28 Acres with Shops , Eateries , BBQ ’ s to use for FREE , Displays , Demonstrations , Train and Hay Rides , Picnic Grounds , Animals , Pioneer ’ s Buildings to explore , Giant Games to play and more
LOCAL LIFE
MY OTHER LIFE : Torie Cannon
STEP BACK IN TIME
Come to The Australiana Pioneer Village and experience the atmosphere and activities of life over 100 years ago .
Fun day out for the whole family
OPEN EVERY SUNDAY 10AM – 4PM - FREE parking available onsite Have a beautiful picnic on 28 spacious acres . Bring your own food or buy a meal from the shops . Onsite BBQs are available
The Pioneer Express
Our Pioneer Express train rides operate from 10am – 3pm . Purchase your ticket from the ticket office for $ 5 each . Great fun for all !
Penny Farthings *
Adult and children ’ s size Penny Farthings available for riding around The Village – for FREE ! Only available some days
blacksmith *
Watch a real Blacksmith at work . Feel the heat from the shed and imagine the life being lead in the scorching hot summers of the Australian outback .
Free Games
We have a range of free games available at The Village including giant traditional noughts and crosses and Jenga .
* Not available all days . Dependent on Volunteer availability .
The Friends of The Australiana Pioneer Village Australiana Pioneer Village
Open Every Sunday 10am - 4pm • $ 5 per adult , $ 3 per child and $ 15 per 2 adults and 2 children . Children under 5 years FREE . www . theapv . org . au
TRACTOR & HAY RIDES
Tickets are $ 3 per ride , purchase from the ticket office , 10am – 3pm . Hop aboard one of our tractor and hay rides and enjoy a trip around The Village .
Animal Feeding
Hand feed The Village animals at 12 noon for $ 2 a bag of grain and a carrot . Purchase tickets between 10am – 12 noon from our ticket office .
Wedding Ceremonies & Photography Bookings are now being taken ... SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY
Please email Helen at bookings @ theapv . org . au for more information
ROSE STREET , WILBERFORCE ( Behind the Heritage Hotel / Motel – FREE parking inside The Village ) Ph 02 4575 1777
NEW VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US
STRICT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS APPLY AT THE VILLAGE The Australiana Pioneer Village adheres to all NSW Health regulations . Please check the website and Facebook for the latest updates .
Torie with one of her beloved ducks . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
by Lorna Gordon
This month we welcome back an old favourite , My Other Life , and boy , do we have a doozy for you !
Registered Nurse , Torie Cannon , works hard in aged care , not only looking after her patients , but also as a Clinical Nurse Educator , teaching other nurses how to do the same .
She works full time , is studying for her Masters in Primary Health Care and is also a mum to three busy children , but she still finds time for her passion . Poultry . Yes , Torie is quackers about her feathered friends .
Her family home is situated on 1.6 acres and is home to ducks , chickens , sheep , goats and her three dogs . She has always kept chickens and , when her daughter was eight , they were talking about how pretty one of their ducks were .
“ I told my daughter that they have beauty contests for ducks , and she decided she wanted to enter one . We went along to a show with our duck and she got junior champion , from then on we were both hooked .”
It ’ s not just about turning up to the show on the day . Torie explained that quite a lot of work goes into making sure each bird is looking its best before the big day .
“ I put them in a bath with some wool wash to wash their feathers , then I scrub faces and legs with a toothbrush ,” said Torie .
“ The ducks are easier ; we put them in the bath and leave them , but the chooks need more hands-on cleaning . Some of the chooks love it , some go limp and some flap - it depends on the chook . After we have washed chickens , we have to blow dry them .”
When the birds are looking their best , they are taken to the show and judged on how close they are to the breed standard . The bird which is the closest wins on that day .
I asked Torie what drew her
“ I ’ ve always kept birds and have a beautiful corella as well as the chooks and ducks . But the friends that I make along the way are great , some of my best friends are from showing poultry . It ’ s the social side of it that helps the events be more fun .” to keeping and showing her birds and she told me ,
“ I ’ ve always kept birds and have a beautiful corella as well as the chooks and ducks . But the friends that I make along the way are great , some of my best friends are from showing poultry . It ’ s the social side of it that helps the events be more fun .”
“ We all have a friendly rivalry . We joke about beating each other or enjoy chatting about who won as well as going out socially outside of the shows .”
While the shows and hanging out with like-minded people are fun , Torie explained that there is a serious side of looking after poultry .
“ Husbandry is everything , we have foxes everywhere and keeping the birds safe is paramount . You need a fox proof pen which must be locked every night to keep them safe .”
If you are interested in joining in the feathered fun , then you can go to www . nswwaterfowl . com for more information on birds and how to get involved .
8 ISSUE 68 // FEBRUARY 2021 www . hdinews . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT