TAKE A BREAK NORTH WEST New England beautiful bingara NSW

Whip cracking? Caber tossing? Scarecrow making? It’s all on offer in the NEw England area in May and June MAY April 28-May 1 Kick up your heels – and your kilts – at the Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes. Centred round the Standing Stones, the festival includes parades, strongman events, music, dancing, Celtic foods and more. www.australiancelticfestival.com

May 28-29 Whip cracking, egg catching, dog high- jumping – it’s all happening at the Strictly north west Narrabri Show. Narrabri Showground. www.narrabrishow.com.au Paul Mercurio’s latest role as ‘New England North West’ ambassador CAFé culture: Sandy McNaughton (right) May 29 takes him from art deco Greek cafés to wineries, waterfalls and wildlife words mary kiley worked to ensure the Roxy (above) paid tribute to its firstG reek owners from the island of Kythera. Watch celebrity chef cooking demos and sample a vast array of regional When Sandy McNaughton for the past seven years, Sandy Australian experience, the Roxy friendly folk, you’re bound to find Getting there Known for its quality produce, produce at the Moree On a Plate moved to Bingara “ for love”, has worked to set things right. complex is well worth a visit. something to suit your tastes. Fly to Narrabri, the area recently gained a new festival of food, art and wine. Moree she admits it was a bit of a shock The original owners of the Roxy And, if you do make the trip to Home of the University of New Moree or Tamworth fan, Paul Mercurio, who is now Secondary College. to the system. With a population were three partners from the Bingara, it’s also worth taking the England, Armidale has something regional airports. the New England North West www.moreeonaplate.com.au of 1300 people, the tiny town Greek island of Kythera and time to explore the rest of the to offer art, nature and wine buffs From Sydney, Ambassador. A lover of good food, seems to be the antithesis of her the original complex included a north-west New England area, alike. A trip to the New England head to Newcastle Paul says he “always walks away JUNE cosmopolitan, coffee-swigging Greek café. Sandy was determined which is at its best and most Regional Art Museum (NERAM) and on to the New inspired” after talking to the June 11-13 home city of Melbourne. But to restore and re-open the café, beautiful in the cooler months. is an eye-opener, especially for England Highway, locals. “They always have Go boating at the Keepit Kool Regatta, Sandy, who relocated to the New along with an upstairs museum Stretching from the New anyone who thinks all the best Maitland, then fantastic stories,” he enthuses. Lake Keepit State Park, . England area in 2004 to be with dedicated to commemorating and England Highway to the edge artwork is only to be found in the along the Kamilaroi “I love hearing about where [the her country-dwelling husband, celebrating the contribution made ABOVE: Paul Mercurio of the outback, the region big city galleries. Upcoming shows Highway and produce] has come from and June 25 reveals the breadth of has been conducting another love by Greek immigrants to Australia. his passion for New incorporates such areas as include ‘Hinton and the Sea’ and arrive at the who’s making it and sharing in See a top Scot performer when Marion affair of sorts for most of her “What I hope we’re able to England produce. Tamworth, , Moree, ‘pARTicipate’, an interactive southernmost part their passion and hardship.” Martin portrays three formidable BELOW: Dangar Falls female singers in ‘Hips, Harmony and married life. Not surprisingly, achieve is to tell the story of has water plunging Narrabri, Armidale, Glen Innes exhibition in which the visitors of New England, And there have been hardships given her background, it’s with the Greeks who came to rural 30m over a basalt wall. and the Great Dividing Range. It generate the display. If you do , in around indeed, with large portions of Hitler’ at the Roxy Theatre, Bingara. a café. Australia and the contribution covers thousands of plan to visit the gallery, be sure four hours. the area being affected by the In 1999, Bingara council they made,” says Sandy. “[It’s a kilometres in NSW and to book one of the fun and Tamworth is December floods. But rather than June 25 acquired the Roxy, a beautiful story that] seems to resonate with offers a wide range of fascinating guided showroom approximately five pity or charity, the locals would Try local produce and help local 1930s art deco theatre that had so many people because they activities. While most tours (www.neram.com.au). hours along the rather people offered their causes at Uralla’s Unique Markets.

ruceWilliams Photography Only stallholders who make it, bake been sitting dormant for 40 grew up in these small towns. people are familiar B NERAM is a hop, skip and New England support by visiting the area and years. After being painstakingly And so many people who grew up with Tamworth’s a jump from the Museum of Highway and Moree enjoying themselves. So whether it or grow it themselves are allowed restored to its former glory, it was in cities talk about going on trips country music festival, Printing and the Aboriginal will take you it’s seeking sapphires in Inverell, to have stalls and money raised re-opened in May 2004 and now and stopping and going to Greek they may not be aware Cultural Centre and Keeping approximately taking a trip to a pecan farm or goes to charities in the area. hosts everything from school cafés. They’ve touched many of the area’s many Place and, once you’ve overdosed 7.5 hours. a dip in a hot Artesian pool in Pioneer Park, Uralla. graduation ceremonies to films people’s lives over generations.” other attractions. on artwork, feast your eyes on the For more Moree, or going to an agricultural to performances by professional After its official re-opening Whether you’re into natural beauty of the stunning information about show in Gunnedah or Narrabri, artists and theatre companies. in April, the café is now back food and wine, the arts, Dangar Falls before feasting your events and to you’re bound to find something Acclaimed Aussie actor John Wood in business. So whether you agriculture, wildlife or mouth on one of the delectable download maps of to entice and excite you in New declared it a national treasure. remember the glory days of the just kicking back in a New England North West Tourism/ offerings from Peterson’s Winery the area, go to England. And who knows? It may But, as lovely as the theatre is, Greek café and want to reminisce tranquil, relaxing or sampling the wares of one of www.newengland be the beginning of a beautiful

there was one thing lacking – and or are just keen to have a uniquely atmosphere among Photos: the other local vineyards. northwest.com.au. love story…

66 openroad openroad 67