ANTHONY THOROGOOD

Anthony Thorogood is an industry pioneer who has been prepared to put his knowledge to use helping others in the community. His story is a good example of a leader in an industry which might not immediately come to mind, but it is a good example of what can be achieved through a grant such as that which the ILF is offering.

Tony is a proprietor of Thorogoods Cider Farm at Burra. He says...

In 2006 when I applied for a Churchill Fellowship I was owner and cider maker at Thorogoods a successful and innovative Cider Farm in the heritage town of Burra. My wife Susan and I had built our cider farm on the side of a stark treeless hill, people told us that you couldn't grow trees in Burra but we had faith in our judgement. The trees grew and the business, making cider, which the Clare Valley wine makers told us was a silly idea, was a success from day one.

After establishing a cider business and carving it out of rock, so to speak, I wanted to write about my experience, to write about the history of cider in Australia, the culture and traditions of cider and to bring to Australia a knowledge of the vast complexity of cider and the culture of cider around the world. My goal was to spread the knowledge of my favourite drink throughout Australia. I started to write the book and visited Australia's cider regions to research however I was not able to undertake the overseas research needed and as a consequence I applied for a Churchill Fellowship.

When I returned from my Churchill Fellowship I achieved my two main goals. Firstly I was able to finish and publish my book: Cider Drink It Make It Cook with It which has gone on sale in bookshops around Australia and is almost sold out. I have also been able to work with young people setting up cider farms in Victoria and Tasmania and for the past three years I have been teaching cider making through a series of sell out and very popular W.E.A. one day classes held at the cider farm in Burra.

When I talk to people about applying for a Churchill Fellowship I say to them it must be in an area that they are passionately interested in and then the Churchill Fellowship can give a real helping hand. The most important thing the Churchill opportunity presents is a chance to study under and meet experts. Meeting people who are passionate about what they are doing and passing on this knowledge has, for me, been the big thing I achieved from my Churchill Fellowship.