February/March 2020 edition 38 PUBLISHED by Heartland Media 81 Walker Street, Casino NSW 2470 02 6662 6222 TO ADVERTISE in Heartland Magazine send your enquiry to Sharon Bateman at sharon@heartlandmedia.com.au or call our office on 02 6662 6222 TO TELL US YOUR STORY for Heartland Magazine send your enquiry to Sophie at sophie@heartlandmedia.com.au or call our office on 02 6662 6222 Distribution If you would like to stock Heartland Magazine please contact our office on 02 6662 6222 or email jeff@heartlandmedia.com.au Heartland Magazine is distributed by
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Regulars 8
Farmer Sophie Adventures
10
Helen Trustum
46
Hall of Fame
48-49
Motoring History
50-51
Truck History
52-53
Motorcycle History
58
Do you remember?
60
Kids Page
64-65
Travel - Cairns
66-67
Let’s Cook
68
Natural Products
69
Beauty
70-71
Wines of the Month
78
Save the Date
79
Local Markets
80-81
Crosswords
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www.heartlandmagazine.com.au ISSN 2652-337X (Online) ISSN 2652-3361 (Print) Special thank you to Helen Trustum Thank you to Denise Alison - Humans of Lismore, Maclean Historical Society, Uki Historical Society, Michael Cashman of Tamworth Historical Society and all of our contributors.
Heartland Media welcomes stories that are submitted via writing however we will publish them in their entirety and will not edit them in any way...some stories have tried to recreate events, locales and conversations from personal memories of them. In order to maintain their anonymity in some instances people have changed the names of individuals and places, or may have changed some identifying characteristics and details such as physical properties, occupations and places of residence. We do not take responsibility for the way the story reads or grammatical errors. We are simply transferring them from the heart.
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| Heartland Magazine
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The Heartland Team
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Heartland Magazine |
7
Concrete Posts and Pickets A solid fence can provide a solid future and with the assistance of Concrete Posts and Pickets, fencing becomes a job that is only done once because it is done properly. Based in Coraki, Concrete Posts and Pickets manufacture high grade concrete pre-stressed posts and strainer posts which will stand the test of time. With over 60 years of experience and employing 40 locals, the factory comes with its own concrete plant on site. They use Australian made steel to re-enforce the pre-stressed drivable posts. The posts are durable when being driven into the earth because of the flexibility of the prestressed materials used. These concrete fence posts contain no lime which means there is no rusting, leaving the property owner with a much longer fence life adding value to their overall property assets. As well as being seriously fire resistant and white ant proof, the posts will not rot off at ground level.
Bushfire Special Posts starting from $ 13.00 inc gst. Strainer posts starting from $ 37.12 inc gst. Concrete Posts and Pickets is a locally owned business which supplies to all areas. Their patented products are helping to give property owners a sense of peace with the knowledge that the concrete posts will combat the usual threats to wooden or metal fence posts. As customers
The team at Concrete Posts and Pickets stand behind their product 100% and have tested the posts extensively to ensure they are providing the highest quality to their customers. As part of testing, concrete posts have been emblazed in a 45min bonfire which resulted in the concrete posts standing solid through the ordeal.
Concrete Posts and Pickets Posts will survive the worst fires and conditions for generations to come.
Advertorial 16 | Heartland Magazine
Concrete Posts & Pickets Bushfire Special
purchase the concrete posts, they are ensuring that they are investing into the longevity of their fences as well as the future of their property value. The affordability of the product allows customers to develop other areas of their property while knowing their investment is safe and secure having had the fencing job done properly. The solid and dependable experience and knowledge shared through the team at Concrete Posts and Pickets, guarantees the same in their fence posts. Doug Leadbeatter, National Sales Manager and John Mazzer, Sales, are passionate and focused on helping communities be at their strongest. Australians are tough and are resilient, so it only makes sense to make our property fences with the same strength and integrity. To speak to Concrete Posts and Pickets Email sales@concreteposts.net or phone John Mazzer in business hours on 0417 442 780
Posts starting from $ 13.00 inc gst. Strainer posts starting from $ 37.12 inc gst.
• • • • • • • •
Australian Made Pre-Stressed Will not rust 100% Tested Fire Proof Property Investment Patented Aussie Tough
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John & Doug from Concrete Posts & Pickets Advertorial Heartland Magazine | 17
To My Country, From An Expat
The place I’m from is far away She’s wide and flat and brown When looking at a globe she’s just The one Under and Down
Traveling a while We’ll nod and say g’day and then We’ll share a knowing smile
Environmental sense Just think of the economy Don’t focus on science
You see we know it matters really Not that much at all If England takes The Ashes home Or World Cup hopes are small
Now’s not the time to talk about Our planet getting hotter Or fire seasons lengthening Or folks who don’t have water
Perhaps we won’t get quite as many Medals as the Yanks At Wimbledon we might not have A top ten in the ranks
It’s sad we’ve lost some good people A firey or three At least they all died knowing we’ve A healthy GDP
Cuz we’ve still got the greatest gift A wonder all its own A paradise of sand and sun We get to call our home
I mustered that old Aussie pride But to my disbelief Discovered only anger there And overwhelming grief
I think about her often and That feeling comes along That warm familiar pride that tells me She’s where I belong
We say we love our country but That leaves a bitter taste Our apathy to climate change Should make us feel disgraced
She understood I had so much I needed to explore And that I would return, for she Had seen my kind before
…And Crowded House comes on in some Strange far flung foreign bar My eyes sting for a moment. Man, Sometimes I do feel far.
We’re so concerned with digging up That black stuff from the ground Myself I’d rather half a Billion animals around
And thus I ventured out and joined An ignominious posse Of dreamers living far from home: Expatriated Aussies
The purpose of these verses though Is not to hear me muse It’s what I saw this morning when I opened up the news
The streets of Brooklyn, London’s Eye, An Indonesian Sizzler Cafes in Paris, Clubs in Rome Or every shop in Whistler
My heart stopped for a second and My throat became too tight Her name was in the headlines and She didn’t look alright
You hear our voices far and wide Like members of a club Fanning out across the world Quite often in a pub
I had to sit, I couldn’t quite Believe my own two eyes She looked unrecognizable I’d never seen those skies
We smile when people mimic us Quote Crocodile Dundee To them we sound absurd. I guess, We do to a degree
That’s not the place I grew up in That’s not what I remember Bushfires never started up so Early as September
They talk about the snakes and sharks As if it’s some big fuss “I couldn’t live down there”! they say We say that’s fine by us
It’s much too much to fathom that Your homeland has succumbed To such a horror. And they say The worst is yet to come
Somehow the months turn into several Trips around the sun Yet that tie to the motherland’s As strong as on day one
I stare as they evacuate And watch as children choke Our New Zealander neighbours now Are coughing on our smoke
They’re sending in their clothes and food To those who’ve lost it all The kids are even raising cash With cupcakes at a stall
Regardless though, how far away I happen to have wandered I’ll always check to see who won The Hottest of the Hundred
I’m looking at a mile of fencing Lined with blackened shapes Koalas, possums, kangaroos With no chance of escape
And suddenly I get the pang Of something deep inside The one that starts down in my gut And rises like a tide
I’ll somehow find a pub to watch The granny on the tele And four days before Christmas I will Always play Paul Kelly
So far we’ve burned about three times The land as the Brazillians And as for all those animals We’re up to half a billion
The same one that runs through me Putting fire in my veins It now glows deep within and so much Brighter than those flames
It really doesn’t matter just How far or wide I roam The Boy From Oz was right I guess It’s never not your home
Don’t be afraid, they tell me, of A little Aussie coal This stuff is worth a fortune, it’s Like carbonized black gold!
And though I’m far away from her Right now when she is ailing I know I’ve never been so proud To call myself Australian
And when I cross another Aussie
So what if it’s not great in an
She raised me up and taught me almost Everything I know Like how to live and love and shaped The way I learned to grow And though I had no say in where My folks chose to reside I always sort of had a sense Of patriotic pride I’d always felt connected from A space somewhere within See that’s the thing about this place She gets under your skin So when the time had come after Two decades and a half To go and see the world she didn’t Scoff, she didn’t laugh
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| Heartland Magazine Special Feature
But then I see those photos of Dark figures in the fray The tiny silhouettes struggling To keep the flames at bay I read about the volunteers Who stepped up to the tragedy And spent their Christmas in the blaze Instead of with their family I read in awe about our fearless Firefighting crews Who could give up at any time They want, but they refuse Men and women out there in The midst of devastation Upon their yellow jackets pinned The prayers of a nation I watch as ordinary Aussies Rise to the occasion Feeding precious animals half Dead from dehydration
Ben Lawson “When good neighbours become good friends” are the lyrics from one of Australia’s most popular television theme songs. The television show Neighbours centres around a small community and the friendships and bonds the people share with each other. It is a relatable theme which resonates on a larger scale throughout Australia and now more then ever during this bush fire catastrophe.
Ben Lawson is one of Australia’s most successful exports overseas. Starting his career in Neighbours playing Frazer Yeats from 2006 to 2008, Ben has since advanced his career onto the international stage. Graduating from NIDA, Ben has appeared in titles such as Deep End, Covert Affairs, Don’t Trust The B---- in Apartment 23, No Strings Attached, 13 Reasons Why, Designated Survivor, The Good Place and Bombshell to name a few. Brisbane boy Ben is still a true-blue Aussie at heart as he speaks with Heartland Magazine about his life and his poem which has touched so many through his emotional candid words. Growing up in Brisbane Ben, was inspired to become an actor at an early age through watching “Family Ties” on T.V. Michael J. Fox was a childhood idol and encouraged Ben to be an actor who also had a voice. Although his acting career has taken him far from home, Ben watched on with horror and helplessness as the recent bushfires engulfed Australia leaving many without homes and personal tragedy that is unimaginable. Moved to the core that his homeland was in strife, Ben poured his emotions and thoughts into a poem which has since gone viral on the internet. His words are filled with pride for Australia and emulate the attitude of a country which has been hit by severe heartache while still hopeful in the resilience of a nation. Ben believes that as a nation we need to start listening to science and what our environment is trying to tell us and that this has to be a turning point into how we are going to prevent future disasters of this magnitude from happening again. Encouraging our leaders to take action as well as educating and supporting the younger generation can only unite a country as we are fighting for the same outcome of a safe, sustainable, beautiful Australia. While the actor is travelling, thoughts of home often turn toward his time spent at the beach, in the sun and breathing in air which wasn’t thick with smoke. The thought of sand between his toes and the smell of the salty air transports him back to a country and a time in Australia when life was trouble free. As a working international actor, Ben often finds himself as an ambassador for his beloved Australia as he travels and lives abroad. He expresses to Heartland that he is proud to be an Australian because of how multi cultured we are and how progressive thinking we are as a nation. He hopes this progressive thinking may be put to good use when talking about the latest fire disaster and that maybe we search for answers and solutions in places which were once thought to be meaningless. Ben Lawson’s love for Australia has been beautifully put into words as he shares his sorrow for our current situation. He hopes his poem will ease some pain and provide a comfort to people in that no one is alone in this difficult time. It is a way to show others what the Australian spirit is all about and although he is currently far from home the pain and grief is not lost. The connection is often felt between Aussies overseas as we are like no other culture in the world. What Australia has needs to be protected with fierce determination through the passion of not only Ben but a nation.
Please visit our website to see Ben’s emotional video ‘To My Country, From An Expat’ at www.heartlandmagazine.com.au/news/a-poem-for-expats-by-ben-lawson/ Printed and written with permission from Ben Lawson, Trish Mcaskill/United Management © 2020. Heartland Magazine Special Feature | 27
‘SHE’LL BE APPLES’ FOR AUSTRALIA’S LOVED APPLE & GRAPE FESTIVAL Drought and bushfire won’t hold the Queensland town of Stanthorpe down, with organisers of Australia’s loved Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival declaring ‘she’ll be apples’ for the 2020 festivities to be as big and joyous as ever when staged 28 February to 8 March.
“The Queensland Government supports events like the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Festival because they provide a platform to showcase our destinations and draw people to Queensland.”
The festival coincides with the harvest of apples and grapes across the Granite Belt, a region which boasts growing all of Queensland’s apple crop and is Australia’s highest altitude wine region, at a cool 1,000m.
‘Banchetto Italiano’, the Italian Long Lunch, is set to double in size for the 2020 festival, to allow hundreds more festival goers to indulge in traditional Italian celebrations on the first festival weekend, Sunday 1st March. Festival Vice President Greg Thouard describes, “we’ve got the Tarantella dancers coming along, music from Italy, fine Italian foods and we have just such a great time there celebrating our Italian friends who brought us so much of what we see today in our food and wine.”
“Our farmers are working against the odds this season with dry conditions, so we reckon it makes even more sense to celebrate and be thankful for the harvest that they will achieve,” says Max Hunter, Festival President. “When visitors arrive and join the festivities, you can be sure they’ll find Stanthorpe as festive as ever and part of what builds that vibrancy is our community’s Italian heritage and culture shining through.” | Heartland Magazine Special Feature
Championships South East Qld Final, as well as the Golf: Apple and Grape Cup. The first weekend concludes with a cycle event ‘That Dam Ride’ and the Italian Long Lunch on Sunday 1st March.
“Events like this attract visitors which boosts the region – and we know that people who visit our regions are the best advocates for regional tourism destinations,” Ms Jones said.
Famously known for its foot-stomping, grapecrushing antics, the festival has been ‘crushing it’ since 1966 and will again put out the welcome mat for more than 70,000 attendees.
Grapes and apples will still be picked, and ample wine will flow, but there’s no doubt the drought that’s hitting Granite Belt farmers is taking a toll.
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Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Queensland Government supports regional events because they boost regional jobs.
Involved in the festival for an incredible 45 years, Mr Thouard has seen this hallmark Queensland festival grow from strength to strength and is excited by the new developments happening on the 10-day program in 2020. Encompassing two weekends, the second weekend which is ‘the big one’ on 7-8 March will feature a longer 3-day Heritage Bank Food Wine & Cultural Fiesta, coinciding with the much anticipated Channel 7 Grand Parade and The Stanthorpe Border Post Qld Grape Crushing Championships! The first weekend kicks off Friday 28 February with the Ergon Energy Street Party and the Turning on the Festival Lights, as well as an Opening Gala Event where the Festival Ambassadors are presented. The streets of Stanthorpe will be buzzing the next day, when the town hosts the National Busking
A highlight of the mid-week festivities is Thursday’s Apple Day, where all things apples are happening, including an apple pie competition, chef apple cooking demonstrations, wines to match with apple dishes and toffee apples. The hotly contested Apple Peeling Competition is guaranteed to draw a crowd to witness whether reigning local champion Kerry Stratford will retain her 7-time title of best apple peeler in the Granite Belt and again create the longest continuous apple peel. The festival is held only once every 2 years and organisers are appealing for Australians to support Stanthorpe by making 2020 the year, they tick the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival off their bucket-list. Stanthorpe is reached within just 2.5hrs of Brisbane, 3hrs of the Gold Coast or Byron Bay and 2hrs from Toowoomba. For program and tickets information visit www.appleandgrape. org GET THE FACTS…
WHEN 28 February to 8 March 2020 (main weekend 6-8 March 2020) WHERE Various locations, Stanthorpe, Queensland PRICE $10 Adult 1 Day Heritage Bank Food & Wine Fiesta or $25 Adult 3-Day Pass WEBSITE www.appleandgrape.org
A Taste of the Granite Belt in a glass... Our wines express their origins in the rugged and majestic landscape of the Granite Belt. We don’t just make wine, we grow Premium, Limited Edition, Hand Crafted wines. Growing Wine At Tobin Wines, we talk about growing our wine, rather than making the wine. Our winemaking philosophy is undeniably ‘old world’ — all respect is paid to the vineyard, the vine, and the pursuit of perfection in grape quality, with little — if any — reverence paid to the winemaker or winemaking process. Each grape variety is given the spotlight to truely reveal its own unique flavour.
“No wine maker is gifted enough to make those wonderful flavours & aromas — all of the work happens out there, in the vineyard” — Adrian Tobin The production of our wine is limited to between 100 – 160 cases of each varietal every year. Our Limited Edition wines express their origins in the rugged and majestic landscape of the Granite Belt making them truly unique.
Their hard work is driven by the belief that exceptional fruit is the foundation of superb wine and has led to awards such as one of Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Best Cellar Doors in 2019. It’s not about making wine, it’s about growing it. That’s the philosophy Ballandean vineyard owner Adrian Tobin lives by. This determination to produce only the very best sees Adrian and the rest of Tobin Wines team clock 100-hour weeks, tending to the vines by hand. Their hard work is driven by the belief that exceptional fruit is the foundation of superb wine. It’s the flavours of Adrian’s vineyard which shine through his wines. It also means they perfectly reflect a sense of place, evoking Queensland’s Granite Belt in a glass. “No other wine growing region in Australia has what we have in terms of geography, topography, altitude and climate,” Adrian explains of his home. “It’s this combination which produces wine of such high character and quality.” Tobin’s Wines is located at 34 Ricca Rd, Ballandean. The cellar door is open for tastings daily from 10am – 5pm (Anzac Day trading hours 1pm – 5pm and closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.)
Advertorial
Heartland Magazine Special Feature | 29
AUSSIE MOTORING
The History of Holden The Holden Astra continued from Issue 37
Fifth generation (AH; 2004–2009) The fifth generation AH Astra, based on the Delta I platform Opel Astra H was launched in November 2004 as a five-door hatchback only, manufactured in Belgium, selling alongside a Polish-built Astra TS sedan and hatchback. The sedan and hatchback TS Astra models carried a “Astra Classic” badge, but were finally dropped in late 2005, replaced by the Holden Viva, a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti. Between 2003 and 2004, the Holden Viva was marketed in Australia as a Daewoo Lacetti before Holden withdrew the brand from Australia due to unsustainably poor sales amid quality & reliability issues.
• •
Like the previous generation, the AH series was found to provide an “average” level of safety according to the 2008 Used Car Safety
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equivalent, lights on all models, new 16 inch alloy design for CDX and CDTi models, and black tinted headlamps for sport variants. The 1.8-litre petrol engine also benefited from an upgrade to Z18XER with a power upgrade from 90 kilowatts (120 hp) to 103 kilowatts (138 hp). The 2.2-litre engines available in the SRi, and Twin Top remained the same, as did the 2.0-litre turbo in the Astra SRi Turbo. MY08: changes from October 2007 saw the deletion of the five-door SRi, leaving only the SRi coupé, and the Twin Top with the 2.2-litre engine. MY08.5: minor, non-cosmetic update from May 2008 onwards. MY08.5 Astras received electronic stability control (ESC) as standard fitment across the entire lineup. ESC was previously limited to SRi and CDTi variants. This series also marked the return of the five-door SRi, although it was now standard with the 1.8 – as opposed to the 2.2-litre petrol engine previously fitted. This engine change also affected the coupé SRi variant, but not the Twin Top. The Astra wagon range was also expanded to include the diesel engine option available already on the hatchback. Although only offered with an automatic transmission, the diesel CDTi wagon marked the return of the Astra wagon to the New Zealand market after its discontinuation after the TS series. MY09: The CD and CDX hatchback and station wagon variants reverted to the black bezel projector-style headlamps.
Specification levels
• • • Ratings. At launch, AH Astras came with front- and side-impact airbags as standard inclusions, allowing the Astra to receive a threestar ANCAP crash safety rating. Holden suspended importation of the AH Astra on 20 April 2009, citing currency fluctuations, perceived poor resale value and build quality problems. Holden’s import cessation, which resulted in no Astras arriving during June and July 2009, coincided with the introduction of the Holden Cruze, reported to be the direct replacement for the Holden Astra. On 31 August 2009, Holden confirmed that the cessation of Astra imports would become permanent, with no intention of further imports of either the then current AH series or the next generation car. Holden stated their small car efforts would now be focused on the new Cruze, instead of the unsuccessful Astra. Model year changes
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MY05: the AH range expanded in August 2005 with the release of the Astra station wagon to uplift slow sales. MY06.5: Quality control related revisions from June 2006 added head-protecting side curtain airbags as standard equipment for the CDX. Also released was the turbodiesel hatchback, badged CDTi. Two versions of the diesel were offered: a 1.9litre version with 100 kilowatts (130 hp) teamed with a six-speed manual transmission known as the Z19DTH, and a six-speed automatic model with the Z19DT, producing 78 kilowatts (105 hp). This was a first for the Astra in Australia, but not New Zealand where the Astra TS had previously been offered with a 1.7-litre turbodiesel. Acceleration was fair to average, but fuel economy was improved over the outgoing model. MY07: models appeared in January 2007, coinciding with the release of the Astra SRi and Twin Top convertible. Both releases came with a more powerful 2.2-litre Z22YH petrol engine producing 100 kilowatts (130 hp), available with the six-speed manual or four-speed automatic. MY07.5: in April 2007 the Astra line-up received a facelift including a tweaked front grille which added a “V” shaped centre in the chrome strip which was also shared by its UK Vauxhall
48 | Heartland Magazine
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CD: was the base model with the smaller Z18XE engine (later the Z18XER) CDX: added 16 inch alloy wheels. CDXi: versions added adjustable front seats, air conditioning and curtain airbags. Discontinued after MY06. CDTi: diesel-powered version of the CDX. SRi: was the sport model of the AH series Astra, equipped with leather seats, climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels. SRi Turbo: was the larger 2.0-litre Z20LER engine.
Special editions
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60th Anniversary: editions were introduced to commemorate the 60th anniversary since the first Holden, the 48-215 which the Astra was styled after. 60th Anniversary models included 15-inch alloy wheels and steering wheel radio controls. CD Equipe: These models gained the 15-inch alloy wheels, and rear power windows at no extra cost during 2006 and 2007.
HSV VXR Turbo
The Opel Astra OPC (with Vauxhall’s V-grille and VXR badge) was marketed in Australia as the HSV VXR Turbo by Holden Special Vehicles from 2006 to 2009, fitted with the 177 kW (236 hp) Z20LEH engine. In July 2008, HSV released a “Nürburgring” special edition. A HSV VXR Turbo driven by Dutchman Ivo Breukers and Australians Morgan Haber and Damian Ward, won Class E for “Production
AUSSIE MOTORING (Performance)” cars at the 2013 Liqui Moly 12 Hour in Australia on 10 February. The trio finished 18th outright and covered 229 laps of the 6.213 km (3.861 mi) Mount Panorama Circuit, a total distance of 1,422.77 km (884 mi). Sixth generation (PJ; 2015–2016) The sixth generation Astra is based on General Motors’ Delta II platform and went on sale in 2015. The same car was part of a failed attempt by Opel to establish itself in Australia between 2012 and 2013. The range included the Astra GTC, GTC Sport and VXR three-door hatchbacks, sold at significant lower prices than the preceding Opel models. The VXR featured a turbocharged 2.0 L direct injection engine with a power of 206 kW (280 PS; 276 hp) and torque of 400 N⋅m (300 lb⋅ft). Seventh generation (BK, BL; 2016–2020) Holden announced in early 2015 that the fifth-generation Opel Astra will be sold in Australia, from 2016 with the Holden Cruze’s future uncertain. In late 2015, Holden announced that the Astra and second-generation Cruze will be sold alongside each other. In January 2017 it was revealed that both the Astra and Cruze would be sold together under the Astra nameplate, with Holden taking only the hatch variant of the Opel Astra as the “new Astra hatch,” and the second-generation Cruze sedan imported as the “new Astra sedan.” Neither the Opel Astra sedan nor Chevrolet Cruze hatch would be imported by Holden.
A wagon variant of the Astra hatch launched in October 2017, available in LS+ and LT trims, with an exclusive 1.4-litre turbo engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the Astra hatch and sedan which are produced in Poland and South Korea respectively, the Astra Wagon is produced at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port manufacturing facility in the UK. The new Cruze-based BL Astra sedan was released in June 2017 with four models forming the lineup, but instead being referred to as LS, LS+, LT and LTZ. Whilst the Astra hatch is available with either 1.4-litre turbo or 1.6-litre turbo engines, the Astra sedan is only available with the 1.4-litre turbo, and the six-speed manual is limited to the base LS model, with all other models having a standard six-speed automatic transmission. In 2017, Holden released a station wagon to complement the BK Astra hatchback. It was based on the Vauxhall Astra sportwagon sold in the United Kingdom. On the 10th of December 2019, Holden announced it would be discontinuing the Astra, (and Commodore), nameplates. They sighted a lack of sales drive in each of the irrespective categories, turning instead to develop their SUV and Ute range. Sales Sales of the BK Astra commenced in November 2016. Initially slow with manual transmission being the only option, sales have picked up with the introduction of an automatic transmission, as well as sedan and wagon variants, in 2017. As of June 2018, Holden announced that the best-selling Astra Sedan variant would be removed from sale due to ongoing supply issues from the GM Korea plant, and discontinue the Astra Wagon variant due to slow sales. Both variants will still appear on their website until stock is exhausted.
In the next edition of Heartland Magazine, we will be bringing you the much anticipated history of the Commodore from 1978 - 2020, as well as derivatives of the Commodore brand and export history
The new BK Astra hatch went on sale in December 2016 with three models forming the lineup: R, RS and RS-V. Holden had later added an R+ grade which includes the autonomous safety pack. Only a six-speed manual was available from launch on the 1.6-litre turbo models, with the automatic becoming available in March 2017.
Heartland Magazine | 49
LET’S COOK - SUMMER EDITION - ITALIAN PORK RIBS WITH GARLIC ROSEMARY SAUCE Ingredients
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1 kilo boneless, country-style (thick) pork ribs (strips) -- Bone-in ribs are fine if you can’t find boneless. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 entire bulb of garlic, minced ¼ cup fresh rosemary, minced 1 - 2 cans low-sodium chicken broth salt and pepper to taste (freshly grated is best)
Instructions Here’s what you need to do (besides smelling a wonderful aroma while the following takes place)
1.
In a large, deep frying pan, saute’ the minced garlic in warm-hot olive oil (you don’t want to get olive oil too hot or it will burn and just plain get icky-tasting). 2. After about 3 minutes, strain the garlic out of the olive oil and set aside in a small bowl (you will put this back in later). 3. Leaving the olive oil in the pan, place the ribs in the hot oil to brown thoroughly on all sides. 4. Add a can or two of low-sodium chicken broth. 5. Put the sautéed garlic back into the pan with the ribs and chicken broth. 6. Add the minced rosemary; salt and pepper to taste. 7. Simmer everything on low for about 1-1/2 hours or until the pork is fork tender. 8. If the ribs are not browned enough for you, place them under a hot broiler for about 5 - 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them so they do not burn. 9. Pour the sauce into a nice serving dish. 10. Place the ribs on a platter and garnish with rosemary.
Notes This Italian pork entree is wonderful served with potatoes prepared as a baked potato, garlic mashed, or roasted. A good, fresh loaf of Italian bread will be appreciated by your guests who will want to sop up the sauce instead of licking the plate! 66 | Heartland Magazine
The most fork-tender, fall-off-the-bone pork short ribs. Perfectly flavored with garlic and rosemary with an incredible sauce to ladle over the ribs and vegetables. Oven-baked chips with chilli & thyme Ingredients
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1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 1-2 teaspoons MasterFoods® Chilli Flakes 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper 2 teaspoons sea salt flakes Olive oil, to grease 4 (about 1.3kg) large coliban potatoes, peeled, thickly sliced lengthways, cut into 1.5cm-thick batons 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra
Method Step 1 Place the thyme, chilli, pepper and half the salt in a mortar and gently pound with a pestle until coarsely crushed. Stir in the remaining salt. Step 2 Preheat oven to 250°C. Brush 2 baking trays with oil to grease. Line with non-stick baking paper.
LET’S COOK - SUMMER EDITION - FROZEN BLACKBERRY YOGURT Step 3 Place the potato in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the oil and half the salt mixture, and toss to coat. Step 4 Arrange the potato, in a single layer, on the prepared trays. Bake, swapping trays halfway through cooking, for 15 minutes or until golden. Serve with remaining salt mixture.
Quick Frozen blackberry yogurt Ingredients
• • • • •
2 1/4 cup. Greek yogurt 1/4 cup. confectioners’ sugar 2 tsp. fresh lime juice 8 oz. frozen raspberries 2 tbsp. roasted unsalted almonds (roughly chopped)
Directions
1. 2.
In a medium bowl, combine quark, confectioners’ sugar, and fresh lime juice. Fold in frozen raspberries until they start to leave pink streaks. Divide among bowls and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
Heartland Magazine | 67
Pepper Tree Wines 2017 ‘Venus Block’ Single Vineyard Chardonnay
2018 Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon
The 2017 vintage is an intense cool climate Chardonnay with flavours of stone fruits, fig and melon seductively integrated with barrel ferment complexity. A crisp and elegant style of Chardonnay, showing great purity of fruit
Silky smooth and elegant wine with great balance and length. The fruit character is very pure with lovely lemon drop aromas and flavour, supported by a hint of minerality / river stone. Please drink sensibly, do not drink and drive or drink while pregnant. If you have a drinking problem please see www.aa.org.au or call 1300 222 222
70 | Heartland Magazine
Robert Stein Winery and Vineyard Mudgee 2019 Dry Riesling
Ridgemill Estate Wines 2016 Tempranillo “The Spaniard�
A classical dry Riesling, with all the lime and fruit characters you would expect, and a crisp and racy finish with a slight touch of sweetness. This wine has the ability to age beautifully.
Blueberry muffins, cherry and dark plum aromas. Lovely textual palate displaying dark plum, mulberry and spice fill a long palate loaded with very fine ripe chalky tannins. 10% whole bunch ferment, no fining was required.
Please drink sensibly, do not drink and drive or drink while pregnant. If you have a drinking problem please see www.aa.org.au or call 1300 222 222 Heartland Magazine | 71
Heartland Magazine Issue 39 available mid March Check with your Newsagent or Heartland Magazine stockists
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