Lara Flanagan
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I CAME to Tenterfield literally on a whim and a prayer. And to be honest, apart from the song the Tenterfield Saddler, I knew little of the town.
I had family involved in the ownership and management of Historic Stannum House and came down from the Gold Coast in February of 2012 to help with the cooking for a function they were having.
Then by the end of March, a small six weeks later, somehow I had left my apartment, quit my job and moved myself and my children to Tenterfield.
I still genuinely don’t know how it happened. There was something about the town that I simply fell in love with.
It was only me and the kids and they were at such a flexible age to move I thought it was a great time to do so. I also wanted to give them a taste of living in the country and a different life to one I saw in the city.
I had a job to go back to if it did not work out, I had nothing to lose!
Until I had had the kids I had worked in fairly senior roles in sales and marketing and wanted a complete change.
So as soon as I had had my twins I undertook a life-long dream to teach myself how to cook with the focus on cakes and desserts.
Some three years later I was working as a pastry chef and was building my cake decorating business. Along the way I was truly blessed by some inspirational teachers.
So working at Stannum House offered me the chance to have my own kitchen and to experiment with what I had learnt.
Tenterfield initially was a complete shock to the system. It seemed to get cold fairly quickly and we were so unprepared I can laugh at myself now.
We had no winter clothes – no jackets, coats, shoes. On top of that we had the privilege of living in this completely amazing historic home which also happened to be a little bit on the cold side.
But while we battled with the shock of winter I was also falling in love with this town.
I felt completely welcomed by an incredibly warm group of people, I loved what I did, my cake business was thriving and there was something about Tenterfield that was just beautiful.
For someone who had lived and worked in London for five years and travelled with work for a very long time, I loved this town with no traffic lights. There was simplicity to it that I suspect I was craving for myself and my kids.
It only took a few months but I had fallen in love and knew I wanted to live here for a very long time.
So in November of last year, I bought my own little piece of Tenterfield.
Unfortunately, I had realised by that time that although the experience was so wonderful, the logistics of living and working the hours of Stannum House was no longer an option for myself and my kids and I also made the choice to focus on my cake decorating business.
I now work part-time at Ten FM and spend the rest of the time focussing on my cakes.
My kids are in their first year of school at Sir Henry Parkes and thriving.
I have been lucky to have met so many lovely people and made many friendships. I am also fortunate to have received endless support of our move here and of my business.
Every time I see my beautiful front garden, or walk along the creek and track the changing seasons, I realise that I have fallen in love with this place.
And I hope it is a love affair that lasts a very long time.
Tenterfield is now home.
Margery Appleton
LIFE takes many twists and turns. Little did I realise that as a young mother travelling back and forth to my parents’ home in Sydney from Ipswich with the family was the beginning of an epic journey for me.
Many times we would replenish the wants and needs of my family, pausing here in Tenterfield on our long trips south.
Always the necessary comforts were appreciated.
Now, over half a century later, many changes have taken place, and of course memories are inevitable. Long gone are the old meatworks.
The magnificent displays of nature’s autumnal beauty are gloriously evident. The past eras of history are all around you.
As a New South Welsh woman, I knew the significance of Tenterfield and the history surrounding its personalities and their efforts to establish the great leap forward – Australia as a nation of unified states and territories.
In 2001, I was privileged to bring some members of the History Group of the Lyceum Club of Brisbane when we answered the invitation to attend the celebrations of the Centenary of Federation. A great time was enjoyed by all.
Architecturally, much of this old town is a gentle and pleasing reminder of the magnificence of the Victorian expression. We admire the strength of the early settlers in the public, commercial and private enterprises which enrich the town.
The allocation of vast areas for parks and other public facilities are greatly valued and again show the brilliant foresight of past and present public-minded people.
Architecture has always been of great interest to me. I have delighted in the many beautiful buildings in this old, interesting, yet modern town of Tenterfield.
Of course, the great pull for us to settle here was the fact that my son and his wife, Peter and Cathie Brier-Mills, decided to establish themselves on Bungulla Hill.
As new citizens of five months in this chosen town, my husband, Thomas, and I have settled, and have greatly felt the generosity of spirit and the warm welcome of everyone we have met.
We trust the time we share with you all will be a time of enrichment for everyone.