Tamworth Favorites

Favorite thing: When this famous line was coined for a song I don't think this was quite what the author had in mind. I think paddocks etc. were what he was thinking but it certainly is also apt in this case.
On the north east hills of Tamworth is some lovely real estate and even prettier parks and gardens. Some streets, as shown here, have a fine stand of eucalypts that must make living in such a lovely aspect a pleasure.

Favorite thing: It seems that half of the towns in Australia went mad for the bicentennial. Money for projects flowed everywhere, much of it for lasting projects such as we see here.
Located just one block south of Peel Street, the main shopping centre, this is one of the focal points for tourists and the Country Music Week in late January.

Favorite thing: It was wonderful to see that a church, now terminally short of parishoners, had found new owners to at least preserve and maintain the architecture.
It used to be a Presbyterian Church but is now used as Government Offices and is located on the main highway (northern side) of Tamworth.

Favorite thing: If you like this work then you're bound to enjoy your walk around the park. Silvio Apponyi was commissioned to do 67 works in 1988 and his sculptures and reliefs are a feature as you meander through this pleasant adjunct to the CBD centred around Peel Street and the namesake Peel River the town was founded around.

Fondest memory: Though born in Germany, Silvio Apponyi emigrated to Australia when he was just 18 months old. He hasn't stopped travelling since.
He got his arts degree in South Australia and got a scholarship to return to Germany, Munich specifically. Whilst in Europe he roamed various countries, taking particular interest in public sculpture and fountains.
On his return to Australia he won a number of awards and added to his resume by learning woodblock printing in Japan.
From 1994-1996 he was resident artist at Mulgara Gallery at Ayers Rock Resort.
His work has been shown in such diverse places as London, Japan and Kuala Lumpur and he has worked with many mediums other than the granite you see here. Wood, bronze and marble to name but a few.
In additon to sculpting people he has an obvious passion for Australian wildlife with pieces ranging from kookaburras and lizards to sea lions and whale's tails and 26 of his works on that theme can be seen at Woodville Gardens in South Australia.
Undoubtedly his largest and most seen work though is the giant merino at Goulburn.

Favorite thing: This is not so much a "must-see" activity as a "hard-to-avoid" activity. Its proximity, adjacent to the New England Highway, means that you will notice but, apart from buying fuel at the local service station, I haven't found any reason to tarry there. The village has a nice setting, situated as it is at the base of the Moonbi Range, but there's nothing there to make you stop except this rather attractive sign that the local council has erected.
However, it is at the low point and soon after this the road rises through the pass in the Moonbi Ranges up to the heights of Armidale.

Favorite thing: This is where a lot of Country Music Week happens, the main street of Tamworth. There is a busker at every second shop - literally. At times one drowns out the other. There are so many characters here that you could spend the whole day strolling and listening; except it's hot because it's in the middle of summer and you'll probably be wanting a drink or two.
So, you'll slip into a pub and there'll be a band there. Oh well, off to the cafe for some peace. Oh no, there's a singer in here as well. Remember, that's why you came!

Fondest memory: It takes up the week leading into the long weekend but, in the week preceding that one there are plenty of people and acts who arrive early and pick up a lot the vibe.
Don't get put off by the country music stigma. It's just a great occasion and a fabulous atmosphere that you'll rarely find anywhere else.
Do I like it - yee hah!!

Favorite thing: For the previous shot, this one and the next I am indebted to a friend of mine from Tamworth, Col Newman, who kindly let me use these snaps.
Col's hopeless with a camera but a really nice guy................just joking Col.
This pic sums up what country music week is all about, the characters. They're liable to be wearing anything (but with a tendency to country clothing), playing anything (when was the last time you heard a piano accordian on a country music recording?) and singing anything (blues, rock 'n' roll, folk, jazz, oh, and some country as well).

Favorite thing: Australia has a holiday called Australia Day. Unlike most other countries in the world we don't really celebrate our heritage a lot but, in typical Aussie style, we look upon it as another opportunity to have a day off. Governments recognize this and somehow the holiday seems to end up making it a long weekend somehow. Are we complaining? No, we're Australian, we can't be bothered!
What it does do is allow us to have a festival or two on that weekend and Tamworth has excelled with the number one attraction Australia-wide. The town of over 30,000 more than doubles in size. This picture will explain part of the attraction.