Grants Available for Rural Australia

The Aussie Farmers Foundation is calling for expressions of interest for its inaugural round of grant funding.

With many Not for Profit organisations in rural Australia suffering due to the devastation of the Queensland and Victorian Floods, the Aussie Farmers Foundation grants program offers some much needed support.

The Foundation will award one-year grants of between $15,000 and $50,000, to eligible Not for Profit organisations with DGR 1 Status.

The Aussie Farmers Foundation was launched in August 2010 by Aussie Farmers Direct, a home delivery service providing 100% Australia made and owned fresh products.

The Foundation focuses on supporting and promoting a number of rural, agricultural and farming initiatives across Australia.

The Foundation says its granting is characterised by:

a focus on innovation
an interest in leverage
addressing sustainability
provisioning of benefits for disadvantaged Australian farming families and their communities
a focus on issues particular to Australian farming communities

Organisations that meet the application criteria must submit an Expression of Interest which is a two page summary on the organisation and project.

Deadlines for Expressions of Interest are: Open 01 February 2011, close 01 March, 2011. Organisations which have submitted an Expression of Interest may be invited to provide a more detailed application, deadlines for the Invited Submissions are 01 April to 10th May.

For information on funding, application process and guidelines, please go to http://www.aussiefarmersfoundation.org.au/

Head on over to Blog This today and you will find that the lovely Kim has profiled Bushbelles.  So excited to be getting some exposure as its my goal this year to grow this blog.

Of course that begins after I have made school lunches, dropped children to all their various drop off points, cleaned the house, washed, cooked, ironed, made smoko, cleared out the mud room, completely clean out every child's bedroom and find discarded Christmas toys etc etc and then resume life as normal and the summer holidays will be just a lovely memory -  just like every other country women

Happy Weekends

The Boys Will Go On

Okay, it seems quite a few people are disappointed out boys were knocked out of the Australian Open, I agree Fiona, no Fed or Nadal and its all over.  But chin up, they will be fine.  Watch this youtube clip and it will make you swoon even more and I found myself laughing with them (with the children looking at me rather strangely).

I'll be bidding on Sunday

FASHION.TO.AID

Federer is Still my Main Tennis Man

I love the Fed.

Last night was very hard to watch him lose.

Especially after watching Nadal lose the night before.

Brighten your spirits with the above Lindt commercial.

Loving today

Mmmmm Lamingtons

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Named after Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland in the late 1800′s, the iconic lamington is as Australian as bbq’s, backyard cricket & vegemite! There are now many variations of this humble cake but nothing can quite beat those of the classic variety. Why not whip up a few for your Australia Day celebrations?

 

 

Serves 8

 

Ingredients

Sponge
125g butter
1 3/4 cup castor sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup self raising Flour
2/3 cup milk
1 tspn vanilla essence

 

Icing
3 cups icing sugar
1 tspn butter
1 tspn vanilla essence
1 tbspn cocoa
desert spoon of golden syrup
fine shredded coconut for rolling

 

Method

 

1. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the vanilla essence and then add each egg one at a time. 
2. Add the self raising flour alternatively with milk to ensure a good mix. 
3. Pour the mix into a greased square cake tin, 28cm x 18cm (or similar) and bake in a moderate oven (around   180 degrees celsius) for 30 minutes or so.
4. Take the baked sponge out of the oven and allow to cool. Once cooled cut the sponge into 4cm by 4cm pieces. Wrap the cake pieces in foil and put in the freezer.
5. Place the icing sugar, butter, vanilla essence, cocoa and golden syrup into a metal bowl and heat over boiling water – make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the bottom of the saucepan.
6. Mix these ingredients well to make a smooth, slightly runny consistency (use a dash of hot water if too thick).
7. Once the sponge is firm enough, remove from the freezer and using a fork, hold each sponge cube over the bowl of icing mixture and spoon the mixture over the cube until completely covered.
8. While the icing mixture is still wet, roll the cube in the shredded coconut and then place on a wire rack or a sheet of baking paper to set. 

These lamingtons can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Join Lindemans Early Harvest wine club and at the moment you will receive 50% off Lindeman’s Early Harvest Piccolos! Plus enter to win wine packs and House vouchers!

 

 

 



Loving Oprah

Doesn't she make you proud to be Australian!



Great Sunday Reading

Love this post from Feather and Nest.

Be sure to have a look and I guarantee you will be inspired to do something with all those bit around the farm.

Here's to happy weekends

Romance Writers Australia Flooded Communities Book Appeal

If like me you have loads of books that you just do not know what to do with but need to clear them out the solution is here.....

 

We've all seen the devastation the recent Queensland floods have wrought and have wondered how we can help. We know that for many affected families, books will not be high on their priorities list for some time to come.

But...

 

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We also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.

So...

With the aid of some wonderful volunteers, a Romance Writers of Australia Flooded Communities Book Appeal has been put together.

What we need?

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FICTION BOOKS - Romance books, children's books, young adult books, genre books, whatever - either new or in sparkling condition.

Please send them to:

RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717
Noosaville Post Office
Noosaville BC
Queensland 4566

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When to send them?

Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate libraries/schools/neighbourhood centres/community centres in batches as soon as the communities are ready to receive them. We?ll be liaising with councils, libraries and schools to ensure this is done appropriately. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you're an author, sign it.

Questions:

If you have a question about donations, email Jess Anastasi:
Jess@jessanastasi.com

If you work in a library / council / community centre / school in aflood affected area, email Rachel Bailey: rachel@rachelbailey.com.au

http://www.nrwc.com.au/uncategorized/rwa-flooded-communities-book-appeal/



Bathurst By The Glass Wine Festival 2011

Come along and enjoy the best wines of Bathurst, NSW live entertainment and amazing views from Mount Panorama Estate. 10 local wineries involved in the day - 3 Views, Grass Parrot, McGraths, Mount Panorama, Renzaglia, Stockman's Ridge, Sugdens, Vale Creek, White Rock and Winburndale. Tickets are $79 and include first drink, meal ticket, courtesy bus from Bathurst Info Centre, live entertainment and a bag of goodies upon entry.


Event:  Bathurst By The Glass Wine Festival 2011Date:22/01/2011
Time  :From 12noon
Location:  Mount Panorama Estate Phone:02 6331 8075
Genre:- EventsAdmission:79 - 79
Tickets:  Address:151 Mountain Straight, Mount Panorama NSW 2795
 

Hurry! Tickets are limited and must be pre-purchased!

 

Here for tickets

Volunteer at the Sydney Royal Easter Show

Do you like helping others? Do you like meeting new people and having a laugh? If this sounds like you then the Easter Show wants your smile!

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) is inviting enthusiastic people aged 17 to join the 2011 Easter Show volunteer team.

Volunteering at the Easter Show is not only a lot of fun but an excellent opportunity to experience the Show from a whole new perspective.

Volunteers can apply to work in areas such as administration, information and ushering.

Each volunteer is asked to take on a minimum of eight shifts over the 14 days of the Show. All volunteers will receive access to the Show for its duration, meal vouchers, an official volunteer uniform and exclusive entry to the Volunteer Green Room.

Volunteers will be provided with job specific training, and must also complete an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) induction which can be completed online.

People interested in becoming a volunteer can visit www.eastershow.com.au/volunteers for additional details and to download an application form.

Volunteer interviews will begin, by appointment, on a variety of dates commencing from Saturday 22 January. Please register by contacting Rosemary Ferrari, Sydney Royal Easter Show Volunteers Coordinator, on (02) 9704 1297 or email volunteers@rasnsw.com.au.

If you have ever wondered....

Loving this comparison between Angelina and Jennifer from Natalie from Diary of a Girl Abroad if only for an escape on an overcast day and yes I can be that shallow.

Natalie answers the hard questions like, So who's hotter? Who's nicer? Is Brad on crack? Did he make the right choice? Anyone got any Cheerios?

And the best bit is its believable because she has met both.



Loving

Meandering down Merimbula's village laneways finding loads of gorgeous boutiques

Stopping in for a cheeky purchase at Enhance U, a boutique which makes you feel glamourous just by walking in

Before stopping off for a Lychee Martini's or two at Wheelers Seafood Restaurant (consistently good food, drinks and service)

Discovering Australian label Vigorella which feels divine against your skin

 Big 4 Holiday Park Pambula Beach which has loads of activities for kids and keeps them super busy all day

Hanging out at the Broken Whore as my daughter kept calling it (by accident I hope)

Stylish bike riding of course

Playing on the beach even on overcast days

Mini golf with 2 yr olds (needs loads of patience)

Children discovering their favourite toy shop is closed (shock, horror, well it was after hours and planned that way)

Watching kids jump from the wharf and wishing I was brave enough to do it myself

Being able to buy a coffee whenever I pleased (those who live on farms will understand what a luxury this is)

And to finish...

 I am loving bad holiday photography because lets face it I am not much of a photographer and always seemed to be loaded up with bags, kids and coffee.  Quite unglamourous but I like to think we did it all in style.

 

I'll show you what I found in Pambula in another post.

Thank you

The gorgeous Georgie from St John's Wood, Q has surprised me out of the blue and very kindly passed on my first blogging award.

And what a stylish one at that.

I am thrilled and have to admit that I had never thought about blogging awards before.

So I now have to reveal seven things about bushbelles herself and pass it onto to 3 other stylish and in my opinion fabulous bloggers.  This has taken me some time as I had to really think about what I would reveal. So here goes.... 

• I went to a girls boarding school in Sydney which most of the girls in my family have attended and have recently been to my 20 yr school reunion.  I loved it and still keep my close friends from school even closer.  I learnt so much about living independently and life in general.

  

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• I have a soft spot for the royals.  One of my best friends is a complete royalist and it's her fault.  Years ago we stood outside the Sydney Entertainment Centre to see Princess Diana arrive at the Victor Chang Dinner.  I am so glad I did now even though I complained and it was crazy.  I also had a close encounter Zara Phillips on my hens night at Mansions Hotel in Kings Cross, Sydney.  Somehow I don't think she will be returning the favour. 

  

  

• I love the Sound of Music.  Anything Sound of Music.  Love.  And my girls do to. 

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• I am a country girl born and bred.  I have always loved living in the country.  The longer I am here the better it gets.  Somehow I just feel more connected.  I loved my time in the city but its nice to be home again and even better with a spunky stockman.

• The last year for me has seen many moments of despair and my faith has been shaken like nothing else and finally understand what it is like to have complete and utter faith and let go.  Amazingly it works.  Funny that.  I hope I can live the rest of my life remembering that lesson. 

• I love to laugh.  I love people who make me laugh. It is a magic remedy for anything and works wonders for your mental health and lets face it if we don't have good mental health we have nothing.

• I love champagne. The real deal.  But will happily handle most other drinks. 

So now I hand this prestigious award onto the following fellow bloggers

Annie from My White Homestead because she is a country girl with great style

Annette from Under the Loupe another rural girl with fabulous taste who creates gorgeous jewels

Sophie from Red Dust Love because what country girl could resist the name of her blog

Today I also found my 50th follower. 

So thank you.