The chosen few are chosen (phew) and the four farmers have their prospective wives.
Farmer Wants a Wife is done and dusted for another season.
Over the course of the match-up show’s 11 seasons in 14 years in Australia, there have been nine marriages. Globally there have been 170.
So there’s a good chance that this season on Channel Seven will yield the same.
With all that dating, double dating, talking and revealing, trouble, tears and reveals, you’d think the prospective wives might know a fair bit about their farmers, but what can they expect from the farming areas they may be moving to?
Here is what I think is the best for each.
Farmer BRAD, 32
Cootamundra, NSW
Chose Clare, a 27-year-old preschool teacher
Some still call Sir Donald Bradman the greatest cricket batsman the world has ever known. The Don came into the world on August 27, 1908, in Cootamundra. More specifically, he made his first great appearance in the small private hospital that midwife Granny Scholz ran in the front room of 89 Adams Street. It is now the Sir Donald Bradman Birthplace Museum. It was refurbished in 1991, restored and officially opened in 1992. It contains memorabilia of Sir Don, of cricket and of the Cootamundra district.
In fact, there’s so much of it that it has spread into the Memorabilia Cottage at 87 Adams Street. It was a Cootamundra Shire council initiative to buy and develop these sites for future generations.
PS As Clare might have plenty of time in Cootamundra, I’m suggesting she puts some hours aside for the Cootamundra Heritage Centre, which is in the old Railway Barracks, and has objects, photographs, and written and electronic material telling the story of the area.
Farmer DAVID, 29
Pozieres, Queensland
Chose Emily, a 29-year-old marketing director
A bushranger called Captain Thunderbolt roamed this Southern Downs area of the New England Tableland — and the granite rock formation of Donnelly’s Castle made a good hideout for him. Frederick Wordsworth Ward (“Thunderbolt”) had a reputation for being a “gentleman bushranger”, but ran a six-year crime spree, which eventually ended in a shootout with police. Visitors can walk between, around and over the massive boulders of Donnelly’s Castle, near Pozieres. The place was named after Ned Donnelly, an early settler in the area. It is now a Crown recreation reserve, with picnic tables and barbecues — and a 200m walk to the top. It’s on Donnellys Castle Road, Pozieres, Queensland.
Farmer BRENTON, 26
Darriman, Victoria
Chose Sophie, a 25-year-old social media manager
Frankly, though Brenton might be a win, Sophie (compared with the other prospective wives) might have missed out a bit on attractions in the small Victorian rural location of Darriman. It is recorded as having a population of 12 residents and the best I can offer is McGaurans Beach in the Seaspray Coastal Reserve, and the Darriman H29 Bushland Reserve. But, it is only 187km from Melbourne, so that’s a win.
Farmer MATT, 23
Bookham, NSW
Chose Olivia, a 24-year-old administration officer
There’s a strong community in the little village of Bookham, 25 minutes south of Yass. And a top meeting spot for the community is Barney’s Cafe, just off the Hume Highway. I understand Karen’s banana bread and Caitlin’s scones are particular favourites. For travellers on the move, there’s also pies, hamburgers, sandwiches and Barney’s famous slushies. There’s plenty of room to park a caravan and pets are welcome outside.
Bookham was once known as Bogolong (and who wouldn’t change that name), and childhood memories of the races at Bogalong Racetrack inspired Banjo Paterson to write his poem, Old Pardon, the Son of Reprieve.
Because the closest food outlets (in Yass and Jugiong) are at least 20 minutes drive, you can order ready-to-heat meals if you give at least 24 hours notice. See the website to book from the menu.
Farmer ANDREW, 41
Narromine in NSW’s Central West
Chose Claire, a 37-year-old mine truck driver
On the Macquarie River, 30 minutes drive west of Dubbo, Narromine is perhaps best known for its aeronautical history — as displayed in the Narromine Aviation Museum. There’s all sorts of aviation memorabilia, from historic photographs to three unique aircraft, including the world’s only replica of the 1907 Wright flyer. The Narromine Wright Flyer A is the world’s first flyable replica of the 1907 ancestor of powered aircraft. This has one of Australia’s most historic aerodromes — flying in Narromine started as early as 1919.