Jane Bennett

Stop for a while and share Jane Bennett’s Tasmania and you could find yourself lost in Tasmania’s dazzling, cultural heart _ the Western Tiers.
Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and lush farmland the region in Tasmania’s mid north-west, is widely regarded as Tasmania’s intellectual and cultural heart.
Jane is the science behind Ashgrove Cheeses at Elizabeth Town.
She is recognised as one of Australia’s most skilled cheese makers.
The Western Tiers’ cultural diversity, tolerance and glorious landscapes have kept the striking 35-year-old in Tasmania when she might easily have made her mark elsewhere.
The region has nurtured and attracted a diversity of big thinking individuals from outspoken political activists on both sides of the Tasmania’s forestry debate to a collection of world-class writers and artists.
``Every time I fly into Devonport and I see Hawley Beach, the Western Tiers and the rich red soils of Sassafras I remember I am home and why I keep coming home,’’ Jane said.
``I have lived in Britain where you just can’t move for people and I spend a lot of time in Asia where some days you cannot see the sky or mountains because of the pollution.
``The Western Tiers is a sensational place to live and what is fundamental to the beauty of the community is its diversity.
``People here accept diversity and allow others to be different.
``Deloraine supports 10 religions within a population of 2500 and 5000 in the surrounding district.You will find a Buddhist temple in Golden Valley and a Kingdom Hall across the road from the Mormon temple in Deloraine. The Mennonites chose our region over anywhere else in Australia because it is a really tolerant community.
`It’s always been a very dramatic society. What other town in Australia has held a drama festival for the past 51 years? And, our community is full of champions who have sought and achieved great things.’’
Some of the region’s champions include truffle grower Ned Terry, salmon and eel farmers Piers and Susie Ranicar and Jane’s uncle John Bennett, the inspiration behind the Yarns silk tapestry project.
The Western Tiers region is also home to some of Australia’s great cheeses including Ashgrove, the Elgaar Farm and Heidi brands. It is a place where over 30 years clever farmers have successfully diversified into high value products such truffles, salmon, eels, wasabi and ginseng, to name a few.
Jane left Tasmania when she was 21 to learn cheese making in Britain. It was her father Michael’s big-thinking solution to the future of the family dairy farm at Elizabeth Town.
Since then the family’s Ashgrove brand of boutique, hand made cheeses has won its place alongside Australia’s best.
Ashgrove’s hard, English-style cheeses are no strangers to national and international awards. The Bennetts have been innovators in flavouring their cheeses with Tasmania’s famous lavender, wasabi and native bush peppers.
Jane’s favourite Ashgrove cheese the Lancashire alongside another from her region the award-winning Heidi Gruyere.
Of course, where you find fine cheese fine wine is quite often just around the corner …``I am really partial to Tasmanian sparklings because they are so good and I love the unique nature of the Tamar Valley’s pinots.’’
The Ashgrove Cheese Factory is open daily at Elizabeth Town on the Bass Highway, 25 minutes south of Devonport and 40 minutes north of Launceston. It is open 364 days of the year for tours, tastings and farm gate sales.