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The People

Guardians of the Valley

Cathy Wills remembers with joyful clarity the hubbub of Ziegenmarkt as it heaved to life outside her front door every second year during the Barossa Vintage Festival.

From the chapel to Parliament House

Zoe Bettison holds the esteemed title of South Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Member for Ramsay, but to those around Kapunda in the 80s she was ‘the undertaker’s daughter’.

Solitary expression

Anthea Piszczuk has been creating for as long as her memory allows. It was not unusual to find her alone, growing up on a large farm in the Murray Mallee with siblings who were considerably older.

For the love of the flock

As the sun sinks gently over the distant Mount Lofty Ranges, bathing the landscape in soft pink, the silence is broken only by the plaintive bleat of an infant lamb.

From the ground up

The handsomely hewn face and blue eyes of Tony Kuchel look out across the cosy living room of “Bear Lodge” in Nuriootpa, oil paints gamboling in a contest of light and shade across the canvas.

Balancing life in small batches

Like the wines he nurtures in the cool climate of Eden Valley, Phil Lehmann’s style is understated and unassuming, but undeniably compelling.

Injecting new life into the past

It’s often found that, in the car modifying world, the best results come from the hands of those most passionate about their work. You only need to step one foot into the workshop of David Scholz to understand his level of passion.

Blooming beautifully

Robert Ryan was the personal trainer with tattoo covered muscles, working in a suburban gym. Katie Arena was his client, the girl who left her administration job, eager to start her own event hire business in the massive warehouse across the road. They could never have imagined on the day they first met, that they would fall in love and end up growing dahlias in a two acre property in Lyndoch.

Creating a soundtrack for life

Much like her personality, Cloudy Davey’s music resonates with unmistakable sincerity and gratitude. It comes from a place of knowing herself, both as an artist and individual.

Finding truth in the challenge

With four Simpson Desert crossings under her belt, motorcyclist Heidi Giersch has found the road less travelled is also the most rewarding.

The outlaw

There’s a strong smell in the air at Outlaw Wines in Nuriootpa, essence of a vintage that has, for owner, Damon de Ruiter, yielded both satisfaction and disappointment. The concrete floor is mirrored with water, as Damon purposefully attacks it with a pressure washer, banishing spilled blood of 130 year old vines.

Down the track

Corey Fechner has family history embedded in the dirt of Robinson Park. But it’s the present connection he cherishes most.

Stories that make you dance & sing

If Annette Gilbert’s life story was a work of fiction, it would almost certainly be a best seller; she, the compelling protagonist in a melodrama punctuated by loss and love.

For the love of all things rustic

Steve Grant and Tracey Finch are sat on a row of old, weathered chairs ripped out from a theatre somewhere, they’re not sure where – “maybe Kapunda?”

Loyal to the game

It’s midday on a Tuesday and Matt Nitschke is holding court in the lunchroom of The Barossa Council, enthusiastically dissecting the weekend’s local sports results with his colleagues.

Picture perfect retirement

After a broad career in teaching spanning five decades, Catherine Hull is demonstrating that her talents lie far beyond the academic.

A Thrilling Trail

There’s something about the combination of bicycles and dirt that never fails to capture the imagination of young men. The simple satisfaction of pursuing nothing more than to conquer the next jump or trail for which the greatest reward is attaining that ability. There’s just nothing better.

A life well lived

As she takes a seat in the meeting room of Barossa Nursery, Erica Bartsch is ruefully lamenting the dirt under her fingernails – but the satisfied look on her face tells a different story.

Baking the world a better place

There’s something truly exhilarating about a bakery in the morning; the enticing smell of warm, fresh bread, the aroma of coffee and the overwhelming variety of mouth-watering sweets.

By luck or design

Every line Jamie Gladigau draws has its reason. Generations will look back and see the mark he has made.

Fighting fire is a family affair

Meet the local Freeling CFS crew. Where the team is a mix of past, present and future members, the local frontline has never been a stronger family affair.

Local youth on target

introducing local lad, Kyle Lewcock and his passion for archery. Through patience and practice, Kyle continues to hone his skills with competition targets firmly in sight.

On eating giraffes

At 16 Melissa Whyte nearly died in a car crash. Twenty-four years on, she’s facing a different fight for life, but her unshakable faith that God will carry her through remains stronger than ever.

An authentic farm experience

Much like their fruit orchard, Rick and Rosemary Steicke have flourished in the face of challenging conditions, creating an authentic Barossa paddock-to-plate enterprise.

Where the wind goes

Once you take off, you never know where you might land. Michael and Barbara Ludlow are glad their journey has carried them to the Barossa.

Building the canvas so people can create

As the sun sets on the driest part of the country, a new light emerges from the red sand.
Beams of every colour dance across the desert floor and into the night sky for Parrtjima Festival, an Indigenous celebration of light and culture in the heart of Australia.

Making a difference where it matters

For most Barossa families, a trip to the park is one of the easiest weekend outings to execute.
Whilst catching up at our picnic bench though, Seppeltsfield resident, Abbey Underwood, sees past the sunshine and scenery of the area and towards the difficulties of accessing the space for those with a disability.

Turning craft into conversation

You know morning cuppa’s over at the Tinkers Shed when Keith Pfeiffer goes back to work.
“You’ve got two minutes to go,” Keith calls over his shoulder as he returns to the shed floor, to a chorus of laughter.
Good natured banter flows easily between these Tinkers, who come from all walks of life.

Market value

Her heritage is as deeply rooted as the vines of Seppeltsfield, but it’s community that has helped re-affirm to Anna Hayes the true worth of being Barossan.

A new chapter ignites for iconic smokehouse

After purchasing the very butcher shop he began his profession 39 years ago, Peter Barratt’s career has come full circle.
Now, with his daughter, Teagan at his side, he is delighted to share his life work and pass on his knowledge in a trade typically dominated by males.

A Barossa botanical dream

Husband-and-wife team, Jon and Nicole Durdin agree that in one of the premium wine regions of the world, it probably didn’t make sense to gamble everything on a whim for gin.

Happy pigs – happy life

Shaun Blenkiron isn’t afraid of hard yacka – in fact you might even say it makes him as happy as a pig in mud.

Spontaneous talent

Isaac Semmler’s passion has gained an audience with the world, foretelling a promising career.

Doodle art has always been an artistic inspiration of Isaac’s which formed into a practical interest that was encouraged by his parents.

Changing luck

Former Nuriootpa High School student, Georgia Thomas had big plans for 2020. But she won’t let change get in the way of her future.

Eden Valley is putting Riesling on the map

A minnow of Barossa wine varieties – Riesling – is taking on some major heavyweights in the quest for profile and market share. Waging the David-and-Goliath battle is a small but determined group of Eden Valley producers who are seeking to reposition Riesling as a wine of choice.

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