Brockville’s connection to Mildura, Australia – “It Starts With the River”

For some Brockvillians it is all about our beloved river.  The mighty St. Lawrence has provided many of us with a livelihood, a place to play and best of all a beautiful sanctuary to live out our lives.  Who would have thought that the Brockville born George and William Chaffey brothers would find the same opportunity awaiting them on the Murray River in Mildura Australia?
In 1888, William and George planted 150 acres of wine grapes on their “Chateau Mildura” property commencing one of Australia’s significant wine regions.    The 1000 Islands Wine & Food Festival is honoured that present day owner of  Chateau Mildura, Lance Milne, is making the trek to Brockville to celebrate our two communities’ unique heritage and of course to enjoy the fruits of the Chaffey brothers labour  - award winning Australian wine. 
When Milne purchased Chateau Mildura in 2002 there had not been a table wine produced at the business since 1905.  That all changed and in 2006, when the first awards of many was awarded to Chateau Mildura under the Psyche Wine Label.
The Chaffey brothers were pioneers in irrigation technology in the 19th century.  Their model irrigation settlement in Ontario, California impressed an Australian cabinet minister.  Victorian Cabinet Minister Alfred Deakin convinced the brothers that their future was tied to Australia’s economic growth and that their irrigation technology was the key to unlocking that potential.
Mildura, Australia & Brockville, Canada were both settled on two of world’s longest rivers.  The Murray River coming in at an impressive 15th world rank and the mighty St. Lawrence River 26th— both rivers have strategic importance to the well being of their respective communities.
The agriculture importance and connections between Brockville and Mildura are there– and that is what the 1000 Islands Wine & Food Festival is celebrating.  Join us in sampling some of Ontario’s finest food and beverage bounty and help promote pride in Ontario’s pioneering agricultural roots and technology.  Savour the flavour!
Please join us in giving Chateau Mildura owner Lance Milne a true Brockville and river welcome at the 1000 Islands Wine & Food Festival, June 17th & 18th. — Friday from 4 pm -9pm and Saturday from 11am – 8pm.  www.1000islandwineandfoodfestival.com