It was a chance to return to the region that shaped her and celebrate the rural lifestyle that continues to inspire her work.
The former Deniliquin local was the compere for the fashion parades and fashion awards at the field days - an event that attracted 55,000 visitors and featured a record 896 exhibitors.
“It was an absolute honour to be chosen to compere the fashion parades and awards at Henty,” Ms Christian said.
“It’s such an incredible event, celebrating Australian agriculture, rural communities and country lifestyle, and I was thrilled to play a part in it.”
While much has changed since her childhood in Deniliquin, Ms Christian says her connection to the town remains as strong as ever.
“I was lucky enough to grow up in Deniliquin, and in my humble opinion, there has never been a better town,” she said.
Her early years were spent at Deniliquin North Public School before attending Deniliquin High School and later Melbourne Grammar.
A self-described enthusiast for trying everything, Ms Christian immersed herself in sport and the arts.
“Netball, tennis, basketball, waterskiing and softball kept me busy, along with 10 years in the dramatic club.
“But my greatest love was ballet, and I was fortunate enough to audition successfully for the Victorian College of the Arts.”
Many of her fondest memories centre on life along the Edward River.
“If I had to pick the memories that really stand out, some of my happiest days were spent on houseboats and water skiing,” she said.
“Those days on the river were simply magical - sunshine, water, family and friends, plenty of laughter and that wonderful feeling of being young and carefree.”
Ms Christian credits a number of influential figures from her childhood for helping shape the person she would become, including former teachers, sporting mentors and arts leaders.
“But my greatest mentor was my grandmother, Norma Byrne. Her influence and unconditional love have stayed with me throughout my life.
“I was fortunate to have some remarkable people influence my life, including my standout North School teacher, Mr Twist, and our unforgettable principal, Bob Hawke.
“I also admired and respected so many people in the community who contributed to sport and the arts, notably Val Keech and Loris Wills for netball, and Mary Barnes and Wendy Beck for the dramatic club.”
After first leaving Deniliquin in 1990, and later departing permanently in 1998 to explore the world, Ms Christian lived on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne and travelled extensively through Europe and America with “lifelong friend” Andrea Jarratt.
Fashion became her lifelong career.
Now with four decades of experience in fashion and retail, she has owned five fashion stores and is preparing to launch a new fashion brand in 2027 inspired by Australian pastoral heritage.
Drawing on her Riverina upbringing, the brand will champion timeless Australian style through pieces designed to endure and be worn for generations.
Although her work and family commitments with son Sebastian mean visits home are less frequent, Ms Christian's ties to Deniliquin remain strong, with her parents, aunties and uncles still living in the district.
And despite seeing much of the world, she says nothing compares to the community she grew up in.
“I have been lucky enough to see much of the world, but one thing remains certain: the people of Deniliquin are still the best people I have ever known,” she said.
“There is something special about Deni people — their warmth, generosity, humour, loyalty and genuine sense of community.
“You can travel the world, live in big cities and meet people from all walks of life, but there is a quality about the people of Deniliquin that I have never quite found anywhere else.
“To me, it is truly incomparable.”
For Ms Christian, Deniliquin is more than a place remembered fondly from childhood.
“I may have left town, but a little piece of me stayed behind.
“Deniliquin is more than the town where I grew up. It is home - and wherever life takes me, Deni is where my heart lives.”
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