These days the historic building houses Moo Moo stitches in the front rooms, but reached by a wooden walkway around the side  the new Stokers Siding Art Gallery, which opened on July 4.

The new Gallery is the dream of printmaker, Phillip Gasson, a long-time resident of Stokers siding who once, coincidentally, lived in a backroom of the building. With help from volunteers Gasson has transformed two rooms at the rear of the building into a clean and stylish space that reflects his love of the old and authentic presented with a contemporary finish.  The opening of the gallery is all the more admirable due to the fact that Glasson needs assistance because a stroke several years ago left him with greatly impaired vision, although despite this he selects the artists for each show and hangs the work himself .

Karena Wynn-Moylan: Transformation not Decision.

The next show coming up at the gallery will feature the work of Karena Wynn-Moylan, who was in fact the first visual artist to exhibit at the Pottery in the 1980’s. Wynn-Moylan is showing over 30 works on canvas and paper ranging in subject from landscapes, seascapes and flowers and fruit.  “It’s very exciting to be back here after all these years, showing some of my most favourite subjects” says Wynn-Moylan, “and I hope to see lots of familiar faces at the opening.”

The show opens on Friday September 25^th at 4.30pm and will run for four weeks.

To view Karena Wynn-Moylan’s work go to:

www.karenawynn-moylan.bravehost.com

Contact: Karena Wynn-Moylan

[email protected]  

0414 822 196

Gallery website: facebook.com/stokerssidingartgallery

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Sharon’s our big old retro Chesney Caravan who has also been known to go by ‘Shazza’. She was a gift from our good friends Big Tone and the Pineapple Princess.

I should explain that even though Dave was originally excited by my good news that we’d received such a lavish gift he was less than enamored when he actually got his first glimpse of Sharon. (In her prime, she’d once been a haven of solitude and inspiration to many a famous muso, and although she’s never been one to brag she’s even sheltered the famous Kelly gang – well Paul and Dan anyway.) Dave had visions of a glamorous curvy vintage caravan but Shazza was not exactly a picture of beauty! In fact, when we first saw her she was covered in slime and moss and with a tree growing directly out of her roof. To be honest big fat square Sharon gave off an air of quiet desperation.

Sharon gave off an air of quiet desperation…

Before we could even start with the renovations I had to perform a touch of amateur arboreal gymnastics – which entailed a lot of laughter from a helpfully watching crew. But then our Sharon was on the road to restoration and Dave’s initial hesitation turned to a passionate love affair as he scrubbed, scraped and painted every surface that Sharon had to offer.

No sooner were we done with Sharon’s makeover and it was time for our big move north to Murwillumbah to follow our sub-tropical dream. Sharon, wondering what she had done to offend, was left behind, until Dave went back to retrieve our home on wheels. I had to be left out of the 4000 kilometre return journey, so I planned to fly to Newcastle and join them on the return journey. Unfortunately a bush fire caused a major diversion for Dave, our dog Thelma Louise and Sharon and it was arranged that I would meet up with them in Yamba. I had to travel a good 120 kilometres alone! Due to their diversion it transpired that they rejoined the highway in front of me, traveling north – and then of course I spotted them! I must admit I was a little taken aback when Dave only scowled at me as I sailed gaily by, waving and tooting! Boy 4000 kilometres can really put a dent in someone’s sense of humour!

The newly-renovated Sharon making her way home to Murwillumbah.

So there we are. Sharon is now officially a resident of Northern NSW and has even enjoyed a trip to Nimbin, and as I’m writing this we are traveling home from a truly delightful stay in Sapphire Beach just north of Coffs Harbour. Under the shade of the mighty paperbarks and only metres from a sapphire blue ocean we laughed, drank, read and ate to our hearts content.

The ocean was brisk but delightful and Thelma Louise and I frolicked like teenagers…albeit a creaky one, while Dave declined the offer to immerse himself in freezing cold water. Dining out was superb, as was checking out the delights of Bellingen and all its splendid craft.

We returned restored and inspired. And the moral of the story is – there is no moral…who needs them? All I can say is If you find life is getting you down, look for the simple pleasures and enjoy!

Savouring the delights of Coffs Harbour and Bellingen on the way home…

You can read more about Pete’s adventures and also see his art on: petegoodlet.com

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Chef Clayton Donovan at the 2014 Madura Tea Estate Canstar Blue Taste Award presentation ceremony

How do you celebrate when you’ve just won a major tea award for the third year in a row?  With a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake, of course writes Candida Baker…

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for Madura Tea Estates (maduratea) to celebrate the fact that they had just walked away with the Canstar Blue Taste Awards in the Tea Bags category for the third year in a row, beating competition such as Dilmah, Tetley, Twinings, Nerada and Lipton.  The sun was shining, and the rows upon rows of tea bushes positively gleaming when we turned up for the ceremony, held in a shady area near the peaceful creek that runs through the property.

A treat for the morning was the presentation by Indigenous chef Clayton Donovan, who ran the highly successful Jaaning Tree Restaurant in Nambucca Heads.  Donovan, who grew up on the mid north coast of New South Wales has had a stellar career – from washing dishes in his home town as a teenager, to working in restaurants around the world. During its five years of operation  The Jaaning Tree  won an Australian Good Food Guide Chef hat four years in a row. ) These days he has evolved the business to include media work, long lunches, pop ups and education, (jaaningtree) as well as of course, introducing a wide audience to Australia’s native food through the Wild Kitchen television series.

Clayton Donovan’s take on Rocky Road – Gravel Road – loaded with wattle seed.

It was certainly an education to watch him prepare his Australian version of Rocky Road, most aptly named Gravel Road.  This incredibly rich dish involved copious amounts of dark chocolate, marshmallow, coconut and lots of wattle seed – a stable in many Donovan dishes.  (Jaaning is the Gumbaynggir word for Acacia – so it’s a long-term favourite for Donovan.)  He entertained us with anecdotes from home: “I use dark chcoloate for this because I’m the only in the house that likes it,” he said cheerfully.  Once he’d prepared it, and put it in the fridge to set, he told us: “I’ve been waiting 20 years to say this – now, here’s one I prepared earlier!”  He pulled the Gravel Road out with a flourish, cut it up and it disappeared in the blink of a kangaroo’s eye.

Catering for the heat, the Madura team, out in force, had made not just hot tea but two beautiful iced-teas, including a lemon and ginger tea which just happened to go with the most amazing cakes prepared by Rose, one of the Estate staff, whose caramel cheesecake I have to say very closely rivalled Gravel Road in taste, texture and deliciousness.

Lemon and ginger iced tea

My vote for the best teabag from Madura’s best teabags – their amazing Pure Assam with its rich flavour, and dark red colour – a perfect post lunch pick-me-up.  Or even on this occasion, post cake…

maduratea

jaaningtree

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MP Justine Elliott and her husband Craig were taking a walk to watch a sugar cane fire near their home  in Nunderi not far from Murwillumbah, when they chanced upon this amazing image of a fox.  “Fortunately Craig had taken his camera with him,” says Elliott.  “We love the fact that this photo captures such a sense of speed and colour.  The fox is moving rapidly yet at the same time you can see clearly the defined features of the fox.”  Craig managed the effect by taking the photo late in the afternoon with a slow shutter speed (1/40 sec), and then panning the camera sideways in an effort to match the fox’s speed and movement.

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