dear reader,

Autumn is the perfect time to stroll through the city streets, admire the golden leaves of Rosalind Park, take in the latest exhibitions at local galleries, and sample our region’s vintage wines and fresh produce. As Lauren DeStefano aptly says, autumn “is the time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale”.

And so it is with the city’s calendar of events. While we’re dusting off our jackets and scarves in preparation for the cooler months, the city is preparing for another season of splendour celebrating our culture, our heritage and our unique community.

Soon the streets will be lined with spectators vying for the perfect position to watch the Bendigo Easter Festival processions, while avid readers will line up to meet their favourite authors at the Bendigo Writers Festival.

In the pages of the Bendigo Magazine, we meet many locals who are making waves in their own way. Alan Hoare talks about how a life-changing illness inspired him to join Sailability, a not-for-profit program run by volunteers at Lake Weeroona where people with disabilities learn the ropes of a water sport that offers them a welcome sense of freedom. Bendigo Health plastic surgeon Alex Cameron explains that connection with people fuses his two worlds of health and music, as well as a connection with the land. And Kylie Carra is using her professional background and interest in helping former service members to complete major research into how veterans “fill the void” when they leave the military.

We hope these stories and more inspire our readers to achieve their dreams and continue to be proud of this place we call home. Happy reading.

FROM THE TEAM

MANAGING EDITOR

Dustin Schilling

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Leon Schoots, AJ Taylor and Daniel Soncin WRITERS

Dianne Dempsey, Geoff Hocking, Lauren Mitchell, Raelee Tuckerman and Sue Turpie

CONTRIBUTORS

Beau Cook, Stephanie Dunne, Anna Knight and Lisa Chesters

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.