2022 September – Issue 03
From Country
Giinagay, I’m Uncle Martin. IMAGE: Uncle Martin preparing smoking ceremony. I’m 70 years old, of Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti mob. I live in Bowraville, as one of the last babies born in 1952 before the hospital there closed. One look at me and that’s it, no more babies there.
I’ve got a business that performs cultural dancing, music and other community activities. It’s called Jumbaal Dreaming. It started around forty years ago, my kids weren’t even born when me and the wife started talking about setting up a dance group for the girls and boys. Jumbaal in Gumbaynggirr language means carpet snake, so we call it Jumbaal dreaming. My wife Violet (daughter of Harry Buchanan AKA: Uncle Tiger) started dancing up at Argents Hill Hall, back then we used to camp with all the hippies. We are going to go back there and have a concert night.
It wasn’t until many years later the boys were taught in jail how to play music and we started sharing it too. My sons Kevin, Bundi and Ben Ballangarry came home with all these great skills they learnt in juvenile detention from other inmates. They turned a negative into a positive cause they survived inside. My son, he wrote a lot of our songs while being incarcerated, thirty or forty of them. The songs are written from the aboriginal cultural perspective. They are all in English cause we weren’t allowed any language then, it was restricted to the missions. We had to be careful not to speak it around the white people, but I used to speak it with my grandmother, Granny Florence. She used to sing at a lot of the corroboree’ around here back in the early thirties.
Jumbaal Dreaming is about nurturing our culture – all the cultures from around this area and up Grafton and back. We are one of the larger nations in NSW. We want to share this with all of the people on Gumbaynggirr country.
Contact Uncle Martin at Jumbaal Dreaming: 0484142446
Valley Feature
When you say I do, we say I do to you too. IMAGE: Just a handful of photos of ‘Eagles Rest’ from their gallery. The eagle is often found on state flags, representing courage, freedom, and peace. This is no less true of the beautiful Valla property, Eagles Rest, adorned by stretching eucalypts and a sprawling landscape of rustic charm. Bill and Shireen Penny came to the property from Tasmania in 2002. At the time, the property was aptly named ‘Jurassic Park’, however, what once may have been a tangle of trees is now a well-manicured must-see location for couples in love.
Bill and Shireen have been in the business of love for almost forty years. Both Celebrants and Counsellors, Eagles Rest was born from pastoral burnout, with the couple working to create a retreat for broken-marriages and those running on empty. Hosting their first wedding seven years ago, Bill and Shireen never intended Eagles Rest as a public venue; now, having married well over 100 couples, it could be termed a very happy accident. The joy of this is not lost on the paid, as they describe the privilege of getting to know each couple intimately and following them through on their life`s journey.
This point of character is an unrivalled feature. “When you say I do, we say we do to you too”, Shireen quips. With a commitment to supporting couples well into their future, the couple explain their faith as a foundation for this passion and note that this, along with couples receiving access to the property for the entirety of the weekend of their wedding, creates an environment that allows couples to reflect on the premise of their commitment.
With its outdoor chapel, pavilion, and rustic barn, it is easy to agree that Eagles Rest personifies reflective rest and to land amongst the eucalypts is the perfect place to celebrate love.
Check out Eagles Rest here:
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Our stories
Local sister duo Britt and Sophie, along with their mum, Larissa, were born bush folk and now raise their mini bush folk on Gumbaynggirr country. IMAGE: A small snapshot of ‘The Bush Folk’ wedding creations. With a penchant for creativity, Britt coined ‘The Bush Folk’ following her own wedding in 2020. Working with her sister, Sophie and mum, Larissa, the eclectic trio have created a thriving enterprise providing bespoke grazing platters, pop-up picnics and floral styling.
Britt explains their inception, “When I was planning my wedding, I noticed there was a lack of small resources for hire and went about collecting these items for others to use”. After her big day, Britt enjoyed styling her wedding flora into smaller gifts for loved ones and, from there, the passion was born. Heading to a nursery in Kempsey, Britt recalls her sink and bench full of florals, “I kind of became obsessed with it”, she muses. Britt notes that local florists Mandy Spear and Paper Leaf Press were helpful in establishing her knowledge of the industry. Soon after, with businesses such as Valley Blue and the V Wall Pavilion selling her wares, The Bush Folk were quickly in demand for special gifts, special events and weddings alike.
“Last week, The Bush Folk had seven weddings in nine days” Britt notes. It is easy to see that, for the trio, it is the enjoyable kind of exhaustion that drives their creativity. Britt enjoys brainstorming new creations and delivering meaningful arrangements for couples, with Sophie tailoring platters for memorable celebrations, while Larissa supports both ventures. Britt graciously insists that their success would not be possible without the support of the community and attributes their hopeful future to the Valley`s willingness to embrace something new.
From arbours to flower crowns and everything in between, The Bush Folk are unrivalled in their creativity, innovation, and intimate knowledge of the industry. “Last week we cemented two broomsticks into containers and created a freestanding rose-arbour”, laughs Britt. It is this can-do attitude that renders the trio the perfect pair for your big day.
Check out The Bush Folk’s offerings by clicking here:
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Love your local
Matthew Baker is a man of many talents, the pinnacle of which is capturing moments of magic. IMAGE: Matt on location doing what he loves. Moving to the valley in September 2011, Matt set about assisting his wife, Tamara, in establishing their now thriving Physiotherapy practice, Soulitude Health. With a foray into construction management and real estate sales, Matt discovered he enjoyed the marketing avenue of these roles and set about creating his successful commercial media company, Outamedia.
Since the company’s inception with his brother, Matt from Outamedia has travelled the coast from Yamba to Port Macquarie. Reaching as far west as Tamworth while working to capture the magic of love and community, Matt settles on the Valley as his favourite place to create content. “The river, the mountains, it’s all showcasing what the valley has to offer which in turn creates interest in the area” says Matt. It is this community-minded lens that centres Outamedia as an asset to the community. Sitting on the board of community organisation Lifetime Connect as well as the local Co-op, amidst his work with the Footy club, it’s hard to imagine where Matt finds the time to produce his stunning visions.
These are visions that will remain in the memories of many local couples. Matt recalls his first local wedding “Therese and Luke Shields, it was a surprise wedding, and I was so nervous”. With time, Matt has fine-tuned the art of having two cameras rolling while landing a drone, and he may as well do it with his eyes closed. “Every weekend there is another wedding to capture” he jests.
His enjoyment, though, is obvious. “I’d describe my style as authentic, clean and simple”. Bringing this relaxed energy to big moments positions Matt well, “I like to be in the background and get the genuine shots, unimposing so people can be themselves”.
With this, it is evident that Matt is passionate about the Outamedia experience, hoping that couples can look back on the material and feel the sense of authenticity his craftsmanship embodies. Matt says that Outamedia is one small part of what he does and, in a community where everyone knows everyone, the privilege is not only in capturing moments of love but also in raising community.
Outamedia is a commercial production company producing videography, photography, and event coverage. Outamedia has produced content for The Volkswagen Spectacular, Prime News Lismore Floods Coverage, and the local football club.
See more of Outamedia’s work here:
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Spotlight on
Valla Catering
With a keen eye for detail and an innovative mind, Stewart is bringing his fresh home-made goods and his tailored menu to a wedding or event near you.
See below for just one of the menu options Valla Catering has to offer…
Canapés: Gourmet Salad: Vegetable: Mains: Dessert:
Stewart Middlemiss relocated from Sydney to Valla eight years ago. Catering locally since 2016, Stewart’s bespoke menu has been enjoyed at large and small events alike, from the Macleay Valley business awards night to intimate Mid North Coast weddings.
From gourmet wood-fired pizza to delectable degustation, there isn’t much Stewart and the team at Valla Catering can’t do. His passion for food is evident as he describes the mouth-watering braised, wood-fired lamb he recently prepared. Perhaps it is the joy he derives from producing a quality meal that sets Valla Catering apart. “I enjoy assembling food in a way that invites people to try new things” he says, however, Stewart maintains his favourite way to cook is in the homes of those enjoying his delights.
Check out more of Stewart’s work here:
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Inside knowledge
Valley folklore has it that you become a local after decades spent. With three under her belt, Elly definitely has it covered. IMAGE: Elly passionately focusing on wedding make-up. Working in beauty since 2007, Elly opened her own salon in 2010. Since then, it has been the evolution of Elly.
Now passionately focusing on wedding make-up through her business, Elly-Joy, Elly sees the honour of taking part in a day people remember forever. “I love seeing everything come together”, Elly states. It is this innate passion that sets her service apart. With a background in skin science, Elly works with clients to address any skincare concerns in the lead up to the big day, ensuring her clients feel confident and relaxed.
Providing a fully mobile massage and beauty service, Elly brings everything from brow treatments, facials, massage, tanning, and makeup to any preferred location. This, she feels, enables clients to fully enjoy the day. It is a process Elly loves and the joy is evident as she describes feeling the nerves and excitement of the bridal party, “you can’t help but feel the love”, she observes.
Elly offers the following tips for your big day:
Consider a great skin care regime leading up to the event. Make sure you exfoliate the night before to provide the perfect base for your makeup and show off your best lit-from-within glow.
Get a good night’s rest for the night before to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles.
Drink lots of water to hydrate and maintain a healthy complexion.
Contact Elly here:
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What's on in the Valley
Here are a handful of events and programs coming up in September 2022 and beyond. Sep 2022: Highlight events
For more information about the above events or for a list of what else is happening around the Nambucca Valley head to The Valley Hubs calendar of events . You can also request to add upcoming events here .
Let the games begin
Set your brain to our monthly trivia quest. The answers will be shared next month – let us know how you fared.
SEPTEMBER Questions :
What is the capital city of Spain?
Globe and Jerusalim are types of what?
Which country invented tea?
What language has the most words?
How many phases of the moon are there?
Which dinosaur had fifteen horns?
Where does the Blue Nile start?
AUGUST Answers :
Americano
London, England.
Seven
Phantom of the Opera
30,000
1877
Germany
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