Your Page: Readers’ emails and letters.
KATE BREW’S STORY ON HER BUSHFIRE EXPERIENCE HAS STRUCK A CHORD WITH MANY WHILE ONE READER TELLS OF HOW COUNTRY STYLE KEEP HER FAMILY CONNECTED TO RURAL LIFE.
SWEET MEMORIES
I love how Country Style takes me back to when I was staying with my wonderful grandparents in the Queensland country town of Nagoorin. Memories of driving down the track and Grandma timing it just right with the morning tea — strawberry slice and little cakes with smooth icing on the table as soon as we walked through the door. I love all the recipes that are sent in from times gone by. Page by page, I love it all.
Noela Stockbridge, Gladstone, Queensland
Editor’s note: We love the sound of that slice — please send in the recipe ASAP!
STRONG TIES
I had tears in my eyes as I read Kate Brew’s story in the Christmas 2019 issue about bushfires, having experienced the same worry. We moved our young family three years ago to a 25-hectare property surrounded by state forest. We often cast our eyes over the horizon on hot days looking for a sign of a fire or check the Fires Near Me app. It has just become a way of life. Our income comes from jobs off the land, but we have spent thousands of hours rebuilding sheds, creating vegie gardens and making the property ours. And we know a fire could wipe this out in minutes as that’s the risk you run living in rural Australia. However, the pull and love of a country life cannot be explained and here we stay, as the life we have created means we wouldn’t change a thing. Rebecca Pope, Lake Macquarie, NSW
CHRISTMAS TREAT
As the new magazine arrives I scan through it first before settling down to enjoy it from the first page through to the last. The stories are always great as are the photographs that go with them. Being a lover of photography myself, I got to page 83 and it just about blew me away! What a magnificent image of Nic Poelaert icing his beautiful eclairs. I take my hat off to Brigid Arnott and to the writer Barbara Sweeney as well. I have messaged a friend who lives at Newcastle to go buy herself a treat for Christmas. I hope she gets to try them. Beverley Pohlner, Nhill, Victoria
NEW TRADITIONS
I am sitting on the verandah reading your Christmas issue putting aside, for an hour, the daily troubles we are all facing from the drought and the fires. The article, When I Was a Kid, has got me looking forward and excited not just for Christmas, but for starting new traditions with my children so they can look back and think about what a wonderful time it is. It’s not only about the presents, but about spending time with friends and family.
Rebecca Johnston, Kelvin, NSW
KEEPING CALM
It could be as long as 10 years or more that I’ve been reading your magazine. To say that I love it is an understatement! I tell my husband every month that we will be in that mag one day and I hope they use me in The Style Diaries (one of my favourite parts). I read all the stories and it’s true, it is good to live in the country, the peace, the outdoors, the wildlife — we love everything about country living. The joy your magazine brings to me is so calming. I’ve just read the story, Give Me Shelter, and I found myself feeling the fear that Kate felt as we are prone to fires here in North East Victoria. I can’t imagine the fear of losing our castle, our small bubble of happiness that we call home.
Sue Dugmore, Tolmie, Victoria
GROWING UP WITH COUNTRY STYLE
My mum has lived in some fairly remote regional areas across NSW, forming strong friendships along the way. In 1985, my father passed away leaving mum to raise two small children.
As my dad managed a property, mum had to move us to the city to gain employment herself and to educate my brother and I. But Mum missed her country life, so 30 years ago we decided to subscribe to Country Style. In all honesty, we love the pictures, the homes, the people, the artistic talents, shopping ideas and feel-good recipes. Mum and I share a subscription, reading each edition twice — we love it! Mum swears the best time to read CS is first thing in the morning, when the air is crisp and the birds are chirping. Past magazines are piled high, never to be thrown out — against my brother’s wishes! Thank
you CS for keeping the country connection for us all these years, it keeps our memories strong. We have a little house in the country, who knows we may be inspired to live there one day, but for now we’re working and educating our own children in the big smoke. You just never know what path lies ahead.
Fleur Hannan, Wareemba, NSW
BEAUTY AT HOME
Through the pages of Country Style
I have found a place of solidarity. Thank you to the people who graciously share their homes — through them I have learnt to see the beauty of my ramshackle cottage. Thank you to the businesses who share their vision. Because of their hard work I seek out regional online stores for something truly unique. And thank you to the people who tell it like it is, the beauty and the struggle, as that is the reality my family is also living. Solidarity is everything, and through the pages of Country Style you prove to me there’s nowhere else I’d want to be.
Cassie Harrex, West Launceston, Tasmania
WINNER THINK OF THE BUSH
Christmas should be a time of joy and family celebrations, not a time for running yourself ragged with stress and expenditure. With many Australians affected by drought and bushfires in 2019, it has been really refreshing to see Country Style run features focusing on the importance of togetherness, and reflecting on those going through unimaginable trials on the land. It’s helped me to give my children a fresh perspective for this festive season — to refresh that we are thankful for what we have and to look at what we can do to help. We will be reigning in this year’s Christmas purchases and making donations to drought and bushfire relief instead. Sending love and best wishes for rain, a better growing season, and a safer fire season for 2020. Merry country Christmas to you all!
Jade Blee, Beerwah, Queensland