The Archibull Prize

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!

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.

 

 

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.
 

Don Bruce

On a wet winter's day I met with Don Bruce and his wife Rae at their property at Cumnock, which is situated in the Central West of New South Wales.

  

I was grateful to the rain because it meant that I could spend a long time with Don in what otherwise would have been a typically busy day in the life of a farmer.  Don is a fourth generation farmer in Cumnock and raises sheep and cattle as well as canola and oats.  He is passionate about farming and believes that to be successful as farmer it has to be in your blood.  Long experience on the land, together with inherited wisdom from his father and grandfather, means that he is in tune with the seasons and the best way to utilise his land.  

 

It is through his long connection with Landcare - he was the inaugural chair of the local branch , Little River Landcare Group- that he has become involved as a mentor with the Archibull Prize.

Not only does he bring his passion for the land to this role but also his forty years experience in working with groups of handicapped children and also with high school and university students in providing them with practical exposure to farming.

Don recently visited the Alice Betteridge School at North Rocks which is taking part in this year's Archibull Prize.  From their website, the "Alice Betteridge School at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children at North Rocks provides educational and therapeutic programs for children aged 4-18 years with both sensory and intellectual disabilities".

His face lights up as he describes how he got around the fact that the students he was talking to were either unable to see or unable to hear what he was explaining.  He set about engaging the senses of touch, smell and taste.  The students were able to touch and smell wool filled with lanolin. Don took canola seeds and plants and rolled oats for the children to handle. He answered questions from the students and whilst he had no expectation of how long he would be there, the fact that he was at the school for four hours probably speaks for itself!

Don exemplifies the passion and energy that the Farmer mentors bring to the Archibull Prize.

Thank you Don and Rae for your hospitality.