Testimonials
Here's what our readers are saying about Hunter Lifestyle Magazine...
Love my 'Hunter Lifestyle' - keep up the good work.
Bernadette, Scone.
Just want to say I have recently subscribed to your magazine and I am loving every page. I look forward to each new edition to arrive in my mail box.
Ros, Wyoming.
I enjoy Hunter Lifestyle - great value for money, good coffee table magazine.
Annette, Boat Harbour.
I have to tell you both how I enjoy your beautiful Hunter Lifestyle Magazine, I look forward to it arriving in the post. I work hard around my property, go to work and do my art, so this is ‘my time’ to indulge in spoiling myself. I hop into bed with my little dog Sophie (black toy poodle) as my companion and enjoy every page of your magazine. I always leave the current issue on the coffee table to share with my family and friends that visit. Congratulations on a wonderful Magazine - please never stop.
Yvonne, Rothbury.
I would like to say the pleasure I get out of reading your magazine. Because we live in the Upper Hunter, it is very interesting to read about all the fascinating places of interest particularly in the Lower Hunter. I am returning to Wales in early September and intend to take several issues of Hunter Lifestyle with me to share with my family and hopefully encourage them to visit Australia and particularly the Hunter.
Angela, Muswellbrook.
Ed 55 was the first magazine we received with our first subscription to Hunter Lifestyle and it was wonderful to receive it in the mail! As we are about to start renovating a 1800s cottage and it offers some wonderful decorating ideas. Thank you, a lot of time and effort goes into this magazine as the quality shows.
Katrina, Newcastle
Thank you for producing such a high quality, eminently readable magazine. My husband recently brought me a national home magazine to read. I commented that I much preferred Hunter Lifestyle... not knowing he had purchased a subscription for me for Mothers Day. I look forward to many more wonderful months of reading about the people and homes in this beautiful area we call home.
Di - Ana Bay.
I do love reading your magazine and am actually up-to-date at the moment. I read your story on Tar10 the jam/pickle company from Gresford. So I purchased a couple of jars of their jam and pickle to give them to my Mum for Mothers Day as I know she will love them.
Anne, Rutherford.
I just love Hunter Lifestyle - that’s why I have subscribed to make sure I do not miss an edition.
Gina.
The stories featured in the "Hunter Lifestyle magazine" give us reason to be proud of our region and its people. Marilyn, Phil and their contributors to each edition provide insight into a lifestyle that is unique to the Hunter and introduce us to inspiring locals. It is a privilege for the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) to be counted among its pages. Through the magazine, we are able to introduce you to our researchers and the generous people in our community who make their work possible. Each story we submit generates much interest and goodwill for our research; a priceless gift for which we are extremely grateful. Thank you for giving HMRI, and indeed the region, a space to tell its story over these past eight years.
Professor Maree Gleeson
Director Hunter Medical Research Institute
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Congratulations on a milestone occasion. Lexus of Newcastle has proudly been an advertiser in every edition of "Hunter Lifestyle Magazine" since its inception in March, 2003. Hunter Lifestyle Magazine filled an obvious void in the marketplace and ever since has showcased the best of the Hunter to readers living within NSW and through a nationwide subscription base.The magazine's philosophy is a perfect match with that of Lexus and that is to offer a product and service in a discerning, upmarket way. Eight years on, Hunter Lifestyle Magazine is the only magazine of its calibre, design and presentation marketed for the Hunter Region – one we can all be proud to support.It is always with pride that we associate Lexus of Newcastle's name as sponsors of any community event promoted through the magazine such as the upcoming Ultra Swing Lounge concert season at the Newcastle Civic Theatre. We look forward to our continued long association with Phil and Marilyn, publishers and editors of the magazine.
DANIEL CHALHOUB
GENERAL MANAGER
Lexus of Newcastle
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My name is Greg Wilson, and I was profiled in the 2nd edition of the Hunter Lifestyle magazine shortly after I opened my art gallery in Pokolbin. As a result of the article, new customers from around the Hunter region started visiting my business. Since appearing in the pages of the magazine, I even gained international recognition that I never dreamed was possible. A woman, on holiday from England, bought the magazine in a regional airport and then purchased three of my paintings on the strength of that article!
Right from the beginning, Hunter Lifestyle Magazine impressed me with their efficient, professional manner – approaches that not only inspired confidence, but also prompted me to begin advertising with the publication. By partnering with Hunter Lifestyle Magazine, I have been able to grow my business steadily. In addition to my Hunter gallery, I now have another gallery in Chippendale in Sydney.
I have enjoyed my long association with the magazine and look forward to our relationship continuing in the future. In the meantime, I can confidently recommend the Hunter Lifestyle Magazine to anybody wishing to market their business.
Greg Wilson
OAM
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"Kaleidoscope - John Hunter Children's Hospital has had a long association with Hunter Lifestyle Magazine. This support has provided a platform for local children's health issues and accomplishments to be conveyed specifically to the Hunter community, the community that utlises the Children's Hospital's facilities.
Marilyn and Phil have shown enormous faith and support in the services we provide, and without their continued support over the years many important milestones, achievements and stories about the unsung heroes of the children's health service would go unnoticed.
As Hunter Lifestyle Magazine turns 8 years old this edition - we would like to congratulate Marilyn and Phil for producing a magazine that truly reflects the beauty and importance of the Hunter Region. We look forward to our relationship continuing well into the future and celebrating many more milestone editions."
Lucas Coleman
Kaleidoscope
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Congratulations to you and Hunter Lifestyle Magazine on reaching another milestone.
You can be justifiably proud of the foresight, skill, tenacity and resilience you have shown over the last eight years. Running any business for that length of time, especially as successfully as you have done, is a wonderful achievement.
At Stibbard Homes we certainly value our association with your magazine. It is the only advertising medium we have used for several years and many of our clients are avid readers of Hunter Lifestyle.
Once again many congratulations. The Hunter Valley is a unique place and you have been instrumental in making a wide spectrum of readers aware of that for the past eight years.
David Stibbard
Stibbard Homes
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Congratulations to Phil, Marilyn and the whole team at "Hunter Lifestyle Magazine" on your 8th Birthday! Habitat has been with "Hunter Lifestyle" virtually from the beginning. Our shared corporate values and passion for this great region of ours makes it a great partnership that continues to go from strength to strength. Congrats again and wishing you continued success!
Kim & Mike
The Habitat
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Congratulations Phil and Marilyn on your 8th year of "Hunter Lifestyle" Magazine. We were featured in the very first edition in March 2003 and have been regular advertisers ever since. We at Villa Clone are always happy with the results of our advertising in your wonderful magazine. Brian Bird, owner Villa Clone, King Street, Newcastle.
Congratulations to the "Hunter Lifestyle" team for eight years of publications. I was so impressed with Ed. 1 that I thought this magazine could be a vehicle for local history and bushwalking. Marilyn and Phil showed great interest in my ideas. Edition 2 featured my article on Bushranger Gangs of the Hunter. This series has continued so readers can gain an appreciation of our Hunter pioneers . Hopefully many have been exploring the dozens of bushwalks described over the eight years. These walks have covered every corner of our amazingly beautiful valley. Armchair walkers can enjoy the images and layout of each article which have become hallmarks of this quality magazine. My 82-year-old mum likes reading the magazine and says that she likes to just hold it in her hands and experience the quality. I really enjoy the local content . There is always someone I know, a familiar house or product or an event that I have attended or should attend. A young work colleague always comments that rarely did an edition go by where she didn't know someone in the wedding pages. As a freelance author, I like to browse the news –stand and I note how many other regional lifestyle magazines have appeared in the last eight years, in many cases inspired by the quality and success of Hunter Lifestyle Magazine. May this attention to quality and local content, and the stamina of Marilyn and Phil Collins, keep Hunter Lifestyle going strongly for many years to come.
I am proud to have been associated with such a quality production.
Gregory Powell
Author
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Congratulations Phil and Marilyn for 8 wonderful years (and counting) of "Hunter Lifestyle Magazine". As you know we have been advertising in your prestigious magazine for eight years (how time flys), and this is the only form of advertising we use today, because it reaches our clientele so effectively.
We have people contacting us regularly, who have read our advertisement in "Hunter Lifestyle", and they comment on how professional and classy this local magazine really is. It must be very rewarding, for both of you to realise the dream of producing such an icon here in the Hunter Valley. Thank you for your professionalism and help with our advertising. Congratulations and best wishes for the next ten years or further.
Being in business for 33 years and having relied on word-of-mouth advertising, left me feeling a real novice when it came to advertising for the first time. We have a broad customer base built on a reputation of trust and integrity. My wife and our son, who is our business partner, had been trying newspaper advertising in both display and classified with very poor results. Other forms of advertising haven't worked either, so we decided to try Hunter Lifestyle Magazine, having been a regular reader and knowing the publishers personally.
Since we started advertising in this exclusive magazine, our inquires have increased by 40% and our success rate converting quotations into sales is now around 80%.
Hunter Lifestyle Magazine is the only true medium to work for our business
Owen Osborne
Osborne's Kitchens and Wardrobe World
www.osborneskitchens.com
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My relationship with the Hunter Lifestyle team began last year when they profiled a property I had designed, and subsequently won a State Design Award for. I undertook advertising in the magazine at that time and was surprised at the number of enquiries I received in response. Recently they included another feature on one of my designs, which I also capitalised on with further advertising in the magazine.
In the decade that Seaside Homes has been operating, I have never received so many enquiries directly related to one piece of advertising. I have enjoyed working with the team at Hunter Lifestyle and would encourage other businesses to consider the advantages of marketing their businesses through this publication".
Melanie Symington
Seaside Homes Design
www.seasidehomesdesign.com.au
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Habitat has been advertising consistently with Hunter Lifestyle Magazine for some years now and have found it to be an ideal fit with our marketing strategy.
We are able to promote our higher end products (furnishings and interior design) to a discerning demographic in a visual format which compliments our offering. We often have VIP events at the store and it is never a problem to secure a complimentary space in the “What’s Happening” pages of Hunter Lifestyle.
In my opinion the magazine is going from strength-to-strength and we very much hope to remain a part of its future!
Kim McFayden
Director
Habitat
www.habitatliving.com.au
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The latest issue of your magazine has just arrived at my door. As usual, a highlight of the day. Can’t wait for my nightly cup of tea and catch up with my favourite magazine. I love the feel, the smell, the endless amazing stories, and of course the magnificent homes. The only magazine where I read through and enjoy each and every advertisement.
Cheryl Rankins
Finance Manager
Goal Professional Services
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Hunter Publishing produced an article in their second anniversary issue of the Hunter Lifestyle Magazine on our tourist venture, Camelot Lavender Farm, located in the Dungog area of the Hunter Valley. This article exceeded all our expectations in everyway.
The story, presentation, and photos were all first class and the article covered three pages in the magazine so the exposure was fantastic.
The response from the article was quite incredible and certainly directly generated an increase in visitations to our farm.
Enquiries were also received from coach companies, other tourism operators and various clubs and groups which resulted in bookings for future visits.
As this is a quality "coffee table" style magazine, we feel we will continue to benefit from this exposure in the many months to come. Congratulations to Hunter Publishing for such a quality magazine. We wish them every success in the future.
Denise Gale
Director - Camelot Lavender Farm
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On behalf of the Newcastle Reserve Trust, I would like to thank you for the wonderful article and images of our exhibition "Footprints".
Many visitors to the exhibition had come directly as a result of the article and numbers since your promotion of the Heritage Centre have increased for subsequent exhibitions. Over 900 people visited the exhibition setting a new benchmark for attendance. Many thanks to Hunter Lifestyle Magazine.
Kerrie Coles
Director - John Paynter Gallery & Newcastle Police Station Museum
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I am delighted that the contribution of Hunter Lifestyle Magazine to tourism has been recognised. Every success for the future.
Sharon Grierson MP
Member for Newcastle
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I wish to say that the feature article was a huge success to our business. The article was presented in a professional and interesting manner. Large and eye catching pictures were used making it a very presentable article.
Our advertisement was also well presented with a great deal of extra care taken on the finer details. The weekend after the article appeared, we had a huge influx of customers. Many said they came as a result of the feature article which they read.
We had a lot of customers who travelled from up the valley, who would otherwise not have known about us. They all commented as to how they enjoyed reading the article.
The final gauge is the cash till, as June is traditionally a poor retail month. Well, that weekend was the second best ever (just after the release of the magazine) - our best being our grand opening last October.
Thank you for sharing our success.
George Burke
Proprietor - Coliseum Antiques, Mayfield
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Our relationship with Hunter Lifestyle Magazine began when their Associate Editor, Marilyn Collins showed interest in supporting our Service's 30th Anniversary .
Subsequently, we have formed a partnership that has resulted in the publication of a magnificent feature story on the Service's 30 years of operation. The magazine has also been active in publicising our events and providing fundraising support.
All of this activity has created greater awareness in the community of the importance of the Service to people in the region. We are excited and fortunate to be involved with a well respected and prestigious magazine.
Even in the first week after the release of the edition, we were receiving feedback from the story. Thank you very much.
Phil Williams, Business Manager
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Broadmeadow, NSW.
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Hunter Lifestyle Magazine has a long table life that when combined with a realistic contributors deadline ensures it's regular feature pages on Hunter Arts remain in front of readers for long and effective period of time. The magazine has been particularly supportive in its coverage of performing arts events and has elsewhere in its pages done much to bring forward many of the leading performing arts personalities amongst us.
Further the regular coverage has always been extensive and of a high quality, ranging from the high profile touring productions to the opening of the refurbished Playhouse where new local productions are being presented.
The publishers of the Hunter Lifestyle Magazine Phil and Marilyn Collins are unique in that they produced ULTRA SWING LOUNGE.
Anyone who knows about producing a major professional standard stage show understands just how risky such an exercise is.
The show provided an extraordinary opportunity for the talents of young Hunter performers, it toured successfully and presented two sold out season at the Civic Theatre Newcastle, all to audience acclaim and standing ovations.
Such commitment by a magazine and its publishers to the performing arts at a local or community level is simply unprecedented in my experience.
Daniel Ballantyne
Civic Precinct ManagerCivic Precinct Newcastle
City Hall. Civic Theatre. Playhouse. Wheeler Place
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We were delighted with the quality and content of the article on our olive grove at Hillsborough (Maitland) in the June/July edition of Hunter Lifestyle Magazine.
The interest into a professional and yet warm article that we are proud to have published and to pass on to colleagues and friends both here and overseas.
In fact, we bought out all stock in the Rutherford newsagency on Saturday and copies are being sent to Cornwall, Bath, Canada and Naples this week! I must say that being in the issue with the beautiful cover was an added bonus.
The magazine certainly looks ‘up there’ with the likes of the perhaps more well-known lifestyle magazines such as Belle and Vogue Living that you would expect to find on newsagency shelves in any major CBD or airport area.
Having an article published has certainly given us the confidence and impetus to move on the next stage of our development, and we have just registered a regional brand name with another Hunter olive grove colleague.
All the very best for the continuing success of Hunter Lifestyle Magazine – it’s certainly a winner!
Reina French and Phillip Bassett
Hillsborough Grange and Olive Grove Hillsborough Via Maitland.
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I wish to thank the Hunter Lifestyle Magazine for their fantastic editorial on my B&B operation here at Barrington.
The article presented a concise description of my business, and along with the beautifully produced photographs gave a clear insight to potential guests.
Following the publication highlighting the Gloucester district, many inquiries and bookings made reference to the magazine story.
This indicates wide readership appeal and interest in the Hunter Hunter Lifestyle Magazine. Well done!
Lyn Phillips, Barnhouse Bed & Breakfast
Barrington Village, NSW.
