Songstress Wendy Matthews is happy to swap the hectic city pace for more idyllic surroundings and an unusual homestead.
 

Wendy Matthews insists she is not bitter after being dumped last month by her record company BMG. " It's liberating, " she laughs.  However, Wendy admits she believes that BMG, with whom she has had a long association, based its decision on "an age and female issue".  "It's down to the bean counters," she says.

The forty-something singer has undergone dramatic life changes recently.  "I've been scaling down for some time and am seeing things more honestly and stripped back.  "When you want something in life it tends to happen on all sorts of levels," she muses conceding that splitting with BMG was not necessarily on her agenda. "Yikes, I'd better be careful with what I conjure up next," she chuckles mischievously. And there's more upheaval in Wendy's life - but this time it's a change for the better.

She has shifted from an upmarket apartment in Sydney and moved to a rugged 10-acre property on the NSW North Coast. Her next step is to construct a strawbale and mudbrick house on her property that once boasted a massive Sioux teepee, inspired by her Canadian Indian heritage.

 

Wendy's "stripped back" approach has extended to her latest acoustic album, "Cafe Naturale", and she predicts will be even more apparent in her upcoming independent albums.

Wendy admits she is at a stage when making music is about satisfying a deep need, as opposed to an ambitious striving.  Eighteen months ago it was another need that caused her to pack up and leave Bondi, her adopted home since 1983, when she first set foot in Australia and began her career as a backing vocalist supporting Jimmy Barnes and Tim Finn, before launching out as a solo artist.

"It takes ages for people to make a seachange," Wendy says, admitting that her own move has been more than 10 years in the making. "My personal life seemed to be stemming from my work life, so I made a conscious decision to change that.  Out here in the country you're put in a position where you have to create a whole new life structure for yourself."

 

Wendy's strawbale home will have a spectacular 360-degree view. 
Building will start in earnest when her brother arrives from Canada to lend a hand. 

Until then, Wendy and her constant companion, a rare brown and white,
short-hair border collie named Bear, are enjoying life.
Bear has three cows to keep her busy while Wendy is into organic gardening and mosaics.
 
"I got my tiling and grouting licence," she announces proudly displaying mosaic pieces
that range from furniture to steps.  "They're so beautiful," she coos. 
"When I'm working on them I practically go into a trance."
     
Piece and Love...Wendy spends her spare time in the country organic gardening and making beautiful mosaic works.

 Painting by numbers...
Wendy's passion for Sydney's famous painted lady in Edgecliff
inspired the cover of her album "Cafe Naturale". Unlike the willowy street lady, Wendy's cover art is quite recognisable once the connection is made. French artist Bruno Dutot, who is responsible for the mural, was commissioned to paint Wendy. "He stuck a chopstick in my hair; which symbolises how I get through life, and instead of including his trademark cat, he put (my dog) Bear at my feet," she says.
     

Strawbale Construction...
Wendy is part of the strawbale building phenomenon that is growing throughout Australia, as people discover the benefits of this construction method.  The singer has chosen strawbale (huge bricks made from straw) because of insulation and energy efficiency factors. "People tend to think I'm a little crazy but to me it's the same as criticising cars that run on non-petrol.  You need to fully understand before you condemn ," says Wendy.

John Glassford of Huff 'n' Puff Strawbale Constructions in NSW, lists his top reasons for choosing strawbale.
Cost: Owner builders can construct a strawbale home at a fraction of the cost of a conventional home.
When a builder is employed, the cost is competitive. Insulation: Strawbale wall insulation is two to three
times better than the wall system of most well-insulated homes; five to ten times better than older houses.

Fire proof:  Straw bales have passed the CSIRO requirement for building in high fire danger areas.
Beauty and Comfort.
Sustainability:  Straw can be grown in less than a year in a sustainable system.  Straw locks up to 40 per cent of carbon per bale, which is a significant factor regarding Greenhouse emissions.


Story: Jill Fraser/ Pictures: Trevor Veale
FRESH MAGAZINE 2005