, Tony. 0429 384 297; goonoogoonoostation.com

33 TJANPI DESERT WEAVERS

Tjanpi Desert Weavers represent more than 400 Aboriginal women artists from the remote central and western deserts. Initiated by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council in 1995, the social enterprise helps Anangu women participate in meaningful and culturally appropriate employment in fibre art. Tjanpi conducts workshops in remote communities and holds exhibitions of beautiful, intricate fibre art throughout the year. The artists are represented in public and private collections throughout Australia. (08) 8958 2377; tjanpi.com.au

ANIMALS & AGRICULTURE 34 AUSTRALIAN SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW

The 140th annual Australian Sheep and Wool show held in Bendigo, Victoria, this year, is celebrated as one of the largest events of its type in the world. The show is a highlight on the calendar for Australia’s top sheep breeders, wool growers, wool crafters and those who simply love wool. The line-up of events includes the Women of Wool series, as well as fashion parades and the national Woolcraft Competition. (03) 5443 9902; sheepshow.com

35 HINDMARSH VALLEY DAIRY

Located on SA’S Fleurieu Peninsula, Hindmarsh Valley Dairy makes award-winning goat’s cheese and goat’s milk products, and provide a happy life for their goats. Indeed, Denise Riches and James Keirnan, who run the farm on organic, sustainable principles, have the welfare of the goats as a number one concern. When the old milkers retire, or the bucks no longer stand at stud, they happily spend their remaining days in a ‘granny’ paddock. hindmarshvalleydairy.com.au

36 BAILEY, CASTERTON KELPIE MUSTER CHAMPION

Three-year old kelpie Bailey has entered the Hall of Fame at the annual Kelpie Muster (held in Casterton, Victoria, each June) after winning the high-jump event for the third year running. Owned by Tegan Eagle, of Cobargo, NSW, Bailey set the record last year when he scaled a 2.951-metre-high wall! This year he managed an impressive 2.51 metres. castertonkelpieassociation.com.au

37 WINX, CHAMPION THOROUGHBRED

Australians watched in awe as Winx, the world’s top-rated turf galloper, swept over the finish line to win her third straight Cox Plate in October. The six-year-old bay mare, bred at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley, has amassed more than $15 million in prize money with 22 straight wins and was recognised as one of our greatest horses when she was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, only the third to do so while still racing.

38 ED FERNON, THE MONGOL DERBY 2017 WINNER

London 2012 Olympic pentathlete Ed Fernon, who grew up on his family farm in Wagga Wagga, won equal first in the Mongol Derby in August this year, >

completing the 1000-kilometre ride through the Mongolian steppe in seven days. Considered the world’s longest and toughest horse race, it retraces the messenger system of the Ghengis Khan era and involves competitors changing largely unbroken and semi-wild horses every 40 kilometres. theadventurists.com

39 MILLAH MURRAH ANGUS

Setting the record for the highest price paid for a beef female in Australasia, a 21-month-old heifer sold for $190,000 at the Millah Murrah Angus female sale in October at Goonamurrah, a property near Bathurst, NSW. Millah Murrah Angus is owned by Ross and Dimity Thompson, who say the real story of the sale was the 61 per cent increase in the average price paid, compared with the previous record. The Millah Murrah Angus sales grossed $3.208 million, which is believed to be the largest single vendor result and single day gross for any stud sale in Australia. millahmurrah.com

40 JANETTE WILSON & HER WALER HORSES

This year Darwin’s Anzac Day march was led by Waler stallion Willing Noble Reveille, who performed the ceremonial role for the first time after the retirement of his sire, Noble Comrade (pictured above with owner Janette Wilson), who has led the march for 11 years. Janette walked alongside the horse, who represented the lone charger of a fallen soldier wearing a saddle with empty boots reversed in the stirrups. It was especially significant in this centenary year of the Australian light horse charge of Beersheba in World War I.

PLACES 41 WHITE CLIFFS, NSW

Located 1000 kilometres north-west of Sydney, White Cliffs is a unique place where the population of about 150 mostly live underground. Up above, the sparse countryside resembles a moonscape and it can reach 50°C in summer. As ABC journalist Heather Ewart wrote in her Journey story, which appeared our January 2017 issue, it’s the lure of opals that brings people to White Cliffs. And it’s often the peace and isolation that keeps them there. visitnsw.com 42 WINTON, QUEENSLAND In the central west of Queensland, Winton is a little town rich in cultural and natural history. It’s renowned as the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda and Qantas, and for its links to the Great Shearers’ Strike of 1891. Geologically, it sits above the Great Artesian Basin and is also an important site of fossilised dinosaurs. Winton’s spectacular landscapes have made it onto the big screen as a film location, earning the town a reputation as the ‘Hollywood’ of the outback. The place comes alive for numerous events during the year, including The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival and the Outback Writers Festival. experiencewinton.com.au

43 WALGETT, NSW

Despite five years of drought, the people of Walgett, NSW, are nurturing new and exciting businesses to keep their community strong. Katie Murray’s Stone’s Throw homewares shop brought coffee and good cheer when it opened on Fox Street in 2014 and Emily Wilson’s

Silo and Co food truck, housed on local farm Ulah, travels the state offering seasonal food at local events.

44 THE DECKCHAIR CINEMA

There’s nothing quite like Darwin’s quirky harbourfront open-air Deckchair Cinema, run by the Darwin Film Society. It screens an eclectic range of non-mainstream films and supports the Australian film industry, local charities and community groups. The cinema supplies the deckchairs, insect repellent, movie and the chance to join in a ‘toad bust’ (when you catch cane toads at the end of the show). (08) 8981 0700; deckchaircinema.com

EVENTS 45 GARMA

One of the most important and vibrant cultural gatherings on the Indigenous calendar, Garma is held over four days each August at Gulkula, north-east Arnhem Land. More than 2000 Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians — including this year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull — and international visitors come together in celebration of Yolngu culture and the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Presented by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, The Key Forum is the platform for policy debate while the Youth Forum draws students from across Australia to be inspired and gain insight into Indigenous heritage and traditions. In 2018 Garma runs from August 3rd–6th. yyf.com.au

46 THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER BUSH FESTIVAL

This uniquely Australian festival held in the town of Corryong, north-east Victoria, celebrates all things country and showcases bush heritage, music, poetry and traditional skills still used today. Next year’s event will be on from April 5th–8th. bushfestival.com.au

47 MOORAMBILLA VOICES

This musical venture gives children living in remote areas a chance to connect and shine together on stage. This year, 307 children from 97 schools around northern NSW took part. Moorambilla logistics are unique as children in the ensembles have never met each other before they come together to sing and dance at Dubbo Regional Theatre for the Moorambilla Gala Concert. This year the organisation won the national APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education. moorambilla.com

48 PIG PUSH

The inaugural Pig Push fundraiser was the idea of Boorowa, NSW, real estate agent Justin Fleming to raise money for the Country Education Foundation of Australia. It started as a conversation between mates and resulted in a giant pink papier-mâché pig, named Percy, being pushed nearly 200 kilometres from Boorowa to Orange. The inaugural push raised $58,000. cef.org.au

49 FORAGE

This walk through the vines has people returning to Orange F.O.O.D Week every year. At last count, 6500 people had meandered the 4.1 kilometres from vineyard to vineyard, sipping local wines and sampling local produce. Book your tickets early. orangefoodweek.com.au