Two little girls lost their winemaker father - now they need your help

Esme and Clementine Dell tragically lost their winemaker father Vaughn in May.

The 39-year-old died from a heart attack, leaving behind his wife Linda Morice and their two young daughters.

The former basketball player and Australian Rules players started Sinapius wines at Pipers River in 2005, buying the former Golders vineyard.

The couple, who started dating as teenagers, built up a massive reputation for quality.

Now Langton's is holding an auction to raise funds to ensure the future of the two girls remains bright.

"We are still deeply saddened and missing Vaughn immensely but also very driven to keep things going," said Linda.

"I’ve had some great help from the industry with Joe Holyman and Peter Dredge both stepping up to help me with the wines. Hopefully, with their guidance, I can continue to produce amazing wines as well as Vaughn has done.

"Now Langton's are running a fundraising wine auction to raise funds for the girls future." 

Holyman, Dr Edge, Jansz, Dalrymple. Josef Chromy, Delamere, Bay of Fires, Bream Creek, Pressing Matters, 10 Minutes by Tractor, Lost Farm, Apogee, Chatto, Holm Oak and Tolpuddle are among the wineries donating. 

There are some amazing wines listed at www.langtons.com.au/auctions/this-week and the auction closes on Sunday, July 26.

A trust account has also been set up to help the girls now and in the children’s future - Linda Jean Morice in trust for Esme and Clementine Dell (BSB 087-728, Account 97-768-6325).

Newcastle’s first five-star hotel unveiled

The details of Kingsley, the first five-star hotel in the Australian city of Newcastle, have been unveiled by developers Crystalbrook Collection.

Set to open in April 2021, Kingsley aims to bring a new level of luxury to Australia's seventh-largest city and the gateway to the Hunter Valley.

Situated in the heart of Newcastle opposite Civic Park, Kingsley will transform the city's former Council Administration Centre into a 130-room hotel. 

“We are so pleased to unveil the interiors for Kingsley," said  Geoff York, interim CEO and group director of hotels. 

"The hotel celebrates Newcastle's rich history while looking forward to what the emerging city has to offer. We are honoured to now be a part of Newcastle's cultural landscape.”

Kingsley's interiors, designed by Suede Interior Design, make use of curves and rhythm. 

Layers of different textures of ivories are carried throughout the hotel and into the space from the exterior, creating a neutral palette that is broken up by hints of yellow of varying shades.

The rooftop restaurant and bar will boast views across the city and is themed around Newcastle's olive groves. 

# The name Kingsley, is a tribute to Newcastle's heritage and the city's earlier name of Kingston, dating back to 1804. 

See crystalbrookcollection.com

Fourth generation takes a share of Coonawarra winery

The Redman family have been involved in the wine business in South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region since 1908, first growing grapes, then making exceptional shirazes and later cabernet sauvignons. 

Family owned and operated, the business is now run by third and fourth generation vignerons Mal, Bruce, Dan and Mike Redman after fourth-generation pair Dan and Mike Redman this week purchased a share of the business.

 

The Coonawarra-born brothers aim to ensure the future of the Redman brand in Coonawarra for years to come. 

Back in 1908, Bill Redman purchased his first vineyard in Coonawarra. 

His son Owen took over in 1937 with his own vision and his sons Bruce and Mal also followed in their father’s footsteps and in 1982 took on the responsibility for winemaking. 

Dan joined the business in 2008, exactly 100 years after his great-grandfather made his first wine, and Mike came on board in 2015. 

Both have honed their skills at other wineries including, Wynns Coonawarra, Tahbilk and Charles Melton.

“I’ve never known anything else other than being in a family wine business and I’m proud to be able to be part of the Redman history of winemaking," said Dan Redman. 

"Buying into the business ensures that the brand retains the family name and vision well into the future. Both Mike and I are incredibly proud of the family’s role in Coonawarra."

This year sees the family celebrates 50 years of producing Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

The new-release 2017 cabernet sauvignon is the first vintage bottled under screw cap.

The harsh reality of Brexit starts to kick in

The harsh reality of Brexit is about to kick in - and some Britons are about to be hit in the hip pocket.

In addition to Britons no longer being assured of the right to live and work in European Union countries, Brits heading off on European holidays are about to be hit by extra charges.

People will need to take out comprehensive travel insurance if they are heading abroad from January - and businesses exporting to or importing from the EU will face additional paperwork.

The British Government is launching a ‘The UK’s new start: let’s get going’ campaign to let people know how the deal (or no deal) will affect them.

Holidaymakers will need to take out insurance that covers health as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will only be valid up to December 31. 

And anyone wanting to travel to Europe with a pet from January 1, 2021 will need to contact their vet four months in advance to get the correct paperwork. 

Mobile phone roaming charges for Britons in Europe are also set to rise.

Britain leaves the single market and customs union on December 31 and international trade secretary Liz Truss is concerned that the country will not be ready by the time the transition period comes to an end.

After transition, tourists from the UK will be allowed to visit EU countries for up to 90 days in every 180 days without a visa, but they will not be allowed to work or study.

What happens from 2021 on will depend on the UK-EU talks on the future relationship - but travel from the UK won't be as easy, or as cheap, as before.

Good news for Qantas frequent flyers

There is some good news for Qantas frequent flyers as travel restrictions start to ease. For the remainder of 2020, Classic Flight Reward seat availability will be increased by up to 50% to the most popular destinations in Australia and New Zealand. Points will now go even further when used to pay for Qantas Hotels bookings with  a 20% reduction in the number of points needed for Points Plus Pay hotel bookings until the end of the year. Plus for a limited time, frequent flyers get 5,000 bonus points when they book before Aug 31 for for stays of three nights or more) before Mar 31, 2021. Classic Flight Reward seats include Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Sydney and to New Zealand (when flights recommence). Flyers can also earn bonus status credits on the ground with 125 bonus status credits across selected hotel offers booked before August 31. Qantas has also announced a one-off boost of 50% of the status credits required to maintain  current Qantas Frequent Flyer status. Travellers have already had their existing tier levels extended for 12 months through to March 2021, while “members most impacted by the travel restrictions with a status end date between Mar-Aug 2021 will be eligible for additional monthly status credits until Sep 2020,” Qantas said.

A journey into a past era of rugby league - and life

Rugby league used to be a fiercely tribal game. The players were legitimate local heroes. 

On a weekend afternoon in the early 80s you'd head to Henson Park, or North Sydney Oval, to watch locals play. 

There'd be a tradie or two on the field, maybe a local cop, and a couple of wharfies. Or someone with whom you went to school. 

On a sunny Saturday afternoon you'd sit on the hill and watch all three grades. 

You'd see the same faces from the pitch in local shops - and in the pub midweek. Or maybe collecting your garbage.

Over in England at the same time - whippet-loving men with flat caps would watch teams with names like Trinity and the Hornets in freezing cold conditions. 

There were a few Poms playing in Sydney, a couple of rock-hard Kiwis, too, and a handful of Aussies made the journey the other way to treat the crowds at Castleford and Widnes. 

It was well before an away game might involve a trip to Auckland, Toronto or Toulouse. Players had real jobs and drove battered old cars, to match their faces.  

In Balmain, back in the day, our local cop was Paul Sironen. He was bloody useless when it came to breaking up fights at the Royal Oak on College Street but he could take your breathe away when he hit the line at full speed for the Tigers. 

Just a couple of suburbs away, in Marrickville, another police person, St George prop Pat Jarvis, was rescuing a local street thug, Jeff Fenech, from a life of crime. 

Fenech went on to win world boxing titles in three different weight divisions, and also played as a junior and lower-grade hooker for Newtown and later Parramatta.

In those days, you'd rarely see a Polynesian footballer in first grade. The Sorensen brothers at Cronulla were it. Until the Big O.

Olsen Filipaina was an unwitting trailblazer for the Polynesian and Pacific Island players who are now such a force in both the NRL and Super League.

Known as "the Galloping Garbo" in recognition of his day job, Filipaina starred for Balmain, Easts, North Sydney and New Zealand, becoming a New Zealand Hall of Fame member. 

On his best day he could outplay the peerless Wally Lewis - on other days he could be frustratingly anonymous. 

He fought racial prejudice and depression and made his mark, paving the way for today's generation. 

A new book by Patrick Skene takes a look at the life and times of The Big O from Mangere East to Sydney and Headingley - and eventually back to his garbage run. It's a fascinating read that looks at sport and culture in a very different era.

Buy The Big O at good book shops. or online at http://thebigo.kiwi