Though he’s asked the hard questions of world political leaders, sat across from Madonna in her own home and interviewed the rich and famous from Oprah Winfrey to Kerry Packer, Ray Martin counts the stories he’s heard from strangers in bush pubs and country bookstores as among the most poignant of his career.

That’s the thing about Ray Martin. He really is just a great bloke to have a chat to.

Ray Martin relaxing in Mudgee last week

Of course, there’s “that” voice that you’re used to hearing  burst out of your television – from sharing the stars’ stories on Midday, to hosting A Current Affair or delivering news from around the world on 60 Minutes.

But for all the places he’s been and cities he’s visited, there’s a big part of Ray that is quintessentially “country boy” – in fact he says while he loves the coast, “when I get beyond the mountains, I can breathe freely.”

And breathe freely he did this week, when he visited Mudgee for a literary lunch to promote his latest book Ray Martin’s Favourites – The stories behind the legends. The crowd at Blue Wren hung on his every word, as he shared a few yarns about some of the interviews he has done during more than 40 years of journalism. It’s not the first time Ray has visited our part of the world – in fact he’s been coming here for the past few years, visiting his good friends Bruce Haigh and Jodi Burnstein of Gunneemooroo Olive Grove & Vineyard and feeding his voracious appetite for history and heritage. And while we’re talking about his appetite – yes, he is rather partial to the great food and wine Mudgee Region has to offer…”especially the wine”. He’s secured a case of Gunneemooroo’s finest to take home with him.

It was during a recent visit that Ray popped into Books In Mudgee and owners David and Julie Cockerill asked if he’d like to come back on his book tour. And so he did (though not quite as early as planned, as we were gazumped by Al Pacino. If you’re going to get brushed for someone, you’d have to say, Al’s a pretty impressive culprit!).

And had Ray not been the guest of honour at the literary luncheon, he would happily have gone wandering with his camera – a hobby he says his kids get “bored stiff” with. But ever the investigator, Ray never tires of seeking out the stories that country towns have to tell.

“The old railway stations, post offices, banks, pubs and shearing sheds, they tell you about the highs and lows of a town,” he said. “You can measure the success of a town like Mudgee or Orange or Bathurst by the beautiful old buildings and churches. It’s fabulous the way you can see when a town was prosperous and successful. I love it.”

And despite the many overwhelming issues facing Australia today – the one closest to Ray’s heart is getting the balance of progress and heritage just right. How do you take advantage of the wonderful prosperity that this country has, without destroying the history and culture that makes it the place it is?

“Progress and heritage is a huge issue,” Ray said. “With coal, gas, mining, we need to make sure progress and heritage work together. What’s interesting is the character of a place can be changed by mines, but hopefully progress and the culture and history of wonderful places like Hill End can work hand in hand”.

Iconic places like Hill End are the tourism drawcards that Ray believes are the secret to the success of Mudgee Region in the future. Preserving the historic streetscapes and the beautiful natural environment will see the town prosper with or without mining.

“It’s a special part of Australia, so they just need to work to make sure it keeps its character. Places like Tasmania, and here, will live and die on their food, wine and beauty. The mines are vital too – we can still have progress and maintain the character that is so unique and precious.”

And it’s not just the buildings and landscapes and preserving them for the future that captures Ray’s interest. It’s the stories that are behind them – delving into the past to hear about the lives of the people that once lived there, or the indigenous history that shaped it. He’s forever asking people “have you written down your story?” – always the advocate for getting a yarn down on paper before it is forgotten and lost forever. Perhaps that’s why he’s so good at what he does? With that sixth sense of what to ask and how to draw out someone’s secrets – it’s what’s made Ray’s thousands of interviews captivating for viewers across the nation.

Who would have though the young boy who spent the first ten years of his life living an itinerant life in country NSW would become one of Australia’s best-known media identities?

Share in the stories that have shaped his stellar career in his latest book, Ray Martin’s Favourites – The stories behind the legends.

Interview held:          Sunday 4^th December 2011

Interviewed at:           Blue Wren Winery, Mudgee

Interviewed by:         Louise McLean, Odyssey Marketing Solutions  

                                           Suite 7, 14-16 Perry Street, Mudgee

Gulgong made its mark on the map in the 1870s, in the days of the Gold Rush. Close to the heart of the present town is Red Hill, where gold was discovered not too far below the surface. The discovery drew more than 10,000 people to the area, all hoping to share in the riches.

The prospectors may be long gone, but the spirit of the past and a charming feel of days-gone-by lives on in Gulgong. Step into the main street and explore colonial Australia – embark on a history walk and see period shops, the Commercial Hotel, the Symbol Trail, the Mining Mural, Poet’s Cottage and the fascinating Pioneer’s Museum.

Historical Gulgong

Arguably one of Australia’s best-known writers, Henry Lawson grew up in the Gulgong/Mudgee area before going on to write the prose that has etched him a place in the history books. The township honours his works with a chronicle of his life at the Henry Lawson Centre and the annual Henry Lawson Heritage Festival each June long weekend. When Lawson was immortalised on the original Australian ten dollar note, it was photographs of Gulgong from the Gold Rush days that appeared in the background, earning it the name of “the town on the ten dollar note”.

Another page in the Gulgong history book features the Prince of Wales Opera House – the oldest, continually operating opera house in Australia. There is so much to see and do in the picturesque township – and plenty of places to stay, from the caravan park to motels, guest houses and B&Bs.

Book ahead for the Gulgong Folk Festival, January 6 to 8, 2012, which promises a fabulous weekend featuring live music and big names such as Anne Kirkpatrick and Bill Chambers. Plus loads of fun and entertainment set against the backdrop of a golden past.

The Gulgong Folk Festival

A trip to the Mudgee Region would not be complete without taking the chance to explore the character and secrets of yesteryear that Gulgong has to offer…

www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au

It had been an early start for the 30 or so stall-owners who had all made the trek down to Balmoral ….. cars and trailers laden with their precious & delicious wares.

So it was with a massive sigh of relief that we thanked all necessary rain gods, when the ominous grey clouds dispersed, leaving the slightly chilly morning offshore breeze – which was no match for the throngs of punters who continued to wander in. Entry was free, with guests buying a $15 ticket which got them a souvenir glass and five wine tasting tickets.

mudgee wine tasting

In our 21styear at this event, we had just over 30 wineries showcasing more than 20 varieties of red and white, with a few exclusive tastes of latest release drops. Mudgee’s cabernet, shiraz and semillon were popular drawcards, with riesling, pinot noir and chardonnay more traditionally suited to higher climates, also on offer. Our gourmet food was a big feature this year with honey, olive oil, pickles, jam, cheese, macarons, gourmet lamb burgers.. and loads more on offer. Local celebrity chef Rebecca Sutton was also on hand cooking up a storm with her mouth-watering gourmet specialities.As I said to one of the visiting media VIPS who joined us, it’s pretty clear that people are after a more personal experience these days. Small-batch, high quality boutique products is what they seem to be after. And getting the chance to wander around the seaside, glass of wine in hand, (cardy over the shoulder) chatting to the producers about the stories behind their products – is what its all about.

enjoying the wine at the mudgee food & wine festival

One gourmet lamb burger down + two glasses of Viognier later, the sun eventually did come out as splashes of lycra and trotters from the City to Surf started to shuffle in.

Time will tell if this year’s event was a success. Our ultimate objective not surprisingly is to entice more people to the Mudgee Region. But I have a hunch that with our busiest month approaching and the oodles of events on offer during our Mudgee Food & Wine Festival next month, we won’t be disappointed.

Cheers and until next time

Happy travels,

Lucy White.