Your Page: Readers’ emails and letters.

DRIVING IN COUNTRY NSW HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ONE READER ABOUT HOW TOUGH IT IS FOR THOSE ON THE LAND, WHILE ANOTHER WAS REMINDED OF HER BELOVED DOG.

PERFECT CURE

My mother felt miserable with bronchitis and I asked what would help and she replied “something beautiful and peaceful”. I arrived with your Coastal Homes and the November issue. We loved all the articles, especially reading about writer Heather Rose with her enduring love of literature and the sea. Many memories came back of the holidays we spent in South Africa, travelling from our home in Zimbabwe. We took out old photograph albums and shared the times of lazy days on the beach. Country Style is a cure for all ills and provides so much joy with amazing pictures of nature and the families who live in beautiful surroundings. We are grateful for the immense pleasure you bring us each month. Vickie Mavros, Sale, Victoria

GOLDEN MEMORIES

As I looked down to pick up Country Style, sadness almost drove me to walk away. Gazing at November’s cover, I was amazed at the similarities — same colours, window seat and view. But my beautiful golden girl is no longer sitting there on the mat looking up at me. This issue has reminded me of my reluctant journey from city life and the memories I’ll cherish of watching my city dog become a country dog, and how much I relied on her companionship. Every time I see a much-loved pet peering out from the pages of Country Style, I’m reminded of my girl and her blissful country life. This issue has made me cry and laugh, but most of all, appreciate the love of a dog. She left paw prints on our hearts — dirty, smelly paw prints! Thank you for choosing this cover just for me. Margaret Pickering, Stanthorpe, Queensland

JUST FOR LAUGHS

The story on page 16 in November was humbling and emotional about the 17 women who got together for a Ladies’ Wellness and Laughter Day. These women share tough times but were able to relax and I couldn’t help but admire them. There are already so many challenges living in the outback, but through supporting each other, so many friendships would have been made. I was in awe. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the city or the outback — getting together with like-minded people really helps to lift your spirits.

J A Jones, Tea Gardens, NSW

WINNER A HARD ROAD

My husband and I recently drove to Brisbane via the New England Highway. We were amazed at the devastation of the landscape and the spartan fields, empty of stock. What particularly struck me was the amazing women who were working in the country towns. One told me she now works part-time in a shop in order to pay for the weekly groceries. Another said it cost them $2000 a week to feed their sheep and that didn’t cover the freight cost when feed often has to come from as far away as South Australia. Another said they have five water tanks and only one has water in it and they had to pay for that water. My heart goes out to these brave families who have to think how they can pay for things that we take for granted. Margaret Burton, Bowral, NSW

Photography @lisacohenphoto Styling @lynda.gardener and @bellebrightproject Rocky and Mango Rose starred on our November cover, shot near Bangalow, inland from Byron Bay, NSW. We learnt about the garden at Wardington Manor that New Zealander Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld of @thelandgardeners have revived before visiting Tesselaar tulip farm in Silvan, Victoria, leading up to @tesselaar_tulip_festival. Award-winning author Heather Rose reveals how her upbringing by the Tasmanian coast has influenced her novels.

Photography @marniehawson Words @virginia_imhoff Bec Amos and Angus Macdougall’s @dunmore_farm was one of our most popular posts from the November issue. “We are so fortunate to have been able to move here. We often pinch ourselves that it came up when it did,” says Bec.