08/12/2010
29/10/2010
10/09/2010
Tizzana Winery - Peter Auld
In 1968, Peter and Carolyn Auld were looking for a property where they could raise their children. They had enjoyed regular picnics in the valley near Ebenezer, a valley that had been devoted to vineyards in the late 1800s under the direction of Italian born surgeon Thomas Fiaschi, and were familiar with this part of the world.
The Aulds were able to purchase the old ruins of the sandstone winery, built by Fiaschi in 1887, from an American film producer who had used them as a film set. They set about restoring the fine old building, using building materials from such places as an old warehouse in Rhodes and leadlight windows and cedar doors from the church manse which used to exist at I York Street in the city.
In 1980 Peter and Carolyn purchased additional land to plant out a vineyard and olive trees and Peter (an industrial chemist by training) undertook a wine making course through Charles Sturt University. Five acres of land are devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Aleatico. Aleatico is an Italian variety of grape, originally introduced by Dr Fiaschi, and Tizzana is one of only three vineyards which grows this variety.
Not only does Peter produce wine under his own label, he is also the winemaker for Jubilee Vineyard Estate across the road and five other vineyards. Fortunately different varieties ripen at different times so that he can juggle this responsability quite well but harvest and bottling must be frantic nonetheless. Fortunately, in a story that is not that common on the Farm Gate Trail, Peter is assisted by his two children, Gillian and Jonathan, and of course by his wife Carolyn.
At harvest time, 20 or so friends join Peter and Carolyn over three weekends to hand pick the grapes. A long lunch inevitably follows.
Such is life in a vineyard - hard work and convivial get togethers!
Students are regular visitors to Tizzana and get the opportunity to undertake various jobs in the vineyard such as debudding and taking soil samples and learn about the seasons and cycles of a vineyard.
Jubilee Vineyard Estate - Ray and Alison Hayek
Situated by a beautiful lagoon which empties into the Hawkesbury River, lies the vineyard known as Jubilee Vineyard. It is owned by Alison and Ray Hayek whose first vintage was in 2008 and whose passionate love for what they do is clear.
Prior to owning Jubilee they had held an interest in a vineyard in the Hunter Valley. As parents to four boys they were keen to find a property where the children could run and play freely in fresh air. Fortunately they found this 27 hectare property near Ebenezer. Both Alison and Ray are chiropractors and whilst Ray still continues to work as a chiropractor and in academia, Alison is able to devote herself to mothering and the vineyard.
The Hayeks inherited a vineyard planted with Chambourcin, an American/French hybrid which can withstand humidity, essential in this area which receives summer rain. They have planted viognier and also shiraz, "for the heartbreak," laughs Alison. As a boutique vineyard it is important that they develop handcrafted, unique wines and explore the potential of more exotic blends.
The Hayeks work in close co operation with Tizzana Winery across the road, where Peter Auld makes their wine for them. They sell their wine through markets and city restaurants, as well as, of course, through their own cellar door. They sell White Chambourcin, roses, reds and ports, all of which share a cleanliness on the palate characteristic of the Chambourcin grape variety.
Alison clearly adores the family's huge lifestyle shift. She describes the beauty of dawn on the lagoon, which is home to cormorants, pelicans, swamp hens and a pair of nesting black swans. She delights in the blossom of spring time and the seasonal changes in the vineyard. This love is clearly communicated as she talks me through the various wines - it is clear that the work involved in running a vineyard is a labour of love in the best possible way.
In talking to students Alison is keen to describe the environmental challenges involved in terms of weather and climate patterns and their impact on the vineyard. It is important that the students understand the seasons in the vineyard and what work is undertaken according to those seasons - thus gaining better knowledge of, not paddock to plate in this case, but paddock to bottle!
Muirfield High School
It had seemed that Muirfield High School would miss out in taking part in this year's Archibull Prize. Thanks to funds provided by Carlingford Rotary Club however the Year 9 art class is now very much a participant in the prize.
I was lucky enough to spend time with the students earlier this week, together wih their teacher, Mr Steven Campbell. The bulls are still a pristine white, although one is sporting a jaunty hat and the other a pair of glasses. They are not due to to be painted until fourth term and in the meantime an enormous effort is being put into planning how the bulls are to be decorated.
Similar effort is being put into documenting the process and thinking about agriculture and its place in our lives. The students have been divided into teams with different responsibilities which include photography, videography, blogging and design. There are even two student personal assistants to Mr.Campbell, who ensure the overall smooth running of the project. All the students use laptops and type notes into them as the class continues.
After a group discussion about progress and ideas, we head off to the school's farm. One of the bulls accompanies us for a photo opportunity! It is fantastic that the art students are able to observe first hand the workings of a small farm, where there are sheep, bees, chickens and ducks, together with a variety of produce being grown. This is truly where art meets agriculture!
I loved seeing the students so cheerfully engaged with this project. They are planning their visit to some of the mentors' properties and leave me in no doubt of their desire to win the prize!
16/08/2010
Cranebrook High School
At Cranebrook High School , Dani Saxon and her colleague Andrew Murray run the Agriculture Technology Department ("Ag"). There are around 80 students studying Ag in Year 9 and 40 or so in Year 10. The day I visit I am guided around the Ag farm by Dani and a class of Year 9 students. I am shown sheep, alpacas and chickens, an orchard and a beautifully productive vegetable plot.
Most of the students across all year groups have been involved in getting the bulls ready, if not in the actual decorating then certainly in the planning and designs.
I cannot give too much away about the students art work - the sneak peek below will have to satisfy you. The school's two resin bulls have been decorated for the upcoming Penrith Show in late August and the intention is that they will be repainted in time for the Archibull Prize. Dani has loved incorporating the bulls into the school curriculum and is hopeful that the school can undertake this project again next year.
Good luck at the Show!
12/08/2010
Kane Hardingham
With the word "sustainability" being one which is to be constantly found in the newspapers or heard on the radio, it was fantastic for me to be able to meet Kane Hardingham, an Environmental Advisor with Woolworths Limited.
Kane grew up in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and reckons that if you look hard enough you might still find red earth and gold dust under his fingernails! He initially undertook an Engineering degree at the University of Western Australia but switched to Environmental Science at Murdoch University.
His first job as environmental scientist was in a graduate position with a nickel smelter back home in Kalgoorlie, where he had initially worked as an offsider to the engineers. He stayed there for four years until he was lured by a job at Ayers Rock, working for the Voyages group of resorts. With the same company he went to Dunk Island and then to Sydney. His role encompassed advising on and implementing strategies around the core concepts of using less energy and water , wasting less and recycling more but also on protecting the physical environment. Protecting native species and sacred sites was part of this important aspect of the role.
Kane joined Woolworths in December 2007. He was attracted to the company by not only the fact that it was committed to best practice in sustainability but also to the sheer size of the company. With over 190 000 employees nationally and over 3000 stores, the inherent challenges in working at Woolworths were irresistible.
One of Kane's key responsibilities is raising staff awareness of sustainability within their working environment. This is achieved in part through the appointment of "eco ambassadors" , with a staff member being appointed in this role in every store. These ambassadors are trained in the basic concepts of sustainability and are charged with raising awareness in their work colleagues. Simple things like turning off a dripping tap or recycling cardboard boxes can make a difference!
Kane is also responsible for the regulatory and voluntary reporting which Woolworths must undertake to bodies such as National Greenhouse and Energy reporting and reporting required by the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act.
Both Kane and his colleague Rebekah Earp (who was instrumental in having Woolworths support the Archibull Prize) see the Prize as a wonderful way of linking farming to the school environment. Kane is keen to spend time with students explaining to them the time, effort and natural resources required from a farmer to get his/her produce to the plate. Over the years Kane has had the opportunity to meet with students from Years 1 to 12 and talking to them about the environment and sustainability.
Kane brings a unique perspective to the role of mentor and I thank him for spending time with me.
07/08/2010
Cedric Leathbridge
Cedric and his wife own Bilpin Springs Orchard, on the Bells Line of Road at Bilpin. Here Cedric grows apples, nashi pears, stone fruit, figs and persimmons.
In a former life Cedric was a teacher! And his wife still is. Indeed the idea behind purchasing the orchard 22 years ago was not only to grow fruit but to link agriculture with education.
With Cedric's background as a maths teacher, he is able to constantly observe the links between the academic study of mathematics with the practical realities of farming. The movements of the sun, the catching of water, the development of leaves and flowers, all have mathematical lessons contained within them.
Not only are there mathematical links but there are also biological links and of course artistic ones as well.
Cedric sees his job of farming as a very integrated occupation - you need to be a "jack of all trades!" he says. A farmer needs to understand mathematics, economics, marketing and how to deal with machinery. To Cedric there is an enormous satisfaction in producing food which meets a fundamental need for people, needs which include shelter and friendship. The opportunity to work in fresh air and to connect so completely with the natural cycles implicit in an agricultural setting meets other human needs that may not be so easily met in the city landscape.
In Cedric we have a mentor who combines twin passions for farming and education, a wonderful combination for the Archibull Prize.Alan Eagle
I have known Alan Eagle for some time in his capacity as a Board Member for Hawkesbury Harvest. I took the opportunity to talk to him for the purposes of this blog whilst we were out and about on the Farm Gate Trail.
Whilst Alan is not a farmer himself , he spends his days helping farmers along the Trail. From fruit orchards to wineries, from chestnuts, Christmas trees and flower growers to farmers markets, his knowledge of agriculture in the Sydney food basin is both broad and intimate.
Alan first joined Hawkesbury Harvest as a project manager in 2003, working one day a week. He joined the Board some time later and works, on a voluntary basis, as the interface between the local councils and the producers themselves, to ensure the smooth running of the Farm Gate Trail and the Farmers Markets. He is assisted in this by his fellow hardworking Board Members.
The markets are held at Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Penrith and Richmond, a similar catchment area to the schools who are taking part in this year's Archibull Prize.
The Farm Gate Trail connects producers to the general public so that people can travel along the Trail (or attend a market in their area) and not only get the freshest produce possible but also talk to the producers themselves, thereby gaining a glimpse into the hard work involved in farming.
Alan has long studied the notion of living your life by a value system. His own core values are service, education and community.
These values, which Alan lives every day, ensure that he is a wonderful choice to be a mentor for students taking part in the Archibull Prize.
