Between the city and the farm
Step into the Thebarton home of children’s book author Sinead Saint as she hosts a lunch that pays tribute to her country roots.
When guests visit Sinead Saint in her Thebarton home, they’re immediately and boisterously greeted by George and Daisy. The groodle and the vizsla are, of course, today’s welcoming committee for a dinner party hosted by Sinead and her husband, Jordan.
It’s been a big few days for Sinead – she’s celebrated her birthday, George’s birthday and is about to hit the road for a big week at Lake Eyre for her role as PR manager for the South Australian Tourism Commission. But most excitingly of all, she held the launch of her children’s book, George Goes to the Farm.
Because of the book, George’s star is rising, and he’s relishing every moment.
It all started with the click of a phone camera on Sinead’s family farm near Naracoorte in the state’s South East. Sinead captured this wonderful moment of George amongst a mob of sheep. He was only visible in the sea of lightly-toned fluffy animals because he’s happily poking his head up, tongue flapping out of his mouth – completely in his element.
“More than any of the working dogs, as soon as anyone is up, he’s going with them,” Sinead says. “He’s on the back of the ute and he wants to be doing and seeing everything.”
One day, Sinead was helping her dad, Michael, bring a mob of sheep into the shearing shed when George broke free from where he was locked up.
“Dad thought he would mess everything up because he’s a silly dog. George ran down to the sheep yards, cut the mob in half and chased them into the shearing shed.
“We thought his days on the farm were numbered, but then the second half just calmly followed him in because they were so confused wondering if he was a dog or a sheep. They follow him around like the pied piper.
“It escalated and there was a bit of a spark of an idea about a city dog who has no idea what he’s doing.”
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For years after that first photo was taken, Sinead spent spare moments writing and illustrating.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” Sinead says. “I’ve always been writing and drawing and creating art.”
In fact, most of the bright, large-scale art in Sinead’s home is her own. Jordan recalls his wife scribbling away in the passenger seat while they traversed the Simpson Desert, and while they sat in the glow of campfires on a holiday.
“I’m just so proud; it’s been a lot of hard work and a long time coming,” Jordan says.
Once the idea was there, Sinead says she thought about her own favourite childhood books and knew she wanted hers to be rhyming, and she wanted the pictures to be her own watercolour paintings.
Her first stop was a friend, who was working for a large publishing house at the time and has since founded her own South Australian publishing company, Pink Shorts Press.
“She had a look and sent it to the children’s team. They didn’t end up publishing it, but they did give me some edits, such as developing out George’s city life.”
After countless changes to the story and pictures, Sinead signed with Wild Dog Books, an independent publisher based in Melbourne.
Then in July this year, around six years from the inception, Sinead finally launched the book. The farm that features in the book is the place where Sinead herself grew up.
“My best friends were my dog and my horse and it just felt like the best childhood,” she says.
Sinead’s father is a fifth-generation farmer and she and Jordan try to go back every few weeks to visit – and Jordan likes to try to get involved.
“I try to do a bit around the farm – I’m probably a bit like George, really. You go down with the best intentions, you probably make work harder for everybody, but you have a good time doing it and think that you’re helping.”
Today’s lunch has a decidedly country feel, complete with pastel gingham placemats beneath crockery from In the Roundhouse and flowers repurposed from Sinead’s birthday.
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Farm-fresh lamb is roasting in the oven while one of the guests, Sinead’s school friend Anjelica Bloem – or Jels – helps to prepare the rest of the menu.
Jels owns Jels Catering, and today, she’s helped to create a menu with some of Sinead’s favourite things, which have a homely, country feel, but with elevated elements.
“We’re not breaking ground – it’s not pretentious food, just delicious food,” Jels says.
“We don’t want to spend all of our weekends in the kitchen, but this is relatively easy and fresh.”
Sinead has put together a grazing board, and Jels has plated a burrata with blood orange from Sinead’s family farm, which guests enjoy outside with a glass of Champagne, crowded around the converted shearing table from the farm, which is more than 100 years old.
In the oven, Jels warms some already-roasted salt and vinegar potatoes, inspired by a dish at 2KW, which is one of Sinead’s favourites. For some greenery, there’s a wedge salad with romaine lettuce and crispy chilli, and charred broccolini with a romesco sauce inspired by a dish at Coccobello. To finish, Jels has made a blood orange syrup almond cake, inspired by the whole orange cake recipe from Recipe Tin Eats.
But today, the human guests aren’t the only ones in attendance – Sinead has made a special dog treat with rolled oats and chicken stock. Sinead’s former colleague, Michelle Morrison, who is now the head of communications at Westminster School, is on the lawn, feeding the very grateful George and Daisy.
Michelle, who is heavily invested in the children’s book world, with three children, aged five, six and seven, says she’s so proud of her friend’s achievement.
“It’s so authentic and it’s so wonderful watching my children see this book come to life, because they know George and as city kids, they get to see little pieces of the farm,” Michelle says.
“I think it’s pretty inspiring to see someone who has her day job follow through with this labour of love.”
Also here is Katherine Lea, group accountant from Yumbah Aquaculture, which spawns and grows abalone and produces oyster spat here in South Australia.
Rounding out the guests is Jels’ husband, Elliot Bloem, who founded mortgage broking firm, Loan Theory. Elliot has his hands full with the couple’s 10-month-old baby Harrison, while Jels has her hands full with lunch.
When they all sit down at Sinead and Jordan’s table, it’s a chance to toast the new author – and the silly city groodle that made it all possible.
This article first appeared in the August 2025 issue of SALIFE magazine.
