A vibrant life at Oakridge
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Some of the best conversations happen in a kitchen filled with love, good food and great company, and for the Talarico family — Meg, Graeme, Olivia and Evelyn — this couldn’t be more true.
After purchasing their heritage-style home, beautifully named Oakridge, in 2017, the family has settled in effortlessly on their 12-hectare property on the outskirts of Tatura.
In the winter edition of Our Home, the Talarico family welcomed the features team into their Edwardian home, where family, repurposed furniture and a love for Italian food create a vibrant living story.
From sacred site to cherished home
Ask anyone who grew up in the Moorilim district, and chances are they’ll have a story about St Patrick’s Catholic Church.
A childhood memory from Sunday School, a cousin’s wedding or a final farewell beneath its quiet roof.
Because for more than a century, this church stood as the cornerstone of the tight-knit rural community.
Today, the former church is in the caring hands of Melbourne retirees Rodney Harrison and Anne-Marie Primmer, who have lovingly helped preserve its charm.
In the spring edition of Our Home, the couple showed us through their beloved red brick church, highlighting the importance of the community that still surrounds it.
Home and hospitality continue to collide
In the spring edition of Our Home, John and Yao O’Donoghue showed journalist Taylah Baker through their cottage-styled property in Avenel.
Against a neutral white palette, earthy-toned art, wall hangings made of natural materials and a pop of colour in deep turquoise blue tiles hint at Yao’s Thai cultural roots.
John’s signature exposed black steel frame above is a strong contender to be the main feature accent, but contrasted with six large Oregon trusses, it’s an unlikely match made in architectural heaven.
The building embraces the outdoors, with a deck shaded in summer and bathed in winter sun for guests to sit back, relax and admire the block’s historical gems.
John described the interior design as mirroring their home’s colonial-style — inky steel and natural timber included — but having shearing-shed cues, and it just so happens that the space is adaptable enough to one day convert into a residence.
Russell Wood: The unexpected pioneer of Koryo Taekwondo
Shepparton might seem like an unlikely outpost of a Korean martial art.
But every time a student there bows before stepping on the mat, they’re part of a lineage that began with one man’s experiment in a rented hall.
This is Russell Wood, grand master, ninth dan and founder of the Koryo Taekwondo Centre.
And, if you’re being honest, the accidental godfather of the sport in Victoria.
Sports editor Liam Nash shared his story in the second edition of Betty & Don.
And though Russell resides 200km away in Melbourne’s sprawling suburbs, the presence of the wiry, 84-year-old man with a calm smile and level temperament looms larger than ever over the dojang.
Facing cancer head-on
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Nathan Vincent decided to have his prostate removed.
In a candid conversation with reporter Kelly Lucas-Carmody, he shared his journey from diagnosis to recovery, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way.
His story is not just about surgery — it’s about resilience, awareness and taking control of your health.
It was featured in the second edition of the Betty & Don magazine.
A love story across cultures
When Tina Mukasa stood in a Tuscan church wearing her custom-made wedding gown, she carried more than bridal dreams down the aisle.
She carried the memory of a mother lost to war, the strength of a family rebuilt in Shepparton after moving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the pride of her Congolese heritage woven into her marriage with Italian Gianluca Malquori.
Their wedding was not simply the union of two people, but the joining of two worlds.
However, before that special day in Tuscany on June 12, 2025, many significant cultural events took place first.
Because, as Gianluca found out, when you marry a Congolese woman, it’s not as simple as putting a ring on the finger and saying, “I do.”
The couple shared their love story with reporter Kelly Lucas-Carmody in the second edition of the Betty & Don magazine, proving love, in all its forms, is worth every step of the journey.
Making every note count
From a chance meeting to a musical love story, singers and musicians Justin Boschetti and Alannah Williams have turned life’s challenges into songs that inspire, connect and captivate audiences everywhere.
Today, the pair are the talent behind JB and Me — a musical partnership that brings audiences everything from the iconic hits of the ’60s to contemporary chart-toppers of today.
Whether performing as a solo act, a duo, or with band members Bradey Curtis and Peter Formica in a full ensemble, they deliver a unique chemistry and passion that resonates with listeners of all ages.
But JB and Me aren’t just a band. They’re a love story forged in music, lockdowns and even a car accident.
Their story featured in the second edition of the Betty & Don magazine, showing that their journey has been anything but ordinary.
Swimmers brave waters in Queensland crocodile country
Wendy Kingma, 64, Ingrid Fraser, 38, Liliana Angeles, 39, Alison Christopher, 59, Steven Orr, 62, Glenn Gibson, 60, and Margreet Stegeman, 64, were the seven brave swimmers who signed up for the annual Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim earlier this year.
Known as the Goulburn Valley Crocs, the team is part of a Masters swimming club based in Shepparton, affiliated with Masters Swimming Victoria and Masters Swimming Australia.
Determined, focused, a little bit fearless and maybe slightly crazy, they tackled one of Queensland’s most iconic open-water races, which has been running since 1954.
All seven incredible swimmers returned home unharmed, with an inspirational story of courage, teamwork and adventure.
Their story was shared in the Betty & Don magazine in October.
Pilates is mind and body, Nicola is all heart
Former cruise ship dancer Nicola Bolton caught up with journalist Taylah Baker on finding her rhythm in Pilates, opening her own studio, and breaking the stretch stereotype.
After eight years of dancing professionally on cruise ships, a torn ACL and subsequent surgery brought Nicola to Shepparton in 2021.
As it turns out, this life-altering event became a catalyst for new opportunities, leading her to obtain certification in both mat and reformer Pilates, and to see a surge in her roster of clients at Excell Dance Centre.
Nestled discreetly along Harold St in Shepparton, Nicola Bolton Pilates Studio is, as all hidden gems are, unassuming on the outside and pulsing with infectious energy and soothing tranquillity on the inside.
The sanctuary for those seeking both physical and mental rejuvenation offers classes that are incredibly adaptable and accessible, where each exercise can be tailored to any individual’s body and ability level.
Her journey was shared in the Betty & Don magazine this year.
To bee or not to bee a backyard beekeeper?
Gillian Hall’s backyard beekeeping is a hobby many are buzzing about lately, and one that Gillian has become quite skilled in.
According to journalist Taylah Baker, as you enter her Tatura home, the chorus of 40,000 wings rapidly flapping to and from a flow hive harmonises into a collective hum.
She said it was soothing and almost mesmerising.
The how-to guide on beekeeping had tips on how others could get started.