As if Julia and Phillip Harpham’s exposure on Australian Story documenting their efforts to revive Mingoola’s fortunes by welcoming refugee families wasn’t sufficient, the Harphams’ homestead Moorabinda is featured in the Christmas edition of Country Style magazine which has just hit the shelves.
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The story is courtesy of Annabelle Hickson who also lives down Mingoola way and approached the Harphams about doing a profile for the magazine.
“Well she lives this side of the Beardy Bridge, so we’ll claim her,” Julia said.
Annabelle also styled the photoshoot which ran over several days back in September, stretching the couple and their seven grandchildren to get into the Christmas spirit.
Moorabinda looks every bit the designer-styled country homestead in the glossy pages, which Julia credits entirely to Annabelle.
“You can’t see the dust in the photos,” she said.
As it’s a style magazine it was also unnecessary to mention that Julia’s cute Welsh Mountain pony pictured carrying granddaughter Sadie and bags full of Christmas gifts did the bolt and ran off as soon as the photos were taken, sending gifts and child flying.
While Sadie loved playing model, the Harphams were easy-going subjects, responding “Whatever, Annie” to any of her suggestions.
Moorabinda has always held a special place in Julia’s heart, being the home of close family friends the Spencers since its selection in 1908. The Harphams purchased the 4000-hectare property from Anne Spencer in 1988.
Despite the demands of a large cattle property, an active social life, the hugely time-consuming refugee project and other community commitments, the homestead – and the Harphams, for that matter – scrub up extremely well.
“We’re all looking way too glamourous” was Julia’s assessment.
