Bendigo Magazine - Issue 56 - Spring 2019 by Bendigo Magazine

ISSUE 56 | SPRING 2019 www.bendigomagazine.com.au

WHEEL REVEAL OUR QUIRKIEST CAR UNVEILED

LOCAL WIZARDRY WICKED WAYS ON STAGE

dachshund dash MEET THE SNAGS

ISSN 1833-1289 AUD $5.95 (Inc. GST)

true colours SHERRI PARRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN TUNE

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dear reader, I once had a little sausage dog called Pat. Pat the Dog. I only had him for six years, but he left me with a lifetime of stories. Like the day he ate an entire bag of dry dog food and ended up the shape of a Sherrin. (Most of the memories involve food.) While I don’t miss his 3am barkfests or his couch gas bombs or his stubborn refusal to follow any sort of law and order in the house, I do dearly miss him. And so it was such a pleasure to spend a Sunday morning in the company of the Bendigo and Surrounds Dachshund Group, where we met a whole hoard of little snags and their proud owners in Harcourt Park. See their story within. Also this issue we cover ghost busting, witch hunting, rare breed farming, coffee brewing and chip chewing. We bring you the story of a Kangaroo Flat man’s quest to build his dream machine and cover a young Dja Dja Wurrung woman’s drive to foster her culture. We sing the praises of one of Bendigo’s favourite musos, plus open the doors of a glamourous new build. Eclectic, hey. You could go as far as calling this issue a bit of a mystery bag… bringing us right back to sausages. Appropriate, as the barbecue weather is just around the corner. Wishing you good times with family and friends, fury or otherwise, this spring.

LAUREN MITCHELL

EDITOR Lauren Mitchell PHOTOGRAPHER Leon Schoots CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dustin Schilling WRITERS Sarah Harris, Geoff Hocking, John Holton, Kate O’Connor, Raelee Tuckerman, Dale Webster and Marina Williams CONTRIBUTORS Beau Cook, Lisa Chesters, Justin McPhail and Ashley Raeburn EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER Ashley Taylor PRINT MANAGER Nigel Quirk ADVERTISING advertising@bendigomagazine.com.au PO Box 5003 Bendigo, VIC 3550 Phone: 0438 393 198

Bendigo Magazine takes all care but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Bendigo Magazine holds copyright to all content unless otherwise stated. ISSN 1833-1289. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. The views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or the publisher.

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events

September 14th - 15th Bendigo Gem Club Expo 757 McIvor Hwy, Junortoun www.gembendigo.org.au

PEOPLE & LIFE 33

contents

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bendigo’s bright spark - Sherri Parry

Flat whites and farm life - Kerry Punton

Truly wicked - Bendigo Theatre Company

106 A spirited life

- Dark tourism

A rare breed - Katy Brown Culture takes centre stage - Racquel Kerr The long and short of it - Dachshunds and their owners Ruffell’s in the pink - Pink diamonds Local schools need their libraries - Lisa Chesters Evening up the numbers - Emily Goode The naked truth - Jesse Gollan Watching telly with grandma - Bendigo memories Tracking fashion - Spring fashion Wedding feature - Emma & Jac Wedding feature - Chloe & Tyler

102 Set in stone

- Home feature

110 Three-wheel reveal - Gil Wicks

September 22 Bendi-Con The Bendigo Expo Centre www.bendigoregion.com.au September 22 - November 30 Homage to Style Exhibition 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo www.bendigoregion.com.au September 26 Ride Like a Girl Opening Night Bendigo Cinemas www.country.racing.com/bendigo October 4-12 Bendigo Uncorked Week www.bendigowine.org.au From October 4 Fridays After Five Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion www.bendigoartgallery.com.au October 5 Dinner with the Vines Mandurang Valley Wines www.bendigoregion.com.au October 8 Wine Themed Movie Night Star Cinema www.bendigoregion.com.au October 19 Beach Party Race Day Bendigo Jockey Club www.country.racing.com/bendigo October 19 On The Wing Festival Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk www.onthewingfestival.com October 25 The Bendigo Agricultural Show Bendigo Prince of Wales Showgrounds www.bendigoshowgrounds.com

FOOD & WINE 88

Sipping in the springtime - Ashley Raeburn Spring spuds - Beau Cook

94 Beer

- Justin McPhail

October 30 Jayco Bendigo Cup Bendigo Jockey Club www.country.racing.com/bendigo November 5 Girton Headmaster’s Tour Girton Grammar School www.girton.vic.edu.au November 22 Movember Comedy Festival The Engine Room www.bendigoregion.com.au

ON THE COVER Sherri Parry tried wearing all black once. She says it seriously affected her mood, so back to colours it was. The 21-year-old Bendigo musician is a bright spark on the local scene, with her ever-changing hair colour and Doc Martens boot collection. “It makes me feel inspired, youthful and bright,” she says of her signature look. “And I think that translates through my music on stage. Although sometimes it pulls me further into the ‘fairy’ aesthetic too. I’m very content with both.” How could we not put Sherri on the cover for this, our spring issue? She’s bringing us out of the bleakness and into the light of a new season, and for that we say thanks! 8

TIME TO WINE DOWN Pop your cork and have fun at Bendigo Uncorked Week from October 4-12. An entire week of local wine and food (including one massive moveable wine feast!), Bendigo Uncorked Week will showcase Bendigo’s best local drops, luxe dining experiences and gold rush architecture. If you’re the need-for-speed type, Heritage After Dark at the Discovery Centre is a must – the high-speed Vertical Drop is open for you to reach up to 40 km/h. If you like wine and beer, take part in the 2019 Wine vs Beer degustation dinner. The week also includes a wine and cheese pairing, intimate wine dinners, wine on a vintage Bendigo tram and a wine-themed movie night.

cheers to spring

We’re celebrating some of the best things in regional life this season; art, wine, music and good time with the ones we love. READY FOR RACE ACTION As country Victoria’s premier racing event, this year’s Jayco Bendigo Cup will feature more than $350,000 in prize money. Set for October 30, punters can expect a quality field of word-class stayers keen to show their form in the Group 3 event and secure a last-minute spot in the Lexus Melbourne Cup that will be held six days later. Grab your family and friends and book your spot trackside with a hospitality package or go DIY with picnic and throw rug. There’s plenty of fashions on show, with this year’s theme being ‘The Country Comes Alive’. To find out more, phone 5448 4209 or visit countryracing.com.au

DEFINING COMMUNITY THROUGH ART Batik, a technique of wax-resist dyeing, has been helping Indigenous women tell stories of their heritage since 1971. Desert Lines: Batik from Central Australia brings together about 60 selected works from the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria on show at Bendigo Art Gallery. Each artwork illustrates the unique and distinct batik styles of five central desert communities: Ernabella (Pukatja), Fregon (Kaltjiti), Utopia, Yuendumu and Kintore (Walungurru). Each community approaches batik in artistically distinct ways, and the medium affords women an opportunity to meet, exchange stories, sing and make art. It parallels their painting up big for inma, awely and yawulyu ceremonies, telling sand stories, going hunting and sharing bush foods. The art of desert women in any medium is empowered by an understanding of sacred sites and the ancestral world. The exhibition highlights the significance of batik work for women of the desert and enables links to be made between batiks and paintings of Pitjantjatjara, Anmatyerr, Alyawarr, Walpiri and Pintupi artists. It also reveals differences in iconography, subject matter, palette and approaches to the hot wax and painting mediums across time and space. The exhibition is open until November 17.

It’s not all indoors though – Handle Bar will be stocked with Killiecrankie Wines for a night of live music and there’s Heritage Uncorked which grabs our attention every year. Heritage Uncorked, is the city’s moveable wine feast. Stroll between seven of Bendigo’s famous historic landmarks, tasting local wines and sampling food at each venue. With more than 60 wines on display and regionally sourced food, you can dive into the city’s wine and foodie culture. What we love is that Heritage Uncorked is an event with a relaxing pace, allowing you to stroll from one venue to the next when you’re ready to discover more wine, food and heritage. Tickets to all Bendigo Uncorked Week events are on sale now from www.bendigotourism.com

PANNING SHED OPENS There’s a rustic new function space available for hire in Bendigo that is ideal for birthdays, engagements and Christmas celebrations. The Panning Shed at Central Deborah Gold Mine has been transformed into a unique venue, giving you the opportunity to celebrate a special occasion while immersing your guests in Bendigo’s rich gold rush history. Having a function amongst the old mining machinery, with the poppet head towering above, provides an atmosphere that can’t be experienced anywhere else. Suited to parties of anywhere from 40 up to 150 people, you will be able to invite all of your nearest and dearest. The private venue boasts a fully licensed bar and the opportunity to cater your own food or hire a food-truck! The venue is fully accessible, has lots of parking available and you can even choose which colour to light up the poppet head. For a unique twist, an underground mine tour can be added on to the start of your function or maybe you would prefer to arrive aboard one of Bendigo’s famous heritage trams! For full details visit central-deborah.com or phone the friendly Central Deborah Gold Mine team to make an enquiry on 5443 8255.

YOUTH VOICES RISE

Image courtesy Andrew Perryman - Bendigo Weekly

Past and current members of the Bendigo Youth Choir will unite to celebrate its 35th anniversary on Saturday, November 16, from 10am - 4.30pm. The group will sing and record ‘The Letter’ by Valmai Harris, before an evening Cabaret from 7pm - 9pm at the St Andrew’s Uniting Church, which has been home to the choir from the beginning. On Sunday, November 17, there will be a concert for all supporters and friends of the choir at St Paul’s Cathedral at 2pm. The concert will feature performances and messages from past choristers who have established careers in music, here and around the world. Following the concert will be the book launch of ‘Forget Me Not’ by Valmai Harris. Founder and artistic director Valerie Broad OAM is looking forward to welcoming back returning BYC choristers. Visit the Bendigo Youth Choir celebrates 35 years Facebook page for more details.

YOUNG MUSICIANS PLAY Bendigo Symphony Orchestra will showcase the next generation of local musical talent at The Capital on Sunday, October 13, at 2.30pm. The Young Persons Concerto Concert features solos by six gifted Central Victorian musicians – Noah Lawrence (cello); Anika Weibgen (oboe); Alicia Parry (tuba); Archie Bate (cello); Lily Begg (piano); and Blaze Houlden (saxophone). Led by new musical director Luke Severn, the orchestra will play works by Haydn, Boccherini, Elgar, Piazzolla, Grieg, Vaughan-Williams and Tchaikovsky, and each young soloist will perform a movement from their chosen concerto. Tickets are available at the door or through GoTix. Adults $25, concession $20, secondary students $10, primary students free.

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CHEERS TO 50 FABULOUS YEARS For half a century Balgownie Estate Wines has been part of many occasions, and to celebrate regional wine lovers are invited to join in the party on November 16. Festivities at the Maiden Gully vineyard begin with the free family event, the 50th Anniversary Festival Day, followed by a special Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner. The family day, from 11am to 4pm, is set to feature cellar door tastings, local produce tasting boards, a wine blending masterclass, live music, lawn games and face painting for the kids. “We want to invite all of the local Bendigo community to come and celebrate with us and to meet the people and the characters behind the winery, sample some stunning wine and celebrate us being part of the local Bendigo community for the past 50 years,” says chief winemaker Tony Winspear, who is celebrating 25 years at the winery. Later that night, the Golden Anniversary Gala Dinner will showcase some of estate’s finest wines that have produced across the years, and offer guests the chance to meet Balgownie Estate’s winemakers, hear about its history and learn about the modernday operations ... all while enjoying a four-course meal.

SONGS INSPIRE CABARET SHOW The cabaret musical Lady Beatle is sure to bring out the emotions and love of The Beatles. Starring Australian entertainer Naomi Price (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ladies in Black and Rumour Has It), Lady Beatle is billed as a ‘rollicking magical mystery tour’, with the vocalist as the titular character, who introduces the audience to the characters featured in the Fab Four’s biggest hits, including Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, Blackbird, Here Comes the Sun, With A Little Help From My Friends and Penny Lane.

Balgownie Estate Bendigo is the oldest operating commercial vineyard in the region and has been producing wines since the spring of 1969. Set on 70 acres in Maiden Gully, the independentlyowned vineyard is known for its big reds with five acres of cabernet and shiraz vines. Find out more at balgownieestatebendigo.com.

The vocalist created the show with Adam Brunes, and with a virtuosic band of Australia’s top musicians reimagine and reinterpret the songs through original arrangements. The show is from acclaimed production house The Little Red Company, with the Bendigo performance at Ulumbarra Theatre on October 8 midway through a national tour. “When Adam and I delved into The Beatles’ remarkable catalogue to create the show, we discovered their world was populated with seemingly ordinary people – the barber, banker, fireman and nurse in Penny Lane; the meter maid star of Lovely Rita; the teenage runaway who inspired She’s Leaving Home – ordinary people who have unknowingly become part of an extraordinary musical and cultural legacy,” Price says. “Lady Beatle is our homage to these characters and others whose stories might never have been told were it not for four ordinary lads from Liverpool.” Tickets at www.gotix.com.au

RECLAIMING CULTURE Ganesh Versus the Third Reich is poignant, heartwarming, beautiful, disarming and full of vulnerability and sly transparency. The story follows the elephant-headed god Ganesh travelling through Nazi Germany to reclaim the swastika, an ancient Hindu symbol. As this intrepid hero embarks on his journey, a second narrative is revealed: the actors themselves begin to feel the weighty responsibility of storytellers and question the ethics of cultural appropriation. Whilst in Bendigo for the remount of the award-winning Ganesh Versus the Third Reich, Back to Back Theatre and local contemporary arts company CreateAbility will once again bring their ensembles together for an exploratory performance workshop, continuing the long history of collaboration between the two companies. 14

Ganesh Versus the Third Reich is running on November 19 and 20 at Ulumbarra Theatre.

sounds of music Victoria’s biggest home-grown blues and roots festival is once again ready to excite the soul of thousands as it hits Bendigo. For nine years artists have shared their love of music with fans at venues big and small across the city for the Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival.

and above), such as the Blues Boot Camp. Wayne Jury will host the aspirant camp at The Engine Room on Thursday and Friday.

Organisers bill this year’s line-up of 140 acts as a treasure trove of discovery, with international musicians from Canada, Germany and New Zealand joining talent from across Australia at more than 40 venues from November 7 to 10.

Popular local acts will open shows for internationally renowned headliners John Butler and The Waifs at Ulumbarra Theatre on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

The ongoing success of the four-day celebration, organisers say, is due to its broad appeal to people of all ages, and its philosophy of being a community event. “It’s a predominantly free, grass-roots, community event that gives music fans and community members the opportunity to enjoy world-class music, with a focus on local and independent talent from the blues and roots genres,” says Colin Thompson, Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival director. “We hope everyone helps make them all feel welcome and appreciated.” A highlight event is the day-long, family friendly concert that will feature more than 12 acts on two stages in picturesque Rosalind Park on November 9. Along with blues and roots performances, the festival will feature open mic opportunities for music fans, jam sessions, workshops and activities for the younger musicians (aged 12

“Being able to include John Butler and The Waifs in our 2019 line up is obviously an eyeopener for punters who may not be familiar with our event,” Colin says. “We anticipate it should bring some extra attention and increased visitation to Bendigo over the second weekend in November and that’s a boost for all festival venues and the Bendigo economy.” For those who love their music on the go, the iconic Blues Tram will run four times across the weekend with eight concerts scheduled from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Organisers expect shows to sell out and encourage fans to book their seats early or miss out. Along with concerts indoors at venues such as the historic Hotel Shamrock, the Bendigo Art Gallery, there also will be street parties in Bull Street (hosted by The Metro) and Water Street (hosted by The Bridge Hotel). And the music branches outside the CBD with events set for White Hills, Golden Square, Quarry Hill, Long Gully and Kangaroo Flat, as well as Ravenswood, Cornella and Maldon.

“As always the festival’s volunteer crew is extremely grateful to the music lovers who come along to enjoy all the events; but much thanks also must go to our supporters, the sponsors, and the small business operators and venues who host the performances that make up the festival program,” Colin says. “We hope music fans enjoy the festival.” Download the 2019 BB&RMF app for Apple and Android to search for your favourite blues and roots artist. For your full gig guide head to the Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival visit bendgobluesandroots.com.au. 15

LOCALS SUPPORT KIDS UNDER COVER For young people at risk of homelessness, space is life changing. For 30 years, not-for-profit charity Kids Under Cover has been dedicated to preventing youth homelessness by supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged young people between the ages of 12 and 25, who are either already homeless or at risk of homelessness. At the heart of this work is its Studio Program. With the added support of charity partner Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, Kids Under Cover builds one or two-bedroom studios, with bathroom, in the back yard of a family or carer’s home. The units enable young people to have some space in what may be a crowded home, yet continue to live in a secure and stable environment with their family or guardians, instead of risking homelessness. The charity is the only organisation of its type in Australia delivering the unique combination of studio accommodation and education scholarships as a practical and proven strategy in preventing youth homelessness.

business takes care Local businesses talk home, health and education, good food, good wood and all care for the community. HELPING OLDER RESIDENTS AT HOME Older people living at home can access Home Care Packages through Bendigo Health to help them maintain their independence. The packages are designed to help them live at home safely and independently while remaining active in the community. Local people deliver services that include: • Help with showering and dressing; • Cleaning and laundry; • Allied health services, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy; • Nursing care; • Meal preparation; and • Attending social engagements. “We have experienced, professional and friendly staff who work in partnership with older people and their families,” says Bendigo Health’s Ellen Gilbert. “With Bendigo Health Home Care Packages, you have someone assigned to specifically support you.” People who have been approved for a Home Care Package can begin services with Bendigo Health Home Care Packages immediately. Packages can be tailored to individual needs to ensure each person can “live the life you want to live”. For more information contact Ellen Gilbert at Bendigo Health Community Care Services on 03 5454 7833.

Each year, during National Homeless Persons Week in August, Choice Hotels and its franchisees donate $2 from every room booked each night to Kids Under Cover to cover the cost of building a studio, with staff also on hand to help with construction. The two organisations recently delivered a studio unit to two young boys and their support family in Bendigo. Kristyn and Josh from Comfort Inn Julie-Anna are proud supporters of the program. They have lent their support to the fundraising and the studio build, learning some new trade skills while giving back to their community. They are proud to support the Kids Under Cover program. To find out more, visit www.kuc.org.au.

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RAY WHITE BENDIGO, AND THE CARTHEW FAMILY... A local family helping other families find their ideal home is the speciality of Ed, Xavier and Jane Carthew. The family has had extensive history in delivering high-level customer service through a business spanning over 30 years in central Victoria.

SCHOOL OFFERS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM The Creek Street Christian College is expanding to offer the Year 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate Diploma. The internationally recognised qualification focuses on teaching students to think critically and independently, and how to enquire with care and logic.

“We wanted to work for the biggest and the best at looking after families” says Xavier and Ed. “Buying and selling property can be a major step in people’s lives. You need to know you have the right people looking after your needs. We never forget that we work for the seller for the best possible outcome.

The diploma program, in particular, is for students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically. It is offered globally to state-supported, independent and international schools.

“We use the extensive data resources that Ray White Corporate has accumulated over the last 100 years as a wholly owned family company to deliver up-to-date pricing and sales techniques to achieve the best outcome for our clients” Ed adds.

The inter denominational Creek Street Christian College was established by Creek Street Church in 1981, to give Christian families a Christ-centred environment in which their children can grow, develop and learn.

Ed, Xavier and Jane work exclusively with a limited number of vendors at one time, to ensure quality service and continuous contact. Every property listed is put in front of the Ray White Group database to capture a vast number of buyers, locally and interstate.

It has over 300 students enrolled from pre-kinder to Year 10, and aims to provide a high standard of education to students while reflecting a contemporary curriculum across its junior, middle and senior school to support each child’s personal and character development. The college encourages and supports students to develop a positive and wholesome outlook on life, to become self-disciplined people and to be responsible and caring members of the community. Creek Street Christian College’s purpose statement is ‘Helping students discover all God made them to be’ through the values of devotion, integrity service, compassion, optimism, vision, excellence and respect. In undertaking the International Baccalaureate Diploma, students will be able to complete independent research and a project that often involves community service. To enquire about enrolment, visit www.creekstreet.vic.edu.au.

The Ray White Group has awarded the Bendigo office, and the Carthews, multiple 10/10 Certificates following feedback from satisfied vendors and purchasers. Ray White is the largest seller of residential real estate in Australasia.

“We will always ring you back” is the catchphrase of this dynamic trio, delivering excellent outcomes for vendors and purchasers.

DISCOVER NEW LIFE TIMBER New Life Timber, built to fit your needs. The small team of craftspeople specialise in creating furniture from new and reclaimed timber, with the final product finished using only ecofriendly oils. “Our focus is on designing and crafting that perfect piece for our customers” says director Brendan Ryan. “Everything is made in Bendigo and all timber is sustainably sourced.” Brendan is a Bendigo local, having grown up in the city before spending time in Melbourne perfecting his craft. “Now, I’ve moved back to supply Bendigo people with beautiful hand-crafted furniture,” he says. “We want to educate and show people that it doesn’t cost any more to get a custom piece made, that is unique and perfect for their needs. If you’re seeking inspiration, New Life Timber’s large, on-site showroom has an array of furniture on display, from cabinets and tables to vanities and sideboards. “Or feel free to email us or bring in a photo or page from a magazine to discuss your ideas,” adds Brendan. “There’s no charge for a quote or design appointment.” They also offer flexible interest free payment plans. The showroom at 2 Hinch Court, Bendigo, is open weekdays from 10am-5.00pm and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. You can also book a free design appointment by phoning 5400 2001. For inspiration visit www.newlifetimber.com.au.

SCHNITZ DELIVERS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY For more than two years, Schnitz has been bringing Central Victorian families and friends to the table to share a meal. With a wide range of schnitzels on the menu, each is handcrumbed and pan cooked in a special way to seal in the flavour, then served with the freshest local ingredients. It’s a proven recipe that ensures the restaurant remains a favourite destination of many, says Daniel de Vries from the Bendigo restaurant.

CT CARDIAC CALCIUM SCORE CAN HELP PREDICT YOUR RISK Are you concerned about your heart health? Is there history of heart disease or stroke in your family? Then the team at High St X-Ray can assist you with a CT Cardiac Calcium score. A CT Cardiac Calcium score is a safe, non-invasive test used to provide an estimation of the amount of coronary artery plaque you may have, by identifying the extent of calcified coronary artery plaque. A CT (computed tomography) machine is used to take a scan of the heart. The entire test is very quick and easy. This examination can help assess the risk of a possible heart attack or stroke within a five-year period – the more plaque the higher the risk of an adverse cardiac event. “Calcium Scoring helps reclassify patients into either lower risk, with the potential saving of minimizing therapy, or higher risk groups where early and more aggressive therapies may lead to improved outcomes.” High St X-Ray’s Dr. Richard Ussher said. With a team of skilled Radiologists, proficient in many areas including cardiac imaging, talk to your doctor today for a referral to High St X-Ray. Find out more at www.highstxray.com.au.

“With a proven menu offering quality, we appeal to everyone,” Daniel says. “Everything is hand-made, and the team focuses on a quick lunch or dinner for one or two to catering for large groups.” In response to changing diner eating habits, Schnitz revamped its menu earlier this year to introduce gluten-friendly and vegan food options, including mayonnaise, cheese, mozzarella and parmigiana. “This enables us to cater for a greater cross-section in the community, so it’s great that a large organisation such as Schnitz is acknowledging what people want and need so they can go out and join in sharing a meal with others,” he says. Delivery is a popular option for people wanting good food yet unable to visit or when catering for a function. The Bendigo store is a proud supporter of local suppliers and its beverage menu features Brookes Bendigo Pale Ale, Brookes Bendigo Draught alongside Harcourt ciders. “We are the schnitzel experts, with each schnitzel real meat that is hand-made, hand-cooked, and cooked to order. It’s a healthy option that delivers.” To book, phone 5442 6899 or visit schnitz.com.au.

EVOLUTION POOLS GETS SET FOR THE SUN A swimming pool can bring many hours of family fun and memories to last years. It’s a major investment for the family home and one that needs careful consideration to ensure you get the right people to do the job, say co-owners of Evolution Pools, Kurt Ross and Nic O’Keefe. Together, they have more than 20 years’ experience in swimming pools and plumbing. They offer the only full-service pool company in Bendigo, selling new pools, building concrete pools and offering ongoing support. Its service department at the pool shop, 127 Strickland Road, East Bendigo, is open six days a week to cater to customer needs. “Our customers are not numbers to us, we build relationships with them, and this is evident through our customer feedback across our Google and Facebook reviews,” Kurt says. “You deal with the business owners, myself and Nic.”

All swimming pool systems are manufactured by Astral Pool in Melbourne, with all servicing and maintenance undertaken by Evolution Pools’ in-house service team. “We build pools for busy people, and only offer top-of-the-range hands-free pools, with lifetime warranties,” he says. The Aqua Technics pool is a market-first with a lifetime warranty on structure and interior finish, with Pool ColourGuard offering a no-fade guarantee.

All pools are built to a high standard, with Nic and Kurt managing each swimming pool project from concept stage to completion and handover.

“Your pool is a huge investment and serious consideration needs to be taken when choosing your pool builder. Always ensure that you compare apples with apples,” Kurt says. “Our pools are not the cheapest, but our customers and our team believe they are the best. Quality remains long after the price is forgotten.”

“This means you do not deal with a salesman,

Find out more at www.evolutionpools.com.au.

MAKING PEOPLES’ FINANCE JOURNEY AN ENJOYABLE AND EXCITING EXPERIENCE Navigating the financial landscape to get the best finance deal for your requirements, needs not be daunting, and could potentially save you thousands, says local mortgage broker Aaron Connaughton. “Our mission is to deliver the best possible financial outcome for our clients,” Aaron says. “We understand the frustrations and challenges clients face because of the ever-changing lending landscape, so we take the frustration out of dealing with the lenders and do all the leg work for you.” Aaron and Melissa from Blackbird Mortgage Solutions have made it their mission to make borrowing money as stressfree as possible and an enjoyable process for individuals, families and businesses. Blackbird Mortgage Solutions offer a range of specialised services, which include debt consolidation, in which all debts are combined into one repayment, sourcing the best rate loan rate for your next purchase or when refinancing. “Our passion is helping and educating our clients, to succeed in buying their first home or investment property, and then being part of their journey to wealth and financial freedom,” Melissa says. To help plan your next move, the mortgage broker website offers some handy home loan resources, including a loan repayment calculator to help you work out what you can borrow, do some basic repayment calculations, and generate a free property report. Find out more at www.blackbirdmortgagesolutions.com.au.

a construction manager, sub-contractors, and various other people in your home. We personally dig your pool hole, build your new pool right through to teaching you how to use it and that first swim. We also have an in-house service team for peace of mind,” Nic adds.

MIGHTY HELPFUL TO THE TRADE & DIY WARRIOR Head in to Hume & Iser Mitre 10 and see for yourself the latest improvements to the new-look Trade Centre. The extensive site renovations now represent a new era of convenience for tradies and DIY warriors throughout the Bendigo region. According to Timber Yard Manager and proud local, Nathan Tyler, the redevelopment covers far more than just improved ranges and services. “The trade yard layout is truly best-in-class. A better undercover area, new-look racking and improved drive-thru traffic plan to help you get in and out more easily. The design has also improved flow from the yard through to the shop floor with easy access to a new Tool Centre and builders hardware range,” said Nathan. “The Trade Counter is now conveniently located just inside the main shop – your one-stop destination for your all your trade and timber queries. “It’s an exciting new era for our business and the whole trade team looks forward to servicing the needs of every tradie and DIYer who comes through the gate.” So whether you are carrying out work indoors or outdoors, Hume & Iser Mitre 10 is your destination for thousands of home improvement products – from raw materials and timber to plasterboard and everything in between, we have the brands you trust and the service and industry know-how you expect. Head in and see the new-and-improved Trade Centre at Hume & Iser Mitre 10 today.

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pathways and subject information by appointment.

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Brian Livingstone, Barry Clay and Greg Stuart

Frank and Pauline Frawley, Jenny McCormick and Roger and Dianne Trewick

Gemma Steel, Sarah Johnson and Georgia Byrne

Janine Symons, Damon Symons, Emilee Neeson, Ashleigh Symons and Rod Symons

Scottie’s bucks party

Shaun, Darci and Maxine Muir

A WINTER’S DAY TRACKSIDE It was all sunshine and warm weather on the first day of winter for the annual Elmore Cup at Bendigo Jockey Club. It was a winning day for local trainers, with the large crowd giving support with a flurry of cheers and the odd flutter. Hi Suppose ridden by Maddison Lloyd and trained by Mick Cornish and Donna Gaskin took out the honours.

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Alannah, Matt, Jasmine and Paula Rielley

Deb, Nick and Lana Mattingley

Felicity Fitton, Marcus Lewis and Shae Cole

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COUNTRY BEST ON SHOW Visitors had their pick of activities at Heathcote On Show across the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday Weekend.

Lauren Swann and Craig Anderson

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More than 30 locations offered exclusive wine and craft brew tastings, delicious gourmet food, winery tours, market stalls, as well as concerts.

Celebrating 40 years in the community

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Beautiful gifts l

Discover quality souvenirs made in Bendigo and the region. Indulge with artisan gifts and delicious treats to take home and savour your Bendigo experience. Can’t decide on a gift for that special person in your life? Come in and let us help you create a one of a kind, Uniquely Bendigo gift hamper. www.uniquelybendigo.com.au

Homage to Style Living Arts Space exhibition

SEPTEMBER 22 – NOVEMBER 30, 2019 An exhibition that explores the timeless elements of style, which transverse the decades, through a collection of dramatic fashion and portraiture photographs by Bronwyn Kidd, a selection of glamorous garments and accessories from ‘The Institute of Imperfection’ multi-award-winning milliner Angie Jackman and jewellery produced by Sarah Fowler, embedded in fundamental techniques and timeless influences.

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BENDIGO VISITOR CENTRE Open 9am to 5pm daily (except Christmas Day) 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo • 03 5434 6060 • tourism@bendigo.vic.gov.au www.bendigoregion.com.au • #Explore Bendigo • Find us on

Bendigo's bright spark Spend some time in the colourful company of Sherri Parry, right here and at this year’s Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival. By Lauren Mitchell – Photograph by Leon Schoots Sherri Parry wears her heart on her op shop sleeve. “There’s not much that I’ll hide,” the Bendigo musician says. “If you really listen to my lyrics, they’re important. They’re about the people who’ve been and still are in my life and the things that have happened to me.” Sherri is doing a beautiful job of telling her stories, via sweet tunes heard at venues across the city, from busy bars to leafy gardens, house parties to Sherri’s favourite Old Church on the Hill. “That’s one of those rare places people come to just for the music, rather than to talk with friends or have a drink,” she says. “It allows me to play some of my quieter or sadder songs that I can’t do at the pubs.” At 21 years of age, Sherri is a veteran of the local music scene, having cut her teeth at 13 playing in the breaks of cover band Music

Trio at The Bridge Hotel on a Friday night. “That’s where I started growing as a musician,” she says. “I learnt how to deal with the rowdy lot. The not-so-innocent compliments. But Mum and Dad were always there, and I have fond memories of them blocking me off from people, but it helped me grow. It threw me right in the deep end really, a late-night cover gig on the weekend. I quickly learnt how to stand on my own two feet in that environment.” Sherri has always been surrounded by music. Before she was born her mum was a singer in a cover band and Sherri and her sister “grew up listening to her practise in the lounge room. Whitney Houston and Kyoto Ugly’s Dancing in the Moonlight. There was a fair bit of music around the house.”

She followed her older sister into violin lessons in primary school, then went her own way with guitar, although the formal lessons were short-lived. When Sherri was given the choice of learning the guitar or singing a year later, she chose the latter. “Beyond the obvious joy I get from singing in itself, you know how when people start exercising and they learn how much their body can do? It was that kind of thing,” she says on the instant appeal. “You realise what your voice can do and you want to push it. All the different ways it can stretch and move in its sound and all the different emotions that it can cause.”

Sherri is forging her own path through music, including giving herself an education, in her own time. “I don’t have much music theory education, at all, everything I know is pretty much selftaught,” she says. “All the chords you see me playing, I have no idea what they’re called, I just know they sound nice. “It works for me, but once I started getting into working with my band, they all looked at me like, what the hell is she doing now? What is she playing? They’d have to work out the chords by ear and sight. They’ve taught me a lot, just by being in their company, but it’s always been what I wanted, and still what I want, to educate myself formally in music in my own time. “By the same token, now I have worked with all these wonderful musicians, it’s made me want to learn a lot more, to have the knowledge to jump into a melody at any given moment of a jam, or know the name of a chord by ear. That would be incredible.”

Photograph by Craig Zillman

Sherri says singing, and her obsession with the band Paramore, were the threads that kept her grounded through those tumultuous early teen years. “If I wasn’t in my bedroom watching YouTube, escaping the world, I was in the loungeroom practising,” she says, adding, “I had a pretty rebellious beginning. I caused a bit of trouble for Mum and Dad – sorry there. But it helped me grow and gave me a better perspective on life.”

It wasn’t long before Sherri started pouring those experiences and emotions into her own songs, which she describes as “alternative, folk, indie, pop, R ‘n’ B, a little bit soul and a little bit blues, because Bendigo is such a blues community. It’s quite hard to put myself in a specific genre. ”

Photograph by Leon Schoots

Sherri’s band consists of Jaspar Austin-Gray on bass, Thomas Hadlow on electric guitar, Patrick Barton Grace on keys and Kane Watts on drums. They’re currently rehearsing to record an album of songs Sherri has written over the past five years. “You can hear the growth of my music and myself through the songs,” she says. “There’s the gentle side of my songwriting, right through to the heavy, heart-wrenching ballads. This album has been a long time in the making, with so much time and commitment put into it – by everyone. I’m excited to record with such incredible people and to have a roller-coaster of a musical experience to share with the world when we’re finally done.” It will be Sherri’s third recording experience, after her 2016 EP, Equal, recorded at Bluestone Theatre in Kyneton and her short CD, Ukulele Sessions, recorded in her family home in 2017. Bendigo will also get to enjoy Sherri’s music at November’s annual Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival, which she has played in since 2013. “Last year I became the festival’s youth ambassador, which is a huge honour,” she says. “It means I get to be a part of the nitty gritty sort of stuff you don’t get to see. It’s a not-for-profit festival and there’s a hell of a lot of work that goes into it behind the scenes. “Wherever you go, there’s music,” she says of the weekend event. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 12pm in Pall Mall or 4am back at one of the musicians’ houses, there’s still music happening. On average you’ll get about six hours sleep for the weekend if you want to see it all, which is a nightmare! But it’s well, well worth it. This year I’m excited to be opening for one of the festival’s internationally renowned headliners at Ulumbarra on Friday, 8th November.” It’ll be Sherri’s first time playing on the big stage. “I’ve seen a lot of wonderful musicians gracing that stage, so just to perform there, let alone support the headliners, will be wonderful.” Sherri will have a host of new material to perform by then, including a bunch of love songs, inspired by life. As she says, it’s all in the music. “It takes a certain amount of vulnerability to be real and authentic in a song,” she says. “You sort of have to be pretty open, with yourself as well as others, but I’ve always been that person.”

Photograph by Leon Schoots

Photograph by Craig Zillman

Bendigo Uncorked Week 4 -12 October One week, 10 wine and food events in and around Bendigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage buildings

Bendigo Heritage After Dark

Bendigo Heritage Uncorked

Friday 4 October

Saturday 12 October

Join the fun and Wine Down at the Bendigo Science & Technology Centre, 6 to 9pm. A relaxed wine and food event to start your weekend right.

The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walking wine and food feast. Stroll between seven heritage buildings in central Bendigo, tasting local wine and food at each venue.

Bendigo Uncorked Week also includes a wine and cheese pairing night, Wine Vs Beer degustation dinner, wine on a vintage Bendigo tram, intimate wine dinners, a wine-themed movie night and plenty more.

Tickets on sale now www.bendigowine.org.au

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Caitlin Wilkinson and Lucy Bush

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Isobel Skene and Logan Brown

Scott, Gemma, Sue and Claudia Hardingham

CLASSIC CARS SHINE IN CITY The annual show and shine of the Central Victorian Chrysler Club is a city showstopper, filling Bendigo’s CBD with hundreds of lovingly restored and highly polished cars. Members proudly call the Midstate Mopars “the best car show in Central Victoria”. This year, more than 350 cars were on display, with swap sites sparking ideas for the next restoration project.

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Lisa Chesters MP - a strong VoiCe for Bendigo Lisa Chesters Lisa Chesters MP MP -- a a strong strong VoiCe VoiCe for for Bendigo Bendigo federal Member for Bendigo Ifederal am honoured to have been elected as the Federal Member for Bendigo. Member for Bendigo federal Member for Bendigo As your Federal to Member of Parliament, my office and I can provide a II am honoured have elected Federal Member for am honoured to have been been elected as as the the Member for Bendigo. Bendigo. As your Federal Member of Parliament, myFederal office and I can provide a wide range of services. As your Federal Member of Parliament, my office and I can provide a wide range of services and support. As yourdon’t Federal Member of in Parliament, my office and Ieither can provide a Please hesitate to get touch with me anytime, at my office wide range of services. wide range services. on (03) 5443of9055 or by lisa.chesters.mp@aph.gov.au Please don’t hesitate to email get inat touch with me anytime, either at my Please don’t hesitate to touch with me Please don’t hesitate to get getorin inby touch with me anytime, anytime, either either at at my my office office office on (03) 5443or9055 email at lisa.chesters.mp@aph.gov.au on (03) 5443 9055 by email at lisa.chesters.mp@aph.gov.au on (03) 5443 9055 or by email at lisa.chesters.mp@aph.gov.au

www.lisachesters.org Authorised by L Chesters, 16 Myers Street, Bendigo www.lisachesters.org www.lisachesters.org

Bernie and Jane Bayliss

Chloe Hayman and Shirley Donaldson

Bronte O’Keefe, Mia Taylor and Elisha Taylor

Kristy and Imogen Dupille

HAND-MADE WITH LOVE, CREATIVITY A love and appreciation of handmade items attracted hundreds of people to The Creators Market.

Nathan, Narelle and Rachael Wilson

Teresa McNamara and Denise Fulton

The market popped up at Bendigo Stadium and is a regular celebration of small business owners, many of whom are local, who love to design, craft and create culinary delights.

A GREAT START ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS YEAR 7 ENROLMENTS FOR 2020 Starting secondary school can be both exciting and challenging, but at Girton Grammar School, your child will know their teacher, be part of our House system, be familiar with the classroom and have a ‘buddy’ before the bell goes on the first day. Care of students is a top priority and underpins all of our teaching and learning programs, from Prep to Year 12. Year 7 is a time of transition, it is the perfect time to be immersed in our world class approach to teaching emotional intelligence, which helps young people to manage, adapt and excel in a range of changing conditions. With our Year 12 students achieving the highest VCE results in the region each year, Year 7 at Girton Grammar is a great start on the road to success.

To find out more call our Registrar, Mrs Alison Quick, on 5441 3114 or see our website: girton.vic.edu.au

HEADMASTER’S TOURS • THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12 • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5

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Bendigo Marketplace Bendigo Marketplace Man of the Day Fashions on the Field 2019 Hosted by MC Bree Laughlin and our Judges:

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Hosted by MC Bree Laughlin and our Judges: Clare Casey – Bendigo Skin Clinic Dannielle Downs – Bendigo Marketplace Bert Schmid – Bendigo Marketplace Emma Bourke– Bendigo Marketplace FOTF Ambassador Belinda Smith - Bendigo Marketplace FOTF Ambassador Clare Casey – Bendigo Skin Clinic

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ce 2018

a rare breed

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Millinery of the Day

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At least one domestic livestock breed has disappeared every month around the world for the past 18 years. Local farmer Katy Brown is doing her bit to address that. Words and photography by Dale Webster After Katy Brown notched up her fourth broken bone at the tender age of 10, her mum decided that if she couldn’t buy her daughter a safe pony, she had better breed one. Norma Champion, an English immigrant with no equine experience before coming to Australia, had always liked the idea of learning to ride, seeing it as something Australians did. In pursuit of the perfect child’s mount, she settled on a hardy British breed, the Highland, and in 1974 established the Senlac Pony Stud at Menzies Creek, south-east of Melbourne. To everyone’s relief – not least Katy herself – the move did bring an end to the regular trips to the emergency department. But it was the choice of the Highland that set in motion an association that would

become a life’s work for the young animal lover – saving livestock breeds facing extinction. “About 20 years ago I got talking to a woman in our local supermarket who turned out to be the then director of the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia,” Katy explains. “She had noticed my Highland pony windcheater and asked if I would be interested in being the trust’s horse coordinator – I’ve been involved with them ever since.” The trust’s mission is to help conserve livestock breeds that are facing extinction since the advent of mechanisation and intensive farming practices.

These include cattle, sheep, goat, pig and poultry breeds that have lost favour for production reasons, or animals whose use has been superseded by machines – such as horses. The Clydesdale is probably the most notable of the working horse breeds that have been under threat, but are fortunately now listed as recovering. The Highland pony – once sought after for its strength, smaller size and temperament – is still on the endangered list however, with less than 85 registered females in the Australian stud book. The preservation of the Highland pony breed continues for Katy, who is now based on a farm about 50km north-east of Bendigo at Corop. Her involvement with the trust soon led to a wider interest in old pig breeds and she now has one of the last remaining Tamworth pig herds in the world. She also breeds Hampshires, which are at critically low numbers in Australia, as well as two other “at risk” breeds – Large Blacks and Wessex Saddlebacks. For someone who, as a kid, would have her heart broken every time she lost one of her considerable number of pets, it has been a big leap from being the little girl who smuggled a piglet home from NSW under her jumper to a full-time pork producer. “The harsh reality is that to preserve the rare breeds of livestock there needs to be a commercial purpose for breeding programs,” Katy says. “The old-timers tell you that only one in 200 pigs is worth keeping as a breeder so when you’re working with such a small gene pool, you have to be diligent in your selection process because it’s going to have such a big influence on what is to come. “My interest is preserving the breeds so unless an animal meets breed standard there is no excuse but to cull it. The meat is a means to an end but it takes a long, long time to come to terms with taking perfectly healthy animals to die on a weekly basis. “I have had trouble making the switch from a pet owner to someone who grows animals for food.

“It’s a bloody big mind-shift – I still cry sometimes when I go to the abattoirs, and that’s after 20 years. “As much as you become practical, I don’t think you ever harden up to it – it’s something that you just do, not something you enjoy doing.” According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, at least one domestic livestock breed has disappeared every month around the world for the past 18 years. Of the 7745 cattle, goat, pig, horse and poultry breeds that survive, 26 per cent are at risk of extinction. By the time Katy took on her first herd of Tamworth pigs, there were just 50 sows and 20 boars left in the world and she was pretty much their last hope for survival in Australia. (Prince Charles stepped in to help save the breed in the UK.) She secured another five Tamworth herds over time that would have been slaughtered had she not been able to give them a home. She says it was basically their beautiful, golden hides that brought about their undoing. “Like all coloured pigs, they fell out of favour in the 1960s when the first intensive piggeries came into Australia. Commercial industry didn’t like them because the skin was harder to clean and people didn’t like to see coloured hair in their meat. They also didn’t have a quick enough growth rate or produce enough babies for those environments – it just didn’t suit them.” It is hard to fathom that breeds notable for hardiness, genetic soundness, temperament and mothering ability are dying out because they possess those very traits, but that is why Katy says it is even more important to preserve the genetics for the future – because these are the breeds that are able to withstand environmental stress.

“The heritage breeds have what is called a thrift gene,” she says. “That means when times are good, the body lays down fat, no matter what stage of growth, because it might need that for tough times. That is why they are such good doers. They can often subsist on the minimal quality and quantity of food compared with animals that have been bred for high production. “Generally they are slower to start – their weaning weight might be less – but the integrity of growing slowly means their ligaments keep up with their bones. They have better strength and structure to have a long and productive life. It’s not unusual to have rarebreed pigs that are still having litters at 10 years old. For anyone growing their own food or for their local community there are a lot of positives to that.” And Katy, who once owned her own butcher shop, says the quality of the meat is “indisputable”. “The slower-growing the animal, the finer texture of the meat. Because it has a good covering of fat you can age it, which means it will be tenderer and have more flavour. And because you have good fat, you end up with really good crackling. Chefs fall over themselves to get to it.” Even though government red tape, the closure of more and more domestic abattoirs and the lack of processors for rare-breed products such as strong wool is making the farming of rare-breed livestock in Australia harder every day, a world without her animals is, for Katy, unimaginable. “I’m not interested in mass producing animals and making heaps of money,” she says. “For me, it’s about being a custodian of the breed long enough to get them to the next person. “There is a responsibility to not let something die out on my watch.” Further information on rare livestock breeds can be found at www.rarebreedstrust.com.au

culture takes centre stage Dancer, artist, business owner, public figure; Racquel Kerr presents many faces, but it’s her Dja Dja Wurrung heritage that comes before all others. By Lauren Mitchell - Photograph by Leon Schoots “We’re walking between two worlds,” says Racquel Kerr, hands dancing, nails painted, dark eyes searching for how to explain herself further. “We have our traditional obligations, as our ancestors had, but we’re adapting that to also being an Aboriginal person in the 21st Century.” The 27-year-old Dja Dja Wurrung woman is a familiar figure in Bendigo. You may recongise her from the city’s many lecterns, delivering a Welcome to Country completely devoid of rote wording. At a recent La Trobe University event at Ulumbarra Theatre she faced an audience of serious suits and academics, but when she stepped on stage and took the mic, the entire theatre instantly relaxed. It’s no mean feat to have hundreds of strangers instantly engaged with what you have to say. Racquel says she was nervous about that event and abandoned her plans at the last minute to wing it. It’s one tiny example of Racquel using her intuition and passion to ensure a bright future for her culture. “I can see between the cultural obligations and the contemporary facet of where we are now,” she says. On the week she chats to Bendigo Magazine, Racquel has just started a new role with Parks Victoria. She’s coordinating the Parks Victoria and Dja Dja Wurrung joint management plan, signed off on last year. “It’s looking at how Dja Dja Wurrung manage the parks in conjunction with Parks Victoria. My main goal is to make sure everyone comes on the journey together from day dot.” In February this year she was made chair of the Bendigo and

District Aboriginal Co-Operative, plus she’s the youngest member appointed to the State Government’s Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. It’s an impressive career trajectory for a girl who only wanted to dance. Racquel grew up in Shepparton and Kyabram, attending ballet, hip hop and jazz classes since the age of four. By 21, she was teaching and dancing professionally with the Ministry of Dance in Melbourne. She says it was a tough way to make a living. “It’s a small industry and there are stereotypes of what’s wanted in a dancer, which is not what I looked like. I had tattoos, and was classed as heavily tattooed, which cuts down the jobs you’re hired for.” She’d also tried stints in hairdressing and graphic design. Not finding the right ‘fit’, Racquel says she’d signed up for the army when an opportunity to work in cultural heritage management fulltime with Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation set her on today’s path. Racquel was 15 when she was awoken to her culture. “My parents separated when I was young; I’m the oldest of four,” she says. “My dad is Aboriginal and my mum Dutch/English/Australian. I grew up knowing I was Aboriginal but there was not a huge connection to cultural practice or identity. My childhood up until the age of 15 was normal and I wasn’t aware of this other world.” Racquel clearly remembers the day her dad offered her a $50 bribe to skip school and go to Mount Camel with him. It was her first visit to an archaeological site and they were looking for stone tools. 39

Racquel performing at Rainbow Serpent Festival, 2018. Image courtesy Spinferno.

“Dad went on to explain why that area was important, what the stone tools were used for and why they were in that spot. I asked more questions and he gave me more answers and that opened up to me this whole legislative framework that we’ve got to work with. I also spent four hours just picking up any rock I could find that day with very little success. “That was the first physical connection I’d had with my culture and it sparked an interest. It opened up this door into a whole new world and that really cemented my identity and purpose.” Racquel began casual work in the field when she was 18 and kept honing her skills alongside her other interests. She was becoming adept at recognising the cultural significance of sites in our region, at “making a physical connection with the footprint left by the ancestors”. But she says it took some time before the weight of that really hit. “Dad said, ‘one day you’ll get to understand the significance of your culture. It’ll hit you and you’ll cry and I’m going to say ‘I told you so’.” For Racquel, that moment came during Easter, 2016. She was driving up the Calder, after working at the Ravenswood Bypass. She looked across at the huge cut in the hillside, the red soil raw and exposed. There were tears, and an emotional call to her dad. “It was the realisation that in order for us to find our culture, sometimes destruction has to happen. It’s a very fine line. But there’s always some form of positivity to come out of it.” The work Dja Dja Wurrung people did in Ravenswood revealed the region’s earliest dated Indigenous site, with a 33,000-year-old intact earth oven, carbon dated by its charcoal samples. Many artefacts 40

and cultural implements were also found. “The work we did meant we were able to share these things with our community and extend our knowledge,” Racquel says. For Racquel, sharing culture is the way forward for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. It’s also the way to extinguish racism. “The first time I ever encountered it was in grade five when I was called something I’d never heard of before,” she says. “I went home and told my mum and she was furious.” She says today, the negativity mostly happens online, via generalised comments about Indigenous people not being ‘fully Indigenous’ or speaking their own language. “No one can expect us to have darker skin or to be speaking our language after 200 years of colonisation,” she says. “Basically, it’s stuff that comes down to ignorance or not being educated. That’s why we take people out on Country and introduce people to culture. That’s why I started my business.” Her business is called Wartakan, meaning ‘I come with purpose’. It offers cultural inclusiveness and safety training, community activities and even graphic design. Recent projects have included designing Bendigo Braves jerseys for an Indigenous round, public banners for NAIDOC Week and performing a ceremony at a community day at Kooyoora. Racquel laughs she does still find time to dance, and paint, and go bushwalking, but her community obligations come first. “Some days I wake up and think, ‘I don’t want to do this today. I don’t want to fight this. But I’m part of a greater mission. The reality is I’m a Traditional Owner 365 days a year and there is no off switch.”

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David and Bernadette Day, Deb and Dale Borthwick

Sammi Coutts and Josh Davies

Hayley Adams, Wayne Power and Christine Greig

Kaylene Gaulton and Leticia Laurien

WINE SECRETS UNCORKED A unique opportunity to taste wine straight from the barrel proved an enticing weekend activity for a number of wine lovers. Five winemakers, including Sandhurst Ridge Winery and Mandurang Valley Wines, shared special insights as to how their magic drops are madeâ&#x20AC;Ś. although some secrets of vinification stayed under wraps.

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Jenny Harkin, Maryanne Moore, Jenny Grebler, Julie Whiteley, Berres Thom and Melanie Coates

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ROYAL TRAIN HAS APPEAL All it took was a couple of steps to experience what royal life was like travelling by train.

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Patricia Addison and Kate Luxmoore

Many gladly made the effort when the five-carriage luxury Royal Train visited Bendigo to celebrate the Bendigo Art Gallery’s recent Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition.

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country.racing.com/bendigo It’s a Great Day Out

the long and short of it Move over Schnitzel Von Crumb, there’s a new band of sausage hounds in town and we’ve got the low-down. By Lauren Mitchell – Photography by Leon Schoots Let me begin this story with the guy who leaves the scene just as things are getting started. “I’m getting out of here,” he says. “It’s safer on this side of the fence. A woman in America was killed by a pack of dachshunds you know.” Now he mentions it, that does ring a bell. Nonetheless, we’ve gathered here today, in the small-dog area of Harcourt Park, to meet some members of the Bendigo and Surrounds Dachshund Facebook group. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Administrator Pip assures me they’re a friendly bunch. Although she can’t always vouch for the dogs. Take Strawberry for one, Pip’s 14-year-old miniature red sausage with the greying muzzle, who today is sporting a superhero-themed bespoke coat, made to measure. “He’s a bit grumpy,” Pip says. “He was the reason I started the group, to try and socialise him, but it didn’t work.” A black and tan snag sneaks up and Strawberry growls on cue.

The little fella has a few more tricks up his (very short) sleeves. He sneezes when he wants a treat, and he likes to “clear the street” for Pip when they’re out walking, by barking at just about anything. “He bailed up a stick insect the other day, which I was quite proud of, protecting me from the stick insect, he was so brave,” Pip says. Strawberry also has an enviable novelty wardrobe. “Don’t get dachshund people started on what you can buy,” laughs Pip. Hers has a hot dog costume, a pumpkin hat for Halloween, several pairs of pyjamas and an array of coats. Pip says there’s a maker in Melbourne, 3 Hound Sausages, who crafts the coats to exact lengths. Perhaps Pip started the Facebook group for her own sake too, having moved from Queensland to Bendigo shortly beforehand. “I thought I might get 20 people and now it’s up to 380 and it’s only been two-and-a-half years,” she says. “They all came out of the woodwork as soon as the Facebook page started.” 45

Group members correspond daily on the page and meet up around six times a year, mostly at this dog park in Strathdale. “Some members are from Ballarat. Some are from Melbourne. They say they like coming to this group because it’s really friendly here, everyone is relaxed. You can imagine in Melbourne it could be a bit competitive.” Speaking of the competition, there is an award-winner at the park. The newly crowned ‘Bendigo’s Cutest Pet’ was voted as such by Triple M’s social media followers. The big title went to tiny, tiny Opal, a one-year-old long-haired dachshund belonging to Ellyse. “She knows it too. That’s the worst thing about it,” Ellyse says, adding Opal would not win Bendigo’s most obedient pooch. “It’s a family thing,” she says of her big love for the little dogs. “I grew up with a sausage dog and my mum still has him. He’s 16. My brother has one, and my aunty too. They all get along.” Ellyse owns another, Olive, who’s currently at home nursing four three-week-old puppies. It’s Olive’s second litter, so Ellyse knows what to expect and is poised for all sorts of trouble. “They’ve just opened their eyes so now it’s all hands on deck because they’ll be into everything and you can’t train them yet, but it’s really cute. They all have homes already. Three of them are going to Melbourne and one to Inglewood.” One of the pups from the last litter toddles over for a pat. He’s now owned by another group member. If you’re looking for your own miniature dachshund, it seems the group is a great place to start. “It’s a really good community,” Ellyse says. “My brother’s dog was lost the other day and we were able to find him through the group. Or, if your dog’s sick, people from the group will lend you a crate. It’s just a lovely community of people with the same sort of dog.” Fellow dachshund owner Leanne says anyone looking for a pup can now buy one that’s been screened for the IVDD gene. “Intervertebral disc disease,” she says, adding her nine-year-old Harold has it. A number of years ago, Harold jumped off a chair and ruptured a disc in his spine. He was left paralysed in his lower half.

“I didn’t want to put him through surgery and rehabilitation and my vet said Harold would be a candidate for acupuncture. So, I found someone who could do it in Guildford. After three sessions he stood up and after eight sessions he was running around, good as new.” At this point in time, what I believe is a Japanese akita prances by the chicken-wire fence separating the small-dog area from the rest of the park. One of the sausages takes flight and barrels up to bark through the fence, and it’s on. Around 20 little dogs move in rapid murmuration, like a flock of seagulls after a chip – Monty senses the fun and joins in. “He’s a turd,” says Monty’s mum Erin, albeit affectionately. He’s also a long dog with a long name. Monty being short (ahem) for Montgomery of Lancaster, which is a township near Kyabram and the home of Monty’s breeder. “He loves to eat. He’s obsessive compulsive and he loves to bark,” Erin says. Monty is the second sausage she and her husband have owned. “They’re a bit high maintenance, so I didn’t want another one, but my husband really did. We don’t have kids so our dogs rule the house.” Monty shares the couch with a Jack Russell and a Manchester terrier; a show dog who joined the crew at the age of three, and who came with the moniker Yuanita Sexy Senorita. “We asked, has she got another name? We just call her Sweetie – we think Yuanita is a stupid name,” Erin says. One dog not having any of the brouhaha is little Vienna, a silver dapple sitting pretty between owner Bow’s feet. “She’s the sookiest one,” Bow says. “She’s very babied, very cuddled. She sleeps on the bed, lives on the couch, owns the house.” Vienna peers up to reveal one blue and one brown eye. She’s not just another sausage in the pack, that’s for sure. For Bow and his partner, she was well worth the 14-hour day trip to pick her up from a breeder in Cowra, NSW, two years ago. “I was working away at the time and my partner wanted a little companion,” Bow says. “I found out they don’t need a lot of exercise and are happy sitting on the couch getting cuddled all day, which was perfect. “We joined the Facebook group so she could meet other dachshunds and so we could socialise her a bit. But this one thinks she’s a human.” By now a number of the group members have drifted off, carrying their wet-bellied dogs to the car. Those remaining gather for a group shot. Only one has other ideas, exiting stage left to make a bee-line to the gate. “C’mon Strawberry… Come here!” calls Pip, chasing after. Oh Strawberry, you know this was all for you… 48

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There was a bucket list of activities – a little something for everyone – at the sixth annual Write on the Fringe Festival. The quirky, fun event coincides with the Bendigo Writers Festival and is designed to get people engaged in words, with workshops, speakers and performances held at the Bendigo Library.

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GROW YOUR CAREER AT BENDIGO HEALTH Amanda Coote is a nurse and midwife at Bendigo Heath. It’s her third year at Bendigo Health and the programs offered have supported her to find her dream career. “I love working in midwifery at Bendigo Health, we have a fantastic team who are so welcoming of new staff and students. We have a lot of really knowledgeable and passionate midwives who are happy to share their knowledge,” Amanda says. “There’s a lot of opportunity and encouragement to build on your skills and work on your practice here. Management is so supportive, I love my ward. “Bendigo is a great place to live. Having lived in Melbourne, it’s so nice to be part of a community and Bendigo Health is such a big part of the community here. We are very lucky to have the facilities that we have.”

www.bendigohealth.org.au/careers

ruffell's in the pink Diamonds are forever, but supply of the pink gemstones is not. Amid news that the famous Argyle Diamond Mine will close next year, lovers and hardened investors alike are rushing to buy a rare pink diamond. By Marina Williams Many a song has been sung about diamonds. While some see them as a girl’s best friend to be worn and adored, others consider them a lucrative luxury investment. In recent months, it’s the pink-coloured gemstones that have piqued investor interest, with demand rising following mining giant Rio Tinto’s announcement in July that it will close its primary source of supply, the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, next year. The remote mine supplies about 90 per cent of the world’s coloured diamond supply and the industry is expecting their value to explode as a result. Since 2000, the value of the high-quality stones has increased more

than 500 per cent, reports Rio Tinto, outpacing international equity indices. Last year, prices increased about 14 per cent. “Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine is the first and only ongoing source of rare pink diamonds in history,” says Arnaud Soirat, Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive. “With the life cycle of this extraordinary mine approaching its end, we have seen, and continue to see, unstoppable demand for these truly limited-edition diamonds and strong value appreciation.” Dave Ruffell, from Ruffell Jewellers, is seeing an increase in demand for the coveted jewel at a local level.

Photograph by Leon Schoots

Photographs by Leon Schoots

“Diamonds have always had an air of romance about them, but we are definitely seeing more interest in the pink stones from a wider range of demographics – from the mature investor, who knows it is a boom commodity, to young people seeing it as an investment alternative for their superannuation.” However, Dave says, each commodity is not like for like. While the value of white diamonds relies on clarity and carat weight, these characteristics are less of a consideration in the value determination of Argyle pink diamonds. “The focus with pink diamonds is on colour and cut. The more intense the colour, the rarer and more valuable the diamond. But, as with white diamonds, you can find something that will appeal,” he says. “Among our buyers are people who have bought a pink diamond in the past for a piece of jewellery and want to ensure they get another one while they can. They know supply is running out and see the purchase as a solid investment that will only continue to grow in time. Once the mine closes, the supply is gone.” Since the mine opened in 1983, more than 800 million carats of rough diamonds have been extracted. The 2019 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, an annual showcase of the world’s rarest pink and red diamonds, featured a 64-diamond collection that included three fancy red diamonds and weighed 56.28 carats in total. The presence of colour in pink diamonds remains a mystery, with Argyle Pink Diamonds stating it is not derived from a predominant trace element or impurity. It is thought that intense pressure below ground has pushed the diamonds to the surface. A twist in the crystal lattice within the stones is present in all pink diamonds, refracting light and producing colour. Each stone has varying shades of shimmering hues of purple-pink to blue, violet and fiery red tones, and is graded accordingly, which is reflected in price. Tracking and auditing controls in the mining, polishing and distribution of each diamond ensures chain of custody from mine to market. Upholding provenance, Dave says, is important to the investment. “You need to know what you are buying. It’s also worth spending time doing your research, so you understand the characteristics of pink diamonds and what you can expect to pay. If it is for an investment, then be content to put it away and let the market respond to demand.” For more information on pink diamonds visit www.ruffelljewellers.com.au 55

flat whites and farm life Creative Kerry Punton draws on her life’s path and passions to make stunning art from her family farm. By Lauren Mitchell – Photography by Leon Schoots Kerry Punton says it’s amazing how many people go out for a coffee and end up buying a painting. The café in question is Percy and Percy in Hargreaves Street, where we’ve met Kerry for a chat about her art, surrounded by the hubbub of a Bendigo afternoon, and the vibrant palette of Kerry’s works. Her paintings have been hanging on the café walls for a few years now, not that they stay hanging for long. The arrangement is winwin, Kerry says. She gets some wall space to showcase her art, and the café customers get to enjoy it. Kerry says it can be hard to get people to travel to her studio, so a regular showing in town is a wonderful thing. Kerry lives on a 700acre farm in Eastville, between Bendigo and Maryborough, with her husband and son; he’s the fourth generation of the family to be here. This property was also farmed by Kerry’s parents and grandparents. The local artist moved back to her childhood home 18 years ago, to settle in the 100-year-old farmhouse, work the sheep and wheat farm, and make art. For the latter, she found a former hairdressing salon in Mount Eliza, had it moved to the property and positioned so the two big picture windows overlook the olive grove. Yes, it’s an idyllic setting to paint and make ceramics. 57

Kerry is perhaps best-known for her ceramic art, which she’s been producing for 30 years. “I used to do lots of clocks with chooks on them. I was getting pigeonholed as the ‘chook lady’ or the ‘clock lady’ and I just got a bit sick of making them I guess,” she says on branching out to paintings five years ago. “I’d turned into a bit of a factory and it didn’t feel creative… My aim is to not live a boring life.” Inspired by her high school ceramics teacher, Mrs Chris Wood, Kerry enrolled to study art fresh from school. She gained a Diploma of Ceramics at the then Bendigo College of Advanced Education, now La Trobe University. After uni she went travelling for a year, seeking work in potters’ studios in Scotland and Ireland for bed and board. “If you’re going to pick grapes, it’s boring work, so you may as well go to France and pick grapes,” Kerry says, applying the same philosophy to pottery. “To get good skills you need to do things over and over and over again, until you get good at it.” And that’s how she found herself operating the jigger and jolly machine for the mass-production of ceramic bowls and plates; dinnerware to be hand-painted for Highland Stoneware. Basic skills down pat, Kerry returned to Bendigo for post grad study and to figure out what style of ceramics she’d like to pursue. She settled on Maiolica. “It’s white tin glaze with paint on it. It’s popular throughout Europe and is also called Delftware in Holland,” Kerry says. The style has also greatly influenced her paintings. The works in the café show homages to farm and home life, to flora and scenes from her travels, all held together thanks to Kerry’s strong, bright palette and playful strokes against a white background. “They’re often farm related,” she says of her subjects. “Chooks are always a thing and I always come back to Australian natives.” She also places her own ceramics in the still-life paintings, holding bouquets of blooms alongside apples and pears. Beautiful things. Kerry’s work can be found throughout the region. She balances her studio pieces with large-scale public commissions, the latest being a mosaic tiled gecko in the new Strathdale Splash Park. Kerry ran ceramic tile workshops with students at Kennington Primary

School and shoppers in Hargreaves Mall to help create hundreds of small tiles covering the big lizard. Other mosaic pieces are in situ in Inglewood and by the Loddon River in Bridgewater. Kerry is also a qualified teacher who is this year working part-time at Epsom Primary School. Before the year’s out she will have helped her students turn a life-sized fibreglass cow into another work of art. “We’re going to mosaic it,” she says. “I like to get my teeth into projects like that.” Another current project is the mosaic water feature she’s creating in the centre of the driveway at home. It features all the animals on the farm; from sheep and kelpies to guinea fowl and ferrets. It will sit beautifully and permanently alongside the metal sculptures Kerry’s husband makes for her birthday each year. “My son said, now I can never sell the farm,” Kerry laughs. “I said he could move the mosaic, but I don’t think he’d want to sell anyway.” It’s a property with a firm place in the heart, and art, of Kerry and her family. 59

RACE DAY SUPPORTS CHARITY

Bec Barry, Celine Clarke, Margot Falconer and Sue Opie

Bendigo Skin Clinic staff

Lorranine Cooper, Christine Downing, Carolyn Peat, Diane Jakubans, Michelle Hall and Cindy Hall

Sharnee Kelly, Chloe Doherty, Linda Kristiansen and Tara Cramer

Simone Day, Chantell Rothwell, Selina Weragoda, Taylor Snell, Molly Gleeson and Jess Wiltshire

Suezanne Martin, Emma Healion, Gemma Bilardi and Bree McLeod

A chance to dress up, learn about the hot spring racing fashion trends brought together a bubbly crowd for the annual Girls Day Out at The Races. Silks Dining Room was awash with colour as guests enjoyed a fashion show and silent auction to raise funds for local charity the Hindsight Club.

Transition at WCB

Incoming students are welcomed to Weeroona College Bendigo, receiving personalised learning opportunities and career counselling advice about future work options. Upon graduating, students have a clear insight into workforce or further studies and great anticipation for a bright future. At Weeroona College Bendigo we care about our students and help them to thrive.

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Christian Brancati, Noah Bateman, Hudson Baker and Malachy Baker

Jacob Herrick, Haydn Purves, Tegan Purves and Adam Aherne

Mason Perry, Bailey Perry and Fletcher Perry

Diane Hubbard, Summer Purves, Amber and Willow Tuckerman

FAST AND FURIOUS RIDE Marcus Walker and Kaeghan Robertson

Zae Cobain, Jackson Block, Will Driscoll and Jordan McDougall

Some were small but they sure were mighty, taking to the track at a furious pace for round two of the BMX Winter Triple Challenge. The Bendigo BMX Club hosted the race at Albert Roy Reserve in July. The challenge is open to all ages, with classes spanning from the under-fives to men and women aged 30 and above.

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local schools need their libraries New books and thriving libraries keep our youngest readers engaged and entertained, prompting our Federal Member to keep those resources coming. By Lisa Chesters - Photograph by AJ Taylor There’s no doubt that technology is growing at rapid rates and changing the way our schools operate. Despite these developments, I still believe there’s nothing quite like reading a physical book. When I visit schools across the Bendigo electorate, children are still excited about reading just ask one what their favourite book is! One of the great joys I’ve had as the Federal Member for Bendigo is donating new books to schools in the electorate. If a school has a book club, I make a cash donation so that the students can choose. There’s always a cheer when I present a school with new Harry Potter, Roald Dahl and even Captain Underpants books. Reading can help children expand their horizons, build empathy, see the world through others’ experiences, and find answers to issues they may face. It’s disappointing to see that many school libraries are understaffed or closing down due to funding restraints. Many libraries are not kept up to date; some don’t even stock current

atlases or educational materials. Smaller schools really struggle to purchase new books as sadly, new library books are almost seen as a luxury item. Reading teaches children literacy skills, develops their imagination and builds research skills for the future. Research shows a clear link between school libraries and library staff to improvements in reading and academic success in students. School libraries play a key role in developing engaged readers who have the capability and motivation to read beyond their years at school. They also teach students to find and use information they need to succeed in future life. A library can also provide a calm and inclusive space for young people to enjoy. Many Bendigo electorate schools are working to keep book clubs alive, encouraging young people to get involved and talk about literature. Library professionals can also help students find the

most relevant information, identify credible sources and correctly cite references. In this digital age, iPads, phones and gaming consoles take up much of our spare time. There is a time and place for that, but I would like to encourage all Central Victorians to get reading and to make sure reading is socially acceptable. It is a skill that should be exercised and offers many benefits to a growing mind. I commend schools in the electorate like Eaglehawk Primary, for realising the importance of a decent school library. During a recent visit, it became clear that the children weren’t just excited about reading new books, but many saw the library as a safe and quiet alternative at recess. It’s so critical for our schools to have libraries; they are an important space in more ways than one. That’s the reason I spend time donating books across the region. I will continue to support school libraries across Central Victoria and congratulate local librarians, book clubs and reading groups for keeping them alive. 63

SPECTACLE OF DANCE ON STAGE

Abbey Perdon and Eloise Allan

Emma Lavery and Janae Marr

Greta Pinniger and Sabaya Woods

Hanna Dawson, Bella Orchard and Estella Breen

Zoe Holloway, Grayce Pratt and Olivia McKenzie

Tamika Purdy-Rowe and Hanna Dawson

Hundreds of dancers took to the stage for the annual Bendigo Dance Eisteddfod. For 17 years the event has given competitors a platform to present a well-rehearsed classical and theatrical performance. This year they came from across Victoria and New South Wales, ranging in age from adults to as young as three.

BSSC Alumni

Outstanding leaders in their fields

Scott Middleton – Class of 2005 Graduate of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, UK.

At Bendigo Senior Secondary College we’re incredibly proud to see our Alumni succeeding in their chosen fields all around the world. Penny Holloway – Class of 2007

We also love that so many of our former students bring their skills and knowledge back to BSSC to help build the aspirations of our current students.

Digital Marketing Director, Pitcher Partners

If you’re a former student of Bendigo High or BSSC, there are so many ways you can still be involved in the life of the college; whether it’s taking part in college events, sharing your career and life experiences with students, or supporting them by sponsoring awards or scholarships.

Jessie Rennie – Class of 2018 WNBL & USA College Basketballer

You may simply want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at the college, or network with other Alumni through our Facebook page and Alumni News feed on the college website.

Jesse Cattell – Class of 2013 William Farmer Funeral Directors CON TAC T US

Bendigo Senior Secondary College Rosalind Park, Bendigo PO Box 545, Bendigo VIC 3552

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Ashton, Glenn and Oliver Elliott

Drouin Blair, Mannix Blair, Tyler Wharton, Allirah Blair and Jordan Torney

DAY FILLED WITH FAMILY FUN Eshaal Rizwan and Samreen Baluch

Pollyanna Jupp, Henry Donnelly and Holly Donnelly

Louis and Florence Lapthorne

Zoe Nightingale and Arlo Nightingale

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There was no chance of boredom or staying still as the popular Family Fun Day laid on an assortment of games during the recent school holidays. The popular free community event also featured a jumping castle, face painting and animal farm. After a play and BBQ lunch, the story corner was the ideal place to settle in for a well-earned rest.

evening up the numbers Engineering has a bright future with women like La Trobe University PhD student Emily Goode entering the profession – but there’s still a way to go before she’s the norm. By Kate O’Connor - Photography by AJ Taylor Images Emily Goode is used to feeling on the outer. When she first enrolled in physics at the age of 16, at her high school in Bendigo, it was very much a “boys club”. “Four girls did physics, out of 60 students, in my Year 12. “Girls are less likely to go into subjects that they have no idea about. If they’re unsure at all, they won’t do it. Unlike boys, who will think ‘I’ve kind of always been interested in that, I’ll go for it’.” The gender balance was similar when Emily started La Trobe’s Bachelor of Civil Engineering in Bendigo, echoing the situation in universities across the country. “At most Australian universities, only around 16 per cent of engineering graduates are female – and it’s even lower in regional areas.” Emily puts most of that down to the social and cultural factors that influence girls’ development, and that veer them away from an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). “It starts at a very young age – it’s everything from the toys children are given, to the language that’s used. “It’s becoming less of an issue now, but part of the problem is that girls would learn skills in cooking and cleaning, while their brothers would be outside helping in the shed. “So if a girl decided she wanted to make something in the shed, she had that whole skill set to learn before she could join in.

“So my brothers would get science kits, building toys and robotics and things like that. When I did get STEM toys they were ‘pink science’ and ello – a Lego-like toy with a focus on making displays. “Marketing has an impact too. Girls can have a little chemistry and biology in the pink aisle, but electronics and complex Lego is a boy’s thing, and when people are buying children presents, it’s easy to fall into the trap.” Emily says there’s also a difference in the advice girls and boys receive in high school when considering their options for further study. “When I was in Year 12, I had no idea what engineering was. The first time I’d heard of engineering was when I came to La Trobe during an experience day. “The boys in my physics class had mentioned engineering before, and I wanted to find out what it was so that I could be part of the conversation. “So I remember walking around with my mum, and I thought, ‘wait, so people actually do this?’ “I loved design and solving problems, but I hadn’t actually realised that you could do that as a job – and I started falling in love with it.” Since starting at La Trobe, Emily has been determined to inspire as many school-aged girls as possible to consider a career in science or engineering.

“I had one summer holiday, when I got sick of not knowing about bolts. I thought, I’m going to fix this – so I read a Bunnings catalogue.

She works part-time in La Trobe’s science outreach program, which takes science and engineering into schools, encouraging more students to pursue STEM.

“It was a big issue when I started my degree, so I addressed it. But my male classmates didn’t have that problem.”

Emily says she was lucky to stumble upon engineering – but it could have been a different story.

Emily says the gender difference is also entrenched through well-meaning relatives.

“Even though I was very good at maths, and very good at science, my teachers didn’t suggest engineering.

“From a very young age, my brothers were a lot more exposed to engineering concepts, because of the gifts people gave us growing up.

“I think that’s partly because they were trying to veer me away from a profession that not many females go into, for my benefit, or it

just didn’t cross their minds. “But, once I signed up, I ended up falling in love with the degree, and I wish I’d known about it earlier.” These days Emily is thriving. She is partway through her PhD, looking at the benefits of our current system of water management from a social, economic, environmental and technical point of view. “For the last 20 or so years, we have started using the environment around us to deal with excess water, and to filter water – removing unwanted nutrients and run-off. “I want to find out how this process is going. How effective is it with flood events, and to what extent is it improving water quality? “Water management systems can have societal benefits too – like a local reservoir, which is a welcoming environment, improves community health, etcetera. “I’m exploring the true value of all those aspects of our water management system.” Emily says the future is bright for girls wanting to study engineering, particularly in Bendigo. “We have this fantastic new building here which I love. The potential of it is enormous. And it’s a brilliant course – that’s why my little brother is here now.” She says many girls have unique qualities, like the ability to think creatively, that are essential in engineering. “Something I found with my female colleagues is that we had little things that were similar. “Like me, they make clothes without patterns, and cakes without recipes. We share the same thought processes – the inventiveness, and thinking of solutions without a script. “Women are strong in this, but sometimes they don’t realise they’re strong in it – or how important this skill is. “Engineering is an occupation, sure, but it’s also a way of thinking. What we aim to do here is to pull those characteristics out and show you how to use them.” 67

the naked truth

A love of maths and science led this BSSC alumnus on a pathway to the perfect brew. By John Holton - Photography by Leon Schoots Back in 2006, while most Year 12 students were spending their evenings doing homework and calculating university entry scores, Jesse Gollan was already entrenched in the world of hospitality. By day he studied maths and science at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, while his evenings were spent just a stone’s throw away in Pall Mall – working full-time at the popular eatery, Barzurk. 68

“I loved the diversity and freedom of BSSC after coming from a school where my entire year level was a class of 20 students,” Jesse says. “Not just the freedom to head into town at lunchtime or hang out in Rosalind Park, but the freedom to choose subjects I was really into.” Jesse always thought he would end up doing something engineering-based – practical science, as he calls it.

The ‘Get Naked’ branding was inspired by naked portafilters. For non-coffee-purists, a naked portafilter is the same as a normal portafilter handle, with the spouts removed – showing the ‘naked’ bottom of the basket that holds the coffee. It meant Jesse could monitor the extraction process… aim for perfection. What he didn’t expect, was to create a culture that one customer has called ‘a friendly, coffee-loving community’. Jesse likes to think of it as the Get Naked family. “I never expected the culture and friend-base to become so strong so quickly,” he says. “The staff are a big part of why it works – the layers of friendship and support intertwined with the staff group across the different stores. “Many business owners would say it’s a risk to employ friends, but it’s really nice to be in a position now to include people I love and trust.” The heart of Get Naked’s very special culture was apparent at last year’s Christmas celebration, where all the staff and friends of the business dressed up as Jesse for the occasion. “It was very, very funny, but also incredibly touching,” Jesse remembers. The Get Naked empire now includes the flagship store in Mitchell Street, and stores in White Hills, View Street, View Point (opposite the fountain) and, until November, the coffee tram in Rosalind Park – with a view of Jesse’s old school above. Handle Bar opened at the rear of the Mitchell Street shop in 2013 – a community-activated space with 30 investors and four directors – the perfect flow-on of the coffee shop model. Jesse seems to have the knack for taking difficult or previously unsuccessful sites and breathing new life into them. The White Hills store had been vacant for 12 months before Get Naked moved in. “The response from local workers and business owners was immediately positive,” Jesse recalls. “People were like, ‘this is a perfect spot for coffee’.” Similarly, the View Street site was sitting unused and silent before Jesse opened the window and began selling coffee. It’s now a quintessential part of the View Street art precinct.

“I’ve always liked knowing how things work,” he says, “but I knew at the time I didn’t have the patience or maturity to go straight from school to university. I started a TAFE course in multi-media design, but was too young to make the most of it. I think I needed time to find out who I was.” It wasn’t long before he directed his curiosity to the science of making the perfect brew. Coffee had always been a part of his restaurant work, but Jesse soon found himself wanting to spend more and more time behind the espresso machine. The café industry seemed a lot more appealing after years of working in restaurants. He was managing a popular local café when the initial idea for Get Naked Espresso Bar was born. “I’d seen first-hand how hard it was to build a business around food; how coffee supports most cafés,” Jesse says. “I wanted to build a successful business that just sold great coffee, without all the bells and whistles. “We opened our first store with shoddy benches and milk crates to sit on. I didn’t spend unnecessary money on the set-up to begin with – it was purely about the product.”

Jesse knows, however, you can never drop your guard when it comes to business, and particularly coffee, where there’s so much room for error. “It’s such a volatile product,” he says. “Things like temperature and humidity, the age and freshness of the beans – they all affect the end product. “The bar has definitely been raised when it comes to coffee in Bendigo. Customers are a lot more knowledgeable and know what they want. We can’t just sit on our hands and rely on what we were doing six years ago. We’re always scrutinising how we can enrich people’s experience.” While Jesse’s memories of his BSSC days are a little hazy, he still has a strong affection for the old school on the hill. His advice for the class of 2019 is not to stress so much over ‘career’ choices or pathways. “Don’t lock yourself in to something if you’re unsure about it,” he says. “There’s plenty of time to explore the things you’re curious about.” Jesse hasn’t ruled out going back to uni one day, or exploring other career paths, but for now he’s happy to keep the coffee train rolling and see where it takes him and his Get Naked family. 69

Adeline Sanders, David Stockwell, Luka Cordedda, Matthew Stockwell and Jancia Schepisi

Angela Flood, Veronica Dickson, Elise Flood and Simon Flood

Tilly Munro-Lawrence, Pieter Schleiger, Scout Sherwill and Wendy Buchan

Ellie Marney, Ned Marney and Geoff Comben

Eloise Hall, Jan Hall, Daniel Hall and Kathryn Hall

Helen Hand, Stuart Hand, Sana Demchy, Ezra Demchy and Patricia Cridge

CONCERTS, A PROGRAM OF NOTE The annual Bendigo Festival once again turned up the volume on classical music with Orchestra Victoria performing a series of concerts in and around the city. The concerts and chamber events give the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspiring young musicians the chance to rehearse and perform alongside orchestra members as part of the On the mOVe! education program.Â An orchestral concert at Ulumbarra Theatre capped off the week-long festivities.

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Karen Sorenson, Paul Greblo and Pam and Wes Vine

Finn Vedelsby, Dallas Heard and Thomas Prince

Alyssa Tucker, Tynille Thurlow and Darcy Van Dillen

Harry, Michael Butler and Daniel de Vries

TOAST TO TOURISM It was cheers to a year of new tourism possibilities as a small crowd toasted the launch of Bendigo Tourismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership initiative.

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The new program was outlined to regional business operators as they mingled under sparkling lights at The Boardwalk.

India, Joel, Lou, Peri, Tarryn and Indira

Jeremy Lambden and Matilda Short

Kerry Whisson, Jeanette Turner, Graham McDonald, Colleen Callister and Geoff Whisson

Kristy Dwyer, Melissa Matheson, Chris Wilding, Tracey Cumming and Jarred Kent

Margaret Moore and Locky Taylor

Zeva Drewniak, Alfie Uren, Tylor Heyen and Alexia Keogh

DIGGING DEEP FOR LAND CARE A number of residents were only too happy to roll up their sleeves, dig deep and get dirty to expand Bendigoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green footprint for National Tree Day They planted more than 700 native trees, shrubs and grasses to restore habitat along Bendigo Creek at Huntly Streamside Reserve. Northern Bendigo Landcare group coordinated the day, with plants donated from GJ Gardner Homes Bendigo.

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Aston Wilson and Max Furber

COOL TECH INSPIRES

Greg and Tobias Kingston-Brown

Budding young scientists were in their element as they learned about myriad career options at the Bendigo Tech Expo and Community Day at La Trobe University.

Isamora, Maddy and Mianna Silitonga

They saw some cool technology and heard from Bendigo Tech School Ambassadors, who proudly outlined their cutting-edge projects. Katrin Wilhelm, Jade Smith, Manuela Braun, Lisa Smith and Lorenz Wilhelm

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watching telly with grandma Our columnist asks us to imagine a time before the screen ruled supreme and was instead a novelty. If he could go back there, he would. Words and illustrations by Geoff Hocking I know this will be hard for some to believe, but there was once a time before television. We didn’t all have pianos in the parlour and families gathered for a sing-song, but we listened to the radio. Bob Dyer’s Pick-a-box was the most popular quiz show, which kept us huddled around the Kriesler, especially when school teacher Barry Jones stayed in the hot seat night after night, never missing an answer, until he cleaned up the lot, emptying every box. Sometimes we were allowed to stay a little later and listen to Bob and Dolly’s rival Jack Davey, who also presented a variety/quiz show. We also listened to moustachioed English comedian Jimmy Edwards and the Glums in Take it From Here, Kenneth Horne in Round the Horn, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan in The Goons and the home-grown tale of rural 74

life, Steele Rudd’s On Our Selection starring ‘Dad and Dave’. We were rarely allowed to tune in to Roy Rene, aka ‘Mo McCackie’, whose show Strike Me Lucky featuring his partner in crime ‘Stiffy’ was considered by my mother to be too risqué for our tender ears. It was on September 16, 1956, that Bruce Gyngell, the first face on Australian television, spoke these six words: “Good evening and welcome to television”. From that moment on the world was welcomed into homes right across Australia, just in time for the Melbourne Olympics. Three channels only were offered: the ABC, Seven and Nine. There was little opportunity for the average family to be able to purchase a new television set in time for the luxury of viewing the Olympic Games at home.

So we would go down town and join the crowd outside the windows of Mamouney’s in Mitchell Street, Myer, or Ron Meurer’s electrical goods store in Lyttleton Terrace. It was a truly community event: kids in pyjamas, mums and dads chatting in the rear as we pressed our noses to the glass and watched the games for free. As it was also a night out, we usually were allowed an icy pole, or if really lucky, an Eskimo Pie, to keep us quiet. Where once radio had filled the empty hours with stories, plays, music and laughter as it laid the foundation for television, when we saw, at last, what the players actually looked like some of the magic was gone. In the early years, television was little more than radio with pictures, and for the majority of viewers in regional centres the quality of those pictures left a lot to

be desired. To improve reception a lot of homes erected enormous aerial towers. Some resembled poppet legs; others were metal poles reaching into the sky held in place by guy wires, which usually anchored around the back yard. The idea was to reach a signal as it passed over Mt Macedon on its way to Bendigo. More often than not the evening’s entertainment was viewed through what today would be called a pixelated screen, but back then it was just called snow. Set owners were required to purchase a licence to view – radio licences had been around for years, but transistorisation put an end to that. The authorities could not keep up with the proliferation of small portable radios while a large portion of the population ignored the licence anyway. A

large aerial was a dead giveaway. A thirtyfoot tower was hard to ignore, so some bright spark invented a large flat aerial that hid within the roof, below the tiles, so the licensing authorities could not detect it. At the beginning my mum and dad didn’t buy a television – our grandparents did instead. They lived just two doors up the street. So, every night, once we had finished our tea, we dashed up the street to spend a few hours keeping Grandma and Grandpa company with our eyes glued to the Astor in the corner. Thinking back that seems a clever ploy. It got us out of the house for a couple of hours, and when we came back after binge-viewing of Rawhide or Bonanza, The Untouchables or the Twilight Zone, we were ready for bed.

It was another 20 years before colour television was introduced. The early colour sets were huge boxes, taking up a lot of space in the lounge. What a change has been wrought in our world since then. We can watch programs on our phones, our laptops and iPads. Our televisions are as thin as a cardboard box and offer a score of programs and an endless choice for our viewing pleasure. Recent research has shown that viewers become affected by ‘choice trauma’, scrolling endlessly across programs, not being able to select and commit, and usually heading back to an old favourite. If I could, I would go back to Rawhide. Young Clint Eastwood at his leanest, rangiest and coolest – now that would ‘make my day’.

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For a variety of culinary itineraries, accommodation options and further details about the Grampians & Pyrenees, head to: visitgrampians.com.au or visitpyrenees.com.au

want to hear better? By Dirk de Moore — Audiologist, Bendigo Hearing Clinic Being able to hear is important, but being able to hear well is extremely important. As an audiologist with over 35 years of experience in fitting hearing aids, I have witnessed something of a revolution in hearing aid design and performance. At our recent staff meeting when I demonstrated some of the latest features and benefits of new aids, the reaction from staff was that they all wanted hearing aids too… even though they have normal hearing! Here’s why. Summary of the latest in technology: • Hearing in noise – Highly sensitive directional microphones can zoom in automatically on a speaker’s voice when in a noisy café or restaurant. Simulate this yourself by cupping your hands behind both ears next time you are in noise and hear the difference. Depending on the sophistication of the aid, we can even point their sound pickup to the left or right which can help in a car or even to point them back – very helpful if you have kids in the back seat! Hearing clearly in noise is the biggest complaint I hear from existing hearing aid users, so maybe the latest technology will be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for. • Bluetooth streaming – Take calls directly from smartphones, TV and more. Listen to your favourite music podcasts as your hearing aids

act as Bluetooth headphones. While many manufacturers can stream to iPhones, only one manufacturer, Swiss company Phonak, which the Bendigo Hearing Clinic specialises in fitting, can stream from any smartphone to both hearing aids. This is a significant advantage when you consider that in Australia, more than 60 percent of smartphone users don’t use iPhones. Phonak will also soon launch a neck-worn or lapel microphone that can stream to hearing aids directly. This should greatly improve communication between couples in noise, in the car and around the house. • Rechargeabililty – No more fiddly batteries to deal with and save money at the same time. No batteries also eliminates the risk of an infant ingesting a fallen battery and are also better for the environment. But best of all, you won’t have a battery go flat at that critical moment ever again. • Smartphone apps – Instead of fumbling to find the right switch on your aid, you can now adjust volume, programs and more from your smartphone and do so discreetly. • Cosmetics – Most modern hearing aids are very discreet when worn and come in a variety of stylish colours. For those who want a truly invisible solution, completely in the canal technology is also available.

Why choose the Bendigo Hearing Clinic? I understand what is required to achieve successful outcomes. Independent company EARTRAK surveys all of our clients post hearing aid fitting and we routinely receive a five-star rating, showing over 95 per cent of our clients are highly satisfied with their outcome and our service. We service, by choice, only the private hearing aid market and while we specialise in Phonak hearing instruments, we are a truly independent clinic not commercially linked to any manufacturer. We place a premium on high levels of service and ethical practice. To learn more about the latest hearing aids or to arrange a free trial, contact the Bendigo Hearing Clinic on 5442 5800 or visit www.bendigohearingclinic.com.au

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Emily Bortolotto and Charlie Lourie

Eva Williamson and Daniel Blyth

Grace Walker, Isabelle Hofer, Mitchell Coughlin and Samuel Rice

Gwennie Thompson and Dione Heppell

Nikki Bedworth and Shannon Young

Michelle and Chloe Hudson

UNI CAMPUS OPEN DAY There were plenty of curious faces at La Trobe Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Day, as potential students sought to learn about life at the Bendigo campus. Teachers, staff and existing students happily answered plenty of questions about courses, potential career opportunities, accommodation and what to expect at university.

truly wicked Bendigo Theatre Company is ramping up the volume, attracting international talent to the local scene for its 2019 production. By Lauren Mitchell – Photography by David Field It’s a Sunday afternoon in late winter and all the car parking around the Allingham Street oval is taken, with not a football in sight. Outside, voices rise in harmony from the corrugated iron shed beside. Within the makeshift black box theatre, the cast of the Bendigo Theatre Company’s latest production, Wicked, is in rehearsal mode. Black puffy jackets lie across red theatre seats. Cups of tea have gone cold and Vegemite toast left, mid-bite. Locals in black leggings and Converse sneakers are singing their hearts out, wielding rusty gardening tools and old-style lanterns. These are the witch hunters, hell bent on blood. They are four weeks into a four-month rehearsal schedule with director Paul Watson, and they mean business.

“The show was presented in its initial staging in a very familyfriendly manner and I think in that regard it didn’t scratch too many dark surfaces,” Paul says. “We’re having a bit of fun bringing the book it’s based on into the show. It’s actually a very politicised book. We’re trying not to do Baum’s Wizard of Oz, we’re trying to do a contemporary version, based on 21st century political ideology.” The Broadway show Wicked premiered in 2003 and tells the story of unlikely friends Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda, the good one. It covers their rivalries over the one love-interest, reactions to the wizard’s corrupt government and Elphaba’s eventual fall from grace. It’s basically the prequel to Dorothy and Toto’s famous arrival in Oz. 79

LEFT: Recognise these two? Bendigo Theatre Company fans, City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke and councillor Rod Fyffe, frock up to help promote the upcoming production of Wicked.

Paul says there are parallels between the 1995 novel the show is based on and today’s political climate of terrorism and hard-right world leaders. These undertones will be explored in the Bendigo show, by the cast of 34 locals and visiting talents, aged from 16 to 60. While most are from Bendigo, a few are travelling from Melbourne and regional Victoria for a chance to be on the local stage come October. One of these is city-based Annabelle Heslop, who plays Galinda. For Annabelle, the twice-weekly trip to Bendigo for rehearsals is worth the opportunity to play a character she has loved since childhood. “I fell in love with the role of Galinda when I was 11,” she says. “I’m 22 now, so half of my existence Galinda has been my dream role and the reason I wanted to pursue musical theatre. I’ve recently graduated from a Bachelor of Music Theatre, so it’s really exciting to have the opportunity to jump from that into a dream role. I couldn’t say no.” Annabelle aims to work professionally and sees the Bendigo role as one more step towards her goal. It’s proof the local theatre company can be a springboard to bigger shows. “I’m taking every opportunity to be creative and develop my craft,” she says. For ‘wicked witch’ Melissa Harrington, the role of Elphaba was the drawcard to return home. An Eaglehawk ex-pat now living in the Yarra Valley, Melissa’s last BTC gig was ten years ago.

Melissa Harrington

Annabelle Heslop

“I always said if they did Wicked I would want to come back,” Melissa says. “When they announced it I thought, it’s too far to drive, then when I saw Paul was directing…” Melissa had just finished working with Paul as director for the production of We Will Rock You in Geelong. Melissa left Bendigo to study musical theatre at the APO Arts Academy, but says she always intended to come back, “and hopefully bring what I’ve learnt back to my home town. The best thing about coming back now, at this point, is I feel I’m able to play and sing the role how I’d like to. “The first time I saw Wicked was in New York. I saw Julia Murney playing Elphaba and she throws away the rules. She’s quite a fierce performer and quite dangerous… I’m a big, belty singer and this is the ultimate female belty role. “The fun part about coming to the role 15 years after I discovered it is there’s just so much more in there. Coming and doing the production here, under Paul and BTC, we’re finding the intimate details that are sometimes missed in this show.” Paul is also bringing his international experience to the local stage. “I started theatre 25 years ago and I started directing 20 years ago,” he says. He’s worked as a performer and director on professional stages around the world, in shows such as Jersey Boys, Fiddler on the Roof and Guys and Dolls with Marina Prior. Paul estimates he’s directed close to 100 productions, including tick, tick… BOOM, for which he was nominated for Green Room Director of the Year, alongside big-budget shows Matilda and Kinky Boots. “Hopefully what I’m bringing to the production is years of experience working with some of the most elite theatre makers in the world,” he says. Wicked is on show at Ulumbarra Theatre between October 25 and November 3.

tracking fashion

A group of locals are leading the way in the fashion stakes for this year’s Bendigo Spring racing season. Photography by Leon Schoots Yes, the 2019 Jayco Bendigo Cup Ambassadors will cut a fine form by the track, however they were chosen to be the faces of race-day fashionbecause they reflect the Bendigo community, says Dannielle Downs, marketing manager with this year’s Fashions on the Field sponsor, Bendigo Marketplace. “We are a very diverse community and fashion is not a one-size-fits-all. Our ambassadors are beautiful people who come from all walks of life, they are locals and they have a beautiful, vibrant approach to promoting positiveness and individualism,” Dannielle says. “Sponsoring Fashions on the Field is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wonderful fashion offering readily available in Bendigo to suit a diverse range of sizes and ages. You also don’t need to spend a lot to be fashionable, it is about choosing clothing that suits your personality and style, that makes you feel comfortable and confident.” It’s a message that resonates with local milliner Belinda, who has previously been a judge at the cup- day fashion parades. “Being asked to be an ambassador is thrilling. However, I am out of my comfort zone, but, because I always tell my kids (Cooper, 17, and Piper, 15) to be confident and to be brave in your everyday choices, I agreed to ‘walk the walk’ and take part.” She agrees this year’s diverse approach in the ambassador stakes is more reflective and representative of the community. “It’s wonderful that local people have been asked to participate – we are all different ages and at different stages in life, which is more representative of people who attend 82

the races. It would be equally wonderful to have as many local people as possible participate in the fashions on cup day.”

can be bold, you can be unique – it’s all about the individual, and it’s wonderful to see that in this year’s ambassadors.”

Bendigo Jockey Club’s Sue Opie says cup day is a popular social occasion, attracting thousands of people to the picturesque racecourse. She encourages locals to not only attend on October 30, but take part in the Fashions on the Field.

As for the fashion forecast, expect to see lots of florals and bold colours, says ambassador Aruna. “They are always popular and look so fresh. Jumpsuits and long pants will also be there, which is great to see. But, whatever you choose make sure it complements you and your personality. Be comfortable and remember, the day is about having fun with friends and family.”

“Racing is for everyone, and for many attending the spring racing season, fashion is a big part of it. Having eight everyday locals represent this year’s Fashions on the Field is about promoting beauty in the individual. Race day fashion is known to be playful, elegant, yet also outrageous. You

We spoke with some of the other ambassadors about their fashion philosophy.

Peta: “This is my first fashion shoot, and never would I have ever imagined as a local mum that I would do something like this, but this is a chance for me to dress up and have day out … and rock that. My style is very relaxed and very practical, but I dress to my body shape and always choose something that flatters it and is comfortable to wear.” Tim: “I did manage to sneak into a fashion shoot last year, but this is my first time in front of the camera solo. It is fun and great to be involved – I love race days as there is nothing like hanging in the sunshine and having a champagne with your friends. It is the best, and this year, I am up for that with

a vengeance. My fashion advice is to dress classy, go sleek and accentuate one item – for me, it might be this pink blazer.” Emma: “I do love my fashion and clothes. I’m lucky as my friend Belinda (fellow ambassador) is a milliner and she makes me some beautiful headpieces. My personal style has evolved a lot, and I like being comfortable and often choose clothing that is a bit looser and flowing. I love florals, animal prints and having a pop of colour.” Bree: “I see fashion as moving art. It is something artistic and it is wonderful when you can bring it to life and express yourself. I don’t tend to follow the trends or wear the

latest fashions but rather choose classic pieces that suit me and that I feel good in, which is also my advice to anyone choosing an outfit – go with what suits you.” Zach: “I have followed fashion a little, but modelling it and undertaking an ambassador role is something new. Bendigo Cup has always been my day; I like taking part in the fashions on the field. My style is for a button-up shirt and tie, florals and stripes are best. My advice is to go for the full Windsor, not the half – leave that for the high school tie – and a tie bar. I’ll probably add white pants and boots are in. Choose a nice watch and don’t be afraid to roll up the jacket sleeve a little.” 83

Emma and Jac Newlyweds Emma and Jac have been together for 15 years and have two daughters, Meg and Lahni. Suffice to say their wedding, honeymoon and even proposal, was a family affair. Photography by OMG Imagery Tell us about the wedding proposal... “Jac, Meg and Lahni took me to Lavandula, near Hepburn Springs,” Emma says. “Following a lazy lunch and wander around the lavender farm, they all pulled out a ring and asked me to marry Jac. We celebrated with champagne and cake, then called our families and friends.” The couple was arranging to travel to New Zealand to get married and were just about to sign a contract with a wedding planner there, when there was talk in the media of a change in legislation in Australia. “So, we held off and were so happy to finally be able to have our ceremony close to home with 110 of our closest friends and family.” 84

Jac and Emma married in March this year, at Lynnevale Estate; a place where they’d celebrated many Mother’s Days. “We loved the relaxed atmosphere and the stunning views overlooking the vineyard,” Emma says. “It was 38 degrees and we enjoyed a beautiful warm evening with a cocktail-style reception. “One of the most special things about our day was having people who are close to us be involved; this contributed to our relaxed and informal vibe.” Good friend Bryan Coghlan was the MC; Penny Peters was the celebrant; Nic Tyrrell from NickNacks Cakes made the mudcake; Heidi and Molly from Heidi for Hair did hair and makeup; close friend Lisa Van Emmerik did their nails; and

Michaela Woolley and her assistant Simone took the photographs. “Michaela has been photographing our family since the girls were little, so it was very special to have her part of our day. “Pretty Little Details styled our day and did our beautiful flowers. Our music was sensational, provided by Luke Owens, and we all danced the night away. We also hired a videographer who created a stunning video for us so we can forever remember and reflect on our special day. “We had our pre-ceremony photos taken at The Stables at Queen Bee Vineyard. Doug and Amanda Cahill have the most picturesque property that was the background for our treasured photos and video.”

One very special part of the day was Jac and Emma’s two only surviving grandparents being there; Daphne and Gloria. “Sadly, Gloria passed away six weeks after the wedding, at the age of 95. It’s very special that we have her in our wedding photos and video. “Another highlight was having our daughters, Meg and Lahni, as our bridesmaids. It was truly special to have them by our sides… it was so important to us to celebrate the life and family we have created together.” When Emma asked Lahni for a great memory of the wedding, she said for her, it was having lemonade, which she had never been allowed to have before! After the wedding, the whole family spent three weeks travelling throughout Vietnam. “We made many memories and had some wonderful adventures. Cruising through Ha Long Bay was a highlight.” Jac and Emma’s advice to other couples is to remember a wedding is all about celebrating love; the material things are less important. “What you, and your guests, will always remember is the feeling of love and happiness in the room. And, invest in a quality photographer and videographer as these people create the memories that you will cherish forever.”

Boden Yarrington and Bridgette McGauchie

Cara Smith and Courtney Yam

Harvey Johnston and Archer Shevlin

John Davidson

Miles and Levi Griffiths

Olivia Bramley and Ryder Knight

FARM FRESH PROVES BEST Bringing consumers good produce straight from the paddock and garden is keeping Bendigo Community Farmers Market a firm favourite of locals. The August markets proved popular with shoppers, who not only topped up on seasonal vegetables and fresh produce, but spent some time catching up with friends.

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Amanda Amos, Shelley Grabasch, Richard Grabasch and Kerry Johnson

Deb Caldwell and Ross Caldwell

Ann Clancey, John Clancey, Anne Jones and John Kirkham

Margot Falconer, Sue Opie and Deb Caldwell

SHEEDY HEADLINES RACE DAY A heady mix of business, horse racing and footy drew a crowd to the Bendigo Jockey Club.

Shirley Griffin, Hamish Curwen, Aileen Cambridge and Jessie Wade

Sue and Brendan Keane, Linda and Tim Coates

AFL legend Kevin Sheedy was guest speaker at the Business Luncheon Race Day, sharing a few yarns about his five-decade career under the sporting spotlight.

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rising reds Enjoy the company of three Bendigo region reds this spring, from a first release to a firm favourite. By Ashley Raeburn

MANDURANG VALLEY, MALBEC 2018

BALGOWNIE ESTATE, ‘OLD VINE’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015

SANDHURST RIDGE, NEBBIOLO 2016

It would be quite rare for a thirdgeneration winemaker to use Malbec as their first release wine, but that is exactly what Oliver Vine has done here at Mandurang Valley, a family owned and operated winery since the mid 1970s. The son of Steven and grandson of renowned regional winemaker Wes, Oliver’s curiosity and strong interest in Malbec has led him to explore this somewhat misunderstood grape.

Balgownie Estate has certainly become the iconic winery of the Bendigo region from its beginnings in the early 1970s led by Stuart Anderson and then through the ensuing years by various esteemed winemakers such as Tobias Anstead and Mark Lane to current day winemaker Tony Winspear. Known for Shiraz and Cabernet, they also produce a range of fantastic range of whites and red varietals which all can be sampled at the cellar door which also hosts a top quality French inspired restaurant.

Sandhurst Ridge have established themselves as one of Bendigo’s premier wineries, becoming known for their hand crafted and distinctively local wines including Shiraz and Cabernet and some lesser known varietals such as Nebbiolo, reflecting their Italian heritage. Family owned and operated, the cellar door is always worth a visit with plenty of museum release wines available in addition to current releases. Visitors to the area are also well looked after with two luxury cottages just perfect for a weekend getaway.

From the first swirl of the glass, you immediately know that this first release by Oliver will be an absolute cracker. An abundance of blueberry and cherry aromas along with subtle mocha hints waft enticingly, almost luring you to the glass. Once in the mouth, the velvety tannin structure leads to further dark fruit characteristics, think freshly picked blackberries, dark cherries and a touch of vanilla working seamlessly together with refined oak and savoury nuances in the background. The lengthy, fruit driven finish lingers, leaving you reaching for the bottle. Medium bodied and well rounded, this is a wine that will that will suit nicely as an after-work glass or will befittingly impress the dinner guests. Extremely versatile and ever moreish, it will sit comfortably with a perfectly cooked steak, classic Spanish empanadas, roast pork or even lamb burgers with a blue cheese sauce.

Commemorating 50 years of Balgownie Estate, this is a wine that screams quality from all angles. The fruit was hand harvested from the best rows of the original 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon plantings with only two barrels produced, giving just a mere 50 cases so I would suggest getting your hands on some quick. Complex and concentrated, it displays all the varietal characteristics expected of a top-notch Cabernet. Cassis and blackcurrant flavours combine seamlessly with the use of 50 percent new and 50 percent old French oak. Supple and persistent, it is a finely detailed wine with relaxed tannins and a delightfully long finish. Drinking beautifully now, it will continue to age gracefully over the next five to ten years.

Here, Sandhurst Ridge’s latest release is showing all the hallmarks of a fine quality Nebbiolo. Quite a difficult varietal to grow due to early flowering, late ripening and of course, a particular dislike to spring frosts but here, the Greblo family have certainly made incredible work of it over the years. Although still quite youthful, the initial nose provides delightful little hints of what the glass holds inside with finely perfumed aromas of freshly picked cherries, violets and strawberry. The palate provides an exemplary balance between acid, alcohol and delicious natural fruit sweetness with flavours of rhubarb and redcurrant being complimented with earthy savory notes. The tannin structure continues to open up and contributes to a long-lasting finish. An absolute delightful match with crispy skin roast pork and roasted root vegetables.

spring spuds

Elevate the humble potato with a little love and a home-made relish, it’s the perfect side or weekend snack this season. By Beau Cook Photography by David Field HAND-CUT WEDGES WITH SPICY TOMATO RELISH Serves 4 as a snack or side dish Make the relish the day before to develop flavour. Ingredients: • 6 Roma tomatoes, quartered • 2 long red chillies, halved • 3 garlic cloves, peeled • ½ tsp ground coriander • ½ tsp cumin seeds • 100ml vegetable oil • ¼ cup malt vinegar • ¼ cup brown sugar • 2 shallots, finely chopped • Handful fresh tarragon, finely chopped • 4 large potatoes suitable for roasting, washed (I used Nicola potatoes) Method: 1. To make relish, preheat oven to 150C. Line a large oven tray with baking paper. Top with tomato, chilli and garlic. Sprinkle with coriander, cumin salt, and pepper, then drizzle with 2 Tbsp oil. Place in oven and roast for 1 hour or until tomato is lightly charred and very soft. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 2. Place tomatoes in food processor and process to a rough sauce. Transfer tomato mixture to a small pan over low heat. Add vinegar and sugar and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir through shallots and tarragon. 90

3. Spoon relish into two sterilised 200ml jars and seal. Let jars cool then store in fridge until ready to use. Once opened, use sauce within two weeks. Makes 400ml. 4. To make wedges, preheat oven to 240C. Place potatoes into a large pan of cold water over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook for 15 minutes or until parboiled. Test by inserting a small knife into potatoes, they should

be tender but not mushy. Drain potatoes and leave in strainer for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Cut each potato into large fat wedges. 5. Place wedges into a large non-stick roasting pan and drizzle with 3 Tbsp oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until crunchy and golden brown. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve with tomato relish.

FASHIONABLE SECRETS REVEALED

Carol Batten and Glenys Anthony

Gabrielle Richards, Lisa Wilkinson and Jessica Bridgfoot

Graeme Byrne and Lorraine Staehr

Harley and Su O’Hoy Herrera

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The world keeps coming to Bendigo, with Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, the latest exhibition opening at Bendigo Art Gallery. Fashion followers are embracing the work of one of the industry’s most innovative designers, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Bendigo Audi and other stylish locals were at the opening. Be sure to visit before November 10.

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APPLAUSE FOR THE BLUES Kerry and Carl Davies

Margie O’Connor and Marita Hansen

Kim Kirkpatrick and Michelle Griffiths

Nathan Power and T.K. Reeve

Local musician Sarah Wilkinson joined fellow artists T.K. Reeve and Nathan Power for a chilled-out Saturday afternoon session on The Blues Tram. Their contrasting styles of music sure appealed, with Blues fans of all ages hopping on board for the mobile concert. Catch the next concerts in September and October.

WINE. FOOD. FUNCTIONS, WEDDINGS & CONFERENCES Visit our Cellar Door and Gallery. You can relax and enjoy wine tasting in air conditioned comfort or relax outdoors in the gardens.

“AN EXCELLENT WINERY, PRODUCING WINES OF HIGH TO VERY HIGH QUALITY” JAMES HALLIDAY Open at weekends, at other times by appointment - 0417 357 688 - 77 Faderson’s Lane, Mandurang - (9km South - East of Bendigo, Off Tannery Lane)

malt, sweet malt Behold a celebratory selection of Australian craft beers to enjoy as the days get longer, warmer and ever more conducive to a cold ale after work. By Justin McPhail - Photography by Leon Schoots

SHEDSHAKER – FRAILTY PALE ALE SHAMBLES – AFTERNOON DELIGHT SUMMER ALE Who makes it? A super impressive brewery in Hobart. The brewery comes complete with concrete tennis table and fantastic food, as well as a range of the best beers on the island. What is it? A super easyto-drink pale ale, for when you need a refreshing, citrus-driven post-work beer. It recently won a gold medal at the ‘beer Oscars of Australia’. Try with: An early Friday knock off.

Who makes it? Castlemaine-based brewery and taproom Shedshaker. They brew small-batch ales in the brewhouse located in The Mill, with a range of specialty beers on tap, and a cracking range of delicious pizza. What is it? Named after the famous Hunters and Collectors album, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its release, it’s light and refreshing pale ale, with plenty of American hop varieties to provide a decent bitterness.

HOLGATE – DOUBLE ESB Who makes it? One of the original pioneers of craft beer in Australia, Holgate Brewhouse from Woodend. What is it? A turbocharged version of their ESB, it’s big, boozy and malty. Still finishing rather dry, with a touch of sweetness. Perfect for those cold spring nights. Try with: A classic Aussie barbecue; the char will pair perfectly with the sweet malt.

FIXATION – OBSESSION SESSION IPA Who makes it? Australia’s first India Pale Ale brewery! Created by hop fiend and industry legend. Tom Delmont. What is it? The sensible option for a few beers. Things can get dicey after a few Fixation IPAs, so stick with the session for a better start to your tomorrow! Try with: Fried chicken and beer.

Try with: La Luna pizza, and a spin of Human Frailty record.

SUN SHINES ON MEMBERS’ DAY

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Sonia and Darren Lewis, Kylie and Chris Dunn

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Racegoers scored when the weather turned on a sunny treat at the Bendigo Jockey Club’s Members Race Day. There was plenty of music and food trackside, with a 10-card field keeping punters on their toes.

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Anne Metcalf and Maddi Metcalf

Milly Bartlett and Kylie Billett

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Sarah Worthington and Teleah Thorne

DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR THE MIND Having the skills to stay mentally healthy is a focus of The Resilience Project.

Wendy Donaldson and Carolyn Chiswell

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Two public sessions were held in Bendigo in June, with attendees learning about positive mental health strategies. The project has delivered more than 500 programs to schools, community and sporting groups nationally.

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Chloe and Tyler It took 13 years and two children before Chloe and Tyler got around to tying the knot, which they did in style, in the heart of Bendigo. Photography by Leah Ladson Photography Tell us about the wedding proposal...

that he had custom-made for me.”

“It was the day before our daughter Audrey’s birthday,” Chloe says. “I had been out shopping, finishing off some last-minute details. I came home to a flower trail from our garage door all the way into our lounge. Playing in the background was ‘All You Need is Love’ by the Beatles.

The Fab Four also provided the soundtrack to the couple’s ceremony, as they chose the classic ballad ‘Something’ as the song for their wedding on November 24 last year.

“I was greeted by flowers in the shape of a heart. Standing in the heart was Tyler, and our two kids Jasper and Audrey, holding a chalk board that said, Mum will you marry our Dad? “Tyler got down on one knee and popped the question with a gorgeous oval diamond ring 98

Chloe and Tyler’s wedding ceremony and reception took place at the Gallery Café, in the beating heart of View Street, which set the scene for stunning photography by Leah Ladson. Other local people and businesses called upon were Fifi and Edga for Chloe’s dress, Ruffell Jewellers for her engagement ring and wedding band, Cheeky Buds Bendigo for flowers and Café Essence for the cake.

Chloe says it was lovely to have her rings made locally, as they’re something unique she’ll pass on to their children. She says, “sharing the wedding with our kids and having photos and a video to look back on as they get older is something we treasure. Also being able to share that moment with our parents and our close friends; the people who have been with us along our journey together as a couple. And I’ll always remember my dad walking me down the aisle.” The couple honeymooned on the Gold Coast with their children after the wedding. “But we plan on having a ‘mini moon’ by ourselves in the future,” Chloe says.

Christopher Staffieri and Kelly Ratten

David, Maddison and Cindy Felstead

Jeanette, Jessica and Damian Sheean

Josh Sloane and Jess Richardson

Luke Junakovic, Paris Bowden and Leanne and Philip Bowden

LA TROBE AWARDS La Trobe University recognised its top students at an awards and prizes evening at Ulumbarra Theatre in August. Friends and family joined award recipients and staff to hear the outstanding efforts of the students across all disciplines at the Bendigo campus, including health, education, arts, science and engineering.

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STUDENTS ROCK THROUGH AGES Ossian and Jackie Houlihan

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Crowds soaked up the glitz and glam of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;80s as students from Weeroona College Bendigo rocked the big ballads from the classic musical Rock of Ages. The showstopper filled The Capital theatre for multiple shows, with students making props, sewing costumes, as well as performing in their biggest show to date.

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set in stone

Kevin Cameron proudly describes the restoration and renovation of his historic Bendigo sandstone cottage as a loving blend of heritage townhouse and 21st century living. By Marina Williams “It was a labour of love and an opportunity to really bring the house back to life and repurpose it with a 21st century rebirth,” he says. “It was screaming out for some love and care to be lavished on it, which is what we decided to do.” The “rebirth” was the collaborative effort of Kevin, BLR Construction and Sydney-based Bijl Architecture of which his university friend Melonie Bayl-Smith is principal architect. “I knew she and her team would put a lot of thought into it being bespoke with its design and functionality,” he says. Prolific gold-rush architect Robert Alexander Love originally designed the cottage as a coach house in 1872. Post Love’s time, it has received a few interior makeovers, and when the Geelong-based music teacher bought the property, following a 12-month search, it had one large bedroom and a small bathroom on the top level, with a kitchen and living room below. Rising damp had, over time, seeped into the sandstone, and cement render applied to part of the exterior was suffocating the structure.

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The building was stripped back to bare sandstone walls and timber trusses, with Dan Bahen and his team from BLR Construction, who specialise in architectural construction, repairing the damage and reapplying lime mortar to enable it to breathe again. “It’s not unusual to see,” Dan says. “It does take time but it’s good to see old buildings have money spent on them and for them to be reused and looked after, otherwise they go into disrepair. This home will be here for a long time now.” As for the initial layout, Kevin describes it as “terrible”. “Today, it’s been reconfigured to make it functional within the parameters of the existing building. Upstairs we have two large bedrooms, a full bathroom and a mezzanine level with lots of light streaming in, and downstairs is the main bedroom, ensuite and a separate living room.” An eye-catching steel and timber staircase links the redefined levels, with an original door and window space marking the transition to the addition that includes the kitchen, living room, laundry and entry hall. The original front door was retained, now opening to the main bedroom, adding flexibility to the use of space. 103

“We didn’t want to block up any of the existing openings in the sandstone,” says architect Andrew Lee. “Instead of adding a modern square form to the back of the structure to accommodate the new areas, we ‘wrapped’ the coach-house with a light touch.” To maximise space, the upstairs pitched roof was retained with the original trusses and purlins sanded and stained. Large-format grey and white tiles feature in the bathrooms, with brushed rose gold fittings adding a touch of warmth.

on site with the builders that really adds impact to the home.” Using black on the exterior was a deliberate choice to ensure the new addition was “recessive from the street”. “The cottage was the artefact that you didn’t want to detract from,” Andrew says. “It was always going to be this quite-modern, pavilion addition to the old home that really celebrated the existing fabric of the house.”

As a contrast, honey-coloured timber was chosen for the floor downstairs, with white streamlined cabinetry with concealed handles in the kitchen and laundry. The colour palette was equally minimal with Colourbond Monument used on the roof, exterior cladding, entry foyer and interior trim, white on the ceilings and Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter on the walls and trims. The deck was finished with Black Ash stain.

The collaborators agree the outcome met the brief, with the eightmonth build a positive experience.“It was like striking gold,” Andrew says. “Working with Dan absolutely made the project… it was a pleasure to be on site.” Adds Kevin: “Having done a few renovations in the past, this was a dead-easy one. We wanted a place that would be a forever-after retirement home that would welcome other members of family... without much time having to be spent on the garden. The focus is on the living and not the maintaining. It’s now ready for another 100 years.”

Dark hues also highlight the steel staircase and the black-patina, steel-clad fireplace. “That element is such a strong feature in the house and draws your eye in as soon as you walk in the door,” fellow architect Natasha Grice says. “It was a smart design decision made

However, the home will have to wait for Kevin and his family. “Tenants are breaking the ice on it and we hope they are enjoying it, and we are looking forward to having our own history there in a little while.”

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a spirited life

Who you gonna call when things go bump in the night? Meet Bendigo’s motorcycle mechanic medium and ghost-hunting carpet-makers. By Sarah Harris – Photography by Leon Schoots

Aaron Day is a man who enjoys prospecting with machines that go ping, be it for ghouls or gold. “I’ve found a lot of gold although nothing big. The ghosts are definitely more elusive,” he laughs. Over the past six years, Aaron and his partner Dee Newnham have signed on for some 50 ghost tours and supernatural investigations, including several overnighters at both Pentridge Prison and the old Castlemaine Gaol. The couple, who work at Victoria Carpets’ Bendigo wool processing and spinning mill, represent the very normal face of people fascinated by the paranormal driving the remarkable growth in socalled dark tourism. Fittingly Bendigo Magazine first encounters the pair, electromagnetic field meters at hand, in Castlemaine Cemetery during a tour run by the award-winning Twisted History company. 106

Ghosts, they explain, were Dee’s go initially, but after the couple started watching the British paranormal reality television series Most Haunted, Aaron also became deeply interested. “One day a guy at work told me he went to Aradale Asylum [Ararat Lunatic Asylum, later known as Aradale Mental Hospital] on a ghost tour so we decided we would take a look and it went from there,” Aaron recalls. Since then, they have been to every accessible 19th century jail and many of the reported spectral ‘hot spots’ in Victoria armed with an array of equipment, including infrared camera, night goggles and night vision ghost pro. “The ghost tours are interesting because you learn more about the history of the place, but we prefer the paranormal investigation,” Aaron explains. “With the ghost tours you occasionally have to suffer idiots laughing and carrying on. We went to Mayday Hills [the

decommissioned asylum at Beechworth] and did a ghost tour before an overnight investigation. On the tour there was a guy who had obviously been drinking, dressed up in a onesie, making whoooo noises and scratching on walls and idiot things like that, which spoils it for everyone.” Despite some “captures”, including Dee’s phone camera shot that appears to show “a person standing where no person should be” during a Pentridge visit, Aaron is still not convinced about the supernatural. “Do I believe in ghosts? I think I do, but I want to experience something that would make me say there is definitely something here. “We have heard noises like a child crying, but nothing that has really been definitive. Even the photos, as good and interesting as some of them are, you could interpret a different way. You can get shadows, reflections and optic effects and people will read into them too much. 107

“I am hoping that I can actually capture something or experience something definite, like some people who claim to have been scratched or touched or had the bejesus scared out of them.” The desire for the emotional stimulus of an experience or feeling outside our ordinary daily lives is a big part of what drives tourism. Dark Tourism – a term coined by a Glasgow academic in 1996 to encompass commercialised visitation of sites linked to tragedy, atrocity, grief, disaster and death – is itself nothing new. Some of the earliest organised train excursions to Cornwall were not to take in the sea air, but to witness public executions at Bodmin Gaol. And what are those pinnacles of sightseeing, the Pyramids of Giza, but massively over-engineered tombs?

But there is, as Deb Robinson, owner and operator of Twisted History/Limelight Tours, observes, a line between ghosts and ghoulish voyeurism. For Deb, a trained librarian who worked as a volunteer tour guide at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook for 16 years, it’s all about history. “The ghost tours, the paranormal tours, even the murder tours, they all come back to history. It is just a different way of telling it, which sometimes engages people that wouldn’t necessarily be interested in gaining an understanding of the past,” Deb says.

Photograph by Sarah Harris

“I think everybody is fascinated with that darker side of history, whether they admit it or not.”

Photograph by Leon Schoots

From the catacombs of Paris and tours of concentration camps to more contemporary sites like Ground Zero in New York, there is a commercial market of very much alive people wanting to connect with the dead.

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Photograph by Leon Schoots Photograph by Sarah Harris

It is the wealth of history, not to mention the sheer level of mortality on the Goldfields that has led the Geelong-based company – which already holds regular tours of the Kangaroo Hotel in Maldon, Railway Hotel at Dunolly and Castlemaine Cemetery, to increase its local offering. The 15-stop Bendigo Ghost Tour starting this month (September) promises more than a mere spectre of a story, including the pianoplaying ghost of 109 View Street to the table-tipping seances held in a well-known café at the height of Spiritualism. One of the advisers who helped create the tour was Bendigo-based Twisted History paranormal investigator Geoff Painter. Geoff, who is possibly Victoria’s only motorcycle mechanic-cummedium, has been aware of his psychic abilities since he was seven when his Uncle Bob succumbed to cancer. “Before he died, I would have these turns. Just zone out, zombie out for about five or ten minutes and have no recollection of what had happened when I came back,” Geoff recalls. “Then after he passed, I felt him with me. I felt him communicating with me and guiding me and I just sort of accepted it. “The best decision I made was to talk about it to anybody. I tend to get more positive reaction purely because I talk about it with confidence and just say this is who I am and what I do. You do get some raised eyebrows, but generally people are very accepting of it.” With one 2017 poll suggesting more than a third of Australians firmly believe “ghosts exist and can influence their will on the living,” it is clear the paranormal will continue to be a drawcard despite the best efforts of skeptics and scientists. The truth, as they say, is out there. Visit www.twistedhistory.net.au for more information.

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three-wheel reveal

There’s a quirky new car cruising the streets of Bendigo, constructed virtually from scratch in a 20-year labour of love. By Raelee Tuckerman - Photography by Leon Schoots Don’t be fooled by its looks – this sporty blue machine is no restored vintage vehicle, nor a replica made off kit plans. This is the threewheeled car Gil Wicks built himself, piece by painstaking piece, transforming an ambitious idea into a fully functional automobile.

Gil’s car includes some new or refurbished parts to meet engineering requirements, including a 2-litre air-cooled V-twin motorcycle engine, Corolla gearbox, Honda differential, Corona front stub axles and Australian Standard Design headlights.

It’s been a long road, but the Kangaroo Flat motor enthusiast recently got the green light from VicRoads to register his creation as a Wicks Sport ICV (individually constructed vehicle) and head out on the highway.

“I had a great engineer who had to test and approve it and working with him and VicRoads took a couple of years to get everything finalised.

“My car is loosely based along the lines of a 1930s-era Morgan reverse trike, which has two wheels at the front and one at the rear,” says Gil, 52, who was captivated by its curved style. “I can’t remember exactly when I started, but it would have been the late 1990s when my brother Mark and I went to Melbourne, measured up a 1933 three-wheeled Morgan and wrote all the dimensions down on a piece of paper. “The idea festered for a few years until we found an Austin 7 Roadster boat-back at the Bendigo swap meet and thought it might work as the car boot. We checked the measurements and it fit exactly, so that got the ball rolling. “Apart from that initial fibreglass back panel, almost everything else has been made from the ground up in my shed, or at Mark’s house.” 110

“We had to do a beam test to check how strong the chassis is, a stability test, braking tests and noise tests. It was hard to get the noise down and I had to run a modified air cleaner, carburettor and mufflers off a standard Harley-Davidson, which proved to be just quiet enough. “Before that, the biggest challenge was the drive train. Connecting the V-twin engine to a (non-matching) Corolla four-speed gearbox was difficult; there was a lot of trial and error.” Gil was a sheet-metal fabricator/welder when this project began, but a mid-life career change along the way saw him put himself through university to become a qualified chiropractor. “The car was virtually put on hold for five years, as time was taken up with study and student wages are pretty much non-existent, so the money wasn’t there to fund it.”

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Described by family members as an “old soul”, Gil admits he has long been fascinated by vintage machines and was inspired by his Uncle Robert, with whom he’d rebuilt a 1907 6.5hp Blackstone oil engine. “Modern technology doesn’t excite me,” he says. “Put it this way, I’d never line up to buy an iPhone! “Morgan started in the early 1900s with their three-wheelers and persisted until the 1950s. I liked their oddball shape and how simple they were. They’ve actually brought them back out again in recent years, though at $113,00 drive-away, they’re a bit steep for me.” In contrast, he estimates his vehicle has cost roughly $20,000 so far, though more could be spent on paint and other finishing touches. “I guess that’s not much per year over the length of the project and it’s given me a lot of enjoyment… and sometimes frustration.” Gil’s wife, Lisa, says family and friends have shared the highs and lows along the route. “I am in awe of what he’s achieved,” she says, “but when things break and you see his disappointment, you also ride that wave with him. “I might have been a ‘Negative Nellie’ at times, but Gil had the dream and the vision, and in his mind, it was always going to happen – which is a testament to his character. “Seeing it come together from a few pieces of metal has blown me away.” This is unlikely to be the end of the road for Gil’s creativity and ingenuity. He currently has a 1980 Atkinson truck cabin parked in his back yard awaiting his restorative touch. In the meantime, you might spot him cruising around Bendigo in his original set of wheels. “Actually, driving has proven to be a little bit cool through winter” he laughs, adding he needs ear plugs to protect his hearing from wind noise when he accelerates to 100 km/h. “I could end up being a bit like Goldilocks – if it’s too sunny, you’re going to get burned and if it’s too cold, you’re going to end up with frostbite, so the weather has to be just right!” Gil still has that faded scrap of paper that kick-started his quest and jokes he might get it framed as a memento of the adventure. Clearly, his story is about much more than just a car. “Honestly, I think projects like this become more about the experience than the end result,” he says. “To have a goal is great. It gives you an excuse to try different things in life and meet different people and that’s what has been more revealing for me. “My car is not totally finished – I can drive on the road, but it’s not fully painted up all nice and may never be. But for me, it was always about the journey, rather than the final product.” 112

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