'Who is this man' I have often heard asked? What is his claim to fame? I aspire to no notoriety - I just have a passion for what I do and where I live, and am abundantly blessed to be able to combine the two, touching the loves of others in the process as I champion the cause of putting one's heart into one's home ... to celebrate its true meaning and value.

When I set out to undertake formal studies in the area of journalism and communications many moons ago, I knew I wanted to ultimately 'write country', but exactly how, when and where were certainly unclear in those formative years. Once I gained my degree I launched into a career in public relations, took a side track for a few years in the rag trade where I had my own clothing label, and then came back to journalism where I wrote, amongst other things, a regional title called Farmers & Graziers.

A love of the rural way was thus instilled. But not so much a hankering to don an Akubra and graze 1000 head of cattle, but more a passion to pursue a career investigating and writing about the look that is so firmly rooted in the countryside; is inspired by the colours and materials of Nature; and is continually evolving, exciting  and vibrant.

Such a passion ultimately led me to conceive and launch onto the Australian market the hugely-successful Australian Country Collections, a magazine which held my attention, and my heart, for over 10 years and 39 issues! But if it's true that with 40 comes a mid-life crisis and a hankering for change and new directions, then a mid-life magazine crisis was certainly had as I ultimately decided to face the new (and I'll admit initially daunting) challenge of translating passion, skills and experiences to a fresh and exciting medium - the web. And so www.rickrutherford.com came into being.

Then in early 2005 my very own national title Rick Rutherford's Country was launched. The bimonthly magazine quickly earned the same strong and dedicated following I experienced when running Australian Country Collections. To this band of wonderful readers across the nation and even in far-flung reaches overseas, I will always be indebted.

But life continues to change and is ever offering many new challenges. One such challenge has been the translation of Rick Rutherford's Country from printed title to Australia's first online country magazine. It is been an exciting new frontier to forge, and a new phase in life, as I have had the unique opportunity to reach a much broader audience across the globe.

The ultimate challenge however came about in late 2007 when I embraced the opportunity to finally translate 'words into reality' and establish Rick Rutherford's Country - The Australian Country Collections Shoppe within a wonderful heritage building in the very heart of the NSW Blue Mountains. This has become the main focus of my business activities at present, combined with a regular monthly column for Australian Country Craft & Decorating, and work on a new book to be called Rick Rutherford's Country Inspirations and Sentiments. Indeed life is full, rich and rewarding, the greatest blessing being the kindred hearts with whom I continue to connect via the various professional interests with which I am involved.